Wisconsin Badgers
Denver
October 29, 2026 | Men's Basketball
UW clashes with Denver at Kohl Center
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men’s basketball team will open up its 2026-27 regular season slate against Denver on Monday at the Kohl Center. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available here.
The game will be streamed on B1G+. Fans can also listen to Matt Lepay and Brian Butch on the Badger Radio Network.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wisconsin men's basketball team beat Oklahoma State, 82-65, on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center in its final exhibition of the 2026-27 campaign. Owen Foxwell led the way with 19 points, including 16 in the first half, to go along with 3 assists and 3 rebounds. Eian Elmer added 11 points with three triples from beyond the arc.
SEASON OPENER
Wisconsin enters Monday looking to continue its success in season openers. The Badgers have won 27 of their last 28 home openers, including 10-straight. Last season, UW earned a 96-64 win over Campbell its season-opening game. Nolan Winter enjoyed a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
AGAINST THE PIONEERS
Wisconsin will face Denver for the third time in program history on Monday night. UW is 2-0 against DU, including a 67-48 win on Dec. 28, 1953 and a 89-34 triumph on Dec. 14, 1988.
The lone player on the team with experience against Denver is Austin Rapp. The Badger junior posted 20 points for Portland in a 101-90 win on Dec. 1, 2024.
Denver head coach Tim Bergstraser spent time at UW River Falls before being hired by the Pioneers. Also, Denver assistant coach Kyle Heikkinen coached at UW Whitewater before joining the Pioneer staff.
LIGHTS OUT FROM DEEP
Wisconsin found its rhythm from beyond the arc in Tuesday's exhibition win over Oklahoma State, knocking down 18 three-pointers while shooting 43.9% from deep. Eight different Badgers connected from long range, including Eian Elmer, who hit three triples.
Last season, the Badgers connected on 409 treys, the most in Big Ten history. The Badgers also ranked fourth in the country in 3-point makes, averaging 11.7 per contest.
HONORS FOR WINTER
Wisconsin men's basketball senior Nolan Winter has been named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Preseason Watch List, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Friday
The award recognizes the top centers in Division I men's college basketball and is named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It's Winter's second major honor of the preseason after being named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team earlier this month. The Lakeville, Minnesota, native averaged 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season.
Learn more here.
