Varsity Magazine - January 15, 2020 by Wisconsin Badgers

INFOCUS

PIN POWER Redshirt senior Cole Martin celebrates his pin over No. 16 Collin Purinton of Nebraska on Sunday at the UW Field House. Wrestling at 149 pounds, Martin earned the pin only 1:44 into the first period. PHOTO BY DIANE NORDSTROM

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B1G WIN Niya Beverley takes it to the hoop against Penn State in the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Big Ten win on Jan. 4. The junior guard picked up 19 points to help lead the Badgers to victory. PHOTO BY TOM LYNN

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COOLDOWN PERIOD Micah Potter broke out for the Badgers on the road at #20 Penn State, recording his first double-double as a Badger with career highs in points (24) and rebounds (13). After the game, the Badgers did something no one else could during last Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game: They cooled Micah off. PHOTO BY BRANDON HARRISON

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LOTS TO CELEBRATE Five goals and a 5-2 victory against Ohio State — the Big Ten’s top defensive team — gave everyone reasons to cheer at the Kohl Center last Saturday. PHOTOS BY TIA MARTIN

CONTENTS

JANUARY 15, 2020 ▪ VOLUME 10, ISSUE 14

JERRY MAO

26 UNDAUNTED He’s not afraid of contact, taking on the big guys or finding his sweet spot for a pull-up jumper. Kobe King’s growing up and into his game as a fearless leader for the Badgers.

FEATURES 2

LUCAS AT LARGE

IN FOCUS

GROWING & LEARNING

14 LUCAS AT LARGE

18 WHAT TO WATCH 21 BADGERING

DAVID STLUKA

Filling in as assistant during Howard Moore’s recovery, former Badger Alando is growing and learning as a coach

17 BY THE NUMBERS

23 FORWARD360 25 VIRAL VIDEO

BADGERING

21 ABBY ROQUE

37 INSIDE BASKETBALL 41 INSIDE HOCKEY 43 INSIDE WRESTLING

49 INSIDE TENNIS

DAVID STLUKA

45 INSIDE TRACK & FIELD

The senior women’s hockey forward shares pre-game rituals, her favorite teammate and how she’s looking forward to Fill the Bowl Feb. 16 11

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LUCAS AT LARGE

BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER

Tucker growing, learning as coach

DAVID STLUKA

hree hours prior to last Wednesday’s Illinois-Wisconsin game, the Big Ten Network aired a special 30-minute episode of its signature documentary series, “The Journey” and it was devoted entirely to the Howard Moore family tragedy. To say the least, it was heart-wrenching. UW assistant coach Alando Tucker, who has taken over on the staff for Moore during his medical leave, couldn’t bring himself to watch it before the tipoff that night at the Kohl Center. It was far too emotional, far too close to home for Tucker who was featured prominently throughout the taping. On Sunday night, Tucker and his wife Krystal finally watched it together. “It was hard to watch … it was very emotional, very tough … we had to take breaks,” he said. “When you’re watching a story like that, you couldn’t imagine it for anyone, for any family, for anybody to go through it. That’s

never you in that situation. It’s a story, it’s a movie in a sense, it isn’t real.” He paused before continuing. “This is real, though.” During the Journey episode, Tucker shared his pain and his thoughts on how and why he’s fulfilling his commitment to the Moore and Badgers families. “I didn’t take the normal path of becoming a coach,” he said. “I didn’t have this set in my heart of wanting to become a coach. “It kind of just sprung itself on me … You had 15 individuals who had to prep for the season. Time wasn’t going to stop for everyone. Now how do we make an easy transition for them? How do we make it an easy transition for the coaching staff? “Well, I have the most history here (Tucker is the school’s career scoring leader). At that point the easiest thing for everyone would be for me to take this job. Trennis — Howard’s mom — she said, ‘My son wouldn’t want it any other way than for you to

take that role.’” After Monday’s practice, Tucker talked about how he has grown into his coaching role. “The hardest part was getting over the mental aspect of things — just being here every day and understanding what we went through (as a program),” he said. “Naturally, you have the administrative things that you have to pick up, you have to understand putting film together, those kinds of things. “The coaching staff has done a great job in helping me and bringing me along in terms of how to put scouting reports together. I wasn’t nervous for my first scout (for the UW-La Crosse exhibition). It was more like, ‘What am I doing?’ I had no clue.” He got up to speed quickly in that area thanks to assistants Joe Krabbenhoft and Dean Oliver. “Every coach has their own style,” he said. “I’d spend time with Joe and watch him put the scouting report together and

then I would spend time with Dean and watch him put the scouting report together. “Honestly that was the toughest challenge for me. How do I put this together and how can I translate what the players can understand? Like playing basketball, I had to dive in and learn as much and as fast as possible. I had the Penn State scout and it was much easier.” Tucker is definitely in his element when he’s on the court during practices. “My connection to the guys is something that comes natural,” said Tucker, who has confidence in “my leadership abilities in that sense of being able to motivate and understand X’s and O’s. I can talk from first-person experience from being out there and what your mindset should be. “I love the coaching aspect. I love the idea that I can influence these guys and I can have an impact and motivate them every single day. It’s a gravitational pull between me and all the guys. I just try to give them a realistic look and the perspective and knowledge that comes from my experiences.” Tucker’s learning curve extends to the bench on game days. “When do I speak? How do I speak? When should I assert myself during a timeout?” he said. “I’m learning all those things and I’m looking at the coaches and seeing how they’re doing it. You don’t want to overstep and overtalk. It’s new and every game is going to be learning experience for me.

