INFOCUS
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Jack Gorniak celebrates teammate Matthew Freytag’s second period power-play goal last Saturday against Denver at the Kohl Center. PHOTO BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO
INFOCUS
AIR GORDON Best known for his work on the ground, Melvin Gordon took flight in last Sunday’s AFC Wild Card game while helping lead his Los Angeles Chargers past the Baltimore Ravens. The Pro Bowl selection scored the Chargers’ lone touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, providing the difference in a 23-17 win. Up next is a Divisional Round matchup with former Wisconsin backfield mate James White and the New England Patriots, this Sunday at 12:05 p.m. on CBS. PHOTO BY USA TODAY SPORTS
INFOCUS
SUNSET SENDOFF A golden glow lit the way for the men’s basketball team in Madison before boarding a plane to Pennsylvania for a recent road trip. The Badgers earned a 71-52 win at Penn State last Sunday, improving to 11-4 and 3-1 in Big Ten play this season. PHOTO BY BRANDON HARRISON
INFOCUS
STAY FOCUSED, BABY! The cute winner of last weekend’s Baby Race at the Kohl Center, sponsored by BMO Harris, was the only one to make it off the starting line. Despite getting distracted by another baby’s toy, this winning little crawler still made it to the finish line. PHOTOS BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO
Championing the UW. Alumni and friends take great pride in giving back, especially during the Annual Campaign. Do your part. MAKE A GIFT TODAY. allwaysforward.org/go/UW
CONTENTS
JANUARY 9, 2019 ▪ VOLUME 9, ISSUE 18
DARREN LEE
26 FRIENDS On the court, they’re serious teammates. Off the court, being roommates and neighbors is helping the Badgers bond and grow stronger connections through fun and friendship.
2
HALL OF FAME 14 LUCAS AT LARGE
IN FOCUS
14 LUCAS AT LARGE
DAVID STLUKA
FEATURES
Former UW and NFL great Joe Thomas ‘blown away’ by College Football Hall of Fame nod, reflects on time as a Badger
17 BY THE NUMBERS 18 WHAT TO WATCH 21 BADGERING 23 BADGERS GIVE BACK
35 INSIDE BASKETBALL 39 INSIDE HOCKEY 43 INSIDE WRESTLING 45 INSIDE TRACK & FIELD 47 INSIDE SWIM & DIVE 49 INSIDE TENNIS
DAVID STLUKA
25 VIRAL VIDEO
41 ICY TRAVEL WOMEN’S HOCKEY
No. 1 Wisconsin opens 2019 with a two-game road series at No. 7 Ohio State this Friday and Saturday. 11
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LUCAS AT LARGE
BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM
Joe Thomas ‘blown away’ by Hall of Fame nod
M
aybe he had thought about the potential of it happening someday. Maybe he had even thought about how he might feel. But there was no knowing for sure until a couple of weeks ago when he received the letter from the College Football Hall of Fame — along with a personalized football bearing his name and HOF class — that he began to understand and appreciate the magnitude of it all. “I was kind of blown away,” said 34-year-old Joe Thomas, Hall of Fame Class of 2019. “There are so many greats over so much time. Being that you only have four years in college to make your mark, you really don’t know how you stack up against those other great players.
“I told my wife,” he said, “and then we told our kids.” Annie Thomas (née Nelson) is a former UW basketball player. They have young children; the oldest is 5. “I don’t think they know what it’s all about,” he said with a chuckle. In time, they will learn from their dad. Like when he first knew that he was good. “I knew I was good compared to high school kids when I was playing on the varsity as a freshman,” said Thomas, a four-year letterwinner in football, basketball and track and field at Brookfield Central High School. “When you make all-conference and stuff like that, you know that you’re a good high school player.
DAVID STLUKA
14
“You look at the Pro Football Hall of Fame and you have a much better idea where you stack up because you can put together a 10-to-11-year career. With college you never know. So, for me, it’s incredibly humbling and a very wonderful surprise to be inducted this quickly. I’m feeling blessed and the family is super excited.” In becoming the first modern era offensive lineman from the University of Wisconsin to be inducted — and only the 11th player overall from the school, joining four head coaches, to be so honored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (founded in 1951) — Thomas couldn’t wait to share the news. But he was instructed to not say anything until the class was announced Jan. 7.
“But there are thousands of good high school players across the country. I never really expected to get a scholarship. And, then, the college coaches started calling. That’s when I realized, ‘Hey, maybe I’m good enough to get a scholarship.’ I never looked too far ahead. I always tried to enjoy the moment and do as well as I could where I was. “I feel like I was always the last to know that I was pretty decent at football.” Growing up in Brookfield (70 miles from Madison), he had his role models. “I did from a football perspective,” said Thomas, who also excelled in the shot put and discus as a prep. “I grew up in the ’90s in Wisconsin, so Brett Favre and Reggie White were guys that I loved. And I loved watching Ron Dayne and the run the Badgers had with Brent Moss and Terrell Fletcher and Darrell Bevell and Joe Panos — some of those great names from Rose Bowl teams in the ’90s. “But it wasn’t until I got to college that I cemented myself as an offensive lineman and then I started looking up to guys like (UW All-Americans) Chris McIntosh and Aaron Gibson.” During those formative years, Thomas admitted to having a certain reverence of others. “When I was a freshman at Wisconsin, I was in awe of guys like (left guard) Dan Buenning and (center) Donovan Raiola — guys who had made all-conference,” he said. “Chris McIntosh would come back and work us out in the summers a little bit.
