Varsity Magazine - March 20, 2019 by Wisconsin Badgers

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ONE LAST LAP Wisconsin’s women’s hockey seniors took one final lap at LaBahn Arena to thank the UW fans following the team’s 4-0 win over Syracuse on Saturday in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals. PHOTOS BY TOM LYNN

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FEELS LIKE MARCH It’s that time of the basketball season when intensity and passion reach another level. Aleem Ford (left) and Brad Davison (right) celebrate an and-1 opportunity after Ford hit a 3-pointer and was fouled during Wisconsin’s Big Ten tournament quarterfinal game against Nebraska last Friday. PHOTO BY PATRICK GORSKI / ICON SPORTSWIRE

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FRESHMAN FIRE Heavyweight wrestler Trent Hillger will join five of his Wisconsin teammates at this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2019 NCAA Championships after qualifying at the Big Ten Championships. Hillger is seeded seventh and a favorite to earn All-America honors for the Badgers. PHOTO BY STACY SCHIESL

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W IS FOR WINNING One of the women’s hockey team’s small traditions, you might have spotted this ‘W’ made of pucks on the boards during the Badgers’ warmups before defeating Syracuse during the NCAA quarterfinals last Saturday at LaBahn Arena. PHOTO BY TOM LYNN

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#JUMPAROUND Cheering on freshman heavyweight Trent Hillger at the Big Ten Championships, wrestling associate head coach Jon Reader and head coach Chris Bono are live wires of energy and focus on the side of the competition mat. PHOTO BY STACY SCHIESL

CONTENTS

MARCH 20, 2019 ▪ VOLUME 9, ISSUE 28

DAVID STLUKA

24 LET THE MADNESS BEGIN A challenging year of reflection and renewed focus now sees Wisconsin basketball returning to the ‘Big Dance.’ Tuning out the hype, the Badgers are taking nothing for granted.

FEATURES 2

BEATA NELSON 32 WOMEN’S SWIMMING

IN FOCUS

16 LUCAS AT LARGE 19 BY THE NUMBERS 20 WHAT TO WATCH 23 VIRAL VIDEO

DEB LINDSEY

Beata Nelson is happy, healthy … and here to win. The record-setting Badger’s ‘best swimming is in front of her’ as she chases a national championship.

37 INSIDE BASKETBALL 39 INSIDE HOCKEY

34 WINNING CULTURE WOMEN’S HOCKEY

41 INSIDE WRESTLING 43 INSIDE SOFTBALL 45 INSIDE TRACK & FIELD

51 INSIDE TENNIS

DAVID STLUKA

49 INSIDE SWIM & DIVE

The women’s hockey team’s roster of positive and personable personalities keeps the team steady heading into the NCAA Frozen Four. 13

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, Bianca Miceli, Brandon Spiegel Video Production

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Contributors

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David Stluka, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, Jack McLaughlin, Tom Lynn, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: USA Today Problems or Accessibility Issues? VarsityMag@UWBadgers.com ÂŠ 2019 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. 15

LUCAS AT LARGE

BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM

Dreams come alive in the ‘Big Dance’

arch Madness begets March Gladness. And nobody was gladder for the postseason opportunities, nobody derived more pleasure out of playing in the NCAA tournament than Alando Tucker, whose accomplishments include being the school’s first consensus firstteam All-American in 65 years and UW’s all-time leading scorer. But not even his two buzzer-beaters, he contended, could match the adrenaline rush that he got in 2003 before taking the floor in Spokane, Washington for his first game in the Big Dance. The No. 5 Badgers were matched against No. 12 Weber State and Tucker was starting as a true freshman. “Every kid dreams about it (the NCAA Tournament) from where I come from,” said Tucker, a Chicago-area product out of Joliet, Illinois. “To have that privilege my freshman year to play in the NCAAs is a feeling like no other. “It’s the whole aura around JEFF WHEELER

the pregame when you’re going out there to warm up. It’s feeling the team chemistry at that moment. Everything plays into the extraordinary emotions. That’s the moment that stands out the most, the moment I first stepped out on that floor.” Watching televised tournament games as a youngster, Tucker heard all the stories about Michigan’s Fab Five, the trendsetters when he was 8 and 9. They were not only the national narrative with their play, distinctive look and style but they featured a Chicago-bred baller in Juwan Howard. It was with that backdrop, that frame of reference, he left the locker room before the Weber State tipoff and ran out with his Wisconsin teammates. “And the reality of it is,” Tucker recounted, “was, ‘Boom, this is it. This is what you’ve been working for ever since you were a kid.’” Tucker scored 11 points in his first NCAA game, an 81-74 win. He then had 10 points and

played all 40 minutes in a dramatic comeback victory over Tulsa capped by Freddie Owens’ last-second dagger. But the satisfying run was derailed in the Sweet 16 by Kentucky in the Minneapolis Metrodome. In 2005, the Badgers got to the Elite Eight, and the cusp of a Final Four, before losing a shootout, 88-82, to North Carolina, the eventual national champ. Tucker had 25 points against the talent-rich Heels. Yet when prodded about his fondest moments, he kept coming back to his freshman year. “To make it to the Sweet 16 your first year, honestly, that stood out the most to me, because I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “For one thing, it was so nerve-racking. But at the same time, it was the best feeling that I’ve ever had because it was the first.” The first dance, the first Big Dance. Brad Davison, Nate Reuvers, Kobe King and Aleem Ford will be

