INFOCUS
FACE TIME Not a bad team field trip! Men’s hockey head coach Tony Granato and the Badgers spent time at a Chicago Blackhawks game Sunday to help promote UW’s Jan. 21 matchup with No. 1 Notre Dame at the United Center. PHOTOS BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO
INFOCUS
START THE PLAY Sophomore Suzanne Gilreath looked for options for her inbounds pass during the Badgers’ game vs. No. 23 Michigan at the Kohl Center last Thursday. The home matchup against the Wolverines was one of three games against ranked opponents in Wisconsin’s first four Big Ten contests. PHOTO BY JACK McLAUGHLIN
INFOCUS
I SEE YOU Senior Aaron Moesch threaded a pass between Indiana’s Devonte Green (11) and Zach McRoberts (15) to find teammate Aleem Ford under the basket during the Badgers’ 71-61 win last Tuesday at the Kohl Center. PHOTO BY DARREN LEE
E N ZORAGE
E V O C
THE 2017.5 NISSAN ROGUE®
Now Standard on every Nissan Rogue: Automatic Emergency Braking | Blind Spot Warning | Rear Cross Traffic Alert The 2017 Nissan Rogue helps cover you from every angle. Straight up the A-gap. Down the middle. Even sideline-to-sideline. Rogue’s Intelligent Safety Shield Technologies work together to help sense more around you and give you an extra hand when you need it. Now, you can worry more about the big game. And less about getting to it, safely. Nissan. A proud partner of College Athletics.
,
TAKE ON TODAY
1. Automatic Emergency Braking: AEB cannot prevent accidents due to carelessness or dangerous driving techniques. It may not provide warning or braking in certain conditions. Speed limitations apply. 2. Blind Spot Warning: Blind Spot Warning is not a substitute for proper lane change procedures. The system will not prevent contact with other vehicles or accidents. It may not detect every vehicle or object around you. 3. Rear Cross Traffic: Not a substitute for proper backing procedures. May not detect all moving vehicles. Speed and other limitations apply. See owner’s manual for details.
CONTENTS
DAVID STLUKA
24
JANUARY 10, 2018 ▪ VOLUME 8, ISSUE 18
ROOM TO GROW Two years ago, Aleem Ford was a complete unknown on the basketball scene. But as the 6-foot-8 wing continued to grow — literally and figuratively — opportunities have followed and he’s now just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
FEATURES 2
LUCAS AT LARGE
IN FOCUS
TRICE’S GAIN
12 LUCAS AT LARGE
12
17 WHAT TO WATCH 21 BADGERING
DARREN LEE
Time off the court has been challenging for injured point guard D’Mitrik Trice, but he’s digging in to learn and heal.
15 BY THE NUMBERS
23 BADGERS GIVE BACK
37 INSIDE HOCKEY 41 INSIDE WRESTLING 43 INSIDE TRACK & FIELD 47 INSIDE SWIM & DIVE 48 BADGER HISTORY
DAVID STLUKA
33 INSIDE BASKETBALL
21
BADGERING
ABBY ROQUE
The sophomore center talks about the best part of practices, her new role and her teammate with enviable skills. 9
Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711
VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas
Director of Athletic Communications
Jessica Burda
Director of Digital Content Managing Editor
Julia Hujet
Editor/Designer
Brian Mason
Editor/Contributor
Mike Lucas
Senior Writer
Andy Baggot Writer
Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production
Matt Restock Advertising
Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution
Contributors
Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography
David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: Darren Lee Problems or Accessibility Issues? VarsityMag@UWBadgers.com Š 2018 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. 11
LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM
Nearing a return, Trice gaining insight, education
E
with the Chicago Bulls. “He talked to me like a normal person,” Trice related. “He was just telling what he sees. He thought I was starting to get into a groove before my injury. It was good to hear those things.” Trice has missed the last seven games after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone on the side of his right foot. The injury was discovered after Trice injured his toe in the Dec. 6 game at Temple. “Around the 10-minute mark of the second half, I noticed my toe was hurting to even run up and down the court,” Trice remembered. “I don’t know if I jammed it or someone stepped on it.” X-rays were taken the follow-
ing day and Trice was informed of the fracture. “I was shocked because I was asymptomatic,” said Trice, a 6-foot, 177-pound sophomore from Huber Heights, Ohio. “I had no pain, I didn’t even know it was there. “But I’m glad they found it early because they said in the next month or so it was probably going to break all the way and I would have been done for the season.” Trice listened to his medical options from UW athletic trainer Henry Perez-Guerra and discussed the best course of action with his father, Travis, who was his coach at Wayne High School in Ohio.
