Wisconsin basketball had some success prior to this season through the transfer portal. The Badgers lost Connor Essegian, Chucky Hepburn and AJ Storr to Portal, and that meant a lot of firepower. What was Greg Gard able to do? Add the perfect fit for Wisconsin basketball in John Tonje, who showed exactly who he is in the team’s hard-fought 81-75 victory over Pittsburgh.
Greenbrier Hint Masters‼️🏆 pic.twitter.com/K2ZEfFz6pg
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) November 25, 2024
John Tonje feels right at home with the Badgers
Tonje came to Wisconsin basketball via the transfer portal, which has seen increased traffic due to NIL rules. While the Badgers have felt the effects of the up-to-date college basketball landscape, they have also been able to reap some benefits.
The sixth-year transfer spent most of his collegiate career at Colorado State. He spent one season at Missouri that was plagued by injuries and ended with him seeking a medical redshirt. Tonje entered the transfer portal and has now found a home with the Badgers and is here to win:
“And I think they accepted me and the city accepted me. I’m just doing everything I can to fight for my name on the front of the jersey.
He has shown how much he wants to compete in Wisconsin basketball with his performances this season, including during the team’s last victory. Tonje dropped 33 points to Pitt, including 25 in the second half, and the Badgers stormed back to take the Greenbrier tip from Pitt. Tonje said he wants to show Wisconsin who he is and that even after his short time here, he’s ready to make an impact:
“I only have a limited amount of time here,” Tonje said. “But I just want my teammates to know that I’m here to build lifelong relationships.”
PTS: 33
FG: 11-19
FT: 10-10John Tonje’s second night of the season with over 30 events secured 19th place @BadgerMBBcomeback over Pitt in the Greenbrier Tip-Off final 💥 #B1GMBBal pic.twitter.com/j0VEhGDDIk
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2024
Greg Gard considers John Tonje’s fit for Wisconsin Basketball
The Wisconsin State guard is making a name for himself on the court, and head coach Greg Gard is noticing a different kind of vibe from the senior:
“He feels like he’s been here for four years,” Gard said. “I mean, he fits perfectly into the culture because he’s a really good person and he cares about his team. He cares about winning.”
John Tonje has been overlooked this transfer season and after finishing an injury-plagued season, he and Greg Gard are proving the analysts wrong. Tonje ranks 3rd in the Big Ten and 22nd nationally with 21.3 PPG. He’s shooting 53.2% from the field and making 44.4% of the threes he takes.
All signs point to Wisconsin basketball finding a spark in its current run of success, which has seen UW drop to 87.8 PPG and start the season 7-0. Tonje, for his part, hopes for lasting success and to leave his mark on the Badgers, even if for a low time:
“I want this to be a place that I can come back to and visit when I’m done playing in college,” Tonje said. “I want this to be my home later.”
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