“Specifically, as an assistant, it’s, ‘When can you assist?’ It’s as simple as that. When can you step in? When can I pull Coach Gard to the side and say, ‘Hey, this is what we’re seeing?’ To me, it’s how can I add perspective? Or, when is it my time to just shut up?” The 35-year-old Tucker has learned the old-fashioned way, the hard way, under fire. “I have a dominant personality,” he said. “It came to a point in a game where I’m yelling at the refs and Coach Gard told me at halftime that I can’t do that. It’s understanding that’s not my position, it’s for Coach Gard to get on the refs. But that’s the way I was as a player. I’m vocal.”

“I LOVE THE IDEA THAT I CAN INFLUENCE THESE GUYS AND I CAN HAVE AN IMPACT AND MOTIVATE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. I JUST TRY TO GIVE THEM A REALISTIC LOOK AND THE PERSPECTIVE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT COMES FROM MY EXPERIENCES.” Teaching others is a passion, especially since he was such a student of the game. “I’ve had great mentors, guys I played with, like Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Shaq, Hall of Famers,” said Tucker, a first-round draft pick of the Phoenix Suns in 2007. “I’ve picked the mind of Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade while working in the gym and being in the same spaces with them. “I’m a sponge. I would always

ask questions because I wanted to get better.” One of the coaches that influenced Tucker was his former UW mentor Bo Ryan. “I think in Alando’s mind the only way to honor Howard is do the best job that he can,” Ryan said during the “Journey” episode. “Let me see if I can get this guy to be better in the post. Let me see if I can get this guy to cut harder off the backscreen. “That is the way Alando has to have his mindset and the rest will take care of itself.” And so, it has moved along. Slowly but surely. Step by step. “It comes down to understanding how to play my role,” Tucker said, “and to be the best in it as an assistant and figure out how to help Coach Gard with whatever he needs. It’s not just one aspect of the game. I want to assist in any kind of way. But it takes patience. I’m learning how to be patient.” On Tuesday night, the Badgers executed in the closing moments better than Maryland and won a thriller, 56-54, at the Kohl Center. Seated on the bench and taking part in the timeout huddles and post-game celebration was 13-year-old Jerell Moore, who was wearing his dad’s No. 34 jersey. “I feel like I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason,” Tucker was saying Monday with moistened eyes. “This tragedy happened but I was here in this space for a reason. I feel like I didn’t personally seek out coaching. I feel like coaching found me. And I’m loving what I do.” ▪

BY THE NUMBERS GREG ANDERSON

6 2

◀ MEN’S HOCKEY With 13 goals overall this season, freshman forward Cole Caufield not only leads the Big Ten, but stands at the top of the nation’s entire rookie class.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ▶ Sophomore forward Imani Lewis earned a sixth consecutive double-double against Michigan State — 12 points and 13 rebounds. That mark is now third-best in Wisconsin women’s basketball history.

TOM LYNN

DIANE TIMNORDSTROM VENUS

◀ WRESTLING Redshirt senior Tristan Moran went 2-0 last weekend wrestling at 141 pounds. He earned upset victories back-to-back of two top-10 opponents for the first time in his career.

500

DAVID STLUKA

WOMEN’S HOCKEY ▶ Women’s hockey associate head coach Dan Koch earned his 500th win on the Badgers bench during UW’s 3-2 win at Bemidji State. Koch started with UW during the 2001-02 season and has been with the program 17 of its 21 seasons.

WHAT TO WATCH USA TODAY

ROAD TRIP

MEN’S BASKETBALL AT MICHIGAN STATE FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 ▪ 6PM EAST LANSING, MICH. ▪ FS1 Wisconsin hits the road to play No. 15 Michigan State on Friday. Watch the Badgers face the Spartans at 6 p.m. live on FS1.

STROM

WRESTLING VS. OHIO STATE FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 ▪ 8PM UW FIELD HOUSE ▪ BTN

DIANE NORD

MAJOR DECISION

No. 4 Wisconsin faces a third-straight top-10 opponent when No. 3 Ohio State comes to the UW Field House on Friday. The Badgers take on the Buckeyes at 8 p.m. live on Big Ten Network.

buy tickets

TOM LYNN

FRIDAY FACEOFF

MEN’S HOCKEY VS. MICHIGAN STATE FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 ▪ 8PM KOHL CENTER ▪ ESPNU Wisconsin plays hosts to No. 20 Michigan State this Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center. Catch the Badgers on Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPNU and on Saturday at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus.

buy tickets 18

WEDNESDAY 1/15

THURSDAY 1/16 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Michigan Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Watch: BTN+ Buy tickets »

FRIDAY 1/17 MEN’S BASKETBALL at #15 Michigan State East Lansing, Mich. 6 p.m. Watch: FS1 WRESTLING vs. #3 Ohio State Madison, Wis. 8 p.m. Watch: BTN Buy tickets » MEN’S HOCKEY vs. #20 Michigan State Madison, Wis. 8 p.m. Watch: ESPNU Buy tickets »

