Varsity Magazine Vol 7 No 28

CONTENTS MARCH 1, 2017 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 28 DAVID STLUKA

THE CLOSING ACT Bronson Koenig has grown into and embraced the heavy mantle of leadership. Now in his final year at UW, he’s proven that he’s the guy the Badgers turn to when the game is on the line. DAVID STLUKA FEATURES FOOTBALL IN [FOCUS] NEW OPPORTUNITY The week's best photos

Bob Bostad is returning home. The BY THE NUMBERS Wisconsin native is returning to a Facts and figures on UW Badgers’ program he values for good football and chemistry. WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers

LUCAS AT LARGE ASK THE BADGERS Hidden talents NFL COMBINE BADGERING What should you watch for at the Jess Unicomb (Swimming) NFL Combine? Six Badgers are DAVID STLUKA ready to make positive impressions INSIDE FOOTBALL on scouts in Indianapolis. Camp Randall’s turning 100

-SCROLL FOR MORE- INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL Fighting empty possessions Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711

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Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications

Jessica Burda Director of Digital Content Managing Editor

Julia Hujet Editor/Designer

Mike Lucas Senior Writer

Andy Baggot Writer

Matt Lepay Columnist

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Contributors Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Brian Mason, Diane Nordstrom

Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire

Cover Photo: David Stluka

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© 2017 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM What to watch for at the NFL Combine ome talent evaluators, real ical testing and media and team same thing to me,” he related. (pro scouts with creden- interviews. They will also be “They’ve told me it’s going to Stials) or imagined (bloggers tested in the bench press. On be a long, grinding process and with mock drafts), have raised Friday, they will have their on- you’ve got to be ready to accept questions about Corey Clem- field workout. what it is. You have to show ent’s vision. Clement can see Since Wisconsin’s win over you’re supposed to be there. I’m one thing very clearly: he must Western Michigan in the Cotton going to appreciate the environ- change the way some people Bowl, Clement has been train- ment. But, at the end of the day, may look at him. Knowing that he ing with NX Level sports per- it’s still business.” will get that chance at the NFL formance coach Matt Gifford. White reminded him that he Combine, he said, “My mindset “Coach Giff has definitely been doesn’t have to do anything out going into it is to shock every- helping me out as far as my 40 of the ordinary. “Just do what body else’s perspective of me.” (yard) starts,” Clement said. “My you’ve been doing your whole Clement will be one of six speed is there, so it’s all about life, nothing too different, you’ve DAVID STLUKA former Wisconsin players who technique and learning how done these agility drills 1,000 will see how they measure up my body works. I’m more of a times,” Clement said. “I’ve sent during the combine testing at rhythm runner. I’ve learned that Melvin some of my 40 videos Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapo- over the last eight weeks.” and he has been giving me some lis later this week. On Thursday, Clement has also sought out pointers and I’ve been taking it Clement and Dare Ogunbowale the advice of former UW tail- all in. He’s someone I’ve been will be among the running backs backs James White and Melvin leaning on. Every question I that will go through psycholog- Gordon. “They’ve both said the have, I go to him.”

Corey Clement DAVID STLUKA

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM DAVID STLUKA

“I THINK OUR GUYS WILL THRIVE T.J. Watt IN THAT SITUATION,” LEONHARD SAID. “BE YOU. SHOW YOUR PERSONALITY. SHOW YOUR INTELLIGENCE. WE TEACH SOUND FOOTBALL. WE TEACH GOOD FOOTBALL HERE. SHOW THAT.”

There are many questions ac- companying Clement’s pre-combine profile at NFL.com. While Clement is lauded for his size and athletic ability (“Utilizes explosive, sudden jump cut to bound like a deer from gap to gap”) there are concerns over his durability, fluidity as a runner, decisiveness and vision. It concludes that Clement’s best fit might be as a “committee back in a one-cut running scheme.” Clement was given a 5.43 grade from NFL.com — LSU’s Leonard Fournette got a 7.15 — and was compared to former Au- burn tailback Peyton Barber, an undrafted free agent with Tampa Bay. Ogunbowale received a 5.2 he doesn’t have long arms or a They’re used to being in pres- grade. He was labeled as a “try- broad frame, Ramczyk’s foot- sure situations, on and off the hard back, but not a dynamic work, balance and body control field.” runner.” What you see is what will almost certainly make him a Not that it is worth much at you get. As such, he looms as a first-round draft choice. this stage, but T.J. Watt was “third-down back with the effort “Some guys can’t handle the given a little higher pre-combine and consistency to compete for mental side, the long days, the grade (5.88) than Vince Bie- a roster spot.” grind of what the combine is, gel (5.28). Both are among the Left tackle Ryan Ramczyk, but I think our guys will thrive in linebackers that will go through who’s coming off hip surgery, that situation,” said UW defen- their on-field workout (timing, will obviously not take part in sive coordinator Jim Leonhard. stations, skills drills) on Sunday. any of the physical testing in “Be you. Show your personali- Watt has been compared to Paul Indianapolis. But he has already ty. Show your intelligence. We Kruger, a second-round draft gotten high marks: a 6.2 rating teach sound football. We teach choice of the Baltimore Ravens; which puts him just ahead of good football here. Show that. and Biegel to Frank Zombo, an Alabama’s Cam Robinson. While It’s a not a stretch for our guys. undrafted free agent.

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM

In his NFL.com profile, Watt with technique and great hand about the workouts? “He has to was characterized as a “long- play” on the line of scrimmage. It show his athleticism, right? Ev- limbed rusher” and a “tireless doesn’t hurt to be a Watt, either. erybody knows that he’s going worker who pursues from “It’s very easy to evaluate to work his tail off. Now, let’s snap to whistle.” But Watt was when you’ve got everybody on show how athletic you are and also assessed as “not overly the same field (in Indy),” said see what happens.” twitched-up as an athlete,” who Leonhard, who knows Biegel’s Biegel was described as an is a “short strider” and “lacks personality (“Which he has in “effort-based worker bee” explosion out of his stance.” It spades”) will serve him well with “football character off the concluded that he needs to “win during the interviews. What charts” to go along with his “intensity” and “all-out love for the sport.” But he’s considered to be Sojourn Shelton a little undersized leading to this assessment, “Quick to stick, slow to shuck.” The lack of power, it was suggested, could lead to in- consistency. But he has the “de- meanor” to be a “special teams demon.” Cornerback Sojourn Shelton has the least notoriety of the UW contingent at the combine. But he has the most playing experience. “He’s getting that opportunity to be out there with the supposed ‘best of the best,’” Leonhard said. “He’ll have that level playing field of doing drills together. That’s going to be huge for him. He has the tape. Now, it’s where do I stack up versus those guys?” It’s a question everyone must answer. “This is a first step,” said Clement, who had 314 carries for 1,375 rushing yards (105.8) and 15 touchdowns as a senior. “I’ve been dreaming about it since long before high school. I’ve been watching the combine every year as long as I can remember. Now, BOB CAMPBELL it’s my opportunity to step on the stage and show the scouts who I am and what I can do.” ▪

