CONTENTS FEBRUARY 17, 2016 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 27

FEATURE STORY STEVE GOTTER

FRONT AND CENTER It was easy for Vitto Brown to slide into the shadow cast by classmate Nigel Hayes’ fast start. He’s also finding it easy to enjoy the spotlight that’s come with his newfound starring role.

FEATURES WOMEN’S HOCKEY IN [FOCUS] LEADING THE WAY The week's best photos

Sarah Nurse doesn’t label herself a THE VOICE pioneer, but the junior winger has Another hornet’s nest awaits DAVID STLUKA embraced her ability to impact those choosing to follow her footsteps. BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW

WHAT TO WATCH LUCAS AT LARGE Where to catch the Badgers

SOME SMALL STEPS ASK THE BADGERS What song defines your team? Bouncing back from a broken foot

(again), freshman Brevin Pritzl DAVID STLUKA BADGERING considers the small steps he’s Annie Tamblyn (W. Swimming) taking to be a pretty big deal. INSIDE -SCROLLWOMEN’S FOR BASKETBALL MORE- Celebrating the senior class Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711

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Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications

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Mike Lucas Senior Writer

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Matt Lepay Columnist

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Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom

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© 2016 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM For Pritzl, small steps are a big deal t’s one of the simple pleasures back on if it’s too slippery or wet you have it. And that’s what I’m in life. Walking. Brevin Pritzl out, so I don’t end up rolling it trying to do now. I want to get Iwill never take it for granted ― resulting in the same kind of myself in the best position, phys- again. Just last week, the Wis- ordeal.” ically and mentally, to be ready consin freshman guard got a The ongoing rehabilitation ― when I return.” refresher course in walking ― the ordeal ― has been emotion- A little over a month before walking without a protective blue ally draining, physically taxing the start of classes, Pritzl rolled boot on his left foot, which he and understandably insightful. It his left ankle and heard a “big broke in August and refractured has taught the 19-year-old Prit- pop.” At first, he thought maybe in December. zl, the all-time leading scorer at it was his shoes scraping against “Oh, gosh, it’s the greatest feel- De Pere High School, something the ground. “But after two more ing ever,” Pritzl said after getting about himself and how to operate steps, you realize you can’t put medical clearance to discard the under stressful conditions. any pressure on it,” he said. “I boot. “It’s a drag when you wake “You take a lot of things for thought I broke it.” up in the morning and you have granted when you play sports,” Much to his chagrin, the di- to strap on this big boot and then said Pritzl, who averaged 25 agnosis was confirmed: he lug it around. But now ― having points as a senior. “Playing bas- fractured the long bone on the two shoes on again ― it feels ketball almost every month for outside of his foot, the fifth meta- good just to be able to walk. the last six years and then having tarsal; a Jones fracture. Former “I told my family you don’t to sit out almost the entire year, UW point guard Traevon Jackson really understand how different it not being able to play, makes you had the same injury last season. is not being able to walk until you put things into perspective. Professionally, it has sidelined don’t get to do it for the six out of “The game is not always giv- Kevin Durant and Dez Bryant, seven months I was wear- en to you,” he has learned, among others. ing a boot. The only “and you have to do ev- After missing 19 consecutive reason I would put it erything you can when games, Jackson completed the DAVID STLUKA

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 3 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM

“THE GAME IS NOT ALWAYS GIVEN TO YOU AND YOU HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN WHEN YOU HAVE IT.”

“It’s always difficult to come in as a freshman and not be able to play whether it be with the scout team or with the starters,” said athletic trainer Henry Perez-Guer- ra. “Admittedly, Brevin has had his ups and downs. It’s an unfor- tunate injury; it’s a very difficult injury for basketball players. “But, overall, I’ve seen him mature. He’s very knowledgeable about the game. In fact, I enjoy rehab on his right foot and made able to take advantage of his sitting on the bench with him it all the way back to the court for perimeter shooting skills against during practices or games and the Badgers. Ten weeks removed Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense. listening to his comments be- from surgery, he came off the On the eve of the Dec. 2 game, cause he understands the game bench against North Carolina in though, he reinjured his foot and what is going on out there. I the Sweet 16. while practicing. think he’s going to be a big asset After undergoing surgery in “I really don’t know how it to this team.” early August, Pritzl made it back, happened,” Pritzl said. “I was Wisconsin coach Greg Gard is too. On Nov. 15, the Badgers guarding Riley (Dearring, who thinking the same thing. swamped Siena, 92-65, at the has since transferred to Cal State “The first thing that jumps out Kohl Center. Bronson Koenig had Fullerton) and he stopped and I is that he’s a prolific perimeter 23 points, Vitto Brown had 16 stopped and when I went to plant shooter,” Gard said. “In the times and two freshman roommates, and jump up in the passing lane, we had him in practice, I’ve no- Alex Illikainen and Pritzl, saw I think that’s when it happened. ticed so much more in terms of their first playing action at Wis- That time, I knew for a fact that I his ability to raise the level of consin. broke it again.” play of everyone around him. It’s Illikainen had six points in sev- That unceremoniously ended not only how he moves without en minutes. Pritzl had one turn- his season and put him back in the ball but his ability to play with over in four minutes. the boot. Pritzl is now a strong the ball. “I always joke with my brother,” candidate for a medical hardship “He puts everybody else on Pritzl said, “I lead the team in waiver, which would still leave high alert because you never turnovers per minute.” him with four years of eligibili- know where the ball is coming Pritzl didn’t get into anoth- ty if granted. That would be the from. He’s got a little herky-jerky er game, though he was being proverbial light at the end of the type of dribble motion; he’s more groomed for a playing role. The tunnel, i.e. the UW athletic train- athletic than he looks and he Badgers felt like they might be ing room. has a swagger about him, too.

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

He knows that he’s going to be he’s listed at 6-foot-3, 185. He’s Coach (Bo Ryan) said I might a good player. He’s a very confi- now well over 200 pounds. Run- be needed, I figured I should do dent kid.” ning is in his future, even if it’s what I can to help this team. Pritzl, a coach’s kid, got his not Elver Park. “That has always been my shooting eye from his dad, Brian, Before the Nebraska game, motto ― help the team the best I a 1,000-point scorer at Valders Pritzl took 100 shots ― 50 from can.” High School. In a 1980 Class two-point range, 50 from beyond After getting injured, Pritzl felt B sectional semifinal game, he the 3-point arc. “I just wanted a little helpless, a little detached personally outscored Sturgeon to see where I’m at,” he said. “It at times. “It’s different because Bay, 22-6, in the third quarter. felt good. But I know that I can’t I didn’t always feel like I was a He finished with 34 points. After push myself over the limit. I’m super part of the team,” he said, graduation, he played at St. Nor- just trying to shoot as much as I “because the team was practic- bert College. can to keep my muscle memory ing and I was always down in the Brian Pritzl was the De Pere going.” training room trying to get better freshman coach before moving Last January, Pritzl had 41 so I could get back to the team.” up with the varsity to assist head points, including a 19-of-19 Nonetheless, he got through coach Brian Winchester. Brevin’s showing from the free throw line, that stage because the players older brother, Brandon, a four in De Pere’s win over Sheboygan didn’t treat him any differently letterwinner at Hillsdale College, North. And despite his scoring when he wasn’t with them; he is in his second year as a grad outbursts on the AAU circuit for was still a teammate, albeit the assistant to Saul Phillips at Ohio the Wisconsin Playground War- one pushing his scooter up Bas- University. Phillips is a former riors, he still had some reserva- com Hill to get to class (“I never UW coach. tions about his readiness to make sweat so much in my life”) and “I want to coach when I’m the jump to college basketball. the one shooting free throws in a done playing,” Brevin Pritzl said. “To be honest, I always told boot. For now, the goal is to slowly myself I wanted to redshirt my “I’ve gone through way more ease back into playing shape, freshman year,” Pritzl said, “be- than I could have ever expected,” especially since he’s no longer cause I knew that I didn’t have said Pritzl, who sounded more restricted by the protective walk- the game I wanted to have. I ready than ever to walk the walk ing boot. During his rehab, he wasn’t a good enough ball-han- when that day arrives. Until then, put on a lot of weight. In his bio, dler and defender. But when any kind of walking will do. ■