View more 1/17 events »

SUNDAY 1/19 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL vs. #22 Iowa Madison, Wis. 2 p.m. Watch: BTN+ Buy tickets »

ALL TIMES CENTRAL

MONDAY 1/20

TUESDAY 1/21 MEN’S BASKETBALL vs. Nebraska Madison, Wis. 8 p.m. Watch: BTN Buy tickets »

SATURDAY 1/18 MEN’S TENNIS vs. Illinois State Madison, Wis. 11 a.m. MEN’S TENNIS vs. Chicago State Madison, Wis. 6:30 p.m. MEN’S HOCKEY vs. #20 Michigan State Madison, Wis. 7 p.m. Watch: FSW+ Buy tickets » MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD at Larry Wieczorek Invitational Iowa City, Iowa All day

WEDNESDAY 1/22 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL at Minnesota Minneapolis 7 p.m. Watch: BTN+

VIEW FULL CALENDAR ON UWBADGERS.COM »

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BADGERING...

ABBY ROQUE WOMEN’S HOCKEY SENIOR ▪ FORWARD SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH.

DAVID STLUKA

BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW BRAND COMMUNICATIONS

Last year the Badgers captured the NCAA title for the first time since 2011. What was the feeling like in the locker room after winning the national title? “The locker room was electric. Everyone was having fun with the trophy and singing to our win song. We just stayed in our gear for a while and celebrated. It's a special moment to win and we all had to just take that in with each other.” How is it playing at LaBahn Arena? “LaBahn Arena has the greatest atmosphere in women’s college hockey in my opinion. The rink is amazing and the fans always make sure it’s bumping. It makes us look forward to home games and helps us bring energy to the games.” Last month you had the chance to suit up for Team USA in the Rivalry Series and you scored two goals for the U.S. How was it not only playing for Team USA, but also playing with and against a number of Badgers? “Making my USA hockey debut with my fellow Badgers Britta (Curl) and Natalie (Buchbinder) was really special. Wearing the USA jersey is always an honor and they were both great hockey games to play in. It’s awesome to see all of the players who have been Badgers playing for both the US and Canada. It’s a testament to the success of our program and the development of our players.” Do you have a favorite opponent to play against? “I really like playing the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They’re always super competitive games and the fans get really into it. We play them a lot throughout the season, so the games can get pretty heated.” Later this season the women’s hockey team will play in the Kohl Center against Ohio State. As someone who played in the last Fill the Bowl game, what are your expectations for this year’s game? “I’m expecting a good hard-fought game with Ohio State, but also a great atmosphere. Last time it was sold out and playing in front of 15,000 people is exciting for us. It should be a really fun game to play in.” Click to read more »

FORWARD360 SPOTLIGHT

Fueling Student-Athletes One Meal at a Time Performance Nutrition helps Badgers maximize performance and overall health BY MAYA SHEA ▪ UW FORWARD360

n order for student-athletes to maximize their performance and compete at the highest level, they must properly fuel their bodies every day. The Performance Nutrition department at Wisconsin Athletics is staffed with trained professionals to help student-athletes achieve those goals and improve their overall health. A member of the UW staff in 2015, Director of Performance Nutrition Nick Aures is responsible for overseeing all nutritional services and education for Badgers student-athletes. Nick earned his bachelors of science degree in dietetics and exercise physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, while receiving his master’s degree in nutrition and exercise wellness at Southeast Missouri State University. Prior to joining the Badgers, Aures was the performance enhancement dietitian for Navy Fitness & All Navy sports, working with all branches of the military and coordinating nutrition programs and services worldwide. During his time at Wisconsin, Aures has made a lasting impact on the Performance Nutrition department and the well-being of student-athletes, which earned him a Buckingham award as the Staff Member of the Year in 2018. “Our Performance Nutrition department is set up to prioritize the nutrition needs of all our student-athletes on an individual basis,” Aures said. “Our facilities continue to be enhanced and updated and provide areas for every single student-athlete to accommodate

their nutrition needs, which also allows us as a staff the ability to see most student-athletes on a daily basis.” His office resides within the Jack Link’s Protein Performance Center at Camp Randall Stadium that was built in 2018. This allows Aures to work in close relation with student-athletes every day and assist them in their pre- and post-workout meals. The Jack Link’s Fueling station, as well as an additional station located at the Kohl Center, provides the highest quality nutrition services for the Badgers. “We have established a shake ordering app that allows a student-athlete to order, among other things, a customized post-workout shake up to seven days in advance, bypassing any foreseen time constraints or conflicts,” Aures said. “As a program, we’re also able to oversee that ordering data and help analyze and track what our student-athletes are consuming and provide recommendations and changes.” The numerous staff and facility resources within Wisconsin Athletics ensures that each student-athlete is receiving a personalized plan that helps them meet their own individual goals. “It’s so valuable to make things extremely practical for our student-athletes,” Aures said. “Our structure both from our facilities, as well as how we educate and interact, consistently gives them realistic examples of what to do and how to do it right.” Learn more about the resources provided by Performance Nutrition on UWBadgers.com. ▪

