It’s hard to admit when a good thing has finished. Which is probably why it’s been so difficult the last several months to comprehend that my time with the University of Wisconsin as an undergraduate is ending. So, pardon me while I lock myself in my room and refuse to… Read more »

On a lucky occasion, wandering into the Field House after hours can render a surreal exposure. With dimmed lights and a faint reflection from the hardwood floors, the old gym almost seems false, an apparition, a sight linked in limbo of a storied past and a still-used future. Maybe it’s… Read more »

On a lucky occasion, wandering into the Field House after hours can render a surreal exposure. With dimmed lights and a faint reflection from the hardwood floors, the old gym almost seems false, an apparition, a sight linked in limbo of a storied past and a still-used future. Maybe it’s… Read more »

Wisconsin softball has played well on the road all season. Setting a program record with 10 conference wins away from home, it seemed a forgone conclusion that once Wisconsin finally played at home — weather permitting — the team would keep on rolling. For a large part, that assumption proved… Read more »

On a bittersweet Senior Day, one senior in particular made sure her name won’t be forgotten after she graduates or even after her final game at Goodman Diamond. Hitting her 12th home run in the rubber match of the Wisconsin softball team’s series with Michigan State, senior utility player Whitney… Read more »

It had been a long time since I had made my last trek to Goodman Diamond. Apparently so long that I missed the memo that everyone knows about what’s going on with Wisconsin softball. Call it a rebirth, call it an emerging powerhouse, call it whatever you want. But in… Read more »

Fear of the unknown. It’s something I’d like to believe that most human beings share. It’s why some of us were afraid of the dark at an early age. That primal fear that comes with being unable to understand or control your surroundings is very basic, and it’s at the… Read more »

Dallas Cowboys surprise with first round pick of Travis FrederickWith the 31st overall pick in the NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys surprised fans and draft analysts alike by selecting Wisconsin center Travis Frederick in the first round. Frederick decided to forgo his senior season with the Badgers for the NFL… Read more »

“Legends” and “Leaders.” Not exactly what we might call Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany’s finest moment. The names became laughable monikers that seemed to mock the 12 teams of the Big Ten thrown into divisions in a grab bag manner. Would you consider Indiana a legendary football program? Or two… Read more »

With 12,050 fans on hand to witness the annual Wisconsin football spring game, it was the Badgers’ defense that stole the show Saturday afternoon at Camp Randall. At least, what was left of it. “We’re basically missing six starters on the defensive side that didn’t play a snap today,” head… Read more »

Late in Monday’s rainy football scrimmage at Camp Randall, a wide receiver donning No. 7 on his jersey reached out and made a nice diving catch. As he jogged back to the sidelines, Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen extended his hand and gave the player a high-five. There wasn’t cheering… Read more »

While addressing the local media after his team’s 6 a.m. Friday morning practice, Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen was asked a question about the program being more open to the public this spring. For Wisconsin, more open really means open at all. Because how many times had a practice been… Read more »

No. 22 Nebraska takes series from Wisconsin softball in Lincoln In a critical road series against perennial powerhouse program Nebraska, Wisconsin found a way to fight back from defeat but lost the rubber match Sunday against the Cornhuskers, 11-2. The loss drops the Badgers to 29-8 overall and 7-5 in… Read more »

After his team grinded out a 3-1 win over in-state rival University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tuesday night at the Field House, University of Wisconsin volleyball head coach Kelly Sheffield talked basketball. Why? He found the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game Monday a perfect analogy for the kind of mental toughness… Read more »

When there’s a scandal involving college athletes receiving illegal payments or benefits we rarely, as a society, bat our eyes for a second. When it was reported last week that the Auburn football program allegedly paid members of their football team to keep them from going pro, no one nor… Read more »

After a Wednesday practice that was dominated by the defense, it was the offense of the Wisconsin football team that showed its teeth Saturday afternoon in the team’s scrimmage at Camp Randall. The scrimmage, which was attended by 850 fans, saw impressive performances from senior running back James White and… Read more »

What is the measure of a great coach in college basketball? For Wisconsin’s Bo Ryan, it’s all about consistency. But does that make him great? His resume speaks for itself: 12 years with the Badgers, 12 NCAA tournament berths. No finish lower than fourth in the conference standings. One of… Read more »

There’s no doubt that Marshall Henderson is the heart and soul of the Ole Miss basketball team, but the journeyman guard has been on quite a journey through three different schools, run-ins with the law and plenty of controversy to get to where he is now.Here’s a brief introduction to… Read more »

Recently named a member of Cosmopolitan’s “Hottest Guys of March Madness 2013,” Wisconsin redshirt senior Mike Bruesewitz was not surprised. “Absolutely not,” Bruesewitz said with a straight face. “I deserve to be on that list. I worked extremely hard to be on that list. I clearly am very concerned about… Read more »

March Madness. It’s a time for filling out brackets, decreased productivity in offices across the United States and enough college basketball to rot your brain into a gooey pulp. This year, unfortunately, the unofficial national holiday of the NCAA tournament’s opening round of games (because, let’s be honest, play-in games… Read more »

While Marshall Henderson is the player on Ole Miss who steals the spotlight, in reality, the biggest reason the Rebels are in the dance is the play of senior forward Murphy Holloway. In his second season since transferring back to Ole Miss from South Carolina, Holloway has served as a… Read more »

It seemed a fitting end that the last game of conference play in the Big Ten was a 40 minute slugfest, featuring 10 different lead changes and a score that was tied seven times as Wisconsin and Ohio State exchanged blow after blow. Like it has at numerous points in… Read more »

Strangely, the Badgers have no one to blame but themselves for the resurgence of the Buckeyes these last few weeks. It was Wisconsin’s 71-49 thrashing of Ohio State at the Kohl Center that several OSU players cited as the reason for their season turning around. It’s also the reason the… Read more »

Wisconsin players took to the court Saturday afternoon before their game with Indiana wearing warm-up shirts donning the slogan “rise to the occasion.” And that’s just what the Badgers did for the second time this season against the top-seeded Hoosiers, this time at the United Center Saturday afternoon. Relying on the toughness… Read more »

Before he grew to the size of a tree, before he was a Division I college basketball player, the Wisconsin Badgers’ Frank Kaminsky dreamed of playing one day at the United Center. Growing up as a fan of the Chicago Bulls in Lisle, Ill. — he even has an aunt… Read more »

Key 1: No Turnovers It’s no secret what Indiana wants to do. Run. Run. Run. Wisconsin doesn’t have the athletes, the speed or the skill to outrun or outgun Indiana in an up-tempo game. Head coach Bo Ryan knows this; just look at the gameplan he used to slow things… Read more »

Penn State may be the 12-seed heading into the Big Ten Tournament’s open round, but that doesn’t mean the team is a long shot to beat the 5-seed, Michigan. After all, the Nittany Lions have already shocked the Wolverines once this season. Losing their first meeting in Ann Arbor, Mich.,… Read more »