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 3 ASK THE BADGERS WHAT IS A SKILL THAT YOU ARE GOOD AT THAT MIGHT SURPRISE? PEOPLE? JACK MCLAUGHLIN DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

ALYSON BALDWIN MATT FERRIS KAITLYN MENZ Freshman ■ Women’s Hockey Soph. ■ Men’s Basketball Freshman ■ Softball Richmond, Texas Appleton, Wis. Waukee, Iowa

“I guess my hidden talent “I can finish a Rubik’s “I can change a diaper would be lassoing. I guess Cube in around 1 minute, in under 10 seconds. I it makes sense because I’m 30 seconds. I learned my worked at a daycare for from Texas. I haven’t roped sophomore year of high two years in high school, before in any competitions, school from my older changing about 15 diapers but it’s something I did brother’s friend. At first a day. It became so natural when I was younger. After it took me around 10 for me to do and one of my my hockey career, I might minutes to get through coworkers timed me start get back into it.” it, but with practice I’ve to finish and it was like trimmed down my time. 9.58 seconds.” All it takes to learn is an open mind and a couple hours of time.” BADGERING MICHAEL RINGOR

JESS UNICOMB

The Wisconsin women’s swimming and diving team is fresh off placing third in the Big Ten Conference meet, its best showing since 2005. Lending an impressive hand was Jess Unicomb, a sophomore from Gold Coast, Australia, who swam in all five relays — including the triumphant 200-yard freestyle foursome — as well as multiple individual events. Unicomb expects to have a similar workload when the Badgers compete in the NCAA championships March 15-18 in Indianapolis. Unicomb committed to UW without ever seeing the campus in person — a family vacation to Hawaii happened to overlap with the Badgers during their annual training excursion — and immediately became a versatile award-winning fixture in the lineup for UW men’s and women’s coach Whitney Hite. She spoke recently prior to a weight-training session about her heavy workload, a moment of international culture shock and her unique background in water safety. Interview by Andy Baggot: What do you expect your workload will be at the NCAA meet? “I am hoping to do the same relays as I did at the Big Ten meet. Then we find out this week offi- cially if I’ve made any individual events.”

SCROLL In addition to the relays, you have potential qualifying times in the 200 backstroke, the 200 individual medley, 100 back, 50 freestyle, 100 free and 200 freestyle. How did you cultivate all that versatility? “I came in doing predominantly freestyle and backstroke; the IM has developed over time to what it is today. We practice so many diverse strokes in training — we do all the strokes — so I try to do my best technically in practice and try to get as best as I can in all of them and see what happens.”

What do you think is the major challenge in trying to manage such a workload at the NCAA meet? “I leave the taper up to the coaches — obviously I have some say in it, but I believe in them and what they do — but in terms of my day racing, I pretty much have a strategy and a routine down. … It’s all about finishing one race, being excited about it and then kind of putting it aside and coming back and preparing for the next one.”

What’s your favorite personal performance this season? “Definitely the Big Ten meet and my favorite performance was the 200 free relay, which we won. It was one of the coolest experiences ever. … The girls on that relay, we all work so hard — the whole team works hard — but I couldn’t have asked anyone else to be with.”

You need speed and timing to win a relay, but what about chemistry? Do you need that, too? “I think so. On this team I can’t see a relay team not having chemistry because we’re all so close.”

What is your major and why? “I haven’t declared yet, but I’m hoping to get into the business school at the end of this semester and do marketing and human resources. Why? … After looking at the majors, marketing and human resources sounded like the fit for me. I love working with people and I love being organized.”

Is there something you do better than anyone else on your team? “That’s a tough one. I think I really do a good job of seeing things in a positive light, especially after hard practices.”

What’s been your biggest adjustment to American culture? “The food. I had heard from a lot of people in Australia that Australian swimmers who go over- seas usually get fat. You guys have a lot of extra sugar in your food and we’re not used to that in Australia. Especially in my freshman year, being in the dorms and having food readily available was really hard for me to get into a routine … and not get mac and cheese every night. Now that I’m living in an apartment and cooking for myself, it’s been a lot easier. I can make my own meals and kind of stick to my schedule like I do back home.”

You’ve competed for years in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. How has that helped your swimming career? “It’s another competitive field. It was sort of more fun for me. It was something that I did on the side. I was competitive in it, but there wasn’t as much pressure as swimming. … Competitive surf life-saving was a lot of fun for me. I did it from under-eights — I was 7 at the time — until under-15, something like that. It gave me another outlet to expend my energy.”

You were part of some winning relays. Can you explain what it’s all about? “We have lifeguards (on the beaches in Australia) and it’s basically the rescues they perform in a race format. … They have team events where you do what they call a rescue-tube-rescue which I was a part of. You have one swimmer swim out to a (buoy) and signal for help. Then you get a person with a rubber tube who swims out and connects (to the distressed swimmer). You both swim back in and you have two people drag you up to the beach and the finish line. It’s getting to the person and getting them back as fast as you can.”

Have you ever been part of an actual rescue? “I haven’t, but I’ve been on multiple patrols back in Australia. One time that I didn’t go, they of course had a rescue, which was kind of annoying because I wanted to see it and be a part of it.” ■ DAVID STLUKA ON AND OFF THE COURT, WISCONSIN POINT GUARD BRONSON KOENIG HAS GROWN INTO AND EMBRACED THE HEAVY MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP. NOW IN HIS FINAL YEAR AT UW, HE’S PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT HE’S THE GUY THE BADGERS TURN TO WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE. DAVID STLUKA

