NFL
By: Melo Williams
The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team enters the 2026-2027 season for its 12th season with head coach Greg Gard.
Coach Gard and his coaching staff has done an excellent job navigating the new modern college basketball landscape with the transfer portal constructing rosters that blends experience and youth while sticking to the foundation of the identity of Badgers basketball.
On paper it appears the coaching staff scored once again building the 2026-2027 roster, with a deeper balanced talented roster of experience, youth, height, and special skill sets.
It starts with a core of six returning players, F Nolan Winter, F Austin Rapp, C Will Garlock, G Jack Janicki, G Hayden Jones, and G Zach Kinziger.
Eight new players, PG Owen Foxwell (South East Melbourne Phoenix-NBL Australia), F Eian Elmer (Miami, OH), G Trey Autry (George Washington), F Victory Onuetu (Hofstra), and freshmen, 3⭐️ G LaTrevion Fenderson (DME Academy), G Josh Manchester (Mount Horeb HS), G Jackson Ball (Illawarra Hawks), and F Isaac Riddle (Center of Excellence-NBL Australia).
Projected Starters & Reserves
STARTERS
Sr. F 7’0 Nolan Winter
Jr. F 6’10 Austin Rapp
Sr. G 6’6″ Eian Elmer
Sr. G 6’4 Trey Autry
Fr. G 6’2 Owen Foxwell
RESERVES
So. F 7’0 Will Garlock
Sr. F 6’11 Victory Onuetu
Sr. G 6’5 Jack Janicki
Fr. G 6’5 Jackson Ball
So. G 6’3 Zach Kinziger
So. G 6’6 Hayden Jones
Fr. G 6’3 LaTrevion Fenderson
Fr. G 6’4 Josh Manchester
Fr. F 6’8 Isaac Riddle
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Player Spotlight
Josh Manchester
Freshman
6’4 Guard
Mount Horeb HS WI
•Averaged 30.1 points per game leading Mount Horeb HS to a Badger conference title as a senior.
•Finalist for Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association’s 2026 Mr. Basketball Award.
•Was named 2026 Wisconsin State Journal’s Player of the Year while earning WBCA All-State Honors.
•Finished high school career with 2,534 points, the 10th most in Wisconsin state history.
Q&A
MW: How was summer basketball and what was your biggest takeaway?
JM: Summer was great! It was super fun getting to bond with the team and do a ton of stuff together. My biggest takeaway would definitely be just how physical and locked in you have to be to be successful at this level.
MW: What do you feel is the most underrated part of your game?
JM: I feel like just my feel for the game is my most underrated part of my game just knowing when to make the right play.
MW: What’s been your biggest challenge on the court you’ve faced so far?
JM: My biggest challenge would definitely be just learning how to play defense in the Big 10 because it is so much more physical than high school basketball.
MW: Where do you feel you’ve improved the most so far?
JM: I feel like I’ve improved on my strength in the weight room and my ball handling on the court wise.
MW: Your outlook on the upcoming season?
JM: I’m very excited about this year, can’t wait to learn from all the coaches and players and grow and develop to be the best player I can.
HC Greg Gard on Josh Manchester
“We’re excited to have Josh join our program. Josh appreciates and understands the work and development that his role will require. He’s got a competitor’s mindset paired with a knack for scoring as witnessed by him being amongst the top 10 scorers in Wisconsin high school history. He comes from an excellently coached high school program and a basketball family. Josh is really fired up to be a Badger. We’re looking forward to helping Josh launch his college career!”
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Badgers open the season, Saturday October 10 12 PM vs UW-Parkside, @ UW-Green Bay Thursday October 15 6:30 PM, followed by a 5-game home stretch vs Oklahoma State, Denver, Delaware, Fairfield, and Coastal Carolina.
Big Ten Conference play begins Tuesday December 1 @ Northwestern TBA.
The ultimate goal for this year’s Badgers, will be capitalizing on their deep frontcourt length, defense, shooting, and playmakers to remain a top-tier contender in a highly competitive Big Ten and making a Sweet 16 appearance.
B1G RECORD PREDICTION
13-7
Sweet 16
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2026-2027 SCHEDULE
UP NEXT: Players Preview
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