DAVID STLUKA
SPN analyst Jay Williams plopped down next to D’Mitrik Trice and initiated a conversation with the injured Wisconsin point guard during Friday’s shootaround at Rutgers. “I never met him before,” Trice said. “But I obviously knew who he is and his background.” Williams, a New Jersey native, was the shooting guard on the 2001 NCAA championship team at Duke and the College Player of the Year in 2002 after winning the Wooden and Naismith Award. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Williams was also the second overall pick in the NBA draft behind Yao Ming. But a near-fatal motorcycle injury cut short his pro career
DAVID STLUKA
12
season-ending knee injury. He “My dad thought surgery was had surgery the same day as the best way to go and I could Trice. be back healthy and not have to King will apply for a medical worry about it again,” he said. “I hardship waiver to retain his was just trying to figure out how year of eligibility. long I would be out.” “It has been a really good Trice had one goal: “To get bonding experience, because back playing as quickly as I could I wasn’t as close with Kobe as to help this team in any way.” I would have liked,” Trice said. But he knew that he would have “We’ve gotten a lot closer now to be patient and smart about with all the rehab time together.” his rehab after having the surTrice has been grateful for the gery. support that he has received “I’m of the mindset of taking it starting with his family. Along slow,” he said, “because I know with his dad, his mom Julie came this is a serious injury for basketto Madison and cooked for him, ball players. I just need to take it including his favorite pot roast. day-by-day and come back when I feel ready and confident.” Trice is under the impression he may begin some pool work“I’M COMING ALONG REALLY outs (underwater tread mill) this WELL AND I FEEL LIKE I’M week. He’s hesitant about issuGETTING STRONGER AND ing a timeline, but he’s optimistic BETTER. BUT GOING FROM about returning to practice in PLAYING A LOT TO NOT PLAYING January. AT ALL AND WATCHING Until then, he will have to EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN be content with rooting on his A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.” teammates. “Sitting and watching has His older brother, Travis, been tough,” Trice said. “As a called from Australia where he’s player, you want to be on the playing for the Brisbane Bullets, court.” a professional team in the NaTrice was averaging a teamtional Basketball League. high 31.5 minutes. He’s still the “He has been in my corner as third-leading scorer (9.4 points). well,” D’Mitrik said. “I get a lot of “I’m coming along really well strength from him. He’s a tough and I feel like I’m getting stronguy and I’ve tried to incorporate ger and better,” he said. “But that into my life.” going from playing a lot to not Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, playing at all and watching evwho coached Travis Trice in East erybody else has been a learning Lansing, phoned D’Mitrik and ofexperience.” fered some encouraging words. Not long after Trice’s injury “It was just about sticking with was diagnosed following the it (the rehab),” D’Mitrik said. Temple game, the Badgers lost One of Izzo’s current players, freshman wing Kobe King to a
Kyle Ahrens, is also rehabbing from a foot injury. “Kyle is from Ohio (Versailles) and I grew up playing with him and against him and he texted me,” said Trice, who also heard from former Ohio State assistant Greg Paulus, now at Louisville. “I’ve known him (Paulus) for awhile,” he said. In addition, the Buckeyes firstyear head coach Chris Holtmann called Trice. Holtmann, who replaced Thad Matta, is a family friend who had coached at Butler where Travis Sr. played two years. “It made me feel really good,” D’Mitrik Trice said, “to see other coaches in the Big Ten take time out of their day to call me and say, ‘We’re thinking of you.’” Meanwhile, Trice has been thinking of only one thing: how to put his time to good use until he can be a contributing member in games again. “It has been good for me to sit back as a spectator,” he said, “and see how things are developing on the floor and then talk to the guys when they’re on the sidelines and tell them what I’m seeing.” Trice has been watching NBA videos, too, most notably Houston’s Chris Paul. “There may be some things that I see,” he said, “that might elevate my game when I come back.” There is one area where he’s hoping to impact the team. “I think I can play a bigger, more vocal leadership role, on and off the court,” said Trice who confessed with a sigh, “It’s so hard to watch.” ▪
13
FORWARD Be a difference-maker during the University of Wisconsin’s Annual Campaign — it’s what Badgers do. AllWaysForward.org
1
BY THE NUMBERS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ▶ Courtney Fredrickson has scored in double figures in six straight games and 10 total this season. The sophomore has led the Badgers in scoring in three times, including against No. 13 Maryland and No. 22 Michigan last week.
6
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
11.9
◀ MEN’S BASKETBALL Brad Davison leads all Big Ten freshmen in scoring, averaging 11.9 points per game. The guard is the Badgers’ second-leading scorer behind Ethan Happ, who’s averaging 16.7 points.
DAVID STLUKA
▼ WOMEN’S HOCKEY During UW’s 22-game home unbeaten streak, which dates to Dec. 4, 2016, the Badgers have outscored their opponents 108-14. That’s good for a +94 goal differential during the run.
DAVID STLUKA
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
▲ WRESTLING Wisconsin has been quietly climbing the national rankings this season and now sits at No. 16 in the country thanks to a hard-fought 4-0 dual record heading into a run of three straight Big Ten matches on the road.
CAL LARSEN
16
+94
15
WHAT TO WATCH
WELCOME BACK
WOMEN’S HOCKEY VS. MINNESOTA STATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 ▪ 2PM LA BAHN ARENA ▪ BTN2GO
DAVID STLUKA
Wisconsin opens 2018 with a two-game home series vs. Minnesota State on Saturday and Sunday. Both sold-out games will be streamed live on BTN2Go, with Saturday’s matchup at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s game at 1 p.m.
DROP THE PUCK
MEN’S HOCKEY VS. MICHIGAN STATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 ▪ 7PM KOHL CENTER ▪ FOX SPORTS WISCONSIN
GREG ANDERSON
Wisconsin returns home to the Kohl Center for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday against Michigan State. Friday’s game will be streamed online at 7 p.m. on BTN Plus and Saturday’s will be broadcast on FOX Sports Wisconsin at 7 p.m.
buy tickets
CAGE THE LIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. PENN STATE SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 ▪ 1PM KOHL CENTER ▪ BTN Playing at home for the third time in the last four games, Wisconsin tips off against Penn State on Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center. The Badgers hit the court against the Nittany Lions live on Big Ten Network at 1 p.m.
buy tickets WATCH WISCONSIN BADGERS LIVE ACROSS FLOSPORTS NETWORK
more info
17
WHAT TO WATCH WEDNESDAY 1/10
THURSDAY 1/11
FRIDAY 1/12 MEN’S HOCKEY vs. Michigan State Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Buy tickets »
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 7:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus
WRESTLING at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 7:00 p.m.