And I was in awe of things that he did and the career that he had. At every stage, I felt that I was in awe of the guys who had come before me and paved the way for me and all the other great linemen that came through Wisconsin.” As a true frosh, he was often cast as a “jumbo” tight end. He wore No. 82. “Some other schools recruited me as a defensive lineman,” said Thomas, who picked the Badgers over Notre Dame. “Wisconsin was very clear from the beginning that they thought being an offensive tackle was the best long-term position for me.”
“FOR ME, IT’S INCREDIBLY HUMBLING AND A VERY WONDERFUL SURPRISE TO BE INDUCTED THIS QUICKLY. I’M FEELING BLESSED AND THE FAMILY IS SUPER EXCITED.” But what if … What if Thomas had started from Day One on the D-line with the Badgers? “I don’t think I would have had the same success,” he said, “because I’m not fast enough, in my opinion, to be a Hall of Fame defensive end at the college or pro level. But my skill sets translated to offensive tackle. I was fast for an offensive lineman. I probably would have been just average for a defensive lineman.” Temporarily moving Thomas to defense in a Capital One Bowl win over Auburn had consequences. He tore his ACL.
“There were plenty of doubts, especially early on,” Thomas said of how the injury might affect the rest of his career at Wisconsin and beyond. “I had no idea what blowing out your knee meant. I didn’t understand modern medicine and technology. I was kind of living in the ’80s and ’90s where a lot of times players would blow their knees out and it would be the end of their careers. “It really motivated me to rehab as hard as I could and put everything into it knowing that potentially if I didn’t, it might be the end of my career and I might never be the same player again.” So why is Joe Thomas a Hall of Famer? What separated him at left tackle? “Personally, I was really lucky,” he said. “I was blessed with great athleticism — being a guy that played mostly basketball growing up — I had good feet and good genes that give you strength and power even though I’m not a huge guy compared to a lot of offensive linemen. But I had a combination of God-given athleticism, power and strength. And a calmness of mind is important. “As an offensive lineman, you have to always be in control of your mind and body. You’re not measured by the number of great blocks that you have but by the number of bad blocks. You can’t be out there like a wild man playing with your hair on fire. You need that control, balance and stability. My mindset in life is also like that, and that also helped me at the position.” Click to read more »
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BY THE NUMBERS DAVID STLUKA
2
MEN’S BASKETBALL ▶ UW is one of just four major conference teams with three true road wins, joining Michigan State, North Carolina and Oklahoma.
4
DARREN LEE
▼ WOMEN’S HOCKEY The Badgers lead the country in power-play goals with 18 tallies on 61 chances, including Abby Roque whose four power-play strikes leads the WCHA.
◀ WOMEN’S TENNIS Wisconsin enters the spring season with a pair of Badgers ranked in the top-50 of the ITA Singles Rankings. Sara Castellano is ranked No. 31 nationally, while Lexi Keberle checks in at No. 46.
18 31 DAVID STLUKA
▲ MEN’S HOCKEY The Badgers count 31 skaters who played for the U.S. Under-18 Team prior to joining Wisconsin, including current Badgers Sean Dhooghe, Tyler Inamoto, Ty Emberson and K’Andre Miller. The Badgers welcome the U18s to the Kohl Center on Saturday.
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WHAT TO WATCH
B1G WEEK
MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. PURDUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 ▪ 8PM KOHL CENTER ▪ FS1
DAVID STLUKA
Wisconsin returns home to face Purdue on Friday at the Kohl Center at 8 p.m. before hitting the road to play Maryland on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Fans can watch both Big Ten tilts broadcast live on FS1.
buy tickets
DAN SANGER
ICY TRAVEL
WOMEN’S HOCKEY AT OHIO STATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 ▪ 2PM COLUMBUS, OHIO ▪ BTN PLUS No. 1 Wisconsin opens 2019 with a two-game road series at No. 7 Ohio State this Friday and Saturday. Catch both games on BTN Plus ($) with Friday’s WCHA match-up starting at 5 p.m. and Saturday’s at 2 p.m.
STACY SCHIESL
RIDING TIME
WRESTLING AT PENN STATE SUNDAY, JANUARY 13 ▪ NOON UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. ▪ BTN PLUS Wisconsin heads east for duals against Big Ten opponents Rutgers (Friday, 6 p.m.) and Penn State (Sunday, Noon). Watch the Badgers hit the mat against the Nittany Lions streamed live on BTN Plus ($) and FloWrestling ($).
