Varsity Magazine Vol 4 No 28
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
IN [FOCUS] BANNER EVENING The result wasn’t one the Badgers were inter- ested in celebrating, but a record-setting crowd of 13,573 ― largest in NCAA women’s hockey history ― turned out at to watch second-ranked UW take on No. 1 Minnesota in the fourth “Fill the Bowl” game at the Kohl Center. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN [FOCUS] LONELY ROAD Moments before tip- off in a hostile Crisler Center, Traevon Jackson huddled the Badgers at center court. Two hours later, Wisconsin would be celebrating its sixth win over a team ranked in the current AP Top 25 with a 75-62 victory over No. 15 Michigan. PHOTO BY BOB CAMPBELL IN [FOCUS] Junior Frank Kaminsky slashes to the rim to score two of his game-high 25 points in the Badgers’ 75-62 win at Michigan last Sunday. Kaminsky’s double- double effort was rewarded with Big Ten Player of the Week honors. SPECIAL K PHOTO BY BOB CAMPBELL IN [FOCUS] COLD SHOULDER Russia’s Andrei Markov was focused on clearing the puck away from Joe Pavelski during Olympic pool play last Saturday, a wise strategy given that the former Badger is tied for second on Team USA with five points so far in Sochi. Pavelski and his U.S. teammates face rival Canada in a semifinal on Friday. PHOTO BY SCOTT ROVAK / USA TODAY SPORTS CONTENTS FEBRUARY 20, 2014 // VOLUME 4, ISSUE 28 DEPARTMENTS HAPPY TO HELP 14 LUCAS AT LARGE 28 You won't find him near the top of the Badgers' goal-scoring by Mike Lucas leaders, but Mark Zengerle has made a career of piling up points by being the setup man for his Wisconsin teammates. 16 BEHIND THE DESK by Barry Alvarez 18 THE VOICE by Matt Lepay GOING ON DISPLAY 20 BY THE NUMBERS 34 Facts and figures on UW A successful showing at the Se- nior Bowl already in his portfolio, 22 5 THINGS TO WATCH Catch the Badgers on Chris Borland takes the next step TV and the web toward draft day when he tackles the NFL combine this weekend. 24 ASK THE BADGERS 'Mount Rushmore' athletes 26 BADGERING Ivy Martin KEEP ON CLIMBING 44 INSIDE SPORTS 56 Basketball, Hockey, With versatile title threat Ivy Mar- Wrestling, Track, Swimming, tin leading the way, the Wisconsin Softball, Tennis women's swimming and diving team 62 THIS WEEK IN HISTORY heads to Minneapolis with sights set Bucking the trend on raising its Big Ten stock. 11 Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 SUBSCRIBE TO VARSITY VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Drew Scharenbroch Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Andrea Miller Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Patrick Herb, A.J. Harrison, Diane Nordstrom, Anna Poulter-Hendrickson, Jeremy Wodajo Photography David Stluka, Greg Anderson, Neil Ament, Steve Gotter, Jack McLaughlin, Icon SMI, Cal Sport Media, USA Today Sports Cover Photo: David Stluka Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2014 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS // UWBADGERS.COM Gasser continues growing into his vital role ormer Wisconsin point guard Josh Gasser. I love what he does and Jordan Taylor had the second- defense. It’s the leadership that you what he brings and every time he Fmost assists (464) in school haveHe’ll diveto respect on the out floor of anda guy he’ll like play shoots, I feel like it’s going in. He history. Credit him with another Craft.” has been just phenomenal.” one for what he had to say last Or out of a guy like Gasser. Gasser held Stauskas to 11 points week to his old backcourt mate, Besides drawing the opponent’s (4-of-11) and without a 3-pointer Josh Gasser, during a visit to the top scorer ― from Michigan State’s for only the third time this season. Kohl Center for a game between the Gary Harris to Michigan’s Nik Staus- A week earlier, Gasser hounded Badgers and Minnesota. kas ― Gasser has also contributed Harris into a 3-of-20 shooting game Taylor, an undrafted free agent, some timely shot-making. He had has spent the last two seasons play- two early 3-point hits that created beyond the arc and had six points in ing professionally in Rome with the space in the paint for Frank Kamin- Michiganfrom the field. State’s He loss was to 0-for-7 Wisconsin. from hopes of landing an NBA contract. sky against the Wolverines. Although Gasser was talking spe- A former Gopher, in fact, Trevor “When Josh hits those 3s to start MBakwe, was one