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 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 UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS ASK THE BADGERS Advice for staying warm After a successful pro career, 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 Badgers hit back for win Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St. Madison, WI 53711

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© 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 , who came back ing a few classes; a modest but low and paint, a universal and got his degree in 2014. meaningful starting . 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 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 (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. 38) of the The Bucks, notably Mike Dun- want to be doing.’” . Maryland’s leavy, the coach and general Griffith took the words of his was No. 1 overall and manager, felt like Griffith needed late father to heart. He played Chicago Farragut High School’s more seasoning and encouraged 17 consecutive seasons in Eu- was No. 5. The him to play in Europe. The ex- rope, including a memorable selected Finley pectation was that Griffith would Euroleague championship run in with the No. 21 pick in the first sharpen his skills and eventually 2000-2001 on a Kinder Bologna

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 3 OF 4 LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS ▪ UWBADGERS.COM PATRICK HERB

team that was a stepping stone It’s never too late, either. As for Manu Ginobili and Marko “EVERY DAY YOU WAKE UP, he’s proving. Jaric. Griffith was the Italian Cup IT’S A NEW DAY FOR YOU “When I’m talking to kids, I’m MVP that season. TO LEARN SOMETHING AND always talking to them about “How many games did I play?” PROVE YOURSELF. YOU HAVE A the degree,” said Griffith, whose Griffith said. “I didn’t count PURPOSE. AND THE PURPOSE focus is not on the grind but games, I just went out and FOR ME WILL BE GOING TO the reward, a college diploma played — 17 straight years, prac- CLASS, GETTING MY DEGREE nobody thought he would ever tice twice a day, two games a AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE.” get. “When I do this, and I talk week. Every year, I was finishing to them, I’ll have it to back me in late June and I had to be back was telling me, ‘I’m tired, I’m up. It will be, ‘Ok, I’ve got mine. in training camp in August get- done.’” Now, you get yours.’ ting ready for the season in Sep- Griffith retired from basketball “Like I said, I think it will be tember and October.” in 2010. Before deciding to re- easier than when I was 17 and At his last stop in Romania, it turn to get his degree, he was 18. I can use my life experienc- was during the league playoffs training and mentoring young es. For me, now, every day you when Griffith felt his Achilles grammar school athletes in Chi- wake up, it’s a new day for you pop. “That was the most signif- cago. “I wanted to help them to learn something and prove icant injury that I had,” he said. understand that it starts now,” he yourself. You have a purpose. “I had surgery and I did my re- said. “You need to start now with And the purpose for me will be hab and I was planning on going the things that prepare you for going to class, getting my degree back to Romania, when my body life.” and leading by example.” ▪

LUCAS AT LARGE PAGE 4 OF 4 BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ ▪ UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS College football season was a classic ith people saying Dan Devine. Gene also has been I just wish they would do it was the greatest on the basketball selection com- something with the total number Wopening weekend mittee for the NCAA tournament that can work within a football schedule in history and the fi- which will be an advantage for him department. Right now, there nal game going down to the last as he goes through this process. is no number. That’s why some second, it’s hard to imagine a Looking down the road, there’s schools keep hiring people. They better start and finish to a col- some legislation on the table and hire a former head coach who’s lege football season. potential changes for football, out of a job, give him a title and It started with a lot of ranked including an early signing period decent salary. I’m sure they have teams playing each other — in- (the third Wednesday in Decem- duties and responsibilities for cluding our opener against LSU ber) and a 10th full-time assistant. them. But the thing for me is at Lambeau Field — and it ended I’m in favor of both. holding everyone accountable. with Alabama and Clemson play- I’ve been pushing for an ear- There will be some changes on ing for the national championship. lier signing since I coached. our football staff with the depar- Whether it was a Super Bowl or The current National Letter of ture of Justin Wilcox, who’s the a seventh game in any other sport, Intent signing day for prospec- new head coach at the Univer- you won’t see a better finish than tive student-athletes is the first sity of California. He did a good what we saw in Tampa as Clem- Wednesday in February. job as our defensive coordinator. son outlasted Alabama, 35-31. If you have someone who But I’m confident Paul Chryst It was impressive how both wants to sign in December, you will name a good coach to replace teams played, especially in the sign him. You then know who’s him, like he did last year when fourth quarter. Both took the in your boat and who’s still out he hired Justin to replace Dave momentum and answered the there. If he doesn’t sign, you just Aranda. We have a good program momentum swings. You dream keep recruiting him until February. and we’ll get another good coach. about games like that in the finals. Overall, you get a much better This week, I also had the op- That matchup was a good way idea of where you stand with portunity to present an award to to end my three years on the your recruiting class. It might one of my former players, Troy College Football Playoff selection address all the commitments and Vincent — who along with one committee. Like I’ve said before, de-commitments that have be- of our former soccer players, I enjoyed giving something back to come a part of our landscape. Heather Taggart — was recog- the sport. It was a great experience. As far as a 10th assistant, nized by the NCAA. I’m very pleased that Gene more than anything else, it’s Troy and Heather were among Smith, the Ohio State athletic di- about taking care of and ser- six former student-athletes who re- rector, is taking over for me as a vicing the student-athletes you ceived the Silver Anniversary Award selector. We’ve been friends for have on campus. You just need for their collegiate and profes- a long time. Gene will do a great more people around for them. sional achievements at the NCAA job. He’s a great addition. With another position, I’d use a convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Gene was a defensive end on 10th coach for on the field teach- Both are awesome representa- the 1973 Notre Dame team that ing. That’s where it has the most tives of our university and ath- won the AP national champion- benefit because you can always letic department. We couldn’t ship. And he was an assistant designate someone as recruiting be prouder of their accomplish- coach for the Irish under the late person, even if he’s not the road. ments, then and now. ▪

