Wisconsin Basketball Grinds Out Season-Opening Win Over Denver

Wisconsin secures 75-68 home-opening win behind frontcourt physicality

The University of Wisconsin basketball team opened its 2026-27 campaign with a 75-68 victory over Denver at the Kohl Center on Monday night, relying on a rejuvenated frontcourt to survive a shaky shooting performance. In a game that saw the Badgers nearly surrender a 17-point lead, the presence of forwards Nolan Winter and Austin Rapp proved essential to maintaining control. As reported by The Badger Nation, the win marks the 11th consecutive season opener victory for Wisconsin under head coach Greg Gard.

Frontcourt dominance offsets perimeter struggles

While the Badgers struggled from long range—hitting only 6-of-26 attempts from behind the arc—their ability to score inside provided the necessary cushion. Wisconsin finished the night with a significant 46-18 advantage in points in the paint. Nolan Winter, despite a challenging shooting night where he went 3-for-10, anchored the interior by pulling down 14 rebounds. Off the bench, Austin Rapp contributed nine rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes of action.

This size advantage directly benefited the backcourt newcomers. Eian Elmer led the team with 18 points, while Owen Foxwell added 14 points and seven assists. The team’s efficiency around the rim was a clear point of emphasis, with the Badgers hitting 19-of-31 shots from that range throughout the contest.

Wisconsin finishes at 46.3 percent from the floor but went only 6-for-26 from three. Scoring: Elmer 18, Carrington 15, Foxwell 14, Rapp 9, Winter 6, Onuetu 6, Janicki 4, Ball 3.

— https://x.com/TheBadgerNation/status/2117443637361418273

Late-game composure under pressure

The game grew tense in the second half as Wisconsin’s offense hit a wall. The Badgers missed 12 of their first 17 shots after the break, allowing Denver—led by 27 points from Summit League Player of the Year Carson Johnson—to trim the deficit to four points with 9:04 remaining.

Fifth-year guard Braeden Carrington stepped up to stabilize the rotation during this critical stretch. Playing under a court injunction, Carrington provided a late-game spark by hitting a corner three-pointer that pushed the lead back to five. He followed that with an open dunk and two additional three-pointers on back-to-back possessions, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Pioneers. Carrington finished his night with 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists without committing a single turnover.

Statistical breakdown of the opener

The game highlighted both the promise and the developmental needs of this year’s roster. According to reporting from Yahoo Sports, the Badgers finished with a 20-to-10 assist-to-turnover ratio, a metric that suggests strong decision-making despite the shooting droughts.

Wisconsin Basketball Grinds Out Season-Opening Win Over Denver — Photo: ca.sports.yahoo.com

Statistic	Wisconsin Performance
Points in the Paint	46
Offensive Rebounds	+7 advantage
Second-Chance Points	16-9

The defensive effort was particularly effective in the final minutes. Wisconsin held Denver without a field goal for the final 5:30 of the game, limiting the Pioneers to just two points from the charity stripe during that span.

Next steps for the Badgers

Wisconsin will remain at the Kohl Center this Friday to host Delaware in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Fightin’ Blue Hens enter the matchup with a roster featuring seven transfers and a returning freshman class from the previous season. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m., with the game broadcast on Big Ten Network Plus.