Well, it’s certainly been a brief four years my friends. I’ve covered countless beats during that time. I toiled through rebuilding seasons with the soccer teams, a season with each tennis team respectively as they tried to find the right mix, two wonderful years with the women’s hockey team that… Read more »

Slightly laden down with tryptophan and a little too much pumpkin pie from my delayed Thanksgiving celebration, I sat in the press conference room of the Kohl Center at about 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 24, 2012. I was tired. I had just spent the entire day conversing with aunts and… Read more »

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Time expired. The bench cleared. And the Badgers tackled Joel Rumpel in a flurry of excitement. They had done it. With a 3-2 win over Colorado College in the WCHA playoff title game, No. 14 Wisconsin claimed its first Broadmoor Trophy since 1998 and punched its… Read more »

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It was a turning point. With the game tied 1-1, goaltender Joel Rumpel made the save of Wisconsin’s season. As the first period wound down, Rumpel gave up a juicy rebound allowing St. Cloud State a backdoor chance. As he went to move across the slot,… Read more »

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Barely a minute into the WCHA Final Five quarterfinal, junior winger Tyler Barnes stole the puck from the red line, carried it to the net and shot it past freshman goaltender — and all-conference netminder — Stephon Williams. At the 1:03 mark, Wisconsin possessed a 1-0… Read more »

Just keep rolling. That’s their mantra. Entering yet another playoff weekend, the No. 14 Wisconsin men’s hockey team (19-12-7, 13-8-7 WCHA) is hoping to stick to the plan and “just keep rolling” as they take on No. 8 Minnesota State (24-12-3, 16-11-1 WCHA) Thursday in the opening round of the… Read more »

It was mentioned time and again: the hardest thing to do is to end someone’s season — but Saturday night, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team made it look easy. In a 4-1 rout over Minnesota-Duluth (14-19-5, 10-13-5 WCHA) — paired with a 3-1 decision Friday night — Wisconsin (19-12-7, 13-8-7… Read more »

It feels like a completely different season. Looking back on the Badgers’ atrocious 1-7-2 start to the 2012-13 season, it’s hard to imagine how quickly things can change. Sure, October and November don’t seem so far away in retrospect, but now, by mid-March, that 10-game streak started about five months… Read more »

It was just an extra cushion at the time, but Michael Mersch’s third-period, empty net goal was exactly what the Badgers needed. Mersch tallied his 22nd goal of the season and his second in Wisconsin’s 3-2 Saturday night victory over St. Cloud State (21-14-1, 18-9-1 WCHA). The junior winger netted… Read more »

It was just an extra cushion at the time, but Michael Mersch’s third-period, empty net goal was exactly what the Badgers needed. Mersch tallied his 22nd goal of the season, and second of the Wisconsin men’s hockey team’s 3-2 Saturday night victory over St. Cloud State (21-14-1, 18-9-1 WCHA). The… Read more »

Heading into the regular series finale, a lot was on the line for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. There was a chance to share a piece of the MacNaughton Cup. Wisconsin (16-12-7, 12-8-7 WCHA) still needs to secure home ice advantage for the WCHA playoffs. On top of all that,… Read more »

They put up 10 goals with 10 different Wisconsin men’s hockey players notching a point. Rub your eyes. Read it over a few times. Maybe just sit and think about it. Anything to let that fact sink in. After infamously starting the season 1-7-2, 1-5-2 in the WCHA and averaging… Read more »

With red faces either from a hot post-game shower or maybe a few too many frustrated tears, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team didn’t mince words about its 3-2 overtime loss to Penn State Monday night. Sure, Penn State was a first-year team Wisconsin thrashed 5-0 the night before. Sure, the… Read more »

As the Wisconsin men’s hockey team entered its eleventh overtime game of the season with Penn State, the unnerving feeling of a must-win situation was overwhelming. With just one minute to play in extra time, a tie seemed imminent. But as Penn State junior forward Taylor Holstrom continued to hack… Read more »

Sundays have been kind to the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. One week after taking down No. 2 Minnesota 3-2 in the Hockey City Classic, No. 18 Wisconsin (14-10-7, 11-7-7 WCHA) downed Penn State (12-14-0) 5-0 on senior night. Heading into the series with the worst power play in the nation,… Read more »

Coming off a gigantic 3-2 upset over No. 2 Minnesota in the Hockey City Classic, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team is looking to carry it’s momentum through the remaining three weeks of the season. Sitting at sixth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association — and only four points behind first… Read more »

CHICAGO — It took 30 shots on goal and 33:03 off the clock, but it was well worth the wait for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. At the 13:03 mark of the second period the Badgers found their way onto the scoreboard for a 1-0 lead — 3:19 later and… Read more »

If you glanced at any newsstand on campus Monday, Feb. 11, you didn’t see the names of the papers sitting there or any words for that matter. Staring back at you was a solitary red number “1” on the back of Ben Brust’s white jersey. The six-column photo — a… Read more »

Seven years ago, 40,890 fans filled Lambeau Field to watch the Wisconsin men’s hockey team down Ohio State 4-2 in the Frozen Tundra Classic during the second-ever collegiate outdoor hockey game. Three years ago on Feb. 6, 2010, the Badgers used two third-period power play goals from Brendan Smith to… Read more »

Peruse, if you will, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team’s season statistics. It’s averaging a decent 27.7 shots per game with an average of 2.3 goals per game. The team scored 56 times this year compared to its opponents’ 48. Not too shabby. There are seven players with 10 or more… Read more »

Sometimes wins aren’t always pretty — a fact the Wisconsin men’s hockey team experienced Saturday. In a 2-1 decision that led to a series sweep over Alaska-Anchorage (13-16-5, 1-15-4 WCHA), Wisconsin (11-8-5, 8-5-5 WCHA) sneaked by with the win Saturday thanks to two second period goals after a sluggish opening… Read more »

Prior to his senior year, senior forward Derek Lee felt like an alternate. There was always someone ahead of him, always someone else quarterbacking the play, always someone else holding court in the face-off. He wasn’t the star or the go-to guy everyone recognized, but now, in his senior year,… Read more »

Rock bottom is always a possibility you desperately hope never becomes a reality. But for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, it was an all too real experience. The Badgers started the season 1-7-2 after boasting the highest of expectations prior to the start of the season. To put it plainly:… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — They have been through just about every emotional hoop they could possibly jump through. They have been to three Rose Bowls in three consecutive years but left California with as many close losses. They have seen a host of coaches leave their team and welcomed two transfer… Read more »

PASADENA, Calif. — Before either Stanford or Wisconsin even arrived in Pasadena, much less Los Angeles for the 2013 Rose Bowl, it was already predicted to be a defensive battle. Both the Cardinal and the Badgers’ run-heavy offenses were balanced by tough defenses known for shutting down even some of… Read more »

PASADENA, Calif. — Welcome to the Badger Herald Live Blog! I’m football beat writer Kelly Erickson coming to you live from the Rose Bowl in sunny Pasadena as Wisconsin (8-5, 4-4 Big Ten) takes on No. 6 Stanford (11-2, 8-1 Pac-12). Alongside me are my fellow beat writers, Sports Editor… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — Barry Alvarez hasn’t coached a football team in seven seasons. His last Rose Bowl appearance and victory came 13 years ago. This time around, he’s the new guy on the sidelines. But with more than a decade between his last Rose Bowl as a coach and seven… Read more »

Friday morning Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez finally introduced his new head football coach: Gary Andersen. In his introductory press conference alongside Alvarez, UW’s 29th head coach expressed not only his excitement to be with the program and a commitment to developing his players on and off the field, but… Read more »

After a Big Ten title followed with the stunning departure of former head coach Bret Bielema only three days later, there is no denying that the Wisconsin football team has had an emotional week. But emotions aside, the Badgers still have to get back to work as they prep for… Read more »

Barry is back. Yes, the Wisconsin Football legend himself who led the Badgers to three Rose Bowl victories in 1994, 1999 and 2000 will return for a fourth shot at the “Granddaddy of Them All” Jan. 1, 2013. According to Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal, the football captains… Read more »

The statement has been made. With a tie and a win against then-No. 5 Denver, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team is starting to show what they’re capable of. Now the Badgers just have to bring it to their home ice — a place that hasn’t been friendly to them this… Read more »

Around midnight Dec. 2, the Wisconsin band blared out three notes that caused any Badgers present to instantly link arms and sway in unison. From fans still celebrating the 70-31 Big Ten Championship victory to the players still lingering on the field, carrying roses in their teeth in celebration of… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS — You can let out that sigh of relief now, Badger fans. The Wisconsin football team is indeed the Big Ten champion for the third year in a row. At the hands of the most creative game plan offensive coordinator Matt Canada has made all season, Wisconsin (8-5, 4-4… Read more »

Around midnight Dec. 2, the Wisconsin band blared out three notes that caused any Badgers present to instantly link arms and sway in unison. From fans still celebrating the 70-31 Big Ten Championship victory to the players still lingering on the field, carrying roses in their teeth in celebration of… Read more »

Wisconsin and Nebraska have a short history — but it’s already a turbulent one. In 2011, the Badgers (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) welcomed the Huskers (10-2, 7-1) to the conference in a rather insulting manner with a 48-17 victory. One year later, Nebraska evened the score with a 30-27 decision… Read more »

Ten games into its 2012-13 campaign, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team never thought it would boast a 1-7-2 overall record. Go back to Oct. 6, 2012. The Badgers dominated the U.S. under-18 team 5-0 and were feeling confident about what was ahead of them. They were already looking forward to… Read more »

Location: somewhere just above rock bottom.Population: the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. In only their second home series of the season, the Badgers (1-7-2, 1-5-2 WCHA) were swept once again in the recently less-than-friendly confines of the Kohl Center, this time at the hands of Minnesota State (5-5-2, 3-5-0) in a… Read more »

Bill Butters’ replacement has been found. Mike Eaves announced Friday morning that former Badger defenseman Matt Walsh will serve as the Wisconsin (1-5-2, 1-3-2 WCHA) men’s hockey team’s interim assistant coach for the remainder of the 2012-13 season. Walsh played for Wisconsin from 1982-86 and was a member of the… Read more »

