With Nolan Winter stuck on the sideline after right ankle surgery this offseason, Wisconsin’s rising senior has had a different kind of view of summer practice. He’s not running the floor, but he is getting a clear look at the Badgers’ new pieces - and two names stood out quickly.
Winter came away impressed with point guard Owen Foxwell and forward Victory Onuetu, Wisconsin’s two most important additions this offseason because of the roles they’re expected to fill in Madison.
Foxwell, who was flipped from LSU, was slotted in as Wisconsin’s starting point guard almost immediately. That makes sense on paper.
The Australian guard brings a polished, seasoned game, including 4.5 assists per game in the 2025-26 NBL season. He’s comfortable in the pick and roll, he gets teammates involved, and he can also score, with a career 37 percent mark from three in the NBL and touch around the rim.
Winter says that all of that is showing up already.
“He sees the court really well for a point guard. He’s super smart, high IQ. Defensively, he can get in passing lanes, make plays for us, get in transition," he said.
For Wisconsin, though, the bigger job is clear: Foxwell needs to run the offense first and create easy looks for the rest of the roster. Winter thinks one of the best ways he can do that is by feeding the Badgers’ bigs, including himself.
“He’s a great lob passer to Victory and Will, maybe me, hopefully. We’ll see. But obviously he’s got a high IQ and I’m excited to get out there with him," he said.
Onuetu brings a different kind of presence. The Hofstra transfer gives Wisconsin a bouncy, rim-running big who can rebound at a high level, block shots and attack the rim in a way the Badgers didn’t have last season. Winter said the physical edge is what jumps out most.
"I talk to Will (Garlock) after practice, and he’s like, ‘man, he just beats me up.’ In a good way.
It’s what everyone’s gonna need. And it’s obviously gonna be a ton of fun to play with.
He can block shots, he can go get the ball for a lob, whatever it is. He’s someone that I’m gonna like to have my back on the court," Winter said.
Winter also pointed to how Onuetu changes the math for defenses. With his frame and physicality, he can pressure the rim, draw fouls and give Wisconsin a different look than Austin Rapp or Winter.
"But with Will and Victory, having just their frames and their physicality, being able to go down there and pick up fouls on other bigs, it’s gonna be huge to have to compliment me and Aussie’s game.”
In Other News...
Wisconsins RB Battle Could Decide Whether The Badgers Run Game Is Back
Wisconsins running back room looks a lot different heading into 2026, and that alone makes it one of the more interesting position groups on the roster. The Badgers brought in Abu Sama III, Bryan Jackson, Nate Palmer and Julius Pope to join returning back Darrion Dupree, giving the offense a deeper and more varied mix than it had a season ago. With so many new faces in the room, the staff has options for different situations, from early-down work to short-yardage snaps, and the group has a chance to look much more efficient if the pieces settle in.
The bigger question is how much of that optimism turns into production once the games begin, because the running backs still need help up front to make the whole thing work. Injuries have already shaped the picture for some of the newcomers, and Duprees role has grown as the room has changed around him, making him an important part of the conversation even as the rest of the depth chart sorts itself out. For Wisconsin, the promise is obvious, but the real test will be whether this rebuilt backfield can finally get the ground game back to the level the program expects. [Read more 🡒]
Three Wisconsin Transfers Could Haunt The Badgers In 2026
Wisconsins massive transfer haul is already drawing the kind of long-view scrutiny that comes with a 33-man class, and not all of it is flattering. As the Badgers try to reshape the roster for 2026, the early conversation has turned to which additions might look like smart bets now but end up feeling like missed evaluations later, especially once the grind of Big Ten play exposes the difference between projection and production.
The concern is less about talent in a vacuum than about fit, opportunity and how quickly newcomers can translate their previous success to Wisconsins level. A crowded receiver room, questions along the defensive front and the demands placed on cornerbacks all create real pressure points, and the staffs own assessments only sharpen the uncertainty. For a team banking so heavily on transfers, the uncomfortable part is that a few of the most intriguing names may also be the ones with the widest range of possible outcomes. [Read more 🡒]