Latest news with #Badgers
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football class of 2026 commit begins June with notable SEC official visit
Wisconsin football class of 2026 commit begins June with notable SEC official visit Wisconsin football class of 2026 commit, defensive lineman Carmelow Reed, is taking an official visit to Ole Miss this weekend, according to Rivals' Adam Gorney. The 6-foot-7 defensive lineman committed to the Badgers on April 7, immediately becoming the highest-rated recruit in their class of 2026. 247Sports ranks the Olympia Fields, Illinois, product as the No. 531 overall player in the class of 2026, the No. 63 defensive lineman and the No. 13 player from his home state. Notably, Reed chose the Badgers over other offers from LSU, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri and Ole Miss. He is one of several players scheduled to visit Madison the weekend of June 6. Before making that trip, he began his official visit schedule with a notable SEC trip. As a junior with Olympia Fields, Reed logged 33 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks and a fumble recovery in eight games. As of May 30, he is Wisconsin's sole defensive line commit for the class of 2026. That class currently ranks No. 44 in the nation with seven players committed. If Reed were to decommit and head to Ole Miss, the class' ranking would drop substantially. Furthermore, the defensive front seven is a position group of significance for Luke Fickell, as he has honed in on top targets including McHale Blade, Kobe Cherry, Djidjou Bah, Arthur Scott, and Jermaine Polk. Wisconsin is in search of its third straight recruiting finish in the top 25, something Fickell leaned into when he assumed head coaching responsibilities in 2022. Given his team's 5-7 finish a season ago, offseason coaching changes and a new offensive system, Fickell and his staff may need to work harder to sell the program as a top destination. As of May 30, Reed remains a Badger. His status is one to monitor in the coming weeks. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Badger Commit Flirting with Rebels? Reed's Ole Miss Visit
Badger Commit Flirting with Rebels? Reed's Ole Miss Visit originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Wisconsin football team's 2026 recruiting class currently stands at seven committed players. Among those players, and the Badgers' top-rated player according to the 247Sports rankings, is defensive lineman/EDGE Carmelow Reed. Advertisement Reed committed to the Badgers at the beginning of April, but his commitment to the Wisconsin football team may not be solid. Despite making a pledge to the Badgers, Reed could have his eyes looking elsewhere. It could be a case of him just making sure he's making the right decision, but in a report from Adam Gorney, the national recruiting director for Rivals and Yahoo Sports, Reed is expected to take a visit to the Ole Miss Rebels this weekend. The 3-star defensive lineman out of Olympia Fields, Illinois, is the 531st-overall player in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the 63rd-ranked defensive lineman and 13th overall player in the state of Illinois. Advertisement He committed to the Badgers over a handful of Power 4 teams, including LSU, Ole Miss, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, and others. Should the Badgers lose their pledge from Carmelow Reed, they will need to turn up the heat on some of their upcoming visits. Whether he is an edge or a defensive lineman, the Badgers are already relatively thin at those positions, especially along the defensive line. Related: Badgers Make Top 5 for Elite DL Jermaine Polk Stay in the loop with all things Wisconsin Badgers football and men's basketball by visiting for more updates. Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube, Facebook, and X to join in on the conversation. Advertisement You can also follow Staff Writer Christian Borman at @ChristianBorman on X. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Basketball Beefs Up 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
Wisconsin Basketball Beefs Up 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Unlike college football, where wins are more important than strength of schedule to get into the College Football Playoff (see the 2024 Indiana Hoosiers), college basketball programs depend on scheduling games against quality opponents. Playing the top teams in the country is hugely beneficial in boosting a team's tournament resume. The Wisconsin basketball team is a prime example of this. Advertisement In just the past couple of weeks, the Badgers have announced upcoming games against some high-level non-conference programs. First, CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein reported that the Badgers would face off with BYU, the team that eliminated them from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, in November in Salt Lake City, giving the Badgers a rematch and a chance at some redemption against the Cougars. Next, although it's just an exhibition game that won't count towards the season standings or stats, the Badgers are taking on Oklahoma in Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum in October. You don't normally see an exhibition game against an opponent at this level to start the season. A quality opponent like the Sooners in an exhibition game is another chance for the Badgers to gear up for their 2025 season. Finally, Jon Rothstein is