Fact: When you have to punt the ball three times in your opponents’ territory, something on your offense isn’t working. The Wisconsin football team didn’t lose to Ohio State due to a lack of offense — with 206 rushing yards and 154 passing yards for a total of 360 yards,… Read more »

Anything felt possible. Curt Phillips just orchestrated one of the best two-minute drills in recent Wisconsin history to force overtime Senior Day. Montee Ball had a renewed chance at breaking the NCAA career touchdown mark after earning the record-tying score in the second quarter. And the defense — which housed… Read more »

Not a lot seems to be going right for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team this season. First, it lost a highly-touted freshman to ineligibility issues for 10 games. Then, top centerman Mark Zengerle broke his finger blocking a shot. And last week, during its second bye week of the season,… Read more »

Exactly one year ago, the Wisconsin football team was in the middle of what would become a four-game winning streak. The Badgers were prepping for a road trip to Illinois — a must-win in the new divisional system. But in their 28-17 second-half comeback, one name in particular was missing… Read more »

Montee Ball said it best himself: he just has a nose for the end zone. Saturday, as Ball celebrates his final game at Camp Randall and Wisconsin welcomes Ohio State to Madison, the senior running back will attempt to make history. Ball is only a touchdown shy of tying former… Read more »

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Wisconsin football team was leading 31-7 in the middle of the third quarter. The Badgers were in the middle of their second drive of the half with a first-and-10 from the Hoosiers’ 49. Senior running back Montee Ball already had 150 rushing yards on the day… Read more »

It’s just Indiana. Or so you think. Sure, the Wisconsin Football team (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) has bested the Hoosiers time and again on the gridiron in recent history — especially with a 59-7 win in Madison last year and an 83-20 decision in 2010. But this year, things are… Read more »

The state of fandom may just be one of the hardest burdens to bear in the sports world. A fan — whether because they were born into their fandom, or developed it over time — is often a lifetime supporter through sickness and in health. A fan knows the ins… Read more »

After six games into his third season with the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, assistant coach Bill Butters has stepped down to pursue his life passion: faith ministry. Both Butters and head coach Mike Eaves made it clear that Butters blindsided Eaves with his decision on Monday. The head coach urged… Read more »

Joel Stave’s season was ended Oct. 29 after he broke his left collarbone. That same day, Josh Gasser tore his ACL in practice, effectively ending his 2012-13 campaign before it even began. The worst of it seemed over. But the injury bug had one more stop to make. One week later, Nov.… Read more »

No matter who is on the roster or what the stats sheet says, some teams simply know how to beat another team, time and again. The Wisconsin men’s hockey team (1-4-1, 1-2-1 WCHA) opened its home slate last weekend against precisely that kind of team — Colorado College (5-3-0, 2-0-0)… Read more »

Fifty years ago, the Badgers played their first season in the modern era of Wisconsin men’s hockey. But in the very season they’re celebrating that landmark, they have yet to skate in front of their home crowd — until now. This weekend, Wisconsin (1-2-1, 1-0-1 WCHA) finally returns home to… Read more »

Wisconsin athletics is no stranger to family affairs. Over the last several seasons, multiple teams have had sibling athletes, from the Kelter twins on both the women’s soccer and hockey teams, the Ammerman sisters on the women’s hockey team, the Little brothers on the men’s hockey team and the Trotter… Read more »

After getting his suspension reduced to 30 percent of the season Friday, Wisconsin men’s hockey forward Nic Kerdiles announced he will stay in Madison for the upcoming season. In a press conference Monday, the highly-touted freshman said there was never a doubt he would remain a Badger and put his professional… Read more »

Off the field, he’s a gentleman. He’s said to treat everyone as his brother, is well-mannered and apparently has a thing for chewing gum. Talking to him, you notice a slight southern accent in his soft voice to match his manners. Then you have to remind yourself  whom you are… Read more »

“Is this the game you’ve been looking for all year?” asked a reporter following Saturday’s game. “Uh, yeah,” Bret Bielema said with a slight smile. The Wisconsin football head coach couldn’t seem to find any more words, stumbling over cliché phrases and something about “moving forward” as usual. But he… Read more »

Raise your hand if you are on Twitter or Facebook. Yeah that’s what I thought. It’s ok folks, I’m constantly tuned in to both. But these days words like “make your profile private” and “don’t share any of your personal information online” are becoming everyday turns of phrase just like… Read more »

As they streak up and down the ice, you notice it. You’re not looking at their jerseys, looking for the puck or waiting for that big hit that starts a fight. No. It’s the little tufts of hair peeking out of their helmets, blown back from constantly skating up and… Read more »

Before the Wisconsin football team took the field Saturday, it had yet to put together a full four-quarter game. While it still didn’t accomplish that task in a 31-14 win over Illinois, the team did at least play a complete game in the fourth quarter. The Badgers (4-2, 1-1 Big… Read more »

Drew Meyer plays a position the Wisconsin football team would rather not have on the field. The redshirt freshman is a punter — and based off his statistics through five games — a pretty darn good one, too. “It’s kind of funny,” Meyer said. “Family and friends are always like,… Read more »

LINCOLN, Neb. — When it comes to third-and-short, or fourth-and-short, Wisconsin has not had much luck converting the once-easy situational downs. And it’s a problem that made the trip with them to Memorial Stadium this weekend. With just more than a minute left in the game, Wisconsin (3-2, 0-1 Big… Read more »

Three hundred and sixty four days ago, Camp Randall roared. The normally solid red bowl was freckled black. Nebraska was finally in town. But little to its knowledge, Nebraska was about to receive one of the worst welcomes to the Big Ten it could have feared. It was highly… Read more »

I was sitting in my living room, enveloped in the large forest green cushions of my couch, when Antonio Freeman made “The Catch.” It was Nov. 6, 2000. I was only 9 years old — a wee little fourth-grader — yet I remember that catch as if I were a… Read more »

Let the Joel ‘Sunshine’ Stave era begin. For now, anyway. As the first freshman quarterback to start for Wisconsin since Jim Sorgi in 2000, Stave led Wisconsin to a 37-26 win over University of Texas at El Paso in its final nonconference match of the season Saturday. The Greenfield, Wis.,… Read more »

Wisconsin’s offense cannot seem to avoid drama from week to week. With a new offensive line coach last week, this week a perceived quarterback competition obscured who would start under center Saturday against Texas at El Paso (1-2). Last Saturday, as the Badgers (2-1) trailed Utah State 14-3 at halftime,… Read more »

Wisconsin is not accustomed to having a tough defense bail out a struggling offense time and again. Say it ain’t so, but through three games in the 2012 season, the defense’s play has been the key factor in keeping the Badgers (2-1) within striking distance of a win. As the… Read more »

When it comes to the sports I cover, I never like to make predictions. People will ask me my thoughts on how the team looks for the coming season, and while I readily give an answer, once they start asking where I think that team will finish, I immediately refuse… Read more »

Shock and surprise rocked the Wisconsin football program Sunday night when head coach Bret Bielema announced the departure of offensive line coach Mike Markuson. But the surprises didn’t end there. Markuson’s replacement was none other than an untested UW graduate assistant, Bart Miller. “Oh I was definitely surprised,” running backs… Read more »

Not much has changed for Wisconsin football’s defensive line since last year. With a junior, two redshirt juniors and a redshirt senior, the line is one of the most experienced groups on this 2012 Wisconsin squad. “We have definitely high expectations and high standards for ourselves because we’re a group… Read more »

It was 4th-and-two at the Wisconsin 41. The Wisconsin football team was holding onto a 26-21 lead, but its defense was struggling and Northern Iowa was threatening to take the lead with just under three minutes left in the game. As UNI redshirt freshman Sawyer Kollmorgen released his pass on… Read more »

Football season is finally upon us. I’m football beat writer Kelly Erickson here at the Herald, joined today by Sports Editor Ian McCue. Wisconsin opens its season at home today against Northern Iowa. High expectations surround the Badgers this season as they attempt to win their third Big Ten title… Read more »

Last year, it took the men’s hockey team 15 steps to hit the ice. This fall, that ten-second walk turns into 59, from sitting in its new locker room to stepping on the ice. This fall, Wisconsin hockey will unveil the much-anticipated LaBahn Arena. The new rink will serve as… Read more »

It’s hard to remember a time when football wasn’t America’s game. Sure, baseball is heralded as America’s pastime, but for decades football has grown to such an extent of popularity that it outstrips any other TV programming by a mile. But the rise of football has also gone hand-in-hand with… Read more »

CHICAGO — In a room full of about 48 football players and head coaches, there is no shortage of confidence. Each player is incredibly hopeful about the upcoming season, never willing to admit nerves about their chances, especially in rivalry matchups. The Big Ten is riddled with rivalries, but perhaps… Read more »

CHICAGO — Just as Hermione Granger corrected Ron Weasley’s incorrect pronunciation (“it’s levioooosa, not leviosaa”), Brett Bielema confirmed the correct way to pronounce his Heisman candidate’s name. Start getting used to it kids, it’s Mon-tay, not Mon-tee. As Bret Bielema addressed the media on the first day of the Big… Read more »

On June 30, former Badger defenseman Justin Schultz confirmed what everyone had been anticipating for weeks: He’s finally making the jump to the NHL. After days of guessing where he might end up off a short list of teams that included Vancouver, New York, Toronto and Ottawa, the two-time All-American… Read more »

Justin Schultz is an Oiler. The West Kelwona, B.C. native and highly touted defenseman is foregoing his senior year at UW to start his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers. Ever since Wisconsin’s playoff run ended on March 11 in Denver, Schultz’s return was called into question. At the time,… Read more »

More than anything, hockey head coach Mike Eaves’ objectives and coaching style are most likely a result of his own playing career. After his triumphs in college, Eaves spent some time playing for the Oklahoma City Stars, a farm team for the Minnesota Stars. He knew he was not the… Read more »