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WHAT TO WATCH WEDNESDAY 1/9
THURSDAY 1/10
FRIDAY 1/11
SATURDAY 1/12
WOMEN’S HOCKEY at #7 Ohio State Columbus, Ohio 5 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus
MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD Badger Icebreaker Madison, Wis. 11 a.m. Event details »
WRESTLING at #19 Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. 6 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Purdue Madison, Wis. 8 p.m. Watch: FS1 Buy tickets »
SUNDAY 1/13 WRESTLING at #1 Penn State University Park, Pa. Noon Watch: BTN Plus
MONDAY 1/14
WOMEN’S HOCKEY at #7 Ohio State Columbus, Ohio 2 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus MEN’S HOCKEY vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (Exhibition) Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Buy tickets »
MEN’S & WOMEN’S TENNIS at Miami Invitational Miami, Fla. All day
View more 1/12 events »
TUESDAY 1/15
WEDNESDAY 1/16
MEN’S BASKETBALL at Maryland College Park, Md. 7:30 p.m. Watch: FS1
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. #25 Indiana Madison, Wis. 2 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Buy tickets » MEN’S & WOMEN’S TENNIS at Miami Invitational Miami, Fla. All day
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »
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BADGERING...
OSGAR O’HOISIN
SENIOR ▪ DUBLIN, IRELAND
DAVID STLUKA
What was it like playing for the Irish national team last February? “It was an amazing experience to represent my country and something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid. I got called up to play doubles against Denmark in front of a couple thousand people. I got to play Frederik Nielsen, who won Wimbledon doubles and is ranked something like 15th in the world for doubles. It was amazing.” Other than playing for Ireland, what do you consider your biggest athletic achievement? “I would say some of the match-clinching wins I’ve had at UW. Last year, I clinched against Cornell, which was a big win. Also making the second round of the NCAAs as a team during my sophomore year was big. I was playing well and that was an amazing experience.” What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned in your four years at Wisconsin? “I think being able to enjoy pressurized moments is something I’ve developed. It can be stressful as a freshman coming in and playing big matches, but I’ve learned to enjoy the opportunity. One day I’m going to look back and hopefully be very proud of having played for Wisconsin.” What’s your favorite thing about playing for head coach Danny Westerman? “I love his passion for the program and how he just loves what he does. He gives 100 percent to his job and does everything within his control to make sure the program is as strong as possible. You can see the fire in his eyes when we’re playing. He used to play for Wisconsin and wants to be out there playing just as much as we do. He always has our backs, which is an important trait.” What are your plans for after college? “Hopefully I’ll finish a great last season and play professionally for a few years. If that’s going well, keep at it, otherwise progress into the business world and use my economics degree. I would enjoy remaining in the States, but I’m open to all opportunities and wherever that takes me.” ▪
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BADGERS GIVE BACK SPOTLIGHT
badgers give back
Hospital stays better with Badger Fridays Badgers bring comfort to patients staying at the children’s hospital BY BADGERS GIVE BACK STAFF
T
he walls inside hospitals are often strained with sadness and sickness. However, at the American Family Children’s Hospital, their focus is to help kids just be kids. Colorfully decorated walls, fun drawings, wheelbarrow carts and mounds of toys in the play room help ease and comfort a child’s stay, and ultimately, aim to make it as cozy as home. Through a rich partnership, Wisconsin Athletics is proud to uplift kids and families going through medical treatment with the tradition dubbed ‘Badger Friday.’ It began years ago with weekly visits from the football team on Fridays before home games at Camp Randall. The opportunity has since grown and now all Badgers student-athletes are invited to go room-to-room spreading smiles and laughter to patients and their families. “My favorite part was seeing the child’s face light up just because you walked in the room,” said softball pitcher Haley Hestekin. Student-athletes greet many children during
their Friday visits, the majority of whom are admitted to the hospital for extended periods of time. Conversations range from joking about video games, learning about favorite movies, talking about what’s being learned in school or sharing about their favorite activities. “You get to make the kids’ days brighter within a matter of minutes,” added football punter Connor Allen. “Being able to have that impact on somebody really shows you that it’s so much more than just a game that we play on Saturdays.” These Friday visits from the Badgers have become a staple at the American Family Children’s Hospital and are something that each family looks forward to. Badger Friday is a small step in lifting spirits and helping kids fight cancer, disease or other ailments. To learn more about Badger Fridays and our partnership with the American Family’s Children hospital, visit UWBadgers.com/BadgersGiveBack. ▪
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VIRAL VIDEO
WISCONSIN HOCKEY || THE SECOND HALF BEGINS UP NEXT:
DEFENSIVE IDENTITY SHINES AT PENN STATE
WOMEN’S HOCKEY: ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
