On Monday, the Wisconsin Badgers had a successful day. The AP Poll moved them up five spots to No. 11, the highest ranking in the Big Ten. According to KenPom, they are currently the conference’s best team and ranked ninth overall.
After scoring 32 points in Saturday’s 94-84 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers, star guard John Tonje has now earned another honor by collecting the Big Ten Player of the Week title for the third time this season.
In some of the team’s most important games this season, Tonje, who leads Wisconsin in scoring at 19.2 points per game, has found a way to shine. On Saturday, the guard’s ability to score 22 points in the second half alone was evident.
In addition to making four three-pointers and eight of nine free throws on his way to the 32 points, he went 10/15 from the field in the victory. He scored 41 points against then-No. 9-ranked Arizona in November, making him the only player in the country to score 30 points in two games against the top 10 opponents this season.
In November, Tonje won back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Week accolades on November 18 and November 25. This is his third time winning the award this season.
This week is going to be a difficult week for the Badgers, who will host the Illinois Fighting Illini on Tuesday and play the Oregon Ducks in the Kohl Center on Saturday. To expand on their four-game winning run and reach their best late in the season, Tonje will be crucial for the Badgers.
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