Wisconsin basketball updated starting lineup, rotation after Nick Boyd's commitment
Wisconsin basketball updated starting lineup, rotation after Nick Boyd's commitment
Wisconsin basketball's projected 2025-26 starting lineup and rotation look night-and-day different after the last five days of transfer movement.
The program has landed three four-star transfers during that time: Virginia guard Andrew Rohde, Portland forward Austin Rapp and San Diego State guard Nick Boyd.
Rohde, a rising senior, joins after two years at Virginia. He shot a terrific 41% from 3 last season, which should help him have little trouble finding a consistent role in the Badgers' lineup. While the 6-foot-6 wing currently slots into the team's starting unit, he could move down to sixth man if it lands a top transfer wing.
Rapp, next, broke out as a true freshman in 2024-25. His per-game averages of 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks led to a West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year award. The 6-foot-10 forward notably led the WCC in 3-point attempts, makes and percentage, further indicating Wisconsin's clear pursuit of versatile players and shooting ability. Rapp will fill Steven Crowl's role in the starting unit. He joins the program with three years of eligibility remaining, projecting as a lineup mainstay through that time.
Finally, Wisconsin edged North Carolina for Nick Boyd's commitment on Sunday night. The veteran guard helped lead FAU to the Final Four in 2022-23, then was the best player on a 2024-25 San Diego State team that received an at-large tournament bid. Boyd can shoot, handle the ball and distribute. He and John Blackwell should form one of the Big Ten's better backcourt duos.
For more on how those additions fit in the lineup, here is an updated look at Wisconsin's projected rotation after the flurry of transfer commitments:
Wisconsin Updated 2025-26 Lineup Projection With Transfer Guard Nick Boyd
Guard: John Blackwell (Junior)*
(Junior)* Guard: Nick Boyd (Senior -- San Diego State transfer)
(Senior -- San Diego State transfer) Wing: Andrew Rohde (Senior -- Virginia transfer)
(Senior -- Virginia transfer) Forward: Austin Rapp (Sophomore -- Portland transfer)
(Sophomore -- Portland transfer) Forward: Nolan Winter (Junior)
On paper, this could be one of the better lineups in the Big Ten next season. All but one player shot above 35% from long range in 2024-25 -- Blackwell at 32%. Wisconsin's success this past season was due to a versatile lineup that could stretch the floor and score from point guard to center. This projected lineup presents the same challenge to defend. Blackwell should carry the scoring load, Boyd profiles as a key supporting scorer, Rohde and Rapp are knock-down shooting threats and Winter is emerging as one of the better big men in the conference.
All five players can shoot, score and distribute the basketball. While the lineup will need to prove it on the court next winter, it could be just as dangerous as the program's terrific 2024-25 starting unit.
One storyline to watch is whether Wisconsin adds another top transfer wing, a move that would send Rohde into a sixth-man role. Blackwell's NBA draft status is also worth watching.
*(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
Guard Jack Janicki (Sophomore)
(Sophomore) Forward Xavier Amos (Senior)
(Senior) Guard Jack Robison (Sophomore)
(Sophomore) Center Riccardo Greppi (Sophomore)
(Sophomore) Guard Hayden Jones (Freshman)
(Freshman) Guard Zach Kinziger (Freshman)
(Freshman) Center Will Garlock (Freshman)
Wisconsin's bench unit could define its 2025-26 season. Several of the team's results last season came down to Carter Gilmore, Kamari McGee, Janicki and Amos' bench contributions.
Janicki and Amos project as the team's leading bench players in 2025-26. Big questions exist past that duo, with none of Robison, Greppi, Jones, Kinziger, or Garlock having significant collegiate experience. It's reasonable to expect one or two of those underclassmen to emerge. But at this stage of the offseason, it's hard to rely on any joining the rotation.
Wisconsin should still add a transfer depth option or two for that reason. The team's starting lineup looks as strong as any, although the overall lineup is still on the thin side.
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