FOLLOW THE BADGERS ▶ 25
DAVID STLUKA
A
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campus high-rise apartment, not far from the Kohl Center, has become a unifying agent for a diverse pool of players who have found common ground as roommates and neighbors. After a good practice or bad — after a satisfying win (NC State) or disappointing loss (Minnesota) — their doors are not only open to each other, but to teammates in neighboring buildings and to the freshmen in the dorms. “I definitely think it has brought the team closer together — more so than last year with myself living on my own in a separate complex and other guys living away from the team,” said Ethan Happ, a fifth-year senior. “It’s nice when you’re done with practice or a game and you walk home with a couple of teammates and everyone is going in the same direction to get something to eat.” Whether it’s Brad Davison preparing stir fry, pasta or his specialty walleye for roomies D’Mitrik Trice and Aleem Ford in their fourth-
floor apartment; or Walt McGrory pan-frying steak and eggs for Nate Reuvers on the seventh floor, the food options are varied, matching the personalities. “I’m a culinary artist,” claimed McGrory, whose prized possessions are non-stick pans. To which Davison countered that McGrory twice set off smoke alarms with his cooking the summer before their freshman year, adding, “He’ll take his favorite foods, mash them together and take a picture of it.” Happ still lives on his own but enjoys being in the same building with his teammates. “I’ll go up to Mike and Trevor’s room a good amount,” he said of his 11th floor visits to Michael Ballard and Trevor Anderson, who share a unit with Kobe King and Owen Hamilton. “I’m kind of close to Meech (Trice), too, so I’ll go up to Meech, Brad and Aleem’s room. And they’ll come down to mine sometimes.” By the sounds of it, the place to be is 11th floor where Ballard, Anderson, Hamilton and
King hold court with a fifth roommate, Colin, One of the attractions to their apartment is a non-basketball playing friend of King’s. “We a putting mat. are definitely the loudest room by far,” said Bal“Most of the time when I walk out in the lard. “Guys just like coming in to basically get main room,” Ballard said, “someone is usually entertainment because we’re always goofing putting.” around in there or arguing about silly things.” Most likely, that would be King. Asked what That was confirmed would be the one thing by McGrory (“I’ll usuthat he would grab if “OUR BETTER TEAMS HAVE ALWAYS HAD GUYS ally find them yelling the fire alarm went off WHO, BY AND LARGE, HAVE ALL BEEN TOGETHER, at each other playing — this was posed only IF NOT ROOMMATES IN THE SAME APARTMENT Madden or Call of Duty as a hypothetical and COMPLEX,” SAID GARD. “THAT OFF-COURT TIME or just arguing about not laying blame on IN TERMS OF LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER something”) and DaviMcGrory’s doorstep — AND WHO THEY ARE IS INVALUABLE.” son (“I’d say they have King responded, “Defisome characters in that nitely my golf clubs. I’d apartment. It’s definitely the most entertainleave my phone. Golf clubs over phone.” ing room because it has very entertaining peoHis clubs are in a front closet. ple.”). McGrory had a different response to the More floor space is conducive to bigger same question. get-togethers. “We have four bedrooms, so we “I would take my pans for cooking,” he said. have the biggest living room; we have three “I wouldn’t want to lose them.” couches,” King said. And he wasn’t just blowing smoke.
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▪▪▪▪ “Our better teams have always had guys who, by and large, have all been together, if not roommates in the same apartment complex,” said Wisconsin coach Greg Gard. “That off-court time in terms of learning about each other and who they are is invaluable. “You look at the older guys who have graduated and moved on and they are in each other’s weddings; they’re always getting together on alumni day. That bond is important.” As a freshman, Davison didn’t always feel that connectiveness and bond. “I was in the dorm with Kobe,” he said, “and all the upperclassmen lived in different apartments, whether it was with a teammate or not. Some guys lived with people on the team. Some lived by themselves all over campus. It was tough for us to ever spend time together as a unit and a group outside of the Kohl Center. But that’s kind of business time. There wasn’t a lot of social time as a whole team.” Davison’s two older sisters played basketball at Northern Iowa.
“They told me how much time they spent with their team outside of basketball,” he said. “I didn’t think we did that a lot and that kind of surprised me. It was something that I talked to Coach Gard about. I thought it would be really cool to get everyone to live together. After practices during the summer or season, or after games, we could all go back to the same spot.” Every apartment is the same in one respect. Dishes will generally pile up. Ballard contended Anderson will go so far as to leave post-it notes on the refrigerator as proof that he has picked up and cleaned his. But it’s usually challenged. “I’m not the cleanest,” King said. “But Trevor is the messiest.” Who’s the tidier roommate between the two Minnesotans — McGrory and Reuvers? “His mom,” McGrory confessed without hesitation. It’s a pretty common refrain. “She’ll be here for every home game and she’ll clean up the apartment. Neither of us has to be too neat. She’ll pick up for us.” Ah, yes, the comforts of home away from home.
▼ TAP TO WATCH - Flight delay? Time for some kickball!