n the morning of the shootaround, Bron- “Coach (Greg) Gard called me the next day and son Koenig sat impassively in a courtside told me that he (Jackson) was going to be out for Oseat watching his Wisconsin teammates go awhile and that I was going to be taking over (at the through their paces in Ann Arbor. point),” remembered Koenig, then a sophomore. ESPN’s Rece Davis, who was carrying some game “He said that he had total confidence in me and notes for the broadcast that night, sat next to Koe- that I was ready for the moment.” nig during a portion of the 45-minute workout at Gard, then an assistant, now the UW head coach, the Crisler Center. wanted to make sure that Koenig knew exactly how Davis eventually scratched Koenig from his per- he felt about the situation. So, he laid out the plan sonnel board. Shut down by a calf injury, Koenig and what was expected of him. didn’t suit up for a 64-58 loss to Michigan snapping Here’s what Gard told Koenig: “Get ready. Your a string of 84 consecutive starts. time is here. You’re ready for this. You’ve prepared “Being it was the first game that I had ever missed for it. I’m excited for you. Trust your teammates. in my career,” said Koenig, who had appeared in 134 You’ll be fine. Just go play.” straight games to that point, “watching it from the Gard was confident in Koenig even though he was sidelines was definitely different.” replacing one of the team’s heartbeats in Jackson, Being injured, in one respect, was therapeutic. “To who relied on guile and guts and never shied away have that one game to sit back and watch and heal from taking a big shot. my body a little bit,” Koenig said, “definitely helped.” “We were probably the only team in the country Being injured, in another respect, was sobering. to be equipped to where if we were going to lose “This being my last year,” he said, “it reminded me somebody that was probably the only position we of how much I really love this game and how much could afford to lose him and still have that quality of I want to be out there with my teammates.” a backup ready to step right in,” Gard said. As the 22-year-old Koenig gets ready for his final “Bronson had some experience and wasn’t going two home appearances — Thursday against Iowa to be overwhelmed by the moment. Plus, he was and Sunday against Minnesota — he can also reflect surrounded by teammates who could help him. It on the injury that impacted his career path. wasn’t like he was thrown into the fire and forced At the very least, it altered his timetable and ac- to carry all the weight on his shoulders. He had a celerated his development when senior point guard heckuva crew to guide him.” Traevon Jackson went down with a foot injury in a Koenig went to school on that perspective and mid-January loss at Rutgers in 2015. harvested it.

BRONSON KOENIG: THE CLOSING ACT PAGE 2 OF 7 “I remember being a little bit nervous that first game starting,” he said. “But I played with confidence and I played my game. My teammates need- ed me, but I also knew that my job wasn’t going to be that hard playing with the Player of the Year (Frank Kaminsky) and on such a great team. “We were so unselfish. I knew if I gave up the ball, I was going to get it back.” Koenig started the final 24 games and helped lead the Badgers into the Final Four and national champi- onship game against Duke. As a starter, he averaged nearly 20 minutes, 11 points and 3 assists. He also shot 44 percent (50-for-113) from the 3-point arc. “It was fun to watch him (develop) from afar,” ad- mitted former UW guard Ben Brust, who had grad- uated the year before. “Josh (Gasser) always said that Bronson used to come into those games and call the same call every time, which makes me laugh, because he did that even the year I was there. “He was still young and he was still learning. But the fact that he was young and learning and able to produce at such a high level was impressive. Even as a freshman, he hit big shots. I remember he played in that (2014) Final Four game and had a big first half against Kentucky. “And then, again, the next year, when Trae (Traevon Jackson) went down with the injury, he stepped up. He’s always had that kind of killer confidence. He knows he can shoot. He knows he can score. And he really hasn’t wavered from that.” Yet, it was not always that way for Koenig, who led La Crosse (Wisconsin) Aquinas to two state ti- tles. “Coming in here as a freshman, I was lacking confidence a little bit,” he said. “It was such a change of pace to thinking that I was going to come and really play a lot to playing a minute (against St. John’s) and not at all (against Florida) my first couple of games. I thought, ‘Man, what’s going on?’” It would get worse, to this thinking, than better when he was put on the scout team, the unit that is responsible in practice to simulate the opponent’s offense and defense for the starters and top re- serves. When it happened, Koenig bristled, “I didn’t come here to play on the scout team.” So, he didn’t handle it well? “No, I did handle it well,” Koenig insisted, “because the first day they put me on the scout team, I

BRONSON KOENIG: THE CLOSING ACT PAGE 3 OF 7 remember that I was super mad and I killed it that to be and how you need to grow,” Gard said. “You day, and I got promoted (to the rotation) the next learn to value intangibles and understand there’s a day.” difference between high school and college. That’s Instead of sulking, Koenig had taken out his frus- the premium put on every possession.” trations by competing harder. Another injury factored into Koenig’s timeline. The “I remember that,” said Brust, adding that serv- night before playing Green Bay in the third game of ing on the Badgers scout team was usually a rite of the 2013-2014 season, guard George Marshall was passage, even for schol- hurt in practice. He was arship players. “It’s just diagnosed with a con- kind of the norm when “GET READY. YOUR TIME IS HERE. YOU’RE cussion and was ruled someone comes in as READY FOR THIS. YOU’VE PREPARED FOR IT. out for the Phoenix. a freshman, no matter I’M EXCITED FOR“ YOU. TRUST YOUR “We had some foul what their credentials trouble at Green Bay TEAMMATES. YOU’LL BE FINE. are. early on,” said Gard, JUST GO PLAY.” “It’s a credit to him. who had no choice but Bronson didn’t think he to use Koenig off the belonged there and he worked his way out of there. bench. He was not disappointed. Koenig played 23 I remember him making some 3s in a scout period minutes and went 3-for-3 from the floor, including when we ended up having to run. Usually that’s a his only attempt from the 3-point line, his first triple tell-tale sign that you’re ready to be on the other at Wisconsin. side.” “Had the concussion not happened (to Mar- Still, nobody is completely ready at first. “It’s a little shall, who later transferred), he probably wouldn’t shock and reality check in terms of where you need have played in that game. Then who knows when

▼ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Staying the Course DAVID STLUKA