making their NCAA debuts Friday against Oregon in San Jose, California. Tucker, 35, the director of student-athlete engagement for the UW athletic department, is hoping that they will each experience what he did in Spokane. “I’ve already talked to the guys and I said, ‘Listen, you don’t get these moments back, your hour-glass winds down every year, so you have to enjoy it, but give it your all,’” Tucker related of his message to the full team. “You don’t want to think back with regrets on not leaving it all on the floor.” ▪▪▪▪ Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft grew up in Missouri making it only natural that he would be a fan of the Kansas Jayhawks, which he was. When the family moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he was drawn to Kirk Hinrich, who was raised 90 minutes away in Sioux City, Iowa. In the 2003 national title game, the Carmelo Anthony/ Gerry McNamara-led Syracuse Orangemen were too much for Hinrich, Nick Collison and Kansas. “That was when I was old enough to really get into basketball,” Krabbenhoft said. “I remember crying after that game.” Krabbenhoft, who will be 32 Sunday, still gets sentimental hearing “One Shining Moment.” “Every year,” he said with a sigh, “it gets me every time.” Every year, Bo Ryan’s preparation was the same, Krabbenhoft remembered, no matter the seed. “Coach Ryan did such a good job of making every game seem

like they were the same; we didn’t get up too high or too low for any of them,” said Krabbenhoft, who balanced the high of beating K-State (and Michael Beasley) with the low of losing to Davidson (and Steph Curry) in the 2008 Sweet 16. What’s the best advice that he could give to Davison, Reuvers, King and Ford?

“SOAK IT ALL UP, ENJOY EVERY MOMENT — ALL THE LIGHTS AND THE HOOPLA THAT COMES WITH IT. BUT WHEN YOU CROSS THAT LINE, NOTHING CHANGES. DON’T LET THE IDENTITY AS A TEAM CHANGE JUST BECAUSE THE STAGE IS A LITTLE BIGGER AND BRIGHTER.” “Soak it all up, enjoy every moment — all the lights and the hoopla that comes with it,” he said. “But when you cross that line, nothing changes. Don’t change who you are as an individual to this team. And don’t let the identity as a team change just because the stage is a little bigger and brighter.” ▪▪▪▪ The night before the Badgers were getting ready to play Cincinnati in a 1994 NCAA first-round game — UW’s first in 47 years — Rashard Griffith was watching television in his Ogden, Utah hotel room. “I think it was Digger Phelps,” he said, “and he didn’t give us a chance to win the game.” Phelps’ put-down annoyed Griffith, a 6-foot-11, 280-pound

freshman from Chicago. “I didn’t sleep, I tossed and turned all night,” he said. “And I made it a point, personally, to make sure I went out there and did everything I could within my power to help our team win that game.” Teaming with Michael Finley, who had 22 points, Griffith also responded with 22 points (12-of-14 from the free throw line) and 15 rebounds in an 80-72 win over Cincinnati; the program’s first triumph in the NCAAs since Glen Selbo’s game-winner beat Navy in a 1947 consolation game. “My dream was to get Wisconsin to the tournament because they hadn’t been there in so long,” said Griffith, who’s in the process of completing work on his undergrad degree. “Number one, it was to get my school back to prominence. And number two, it was for me to do well.” Davison is one of the dreamers on this season’s team. “It’s a new excitement for me, something I’ve never experienced before,” Davison said. “Seeing the school that I play for pop up on the bracket is what I’ve always dreamed about since I was a little kid and started playing basketball.’ Griffith would encourage Davison and his teammates to continue dreaming. Especially since the pundits are picking the Ducks. “Frank Kaminsky is the perfect example, he made his legend during the tournament,” Griffith said. “You can make a name for yourself. Just don’t be timid. Seize the moment.” ▪

BY THE NUMBERS WOMEN’S SWIMMING ▶ Beata Nelson saw her American record topped by just .01 seconds earlier this month, but looks to regain the title of fastest woman ever in the 100-yard backstroke this Friday at the NCAA championships in Austin, Texas. As she chases the national title, Nelson’s collegiate-record time of 49.67 makes her nearly a second faster than anyone else in the field.

DEB LINDSEY

49.67 ◀ WOMEN’S HOCKEY Kristen Campbell picked up her 33rd win of the season on Saturday, matching the school record for most wins in a single season. Campbell now shares the record with former Badgers and Olympians Ann-Renée Desbiens, Alex Rigsby and Jessie Vetter.

DAVID STLUKA JOHN FISHER

30-9

JIM'S PHOTOS

▲ MEN’S BASKETBALL Over the last six seasons, the men’s basketball team has been at its best late in the season. During the month of March, the Badgers are 30-9 (.769) since 2013-14, the best winning percentage among Big Ten teams.

WRESTLING ▼ Wisconsin’s highest-seeded wrestler, sophomore Evan Wick is seeded fourth at 165 pounds heading into the NCAA Tournament this weekend and predicted as one of the favorites to come home with an NCAA title.

WHAT TO WATCH

GOING FOR GOLD

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 ▪ 5PM AUSTIN, TEXAS ▪ WATCHESPN

DEB LINDSEY

Wisconsin sends seven swimmers to compete at the NCAA Championships on March 20-23. Watch Beata Nelson and the Badgers compete for top honors with finals at 5 p.m. each day (Wed./Thurs. on ESPN 3 and Fri./Sat. on ESPNU).

championship info

BIG DANCE

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. OREGON FRIDAY, MARCH 22 ▪ 3:30PM SAN JOSE, CALIF. ▪ TBS

tournament info

BOB CAMPBE

Wisconsin is back in the NCAA tournament as a No. 5 seed and will face 12th-seeded Oregon on Friday at approximately 3:30 p.m. CT in San Jose, California. Catch the game live on TBS.

TOM LYNN

FROZEN FOUR

WOMEN’S HOCKEY VS. CLARKSON FRIDAY, MARCH 22 ▪ 6PM HAMDEN, CONN. ▪ BTN No. 1 Wisconsin travels east to the 2019 Frozen Four for a semifinal against No. 4 Clarkson. Watch the game live on Big Ten Network at 6 p.m.

tournament info 20

WHAT TO WATCH WEDNESDAY 3/20

THURSDAY 3/21

FRIDAY 3/22

SATURDAY 3/23

WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at NCAA Championships Austin, Texas 9 a.m. / 5 p.m. Event info »

MEN’S TENNIS at Pepperdine Malibu, Calif. Noon

WRESTLING at NCAA Championships Pittsburgh All day Event info »

MEN’S BASKETBALL at NCAA Tournament vs. (12) Oregon San Jose, Calif. 3:30 p.m. Watch: TBS Tournament info »

SOFTBALL at Illinois Champaign, Ill. 1 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus

WOMEN’S TENNIS at Florida Gulf Coast Fort Myers, Fla. 4 p.m.

