Tag: badgers basketball

Wisconsin basketball enters AP Poll top 25 after big win over Arizona

Wisconsin basketball enters AP Poll top 25 after big win over Arizona

Wisconsin basketball landed at No. 19 in the latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll on Monday.

After being placed in the ‘receiving votes’ section of last week’s poll, Wisconsin received 370 points in this week’s update to firmly cement itself in the hierarchy.

The team’s signature win against the Arizona Wildcats played a pivotal role in its new position. In that game, wing John Tonje dropped 41 points on eight made field goals and a record 21 made free throws.

Wisconsin has now entered the upper echelon of Big Ten programs across the college basketball landscape. Only No. 6 Purdue and No. 16 Indiana ranked higher than Greg Gard’s program on this installation of the hierarchy.

Wisconsin also rocketed up the latest KenPom ranking and ESPN’s latest BPI. After being ranked No. 40 in the KenPom list on Nov. 12, UW moved up 11 spots to No. 29. At No. 22 in the ESPN BPI, the Badgers are up seven spots from about a week ago.

Backed by the strong individual contributions from Tonje, UW is averaging nearly 89 points per game off 47.4% from the field, 39% from beyond the arc and a blistering 90% from the free throw line. It’s safe to say Wisconsin has answered any offensive questions from those concerned over its offseason loses in the transfer portal.

Wisconsin’s next game is at home against UT Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 18.

Wisconsin basketball enters 2024-25 season ‘receiving votes’ in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Wisconsin opens season in ‘receiving votes’ section of USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

The Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team will begin their 2024-2025 regular season on Nov. 4 at home against Holy Cross. The preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll was released on Wednesday in advance of the 2024-25 campaign, and Wisconsin begins in the ‘receiving votes’ section.

The USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the college basketball regular season using a panel of head coaches at Division I schools. Wisconsin garnered one vote heading into the regular season.

The top five teams open the 2024-2025 campaign are No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 UConn, No. 4 Houston and No. 5 Duke. Kansas is notable in particular to Badgers fans as guard A.J. Storr transferred to join the Jayhawks after one season with Wisconsin in 2023-2024.

Here’s a look at the full preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll:

Rank School Last Year’s Record Points
1 Kansas 23-11 743 (15)
2 Alabama 25-12 718 (6)
3 Connecticut 37-3 717 (6)
4 Houston 32-5 698 (4)
5 Duke 27-9 625
6 Iowa State 29-8 591
7 Gonzaga 27-8 575
8 Baylor 24-11 545
9 Arizona 27-9 510
10 North Carolina 29-8 498
11 Auburn 27-8 465
12 Tennessee 27-9 437
13 Purdue 34-5 390
14 Creighton 25-10 342
15 Texas A&M 21-15 332
16 Arkansas 16-17 272
17 Marquette 27-10 268
18 Indiana 19-14 208
19 Texas 21-13 166
20 Cincinnati 22-15 163
21 Florida 24-12 130
22 UCLA 16-17 123
23 Kentucky 23-10 95
24 Illinois 29-9 87
25 Mississippi 20-12 66

Others Receiving Votes

Texas Tech 60; Rutgers 57; St. John’s 42; Xavier 26; Michigan State 25; Oregon 16; BYU 16; Kansas State 11; Saint Mary’s 9; Boise State 9; Clemson 8; Ohio State 7; Dayton 7; Maryland 4; Grand Canyon 3; Wake Forest 2; Virginia 2; San Diego State 2; Princeton 2; Mississippi State 2; Wisconsin 1;

Within the Big Ten, four programs cracked the top 25, while six others were listed in the ‘receiving votes’ section. Those in the top 25 are No. 13 Purdue, No. 18 Indiana, No. 22 UCLA and No. 24 Illinois. Rutgers (57 votes), Michigan State (25 votes), Oregon (16 votes), Ohio State (seven votes), Maryland (four votes) and Wisconsin (one vote) just missed out.

Wisconsin men’s basketball releases 2024 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin men’s basketball releases 2024 non-conference schedule

The Wisconsin Badgers’ men’s basketball program released its 2024 non-conference schedule on Thursday.

Greg Gard’s group will open the season against Holy Cross on Nov. 4 at the Kohl Center. The Badgers will follow their first regular season match with four consecutive non-conference home contests in Madison.

Montana State (Nov. 7), Appalachian State (Nov. 10), Arizona (Nov. 15) and UT-Rio Grande Valley (Nov. 18) will each venture to Wisconsin in the opening month of the 2024 season.

The first-ever Greenbrier Tip-Off follows the local action shortly thereafter. Wisconsin will face UCF and either LSU or Pittsburgh on Nov. 22 and Nov. 24, respectively.

A quick Kohl Center tune-up vs. Chicago State on Nov. 30 follows before UW makes its way to Milwaukee for its annual I-94 rivalry game against Marquette on Dec. 7.

The final roadblock arrives during the recently announced Dec. 14 match against Butler at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, home of the Indiana Pacers. The Detroit Mercy Titans will also play Wisconsin at home on Dec. 22.