Standing at about 5-foot-10, Mike Eaves, 55, is not intimidating in stature. He will be the first to make jokes about his physical appearance, which does not bear the extreme marks of a former hockey player — no noticeable missing teeth and no telltale crooked nose that was broken one… Read more »

While it’s a topic somewhat removed now, I can’t help but shake off the nagging thoughts that came immediately after the Washington Capital’s right-winger Joel Ward ended the Boston Bruins season. Fans, not only loyal to Boston, but other NHL teams as well, took to Twitter expressing their disappointment in… Read more »

On Saturday, I covered just my second Wisconsin football spring game since being on campus. And let me tell you, like every other year, it was much ado about nothing. As great as it is to touch base with the team and see how it’s starting to develop in the… Read more »

Newly anointed Wisconsin wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni is thankful it is only spring camp. With possibly one of the youngest, least experienced positions under his watch, he feels blessed that the season still lies months away. “Thank God,” Azzanni said when a reporter mentioned the season was still far… Read more »

There’s no denying it; the Stanley Cup playoffs have been one intense affair this year — and we’re only in the first round. Last week I laid out a few reasons why sports fans should watch the playoffs. One of those reasons was the fighting and just how ridiculous the… Read more »

It’s been four years since Michael and Marcus Trotter’s brother committed suicide. Aleksas Trotter was a state-champion high school gymnast, training for college and a shot at the Olympics before a shoulder injury put an end to his career. At the age of 21, on April 19, 2008, after a… Read more »

In the middle of April, with deliciously warm days and baseball finally getting in full swing, hockey simply is not on the radar. But much to the contrary, the NHL playoffs are upon us. And oh boy, what a post season it has been so far. Between unbelievable upsets, buzzer-beaters… Read more »

Unfortunately for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, the end came sooner than hoped after only one hard-fought series in the postseason. Similarly, head coach our discussion with head coach Mike Eaves about the season is finally drawing to a close, but not before discussing his freshman forwards and just what… Read more »

The Wisconsin Football team is only five practices into its spring season. Yet, head coach Bret Bielema and company have already managed to make things pretty interesting. Between landing another graduate transfer quarterback in Maryland’s Danny O’Brien and Sporting News’ continued reports on the recruiting issues between Bielema and Ohio… Read more »

In the third installment of Herald Sports’ lengthy Q&A with Wisconsin men’s hockey head coach Mike Eaves, the discussion turns toward Eaves’ younger Badgers and the growth he’s seen in them over the season. Kelly Erickson: Now focusing on your younger guys. We’ll start with your sophomore class. As a… Read more »

After reflecting on the year and discussing his breakout sophomore forward Mark Zengerle, Wisconsin men’s hockey head coach Mike Eaves and Herald Sports turned the conversation toward two-time All-American defenseman Justin Schultz in the second installment of the Q&A on the state of Badgers hockey. Kelly Erickson: On that topic,… Read more »

In the week prior to the 2012 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, concerns over whether Tiger Woods would finally notch his 18th major or not stormed through sports media. Well, after finishing five over par, the clear answer is no. But through all the questions following Woods like a… Read more »

After an overtime wrap-around goal killed their season, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team boarded a plane home March 11 with the harsh reality of the offseason quickly setting in. The Badger Herald’s Kelly Erickson was eventually able to catch up with head coach Mike Eaves to discuss, at length, the… Read more »

For the second year in a row, the Wisconsin football team will welcome in a transfer quarterback. Former Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien has decided to transfer to Wisconsin with two years of eligibility. Like Russell Wilson before him, O’Brien is graduate transfer and will be able to play immediately for… Read more »

In collegiate athletics, turnover is simply unavoidable. Athletes come and go as they graduate or cash in on professional deals. So at the start of the 2011 season, the Wisconsin football team — with all its high hopes and expectations riding on the shoulders of a senior class, which instantly… Read more »

Between the New Orleans Saints’ bounty program, all the fallout that came with it and Peyton Manning’s short bout of free agency, it’s undoubtedly been a raucous offseason for the NFL. But once again, Tim Tebow steals the show. John Elway unsurprisingly pursued Manning and gave the clear impression that… Read more »

On the same day the Wisconsin basketball team exited the NCAA Tournament in heartbreaking fashion, the football team kicked off its spring camp. It’s been a tumultuous offseason for head coach Bret Bielema & Co., as the Badgers had to replace six assistant coaches — a majority of whom were… Read more »

Friday night, millions of tiny voices screamed out in agony as brackets everywhere were torn asunder. Consistent and accountable No. 2-seeded Duke had lost to No. 15-seeded Lehigh 75-70. Up to that point, March was not quite so mad or chaotic like its nickname promises. But with the Missouri loss… Read more »

It wasn’t until the third period that I realized I wasn’t ready for the hockey season to be over. Listening to WIBA’s Brian Posick’s call the final game of a best-of-three series Sunday night against Denver was one of the very few times in my reporting career I felt the onset… Read more »

The facial hair has made its traditional — and somewhat disgusting — return, meaning only one thing: It’s playoff time. The Wisconsin men’s hockey team (16-16-2, 11-15-2 WCHA) journeys to Denver to face off with the Pioneers (21-11-4, 16-8-4 WCHA) in a best-of-three series — in what UW hopes to… Read more »

The kid can play. And no, I’m not talking about Justin Schultz. As head coach Mike Eaves’ go-to centerman, sophomore forward Mark Zengerle showed everyone why he should be considered not only one of the WCHA’s best forwards, but also a viable candidate for the Hobey Baker. The Rochester, N.Y.,… Read more »

MINNEAPOLIS — The Wisconsin men’s hockey team was primed to play the ultimate spoiler with only one period of hockey left to play in the regular season. With a 1-0 lead and 20 minutes left to play on the road in Minneapolis, the Badgers (16-16-2, 11-15-2 WCHA) had to keep… Read more »

Any Badger hockey player will tell you just how exceptional the hockey culture is in the state of Wisconsin. But that appreciation pales in comparison to the culture in neighborly Minnesota. Aptly nicknamed “The State of Hockey,” the sport permeates all ages throughout the land of 10,000 lakes. From mini… Read more »

After a 3-0 shutout against Denver on Feb. 17, junior forward Ryan Little joked about setting up his brother — sophomore forward Sean Little — for his first collegiate goal. At one point against the Pioneers, Sean Little was waiting right in the slot as Ryan Little fed him the… Read more »

All season long, when the Wisconsin men’s hockey team has taken a road trip, there’s always been concern over how the youngest Badgers will handle a new atmosphere. As they head to Bemidji State (15-14-3, 9-12-3 WCHA) this weekend, the youngsters aren’t the only ones who have never visited BSU… Read more »

Friday night — as the Wisconsin men’s hockey team was blanked for the first time at home this season in a 3-0 decision against No. 10 Denver — I had the unsettling feeling I would soon have to eat my own words. Sitting next to former Heralder Ben Worgull in… Read more »

Welcome to the Badger Herald live blog! I’m Kelly Erickson, Sports Content editor here at the Herald, joined by Brett Sommers, Statistics Editor. We’ll be coming to you live from the Kohl Center all evening as the Badgers kick off their final home series of the season, against Denver. The… Read more »

Only a few minutes journey down John Nolen Drive lies the Alliant Energy Center. Tucked away into a hill between the Coliseum and an unmarked rink, the unassuming gray building sinks into the ground. Near the doors, a few telltale mopeds are parked rain, snow or shine. Inside, photos line… Read more »

In my short career as a sportswriter covering the Badgers, I’ve done some pretty amazing things that, to be honest, I’ve seriously taken for granted. As a junior I’ve already covered a national championship team — and spoke with a few Olympians who also called that team home. In the… Read more »

Straight out of high school, Joseph LaBate embodies the youthful state of the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. Hockey is a rare beast in college athletics. Players can leave early for their shot at a professional career, but more often than not, they don’t even start their collegiate campaigns until they… Read more »

I cannot deny that, currently, the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department irks me. I have no gripes about a particular sport; rather, I’m upset with the new renovations that recently started at Camp Randall. In Wisconsin athletics, a strong sense of tradition permeates every sport at every level. And, unfortunately,… Read more »

Sometimes a team’s best performance simply doesn’t translate to a win, and unfortunately for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, that tragic fate awaited it Saturday night. In a 2-1 decision at the Kohl Center, Wisconsin (12-14-2, 7-12-2 WCHA) was swept for the second weekend in a row, this time by… Read more »

Welcome to the Herald Sports Live Blog! I’m Kelly Erickson, Sports Content Editor, joined by Brett Sommers, Statistics Editor, and Ian McCue, Associate Sports Editor. Ian is with us tonight, trying to flex his hockey muscles. We’ll be here all night, bringing you all the action from the Kohl Center… Read more »

Amid offseason turmoil on its coaching staff, the Wisconsin football team was nevertheless able to glue together its new recruiting class. As National Signing Day came and went, the Badgers amassed 19 letters of intent, seven of which came from preferred walk-ons. Head coach Bret Bielema knew it would be… Read more »

Wisconsin mens hockey head coach Mike Eaves will be the first to admit special teams play has not been an all-around strength of his team this year. In fact, he has no qualms acknowledging that when it comes to killing penalties, Wisconsin has been disappointing throughout the season — posting… Read more »

Consistency is an idea that seems to have thwarted the Wisconsin men’s hockey team this season. Heading into this weekend’s series at North Dakota, the Badgers were on a 5-1 roll and could not have appeared more confident about their game. But as Wisconsin’s road woes continued, the team returned… Read more »

With a new sense of maturity in tow, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team heads north into the surprisingly friendly confines of North Dakota’s Ralph Engelstad Arena. To start off the second half of the season, the Badgers (12-10-2, 7-9-2 WCHA) are on a 5-1 winning streak, showing new maturity and… Read more »

A 5-1 record in the last six games is certainly nothing to scoff at. Three weekends into the second half of its season, the youth-ridden men’s hockey team has finally started to turn its talent into consistent play and, ultimately, wins. In his weekly press conference Monday, head coach Mike… Read more »

