1898
February - Six years after the advent of the new sport of basketball, Bob Burdick, John Mapel, Carl Sillman, Paul Stover and Captain Walter Hirschberg make up the first Wisconsin Badger basketball team. Dr. J.C. Elsom is the first UW coach.
1899
January 21 - Wisconsin plays its first-ever game and falls to the Milwaukee Normal Alumni, 25-15, in Milwaukee.
March 4- The Badgers play their first home game at the Red Gym (link to Red Gym). The Milwaukee Normal Alumni edge Wisconsin, 13-10, and the Badgers finish their first season 0-3.
1900
February 15- The Wisconsin men's basketball team defeats Wayland Academy, 25-15, for the first victory in school history.
1902
March- After completing a 10-game schedule (all on the road), the Badgers finish the year with a 7-3 record, their first winning season.
1904
December 2- Emmett Angell coaches the Badgers for the first time and watches his team rout Sparta's Company C, 75-10. Christian Steinmetz scores 50 points in the victory to set a pre-modern, single-game scoring mark.
1905
January- The Badgers make their first road trip to the East and come home with a 2-6 mark after games in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Spring- Christian Steinmetz finishes the season with 462 points, setting a Wisconsin season scoring mark that would stand for 61 years. Steinmetz is later named the Badgers'first All-American.
1907
March 15- Wisconsin defeats Purdue, 37-10, to secure an 11-3 record and a 6-2 mark in the Big Ten, earning the school's first Big Ten championship. The Badgers would share the title with both Chicago and Minnesota.
1908
March 9- The Badgers claim back-to-back Big Ten championships with a 27-14 win over Illinois, sharing the conference title with Chicago for the second consecutive season. Wisconsin finished 10-2 overall, including a 7-1 record in Big Ten play. Three days later on March 12, UW would lose to Chicago, 18-16, in a Big Ten title playoff game held in Madison.
December 19- Wisconsin's third head coach, Haskell Noyes, watches his team dismantle Lawrence 53-13 in his first game at the helm. Noyes guided the Badgers to a 23-2 home-court record during his tenure.
1911
December 9- Wisconsin's fourth head coach Walter Meanwell coaches in his first game at UW, as the Badgers defeat Beloit, 31-18.
1912
March 16- First-year coach Walter Meanwell, known as the "Little Doctor,"guides the Badgers to a 32-21 win over Indiana, capping a perfect 12-0 Big Ten season and earning the school's third conference title. Wisconsin, would share the championship with Purdue (10-0). The win over Indiana also completed an unbeaten season overall at 15-0. Years later, Wisconsin would be retro-actively awarded the 1912 Helms Foundation National Championship.
1913
March 1- A 22-19 win over Purdue pushes Wisconsin to 11-0 during Big Ten play, giving the Badgers a second-consecutive conference championship, the fourth in program history. UW would finish the year 14-1, 11-1 in Big Ten action.
1914
March 10 - The Badgers earn their third-consecutive Big Ten championship with a 27-13 win at Purdue, polishing off the team?s second undefeated season in the last three years. Wisconsin finished a perfect 15-0 overall and 12-0 in the Big Ten. Later, the Helms Foundation would name the Badgers 1914 National Champions, becoming the fourth multi-year champion in NCAA history (along with Yale, Columbia and Chicago).
1916
March 11 -Wisconsin closes the season with a 24-21 win at Northwestern, capping a 20-1 season and earning the school?s third Helms Foundation National Championship. UW?s school-record 20 wins would stand until 1999. The Badgers also went 11-1 in conference play, netting the sixth Big Ten championship in program history.
1917
December 8- Guy Lowman, Wisconsin?s fifth head coach, guides the Badgers to a 26-21 home victory over Beloit in his UW debut.
1918
March 16- Despite dropping a 19-11 decision to Minnesota, first-year coach Guy Lowman's Badgers win the school's sixth Big Ten championship in 12 years. Wisconsin finishes the season 14-3 overall and 9-3 in the Big Ten.
1920
Spring- After a two-year appointment at University of Missouri, Walter "Doc" Meanwell returns to Wisconsin for his second stint as the head coach of the Badgers. Meanwell also presided over the Badgers from 1912-17.
1921
March 8- In his first year returning to the helm, Walter Meanwell leads Wisconsin to a 34-24 win over Ohio State helping the Badgers close the season with four consecutive wins and earn a share of the 1921 Big Ten championship. With a mark of 8-4 (13-4 overall), UW equaled Michigan and Purdue atop the standings for the programs eighth conference title.
1923
March 12- The Badgers win their final seven games of the season, including a 35-17 win over Indiana in the season finale. Wisconsin tied Iowa for the Big Ten championship with an 11-1 record, 12-3 overall.
1924
March 15- Wisconsin wins back-to-back Big Ten titles and becomes the conference?s first school to win 10 Big Ten championships. UW trailed Chicago by one game going into the final contest of the season, but pulled out a 30-14 win over the Maroons to finish 8-4 in conference and earn a share of the title.
1929
March 9- Walter Meanwell wins his seventh and final Big Ten championship at Wisconsin as the Badgers wrap up a 15-2 season with a 19-15 win over Chicago. The Badgers won at least 10 Big Ten games (10-2) for the sixth time in school history, equaling Michigan atop the 1929 standings.
1930
December 18 -The Badgers defeat Penn, 25-12, in the dedication game for the new Wisconsin Field House.>>>>>
1934
Spring -Walter Meanwell retires from coaching after 22 seasons, including 20 at Wisconsin. Meanwell led the Badgers to seven Big Ten championships and posted a career record of 246-99 (.712) at UW. Following his coaching career, Meanwell would practice medicine in Madison until his death in 1953.
Fall -Harold "Bud" Foster, a former All-America player for the Badgers, takes over as head coach. Foster will hold that position for 25 years, longer than any other basketball coach in school history.
November 30 -"Bud" Foster coaches his first game at UW, as the Badgers take down Franklin College 34-11 at the UW Field House. Foster would win his first four games as Wisconsin?s head coach.
1935
March 2 -In his first season as head coach, Harold "Bud" Foster leads the Badgers to a 48-25 win over Chicago to clinch Wisconsin's 12th Big Ten championship. The Badgers finished the season 9-3 (15-5 overall) in a tie with Purdue and Illinois atop the conference standings.
1941
March 1 -With a 42-32 win over Minnesota, the Badgers close the regular season with 11 straight conference wins to finish 11-1 and claim their 13th Big Ten title. Team captain Gene Englund is named Big Ten MVP and would later earn All-America honors.
