Varsity Magazine Vol 1 No 5

Home , Blake Geoffrion, Gabe Carimi, Hobey Baker

THE OFFICIAL ONLINE MAGAZINE OF WISCONSIN ATHLETICS

JANUARY 4, 2011 • VOL. 1 NO. 5

INSIDE: WOMEN’S HOOPS OPENS BIG TEN 2-0 § ‘GEOFFRION NIGHT’ SET FOR FRIDAY § THE VOICE WITH MATT LEPAY Varsity is published weekly by: Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711

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Director of Athletic Communications Brian Lucas | Email

Editor - Varsity Brian Mason | Email

Lead Writer Mike Lucas | Email IN THIS ISSUE Mike Lucas 4 Women’s Basketball 22-23 Columnist Matt Lepay By the Numbers 5 Men’s Basketball 24-25

Contributors Badgering Trevor Brandvold 6 The Perfect Fit 26-27 Karl Anderson New hoops assistant Lamont Paris Paul Capobianco Five Things to Watch 8 Mandy Hansen Women’s Hockey 28-29 Patrick Herb This Week in Badger Athletics 10-11 Allison Metcalf ‘Geoffrion Night’ set for Friday 30 Diane Nordstrom Stemmed Short 12-16 Badgers fall in Rose Bowl Wrestling 32 Photography Party at the Pier 18-19 This Week in Badger History 34 David Stluka / Greg Anderson / Greg Dixon Bob Campbell / Neil Ament / Brian Lucas Bowling Badgers Give Back 20 The Voice with Matt Lepay 35 Problems or Accessibility Issues? Email: [email protected]

© 2010 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. The Red Sea Badger fans turned out in droves for the 97th Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, with a contingent of at least 60,000 doing their part to turn the Rose Bowl Stadium a home away from home for UW. (David Stluka photo)

Women’s Basketball 22-23

Men’s Basketball 24-25

The Perfect Fit 26-27 New hoops assistant Lamont Paris

Women’s Hockey 28-29

‘Geoffrion Night’ set for Friday 30

Wrestling 32

This Week in Badger History 34

The Voice with Matt Lepay 35 PAGE 4 WITH MIKE LUCAS Sniff of Roses has UW already looking ahead from our past.’’ with Lance leaving, I know the job head.’’ Although the Badgers must is open,’’ said tight end Jacob Ped- Pedersen has already taken in- replace the All-American tag-team ersen, a redshirt freshman who got ventory on where he must improve. of Carimi and Moffitt, the left tackle considerable playing time. “I’m go- “One area I have to get better and guard, respectively, Konz will ing to work harder in the off-season is blocking,’’ he said. “Lance is a PASADENA, Calif. -- Peter Konz didn’t look around the subdued UW be one of three returning starters than I’ve ever worked so we can very explosive blocker. You’ve seen locker room following Saturday’s on the offensive line along with right repeat (as Big Ten champs). plenty of pancake blocks from him. loss in the Rose Bowl. Instead, he guard Kevin Zeitler and right tackle “Last year was nice finishing with I’m going to watch as much film on looked at himself. By so doing, he Ricky Wagner. that win (over Miami in the Champs him as I can. was looking ahead. Because of the Outland Trophy Sports Bowl). But this loss will drive “I know how to work harder now,’’ legacy at left tackle (Joe Thomas people to work even harder. It’s a CONTINUE READING said Konz, the sophomore center. and Carimi), there’s the prospect dark cloud that will loom over our ON UWBadgers.com “I know from the senior leader- of moving Wagner to that side ship how to be an effective leader, and opening up the competition at how to steer things before they go right tackle between Casey Dehn wrong and not fix it after the fact. and Josh Oglesby, who’s coming I know what kind of intensity we off knee surgery. Oglesby has 15 need to bring if we want to have career starts. another good season. Dallas Lewallen (6-6, 325) and “Maybe I need to just get out of Robbie Havenstein (6-8, 350) are being a ‘me’ player and break out a couple of big bodies that could into a leadership role and try to help eventually factor into the mix at everybody out. Gabe (Carimi) and tackle. Meanwhile, the Badgers Moff (John Moffitt) have been doing will look to replace Moffitt with that for two years. Ryan Groy, who was the short “Now it’s my turn to step up.’’ yardage fullback on occasion, or Can the way it all ended be a Travis Frederick, who redshirted driving force? this season. “You always learn things from In Wisconsin’s scheme, the tight hard times,’’ Konz went on. “Be- end or H-back is a valuable com- cause we’ve had such a devas- ponent to the running attack and tating loss here, it’s just going to play-action game and that void power us forward. We’re going to must be filled with the graduation learn from it. We’re not a team that loss of Lance Kendricks. sulks. We’re a team that learns “I’ve been able to watch a lot From left, Ricky Wagner, Kevin Zeitler and Peter Konz all return to an offensive line of great players come and go and that loses All-Americans John Moffitt and Gabe Carimi for 2011. BY THE NUMBERS 51 No. 1 Wrestling | Junior Andrew Howe was riding a Men’s Basketball / Football | Wisconsin is the only 51-match winning streak before falling to Nebraska’s school to make a bowl game and the NCAA tourna- Jordan Burroughs, 10-7, in the Midlands Champion- ment in every season since the 2002-03 academic ships’ title match at 165 lbs. on Dec. 30. year and ranks No. 1 nationally in combined bowl game and NCAA tournament appearances since 1996-97. 2-0 Combined Bowl Game and NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Appearances — Since 1996-97 Women’s Basketball | The Badgers have opened the Big Ten Conference season 2-0 for the first time since School Bowls NCAA App. Total 2001-02. Wisconsin downed Purdue 68-66 on Dec. 30 1. Wisconsin 14 13 27 and defeated Penn State 77-62 on Jan. 2. 2. Texas 13 13 26 3. Florida 15 10 25 4. Oklahoma 12 11 23 5. Michigan State 9 13 22 6. Ohio State 14 8 22 5 7. Tennessee 13 9 22 Men’s Hockey | Wisconsin boasts a five-game winning streak, longer than any streak the NCAA runner-up Badgers posted during the 2009-10 season. Badgering... TREVOR BRANDVOLD

The senior wrestler currently boasts a 4-0 dual-meet record at 197 lbs. after most recently capturing a major decision (13-3) over Northern Iowa’s Andy O’Loughlin on Dec. 1

How do you feel about your performance so far this season? Personally, I am pretty happy with where I am on the mat right now. I have a lot to keep working on. A big thing for me throughout my whole career has been stay- ing healthy, but I have a couple of things that I am dealing with right now. I am just working my hardest to stay healthy so that I can still be wrestling in March.