The men’s hockey team may finally be able to shed the youthful tag it’s been wearing all year. After sweeping Alaska Anchorage (6-14-2, 3-14-1 WCHA) with 4-0 and 3-2 decisions at home, Wisconsin (12-10-2, 7-9-2 WCHA) earned its second conference sweep of the season — third sweep overall — and… Read more »

Heading into the 2011-12 season, a lot was expected of rookie defensemen Jake McCabe. The Eau Claire native was in the starting lineup from the beginning of the season alongside All-American blue liner Justin Schultz. Like any freshman, McCabe was adjusting to the pace of the game and trying to… Read more »

PASADENA, Calif. — It was the storyline from the beginning. The 98th Rose Bowl was expected to be a shootout. All season long, the No. 5 Oregon Ducks (12-2, 8-1 Pac-12) were a fast-paced offensive machine, while the No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers (11-3, 6-2 Big Ten) were methodical giants. Neither defense… Read more »

When considering college athletics, Wisconsin isn’t by any means immediately mentioned. But consider for a moment exactly what Wisconsin athletes have accomplished in the last several years: Football won the Big Ten title two years in a row, earned a Rose Bowl berth each year and produced two top-10 Heisman… Read more »

Welcome to the Badger Herald Live Blog! I’m Kelly Erickson, sports content editor here at the Herald, joined by Elliot Hughes, sports editor, coming to you live from the Rose Bowl in sunny Pasadena, Calif. We’ll be bringing you all the action as the Badgers (11-2) take on the Oregon… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — In football, statistics rule. Passer ratings track the best quarterbacks. Rushing yards denote the finest running backs in the game. Tackles and yards allowed indicate the fiercest of defenses. But the mark of a strong offensive line is hard to find. “Offensive linemen don’t really have too… Read more »

They’ve been there before. Last time it was a whole new world. Bright lights, walking among the stars — literally — and a whole new experience. This time around, when it comes to the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2, the Wisconsin Badgers mean business. “We’re going to take this trip… Read more »

Not many people would have thought that the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, with a rag-team of youngsters, would be sitting at 7-9-2 at the halfway point in the season. The Badgers’ record is not overwhelmingly astonishing, but three of those wins and one of those ties came against three teams… Read more »

Herald Sports has been bringing you grades all season long after each football game, rating each unit on a scale of one to five. Here’s a look at how the Wisconsin men’s hockey team fared against No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth after tying game one 3-3 and dropping game two 4-2. Offense… Read more »

While the football team was off winning a Big Ten title, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team was celebrating a bye week with some intense endurance-focused practices. But with yet another No. 1 team coming to town this weekend, the Badgers (7-8-1, 4-7-1 WCHA) are hoping all their hard work will… Read more »

Home has always been a gracious and caring place for the Badgers, as Madison has been exceptionally cruel to top-ranked teams. If you somehow forgot, here are a few reminders: The Wisconsin football team was undefeated at home for the second straight season. Men’s basketball did not lose a single… Read more »

Every week, Herald Sports will look back at the most recent Wisconsin football game and assign grades to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here’s a look at how Wisconsin edged out Michigan State 42-39 for the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS — The drama, the wait and the heartbreak are over. The Wisconsin Badgers are the 2011 Big Ten champions. In a game frighteningly similar to the team’s first matchup Oct. 22, No. 15 Wisconsin (11-2, 6-2) edged out No. 13 Michigan State (10-3, 7-2) 42-39 for the outright Big… Read more »

The Big Ten could not have asked for a better season under its new format with multiple upsets, primetime games and a budding rivalry between two revenge-minded teams who are set up for the rematch of the year. But before either Michigan State or Wisconsin even clinched their respective divisions,… Read more »

Ask any Badger defenseman about their trip to East Lansing earlier this season and they will mention something about a Hail Mary pass, a safety and a double reverse. While all these plays were major factors in Wisconsin’s demise against Michigan State, another factor was the defense’s inability to get… Read more »

With the Wisconsin men’s hockey team waffling around a 7-8-1 record with the injury bug biting hard, a bye week is a very welcome break. But junior defensemen Justin Schultz and sophomore forward Mark Zengerle could not be more ready for another game. “I would definitely want to be playing… Read more »

Every week, Herald Sports will look back at the most recent Wisconsin football game and assign grades to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here is a look at how the University of Wisconsin thrashed Penn State 45-7 for the Big Ten Leaders Division title. Quarterbacks… Read more »

Camp Randall Stadium is notorious for its game day atmosphere and the overall difficulty teams face when playing there. So when the Wisconsin football team pummeled Penn State 45-7 for a chance to play in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game, it also concluded another perfect season at home. For… Read more »

The score may suggest otherwise, but Wisconsin’s 5-2 win and series sweep over Mercyhurst was far from pretty. With the injury bug hitting Wisconsin (7-8-1, 4-7-1 WCHA) hard, there was no veteran forward on any of its lines. While the other forwards worked through some growing pains against Mercyhurst (6-7-1,… Read more »

Every week, Herald Sports will look back at the most recent University of Wisconsin football game and assign grades to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here’s a look at how Wisconsin’s second-half comeback helped the Badgers grind out a 28-17 win on the road against… Read more »

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It was gritty. It was ugly. But it might have been Wisconsin’s most impressive victory of the season. Despite trailing, in every sense of the word, 17-7 at half, the No. 17 Badgers (9-2, 5-2) launched a second-half comeback to beat Illinois 28-17 (6-5, 2-5). After a… Read more »

As much talent as the Wisconsin men’s hockey team has shown through 12 games, the Badgers have by no means won consistently. Last weekend, the Badgers gave their best performance to date, upsetting No. 1 Minnesota at home 3-1. Freshman goaltender Joel Rumpel turned away 24 shots on goal while… Read more »

The Wisconsin men’s hockey team clearly knows how to get things done at home, but playing on the road is by no means its forte. This week, Wisconsin (5-6-1, 4-5-1 WCHA) travels to No. 5 Colorado College (5-2-0, 3-2-0 WCHA), where some painful memories linger from last year. The Badgers… Read more »

Last year, J.J. Watt led the Badger defense statistically, but, most importantly, vocally — on and off the field. Without a doubt, Aaron Henry is UW’s vocal leader this season. He may not be able to figuratively carry the city around in the palm of his hand like Watt, but… Read more »

Every week, Herald Sports will look back at the most recent Wisconsin football game and assign grades to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here is a look at how the Badgers managed to claim Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the eighth consecutive year with a 42-13 win in… Read more »

If the Wisconsin men’s hockey team was young at the beginning of the season, then right now it’s experiencing some growing pains. After splitting last weekend’s home series with No. 1 Minnesota, head coach Mike Eaves talked about the disappointment Wisconsin felt following Saturday night’s 4-1 loss in his weekly… Read more »

MINNEAPOLIS — Eight years running. The Wisconsin football team proved it can win on the road in the Big Ten, gaining control of its own destiny and holding onto Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the eighth consecutive year Saturday after defeating rival Minnesota 42-13 at TCF Bank Stadium. Senior Nick Toon… Read more »

It was a cold, rainy October morning. My expectations for the Badgers were high, and despite this being their first road game, Wisconsin boasted a perfect 4-0 record at home and was coming off a 38-30 win over Michigan State the week before. Of course, my naïve freshman self gloated… Read more »

It’s all about the axe. The Wisconsin football team travels to Minnesota this Saturday to attempt to hold onto Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the eighth year running. According the linebacker Chris Borland, the main focus all week has been all about the legendary trophy. “Keeping the axe, that’s the biggest… Read more »

The Wisconsin men’s hockey team is ready to put any references to their youthful, inexperienced roster to rest. But when there are nine freshmen on the team — with a total of 20 underclassmen — those stunting adjectives are bound to stick around no matter the record, conference standing or… Read more »

Paul Bunyan’s Axe is finally up for grabs again. In his weekly press conference Monday, head coach Bret Bielema addressed the looming border battle with Minnesota and what it means to Wisconsin football, especially in light of the fact that the program’s standout quarterback has never played a down in… Read more »

It’s a topic avoided like an ugly baby or awkward run-in with that one-night stand from a few weeks ago. I personally don’t like to talk about it because there are valid points to both sides and I can never make up my mind. But in this week’s issue of… Read more »

The road has not been too kind to the Badgers this year. Before winning three out of four games at home in the last two weeks and scoring 20 goals during that time, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team took a little trip up to Houghton, Mich., where it lost two… Read more »

Just less than two years ago, the Wisconsin football team went on the road and was shockingly held to only 99 rushing yards in a very un-Wisconsin-like manner. Last weekend against Ohio State it happened again, except this time Wisconsin was held to only 89 yards. For a program like… Read more »

After scoring 19 goals in the past two weeks, drive and ambition are simply not issues for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. After splitting a penalty-packed, high-scoring series against Nebraska-Omaha head coach Mike Eaves addressed the media in his weekly Monday press conference, assuring that at the close of the… Read more »

Agonizing losses seem to come in bunches. With 20 seconds to go in the game, the Badgers were in need of a score after giving up an early lead. Wisconsin couldn’t create any offense to secure the win and faced a heartbreaking loss. Luckily for the men’s hockey team (4-4-0,… Read more »

It was like the perfect sport-themed movie where the classic underdog triumphs in the end and dominates its bigger, more intimidating opponent. Before you get your proverbial undies in a bunch, don’t worry, I’m not talking about football. The unranked Wisconsin men’s hockey team swept then-No. 5 North Dakota at… Read more »

If Brendan Kelly could trade in his two fourth quarter sacks of Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins for a win, he would. In Wisconsin’s heartbreaking 37-31 loss Saturday in East Lansing, Mich., the redshirt junior defensive end was in Cousins’ face all game, sacking him twice for 19 yards and… Read more »

He normally sports a white sweater with a small motion “W” emblem on the left of his chest over a red turtleneck. To any Wisconsin hockey fan, he’s instantly recognizable. He is Phil Dzick. Mostly known simply as “Phil,” he’s been leading cheers at Wisconsin men’s hockey games since 1981.… Read more »

