INFOCUS
BAHAMA BALLIN’ Caribbean breezes outside and three games of action-packed hoops inside. Advancing to the tournament’s title game, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team finished the Battle 4 Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas with two wins, against Stanford and Oklahoma, before falling to No. 4 Virginia, 53-46. PHOTOS BY BRANDON HARRISON
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THANKS MIKE! After 50 years of leading the UW Marching Band, Wisconsin celebrated Band Director Mike Leckrone on Saturday at Camp Randall with a standing ovation and a commemorative football jersey in honor of his last football game leading the band. Leckrone and the Badger Band’s final halftime performance via Facebook Live is one to watch! MAIN PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA INSET PHOTO BY TOM LYNN
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TAMING THE LIONS M.E. Dodge leads the celebration as the eighthranked Badgers took down No. 7 Penn State, 3-2, in University Park, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. It was only UW’s second-ever win in Happy Valley. PHOTO BY UW VOLLEYBALL
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EASY TWO Freshman Jasmine Hale reaches high to score two points for the Badgers at the Challenge in the Music City. Wisconsin won the tournament with a 2-1 record, its first tournament victory since 2009-10. PHOTO BY UW WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
CONTENTS
NOVEMBER 28, 2018 ▪ VOLUME 9, ISSUE 14
DAVID STLUKA
28 GAME ON A challenging non-conference season has prepared them for this. Now it’s time to ratchet up the intensity further for the Badgers. Every shot, every moment, every play is an opportunity. The Big Ten season is here.
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NOTABLE NUMBERS 14 LUCAS AT LARGE
IN FOCUS
14 LUCAS AT LARGE
TOM LYNN
FEATURES
For the Badgers, the sting of losing the Axe offers valuable lessons and Jonathan Taylor’s numbers continue to impress.
17 BY THE NUMBERS 19 WHAT TO WATCH 23 BADGERING
27 VIRAL VIDEO 37 INSIDE VOLLEYBALL 39 INSIDE BASKETBALL 43 INSIDE HOCKEY 47 INSIDE WRESTLING 48 INSIDE SWIM & DIVE
CHAD MOSLEY
25 BADGERS GIVE BACK
37 LET’S DANCE VOLLEYBALL
Sixth-seeded Wisconsin will play Green Bay in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the UW Field House on Thursday. 11
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LUCAS AT LARGE
BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM
Taylor’s numbers continue to impress
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yards. Ron Dayne (3,566) and ong before the University Herschel Walker (3,507) are the of Minnesota reintroduced only other FBS backs to go over itself to a long-lost prize 3,500 in their first two seasons. from the Border Battle rivalry, Taylor is not only the nation’s Darrell Thompson, the Gophers’ leading rusher — with 280 carall-time leading rusher, sat in ries for 1,989 yards — but he has a radio booth at Camp Randall rushed for 766 more yards than Stadium and spoke glowingly of anybody else in the Big Ten. In Wisconsin’s latest running back four November games, Taylor treasure, Jonathan Taylor. has produced 208, 185, 321 and On a day in which the Axe 120 yards; a stretch that has not changed hands for the first time gone unnoticed by Thompson. in 15 seasons, Taylor became only the fourth player in college football history to rush for at “HE (TAYLOR) HAS least 1,900 yards in back-toTREMENDOUS BALANCE, back seasons joining Iowa State’s HE HAS PATIENCE AND HE’S Troy Davis, TCU’s LaDainian STRONG,” SAID THOMPSON. Tomlinson and Memphis’ DeAn“HE ALSO HAS HIGH END SPEED, gelo Williams. WHICH IS NOT UNDERRATED; Thompson, 51, a radio analyst AND A FINISHING GEAR, TOO, for the Gophers, knows what WHICH IS KIND OF A RARE goes into such tailback producCOMBINATION.” tivity and consistency. During his four-year Minnesota career (1986-89), he rushed for 4,654 “I know how hard it is this late yards and 40 touchdowns, inin the season to average what cluding consecutive 1,000-yard he’s averaging (165.8 through rushing seasons as a freshman 12 games),” Thompson said. “It’s and sophomore. one thing if you’ve got a 170“He (Taylor) has tremendous yard average three games into balance, he has patience and the season. OK, you’ve probably he’s strong,” said Thompson, who played some people who aren’t was a first-round draft choice of that good. the Green Bay Packers in 1990. “But when you’re 10, 11 and “He also has high end speed, 12 games into the season, and which is not underrated; and a you’re still averaging between finishing gear, too, which is kind 165 to 170 a game or more of a rare combination.” — when everyone knows that After collecting 120 hardyou’re going to get the ball from earned yards last Saturday — Monday to Saturday — that’s 6.3 per carry — Taylor has now really friggin’ impressive.” rushed for over 100 yards 21 With the athleticism that times in 26 career games, bringruns in his family, he’s not easing his two-year total to 3,966
