The Wisconsin Badgers will have a completely different starting five next season, with the exception of Nolan Winter. The bench will also look different without Braeden Carrington. However, that did not prevent Fox Sports’ Casey Jacobsen from ranking the Badgers in a Way Too Early Top 25 list. Jacobsen has the Badgers up at No. 19. The sole reason must be Greg Gard.
There is no other option, since the team cannot compete with any other Big Ten team right now. There are currently six players returning on scholarship. With a recruiting class of three players, plus Owen Foxwell.
Greg Gard is in the middle of a roster reconstruction, and national confidence in him is strong.
The Badgers will only return one starter, center Nolan Winter, who is entering his senior year. Austin Rapp, who should be a starter next season, appeared to have sorted things out near the end of the season. However, he could also continue in his role as the sixth man off the bench. Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, and Will Garlock were among the actors who played significant roles throughout the year. Finally, Zach Kinziger, who nearly redshirted, earned some rotational action owing to injuries.
The recruitment class includes 22-year-old professional Australian point guard Owen Foxwell and Jackson Ball, both of whom play in the NBL. Finally, there is in-state three-star LaTrevion Fenderson.
Greg Gard’s greatest need is not for John Blackwell; it’s for a big man. All the players mentioned? He only has two actual big men. Despite standing 6’10, Austin Rapp is somewhat of a hybrid. He hasn’t proven that he can be a post-up or rim defender.
Nonetheless, Wisconsin is confident that Greg Gard will restore, and the national media agrees, as seen by the most recent rankings. The Way Too Early ranking predicts that Gard will find a means to return the Badgers to their proper place.
