The Wisconsin Badgers are redefining their basketball identity, and it's all about stretching the floor with their big men. Gone are the days when the likes of Ethan Happ dominated the paint without venturing beyond the arc. Now, it's a new era in Madison, where the big guys are not just posting up but also launching threes with remarkable precision.
Wisconsin's forwards and centers are now among the nation's elite when it comes to shooting from deep. Leading the charge is Austin Rapp, who has already sunk 38 threes this season.
He's followed by Nolan Winter with 27 and Aleksas Bieliauskas with 16. This trio is making waves, as the Badger bigs are collectively taking three shots from beyond the arc per game, ranking them fifth nationally and second in the Big Ten, just behind Illinois.
The shift in strategy is clear: to wear a Badger jersey as a forward or center, you must be able to shoot from long range. Last season, seven-footer Steven Crowl set the tone by hitting 32 threes at an impressive 41 percent. This year, Rapp, Winter, and Bieliauskas have seamlessly picked up where he left off.
The Badgers boast the second-best three-point shooting team in the conference, with contributions from all over the roster. While Nick Boyd and John Blackwell are key contributors, the ability to score from downtown is a team-wide trait. Rapp, in particular, has been pivotal in recent games, overcoming early-season lineup challenges to score in double figures in three of his last four games, shooting a scorching 64 percent from beyond the arc during this stretch.
Wisconsin's big men are proving that they can hang with the best shooters in the country, and their ability to stretch the floor is making the Badgers a formidable threat in the Big Ten. Keep an eye on this squad as they continue to redefine what it means to be a big man in college basketball.