On top of the non-conference campaign, which figures to be one of the more challenging slates across the college basketball landscape, Wisconsin will also face a bevy on conference opponents in Madison and across the country.

UW will host 10 Big Ten opponents this season and travel to Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Rutgers and USC for road conference games.

Prior to the chaos, Wisconsin will play host to UW-River Falls in an exhibition on Oct. 30 at home.

Former Wisconsin basketball great announces return to UW-Madison

Former Wisconsin basketball great announces return to UW-Madison

Former Wisconsin basketball great Sam Dekker announced via X on Monday that he has returned to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to finish his degree.

Dekker, one of the program’s most decorated alumni, departed the university in 2015 after three years on the hardwood to pursue NBA aspirations. By doing so a year early, he left campus without a degree.

After being selected with the No. 18 pick of the 2015 NBA draft, the Wisconsin native played 201 games across five NBA seasons for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors from 2015-22.

Stints overseas with the VTB United League in Russia (2019-2020) and the Turkish Basketball Super League in Turkey (2020-2021, 2021-2022) followed.

The 6-foot-9 forward stars for the British Basketball League’s London Lions. As its offensive engine, Dekker helped the Lions capture the 2023 British Basketball League Cup championship and pocketed both league and finals MVP honors in the process. He registered 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds off 53% clip from the field in nearly 21 minutes per appearance across the pond in ’23.

Nonetheless, Dekker’s NBA endeavors have yet to fade. This summer, the 2015 All-Big Ten second-team selection tried out for the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.

With a portfolio of postseason success at Wisconsin and professional exposure thousands of miles away, Dekker can provide a veteran spark plug presence in an NBA locker room next season. However, with responsibilities in the classroom, the NBA could serve as a distraction from future homework assignments.

Now at age 30, Dekker plans to wrap up his education at one of the United States’ most recognized public universities.

Wisconsin basketball top 100 class of 2025 SG target transfers to in-state high school

Big news for the Badgers in the class of 2025:

Wisconsin basketball’s top-ranked class of 2025 target, Amari Allen, announced his decision to transfer to Ashwaubenon High School on Sunday.

The shooting guard attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before making the transition back to his home state. The 6-foot-7, 180-pound guard played high school hoops at Kaukauna High School in Kaukauna, Wisconsin before his stint in Florida.

The move is certainly significant in the recruiting realm. Allen grew up in Kaukauna and scheduled an official visit with the Badgers the weekend of Sept. 14. His proximity to the college program will help the Badgers’ recruiting efforts.

Allen plans to take trips to Minnesota, Alabama, Nevada, Mississippi State and UCF — his finalists — this fall.

Given Allen’s status as one of Wisconsin’s most important prospects for the class of 2025, Greg Gard’s staff will surely position his in-state ties near the top of his recruiting pitch. The rising senior ranks as 247Sports’ No. 98 player in the class of 2025, No. 18 small forward and No. 14 recruit from the state of Florida. Those will shift given the move to Wisconsin this fall.

While Wisconsin may not offer what a program like Duke, North Carolina or Kentucky can on the hardwood, it can compete with every other suitor in this recruiting battle. Alabama, which finished No. 3 in the final AP poll of 2024, and UCF, which holds a connection to Allen’s time in Florida, present the most obstacles for UW.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks within the top 10 in the nation with commitments from two in-state prospects: four-star shooting guard Zach Kinziger and three-star center Will Garlock.

Wisconsin women’s basketball offers top-100 class of 2025 guard

Wisconsin women’s basketball offers top-100 class of 2025 guard

Wisconsin women’s basketball extended an offer to top-100 class of 2025 guard Camille Williams on Friday.

The 6-foot combo guard is currently ranked No. 98 in the ESPNW 100. The Boswell High School product is considered a four-star recruit and rated at a 91 on a scale of 1 to 100.

Williams has been active on Nike’s Girl’s Elite Youth Basketball League circuit this summer. The rising senior racked up multiple 20-point performances during the EYBL Nationals last week.

During her junior season, Williams averaged 19.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.5 steals per game in 41 appearances for Boswell.

Since the beginning of May, Williams has earned offers from North Texas, California, Wisconsin, Miami (Florida), Fairfield, Arkansas, Davidson, Tulsa, Fresno State, Omaha, Pacific and Southern Alabama. The list will surely expand as she continues her AAU activity this summer and beyond.

Wisconsin appears to be directing more of its focus on top-tier talent in the recruiting world since Marisa Moseley became the Badgers’ head coach.

UW will welcome Alie Bisballe, Reese Jaramillo and Gracie Grzesk for their first years in Madison this fall alongside international players Alba Martín Mesa and Jovana Spasovski.

WATCH: Wisconsin women’s basketball leaders gearing up for 2024-25 campaign

WATCH: Wisconsin women’s basketball upperclassmen gearing up for 2024-25 campaign

Wisconsin’s women’s basketball team showcased upperclassmen Serah Williams, Halle Douglass and Natalie Leuzinger in their first practice footage of the offseason on Tuesday.

