Wisconsin basketball understands defense is a 'big piece' to sustaining success
The Wisconsin basketball team's offense has been its identity, but the coaching staff knows defense is key to unlocking their full potential.
The No. 24 Wisconsin men's basketball team’s offense has rightfully been the focal point of national attention this season, averaging 83.1 points per game—their most since 1970-71—and ranking 12th in KenPom offensive efficiency, their highest mark since 2014-15.
Right now, Greg Gard has the Badgers putting up their best offensive production in decades, with 15.8 assists per game (the most since 1993-94), 9.6 made three-pointers per game (on pace for the highest in program history), and an 85.3% free-throw shooting percentage, which leads the Big Ten and would rank as the best in school history.
"It shows the unselfishness of this group, the connectiveness of this group, and how they want to play with and for each other," Gard said.
Still, coach Gard and his staff know that while the offensive fireworks have been exciting, whether or not Wisconsin will reach its ceiling will depend on how well they perform on the defensive end.
“I think we’ve gotten better in spurts defensively,” Gard told reporters. “As a coach, I always find the things we’re not good enough at, and they understand it. I say that because I listen to what they say in the huddles and what they’re talking about in those timeouts… they know.
"I have really smart players. I could trade seats with them in the timeouts sometimes, and they could lead it. I let them talk because they’re the ones playing it, and I let them converse back and forth."
The players taking more ownership and understanding the importance of every possession has been pivotal for the Badgers as they navigate Big Ten play. Wisconsin's defense, which ranked 89th nationally in adjusted efficiency according to KenPom just 12 games into the season, has climbed up to 58th during their current winning streak—a considerable improvement reflecting their renewed emphasis on that end of the floor.
“When you get a player-coached team, that gives you a chance to have a really, really good team,” Gard noted. “As much as everybody’s made about our offense, they understand defense is a big piece of what we continue to do.”
Graduate transfer John Tonje, who leads the Badgers in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game, echoed his coach’s sentiments, noting how defensive success often fuels the team's offensive rhythm.
“Things just work better, start flowing better, you get confidence, get things rolling when you’re getting stops,” Tonje said.
Integrating eight new players onto its roster this season, Wisconsin's defense was always expected to take time to find its footing. However, with quality defenders like John Blackwell, Max Klesmit, Kamari McGee, and Carter Gilmore off the bench, plus a pair of seven-footers making life tough at the rim, the Badgers have the tools to be solid on that end—a level that might be all they need, given their offensive firepower.
The addition of a willing wing defender like Tonje, replacing the defensive inconsistency of AJ Storr from a year ago, has already raised the floor for this unit significantly by simply not being a net negative.
The formula for success is simple: Wisconsin is 8-1 when holding opponents under 70 points this season — and 25-1 dating back to 2023-24. While scoring will always matter, the Badgers' ceiling lies in their ability to maintain pressure, be consistent in their assignments, and do enough defensively to force their opponents into taking tough shots.
The Badgers (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten) return to the Kohl Center on Jan. 14 for a matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-6, 2-3). Wisconsin enters the game as 6.5-point favorites, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. CT on Peacock.
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