The Wisconsin Badgers added two players last week: one was an international recruit, Aleksas Bieliauskas, and the other was a transfer portal addition, Braeden Carrington, who previously played at Tulsa and Minnesota. The roster is teetering on complete with 14 current players on the roster. The NCAA has increased men's basketball roster limits to 15 scholarship players, but coaches and programs have gotten very used to 13.
Greg Gard has often had 13 with a couple of walk-ons, and that seems to be his plan again. According to BadgerBlitz senior writer Benjamin Worgull, Gard is done unless John Blackwell leaves for the NBA Draft.
A UW source said Wisconsin has one more roster spot to fill if John Blackwell decides to return. If Blackwell comes back, UW will likely add a walk on. If he stays in the draft, #Badgers will also try to add a player from the portal. https://t.co/3x6UMIJe37
— Benjamin Worgull (@TheBadgerNation) April 26, 2025
Wisconsin is content with their current roster unless John Blackwell stays in the NBA Draft
John Blackwell, earlier this offseason, entered the NBA Draft with the intention of withdrawing unless he receives favorable news about his NBA potential and his opportunity to be picked in the first or second round. If he doesn't stay in, he will get the feedback he needs for another season at Wisconsin.
Currently, with Blackwell, the roster has 13 scholarship players and one walk-on. This is why Gard would love to add another walk-on to reach his usual number of two to three walk-ons. Here's who is on the roster:
John Blackwell
Nick Boyd
Jack Janicki
Austin Rohde
Hayden Jones
Zach Kinziger
Austin Rapp
Nolan Winter
Jack Robison
Riccardo Greppi
Isaac Gard
Will Garlock
Aleksas Bieliauskas
Braeden Carrington
Now, if John Blackwell leaves for the NBA, that leaves a huge hole to fill, and Gard will be forced back into the transfer portal. If not, Gard will pull together a rotation out of this group, and it would be surprising not to see one of the freshmen be forced into a decent role, with a starting lineup of Boyd, Blackwell, Rohde, Rapp, and Winter. The depth will need to be at least 3-4 solid rotational players. This will be the storyline to watch in the preseason practices.