ily impressed. Besides his own achievements as a collegian and his five years with the Packers, his wife, Stephanie, was an outstanding volleyball player at Iowa, and each of their four kids have or are now competing at the Division I level. Their oldest daughter, Dominique, was an honorable mention All-American as a senior and a fixture as a middle blocker for the Wisconsin volleyball program while playing for Pete Waite and Kelly Sheffield. Another daughter, Indigo, played volleyball at San Diego State and Virginia Commonwealth. Their oldest son, True, is a redshirt sophomore wide receiver for the Gophers. Their youngest, Race, is a 6-foot-8, 228-pound redshirt freshman basketball player at Indiana. Having helped nurture his own children through the competitive ranks, Thompson has developed a discerning eye for talent. As a result, his perspective on a young athlete is valued. Especially someone like the 19-yearold Taylor, who’s playing his old position. “I haven’t seen tons of him,” Thompson said. “But seeing him come back this year with that target on him and the success that he’s had, is very, very impressive. “It’s not like they don’t have a history of running backs at the University of Wisconsin with Ron Dayne and the others. And he’s in the category with Melvin Gordon and all those great backs.” Thompson elaborated on
Although the Badgers are headed to a bowl game, it’s not what anybody wanted to hear right away. “You can say that to them (the seniors), but this was their last game at Camp Randall,” Taylor said. “Going out with a loss here in your last game hits hard. You can feel it in this locker room.” As he was speaking, D’Cota Dixon, a fifth-year senior, was working the room offering positive words of encouragement and hugs to his teammates. “That’s why he’s one of the best leaders,” Taylor pointed out. “Despite what happened, he’s still trying to rally the guys together. That’s who he is.” TOM LYNN
Taylor’s balance, one of his more defining characteristics. “He doesn’t get knocked off his feet,” he said. “He’s able to bend his knees and regain his balance when most people would get knocked down. He needs to be gang-tackled. He’s physical at the point of attack.” In ’90, the Packers drafted linebacker Tony Bennett just ahead of Thompson with the 18th pick. Drafting one slot ahead of them, the Dallas Cowboys selected Emmitt Smith at No. 17. “He (Taylor),” Thompson said, “has got an Emmitt Smith slippery quality and balance to him. That’s high praise.” ▪▪▪▪ The silence was deafening in the losing locker room. Cliché but universally true. There was no music blaring on the loudspeakers. There was no hooting and hollering — only subdued conversations barely above a whisper from one locker stall to the next. There was no Axe in the trophy case. “It’s tough, especially because I’m not a senior and you don’t truly understand how it feels,” Taylor said of Saturday’s loss to Minnesota. “There’s still a bad taste in your mouth. And you can see it on the seniors’ faces. And you never want guys — that you look up to — to look like that. “One of the things that the younger guys can do is look at their faces. “Feel the sting they have,” he implored. “And use it to make sure it doesn’t happen next year.”
But the fate of this 7-5 team in the bowl can’t be left solely to the graduating players, he suggested. “Especially coming off a loss like this,” Taylor said, “it will take a lot of the younger guys stepping up and lifting the seniors and boosting the morale.” Taylor was hoping to do that with one of his patented long runs against the Gophers. He had a 15-yard run on his fifth carry of the game. But none longer in the first half. He had a 13-yard run on the first series of the second half and a 20-yarder, his longest run of the day, on the following possession. He felt that was the play — potentially — that could have altered the momentum. But as he was setting up a downfield block by Danny Davis, he lost his footing. “The mind was going faster than the body,” he said. “You have to make sure to finish plays like that because they can change a game.” Despite putting up historic tailback numbers, Taylor was asked what he has learned, particularly after Saturday’s frustrating setback. In the hushed locker room, he eyed Dixon again and circled back to the seniors. “You see what each of them brings to the table — you see their leadership and skill sets,” he said. “It kind of showed me, ‘This is what you play for … you play for the seniors.’ That hit me today.” Exiting the locker room, he couldn’t ignore the empty trophy case. Nobody could. Nobody should. ▪
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A city that entertains. Frank Lloyd Wright designed this building to be different. Its views, its curves, its location. Every feature was chosen with one purpose: to inspire. It’s a space that encourages team building by day, in a location that fosters team bonding by night. Visit MononaTerrace.com.
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BY THE NUMBERS
DAVID STLUKA
13.0
◀ WRESTLING Wisconsin is 6-0 in dual meets so far this season, all against Division I opponents, and marks the longest winning streak to start the season since the Badgers won seven straight in 2010-11.
DAVID STLUKA
MEN’S BASKETBALL ▶ Ethan Happ leads the NCAA in double-doubles this year as the Preseason All-American has collected 10+ points and 10+ rebounds in each of UW’s seven games this year.
◀ WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Thanks to averaging 13.0 points and 9.3 rebounds per game over the last four contests, the Big Ten named freshman Imani Lewis as its conference Freshman of the Week. The honor marks the first time in six years (2012) that the Badgers picked up the accolade.
STACY SCHIESL
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JACK MCLAUGHLIN
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WOMEN’S HOCKEY ▶ Annie Pankowski notched her seventh career shorthanded goal, fourth-most in school history, in UW’s 3-2 overtime victory on Friday night against Harvard. She is one shorthanded goal behind the school record of eight shared by Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker and Blayre Turnbull.