BRONSON KOENIG: THE CLOSING ACT PAGE 4 OF 7 he plays? At some time obviously he was going to deficit and lifted the Badgers into the Sweet 16. get on the floor, but it probably kick-started a little That basket was also memorable from the stand- sooner than everyone thought.” point that Brust moved past Tim Locum and be- During Koenig’s freshman season, he became came Wisconsin’s all-time leader in triples. Brust’s friends with Brust, a high energy 3-point threat. As record (235) stood for less than three full seasons, a junior, Brust recorded 79 triples, twice knocking 101 games, until Koenig broke it last Thursday night down seven in a game, to break Sean Mason’s sin- at Ohio State. gle-season record. As a senior, he raised the bar to “Ben tweeted at me; he didn’t think his record 96, which is still the school record. would be broken that quick,” laughed Koenig, who One of Brust’s most dramatic 3-pointers came viewed it as a bittersweet moment since the Bad- at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. With 1:07 left gers lost to the Buckeyes. “I’ve always prided my- against Oregon in the NCAA tournament, Brust self on winning. Records don’t mean that much to knocked down a clutch shot from the wing that me. Winning means everything.” culminated a furious rally from a 12-point halftime ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ onnie Stokes and Stephen Bardo were “old- school” Big Ten guards. Stokes played for El- Rdon Miller in the early to mid ‘80s at Ohio State. He was a two-time captain and team MVP. Bardo played for Lou Henson in the mid to late ‘80s at Illinois. He was the league’s Defensive Play- er of the Year in ‘89. Stokes and Bardo have tracked Koenig’s growth over the last four seasons as color analysts — Stokes with the Ohio State radio network; Bardo with the Big Ten Network. Both were asked the same question: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Koenig? “Clutch,” Stokes said. “Clutch is the word.” “Clutch,” Bardo said. “Very clutch.” Both elaborated. “Every time I watch highlights or watch Wiscon- sin (in person) it seems like anytime a play is need- ed to be made, he either assisted on it or he hit a big-time 3,” said Stokes. “He has a great feel for the game. He understands how to get open and it’s not like he’s the quickest guy on the floor. “But he finds a way to create enough space to get that shot off. He’s really good at moving away from the basketball and coming off screens. He knows his limitations. And you’ve got to give him credit for understanding what his strengths and weaknesses are and trying to maximize his strengths.” Bardo had a similar critique of Koenig. “He’s kind of a hybrid — he’s a point guard but he scores so easily and he’s so clutch,” said Bar- JOHN FISHER do. “You see guys at the next level, the NBA level, being able to do some of the things that Bronson does. But you don’t see it a lot in the college game.

BRONSON KOENIG: THE CLOSING ACT PAGE 5 OF 7 “He has the ability to understand time and situa- “Lou (Henson) didn’t like us shooting a lot of 3s — tion and what his team needs and he’s able to step that was right when the 3 came into the game,” Bar- up and convert … he’s a lot quicker than you think do said of the 1986-87 season when the NCAA ad- on first appearance … you have to close out on him opted the 3-point line at 19 feet, 9 inches. In 2007, because he shoots the ball so well. But he can get it was lengthened to 20-9. “Lou was more predi- by you (off the drib- cated on dribble-drive ble). and getting to the rim.” “There were times “YOU SEE GUYS AT THE NEXT LEVEL, THE If he was guarding when he was a fresh- NBA LEVEL, BEING ABLE TO DO SOME OF Koenig, Bardo said, man, and even as a “I would just try to THE THINGS THAT BRONSON“ DOES. BUT YOU sophomore, where he deny him the basket- DON’T SEE IT A LOT IN THE COLLEGE GAME.” might get a little hur- ball. You have to take ried by someone get- something away. Take ting up under him, really pressuring the basketball. away his jump shot and he can beat you off the But now I haven’t really seen anybody get him to bounce. He can create and get the ball to where it speed up his game. He plays within himself as well needs to go. He’s a tough matchup.” as any guard in the league.” The 3-pointer can be found in everybody’s arse- Both have seen the college game evolve with the nal today. 3-point shot, an obvious Koenig strength. “When you think about it,” Stokes said, “it not only changed the guards, but also the bigs. Now, you have stretch 4s and stretch 5s. Back when I played, it was a nightmare for a big to go beyond 10 feet because the coach would say, ‘There’s no reason for you to shoot out there.’ “But now, because it’s an extra point, it has changed the game.” Koenig has studied 3-point marksmen starting with Golden State’s Stephen Curry. “He is unique,” he conceded. “But, obviously, I love to watch him, especially some of his step-backs. That’s kind of where I got the shot that I had in the corner (to beat Xavier in the 2016 NCAA tournament). I like to watch all great shooters. I watch how they shoot the ball, their rhythm.” Koenig has broken down considerable video of Mark Price who starred at Georgia Tech and played 12 years in the NBA. Price shot a little better than 40 percent from the 3-point line for his career. “He was an undersized guy who could really shoot the ball,” Koenig said. “I’ve watched a lot of him.” Closer to home, Iowa State’s Matt Thomas is on Koenig’s short list. “He’s from Onalaska, which is 10 minutes from La Crosse,” Koenig said. “Me and him have had a lot of battles back and forth in high school. I like to watch him shoot because he’s prob- DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA ably one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen.” Meanwhile, Brust was a natural role model for Koenig.

BRONSON KOENIG: THE CLOSING ACT PAGE 6 OF 7 DAVID STLUKA

“He has grown off the court in terms of a leader and a student-athlete and person probably more than anything else,” said Gard. “He was always a very good player and his game has matured and gotten better. But we’ve seen the maturity more so in all the other areas.”

“At some level, I don’t think you can teach it real- er and a student-athlete and person probably more ly,” Brust said of 3-point shooting instincts. “You can than anything else,” said Gard. “He was always a develop a better shot. But to be a shooter, I think very good player and his game has matured and you just have it in you — you have your own style, gotten better. But we’ve seen the maturity more so your own shot and you become consistent with it. in all the other areas.” You really mold it to how you know you shoot.” “It’s cool,” Brust said, “to watch someone who’s That has been the case with Koenig and his short, so passionate about making a change and making compact 3-point mechanics. a difference and using the platform that he’s given. “There’s a lot of different things that go into it,” A lot of the opportunities are there for people. But Koenig said. “Moving without the ball. Your team- not everyone takes advantage of it when they’re in mates setting good screens. Having them find you a position to make a difference. He did.” when you’re open. Taking what the defense gives Bardo and Stokes have been equally moved by you. If they’re going to pressure, you’ve got to have Koenig’s commitment to a very personal cause. the balance of attacking the rim or pulling up. “He’s inspiring,” Bardo said. “A lot of African Ameri- “My freshman and sophomore years, I had great cans in the United States have some lineage of indige- teammates and I just kind of deferred. I didn’t have nous people, Native Americans, and I’m one of them. to shoot as much. I could just get them the ball and I really admire the young man for what he has been I knew if they were going to be doubled, or my guy able to do and how he carries himself all the time. was helping out, they were good enough passers to “He does it in a quiet fashion … in such a way kick it out and I got a lot of easy shots, easy 3s.” where there’s a regal quality about what he’s doing.” A lot has changed since those early years, partic- “I know when I was 21 or 22, I was not thinking ularly off the court for Koenig. about things like that,” Stokes confessed. “It tells me His activism on behalf of Native Americans has how mature he is to understand that the world is been well-documented. much bigger than playing in the Big Ten as a basket- “I’m proud,” said his mom, Ethel Funmaker, “of ball player. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to be what he has become and what he has done.” like over the next 20 years in his life. She’s not alone with those feelings. “He’s going to make Wisconsin very, very proud.” “He has grown off the court in terms of a lead- He already has.

