The Badgers’ season ended in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32 on March 22. Coach Greg Gard broke down the disappointing end to a promising season.
Virginia transfer Andrew Rohde is returning to his home state to play for the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team next season. And with its first transfer portal addition, Wisconsin addresses its search for a …
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Well, Rohde’s position might be up for debate still, seven months out from the start of the 2025-26 season. He’s 6-foot-6, which is an inch taller than the Badgers’ leading scorer and star last season, John Tonje. But Rohde plays the game like a point guard, and for that reason, another departing starter might be a better comparison.
Though sophomore guard John Blackwell — who elected to test the NBA Draft waters on Thursday — was technically the Wisconsin starting unit’s point guard, to an uninformed observer that wasn’t always obvious. Senior guard Max Klesmit, actually, was the leading assister among the Badgers’ guards with 89 (forward Steven Crowl led Wisconsin with 90). A good 3-point shooter at 41.3% last season and a capability of getting in the paint gives him some of the microwave scoring potential that Klesmit had.
But even while Klesmit struggled with his shot last season, his most important function offensively for the Badgers was giving it a second initiator on the opposite wing of Blackwell. He ran the offense, made reads and gave teammates good looks. That’s what Rohde does best.
BadgerExtra examined parts of a few Virginia games last season, specifically a five-game stretch from Feb. 1-17. Also, two games against Louisville on Jan. 4 and 18 — Rohde coming face to face to a familiar defender for followers of the Badgers, former three-year Wisconsin starting point guard Chucky Hepburn. Rohde alone does not answer all of the questions for the Badgers, who lost three members of its starting lineup this offseason (and if Blackwell remains in the draft, four). Wisconsin went about addressing its frontcourt, too, with Portland transfer Austin Rapp announcing his commitment a day later.
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But Rapp and Rohde’s additions do give some direction for where Wisconsin can still go to address the remainder of its needs.
Here’s how three aspects of Rohde’s game looked in a review of the film.
Scoring
Virginia was not known for its offense a season ago. The Cavaliers ranked 346th in scoring offense with 64.8 points per game and 101st in adjusted offensive efficiency per KenPom by scoring 110.7 points per 100 possessions. And that wasn’t necessarily coupled with better defense, which is typically what fuels Virginia. It ranked 144th, though, in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom by allowing 105.6 points per 100 possessions.
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Under interim coach Ron Sanchez, the Cavaliers struggled, posting a 15-17 overall record and missing the NCAA Tournament in a weaker Atlantic Coast Conference.
Rohde never became the type of player at Virginia that could single-handedly change a team’s offensive output, like he did scoring 17.1 points per game as a freshman at St. Thomas and 28.5 per game as a senior at Brookfield Central. But at his best, he could be a very efficient scorer, taking a step forward with his aggressiveness while remaining selective after posting poor shooting percentages his sophomore season: he attempted a field goal every 4.9 minutes his first year with the Cavaliers compared to every 4.0 minutes as a junior.
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When Rohde gets his feet set off the catch — whether it’s relocating after a pass on the perimeter, curling all the way under the basket for a shot on the opposite wing or at the end of the shot clock — he can be a deadly 3-point marksman. Rohde shot 41.3% from 3 last season, which ranks in the 92nd percentile per CBB Analytics. That’s the best part of his game, as he did shoot just 44.6% from 2-point range, which was in the 38th percentile per CBB Analytics.
He made a few nice drives, like a right-handed power right-handed move in a 15-point, five-rebound, five assist performance against Duke on Feb. 17, though he could be a stronger finisher at times. But Rohde is also 6-6, and he showed a few times he’d use that size in a post-up scenario. Against a bigger defender, strength seems to have an impact against him, but he seems to have solid touch already in an area the Badgers likely will work with him on. He even showed that against Hepburn.
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And though his handle isn’t always flashy, he can leave a defender behind him if he gets them leaning at the right angle. The tools are there so that, with the space provided in Wisconsin’s offense, he can take a jump.
Playmaking
Despite setting an all-time best mark with 537 assists this season, no individual Wisconsin player ever recorded more than six assists in a single game. Rohde had nine assists in three-straight games from Feb. 3-15. Including the game prior to that stretch, Rohde went four games where he totalled 34 assists and turned the ball over just twice.
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That’s playmaking unlike the Badgers had seen last season, and they add it with a player that could still play a lot of his time alongside another point guard-type. On film, Rohde’s passing looks special. Even while his higher-assist games included some hot shooting off easy chest passes on the perimeter, a bounce pass like he threw against Louisville on Jan. 18 would show up on anyone’s highlight tape.
Given a ball screen, he could hit rollers with both his left hand and right hand. He connected on a bullet pass across his body to an open shooter against Pittsburgh on Feb. 3, fired smart outlet passes and always seems to find the open guy no matter where he is on the floor. One of the most impressive aspects of his playmaking, though, is how quickly he could get into actions moving off the ball.
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In the first half against Georgia Tech on Feb. 8, he moved away from the ball, working to get himself open on the opposite wing. And immediately after he did and got the ball back, he and the forward in the area set up a pick-and-roll, which Rohde blew past and found an even more-open cutter for a layup.
He’s the definition of a player that makes others better, even leading shooters into areas he wants them to be. That will be of great value to a Wisconsin offense that switches sides of the floor quite often.
Defense
This might be an area where the Badgers might miss Klesmit if Rohde ends up being his replacement in the starting lineup. Limited game tape is not a fair indicator of a total defensive impact, especially as it pertains to the intangible skills that are required defensively — but Rohde’s 6-6 size, defensively, is only so valuable if he struggles to match opponents’ strength.
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That was especially clear going against Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, but there are also few players across the country that wouldn’t struggle against that matchup. He locked up better against Louisville guard Terrance Edwards Jr., though Edwards still connected on a tough shot.
A reason for optimism, though: Rohde playing two years in Virginia’s defensive system is good preparation for playing in Wisconsin’s defense, which is similar to the Cavaliers’ in its pack-line philosophy and is often mentioned by incoming transfers and freshman as the most difficult early adjustment. That experience should, at least, eliminate some of that learning curve.
Photos: Badgers men’s basketball in review
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) celebrates with fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Michigan center Vlad Goldin (50) dunks on Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) is swarmed by UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros defenders on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) shoots a three-pointer over UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros guard Hasan Abdul Hakim (14) on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) dunks the ball on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) goes for a layup under the basket on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard claps during player introductions on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) and Washington Huskies guard Tyler Harris (8) battle for the ball on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) and Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrate after a three-pointer on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) hugs Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during Senior Day ceremonies on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) checks in for the last regular season home game of his career as a Badger on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Sweat drips from the face of Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) buries his face in a towel after checking out during the final seconds of the Badger’s loss to Penn State on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin defenders attempt to block Holy Cross Crusaders forward Gabe Warren (21) on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard yells at the official on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) comforts Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) after Klesmit missed a late three-pointer to tie the game on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) and Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) run in to each other during a possession on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Arizona on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Former Wisconsin basketball head coach Bo Ryan watches as his banner is raised on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrates after a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) and Indiana Hoosiers guard Trey Galloway (32) battle for the ball on the floor on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) jumps to dunk on Nebraska guard Connor Essegian (0) on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard laughs with an official on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) falls as Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) goes for a block on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Nolan Winter (31) tries to put home a layup against Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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