Three players have left Wisconsin basketball via transfer, and more may do so.
As it stands, the Badgers have six roster places to fill, despite the addition of a three-man freshman class that now includes Australian and former LSU commit Owen Foxwell.
As a result, Wisconsin has a lot of work to do in terms of squad development. In what might be Greg Gard’s most active transfer portal season yet, the Badgers are beginning to be associated with intriguing transfer portal candidates from all across the country.
Bruns, a 6-foot-5 winger, played for South Dakota for three years and is coming off his most productive season ever.
Bruns’ statistics speak for themselves.
In 2025-26, he averaged 20. 8 points, 5. 1 rebounds, 1. 8 assists, and 1. 2 steals. He also shot 39. 2% from range on 3. 7 attempts per game. Bruns’ long-range shooting and scoring ability from the wing are a great match for the Badgers’ new-look, high-octane attack.
Dig a little deeper into Bruns’ statistics, and there’s even more to enjoy. Last season, he demonstrated his ability against power conference opponents, scoring 16, 14, and 19 points against Creighton, Missouri, and Kansas State, respectively.
Another interesting piece: Bruns is more than just a long-range shooter. He frequently made it to the foul line, averaging 7. 0 free-throws each game. That ability to descend should be extremely attractive to Wisconsin, since the school is losing John Blackwell and Nick Boyd, both of whom excelled in that area.
How might Bruns fit into Madison?
Of course, this is just a list of clubs who have reached out to Bruns. His position on the Badgers’ transfer portal big board, as well as his thoughts on Wisconsin, are unknown. But if this boils down to a showdown between a few of the strong conference institutions mentioned above, Wisconsin may definitely contend.
Gard has consistently demonstrated his ability to bring transfers from lower tiers of the sport and assist them flourish in Madison, particularly athletic wings and backcourt players who know how to score. Bruns fits the definition perfectly.
With Foxwell likely to be the starting point guard in Madison in 2026-27, Bruns could theoretically move into the two or three positions. With Nolan Winter set to return and Austin Rapp heading in the same direction, signing Bruns (or someone similar to him) might solidify the Badgers’ starting five for next season.