SUNDAY 3/24 WOMEN’S TENNIS vs. Purdue Madison, Wis. Noon SOFTBALL at Illinois Champaign, Ill. Noon Watch: BTN Plus MEN’S TENNIS at Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Noon

MONDAY 3/25

WOMEN’S TENNIS at Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. 4 p.m.

WRESTLING at NCAA Championships Pittsburgh All day Event info »

View more 3/22 events »

View more 3/23 events »

TUESDAY 3/26

MEN’S GOLF at Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate Awendaw, S.C. All day

SOFTBALL vs. Northern Iowa (Doubleheader) Madison, Wis. 3 & 5 p.m. Watch: BTN Plus Ticket info »

WEDNESDAY 3/27 MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING at NCAA Championships Austin, Texas 10 a.m. / 6 p.m. Event info »

MEN’S GOLF at Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate Awendaw, S.C. All day

WOMEN’S HOCKEY (if win Friday) NCAA Championship Hamden, Conn. 1:30 p.m. Watch: BTN View more 3/24 events »

ALL TIMES CENTRAL

VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »

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VIRAL VIDEO

SELECTION SHOW REACTION WITH ETHAN HAPP AND BRAD DAVISON UP NEXT:

WISCONSIN HOCKEY: QUARTERFINAL HIGHLIGHTS

SINGLET TO SCRUBS: HOW MASON REINHARDT BALANCES BEING A STUDENT-ATHLETE

FOLLOW THE BADGERS â&#x2013;¶ 23

DAVID STLUKA

hortly after his freshman season ended without a postseason, the school’s first absence from the NCAA Tournament in nearly two decades, Brad Davison didn’t mince words. Instead, he spoke from the heart, however broken by a not-so-shining moment. “I’m going to have to watch March Madness and I know that we’re as good as 75 to 100 percent of those teams,” he insisted. “It’s not something that you just get over. It’s something that is going to be with me until March of next year when we get our opportunity to …” On Sunday, the Badgers filled in the blank — and completed Davison’s thought — by starting another NCAA tournament streak. Along with his UW teammates and the coaching staff, he watched the CBS selection show from the Nicholas Club suites at the Kohl Center. He couldn’t bear to watch last March. While waiting to see “Wisconsin” pop up on one of the brackets, he admitted, “It has been

a long wait. It has been a long 365 days for sure. A lot has gone on basketball-wise and in my personal life (the loss of two grandparents). But what we went through as a team last year has made us stronger. It makes us appreciate this moment more. “March Madness? I always dreamed about it. I remember making sure I was always tuned in for ‘One Shining Moment.’ I was a big Duke guy. It dates back to when I was 9 or 10. I always made a bracket with my family and friends.” Greg Gard filled out brackets, too, growing up in Cobb, Wisconsin, a small farming community, 55 miles from Madison. “I went my whole childhood and up until I was 23 years old and never saw Wisconsin in it,” he said of the Big Dance. “You have a deeper appreciation when you’ve lived it.” Gard didn’t watch last season’s selection show, either.

DAVID STLUKA

“There was the pain,” he conceded, “and the sting of not being in it.” It strengthened Gard’s resolve. “I’ve learned to appreciate the health component to it, and I figured that if we got back to normal health and we improved that we’d have a real chance this year to be pretty good,” he said. There was plenty of energy in the club room when Wisconsin flashed on the TV screens as the No. 5 seed in the South Regional opposite Oregon in San Jose, California, a Friday-Sunday site. The Badgers have twice beaten the Ducks in the Round of 32 leading to back-toback Final Four trips. “When you’re not in it for a year, it gives you the appreciation of how hard it is to sustain it and maintain it,” Gard said of the school-record 19 consecutive trips to the tourney. “For this group to get back again is one of our more prideful moments.”

▪▪▪▪ It was an innocent but delightful exchange. During Sunday’s press conference following the selection show, Davison, D’Mitrik Trice and Ethan Happ were seated next to each other and flanking Gard at a table in the front of the media room. Near the end, they were asked for a prediction. How far can they go? “All the way,” said Davison, the first to speak. “The sky is the limit,” said Trice without skipping a beat. Happ paused before answering. “Yeah, I mean,” he began hesitantly. “It’s not like you’re going to poll anybody in the tournament and they’re going to say they can’t win the whole thing. We genuinely feel that and that’s what we believe. But we’re not looking at the championship game. We’re looking at Oregon right now.” Spoken like a true fifth-year senior and a veteran of March Madness. Happ was along for the ride to the 2014 Final Four as a true freshman who redshirted. “It was definitely special and an interesting experience,” he said, “because I wanted to be out there, and I wanted to play. But, at the same time, it was awesome because I was still a fan of the game, the college basketball game, and it was special to see it up close and in person, the NCAA tournament.” During Happ’s redshirt freshman season, the Badgers advanced to the Sweet 16 but got sloppy with the ball and paid for it with Notre Dame going on an 8-0 run over the final 19 seconds to steal a 61-56 win. The following season, the Badgers upset No. 1 seed Villanova in Buffalo, New York. But they let another one get away in the Sweet 16, losing in overtime to Florida. “A lot of really highs and two really lows,” Happ said Sunday. “It was tough the way we lost those games — I’ll never forget it the rest of my life. It’s real tough to even talk about it

