The Wisconsin Badgers are an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. The Badgers' home games are played at the Kohl Center, located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin has 1,732 wins through the end of the 2024–25 season which is top 50 all-time among Division I college basketball programs. Wisconsin has appeared in the NCAA tournament 29 times. The Wisconsin Badgers currently have 51 players in their 1,000-point club as well.
Contents
History
Early years (1898–1911)
Wisconsin Badger basketball began in December, 1898 with the formation of its first team coached by Dr. James C. Elsom. The Badgers played their first game on January 21, 1899, losing to the Milwaukee Normal Alumni 25–15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin [1]. In 1905, Christian Steinmetz became the first Wisconsin Badger basketball player to be named All-American. In the 1906–07 season, Wisconsin won its first share of the Big Ten Championship, under the coaching of Emmett Dunn Angell. They won it again the next year in 1908.
Walter Meanwell era (1911–1934)
Walter Meanwell began coaching the Badgers in 1911. In his first season, he led Wisconsin to an undefeated season (15–0), and then led them to another 15–0 season in 1913–14. Meanwell's teams would win eight Big Ten Championships during his tenure, in 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1921, 1923, 1924, and 1929. Between the 1917–18 and 1919–20 seasons, Guy Lowman coached the Badgers, leading them to a 1918 Big Ten Conference Championship before Meanwell returned in 1920. Meanwell would also coach two All-Americans during his Wisconsin career, George Levis in 1916 and Harold "Bud" Foster in 1930. On December 18, 1930, the first game was played in the new Wisconsin Field House, a basketball arena with a capacity of 11,500.
Bud Foster era (1934–1959)
Starting with the 1934–35 season, former UW basketball player Bud Foster began coaching the Wisconsin Badgers. In his first season as head coach, he led the Badgers to their 12th Big Ten Conference Championship in 28 years. In 1941, Foster led the Badgers to their only national championship in history. With the help of tournament MOP John Kotz and All-American Gene Englund, the Badgers beat Washington State 39–34 in the final game of the NCAA Tournament. It was their first ever invitation to the NCAA Tournament, after winning the Big Ten Championship in that year. Foster coached three All-Americans during his tenure – Gene Englund in 1941, John Kotz in 1942 and Don Rehfeldt in 1950. The Badgers won one more Big Ten championship in 1947 and attended their second NCAA Tournament. It would be their last postseason appearance of any sort for 42 years, and their last NCAA appearance for 47 years.
1959–1994
The mediocre records of the last decade of Foster's tenure would remain largely the norm for the Badgers for the next four decades. From 1954 to 1995, the Badgers would have only eight winning seasons. They also notched only two winning records in Big Ten play and finished as high as fourth only four times. Among the few bright spots during this time were the 1962 win over number one ranked Ohio State and stars Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek, NIT appearances under Steve Yoder in 1989 and 1991, and another in 1992 under Stu Jackson. The revival of Wisconsin basketball began in the early 1990s, when Yoder and Jackson recruited and developed Michael Finley, Tracy Webster, Rashard Griffith and other talented players. In 1994, the Badgers returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1947 and notched their first win in that tournament since winning it all in 1941.
Dick Bennett era (1995–2000)
In 1995, Dick Bennett then took over after leading Wisconsin-Green Bay to mid-major prominence. In 1997, he led the Badgers to their first winning Big Ten record in 23 years, and only their second in 43 years. The Badgers began a run of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 1999, and reached the NCAA tournament Final Four in 2000.
In 2000, the Badgers entered the NCAA tournament seeded #8 in the West bracket. Beyond most expectations, they defeated #9 Fresno St, #1 Arizona, #4 LSU, and #6 Purdue in order to advance to the Final Four. However, the Badgers then lost to #1 and eventual national champion Michigan State, 53–41.
After three games into the 2000–01 season (in which he went 2–1), Bennett abruptly retired due to burnout. His final game was a 78–75 win over eventual Final Four participant Maryland. Assistant Brad Soderberg was named interim head coach. Soderberg led Wisconsin to a 16–10 record (18–11 overall), but was upset in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Georgia State.
Bo Ryan era (2001–2015)
Soderberg was let go at the end of the 2000–01 season, and Wisconsin hired University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee coach Bo Ryan as the new head coach. Ryan had previously won four Division III national championships at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Coach Bo Ryan brought the program continued success, achieving greater regular season and NCAA tournament success in his 15-year tenure than the program had achieved over the prior 60 years. Since the late 1990s Wisconsin has turned into a basketball powerhouse making regular trips to the NCAA Tournament. Since 2001-2002 Wisconsin has finished in the top 4 in the Big Ten regular season standings 19 times in the past 21 seasons, and have won 6 Big Ten regular season championships and 3 Big Ten tournament championships.
In the 2001–02 season, under the new leadership of Bo Ryan, the Badgers went 19–13 (11–5) and won a share of the Big Ten regular season title for the first time since 1947, tying for first place in the Big Ten with Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio State. The Badgers defeated St. John's 90–80 in Ryan's first NCAA tournament game before falling to eventual national champion Maryland.
During the 2002–03 season, Wisconsin secured its first outright regular season conference title in 56 years. The Badgers lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament to Ohio State. They then attended the NCAA tournament with a #5 seed, beating Weber State in the first round and Tulsa in the second round. The Badgers then lost to Kentucky in the Sweet Sixteen.
In the 2003–04 season, Wisconsin finished second in the Big Ten behind Illinois. They went on to win the Big Ten tournament for the first time since its inception in 1998. The Badgers defeated Minnesota in a quarterfinal, rallied to beat Michigan State in a semifinal, and defeated Illinois in the final. However, because the game was played too late to be taken under consideration by the NCAA tournament selection committee, the Badgers received a #6 seed. They defeated Richmond in the first round before losing to #3 seed Pittsburgh in the second round.
In the 2004–05 season, Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten. In the Big Ten tournament semifinal against Iowa, Alando Tucker made a long shot at the buzzer to give UW a 3-point win, but the Badgers lost to #1 ranked Illinois in the championship. In the 2005 NCAA tournament, Wisconsin advanced to the Elite Eight by defeating #11 seed Northern Iowa, #14 seed Bucknell, and #10 seed North Carolina State before losing to #1 and eventual national champion, North Carolina.
Greg Gard era (2015–present)
Greg Gard, who had been on Ryan's staff since his days at UW-Platteville, was named interim head coach in December 2015.
In the 2015–16 season, the Badgers entered the NCAA tournament as a 7 seed. The Badgers beat 10 seed Pittsburgh in the first round 47–43 to advance to face 2 seed Xavier in the second round. The Badgers locked up their second victory defeating Xavier 66–63 with a buzzer beater from Bronson Koenig. They were then defeated in the sweet sixteen by 6 seed Notre Dame, 61–56. Earlier, Wisconsin had dropped the interim tag from Gard's title and named him head coach.
In the 2016–17 season, the Badgers were second in the regular-season Big Ten standings and in the Big Ten Conference tournament. They entered the NCAA tournament as an 8 seed. They defeated 9 seed Virginia Tech in the first round 84–74, moving on to face overall 1 seed Villanova at Buffalo. They defeated Villanova 65–62 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth straight year, only to lose 84–83 to 4 seed Florida on a last-second buzzer beater in overtime by Chris Chiozza.
In the 2017–18 season, the Badgers finished the season with a 15–18 record, 7–11 in Big Ten Play and finished in 9th place. They defeated Maryland in the second round of the Big Ten tournament, followed by a loss to Michigan State in the quarterfinals. The Badgers failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998, ending their streak of 19 years.
In the 2018–19 season, the Badgers finished the season with a 23–11 record, 14–6 in Big Ten play, and finished in 4th place. Wisconsin entered the Big Ten tournament as the 4 seed, after they earned a double bye, and beat Nebraska before they were defeated by Michigan State in the semifinals. The Badgers earned a bid into the NCAA tournament as a 5 seed and lost to Oregon in the first round.
The Badgers would complete the 2019–20 season with a 21–10 record, with a 14–6 Big Ten record. After winning 8 straight games to end the regular season, Wisconsin secured a share of the Big Ten regular season title, and was named the #1 seed in the Big Ten tournament. Coach Gard would also be named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. However, the Badgers' season would end early as the Big Ten tournament and NCAA Tournament were both cancelled due to precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wisconsin would be listed at #17 on the AP's final 2019–20 rankings.
Postseason
NCAA tournament results
The Badgers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 29 times, including a streak of 19 consecutive appearances. Their combined record is 41–28. They were the national champion in 1941.
NCAA Tournament seeding history
The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.
NIT results
The Badgers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) five times. Their combined record is 6–5.
Retired jerseys
The Badgers have retired three jerseys in their program history. When Wisconsin retires jerseys the numbers stay in circulation, but a banner hangs in the rafters of the Kohl Center.
