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Wisconsin Basketball Player Earns Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors

Budding Wisconsin basketball freshman John Blackwell earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after a strong performance at the Fort Myers Tip-Off.

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Wisconsin Badgers Basketball guard John Blackwell
Nov 22, 2023; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) dribbles down court against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the second half during the Fort Myers Tip-Off championship game at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Wisconsin basketball program is coming off a championship run in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. With wins over Virginia and SMU, the Badgers are 4-2 to start the 2023-24 season.

John Blackwell, who has been a big bright spot for UW thus far, was instrumental in the run the Badgers made. After some solid play in the third week of the season, the budding freshman earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors. 

 

Wisconsin Basketball Guard John Blackwell Earns Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors

Blackwell is the first Badgers player to earn Freshman of the Week honors since Chucky Hepburn in 2021.

He has quickly earned a spot as a mainstay in the rotation for Greg Gard and company. Currently, the Michigan native is averaging 10 points, four rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the floor. 

Blackwell played the most minutes of any player off the bench in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. In the opening matchup against No. 24 Virginia, the 6-foot-4, 194-pound guard logged 10 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes. He went 2-for-3 from beyond the arc and also hit all four attempts at the free throw line. 

In the championship match, Blackwell played 22 minutes — his second most of the year — and registered 10 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. 

Blackwell has provided a huge spark off the bench for Wisconsin through the first six games of the season, so much so that he’s jumped Connor Essegian in the rotation. It’s early, but this kid has shown flashes of his star potential and could be in for a very strong year. 

The Wisconsin basketball program will take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks tonight at 6 pm as they look to improve to 5-2 on the season before a daunting stretch.

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Jake Maier is the managing editor and publisher at BadgerNotes.com. He has provided coaching and editorial support to numerous writers in his role, contributing significantly to the platform's growth. His expertise extends to Wisconsin Badgers football, basketball, and recruiting coverage. Jake's previous bylines can be found at Fansided and Wisconsin Sports Heroics.

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