Words are so simple. They are just letters and syllables threaded together, their message shaped entirely by the person behind them. They can convey our deepest sympathies in the face of tragedy, our biting scorn in response to perceived injustice, our laughter when we are most in need of comic… Read more »

Thirteen years after he took his final strides in a Wisconsin uniform, Ron Dayne remains inexorably linked to Badger football. He is one of only two University of Wisconsin alums to win college football’s most prized award, the Heisman Trophy. Dayne was twice a Rose Bowl champion and MVP and… Read more »

In all of 10 paces, one can catch a glimpse into both the past and future of Wisconsin football. Step down the well-trodden, faded green turf of the tunnel running alongside the nondescript McClain Center, turn right and you now stand on fresh gray carpeting, the walls lined with colorful… Read more »

The hangover has faded, all but disappeared. Spring football and an intriguing quarterback battle has replaced the dark memories of a certain game in Kansas City that’s buried in the furthest reaches of every Wisconsin fan’s mind after less than three weeks. Like every college socialite who pledges to never… Read more »

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Wisconsin players wiped tears from their eyes and stared blankly into the locker room walls, emotions consuming any room for words. This was the unceremonious aftermath of the fifth-seeded Badgers dropping their opening game of the NCAA tournament, 57-46, to 12th-seeded Mississippi Friday afternoon at… Read more »

The secret, it seems, is in the defense. It is the defense that powered the Wisconsin men’s basketball team to a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten and a run to the Big Ten tournament championship game in Chicago last weekend. It is the defense that has allowed the Badgers… Read more »

Even before the opening tip of Wisconsin’s Big Ten tournament championship game with Ohio State at the United Center Sunday, it felt like the Badgers’ newfound mojo might start running dry. Bo Ryan’s group, the one pegged for its ugly style and lack of “talent,” had orchestrated a stunning offensive… Read more »

CHICAGO — For fifth-year senior forward Ryan Evans, it has never been a question of potential. The Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s 6-foot-6 forward, a player who recently earned the collective laughs of the country when his jump-shot free throws landed on ESPN’s First Take, may be the best athlete on… Read more »

CHICAGO — Traevon Jackson’s message was clear. His team trying to recollect itself in the United Center locker room at halftime and recover from a disastrous 17-point first half effort, the sophomore guard had an idea for reigniting Wisconsin’s offense: stop heaving up contested three-pointers and feed the ball through… Read more »

It’s nearly impossible to follow up a miracle, the kind of game singularly defined by “The Shot.” But if the Wisconsin men’s basketball team draws a rematch with Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament Friday, it will be trying to do just that. It was just more… Read more »

If the Wisconsin football coaching staff based its quarterback selection purely on physical tools and mechanics, Bart Houston likely would have already locked up the starting gig. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 230 pounds, the redshirt freshman has the strongest arm in the rotation and the quickest… Read more »

They enter their final games in a Wisconsin uniform not as Bo Ryan’s most celebrated class, nor its most star-studded. Their final game at the Kohl Center is now encapsulated as a bittersweet memory, and it is partially up to these seniors to determine how much longer the road stretches… Read more »

For coordinating producer Bill Friedman, the Big Ten Network original series The Journey is about finding the most intriguing personalities and capturing stories that reveal a side of these players hidden to most fans. It was just that criteria that convinced him to include three Wisconsin basketball seniors — Mike… Read more »

EAST LANSING — After a 20-point second half effort doomed Wisconsin in a humbling defeat to Purdue Sunday, the Badgers’ offensive futility seemed to finally be catching up with them. Catch up they did at the Breslin Center Thursday night as UW’s distant Big Ten title hopes finally crumbled in… Read more »

After a demoralizing 69-56 Senior Day loss to Purdue Sunday, members of the Wisconsin men’s basketball team were ready to concede their chance at a Big Ten title. They may have spoken too soon. When No. 14 Ohio State knocked off No. 2 Indiana Tuesday night — spoiling the Hoosiers’… Read more »

With the clock crawling closer to zero, the three-point heaves became a sign of desperation as the Wisconsin men’s basketball team watched a nine-point lead evaporate in four minutes early in the second half. Not a single one of the No. 17 Badgers’ 12 shots from beyond the arc in… Read more »

Understanding the success of the Wisconsin men’s basketball team this year starts with one underlying principle: Bo Ryan doesn’t change. As the world surrounding him gets caught up in the Twitter-verse, as coaches toss out playbooks and start anew in search of the best system for today’s game, head coach… Read more »

When Jared Berggren stepped onto the Kohl Center floor Tuesday night, he knew he needed to swat away two balls to tie the all-time Wisconsin record for blocks in a career. And he wasted no time attacking that record in a 77-46 stomping of Nebraska (13-15, 4-11 Big Ten), grabbing… Read more »

It may not start with the sexiest of opponents, but the Wisconsin men’s basketball team is about to embark on its most critical stretch of the season, one that will determine its positioning in the postseason. With a victory over Nebraska (13-14, 4-10 Big Ten) at the Kohl Center Tuesday… Read more »

EVANSTON, Ill. – When Ben Brust missed two deep three-point attempts to open the Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s (19-8, 10-4 Big Ten) road bout with Northwestern (13-14, 4-10 Big Ten) Wednesday night, the game had all the early signs of an anxiety-ridden, Big Ten dogfight. But the dry spell ended… Read more »

Ryan Evans nearly brought the Kohl Center roof tumbling down with a thunderous, one-handed put-back slam. Ben Brust ignited an 18-0 run early with three quick three-pointers and finished with his fifth double-double of the season. Lost in the celebration of Wisconsin’s 71-49 rout of No. 13 Ohio State (18-7,… Read more »

MINNEAPOLIS — It was overtime again. For a program-record third straight game, Wisconsin needed extra time against Minnesota Thursday night and the lone difference was that this time, the Badgers could not complete the closing act. Because this time, even overtime could not drag the No. 20 Badgers out of… Read more »

When Michigan’s Tim Hardaway Jr. sunk a three-pointer with Mike Bruesewitz in his face and less than three seconds on the clock, it appeared to be the shot of the game. But the Ben Brust Show had yet to complete its opening act. With 2.4 seconds on the clock, Bruesewitz… Read more »

In one of the Wisconsin basketball team’s most physical, hard-fought victories of the year against Iowa Wednesday night, the Badgers were able to keep one of the Big Ten’s best players from ever getting comfortable. Iowa forward Aaron White, who entered the game as the lone Hawkeye to average double… Read more »

After about six weeks on the job, Wisconsin football coach Gary Andersen’s personal footprint on the program grows stronger every day. Never was that more clear than when he offered his own take on Wisconsin’s 19 signees on National Signing Day at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. With a pair… Read more »

In its last 20 meetings, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team has held a commanding 14-6 advantage over Iowa. But three of those six losses have come over the past two seasons as the Badgers have not taken down the Hawkeyes in nearly two years. So what is it about Iowa… Read more »

