Wisconsin secured a season sweep over the Golden Gophers, pulling ahead late in a hard-fought Border Battle contest. The Badgers were once again without Max Klesmit, who missed his second straight game due to a lower-body injury, leading to another start for Kamari McGee. Despite being shorthanded, Wisconsin avoided a damaging loss and maintained a solid position for Big 10 Tournament and NCAA Tournament seeding.
Player Performance Grades:
Jack Janicki: A+
Janicki played a crucial role in the second half, scoring all six of his points and dishing out three assists. He stepped up offensively while Tonje was sidelined, and his hustle led to a game-sealing play. His quick reaction to secure an offensive rebound allowed Blackwell to convert a key and-one layup, putting the Badgers up by eight with 49 seconds left.
John Blackwell: A-
Blackwell was Wisconsin’s most consistent performer in an otherwise scrappy game. With Klesmit out and Tonje dealing with foul trouble, he carried the offensive burden, scoring 25 points on a season-high 21 shots in 37 minutes. He also remained aggressive on the boards, securing his second double-double of the season.
John Tonje: B+
Tonje was highly efficient, scoring 18 points on 10 shot attempts while contributing defensively and on the boards. However, foul trouble limited his playing time, keeping him on the court for only 27 minutes, his lowest in 12 games. One of his fouls came from extending his arm on a drive, and he was fortunate not to receive a fifth for a similar move.
Carter Gilmore: B+
Gilmore excelled defensively, playing a significant role in limiting Dawson Garcia to 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting. However, his offensive contribution was inconsistent, which was crucial given the absence of Klesmit and Tonje’s reduced minutes. Though he hit some important shots and free throws late in the game, his offensive presence wasn’t always felt.
Steven Crowl: B-
Crowl struggled with rebounding, finishing with fewer than five boards. Though he started strong offensively, his production dropped off in the second half. While he took advantage of early post opportunities, he became more passive later on, passing out of favorable matchups. Despite this, he was the team’s third-leading scorer, keeping him above a C grade.
Kamari McGee: B-
McGee isn’t an ideal starting point guard for a top-tier team, and that was evident in this game. He went scoreless in 33 minutes, taking only three shots, but he managed the game well. His 5:0 assist-to-turnover ratio highlighted his effectiveness as a facilitator, even though he didn’t contribute much offensively.
Nolan Winter: C
Coach Greg Gard prioritized Carter Gilmore’s defense over Winter, leading to a quiet night for the sophomore. Winter looked uncomfortable on the perimeter and committed two traveling violations while attempting three-point shots that would likely have been blocked.
Xavier Amos: D
Amos played only eight minutes and missed both of his field goal attempts, including an open layup. His limited contributions resulted in an underwhelming performance, justifying the low grade.
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