CONTENTS MARCH 30, 2016 ■ VOLUME 6, ISSUE 33 DAVID STLUKA

FEATURE STORY

THE BOYS ARE BACK Tony Granato had a great job with the Detroit Red Wings. Same goes for Don Granato and Mark Osiecki. But the chance to team up as coaches at their alma mater? Now that’s special.

FEATURES MEN’S HOCKEY IN [FOCUS] ‘THE DREAM TEAM’ The week's best photos

Any one would have been a prime LUCAS AT LARGE candidate to be Wisconsin’s next DAVID STLUKA Deciding when to go pro head coach. Now, they’ll share a bench as members of the same staff. THE VOICE Unlikely end to unlikely season

BY THE NUMBERS MEN’S BASKETBALL Facts and figures on UW

NO STONE UNTURNED WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers Greg Gard promises that no detail will

be too small as he puts together his DAVID STLUKA ASK THE BADGERS off-season assessment of the state of How did you spend break? Wisconsin men’s basketball. BADGERING-SCROLL FOR MORE­ Sydney Rider (W. Tennis) Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711

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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 Decision to go pro is a personal one rom Corey Clement’s home they have crossed paths on the rushing numbers and declare in New Jersey, it’s about a UW campus and Clement said, for the National Football League F20-minute drive from Cam­ “When I see him, we have great draft after his junior season. But den ― via the Walt Whitman conversations.” the script didn’t play out that Bridge over the Delaware River ― One can imagine the discus­ way. to the Broad Street ramp. sion that they might have on Instead, he was sacked by a From there, you turn left and leaving school early and turning sports hernia in 2015. Despite follow the signs to the South Phil­ pro. Clement thought about it flying to Germany for minimally adelphia Sports Complex: Lincoln constantly last season. Hayes is invasive surgery, an attempt to Financial Field (Eagles), Citizens thinking about it now. get back on the field quicker, he Bank Park (Phillies) and Wells “I’m pretty sure he’s in a great was limited to only four games. Fargo Center (76ers and Flyers). position to figure out what he “You just have to live in the Clement was at the latter ven­ needs to do,” Clement said. moment,” Clement said of the ue Friday night for the Sweet 16 “He’s weighing his options and lesson that was learned. “If you game between Wisconsin and probably decision-making.” start thinking ahead, things start Notre Dame in the East Regional In retrospect, Clement felt like falling into a place where you of the NCAA tournament. he obsessed too much about his really don’t want them to go.” “It was great,” Clement said, future. From the day he enrolled After Tuesday morning’s prac­ “until the last 19 seconds.” at Wisconsin, he envisioned him­ tice at Camp Randall Stadium, He didn’t have to say another self as a three-and-done player: Clement said, “It was a pretty word. three years and out. simple decision for me to come Clement and Nigel Hayes ar­ If everything went according to back (for his senior year). I had en’t necessarily close friends but plan, Clement would put up big to be smart about it. DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM

“YOU JUST HAVE TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT,” CLEMENT SAID. “IF YOU START THINKING AHEAD, THINGS START FALLING INTO A PLACE WHERE YOU REALLY DON’T WANT THEM TO GO.”

one has a different background, everyone has a different situa­ tion,” said Biegel, a fifth-year senior from Wisconsin Rapids. “I personally love this universi­ ty. I grew up in the state of Wis­ consin and I felt like the best is yet to come for me. That’s why I wanted to come back. “I know if Nigel decides to

DAVID STLUKA come back, it will be the same for him.” Biegel is close with Zak Show- alter. He’s also friends with Bron­ “I’m happy to feel healthy the number change as tempo­ son Koenig and Vitto Brown. He again and be back at practice. rary. “Everything happens for a doesn’t know Hayes as well. But That’s a blessing right there.” reason. And I have to be who I he knows of him and the deci­ Clement added that his deci­ am. I have to still be me.” sion that he has to make. sion to return was based on sev­ That may be the best advice “I was reading about it in the eral factors. that Clement can give to Hayes. newspaper and it was kind of “It was both academic and Be true to yourself. déjà vu,” Biegel said. “Nigel has football,” he said. “I get closer to “Another year wouldn’t hurt to sit down with his family and graduating and I get to play for him,” Clement said of Hayes. “It just think about what’s best for a great school. I’ll get my degree might help him out. But that’s up him moving forward. next spring and I’ll go off to the to him. He can only determine “If it’s coming back for another league (the NFL) after that.” that decision. Nobody else can.” year to improve his skills and be On Tuesday, Clement was once Clement’s teammate, lineback­ a leader on the basketball team, again wearing his No. 6 jersey, er Vince Biegel, can relate to the I’d definitely encourage to come which he has worn since his decision-making process. At the back. But, like I said, every­ freshman season. Prior to spring end of last season, Biegel seri­ body’s situation is different.” break, he switched to No. 24 be­ ously considered his option to As a part of his process, Biegel cause he wanted a fresh start. enter the NFL draft as an under­ submitted his name to the NFL “I can’t change everything be­ classman. Draft Advisory Board. cause of last year,” he said, re­ “The biggest thing I can say is “If it’s first or second round, lating that he had always viewed that everyone is different, every­ they want you to come out early,”

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM

he said of the advice. “If it’s third I was going to be able to lead a Hayes has until April 24 to or fourth round or farther back, team and how I was going to be declare for the NBA draft. But they want you to stay in school. able to grow as a leader and be as long as he doesn’t sign with “After talking to some outside ‘the guy’ on that team,” Hayes an agent, he has until May 24 to people, some trusted sources, I said after last Friday’s loss. withdraw his name, which would was going to be around the third “It was a great learning expe­ allow him to return for his senior or fourth round. One of the big rience. It helped me be a better year. critiques was with all the things leader and person, on and off the UW coach Greg Gard will en­ that I can control.” court. It helped me to deal with courage Hayes to get an evalua­ Improving his coverage skills people’s emotions; their needs, tion on his draft status from the and getting bigger and stronger what motives them, what doesn’t. basketball advisory committee. were cited in his evaluation. “I’m trying to put this experi­ Frank Kaminsky and Traevon “You saw me covering (re­ ence not only into basketball but Jackson previously went down ceivers) in practice today,” he into life,” he said, “in how to be a this path. pointed out. “In the off-season, I better leader or, at times, how to Both came back for their senior put on five to six pounds. I plan be a better follower.” years. on doing that, too, during sum­ Question is, “Will he follow his “Now is the time for Nigel to mer workouts while keeping my heart or his head?” do it, and we may even do it with speed. “From my freshman year, I’ve DAN SANGER / ICON SPORTSWIRE always had someone to look up to, whether it was Mike Taylor, Chris Borland or Brendan Kelly. But now that I’m a senior I have to push myself internally. “That’s one thing that I’ve really had to do this off-season ― push myself ― which has made me a better person and it’s going to be make me a better football player down the road. “People were asking me on Pro Day, ‘Vince, do you feel like you should be out there right now?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ I knew that I made the right decision and in my heart I felt very good about it.” Last season, Hayes was cast in a different leadership role as one of only two returning starters from UW’s back-to-back Final Four teams; Koenig was the other. “The biggest thing I can say is that everyone is different, everyone has a “It was put on me to see how different background, everyone has a different situation,” Biegel said.