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We didn’t invent the term “gemutlicHKeit” but we did perfect it. Welcome to a state of gemutlichkeit.
WHAT TO WATCH
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. DUKE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 ▪ 8PM KOHL CENTER ▪ BTN
GREG ANDERSON
Wisconsin returns home to face Duke for the B1G/ACC Challenge at the Kohl Center on Wednesday. Watch the cross-conference matchup at 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
buy tickets
DAVID STLUKA
B1G START
MEN’S BASKETBALL AT IOWA FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 ▪ 7PM IOWA CITY, IOWA ▪ BTN No. 22 Wisconsin opens Big Ten play with a road contest at No. 14 Iowa on Friday. Catch the primetime matchup at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
KOHL SWEET KOHL
MEN’S HOCKEY VS. PENN STATE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 ▪ 7PM KOHL CENTER ▪ FOX SPORTS WISCONSIN Wisconsin skates back to home ice this Friday and Saturday against No. 6 Penn State at the Kohl Center. Watch both games at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports Wisconsin. TOM LYNN
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WHAT TO WATCH WEDNESDAY 11/28
THURSDAY 11/29
FRIDAY 11/30
SATURDAY 12/1
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at Texas Invitational Austin, Texas 6 p.m.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at Texas Invitational Austin, Texas 10 a.m./6 p.m.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at Texas Invitational Austin, Texas 10 a.m./6 p.m.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at Texas Invitational Austin, Texas 10 a.m./6 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Duke Madison, Wis. 8 p.m. Watch: BTN Buy tickets »
VOLLEYBALL NCAA Tournament First Round vs. Green Bay Madison, Wis. 7:30 p.m. Buy tickets »
MEN’S BASKETBALL at #14 Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 7 p.m. Watch: BTN
WOMEN’S HOCKEY vs. Syracuse Madison, Wis. 2 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Buy tickets »
MEN’S HOCKEY vs. #6 Penn State Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Watch: Fox Sports Wis. Buy tickets »
MEN’S HOCKEY vs. #6 Penn State Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Watch: Fox Sports Wis. Buy tickets »
View more 11/30 events »
SUNDAY 12/2
MONDAY 12/3
WOMEN’S HOCKEY vs. Syracuse Madison, Wis. 12 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Buy tickets »
MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Rutgers Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Watch: BTN Buy tickets »
TUESDAY 12/4
WEDNESDAY 12/5
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Marshall Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Buy tickets »
WRESTLING at SIUE Tournament Edwardsville, Ill. All day
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »
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BADGERING...
MEGAN DOTY JUNIOR ▪ FLY / FREE ▪ HARTLAND, WIS.
When did your swimming career start? “I started swimming when I was just 4 years old. I grew up in Missouri and was on my neighborhood swim team. That was a lot of fun for everyone, especially during the summertime.”
What made you want to come to UW? “I wanted a school that was strong academically. So I toured Madison on a recruiting visit and fell in love with the campus and team atmosphere. After that, I knew this community was something I really wanted to be a part of.”
What’s your favorite event? “My favorite event is the 200-yard IM (individual medley). I like being able to switch strokes every 50 yards.”
What are your goals for the season? “This season I really want to improve my weaker strokes and hopefully make NCAAs.”
DAVID STLUKA
What does being a Badger mean to you? “Being a Badger means being part of an amazing community that goes beyond just the swim team.”
What do you like to do outside the pool? “I enjoy going to other sporting events and supporting my fellow Badgers!” ▪ 23
YEARS S THE DIF
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BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT
badgers give back
Honoring our Veterans all year round Badgers offer more than Thank Yous BY BADGERS GIVE BACK STAFF
B
uilding connections and honoring our local veterans for their service to our country and the sacrifices they’ve made to keep us safe is a fundamental community service effort for Badgers Give Back. Throughout the year, Wisconsin Athletics coordinates events to bring student-athletes and veterans together. “Visiting with veterans is such a rewarding experience to show appreciation for the reason we are all standing here today,” said softball pitcher Haley Hestekin. One of these events took place over the summer when a group of student-athletes joined veterans on the waters of Lake Waubesa for a morning of fishing. The camaraderie that goes hand-in-hand with this pastime offers a therapeutic outlet for veterans, many of whom face symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Spending a day on the lake reels in more than just fish — it nets new friendships. To kick off each football season, student-athletes also spend time honoring our service members at a special Veterans Tailgate, which takes place before the first home game. These