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BRANDON HARRISON
Micah Potter, the Ohio State transfer, has moved into the same apartment building — increasing the number of players who live there to 11. Brevin Pritzl is next door. Living nearby are Charlie Thomas and Khalil Iverson, who are roommates. Besides the upperclassmen, the first-year guys are welcome. “Our freshmen feel a lot more part of it,” Davison said. “Last year, as a freshman, if you were going to hang out with upperclassmen, you’d hang out with a couple of them. But now they can just come here, and they can be with all of us. “On the basketball court, we can be seen as upperclassmen sometimes. “In the apartment, we’re all friends, we’re brothers.” Ballard, a redshirt sophomore, has noticed a difference in the camaraderie. “On a daily basis, I’ll see multiple guys on the team in separate areas,” Trice suggested. “You’d isoaround here whether I happen to be leaving or late yourself and the communication probably I’m coming in,” he said. “The closer a team is, wouldn’t be there as much as it is now.” the better that team is. That’s true in all sports, Although an apartment can be a sanctuary, that’s a universal thing an escape, the players in life. The closer, more do bring “work” home. “THE CLOSER A TEAM IS, THE BETTER THAT cohesive groups out“After every game, TEAM IS. THAT’S TRUE IN ALL SPORTS, THAT’S perform people who are we’ll go back to the A UNIVERSAL THING IN LIFE. THE CLOSER, more individualized.” apartment,” said King, MORE COHESIVE GROUPS OUTPERFORM Trice cited an exam“and a few guys will PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE INDIVIDUALIZED.” ple. After losing backcome up and we’ll just to-back games to Westtalk about how the ern Kentucky and Minnesota, the Badgers got game went and the things that we can get beta win at Penn State on Sunday night. “We might ter at.” not have the same chemistry or that same “We do talk about basketball,” Davison said. bond that we have right now if we were living “But we talk about everything else, too.”
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DARREN LEE
He likes to review the game the next morning “once everyone settles down and reflects on it.” No subjects are off-limits, either. After games. After practices. Day after. Any day of the week. “In our apartment, we’ll talk about anything,” Ballard said. “I’ll be sitting in my room and I’ll hear Kobe and Trevor yelling at each other — not seriously — about something. And, then, two minutes later, they’ll switch the topic and start arguing about something else.” That’s true of all the apartments. “We’re all pretty much an open book,” Davison said.
Is there a correlation between a good teammate and a good roommate? A definition was in order. What constitutes a good teammate? “Someone who’s unselfish, who’s always trying to help other teammates out,” Trice said. “Someone who’s enjoyable to be around and who’s always understanding,” King said. “Someone who’s there for you on and off the court and holds you accountable,” McGrory said. “Someone you don’t consider a teammate first; you consider them a true friend,” Ballard said. “Someone who’s supportive and always encouraging, but also knows the balance,” Davison said. The balance, he elaborated, between support and holding each other accountable. What goes into being a good roommate? “It’s kind of similar to the definition of a good teammate,” Davison said. “Not going into cleanliness or anything like that, it’s someone when you walk in, and they’re smiling, they’re talkative, they’re interactive and social with you. But it’s also someone you can have serious conversations with, whether about basketball, social, life, family. Someone you can connect with on a deeper level as well.” Trice pointed out that, “It’s someone who knows what goes on in the room, stays in the room.” “Mainly,” Ballard offered, “I would say it’s someone you feel comfortable with.” Good teammate? Good roommate? Good record? “There’s definitely a correlation,” Trice said.
▪▪▪▪ hangout. That’s where the whole team went.” “It’s very valuable to have off-court synergy Krabbenhoft roomed with Greg Stiemsma, and togetherness — all those things go a long Tanner Bronson, Jon Leuer, Jason Bohannon, way,” said Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabet al. “The games and the wins and the chambenhoft who appeared in 136 games with 70 pionships are great memories,” Krabbenhoft starts for the Badgers (2006-2009) on teams said. “But when we get together, the things that went 100-36. that come up first are the times spent together “To put a value on it is really hard, but part off the court.” of the experience when A good teammate? you become a Badger A good roommate? A “I SEE THAT (CAMARADERIE) WITH THIS GROUP is the brotherhood and good record? A life-long THIS YEAR, AND IT’S FUN TO SEE … IT’S BIGGER the camaraderie that experience? THAN BASKETBALL … IT’S BIGGER THAN THE you build with your “It correlates, to what WINS AND LOSSES … THESE ARE THE MOMENTS teammates.” extent I don’t know for AND MEMORIES YOU WILL CHERISH FOREVER.” As an undergrad, sure, it’s hard to meaKrabbenhoft lived on sure that,” said Krabcampus with some fellow players in Dayton benhoft. “But it mattered. It mattered that we House. all enjoyed being around each other and that “There were three rooms, 10 guys, two we had a common area to hang. And I see that four-bedroom apartments and one two-bedwith this group this year, and it’s fun to see … room,” he recalled. “For the guys who weren’t it’s bigger than basketball … it’s bigger than the there, it quickly became the spot for breakfast wins and losses … these are the moments and in the morning, after lifts and the postgame memories you will cherish forever.” DARREN LEE
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INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (11-4, 3-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 30 at #14 Iowa Dec. 3
Rutgers
Dec. 8
at Marquette
W, 72-66 W, 69-64 L, 69-74
Dec. 13 Savannah St. W, 101-60 Dec. 22 Grambling St. W, 84-53 Dec. 29 at W. Kentucky L, 76-83
THIS WEEK The Badgers head home to take on Purdue (9-5, 2-1) on Friday before hitting the road on Monday for a matchup at Maryland (12-3, 3-1). Tipoff for Friday’s contest at the Kohl Center is set for 8 p.m. while Monday’s road tilt begins at 7:30 p.m. CT. LAST WEEK After falling to Minnesota at home on Thursday, the Badgers bounced back with a 7152 road win at Penn State on Sunday night. Ethan Happ had 22 points and eight rebounds while Brad Davison and Nate Reuvers chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively.