VIRAL VIDEO

CHRIS BONO MIC’D UP FOR KENT STATE DUAL UP NEXT:

WISCONSIN BASKETBALL: TOP PLAYS AT PENN STATE

BADGERS TAKE DOWN OHIO STATE, 5-2

FOLLOW THE BADGERS ▶

DAVID STLUKA

JOSH LEVIN

hon Morris has a wide-ranging mental rolodex of players he has played with, against or critiqued during his four years as a Northwestern power forward and 13 as a Big Ten Network analyst. But when asked to come up with a match for Wisconsin’s Kobe King, he deliberated over his answer before admitting, “That’s a good question. No one immediately comes to mind.” After giving it some more thought, Morris said, “He’s a better offensive player, but kind of in his body build and the way he’s able to get in the lane and play through contact, maybe a Dean Oliver.” Maybe it was only a coincidence, but the 41-year-old Oliver, the former Iowa point guard (1997-2001), is in the midst of his third season as an assistant on Greg Gard’s staff at Wisconsin. Allowing that Oliver was a lefty and King is a righty, Morris said, “Kobe is a better shooter than Dean was … and they wanted him (Oliver)

sometimes to be a distributor at the end of the shot clock.” Not only was Oliver just the third player in Big Ten history to finish his career with more than 1,500 points, 500 assists and 200 steals, but he had a penchant for getting to the free throw line. During his four years, he shot 75 percent from the stripe (468-627) and averaged over 150 attempts per season underlining the value of attacking the rim off the dribble and drawing fouls. When relayed Morris’ words and his King comparison, the 5-foot-11 Oliver laughed and said, “Shoot, I played at 175 to 180 and Kobe is quite a bit bigger (6-4, 205) …” Moreover, Oliver didn’t rely on a pull-up jumper whereas King does. In fact, it’s one of his favorite shots (“I like to get to the pull-up,” King enthused. “That’s like my sweet spot”). “But how he takes it to the hole,” Oliver said, “the way he drives it downhill — the fearlessness when he drives the ball — that’s the men-

tality I liked to play with and I definitely see ▪▪▪▪ fter playing in just 10 games as a freshthat in him.” man before having knee surgery, there All of this put an impish grin on King’s face was a predictable dip in King’s confiwhen told that Morris was asked to come up dence level and performance last year, and it with his stunt double — stylistically — and sugwas linked to the recovery gested Oliver because of process. his aggressive mentality. “I FEEL LIKE EMOTION IS WHAT DRIVES A LOT “I kind of struggled with “Really?”’ King pondered before acknowledging, “I OF PEOPLE WHETHER THEY DON’T SHOW IT AS my knee a little bit because MUCH AND IT’S INTERNAL OR WHETHER THEY of the soreness,” said King, do have a downhill menSHOW IT A LOT. I DEFINITELY PLAY OFF who averaged 19 mintality.” EMOTION AND I GET EXCITED FOR MY TEAMutes, four points and two King recounted how OlMATES AS WELL. I FEED OFF OF THAT.” rebounds in 2018-19. “I iver once referred to him didn’t trust it as much. I as a “microwave” in terms just didn’t move as well. of his approach to shooting. “Once I see a cou“I would question all the time whether I ple go in,” King confirmed, “I have that mindset would ever get back to my old self. Is this how that nothing is missing.” it’s going to be forever? I was looking at hobIs it fair then to say King rides momentum bies just to try and take my mind off it because and emotion, especially when he gets hot? it would get to me.” “It’s very fair to say,” King said. “I feel like emotion is what drives a lot of people whether they don’t show it as much and it’s internal or whether they show it a lot. “I definitely play off emotion and I get excited for my teammates as well. I feed off of that.” Gard has seen that in King from his earliest recruiting forays into La Crosse, Wisconsin where King won a state championship as a senior and was named Mr. Basketball in the state. “That’s part of a young player and Kobe is really an emotional person anyway,” Gard said. “Take basketball out of the equation, that’s been his makeup, that’s his personality. “You just try to channel it in the right directions. I like that he plays with emotion and I like that he enjoys the game and he’s out there smiling. “But I don’t want to have the peaks and valleys, especially the valleys. Now that he’s got a bigger piece of pie on his plate, and has been a focal point for us, there’s going to be some of that. “We’re just trying to ride it out and make sure he doesn’t have too many dips.”

