Wisconsin basketball made history in its 116-85 victory over Iowa on Friday at the Kohl Center. Virtually everything clicked for the Badgers offensively. Wisconsin nailed a school-record 21 three-point field goals en route to scoring the most points ever recorded for the program in a Big Ten game. On top of this, UW’s 116-point output was just four tallies away from the school record of 120 points set back in 1967—and it represented the most points scored at the Kohl Center.
This monumental victory led to Wisconsin's first Big Ten win of the 2024-25 season, improving their overall record to 11-3 and marking their third straight win. Sophomore guard John Blackwell was the star of the evening, establishing a career-high of 32 points off 11-of-18 shooting and netting six three-pointers. Not stopping there, Blackwell also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists, showcasing his well-rounded game.
Emerging star forward Nolan Winter added 18 points and snagged eight rebounds, alongside veteran center Steven Crowl, who contributed 14 points and seven boards. The entire Wisconsin team shot exceptionally well, hitting 64.5% from the field, 67.7% from beyond the arc, and 88.2% from the free-throw line. Such performance made it one of the most dominant offensive games not just of the Greg Gard era, but perhaps of the program’s entire history.
Initially, the game ebbed and flowed as Wisconsin and Iowa exchanged leads. The Badgers entered this matchup having played only once since their Dec. 14 victory over Detroit Mercy, but they soon found their rhythm. Beginning at the 8:44 mark of the first half, Wisconsin commenced a 19-2 scoring surge driven by five combined three-pointers from players like Max Klesmit, Carter Gilmore, and Blackwell. This explosive run allowed the Badgers to take control of the game, leading by 11 at halftime.
Continuing to pour it on after halftime, Blackwell opened the second period with eight quick points, pushing Wisconsin's lead to 20 with over 15 minutes left in the game. The win seemed destined for the Badgers as they never relinquished their advantage, leading to the Madison squad's fourth consecutive victory against the Hawkeyes at home. This season, it was also the first time Iowa had lost by more than nine points.
For the Hawkeyes, the defeat was sobering. They fell to 1-2 within the Big Ten and 10-4 overall. Drew Thelwell emerged as Iowa's leading scorer, netting 25 points—the most he’s tallied this season. Josh Dix contributed 16 points, and Owen Freeman added 14 points. Notably, senior forward Payton Sandfort, who had been averaging 16.5 points per game, was limited to just two points, struggling with his shooting touch at 0-of-5 from three-point land.
After the game, Iowa's coach Fran McCaffery voiced his frustrations. "Our shot selection wasn’t very good, nor was our defense, obviously. We didn’t execute our game plan very well... Our execution wasn’t there," he said during the postgame show broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.
Set against the backdrop of such high stakes, the Badgers’ emphatic win sends ripples through the Big Ten as they look to build on this momentum against Rutgers next Friday. The stakes are incredibly high as the Badgers eye solidifying their position within the conference after starting their season with such hope and promise.
This game not only showcased the depth and talent of the Badgers' roster but also illustrated the perils presented to their opponents when Wisconsin is firing on all cylinders. Having suffered through early-season struggles, the Badgers are now poised to extend their win streak and capitalize on their newfound confidence as the season progresses.
With Wisconsin concluding 2024 on such high notes, basketball fans will certainly be watching eagerly to see whether this victory serves as the catalyst for greater accomplishments.