For the first time since 2020-21, Wisconsin men’s basketball is beginning the 2025-26 season ranked in the preseason Associated Press poll.
The Badgers are ranked No. 24 in the poll, which was released Oct. 13. They’re behind five Big Ten teams — No. 1 Purdue, No. 7 Michigan, No. 12 UCLA, No. 17 Illinois and No. 22 Michigan State.
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It is similar to where Big Ten writers have placed the Badgers in unofficial media polls. The USA Today Network ranked UW sixth in the 18-team conference, and the Indianapolis Star and Columbus Dispatch’s poll of writers from across the conference ranked UW seventh.
Wisconsin ended last season at No. 16 in the AP poll after losing to BYU in the second round of the NCAA tournament. While Greg Gard’s Badgers have been ranked for at least part of the last seven seasons, it was their first time ending the season ranked in the poll since 2021-22.
The Badgers will be relying on nine newcomers, including former San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, former Virginia guard Andrew Rohde and former Portland forward Austin Rapp. Key returning players include guards John Blackwell and Jack Janicki and forward Nolan Winter.
Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd (2) is defended by fellow guard John Blackwell (25) during a practice at the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion in Madison on Oct. 6, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball ranked No. 24 in preseason AP poll
