Tag: Wisconsin basketball

Where Wisconsin basketball lands in first installation of NCAA NET rankings

Where Wisconsin basketball lands in first installation of NCAA NET rankings

Wisconsin basketball checked in at No. 17 in the first installation of the NCAA men’s basketball NET rankings on Monday.

Unlike ESPN BPI and KenPom, the NET ranking is a list that evaluates a program’s performance primarily based on the strength of its resume.

A significant aspect of the NET rankings is a team’s record in each quadrant. The NET features four quadrants formed based on game location and the opponent’s ranking, per the NCAA.

Here’s how those quadrants shake out:

  • Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75
  • Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135
  • Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240
  • Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353

For instance, if the Badgers defeated Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse and the Jayhawks held a 25 NET ranking, UW would receive a Quadrant 1 victory. If Greg Gard’s group dropped a game to Minnesota at the Kohl Center and the Golden Gophers boasted a NET of 80, it would be considered a Quadrant 3 loss.

Through eight games, the Badgers have collected one Quadrant 1 win over Pittsburgh in the Greenbrier Tip-Off and a pair of Quadrant 2 wins over UCF and Arizona.

Only Illinois (No. 10), Ohio State (No. 12), Oregon (No. 15) and UCLA (No. 16) are ranked ahead of Wisconsin in this season’s opening version of the ranking.

Wisconsin is off to an 8-0 start for the first time since 2013-14. Greg Gard’s crew is captained by star wing John Tonje, a former Missouri Tiger playmaker who averages nearly 23 points per appearance off 52.7% from the floor, 42.1% from three-point range and 94.5% from the charity stripe.

UW will be back on the hardwood for its first Big Ten match against the Michigan Wolverines on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the Kohl Center.

Wisconsin basketball finds steady position in KenPom, ESPN BPI after win over Chicago State

Wisconsin basketball finds steady position in KenPom, ESPN BPI after win over Chicago State

Wisconsin basketball improved to 8-0 on the 2024-25 season with a decisive 74-53 win over Chicago State on Saturday.

The Badgers didn’t have much trouble vanquishing the winless Cougars squad (No. 360 in KenPom). Greg Gard’s team led by seven at the half-time break before building a 13-point lead at the 15:00-minute mark of the second half. It then extended the lead to 21 points with 10 minutes remaining, sealing the victory.

Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s win over Chicago State, 8-0 start

The Badgers are 8-0 for the first time since 2013-14. Their record includes some strong wins: 103-88 over Arizona (No. 30 in KenPom) and 81-75 over Pittsburgh (No. 13).

As more results are added, rating metrics are developing a consensus about where the team stands.

Wisconsin is now No. 29 in KenPom (No. 19 offense, No. 67 defense) and No. 31 in ESPN BPI after the Chicago State win. Those marks are both good for seventh in the expanded Big Ten Conference.

The Badgers were No. 15 in the AP Poll entering the week. That ranking is sure to rise when the updated poll is released, as numerous highly-ranked teams fell during a busy Feast Week.

Wisconsin may need further decisive efforts in upcoming games against Michigan (Dec. 3) and No. 10 Marquette (Dec. 7) to rise further in KenPom and BPI. For now, the only thing that matters are the tallies in the win-loss columns. Wisconsin is off to a perfect start to the season in that regard.

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What Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after Badgers win over Chicago State

What Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after Badgers win over Chicago State

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard addressed the media following the Badgers’ 74-53 win over Chicago State on Saturday.

For the first time since Wisconsin reached the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2014, the team is 8-0. To achieve that on Sunday, the Badgers orchestrated a 21-5 scoring burst to break the game open in the second half against a winless Chicago State squad.

Wisconsin looked much more poised in the closing frame. In the second half, the Badgers worked through the post, nailed open looks and shared the basketball. It’s safe to say Gard was pleased with the performance.

“Simple post touches got us to the free throw line, and simple post touches got us wide-open threes,” Gard said after the game. “I thought we shared the ball really well to get 17 assists on 23 baskets. Defensively, we were solid. When the ball is not going in, you have to continue to find ways to have success.”

