Wisconsin fans are eager for basketball season as the football program is a burning trash heap right now. The men's basketball program, on the other hand, is starting the season as a ranked program. Greg Gard and Wisconsin have often started under the radar and surprised people, but that won't be the case this year as the Badgers come in ranked No. 24 in the nation.
Checking in at 24 #Badgers x #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/vul7lVDoxt
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) October 13, 2025
The Wisconsin Badgers are No. 24 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll
Related: Greg Gard has an animal comparison for John Blackwell that will make you laugh
The Badgers check in at the bottom of the top 25, but still finding themselves listed as one of the best teams in the nation before the season even starts shows that the media is beginning to respect what Gard does in Madison. The roster is almost entirely new. Only two starters are returning, Nolan Winter and John Blackwell, and only three impact players (add Jack Janicki).
The rest of the roster was either riding the pine last year or is entirely new. Yet, Gard did it last year, and with NBA hopefuls as the two returning starters, there's some belief in who this team can be and how far they can advance.
The Badgers are the sixth-best Big Ten team according to the AP Poll. Purdue tops the list as the No. 1 overall preseason favorite. It then goes Michigan at No. 7, UCLA at No. 12, Illinois at No. 17, and Michigan State at No. 22.
Four other Big Ten teams are receiving votes: Oregon, USC, Washington, and Indiana.
It will be an interesting season with that much talent in the conference, but it didn't stop Wisconsin from almost winning the Big Ten Tournament and ending up third in the conference. It will take a lot to see it happen again, but Gard and company are ready to go.