He said he wanted to win a state championship his senior year, just like “everybody else.” Although he didn’t directly clarify who “everybody else” was, it seemed clear that Aquinas senior point guard Bronson Koenig was referring to his future teammates on the Wisconsin Badgers, freshman forward Sam Dekker and… Read more »

There’s blood in the water. And the sharks are circling. The last three games for the Wisconsin men’s basketball team have been shocking to say the least. In a season of Big Ten play where nothing is guaranteed except surprise, the Badgers have still managed to surprise themselves and most… Read more »

Entering the fourth quarter at the Kohl Center comfortably leading Lodi 41-24, Aquinas players seemed to relax, knowing that their second state championship in three years lay just eight minutes out of their grasp. But, the Blue Devils had no plans of letting Blugolds senior star Bronson Koenig and his… Read more »

Perfection. It’s something few teams can boast. But, with Wisconsin Mr. Basketball winner Luke Fischer leading the way, Germantown can now say they’ve done it two consecutive years. And, well, they can say they’ve won 56 straight games, too. Being named the MVP of the tournament and finishing the game… Read more »

Just a little more than a week after running a 4.66 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the 19th best time out of 33 participating running backs, running back Montee Ball posted a 4.46 at the Badgers’ Pro Day. Back on his home turf at the Dave McClain Center,… Read more »

First-year Wisconsin football head coach Gary Andersen wasted little time in addressing the obvious Monday at his first major press conference of the spring season. After the surprising departure for Oklahoma last week by new hire Jay Boulware, Andersen made clear right away where to place the blame for the… Read more »

The moment Sam Dekker walks into the Nicholas Johnson Practice Pavilion’s court, a member of the UW Athletics Communication department asks how long The Badger Herald’s photo shoot will take. It only took five seconds to understand the reason for his inquiry. It was two weeks ago on Sunday and… Read more »

Senior Day is always supposed to be bittersweet. But, for the first time ever under head coach Bo Ryan, Wisconsin sent its seniors off the Kohl Center floor for the final time in their careers with a feeling that was just bitter. Playing the role of spoiler, Purdue (14-15, 7-9)… Read more »

With first-place Indiana falling on the road to Minnesota earlier in the night, the stage was set for Wisconsin to get back in the Big Ten title hunt. And boy, did they ever. Benefitting from a career night for freshman Sam Dekker and woeful shooting by its opponent, Wisconsin bested… Read more »

ORLANDO, Fla. — If this weekend was supposed to be a replicate of Big Ten play this season, the Badgers set the right example to duplicate. Sweeping the three-day Diamond 9 tournament with three wins over both George Southern (7-7) and Boston University (1-4), Wisconsin (10-1) is suddenly off to… Read more »

Three-thirty in the afternoon is a time of the day that means plenty of things for the average human being. The work day is almost over, maybe it’s that time for the student from elementary school through college where they finally get home from a tough day of classes. Or… Read more »

GENEVA, Ohio — It wasn’t decided until the final event, but Wisconsin head coach Ed Nuttycombe was able to breathe a sigh of victorious relief Saturday afternoon at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio. In a meet that saw the top five teams separated by a mere five points, the… Read more »

With an elevated style of play from top to bottom in the Big Ten this season, coaches and players alike from the conference’s top tier of teams are hesitant to call any contest a “trap” game. With Wisconsin (18-8, 9-4 Big Ten) traveling to Evanston, Ill., for a date with… Read more »

Her nickname is “Giggles.” One of her hobbies listed on the Wisconsin Athletics website is laughing. That’s not exactly the personality you’d expect from a player who crushed Big Ten pitching for a .400 average just a season ago. But the Wisconsin softball coaching staff hopes to change the at-bat… Read more »

Ohio State felt the bite from Wisconsin’s “Killer B’s” Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center. That is, the trio of Jared Berggren, Ben Brust and Mike Bruesewitz. The Badgers’ post presence of Berggren, the three-point sharpshooting of Brust and the hustle of Bruesewitz proved too much for the Buckeyes to… Read more »

Everybody loves a fairytale ending. Don’t lie to me guys - you watched Disney growing up. You sat in your one-piece pajamas and watched “The Lion King.” You died a little inside when it didn’t work out between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries (THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TOGETHER FOREVER)… Read more »

Déjà Vu of Alando Tucker 2005 You might be a little too young to remember, but the play you saw Ben Brust convert a last-second miracle on was actually used successfully once before. The date: Mar. 12, 2005. The place: The United Center and the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.The… Read more »

For a team plagued by poor free throw shooting, Wisconsin didn’t act the part in the two overtimes against Iowa Wednesday night. Converting on 13-of-14 from the line after regulation and receiving a deadlock-breaking three pointer from freshman forward Sam Dekker, the Badgers (16-7, 7-3) beat the Hawkeyes (14-9, 3-7)… Read more »

One of the finer points in being a student-journalist comes with understanding where to draw the line. First off, when you read this know the biographical facts that shape my identity as a person. I am a fifth-year student at the University of Wisconsin and I grew up a life-long… Read more »

A day after addressing the need for a quarterback in his inherited recruiting class with junior college transfer Tanner McEvoy, new Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen reeled in another commitment from a JUCO player to address needs in the secondary. Needing to replace three starting defensive backs from last season’s… Read more »

The time is now for Wisconsin softball. With the weather Tuesday afternoon feeling more like spring than the middle of January, it seems fitting the beginning of the season for the Badgers is just around the corner. Already practicing in preparation for their opening tournament, the University of North Carolina… Read more »

Last week one of our writers, Sean Zak, wrote a column about holding back optimism for the Wisconsin football team in 2013. My simple question in response is, why? I understand last year’s new assistant hires and all of the transition that followed led to bumps and bruises, but there… Read more »

George Marshall sits alone on the line in a gym. Marshall bends his knees and flicks his wrist, releasing the ball effortlessly in a smooth motion. Swish. He does the same thing, over and over again like a machine with the same, automated product at the end of the sequence,… Read more »

It was a wild one at the Kohl Center Saturday afternoon. Wisconsin’s Traevon Jackson received a friendly bounce on a pull-up jumper that beat the shot clock with just four seconds left in the game and Minnesota’s Rodney Williams missed a critical free throw to tie the game in the… Read more »

In another low-scoring half of Big Ten basketball, the Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 12 Minnesota Gophers haven’t offered many highlights in Saturday’s game so far, with the score knotted at 24-24 after the first 20 minutes. Wisconsin used a 13-2 run in the closing minutes of the first half… Read more »

“Grind ‘em out dog fights.” Those are the self-described kind of games Wisconsin redshirt senior Mike Bruesewitz loves to play in. With a collection of players similar to their starting forward, it’s no wonder the Badgers made some noise over the break in the world of college basketball. “There are… Read more »

New Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen is starting off his coaching career with words that harken back to his identity as a players-first coach. Andersen repeatedly stressed when meeting with the media Thursday afternoon the most important goal for him before the start of spring football was his entire staff… Read more »

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In a game that featured nine lead changes and the score tied six times, Tuesday night’s game at Assembly Hall looked more like a heavyweight title fight than a Big Ten basketball game. But when push came to shove and the smoke finally settled, Wisconsin (13-4, 4-0)… Read more »

Wisconsin and Indiana are neck and neck after one half of play, with the Hoosiers leading 32-31 heading into the second half. Indiana started things off with a bang after a three-pointer made by a wide open Victor Oladipo. But Wisconsin responded with it’s own sharp-shooting of Frank Kaminsky, as the… Read more »

Wisconsin improved to 176-16 at the Kohl Center under Bo Ryan, including a mark of 86-9 in Big Ten Conference games. The Badgers are 3-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 2008-09. Wisconsin’s current six-game winning streak is the longest since Jan. 12-31, 2012. The Badgers have… Read more »

If there were any doubts that Wisconsin is a legitimate offensive threat, they were buried within the first 20 minutes of its game with Illinois Saturday afternoon at the Kohl Center. The Badgers opened up the game on a 14-0 run thanks to seven quick points from redshirt senior center… Read more »

LOS ANGELES — New Year’s Eve comes as a time of reflection for many individuals on the stories, accomplishments and struggles that have defined their previous 365 days. For this Wisconsin football program and everyone associated with it, perhaps the greatest focus of any day on the calender should be… Read more »

Wisconsin’s young defense from 2011 finally came into its own in 2012, helping to propel the team to the Rose Bowl with its consistent, physical play. Even though both co-defensive coordinators, Chris Ash and Charlie Partridge, will be leaving next season for Arkansas, both left their mark in their final… Read more »

PASADENA, Calif. — It was the ending of an era for Badger football in the 99th installation of the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Or rather, it was the bridging of one chapter to the next in a storybook that largely began in 1990. Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez… Read more »

PASADENA, Calif. —There weren’t any surprises New Year’s Day at the Granddaddy of Them All. Two teams, two old-school styles of football and two relentless defenses graced the field in a low-scoring, smashmouth affair that many already saw coming. But, on one particular afternoon, No. 6 Stanford’s defense (12-2, 8-1… Read more »

The dominos continue to fall in wake of the departure of Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema, as the North Carolina State Athletic Department announced in a statement Saturday morning that Wisconsin offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Canada has accepted the same position at NC State. “Matt Canada has one… Read more »

Just over a year removed from losing to Marquette on its home floor, Wisconsin heads to the Bradley Center in the annual in-state rivalry game. The rivalry for these two teams has developed on and off the court in recent years. On the court, the Golden Eagles (5-2) broke the… Read more »

Last night, as I stared up at the ceiling from my bed around 3 a.m. with bloodshot eyes, there were a few thoughts that were rushing through my head. One was, “how did I drink that much coffee and not die?” The other, well, you have to go back more… Read more »

Chances are, if you have an account on Twitter, you are now following @BeingBielema, the satirical account of what life must be like for the new head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. With the recent coach’s departure from Madison, the account has gained more 1,000 new followers in the last… Read more »

When Josh Gasser went down with his season-ending ACL injury this year, Badger fans contemplated what player would step up for a team then-devoid of starting experience in the backcourt. Names like redshirt freshman George Marshall and sophomore Traevon Jackson were thrown around as the next man up to become… Read more »

After shooting poorly earlier in the week against Virginia, Wisconsin found a way to right the ship at home Sunday afternoon.Behind a 51.7 percent shooting effort from the field and a 14-0 run in the first half, Wisconsin (5-3) gave California (6-1) its first loss of the year, stomping the… Read more »

INDIANAPOLIS­ — The Badgers didn’t look like a team that was supposedly reeling coming into Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game. Instead, Wisconsin (8-5, 4-4 Big Ten) looked like an offensive juggernaut, manhandling Nebraska (10-3, 7-1) 70-31 at Lucas Oil Stadium as three running backs amassed 100 yards or more for… Read more »

It’s a pretty simple diagnosis when it comes to prediciting the outcome of the 2012 Big Ten Championship game. It’s going to be close. If there’s anything Wisconsin and Nebraska have both shown consistently this season is the ability to make games painstakingly close. Both fan bases can attest to… Read more »

Sports Content Editor Nick Korger gives his take on the Big Ten Championship game.… Read more »

What a difference a year can make. Last season, Curt Phillips wasn’t even at the Big Ten Championship game. Now, he’s the starting quarterback on the biggest stage a conference game can offer. At home in Tennessee still rehabbing from his third surgery on the ACL in his right knee,… Read more »

It felt pretty incredible to be present for Penn State’s final home game of the season Saturday. And that feeling had nothing to do with the Wisconsin football team I’ve been covering for The Badger Herald. For this Nittany Lion program, the past 12 months have been a whirlwind of… Read more »

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — For the second straight week, the Wisconsin offense stalled in the second half. And for the second straight week, senior quarterback Curt Phillips brought the Badgers back from the brink of defeat in the final seconds to force overtime Saturday. Getting the ball back with three… Read more »

Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy announced the signing of three recruits to national letters of intent Tuesday. Chloe Miller (Bettendorf, Iowa), Sara Novak (Shorewood, Ill.) and Nyah Rodman (Lakewood, Calif.) will become the newest Badgers in the fall of 2013. “Above all, this class is filled with great students… Read more »

The Kohl Center was sparsely populated Tuesday night when Wisconsin welcomed Presbyterian to town. But those who made it out had a chance to watch one of the best offensive performances in recent memory for Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan’s program. Ben Brust recorded his third double-double in his last… Read more »

Let’s play a game of word association. Ready? OK, here’s the word. Big Ten. So what’s the first word that comes to your mind? Maybe it’s one of the sports like football and basketball that the conference is renowned for. Then again, maybe it’s one of the schools that make… Read more »

While Ryan Evans and Ben Brust recorded double-doubles against Cornell, another solid, efficient performance from a player on the team went largely under the radar for No. 22 Wisconsin in its 73-40 victory Sunday night at the Kohl Center. Fifth-year senior forward/center Jared Berggren quietly propelled the Badgers (2-1) with… Read more »

The fairytale setting seemed perfect as Wisconsin and Ohio State entered the start of overtime. The Badgers had just been led on Senior Day to a game-tying drive by fifth-year senior quarterback Curt Phillips in the waning minute of regulation, with star tailback and fellow senior Montee Ball just one… Read more »

For the second time in as many visits to Camp Randall, No. 6 Ohio State arrives in Madison with an undefeated record. And while the Buckeyes already have at least a share of the Leaders Division title wrapped up, it will be the Wisconsin Badgers (7-3, 4-2 Big Ten) who… Read more »

