3 Key Takeaways from Wisconsin's Win Over Ball State and Nolan Winter's Double-Double

Wisconsin Badgers Dominate Ball State in Strong Opening Performance

MADISON — Greg Gard, the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, has been encouraging Nolan Winter to adopt a more dominant demeanor on the court. "When he steps on the floor, he's the best guy at seven feet that's out there, and show it every night," Gard said after an earlier game. Winter seemed to embody this mindset during the Badgers' 86-55 victory over Ball State on November 11 at the Kohl Center.

Winter led the way with 19 points and 10 rebounds, just one point short of his career-high 20 points. He also contributed three blocks and two assists while turning the ball over twice. His performance was efficient, as he made two of three three-point attempts. The game was never in doubt, with the Badgers building a 30-8 lead early and maintaining a double-digit advantage for most of the contest.

Other standout performers for Wisconsin included Nick Boyd, Austin Rapp, Braeden Carrington, and Andrew Rohde, who all finished with 10 or more points. Here are three key takeaways from the win:

Offensive Clinic in the First Half

Wisconsin showcased its offensive potential in the first 10 minutes of the game against Ball State. The Badgers scored 30 points in the first nine minutes and 13 seconds, which would equate to scoring 130 points in a full game if sustained. They shot 11 of 19 from the field during that stretch without any points from preseason All-Big Ten honoree John Blackwell, who didn’t score until 5:23 left in the first half.

"The ball was moving, people were shooting with confidence, making that extra pass (to trade) a good shot for a great shot," Winter said. "I think that’s when our offense is at its best — when we’re playing unselfish, playing confident and moving the ball."

The Badgers had 12 made field goals during this period, with seven assists from various players including Winter, Blackwell, Rapp, Aleksas Bieliauskas, Will Garlock, and Hayden Jones. Gard praised the team's ability to find open shots and move the ball effectively.

Wisconsin continued its strong start in the second half, hitting 13 of its first 16 shots after halftime. "It’s on us to have that carry over for the whole game," Winter said. However, the team struggled in the latter half of the first half, scoring only nine points in the final 10 minutes. Gard noted that the team failed to move the ball effectively, leading to missed shots and turnovers.

Nolan Winter Proves to Be a Consistent Threat

Despite his impressive performance, Gard still sees room for improvement in Winter's game. "There’s still some plays that I think he could be more emphatic with and more aggressive," Gard said. "I’m complaining about a double-double, but I think he’s got more in him."

Winter had several highlight-reel moments, including a no-look basket in the second half after catching a pass with his back to the basket. He now has two double-doubles in the first three games of the 2025-26 season and has scored 12 or more points in each game. This follows a 2024-25 season where he averaged 9.4 points per game and recorded three double-doubles over 39 games.

"I’m trying to get as many rebounds as I can for this team," Winter said. "As a seven-footer, I know that’s kind of my job. So having that mentality of every ball is mine when it’s shot — it’s kind of my thing this year."

Defensive Strength Shines Against Ball State

Wisconsin held Ball State to a dismal 34% shooting, marking the first time in three games that the Badgers limited their opponent to sub-40% shooting. Ball State started the game in a 1-for-11 slump and committed 14 turnovers, resulting in 11 points for Wisconsin. Gard praised the team's defensive improvements, noting better communication and decision-making on the court.

Game Details and Upcoming Schedule

The Wisconsin-Ball State game started at 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch the game on the Big Ten Network, or stream it via the Fox Sports app or Fubo (with a free trial for new subscribers). Radio coverage will be available on 1130 WISN-AM in Milwaukee, 1310 WIBA-AM and 101.5 WIBA-FM in Madison, and other Badger Radio Network affiliates.

Here is the Badgers’ upcoming schedule:

• Nov. 17: vs. SIUE (7 p.m., Big Ten Network)
• Nov. 21: vs. BYU in Salt Lake City (3 p.m., Peacock)
• Nov. 27: vs. Providence in Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego (4:30 p.m., FS1)
• Nov. 28: vs. Florida or TCU in Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego (2 p.m. or 4:30 p.m., Fox)
• Dec. 3: vs. Northwestern (8 p.m., Big Ten Network)

For more details, visit the full schedule.