MADISON – Wisconsin men’s basketball finished most of its roster reconstruction in April.
Isaac Riddle was the 14th player added for the 2026-27 team when he signed on April 23, following fellow Australian Owen Foxwell, George Washington transfer Trey Autry, Hofstra transfer Victory Onuetu, Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer and Mount Horeb prospect Josh Manchester.
The Badgers have needed to wait much longer to fill their 15th and final roster spot – increasingly a pressing issue with six weeks to go before UW’s fall semester begins and any player would theoretically need to be enrolled.
“We’re trying to stay flexible, stay adaptable, knowing the time crunch that we’re on a little bit as well,” VandeWettering said after the Badgers’ July 21 practice.
Wisconsin wants to fill the roster spot “as soon as we can,” VandeWettering said.
“The fall semester is going to be here before we know it, and getting people into school and all those different things that come along with that still need to happen,” VandeWettering said. “There’s those hurdles that need to be cleared. So we’re coming up on a deadline there.”
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard previously told reporters that Wisconsin’s final roster addition will likely be “somebody of large size.” VandeWettering echoed the need for more help at the forward position.
“We’ve added a lot of depth in the backcourt,” VandeWettering said. “As we looked at it, we wanted to make sure we had equal depth in the frontcourt as well.”
But as much as a frontcourt addition would be useful for Wisconsin – with a current roster consisting of nine guards and five forwards – the Badgers’ general manager again preached the importance of adaptability.
“If there’s a piece that happens to fall in our lap that makes a lot of sense, then we’ll pursue that,” VandeWettering said. “We built the roster to be flexible as well. We’ve got a lot of guys that can play small-ball fours.”
UW has sent assistant coaches to Europe to watch international talent that could potentially fill that need, and the Badgers also are monitoring what happens to seniors who recently exhausted their eligibility amid legal activity that followed the NCAA’s change to a five-in-five eligibility model.
Former UW guard Braeden Carrington, who has attended team practices this summer, is reportedly part of a lawsuit seeking an injunction that would clear the way for him and several others to receive another year of eligibility.
VandeWettering “can’t comment on any of the current litigation that’s going on.”
“And he’s done so independent of us,” VandeWettering said of Carrington’s legal action. “We’re keeping our ear to the ground on all things happening nationally, and we’ll be ready to adapt with whatever the rules are once those things get finalized.”
VandeWettering – naturally as part of his general manager role – has remained in touch with agents who represent athletes who could potentially have another year of eligibility, depending on what either the courts or NCAA decide.
“They’re keeping me abreast of things that they’re hearing,” VandeWettering said.
The uncertainty of having an open roster spot in the summer is not entirely new for the Badgers. Temple transfer Elijah Gray did not sign last year until July, and then UW played the entire season with 14 players after his dismissal amid point-shaving allegations at a previous school.
But VandeWettering, now in his second year in the general manager role, has a certain approach to the latest piece of uncertainty in the current college basketball landscape.
“You got to stay adaptable to the climate that you’re in,” VandeWettering said. “You don’t really know the situation that you’re playing yourself into year to year. But if you’re dealt the cards you are, you assemble the best thing you can. … It’s been a fun challenge.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin basketball faces ‘time crunch’ in filling final roster spot
Reporting by John Steppe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John Steppe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
