Wisconsin basketball forward officially announces return for 2025-26 season
Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter officially announced his return to the Badgers for the 2025-26 season on Friday.
The rising junior shared a simple message via X: "Back for more."
Winter returns to lead the Wisconsin frontcourt after a breakout season in 2024-25. He started all 37 of the team's games, averaging 21.1 minutes, 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest. He was one of the Badgers' most efficient scoring options from every level, shooting 56.4% from the field, a Big Ten-best 71.5% from inside the three-point line and 35.8% from outside.
Advertisement
The 6-foot-10 forward originally joined the Badgers as a three-star recruit in the class of 2023, ranked as the No. 151 player in the country and the No. 2 recruit from the state of Minnesota. He played a limited role as a freshman in 2023-24, primarily backing up veteran center Steven Crowl. He saw 9.4 minutes of playing time per game that season, averaging just 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds.
Wisconsin loses a large senior class after the 2024-25 season, headlined by starters Max Klesmit, Crowl and John Tonje. Both Winter and star guard John Blackwell's respective returns are critical as Greg Gard reloads the team's rotation entering a pivotal 2025-26 campaign.
While Winter was expected back after the season's conclusion, his announcement on Friday ensures that reality. Notably, the Badgers are in a position to retain both of their star players entering 2025-26, a different outcome from when Chucky Hepburn and A.J. Storr left via the transfer portal last offseason.
Blackwell recently declared for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. If the current draft projections hold, he'll likely return to join Winter in leading the Badgers in 2025-26. He noted in his draft announcement that if he returns to college, it will be to Wisconsin.
Advertisement
The Badgers recently landed Virginia transfer guard Andrew Rohde, kicking off their offseason transfer activity. While the team still has major needs to address, a leading corps of Winter, Blackwell (likely) and Rohde is a strong starting point, with Xavier Amos and Jack Janicki as key complementary pieces.
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 Nolan Winter announces return decision
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
St. Louis Battlehawks vs. DC Defenders where to watch: TV channel, start time, odds
St. Louis Battlehawks vs. DC Defenders where to watch: TV channel, start time, odds Show Caption Hide Caption Greg Olsen believes Travis Kelce 'controls how he leaves the game' Former NFL tight end Greg Olsen has high praise for Travis Kelce and shares when he believes Travis Kelce will eventually retire from the NFL. Sports Seriously The St. Louis Battlehawks came up short in their quest to make the UFL championship game last season. They lost to the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL conference championship game, marking a disappointing end to their season. The Battlehawks will have another chance to get to the UFL title game in 2025. This time, they will have to make it through the DC Defenders as they face off for the second time in as many weeks. St. Louis and DC split their season series. The Defenders won the Week 2 matchup between the teams 27-15, while the Battlehawks won 13-8 in a Week 10 game that saw each team rest some of its key players, with playoff berths already secured. The Battlehawks sported the UFL's best scoring defense during the 2025 season, allowing just 16.3 points per game. They allowed 13 or fewer points in four of their final five games of the season, so the Jordan Ta'amu-led Defenders offense will have its work cut out for it. UFL PLAYOFFS: How to watch USFL, XFL conference championships in 2025 The good news for DC is that Ta'amu was one of the UFL's top quarterbacks last season. He completed 54.4% of his passes for 2,153 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions while helping the Defenders average a league-best 246.5 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, the Battlehawks will rely more on their defense and Jacob Saylors-helmed ground game, which averaged a UFL-best 144.2 rushing yards per game, to carry them. If Saylors and Co. can have a big game, that would take pressure off former quarterback Max Duggan, who took over for St. Louis starter Manny Wilkins after he suffered a torn Achilles midway through the season. The Battlehawks figure to have an advantage in this game because they are playing at home. However, the Defenders were