Wisconsin also received 19 bench points from Xavier Amos, Riccardo Greppi, Jack Janicki, Markus Ilver and Carter Gilmore. Even though the second-unit guys don’t often receive the headlines from media or attention from Badger faithful, Gard honored those contributions following the win.

“The other thing that jumped out is the guys that got minutes off the bench, even if it was the small amount that Camren Hunter [or] Riccardo Greppi got,” Gard said. “I thought they made the most of it… I always remind guys that no matter if you’re getting 20 seconds or 39 minutes, make the most of it because they all add up.”

Another bright spot for Wisconsin was big man Steven Crowl. The senior assisted or scored on UW’s first seven points in the win and finished with nine points, seven rebonds and five assists in the effort.

“His ability to pass, he’s a very willing and sometimes too unselfish of a passer,” Gard said. “At seven feet, he’s such a great weapon. You’re inverting your offensive. You just throw it in and play off that. Guys are getting more comfortable on when to cut, where to cut to. He does a really good job of finding people whether it’s backside or if they don’t cover a cut at the rim, he finds them.”

UW will return to the hardwood for its first Big Ten game against the Michigan Wolverines on Dec. 3 with hopes of remaining undefeated before the I-94 rivalry game vs. No. 10 Marquette on Dec. 7.

RECAP: Wisconsin rolls past Chicago State to notch eighth win of 2024-25 season

RECAP: Wisconsin rolls past Chicago State to notch eighth win of 2024-25 season

Wisconsin basketball rolled past Chicago State 74-53 on Saturday to pick up its eighth victory of the 2024-25 season. As many predicted, it was all Badgers from start to finish.

UW wing John Tonje again captained Wisconsin’s offensive attack with 22 points off 5-of-12 from the field, 3-of-6 from deep and 9-of-10 from the free throw line in 29 minutes of action. The North Omaha, Nebraska native also added five rebounds and three assists in the 21-point blowout win.

Veteran center Steven Crowl logged nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 28 minutes, and sophomore center Nolan Winter added 12 points and six rebounds in 21 minutes as well.

Fresh off their Greenbrier Tip-Off win on Nov. 24, the Badgers set the tone early. UW built a 12-2 lead within the first five minutes of action courtesy of eight points from Tonje and a pair of layups from big men Crowl and Winter.

Wisconsin maintained a relatively comfortable lead from that point forward. Fueled by 10 points from Winter, the Badgers piloted a 21-5 scoring spurt to stretch their lead to 53-32 by the 10:14-minute mark of the second half.

Greg Gard’s bench essentially put a bow on the second half scoring, and Wisconsin claimed its eighth straight win of the 2024-25 slate in dominant fashion.

It wasn’t necessarily pretty, but Wisconsin did exactly what it needed to do to snag the victory. As a unit, the Badgers shot an underwhelming 39% from the field and 33.3% from outside. The team shared the wealth with 17 assists, plus scored 19 points off Chicago State turnovers. The Badgers leaned on Winter and Crowl’s size against Cougars — UW out-rebounded Chicago State by eight in the effort.

With the win, Wisconsin starts the season 8-0 for the first time since 2013-14.

The Badgers will now look to keep its undefeated start to the season alive when it hosts the Michigan Wolverines on Dec. 3.

Former Badgers star after career night: I’m ‘one of the best point guards in the country’

Former Wisconsin star has career performance in Louisville overtime win over West Virginia

Former Wisconsin star guard Chucky Hepburn had arguably the best outing of his college basketball career on Thursday.

In Louisville’s 79-70 overtime win over West Virginia, the former Badger produced 32 points, three rebounds, two assists and six steals on 8-of-12 shooting and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Nov. 25): Wisconsin continues to rise

Those 32 points are a career high for the veteran point guard. His previous top output was a 27-point outing in Wisconsin’s NIT second-round win over Liberty on March 19, 2023.

“It’s senior year. I think I lay in the back seat for a long time,” Hepburn told ESPN after the win. “It’s time to show the world who Chucky Hepburn is. I’m a bucket-getter, one of the best point guards in the country, and I stand by that.”

Hepburn’s per-game averages are up to 15 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 4.2 steals and 29 minutes per game of action. That 4.2 steal-per-game clip is currently No. 1 in the entire country — nobody else averages more than four.