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 3 THE VOICE BY MATT LEPAY ■ VOICE OF THE BADGERS Big Ten’s hottest team keeping its cool uring the Badgers’ cur- stepped in. Make no mistake, the Spartans are near the bottom rent seven-game winning Stone is a big man, but Thomas of the league in turnover margin. Dstreak, coach Greg Gard is built like a truck. Keep in mind that in MSU’s five has talked about how his team Fortunately, cooler heads pre- conference setbacks, three came has continued to mature. Not just vailed, both in the moment as by a single point. That includes the freshmen, but everyone. Ni- well as the rest of the evening. the Badgers 77-76 thriller last gel Hayes is growing into a lead- It is another example of the month at the Kohl Center. A key er. Vitto Brown is having his most Badgers’ maturity. Rather than turnover in the final half-minute productive stretch of games as a engaging in some false hustle gave Wisconsin a chance, and Badger. Zak Showalter is becom- cheap-shot contest, the Bad- Happ’s bucket on the Badgers’ ing quite efficient from 3-point gers went about the business of next possession proved to be the range. And yes, the youngest disposing of the Terps simply by difference. players continue to develop. outplaying them. With the exception of scoring In terms of scoring, the last two The XFINITY Center is one loud defense, which is the best in the games have been rather quiet for venue. When the Terrapins cut Big Ten, many of the Badgers’ Ethan Happ. However, in Satur- a 15-point halftime deficit to six, conference stats are middle of day’s 70-57 victory at Maryland, the place was ready to explode. the road. But they are protecting the redshirt freshman grabbed 10 Instead of folding, the Badgers the ball better than most, ranking rebounds and added four steals. In showed poise. They hit big shots fourth in the league with a 2.3 conference games, Happ leads the and held Maryland to just 40 per- turnover margin. Big Ten with 2.3 swipes per contest. cent shooting from the floor. It is a statistic Gard values. A To be sure, some true fresh- Now they have a chance to do lot. It is a statistic Wisconsin has men have had their moments. it again. In another loud house. excelled in for a number of years. Alex Illikainen, Khalil Iverson and Against another very talented team. Yes, the Badgers are shooting Charlie Thomas are getting their At first glance, it is difficult to the ball at a better clip, especially first taste of what the marketing figure how Michigan State has from the 3-point line. They con- gurus describe as Big Life, Big lost five conference games. Yes, tinue to improve on the defensive Stage, Big Ten. While they will they have had injuries, including a end. All of that is important, and tell you there is plenty of room for four-game stretch (three in league it makes for an entertaining high- improvement, all three are show- play) when they were without Den- light package. ing they have the chops to con- zel Valentine. But this is a team Then again, in order to shoot tribute at this level. many still believe has the goods to the ball you must first protect it. Speaking of Thomas, he made make yet another run to the Final While Gard will continue to make it clear that he will defend a Four. On Sunday against Indiana, his teaching points, his Badgers teammate. In the much-dis- the Spartans looked the part. have made significant strides in cussed scrum near the end of Michigan State is at or near the that area. It is another positive the first half of last Saturday’s top of the Big Ten in a number of sign that this team is becoming game, Maryland’s Diamond categories, including points per more and more difficult to beat. Stone attempted to plant Brown’s game, shooting percentage, field In more ways than one, the face into the floor. Thomas, who goal percentage defense, assists Badgers are keeping their cool in grew up less than 20 miles from and rebounding margin. tense moments. If that continues, the Maryland campus, quickly However, similar to Maryland, they will be a very tough out. ■

THE VOICE PAGE 1 OF 1 ASK THE BADGERS WHAT SONG BEST? DEFINES YOUR TEAM? JACK M c LAUGHLIN JACK M c LAUGHLIN DAVID STLUKA JOHN FISHER

MARK SEGBERS SYDNEY McKIBBON JORDAN HILL KATIE CHRISTNER Sophomore ■ Men’s Soccer Junior ■ Women’s Hockey Sophomore ■ Men’s Basketball Senior ■ Softball St. Louis, Mo. Oakville, Ontario Pasadena, Calif. Tinley Park, Ill.

“Jungle Remix fea- “Hips Don’t Lie by “That’s a tough “Perfect by One turing Jay Z by X Shakira describes one, but Wiz Khal- Direction describes Ambassadors and our squad because ifa’s We Dem Boyz our team because Jamie N Commons. we’re a fun team comes to mind. It’s it’s saying that even That song became that likes to keep it a song about having though we know we popular a couple of loose in the locker confidence in your aren’t perfect, we summers ago be- room. If you saw team and I think know that we can cause it was used in us before a game, that relates to us still get the job done commercials during the majority of us because we believe and make things the World Cup. We are dancing around in ourselves and our own. Plus, even listened to that song to every song that each other, even if though this team is a lot as a team and plays during our nobody else does.” full of awful sing- it was played before pregame mix.” ers, we all love to kickoff at our home belt out a good ‘1D’ games.” sing-along song.” BADGERING DAVID STLUKA ANNIE TAMBLYN

A freestyle and backstroke specialist, Annie Tamblyn was an All-Amer- ALL ABOUT ANNIE ican last year as part of Wisconsin’s 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay Year: Senior teams, helping the Badgers set school records in both events. Also a Height: 5-9 defending conference champion in both the 200 free and 400 free re- Events: Freestyle, backstroke lays, Tamblyn looks to add to her haul of hardware this week when the Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich. Badgers head to the 2016 Big Ten Championships in her hometown of High School: Huron Go to full bio » Ann Arbor, Michigan.

What has the atmosphere around your team been like this QUICK Qs WITH ANNIE season? Favorite food? “It’s been a really great atmosphere. We’ve set a lot of high “Eggs benedict.” goals for ourselves, and we’ve been working so hard to reach them. We’ve had kind of a breakout year as well. We beat a few If you could take one trip, where would teams that we haven’t in the past, including Minnesota and you go? “Italy. I’ve never been there and it

SCROLL Auburn, who have great legacies as programs. To be able to seems very cool and surreal.” compete with them has been really amazing.”

How do you pump yourself up for a meet like the Big Ten Best dancer on the team? “Rachel Johnson. She has some pretty championships? unique moves and they all just come to “A lot of just getting loose and having fun. A meet like Big her organically. You can never expect Tens is an atmosphere that you can’t describe. We do a lot of what’s going to happen.” visualization and we’re tapering down in the water right now, so we’re just resting up and everybody has a lot of energy. We Top item on your bucket list? have meetings about what we’re excited about and what we’re “I’d love to go skydiving at one point in my life. I’m kind of an adrenaline junk- nervous about, so we have a pretty good feel for what every- ie.” body’s expecting to do.”

What goals do you have for yourself this championship sea- son? “I obviously would like to do best times. That’s a goal every year. I’ve set some pretty high goals for myself and hopefully I can achieve them. I think an even bigger goal is meeting our team goals. We’re hoping to make a statement at Big Tens and really get out there and show people what Wisconsin is and that we’re a program that’s up and coming.”

How does it feel to return home to Ann Arbor for your final Big Ten meet? “It’s kind of surreal. It’s a little bittersweet. I’ve talked to my parents and my coaches about it and we all feel like it’s com- ing full circle. Canham Natatorium is where I had my first-ever club practices with Club Wolverine, so getting to go back there with a ‘W’ on my cap and as a Badger, I’m just so excited about it.”