Every week, Herald Sports will look back at the most recent Wisconsin football game and assign grades to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here’s a look at Wisconsin’s performance in its heartbreaking 37-31 loss at Michigan State for the second year in a row. Quarterbacks… Read more »

There are 16 underclassmen — 10 of which are freshmen. And no, it’s not Wisconsin. North Dakota has found itself in a similar situation to the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, fielding a slew of young skaters. But the fact remains that North Dakota is still a feared power, returning nine… Read more »

It’s been said the Wisconsin men’s hockey team is young and inexperienced. So far this season the Badgers have won only one of their four games. The three losses were all a result of an overtime goal. So while we can sit here and say 1-3 is terrible, we have… Read more »

It was 2nd and 2; Indiana wasn’t having a great day, but the run was working. From his own 33-yard line, IU running back Stephen Houston saw UW linebackers Mike Taylor and Chris Borland shift inside. Houston bounced outside and took it down the Indiana sideline 67 yards and into… Read more »

Every week Herald Sports will look back at the most recent Wisconsin football game and grade to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here’s a look at how the Badgers picked apart the Indiana Hoosiers in a 59-7 victory. Quarterbacks — 4.5 out of 5 This… Read more »

After Wisconsin upset the previously undefeated, No. 1 Ohio State men’s basketball team last February, the Kohl Center was momentarily known as a place where streaks went to die. Unfortunately, that still rang true for Wisconsin’s women’s hockey team Sunday afternoon. In a 3-2 loss, UW’s unbeaten streak — tied… Read more »

It may not have been 83 points like last year, but no one can complain about 59. The Wisconsin football team continued to dominate as its offense, defense and special teams all scored in a 59-7 win over Indiana Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, moving to 6-0 in the process.… Read more »

“Keep it classy” is a phrase often used as a sincere hope that you have a good time. Wisconsin football fans are not, in the definitive sense of the phrase, keeping it classy. Thursday morning, football season ticket holders received an email on behalf of athletic director Barry Alvarez and… Read more »

Competition is the name of the game. It’s the base of all sports: one player pitted against another, even if they’re on the same team. During his weekly Monday press conference, Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema noted an open competition between two of his outside linebackers — senior Kevin… Read more »

There really is no way around it — Wisconsin’s men’s hockey team is young. Yet a trio of sophomore forwards that has only been together for a year has already landed itself leading roles for the Badgers. Mark Zengerle, Micheal Mersch and Tyler Barnes, while not the most veteran forwards,… Read more »

Head coach Mike Eaves said it would be a process and through two games, that process is already starting to take shape. In their season-opening series at the Kohl Center, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team split the weekend 1-1 against Northern Michigan. Both nights, the Badgers found themselves down 2-0… Read more »

If you were worried about the Wisconsin men’s hockey team last year, then prepare for another season of questions. Mainly, who will play in goal? And who will score goals? Not to be too pessimistic, but there are possibly more questions about this team right now than answers. All head… Read more »

With a bye week immediately after their biggest win so far this season, the Wisconsin football team is focusing on getting healthy and developing the underclassmen. Head coach Bret Bielema addressed the media Tuesday and urged the need to get healthy, rather than ride the momentum from the Nebraska win… Read more »

Every week Herald Sports will look back at the most recent Wisconsin football game and award grades to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here’s a look at how the Badgers handled their toughest opponent yet in a 48-17 victory over Nebraska. Quarterbacks — 5 out… Read more »

At the hands of quarterback Russell Wilson, the Wisconsin football team has silenced critics and proven that it means business. In the days before the Big Ten opener against newcomer Nebraska, critics felt neither team had faced any major tests through their nonconference schedule. But Saturday night was the test… Read more »

The day has finally arrived. As the Wisconsin football team validated its stature among the Big Ten’s elite last season — and through the beginning of this season — Badger Nation has been anxiously awaiting this weekend. Inaugurating the Cornhuskers into the conference in one of the toughest atmospheres to… Read more »

It’s time. Nebraska is in town. Saturday night, under the Camp Randall Stadium lights, the No. 7 Wisconsin football team opens conference play against the newest Big Ten addition, No. 8 Nebraska. In a showdown between the undefeated Leaders and Legends frontrunners, both teams face their toughest opponents to… Read more »

Scoring 24 goals in the first series of the season is nothing to complain about. Extending its unbeaten streak from last season with a 13-0 win over the Lindenwood Lady Lions, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team has gone 29 games without a loss. Nearly every Badger scored on the weekend,… Read more »

Add blowout No. 4 to the record books. In its final non-conference game of the season, the Wisconsin football team crushed the South Dakota Coyotes, 59-10. While the Badgers weren’t necessarily in top form to begin the game, quarterback Russell Wilson opened up the field with the passing game, proving… Read more »

Wisconsin women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson doesn’t like distractions. But regardless of that disdain, Friday night’s season opener is full of them. Between getting a new season under way, unveiling its 2011 national championship banner and missing a portion of its team, Wisconsin knows it has to stay focused.… Read more »

Already boasting one of the strongest resumes a hockey coach could ask for, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team’s very own Mark Johnson can now add “Lester Patrick Award recipient” to his list of accolades. The award itself is one of hockey’s most distinguished. In 1966, it was presented to the… Read more »

Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema has often gone on the record describing his offense as “not sexy.” The run game has always been a prominent feature moving the ball down the field. It’s a dink-and-dunk affair the University of Wisconsin has been famous for. Wisconsin may always be a… Read more »

Every week Herald Sports will look back at the most recent Wisconsin football game and award grades to each position group on a scale of zero to five. Here’s a look at how the Badgers managed Soldier Field’s environment in downing the Northern-Illinois Huskies 49-7. Quarterbacks — 4.5 out of… Read more »

CHICAGO — It turns out the Badgers have nothing to fear about Soldier Field or former defensive coordinators. Wisconsin (3-0) committed more than enough penalties in its 49-7 win over Northern-Illinois (1-2), but still showed a strong offensive front both passing and running the ball. After the Huskies tied the… Read more »

Since about mid-June, Badger fans and media alike have been riding the Russell Wilson train and it’s certainly not about to slow down anytime soon. Through fall camp, it was rare if media sports outlets failed to mention Wilson at least once. Days before the Nevada-Las Vegas game, everyone was… Read more »

Standing at a lofty 5-foot-9 and sporting a wide smile, Antonio Fenelus isn’t exactly the most intimidating cornerback at first glance. Fenelus’ friendly off-field demeanor and his below-average height don’t necessarily reflect his play on the field. The senior cornerback does as much as he can to get his hands… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team will have a full plate this year. UW released its 2011-12 schedule Monday and is slated to face 14 teams that played in the postseason last year. After finishing 16-15 (10-6 Big Ten) last year, UW will face six teams that finished in… Read more »

So far the Wisconsin football team has had a taste of the great, the alright and the bite of injuries. Don’t let the shutout completely fool you: The Badgers’ (2-0) 35-0 trouncing of the Oregon State Beavers (0-2), while dominating, wasn’t initially pretty or their most efficient play, thanks to… Read more »

Holding strong after a season-opening trouncing of University of Nevada-Las Vegas, the Wisconsin football team is looking for similar success against the Oregon State Beavers Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. While the Badgers opened their season under the lights with a dominant 51-17 win over UNLV, Oregon State struggled against… Read more »

The Honey Badger may have been dubbed one of the fiercest animals on the planet, but its distant cousin, the Wisconsin Badger, has recently been getting some bad publicity. Earlier this week — Tuesday, to be exact — The Wall Street Journal ran an article titled “Why Beavers Are Braver… Read more »

The Wisconsin football team could not have asked for a better season opener. Not only did it play under the lights on national television, it showcased its talent in almost every way possible, thrashing the Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels, 51-17. Only to add to all the perks, quarterback Russell Wilson single-handedly… Read more »

Wisconsin football is mainly known for three things: offensive linemen, tight ends and running backs. Between one 1,000-yard rusher and one four-yards-shy-of-being-a-1,000-yard rusher, James White and Montee Ball are ready to pick up where they left off last season. Entering the much anticipated 2011 season, White and Ball present a… Read more »

It’s never too early to talk hockey. After spending about a month-and-a-half in Canada this summer, I have never been more excited for the hockey season to start. From my personal observations, it is no exaggeration to say Canadians are obsessed with hockey. During my visit, their equivalent of ESPN… Read more »

There’s already been a lot of talk surrounding the Badgers this season. High expectations and Rose Bowl hopes are often mentioned whenever a whisper of Wisconsin is mentioned. With the season opener days away, head coach Bret Bielema addressed the media in his weekly press conference. With expectations in tow,… Read more »

Right about now, new Badger quarterback Russell Wilson is pouring over playbooks, learning the language of UW’s offense and working out in anticipation of one of the most buzzed-about seasons in recent program history. One way or another, Wilson is making some sort of adjustment for this upcoming season. There’s… Read more »

Summer temperatures are rising throughout the Midwest, and with Russell Wilson now a Badger, Wisconsin especially can look forward to more heat. In a press conference Tuesday, UW football head coach Bret Bielema expressed his excitement for what his new quarterback’s presence on campus will mean for the team. “He’s… Read more »

Four national titles in six years. While Wisconsin upended No. 1 Ohio State on the football field and the basketball court, its very own No. 1 team brought home yet another national title. Football brought Badger nation back to Pasadena, but unable to bring home a victory its bid for… Read more »

What a year it has been. Between toppling No. 1 Ohio State twice, a return trip to the Rose Bowl and a national championship, Wisconsin athletics has had a remarkable year. But for several sports, it’s not quite over. As the campus rejoices with the final hours of class while… Read more »

Wisconsin women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson is a legend on the ice and as a coach, but it seems things aren’t exactly going his way in the latter arena. Last fall Penn State received an $88 million private donation intended for a start-of-the-art hockey arena and to found a… Read more »

Freshman Nicky Stracar doesn’t want to get off the court. As one of the standout freshman on the Wisconsin women’s tennis team, Stracar would rather stay out on the court as long as possible than take a nice break after a hard day’s workout. “She’s a really hard worker,” redshirt… Read more »

