WISCONSIN BADGERS NEWS

Men's AP Top 25: Purdue back to No. 1; Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky into top 10

Purdue headlined the latest AP top 25 poll for the second time this season after beating former No. 1 Arizona this weekend.

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Nolan Winter - Scores five in win Winter provided five points (2-3 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 0-1 FT) and three rebounds in 15 minutes during Thursday's 75-60 win over Jacksonville State.

Impact Winter chipped in five points and three rebounds during Thursday's win over Jacksonville State. The 6-foot-11 freshman has seen action in all 11 games this season, averaging 2.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists on 9.9 minutes per game. Winter has been effective off the bench, but with the upperclassman pairing of Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl in the Badgers' frontcourt, he remains unlikely to see an expanded role barring injury.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Wahl - Gets back on track Thursday Wahl provided 16 points (7-12 FG, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and one steal across 30 minutes during Thursday's 75-60 victory over Jacksonville State.

Impact After a tough outing against the top-ranked Wildcats, Wahl rebounded with an effective outing against Jacksonville State. The 6-foot-9 senior has started in all 11 games for the Badgers in his fifth-and-final season with the program, averaging 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds,1.2 assists and 0.7 steals on 26.1 minutes per game. Wahl has struggled from the field at times, and he will look to smooth out any inconsistencies ahead of Wisconsin's resumption of conference play on Jan. 2, against Iowa.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Steven Crowl - Team-high 19 points in win Crowl totaled 19 points (7-11 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-8 FT) and nine rebounds over 26 minutes during Thursday's 75-60 victory over Jacksonville State.

Impact Crowl was dominant in the low post in a win over the Gamecocks, closing with 19 points and nine rebounds in the bounce-back win. The 7-foot junior continues to be an effective contributor for the Badgers, averaging 12.7 on career-best 60.5/64.3/65.9 shooting splits, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.5 steals. Crowl has been the driving force behind the Badgers' early-season success, and he will look to continue leading Wisconsin as they approach conference play.

DECEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Men's AP Top 25: Arizona, Kansas, Purdue lead; Oklahoma, Clemson make big jumps

Arizona strengthened its place atop the AP top 25 men's college basketball poll, setting up a showdown this weekend vs. Purdue.

DECEMBER 11, 2023

John Blackwell - Continues to shine Blackwell notched 17 points (6-12 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds and two assists across 26 minutes during Saturday's 98-73 loss to Arizona.

Impact Blackwell led the Badgers with 17 points during Saturday's blowout loss at the hands of Arizona, adding on seven rebounds in the contest as well. The 6-foot-4 freshman continues to look like the real deal off the Badgers' bench, averaging 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.6 steals on 18.2 minutes per game. While Blackwell is unlikely to enter the starting lineup amidst a backcourt including Chucky Hepburn, Max Klesmit and Connor Essegian, the two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week will continue to see a heavy dose of minutes off the bench.

DECEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

No. 23 Wisconsin visits No. 1 Arizona following Storr's 22-point showing

No. 23 Wisconsin visits the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats after AJ Storr scored 22 points in the Badgers' 70-57 win against the Michigan State Spartans

DECEMBER 8, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

John Blackwell - Remains involved in win Blackwell finished with 10 points (2-4 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 6-6 FT), four rebounds and one assist across 20 minutes during Tuesday's 70-57 victory over Michigan State.

Impact Blackwell saw 20 minutes of action during Wisconsin's wire-to-wire win over MSU on Tuesday, closing with 10 points and four rebounds in the contest. The 6-foot-4 freshman has seen a healthy dose of minutes early on for Wisconsin, averaging 9.1 points and 3.2 rebounds on 17.3 minutes per game in his first collegiate season (nine appearances). Despite his success in the role, when Connor Essegian is able to return to a full workload, Blackwell will likely see a role reduction for Wisconsin.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tyler Wahl - Solid outing in win Wahl closed Tuesday's 70-57 victory over Michigan State with eight points (3-7 FG, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one block over 22 minutes.