The win over West Virginia improved the Cardinals to 5-1 on the season and clinched their ticket to the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. They will face the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday evening.

The contest also reinserted Hepburn into the national conversation. After operating as Wisconsin’s secondary option behind Johnny Davis, A.J. Storr and forward Tyler Wahl, Hepburn is leading a Louisville team that appears in line for a resurgent campaign.

Hepburn’s decision to transfer from Wisconsin was headline news in March. His stellar play at Louisville and spot as the nation’s-best defender continues to make headlines.

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Former Wisconsin transfer guard goes off for career high in Nebraska blowout win

Former Wisconsin transfer guard goes off for career high in Nebraska blowout win

Former Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian had a career outing in Nebraska‘s 96-79 win over South Dakota on Wednesday.

The former Badger transfer went off for 29 points, five assists and two rebounds on 10-of-22 shooting and 6-of-15 from 3. The 29 points best his previous career high of 24 points during Wisconsin’s overtime loss to Michigan on Feb. 26, 2023.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Nov. 25): Wisconsin continues to rise

The game marked a further increase in minutes and usage for the junior guard. His 33 minutes off the bench were the most of any game this season, and the most for any Nebraska player in the win — even starters.

Essegian’s big outing pushes his season averages to 21.5 minutes per game, 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 44.4% shooting and 37.8% from three.

Essegian is one of many former Badgers having strong seasons elsewhere. A.J. Storr and Chucky Hepburn are having big impacts at Kansas and Louisville, respectively.

Of all of Wisconsin’s offseason departures, Essegian’s made the most sense. His playing time plummeted from his freshman to sophomore season at Wisconsin, dropping from 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game to 7.3 and 3.2, respectively. He has found a sizable role for a strong Nebraska group. His playing time and usage is back to the level from that breakout freshman campaign.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is off to a program-best 8-0 start. Greg Gard boasts a deep backcourt rotation of Max Klesmit, John Tonje, John Blackwell, Kamari McGee and Jack Janicki. It has not even incorporated top freshman Daniel Freitag and transfer Camren Hunter.

Essegian would likely still have been lost in a crowded rotation with the Badgers. His playing time and production with the Cornhuskers ensures all parties are finding success in this case — an uncommon reality in today’s age of player movement.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

How former Wisconsin transfer fared in No. 1 Kansas’ big win over Duke

How former Wisconsin transfer fared in No. 1 Kansas’ big win over Duke

Former Wisconsin Badgers transfer A.J. Storr played an integral role in No. 1 Kansas’ 75-72 win over No. 11 Duke on Tuesday night.

The former Badger notched 11 points in 28 minutes in his first start with the Jayhawks. Storr also registered a pair of assists and a steal in the three-point win.

Storr’s most memorable moment in the blue-blood bout came within the first five minutes of the opening half. The Rockford, Illinois, native cut backdoor from the right corner, fielded an alley-oop pass from point guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and threw down a thunderous dunk with Duke stars Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg converging at the rim.

Storr scored eight of 11 points in the first half to help Bill Self’s team build a double-digit advantage. The Blue Devils rallied to take the lead in the second half, but Kansas prevailed to remain undefeated.

Individually, Storr is averaging 9.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists to go with 50% shooting and 47% from 3-point range thus far through six games. He has logged at least 23 minutes in three appearances this year and appears to have discovered a clear role for one of the nation’s best teams.

Storr transferred to the Jayhawks this offseason after one year with UW in 2023. As a Badger, he chalked up averages of 28.8 minutes, 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.6 steals per game as Wisconsin’s go-to offensive weapon.

While his departure loomed large, Wisconsin found his replacement, star wing John Tonje. The back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Week has accounted for 23 points and over five rebounds per game off 54.3% from the field, 40.6% from deep and 95.2% from the free-throw line.

Wisconsin and Kansas are two of the undefeated teams remaining at the top of the AP Poll.

Wisconsin Badgers legend dominates in second USA Basketball appearance

Wisconsin Badgers legend dominates in second USA Basketball appearance

Wisconsin basketball legend Frank Kaminsky dominated in his second appearance with the 2024 USA Men’s AmeriCup qualifying team on Monday night.