Wisconsin kick-started its offseason practices weeks ago, but the Badgers had yet to display their three longest tenured players honing in on their skills this summer.

Williams, a junior from Brooklyn, New York, registered a team-best 17.4 points per appearance during her 2023-24 season. She also took home 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of Year honors and earned 2024 Big Ten First Team nods during her sophomore season.

Leuzinger, a graduate student, averaged 7.7 points and 9.5 minutes per game in 2023-24, while Douglass played in 25 games and posted 3.8 points per contest.

As a team, the Badgers will participate in the 2024 Cancun Challenge from Nov. 28-30 alongside Providence, San Diego State, VCU, BYU, Idaho State, Iowa, Rhode Island, Rice and Vermont.

Wisconsin will also host eight Big Ten opponents, including new conference foes UCLA and USC. Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, Minnesota and Rutgers round out that list.

Away games against Washington, Oregon, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue and Minnesota are also on UW’s horizon.

While Williams, Douglass and Leuzinger will serve as this crew’s veteran trio, UW will welcome four new players this fall. International guard Alba Martin Mesa, walk-on Reese Jaramillo, former Northern Kentucky center Carter McCray and former Duquesne guard Tess Myers will play their first games as Badgers during the 2024-25 slate.

Marisa Moseley’s group will look to build off its 15-17 mark and Great 8 appearance in the WNIT last season.

Big Ten basketball rival extends offer to fast-rising in-state class of 2025 PF

Big Ten basketball rival extends offer to fast-rising in-state class of 2025 PF

Wisconsin’s Big Ten rival Illinois extended an offer to fast-rising in-state class of 2025 power forward Gavin Gores on Monday.

Illinois’ offer marks Gores’ first Big Ten offer at this stage of his recruitment. The rising senior represents Cumberland High School in Cumberland, Wisconsin, which is located roughly 250 miles northwest of Madison.

Since the start of June, the rising senior has received five offers from Toledo, North Dakota State, Wyoming, Illinois State, and now Illinois. Green Bay, South Dakota State, and Loyola (Maryland) round out the rest of Gores’ list of suitors thus far.

Wisconsin has yet to extend an offer, but Rivals classifies the Badgers’ interest at a ‘medium’ level as of June 15. UW did, however, host Gores at the Kohl Center for its showdown against Purdue last season.

The Minnesota Gophers also appear to be eyeing the power forward. Gores took multiple unofficial visits to Minneapolis as a junior.

Rivals, 247sports, On3 and ESPN have yet to designate a ranking for the Wisconsin product yet, but he is certainly talented. In a December contest against Regis High School, Gores dropped 51 points and snagged 19 rebounds in a winning effort, per Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook editor Mark Miller.

With Illinois’ recent offer, it may only be a matter of time before Greg Gard and his staff decide to progress in their recruitment efforts surrounding the rising in-state forward.

Wisconsin basketball adds new opponent to 2024-25 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin basketball to host Montana State as part of 2024-25 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin men’s basketball is set to play Montana State as part of its 2024-25 non-conference schedule on Nov. 7 in Madison, according to a report from college basketball analyst Rocco Miller.

The news arrives on the same day Wisconsin received its opener from the inaugural Greenbrier tip-off in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Badgers will play the UCF Knights on Nov. 22.

The Badgers will also square off against in-state rival Marquette on Dec. 7, tip off against Butler in a neutral site contest and open their 2024-25 gauntlet with Holy Cross at home. All that comes before entering a gauntlet conference slate.

In terms of its conference schedule, UW will also host 10 Big Ten opponents this season, including new conference opponents Washington and Oregon. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State will all play at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin will also travel to Los Angeles for bouts against UCLA and USC and visit Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers.

The Badgers are look to build off its 2023-24 campaign after compiling a 22-14 overall mark and being ranked as high as No. 6 in the nation in February. Greg Gard’s crew went on to pocket a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament before dropping its Round of 64 contest to No. 12 James Madison in March.

Former Wisconsin guard participates in third straight summer league

Former Wisconsin guard participating in third straight Summer League

The 2025 NBA Summer League officially starts on Friday, and former Wisconsin Badgers guard Johnny Davis will be participating for the third straight year with the Washington Wizards.

Davis was selected 10th in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft by the Wizards, but he hasn’t found a consistent groove in the league. The 6-foot-4 guard appeared in 50 games in his second season in the NBA this past year, averaging 3 points and 1.4 rebounds while shooting 40.3% from the field.

The 22-year-old will play alongside Washington’s three first-round picks from the 2024 NBA draft: big man Alexandre Sarr (No. 2), guard Bub Carrington (No. 14) and Kyshawn George (No. 24).

With the Wizards coming off a rather disappointing 15-67 season, their sixth consecutive losing campaign, the summer league represents an opportunity for their young assets to get more comfortable with one another, and Davis will look to take advantage.