visits are a small way for Badgers to show gratitude to members of our our armed forces. “Veterans are often big Badgers fans and excited to see us, but in reality, they’re the heroes and it’s awesome to be able to hear their stories and experiences,” said volleyball setter Mallory Dixon. Throughout the year, student-athletes show their commitment to supporting our military service men and women by going room to room visiting with veterans at the William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital. A volunteer at the VA Hospital served in the U.S. Army and added that he is always taken aback at how open the veterans become with student-athletes. Senior golfer Brett Robinson said, “The opportunity to visit the hospital, listen to their stories and learn about each veteran’s life is something I will always remember.” Through the telling of these stories, visits become so much more than just a thank you. It is because of the brave that we are able to call our home, free. On Nov. 11 — Veterans Day — and every day, the Badgers are forever grateful. ▪
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VIRAL VIDEO
FORMER BADGERS THANK MIKE LECKRONE UP NEXT:
UNFILTERED: PLAYING FOR COACH JOHNSON
DRIVEN || SEASON 4 || EPISODE 8
FOLLOW THE BADGERS â–¶ 27
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DAVID STLUKA
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s true freshmen last season, ready or not, Brad Davison and Nate Reuvers got an ample taste of Big Ten basketball. While it wasn’t always easy to digest the results, they felt like they profited from the experience, which should have application when the Badgers open conference play Friday at Iowa. “Every game is a dog fight,” Davison said. “People talk about rivalry games where there’s a different atmosphere. Well, every game is a rivalry game in the Big Ten. Especially when you go on the road. Those are fun, but tough environments.” Ethan Happ hasn’t forgotten his first road game in the Big Ten, a 2016 trip to Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. “The atmosphere was pretty crazy,” he said of a 59-58 loss to the Hoosiers. “It was a different environment and different type of skill sets that I wasn’t really familiar with.” That same season, impressionable freshman
Khalil Iverson got confirmation of how deep the talent pool is in the Big Ten when Maryland’s Melo Trimble hit a 3-point buzzer beater to steal a win at the Kohl Center. Iverson remembers thinking, “Wow, he’s really good.”. “After you’ve gone through it though, it helps knowing what you’re going to be up against,” he added. Davison’s first league game — a home loss to Ohio State last December — was memorable in a similar way. The Buckeyes shot 78 percent in the first half (7-of-8 on 3s). “They came out firing on all cylinders, just gunning,” he said. “I went, ‘Whew, this is a little different. This is the real deal.’” Reuvers also had a “Wow” or “Whew” moment the first time that he was matched against Purdue’s Isaac Haas, a 7-foot-2, 290-pound low-post hulk. “You can’t move him; he’s so big and strong,” he said. “You feel like you can’t do anything about it, even though you’re working your butt off.”
During the off-season, the 6-11 Reuvers In this respect, familiarity is a factor. Famildid something about it. He put on 30 pounds. iarity to systems and personnel in the conferHaas has graduated. But Matt Haarms is back ence. along with Michigan State’s Nick Ward, North“Scouting reports get out,” Davison said. “It’s western’s Dererk Pardon, Maryland’s Bruno a chess match within the game. You try to put Fernando, Penn State’s Mike Watkins and Iopeople in positions where they can be most wa’s Tyler Cook and Luka Garza. successful and take advantage of the other “It’s the physicaliteam’s weaknesses.” ty,” Reuvers said when Happ seconded that asked to differentiate point. “People do a real“DETAILS MATTER A LOT MORE WHEN YOU’RE between most non-conly good job of knowing PLAYING AGAINST A BIG TEN TEAM,” REUVERS ference teams and Big what you want to do or SAID. “SO MANY GAMES WE PLAYED CAME Ten opponents. “You don’t want to do, and DOWN TO JUST A COUPLE OF POSSESSIONS.” have to work a lot hardthey try to take away er for everything. When what you like,” he said. we were playing Houston Baptist, I could eas“I know what teams are going to come in with ily post-up the smaller guy and get to a jump a hard double (team) and what teams are not.” hook and a bucket.” On the plus side, he noted, “It’s nice to know But since there’s more resistance around the habits of what teams have done in the the rim against league competition, it’s crucial past.” that the offensive player has developed some On the other hand, he said, “I wouldn’t say counters. “Details matter a lot more when it favors us any more than it favors any other you’re playing against a Big Ten team,” Reuvers team.” said. “So many games we played came down to UW assistant Howard Moore agreed, “They just a couple of possessions.” know us, we know them.”