SATURDAY 1/13 MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD at The Dual Minneapolis Noon WOMEN’S HOCKEY vs. Minnesota State Madison, Wis. 2:00 p.m. Watch: BTN2Go SOLD OUT MEN’S HOCKEY vs. Michigan State Madison, Wis. 7:00 p.m. Watch: Fox Sports Wis. Buy tickets »
SUNDAY 1/14 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Penn State Madison, Wis. 1:00 p.m. Watch: BTN Buy tickets »
MONDAY 1/15
TUESDAY 1/16
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at USC Los Angeles Noon
MEN’S BASKETBALL at #5 Purdue West Lafayette, Ind. 6:00 p.m. Watch: ESPN
WEDNESDAY 1/17
WOMEN’S HOCKEY vs. Minnesota State Madison, Wis. 1:00 p.m. Watch: BTN2Go SOLD OUT
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »
19
BADGERING...
ABBY ROQUE
Abby Roque had a memorable debut season for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team in 2016-17, amassing 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 40 games, being named rookie of the year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and playing in a NCAA title game. The sophomore center has taken on a whole new role in Season Two mainly because two top-scoring upperclassmen, wingers Emily Clark and Annie Pankowski, took the year off to pursue Olympic aspirations. Instead of being a complementary standout, Roque is a go-to force for the Badgers, who take a 21-1 overall record into their WCHA series with Minnesota State-Mankato on Saturday and Sunday at LaBahn Arena. Instead of a being a follower, she’s regarded as a leader for the top-ranked club in the nation. After a recent practice, Roque talked about her new role, the teammate she envies most and which current UW student-athlete she’d pay to watch play. BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER
What’s the best part about practice? “Showdown on Thursdays. That’s our penalty shot game. The winner gets to pick somebody to sing in front of the team at pregame meal on Fridays. That’s always fun.” How’s that worked out for you? “I was picked once my freshman year and I’ve won a couple times.” What did you sing? “‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift.” Is there a current teammate whose hockey skill set you envy? “I’d say (senior defenseman) Maddie Rolfes. She has amazing hands, great vision, great shot, great footwork. There’s a lot that I envy.”
DAVID STLUKA
Do you have a personal goal for this season? “Win a national championship. That’s where we want to be at the end of the season. We have the team to do it.” Is there a current UW student-athlete you’d pay to watch play? “I really like watching (junior forward) Ethan Happ play basketball. He’s really fun to watch.” Click to read more »
21
BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT
badgers give back
For Reese, Wisconsin hockey’s all heart Young cancer survivor spends a special day with Badgers
I
BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER
t was a subtle lesson in priorities and perspective, courtesy of Wisconsin men’s hockey coach Tony Granato. The Badgers were preparing to host Notre Dame in a Big Ten Conference series at the Kohl Center, looking to close out the first half of the regular season on an upbeat note. UW coaches and players were locked in on the task at hand, but they made some compelling allowances for Reese Raven. A 9-year-old from Belleville, Wisconsin, Raven is a former patient at American Family Children’s Hospital whose life was changed by a headache. When the pain became persistent and acute, Janielle Starzer, a trauma nurse, took her son to the emergency room at AFCH. Imaging tests showed that Reese had a brain tumor wrapped around his pituitary gland and optic nerve. During a 14-hour surgery, the tumor and pituitary gland were successfully removed, but Reese was left with permanent visual impairment. Granato said he met Reese and his family last summer and went about creating an unforgettable day for him, coordinating it through the Badgers Give Back program. “I wanted him to be a special guest and I wanted all of us — as coaches and players — to make
sure it was a special day for him,” Granato said. It began shortly after noon on Dec. 9 when Granato met the family and took them on a personal, expansive tour of the Kohl Center, which is home to the UW men’s and women’s basketball and hockey teams. The experience continued later in the day when Reese and his family joined Granato and his staff — associate head coaches Mark Osiecki and Mark Strobel and director of hockey operations Shane Connelly — in the coaches’ lounge for a pregame discussion. Reese was asked for his input on the starting lineup and later moved to the adjacent UW dressing room, where he announced the starters and gave a speech to the team. “Our players were outstanding. Our coaches were outstanding,” Granato said. “All the people in our program were outstanding in making him feel welcome.” The Badgers suffered two frustrating losses, but there’s a bigger picture on display. “That’s what I want us to be as a program,” Granato said of the personal interaction with Reese and his family. “Of course the games are important, but there’s other things that are important. “There are lots of good people in our program. They understand that.” ▪ 23
ICON SPORTSWIRE
25
J
26
ohn Mahoney, by his own admission, didn’t know much about Aleem Ford. In fact … He may not have known that Ford was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Lawrenceville, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb, when he was in the fifth grade. He may not have known that Ford was a pitcher in baseball and a quarterback in football at the youth and middle school levels before giving up both sports to focus on basketball at Archer High. He may not have known that Ford had a continuous growth spurt from 5-foot-10 as a freshman to 6-2 as sophomore to 6-5 as a junior to 6-7 as senior. He may not have known that Ford wasn’t a regular on the AAU circuit and didn’t attract much recruiting traffic beyond interest from Division II programs like Newberry College in South Carolina. Mahoney, the post-graduate coach at IMG Academy, may have not known much at all about Ford other than he was flying with his parents to Bradenton, Florida for an interview/ audition. “I heard we had a 6-8 prospect coming in,” Mahoney recalled. “And, instantly, you think he’s a post player. So, I was prepared to do a post workout and we started to do it. “And then I said, ‘Wait a minute here. Let’s go on the wing.’” Mahoney had been an assistant on John Beilein’s coaching staffs at West Virginia and Michigan and Ford just had the look (and game) of a wing player in that system. “I was shocked to say the least at his talent and skill level,” Mahoney said. “He was a little skinny and needed to put on weight and needed more experience playing against high-level talent. “But he was such a great kid and a fast learner.” IMG was Ford’s ticket to the Big Ten and Wisconsin, a journey that began innocently when his mom, Zoraya, who worked for the airlines,
started up a conversation with an academy rep at the airport. “She’s always talking about Aleem and she got us the interview — it really opened the door for him,” said Steven Ford, who would have been content if his son went to Newberry or the University of South Carolina Upstate. “I’ve always told Aleem, ‘Your degree is more important than sports.’ At that time, I was telling him, ‘Get your degree.’ I was fine with it (Newberry College). But he wasn’t.” Aleem Ford wanted more — more out of himself for starters. “In high school, you’re a lot more skilled and taller than everybody else,” he said. “And my coaches were always on me making sure I was playing hard all the time and competing in practice.”