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ■ UWBADGERS.COM

Bronson just to get the honest “Or, do you want to be ready to “For the most part,” said Katz, feedback,” Gard said. “There are contribute in the NBA when you acknowledging the high-profile no strings attached.” get drafted? I think he is smart recruiting classes at Kentucky Hayes may also have an op­ enough to realize that he’s not and Duke, “we’re in a little bit portunity to attend the NBA draft ready.” of a shift right now where the combine in Chicago (May 11­ That was based on Hayes’ seniors are getting good positive 15). The invitation-only event junior season and his drop-off in pub. includes seniors, underclassmen shooting percentage. “There’s no question that Bud­ and international players. dy Hield and Denzel Valentine “I think he would be invited be­ “YOU HAVE TO DECIDE, DO YOU will have a better draft position cause of his body of work, if you because they stayed, and the JUST WANT TO BE IN THE LEAGUE will,” said ESPN college basket­ same with Doug McDermott a AND GO UP AND DOWN IN THE ball analyst Andy Katz. “Of late, couple of years ago, as well.” he has not proven necessarily D-LEAGUE?” KATZ POSED. McDermott, a four-year player, that he’s a first-round pick. “OR, DO YOU WANT TO BE READY was a first-round pick of the Chi­ “I don’t think he would prove it TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE NBA cago Bulls. in that setting, either. Someone WHEN YOU GET DRAFTED?” “With the new deadlines,” would not be telling him the truth Gard said, “you can go longer if that was the case. I think he’s a “With the trend of his former and test the waters as long as second-rounder right now.” teammate Frank Kaminsky, you don’t get an agent. And There’s no guaranteed money (Michigan State’s) Denzel Val­ that’s a good thing. The last thing in the second round. entine and (Oklahoma’s) Buddy you want to do is have someone “You have to decide, do you Hield,” Katz said, “we are in the make a knee-jerk reaction or a just want to be in the league Era of the Senior.” decision based on bad informa­ and go up and down in the He made that claim while not­ tion.” D-League?” Katz posed, sug­ ing all of the hype that surround­ Hayes will have some time to gesting the mindset of someone ed LSU’s one-and-done Ben make up his mind, if he hasn’t declaring who’s not yet ready. Simmons. already. ■ DAVID STLUKA

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 4 OF 4 THE VOICE BY MATT LEPAY ■ VOICE OF THE BADGERS Unlikely end to an unlikely season h, the emotional swings lacking drama was their opener were down by four. Then Koe­ of the NCAA tournament. last March against Coastal Caroli­ nig stuck a long 3. What fol­ OLast week it was a topic. na. Since then, it has been eight lowed was a forced turnover This week, it cannot be avoided. straight nail-biters. that changed the course of the As much as we might wish other­ And they won six of them. season. Applying full-court pres­ wise. From the 72-65 thriller against sure, Khalil Iverson and Ethan Nigel Hayes recalled the spot- Oregon in Omaha, to Bronson Happ put a trap on the Spartans’ on words of wisdom from his Koenig’s mic-drop 3 to beat Xavi­ Eron Harris, who stepped out high school coach, who told the er in St. Louis, the Badgers have of bounds. It gave the Badgers junior forward the further you go, played one game after another the chance for a game-winning the higher the stakes. It is a sim­ that resulted in fans having much bucket, which Happ provided. ple, and oftentimes cruel, reality higher than normal pulse rates. It is a bit ironic that turnovers of athletics. It is why we love the NCAA will forever be a storyline to the Last Friday’s loss to Notre tournament. season ― from jump-starting a Dame marks the third straight Especially games the Badgers team that went on to win 11 of year, and fourth in five NCAA play. The 2000 Final Four run. 12 games, to the 17 miscues that tourneys, that the elimination Freddie Owens’ shot against proved costly in Philadelphia. game doubled as a gut punch. Tulsa in 2003. The Sweet 16 rally Gard and his team will continue In 2012, the Badgers fell one against North Carolina State in to focus on ball security. History point short against Syracuse. Two 2005. Trevon Hughes’ game win­ tells us that far more often than years later, there was the Final ner against Florida State in 2009. not, the Badgers protect the ball Four heartbreaker against Ken­ Then you have the last three as well as any team in America. tucky. Last year, Wisconsin took years. The Final Four runs are It is no small reason this program the national championship game obvious, but one could argue this consistently makes ― and ad­ with Duke to the final minute. Sweet 16 appearance surprised vances ― in postseason play. Last week was, well, you know. more people than last year’s For now, the most recent game Head coach Greg Gard admits group that advanced to the final is what we remember. In time, what happened in Philadelphia night of the season. perhaps it will be better to recall a will sting for awhile. Coaches will Performing to unexpected levels group that had a .500 record and work to correct. Players will work is what has made this team so en­ was on the ropes against Sparty. to improve. joyable to watch. I should mention Until a turnover sparked a turn­ For the rest of us, it might be the term “unexpected” applies to around. a good idea to focus less on how those outside the Wisconsin lock­ Let us not forget how the 2015­ the season ended, and more on er room. The whole #MakeEmBe­ 16 Badgers earned the right to how those seasons extended as lieve thing is better suited for this play as long as they did, and the far as they did. year than last. When UW was 9-9 thrills they gave us along the way. Since 2012, the Badgers have overall, and 1-4 in the Big Ten, Thank you for allowing me to played 18 NCAA tournament there were precious few believers. share a few thoughts this season. games. Thirteen of them went Remember, this team was on Hope to see you at Miller Park down to the wire. In the last two the brink of dropping to 9-10. this spring and summer. Other­ years, it was eight out of nine. In the final half minute against wise, catch you in September at The last Badgers tourney game Michigan State, the Badgers Lambeau Field. ■

THE VOICE PAGE 1 OF 1 ASK THE BADGERS HOW DID YOU SPEND? SPRING BREAK? BRUCE KLUCKHOHN JACK McLAUGHLIN DAVID STLUKA EVAN HALPOP

ISAAC JORDAN MORGAN McDONALD TOM BARLOW EMILY CLARK Junior ■ Wrestling Sophomore ■ Men’s Track Sophomore ■ Men’s Soccer Sophomore ■ Women’s Hockey Urbana, Ohio Sydney, Australia St. Louis, Mo. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

“I stayed an extra “For spring break, I “I went to Big Sur in “After the Frozen day in New York enjoyed some nice California with my Four, it was a quick City after the NCAA weather and solid cousin to go surfing turnaround before championships and training in San Di­ and camping in the I was off to spend visited the 9/11 Me­ ego with my fellow mountains. We flew my spring break morial. I went and Badgers. We had into L.A. and drove with the Canadian watched my brother- good time running up to Big Sur with a national team for in-law, Jared Uthoff, and exploring the tent, a wetsuit and a a camp before the play for Iowa in the city and ate some couple surfboards. World Champion­ NCAA tournament awesome food.” We surfed all day ships. Even though in Brooklyn. Then I and went hiking it wasn’t a spring went to Washington, and exploring in break spent at home D.C., to visit my dad the mountains. We or on a nice beach, (Rep. Jim Jordan) drove up to the top Penticton is a beau­ and did some sight­ of the mountain and tiful city and is like seeing. One of my then hiked before a second home to dad’s colleagues, finding a good spot me because I lived Mark Meadows, who for our tent. The there for two years is a congressman views were incred­ when I went to the for North Carolina, ible and we were Okanagan Hockey came and watched above the clouds, Academy. It wasn’t me at NCAAs so which was amazing. a typical break, but I visited him and The scenery in Big I’m grateful for the thanked him for Sur is beautiful. I one I had and the coming-SCROLL to FOR watch MORE­ definitely-SCROLL FORplan MORE­ on opportunity-SCROLL FOR to MORE­ repre- me. Then I went going back.” sent Wisconsin and home and played a Canada on the world lot of golf.” stage.” BADGERING DAVID STLUKA SYDNEY RIDER

A junior from Annapolis, Maryland, Sydney Rider has played a pivotal ALL ABOUT SYDNEY role in the success of the Wisconsin women’s tennis team, particularly Class: Junior on the doubles courts. Paired with teammate Ekaterina Stepanova, the Major: Life Sciences Communication duo is currently second on the team with 10 victories and lead the team Height: 5-8 with three wins in Big Ten competition. Throughout her career, Rider Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland has tallied 35 victories on the doubles courts and nearly 40 on the sin­ Go to full bio » gles courts.

