Tag: Wisconsin basketball

Wisconsin basketball vs. Arizona: Full matchup preview for Friday’s game

Wisconsin basketball vs. Arizona: Full matchup preview for Friday’s game

Wisconsin basketball (3-0) returns to the hardwood for its fourth game of the 2024-25 slate on Friday night for a matchup against the Arizona Wildcats (2-0).

The Badgers enter the contest after a 87-56 win over Appalachian State last Sunday. The performance was easily UW’s most impressive of the season — the Badgers rattled off a 23-0 scoring surge in the first half to virtually seal the triumph at the Kohl Center.

Arizona, meanwhile, is 2-0 to start the year with an average margin of victory of 43.5 points per game. Its most recent win arrived in a 58-point triumph over Old Dominion on Nov. 9.

Led by guard Caleb Love, Arizona rosters seven players who score at least nine points per game. The Wildcats hold the No. 9 ranking in the nation and have become one of the top programs across the entire sport.

Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. CT on Peacock. Before that point, here is a full preview of how the Badgers and Wildcats match up:

Statistical Preview

KenPom Rating:

  • Wisconsin: No. 39 overall (No. 34 offense, No. 63 defense)
  • Arizona: No. 7 (No. 11 offense, No. 12 defense)

ESPN BPI

  • Wisconsin: No. 27 overall (13.2) — No. 5 in the Big Ten
  • Arizona: No. 4 overall (19.4) — No. 2 in the Big 12

2024-25 Averages:

  • Wisconsin: 83.7 points per game (47% shooting, 37 % from three), 61.3 points allowed per game (42% shooting allowed, 38% from three)
  • Arizona: 97.5 points per game (50% shooting, 32% from three), 54 points allowed per game (37% shooting allowed, 29% from three)

ESPN Matchup Predictor:

  • Arizona 62.1% chance to win, Wisconsin 37.9%

Wisconsin Key Players

  • G John Blackwell (12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1 steal on 39% shooting)
  • G Max Klesmit (16 points, 1.0 rebound, 2.0 assists, 3.0 steals on 43% shooting)
  • Wing John Tonje (17.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists on 55% shooting)
  • C Steven Crowl (10 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists on 48% shooting)
  • F Nolan Winter (10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1 assist on 70% shooting)

Arizona Key Players

  • G Caleb Love (13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds on 46% shooting)
  • F Tobe Awaka (11.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks on 69% shooting)
  • G Jaden Bradley (11.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 50% shooting)
  • G KJ Lewis (11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks on 56% shooting)
  • F Carter Bryant (9 points, 2.5 rebounds, on 58% shooting)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

Prediction, betting odds

Spread: Arizona favored by 4 1/2

Moneyline: Arizona minus-115, Wisconsin plus-105

Over/Under: 152 1/2

All College Basketball Odds via BetMGM.

Wisconsin has played extremely well in all three second halves of their first three games of the 2024-25 season. Backed by 17.7 points per contest from transfer wing John Tonje, the Badgers have put together an extremely efficient season from all three levels of the hardwood. UW also opened its season with two 7-footers down low in Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter, a potentially lethal threat against smaller lineups.

Unfortunately for UW, Arizona accounts for 51 rebounds per game and leans on a well-rounded attack from nearly every player in its rotation. In fact, seven players muster at least nine points per appearance.

Prediction: Arizona 92, Wisconsin 78

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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 transfer guard fouls out of Kansas’ win over Michigan State

Wisconsin transfer guard fouls out of Kansas’ win over Michigan State

Wisconsin transfer guard A.J. Storr was mostly a nonfactor in Kansas’ 77-69 win over Michigan State on Tuesday.

The former Badger fouled out in just 12 minutes of action. He finished with six points on 2-of-5 shooting and 1-of-3 from 3-point range. He added two rebounds and a turnover.

Kansas’ statement win was led again by center Hunter Dickinson. The former Michigan Wolverine finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and three steals on 13-of-21 shooting. His strong defensive play also helped the Jayhawks hold the Spartans to just 34.8% shooting.

Storr and the Jayhawks are 3-0 on the young season and still ranked No. 1. The former Badger has season totals of 24 points, six rebounds and five assists over those three games.

