Wisconsin basketball legend hopes John Tonje breaks his scoring record
Wisconsin basketball's top scoring option is playing his best basketball at the perfect time of the season.
Through two games of the 2025 Big Ten Tournament, Badgers wing John Tonje has tallied 44 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and three steals off 16-of-24 shooting from the floor and 8-of-11 from distance. His dominant 26-point, nine-rebound output against UCLA propelled Wisconsin into the Big Ten Tournament semifinal against the Michigan State Spartans.
In the victory, the First-Team All-Big Ten honoree and Naismith Player of the Year semifinalist claimed the No. 3 spot on Wisconsin's all-time single-season scoring list behind program legends Frank Kaminsky (2014-15) and Alando Tucker (2006-07).
Kaminsky, arguably the greatest player to put on a Badger uniform, set a sky-high mark during his AP Player of the Year campaign in 2014-15. He tallied 732 total points, leading Wisconsin to a national championship loss to Duke. Those 732 points came in 39 games -- an 18.8 points-per-game average.
With Tonje now on his heels, Kaminsky shared his interest in his record being broken. In his words, it "would mean great things for the program."
Hope he breaks it. Would mean great things for the program https://t.co/EJwIgCRzV8
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) March 14, 2025
At the rate at which Tonje is scoring, he certainly could accomplish the feat. The North Omaha, Nebraska, native sits at 632 points before UW's Big Ten Tournament semifinal bout against Michigan State. He currently averages 19.1 points per game through 33 contests. Wisconsin defeating Michigan State on Saturday would add a 35th game to Tonje's season. Then comes the NCAA Tournament, which would push that number to 36 and beyond.
Tonje leading the Badgers to an Elite Eight or Final Four run would not only etch the 2024-25 Badgers in history, but also put him atop that single-season leaderboard. As Kaminsky mentioned, Tonje claiming his record would mean Wisconsin is achieving great things on the court.
Regardless of if he claims the record, Tonje's sole season with the Badgers will go down as one of the best in recent memory. His poise and scoring efficiency have unlocked an new facet of Greg Gard's offense, one that could ignite the team on a deep NCAA Tournament run.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Basketball Frank Kaminsky Scoring Record John Tonje comment
| 2d 2:00 PM ET ago |
Topics
-
What UCLA coach Mick Cronin said about Wisconsin star John Tonje after Badgers' big win
Wisconsin’s basketball’s most important player added another signature performance to his 2024-25 campaign on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Wisconsin basketball's full NCAA Tournament history, record under head coach Greg Gard
Wisconsin basketball is in the NCAA Tournament for the 24th time in the last 26 seasons. Here is Greg Gard's full record in the eventYahoo Sports - 17h -
Tonje scores 32 as No. 18 Wisconsin tops No. 7 Michigan St. 77-74 in Big Ten semis
John Tonje scored 32 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help No. 18 Wisconsin beat No. 7 Michigan State 77-74 on Saturday in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
NCAA BASKETBALL: Wisconsin-Stout ends Lady Royals’ season
SCRANTON — All season, the University of Scranton women’s basketball team leaned on its defense. However, the University of Wisconsin-Stout dented that armor Saturday night. Raegan Sorensen scored ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
WIAA state basketball: Central Wisconsin boys and girls playoff basketball scoreboard
Find out the latest Central Wisconsin boys and girls high school playoff basketball scores here.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Tonje spurs record-tying 3-point flurry as No. 18 Wisconsin beats UCLA 86-70 in Big Ten Tournament
John Tonje matched his career high with six 3-pointers on his way to 26 points, and No. 18 Wisconsin tied the Big Ten Tournament single-game record by making 19 3s in an 86-70 victory over ...Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Wisconsin Badgers star named semifinalist for major college basketball award
Wisconsin star wing John Tonje was named a Naismith Men's College Player of the Year semifinalist on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
Was Michigan State basketball vs Wisconsin no-call at the buzzer correct? You decide
Wisconsin's John Tonje reached in and swiped at ball as Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. attempted to shoot tying 3-pointer in Big Ten tournament.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
RECAP: John Tonje leads Wisconsin to thrilling Big Ten Tournament win over Michigan State
Wisconsin basketball defeated the Michigan State Spartans 77-74 in a Big Ten Tournament thriller on Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis, Indiana.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring
Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension
The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it
The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.Yahoo Sports - 15h -
The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse
Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Auburn basketball’s first round opponent revealed ahead of 2025 NCAA Tournament
Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St. Francis in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s bracket.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More in Sports
-
MLB's villains or its gold standard? How the Los Angeles Dodgers got here
Love them or loathe them, the defending champs built a new evil empire with a series of monumental moves.ESPN - 1h -
Lunardi: The one big thing the selection committee got wrong
The decision to include both Texas and North Carolina has stumped our resident Bracketologist.ESPN - 1h -
NCAA agrees to lift name, image and likeness recruitment ban
The NCAA will abandon a rule that stopped athletes from negotiating potentially lucrative endorsement deals before enrolling in a specific college, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says ...ABC News - 1h -
Dodgers vs. Cubs odds, line, prediction, time: 2025 MLB Tokyo Series picks, March 18 bets from proven model
SportsLine's model simulated Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs 10,000 times and revealed its MLB picks for Tuesday's Tokyo Series matchupCBS Sports - 1h -
NCAA Tournament 2025 bracket picks, upsets, best Cinderella teams: Model simulates March Madness 10,000 times
SportsLine's college basketball model has called 24 first-round NCAA Tournament upsets by double-digit seedsCBS Sports - 3h