Wisconsin basketball lands among KenPom's top 12 programs since 2015

Over the past decade, Wisconsin’s men’s basketball program has personified consistency in college hoops. Its average KenPom finish of 29.8 ranks No. 12 in the nation, behind prestigious programs including Gonzaga, Kansas, Duke, Purdue, Villanova, North Carolina and Michigan State.

Following the departure of infamous Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan in 2015, former assistant coach Greg Gard ignited his tenure as UW’s leader on the sidelines.

Since then, Gard has captained the Badgers to six 20-plus-win seasons in eight years and two Big Ten regular season titles in 2020 and 2022. Wisconsin has clinched six NCAA Tournaments births and reached the Sweet Sixteen in both 2016 and 2017.

Under Gard, UW has amassed an overall mark of 186-107, plus five of the top 19 winningest seasons in program history.

Wisconsin has also witnessed three of its athletes earn prestigious conference honors during their tenure.

Future Euroleage superstar Nigel Hayes earned a first-team All-Big Ten nod in 2016 before big man Ethan Happ received first-team All-Big Ten nods in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Future Washington Wizard Johnny Davis was a consensus All-American, the Big Ten Player of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten in 2022.

Despite the headlines and hubbub, deep postseason success has yet to follow UW’s 2017 finish in the Big Dance. The program has not reached the Sweet Sixteen since Gard’s second season as head coach and failed to make the NCAA Tournament entirely in 2018 and 2023.

With the addition of three top transfers, Central Arkansas guard Camren Hunter, Missouri guard John Tonje and Northern Illinois forward Xavier Amos, ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, Wisconsin will look to right the ship and return to its place alongside college basketball’s best.