Fit check with Wisconsin men’s basketball player John Blackwell
John Blackwell, the Badgers sophomore guard, shows off his suit at Big Ten basketball media day Thursday in Rosemont, Illinois.
MADISON – The Wisconsin men’s basketball team tipped off the season Tuesday night shortly after 7 p.m.
When the Badgers actually started to play was closer to 7:30.
Undaunted by a slow start, Wisconsin overcame a 16-point first half deficit to score an 85-61 victory over Holy Cross Monday night at the Kohl Center. The game was the season opener for both teams.
Senior guard John Tonje finished with 23 points on 6-for-11 shooting. He also went 8 for 8 from the free throw line and grabbed five rebounds.
Sophomore guard John Blackwell added 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Sophomore forward Nolan Winter added 15 points all in the second half. Senior center Steven Crowl grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to go along with eight points.
Wisconsin steadily improved its shooting throughout the game and finished the night with a 49.2% field goal percentage and going 11 for 31 from three-point range (35.5%).
Sophomore Gabe Warren led Holy Cross with 23 points.
The game was the first of three during the first week of the season for UW. Up next is Montana State on Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin led by as many as 30 points before the final buzzer, eventually meeting the challenge defensively the Crusaders presented by getting more hands in the passing lanes and making them work harder for shot, many that came from three-point range.
Two runs were key to the Badgers’ comeback.
UW went on an 18-2 run that spanned about 6 ½ minutes and tied the game, 25-25, with 5:17 to go in the first half. Tonje had eight points during the run, including six of the final eight points.
And in the second half the Badgers went on a 16-0 run that gave them a 55-40 edge with 12:25 to play. Tonje, Blackwell and Klesmit hit threes during the run. Carter Gilmore added a three-point play.
Wisconsin led by at least nine points the rest of the night.