BRONSON KOENIG: THE CLOSING ACT PAGE 7 OF 7 DAVID STLUKA

Bostad’s embracing new opportunity Wisconsin native returning to Badgers for good football, chemistry

BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER s an offensive coordinator, Paul Chryst al- the last two years. “It just gave us a better under- ways wondered what it would be like to standing of what they’re trying to accomplish.” Ahave someone with a defensive background Armed with those results, a piqued curiosity, a and mindset in his meeting room to balance and creative plan and a conviction for finding the best complement the chorus with a fresh perspective on man available for the assignment, Chryst had no the X’s and O’s from the other side of the ball. reservations about hiring Bob Bostad to coach the “Someone,” said Wisconsin’s head coach, “who UW’s inside ’backers even though all of Bostad’s looks at it a little bit differently.” coaching experience has been on offense. Last spring, Chryst acted on the impulse by “We feel really comfortable and confident know- “flipping” his staff for one practice. The defensive ing who he is as a coach,” Chryst said. “Certainly, coaches met with the offensive players. The offen- we’re talking about something different, a little out- sive coaches met with the defensive players. Chryst side of his box. But if you’re a good coach and you felt it was a great way to teach and grow his team’s know the game of football and how to teach, you overall football knowledge. Others agreed. will be successful. Bob is all of that.” “It was really insightful,” observed inside lineback- In Chryst’s own words, coaching is coaching. er Jack Cichy, a senior-to-be. “We're trying to read “I always thought so much of coaching the players what they're doing (on offense) and they're doing is, ‘What kind of teacher are you? Can you commu- the same exact thing to us.” nicate to them? Do your drills make sense?’” Chryst “We, as linebackers, have a general idea of what said. “If you can have guys see the same things they’re trying to do (on offense),” opined inside line- through a different lens, it maybe helps you get a backer T.J. Edwards, UW’s leading tackler in each of more accurate picture.”

BOSTAD’S EMBRACING NEW OPPORTUNITY PAGE 1 OF 4 Based on their previous work- ▼ TAP TO WATCH - Bob Bostad Named Inside Linebackers Coach ing relationship — six years together on Bret Bielema’s staff at Wisconsin — Chryst was sold on Bostad making it work. “His greatest strength as a coach is as a teacher being able to communicate and have a vision and to coach to that vision,” Chryst said. “He’s got a great ability to get players to see what they’re working for; he’s re- lentless in finding a way to get them to that level. There’s a per- sistence to it.” There’s also a firmness, a pur- posiveness that Bostad brings to the process. “In some ways, many ways,” Chryst said, “you can coach a toughness.” That might be tough love when appropriate. “The biggest thing is seeing his commitment,” UW defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said DAVID STLUKA of Bostad. “He loves Wiscon- sin. He’s all about this place. He knows who we are and how we play on both sides of the ball. I’m going to learn a ostad’s eyes have been fixed on Wisconsin lot from him. He’s going to bring a different per- game film the last couple of days. spective. B “I love watching film,” he said, sounding “There’s definitely a transference (from offense very much like Chryst. “I’ve been getting a feel for to defense). The O-line is trying to get to those every player and kind of who they are, the plusses guys (linebackers on the second level). They know and minuses, stuff like that. I have to learn the de- what causes them problems. fense and the fits and cov- That’s a lot of what I’m look- erages and all those core ing for out of that position. “THE BIGGEST THING IS SEEING HIS things that are going to be We have veteran guys, we COMMITMENT,” LEONHARD SAID OF consistent.” have great leaders in that BOSTAD. “HE LOVES WISCONSIN. HE’S While he has never meeting room. ALL ABOUT THIS PLACE. I’M GOING coached linebackers, Bostad “It’s going to be an oppor- TO LEARN A LOT FROM HIM.” was one himself; an all-con- tunity for them to learn a ference, four-year starter on little bit differently. Some of the things that they some good UW-Stevens Point teams. “Eons ago,” may have thought gave offenses a problem, maybe he said, acknowledging it was nearly three decades it was not the case. It will be good to get a different ago that he got his undergraduate degree (1989) DAVID STLUKA set of eyes on it.” and embarked on a career in coaching. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ At every stop over the past 27 seasons — 23 on

BOSTAD’S EMBRACING NEW OPPORTUNITY PAGE 2 OF 4 the collegiate level and four years in the pros, two to promote Leonhard to defensive coordinator. each with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennes- “I worked with Tim and Nokes (Breckterfield) last see Titans — Bostad has been responsible for de- year and I love their personalities and they’re great veloping the offensive line and/or the tight ends; an coaches, and now Bob is the new piece and you extension of the O-line in most systems. don’t have to change much,” Leonhard said. “I’ll get “Oh, there’s going to be an adjustment for sure,” my coaching style, my style of play into the defense said Bostad, who’s nonetheless confident in making a little bit, it’s going to be my own. the transition to defense. “When I coached on the “At the same time, there’s going to be a lot of car- other side, it was always knowing what was going ry-over in what we do.” to happen before the ball was snapped. I don’t think Leonhard and Bostad occasionally crossed paths there will be any difference now.” in the NFL. “I would run into him during pregame That Bostad has always been such a stickler for and talk to him and stuff like that,” Bostad said. “I detail was another selling point. always knew that he wanted to come back here and “The more I talked to people about good lineback- it’s huge when you’ve got a guy who knows what er play, they talked about needing to stop the run he wants to do. His resume speaks for itself.” and knowing how to beat pass protections,” Chryst Bostad has some other personal links and history said. “Who knows those things better than someone with Chryst’s staff. who has spent their career coaching those things?” In 2006, Bostad was a member of Bielema’s first Each of Wisconsin’s last two defensive coordina- staff with the Badgers. He was a new hire along tors, Dave Aranda and Justin Wilcox, also coached with John Settle, the current running backs coach. the inside linebackers. Bostad will take over that Chryst was one of two holdovers from Barry Alva- position group and join forces with Leonhard (sec- rez’s final staff. The other was Henry Mason, now ondary), Tim Tibesar (outside linebackers) and Inoke the Director of Player Personnel and External Op- Breckterfield (defensive line). erations. Leonhard, a 10-year NFL vet as a player, had never During the two seasons that Bostad mentored coached anywhere before Chryst stepped outside the tight ends for Bielema, a group that included of the box — not unlike what he’s doing with Bost- a couple of NFL draft choices, Travis Beckum and ad — and put him in charge of the DBs last season. Garrett Graham, he also had Mickey Turner, the And when Wilcox left for Cal, Chryst didn’t hesitate current tight ends assistant, under his wing. ICON SPORTSWIRE