March 22 -Hosting the NCAA tournament Eastern Regional at the UW Field House, Wisconsin defeats Dartmouth, 51-50, and Pittsburgh, 36-30, in consecutive days to advance to the 1941 NCAA Championship Game in Kansas City, Mo. Gene Englund and John Kotz both score in double figures in each of the two games.
March 29 -The "Cinderella" Badgers, lower division finishers in the Big Ten just one year earlier, top Washington State, 39-34, at Municipal Arena in Kansas City, Mo. to win their first and only NCAA tournament championship. UW ends the season winning its final 15 games as John Kotz (12 points) is named tournament MVP.
1942
Spring -Wisconsin has the Big Ten MVP for the second straight season when John Kotz earns the award. Kotz also garners All-America kudos.>>>>>
1947
March -The 15-5 Big Ten champion Badgers are invited to play in the NCAA Eastern Regionals in New York's Madison Square Garden. Wisconsin takes third place in the East by squeaking past Navy, 50-49, after losing the opener, 70-56, to CCNY.
1948
February 9 -The Badgers register one of their greatest comeback wins against Michigan State. The Badgers were behind 10 points at halftime and came back to win, 51-39.
December 9 -Wisconsin sets a team record for field goal percentage defense, limiting Missouri to just .183 percent shooting. The Badgers would also hold Creighton to .183 percentage from the field later that season (January 8, 1949).
1949
February 28 -Junior Don Rehfeldt takes 37 shots in a 70-47 trouncing of Iowa. Rehfeldt's 37 field goal attempts still stand as a single-game Wisconsin record.
1950
Spring -After being named the Big Ten's MVP, Don Rehfeldt becomes Wisconsin's last All-American until Alando Tucker in 2007. He finishes his career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,169 points. Rehfeldt is also picked second overall in the 1950 NBA Draft - the highest-selected Badger ever.
1951
Febraury 24 -The Badgers set what is still the school record for fewest points allowed in a modern-era game in a 35-29 victory over Michigan State.
1953
January 3 -Center Paul Morrow grabs what remains a school-record 30 rebounds in a 50-46 victory over Purdue.
1959
April 1 -Bud Foster resigns as head coach at the completion of 1958-59 season. John Erickson is handed the reins of the Badger basketball program after spending a year as an assistant coach at UW.
December 1 -The John Erickson era begins at Wisconsin with an 88-82 home loss to Butler. The Badgers would drop their first three games of 1959-60, before getting Erickson his first career win with an 85-67 win over Loyola (IL) on Dec. 12, 1959.
1962
January 27 -Despite Boilermaker Terry Dischinger's UW Field House-record 50 points, the Badgers defeat Purdue 89-86.
March 3 -In his third season as head coach, John Erickson guides the Badgers in defeating a top-ranked Ohio State squad (86-67) that featured All-Americans John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas, as well as reserve forward Bob Knight. The powerful Buckeyes see their 47-game winning streak come to an end.
1963
March 11 -After averaging 17.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, senior Ken Seibel earns the team's MVP award for the third-consecutive season. He remains the Badgers'only three-time MVP.
1965
March 8, 1965 -Ken Barnes scores a school-record 42 points, along with 23 rebounds, in a 92-73 loss to Indiana. Barnes'mark would stand alone until Michael Finley matched it in December of 1994.
1967
March 11 -With 12 seconds remaining in the season finale against Illinois, sophomore Chuck Nagle makes a layup to tie Christian Steinmetz as the school's single-season scoring leader with 462 points. Fouled on the play, Nagle converts the free throw and sets the record.
December 9 -The Badgers set a school single-game scoring record with a 120-82 win over SMU.
1968
March 2 -Senior Joe Franklin pulls down a career-high 27 rebounds in a 104-84 victory over Purdue, marking his final game at the UW Field House. Franklin ends his collegiate career one week later having amassed 858 boards for what is still a school-record 11.9 average rebounds per game.
March 9 -Only one year after Chuck Nagle snaps Wisconsin's 62-year-old single-season scoring mark set by Christian Steinmetz, Joe Franklin registers 30 points in the season finale at Northwestern to finish the campaign with a school-best 544 points.
April 26 -Wisconsin names John Powless its eighth head coach following the withdrawal of Bob Knight from accepting the vacant position.
1969
December 1 -John Powless coaches in his first game at UW, beating Ball State 88-74 in the team's regular-season debut. Powless finishes his career having coached the most Badgers who would be drafted into the NBA (9).
1971
March 13 -Senior co-captain Clarence Sherrod scores 27 points in a season-ending loss at Michigan to finish the year with 570 points. It is the third time in five seasons that the Badgers have a new all-time single-season scoring leader.
1972
January 15 -Wisconsin records a road upset of No. 17 Indiana with a 66-64 overtime win, marking just UW's second road win over a ranked foe in the last 16 years (along with a 66-65 win at Illinois on Feb. 3, 1970).
1976
January 5 -The Badgers record the largest comeback in school history when they erase a 22-point (47-25) deficit and gain an 82-81 overtime victory over Ohio State at the UW Field House.
February 7 -The men's basketball team was a perfect 22-of-22 at the free throw line to set a UW record for most attempts without a miss. Purdue was perfect as well, hitting all 25 free throws in an 85-74 Boilermakers' victory in Madison.
March 16 -The ninth head coach in Wisconsin history, Bill Cofield, is hired to replace John Powless. On the same day he accepted the position at Wisconsin, Cofield made the announcement that William "Bo"Ryan would be one of his assistant coaches.
November 27 -Bill Cofield coaches his first game in a 72-64 loss at No. 6 Kentucky. Cofield would register his first career win at Wisconsin five days later in an 82-76 win over St. Mary's (CA) on Dec. 2.
1979
March 3 -Guard Wes Matthews hits a half-court shot as time expires to help the Badgers defeat Magic Johnson and eventual NCAA champion Michigan State, 83-81, at the UW Field House. Claude Gregory would lead UW with 25 points and 16 rebounds in the win over No. 4 MSU.
1981
March 10 -Claude Gregory scores 29 points and grabs 17 rebounds in his last game at UW. He leaves as the school's career leader in points (1,745) and rebounds (904), breaking the career marks of Clarence Sherrod (1,408 points) and Joe Franklin (858 rebounds).>>>>>
1982
April 20 -Wisconsin hires Steve Yoder as its 10th head coach. Yoder spent the previous five seasons at Ball State where he led the Red Hawks to a 77-62 overall record and a berth in the 1981 NCAA Tournament.
November 27 -Steve Yoder coaches in his first game at UW, falling to Washington State at home, 64-66. Yoder would record his first career victory at Wisconsin two days later, as the Badgers defeated Toledo, 79-71, at the UW Field House on Nov. 29.
