Varsity Magazine Vol 5 No 13
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
IN [FOCUS] TAP TO GO TO VIDEO NOTHING BUT NET A week-long look back at Wisconsin’s run to the 2014 Final Four continues through Friday, when the No. 3-ranked Badgers open their season by hosting Northern Kentucky at the Kohl Center. Before the Badgers raise their banner, relive the best of UW’s march to Dallas with our Nothing But Net video series. IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE GETTING A LIFT Moments afer lifing her team to a title, Kinley McNicoll had the favor returned when her fellow Badgers hoisted her in celebration. The junior midfielder bent in a corner kick in the 104th minute to down Iowa in double overtime and clinch the 2014 Big Ten Tournament championship for the Badgers last Sunday in West Lafayette, Indiana. PHOTO BY DAVID STLUKA IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE PUPPY LOVE There was plenty of love to go around afer the women’s soccer team won the 2014 Big Ten Tournament championship on Sunday, even for Wilma, who snuck in a congratulatory kiss for owner Rose Lavelle aferward. PHOTO BY DAVID WEGIEL IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE AIR GORDON Melvin Gordon has specialized in ground transportation ― his 1,501 rushing yards lead the nation ― but the Heisman Trophy candidate took to the skies last Saturday to finish of a 27-yard pass from Joel Stave with an impressive leap into the end zone. Gordon posted his third 200-yard rushing game of the season and the Badgers rolled to a 34-16 win, their ninth-straight over Purdue. PHOTO BY ZACH BOLINGER / ICON SPORTSWIRE IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE INTO THE FIRE Eddie Wittchow and the men’s hockey team opened its home season at the Kohl Center against No. 2 North Dakota and averaged 12,113 fans for the opening series last weekend, jumping to the top of the NCAA attendance average rankings in the process. PHOTO BY GREG ANDERSON IN [FOCUS] TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE HIT THE FLOOR Wisconsin opened its exhibition season with a 94-55 victory over UW-River Falls last Sunday at the Kohl Center. In addition to her floor-burn-inducing eforts, senior Jacki Gulczynski recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. PHOTO BY JACK MCLAUGHLIN CONTENTS NOVEMBER 13, 2014 ■ VOLUME 5, ISSUE 13 COVER STORY 'ARE YOU SLEEPING OR GETTING BETTER?' From late-night texts to early-morning workouts, Kenzel Doe and Melvin Gordon are constantly pushing one another — and the Badgers are reaping the benefits. FEATURES WOMEN’S SOCCER IN [FOCUS] DRAWING A LINE The week's best photos BEHIND THE DESK Not much gets past Genevieve Rich- Timing, trophy set stage ard, who’s done her part to make sure opportunity won’t pass the THE VOICE Big Ten champion Badgers by, either. Saturday could be special BY THE NUMBERS Facts and figures on UW WHAT TO WATCH LUCAS AT LARGE Tune in to catch Badgers ALL GROWN UP ASK THE BADGERS Favorite recent movies Sam Dekker is embracing a lead- BADGERING... ership role on a loaded Badgers Connor Medbery (Wrestling) team that’s ready to tip things of. INSIDE FOOTBALL -SCROLL FOR MORE- Wisconsin Athletic Communications Kellner Hall, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711 VIEW ALL ISSUES Brian Lucas Director of Athletic Communications Julia Hujet Editor/Designer Brian Mason Managing Editor Mike Lucas Senior Writer Matt Lepay Columnist Drew Scharenbroch Video Production Amy Eager Advertising Drew Pittner-Smith Distribution Contributors Paul Capobianco, Tam Flarup, Kelli Grashel, A.J. Harrison, Brandon Harrison, Patrick Herb, Diane Nordstrom Photography David Stluka, Greg Anderson, Steve Gotter, Jack McLaughlin Neil Ament, Cal Sport Media, Icon Sportswire 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 ‘Grown up’ Dekker anxious to hit the floor ollowing Monday’s practice, closed scrimmage with DePaul, the Final Four). We’ve put our- Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker the Red/White Scrimmage and selves in a good position to have Fworked another 20 minutes the exhibition game with UW- a good year and we’re pumped on his 3-point accuracy with Parkside, Dekker has been wait- up to go.” assistant Gary Close feeding him ing anxiously, if not patiently, for The injury scare was just that the ball. Dekker