MADISON, Wis. – Kamari McGee is as close to being an expert at point guard as the University of Wisconsin has on its roster.

The fourth-year senior excelled at the position at Racine (Wis.) St Catherine’s High School and won a state championship in 2020, thrived as a true freshman when he earned freshman all-conference honors at Green Bay, and been a steady contributor as the reserve at Wisconsin. He knows what works at the position.

That’s why McGee continues to be in awe of sophomore John Blackwell’s impact as the Badgers’ primary facilitator, ball handler, and igniter in his first season at the position.

“I’ve been seeing it game by game,” said McGee, answering the question sitting next to Blackwell after the sophomore scored a career-high 32 points in a win over Iowa. “He wasn’t used to playing the point guard for us specifically. He was coming off the bench (last year), getting into that role of just being a scorer, but each game he’s gotten better each time.

“People may say he’s not a point guard. Honestly, in today’s game, there aren’t really any point guards. He’s just a good playmaker and a great scorer for us.”

Fresh off back-to-back 20+ point games to get Wisconsin (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) back to even in the Big Ten conference, Blackwell is starting to emerge as one of the Big Ten’s most complete guards. His 15.8 points per game is 13th in the league. He’s averaging 6.5 rebounds in conference play and has

“He’s just really complete,” head coach Greg Gard said of Blackwell. “He has a nose for the ball and got some toughness to him. He is a complete player. He does everything and he understands that. He understood that day one as a freshman last year. That’s what allowed him to get on the court so early. He understood the importance of little things.”

Blackwell put on a master class on Friday, scoring from all three levels against Iowa’s leaky defense. He was 5-for-6 from two-point range by either showing touch with mid-range pull-up jumpers or putting his shoulder down to get at and finish at the rim.

He was 3-for-21 from the perimeter over his previous seven games but confidently hit 6 of 10 from behind the arc. He made all four free attempts and tied his career-high with five assists against two turnovers, having no problem against a man-to-man or zone defense.

It was more workmanlike Monday at Rutgers but still efficient with an 8-for-15 night (7-for-11 on twos) and 4-for-4 from the line. Entering Friday’s game against Minnesota (8-7, 0-4), Blackwell is shooting 50 percent from the floor.

“I have confidence in my coaches and my teammates,” Blackwell said. “They trust me. They know how good I am, and I know how good I’ve worked.”

The implantation of Name, Image, and Likeness deals and the freedom of movement with the transfer porter have removed most of the guarantees in roster building. So, Gard didn’t have much time to wallow when Chucky Hepburn, his three-year starter at point guard, left for a reported $750,000 deal with Louisville.

The Badgers added Camren Hunter from the portal, but the Central Arkansas transfer didn’t play last season and was slowed by picking up the system and battled illness throughout November. UW inked highly ranked point guard Daniel Freitag but showed in the preseason he wasn’t ready for the role.

The staff also considered starting McGee, but Gard wanted to keep the senior as an energy boost off the bench (it’s worked with McGee shooting 55.2 percent from three with a 3.8 assist-to-turnover ratio).

Wanting a point guard who could push the ball in transition while still having an eye for scoring, Gard and his staff looked toward Blackwell, whose 45.5 3-point percentage was the best of any freshman in program history with at least 60 attempts. Despite playing just 18.5 minutes per game, Blackwell led the team in scoring four times.

While showing flashes in intrasquad scrimmages, Blackwell reportedly took over with the ball in his hands in the second half of UW’s closed scrimmage with Northern Iowa. He pushed tempo, created opportunities for himself and others, and the offense hummed.

“It was a tell-tell sign for us,” Gard said. “We had thought about it as a staff, talked about it, experimented a little bit. We had to stop dipping our toe in the water and really jump in with that and making a full commitment to him having the ball as much as we could.”

One of Blackwell’s first conversations after being informed of his role was with McGee, who has mentored him at every step.

“Killer was just in my ear,” Blackwell said. “Showing me all the support, telling me all the plays from the point guard spot, the ways I can score and still facilitate, and these guys trusting me with the ball in my hands, so credit to them.”

Of course, there have been bumps in the road. Blackwell had five assists to nine turnovers in losses to Michigan and Marquette. In the road loss at Illinois, Blackwell was limited to 22 minutes and fouled out. More frustrating for Gard was Blackwell had zero assists and felt that offense was stagnating for long stretches.

The film review was blunt and straightforward: be aggressive, make things happen with the ball in his hands, and be a confident facilitator.

Over the last four games, Blackwell has responded with 18 assists and only seven turnovers. In his words, he’s helped Wisconsin play “the right basketball” by moving the ball, having high assist numbers, and playing collectively as a unit.

“He’s got a lot on his plate,” Gard said. “It’s easy to try to take a break at times because maybe he needs one. I need to do a better job of getting him in and getting him out. His numbers of assists, even in practice, have jumped. That tells me he’s more comfortable.”

MILWAUKEE – Health experts say a new strain of the norovirus has cases surging across Wisconsin. Norovirus is very contagious and presents symptoms you often associate with the stomach bug. 

Common symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. 

Over the last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded ten outbreaks in Wisconsin. Symptoms usually start one or two days after exposure.

How it spreads

According to the CDC, you can get norovirus by: 

• Having direct contact with someone with norovirus, like caring for them, sharing food or eating utensils with them, or eating food handled by them.
• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus.
• Touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then putting your unwashed fingers in your mouth.

Additionally, you can still spread norovirus for two weeks or more after you feel better, the CDC says. 

How can I protect myself?

Frequent handwashing, handling and preparing food safely, and scrubbing surfaces with household disinfectants can help. The CDC says hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus.

Additionally, health experts advise that you wash laundry in hot water. 

Norovirus information

How it spreads

Signs and Symptoms

How to Prevent Norovirus

When and how outbreaks happen

LOS ANGELES — The massive wildfires that started in the Highlands of the Pacific Palisades may seem far from Wisconsin. However, some people from Southeast Wisconsin are facing the horrific sights of the deadly fires.

“Just picture palm trees on fire, ash blowing all around, and orange smoke everywhere,” said Milwaukee native Brooke Bayer.

Bayer moved to the Los Angeles area to work for Warner Bros. She said the typically sunny skies outside the studio are now filled with black and orange clouds.

“When you’re not here and you’re not in it, you’re like, ‘Oh, wow, that sucks, there’s a fire. You know, that’s a bummer.’ But when you’re actually here, you’re like, ‘Wow, that’s my friend’s house on fire. It really just hits home,’” Bayer explained.

Watch: Wisconsin natives closely monitor devastating wildfires in California

Wisconsin natives closely monitor devastating wildfires in California

She has a bag packed just in case the flames come too close for comfort.

“It’s just so sad. I mean, there are no other words than heartbreaking and devastating seeing your friends have to evacuate,” Bayer said.

Brooke Bayer

Another Wisconsinite, Josh Silberman, is prepared to evacuate as soon as the wildfires get too close to his home.

“It all just happened so fast, and it’s been absolutely insane,” he explained.

The Mequon native is closely monitoring the fires and packing his belongings.

“There are fire trucks everywhere, the highways are jammed with first responders going back and forth on the 405. There are helicopters over my house consistently. There are planes flying everywhere. It’s just crazy,” Silberman explained.

Click here to read about another Wisconsin native who had to evacuate the area.

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