Austin Rapp’s Breakout Game vs. Ohio State Offers Glimpse of What He Can Be for Wisconsin
In a game where the Wisconsin Badgers flexed their muscle against Ohio State, one performance off the bench stood out-and not just because of the numbers. Sophomore forward Austin Rapp, a transfer from Portland, reminded everyone exactly why he was such a coveted addition in the offseason.
Rapp poured in 19 points, grabbed six rebounds, and knocked down five threes in a statement performance that helped Wisconsin cruise past the Buckeyes at the Kohl Center. It was the kind of showing that not only swung the game but also reignited the conversation about Rapp’s role and ceiling in Madison.
From Starter to Spark Plug
Rapp began the season in the starting lineup before giving way to Aleksas Bieliauskas, but this performance was a loud reminder that he's still very much in the mix. Coming off the bench, he played with confidence and rhythm-two things that had been inconsistent at times since arriving from Portland.
Last year with the Pilots, Rapp averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game as a true freshman. He was a high-volume shooter in that system, attempting 236 threes and hitting 83 of them.
That kind of green light doesn’t exist in Wisconsin’s more balanced offense, especially with established scorers like John Blackwell and Nick Boyd leading the way. But when Rapp is dialed in like he was against Ohio State, he doesn’t need 15 shots to make an impact.
Adapting to a New Role
Rapp’s season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He showed flashes early with four double-digit scoring games in November, but his 19-point outburst against Ohio State was his most complete performance yet. It doubled his previous high in Big Ten play and came at a time when the Badgers are fine-tuning their rotation ahead of the postseason.
He’s also contributed in key wins earlier in the season-posting 20 points, eight boards, and an assist in a win over Providence, and adding 13 points against Northwestern. Those moments have been there, but consistency has been the missing piece.
What’s encouraging is how Rapp has adjusted his game to fit Wisconsin’s system. The volume shooting from Portland is gone, but he’s still finding ways to be efficient.
He’s averaging 7.5 shot attempts per game this season, which puts him on pace for around 209 total attempts-fewer than the number of threes he launched last year alone. But his impact is starting to come into focus, especially when he’s spacing the floor and taking advantage of open looks.
Cleaning Up the Mistakes
One of the most under-the-radar improvements in Rapp’s game has been his decision-making. Last season, he averaged 2.6 turnovers per game and racked up 82 turnovers to go along with 80 personal fouls.
This year? He’s sitting at just 18 turnovers and 29 fouls.
That’s a massive step forward in terms of discipline and efficiency, and it’s exactly what Wisconsin needs from a bench contributor in high-leverage conference games.
Where He Fits Moving Forward
With nine regular-season games left before the Big Ten Tournament, Wisconsin is still refining its rotation. Bench guards Braeden Carrington and Jack Janicki bring different skill sets-Carrington stretches the floor as a shooter, while Janicki brings defensive toughness. But Rapp offers something unique: a forward who can space the floor, rebound, and now, take care of the basketball.
Right now, he’s giving the Badgers more offensive upside off the bench than someone like Will Garlock. And if Rapp continues to bring this kind of energy and production in limited minutes, it’s not hard to see his role expanding as March approaches.
The Badgers don’t need Rapp to be the focal point of the offense. They just need him to be the version of himself we saw against Ohio State-a confident, efficient scorer who can come in, change the pace, and stretch defenses.
If he can do that, Wisconsin’s bench just got a whole lot more dangerous.