DARREN LEE DAVID STLUKA
longer kid. And then he had a fantastic senior Ford was younger than most of his classyear.” mates because he had been pushed up a grade. But it did little for his status or profile with His statistics were solid, not spectacular, on a the recruiters. balanced team with a couple of college-bound “I wasn’t really on players. the radar during the “You’ve got to resummer. I didn’t play member Aleem was “I’V E A LWAYS TO L D A L E E M, that much AAU,” Ford barely 17-years-old ‘YOUR D EGR E E I S MO R E I MP O RTA N T rationalized. “And our when he graduated,” T HA N S PORTS .’ AT TH AT TI ME , I WA S high school schedsaid former Archer T ELLI NG H I M, ‘ G E T YO U R D EG R E E .’ ule wasn’t a national basketball coach Tim schedule with a lot of Watkins, who’s still I WA S F IN E W I T H I T ( N E W BE R RY big tournaments.” the athletic director COLLEG E ) . BU T H E WA S N ’ T.” Watkins kept pushat the school. “So, he ing him to schools citing his youth when asked was young. about his college readiness. “He had a decent junior year, but had a ton “I talked to a lot of mid-major coaches,” Watof improvement between his junior and senior kins said, “and told them, ‘You’re looking at this years — as you would expect out of a taller,
“
27
DARREN LEE
28
kid wrong. You need to look at him like he’s a 2016 kid not a ’15 kid because that’s his age (group). “I said, ‘You need to take a chance on him.’” Most of them still passed on Ford. IMG turned out to be the ideal vehicle for Ford at a timely stage of his physical development. “We get a lot of kids that need that gap year (between high school and college),” said Mahoney. “IMG is hard, it’s a grind. If a kid buys into it, and utilizes everything, he’s really going to benefit.” Ford fit that description. He wanted to get better while maturing and growing into his body. “I was lifting or in the gym for the eight or nine months I was there,” he said. “And it was a great experience having a national schedule and being able to see that I can compete with those other guys.” Ford’s roommate was Jonathan Isaac, who
went from IMG to Florida State (for one season) to the NBA. The 6-10 Isaac was a firstround pick (sixth overall) of the Orlando Magic in the 2017 draft. “I was able to practice with Isaac every day and learn from him,” Ford said. “Seeing how he approached the game was a great experience. Now, he’s one of my best friends.” So is UW sophomore D’Mitrik Trice, also an IMG alum. Ford and Trice clicked from the start. “Aleem and Meech (Trice) were glued at the hip,” Steven Ford observed. Among other things, they found that they had the same taste in music (anything but country) and video games (“Call of Duty” though now they’ve gotten hooked on “Fortnite”). “You know how when you meet somebody for the first time you don’t really talk that much,” Ford said. “It was almost like you knew him (Trice) already the way he came up and was very talkative.
ing touch. Had some ball skills. No facial hair. “You just don’t find that common ground so But had this body that you saw could blossom early in a relationship like we did.” and grow into a specimen.” Trice, in turn, felt an immediate comfort level During IMG’s April workouts, Ford got the with Ford and his parents. attention of Wiscon“Similar people to sin, Michigan, Butme and my family,” ler and Richmond — Trice said. “He has be“I SAW T HIS S K I L L E D, LO N G ATH L E TE prompting Mahoney come my best friend.” WIT H A LOT O F P OT E N T I A L . H E WA S to remark, “He went Whereas the colLI K E A BA BY D E E R — N OT R E A L LY from nothing to end lege recruiters were S URE OF HI MS E L F AT TH E MO ME N T. up with that (list).” aware of Trice, they “That program were still in the dark B UT HE HA D A TO N O F P OT E N T I A L A S FA R A S BE I N G A BL E TO S H O OT.” (IMG) was great for on Ford. That includhim because it got ed Wisconsin coach him a lot more focused,” added Steven Ford, Greg Gard who was on the IMG campus to who was proud of his son’s diligence. “I saw a evaluate a point guard, Trice. big change in him. He took everything more “We’re watching D’Mitrik,” said Gard, who seriously.” was accompanied by former assistant Lamont Paris, “but we kept looking at the court behind us and this 6-8 guy (Ford) kept making play after play. “Most of the coaches who were watching D’Mitrik, all of a sudden, found themselves wandering to that other court to try and figure out who he (Ford) was. “It was somewhat happenchance we found him. We did more background work and I sent (assistant coach) Howard Moore down there about 10 days later to make sure our eyes weren’t teasing us.” What did Moore see in Ford? “I saw what those guys saw,” he confirmed. “I saw this skilled, long athlete with a lot of potential. He was like a baby deer — not really sure of himself at the moment. “But he had a ton of potential as far as being able to shoot — he had a good shoot-
“
DAVID STLUKA
29
“
“ H E ’ S G O I N G TO CO N TI N U E TO GROW A N D GA I N CO N FI D E N CE. T H AT ’S W H AT H A P P E N E D H E R E ( I M G). O N C E H E GA I N E D T H AT CO N F I DE N C E T H AT H E CO U L D P L AY, HE TO O K A N OT H E R BI G S T E P. N E X T Y E AR, AN D T H E YE A R A FT E R N E X T, H E ’S GOI NG TO B E PR ET T Y DA MN GOOD.”
