Wisconsin basketball captured a convincing 84-69 win over the USC Trojans on Saturday.
Star sophomore John Blackwell commanded Wisconsin’s offense from start to finish, as he has on several occasions throughout the season. The Michigan native dropped a game-leading 28 points on an impressive 10-of-16 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
The Badgers set the tone early with 42 first-half points on 58.3% from the floor and a sweltering 46.7% from distance. The Trojans struggled to remain in the contest during the first 20 minutes. Eric Musselman’s crew fought back with a well-rounded second half, however, led by a surge on the offensive end.
Blackwell and veteran Max Klesmit denied USC from completing an improbable comeback with 25 combined second-half tallies, led by aggressive play inside the three-point line. When the dust settled, Wisconsin pocketed a 15-point victory to improve to 15-3 on the season.
With the win, UW also extended its win streak to seven games dating back to Dec. 14. Here are five stats that defined UW’s impressive win over the Trojans on Saturday.
1. 86.7% from the charity stripe
Wisconsin continued its improbable efficiency from the free-throw line against USC. While the number of makes on Saturday did not come close to what the Badgers pulled off against Ohio State on Jan. 14 (25-of-28), it was still a big part of the win.
The team’s consistency from the charity stripe is arguably its most lethal offensive weapon. The Badgers led the nation entering Saturday with an 85.41% clip from the free throw line. If Greg Gard’s group can maintain this type of efficiency for the remainder of the season, UW will set the all-time NCAA Division I record for free throw percentage in a single season.
2. 13 second-half points from Max Klesmit
The 2024-25 season has not been kind to Max Klesmit. The senior guard is accountable for 10.1 points per game this season, but he’s shot just 32.6% from the field and 29% from distance through 16 games. A recent ankle injury and subsequent struggles against Rutgers and Ohio State have sent him down Wisconsin’s list of offensive options.
Klesmit rebounded in a big way on Saturday. He scored 13 crucial points in the second half to help UW pull away from USC. While his ceiling isn’t as high as Blackwell’s or John Tonje’s, these spurts will prove valuable down the line.
3. Zero points from John Tonje
While disappointing, John Tonje’s no-show actually makes Wisconsin’s win…
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