MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin men's basketball standout
John Blackwell has been named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten Team, as announced on Tuesday by the Big Ten Conference.
Blackwell is the first Badger to earn preseason honors since Chucky Hepburn and Tyler Wahl were recognized prior to the 2022-23 campaign.
A native of Bloomfield Hill, Michigan, Blackwell had a breakout sophomore campaign as he averaged 15.8 points while starting all 37 games in the UW backcourt. An All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection in 2024-25, Blackwell scored a career-high 32 points in UW's 116-85 win against Iowa. He collected four 25+ point performances, including a 25 point, 11-rebound effort at Minnesota. The guard came in clutch in the Big Ten Tournament, leading UW to the championship game while earning Big Ten All-Tournament accolades.
The first chance to see Blackwell and the Badgers in action this year is at the Red White Scrimmage at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19. Admission is free, but all fans are required to redeem their reserved seat tickets online in advance before heading to the Kohl Center by clicking this
link.
Following the Red-White Scrimmage, UW opens its 2025-26 campaign with the Bad Boy Mower's Series - Milwaukee exhibition against Oklahoma on Friday, Oct. 24. Tipoff at Fiserv Forum in MIlwaukee is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are available at TicketMaser.Com.
2025-26 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Braden Smith, Purdue
2025-26 Preseason All-Big Ten
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Nate Bittle, Oregon
Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Braden Smith, Purdue
Donovan Dent, UCLA
John Blackwell, Wisconsin