He took the ball down the floor, abruptly planted his feet from the right wing and tossed up a Hail Mary three-point attempt. The ball fell through the bottom of the net and a Wisconsin sports hero had stamped his legacy with his first signature moment on a national scale.… Read more »

Suddenly, Jan. 12 appears a distant memory for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team. That day the Badgers (14-7, 5-3 Big Ten) stormed onto the Kohl Center floor and routed an Illinois (15-7, 2-6) team then ranked No. 12 in a 74-51 win. It marked UW’s sixth consecutive victory, its confidence… Read more »

Embedded in a brutally tough stretch of Big Ten play, the road grows no less treacherous for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team Tuesday when they play No. 11 Ohio State at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes (15-4, 5-2 Big Ten) mark the fifth ranked team the Badgers… Read more »

Before the Wisconsin men’s basketball team even stepped on the floor and eluded a third consecutive conference loss by the thinnest of margins against Minnesota, questions resounded about how the Badgers would handle the Gophers’ dominance on the glass. Heading into Wisconsin’s (14-6, 5-2 Big Ten) 45-44 victory over No.… Read more »

Describing Frank Kaminsky’s role for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team is not a simple task with a singular answer. He is not the energizing sixth man, nor a critical scorer or a lockdown defender. Kaminsky is seeing an average of just 10.5 minutes and 4.6 points per game this season,… Read more »

Many would brand Wisconsin’s 49-47 loss to No 13 Michigan State Tuesday night as Big Ten Basketball in its rawest form — a low-scoring, physical affair with several lengthy scoreless stretches. But for the Badgers, the game slipped away at the free throw line when George Marshall missed the first… Read more »

Bo Ryan and Tom Crean exchanged a fly-by handshake with just a touch of bitterness, Mike Bruesewitz let out a primal howl as he walked into the victorious locker room and, just like that, the Wisconsin basketball team had reversed its fortunes. These marked the first moments after Wisconsin shocked… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — On the first snap of Wisconsin’s 2012 campaign, Montee Ball stayed on his feet for just two yards before a Northern Iowa defensive back swarmed him, the start of a 14-play drive that stuttered inside the red zone and ended with a field goal. Three months later,… Read more »

Pasadena, Calif. — All it took for the Wisconsin football team’s third straight Rose Bowl to slip away was one misguided pass from the hands of quarterback Curt Phillips, a pass that sealed a 20-14 victory for No. 6 Stanford Tuesday evening. The fateful throw came as the Badgers (8-6,… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — When asked about his most pressing concern two days ahead of the Rose Bowl, Stanford head coach David Shaw needed no time to gather his thoughts and formulate a response. The biggest concern was Montee Ball, the star senior running back who will do battle with the… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — One of the most intriguing and important battles of the 2013 Rose Bowl will come in a part of the field that the casual fan often overlooks: the battle in the trenches. Lining up across from a typically oversized Wisconsin offensive line on which the five linemen… Read more »

Utah State’s Gary Andersen will be the next head coach of the Wisconsin football program, according to an initial report from the Wisconsin State Journal Tuesday night that was later confirmed by several other reports and Utah State players via Twitter.  News broke earlier Tuesday that Andersen — who had… Read more »

Just hours after news broke that Matt Canada was heading to NC State, Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema announced Wisconsin co-defensive coordinator Charlie Partridge will join the Razorbacks as defensive line coach. One of the Badgers’ most talented recruiters, Partridge’s departure could shake up a Class of 2013 commits, most… Read more »

One week after leaving Madison, former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema is taking his first assistant to Fayetteville, as Arkansas announced Tuesday UW co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash will take the same job with the Razorbacks. Ash is honoring his word and will stay with the Badgers through the Rose Bowl… Read more »

It may not have been the Heisman Trophy many expected before his senior campaign, but the Doak Walker Award served as a decent consolation prize for Wisconsin running back Montee Ball Thursday night. Sporting a Badger red bow tie and matching vest as he accepted the award at the Walt… Read more »

Former Wisconsin coaching legend Barry Alvarez had no plans of returning to the sideline for his fourth career Rose Bowl after Bret Bielema left for Arkansas. But a few calls later from seniors Mike Taylor and Curt Phillips, Alvarez was back in the reigns for one more game. As his… Read more »

Less than four days removed from winning a third-straight Big Ten title with Wisconsin, Bret Bielema sported a tie with a slightly darker shade of red as the University of Arkansas officially introduced him as its new head coach Wednesday afternoon. Standing in front of a podium emblazoned with the… Read more »

When it rained, it poured for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team Tuesday night. And unfortunately for Nebraska-Omaha, streaky shooting was more than enough for the Badgers to subdue their opponent early in their 86-40 win at the Kohl Center. After Wisconsin (6-3) emerged from an early three-point deficit, a 20-2… Read more »

Sandwiched between games against two 2012 NCAA Tournament qualifiers — California Sunday and in-state rival Marquette Saturday — it may be easy for Wisconsin men’s basketball fans to overlook a Tuesday matchup with Nebraska-Omaha. But after taking down the Golden Bears in dominating 81-56 fashion, the Badgers (5-3) matchup with… Read more »

With a commanding 13-point lead by the halftime break, one notable freshman shouldered much of the offensive load for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team in a 81-56 victory over California. Freshman phenomenon Sam Dekker — who entered Sunday night’s game as the third-highest scoring freshman in the Big Ten —… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS — Surely it was just one lucky run from the fuel-injected legs of redshirt freshman tailback Melvin Gordon.Then, a bobbled pass off the hands of the Cornhuskers’ Kenny Bell found the outstretched arms of the Badgers’ Marcus Cromartie. As the redshirt senior raced 29 yards to the end zone… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS — A year after enacting revenge on Michigan State in the inaugural Big Ten championship game, the Wisconsin football team returns to Indianapolis Saturday in a slightly different situation. Despite finishing third in the Leaders Division, the Badgers (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) have a chance at a redemptive win… Read more »

Nearly three months ago, The Badger Herald titled its season preview for the Wisconsin football season “On the Brink,” the bold, oversized lettering itself representative of the expectations surrounding this team. My own hands were among those that helped build the towering expectations for this team, fully convinced there would… Read more »

In a game that lived up to its billing as a gritty defensive battle, it was precisely Virginia’s defense that carried them to a 60-54 victory over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center Wednesday night. And never was the Cavaliers’ defensive strength more critical than in the final minute of the… Read more »

With one costly, season-ending planting of his left foot on the Kohl Center floor, Josh Gasser reshaped the careers of redshirt freshman George Marshall and sophomore Traevon Jackson. When Gasser, the proven floor general, the all-Big Ten defender, tore his ACL in practice Oct. 27, it put the redshirt freshmen… Read more »

Before the two do battle on the hardwood, old friends will reunite and memories will rekindle when Virginia arrives at the Kohl Center Wednesday night. Pacing the sidelines for the Cavaliers will be head coach Tony Bennett, a former assistant at Wisconsin under both his father Dick Bennett and current… Read more »

