Contents January 18, 2017 ▪ Volume 7, Issue 22 Greg Anderson
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CONTENTS JANUARY 18, 2017 ▪ VOLUME 7, ISSUE 22 GREG ANDERSON NO REGRETS Grant Besse almost turned pro last season, nearly turning away from a struggling Wisconsin program. Now UW’s leading scorer is helping lead the Badgers back to greatness on the ice. DAVID STLUKA DAVID FEATURES FOOTBALL IN [FOCUS] THE RIGHT FIT The week's best photos The Badgers’ search for the next BEHIND THE DESK defensive coordinator has a familiar College season a classic feel. And Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst’s focus is doing it right. BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW LUCAS AT LARGE WHAT TO WATCH Where to catch the Badgers BACK IN CLASS COMMUNICATIONS UW ATHLETIC ASK THE BADGERS Advice for staying warm After a successful pro career, Rashard Griffith is ready to fulfill a promise to his mother and himself: BADGERING return to school and earn his degree. Rose Lavelle (Women’s Soccer) -SCROLL FOR MORE- INSIDE MEN’S BASKETBALL Badgers hit back for win Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Jessica Burda Director of Digital Content Managing Editor Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Mike Lucas Senior Writer Andy Baggot Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Chris Hall, Jerry Mao, Brandon Spiegel Video Production Max Kelley Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Brian Mason, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Neil Ament, Greg Anderson, Bob Campbell, The Players Tribune, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire Cover Photo: Spencer Natzke Problems or Accessibility Issues? [email protected] © 2017 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. All rights reserved worldwide. LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM On Campus: Rashard Griffith’s promise or nearly two decades on By doing so, he’s following the ting under way this week, Grif- foreign soil, Rashard Grif- lead of a former UW teammate, fith is keeping his word by tak- Ffith’s classroom was the Michael Finley, who came back ing a few classes; a modest but low block and paint, a universal and got his degree in 2014. meaningful starting point. The battleground that translated the Finley was 41 at the time. Grif- UW Athletic department has a same in Turkey, Israel, Italy, Spain fith is 42. “We had talked about policy in place to cover the cost and Romania. It turned out to be it,” Griffith recounted of their of tuition, fees and books for any an ambitious journey and educa- off-season discussions. “Mike scholarship student-athlete who tion for the last Wisconsin player said he was going to do it. I said wishes to return to fulfill their to average a double-double. I was going to do it.” undergraduate degree require- While living up to his own Finley was closer to the finish ments. promise in Europe by collecting line after spending four years “I just want to get my feet wet titles and handsome paychecks at Wisconsin before embarking again and get adjusted to every- DAVID STLUKA DAVID from Tofas Bursa, Maccabi on a rewarding NBA career that thing,” said Griffith, who was ad- Tel Aviv, Kinder Bologna, TAU lasted 16 seasons. Nonetheless, vised to approach the challenge Ceramica, Lottomatica Roma, with the second semester get- in measured steps to ensure that Tenerife, CB Calpe, Pinar he wouldn’t be biting off Karsiyak and CSU Asesoft more credits than he could Ploiesti, there was another chew. “Hopefully, in the fall, promise, an unfulfilled one. I’ll take a bigger load.” “I promised my mother,” he Besides Finley, the sec- said, evoking the memory of ond-leading scorer in school Elaine, the hardscrabble Chi- history, there have been cago Transit Authority bus others in the basketball fam- driver, “that I would come ily that have preceded Grif- back and get my degree fith on this path, including when my career was over Danny Jones, the Badgers’ with, and that’s what I’m third-leading career scorer. doing; I’m keeping my prom- He was 41 when he came ise to her and I’m doing it for back in 2010 to complete myself, too.” his undergraduate work. Twenty-two years after “I thought about doing leaving school to enter the it online when I was still NBA draft — following his playing,” said Griffith. “But sophomore season in 1994- I talked to a few people — 95 during which he averaged like Mike (Finley) and coach 17 points and 11 rebounds (Barry) Alvarez (the UW — Griffith