Wisconsin Badgers
UW-Parkside
Five Things to Know: Badgers open exhibition slate vs. Parkside
October 08, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Badgers and Rangers meet on Saturday at noon
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men’s basketball team will open its 2026-27 campaign with an exhibition matchup against UW-Parkside on Saturday at the Kohl Center. Tipoff is set for noon.
Tickets are available for $9 on UWBadgers.Com. Season ticket holders should note that tickets for the Parkside matchup were not included in the season ticket package.
Parking will be available for $10 in UW Lots 46 and 91. Accessible parking will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis in Lots 48 and 87.
Following the game, Badger fans are invited to take part in an autograph session with the team. Signing materials will be provided and personal items will not be signed.
PRESEASON PRAISE
Senior Nolan Winter heads into the new season with some new recognition as he was selected for the preseason All-Big Ten Team on Monday. The big man from Lakeville, Minnesota, scored 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last year, fourth in the Big Ten. He also recorded 12 double-doubles, the second-most in the conference.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Badgers return a group of players with experience in the program beyond Nolan Winter, including Braeden Carrington, Jack Janicki, Will Garlock, Austin Rapp, Zach Kinziger and Hayden Jones. Rapp showed flashes during his first season in Madison, including a 19-point showing at home vs. Ohio State and a strong showing against Michigan with six threes later in the season. Carrington delivered several memorable moments in his first year as Badger, including breaking the school record for most three pointers in a game with 9 in a win at Washington. Garlock also returns after appearing in 30 games last year.
NEW TO MADTOWN
Wisconsin brought in some new veteran players in Eian Elmer, Trey Autry, Victory Onenetu, and Owen Foxwell during the offseason. A second-team All-MAC selection last year, Elmer averaged 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while leading Miami (Ohio) to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the NCAA tournament. Autry scored 11.0 points per game while shooting 38.5 percent from the 3-point line at George Washington University. Onenetu is a 6-11 forward that averaged 6.9 rebounds per game while playing at Hofstra. Foxwell brings valuable point guard experience from Australia’s National Basketball League, where he averaged 10.8 points per game, 4.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds for the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
PARKSIDE TIES
There are numerous ties between the Badgers and Rangers. Parkside head coach Kyle Blackbourn is no stranger to the Kohl Center, having spent eight years at UW as he spent the first five as UW's assistant director of operations before spending his final three as the director of recruiting and scouting. One of his graduate assistants, Matthew Mors, suited up for UW during the 2021-22 season. UW assistant coach Lance Randall has two family members on the Parkside roster as his son, River, is a freshman on the team while his nephew, Stevie Clark, is a sophomore.
GARDING AGAINST CANCER
This Saturday’s game is going to be the 10th annual Garding against Cancer game. This project was started by head coach, Greg Gard, along with his wife, Michelle. The idea behind the Garding Against Cancer project is to fund research for cancer, along with helping cancer patients in the entire state of Wisconsin. Since it was started in December 2016, Garding Against Cancer has managed to raise almost $11 million.