BOSTAD’S EMBRACING NEW OPPORTUNITY PAGE 3 OF 4 UW offensive coordinator and O-line coach Joe The Badgers were good at getting the most out of Rudolph later joined that staff. In fact, Rudolph took their personnel by playing to their strengths. “That’s over the tight ends after Bostad switched to the the style of football that I really like,” Bostad said. offensive line to replace Bob Palcic. Small world. “That draws me to the game.” Crazy business. “You hit it Bostad was Pitt’s offen- on the head,” said Bostad, sive coordinator for less “(THE NFL) TEACHES YOU THAT THERE’S chuckling. “It’s a crazy busi- than two months before NOT ALWAYS ONE WAY TO DO THINGS. ness.” accepting Greg Schiano’s YOU HAVE A RANGE OF GUYS FROM When Chryst took the offer to tutor the offensive ROOKIES ALL THE WAY TO 15-YEAR VET- Pitt job, Bostad was on line in Tampa. In categoriz- ERANS WHICH YOU HAVE TO PREPARE board for the same reasons ing the abrupt move from DIFFERENTLY. IT TAUGHT ME A LOT.” that brought him back to the college turf to the pros, Madison for a second tour he said, “As you get along of duty. “The reason I went to Pittsburgh was to in your career, you have to make business deci- be with Paul and good people (Rudolph was among sions, too.” them) and to continue to do what we felt we were Bostad has no regrets, either. “It was a tremen- good at,” he said. dous experience,” he said of his four years in the NFL. “It teaches you that there’s not always one DAVID STLUKA way to do things. You have a range of guys from rookies all the way to 15-year veterans which you have to prepare differently. It taught me a lot.” Chryst noted that special teams coach Chris Haering will continue to be UW’s primary in-state recruiter, a role that Bostad held under Bielema. He also revealed Bostad would recruit some in Michi- gan and Indiana. “He understands the type of players that have success here,” Chryst added. Bostad knows the formula. That’s why he feels so good about working with Chryst again. “Good chemistry makes for a good work environ- ment,” Bostad said. “Makes for good football.” Raised in Pardeeville, 35 miles north of Madison, Bostad used to attend Badgers games as a teenager with his dad and brothers. Bostad, like Chryst, is a coach’s kid, the son of the late Bob Bostad Sr., who posted a 155-61-3 record during his 20-year Hall of Fame career at Pardeeville High School. Less than two weeks after Bostad joined Biele- ma's staff — what he labeled as a “dream come true professionally” — his father died of a heart attack. He was 73. Bostad Jr., was never pushed to get into the business. “My father told me, ‘Do whatever you want to do. Just do it right,’” he said. That’s what he’s doing now, all these years later, by reconnecting with Wisconsin. “I still have those deep feelings for this place,” Bostad said.

BOSTAD’S EMBRACING NEW OPPORTUNITY PAGE 4 OF 4 INSIDE FOOTBALL BY BRIAN LUCAS ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

▲ TAP TO WATCH - 100 Years of Camp Randall Celebrate 100 years of Camp Randall Fans can get involved in choosing the ‘Camp Randall 100’

pened in 1917, Camp Randall Stadium has been home TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE to countless memorable moments in its first 100 years. OWe plan to celebrate those memories throughout 2017 and want Badgers fans to play a big role in the celebration. Tuesday night the 100 Years of Camp Randall Stadium celebration kicked off inside Heritage Hall in Camp Randall Stadium. The event included UW legends Barry Alvarez, Paul Chryst, Ron Dayne and Pat Richter, each of whom shared some of their favorite memories of the iconic stadium. Tuesday was just the start of our year-long celebration. The

SCROLL centerpiece of the celebration will be the reveal of the “Camp Randall 100,” a list of 100 individuals who shaped the first cen- tury of Camp Randall Stadium. Beginning on May 24, we will unveil a new member of the “Camp Randall 100” each day leading up to the kickoff of the 2017 football season on Sept. 1 at Camp Randall Stadium vs.

Utah State. TWEETS VIEW TO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED The “Camp Randall 100” will be selected by a panel of UW ad- ministrators, local media and former Badgers, but fans have the SOCIAL opportunity to have their voices heard. Anyone who has played, MEDIA: coached, performed, appeared in or attended an event at Camp Randall Stadium is eligible. We want to hear from you on who you think should make the list and why they deserve a spot. There are a number of ways fans can nominate someone. Use the hashtag #CampRandall100 to tag your tweet on Twitter, submit a post on the Wisconsin Football Facebook page or click here to submit via UWBadgers.com. Submissions can include text, photos and videos of memories of that nominee and the reasons they deserve a spot on this coveted list. When the “Camp Randall 100” is unveiled, we will include the best nominations and memories submitted by fans in the pre- sentations that will be housed on our special 100 Years of Camp Randall website, which will debut in May. In addition to the “Camp Randall 100,” special events, in-game celebrations, unique fan experiences and much more are being planned for 2017. Look for more announcements in the weeks and months to come. ▪ INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER BOB CAMPBELL

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Badgers Fall at Michigan State Fighting to overcome empty possessions Breaking down road loss to Michigan State and looking ahead to Iowa

AST LANSING, Mich. — Mike Lucas had a front-row seat TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE for Wisconsin’s loss to Michigan State 84-74 on the road ESunday. Here is what he saw from courtside. TRICE THE FUN FOR BROTHERS Standing not far from the Wisconsin locker room, Travis Trice Jr. was waiting on his little brother, D’Mitrik, to shower and dress after Sunday’s game in East Lansing. After playing four seasons for Tom Izzo — exiting the Michigan State program with over 1,000 career points — Trice Jr. didn’t need help finding his way around the Breslin Center, his home away from home. The elder SCROLL Trice brother currently lives in Australia where the playoffs just ended for his team — the Cairns Taipans of the National Basket- ball League.