How did you get into tennis? QUICK Qs WITH SYDNEY “My mom played when she was in high school and in college Dream vacation? “Fiji.” so she decided to get me involved with the sport at an early age. My mom signed me up for my first tennis clinic when I Favorite sport other than tennis? was around 6 years old. I can remember crying and throwing “Lacrosse.” a huge temper tantrum so she ended up having to literally

SCROLL drag me on to the court. Sure enough, once I started hitting, I Funniest person on the team? couldn’t get enough of it! Ever since, I’ve been obsessed with “Maria Avgerinos.” the sport.” Favorite thing to do in Madison? What made you choose Wisconsin? “Getting Babcock ice cream at the “Whenever I get asked this question, I always feel like saying Terrace.” Wisconsin chose me. I originally committed and signed to play at West Virginia for Coach (Tina) Samara. However, the sum­ Favorite TV show? “How to Get Away with Murder.” mer before going into my freshman year of college, Tina was accepted as the head coach here at Wisconsin. Once I found Favorite color? out, I knew if I could follow Tina, I would have many more “Purple.” opportunities academically and athletically at Wisconsin. So I took a leap of faith, got a release at WVU and waited to see if I would get in. Somehow I got lucky enough to be able to at- tend one of the best schools in the country. I am so thankful to be where I am today and to be playing for such an amazing school.”

What’s the best memory of your tennis career so far? “My favorite memory of my tennis career would have to be when I received the phone call that I made it into school here at Wisconsin. I was beyond excited to be able to play tennis for Wisconsin. It is an honor to wear the ‘W’ and represent one of the greatest schools in the country.”

What are your goals for the rest of the season? “I have made it a goal of mine to really focus on helping get the doubles point in our matches. My partner, Ekaterina Ste- panova, and I play a crucial role in getting the first point on the board. If we can win some big doubles matches within these next few weeks, then we can really help pull out some big team wins.”

What are your plans after college? “I am open to many possibilities after college. Depending on how my college career ends, I might want to continue playing and see what I am capable of doing. On the other hand, I might begin my life in the business world and see where I fit in.” ■ DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

ony Granato was at a crossroads in his life and would be the right word,” Granato said. “Not really

the pathway before him was not well-lit. sure on whether I wanted to try something else. I MAX SIKER T It was the spring of 2001 and Granato had was lucky enough to realize the passion that I have just retired after an accomplished hockey career for the game of hockey ― the love I have for the that saw him excel on the college, international and game of hockey ― and that I had to find a way to professional stages. stay around it.” Over the course of 18 years Granato went from That path of discovery has brought Granato full being an acclaimed goal-scorer at Wisconsin to a circle. Team USA fixture in international competition to Three decades since he played for UW ― becom­ playing 852 games in the NHL with three organiza­ ing one of two men in program history to amass 100 tions. Along the way he became a Hall of Famer, an goals and 100 assists in his career ― Granato is Olympian and a respected, award-winning all-star. back as coach of the Badgers, and he brought some But when Granato skated his final shift at age of impressive reinforcements with him. 36, he was at a loss. Granato prepared for this assignment by coaching “You’re done playing, the itineraries stop coming in in three different NHL organizations ― twice as the and the practices and the workouts that are manda­ head coach in Colorado and subsequent assistant tory, you don’t have,” he said. “There’s no structure roles in Pittsburgh and Detroit ― between 2002 and in your life and you’re just trying to figure out where 2016. you’re going to go and what you’re going to do.” “I don’t think my heart ever left Madison or the Bad­ Granato dabbled in radio and TV as a hockey ana­ ger program,” he said. “It was always there with me lyst for a year, but it wasn’t fulfilling. He fretted about that someday it would be great to go back. Someday finding a fulfilling niche that would accommodate it would be an opportunity ― if it ever came along ― his family of five. where you always think in your mind, ‘Wow, wouldn’t “It was a transition period of confusion, I guess that be special and a great place to go back to?’”

TONY GRANATO’S COMING HOME, AND HE’S BRINGING COMPANY PAGE 2 OF 7 The chance came earlier this month when UW Di­ “All would be outstanding for different reasons,” rector of Athletics Barry Alvarez called Granato to Granato told Alvarez. get his thoughts on the state of the program. Alvarez The discussion, not to mention the search, soon had just dismissed Mike Eaves ― another prominent, changed course. highly-regarded alum ― after a 14-year coaching “Every hockey guy I spoke to all said the same stint that included an NCAA title in 2006, but end­ thing,” Alvarez said. “Tony’s the best guy, but you ed with consecutive can’t get him because losing seasons for the he’s an NHL guy.” first time since 1995 Alvarez proceeded to ’97. “IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY ― IF IT EVER to ask Granato why “I wanted to talk CAME ALONG ― WHERE“ YOU ALWAYS THINK IN he wouldn’t be inter- to some respected YOUR MIND, ‘WOW, WOULDN’T THAT BE SPECIAL ested. hockey people from AND A GREAT PLACE TO GO BACK TO?’” “I didn’t have an an- our program from dif- swer for him,” Grana­ ferent eras,” Alvarez to said. said. “People who were truly interested and cared That gave way to a tantalizing brainstorm: Granato and could give me a vision for what we needed.” told Alvarez that he’d like to see if his brother, his Granato, whose younger brothers Don and Robbie coaching confidant, and Osiecki, their close friend, and cousin Kevin also played for the Badgers, cer­ would join him on staff. tainly fit that bill. “You’re kidding me,” Alvarez replied. Granato offered some familiar recommendations, Pick your metaphor: Grand slam. Hat trick. Block­ including his brother, Don, a coach with the U.S. buster. Mind-blower. National Team Developmental Program; Mark John­ “As we kept talking,” Alvarez said, “he got more son, the legendary UW women’s coach; and Mark excited and I got more excited, and we were able to Osiecki, an assistant coach with Rockford of the pull it off.” American Hockey League. Granato, 51, said that in order for him to take the

▼ TAP TO WATCH - Phone Call Led Alvarez to Granato DAVID STLUKA

TONY GRANATO’S COMING HOME, AND HE’S BRINGING COMPANY PAGE 3 OF 7 MICHAEL MARTIN

“EVERY HOCKEY GUY I SPOKE TO ALL SAID“ THE SAME THING,” ALVAREZ SAID. “TONY’S THE BEST GUY, BUT YOU CAN’T GET HIM BECAUSE HE’S AN NHL GUY.”

