CONTENTS JANUARY 22, 2015 ■ VOLUME 5, ISSUE 22 STEVE GOTTER STEVE COVER STORY NO SLOWING DOWN That bounce in Bo Ryan’s step? Ask his players, past and present, and they’ll tell you the Badgers’ mentor gets his energy from getting on the court to do what he does best — teach. BRIAN MASON FEATURES FOOTBALL IN [FOCUS] STRONG LEADERSHIP The week's best photos Few are more familiar with what BEHIND THE DESK makes the Badgers successful than Autonomy a fine first step alum Ross Kolodziej, who returns to THE VOICE run Wisconsin’s weight room. Badgers’ recipe remains BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW LUCAS AT LARGE WHAT TO WATCH Hoops, hockey and more ‘HEROIC’ BACKCOURT ASK THE BADGERS How did you spend break? Badgers thriving on the toughness DAVID STLUKA DAVID of Josh Gasser — ‘Captain Amer­ BADGERING ica’ to his teammates — and the Michael Lihrman (Men’s Track) efficiency of Bronson Koenig. INSIDE MEN'S BASKETBALL Badgers rely on ‘next man up’ -SCROLL FOR MORE­ INSIDE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Junior class provides boost Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Drew Scharenbroch Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Steve Gotter, Jack McLaughlin, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2015 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM ‘Captain America’ leads heroic guards y the time Iowa’s Fran ica that stated his case. Besides hero of our team.” McCaffery got to seethe his usual solid floor game, Gas- Gasser, a former high school Band fume in a team hud- ser had everyone “Marveling” at quarterback, had a brief locker dle Tuesday night, Wisconsin his toughness, especially Frank room pit stop before returning had already jumped off to a 13-4 Kaminsky, who accorded him to the game. But he was reluc­ lead on the strength of three fictional superhero status af­ tant to go into great detail af­ straight 3-point hits from Frank ter Gasser injured his shoulder terwards. “It’s all good; I’ll be Kaminsky, Bronson Koenig and while fighting through a Gabriel fine,” said Gasser, who pointed Josh Gasser — and a string of Olaseni screen. out that collisions were an oc­ defensive stops, not to be taken “Josh is Captain America,” cupational hazard “when you’re lightly. Kaminsky chortled. “Josh is the always chasing screens.” It was the defense, in fact, Rather than dwell on his con­ that fueled the offense. “People dition, he wanted to talk about GASSER ON KOENIG: always talk about confidence WE ALL KNOW HOW GOOD Koenig, the sophomore point offensively and knocking down OF A PLAYER HE IS; guard who has taken over for shots,” Gasser said. “But you can HE JUST HAS TO REALIZE the injured Traevon Jackson. also get confidence playing de­ IT HIMSELF. THE MORE Koenig has scored in double-fig­ fense. Once we got some stops MINUTES HE GETS, THE ures in three straight games. in a row, we became more and “MORE HE’S REALIZING THAT. “He has been playing awesome; more confident with what we he has really been running the were doing.” show for us,” he said. Citing how they “zapped In addition to posting a 39­ them” from the start, which to-9 assist-to-turnover ratio may have broken Iowa’s spirit overall, Koenig has found his on offense, Koenig said, “We got shooting touch in the Big Ten — through the screens and forced ” converting 10-of-18 shots from them to shoot tough jump shots 3-point range (.556). That’s the and we also did a good job of second-best percentage in the rebounding and limiting second conference. He has knocked chance points. We got a lot of down three triples in each of the energy off of our stops, too.” last two games. The Badgers held the sec- “He’s just playing more and ond-highest scoring offense in more confident each game and Big Ten play — second only to more aggressive and that’s what UW — to 17 points in the first we need out of him,” Gasser half on 7-of-25 shooting (1-of­ said. “We all know how good of 7 from beyond the arc) and it a player he is; he just has to re­ paved the way for an 82-50 rout alize it himself. And the more he of the Hawkeyes, who were plays, the more minutes he gets, intent on making a statement at the more he’s realizing that.” the Kohl Center. Prior to this recent stretch, DAVID STLUKA DAVID Instead, it was Captain Amer- Koenig had not played more -PAGE 1 OF 2­ LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM than 27 minutes in any outing at the game), so I know that I need care of business Saturday at Wisconsin. “My body is starting to just keep shooting,” said Koe­ Michigan. Gasser has some to adjust to playing 30-plus,” nig, who had 13 points against fond memories from playing in said Koenig, who has played 31, Iowa. “My shot wasn’t feeling Ann Arbor. Last year, he had 13 37 and 34 minutes over the last that good from the start (2-of­ points to complement Kamin­ three games. “Once I get used to 7 in the first half). But I kept sky’s double-double (25 points, it, I’ll feel really comfortable.” shooting and some eventually 11 rebounds). As a freshman, Coming off the bench through went in.” he had the game-winning bank the 13 non-conference games, Koenig sounded more pleased shot as time expired. Koenig shot just 38 percent from with his ball-handling than his “Obviously it was way back the field and only 28 percent shooting. He didn’t have a turn­ when,” Gasser said wistfully of (10-of-36) from beyond the arc. over. Nobody else did, either. his buzzer-beater against the Since moving into the starting The Badgers were credited with Wolverines in 2011. “I feel like lineup, he said the difference just one turnover on a shot I’ve had almost two basketball has been the “coaches giving clock violation on an air ball. careers here (pre- and post-knee me more confidence to let it rip” “That’s what we preach,” Gasser surgery) since then.” on offense. said proudly, “taking care of the Kaminsky probably can’t wait Why has that been such a big ball.” to see what Captain America will deal? “I’m not coming out (of Now the Badgers must take do for an encore. ■ DAVID STLUKA DAVID STEVE GOTTER STEVE -PAGE 2 OF 2­ BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ » UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Autonomy is a positive step forward talked to our players before offensive coordinator, in USA Mac visited with some of our the Outback Bowl about the Today. Darrell and Russell have offensive linemen at the bowl Ipendulum and how the mo­ been good for each other. He site and it was pretty cool to see mentum of a game can swing thinks and sees the game as a him answer their questions and back and forth. It’s something former quarterback. share with them what we’ve I’ve always talked about to my Another one of our former done here in the past to be suc­ teams. players, Ross Kolodziej, is now cessful. When you lose the momen­ in charge of our weight room. I’m fired up about having Mac tum, you have to stay positive Ross was very talented and involved in fundraising with our and make a play to swing it back gifted as a defensive lineman. I development office. He’ll add in your favor. And when you know that he’ll do a good job. a lot. He’s very bright and loyal have momentum, you have to Bringing back anyone who has to the university. And we’re go­ capitalize on it and put the ped­ been here before, particularly ing to try and get him involved al to the floor. in the early years, is important in some other areas of athletic Russell Wilson struggled because they know how to win administration. for more than three quarters here and they know why we’ve Last weekend, I was happy to against the Packers. But he won. see the full cost of attendance stayed with it, he never lost con­ It’s about an attitude, being legislation pass at the NCAA con­ fidence, he never let negative tough, being physical. It’s about vention. We just needed to do thoughts get into his head and playing smart and playing with something for our student-ath­ he just kept playing. discipline. It’s about having letes. This is a big step. We never saw him have a bad good chemistry as a team. It’s exciting that 15 stu­ day like that when he was here. These are all the things that dent-athletes — who live it — But in crunch time last Sunday, we’ve built our program on; all had a voice and a vote in the he made things happen, he the things that we’ve been con­ process.