There's a lot of noise about Wisconsin being built around the stretch-five and the three-point shooting, but that's only partially true. Greg Gard would tell you that everything starts on the defensive end. If you can't play defense for Gard, you are benched, no matter how many threes you can make. This is what happened with Austin Rapp last season, and he slowly became more and more formidable on the defensive end.
This season, the defense is expected to be led by the same player leading the offense: Owen Foxwell. Foxwell is a new player for the Badgers this season, having made his way over from one of the top professional leagues in the world, the NBL. According to an Australian basketball writer, "Aussies in NCAAB", Foxwell's experience in the professional league will help him excel for Gard.
"Owen Foxwell should be well prepared to lead the Badger defense from the front, after a strong season under SEM Head Coach Josh King." Aussies in the NCAAB says, "The Phoenix were known for their ball pressure and defensive intensity during a semifinal run in the NBL26"
Ready to set the tone on defense🔒 pic.twitter.com/MJm4G9BW6t
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) July 29, 2026
Owen Foxwell says he's ready to bring defensive intensity to Wisconsin
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Foxwell comes over as a 22-year-old former professional, which means, as of now, he's most likely a senior for Wisconsin. It's unclear if this means he has one or two years left, but either way, he is a veteran and expected to be the leader. Foxwell understands this pressure and is ready for it.
In a social media post put out by the Wisconsin Badgers basketball account, Foxwell said, "I think this group can be really good on the defensive end...The tone I want to set as the point guard is being the head of the snake and the first guy to pick up the ball. The key to being a great defensive team is having someone set the tone every single possession. It doesn't always have to result in turnovers; It just has to be about applying pressure over 40 minutes."
Foxwell had one of his best seasons in the NBL last year, not just on the offensive end. While defensive stats are harder to track, especially if it's narrowed down to an opponent's FG % against a specific player (a rare stat to keep), Foxwell did average 1.3 steals per game. However, as he noted above, it's not always about the steals. Greg Gard's teams aren't known specifically for steals; instead, they are known for creating missed opportunities for the opponents.
Gard wants to see the opponent come up empty when they get down the floor. Or if they do make a shot, it was heavily contested, and the offensive player/team had to get through traffic to make it. Foxwell's experience in the NBL has prepared him for the Big Ten. Many former Big Ten players make their way over to the NBL when they can't get into the NBA. It's an elite league, and if he had success there, he will find a way in the NCAA.
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