Tag: Wisconsin basketball

Wisconsin drops out of latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

Wisconsin drops out of latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll

Wisconsin basketball dropped out of the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll on Monday. It falls after splitting its pair of games last week — a loss on the road at Illinois and a neutral-site win over Butler.

The split results dropped the team from its No. 22 ranking to the ‘receiving votes’ section of the poll.

Five Big Ten teams remain ranked in the coaches’ latest top 25. Michigan (No. 21), Michigan State (No. 19), UCLA (No. 18), Purdue (No. 17) and Oregon (No. 10) all sit above UW in the official hierarchy

Tennessee remains atop the latest poll after an impressive 10-0 start. The full top 10 is as follows: Tennessee, Auburn, Iowa State, Kentucky, Duke, Florida, Alabama, Kansas, Marquette and Oregon. Both Marquette and Gonzaga dropped five spots.

Rank Team Record Points
1 Tennessee 10-0 765 (22)
2 Auburn 9-1 744 (9)
3 Iowa State 9-1 708
4 Kentucky 10-1 664
5 Duke 8-2 638
6 Florida 10-0 610
7 Alabama 8-2 601
8 Kansas 8-2 518
9 Marquette 9-2 496
10 Oregon 10-1 454
11 Texas A&M 9-2 368
12 Houston 6-3 363
13 UConn 8-3 337
14 Gonzaga 7-3 328
15 Oklahoma 10-0 308
16 Ole Miss 9-1 282
17 Purdue 8-3 264
18 UCLA 9-1 263
19 Michigan State 8-2 178
20 Cincinnati 8-1 146
21 Michigan 8-2 113
22 Memphis 8-2 111
23 San Diego State 7-2 110
24 Dayton 9-2 92
25 Mississippi State 9-1 92

Schools Dropped Out

No. 16 Clemson; No. 22 Wisconsin; No. 25 Baylor;

Others Receiving Votes

Clemson 87; Baylor 79; Illinois 50; St. John’s 48; Drake 44; Utah State 40; Arkansas 31; Maryland 29; Georgia 23; Wisconsin 22; Pittsburgh 21; Missouri 18; North Carolina 9; West Virginia 5; Creighton 5; Texas Tech 3; Penn State 2;

Wisconsin’s next tune-up is slated for Dec. 22 against Detroit Mercy at the Kohl Center. Barring a major upset, Wisconsin will improve to 10-3 on the season before beginning its full Big Ten schedule on Jan. 3 against Iowa.

The win most likely won’t elevate the Badgers into top 25 territory, but it could serve as an opportunity to experiment with rotations before the incoming regular season gauntlet.

Wisconsin rises in both KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Butler

Wisconsin rises in both KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Butler

Wisconsin basketball ended its three-game losing streak on Saturday with an 83-74 win over Butler.

The victory improves the Badgers to 9-3 on the 2024-25 season. Importantly, it guarantees momentum entering the holiday break, barring an unforeseen loss to Detroit Mercy (No. 318 in KenPom) on Dec. 22.

Related: Big takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s important win over Butler

The Badgers had tumbled in both KenPom and ESPN BPI during the mentioned losing streak. The team fell from a fringe-top-20 contender down to the mid-30s of both rankings.

The win over Butler righted that trajectory. Wisconsin rose in both rating metrics:

  • KenPom: No. 33 (up from No. 35), with the No. 15 offense and No. 89 defense in the country.
  • BPI: No. 34 (up from No. 35), with a projected record of 20.3 – 10.7 and a 5.5% chance to win the Big Ten.

The Badgers are the No. 9 and No. 8-ranked team in the Big Ten in those two rankings, respectively. While a step down from where the team was after its 8-0 start, each slot is a significant upgrade over where it stood entering the season (No. 46 in KenPom, No. 39 in BPI).

That sentence likely captures the tone of the fanbase: the three-game losing streak paused big-picture expectations, especially in a gauntlet Big Ten. But overall, the Badgers look far better than any expected when the season began.

Wisconsin is back on the court on Dec. 22 at home against Detroit Mercy. It is then off until Jan. 3, 2025 when the Big Ten schedule continues with a home matchup against Iowa.

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Former Wisconsin guard registers career outing in narrow loss to Kentucky

Chucky Hepburn continued his stellar start to the season

Former Wisconsin point guard Chucky Hepburn continued his stellar 2024-25 campaign on Saturday afternoon, this time with a career performance in Louisville’s road loss to No. 5 Kentucky.

The former Badger star finished the 93-85 defeat with 26 points, five rebounds and five assists on 9-of-18 shooting. His play in 39 minutes of action almost single-handedly kept Louisville in the game against a Kentucky team that appears to be among the best in the country.