GOOD TO KNOW UW posted its fourth-consecutive Big Ten road win dating back to last season. The Badgers’ last four conference road games have been wins at Northwestern, at Illinois, at Iowa and at Penn State.
Minnesota
Jan. 6
at Penn State W, 71-52
Jan. 11
Purdue
Jan. 14
at Maryland
Jan. 19
#2 Michigan
Jan. 23
at Illinois
Jan. 26
Northwestern 1:15 p.m.
Jan. 29
at Nebraska
7 p.m.
Feb. 1
Maryland
8 p.m.
L, 52-59 8 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 11 a.m. 8 p.m.
BRANDON HARRISON
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Defensive Identity Shines at Penn State
Jan. 3
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Both games this week can be seen live on FS1 and online via FoxSportsGo. 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)
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▶ For Davison, knowing bigger purpose helps block out ‘noise’ ▶ Back on track: Badgers run away from Penn State
35
INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (10-6, 1-3) Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 4
Marshall
Dec. 8
at Green Bay
W, 67-49 L, 46-55
Dec. 12 Chicago State W, 85-38 Dec. 21 Evansville
W, 96-60
Dec. 28 at #12 Minnesota L, 56-74 Dec. 31 Purdue
LAST WEEK The Badgers opened the Big Ten season with a 1-3 record after losing at No. 17 Iowa, 71-53, on Monday night. Wisconsin opened Big Ten play with four games in 11 days, including three road games. UW also played two ranked teams during that stretch.
GOOD TO KNOW UW’s inside duo of senior Marsha Howard and freshman Imani Lewis have turned in impressive performances in the last two games. Howard led the Badgers at Penn State on Jan. 3 with a team-high 20 points and tied her career best with 15 rebounds, recording her sixth double-double of the season. Lewis scored a career-high 22 points and added 11 rebounds at Iowa on Monday for her fifth career double-double.
Jan. 3
at Penn State
L, 64-71
Jan. 7
at #17 Iowa
L, 53-71
Jan. 13
#25 Indiana
2 p.m.
Jan. 17
#18 Minnesota
7 p.m.
Jan. 20
at Northwestern 3:30 p.m.
Jan. 24
Penn State
7 p.m.
Jan. 27
Nebraska
2 p.m.
Jan. 31
at #9 Maryland
6 p.m.
GREG ANDERSON
THIS WEEK After a tough two-game Big Ten road trip, the Badgers return home for two games against ranked teams. Wisconsin hosts No. 25 Indiana (14-1, 3-0) on Sunday. Tip time is 2 p.m. from the Kohl Center. Wisconsin faces No. 18 Minnesota (12-2, 1-2) for the second time in less than three weeks when the Golden Gophers come to town on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center.
W, 76-69
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Sunday’s game will be streamed live on BTN Plus. The game can also be heard in the Madison area on 100.9 FM or online with the iHeartRadio app. Live updates are available on Twitter @BadgerWBB.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers face tough loss at No. 17 Iowa
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▶ In the Backcourt with Backes ▶ UW falls on the road at Penn State
37
ACCIDENTS | INJURIES
ONE CALL... THAT’S ALL! PROUD PARTNER OF WISCONSIN ATHLETICS
INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (8-9-3, 4-3-3) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 23 at #14 Michigan T, 1-1 OT Nov. 24 at #14 Michigan T, 2-2 OT Nov. 30 #6 Penn State
THIS WEEK Wisconsin plays its second and final exhibition contest of the season when the U.S. Under-18 Team visits the Kohl Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. LAST WEEK The Badgers returned to action from 26 days off of game play and lost last Friday to No. 8 Denver, 6-3, then dropped a 4-3 overtime contest to the Pioneers on Saturday.
NEED TO KNOW The Badgers have four current skaters who played for the U.S. U18s including sophomores Sean Dhooghe Tyler Inamoto and freshmen Ty Emberson and K’Andre Miller. Three Badger signees currently play for Team USA in forwards Cole Caufield, Owen Lindmark and Alex Turcotte.
OT
Dec. 1
#6 Penn State
W, 8-5
Dec. 7
Michigan State
W, 5-3
Dec. 8
Michigan State W, 3-0
Jan. 4
#8 Denver
L, 3-6
Jan. 5
#8 Denver
L, 3-4 OT
Jan. 12
U.S. Under-18 Team 7 p.m.
Exhibition
Jan. 18
#9 Notre Dame
Jan. 20
vs. #9 Notre Dame 6:30 p.m.
United Center, Chicago
Jan. 25
at Minnesota
7 p.m.
Jan. 26
at Minnesota
7 p.m.
Feb. 1
at Michigan St.
6 p.m.
Feb. 2
at Michigan St. 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 8
#4 Ohio State
7 p.m.
Feb. 9
#4 Ohio State
7 p.m.
8 p.m.
