Wisconsin Badgers
Northwestern
Starting Five: Badgers ready for Big Ten Tournament
March 11, 2025 | Men's Basketball
UW to play either Minnesota or Northwestern on Thursday
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's basketball team earned the No. 5 seed in the 2025 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, playing against No. 13 seed Northwestern on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The game is set for approximately 1:30 p.m. (CT) tip-off, airing on Big Ten Network. Fans can also listen to the action on the Badger Radio Network. All-session tickets for the 28th edition of the tournament are available for purchase through TicketMaster.com.
The Badgers will have a pair of events on Thursday for fans in Indianapolis .UW will have a sendoff for the team from the Omni Hotel (40 W Jackson Pl, Indianapolis, IN 46225) at 11:15 a.m. CT (12:15 p.m. ET). Join the UW Band, UW Spirit Squad and Bucky Badger and cheer the Badgers on!
After the sendoff, fans can gather for a pre-game pep rally at Brother's Bar and Grill (255 S Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46225) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT (12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. ET). UW will be giving away shirts, beads, buttons, fanny packs and more!
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW:
1. BIG TEN TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Badgers look to continue a history of success at the Big Ten Tournament. UW has appeared in all 27 previous iterations of the tournament, sporting a 29-23 (.558) record. Wisconsin has the fifth most wins, and the fifth best winning percentage in all the conference. The team has appeared in eight Big Ten title games, winning three of them - 2004, 2008, and 2015.
Last season, Wisconsin made a tremendous run to the title game as a five seed. The Badgers took care of 12-seeded Maryland, 87-56, and got past Northwestern in the next round, 70-61. The next game was one for the record books, as Wisconsin took down top-seeded Purdue, ranked No. 3 in the country, during the semifinal. Wisconsin won, 76-75 in overtime, with Max Klesmit hitting the game winning layup with just five seconds remaining.
2. SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Wisconsin plays No. 13 seed Northwestern on Thursday after beating the Wildcats in early February, 75-69.
The Northwestern game was highlighted by Carter Gilmore’s performance, who scored 15 second-half points to lead a Wisconsin comeback victory.
Wisconsin is 3-0 all-time against Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament, beating the Wildcats in 2000, 2017, and 2024 last season - where Steven Crowl scored 19 points.
3. END OF SEASON SUPERLATIVES
Entering postseason play, three Badgers were honored with Big Ten distinctions. John Tonje earned a All-Big Ten First Team selection, John Blackwell notched an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, while Markus Ilver received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Tonje becomes the 18th Badgers since 1949 to earn a first-team spot, and the first to do so since Johnny Davis in 2022. The Omaha, Nebraska, native is responsible for two of the three highest scoring games by a Big Ten player against a top-ten team - scoring 41 against No. 9 Arizona, and 32 against No. 7 Purdue.
Blackwell earns an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after being a Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree last season. He’s second on the team with 15.6 points per game. Markus Ilver receives the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award as a senior with plenty of experience - playing in 70 career games.
4. SENIOR DAY
Last Saturday, the men’s basketball team honored its seniors at the Kohl Center before its regular season finale against Penn State. Six seniors were recognized before the game; Markus Ilver, Kamari McGee, Carter Gilmore, John Tonje, Steven Crowl, and Max Klesmit.
While the team fell to Penn State, 86-75, the senior class put in good performances. Steven Crowl scored 19 points, going 8-for-15 from the field. John Tonje scored 13 points while collecting seven rebounds. And Kamari McGee scored 10 first-half points.
The seniors gave huge contributions to a Badger team that finished the regular season 23-8, and a top-five conference record of 13-7. It’s tied for the second-best overall record to end the regular season in the Greg Gard era.
5. SELECTION SUNDAY
Immediately after the conclusion of the Big Ten tournament, the Badgers will wait to hear their name called for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The selection show is Sunday at 5 p.m. (CT) on CBS.
The first round of the NCAA tournament begins March 20-23, with the Final Four and Championship game set for April 5 and 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
