Wisconsin
How Jack Janicki has become Wisconsin’s latest ‘defensive catalyst’
Nolan Winter comments on Wisconsin Badgers’ progress in overtime games
Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter commented on how the Badgers have shown progress in overtime games after UW’s 78-77 loss to Indiana.
MADISON – Ask Greg Gard or seemingly anyone else around Wisconsin men’s basketball about redshirt sophomore guard Jack Janicki, and another name almost instinctively keeps coming up.
It’s a player in a different class and at a different position – former UW forward Carter Gilmore.
As Gard recently talked about Janicki’s role, he mentioned how “Gilly was like that” last year. Associate head coach Joe Krabbenhoft has likewise said Janicki’s contributions are “similar to what Carter Gilmore was able to bring to us last year.”
Even Janicki has unpromptedly drawn the parallel between himself and the 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward who suited up for the Badgers from 2020-25.
“I think guys like Carter Gilmore sort of showed the way in terms of how you can really find minutes on the court and find value for yourself in ways that are less apparent,” Janicki said.
All the comparisons to Gilmore are fitting, though, considering the way Janicki has been instrumental in the Badgers’ efforts on the defensive side of the ball in 2025-26 in a way that extends far beyond what box scores may show.
Janicki, Gard said, has been the 2025-26 team’s “defensive catalyst.”
“He can switch a lot of things,” Gard said after the Jan. 28 win over Minnesota. “He’s very astute. He covers up mistakes at times from others. He’s always typically in the right position. … He’s kind of developing into that multi-dimensional guy like Gilmore was.”
Gard and Krabbenhoft have both compared Janicki to a Swiss Army knife with the defensive versatility that he brings to the court. He has so much versatility that he has even channeled his inner Gilmore by often playing at the four-spot when UW operates with small-ball lineups.
“He can guard bigs,” Gard said. “He can guard smalls. He can chase guys, like he did [against Ohio State]. He covers. When he’s in a help position, if we can put him on a non-shooter, his ability to recognize where to kind of back-layer or insulate the defense – his security blankets, we call them, insurance policies, whatever you want to do – that prevents something bad from happening.”
Janicki “brings so much energy to this group,” teammate Austin Rapp said.
“He will lose a tooth,” Rapp said. “He’ll cut his mouth open just for this team to win.”
Janicki really did lose a tooth for the sake of a Wisconsin win, chipping a tooth in the final minute of the Badgers’ 74-67 road win last year against rival Minnesota.
The defensive-minded Janicki’s magnum opus perhaps was Wisconsin’s Jan. 28 win this season over Minnesota.
Janicki had several key plays on defense – “a lot of little things that don’t seem big, but can be like four-point swings,” as he aptly put it – that helped the Badgers overcome a 20-point deficit and pull off a 67-63 win.
Janicki took a charge in textbook fashion in the second half on the defensive possession following Nolan Winter’s go-ahead 3-pointer, with Boyd hyping up the Kohl Center crowd afterward.
The 6-foot-5 guard was credited with a block with 45 seconds remaining in the game after getting his fingertips on an Isaac Asuma 3-point shot attempt that could have given the Gophers the lead.
His biggest play might have been less than a minute before that, as he intercepted Asuma’s pass with 1:17 remaining. His steal set up an offensive possession that ended with a pair of John Blackwell free throws that recaptured the lead one last time for the Badgers.
“That steal he had – his instincts are phenomenal,” Krabbenhoft told reporters. “The charge. And then things that don’t stand on a stat sheet that he does, covering people up that we talked about with Carter with all you guys for so many years. He’s got that in his game.”
Janicki played a major enough role in the win to be one of the players sent to the media room for the postgame press conference despite finishing with zero points, one assist and one rebound.
“Obviously you look at the stat line, and you wouldn’t think much of my performance,” Janicki said after the Minnesota win while sitting next to teammates who scored 23, 21 and seven points. “But obviously I’m out there for a reason.”
Janicki – one of three rotational players to return from 2024-25 – has attempted to fill the leadership role in 2025-26 that Gilmore had in the previous season.
“There’s some voices in the locker room that definitely ring out in times when things are going poorly, and Gilly’s was the voice that we would turn to,” Janicki said.
After this season’s Jan. 6 loss to then-No. 6 Purdue at the Kohl Center – UW’s third consecutive loss to a high-major team at the time – Janicki told his teammates, “This season can go one of two ways.”
“I love that role,” Janicki told the Journal Sentinel. “I think that’ll be something that I carry with me the rest of my life – being able to be a vocal and emotional leader for the Wisconsin Badgers.”
Janicki’s favorite basketball moment with Gilmore – “one of my best friends while he was here” – was last season’s win at Northwestern, when the previous defensive catalyst went off for a career-high 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Janicki has enjoyed some of his own scoring spurts, such as his 11-point performance at Purdue last season or his nine-point performance against Providence this season. But like Gilmore, Janicki has not been the one to be taking critical shots for the Badgers this season.