For the Wisconsin women’s tennis team, its final weekend at home could not have gone any better.The Badgers ended their regular season with a dramatic, emotional 4-3 win over Illinois Sunday. After a strong 4-3 win over Iowa Saturday, the Badgers came out ready to continue the success against the Fighting… Read more »

Last season, Wisconsin’s offense averaged 41.5 points per game. In its annual spring game, UW failed to score a single touchdown. Saturday, with a new format pitting first-team offense against first team-defense, head coach Bret Bielema got the more competitive game he was hoping for, with the defense winning 29-27.… Read more »

I’ve preached to you about women’s hockey. I’ve mentioned the 180 the softball team has taken. Now, it’s time to shed some light on a few of Wisconsin’s lesser-known athletes. If you like water, boats, oars and the ability to flex some insane muscle mass, rowing may very well be… Read more »

The Wisconsin women’s tennis team is ready to leave it all on the court. Returning home for its final matches of the regular season, Wisconsin (12-10, 3-5 Big Ten) will host Iowa (6-13, 3-5 Big Ten) Saturday and Illinois (9-10, 5-3 Big Ten) Sunday. After a confidence building 4-3 win… Read more »

Get ready for change: Wisconsin football is mixing things up this year. With the annual spring game Saturday, head coach Bret Bielema revealed at his Monday press conference he will pit the first-string offense against the first-string defense in this year’s spring game. “One of the changes that we’re going… Read more »

Making new friends is always a great thing. New relationships are formed that could last forever — if the person is really that awesome. But trying to be friends with one of those people you just can’t stand — you know, that person that somehow has found a way to… Read more »

Team leaders aren’t the only ones who can produce inspired efforts. On the men’s basketball team, for instance, sophomore forward Mike Bruesewitz brought energy to the court from the bench. On seemingly every team, there are role players who bring that special something to the squad to keep spirits up… Read more »

Everybody loves a good comeback. The Philadelphia Eagles’ 28 unanswered points in seven-and-a-half minutes to beat the New York Giants in Week 15 was one of the best moments in the 2010 NFL season. Lance Armstrong was given a less than 50 percent chance to live after being diagnosed with… Read more »

Off to one of its best starts in recent years, the Wisconsin women’s tennis team still wants more. With an 11-7, 2-2 Big Ten record, Wisconsin has renewed energy and a hunger for victory that is pushing them to continually improve. “We’re just trying to make sure that we get… Read more »

What’s more exciting than watching baseball all day? Well, probably watching football, hockey or basketball all day. In today’s sports world filled with adrenaline pumping, full-contact, grinding-it-out-for-the-win excitement, baseball’s classy, leisurely style just doesn’t have quite the same effect on the general public. Sure, baseball is “America’s pastime,” but the… Read more »

Why? I find myself asking that on what seems like a daily basis. In the sports world, I have many whys: Scott Baker, why must you look so promising, but then put up less-than-impressive stats? (Probably the reason I’ve never been a big Baker fan.) Tiger Woods, why did you… Read more »

Erie, P.A. — Four national championships in six years. It doesn’t get much better than that. The Wisconsin women’s hockey team claimed the Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference trophy and playoff trophy, and now it completes the trifecta: bringing the National Championship trophy back to Madison after beating Boston University… Read more »

Erie, P.A. — Meghan Duggan has been honored as the best player in women’s college hockey. With 86 points, Duggan is tied as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s point leader, ranks second in points per game with 2.15, goals with 39, assists with 47, assists per game with 1.8 and… Read more »

Selection Sunday may not have gone as planned, but no matter the opponent, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team is ready for anything. In a shocking selection, Wisconsin will host WCHA rival Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA quarterfinals this Saturday night at the Kohl Center. The Bulldogs — last year’s national champions… Read more »

Yup, you guessed it, women’s hockey again. Early Thursday morning, the USA Hockey Foundation released this season’s Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalists. While three Badgers — forwards Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker — were all under consideration, Duggan and Knight made it into the top 10. Noora Räty… Read more »

There was Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita from the Chicago Blackhawks. Then there was Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier of the Edmonton Oilers. And don’t forget Batman and Robin. Yet another dynamic duo has been born this season: senior forward Meghan Duggan and sophomore forward Brianna Decker of the Wisconsin… Read more »

With his team favored to win the WCHA Final Face-Off this weekend, head coach Mark Johnson of the Wisconsin women’s hockey team doesn’t plan on letting anyone down. After ending St. Cloud’s season last weekend 9-3 and 5-1 respectively, Wisconsin will head to Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., to face… Read more »

New season, new life. With the regular season behind it, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team hosted St. Cloud State at the Eagle’s Nest, sweeping them 9-3 and 5-1, respectively, and earning a spot in the WCHA Final Face-off next weekend. While the Huskies didn’t have the most ideal regular season… Read more »

An undefeated season is the ultimate dream. But when you have a 30-plus game season, not losing a single game isn’t the easiest feat. Playing a total of 34 games and losing only a couple certainly isn’t something to take for granted, though. So, when’s the last time a hockey… Read more »

Win or go home. Postseason has begun for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team. The Badgers host the St. Cloud State Huskies this weekend at the Eagle’s Nest in Verona, and the squad is heading into the weekend knowing it has to win to move on. “This is just a two… Read more »

It’s playoff time. This weekend, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team hosts St. Cloud State at the Eagle’s Nest in Verona. Once a player himself, UW head coach Mark Johnson noted in his press conference Monday that it’s certainly an exciting time of the year. Finishing the regular season with a… Read more »

Earlier this week, my fellow associate editor here at the Herald, Elliot Hughes, made a very compelling argument for the growing intensity of the rivalry between Ohio State and Wisconsin. That was in place of the latter’s rivalry with Minnesota. Elliot’s argument was spot-on, but also a little eye-opening considering… Read more »

Playing with the likes of Hilary Knight, Meghan Duggan, Brianna Decker and the rest of the talented Wisconsin women’s hockey team makes it hard to get noticed — especially when your playing defense. But as the postseason gets progressively closer, sophomore defenseman Stef McKeough has continued to stand out as… Read more »

It was certainly an emotional day for hockey. Sunday, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team honored six seniors in its last home game of the regular season. Later, the team was presented with the WCHA Championship Trophy. In between all of that, there were 60 minutes of hockey to be played.… Read more »

When Hilary Knight requests something from you, you listen. When a silver medal winner, a 100-goal scorer challenges you to attend her game, you rise up to that challenge whole-heartedly. “I know there’s a lot of stuff going on on campus everyday,” Knight said. “This is a chance to have… Read more »

Talk about distractions. Sunday marks the Wisconsin women’s hockey team’s last regular season home game, and while it may mark the ending of another season, it’ll be a celebration of the success the Badgers have already had. Between sending off five seniors and the awarding of the WCHA conference title,… Read more »

The last time the Packers were in the Super Bowl, I was 7 years old. I could not have told you who John Elway was before that game, but my 7-year-old self would not forget that game, or grasp the idea that the Packers could lose a Super Bowl. Seriously,… Read more »

One more win and they’re WCHA champions. With a 16-point lead over second place Minnesota, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team needs just two more points to lock up the WCHA regular season title. After an attendance record-setting game against Minnesota last weekend, Wisconsin is confident it can bring the 10,668-fan… Read more »

No amount of snow will stop Wisconsin from welcoming Purdue to the Kohl Center. The University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team may not have had the most successful weekend after falling to Penn State, but in his weekly press conference Monday head coach Bo Ryan was solely focused on Tuesday’s… Read more »

If you build it, they will come. The Wisconsin women’s hockey team has built itself into an unstoppable force this season, boasting the nation’s No. 1 ranking and a 24-2-2 overall, 18-2-2-2 WCHA record. Saturday night, they came, as Wisconsin set an NCAA attendance record of 10,688 fans, greatly surpassing… Read more »

Fact 1: It’s the weekend. Fact 2: Men’s hockey and both basketball teams are out of town. So what are you going to do for entertainment this weekend besides hiking across campus in the freezing cold only to attend some crowded sauna of a party? Well if a good sports… Read more »

Punches have been thrown, words have been exchanged and the rivalry lives on. It would be hard to find two teams in college hockey stronger and on hotter streaks right now than Wisconsin (23-2-1,17-2-1-1 WCHA) and Minnesota (18-6-1, 13-6-1-1 WCHA). Wisconsin hasn’t lost a game since Thanksgiving weekend, and Minnesota… Read more »

We’ve all heard about the Wisconsin women’s hockey players who represented the United States in the Olympics last year, but with six players who call Canada their home, USA hockey isn’t the only national organization taking notice of the Badgers. Over winter break, forwards Mallory Deluce and Carolyne Prevost, along… Read more »

They may be No. 1 in the country, but University of Wisconsin women’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson doesn’t want anyone getting distracted. After facing conference rival Minnesota-Duluth last weekend and finding success — despite a close call in a shootout Saturday night — Wisconsin heads back to the Kohl… Read more »

Dubbed as Super Bowl favorites, the Green Bay Packers struggled after being plagued with injuries through the first half of the season. After an embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 14, it is highly probable no one saw the Packers making it to the NFC Championship. With their… Read more »

It’s no joke. St. Cloud was one big sieve. Kicking off the second half of the season, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team (22-2-0, 16-2-0 WCHA) took on a winless St. Cloud squad (0-22-1, 0-17-1-1 WCHA) at the Kohl Center and outscored the struggling team 16-0 in two weekend games. The… Read more »

Jan. 20, 2008, was the end of an era. It was bitter cold, with about a negative 21-degree wind chill. Everything was on the line. One drive away from a trip to the Super Bowl, Brett Favre intended to throw a pass to Donald Driver. In some cruel twist of… Read more »

Several years ago there was this hockey game where a bunch of young Americas played against a group of seemingly invincible Russians. Those kids representing the United States won and went down in history as one of the best teams to play the game. Their stunning win could only be… Read more »

The 2010 football season has been nothing short of amazing I was looking forward to this season as of Jan. 7, 2010. It did not disappoint. It started out with a tough matchup between Boise State and Virginia Tech where Heisman hopeful Kellen Moore had minutes to move the Boise… Read more »