GREG ANDERSON
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Hockey || The Second Half Begins
T, 3-3
Feb. 15 at #9 Notre Dame 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at #9 Notre Dame 5 p.m. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
GOOD TO KNOW The game will air on 1310 WIBA, the Badger Radio Network and the iHeartRadio app, while it will stream on BTN Plus ($) via BTN2Go.com.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Pelton-Byce joins Wisconsin men’s hockey ▶ Badgers in the Bigs: NHL Update
39
INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (19-1-0, 9-1-0) Home events in bold. All times CT.
THIS WEEK The top-ranked Badgers open up 2019 with a road series at No. 7 Ohio State (14-6-0, 8-4-0-0 WCHA). Puck drop on Friday is set for 5 p.m. CT while the series wraps up on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. LAST TIME OUT UW ended 2018 on a high note with a sweep of conference rival St. Cloud State. UW easily won the series opener, 8-2, as Presley Norby and Annie Pankowski each had two goals. The series finale was closer as the Badgers defeated the Huskies, 3-1.
GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers enter the weekend on an 11-game winning streak that started on Oct. 28. Wisconsin has outscored its opponents 47-10 and the power play has been spectacular, converting 10 of its 30 chances during the winning streak. Annie Pankowski, the WCHA Forward of the Month, has a team-best 13 points, including 10 goals, during the run despite missing two games due to the Four Nations Cup.
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
Dec. 1
Syracuse
W, 6-1
Dec. 2
Syracuse
W, 9-1
Dec. 7
at St. Cloud State W, 8-2
Dec. 8
at St. Cloud State W, 3-1
Jan. 11
at #7 Ohio State 5 p.m.
Jan. 12
at #7 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.
Feb. 1
at Bemidji State
6 p.m.
Feb. 2
at Bemidji State
3 p.m.
Feb. 9
Minnesota State 2 p.m.
DAVID STLUKA
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Johnson Weekly Presser: Badgers Begin Second Half with Top 10 Battle
Nov. 2
Feb. 10 Minnesota State 2 p.m. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Fans can watch the series this weekend on BTN Plus ($) and FloHockey ($) and can also follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerWHockey).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Pankowski named WCHA Forward of the Month ▶ Pankowski, Shaver, Clark selected in NWHL Draft
41
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INSIDE WRESTLING SCHEDULE (6-1, 1-1) 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. Results »
Dec. 9
at #2 Ohio State L, 13-23
Dec. 29-30 at Midlands Championships
THIS WEEK New Year … New Jersey. The Badgers open 2019 at Rutgers on Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. in Piscataway, New Jersey. LAST TIME OUT In the first Midlands Championships for Wisconsin under head coach Chris Bono, the team placed fourth overall with 97.5 points, the highest finish for the team since they took second in 2010.
GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin had seven wrestlers finish on the podium at Midlands, the most for the Badgers at the prestigious event since the team placed seven in 1975.
Evanston, Ill.
Jan. 11
at #19 Rutgers
6 p.m.
Jan. 13
at #1 Penn State
Noon
Jan. 18
Northwestern
7 p.m.
Jan. 25
#7 Minnesota
7 p.m.
Feb. 2
at Maryland
Noon
Feb. 10 #18 Illinois
2 p.m.
Feb. 17 #4 Iowa
2 p.m.
JULIE SWANSON
▲ TAP TO WATCH - Jump Around Monday with Coach Chris Bono
Results »
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW The match will be streamed live on both BTN Plus ($) and FloWrestling ($) and fans can follow along with updates on Twitter (@BadgerWrestling).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
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▶ Wisconsin has highest Midlands finish since 2010 ▶ Wisconsin in third at Midlands after first day
43
We didn’t invent the term “gemutlicHKeit” but we did perfect it. Welcome to a state of gemutlichkeit.
INSIDE TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE Home events in bold. Jan. 12
Badger Icebreaker
Jan. 18-19 at Larry Wieczorek Invitational
Iowa City, Iowa
Jan. 25-26 at Indiana Relays
LAST YEAR On the men’s side, the Badgers return a pair of Big Ten indoor champions in Olli Hoare and Trent Nytes as Hoare won the 3K and 5K at the conference meet, while Nytes took home the heptathlon title. For the UW women, Banke Oginni returns after making the NCAA championships in both the shot put and weight throw, while
Amy Davis and Alicia Monson both earned second-team All-America honors at last year’s national indoor championships. GOOD TO KNOW Saturday’s meet, which also features DePaul and Milwaukee, is the first of two home meets for UW during the indoor season as the Badgers also host the Red and White Classic on Feb. 15.
Bloomington, Ind.
Feb. 1-2
at Power Five Invitational
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Feb. 2
at Scarlet & White Invitational
Boston
Feb. 8-9
at Husky Invitational
Seattle
Feb. 8-9
at Iowa State Classic
Ames, Iowa
Feb. 9
at Millrose Games
New York
Feb. 15
Red and White Classic
Feb. 16
at Alex Wilson Invitational
South Bend, Ind.
WALT MIDDLETON
THIS WEEK Wisconsin opens the 2019 indoor campaign on Saturday with the Badger Icebreaker at the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center. The meet begins at 11 a.m. with field events while track events start at 12:30 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Admission is free on Saturday and free parking for fans is available in Lot 17 this weekend. Fans can find live results on UWBadgers.com and can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC).