1995. That was the last time the Wisconsin men’s basketball team played a ranked team on the road within the first two games of the season. But, as all records are meant to be broken, the No. 22/20 Badgers (1-0) will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the No.… Read more »

I’m a big intangibles guy. Talent matters, but when it comes down to it, what separates the good and the great in sports — and in life for that matter — is that little extra something you can’t touch or see physically on the field or court of play. If… Read more »

Sports Content Editor Nick Korger explains how a usual tossing of the pigskin with Indiana University has become one of the major games of the season for UW.… Read more »

Two plays. That’s all it took in practice for the Wisconsin men’s basketball season to be altered. While they occurred on separate occasions and in separate practices, the Badgers will begin their nonconference schedule without two of their returning starters due to a pair of injuries to senior forward Mike… Read more »

To say this season has been surprising would be an understatement. Every emotion the brain can produce — joy, anger, rage, hope, disappointment — it’s all been encapsulated within the already wobbly and extending frame of Wisconsin’s 2012 campaign. And boy, could it get even crazier Saturday. The Badgers haven’t… Read more »

Meeting with the press for the first time since his injury, Josh Gasser took a seat with his left leg resting on a separate chair. The brace that covers Gasser’s resting leg now serves as a grisly reminder to the Wisconsin guard, teammates and press alike of the season-ending injury… Read more »

It looked like quarterback Joel Stave was finally finding his rhythm in the offense — and against one of the best defenses in the nation, nonetheless. But all it took was one destructive hit to leave Wisconsin’s (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten) season in question. With what is now being reported… Read more »

If there’s something I’ve learned in my life as both a fan of sports and as a journalist, it’s that athletic prowess and success can be taken away at the drop of the hat. Or a single hit. Or an ACL tear. But that’s just the nature of sports. The… Read more »

There’s a scene in the epic Martin Scorsese film “Gangs of New York” in which Daniel Day-Lewis’ character, Bill the Butcher, refers to a picture of his long-dead rival on the wall and utters, “He was the only man I ever killed worth remembering.” To me, the only rivalry in… Read more »

When Wisconsin running back Montee Ball hit the spotlight a year ago, national media couldn’t get enough of the fact that at one point, the Heisman finalist was buried at No. 3 on the Badgers’ depth chart. But there’s another player on UW’s roster who has had a similar story… Read more »

For the ninth season in a row, Paul Bunyan’s Axe will call Madison, Wis., home. Wisconsin (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) leaned on the combined 341 rushing yards and five touchdowns of standout tailbacks Montee Ball and James White to run past border rival Minnesota (4-3, 0-3) 38-13 at Camp Randall… Read more »

Paul Bunyan’s Axe stood in all its glory at the edge of the field at the Dave McClain Athletic Facility Wednesday night. As the Wisconsin players ran off at the conclusion of practice, each tapped the red face of the axe, an homage to the importance of Saturday’s rivalry and… Read more »

Sports Content Editor Nick Korger breaks down the key players in this weekend’s rival game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Minnesota Gophers.… Read more »

The place: the Metrodome. The date: Oct. 15, 2005. With the Gophers lining up for the punt, the Badgers, down 31-34 with just 38 seconds remaining in the game, send an all-out block. Minnesota’s punter, Justin Kucek, his back leg near the goal line, fumbles the snap and Wisconsin’s Jonathan… Read more »

WEST LAYFAYETTE, Ind. — With the rain pouring down throughout an afternoon game between Purdue and Wisconsin, it became evident the winner at the line of scrimmage would likely determine the victor. And the Badgers didn’t just win the battle. They annihilated their opponent. With a complete effort from both… Read more »

As the buzz began surrounding the 2012 football season, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema repeatedly stated his excitement for the depth and experience returning on the defensive line. More specifically, the group with the deepest depth on the roster belonged to the Badgers’ defensive ends. Returning five players who saw… Read more »

And I thought “As the World Turns” was the best soap opera on TV. OK, I’ve never watched a soap opera, you caught me. The only time I’d be suckered into watching that sappy genre of a television show has been when I’m sick and stuck at home, too ill… Read more »

Fall is the king of all seasons. It’s not just the leaves on the trees becoming picturesque in their changing colors, the crisp smell of the cool autumn air that pierces your lungs or even the wafting smell of an early-afternoon barbeque. Fall is simply the best because it means… Read more »

Four quarters of complete, mistake-free football. That is what the Wisconsin Badgers (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) need to accomplish going into this week’s conference matchup with Illinois (2-3, 0-1) in their first Leaders Division matchup of the year. The Fighting Illini are just one of three teams aside from the… Read more »

This week’s selection for Badger Herald Athlete of the Week came down to the wire. Scratch that — it came down to the final pitch. While senior pitcher Meghan McIntosh set the tone for Wisconsin by throwing a no-hitter and facing the minimum 21 batters in the team’s 4-0 win… Read more »

Déjà vu, anyone? No, you weren’t seeing a replay of last year’s Wisconsin team on the road this past Saturday, and yes, Nebraska scored 20 unanswered points to overcome a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Wisconsin 30-27, the second biggest comeback in Huskers’ history. Once again, in… Read more »

LINCOLN, Neb. — It came down to a battle of wills. And some bad luck. Down on the scoreboard with just more than a minute remaining, the Badgers attempted to run senior tailback Montee Ball off the right side on a fouth-and-1 behind their usually-dominant offensive line. But Saturday night,… Read more »

Joel Stave knows about being in pressure-filled situations. Last April, the Badgers’ redshirt freshman took the stage in front of a large audience at the 2012 “Buckinghams,” a formal event that showcases student-athletes’ talents off the field and honors success academically and athletically. Playing and singing a rousing rendition of… Read more »

After four games, it’s hard to find the words to describe how to feel after the first month of Badger football. Maybe it’s comparable to that relationship where things just seemingly don’t work right away, but optimism remains that it will come to fruition eventually. Or maybe it’s more along… Read more »

Quantity doesn’t always equal quality. When it comes to measuring a player’s impact in any sport, a particular focus — sometimes even to the level of obsession — is paid on statistics. So it comes as no surprise that the Badgers’ defensive tackles haven’t received the credit they deserve for… Read more »

If adversity builds character, then this Wisconsin team has it in spades. After another nail-biting, come-from-behind win in week 3 against a solid Utah State team, the Badgers have made it clear that this year, it’s all about survival. Even with the offense looking more like a David than its… Read more »

For nearly three quarters Saturday night, Badger fans were eerily quiet. With the Wisconsin offense stagnant and the team down 14-3, Kenzel Doe took it upon himself to change that. The sophomore returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown, electrifying the crowd as Wisconsin (2-1) scored 13 of its… Read more »

