Tag: Kamari McGee

Wisconsin basketball’s unsung hero continues to impress

Wisconsin basketball’s unsung hero continues to impress

The Wisconsin Badgers basketball program is off to a historic start to the 2024-25 season. Without Kamari McGee, that might not be possible.

The senior guard continues to prove his worth for Greg Gard’s program. In the Badgers’ 81-75 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday, McGee scored 10 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists in 28 minutes off the bench.

Eight of those 10 tallies arrived at crucial points in the second half. The Racine, Wisconsin native hit a layup to knot things at 38 early in the second half, then nailed a three-pointer to push Wisconsin ahead 65-62 with under seven minutes to play.

In fact, the Badgers never relinquished their lead after McGee’s first look from outside. His second, arguably the dagger of the contest, came with the Badgers leading by just one point with 2:54 remaining. The senior netted the look right in front of his bench to essentially seal the win.

On the season, McGee is averaging 7.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in over 23 minutes per game off the bench. His leadership, coupled with a clutch shot-making ability, make him one of the more integral pieces to one of college basketball’s hottest teams to start the 2024-25 season.

What Wisconsin coach Greg Gard, wing John Tonje said after Greenbrier Tip-Off win

What Wisconsin coach Greg Gard, wing John Tonje said after Greenbrier Tip-Off win

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard and star wing John Tonje addressed the media following the Badgers’ 81-75 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

For the first time since Wisconsin reached the NCAA Tournament final in 2015, the team is 7-0 and has scored 79 or more points in every win. To achieve that on Sunday, the Badgers needed to rally back from 14 down in the first half against a tough Pittsburgh team.

“Heck of a game against a really, really good team,” Gard said. “Not a great start for us offensively, but the resilience these guys showed being down 14 and not being able to get anything going offensively, they leaned into their defense even more.”

Wisconsin did just that. After posting 27 points in the opening frame off abysmal shooting splits, Wisconsin put together a 54-point second half and held the Panthers to under 16% from distance.

To correct that, Gard looked inward at UW’s offensive possessions during the first half.

“[In the] second half, we were able to get some things going,” Gard said. “I felt offensively we had to do a better job at shot selection,” Gard said. “We took some quick ones at times, we took some look twos… and then we go 0-of-10 from three for the first half. Analytically at halftime, we were getting what we wanted. We just needed a couple threes to go in.”

Fortunately, Wisconsin’s program is well aware of its culture. When those shots weren’t falling, Gard was able to lean on his depth to uplift stars like John Tonje and John Blackwell.

“You lean into your defensive when your offensive isn’t clicking like it has been,” Gard said. “Eventually, we got to the point where we were able to get to the free throw line.. The resilience of this group, the toughness of this group, the guts within this group in [Max] Klesmit, [Kamari] McGee and [Carter] Gilmore, those are the fighters that help in those situations. That’s the core of our program.”

Tonje, who dropped 33 points in the victory, was virtually un-guardable. The wing scored 25 of his 33 in the second half off 9-of-11 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

“I was trying to be aggressive from the start,” Tonje said. “I didn’t shoot the ball well early, but I just kept with it. The primary defender on me had three fouls, so I was trying to be aggressive. A couple of the guys that were switching out on me had a couple fouls as well. I knew on the scouring report that they’re not necessarily as deep of a team, so we knew we had to take advantage of guys in foul trouble. So that was what I was looking for.”

The 7-0 Badgers will return to the Kohl Center on Nov. 30 for a game against Chicago State.

Wisconsin basketball’s win over UCF matches best start since … 2014-15

Wisconsin basketball’s win over UCF matches best start since … 2014-15

Wisconsin’s basketball program made history in its 86-70 win over UCF on Friday.

For the first time since 2014-15, the Badgers have started the season with a 6-0 record. That legendary team amassed a 36-4 overall record and reached the 2015 NCAA Tournament title game.

Unlike the 2014-15 crew, the 2024-25 Badgers have scored 79 or more points in each of their first six games of the season — five games with 86 or more. That is a program-best mark.

