RECAP: John Blackwell erupts for 30 points, Badgers squeeze by UT Rio Grande Valley
Wisconsin basketball squeezed by UT Rio Grande Valley 87-84 to pick up its fifth victory of the 2024-25 season on Monday.
Sophomore guard John Blackwell was the story of the night. The Michigan native exploded for a career-best 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. 20 of those points arrived in the second half of UW’s tight win, including 14 during the team’s game-altering 14-5 scoring surge midway through the final frame.
For the fifth consecutive game, Wisconsin was able to outlast its opponent from the free-throw line and three-point land. The Badgers cashed in on 27 of 32 attempts from the charity stripe and eight of 20 looks from outside. In a game that came down to the wire, UW’s aggressiveness, ability to draw fouls and capacity to capitalize on those opportunities proved to be the difference.
Tonje, UW’s superstar scorer at this juncture, dropped 19 points off a 3-of-5 clip from deep and a perfect 10-for-10 mark from the free throw line. Max Klesmit accounted for 11 points, and transfer forward Xavier Amos registered nine points of the bench in 13 minutes of action.
After trailing by as many as seven early in the second half, Greg Gard leaned on his perimeter players to secure the win. Centers Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter saw 33 combined minutes in the effort.
In fact, 36 of Wisconsin’s 39 second half points came from Tonje, Blackwell, and Klesmit. In games that call for more offensive dexterity, UW has discovered a trio that can work together to create from both the outside and at the free throw line.
Wisconsin improves to 5-0 on the young season with the home triumph. UT Rio Grande Valley, meanwhile, drops to 3-3. Wisconsin will play its next game on Nov. 22 against UCF in the Greenbier Tip-Off.
John Tonje named Big Ten Player of the Week after 41-point outburst vs. Arizona
After dropping 41 points in UW’s signature win over Arizona on Friday, Badger wing John Tonje earned Big Ten Player of the Week nods on Monday.
Tonje is the first Badger to receive the honor since Johnny Davis in 2022. In the win, the graduate student also became the fourth player in UW history to score at least 40 points.
In addition to his overall point total, the hyper-athletic wing notched a single-game program record from the free throw line with 21 makes and snared a team-high six rebounds.
On top of all that, Tonje’s offensive explosion propelled Wisconsin to No. 19 in the Associated Press’ latest top 25 poll.
Through four games of the 2024-25 season, Tonje has transformed into the clear-cut No. 1 option on a team many assumed would struggle on the offense end of the floor.
The top offseason acquisition is currently averaging 23.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, shooting nearly 95% from the free throw line, over 47% from deep and roughly 56% from the field.
Tonje and the Badgers are back in action against UT Rio Grande Valley at 7:00 p.m. CT on Nov. 18.
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.
The USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll is conducted weekly throughout the college basketball regular season. It polls a panel of head coaches from across the country, each coach submitting a full 1-25 ranking. 25 points are awarded for every first-place vote, 24 points for second-place votes and so on.
Wisconsin earned 75 total votes in the poll’s latest update. It is the Badgers’ first appearance in the top 25 of the 2024-25 season.
Kansas still leads the nation after a 4-0 start. It is followed by UConn at No. 2, Auburn at No. 3, Gonzaga at No. 4 and Iowa State at No. 5. Other Big Ten teams in the top 25 are Purdue at No. 6, Indiana at No. 18, and Illinois at No. 20.
Rutgers 56; Xavier 43; Ole Miss 39; BYU 28; Saint Mary’s 18; Pittsburgh 18; Texas 14; Michigan State 9; Mississippi State 5; Oregon 4; Nevada 4; Ohio State 3; Dayton 3; Wake Forest 2; VCU 2; UCF 2;
Wisconsin is back on the court on Monday night against UT-Rio Grande. The team will then travel for a set of weekend games at the Greenbrier Classic.
Greg Gard and the Badgers are looking to continue their dream start to the 2024-25 season. National recognition has quickly followed the team’s big win over the Wildcats.
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The result carries significant weight, but so does the Badgers’ form in the win. The team crossed the 100-point mark against a power conference opponent for the first time since 1993. It was an offensive display that would’ve seemed impossible for previous Wisconsin teams — even from those just a few years ago.
Everything about the win is a direct testament to the job done by Greg Gard leading the program forward amid changes to the sport’s landscape.
First, the Badgers attempted 27 3-pointers and 25 2-pointers, making 12 and 13, respectively. That new analytics-driven offensive approach has revolutionized the offense, a portion of the program that was in disarray as recently as two years ago. Gard’s hire of assistant Kirk Penney and willingness to evolve are at the heart of the change.
Next, Gard continues to score big by landing underrated players in the transfer portal. Last year, it was A.J. Storr and Max Klesmit. This year, John Tonje already looks like the steal of the offseason. His 41 points and program-record 21 free throws on 22 attempts powered Wisconsin’s win. Despite losing high-profile players Storr and Chucky Hepburn to the portal, Gard has given a blueprint of how traditionally-developmental programs can thrive in the current era.
