Austin Rapp arrived in Madison with real expectations. A skilled big man out of Portland with the ability to stretch the floor and bang inside, he was seen as one of the more intriguing portal additions in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin and head coach Greg Gard were banking on Rapp to bring versatility and experience to a frontcourt that needed both. But nearly halfway through the season, Rapp’s impact has been underwhelming - and his role is shrinking fast.
The latest sign came in Wisconsin’s overtime loss to Villanova. Rapp played just 15 minutes, his lowest total of the season.
And Gard didn’t mince words afterward. He said there are only six players he currently trusts on the defensive end - the starting five and freshman Hayden Jones.
Rapp wasn’t on that list.
That lack of trust showed up on the floor. When Rapp checked in during the second half, his first touch ended in a turnover.
Not long after, he had a defensive lapse. It’s the kind of sequence that’s been all too familiar this season, and it’s part of why Gard is clearly tightening his rotation.
For a player who was expected to be a key contributor, Rapp is drifting further from the core group.
It’s not just the defense. Offensively, the numbers have taken a dip, too.
Rapp is shooting just 37% from the field and 28% from three - a far cry from the efficiency he showed at Portland. His only real breakout came against Providence, where he dropped 20 points and grabbed eight boards.
That performance looked like it might be a turning point. But since then, the arrow has been pointing the other way.
The low point? A rough outing against TCU, where he shot 1-of-6, scored just two points, and turned the ball over three times. That game seemed to mark the beginning of his slide down the bench, and the Villanova performance only confirmed it.
The ripple effect is real for Wisconsin. With Rapp struggling, Gard is being forced to lean heavily on a true freshman in the starting lineup.
And if Rapp can’t provide reliable minutes off the bench, the only other big man option is - you guessed it - another freshman. That’s a tough ask in a physical Big Ten season.
There’s still time for Rapp to turn things around, but the clock is ticking. Wisconsin needs more from him - and fast.
He’s got the tools, but right now, it’s about earning back Gard’s trust and finding a way to contribute on both ends. Because if Rapp can’t figure it out soon, the Badgers’ depth in the frontcourt could become a real issue down the stretch.