The Wisconsin Badgers are still buzzing after a statement win over the Ohio State Buckeyes, a 92-82 victory that showcased both their depth and their firepower. And while the final score tells part of the story, the real headline came off the bench-literally.
Enter Austin Rapp.
The Portland Pilots transfer erupted for 19 first-half points, all of them coming before the break, and all of them coming when the Badgers needed a spark. Rapp didn’t just check into the game-he changed it.
Coming in cold, he lit up Ohio State with a shooting display that felt like it came out of nowhere. But for those who remember his days in the West Coast Conference, where he earned Freshman of the Year honors, Saturday felt more like a reminder than a revelation.
Rapp came into the matchup having scored six points or fewer in six of his last eight games. So when he went off for 19 in a single half?
That’s what you call a breakout. Or maybe a reintroduction.
He finished 7-of-10 from the field and drilled five of his seven three-point attempts, putting the Buckeyes’ defense on its heels and forcing a recalibration of their game plan on the fly. Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler acknowledged as much postgame, reflecting on the challenge of preparing for a player who hadn’t been lighting it up recently-but clearly had that kind of performance in his bag.
“When you write scouting, and you see a player who’s not shooting at the level they’re capable of over a certain stretch, my mentality is ‘don’t be the game where they get it going,’” Diebler said. “He got it going.”
And while Rapp set the tone early, he wasn’t the only Badger doing damage. John Blackwell led all scorers with 22 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting night, showing off his ability to score at all three levels. Nick Boyd added 21 of his own, getting it done at the line with a perfect 8-for-8 showing to go along with six field goals.
This was a team win, no doubt. But Rapp’s outburst gave Wisconsin something more than just points-it gave them momentum.
It gave them belief. It showed that this roster has weapons beyond the starting five, and that on any given night, someone unexpected can swing the outcome.
Next up, the Badgers head to Bloomington for a Saturday showdown with the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. And you can bet all eyes will be on No. 11 in red, just in case Austin Rapp is ready to run it back.