Holy Cross basketball head coach Dave Paulsen praised John Tonje’s 23-point night after Wisconsin’s 85-61 win over the Crusaders on Monday night.

Six and a half minutes into the fresh season, Wisconsin found themselves down 16 points. But behind stellar play from guards John Tonje and John Blackwell and a pair of menacing runs, the Badgers pulled away for a season-opening victory. At times it wasn’t pretty, but Wisconsin weathered the storm to begin the season 1-0.

The Wisconsin Badgers opened their season with an 85-61 win over Holy Cross at the Kohl Center on Nov. 4.

Holy Cross was unconscious, shooting the ball at an 82% clip to start the game. Now, that kind of shooting isn't sustainable, but the Badgers weren't doing themselves any favors, starting just 1-10 from three to start the game and just 25% from the field.

Janicki, a former walk-on, played 11 minutes off the bench in Wisconsin’s win over Holy Cross. That is the second-highest total of any guard off the bench, behind only McGee’s 28 minutes. All indications are that Janicki has earned a spot in the rotation as only a redshirt freshman. Again, as a walk-on.

It wasn't pretty, but the Badgers men's basketball began the 2024-25 regular season season with an 85-61 win at the Kohl Center against Holy Cross.

Gabe Warren and Holy Cross were more than up to the challenge of a road opener at Wisconsin, but the Badgers broke out of a first-half slumber to survive a