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — With two overtime losses in its last three games, Wisconsin’s lone overtime series Saturday evening at Beaver Stadium followed an all-too-familiar path. It all came tumbling down when defensive end Sean Stanley climbed through the Badgers’ offensive line to sack quarterback Curt Phillips on the second… Read more »

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team may be only three games into the regular season, but its upcoming schedule has made it feel like tournament time for the Badgers. A 73-40 win over Cornell Sunday night kicked off a brutal stretch of four games in seven days for the Badgers, an… Read more »

After a humbling loss to Florida Wednesday night, Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan did everything he could to forget about the troubling defensive lapses in the blowout loss to the Gators. In a 73-40 Badger victory over Cornell (1-3) at the Kohl Center Sunday night, Ryan may not be as… Read more »

When Montee Ball took the ball at the 7-yard line, he cut left, leapt into the air and landed on his left foot before flopping into the Camp Randall end zone. The perfect Senior Day tale, the one where he would tie and then break the all-time NCAA touchdown record,… Read more »

Nearly three years later, one game still comes to mind when Wisconsin fans think of the Cornell Big Red: a blowout in the second round of the 2010 NCAA tournament. The first and only previous meeting between the Badgers (1-1) and Big Red (1-1) came in a 87-69 Cornell victory,… Read more »

Sports Editor Ian McCue talks football and basketball rivalries the Badgers will face this weekend.… Read more »

Five high school seniors officially signed to play for Wisconsin basketball head coach Bo Ryan Thursday, locking up one of the more highly-touted recruiting classes of his tenure. Although Wisconsin is not known for locking up nationally-ranked recruiting classes, the program appears to receive a major boost when these five… Read more »

As a timid freshman more than three years ago, I walked into the McClain Facility to interview a freshman running back I knew nearly nothing about. He was a somewhat lauded four-star recruit who had just earned the first carries of his young college career, a player still buried beneath… Read more »

For Wisconsin basketball forward Ryan Evans, it has always been about the pride. The very pride rattled when coaches cut him from the basketball team as a sophomore in high school, the same quality that brings immense pain, he says, when an opposing player nets even a single basket on… Read more »

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — On a day when Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball and James White each crossed the century mark to help the Badgers gain a school-record 564 rushing yards, coaches didn’t need much help from quarterback Curt Phillips. But, as defined by a 52-yard run in the third quarter,… Read more »

Following every Wisconsin football practice and after each game, a swarm of reporters gather around a 6-foot-4, 338-pound mass of man, his face cloaked by a mammoth beard. Behind the cameras and notepads stands Travis Frederick, the player who, more than any other, acts as the Badgers’ spokesperson, the go-to… Read more »

After an initial scare in the opening minutes, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team found its rhythm and with it came plenty of scoring in a 96-44 exhibition rout of UW-Oshkosh. The Badgers were in a seven-point hole to their Division III opponent early in the game, but a Ben Brust… Read more »

In the strangest of seasons, one where the Badgers still have a clear shot at the Rose Bowl with three losses to their name, an unfamiliar unit has acted as the reparative glue for this team: the defense. It is a complete reversal of scripts from the 2011 season, when… Read more »

Nine days removed from the William Gholston hit that knocked him out for the season, former Wisconsin starting quarterback Joel Stave entered the McClain Center Media Room Sunday with his left arm resting in a black sling. After breaking his collarbone less than 10 seconds into the second half of… Read more »

Sports Editor Ian McCue breaks down how the Badgers will cope with the loss of quarterback Joel Stave.… Read more »

Since taking the reigns as Wisconsin’s offensive line coach following a Week 2 loss to Oregon State, Bart Miller said he’s tried to rid his unit of relying on excuses for its mistakes. But he did offer some explanation for why the Badgers clawed their way to just 19 net… Read more »

It was almost as if everyone was in denial. As Joel Stave collapsed on the field, rabid fans in the student section and reporters in the press box alike needed a minute to digest the situation. We knew Stave had been driven into the ground by the beast known as… Read more »

In an SEC-style defensive battle where yards quickly turned into a rarefied prize, it only took one mistake to cost the Wisconsin football team its first home defeat in more than three years. Wisconsin (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) cornerback Darius Hillary couldn’t turn around soon enough when Michigan State (5-4,… Read more »

Wisconsin starting quarterback Joel Stave will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his left collarbone against Michigan State Saturday, according to a report from Jake Zimmermann at WKOW. Stave, a redshirt freshman, went down less than 10 seconds into the third quarter when 6-foot-7, 278-pound Michigan State defensive end… Read more »

The Wisconsin defense’s swagger is back; Montee Ball and James White are running with renewed fury. Both are about to run into their biggest challenge of the season: Michigan State. As the Badgers’ offense continues to build a consistent identity behind a rushing attack that has pounded its way to… Read more »

Sports Editor Ian McCue gives his predictions for the bitter rematch between the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan State Spartans this Saturday.… Read more »

Just like that, the memories came rushing back. There were the Wisconsin running backs, streaking through the Greyhound Bus-sized gaps along the offensive line and continuing to pound the ball down the field. Minnesota knew exactly what was coming next — James White or Montee Ball bull-rushing his way into… Read more »

When Wisconsin fullback Derek Watt logged onto Facebook during the Packers game Sunday night, high school friends lit up his feed with comments about how difficult it was to believe that was indeed their former high school classmate eyeing Aaron Rodgers from the right edge of the defensive line. There… Read more »

When point guard Jordan Taylor took his final steps on the hardwood in a Wisconsin uniform in a heartbreaking one-point loss to Syracuse seven months ago, he left a power vacuum for the lead role of the Badgers’ offense. Who would fill in for his 14.8 points and 11.5 field… Read more »

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The race was on, and as the clock expired and Wisconsin cruised to a 38-14 victory over Purdue Saturday, the Badgers had created a sizable gap from the competition. In pursuit of the front seat for the Big Ten Leaders Division title and locking down its… Read more »

When Wisconsin lines up on the offensive side of the ball against Purdue Saturday, the game will have the vintage trademarks of smash mouth Big Ten football. A physical, explosive running back deftly reading blocks behind a massive offensive line, a physically overpowering group of defensive linemen awaiting Montee Ball… Read more »

For just one week, for 60 minutes on the field, head coach Bret Bielema must toss aside his prized “1-0” mentality and realize the significance of this week’s matchup in West Lafayette, Ind. When asked about the importance of this game, Wisconsin’s head coach has continued the typical coachspeak —… Read more »

Providing a much-needed boost out of the backfield in Wisconsin’s 31-14 win over Illinois Saturday was not former Heisman finalist Montee Ball, the tailback who faced enormous expectations coming into this year. Rather it was James White, the quick-footed junior running back known more for his flashy cutbacks than his… Read more »

A season ago, tight end Jacob Pedersen was the unexpected breakout player, the bonus threat to an elite quarterback in Russell Wilson and a receiving crew led by Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis. Finishing third on the team behind Abbrederis and Toon with 356 receiving yards on 30 receptions, the… Read more »

