Takeaways from Wisconsin basketball losing John Blackwell to Duke
Three takeaways from John Blackwell playing his senior season not with the Wisconsin Badgers, but rather with the Duke Blue Devils.
John Blackwell put the college basketball world on notice when he announced he was transferring from Wisconsin . The Badgers not only lost Nick Boyd, but Greg Gard learned Blackwell wouldn't be coming back for his senior season. Now, they know their star guard will be on the Duke Blue Devils in 2026-27.
Blackwell's decision is far from surprising, especially after he cancelled his visit with Louisville. There's nothing wrong with chasing a National Championship with Jon Scheyer as it's clear Blackwell wasn't content with what Gard and company were doing in Madison. Overall, his decision still stings for Badgers fans.
He's going to a team that crushed their dreams back in the 2015 National Championship game, but who knows, a rematch could be on the horizon. Blackwell's quest for a title runs through Duke Committed! #TheBrotherhood pic.
twitter. com/vyXJ2IdMth ā John Blackwell (@_Johnblackwell1) April 21, 2026 All things considered, neither Illinois nor UCLA was going to give Blackwell a great shot of winning a National Championship in his senior season. It's not like the Blue Devils are in the title game every year, but they're always in the mix and are once again putting forward a tremendous team for the 2026-27 season.