What is the best thing about swimming at Wisconsin? “Everybody always says the pride of being a Badger, and it’s so true. You walk around with a ‘W’ on your cap or a Bucky on your shirt and there’s so much love for the school and the culture that Wisconsin is. Just being part of that community is really great.” ■ JOHN FISHER he memory hasn’t completely faded for Vitto we get a picture?’ I’d say, ‘I’m sorry, that’s not me.’ Brown; the memory of an aggressive media They’d go, ‘Oh, you’re No. 30.’” Thorde storming a cramped Wisconsin locker Nothing personal. And he didn’t take it that way. room at one of the NCAA tournament sites; crowd- “It never got disrespectful, I understand peo- ing around his high profile teammates, the overflow ple make mistakes,” said the 6-foot-8, 230-pound sometimes driving Brown out of his dressing stall, Brown. “The funniest ones were when we were out leaving him to utter under his breath, “I’m on the together and they still got us mixed up. I don’t really team, too.” know how. We don’t look alike obviously. But we’re Nothing personal. And he didn’t take it that way. the same build. Sometimes we’d play around.” “You know in your head that you can be out there Hayes might say, “I’m Vitto Brown.” (playing),” he would remind himself. “I was recruit- Brown might say, “I’m Nigel Hayes.” ed here for a reason. I know I was able to play out And the response might be, “Awesome. Can we there with those guys.” get a picture with you guys?’” One of those guys was Nigel Hayes, an AAU ri- Brown laughed at that memory, a baritone’s laugh. val during their prep days in Ohio. They grew up 30 As a freshman, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan put him minutes apart; Hayes in Toledo and Brown in Bowl- in the Final Four semifinal game against Kentucky ing Green. And as soon as they stepped on campus for one minute. Brown thought it was by accident together, they began solidifying their friendship even because he had been used so sparingly that season though they have been on different playing tracks, (44 minutes in 14 games). with Hayes basking in the spotlight and Brown lan- “I think he meant to say Nigel,” he suggested, guishing in the background the last two seasons. “because me and Nigel had gotten mistaken for At times, they have even been mistaken for the each other, whether it was practice or anything else. other, Hayes for Brown, Brown for Hayes. When he said, ‘Vitto, go in,’ I sat there for about two “My freshman and sophomore year,” Brown said, seconds. Then I sprang up. I was thinking, ‘No way, “if I would go out on the street, I’d hear, ‘Nigel, can I’m getting in this game.’” DAVID STLUKA

FRONT AND CENTER: VITTO BROWN'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT PAGE 2 OF 8 ■ ■ ■ ■ ver the last five games, Brown has been flow- “WHEN HE SAID, ‘VITTO, GO IN,’ I SAT ering into one of Wisconsin’s leading scoring THERE FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS. THEN I Ooptions. It started modestly with a Big Ten high “ of nine points against Indiana. He then matched that SPRANG UP. I WAS THINKING, ‘NO WAY, total against Illinois despite coming off the bench I’M GETTING IN THIS GAME.’” while nursing a rib injury. He played just 12 minutes. Against Ohio State, he scored 12 points, his first On the other hand, there was no mistaking the time in double-figures since Dec. 23 when he had overall impact of Hayes, the 2014 Big Ten Sixth Man 15 against Green Bay in Greg Gard’s first game as of the Year. Last season, he moved into the lineup the UW head coach. Against Nebraska, Brown had and started all 40 games. In the Final Four runs, a career high of 18 points, topping his previous best he was a media darling and a stenographer’s night- of 16 against Siena, the second game of the year. mare. That cast an even longer shadow over Brown. Going into the Maryland game, Brown had made “That can be a very difficult situation,” said UW 17 of his last 24 field goals after making just 4 of 18 assistant coach Lamont Paris. “They’re from a simi- shots in the previous four games. He also had made lar part of the country, they’re similar in stature and 6 of his last 10 shots from beyond the 3-point arc af- build, they’re coming here at the same time, they’re ter going 0-for-5 in the first five Big Ten games. What friends. To handle all of that is not easy when you would he do for an encore? know you need a little more time ANDY MORRISON / THE BLADE to develop.” Brown and Hayes, to their credit, have not let anything in- terfere with their rapport and bond. “It was never a me-against- him thing,” Brown said. “I would never be jealous of what he was doing. If anything, I was proud. It was fun watching someone you grew up around do well. By the same token, me and Nigel had some battles in high school. He’ll tell you that we’ve always been competitive. “But my mental (focus) was not where it needed to be and I think that held me back from having the right outlook and the right preparedness. Nigel fig- ured that out earlier. You have to give him credit. He has always been a step ahead of the aver- age guy in terms of his mental swagger. “But I definitely think I’ve fig- DAVID STLUKA A pair of prep stars from Ohio, Brown and Hayes both ured it out now. I’ve just been a made the decision to enroll at Wisconsin in 2013. late bloomer.”

FRONT AND CENTER: VITTO BROWN'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT PAGE 3 OF 8 DAVID STLUKA

Last Saturday, Brown led both teams in scoring darity bound to play well in the locker room. with 21 points as the Badgers overpowered the No. Stone was suspended one game by Maryland and 2 ranked Terrapins, 70-57, snapping their 27-game publically reprimanded by the Big Ten on Monday. home winning streak at the XFINITY Center. Brown Brown had met Stone, a Milwaukee native, during was 8-of-14 from the field, 3-of-6 from behind the his official recruiting visit to Wisconsin. Brown wasn’t arc, 2-of-2 from the line. And he had seven re- sure what exactly transpired after he went down on bounds. the court ― “I felt my head hit the ground, but I’m “I wasn’t even looking at any of the stats to be fine” ― until he saw the replay of the incident. On honest,” said Brown, who didn’t score in the first Sunday, Brown said that Stone had reached out to Maryland game. “When somebody told me I had 21, him and apologized. I thought they were kidding. I thought I was at 15. I “I know that he was frustrated and I’m not holding had no idea. And the rebounds? The same thing. I that against him,” Brown said. “I know he’s young was just trying to play as hard as I could and make and sometimes maybe it’s hard to handle those frus- sure we finished that game out.” trations. The fact that he was big enough to hit me Some national pundits questioned whether Mary- up (touch base with him later) meant a lot.” land freshman Diamond Stone should have been al- There was another physical confrontation with lowed to finish that game after a baseline incident Stone during the game that drew far less attention. with Brown at the end of the first half. But it may have been more meaningful for the big Some felt that Stone should have been tagged with picture and Brown’s upside. a Flagrant 2 and ejected. But the officiating crew On a 50/50 ball, Brown and the 6-11, 255-pound interpreted it differently after reviewing the video at Stone both jumped in the air and Brown came down the scorer’s table. Stone was assessed a technical. with the ball ― using both hands to wrestle it away So was UW freshman Charles Thomas, who saw from Stone. It was a clean and welcomed basketball what happened to his teammate and began verbally move by Brown who hasn’t always applied himself engaging Stone, a sign of “I’ve got your back” soli- so aggressively.

FRONT AND CENTER: VITTO BROWN'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT PAGE 4 OF 8 “I WAS ALWAYS STRONG BUT I DIDN’T NECESSARILY USE MY STRENGTH,” BROWN“ CONCEDED. “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN PHYSICALLY READY TO PLAY. BUT IT WAS MORE THE MENTAL (PROCESS) AND USING THE PHYSICALITY FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE.”

“Coach Ryan used to always say, ‘No one-handed rebounds’ and Coach Gard is no different,” Brown said. “I’ve definitely been trying to focus on grabbing them a lot stronger and I had to, otherwise it would have been in his hands (Stone’s) for sure.” That play left an imprint on the UW coaches. “He has developed more fight and some tough- ness,” Gard said. During practices, Paris will frequently hold a block- ing shield and condition the low-post players on fin- ishing through contact. In the process, he can get a feel for the individual’s strength in meeting force with force. And he has always felt that Brown has been one of the strongest players on the team. “I was always strong but I didn’t necessarily use my strength,” Brown conceded. “I still don’t use it all the way like I should. I’m still working on that. I’ve always been physically ready to play. But it was more the mental (process) and using the physicality for the right purpose.” Brown didn’t feel like his mind was right at the start of last season. And it affected his game. “It got to a point where I knew I had messed around and not taken care of business,” he said. “and I knew at a certain point that things wouldn’t change for that season. So I had to enjoy the (Fi- nal Four) ride and focus on what I could do when my time did come. And I knew that inevitably it was going to come this year just because of the attrition with everybody leaving. I never got down and out.” Brown got off to a fast start this season by scoring in double-figures in the first three games. In Wiscon- sin’s overtime victory at Syracuse, he played 39 min- utes and contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. After struggling against Temple and Milwaukee, he bounced back impressively over the final three non-conference games in December. JOHN FISHER Brown had 15 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes against Marquette; 12 points and 16 re-

