MADISON, Wis. – Forced to overhaul a roster pillaged by the transfer portal, Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard felt good about the additions, the developments, and the chemistry cultivated over the weeks of conditioning and practices. He was also blunt leading into college basketball’s opening night in that he was still learning about the group’s makeup.

He learned a big lesson in game number one: his group is resilient.

On a night where plenty of things were askew on both ends of the floor, the Badgers managed to erase an early 16-point deficit and find their gear in the second half to earn a runaway 85-61 victory over Holy Cross.

Senior John Tonje impressed in his Wisconsin debut, scoring 23 points to lead the program to a ninth straight win in the home opener. John Blackwell added 16 points, five coming on a 15-0 run that gave UW the lead for good early in the second half. Nolan Winter scored 15 points in the second half in his first collegiate start.

Guard Gabe Warren had 23 for Holy Cross, 13 of which came in the opening 5:39 when he and his teammates made nine of 10 shots and smacked Wisconsin with a 21-3 run.

The fact the Badgers wiped the shock off their faces to trail by one at halftime was a testament to shunning the perimeter and attacking the post. After the opening eight minutes, UW had only attempted two shots inside the arc before running off a string of seven shots around the rim.

The results provided expected results against an undersized team. Multiple players found production at the rim, which generated more open looks on the perimeter. Tonje’s two open three-pointers punctuated an 18-2 run, broke a string of nine perimeter misses, and knotted the game at 25.

UW didn’t let the Crusaders hang around for long. The Badgers made seven of their first nine shots out of the locker room and tightened things up defensively, outshooting the Crusaders 56.7 percent to 33.3 in the second half.

The Badgers also got some bounces going their way, like Carter Gilmore turning a bobbled layup into a three-point play or Winter’s three-pointer that deadened off the back iron before falling in to push the lead to 18.

What it means: In one of the more sparsely attended home openers in the Kohl Center history, the lack of fan support was almost as jarring as the Badgers falling behind by 16 to the projected ninth-place team in the Patriot League. UW was able to get things corrected on the court but needs to find a way to get the fans back and engaged.

Star of the game: Tonje was active on all three levels, going 3-for-5 from two, 3-for-6 from three, and 8-for-8 from the line. The graduate senior also helped erase his mistakes. After committing a turnover on a poor post-entry pass, Tonje hustled back and drew the charge.

Stat of the game: After going 3-for-15 from the perimeter in the first half, Wisconsin went 8-for-16 in the second half from six different players scoring points.

Reason to be Concerned: Steven Crowl made his first shot of the game and then disappeared offensively for most of the game. He finished with seven points and a game-high eight rebounds but was just 2-for-5 in the low post. With the amount of scoring UW needs to replace, having Crowl fade into the background in games where he has a decisive size advantage is concerning.

Don’t overlook: Kamari McGee showed his value to the roster won’t always be in scoring. Joining Gilmore as the first substitutes off the bench, McGee had seven points on six shots, four assists and a steal to one turnover and saw UW outscored Holy Cross by 35 points when he was on the floor.

What’s next: Choosing not to play on college basketball’s opening night, Montana State will begin its 2024-25 season in Madison on Thursday night. The three-time defending Big Sky champion, the Bobcats were the preseason pick to win the league. Montana State will be one of the older teams in the country with seven seniors and graduate students in the projected rotation, plus five juniors. Tip is set for 7 p.m. on BTN+.

The most anticipated and consequential national election in our lifetime is now finally upon us and the eyes of the nation are on Wisconsin – one of the most closely contested battleground states in the nation. Here is some important guidance to assist you so that your vote and voice are included in these critical state and national decisions.

If you haven’t yet cast your vote via absentee ballot, then you must prepare now for how you will vote in-person at your polling place tomorrow.

✅Mail-in Absentee Ballot Return

IF you still have an absentee ballot that was mailed to you and you have not returned it yet, be sure to personally hand return your completed ballot TODAY. Absolutely Do NOT mail it! All ballots need to be received no later than 8:00 PM tomorrow (Tuesday) on Election Day. Your clerk and myvote.wi.gov will have information about where you can take your ballot.