Gilmore averaged 3.9 points per game in 2024-25; Janicki has averaged 2.3 points per game so far in 2025-26. Gilmore’s possessions used rate – how many offensive possessions end with an action by that player – was 11% in 2024-25, per KenPom. Janicki’s usage rate this season is 10.4%.
“Obviously every basketball player has dreams of going out there and putting a bunch of shots in the hoop, and I still have those goals for myself,” Janicki said. “But at the same time, a lot of different games call for a lot of different things.”
Janicki’s lower shot volume – only 62 attempts in 400 minutes this season – is hardly a surprise given the playmakers on the court with him.
Nick Boyd and Blackwell are statistically two of the top eight scorers in the Big Ten. Winter has 11 double-doubles this season. Andrew Rohde, Braeden Carrington, Austin Rapp and Aleksas Bieliauskas all present perimeter scoring threats.
“I don’t want to not talk about his ability to play on the offensive end,” Krabbenhoft said of Janicki. “He knows right now with the way we’re built and the guys that he’s got around him, how to get on the floor. And that’s a credit to him because he impacts winning.”
In many ways, it’s just like Gilmore, and Janicki sure seems to be taking the comparison to the close friend and revered teammate as a compliment.
“Those are just two dudes that don’t care at all about the stat sheet or whatever,” Winter said. “All they care about is Wisconsin basketball and getting that win, doing whatever it takes, doing all the dirty work that people don’t really see. Both of them really excelled in their roles.”
Chris Borland’s spot in Wisconsin’s Athletic Hall of Fame came with the kind of résumé that represented the modern Badgers defense: massive production, big-game hardware and Midwestern toughness.
Wisconsin selected Borland as one of 12 athletes, staff, and supporters in the class of 2026 Hall of Fame inductees. The group will enter the Hall of Fame the weekend of Sept. 18 this fall, with Borland and the rest of the class honored during Wisconsin’s matchup against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 19 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Borland starred at linebacker for Wisconsin from 2009 to 2013 and finished as one of the program’s most decorated defenders of the era. He earned 2013 first-team All-America honors, won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and closed his career with 420 tackles. He also played in three Rose Bowls, anchoring a defense built around physicality, instincts and tackling that excelled in big moments.
Borland’s induction adds a football centerpiece to a nine-sport Hall of Fame class, and it lands on a weekend that will bring a full Camp Randall spotlight back to former Badgers. Wisconsin fans will get their on-field Hall of Fame moment on Sept. 19, when the Badgers host Eastern Michigan and Borland’s career highlights take center stage again in Madison.
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Sightings were also reported near Wilson and Oostburg as observers say the bear appears to be heading north through the area.
Black bear walks through residential yards in Slinger
A black bear was spotted walking through residential backyards June 2 in Slinger. Resident Holly Nowak captured a video from her deck.
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY – If you see a bear lumbering through the woods or past your home, you might not just be imagining things.
The presence of a black bear recently was reported in the Kohler-Andrae State Park area, according to a report from WBHL radio station. The bear could be the same one reported earlier in the town of Saukville.
Sightings of the bear have been reported to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources since the animal appeared in the backyard of a home in Ozaukee County. Observers say the bear was heading north.
Observers rooting for the bear to make it back home
According to WBHL, someone living just south of Kohler-Andrae State Park said in a Facebook post they saw a bear Sunday evening (likely the same bear.)
Someone posted a photo of a bear in the Town of Wilson near Oostburg Sunday.
Observers seem to be rooting for the bear to make his or her way back to wherever home might be.
“Poor boy,” Erin Brown posted under the Town of Wilson photo. “He’s just making his way to his future partner. Please keep an eye out while driving.”
“He sure is making his way around,” Ruth Wood wrote. “Pretty incredible how much they’re on the move. Like someone said … we are overbuilding and taking their habitat away. Indeed we will have more wild life because of it. I feel sorry for this guy … and all the other wildlife being displaced.”
Added Cindy Schultz, “Oh stop freaking out. You know, it was bound to happen. Just be aware and cautious.”
Bear population on the rise
Authorities from the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department said Monday they had not been notified of any bears moving through the area.
Kevin Brown, assistant bear/cougar specialist for the state DNR, confirmed the agency received two notifications through its Wildlife Observation Tool on June 2 of what appears to be the same bear in the Slinger area.
Wisconsin’s black bear population is around 23,000 to 24,000, according to the DNR. Although they most commonly live in the northwoods, black bears are increasingly being sighted in south and southcentral Wisconsin. The bear population was only around 9,000 back in 1989, according to the DNR.
If you sight a black bear, DNR officials suggest that you stay calm, shout, clap or bang pots together, and make yourself look large. Never run from a bear. Brown recommended learning more at BearWise.
Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@usatodayco.com or call 920-606-2575.
(WLUK) — It was another record-breaking year for Wisconsin tourism.
The Wisconsin Department of Tourism reported a record-high $27 billion in total economic impact in 2025, a record-breaking 117.9 million visits, and a record more than $1.7 billion in state and local revenue.