BEHIND THE DESK PAGE 1 OF 1 ASK THE BADGERS

BEST ADVICE FOR STAYING WARM ON CAMPUS? IN THE WINTER? JACK MCLAUGHLIN JACK MCLAUGHLIN JACK MCLAUGHLIN LON HORDEWEL

ALI NAGEOTTE GABBY GREGORY WILL JOHNSON MARK SEGBERS Junior ■ Women’s Golf Fr. ■ W. Basketball Soph. ■ Men’s Hockey Junior ■ Men’s Soccer Westlake, Ohio Irving, Santa Barbara, Calif. St. Louis, Mo.

“My advice would “Being from Texas, “My goal is always to “You can always take be to leave no skin I’ve learned that just never leave bed layers off, so you can exposed and take the wearing lots of lay- and never go outside. never have too many bus to class!” ers and a good pair That is my way of es- layers. If you’re walk- of gloves is all you caping it. If you have ing in the cold, walk need to get through to go out, pretend with music to take winter. Also, the oc- you are sitting on a your mind off the casional good eye to beach and mentally weather.” spot ice before you imagine that it is a slip! Trust me, I’ve little warmer out. Try slipped one too many and get as much sun times!” as you can.” BADGERING BRAD SMITH ROSE LAVELLE

Former Wisconsin midfielder Rose Lavelle made history in a Los Angeles hotel ballroom last week when she was the No. 1 pick in the 10-team National Women’s Soccer League draft. It made her the first student-athlete in UW history to be chosen first overall in their respective sport’s college draft. Lavelle was tabbed by the Boston Breakers, who, through a series of trades, owned the first, third, eighth, ninth and 11th picks. Boston general manager Lee Billiard and coach Matt Beard liked Lavelle so much that they told the three-time All-American from Cincinnati, Ohio, of their plans well before the draft, which took place Jan. 12. The honor changed Lavelle’s life in a major way. She’s pre- paring to live in an unfamiliar city. She’s hired an agent. She’s currently trying to finish her classwork online toward a degree in sociology. She’s presently trying to impress American officials at a U.S. National Team training camp in LA. She’s in the process of getting ready for her NWSL debut this spring. Lavelle talked about her past, present and future during a recent phone interview. Interview by Andy Baggot: Were you surprised when your name was called as the first overall selection of the draft? “I had talked to the coach (Beard) after the ending of our Wisconsin season, so I’d known for a

SCROLL couple months that it was going to happen. But I was paranoid until they called my name that it wasn’t going to happen. It didn’t seem real until they actually did. There was a great pool of play- ers, so obviously I was very honored to be picked No. 1.”

UW has had a lot of first-round picks in football, hockey and basketball over the years. What’s your reaction to being the first Wisconsin student-athlete to be a No. 1 draft choice? “I’m surprised I was the first one at UW. There’ve been so many great athletes to go through Wisconsin, so I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before. I’m sure I won’t be the last one. Wisconsin has a lot of great athletes, so I’m sure there’s going to be another one.”

How has this changed your life? “Right now it hasn’t really done much, but the adjustment’s going to be pretty big. I’m going to have to leave Madison in March, which I’m pretty sad about, and experiencing a whole new city because I’ve never been to Boston before. It’s going to be a completely new environment and atmosphere than what I’m used to.”

