Tag: uw basketball

Wisconsin basketball officially inks top 100 class of 2025 shooting guard

Wisconsin basketball officially inks top 100 class of 2025 shooting guard

The first domino of Wisconsin basketball’s class of 2025 fell on Wednesday morning.

Over 15 months removed from his commitment to Wisconsin, top-ranked class of 2025 shooting guard Zach Kinziger signed with Greg Gard’s program on Nov. 13, the first day of NCAA Division I basketball’s initial signing period.

In early September, Kinziger moved to No. 68 in the coveted ESPN100 ranking for the class of 2025. He plays De Pere High School and Team Herro in the AAU circuit.

A native of De Pere, Wisconsin, Kinziger is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN. 247Sports ranks the 6-foot-3, 175-pound shooting guard as the No. 113 overall player, the No. 21 shooting guard and the No. 3 prospect from Wisconsin in the 2025 class.

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. Jones, who debuted for the New Zealand national team at just 17 years old this summer, also signed with the Badgers on Wednesday.

When Kinziger arrives in Madison, he will slide in to a rotation with 2024 true freshman Daniel Freitag and 2023-24 Big Ten All-Freshman Team member John Blackwell. With respectable range and athleticism, he could immediately contribute if awarded the opportunity.

Wisconsin basketball ‘receiving votes’ in first AP Poll update

Wisconsin basketball ‘receiving votes’ in first AP Poll update

Wisconsin basketball received six votes in the latest AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll on Monday.

Despite amassing a 3-0 start to the 2024-25 season, Wisconsin didn’t experience much of a shift from its position in the AP Top 25 poll from Oct. 14. In that iteration of the hierarchy, Greg Gard’s program pocketed five votes ahead of the season.

Since then, Wisconsin has vanquished all of its early-season opponents by an average of 22.3 points per triumph. In his first season as a Badger, transfer wing John Tonje has spearheaded the offensive attack with 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Senior guard Max Klesmit has followed with 16 points per game, and John Blackwell, Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter have chipped in with at least 10 points per contest as well.

As a team, Wisconsin is shooting a blistering 92.5% from the charity stripe and 37% from beyond the arc. Even though their adversaries aren’t anywhere near the AP’s top 25, Wisconsin has done exactly what its needed to do thus far.

In UW’s most recent win over Appalachian State, the Badgers orchestrated a 23-0 scoring spurt and saw five players score at least 10 points in the effort.

Wisconsin was also rated No. 40 in the latest KenPom ranking and No. 29 in ESPN’s latest BPI. The three wins have elevated them at least nine spots in both lists.

The Badgers return to the hardwood for a marquee matchup against No. 9 Arizona on Friday. A win against the touted Wildcats could catapult UW into the top 25 bubble.

Wisconsin absent from latest USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll

Wisconsin absent from latest USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll

After rattling off three straight wins to start to 2024-25 season, the Wisconsin Badgers did not appear in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

The Badgers failed to garner any consideration in the first in-season update after first landing in the ‘receiving votes’ section of the preseason edition.

Wisconsin has started the season 3-0 with triumphs over Holy Cross, Montana State and Appalachian State — those coming by 67 combined points. While the Badgers’ record is flawless, the wins have not come against any notable competition.

The Badgers get their first chance at a statement win on Nov. 15 when Arizona visits the Kohl Center.

Kansas remains the No. 1 team in updated poll after a strong opening week. The Jayhawks are followed by No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 UConn, No. 4 Auburn and No. 5 Gonzaga. A total of five Big Ten squads cracked Nov. 11’s installation of the top-25 list.

Here’s a look at the full USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll following Nov. 10’s games:

Ranking Team Record Points
1 Kansas 2-0 759 (21)
2 Alabama 2-0 724 (4)
3 UConn 2-0 702 (3)
4 Auburn 2-0 660 (2)
5 Gonzaga 2-0 651 (1)
6 Duke 2-0 608
7 Iowa State 1-0 576
8 Arizona 2-0 516
9 Tennessee 2-0 502
10 Houston 1-1 488
11 North Carolina 1-1 456
12 Purdue 2-0 437
13 Creighton 2-0 385
14 Baylor 1-1 328
15 Marquette 2-0 308
16 Indiana 2-0 234
17 Cincinnati 2-0 230
18 Kentucky 2-0 182
19 Florida 2-0 179
20 Illinois 2-0 151
21 Arkansas 1-1 150
22 Ohio State 1-0 148
23 Texas A&M 1-1 99
24 Rutgers 1-0 84
25 St. John’s 2-0 79

Schools Dropped Out

No. 19 Texas; No. 22 UCLA; No. 25 Ole Miss;

Others Receiving Votes

Texas Tech 75; Ole Miss 60; Texas 54; Xavier 38; Oregon 37; Michigan State 29; BYU 29; UCLA 18; UCF 17; Wake Forest 12; Saint Mary’s 12; Kansas State 9; Clemson 9; New Mexico 8; Dayton 8; North Florida 7; Maryland 5; Providence 4; Mississippi State 4; Nevada 2; San Francisco 1; Grand Canyon 1;

The Badgers will face the No. 9 Arizona Wildcats at the Kohl Center on Nov. 15. A win against one of college basketball’s powers would undoubtedly elevate UW into the top 25 before the team travels to the East Coast to compete in the Greenbrier Tip-Off.

