SoccerVibes

Category: Wisconsin badger

  • Former Wisconsin basketball guard reenters transfer portal

    Former Wisconsin basketball guard reenters transfer portal

     

     

    Former Wisconsin guard Luke Haertle reentered the transfer portal on Thursday.

     

    The Hartland, Wisconsin, native transferred from Wisconsin after the 2023-24 campaign, eventually committing to Winona State (D-II). Haertle excelled during his one season with the Warriors. He started 32 of 33 games, averaging 35 minutes (team-high), 17.2 points (team-high), 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists (team-high) while shooting 44.5% from the field and 28.9% from 3. The former Badger also led the team in steals (56) and blocks (14).

     

     

    Haertle led a Winona State team that went 22-11 overall and 14-8 in conference play in 2024-25. Its season concluded with a loss to MSU Moorhead in the NCAA DII Central Region semifinals.

     

    The former Badger reenters the portal with two years of eligibility remaining.

     

    The 6-foot-4 guard originally joined Wisconsin as a preferred walk-on ahead of the 2022-23 season. He redshirted as a true freshman, then appeared in 11 games in 2023-24, totaling one shot attempt and two rebounds in 11 minutes.

     

    Haertle was one of seven players to transfer out of Wisconsin after the 2023-24 season. He’s also one of three to reenter the portal after one year elsewhere, following A.J. Storr (via Kansas) and Gus Yalden (via Seton Hall).

     

     

    Wisconsin, meanwhile, is still hard at work in the portal, looking to bolster its roster entering the 2025-26 season. The team already has three high-profile commitments. However, it still has significant remaining needs in its reserve unit, especially after Xavier Amos’ departure.

     

     

     

  • Badgers head coach Luke Fickell highlights one returner who has come back ‘different’ in 2025

    Badgers head coach Luke Fickell highlights one returner who has come back ‘different’ in 2025

     

     

    The Wisconsin Badgers are in the midst of their spring ball program, with just over a week away from their public spring game next Saturday.

     

    As the spring has gone along, some standouts have started to emerge, with newcomers, returners, and even freshmen in the mix.

     

    Near the top of the list? Cornerback Ricardo Hallman, who elected to return to the Badgers in 2025 after speculation about going pro for the second consecutive offseason.

     

    After a breakout season in 2023 where he had an FBS-leading seven interceptions, Hallman was held without a pick in 2024, as teams targeted him at one of the fewest rates in college football last season.

     

    Entering this spring, Hallman was one of the lone returning starters on a defense that has undergone an overhaul heading to a new defensive scheme. And he’s been one of the best players overall through eight practices, which is catching the eye of the coaching staff.

     

    “I’ll be honest, this is a different Rico than I’ve seen,” head coach Luke Fickell said about Hallman. “And I just mean that in a lot of different ways. Rico is bigger, Rico is stronger, Rico is faster.”

     

    “I know last year was tough because he had to miss all the offseason with the shoulder surgery, but I think even more than anything, I think Rico’s got a little bit different mindset and attitude. And it has been noticeable, to be honest with you, throughout the first seven, eight practices and really through the winter. And I’m really excited about what Rico’s done, and I mean that.

     

    “Not that he hasn’t been a great player and he was an All-American a couple years ago, and maybe last year he didn’t have quite the year in the production that he wanted, but I think more than anything, he’s starting to become a leader and an example, and the hard work is paying off. And I mean that through the offseason and some of the different things, maybe he’s dedicated himself to doing and continues to develop his body. He’s done a heck of a job.”

     

    Hallman and the secondary will need to take a step forward this year, as Wisconsin has quite a few tough teams on its schedule in 2025. To adapt, they’ve gotten bigger up front, but that will put more of an onus on the secondary to be able to defend.

     

    But, it’s an encouraging sign that he’s had a strong start to the offseason ahead of what will be a crucial year

    for the cornerback.

     

  • 3 quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s spring practices No. 7 and 8: Quarterback play wavers

    3 quick takeaways from Wisconsin’s spring practices No. 7 and 8: Quarterback play wavers

    The Badgers are midway through spring ball.

    The Wisconsin Badgers are midway through their spring ball schedule, finishing up practices No. 7 and 8 on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.

    As the Badgers get deeper and deeper into their spring program, major takeaways are starting to form. Saturday’s practice was a longer one on a major recruiting day, while things started to pick up on Tuesday.

