Wisconsin’s starting five is starting to come into focus, and the biggest wrinkle isn’t talent - it’s eligibility.
Greg Gard said Braeden Carrington has been around everything this fall, and as things stand now, he’s eligible. The court case has been pushed back to Oct. 20, and the expectation, based on what’s been gathered so far, is that if Carrington remains eligible, he’ll be in the mix to play right away. For the moment, that lets Wisconsin project a lineup with some pretty clear pieces and one real decision to make.
The core looks settled with Owen Foxwell, Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp and Eian Elmer. Foxwell is lined up as the starting point guard and the voice of the group, bringing pro experience from the NBL.
Winter and Rapp give the Badgers a frontcourt that can stretch and move, since both can operate inside and out. Elmer, meanwhile, was the headliner of Wisconsin’s transfer portal haul.
The Miami (Ohio) transfer arrives after being part of a 32-2 team that reached March Madness, and he has yet to shoot under 40% from 3 in a season.
That leaves one opening, and it’s the kind of competition that can go either way.
Braeden Carrington and Trey Autry are the names fighting for the starting two-guard job. Carrington seems like the natural fit if he’s cleared, especially after being in the program last season and carving out a key role.
But Autry has his own case. Wisconsin brought him in for a reason, and some believe he offers more upside in the starting lineup.
At the same time, Carrington also proved last year that he could be exactly the kind of bench piece the Badgers need, which makes the decision less obvious than it first appears.
There are also a couple of names who could surface in spot-start territory if the season throws Wisconsin a curveball. Victory Onuetu is the cleaner path there, especially with Greg Gard having shown last season that he’s willing to get creative with his big-man rotations.
Jackson Ball is more of a long-range bet, but there’s real intrigue around what he has shown in overseas play and in his short time on campus. He may still be a year or so away from fully breaking through, but he’s firmly on the radar.
For now, though, the projection starts with Foxwell, Winter, Rapp and Elmer locked in - and Carrington or Autry making the call at the final guard spot.
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