The Wisconsin Badgers are staring at a tricky road into the 2026-27 season, even with a roster that looks capable of getting back to the NCAA Tournament on paper.
That’s the tension hanging over this group right now. Wisconsin has spent the offseason reloading, and the staff clearly believes this team can get back into the field. But CBS Sports analyst Isaac Trotter has already flagged plenty of “red flags,” and the concern is easy to understand once you look at what the Badgers lost.
Wisconsin said goodbye to Nick Boyd, Andrew Rohde, and Braeden Carrington after graduation, then took another hit when John Blackwell headed to Duke and Aleksas Bieliauskas transferred to South Carolina. The Blackwell departure came after his on-court goals weren’t being met, while Bieliauskas’ exit hurt in a different way because of what he brought schematically.
That’s the real challenge here: replacing production is hard enough. Replacing players who fit the system is even tougher. Wisconsin’s staff had to do both at once, and the answer won’t be clear until the team actually takes the floor.
The Badgers have handled roster churn well before. Over the past two off-seasons, they pieced together teams good enough to reach the NCAA Tournament, even if both runs ended without hardware.
This time, though, the outside expectation level is different. Wisconsin is being viewed as a bubble team, not a sure thing.
The transfer additions do give the roster some punch. Eian Elmer arrives with a reputation as one of the best defenders at the mid-major level, and he shot 42.9% from three.
Trey Autry brings a similar profile. Wisconsin sees Elmer as more than a role player, especially with Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp already in the mix.
That gives the Badgers a lot of perimeter help. Between Winter, Rapp, Elmer, Autry, and Jack Janicki off the bench, there’s no shortage of options on the outside.
The issue is what happens when the threes stop falling. That was a problem last season, when Wisconsin got stuck and couldn’t adjust quickly enough.
If the shot is there, this team can look tournament-caliber. If it isn’t, the offense has to find another gear.
That’s where Owen Foxwell comes in.
Replacing Nick Boyd is the toughest assignment on the roster. Boyd brought versatility, energy, and production, and Wisconsin had already gone through a similar search when it lost John Tonje before eventually landing Boyd. Now Foxwell is the one expected to keep that line going.
He’s projected to start at point guard and is the likeliest answer to the Boyd void. Foxwell isn’t a direct clone, but there are similarities. Both operate well in ball screens, and Foxwell uses picks to work his way into the paint and finish easy chances.
Wisconsin needs that kind of offense. It needs someone who can create when the ball isn’t flying in from deep.
The bigger question is whether Foxwell can steer the group the way the Badgers need. He’ll turn 23 before the season starts and brings plenty of overseas experience, but the staff is counting on him to be steady, composed, and in control.
If he can do that, Wisconsin has a path forward. If he can’t, the offense could have a hard time getting going night after night.
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Eichorst also made clear that the modern realities of college athletics are already on his radar, with NIL competitiveness among the issues Wisconsin has to keep pace with. He pointed to the need for clarity around the football programs direction under Luke Fickell, a reminder that his first year will be judged not just by introductions and outreach, but by how quickly he helps set the programs next steps. [Read more 🡒]