What stood out from Wisconsin basketball's 88–61 win over Central Michigan
Wisconsin men's basketball hosted Central Michigan at the Kohl Center. Here’s what stood out from the Badgers’ 88-61 win over the Chippewas.
The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team needed a response, and against Central Michigan, the Badgers delivered one.
Coming off back-to-back losses, the Wisconsin Badgers took care of business with an 88–61 win over Central Michigan Chippewas at the Kohl Center, improving to 8–4 overall and steadying itself after losing back-to-back games. The circumstances mattered. Greg Gard and his staff were without John Blackwell, one of their top scoring options, and entered the night searching for clarity on both their rotation and defensive identity.
What followed wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. Against an opponent that does not present the same defensive challenges that Wisconsin will see in Big Ten play, the Badgers showed the kind of balance, connectivity, and depth they have been trying to find all season long. It was the kind of performance that helped reinforce what this team can look like when it shares the ball and plays with purpose.
“I thought there were a lot of good things, things we’ve been talking about, specifically taking care of the ball better,” Gard said. “To play the second half and only have two turnovers, and then 25 assists on 29 baskets, is a sign that when we move the ball, we’re as hard to guard as anybody in the country. When we don’t, we become much easier.”
Here’s what stood out from Wisconsin’s win over Central Michigan.
A team effort helped fill the scoring void
Without Blackwell available, Wisconsin found points everywhere.
The Badgers finished the night shooting 53.7% from the floor and 41.9% from beyond the arc (13-of-31), averaging an impressive 1.375 points per possession. The ball moved. The floor was spaced. Wisconsin piled up a season-high 25 assists and received a season-high 44 points from its bench. Eleven different players scored, and three reached double figures.
Notably, 25 of Wisconsin’s 29 made field goals came via an assist, and the Badgers paired that ball movement with just nine turnovers. It marked the first time since at least the 2004–05 season that Wisconsin recorded more than 25 assists while committing fewer than 10 turnovers in a game.
Nolan Winter, who left the game late due to injury, led the way with 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a block, continuing to show why he has become a focal point for this team. Austin Rapp matched him with 18 points of his own to go along with seven rebounds and three assists, while senior Nick Boyd added 12 points, four rebounds, and an assist.
The opponent matters, and Central Michigan is certainly not known for its defensive acumen. Still, the takeaway is meaningful. Wisconsin did not rely on one player to carry the offense. It played connected basketball, created quality looks, and showed that the Badgers can generate efficient offense even when one of its top scoring options is unavailable.
No redshirt for Zach Kinziger
The most intriguing development came midway through the first half.
With 13:37 remaining in the first half, Wisconsin subbed in Zach Kinziger for Boyd, and, in doing so, officially burned his redshirt. To put it mildly, making that decision 11 games into the season is uncommon. Moves like that tend to signal a shrinking margin for error and a coaching staff actively searching for answers on the bench outside the original plan.
“I thought Kinziger — I wanted to play him, and I decided that over the last couple of weeks, he put himself in position,” Gard said. “Really, since we’ve come back from San Diego, he’s really got his feet underneath him and just keeps getting better and better. He gives us another dimension in the backcourt. This group needs to continue to do it by committee.”
Kinziger made a solid first impression. He scored six points on 2-of-4 shooting, all from beyond the arc, added two assists and a rebound, and committed no turnovers in 13 minutes. The shooting that Kinziger brings to the table is high-end, and that alone makes him an intriguing option for a rotation lacking consistent shooting and scoring punch off the bench.
“Earlier in the year, much like Hayden [Jones], he wasn’t quite ready,” Gard said. “As practices have unfolded, with how competitive he is. He’s gotten better at the speed of the game, how to play off two feet, and how to read angles. He’s a little bulldog defensively. There were just a lot of positives. He earned his way in, regardless of where anybody else was.”
The question is opportunity. Wisconsin’s backcourt is crowded. Hayden Jones continues to earn more playing time. Jack Janicki has struggled but remains part of the picture. Braeden Carrington is still an available option. It is fair to wonder how many minutes truly exist once the rotation tightens up again. Still, this was not a move made for no reason. The staff clearly believes Kinziger can help, and now the clock is officially ticking.
“It’s not because of a deficiency from somebody else, per se, as much as Zach has earned it,” Gard said of the decision to burn the redshirt. “He’s a good player, and he’s going to be a really good player here. Like I said, that competitive toughness he brings. We’ve had so many guys over the years, even when they’re young, who help bring some of that, and I think it’s really important that you have those guys in your program, specifically guys that are homegrown. He bleeds Badger red through and through.”
Hayden Jones joins the starting lineup
With Blackwell sidelined, Hayden Jones got the nod in the starting five, and it was another encouraging step in his development.
The 6-foot-6 true freshman guard finished with six points on 2-of-4 shooting, four rebounds, two of them offensive, in 24 minutes. He was active without the ball, attacked the rim when lanes opened, and drew five free-throw attempts, though he converted just two. The stat line was modest, but Jones’ impact went beyond it. He defended at a high level, competed on the glass, and stayed engaged throughout his minutes.
“Hayden was another guy that I want to continue to get more minutes based on what I’ve seen in practice,” Gard said. “I think he has a really good feel for the game. I’ve got to get him to stop dribbling to the right wing and picking the ball up on the first possession of every game.
“He has a really good feel and size on the wing with the ball in his hands, but his feel within what we do is really good. He rebounds well for his size. He was going to play a lot tonight regardless of where J.B. was at.”
The turnovers still need to be cleaned up, which is expected for a player adjusting to a larger role and should improve as he gains more experience. But Jones continues to show why the staff wants to get him more involved. He plays with energy, understands his role, and gives Wisconsin a connective piece on both ends of the floor. Given the ups and downs he has endured early in the season, this was a good showing.
What’s next
Wisconsin men’s basketball will close out nonconference play on Dec. 30, hosting the UW–Milwaukee Panthers at the Kohl Center. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, with the game airing on BTN. The next opponent is secondary. The focus is on continuing to build good habits. The Badgers showed depth, balance, and cohesion against Central Michigan. The challenge now is proving that those habits can translate against a quality opponent.
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Nice summary. After Nebraska and Villanova, encouraging.