“When you hear people say he’s a really good guy, he’s better than that,” Chryst said of Granato. “He’s got that ability to make you feel like you’re the most special person in the room. He’s got a gift that way.” In a roundabout way, Chryst, who returned to coach his alma mater in 2015 and guided UW to a 10-3 overall record, helped lure Granato back to Madison. “When he got the position to be the Badger coach again, we’d been in touch a lot,” Granato said. “He

DAVID STLUKA told me how wonderful it is to be back, how great it is to be back on campus and be part of the univer­ job he needed to have the “right people beside me sity. So he’s got me pumped up and excited for how to go in there and have the best chance for success, it’s been for him.” and those two people were Donny and Mark.” While in Pittsburgh, Granato said he sat in on team Two phone calls later ― Don, 48, is a renowned meetings and walked the sidelines during games cerebral tactician and Osiecki, 47, is a peerless re­ and practices to see how Chryst operated. cruiter ― an extraordinary coaching staff was born. “I have great respect for him as a coach,” Granato Tony received a five-year contract, while his two as­ said. “I think what he is as a football coach is what sociate head coaches received three-year deals. I want to be as a hockey coach. He’s class. He’s a “I think he’s the right guy for it,” Don Granato said great human being.” of his brother. “I think he deserves it.” Alvarez said he spoke earlier this week with Grana­ Tony Granato has people skills that make him an to’s soon-to-be-ex-boss, Detroit general manager ideal candidate to rally former players spread across Ken Holland, and learned that whenever the Red three coaching eras ― Bob Johnson, Jeff Sauer and Wings have played in Pittsburgh, former Penguins Eaves ― and seal large cracks in a fractured fan players huddle outside the dressing room, all waiting base. to see Granato. Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst was a year “What a message that sends me,” Alvarez said. behind Granato at UW, but they bonded recently Osiecki, who played against Granato in the NHL, while Chryst coach at Pittsburgh and Granato was describes his friend as “sincere” and “intense” with an assistant coach with the Penguins from 2012 to a strong sense of family. ’14. “He’s one of the most respected people I’ve seen

TONY GRANATO’S COMING HOME, AND HE’S BRINGING COMPANY PAGE 4 OF 7 in the NHL in our business,” Osiecki said. “He was my mentor, my best friend, a person who Granato, from Downers Grove, Illinois, was a sec­ kind of kept me sane from the chaos of not knowing ond-team All-American for the Badgers in 1985 and which direction your life is going,” Granato said. “He ’87 who finished his 152-game college career with kind of got me refocused on staying involved with 100 goals and 120 assists. The only other member the game.” of the 100-100 club at UW is Johnson (125-131). The road to this moment actually began during Granato played for Team USA in the 1988 Winter Granato’s final season with the Sharks in 2000-01. Olympics in Calgary and spent 13 seasons in the That’s when he found his on-ice role being down­ NHL despite being average-sized (5-foot-10 and sized and him being cast a guide for younger players 185 pounds) and a sixth-round draft pick. He ac­ like Marco Strum and Patrick Marleau. counted for 264 goals and 535 points while playing “That was the transition into coaching,” Granato for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and said. “That’s where I knew it would be something I’d San Jose Sharks. like.” Known for his rambunctious instincts, Granato still Granato worked as the radio color commentator holds the Rangers rookie record for most goals, with for Sharks games in 2001-02 and did some free­ 36, and was such a prolific finisher in Los Angeles lance work as a TV analyst, including at least one that he skated on a line with the legendary Wayne Badgers game. Gretzky, assisting on the 2,000th point of the Great Then came a call from Pierre Lacroix, the gener­ One’s career. al manager of the Colorado Avalanche who offered Along the way, Granato played with UW products Granato a spot on coach Bob Hartley’s coaching at every stop, including goaltender Mike Richter in staff for 2002-03. New York, center Gary Shuchuk in Los Angeles and “I was blessed to get that call because I think that’s defenseman Gary Suter in San Jose. what got me to stay part of the game,” Granato said. Granato credits Suter, who grew up in Madison The best part of that assignment and two subse­ and played for the Badgers from 1983 to ’85, with quent stints as head coach of the Avalanche ― 2002 easing him through his post-retirement transition. to ’04 and ’08 to ’09 ― was the stability it provided

Tony Granato Don Granato Mark Osiecki

TONY GRANATO’S COMING HOME, AND HE’S BRINGING COMPANY PAGE 5 OF 7 RICHARD DUNBAR: “MARK MY WORDS, DALLAS JEANTY WILL SOMEDAY BE A POSITIVE FIGURE IN AMERICA.” DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - New Staff Wants to Raise Standard

Granato’s wife, Linda, and their now-grown children Back when Granato played, it was somewhat un­ Nicholas, Dominic, Michael and Gabriella. usual to see underclassmen leave college and sign “To generally get a coaching position, you start in pro contracts. Now it happens all the time, especial­ the minors, you work in a small city somewhere and ly at schools like UW. you ride buses and you’re never home to take care Of course, the sprawling Wisconsin campus has of the kids and be part of their lives,” Granato said. changed, as well as rules of compliance and aca­ “I didn’t want to chase it. I wanted to find something demics. where I could be a dad “The dynamics that and be in a position go along with col- where I could stay and lege hockey have have my responsibility “WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY HE’S A REALLY GOOD changed,” Granato to the family as my pri- GUY, HE’S BETTER THAN“ THAT,” CHRYST SAID OF acknowledged. “The ority.” GRANATO. “HE’S GOT THAT ABILITY TO MAKE YOU one thing that hasn’t Back when Granato FEEL LIKE YOU’RE THE MOST SPECIAL PERSON changed is the game. played for the Bad- IN THE ROOM. HE’S GOT A GIFT THAT WAY.” “The game is played gers, the NCAA tour- and you’re successful nament consisted of when you find kids, eight teams, the first round was determined by a student-athletes, that are passionate, that under­ two-game, total-goal series and the matches were stand the excitement part of playing college hockey. played on campus sites. Now it’s a 16-slot field and We want to get an enthusiastic, passionate group a single-elimination format on neutral sites. back.” Since Granato played at UW three new leagues Granato will remain in his capacity with the Red have come to life ― including the Big Ten Confer­ Wings until their season ends, whenever that may ence where the Badgers reside ― 17 schools have be. Upon taking over at UW his top priority is to learn added Division I programs and six of them have about the personnel on his young roster, the one reached the Frozen Four. that compiled an 8-19-8 overall record in 2015-16,

TONY GRANATO’S COMING HOME, AND HE’S BRINGING COMPANY PAGE 6 OF 7 DAVID STLUKA

as well as those who have signed National Letters of like he has on the women’s side. That’s what I want Intent for 2016-17. the men’s side to look at.” “I know there are pieces in place there that are Granato has a deep appreciation for the women’s outstanding,” he said. game. His sister, Cammi, helped Team USA to the A close second on the priority list is reaching out Olympic gold medal in 1998 and has since been in­ to former Badgers players and getting them involved ducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, their with the program. niece, Baylee Wellhausen, is a sophomore winger “I want them to feel part of it,” Granato said. for the Badgers. In recent days Granato has communicated with Alvarez, the former UW football coach, has been Eaves, via text, and Johnson, via phone, to make criticized for his perceived lack of involvement with sure the lines of communications are open. Back in men’s hockey over the years. Granato addressed 2002, Eaves was hired to coach the men’s program that notion. over Johnson, a former UW men’s assistant. “He’s been unbelievable in this whole process,” Granato, who was inducted in the UW Athletic Hall Granato said. “He reached out to me and said how of Fame in 2000, said his respect for Johnson runs much it means to him to get the program to an elite deep. Granato was in his first go-round as an NHL level. That’s all of our goals and expectations. That’s head coach in Colorado when he asked Johnson to what we expect. come and be an assistant. Johnson declined citing “We’d like it to be alongside what Mark’s done with a reluctance to leave his fledgling women’s program, the women’s program. We want to be at that level. which has gone on to win four NCAA titles since We want people banging on our doors to come to 2006 and wins 82 percent of its games. Wisconsin. We want to be respected like the wom­ “It’s important that he understood why I wanted to en’s program is, like the football program is, like the MAX SIKER be a part of this,” Granato said of Johnson. men’s basketball program is. We want to be right “I told him I want to develop and build a program there with them.”