FRONT AND CENTER: VITTO BROWN'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT PAGE 5 OF 8 bounds in 33 minutes against Texas A&M-Corpus At Penn State (Jan. 21), he played 13 minutes, the Christi; and 15 points and 9 rebounds in 26 minutes fewest of the season. He missed five of his six shots against Green Bay. That was the momentum that he from the field and had one rebound. carried into the Big Ten season. Since then, he has averaged 14 points and 23 But he wasn’t able to sustain it. minutes of playing time the last five games. He was “That’s about when our coaching change hap- on the floor for 34 minutes in both of the wins over pened,” he said of Ryan’s unexpected retirement Nebraska and Maryland. RICHARD DUNBAR: following the Corpus Christi game on Dec. 15. “Ob- So what has accounted for the transformation, the “MARK MY WORDS, DALLAS JEANTY viously, Coach Gard has done an awesome job. But late blooming of Vitto Brown? it was still different and some guys responded to that Why has he begun to flower? WILL SOMEDAY BE A POSITIVE transition better and adapted quicker. “I think he has become comfortable with where FIGURE IN AMERICA.” “It took me a little bit longer. Now, I know what is he’s good at ― by that, I mean facing the basket,” expected and everything makes more sense. But in Gard said. “He has evolved within the Swing and our the beginning, it took me a little time to learn what I spacing. was supposed to be doing.” “When you have a guy who’s 6-8 or 6-9 and can The numbers bear that out. pick-and-pop and is a threat that you have to guard Through the first six Big Ten games, Brown aver- on the perimeter, we’re able to stretch the floor a lit- aged 19.2 minutes, 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds. tle bit. He (Brown) has that understanding. He also He shot 34 percent from the field has figured out what is a good shot and what is not and 62 percent from the line. ― what he can do and, more importantly, what he He was 0-for-4 from the arc. can’t do.” It got worse before it got As far as improving his shot selection, Brown said, better. “That just comes with getting used to how our of- fense is flowing, knowing what we’re looking for and DAVID STLUKA being able to hit the shots that come within the flow as well. It’s one part repetition. The other part is watching film and studying.” Those video sessions can reveal many things. “You have to look back at it from the outside,” Brown said, “to see who else was open. Or did I rush it (the shot)? Sometimes in the heat of the moment, you don’t know how bad of a shot it might have been or how good of a shot it was.” The most consistent scorers don’t dwell on the misses, the negatives. “He has man- aged his adversi- ty better, that’s part of it, too,” Paris said of Brown’s hoops renaissance. “That’s adversity in the form of a missed shot, or a play that doesn’t go his way. At the beginning of the season, if a play went poorly, it would snowball. Now, he will battle through it.” Paris can vouch for Brown’s character in handling whatever is thrown at him.

FRONT AND CENTER: VITTO BROWN'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT PAGE 6 OF 8 “The guy sings the national anthem at the Final fense,” Gard said. “Early in the year, I thought when Four for crying out loud,” Paris said. “He’s willing to the ball hit his hands, it was like a needle going off a give up his time, like a lot of our guys are, and he record. We just stopped.” always goes out of his way. Brown has seemingly found his comfort zone, his “I’ve had neighbors that have had impromptu in- niche within the offense, his identity. teractions with Vitto and they can’t wait to call me or “He’s playing within himself,” Paris said. “He’s not text or email me about how good he made their kids trying to do too much. I don’t think he feels like he feel or how much time he has to prove that he can spent with them. Char- do this or that. He knows, acter-wise, he’s always “HE HAS A BETTER FEEL IN TERMS OF THE FLOW OF THE and everybody knows, great, always wanting to OFFENSE,” GARD SAID. “EARLY IN THE YEAR, I THOUGHT what his strengths are try and do what you ask “ and he’s fine with that WHEN THE BALL HIT HIS HANDS, IT WAS LIKE A NEEDLE him to do.” GOING OFF A RECORD. WE JUST STOPPED.” and playing more to his Brown has been con- strengths. scientious about making “I know his confidence changes. “I’ve been trying to focus, week-in and in his shot is at an all-time high. He’s playing a little week-out, on having a more positive attitude,” he slower. This is not to say that he still doesn’t make said, “whether that’s my body language or just not mistakes, but it allows him do the things that he does getting down if I miss a shot. All of that plays into the the best. Is this the Vitto Brown from here on out? I confidence portion (of his turnaround).” hope so.” Gard has been pushing Brown on technical fac- Brown’s physicality in the Maryland game under- ets: limiting his dribbling, staying ready to catch and lined what he was saying. shoot and playing stronger with the ball in the post. “He’s embracing things,” Paris continued. “His “He has a better feel in terms of the flow of the of- game is more of a skill game and that’s not a knock DAVID STLUKA

“I’ve had neighbors that have had impromptu interactions with Vitto and they can’t wait to call me or text or email me about how good he made their kids feel or how much time he spent with them,” Paris said.

FRONT AND CENTER: VITTO BROWN'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT PAGE 7 OF 8 JOHN FISHER

“He has an old-school crooner type of voice,” Sheila Brown said of her son, one of the family's many talented vocalists.

at all. But that’s how you can really get a sense of she said, laughing. “I don’t know if that’s more me or how a guy has grown and how much a guy wants to my husband. He has taken a fair amount from both be good ― when they embrace the things that are of us. He’s a hard worker and both of us are hard naturally uncomfortable for them.” workers. Once we set our minds to do something, That does not come as a surprise to Brown’s par- we kind of dig in.” ents, Angelo and Sheila. Since meeting as undergrads at Langston Univer- “I’m most proud of his attitude and how he’s de- sity in Oklahoma, Sheila and Angelo Brown have veloping,” said Angelo Brown, who was born and been singing together, eventually bringing the family raised in Detroit and brings that edge and frame of into the mix as a group called The Shades of Brown. reference to the family dynamic. “I’m really proud In 2013, they released their debut CD, Beautiful of the way he’s handling himself and how he’s re- Sunset. Sheila is the lead singer. Angelo is the writ- sponding to the coaches. er-producer. They have a jazzy R&B flavor to their “When he lost a lot of minutes, my thing was, ‘You worship-gospel music. keep working hard and attack and do the things that The Browns will sing the national anthem before you need to do and you’ll earn those minutes back.’ next Sunday’s game against Illinois. They may be That has been the thrust. I’m probably more fired up at full-strength, too, with Xavier and Vitto teaming about him trying to do those things than making the up with their younger sister, Carla. Because of work jumpers.” conflicts, Xavier wasn’t able to sing with the group in “I would echo what my husband said,” Sheila an earlier appearance at the Kohl Center. Brown added. “In addition, it’s just his maturity over Vitto, meanwhile, has recorded his first single, “My the last couple of years. He’s always had this atti- One and Only Love.” tude, ‘I going to do it, I’m going to get better.’” It has nothing to do with his mid-range jump shot, Angelo was the basketball influence on their sons; either. But the release was delayed when the Browns’ he coached and taught the fundamentals to Vitto and home studio flooded over the summer. his older brother, Xavier, a 5-11, 175-pound guard “He (Vitto) has an old-school crooner type of who scored 1,637 points and had 139 career steals voice,” said Sheila. “We wanted to write something for the College of Wooster. Sheila was the singing for him in the style of that era. When you listen to it, influence. I think that’s the vibe we’re going for.” “We’re still kind of debating on his stubbornness,” Right now, Vitto Brown’s vibe has never been better.

