The Camp: Wisconsin’s offense with Jeff Grimes, transfer portal news, Junior Day visitors
The Badgers introduced their new coaches this week. Zach and Jesse discuss the offense that OC Jeff Grimes wants to install, Kenny Guiton’s move from WRs coach to QB coach, the hire of Jordan Reid as WRs coach and the promotion of Jack Cooper to coach the safeties. They also get into some of the latest transfer portal moves, which players in the 2026 are coming for Junior Day and a question about Luke Fickell best and worst case scenarios for 2025.
Wisconsin comes up short at UCLA, 7-game winning streak snapped
Wisconsin seven-game winning streak is over following a 85-83 loss at UCLA on Tuesday night.
The 18th-ranked Badgers had a chance to tie the game in the final 15 seconds, but John Blackwell’s shot in the paint got blocked and the Bruins pounced on the ball. They were able to close things out from there, handing Wisconsin its first loss since Dec. 10.
Blackwell had 23 points, four assists and four rebounds, while John Tonje bounced back from his scoreless effort on Saturday against USC by scoring a game-high 24 points. Steven Crowl was the only other Wisconsin player in double digits with 11.
The Badgers were hot from beyond the arc, going 15-for-30 on the night, including Tonje going 6-of-7. But they struggled with turnovers (13) and rim protection, allowing center Aday Mara to go for 22 points after he came in averaging 4.3 points per game. Guard Sebastian Mack had 19 for UCLA.
Wisconsin dropped to 15-4 on the year and 5-3 in Big Ten play. The team will be back in Madison to face Nebraska on Sunday.
Wisconsin rises to No. 18 in latest AP Top 25
Wisconsin’s seven-game winning streak has it moving up in the latest Associated Press Top 25.
Fresh off wins over Ohio State and USC, the Badgers jumped six spots to No. 18 in the poll released Monday. It’s the highest they’ve been since coming in at No. 11 in the Dec. 2 poll. They lost three straight games after that, but haven’t lost since. That includes five straight Big Ten wins to sit in 4th place in the conference.
Wisconsin is one of six teams from the Big Ten in the poll. It’s led by the lone unbeaten team left in conference play — Michigan State – at No. 8. Purdue comes in at No. 11, while Oregon is 15th. Illinois checks in one spot ahead of Wisconsin at No. 17, while Michigan is sitting at No. 21. All three of the teams the Badgers have lost to this year — the Wolverines, Illini and Marquette — are currently in the poll.
Auburn remained the No. 1 team in the country, with Duke jumping Iowa State at No. 2. After the Cyclones, Alabama and Florida round out the top 5.
The Badgers will look to match a season-best eight-game winning streak on Tuesday when they face UCLA.
The Camp: Wisconsin/Big Ten vs Xavier Lucas/Miami, transfer portal superlatives
Wisconsin finally ended its silence on the Xavier Lucas situation. Zach and Jesse discuss the latest developments in what is becoming a national story that could have a significant impact on college athletics. They also dive into some transfer portal superlatives.
(24) Badgers win 7th-straight with 84-69 win at USC
Wisconsin continued its winning ways Saturday by going on the road and getting an 84-69 victory at USC.
The 24th-ranked Badgers led by 15 at the half, but like against Ohio State on Tuesday night, the lead got trimmed down after the break. The Trojans got to within three with 10:44 left. But then Max Klesmit came alive, scoring 10 points in a 25-13 run to help Wisconsin win its seventh-straight game.
John Blackwell was a huge story on a night where leading scorer John Tonje (0-for-5) did not score for the first time this year. Blackwell picked up the slack going for 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting. He added four rebounds.
Klesmit finished with 18 points, his most in a Big Ten game this season. Kamari McGee added 10 points, four assists and went 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Nolan Winter chipped in 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Wisconsin’s defense was locked in during the first half, limting USC to a season-low 27 points. The Trojans were better in the second half but their 69 points were tied for their second-fewest in a conference game this year.
The Badgers improved to 15-3 on the year and are now 5-2 in the Big Ten after starting 0-2.
Wisconsin will stay in Los Angeles and face UCLA on Tuesday night.