The Wisconsin Badgers are set to face the Michigan Wolverines in the 2025 Big Ten Tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon.
Fueled by a Wisconsin Big Ten Tournament single-game record 32 points from star wing John Tonje, UW overcame Tom Izzo’s top-ranked Michigan State Spartans 77-74 on Saturday. Wisconsin made virtually every big play down the stretch, encapsulated by bench forward Carter Gilmore’s clutch block on Spartan guard Trey Holloman with roughly 10 seconds to spare.
While Tonje rightfully grabbed the headlines with his 32 tallies, seven boards, two assists and 12 free throw makes, Gilmore added a critical 10 points, five boards, five assists and three blocks in 30 minutes off the bench. It was arguably the most impactful game of his Wisconsin tenure.
The Wolverines, meanwhile, received heroic contributions from several of their key playmakers in a wire-to-wire 81-80 triumph over the Maryland Terrapins in their semifinal matchup. After Maryland’s First-Team All-Big Ten center Derik Queen netted a pair of free throws to put the Terrapins up 80-79 with just seconds remaining, Michigan guard Tre Donaldson raced down the middle of the hardwood, got to the rim and converted a game-winning lefty layup.
While Donaldson starred with the biggest basket of the afternoon, center Vladislav Goldin and forward Danny Wolf spearheaded the offensive attack for Dusty May’s group.
Goldin, who dropped 24 points in Michigan’s 67-64 win over Wisconsin on Dec. 3, finished with a team-high 25 points and 10 rebounds off an efficient 9-of-15 clip from the field. Wolf, who accounted for 20 against UW in December, added 21 points, 14 boards and four assists in 34 minutes of action.
While the two teams did not occupy the top seeds in the Big Ten’s regular season standings, the programs are now clicking at the perfect time. Immediately following Saturday’s game, May was asked about the Wisconsin team that his Wolverines were set to face on Sunday
“Wisconsin has been around all year,” May said. “Those guys are really good players. It’s a well-coached team, it’s a great program. Its system and culture that they have established [goes back] 30 years. I couldn’t have more respect and admiration for the team we’re playing tomorrow.”
In his first season in Ann Arbor, the former FAU coach has transformed a program that went just 8-24 in 2023-24. Hearing that type of praise from one of the brightest coaches in the sport, one that took FAU to the Final Four, isn’t something fans should neglect.
May’s team handled Wisconsin’s top-ranked offense at the Kohl Center earlier this season with a masterclass in the painted area. To counter the inside prowess of Wolf and Goldin, Tonje and John Blackwell will need to showcase their offensive capacities from all three levels. Steven Crowl and Nolan Winter will also be key as the Badgers look for their third revenge victory in as many days.
Tipoff between the Badgers and Wolverines is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
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