DARREN LEE
30
Ford and Trice took their recruiting trip to Madison together. “Once I got up here, seeing the campus, I just fell in love with it and committed,” Ford said. “Having a friend with me is something I couldn’t pass on; a friend along with me on my journey.” Of course, he was talking about Trice, who also committed to the Badgers. Ford and Trice roomed together as freshmen in the dorms and now are sharing an apartment. “We’ve known each other for a couple of years,” Trice noted, “and we feel comfortable living with each other. We’ve always had each other’s back. We mesh perfectly. Like peanut butter and jelly.” While Trice played in 37 games last season, Ford redshirted — a no-brainer. “It kind of happened fast,” Ford said of his adventuresome and ambitious timeline. “From thinking about going to Newberry then going to IMG and ending up at Wisconsin. “I had never really experienced a college game or atmosphere. Being able to see how everything worked, how the older guys handled everything and to watch and learn was great.” As a redshirt, Ford’s work stood out on the scout team. While starting 13 of 18 games this season, he has taken on different responsibilities and a more heavily scrutinized role. “He’s going through the normal freshman learning curve where he’s understanding it’s a lot different than being on the scout team,”
Gard said. “It’s not as free-flowing or as easy. “There’s a lot more accountability, specifically on the defensive end. So, he’s learning. What he needs is more experience and strength. But his potential is immense in terms of what he could be.” Ford is a natural “3” (wing or small forward), but he has been used frequently as a “4” (power forward) where his lack of physicality has been exploited at times. During a recent stretch (Dec. 13 - Jan. 2), he scored nine or more points in five straight games, including a season-high 14 against Western Kentucky. He was 14-of-21 on 3’s during that span. “Shooting has always been a strength,” said Ford, who turned 20 in late December. “But I have to give credit to Ethan (Happ) for the open looks. “They have to double-down on him because he’s such a great player and he has been able to find me in some great spots. For the most part, they’ve been easy shots and I’ve knocked them down.”
That’s not how it played out Tuesday at Nebraska where Ford was just 1-of-7 from the field. It’s part of the process for a first-year player. Opponents are going to try and take away what he does best. “I have to make sure,” Ford said, “I keep improving game by game, practice by practice. I feel like I have been improving as the season has gone on. But I still have a lot of room to improve.” Mahoney expects no less. “There’s no ceiling for him because he’s so big and skilled,” Mahoney ventured. “With added weight and more experience, you’re going to see a different player the next couple of years. “He’s going to continue to grow and gain confidence. That’s what happened here (IMG). Once he gained that confidence that he could play, he took another big step. “Next year, and the year after next, he’s going to be pretty damn good.” That much Mahoney knows for sure about Ford.
DAVID STLUKA DARREN LEE
DARREN LEE
31
INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (9-9, 2-3)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 2
Ohio State
Dec. 4
at Penn State W, 64-63
Dec. 6
at Temple
L, 55-59
Dec. 9
Marquette
L, 63-82
L, 58-83
Dec. 13 W. Kentucky
W, 81-80
Dec. 23 Green Bay
W, 81-60
Dec. 27 Chicago State W, 82-70 Dec. 30 UMass Lowell W, 82-53
THIS WEEK Following a tough road loss at Nebraska, the Badgers (99, 2-3) take a brief break in scheduling this week before resuming play at No. 5 Purdue next Tuesday, Jan. 16. LAST WEEK Wisconsin split a pair of Big Ten contests, earning a 7161 win over Indiana at home last Tuesday, but then fell to Rutgers in a 64-60 final last Friday.
GOOD TO KNOW The Big Ten’s only player leading his team in points, rebounds and assists, Ethan Happ has recorded three straight double-doubles, including a season-high 28 points and 10 rebounds vs. Indiana.
Indiana
Jan. 5
at Rutgers
L, 60-64
Jan. 9
at Nebraska
L, 59-63
W, 71-61
Jan. 16 at #5 Purdue
6 p.m.
Jan. 19 Illinois
8 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Iowa
6 p.m.
Jan. 26 at #4 Michigan St. 7 p.m. Jan. 29 Nebraska
DARREN LEE
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wish Upon a Badger: Parker Dahlen
2018 Jan. 2
8 p.m.
Feb. 1
Northwestern 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 4
at Maryland
Noon
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Wisconsin’s game at Purdue will be televised on ESPN and the radio broadcast can be heard on the Badger Sports Network. Follow @BadgerMBB on Twitter for updates.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Lucas at Large: Let’s go get this done together ▶ 44Ever: 44 reasons we love Frank Kaminsky
33
INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (7-10, 0-4)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 8
at Butler
L, 62-69
Dec. 10 Savannah State W, 82-24 Dec. 14 Milwaukee
L, 64-67
Dec. 28 #23 Iowa
L, 46-56
Dec. 31 at Purdue
L, 35-57
2018 Jan. 4
#22 Michigan L, 57-80
Jan. 7
#13 Maryland L, 44-71
Jan. 11 at Northwestern 7 p.m.
THIS WEEK Wisconsin (7-10, 0-4) heads down I-94 to take on Northwestern (8-10, 1-3) on Thursday at 7 p.m. before returning home to host Penn State on Sunday at 1 p.m. LAST WEEK The Badgers ended a tough stretch where they faced three ranked teams in the span of four games. Wisconsin fell in tough battles against some of the Big Ten’s best, losing 80-57 to No. 22 Michigan on Thursday and 71- 44 to No. 13 Maryland on Sunday. GOOD TO KNOW Sophomore Courtney Fredrickson has been a shining
star since joining the starting lineup. She has scored in double digits in the last six games, including against three ranked foes. NEED TO KNOW UW’s game at Northwestern will be streamed on both BTN Plus and FLOHoops, while the Badgers’ game against Penn State will be on the Big Ten Network. Fans in the Madison area can listen to the game live on 100.9 FM or online using the iHeartRadio app where Jon Arias will have the call. Live statistics links for both games can be found at UWBadgers.com, while live updates will be on Twitter (@BadgerWBB).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Wisconsin falls to No. 13 Maryland
1 p.m.