The strong outing on a national stage is the second time Hepburn has surpassed 25 points this season, the previous was a career-high 32 points in a Battle 4 Atlantis win over West Virginia.

His season averages are up to 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3 steals on 47.7% shooting from the floor and 33.3% from 3.

It’s safe to say both Hepburn and Nebraska shooting guard Connor Essegian are faring well at their new destinations. Kansas’ A.J. Storr, meanwhile, is still trying to find a consistent role in the lineup.

Wisconsin is off to a strong start to the 2024-25 season without those three transfers. Wing John Tonje has mostly filled the scoring void left by Storr, and a combination of players have worked to fill the leadership void left by Hepburn.

Of all who left via the portal, Wisconsin still likely misses Hepburn the most. His three steals per game rank No. 5 in the sport — that paired with a career-best output on the offense end of the court. Max Klesmit, John Blackwell and Kamari McGee have all played well to begin the season, but none have risen to the level of Hepburn’s.

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Caitlin Clark was on hand to watch Wisconsin basketball’s win over Butler

Caitlin Clark was on hand to watch Wisconsin basketball’s win over Butler

Wisconsin basketball’s 83-74 win over Butler on Saturday was attended by one of the most famous figures in the basketball world — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

Clark was on hand with Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton to watch the action at Gainbridge Fieldhouse — the home of the Pacers.

The Badgers defeated the Bulldogs in the matchup thanks to season-best performances from big men Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter. The two combined for 38 points and 14 rebounds, providing the Badgers a key edge as they mostly struggled shooting the basketball (24% from three).

Greg Gard’s team also shot 92.6% from the free-throw line in the effort, tallying 30% of its total offensive production in that area.

The game was far from a representation of the highest level of basketball. The two teams combined for 42 fouls and 59 free throw attempts. Neither shot particularly well from deep in the neutral-site setting. As mentioned, Wisconsin’s interior scoring and efficiency from the free-throw line decided the matchup.

Clark, an emerging superstar in the sport, just wrapped up her rookie campaign with the Fever. She was the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year in a runaway, breaking a long list of records in the process. Her rise into stardom was also recently recognized by TIME Magazine Athlete of Year honors.

Wisconsin is back on the court on Dec. 22 at home against Detroit Mercy. It is then idle for 11 days before a Jan. 3, 2025 home matchup against Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes.

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RECAP: Wisconsin basketball snaps losing streak with 83-74 victory over Butler

Quick thoughts on Wisconsin’s win over Butler

Wisconsin basketball returned to the win column with an 83-74 win over Butler on Saturday.

The Badgers started hot, bursting out to a 9-0 lead in the game’s early stages. They kept that advantage throughout the first frame before an important closing 16-5 run built a 47-33 halftime lead.

Butler remained within striking distance for much of the second half. But Wisconsin held the opponent at arm’s length, holding on for a wire-to-wire victory.

The big story of the game was the performance of the Badgers’ big men, led by senior Steven Crowl. Crowl had been the center of conversation after he failed to record a rebound during the Badgers’ recent loss at Illinois. His response: 18 points and six rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting and 2-of-3 from three.

Nolan Winter was just as good, finishing with a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-15 shooting.

Wisconsin rebounded the ball better than it did during its three-game losing streak. It grabbed 32 total rebounds, matching Butler’s total. Most importantly, the Badgers held the Bulldogs to just five rebounds on the offensive end.

That rebounding and interior performance carried the team throughout. The Badgers shot just 44.8% from the field and 24% (6-of-25) from three-point range. They did, however, make 25 of 27 free throw attempts, while Butler went just 22-of-32. Those margins are where the game was decided down the stretch.

Wisconsin improves to 9-3 on the season with the victory. Butler drops to 7-4. The Badgers now have just one game (Dec. 22 vs. Detroit Mercy) before Big Ten play heats up on January 3. The win over Butler builds critical momentum before a quiet few weeks.

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Wisconsin coach Greg Gard after loss to Illinois: ‘How does [center Steven Crowl] have no rebounds?’

Greg Gard discussed Steven Crowl’s rebounding struggles postgame

The Wisconsin Badgers fell to Big Ten rival Illinois 86-80 on Tuesday night, extending their current losing streak to three games.

A significant story of the game was rebounding. Illinois entered as one of the nation’s top rebounding teams, while Wisconsin has struggled in that area. Those divergent trends led to Illinois grabbing 40 total rebounds to Wisconsin’s 29. The Badgers’ 18 defensive rebounds were barely more than Illinois’ tally on the offensive end (15). That discrepancy explains where the game was mostly decided.

