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USA Today Network writers who cover Big Ten schools have picked the Badgers to finish sixth in the 18-team conference in 2025-26.

MADISON — Wisconsin men’s basketball is expected to be in the top third of the Big Ten in 2025-26.

Writers from across the USA Today Network picked Wisconsin to finish sixth in its Big Ten preseason poll. Purdue, Michigan, Illinois, UCLA and Michigan State were voted ahead of the Badgers.

It is similar to the Badgers’ seventh-place spot in the Indianapolis Star and Columbus Dispatch’s annual preseason media poll. The Big Ten does not produce its own preseason media or coaches poll.

The high preseason expectations are following a season in which Greg Gard’s group went 13-7 in conference play and earned a spot in the Big Ten tournament title game. It will be with a team that looks much different, though, as Gard brought in five transfers and four freshmen and must replace key players such as John Tonje, Steven Crowl and others.

Wisconsin guard John Blackwell earned second-team all-Big Ten recognition from USA Today Network writers. He also was on the Star and Dispatch’s preseason second team, and he was one of 10 players on the Big Ten-produced preseason all-conference team.

Blackwell averaged 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31 minutes per game in 2024-25 and was an all-Big Ten honorable mention after the season.

The USA Today Network poll was unveiled a day before the conference’s men’s basketball teams attend Big Ten basketball media days on Oct. 9. The Badgers’ first game will be on Nov. 3 against Campbell after exhibitions against Oklahoma on Oct. 24 and UW-Platteville on Oct. 29.

Player of Year: Braden Smith

Newcomer of Year: Yaxel Lendeborg

Freshman of Year: Trey McKenney

UW guard John Blackwell gestures after sinking a three-pointer against Iowa during the first half Friday night at the Kohl Center in Madison. Blackwell made 6 threes during the contest and finished with a game-high 32 points.