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▪▪▪▪ opener in Iowa City to be followed by Monday Wisconsin coach Greg Gard is banking on night’s matchup against Rutgers in Madison. his team’s early schedule paying Big Ten div“And, then, we’re going to take a timeout (from idends. the Big Ten) for a month.” “I feel much more comfortable having gone The next league game is Jan. 3 against Minthrough what we’ve nesota at the Kohl Cengone through as we ter. head into conference “I’m maybe not a fan “EVERYONE IS IN THE SAME BOAT. EVERYTHING IS play,” confided Gard, of how it lays out, but I SPED UP. THIS IS WHERE OUR NON-CONFERENCE listing the challenge of understand why,” Gard SCHEDULE WILL HOPEFULLY HELP US BECAUSE playing Xavier (on the said in reference to the WE’VE BEEN IN SOME FIST FIGHTS.” road), Stanford, OklahoBig Ten expanding from ma, Virginia (in the Ba18 to 20 games. “Evhamas) and North Carolina State (at home) in eryone is in the same boat. Everything is sped the first seven games. up. This is where our non-conference schedule Tuesday, the Badgers overcame a 12-point will hopefully help us because we’ve been in second-half deficit to beat the previously unsome fist fights.” defeated Wolfpack, 79-75, in a Big Ten/ACC That would be the best way to describe Challenge contest. Happ had 19 points and 11 the Nov. 23 championship game at Paradise rebounds, D’Mitrik Trice went 4-of-5 from beIsland. Virginia won the slugfest, 53-46, but yond the 3-point arc, Aleem Ford hit four 3s not before the Badgers put a scare into the and Davison drew five charges. There were eight lead changes, six ties and Wisconsin, No. 8 in the inaugural NET rankings (the NCAA Evaluation Tool that has replaced the RPI), led for only 3:42 in a fiercely contested, wildly entertaining November game at the Kohl Center that could have been staged in February or March. The high energy, full-court pressure that the Badgers faced from NC State was quite a contrast in style and tempo from the “rock fight” that they had with Virginia in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Now, they have a short turnaround to prepare for the Hawkeyes (6-0) who own wins over Oregon, UConn and Pitt. “You probably have to remind the fans that here we are in November and we’re playing a conference game,” Gard said of Friday’s
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TOM LYNN
No. 4 ranked team in college basketball. It was Nobody knows that better than Wisconsin a good reminder of what the conference seaassistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft, who apson will bring. peared in 136 games for the Badgers. At age “It’s a different level of toughness,” Happ 31, he would still qualify today as a poster boy said. “That’s the biggest thing.” for Big Ten toughness. Especially how it’s exTrice was raised on it — the Big Ten — in pressed on every possession at both ends of Huber Heights, Ohio. His dad, Travis Trice, Sr., the floor by the successful programs. who was his prep coach, As far as transferring played two seasons for from non-conference Gene Keady at Purdue to conference games, “OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE THE PHYSICAL ASPECT. before transferring to Krabbenhoft insisted, BUT (PLAYING IN THE BIG TEN IS) DEFINITELY Butler. D’Mitrik’s broth“You can’t change your MORE MENTAL THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING er, Travis Jr., played four mentality. We try to apTO BE,” SAID TRICE. “YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG years and scored over AND TOUGH, BUT IT’S A MENTAL GAME AS WELL.” proach every day, every 1,000 points for Tom game the same. At the Izzo at Michigan State. same time, the elephant “It’s gritty and hardnosed; you really have to in the room is that you’re playing for a Big Ten be tough to play in the Big Ten,” said Trice, a title in November-December. redshirt sophomore. “Obviously, you have the “That’s not something I’m even used to. But physical aspect. But it’s definitely more mental that’s why we prepare the way we do. We prethan I thought it was going to be. You have to pare the same, so the moment is never too big. be strong and tough, but it’s a mental game as But, hey, there’s something on the line here. well.” Especially going on the road. The intensity
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goes up through the roof. And every possession matters even more.” UW assistant coach Dean Oliver can attest to that fact of conference life. “Your focus has to be a lot higher, a lot better and your attention to detail has to be better than your opponents,” said Oliver, a former AllBig Ten guard at Iowa. “There are so many rivalries within the conference and there are no nights off. Every game is so intense.” That transfers to the fan bases, too. “The fans tend to show up full-throttle,” Oliver said with a wry grin knowing how loud it can get in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. “There’s a little more electricity in the building. As a player, you try to treat every game the same, but when the Big Ten starts, there’s a little more pep in your step.” Moore knows that feeling as a former Badger player. “The mindset is different; it’s conference play,” he said. “It’s a little rare to have late November-early December games. At the same
time, there’s a little more urgency, a little more understanding that you can’t let these first two slip away if you want to get off to a good start in the Big Ten.” Urgency is the operative word. “You’re trading two ‘buy’ games for two more conference games,” Gard said of the league’s new format. “The biggest thing I’ve noticed is you have to get the wheels spinning pretty fast here. Usually, we’d be starting a month from now. So, we have to make sure we’re firing on all cylinders.” Whether you’re playing in Iowa City or Madison, or any other Big Ten city, there’s one constant. “There’s a lot more at stake,” said Moore, whose excitement level began to rise at the thought of it all. “You’re playing for something. There’s no such thing as a non-conference championship. But there is a conference championship and we want to make sure that we’re ready for that.”
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INSIDE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE (22-6, 15-5) Home events in bold. All times CT. Sept. 29 at #16 Purdue
W, 3-0
Oct. 3
at #7 Illinois
W, 3-1
Oct. 6
at Iowa
Oct. 12 Northwestern Oct. 13 #7 Illinois ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Highlights vs. Penn State
THIS WEEK For the sixth-straight season and for the 22nd time in program history, Wisconsin earned a bid to the NCAA tournament. The No. 8 Badgers were selected as the No. 6 seed in the 2018 championship bracket and will host first and second rounds in the UW Field House on Thursday and Friday. Wisconsin (22-6) faces Green Bay (20-10) in the first round on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Northern Iowa (24-9) takes on Pepperdine (21-8) in the opening first-round match at 5 p.m. First-round winners serve off on Friday at 7 p.m. for the right to advance to regional play. LAST WEEK The Badgers have won six matches in a row, their longest winning streak of the season, after wrapping up the regular season with two road wins. Wisconsin swept Rutgers before recording only their second win over Penn
State in University Park, and their first since 2002. UW finishes the Big Ten season tied for third in the standings with Nebraska at 15-5, trailing only Big Ten champion Minnesota (19-1) and Illinois (17-3). It is a four-win improvement from 2017, when UW was 11-9. GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers hold a 43-21 (.672) all-time record in the program’s 21 NCAA tournament appearances. UW is 15-5 under Sheffield in the NCAA tournament, advancing to at least the Sweet 16 round of play the last five seasons.