The Badgers are not the only team with two returning Olympians who have turned their teams around. Surprised? After its second loss of the season, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team heads on the road to face a revamped North Dakota squad. Suffering their first loss at home to Minnesota-Duluth, Wisconsin… Read more »

The BCS still sucks. It’s been a common theme for several years now. But another trend seems to be on the rise in college football: Players cannot seem to resist staying out of trouble. This season has endured a couple of scandals so far this season. I would say one… Read more »

Being swept twice in two weekends has got to hurt. If giving up two games to North Dakota last weekend was not enough, Wisconsin just could not find the game winning goals this weekend against Minnesota-Duluth, losing 6-5 Friday night and 3-2 Saturday as both games went into overtime. With… Read more »

Want some more exciting women’s hockey? Keep your eyes on freshman forward Madison Packer. Coming off an injury in the off season, Packer has only played in four games this season, but has already started to prove her worth. Head coach Mark Johnson talked about Packer’s rehabilitation so far and… Read more »

A little piece of advice: if you ever make a deal with someone, get it in writing. On Jan. 1, 2010, I was sitting in my living room watching the Rose Parade with my mother. As Ohio State’s cheerleaders walked by, I asked my mother if Wisconsin ever made it… Read more »

After sitting in a small car for four hours Sunday, all I was concerned about besides getting a long nap sometime soon were the new BCS rankings. It didn’t matter that the Vikings totally lucked out and somehow won their game or that my shockingly unpredictable fantasy team was kicking… Read more »

MINNEAPOLIS — Normally five goals should be enough to win a hockey game. For the Wisconsin women’s hockey team five goals was more than enough to defeat conference rival Minnesota Saturday afternoon. But five was just a bit short Friday night when the Badgers suffered their first loss 7-5.… Read more »

If only every game was played on a Wednesday. The Wisconsin men’s soccer team took on Illinois Chicago — head coach John Trask’s former team — and in their eighth overtime game of the season the Badgers notched another win. For the third Wednesday night game in a row, freshman… Read more »

Election day has come and gone. Now is the start of another two years of more unfulfilled promises. No offense government, but since you aren’t going to do what I want anyways, I care more about what bowl game the Badgers may end up in, whether the Packers are going… Read more »

The Badgers found success against their former coach earlier this season, but now it’s their current coach’s turn to face his former team. The Wisconsin men’s soccer team (2-12-2, 0-4-1 Big Ten) hasn’t had the most successful season thus far, but tonight, UW will look for its third win as… Read more »

Halloween wasn’t the only scary part of the weekend. WCHA rival Minnesota State-Mankato forced the Wisconsin women’s hockey team to play the ugliest series it has had all season. Wisconsin started out strong on Friday afternoon with two goals in the first period, but if it weren’t for Brooke Ammerman’s… Read more »

Six down, two to go. After a perfect home stand to start off the season, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team closes out its home slate against Minnesota State Mankato (2-3-1, 1-3-0) this weekend. Sporting an undefeated record, the Badgers (6-0-0, 4-0-0) hope to stay perfect through two more games at… Read more »

Hot off its second win of the season Wednesday, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team is chasing a third as it heads to Ohio State this weekend. In their last road game of the regular season, the Badgers (2-11-2, 0-3-1 Big Ten) hope to follow in the football team’s footsteps and… Read more »

It was windy. It was cold. It was their first win in almost two months. Finally getting their second win of the season the Wisconsin men’s soccer team shutout the Milwaukee Panthers 2-0. The last time Wisconsin got a win was Sept. 4 against Santa Clara at the UC Irvine… Read more »

There’s no better storyline than David beating Goliath. David is this little scrawny underdog that becomes a hero, and how can you not feel all warm and fuzzy inside afterward? But does anyone ever think about Goliath? I mean he’s probably not feeling all that confident at the time and… Read more »

Revenge certainly is sweet and for the No. 1 Wisconsin women’s hockey team, this weekend couldn’t be better. After Ohio State ended their season last year in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, the Badgers were hoping for a strong showing against the tough squad. Not only did Wisconsin… Read more »

With only five games left in the season, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team hosts another Big Ten matchup this Saturday against Northwestern. After a tough 4-3 loss at home against UW-Green Bay, Wisconsin has to move on from the disappointing result and prepare for Saturday. Head coach John Trask doesn’t… Read more »

It’s starting to feel like salt on an open wound. Facing instate rival UW-Green Bay, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team put up the most goals on the board in a single game all season. But it wasn’t quite enough as the Badgers fell 4-3 in another overtime loss. Playing in… Read more »

I’ve been to some pretty amazing football games. I sat through a blizzard to watch Brett Favre and the Packers beat the Seahawks in overtime (again). Snowballs were thrown, there were plenty of plays I couldn’t actually see, but it was a game I will never forget. Only a week… Read more »

Siblings are notorious for being competitive with each other in basically everything. But not the Ammerman sisters. Now in her third season, junior Brooke Ammerman has proven to be a huge asset to the Wisconsin women’s hockey team. Freshman forward Brittany Ammerman is suiting up in cardinal and white alongside… Read more »

It’s that time of year again. I sadly hang up my Joe Mauer jersey for the year as the Twins fail yet again to make if out of the AL Division series. Instead of letting that pathetic playoff run get me down I can look at the first half of… Read more »

Inexperienced, young and insecure? Not these freshmen. Halfway through their first season at Wisconsin, freshmen defensemen Luke Goodnetter and Blake Succa have eased into starting positions on the men’s soccer team and are helping build a strong defensive line. Through 11 games, Succa has played almost every minute, while Goodnetter… Read more »

Things were finally looking up for the Badgers, but in what’s turning into the story of the season, they weren’t able to pull off a win. The Wisconsin men’s soccer team seemed like a strong attacking team Sunday, but after letting in two goals in the first half, the squad… Read more »

Who said women’s hockey isn’t as exciting as men’s hockey? After 11 penalties on the weekend, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team opened up its WCHA season in one of the most physical games it has played in awhile. Through the first two periods of Friday night’s 7-1 win over Bemidji… Read more »

Coming off an exciting season-opening series against RPI, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team kicks off their WCHA season against Bemidji State this weekend at the Kohl Center. After outscoring RPI 13-0, the Badgers are hoping to keep the momentum rolling through this weekend’s matchups. The last time the Beavers and… Read more »

In what can only be described as a very frustrating 2-1 overtime loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies, the men’s soccer team can only move forward from here. Besides pushing the game into overtime after falling 1-0 a few minutes into the second half, there seemed to be very few… Read more »

A lot of things in life are overrated. Homework, for instance, is entirely overrated. I go to class, I pay attention, I take notes, but giving me busy work on top of class just doesn’t help anyone. Speaking of homework, Facebook is another overrated fact of life. I’ll admit I’m… Read more »

And they’re back. While they are a very different squad from 2008-09’s national championship squad, the women’s hockey team has a new energy and new confidence about them that was missing a year ago when head coach Mark Johnson and some of UW’s top players left for the Olympics. This… Read more »

With head coach Mark Johnson, senior forward Megan Duggan and junior forward Hilary Knight returning to the team after a year at the Olympics, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team is finally back together and hoping to get back to their winning ways. Last season Wisconsin had what could be called… Read more »

Ever since I was a little kid I have celebrated four major holidays: My birthday, Christmas, Thanksgiving and the football season opener. Football is that beautiful time between summer and my birthday where — in the days of my youth — Brett Favre shouted “Blue 58” every down like his… Read more »

It’s rivalry week for the men’s soccer team as they hit the road to take on Marquette. After dropping a 1-0 overtime decision against No. 16 Creighton, the Badgers feel as if they have to win this physical rivalry game. “It’s always exciting to play a rival in state such… Read more »

After only two games at home, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team gets back on the road this weekend to take on No. 16 Creighton. Sporting a 1-4-1 record, the Badgers are still looking for another win, as their only victory came in the first game of the season. Hitting the… Read more »

They’re building a fortress, one line at a time. For a team that’s been through a lot of change this season, the four defensive backs have proved to be a strong and solid aspect of the men’s soccer team. Senior Kyle McCrudden, junior Arnel Zahirovic, and freshmen Blake Succa and… Read more »

It’s a pretty common fact the BCS ranking system isn’t exactly ideal. But over the past couple of weeks I’ve been attempting to make sense of it and accept it for the imperfect system that it is. Since the working relationship has only lasted three weeks, I haven’t quite reached… Read more »

It was a tale of two games. While the Badgers weren’t able to produce a win at McClimon in their home opening weekend, they looked like two completely different teams between their Friday night game against San Diego Sate University and their tournament finale on Sunday against Dayton University. Walking… Read more »

It’s time to protect this house. The Wisconsin men’s soccer team finally opens its home season Friday night against San Diego State in the Wisconsin Soccer Classic. After spending the last two weekends on the road in California and Florida, new head coach John Trask makes his home debut. While… Read more »

What sucks more: Just flat out not winning the Heisman Trophy or having to give it back five years later? It’s like giving a kid a puppy and letting him name it and everything then two weeks later taking it away. It’s just better to never make that puppy your… Read more »

Team leaders, a budding rap career and a few video games on the side: Enter the 2010 captains of the men’s soccer team. Senior defenseman Aaron Nichols, goalie Ryan Vint and midfielder Jon Rzepka have been given the honor to lead their team this year, and they bring some unique… Read more »

So who’s ready for next season? Ok, let’s get through 2010 first, but with the realignment of conferences and the recently released divisions for the Big Ten, it’s difficult not to get overly excited for next fall. Only a week ago on Sept. 1, the Big Ten announced the conference… Read more »

Change is a good thing — at least the men’s soccer team hopes so. With a new coach and 14 freshmen, the Badgers are expecting the new talent to help push the team and set new standards. First-year head coach John Trask feels with all the changes going on around… Read more »