of his teammates - have been talking about everybody with Virtus Roma before a hip thatcifically he has about been Stauskas, assigned he to could guard injury forced Taylor to return to the doublethe game,” (25 said points, Kaminsky, 11 rebounds) who fin when he said, “It’s about focus and States for surgery. inished Wisconsin’s with his first75-62 career win indouble- Ann attention and going as hard as you On his way home to Blooming- Arbor, “it really opens up the driv- can every possession otherwise ton, Minn., the 24-year-old Taylor ing lanes because they can’t help he’ll make you pay.” stopped in Madison to see friends. off of him. They have to respect him The assignment is never the During his short time together with (on the perimeter).” same. The 6-foot-3 Gasser has Gasser, he reminded him to enjoy covered everyone from Indiana’s the college basketball experience. to ever put on a UW uniform was 6-foot Yogi Ferrell to Iowa’s 6-9, Don’t take it for granted, he told MikeOne Kelley, of the who more helped unselfish lead players the 220-pound Aaron White, who will Gasser, it’s very special, especially Badgers to the 2000 Final Four. Kel- likely be on Gasser’s dance card at Wisconsin. ley, who’s still the school’s career Saturday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena leader in steals (275), has been in Iowa City. he said that,” Gasser admitted. working as a television analyst for “You want to get their tenden- Nobody“I definitely may took enjoy it playingto heart the when the Big Ten Network. When asked cies, you want to know what they game more than Gasser, particularly about Gasser, he gushes. do,” said Gasser, who just turned 22. after sitting out last season follow- “I thought the Michigan game “But, at the same time, it’s a game. ing knee surgery. was maybe his best overall de- You’ve just got to go out there and Nobody may enjoy playing fensively,” said Kelley, the only play. If you think too much, that’s defense more than Gasser, unless Badger to be named the Big Ten’s sometimes when you can get your- it’s Ohio State’s Aaron Craft. And Defensive Player of the Year. “As I self in trouble. it should come as no surprise that watched him, and I don’t mean this “So you need to stick to your Gasser has always admired the way in a narcissistic way, but I felt like I rules, stick to the way you do things that Craft plays. was watching myself dog a player and trust your teammates and “I just love the way that he around screens and chase. the coaches and that’s when it all doesn’t care about the amount of “I thought Josh did a great job works out well. I’ve had some crazy points that he scores,” Gasser said. of getting around screens without matchups this year. But it’s fun to “He doesn’t care about the stats; he them slowing up his progress too guard different guys each game.” just wants to get wins for his team. much. He was fantastic. I just love He’s heeding Taylor’s advice. 14 // VARSITY February 20, 2014 Gasser continues growing into his vital role BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ // UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Keeping fans coming back is a top priority ll of us in college athletics games. hockey fans and the support and are aware of the attendance So we have to improve cellu- the respect that they have given Achallenges and improving lar and Wi-Fi connections. We’ve our team. Both hockey programs the game day experience for our talked about it a lot as adminis- are drawing well. Attendance is fans, and our students are a big trators. We’ve researched what it up this year for the men’s team, part of that. would take to install the antennas averaging better than 10,000 fans That experience is something and we have a plan. a game with good crowds expected that we’ve tried to address for We’re moving forward with it. this weekend vs. Michigan State. the last couple of years and we’ll The logistics of doing what we I really think it has a lot to do continue to address. I think we’ve want to do with an old football with Big Ten hockey. You now been fortunate here and I couldn’t stadium like Camp Randall poses have opponents coming into your be more pleased with our fans. some problems. But we’re going to building that fans can identify with Our student attendance has not get it done. because you’ve played them in dropped that much by comparison It’s the same deal for everyone.