Jan. 18 at Minnesota
7 p.m.
Jan. 21 Northwestern 4:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Indiana
6 p.m.
Jan. 28 at Illinois
3 p.m.
Jan. 31 Minnesota
7 p.m.
Feb. 3
JACK MCLAUGHLIN
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Falls to No.13 Maryland 71-44
Jan. 14 Penn State
#10 Ohio State Noon
Feb. 11 at Nebraska
2 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers fall to No. 22 Michigan 80-57 ▶ Sign up for the annual women’s basketball 101 event
35
INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (10-10-3, 4-6-2) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 25 Mercyhurst
L, 2-3
Nov. 26 Mercyhurst
W, 4-2
Dec. 1
at #7 Minnesota
Dec. 2
at #7 Minnesota W, 3-2
Dec. 8
#4 Notre Dame
L, 2-3
Dec. 9
#4 Notre Dame
L, 2-6
2018 Jan. 5
at #14 Penn State L, 1-5
Jan. 6
at #14 Penn State T, 3-3 OT
LAST WEEK The Badgers fell 5-1 last Friday, then overcame a twogoal deficit in the third period for a 3-3 overtime tie last Saturday at Penn State. The Nittany Lions grabbed an extra point in the Big Ten standings with a 1-0 shootout win.
GOOD TO KNOW Freshman forward Tarek Baker scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season last Friday. He’s one shy of becoming just the fourth Badger since 2007–08 season to reach 10 goals as a freshman.
LOST SHOOTOUT 0-1
Jan. 12
Michigan State
7 p.m.
Jan. 13
Michigan State
7 p.m.
Jan. 19
at #1 Notre Dame 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 21
vs. #1 Notre Dame 2 p.m.
Chicago
Jan. 26
#13 Penn State
8 p.m.
Jan. 27
#13 Penn State
7 p.m.
Feb. 2
at Michigan
6:30 p.m.
Feb. 3
at Michigan
6:30 p.m.
GREG ANDERSON
THIS WEEK Wisconsin (10-10-3, 4-6-2-0 Big Ten) plays host to Michigan State (8-13-1, 2-9-1-1 Big Ten) on Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
L, 4-5
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game streams at BTN Plus, while Saturday’s game will be shown on Fox Sports Wisconsin and online at BTN2Go.com and the BTN2Go app for cable and satellite subscribers. Both games air on 1310 WIBA and the Badger Radio Network.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers’ opportunity still possible, but time of the essence
FOLLOW US:
▶ Frederic’s four-goal performance helps USA to bronze ▶ Kunin, Besse named to AHL, ECHL All-Star teams
37
INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (21-1-0, 12-0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 10 at #7 Cornell
W, 3-1
Nov. 11 at #7 Cornell
W, 2-1
Nov. 24 vs. Northeastern L, 2-3
Washington, D.C.
Nov. 24 vs. Boston University W, 4-2
LAST TIME OUT Wisconsin earned a road sweep at St. Cloud State on Dec. 8-9. Kristen Campbell picked up two shutouts during the sweep while Sophia Shaver and Mikaela Gardner each recorded three points.
GOOD TO KNOW UW’s 12-0-0-0 start in in WCHA play is tied for the best start in program history as only the 2015-16 team started conference play with a 12-0-0-0 record. NEED TO KNOW Fans can listen to Saturday’s game on 100.9 FM as Reid Magnum has the call from LaBahn Arena, while fans can watch both games on BTN Plus and FloHockey. In addition, fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerWHockey).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Four Badgers named to U.S. Olympic roster
Washington, D.C.
Dec. 1
Minnesota Duluth W, 5-1
Dec. 2
Minnesota Duluth W, 3-1
Dec. 8
at St. Cloud State W, 1-0
Dec. 9
at St. Cloud State W, 3-0
2018 Jan. 13
Minnesota State 2 p.m.
Jan. 14
Minnesota State 1 p.m.
Jan. 19
at Bemidji State
7 p.m.
Jan. 20
at Bemidji State
3 p.m.
Jan. 27
St. Cloud State
2 p.m.
Jan. 28
St. Cloud State
2 p.m.
Feb. 2
at #8 Ohio State 5 p.m.
Feb. 3
at #8 Ohio State 2 p.m.
DAVID STLUKA
THIS WEEK The No. 1 Badgers (21-1-0, 12-0-0-0 WCHA) return from a five-week hiatus to take on Minnesota State (3-18-1, 1-13-0-0 WCHA) in a Saturday-Sunday series at LaBahn Arena. Saturday’s game begins at 2 p.m. while Sunday’s contest begins at 1 p.m. Both games are sold out.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Five Badgers named to Canada’s Olympic roster ▶ Campbell named WCHA Goaltender of the Month
39
INSIDE WRESTLING SCHEDULE (4-0, 1-0)
Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 17 vs. Pittsburgh
W, 26-6
Bakersfield, Calif.