TONY GRANATO’S COMING HOME, AND HE’S BRINGING COMPANY PAGE 7 OF 7 DAVID STLUKA

‘To me, it’s the Dream Team’ Long-imagined chance to coach together brought Granato brothers and Osiecki back to Badgers BY ANDY BAGGOT ■ UWBADGERS.COM INSIDER

uring four distinguished seasons with the Wis­ gether ― and all three now share the same objective: consin men’s hockey team, Tony Granato ac­ To return the six-time NCAA champion Badgers to Dcounted for two hat tricks. their place among the national elite after consecu­ One came vs. Illinois-Chicago on Nov. 15, 1983. tive losing seasons. The other came vs. Northeastern on Dec. 28, “To me, it’s the Dream Team,” Alvarez said. 1984. Tony, a center for the Badgers from 1983 to ’87, Both performances came during victories and both has been coaching in the NHL since 2002, most allowed Granato to reach the coveted 100-goal pla­ recently as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings. teau for his Hall of Fame career, but the hat trick he “When this came about that we could all be to­ authored Wednesday figures to be more memorable gether, I was ecstatic,” Tony said. “It was a situation if not more impactful. that I wanted to be part of.” In the process of being introduced as the newest Don, who played center for UW from 1987 to ’91, head coach of the Badgers, Granato will unveil a re­ worked in the American Hockey League and East markable three-man staff that includes his younger Coast Hockey League before settling in with the brother, Don, and their close friend, Mark Osiecki. prestigious U.S. National Team Developmental Pro­ “It was more than I could dream for to get all three gram since 2011. of those guys,” said Barry Alvarez, the UW director “Tony’s the one guy who could get both of us,” of athletics. Don said. “I couldn’t possibly stay here and pass up All three were considered prime, worthy candi­ that opportunity.” dates to be the next head coach of the Badgers. Osiecki, a defenseman for the Badgers from 1987 All three are decorated UW alums and former cap­ to ’90, was an assistant at UW under Eaves and a tains. head coach at Ohio State prior to becoming an as­ All three have vast chunks of pro coaching experi­ sistant coach with Rockford of the AHL in 2013. ence on their resumes. “It’s a perfect fit for Donny and I to go in and all of All three have strong reputations among their us work together,” Osiecki said. “I can’t believe how teaching peers. much fun we’re going to have walking into the Kohl All three have had the same dream ― to coach to­ Center.”

‘TO ME, IT’S THE DREAM TEAM’ PAGE 1 OF 3 Tony Granato will receive a five-year contract, while too good to turn down.” his brother and Osiecki agreed to three-year deals. Osiecki, 47, said he spent a night mulling the op­ Alvarez had all three men on his list of candidates portunity. After all, working with the Chicago Black- to replace Mike Eaves, who was dismissed earli­ hawks, one of the elite NHL franchises, offers a path er this month after a 14-year run that included an to being a head coach in the pros. NCAA title in 2006 and a runner-up finish in 2010. “For me, there wasn’t any convincing,” Osiecki Alvarez initially approached Tony Granato to get said. “Number one, it’s Wisconsin. Number two, the his analysis of the program and got strong feedback athletic department. At the top of the heap is who I on his two staffers as well as UW women’s hockey would be working with. coach Mark Johnson. “The people you’re working with and for is so im­ At one point, Alvarez asked Tony Granato why he portant. When you look at that, it’s an absolute slam didn’t have an interest in the opening. Granato didn’t dunk. have an answer, which got his juices flowing. “It was a difficult decision. That being said, it didn’t “Once he started getting nudges from myself and take long for me to make a decision because of the maybe others he realized how big this would be for people I’d be working with.” everybody,” Don Granato said of his brother. Of course, Don Granato and Osiecki spoke, too. Tony Granato, 51, told Alvarez that his interest in “We always talked about coaching together at some the job would be tied to his ability to have his broth­ point,” Granato said. “That’s been kind of a dream of er and Osiecki come with him. That led to a pair of ours as well because we’ve been so close for so long.” phone calls. Don Granato and Osiecki have known each oth­ “We knew we’ve always wanted to coach together, er since the mid-1980s when they met at a sum­ so there was no conversation,” Don said. mer hockey camp. They later played at Burnsville “With an opportunity like this, once Barry ex­ (Minn.) High school for Osiecki’s father, Tom, and pressed an interest in Tony being a lead candidate, won a NCAA title with the Badgers in 1990. it was like, ‘Go get the job.’ If you’re his guy, don’t Osiecki said he met Tony in 1985 and was smitten worry about anything else. Let’s just do it.’ ” on multiple fronts. Don, 48, has spent the last five years working with “I wanted to be a Badger when Tony came and elite-level teenagers with an eye toward someday re­ skated with us my junior year in high school,” Osiec­ turning to the NHL. He had a brief run as an assis­ ki said. “Tony comes in and skates with us and has tant with the St. Louis Blues in 2005-06. a Badger hockey bag and wore all the gear. I wanted “I don’t want to leave here,” Don said of the NTDP to be a Badger from that day on.” headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, “but this is Osiecki and Tony Granato share a love of fishing―

▼ TAP TO WATCH - Wisconsin Hockey Forms Unbreakable Bond DAVID STLUKA

‘TO ME, IT’S THE DREAM TEAM’ PAGE 2 OF 3 DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Players Thrilled With New Staff their families have cabins near Eagle River ― hockey Tony Granato said he views his two assistants as and coaching. head coaches. “I consider the Granato family an extended family “That’s how they act,” he said. “That’s how they of mine,” Osiecki said. “It feels very, very comfort­ understand the game.” able.” Perhaps, but everyone has a role to play. During his time as an assistant with the Badgers “Barry went after the right guy,” Don Granato said. from 2004 to ‘10, Osiecki cultivated a reputation as “I’m there to help and do whatever I can to sup­ an extraordinary recruiter, especially of defensemen. port Donny and Tony and the whole hockey staff,” Perhaps the best example of that was the 2007 Osiecki said. NHL Entry Draft when Wisconsin had three players “I look at it as working with two outstanding peo­ chosen in the first round, in­ ple. We’re in for the right rea­ cluding center Kyle Turris and sons and we want to make Wis­ defensemen Ryan McDonagh consin hockey go. That’s the and Brendan Smith. “IT WAS MORE THAN I COULD only thing that we’re looking it.” Three years later, McDonagh DREAM FOR“ TO GET ALL Osiecki suggested he would and Smith anchored a UW blue THREE OF THOSE GUYS.” oversee the UW defensemen, line corps that ultimately saw all while Don manages the for- six front-liners reach the NHL. wards. Their primary job upon Don Granato, who survived a bout with Hodgkin’s arriving in Madison is restocking the cupboards. disease in 2005, worked with Osiecki when the latter “We need to get players in,” Tony Granato said. was chosen to coach Team USA in the 2014 World “We need to get out and be seen and make sure Junior Championships. we’re finding the next Joe Pavelskis and Suters and Tony Granato said he has spent his entire NHL Chelioses. That’s what we’ll be doing as soon as I’m coaching career bouncing ideas off his brother and done (in Detroit). We’ll probably be on the road a lot Osiecki, especially during his separate stints as head this summer.” coach of the Colorado Avalanche. A bond of trust Don Granato had a warning about his brother, and affection has been created. known for his feisty disposition as a player all the “Within the industry, we rely on each other more way back to his days skating for the Badgers before than anyone else,” Don Granato said. sellout crowds at the Dane County Coliseum. “I appreciate their opinions,” Tony said. “I’ve used “He’s every bit the competitor you saw on the ice what they’ve given to me from a learning standpoint 30 years ago as a coach,” Don said. on different things along the way.” Another day, another hat trick.

