Category: Wisconsin badger

 

 

The season came to an end over the weekend for the Wisconsin men, but they have already started working towards the 2025-26 season.

 

The Badgers who eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by BYU in an instant-classic that saw them erase a double-digit lead before a potential game-tying shot came up short.

 

Plenty of minutes will be available for those set to return and those who come into the program in the fall, with some of them possibly being filled by Quinton Mincey.

 

Mincey, who has been in contact with the Badgers according to The Portal Report, is a fifth-year senior in 2025 who is seeking a hardship waiver for one more year. He spent the previous four at UMass Lowell.

 

This past season, the 6-foot-6 Mincey posted almost 17 points and six rebounds per game. He was an accurate shooter, knocking down 49 percent of his field goals and almost 40 percent from the 3-point line while playing nearly 36 minutes.

 

Wisconsin is set to lose All-American and leading scorer John Tonje along with Max Klesmit, Steven Crowl, Kamari McGee, Carter Gilmore and Markus Illver. John Blackwell, Xavier Amos and Nolan Winter will all be back to lead the way.

 

This article first appeared on Wisconsin Badgers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

 

 

 

Five teams that are on upset alert in the men’s Sweet 16

 

Jay Bilas Names SEC Powerhouse With ‘High’ Chance of Being Upset in…

After sensational victories over the No. 7 seed St. Mary’s Gaels and No. 3 seed Wisconsin Badgers, the stage is set for a blockbuster Sweet 16 matchup in the East Region between two electric teams.

 

Nate Oats and the No. 2 seed Alabama Crimson Tide will take on Kevin Young and the No. 6 seed BYU Cougars in what will be a battle between two of college basketball’s most prolific offenses. Both the Crimson Tide and Cougars have eclipsed the 80-point mark in each of their two tournament games thus far. For two squads that are uber efficient in just about every single category on the offensive end, this game promises to be a shootout.

 

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas has correctly predicted both Sweet 16 matchups of No. 1 Duke vs No. 4 Arizona and No. 6 BYU vs. No. 3 Alabama in his bracket. On top of making his predictions for the matchups, Bilas also weighed in on the potential prospect of the Crimson Tide being upset by the Cougars in the next round.

Here’s what he said about the Crimson Tide’s chances of being upset: “High. Alabama and BYU will have a track meet. Neither team leads with defense, but Alabama is better at limiting 3s, and Nate Oats hates tater tots. What a buzzkill.” Both teams are in the top 10 in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.

A large part of both teams’ offensive success has been the frenetic pace and exceptional flow they play with. The game will be played on Thursday night in Newark, New Jersey, with tip-off scheduled for 7:09 p.m. ET. For college basketball fans that enjoy offense, this clash between two high-octane offenses is a must-watch.

 

Evander Kane shocks at practice after discouraging report from GM Stan…

 

Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy drops massive update amid Aaron Rodgers rumors

The Minnesota Vikings let 2024 starting quarterback Sam Darnold leave the club as a free agent, and Minnesota hasn’t yet approached Aaron Rodgers about possibly serving as a bridge option at the position. Thus, many have assumed the Vikings are planning to name 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy their new QB1. According to McCarthy, he hasn’t yet been promised anything regarding the upcoming campaign by head coach Kevin O’Connell. ”

They haven’t told me,” McCarthy said during a Tuesday appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Up Adams” program about conversations he’s had with O’Connell and Co., as shared by Kevin Patra of the NFL’s website. “I’m happy they didn’t because I try to earn it every single day. I never want that to be given to me. It’s such a privilege and an opportunity to give me that chance. I’m just gonna make the most of it every single day.” The Vikings could’ve retained Darnold’s rights for 2025 via the franchise tag after he guided the club to a 14-3 record, but Minnesota instead allowed him to begin speaking with other teams when the legal tampering portion of free agency began on March 10.

He ultimately agreed to a three-year, $100.5M contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, some within the Vikings have “supported the idea of adding Rodgers” to the roster this spring because McCarthy is “a less-than-certain option” coming off the full meniscus repair that sidelined him for his entire rookie season.

