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Wisconsin will watch from home as the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament takes place on Thursday and Friday.
The Badgers fell to the No. 6-seed BYU Cougars 91-89 on Saturday night. The result, which came down to a buzzer-beater attempt from star John Tonje, ensured that the team would miss the Sweet 16 for the eighth consecutive season.
With that loss, many will argue if Wisconsin's 2024-25 season was a success or if another first-weekend exit and continued postseason struggles should lead the headlines. Wisconsin finished the year 27-10 (13-7 Big Ten), contended for the Big Ten regular-season title, made a run to the conference tournament title game and was a consensus top-15 team in the sport. After being picked 12th in the Big Ten preseason media poll, that resume should mark a success.
Furthermore, the year saw coach Greg Gard revolutionize the program's offensive approach, land a top transfer talent and continue to develop promising underclassmen. There is a real chance that the season, even with the disappointing finish, becomes a springboard for a multi-year run of success.
Gard and his staff now have a lot of work to do to make that a reality. Wisconsin's rotation loses three key starters and its two leading bench players. Those players accounted for 62% of the team's minutes, 67% of its points, 50% of its rebounds, 67.5% of its assists and 67.4% of its three-point makes this season.
As the Badgers continue their work in the transfer portal and prepare for the 2025-26 campaign, here is an initial look at the team's departing production, plus its projected 2025-26 starting lineup and bench:
It's no secret that Wisconsin loses a ton of production off of the 2024-25 team. Tonje will lead the headlines, though even bench regulars Gilmore and McGee made profound impacts. Their departures create opportunities for rising underclassmen, as well as for incoming transfers looking to make a big splash.
Wisconsin's lineup and rotation should look a lot different by the time the 2025-26 season tips off next fall. For now, here is what the team does have returning.
Wisconsin loses John Tonje, Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit from its starting lineup. The team's chances will come down to the developments of Janicki, Winter and Blackwell, plus the impact transfer additions.
It's easy to bet on the team finding a high-scoring wing in the transfer portal. Greg Gard has done so in two consecutive seasons with A.J. Storr and Tonje, respectively. It also wouldn't be surprising if it landed an experienced forward to play next to Winter, ideally one that can shoot well from three. Amos will play a big role next year, but he may be better as a top option off the bench.
Two key questions will define the 2025-26 starting lineup: How good can John Blackwell be? And, just as important, who does Gard find to replace Tonje?
The above list does not include any potential transfer additions, although it's safe to assume there will be several. Wisconsin has added depth in the portal in each of the last few seasons. Kamari McGee, who transferred in 2022-23, even emerged as the team's leading sixth man.
Wisconsin's bench unit is set to play a major role next season, with the team losing so much star power from its starting lineup. The Badgers currently have a ton of talent on the bench -- Freitag and Kinziger were both highly regarded recruits, while Jones enters as an intriguing prospect from New Zealand. Most of that talent is in the back court. The team does not have much depth at forward, especially if Amos is in the starting lineup.
Greg Gard's offseason will be about retaining both Blackwell and Winter, finding out which young guards are set to contribute, filling the glaring needs in the transfer portal and reestablishing the team's depth.
This is the reality of the modern age of college basketball -- every offseason feels like almost a clean slate.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball 2025-26 starting lineup rotation projection
Continue reading...
The Badgers fell to the No. 6-seed BYU Cougars 91-89 on Saturday night. The result, which came down to a buzzer-beater attempt from star John Tonje, ensured that the team would miss the Sweet 16 for the eighth consecutive season.
With that loss, many will argue if Wisconsin's 2024-25 season was a success or if another first-weekend exit and continued postseason struggles should lead the headlines. Wisconsin finished the year 27-10 (13-7 Big Ten), contended for the Big Ten regular-season title, made a run to the conference tournament title game and was a consensus top-15 team in the sport. After being picked 12th in the Big Ten preseason media poll, that resume should mark a success.
Furthermore, the year saw coach Greg Gard revolutionize the program's offensive approach, land a top transfer talent and continue to develop promising underclassmen. There is a real chance that the season, even with the disappointing finish, becomes a springboard for a multi-year run of success.
Gard and his staff now have a lot of work to do to make that a reality. Wisconsin's rotation loses three key starters and its two leading bench players. Those players accounted for 62% of the team's minutes, 67% of its points, 50% of its rebounds, 67.5% of its assists and 67.4% of its three-point makes this season.
As the Badgers continue their work in the transfer portal and prepare for the 2025-26 campaign, here is an initial look at the team's departing production, plus its projected 2025-26 starting lineup and bench:
Wisconsin's Departing Seniors
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- Guard Max Klesmit
- Guard Kamari McGee
- Wing John Tonje
- Center Steven Crowl
- Forward Carter Gilmore
- Forward Markus Ilver
It's no secret that Wisconsin loses a ton of production off of the 2024-25 team. Tonje will lead the headlines, though even bench regulars Gilmore and McGee made profound impacts. Their departures create opportunities for rising underclassmen, as well as for incoming transfers looking to make a big splash.
Wisconsin's lineup and rotation should look a lot different by the time the 2025-26 season tips off next fall. For now, here is what the team does have returning.
Wisconsin Projected 2025-26 Starting Lineup
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- Guard: John Blackwell (Junior)
- Guard: Jack Janicki (Sophomore)
- Wing: Transfer (TBD)
- Forward: Xavier Amos (Senior) OR Transfer (TBD)
- Forward: Nolan Winter (Junior)
Wisconsin loses John Tonje, Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit from its starting lineup. The team's chances will come down to the developments of Janicki, Winter and Blackwell, plus the impact transfer additions.
It's easy to bet on the team finding a high-scoring wing in the transfer portal. Greg Gard has done so in two consecutive seasons with A.J. Storr and Tonje, respectively. It also wouldn't be surprising if it landed an experienced forward to play next to Winter, ideally one that can shoot well from three. Amos will play a big role next year, but he may be better as a top option off the bench.
Two key questions will define the 2025-26 starting lineup: How good can John Blackwell be? And, just as important, who does Gard find to replace Tonje?
Wisconsin's Projected 2025-26 Bench/Reserves
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- Guard Camren Hunter (Senior)
- Guard Jack Robison (Sophomore)
- Guard Daniel Freitag (Sophomore)
- Center Riccardo Greppi (Sophomore)
- Guard Hayden Jones (Freshman)
- Guard Zach Kinziger (Freshman)
- Center Will Garlock (Freshman)
The above list does not include any potential transfer additions, although it's safe to assume there will be several. Wisconsin has added depth in the portal in each of the last few seasons. Kamari McGee, who transferred in 2022-23, even emerged as the team's leading sixth man.
Wisconsin's bench unit is set to play a major role next season, with the team losing so much star power from its starting lineup. The Badgers currently have a ton of talent on the bench -- Freitag and Kinziger were both highly regarded recruits, while Jones enters as an intriguing prospect from New Zealand. Most of that talent is in the back court. The team does not have much depth at forward, especially if Amos is in the starting lineup.
Greg Gard's offseason will be about retaining both Blackwell and Winter, finding out which young guards are set to contribute, filling the glaring needs in the transfer portal and reestablishing the team's depth.
This is the reality of the modern age of college basketball -- every offseason feels like almost a clean slate.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball 2025-26 starting lineup rotation projection
Continue reading...