1985
December 2 -In a non-conference matchup with San Francisco State, senior Rick Olson makes 17 field goals in a 90-61 Badgers victory. Olson's 17 field goals tops the previous school record of 16 set nearly 27 years earlier by Bob Litzow.
1986
March 9 -Setting a school record by starting every game (112) in his four-year career, Rick Olson guides Wisconsin past Northwestern, 70-68. Olson scores 26 points in the game and misses becoming the school's career scoring leader by nine points (ending with 1,736 career points). However, he does become the UW's single-season scoring champion with 571 points.
1987
February 16 -In one of the most infamous games in school history, the Badgers take eventual NCAA champion Indiana to triple OT before falling, 86-85, at the UW Field House before a capacity crowd and national TV audience.
March 8 -Mike Heineman scores 20 points, grabs seven rebounds and hands out nine assists in his final game as a Badger. Heineman ends his career as Wisconsin's all-time assist leader with 388.
1989
January 21 -Wisconsin upsets sixth-ranked and eventual national champion Michigan, 71-68, at the Field House.
March 15 -After a 17-11 regular season, Steve Yoder's Badgers make their first-ever appearance in the National Invitation Tournament, defeating New Orleans, 63-61, at the UW Field House. It is Wisconsin's first postseason appearance since the 1947 NCAA Tournament.
March 20 -Danny Jones scores 24 points in the season finale vs. St. Louis, an NIT second-round, 73-68, loss. His 611 points establishes a new single-season school scoring record.
1990
January 20- Patrick Tompkins made a lay-in at the buzzer to beat No. 21 Minnesota, 77-75, at the UW Field House.
February 15- Danny Jones breaks Wisconsin's career scoring mark against Ohio State. Jones ends his career with 1,854 points, breaking the previous mark of 1,745 set by Claude Gregory in 1981.
1991
March 13, 1991- The Badgers make their second NIT appearance in three years and defeat Bowling Green, 87-79 (OT), at the UW Field House. UW, however, is eliminated from the tournament five days later by Stanford. 80-72.
1992
February 24- Steve Yoder resigned as men's head basketball coach, effective April 1, 1992.
March 25- Former N.Y. Knicks coach Stu Jackson is hired as Wisconsin's 11th head coach.
1993
January 23- The men's basketball team turned in one of its greatest comeback wins at No. 21 Michigan State after being behind by 12 points in the second half and coming back to win, 67-66.
February 13-Sophomore Michael Finley goes head-to-head with Purdue All-American Glenn Robinson. Finley scores 33 points and adds a Big Ten-record 10 steals but the 18th-ranked Boilermakers prevail, 90-87, in double overtime behind Robinson's 42 points.
March 17- Wisconsin qualifies for its third NIT in five years but loses, 77-73, to Rice in the first round at the UW Field House.
November 22- The Badgers are ranked 25th by the Associated Press, their first national ranking by the A.P. since January of 1976.
1994
March 17- Led by Michael Finley, Tracy Webster and Rashard Griffith, coach Stu Jackson's Badgers earn a No. 9 seed in the 1994 NCAA Tournament. Finley and Griffith each score 22 points as Wisconsin defeats eighth-seeded Cincinnati, 80-72, in the school's first NCAA tournament game since 1947. Despite 36 points from Finley, UW is eliminated two days later in a 109-96 loss to No. 1 seed Missouri.
July 22- After two years at Wisconsin, Stu Jackson leaves to become the first general manager of the NBA's expansion Vancouver Grizzlies. UW Athletics Director Pat Richter promotes assistant coach Stan Van Gundy to the role of head coach.
November 26- Stan Van Gundy guides Wisconsin to an 86-63 home victory over Wright State in his debut. Van Gundy and UW would go on to win six of the first seven games of the 1994-95 season.
December 10- Michael Finley scores a school record-tying 42 points in a 92-76 loss at Eastern Michigan. He registers 33 points in the second half, setting the school mark for points in a half.
1995
January 14- Michael Finley breaks Danny Jones'school career scoring mark in the first half of the Badgers' 74-67 home win over Minnesota. Finley goes on to finish his career with 2,147 points.
March 31- Dick Bennett is hired from UW-Green Bay as Wisconsin's 13th head coach, replacing Stan Van Gundy.
June 28- Michael Finley becomes the first Wisconsin first-round NBA draft choice since 1980 when he is selected 21st overall by Phoenix.>>>>>
1996
March 13- In his first season, Dick Bennett guides Wisconsin to a 16-14 regular season and an appearance in the 1996 NIT. UW defeat Manhattan, 55-42, in the first round at the UW Field House, but would be eliminated five days later in a 77-62 home loss to Illinois State.
1997
January 4- Wisconsin snaps a 31-game losing streak to Indiana with a 71-58 victory over the No. 12 Hoosiers at the UW Field House. The Badgers would jump out to a 17-0 lead before Indiana scores.
March 8- The Badgers lock up the school's second NCAA tournament bid in 50 years with a 66-65 upset win over No. 2-ranked Minnesota at the UW Field House. It is the UW's first win over a first or second-ranked opponent since 1962.
March 14- The seventh-seeded Badgers fall behind 15-3 in the opening minutes before dropping a 71-58 decision to No. 10 seed Texas in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena.
June 25- Paul Grant becomes UW's second first-round NBA draft choice in three years when he is selected 20th overall by Minnesota.
1998
January 14- The Badgers play the final game in the UW Field House and record a 76-57 win over Penn State.
January 17- Wisconsin opens the new, $76-million Kohl Center with a 56-33 triumph over Northwestern before 16,697 fans, including Sen. Herb Kohl.
December 27- Wisconsin's 10th straight win gives the school a 12-1 record for only the second time since 1929-30.
1999
January 31- With a record of 19-3, the Badgers achieve the school's highest national ranking (11th by A.P.) since 1962.
March 1- Sophomore guard Mike Kelley becomes the first Badger to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Kelley finished the season with a team-high 62 steals, the sixth-highest single-season total in UW history.
March 5- With a 74-50 win over No. 20 Iowa in the 1999 Big Ten Tournament, Wisconsin wins its school-record 22nd game of the season. This is just the third time in UW history -and the first since 1940-41 -that UW reached the 20-win plateau.
March 7- UW receives its fifth NCAA tournament bid and second of the Dick Bennett era, earning a No. 5 seed. The Badgers'season would come to an end with a 43-32 first round loss to No. 12 seed Missouri State in Charlotte, N.C. UW shot a season-low .255 from the field and their 32 points were the fewest in an NCAA tournament game since the advent of the shot clock in 1986.