On Tuesday, McCarthy insisted he’s feeling “fantastic” after he spent his rookie campaign learning as a sidelined spectator. “It was an ultimate blessing because, you know, it’s just such a time of stillness where you really get to reflect and introspect and find a routine,” McCarthy said about completing a redshirt pro season. “Especially early on in this career, in this profession, it’s huge for young guys to find that habitual routine that they can rely on and stay consistent with.

So, I would say that was the biggest thing for me.” It was previously reported that it’s a “safe bet” Rodgers will eventually sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but McCarthy’s update suggests the Vikings could give the future Hall of Famer a call depending on how the 22-year-old performs during springtime workouts. As long as Rodgers remains unsigned, some outsiders will continue to believe he’s an option for the Vikings amid McCarthy’s ongoing injury recovery.

 

Canadiens Receive Multiple Pieces of Bad News in Heated Playoff Chase

 

New York Rangers Add Recent Stanley Cup Champion to Their Team…

The New York Rangers made a big roster move today, calling up Nicolas Aubé-Kubel from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. The Rangers have been one of the more active teams in the NHL this season, making a plethora of moves in an effort to save their season. It began with the team re-acquiring JT Miller from the Canucks in a blockbuster trade, but the deals were far from over.

At the trade deadline, the organization made several more moves, including another deal with the Canucks that brought in defenseman Carson Soucy. One under-the-radar move was a deal the team made with the Buffalo Sabres that saw forward Nicolas Aubé-Kubel join the team. Aubé-Kubel has split time between the NHL and AHL this season, appearing in 19 games for the Sabres and putting up 2 points.

He has 9 points in 15 games at the AHL level split between the Hartford Wolf Pack and Rochester Americans. Today, the club announced that he has been called up to the NHL and will join the Rangers on their west-coast road trip through California The trip begins tomorrow night when they visit the LA Kings at 10:30PM EST. They will then play the Ducks and Sharks back-to-back on Friday and Saturday.

This could be a make-or-break trip for the Rangers as they currently sit just one point back of the Montreal Canadiens for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With eleven games left on their schedule, anything could happen with the race so close. The Islanders are also right on their tail with 73 points to the Rangers’ 74 and the Blue Jackets remain hopeful as well with 71 points and two games in hand on the Rangers.

 

 

A collection of photos from Wisconsin men’s basketball’s NCAA Tournament opener against Montana in Denver.

 

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana guard Joe Pridgen passes the ball as Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter defends during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter pulls in a rebound over Montana guard Joe Pridgen during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana forward Te’Jon Sawyer looks to pass the ball as Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter defends during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter collides with Montana forward Te’Jon Sawyer while shooting during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee looks to pass the ball as Montana forward Jensen Bradtke, left, and guard Kai Johnson defend during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee drives to the basket ahead of Montana forward Jensen Bradtke, left, and guard Malik Moore during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Monte, the University of Montana mascot, kisses the standard Thursday before the team faces Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana coach Travis DeCuire directs his team against Wisconsin during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin guard John Blackwell drives the lane as Montana guard Malik Moore defends during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana forward Te’Jon Sawyer drives to the basket as Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl defends during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl posts up against Montana guard Joe Pridgen during the first half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard looks on during the first half against Montana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana guard Kai Johnson drives past Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana guard Joe Pridgen goes up for a basket as Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee and forward Carter Gilmore, right, defend during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore lands on Montana forward Amari Jedkins during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Xavier Amos pulls in a rebound over Montana guard Joe Pridgen and Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana guard Brandon Whitney drives past Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski,

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Montana guard Money Williams collects a loose ball as Wisconsin guard John Blackwell pursues during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore looks to pass the ball as Montana guard Money Williams defends during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore reacts after hitting a 3-point basket against Montana during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Steven Crowl looks to pass the ball as Montana forward Te’Jon Sawyer defends during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin coach Greg Gard directs his team against Montana during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. David Zalubowski, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin guard John Tonje passes the ball as Montana guard Money Williams defends during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba, Associated Press

