Several seniors departed from the Wisconsin Badgers last season, but according to head coach Greg Gard, their leadership and veteran presence may not be sorely missed thanks to the team’s newest recruit.
Braeden Carrington officially joined the Wisconsin Badgers last week after transferring from the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, where he averaged 7.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in over 26 minutes per game. Tulsa competes in the American Athletic Conference.
Before his time at Tulsa, Carrington also played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers — a Big Ten stint that head coach Greg Gard believes will make him a valuable addition to the Badgers.
“Braeden brings three years of college basketball experience to our program along with a level of maturity and understanding of the Big Ten that is crucial in today’s landscape of roster composition,” Gard said in a statement.
Braeden Carrington’s arrival in Madison comes with more than just stats — it brings familiarity, toughness, and a Big Ten-ready mindset that Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard believes will ease the transition and strengthen the roster.
“We’ve followed his career since he was in high school, where he won a state championship in Minnesota,” Gard said. “He knows our program and several of our current and former players very well, which made for an easy and comfortable transition for him to come back to the Big Ten. We’re excited to have Braeden on campus starting in June as we prepare our team for the 2025-26 season.”
Carrington, who previously played for Minnesota before transferring to Tulsa, is drawing early comparisons to former Badger Max Klesmit — a gritty, high-effort player who, along with Carter Gilmore, was a key contributor on both ends of the floor before departing last season.
Carrington is aware of the role he’s stepping into — and he welcomes it.
“My defensive intensity and how much I have the passion to win, that’s the big thing I talked to with a lot of schools, but especially Wisconsin,” he said. “I want to be the guy who rebounds and does the dirty work for them.”
Braeden Carrington Brings Grit, Experience to Wisconsin Badgers After Transfer From Tulsa
The Wisconsin Badgers may have lost key veteran contributors like Max Klesmit and Carter Gilmore, but head coach Greg Gard believes the team’s newest addition, Braeden Carrington, is more than capable of filling that void.
Carrington signed with the Badgers last week after transferring from the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, where he averaged 7.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in over 26 minutes of action. Tulsa competes in the American Athletic Conference, but Carrington is no stranger to Big Ten basketball — he previously played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
“Braeden brings three years of college basketball experience to our program along with a level of maturity and understanding of the Big Ten that is crucial in today’s landscape of roster composition,” Gard said.
The familiarity with the conference — and with Wisconsin itself — made the decision a natural fit.
“We’ve followed his career since he was in high school, where he won a state championship in Minnesota,” Gard added. “He knows our program and several of our current and former players very well, which made for an easy and comfortable transition for him to come back to the Big Ten. We’re excited to have Braeden on campus starting in June as we prepare our team for the 2025–26 season.”
With Klesmit and Steven Crowl no longer on the roster, Carrington knows there’s a need for a gritty, physical presence — something he’s more than ready to provide.
“With guys like Max Klesmit and Steven Crowl gone, they just needed a presence to go out there and do the dirty stuff,” Carrington said. “They have great players returning, but they wanted another guy to help, be an older presence, and just be physical and gritty.”
Carrington embraces that role wholeheartedly.
“My defensive intensity and how much I have the passion to win, that’s the big thing I talked to with a lot of schools, but especially Wisconsin,” he said. “I want to be the guy who rebounds and does the dirty work for them.”
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