Tag: Greg Gard

Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky reacts to Badgers’ record scoring output

Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky reacts to Badgers’ current offensive form

Over the past decade, the Wisconsin basketball program has been no stranger to developing legends on the hardwood.

During that span, the program has rostered greats like Nigel Hayes, Johnny Davis, Sam Dekker and Ethan Happ. Of all the luminaries, former Naismith College Player of the Year Award winner Frank Kaminsky stands alone.

It’s safe to say the NBA veteran, whose jersey currently adorns the Kohl Center’s rafters, is a fan of what he’s witnessing from Wisconsin’s current team.

This season, Greg Gard’s group averages 82.5 points and 15.3 assists per game off 47.2% shooting from the field and 36.2% from beyond the arc. To put that into context, Kaminsky’s 2013-14 Final Four squad averaged 71.9 points and 12.7 assists on 48% from the field and 35.7% from outside.

Wisconsin’s 2014-15 Final Four squad produced similar numbers — 73.5 points and 12.1 assists per bout off 45.8% from the field and 37.3% from downtown.

Statistically, the 2024-25 Badgers are set to surpass both of those historic teams. Here’s Kaminsky’s reaction to that program-best output from this season’s team:

National hierarchies reflect Kaminsky’s feelings surrounding this team. KenPom ranks the Badgers’ offense No. 8 in the nation, the AP Top 25 Poll pegs UW as the No. 17-best team in the country, while the NCAA NET Ranking positions Wisconsin at No. 18.

Wisconsin’s offense, similar to its 2013-14 and 2014-15 squads, is as deep as it gets. All five of Wisconsin’s starters — Tonje, Blackwell, Klesmit, Crowl and Winter — average at least 10 points per game. UW does not boast a player as gifted as Kaminsky, but all signs point to this platoon’s offense being as efficient as almost any team in the nation, plus the best in program history.

Where Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger ranks in latest ESPN100 for class of 2025

Where Wisconsin commit Zach Kinziger ranks in latest ESPN100 for class of 2025

Wisconsin basketball class of 2025 commit Zach Kinziger now sits at No. 71 in the latest ESPN100 rankings.

In early September, the top-ranked shooting guard was ranked No. 68 following a busy summer at De Pere High School and Team Herro in the AAU circuit. Now, over a month into his senior season with the Redbirds, Kinziger moved down just three spots in the sport’s most prestigious recruiting ranking.

While the ESPN100 ranking moved the in-state recruit down a few spots, Kinziger’s standing in 247Sports’ composite has improved substantially from where he stood in September. The outlet currently ranks the 6-foot-3, 185-pound shooting guard as the No. 115 overall player in the class of 2025 (up 13 spots), No. 21 shooting guard (up three spots) and No. 3 prospect from Wisconsin (up one spot).

The De Pere, Wisconsin native is considered a four-star recruit by every major recruiting service.

As of Jan. 27, De Pere holds a 12-1 record and 9-0 mark in conference play with Kinziger as one of its leaders. The team is currently riding an eight-game win streak dating back to Dec. 21 as well.

Kinziger is one of three commits in Wisconsin’s 2025 class alongside New Zealand prospect Hayden Jones and three-star Middleton, Wisconsin, native Will Garlock. He first committed to the program back in August 2023.

Wisconsin basketball rises in AP Poll following a 28-point win over Nebraska

Wisconsin basketball rises in AP Poll after its 28-point win over Nebraska

Wisconsin basketball (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten) rose one spot to No. 17 in the AP Poll following its 83-55 win over Nebraska.

The updated ranking reflects the Badgers’ last week of play, which included that win over Nebraska as well as a two-point road loss to UCLA.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Jan. 27): Wisconsin holds serve

Wisconsin is now the fourth-highest-ranked Big Ten team in the poll, trailing just No. 7 Michigan State, No. 10 Purdue and No. 16 Oregon. It notably jumped No. 18 Illinois after the successful week.

