Where Wisconsin basketball is projected in USA TODAY’s Big Ten preseason poll
A poll of USA TODAY Network reporters who cover Big Ten schools projected Greg Gard’s Badgers to finish 11th in the conference in 2026-27.
MADISON – The USA TODAY Network has projected Wisconsin's men's basketball team to finish 11th in the Big Ten Conference for the 2026-27 season. This projection mirrors the same ranking given by the Columbus Dispatch media poll. In contrast to the 2025-26 season, when Wisconsin was expected to finish sixth, the Badgers fell short of their performance, securing a fifth-place finish and a trip to the Big Ten tournament semifinals.
Forward Nolan Winter was named to USA TODAY's all-Big Ten first team, alongside several other notable players. Winter also earned a spot on the Big Ten's official 11-player all-conference preseason team and was named a second-team honoree in the Columbus Dispatch preseason poll. The 2026-27 Wisconsin team will feature eight new players, with key returnees including Austin Rapp, Jack Janicki, Braeden Carrington (if his lawsuit against the NCAA is resolved), and others.
The season kicks off with an October 10 exhibition game against UW-Parkside, followed by the regular season opener against Denver on November 2.
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