Michael McCleary
The past 25 years have been the best in the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s history.
The Badgers in just the last quarter century have made 22 NCAA Tournament appearances, winning 32 NCAA Tournament games with two trips to the Final Four and a trip to the national championship game. That accounts for 78% of all of the Badgers’ NCAA Tournament wins in program history, and most notably doesn’t even include the 1999-2000 group’s run to Wisconsin’s first-ever Final Four under then-coach Dick Bennett.
That was an important distinction in BadgerExtra’s building of the best Badgers roster of the last quarter century: Each player’s career had to begin in the fall of 2000 or later. That means players from that team like Kirk Penney (who was a freshman on the 2000 Final Four squad) or Andy Kowske could not be considered.
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Who does that leave? Many more.
Yet this isn’t just the seven best players of the last 25 seasons for Wisconsin. This is a team built from that collection of players from the last 25 seasons. Position and fit both were considered.
Here's the men’s basketball All-Badgers Quarter Century Team.
Devin Harris, point guard
Devin Harris action online quarter century team
Wisconsin's Devin Harris was selected fifth overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. CRAIG SCHREINER, State Journal archives
Years with Badgers: 2001-04
Badgers highlights: Devin Harris was the first dynamic guard of this era for the Badgers. He played just three seasons with Wisconsin before he was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, so his career numbers might not match up with some longer-tenured players. Yet his 2003-04 season solidified him as maybe the greatest point guard in program history, scoring 624 points (fourth in program history) and dishing 4.4 assists and grabbing 1.8 steals per game.
Why he made the list: Wisconsin has had plenty of strong point guards, but few brought the athleticism to the position that Harris did when he roamed the Kohl Center floor. As a lead guard, the 6-foot-3 Harris brings a dynamic presence to the quarter century roster. Yet he’s also capable of moving the ball and adapting to an offense with a more heavily emphasized 3-point shot, connecting on 2.3 per game at a 37.3% clip in his final season.
Johnny Davis, shooting guard
Johnny Davis action quarter century team
Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis averaged 23.7 points per game during this final season with the Badgers. ADAM HUNGER, Associated Press
Years with Badgers: 2020-22
Badgers highlights: Johnny Davis’ 2021-22 season with Wisconsin was one of the best in program history. He started early by averaging 23.7 points on 47.2% shooting, 46.2% from 3 and 15 of 15 from the line plus 6.7 rebounds per game over three games at the 2021 Maui Invitational Tournament, earning Most Valuable Player honors. He averaged 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game that season, winning the 2022 Lute Olson National Player of the Year, Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year, being named a first team All-American (consensus), AP Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year. He came as close to winning the major national player of the year awards as only former center Frank Kaminsky has, as he was a finalist for both the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy.
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Why he made the list: There are only three Big Ten Players of the Year on this list, and only three first team All-Americans. Davis secured both. His 30.6% shooting from 3 across his stellar 2021-22 season is the only concern — especially next to Harris. But that can be countered by Davis’ defense, rebounding and competitiveness. He and Harris will form easily the most athletic backcourt duo that could be created with the last 25 seasons, and Davis has experience in both the swing offense as well as the early concepts of Wisconsin’s newer ball-screen continuity system. He also can get a bucket in the halfcourt with the best in program history.
Sam Dekker, small forward
Sam Dekker action quarter century team
Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker shot 52.5% from the floor during his final season with the Badgers. MICHAEL P. KING, State Journal archives
Years with Badgers: 2012-15
Badgers highlights: Sam Dekker entered his career with the Badgers as a five-star recruit and lived up to the billing. The 6-9 forward could score at all three levels, averaging 13.9 points on 52.5% shooting in his third and final season with the Badgers in 2014-15. He was named to the 2012-13 Big Ten All-Freshman team, then earned second team All-Big Ten honors in both 2014 and 2015. But he provided the biggest moments of his Badgers career in the postseason, earning 2015 NCAA All-Tournament and 2015 NCAA Tournament All-Region during the Badgers’ 2014-15 trip to the national championship game. An Elite Eight performance against Arizona on March 28, 2015, stands out as Dekker’s best game in a Wisconsin uniform, scoring a career-high 27 points to lead Wisconsin to its second straight national semifinal.
