Wisconsin has scored at least 90 points in each of its last two Big Ten games — the first time the Badgers have accomplished the feat since February 1992. That’s when future NBA All-Star Michael Finley was a freshman.
Wisconsin will go for three 90s in a row Saturday when the 11th-ranked Badgers host Oregon in a Big Ten matchup in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) extended its winning streak to five with a 95-74 victory over visiting Illinois on Tuesday, improving to 13-1 at home. It also snapped the Badgers’ nine-game losing streak versus the Illini dating back to 2019.
“I hope we’re not peaking, I hope we’re still ascending,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said after the Illinois game. “I don’t want to hit the peak yet, but we’re not, because we’ve got to get better.”
Oregon (19-8, 8-8) held on for an 80-78 victory at Iowa on Wednesday behind Nate Bittle’s 21 points and 10 rebounds. Bittle also blocked two shots in the final moments, including his last-second deflection of Josh Dix’s potential game-winning 3-pointer.
“Sometimes you just got to find a way,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said in a postgame radio interview on KUJZ-FM. “We made a lot of mistakes, but we were able to overcome them.”
The Ducks have bounced back with three straight wins after a five-game skid.
Wisconsin averages 82.0 points, allowing 70.6. The Badgers have reached 80 points in 15 of 25 games, the most since 1970-71.
Dating back to last season, the Badgers are 30-1 when holding opponents to 70 points or fewer. The Ducks are 11-0 this season when scoring 80 or more.
Wisconsin gets to the line and maximizes the opportunities. The Badgers lead the nation in free-throw shooting at 83.4 percent and are on pace to shatter the NCAA’s single-season record set by Villanova (83.0 percent) in 2022. The Badgers also have made more free throws (447 of 536) than opponents have attempted (326 of 444).
Sixth-year John Tonje, riding back-to-back 30-point outings, averages a team-high 19.6 points. John Blackwell adds 15.2 and Max Klesmit contributes 10.2 per game. Seven-footers Nolan Winter and Steven Crowl combine for 19.3 points and 11.3 boards per game.
Tonje, a graduate transfer from Missouri, is just the fourth player in Wisconsin history with consecutive 30-point games — joining Finley, Rick Olson and Clarence Sherrod. The Badgers are 6-0 when Tonje scores at least 25 points.
“I think I’ve got a better feel just for Wisconsin basketball at both ends,” Tonje said. “I think my teammates understand me better and I understand my teammates a little bit better. And, we’re just starting to mesh and click well. I think things are just starting to come together.”
Point guard Jackson Shelstad (13.3 ppg) leads Oregon’s balanced attack. Bittle adds 12.9 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game.
After averaging 20.2 points over the previous five games, Shelstad missed all seven shots Wednesday at Iowa, including five from beyond the arc. His three points came from the free-throw line.
It will be the first Big Ten meeting between Wisconsin and Oregon. The Badgers have won three of their last four meetings, including a 61-58 victory at Oregon in the 2023 NIT.
–Field Level Media