    Let’s break down three quick takeaways from both practices, starting with Saturday’s.

    Practice No. 7: Quarterbacks struggle

    Thursday (practice No. 6) was a rough day for quarterback Billy Edwards, who was subject to interceptions, and Saturday didn’t provide much better results, as the defense won the day.

    Accuracy was an issue for Edwards, as he had a few errant balls. Edwards threw an interception to Austin Brown off a deflection from Nyzier Fourqurean, had a pass at the feet of J.T. Seagraves on 7-on-7s, nearly had another pick to Austin Brown, and was late on a checkdown on another play.

    Moreover, the issue was the lack of major plays, be it during 7-on-7s or 11-on-11s. I don’t value 7-on-7s much because of the lack of pass rush, but it’s telling when the defense is still able to get a grasp on the offense by playing just in coverage.

    Danny O’Neil’s day wasn’t much better, although there were some flashes and moments. He was flustered in the pocket on a drop-back, leaving early and throwing the ball away. Later, in a two-play sequence, O’Neil had a slot fade to Kyan Berry-Johnson that was dropped in perfect location, but the wideout couldn’t corral the pass in during 7-on-7s in the red zone.

    Then, on the following play, O’Neil had a poor pass to Quincy Burroughs, but the wideout was able to tip the ball to himself and make an impressive catch for a touchdown.

    O’Neil’s accuracy was off on a few other throws as well, as he was behind Burroughs on a slant, was low on an incomplete checkdown, and was slow to throw another pass as pressure came.

    Ultimately, it wasn’t a big day for the offense, as there weren’t many major plays in the air for Wisconsin’s quarterbacks.

    Practice No. 7: Safeties shine

    Well, when the offense is struggling, it usually means the defense is doing well. And that was the case on Saturday, particularly in the secondary with the safeties.

    Austin Brown has moved to being a full-time safety alongside Preston Zachman, and he’s gotten his hands on a few passes already this spring, recording both interceptions and pass breakups in the secondary.

    Brown had an interception and a near-interception on the day, but he wasn’t the only one to make plays on Saturday.

    The entire safety room was making plays, especially at the line of scrimmage, as the unit displayed its physicality. Bethel transfer Matt Jung combined with transfer linebacker Antarron Turner to force a fumble on Vinny Anthony on an end-around with a big hit near the sideline.

    Richmond transfer Matthew Traynor has looked to lay the boom a few times in practice, even getting flagged once on Saturday for a big hit on freshman wide receiver Eugene Hilton.

    Without Hunter Wohler, the safety room looks much different in 2025, with Brown sliding back to his natural position and new faces joining the group. But, they’ve quietly had a nice impact in the new defense, and that was especially seen on Saturday.

    Practice No. 7: New sprinkle to the offense

    Wisconsin has tried a lot of new things offensively with offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who is looking to get the Badgers back to more of a physical, smashmouth team.

    Grimes has used a lot of heavier personnel packages, gone under center more, and shown a different scheme in the run game than Wisconsin had in 2024.

    But, he’s also looked to make plays in space in a variety of different ways. The Badgers have kept the screen plays, but they’ve also had their fair share of end-arounds and are running the quarterback more often.

    The end-arounds have seen varied success early on, but there were some struggles on Saturday, as Wisconsin had a fumble from Vinny Anthony and another fumble from Quincy Burroughs on the play. Anthony’s was more of a play from the defense, while Burroughs’s was on the handoff.

    Wisconsin has a few speedy athletes, such as Anthony and transfer Jayden Ballard, who add intrigue to the plays in space as the Badgers find different ways to create explosive plays.

    That could mean using the wideouts as ball-carriers from the backfield on plays like end arounds or via a variety of screen plays that Wisconsin has begun to install.

    Practice No. 8 Tuesday: Quarterbacks bounce back

    After a rough Saturday for the quarterbacks, it was a bounce-back day on Tuesday.

    Things didn’t look hot to begin, as Edwards had an ugly throw up the seam well behind Vinny Anthony in 7-on-7s that was intercepted by Ricardo Hallman, while two other throws on his first few drives were broken up.

    After that, though, Edwards started to get into a groove. In 11-on-11s, he hit Tucker Ashcraft on a good ball in stride over the middle for a big gain. He also had a few quarterback keepers that showcased his ability as a ball-carrier on designed runs.

