The Wisconsin Badgers held an open practice today, and Greg Gard met with the media. One question that has surfaced lately is whether Gard is done adding to the roster with one spot left open. Will the Badgers have all 15 players or not? Gard didn't hesitate that the season would start with 15 players on the roster. It wasn't even a question for Gard, as he is actively looking to add the final player. Who that will be is the bigger question.
Will it be a walk-on? An in-state flyer? Or is there still a player out in the portal that could fit the bill? How about a player from last year who ran out of eligibility? As reporters looked around, they noticed that the last one may have some merit. Braeden Carrington, who played his fourth season of college basketball last year, was seen at practice...participating as a player. Could he be the final piece to the puzzle? If so, it's very sticky, and there's a major hurdle in the way.
One notable on this: Braeden Carrington, a 2022 class guy who played his senior season for #Badgers last year, was at practice today. Gard was asked if that 15th guy could be Carrington, and Gard said Carrington hasn’t indicated whether or not he will seek an additional year. https://t.co/woFqrNrMpr
— Michael McCleary (@MikeJMcCleary) July 14, 2026
Why Braeden Carrington remains a possibility even if it's a long shot
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Here's what's happening on a larger scale, at the NCAA level. The NCAA recently changed its eligibility rules and is now allowing a version of the 5-in-5. Letting players play five years of their sport from the age of 19. Redshirts are no longer a thing; it's just five years. You can play every game for all five years or sit on the bench; it's five years or eligibility, and the school gets to decide how to use it.
That would bode well for players like Carrington. He's played four years of college basketball, two years at Minnesota, one at Tulsa, and finally one at Wisconsin. He's played over 100 games in his career, and with this ruling, he would have one more year. However, he doesn't. Why? The NCAA also said they weren't going to grandfather anyone in. The players who lost eligibility last season are done, and this is only going forward.
Well, a group of players and lawyers have banded together to take that to court, saying that the players from last season should also have an extra year. While Carrington isn't in that injunction, he is a player who would eagerly be watching it. Wondering if that changes things, and it would definitely change things for the Badgers if it goes through.
If Carrington gets another year of eligibility, he could immediately help Wisconsin basketball. He was an incredible 6th man last season and came off the bench to give a spark to the offense and defense. He could even find himself as a starter with the current lineup, as he may pass Trey Autry in the role. He's a known commodity that would do what Autry was brought in to do.
For now, it's still a long shot, and Gard is also looking around at who the 15th player could be. If you had to put odds on it, it's most likely a walkon from the state, but Carrington certainly has a ton of intrigue for Wisconsin fans...and...Greg Gard.
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