This spring, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball program faced a significant roster shakeup as multiple contributors opted to exit through the NCAA transfer portal. The departures range from under‑the‑radar role players to key rotational pieces—leaving depth concerns as the Badgers prepare for the upcoming season.
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Core Rotational Losses
One of the more notable exits came from junior forward Xavier Amos, who carved out a consistent bench role for Wisconsin in 2024–25, averaging 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in roughly 10 minutes per game. Amos became the fourth team member to enter the portal this spring, ultimately entering the transfer portal on April 7 .
Similarly, reserve forward Chris Hodges joined the exodus, filing his paperwork on April 2 ahead of his final year of eligibility. Hodges, though used sparingly, appeared in 39 games over his Wisconsin tenure .
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Backcourt Departures
The Badgers also saw two guards bolt early in the spring window. Freshman Daniel Freitag, a four‑star prospect, declared for the portal shortly after season’s end, seeking a fresh start following a harsh final review from the coaching staff . Camren Hunter, another guard who transferred in just last season and received limited playing time, followed suit. He officially entered the transfer portal alongside Freitag and Hodges .
These backcourt departures included walk‑on Aidan Konop, who joined the portal on April 4 . While depth players, these exits still impact Wisconsin’s guard rotation options.
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Big Picture: Depth & Opportunity
Collectively, at least four players from last season’s roster opted to leave via the portal: Amos, Hodges, Freitag, and Hunter—with potential for more if the spring wave continues . That comes on top of the expected departure of seniors by graduation, such as Tyler Wahl and the NBA-bound John Tonje .
With fewer returning contributors, Wisconsin’s bench depth will lean heavily on the development of returning talent like John Blackwell and Nolan Winter. Meanwhile, the coaching staff has been aggressive in replenishing the roster with incoming transfers, including sharpshooter Andrew Rohde, versatile point guard Nick Boyd, stretch big Austin Rapp, and others .
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Outlook & Concerns
The wave of departures could pose early season growing pains, particularly as the Badgers integrate incoming transfers into their system and develop remaining players. While head coach Greg Gard has prioritized retooling—heading into the 2025–26 season with a mostly new roster—the depth loss underscores a challenge in maintaining consistency across the long grind of the Big Ten slate.
Wisconsin’s depth chart will look noticeably reshaped. The offseason’s roster turnover places fresh emphasis on whether newcomers can hit the ground running, and whether returnees can consistently shoulder heavier workloads.
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In summary, the transfer portal departures have handed the Badgers a clear reset—reducing bench depth while opening opportunity. The next months will test Wisconsin’s recruitment and player development efforts to determine if this turnover can be translated into future competitiveness.