Impact Wahl notched eight points and eight rebounds across 22 minutes of action (a season-low outside of the Badgers' opener), as Wisconsin took down Michigan State at the Breslin Center. The 6-foot-9 graduate student has seen his production take a slight dip in his fifth season with the program. but his efficiency from the field has taken a massive leap. Wahl is currently averaging 10.6 points (52.9 percent from the field), 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals on 25.8 minutes per game, and he seems to be prioritizing quality looks on the Badgers' hot streak.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

AJ Storr - Catches fire in win Storr finished Tuesday's 70-57 victory over Michigan State with 22 points (8-11 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and one steal over 29 minutes.

Impact Storr matched his season-high point total, posting 22 points and five rebounds on just 11 shots against the Spartans. The 6-foot-7 sophomore, who has faced his fair share of efficiency struggles this season, was seeing everything go in against Michigan State in the Badgers' sixth-straight win. Storr, who is quickly proving to be everything Wisconsin hoped for and more, is averaging 14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists on 24.9 minutes per game this season.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Chucky Hepburn - Notches four steals in win Hepburn posted nine points (3-9 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, four assists and four steals across 34 minutes during Saturday's 75-64 win over Marquette.

Impact Despite struggling to convert from the field, Hepburn was integral to Wisconsin's upset win over Marquette, forcing four turnovers in the contest. The 6-foot-2 junior has seen variability in his game-to-game production this season, and he is averaging 10.8 points (42.5/26.7/80.0 shooting splits), 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals on 31.6 minutes per game. Hepburn appears to have leaned into more of a distributary role this season upon the arrival of the high-flying AJ Storr to the Badgers' lineup, but he maintains heavy involvement for Wisconsin in his third season with the program.

DECEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Max Klesmit - Hot hand in upset win Klesmit accumulated 21 points (6-12 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 4-4 FT), one rebound and two steals over 37 minutes during Saturday's 75-64 victory over Marquette.

Impact Klesmit scored 21 of the Badgers' 46 first-half points, knocking down 6-for-9 shots from the field including five treys in a dominant first-half display. The 6-foot-4 junior subsequently became the focus of intense defensive pressure from the Golden Eagles in the second half, and he was held scoreless (0-3 FG) with multiple turnovers. Despite his second-half struggles, the defensive attention drawn by the junior guard was enough to pave the way for other Badgers players to carry Wisconsin across the finish line. Klesmit has displayed his propensity for high-scoring outings before, and he is currently averaging 8.6 points on 44.9/36.4/92.9 shooting splits across eight starts.

DECEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Klesmit leads Wisconsin against Michigan State after 21-point game

Wisconsin visits the Michigan State Spartans after Max Klesmit scored 21 points in the Badgers' 75-64 win against the Marquette Golden Eagles

DECEMBER 4, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wisconsin's win over Marquette gives reason to believe in the Badgers After a slow start, this veteran Badgers squad has won five straight, including over Virginia and their highly-ranked rival.

DECEMBER 2, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Klesmit scores 21 in 1st half, Wisconsin outrebounds No. 3 Marquette in 75-64 win Max Klesmit scored all 21 of his points before halftime, Steven Crowl added 16 and Wisconsin capitalized on its rebounding superiority to be...

DECEMBER 2, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Overtime: Badgers Upset Third-Ranked Marquette Wisconsin had four players in double figures.

DECEMBER 2, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM

Wisconsin upsets No. 3 Marquette, 75-64, with rebounding, fast-starting Max Klesmit

Max Klesmit scored all 21 of his points before halftime, as Wisconsin beat No. 3 Marquette for a third straight season in this in-state riva...

DECEMBER 2, 2023

Max Klesmit, Wisconsin hold off No. 3 Marquette Dec 2, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) celebrates after scoring a three point basket against the Mar...

DECEMBER 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Klesmit's fast start, Wisconsin's rebounding help Badgers beat No. 3 Marquette 75-64

Max Klesmit scored all 21 of his points before halftime, Steven Crowl added 16 and Wisconsin capitalized on its rebounding superiority to beat No. 3 Marquette 75-64

DECEMBER 2, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS