1. Train Keeps Rollin’: Men’s basketball wins eighth in a row
The Badgers dispatched the not so Fighting Illini in a Sunday matinee matchup 68-49. Frank “The Tank” Kaminsky led the way for Wisconsin with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Kaminsky’s performance earned him co-Big Ten player of the week honors, averaging 18 points and 11.5 rebounds last week in wins against Nebraska and Illinois.
Sophomore guard Bronson Koenig erupted for 15 points, going 3-for-5 from three, while adding four assists in the win against Illinois.
The No. 5 Badgers (23-2, 11-1 Big Ten) have tied their best start in school history (2007) and will travel to Penn State Wednesday night before taking on Minnesota at home Saturday at 11 a.m.
2) We Salute Bo
Men’s basketball head coach Bo Ryan was nominated to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Saturday.
He is part of a potential class that includes Kentucky head coach John Calipari, former NBA player Dikembe Mutumbo and former WNBA player Lisa Leslie.
Big Bo got choked up when talking about what the nomination meant to him.
The nominees will know their Hall of Fame fate April 6, the morning of the national championship game.
3. Do you believe in miracles?
They did it! Just when we all thought it was impossible, the men’s hockey team won its first Big Ten game of the season, defeating Ohio State 3-2 on the road Saturday. Adam Rockwood had the go-ahead goal in the third period for his second goal this season.
The Badgers dropped the first game of the series, 2-1 Friday night, causing head coach Mike Eaves to offer some strong words to his young team.
“They have to start to get it going,” Eaves said. “That’s what is a little bit frustrating as a coach, and I think it’s on them as players. After Christmas, there are no true freshmen anymore. We should be better, so we have to figure that out.”
4. All good things must come to an end
The women’s hockey team stretched their winning streak to seven with a 2-0 win at Ohio State Friday night, but saw it snapped after a 4-3 loss Saturday in Columbus.
The Badgers wrap up the regular season this weekend playing host to St. Cloud State, with faceoff coming Friday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. before the start of the playoffs in less than two weeks.
Wisconsin is already locked into at least the No. 2 seed in the WCHA playoffs.
5. Women’s basketball faces pair of tough conference games
The Badgers will host No. 5 Maryland Thursday night, for the highest-ranked opponent the Badgers have faced since 2010, when the Badgers lost to then-No. 5 Duke.
Sunday afternoon against Northwestern, the Badgers will honor the team’s three seniors: Jacki Gulczynski, Cassie Rochel and AnnMarie Brown.
Last week, Wisconsin dropped both of their contests at Nebraska and at Minnesota.
Athlete Tweet of the Week: Dare Ogunbowale ripped apart teammate Devin Gaulden’s dance moves that were showcased Sunday at the basketball game.
I used to think PJ was the worst dancer on the team..but @_DGIV, this is pathetic https://t.co/BXa97bnpA9
— Dare Ogunbowale (@DGO23_) February 16, 2015
