Wisconsin Forward Austin Rapp Breaks Out in 92-82 Win Over Ohio State

Sophomore forward scores 19 points in the first half to lead Badgers to victory

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:15pm

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Sophomore forward Austin Rapp scored all 19 of his points in the first half, helping lead the Wisconsin Badgers to a 92-82 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. Rapp went 5-of-6 from 3-point range during a 7:13 span in the first half, breaking out of a shooting slump that had plagued him since the start of Big Ten Conference play.

Why it matters

Rapp's breakout performance was crucial for the Badgers, who had fallen behind 15-4 early in the game. His outside shooting opened up the floor for his teammates, allowing guards Nick Boyd and John Blackwell to score 22 points in the second half and secure the victory.

The details

Despite Wisconsin's slow start, Rapp exploded in the first half, scoring 19 points and going 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Rapp had been struggling with his shot since the start of Big Ten play, shooting just 28% from beyond the arc compared to 35% last season. Adjusting to life in the Big Ten has been a challenge for Rapp, who was the reigning West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. He's also been battling a hamstring injury that cost him three games in January. But against Ohio State, Rapp not only made five of Wisconsin's nine 3-pointers, he also grabbed six rebounds in 20 minutes of play.

  • Rapp scored all 19 of his points in the first half.

The players

Austin Rapp

Sophomore forward for the Wisconsin Badgers who scored 19 points in the first half to lead his team to victory over Ohio State.

Jake Diebler

Head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who had a goal of not letting Rapp break out of his shooting slump against his team.

Nick Boyd

Senior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers who scored 21 points and had 2 assists while going a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line.

John Blackwell

Junior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers who scored a game-high 22 points.

Greg Gard

Head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, who was more encouraged by Rapp's improvement in other areas of the game beyond just his scoring.

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What they’re saying

“When you write scouting, and you see a player who's not shooting at the level they're capable of over a certain stretch, my mentality is 'don't be the game where they get it going.'”

— Jake Diebler, Head Coach, Ohio State Buckeyes (on3.com)

“I've been going through a little slump lately, but I still trust my shot and so do my teammates. My teammates are finding me and encouraging me to shoot it. In the second half, I turned one down, and Nick got on me.”

— Austin Rapp (on3.com)

“He's had his ups and downs. I feel like we tend to forget he was a freshman last year. He jumped right into the Big Ten. That comes with a lot of difficulties and challenges, and he's been able to navigate through that.”

— Nick Boyd, Senior Guard, Wisconsin Badgers (on3.com)

“It puts pressure on a defense in terms of when we're able to stretch the floor with our bigs. In the second half our guards are (attacking), because the floor gets stretched and opened up. When you have that threat of big shooting threes, it opens up driving lines more and spreads people out.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach, Wisconsin Badgers (on3.com)

“Everyone will be excited about his 5-for-7 from '3', but as I told him after the game, I'm more excited about the improvement I saw in other facets of the game — playing physical, rebounding, coming over and chesting up on dribble penetration, putting his face in a battle for a rebound. Things he wasn't as accustomed to doing 60 days ago.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach, Wisconsin Badgers (on3.com)

The takeaway

Rapp's breakout performance against Ohio State showcases his potential as a key contributor for the Wisconsin Badgers. While his outside shooting has been inconsistent this season, his ability to impact the game in other ways, such as rebounding and defending, has impressed his coaches. If Rapp can continue to develop his all-around game, he could be a valuable asset for the Badgers as they push for a strong finish to the Big Ten season.