Wisconsin Badgers basketball wing John Tonje is off to a remarkable start to the 2024-25 season.
Through seven games, the former Missouri Tiger and Colorado State Ram is averaging 23 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 31 minutes per game for UW. He is also shooting 54.3% from the field, 40.6% from three-point range and 95.2% from the charity stripe.
As of Nov. 25, Tonje’s scoring average is the ninth-best in the nation. Only Green Bay’s Anthony Roy (28.0 PPG), UC Davis’ Ty Johnson (26.8 PPG), Villanova’s Eric Dixon (26.7 PPG), Colombia’s Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (24.0 PPG), Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli (23.8 PPG), Temple’s Jamal Mashburn Jr. (23.3 PPG), Jacksonville State’s Jaron Pierre Jr. (23.3 PPG) and FDU’s Terrence Brown (23.1 PPG) boast higher individual points-per-game rates.
If Tonje’s season points average were to stick, it would be the second-best in Badgers history behind Clarence Sherrod, a guard who played with UW from 1968-71. Tonje’s free throw percentage is also currently the best in program history by over 0.3 percentage points.
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The conversation surrounding Tonje’s acquisition revolved around his ability to replicate what A.J. Storr did in his lone season in Madison. As it stands today, Tonje looks like a much better player.
The North Omaha, Nebraska native emerged in national conversations after scoring a career-high 41 points in Wisconsin’s season-defining win against Arizona on Nov. 15. He then dropped 33 points in the Badgers’ 81-75 win over Pittsburgh at the Greenbrier Tip-Off on Nov. 24.
Tonje is unquestionably Wisconsin’s most valuable player to date. He has been as aggressive as any player in college basketball this season. And, when the game is on the line, fans can rest assured that Tonje will cash in on any free throw opportunities.
At this current pace, Tonje could be in consideration for the Wooden Award at the end of the season.
The 7-0 Badgers are back in action on Nov. 30 against Chicago State at the Kohl Center.