What’s your status with school? Can you finish or will you have to put things on hold? “I will be able to finish. I loaded up in the fall — I took a lot of credits to meet my requirements — and I’ll take online classes in the spring when I go to Boston. I’ll graduate in the spring.”

Can you make a living at being a pro soccer player? “I’d like to think so, but we’ll see. I’m just going to work hard and give my best to make sure that it happens.”

The NWSL played its first season in 2013. Its 20-match schedule runs April to September. How does your status as the No. 1 overall pick affect your approach to playing for the Breakers? “I think it definitely gives me a little confidence going into the season knowing that the coach- ing staff in Boston is confident in my capabilities and confident that I can have an impact on the team. But just in terms of a title, it doesn’t mean much.”

What part of your time here at Wisconsin best helped you get ready for this opportunity? “Honestly, each year has posed a different challenge that taught me different lessons, but espe- cially this past year. Each year has really built on itself. What I learned my freshman year I was able to apply to my sophomore year and what I learned my sophomore year I applied to my junior year and so on. This past year was really a big year of growth for me, both on and off the field. I had to take on a new role to play in a deeper position (UW coach Paula Wilkins moved her around a lot) than what I was used to. I was also in one of the leadership roles, which I wasn’t used to. Those things really helped prepare me for this next stage.” ■ GREG ANDERSON DAVID STLUKA GREG ANDERSON

rant Besse let the thought have its due be- Besse’s final college season would mean an upgrade fore discarding it all together. in performance. G Fresh off his junior season with the Wis- “It wasn’t much of anything,” Besse said, ultimate- consin men’s hockey team, Besse said he weighed ly, of his internal debate to turn pro, “but obviously the idea of leaving school as an underclassman and the last two years have been tough, so there was turning pro. that sense of ‘Was next year going to be the same An elusive right winger with a gift for scoring as the last two?’ and was that really worth it.” goals, Besse was chosen by Anaheim in the fifth Turns out it was. round of the NHL Entry Draft in 2013. He had just “I’m happy with the path that I’ve taken thus far,” led the Badgers in scoring for the second straight Besse said. “I don’t really have any regrets.” season, so the idea of him signing with the Ducks It’s hard to imagine Besse being in a better place. was hardly far-fetched. He leads the Badgers in scoring with 22 points (8 “Obviously there was a thought about it,” Besse goals, 14 assists) in 18 games. At his current rate, said. “Whether or not that opportunity would have Besse will join Steve Reinprecht as the only play- afforded itself, would I have taken it? I don’t know ers in program history to pace UW in scoring three that.” consecutive seasons. His personal sense of readiness was complicated At the moment, Besse is in the midst of an eight- by a broader issue. game point streak, tying a career best, and is clos- The Badgers had just completed the two worst ing in on 100 points for his 120-game career (38- seasons in their proud history — 12 wins in 70 53-91). games — which led to the dismissal of alum Mike Besse’s streak dovetails nicely into his presence Eaves and his coaching staff. in a series with seventh-ranked UW subsequently hired another decorated former Minnesota Friday night and Saturday afternoon at player as head coach, Tony Granato, who brought in the Kohl Center. highly regarded alums in brother Don Granato and Besse has scored nine goals in his last nine career BOB CAMPBELL Mark Osiecki to serve as associate head coaches. outings vs. the Gophers, a spectacular run that has But a change at the top was no guarantee that heightened value to a kid from Plymouth, Minnesota.

