The Wisconsin Badgers sent a statement to the college basketball world with a 94-84 road win over No. 7 Purdue on Saturday
John Tonje led the triumph — a common refrain in postgame recaps throughout the season. He finished with 32 points, six rebounds and three assists on 10-of-15 shooting. His second-half offensive dominance gave shades of Badger great Johnny Davis, who tallied 37 points in the Badgers’ last road win at Mackey Arena (Jan. 3, 2022).
Tonje wasn’t the only headline from the victory. The Badgers shot 61.5% from the floor and 40% from three as a team. They missed just two two-point shots the entire afternoon, plus scored on each of their final 12 possessions. According to Jared Berson, the Badgers are the only team in the last 15 years to shoot at least 60% (61.5%) and commit three or fewer turnovers (three) in a road game.
By all accounts, Wisconsin delivered another historic offensive performance.
The context behind the team’s statement win makes it even more impressive. It lost veteran guard Kamari McGee with 6:22 remaining in the first half due to a controversial ejection. As has been the case throughout the season, others on the team stepped up in McGee’s absence. Walk-on guard Jack Janicki delivered 11 points on three-of-four from beyond the arc, Max Klesmit was terrific with 17 points on five-of-10 shooting and John Blackwell sealed the game with offensive brilliance, scoring all of his 11 points in the second half.
After the game, the team showed its rally around McGee after he was forced to watch from the locker room.
Wisconsin moves to 20-5 on the season and 10-4 in Big Ten play with the win. Pending other results across the conference, it sits just 1 1/2 games behind first-place Michigan. Before we turn the page to an important upcoming home matchup against Illinois, here are some of the best reactions to Wisconsin’s defining victory:
John Tonje’s postgame message: ‘I love Wisconsin basketball’
Wisconsin’s offensive dominance
Wisconsin scored on 12 consecutive offensive possessions to end the game
Purdue didn’t get one defensive stop from the 7:00 mark on https://t.co/1BaluyCNRm
— Greg Waddell (@gwizzy12) February 15, 2025
Wisconsin today in a road win at (7) Purdue.
– 94 points
– 61.5% FG pct
– 3 turnovers
– 1.45 PPPThe Badgers are the only Division I team to shoot 60% from the field and commit 3 or fewer turnovers in a road game over the last 15 seasons.
— Jared Berson (@JaredBerson) February 15, 2025
Wisconsin missed two 2-point field goals — in the entire game — and scored 1.44 points per possession at Mackey.
Not a bad afternoon of offense. pic.twitter.com/AN5NVcR6QU
— Dylan Burkhardt (@umhoops) February 15, 2025
Shades of Johnny Davis
John didn’t totaly morph into Johnny. But John Tonje was every bit the catalyst that Johnny Davis was in leading the Badgers to special win at Mackey Arena. Tonje, like Davis, carried the Badgers when they needed his scoring the most to knock off the Boilers on their home floor.
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) February 15, 2025
Just like Johnny Davis a couple years ago, John Tonje puts up a B1G POY worthy performance at Purdue
— Bart T🏀rvik (@totally_t_bomb) February 15, 2025
Big afternoon for Greg Gard
FINAL — WISCONSIN 94, PURDUE 84
Wow. The Badgers just posted 58 second half points to command the Boilers in West Lafayette and improve to 10-4 in the Big Ten. John Tonje is an All-American. He scored 32, Max Klesmit with 17, Nolan Winter with 12. Statement win for Greg Gard.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) February 15, 2025
John Tonje is spectacular. Wisconsin lost Chucky Hepburn and AJ Storr and this team is even better offensively. It’s ridiculous what Gard has done with this team!
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) February 15, 2025
Jon Rothstein sends his classic postgame message
Big Cat chimes in
The response to Kamari McGee’s ejection
After losing Kamari McGee to an ejection on questionable Flagrant 2, how did the Badgers respond? Did they hang their heads? Nope. Did they curse their fate (if not the zebras)? Nope. Instead they rallied around each other and played like a pissed-off team that refused to lose.
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) February 15, 2025
More reaction
Given the opponent, the venue and the stakes, the most impressive victory of the season for the #Badgers. They just keep getting better.
— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) February 15, 2025
That Wisconsin win at Purdue was one of the most impressive performances all season. Badgers spread you out and are so hard to guard. Best Wisconsin team since 2015?
— CJ Moore (@CJMooreHoops) February 15, 2025
John Blackwell has been brilliant in closing time for @BadgerMBB. What a complete performance at Mackey by Wisconsin.
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) February 15, 2025
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin basketball Purdue social media reaction