‘TO ME, IT’S THE DREAM TEAM’ PAGE 3 OF 3 DAVID STLUKA DAVID STLUKA

he text messages and e-mails have been roll­ season does abruptly end, especially with the way it ing in since Friday’s loss to Notre Dame ― played out for Badgers, who squandered an eight- Tfrom former players, fans around the state and point second-half lead against Notre Dame and sur­ country, people in the community ― all expressing rendered an 8-0 run in the final 19 seconds. appreciation for what an ambitious first-time head Gard watched the video of the bitter-Sweet 16 coach and an enterprising team had accomplished. game on the flight home from Philadelphia. “We want to continue to find the right fit for what “We left a lot of things on the table,” Gard empha­ works here,” Wisconsin’s Greg Gard has assured sized, “other than the last 19 seconds.” everyone who has reached out and thanked him Defensively, Wisconsin held the Irish to only 19 for his steady hand and guidance over the last 14 points in the first half on 7-of-29 shooting (.241), in­ weeks. “We have a really good blueprint in place; a cluding a frigid-cold stretch where they missed 12 of time-tested and successful formula. 13 shots. But instead of expanding on a nine-point “Now, we can tweak it and push it farther.” lead with a little over five minutes left, the Badgers One text, in particular, resonated with the 45-year­ settled for a 23-19 advantage at halftime. old Gard, who took over the program from Bo Ryan “We could have been up by 15,” he lamented. “I in mid-December when the Badgers were 9-9 and thought that at half; we should have been up a lot 1-4 in the Big Ten and deftly guided them to their more. And when we were up by eight (34-26) in the 18th-consecutive trip to the Big Dance, the fifth-lon­ second half, we had chances to extend it beyond gest streak in NCAA history. that. But we went three or four possessions when we The texter was another coach, an assistant from a didn’t capitalize… to expand or stem the tide.” Power Five school. Despite the congratulatory texts that he received Not unlike the Badgers, his team had fallen short from some fraternity brothers in the profession after the second weekend. the 61-56 loss ― citing how much the team had im­ “We all have an ending that we don’t want,” Gard proved under his leadership ― Gard admitted Sun­ was reminded, “except for one of us.” day, “You still have the pit in your stomach for how As obvious as that may sound on the surface, it’s everything played out Friday night.” still not easy to accept the finality of it all when a There was another admission from Gard ― this

THE GREG GARD ERA: JUST THE BEGINNING PAGE 2 OF 7 was not necessarily a good passing team. “I always felt like we lived on the edge with turn­ overs,” he said. “WE’VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD PLAN ON HOW In Gard’s first game as the interim head coach, WE WANT TO APPROACH IT,” GARD SAID. the Badgers built a 30-point lead over Green Bay “ only to lose most of it over the final 13 minutes. The “I WANT TO GET BIGGER AND MORE ATHLETIC Phoenix forced 14 of what would be a season-high AND I WANT TO GET MORE DEPTH.” 26 turnovers during that frenetic span, a 33-6 run. Wisconsin barely hung on for an 84-79 win. “We never completely got over the top in terms of fter attending the national coaches conven­ valuing the ball every possession,” he said. “It was tion and Final Four in Houston, Gard will jump somewhat our youth … it was a variety of things … Ainto the administrative process by reviewing but we were never good enough all year in taking and screening applicants for his coaching and of­ care of the ball at the level we needed given our fice staff. Everybody must reapply for their jobs, per margin of error was so slim.” state interviewing and hiring requirements. Noting that the Badgers were guilty of 17 turnovers At the top of that to-do list is looking for a replace­ against Notre Dame, Gard said, “If we turn it over 10 ment for longtime assistant Gary Close, who resigned times, you have seven more shots and make three of Wednesday after 13 seasons on the Badgers’ bench. them, it’s not even a game down the stretch. If you Recruiting will also be on the front burner. Ever take care of the ball, we’re icing and salting away since Ryan began waffling on whether this season (the win) from the free throw line.” would be his last or not, and up and through his It was one of the points that he made to the players retirement and Gard’s appointment as the interim afterwards in the locker room. head coach, the Badgers have been limited on what “He just told us, “That’s not how Wisconsin has they could tell prospects about the future. won a lot of games, by turning the ball over ― that’s That all changed when Gard earned a five-year not what we’re about,’” said guard Zak Showalter. contract. “He addressed that issue first and then he told us “We’re looking at all avenues,” said Gard, who has how proud he was of us and how far we had come. two scholarships to offer and will explore different He ended on a positive note.” options. “It could be a high school player. It could ■ ■ ■ ■ be a post-grad kid; a four-year transfer or a fifth-year DAVID STLUKA

THE GREG GARD ERA: JUST THE BEGINNING PAGE 3 OF 7 STEVE GOTTER Josh Gasser and Duje Dukan, for instance, both took injury redshirts. “Josh’s situation ended up benefiting us, same with Du­ je’s,” Gard said. Last year, the Badgers lost four seniors ― Gasser, Dukan, Frank Kaminsky, Traevon Jack­ son ― and Sam Dekker, who turned pro after his junior year. This season, they had one se­ nior: walk-on Jordan Smith. Next year, they will have four: Showalter, Nigel Hayes, Bron­ son Koenig and Vitto Brown. “It has to fall on their shoul­ ders,” Gard said of the team’s leadership. “Each will have a little different role, some more vocal than others. Vitto may be the least vocal of the group. But now with his experience and maturity, he can help show the way for some of the young­

DAVID STLUKA er guys.” Meanwhile, the projected tal­ ent levels of the upcoming high school classes in the Midwest will factor into Gard’s recruiting approach. The 2017 and 2018 classes look stronger than the 2016 class. Gard can use that information however he choos­ graduate student. We’ve also got some 4-2-4 kids in es with regard to offering two tenders this spring. the mix.” “We’ve got a pretty good plan on how we want to Those are players who started at a four-year school approach it,” he said. “I want to get bigger and more and then transferred to a two-year junior college. athletic and I want to get more depth. “We don’t do a whole lot with straight junior college “We are looking at a point guard. That’s probably kids,” he said, “because there’s a benchmark we need number one, regardless of whether I put Bron­ have to meet academically. A 4-2-4 kid is different son at the 2 or not. I don’t want to be guard-light, so because they’ve been a qualifier.” to speak. I’ve got to get some depth developed back On big-picture recruiting ramifications, Gard said, there. After next year, we lose both Showalter and “I want to look at how this plays out down the road. Koenig. I want more balance in the classes. Some of it you “So I want to have somebody who has been here can’t control. Some of it is injury driven and redshirt for a little bit ready to step in and help, in whatever driven. There’s always going to be some unexpected role that might be. That’s the most pressing need curve balls thrown at you.” right now ― to help out the backcourt. When we get