    While there were still quite a few checkdowns, the decision-making was better from Edwards. He got the ball out quicker, made solid reads, and found a way to hit on explosive plays.

    Later, Edwards had a really nice ball over the shoulder to Tucker Ashcraft for a 25-yard touchdown. Then came the best part of his day: operating the two-minute drill for the first time this spring.

    Edwards began the drive with another well-placed over-the-shoulder ball to Tucker Ashcraft to the far sideline, who made a nice tip-toe catch to stay inbounds. Edwards followed that with a quick completion over the middle. Moving quickly, he hit Quincy Burroughs on a slant, but the wideout dropped the pass.

    After a Dilin Jones run, Edwards had a quarterback keeper and a short quick curl to Jayden Ballard, moving the Badgers down the field to the red zone effectively.

    Danny O’Neil had a solid day filled with some ups and downs. He had some major plays, hitting J.T. Seagraves on a great ball in traffic over the middle, as the tight end dove for the catch. Right after, O’Neil found Jayden Ballard on a deep 50-yard touchdown pass that hyped up the offense.

    But, he did miss Kyan Berry-Johnson with a slight overthrow, and then had two passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. O’Neil’s height will be a factor to watch as a more undersized quarterback, as the Badgers dealt with batted balls at the line of scrimmage with a smaller quarterback last year.

    However, O’Neil finished the day strong with a solid two-minute drill. He started things off by hitting a wide-open J.T. Seagraves in the flat for a solid gain. Then came a checkdown to Gideon Ituka on the backside after reading the other side of the field first. Another checkdown to an open Ituka and a short curl to Vinny Anthony followed, moving the Badgers even further down the field.

    Ituka had a short run, and O’Neil was sacked by Antarron Turner to end the drive, but he got the Badgers near the red zone as well to end the day.

    Ultimately, it was a positive day for the top two signal-callers, with both finishing strong.

    Practice No. 8: Secondary Stands Out

    The secondary has been the winner of spring ball so far, making more plays, which has been a huge emphasis from the staff.

    The safety room was the standout on Saturday. Ricardo Hallman was the Player of the Day on Sunday.

    Hallman had an interception and a pass-breakup on back-to-back plays, although the latter was tipped inadvertently into the hands of a receiver. Head coach Luke Fickell was effusive in his praise of Hallman after practice, noting the mentality and drive that have fueled the senior cornerback after returning to Wisconsin.

    He wasn’t the only one who stood out. I liked what I saw from nickelback Geimere Latimer, who has been playing with the top defense as the No. 3 cornerback for the last few practices. While his coverage skills weren’t on display as much on Tuesday, Latimer showed his physicality by sticking his nose in there to blow up a pitch to the edge, forcing a tackle for loss.

    Earlier, he also had good speed to the sideline on another run play to force another tackle on another play.

    Latimer saw some snaps on the outside, while Hallman was in the slot on a few plays, which was an intriguing alignment that we could see more of this year.

    Austin Brown had another pass breakup, showing his nose for the football after his interception and pass breakup on Saturday.

    The defensive line is bigger this year, which was an emphasis for the coaching staff in part because of how comfortable they felt with the defense matching against 11 personnel.

    As Wisconsin incorporates a new scheme, the secondary will have to be more opportunistic this season. They’re off to a solid start in the spring.

    Practice No. 9: Kicker struggles?

    Wisconsin’s kickers practice a few field goals at the end of every practice. I wanted to take more note on Tuesday, given Nathanial Vakos’s struggles in 2024, which led to a lack of confidence in the sophomore.

    Well, Tuesday didn’t do much to shake the narrative. Vakos missed right on a 39-yard field goal, hit from 44, and was way left on a 49-yard field goal.

    Meanwhile, backup kicker Gavin Lahm hit all three of his field goals from that distance. Wisconsin is looking to improve its special teams, but it needs much more consistency from Vakos in the kicking department if it wants to improve its offense in 2025.

    Vakos was a measly 12/19 (63.2 percent) in 2024, going 6/10 from 30-39 yards and 0/3 from 40-49 yards. He has the big leg, which was on display during his freshman year at Ohio. That needs to become more consistent across the board in 2025.

  • Report: Badgers freshman to transfer before playing at Wisconsin

    Report: Badgers freshman to transfer before playing at Wisconsin

     

    The Badgers are losing one of their in-state freshmen to the transfer portal.