GRANT BESSE: NO REGRETS PAGE 2 OF 4 Most important, though, is the fact the Badgers focus on the game plan that’s at hand.” (10-7-1 overall, 3-1 in the Big Ten) have signaled Besse, an assistant captain and one of four se- that the rebuild may not take as long as initially niors, is expected to help set that tone. Tony Grana- thought. to said he’s emerged as They own victo- a quality leader along- ries over 10th-ranked “HE’S QUIETER THAN I THOUGHT HE side sophomore center/ Boston College and WOULD BE,” GRANATO SAID OF BESSE, winger and captain Luke 16th-rated St. Lawrence “BUT WHEN HE NEEDS“ TO STAND UP AND Kunin and junior center and are vying to be four SAY SOMETHING HE’S THERE FOR YOU. and assistant captain games over .500 for the Cameron Hughes. HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS HAVE REALLY first time since the end “He’s quieter than I IMPRESSED ME.” of the 2013-14 season. thought he would be,” Wisconsin currently Granato said of Besse, ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense, “but when he needs to stand up and say something power-play conversion percentage and penalty-kill- he’s there for you. ing ratio. “His leadership skills have really impressed me.” Archrival Minnesota (13-5-2, 5-1) comes to Mad- Besse will tell you his role is defined by his ability ison owning a six-game winning streak, looking to to produce timely offense. Two of his eight goals stress all those areas. have held up as the winners and nine of his team- Are the emotions any different preparing to face best 14 assists have been primary ones. a long-time rival — the schools have met 278 times Granato called Besse a “tremendous” offensive since 1922 — as a coach vs. a player? TAP TO WATCH - Badger Hockey Digest Week 11 After all, the new UW coaching staff has ▼ some distinctive history with Minnesota. LARRY RADLOFF Tony Granato’s teams at Wisconsin (1983 to ’87) were 8-14 overall vs. the Gophers and had three straight sea- sons end in playoff losses in Minneap- olis. On the flip side, his first collegiate goal came vs. Minnesota on the way to 100 for his career and he finished with 9-10-19 in 20 outings in the series. Meanwhile, Don Granato and Osiecki were on clubs that beat the Gophers in Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Four playoff title games in 1988 and ’90. The latter triumph gave way to an NCAA championship, the fifth in UW history, but the Badgers were 6-15-1 vs. Minnesota from 1987 to ’91. “You don’t want to get too wound up,” Tony Granato said. “You want to focus on the game as a game. “The rivalry and the excitement of getting to play the Gophers is great, but it’s really important for our team — JOHN FISHER especially with where we’ve come — to just focus on what we’ve done well and

GRANT BESSE: NO REGRETS PAGE 3 OF 4 UW players and coaches are focused on the task at hand, but Besse allowed himself a look down the “FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, THESE road. FOUR YEARS HAVE FLOWN BY,” BESSE SAID. Asked if he’s maximized his time at Wisconsin, he “THERE’S STILL A WAY“ TO GO, SO THERE’S said yes, citing the fact he’s on pace to get a degree STILL TIME TO MAYBE FULFILL SOME in agricultural economics in four years. THINGS THAT I HAVEN’T QUITE CHECKED “From a personal standpoint, these four years OFF WHILE I’M HERE.” have flown by,” Besse said. As for his playing career? player, but other details have caught the coach’s “There’s still a way to go, so there’s still time eye of late. to maybe fulfill some things that I haven’t quite “I think the past probably eight to 10 games I’ve checked off while I’m here,” Besse said. seen a dramatic improvement of his play away from Winning a Big Ten regular-season and playoff title the puck,” Granato said. are on his list. So is an NCAA championship, which Throughout this season, Granato said he and his would be No. 7 for the program. assistants have asked Besse to commit to doing A year after thinking about leaving, Besse is glad things that make his line mates — sophomore cen- he stuck around. ter Seamus Malone and freshman left winger Max “It’s a good spot to be at,” he said. Zimmer — better. To that end, Granato noted that UW has scored multiple goals recently because Besse, listed at 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, has taken punishment in front of the net as the screener of the goaltender. “Paying a price,” Granato said. As a result, Granato believes Besse, a record-set- ting goal scorer at Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minneso- ta) High School, has become a more complete player. “He’s easier to throw over the boards in every sit- uation now,” Granato said. Asked how he knows he’s upgraded his game this season, Besse mentioned this development. “When your coaches trust you to put you out there in all situations,” he said. “I didn’t really have that coming in as a freshman and obviously I had to prove that to Coach Eaves. I had to develop that over the last two years. “With Coach Granato I kind of started back at square one.” The Badgers are 3-7-2 vs. Minnesota during Besse’s career, a trend he’d like to address starting this weekend. It helps that he’s on a roll. Over those 12 outings Besse shows 9-3-12 with 42 shots and an even plus-minus rating. He’s had the decisive goal in two of the three victories. Besse said he didn’t know his specific stats against Minnesota, but “I know over the GREG ANDERSON last couple years I’ve done pretty well, though,” he said.