FRONT AND CENTER: VITTO BROWN'S STEADY IMPROVEMENT PAGE 8 OF 8 JACK McLAUGHLIN Sarah Nurse doesn’t think of herself as a trailblazer and is reluctant to discuss her status as the first black player in the history of the Wisconsin women’s hockey program. As her impact on the game’s next generation has come into focus, however, the junior winger has embraced the idea of being a role model for those choosing to follow her path. JACK M c LAUGHLIN

f Sarah Nurse ever had a doubt about her status as “That was really special for me,” Nurse said of the a pioneering role model, the feeling disappeared moment. “Just knowing that I can have an impact Ione day last October. on little kids.” The Wisconsin women’s hockey team was in San This is the same Nurse who, until now, had been Jose, California, for its season-opening non-con- reluctant to talk about her ground-breaking place in ference series with Providence when a mother and Wisconsin women’s hockey history while being put daughter approached Nurse and struck up a con- on the marquee for Black History Month. versation with the junior winger. “I don’t want to say it’s been a difficult journey for It turned out to be an inspiring moment for the me to find my sense of belonging and things like child, but also for Nurse, the first black student-ath- that,” she explained. “It’s just something I haven’t lete to skate for the women’s program at UW. really spoken about very much. For me, it was kind “She looked like me,” Nurse said of the girl. of like finding the right words, finding the right way The mother explained that her daughter was in her to verbalize how I feel and what my opinions are. first year of organized hockey. She said the girl had That was holding me back a little bit.” been playing basketball and soccer, but after seeing At one point in the conversation, Nurse, whose fa- Nurse play for the Badgers, she wanted to follow ther, Roger, is black and whose mother, Michelle, that path. is white, was asked if she had a specific point she “She wants to be like you,” the mother told Nurse. wanted to make. She did. Nurse scored three goals in the series as Wisconsin “Obviously I’m referred to as half-black, half-white emerged with 5-1 and 8-1 victories, but the reason and I think I’ve really tried to stay away from those the mother and daughter approached Nurse had as terms,” she said. “I’ve gone to being bi-racial, but I much to do with her roots as her world-class skills. am white and I am black because I don’t want to feel

‘SHE WANTS TO BE LIKE YOU’: SARAH NURSE'S MAJOR IMPACT PAGE 2 OF 5 “IT’S JUST SOMETHING I HAVEN’T REALLY SPOKEN ABOUT VERY MUCH. FOR ME, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE FINDING“ THE RIGHT WORDS, FINDING THE RIGHT WAY TO VERBALIZE HOW I FEEL AND WHAT MY OPINIONS ARE.”

lesser of something.” Nurse noted that some acquaintances have made jokes that fall short of being funny. “I’ve been asked, ‘Do you only cele- brate half of Black History Month? Are you only half offended?’ she said with a wry laugh. “I’ve really tried to stay away from things like that. That’s what’s been really important for me.” Nurse’s reserved ways off the ice belie an outspoken game on it. Her primary hockey gifts are her smarts and athlet- icism, things she picked up from a re- markable gene pool based in Hamilton, Ontario. Her father was a standout lacrosse player and now is a match official. Her uncle, Richard, was a wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadi- an Football League. Her aunt, Raquel, played basketball at Syracuse, where she met her husband and Sarah’s uncle, former NFL quarterback Donovan Mc- Nabb. Nurse ultimately broke the mold when she chose to Nurse’s cousin, Darnell, was a first-round NHL pursue hockey instead of basketball. draft pick of Edmonton in 2013 and is a highly-re- “We said, ‘If we’re going to sign you up for one and garded defenseman for the Oilers. Another cousin, you can only pick one, which one are we going to Kia, is a standout point guard for women’s basketball sign you up for?’” Roger Nurse recalled. “She said, powerhouse Connecticut. Another cousin, Tamika, ‘I want to play hockey.’” played women’s basketball at Oregon and Bowling Sarah said she kept playing basketball until she Green. was a teenager, but her heart was at the ice rink, “I’ve been exposed to so many different sports and where she played on boys’ teams until she was 11. so many different activities,” Nurse said. “Just being Now her younger brothers, Elijah and Isaac, are able to watch different people in my family play dif- making names for themselves as hockey players. ferent sports, it’s gotten me to play a little bit of ev- “It feels very natural to me,” Sarah said of her cho- erything. That’s really a huge part of what’s shaped sen sport. “My parents had a huge part of that for DAVID STLUKA me as a hockey player. me. They said, ‘Do what you love.’ I did love to play With a nudge from her parents when she was 6, basketball ― I played till I was 14 years old ― but I

‘SHE WANTS TO BE LIKE YOU’: SARAH NURSE'S MAJOR IMPACT PAGE 3 OF 5 loved hockey more.” ‘What are we doing with diversity? Are we out re- Nurse said her parents encouraged her to follow cruiting and giving kids opportunities? In our world, her heart. there’s more of that today in hockey than there was “It doesn’t matter what other people before you years ago just because of the influence of the sport.” have done,” they told her. “If you love doing what Nurse, a business major, said diversity wasn’t a you’re doing, keep doing it.” major discussion point with Johnson and his assis- Sarah Nurse got her first hockey recruiting letter tants, Dan Koch and Jackie Friesen, leading up to when she was in eighth grade and ultimately picked her decision to come to UW. Wisconsin over Ohio State, Syracuse and Quinnip- “I know playing hockey for a long time it’s predom- iac. Her father said she wanted to go to a bigger inantly a white sport,” Nurse said. “I think people, school and his daughter became enamored with the when they meet my dad for the first time, it’s like, atmosphere in Madison. ‘Oh, is that her real dad?’ So it’s kind of different. So Being headquartered in a state-of-the-art facility I think Coach Johnson, Jackie and Dan kind of had like LaBahn Arena, playing before sellout crowds that feeling when they first started recruiting me, but and having the sport celebrated on campus ― win- I don’t think it was an area of emphasis.” ning four NCAA championships will do that ― were There are other African-Americans at the NCAA part of the draw. Division I level ― Nurse skated against Cassandra Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said race played a Vilgrain of New Hampshire last season; Kaliya John- role in the recruitment of Nurse, who skated on the son of Boston College and Kelsey Koezler of Prince- same Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres team as current team- ton are two other recent trailblazers ― but Nurse is mate and junior center Sydney McKibbon. the first to play for the Badgers. “To me it was exciting,” Johnson said. “Four, five, “I was hoping we’d get her just because we could six years ago, the (athletic) department was asking bring in someone of color that is a good player,” JACK M c LAUGHLIN

“WE SAID, ‘IF YOU CAN ONLY PICK ONE, WHICH ONE ARE WE GOING TO SIGN“ YOU UP FOR?’” ROGER NURSE RECALLED. “SHE SAID, ‘I WANT TO PLAY HOCKEY.’”

‘SHE WANTS TO BE LIKE YOU’: SARAH NURSE'S MAJOR IMPACT PAGE 4 OF 5 Johnson said. “It was just a matter of convincing her team,” she said. “I’ll get asked certain questions, this was a spot she could grow in.” harmless questions.” Nurse, who shares a campus residence with Such as? Johnson’s daughter, Mikayla, and junior defensem- “When I got here (as a freshman) they asked if I an Jenny Ryan, currently leads the second-ranked knew how to cornrow their hair,” Nurse recalled with Badgers with 21 goals and is tied for third with 31 a laugh. points. Grace, patience and awareness have served Nurse “She’s a great kid,” Johnson said of Nurse. “Al- well on and off the ice. Thanks to that moment in ways got a smile on her face.” California, she knows a lot of people are watching On the ice, Nurse’s athleticism is impossible to from afar and her influence is on the rise. miss. She seems to have an extra gear that allows “Just knowing that I can have that effect on little her to maneuver around defenders. When she gets kids,” Nurse said. “Whether it’s kind of breaking out to the net she knows how to finish, sometimes spec- of their shell or doing something that maybe they’re tacularly. not normally supposed to do, I think that’s really im- Nurse made ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 high- portant to me.” lights Jan. 24 when she scored vs. North Dakota. She angled through multiple defenders while cutting from the right cir- cle to the slot. The conversion helped “JUST KNOWING THAT I CAN HAVE THAT EFFECT the Badgers to a ON LITTLE KIDS,” NURSE SAID. “WHETHER IT’S 3-1 victory. “ “She’s got that KIND OF BREAKING OUT OF THEIR SHELL OR ability to sepa- DOING SOMETHING THAT MAYBE THEY’RE NOT rate herself from NORMALLY SUPPOSED TO DO, I THINK THAT’S people,” Johnson REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.” said. “Then, at dif- ferent times when she gets into a phone booth and has to stick-handle out of it, she does some incred- ibly athletic things.” In the process of playing 103 career games for the Badgers, Nurse said she’s never heard a racial epithet on or off the ice. “I don’t think, me personally, there’s been disrespect pointed towards me,” she said. “It’s more the little whisperings that I’ve heard ― ‘That’s the black girl on the hockey team.’ kind of thing ― and that doesn’t offend me. That’s kind of how people describe me and I’m not going to get too bent out of shape about that.” Is race a big topic of conversation among Wisconsin student-athletes? Nurse said it varies between sports and people, with heavier discus- sions involving members of the football and basket- DAVID STLUKA ball teams. “I think it’s more of a curiosity thing with my

