Badgers Net Aussie Pro as Offseason Domino Falls
Wisconsin secured 22-year-old guard Owen Foxwell from Australia’s NBL, flipping him from LSU just before the transfer portal opens. The 6-foot-2 pro averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals last season while shooting 41 percent from the field and 35 percent from deep. Foxwell joins an international backcourt pipeline alongside Hayden Jones and incoming freshman Jackson Ball, and reunites with ex-teammate Austin Rapp. With four roster spots still open, head coach Greg Gard is stacking experienced global talent to balance his lineup.
In a move that screams “we Googled ‘experienced guards’,” Wisconsin is building an army of international veteran freshmen. Forget chemistry—just lob in whatever imports will pass as underclassmen and hope someone remembers how to play defense. It’s like ordering a world tour of basketball players and expecting them to arrive for orientation on time. Perhaps Foxwell will teach the local lads the national anthem—while simultaneously schooling opponents in assist-to-turnover ratios. Or maybe Gard just needed an excuse to say “Australia” a lot.
Gard Discovers Defense Isn’t Just a Suggestion
After a Sweet Sixteen–caliber season ended in disappointment, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard admitted his team’s defense lagged far behind program standards. Despite a strong offensive showing and several wins over top-15 foes, the Badgers fell to 55th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, their worst since 2018. Gard plans to deep-dive film over the offseason, targeting portal additions who can shore up the defensive identity and avoid another “cruel, brutal” tournament exit.
In breaking news, Coach Gard confirms defense actually matters—an insight previously unknown to humankind. He’s reportedly dusting off VHS tapes of game film and scribbling notes like a detective on a crime scene: “Note: players spoke words ‘block’ and ‘guard.’ Investigate further.” One can imagine him drafting portal wishlists under eerie lamp light, muttering “Top-25 defense. Top-25 defense…” like a mantra. If only this revelation had come midseason, perhaps the team could’ve tried it—though last we checked, no portal allows you to swap in defensive IQ.
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