Wisconsin extended their home winning streak to 21 games against the Indiana Hoosiers with a 76-64 victory. In front of a “White-Out” crowd, Wisconsin quickly surged to a 13-2 lead by hitting four of their first five shots. The lead grew to 26-4 as Wisconsin capitalized on the Hoosiers’ defensive mistakes. That strong start allowed the Badgers to take control of the game early on.
John Tonje led the Badgers with 15 points, while Max Klesmit contributed 13 points. Carter Gilmore, a fan favorite, added 10 points, going a perfect three-for-three from beyond the arc. With their 18th win of the season, the Badgers are now strongly positioned to qualify for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Coach Greg Gard commended Klesmit for his impact on the team’s performance. He noted, “His emotional leadership was crucial to our strong start, both offensively and defensively. While many focus on our shooting, it was the defense that truly set the tone and made it tough for them to find their rhythm, and Max was pivotal in that.”
Regarding the team’s pregame message, Gard emphasized the importance of focusing on competition. He said, “The key was to compete. I stressed that you can’t replace hard work, smart play, and teamwork. This group is very connected and enjoys being around each other. They’re loose, coachable, and eager to win. They understand that when we play hard and aggressive, even if it’s not perfect, we can be a challenge for other teams.”
During his press conference, Gard was asked about Wisconsin’s transition three-pointers this season. He responded, “Statistically, we excel in that area. Even though we may not be recognized as a transition team, we are effective in that phase when we get the chance. Our points per possession in transition have been impressively high, and that was true last year as well.”
Wisconsin will next face the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this Saturday at noon CT. Iowa recently lost Owen Freeman for the season and is coming off a tough 90-81 home defeat to the seventh-ranked Purdue Boilermakers last Tuesday.