Third, Wisconsin is still defined by its same identity, led by a culture of player development and buy-in. Max Klesmit and Kamari McGee embody that culture. McGee especially, who joined the Badgers after one year at UW-Green Bay without any playing time assurances. He’s taken substantial leaps each season and is now a key cog in the team’s rotation.
While it sounds cliche, that identity of development flies directly in the face of the modern age of the sport. But it has always defined Wisconsin basketball, and continues to do so.
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown during the second half of their game Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Unranked Wisconsin upset Arizona 103-88. Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Gard has done more to improve the program than just those three focuses listed. But when discussing why Wisconsin scored 103 points in a signature win over No. 9 Arizona, those three are driving reasons — a new-age offensive approach, effective transfer portal recruiting and the same culture of development.
In other words, Gard recognized where the program had fallen behind after it missed the 2023 NCAA Tournament (offense). He rebuilt the offense that offseason, leading to a top-25 unit in 2023-24. Early signs in 2024-25 point to even further improvement. He’s done it all while maintaining Wisconsin’s age-old identity.
The football program should take notice of the basketball program’s success.
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh took a big risk in shaking up the program by hiring up-and-coming coach Luke Fickell in 2022. That hire still makes sense, even with the benefit of hindsight. Fickell was among the hottest names in the profession, was succeeding at a Group of Five school and had extensive Big Ten ties. Gard’s success doesn’t make McIntosh’s hire of Fickell the wrong one.
It does, however, highlight the key differences between the programs.
Fickell’s subsequent hire of coordinator Phil Longo took Wisconsin away from its classic form and approach. The offense hasn’t taken a step forward since the hire. If anything, it’s regressed.
The same can arguably said for Mike Tressel’s defense.
The Badgers’ 42-10 loss at Iowa (329 rushing yards and 6.1 yards per carry allowed) in Week 10 was an unfortunate signal of what those changes have allowed — a further departure from the classic identity that built the program in the first place.
Wisconsin basketball made forward-thinking changes with its offensive plan. Those changes made the program an even more attractive destination for the exact type of players it needs — talented wing scorers. Tonje embodies that role. Importantly, these are players Wisconsin clearly has the ability to land; it has landed several in a row with Johnny Davis, Storr and now Tonje.
Most importantly, amid that plan to grow and evolve, the program’s identity didn’t change.
Wisconsin football attempted those same changes, designed to make the program an attractive destination for the nation’s top talent. The problem: Wisconsin doesn’t land that top talent. Longo’s offense likely will not reach its heights unless Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams, Travis Hunter, Drake Maye or Arch Manning walk through the door. That just isn’t a very realistic outcome.
Then in attempting those changes, the program appears to have sacrificed its age-old identity. Fans of the current football coaching staff or not, it’s hard to argue against that reality. Barry Alvarez himself didn’t argue it when given the chance on radio last week.
So whatever follows this offseason, coaching changes or not, Wisconsin football should take notes from the basketball program. Evolving doesn’t just mean changing, it means finding ways to grow on the same foundation upon which the house is built.
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The Badgers are 4-0 after the statement victory. The team, which had tempered expectations entering the year, appears to again be one of the Big Ten’s best.
Those season expectations should rise as the team flashes top form during nonconference play. It will be tested once the Big Ten schedule begins, especially with the inclusion of the conference’s new members.
Before that point, it’s worth documenting the team’s ascension in rating metrics and national rankings. KenPom and ESPN BPI are taking note of the Badgers’ stellar start to the season:
ESPN BPI: No. 23 overall (up six spots) — 14.2 rating, 20.6 – 9.4 projected record, 15.4% chance to win Big Ten Conference
Wisconsin is sure to enter the AP Poll Top 25 when it is updated to start the week. It should hold ranking with a home game against UT-Rio Grande on Monday before a weekend trip to the Greenbrier Tip-Off, which includes Pittsburgh, Central Florida and LSU.
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Wisconsin wing John Tonje continued his torrid start to the 2024-25 season on Friday night, leading the Badgers to a signature win over No. 9 Arizona.
With program legend Bo Ryan honored at halftime and the Badgers’ 2014 and 2015 Final Four teams in the building, the transfer wing came within a basket of breaking Frank Kaminsky’s single-game program scoring record (43 points).
Instead, he had to settle for the following stat line: 41 points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal on 8-of-14 shooting, 4-of-6 from three and 21-of-22 from the free throw line.
Those 21 free throws broke a program record, previously held by Nigel Hayes (17 made free throws on Jan. 26, 2016).
John Tonje just broke the record for most free throws in a game for the #Badgers. He's 18-for-19.