One play. That’s all it took this past Saturday for redshirt sophomore Michael Trotter to go from backup to starting strong safety on the Wisconsin defense. While battling in the third quarter of last week’s loss to Oregon State, starting strong safety Shelton Johnson went to fill in on a… Read more »

After losing multiple starters and coaches in the offseason, it was understandable to expect the Badgers to go through the typical bumps and bruises associated with breaking in a new team during the nonconference part of its schedule. But after just two games, it’s fair to say nobody expected this.… Read more »

Although his team suffered a 35-0 thrashing against Wisconsin in 2011, Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion probably holds a special place in his heart for Camp Randall. After all, that’s where the Beavers’ quarterback won his starting job. Replacing starter Ryan Katz early in the game, then-freshman Mannion went on… Read more »

Fame has its price. Just ask Wisconsin tailback Monteé Ball. After announcing he would return for his senior season, the hype and scrutiny surrounding the 2011 Heisman finalist rose meteorically even before the 2012 season opener. “It’s a completely different lifestyle I’m living right now,” Ball said. “Walking in as… Read more »

The Badgers are on the brink of something great. After two consecutive trips to Pasadena and two consecutive Rose Bowl losses, there’s a feeling surrounding this football program that it’s on the brink. The brink of what you ask? It’s not just a win in a BCS bowl. True, the… Read more »

The past two years, the Wisconsin Badgers have made the trip to Pasadena. That’s a remarkable feat for any team. Two consecutive years of finding a way through the highs and lows, rebounding from last-second losses and finding a way to get to one of the premiere stages in college… Read more »

For what now seems like an eternity, the New Orleans Saints have been rocked by scandal and suspensions for what can only be deemed as “Bountygate.” As an NFL investigation revealed, the New Orleans Saints implemented a bounty system under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams from 2009 to 2011 in which… Read more »

The Wisconsin softball team is streaking through the wins column at Goodman Diamond. Winning its 12th and 13th straight game at home, a program record, Wisconsin (33-15,12-6 Big Ten) rode two strong pitching performances to sweep Green Bay (21-25, 10-11 Horizon League) 4-0 and 5-2 in a doubleheader Wednesday night.… Read more »

There are a few things every crazy sports fan of Wisconsin athletics should do before graduating. Witnessing in person a historic upset, waking up early for College Gameday even when you felt like Frankenstein’s monster from going out Friday night — these are just a few things every Badger fan… Read more »

Having one of the Big Ten’s best pitchers in Cassandra Darrah has graced the Wisconsin Badgers this season with solid performances on the mound. With a 20-9 record and just a 2.16 earned run average in 172 innings pitched, Darrah has been the unquestioned work horse on the rubber for… Read more »

The Bradley Braves (19-28, 9-14 MVC) gave the Wisconsin Badgers (31-15, 12-6 Big Ten) all they could handle Tuesday night. Playing at the friendly confines of Goodman Diamond on a beautiful spring night, the Badgers rode junior pitcher Meghan McIntosh’s (6-5) arm the distance to 2-0 win against the Braves.… Read more »

Coming off a series loss on the road to Purdue, the Wisconsin softball team finds itself in a stretch of three nonconference games that have become must-wins if the team wishes to solidify its RPI and build a stronger résumé for the NCAA tournament. With the season winding down, Wisconsin… Read more »

The Wisconsin softball team was once again buoyed by the return of senior Karla Powell on Wednesday night as the 2011 first-team all-Big Ten player returned to the starting lineup as the designated player for the Badgers, going a combined 3-for-5 with two walks in a doubleheader sweep over Indiana… Read more »

The NFL Draft is every sports fan’s favorite lottery. Or it should be, at least. Like a day in the life of Charlie Sheen, the NFL Draft is one of those things in life you’re never sure of until it actually happens. You can take all the advice and predictions… Read more »

When a team finds itself scouting the Badgers this season, one stat in particular may stick out. The Badgers have not one, not two, but six players batting over .300. With a team offense ranked second in the conference and 34th in the country with a collective batting average of… Read more »

The Wisconsin softball team received a big boost Sunday afternoon, as Karla Powell — the team’s only senior — made the start at the designated player position. The game marked only the 13th time in the 40 games this season that the senior cracked the Badger starting lineup, as nagging… Read more »

Entering the fifth inning of Sunday’s game between Penn State and Wisconsin, the speakers at Goodman Diamond cranked up “Jump Around,” as fans and Badger players alike were caught enjoying a few jumps of their own. When you’re winning like this Wisconsin team, you can enjoy moments like these. The… Read more »

How long has it been since a player on the Wisconsin men’s basketball team transferred out of the program? Seriously, can anyone tell me? These were the questions I methodically repeated to every die-hard Badger fan I knew Tuesday. Every time, I received the same puzzled look, as various men… Read more »

The Wisconsin women’s basketball program has already benefited from the competitive drive of head coach Bobbie Kelsey on and off the court. And Kelsey once again turned that approach over to the recruiting trail, as junior college transfer Daria Kryuchkova signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at… Read more »

It’s been a while since the Wisconsin softball team has been able to claim the spotlight. Since the program’s creation in 1996, the team has only reached the NCAA tournament three times, with its last berth coming in 2005 under former head coach Karen Gallagher. In fact, Gallagher took the… Read more »

The Wisconsin Badgers (22-12, 6-3 Big Ten) swept the Western Illinois Leathernecks (22-17, 12-3 Summit League) in a story of day and night Tuesday. In the night game, the Badgers got the best of the Leathernecks in a pitching duel, as Wisconsin star pitcher Cassandra Darrah (14-6) went the distance… Read more »

The Wisconsin softball team just continues to find ways to win. After finishing off last weekend’s conference sweep against Minnesota with the largest comeback victory in the program’s history — coming back to win 11-10 despite being down eight runs in the fourth inning — Wisconsin (20-12, 6-3) welcomes Western… Read more »

After finishing off 23 consecutive road games with a series win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Badgers are finally returning to the friendly confines of Goodman Diamond, where Wisconsin will take on Northwestern in its home opener. While the Wildcats’ record (11-17, 0-3) is unremarkable at first appearance, the Badgers… Read more »

Wisconsin just played the role of thief once again. In what could become known as the “Russell Wilson Effect,” the Badgers pulled their latest robbery from the rest of college football this past Wednesday when former Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien announced he will transfer to play in Madison. The wait… Read more »

When Maria Van Abel sat down at the Wisconsin senior All-Star Banquet in the spring of 2011, the then-high school senior was planning on playing volleyball, not softball, at the collegiate level. But that all changed when Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy made the keynote speech of the night.… Read more »

After non-conference tournament trips to Florida, South Carolina, Nevada and California, the Badgers are back in the Midwest. Wisconsin (11-9) looks to open up Big Ten play on a winning note, as the team takes the road in a three game series at Iowa (10-15). While the Badgers sit just… Read more »

