Three things to watch as Wisconsin Badgers play their exhibition game at Green Bay

MADISON, Wis. – The next warm-up round for the University of Wisconsin includes a short bus ride north with its red road jerseys.

Five days after opening its exhibition season with a 94-71 win over UW-Parkside, the Badgers will travel to Green Bay to face the Phoenix in a preseason tune-up tonight at the Resch Center (6:30 p.m.).

Wisconsin is 27-1 against the Phoenix and 3-1 in games played in Green Bay. This will be the first exhibition game between the two programs, the first matchup in the series since 2022, and the first meeting in Green Bay since 2013.

Head coach Doug Gottlieb is coming off a successful second season with the Phoenix, which finished 18-15 overall and finished in third place in the league standings.

Here are three things to watch or listen for during UW’s second exhibition game.

Can Wisconsin stay large and in charge?

Wisconsin’s offense was dominated by guards in 2025-26, but the Badgers have built a roster this season that will likely carried by the size of their low post.

The numbers from Saturday are skewed because of Parkside’s size disadvantage, but the Badgers finished +14 on the glass, scored 56 points in the paint, 18 points off the fast break and 22-for-29 around the rim.

Even without Austin Rapp, UW’s other three bigs – Nolan Winter, Victory Onuetu, and Will Garlock – all reach double figures and had at least six rebounds.

UW was thin with productive height after Winter and Rapp last season, only leaning on the freshman Garlock. Known more for his passing ability than scoring (never surpassing five points in a game), Garlock had 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal in 22 minutes Saturday.

Going against the shot-blocking Onuetu throughout the summer, Garlock looks as confident on the court as he’s been since arriving on campus.

“I think his confidence has grown in every aspect of his game, of his life, just being in college and growing up a little bit over the last 18 months,” associate head coach Joe Krabbenhoft said Tuesday….

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Publish date : 2026-10-15 11:00:00

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