Every Wisconsin fan watching the game Saturday did a double take when No. 6 entered the game on the game-deciding drive with just under three minutes left in a Memorial Stadium growing louder with each snap. No, there was no way Danny O’Brien, the transfer savior-turned backup quarterback and clipboard manager could… Read more »

One year ago, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez fell apart under the lights of Camp Randall. He threw three interceptions and connected on just half of his 22 passing attempts. He served as the microcosm of a Cornhuskers team that looked overmatched in its Big Ten debut. But it’s a new… Read more »

His graceful yet explosive running style and ability to outrun Nebraska linebackers and defensive backs may be the key to Wisconsin pulling off the upset in Lincoln. And no, I’m not talking about Montee Ball. I’m talking, of course, about dreadlocked running back Melvin Gordon, whose head-turning 112-yard day against… Read more »

Nick Lamaison looked poised and confident as he led the Miners on a clock-eating drive, converting three consecutive third downs. Down 23-16, University of Texas at El Paso’s offense appeared destined for the end zone before a key pass breakup from free safety Dezmen Southward forced a field goal. It… Read more »

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema confirmed redshirt freshman Joel Stave will start at quarterback against Texas-El Paso at his press conference Thursday. Stave landed the first game experience of his career in the second half of a 16-14 win over Utah State Saturday, connecting on two of the six passes… Read more »

The first snap against Northern Iowa. That was when redshirt freshman and newly crowned No. 2 wide receiver Jordan Fredrick knew he had officially locked up a starting wide receiver spot, donning the jersey of his hometown team, the very one he grew up cheering for. A lifelong Madison resident… Read more »

Rose • ŸBowl-itis (n.): a disorder leaving fans with excessive feelings of confidence or hope before the season starts; symptoms include booking flights to Los Angeles and hotels in Pasadena in August; most prevalent in the Midwest I, too, was a victim of the hype, my dreams driving deeper with… Read more »

Following the humbling loss to Oregon State last weekend, senior tight end Jacob Pedersen stood in front of the offense at a meeting Sunday with a simple message: Believe. Clearly shaken by the upset at Reser Stadium, the Badgers sit at a pivotal point in the season, with more… Read more »

Bret Bielema just launched a high-stakes experiment. When Wisconsin’s head coach decided to replace offensive line coach Mark Markuson after a rocky start, he showed unbridled confidence not only in himself, but also in new coach Bart Miller. A program swept by change over the last nine months, Bielema’s decision… Read more »

Linebacker Ethan Armstrong spends his career on the field in the shadow of two of Wisconsin’s top defensive stoppers. He’s the new face in the backfield; the third wheel on a unit stacked with talent. But this summer he finally earned due recognition for two years of regular, on-the-field action.… Read more »

It was an all too familiar sight for Badgers fans as Northern Iowa threaded the ball down the field, completing pass after pass and scoring in bunches. Panthers quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen threw for two touchdowns and 173 yards in the final 15 minutes, evoking painful memories of the aerial beatdowns… Read more »

It’s about damn time. That was my first thought after checking out the Wisconsin men’s basketball nonconference season for the upcoming season. The cupcakes from the likes of the Southland Conference (Southeastern Louisiana, anyone?) are still present, but the Badgers’ pre-Big Ten schedule looks remarkably strong when compared to those… Read more »

A fresh ACC quarterback transfer, six new assistant coaches and the surprising return of a Heisman finalist later, expectations for Wisconsin football are soaring. As Wisconsin continues its march to stamping its name among college football’s elite, a third consecutive Big Ten title and BCS berth are no longer simply… Read more »

Mohammed Ahmed still remembers etching “Olympian” under future occupation in the yearbook as an eighth-grader in Canada. Seven years later, that prediction has turned into reality for the Wisconsin cross country and track and field athlete who just finished his junior year. Clocking a time of 27 minutes, 34 seconds… Read more »

Back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances go a long way in building a nationally recognized football brand. But in 2012, the Wisconsin football program has the chance to take a final, long-awaited step forward. After spending years adjacent to the circle that surrounds college football’s “elite” programs, Wisconsin has the opportunity next… Read more »

Summer is generally a time for Wisconsin athletes to rest up and prepare for the challenges of the looming season. Football players put in long hours in front of the empty Camp Randall bleachers, envisioning the fall gamedays when it will be packed with more than 80,000 fans. Cross country… Read more »

On a linebacking corps that features two of Wisconsin’s most explosive playmakers in Chris Borland and Mike Taylor, a high stakes sweepstakes is underway for the chance to complete that trio. But as Saturday’s spring game concluded the spring football season, the battle for the outside linebacker spot alongside this… Read more »

While Wisconsin’s battle for the starting quarterback gig headlined the 2012 spring game, the Badgers’ No. 1 defense kept the backup offense out of the endzone in a 21-10 victory for the Cardinal. In a game that paired the Cardinal — Wisconsin’s probable starters this fall — with their backups… Read more »

Bo Ryan is the anti-John Calipari, a coach whose teams usually feature veteran, overachieving shooters instead of the rotating carousel of Kentucky’s freakishly athletic one-and-done crews. As part of their contrasting mentalities, it’s rare a freshman earns a starting spot or even serves as a major offensive weapon for the… Read more »

While Danny O’Brien silenced many of the questions around Wisconsin’s wide-open quarterback competition for the time being, coaches can’t say the same about the tight end spot. With one established receiving option in Jacob Pedersen, a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2011, there’s a lengthy list of candidates for filling… Read more »

At a program renowned for the pure mass of its offensive linemen who often manhandled opponents, more impressive skills such as versatility are often overlooked. Standing as a testament of each player’s deep understanding of the different techniques and responsibilities of each position, the ability to line up at several… Read more »

As incoming transfer quarterback Danny O’Brien begins his career as a Badger this fall, his career will be forever linked to that of an accomplished predecessor. But, no matter how much Wisconsin fans dream of O’Brien recreating the magic Russell Wilson brought to Bret Bielema’s team in 2011, those expecting… Read more »

It may finally be the year for one of the most futile franchises in baseball. And I’m not talking about the Cubs (that one’s hopeless). Although I may be the only fan in the Midwest who cares, the Washington Nationals are off to a surprisingly strong start in their first… Read more »

When the Wisconsin secondary lines up for the season opener against Northern Iowa this September, there will be an unfamiliar absence in the backfield. With the departures of Aaron Henry and Antonio Fenelus, the two most celebrated members of the Badgers’ secondary last season, the team lost two of its… Read more »

It’s hard to push away the initial frustration — to come to terms with a down-to-the wire, heartbreaking loss. It seems impossible to shake the visions of what could have been, with the Elite Eight or even Final Four glory possible if not for that disastrous three-point heave to close… Read more »

It all ended on a botched play. A long, ugly desperation 3-pointer from Jordan Taylor Thursday night in Boston. But one play doesn’t define a season. Although the year ended in a heartbreaking 64-63 defeat at the hands of a more athletic and talented Syracuse team, it’s hard to be… Read more »

