1. LAST TIME OUT

Wisconsin came out of the 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off undefeated, taking down UCF and Pitt en route to claiming the tournament title. Graduate transfer John Tonje earned tournament MVP honors after scoring 33 points and securing seven rebounds in the championship game against Pitt. 

John Blackwell made the All-Tournament team as well, averaging 15.5 points per game in the tournament. Additionally, sophomore Nolan Winter and senior Kamari McGee each scored 10+ points in both games.

The Badgers faced an early 14-point deficit against Pitt in the championship game, but went 5-for-10 on 3-pointers in the second half, ultimately winning the game, 81-75.

Wisconsin has now won three of its last four non-conference November tournaments. The Badgers also won the 2021 Maui Invitational and the 2023 Fort-Myers Tip-Off.

2. TONJE TOO TOUGH

John Tonje not only took home Greenbrier Tip-Off Tournament MVP honors, but the graduate guard also earned his second Big Ten Player of the Week award in as many weeks. Tonje became the first Badger since Johnny Davis in 2022 to earn the distinction.

Tonje scored 25 second-half points to lead the Badgers to a comeback victory over Pitt. His 33 points for the game was his second 30-plus point performance on the season, having previously scored 41 in a win against then No. 9 Arizona earlier in the season.

Tonje is the only player in the Big Ten this season with multiple 30+ point games. He is averaging 23.0 points per game, which ranks ninth in the NCAA and second in the Big Ten.

3. HIGH FLYIN' BADGERS

The Badgers are off to their best start since their 2014-15 season when the team made the national championship game. UW’s success has come from a new offensive identity. For the first time in program history, Wisconsin has started its season with seven straight games scoring 79 or more points.

Wisconsin is shooting and making more 3-pointers than they ever have in program history, averaging 9.3 makes on 25.6 attempts per game. The free throw shooting has been brilliant as well, as UW leads the nation at 86.5% on 24.3 attempts per game.

On the season, the Badgers have had three different players - Tonje, Blackwell, and Max Klesmit – score 26+ points in a game. The last time UW had three different players hit that mark in a season was Ethan Happ, Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig during the 2016-17 season.

4. CATCHING UP ON THE COUGARS

Wisconsin will return home to face Chicago State on Saturday, the penultimate non-conference home game for the Badgers.

The Cougars are 0-8 to begin their season under first-year head coach Scott Spinelli. Earlier in the week, Chicago State dropped both of its games in the 2024 Sunshine Slam with losses to Radford and Drexel.

Chicago State is led in scoring by junior guard Jales Forrest. The cougars sport a deep rotation, with nine players averaging 13.0+ minutes per game.

5. SERIES HISTORY

Wisconsin will match up against Chicago State for the fifth time in program history, dating back to 2003.

Each game has occurred at the Kohl Center, with the Badgers undefeated in the all-time series, 4-0. UW has won each game by an average margin of 21.2 points.

The last time the two team's faced off against each other was last season on Dec. 22, 2023. Wisconsin won the game, 80-53. Steven Crowl scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the victory. Current Badgers John Blackwell, Max Klesmit, Nolan Winter, Kamari McGee, and Carter Gilmore all made appearances in the game.