1. LAST TIME OUT

Wisconsin put up an all-time offensive performance against No. 9 Arizona, erupting for 103 points in the win. Tied at 65-65 with just under 15 minutes left in the second half, the Badgers outscored the Wildcats 38-to-23 the rest of the way. UW led throughout most of the game, with the game being tied for a total of just one minute and six seconds.

John Tonje led the way with a historic 41 points, followed by John Blackwell with 14 points and Max Klesmit with 13 points. It’s the first time that UW scored over 100 points since racking up 105 against Arkansas State last season. Wisconsin went 41-for-47 at the free throw line, tying the program record for most makes in a game. The team previously made 41 free throws at Illinois on Jan. 1, 1955.

Also featured in the game was a special pregame recognition of UW's 2013-14 and 2014-15 Final Four teams that beat Arizona both tournament runs. Bo Ryan, the head coach of those teams and the winningest coach in program history, was also honored at halftime with his name being raised to the rafters of the Kohl Center.

2. BEATING THE BEST

Wisconsin’s latest victory over a top-10 opponent was its first since March 17, 2024 when the Badgers took down No. 3 Purdue during the Big Ten Tournament. It also served as the 13th top-ten victory under head coach Greg Gard.

Prior to Friday's game, Wisconsin’s last time scoring 80 points against a top-ten opponent was, fittingly,  the 2015 Elite Eight game against Arizona in which the Badgers scored 85. This is the first time the Badgers have ever scored 90+ points in a win against a top-ten team and only the second time they’ve put up 100+ points against a top-ten opponent (2/10/70 against No. 14 Iowa).

The last time the Badgers scored 100+ points against any school from a power five conference was on Feb. 3, 1993 against Northwestern.

3. TONJE'S HISTORIC NIGHT

John Tonje put together one of the best performances in program history. He started things off by scoring 22 points in the first half of the game alone, before finishing the night with 41. That’s good for the fourth-highest total of any Badger, bested by Frank Kaminsky’s school record 43 points, plus Michael Finley and Ken Barnes each scoring 42. Kaminsky, who was honored pregame as a member of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 Final Four teams, was in attendance for Tonje's heroics.

Tonje also led the way for UW's historic shooting effort at the free throw line. The graduate student went 20-for-21 as the stripe, eclipsing the single game free throw record of 17 held by Nigel Hayes (1/26/16) and Dale Koehler (12/6/75).

Additionally, Tonje’s 41 points were the most by any player in a win over a top-10 opponent since Malik Monk scored 47 for Kentucky. It also serves as the fifth-highest scoring performance against a top-10 team in Big Ten history.

4. A VIEW AT THE VAQUEROS

Monday’s game will take place against UT Rio Grande Valley, and will be the first time the two programs have faced. The Vaqueros are coached by Kahil Fennell in his first season. It is the program's first season as members of the Southland conference. The team is currently off to a 3-2 start, winning its last three games after starting the season with two losses in contested contests against Nebraska and No. 15 Creighton.

The Vaqueros recently wrapped up the Greenbrier Tip-Off River Division, winning the championship after defeating Charleston Southern and Tennessee Tech. Senior Hasan Abdul Hakim took home Tournament MVP honors after scoring 15 points and securing five rebounds in the championship game.

Hakim is currently averaging 14.5 points per game. Senior guard K.T. Raimey, a transfer from DePaul, currently leads the team with 17.0 points per game coming off the bench. 

5. LEAGUE LEADERS

Wisconsin stands out in a number of ways amongst Big Ten teams so far this season. The Badgers have scored 79+ points in each of their four outings. Their 88.5 points per game ranks third in the conference, while their offensive rating of 124.7 ranks second. Wisconsin’s free throw shooting has stood out as well. The team has gone 90-for-100 at the line in its first four games, the third most makes in the nation and an NCAA leading 90 percent free throw percentage.

For individual players, Tonje has left a sizable scoring imprint. His 23.5 points per game rank fourth in the Big Ten, and he leads the conference with 37 made free throws. Max Klesmit is tied for second in the conference in steals per game with 2.8, and tied for first with a perfect 100 percent free throw percentage. Steven Crowl’s 16 assists is tied for the ninth most in the conference, standing as the only player over 6-foot-7 ranked in the top 10.