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Track teams honored by USTFCCCA for academic success ▶ McDonald named to Bowerman Preseason Watch List
45
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INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE Home events in bold. Oct. 12
Minnesota
Results »
Nov. 2
at Purdue
Results »
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 ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Official Groundbreaking for "The Nick"
THIS WEEK The Wisconsin swimming and diving team concludes its two-week training trip to Hawaii before returning to Madison to embark on the second half of its season. LAST WEEK The Badgers swept Hawaii last Friday in a dual meet at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex in Honolulu, which also serves as the site of UW’s daily workouts during its annual trip to the island of Oahu. The Wisconsin men scored a 134-109 victory over the Rainbow Warriors, while the No. 20-ranked UW women’s squad ran away with a 146-97 victory in Hawaii’s home pool.
GOOD TO KNOW Junior Beata Nelson enters the second half of the season as the nation’s top-ranked swimmer in the women’s 100-yard backstroke (American-record time of 49.67), the 200 back (1:49.10) and 200 individual medley (1:53.08) — owning automatic NCAA championships qualifying times in all three events. NEED TO KNOW The Badgers return to action Jan. 19, closing out their dual-meet schedule by taking on Big Ten foes Iowa and Northwestern in Iowa City. The meet begins at 11 a.m. and will be streamed live at HawkeyeSports.com.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
▶ Badgers ring in the New Year in Hawaii
Texas Invitational Results »
Austin, Texas
Jan. 4
at Hawaii
Jan. 19
vs. Northwestern
Iowa City, Iowa
Jan. 19
at Iowa
Results »
Feb. 16-17 at Ohio State Winter Invitational
Columbus, Ohio
Feb. 27-Mar. 2
at Big Ten Championships
Iowa City, Iowa
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
FOLLOW US:
▶ Special Olympics Wisconsin: Right up our Alley ▶ Nelson drops all-time fastest mark in 100 backstroke
47
INSIDE MEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE Home events in bold. All times CT. Oct. 26-29 at Big Ten Individual Championships Ann Arbor, Mich. Results » Nov. 2-4
at Gopher Invitational Minneapolis Results »
Jan. 11-13 at Miami Invitational
Miami
Jan. 25
DePaul
Jan. 27
Northern Illinois 2 p.m.
Jan. 30
Chicago State 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 9
Oklahoma State 12 p.m.
Feb. 10 Washington
5:30 p.m.
Feb. 21 Green Bay
5:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT Wisconsin used its two months off to improve physically and mentally. The Badgers have been away from competitive play since the Gopher Invitational on Nov. 2.
NEED TO KNOW Keep up with all things Badgers tennis on Twitter (@BadgerMTennis), Instagram (WisconsinTennis), and Facebook (Wisconsin Men’s Tennis), as well as on UWBadgers.com.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
11 a.m.
Mar. 1
at Princeton
6:30 p.m.
Mar. 8
Nebraska
5:30 p.m.
DAVID STLUKA
GOOD TO KNOW This marks the first time the Badgers will play at the Miami Invitational during Danny Westerman’s tenure as head coach for Wisconsin. Trying something new, the Badgers look to make their mark on the tournament.
11 a.m.
Feb. 14 Marquette Feb. 24 Oregon
THIS WEEK Wisconsin reemerges from the offseason revitalized and ready to attack the dual season. The Badgers kick off the New Year with the Miami Invitational — a tournament that includes Ole Miss, Texas and Miami.
6 p.m.
View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
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▶ Five Things to Know: Miami Invitational ▶ The Tremendous Three: Badgers’ stellar recruiting class
49
INSIDE WOMEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE Home events in bold. All times CT. Oct. 18-23 at USTA/ITA Regionals Ann Arbor, Mich. Results » Oct. 26-27 at Roberta Alison Fall Classic Results »
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Nov. 9-11 at FSU All Conference Showdown Results »
Tallahassee, Fla.
Jan. 11-13 at FIU Spring Invitational
Miami
Jan. 25 Nebraska-Omaha Noon Illinois-Chicago
5 p.m.
Jan. 27 Colorado State
11 a.m.
Marquette
4 p.m.
Feb. 2
Iowa State
11 a.m.
Northern Illinois 4 p.m. View full schedule/results »
THIS WEEK Wisconsin picks up play in Miami as they compete in the FIU Spring Invitational. It is the first tournament the Badgers will compete in as the spring season begins. LAST TIME OUT Wisconsin has been off from competition since its most recent tournament in early November. The Badgers competed in the FSU All-Conference Showdown in Tallahassee.
GOOD TO KNOW UW pieced together a 3936 combined singles record during fall play. Sara Castellano and Lexi Keberle put up the best records, Keberle with 8-5 and Castellano with an 8-4 mark.
DAVID STLUKA
Feb. 1
SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:
NEED TO KNOW Fans can keep an eye on UWBadgers.com as well as @BadgerWTennis on Twitter to see post-day recaps from the tournament.
RELATED STORIES (Click to read)
FOLLOW US:
▶ Castellano, Keberle earn ITA top-50 rankings ▶ See you in the spring: Badgers finish fall competition
51