As the college basketball transfer portal activity heats up, national analysts are beginning to release their rankings—and Wisconsin fans have plenty of reason to be happy. The latest numbers highlight the effectiveness of head coach Greg Gard’s offseason strategy, showing that he not only had a clear plan but also executed it well. And he’s not finished yet.
On3 Ranks Wisconsin No. 1 in the Basketball Transfer Portal
The biggest surprise? Wisconsin taking the top spot in On3.com’s transfer portal rankings. That’s not to say the Badgers haven’t done well—quite the opposite. Their success just stands out because of their unique approach. Gard isn’t chasing after the most hyped 5-star transfers unless they’re the right fit. He prioritizes players who align with his system both on and off the court.
On3.com’s rankings take a comprehensive view, considering not just who teams have gained, but also who they’ve lost. Wisconsin’s only notable departure, according to On3, was 3-star Xavier Amos. In contrast, the Badgers brought in three 4-star transfers—a major upgrade that reflects a calculated and focused approach.
24/7 Sports Ranks Wisconsin No. 25 in the Basketball Transfer Portal
Meanwhile, 24/7 Sports takes a different approach with its rankings, placing Wisconsin down at No. 25. Their system appears to focus more on the caliber of incoming players rather than factoring in who teams lost—unlike On3, which evaluates both sides of the portal equation. That difference in criteria helps explain the wide gap in Wisconsin’s placement.
For example, Louisville tops 24/7’s list thanks to one 5-star and two 4-star additions, but the rankings don’t reflect that they also lost a 4-star player. Omitting those losses skews the results and doesn’t capture the full picture.
Still, Greg Gard isn’t chasing rankings. His focus remains on building the roster his way—finding the right pieces for his system, not just the flashiest names. After seemingly cracking the portal code last year, Gard looks poised to take that success even further this offseason.
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