No time to waste! Wisconsin Badgers, Syracuse Orange. Let’s break down the keys for a Badger victory. Beating the Syracuse 2-3 zone We’ve heard about it the entire college basketball season, how Syracuse’s hyped 2-3 zone defense is one of the hardest to beat in the nation. There’s plenty of… Read more »

The Wisconsin men’s basketball recruiting class of 2012 entered the Wisconsin State Tournament with eager Badger fans in attendance, waiting to catch a glimpse of the future. But nobody could have expected the performances that would follow. In a full-blown weekend spectacle, Wisconsin recruits Sam Dekker of Sheboygan Area Lutheran… Read more »

No time for idle talk today. March is here, and so is Wisconsin’s game against Montana. Let’s break down the key player matchups in the Badgers’ first tournament game. Jordan Taylor vs. Will Cherry Wisconsin and Montana’s best players both happen to be point guards. While Jordan Taylor was a… Read more »

After finishing the season with a disappointing loss to Minnesota in the conference tournament, The Badger Herald’s Nick Korger got a chance to sit down with Wisconsin women’s head basketball coach Bobbie Kelsey to go one-on-one after the conclusion of the rookie head coach’s first year and find out how… Read more »

It’s no secret that the Badgers have struggled in the Big Ten Tournament the past three years, failing to register a single win. On Friday, Wisconsin will seek to end its streak of three consecutive one-and-done conference tournament appearances when it takes on Indiana at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis,… Read more »

When the Big Ten released the names of its first team honorees on Monday, one thing in particular stuck out. Of the five spots on the all-Big Ten first team, four were unanimous between the media and the coaches of the conference. However, at the last guard spot, there was… Read more »

When the smoke settled Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center, two things came to a close. One, of course, was the 70-56 win by the Wisconsin men’s basketball team team over Illinois. The other was the Kohl Center career of the Badgers’ senior duo of Rob Wilson and Jordan Taylor.… Read more »

When the Badgers graduated the dynamic post scoring duo of Keaton Nankivil (make sure you YouTube his game-winner for his team in Germany) and Jon Leuer (YouTube him blowing by and dunking on Dwight Howard), it looked like opposing teams would find it easier to focus on preseason All-American Jordan… Read more »

When players of the Wisconsin women’s basketball team prepared to meet their new head coach, Bobbie Kelsey, for the first time last April, no one knew what to expect from her or the season. Kelsey convened a meeting in the team’s locker room a day before the appointment was made… Read more »

It was a fitting end for the senior class Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center. In a game mired by first half uncertainty and a struggling Taylor Wurtz, the Badgers headed into halftime down by five. But on Senior Day, Wisconsin showed that it saved its best half of basketball… Read more »

It’s been a rough stretch of games for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team. Losers of five straight and struggling with consistency, the Badgers (8-18, 4-10) will find themselves paired with another struggling team Thursday night as they take on the Indiana Hoosiers (5-22, 0-14) in Bloomington, Ind. Despite their winless… Read more »

In this state, like many others, the major high school athletics are football and basketball. These sports have their own storied programs at the University of Wisconsin, making it fitting that many high school players focus their varsity careers on one goal: getting to Madison for a chance at a… Read more »

In the game of basketball, there is no more efficient, high-percentage shot than one down low. And Thursday night, the Michigan State Spartans precisely proved that point. Shooting 52 percent from the field and pounding the ball inside to senior forward Lykendra Johnson, the Spartans made their home in the post, as… Read more »

After her inaugural year at the helm for the Badgers, Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy had plenty to smile about. The then-first year coach led Wisconsin to its best conference finish since 2005, going 9-11 in the Big Ten on its way to a 30-win season. The 30 wins… Read more »

Realignment has struck once again in the landscape of college athletics, with conferences losing and adding members like a grandmothers’ bridge club over the past few months. The winner of the past few months indisputably has been the Big 12. Like the Rocky of conferences, the Big 12 took knockout… Read more »

If basketball is a game of peaks and valleys, then there is no better group to exemplify it than the Wisconsin women’s basketball team. In a season marked by streaks in both the win and loss columns, the Badgers (8-16, 4-8 Big Ten) are currently in the midst of three… Read more »

When it comes to picking a bracket come March Madness this year, many participants in office pools, school classrooms and social networks will probably be scratching their heads. Why? Once again, this season has not even remotely revealed a sure-fire pick to win it all. Usually when looking into the… Read more »

In one of the final scenes of “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” Darth Vader’s spacecraft is shot by Han Solo and spins out of control into the bleakness of space. Ohio State football was largely in that same situation of an out-of-control ride this past year, quickly trying… Read more »

For many sports fans in the Dairy State (happy cows come from Wisconsin, not California), this Super Bowl presents a vexing situation. Grumblings and moans have been echoing into space from the state, “This is the worst Super Bowl matchup ever.” Granted, there are some fair points to those grumblings.… Read more »

It has been a struggle this season for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team. At one point enduring a six-game losing streak, the Badgers were clawing to scratch off a single W in the win column. But the Badgers have answered their struggles in recent weeks with a new kind of… Read more »

All the usual suspects showed up for Wisconsin on the offensive end of the floor Monday night against Michigan. Star guard Taylor Wurtz piled in 21 points while Jade Davis put in 13 to guide the Badgers through a pesky Wolverines squad. But one name in the box score had… Read more »

When a struggling team needs a quick boost of confidence, there’s nothing that helps more than a victory. Laying down an old-fashioned beat-down, however, is something else entirely. Fresh off the heels of routing Northwestern 75-55, Wisconsin (6-13, 2-5) looks to continue its solid play Thursday when it travels to… Read more »

The Green Bay Packers have been lucky since September 20, 1992. When quarterback Don Majkowski went down with an ankle injury that same day against the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay entered a reign of quarterback continuity and security extremely rare in the NFL. Although the breakup was messy and many… Read more »

The first time I ever sat down to interview Wisconsin women’s basketball head coach Bobbie Kelsey, one trait shined through our conversation. This woman is a winner and will accept nothing less than complete success on and off the court from her team. A quick glance at the record of… Read more »

Nobody ever said it was going to be an easy transition for the Wisconsin women’s basketball team under a new coach and a new system. But what the record of the Badgers doesn’t reflect is the team is finally showing signs of the team head coach Bobbie Kelsey knows they… Read more »

He’s making a list and he’s checking it twice, and he will find out if you have been naughty or nice. Well, readers, I hope most of you have been well behaved — as much as college students can possibly be — as the holidays quickly approach us. For myself,… Read more »

When entering the Kohl Center Sunday afternoon, it was extremely difficult to miss the massive group of blue-clad fans behind the Drake bench. Simply glancing over the Drake roster helped to recognize why there was a larger opposing fan base than at any other home game this year. Drake’s roster… Read more »