GRANT BESSE: NO REGRETS PAGE 4 OF 4 DAVID STLUKA eflecting on his hiring of Justin Wilcox as his academically and athletically, not to mention how defensive coordinator less than a full year ago, it’s wired to go about business in terms of recruiting RWisconsin’s Paul Chryst recalled how the de- the right fit and developing personnel. cision was predicated on conventional qualities and Chryst will now retrace some of his steps and re- experience — Wilcox had an abundance of both — read his notes from last January in seeking a re- to go along with it just feeling like the right fit. placement for Wilcox, who has accepted the head As it turned out, Wilcox, an Oregon grad and na- coaching job at the University of California. Chryst tive, also had the “it” factor. hired Wilcox to replace Dave Aranda, who left Wis- As in Wilcox “got it.” consin for LSU shortly after the 2015 Holiday Bowl. “He got this place,” Chryst said, “and appreciated “I think the world of him,” Chryst said of the this place and the players.” 40-year-old Wilcox. “He’s a heckuva coach and a The second-year UW head coach was referring great person. It’s a good feeling when what you to his own alma mater — Wisconsin, i.e. “this place” thought you were getting (from a new hire), you got — and the program’s long-established foundation and then some. He helped this group (the defense) maximize their opportunities. He did his job well.” Chryst noted that the soft-spoken Wilcox, who shied away from taking credit for the success that the Badgers had on defense, left a lasting impres- sion on everyone. “He impacted our players and I know our players impacted him,” he said. “He im- pacted our staff and I know our staff impacted him.” It worked out well that way even though Chryst and Wilcox had not previously worked together. But they knew of each other’s work. Chryst was calling plays for Mike Riley at Oregon State when Wilcox was coaching linebackers for Jeff Tedford at Cal, his first full-time job (2003-2005). “I felt like I knew him, or knew enough about him to know him,” Chryst said. “Yes, I trusted the recom- mendations and him. Your thoughts are confirmed when you meet. And it’s validated once you go through it. All those things that he was (built up to be by others), I felt he was.” During the Cal interviewing process, Wilcox bounced things off Chryst. “We’ve talked a bunch and we’ll continue to,” said Chryst, adding Wilcox asked the questions Chryst did when he made the jump from UW’s offensive coordinator to Pitt’s head coach. “Do I want to do this? Is the timing right? “We’re pretty similar creatures … why we coach and what we do.” That’s why they meshed and the transition was so seamless. You won’t find many coaches more well-grounded than Chryst and Wilcox. And now Chryst must find another defensive coordinator to DAVID STLUKA replace Wilcox, who got results. The Badgers ranked No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (15.6) and No. 7 Justin Wilcox in total defense (301.4).

CHRYST'S FOCUS ON FINDING THE RIGHT FIT PAGE 2 OF 4 “I THINK THE WORLD OF HIM,” CHRYST SAID OF“ WILCOX. “HE’S A HECKUVA COACH AND A GREAT PERSON. HE HELPED THIS GROUP (THE DEFENSE) MAXIMIZE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES. HE DID HIS JOB WELL.”

When pressed to provide some details on how he Chryst will consider current members of his coach- plans to go about his search and weed out the ap- ing staff. The holdovers are defensive line coach plicants, Chryst said, “I’ll give you the same quotes Inoke Breckterfield, outside linebackers coach Tim as last year because it’s the same process: You find Tibesar and first-year secondary coach Jim Leon- who’s the best fit for this team, for this staff and for hard. Tibesar, who interviewed last year, has previ- this program going forward.” ous experience as a defensive coordinator. Here’s what Chryst had to say last January about “You always want to start with what’s best from adjusting the defensive scheme to the personnel within,” Chryst said. “I feel really good with the staff by first identifying, “Who are your best players and that we have. But you owe to the program and the how do you use them?” From there, he said, “You team to ask, ‘Who else is in the pool?’ And then you have to be flexible enough to adjust. But you have compare and make a decision based on what you a foundation and a starting point.” think is best for the whole program.” A year ago, Chryst had a list or a pool of poten- Before coming to Wisconsin, Wilcox had been a tial candidates to replace Aranda. Is it still relative? defensive coordinator at four stops: Boise State, “Your list from last year changed through that search Tennessee, Washington and USC. “Experience is process,” he said. “Whether people are changing or big, right?” Chryst posed rhetorically. “But, at some getting to know them through research changes point, Justin didn’t have any (as a coordinator). At them up or down, it’s really pretty fluid. some point, I didn’t.” “You always have a list (in mind) or you have lists go- Chryst reiterated that it’s still more about fit than ing,” he went on. “But it’s so different when you have formula. a potential list and when you have to actually do it. “Part of being a coordinator is the schematic X’s You’re writing down names and filing them away, but and O’s — breaking down an opponent and creat- it’s not even close to when you’re doing it (for real).” ing a plan,” he said. “It’s also connecting people. It’s Does he have a timetable? connecting your staff. It’s connecting your players. “You want to do it as soon as you can — thor- It’s connecting that unit to the other units. It’s more oughly,” he stressed. than just, ‘Are you a 3-4 or a pro style?’” In the next breath, he said, “I would never put a Chryst connected the dots between his coaching timetable on it.” staff, strength staff and support staff. After a pause, he delivered the punch line, “It’s “I feel good with the group,” he said. “You bring in whatever you need to do to do it right.” the best people you can and, certainly, they have