“

DARREN LEE

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It’s something that he has since shared with stronger. Over the summer, it got a lot better his friend and teammate Trevor Anderson who when I got six weeks at home to just kind of had knee surgery last season and is now exrest it. periencing some of the same things that King “Right now, the knee feels fine. That’s the talked about. biggest thing and the most encouraging thing “We have similar personalities,” King said. from this season. The knee hasn’t bothered me “He helped me a lot through my injury because at all. he was in his redshirt “That, along with season (after transferconfidence, and kind of ring from Green Bay). embracing the bigger “KOBE IS STARTING TO REALIZE WHAT HE CAN “Now, I’m helping role that I was going to AND CAN’T DO IN PICKING SPOTS AND BEING him through his injuhave with Khalil (IverAGGRESSIVE,” OLIVER SAID. “THAT’S THE MAIN ry. We’ve always been son) being gone has THING WITH HIM — KNOWING WHAT OUR TEAM there for each other, elevated my game. I NEEDS WITH EACH POSSESSION.” whether it’s frustration think that I’m in a good or happiness, he’s the spot.” guy I fall back on. He keeps my spirits up. I try Morris has noticed the difference in King’s to do the same for him. makeup. “I just let him know, ‘It gets better as you go “He has been less hesitant offensively and on. There will be days where it feels really sore more assertive,” he said. “Honestly, I have no and it feels like you’re taking a step back. But way of knowing this, but I think he’s far more you’re really not. It’s going to continue to get comfortable with his knee. better.’ “He understands, ‘Look, I can make a hard “Even towards the end of last year, it was the cut, or I can get to the rim and I don’t always best I’ve ever felt just because it kept getting have to worry about how I’m going to land.’”

“

JOSH LEVIN

DARREN LEE

can’t do in picking spots and being aggressive,” Oliver said. “That’s the main thing with him — knowing what our team needs with each possession. “And then being able to provide that when necessary.” King had 10 points and four assists in the 58-49 victory over the Nittany Lions. “It felt like he scored about 30 with the shots that he made because they were all big shots,” Oliver went on. “It was what we needed at those points. “We saw some favorable match-ups — they were switching a lot of things — and wanted to take it at their best player (Stevens) and make him guard and Kobe did a tremendous job of it.” Through the first five Big Ten games, King had a 17.2 scoring average and the second-best field goal shooting In concert with his assertiveness, Morris percentage (38-of-58) in the conference. Brepointed out, “He’s the one guy that is able to vin Pritzl had two words for King’s play. get into the lane and get his own shot when “Uber aggressive,” said Wisconsin’s senior that shot clock is winding guard. “He’s such a good which is going to be really scorer, he doesn’t necimportant.” essarily have to let the “COACH KRABB AND COACH TUCKER ARE Last Saturday, Morris game come to him. He ALWAYS TALKING TO ME, ‘NEXT ONE IS IN, watched King get three can put himself in a posiNEXT ONE IS IN.’ I’VE BEEN TRYING TO wins (3-for-3) in lateKEEP THAT MINDSET AND STAY AGGRESSIVE tion to score. clock possessions against “And he has been really EVEN IF I MISS A COUPLE.” Penn State’s Lamar Stedoing a good job of getvens, a four-year starter ting to his spots where he and one of the Big Ten’s marquee players. can score from. He’s a very emotional player King scored on a turnaround, a pull-up and and he feeds off that. When channeled in the a drive. Each was contested by the 6-foot-8 right way, you see how it works.” Stevens. But sometimes the emotion can get the best “Kobe is starting to realize what he can and of him.

“

“I’ve got to be more straight-line and not get down on myself,” King agreed. “I get upset when I miss shots sometimes just because as a player, whatever you’re shooting, you think it should go in. “Coach Krabb (Joe Krabbenhoft) and Coach (Alando) Tucker are always talking to me, ‘Next one is in, next one is in.’ I’ve been trying to keep that mindset and stay aggressive even if I miss a couple.” King has found a kindred spirit in Tucker, the UW’s all-time leading scorer. “Coach Tucker kind of reminds me of me,” King said. “He’s a guy I connect with a lot. Obviously, he played in the league (NBA) and I’ve learned a lot from him. He keeps my confidence up for sure.” Tucker, in turn, has enjoyed working with King. “I like to think that I connect with a lot of different guys,” Tucker said, “but he understands

that he plays a position similar to me and he wants to be successful at it. “He knows I’m always open and willing to help him out any way that I can, whether it’s on the court or off the court. We connect well because he’s a playful, open and really warm person. “One thing where we differ is when I get on the court, I know how to flip the switch and I can be monstrous. I want him to have that side and that demeanor. “Whenever you step between those lines, that playfulness goes away, that kindness goes away. He’s such a good person, he’s so nice, he’ll knock a guy down and pick him up. “I tell him, ‘No, you knock him down, you keep him down.’ You have to have that boxer’s mentality, that kind of mentality as a competitor, and he’s starting to get that and understand it.” DAVID STLUKA

DAVID STLUKA

Tucker characterized King’s game as retro. “His game is from a generation before — not from this generation,” Tucker said. “Today, everybody wants to shoot layups or 3’s. But he’s nimble and has a great mid-range game. “It’s a lost art in this day and age. That’s why I appreciate it. He loves getting downhill and being able to pull-up for that mid-range jumper. He knows his spots and he can get to them.” King grew up idolizing an old school NBA star. “I’ve probably watched every Kobe Bryant highlight that he has,” said King, knowing full well that Bryant was one of a kind. “Exactly. But you always try to mimic those guys. “With every great player, you want to take a piece of their game. Obviously, you can’t be them. I have to be Kobe King. But if I can take a little bit from some of those greats, it will help me.” In recent Big Ten play, King has been channeling his inner-Bryant, scoring 13 points against Ohio State, 21 against Illinois and 10 at

