ESPN Projects the Wisconsin Badgers Starting Lineup for 2025-26 Season

Wisconsin Badgers Latest Roster Additions Make Them a Compelling Threat in 2025-26

The Wisconsin Badgers are going to look a lot different next year than they did this season. Leading scorer and second-team All-American John Tonje is out of eligibility, as is point guard Max Klesmit and big man Steven Crowl. Tonje’s 19.9 points per game will be hard to replace, and the ball-handling and leadership from Klesmit and the energy from Crowl.

Additionally, bench players Kamari McGee and Carter Gilmore will be gone next season as well. Both were significant rotation players during Wisconsin’s run. However, while the Wisconsin Badgers are losing several big-time players, the team is still positioned to be excellent once again next season.

San Diego State transfer Nick Boyd will become Wisconsin’s new lead guard. The New York native averaged almost 14 points per game last year in the Mountain West. Former Virginia Cavalier Andrew Rohde joins the new-look backcourt, bringing his 6-foot-6 size and 41% from three over from Charlottesville. Replacing some of their departing shooting is a big necessity for the roster.

The team’s other big transfer is center Austin Rapp. The ex-Portland Pilot is originally from Melbourne, Australia and averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds last year. Rapp is a strong passer with all-around offensive game that should fit Greg Gard’s up-tempo offense.

Wisconsin Badgers Projected Lineup for 2025-26

ESPN ranked Wisconsin as #14 in the country in their way-too-early Top 25 for college basketball. Three Big Ten teams came in above them. The UCLA Bruins were in the #10 spot, while the Michigan Wolverines came in at #5 thanks to their own elite transfer portal class. At #2, the Purdue Boilermakers sit right below the Houston Cougars, the runner’s-up from the last season.

Wisconsin’s projected starting lineup for next season features three transfer players and two big-time returning players:

G – Nick Boyd
G – Andrew Rohde
G – John Blackwell
F – Austin Rapp
F – Nolan Winter

Nolan Winter will be a big piece next year. He will have a new companion in the frontcourt in Rapp, who will likely replace Crowl in the Badgers’ two-big lineup. Winter averaged Just under 10 points and 6 rebounds per contest last year.

Blackwell seems destined to be the best player on next year’s squad. After averaging over 15 a game last season, the 6-foot-4 guard will be looking to make a leap next year and move up from the honorable mentions section of the All-Big Ten Team and into the second- or even first-team. He certainly has the talent to do so, and if Wisconsin are going to live up to their early hype, Blackwell will need to be one of the reasons why.