Just a game removed from their clash with the Kansas Jayhawks and their dominant scoring forward Carolyn Davis, the Wisconsin Badgers will once again face an elite scorer Sunday. When Wisconsin (4-6) welcomes Drake (8-1) to the Kohl Center, the Badgers will have to try to handle senior forward Rachael… Read more »

Nobody said it would ever be easy. A period of transition between two coaches and two different styles of the game is difficult. Seasoned upperclassmen are reduced to freshman, as the learning curve is sometimes higher for the members of the team who are more used to the old way… Read more »

There is always talk about how Wisconsin basketball doesn’t get enough respect, and for good reason. It seems every season sports writers, analysts and talking heads pick the Badgers to finish somewhere in the middle or bottom half of the Big Ten. But somehow, Bo Ryan and his time-tested methods… Read more »

For the entire first half against Saint Louis, it looked like University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team had a case of the Mondays. Heavily outrebounded on the boards by a scrappy Saint Louis team and shooting as cold as the weather outside, Wisconsin went into the locker room looking like… Read more »

In a game where both teams struggled to make a bucket, Marquette benefited from shooting 10 more times than the Badgers. The Marquette inside presence was felt all night, as the Golden Eagles (7-0) outrebounded the Badgers (6-2) 44-32. Even on the rebounds Wisconsin did bring in, Marquette was at… Read more »

Wednesday night wasn’t the prettiest for either Wisconsin (3-5) or Boston College (2-3). As both teams combined for a grisly 40 turnovers, the Badgers came out on top, besting the Eagles 58-50 in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge game. For Wisconsin head coach Bobbie Kelsey, a win is a win. “We… Read more »

Play the western music. Come Saturday, it’s high noon in the Big Ten. Wisconsin has come back — like Clint Eastwood in “High Plains Drifter” — to paint the town red and settle the score with Michigan State once and for all. The Spartans will be looking to advance to… Read more »

Washington State senior Rosetta Adzasu, the Cougars starting point guard who suffered a concussion in practice on Thursday, was reduced to a spectator against the Badgers Friday night. She probably enjoyed what she saw. The Washington State offense did not miss a beat Friday, shooting 58 percent from the field… Read more »

At a new school with a new job, Wisconsin head coach Bobbie Kelsey may find comfort seeing a familiar opponent Friday night. After leaving her assistant coaching position at Stanford to become the head coach at Wisconsin, Kelsey will get a chance to face one of her old conference rivals… Read more »

The Wisconsin volleyball team knows there’s no such thing as an easy game in the Big Ten. That’s why the Badgers (15-13, 7-9) are focused on not overlooking Iowa (11-18, 1-15) on a weekend road trip that concludes with a date against No. 4 Nebraska (21-3, 14-2). While the Badgers… Read more »

For years, the NFL has benefited from a Wisconsin program that cranks out terrific offensive linemen. We have all heard the stat thrown around by every announcer and sports commentator: The Badgers have the third largest starting offensive line of any team in college football or the NFL. Yes, the… Read more »

Although Oral Roberts’ starting lineup consists purely of upperclassmen, no one shined brighter Sunday afternoon than junior guard Kevi Luper. The two-time All-American and reigning two-time Summit Player of the Year opened up eyes, dropping 34 points on Wisconsin (1-1) in Oral Roberts’ (2-0) Sunday afternoon 80-63 win over the… Read more »

One word has defined new Badgers women’s basketball coach Bobbie Kelsey in her career as both a player at Stanford and an assistant coach at multiple Division I programs. Winner. Kelsey has an extremely distinguished record from her days as a player with Stanford. She was a member of the… Read more »

Tim Tebow. Does this column have your attention now? Chances are you are pulled in just by the headline. It is hard to utter the name without starting controversy and feelings of love and hate for the quarterback of the Denver Broncos. No matter what is said on television or… Read more »

The Wisconsin volleyball roster is a list with 17 roster spots; six freshmen, five sophomores and four juniors take up 15 of them. In those remaining roster slots, you will find the names of the two lone seniors on this year’s squad: Janelle Gabrielsen and Elle Ohlander. The two senior… Read more »

To be the best, you have to beat the best — and the Wisconsin women’s volleyball team did just that Sunday. The Badgers (14-12, 6-8) knocked off defending four-time national champion No. 6 Penn State (17-6, 11-3) at the Field House in five sets, 26-24, 25-19, 32-34, 14-25, 15-12. Sunday… Read more »

Freshman Ellen Chapman has been a feature cog of the Wisconsin volleyball attack, and this weekend, she put forth one of the finest performances of her young career.Chapman set a new career-high for kills Sunday, leading the Badgers’ offense with 18 and helping Wisconsin upset No. 6 Penn State in… Read more »

The average Wisconsin student sports fan is someone who loves football, basketball and hockey. He or she has been to Camp Randall and the Kohl Center. Two great venues, two great environments. There may be no college sports town as rowdy and rocking as Madison on any game day. Just… Read more »

It has been a long time for the Wisconsin volleyball team — since 2007 to be exact. That was the last time the program reached the NCAA tournament, a destination head coach Pete Waite has taken the Badgers to nine times in his 12 years at the helm. The nine… Read more »

At the halfway mark of Big Ten play, the Wisconsin volleyball team (13-9, 5-5) has already matched its conference win total from last year, and after already facing six opponents in the AVCA Top 25, the Badgers will once again face a Big Ten giant. To open up the second… Read more »

Sometimes in sports, you find yourself on the wrong end of a play, cheated by chance or on the wrong end of amazing. Saturday night’s final play flashed me back to a similar scene I had witnessed years ago in my past, during my senior year of basketball in high… Read more »

The Wisconsin volleyball team fought long and hard against the No. 14 Minnesota Gophers Wednesday night but fell short in five sets: 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 25-21, 10-15. In a match that featured 25 tied scores and 14 lead changes, Wisconsin and Minnesota clawed back and forth for five grueling sets.… Read more »

The Michigan State defense seems to be enjoying its new role as the “bad boys” of the Big Ten following last week’s smash mouth win against Michigan. Spartan defensive end William Gholston decided to take a few cheap shots on Michigan players. First it was an after-the-whistle sucker punch to… Read more »

When you first see junior Alexis Mitchell step onto the floor for the Wisconsin volleyball team, you’ll notice she is shorter than most middle blockers in the Big Ten. But despite standing at 6-foot, Mitchell quickly discards any perceived disadvantages about her size after her first kill. She makes it… Read more »

From the first point of Sunday’s match, Iowa could tell Wisconsin’s front line meant business. Junior Alexis Mitchell opened up the first set with a powerful kill that served as a moment of foreshadowing for the rest of the match. The Badgers received four strong contributions up front as Mitchell,… Read more »

It just doesn’t seem to get any easier for the Wisconsin volleyball team. After coming off a two-weekend road trip that included upset wins over ranked teams in Ohio State and Michigan, Wisconsin will face another ranked opponent this weekend. As as far as cliches go, you have to beat… Read more »