‘SHE WANTS TO BE LIKE YOU’: SARAH NURSE'S MAJOR IMPACT PAGE 5 OF 5 SCROLL INSIDE WOMEN’SBASKETBALL BY DIANENORDSTROM T both transferred toUWfor their juniorseasons. on inCichy. They werejoinedbyJohnsonandGambino, who the Year inBauman,aCanadian prospectinWhyteandawalk- first signingclass. ItincludedtheWisconsinGatorade Playerof staff hadlessthansevenmonthsto get commitmentsfromtheir job, you’ve had four orfiveyears torecruitthem. Well, we didn’t.” to recruit,albeitquickly. Peoplejustassumewhenyougetthe explains. “That’s thefirstclassthatcameinwehad achance managers SpencerBrinkandRyan Yentz. class beforeinjuriesforcedheroffthecourt,aswellstudent assistant coachShannonMalone,whoalsowasamemberofthe first recruitingclassatWisconsin.Thegroupisjoinedbystudent Gambino, MichalaJohnsonandDakotaWhytemadeupKelsey’s ― have set,”Kelseysaid. be notinthe‘W’column, butit’s a lot ofrecordsthatthesekids the personalgrowth andachievementsthattheyhave had, may- to have thehighest field goalpercentage theprogram has seen. as the best 3-point shooter in UW history and Johnson is on track earned their place in theUW record book. Bauman will go down Class act:Seniorsplayfinal homegames While thewins haven’t cometo thisgroup, the players have From thetimeKelseywashiredinApril of2011,sheandher “We didcomeinasfreshmen,sotospeak,together,” Kelsey “For what theyhaveaccomplished, alltheschool records,all thisyear’s classofNicoleBauman,Tessa Cichy, Rosanna bie Kelseythananyclassshe’s hadatWisconsin. his year’s seniorclassprobablymeansmoretocoachBob- An eclecticgroupofplayers― Badgers torecognizeeightseniorsinfinalhomecontest onSaturday ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS bothonandoffthecourt MEDIA: SOCIAL TAP TOVIEWSCHEDULE

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS ANDERSON GREGG SCROLL INSIDE MEN’SHOCKEY F BY ANDYBAGGOT Strand said.“We stilldidn’thaveeverybodydoingtheirpart.”■ against anyteamattime,butcloseisn’tgoingtogetitdone,” Center onFridayandSaturday? ries withMichiganState(7-20-3,3-10-1,10points)attheKohl 1-8-3 with7pointsintheBigTen) headingintotheirleaguese- all thetime.” Alaska. Obviouslythereneedstobeawaythatconsistent well forus(Saturday)nightandtheseriespriorwhenweplayed bel. “Whenhe’s dug in,he’s donethethingsIthinkhedidvery with 17 shots― nus-9 in the series opener. The following night they were 3-4-7 They werepoint-less withfiveshotsandwereacombined mi- combined minus-1. next nighttheCCM crewwas3-2-5witheightshots,but werea 14 shots on the way to being a combined plus-6 in the win. The Kohl Center. Thatunitaccountedfortwogoals,five assists and to a4-1victoryFridayand4-4overtime drawSaturdayatthe a slowstart. Tyler Motte― ― bar issetandthateducationshouldhelpdownthestretch. winger GrantBesse― Luke Kunin,sophomorecenterCameronHughesandjuniorright ton ofoffensivepressure. the leftandMcGuireonright― and speednothesitate.Hisunit― the tie.Whatgives? for thelosstoWolverines, butcenteredthefourthlineduring 4) andarewinlesswithouthim(0-9-3).Hewasahealthyscratch The Badgershaveawinningrecordwhenhe’s inthelineup(6-4- at forward.” was not on defense on Saturday, I thought he was very noticeable side ofourroom.Hegrewinsidegroup.Eventhoughhe did forusintheprocessofthiswholedealisIthinkhegrew- plus-3 ratingforthethreeoutings. game stintondefense.Hefinishedwithagoal,eightshotsand a returned toplayingrightwingonthefourthlineafterathree- nesota. suspension relatedtoamajorpenalty assessedJan.23vs.Min- defenseman EddieWittchowtothe lineupafterathree-game at 19minutes,33.9secondsofthethird. 53 seconds into the second session and tied the game for good od. Hehadoneof eachinthetiewithMichigan.He converted strangely, havecome inthefirstminuteorlast ofaperi- Hughes line. ful,” Wisconsin associatehead coachLuke Strand saidofthe a combined plus-3. “We havetotheconfidenceknowthatwecandoit 5. What’s theprevailing lessonfortheBadgers(6-13-7overall, That canbetraced totheimprovementofHughes line. The CCMlinefactoredshowedupstrong bothnightsenroute They werematchedagainsttheMichigan’s prolificCCMline “When heplayswithcaution,it’s hurthim,”StrandsaidofZir In short,StrandwantsZirbeltobeconsistentwithhisenergy 4. Freshmancenter/wingJarodZirbelhasacuriousresume. “I wouldn’tsayit’s done,”Strandsaid.“OnethingthatCorbin Is thatexperimentover? In acorrespondingmove,redshirtsophomore CorbinMcGuire 3. TheMichiganseriessawthereturn ofseniorcaptainand 2. Kuninleadsthe Badgers with12goals,sevenofwhich, “They became more 200-foot responsible than 200-foot hope- leftwingerKyleConnor, centerJTCompherandrightwinger Badgers’ toplinemakesprogressagainstoneofthegame’s mostprolific trios Five takeawaysfromtheMichigan series lowing itsBigTen ConferenceserieswithMichigan: ive takeawaysfromtheWisconsinmen’s hockeyteamfol- 1. ThetoplinefortheBadgers― andfinishedtheweekendonanuplifting noteafter ■ UWBADGERS.COM Kunin hadtwo goalsand nineshots ― gotachancetoseewheretheperformance generatedeightshotsanda sophomoreJasonFordon freshmanleftwinger and were - MEDIA: SOCIAL TAP TOVIEWSCHEDULE

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS CAPOBIANCO PAUL SCROLL INSIDE WOMEN’SHOCKEY BY A.J.HARRISON Badgers haveWCHAtitleinhand,butfinalregular-season serieshasimplications A of Minnesota since the 2009-10 season. finale and ledUWtoa3-1 win, clinchingthe Badgers’ firstsweep victory infrontofa selloutcrowdatLaBahnArena. sophomore Annie Pankowski scoredinovertimetosecure a3-2 winless skid against the Golden Gophers in the series opener as met inDecemberMadison.TheBadgers snappedan18-game since thelasttimeweplayedMinnesota.” are inthenationalrankings. as wemoveintopostseasonplayand willdeterminewherewe Channell said.“These games against Minnesota are important lection lessthanamonthaway. implications onthenationalstagewithNCAAtournamentse- as ateam.” pable ofwinningifwejustkeepdoing thelittlethingsandplaying know what it takes to beat a team like them, and we are very ca- and getnotjustone buttwowinsagainstthemreallyhelped. We back,” Channell said. “Being able to finally getthat off our backs Gophers. der Battle was aboutthe Badgers’ inability tobeat theGolden the last time around, when most of the talk surrounding the Bor Still muchonthelineagainst Minnesota The sophomorewent ontoscoreapairofgoalsinthe series It’s beenmorethantwomonthssinceWisconsinandMinnesota “It willbealsoagreattest for ustosee how far we havecome “This weekendishugeforus,”juniordefensemanMellissa But thesecond-rankedBadgers’triptoNo.3Minnesotahas “The winlessstreak wassomethingIbelieveholding us The mood heading into this weekend’s series is different than to playforduringthefinalweekendofregularseason. it wouldbeeasytothinkthatWisconsindoesn’thavemuch fter winning the program’s fifth WCHA regular season title, ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS - MEDIA: SOCIAL TAP TOVIEWSCHEDULE

