2026-27 Big Ten offseason at a glance: Wisconsin Badgers

Welcome to “Big Ten offseason at a glance,” a team-by-team look at the conference at the start of the summer. We’ll examine roster movement for each Big Ten roster and give an early outlook for each Big Ten program for the 2026-27 season.

Up next: Wisconsin (24-11 overall in 2025-26, 14-6 in Big Ten play)

Previously: Penn State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Northwestern, Washington

For the second time in three seasons, Wisconsin fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament as a five seed, losing to High Point.

The early departure was the Badgers’ sixth consecutive first weekend exit under Greg Gard, who led the program to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 2016 and 2017.

Despite the early tournament exit, it’s hard to argue with the success Gard has had in Madison. The Badgers have won 20-plus games in each of the last five seasons and amassed 14 wins in Big Ten play last season. Despite losing significant pieces to the transfer portal – Chucky Hepburn a few years back and John Blackwell this cycle – Wisconsin still finds a way to stay relevant in the Big Ten race.

Wisconsin roster movement

Players returning with eligibility: Austin Rapp, Nolan Winter, Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, Zach Kinziger, Will Garlock

Players departing due to exhausted eligibility: Nick Boyd, Andrew Rohde

Players who departed via transfer portal: Aleksas Bieliauskas (to South Carolina), Jack Robison (to North Dakota State), John Blackwell (to Duke), Riccardo Greppi (to Sam Houston State)

Players arriving via transfer portal: Trey Autry (from George Washington), Victory Onuetu (from Hofstra), Eian Elmer (from Miami OH)

Players arriving from high school/overseas: LaTrevion Fenderson, Jackson Ball, Isaac Riddle, Owen Foxwell

The loss of Blackwell, who would have been a preseason All-Big Ten selection, stings. The Badgers found him as an under-the-radar piece out of high school and developed him over the last three years. But it’s hard to fault Blackwell for leaving for the lucrative monetary package he presumably received at Duke.

What to like about Wisconsin

There’s a lot to like about senior forward Nolan Winter. Standing at 7-feet, Winter averaged 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 56.9 percent shooting from the field. His ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots from deep makes him a threat. Winter should be one of the top 15 to 20 players in the conference next season.

Though he was born in 2003, Australian Owen Foxwell begins his freshman season of eligibility with high expectations. He will undoubtedly complement Winter the same way Boyd did last season. Foxwell will have the ball in his hands and will have freedom to make plays in the Badger backcourt.

What to question with Wisconsin

With the departures of Blackwell and Boyd, there is a sizable hole to fill in the Badger backcourt. The dynamic guard duo accounted for 39.8 points per game last season, leading one of the best offensive teams under Greg Gard.

None of the transfer guards has power conference experience, so the Badgers will have to rely on Foxwell to contribute in a big way in November.

Wisconsin has to hope that the games of Autry, who averaged 11 points last season at George Washington and Elmer, who averaged 12.7 points last season at Miami (OH), translate to the Big Ten. Both will be counted on to play major minutes alongside Foxwell in the Badger backcourt.

Wisconsin outlook for the 2026-27 season

Home: Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Washington

Away: Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA, USC

Home/Away: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota

There are certainly questions about what Wisconsin will look like this season. However, if there’s one thing about Gard, it’s that he’ll get the most out of his roster and will find a way to have the Badgers in the mix for another NCAA tournament bid.

The Badgers will head to the Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship to play NC State, Seton Hall and a team to be determined in the non-conference and are currently picked to finish just outside the top half of the conference in Bart Torvik’s early projections for the 2026-27 season.

See More: Commentary, 2026-27 Big Ten preview, Wisconsin Badgers