The Wisconsin Badgers’ second exhibition ended with a 96-77 win over UW-Green Bay, but the score line only tells part of the story. Wisconsin had to fight through stretches where it trailed by double digits and even carried just a narrow edge into halftime before taking control when the game mattered most.
If there was one performance that jumped off the page, it belonged to Owen Foxwell. The overseas newcomer put together the kind of night that turns heads fast, finishing with game highs in points with 21, assists with 6 and steals with 4. He did it efficiently, too, going 5-for-8 from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from 3-point range.
Even more eye-catching was the 12 free-throw attempts Foxwell drew. With questions entering the season about whether Wisconsin had enough scoring punch, that number stood out as a real sign of progress.
Nobody has really questioned whether Wisconsin can operate within structure. The spacing, the bigs and the guard play all point to an offense that can function cleanly.
The bigger issue has been finding a player who can create offense on his own and get downhill against a defense. Foxwell showed that in Green Bay.
He repeatedly got into the paint, often off ball screens, while also creating a couple of looks in isolation. That matters because once a guard can force that kind of pressure, the rest of the offense starts to open up around him.
That was obvious in the second half. Nolan Winter picked up several easy chances playing off Foxwell, and Braeden Carrington got clean looks from beyond the arc as the Badgers started to benefit from the attention Foxwell was drawing.
Wisconsin still has plenty to clean up. Chemistry issues and awkward lineup construction showed up at times, and this group is far from finished. But in Foxwell, the Badgers may have found the player who can set the tone every night.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Suddenly Gets A Different UCLA Test In Huge Road Spot
A week that began with one kind of UCLA challenge has turned into another for Wisconsin, with Nico Iamaleava leaving the Bruins last game with a leg injury that is expected to end his season, even if the coach has not locked down a final prognosis. Ty Dieffenbach stepped in and handled the moment well, even throwing a touchdown pass, so the Badgers are preparing for a road test that now looks different from the one they thought they were getting.
For Wisconsin, the shift matters because Colton Joseph has been on a heater of his own, accounting for all four touchdowns in the recent game and hitting at least one long touchdown pass in every outing this season. The Badgers were already facing a tricky Big Ten road spot, but now they have to sort out a UCLA offense with a new lead quarterback while also making sure Joseph and the Wisconsin attack keep pressing the same explosive edge. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Could Get A Crucial Offensive Boost At No. 12 UCLA
Wisconsins offense could be getting healthier at just the right time for Saturdays trip to No. 12 UCLA, with the first injury report pointing to some key availability questions breaking in the Badgers favor. Starting tailback Abu Sama is listed as probable, starting center Austin Kawecki is questionable and wide receiver Jaylon Domingeaux also appears likely to return, giving Luke Fickells group a chance to reclaim some of the balance it has been missing.
There is still at least one lingering concern, with halfback Nate Palmer listed as doubtful, but the overall picture is more encouraging than it might have looked earlier in the week. Fickell addressed the players conditions in his weekly press conference, and Wisconsin now heads into a difficult road matchup with the kind of offensive depth that can change the tone of a game if those expected returns hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Gets A Real Early Test In One Critical Area
The Badgers are only a little way into preseason work, but Tuesdays exhibition at the Resch Center already offers a useful measuring stick for a roster still trying to settle in. Wisconsin is coming off an exhibition win over UW-Parkside, and the focus in camp has been on sharpening the frontcourt and bringing a steadier edge defensively as the games start to matter more in terms of evaluation.
Green Bay should provide a different look, too, with a lineup that includes several newcomers and some recognizable names in Ne'Quan Brown and Aidan Holloway. For Wisconsin, the bigger question is not just whether it can control the game, but how it handles that early test inside and whether the defensive intensity shows up against a more unfamiliar opponent. [Read more 🡒]