Just one game into the 2026-27 season, and Wisconsin Badgers fans are already beginning to worry about what this team is. It's no secret that losing two All-Conference-caliber guards and 20-point-per-game scorers in Nick Boyd and John Blackwell isn't easy to replace from an offensive perspective. But even with that in mind, things still feel a bit shaky.
Wisconsin was forced into a bit of a dogfight against a Denver team that, on paper, was far inferior. However, persistent offensive runs fueled by Carson Johnson and long slumps on the Badgers' side of things made the game just a narrow seven-point victory.
Questions looming
The biggest question looming is fairly clear: the offensive output. Wisconsin fans have become accustomed to high-octane, near-90-point-per-game scoring outbursts from the team, particularly in the pay-to-play games at the start of the season.
However, after failing to replace the talent lost, the Badgers are left with a one-trick-pony-type offense, fueled almost entirely by Australian guard Owen Foxwell. When he's on the court, it isn't an issue, as Foxwell's ability to facilitate in transition while also operating within the structure of the half court works perfectly fine.
Wisconsin’s Owen Foxwell:
— Sports Rock Media (@sportsrockmedia) November 5, 2026
• 14 PTS
• 1 REB
• 7 AST
• 1 STL
The 23 year old Aussie in his first year of college basketball is a dynamic guard with great passing ability and vision for the Badgers
Wisconsin 75 Denver 68#Badgers #OnWisconsin #B1GMBB pic.twitter.com/PnZtNC7PCT
However, he can't play all 40 minutes in every game, as injuries, fatigue and foul trouble could all stack up, especially given the burden he carries on the defensive end as well. The non-Foxwell minutes are where things really begin to break down.
Each of the Badgers' top-five lineups in net rating in the Denver game consisted of Foxwell, Braeden Carrington and Nolan Winter in tandem. Without those three, Wisconsin was fairly consistently losing minutes, largely because, outside of Foxwell, there isn't another true creator.
Jackson Ball and Zach Kinzig both had some fun moments off the bench in the Badgers' exhibition matches, but neither was given much of an opportunity to shine on opening night. Eian Elmer made some fun plays in transition, but his lack of a handle and scoring chops limits what he can do as a half-court creator.
Luckily for Wisconsin, there is time to figure this all out. The Badgers have two more weeks and four games until their first Power Four matchup against Seton Hall takes place, and over a month until their first ranked matchup.
In these games against lesser opponents, Greg Gard will have to get creative with the lineups he deploys to find consistency in an ultimately incongruent lineup to this point.
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