Related: Big takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s loss to Illinois

There is one glaring number on the box score in that regard. Wisconsin starting center Steven Crowl finished with zero rebounds in 19 minutes, to go along with just nine points on 3-of-9 shooting.

The veteran center is key to the Badgers’ rebounding effort, given his size and position. A lack of production in the area is costly, especially against a team like Illinois with top-end size and rebounding ability.

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard discussed Crowl’s struggles after the game when asked specifically about how Crowl and John Tonje’s quiet offensive night was limiting.

“There’s ways that they can impact the game in other areas,” Gard began. “I think defensively, you look at [Steven Crowl’s] line, he has no rebounds. How do you have no rebounds?”

He went on to specifics on the team’s offensive inconsistency. In his words, due to Tonje and John Blackwell ‘over-dribbling.’ But the focus then returned to how the two veterans can impact the game when they aren’t scoring at a high clip.

“The biggest thing is obviously our 4s and 5s, the rebounding,” Gard continued. “I thought Nolan [Winter] was active and aggressive. He’s still young in terms of what he will he, he showed flashes of how good a player he can be. So I was happy for him.”

The Illinois matchup continued what has been an extended stretch of struggles from Crowl. He’s tallied just 13 total points and eight rebounds over the last three games, all losses, on 5-of-19 shooting and 1-of-7 from three.

He is play is an undeniable key to Wisconsin’s success. When he plays well, offensively and defensively, the team tends to win. His recent struggles, meanwhile, have directly correlated with a three-game losing streak against tough competition.

Gard has publicly expressed his desire for Crowl to be more aggressive in previous years. We’ll see what this sentiment on his rebounding tally leads to. Wisconsin is back on the court on Saturday for a neutral site matchup with Butler. The Badgers badly need a win with an extended holiday break upcoming.

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RECAP: Wisconsin drops its third consecutive game with 86-60 loss to Illinois

RECAP: Wisconsin drops its third consecutive game, falling to Illinois 86-60

Wisconsin’s basketball recent losing streak continued on Tuesday night.

The Badgers fell 86-80 to Big Ten rival Illinois. The loss is the team’s third straight in the last week, dropping it to 8-3 overall and 0-2 to start Big Ten play.

Star freshman Kasparas Jakucionis led the way for the Illini with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists on 8-of-15 shooting. His performance defined the night — a continued breakout as one of the best players in the sport.

Illinois junior guard Tre White also had his best game of the young season with 21 points and eight rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, capped off by a massive put-back dunk on an offensive rebound.

That play tells the story of the game. It highlights the rebounding totals, which again skewed away from Wisconsin.

Illinois finished with 40 rebounds (15 offensive), while the Badgers tallied just 29. Illinois’ second-chance points decided the game down the stretch. Wisconsin held strong through most of the contest, though they were largely kept at arm’s length due to an inability to control the defensive glass.

Greg Gard’s team had a big chance when Illinois committed a flurry of fouls early in the second half. It spent the final 14:42 in the bonus and a significant time in the double bonus. The team shot just 14-of-21 from the line, however, leaving a critical batch of points on the table.

The Badgers were again led by John Tonje (14 points, four rebounds, three assists), plus got big contributions from Nolan Winter (15 points, seven rebounds, two steals) and Max Klesmit (13 points, four assists). Center Steven Crowl (nine points on 3-of-9 shooting) continued his slow start to the season.

The loss is Wisconsin’s ninth straight to the Illini. The Badgers haven’t defeated the Big Ten rival, let alone on the road, since 2019.

Wisconsin is now in desperate need of a victory after the losing skid move to three. They are back in action on Saturday for a neutral site contest against Butler.

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Wisconsin transfers A.J. Storr, Chucky Hepburn quiet as Kansas, Louisville face losing skids

Wisconsin transfers A.J. Storr, Chucky Hepburn quiet as Kansas, Louisville face losing skids

The week of Dec. 2 was not kind to the Wisconsin Badgers. The team began the week ranked 11th but dropped two high-profile matchups, one to Big Ten rival Michigan and one to in-state rival No. 5 Marquette.

The team is 8-2 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play entering the heart of December.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Dec. 9): Wisconsin slides, Michigan surges

While the Badgers struggled on the court, so did the program’s former transfers and their respective new programs. Chucky Hepburn and the Louisville Cardinals went 0-2 against No. 23 Ole Miss and No. 9 Duke last week. A.J. Storr and No. 1 Kansas fell to Creighton and Missouri.

