Wisconsin’s offense is starting to settle in, and the Badgers got exactly the kind of response they needed with a wire-to-wire win over Fairfield after two early games that left a little to be desired. But while the team is trending in the right direction, Nolan Winter’s start has become the most uncomfortable early-season storyline.
The senior big man has opened 2026-27 averaging 6.3 points, eight rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. The rebounding, passing and defense have mostly held up.
Winter has shown what looks like a better feel as a passer, kept controlling the glass and defended as well as he ever has. The problem is simple: he’s not scoring, and he doesn’t seem to be forcing the issue.
That’s a surprise because one of the biggest questions entering the season was whether Winter would make the jump into stardom and become the focal point his skill set suggests he can be. Instead, the start has been rocky.
Winter is taking just 7.7 shots per game, which is a full attempt fewer than last season. That’s especially disappointing with John Blackwell and Nick Boyd gone and more opportunity available. The efficiency numbers tell the same story: he’s shooting 34.8% from the field, 14.3% from 3 and 25% at the free-throw line.
There are possible explanations. Winter may still be working through injury issues, since he missed an entire summer because of it. That absence also may have slowed his connection with Owen Foxwell, which could help explain why Victory Onuetu and Will Garlock have been getting theirs while Winter has not.
Still, the biggest issue has been how little he’s been used. Across three games against very undersized opponents, Winter has only had six post-up reps and just three possessions as a spot-up option. That doesn’t tell the whole story, but it does make the point: he hasn’t been a major part of the offense early on.
The fix is there. Wisconsin can simply create more looks for him.
When Winter gets post touches, he remains one of the more effective post-up bigs in the Big Ten. If his touch comes back to where it was, it’s not hard to see him finding his rhythm soon.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Recruiting Loss Just Got More Painful For Badgers Fans
Wisconsins 2027 basketball class took a hit when Jack Thelen, the 7-foot-1 center who had previously pledged to the Badgers, backed off that commitment and landed at UConn instead. Thelen, ranked No. 88 nationally in the class by Rivals, had given Wisconsin a promising frontcourt piece for the future, and his departure changes the look of an early group that had already started to take shape.
The Badgers still have two four-star guards committed in the class, so the foundation is not gone, but losing a big man of Thelens size and profile stings. It also adds another layer to the challenge of holding off blueblood-level competition, with UConn continuing to build one of the nations strongest classes and sitting No. 2 nationally on 247Sports. [Read more 🡒]
Racine Case Just Ended A Drought Wisconsin Fans Will Appreciate
Racine Case gave Wisconsin high school football fans a familiar kind of thrill with a finish that came down to the final kick. Senior kicker Colin Gardner drilled a 28-yard field goal as time expired to lift Case past Muskego 6-3 in the WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinals, sending the team on to the state semifinals against West De Pere.
For a program with a long history but a long wait, the moment carried extra weight. Racine Case is headed to the state semifinals for the first time since 1980, ending a 46-year drought and giving its supporters a milestone they had waited generations to see. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Faces A Respect Test After Ryan Hopkins' Breakout
Ryan Hopkins first start gave Wisconsin a jolt at the right time, and now the Badgers have to show it was more than a one-game spark. Fresh off a win over Rutgers, Wisconsin heads into Week 11 with a 6-3 record and a share of third place in the Big Ten, a position that still leaves plenty on the table in a crowded conference race.
Maryland brings a tricky kind of test into the matchup, even after parting ways with head coach Mike Locksley. The Terrapins also come in off a win over Purdue, which means Wisconsin is staring at a team with something to prove and a chance to make the Badgers answer a simple question: was Hopkins breakout the start of something real, or just a promising debut? [Read more 🡒]