“I literally landed (in the States) less than 24 hours ago, and I’m tired — I was ready to fall asleep during the game — but it was fun and I’m just happy that I got to see him play,” Trice Jr. said

of D’Mitrik, a UW freshman guard. “Actually, I got to watch as a TWEETS VIEW TO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED fan today. It was weird. I was sitting over there cheering for the Spartans. But then he does something good and I cheered for SOCIAL MEDIA: him, too. “I just liked how composed he is, how poised he is. This is not an easy place to play, especially the way Michigan State is playing right now (winners of six of the last eight). I think that they’re starting to make their run like they usually do come this time of the year.” D’Mitrik Trice, who played 14 minutes, had five points, three rebounds, and one assist in Wisconsin’s 84-74 loss to the Spar- tans. “It would have definitely been an even better feeling ifwe had won,” he said of his first visit to Breslin as a player. “Just to be in that atmosphere and have my whole family here for the first time in a long time really meant a lot. It was fun and exhil- arating.” With Michigan State leading by 13 points, Trice drained a 3-pointer at 5:38 of the first half that sparked a late rally as the Badgers outscored the Spartans, 14-2, closing the deficit to 38-37, at intermission. During this stretch, the UW didn’t allow any points over the last three minutes and 34 seconds. The only MSU basket scored over the final six minutes was compliments of a goal-tending. Following the UW’s 10th straight loss at Breslin (dating to 2004), what would Trice Jr., 24, tell D’Mitrik about the vaga- ries of college basketball? “Just stay the course and trust his coaches,” he said. “He’s playing for a great university and a great coaching staff. Trust the process and keep working.” INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY BY ANDY BAGGOT ▪ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER DAVID STLUKA

Five takeaways from split vs. Minnesota Long way to go, but Badgers’ focus is to ‘stay in the moment’ Move top up 2 & bottom down 1

ive takeaways from the Wisconsin men’s hockey team fol- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE lowing its Big Ten Conference series with Minnesota: F One: If the regular season ended today following an in- tense series split with the Gophers — a 3-2 victory and 3-2 loss — UW would have a bye in the first round of the league playoffs and would likely make the 16-team NCAA tournament. Pretty heady notions for a program that won 12 of 70 games the previous two years. But as far as Wisconsin associate head coach Don Granato is concerned, those possibilities represent distrac- tions for a club that has a lot of work to do. The second-place

SCROLL Badgers (18-11-1 overall, 11-5 with 33 points in league play) have four regular-season games remaining — at Penn State on Friday and Saturday and home for Ohio State on March 10 and 11 — so the focus must remain on the task at hand. That would be preparing for the Nittany Lions, who swept Wisconsin in Madison Feb. 10 and 11 (6-3 and 5-2). “I’d like to think we’ve been in playoff mode since the season started,” Granato said. “I INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED don’t ever feel like we just change or elevate from the stand- point that this (moment) is more important. I think Day One was SOCIAL important for different reasons. I don’t see any different type of MEDIA: urgency or whatnot. We go into each game with an objective and game plan that we feel will help us best. That’s all you can do. You have to stay in the moment.” Two: After splitting with Minnesota at Mariucci Arena, UWis now 10-4 in games played away from the Kohl Center this season (8-3 on the road, 2-1 at neutral sites). Remarkably, nine of those outings have been decided by one goal and the Badgers are 6-3 in those matches. Three: The Badgers have the fifth-best penalty-killing ratio in the nation at .869, which is significant given the major tests they’ve faced. They’ve played 15 games against teams whose power plays currently rank in the top 20 nationally, including Ohio State (first, 29.8 percent), Minnesota (fourth, 26.2), Ne- braska-Omaha (sixth, 24.6), Denver (11th, 21.1), Penn State 18th, 19.9) and Michigan (20th, 19.80). Wisconsin is a combined 50-for-61 (82.0) in those outings. Four: When the season began, first-year UW coach Tony Granato and his staff raved about the number of quality play- makers in their midst. That has shown up in a variety of ways, including the stat sheet. The Badgers are averaging 6.33 assists per game (190 in 30) to rank seventh in the country. The last time their percentage was higher was in 2009-10 (7.02). Prior to that it was 1993-94 (7.0). For some perspective, arguably the two most dominant NCAA title-winners in Wisconsin history were in 1976-77 and ’89-90. Those two clubs averaged an in- credible 9.6 and 9.04 assists per outing, respectively. Five: Tucked into that playmaking equation is that four players have double-digit primary assists for UW: Junior center Camer- on Hughes with 14, senior right winger Grant Besse and junior left winger Ryan Wagner with 12, and sophomore right winger and captain Luke Kunin with 10. Sophomore center Seamus Malone and freshman center Trent Frederic aren’t far behind with eight, while junior defensemen Tim Davison and Jake Lin- hart have seven apiece. ■ INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - 3 Takeaways with Women’s Hockey Badgers eye title at WCHA Final Face-Off Wisconsin opens four-team tournament with North Dakota on Saturday

nother trophy is on the line this weekend in Minneapo- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE lis as the No. 1 Badgers eye their third-straight WCHA Atournament title at the 2017 WCHA Final Face-Off at Ridder Arena. The Badgers enter the weekend with an NCAA-leading 18- game unbeaten streak, which includes a sweep of Minnesota State to open the WCHA playoffs. The Badgers blanked the Mavericks, 6-0 and 7-0, to advance to the WCHA Final Face- Off for the seventh-straight year. “I think this past weekend showed how well our systems

SCROLL and chemistry between each line of forwards and defense has evolved throughout the season,” sophomore forward Sophia Shaver said. “We were able to capitalize on power-play opportunities and kill off all the penalties as well as create offensive chances while playing even strength. “We have gotten into a groove that will give us confidence going into this weekend.” INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED UW faces a familiar foe in North Dakota, as this weekend’s matchup with North Dakota marks the fifth time in the last sev- SOCIAL en seasons that UW and UND have met in the league semifinals, MEDIA: with both teams taking a pair of games. The Badgers won the last meeting, 4-1, in the 2015 WCHA Final Face-Off en route to winning the league tournament crown. “North Dakota always gives us a really challenging game,” senior alternate captain Jenny Ryan said. “We will definitely expect a fast and physical game. It’s never easy to end a team’s season and they are going to be fighting for theirs which means they will be giving us everything they’ve got, so we need to do the same.” INSIDE MEN’S TENNIS BY PATRICK HERB ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Danny Westerman Weekly Presser: Mental Toughness UW hitting stride as Big Ten nears No. 31 Badgers set to battle in Big Ten’s brutal conference schedule

s the calendar changes, so does the focus within the TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Wisconsin men’s tennis program. The first week of AMarch signifies the final day of non-conference play and the opening of what promises to be a rigorous Big Ten schedule. But for Danny Westerman and the 31st-ranked Badgers (6-2), conference play is coming at the right time. “We’ve been playing some really good tennis,” the second-year head coach said. “I’m very happy with the way we’re playing.” Some of that confidence comes from a weekend spent mea- suring up against two of the nation’s better programs. The Bad-