How would you evaluate the team’s performance so far? I think as a team we are in a good spot right now. We are a lot further along than we were at this time last year. I know that we are keeping March and the big tournaments in mind but we are really young right now. I think that our confidence is going to build a lot and that will really help toward the end of the season.

Do you see yourself as a vocal leader on the team? As a senior captain, throughout my five years I have been with five different teams and, this year, it’s just a really special group. I want to make sure that I am empha- sizing that to them. We have a chance to do some really good things, but I think just helping the guys out with that confidence factor is huge.

We have so much talent on this team but talent doesn’t automatically mean confidence. We need to help them get that confidence. I know that people call it ‘swag- ger’ or whatever but we need that on our team.

What is the biggest difference between tournaments and a dual meet? You have to prepare for a tournament completely different than you prepare for a dual. You weigh-in in the morning instead of in the afternoon. Just having two- three-four matches in one day rather than one match, you can’t look past any- body.”

This Week in Badger Athletics Things to Watch Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 8-9 5 Wrestling at NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Wednesday, Jan. 5 (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network) Coming off a second-place finish at the Midlands Championships, the Men’s Basketball vs. Michigan No. 4-ranked wrestling team heads to the NWCA/Cliff Keen National The Badgers return home for their lone Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this weekend. game this week, hosting Michigan at the Kohl Center at 7:30 p.m. on the Big Ten The 16-team field includes 13 ranked in this week’s NWCA/USA Divi- Network. Sitting at 11-3 overall and 1-1 in sion I Coaches Poll. Wisconsin, the No. 3 seed, competes against Big Ten play, UW plays three of its next four South Dakota on Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT) in its opening dual. The games at home. Badgers face either No. 22 American or No. 11 Oregon State (No. 6 Wisconsin has won eight straight games seed) in their second dual on Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT). against the Wolverines, dating back to 2007. The Badgers have beaten Michigan nine Sunday, Jan. 9 (10 a.m.) consecutive times in Madison with their last Outdoor Hockey Meet and Greet (Women’s Hockey) home loss coming on Feb. 27, 1999. Ranked No. 1 in the country with an 18-2 record heading into this weekend’s series at Friday, Jan. 7 (7 p.m., BigTenNetwork.com) Ohio State, the women’s hockey team invites Blake Geoffrion Night (Men’s Hockey vs. Canisius) fans to its first-ever Outdoor Hockey Meet The men’s hockey team hosts and Greet presented by Becker Law Office Canisius for a pair of games Friday and Madison Parks and Recreation on Sun- and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Kohl day, Jan. 9. The free public event will take Center (both on BigTenNetwork. place from 10-11 a.m. at Vilas Park. Come com). for autographs, photos and fun while skating 2010 Hobey Baker Award win- on an outdoor rink with the Badgers. Bucky ner Blake Geoffrion will be honored Badger will also be in attendance. before Friday night’s game. Gates open at 6 p.m. and Geoffrion will Sunday, Jan. 9 (3 p.m., Big Ten Network) be available for a limited amount of Women’s Basketball vs. Minnesota autographs between 6 and 6:30 Entering the week on a five-game winning streak, the women’s bas- p.m. at a table near section 111 on ketball team hosts rival Minnesota on Sunday at the Kohl Center at 3 the Kohl Center concourse. A Hobey p.m. The game will be televised live by the Big Ten Network. Baker poster giveaway courtesy of UW beat the Gophers in a double-overtime thriller last year in Min- Suttle Straus will run both for Friday and Saturday’s games. neapolis, 76-74, and own a three-game win streak in the series.

This Week in Badger Athletics SPORT NOTES

MEN’S BASKETBALL Purdue on Dec. 30, the first time it has opened WOMEN’S HOCKEY • This Week: Wisconsin puts an 11-game the Big Ten season with a win on the road since • This Week: No. 1 Wisconsin (18-2-0, 12-2- home win on the line when it plays host to 1994-95. Wisconsin also downed Penn State 0 WCHA) travels to Columbus, Ohio, for its Michigan on Wednesday. Big Ten Network will 77-62 in the Kohl Center on Jan. 2. second series of the carry the game beginning at 7:30 p.m. season against No. • Need to Know: UW tied a school record by 10 Ohio State (10-8- • Last Week: The Badgers split their first two making 11 3-pointers at Purdue on Dec. 30. 2, 4-8-2 WCHA) this Big Ten games of the season, knocking off No. Taylor Wurtz led the way by going 5-of-7 from weekend. Friday’s 14 Minnesota, 68-60 at the Kohl Center before behind the arc. In its last two games, Wiscon- game begins at 6 falling 69-61 at No. 25 Illinois on Sunday. sin is 19-of-32 (.594) from 3-point range. p.m. (CT), and the teams conclude the • Need to Know: The UW men lead the nation MEN’S HOCKEY series at 3 p.m. Sat- in three categories: fewest turnovers (8.1 per • This Week: Wisconsin (12-7-3, 6-6-2 WCHA) urday afternoon. game), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.83) and free plays its first two game in school history against throw percentage (80.2 percent). Canisius (6-8-4, 5-6-4 Atlantic Hockey) on Fri- • Last Week: Wis- day and Saturday at the Kohl Center.. consin picked up a WOMEN’S BASKETBALL pair of victories over • This Week: Wisconsin (7-7 overall, 2-0 Big • Last Week: The No. 10 Northeastern Ten) faces its second top-25 team of the sea- Badgers posted their and No. 4 Mercyhurst at the Easton Holiday son when it travels to No. 11 Michigan State second consecutive Showcase in St. Cloud, Minn., skating past (13-1, 1-0) on Thurs- home sweep with 5-1 Northeastern, 7-2, before securing a 7-4 win day. Tip off it at 6 and 4-2 victories over over the Lakers. p.m. from the Breslin visiting Massachu- Center in East Lan- setts. • Need to Know: Senior Meghan Duggan en- sing, Mich. ters the series with Ohio State riding a career- • Need to Know: best 16-game point streak after tallying seven • Last Week: The Friday is ‘Blake Geof- points in two games at the Easton Holiday Badgers opened the frion Night’ as the Showcase in St. Cloud, Minn., last weekend. Big Ten season with a Badgers will honor 2-0 mark for the first the 2010 Hobey WRESTLING time since 2001-02. Baker Memorial • This Week: The No. 4 Wisconsin wrestling UW opened the con- Award winner on the team travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for the ference season with ice before the game. NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals Jan. 8-9. a 68-66 road win at • Last Week: Led by titles from Tyler Graff (133 • Need to Know: Saturday’s meet is part of the lbs.) and Travis Rutt (184 lbs.), the Badgers Badgers’ annual three-week training session in placed second at the Midlands Championships Hawaii in Evanston, Ill. WOMEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING • Need to Know: Nebraska’s Jordan Burroughs • This Week: The women’s swimming and defeated Wisconsin’s Andrew Howe in the diving team is back in action for the first time 165-pound title match at the Midlands Champi- in over a month with a dual meet at Hawaii on onships to snap Howe’s 51-match win streak. Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT).

MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING • Last Week: The Badgers last competed at • This Week: The men’s swimming and diving the Texas Invitational, Dec. 2-4, where Maggie team is back in action for the first time in over a Meyer earned NCAA ‘A’ times and set school month with a dual meet at Hawaii on Saturday records in both the 100 and 200-yard back- at 2 p.m. (CT). stroke events.

• Last Week: The Badgers last competed at • Need to Know: The meet is part of a three- the Texas Invitational, Dec. 2-4, picking up 15 week training session the team is holding in NCAA consideration times. Hawaii .

By Brian Mason The Grandaddy of Them All came down to a two-point UW Athletic Communications conversion and an outstanding defensive play that halted PASADENA, Calif. Wisconsin’s fourth-quarter rally and allowed TCU to hang on for a 21-19 win in the Rose Bowl. he shootout nearly turned into a shutout. T After their offenses went back and forth in the highest- scoring first quarter in Rose Bowl history, the defenses from Wis- consin and TCU traded blows in a defensive battle that decided the Grandaddy of Them All. In the end, TCU’s No. 1-ranked defense had one more stop left in it. Linebacker Tank Carder swat- ted down a 2-point conversion pass attempt with 2 minutes to play, and it helped No. 3 TCU completed a perfect season with its first Rose Bowl victory, 21-19, over fourth-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday. In doing so, the Horned Frogs snapped UW’s streak of three-consecutive Rose Bowl wins. “Hopefully the scar that we’re going to take from this game can get us back here sooner than later,” UW head coach Bret Bielema said. “This game wasn’t decided on one play or two plays. It was probably an accumulation of about 10 or 12 plays that we failed to execute, and (TCU) did.” The play halted the Badgers’ attempt at a fourth-quarter comeback, which nearly came to fruition after Montee Ball ran in for a touchdown from 4 yards out on the end of a 77-yard scoring drive. It capped a 132-yard day for Ball, who joined with teammates John Clay and James White to bring Wiscon- sin agonozingly close to becoming the first school in FBS history to have three running backs rush for 1,000 yards in a “This game season. wasn’t decided Clay rushed 11 times for 76 yards to bump his season total on one play or to 1,012 while James White two plays. It carried eight times for 23 yards was probably to finish the year with 1,052 an accumula- yards. Ball eclipsed the 100-yard tion of about 10 mark for the fifth-straight game or 12 plays that and ended the year with 996 we failed to rushing yards. execute, and Through the air, senior quarterback Scott Tolzien completed (TCU) did.” 12 of 21 passes for 159 yards to finish the season with a Big Bret Bielema Ten-record completion percent- UW head coach age of 72.9 percent. Ball’s score was the only points of the second half for Wisconsin, which also held TCU to a single second-half TD. That came on the Horned Frogs’ first drive of the third quarter - with Luke Shivers scoring on a 1-yard run -- and staked TCU to a 21-13 lead after covering 71 yards in just six plays. Then the defenses settled in. The teams traded punts on each of their next three drives until the Badgers go the ball back with 7:32 remaining. Clay opened the scoring march with game-tying two-point conversion, Carder good game plan and just playing their tails back-to-back runs of 14 and 30 yards to made a perfectly timed leap at the line to off. It was a four-quarter battle, and it was drive the Badgers into TCU territory. The bat down Tolzien’s throw to the end zone. unfortunate all around for us.” Badgers needed a third-down pass from The intended receiver, tight end Jacob The defensive struggle after halftime Tolzien to Kendricks to keep the chains Pedersen, was open in the end zone. was in stark contrast to a frenetic first moving, before handing the keys back to “What got us here was clean execu- quarter that saw the teams combine for a Clay for four straight runs that had UW tion and clean disciplined football, and Rose Bowl-record 24 points. inside the Horned Frogs’ 5 yard line. we didn’t do that today all around, myself The Badgers were forced to settle for Ball finished the job with the Badgers’ included,” Tolzien said. “That’s why it’s the a field goal after marching 55 yards on 48th rushing score of the season - match- greatest game, because you don’t execute eight plays on their game-opening drive, a ing the Big Ten record set by Ohio State in and you’re on edges. The other team’s go- 30-yarder from Phillip Welch. 1974. ing to find a way to beat you. TCU answered with a 23-yard touch- As the Badgers lined up for a potential “I think you also give credit to TCU for a down pass from quarterback Andy Dalton to Bart Johnson on its first possession, Welch then drew the Badgers within a TCU to less than half of the 43.3 points per jumping out to a 7-3 lead. point, at 14-13, by drilling a 37-yarder as game the Horned Frogs averaged to rank Clay countered with a 1-yard touchdown time expired on the first half. No. 4 nationally coming into the game. run on UW’s next drive to help the Bad- UW’s ball-control style allowed the Bad- Wisconsin’s 226 total rushing yards gers regain the lead, but Dalton quickly put gers to hold the ball for all but three plays were almost twice as many as TCU’s the Frogs back out front on a 4-yard run of in the second quarter. In all, the Badgers nation-leading defense had been allowing his own. held the ball for 21 minutes, 28 seconds entering the game (89.2 yards per game). The Badgers blinked first as Welch of the first half, leaving TCU just 8:32 with “Obviously, (that’s) a very good football missed wide left on a 39-yard field goal which to work. team on the other sideline, but we’ll take attempt, but the UW defense stood tall by For the game, the Badgers owned a this and we’ll move forward,” Bielema said. forcing TCU into a punt on its ensuing pos- 13-minute advantage in possession time, “I don’t think there will be anything that session. outgained the Frogs by 84 yards and held sets us back.”