In the second leg of his USA Basketball debut, Kaminsky once against started alongside David Stockton, Robert Covington, Paul Watson and Javonte Smart. The UW legend scored 14 points, grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds, dished a team-best four assists and tallied a game-high two blocks in more than 20 minutes of action against the Bahamas.

Kaminsky’s stellar performance helped the Americans secure a 97-74 win. The USA holds the top spot in Pool D of the qualifying window with teams eyeing the AmeriCup Tournament in 2025.

In his first taste of FIBA action on Friday, Kaminsky notched 10 points, three assists and two steals in over 15 minutes against Puerto Rico.

Kaminsky’s performance reminded onlookers of what he’s capable of. The big man can stretch the floor, defend down low and execute in the painted area with swift footwork.

His most recent taste of professional action was when he joined the Phoenix Suns training camp roster in late September. The Suns, however, waived Kaminsky on Oct. 12 ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Still, he has proved his worth on several NBA teams. In eight NBA seasons, Kaminsky averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 43% shooting and 35% from 3. He most recently appeared in 26 games for the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets in 2022-23.

At Wisconsin, the 7-footer pocketed the 2015 National College Player of the Year award and was a consensus first-team All-American with the Badgers. As nearly every Badger hoop fanatic knows, he was UW’s go-to option on consecutive trips to the Final Four in 2014 and 2015.

John Tonje pockets second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week honor

John Tonje pockets second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week honor

Wisconsin Badgers wing John Tonje earned Big Ten Player of the Week nods for the second straight week on Monday. The veteran is the first Badger to boast that feat since Johnny Davis in 2022.

The honor arrives one day after Tonje native fueled UW during its 2-0 run at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in West Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

The transfer wing averaged 24 points and 6.5 rebounds en route to pocketing the event’s MVP honor. In the tournament’s finale, he dropped 33 points against Pittsburgh, 25 of which came in a tightly-contested second half.

Backed by his 23.0-point per game output, the Badgers are 7-0 for the first time since 2014-15 and boast the No. 15 position in the latest AP top 25 poll.

The former CSU Ram and Missouri Tiger is putting together arguably the best first few weeks of a season in program history. Through seven games, Tonje leads the nation in free throw percentage and ranks No. 9 in scoring. He’s also the first Division I player to score 33 or more points against two high-major opponents in November over the last 15 years, per UW Athletics.

In three wins last week, Tonje scored 67 total points on a 52.6% clip from the field and nearly 96% mark from the foul line.

He and the Badgers now return home for a Nov. 30 showdown against Chicago State before squaring off against Michigan on Dec. 3.

How Wisconsin transfer forward has fared at Seton Hall to start 2024-25 season

How Wisconsin Badgers transfer forward has fared at Seton Hall to start 2024-25 season

Wisconsin Badgers transfer forward Gus Yalden has logged action in seven games with the Seton Hall Pirates to start the 2024-25 season.

Yalden is averaging 2.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per appearance in just over 10 minutes of playing time per game. In his most recent outing against Florida Atlantic, Yalden scored two points and snared one rebound in nine  minutes of play. He is shooting 36.8% overall from the field (7-of-19) and 25% from the free-throw line (1-of-4).

The Appleton, Wisconsin, native scored a season-best six points and grabbed four rebounds in Seton Hall’s 57-56 loss to Fordham on Nov. 9.

At 4-3, Seton Hall is 10th in the Big East behind DePaul, Marquette, Xavier, Providence, UConn, Creighton, Butler, Georgetown and St. John’s. Only Villanova (3-4) has a worse record in the conference.

Yalden entered the portal on March 28 after redshirting in his only season in Madison. The former four-star recruit was considered the 17th best center in the country for his class, according to 247 Sports. However, he dealt with numerous off-the-court issues in 2023-24 and quickly fell out of favor with the coaching staff.

Yalden’s high school profile suggests he can contribute at a much higher capacity. In 2023, he was 247Sports’ No. 122 player in the class of 2023, No. 17 center and No. 4 recruit from the state of Indiana.

He will look to fulfill that promise with the Pirates. Seton Hall’s next game is Nov. 30 against Monmouth.