Why he made the list: Dekker was no better than a No. 2 option his entire playing career with the Badgers. But that’s because the Badgers’ back-to-back Final Four teams in 2014 and 2015 were as good as the program ever has seen. He would have been the team’s No. 1 option had he returned to Wisconsin for his senior season without Kaminsky around. That separates him from others in that 2014-15 lineup — perhaps the best in program history. He’s capable of shooting the lights out, which would be valuable with Harris and Davis sharing a backcourt.
Alando Tucker, power forward
Alando Tucker action quarter century team
Wisconsin's Alando Tucker drives to the basket against Ohio State's Mike Conley during their 2007 game in Columbus, Ohio. JAY LaPRETE, Associated Press
Years with Badgers: 2002-07
Badgers highlights: Alando Tucker is the Badgers’ all-time leading scorer, having poured in 2,217 points in his five seasons with Wisconsin. A medical redshirt in his first sophomore season awarded him a longer-than-usual college tenure than most players of that era, but his single-season accolades stack up with the best in program history. He ranks third in program history in points in a single season with 716 in 2006-07, was the 2006-07 Big Ten Player of the Year, a 2006-07 consensus first team All-American and a member of the All-Big Ten first team in both 2005-06 and 2006-07.
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Why he made the list: Tucker scored 15-plus points per game in each of his final three seasons with the Badgers, including 19.0 and 19.9 points per contest in his junior and senior seasons, respectively. He’s an interesting fit positionally, but Tucker never struggled to finish inside despite his 6-6 size. And he would be a mismatch for opposing fours, especially when the current team already would deploy plenty of size on the floor. Both he and Dekker have positional versatility to play the 3 or 4, which would provide more optionality with the bench.
Frank Kaminsky, center
frank kaminsky action quarter century team
Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky holds the program record for points in a season with 732. JOHN HART, State Journal archives
Years with Badgers: 2011-15
Badgers highlights: Frank Kaminsky was at the center of the Badgers’ two Final Fours. And he was the best player in the country in 2024-15, winning 2015 AP Player of the Year, USBWA Player of the Year and the Naismith Award, among a host of other first team All-American honors in his final season with the Badgers. His 732 points in 2024-15 is the best in program history. Despite starting more than two games in just two seasons for Wisconsin, he ranks 13th in all-time points (1,458), eighth in field goal percentage (52.2%), 15th in rebounds (666) and third in blocks (153). He was an All-Big Ten first team selection in both 2013-14 and 2014-15, winning Big Ten Player of the Year in 2014-15 before he was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.
Why he made the list: If anyone would challenge Tucker for the quarter century team’s leading scorers duties, it would be Kaminsky. And even if the points were close, Kaminsky should be the team’s best player. The 7-footer is the most versatile scorer in Badgers history, hitting 41.6% of his 3s in his senior season while dominating inside. He also would be a plus rebounder, rim protector and passer. Expand this list to every player in program history, and the team created from that collection of players likely still would feature Kaminsky.
Bench: Ethan Happ, center
Ethan Happ action quarter century team
Wisconsin forward Ethan Happ scored 2,130 points during his Badgers career. STEVE APPS, State Journal archives
Years with Badgers: 2015-19
Badgers highlights: Ethan Happ is one of the most accomplished statistical presences in Badgers history, ranking third all-time in career points (2,130), first in field goals (880), first in rebounds (1,217) and offensive rebounds (360) as well as second in blocked shots (154). He was a three-time First team All-Big Ten selection (2017, 2018, 2019), 2019 AP second team All-American and 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner.
Why he made the list: Happ is a solid starting center in most instances, but Kaminsky needs to be there. So Happ’s best value would be coming in as a defensive force and interior anchor behind Kaminsky. His inside dominance is borderline unmatched in the last 25 seasons of Badgers history. His lack of a 3-point shot limits his ability to play any position alongside any player, but Wisconsin wouldn’t sacrifice much inside when he needed to enter the game.
