The Badger Backer Roundup: Mackey Magic, All-Conference Honors, and NFL Paydays
Wisconsin stuns Purdue, Boyd and Blackwell earn All-Big Ten recognition, and former Badgers land massive NFL free agency deals.
Wisconsin athletics has officially shifted into March mode following a historic upset of No. 15 Purdue at Mackey Arena, a win defined by a school-record 18 three-pointers. As the Badgers lock in a top-5 seed for the Big Ten Tournament, backcourt stars Nick Boyd and John Blackwell have been recognized with All-Conference honors alongside Sharif Chambliss, the Big Ten Assistant Coach of the Year.
Beyond the court, the "Pro Badger" impact is felt across the NFL as Alec Ingold, David Edwards, and Tyler Biadasz secure nearly $100M in combined new contracts.
From Nolan Winter’s injury status to the new momentum for a legacy QB recruit, here is everything you need to know in this week’s Badger Backer Roundup.
1. Basketball: The Mackey Masterpiece
Wisconsin (22-9, 14-6) pulled off an extremely impressive victory on the road to close up the regular season, downing the No. 15 Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena in a 97-93 shootout. The Badgers jumped the Boilermakers in the Big Ten standings, hopping to No. 5 and just missed out on the 4-seed with Illinois’ near-loss to Maryland.
The Sniper Show: The Badgers drained a school-record 18 three-pointers, the most ever by a Wisconsin team in a road game.
The Dynamic Duo: With Nolan Winter sidelined (ankle), the backcourt took over. John Blackwell poured in a game-high 25 points, while Nick Boyd scored 23, including 10 of the Badgers’ final 12 points to ice the game.
The Result: Wisconsin officially secured the No. 5 seed and a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament. They will play the winner of USC/Washington on Thursday.
2. Postseason Hardware: Boyd and Blackwell Honored
The Big Ten announced its annual awards on Tuesday, and the Badgers’ backcourt dominance was officially recognized:
Nick Boyd - Second-Team All-Big Ten
The graduate transfer has been the heartbeat of this team, averaging 20.1 PPG. Many analysts and fans called his omission from the First Team the “snub of the year.”
John Blackwell - Third-Team All-Big Ten
The junior continues his ascent, averaging 18.3 PPG and proving to be one of the most versatile leaders in the conference.
Sharif Chambliss - Big Ten Assistant Coach of the Year
Coach Chambliss was named the Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year, a well-deserved nod to his work with the nation’s most improved backcourt.
3. Pro Badgers: NFL Free Agency Frenzy
NFL free agency has treated former Wisconsin football players well. Three former Badgers have made a good amount of money in the past week.
Alec Ingold (Los Angeles Chargers): The Pro Bowl fullback is heading to LA on a 2-year, $7.5 million deal. The move reunites him with Chargers OC Mike McDaniel. His $3.75M average annual value ties him for the highest-paid fullback in NFL history.
David Edwards (New Orleans Saints): One of the top guards on the market just got paid. Edwards signed a massive 4-year, $61 million contract ($15.25M APY) to anchor the Saints’ interior.
Tyler Biadasz (Los Angeles Chargers): As we noted earlier, Biadasz is also heading to LA on a $30M deal, meaning the Chargers have effectively built their new offensive core around Wisconsin legends.
4. Golf: Siehl Paces Badgers in Myrtle Beach
The Wisconsin women’s golf team secured a 7th-place finish at the Shootout at Wachesaw on Monday.
Alexia Siehl: The senior led the charge, finishing 13th overall (+4). She was particularly dominant on Par 5s, ranking third in the field.
Depth Scores: Tammy Wu (19th) and Kate Brody (22nd) also notched top-25 finishes, while freshman Elyssa Abdullah showed poise with a 35th-place finish.
Up Next: The team travels to Tucson for the MountainView Collegiate starting March 20.
5. Football Recruiting: The Sorgi Legacy
The biggest news on the recruiting trail involves a very familiar name: 4-star QB Jack Sorgi. Look for the newly-offered quarterback to set up an official visit with the Badgers soon.
The Scoop: Sorgi recently decommitted from Louisville, and the “Crystal Ball” predictions are already flooding in for him to follow in his dad’s footsteps at Wisconsin.
2027 Momentum: Following the commitment of 6’5” edge rusher Isaac Miller, the staff is making a concerted effort to “close the border” for the 2027 class, targeting Cole Reiter and the Mallinger twins.
6. Injury Report: Nolan Winter
The concern level following Winter’s ankle injury vs. Maryland has dropped significantly.
The Status: While he sat out the Purdue win as a precaution, Greg Gard noted that early testing was “optimistic.” He is currently day-to-day.
What to Expect: The staff will likely be cautious during the Big Ten Tournament. If he sits Thursday, it’s about ensuring he is 100% for the first round of the NCAA Tournament next week.
The Badger Backer Take
Winning at Mackey Arena without your starting big man is a statement that this team is “built for March.” If Boyd and Blackwell play with this level of confidence in Chicago, a deep Sunday run isn’t just possible—it’s expected.
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