The Badgers were an early winner in the transfer portal, landing a trio of four-star transfers within the span of three days in early April. They added West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year Austin Rapp from the University of Portland, San Diego State standout Nick Boyd, and versatile wing Andrew Rohde from Virginia.
Wisconsin's haul was complemented by Tulsa transfer, and former Golden Gopher Braeden Carrington, along with international recruit Aleksas Bieliauskas of Lithuania. On3 Sports ranked the Badgers eighth nationally in their transfer rankings.
So, why wouldn't a team that finished 16th in the final AP Top 25 last season that had such an impactful offseason be left off a projected Top 25 list to start 2025-26? I'm not quite sure.
Wisconsin doesn't crack The Athletic's Top 25 list
CJ Moore of The Athletic released a personal Top 25 projection Monday, a list which featured six Big 10 teams, including No. 1 Purdue and No. 4 Michigan. Wisconsin didn't earn a spot, as Moore opted for teams like Ohio State, UCLA, Michigan State and Illinois ahead of the Badgers.
I get it: John Tonje was a second-team All-American in 2024-25, and Steven Crowl had been the face of Wisconsin's frontcourt for seemingly forever. Plus, high-impact bench pieces Kamari McGee and Carter Gilmore are gone.
But, part of me wonders if Moore has simply forgotten about how good Wisconsin's transfer class is.
Boyd and Rohde come from premiere defensive programs and are high-level playmakers who can take pressure off John Blackwell to facilitate. Defense and playmaking were the 2024-25 Badgers' biggest weaknesses. Boyd, a true point guard, and Rohde, who was a primary ballhandler for the Cavaliers at 6-foot-6, can easily plug those holes.
Then you look to the offensive side, where Wisconsin left its slow-moving, cobweb-growing offense in the past to become a pace-and-space squad (thanks, Kirk Penney). A frontcourt of Austin Rapp and Nolan Winter will give opponents nightmares on the offensive end. Both are high-level shooters and fluid movers with experience playing the four and the five.
And what about Blackwell? The rising junior took a massive step forward last season despite having to be Wisconsin's de facto point guard, and he should be able to play his natural position of shooting guard in 2025-26. Without pressure to playmake, Blackwell's role should be that of a slasher, and it wouldn't shock me to see him have a monster scoring season.
Off the bench, the Badgers have hard-nosed players. Carrington and Jack Janicki are prototypical 3-and-D wings, Riccardo Greppi's size presents a different option in the frontcourt, and it wouldn't be surprising to see one or two of the incoming freshmen make a push for regular minutes.
This is not all to say Moore disrespected Wisconsin. He had them in his list of others for consideration, and there's plenty of talent across the country. It's more of a message from Badger faithful to the national media, reminding them that you shouldn't underestimate Greg Gard and his incredible staff because they'll make you look silly.