2000
March 1- Guard Mike Kelley becomes Wisconsin's career steals leader in a 62-46 win at Northwestern. He would finish with 275 career steals, surpassing the previous record of 183 by Tracy Webster.
March 12- Wisconsin receives its sixth NCAA tournament bid and third in the five-year Dick Bennett era with a No. 8 seed in the West Regional.
March 16-18- Wisconsin defeats ninth-seeded Fresno State and top-seeded Arizona in the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah. The wins allow the UW to advance to its first-ever Sweet 16.
March 23-25- The Badgers advance to the Final Four after defeating fourth-seeded and 10th-ranked LSU in the West Regional semifinal and Big Ten rival and sixth-seeded Purdue in the regional title game in Albuquerque, N.M. The win over the Boilermakers ties the school single-season wins record (22) set by the 1998-99 squad. Guard Jon Bryant (16.8 points per game and 18-for-36 from 3-point range in four games) is named the West Regional MVP and guard Mike Kelley and forward Andy Kowske are named to the all-West Regional team. Upon their return to Madison on the night of the 25th, the Badgers are greeted by 20,000 screaming fans at a pep rally in Camp Randall Stadium.
April 1- The Badgers'amazing NCAA tournament run ends in the semifinals at the Final Four in Indianapolis with a 53-41 loss to eventual national champion Michigan State.
November 29- The Badgers defeat 13th-ranked Maryland, 78-75, in overtime at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Following the game, Dick Bennett tells the team he has coached his last game and formally announces his retirement the next day. Assistant head coach Brad Soderberg takes over as UW's 14th head basketball coach.
December 2- After being named head coach just two days earlier, Brad Soderberg records his first victory in a 61-46 win over Xavier at the Kohl Center. Soderberg would go on to win the next seven-straight games and joins Bo Ryan as the only head coaches in UW history to take the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament in their first seasons.
2001
January 29- Wisconsin ascends to No. 10 in the Associated Press top 25, the school's highest ranking since it was ranked seventh on Dec. 11, 1962.
March 11- Wisconsin receives its third consecutive NCAA tournament bid and the seventh in school history, but the sixth-seeded Badgers fall, 50-49, to No. 11 Georgia State.
March 29- After announcing on March 19 that Brad Soderberg will not be retained, UW Director of Athletics Pat Richter hires William "Bo" Ryan from UW-Milwaukee as the 15th head coach in Badger basketball history.
2002
January 12- Freddie Owens hits a runner with 25 seconds left in the game to give Wisconsin a 64-63 win over Michigan State in East Lansing. The win snapped the Spartans' Big Ten-record 53-game home winning streak.
February 13- Behind Charlie Wills' 17 points, the Badgers defeat Indiana, 64-63, in Bloomington. The victory is UW's first at Assembly Hall since 1977, a span of 22 games.
February 27- Wisconsin clinches a share of its first Big Ten title since 1947 with a 74-54 win over Michigan at the Kohl Center. Devin Harris and Kirk Penney each score 21 points and hit four 3-pointers. With the victory, the Badgers earn their first-ever No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament.
March 5- Head coach Bo Ryan is named the Big Ten Coach of the Year, becoming the first UW coach to receive the honor. Junior Kirk Penney is also a unanimous first-team all-league selection, just the fifth Badger since 1948 to earn unanimous first-team honors.
March 15- Seniors Travon Davis and Charlie Wills become the first UW players to appear in four NCAA tournaments as the Badgers defeat St. John's, 80-70, at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Wisconsin falls to eventual national champion Maryland, 87-57, two days later.
2003
March 5- Point guard Devin Harris hits the game-winning free throw with 0.4 seconds remaining to give Wisconsin a 60-59 win over Illinois and its first outright Big Ten title since 1947.
March 11- For the second consecutive season, Bo Ryan is named the Big Ten's Coach of the Year. He is the only coach in league history to win the award in each of his first two seasons. Kirk Penney is also a repeat first-team All-Big Ten selection, UW?s first back-to-back first teamer since 1951-52.
March 20- Wisconsin earns its fifth straight bid to the NCAA tournament and is seeded fifth in the Midwest Region. The Badgers defeat Weber State, 81-74, in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Spokane, Wash. The win is the 23rd of the season for UW, breaking the school record of 22. It also marks the first time in school history that Wisconsin has won NCAA tournament games in consecutive seasons.
March 22- Junior Freddie Owens hits a 3-pointer with one second left to cap the greatest comeback in school history and give the Badgers a 61-60 win over Tulsa and a berth in the Sweet 16.Wisconsin had trailed 58-45 with 3:36 remaining before outscoring the Golden Hurricane 16-2 the rest of the way.>>>
2004
January 24 -February 4-Junior Devin Harris scores 97 points over a three-game span, setting a UW record. Harris just misses becoming the first UW player in history to record three straight 30-point games, scoring 30 vs. Illinois (Jan. 24), 29 at Ohio State (Jan. 28) and a career-high 38 vs. Minnesota (Feb. 4). At the time, the 38-point effort tied for the fourth-highest single-game total by a Badger.
March 10- The Big Ten announces that UW junior Devin Harris (19.5 points, 4.4 assists per game) has been named conference player of the year. Harris is the first Badger to earn the award since Don Rehfeldt in 1950.
March 14- Wisconsin defeats Illinois, 70-53, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to win the 2004 Big Ten Tournament, the first tourney title in UW history. Devin Harris is named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and Mike Wilkinson joins him on the 2004 All-Tournament Team. UW defeated Minnesota in the quarterfinals and Michigan State in the semis.
March 19- Almost exactly a year after erasing a 13-point deficit to win a second round game in the 2003 NCAA Tournament, the Badgers rally from a 13-point, second-half deficit to defeat Richmond, 76-64, in the first round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee. The victory is UW's 25th of the season, breaking the school record for wins in a season, set just a year before.
June 24- Devin Harris is selected with the No. 5 pick of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards and was subsequently traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Harris'selection is the second-highest for a UW player in history, trailing only Don Rehfeldt (No. 2 overall pick by Baltimore in the 1950 NBA Draft).
2005
January 5- Behind Zach Morley's career-high 22 points stemming mostly from 6-of-8 3-point shooting, the Badgers defeated Purdue 77-68 for their first win in West Lafayette since 1972, a streak of 29 straight losses. It was the Boilermakers'first home loss to Wisconsin under then-coach Gene Keady.
January 16- Down 59-51 with two minutes remaining, UW scores the game's final 11 points to rally past No. 12 Michigan State, 62-59, at the Kohl Center. Kammron Taylor's runner in the lane with 31 seconds left proved to be the game-winner.
