Wisconsin basketball returned to the win column emphatically on Thursday, defeating Northwestern 70-63 in the second round of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament.
The Badgers had limped to the finish line to close the regular season. They dropped three of their final five games, including an inexplicable closing loss at home to Penn State. While the absence of starter Max Klesmit played a major role, significant questions surrounded the team entering postseason play.
Thursday’s win did not answer every question. The team is still working to return to the top offensive form that saw it defeat Purdue and Illinois as part of a critical five-game win streak in February. However, the performance was a critical step in the right direction. Klesmit returned to the lineup for the first time in three weeks and finished with nine important points on 3-of-5 shooting. His play complimented that of star wing John Tonje, who led the way once again with 18 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-14 from the field.
Wisconsin likely needs a few more victories to contend for a No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. However, Thursday’s win brought it ever closer to clinching a first-weekend pod site in nearby Milwaukee.
As the Badgers advance into their Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game against UCLA on Friday, here are some of the notable reactions from the strong win over Northwestern:
Jon Rothstein reacts
Big Cat thinks the Badgers are getting their mojo back
Max Klesmit made a huge impact
The gauge turns to the green
John Tonje set the tone
On Steven Crowl’s questionable technical foul
More reaction
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