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS STLUKA DAVID SCROLL INSIDE WRESTLING Resilient Badgerskeepfighting inBig Ten BY KELLIGRASHEL W this season and isin the midst ofa21-match win streak that overtime theprevious weekend. let’s notforgetaboutCrone’s upsetofMinnesota’s Jake Shortin then squeakedout atight5-3winatMarylandonSunday. But Stieber witha6-4decisioninthefirst suddenvictoryperiodand the down-to-the-wirevariety. CronedefeatedOhioState’s Hunter match winningstreak,andmanyof hismatcheshavebeenof rest oftheteam.TheDelafield,Wisconsin, nativeisridingafive- Maryland onSunday. 10 Ohio State but bounced back to claim seven of 10 matches at ference competition. UW won only two bouts last Friday at No. season butCroneandJordanhaveremainedsteadyagainstcon- drew Croneand165-pounderIsaacJordan. bound toseemoresolidperformancesfrom149-pounderAn- to faceCentralMichiganat6p.m.onWednesday. ■ Veling brating itssenior class Northwestern. Thematchissetfornoon,withWisconsincele- to closeoutthehomedualseasononapositivenoteagainst day. sen willbehisnexttestwhenNorthwesterncomestotownSun- matches andis1-3againstthosefoes.No.18-rankedCollinJen- out againstIllinoisonJan.31. came bymarginsoffivepointsorless. tled throughconsecutivesudden-victorymatches.Bothlosses ranked opponentsthananyoneontheteamsofarandhasbat- came atthehandsofrankedopponents.Hehasfacedmore Badgers. recent duals.Butthat’s notforlackoffightingfromthebigger upper weight classes, which have been struggling to produce in decision overMaryland’s Youssif Hemdia. pounds whileBrockHorwath(heavyweight) wona10-0major Jaron Smith.EricPeissigalsoclinched a5-4decisionat197 Ryan Christensenpickedupa5-2decisionwinovertheTerps’ decision over Maryland’s Derrick Evanovich, while 184-pounder provement. in the win column, there’s no doubt that they are showing im- a 6-4decision. dan, atOhio State.Isaacsnapped Bo’s perfect 12-0recordwith just two daysafter upsetting his cousin, second-ranked Bo Jor pin of the season against Maryland’s Tyler Manion on Sunday, dates to last year. The Urbana, Ohio, native recorded his fourth Ranked No. 3 at 165,Jordan holds an unscathed 20-0 record Crone’s stellarturnaroundhasbeensettingthepace for the A numberofBadgershavebeenonup-and-downridesthis Before that,however, UWwillhaveanotherroadtestwithatrip The Badgershavefacedmanytoughteststhisseasonbutlook Horwath hasfacedthreerankedopponentsinhislastfour Similarly, Robertsonis2-2inhislastfourmatchesaftersitting Christensen has splithis last four matches, with both losses The winscouldn’thavecomeatabettertimeforWisconsin’s Ricky Robertson(174pounds)got back inhisgroovewitha Although other Badgers haven’t been showing as many results Crone andJordankeepshowingsteadyperformances toleadWisconsin ― withSeniorDayfestivities. Sunday. Andonethingisforsure,Badgersfansare when NorthwesterncomestotheUWFieldHouseon isconsin willhostitsfinalhomematchoftheseason ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS ― Horwath, Brett Hochstaetter and Nic - MEDIA: SOCIAL TAP TOVIEWSCHEDULE

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS RUSCHELL PAM SCROLL Badgers seniorlooksatsuccessfulIowaStatemeet,previews Badgers’homefinale I INSIDE TRACK&FIELD BY KELSEYCARD amount choose tonap through most ofit. Ipersonally doamix of others read ordohomework, somewatchmovies, butalarge has alldifferentways ofmakingthetimepass;someplay cards, have beenhere,so thebustripisprettyfamiliartome. Everyone meters. in women’s sprints with top-five finishes in boththe 100and 200 ners reached new personal bests.Ebony McClendon led the way freshman BankeOginni.Inaddition, severalotherdistancerun- well asatwo-footpersonalbestinthe weightthrowbyredshirt performances fromfreshmanAmyDavis inthe5000metersas meters and 200 meters. The women’s side also saw some great way outinCaliforniaandothersasfarsouthMississippi. this meethasaverydiversifiedmixofschools,withsomefrom 300-meter indoortrack.Itissafetosaythatotherthannationals, are high,itisrelativelyclose,andtheCyclones’facilityboastsa Badger fans! p.m., whilerunningeventsstartat4:10p.m. weight throw!Thewomen’s weightthrowkicksoffthemeetat3 chael Lihrmanwillbetheretocompeteinhisshiningevent,the teams thereaswellsomeunattachedathletes. home meetswehavehadthisyearbecausewillmultiple following weekend.Thismeetwillbedifferentthanourothertwo our lasttune-upbeforetheBigTen Conferencecompetitionthe were thereforoutdoorregionalslastyear. que Ihaveeverhadwhiletravelingwas inAustin,Texas, whenwe Iowa didnotdisappoint.AlthoughImust say, myfavoritebarbe- particular when I travel is barbeque, and the place we went to in getting toeatsomedeliciousmeals. The onethingIliketotryin travel, Ihavetosayoneofmyfavorite partsabouttravelingis team onthismealexcursion. Needless tosay, wedidnothaveany distancemembersofthe the saucyevidence ofadeliciousmealontheirhandsafterwards. rant. Themeatwas cookedtoperfectionandeveryone hadall driver was abletogiveusa ridetoafantastic barbequerestau - fortunately is kind ofin themiddle ofnowhere. Luckily, our bus napping and watching movies. We have come to this meet at Iowa State every year since I On themen’s side,LorenzoLarryledwithavictoryinthe60 Kelsey Card Hope toseeyouthisFridayatTheShell,andhaveagreatweek A littlebirdtoldmethatformerBadgerthrowerstandoutMi- Our nextmeetonFridayisalsoourlasthomeindoorand Aside fromgettingtoseeallcorners ofthecountrywhenwe We also stay at the same hotel every time we come, which un- Card’s Corner:Final BigTen tuneupawaits This meet is really good for us because the competition levels we traveledtoAmes,Iowa,forameetatIowaStateUniversity. t isgoodtobebackinactionafteraweekaway. Lastweekend ■ ■ STUDENT-ATHLETE MEDIA: SOCIAL TAP TOVIEWSCHEDULE

