Latest news with #NCAATournamentRoundof32
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN: Wisconsin basketball among top 25 teams for 2025-26 season
Wisconsin is ranked #20 in ESPN's Inaugural CBB power rankings 👀 Wisconsin basketball landed at No. 20 in ESPN's latest list of college basketball's top 25 teams for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday. The list, which focuses on one non-conference game to watch for each program included in the hierarchy, sandwiched the Badgers between the Gonzaga Bulldogs (No. 19) and the Kansas Jayhawks (No. 21). ESPN's Jeff Borzello circled UW's No. 21 bout against the BYU Cougars as the organization's most significant non-conference bout. Here's what Borzello highlighted ahead of the matchup: "Wisconsin's improvement, and change in style, on the offensive end was one of the more positive Big Ten storylines of last season. Without John Tonje, though, what will the Badgers look like at that end? There's no better test of firepower than going away from home to face what should be one of the most explosive offenses in the country." While Tonje, starting center Steven Crowl and starting guard Max Klesmit will no longer suit up for the Badgers, UW addressed voids in its starting unit via the transfer portal this offseason. San Diego State guard Nick Boyd, Virginia guard Andrew Rhode and Portland forward Austin Rapp project to lace up alongside returners John Blackwell and Nolan Winter this fall to create one of the more potent offenses in the Big Ten. In a rematch of UW's 2025 NCAA Tournament Round of 32 loss to the Cougars, Wisconsin's new trio will look to make a national introduction in Salt Lake City. BYU now rosters A.J. Dybantsa, a projected 2026 NBA draft lottery pick with superstar upside. Wisconsin's newcomers combined for nearly 40 points per game a season ago. As fantastic as the Badgers' offense performed during the 2024-25 campaign, UW fans could see an even more versatile half-court attack this fall. The Badgers will begin the journey in an exhibition vs. the Oklahoma Sooners on Oct. 24. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinio
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: The moment the Utah Jazz selected Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje
JT is headed to UT 🏔️💜#TakeNote | #NBADraft After being selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft, former Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje will officially don NBA threads during the 2025-26 season. On Thursday, the Utah Jazz selected the North Omaha, Nebraska, native with the 53rd overall pick of the draft. After six years of collegiate basketball with three different programs, Tonje becomes the first Badger to be drafted since 2022, joining lottery pick and former Big Ten Player of the Year Johnny Davis. And, like his fellow 58 draftees, Tonje witnessed his dream materialize before his very eyes. On Thursday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Deputy Commissioner of the NBA Mark Tatum uttered the words every aspiring professional hooper hopes to hear: "With the 53rd pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz select John Tonje from the University of Wisconsin." The AP Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten team member certainly earned his position on the Jazz. In 37 appearances in 2024-25, Tonje averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting a blistering 46.5% from the field, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line. Tonje also recorded three 30+ point performances against top-10 opponents, including a 41-tally outburst against No. 9 Arizona in November, a 32-point explosion against No. 7 Purdue in February, and another 32-point barrage vs. No. 7 Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship semifinal in March. Tonje punctuated his collegiate career with 37 points in Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament Round of 32 loss against BYU. That outing gave him the program record for the most points in an NCAA Tournament game. "Just had a great year at Wisconsin," ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas said on the broadcast. "John Tonje has a strong frame. He's tough, he's aggressive, [a] good shooter with a high release and a good driver. He's very good on the move, but it's his physicality, he just bullied his way to the free throw line over and over again this year. He made the most free throws of any player this last year in Division I basketball." Tonje is one of three Jazz draftees alongside Rutgers forward Ace Bailey (No. 5 overall) and Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18). He will join Johnny Juzang, Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson and Taylor Hendricks in Utah's second unit. The Jazz will look to improve off a 17-65 finish during the 2024-25 season and secure its first playoff birth since 2022. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Wisconsin basketball center adds to his list of NBA workouts