NCAA Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin guard John Blackwell collects the ball as Montana guard Kai Johnson defends during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba, Associated Press

Montana Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter loses control of the ball while driving between Montana guards Malik Moore and Joe Pridgen during the second half of Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament in Denver. John Leyba, Associated Press

 

 

The Wisconsin Badgers saw their season end heartbreakingly as a late second-half comeback fell short against the BYU Cougars 91-89. The Cougars never trailed in this game and responded repeatedly when the Badgers went on scoring runs to cut the lead to single digits.

 

Despite having a height advantage against the BYU frontcourt, Wisconsin was outrebounded 41-31 and gave up 13 offensive rebounds in the loss. In addition, the Badgers surrendered 38 points in the paint against the attacking Cougar offense.

 

I had a hard time reflecting on the season after John Tonje’s final shot fell well short at the end of the game. This was a successful winning season for Greg Gard and the Badgers, and perhaps Gard’s best coaching job as the head coach at Wisconsin. Despite what some rabid Badger fans think, he should not be on the hot seat next season.

 

However, we cannot ignore the Badgers’ failures under Gard to get the second weekend since the 2016-17 team led by Bo Ryan recruits Bronson Koenig, Ethan Happ, Nigel Hayes, and Zak Showalter. That is unacceptable for Wisconsin basketball.

 

Here are three standouts from the Wisconsin-BYU game:

 

John Tonje

The end result was not what he wanted, but what a final game for the greatest Wisconsin basketball transfer of the modern era. Carrying his team on his back in the second half, Tonje finished with 37 points, a Wisconsin program record in the NCAA Tournament.

 

After arriving at Madison, Tonje put together one of the greatest individual seasons in program history. The second-team All-American averaged 19.6 PPG, including tremendous performances against ninth-ranked Arizona (41 points), seventh-ranked Purdue (32 points), and Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament (32 points). Not bad for a little-known transfer guard from Colorado State and Missouri.

 

John Blackwell

Blackwell was the Badgers’ second-leading scorer with 21 points, albeit on six-of-14 shots from the floor. It was another solid game for the honorable mention All-Big Ten guard.

 

Before the start of the season, Greg Gard noticed something different about Blackwell. The sophomore guard was more comfortable with the ball, and that comfortability accompanied a much more focused mindset, similar to that of former All-American Johnny Davis.

 

While he did not have a season like Davis, Blackwell made a noticeable sophomore leap in his second season, finishing with 15.8 points per game. His post on X should quell any concerns that he might enter the transfer portal after the season.

 

Richie Saunders

One of the keys for Wisconsin to win was to stop Saunders from getting into any groove. That did not happen. Saunders, BYU’s leading scorer, finished with 25 points on nine-of-16 shots from the floor, including 13 points in the second half. Saunders only had four free throws this game, but they came at two critical times. The BYU star converted two free throws after a Wisconsin technical foul, including a layup on the following possession, and Saunders’ final free throws of the game proved to be the difference.

 

The Badgers head coach has assumed a different role in the NIL era.

 

 

The Wisconsin Badgers have had one of their best seasons in recent memory, totaling 26 wins before the NCAA Tournament and earning a No. 3 seed on Selection Sunday.

 

After beating the Montana Grizzlies 85-66 in the first round, the Badgers are looking to book their ticket into the Sweet Sixteen for the first time 2017 when they face off against the BYU Cougars in the Round of 32 on Saturday.

 

But, for Wisconsin, this season’s success started way before a strong March, and honestly even before the first game of the year back in November.

 

No, the success started all the way back during the offseason when head coach Greg Gard and his staff formulated a plan to attack the transfer portal and continue evolving the team’s offense after wing AJ Storr blossomed into a star in a changing offense in 2024.