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS KLUCKHOHN BRUCE SCROLL H INSIDE SWIMMING&DIVING BY BRANDONHARRISON 22. The meetwillalsoairontape-delayBTNat 6 p.m. onFeb. day. FanscanstreamthemeetlivewithBTNPlusviaBTN2Go. liminaries areheldThursdaythroughSaturdayat10a.m.each ter divingpreliminariesat1p.m. divers begintheircompetitionThursdayafternoonwiththe1-me- 200 medleyand800freerelaysat5:30p.m.(CT).Wisconsin fourth inthe800freestylerelay(7:13.85). that ranksthird(3:18.27)intheconferenceandanotheris 400 medley(3:35.85)relays.UWhasafreestylerelayteam groups inthe200freestyle(1:30.12),medley(1:38.82)and This yearisnoexception,astheBadgershaveBigTen-leading teams totheconferencechampionshipseachandeveryseason. 2:10.97, respectively. in the100and200breaststroke,recordingtimesof1:01.02 season. 200 butterfly. Thejuniorrecordedatimeof1:57.87earlierthis while alsorankingninthinthe200back(1:57.01). fifth in both the 50 free (22.47) and 100 backstroke (53.31), man hashadabreakoutcollegiatedebut.Unicombisseeded Holtzen, standsninthwithhertimeof16:16.26. a timeof16:14.59.Herteammateanddistancepartner, Jenny time of4:39.24.Inthe1,650freestyle,Valley rankseighthwith event inwhichIndiana’s HaleyLipsleadstheconferencewitha the packbyjustoverasecond(9:42.32). 1,000 freestylewithatimeof9:43.37.Michigan’s Yirong Bileads tance eventsinAnnArbor. Valley holdstheNo.2rankin the respectively. has recordedtimesof52.58and1:56.85 inthe100and200, diana’s GiaDalesandroinbothevents,astheHoosiers swimmer 57.11 secondsinthe200-yardevent. GrindallnarrowlytrailsIn- holds timesof52.93secondsinthe 100butterflyand1minute, Grindall isrankedsecondinapair ofevents,aswell.Grindall onships forthesecond-straight year. she raced.Martin was named Big Ten Swimmer oftheChampi- fire by winning seven Big Ten titles from 2013-15. won the crown in 2012 and Ivy Martin won three straight titles coach Whitney Hite’s seasons at Wisconsin. Beckie Thompson the women’s 50freestyleat theBigTen meetineach ofhead Haughey (48.07). ney is second inthe100free(48.38) behind Michigan’s Siobhan Zhesi Li,whorecorded atimeof21.83earlierthisseason. Kin- time of22.22secondsinthe50is second toonlyOhioState’s mers forboththe50-and100-yard freestyleevents.Kinney’s ship. stand atop the Big Ten heading into the conference champion- individually in their respective events, plus three UW relay teams through SaturdayatCanhamNatatorium. Arbor, Michigan. begins this week with the 2016 Big Ten Championships in Ann Badgers lookingtomakeastatementinAnnArboras UW beginsthepostseason Swimming finalsbegin5:30p.m.eachnight.pre- Swimming events begin Wednesday with the final heats of the Wisconsin canalwaysbecountedontobringcompetitiverelay Badgers seniorAnnaMeinholzclinchedapairoftop-10ranks Wisconsin’s GraceWold holdsafourth-place rankinginthe Jess Unicombhasbeenonetowatchthisseason,asthefresh- Valley is fourth in the Big Ten in the 500 freestyle (4:41.25), an UW’s DanielleValley lookstomakehermarkinatrioofdis- The Wisconsinschool record-holderinthe200butterfly, Dana At lastyear’s Big Ten championships, Martin set themeet on Kinney looks to keep intact a streak that has seen a Badger win Junior sprinterChaseKinneyranksNo. 2amongBigTen swim- Seven Badgersarerankedamongthetop10ofconference The four-day meetissettobeginonWednesday andwillrun ■ Women openupchampionshipseason can finallyturnitsfocustochampionshipseason,which 17-ranked Wisconsinwomen’s swimminganddivingteam aving ended its regular season on a high note, the No. ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS ― every single event in which MEDIA: SOCIAL TAP TOVIEWSCHEDULE

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS STLUKA DAVID SCROLL INSIDE SOFTBALL BY KELLIGRASHEL W omore slump. be named first-team All-Big Ten, to ward off anyidea of a soph- sophomore Kelsey Jenkins Badgers, whosealed theupsetwithawalk-offhome runfrom ference. Morethanjustawin,itwas adramaticvictoryforthe fornia, aconsistentcontenderinthe always-strongPac-12Con- ly hitting.” all-around team effort with good pitching, good defense and time- end,” headcoachYvette Healysaid.“Ireallythoughtitwasan wa ClassicinTempe, Arizona. opening weekendbyputtingtogethera4-1recordattheKajika- start ofthe2016season,Badgersmademosttheir sin finished21-31lastseason.Presentedacleanslatewiththe runs. picked uptwowinsandneitherallowed morethansixearned this recently, thepairingclearlyofferspromise.Bothpitchers fourth saveofhercareer. the sevenbattersshefacedin12/3 inningsofworktoearnthe three starts. closing outthree.Junior transferKirstenStevensmade theother Taylor-Paige Stewart appearedinallfivegames,starting twoand Badgers are likelytoimplement throughoutthe season.Senior tra-innings defeat. Call it an attempt by Jenkins, the first freshman in UW history to The weekendbegan with a4-2 upset of No. 21-ranked Cali- “I’m soproudoftheteamforgetting fourwinsopeningweek- On theheelsofback-to-backNCAAtournamentruns,Wiscon- Although theBadgershaven’tuseda pitchingcombinationlike Stewart pickedupasaveagainstNevada, strikingoutfourof The weekend gave light toanew pitching combination that the Wisconsin’s only loss came at the hands of BYU in a5-4 ex - Badgers starthotonopening weekend ficult season. confidence boosttheBadgersneededcomingoffadif- isconsin’s hotstartinArizonawasexactlythetypeof Overall teamperformanceinArizonashowspromisefor Wisconsin ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA: SOCIAL TAP TOVIEWSCHEDULE

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS HALPOP EVAN INSIDE MEN’S TENNIS BY IZZY BRINKER ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

Wisconsin off to best start in 26 years A perfect 6-0 record and a pair of top-ranked wins has Badgers feeling confident

t’s been a season of change for Wisconsin tennis. After accru- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE ing a record of 7-18 last season and going 1-14 against ranked Iopponents, the program needed something to bring it back to life. That resuscitation seems to have come in the form of new head coach Danny Westerman. After a successful nine-year stint as head coach at the University of Denver, Westerman returned to his alma mater last summer to take the helm and breathe life back into Wisconsin tennis. Westerman knew that reshaping the program and having the players adjust to the transition and his style of play wouldn’t hap- SCROLL pen overnight. And it didn’t. But it’s hard to see that when looking at what he and the team have been able to achieve thus far. Off to its best start in 26 years, Wisconsin has put itself back on the map. Undefeated at 6-0, and with victories over two na- tionally-ranked teams, the Badgers are proving this perfect start

is no fluke. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS “I’m just trying to build the culture of competing, playing the right way, holding each other accountable and really playing with SOCIAL a lot of emotion and pride,” Westerman said. “If we play with MEDIA: those things, we’re going to be very successful.” The team has taken to this mantra and has collected win after win, earning them the program’s best start since 1990. Senior Alexander Kokorev has shouldered the weight of leading the young team exceptionally well, going 13-4 since the fall tour in singles play. Fellow senior Johnnie Jalalov has also led through his play, amassing a perfect 6-0 doubles record this spring with his partner, sophomore Chema Carranza. INSIDE WOMEN’S TENNIS BY NATE OEHRLEIN ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

Chypyha’s journey to the top Senior’s climb in the ITA rankings has been nothing short of an adventure

auren Chypyha entered the fall season ranked No. 125 by TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), a ranking she Lset out to prove was far too low. After finishing the fall with a 16-3 record on the singles courts, including individual titles at the Milwaukee Classic and Gopher Invitational and a trip to the semifinals of the ITA Regional Cham- pionships, Chypyha jumped 59 spots to No. 66. Chypyha certainly wasn’t done, though. In the opening match of the spring season, Chypyha announced her presence by tak- ing down No. 34 Despoina Vogasari of Houston, 7-5, 6-3. The victory marked the highest-ranked foe Chypyha had taken down SCROLL in her career. She followed that by picking up a victory over Mar- quette’s Silvia Ambrosio, 6-3, 6-3. From there, with 15 of the top teams in the country making the trip to Madison for the 2016 ITA National Team Indoor Champi- onship, Chypyha saw an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

In her first two matches of the tournament, she had two high- INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS ly-ranked players on the verge of defeat, including No. 5 Maegan Manasse of California; however, Chypyha was forced to abandon SOCIAL both matches as the opposing teams simultaneously picked up MEDIA: the winning points of their matches on other courts. While those outcomes, without the opportunity to finish, were heartbreaking for Chypyha, UW head coach Tina Samara was optimistic about the situation. “While it’s disappointing she couldn’t finish, those matches showed that she can compete with the very best, and not just with the top 50 or so,” Samara said. “It shows that she’s right there among the best.”