Penn State. He made 21 of 31 shots in those three games. “I think I get a little more amped for Big Ten games,” King confided. “My high school coach would always say that I played to the level of competition. “I wake up more for Big Ten games. I like having that challenge knowing that I’m playing in one of the best leagues in the country. So, I have to bring my ‘A’ game every night.” Gard isn’t sure what to make of the recent league versus non-league splits. “I don’t know if you can put your finger on one thing that causes it,” he said. “I think he’s getting more and more confident and he’s starting to find his rhythm on how aggressive he needs to be. “And he’s a kid when he’s feeling well obviously his confidence is really high.” Krabbenhoft realizes that King is still developing and experimenting. “You have to continue to find what works,”

Krabbenhoft said. “He’s got that switch and he I got to watch a guy up-close and personal do can turn it on. He’s got the ability to do that. the same thing.” It’s just staying consistent. Krabbenhoft was referring to a former UW “Not every night is going to be your night. teammate, none other than Alando Tucker. Where can you impact the game in other “He’s developing that (attitude). He’s not ways? Kobe has been a great teammate. He’s there yet, but that’s okay because there’s so constantly lifting them up to try and get them much more for him to continue to get better at to his energy level. and that’s fantastic. He’s “So, if you focus on playing at a great level those things — focus on right now.” “NOT EVERY NIGHT IS GOING TO BE YOUR others, focus on helping And because he is, NIGHT. WHERE CAN YOU IMPACT THE GAME IN this team win in other the future tests will be OTHER WAYS? KOBE HAS BEEN A GREAT TEAMways than scoring — the more challenging than MATE. HE’S CONSTANTLY LIFTING THEM UP TO scoring just comes natever for King. TRY AND GET THEM TO HIS ENERGY LEVEL.” urally. “He’s not going to “When he’s doing sneak up on anybody that, you see the emofrom now on,” Morris tion coming out and it’s fun to watch.” said. “He has moved up at least a notch on After seeing King win those one-on-ones everybody’s scouting report and he’s going to with Stevens, Krabbenhoft said, “He’s developget played a little more physically than he has.” ing that fearless attitude that, ‘I can take you.’ A sign of respect and growth.

“

JERRY MAO

INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (11-6, 4-2) Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 4

at NC State

Dec. 7

Indiana

L, 54-69 W, 84-64

Dec. 11 at Rutgers

L, 65-72

Dec. 21 Milwaukee

W, 83-64

Dec. 28 at Tennessee W, 68-48 Dec. 31 Rider

THIS WEEK Fresh off a win over No. 17 Maryland on Tuesday, Wisconsin (11-6 Overall, 4-2 B1G) heads to East Lansing for a Friday night showdown with No. 15 Michigan State at 6 p.m. (CT) on FS1. LAST TIME OUT Brad Davison hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left after getting a steal and the Badgers upset No. 17 Maryland, 56-54, on Tuesday night for their third-straight win against a ranked opponent.

GOOD TO KNOW Wisconsin scored its third consecutive win over a ranked opponent on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center (#5 Ohio State, #20 Penn State, #17 Maryland). The last time Wisconsin won three consecutive games against ranked opponents was 2015-16, when UW knocked off #4 Michigan State, #19 Indiana and #2 Maryland.

Jan. 3

at #5 Ohio St. W, 61-57

Jan. 8

Illinois

Jan. 11

at #20 Penn St. W, 58-49

Jan. 14

#17 Maryland W, 56-54

Jan. 17

at #15 Michigan St. 6 p.m.

Jan. 21

Nebraska

8 p.m.

Jan. 24

at Purdue

6 p.m.

Jan. 27

at Iowa

Feb. 1

#15 Michigan St. 12 p.m.

Feb. 5

at Minnesota

Feb. 9

#21 Ohio State 12 p.m.

Feb. 15 at Nebraska

L, 70-71

DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Basketball: Top Plays at Penn State

W, 65-37

7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. 1:15 p.m.

Feb. 18 Purdue

6 p.m.

Feb. 23 Rutgers

12 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Wisconsin’s game against Michigan State tips at 6 p.m. (CT) Friday on FS1. All radio broadcasts can be heard on the Badger Sports Network. Follow @BadgerMBB on Twitter for updates.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Lucas: ‘It’s not my shot, but our shot’

▶ Lucas: Potter proves it was worth the wait in breakout game ▶ Behind the Badgers: Pritzl and the boys are on the rise

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INSIDE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE (9-7, 1-4) Home events in bold. All times CT. Dec. 8

at N. Dakota St. W, 64-63

Dec. 12 Alabama State W, 85-67 Dec. 20 Prairie View A&M W, 68-42

LAST WEEK Wisconsin fell on the road to Nebraska, 65-50, and Michigan State, 69-52.

GOOD TO KNOW Sophomore forward Imani Lewis earned her sixth consecutive double-double against the Spartans, picking up 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Badgers in both categories. Lewis is now third overall in the UW record books for consecutive double-doubles and one away from entering the top 10 for career marks.

L, 61-64

Dec. 31 at Purdue

L, 61-72

Jan. 4

Penn State

W, 71-65

Jan. 9

at Nebraska

L, 50-65

Jan. 12

at Michigan St. L, 52-69

Jan. 16

Michigan

7 p.m.

Jan. 19

#22 Iowa

2 p.m.

Jan. 22

at Minnesota

7 p.m.