     

    The Wisconsin Badgers are midway through their spring practice schedule, with practice No. 7 of 15 wrapping up on Tuesday.

     

    It’s been a competitive spring, with a lot of younger players getting opportunities as Wisconsin rotates through its top teams. We’ve seen freshmen get second-team reps, up-and-comers see time with the top group, and as a result, certain players are starting to flash.

     

    But, there have also been some injuries, most notably Trech Kekahuna and Thomas Heiberger, who will be out for the spring with lower-body injuries. In addition, tight end Tanner Koziol has been ‘dinged up’.

     

    On top of that, there has been one player who hasn’t been seen at all this spring: redshirt freshman offensive lineman Derek Jensen.

     

    Jensen, an Arrowhead, Wisconsin native, enrolled early with the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, and was one of the five offensive linemen that Wisconsin picked up in the class.

     

    However, he’s been nowhere to be seen this spring, and head coach Luke Fickell confirmed that on Tuesday when speaking to the media.

     

    “Jensen hasn’t been out here all spring,” Fickell said.

     

    Per BadgerExtra’s Colten Bartholemew, Jensen is planning on entering the transfer portal as the spring portal opens up between April 16-25. That marks an unfortunate loss for the Badgers, as Jensen was one of the lone in-state recruits in Wisconsin’s loaded 2024 class.

     

    The remainder of that offensive line group (Kevin Heywood, Emerson Mandell, Ryan Cory, Colin Cubberly) have all either been competing for a starting spot or with the twos all spring.

     

    Jensen did not suit up for a game during his freshman season.

  • Men’s Basketball: Badgers sign three freshman to class of 2025

    Men’s Basketball: Badgers sign three freshman to class of 2025

     

     

    Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball has signed three freshmen for the Class of 2025 to enhance their roster. Head coach Greg Gard has strategically targeted positions of need while also showcasing his adeptness in managing team recruitment.

    The new additions are Zach Kinziger, a promising shooting guard from De Pere, Wisconsin; Will Garlock, a 7-foot center from Middleton, Wisconsin; and Hayden Jones, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from New Zealand. These recruits are expected to bring diverse skills and potential to the team as they prepare for the upcoming season.

     

    By the Numbers

    Zach Kinziger is ranked 88th nationally and 13th in his position with a score of 95.94.

    Will Garlock is ranked 246th in the nation and 42nd at his position with a score of 87.51.

    Hayden Jones averaged almost 12 points and three assists per game at the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.

     

    The Badgers are aiming to address key positions with their latest recruits.

    Recruiting efforts have shifted to include international prospects, signified by the signing of Hayden Jones.

    Head coach Greg Gard continues to demonstrate success with both the portal and high school recruitment.

    What’s Next

    The new recruits will begin practicing with the team and aim for potential playing time in the 2025 season. The coaching staff will be closely assessing the players’ readiness and development through training. Increased focus on international recruiting may lead to future signings following the performance of Hayden Jones.

     

    Bottom Line

    Wisconsin’s recruitment strategy for the Class of 2025 reflects a deliberate effort to diversify skills and enhance team dynamics. As more international players join the roster, the program may unlock new competitive advantages. Observing the development of these young talents will be critical for the team’s success moving forward.

     

     

  • How Greg Gard saved his job with change in playstyle – The Badger Herald

    How Greg Gard saved his job with change in playstyle – The Badger Herald

     

    Greg Gard speaks at the press conference after a loss to Penn State. March 8, 2025.

    In December of 2015, just 12 games into the 2015-2016 season, legendary UW-Madison men’s basketball team coach Bo Ryan retired and handed the team over to his long-time assistant coach Greg Gard. This was Gard’s first head coaching job ever — he had spent the last 22 years as Ryan’s assistant coach at UW-Platteville, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison.

     

    Gard was taking over one of the most successful programs in the country. The Badgers had made the last 17 NCAA tournaments including Final Four appearances in 2000, 2014 and 2015 and even made the national championship in 2015, the season right before Gard took over.

     

    Gard started his tenure well, making the tournament each of his first two years and leading the Badgers to two big upsets against No. 2 Xavier in 2016 and No. l seed Villanova in 2017.