 

In the transfer portal, the Badgers identified Missouri wing transfer John Tonje as a fit after initially being in on several other targets, and that ended up being the best gamble in the country this season.

 

Tonje blossomed into a star himself, earning All-American honors with a strong season that elevated Wisconsin into one of the best teams in the country this season.

 

The wing represents how Wisconsin has evolved, changing their offensivr style to represent more of a pro attack, while staying true to Wisconsin’s principles, especially on the defensive side, in the process.

 

[We] had to evolve,” head coach Greg Gard acknowledged. “We’ve evolved off the court. Obviously, everything has changed with the portal and NIL and everything. And we’ve also evolved on the court.

 

“We’ve shifted kind of and changed how we played, but at the same time, not forgetting and not de-emphasizing the pillars of success that we’ve had over the years and you know, being fundamentally sound, being tough, being good defensively, I think those are the keys for, first of all, trying to win in the Big Ten consistently year in and year out, and then evolving as the game has changed. It’s become more of a three point, transition, analytic-driven game.

 

Some of the professional things in pro basketball, whether it’s the NBA or in Europe, have trickled down to college. And you’re seeing it. You see it with BYU, you see it with us, see it with other teams in our league.

And I think you have to continue to evolve and continue to adapt and continue to grow. And at the same time, we know what works at the University of Wisconsin and probably more importantly, we know what won’t work at Wisconsin. And that’s on the court, off the court, classroom, all those things are still important. They don’t get less emphasized. We just add a few more wagons to the train, so to speak.”

 

The offseason transition was a huge one for Wisconsin as seven players, including three key starters, departed the program, leaving Gard and Co. in a tough spot entering a crucial year.

 

But, that has been the norm in college basketball recently with NIL and the transfer portal being such big factors.

 

As a result, some head coaching legends have elected to step away from the game, while programs are beginning to poach assistants from NBA programs and hire general managers to better deal with the change.

 

The differences in college basketball have also affected the dynamic at Wisconsin, as Gard has been forced to evolve into more of a CEO rather than just being a head coach. That has placed more responsibilities on the staff at Wisconsin, which has also led to assistant coach changes and shakeups.

 

“I don’t do as much of [coaching] because there’s a lot of other things that go into the other hats I wear,” Gard acknowledged on Friday. “Obviously around the evolution of NIL and how that’s grown, our staff has really taken a fundraising approach to it and tried to really communicate the importance of it to our donors and our supporters, and educate them, so to speak on it.”

 

“But yeah, it’s definitely has changed. You become more of a CEO than you do a coach. I probably do spend less time on out of bounds plays than I used to 10 years ago. But, [you] have to evolve and you have to embrace the change. And I think we’ve done a really good job of staying in our own way, staying on the cutting edge.”

 

In an age where older and more experienced coaches have struggled to evolve and continue to grow, Gard has swallowed his ego and embraced the change.

 

As a result, Wisconsin arguably has their best team since the 2014-15 group that made a National Championship, and it came with a group that was projected to finish 12th in the Big Ten.

 

The best part? It seems like the program is only going up under the direction of Gard, who has set the program up for success in the present and the future with his CEO-like approach.

The sixth-seeded BYU Cougars and third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers clash in an East Regional second-round matchup on Saturday in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. BYU opened tournament play with an 80-71 win over VCU, while Wisconsin downed Montana 85-66. The Cougars (25-9), who have reached the second round for just the second time since 2012, are 16-34 overall in the tournament. The Badgers (27-9), who are 41-26 in the NCAA Tournament all-time, are making their 24th tournament appearance since 1999.

Denver’s Ball Arena will tip off at 7:45 p.m. ET. The teams will meet for the third time; their last meeting in 2011 ended with Wisconsin winning 73-56. According to SportsLine’s most recent BYU vs. Wisconsin odds, Wisconsin is a 1.5-point favorite, and the over/under for total points scored is 155.5. Check out the SportsLine Projection Model’s college basketball predictions before selecting a Wisconsin vs. BYU team.

