Wisconsin Badgers guard Nick Boyd should be first-team All-Big Ten, and his numbers back it up

The senior guard has been dominant against top Big Ten teams this season

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Wisconsin Badgers senior guard Nick Boyd is making a strong case to be named first-team All-Big Ten this season. Boyd is averaging 23.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game against the top 30 KenPom Big Ten teams, outperforming other top point guards in the conference like Purdue's Braden Smith, Michigan State's Jeremy Fears, and Iowa's Bennett Stirtz. In a recent 84-71 win over Iowa, Boyd dazzled with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists, proving he can impact the game in multiple ways.

Why it matters

The Big Ten is loaded with elite guard play this season, and Boyd's standout performance against the conference's top teams shows he deserves to be recognized as one of the best point guards in the league. His ability to score, distribute, and impact winning makes him a valuable asset for the Badgers as they look to make a deep postseason run.

The details

Boyd has been dominant against the Big Ten's top teams, averaging 23.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in those contests. He has surpassed 20 points 17 times this season, including six times against the top 30 KenPom opponents. In comparison, the other top Big Ten point guards like Stirtz, Smith, and Fears have a combined six 20-point games against the same competition. Boyd's performance against Iowa was particularly impressive, as he attacked the paint, drew fouls, and set up his teammates for easy baskets.

  • On February 22, 2026, Boyd had 27 points, 9 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists in Wisconsin's 84-71 win over Iowa.

The players

Nick Boyd

A senior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers who is making a strong case to be named first-team All-Big Ten this season.

Braden Smith

The starting point guard for the Purdue Boilermakers, one of the top teams in the Big Ten.

Jeremy Fears

The starting point guard for the Michigan State Spartans, another top team in the Big Ten.

Bennett Stirtz

The starting point guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes, who have one of the top scoring defenses in the country.

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.

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What they’re saying

“I love to compete, that's the whole reason why he came here. To play against the best guys in the country. Whether it's point guard, shooting guard, center, whoever it is, that's the whole reason why I came to the Big Ten. I love to compete. That's the name of the game.”

— Nick Boyd, Wisconsin Badgers guard

“As one of the leaders, I've got to bring that juice.”

— Nick Boyd, Wisconsin Badgers guard

“He plays with emotion, he plays with fire, and he backs it up.”

— Greg Gard, Wisconsin Badgers head coach

“His speed, his ability to push the ball, he may be one-on-four or one-on-five, and he goes and somehow finds a lane and throws it up and it goes in. You just kind of stand on the three-point line (and say) I don't know how he just did that. He's just a magician with the ball.”

— Nolan Winter, Wisconsin Badgers forward

What’s next

The Badgers have four more regular season games left, three of which are on the road. A strong finish could help solidify Boyd's case for first-team All-Big Ten honors.

The takeaway

Nick Boyd's dominant performances against the Big Ten's top teams this season have established him as one of the premier point guards in the conference. His ability to impact the game as a scorer, distributor, and leader makes him a valuable asset for the Badgers as they look to make a deep postseason run.