Tonje’s exceptional foul-line performance was part of Wisconsin shooting 87.2% (41-of-47) overall from the line, a decisive factor in the team’s signature victory. The Badgers entered the contest ranked No. 2 in the nation shooting 92.5% from the charity stripe. Tonje’s performance against the Wildcats embodies a critical combination of volume and efficiency, creating a margin that a top team in Arizona was unable to overcome.
Tonje’s performance continues to be among the biggest stories of Wisconsin’s season to date. He’s up to 94 total points over the four contests (23.5 points per game), seamlessly filling the scoring vacancy created by A.J. Storr’s offseason departure to Kansas.
The Badgers improve to 4-0 on the season with the statement victory. Most importantly, it appears that Greg Gard has found another big-time transfer addition.
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RECAP: John Tonje leads Wisconsin to signature win over No. 9 Arizona
This story was updated to change a photo.
Wisconsin basketball picked up a statement victory on Friday — a 103-88 triumph over the No. 9-ranked Arizona Wildcats.
Transfer wing John Tonje headlined the Badgers’ performance. He finished with 41 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 21-of-22 from the free-throw line. Those 41 points came within just two points of breaking Frank Kaminsky’s single-game program scoring record (43 points), while the 21 free throw makes did break the program’s previous record of 17 (Nigel Hayes, Jan. 26, 2016).
Wisconsin’s performance was again led by great three-point and free-throw shooting. Greg Gard’s team shot 48% from the floor, 44.4% from three (12-of-27) and 87.2% from the charity stripe (41-of-47). 103-point outings would have sounded impossible for previous iterations of the Badgers. Gard’s new-look, analytics-driven approach is leading to substantial results.
John Blackwell and Max Klesmit combined for 27 points in the victory, walk-on guard Jack Janicki played a big role with nine points off the bench, transfer forward Xavier Amos finished with eight points with two three-pointers made and Kamari McGee continued to excel in his role off the bench.
Every stat leads back to Tonje, who has given Wisconsin a dominant scoring presence that it desperately needed after A.J. Storr’s offseason departure. Tonje’s play and the Badgers’ big win should start to alter expectations moving forward.
Wisconsin improves to 4-0 on the young season with the statement victory. Arizona, meanwhile, drops to 2-1. The Badgers are sure to enter the AP Poll when it is updated next week.
Wisconsin returns to the court on Monday against UT-Rio Grande before a weekend road trip to the Greenbrier Classic.
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Wisconsin legend Bo Ryan immortalized in Kohl Center rafters
This story was updated to change a photo.
For the first time, a Wisconsin coach has been immortalized in the Kohl Center rafters.
That is program legend Bo Ryan, who was honored with a ceremony at halftime of the Badgers’ matchup against the No. 9-ranked Arizona Wildcats on Friday.
Ryan and the rest of Wisconsin’s 2014 and 2015 Final Four teams were honored as the 2024-25 team battled the Wildcats — a team that lost to Wisconsin during each of those Final Four runs. The occasion was the 10-year anniversary of the first run, as well as Ryan being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Ryan’s name now hangs in the rafters alongside program legends Frank Kaminsky, Michael Finley and Ab Nicholas.
The banner only includes his name and his coaching tenure — both assistant and head coach. An expansion to include career honors, records and awards would stretch far past the allotted length.
Nov 15, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Former Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan (sport coat front) is shown with his family while being honored at halftime of their game Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.Unranked Wisconsin upset Arizona 103-88. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Ryan’s Hall of Fame career includes a 394-157 overall record (364-130 at Wisconsin), three Big Ten tournament titles, four Big Ten regular season titles, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances in 14 seasons, four Big Ten Coach of the Year awards and, as highlighted, those two Final Four runs in 2014 and 2015.
He was the driving force behind the most successful run in Wisconsin basketball history.
Wisconsin now returns for the second half looking to repeat Ryan’s success against the Wildcats. The Badgers built a 55-44 halftime lead in what was a high-flying opening period.
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How former Wisconsin guard has fared through Nebraska’s first three games
Former Wisconsin Badgers guard Connor Essegian started his first career game with the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Wednesday night.
In more than 16 minutes of action, Essegian logged eight points in an 86-60 victory over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights. The former Badger nailed two of his seven 3-point field goal attempts and notched two rebounds.
Through three games of the 2024-25 season, Essegian is averaging 9.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game off nearly 36% shooting from beyond the arc. In his debut for the Cornhuskers, Essegian logged 13 points and four rebounds with three made looks from outside.
At 3-0, Nebraska is tied with Penn State, Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, Oregon, USC and Maryland atop the Big Ten.
Essegian transferred to Nebraska in April after two years in Madison. In 2023-24, he averaged 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game after falling in Greg Gard’s rotation.
His ceiling, however, is much higher. Essegian averaged 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game on 40% shooting and 36% from 3 during his freshman year in 2022-23.
Nebraska’s next game is Sunday against St. Mary’s (California).
