The Jump Around

It was an offensive explosion from Wisconsin's stars as Nick Boyd went off for 38 points while John Blackwell added 31, powering the #5 seeded Badgers past #4 Illinois in one of the wildest games of the Big Ten Tournament.

With the win, Wisconsin advances to the semifinals where they'll face Michigan Wolverines men's basketball tomorrow.

On this Jump Around Postgame Show, hosts Riley Jauch and Pablo Iglesias break down:

- Boyd’s incredible 38-point performance

- Blackwell’s huge 31-point night

- The biggest moments from the overtime thriller

- How Wisconsin pulled off the upset

- What this win means heading into the semifinal matchup with Michigan

Subscribe for more Wisconsin Badgers basketball coverage, reactions, and Big Ten Tournament analysis.

The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball survived a late scare, holding off the Washington Huskies men's basketball 85–82 in the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament.

Wisconsin looked in control for most of the game before Washington stormed back late, turning what looked like a comfortable Badgers win into a one-possession thriller in the final seconds.

On this episode of The Jump Around Extra Postgame Show, Riley Jauch breaks down:

• The biggest plays in the final minute

• Who stepped up for the Badgers when it mattered most

• What this means for Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament seeding

• Whether the late collapse scare is a concern moving forward

The Wisconsin Badgers are heading into the Big Ten Tournament with NCAA Tournament seeding on the line — but does the conference tournament actually matter?

On today’s episode of The Jump Around, we break down:

🏀 Wisconsin’s Big Ten Tournament path (USC or Washington first, Illinois potential matchup)

📊 Updated NCAA Tournament bracket projections (Wisconsin currently a #6 seed)

🔥 Was Nick Boyd snubbed by the All-Big Ten voters?

🏆 Shariff Chambliss wins Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year

🎙 Greg Gard discusses the biggest misconception about Wisconsin basketball

🌀 Twitter Portal debates including potential NCAA Tournament matchups

Plus — Pablo Iglesias joins LIVE from the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago to give us the latest from the floor.

📊 Poll Question:

Does the Big Ten Tournament actually matter for Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament seeding?

March Mode is back. ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Badger legend Ben Brust break down Wisconsin’s 97-point road statement at Purdue, what the win means for seeding, and how defined roles are shaping this team heading into Big Ten tournament week and Selection Sunday.

Toplines

• Badgers finish the regular season with a huge road win at Purdue

• Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combined for a monster night

• Austin Rapp’s role growth and Aleksas Bieliauskas’ defensive presence

• Wisconsin locks into the 5-seed for the Big Ten tournament — what to expect in Chicago

• Selection Sunday countdown and bracket implications

Drop questions in the comments and we’ll answer them on Monday’s episode.

⏱ Chapters

0:00 March Mode Ep. 3 — intro

0:15 Big win at Purdue — overview

0:40 Boyd & Blackwell breakout (48 combined)

1:05 Efficient shooting & first-half explosion (12 threes)

3:00 Austin Rapp’s emergence & defined roles

6:29 Braden Carrington & bench impact

10:16 Aleksas Bieliauskas’ presence down low

13:27 Badgers = 5-seed for Big Ten tourney

15:00 Who they might see in Chicago / matchup notes

19:41 Why one win/loss in the BTT won’t shake confidence

23:30 Closing + Selection Sunday preview

Wisconsin star guard Nick Boyd joins The Jump Around to talk about his fearless playing style, leadership with the Badgers, and what it will take for Wisconsin to make a run in March.

Boyd discusses:

His Final Four experience at FAU and how it shapes his mindset

The fearless mentality that drives his game

How Greg Gard has challenged him as a leader

Why the Badgers believe they can compete with anyone in college basketball

What it would mean to create a March Madness legacy at Wisconsin

Plus in this episode:

🏀 Wisconsin vs Maryland recap

🔥 Clip of the Week featuring Ben Brust on “March Mode”

🌀 Twitter Portal

🎙 Live interview with Badgers legend Zak Showalter

The Jump Around is a Wisconsin Badgers-focused show airing on ESPN Madison and ESPN Milwaukee.

Subscribe for more Badgers basketball coverage, interviews, and analysis.

March Mode is back.

ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Wisconsin legend Ben Brust react to the Badgers’ 78–45 win over Maryland on Senior Day, but the real story is Nolan Winter’s injury and what it means for Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament outlook.

How does Winter’s absence affect the rotation?

Can the Badgers improve their seed with a win at Purdue?

Is a 6-seed actually the sweet spot?

Plus:

Austin Rapp finding his role

Braden Carrington’s surge

Big Ten Tournament preview

Ben’s Final Four LOCK

A sleeper team that could crash the bracket

Drop your questions in the comments for Monday’s episode.

March Mode is live. ESPN Wisconsin’s Alex Strouf and Wisconsin legend Ben Brust kick off a twice-weekly NCAA Tournament sprint with a full breakdown of the Wisconsin Badgers as March arrives.

The Badgers looked like two different teams on the West Coast: a rough loss at Oregon, then a 17-point win at Washington sparked by Braden Carrington’s 32 points and 9 threes. So what does it mean for Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament seed, their Big Ten Tournament outlook, and the matchups they do (and do not) want?

Plus: Ben gives his take on the national title picture, the conferences he trusts most, why he’s skeptical of Duke in March, and quick-hits on Big Ten contenders like Michigan, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, Nebraska, and Iowa.

Drop your questions in the comments and we’ll hit them on the next episode.

Chapters

0:00 March Mode begins

0:56 Badgers: Oregon loss, Washington blowout

2:30 NCAA Tournament seeding: 7 seed vs 6 seed conversation

5:06 Matchups the Badgers should avoid

6:00 Wisconsin’s analytics jump (KenPom/Bart Torvik talk)

10:55 Maryland + Purdue preview

15:20 National contenders and why Ben doubts Duke

22:25 Big Ten “say something nice” lightning round

28:20 Audience questions callout + Ben’s March résumé

Nick Boyd is playing like one of the best guards in college basketball.

After Wisconsin’s 84-71 win over Iowa, Boyd nearly posted the first Badgers triple-double since Ethan Happ — finishing with 27 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds as he and Austin Rapp exploded late to put the Hawkeyes away.

On this episode of The Jump Around, the crew breaks down:

Is Nick Boyd the most electric Badger since Frank Kaminsky?

Where does Boyd rank among Wisconsin’s best transfers?

Are the Badgers peaking at the right time heading into March?

Joe Lunardi now has Wisconsin as a #7 seed — CBS says #6. Is a Sweet 16 run realistic?

What must Wisconsin fix before the NCAA Tournament?

Plus: Twitter Portal, travel concerns out West, and much more!

The Jump Around airs live on ESPN Madison & ESPN Milwaukee’s YouTube Channels.

The Wisconsin Badgers followed up a MASSIVE 92-71 win over Michigan State by getting brought back to Earth in an 86-69 loss to Ohio State.

Is this just a bump in the road… or something bigger to worry about heading into March?

On today’s episode of The Jump Around, we break down:

🏀 What went wrong against the Buckeyes

📊 Wisconsin’s NCAA Tournament seeding outlook (Joe Lunardi #7, CBS #8)

🔧 The THREE biggest things Greg Gard’s team must fix before March

🎥 Biggest takeaway from A Road At Night

🥇 Badgers playing for gold

🔥 Electric Final Four debate

Plus — Badgers legend Ben Brust joins at 1PM to talk Wisconsin hoops, tournament expectations, and more.

Is this team still built for a Sweet 16 run?

Wisconsin basketball just made a statement.

After a controversial loss at Indiana, the Badgers responded by knocking off #8 Illinois in overtime — adding it to a growing list of HUGE road wins, including #2 Michigan.

But here’s the real question:

👉 Is Wisconsin more likely to make the Sweet 16… or MISS the tournament entirely?

We break down:

Wisconsin’s tournament ceiling

What the Illinois win really means

Joe Lunardi & CBS seeding projections

Whether this team is built for March

Greg Gard’s elite troll moment

The Badgers’ portal success

PLUS — two major football interviews:

🏈 Matt Mitchell (OLB/Special Teams coach)

🏈 Jeff Grimes (Offensive Coordinator)

We dive into:

Wisconsin’s defensive culture

Offensive identity moving forward

The Badgers’ offseason direction

Drop your take in the comments:

Sweet 16 run… or early exit?