March 18- Wisconsin earns its seventh-straight trip to the NCAA tournament with a No. 6 seed in the Syracuse Regional. The Badgers defeat Northern Iowa, 57-52, and Bucknell, 71-62, to advance to the Sweet 16.
March 25- Wisconsin comes back from two 10-point deficits and got a game-high 22 points from Alando Tucker in defeating 10th-seeded N.C. State for its second trip to the Elite Eight in the past five years. Two days later, the Badgers would come up just short to eventual national champion, top-seeded North Carolina, 88-82.
2006
March 4- Alando Tucker scores 10 points in UW's Big Ten Conference finale against Iowa and becomes the first Badger to lead the league in scoring since Don Rehfeldt in 1950. Tucker averaged 20.0 points in 16 games.
March 12- Wisconsin is selected to make its eighth-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, falling 94-75 to No. 9 seed Arizona.
August 17-27- The Badgers embark on a five-game, 10-day trip to Italy. Wisconsin would come home with a 5-0 record after visiting Rome, Florence, Siena, Treviglio, Lake Como and Milan.
November 20- Brian Butch and Alando Tucker appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, marking the first time UW has been featured on the cover of the magazine.
December 16- Tucker and Butch both score 20 points in the first half as Wisconsin defeats No. 2-ranked Pitt, 89-75. It is just the third time in school history UW has beaten the No. 2 team in the country.
2007
January 28- Wisconsin defeats Iowa, 57-46, to win its school-record 17th straight game. UW went 67 days without losing a game. The Badgers' 21-1 record is the best to start a season in school history.
February 19- With a 26-2 record and a 12-1 mark in Big Ten play, UW is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll for the first time in school history.
Febraury 25- For the first time in Big Ten history, the top two teams in the Associated Press poll square off as No. 2 Ohio State defeats No. 1 Wisconsin, 49-48, in Columbus. Buckeye freshman Mike Conley, Jr. made a runner with 4 seconds left to give OSU the lead and Kammron Taylor's last-second shot was blocked to seal UW's fate.
March 6- Alando Tucker (19.9 points, 5.4 rebounds per game) is named Big Ten Player of the Year. He is the sixth Badger to win the award and second in the last four years.
March 10- With his first basket against Illinois in the Big Ten tournament semifinal, Alando Tucker passes Michael Finley (2,147 career points) to become UW's all-time leading scorer. Tucker finishes his career with 2,217 points, ninth-best in Big Ten history.
March 12- Wisconsin is awarded a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the highest seed in school history. The Badgers would come back from an 18-point first-half deficit to defeat No. 15 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 76-63, before being upset by No. 7 UNLV, 74-68, in round two.
March 28- Head coach Bo Ryan receives the Adolph Rupp Cup as the National Coach of the Year from the Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky. Five days later, Ryan is selected as the Clair Bee Coach of the Year.
March 31- Alando Tucker is announced as the winner of the 2007 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, presented annually to college basketball's outstanding NCAA Division I senior student-athlete. Tucker also receives the NABC Career Achievement Award two days later. Tucker is the first Badger to win a national player of the year award since 1918.
December 29-Wisconsin gets its first of two road wins over top-15 teams when Michael Flowers makes a 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds remaining to beat No. 9 Texas, 67-66. Two months later, Brian Butch would bank in a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left to give UW a 68-66 win at No. 13 Indiana on Feb. 13.
2008
March 5- Wisconsin defeats Penn State, 77-41, to clinch its third Big Ten regular season title in seven seasons under Bo Ryan. A capacity crowd rushes the Kohl Center floor setting off a wild trophy presentation and net-cutting ceremony. Days later, the Badgers would win the regular-season finale at Northwestern to give them a school-record 16 Big Ten wins.
March 16- UW beats Illinois, 61-48, in the finals of the Big Ten tournament to give the school its second-ever conference tournament title. Wisconsin also becomes the fifth school to win both the regular season and tournament championships in the same season.
March 22- A No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, Wisconsin goes to Omaha, Neb. and defeats Cal-State Fullerton, 71-56, in the first round before knocking off No. 11 seed Kansas State in the second round. Sophomore guard Trevon Hughes scores a game-high 25 points as the Badgers advance to Detroit to play in their third Sweet 16 in the last six seasons.
2009
February 14- ESPN's "College GameDay"broadcasts live from the Kohl Center prior to a 55-50 win over Ohio State. In front 2,500 fans, Bo Ryan, Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft appear along with ESPN's Bob Knight, Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps and Hubert Davis.
March 20- Claiming a No. 12 seed, the Badgers keep their consecutive NCAA tournament streak alive (11th-straight) and pull out a 61-59 overtime upset of No. 5 seed Florida State in Boise, Idaho. Trevon Hughes? spinning three-point play in the lane with just two seconds remaining lifts UW to victory.
July 11- Serving as head coach, Bo Ryan leads Team USA to a bronze medal in the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. Ryan led the team to a 6-1 record, including a win over gold-medalist Serbia in the second round. A one-point loss to Russia in the semifinals forced the U.S. into the third-place game, where it defeated Israel.
December 2- Behind 26 points from Trevon Hughes, Wisconsin knocks off No. 6 Duke, 73-69, clinching the Big Ten?s first overall win in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. This would be the first of three wins over AP top-10 teams on the season, including victories over No. 4 Purdue and No. 5 Michigan State.
2010
January 24- With a 79-71 overtime win against Penn State, Bo Ryan becomes the 18th coach with 100 Big Ten wins and ties Branch McCracken as the second-fastest coach to reach that milestone, doing so in 140 games. Only Bob Knight (131 games) did it faster.
March 19- A Jon Leuer baseline jumper with 17 seconds left gives Wisconsin the lead and eventually a 53-49 win over Wofford in the opening round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
2011
January 23- Freshman Josh Gasser posts the first triple-double in school history with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 78-46 win over Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Gasser becomes the first Big Ten freshman to record an official triple-double. As a freshman, Earvin "Magic"Johnson turned the trick in 1977 before assists were an official stat.
February 21- Junior Jordan Taylor scores 21 of his 27 points in the second half, rallying No. 13 Wisconsin from a 15-point deficit to beat No. 1 Ohio State, 71-67, at the Kohl Center. It marks UW?s second-ever win over the AP No. 1-ranked team and its first since 1962.
March 3- Junior Jordan Taylor scores 39 points,including 17 straight in the second half,in a 77-67 win at Indiana, tying as the third-highest scoring game in Wisconsin history and just one shy of the Assembly Hall opponent record of 40 (held by Terry Furlow 1976 and Shawn Respert 1995).