When Roger Goodell decided to keep Sean Payton off the sidelines in 2012, he did more than leave his mark on NFL history as the first commissioner to suspend a coach for an entire year. By dumping Payton — and suspending Gregg Williams indefinitely — Goodell made it clear that… Read more »

More than a week after March Madness launched, many Badger fans were left feeling surprisingly pleased with their team’s performance through the first two rounds. After bringing down a sharpshooting Vanderbilt team loaded with seniors — a popular underdog pick for a deep NCAA tournament run — Wisconsin advanced to… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS — It was a nice run, but most Badgers fans knew it was headed for a premature close. After taking down a dangerous Indiana team in front of a Bankers Life Fieldhouse crowd full of Hoosiers fans, a sense of cautious optimism developed around Bo Ryan’s squad. Maybe this… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS — After reeling off its first win in the Big Ten tournament since 2008, Wisconsin often looked overwhelmed against top-seeded Michigan State in a 65-52 semifinals loss at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Despite an 11-0 run starting at the 15:48 mark in the second half that brought the Badgers (24-9)… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS — His first Big Ten tournament victory since 2008 wasn’t the only achievement Bo Ryan left the court with Friday, as Wisconsin’s 79-71 win over the Indiana Hoosiers also made him the winningest head coach in program history. With the victory, the Badgers will square off with Michigan State… Read more »

It was a tough opening campaign for first-year head coach Bobbie Kelsey, but fans can rest assured the best is yet to come for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team. As the Badgers’ season came to a premature close in an 81-49 loss to Minnesota Thursday in the first round of… Read more »

It’s the last stand for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team. As head coach Bobbie Kelsey’s first season at the helm of Wisconsin comes to a close, the ninth-seeded Badgers will battle Minnesota, the No. 8 seed, in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. Although Wisconsin has dropped six… Read more »

When Wisconsin running backs coach Thomas Hammock announced he would return to the Camp Randall sidelines next season, Bret Bielema & Co. avoided more than simply the hassle of interviewing and selecting yet another new coach. Hammock — widely considered one of the Badgers’ top recruiters and one of the… Read more »

Although it was Senior Day at the Kohl Center Sunday, sophomore Morgan Paige and junior Taylor Wurtz stole the show as the duo carried the Badgers’ offense in route to a 72-60 win over the Fighting Illini of Illinois. Wisconsin headed into the locker room at halftime down by five,… Read more »

They both stand at 6-foot-2, play the same position on the floor and are in their last year donning a cardinal and white uniform. Yet forwards Anya Covington and Ashley Thomas have each managed to carve out distinct roles for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team en route to establishing themselves… Read more »

Something strange happened Sunday on the Kohl Center floor as Wisconsin brought down a pesky Penn State squad 52-46. The rare and recently absent occurrence was that the Badgers finally proved they hadn’t completely lost their stroke. They could still hit 15-footers from the floor and build a lasting rhythm… Read more »

With only one player reaching double figures, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team struggled on both ends of the floor Thursday night in a disappointing 46-62 defeat at the hands of the Michigan State Spartans. Anya Covington led all scorers with 10 points, but shots consistently fell short or bounced off… Read more »

For loyal golf enthusiasts and even the casual observer, there are few things more exciting than a stellar, dominant round of golf from Tiger Woods. And as Woods entered Sunday’s final round at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, that excitement was once again apparent as ESPN’s Tiger Tracker (itself… Read more »

After dropping two straight, the schedule certainly isn’t lightening up for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team as it travels to State College, Pa., Thursday night to face the No. 18/21 Penn State Nittany Lions. Monday saw Wisconsin fall to No. 10/11 Ohio State in Columbus, in a game that remained… Read more »

This weekend, I finally crossed off a glaring problem on my sports fan resume that I feel guilty for delaying so long. I attended a Wisconsin men’s hockey game. From the McClimon Complex to the Shell to the Kohl Center, I’ve covered quite a variety of sports in my time… Read more »

Although the Wisconsin men’s hockey team struggled to find the back of the net in a home series where it was swept by St. Cloud State, the Badgers showed a new liberty to shoot the puck in the two losses. After being swept on the road at North Dakota last… Read more »

Welcome to the Herald Sports live blog! I’m Ian McCue, Associate Sports Editor joined by Sports Content Editor Kelly Erickson. We’ll be here all night, bringing you all the action from the Kohl Center as Wisconsin tries to maintain their spot in the WCHA standings. After suffering a disappointing 5-1… Read more »

As Wisconsin and Iowa prepare to take to the Kohl Center hardwood Thursday night, they find themselves in surprisingly similar spots. With identical 4-5 conference records — placing them in a tie for seventh — it’s a critical opportunity not only to clamber up the Big Ten ranks but also… Read more »

Three short weeks ago, it looked like this would finally be the year Bo Ryan could not pull off another miracle and have his team vie for a Big Ten title. But Wisconsin’s well-documented turnaround not only has the Badgers back in the rankings at No. 19/20, but also just a half-game out… Read more »

In a thrilling 66-60 victory over the Michigan Wolverines Monday night, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team finally proved its resiliency. Junior guard Taylor Wurtz sunk a layup to put the Badgers (8-13, 4-5 Big Ten) up by two with 3:29 remaining, and Bobbie Kelsey’s squad never looked back, staving off… Read more »

She has the height, athleticism and offensive skill set to be one of the top post players in the conference. But for Cassie Rochel, one key piece of the puzzle is missing: aggressiveness. As the tallest player on the Wisconsin women’s basketball roster, the sophomore forward has shown bursts of… Read more »

At Wisconsin, the five star recruits, big name coaches and national media usually aren’t lured to the bright lights of Camp Randall. So it’s no surprise that a hardworking, severely undervalued player like Badger wide receiver Jared Abbrederis somehow went two seasons without a full athletic scholarship. At Wisconsin, several… Read more »

With a 5-12 record as of Jan. 21 and a season full of heartbreaking losses, perhaps no player has played a more crucial role in keeping the Badgers fighting for every win than Ashley Thomas. A forward now in her final year suiting up for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team,… Read more »

Less than a month ago, the Wisconsin basketball team looked poised to make a run for a Big Ten title once again as it flirted with a top 10 ranking and turned heads with its stellar shooting. How quickly things can change. Ranked as high as No. 7 in the… Read more »

The 50 home run seasons are down, the moonshots into the upper deck are less common, but if the allegations against Ryan Braun are true, Major League Baseball may not be as clean as once thought. When ESPN reported Saturday afternoon that the Brewers star — one of the most… Read more »

With 6:58 remaining on the clock and a one point lead, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team looked prepared to finish their impressive, come-from-behind victory over the Drake Bulldogs. Disrupting the Bulldogs (4-4) with a defensive press that forced six second half turnovers from Drake, Wisconsin (4-7) went on a 10-1… Read more »

