Tag: nolan winter

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 forward flashes offensive potential in Badgers win over Holy Cross

Wisconsin forward flashes offensive potential in Badgers win over Holy Cross

Wisconsin sophomore forward Nolan Winter flashed his offensive brilliance in the Badgers’ 85-61 win over Holy Cross on Monday.

In just over 20 minutes, the second-year Badger registered a career-high 15 points and snared eight rebounds in the 24-point victory at the Kohl Center. Winter shot a perfect 6-6 from the field, including 2-2 from beyond the arc, and dished out a pair of assists as well.

All 15 of Winter’s points arrived in the second half of Monday’s season opener. After transfer John Tonje and sophomore John Blackwell revitalized Wisconsin’s offense to open the second half, Winter attacked for the final six minutes of the game.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native’s improvement from a season ago is obvious. Without veteran forward Tyler Wahl in the mix or volume scorer A.J. Storr taking shots, Winter’s opportunities to create will only increase as the season progresses.

Yes, it was Holy Cross. But the breakout potential is there. On several occasions, Winter displayed his ability to operate in the low post and from outside. Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard now has the luxury of two seven-footers who aren’t scared to shoot from deep in the starting lineup.

In 2023-24, Winter registered 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in roughly nine minutes per game. Those totals are all set to skyrocket in 2024-25.

RECAP: Wisconsin basketball beats Holy Cross in season opener

RECAP: Wisconsin basketball beats Holy Cross in season opener

The Wisconsin Badgers opened their season with an 85-61 win over Holy Cross at the Kohl Center on Nov. 4.

In his Badger debut, transfer guard John Tonje captained scoring duties with 23 points and corralled five rebounds. Sophomore center Nolan Winter shot a perfect 6-6 from the field for 15 points and snared a game-high eight rebounds, and sophomore guard John Blackwell registered 16 points and four boards as well.

Wisconsin utilized the exact same starting lineup vs. Holy Cross as it did in its scrimmage against UW-River Falls:

G: John Blackwell

G: Max Klesmit

G: John Tonje (transfer)

F: Nolan Winter

C: Steven Crowl

While the final score suggests a wire-to-wire domination, UW’s first half output said otherwise. After veteran center Steven Crowl nailed his first 3FG of the season, Holy Cross wing Gabe Warren scored 11 points to push the Crusaders ahead 13-3 within the first four minutes.

He and forward Caleb Kenney would maintain the pressure to bring the Holy Cross edge to 23-7 at the 11:54-minute mark. Tonje and Blackwell would help UW regain control, however, as they combined for 20 first-half points at intermission.

After sparring with Holy Cross for the first stanza of the second half, the Badgers surged offensively. Tonje and Blackwell picked up right where they left off; the duo scored 14 of UW’s first 22 second half tallies to make it 59-46 Wisconsin with just under 10 minutes to spare.

From then on, Winter handled virtually all the scoring duties for the Badgers. The 7-footer shined with 13 points in the final six minutes and showcased his range with two 3FG.

As a team, Wisconsin shot 49.2% from the field, 35.5% from outside and a perfect 16-16 from the charity stripe. Wisconsin out-rebounded Holy Cross 38-21 and scored 18 more points in the paint.

With both Crowl and Winter down low, UW poses a challenging matchup for any team without size. Against Holy Cross, a team without a 7-footer on its 2024-25 roster, there’s no denying that the Badgers entered the game with a clear advantage,

Still, the story was the play from Tonje. A capable shooter and veteran presence in UW’s locker room, it appears as if head coach Greg Gard will lean on the former Missouri and Colorado State hooper to pick up some of the scoring slack after AJ Storr transferred to Kansas.

Guard Kamari McGee also looked sharp. In 27 minutes off the bench, the senior logged 7 points and four assists as the pilot of Wisconsin’s second unit.

Wisconsin now moves to 9-0 in season openers under Gard. The Badgers will be back in action on Thursday, Nov. 9, vs. Montana State at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin basketball vs. Holy Cross injury report: Badgers without a top transfer addition

Wisconsin basketball vs. Holy Cross injury report: Badgers without a top transfer addition

Wisconsin basketball has released its injury report ahead of its season-opening contest against Holy Cross.

The Badgers will be without transfer guard Camren Hunter, while top forward Nolan Winter is considered a game-time decision, according to 247Sports’ Evan Flood.

Related: Projecting Wisconsin basketball’s starting lineup, rotation entering the 2024-25 season

Both Hunter and Winter were on the court for the team’s recent scrimmage against UW-River Falls last Wednesday. Winter was in the starting lineup — signaling an increased role after he was Steven Crowl’s primary backup in 2023-24. He played 24 minutes in the scrimmage win, totaling eight points and seven rebounds.

Hunter, meanwhile, played just five minutes as a depth option off the bench. The Central Arkansas transfer projects to enter the season behind Max Klesmit, John Blackwell, John Tonje, Kamari McGee and Daniel Freitag on the team’s backcourt depth chart. His status is of note after he missed the entire 2023-24 season with an injury.

Wisconsin and Holy Cross will tip-off at 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT at the Kohl Center. The game will be available via stream on BTN+ and on radio on the Badger Sports Network.

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

Greg Gard highlights breakout player on Wisconsin basketball’s 2024-25 roster

Greg Gard highlights breakout player on Wisconsin basketball’s 2024-25 roster

Wisconsin basketball head coach Greg Gard spoke with reporters at Big Ten media days in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday. The event marks the start of the ramp-up to the season, which is just four weeks away.

One topic of conversation was Gard’s thoughts on his roster entering the season. Specifically, on a player who could experience a breakout campaign.

