Over the past decade, Wisconsin’s men’s basketball program has established itself as a consistent force in college hoops. The team has maintained an average KenPom finish of 29.8, ranking 12th in the nation, behind prestigious programs like Gonzaga, Kansas, and Duke. After the departure of longtime head coach Bo Ryan in 2015, assistant coach Greg Gard took over and has led the team to success.
Under Gard’s leadership, the Badgers have achieved six 20-plus-win seasons in eight years and secured two Big Ten regular-season titles in 2020 and 2022. Wisconsin has made six NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2016 and 2017. Gard has a strong record of 186-107 and has led the team to five of the top 19 winningest seasons in program history.
Several Wisconsin players have received prestigious conference honors during Gard’s tenure, including Nigel Hayes, Ethan Happ, and Johnny Davis. Despite this success, the team has not advanced past the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament since 2017. The program missed the tournament entirely in 2018 and 2023.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Wisconsin has added three top transfers – Camren Hunter from Central Arkansas, John Tonje from Missouri, and Xavier Amos from Northern Illinois. With these new additions to its roster, the Badgers hope to return to their place among college basketball’s elite programs and achieve new heights on both on-court successes