While this version of UW does not roster Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker or Nigel Hayes, it does blend a unique combination of experience, size and athleticism.

Through six games, transfer wing John Tonje has been nothing short of a star for Greg Gard. The senior is averaging 21.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in just under 30 minutes per appearance. He’s also shooting a blistering 53.2% from the floor, 44.4% from three-point range and 94.3% from the foul line.

Sophomore guard John Blackwell accounts for 16.3 points per contest, and senior Max Klesmit puts up over 13 points per game. The Badgers lead the nation in free throw percentage, outscore opponents by nearly 17 points and dish out just under 16 assists per game.

Wisconsin was ranked No. 19 in the latest AP Poll before a pair of victories. That ranking should rise if the team defeats Pittsburgh in the Greenbrier Tip-Off final. As they seem to do every year, the Badgers are overachieving based off their preseason expectations.

RECAP: Wisconsin rolls past UCF to improve to 6-0 on 2024-25 season

RECAP: Wisconsin rolls past UCF to improve to 6-0 on 2024-25 season

Wisconsin basketball rolled past the UCF Knights 86-70 on Friday to pick up its sixth win of the 2024-25 season.

Unlike its previous two victories which were fueled by individual scoring outbursts from wing John Tonje and guard John Blackwell, the Badgers cruised to victory against UCF with swift ball movement and dominant team defense.

On the offensive side of the hardwood, the Badgers logged 21 assists, scored 38 points in the paint and had 10 of their playmakers scratch the scoresheet. Defensively, Gard’s unit held the Knights to just 34% from the field and 12% from the three-point line.

Blackwell spearheaded the scoring charge with 17 points off 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep. Tonje dropped 15, snagged six rebounds and dished out four assists, veteran guard Kamari McGee notched a season-high 14 points off 5-of-6 from the floor and sophomore center Nolan Winter registered 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in the blowout win.

Wisconsin practically sealed the deal in the first half. After UCF’s Darius Johnson cashed in on a layup inside at the 11:45-minute mark, Wisconsin orchestrated an extended 20-8 run to extend its edge to 21 points with 4:52 remaining before intermission.

Everything was clicking for UW. Wisconsin moved the ball seamlessly and found open men both near the painted area and outside the arc. The Badgers paired their interior attack with five looks from deep in the first half en route to a 15-point lead by the break.

Winter and Tonje picked up right where Wisconsin left off in the second half to extend the lead to 20 within the first three minutes of the final stanza. Gard’s team maintained a 20-point advantage up until the final minutes of the contest.

Wisconsin improves to 6-0 on the young season with their first road victory of the season. UCF, meanwhile, drops to 4-1. Wisconsin will play its next game on Nov. 24 against Pittsburgh in the second leg of the Greenbrier Tip-Off.

LOOK: Wisconsin arrives at Greenbrier Tip-Off for first road games of 2024-25 season

LOOK: Wisconsin arrives to Greenbrier Tip-Off for first road game of 2024-25 season

Wisconsin (5-0) will play its first road game of the 2024-25 season against UCF (4-0) at the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Friday.

Staged at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, the non-conference tournament serves as an early-season test for the No. 19-ranked Badgers.

Unlike any other game throughout the season, the atmosphere surrounding these two or three-day tournaments is much different than a contest at the Kohl Center or elsewhere. The environments often stray from what players may be accustomed to, as they’re usually played in a condensed gymnasium or a ballroom.

Just a day before their test vs. the Knights, Wisconsin’s group appears to be acclimating to that environment. The Badgers staged Thursday’s practice in what appears to be an actual ballroom. Ornate drapes and chairs quite literally surround the hardwood.

Luckily for John Tonje and company, Greg Gard has been here before. The Badgers have participated in 17 non-conference tournaments over the past 19 seasons, including seven of the previous eight seasons under Gard.

Wisconsin has found immense success at these events under Gard, headlined by a recent win at the 2023 Fort Myers Tip-Off.

The Badgers’ second game of the weekend is scheduled for Nov. 24 against either LSU or Pittsburgh, depending on Friday’s results. A tournament triumph would unquestionably elevate in the Badgers even higher in the next version of the AP Poll.