CHRYST'S FOCUS ON FINDING THE RIGHT FIT PAGE 3 OF 4 DAVID STLUKA

“YOU ALWAYS WANT TO START WITH WHAT’S BEST FROM WITHIN,” CHRYST SAID. “I“ FEEL REALLY GOOD WITH THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE. BUT YOU OWE TO THE PROGRAM AND THE TEAM TO ASK, ‘WHO ELSE IS IN THE POOL?’ AND THEN YOU COMPARE AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST FOR THE WHOLE PROGRAM.”

for the players,” Chryst said. “It’s about improving the student-to-teacher ratio and building relationships with players. That’s what you’re here for. We were at 108 (on the roster) this past year with nine assistants (a 1-to-12 ratio).” That 10th coach could be utilized exclusively as a recruiter. Or not. “I think your job is all-encompassing,” Chryst said. “But you could say that guy is just a recruiter. I’ve done that before where we had eight coaching and one personnel-driven guy. You play to the strengths of everyone on your staff and make an assessment. Any change will change how you look at it. to fill and fit different roles. But you’re trying to get “But you always have to adapt to who you can get the best people for Wisconsin. And then, it’s how and how you can best use him.” do you play off strengths and weaknesses to make An earlier and second signing period for high it work, to make it fit, to make it go?” school prospects — the third Wednesday in De- How will Wilcox’s departure impact Wisconsin’s cember, coinciding with the junior college transfer recruiting? National signing day is Feb. 1. “It will signing period — has also gained wide-ranging sup- impact Justin a lot more than us because he has port from the coaches. It would be paired with the such a short window,” Chryst said. “We’ll send Jon present one: the first Wednesday of February. (Budmayr, a quality control coach) on the road. We A 72-hour signing period in June has also come won’t ever be on the road shorthanded.” up in discussion. But it doesn’t have as much mo- Even after Chryst replaces Wilcox, he may not be mentum. “I’m in favor of that — June, December and done hiring. The American Football Coaches Asso- February,” Chryst said. “It gives student-athletes an ciation has recommended to the NCAA the addition opportunity — if they know where they want to go of a 10th full-time assistant coach. It has received — to sign and have it done with.” unanimous support. And you can include Chryst on Chryst will spend the next two weeks recruiting that list of proponents to expand football coaching and researching — viable coaching options. staffs. “We’ll be multi-tasking,” he said, with one priority “I think it’s good for the profession and it’s good on both fronts. Finding the fit for Wisconsin.

CHRYST'S FOCUS ON FINDING THE RIGHT FIT PAGE 4 OF 4 SCROLL INSIDE MEN’SBASKETBALL BY MIKELUCAS W especially the way the game was going,” said Koenig, who fin- who Koenig, going,”said was game the way the especially ting many looks and I knew I had to get myself going somehow, the Wolverines. over victory 68-64 hard-earned a for way the paved that run 15-0 a triples) during two and rim (twoconvertedthe to drives defense and the “spurtability” of gritty Koenig who scored inspired, 10 straight some behind rallied they But half. second the ing — falling behind by eight points less than eight minutes into started hittingback.” welcomed more. ball player. Koenig nodded in agreement and responded that he a basket- as stitches first his up coveringwas it that suggested and Tuesday chin on Koenig’s band-aid the Gardnoticed night, ing them17-4. outscor and nine ofseven Wolverines the making wereshots, for over seven minutes. While they were missing seven of eight the first basket of the second half, they didn’t score another one its lowest point total of the season. But after the Badgers scored sawwhich byWisconsintakelead to 26-21 Michigan limiting a ofto it.I justneeded stay confident and stay onthe attack.” aggressive. I’ve taken over games before so I knewsay I to myselfwas told capable of kind “I points. 16 team-high a with ished Down, not out:Badgers hit backfor win “I was pretty frustrated the whole game because I wasn’t get- counter-punch- before long too waited almost Badgers The “we said, Happ mouth,”Ethan the in punched got we “Once It was that of type gameagainstMichigan. Koenig took only three shots during an uneventful first half first uneventful an during shots three only took Koenig UW’s gritty late rally vs. Michigan keeps home winstreak alive way outside the media room at the Kohl Center here guard Bronson Koenig passed each other in the hall- hen Wisconsincoachhead Greg Gard seniorand ▪ UWBADGERS.COM SENIOR WRITER ▲

