The Wisconsin Badgers have spent the past three seasons living near the top of the Big Ten, and they’ve done it while constantly reworking the roster. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident, especially when the money game keeps getting tougher across college basketball.
This offseason brought another round of change, including the departure of starters John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas. Blackwell’s move to Duke came with a deal that is reportedly expected to exceed $4 million this season. Even with that kind of exit, Wisconsin kept Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp in place and added Owen Foxwell, Trey Autry, Eian Elmer, and Victory Onuetu from overseas or the transfer portal.
The result is a Badgers team that looks less like a one- or two-star operation and more like a roster built to fit Greg Gard’s system. That’s exactly why Brian Butch thinks Wisconsin still belongs in the Big Ten contender conversation.
“Because it’s what they do. It’s Greg Gard,” Butch said about the Badgers being a sleeper Big Ten contender.
“Like, I mean, that’s all I need to say is Greg Gard, and everyone said, ‘okay, yeah, that makes sense.’ Like, I think part of it is though is they’ve invested.
They had to pick with John Blackwell. Do you invest the majority of your budget with John, or do you go get Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp, and then fill around those 2 guys?
I’m going to take 2 versus 1. In this day and age, it’s irresponsible to go pay a guy a boatload of money, take half your budget away, and now all of a sudden, you’re sitting there, you know, we got to fill a roster.
I think that’s part of what they’re at.
“You will understand the way Wisconsin wants to play. They put money into the front court last couple of years, and I think the tournament success hasn’t been there because of this.
And I think Greg’s has addressed that defensively. They got guys that are better.
You look at Victory [Onuetu] from Hofstra, the big he’s going to be there to be able to block shots, get aggressive. We’ve talked about every Big Ten team has invested in bigs, it seems like, ‘okay, that’s the one.’”
That emphasis on size is no small thing. Around the sport, frontcourt strength has become a real separator, and teams that control the possession battle with bigger lineups have had plenty of success. The source points to Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Duke, and Michigan as examples of that trend.
Wisconsin had to be careful with how it used its resources, but it still managed to keep Winter and Rapp while adding Onuetu and Will Garlock to give the Badgers more depth up front. That should make them tougher to handle in the paint.
The fit pieces matter just as much, though. Foxwell and Elmer are the kind of additions that can make a roster click because they seem willing to plug into what Wisconsin wants on both ends.
“You talked about Owen Foxwell. I think he’s going to be elite and what he’s able to do,” Butch continued.
“I think this Wisconsin team is going to be more of a system-type offense than rely on one guy to go and make a play. The last couple of years, that’s what it’s felt like, whether it’s John Tonje, whether it’s been Nick Boyd, John Blackwell.
They’ve been more, okay, go break a guy down, go score. I think now there’s more system.
“And when you have more system on the offensive side, It really changes the way that defenses have to guard you. They’ve got to guard all 5.
We know Wisconsin wants to spread it and really shoot more 3s, and get to the rim. They’ve done that.
They’ve added that in [Eian] Elmer from Miami of Ohio, what he’s able to do. So I think in general, the pieces are all there.”
Of course, having the pieces is only part of the job. Wisconsin’s offense came together well last season, but the defense never matched that level of cohesion, even with capable individual defenders in the mix. If the Badgers are going to climb back into the top tier, they’ll need that side of the floor to catch up and give them a top-30 defense.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Is Stuck In A Bigger NIL Fight Than Ever
The NIL arms race has not settled into anything close to a steady state, and Wisconsin is feeling the pressure along with the rest of the Big Ten. Budgets across the Power 4 have climbed sharply, with The Athletic reporting average roster spending at $18 million in the SEC, $14.5 million in the Big East and $14 million in the Big Ten, a sign that what once felt like a temporary adjustment has become a permanent part of roster building.
Coaches around the country expected the market to flatten out, but the opposite has happened, with spending still rising as teams chase every possible edge. One interesting wrinkle from this spring: centers have become the most expensive position, another reminder that the recruiting and retention battle is no longer just about stars at the top, but about how programs allocate money across the roster while trying to keep up with rivals willing to spend even more. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Burks Jr Could Be Wisconsins Missing Piece In The Secondary
Wisconsin has spent the offseason looking for answers in the back end, and Marvin Burks Jr. arrives with the kind of rsum that can steady a secondary quickly. A two-year starter at Missouri, he brings real game experience to Madison and is expected to step into a starting safety role for the 2026 season, giving the Badgers a veteran presence at a spot where reliability matters every week.
Luke Fickell and safeties coach Jack Cooper have both pointed to Burks experience and the leadership he can provide, which is often the first sign a transfer is being counted on for more than just snaps. If he settles in the way Wisconsin hopes, Burks could become one of the defenses key pieces and put himself in position for a strong season that keeps NFL Draft attention in the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Fickell Is Facing Wisconsins Biggest Test Heading Into 2026
Luke Fickell knows the scrutiny around Wisconsin is not going away after two difficult seasons, and he did not try to pretend otherwise. The Badgers coach acknowledged he is on the hot seat while stressing his commitment to getting the program back on track, even as the contract buyout attached to his job underscores how complicated the situation has become for the school.
There are still signs Wisconsin fans are willing to lean back in if the results start to follow. Attendance has slipped, but upcoming games and season ticket sales have shown some renewed interest, giving the Badgers at least a little evidence that the base has not tuned out completely. For Fickell, the challenge heading toward 2026 is not just improving the on-field product, but convincing a restless fan base that the program is finally moving the right way. [Read more 🡒]