Here is how the two former Badgers performed in each of those mentioned losses, plus their updated season averages:

Chucky Hepburn:

  • vs. Ole Miss (86-63 loss): 36 minutes, 19 points, four assists, two rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting, 7-of-9 from the free-throw line
  • vs. Duke (76-65 loss): 37 minutes, eight points, five assists, three rebounds on 2-of-11 shooting, 2-of-7 from 3
  • Season averages: 31.4 minutes, 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.2 steals on 48.8% shooting and 33% from 3

AJ Storr:

  • vs. Creighton (76-63 loss): 27 minutes, 12 points, three rebounds on 4-of-13 shooting
  • vs. Missouri (76-67 loss): 18 minutes, two points, three rebounds on 1-of-7 shooting, 0-of-3 from 3
  • Season averages: 21.3 minutes, 8.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists on 41% shooting and 36% from 3

Hepburn and Storr transferred after leading the 2023-24 Badgers in nearly every category. Hepburn did so after starting at point guard for three seasons.

The ebbs and flows of the basketball season affect individuals and teams. Hepburn started hot, including a statement performance in Louisville’s win over West Virginia at the Battle 4 Atlantis. He and the Cardinals have taken a step back of late. They’re still looking to establish position in a tough ACC.

Storr, meanwhile, plays a reserve role for a Kansas team that is set to fall from its previous No. 1 ranking. He’s had strong outings, including 11 key points in the Jayhawks’ Nov. 26 win over Duke. But his numbers are down across the board after operating as Wisconsin’s primary offensive option last season.

The Badgers did well in finding transfer John Tonje this offseason. The former Colorado State and Missouri wing is averaging 21.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists through 10 games. But he, like both Hepburn and Storr, has taken a slight step back during Wisconsin’s recent losing skid.

Wisconsin is back on the court on Tuesday night on the road at No. 19 Illinois. Hepburn and Louisville host UTEP before a big game at No. 4 Kentucky, and Storr and Kansas host NC State and Brown before the holiday break.

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Wisconsin basketball’s big game against Illinois will only be available on one streaming platform

Wisconsin basketball’s game against Illinois will only be available on one streaming platform

The 11th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers (8-2, 0-1 Big Ten) are on the road on Tuesday night for a critical early season game against No. 19 Illinois (6-2, 0-1 Big Ten).

As was the case for the Badgers’ recent contest against Michigan, the game will only be available via streaming on Peacock. That is the reality for many conference contests in this era of the Big Ten.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Dec. 9): Wisconsin slides, Michigan surges

As a reminder, the streaming-exclusive games are part of the Big Ten’s new television deal with Fox, CBS and NBC. Peacock, an NBC property, has carried football and basketball games since the deal began last year.

Wisconsin is 1-1 in Peacock-exclusive games so far this season: the loss to Michigan and a big win over then-No. 9 Arizona

Both teams enter the important matchup after disappointing weeks. Wisconsin dropped tough contests against Michigan and at No. 5 Marquette, while Illinois fell to Northwestern in overtime.

The two projected to be among the Big Ten’s best through Feast Week and the season’s first month. A win on Tuesday is paramount for both as they look to return to that standing.

The Badgers and Illinois will tip off at 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Again, a Peacock subscription is required to watch the contest.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Wisconsin vs Illinois live on Peacock” link=”https://imp.i305175.net/Y9vDoJ”]

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Where Wisconsin basketball stands in KenPom and ESPN BPI after 0-2 week

Where Wisconsin basketball stands in KenPom and ESPN BPI after 0-2 week

The Wisconsin Badgers (8-2, 0-1 Big Ten) saw their red-hot momentum come to a screeching halt last week.

The team entered at 8-0 and ranked No. 11 in the nation. It then dropped two critical games — 67-64 at home vs. Michigan and 88-74 on the road at No. 5 Marquette.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Dec. 9): Wisconsin slides, Michigan surges

The two losses dampen the team’s sky-high expectations. They begin to expose possible weaknesses, including inconsistent defense and struggles in the interior.

Notably, the two results also dropped the team in both KenPom and BPI. The Badgers are down to No. 37 in KenPom (No. 19 offense, No. 88 defense) and No. 36 in BPI. Those slots are good for No. 10 and No. 9 in the Big Ten, respectively.

Greg Gard’s team now faces a critical upcoming week with games at No. 19 Illinois and against Butler (neutral site). Those two contests can do one of two things — either wins will reverse the team’s course and reestablish it as one of the Big Ten’s best, or losses will continue the slide from the top of the rankings.

That Illinois game is set for Tuesday night at 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT available exclusively on Peacock.

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