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still. But there were a lot of joyous moments. coach, and they drove to Syracuse, New York It’s just one of the best times of the year.” where D’Mitrik’s older brother, Travis, was One of Happ’s stated offseason goals was to playing for Michigan State in an Elite Eight lead this program back to the NCAA tournagame against Louisville. ment. “My first couple of years, I took it for Travis Trice, a senior guard, scored 17 points granted because of how much success we’ve to pace the underdog Spartans to a 76-70 win had,” he said. “Last year kind of hit differentover the Cardinals and a spot in the Final Four. ly. And this year definitely felt different than An emotionally-drained Trice dropped to his those first few years.” knees at center court afterwards and began Happ plans on remindsobbing in joy. And he ing his younger teamwas summarily joined by mates, “You’ve got to teammates and family. “IT WAS TOUGH THE WAY WE LOST THOSE play a full 40 minutes. It’s something that GAMES — I’LL NEVER FORGET IT THE REST You can’t have too many you don’t forget if you’re OF MY LIFE. BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF lapses and expect to D’Mitrik Trice: March JOYOUS MOMENTS. IT’S JUST ONE OF THE come out on top when brackets and brotherly BEST TIMES OF THE YEAR.” the competition gets this love. “Last year was probgood. It’s a game of runs. ably the first year I didn’t We might be down, we might be up. But we’ve focus on the tournament,” he said. “It was just got to play to the end and expect to win.” different not being in it. Or having anyone that In 2017, Trice came off the bench and played you were rooting for.” 14 minutes in that victory over Villanova. “The Brevin Pritzl, a redshirt junior, understood atmosphere was totally different, everything completely. changes,” he said of the transition from a Big “When you’re in it,” Pritzl said of the tourTen game to an NCAA contest. “There are a ney, “you’re seeing how people are transitionlot more eyes on the games. Making it to the ing from game to game. When you’re not in it, Sweet 16 was amazing.” it doesn’t really matter. As soon as the season After helping lead Wayne (Ohio) High School was over, we all said, ‘We’re coming back, and to the state championship his senior year, Trice this is not happening again.’ That’s just how we hopped in a car with his dad, also his head looked at it.”

“

DAVID STLUKA

do. So, it’s going to be good to get outside of that where teams might not know how to handle Ethan in the post, or how to handle Brad on the wing or how to handle me at the top of the key.” Davison jumped in and cautioned, “That goes both ways.” After winning four games in four days to capture the Pac12 Tournament championship, the Ducks are no different than anyone else in seeking a fresh opponent. Maybe more so since they were barely able to keep their head above water (10-8) during the conference season. “What it all comes down to is basketball. It’s just on a bigger stage under brighter lights,” Davison reasoned. “But it’s still basketball, whether it’s against someone out of your league or someone in your league. Go out and play Wisconsin basketball, and everything will take care of itself.” Gard has already fielded questions on how things change in the postseason. “It doesn’t get easier, it gets different,” he said, noting that the Badgers will have every game that the Ducks have played on tape. Further, on the advantages of playing someone fresh, he posed, “Is that good, bad or indifferent? It probably depends on the result you get Friday night.” The Ducks lead the Pac-12 in most defensive categories. That could be problematic for the Badgers, who have struggled to achieve offensive consistency. In the Big Ten tournament loss to Michigan State, they missed a bunch

▪▪▪▪ Every March, the popular notion is that teams will benefit from playing someone new. Someone outside of their conference. Someone that doesn’t know them as well. “On offense, it’s nice where they haven’t scouted me for four years,” Happ said. “They might not know everything I want to do.” He added that film study “is definitely different than playing against someone” the first time. “In your conference,” said Trice, picking up on the theme, “teams are familiar with what you

of shots at the rim and were 2-of-19 from the “One thing we’ve always emphasized with 3-point arc. our teams, and we’ve already talked about it, Gard was more disappointed with the exeyou can’t deviate from what has made you cution than the decision-making. good and has got you to this point,” he said, “Other than putting the ball in the basket, echoing a common refrain in the coaches’ we did some pretty good things,” he said. “Obroom. viously, you’ve got to “Sometimes because score, I understand that. of the environment, beBut of the 19 threes, cause of the attention, “WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO IS you’d probably take 16 because of the spotlight BASKETBALL. IT’S JUST ON A BIGGER of them any day of the at this time of the year, STAGE UNDER BRIGHTER LIGHTS,” DAVISON week. We had some individuals or teams can REASONED. “BUT IT’S STILL BASKETBALL... good looks and we did get off track a little bit GO OUT AND PLAY WISCONSIN BASKETBALL, some good things to get and try to deviate in the AND EVERYTHING WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.” good looks. way that has not been “But we need to connormal with how the vert, both inside and out. team has played through the year. “That alleviates the need to play perfect (de“You have to stay true to what has made you fense) at the other end of the floor.” good.” Going into Friday’s game, Gard wants the foAnd March has generally been very good to cus to be on the controllable. the Badgers.

“

DAVID STLUKA

DEB LINDSEY

FEATURE STORY

HAPPY, HEALTHY … AND HERE TO WIN Record-setting Badger’s ‘best swimming is in front of her’ as she chases a national championship BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

eata Nelson isn’t the first person to question her faith because she found her world unusually cruel. Nor is she the first among us to misplace her passion for doing something that typically gave her great joy. But carrying both burdens at roughly the same time — one privately spiritual; the other openly psychological — seems particularly daunting. This is a story about how Nelson reclaimed those emotional anchors, a process defined by trial, error and honest reflection. This is a story about how Nelson re-emerged as a primary force for the Wisconsin women’s swimming and diving team, someone on the cusp of joining a tiny, exclusive, accomplished club. When the Badgers compete in the NCAA meet March 20-23 in Austin, Texas, Nelson will be in position to become just the second

swimmer in program history to win an individual title. The junior from Madison goes into the meet as the collegiate record-holder in the 100-yard backstroke (49.67 seconds). In fact, she’s the only woman in history to break 50 seconds in the event five times. Nelson is looking to join Maggie Meyer on the short list of NCAA women’s titlists in school history. Meyer won the 200-yard backstroke in 2011 in 1 minute, 50.76 seconds. Nelson subsequently broke Meyer’s school standard — it currently sits at 1:48.49 — and is in strong position to win that race, too, which would make Nelson the first two-time NCAA champion in a program that debuted 45 years ago. Nelson, who also owns school standards in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, has a simple view of her status heading into the NCAA championships.