     

    After missing the NCAA tournament in 2018 for the first time since 1998, a theme hit the Badgers. Impressive regular season starts lead to a solid NCAA tournament seed and Big Ten titles coinciding with coach of the year awards for Gard in 2020 and 2022. Over the next four seasons, the Badgers lost to No. 12 Oregon in 2019, No. 1 Baylor in 2021 and No. 11 Iowa State in 2022, all within the first two rounds of the tournament, followed by missing the tournament again in 2023.

     

    John Tonje at the press conference after a loss to Penn State. March 8, 2025.

    A common theme in these losses was the Badgers shooting poorly. The Badgers shot just 33% from the field against Oregon and under 30% against Iowa State. The Badgers shot a respectable 45% against Baylor but were outmatched by the eventual champion.

     

    The Badgers, through Ryan’s and Gard’s tenure to this point, were known for playing a suffocating defense and a slow-developing, boring offense that was dependent on making timely shots and not turning the ball over.

     

    The Badgers’ highest finish in points per game in the Gard era to this point was 199th out of 350+ teams. This became their downfall in a lot of their NCAA tournament exits. They could stop the other team’s offense but couldn’t score enough to win consistently in March.

     

    This style of play also possibly drove away big-name prospects from Wisconsin. Tyrese Haliburton, Tyler Herro, Jalen Johnson and Jordan Poole are some names that grew up in Wisconsin but decided to play out of state at big schools and ended up as successful NBA players. The biggest loss was Herro, who committed to Wisconsin only to change to Kentucky, saying he always wanted to play for “a blue blood” program. The Badgers’ only draft pick in the Gard era was Johnny Davis in 2022.

     

    Heading into the 2023 season, the Badgers picked up transfer student AJ Storr. Storr immediately changed what Wisconsin basketball looked like, dunking over other players and catching alley-oops that you would rarely see out of the usual Wisconsin basketball player. Storr, as well as a veteran Chucky Hepburn, got the Badgers off to a hot start. A win against a good Marquette team helped the Badgers reach as high as sixth on the AP Poll.

     

    A similar story came after a 13-3 start. The Badgers finished the regular season 19-12, but an impressive run in the Big Ten tournament got them a five seed in the NCAA tournament. This wasn’t the Badgers’ year, however, as 12-seed James Madison University was too much and defeated the Badgers 72-61 in the first round of the tournament. The Badgers shot just 37% from the field and turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 19 times in the loss.

     

    Badger Herald archival photo of a UW swimming facility.

    On a positive note, the Badgers finished 147th in points per game in the country, much higher than the previous high of 199th by a Gard team. This wasn’t enough for Badger fans — fans were sick of just making the tournament and not going far.

     

    Previous reporting by The Badger Herald voiced frustration with the Badger’s decision to keep Gard for the previous season and the announcement he will be the coach for the next season. Storr, Hepburn and Connor Essegian all entered the transfer portal looking for a change of scenery.

     

    Things were looking bleak for the Badgers in 2024. Media outlets voted them to finish 12th in the Big Ten, but a big matchup against No. 9 Arizona early in the season would set the tone for the rest of the season. Not only did the Badgers win, they were in control the entire game. Transfer student John Tonje scored 41 points, just two shy of the Wisconsin single-game record.

     

    Tonje has continued the change in tone for Wisconsin basketball. The team played fast paced, they shot threes, they got to the free throw line. The team finished the season 36th in the nation in scoring, their highest ranking since the 1970-1971 season.

     

    Despite these big changes, some old tendencies have poked their head this season in some of the Badgers’ losses. Gard tends to over-rely on his veterans in late-game situations, causing offense to take bad shots at the end of games, leading to losses against Michigan, Oregon and BYU in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

     

    All of these games were in reach and in all of these games a veteran player took a poor shot at the end of the game while barely looking to move the ball. A small switch in the end-of-game philosophy could be the last step towards success for the Badgers.

     

    Despite the fact that this season ended the same, Gard has bought himself a few more seasons as the Badgers head coach. Even with a few key players, including Tonje, leaving this offseason, success should be expected from the Badgers in the 2025-26 season with their new playstyle.

  • Wisconsin football: Badgers linebacker hit with another injury setback

    Wisconsin football: Badgers linebacker hit with another injury setback

     

    Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during spring football practice.

    Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell is shown during spring football practice. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

     

    Wisconsin football is in the middle of spring practices as it prepares for next season. Head coach Luke Fickell has redesigned some of his coaching staff, has new players to work with, and has a new scheme that hopefully will turn things around. The Badgers missed a bowl game for the first time in 22 seasons last year, and fans are mostly ready to move on from Fickell, as it seems the trajectory is down, not up.

     

    All that aside, spring practices are a great time to see how things shake out, who’s making noise and moving up the depth charts, how position battles are shaking out, etc. They’re also active and physical, leading to injuries. This week, the Badgers had a player go down to injury, and he will be shut down for all of spring. Thomas Heiberger already had to deal with an injury last season, and now he has another one.

     

    Linebacker Thomas Heiberger sustains leg injury during spring practices

    Thomas Heiberger is a redshirt freshman linebacker who only played in four games last year due to a training camp injury before the season. He was finally ready to get back into the swing of things when he injured his leg. Requiring the coaching staff to shut him down for the rest of spring practices.

     

    The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native came to Wisconsin as a 3-star linebacker with a solid high school career under his belt. He came to the Badgers with the expectation of playing OLB but was moving to the middle this season.

    Heiberger planned to provide depth at ILB and even compete for a roster spot if he was able to prove himself. However, that will have to wait until training camp as he won’t be able to do anything else this spring. It’s a blow for him, and really frustrating for a young player who can’t seem to shake the injuries.

  • Breaking down the film on Wisconsin men’s basketball’s 1st transfer addition

    Breaking down the film on Wisconsin men’s basketball’s 1st transfer addition

    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 …

     

    Polzin: Inside the Moores’ heroic efforts after unspeakable tragedy struck their family

    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.

     

    Wisconsin star sophomore declares for NBA Draft, retaining college eligibility

    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.

     

    Tracking which Wisconsin men’s basketball players are headed to the transfer portal

    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.

     

    Polzin: Why Wisconsin women’s basketball coach thinks she can wake a ‘sleeping giant’

    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.

     

    How a ‘week of silence’ led Wisconsin men’s basketball guard to enter transfer portal

    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.

     

    Wisconsin men’s basketball freshman point guard enters transfer portal

    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.

     

    Polzin: Why John Tonje is willing to give a testimonial on Wisconsin men’s basketball

    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.

     

    Polzin: How 2 key Wisconsin men’s basketball sophomores navigate ‘different era’ of NIL

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0001.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0002.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0003.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0004.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0005.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0006.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0007.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0008.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0009.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0010.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0011.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0012.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0013.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0014.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0015.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0016.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0017.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0019.JPG

    Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL

    wis-mbb-recap-0020.JPG

    Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL

    wis-mbb-recap-0021.JPG

    Wisconsin Arizona on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL

    wis-mbb-recap-0022.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0023.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0024.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0025.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0026.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0027.JPG

    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

    wis-mbb-recap-0028.JPG

    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

  • Wisconsin basketball updated 247Sports transfer portal class ranking with Austin Rapp

    Wisconsin basketball updated 247Sports transfer portal class ranking with Austin Rapp

    • Wisconsin Basketball has added two key transfers in Andrew Rohde and Austin Rapp.
    • Both Rohde and Rapp are considered four-star transfer prospects by 247Sports.

    Wisconsin basketball spent little time after the 2024-25 season’s conclusion before aiming attention forward. In today’s age of college basketball, that means focused transfer recruiting efforts to reload the roster both for the upcoming season and beyond.

    The Badgers have done exactly that, now early two full weeks into the 2025 transfer window. They began with a commitment from former Virginia guard Andrew Rohde on April 3, then followed with one from Portland forward Austin Rapp just two days later.

    Rohde and Rapp enter the program at different stages of their college careers. Rohde is a senior with experience at St. Thomas and Virginia, while Rapp just broke out as a freshman at Portland last season.

     

    Both, however, bring a similar profile the Badgers’ lineup: versatile scoring and top-end 3-point shooting. Rohde shot 41% from 3 last season at Virginia, along with per-game averages of 9.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Rapp, meanwhile, led the West Coast Conference in every relevant 3-point-shooting statistic, making 83 of 236 attempts for a 35% clip.

    The two transfers project as key complementary pieces in Wisconsin’s 2025-26 starting lineup. Assuming John Blackwell withdraws from the NBA draft before the June 15 deadline, he and Nolan Winter are back as that lineup’s leading contributors.