The No. 17 mark is Wisconsin’s highest ranking since it rose to No. 11 in early December after an 8-0 start to the season. Three losses quickly followed that top ranking. The Badgers are looking for different results this time around, with big games upcoming at Maryland, at Northwestern and home against Indiana.

The Badgers are 8-1 since that mentioned three-game losing streak. That surge, which includes a 6-1 record against Big Ten teams in January, has the team up to No. 4 in the conference standings. Another string of victories is crucial to maintaining that standing.

Auburn leads the latest AP Poll after big wins over Georgia and Tennessee. It is followed by No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Iowa State, No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Florida. How those top SEC teams perform against the Big Ten’s best in March is sure to dictate the annual argument regarding conference supremacy.

For more on where things currently stand, here is the latest AP Poll (Jan. 27):

Rank School Record Points
1 Auburn 18-1 1,550 (62)
2 Duke 17-2 1,484
3 Iowa State 17-2 1,404
4 Alabama 17-3 1,342
5 Florida 18-2 1,278
6 Houston 16-3 1,242
7 Michigan State 17-2 1,170
8 Tennessee 17-3 1,149
9 Marquette 17-3 1,068
10 Purdue 16-5 892
11 Kansas 14-5 877
12 Kentucky 14-5 858
13 Texas A&M 15-5 775
14 Mississippi State 16-4 715
15 St. John’s 17-3 588
16 Oregon 16-4 448
17 Wisconsin 16-4 440
18 Illinois 14-6 384
19 Memphis 16-4 383
20 Missouri 16-4 352
21 Louisville 15-5 346
22 Texas Tech 15-4 308
23 Ole Miss 15-5 215
24 Vanderbilt 16-4 132
25 UConn 14-6 131

Notable teams ‘receiving votes’ include Michigan (129), Maryland (126) and UCLA (1).

Wisconsin returns to the court on Wednesday night at Maryland (16-5, 6-4 Big Ten). The Badgers are looking to add another statement victory to close a successful month of January.

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Wisconsin rises in USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll after Nebraska win

Wisconsin rises in USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll after Nebraska win

Wisconsin basketball (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten) rose to No. 17 in the latest edition of the USA TODAY Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

The team jumped two spots following a 1-1 week that included a convincing 83-55 victory over Nebraska and a narrow road loss to UCLA. The team’s vote total increased from 194 to 214 in the process

Greg Gard’s group is now the third-highest-ranked Big Ten team in the coaches poll behind only Michigan State (No. 7) and Purdue (No. 10). UW surpassed Oregon (No. 18) and Illinois (No. 20). Michigan and Maryland were placed in the ‘receiving votes’ section of the poll.

Auburn remains atop the latest coaches poll top 25 after improving to 18-1. The Tigers are followed by Duke (17-2), Iowa State (17-2), Alabama (17-3) and Houston (16-3). St. John’s (17-3) made the greatest jump up to No. 14, while Ole Miss and Michigan both dropped six spots following down weeks.

Here is the full coaches poll top 25:

Rank School Record Points
1 Auburn 18-1 775 (31)
2 Duke 17-2 741
3 Iowa State 17-2 689
4 Alabama 17-3 676
5 Houston 16-3 635
6 Florida 18-2 634
7 Michigan State 17-2 583
8 Tennessee 17-3 564
9 Marquette 17-3 536
10 Purdue 16-5 476
11 Kansas 14-5 429
12 Kentucky 14-5 399
13 Mississippi State 16-4 324
14 St. John’s 17-3 318
15 Texas A&M 15-5 310
16 Memphis 16-4 242
17 Wisconsin 16-4 214
18 Oregon 16-4 201
19 Texas Tech 15-4 169
20 Illinois 14-6 166
21 Missouri 14-6 163
22 Louisville 15-5 162
23 Ole Miss 15-5 104
24 UConn 14-6 100
25 Clemson 17-4 96

Wisconsin’s complementary basketball has urged voters to alter their positioning in national rankings. The Badgers now sit at No. 14 in KenPom and No. 22 in ESPN BPI with a tough test road against Maryland coming up on Wednesday.