“I am a contender,” she said. “I was last year, to the independence of college even though too, but I think this year I have a little bit more she was 20 minutes from home. confidence going into the meet.” Expectations for Nelson were such that eyeNelson finished second in the NCAAs in brows were raised when she didn’t win a Big the 100 back and third in the 200 back as a Ten individual title during her first season and sophomore in 2018. She was coming off a Big her best finish at the NCAA meet in 2017 was Ten Conference meet in 17th in the 200 back. which she won the 100 “After my freshman back and 200 back in year there was a lot of “AFTER MY FRESHMAN YEAR THERE WAS league-record times and questioning,” she said. A LOT OF QUESTIONING,” SHE SAID. “AM I was named swimmer of “Am I where I’m supWHERE I’M SUPPOSED TO BE? DO I LIKE THIS? the championships. posed to be? Do I like DO I WANT TO KEEP DOING THIS IF I’M NEVER Nelson repeated as this? Do I want to keep GOING TO ACHIEVE THESE SUPERFICIAL top swimmer of the doing this if I’m never GOALS THAT I PUT IN MY HEAD?” Big Ten meet again last going to achieve these month after she turned superficial goals that I in record-setting efforts in the 100 back and put in my head? Am I worth anything in the 200 back as well as the 200 IM. sport? It was really confusing and super hard Now she’s looking to check out the view for me. from the very top of the NCAA podium. To get “After my freshman year, there were a lot there would mean the celebratory end to an of doubts, that all the things I ever thought I arduous journey for Nelson, whose career at could achieve or would achieve, I never will.” Click to read more » Wisconsin began amid unseen crisis. Most everyone knew her as the homegrown dynamo at Verona Area High School — two hands were needed to count her individual state titles — who had her choice of national powerhouse programs before picking the school in her backyard. Needless to say, expectations were off the charts. What wasn’t well-known about Nelson is that her mother, Loree, was diagnosed with breast cancer the summer before Nelson enrolled at Wisconsin and the disease eventually reached stage four. What wasn’t well-known is that Nelson embarked on her career with the Badgers after dropping nearly 30 pounds in an ill-conceived nutrition regimen leading up to the U.S. Olympic Trials in the summer of 2016. What wasn’t well-known is that, like so many of her teenage peers, Nelson struggled with the transition from the security of high school

“

FEATURE STORY

DAVID STLUKA

Winning culture starts with character

Badgers’ roster of positive and personable personalities keeps team steady heading into NCAA Frozen Four BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

he true character of a team tends to reveal itself in quieter moments. So it was last Saturday when Wisconsin women’s hockey players gathered for their final appearance of the season at LaBahn Arena. Sophomore winger Maddie Posick arrived to a most disappointing sight. Her No. 16 jersey wasn’t hanging in her cubicle, which meant she wasn’t going to be in the lineup for the most important outing of the year. But instead of retreating into a funk over not dressing for an NCAA quarterfinal matchup with Syracuse, Posick reached for a glass that looked half-full. “I’m so ready to play,” she said, “I’m going to be the best one in the locker room.” Seated nearby was senior winger and co-captain Annie Pankowski, who not only heard Posick, she was affected by the display of energy and unselfishness.

“It got me fired up,” Pankowski said. Hours later, Wisconsin owned a 4-0 triumph that moved it to the NCAA Frozen Four for a record-tying sixth consecutive time. After scoring two goals and bidding a sellout crowd of 2,423 an emotional postgame farewell along with her fellow departing seniors, Pankowski spoke about the subtle influences that make this edition of the Badgers special. Those forces help explain how Wisconsin (33-4-2 overall) won its record-setting eighth Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff title since 2006, claimed the top seed in the national tournament and secured a semifinal berth opposite Clarkson (30-7-2) Friday at 6 p.m. in Hamden, Connecticut. The winner will play either Minnesota (31-51) or Cornell (24-5-6) for the NCAA championship on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. “For this team it’s been a lot of ‘We’ moments

DAVID STLUKA

more than ‘I’ moments,” Pankowski said. “That’s something that’s really cool.” One of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, Pankowski lauded Posick and fellow sophomore wingers Delany Drake, Brette Pettet and Caitlin Schneider for embracing difficult roles — usually operating from the fourth line where on-ice shifts are minimal — while making their presence felt in positive ways. “It’s something you can ask of people,” Pankowski said, “but you can’t really make them do that.” Drake and Schneider have each dressed for 39 games this season, while Pettet has appeared in 37 and Posick 12. The four have combined for 10 of the 148 goals the Badgers have scored. “Everyone gets along. There aren’t any “They don’t see a lot of ice time, but they cliques. There’s no drama. I think it’s a really make the difference in the locker room,” Paneasy-going team and I think it shows with how kowski said of the four. “They’ve been the well we get along. That transfers onto the ice heart of this team.” for sure. It’s next to impossible for a team, regardless “We have a bunch of different personalities. of its tradition, to maintain its chemistry from Everyone can feel free to be who they are. Evone season to the next. People change. The eryone is accepted and loved no matter what.” roster rolls over. The emotional dynamics are The roster — six seniors, eight juniors, eight always in a state of flux. sophomores and five Internal unity is typifreshmen — features digcally a strength for the nified character as well “WE HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT Badgers, but this edition PERSONALITIES. EVERYONE CAN FEEL FREE TO as chatty characters. seems to have an es“We have the perBE WHO THEY ARE. EVERYONE IS ACCEPTED pecially strong bond. It fect mix of personalities, AND LOVED NO MATTER WHAT.” seems to strike the idepeople who make it work al balance between seand make it fun to come riousness, goofiness, edginess, function and to the rink,” freshman winger Britta Curl said. charm. Pankowski could become the sixth Kazmai“I don’t think you can compare year-to-year er recipient in program history when the winbecause each one’s so different with the perner is announced Saturday, but she was twice sonnel,” senior center and alternate captain a last-minute cut from Team USA prior to the Emily Clark said. “But this year there’s definite2014 and ’18 Winter Olympics. ly a factor of care for each other. Click to read more »

