Wisconsin Basketball: Why John Tonje is the most important team transfer for 2024-25

Things were by no means bad at Wisconsin last season, though the Badgers certainly want better postseason results again in the near future. Greg Gard led Wisconsin to two Sweet Sixteen’s in his first two seasons, but this past year featured more heartbreak, with a devastating first round loss to James Madison. This program has been hanging around through changing times in the Big Ten, though the faces on the roster will look a bit different moving forward.

First and foremost, leading scorer AJ Storr has transferred to Kansas while feisty point guard Chucky Hepburn also departed via the Transfer Portal, ending up at Louisville. There were a few other notable departures, through both graduation and transfer, though Wisconsin has far from a bare cupboard. The Badgers return Steven Crowl, a 7-foot center who was last season’s best frontcourt piece. Fellow starter Tyler Wahl also returns alongside rising freshman John Blackwell.

Alongside the freshmen added to Gard’s roster, he and his staff busied themselves immediately after that Tournament loss and landed three impressive athletes in the Transfer Portal. Perhaps the most impressive addition is Xavier Amos, a power forward who really shined at Northern Illinois last year as a sophomore and adds depth to the frontcourt. On the other end, Wisconsin nabbed Camren Hunter, a Central Arkansas point guard coming off an inspired junior year.

It’s the third name that earns today’s focus, with John Tonje coming to Madison after many years of experience. He originally arrived at Colorado State before the pandemic and was a bench piece in his early years. As a senior, Tonje starred for the Rams, averaging 14.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while knocking down 39% of his 3-pointers. It’s this type of production that the Badgers want brought to Madison.

That wasn’t Tonje’s most recent run, as he actually transferred last offseason, spending a year at Missouri. His time in Columbia wasn’t notable, as he appeared in just eight games after dealing with a significant foot injury. His individual figures with the Tigers weren’t great, but Wisconsin is banking on his ability to bounce back in his sixth and final season of eligibility. He’s a wing who can score and make little plays for a Badgers team that finds themselves rebuilding their backcourt.

Looking closely at this roster, this backcourt is leaning heavily on Blackwell taking a step forward as a sophomore and on these new transfers. Max Klesmit should be fantastic as a senior for the Badgers, but long-term success next season is going to depend on Tonje and the others really contributing. You can make the argument that the Badgers lost more talent than they gained, but Tonje can make up for that deficit if he really rebounds after last year’s foot issues.

As things currently stand, it’s unlikely that this team earns another 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament, though Wisconsin has surprised us in the past. The Badgers are leaning on some major gains from new faces, especially as they compete in a Big Ten that’s expanded by four in the offseason. Did Gard and his staff add enough to compete for a league title? Will Tonje regain his form and look more like the explosive wing from Colorado State?