A party with no peer An estimated 25,000 Badger fans descended on Santa Monica Pier to show their spirit Party at the Pier, a Rose Bowl pep rally held at the fa- mous Santa Monica Pier, drew a sea of red to the shores of the Pacific Ocean on Dec. 30. An estimated 25,000 Badger fans crammed their way into the parking lot adjacent to the pier, the bridge leading to the pier and the pier itself. The crowd was treated to performances by the UW Marching Band and Spirit Squad, as well as appearances by Chancellor Biddy Martin, Director of Athletics Barry Al- varez, Rose Bowl legends Pat Richter and Ron Dayne and — of course — head coach Bret Bielema and the Badgers.

Emcee Matt Lepay handed the mic to LT Gabe Carimi and LG John Moffitt for a few The UW Marching Band continued a stretch of five straight days of performing words during the team’s appearance on stage. around the Los Angeles area with its show at Party at the Pier. Breaking from bowl prep to give back Players donate time to Pasadena-area children’s causes By Karl Anderson UW Athletic Communications After last Wednesday’s Rose Bowl practice ended, members of the Wisconsin football team went off to three different chari- ties: the Boys and Girls Club of Pasada, a local children’s hospital and Five Acres, an organization that helps vulner- able children and families. The team spent an hour playing with kids at the Boys and Girls Club. Activities included flag football, ping pong, video games, pool and a dance contest on another video game. Players like Drew McAdams, Central video game on the Josh Peprah, Jeff Lewis, Joe XBOX Kinect system. The Ki- Brennan, Connor Moutvic and nect is like a motion-sensor, so Jason Hengel spent a large the players had to mimic what part of the hour in the gym they saw on the screen and do playing flag football with the the same dance moves they kids, while Kyle Costigan and saw. Bryce Gilbert played some Wii Jake Current and Sam Ed- Sports. Ben Ruechel played a miston were some of the first lot of ping pong as Joseph Mc- to take part in the challenge, Namara and Willie Resop took while Brennan, Lewis and Pep- in a game of Madden football rah all joined in later, as well. with some of the kids. Not surprisingly, none fared The highlight, though, may well against the children they have come with the Dance matched up against.

This Week in Badger Women’s Basketball Badgers look to continue hot league start Wisconsin (7-7 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) faces broadcast. since 1994-95. Wisconsin also downed its second top-25 team of the season when Penn State 77-62 in the Kohl Center last it travels to No. 11 Michigan State (13-1, LAST WEEK Sunday. 1-0) on Thursday. Tip off it at 6 p.m. from The Badgers opened the Big Ten sea- Wisconsin is one of only four teams the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. son with a 2-0 mark for the first time since that remain undefeated after the first The Badgers return home on Sunday 2001-02. UW opened the conference weekend of Big Ten competition. Michigan to face Minnesota (8-7, 0-2) in a Border season with a 68-66 road win at Purdue and Indiana are also 2-0 while Michigan Battle contest. Game time is 3 p.m. from on Dec. 30, the first time it has opened State is 1-0. the Kohl Center is a live Big Ten Network the Big Ten season with a win on the road GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS: Sunday vs. Minnesota 2010-11 Schedule GIRL SCOUT DAY: Girl Scouts can purchase general admission tickets in advance for only $1. For an order form, contact your local Girl Scout Office or call 608-265- DATE OPPONENT TIME 2672. Nov. 12 at Saint Louis W, 60-32 Nov. 14 William & Mary W, 65-38 Pre-registered youth basketball teams will re- YOUTH BASKETBALL TEAM DAY: Nov. 18 at Green Bay L, 69-43 ceive free admission! To register, contact Adam at [email protected]. Nov. 21 Kansas L, 93-86 (ot) Nov. 24 Marquette L, 66-52 BADGER HALFTIME SHOWCASE: Presented by Coca Cola featuring Dania the World’s Greatest Hula Hoop Act. Dania is sure to entertain you with her world’s great- Concord Thanksgiving Classic (Moraga, Calif.) est hula-hoop act. Nov. 26 vs. BYU L, 67-55 Nov. 27 at Saint Mary’s L, 56-50 TOP FIVE tively. Sophomore Taylor Wurtz adds 9.8 Dec. 2 Duke (#5) L, 59-51 1. SCHOOL RECORD 3-POINTERS: points per game. Dec. 5 at Oklahoma State L, 50-42 UW tied a school record by making 11 Dec. 9 at Drake W, 60-49 3-pointers at Purdue on Dec. 30. Taylor NOTE OF THE WEEK Dec. 12 Milwaukee W, 68-53 Wurtz led the way by going 5-of-7 from DOUBLING UP: Eight Badgers have behind the arc. In its last two games, scored in double figures in at least one Dec. 15 at Wyoming W, 63-59 Wisconsin is 19-of-32 (.594) from 3-point game this season while four UW players Dec. 30 at Purdue W, 68-66 range. have tallied double-figure rebounds in at Jan. 2 Penn State W, 77-62 2. FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK: The least one game. Jan. 6 at Michigan State 6 p.m. Badgers have won their last five games, Seniors Tara Steinbauer and Alyssa Jan. 9 Minnesota TBA the longest winning streak of the season Karel lead the team with double-figure Jan. 13 Purdue 7:30 p.m. and the longest since winning 10 straight scoring in eight games. Taylor Wurtz have Jan. 16 at Michigan 12:30 p.m. during the 2008-09 non-conference sea- double-figure scoring in six games. Lin Jan. 20 at Minnesota 7:30 p.m. son. Zastrow has more than 10 points in five Jan. 23 Illinois 5 p.m. 3. DISHING IT OFF: Wisconsin dished games. Jan. 30 at Northwestern 2 p.m. off a season-high 17 assists vs. Penn Karel has scored in double figures in Feb. 3 Michigan State 7 p.m. State on Sunday. Senior Lin Zastrow had the last five games while Steinbauer has Feb. 6 at Indiana 1 p.m. a career-high six assists. double-figures in four straight games. Feb. 10 Northwestern 7 p.m. 4. TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: In Wurtz has scored 10-or-more points in her Feb. 16 at Iowa 7 p.m. their last three games, the Badgers have last three games. Feb. 19 Michigan 1 p.m. tallied 15-or-fewer turnovers in each Wurtz leads the Badgers in rebounding, Feb. 23 Indiana 7 p.m. game. Wisconsin is averaging just 13.7 with double figures in four games while Feb. 27 at Ohio State 3 p.m. TOs per game during the stretch. Steinbauer has double-figure rebounds in 5. BALANCED SCORING: UW has three games. Covington and Davis have Big Ten Tournament (Indianapolis, Ind.) three players that average 10-or-more double-figure boards in one game. March 3-6 points per game. Senior Alyssa Karel leads the team with 14.6 points per game while Lin Zastrow and Tara Steinbauer add CONTINUE READING 11.4 and 11.2 points per game, respec- ON UWBadgers.com This Week in Badger Men’s Basketball

STARTING FIVE Michigan on Jan. 5, at the Kohl 1. Wisconsin is riding an 11- Center. The Big Ten Network will game home win streak after beat- carry the game live beginning at ing No. 13 Minnesota 68-60 at the 7:30 p.m. (CT). Wisconsin has won Kohl Center last Tuesday. Under eight consecutive games vs. Michi- Bo Ryan, UW is 70-6 (.921) at gan. home vs. Big Ten opponents. • UW will be off over the week- 2 . UW has won its last 16 games end before returning to action at when coming off a loss. The Bad- Michigan State on Tuesday, Jan. gers haven’t lost back-to-back 11. games since January of 2009. 3 . Through two Big Ten games, THE SERIES VS. MICHIGAN the Badgers have turned the ball Wisconsin and Michigan will play over a total of five times, including for the 152nd time Wednesday an NCAA Division I-low two times night, with the Wolverines owning vs. Minnesota. UW leads the nation an 86-65 advantage all-time in the in both fewest turnovers (8.1 per series. However, the Badgers are game) and team assist-to-turnover 44-32 in games played in Madison. ratio (1.83). • Wisconsin has won eight 4 . In his 10th season at UW, consecutive games overall in the Bo Ryan’s .711 win percentage series, winning by an average of in Big Ten play is the top mark in 11.25 points per game over that conference history, surpassing Bob stretch. Knight’s mark of .700. • During UW’s eight-game win 5 . Senior Jon Leuer, who is on streak over UM, Michigan is aver- the watch list for the Wooden and aging just 51.9 points per outing Naismith player of the year awards against the Badgers and has not as well as the Senior CLASS scored more than 61 points in any Award, is averaging 19.5 points per of those eight contests. game, UW’s highest mark since Al- • Bo Ryan owns a 13-4 record ando Tucker averaged 19.9 points against Michigan overall, including per game in the 2006-07 season. a perfect 8-0 mark at home. UW hasn’t lost to Michigan at home UP NEXT: UW RETURNS HOME since 1999. TO FACE MICHIGAN • Ryan is 7-0 all-time vs. Michi- • Wisconsin continues Big Ten gan head coach John Beilein. play this Wednesday when it hosts 2010-11 Schedule

Badger Men’s Basketball DATE OPPONENT TIME Nov. 14 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M W, 99-55 Nov. 16 NORTH DAKOTA W, 85-53 Nov. 20 at UNLV L, 68-65

Old Spice Classic (Orlando, Fla.) Nov. 25 vs. Manhattan W, 50-35 Nov. 26 vs. Boston College W, 65-55 Nov. 28 vs. Notre Dame L, 58-51

Dec. 1 N.C. STATE W, 87-48 Dec. 4 SOUTH DAKOTA W, 76-61 Dec. 8 MILWAUKEE W, 61-40 COLD OUT, HOT IN THE KOHL CENTER: ence. Over the last five seasons, UW also Dec. 11 at Marquette W, 69-64 • Wisconsin is 8-0 at the Kohl Center this owns the best Big Ten mark at 53-19 (.736). Dec. 13 GREEN BAY W, 70-56 year. Dating back to last season, Wisconsin Purdue (51-21), OSU (50-21) and MSU Dec. 23 COPPIN STATE W, 80-56 has won 11 straight home games overall. (50-21) are the next-closest over that span. Dec. 28 MINNESOTA W, 68-60 • The Badgers have won their eight home Jan. 2 at Illinois L, 69-61 games this season by an average of 24.6 BOUNCING BACK Jan. 5 MICHIGAN 7:30 p.m. points per game. • With a win over NC State earlier this Jan. 11 at Michigan State 6 p.m. • At home this year, UW is scoring an year, Wisconsin has now won 16 consecu- Jan. 15 ILLINOIS 2 p.m. average of 78.3 points per game. The tive games following a loss. Jan. 20 INDIANA 8 p.m. Badgers are shooting 48.9 percent from the • Last season, UW was the only Big Ten Jan. 23 at Northwestern 12 p.m. field and 43.9 percent from 3-point range. team that did not lose consecutive games. Jan. 29 at Penn State 3 p.m. The last time the Badgers lost back-to-back Feb. 1 PURDUE 6 p.m. BIG TEN’S BEST games was in January of 2009. Feb. 6 MICHIGAN STATE 12 p.m. Since Bo Ryan took over in 2001, Wis- Feb. 9 at Iowa 7:30 p.m. consin has been arguably the best team in BALL SECURITY Feb. 12 OHIO STATE 1 p.m. the Big Ten. • For the second straight season, Wis- Feb. 16 at Purdue 5:30 p.m. • In its 10th season under Ryan, UW consin leads the nation in fewest turnovers Feb. 20 PENN STATE 5 p.m. has won five Big Ten championships (three at just 8.1 per game. Pacific ranks a distant Feb. 23 at Michigan 5:30 p.m. regular season and two tournament). Only second with 10.5 TOs per game. Michigan Feb. 27 NORTHWESTERN 5 p.m. Ohio State (7 — 4 regular season, 3 tour- (10.7 TOs per game) owns the Big Ten’s March 2/3 at Indiana TBA nament) has won more titles during Ryan’s second-best mark. March 6 at Ohio State TBA tenure. Illinois also has 5 titles, but no • Through two Big Ten games, UW has other Big Ten school has won more than 2 turned the ball over a total of five times. Big Ten Tournament (Indianapolis, Ind.) crowns over the last nine seasons. March 10-13 • Ryan’s teams have posted a 108-44 CONTINUE READING (.711) Big Ten record, tops in the confer- ON UWBadgers.com Assistant Lamont Paris has plenty in common with Bo Ryan — hard work and the ability to work with people