“

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INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (23-10, 14-6) Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 14 at Maryland

L, 60-64

Jan. 19 #2 Michigan

W, 64-54

Jan. 23 at Illinois

W, 72-60

Jan. 26 Northwestern W, 62-46 Jan. 29 at Nebraska

W, 62-51

Feb. 1

#21 Maryland W, 69-61

Feb. 6

at Minnesota W, 56-51

Feb. 9

at #7 Michigan L, 52-61

Feb. 12 #11 Michigan St. L, 59-67 Feb. 18 Illinois

W, 64-58

Feb. 23 at Northwestern W, 69-64 Feb. 26 at Indiana

L, 73-75 2OT

March 2 Penn State

W, 61-57

March 7 Iowa

W, 65-45

Mar. 10 at Ohio State W, 73-67 OT Big Ten Tournament, Chicago: ▲ TAP TO WATCH - Selection Show Reaction with Ethan Happ and Brad Davison

Mar. 15 (13) Nebraska W, 66-62 Mar. 16 (1) Michigan St. L, 55-67

THIS WEEK Wisconsin (23-10, 14-6 B1G) is back in the NCAA tournament as a No. 5 seed and will face 12th-seeded Oregon on Friday at approximately 3:30 p.m. CT in San Jose, California. LAST WEEK The Badgers opened Big Ten tournament play with a 6662 win over Nebraska in the quarterfinals before suffering a 67-55 loss against Michigan State in the semifinals in Chicago.

GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin has won 10 of its last 11 NCAA tournament first-round matchups, dating back to 2007.

NCAA Tournament, San Jose, Calif.:

Mar. 22 (12) Oregon

3:30 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Friday’s NCAA tournament game against Oregon can be seen on TBS. Matt Lepay and Mike Lucas will call the game 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)

▶ Let’s Dance! Badgers back in the NCAA tourney

▶ Lucas: Oregon a familiar foe in NCAA Tourney play ▶ Aggressive play helping Iverson light up the court

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INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (33-4-2, 18-4-2) Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 25

St. Cloud State

W, 5-0

Jan. 26

St. Cloud State

W, 3-1

Feb. 1

at Bemidji State

L, 1-2

Feb. 2

at Bemidji State W, 4-0

Feb. 9

Minnesota State W, 7-2

Feb. 10 Minnesota State W, 4-1 Feb. 15 at Minn. Duluth W, 6-1 Feb. 16 at Minn. Duluth W, 3-0 Feb. 22 #10 Ohio State T, 1-1 OT Feb. 23 #10 Ohio State T, 2-2 OT

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Hockey || Quarterfinal Highlights

THIS WEEK The No. 1 Badgers travel to Hamden, Connecticut for the 2019 NCAA Frozen Four, March 22-24, marking UW’s sixth-straight appearance in the tournament semifinals. Wisconsin battles No. 4 Clarkson in the semifinals round at 6 p.m. CT on Friday in People’s United Center. LAST WEEK Senior Annie Pankowski scored twice while juniors Abby Roque and Presley Norby each tallied a goal for Wisconsin (33-4-2) in Saturday’s 4-0 NCAA quarterfinal victory over the Syracuse Orange in front of 2,423 fans at LaBahn Arena. The attendance

matched the largest crowd in rink history. GOOD TO KNOW Pankowski’s two goals in Saturday’s victory give the senior co-captain eight goals in the five postseason games this season. The Laguna Hills, California, native now has 18 postseason goals, which rank third in school history behind Meghan Duggan (20) and Hilary Knight (19).

March 1 St. Cloud State

W, 5-0

March 2 St. Cloud State

W, 8-0

TOM LYNN

WCHA Playoffs First Round (Best of 3):

WCHA Final Faceoff, Minneapolis:

March 9 #9 Ohio State

W, 3-2

Mar. 10 #1 Minnesota

W, 3-1

NCAA Quarterfinal Round:

Mar. 16 Syracuse

W, 4-0

NCAA Frozen Four, Hamden, Conn.:

Mar. 22 (4) Clarkson

6 p.m.

Mar. 24 Championship 1:30 p.m. View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Friday’s contest will be aired live on the Big Ten Network while the game can be heard on 100.9 FM. Fans can also follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerWHockey).

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Badgers advance to NCAA Frozen Four

▶ Drake’s Take: Good Luck Charms ▶ Queens of the WCHA: Badgers bury Gophers, 3-1

We didn’t invent the term “gemutlicHKeit” but we did perfect it. Welcome to a state of gemutlichkeit.

INSIDE WRESTLING SCHEDULE (9-6, 3-6) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 18 Princeton Dec. 2

W, 22-18

#24 Utah Valley W, 22-17

at SIUE Tournament Results »

Edwardsville, Ill.

Dec. 9

at #2 Ohio State L, 13-23

Dec. 29-30 at Midlands Championships

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Singlet to Scrubs: How Mason Reinhardt Balances Being a Student-Athlete

THIS WEEK The Badgers travel to Pittsburgh for the NCAA Championships on March 21-23. Six athletes will be competing for a spot on the podium and a shot at an NCAA title. LAST WEEK Wisconsin had a successful Big Ten Tournament, with the team finishing in seventh place (after being predicted to finish 10th), and six wrestlers received automatic qualifier bids for the NCAA Tournament.

GOOD TO KNOW Sophomore Evan Wick is Wisconsin’s highest seeded wrestler, coming in at No. 4 at 165 pounds. Wick is in firm contention for an NCAA title, as he has a 1-3 career record against No. 1 seed Alex Marinelli, with the three losses coming by a combined deficit of only four points.

