Wisconsin basketball (20-5, 10-4 Big Ten) delivered a season-defining road victory over Purdue (19-7, 11-4 Big Ten) on Saturday afternoon.
The Badgers’ 94-84 triumph is best described by several key stats. The team shot a blazing 61.5% from the floor, only missing two two-point shots the entire afternoon (20 of 22). It also turned the ball over just three times. That led to the perfect recipe for Greg Gard’s new-look offense: Wisconsin got high-quality looks throughout the contest. It also made them at an impressive rate.
Wisconsin’s win was led by a second-half offensive explosion (58 points), due to dominance from wing John Tonje (22 second-half points) and guard John Blackwell (11 second-half points). The two stars answered every Purdue run, each showing shades of program great Johnny Davis from his dominant effort in the Badgers’ last win at Mackey Arena on Jan. 3, 2022.
Wisconsin’s win was led by more than just those two players, however.. For more on the team-wide performance and what it means moving forward, here are our biggest takeaways from the statement result:
Wisconsin announced its arrival on the national stage
There is no bigger takeaway from the win than what it means for the Badgers’ national standing. The team jumped to No. 9 in KenPom with the result. That puts it atop the Big Ten, plus right in the conversation with the top teams in the sport.
Some could have argued that Wisconsin lacked premier victories. Its home win over Arizona in mid-November was likely its best result to date. Saturday’s win instantly erases that narrative. Wisconsin jumps closer to a No. 2 seed with the resume-defining win, into the group of teams that analysts consider real threats to go to the Final Four.
In other words, Saturday’s win proves that the Badgers’ success to date has been no mirage. This team is a legitimate contender and among the best in the country.
Wisconsin was the better team in every facet
Wisconsin’s win over Purdue was no fluke. The Badgers out-shot their rival, turned the ball over only three times, plus broke even on the glass and in the painted area.
It’s no secret that Wisconsin’s offensive effort proved the difference, especially as the team scored on each of its final 12 possessions to close the win. But the team also played well defensively and was arguably more physical than the Boilermakers. Even without that red-hot shooting, Wisconsin’s well-rounded effort was enough to earn a victory.
Star of the game: Jack Janicki
Jack Janicki’s performance in relief of Kamari McGee after his controversial ejection defines the greatness of the 2024-25 Badgers. The team can go nine players deep with legitimate contributors. Where Carter Gilmore stole headlines during the team’s win at Northwestern, a fellow walk-on in Janicki did so at Purdue.
The freshman guard tallied 11 points and two assists on four-of-six shooting and three-of-four from three. He also had several key deflections and contested rebounds that allowed Wisconsin to build its decisive second-half lead.
Nobody could have predicted that Jack Janicki would lead a win over the No. 7 team in the country. But Gard’s team is defined by its depth of contributors. Saturday’s result is just a continuation of a theme we’ve seen throughout the year.
It’s time to make Greg Gard’s case for National Coach of the Year
Janicki’s performance should add another footnote to Gard’s growing case for National Coach of the Year — there are few better indications of strong coaching than unheralded walk-ons deciding games.
Gard now has the Badgers in a position to contend for a Big Ten title despite the team having lost most of its production off the 2023-24 unit. Chucky Hepburn, A.J. Storr and Tyler Wahl all departed, either to the transfer portal or due to graduation. Gard rebuilt the rotation with several key transfers and impressive player development. That was further complemented by a retooled offensive approach and impressive in-game coaching.
Every time the Badgers take the court, they appear to be the better-coached team. Gard taking a team that the media picked 12th in the preseason Big Ten poll to a conference regular-season title is a Coach of the Year-type performance.
John Tonje is entering the Johnny Davis tier of Wisconsin greats
This may need to be litigated on a larger scale. But Tonje’s 32-point showing reminded everybody of Johnny Davis’ dominance over the Boilermakers in 2022. More broadly, it sends Tonje’s 2024-25 campaign into the conversation with Davis’ 2021-22 season as one of the best single seasons in Wisconsin basketball history.
Davis averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists that year, leading the Badgers to a Big Ten title and top NCAA Tournament seed. Tonje is right on par with those numbers. If Wisconsin finds postseason success, the two wings will belong in the same conversation.
Max Klesmit played one of his best games of the season
Don’t overlook Max Klesmit’s contributions against Purdue. The veteran guard finished with 17 points, six assists and two rebounds on five-of-10 shooting. He was also a perfect five-of-five from inside the three-point line — aggressiveness that helped set the tone for the rest of the team.
Klesmit has had an up-and-down season shooting the basketball. His replicating Saturday’s performance is all Wisconsin will need moving forward.
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