NFL
By: Melo Williams
After winning the 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off with an 81-75 win over Pittsburgh, the new AP rankings has the Wisconsin Badgers ranked No. 15 in the top 25, up four spots from No. 19.
The Badgers improved to 7-0 on the season, marking the team’s best start since opening the 2014-2015 season with 7 straight wins. That team reached the 2015 National Championship Game and was recently honored for its 10-year anniversary along with Hall of Fame Coach Bo Ryan banner being lifted to the rafters.
Head coach Greg Gard coached his 300th career game on Sunday, the fourth-most games of any coach in Wisconsin history improving his overall record to 193-107 (.64%), 72-22 (.76%) in regular season, non-conference games under Gard.
Wisconsin has won back-to-back regular-season non-conference tournament 3 times in the last 4 seasons. The Badgers also won the 2021 Maui Invitational and the 2023 Fort Myers Tip-Off.
Bucky has won 9 of its last 10 non-conference November games going 3-0 winning the 2021 Maui Invitational, 2-1 in the 2022 Battle 4 Atlantis, and 2-0 in the 2023 Fort Myers Tip-Off.
Since 2005, the Badgers are a combined 32-13 (.71%) in November tournament games.
Against Pitt, the Badgers erased a 14-point first half deficit, by scoring, Badgers DNA gritty relentless defense, and once again made free-throws.
After going 0-10 from the three in the first half and shooting 11-30 (36%) in the first half, Wisconsin shot 5-10 from the three point and 18-30 (60%) in the second half.
Wisconsin held Pittsburgh to 5-23 (21.7%) from three-point range, overall holding UCF and Pitt to 7-40 (17.5%) from long range.
The Badgers have now scored at least 79 points in each of the first 7 games, extending the longest such streak in school history. UW is averaging 86.9 ppg on the season. The school single-season scoring record is 86.3 ppg set in 1970-71.
Back-to-Back Big Ten Player of the Week, Badgers John Tonje earned 2024 Greenbrier Tournament MVP honors scoring 33 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in the championship game, while averaging 24 ppg and 6.5 rpg in the two games.
Tonje is the only Big Ten player and 1 of 6 nationally to tally multiple 30-point games this season, and only the 8th Badger to post multiple 30-point games in a season since the 2005-06 season, scoring in double figures in all 7 games this season, ranking 3rd in scoring in the Big Ten averaging 21.3 ppg.
John Tonje went 10-10 from the free-throw line vs Pitt. Tonje is shooting 60-63 (95%) overall which leads the NCAA among players with more than 20 FTAs.
Wisconsin as at team went 18-22 (81%) from the free-throw line and is now shooting an NCAA-leading 147-170 (86%) from the charity stripe on the season, outscoring its first 7 opponents 147-93 having made 147 more free-throws than their opponents have attempted.
Sophomore John Blackwell was also named to the All-Tournament Team finishing with 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals vs Pitt. In both games at the Greenbrier, Blackwell averaged 15.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg.
Blackwell has scored in double figures in 6 of 7 games this season and 20 times in his career. On the season, John Blackwell ranks 2nd in scoring on the Badgers averaging 16.0 ppg.
Senior Kamari McGee hit some clutch shots himself finishing with 10 points 2-3 3fg, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
With McGee’s 14 points scored Friday vs UCF, it marked McGhee’s first two back-to-back double-digit scoring games with the Badgers. On the season Kamari is 9-16 (56%) from 3-point range.
Sophomore Nolan Winter has been balling as of late. Greg Gard has said he wants to see more nasty from Winter, and Nolan has been delivering right on season.
Winter followed up his first career double-double on Friday with 11 points on Sunday vs Pitt, marking his first back-to-back scoring games in his career.
In the 2 games at the Greenbrier, Nolan averaged 12 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Winter has led the Badgers in rebounding in multiple games this year.
Nolan’s teammates have spoken highly about his potential and the dynamic player that he is with his length and being a 3-level scorer with bounce.
On the season, Winter is shooting a team high 65%, 25-38 from the field.
Big man Steven Crowl pulled down a season-high 9 rebounds along with 6 points and 3 assists. Crowl has had 3 or more assists in 5 of 7 games this season. Crowl passing ability make him an assest in the Badgers now uptempo offense.
When Crowl doesn’t have it going he can make plays out of the post or from around the arc where he can also knock down the 3-point shot. Crowl has assisted on many of the give-and-go passes between him and high scoring John Tonje.
Max Klesmit has continued to impact the game besides scoring, though he has been clutch for the Badgers in scoring. Klesmit defense has been huge for No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers during their 7-0 start to the season.
Next up for the Badgers is a home matchup at the Kohl Center hosting, Chicago State, Saturday November 30, 2024 at 12 PM CST.
TV: Peacock
Radio: Badger Radio Network