again reporting that the Badgers have scheduled another series, this time against Villanova. The Badgers will host the Wildcats this season at Fiserv Forum in December. Then they will play them again the following season at Wells Fargo Center in the 2026-27 season. Advertisement Villanova hasn't been the powerhouse program it once was since head coach Jay Wright left, but it is looking to turn things around under a new head coach, the Badgers are familiar with: Kevin Willard. Willard was most recently the head coach of Maryland, but left the Terps for Nova after they were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in March. Greg Gard and the Wisconsin basketball program have been aggressive in beefing up their non-conference schedule heading into the 2025-26 season to pair with the already ultra-competitive Big Ten schedule. There's no question that the Badgers should be battle-tested heading into tournament play at the end of next season. Related: Big Ten Reveals Men's Basketball Matchups for 2025-26 Season Stay in the loop with all things Wisconsin Badgers football and men's basketball by visiting for more updates. Advertisement Ready to join the community? Follow Athlon Sports on YouTube, Facebook, and X to join in on the conversation. You can also follow Staff Writer Christian Borman at @ChristianBorman on X. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin basketball announces neutral site game against a Big East powerhouse
Wisconsin basketball announces neutral site game against a Big East powerhouse The Wisconsin Badgers are quietly putting together a phenomenal non-conference schedule for the 2025-2026 season. Earlier this week, the program announced a home-and-home series with BYU starting this winter in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a return game in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2026-2027. Today, the Badgers announced yet another neutral-site non-conference game, this one against the Villanova Wildcats at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on December 19th. CBS' Jon Rothstein reports a return matchup at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2026-27. This matchup would be the first time the Badgers have faced the Wildcats since Wisconsin's upset win in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The No. 8-seed Badgers defeated the No. 1-seed and reigning national champion Wildcats on a last-second basket from forward Nigel Hayes. 2025-26 will be Kevin Willard's first season as the head coach of the Wildcats after leaving Big Ten rival Maryland after the 2024-25 season. Willard went 2-3 against Wisconsin while coaching at Maryland, most recently defeating the Badgers 76-68 in College Park this past January. With games against BYU, Marquette, Kansas/Florida/Providence (Rady's Children's Invitational), and now Villanova, Wisconsin's non-conference schedule has become extremely competitive for this upcoming season. It should provide the team a golden opportunity to stack quality wins early in the season. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin basketball star worked out with four NBA teams before return to Madison
Wisconsin basketball star worked out with four NBA teams before return to Madison Wisconsin basketball star John Blackwell worked out with several NBA teams prior to officially withdrawing from the 2025 draft and returning to the Badgers for the 2025-26 season. Blackwell, who will officially don the Badger threads for at least one more season as a junior, worked out with the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trailblazers and Philadelphia 76ers before sharing his plans to return to school on Wednesday. While the Michigan native's NBA prospects remained slim throughout the pre-draft process, Blackwell capitalized on the opportunity to showcase his skill set in front of NBA scouts and executives. Outside of exposure, those workouts traditionally enable players to bolster their draft status down the line and hone in on specific facets of their games to improve. The rising junior guard did not receive an invitation to the NBA combine or the G League Elite Camp, but he did participate in Life Sports Agency's pro day at the Los Angeles Lakers' training facility, another NBA venue. For a player who will not lace up in the NBA this fall, Blackwell certainly loaded his offseason itinerary with professional basketball at the front of his mind. Blackwell will return to Madison as the unquestioned No. 1 option for Greg Gard's group. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 31.2 minutes, 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game off 45% from the field and 32% from 3-point range as a sophomore during the 2024-25 slate, enough to earn an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection. The guard played second fiddle to All-American wing John Tonje, who projects to land in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, throughout his second season in Madison. Still, Blackwell recorded eight games of at least 20 points, including a pair of games with 30 points or more. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native will take the hardwood alongside transfers Nick Boyd, Austin Rapp and Andrew Rohde in the starting lineup, with rising junior forward Nolan Winter also returning to help lead the team. That starting unit projects to be one of the more formidable in the Big Ten. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