Every Division 1 college basketball game is 10,000 times simulated by the model. With a 228-166 record (+2025) on all of the top college basketball picks going back to 2023, it enters the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Additionally, this model has generated brackets that have won 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds and outperformed over 91% of CBS Sports entries in four of the previous six tournaments. Anyone who followed could have made a lot of money.

The algorithm has now locked in its March Madness predictions and is focusing on BYU vs. Wisconsin. To view the model’s selections, go to SportsLine right now. The following are the Wisconsin vs. BYU college basketball odds and lines:

BYU vs. Wisconsin spread: Wisconsin -1.5

BYU vs. Wisconsin over/under: 155.5 points

BYU vs. Wisconsin money line: Wisconsin -121, BYU +102

BYU: The Cougars have hit the money line in 25 of their last 35 games (+13.50 units)

WIS: The Badgers have covered the spread in 22 of their last 37 games (+5.55 units)

BYU vs. Wisconsin picks: See picks at SportsLine

Wisconsin’s ability to cover John Tonje, a sixth-year senior guard, is one of two Badgers who have averaged double figures this season. He is averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 31 minutes in 36 games, all of which he has started. He scored 32 points, pulled down seven rebounds, and dished out two assists in the 77-74 victory over Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. In the victory over Montana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, he scored 15 points, pulled down four rebounds, and blocked two shots.

John Blackwell, a sophomore guard, has recently shown dominance. He just finished the victory over Montana with 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists. In the Big Ten Tournament title game defeat to Michigan, he finished with 18 points and five rebounds. In 31 minutes, he averages 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. He has started all 36 games this season. He is making 81.3% of his free throws and 45.2% of his field goals. Check out which team to choose here.

Why BYU can cover Junior forward Richie Saunders helps power the Cougars. In the win over VCU, he poured in 16 points and added four rebounds, two assists and two steals. He scored 23 points, while adding five assists and two rebounds in a 96-92 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference Tournament quarterfinals. In 33 games this year, all starts, he is averaging 16 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 29.3 minutes

Freshman Egor Demin is coming off a solid outing in the win over VCU. In that game, he scored 15 points, while grabbing four rebounds and dishing out two assists. He had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in an 88-85 double-overtime win at Iowa State on March 4. In 31 games, all starts, he is averaging 10.5 points, 5.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 27.5 minutes. See which team to pick here.

How to choose between Wisconsin and BYU With a total projection of 155 points, SportsLine’s model is leaning under. Additionally, it has produced a pick that hits in well over 50% of simulations when it is against the spread. The model’s selections are exclusively available at SportsLine. Which side of the spread hits well over 50% of simulations, and who wins BYU vs. Wisconsin? To determine which side of the BYU vs. Wisconsin spread to wager on, visit SportsLine right now. This sophisticated model has produced returns of over $2,000 on its best college basketball picks.

 

 

Wisconsin Badgers forward Nolan Winter (31) defends against Montana Grizzlies forward Te’Jon Sawyer (32) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena.

Wisconsin Badgers forward Nolan Winter (31) defends against Montana Grizzlies forward Te’Jon Sawyer (32) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena.

Earlier this season, Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard was being candid about the NIL process and how recruiting works in the transfer era. He casually mentioned that he and his staff’s main priority is to retain both Nolan Winter and John Blackwell. He was on The Swing podcast and happened to drop this quote:

 

“”Quite frankly this job has changed so much with all the moving parts. You are more of a CEO than you are a coach. I watch a lot of film and spend time [on that] but there’s so much more that goes into now that wasn’t part of it 10 years ago… You spend a lot of time future casting on how your roster needs to be. We used to do it in three to four year snapshots…now you’re looking at one year snapshots. What does next year need to be? … Retaining Blackwell and Winter are our top priority. “”

Greg Gard

This was a big deal to Wisconsin fans at the time, and many of us closely monitored what Blackwell and Winter had to say about next year. Nolan Winter, in a social media post earlier today, happened to say something that caught many Wisconsin fans’ attention.

