Wisconsin is currently a top-25 team entering the 2025-26 college basketball season, according to CBSSports’ Jon Rothstein. Specifically, the Badgers landed at No. 23 in his latest top 45 ranking following recent roster updates.
Wisconsin recently concluded its offseason with a commitment from Temple transfer forward Elijah Gray. Gray, a rising senior with significant experience in the A-10 and AAC, fortifies the Badgers’ frontcourt depth. His addition rounds out what is among the more impressive rosters in the Big Ten, at least on paper.
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The Badgers are Rothstein’s No. 7 team in the Big Ten, trailing No. 22 Illinois, No. 21 Michigan State, No. 20 Oregon, No. 7 UCLA, No. 5 Michigan and No. 1 Purdue. At No. 23, the Badgers are only a few ranking spots from nearing the conference’s clear elite trio of Purdue, Michigan and UCLA.
Wisconsin will look much different this winter than it did to close the 2024-25 season. That 2024-25 group was led by seniors John Tonje, Max Klesmit, Steven Crowl, Carter Gilmore and Kamari McGee, all of whom graduated after the campaign. Greg Gard and his staff responded to that turnover by retaining rising juniors John Blackwell and Nolan Winter, then by adding transfers Nick Boyd (San Diego State), Andrew Rohde (Virginia), Austin Rapp (Portland), Carrington (Tulsa) and Gray.
In the current era of player movement, nothing is certain until the season begins and teams start to gel. But a mid-20s ranking may be too low for a Wisconsin team that, after threatening the nation’s top 10 a season ago, may be set to take another significant step forward.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball top 25 ranking after transfer Elijah Gray commit