THE GREG GARD ERA: JUST THE BEGINNING PAGE 4 OF 7 Brevin in there, that will help. But he’s not a point Van Vliet. Now add two incoming recruits; not to guard.” mention any wild cards from the current roster. Brevin Pritzl is a freshman shooting guard who That’s 14. “It’s going to be competitive,” Gard said. played in just one game before being shut down with “Our scout team has to get better.” a foot injury. The Badgers will benefit immediately In assessing any potential graduate transfers, Gard with the addition of Pritzl and 6-foot-11 Andy Van will consider the “fit”― first and foremost. Vliet, who was ineligible this season and will have “This year reaffirmed more than anything how im­ three years to play. Pritzl portant culture is for us, will have four. and chemistry,” he said. “Playing the bench “PLAYING THE BENCH WILL HELP EXPAND “Because when it’s will help expand and good, you can be better expedite our growth of AND EXPEDITE OUR“ GROWTH OF YOUNGER than maybe you look on younger guys,” Gard GUYS,” GARD SAID. “AS PLAYERS COME INTO paper. And when it’s not said. “As players come THE PROGRAM THAT CAN BE AN INCENTIVE good, you’re not as good into the program that FOR US, ‘HEY, IF YOU’RE READY TO PLAY, as you can be. And we can be an incentive for went through both this us, ‘Hey, if you’re ready I’M GOING TO PLAY YOU.’” year.” to play, I’m going to play That will surely come you.’ I might play nine, I might play 10, I might play up next week when Gard meets individually with the 11. We’ll find a happy medium that’s effective.” players. Here’s how a rotation could shape up next sea­ “I can give them my direct feedback on where I son, in no particular order: Hayes, Koenig, Showal­ think they are and where I think they need to go,” ter, Happ, Brown, Jordan Hill, Khalil Iverson, Charlie he said. “That may be very eye-opening ― maybe Thomas, Alex Illikainen, Aaron Moesch, Pritzl and more for some than others. Having so many guys DAVID STLUKA

Brevin Pritzl

THE GREG GARD ERA: JUST THE BEGINNING PAGE 5 OF 7 with experience, this off-season will have more of a meaning to it because they can draw on that.” One of Gard’s goals for the offense is to develop more of a post presence beyond Happ, who never strayed from the paint, and Hayes, who set a sin- gle-season UW record with 258 free throw attempts. (Happ shot 168.) Illikainen and Thomas will be RICHARD DUNBAR: “projects” from this standpoint. “MARK MY WORDS, DALLAS JEANTY “I have to get them more entrenched in a perma­ nent role,” Gard said. “It was hit-and-miss based WILL SOMEDAY BE A POSITIVE on who was playing well and what the needs were. I FIGURE IN AMERICA.” don’t know if I ever got to a point where I really had a defined role for either one of them consistently.” Unlike this past season, Gard will have non-con­ ference games to experiment with his personnel. “I’d like to get to a point where I don’t play anybody more than 30 minutes,” he said. “Establishing more depth helps those 30-minute guys, too. (Hayes, Koe­ nig, Showalter). They can play harder and become more effective in shorter stints than going 38 and 39 and trying to run on fumes.” Gard has specific plans for Iverson, who led the freshmen in minutes played. “The biggest things are his skill level and bringing intensity all the time,” he said. “He figured out this year what he could do and stayed away from what he couldn’t do. Hopefully he will be one of our bet­ ter defensive players but add more offense to it (his game) by being able to knock down shots. “He doesn’t have to shoot a ton. But he has to make sure teams can’t lay off of him and just pack it in (the lane) or not have to close as hard on him.” Defensively, Gard has tinkered with the idea of adding a zone to complement the man-to-man. “I’m not opposed at taking a look at zone,” he said. “I just don’t want to be a jack-of-all-trades and play a lot of things and be average at all of them. If you look at the best teams across the country, year- in and year-out, what are they doing? Syracuse is always going to be in a zone and Michigan State is always going to be in a man-to-man.” During the off-season, Gard will review every pos­ session. “I’ll watch our evolution as a team as time went on,” he said. And he will jot down notes and compare them to DAVID STLUKA the ones that he took after every game. This will be part of his self-evaluation.

THE GREG GARD ERA: JUST THE BEGINNING PAGE 6 OF 7 “I will go back and reflect, ‘What were you thinking reach out to the alums. here?’” he said. “There’s no doubt that I grew as the An alumni golf outing and/or weekend is in his season went on. When I look back on it, I just didn’t plans. have time to do as much as I wanted to do. I didn’t “I want to reach out and welcome them back with, want to overload the guys, either. We needed to get ‘Hey, look at what you’ve helped build here,’” he through this transition as a group.” said. “Everyone has had a piece in this, whether it To this point, Gard expects the Swing will become was the teams I watched in the ’70s and ’80s; the more second-nature with more repetitions. teams that first cracked the door of the NCAA tour­ “I’m excited about taking another step forward of­ nament or what has happened since 2000. fensively as we get more “I have a very good fluid with it,” he said. understanding of how “At times, we got rigid. “THIS STATE IS SPECIAL TO ME. THERE’S A important those play­ At times, we were pret­ ers are to us. I want to REASON WHY I DIDN’T LEAVE. AND TO BE AT ty good. When you have “ embrace all (coaching) one piece or two not THIS POINT NOW IS REALLY SPECIAL AS I GO regimes, all periods of quite in sync with the FORWARD. I REALLY WANT TO TRY AND PUT time. That’s the belief others, it shows. MY ARMS AROUND EVERYBODY.” that I have in this place. “We’ll look at some This state is special to things on how we can me. There’s a reason evolve and grow in that area, not just Swing specif­ why I didn’t leave. And to be at this point now is re­ ic, but with spacing, movement, getting to the free ally special as I go forward. throw line, playing with more tempo and playing a “I really want to try and put my arms around ev­ little faster at times. There are a lot of areas where erybody.” MAX SIKER we can grow on both ends of the floor.” Last Friday’s ending, in so many respects, was re­ Off the floor, Gard will make a concerted effort to ally just a beginning for the Gard era.

THE GREG GARD ERA: JUST THE BEGINNING PAGE 7 OF 7 INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY A.J. HARRISON ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Wisconsin’s nine shining on world stage U.S. and Canadian teams at 2016 World Championships are led by Badgers

isconsin is, quite literally, taking on the world. TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE A total of nine players with Badgers ties are competing Win this week’s IIHF World Championships, contributing to the efforts of Team USA and Team Canada. Six Badgers are working to help the reigning world champion U.S. squad win its sixth title in the last seven tournaments. Wis­ consin sophomore Annie Pankowski, a second-team All-Amer­ ican this season, joins former UW legends Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight, Alex Rigsby and Jessie Vetter on Team USA. UW’s six representatives match Boston College for the most of SCROLL any school on the U.S. squad. On the Canadian roster, sophomore Emily Clark makes her sec­ ond appearance on a world team. Clark is joined by Meaghan Mikkelson, who’s an alternate captain for Team Canada this year, and Blayre Turnbull, who’s making her world championships de­

but. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS Mikkelson, who’s back with Team Canada after having her first child in September, scored twice, while Clark scored the final SOCIAL goal in its 8-1 win over Russia on Tuesday night. MEDIA: Through two games of the tournament, the Badgers have played a huge part in the U.S. success. Rigsby and Vetter each have won a game in net and Knight has three goals, which is tied for the tournament lead. Decker had the game-winning goal in Team USA’s 3-1 win over Canada on Monday, and Pankowski assisted on the game-winner against Finland on Tuesday. In addition, Duggan is serving as the captain for the U.S. She captained the team at last year’s world championships and the 2015 Four Nations Cup. After the preliminary round ends Thursday, quarterfinal action starts on Friday. The U.S. team has earned a bye into Sunday’s semifinals, and the tournament wraps up on Monday with the gold medal and bronze medal games. ■ INSIDE TRACK & FIELD BY A.J. HARRISON ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS ROBERT BLACK