Results »

Evanston, Ill.

Jan. 11

at #24 Rutgers L, 16-17

Jan. 13

at #1 Penn St. L, 13-24

Jan. 18

Northwestern L, 18-25

Jan. 25

#7 Minnesota L, 13-27

Feb. 2

at Maryland

W, 30-13

Feb. 10 #22 Illinois

W, 17-16

Feb. 17 #3 Iowa Feb. 24 SIUE

L, 2-35 W, 30-15

Mar. 9-10 at Big Ten Championships Minneapolis Results » Mar. 21-23 at NCAA Championships

Pittsburgh

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Every match from the NCAA Tournament will be broadcasted or streamed live from the ESPN family of networks. ESPN3 will offer individual feeds of each mat, while ESPN and ESPNU will broadcast select matches in every round.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Wisconsin places seventh at Big Ten Championships

▶ Six Badgers punch ticket to NCAA Tournament ▶ Wisconsin dominates in Senior Day victory

INSIDE SOFTBALL SCHEDULE (21-3, 0-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. at Sun Devil Classic, Tempe, Ariz.:

March 1 vs. Princeton

W, 11-2

vs. #9 Texas

L, 1-5

March 2 vs. #9 Texas

W, 3-1

at #15 Arizona St. W, 5-1

March 3 vs. Princeton

W, 4-1

at USF Tournament, Clearwater, Fla.:

March 8 vs. UMass

at South Florida

W, 8-0 L, 1-7

March 9 vs. Central Mich. W, 2-0

vs. Furman

Mar. 10 vs. Villanova

THIS WEEK The No. 23 Wisconsin softball team begins conference play this weekend with a threegame series at Illinois on March 22-24. LAST WEEK The Badgers took the week off of competition to gear up for the Big Ten season. UW finished non-conference tournament play with a 21-3 record. GOOD TO KNOW Junior Kayla Konwent was named Big Ten Player of the

Week last week. The first baseman led the Badgers with 10 hits, two doubles, three homers, 9 RBI and 21 total bases while hitting .625. Fellow junior Jordan Little also had quite the weekend, tallying five runs, five hits, five walks, five RBI and two goners.

W, 13-1

Mar. 22 at Illinois

5 p.m.

Mar. 23 at Illinois

1 p.m.

Mar. 24 at Illinois

Noon

MAYA KNUTSON

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Softball || New Season, New Digs

W, 4-1

Mar. 26 Northern Iowa 3/5 p.m.

Doubleheader

Mar. 29 at Penn State

5 p.m.

Mar. 30 at Penn State

2 p.m.

Mar. 31 at Penn State

11 a.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Links to live statistics and live streams can be found on the softball schedule page at UWBadgers.com. Additionally, fans can follow live updates on the team’s Twitter page @BadgerSoftball.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Konwent earns Big Ten Player of the Week honors

▶ Hot bats propel Badgers to run-rule victory over Villanova ▶ Fun in the sun: Badgers go 2-0 on second day in Florida

INSIDE MEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE Home events in bold. Red and White Classic Feb. 15 Results »

Feb. 16

at Alex Wilson Invitational Results »

South Bend, Ind.

Feb. 22-23 at Big Ten Indoor Championships Ann Arbor, Mich. Results » March 8-9 at NCAA Indoor Championships

Birmingham, Ala. Results »

March 23

at Aztec Invitational

San Diego, Calif.

THIS WEEK The Badgers open up the outdoor season in San Diego at the Aztec Invitational. Hosted by San Diego State University, the meet will take place on March 23 at 9 a.m. LAST WEEK The Wisconsin men’s track and field team finished fourth in the team standings at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, their highest team finish since 2013. Senior Morgan McDonald contributed 20 points to the team’s final score thanks to his historic distance sweep of the 3K and 5K events.

GOOD TO KNOW The Wisconsin men’s track and field team is currently in contention to win the USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award, the organization announced last week. The award is based on NCAA championship results and is given to the men’s team with the most success throughout the season.

Stanford, Calif.

April 5-6

at Sun Angel Classic

Tempe, Ariz.

CAROL CHEN

Mar. 29-30 at Stanford Invitational

April 17-19 at Bryan Clay Invitational

Azusa, Calif.

April 18 at Pacific Coast Intercollegiate

Long Beach, Calif.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow along with the Aztec Invitational action on Instagram and Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and can catch a recap after the meet on UWBadgers.com.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ UW teams in contention for USTFCCCA Program of the Year

▶ McDonald and Monson sweep Big Ten track honors ▶ History Made: McDonald completes NCAA distance sweep

INSIDE WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE Home events in bold. Red and White Classic Feb. 15 Results »

Feb. 16

at Alex Wilson Invitational Results »

South Bend, Ind.

Feb. 22-23 at Big Ten Indoor Championships Ann Arbor, Mich. Results » March 8-9 at NCAA Indoor Championships

Birmingham, Ala. Results »

March 23

at Aztec Invitational

San Diego

Mar. 29-30 at Stanford Invitational

LAST TIME OUT Alicia Monson won the 5000 meters at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, becoming the first Badger to win the event at the indoor meet. Banke Oginni earned second-team All-America honors in both the shot put and weight throw, while UW’s distance medley also earned second-team All-America accolades.

GOOD TO KNOW Monson enjoyed a banner indoor season as she was named the Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete of the Championships, the Big Ten Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Track Athlete of the Year.

Stanford, Calif.

April 5-6

at Sun Angel Classic

Tempe, Ariz.

CAROL CHEN

THIS WEEK Wisconsin starts its outdoor season at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego on March 23 following a week of training.

April 17-19 at Bryan Clay Invitational

Azusa, Calif.