the lone team to beat St. Louis at The Dome at America's Center, so Shannon Harris' team should provide a challenge to Anthony Becht's squad. Here's what to know as the Battlehawks and Defenders square off in the XFL conference championship game. What time is Battlehawks vs. Defenders? Date : Sunday, June 8 : Sunday, June 8 Time : 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT) : 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT) Location: The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri The St. Louis Battlehawks vs. DC Defenders XFL conference championship game will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 8 at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis. St. Louis Battlehawks vs. DC Defenders odds The Battlehawks are small favorites over the Defenders in the XFL conference championship game, according to BetMGM. Here is a look at the spread, moneyline and point total for the contest: All odds as of Tuesday, June 3. Spread : Battlehawks (-3.5) : Battlehawks (-3.5) Moneyline : Battlehawks (-185) | Defenders (+150) : Battlehawks (-185) | Defenders (+150) Over/under: 46.5 What channel is Battlehawks vs. Defenders UFL playoff game? TV: Fox Battlehawks vs. Defenders live stream free UFL playoff schedule 2025 Conference championship games: Sunday, June 8 USFL conference championship : Birmingham Stallions vs. Michigan Panthers, 3 p.m., ABC : Birmingham Stallions vs. Michigan Panthers, 3 p.m., ABC XFL conference championship: St. Louis Battlehawks vs. DC Defenders, 6 p.m., Fox UFL championship game: Saturday, June 14
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Fox News
Ex-MMA star Ben Askren battling 'severe pneumonia' in hospital, wife says
Ben Askren, a former mixed martial arts competitor who fought in the Olympics and UFC, was hospitalized recently with a severe illness, his wife said in a post on social media. Amy Askren revealed that her husband was fighting off a sickness in a post on Facebook on Saturday. "You may have heard that my husband Ben is going through something. He developed severe pneumonia which came on very suddenly," she wrote. "He's currently in the hospital and unable to respond to anything at this time. "We welcome all prayers for healing and for peace. We are trying to keep life as normal as possible for our children currently and doing our best to support them thoughtfully so please refrain from discussing it with them for now." Ben Askren recently signed with Real American Freestyle – the Hulk Hogan venture hoping to popularize professional freestyle wrestling. Askren, 40, was an NCAA champion in the 170-pound division in 2006 and 2007 and went on to compete for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. He won gold medals in the 2005 Pan American Championships and the 2009 World Championships. He made his full transition to MMA fighting when he debuted in Bellator in 2010. He then competed in ONE Championship before taking on UFC. He defeated Robbie Lawler via submission at UFC 235 before he lost to Jorge Masvidal in a high-profile bout. In 2021, he fought Jake Paul in a boxing match. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Game 67: Red Sox at Yankees lineups and notes for series finale
First pitch in the Bronx is set for 7:10 p.m. Here's a preview. Lineups RED SOX (31-35): TBA Pitching: RHP Hunter Dobbins (2-1, 4.06 ERA) YANKEES (39-24): TBA Pitching: LHP Carlos Rodón (8-3, 2.49 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: ESPN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Rodón: Rafael Devers 5-15, Jarren Duran 2-9, Romy González 0-6, Ceddanne Rafaela 2-9, Rob Refsnyder 4-12, Trevor Story 0-4, Abraham Toro 2-7, Connor Wong 4-10 Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Yankees vs. Dobbins: Has not faced any NY Yankees batters Advertisement Stat of the day: Rodon is holding opposing hitters to an MLB-best .167 and also is 4-0 with an 0.72 ERA over his past four outings. Notes: Dobbins will make his eighth career start after allowing three runs over eight innings in a pair of relief appearances against the Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers. Dobbins last started May 24 in the opener of a doubleheader at Fenway Park against the Baltimore Orioles when he allowed four runs on five hits in four innings of a no-decision. ... Dobbins has never faced the Yankees. ... Aaron Judge, who struck out three times Saturday, enters Sunday with a .390 batting average and will attempt to avoid going hitless in consecutive games for only the second time this season. ... The Yankees will try for their ninth series win in 10 tries. Advertisement Amin Touri can be reached at
