Badger Basketball Exit Meetings: Is Nolan Winter ready to be the guy?

Loyalty is hard to come by in the modern landscape of college basketball. Luckily for Wisconsin fans, it’s what they’ve got with Nolan Winter. His skillset made him a prime candidate for the sport’s wealthiest to lure him into the portal, but the big man stayed true to Greg Gard and will finish his career as a Badger.

The decision to stay was the biggest of the offseason for Wisconsin, but evolving into a true No. 1 will be the biggest factor in the team’s success in 2026-27. Here is a final analysis of Winter’s junior season before we start discussing next season’s possibilities.

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2025-26 Stats (30.7 minutes per game)

13.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.2 BPG | 56.9% FG, 32.6% 3-pt, 74.2% FT

2025-26 High

Ironically, arguably the best two games of Winter’s season individually came in losses, the first being early in the season against Villanova in Milwaukee and the second in the controversial loss at Indiana. Despite the losses, I thought Winter showcased exactly why he can be Wisconsin’s go-to guy in 2026-27.

Everyone remembers how emotional Winter was in post-game media availability following the loss to Villanova, and his effort in the contest backed up how badly he wanted it. In 43 minutes of action, the junior forward registered 23 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. He went 4-for-6 from deep, and as he did most of the season, converted at a high clip around the rim, going 5-for-6 from two.

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In the Indiana loss, it was another 40-minute outing, with 26 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. Once again, he was uber-efficient, shooting 9-for-13 from the field and 3-for-5 from three.

Both contests displayed Winter’s ability to play off his guards, but also be the primary scorer in extended stretches, which was a welcoming sight. As the stats suggest, he was also extremely active defensively and finished possessions on the glass.

There was a lot to like from Winter in nearly every facet of the game in 2025-26, and he did so on a consistent basis. Any…

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Publish date : 2026-05-23 21:00:00

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