Greg Gard made one thing clear at Wisconsin’s open practice: the Badgers are not treating the roster as finished.
With one spot still open, Gard said the season will begin with 15 players on the roster. That part, at least, didn’t sound like a mystery to him. The bigger question is who fills that final chair.
The possibilities are wide open. It could be a walk-on.
It could be an in-state option. It could still be someone in the transfer portal.
And then there’s the name that popped up at practice and immediately got people talking: Braeden Carrington.
Carrington, who played his fourth season of college basketball last year, was seen at practice participating as a player. That alone made him a name to watch, even if the path to him becoming Wisconsin’s 15th player is anything but simple.
Gard was asked directly whether Carrington could be that final addition, and the answer pointed to the real issue. Carrington hasn’t said whether he plans to pursue another year.
One notable on this: Braeden Carrington, a 2022 class guy who played his senior season for #Badgers last year, was at practice today. Gard was asked if that 15th guy could be Carrington, and Gard said Carrington hasn’t indicated whether or not he will seek an additional year. https://t.co/woFqrNrMpr
- Michael McCleary (@MikeJMcCleary) July 14, 2026
The reason Carrington is even in the conversation comes down to the NCAA’s recent eligibility change. The new rule allows a version of the 5-in-5, giving players five years to play their sport from age 19. Redshirts are gone under this setup; it’s simply five years of eligibility, and schools decide how to use it.
On paper, that would seem to help Carrington. He has already played four years of college basketball - two at Minnesota, one at Tulsa and one at Wisconsin - and has appeared in more than 100 career games. Under the new framework, he would appear to have one more year available.
But there’s a catch. The NCAA said it would not grandfather players in, which means those who lost eligibility last season are done. That leaves Carrington on the outside of the current rule change.
There is, however, a legal challenge brewing. A group of players and lawyers has taken the NCAA’s stance to court, arguing that players from last season should also receive an extra year.
Carrington is not part of the injunction, but he would clearly be watching closely. If that case breaks his way, it would alter the picture for Wisconsin, too.
And if Carrington did get another year, he’d be a real option for the Badgers right away. He was a strong sixth man last season, giving Wisconsin a lift on both ends of the floor.
Depending on how the roster settles, he could even push into a starting role and potentially pass Trey Autry in that spot. He would bring exactly the kind of proven production Wisconsin was looking for.
For now, though, it remains a long shot. Gard is still searching for the best fit for that final roster spot, and the most likely outcome may still be a walk-on from the state. Even so, Carrington is a name with real intrigue around Wisconsin - and around Greg Gard, too.
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The biggest question is whether the new pieces can replace the scoring punch that left with the exits, especially on the wing, where Wisconsin needs someone to step in quickly and create offense. Elmer arrives from Miami-Ohio with the kind of rsum that suggests he can help right away, and if the Badgers are going to stay on track for 2026-27, this is the kind of portal swing that could end up mattering more than any other move they made. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Just Entered A Recruiting Fight Badgers Fans Know Too Well
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Oklahoma is now working to set up its own visit, a move that could reshape the pecking order if it comes together. With Thomas drawing attention from multiple major programs this early, Wisconsins task is less about making a first impression and more about turning that initial trip into something lasting before the next wave of contenders gets its chance. [Read more 🡒]