John Tonje was drafted by the Utah Jazz at No. 53 in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Steven Crowl signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Jazz, both former Wisconsin Badgers, with potential to join Micah Potter on the team.
The No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team has faced a four-game losing streak, struggling in several areas including Steven Crowl's scoring, 3-point shooting, and maintaining momentum. The team's recent losses have highlighted these weaknesses, and they will need to address these issues to turn their season around.
The Wisconsin Badgers secured a 75-60 victory over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, with Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl leading the charge for the Badgers. Wahl scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, while Crowl contributed 19 points and 9 rebounds. The Badgers dominated the rebounding battle and capitalized on their size advantage. Freshman guard John Blackwell continued to impress with his performance, logging 25 minutes and finishing as the team's best plus/minus player. However, Connor Essegian, who had a strong freshman season, has struggled to find playing time this year due to injuries and the emergence of Blackwell.
The Wisconsin Badgers secured a dominant 70-57 victory over the Michigan State Spartans, improving their record to 7-2. A.J. Storr led the team with 22 points, while Steven Crowl contributed 18 points. Defensively, the Badgers held Michigan State to their lowest score of the season, continuing their trend of keeping opponents under 60 points. The win sets up a challenging matchup against the undefeated No. 1 ranked Arizona Wildcats.
The Wisconsin Badgers lost to the North Texas Mean Green in the NIT Final Four, going scoreless over the last 9:07 to end their season. Chucky Hepburn had a strong first half but struggled in the second, while Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl showed potential but didn't receive enough volume offensively. The Badgers' season-long scoring droughts plagued them once again, and they lacked a player who could take over games. The loss officially ends their season.
The Wisconsin Badgers will face the Oregon Ducks in the NIT Quarterfinals, seeking redemption after their loss in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The Ducks have won 6 of their last 7 games and are led by center N’Faly Dante and senior guard Jermaine Couisnard. The Badgers are 4.5-point underdogs, and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN at 8 PM CT on Tuesday night.
Max Klesmit scored all seven of his points in the final 2 minutes 11 seconds to help Wisconsin rally past Liberty, 75-71, in the second round of the NIT. The Badgers won consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 30 and Jan. 3 to advance to the quarterfinal round Tuesday or Wednesday against either top-seeded Oregon or Central Florida.
The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Bradley Braves 81-62 in the first round of the NIT tournament. Steven Crowl led all scorers with 36 points and 9 rebounds, while Tyler Wahl and Connor Essegian also contributed with 14 and 16 points respectively. The Badgers will face the Liberty Flames in the second round on Sunday, March 19 at the Kohl Center.
The Wisconsin Badgers will face the Bradley Braves in the NIT Tournament after missing out on the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers are favored to win, but both teams struggle with free throws. The game may come down to guard play, with Wisconsin having the edge in that department. Steven Crowl's performance will also be crucial for the Badgers, as he will be relied upon to take advantage of Bradley's lack of size.