Recapping former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian’s return to Madison

WATCH: Former Badger guard Connor Essegian reunites with Wisconsin teammates

On Sunday afternoon, former Wisconsin transfer guard Connor Essegian was received with open arms in his return to the Kohl Center.

In his first game in Madison since he transferred to the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ program this spring, Essegian dropped eight points and two rebounds in 23 minutes of action for Fred Hoiberg’s squad. In the effort, he shot 3-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-7 from beyond the arc.

His point total was Nebraska’s second-most on the afternoon — a strong description of how Wisconsin’s 83-55 victory played out. Only one Cornhusker reached double-figures, with the starting lineup combining for just 34 points.

After the contest, Essegian greeted several of his former Badger teammates in the postgame handshake line.

First, the Fort Wayne, Indiana native shared a few words and embraced his former head coach Greg Gard. He then greeted each of UW’s assistant coaches before approaching the roster of active Badgers.

Essegian appeared especially enthusiastic when greeting veteran guards Kamari McGee and Max Klesmit before embracing sophomore star John Blackwell towards the end of the handshake line. Essegian did not depart the program with any ill-will, and his interactions with his former teammates and mentors reaffirmed that sentiment.

Through 20 games with the Cornhuskers this season, Essegian is accountable for 11.3 points per game off 42.4% from the field and 40.8% from outside. He’s carved out a role as one of the Big Ten’s premier bench assets this season and has scored 20 or more points in three games this season.

Five stats that defined Wisconsin basketball’s blowout win over Nebraska

Five stats that defined Wisconsin basketball’s blowout win vs. Nebraska

Wisconsin basketball cruised to an 83-55 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Sunday afternoon.

Backed by another stellar scoring performance from star wing John Tonje, the Badgers controlled the score for virtually all 40 minutes. Eleven different playmakers scored for Greg Gard, and Wisconsin led by as many as 31 points late in the second half.

Tonje dropped 27 points, 15 of which arrived in the first frame, and corralled five rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Sophomore guard John Blackwell finished with 14 points and four boards, Kamari McGee scored 11 points and nailed three three-pointers off the bench and Max Klesmit chipped in with eight points and seven rebounds.

As a team, Wisconsin shot a blistering 45.9% from outside. While the team reached the charity stripe just eight times, it chalked up 18 assists on its 30 made field goals.

Here are five stats that defined UW’s 16th win of the 2024-25 season and sixth in Big Ten play.

1. 17 made three-point field goals

Sunday’s performance should remind Badger fans of what the team accomplished in its 116-85 route over Iowa on Jan. 3. Wisconsin drilled 21 three-pointers that night, a program record. Through the first five minutes of action on Sunday, it appeared as if UW would shatter that mark.

Still, 17 made looks from outside personifies what this cohort has done offensively this season. The Badgers have evolved from a meticulous defensive-oriented team to one more focused on the damage it can inflict offensively. In today’s game, that is paramount.

2. Wisconsin’s 19-2 run to start the game

This outburst set the tone for what would ensue in the following 35 minutes of play. During the spurt, both Tonje and Blackwell dropped eight tallies, and the Badgers netted five total three-point field goals in that span. Nebraska, meanwhile, mustered just one made field goal.

Yes, the Badgers needed to play well for the remainder of the contest, but the run clearly sucked the life out of Nebraska’s crew from the opening tip.

3. Wisconsin’s eight free throw attempts

For a team with the most proficient free throw percentage in the nation, eight free throw attempts would likely translate to a Wisconsin loss. Fortunately for UW, the Badgers covered any free throw holes with one of the program’s best showings from outside all season. Still, given the Badgers’ seasonal output from the free throw line, this type of performance is a rarity.

