Wisconsin showed no signs of rust after playing just one game in the last 19 days, dismantling Iowa at the Kohl Center to improve to 1-2 in conference play and 11-3 overall. It was a bounce-back game in many ways. The massive margin of victory erased many of the lingering doubts that stemmed from a three-game losing streak in early December, where the Badgers dropped games to Marquette, Illinois, and Michigan. For players like John Blackwell and Max Klesmit, the contest served as a get-right game.
Both guards entered the contest, shooting worse than 30 percent from three-point range. Klesmit had made one of his last nine attempts from distance and was held scoreless in Wisconsin's previous game. Blackwell hadn't made multiple three-pointers in a game since November and scored 12 or fewer points in three straight appearances. On Friday, Blackwell scored a career-high 32 points, with eight rebounds and five assists while making six three-pointers. Klesmit went 2-for-4 from three-point range and dished out six assists.
The pair's success was mirrored up and down the roster, as Wisconsin drilled a program-best 21 three-pointers and scored its most points at the Kohl Center ever. They shot 64.5 percent from the field and 67.7 percent from three-point land.
Kamari McGee chipped in 12 points on four made three-pointers, while Steven Crowl accounted for 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting. Nolan Winter scored at least 18 points for a third straight game, logging 18 points and eight rebounds.
While it was a masterful offensive performance, Wisconsin showed plenty of positives on the defensive end. They slowed down Iowa's leading scorer, Owen Freeman (17.1 ppg), holding the sophomore center to 14 points, three rebounds, and three turnovers. Freeman averaged 17.0 points. He had 12.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in two matchups with Wisconsin last season while making 13 of his 15 field goal attempts. Payton Sandfort, Iowa's second-leading scorer (16.6 ppg), was held to merely two points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field.
Here are my instant reactions to the victory:
Points on Points on Points
A battle of two teams in the top 25 of KenPom's offensive rating metric, Friday's contest was forecasted to be an offensive affair. Still, the level of shot-making showcased early in the contest exceeded the lofty expectations.
Iowa started 8-for-11 from the field, and Wisconsin knocked down seven of its first 10 attempts; each team got its production from different positions. The Hawkeyes relied on guards like Josh Dix -- who scored 10 of Iowa's first 24 points -- knocking down jumpers. Wisconsin focused its efforts in the painted area, where the duo of Crowl and Winter continued their excellent stretch of play.
Crowl scored or assisted on four of the Badgers' first five made baskets and searched for his own shot despite matching up against the Big 10's leader in blocks, Owen Freeman. At the midway point of the first half, Wisconsin led 24-22, putting the game on pace for nearly 200 total points.
Klesmit and Blackwell Launch Badgers into Lead
After a competitive start, Wisconsin flipped the game script over and took control. The Badgers would go on a 19-2 run -- which ended in a 14-0 spurt -- over the course of four minutes.
Tonje started the streak with a three-pointer before Klesmit rattled off eight straight points. The senior from Neenah, Wisconsin, had struggled to score this season, entering Friday's tilt with career lows in field goal percentage (32.5) and three-point percentage (28.4).
Klesmit's streak ignited the Kohl Center crowd and pumped the Badgers with confidence, allowing Blackwell to step into a transition three-pointer atop the key to force an Iowa timeout and push the Wisconsin lead to eight. Carter Gilmore delivered what felt like a staggering blow, drilling a three-pointer coming out of the pause and putting the Badgers ahead by double figures. Wisconsin would enter the half ahead 54-43.
Wisconsin Keeps Rolling
Blackwell didn't show any signs of slowing down after scoring 15 first-half points, scoring eight of Wisconsin's first 10 points in the second half and assisting on the other made basket during that stretch. His efforts and a pair of trips to the free throw line from Winter and Tonje gave Wisconsin a 20-point lead with under 15 minutes to play.
Gilmore, who had made four three-pointers leading up to Friday's game, knocked down his second triple shortly after. The make was the Badgers' 12th of the game, tying their previous season-high for made three-pointers.
Defense Seals the Deal
As a program, Wisconsin has earned the reputation of having hard-nosed, defensive teams. The 2024-25 Badgers haven't fit that reputation, excelling on the offensive end yet underachieving on defense.
They showed signs of improvement during the second half, holding Iowa to 3-of-11 shooting from the field to start the period after allowing the Hawkeyes to shoot a blistering 59.4 percent from the field during the first half. It was during this stretch that Wisconsin notched its largest lead, going ahead by 26 with 9:42 to play.
The Hawkeyes would never come close to threatening the Badgers, and Wisconsin was able to carve out some playing time for the back end of the roster. Xavier Amos drilled three-pointers on back-to-back possessions before Daniel Freitag stole the show with a dunk and an assist in the closing minute.
What's Next
Wisconsin will travel to Piscataway, New Jersey, to take on Rutgers (8-6 overall, 1-2 conference) on Monday, January 6 at 6:00 CT.