Wisconsin men's basketball faces the daunting task of replacing John Tonje

Wisconsin basketball faces the task of replacing John Tonje after his All-American season. Can Greg Gard find another diamond in the transfer portal?

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The University of Wisconsin men's basketball program won’t find another John Tonje just sitting in the transfer portal. That much feels certain.

After a season where Tonje emerged as a Second-Team All-American and Wisconsin’s go-to scorer, replacing him will be a tall order. The senior transfer finished his lone season in Madison with 724 points, the second-most in a single season in program history, behind only Frank Kaminsky.

At 6-foot-5 and 218 pounds, Tonje averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 38.8% from three and 90.9% from the free-throw line. He also finished with a 5.6 PRPG — the highest on the team and the best points above replacement Wisconsin has seen in a decade.

And if that wasn’t enough, Tonje capped off his season with a 37-point performance in the Badgers' NCAA Tournament loss to BYU.

“We don’t have that comeback, we don’t have the year and win 27 games without JT,” head coach Greg Gard said. “So we made the decision—put the ball in your best player’s hands and let him go make a play.”

It’s a comparison that might feel ambitious, but the impact Tonje had in his lone season at Wisconsin isn’t all that different from what Russell Wilson brought to the Badgers' football program. Just like Wilson, who transferred from NC State and led the program to a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl in 2011, Tonje’s arrival from Missouri was a season-altering pickup.

Tonje's leadership and production elevated the program in a major way — and his legacy will stick around long after he’s gone. But as one chapter closes, another begins — and now Wisconsin’s staff faces the challenge of finding the next player to fill that Tonje-sized void.

Greg Gard has a track record with wings

If there’s a reason to believe Wisconsin can find another high-impact player, it’s Coach Gard’s knack for adapting his system to fit the talent at hand — which includes the players added through the transfer portal.

Tonje’s success is just the latest example of a growing trend under Gard — when he’s got a dynamic wing that can score, the offense opens up, and good things tend to follow.

Just look at Johnny Davis. The former Badgers guard made a massive leap as a sophomore, averaging 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Davis won Big Ten Player of the Year, earned unanimous First-Team All-American honors, and left early for the NBA as a lottery pick.

Then, after a gap year, came A.J. Storr. After transferring to Wisconsin, Storr blossomed in Gard’s system, averaging 16.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game en route to Second-Team All-Big Ten honors. Storr capitalized on his stock, landing a sizable NIL deal in the transfer portal with Kansas.

And now, Tonje. The former Colorado State product delivered one of the most productive single seasons in program history, averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game for Wisconsin, earning First-Team All-Big Ten and Second-Team All-American honors.

"I think the system has helped him," Gard said. "It’s put him in great positions to have success.”

Are we seeing a trend here? Gard’s system has a knack for getting the most out of scoring wings, but it also evolves to suit its personnel. That adaptability has become a hallmark of his success at Wisconsin.

Tonje's selfless mentality, combined with his scoring ability, made him a seamless fit in Gard’s free-flowing offense. The Badgers' modernized approach under Kirk Penney emphasized floor spacing, movement, and perimeter shooting — a system built to maximize a player with Tonje’s skill set.

And maximize it they did.

Tonje drilled 85 three-pointers, good for third on the all-time single-season list, and made a program-best 231 free throws at an impressive 90.9% clip. When the lights were brightest, Tonje delivered — averaging 25.1 points per game against ranked opponents, including six 30+ point performances and 15 games with 20 or more, highlighted by a career-high 41-point explosion against No. 9 Arizona at the Kohl Center.

Numbers don’t always tell the full story, but in Tonje’s case, they paint a clear picture — he wasn’t just Wisconsin’s best player this season, he was one of the most impactful guards in program history.

But it wasn’t just the scoring. Tonje brought a level of composure and leadership that’s tough to replicate. His work ethic, humility, and team-first mentality made Tonje a seamless cultural fit — the kind of player who impacts the locker room just as much as he does on the floor.

Finding someone who can match that rare blend of production and presence? That’s a tall order. Players like Tonje don’t come around often.

“This was a special place for me, even though it was only one year,” Tonje said. “It changed my life. I’m kind of forever in debt.”