Don’t forget: The ballot envelope needs a witness signature and the complete address of the witness, filled out by the witness.

REMINDER: Voters with a disability who need assistance may have someone return their absentee ballot.

You can track your ballot through the official ballot tracker on MyVote. Don’t see that your ballot was received? Contact your clerk for further information.

✅In-Person Voting at your Polling Location on Election Day

If you are planning to vote in person at the polls, read the information below so you are prepared when you show up to vote at your polling location. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 5th.

Polling Location

Polling places can change from election to election. To find out where to go to cast your ballot, visit the Find My Polling Place page on the MyVote Wisconsin website and type in your address.

Registration

You can register to vote on Election Day at your polling location. Being registered to vote means being registered at your current address. You need to have lived at your current address for at least 28 days prior to Election Day in order to register to vote in that election district or ward. You’ll need to bring a proof of residence document to complete your registration (this document can be shown electronically – like on your phone or tablet).

Photo ID

You are required to show a specified form of photo ID before you vote. If you have a Wisconsin driver’s license or a Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued ID card, then you’re all set. Selected other forms of ID work too, and it’s very important to check the official list of acceptable IDs at Bring It to The Ballot to make sure you have what you need.

What if you don’t have an acceptable ID to vote tomorrow? You can ask for AND vote with a provisional ballot. But, for your ballot to be counted, you MUST either come back to your polling place with an acceptable form of ID before it closes at 8:00 PM on Election Day OR bring your ID to your municipal clerk’s office by 4:00 PM the Friday after the election (Friday, November 8th). If you don’t have an acceptable ID for voting and need help getting one, call or text the VoteRiders helpline 866-ID-2-VOTE for assistance.

Need a ride to the polls

Our friends with the WI Disability Vote Coalition have compiled information about how you can secure a ride to go vote on Election Day (November 5). Most services are free, and include accessible transportation options as well. Some require you to schedule the ride in advance. You can find this useful resource on the Disability Vote Coalition’s website.

✅Your Ballot

You will find federal and state election contests on your ballot. This will include the United States President, U.S. Senator, U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin State Legislative offices, and others. (Find out what is on your ballot at MyVote). These offices and the people who serve in these roles have a direct impact on your life.

Get to know who wants to represent you and which candidate best represents your values before you vote. Find candidate and ballot information from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin at Vote411.

There is a Statewide Constitutional Amendment Referenda on your ballot: There is one statewide referendum question on the ballot on November 5th. Common Cause urges voters to resoundingly reject the amendment with a ‘NO’ vote. This release from Common Cause Wisconsin explains why this constitutional amendment should be defeated.

✅College Students voting in Wisconsin

Are you a college student voting in Wisconsin? Or do you know a student who wants to vote in Wisconsin? Here is important information from the Common Cause Wisconsin website to share: Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin

✅Have questions or need some assistance? Help is just a call, text, or email away.

If you experience problems at the polls or have questions, there is help readily available to you. Call or text Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) for assistance and support from nonpartisan election protection volunteers with any questions you have or to report any problems.

Voters with disabilities have the right to have ready access to any polling place. This includes the right to use an accessible voting machine, getting assistance marking and returning an absentee ballot, and voting curbside at a polling location. Call the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline for assistance: 1-844-347-8683. Or email: info@disabilityvote.org. Additional online resources are also at the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition website.

Call or text the WI Voter Helpline at 608-285-2141 and you will be connected to a nonpartisan person who can help answer all your questions. You can also request services such as getting assistance at the DMV to get an ID to vote or having someone witness your absentee ballot.

Please vote tomorrow (or that you have voted earlier) so that your voice will be heard, and your vote will be counted! Encourage anyone and everyone you know who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin to do so. That includes citizens who reside in Wisconsin (for at least 28 days). Urge them to register to vote at their polling place tomorrow (and to bring documented proof of residency and one of the required forms of photo ID).

Remember, to count every vote takes time. Be patient about results. And know all returns are unofficial until the canvass and certification of the votes.