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team faces what is likely to be its toughest test of the young season Thursday when it travels to Allen Fieldhouse to face the Kansas Jayhawks. Awaiting the Badgers (4-5) in Lawrence, Kan., will be a high-scoring Jayhawks (7-1) offense that averages 77.1 points per game… Read more »

He has 1,759 rushing yards, an astounding 38 touchdowns and averages 6.4 yards per carry. He has carried the Badgers at times this season, and has firmly established himself as the top all-around back in the nation. Montee Ball clearly earned his spot in the Heisman Trophy presentation and has… Read more »

In a two-point victory over the Saint Louis Billikens Monday night, Bobbie Kelsey’s squad proved it has the inside presence and adept passing ability to create high percentage shots in the paint. After falling behind Saint Louis (2-6) by five points at halftime, the Badgers’ (4-5) hot shooting fueled a… Read more »

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team snapped a 23-home-game winning streak Saturday in a frustrating 54-61 loss to its biggest in-state rival, the No. 16 Marquette Golden Eagles. Despite taking Marquette’s (7-0) lead down to one point at the 10:45 mark in the second half, No. 7/9 Wisconsin (6-2) was never… Read more »

While the Wisconsin men’s basketball squad will be facing off with North Carolina in a highly anticipated matchup, the women’s basketball team will be doing its part in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge as they face off with the Boston College Eagles. After dropping two games to Brigham Young and Colorado… Read more »

Just six games in, the Wisconsin basketball team is finally getting the national respect it usually lacks at this point in the year. There is only one problem: They are not that good. Sure, the Badgers are 6-0 and have taken down each of their opponents by no less than… Read more »

As the Wisconsin men’s basketball team gears up for the Chicago Invitational Challenge and takes on three nonconference teams in the next five days, there will be more on the line than just another non-conference win for head coach Bo Ryan. With his next victory (which could come as soon… Read more »

Struggling to get even their high percentage shots to fall Friday night, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team’s poor shooting performance left them with another home loss, as they fell 69-51 to the Washington State Cougars. Finishing the game with a 33 percent field goal percentage, as the Cougars (2-1) took… Read more »

Morgan Paige fits precisely what one would expect of a daughter from a family of coaches — a consistent performer who exudes confidence and shies away from individual credit in even her most outstanding game. In her second year suiting up for the Badgers, the sophomore guard has been tasked… Read more »

Young. Talented. Aggressive. Developing. These words have a single common denominator: Wisconsin men’s soccer. Despite missing the NCAA tournament (the bracket was released Monday night), the Badgers have a bright future to look forward to as the wounds of another season cut too short slowly begin to heal. A team… Read more »

After falling at home to Oral Roberts Sunday, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team will be looking to pick up its second in-state victory of the season against the Marquette Golden Eagles Tuesday night. Taking down Milwaukee at the Klotsche Center in their season opener, the Badgers (1-1) will be suiting… Read more »

New head coach Bobbie Kelsey’s Kohl Center debut wasn’t the statement victory Wisconsin women’s basketball fans were hoping for, as the Badgers fell to the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 80-63 Sunday. After taking control as the first half wound down, the Golden Eagles (2-0) never looked back as their lead… Read more »

With a new coach and few proven scorers, unanswered questions surround the Wisconsin women’s basketball team as it prepares to kick off its regular season Friday against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. With the team’s top three scorers gone in the dominant trio of Alyssa Karel, Lin Zastrow and Tara Steinbauer… Read more »

In a matter of days, Joe Paterno went from being one of the most respected men in college football to one of the most criticized. As the most powerful figure in the Penn State football program, he is what the program stands for. He carries responsibility for everything that characterizes… Read more »

Though it looked like the Wisconsin men’s soccer team was out of the Big Ten title race, a victory over Penn State Sunday could leave them as conference co-champions. In order for the Badgers to come out on top, Northwestern will have to tie or lose their matchup with Michigan… Read more »

While two straight losses have certainly quieted the hype about Wisconsin developing into a premier football program, it’s clear the Badgers are still establishing a national reputation that has them attracting some of the best players in the nation. Bret Bielema and co. are often known for picking up the… Read more »

The Wisconsin men’s soccer team dashed any hopes of bringing home a Big Ten title Sunday in a deflating 2-0 Senior Day loss to Ohio State. With both teams heading into the matchup at the McClimon Complex at 3-1 in the Big Ten, Wisconsin needed a victory to remain in… Read more »

Every team has a player who treats every practice like a game, who is picked out by teammates and coaches as someone who brings a higher level of intensity to the drills and friendly scrimmages. Usually that player doesn’t fill up box scores with impressive stats, and for the Wisconsin… Read more »

A spotless locker room. It is just one change sophomore forward Cassie Rochel identified under new coach Bobbie Kelsey, but the lack of sweat-soaked practice jerseys on the locker room floor is indicative of the new attitude surrounding the Wisconsin women’s basketball program. Kelsey, hired last April after spending three… Read more »

As basketball season approaches, there’s one thing almost every fan in Madison can count on: Not much will be expected of Bo Ryan’s squad this season. Every year, it seems, the Badgers are expected to be outside the Big Ten title race. Yet somehow, Ryan’s magical swing offense continually guides… Read more »

Wisconsin’s trip to University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Wednesday may seem like nothing more than a game wedged in between the all-important Big Ten schedule, but major bragging rights are on the line against their in-state rival. Playing some of their best soccer of the season since the beginning of the… Read more »

After picking up a 1-0 victory over Michigan State and making it through the first half of the Big Ten season with an unblemished record, a conference title seems well within reach for the Wisconsin men’s soccer team. While their 7-4-2 overall record may not reflect that of a top… Read more »

In a season full of single-goal leads for the Wisconsin men’s soccer team, the pressure rarely lets up for a defense often tasked with keeping the tying or winning goal out of its net. After giving up late goals early in the year against Virginia, California-Irvine and Memphis, the Badgers’… Read more »

Possibly the most criticized unit of recent Badgers teams, the Wisconsin secondary has been anything but spectacular in the past couple of seasons. However, despite facing injury issues, the 2011 unit finally looks like the shutdown secondary that Badger fans have dreamed about for years. Beginning the season with five… Read more »

It takes a certain level of confidence and poise to protect the goal in soccer. Wisconsin goalkeeper Max Jentsch seems to have the right personality for the position. After shutting out Indiana in a five-save performance, Jentsch has more than proved his worth in five games this year for the… Read more »

It wasn’t too long ago that Wisconsin was a top destination for efficient game-manager snap-it-and-get-rid-of-it type quarterbacks. While the running backs carry a storied history at Wisconsin — including Heisman winners Ron Dayne and Alan Ameche — UW has never exactly been a top quarterback destination. The Badgers have never… Read more »

In Wisconsin sports’ second major statement win of the weekend, the men’s soccer team pulled off a major upset Sunday by taking down No. 6 Indiana 2-0 at the McClimon Complex. Football comparisons abounded after Sunday’s game, as the Badgers (5-3-2) were able to hand the defending Big Ten champion… Read more »