Wisconsin bench guard clinches Badgers win over UT Rio Grande Valley

Wisconsin bench guard clinches Badgers win over UT Rio Grande Valley

Wisconsin basketball guard Kamari McGee has been one of the Badgers’ most valuable players through five games of the 2024-25 season.

On Monday night, the senior guard clinched Wisconsin’s tight 87-84 win over UT Rio Grande Valley on the final play of the evening.

Tasked with defending the Vaqueros’ 6-foot-8 forward Hasan Abdul Hakim at the top of the key, the 6-foot-tall McGee stayed right with Hakim without fouling and forced the versatile playmaker into a tough fadeaway jumper in the lane.

His shot attempt hit the backside of the rim, and sophomore guard John Blackwell scooped in for a strong rebound to secure the victory.

Here’s the full play:

Simply put — the play encapsulates McGee’s impact this season.

Through five games in 2024-25 McGee boasts the the highest +/- of any Badger at +85, per Badger247’s Evan Flood. Only Blackwell, who holds a +84, is within reaching distance of the veteran.

McGee has unquestionably been Gard’s most reliable bench player this season. Sure, he might not bring the height of Carter Gilmore and Xavier Amos, but he is as composed a bench guard as you can find in the nation.

The Racine, Wisconsin, native is responsible for 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2 assists in 23 minutes per game off the bench this season.

He and the Badgers will be back in action on Nov. 22 against UCF in the Greenbrier Tip-Off.

Greg Gard praises Wisconsin guard after big performance vs. Montana State

Greg Gard praises Wisconsin guard after big performance vs. Montana State

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard highlighted the development and performance of senior guard Kamari McGee when meeting with the media after the Badgers’ 79-67 win over Montana State.

McGee played 27 minutes off the bench in the winning effort, totaling 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Yet again, he served as a crucial spark plug for the Badgers. His status as the team’s sixth man does not preclude his minutes from being highly productive.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Montana State

The former UW-Green Bay transfer has developed significantly since transferring to Wisconsin ahead of the 2022-23 season. Gard highlighted that improvement:

“Just his poise and maturity,” Gard began. “I think he’s operating at a very functional speed right now. Two years ago, I think he tried to play everything at a thousand miles an hour. Now, he understands the importance of pace and patience. When to pick your spots, when to step on the gas, when not to. So I think you’re seeing the evolution and the maturity of a player that’s done a really good job for us.”

McGee’s elevated role speaks to that development. Through two games this season he’s averaging 27.5 minutes, 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game, all while shooting 54% from the floor and 40% from three-point range.

Here’s more from Gard on what McGee means to the team:

“He’s been a steadying influence. He changes the game with his defense, he changes the game with the pace he comes up with the ball. But I just think the decisions, and the conscious effort to read and feel of the game, when you can go fast and when you can’t. He didn’t understand that two years ago, and it’s taken time for him to learn that and get a good feel. He’s obviously figured out a lot of good things.”

Much of Gard’s focus was on McGee’s contributions on offense. McGee’s comments postgame, meanwhile, centered around the defensive side of the court

“I know that defense is going to win us a lot of games,” the senior guard said. “I’ve always had the defensive mindset ever since I started playing basketball. That’s winning basketball, is getting defensive stop. We have enough scorers, we have enough guys doing great things at the other end. I make sure I try to lead by example and get my guys engaged as well. Because when it’s crunch time like that and it’s time to close a game out, you’re going to need stops more than scores.”

Gard, McGee and the Badgers are back on the court on Sunday, Nov. 10 at home against Appalachian State. It’s reasonable to predict another high-impact game from the senior guard in his established sixth-man role.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard praises Badgers point guard after exhibition win

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard praises Badgers point guard after exhibition win

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard praised point guard Kamari McGee following the Badgers’ 78-62 exhibition win over UW-River Falls on Wednesday.

In 24 minutes off the bench, McGee registered five points, six assists and four rebounds for UW’s second unit. McGee also took care of the rock and did not record a turnover during his time orchestrating the offense.

