Could Wisconsin start the year as a top 15 team?
The Wisconsin Badgers have a set roster for the 2025 season, landing their final transfer late last month to get to 14 scholarship players and one walk-on for the upcoming year.
Wisconsin brought in a strong five-man transfer class, headlined by San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, and also added four freshmen, looking both in-state and in the overseas pool for high school recruits.
Now, with John Blackwell and Nolan Winter in the fold, Wisconsin is looking strong and deep heading into the 2025 season, albeit with a much different team.
What’s the perception of the Badgers with the transfer portal effectively over?
USA Today released their latest way-too-early Top 25 rankings, and the Badgers climbed three spots from No. 19 to No. 16.
“Wisconsin will build around guard John Blackwell, who took his name out of the draft in favor of another year in Madison. He’ll team with former Florida Atlantic and San Diego State guard Nick Boyd will form one of the top backcourts in the Big Ten. The Badgers also brought in a deep threat in wing Andrew Rohde (Virginia) and a very promising young big man in sophomore Austin Rapp (Portland), the reigning West Coast Conference rookie of the year.”
In the last iteration of the rankings, which came in April, the Badgers were the No. 19 team in the country. But, with the draft done and transfers at their new destinations, they’ve climbed three spots, with depth being a strength now.
Wisconsin is one of seven Big Ten teams in the Top 25, joining Purdue (No. 4), Michigan (No. 6), UCLA (No. 10), Michigan State (No. 22), Illinois (No. 23), and Oregon (No. 24).
Each of these teams had some major moves in the offseason. Purdue went out to get South Dakota State big man Oscar Cluff to add to the starting lineup. Michigan got projected first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg, amid other additions, for their frontcourt.
UCLA spent heavy for New Mexico guard Donovan Dent, bolstering their backcourt. Michigan State got a pair of transfer wings that can score at a high level. Oregon retained center Nate Bittle, and added Elon transfer Nate Bittle and Ohio State transfer Sean Stewart. And Illinois brought in a multitude of impact players in a major overhaul of talent.
Ultimately, the Big Ten should be a very competitive conference once again in 2025, and the Badgers could be at the forefront of that as a top 25 team once again.