 

Nolan Winter is already thinking about Wisconsin’s next season with him still being a Badger

The Wisconsin basketball social media team asked players and coaches a simple question, “At 200k Instagram followers, what should we giveaway?” And players responded with all sorts of different things, but that’s not the point of this post. It’s what Nolan Winter said that had heads popping up. He could have gone very simply, like “a signed basketball” or a “signed jersey,” as many of the others did, but he said, “You could throw a PS5, but that’s pretty generic. I think we should give away some tickets to travel with us next year.”

 

Fans were quick to point out how Winter used the “we” and the “us” language. This is a good sign that he’s already visualizing himself as a Badger for another season and maybe the plan that Greg Gard had to retain him is working.

 

Tonje is getting ready to make history for the Badgers.

 

Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament – Championship

 

Before we start getting too emotional about saying goodbye to John Tonje, let’s remember that his journey with the Wisconsin Badgers isn’t finished. With that said, it’s going to be tough seeing him leave Madison after the fantastic impact he’s made for the program in his lone year with the program.

 

Tonje, who has been brilliant this year for head man Greg Gard, enters Saturday’s showdown vs. BYU with 687 points to his name. As reporter Dillon Graff noted, he’s third on the single-season record list. He could move into second place as early as this weekend. In two games, he could even break the mark set by Wisconsin legend Frank Kaminsky:

 

Wisconsin star John Tonje is in the hunt to make Wisconsin history this season

While we would love to see Tonje score 46 points against BYU on Saturday night, we’re not going to hold our breath that it’s going to happen. However, with a big game against the Cougars, he could move into second and then look to top Kaminsky’s record in the Sweet Sixteen, should UW advance.

 

Earlier this season, Big Frank didn’t hesitate in saying he’d be all for Tonje taking the No. 1 spot. Why? Because it would be good for the program overall. Kaminsky is as humble as can be – you’ve got to love his mindset about a different playmaker in a Badgers jersey dethroning him.

 

Having said that, it’s going to be on Tonje to get the job done. In the win over the Montana Grizzlies on Thursday, the senior guard scored 15 points and he added four rebounds. For the season, he’s pouring in more than 19 points per contest.

 

The rest of the way, Tonje and fellow standout John Blackwell will be ready to lead this locker room. Should those two keep playing well, there’s no reason Wisconsin can’t go on a deep run and push for a spot in the Final Four. Tonje will be a major factor in that potentially happening. He can also make some incredible Wisconsin history in the process while he’s at it.

 

 

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard talks two forward Xavier Amos (13) and guard John Blackwell (25) during the second half of their game Sunday, December 22, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat Detroit Mercy 76-53.

Xavier Amos expressed happiness to finally being in the NCAA tournament in his third year in college through the Wisconsin Badgers and when the game was finally played, he happily did damages.

 

Xavier Amos, Wisconsin Badgers

Mar 16, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Xavier Amos (13) blocks a layup by Michigan Wolverines guard L.J. Cason (2) during the first half during the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

 

The Badgers cruised to an 85-66 victory over Montana Grizzlies on Thursday through a team effort led by John Blackwell and Steven Crowl who scored 19 points and 18 points, respectively.

 

Amos, who spent his first two college eligibility with the Northern Illinois, still came from the bench and made a difference with his 11 points in 13 minutes.

 

 

“I definitely just felt the energy, the atmosphere of being here, playing with these guys all year,” said Amos, via Badger Blitz when asked about the feeling of playing in March Madness.

 

“Come here, try to do big things in this March Madness. It’s just a blessing here. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

 

Wisconsin Badgers vs Montana Grizzlies

Mar 20, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) celebrates after defeating the Montana Grizzlies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena.

Only Max Klesmit did not score in double digits among starting five. He had no points but did provide four assists and played defense against the opponents’ guards.

 

Greg Gard on Xavier Amos main contribution

The 11 points Amos scored may not be that staggering but he is fulfilling his role from the bench. He did not score a lot like John Tonje or Blackwell but for Greg Gard, his defense is outstanding.