took a series of Friday’s season opener against for Dekker. “I didn’t know exact- shots from the lef wing, the top Northern Kentucky at the Kohl ly what I did and that was the of the key and the right wing Center. most scared I was from an inju- under the watchful eye of Close, “I can’t wait just to play in ry,” he admitted. “Any time you the Badgers’ shooting coach. front of our fans again and go go down and you feel something “I see myself as a good shoot- out there with my guys,” Dekker you’ve never felt with your lef er,” said Dekker, who shot 33 said. “It’s something I’ve been foot, it scares you. I’m not fully percent (42-of-129) from beyond looking forward to since we lost 100 percent yet, but it has come the 3-point arc last season, a our last game (to Kentucky in a long ways.” dropof from his freshman mark Dekker did what he could to of 39 percent (50-of-128). “I ALL IN ALL, AS A PERSON make the most out of his stint didn’t shoot at a consistent clip AND A PLAYER, I THINK I’VE on the sideline during the scrim- last year and I want to get better GROWN UP TREMENDOUSLY mages and exhibition. “I kind of at that.” liked stepping back and seeing SINCE (LAST SEASON). Does thinking about me- the game from the bench,” he I’VE MATURED AND chanics help a shooter when said. “You see more things and he’s lining up a shot? Is there a “GROWN IN THE SENSE the game kind of slows down. checklist? “It’s just the oppo- OF BEING A LEADER. There are little things that you site,” Dekker said. “It’s me not can pick up.” thinking about it. When you just There are also some little do things second nature and let things about Dekker that you your body take over, you’re so can pick up if you look closely much better than if you’re think- enough. He has “920” printed ing about every shot.” ” on the heels of his basketball That’s how he best explained shoes; 920 is the area code of his why his 3-point shooting fell of. hometown, Sheboygan. He also “Even if you miss, you’ve got has the written the initials “KR” to be ready to shoot it the next on each shoe; KR stands for time down the court,” he said. Kathy Rosenfeldt. “That’s the one thing I wasn’t A solemn Dekker ― unlike the good at last year. I kind of let inquisitive, anything-goes Dek- that stuf linger. If I missed, I put ker on Twitter ― tried to bring too much pressure on myself to context to what his Godmother make the next one.” had meant to him. “She passed Afer spraining his ankle in away when I was in the seventh practice and missing UW’s grade,” he said, “and she was -PAGE 1 OF 2- LUCAS AT LARGE BY MIKE LUCAS » UWBADGERS.COM one of my best friends. I was I’m on the court. I want to rep- being a leader ― along with just really close with her.” resent a good city and place to being a confident player on the Afer Rosenfeldt lost her bat- grow up; a city that taught me court for our team. But I have to tle with cancer, Dekker began everything about life.” realize that I can’t try to do too putting her initials on his wrist- His basketball life is still evolv- much. I just have to go play my bands. He has moved them ing. But will his role be any dif- game.” around, settling now for display- ferent this season? “Not neces- Will that game include more ing the KR on his shoes. “I like it sarily diferent, I just think I’m 3-pointers? “You just have to to be visible,” he said. “My God- filling the shoes better,” he said. take them as they come,” Dek- mother was a huge basketball “I was young and immature last ker said. “If I have an open look, fan.” year. Obviously there are still I’m not going to pass it up. But if There are many such fans, things I have to grow up with I feel I need to get into the paint, Sam Dekker fans, in Sheboygan. and get better at. I’m going to do that. As a player, “They have a lot of pride in what “All in all, as a person and a you have to recognize what your I do and they’re so supportive,” player, I think I’ve grown up tre- team needs from you.” he said. “I want to represent mendously since then. I’ve ma- Right now, they just need him them through my actions when tured and grown in the sense of healthy. ■ DAVID STLUKA DAVID DAVID STLUKA DAVID -PAGE 2 OF 2- BEHIND THE DESK BY BARRY ALVAREZ » UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Trophy, timing in place for special game sit next to Tom Osborne during I really did.