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Without a pair of key playmakers, Wisconsin basketball's thrilling 77-74 victory over Michigan State on Saturday would not have been possible.
First, star wing John Tonje scored a program Big Ten Tournament single-game record 32 points off 8-of-15 from the field, 4-of-10 from deep and 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. Tonje has served as Greg Gard's top offensive option in each of Wisconsin's tournament victories. Prior to his 32-point explosion, the Nebraska native dropped 18 points in UW's 70-63 second-round win over Northwestern and a game-best 26 points off 9-of-10 from the field and 6-of-6 from deep in its 86-70 quarterfinal victory over UCLA.
After the win over the Spartans, Tonje is just 53 points away from breaking Frank Kaminsky's single-season scoring record, set during Wisconsin's run to the 2015 national title game. He's been named Big Ten Player of the Week three times, was included on the All-Big Ten First-Team and is a Naismith College Player of the Year semifinalist. Even with all the accolades, head coach Greg Gard thinks one aspect of Tonje's persona trumps all.
"He's such a selfless person, such a selfless player," Gard said after the game. "He's motivated by success. He's gotten better on both ends of the floor...He's earned every accolade he's getting. He's one heck of a player, but more importantly, he's an even better person. That's why it fits so well with our team and why the transition, even if it's been one year, has been so good...He's bought in. He understands. He's a good listener and a quick learner. He wants to win."
Sophomore John Blackwell, Tonje's primary running mate, also filled up the stat sheet against Michigan State, tallying 14 points and three rebounds. But without bench forward Carter Gilmore, who accounted for 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 30 minutes off the bench, Wisconsin would have likely departed Indianapolis with a semifinal loss.
Not only did Gilmore deliver consistently on both ends of the court, but he also made arguably the biggest play of the contest late in the second half. Down by three, 77-74, Michigan State's Tre Holloman launched what appeared to be a wide-open three-point attempt from the top of the key with 10 seconds remaining on the game clock. Out of nowhere, Gilmore sprinted towards the ball, leapt with two hands and blocked Holloman's attempt.
That deflection put the ball in Tonje's hands, who ended up missing both game-sealing free-throw attempts. While Tonje's block on Jeremy Fears Jr. at the buzzer officially ended the game, Gilmore's denial on an excellent shot attempt was arguably the game's defining moment.
Gilmore has put together by far the most impactful season of his career, now in its fifth year with the program. He dropped 15 points in Wisconsin's narrow road win over Northwestern on Feb. 1, finished with eight important tallies against Minnesota on the road on March 5, then helped clinch a tournament championship appearance with a big game against Michigan State. The forward's per-game averages of 3.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists don't properly display his impact on the team's winning.
"He's committed to this program," Gard said. "He bleeds Badger red. Obviously his family lineage is deeply connected to our coaching staff, and he loves the university, he loves our program. When you have somebody like that that gives their heart and soul to your program, it doesn't always work out where good things happen, but for him I'm really happy because he's come the long hard way as a player. A lot of players these days aren't that patient and willing to work. He's done it, and he's being rewarded for it."
Both Gilmore and Tonje will look to add to their impressive 2024-25 resumes when the Badgers take the court for the Big Ten Tournament championship game against the Michigan Wolverines at 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Basketball Greg Gard Michigan State postgame comments
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First, star wing John Tonje scored a program Big Ten Tournament single-game record 32 points off 8-of-15 from the field, 4-of-10 from deep and 12-of-14 from the charity stripe. Tonje has served as Greg Gard's top offensive option in each of Wisconsin's tournament victories. Prior to his 32-point explosion, the Nebraska native dropped 18 points in UW's 70-63 second-round win over Northwestern and a game-best 26 points off 9-of-10 from the field and 6-of-6 from deep in its 86-70 quarterfinal victory over UCLA.
After the win over the Spartans, Tonje is just 53 points away from breaking Frank Kaminsky's single-season scoring record, set during Wisconsin's run to the 2015 national title game. He's been named Big Ten Player of the Week three times, was included on the All-Big Ten First-Team and is a Naismith College Player of the Year semifinalist. Even with all the accolades, head coach Greg Gard thinks one aspect of Tonje's persona trumps all.
"He's such a selfless person, such a selfless player," Gard said after the game. "He's motivated by success. He's gotten better on both ends of the floor...He's earned every accolade he's getting. He's one heck of a player, but more importantly, he's an even better person. That's why it fits so well with our team and why the transition, even if it's been one year, has been so good...He's bought in. He understands. He's a good listener and a quick learner. He wants to win."
Sophomore John Blackwell, Tonje's primary running mate, also filled up the stat sheet against Michigan State, tallying 14 points and three rebounds. But without bench forward Carter Gilmore, who accounted for 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 30 minutes off the bench, Wisconsin would have likely departed Indianapolis with a semifinal loss.
Not only did Gilmore deliver consistently on both ends of the court, but he also made arguably the biggest play of the contest late in the second half. Down by three, 77-74, Michigan State's Tre Holloman launched what appeared to be a wide-open three-point attempt from the top of the key with 10 seconds remaining on the game clock. Out of nowhere, Gilmore sprinted towards the ball, leapt with two hands and blocked Holloman's attempt.
That deflection put the ball in Tonje's hands, who ended up missing both game-sealing free-throw attempts. While Tonje's block on Jeremy Fears Jr. at the buzzer officially ended the game, Gilmore's denial on an excellent shot attempt was arguably the game's defining moment.
Gilmore has put together by far the most impactful season of his career, now in its fifth year with the program. He dropped 15 points in Wisconsin's narrow road win over Northwestern on Feb. 1, finished with eight important tallies against Minnesota on the road on March 5, then helped clinch a tournament championship appearance with a big game against Michigan State. The forward's per-game averages of 3.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists don't properly display his impact on the team's winning.
"He's committed to this program," Gard said. "He bleeds Badger red. Obviously his family lineage is deeply connected to our coaching staff, and he loves the university, he loves our program. When you have somebody like that that gives their heart and soul to your program, it doesn't always work out where good things happen, but for him I'm really happy because he's come the long hard way as a player. A lot of players these days aren't that patient and willing to work. He's done it, and he's being rewarded for it."
Both Gilmore and Tonje will look to add to their impressive 2024-25 resumes when the Badgers take the court for the Big Ten Tournament championship game against the Michigan Wolverines at 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Basketball Greg Gard Michigan State postgame comments
Continue reading...