After an up-and-down non-conference season, the Badgers need to be at the top of their game in their conference opener versus No. 6 Indiana Sunday at the McClimon Complex. A perennial Big Ten power in men’s soccer, the Hoosiers are undefeated through their first eight games of the season, and… Read more »

When the Badgers knocked the ball off the right goalpost with close to 10 seconds left in the second overtime, it was a fitting end to a game full of missed opportunities for the Wisconsin offense. In a 1-1 tie Wednesday night to the Marquette Golden Eagles, the Wisconsin men’s… Read more »

While recent history may not indicate it, the Big Ten remains a superior conference to the Big 12 on multiple levels. Ohio State and Michigan State may not have helped the reputation of the oldest conference in Division I sports with disappointing losses this weekend, but the Big Ten remains… Read more »

After taking their undefeated streak to three games against Loyola Marymount Sunday, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team will look to play off their momentum in a matchup with Marquette Wednesday. Taking on the Golden Eagles (3-4-1) under the lights at the McClimon Complex, the game marks the Badgers’ final opportunity… Read more »

Offensively, Wisconsin’s men’s soccer team has rarely suffered from a lack of talent. Instead, a lack of offensive connections has been an occasional issue, and the Badgers’ dynamic group of forwards and midfielders proved that those connections have matured in a 2-1 win over Loyola Marymount Sunday. With an attack… Read more »

As sophomores go, Nick Janus has exceeded most expectations laid out for him. Janus gained over 1,550 minutes of game experience as a freshman, and after putting up five points last year and earning a spot on the All-Freshman Big Ten team, he has already equaled last year’s point total… Read more »

As students awoke way too early Thursday to purchase their men’s basketball season ticket packages, they likely had visions of Jordan Taylor surprising critics and carrying the team through another great year. While a glance at the Badgers’ roster may leave skeptics questioning their NCAA Tournament chances again, they’re forgetting… Read more »

This weekend could mark a major turning point for the Wisconsin men’s soccer team, as the Badgers are in the midst of a three-game losing streak that they hope to end against Drake and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. After losses to Virginia, California-Irvine and Memphis after an impressive start to… Read more »

While Chris Prince’s 14 points as a freshman may have come as a surprise to many Badger fans, the Wisconsin coaching staff knew he was the rare player ready to make an immediate impact. Prince, a highly touted player from Naperville High School — outside Chicago, started 18 of his… Read more »

It may be early, but it looks like this could be the year the Wisconsin women’s basketball team is ready to return to the NCAA Tournament under new coach Bobbie Kelsey. While the Badgers lost their senior trio of Lin Zastrow, Alyssa Karel and Tara Steinbauer that powered last year’s… Read more »

In a tough weekend for the Wisconsin men’s soccer team, the Badgers dropped a pair of home games in heartbreaking fashion to University of California-Irvine and Memphis. Hoping to bounce back from the painful loss to UC-Irvine, the Badgers came up short yet again Sunday at the McClimon Complex in… Read more »

After a strong start to it’s 2011 campaign, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team is looking to pick up a pair of wins this weekend at home against UC-Irvine and Memphis. Friday, the Badgers (2-1-0) face a talented squad in the UC-Irvine Anteaters (4-0-0), a team ranked No. 9 nationally that… Read more »

Adjusting to a new coach and a roster full of young players last year, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team’s 2010 campaign left the team hungry for a more successful season this year. Finishing the year with four wins last year, the Badgers will have a much higher bar for success… Read more »

From his decision to transfer to Wisconsin from a top-tier program to his offensive firepower and ability to elude defenders, everything about Josh Thiermann exudes confidence. A fifth-year senior forward/midfielder who joins the Badgers after suiting up for Notre Dame for three years, Thiermann is expected to be a standout… Read more »

For a team that has won 12 (yes, you read that correctly) straight Big Ten titles, you would think that the Wisconsin men’s cross country team would carry a bigger name on campus. Football, basketball and hockey will undoubtedly remain the three staples of Wisconsin athletics, but it’s time to… Read more »

While football may dominate the headlines in Madison this fall, two other teams have similarly high expectations for success on a different surface — the Wisconsin men’s and women’s rowing teams. On the men’s side, Wisconsin hopes its experience will lead to a strong fall season. Returning six of their… Read more »

Wisconsin’s 62-59 loss to Illinois State Sunday mirrored many of the Badgers’ games this season — a hard-fought battle with several missed opportunities for UW to take control. As senior guard Alyssa Karel’s three-point attempt came up short with three seconds remaining, the Wisconsin women’s basketball season (16-15) came to… Read more »

When a player has served as a captain in two of her three years of play, it becomes clear that the player is a respected team leader. Such is the case with Wisconsin women’s basketball forward Anya Covington, who has seen extra playing time recently in the absence of senior… Read more »

It was a fitting end to Wisconsin’s final game of the season at the Kohl Center, as seniors Alyssa Karel and Lin Zastrow carried the Badgers to victory over Indiana.In the absence of senior forward Tara Steinbauer, Zastrow made up for it in the paint by leading the team in… Read more »

With two regular season games left for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team, the stakes have never been higher, as the Badgers play their final game of the season at the Kohl Center Wednesday against the Indiana Hoosiers (9-17, 3-11).After dropping two straight games to Iowa and Michigan, Wisconsin (14-12, 9-5)… Read more »

Senior Day took on an emotional setting Saturday at the Kohl Center, and Wisconsin’s (14-12, 9-5) matchup with Michigan (16-10, 9-5) fit the somber pregame mood, as the Badgers fell 68-66 after an impressive comeback. Playing without senior forward Tara Steinbauer, who suffered a torn ACL against Iowa, Wisconsin guard… Read more »

Not much went well for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team against Iowa, as star forward Tara Steinbauer was lost for the season — and the rest of her career — with a torn ACL in her right knee, but the Badgers will nevertheless be looking to stay in contention for… Read more »

Modest is an understatement when it comes to describing Lin Zastrow, a senior standout on the Wisconsin women’s basketball team.The Badgers’ second-leading scorer, who averages 13.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, is one of the best players on Wisconsin’s squad but is always hesitant to take credit for a… Read more »

Although the Wisconsin Badgers are usually an inside-out team, finding their stroke from behind the three-point arc Thursday night was the key to putting away Northwestern in a 62-41 Wisconsin victory at the Kohl Center. The Badgers finished the game shooting 43.5 percent from three-point range, and they were able… Read more »

Although its matchup with Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center Thursday might not gain the attention that head coach Lisa Stone’s 500th career win did, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team realizes this is still a critical game. After dominating Indiana Sunday in a 75-49 victory, the Badgers (13-10, 8-3 Big… Read more »

With just five minutes to play, the Wisconsin Badgers (12-10, 7-3) appeared to have the game locked up. That was before the No. 11 Michigan State Spartans (19-3, 7-2) took over late in a heartbreaking 73-70 overtime loss for Wisconsin Thursday night at the Kohl Center. In a battle for… Read more »

