The Wisconsin Badgers moved to 4-0 on the season with a 103-88 win over No. 9 Arizona on Friday.
It was a program-defining win for Greg Gard and the Badgers after the team entered the year with measured expectations. It elevates the group toward the top of the Big Ten power rankings at this early stage in the season.
Related: Biggest takeaways from Wisconsin basketball’s big win over Arizona
That’s the sentiment from the Wisconsin side. From an Arizona perspective, the loss is the program’s first under head coach Tommy Lloyd in the month of November, now in his fourth year with the program. It is a significant blow to the team’s sky-high expectations entering the season after a Sweet 16 run in 2023-24.
The Wildcats are still among the best teams in the sport, and Friday night may have taught us more about Wisconsin rising to that tier than Arizona falling from it. The Badgers’ updated approach and the emerging stardom of John Tonje contribute to that apparent rise.
Lloyd discussed the Badgers’ record offensive performance when speaking with the media postgame. Much of his focus, however, centered around the officiating.
Here is everything he said about Wisconsin’s defining win:
On Wisconsin’s offensive performance
Nov 15, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) fouls Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) during the second half of their game Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
“Obviously, we were in the bonus the whole game. That was tough. We have to play smarter and we have to play better. And I kind of warned our guys that they’re adept at drawing fouls in certain ways. And we just didn’t play smart enough.”
On Wisconsin’s second-half run
Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee (4) grans a loose ball during the first half of their game Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“I’ll have to go back and watch the film. There were a lot of possessions that game. So for me to go back and look at it through a microscope might be a little tough right now. I thought we settled into the game a little bit and quit fouling so much. I’ll give them credit — their role players who hadn’t made shots made a few shots. That happens sometimes when you play at home and it’s a big game and it’s a big night. Wisconsin is obviously a tradition-rich program. Greg Gard is a great coach. He had his team ready tonight. I tip my hat off to them.
We’re a character program, we battled back. We just didn’t play smart enough once we got there. We didn’t have the discipline. I don’t know how many times our guards dove into their chest. If those are vertical contests they’re probably not going to call the fouls. And then they were calling fouls on us out on the perimeter, those little hip checks. And those are fouls. I don’t love how the game is being called, but that’s how the game is being called. So Wisconsin was definitely much smarter with how they approached attacking the game and their players adjusted to the new rules better than we did.”
On John Tonje’s performance
Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) makes a fast break during the second half of their game against Arizona Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“I mean the dude had 41 points. He’s strong, he’s a downhill guy and he made threes. And he’s experienced. I’m sure he’s hungry. He was awesome. He played great. The dude scores 40 on you, you tip your hat to him. 21 out of 22 free throws. Coming into the game they’re shooting 90 percent [from the free throw line]. If you would have told me they were going to shoot 47 free throws, I probably would’ve thought you were crazy. They made about 90 percent of them again. They’re obviously a great free-throw-shooting team, so that’s something they can hang their hat on. They’re definitely playing to their strengths. That’s smart basketball and smart coaching.”
On the Kohl Center environment
Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee (4) joins fans who stormed the court after their game Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Unranked Wisconsin upset Arizona 103-88. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“It was great. It was awesome. I tell our guys, ‘You come to Arizona to play in games like this. And when you lose on the road, they’re going to storm the court.’ We’ve won a lot of these games on the road. And I thought, if you would have asked me five minutes into the first half, I thought this was going to be another one. I thought we’d pull a rabbit out of a hat or find a way. And we just didn’t kind of have enough down the stretch and didn’t play smart enough to give ourselves a chance. Awesome atmosphere. Nothing but respect for the Wisconsin basketball program and coach Gard, and it was awesome they were honoring Bo Ryan and those great teams.”
On his concern with Arizona’s defense, fouling
Nov 15, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) out rebounds Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) rebounds during the first half of their game Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
“Both. You have to adjust to how the game is being called. We probably had officials 10 times, that was definitely the tightest we felt it called. We’re getting maybe officials from different parts of the country, I don’t know. It was definitely the tightest. We have to adjust, we’re the team on the road. That’s basketball. You don’t play the victim. You don’t just double-down on fouling harder and getting frustrated when they call it. You have to play cleaner basketball, and we didn’t adjust to how tight the game was being called. And Wisconsin was able to take advantage of that all day.”
On his takeaways moving forward
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) is fouled by Wisconsin forward Xavier Amos (13) during the first half of their game Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“I mean we’re going to be a good team. I’m not worried about that. This was just a great opportunity on the road to challenge ourselves. We’ve been comfortable. We’ve been practicing against each other, we’ve been playing games, exhibition games, games at [McKale Center]. And we’ve got a hell of a home-court advantage. And we’ve been comfortable. We had to get outside of that to figure out who we are. I’m not interested in going undefeated. Not at all. Our program is ready to take the next step. And I’m ready to lead the charge. And we have to coach better, we have to play better. That’s something we’re going to go back, take a breath, get home tonight and we’re excited for the opportunity we have next week.”
On Caleb Love’s quiet night
Nov 9, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) holds up the number three as the Arizona Wildcats just made a three-point basket during the second half against the Old Dominion Monarchs at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
“Listen, Caleb can’t put himself in a position early in the game to get a technical foul. You can’t get baited into anything. And I haven’t seen the play, so I have no idea what happened. Whether it was justified. I’m sure it was if the officials called it. But you just can’t put yourself in that position to pick up two fouls early in the game. And Caleb is going to be fine. I love that kid with all my heart. I love how he’s been able to play with adversity and struggles. And listen, that kid has dealt with more adversity and struggles than most of all of us have done in our lives, combined. I’m all in on that kid. He’s going to have a great year and he’s the one I want leading this program.”
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