John Blackwell stole the show in Wisconsin’s season opener, as the Badgers took down the Campbell Fighting Camels 96-64 Monday night at the Kohl Center.
From the opening tip, Wisconsin’s offense scored at will on the inferior Camels defense. John Blackwell, returning after withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft, exploded for 31 points and manipulated the Campbell defense on the majority of possessions. With eight new players, Blackwell’s leadership was felt, rallying the team after each stoppage of play.
Campbell put up a fight early, capitalizing on over-aggressive defense by Wisconsin. Guard D.J. Smith caught fire from the tip, scoring 16 first half points and 23 total. Smith also put in three first-half 3-pointers, the last of which resulted in an and-one as time expired, converting a four-point play to cut the lead to 48-38.
Sophomore forward Dobydad Burka’s eight-point, five-rebound first half also helped stunt a Badger runaway. His relentless paint presence allowed Campbell to take an early 11-4 lead. Nolan Winter struggled with Butka’s physicality early but slowly settled in, grabbing six boards (four offensive) and eight points before the break.
Still, the Badger’s seemingly effortless 48 first-half points, 30 of which came in the paint, gave Wisconsin a comfortable cushion at the break. Eleven points came from San Diego State transfer guard Nick Boyd. His speed and ability to get to the rim was on display all night, finishing with 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting, and going 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
At the half, the Badgers shot 19-for-38 from the field, but just 4-for-13 (30.8%) from beyond the arc. Still, their hustle proved valuable, mustering nine offensive rebounds and 12 second chance points, en-route to a 10 point lead at the break.
The second half started shaky for Wisconsin. After an early 7-2 Badger run, Campbell amped up their defense, transitioning to a 3-2, triangle and one press. The Camels refused to let the Badger big men sit inside, playing aggressively outside the perimeter. Winter and forward Austin Rapp turned the ball over frequently when faced with pressure.
Inefficient possessions in combination with a Chris Fields Jr. 9-point flurry cut Wisconsin’s lead to five with 10:35 remaining.
But Campbell did not score another field goal from then on. Led by Blackwell, the Badgers ended the game on a vicious 31-4 run. He attacked from all levels, nailing three 3-pointers, getting to the paint and dishing a crafty pass to Winter to bring the lead to 20 with 3:48 remaining. Twice did Blackwell drain corner 3s towards the end of the shot clock twice, saving Wisconsin’s otherwise mediocre offense.
Other bright spots included Virginia transfer Andrew Rohde, Jack Janicki, Rapp and Winter. While he didn’t score much — just five points — Rohde finished with three steals and numerous deflections. Off the bench, Janicki swiped four steals, proving he will be a key piece going forward in whatever role head coach Greg Gard asks of him. Rapp, while struggling to finish through contact, presented his anticipated court vision with four key assists. Winter added 17 points and 12 rebounds (six offensive), complimenting Blackwell as his running mate.
Overall, Wisconsin shot 39.3% from three and only missed two of their 19 free throw attempts. While Campbell may not be the most impressive competition, 96 points in game one is a major success.
The Badgers are set to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies on Friday 7:30 p.m. at the Kohl Center. The Huskies dominated Louisiana-Monroe last night, winning 102-82.
