Postgame notes after Wisconsin’s 86-55 win over Ball State
Notes and notable statistics from the Badgers' victory over the Ball State Cardinals.
Wisconsin basketball moved to 3-0 on the young season with a wire-to-wire victory over the visiting Ball State Cardinals.
For the third time in three games, the Badgers had a different leading scorer. Junior forward Nolan Winter led the team in points (19), rebounds (10), and blocks (3).
Senior Braedeon Carrington led Wisconsin bench players in scoring with 12 points while shooting 4/6 from the floor, including 2/4 from 3-point range. He also added four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. The Badgers had a +24 point differential when Carrington was on the floor.
Here are the postgame notes and notable team and individual statistics following Wisconsin’s victory over Ball State.
Team Notes
Wisconsin has now started 3-0 in back-to-back years and the fourth time in the last six seasons.
Wisconsin is now 377-73 (.838) at the Kohl Center, the 10th-best record in the country among active venues.
Greg Gard is now 216-117 (.649) as the head coach of the Badgers. He is 126-36 all-time at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers have won 53 consecutive home games against non-power conference teams, including a perfect 52-0 record under Gard. The last mid-major opponent Wisconsin has lost to at the Kohl Center was a 68-67 loss to Milwaukee on Dec. 9, 2015.
Wisconsin has won 14 consecutive non-conference home games dating back to its loss to No. 9 Tennessee in 2023. That is the 4th0longest active streak in the Big Ten.
With the wire-to-wire victory, the Badgers have only trailed for a total of 6:33 of game time this season.
This marks the 5th time the Badgers have scored 80+ in each of the first 3 games of the season and the first such occasion since the 1975-76 season. UW also accomplished it in 1991-92, 2002-03, and 2005-06.
The Badgers posted a +20 rebounding margin, the largest of the season, hauling in 45 rebounds to Ball State’s 25.
The Badgers went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line. UW is shooting 82.8% (53-64) from the throw line on the season. Last season, the Badgers led the NCAA in free-throw shooting with 82.8%.
UW forced Ball State into 14 turnovers. On the season, the Badgers are forcing 16.7 TOs.
Wisconsin went 6-for-23 from 3-point range in the first half, registering the third-highest 3FGA in a half in school history.
Wisconsin finished with a 14-for-38 (36.8%) clip from deep, notching its most makes since a win over UCLA last season (19-for-32, 3/14/25).
6 different Badgers drilled multiple triples in the win.
Individual Notes
Junior Nolan Winter posted his 2nd double-double of the season and 6th of his career, scoring 19 points with 10 rebounds. Winter’s point total was 1 shy of his career high.
Winter has scored in double figures 20 times in his career. The Badgers are 17-3 when Winter scores 10+.
Winter also set a career high with 3 blocks.
Graduate student Nick Boyd finished with 12 points, reaching double figures in each of his first 3 games as a Badger.
Boyd is averaging 19.3 ppg, having scored 58 through the first 3 games. That number trails only Alando Tucker and Trevon Hughes, for most by a Badger dating back to the 2004-05 season.
Sophomore Austin Rapp tallied 11 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.
Rapp is averaging 10.7 ppg on the season.
Senior Andrew Rohde finished with 10 points, his most as a Badger.
It means a lot to have you here at The Badger Backer. I’m passionate about digging deep into Wisconsin football and basketball, and your readership makes it all worthwhile. Catch up on previous posts or ensure you don’t miss anything by subscribing below! Let’s keep the Badger conversation going!
Follow me on ‘X’ @christianborman and @thebadgerbacker!
The Badger Backer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.