Badgers 7-0 for 1st time since La Crosse’s Bronson Koenig was PG and Wisconsin was in National Championship
The 19th-ranked University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team improved to 7-0 on Sunday, after an 81-75 win over Pitt.
The last time the Badgers were 7-0 to start a season, La Crosse native Bronson Koenig was a sophomore point guard for a Wisconsin team that knocked off unbeaten Kentucky (38-1) in the Final Four, before losing to Duke for the National Championship.
Koenig’s responsibility that season (2014-15) was basically let veterans Frank Kaminsky, Nigel Hayes and Sam Dekker lead the way. The point guard averaged 8.7 points, 2.5 assists in 28.8 minutes — starting 24 of the 40 games.
The Badgers ended that regular season ranked No. 3 in the nation, finished 36-4 under coach Bo Ryan, losing to Duke in the title 68-63 — and we won’t talk about Grayson Allen.
Sunday, Wisconsin was led by John Tonje’s 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting. He also went 10-for-10 from the line and added seven rebounds. John Blackwell scored 14 for Wisconsin, which was down 34-27 at half.
TOP PHOTO: FILE – Bronson Koenig (24) attempts a shot during the Badgers’ game vs. Iowa, Jan. 5, 2014 (David Stluka photo)