4. 27 points from John Tonje

The two-time Big Ten Player of the Week finished atop Wisconsin’s score sheet for the second straight week. After going scoreless against USC on the road, Tonje has scored a combined 51 points against the Cornhuskers and the UCLA Bruins dating back to Jan. 22. He’s now up to 18 points and 4.9 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game in his first season in Madison.

5. 8 points from Connor Essegian

Essegian, who played under Greg Gard for two seasons, made his return to the Kohl Center for the first time since he transferred to the Cornhuskers’ program this spring. In 23 minutes off the bench, he shot 3-of-10 and 2-of-7 from deep. He’s flashed his skill set several times throughout the 2024-25 season, but his loss has ultimately not proven detrimental for the Badgers.

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg praises Wisconsin following Badgers’ blowout win

Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg praises Wisconsin following Badgers’ blowout win

This story was updated to add new information.

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg had high praise for Wisconsin following the Badgers’ blowout win over the Cornhuskers on Sunday.

Backed by 27 points from star wing John Tonje, the Badgers rolled to an 83-55 victory in front of a raucous home crowd. Wisconsin opened the contest on a 19-2 run and drilled 17 3-pointers in one of the more dominant offensive efforts of the team’s season.

“It is one of the top teams not only in the league, but I think they’re one of the best teams in the country,” Hoiberg said to media in his postgame press conference. “They’ve got five guys who can make a shot, five guys and make a play off the dribble. They are very hard to guard, especially when they get comfortable early.”

Hoiberg isn’t necessarily wrong. The Badgers have dropped 80 or more points in 13 of the team’s 20 games. The group boasts by far the most potent offense of the Greg Gard era.

UW also produced 18 assists on 30 made field goals on Sunday and 11 players scratched the score sheet. With that type of offensive execution, the Badgers can contend with most top-tier programs in the nation.

Wisconsin is back in action on Jan. 29 at Maryland in College Park.

RECAP: John Tonje dominates in Badgers blowout win over Nebraska

RECAP: John Tonje dominates in Badgers’ blowout win vs. Nebraska

Wisconsin basketball (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten) rolled to an 83-55 victory against Nebraska (12-8, 2-7 Big Ten) at the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon.

Of all the blistering offensive starts Greg Gard’s group has orchestrated this season, the Badgers’ opening surge against the Cornhuskers was among their most impressive.

Within the first five minutes of action, UW established a 19-2 edge courtesy of 16 combined points from star wing John Tonje and sophomore guard John Blackwell. The two nailed four 3-pointers during the stretch to set the tone for what Wisconsin accomplished for the remainder of the contest.

Nebraska roared back with a 19-5 run, but Tonje and the Badgers’ entire offensive unit could not be contained. UW produced a 16-2 run to rebuild its lead to 17 with under a minute remaining before intermission.

The Badgers looked just as electric in the second half. Wisconsin’s playmakers nailed eight more 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes of play, as Tonje notched 12 more tallies to punctuate one of his better performances of the season.

Wisconsin connected on 17 of 37 3-point attempts on Sunday, tallied five more assists than the Cornhuskers and snagged eight more rebounds.

Tonje finished with a game-best 27 points and snagged five rebounds. Blackwell scored 14 points and Kamari McGee accounted for 11 points off the bench. The Badgers’ high-powered offense was on full display throughout: 11 Badgers made the score sheet.

In his return to the Kohl Center, Nebraska guard Connor Essegian scored eight points and grabbed two rebounds.

Wisconsin will square off against a feisty Maryland team on Jan. 29 in College Park.

Wisconsin basketball rises in Big Ten standings, thanks to rival Minnesota

Wisconsin basketball rises in Big Ten Conference standings without playing a game

Wisconsin basketball (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten) is alone in fourth place in the Big Ten standings after Minnesota’s upset win over Oregon on Saturday.