Related: Big Ten basketball power rankings entering 2024-25 season: A first look at the expanded conference

His answer: sophomore center Nolan Winter.

BadgerExtra’s Michael McCleary relayed Gard’s sentiment: “For Nolan to take the jump he has … he still’s got a ways to go, but we really like what we’ve seen so far.”

Winter played in 36 games as a true freshman in 2023-24. He finished with per-game averages of 9.4 minutes, 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds on 56% shooting. Most significantly, he was thrust into action against some of the best players in the country, headlined by Purdue superstar center Zach Edey.

The sophomore enters 2024-25 still as Wisconsin’s backup center behind senior Steven Crowl. This role should allow Winter to continue his development without being relied upon as arguably the most critical member of the Badgers’ starting lineup. If Gard’s words are any indication, Winter could be ready for the same midcareer jump seen with several recent Badgers centers. Crowl and Nate Reuvers are two prominent examples.

Wisconsin enters the 2024-25 season tied for 12th in the preseason Big Ten media poll. While the team has real questions after offseason departures of Chucky Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl, Gard reloaded the roster in the transfer portal and welcomes top 2024 point guard Daniel Freitag to campus.

Signs point to Wisconsin entering the season under the radar with the ability to again contend for a conference title. Game 1 is at the Kohl Center on Nov. 4 against Holy Cross.

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 2024 signee climbs high school scoring leaderboard

Wisconsin basketball 2024 signee climbs high school scoring leaderboard

Jack Robison, a Wisconsin men’s basketball signee, moved up to third on Lakeville North Basketball’s all-time scoring list following his senior season. 

The 247Sports three-star committed to the Badgers’ program on Nov. 11, 2023, after being recruited by head coach Greg Gard and assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft. The 6-foot-6 small forward visited UW five times from October 2021 to October 2023. 

The Lakeville, Minnesota native also snagged offers from Minnesota, Nebraska, Northern Iowa and South Florida. 

Robison’s high school is notorious for producing future Wisconsin men’s basketball players. Nate Reuvers, a member of the 2019 Big Ten title team, started over 100 games for Greg Gard. Fifth-year player Tyler Wahl and freshman big man Nolan Winter also donned the Panthers’ uniform before collegiate hoops.

Through March 15 of this past season, Robison averaged 21.9 points per game off 52.5% from the field. The future Badger could bolster Wisconsin’s wing next season alongside Max Klesmit and AJ Storr.

Buy stock in Wisconsin basketball’s fast-rising freshman forward

Buy stock in Wisconsin basketball’s fast-rising freshman forward

Wisconsin freshman forward Nolan Winter is ‘firmly cemented in the Badgers’ rotation,’ according to a tweet from CBSSports’ Jon Rothstein earlier today.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native was a three-star recruit in the class of 2022 and ranked as just the No. 34 power forward in the class. Yet according to Gard, it appears he’s already won playing time without his freshman season even tipping off.

Wisconsin’s impressive starting five projects to be PG Chucky Hepburn, SG Max Klesmit, SF A.J. Storr, PF Tyler Wahl and C Steven Crowl. The rest of the rotation then will include Winter, Connor Essegian, Kamari McGee and Carter Gilmore.

The Badgers are coming off a disappointing 20-15 2022-23 season which did not include a trip to the NCAA Tournament. 2023-24 should be better, and could see the Badgers in the mix in the Big Ten.

Badgers MBB set for challenging early schedule

Badgers face early gauntlet on the court

The Badgers men’s basketball team is just a few weeks away from their season opener versus UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 1 and their early schedule is not easy, on paper that is.

Wisconsin will square off with four ranked programs within their first 10 matchups of the 2023-2024 campaign, including in-state rival Marquette on Dec. 2.

Greg Gard’s squad just had their Red-White scrimmage on Sunday with the White team winning 69-51. Most notably, new additions transfer forward AJ Storr (St. John’s) and freshman big man Nolan Winter scored 15 and 13 points respectively.

The Badgers will look to get off to hot start in 2023 to leave their disappointing 2022-2023 campaign in the dust.

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ESPN expects the Badgers to be back in March Madness this year

Can Wisconsin return to the National Tournament?

The 2023-2024 college basketball season is still a couple months away, but ESPN dropped their latest bracketology, listing the Badgers as a seven seed in their projections.

Greg Gard and his squad missed the National Tournament last year for the second time in five campaigns, finishing with a 17-14 regular season record. The team struggled in close games, dropping six contests decided by three or less points.

They went on to advance to the semifinals of the NIT, losing to North Texas 56-54. It was a positive end to a difficult year, though the final loss was another close one that they let get away.

Now operating with their entire starting lineup back in Madison, the Badgers have added transfer guard A.J. Storr and a trio of impressive freshmen (Gus Yalden, Nolan Winter and John Blackwell), amongst others.

The familiar Wisconsin squad seems to be expected to return to their winning ways again in 2023.

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WATCH: Which Badgers’ shot was better?

The 2023-2024 MBB season is still a few months away, but two of the athletes filmed each other making some trick shots in the Kohl Center.

The 2023-2024 men’s basketball season is still a few months away, but two of the athletes filmed each other making some trick shots in the Kohl Center. Entering his second season in Madison, Connor Essegian along with freshman forward Nolan Winter both made shots from the bleachers.

Essegian averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in his freshman season in 2022-2023, making a Badger freshman record 69 three-pointers over 35 contests. He’s quickly become a fan-favorite and his Twitter presence has certainly allowed him to gain popularity.

Winter on the other hand will be entering his first year in Madison, entering the program as a three-star recruit from Lakeville, Minnesota. The 6-foot-10 athlete won the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year award and will look to become the next Wisconsin star from his home state.

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