After months of anticipation, the Wisconsin Badgers tipped off the 2025–26 season in style, rolling past Campbell 96–64 at the Kohl Center. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the kind of performance that showcased both the team’s offensive depth and its potential ceiling. Here’s what we learned from the Badgers’ season-opening win.
John Blackwell is ready to be “the guy”
If there was any doubt about who would take on the role of go-to scorer this season, Blackwell erased it with a thunderous 31-point performance. The sophomore guard was electric—draining six threes, attacking off the dribble, and showing the kind of confidence that’s been missing from Wisconsin’s offense in recent years.
Advertisement
His off-ball movement created open looks, and when Campbell tried to run him off the line, he punished them with drives to the rim. Simply put, this was a statement game. If Blackwell can sustain even a fraction of that production in Big Ten play, Greg Gard’s offense will have a new dynamic dimension.
Nick Boyd and Nolan Winter give the Badgers real balance
Boyd, a transfer guard with a reputation for toughness, lived up to the billing in his Wisconsin debut with 21 points and steady two-way play. He looked comfortable as both a secondary creator and perimeter shooter—something the team desperately needed a year ago.
Meanwhile, Winter turned in a quiet double-double (17 points, 12 boards) and anchored the interior. His growth is especially encouraging; the sophomore big man looks more confident sealing off defenders, finishing through contact, and controlling the glass.
Advertisement
Together, Boyd and Winter helped Wisconsin outscore Campbell 46-32 in the paint and dominate the second half physically.
When Wisconsin turns up the defensive pressure, it looks elite
The first half was a mixed bag—Campbell shot nearly 60 percent from the field at one point and trailed by only seven at halftime. But once Wisconsin tightened its rotations and started jumping passing lanes, everything changed.
The Badgers went on a 31-4 run to close the game, holding the Camels to just 28 percent shooting after the break. It wasn’t a full 40-minute defensive clinic, but it was a glimpse of what this team can do when it locks in. Gard’s emphasis on forcing turnovers and creating transition opportunities was on full display during that closing stretch.
Advertisement
Consistency and composure are still a work in progress
Despite the blowout margin, there were clear reminders that this is still a developing group. Wisconsin’s defensive energy wavered early, and a few careless turnovers interrupted their rhythm.
Against Campbell, those lapses didn’t hurt. Against Purdue or Michigan, they will. The Badgers need to find that consistent killer instinct from tipoff to the final horn.
This team has depth—and belief
For the first time in a while, Wisconsin looks like it can go eight or nine deep without losing much on either end. Younger players and transfers alike fit comfortably within Gard’s system. More importantly, the energy around this team feels different—looser, faster, more confident. It’s only one game, but Wisconsin looked every bit like a team intent on making noise in the Big Ten.
If this opener was any indication, the Badgers might finally have the balance of skill, swagger, and scoring punch to turn that goal into reality.