Full House: Card earns fifth Big Ten honor Badgers senior leads nation in the discus while ranking 10th in shot put

fter attaining a NCAA-leading mark in the discus last week­ TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE end at the Aztec Invitational, Wisconsin senior Kelsey Card Awas named the Big Ten Co-Field Athlete of the Week. “When you think of the men’s and women’s athletes in the throws in the Big Ten, for Kelsey to have individual performances that stand out from the other great throwers is a testament to the hard work that she puts into her craft,” UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. Card won the invitational section of the discus with a throw of 194 feet, 7 inches, which leads the country by two inches. The mark is two feet shy of her Big Ten record of 196-7. SCROLL Her discus performance wasn’t her only great showing of the weekend, as Card’s shot put throw of 54-4 1/2 earned a sec- ond-place showing in the invitational section. She ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th in the nation. Card is one of three seniors to be ranked in the top 10 nationally

in both the shot put and discus, along with reigning NCAA shot INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS put champion Raven Saunders of Ole Miss and Harvard’s Nikki Okwelogu. SOCIAL The Plainview, Illinois, native also threw the hammer for the first MEDIA: time since 2013 and finished third with an effort of 189-7, which ranks third in program history and fifth in the Big Ten this season. “She understands where a meet like last weekend is in the big picture,” Byrne said. “It’s part of the process of what she wants to accomplish for the rest of the year, whether that’s success at the NCAA level or the international level. “She is at another level. She takes each meet in stride and it’s great for her teammates to see.” The distinction marks the ninth time that Card has earned Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week honors during her career and the fifth time this season. Wisconsin has the weekend off from competition but heads to Athens, Georgia, next week for the Spec Towns Invitational, April 6-9. “We’re going to have some great competition down there,” By- rne said. “Across the board, up through 1500 meters, it will be a great meet. With the great weather down there, like we had in San Diego, it’s refreshing.” ■ INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING BY BRANDON HARRISON ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS REAGAN LUNN

Hutchins makes history with special year Junior becomes program’s first male Big Ten Swimmer of the Year

he Big Ten Conference has recognized a Swimmer of the TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Year for nearly 30 years, yet an athlete from Wisconsin had Tnever earned the distinction ― until this week. Following a standout season that culminated in a pair of top-10 finishes at the NCAA championships, Wisconsin’s Matt Hutchins was selected Tuesday as the 2016 Big Ten Men’s Swimmer of the Year. The junior from New Zealand is the first Badger to win the con­ ference award on either the men’s or women’s side since Maggie Meyer did so in 2011.

SCROLL At the NCAA championships last week, Hutchins earned top-six finishes in two individual events. He finished third in the 1,650­ yard freestyle (14 minutes, 33.09 seconds) and also secured a sixth-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle (4:13.35). Both times were school records. Hutchins helped lead the Badgers to an 18th-place finish as a

team at the NCAA championships, the program’s best team fin­ INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS ish since 2013. It also was UW’s second top-20 finish in the last five years under head coach Whitney Hite. SOCIAL Earlier this season, Hutchins recorded a trio of top-three finish- MEDIA: es at the Big Ten championships. He finished second in both the 500 and 1,650 freestyle events and contributed to UW’s third- place finish in the 800 freestyle relay. Hutchins also finished 10th in the 200 freestyle at this year’s conference championships. A second-team All-Big Ten honoree, Hutchins was a two-time Big Ten Swimmer of the Week this season. Hutchins became a Big Ten champion last season when he won the title in the 500 freestyle at the 2015 Big Ten Champion- ships. ■ INSIDE SOFTBALL BY KELLI GRASHEL ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS JOANN WELSH

There’s no place like home for Wisconsin Badgers open home slate this week at Goodman Diamond

hat Dorothy girl was onto something when she said “There’s TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE no place like home.” This week has brought a much-need­ Ted homecoming for the Wisconsin softball team, which has been on the road a total of 25 days since Feb. 12. Wisconsin wrapped up a long road stint with two run-rule victo­ ries in a doubleheader against Detroit in Chicago and a 2-1 series win at Michigan State. UW opened their first conference series at MSU with a dominant 10-1 triumph. “To win any Big Ten series is a big deal, but to do it on the road against a tough team like Michigan State makes it an even more exciting opening Big Ten weekend,” head coach Yvette Healy SCROLL said. Wins weren’t the only good thing to come out of that Big Ten road series. UW’s Melanie Cross earned Freshman of the Week honors from the conference, the first Badger to earn the acco­ lade since Sara Novak in 2014.

And the award was well deserved. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS The Vail, Arizona, native batted .500 (7-for-14) on the week with nine hits and eight runs in five games. Cross also had five SOCIAL RBIs and a team-high 11 total bases. MEDIA: She picked up her fifth multi-hit game of the season with three against the Spartans, and she knocked her third homer of the year on Saturday. But the 4-1 week was a total team effort, which is exactly what Healy wants to see headed into a tough Big Ten stretch. “I’m really proud of the team, I think it was a total team effort,” Healy said. “There was some good pitching, some good defense and good hitting. When you can combine all three of those things, it makes it a little easier to get the W.” INSIDE WOMEN’S ROWING BY DAN CORCORAN ■ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS BEBE BRYANS

With work in, Badgers ready to begin Wisconsin races in San Diego Crew Classic this weekend to open season

here’s something different about the outlook for this year’s TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE Wisconsin women’s rowing team, and it’s not the fact that Tthe ice is off Lake Mendota at the earliest date in head coach Bebe Bryans’ 12-year tenure. After recording a third-place finish at the Big Ten champion­ ships for a fifth-straight year, followed by an eighth-straight trip to the NCAA championships, UW’s returning rowers took the les­ sons from the end of last season to heart and brought those les­ sons into this season. “What I’m so happy about, they ― for the first time really―

SCROLL carried over and not only did what they planned to do in the fall, but they are continuing with that now,” Bryans said. “We’re faster than we’ve ever been indoors.” Despite seeing a 17-member senior class depart after last sea­ son, the Badgers didn’t skip a beat in the transition into this sea­ son.

Part of the credit for that transition is due to that large gradu­ INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS ating class from a year ago, but the returners shouldered just as much of the responsibility in trying to set a strong foundation for SOCIAL this season. MEDIA: “Last year’s seniors did a really good job of setting our team up for success. And they did a really good job of learning good lessons,” Bryans said. “They played a really important role and these guys learned.” This year’s senior class isn’t as large as last year’s, but the role Bryans expects them to fill is just as big, if not bigger. Wisconsin lost three members from its first varsity eight boat from a season ago, with coxswain Lily Hansen, first-team All-Big Ten selection Steph Malchine and Kristine Kammers having graduated. But Wisconsin returns the other six members of that boat, including five seniors. “This year’s group of seniors is really quite strong, both in lead- ership and in physical and technical skill. I think that has been the benchmark of this year’s team,” Bryans said. “Our juniors and sophomores have not taken a back seat, so everyone is part of the leadership core this year.” As far as the leadership is concerned this year, Wisconsin is trying something a different approach. Although Bryans has typi- cally used class captains, this year’s senior class decided it didn’t want singular representatives. Instead, anyone and everyone has a chance to lead, with no officially designated captains. “It’s working so far,” Bryans added. “They’re really positive. They enjoy each other. They push each other really hard, and that’s all we can ask. It’s really a good team.” Although the goal for Wisconsin is to win a Big Ten champion- ship, the focus still very much remains internally and the aspects of its performance that it can control. “I have a pretty good idea of what speed we can go,” Bryans said. “We have complete control over that, so that’s all we can work on, and just have them be excited to add racing because it’s just a little bit more of a carrot. But it’s not the whole meal.”