April 18 at Pacific Coast Intercollegiate

Long Beach, Calif.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

GOOD TO KNOW You can follow along with the Aztec Invitational on Twitter (@BadgerTrackXC) and look for a recap after the meet.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ UW teams in contention for USTFCCCA Program of the Year

▶ McDonald and Monson sweep Big Ten track honors ▶ Monson earns All-America honorable mention at NCAAs

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INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING SCHEDULE Home events in bold. Feb. 16-17 at Ohio State Winter Invitational Results »

Columbus, Ohio

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Beata Nelson Reclaims the 100-yard Backstroke Big Ten Title

THIS WEEK Wisconsin sends seven swimmers to compete at the 2019 NCAA Women’s Championships in Austin, Texas, this Wednesday through Saturday. The Badgers will be represented in all five relay events at the meet, as well as in the 200-yard freestyle (Lillie Hosack), 100 backstroke (Beata Nelson and Kathleen Coughlin), 200 backstroke (Nelson) and 200 individual medley (Nelson and Hosack). LAST WEEK The Badgers enter the NCAA championships following a fifth-place showing at the 2019 Big Ten Women’s Championships, Feb. 20-23. Nelson repeated as conference champ in both the 100 back and 200 back and added a gold medal in the 200 IM en route to being named Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships for the second straight season.

GOOD TO KNOW Nelson enters the championships as the No. 1 seed in the 100 back (49.67) and 200 back (1:48.47), and holds the No. 3 seed time in the 200 IM (1:52.27). She was an All-American in all three events last year. NEED TO KNOW Each day’s preliminary session will be streamed live via TexasSports.com beginning at 9 a.m. CT. Finals sessions begin at 5 p.m. each day, with Wednesday and Thursday’s events streamed live on ESPN3. The Friday and Saturday finals will air live on ESPNU. Live results are available on the schedule page at UWBadgers.com and the Meet Mobile app. Fans also can follow along by following @BadgerSwimDive on Twitter and Instagram.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Beata Nelson is happy, healthy … and here to win

Feb. 27-Mar. 2

at Big Ten Men’s Championships Iowa City, Iowa Results »

CRAIG BISACRE

Feb. 20-23 at Big Ten Women’s Championships Bloomington, Ind. Results »

Mar. 11-13 at NCAA Zone D Diving Championships Austin, Texas Results » Mar. 20-23 at NCAA Women’s Championships

Austin, Texas

Mar. 27-30 at NCAA Men’s Championships

Austin, Texas

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

▶ Tysoe punches ticket to NCAA championships ▶ Nelson named Swimmer of the Championships

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INSIDE MEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE (7-4, 1-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Feb. 6

Chicago State

Feb. 9

Oklahoma State

W, 7-0 L, 2-4

Feb. 10 Washington

W, 5-2

Feb. 14 Marquette

W, 5-2

Feb. 21 Green Bay

W, 7-0

Feb. 24 #15 Oregon

L, 3-4

Mar. 1

at Princeton

L, 1-6

Mar. 8

Nebraska

W, 6-1

Mar. 10 #16 Minnesota

L, 3-4

Mar. 20 at Pepperdine

Noon

Mar. 24 at Iowa

Noon

Mar. 29 at #1 Ohio State

6 p.m.

Mar. 31 at Penn State

11 a.m.

April 5

Indiana

April 7

Purdue Noon

3 p.m.

April 13 at Michigan State Noon View full schedule/results »

THIS WEEK The Badgers return from a short break to take on Pepperdine on Wednesday. First serve in Malibu, California, is set for 2 p.m. on Wednesday. LAST TIME OUT UW opened up Big Ten action the weekend of March 8 with home tilts against Nebraska and Minnesota. The Badgers won their match against the Cornhuskers, 6-1, before suffering a 4-3 setback to the No. 16 Golden Gophers.

GOOD TO KNOW The Badgers have two doubles teams ranked in the latest ITA Rankings as Osgar O’Hoisin and Jared Pratt are ranked No. 29 in the country. The pair of Jesper Freimuth and Lenard Soha check in at No. 69 in the latest rankings.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow the action on Twitter (@BadgerMTennis) and look for a recap on UWBadgers.com following the match.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ A big statement: Wisconsin takes down Nebraska, 6-1

▶ Bitter border battle: Badgers fall just shy of upset ▶ Outclawed: Wisconsin drops 6-1 decision to Princeton

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INSIDE WOMEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE (10-2, 3-0) Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 25 Nebraska-Omaha W, 7-0 Illinois-Chicago

W, 7-0

Jan. 27 Colorado State

W, 5-2

Feb. 1

Marquette

W, 7-0

Feb. 2

Iowa State

W, 5-2

Northern Illinois W, 7-0

Feb. 15 at Denver

L, 2-5

Feb. 16 vs. DePaul

W, 7-0

Denver

Feb. 22 Utah

L, 3-4

Feb. 24 Minnesota

W, 5-2

Mar. 16 at Maryland

W, 4-0

Mar. 17 at Rutgers

W, 6-1

Mar. 19 at Florida Atlantic

CANCELLED

Mar. 20 at FGCU

4 p.m.

Mar. 22 at Michigan State 4 p.m. April 5 at #14 Ohio State 5 p.m.

THIS WEEK The Badgers wrap up Spring Break with a pair of conference matches. Following competitions in Florida, UW heads to East Lansing, Michigan on Friday to take on Michigan State before welcoming Purdue to the Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Sunday for a noon match. LAST WEEK The Badgers swept a pair of conference matches at

Maryland and at Rutgers. UW earned a 4-0 win on Saturday at Maryland before racing past Rutgers, 6-1, on Sunday. GOOD TO KNOW UW’s 3-0 start in Big Ten Conference play is its best start since the 2004-05 season.

April 7 at Penn State April 12 Illinois

TOM LYNN

Mar. 24 Purdue Noon 11 a.m. 4:30 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Fans can follow along on Twitter (@BadgerWTennis) and find recaps after the matches on UWBadgers.com.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Weekend sweep: Badgers take down Scarlet Knights, 6-1

▶ Wisconsin picks up road win over Maryland ▶ Badgers shutdown Golden Gophers in conference opener