Nov. 17 at CSU Bakersfield W, 22-18 Nov. 19 at Roadrunner Open Bakersfield, Calif. Results » Dec. 1-2 at Cliff Keen Invitational Las Vegas Results » Dec. 7
Maryland
Dec. 9
at UW-Whitewater W, 38-3
Dec. 9
at UNI Open
Cedar Falls, Iowa
W, 32-6 Results »
Dec. 29-30 at Midland Championships ▲ TAP TO WATCH - For the W | Season 1 | Episode 2
THIS WEEK Wisconsin has the week off, but are still practicing hard as the thick of conference dual season approaches. The team will begin the conference stretch Jan. 12 against Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois.
in sixth-ranked Evan Wick (165) and eighth-ranked Ricky Robertson (184). No. 16 Wisconsin is thus far 4-0 as they head into dual season with some of the most difficult teams in the Big Ten and the country.
LAST WEEK The Badgers competed in the challenging Midlands Championships. Andrew Crone and Paul Konrath both placed in the tournament that featured top-ten competitors in each weight class.
NEED TO KNOW In an approaching span of two weeks, the Badgers will be competing in four conference duals, beginning at Northwestern on Jan. 12, a trip to Michigan to face the Wolverines on Jan. 19 and Michigan State on Jan. 21. The action concludes with a home dual against Indiana on Jan. 26.
GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers once again have a pair of top-ten competitors RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
Hoffman Estates, Ill. Results »
2018 Jan. 12 at Northwestern
7 p.m.
Jan. 19 at Michigan
6 p.m.
Jan. 21 at Michigan State 11 a.m. Jan. 26 Indiana
7 p.m.
Feb. 9 Nebraska
7 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Illinois
1 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Two Badgers place as the team finishes out the tournament ▶ Wisconsin Wrestling Team Night Jan. 26
41
All Good
YOUR PUBLIC POWER UTILITY IS A COMMUNITY ASSET YOU CAN RELY ON.
Visit
WhyPublicPower.org to learn more.
What does it mean to be a locally owned, not-for-profit public utility? It means giving back to the community. It means providing clean energy options, because we care about the local environment (after all, we live here too). It means volunteering during the latest food drive. It means supporting the annual high school scholarship fund. It means we’re here when you need us.
Sponsored by these locally owned, not-for-profit Wisconsin utilities:
People you know. Service you trust.
262-644-5265
920-982-8516 www.newlondonwi.org
INSIDE MEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 13
at The Dual
Minneapolis
Noon
Jan. 19-20 at Larry Wieczorek Invite Iowa City, Iowa
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
at Dr. Sander Invitational New York City 9 a.m. at Columbia Challenge New York City 9 a.m.
Feb. 2-3 at Frank Sevigne Husker Invite
Lincoln, Neb.
Feb. 9-10 at Iowa State Classic
Ames, Iowa
Feb. 16
Marquette
All day
Feb. 23-24 at Big Ten Indoor
Championships
Geneva, Ohio
THIS WEEK The Badgers open up their indoor slate with their annual dual meet at Minnesota on Saturday. Events at the University Fieldhouse are slated to begin at 12 p.m. LAST YEAR Senior Morgan McDonald enjoyed a banner year for UW during the 2017 indoor season, winning a pair of conference titles en route to winning Big Ten Track Athlete of the Championships. In addition, fellow senior Riley Budde
earned first-team All-America honors in the weight throw. GOOD TO KNOW UW returns four athletes that claimed titles at last year’s dual with Minnesota, including Riley Budde, Olin Hacker, Josh McDonald and Morgan McDonald.
College Station, Texas
DAVID STLUKA
Mar. 9-10 at NCAA Indoor Championships OUTDOOR Mar. 31 at UC San Diego Invite San Diego, Calif. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Live results will be available on UWBadgers.com while fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers to welcome 10 to squad for 2018-19
FOLLOW US:
▶ Wisconsin announces 2018 track and field schedule ▶ Golden Shoe Awards: Trackie of the Year – Mohammed Ahmed
43
We don’t like the cold. We love the cold.
WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN, WE’RE HAVING FUN.
VIEW the SNOW CONDITIONS Report At
INSIDE WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 13
at The Dual
Minneapolis
Noon
Jan. 19-20 at Larry Wieczorek Invite Iowa City, Iowa
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
at Dr. Sander Invitational New York City 9 a.m. at Columbia Challenge New York City 9 a.m.
Feb. 2-3 at Frank Sevigne Husker Invite
Lincoln, Neb.
Feb. 9-10 at Iowa State Classic
Ames, Iowa
Feb. 16
Marquette
All day
Feb. 23-24 at Big Ten Indoor
Championships
Geneva, Ohio
Mar. 9-10 at NCAA Indoor Championships
THIS WEEK Wisconsin opens its 2018 indoor schedule with a trip to Minnesota on Saturday for The Dual. Events at the University Fieldhouse are slated to begin at 12 p.m. LAST YEAR A trio of Badgers shined in field events as Taylor Amann broke the Badgers’ school record in the indoor pole vault en route to winning the Big Ten title, Georgia Ellenwood won the Big Ten crown in the pentathlon before earning first-team All-America honors
while Banke Oginni collected second-team All-America accolades in the weight throw. GOOD TO KNOW Five Badgers that claimed titles at last year’s dual meet return for Wisconsin, including Ebony McClendon, who won both the 60 and 200 meters at last year’s meet.
DAVID STLUKA
College Station, Texas
OUTDOOR Mar. 31 at UC San Diego Invite San Diego, Calif. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Live results will be available on UWBadgers.com while fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers to welcome 10 to squad for 2018-19 season
FOLLOW US:
▶ Wisconsin announces 2018 track and field schedule ▶ Triathlon Champ Gwen Jorgensen Going for Gold
45
INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE
Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 3-4
vs. Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State Minneapolis, Minn. Results »
Nov. 9-11 at Minnesota Diving Invitational
Minneapolis, Minn.