Wisconsin’s game vs. Arizona is slated for 8:00 p.m. CT and will be aired on Peacock.

Wisconsin transfer forward reaches double figures in Badgers win vs. Appalachian State

Wisconsin transfer forward reaches double figures in win vs Appalachian State

Wisconsin basketball transfer forward Xavier Amos impressed with 10 points in the Badgers’ 87-56 win over Appalachian State on Sunday.

Head coach Greg Gard elected to substitute Amos into the game with 14:08 remaining and the Badgers up by nearly 20 points.

In 12 minutes of play, Amos nailed a pair of three-point jumpers and four free throw attempts. He also snagged six rebounds and a steal in his abbreviated action off the bench.

Amos had appeared in each of Wisconsin’s previous games this season, but today’s contribution was the most impressive of the 2024-25 slate. The Chicago, Illinois, native scored his first basket as a Badger in the season opener against Holy Cross, but he failed to scratch the score sheet in Wisconsin’s second game of the 2024-25 campaign vs. Montana State.

Before he transferred to Wisconsin this spring, Amos enjoyed a breakout season at Northern Illinois in 2023-24. As a sophomore, he started all 25 games and averaged nearly 14 points and six rebounds per game.

As a forward, Amos also shot 49.6 percent from the floor, including 38.5 percent from 3-point range (40-for-104 3FG) a season ago. It’s safe to say he showcased that type of efficiency on Sunday.

Amos’ minutes will be something to monitor as the season progresses. Given his versatility, he could see extended play when UW faces a smaller team and opts to utilize centers Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter in a more limited capacity.

UW is back in action on Nov. 15 against No. 10 Arizona at the Kohl Center.

Badgers coach Greg Gard discusses 31-point win vs. Appalachian State

Badgers coach Greg Gard discusses 31-point win vs. Appalachian State

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard praised the Badgers’ versatility following their 87-56 win over Appalachian State on Sunday.

In the rout, Wisconsin shot over 47% from the field and 81% from the charity stripe. The Badgers also recorded 14 steals and forced 18 total Mountaineers turnovers in the winning effort.

“This is a group that, because of its depth and versatility, can have a type of impact defensively,” Gard said after the game. “If we can continue to grow our identity, offensively we can be pretty potent.”

Potent might be an understatement. John Tonje, Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit each notched at least 15 points in the blowout. As a team, Wisconsin scored 48 points in the paint.

After trailing by eight early in the first half, UW mustered a 23-0 spurt to pull ahead by 16 at the half. Despite winning comfortably vs. Holy Cross and Montana State, Wisconsin looked much more consistent and dominant on Sunday.

Gard also addressed that concept after the win:

“I’m proud of our guys for how we’ve gotten better,” Gard said after the game. “On the defensive end, we’ve finally started to click and put some possessions together. The stretch in the first half with 15 straight possessions with stops, I think it’s just guys gaining confidence it. I think we’ve become more physical and more aggressive.

Wisconsin will be back on the hardwood on Nov. 15 vs. No. 10 Arizona at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin basketball found its AJ Storr replacement

Wisconsin basketball found its AJ Storr replacement

Through three games of the 2024-25 season, the Wisconsin Badgers have found a star in transfer wing John Tonje.

UW’s offense took a blow with the departure of top scorer AJ Storr this offseason. With questions surrounding Wisconsin’s No. 1 offensive option looming ahead of this season, Tonje has appeared to fill the void.

Against Holy Cross, Montana State and Appalachian State, Tonje has accumulated 53 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists. Those totals average to 17.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per appearance.

Tonje’s knack for reaching the free-throw line has also seemed to unlock an essential part of Wisconsin’s offensive attack. At 6-foot-5, the Nebraska native’s frame allows him to create contact against smaller guards and penetrate the paint.

The former Colorado State transfer can score from all three levels of the floor. He’s shooting 50% from beyond the arc, over 94% from the free throw line and over 53% from the field.

A season ago, Storr averaged nearly 17 points and nearly four rebounds in 36 appearances for the Badgers. After electing to withdraw from the 2024 NBA draft, Storr transferred to Kansas for another collegiate opportunity.

The 6-foot-7 playmaker tallied nearly 500 field goal attempts in 2023-24 and was the unquestioned go-to option in Greg Gard’s offensive system. The good news for Badgers fans is that it appears Tonje can pick up a chunk of that slack.

