John Tonje Leads Wisconsin Badgers to Victory in Greenbrier Tip-Off

John Tonje emerged as a standout performer for the Wisconsin Badgers, scoring 25 of his 33 points in the second half, securing an 81-75 victory over the University of Pittsburgh in the championship game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Sunday in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. «Tonje’s performance was phenomenal and exactly what we needed,» remarked Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard.

Tonje, who transitioned from Colorado State and endured an injury-plagued season at the University of Missouri, has proven to be a critical recruit for the Badgers. The 6-foot-5 guard previously amazed fans with a 41-point game in Wisconsin’s notable upset against then ninth-ranked Arizona on November 15. With this recent victory, the Badgers maintain an undefeated 7-0 record early in the 2024 season, setting a new program standard by scoring 79 or more points in each game.

Despite their win, Wisconsin initially struggled with their shooting game, failing to land any of their first half three-point shots, and trailing by as many as 14 points against Pittsburgh. «Our first half was tough, but the team showed resilience,» commented Gard, crediting Tonje with energizing the Badgers in the second half.

The tournament faced logistical challenges, with the start of the game delayed after a triple overtime in the third-place play-off between LSU and Central Florida, which ended in a 109-102 victory for LSU. Additionally, a malfunctioning shot clock became an unexpected hurdle. Coaches Greg Gard and Jeff Capel of Pittsburgh adapted to the situation by playing with only one operational shot clock, with the public address announcer providing manual countdown updates.

For the Badgers, this win, though not likely to yield a championship banner, represents a significant achievement for a team that entered the season without much preseason acclaim. «Defensively, Pittsburgh was one of the toughest teams we’ve faced, but our ability to draw fouls was key,» Gard added, recognizing the importance of this victory for the team’s morale and momentum.