 

Xavier Amos, Wisconsin Badgers

Mar 20, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Xavier Amos (13) defends against Montana Grizzlies guard Joe Pridgen (11) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena.

“I think that’s been a growing area for him,” Gard said. “Defensively continuing to get better and understanding when you can help, how to help, what your assignment is, who you’re guarding, is it a shooter, not a shooter, then how you can help your team.

 

 

 

 

 

The Wisconsin Badgers will meet the Montana Grizzlies on Thursday afternoon in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

 

Wisconsin, the East Region’s No. 3 seed, is heavily favored to triumph. No. 14-seed Montana is ranked 58th in the 68-team March Madness field. Rating metrics agree with that placement, as the Grizzlies sit at just No. 161 in KenPom and No. 174 in ESPN’s BPI — far below even the lowest-ranked teams in the Big Ten Conference.

 

The significant discrepancy in team profiles between Wisconsin and Montana makes it so that anything other than a decisive Badger victory would be a significant surprise.

 

While Wisconsin fans may be already looking ahead to a potential second-round matchup against No. 6 BYU or No. 11 VCU, Thursday’s opener still requires a full preview and prediction. With tipoff fast approaching, here is what to expect when the Badgers and Grizzlies take the court in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

 

Wisconsin vs. Montana Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

 

Point Spread: Wisconsin minus-17 1/2, Montana plus-17 1/2

 

Money Line: Wisconsin minus-2500, Montana plus-1050

 

 

Wisconsin: No. 13 overall (No. 13 offense, No. 27 defense)

Montana: No. 161 overall (No. 99 offense, No. 251 defense)

ESPN BPI:

 

Wisconsin: No. 18 overall (16.0) — No. 3 in the Big Ten

Montana: No. 174 overall (-1.2) — No. 3 in the Big Sky

2024-25 Averages:

 

Wisconsin: 79.7 points per game (45.2% shooting, 34.9% from 3), 70.4 points allowed per game (41.4% shooting allowed, 33% from 3)

Montana: 76.9 points per game (50% shooting, 36% from 3), 72.9 points allowed per game (45.5% shooting allowed, 32.8% from 3)

ESPN Matchup Predictor:

 

Wisconsin 94.7% chance to win, Montana 5.3%

Wisconsin Key Players

G John Blackwell (15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists on 44.8% shooting)

G Max Klesmit (9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists on 34.5% shooting)

Wing John Tonje (19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists on 46.2% shooting)

C Steven Crowl (9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists on 53.1% shooting)

F Nolan Winter (9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists on 56.1% shooting)

 

G Money Williams (13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists on 40.2% shooting)

G Malik Moore (12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists on 45.7% shooting)

G Joe Pridgen (11.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists on 63.6% shooting)

G Kai Johnson (11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists on 51.2% shooting)

F Te’Jon Sawyer (9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists on 59% shooting)

Wisconsin vs. Montana prediction, pick

Wisconsin enters Thursday’s game with the advantage on each side of the court. Most notably, the Badgers’ 13-ranked offense (KenPom) will match up with the Grizzlies’ No. 251-ranked defense. After Wisconsin struggled mightily against Michigan on Sunday, it should find significant success scoring the basketball against Montana.

 

Wisconsin received a poor draw with BYU/VCU waiting in the second round, Alabama in the Sweet 16 and Duke in the Elite Eight. However, its first-round matchup could not have fallen any better. Montana is one of the lowest-ranked No. 14 seeds in recent memory. Wisconsin shouldn’t have any trouble coasting to a win.

 

Prediction: Wisconsin 87, Montana 62

 

Wisconsin vs. Montana TV channel, start time, streaming:

Wisconsin vs. Montana will start at 1:30 p.m. ET, 12:30 p.m. CT. It will be carried on TNT and streamed on the TNT app. The game can also be heard on Badger Radio Network.