Former Wisconsin basketball star among shortest odds for 2024 Wooden Award

Former Wisconsin basketball star in running for 2024 Wooden Award

Former Wisconsin basketball star AJ Storr is among the favorites to win the Wooden Award entering the 2024-25 college basketball season. BetMGM places Storr’s odds at +2000, tied for the eighth-highest in the sport. [gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ] The Wooden Award is annually awarded to the most outstanding college basketball player in men’s and women’s hoops. Previous winners include Zach Edey, Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis. BetMGM lists only Alabama’s Mark Sears, North Carolina’s RJ Davis, Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, Arizona’s Caleb Love, Auburn’s Johni Broome and Marquette’s Kam Jones ahead of the former Badger. Storr, a 2024 Second Team All-Big Ten team member, elected to transfer from UW to Kansas this spring after one season in Madison. Storr averaged 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.6 steals in 28.8 minutes per appearance in 2023-24, serving as Wisconin’s go-to option on the offensive side of the floor. During the 2024 Big Ten Tournament, he averaged 22.5 points per game and dropped a season-high 30 points against Northwestern. In one game with the Jayhawks this season, the Rockford, Illinois, native scored five points, grabbed two rebounds and dished out a pair of assists against Howard. Storr and the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks battle No. 9 North Carolina on Friday, Nov. 8. [gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ] Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

RECAP: Wisconsin surges past Montana State in second game of 2024-25 season

RECAP: Wisconsin surges past Montana State in second game of 2024-25 season

This story was updated to add new information.

The Wisconsin Badgers secured a 79-67 win in their second game of the 2024-25 season over Montana State at the Kohl Center on Nov. 7.

After scoring just seven points in the season opener, senior guard Max Klesmit tied his career-high with 26 points off six made three-point field goals. Transfer guard John Tonje continued his strong start to his Badger career with 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, and sophomore guard John Blackwell notched 13 points, six rebounds and two steals in the win.

As he did in UW’s season opener and preseason exhibition, head coach Greg Gard went with Blackwell, Klesmit, Tonje, sophomore center Nolan Winter and senior center Steven Crowl in the starting unit.

Similar to what the Badgers did against Holy Cross, UW went back-and-forth for nearly the entire first half against the Bobcats. The two teams combined for six ties and 10 lead changes during the opening frame before Wisconsin went into intermission with a 39-33 edge.

At the half, Tonje netted eight free throws for 11 points, and Klesmit nailed three 3FG for 11 points himself.

Montana State opened the second half with a quick 3FG, but Wisconsin responded with a 10-2 run courtesy of a pair of Klesmit three-pointers and a Nolan Winter dunk to establish an 11-point lead with 17:03 to spare on the game clock.

Following an extended scoring drought, Klesmit and Blackwell continued to apply offensive pressure to push the Badgers ahead by 17 with just under 10 minutes to play. Montana State would eventually cut it to 10, but UW’s lead proved too vast to overcome.

As a team, Wisconsin shot over 45% from the field, 50% from outside and a perfect 20-21 from the charity stripe. On the season, UW is 36-37 from the charity stripe.

Wisconsin also out-rebounded Montana State 32-27 and scored 10 more points in the paint, but the story of the game revolved around the Badgers’ efficiency from the outside and ability to create from the foul line.

Tonje , who shot 8-8 at the foul line against Holy Cross, shot 8-9 from the charity stripe against the Bobcats. Tonje can score from all three levels on the hardwood and creates an instant matchup problem for any guard with his size and strength.

UW was also able to lean on its overall perimeter play as opposed to Winter and Crowl down low. Klesmit, Tonje and Blackwell combined for 52 of Wisconsin’s 79 points and canned 10 3FG as a trio.

UW will be back in action on Sunday, Nov. 10, against Appalachian State at the Kohl Center.

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.

Wisconsin basketball to honor program legend on Nov. 15 vs. Arizona

Wisconsin basketball to honor program legend on Nov. 15 vs. Arizona

Wisconsin basketball will honor recent Hall of Fame inductee Bo Ryan on Nov. 15 against the Arizona Wildcats at the Kohl Center.

The program, which will also celebrate members of its Final Four squads from 2014 and 2015, will raise a banner commemorating Ryan that will adorn the Kohl Center’s rafters forever.

It’s no coincidence that this dedication will arrive against the Wildcats. Ryan coached Frank Kaminsky and company to victories over Arizona in both 2014 and 2015. Both wins were a critical part of each team’s NCAA Tournament runs.

In early October, Ryan was officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside basketball legends including Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Michael Cooper and Walter Davis.

Ryan served as Wisconsin’s head coach for 15 seasons. By the time of his retirement in 2015, he had led UW to a a 364-130 overall record, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Fours and one national championship game during his time manning the sidelines.

Before his time in Madison, Ryan led the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to four NCAA Division III Tournament titles in 1991, 1995, 1998 and 1999. He is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s storied history.