It’s also clear that Wisconsin has become an attractive destination for wings who want to elevate their game. For a guard or wing looking to be a featured scorer in a modern, efficient system, the opportunity to shine in the Badgers offense — with the green light to let it fly from deep — is hard to ignore. Tonje’s breakout season only adds to that reputation.

And that’s something Gard will undoubtedly be selling on the recruiting trail. While no one is expecting Wisconsin to pull another Second-Team All-American from the portal, it's important to acknowledge that the Badgers don’t need a carbon copy of Tonje to stay competitive.

What they need is another talented wing ready to step into a meaningful role, grow within the system, and complement returning players like John Blackwell and Nolan Winter — two cornerstone pieces expected to anchor next year’s roster — while writing their own chapter in Madison.

The blueprint is there. Gard’s proven it time and time again.

Now, it’s just a matter of finding the next name to add to that growing list — someone who fits Wisconsin’s system, culture, and perhaps most importantly, its budget. The Badgers might not be playing in the same financial realm as some of the biggest NIL spenders in the Power 4, but they have more than enough resources to be competitive and bring in a difference-maker.

The path forward for Wisconsin basketball

Finding the next John Tonje might be a fool’s errand.

Players with Tonje’s combination of experience, scoring ability, and leadership aren’t easy to come by. But Gard and his staff have earned the benefit of the doubt in the transfer portal. The Badgers will be targeting a versatile scoring wing, ideally someone with experience who can shoulder some of the scoring load each game.

Of course, expecting another Second-Team All-American to walk through the door is unrealistic — especially given Wisconsin’s budgetary constraints compared to the big spenders in college basketball.

But that hasn’t stopped them before. Gard and his staff have consistently identified the right pieces, finding players who fit both the system and the culture of the locker room. Now, it’s about doing it again, finding the right combination of talent and chemistry to keep things trending up.

And it’s not just Tonje they have to replace.

Six players are gone — three starters and five key contributors — including Tonje, Steven Crowl, Max Klesmit, Kamari McGee, Carter Gilmore, and Markus Ilver. That group made up over 62% of Wisconsin’s total minutes, 67% of its scoring, 50% of its rebounds, and more than two-thirds of its assists and made three-point attempts.

All told, the Badgers are waving goodbye to 4,527 minutes, 1,562 points, 668 rebounds, 362 assists, 116 steals, and 46 blocks. That’s an average of 122.3 minutes, 48.0 points, 18.1 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 3.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game — production you can’t just sweep under the rug.

Replacing that kind of output won’t happen with a single splashy addition.

But Gard has been here before. He’s shown that he’s not stuck in his ways. He’s not married to a system for the sake of tradition. He adapts. And that’s why Wisconsin keeps putting itself in a position to compete.

You may not always agree with him. But if you’re still questioning whether Gard's willing to evolve for the good of the program—well, at this point, you just haven’t been paying attention.

This offseason will be no different. Gard will need to be deliberate. The focus will likely be on finding a high-impact scoring guard, a reliable floor spacer, and perhaps an interior presence that can shoot to complement Nolan Winter in the frontcourt. He’ll also need returning players to take the next step in their development and begin pushing for minutes.

But while the roster turnover might look daunting, this is a position Gard has navigated before. He’s rebuilt and adjusted, kept the Badgers competitive, and found success in unexpected places. Since Gard took over, the only two Big Ten programs that have consistently outperformed Wisconsin are Michigan State and Purdue.

That kind of stability? Most programs would trade for it without thinking twice. And sure, Gard hasn’t made a Sweet 16 since 2017. That’s a fact. But let’s not forget that Bo Ryan carried a narrative about his inability to break through in the NCAA Tournament until he flipped that on its head. Now, he’ll forever be remembered for his Final Four runs, rightfully so.

The point is, just because something hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t.

Gard has earned the right to lead Wisconsin basketball through another offseason, another roster retooling, and whatever challenges come next.

So don’t hit the panic button if the Badgers don’t land the biggest names in the portal right away. Online rankings can be deceiving, and the market has a way of leveling itself out. Wisconsin has a lot of production to replace, but with a few smart additions, they’ll find the pieces they feel good about.

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