And there’s only one thing that’s left to say after the Badgers controlled one of the most hostile environments in the Big Ten to secure that signature victory: They are a legitimate threat.

No. 16 Wisconsin pulled off a stunning 94-84 upset over seventh-ranked Purdue on Saturday afternoon at Mackey Arena, a victory that might not look like an upset in due time as the Badgers continue to soar.

For now, though, it was Wisconsin’s (20-5, 10-4 Big Ten) first win over a Big Ten opponent who currently owns a winning record this season, and it also marks the late-season signature win the Badgers have sought since securing an upset win against then-No. 9 Arizona on Nov. 15, 2024, which redefined the expectations of a team full of new faces entering the season.

Wisconsin seemed on the ropes after one of its most important players, reserve guard Kamari McGee, was ejected from the game in the first half. But the Badgers battled. And battled. And before long, it was host, top-10 Purdue that — badly — needed to respond.

Five Wisconsin players scored in double figures, led by John Tonje’s 32 points, as it scored 1.541 points per possession and turned the ball over just three times in an efficient and steady performance from start to finish. The 94 points is the most Wisconsin has ever scored against the Boilermakers on the road and the the second-most all time, a besting a mark it had previously scored in a win over the Boilermakers on Feb. 9, 1959.

Purdue (19-7, 11-4 Big Ten) seemed primed to take control of the game early with a 10-0 run that stretched its lead over the Badgers to 12-6 with 15:27 remaining in the first half. But Wisconsin, as it did all half, battled back.

The Badgers responded with an 8-1 run to retake the lead, but after Purdue established a 16-14 lead with 12:44 left in the first half, Wisconsin did not lead again for the rest of the first frame. However, each time the Boilermakers went on a seemingly momentum-shifting run, the Badgers maintained their composure and kept within striking distance.

There was no better example of that than in the final 6:20 of the first half. After a 6-0 burst grew the Boilermakers’ lead to 31-22 at 5:31, Wisconsin found itself in a difficult spot, especially considering star reserve guard Kamari McGee had just been just ejected due to a flagrant 2 foul. Even with the Mackey Arena’s electric environment and the Boilermakers pushing to take control, the Badgers closed the half on a 14-6 run to enter halftime trailing just 37-36.

Purdue opened the half by hitting its first six shots in a row, but Wisconsin still led 51-50 after Tonje connected on a 3-pointer plus a foul with 15:48 left. The Badgers regained the lead with just five makes early in the second half, but three of those were from behind the arc.

Behind Tonje, Wisconsin kept adding to its lead. It went on an 11-0 run to take a 58-50 lead at 13:34, and held the Boilermakers to three-straight misses after a dunk from senior forward Carter Gilmore in response to a Purdue 3-pointer brought the Badgers’ advantage back to seven points at 60-53.

Wisconsin grew its lead to 10 points three times. And it led by as many as 11, 71-60, with 7:59 remaining in the half. Purdue, of course, would make its run, though. The Boilermakers cut the lead to six on a 3 from guard Fletcher Loyer at 5:19. But Wisconsin ripped off four-straight points to get the lead to 10 points again, 79-69, with 3:49 left.

Down to six points again on a Purdue run. Up to 10 points again on a Wisconsin run. Whatever the Boilermakers had, the Badgers had just as much.

And by closing out Saturday’s contest, the question now is what does Wisconsin have more?

Here are three things that stood out from the game.

The effect of perhaps the most hostile environment in the Big Ten was apparent for a few members of Wisconsin.

Graduate guard Tonje tossed up an airball on his first 3-point attempt. Sophomore guard John Blackwell went 0 of 2 from the field before picking up two fouls and remaining on the bench for the final 6:46 of the first half. Even Carter Gilmore, who has played confidently off the bench all season for the Badgers, missed badly off the backboard on his first attempt from 3.

So, Wisconsin turned to Kamari McGee to calm the moment, as it often does. And the star reserve accomplished that — until he couldn’t.

Attempting to navigate around a screen by the Boilermakers’ Trey Kaufman-Renn, McGee collided with him and was subsequently assessed a flagrant 2 with 6:20 left in the first half. The foul came with an ejection, leaving Wisconsin without a key piece in a tough road environment.

McGee blew kisses at the crowd as he was escorted off the court by Badgers strength and conditioning coach Jim Snider, and Purdue built its advantage to 31-22 at 5:31, with two free throws and a jumper after McGee’s ejection. The ejection forced Wisconsin to look deeper into its bench, and redshirt freshman guard Jack Janicki logged 17 minutes.

Without Blackwell and McGee both on the court for the final 6:20 of the first half, the Badgers looked to a redshirt freshman to steady the ship. Janicki had already made a few solid plays in the first half, hitting a layup at 12:18 and connecting with Blackwell on a bounce pass for an open corner 3.

But the role he was being asked to step into came on perhaps the largest stage of his entire career. And despite the stakes, the redshirt freshman stepped up in an important way.

Janicki connected on another 3 at 3:23 to jumpstart a 10-2 run for Wisconsin to end the half, but the best thing Janicki did was what he didn’t do: turn it over.

Handling the point for the remainder of the first half, Janicki looked capable and showed the poise that had earned him a spot in the Badgers’ rotation this season. His play in the second half seemingly only picked up, as he handled the backup duties for eight minutes in the second frame.

Over a 1:32 stretch midway through the second half, he connected on a pair of 3-pointers that gave Wisconsin a 71-60 lead with 7:59 left in the game. On the day, Janicki scored a career-high 11 points, shooting 4 of 6 from the field with two assists, a block and zero turnovers.

The last time Wisconsin won a game at Mackey Arena was Jan. 3, 2022. In the Badgers’ 74-69 win, eventual Big Ten Player of the Year Johnny Davis scored 37 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field, grabbing 14 rebounds in the win. Well, perhaps Wisconsin has another Big Ten Player of the Year on its roster this season, too.

Tonje, again, was electric for Wisconsin. He scored 32 points, including 13 of 16 points during a game-changing run for the Badgers early in the second half. The graduate guard has consistently provided a scoring punch for Wisconsin, topping the 20-point mark for the sixth time in seven games.

However, he also showed poise not to force his shot — like a bounce-pass delivery to Blackwell for a layup that increased the Badgers’ lead to 73-63 with 6:31 left in the game. That was one of three assists for Tonje, who showed he’s one of college basketball’s premier elite superstars against a top-10 team and proved why he could be a piece that vaults the Badgers to places they haven’t gone in years.