The college basketball season is officially upon us, as the No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers are hosting the Campbell Fighting Camels in their season opener on Monday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Kohl
Center.
The Badgers had two exhibition games ahead of the regular season. They kicked things off with a tight battle against the Oklahoma Sooners in Milwaukee at the Fiserv Forum, losing 84-83. Then, they got in the win column with a 69-53 victory over the UW-Platteville Pioneers last Wednesday.
In both wins, Wisconsin showed glimpses of the team it could be this season, but also that there was a lot of work to do for its new-look team.
The Badgers have three new starters this season, as transfers Nick Boyd, Andrew Rohde, and Austin Rapp will join returners John Blackwell and Nolan Winter in the starting five. Then, they added transfer Braeden Carrington to pair with Jack Janicki as the team’s backup wings. Freshmen Hayden Jones, Aleksas Bieliauskas, and Will Garlock round out the group that we saw during the two exhibition games.
Boyd, a transfer from San Diego State, was brought in to play point guard, adding a unique speed element that will help the team play faster this season. He also brings experience on the court and familiarity with ball-screen actions, which is Wisconsin’s bread and butter offensively.
Rohde is a skilled wing who can shoot (41 percent from three at Virginia in 2024-25), pass (4.1 assists per game last season), and provide size on the perimeter as a secondary ball-handler.
Rapp is a stretch big man who shot over 35 percent from deep at Portland last season. He’s growing as a player, showing some inside-outside versatility offensively, while being an underrated passer as a big.
Blackwell is back to run the show at Wisconsin, looking to take another step forward after breaking out as a sophomore. He’s joined by Nolan Winter, who has been on NBA Draft big boards as a skilled big who added size to play the five this season.
Wisconsin’s freshmen class is one of the strongest ones they’ve had under head coach Greg Gard, featuring a pair of international recruits, as well as a pair of in-state commits. Three of the four freshmen in the 2025 class are already in the rotation, adding to the newcomers on the team.
Wisconsin faces a Campbell team that has a new head coach (former Florida assistant John Andrzejek) and a brand new roster that has only one of its top six scorers back this season.
They’re currently seen as 20.5-point favorites entering the night, with the over/under at 150.5 points.
Join us as our first game thread of the season is officially open!
