NFL
By: Melo Williams
Following a 94-84 win over #7 Purdue, #16 Wisconsin improved to 20-5 on the season and 10-4 in the Big Ten, winning 12 of its last 14 games, including 10 of its last 12 Big Ten games.
In defeating #7 Purdue, Wisconsin tallied its 2nd top-10 win of the season. The first win was against #9 Arizona on November 15, 2024.
Saturday marked Wisconsin’s first top-10 road win since a 74-69 win at #3 Purdue in 2022.
The Badgers reached 10 wins in conference play for the 21st time in the last 24 seasons, more than any other Big Ten school, also reached the 20-win milestone for the 24th time in school history and the 20th time in the last 23 seasons, including 7 times under head Coach Greg Gard.
The first half of the game the Badgers got into foul trouble early. John Blackwell and Steven Crowl had to sit a lot in the first half due to foul trouble.
Kamari McGee was ejected with 6:20 remaining in the first half after a controversial Flagrant-2 foul call.
With depth being one of Wisconsin’s valuable assests, Greg Gard was able to turn to Jack Janicki who provided everything the Badgers needed with his scoring, defense, and ability to run the point guard position in replacement of McGee and Blackwell.
“It wasn’t odd to me, but it was something to be thrown into that. But I feel completely comfortable running the offense just because I know I have guys I can turn to” Janicki said.
“I think I did some decent things at the 1, but I still think I can get a lot better. But it was just nice to roll with the punches and be able to stay on top while I was out there.”
Head coach Greg Gard on Jack Janicki
“Boy, as a freshman, he comes in and, his first time ever here and on the court,” Gard said.
“I thought he he responded in a way and had production and impact on the game. What we’ve seen him do in practice, it just hasn’t come out because he hasn’t been in that situation.”
Wisconsin opened up the second half going on a 11-0 run over 2:14 and a 13-2 run over 2:56.
Wisconsin dribble drive gave Purdue defense fits while the Badgers ball distribution was huge always making the extra pass and the right pass against a shifting Purdue defense finishing with 18 assists as a team, led by Max Klesmit with a team high 6 assists.
The Badgers shot 61.5% from the field, the highest ever by a visiting team at Mackey Arena since 2004-05 and its best mark in a road game since 1993-94.
Wisconsin went 20-22 (90%) from 2-point range.
UW shot 12-30 from 3-point, the 15th time this season hitting double-digit triples posting a 12-3 record in those games, extending the single-season school record.
The Badgers scored on its final 12 possessions of the game, shooting 72% in the second half.
Wisconsin shot 18-24 (75%) from the free throw line with a 6-0 record when shooting at least 24 free throws this season.
“That’s a process of the wearing and the constant push we come with that eventually some crack will start to open up,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said about his teams’ execution.
“And then you’ve got to get there and make plays or finish or get fouled.”
John Tonje finished with 32 points (10-15 FG, 4-9 3FG, 8-9 FT) along with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block.
Tonje is the nations’s only player to post multiple 30-point games vs top-10 opponents this season, scoring in double figures in 24 of 26 games.
If John Tonje can maintain his 19 points per game average, he’ll become the 5th Badger to average at least 19 points per game in the last 35 years joining Michael Finley, Devin Harris, Alando Tucker, and Johnny Davis.
Tonje ranks 8th in Wisconsin’s single-season made free throws with 152.
Max Klesmit tallied 17 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists matching his season-high.
Klesmit has scored in double figures in 3 of the last 4 games averaging 12.5 points per game in that 4 game stretch.
Nolan Winter scored 12 points and 5 rebounds. Winter has scored in double figures 13 times this season and the Badgers post a 12-1 record in such games.
John Blackwell scored 11 points (all in the second half) adding 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Jack Janicki finished with a career-high 11 points going (4-6 FG, 3-4 3FG), 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 block in 17 minutes off the bench.
Next up for Wisconsin is a matchup against Illinois Tuesday February 18, 2025 at the Kohl Center.