L, 2-3 W, 3-0 L, 1-3
Oct. 19 #5 Nebraska
W, 3-2
Oct. 21 Iowa
W, 3-0
Oct. 26 at #12 Michigan W, 3-2 Oct. 27 at Michigan State W, 3-0 Oct. 31 #3 Minnesota
L, 1-3
Nov. 4
#14 Michigan
L, 1-3
Nov. 9
#12 Purdue
W, 3-2
Nov. 10 Indiana
W, 3-0
Nov. 16 at Ohio State
W, 3-0
Nov. 17 at Maryland
W, 3-0
Nov. 23 at Rutgers
W, 3-0
Nov. 24 at #7 Penn State W, 3-2 NCAA Tournament:
Nov. 29 Green Bay
7:30 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Both matches this weekend can be heard in the Madison area on 100.9 FM or online with the iHeartRadio app. Live updates will also be available on Twitter @BadgerVB. Web streaming information to watch the matches will be announced soon.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers host first and second rounds of NCAA tournament
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers beat Nittany Lions in epic season finale ▶ One for all and all for one: Badgers sweep Rutgers
37
INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (6-1, 0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 2
UW-Oshkosh W, 82-70
Exhibition
Nov. 6
Coppin State W, 85-63
Nov. 13 at Xavier
W, 77-68
Nov. 17 Houston Baptist W, 96-59 at Battle 4 Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas:
Nov. 21 vs. Stanford
W, 62-46
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Davison on Badgers' Gritty Comeback Victory vs. NC State
Nov. 23 vs. #4 Virginia L, 46-53 Nov. 27 NC State
THIS WEEK Wisconsin heads to Iowa City, Iowa on Friday to open Big Ten play against the No. 14 Hawkeyes. The No. 22 Badgers (6-1) have won three of their last four games at Iowa (6-0) and have won their Big Ten road opener in six of the last seven years. UW will then wrap up its two-game Big Ten swing by hosting Rutgers on Monday night at the Kohl Center.
GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in 3-point FG percentage and ranks eighth nationally, shooting 43.8% from long range. Sophomore D’Mitrik Trice is also the Big Ten’s individual 3-point leader, shooting 60.0% (24-40) from downtown. Trice’s 60.0% 3FG pct. is tops in the NCAA among players with more than 20 3-pointers.
LAST WEEK The Badgers erased a 12-point second-half deficit and stormed back for a 79-75 win over NC State Tuesday night as part of the Big Ten/ ACC Challenge. UW shot 52.4% from 3-point range (11-21), getting 19 points and 11 boards from Ethan Happ and 18 points from D’Mitrik Trice in the win.
NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game at Iowa and Monday’s tilt with Rutgers will both tip at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on BTN. Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas will call both games statewide on the Badger Sports Network and worldwide via iHeartRadio. Live stats are available via UWBadgers.com and the Badger Gameday app.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Up to the Challenge: Badgers rally past Wolfpack, 79-75
JOHN FISHER
Nov. 22 vs. Oklahoma W, 78-58
W, 79-75
Nov. 30 at #14 Iowa
7 p.m.
Dec. 3
Rutgers
7 p.m.
Dec. 8
at Marquette
4 p.m.
Dec. 13 Savannah State
7 p.m.
Dec. 22 Grambling State 11 a.m. Dec. 29 at W. Kentucky 4:30 p.m. Jan. 3
Minnesota
Jan. 6
at Penn State 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 11
#19 Purdue
Jan. 14
at #24 Maryland 7:30 p.m.
8 p.m. 8 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers drop Battle 4 Atlantis title game to No. 4 Virginia ▶ Trice as Nice: Guard leads No. 25 Badgers past Sooners
39
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INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (6-1, 0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 4
UW-Oshkosh W, 79-51
Exhibition
Nov. 8
Winthrop
W, 76-41
Nov. 13 at Milwaukee W, 68-57 Nov. 17 N. Dakota St. W, 64-53 Nov. 19 IUPUI
W, 65-64 OT
at Challenge in the Music City, Nashville, Tenn.:
Nov. 23 vs. Pittsburgh W, 57-42 Nov. 24 at Tennessee St. W, 58-53 Nov. 25 vs. Arkansas ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Battle to Win in Overtime
THIS WEEK Wisconsin returns home to host Duke (3-3) on Wednesday as part of the 12th-annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tip time is 8 p.m. from the Kohl Center and the game airs live on the Big Ten Network. LAST WEEK Despite losing their final game of the tournament on Sunday night, the Badgers were crowned champions of the Challenge in the Music City - Music Row Bracket with a 2-1 record. UW won the tie breaker, giving up the fewest points in the tournament.