It’s the fourth year in a row Wisconsin tourism broke records for visitors and revenue.
The $27 billion economic impact equates to about $74 million a day, surpassing the previous record of $25.8 billion set in 2024, which itself was a record year.
Novel Bay Booksellers is one of more than a dozen businesses featured in the holiday film “A Cherry Pie Christmas.” The film’s popularity is drawing visitors to the Door County businesses. (WLUK)
In 2025, Wisconsin saw 117.9 million visits—a 3.5 million increase from the previous year and eclipsing the former record of 114.4 million. The state’s tourism industry also generated a record amount of state and local revenue, generating more than $1.7 billion that goes back to local communities and essential state services. Further, according to the report, the state’s tourism industry also supported more than 183,000 part-time and full-time jobs across diverse sectors of the industry.
“Wisconsin’s tourism industry isn’t just growing, it’s booming. And the proof’s in the pudding, with four consecutive record-breaking years, including generating a record $27 billion last year alone,” said Gov. Evers. “These numbers are a big deal for our state, our economy, and the countless hardworking folks in the industry who make it all happen—the folks who work each day to promote our state as the premier place to visit and explore, as well as the tour guides, waiters, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and the friendly faces in communities all across our state that keep folks coming back for one more adventure in Wisconsin year after year. My administration and I have been proud to champion this work with smart, strategic investments over the years, and we will keep uplifting this essential industry and the dedicated folks that drive it to ensure travel and tourism in Wisconsin continues to grow and thrive for future generations.”
Brown County tourism
Specifically in Brown County, where the 2025 NFL Draft was held, the tourism industry reached new heights, generating a record-breaking $1.5 billion in total economic impact.
According to newly released data, visitors made 6.7 million trips to Brown County in 2025 and spent $909.6 million at local hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers, and other businesses. The visitor economy supported 11,519 jobs and generated $114.2 million in state and local tax revenue.
The results represent a 6.9% increase in total economic impact and a 7.4% increase in direct visitor spending over 2024.
Brown County visitor spending increased in every quarter of 2025, with the second quarter experiencing the largest jump. Tourism Economics found that direct visitor spending during the second quarter increased by $27.8 million over 2024, accounting for approximately 45% of Brown County’s overall visitor spending growth for the year.
While the NFL Draft provided a major boost, the report also points to strong underlying tourism fundamentals. Hotel revenue increased 9.7% year-over-year, restaurant and recreation-related sales grew nearly 7%, and both day-trip and overnight visitation continued to climb.
Among the report’s key findings:
- $1.5 billion total economic impact generated by visitors
- $909.6 million in direct visitor spending
- 6.7 million visits to Brown County
- 11,519 jobs supported by the visitor economy
- $55.2 million in local tax revenue generated
- $59 million in state tax revenue generated
Tourism’s benefits extend well beyond visitor-facing businesses. The report estimates that visitor-generated state and local taxes offset the tax burden on Brown County residents by approximately $1,030 per household.
State investments
Thanks to state investments, Travel Wisconsin has continued to expand its reach, and in 2025, the department expanded its advertising campaign to Peoria, Illinois, for a total of 14 Midwestern markets. Travel Wisconsin’s ad campaigns also resulted in big returns—for every $1 spent on advertising in summer 2025, consumers spent $148. Additionally, TravelWisconsin.com saw a staggering 11.9 million users, setting a new website traffic record and surpassing the previous year’s record.
“Wisconsin tourism is booming because it is the ideal destination for making memories. Travelers who choose to visit one more attraction, dine at one more restaurant, and stay one more night generate many more dollars for Wisconsin tourism,” said Secretary Anne Sayers. “Tourism’s impact is wide-reaching and significant. The industry powers local economies throughout the state. Visitors sustain jobs and create livelihoods. Wisconsinites save money because of the tax dollars tourism brings in. Tourism is essential for Wisconsin and all its communities.”
100 Vietnam veterans return to EAA AirVenture from a Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., July 25, 2025. (WLUK/Mike Moon)
Highlights of Wisconsin’s travel and tourism successes in 2025 include:
- Marquee events like EAA AirVenture hit record attendance;
- Green Bay hosted the 2025 NFL Draft, amassing around 600,000 ticketed attendees and generating an estimated economic impact of nearly $105 million for the state, far exceeding expectations;
- The Beloit Sky Carp set a single-season attendance record with 112,808 fans visiting ABC Supply Stadium;
- The Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls drew in a crowd of approximately 100,000 and saw its highest single-day attendance in 17 years; and
- Door County welcomed more visitors in November and December, inspired by the Wisconsin-set and filmed holiday movie “A Cherry Pie Christmas.”
The Native Nations of Wisconsin also play a critical role in enriching the state’s tourism industry offerings and attracting travelers to the state. Because Tribal tourism data is private, the total economic impact of Tribal tourism is not wholly reflected in the annual economic report.
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