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Saturday may have been an ignition point for the 2024-25 Wisconsin Badgers as they search for postseason success.
The team defeated Michigan State 77-74 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal. The win, which came down to a chaotic final-minute sequence, sends the Badgers into the conference title game on Sunday afternoon. More importantly, it was arguably the team's best win of the year, plus easily its most dramatic.
John Tonje unsurprisingly led Wisconsin in nearly every category. He finished with 32 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a game-clinching block. Wisconsin also received notable contributions from John Blackwell (14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal) and Carter Gilmore (10 points, five rebounds and five assists) as it held off Michigan State's numerous final-minute comeback bids.
The final stats properly depict what was a tightly contested heavyweight battle between two of the conference's best. Wisconsin shot 42.5% from the floor to Michigan State's 40.7%, grabbed 33 rebounds to Michigan State's 37 and assisted on 15 baskets to Michigan State's 13. Additionally, both teams turned the ball over exactly seven times and neither built a lead of more than nine points.
Again, the game came down to Wisconsin making more plays in the final minutes. Blackwell and Gilmore combined for 13 of the team's final 17 points, scoring at the line, at the rim and from three-point range in those deciding sequences. Gilmore also added a key block on a Spartans game-tying three-point attempt with just seconds remaining. While the Badgers still needed John Tonje's heroic block on Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr.'s buzzer-beater attempt, Blackwell and Gilmore delivered with key plays in nearly every big moment.
Still, Tonje's fantastic performance leads the postgame headlines.
Social media was predictably impressed by the suddenly resurgent Badgers and their star contributors. Here are some of the more notable postgame reactions from Wisconsin fans, plus both local and national media:
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: Reaction to Wisconsin basketball Michigan State tournament game
Continue reading...
The team defeated Michigan State 77-74 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal. The win, which came down to a chaotic final-minute sequence, sends the Badgers into the conference title game on Sunday afternoon. More importantly, it was arguably the team's best win of the year, plus easily its most dramatic.
John Tonje unsurprisingly led Wisconsin in nearly every category. He finished with 32 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a game-clinching block. Wisconsin also received notable contributions from John Blackwell (14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal) and Carter Gilmore (10 points, five rebounds and five assists) as it held off Michigan State's numerous final-minute comeback bids.
The final stats properly depict what was a tightly contested heavyweight battle between two of the conference's best. Wisconsin shot 42.5% from the floor to Michigan State's 40.7%, grabbed 33 rebounds to Michigan State's 37 and assisted on 15 baskets to Michigan State's 13. Additionally, both teams turned the ball over exactly seven times and neither built a lead of more than nine points.
Again, the game came down to Wisconsin making more plays in the final minutes. Blackwell and Gilmore combined for 13 of the team's final 17 points, scoring at the line, at the rim and from three-point range in those deciding sequences. Gilmore also added a key block on a Spartans game-tying three-point attempt with just seconds remaining. While the Badgers still needed John Tonje's heroic block on Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr.'s buzzer-beater attempt, Blackwell and Gilmore delivered with key plays in nearly every big moment.
Still, Tonje's fantastic performance leads the postgame headlines.
Social media was predictably impressed by the suddenly resurgent Badgers and their star contributors. Here are some of the more notable postgame reactions from Wisconsin fans, plus both local and national media:
John Tonje was fantastic
Reaction to Carter Gilmore's big block
Is Tonje ready for a Kemba Walker-type run?
Jon Rothstein reacts
Kamari McGee: Wisconsin is on a revenge tour
“Told my fellas this was a revenge tour.”
UCLA:
Michigan State:
Maryland/Michigan:pic.twitter.com/DC2OGZez0e
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) March 15, 2025
Tonje's game-sealing block was unbelievable
Another big day for Greg Gard
A Michigan State perspective:
Former Badgers react to questionable officiating
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: Reaction to Wisconsin basketball Michigan State tournament game
Continue reading...