The result dropped Oregon (16-4, 5-4 Big Ten) into a crowd of teams tied for fifth. Wisconsin was idle on Saturday as it prepared for a Sunday home game against Nebraska.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss

Minnesota’s recent play is one of the biggest stories in the conference. The Gophers have won three straight: 84-81 vs. No. 21 Michigan, 72-67 at Iowa, and 77-69 vs. No. 15 Oregon. That trio of Quad 1 victories follows the team’s 0-6 start in conference play. That start included an 80-59 loss to Wisconsin.

The Badgers’ victory over their rival continues to improve in quality with those results. The two teams are set for a rematch in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 5 in the second-to-last game of the regular season.

Oregon, meanwhile, will visit Madison, Wisconsin on Feb. 22. The team is falling in the conference standings after a red-hot start. It has two losses in the last three games.

Wisconsin takes the Kohl Center court against Nebraska at 1 p.m. ET, noon CT on Sunday. The team is looking to return to the win column after a road loss to UCLA.

The Badgers, alone in fourth place, are behind Michigan (14-5, 6-2 Big Ten), Purdue (16-5, 8-2 Big Ten) and Michigan State (17-2, 8-0 Big Ten) in the Big Ten standings. They have road games remaining against the top two teams.

Wisconsin isn’t far from contending for a Big Ten title. A win over Nebraska is a required first step in that direction.

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Wisconsin coach Greg Gard: ‘We feel we should be 7-1 in [Big Ten play], we’re not’

Agree with Greg Gard?

Greg Gard and the Wisconsin Badgers are in a comfortable position: Approaching the top of the Big Ten standings after entering the year with tempered expectations.

That reality feels like a near-annual occurrence in this iteration of the Gard era with the program.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss

Wisconsin’s preseason outlook, remember, was a 12th-place finish in the new 18-team Big Ten. The Badgers have already proven that outlook wrong with a 15-4 (5-3 Big Ten) start to the season and a No. 18 ranking in the current AP Poll. Predictive metrics back that up — Wisconsin ranks No. 22 in KenPom and No. 26 in the ESPN BPI.

The team was even at 15-3 (5-2 Big Ten) before a recent two-point road loss at UCLA ended its seven-game win streak. In Gard’s words, that narrow loss shows the night-in, night-out challenge presented by the new conference landscape.

“You see every night in this league, it’s very competitive,” Gard told the media on Friday. “You’re going to have some really good times, and you can’t get enamored with those, and you’re going to take one on the chin here or there and you can’t get overwhelmed with that.”

Two of the times Wisconsin ‘took it on the chin’ in conference play came by a combined margin of five points (85-83 to UCLA and 67-64 to Michigan. Wisconsin had chances at game-tying baskets in the final seconds of each matchup. John Blackwell failed to convert against the Bruins, while Max Klesmit missed multiple final-minute three-pointers against the Wolverines.

Gard reinforced his confidence in his team’s form, especially given the nature of those two defeats.

“I thought they were in a good spot [against UCLA],” Gard continued. “They’re upset. They know we didn’t play up to our ability, specifically defensively. And I think, quite frankly, we feel we should be 7-1 right now in the league. We’re not. So we’ve got to make sure, as we see, every opponent is a new challenge…But I like how they’ve always responded. They responded really well through that stretch in December that we had.”

The next response must begin on Sunday afternoon against former Badger Connor Essegian and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska enters at 12-7 (2-6 Big Ten), riding a five-game losing streak in conference play.

Wisconsin is just 2 1/2 games behind first-place Michigan State (16-2, 7-0 Big Ten) in the conference standings entering the weekend. The Badgers are two bounces of the basketball away from that total sitting at just 1/2, as Gard mentioned.

Tip off from the Kohl Center is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, noon CT. Wisconsin enters as the prohibitive favorite to add to its growing conference win total.

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