By Mike Lucas UWBadgers.com UW first-year assistant coach Lamont Paris is unlikely to gain a recruiting advantage based solely on his senior thesis which was a “Regression analysis on whether cigarette consumption was affect- ed by the price of excise or sin taxes.’’ Paris did earn the “time-honored’’ Tootsie Roll and an “I did it’’ button (another tradi- tion) upon the completion of his 110-page independent study thesis at the College of Wooster, a private liberal arts school in Ohio. It’s also unlikely that Paris will win over a recruit simply because he shares a hometown (Findlay, Ohio) with Pittsburgh Steel- ers quarterback Ben Rothelisberger though he did meet Big Ben once while recruiting. Paris is not a name-dropper, not even when the name is LeBron James; an Akron native, who crossed paths with Paris more than once when the latter was coaching for James’ former prep coach Keith Dambrot at THE PERFECT FIT the University of Akron. What does bode well for the 37-year-old “I would never say recruiting is easy,’’ That has been his recipe. But he admit- Paris in his transition to the Badgers and Paris said. “But I’ve been trying to put forth ted that there are more ingredients in the the Big Ten is a fundamentally sound re- the same principles that I always have: mix now that present unique and different cruiting philosophy that has been cultivated Work hard at it. Spend a lot of time with the challenges. “For example, some of the at the Division III, Division II and mid-major people you’re recruiting; develop a relation- quote unquote handlers that you may have levels. ship. And tell the truth.’’ to deal with,’’ Paris said. To varying degrees, it’s part of Paris didn’t make that list the landscape in college basket- when he was coming out of ball. Findlay. But he did field a few In his autobiography, UW calls from Division II recruiters. coach Bo Ryan wrote, “Today, Mostly, he drew interest from the instead of dealing with street College of Wooster, a Division parking, we’re dealing with III program that was recruiting a street agents.’’ teammate. Ryan volunteered the follow- “I didn’t know much about re- ing illustration. cruiting in general,’’ he said. “No “I’m handling all of the recruit- one in my family had ever gone ing,’’ the coach is informed. to college. There were a couple “Who are you?” of schools I knew I couldn’t play “I’m the third cousin. But ev- at, although I probably would erything is going through me.’’ have liked to.’’ “Oh, really. That’s how it Enter the Fighting Scots of works? Thanks, but no thanks.” Wooster. Conceded Ryan, “I don’t do “They recruited me hard,’’ he real well in those situations.’’ said. That’s why Ryan has set his As a junior and senior, Paris own standards for recruiting was the team captain and MVP. at Wisconsin. Paris can relate Overall, he competed in three because he was introduced to Division III tournaments with the a similar approach by Dambrot Scots. But he was more intent at Akron. That was reflected by on using his degree in business how propects were evaluated. economics than coaching. “We spent a lot of time look- “We had a couple of guys on ing at the intricacies of every our team who knew they wanted guy,’’ said Paris, a lead recruiter to coach from birth,’’ said Paris. for the Akron Zips. “Was it what “That was never me. I wanted to we wanted? I’m not saying other play as long as I could. I loved people don’t do that. But many basketball, but I wanted to have times you get mesmerized with my own business of some kind. athleticism or with a guy who “That was my original goal. has played a couple of good Then my coach asked me if I high school games. wanted to coach. I said, `Sure, “With what we did defensively I’ll do it to prolong going into the at Akron, we had a system and real working world.’’’ we worked hard to find guys who fit our system, similar to what we do at Wisconsin. That’s opposed to thinking, `This kid CONTINUE READING is a Top 100, we have to take ON UWBadgers.com him.’’’ This Week in 2010-11 Schedule

Badger Women’s Hockey DATE OPPONENT TIME Oct. 1 Rensselaer W, 7-0 The No. 1 Wisconsin women’s hockey Oct. 2 Rensselaer W, 6-0 team (18-2-0, 12-2-0 WCHA) travels to Oct. 8 Bemidji State W, 7-1 Columbus, Ohio, for its second series of Oct. 10 Bemidji State W, 2-0 the season against No. 10 Ohio State (10- Oct. 22 Ohio State W, 6-5 (ot) 8-2, 4-8-2 WCHA) this weekend. Friday’s Oct. 23 Ohio State W, 5-2 game begins at 6 p.m. (CT), and the teams Oct. 29 Minnesota State W, 3-2 conclude the series at 3 p.m. Saturday af- Oct. 30 Minnesota State W, 6-1 ternoon. Both games will take place at the Nov. 5 at Minnesota L, 7-5 OSU Ice Rink. Nov. 6 at Minnesota W, 5-0 Nov. 19 at Robert Morris W, 7-1 Key Notes to Consider Nov. 20 at Robert Morris W, 7-1 Wisconsin is 41-7-6 all-time against Ohio Nov. 26 Minnesota Duluth W, 3-2 (ot) Nov. 28 Minnesota Duluth L, 3-1 State. The Badgers swept the Buckeyes in Dec. 4 at North Dakota W, 4-3 the first series between the two teams this Dec. 5 at North Dakota W, 6-2 season. UW posted a 6-5 overtime win and Dec. 10 at St. Cloud State W, 5-0 a 5-2 victory at the Kohl Center Oct. 22-23, Dec. 11 at St. Cloud State W, 6-1 2010. Jan. 1 vs. Northeastern W, 7-2 • Senior Meghan Duggan enters the Jan. 2 vs. Mercyhurst W, 7-4 series with Ohio State riding a career-best Meghan Duggan enters this weekend’s series riding a Jan. 7 at Ohio State 6 p.m. 16-game point streak after tallying seven career-best 16-game point streak. Jan. 8 at Ohio State 3 p.m. points in two games at the Easton Holiday Jan. 14 St. Cloud State 7 p.m. Showcase in St. Cloud, Minn., last week- from Nov. 29-Dec. 13. This week’s USA Jan. 16 St. Cloud State 2 p.m. end. Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll will be Jan. 21 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. • Four Badgers are competing with Can- released Tuesday. Wisconsin opened the Jan. 22 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. ada’s National Women’s Under-22 Team at season ranked No. 5 in both national polls. Jan. 28 Minnesota 7 p.m. the 2011 MLP Cup in Kreuzlingen, Switzer- Jan. 29 Minnesota 7 p.m. land this week. Mallory Deluce, Carolyne Last Time Out Feb. 4 at Bemidji State 6 p.m. Prevost, Brittany Haverstock and Stefanie Wisconsin picked up a pair of victories Feb. 5 at Bemidji State 4 p.m. McKeough are representing their native over No. 10 Northeastern and No. 4/5 Mer- Feb. 11 North Dakota 7 p.m. Canada at the six-team tournament, which cyhurst at the Easton Holiday Showcase in Feb. 13 North Dakota 2 p.m. also features Finland, Germany, Russia, St. Cloud, Minn., last weekend. The Bad- Feb. 18 at Minnesota State 7 p.m. Sweden and Switzerland. gers skated past Northeastern, 7-2, before Feb. 19 at Minnesota State 3 p.m. • The Badgers returned to No. 1 in this securing a 7-4 win over the Lakers. week’s USCHO.com national poll after holding the No. 2 ranking in three polls CONTINUE READING ON UWBadgers.com Join the Badgers at outdoor meet and greet MADISON, Wis.. -- The University of Wis- away courtesy of Becker Law Office. For every person in attendance at the game, consin women’s hockey team invites fans to Becker Law Office will donate $1 to Second its first-ever Outdoor Hockey Meet and Greet FILL THE BOWL Harvest, and UW will collect non-perishable presented by Becker Law Office and Madison Members of the UW women’s hockey team food items to be donated as well. Parks and Recreation on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. also are getting ready for this season’s Fill the The Badgers toured Second Harvest Food- The free event will take place from 10-11 Bowl game set for Jan. 29 when Wisconsin bank and learned about the organization’s a.m. at Vilas Park and is open to the public. hosts Minnesota at the Kohl Center. services before spending time volunteering by Come for autographs, photos and fun while The Fill the Bowl game is set for 7 p.m., and bagging apples. In total, the Badgers bagged skating on an outdoor rink with your favorite all fans will receive admission for only $1. 3,645lbs of apples, the equivalent of 2,804 Badger women’s hockey players. Bucky Badger The Badgers invite fans to help them in their meals if someone ate only apples. will also be in attendance. quest to break the NCAA attendance record Fans should arrive early for a special give- while also helping Second Harvest Foodbank.