GOOD TO KNOW Senior Marsha Howard was named the MVP of the Challenge in the Music City while junior Kendra Van Leeuwen was named to the all-tournament team. Howard averaged 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in the tournament while Van Leeuwen averaged 6.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. NEED TO KNOW The Badgers make their first appearance of the season on the Big Ten Network on Wednesday. The game can also be heard in the Madison area on 100.9 FM or online using the iHeartRadio app. Live updates will also be available on Twitter @BadgerWBB.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ UW wins Challenge in Music City
Nov. 28 Duke
L, 68-69 8 p.m.
Dec. 4
Marshall
7 p.m.
Dec. 8
at Green Bay
1 p.m.
Dec. 12 Chicago State
7 p.m.
Dec. 21 Evansville
7 p.m.
Dec. 28 at #20 Minnesota 8 p.m. Dec. 31 Purdue
2 p.m.
Jan. 3
at Penn State
6 p.m.
Jan. 7
at #14 Iowa
7 p.m.
Jan. 13
Indiana
2 p.m.
Jan. 17
#20 Minnesota
7 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers top TSU in Music City, 58-53 ▶ Fourth-quarter surge downs Pitt, 57-42
41
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SCHEDULE (5-7-2, 1-3-2)
GREG ANDERSON
INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY Home events in bold. All times CT. Oct. 26 Michigan Tech
L, 2-6
Oct. 27 Michigan Tech
W, 6-2
Nov. 2
at #14 N. Dakota L, 0-5
Nov. 3
at #14 N. Dakota L, 2-3 OT
Nov. 9
#16 Minnesota
L, 2-3
Nov. 10 #16 Minnesota W, 3-1 Nov. 16 at #6 Ohio State L, 0-4 Nov. 17 at #6 Ohio State L, 1-3 Nov. 23 at #14 Michigan T, 1-1 OT ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Granato Weekly Presser: Badgers Return Home to Face Penn State
THIS WEEK Wisconsin plays its first home games in three weeks against No. 6 Penn State (10-3-0, 2-2-0-0 B1G) this weekend at the Kohl Center. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. CT starts. LAST WEEK The Badgers skated to a pair of overtime ties at No. 14 Michigan, including 1-1 last Friday and 2-2 last Saturday. On Friday, Michigan grabbed the extra Big Ten point with a win during 3-on-3 overtime, while Saturday’s game saw the Badgers take the extra point with a win in the shootout.
NEED TO KNOW This weekend’s series marks the beginning of an eightgame stint at home for UW. The Badgers will skate their next seven regular-season games, plus an exhibition game, at the Kohl Center, before heading to Minnesota on Jan. 25 for a Friday-Saturday series at Mariucci Arena. Wisconsin will also serve as the home team on Jan. 20 when it takes on Notre Dame at the United Center in Chicago.
Nov. 24 at #14 Michigan T, 2-2 OT Nov. 30 #6 Penn State
7 p.m.
Dec. 1
#6 Penn State
7 p.m.
Dec. 7
Michigan State
7 p.m.
Dec. 8
Michigan State
7 p.m.
Jan. 4
#7 Denver
7 p.m.
Jan. 5
#7 Denver
7 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
GOOD TO KNOW Both games will air on Fox Sports Wisconsin and BTN2Go and on the radio on 1310 WIBA. Both will air across the Badger Sports Network and stream at Badgersportsnetwork. com. The games are also available on the iHeartRadio app.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ UW skates to 2-2 draw, shootout victory vs. Wolverines
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers settle for tie in series opener at No. 14 Michigan ▶ Wisconsin, Notre Dame to return to United Center
43
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MORE THAN
We have trained over half of the veterinarians in the state and serve as a resource and referral clinic for all.
Our teaching hospital provides exceptional care for animals throughout the state. Of our 27,000 patient visits last year, 80% were from Wisconsin.
Our scientists conduct 75% of the infectious disease research at UW-Madison, including work to prevent pandemic influenza, .
AnimalsNeedHeroesToo.com
Our livestock experts launched The Dairyland Initiative, a program that works directly with farms to optimize cow comfort, health, and production.
SCHEDULE (15-1-0, 7-1-0)
DAVID STLUKA
INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY Home events in bold. All times CT. Oct. 13 #4 Minn. Duluth W, 4-2 Oct. 14 #4 Minn. Duluth W, 3-1
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Wins in Overtime Against Harvard to Win Weekend Series
THIS WEEK The top-ranked Badgers end their six-game homestand with a series against Syracuse (4-10-1, 4-3-0-0 CHA) at LaBahn Arena. The Badgers and Orange open their series on Saturday at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the series at noon on Sunday. LAST WEEK Senior Annie Pankowski scored two game-winning overtime goals in the Badgers’ sweep of Harvard. On Friday, Pankowski scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to give UW a 3-2 win. Pankowski was at it again on Saturday, scoring a power-play goal with 23.7 seconds left in OT to give UW
Oct. 19 Princeton
W, 4-3
Oct. 21 Princeton
W, 3-0
Oct. 27 #3 Minnesota
L, 0-1
Oct. 28 #3 Minnesota
W, 4-1
Nov. 2
at Minnesota St. W, 2-1
Nov. 3
at Minnesota St. W, 2-0
Nov. 16 Bemidji State
W, 5-0
Nov. 17 Bemidji State
W, 3-0
Nov. 23 Harvard
W, 3-2 OT
Nov. 24 Harvard
W, 2-1 OT
a 2-1 win. The Laguna Hills, California, native became the first Badger in program history to score overtime goals in consecutive games.