Every single vote does and will matter and could determine the direction our state, and the nation will go in the months, years and decades ahead. Our lives and our future are at stake, and your vote will determine the outcome.

No fatal firearm hunting incident in 2023 or so far in 2024.

As deer hunting has evolved over generations in Wisconsin, several trends have become clear.

Participation is down. Options, including types of legal equipment, are up.

And arguably the most positive change in modern times: deer hunting in the Badger State is safer than it’s ever been.

Data collected by state officials show how deadly the activity used to be for hunters. For example in 1914, 24 hunters were killed and 26 injured in shooting incidents, and in 1970, 13 hunters were killed.

More: What to know about the Wisconsin gun deer hunting season: Dates, licenses, regulations

But in recent years it’s become rare to have a fatality during the gun deer hunting season, historically the period when most shooting incidents occurred.

In fact, six of the gun seasons in the last decade have passed without a shooting fatality.

With the 2024 Wisconsin gun deer season coming up Nov. 23 to Dec. 1, Department of Natural Resources staff held a media briefing Oct. 30 to present the latest information on the deer herd, season outlook and safety tips.

“Our hunting incidents are on a downward trend over the last five seasons,” said Renee Thok, DNR hunter safety administrator.

More: Wisconsin deer harvest in 2024 trending higher than last year

The improvement in Wisconsin deer hunting safety has its roots in a rule that required hunter education training for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1973, and a blaze orange clothing requirement that started in 1980.

Changes in hunter behavior have helped, too. More hunters now hunt from elevated stands, meaning their shots are directed downward and less likely to strike another hunter. Fewer hunters participate in deer drives, too.

Thok began a list of recommendations with the cardinal rules of hunting safety, also known as TAB-K: Treat every firearm as if it is loaded; always point the muzzle in a safe direction; be certain of your target and what’s beyond it; keep your finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

Noting the increased use of tree stands, Thok said it was critical to check on the status of buckles and straps on the hunting platforms and replace any that are worn or damaged. She also said hunters should used a full body safety harness to protect against falls and to use three points of contact (for example, two hands and one foot) when climbing or descending.

In addition, hunters should use a lifeline when going up or down a stand.

Thok also touched on the state’s regulation that requires deer hunters to have at least 50% of outer clothing above the waist in blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Hats or head coverings, if worn, must also be at least 50% blaze orange or fluorescent pink. Faded or stained clothing is unsafe and should be replaced, according to the DNR.

And it’s also smart for non-hunters and their pets to wear highly visible clothing when outdoors during the gun deer season.

If hunters are using an ATV or UTV, Thok issued a reminder to unload firearms before transporting them.

And she urged people to hunt sober.

Smith: Dr. Robert Riepenhoff, son of my predecessor, takes on firearm injuries and deaths

“Be safe, responsible and sober when in the woods,” Thok said. “Impairment at any time either by drugs or alcohol can have tragic consequences.”

In 2023, 11 shooting incidents were recorded across all Wisconsin’s hunting seasons; none was fatal.

And just three of those incidents occurred during the 2023 nine-day gun deer season. They were: a self-inflicted foot injury Nov. 18 to a hunter in Forest County; a woman shot in the thigh Nov. 19 by a hunter who was hunting with permission on her property in Adams County; and a hunter shot in the leg Nov. 24 by another hunter while the two were participating in a deer drive in Taylor County.

The 10-year average is 5.9 shooting incidents during the state’s gun deer season, according to a 2023 DNR report.

So far in 2024 four non-fatal shooting incidents have been recorded in hunting situations, according to the DNR. One was during the spring turkey hunting season, two during waterfowl seasons this fall and one in which a man shot himself in the foot while attempting to kill a raccoon.

Though the trend toward fewer firearm-related incidents is encouraging, safety experts know their job is never done.

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1973 must have a hunter education certification to purchase a hunting license unless hunting under the Mentored Hunting Law. Learn more about safe hunting in Wisconsin and register to take a hunter education course on the DNR’s Outdoor Skills webpage.

To learn more about hunting in Wisconsin, including information on hunter education courses, visit dnr.wi.gov.