Wisconsin basketball secured an 81-75 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers to claim the Greenbrier Tip-Off title on Friday. The win pushes the Badgers to 7-0 on the 2024-25 season.
Fueled by 25 second half points from star wing John Tonje, the Badgers rallied back from a 14-point first half deficit to claim their seventh straight win this season. Tonje finished with 33 points on the evening, his second game of 30 or more points in his first season in Madison.
It was truly a tale of two halves in West Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Wisconsin scored 54 of its 81 points in the second half and shot 60% from the field, 50% from distance and nearly 93% from the free throw line. For context, Wisconsin went 0-of-10 from three-point range and registered a 36.67% mark from the floor in the first half.
As the game progressed, it became evident that UW valued virtually every shot attempt down the stretch. Alongside John Blackwell, Max Klesmit, Steven Crowl and Tonje, Gard trusted veteran guard Kamari McGee in the Badgers’ closing lineup. That trust paid off.
McGee canned three timely second half field goals, including a pair of three-point buckets, to help UW secure its third November non-conference tournament title since 2021. Blackwell chipped in with 14, Nolan Winter added 11 and Crowl scored 10 in the winning effort.
For the first time since 2014-15, the year Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes guided Wisconsin to the NCAA Tournament title game, the Badgers are 7-0 to start a season. Here are the biggest reasons they got here.
John Tonje is a superstar
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
John Tonje is not only one of the best transfers in college basketball, but he could be one of the best players of the 2024-25 college basketball season. The former Missouri Tiger and Colorado State Ram dropped 30 or more points for the second time this season, and he completely took over the Badgers’ second half offense.
Fans witnessed the same type of takeover in the Badgers’ signature win over Arizona on Nov. 15. when Tonje scored a career-best 41 points in the win. The graduate student is now averaging 23 points and 5.7 rebounds per game off 54.3% from the field, 40.6% from deep and a remarkable 95.2% from the free throw line.
At this pace, Tonje could pocket the Wooden Award. He’s the driving force behind one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, and yet he is one of the more underrated talents across the country.
Kamari McGee is the heartbeat
March 7, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) reacts to causing a turnover against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at the Kohl Center. Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Senior guard Kamari McGee continued his excellent senior campaign on Sunday. Following his 14-point, four-rebound, three-assist performance against UCF on Friday night, McGee logged 10 critical points in 28 minutes off the bench against Pittsburgh.
McGee is making it virtually impossible for Gard to leave him on the bench in crunch time. McGee also made the game-clinching defensive play against a 6-foot-8 forward in a three-point win against UT Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 18. If the Badgers are in need of a spark, McGee can provide it.
Second half adjustments were everything and more
Mar 22, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks with guard Kamari McGee (4) in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the James Madison Dukes at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
In the first half, the Badgers trailed by as many as 14, shot under 37% from the field, went 0-of-10 from the three-point line and registered a 62.5% clip from the charity stripe. Wisconsin looked outmatched by Pittsburgh’s interior presence, pace and aggression in the opening stretch.
The second half was a completely different story. Wisconsin shot 60% from the field, 50% from beyond the arc and nearly 93% from the foul line. Every shot was a quality look, and the Badgers attacked the painted area with a different type of focus than they did in the first half. Tonje looked NBA-ready, the bigs did their job, McGee made timely shots and Blackwell served as an excellent second option.
This team is a real contender
Feb. 20, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) celebrates the Wisconsin Badgers 74-70 victory with Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at the Kohl Center. Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
As of Nov. 24, the Badgers hold the No. 19 position in the AP top 25 hierarchy. After Sunday’s performance, that number will change.
Before the season started, many critics deemed the departures of AJ Storr, Chucky Hepburn and Tyler Wahl as the most impactful storyline for the 2024-25 squad. Tonje was coming off a redshirt season, Blackwell was young and depth was a question mark. Through seven games, the Badgers have answered any doubters.
Simply put — the Badgers are one of the most efficient teams in the country. The team shoots 48% from the field, 36% from deep and a nation-leading 86.5% from the line. UW can deploy two versatile 7-footers and two do-it-all scorers on the wing. Most importantly, Greg Gard knows how to win. With this type of platoon, the Badgers look like they can break the postseason slump in March.
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John Tonje is a superstar
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
John Tonje is not only one of the best transfers in college basketball, but he could be one of the best players of the 2024-25 college basketball season. The former Missouri Tiger and Colorado State Ram dropped 30 or more points for the second time this season, and he completely took over the Badgers’ second half offense.
Fans witnessed the same type of takeover in the Badgers’ signature win over Arizona on Nov. 15. when Tonje scored a career-best 41 points in the win. The graduate student is now averaging 23 points and 5.7 rebounds per game off 54.3% from the field, 40.6% from deep and a remarkable 95.2% from the free throw line.
At this pace, Tonje could pocket the Wooden Award. He’s the driving force behind one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, and yet he is one of the more underrated talents across the country.
Kamari McGee is the heartbeat
March 7, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) reacts to causing a turnover against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at the Kohl Center. Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
Senior guard Kamari McGee continued his excellent senior campaign on Sunday. Following his 14-point, four-rebound, three-assist performance against UCF on Friday night, McGee logged 10 critical points in 28 minutes off the bench against Pittsburgh.
McGee is making it virtually impossible for Gard to leave him on the bench in crunch time. McGee also made the game-clinching defensive play against a 6-foot-8 forward in a three-point win against UT Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 18. If the Badgers are in need of a spark, McGee can provide it.
Second half adjustments were everything and more
Mar 22, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard talks with guard Kamari McGee (4) in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the James Madison Dukes at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
In the first half, the Badgers trailed by as many as 14, shot under 37% from the field, went 0-of-10 from the three-point line and registered a 62.5% clip from the charity stripe. Wisconsin looked outmatched by Pittsburgh’s interior presence, pace and aggression in the opening stretch.
The second half was a completely different story. Wisconsin shot 60% from the field, 50% from beyond the arc and nearly 93% from the foul line. Every shot was a quality look, and the Badgers attacked the painted area with a different type of focus than they did in the first half. Tonje looked NBA-ready, the bigs did their job, McGee made timely shots and Blackwell served as an excellent second option.
This team is a real contender
Feb. 20, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin; Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) celebrates the Wisconsin Badgers 74-70 victory with Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at the Kohl Center. Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports
As of Nov. 24, the Badgers hold the No. 19 position in the AP top 25 hierarchy. After Sunday’s performance, that number will change.
Before the season started, many critics deemed the departures of AJ Storr, Chucky Hepburn and Tyler Wahl as the most impactful storyline for the 2024-25 squad. Tonje was coming off a redshirt season, Blackwell was young and depth was a question mark. Through seven games, the Badgers have answered any doubters.
Simply put — the Badgers are one of the most efficient teams in the country. The team shoots 48% from the field, 36% from deep and a nation-leading 86.5% from the line. UW can deploy two versatile 7-footers and two do-it-all scorers on the wing. Most importantly, Greg Gard knows how to win. With this type of platoon, the Badgers look like they can break the postseason slump in March.
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Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.
