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A magical season that had the Wisconsin Badgers predicted to finish in 12th-place in the Big Ten, has come to a heartbreaking conclusion in Denver as the third-seeded Badgers (27-10) fell to the six-seeded BYU Cougars (26-9), 91-89, in Denver in the Round of 32 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
After a glorious season, there’s now only emptiness on what could have been for this team. Just an absolute gut punch.
I’m sick after that game and finish. Crushing loss. Hell of a fight to the end from UW, they showed a lot of guts in the final 20 minutes.
For the most part, I’m a big believer that with each individual game that you get what you earn. The Badgers earned the loss tonight with a poor first half on both ends of the court, particularly on defense. Too many defensive lapses to overcome.
While the offense had some inopportune moments, that side wasn’t THE issue … A game when you score 89 points, that’s one you should win. UW just had a hard time getting their footing defensively, particularly in the first half.
BYU’s offense was impressive. Three bench points for UW was killer. Last possession, I was fine with dancing with John Tonje. The end sucks!!!! ALWAYS!
One thing to get out of the way real quick: Greg Gard is a hell of a coach and coached really well this season and has the program in a good place. Wanting a deep run in March is reasonable as fans, but talking about firing him is ridiculous, go touch some grass if that’s you. I’m horribly disappointed and sad with this loss, but saying “Fire Gard!” is just f’kn asinine!
Most of the same people that are now calling this season a failure are the same people who were also saying how bad Wisconsin was going to be back in October. You don’t f’kn get to do both!
Minnesota and Marquette fans aren’t allowed in any Wisconsin discussions tonight. Get back to the kids table, losers.
I would love to get an explanation of that bench technical foul now after Wisconsin cut it to a four-point deficit. Greg Gard in his post game presser said the official couldn’t tell him what was said. Apparently, two assistant coaches stood up, I didn’t know you got technicals for that.
John Tonje was magnificent tonight, scoring 37 points and almost single handily willed the Badgers to the Sweet 16. Tonje missed a contested baseline jumper at the end. John Blackwell added 21. Badgers trailed by 11 points with 2:34 remaining.
The old adage is that your best players have to play their best to win on the big stages. John Tonje and John Blackwell held up their end of the deal. The UW bench wasn’t as productive as it had been (and how we had hoped tonight). Yet the outcome was still in doubt until the very end. Oh and BYU is a pretty damn good team. That was a preposterously rough 6-seed draw for Wisconsin.
This season is definitely on the short list of one of the most enjoyable UW hoops seasons.
Life as a Wisconsin sports fan is just pain.
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