Wisconsin erased the defensive frustrations of last season on Friday night at the Kohl Center, using a relentless team effort to smother Delaware for a 73-64 victory.
The Badgers leaned into an offseason mandate to rebuild their defensive identity after enduring a campaign where high-scoring offensive outbursts often masked vulnerabilities on the other end of the floor. That defensive grit provided the necessary margin for error on a night when Wisconsin shot just 39.7 percent overall and hit 10 of 30 attempts from beyond the arc.
Delaware arrived in Madison carrying heavy offensive momentum after hanging 105 points on a Division-3 opponent in its season opener while shooting over 59 percent. Yet the Fightin’ Blue Hens managed a mere 35.6 percent shooting clip against a swarming Wisconsin defense that refused to concede clean looks.
Guards Carry the Scoring Load as Five Reach Double Figures
Five different Badgers scored in double figures, matching a balanced attack not seen since January of last season. Guards Owen Foxwell and Braeden Carrington paced the offense with 16 points apiece. Carrington added two critical steals and disrupted a layup attempt during a crucial second-half sequence that helped break the game open.
Foxwell orchestrated the offense with six assists, anchoring a backcourt that committed just eight turnovers all night. Newcomer Victory Onuetu muscled his way to an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double, helping Wisconsin claim a 42-32 edge on the glass and a 28-16 advantage in points in the paint.
Nolan Winter and Eian Elmer each chipped in 11 points to round out the double-digit scorers. Meanwhile, bench depth remains an early-season question mark for head coach Greg Gard, as Wisconsin reserves contributed just eight total points.
The Turning Point in the Second Half
Clinging to a tight 35-35 tie early in the second half, Carrington drained a three-pointer that sparked an explosive 12-2 run for the hosts. Foxwell scored seven straight points during the surge, while the Badger defense locked down, holding Delaware without a field goal for a span of 4:53.
This team is built different [from last year.],
head coach Greg Gard said after the game. These people are in different roles. I know last year’s team could score. This team will score. I think we will be better offensively. We’ve really harped on and emphasized the defensive end and I think they understand that and they embrace that.
Wisconsin never allowed its lead to dip below nine points after the 9:35 mark, securing its 21st consecutive non-conference home victory—a streak dating back to 2023 that equals the longest-active streak in the Big Ten.
FINAL #Badgers Scoring Braeden Carrington 16, Owen Foxwell 16, Victory Onuetu 11, Nolan Winter 11, Eian Elmer 11, Jack Janicki 7, Zach Kinziger 1. UW shot 39.7 percent overall and 33.3 percent from three, but held Delaware to 35.6 percent.
Hosting Fairfield on Tuesday
The Badgers continue their homestand early next week by welcoming Fairfield to the Kohl Center on Tuesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., with live television coverage provided by the Big Ten Network.
Fairfield travels to Madison following an opening-game loss to Vermont and a Sunday matchup at Bryant. The Stags feature sophomore Declan Wucherpfennig, who earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference preseason player of the year honors and scored a career-high 25 points in his team’s opener. The two programs have met only once previously, with Wisconsin claiming a 76-55 victory on December 31, 1992.
FINAL: Wisconsin 73, Delaware 64 Five players reach double figures for the #Badgers, led by Braeden Carrington's 16 points and Victory Onuetu's double-double (11 pts, 11 rbds). The real star was the defense, which helped UW pull away on a night where offense was hard to come by
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