Wisconsin's Blackwell finds other ways to contribute during shooting slump

Head coach Greg Gard isn't concerned about guard John Blackwell's recent dip in shooting efficiency.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Wisconsin guard John Blackwell has seen a dip in his shooting efficiency, but head coach Greg Gard isn't concerned. Blackwell has found other ways to contribute to the Badgers' success, such as playing strong defense and impacting the game in other areas beyond scoring. Gard assigned Blackwell the challenge of guarding Washington's Zoom Diallo, and Blackwell rose to the occasion, limiting Diallo's efficiency despite Diallo scoring 21 points.

Why it matters

Blackwell's ability to impact the game in multiple ways, not just through scoring, is crucial for Wisconsin's success. The Badgers can't play to their full potential when Blackwell isn't on the floor, so Gard is willing to accept Blackwell's defensive contributions even when his shot isn't falling.

The details

Blackwell has gone through a shooting slump, making just 11 of 35 field goals and 8 of 28 three-pointers over the last three games. In the win over Washington, Blackwell missed all three of his three-point attempts and didn't attempt a two-point shot, finishing with just 7 points. However, Gard was pleased with Blackwell's defensive effort, as he limited Washington's Zoom Diallo to just 5 points in the first half and forced Diallo to take 15 shots to score his 21 points.

  • Wisconsin defeated Washington 90-73 on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
  • Blackwell had a 31-point performance in Wisconsin's season-opening win over Campbell.

The players

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

John Blackwell

A junior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team who has seen a dip in his shooting efficiency but has found other ways to contribute to the team's success.

Zoom Diallo

A guard for the Washington Huskies men's basketball team who Blackwell was assigned to defend, limiting his efficiency despite Diallo scoring 21 points.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't play well Wednesday night. You absorb a bit, you learn from it, and you have to quickly turn the page, and not let that affect you too much and carry over for the next game.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach (si.com)

“He's gonna get a lot of attention. They're gonna load to him, they're gonna send extra bodies to him.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach (si.com)

“I wanted to give him the opportunity to guard Zoom again, and I thought he met the challenge. I thought he did well. Zoom scored, but he had to work. He took 15 shots to get 21 points. That helps from a defensive standpoint of minimizing how efficient an offensive player can be.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach (si.com)

“I thought (Blackwell) had some good looks, and he can impact the game with a lot of other ways. How he was able to get the assignment with Diallo, and we knew that was a challenge for anybody.”

— Greg Gard, Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

The Badgers will look to build on their win over Washington when they return home to face a tough conference opponent.

The takeaway

Blackwell's ability to contribute in multiple ways, not just through scoring, is crucial for Wisconsin's success. Even when his shot isn't falling, Blackwell can impact the game through his defense and other intangible contributions, as demonstrated in the win over Washington.