Former Wisconsin basketball center adds to his list of NBA workouts Former Wisconsin Badgers center Steven Crowl is compiling a long list of NBA workouts. Crowl, whose Badgers tenure concluded with an NCAA Tournament Round of 32 loss to BYU in late March, has reportedly worked out with the Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets and Denver Nuggets over the past few weeks. The 7-foot center's most recent workout came with the Pelicans on Thursday, per The Athletic's Will Guillory. Crowl worked out alongside North Carolina's R.J. Davis, Arkansas' Johnell Davis and Kansas' Hunter Dickinson. Earlier this week, the Hornets worked out former Badger Chucky Hepburn alongside Crowl, per Hornets beat writer Rod Boone. The two spent three seasons in Madison together from 2021-24. Crowl isn't the only former Badger to dip his toes into NBA waters this offseason. Star guard John Blackwell worked out with the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trailblazers and Philadelphia 76ers before withdrawing from the 2025 NBA draft in late May. The Minnesota native started 141 of his 153 career appearances in five seasons from 2020-25. In those contests, the veteran averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and two assists off a 52.5% shooting rate from the field, 36.3% mark from 3 and 82% clip from the charity stripe. During Wisconsin's 27-10 output this past season, Crowl started all 37 games and logged per-game averages of 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He did so while shooting 54% from the field, a strong 41% from 3 and 82% from the free-throw line. At his size, Crowl's shooting ability is an unquestionable commodity in the NBA. Given modern spacing and skill at the center position, the former Badger's progression as a shooter, especially from the top of the key, headlines his potential professional portfolio. Nonetheless, Crowl's odds of being picked in the 2025 NBA draft or signing with an NBA franchise are slim. The workouts will expose him to some NBA personnel, but his most likely route revolves around a career oversees. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
St. John's Makes Exciting Rick Pitino Announcement on Wednesday
The St. John's Red Storm had an outstanding season, capturing both the Big East regular season and conference tournament titles. With a remarkable 31-5 overall record and an impressive 18-2 mark against Big East opponents, they proved to be one of the top teams in the country. A major factor in their success has been the hire of legendary head coach Rick Pitino, who took the reins two seasons ago with the task of rejuvenating a program that had been struggling. And that's exactly what he's done. Advertisement On Wednesday, St. John's made an exciting announcement, revealing that their 72-year-old head coach had been named the "Looie" Men's Division I Coach of the Year. Pitino is the only coach in college basketball history to have led six different programs to the NCAA Tournament, and he has now transformed St. John's into one of the most intriguing programs moving forward. After a tough loss to Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, the focus has shifted to the offseason. With the changes in college sports due to NIL and the transfer portal, Pitino has adapted remarkably well. St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Penner-Imagn Images St. John's needed to replace key contributors like RJ Luis Jr., Kadary Richmond, and Deivon Smith, all of whom were vital to the team's success this past season. However, they've not only filled those gaps but have gone above and beyond. Advertisement Pitino has landed former five-star prospects Ian Jackson and Joson Sanon, along with Bryce Hopkins, Oziyah Sellers, and most recently, Dillon Mitchell. Plus, star center Zuby Ejiofor will be back in New York as well. Related: Rick Pitino Sounds off on RJ Luis Jr. Entering Transfer Portal, NBA Draft
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Illinois basketball loses third player to NCAA transfer portal
Tre White is the third Illinois men's basketball player to enter the NCAA transfer portal. The 6-foot-7 junior forward on Saturday joined Carey Booth and Morez Johnson Jr. as the third Fighting Illini player from the 2024-25 roster to transfer, according to Advertisement White appeared in 32 games, starting 31, in his only season with the Illini. He averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in just more than 23 minutes per game. What's next for Illinois basketball? Transfer portal, NBA, recruiting and more White will be headed to his fourth team in four seasons. He committed to USC out of Prolific Prep in Los Angeles, but transferred after USC's coach was fired. He landed at Louisville for one season, but the Cardinals also fired their coach and White transferred to Illinois. Illinois finished this season at 22-13, losing to Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 this past weekend. Advertisement After the loss, White indicated his return to Illinois, according to "I know we got a good group of returning guys, but it's just going to be a great summer full of work, and I'm excited to bring this pain into next year. ... I had a bunch of experiences that I never had before. I'm just grateful for it all. Just ready to run it back." This article originally appeared on Journal Star: NCAA transfer portal: Illinois Fighting Illini junior Tre White