Bench: John Tonje, shooting guard
John Tonje action quarter century team
Wisconsin guard John Tonje helped lead the Badgers to the most wins in a season under coach Greg Gard. MICHAEL CONROY, Associated Press
Years with Badgers: 2024-25
Badgers highlights: John Tonje, a transfer from Missouri after four seasons at Colorado State, climbed to second on the Badgers' single-season scoring list with 724 points in his lone campaign with Wisconsin. He scored 41 points — two points shy of Kaminsky’s program-record 43 — against Arizona just four games into the Badgers’ season, which began a run that ended with the guard earning 2025 AP second team All-American honors and a unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection.
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Why he made the list: Several accomplished career-long Badgers were passed over to include Tonje. He spent just one season with Wisconsin, but it was one of the best single-season efforts in program history. He helped a Badgers team with some uncertainty entering the season to the most wins in a season under coach Greg Gard. The potential of Tonje’s scoring off the bench is borderline unfair for any challengers. Plus, if his job simply was to come in and add more shooting to the dynamic starting backcourt pairing, there may not be a player in the program’s last 25 seasons that would be able to play that role better.
Why my picks will win
There is certainly not a combination of players in Wisconsin history that would be able to stop the offensive force of this group. Harris and Davis are two of the best athletes at the guard position the Badgers ever have had, and they would be running the break together. Need to slow down things? There might not be a more dominant halfcourt force than Kaminsky, and the on-court synergy between he and his former teammate Dekker can't be overlooked.
Tucker would be an interesting fit, but with the size around him, he would cause terrors as a mismatch at the four spot. Need more size? Insert one of the best statistical centers in Wisconsin history in Happ to play alongside Kaminsky. Need more shooting? Bring in Tonje, who also happens to have put together one of the best single-season scoring performances in Badgers history. On the other end, the perimeter defense would be more than capable of limiting drives, and either Kaminsky or Happ should make things difficult for those who do get to the paint.
How we picked the team
This is the sixth in a series of stories where our reporters pick their All-Badgers Quarter Century Team using the following criteria:
• The player must have started their Badgers career in the fall of 2000 or later.
• It must be a real lineup.
• Performance will be based off their peak time with the Badgers.
• The goal is that our chosen lineup would defeat any other lineup anyone else could put together using any players not on this team.
Start your team
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Photos: Badgers men's basketball in review
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) celebrates with fans after defeating the Arizona Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Michigan center Vlad Goldin (50) dunks on Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) celebrates after hitting a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) is swarmed by UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros defenders on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) shoots a three-pointer over UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros guard Hasan Abdul Hakim (14) on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) dunks the ball on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel (9) goes for a layup under the basket on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard claps during player introductions on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) and Washington Huskies guard Tyler Harris (8) battle for the ball on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) and Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrate after a three-pointer on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Carter Gilmore (7) hugs Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard during Senior Day ceremonies on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) checks in for the last regular season home game of his career as a Badger on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Sweat drips from the face of Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) buries his face in a towel after checking out during the final seconds of the Badger’s loss to Penn State on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin defenders attempt to block Holy Cross Crusaders forward Gabe Warren (21) on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard yells at the official on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Kamari McGee (4) comforts Wisconsin Badgers guard Max Klesmit (11) after Klesmit missed a late three-pointer to tie the game on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Steven Crowl (22) and Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) run in to each other during a possession on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Montana St. on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Arizona on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Former Wisconsin basketball head coach Bo Ryan watches as his banner is raised on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Jack Janicki (33) celebrates after a three-pointer on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) and Indiana Hoosiers guard Trey Galloway (32) battle for the ball on the floor on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) jumps to dunk on Nebraska guard Connor Essegian (0) on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard laughs with an official on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin guard John Blackwell (25) falls as Ohio State forward Sean Stewart (13) goes for a block on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Nolan Winter (31) tries to put home a layup against Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at Kohl Center in Madison, Wi. OWEN ZILIAK/STATE JOURNAL OWEN ZILIAK,STATE JOURNAL
Ethan Happ headshot quarter century team
Ethan Happ UW Athletics
John Tonje headshot quarter century team
John Tonje UW Athletics
alando tucker headshot quarter century team
Alando Tucker UW Athletics
Frank Kaminsky headshot quarter century team
Frank Kaminsky UW Athletic Communications
Devin Harris headshot quarter century team
Devin Harris UW Athletics
Sam Dekker headshot quarter century team
Sam Dekker UW Athletics
Johnny Davis headshot quarter century team
Johnny Davis UW Athletics
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