“He’s been the most consistent,” Gard said after the game. “That’s what he’s done, day in and day out. He makes the teams that he’s on better. I told him as I decided who I was going to start tonight that I wanted to make sure he had that same energy and bounce.”

Gard elected to go with John Tonje, Steven Crowl, Nolan Winter, John Blackwell and Max Klesmit as his starting unit against UW-River Falls. Nonetheless, McGee has emerged as a trusted voice in Wisconsin’s locker room.

“He and [Max Klesmit] do a great job vocally of leading the team. Those guys are the heartbeat of it,” Gard emphasized.

In 56 career games at Wisconsin before his senior year, McGee averaged 7.6 minutes per game in his time as a valued bench asset. With three new transfers and two true freshmen now in the fold, his leadership and consistency figures to play a pivotal role in how UW’s group operates throughout the 2024-25 season.

Surprising candidate in contention for Wisconsin basketball starting point guard job

Surprising candidate emerging as Wisconsin basketball starting point guard

This story was updated to add new information

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard met with the media on Tuesday after the Badgers’ open practice.

One surprising note from his comments came regarding the team’s ongoing battle for the starting point guard role. Gard said Kamari McGee has “consistently separated himself” at practice and has “played the best [of the point guards] over the two and a half weeks so far.”

Related: Big Ten basketball power rankings entering 2024-25 season based on KenPom rating

Gard was asked to specify if the job is McGee’s to lose at this stage of the preseason. His response: “We’re still a ways away from Nov. 4. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

The comments point toward McGee possibly leading a point guard group that includes top 2024 recruit Daniel Freitag and Central Arkansas transfer Camren Hunter.

Freitag joined the program this offseason as 247Sports’ No. 127 player, No. 11 point guard and No. 2 recruit in Minnesota in the class of 2024. Hunter  missed all of the 2023-24 season with an injury. He previously averaged 16.9 points in 34 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2022-23. The two projected to be the team’s primary options at the position.

McGee, on the other hand, played in 25 games for the Badgers in 2023-24. He finished with per-game averages of 8.2 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 steals on 54% shooting. His six-week absence in January and February directly coincided with the Badgers’ losing skid. While McGee’s numbers don’t jump off the page, Wisconsin seemed to consistently win with him in the lineup and lose with him out of it.

This is the biggest story surrounding the Wisconsin program with less than three weeks remaining before the opener against Holy Cross.

Freitag figures to play a big role immediately as a true freshman. But his role, and Wisconsin’s entire lineup, is somewhat up in the air. The team does not lack talent or experience — but it is set to look extremely different from last year’s group after the offseason departures of Chucky Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl.

Gard and his team continue their preseason preparation before opening the 2024-25 season at the Kohl Center on Nov. 4 against Holy Cross. All eyes should be focused on who is announced as the team’s starting point guard during the pregame introductions.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Wisconsin basketball guard has offseason foot surgery

Wisconsin basketball guard has foot surgery

Wisconsin basketball guard Kamari McGee underwent foot surgery this week, according to his latest post on Instagram.

The veteran guard suffered a foot injury midway through the Badgers’ season. He was out from January 19 (the date of the injury) to March 7, and then went on to play important bench minutes for the team during its Big Ten Tournament run and early March Madness exit.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin basketball’s reported transfer portal visits and targets

McGee’s importance was highlighted during his absence. Wisconsin went from one of the best teams in the nation to a group struggling to find wins, due in part to his steady contributions off the bench. Not to say McGee was the entire reason for the slump, but his absence was felt during that tough five-week stretch.

His late-season contributions are made even more impressive by the clear injury he was battling through.

The rising senior should play a similar role for Wisconsin in 2024-25. Chucky Hepburn will lead the starting unit, with McGee pickup up important bench minutes in his absence.

McGee averaged 8.2 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.5 steals per game on 54% shooting and 27% from three. He’s turned into a valuable contributor to Greg Gard’s team after being a largely-forgotten addition when he transferred to Wisconsin from UW-Green Bay after his freshman year.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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