Once again, the Wisconsin Badgers will be operating with a new-look roster during the 2026-27 season after adding via the transfer portal and the international pool of talent this offseason.
Wisconsin is losing quite a bit of production, including its two leading scorers, as Nick Boyd is out of eligibility, while John Blackwell transferred to the Duke Blue Devils. That raises questions as to who will pick up the mantle for Wisconsin, as the Badgers hope to maintain a highly efficient offense next season.
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Looking back at the past few years, Wisconsin has seen quite a bit of turnover, which has led to a variety of leading scorers. In 2023-24, the Badgers saw AJ Storr enjoy a breakout season on the wing, as he led the Badgers with 16.8 points per game.
Then, the following season, John Tonje turned in an All-American season, averaging 19.6 points per game, while John Blackwell added nearly 16 a contest as well.
This year, the scoring was more guard-oriented at the top, as Nick Boyd and Blackwell combined to average nearly 40 points a game. Now, the Badgers are looking at a different roster construction, which could mean a different way of scoring.
Wisconsin brought in Australian lead guard Owen Foxwell, who is set to replace Boyd as the team’s point guard. But Foxwell is more of a pass-first point guard than a lead scorer, as he’s a quality playmaker and defender with experience.
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The Badgers also landed guard Trey Autry and wing Eian Elmer in the transfer portal. Autry averaged 11.0 points per game as the third-leading scorer on George Washington this past season, notably shooting 38.5 percent from three. Elmer, on the other hand, was a part of a loaded Miami (OH) team, averaging 12.7 points per game on elite efficiency.
Wisconsin does return Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp in the frontcourt, and both could very well take on a bigger role this season. Winter averaged 13.1 points per game this season, ranking third on the Badgers, as he shot 56.9 percent from the field. Rapp, on the other hand, averaged 9.7 points per game while splitting time between the bench and the starting lineup. But, from January 1st on, Rapp had 11.7 points a game, while shooting 45.3 percent from three.
It feels like the Badgers will have a more by-committee approach with a variety of shooters and quality scorers on the team next season. Elmer seems primed for a breakout after his highly efficient season at Miami (OH), and the Badgers have shown the opportunity for wings to thrive in their offense. Autry has the ability to knock down the three. Rapp proved he could be a higher-volume scorer as the season went on, and Wisconsin could very well tap into that. And Winter is a three-level scorer that should benefit from a pass-first point guard.
Who will lead the Badgers in scoring this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