Jan. 25

Nebraska

Jan. 30

at #15 Indiana

6 p.m.

Feb. 2

at Illinois

2 p.m.

Feb. 6

Minnesota

7 p.m.

Feb. 9

at Ohio State

1 p.m.

11 a.m.

Feb. 13 Purdue

7 p.m.

Feb. 16 at #22 Iowa

2 p.m.

Feb. 19 #20 Maryland

7 p.m.

TOM LYNN

THIS WEEK The Badgers (9-7 Overall, 1-4 B1G) host two Big Ten opponents at the Kohl Center this week. First up is Michigan on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m., followed by No. 22 Iowa on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. The game against Iowa is Monroe Community Day, featuring post-game autographs with the players and will also celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Dec. 28 Rutgers

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Both games will be streamed live on BTN+. Follow @BadgerWBB on Twitter for live, in-game updates, game day reminders and more.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day

▶ Badgers fall short in East Lansing ▶ Wisconsin comes up short in Nebraska

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INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY SCHEDULE (8-11-1, 3-8-1-1) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 30 Michigan

W, 3-2

Dec. 1

Michigan

L, 1-3

Dec. 6

at Michigan St.

L, 0-3

Dec. 7

at Michigan St. L, 4-5 OT

Jan. 1 vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (Exhibition) W, 3-2

THIS WEEK Wisconsin (8-11-1, 3-8-1-1 B1G) plays host to No. 20 Michigan State (11-10-1, 7-4-1 Big Ten) for a Friday and Saturday series at the Kohl Center. Friday’s game is an 8 p.m. start, while Saturday’s game begins at 7 p.m. LAST WEEK The Badgers split against No. 8 Ohio State at the Kohl Center, winning the finale, 5-2, after dropping the first game of the weekend, 4-2. GOOD TO KNOW Senior goaltender Jack Berry earned his first victory of

the season with his 27-save performance last Saturday against Ohio State, his first appearance at the Kohl Center since Jan. 18, 2019 against Notre Dame. He had made 11 consecutive appearances away from the Kohl Center.

Plymouth, Mich.

Jan. 10

#8 Ohio State

L, 2-4

Jan. 11

#8 Ohio State

W, 5-2

Jan. 17

#20 Michigan St. 8 p.m.

Jan. 18

#20 Michigan St. 7 p.m.

Jan. 24

at #18 Notre Dame 6 p.m.

Jan. 25

at #18 Notre Dame 5 p.m.

Jan. 31

Minnesota

7 p.m.

Feb. 1

Minnesota

8 p.m.

Feb. 7

at Michigan

5 p.m.

Feb. 8

at Michigan

6:30 p.m.

Feb. 14 #6 Penn State

7 p.m.

Feb. 15 #6 Penn State

7 p.m.

DAN SANGER

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Hockey || Ep 17 || Game Day Rituals

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Friday’s game airs on ESPNU and on 1070 WTSO. Saturday’s contest will be shown on FOX Sports Wisconsin Plus and on the radio on 1310 WIBA. Both games can be found on the statewide Badger Sports Network and the iHeartRadio app.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Badgers beat Buckeyes, 5-2

▶ Badgers drop 2020 opener to Buckeyes ▶ Badgers start 2020 off with exhibition win

UA SPOTLIGHT MC

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S P E E D U A

S P O T L I G H T

T H AT / / / /

N E V E R U A

S T O P S

H I G H L I G H T

S P E E D / / / /

U A

T H AT

N E V E R

S P O T L I G H T

S T O P S / / / /

INSIDE WRESTLING SCHEDULE (8-2, 1-2) Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 23 at #18 Utah Valley W, 31-13 Dec. 1

at #1 Iowa

Dec. 7

at Cougar Clash

Edwardsville, Ill.

Dec. 19 Kent State

L, 3-32 Results »

W, 42-6

Dec. 29-30

at Midlands Championships Results »

THIS WEEK No. 4 Wisconsin (8-2, 1-2 B1G) faces its third-straight top-10 opponent when No. 3 Ohio State (5-1, 1-0) comes to the UW Field House on Friday. The dual airs live on Big Ten Network at 8 p.m. LAST WEEK Wisconsin dropped a border battle at No. 3 Minnesota, 20-14, on Friday night. UW bounced back against No. 7 Nebraska Sunday, winning 2518, behind key wins from Eric Barnett, Tristan Moran and Cole Martin.

GOOD TO KNOW Redshirt senior Tristan Moran walked away from the weekend 2-0 with victories over ranked opponents, a 7-6 decision over Minnesota’s No. 2 Mitch McKee and a 9-4 decision against No. 6 Chad Red of Nebraska.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Jan. 10

at #3 Minnesota L, 14-20

Jan. 12

#7 Nebraska W, 25-18

Jan. 17

#3 Ohio State

8 p.m.

Jan. 31

at Indiana

6 p.m.

Feb. 2

at #9 Purdue

Feb. 7

#2 Penn State

8 p.m.

Feb. 9

Michigan State

3 p.m.

TBA

Feb. 16 #18 Michigan

3 p.m.

Feb. 20 Northern Iowa

8 p.m.