March 19- UW earns a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and travels to Tucson, Ariz., to knock off No. 13 seed Belmont, 72-58, in the second round and No. 5 seed Kansas State, 70-65, in the third round. Led by senior Jon Leuer, who averaged 20.5 points per game, the Badgers made 21-of-42 3-pointers in Tucson, advancing to the Sweet 16 in New Orleans.
March 28- Junior Jordan Taylor (2nd team) and senior Jon Leuer (honorable mention) receive AP All-America mention, marking the first time UW had two players honored in the same season. The two also became the first UW duo to be named first-team All-Big Ten in the same season (Taylor - consensus, Leuer - coaches).
2012
March 9- With a 79-71 win over Indiana in the second round of the 2012 Big Ten Tournament, Bo Ryan notched his 266th career win to become Wisconsin's all-time wins leader. Ryan passed Hall of Famer Harold ?Bud? Foster (265 wins) in just 364 games and 11 seasons. Foster earned 265 wins in 532 total games and 25 seasons.
March 17 - Two days after cruising past 13th-seeded Montana, 73-49, the No. 4 seed Badgers pull out a 60-57 win over No. 5 Vanderbilt in Albuquerque, N.M. to advance to their sixth Sweet 16 in the last 13 years.
March 22 - Jordan Taylor's career comes to an end when his potential game-winning 3-pointer falls just short in a 64-63 Sweet 16 loss to No. 1 seed Syracuse in Boston, Mass. Taylor finishes his career seventh on Wisconsin's all-time scoring list with 1,533 points and second in school history with 464 career assists. He also set the NCAA career record with a 3.01 assist-to-turnover ratio (464 assists, 154 turnovers).
March 26 - Jordan Taylor becomes the second player in UW history (joining Michael Finley) to earn AP All-America recognition in two different seasons by receiving honorable mention.
February 9- A half-court heave at the buzzer from Ben Brust sends the Kohl Center into hysteria and Wisconsin's game against No. 3 Michigan into overtime. The Badgers would go on to win, 65-62, in OT.One month later on March 10, Traevon Jackson would sink a 35-footer at the buzzer to pull out a 63-60 win at Penn State in the Big Ten regular season finale.
March 11-Bo Ryan wins his third-career Big Ten Coach of the Year award. Ryan's three honors trails only legendary head coaches Gene Keady of Purdue (7) and Bob Knight of Indiana (5) for most conference coach of the year awards.
March 16-The Badgers defeat No. 3 Indiana, 68-56, in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament, marking the team's 12th-consecutive win over the Hoosiers. The win also gave UW back-to-back wins over AP top-5 teams in consecutive days after defeating No. 6 Michigan, 68-59, the day before. UW would fall to No. 10 Ohio State, 50-43, the next day in the tournament title game.
March 22-Wisconsin makes its 15th-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, falling in its opening game, 57-46, to No. 12 seed Ole Miss.
August 26-The Badgers wrapped up an eight-day, five-game exhibition trip to Ottawa and Toronto, Canada. UW finished 4-1 with wins over the University of Ottawa, Ryerson University and professional team A-Game Hoops, with the lone loss coming to Carleton.
November19- Junior center Frank Kaminsky records a school-record 43 points in a 103-85 win over North Dakota at the Kohl Center. Kaminsky went 16-for-19 from the field (6-for-6 from 3-point range) in 28 minutes to break the previous UW record of 42 held by Ken Barnes and Michael Finley.
2014
January 8-The Badgers topple No. 23 Illinois, 95-70, to begin the season 16-0, the best start in program history. UW's 16-game win streak is also the team's second longest in the modern era.
February 9-With a game against No. 8 Michigan State tied at 58-58, junior Traevon Jackson hit a pull-up jumper with 2.1 seconds remaining to give UW the 60-58 win at the Kohl Center.
March 22-In front of a raucous, pro-Badgers crowd, Wisconsin backed up an NCAA tournament opening-round 75-35 win over American by knocking off No 7 seed Oregon, 85-77, at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee. UW erased a 12-point halftime deficit to advance to its third Sweet 16 in the last four seasons.
March 29-Behind NCAA Tournament West Regional MOP Frank Kaminsky, the Badgers advanced to the 2014 Final Four after a 64-63 overtime win against No. 1-seeded Arizona. Kaminsky, who averaged 18.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg with seven blocks in the first four games, tallied 28 points and 11 rebounds against the Wildcats and helped Bo Ryan reach his first Div. I Final Four and UW's first since 2000. Wisconsin dispatched No. 6 seed Baylor, 69-52, in the Sweet 16 before defeating Arizona. Junior Traevon Jackson earned All-Region honors after averaging 12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 4.8 apg in the first four games. Upon their return to Madison the following day, the team was greeted at the Kohl Center by nearly 10,000 fans at welcome home pep rally.
April 5-The Badgers' captivating NCAA tournament run ended at the Final Four in North Texas. Playing in front of a crowd of 79,444 at AT&T Stadium, which was then the largest crowd to ever witness a college basketball game, Wisconsin fell, 74-73, to No. 8 seed Kentucky. The Wildcats' Aaron Harrison sank a deep 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds remaining to take the lead and a missed last-second jumper from Traevon Jackson sealed the Wildcats' win. The Badgers finished the season ranked No. 4 in the Coaches Poll, the highest postseason ranking in school history.
2015
March 1-No. 5 Wisconsin clinched the 18th regular season Big Ten title in school history, and fourth under Bo Ryan, with a 68-61 win over Michigan State on senior day at the Kohl Center. Senior Frank Kaminsky led the Badgers with a season-high 31 points. UW would win each of its next two conference games as well, equaling a program-best 16-2 Big Ten record.
March 9-Frank Kaminsky became the third Badgers player under Bo Ryan to be named Big Ten Player of the Year after leading UW to a mark of 16-2 while ranking third in the Big Ten in points (19.9 ppg) and second in rebounds (8.2 rpg). Ryan also claimed his fourth Big Ten Coach of the Year honor, becoming just the third coach in conference history to win the award four or more times.
March 15-With three wins in three days, the top-seeded Badgers won the 2015 Big Ten Tournament, the program's third conference tourney title. UW defeated Michigan and Purdue before topping Michigan State in the championship game. Nigel Hayes' 25 points helped Wisconsin rally from 11 down in the second half before out-scoring the Spartans 11-0 in overtime for an 80-69 win.
March 22-Owning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, the Badgers began the Big Dance with a pair of wins in Omaha, Neb. UW topped No. 16 Coastal Carolina, 86-72, and then fought off eighth-seeded Oregon, 72-65, to advance to its fourth Sweet 16 in the last five years.