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team (12-10, 7-3 Big Ten) will try to keep its impressive Big Ten record going Sunday afternoon when the Badgers travel to Assembly Hall to take on Indiana (8-14, 2-8). After a tough loss to Michigan State, Wisconsin will be looking to get things back on… Read more »

Wisconsin women’s basketball guard Jade Davis possesses the key characteristics of a defensive-minded player: intensity, energy, aggressiveness and a sense of pride in her ability to defend. The junior out of Lone Tree, Colorado may not have the offensive statistics that senior stars Alyssa Karel, Lin Zastrow and Tara Steinbauer… Read more »

With all the different teams the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (11-9, 6-2 Big Ten) has played this year, fans might assume that Northwestern (14-7, 3-5 Big Ten) compares well to one of those teams. But that isn’t the case, and the Badgers actually see a lot of themselves in the… Read more »

Once again, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (11-9, 6-2) was led by its two major inside threats in senior forwards Lin Zastrow and Tara Steinbauer. It may seem like a common theme, but with star senior guard Alyssa Karel struggling with her shooting and scoring just nine points, Zastrow and… Read more »

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team (10-9, 5-2) will try to keep things rolling Sunday when it faces off with Illinois (7-12, 2-4) in the friendly confines of the Kohl Center. After a crucial road victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Badgers will have a chance to reaffirm their defensive… Read more »

As the conference season gets underway for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (9-9), the Badgers have finally started to play some more familiar foes. Thursday, UW will face Minnesota for the second time in the last two weeks, just a couple games after the Badgers played Purdue twice in the… Read more »

Following a tough start to the season, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (9-8) has found ways to win and worked its way up to a second-place standing in the Big Ten. Despite the seven straight losses UW suffered in non-conference play, the coaching staff believes the strong competition it faced… Read more »

In its final non-conference game of the year, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (3-7) is heading west to face the Wyoming Cowgirls (6-2) at the Arena Auditorium Center in Laramie, Wyo. After reeling off two straight wins and finally gaining some momentum, this matchup could play a big role in… Read more »

Games are often won on the inside, and that was exactly the case for the Badger women’s basketball team (4-7) as they took down the UW-Milwaukee Panthers (3-6) by a final score of 68-53. The Badgers accumulated 34 points in the paint while the Panthers got just eight points inside,… Read more »

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team (2-6) cannot seem to put together their strongest performances in the right games, but will be looking to do that and break a seven-game losing stretch against the Drake Bulldogs (5-2) Thursday.Facing head coach Lisa Stone’s former school — she coached the Bulldogs from 2000… Read more »

It’s not too often that freshmen jump into a starting role this early in the season for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team. Yet, that is precisely the situation with freshman guard Morgan Paige. After star senior guard Alyssa Karel, the team’s scoring leader, went down with an injury in the… Read more »

After dropping another game to Oklahoma State (8-0) yesterday and now trying to recover from a seven-game losing streak, Wisconsin women’s basketball head coach Lisa Stone made it clear that the Badgers are staying optimistic. Feeling the effects of a very difficult non-conference schedule, the Badgers now stand at 2-7… Read more »

Facing the best backcourt and probably the most explosive team it has faced this year, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (2-6) fell to Duke (8-0) 59-51 Thursday. However, the loss proved the Badgers’ defensive intensity can keep them in games against even the best teams. Down nine at halftime, UW’s… Read more »

After losing five straight games, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team (2-5) will have the challenging task of breaking the streak against the undefeated No. 5 Duke Blue Devils Thursday at the Kohl Center. A matchup that is part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Duke is the most talented squad UW… Read more »

In a game that was close from start to finish, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team eventually fell to Kansas at the Kohl Center by a final score of 93-86 in overtime Sunday night. After starting off the game strong and then coming back to take a 31-30 lead over Kansas… Read more »

In most sports, a game between Wisconsin and UW-Green Bay would be considered an easy win for the Badgers, but that’s not the story for the women’s basketball team. Facing a squad in Green Bay that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, this is not a… Read more »

Hard work often comes up as an issue with today’s overpaid and self-concerned athletes. For Wisconsin women’s basketball forward Taylor Wurtz, though, hard work is something that teammates and coaches collectively agree defines her as a player. A sophomore guard out of Brandon, Wis., Wurtz can often be found in… Read more »

After a 65-38 rout of William & Mary, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team is off to an impressive 2-0 start. Women’s basketball head coach Lisa Stone was pleased with her team’s win, and thought the team gained some experience on the defensive end that will be valuable later in the… Read more »

Despite two dominating wins in exhibition games against Winona State and UW-Superior, the Wisconsin women’s basketball team still sees plenty of room for improvement. The Badgers start their quest to return to the NCAA Tournament Friday when they travel to Chaifetz Arena to face St. Louis. In its first ever… Read more »

It may not be the most popular or well-known team on campus, but the Wisconsin men’s cross country team is certainly one of the university’s most successful programs. Coming off its 12th consecutive Big Ten title October 31, the men’s cross country team has solidified its reputation as a national… Read more »

After finishing up the indoor season with a solid 26th-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships last month, the Wisconsin men’s track and field team is hoping to put together an even better outdoor season this week. With the weather warming up and the outdoor track and field season now… Read more »

While spring is not usually known as volleyball season for the Wisconsin volleyball team, it is the perfect time to get in some extra practice before next fall. This Saturday, the Badgers will be competing in the UNI Spring Tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa for their last exhibition matches of… Read more »

While most golf fans may be watching the Masters this weekend, the Wisconsin men’s golf team has other plans. The Badgers get back to Big Ten play this weekend when they travel to Ohio State for the Kepler Invitational. After placing 16th in the Florida Atlantic University Spring Break Invitational… Read more »

Coming off an impressive third place performance in the Big Ten Indoor Championships last weekend in Minneapolis, the Wisconsin men’s track and field team is hoping for much of the same in the Alex Wilson Invitational Saturday. Although the women’s track and field team will not be competing in the… Read more »

He may not be the most well-known player on the Wisconsin men’s basketball roster, but freshman forward Mike Bruesewitz is quickly making a name for himself. Showing signs of talent right from the start, the St. Paul native set a career high in scoring, rebounding and minutes against Arizona. Although… Read more »

Many thought University of Wisconsin women’s swimmer Maggie Meyer had an impressive season last year, but this year she has only gotten better. The junior swimmer, a native of North Oaks, Minn., has been named Big Ten Women’s Swimmer of the Week multiple times this year, a clear sign… Read more »

After increasing its winning streak to a season-high three games after defeating No. 25 Ohio State Sunday, the University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team is looking to continue its recent success Wednesday against Northern Illinois. As both teams are nearing the close of the regular season, this game could… Read more »

After a 3-3 overtime tie with Big Ten co-leader Penn State, the University of Wisconsin women’s soccer team is looking for a big win Friday when they travel to Michigan State. The 8-2-4 Spartans are a strong team led by a dangerous duo of forwards in senior Lauren Hill and… Read more »