TAP TO WATCH -Hustle plays sparkcomeback over Michigan - MEDIA: SOCIAL TAPSCHEDULE TO VIEW

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS STLUKA DAVID DAVID STLUKA DAVID SCROLL F INSIDE WOMEN’SBASKETBALL BY DIANENORDSTROM games, averaging 22.0 per contest, many off trying to force trying off many contest, per 22.0 averaging games, through andgo, instead we’re getting turnovers.” rip smart, be to that. playoff need makea We to try and block as opposed to trying to drive it every time or throw it to the low dribble. We have to get two, three, four fouls a quarter that way the ground, and get those team fouls that get you to the bonus. on it put down, ball the put to enough strong be to now right dribble,” head coach Jonathan Tsipis explained. “We’re struggling by getting the ball in the paint, whether it’s at the post or off the six games,theBadgers have 10-or-fewermakes. last 20-or-morethe makes.with fourIn games including made, made. second nationally in free-throw attempts and son 0-5. conference the sea- opened it as for difficult UW be provento has league the of TenBigdepth and Conference.strength The passes inside. The Badgers have been struggling with turnovers the last four the off or post the through attack to continue to have “We line the to get freethrowsweand atwhere“Weget welook throwsfree 10-or-more had UW games, 12 first its of 11 In Part of Wisconsin’s struggles have come from playing in the in playing from come have struggles Wisconsin’sof Part made and attempted. In mid-November, Wisconsin ranked ball team was among the nation’s top teams infree throws or the first part of the season, the Badger women’s basket- Getting tothelinea goalfor Badgers Attacking thebasket andprotecting theball keys to UW improvement ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS fifth in free-throws MEDIA: SOCIAL TAPSCHEDULE TO VIEW

INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS ANDERSON GREG DAVID STLUKA DAVID INSIDE MEN’S HOCKEY BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

▲ TAP TO WATCH - Tony Granato Weekly Presser: Badgers eager for weekend border battle challenge Fun and games for Badgers’ last off week Badgers set to go at least nine straight weeks to close season Move top up 2 & bottom down 1

hen watching football on television, you’ll frequent- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE ly hear commentators mention a team getting into Wrhythm as it picks up first downs, gains yards on each play and plays clean football. For the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, the Badgers are set to get in a rhythm starting this weekend when the Minnesota Golden Gophers visit the Kohl Center. The teams meet Friday at 7 p.m., then again Saturday at 5 p.m. Saturday’s game is part of “Hockey Day in Minnesota” in Wisconsin.

SCROLL The games against the Gophers will mark the third and fourth games for the Badgers since Dec. 10. Those two games went well for Wisconsin, with the squad picking up a pair of 5-1 vic- tories over Michigan State at the Kohl Center on Jan. 6 and 7. That leads into this week, with stepped-up competition against No. 7 Minnesota. This would normally be a week to look forward to, because of INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET the long and storied 280-game series history between the two schools. But since the Badgers have only played one weekend SOCIAL in more than a month, just having hockey back on a regular basis MEDIA: has everyone excited. Wisconsin took full advantage of its final week off from game action. First, it was a trip to the United Center on Tuesday. The Badgers took in the Chicago Blackhawks’ and Detroit Red Wings’ morning skates, got a practice on the United Center ice, toured Chicago’s locker room and facilities and then attended the Chi- cago-Detroit contest that night. On Wednesday, the team took to the alley, taking a team bowling outing instead of a day on the ice. Later returning to the ice for Thursday and Friday practice, the team then went paintballing before taking part in a public skate at the Edgewater Hotel. Many then attended the Fill the Bowl women’s hockey game Saturday evening. This week, the spring semester began on Tuesday, so it is back into routine for the Badgers. Time to re-establish the season’s rhythm and make some noise around the Big Ten. ■ INSIDE WOMEN’S HOCKEY BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

▲ TAP TO WATCH - 3 Takeaways with Women’s Hockey Badgers’ homestand brings tough test No. 1 Wisconsin meets North Dakota at LaBahn Arena

fter a successful weekend against St. Cloud State, the TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE No. 1 Badgers continue WCHA action as they welcome ANorth Dakota to LaBahn Arena. The Badgers swept St. Cloud State last weekend, blitzing the Huskies 9-0 on Friday before earning a 2-0 victory on Saturday in the school’s Fill the Bowl game at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin broke its own NCAA women’s hockey single-game attendance record with a crowd of 15,359 on Saturday. “I think during the national anthem as I looked around it just amazed me how the community embraced this,” UW head coach