March 29-For the second consecutive season, Wisconsin cut down the nets in a regional final and advanced to the Final Four. Playing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Badgers first defeated No. 4 seed North Carolina, 79-72, in the Sweet 16. Two days later in a rematch from the 2014 Elite Eight, UW knocked off No. 2 Arizona, 85-78. Trailing by three at the half, the Badgers went 10-for-12 from 3-point range in the second half. Junior Sam Dekker scored 28 points (5-for-6 from 3-point range) to earn West Regional Most Outstanding Player honors while Fran Kaminsky (29 points vs. Arizona) and Josh Gasser (10 points vs. Arizona) joined him on the All-Regoin Team.
April 4-UW advanced to its first national championship game since 1941 with a thrilling 71-64 win over top-seeded and previously unbeaten Kentucky at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianpolis. The Badgers knocked off the AP No. 1 team for just the third time in school history behind 20 points and 11 rebounds from senior Frank Kaminsky. Trailing by four with 6:36 remaining, the Badgers responded with an 8-0 run, including six points from Sam Dekker, to take a lead Kentucky couldn't overcome.
April 6-Backed by a sea of red and white that took over downtown Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium, the Badgers fell to Duke, 68-63, in the national championship game. UW built a 48-39 lead with 13:25 minutes remaining, but even a double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds) from Frank Kaminsky was not enough to overcome the Blue Devils' comeback. Wisconsin finished the season with a school-record 36 wins, becoming just the second Big Ten team to win at least 36 games in a season.
April 10-At the first-ever ESPN College Basketball Awards show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, Frank Kaminsky became the first Wooden Award winner in Wisconsin history. The senior forward was the consensus 2015 National Player of the Year, taking home the Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Award and AP Player of the Year honors.
June 25-For the first time in UW history, two Badgers were selected in the first round of the NBA draft as Frank Kaminsky was picked ninth overall by the Charlotte Hornets and Sam Dekker was chosen 18th by the Houston Rockets. Duje Dukan would later sign a free agent contract with the Sacramento Kings, marking the first time UW placed three rookies in the NBA in one season.
December 15-Following a 64-49 win over Texas A&M Corpus-Christi, head coach Bo Ryan announced his retirement. Ryan exited as the winningest coach in Wisconsin basketball history with a record of 364-130 (.737) in 14-plus seasons. Associate head coach Greg Gard assumed the interim head coach title. Gard would make his debut eight days later in a 84-79 win over Green Bay on Dec. 23.
2016
March 7–After guiding the Badgers to wins in 11 of their last 13 regular-season games, Greg Gard was officially named the 16th head coach in Wisconsin history, removing the interim tag.
March 20–Making its 18th-consecutive NCAA appearance with a No. 7 seed in the East Regional, the Badgers held off No. 10 Pittsburgh in the opening round with a 47-43 win in St. Louis. Wisconsin would then pull off a stunner, knocking off No. 2 seed Xavier, 66-63, on Bronson Koenig’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the corner. The pair of wins propelled UW to the Sweet 16, becoming the nation’s only team to reach the second weekend in five of the last six seasons.
March 25–The Badgers’ 2016 NCAA Tournament run would end in the Sweet 16 with a 61-56 loss to No. 6 Notre Dame in Philadelphia. Wisconsin led by three points with 26 seconds remaining, but the Fighting Irish scored the game’s final eight points to advance.
Jan. 12, 2017–In recognition of the late basketball standout Albert “Ab” Nicholas for his philanthropy and impact on his alma mater, Wisconsin Athletics announced that beginning with the 2017-18 season, the Kohl Center floor will be known as “Ab Nicholas Court.” The Badgers also raised his No. 8 in the Kohl Center rafters at halftime of UW’s 89-66 win over Ohio State.
2017
March 18–Wisconsin earned its 19th-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament as a No. 8 seed in Buffalo, N.Y. The Badgers topped No. 9 Virginia Tech, 84-74, in the opening round, fueled by 28 points and a school-record eight 3-pointers from senior Bronson Koenig. Two days later UW pulled off the upset of the tournament, taking down No. 1 overall seed and defending national champion Villanova, 65-62. A Nigel Hayes reverse lay-up with 11.4 seconds put the Badgers ahead and a Vitto Brown steal on the final Wildcat possession clinched UW’s third-ever win over the AP No. 1 team.
March 24–Wisconsin became the nation’s only team to appear in four-straight Sweet 16s when the Badgers took on No. 4 seed Florida in Madison Square Garden in New York City. Senior Zak Showalter buried an improbable running 3-pointer with 0:03 remaining to send the game into overtime, however, the Gators would make the final miraculous play. UW’s season came to end in stunning fashion as UF guard Chris Chiozza swished a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Gators an 84-83 victory. UW’s senior class of Vitto Brown, Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig and Showalter finished with 115 wins, equaling the highest total of any UW class.
March 28–Sophomore Ethan Happ was named an Associated Press third-team All-American and took home AP Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. Happ became just the sixth Badger to be named to an All-America team in the history of the Associated Press honor, which began in 1948.
August 24–Needing to replace 4 of their top 5 scorers from the 2016-17 season, the Badgers took a 12-day, 5-game foreign tour to New Zealand and Australia. Making stops in Auckland, Rotorua, Melbourne and Sydney, Wisconsin finished 4-1 on the trip, as four players finished with double-digit scoring averages: D’Mitrik Trice (12.6), Ethan Happ (12.0), Brevin Pritzl (11.4) and Brad Davison (11.2).
2018
Feb. 15–The University of Wisconsin officially retired the jersey of 2015 consensus National Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky, raising his No. 44 into the Kohl Center rafters. Joined by nearly all of his teammates from his career (2012-15) Kaminsky then watched the Badgers knock off No. 6 Purdue, 57-53.
2019
Jan. 19 – Backed by a raucous home crowd, Wisconsin took down previously-undefeated No. 2 Michigan, 64-54, setting off a court storming at the Kohl Center. Ethan Happ led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
March 22 – Wisconsin earned the 24th NCAA tournament appearance in program history and its 20th trip in the last 21 seasons, drawing a No. 5 seed in San Jose, California and a matchup with 12th-seeded Oregon. Ethan Happ and Khalill Iverson each scored 12 points to lead the Badgers, who shot just 33.3% from the floor. The Ducks countered with hot shooting (54.9% FG) and 17+ points from both Payton Pritchard and Louis King, as Oregon earned a 72-54 win to eliminate Wisconsin.
April 12 – Ethan Happ capped his brilliant career by winning the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the nation’s best center. Happ also earned consensus second-team All-America honors as well as the 2019 NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year Award.