All-Americans
Helms Athletic Foundation selections
C. D. McLees (1905)
Christian Steinmetz (1905)
Frank Arthur (1907)
Hugh Harper (1908)
Helmer Swenholt (1908, 1909)
Walter Scoville (1911)
Otto Stangel (1912)
Allen Johnson (1913)
Carl Harper (1914)
Eugene Van Gent (1914)
George Levis (1915, 1916)
Bill Chandler (1916, 1918)
Harold Olsen (1917)
Eber Simpson (1918)
Consensus selections
Gene Englund (1941)
John Kotz (1942, 1943)
Don Rehfeldt (1950)
Devin Harris (2004)
Alando Tucker (2007)
Jordan Taylor (2011)
Frank Kaminsky (2015)
Ethan Happ (2019)
Johnny Davis (2022)
John Tonje (2025)
National Players of the Year
Christian Steinmetz (1905)
Otto Stangel (1912)
George Levis (1916)
Bill Chandler (1918)
Frank Kaminsky (2015)
Basketball Hall of Fame
Christian Steinmetz
Walter Meanwell
Harold E. Foster
Bo Ryan
Current NBA players
Micah Potter (2021), undrafted, currently playing with the Portland Trail Blazers
Current NBA G League players
Steven Crowl (2025), currently playing for Salt Lake City Stars, affiliated with the Utah Jazz
John Tonje (2025), drafted 53rd overall in the 2025 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, currently playing for the Boston Celtics, on a two-way affiliate with the Maine Celtics
Current international players
Vitto Brown (2017), currently playing for Turkish team Beşiktaş J.K. in the Basketbol Süper Ligi and EuroCup
Johnny Davis (2022), drafted 10th overall in the 2021 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards, currently playing for Turkish team Manisa Basket in the Basketbol Süper Ligi
Aleem Ford (2021), currently playing for Puerto Rican team Leones de Ponce in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional
Carter Gilmore (2025), currently playing for Dutch team Den Helder Suns in the BNXT League
Ethan Happ (2019), currently playing for Spanish team La Laguna Tenerife in the Liga ACB and EuroCup
Nigel Hayes-Davis (2017), currently playing for Greek team Panathinaikos B.C. in the Greek Basketball League and EuroLeague
Markus Ilver (2025), currently playing for Estonian team Ülikool Maks & Moorits in the Latvian–Estonian Basketball League
Khalil Iverson (2019), currently playing for Mexican team Rayos de Hermosillo in the CIBACOPA
Max Klesmit (2025), currently playing for Belgian team Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen in the BNXT League
Kamari McGee (2025), currently playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina team KK Jahorina in the Bosnian League
Nate Reuvers (2021), currently playing for Spanish team Valencia Basket in the Liga ACB and EuroLeague
D'Mitrik Trice (2021), currently playing for German team SC Rasta Vechta in the Basketball Bundesliga
All-time statistical leaders
Single-game leaders
Points scored: Frank Kaminsky (43, November 19, 2013)
3-pointers: Braeden Carrington (9, 2026)
Assists: Tracy Webster (13, 1992)
Rebounds: Paul Morrow (30, 1953)
Steals: Mike Kelley (10, 1999) & Michael Finley (10, 1993)
Blocked shots: Nate Reuvers x2 (9, 2018 & 2019)
Free throws: John Tonje (21, 2024)
Single-season leaders
Points scored: Frank Kaminsky (732, 2014–15)
Scoring average: Clarence Sherrod (23.8, 1970–71)
Field goal percentage: Patrick Tompkins (63.6% 164–258, 1990–91)
3-pointers scored: Bronson Koenig (103, 2016–17)
3-point percentage: Tracy Webster (49.0% 75–153, 1991–92)
Free throw percentage: John Tonje (.909% 231–254, 2024–25)
Rebounds: Jim Clinton (344, 1950–51)
Rebounding average: Jim Clinton (15.6, 1950–51)
Assists: Tracy Webster (179, 1992–93)
Assist-to-turnover ratio: Mike Kelley (4.30, 1998–99)
Blocked shots: Brad Sellers (68, 1982–83)
Triple-doubles: Ethan Happ (2, 2018–19)
Career statistical leaders
Points scored: Alando Tucker (2,217, 2002–07)
Scoring average: Clarence Sherrod (19.6, 1969–71)
Field goal percentage: Patrick Tompkins (57.3% 306–534, 1988–91)
3-pointers scored: Brad Davison (300, 2017–2022)
3-point percentage: Tim Locum (47.2% 227–481, 1988–91)
Free throws made: Nigel Hayes (546, 2013–17)
Free throws percentage: Rick Olson (87.0 260–299, 1983–86)
Rebounds: Ethan Happ (1,217, 2015–2019)
Assists: Tracy Webster (501, 1992–94)
Assist-to-turnover ratio: Jordan Taylor (3.01 464–154, 2009–12)
Steals: Mike Kelley (275, 1998–01)
Blocked shots: Ethan Happ (154, 2015–2019)
Games played: Tyler Wahl (162, 2019–24)
Triple-doubles: Ethan Happ (2, 2015–19)
1,000-point scorers
Alando Tucker (2,217, 2002–07)
Michael Finley (2,147, 1991–95)
Ethan Happ (2,130, 2015–19)
Nigel Hayes (1,857, 2013–17)
Danny Jones (1,854, 1986–90)
Brad Davison (1,827, 2017–22)
Claude Gregory (1,745, 1977–81)
Rick Olson (1,736, 1982–86)
Trent Jackson (1,545, 1985–89)
Jordan Taylor (1,533, 2008–12)
Mike Wilkinson (1,532, 2001–05)
John Blackwell (1,505, 2023–present)
Steven Crowl (1,490, 2020–25)
Bronson Koenig (1,459, 2013–17)
Frank Kaminsky (1,458, 2011–15)
Kirk Penney (1,454, 1999–03)
D'Mitrik Trice (1,430, 2016–21)
Devin Harris (1,425, 2001–04)
Clarence Sherrod (1,408, 1968–71)
Cory Blackwell (1,405, 1981–84)
Jon Leuer (1,376, 2007–11)
Sam Dekker (1,363, 2012–15)
Tyler Wahl (1,350, 2019–24)