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DATE OPPONENT TIME Oct. 8 Boston University L, 4-3 Oct. 10 Holy Cross W, 6-0 Oct. 15 ALA. HUNTSVILLE W, 7-0 Oct. 17 ALA. HUNTSVILLE W, 5-2 Oct. 22 at Denver L, 4-2 Oct. 23 at Denver T, 2-2 (ot) Oct. 29 MICHIGAN TECH W, 5-2 Oct. 30 MICHIGAN TECH W, 4-1 Nov. 5 at Minnesota W, 6-0 Nov. 6 at Minnesota T, 3-3 (ot) Nov. 12 NORTH DAKOTA L, 1-0 Nov. 13 NORTH DAKOTA L, 4-2 Nov. 19 MINNESOTA DULUTH L, 6-5 (ot) Nov. 20 MINNESOTA DULUTH L, 3-2 (ot) Nov. 26 MICHIGAN T, 4-4 (ot) Nov. 27 MICHIGAN STATE W, 4-1 Dec. 3 at Alaska Anchorage L, 2-1 Dec. 4 at Alaska Anchorage W, 3-1 UW to honor Hobey winner Dec. 10 BEMIDJI STATE W, 3-2 Dec. 11 BEMIDJI STATE W, 3-0 with ‘Geoffrion Night’ Friday Dec. 30 MASSACHUSETTS W, 5-1 Dec. 31 MASSACHUSETTS W, 4-2 The Wisconsin men’s hockey program will MVP was named to the 2010 WCHA Final Five Jan. 7 CANISIUS 7 p.m. honor 2010 Hobey Baker Memorial Award-win- All-Tournament Team. Jan. 8 CANISIUS 7 p.m. ner Blake Geoffrion on Friday, Jan. 7 prior to its A Brentwood, Tenn., native, Geoffrion led the Jan. 14 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. game against Canisius. The game, at the Kohl country with 15 power-play goals and ranked Jan. 15 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m. Center, begins at 7 p.m. third in the country with 28 goals last season. Jan. 21 MINNESOTA STATE 7 p.m. Geoffrion, who became Wisconsin’s first He finished the season with 50 points. Jan. 22 MINNESOTA STATE 7 p.m. Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner last April, Currently skating with the AHL’s Milwaukee Jan. 28 at Michigan Tech 6 p.m. was one of Wisconsin’s team captains and led Admirals, Geoffrion was a second-round pick, Jan. 29 at Michigan Tech 6 p.m. the Badgers to the 2010 NCAA Championship the 56th overall, by his hometown Nashville Game that was played at Ford Field in Detroit. Predators in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Feb. 11 at Nebraska Omaha 7:30 p.m. A first-team All-American, Geoffrion was also Gates open for the evening at 6 p.m. Geof- Feb. 12 at Nebraska Omaha 7 p.m. the USCHO.com and Insidecollegehockey.com frion will be available for a limited amount of Feb. 18 MINNESOTA 7 p.m. National Player of the Year. autographs between 6 and 6:30 p.m. at a table Feb. 19 MINNESOTA 8 p.m. An ESPY nominee for male college athlete of near section 111 on the Kohl Center concourse. Feb. 25 at St. Cloud State 7 p.m. the year, he was also the 2010 Wisconsin Male A Hobey Baker poster giveaway courtesy of Feb. 26 at St. Cloud State 7 p.m. Athlete of the year. Suttle Straus will run both for Friday and Satur- March 4 COLORADO COLLEGE 7 p.m. In addition, the 2010 NCAA West Regional day’s games. March 5 COLORADO COLLEGE 7 p.m.

This Week in 2010-11 Schedule

Badger Wrestling DATE OPPONENT TIME Nov. 19 at UNC-Greensboro W, 34-12 NWCA National Duals up next for No. 4-ranked Badgers ACC Challenge (Chapel Hill, N.C.) 3-0 overall Nov. 21 at North Carolina W, 27-3 The No. 4 Wisconsin wrestling team vs. No. 15 Virginia Tech W, 24-19 returns to the mat for the 2011 NWCA/ vs. UT-Chattanooga W, 25-16 Cliff Keen Duals at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa Jan. 8-9. Dec. 3-4 Cliff Keen Invite 2nd, 101.5 • The Badgers face South Dakota at 11 Dec. 11 Northern Iowa W, 23-14 a.m. on Saturday in their first dual of the Dec. 29-30 Midlands 2nd, 95.5 tournament. In the second dual of the day Jan. 8-9 NWCA National Duals All Day at 3 p.m., Wisconsin squares off against Jan. 16 Illinois 1 p.m. either Oregon State (No. 11) or American Top-ranked Andrew Howe already owns 10 wins on Jan. 21 Nebraska 7 p.m. (No. 22). the young season at 165 lbs. Jan. 30 at Minnesota 1 p.m. • Of the 16 competing teams, 13 are Feb. 6 Purdue 1 p.m. ranked in this week’s NWCA/USA Today fell, 22-12. Feb. 11 at Northwestern 7 p.m. Feb. 13 Ohio State 1 p.m. Coaches Poll’s top 25 including No. 1 Cor- In the final match of the tournament, the Feb. 18 at Penn State 6 p.m. nell, No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Minne- Badgers were competing for seventh place Feb. 20 at Michigan State 12 p.m. sota and No. 6 Boise State. against Maryland, but the Terrapins were

