Wisconsin needs to find another big man, no matter what happens this offseason. Even if every player stays on the roster (except the seniors). The lack of production down low was a weak spot all season. Nolan Winter did his best down low, but the supporting bigs around him were either ineffective or true freshmen. There's now a player who is ready to portal when it opens that could fill the hole.
6'10 forward Kwame Evans Jr. from Oregon is looking to transfer, but won't be able to until the portal opens. He seems like a player who could fit nicely with what Wisconsin needs.
NEWS: Oregon forward Kwame Evans Jr. plans to enter the @TransferPortal, his agent James Dunleavy of @excelsm told @On3.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) March 23, 2026
⁰The 6-10 junior and former 5⭐️ recruit averaged 13.3 points and 7.4 rebounds this season. Expected to be one of the more sought-after players in the portal.… pic.twitter.com/HbgGG96w9m
Wisconsin could use an elite rim-protector and rebounding in the portal
Related: The 3 players Greg Gard must replace and the 2 Wisconsin can’t afford to lose
Let's keep an eye on all the forwards/centers that enter the portal, especially ones that help balance out Austin Rapp. Who could foreseeably even play the "3" and help the lineup get better, as he can slide outside with ease. Evans has what Gard needs in a forward.
He's an elite rebounder who can pull down double-digit rebounds in any and every game. He averaged 7.4 rebounds this last season with four 10+ rebound games. He would be second on the Badgers with those lines. Evans plays with an insanely high motor and averaged 13.3 points per game.
He can also block shots when called upon and disrupt shooters if he doesn't get the block. While his stat line isn't elite in blocking, he plays a high-level defense. He had 4 blocked shots against Wisconsin when the Badgers lost to Oregon earlier this year.
Evans may not be who Gard chases after first, but there's a case to be made that he would fit well in the system that Gard wants to build both defensively and offensively. Evans being on the roster would take pressure off Rapp. It would also help Aleksas Bieliauskas slide into backing up Nolan Winter, naturally.
Kwame Evans Jr. is worth keeping an eye on, and it wouldn't hurt for the Badgers to extend a call and see what sort of interest level there would be. Either way, the Badgers need to consider adding another forward in the portal.