is returning to the director of athletics) — and Madison campus with the they told me, ‘Come back intent of taking care of un- here and get your degree, finished academic business, you’re a Badger. Get it from however long it may take. Wisconsin.’” LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 1 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM “OBVIOUSLY, WE’RE A LITTLE OLDER NOW. BUT OUR DIS- TRACTIONS ARE A LOT MORE LIMITED. WE’RE NOT YOUNG AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT. HE’S A LOT MORE FOCUSED AND DRIVEN TO GET THIS DONE.” Griffith has additional inspi- ration in first-year UW men’s hockey coach Tony Granato whose hiring was contingent on Granato completing his degree requirements. The 52-year-old Granato can share his first se- mester classroom experiences with Griffith, who has many sup- porters in his corner. “I just want to be there for him,” said UW assistant basket- ball coach Howard Moore, a friend and former Badger team- mate. “I want to help him under- stand we have a lot of people who support him, are proud of distractions are a lot more lim- the aspect of not having to wor- him and are willing to do what- ited. We’re not young and try- ry about practice and all the ever they need to do to get this ing to figure out what life is all things that go along with playing off to the right start.” about. He’s a lot more focused (travel, pressure, injuries, etc.). Griffith is living with Moore and driven to get this done.” Plus, I’ve got more help (tutors) and his family. “Uncle Rashard At 7-foot, 280-plus pounds, than when I was here before.” has been a babysitter to our kids Griffith was never intimidated on As a freshman, Griffith teamed as he has been getting re-accli- the court. But does he have any with Finley and Tracy Webster mated to Madison,” said Moore, anxiety about going back to the to lead the Badgers to their first who went to Taft High School classroom? “Yeah, math, it was appearance in the NCAA tour- in Chicago; Griffith is from King. never my strongest suit,” he said nament in 47 years. Griffith had “He has the right mindset be- with a hearty laugh. “Serious- 22 points and 15 rebounds in cause he wants to do this (get ly, I look at it as it’s going to be an opening win over Cincinnati. his degree). fun and you’re never too old to Missouri ended their dream with “He understands what he learn. a 109-96 victory in the second needs to do — take it slow, work “I know I haven’t been in round. your way back into it. Obviously, school since ’95. But I think I’m Griffith has never sec- we’re a little older now. But our ready and it will be easier from ond-guessed his decision to LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 2 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM return to the states and contrib- ute to Milwaukee’s success on the frontline. But Griffith rewrote that script by exceeding most expectations during a banner first season for Tofas Bursa. “I’m still the young- est player to win the MVP in Turkey history,” said Griffith. “Mike Dunleavy later told me, ‘We didn’t expect you to go over there and do what you did.’” Nor were the Bucks willing to come up with the bucks for Grif- fith. “It was never that I couldn’t play (in the NBA),” Griffith said. “It was the fact I was making good money over there and we could never meet halfway (on a contract). I understand it’s a business. The only reason that I didn’t come back was the finan- cial part of it — not whether I could compete or not.” In retrospect, Griffith confided leave after his sophomore year. round. that first year overseas was the He played one season for Stu “I would tell any kid the same most challenging. Jackson, who left for the NBA; thing if they’re thinking about “My father was over there and one season for Stan Van leaving early,” Griffith said. “I (Turkey) with me,” Griffith said, Gundy, who was not retained. would never stop them from “and he kept telling me, ‘You’re And, in truth, he didn’t see him- going out and trying to make getting great money to do the self as a fit for Dick Bennett’s money. But while you’re young, thing that you love. How many system though he liked him per- and it’s still in you, I would say people get a chance to do that sonally. when you get a chance, knock every day? Trust me, I know, I Griffith, thus, entered the some of it out (progress towards was punching the clock from 9 1995 NBA draft and was a sec- a degree).” to 5, doing something you don’t ond-round pick (No.