May 25 – On the night of May 25, Wisconsin assistant coach Howard Moore and his family were involved in a horrific auto accident that claimed the lives of Moore’s wife, Jen, and 9-year-old daughter, Jaidyn. Moore’s 13-year old son, Jerell, survived with minor injuries, while Howard sustainted severe burns and later endured a heart attack that left him facing a long and challenging recovery. Throughout the 2019-20 season, the Badgers honored the Moore family through a simple motto: “Do Moore. Be Moore. 4 Moore.” The number 4 represents the four members of the family.
2020
March 7 – Wisconsin won its eighth-straight game and clinched a share of its 19th Big Ten championship in school history with a come-from-behind, 60-56 win at Indiana. The Hoosiers built a 51-44 lead with 6:52 remaining, but UW responded with a 12-0 run and out-scored IU, 16-5, over the final 6:34. Two days later, head coach Greg Gard was named 2020 Big Ten Coach of the Year.
March 12 – The No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, Wisconsin is unable to defend its regular season crown after the conference tournament is cancelled over fears of COVID-19 spread. Later that same day, the 2020 NCAA Tournament was cancelled as well.
Nov. 25 – The Badgers opened the 2020-21 season in unprecedented fashion, hosting Eastern Illinois in front of an empty Kohl Center. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “Bucky Boards” cardboard cutouts were the only live audience to witness UW’s 77-67 win. Wisconsin would play in front of an announced attendance of zero for all 16 home games that season. A limited amount of immediate family of the student-athletes and coaches were the only spectators at the Kohl Center all season.
2021
March 19 – Wisconsin made its 25th appearance in the NCAA tournament, heading to the “controlled environment” in Indianapolis as a No. 9 seed in the South Region. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the entire 68-team tournament was played in the greater Indianapolis in front of limited capacity crowds area across six venues. The Badgers opened the Big Dance at Hinkle Fieldhouse with a 85-62 win over No. 8 North Carolina. UW hit 13 of 27 3-pointers and got a season-high 29 points from senior Brad Davison and 21 from D’Mitrik Trice. Two days later UW took on No. 1 and eventual national champion Baylor in the second round at Hinkle. The Badgers trailed by just seven midway through the second half, but couldn’t keep pace down the stretch, falling 76-63.
November 24 – Wisconsin capped off three wins in three days to win the 2021 Maui Jim Maui Invitational – held in Las Vegas, Nevada due to COVID-19 pandemic – claiming a 61-55 victory over Saint Mary’s in the tournament title game. Johnny Davis scored 20 points vs. Saint Mary’s, while Tyler Wahl added 18. The Badgers earned wins over No. 12 Houston and Texas A&M along the way to capturing the tournament crown. Davis announced himself as one of the best players in the country against Houston, finishing with a then-career-high 30 points in the upset. Against Texas A&M, the Badgers rallied from a 16-point deficit to win. Davis led the way with 21 points, while Brad Davison added 19.
2022
January 3 – Led by a career-high 37 points from Johnny Davis, Wisconsin earned a 74-69 win over No. 3 Purdue at Mackey Arena. One of the all-time efforts from a single Badger in school history, Davis finished with 37 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and made many big shots to lead the Badgers to their first win at Mackey Arena since 2014 and 5th in school history. The 37 points from Davis marked the most by a Badger since Frank Kaminsky’s school record 43 points vs. North Dakota on Nov. 19, 2013. UW scored its first win over an opponent ranked in the top three of the AP Top 25 since knocking off No. 2 Michigan in 2019. Brad Davison also finished in double figures for the Badgers with 15 points.
March 1 – In front of a sold out Kohl Center crowd of 17,287 fans, Wisconsin won in dramatic fashion and clinched a share of its 20th Big Ten regular season championship in school history with a 70-67 win. Chucky Hepburn banked in a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to give the No. 10 Badgers the win over No. 8 Purdue. After Brad Davison missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey tied the game by sinking a 3 with 8.9 seconds left. UW worked the ball to Hepburn, who calmly fired the winning shot from in front of the Badger bench. Hepburn celebrated by running toward the student section on the opposite end of the floor with his arms outstretched, as the freshman guard finished the night with a career-high 17 points. Johnny Davis and Tyler Wahl scored 16 points each for UW.
2023
March 28 – In its fifth fifth NIT appearance, Wisconsin strung together three straight wins and advanced to the NIT semifinals where it faced North Texas in Las Vegas at Orleans Arena. UW’s path to the NIT semifinals included home wins over Bradley (81-61) and Liberty (75-71), followed by a road win at Oregon (61-58). It marked the program’s first NIT semifinals appearance. UW fell to North Texas, 56-54.
2024
November 22 – Wisconsin claimed the 2023 Fort Myers Tip-Off title, its sixth holiday non-conference tournament title since 2015. The Badgers earned a 69-61 come-from-behind win over SMU in the title game, led by 14 points from tournament MVP Tyler Wahl. In the opening game of the tournament, UW posted a dominate 65-41 win over No. 24 Virginia.
December 1 – The Badgers won in wire-to-wire fashion over No. 3 Marquette, claiming a 75-64 victory. The win marked Wisconsin’s 11th top-10 win, and seventh top-5 win, under head coach Greg Gard. Max Klesmit scored a game-high 21 points, all in the first half. Steven Crowl finished the game with 16 points and 8 rebounds.
March 16 – With a 76-75 overtime win over top-seeded, #3 Purdue, fifth-seeded Wisconsin advanced to the Big Ten tournament title game. Chucky Hepburn scored a layup at the buzzer to force overtime, two of his team-high 22 points. Max Klesmit had the game-winning floater in the final seconds of overtime to win. AJ Storr had 20 points. UW claimed its 12th win over a top-10 team , and eighth top-5 win, under Greg Gard.
2025
November 24 – Wisconsin won the 2024 Greenbrier Tip-Off title, its seventh holiday non-conference tournament title since 2015. The Badgers defeated Pitt by the score of 81-75 in the championship game, led by John Tonje and his 33 points. The Badgers defeated UCF in the opening game of the tournament by the score of 86-70.
January 3 – Wisconsin scored their most points ever at the Kohl Center in a 116-85 win over Iowa. The Badgers connected on a Big Ten-record 21 3-pointers in the victory, as nine different players cashed in from deep. John Blackwell led the way with six makes from deep and 32 points. The 116 points were the second-most scored in program history.
March 20 – Wisconsin picked up an 85-66 win over Montana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, moving the Badgers to 17-4 in the opening round of the tournament since 2002. Wisconsin put five players in double figures, while John Blackwell and Steven Crowl combined for 37 points to lead the way.