SCROLL gers notched their first ranked win of the season, taking down No. 43 Clemson and nearly pulled off a second resume win the very next day. “We had a good weekend on the road with a neutral-court win against a good Clemson team, then the next day had a heart-breaker against Cornell on their courts,” Westerman said. “It was a 3-all match, a coin flip match. They’re top-25 in the INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS TWEETS VIEW TO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED country right now. Sometimes those losses do burn, but we’re playing great tennis. You can’t really complain.” SOCIAL MEDIA: COME ON OUT TO NIELSEN Wisconsin is off to a perfect 4-0 start at home this season and Nielsen Tennis Stadium is starting to develop that home court advantage college athletics is known for. Friday’s doubleheader should provide the latest example of the atmosphere Coach Westerman is hungry for. “College tennis is not professional tennis. We want the fans to be loud, we want them to enjoy themselves. It is college athletics after all. Our guys play harder, and it’s harder for the visitors to come into Nielsen. Indoor tennis has a lot of echoing and it can get loud pretty quickly.” Friday’s doubleheader begins at 11 a.m. against Eastern Illi- nois before the headliner against rival Marquette at 5 p.m.

BIG TEN BEGINS Just two days after their doubleheader, the Badgers will dive into Big Ten play in a conference that is among the best in the nation, with a road match at Iowa. “The Big Ten is really tough right now,” Westerman gushed. “Last week the first computer rankings came out and the Big Ten had five teams in the top 25 — tied for first with the most teams in the top 25 — and we were just out at No. 31. “The league has maybe — I don’t want to say never been better — but it’s really, really strong. If you finish in the top half of the Big Ten you could be an NCAA tournament team. That’s our goal, to be in the top half, if not better, with the NCAAs on our mind long term. We’re right there.” In addition to Wisconsin sitting at No. 31 in the ITA Rankings, six other Big Ten teams find themselves among the nation’s top 40. Ohio State headlines the group as the No. 1 team in the nation followed by No. 9 Michigan, No. 16 Northwestern, No. 23 Illinois, No. 32 Minnesota and No. 37 Indiana. Wisconsin will face all six of those teams this season with four of them visiting Nielsen over the next two months.

DOUBLES DELIGHT Wisconsin’s 6-2 start to the spring season has been fueled in large part by impressive work on the doubles courts. The Bad- gers have taken the doubles point in all eight matches this season with a total combined record of 17-5. The duo of Osgar O’Hoisin and John Zordani are off to a 7-1 start at the No. 3 doubles position. Lamar Remy and Chase Colton are not far behind, going 6-2 this spring. “Doubles is a focus at our practices,” Westerman explained. “We start every practice with it. We pick a drill of the day for doubles and it gets the intensity up. The guys enjoy doubles and it’s the best part of team tennis. You have an actual teammate out there with you. That’s a fun part of our day. If you enjoy it, you end up doing well and it leads to some wins for us.” ■ INSIDE SOFTBALL BY KELLI GRASHEL ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin finishes off Sheraton Invitational with win over Rutgers Badgers enjoy another stellar weekend Wisconsin earns a repeat 4-1 record in Florida for second weekend

here’s no doubt about it, this year’s Wisconsin softball TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE team is impressive. The Badgers repeated a 4-1 weekend Tin Florida yet again with four strong wins at the Sheraton Invitational hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University. “It feels good. To win four games on the road is tough to do and we saw a lot of good things,” head coach Yvette Healy said. “I was really impressed with our pitching, it really kept us in the games all weekend. But to see the bats come alive and get a couple things happening at the same time, pumping on all cyl- inders, was great.”

SCROLL It’s easy to see why Coach Healy was so pleased with her pitching. The Badgers worked to shut out three teams on the weekend and nearly had a fourth against Rutgers. She wasn’t the only one impressed. For the second week in a row Wiscon- sin had a pitcher earn a Big Ten conference weekly honor as senior Kirsten Stevens was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week.

She was the first Pitcher of the Week honoree for UW since TWEETS VIEW TO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED 2014. Stevens earned the honor by dealing a career-high 11 strike- SOCIAL outs against Hofstra and also tallying two shutouts. MEDIA: “We had so many players really contribute and I think that’s what makes us tough right now,” Healy added. “Sara Novak has been swinging the bat great and has been really fun to watch. I think Chloe Miller is just having a senior campaign. If we’re going to go far this year, you need your seniors to do great things. So to watch Kirsten Stevens on the mound, watch Taylor Ber- ry come in and hit and contribute in this game, and then have Chloe Miller and Sara Novak do so well, it’s nice to see those four come out and enjoy it.” INSIDE WRESTLING BY KELLI GRASHEL ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS JACK MCLAUGHLIN

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Wrestling is ready for the Big Ten Championships Time to hop on the Badgers’ bandwagon Underrated UW ready to make B1G run at conference championships

nly one NCAA Division I team in the nation currently TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE has all 10 starters earning allocation spots. Only one Oteam has all 10 wrestlers ranked in the top 25 of the coaches’ poll and the top 30 of the RPI. Only one team matches top-ranked Penn State by having all 10 wrestlers seeded for the Big Ten Championships. Who is that one team? Wisconsin. “You’ve got to be in the top 25 in the country in the coaches’ poll and top 30 RPI,” head coach Barry Davis said. “We qualified 77 spots for the Big Ten, but Wisconsin was the only school out

SCROLL of the 77 Division I schools to qualify one guy in each weight class for that.” No one expected this. But the Badgers did and in the end, that’s all that matters. The team’s strong belief never wavered and it’s paid off. And it will continue to pay off in the postsea- son. Davis said he knew all the way back in September and he

never faltered from it. TWEETS VIEW TO INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED “I told our guys back in September, ‘Gentlemen, here’s the

deal, we’re bringing 10 guys to the NCAA championships,’” Da- SOCIAL vis added. “A lot of people didn’t believe me on that and said, MEDIA: ‘Oh you have a young team with three freshmen on there. It’s funny the other day I am getting all these texts and e-mails say- ing, ‘Hey coach, your team qualified 10 spots and you’re the only team in the country to do that. No one else did it but you guys.’ “I said listen, you’re telling me that now in March? I knew that back in September. But if they want to hop on the bandwagon, they can. Our staff has done a great job of getting these guys prepared mentally and physically. We just have to do our job and wrestle to our abilities and beyond.”