Nov. 10
at Green Bay
Nov. 11
at Northwestern Results »
Results »
Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at
2018 Jan. 15
Texas Invitational Austin, Texas Results »
at USC
2 p.m.
Jan. 27-28 at Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational
South Bend, Ind.
Feb. 21-24 at Big Ten Championships
THIS WEEK Wisconsin is in the midst of its annual winter training trip to Hawaii, a 10-day stay in Honolulu aimed at getting the Badgers set for the stretch run into championship season in February and March. LAST WEEK The Badgers have been idle since wrapping up the Texas Invitational on Dec. 2, a competition headlined by sophomore Beata Nelson’s three individual wins and five NCAA championships qualifying marks.
GOOD TO KNOW Entering the new calendar year, Nelson ranks in the nation’s top 10 in three individual events and as part of UW’s entry in the 800 free relay. Her time of 50.79 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke — a Big Ten record — ranks No. 2 nationally this season. She also stands No. 7 nationally in both the 200 back (1:51.21) and 200 IM (1:55.16).
Minneapolis, Minn.
Mar. 5-7
at NCAA Zone D Diving Championships
Minneapolis, Minn.
Mar. 21-24 at NCAA Championships
Minneapolis, Minn.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW The Badgers return to competition Monday, taking on USC in a dual meet on the Trojans’ campus in Los Angeles. The meet begins at 2 p.m. (CT).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers announce talented class of signees for 2018-19
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers finish strong at Texas Invitational ▶ Nelson earns weekly award from CollegeSwimming.com
47
THIS WEEK IN BADGER HISTORY
GREG ANDERSON
CAMP RANDALL 100 SPOTLIGHT:
BRIANNA DECKER
The Camp Randall 100 honors a prestigious group of 100 people who shaped the first century of Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin Athletics revealed a new honoree every day from May 24 through the Badgers’ 2017 opening game vs. Utah State Sept. 1.
BY ANDY BAGGOT UWBadgers.com Insider
B
48
rianna Decker’s freshman season with the Wisconsin women’s hockey team did not go as planned. Two games into her rookie year, she broke her right elbow crashing into an unforgiving net while scoring a goal against North Dakota. The injury caused her to miss nine games. Decker finished second on the team with 15 goals and third with 27 points — a hint of things to come from the future Patty Kazmaier Award winner and U.S. Olympian — but the Badgers endured an uncharacteristically forgettable season. UW lost 11 of its last 17 games, finished 18-15-3 overall and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004.
Wisconsin was 4-8 in one-goal outings and saw its season end at home with consecutive overtime losses to Ohio State in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. The Badgers had personnel issues that were impossible to overlook. Head coach Mark Johnson was in the midst of a one-year sabbatical to oversee Team USA in the 2010 Winter Olympics and two of his best players — wingers Meghan Duggan and Hilary Knight — went with him. That left interim coach Tracey DeKeyser to manage a squad with 12 underclassmen, including nine first-year players. But the season had a definite highlight. Wisconsin played Bemidji State in a WCHA game outdoors as part of the Camp Randall Hockey Classic on Feb. 6. Decker scored two goals as the Badgers claimed a 6-1 decision before a crowd of 8,263.
▪▪▪▪ ey growing up,” Decker said. “You just embrace the Before Brianna Decker skated in Camp Randall cold — cold feet, cold hands — but I think I was just she checked out its extremes. wrapped up in the moment of playing in front of She saw it quiet and empty while running the stafans and enjoying my teammates.” dium steps with her UW teammates during summer Decker said she thought about wearing extra layconditioning sessions. ers of clothes to stay warm, but wound up adding She experienced it deafening and full while only eye black on her cheeks to cut down on the watching the Badgers win six of seven home footglare of the sun. ball games on the way to a 10-3 overall record in “I wanted to get a sweat going really fast,” she 2009. said. Sitting in the student section, watching future Decker’s line that day was dominant. With CaroNFL fixtures like Garrett Graham, Lance Kendricks, lyn Prevost on left wing and Kelly Nash on the right Chris Maragos and J.J. Watt, Decker couldn’t help side, the trio combined for 10 points — four goals, but think about what it six assists — as well as 11 would be like playing inside shots and finished a cumu“PLAYING AN OUTDOOR GAME AT A the historic site. lative plus-11. DIFFERENT PLACE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN “It definitely crossed my “We embraced the moEXCITING,” DECKER SAID, “BUT BEING ABLE mind,” she said. “The footment for sure that day,” TO PLAY AT CAMP RANDALL STADIUM IS ball guys are so fortunate Decker said. “We had so WHAT MAKES IT SUCH A HIGHLIGHT.” to have the fans that they much fun with it. The sun have every Saturday. To was shining. It was a great have that feeling that February was unbelievable.” day to play hockey.” The women’s game was part of a UW doubleReminded that she had a pretty good game staheader. The men’s squad hosted Michigan in the tistically, Decker demurred. nightcap and drew a crowd of 55,031. “I remember losing the game the next day at the The Wisconsin men, featuring 10 future NHL Kohl Center,” she said of a 2-0 setback. players as well as 2010 Hobey Baker Award winner Decker, who grew up in Dousman, Wisconsin, Blake Geoffrion, rallied for a 3-2 victory and went and attended Shattuck St. Mary’s (Minnesota) High on to advance to the NCAA title game before fallSchool, ranks second all-time on the UW career ing to Boston College. scoring list with 244 points (115 goals, 129 assists) The matinee that sunny Saturday in early Februand is one of five Patty Kazmaier winners to play for ary was played in temperatures in the 20s with a the Badgers. wind chill of 10 degrees. To read the rest of the story click here. For the “You knew it was going to be cold, but it kind of complete Camp Randall 100 list, visit CampRanbrings you back to your youth, playing pond hockdall100.com.
GREG ANDERSON
49