Storr’s decision to transfer to Kansas was one of the more notable moments from a busy Wisconsin offseason. Storr and star guard Chucky Hepburn departed via the portal, leaving the Badgers to replace 26 points, 7.2 game and 4.8 assists-per-game of production. That doesn’t even count Tyler Wahl, who the Badgers lost to graduation.

Despite the turnover, Wisconsin boasts a 3-0 mark to begin the 2024-25 campaign. Missouri transfer guard John Tonje has played a big role in the early wins, averaging 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds on 55% shooting.

Storr’s performance on the No. 1 Jayhawks will continue to be worth monitoring, especially if Tonje continues to excel in a primary role with the Badgers.

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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 basketball rockets up both KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Appalachian State

Wisconsin basketball rockets up both KenPom and ESPN BPI after win over Appalachian State

Wisconsin basketball improved to 3-0 on the 2024-25 season with a blowout win over Appalachian State on Sunday.

The win was powered by transfer wing John Tonje, a common sentence in the season’s early stages. He finished with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, plus seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Senior center Steven Crowl also had his best outing of the young season, adding 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting.

Related: Big Ten basketball power rankings after first week of 2024-25 season: Wisconsin’s downfall was greatly exaggerated

Wisconsin is off to a strong start. Though the opponents are far from the class of the sport, the Badgers are taking clear steps forward with every contest. That improvement, mixed with decisive winning, should be enough to create optimism surrounding the team’s rest-of-season outlook.

For more on that outlook, here is where Greg Gard’s group stands in KenPom and ESPN’s Basketball Power Index after the win over Appalachian State:

  • KenPom: No. 40 overall (up nine spots) — No. 37 offense, No. 55 defense
  • ESPN BPI: No. 29 overall (up 10 spots) — 13.1 rating, 18.8 – 11.2 projected record, 6.7% chance to win Big Ten Conference

Those trend lines are just from the decisive victory over Appalachian State. The movement has the team now ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten by BPI and No. 10 by KenPom.

The latter may be a bit more reserved on the Badgers’ quality after only three games. Regardless, it’s worthwhile noting that our updated Big Ten basketball power rankings aren’t the only measure that is upgrading Wisconsin after the first week of the season.

The Badgers are back on the Kohl Center court for a premier matchup against No. 10 Arizona on Friday. A win would only continue the team’s current upward trajectory.

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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 transfer quiet in Louisville’s blowout loss to No. 12 Tennessee

Former Wisconsin transfer quiet in Louisville’s blowout loss to No. 12 Tennessee

Former Wisconsin star Chucky Hepburn was mostly quiet during Louisville’s 77-55 loss to No. 12 Tennessee on Saturday.

The longtime Badger finished the contest with eight points on 2-of-7 shooting, in addition to four assists, four rebounds, six steals and four turnovers. Those numbers led a starting lineup that somehow finished the game with a combined 16 points on 5-of-23 shooting.

Related: Where Wisconsin basketball stands in latest odds to win 2024-25 Big Ten regular season title

Hepburn was candid after the blowout loss, saying: “That’s not who I am. … This is my last game turning the ball over that much.”

For contest, those four turnovers are his most in a game since Wisconsin’s loss to North Texas in the NIT semifinal to close the 2022-23 season.

The former Badger has 16 combined points on 3-of-10 shooting, plus five rebounds, eight assists, six steals and five turnovers through his first two games with Louisville. The Cardinals are 1-1, highlighted by Saturday’s sizable loss to Tennessee.

Louisville Cardinals guard Chucky Hepburn (24) pressures the dribble of Tennessee Volunteers guard Jordan Gainey (11) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 9. Tennessee defeated Louisville 77-55. Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Hepburn transferred to Louisville this offseason after three decorated years as Wisconsin’s starting point guard. He played in 103 games in his time with the Badgers, and averaged 32.1 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.6 steals on 42% shooting and 36% from 3.

While Wisconsin never achieved much postseason success during Hepburn’s tenure, he was arguably the face of the program during that time. His career was highlighted by guiding the 2021-22 team to a Big Ten regular season title as a freshman.

The performances of both Hepburn and AJ Storr (Kansas) are worth watching as the 2024-25 college basketball season unfolds. Wisconsin transfer addition John Tonje has made a strong first impression through two games. His continued emergence could lessen the impact of the Badgers losing those two stars after last season.

Hepburn and the Cardinals are back on the court on Nov. 19 against Bellarmine.

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