SCROLL Mark Johnson said. “Badger nation, our fans, the city, their will- ingness to come out and support not only the program but sup- port the cause and it just put a smile on my face. It just made me happy that people are willing to do those type of things and give my players and the staff and experience that is once in a lifetime.” “We did a great job as a team to create scoring chances and INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET putting the puck in the net,” senior goaltender Ann-Renée Des- biens said. “I think that last weekend we spent a lot of time in SOCIAL the offensive zone and were able to control the majority of the MEDIA: series.” Wisconsin’s offense was paced by juniors Emily Clark and An- nie Pankowski, as the duo scored seven of UW’s 11 goals on the weekend. Clark and Pankowski both recorded hat tricks on Fri- day, becoming the first UW duo to record hat tricks in the same game since Madison Packer and Hilary Knight tallied hat tricks during the 2010-11 season. Clark has five goals and 10 assists in her last five games, while Pankowski has 14 goals in her last 10. “We’ve been having a lot of success offensively throughout all of our lines,” Clark said. “I don’t think there were any major adjustments, but I think having a lot of success at the end of the first half and the start of the second will be huge for us moving forward.” INSIDE SWIMMING & DIVING BY BRIAN MASON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Winter camp complete, Badgers look ahead Training in Hawaii begins transition to championship season

he Badgers had every excuse to feel a little tired heading TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE into last Friday’s dual meet at USC. T The long return flight from Honolulu will do that to you. Of course, so will a week’s worth of training — often including two-a-days in the pool — leading up to your first competitive swims in a month. Factoring for the fatigue that followed the Badgers home from their annual Hawaiian training camp, UW head coach Whitney Hite came away pleased with his team’s performance against the Trojans.

SCROLL “If you look at the times we swam with where we are physical- ly, where we’re at in our training, we did pretty well. We’re tired and we swam that way,” Hite said. “We had some really great swims, some that were OK and some that weren’t as good as we’d hoped. I’d give us a good solid B or B-plus.” On the scoreboard, the Badgers were swept by USC’s men and women in a matchup of nationally-ranked squads. Putting INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET the point totals aside, however, Wisconsin may have gotten ex- actly what it needed in its first competition since the Texas Invi- SOCIAL tational in early December. MEDIA: “Everyone thinks you go to Hawaii and you’re going just to have a great time — and we do have fun — but there’s 60 of us and it’s a business trip for us. It’s invaluable,” Hite said. “It’s a training camp with a competition at the end. To go off, be to- gether, it’s very, very good for us as a program. I think one of the reasons we’re able to swim so well while being so tired at USC is because we’re coming off that trip. I’m not sure that happens if we’re doing the same training at home. “The training is better, they’re more focused, and there’s a lot of positives about being together.” INSIDE TRACK & FIELD BY A.J. HARRISON ▪ UW ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS DAVID STLUKA

Dual season continues with Border Battle Badgers and Golden Gophers meet on Saturday to “Stuff the Shell”

fter a great showing at the Badger Icebreaker, the Wis- TAP TO VIEW SCHEDULE consin track and field teams prepare to host another Ahome meet at The Shell, but this time the stakes are much higher and bragging rights are on the line. The Badgers take on Border Battle rival Minnesota in “The Dual” on Saturday for the third-straight season. “I think no matter what sport we’re talking about here at UW, when you go against Minnesota, it’s a huge rivalry,” UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. “We get excited about it, the student-athletes get excited.

SCROLL “The goal on Saturday is to stuff the shell. It’s a thing that we started two years ago and just like women’s hockey last Satur- day we want to pack the stadium, get a lot of our fans out there going crazy and cheering on the Badgers.” This week’s meet marks the second-straight dual meet for UW, as the Cardinal and White downed Southern Illinois-Ed- wardsville in the Badger Icebreaker. INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED TO VIEW TWEETS VIEW TO REQUIRED CONNECTION INTERNET Lorenzo Larry and Riley Budde each won a pair of events for the UW men as Larry won the 60 and 300 meters, while Budde SOCIAL won the weight throw and shot put. For the Badger women, MEDIA: throwers Banke Oginni and Kennedy Blahnik helped the team sweep the throwing events, while Georgia Ellenwood won the 60 hurdles. “Last weekend was a great opportunity to get our team to- gether, particularly the track athletes,” Byrne said. “The distance runners, the cross country runners, obviously get opportunities to compete in uniform during the fall. For the rest of the team they’re working out, but they don’t get to put on the uniform. They don’t get to compete. So this last Saturday was a great op- portunity for a lot of our athletes to put on the uniform for the first time, especially our young athletes. Run off the cobwebs, get out there and compete.”