MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin has revamped a strategy that had solidified its reputation as one of the top programs in the nation.
The consequences of this change are evident in their recent performances.
Historically, the Badgers have been recognized for their methodical offensive play, but this season, they’re achieving scoring heights not observed in decades. Currently ranked No. 11, Wisconsin (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) heads into Saturday’s matchup against Oregon (19-8, 8-8) riding a five-game winning streak.
After suffering a defeat to the Badgers, Illinois coach Brad Underwood commented, “I think they’re one of the top offenses in the country,” highlighting Wisconsin’s impressive offensive display in their 95-74 victory over Illinois on Tuesday.
This win was followed by a notable 94-84 triumph over then-No. 7 Purdue, marking the first time since December 1995 that the Badgers achieved consecutive games scoring over 90 points. They hadn’t accomplished such a feat in successive Big Ten outings since 1992.
In three of their last 13 conference games, the Badgers have managed to score at least 90 points, a significant improvement compared to the three instances of 90-plus points they achieved over 403 previous Big Ten contests. Overall, Wisconsin’s scoring average stands at 82 points per game, on pace to reach their highest average since the 1970-71 season, when they recorded a school-best of 86.3 points per game.
“It’s been a blast to play for,” said 7-foot sophomore Nolan Winter, referring to the team’s fast-paced, entertaining style of play. “I think all the players can attest to that.”
This change in offensive philosophy did not stem from a new head coach; Greg Gard has been part of the Wisconsin program since 2001, initially as an assistant coach and later as the head coach starting in December 2015. Under his leadership, Wisconsin has participated in 23 of the past 25 NCAA Tournaments.
Recognizing the need for evolution, Gard opted to shift the team’s tempo to compete effectively in the modern landscape of college basketball shaped by beneficial rule changes for offensive teams. Although he acknowledged the importance of defense, he emphasized the necessity of scoring, noting that teams deep in the NCAA tournament were typically those who scored effectively.
Gard highlighted that the addition of Kirk Penney, a former player who joined the coaching staff in 2023, positively impacted the offense. Last season, the Badgers averaged 74.7 points per game, their highest in three decades.
The changes have been most noticeable during the current season.
According to analytics expert Ken Pomeroy, Wisconsin ranks 139th in raw tempo, reflecting the number of possessions per game. Additionally, they sit at 184th in adjusted tempo, which gauges possessions against teams aiming for an average Division I pace.
Those rankings might not seem remarkable at first glance, but they signify Wisconsin’s best standing in raw tempo since at least the 1996-97 season, no doubt demonstrating their enhanced offensive pace. They have ranked outside the top 300 in adjusted tempo for 15 out of the last 17 seasons, showing a clear transformation this year.
Taking full advantage of the increase in possessions, Wisconsin is currently placed sixth in adjusted efficiency, a measure of expected points scored against an average Division I defense over 100 possessions. This efficiency rating marks their highest since the 2014-15 season, when Wisconsin led the country in that metric and advanced to the NCAA Tournament final.
Adding to the team’s success, sixth-year senior John Tonje has proved valuable. After a limited season with Missouri last year due to injury, he made a significant impact by scoring 41 points in a 103-88 win over then-No. 9 Arizona. Following a brief scoring drought against Southern California, Tonje rebounded with a stellar average of 25.1 points over his last eight games, including remarkable performances with 32 points against Purdue and 31 against Illinois, becoming the first Badger to score 30 or more in consecutive games since Michael Finley in 1993-94.
“I think I’ve got a better feel just for Wisconsin basketball at both ends, and I think my teammates understand me better and I understand my teammates a little bit better,” Tonje reflected on his growth with the team. “We’re just starting to mesh and click well.”
As they look forward to the postseason, Wisconsin hopes their offensive prowess will translate into greater success in the NCAA Tournament, where they haven’t advanced past the round of 32 since 2017.
“That’s my job and our job as a staff, to keep raising the bar and keep pushing,” Gard concluded. “When you have a hungry group that’s unselfish, they want to keep climbing, too. We haven’t done anything yet. We must continue to push forward. We talked about climbing the mountain earlier in the year. We’re still climbing.”
