The Wisconsin Badgers will have an entirely new starting five next season, minus Nolan Winter. The bench will look different, too, without Braeden Carrington. However, that didn't stop Fox Sports' Casey Jacobsen from ranking the Badgers in a "Way Too Early Top 25" list. Jacobsen has the Badgers all the way up at No. 19. The sole reason has to be because of Greg Gard.
There's no other explanation because right now the roster can't really hang with anyone in the Big Ten. There are six players returning as of right now on scholarship. With a recruiting class of three players, now with the addition of Owen Foxwell.
A first look at next season from @cjacobsen23 👀
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) April 7, 2026
What would you change? pic.twitter.com/hvZM0ga4lm
Greg Gard is in the middle of a roster overhaul and national belief in him is high
Related: 2 in-state players are in the transfer portal and both could be Wisconsin options
The Badgers will return one starter in center Nolan Winter, who's headed into his senior year. There's Austin Rapp, who should project to be a starter next season, as he seemed to sort of figure things out late in the year. Though he could also continue being that 6th man off the bench. Add in Jack Janicki, Hayden Jones, and Will Garlock, who all played a consistent role throughout the year. Finally, Zach Kinziger, who almost redshirted, instead found some minutes in the rotation with injuries.
The recruiting class has 22-year-old professional Australian point guard Owen Foxwell, as well as another NBL player in Jackson Ball. Finally, in-state 3-star LaTrevion Fenderson.
The biggest void Greg Gard needs to fill is actually not John Blackwell; it's in the big man department. All those players just listed? He only has two true big men. Austin Rapp is a bit of a hybrid, even though he's 6'10". He hasn't shown he can be a post-up, rim protector.
Yet, Wisconsin has faith that Greg Gard will rebuild, and the national media does too, with the latest ranking. The Way Too Early Ranking says that Gard will find a way to get the Badgers back to where they should be.