    Aside from the 2025-26 lineup projection, Wisconsin’s two-person transfer class is rising in 247Sports’ national rankings, with both players past the threshold of blue-chip transfer recruits. For more, here is where that transfer class stands at this early stage in the cycle.

    Wisconsin basketball 2025 transfer portal class ranking with Andrew Rohde, Austin Rapp

    Class Profile: Two commits (two four-stars), 90.00 average player rating, 19.47 total points

    247Sports National Rank: No. 26

    Big Ten Rank: No. 5

    247Sports ranks Rapp as the No. 171 overall transfer and No. 32 power forward, while Rohde is No. 167 overall and the No. 49 shooting guard. As mentioned, both are four-star transfer prospects.

    Wisconsin now continues its transfer pursuits with a clear remaining need in the starting lineup, plus several depth roles available. Continued strong recruiting efforts should see the program’s class only rise nationally.

  • Wisconsin basketball updated starting lineup, rotation after Austin Rapp’s commitment

    Wisconsin basketball updated starting lineup, rotation after Austin Rapp’s commitment

     

     

    Wisconsin adds Portland transfer forward Austin Rapp, who averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds last season.

    The Badgers still seek to fill needs at wing and add depth at forward.

    With these additions, Wisconsin is poised to be a top contender in the Big Ten.

    Wisconsin continued its impressive start to the 2025 offseason on Friday night, as it landed a commitment from Portland transfer forward Austin Rapp.

     

    Rapp joins the Badgers with three years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-10 forward broke out as a true freshman in 2024-25, averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 39.7% from the field and a West Coast Conference-best 35.2% from 3. That versatile production, specifically the outside shooting numbers, should immediately help the program replace Steven Crowl’s frontcourt production.

     

    The WCC Freshman of the Year joins Virginia guard Andrew Rohde in the Badgers’ 2025 transfer class. They each fit a similar mold — Rapp led the WCC in 3-point attempts (236), makes (83) and percentage (35.2%), while Rohde shot a blistering 41% from beyond the arc. Wisconsin has its top wing-scoring option in John Blackwell entering 2025-26, assuming he doesn’t leave for the NBA. The program is making a clear effort to surround him with shooting threats, or players who can contribute without a high-volume workload.

     

    While Wisconsin still has remaining needs in the starting lineup and among its reserve group, here is an updated look at the team’s projected lineup and rotation.

     

    Wisconsin Projected 2025-26 Lineup With Transfer Forward Austin Rapp

    Mar 22, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) shoots the ball against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

    Guard: John Blackwell (Junior)*

    Guard: Andrew Rohde (Senior — Virginia transfer)

    Wing: Transfer (TBD)

    Forward: Austin Rapp (Sophomore — Portland transfer)

    Forward: Nolan Winter (Junior)

    Wisconsin’s starting lineup looks a lot more dangerous with commitments from Rohde and Rapp. Assuming steps forward from Blackwell and Winter, there’s a chance this lineup is just as tough to defend as the 2024-25 group was, given the top-end shooting threats from 1-5.

     

    Rapp’s commitment is especially impactful. Wisconsin was razor-thin at forward after Steven Crowl and Carter Gilmore graduated. His addition will allow Greg Gard to bring Xavier Amos off the bench, significantly lengthening the rotation. Knock-down three-point shooting is sometimes challenging to find at the position. Rapp provides exactly that, ensuring the team doesn’t miss a beat after losing Crowl (9.9 points per game, 41.6% from 3) and his floor-spacing ability.

     

    The big variable to watch is the wing position. Wisconsin is trending for guard Nick Boyd, which could push Rohde to wing. Or, Wisconsin could add Boyd and a wing scorer, then bring Rohde off the bench.

     

    *(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

    Guard Jack Janicki (Sophomore)

    Forward Xavier Amos (Senior)

    Guard Jack Robison (Sophomore)

    Center Riccardo Greppi (Sophomore)

    Guard Hayden Jones (Freshman)

    Guard Zach Kinziger (Freshman)

    Center Will Garlock (Freshman)

    Wisconsin’s rotation is lengthened significantly with Janicki and Amos coming off the bench, as opposed to the two leading the starting lineup with Blackwell and Winter. The program still needs depth at forward, as neither Greppi nor Garlock are write-ins to the regular rotation.

     

    The Badgers still have several scholarships available. Commitments from a top-end wing, guard and depth forward, and the team will again project as one of the Big Ten’s best.