The Wisconsin basketball roster has seen a flurry of movement over the last seven days. After the departures of reserve guards Daniel Freitag and Camren Hunter, the Badgers landed commitments from highly touted transfers Andrew Rohde, Austin Rapp and Nick Boyd.
Those three additions, at wing, forward and guard, respectively, bolster a 2025-26 starting lineup that currently projects as one of the better in the Big Ten. The group includes a rising star guard in John Blackwell, assuming he withdraws from the NBA draft, an NBA hopeful in forward Nolan Winter, a sharpshooting wing in Rohde, the 2025 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year in Rapp and a veteran guard with Final Four experience in Boyd.
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That starting unit represents what has been an impressive transfer cycle to date for Greg Gard and his coaching staff, plus has the team’s outlook steadily improving in way-too-early 2025-26 projections.
However, one major question still exists. The departure of veteran forward Xavier Amos greatly depleted Wisconsin’s depth, especially at forward. The team now returns just one bench contributor from 2024-25: sophomore guard Jack Janicki. Gard now needs to find further transfer additions to fill out the lineup, or else he’ll be forced to rely on a group of incoming freshmen and other inexperienced underclassmen.
For more on what Amos’ departure means for Wisconsin’s 2025-26 outlook, here is a fresh look at the team’s starting lineup and rotation, plus a ranking of its remaining transfer needs.
Wisconsin Updated 2025-26 Starting Lineup Projection
Mar 18, 2025; Dayton, OH, USA; San Diego State Aztecs guard Nick Boyd (2) shoots the ball in the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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Guard: John Blackwell (Junior)*
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Guard: Nick Boyd (Senior — San Diego State transfer)
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Wing: Andrew Rohde (Senior — Virginia transfer)
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Forward: Austin Rapp (Sophomore — Portland transfer)
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Forward: Nolan Winter (Junior)
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Wisconsin’s starting five could go up against any in the conference. Blackwell and Winter will be popular preseason all-conference selections. Boyd could join that group when the season tips off, especially if he’s able to replicate his strong production at San Diego State last season.
The major wild cards are Rapp, who is looking to transfer his production from the WCC to the Big Ten, and Rohde, who struggled mightily in his first year at Virginia before a strong 2024-25 campaign. If all three transfers hit, Wisconsin will be good enough to win the conference next season.
*(Note: Blackwell declared for the NBA draft on April 3 while maintaining his collegiate eligibility. He remains in the projected lineup, barring an unforeseen rise up draft boards)
Wisconsin’s Projected 2025-26 Bench/Reserves
Mar 16, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers bench players cheer during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
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Guard Jack Janicki (Sophomore)
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Guard Jack Robison (Sophomore)
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Center Riccardo Greppi (Sophomore)
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Guard Hayden Jones (Freshman)
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Guard Zach Kinziger (Freshman)
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Center Will Garlock (Freshman)
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As mentioned, Wisconsin has major needs on its bench. The team has limited frontcourt depth after Amos’ departure. Greppi played sparingly as a freshman last season and Garlock is joining as a true freshman. Wisconsin likely won’t rely on either to play significant minutes, which means it needs to land multiple transfers at the position.
Janicki leads a reserve guard rotation that could also still use a boost. While Kinziger and Jones are promising, each is joining as a true freshman.
Wisconsin’s bench unit generated several critical victories during the 2024-25 campaign. As of today, this unit is far from where it needs to be to replicate that impact.
Wisconsin Remaining Transfer Portal Needs
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 16: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers reacts against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half in the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament championship at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 16, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Frontcourt depth (multiple players)
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A best-case Wisconsin offseason includes two more transfer forwards, a scoring wing and more guard depth. The first need ranks dramatically above the other two, as Wisconsin can get by without further backcourt depth but would struggle mightily without multiple frontcourt additions.
The team currently has just two dependable forwards in Winter and Rapp, the latter who is even a bit of a question. It would be best served to land an experienced veteran plus a lower-level underclassman looking to make a jump. A sentence that would have been hard to believe just two short years ago: Wisconsin needs those additions to become this year’s Carter Gilmore.
Needs No. 2 and No. 3 are only necessary if the Badgers set out to replicate their terrific 2024-25 depth. An experienced scoring wing would push Rohde to the bench group and significantly lengthen the rotation. Another backup point guard, veteran or not, would further accomplish that task.
Frontcourt depth needs to be the main priority for the Badgers. Otherwise, their top-tier starting lineup could be disadvantaged against the conference’s deeper units.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball lineup, transfer portal needs without Xavier Amos
