Wisconsin
NBA Draft: Wisconsin’s John Blackwell Rises With Two Strong Performances
Having led Wisconsin in scoring during their two Big Ten victories so far, sophomore guard John Blackwell is emerging as a legitimate draft prospect.
As a strong guard with an explosive first step, Blackwell excels at getting to the rim both on and off the ball. His upside on offense and defense looks promising, but he still needs to continue rounding out his game to translate effectively to the NBA. The full body of work he has produced so far this season has been encouraging, but his productivity through the first two games of Big Ten play has stood out the most.
Let’s take a closer look at Blackwell’s strong start to his sophomore season, with a particular focus on his two most recent conference outings.
Through his first 15 games this year, Blackwell has helped the Badgers to a 12-3 record with impressive averages of 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.7 steals while shooting 50% from the field, 33.9% from three and 83.1% from the free throw line. He has led his team in scoring in just four games but has reached double digits in all but two contests. Despite not leading the team in any single statistical category, he currently ranks second in points, third in assists and fourth in both rebounds and steals. While his well-rounded game has been a highlight, it’s his ability to score from all three levels that has been most intriguing. In nine matchups against power conference opponents, Blackwell has averaged 16.8 points while shooting an impressive 60% from the field, showcasing his ability to step up in big games.
Two of his strongest showings this year came during conference play, where his team-high-scoring performances against Iowa and Rutgers were particularly encouraging. Let’s dive into how he stood out in these two Wisconsin victories.
On Friday, Jan. 3, Wisconsin defeated Iowa 116-85, thanks in no small part to Blackwell’s well-rounded game. He finished with a career-high 32 points, along with eight rebounds and five assists. Shooting 11-of-18 from the field, 6-of-10 from three and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line, Blackwell scored at will and stayed aggressive from the opening tip. His ten three-point attempts were a season high, and he connected on six of them, shooting an impressive 60% from beyond the arc. While this level of scoring production might not show up nightly, the consistent two-way aggression he displayed has become a hallmark of his game, significantly boosting his draft stock.
Following this game, Blackwell delivered another stellar performance on Monday, Jan. 6, in a 75-63 win over Rutgers. He tallied 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Blackwell maintained his attacking mindset, getting to the rim off the dribble and using smart cuts to exploit gaps in the defense. His ability to capitalize on transition opportunities and push the pace allowed Wisconsin to generate cleaner looks than they typically achieve in half-court sets. His unselfishness and ability to elevate his teammates were evident throughout the game.
Blackwell’s performances against Iowa and Rutgers illustrate his growing confidence and evolving skill set as a key player for Wisconsin. As the season progresses, his ability to sustain this high level of play will be crucial, not only for the Badgers’ success but also for cementing his status as a legitimate NBA prospect. If he continues to develop his all-around game, Blackwell has the potential to be one of the standout guards in the Big Ten and a rising star on the professional radar.
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(WLUK) — The Wisconsin-Notre Dame game at Lambeau Field will be under the lights.
Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6.
The matchup, originally scheduled for Oct. 3, 2020, was rescheduled for 2026 after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the 2020 football season.
The Badgers took on the Fighting Irish at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2021 as part of the Shamrock Series, the neutral-site non-conference series between the two programs. Notre Dame claimed the first game of the series 41-13.
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Wisconsin last played at Lambeau Field in 2016 and scored a 16-14 win over No. 5 LSU.
Wisconsin
DHS urges Wisconsin ‘sanctuary’ county to keep illegal immigrant accused in elderly sexual assaults jailed
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The Department of Homeland Security is urging “sanctuary politicians in Wisconsin” not to release a Nicaraguan national who was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting an elderly victim, according to a statement Wednesday.
Julio Cesar Morales-Jarquin, 31, is in local police custody after being charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of an elderly victim, DHS said.
He was arrested last month after a residential care facility in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, reported to police that an employee may have assaulted vulnerable residents, according to local outlet WKOW.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request on April 27 asking that Morales-Jarquin remain in custody.
ICE ARRESTS ALLEGED CHILD SEX OFFENDER RELEASED UNDER CONNECTICUT SANCTUARY LAWS
Julio Cesar Morales-Jarquin, 31, is accused of sexually assaulting an elderly victim at a Wisconsin care facility, according to authorities. (Department of Homeland Security)
DHS on Wednesday called on Dane County officials not to release Morales-Jarquin, accusing the county of being a “sanctuary jurisdiction” that refuses to honor ICE detainers.
The agency said the county has previously given ICE as little as 30 minutes to take custody of individuals in its jail.
DHS BLASTS MINNESOTA BOARD FOR UNANIMOUSLY PARDONING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONVICTED OF 3 ASSAULTS
The Department of Homeland Security logo. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
According to DHS, Morales-Jarquin entered the United States in 2023 under the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole program for Nicaragua. Although the program was later ended, DHS said he remained in the country unlawfully.
“This illegal alien is charged with two counts of sexual assault of an elderly victim at an assisted living facility,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in the DHS statement. “This dirtbag was released into the country by the Biden Administration. DHS is calling on sanctuary politicians in Dane County, Wisconsin to NOT release this criminal from jail back onto the streets to commit more crimes.”
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The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. (Jordan McAlister)
“We need Wisconsin sanctuary politicians to cooperate with us to remove criminals from our country,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Dane County Executive’s Office for comment.
EAA AirVenture 2025 opens with aircraft of every description
EAA AirVenture 2025
USA TODAY readers voted two Wisconsin events among the nation’s best for thrills and excitement – and one got a No. 1 spot.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh was voted the Best Air Show, ranking first on a list of 10 air shows across the country.
Oshkosh annually becomes a landing pad for around 10,000 aircraft of all shapes and sizes, in what’s considered the world’s biggest fly-in convention. In 2025, EAA had record-breaking attendance, with around 704,000 visitors. This year, the air show will be held July 20-26.
Also highlighted on the most recent USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, released Wednesday, May 6, was the Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs in Elkhart Lake, which ranked sixth in the Best Motorsports Race category.
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs are an annual competition between top amateur road racers, frequently held at Road America.
The event was held annually at Road America from 2009 to 2013, then returned in 2020 and again for the 2024-2026 competitions. It also rotates to other sites across the United States. In 2027 and 2028, it will be held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 4.
The Best Air Show and Best Motorsports Race lists were among 10 lists in the overarching category “Thrills ‘n’ Wheels & Fishing.” Other lists include Best Boat Show, Best Car Show, Best Fishing Charter and Best Rodeo. The full list of winners can be found online at 10best.usatoday.com/awards.
To determine its lists, USA TODAY 10Best invites a panel of industry experts each week to nominate their favorite points of interest, in categories like food, drink, travel and lifestyle. Editors then vet the nominations and set aside a list of nominees to ask the public to vote on for a period of four weeks.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.
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