John Blackwell rises up for a shot against Michigan

Nolan Kromke

Men's Basketball December 06, 2024 Jake Ross

Starting Five: Wisconsin to face No. 5 Marquette

Badgers' first true road game of the season

MADISON, Wis. — After facing its first setback of the season in a loss against Michigan, No. 11 Wisconsin will look to rebound against in-state rival No. 5 Marquette in the first true road game of the season.

The game will tip-off Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (CT) on FOX.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW:

MADISON, WI - DECEMBER 3: durning a college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Wisconsin Badgers on December 3rd, 2024 at the Kohl Center in Madison, WI. (Photo by Dan Sanger/Wisconsin Athletic Communications)

John Tonje (9) scored 18 points against Michigan

1. LAST TIME OUT

Wisconsin’s first loss came against Michigan in one of the closest games of the season so far. The Badgers fell, 67-64, with John Tonje’s game-tying heave hitting off the back of the rim at the buzzer. Tonje led the team with 18 points, the ninth consecutive game where he’s scored in double figures.

Wisconsin held Michigan to just 23-of-59 (39.0%) shooting, but was unable to maintain the six-point lead the team had at halftime. The Badgers went 14-for-19 (73.7%) from the free throw line to maintain their NCAA leading 85.2% shooting mark on the season.

Wisconsin had previously won its first eight games of the season, its best start since 2013-14. It was only the fourth time in program history that the team started off 8-0.

John Blackwell (25) scored 16 points against Michigan

2. THE TWO JOHNS

The Badgers were led in scoring by graduate student John Tonje and sophomore John Blackwell. Tonje scored 18 points, while going 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Tonje was a great outside shooter before transferring to Wisconsin – a career 37.2% 3-PT shooter at Colorado State – but the guard has jumped to another level this season. He’s averaging 2.1 makes on 4.8 attempts per game, good for 44.2%, the eighth highest percentage amongst Big Ten players shooting over 4.0 attempts per game.

John Blackwell had a great game as well, scoring 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field. On top of that, Blackwell matched his career high with nine total rebounds, and saw a new high with four offensive rebounds. Blackwell’s sophomore season has seen a jump from his All-Big Ten Freshman season last year. The guard went from averaging 8.0 points per game and 3.2 rebounds to 15.0 points per game and 4.9 rebounds, all while maintaining similar efficiency.

Either Tonje or Blackwell has led the team in scoring in 8-of-9 games. The two players are also responsible for seven of the eight highest scoring performances this season.

Wisconsin Badgers during an NCAA college men’s basketball game against the Marquette Golden Eagles, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (Photo by David Stluka/UW Athletic Communications)

Kamari McGee (4) drives against Marquette in 2023-24

3. GET TO KNOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES

Marquette was off to one of the hottest starts of any team in the country, winning its first eight games before falling to No. 6 Iowa State on Wednesday. Currently ranked at No. 5, the Golden Eagles have secured signature wins against Maryland and Purdue.

The team is coached by Shaka Smart in his fourth season at the helm, and is 83-31 in his career with the Golden Eagles. Under Smart, Marquette has made the NCAA tournament in each of the last three seasons, and secured a Big East Conference championship in 2022-23.

The entirety of Marquette’s starting five this season is made up of upperclassmen who have spent their entire career with the team. They are led by senior Kameron Jones, who received votes for the AP Men’s Preseason All-America Team. He’s currently averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Senior David Joplin is averaging 15.0 points per game. Senior Stevie Mitchell and junior Chase Ross round out the double-figure scoring with 11.9 and 10.6 points per game, respectively.

Max Klesmit (11) scored 21 points in the first half against Marquette on 12/2/23

4. SERIES HISTORY

The Badgers and the Golden Eagles have faced off at least once every season since 1958-59. Wisconsin leads the all-time series, 71-59, and has taken the last three matchups. UW trails, however, when playing in Milwaukee, 30-41.

Marquette was ranked in the top-five of the AP Poll the last time the two teams faced as well. Last season saw Wisconsin take down No. 3 Marquette at the Kohl Center, 75-64. Max Klesmit scored 21 points in the first half of the game, while Steven Crowl added 16 points.

Wisconsin won the last time the team traveled to Milwaukee during the 2022-23 season. The game went into overtime, with the Badgers pulling out the 80-77 victory. Steven Crowl scored eight points and had his first career seven assist game, while Klesmit chipped in 13 points and four assists.

Jack Janicki (33) is shooting 35.7% from 3 this season.

5. THREE AND D

Wisconsin’s high scoring offense has been partially aided by a boost in 3-point shooting. Wisconsin is taking more 3s than ever before, never in program history has the team shot and made more than its current split of 9.0-for-26.2 3-point attempts per game.

Equally impressive though has been the team’s ability to stop opponent shooting. Teams are shooting just 29.2% from 3 against the Badgers this season, only one of Wisconsin’s last seven opponents have hit over 30.0% of their 3s. The 2012-13 Wisconsin team is the only team in program history that held opponents to a worse percentage at 28.9% from beyond the arc.

The differential between UW's 34.3% from 3 and its opponent’s 29.2%, is the second largest differential in shooting since 1993-94. The 2011-12 Wisconsin team is the only other team in program history that’s held its opponents to less than 30.0% from 3 while shooting over 34.0%.

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