Wisconsin Badgers football legend J.J. Wyatt cannot accept it that his school’s hoops program exited the second round of the 2025 NCAA March Madness but there’s something he will do because of it. And he’s encouraging others to join him.
Wisconsin Badgers legend and NFL great J.J. Watt
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; CBS analyst J.J. Watt on the field before Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Badgers hoops ended their promising 2024-2025 season campaign with an upset from the BYU Cougars, 89-91.
The team may have trailed early but they still managed to stage an exciting comeback. However, they failed to complete it after John Tonje’s attempt to tie the game in the last three seconds missed.
Wyatt was there to witness it all and he had an out-of-ordinary reaction to the loss. He is calling for the boycott of Tator Tots.
“Boycotting tater tots for the next 48 hours,” he wrote on X shortly after the defeat.
Boycotting tater tots for the next 48 hours.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 23, 2025
It must be a really good food because he will only boycott it for two days.
Now why pick on the delicious grated, deep-fried potato snack?
It is because Richie Saunders, who scored 25 points, is the great-grandson of the founder of Ore-Ida, which is the most popular tator tots creator.
BYU Cougars forward Richie Saunders
Mar 22, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Brigham Young Cougars forward Richie Saunders (15) reacts after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Wyatt already recognized this fact before the tip-off saying he has to honor Saunders for Tator Tots.
“Greatness is greatness. Man is a legend.”
Wisconsin Badgers still had a great season
While the result disappointed fans like the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, many say the team still overachieved this season.
They were ranked 12th in conference at the start of the season but managed to finish in the fourth spot and even reached the finals of the Big Ten tournament.
Greg Gard paid tribute to his squad after the loss saying they are a special bunch and gifted him one of the most fun coaching experience he’s had.
Greg Gard
Wisconsin Badgers head coach Kevin Young during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
“We were highly doubted early, we weren’t even supposed to be in this tournament; supposed to be finishing 12th in the Big Ten, maybe,” he said.
“And this group just bought in, and committed to each other, and they’re so much fun to be around every single day and so much fun to coach, and the joy that they played with, and how they bonded together, was really really special.”
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