Three coaches in three seasons; it’s time for some stability. In the spring, John Trask was named head coach of the men’s soccer team, replacing Todd Yeagley, whose tenure was just one season. Prior to Yeagley, Jeff Rohrman was head coach, resigning after his seventh season. This constant change of… Read more »

It’s time to start rolling out the traditions again as college football gets ready to kick off another season. As teams hit the field — blue or the standard green — and marching bands practice spelling their state’s name, people are already starting to guess who will take home the… Read more »

In the shadow of the excitement of a bowl game, March Madness and a run at the national championship, non-revenue sports held their own — for the most part. While volleyball and softball had less-than-stellar seasons, both women’s soccer and men’s tennis fought their way into their respective NCAA Tournaments.… Read more »

After dropping only eight matches throughout the season — three in Big Ten play — the Wisconsin men’s tennis team finished its regular season strong at the No. 27 spot nationally. And it keeps getting better. Improving to 7-3 in Big Ten play from 4-6 in 2009, the Badgers showed… Read more »

He may not be the Badgers’ most vocal player, but senior Moritz Baumann definitely left his mark on Wisconsin’s men’s tennis team. Sitting at No. 22 nationally, and hailing from Inzlingen, Germany, he is a true leader of the Badgers on and off the court. Leading the team as captain… Read more »

Bidding farewell to its seniors in their last home match against their biggest competition in front of one of their largest home crowds, the Wisconsin men’s tennis team seemed like it was finally going to break its 17-match losing streak against the Ohio State Buckeyes. In heartbreaking fashion, they fell… Read more »

Ending the season with its biggest match of year, the No. 32 men’s tennis team hosts No. 4 Ohio State for Senior Day Sunday. Before facing the Buckeyes, the Badgers host the No. 75 Penn State Nittany Lions to start off their final home stand. After beating No. 72 Iowa… Read more »

Wisconsin got back on track this weekend, downing both No. 48 Northwestern and Purdue 5-2. The Badgers dominated the courts at Nielsen Tennis Stadium, dropping only four points on the weekend, and regained some confidence after a heartbreaking loss to Michigan the previous weekend. Saturday the Badgers faced the… Read more »

Hoping for a perfect weekend, the No. 30 Wisconsin men’s tennis team is looking to get back on track in conference play. Suffering a 4-3 loss on the road against Michigan last weekend, the Badgers look to continue the success they’ve enjoyed at home this season as they host No.… Read more »

With a heartbreaking loss to No. 11 Illinois, the men’s tennis team opened its Big Ten season just barely missing out on a 1-0 record. In a 4-3 decision, the Badgers had their fair share of ups and downs. Wisconsin had a strong showing in the doubles, ultimately winning the… Read more »

Losing only one point Sunday, the Wisconsin Badgers dominated a double header against No. 70 Illinois State and Western Illinois, building up their confidence as they prepare for conference play. The Badgers started the day off against the Illinois State Redbirds hoping for some tougher competition to give them a… Read more »

After an almost perfect match against in-state rival Marquette University, the No. 38 men’s tennis team looks to keep the momentum going as they head into a double-header against No. 70 Illinois State University, followed by Western Illinois University at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Sunday. Dropping only one point… Read more »

In a near perfect match against the Marquette University Golden Eagles, the UW men’s tennis team seems to be finding its rhythm in doubles play. After winning one of the last four matches, the team won the doubles point in only one match, which they ultimately lost overall 4-3 to… Read more »

With a chance to lead the Wisconsin women’s hockey team, interim head coach Tracey DeKeyser was hoping to find the success of past seasons — the Badgers made four straight Frozen Fours prior to this year. Those dreams were not realized and the experience as head coach was a different… Read more »

VERONA — Season’s over. Wisconsin’s reigning NCAA national champion women’s hockey team had its season ended in tear-jerking fashion Saturday as the Ohio State Buckeyes did not allow the Badgers a single win in the postseason. After an unstable season, the Badgers were looking at the playoffs as a fresh… Read more »

It’s playoff time. And the playoffs mean fresh starts. Compared with recent seasons, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team skated to a less-than-satisfactory regular season. None of that matters in the playoffs, though, as the slate is wiped clean, and the team gets a second chance to be the number one… Read more »

Facing its second border battle of the season, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team hits the road to finish out the regular season against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Despite the excitement of finishing their season in the rivalry, the Badgers are preparing to give a strong showing against the No. 2… Read more »

Wisconsin finished out its regular season home slate in style, sending its seniors out with a perfect farewell in the form of a 6-0 shutout over the Minnesota State Mavericks. After a rough start Friday, the Badgers suffered their first loss to the Mavericks in program history in a 5-3… Read more »

It’s not uncommon to see athletes pointing to the heavens or praying to God during games. Wisconsin freshman goaltender Becca Ruegsegger doesn’t pray to the man just for help — he’s the reason she’s out there. “It’s what motivates me, and it’s who I play for,” Ruegsegger said. “I want… Read more »

Saturday was simply unforgettable, but Sunday followed with nothing but frustration. Wisconsin played a once-in-a-lifetime game at the Culver’s Camp Randall Hockey Classic blowing out the Bemidji State Beavers 6-1. After the thrilling win, however, the Badgers were unable to keep the momentum rolling and suffered a frustrating 2-0 defeat.… Read more »

After being plagued with injuries, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team is ready to take the ice at full strength. The Badgers hit the road this weekend to face the Ohio State Buckeyes in a WCHA showdown. After being swept in one series and splitting two more series after break, the… Read more »

It was exciting, physical, frustrating and ended in yet another split series for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team. After a thrilling 5-3 win over the St. Cloud State Huskies on Friday, the Badgers came out Saturday hoping to get their second sweep of the season only to fall 4-3 in… Read more »

At first glance, sophomore forward Carolyne Prevost of the women’s hockey team does not seem very intimidating. Do not be fooled. Prevost knows her way around a roundhouse kick, and hockey is not the only sport where she has competed at a major championship and walked away with proof of… Read more »

Playing in front of the largest home crowd the Wisconsin women’s hockey team has ever seen is exciting in itself, but playing the U.S. Olympic team is even more thrilling. While Team USA dominated in Olympic-caliber fashion, the Badgers still had fun facing current and former teammates as well as… Read more »

Skating as a freshman on a national championship team can feel intimidating, but for forward Brianna Decker, it’s like she was made to play for the Badgers. Despite suffering an arm injury in the second game of the season, Decker fought back and has already been named Rookie of… Read more »

While the Wisconsin women’s hockey team struggles to get the puck in the net, its defense has consistently shown a strong effort in keeping opponents away from the goal. Squaring off against the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, who sit ahead of the Badgers in the WCHA and are ranked… Read more »

After a two week road trip, the women’s hockey team is back on home ice, getting ready to face division rival Minnesota-Duluth. Despite their struggles this year, the Badgers feel as if things are really coming together — they just need to be more consistent in finishing their games. The… Read more »

After a month-long home stand, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team is ready to hit the road this weekend and take on the St. Cloud State Huskies at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Coming off an exciting 6-4 win last weekend over the Wayne State Warriors, the Badgers… Read more »

Interim head coach Tracey DeKeyser has been with the team since the beginning. Now, in its 11th season, it’s finally her turn to be in charge. DeKeyser has been a part of the Wisconsin women’s hockey program since it first took the ice in 1999. Being a constant figure in… Read more »

It was a scoring frenzy as the Wisconsin women’s hockey team downed the Wayne State Warriors 6-2 at the Kohl Center Friday afternoon. Finally, the Badgers outplayed an inferior opponent, almost doubling the Warriors shots-on-goal (38 to 20) and dominating puck possession. With the return of freshman forward Brianna… Read more »

If there is one thing consistent about the Wisconsin women’s hockey team, it’s the fact it has continually played to the level of its opponents. Currently ranked sixth nationally, the team has split four of its five series this season and seems unable to get back to playing “Wisconsin hockey.”… Read more »

Although it was an unexpectedly intense fight Saturday at the Kohl Center, the No. 6 UW women’s hockey team was able to walk away with an overtime win over the Robert Morris Colonials. It was the Badgers who struck first, keeping the Colonials offense at bay throughout the first period.… Read more »

Though the game may not have the importance of a Big Ten conference battle, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team is just happy to get their season under way Wednesday night when Bemidji State comes to the Kohl Center. The new season brings new faces to Wisconsin’s starting lineup. UW… Read more »

It was a tense and physical game at McClimon Soccer Complex Wednesday night as the UW men’s soccer team played its final home game of the regular season. Although the Badgers literally struck first blood, it was the Northern Illinois Huskies who walked away with the 1-0 win. The game… Read more »

In a strong defensive matchup, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team defeated in-state rival Marquette 2-0 at the McClimon Soccer Complex Wednesday. Both teams entered the game coming off impressive wins over ranked teams, but it was Wisconsin that was able to walk away with the victory and shutout. The… Read more »

Emotions ran high as the Wisconsin women’s soccer team faced Penn State in its final home game of the season, and the game did not disappoint as the teams played to a 3-3 tie in a double-overtime thriller. While head coach Paula Wilkins faced her old team, the perennial Big… Read more »

After suffering its first loss of the season to No. 7 Ohio State, the Wisconsin football team will take the week of practice to learn from its mistakes in preparation for No.11 Iowa at home Saturday. The Badgers (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) put up a decent fight against the Buckeyes,… Read more »

After a tough road trip, the Wisconsin volleyball team (6-7, 1-3 Big Ten) is ready to defend its home court and keep building up confidence this week. The Badgers beat Ohio State 3-1 Friday and displayed a consistently high level of play before losing 3-0 to No. 1 Penn State… Read more »

Despite the poor playing conditions and an hour weather delay, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team (5-5-2, 1-1-1 Big Ten) and the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-2-2, 2-0-1 Big Ten) did not fail to put on a show. With the Border Battle ending in a tie after regulation, the game was decided… Read more »

After experiencing what could possibly be their toughest weekend of the season, the women’s soccer team cannot help but look on the bright side. With the team losing 2-1 to No. 12 Santa Clara and 6-0 to No. 3 Stanford, head coach Paula Wilkins hopes they can learn from the… Read more »