Sophomore Surge: Will Garlock Dominate the Paint?
Wisconsin loaded up on six new players this offseason, but rising sophomore forward Will Garlock quietly stole the spotlight. After averaging just 1.1 points and rebounds across 6.8 minutes as a freshman, the 7-foot, 243-pound Middleton native impressed coaches and media alike at summer practice. His rebounding prowess, improved feel for the game, and newfound confidence suggest he could battle Victory Onuetu for significant minutes in 2026-27. Coach Greg Gard credits Garlock’s spring work in the weight room and the invaluable experience of big-ten play for the leap. If he refines rim protection and becomes a consistent force on defense, he could transform Wisconsin’s frontcourt depth alongside Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp.
It’s adorable when a 19-year-old discovers he’s big. We salute Garlock’s entrance into the realm of heavyweight responsibilities—like walking uphill both ways to the cafeteria. Who knew that dunking on freshman defenders and rebounding like a hyperactive Roomba would earn acclaim? Next thing you know, the kid will be giving impromptu TED Talks on boxing out. We await his sophomore memoir, “From Gatorade Baths to Big Ten Baths,” and anticipate the inevitable midseason motivational poster: “You vs. The Guy She Told You Not to Worry About.” Don’t sleep on this lumbering prodigy—he’s about to wake up the paint faster than you can say “double-double.”
Gard’s Grand Plan to Forge a Defensive Juggernaut
After surrendering 83 points and nine second-half threes in a stunning upset by No. 12-seeded High Point, Wisconsin’s defense ranks as the Badgers’ worst since 2018. Coach Greg Gard, once proud of his team’s grit, now laments lackadaisical effort and calls for an offseason transformation. With returning scorers Nick Boyd and John Blackwell more offense-inclined, Gard emphasizes perimeter contests, collective intensity, and not leaning solely on 7-foot shot blockers like Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp. Summer drills and the addition of defensive minded newcomers Owen Foxwell and Eian Elmer aim to inject the required physicality and hustle as the Badgers strive to reclaim their elite defensive identity.
In the latest episode of “Coach Gard’s Boot Camp,” sidearms are banned, sneakers must squeak at all times, and players wake up to a rooster crowing motivational quotes. The good coach has instituted more drills than a dental office, complete with trust falls and mandatory participation in competitive tug-of-war. Rumor has it that any missed defensive rotation prompts a mufti-hour viewing of last year’s collapse on loop. If this season doesn’t pan out, Gard’s next gig involves overseeing traffic cones at an intersection—because nothing screams “defensive discipline” like funneling cars into a tighten-the-belt routine.
Carrington’s Court Comeback: Another Year, Another Rain of Threes
Former sharpshooter Braeden Carrington, who lit up the bench for Wisconsin last season at 40.1 percent from three, is suing the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility under an age-based model. Part of a class of 2022 recruits now in a second wave of lawsuits, Carrington recently joined the action in California after a preliminary injunction in Ohio. Spotted at Wisconsin’s summer practice, he signals a return bid for 2026-27 as the Badgers’ instant offensive boost. A proven sixth man capable of historic single-game explosions—like a 32-point, nine-trey outing—Carrington would immediately slot as the first guard off the bench, deepening and energizing Wisconsin’s rotation.
Cue the courtroom drama: Carrington vs. the NCAA, featuring guest appearances by a gaggle of over-aged college athletes who refuse to retire their sneakers. This lawsuit could finally settle the existential crisis of whether you’re “too old” to chase hardwood dreams—or just old enough to appreciate a good mid-major meltdown. Meanwhile, Wisconsin fans are sharpening pencils and clearing roster space for a man whose free-throw routine is said to cure existential dread. Popcorn at the ready, because if the NCAA had a PR team, they’d be drafting damage-control tweets right now.
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