Greg Gard didn’t spend much time sugarcoating what changed for Wisconsin.
The 2025-26 Badgers were a blast to watch, powered by Nick Boyd and John Blackwell and an offense that could run with just about anybody. Wisconsin finished with the 10th-best offense in the country by KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency and took the 6th-highest percentage of threes in the nation. At one point, the Badgers stacked up five straight wins over top-15 opponents, including road victories over top-10 Michigan and Illinois.
But the season also ended with the same flaw that had been hanging around all year: defense. That weakness showed up again in the NCAA tournament loss to No. 12 seed High Point, when the Panthers buried nine second-half three-pointers. The frontcourt, too, never quite gave Wisconsin the interior presence it needed on either end.
Gard thinks the 2026-27 group is built to be different.
“Size, physicality," he responded when asked what the biggest difference between last year's team and the 2026-27 squad is. "We’re bigger and more physical. That’s with two guys that are seven feet, 6-10 sitting on the sideline," he said, referring to the currently banged-up Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp.
"I think that's the biggest thing. The frontline was an area we wanted to address through improvement of who is returning, but adding Victory (Onuetu), a guy of that size with that plus ability, helps raise the bar up front.”
Onuetu stands out as the kind of big man Wisconsin has rarely had. He brings rim-running ability, bounce, mobility, rebounding, and shot-blocking, giving the Badgers a more legitimate lob threat and better rim protection than they’ve had in a while.
The upgrades aren’t limited to the paint. Miami transfer Eian Elmer arrives with a reputation as a defensive wing, and Australian point guard Owen Foxwell is known for his energy and effort on that end as well.
Wisconsin may not have the same kind of fireworks in the backcourt without Boyd and Blackwell, two guards who formed one of the country’s best 1-2 punches. But even this early, the roster looks sturdier, more balanced, and tougher defensively than last year’s version.
In Other News...
This Overlooked Badgers Sophomore Could Change Wisconsin's Frontcourt Rotation
Wisconsin has spent the offseason adding six new players, but the most interesting frontcourt development may be coming from a returning piece already in the building. Sophomore forward Will Garlock has been a focus for Greg Gard and his staff, and the early signs from summer work suggest the Badgers may have found a player whose growth could matter as much as any newcomer when the 2026-27 season arrives.
Garlock stood out in a recent summer practice with a stronger rebounding presence and a more reliable defensive impact, the kind of progress that can change how a rotation looks once games start counting. Gard pointed to Garlocks growing confidence and experience as the biggest reasons for the jump, and with more maturity at 19, the sophomore is suddenly looking like a real candidate to carve out a larger role in a crowded frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin May Finally Have A Tight End Answer Fans Can Trust
Wisconsins search for a dependable tight end may be pointing toward Jacob Harris, the Bowling Green transfer who arrives with two years of eligibility left and a chance to settle a spot that has been in flux. Heading into 2026, Harris is projected to be the Badgers top option at the position, which gives the room a clearer front-runner than it has had in a while and puts some real weight on what he can do once camp opens.
Position coach Nate Letton has reason to like the fit, and the competition around Harris should keep the depth chart honest. He is being pushed by portal addition Ryan Schwendeman and returnees Grant Stec and Emmett Bork, so nothing is being handed out yet, but Harris brings the kind of profile Wisconsin has been trying to find at tight end. If he can separate from that pack, the Badgers may finally have a name fans can trust in a role that has demanded one. [Read more 🡒]
Three Former Badgers Are Fighting For Very Different NBA Futures
The 2026 NBA Summer League is winding down, and for three former Wisconsin Badgers, the final game on the schedule carries very different weight. John Tonje, Nick Boyd and Steven Crowl have all gotten a look in Las Vegas, but the path forward for each of them looks nothing alike as teams start sorting out who gets a real chance beyond July.
Tonje appears to have the cleanest runway, with Boston still having room to maneuver and his play giving him a legitimate case to stick. Boyds situation is murkier with Golden State, where every opening matters and the next step may not come in the NBA at all. Crowl is in the toughest spot of the three, needing a strong finish just to keep his name in the conversation for a camp invite. [Read more 🡒]