Dec. 1
Syracuse
Dec. 2
Syracuse Noon
Dec. 7
at St. Cloud State 3 p.m.
Dec. 8
at St. Cloud State 2 p.m.
Jan. 11
at #6 Ohio State 5 p.m.
GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers have won their last seven straight, limiting teams to just five goals over that period. In those seven victories, junior Kristen Campbell has earned shutouts in three of them.
Jan. 12
at #6 Ohio State 2 p.m.
Jan. 18
at #2 Minnesota 7 p.m.
Jan. 19
at #2 Minnesota 4 p.m.
Jan. 25
St. Cloud State
7 p.m.
Jan. 26
St. Cloud State
6 p.m.
NEED TO KNOW Tickets are still available for both games this weekend on UWBadgers.com. Fans can watch the series on BTN Plus ($) and FloHockey ($) and can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerWHockey).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Twice Is Nice: Pankowski leads Badgers to 2-1 OT triumph
2 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ No. 1 Badgers win overtime thriller, 3-2 ▶ Drake’s Take: Thankful
45
INSIDE WRESTLING SCHEDULE (6-0, 1-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 1
Buffalo
W, 25-12
Nov. 3
at Cyclone Open
Ames, Iowa
Nov. 9
at Kent State W, 37-13
vs. CSU-Bakersfield W,
Kent, Ohio
Results »
28-12
Nov. 16 at #11 Nebraska W, 22-21 Nov. 18 Princeton
W, 22-18
#24 Utah Valley W, 22-17
Dec. 2
at SIUE Tournament
Edwardsville, Ill.
Dec. 9
at #3 Ohio State 3 p.m.
Dec. 29-30 at Midlands Championships
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Jump Around Monday with Coach Chris Bono
THIS WEEK Wisconsin will travel to Edwardsville, Illinois this Sunday, Dec. 2 for the SIUE Tournament, where they will compete against seven other Division I schools. LAST WEEK The Badgers had Thanksgiving weekend off to recharge after a dynamic start to the season with an undefeated record so far in duals.
GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin is 6-0 in dual meets to start the season, and all against Division I opponents. That is the longest win streak to start the season since the Badgers won seven in a row to start the 2010-11 season.
Evanston, Ill.
Jan. 11
at #21 Rutgers
6 p.m.
Jan. 13
at #1 Penn State
Noon
Jan. 18
#13 Northwestern 7 p.m.
Jan. 25
#9 Minnesota
7 p.m.
Feb. 2
at Maryland
Noon
Feb. 10 #20 Illinois
2 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow along with the Badgers at the SIUE Tournament by following @BadgerWrestling on Twitter, and can find live stats on trackwrestling.com.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgering: Evan and Zander Wick
FOLLOW US:
▶ Badgers cap off perfect weekend with doubleheader wins ▶ Wisconsin wrestling signs five to join Badgers
47
INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE Home events in bold. Sept. 28
Green Bay
Results »
Oct. 12
Minnesota
Results »
Nov. 2
at Purdue
Results »
Nov. 2
vs. Tennessee Results »
West Lafayette, Ind.
Nov. 10-11 at Big Ten/ACC Challenge Results »
West Lafayette, Ind.
Nov. 15-17 at Iowa Diving Invitational
Iowa City, Iowa
Nov. 28-Dec. 1 at
LAST WEEK The Badgers enjoyed a brief break from competition after posting six wins at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and three finals appearances by the divers at the Hawkeye Invitational.
GOOD TO KNOW Junior Beata Nelson fastened a flurry of wins at the Big Ten/ ACC Challenge, including a nation’s best time of 50.86 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke.
Jan. 4
at Hawaii
Jan. 19
vs. Northwestern
Iowa City, Iowa
Jan. 19
at Iowa
Feb. 16-17 at Ohio State Winter Invitational
▶ Big Ten sweeps ACC behind six wins by Badgers ▶ Wisconsin posts five wins in West Lafayette ▶ Badgers tab Toomey as volunteer assistant coach
Columbus, Ohio
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Live results from the Texas Invitational will be available via the Meet Mobile app and will be linked on the schedule page at UWBadgers.com. Fans also can follow along on Twitter via @BadgerSwimDive.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
48
Austin, Texas
FOLLOW US:
DEB LINDSEY
THIS WEEK Wisconsin travels to Austin, Texas, for a four-day competition at the annual Texas Invitational. The meet starts on Wednesday and runs through Saturday at the Lee and Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
Texas Invitational