• Joining No. 4 Wisconsin, three other able to defeat the Cardinal and White to give Wisconsin an eighth-place finish. Big Ten Championships Big Ten teams are set to compete this March 5-6 weekend. No. 5 Minnesota is set to wrestle • Competing teams in this year’s event include: No. 1 Cornell, No. 24 Ohio State, Northern Illinois, No. 18 Purdue takes on NCAA Championships Northern Iowa, No. 13 Missouri, No. 6 No. 2 Oklahoma State and No. 1 Cornell March 17-19 faces off against No. 24 Ohio STate in the Boise STate, No. 14 Iowa State, Northern opening round. Illnois, No. 5 Minnesota, South Dakota, No. more Cole Schmitt (149 lbs.) and junior • Last year the Badgers finished 2-3 at 22 American , No. 11 Oregon State, No. 12 Andrew Howe (165 lbs.), who each took the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals for an Virginia Tech, No. 17 Central Michigan, No. second in their respective weight classes at eighth-place finish. 18 Purdue and No. 2 Oklahoma State. Welsh-Ryan Arena. In their first match they dropped a 24-11 Wisconsin (95.5 points) was just eight decision to Cornell. They wrapped up the LAST TIME OUT points short of the first place title, obtained first day with victories over Arizona State, Led by titles from redshirt sophomore by Missouri with 103.5 points. 23-10, and Central Michigan, 20-13. In Tyler Graff (133 lbs.) and junior Travis Rutt the final day of the tournament, Wisconsin (184 lbs.) the Badgers placed second at the 48th annual Midlands Championships competed against Boise State in a conso- CONTINUE READING on Dec. 30. Also helping the Badgers’ to lation semifinal to open the final day, but ON UWBadgers.com a second-place finish was redshirt sopho-

This Week in Badger History

Jan. 15, 2002 Badgers knock off No. 7 Illinois for Bo Ryan’s first Big Ten win Following a tough 69-57 loss at No. 9 Iowa in the conference opener, first-year head coach Bo Ryan and his 7-7 Badgers prepared to host Illinois, ranked seventh in the country with a 12-2 record. Illinois jumped out to an early nine-point lead (13-4) and main- tained a 31-26 advantage at halftime. A layup by Robert Archibald gave the Illini a 44-36 lead with 14:07 left in the game. The Badger responded, however, going on an 11-0 run with Dave Mader giving UW the lead with two of his career-high nine points. From there, the game was tied five times and the lead changed hands six times. Freshman Mike Wilkinson gave the Badgers the lead for good, converting a three-point play with 2:56 remaining. UW finished the game on a 10-3 run to seal its first win over a top-10 team since the 2000 Final Four run. Charlie Wills led all scorers with 19 points while freshman Devin Harris added 17 and Wilkinson chipped in with 11. The win helped jumpstart the Badgers’ conference season that would end with Wis- consin’s first Big Ten title since 1947. The Voice: Thanks for a season to remember

By Matt Lepay little old Horned Frogs. It simply was two The Voice of the Badgers very good, very well-coached teams play- As we have often heard, maybe es- ing a down-to-the-wire game that makes pecially this season, a game and even a Rose Bowls special. season can come down to a handful of For me, all that talk about an under- plays. For 11 of the first 12 games of this sized TCU team seemed a bit overblown. just-concluded football season, those few By last Thursday’s media day, it became plays broke Wisconsin’s way. On New laughable. I had seen plenty of game Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl, they did not. video, but that was my first up-close look After Saturday’s gut wrenching 21-19 at the Horned Frogs. News flash — they Party at the Pier in Santa Monica. “One loss to TCU, it is easy to wonder “what if” have big boys too. I asked Rimington more year! One more year!” or play “coulda shoulda.” A key penalty Award-winning center Jake Kirkpatrick While emotions can run deep, this is a here, a missed connection on a pass play about playing the underdog role. Even he time when both Watt and Clay move into there. Settling for a field goal after a prom- chuckled when he told me that is just the the role of being businessmen. Gather ising drive stalled. While it is only natural way it works under Coach Gary Patterson. the facts as best they can about their draft to wonder about that and more, it also can I guess it works pretty well, but remember positions, and then make a very personal drive you nuts. TCU was the higher-ranked team and a decision. As much as Badger fans would Let’s remember the Badgers won two field goal favorite in Pasadena. love them to stay (and feel free to hang games in part because of blocked extra In football, the term “non-automatic around fellas!), they must do what is best points. Think the folks at Arizona State qualifying conference” can be as annoying for them. and Iowa wonder about that? What if to those folks as basketball programs be- Whatever the case, the Wisconsin pro- Scott Tolzien doesn’t hit Nick Toon on a ing labeled mid-majors. Perhaps the parity gram appears to be in very good shape. key third-down pass against Ohio State, that seems to be in play in that sport can Fans have watched a young head coach allowing the Badgers to keep a drive alive apply to football as well. After all, the “non grow, and they have seen a team of tal- while protecting a three-point lead? The AQs” have won four BCS games in their ented, low-maintenance players excel on momentum was about to completely shift last five tries. and off the field. It has been one terrific the Buckeyes’ way, but that pass helped Little guy? I don’t think so. season. lead to a critical fourth-quarter score. Sup- So what is next for the Badgers? Bret I must disagree with one thing J.J. said pose they wonder about that in Colum- Bielema will have at least one assistant to after Saturday’s game. He apologized to bus? replace. Good luck to Dave Doeren as he fans for the Rose Bowl outcome. Person- For the Badgers, the script almost becomes head coach at Northern Illinois. ally, I feel terrible for him, his teammates played out perfectly. For TCU, it did. What See you in September at Soldier Field. and his coaches, but J.J., apologize for fans witnessed on Saturday was a tightly J.J. Watt and John Clay have decisions nothing. contested game between two superb pro- to make about their football futures. No Actually, Badger fans thank you and grams. It was not about David vs. Goliath. doubt both are getting plenty of free ad- your squad for giving them a season to It was not the big bad Badgers against the vice. Watt sure did during last Thursday’s remember.