KASSIE DUNNIHOO

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Chris Bono Press Conference after Win vs Nebraska

Mar. 7-8 at Big Ten Championships

Piscataway, N.J.

Mar. 19-21

at Big Ten Championships

Minneapolis

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Friday night’s match airs live on Big Ten Network. Follow @BadgerWrestling on Twitter and Instagram for live updates on the team.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Aw shucks: Badgers get first Big Ten win of season

▶ More of Moran: 141-pounder gets second huge upset ▶ On the Mat: Seth Gross’ Journey to Madison

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INSIDE MEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 17-18 at Larry Wieczorek Invitational

Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 24

at Jack Jennett Open

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Jack Johnson Classic

Minneapolis

Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Indiana Relays

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Oliver Hoare Wins the Mile

LAST TIME OUT Wisconsin ended the 2019 indoor season with a fourthplace finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships, marking its best showing since 2013.

GOOD TO KNOW Senior and 1500-meter specialist Olli Hoare was named to the preseason watch list for The Bowerman, which is the highest honor bestowed to collegiate track and field’s most outstanding athletes of the year. The Badgers are also ranked 11th in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll.

Bloomington, Ind.

Feb. 7-8

at Meyo Invitational

South Bend, Ind.

Feb. 8

at Red Hawk Invitational

Ripon, Wis.

Feb. 8

at Millrose Games

New York City

Feb. 14-15 at Husky Invitational

Seattle

View full schedule/results »

DAVID STLUKA

THIS WEEK No. 11 Wisconsin travels to Iowa City, Iowa, to compete in the Larry Wieczorek Invitational to kick off the 2020 indoor season. The meet takes place on Friday and Saturday with the men’s weight throw kicking off events on Friday at 9:30 a.m. The men’s triple jump will be the first event on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. A tentative schedule is available here.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Flotrack will provide live coverage of the meet here. Also, head over to @BadgerTrackXC on Twitter and Instagram for updates and coverage of the team and UWBadgers.com for a recap of the meet.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Wisconsin’s warm welcome

▶ UW Athletic Hall of Fame 2019: Donovan Bergstrom ▶ Badgers finish third in Men’s Program of the Year standings

INSIDE WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE Home events in bold. All times CT. Jan. 17-18 at Larry Wieczorek Invitational

Iowa City, Iowa

Jan. 24

at Jack Jennett Open

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Jack Johnson Classic

Minneapolis

Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at Indiana Relays

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Monson Wins and Davis Gets Second in 5000m

LAST TIME OUT The Badgers wrapped up the 2019 indoor season, tying for 21st at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Junior Alicia Monson won the 5000-meter title in 15 minutes, 31.26 seconds, becoming UW’s first female national champion since 1997.

GOOD TO KNOW Senior and 2019 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter champion Alicia Monson was placed on The Bowerman preseason watch list for 2020, which is the highest honor bestowed to collegiate track and field’s most outstanding athletes of the year. The Badgers are also ranked 25th in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll.

Bloomington, Ind.

Feb. 7-8

at Meyo Invitational

South Bend, Ind.

Feb. 8

at Red Hawk Invitational

Ripon, Wis.

Feb. 8

at Millrose Games

New York City

Feb. 14-15 at Husky Invitational

Seattle

Feb. 14-15 at Music City Invitational

DAVID STLUKA

THIS WEEK No. 25 Wisconsin kicks off the 2020 indoor season this weekend at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa. Events begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Nashville, Tenn.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Introducing the newest Badgers

▶ Amazing Alicia: Monson wins NCAA 5K crown ▶ UW Athletic Hall of Fame 2019: Gwen Jorgensen

INSIDE MEN’S TENNIS SCHEDULE Home events in bold. All times CT. Nov. 1-4 at Big Ten Individual Championships Lincoln, Neb. Results » Nov. 8-10

at Minnesota Invitational Results »

Minneapolis

Jan. 10-12 at Miami Invitational Miami Results »

LAST WEEK The Badgers kicked off their spring season down south at the Miami Invitational, where they picked up a total of eight wins against opponents from Texas, Miami, and Georgia.

GOOD TO KNOW Saturday’s matches mark the start of a 12-match homestand, including the ITA National Championships that Wisconsin will host Feb. 14-17.

Illinois State 11 a.m. Chicago State 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 24

DePaul

Jan. 26

North Dakota 11 a.m. Northern Illinois 4 p.m.

Jan. 31

Princeton

6 p.m.

Feb. 1

Green Bay IUPUI

1 p.m. 6 p.m.

Feb. 6

Marquette

5:30 p.m.

Feb. 11

#3 USC

5:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

Feb. 14-17 ITA National Championships Mar. 6

Wright State 5:30 p.m.

Mar. 8

at Minnesota

DAVID STLUKA

THIS WEEK Wisconsin returns to Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Saturday for its home opener. The Badgers will host back-to-back matches against Illinois State at 11 a.m. and Chicago State at 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 18

12 p.m.

View full schedule/results » SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT:

NEED TO KNOW Stay up to date on UW’s match information and results on Twitter (@BadgerMTennis) as well as UWBadgers.com for previews and recaps.

RELATED STORIES (Click to read)

▶ Wrapping up in Miami

▶ Rajpal to join Badgers next season ▶ Closing out the fall season