With two impressive victories over the University of Central Florida and the University of Pittsburgh last weekend, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team won the Greenbrier Tip-Off Tournament, starting their season 7-0, and continued to make a name for themselves in college basketball’s opening month.
Entering the season with an unproven, new-look team, No. 15 Wisconsin was picked by national pundits to finish toward the end of the Big Ten. But as their torrid start to the season continues, Wisconsin's performance over the weekend in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia is their latest showing that proves they are a team that cannot be ignored.
The Badgers beat UCF 86-70 on Friday and then defeated Pittsburgh 81-75 on Sunday to clinch the tournament championship. With their victory over Pittsburgh, Wisconsin is now the only team in the country with multiple wins over teams ranked in the KenPom Top 25.
Led by guards John Tonje and John Blackwell, Wisconsin’s offense has continued to put impressive numbers on the board.
Over the weekend, Tonje added to his incredible start to his Wisconsin career, taking home Tournament MVP honors after scoring 33 points and grabbing seven rebounds Sunday. Tonje scored 15 points along with six rebounds against UCF on Friday.
With his performance Sunday, Tonje became the first player in the Big Ten this season to record multiple 30-point games. Tonje has reached double figures in every game this season for Wisconsin and has reached 15 points in all but one. He is now averaging 21.3 points per game, third in the Big Ten.
Tonje delivered a heartfelt message after the game in an interview.
“I just want my teammates to know that I’m here to build lifelong relationships, and I think they’ve embraced me and the city’s embraced me,” he said. “I’m just doing everything I can to compete for the name on the front of the jersey, and it’s been amazing so far.”
Blackwell continued his hot start to his sophomore season, averaging 15.5 points, four rebounds and a steal over the weekend, earning All-Tournament Team honors.
Forward Nolan Winter and guard Kamari McGee also had memorable weekends for the Badgers. Winter followed up a 13-point and 10-rebound double-double on Friday with an 11-point performance on Sunday, marking the first time in his career he has put up double figures consecutively. Meanwhile, with 14 points on Friday and 10 on Sunday, McGee posted his first back-to-back double-digit scoring games with Wisconsin. McGee played previously at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
McGee, now in his senior season, has emerged as an invaluable part of Wisconsin’s team. In the 23 games in which McGee has played at least 10 minutes, the Badgers are 20-3 and 16-0 dating back to last season.
Head coach Greg Gard has emphasized the importance of offense in today’s era of college basketball, and seven games in, he has received contributions down his roster. Wisconsin’s victories over the weekend emphasized its ability to score and that they must be taken seriously as the Big Ten season approaches.
