Tag: nolan winter

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.

Wisconsin sophomore center logs first career double-double in win over UCF

Wisconsin sophomore center logs first career double-double in win over UCF

Wisconsin sophomore center Nolan Winter logged his first career double-double in the Badgers’ win over UCF on Friday.

After senior center Steven Crowl accumulated three fouls early in the first half, Winter stepped up in a big way. The second-year Badger logged 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 1-of-2 from the three-point line. The big man also corralled a game-best 10 rebounds in the 86-70 win.

Despite scoring 15 points in his first game of the 2024-25 slate, this was easily Winter’s best performance of the season thus far. He fit seamlessly into Greg Gard’s overall scheme and absolutely dominated in the interior.

In 29 minutes of action, Winter was also responsible for five offensive rebounds. Those boards created opportunities for more points in the painted area, a category in which Wisconsin outclassed UCF.

On the season, Winter is averaging 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in just under 20 minutes per game. His size as UW’s starting forward makes the Badgers’ front court all the more formidable to defend.

With wing John Tonje and guard John Blackwell responsible for a bulk of Wisconsin’s offensive workload, Winter naturally receives less defensive attention in the half court.

The Badgers will be back on the floor for a matchup against Pittsburgh in their second game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Nov. 24.

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.

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.