Do you expect the Badgers to score every time they touch the ball? Do you expect Ohio State to always have suspended players? Do you expect Minnesota to lose the remainder of their schedule? The answer for all of these, most likely, is a resounding yes. But let’s examine the… Read more »

After a weekend road trip that concluded with the Wisconsin volleyball team falling to Michigan State and upsetting No. 18 Michigan, head coach Pete Waite said he was pleased about the way his team battled throughout the weekend.Waite met with the media in his weekly Monday press conference, assessing the… Read more »

Once again, the Badgers are on the road.Following a strong performance Sunday in Columbus, Ohio, against Ohio State, the Wisconsin volleyball team (10-6, 2-2) is looking to maintain its momentum against Michigan State (13-3, 2-2) Friday in East Lansing, Mich. After upsetting the No. 24 Buckeyes with a mixture of… Read more »

What’s the highest the University of Wisconsin Badgers have ever been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25? The answer is No. 1, in 1952. After last week’s merciless beating of Nebraska, Wisconsin has a legitimate reason to believe that it will be ranked as the top team in the… Read more »

Coming off the first two games of a four-game road set, the University of Wisconsin women’s volleyball team brought home valuable experience playing against two ranked conference foes. They also brought home a win. Playing in their second consecutive match against an opponent ranked in the top 10 last Friday,… Read more »

After a lengthy homestand, the Badgers volleyball team is on the road again. In a weekend pair of matches that kicks off four consecutive contests away from Madison, Wisconsin (9-5, 1-1) will first take on four-time defending national champion and No. 9 Penn State (8-4, 1-1) Friday. It gets no… Read more »

When Big Ten Commissioner James Delany sat outside his office one day in 2008, a voice whispered to him. “If you expand it, they will come.” “Who, who will come?” “Cornhuskers…” That bodiless voice probably didn’t happen like it did for Kevin Costner in “Field of Dreams.” But come Saturday,… Read more »

When head coach Pete Waite first recruited the then-highly touted Annemarie Hickey, he saw a promising defensive talent. “We saw Anne as a defensive player and eventually our libero,” Waite said. “She was an outside hitter through high school and one of the top players in Illinois as an outside… Read more »

Entering Sunday’s match against the nation’s No. 3 three-ranked squad, the Wisconsin volleyball team had little room for error. Unfortunately, Wisconsin (9-5, 1-1) could not win a set against Illinois (13-0, 2-0), as the Badgers fell in consecutive sets, 25-18, 25-17, 25-22. Wisconsin’s eight service errors killed momentum at key… Read more »

The Wisconsin volleyball team is in no way easing into conference play this year, as two tough matches against Big Ten opponents loom this weekend. Wisconsin (8-4) opens Big Ten play at home against Northwestern (9-2) Friday, while the second match of the weekend slate pits the Badgers against the… Read more »

Dear Freshmen, Another weekend approaches, and another Badger home game awaits you. As a senior at the University of Wisconsin, I have been fortunate enough to attend every home game and the Rose Bowl. I’ve seen the lows (when Wisconsin lost in 2008 at Camp Randall on national television, 48-7,… Read more »

Maybe it was the luck of the Irish, or maybe it was the long grind of a two-day tournament and the conclusion of a 12-game non-conference schedule. Whatever the reason, the Wisconsin volleyball team’s win streak fell short Saturday night in the championship game of the InnTowner Invitational, as the… Read more »

After three tournaments away from home, the Badgers are finally set to return to the friendly confines of the Field House. The Badgers hope to continue their 12-set winning streak this weekend at the 20th annual InnTowner Invitational, where Wisconsin (6-3) will host Notre Dame (5-3), Western Michigan (9-1) and… Read more »

When I wrote my open letter on conference expansion last week, I had no idea how widespread of a response I would receive. There were both positive and negative views on my assessment. My favorite comment in particular was, “It looks like a five-year-old wrote this.” But let’s pick up… Read more »

Coming off their second-longest road trip, the Badgers have something to smile about. While the first two tournaments of the road trip were marked with close losses, the Badgers pulled out the brooms to sweep all three of their matches on their way to winning the Art Carmichael Invitational in… Read more »

The Wisconsin volleyball team will continue the second-longest opening road trip in program history with a weekend tournament in Rhode Island. Wisconsin will play Boston College, Rhode Island and Columbia in its third consecutive invitational tournament away from Madison. The Badgers will look to build on their success from last… Read more »

Dear Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors, Come this time next year, Texas A&M will leave the Big 12, lawsuit or no lawsuit, and the SEC will add another team to its ranks on the march to become the first super-conference in college football. The Big 12 is… Read more »

For a team to be successful in any sport, there must be solid leadership. At the highest position on the team, a head coach must be a winner and a solid verbal communicator with their players. The Wisconsin volleyball program has that in head coach Pete Waite and has had… Read more »

2010 was a season of mixed results for the Wisconsin volleyball team. The Badgers jumped out to a promising 11-0 start, tying for the best start in school history. But the team couldn’t continue the trend, as it posted a 16-15 overall record to finish the season. The Badgers wrapped… Read more »

There’s just no substitute for success. Many Wisconsin athletic programs enjoyed memorable seasons thanks to renewed success, as both the football and basketball teams shined bright for the university in the national spotlight many times. Pasadena, the Sweet Sixteen; these trips brought Bucky a revamped swagger. But there’s another squad… Read more »

July 24, 2010. That was the date when athletic director Barry Alvarez announced who would take over the Wisconsin softball program. Alvarez cited the fact that this coach had proven herself to be a winner both as a player and a coach as instrumental in her hire. Meet head coach… Read more »

Head coach Yvette Healy and her team needed something to change after losing their opening game to University of Wisconsin-Green Bay yesterday, 4-2. So in the second game of the doubleheader, Healy decided to shake up her lineup, hoping a different look would reenergize the Badgers. Putting pitcher Cassandra Darrah… Read more »

After taking part in a hyped and important matchup, teams in every sport have the tendency to overlook their next game, often being upset by a much lesser opponent.Wisconsin (26-21, 6-10) looks to avoid a letdown when it hosts Green Bay (20-21, 7-13) at Goodman Diamond Wednesday in the final… Read more »

The Badgers were looking forward to a series where they could compare themselves with the best of the best. Going against a team ranked No. 2 in the country on Sunday, Wisconsin battled with Michigan until the very end, but came up short 2-1 in a classic showdown between two… Read more »

It looked like both games were out of reach. Down 4-1 in game one and behind 3-0 in game two, the Wisconsin softball team flirted with potentially being swept in Iowa. But the Badgers battled back, clawing their way back from both deficits to complete a historical first sweep of… Read more »

It’s crunch time for the Wisconsin softball team and head coach Yvette Healy. At the halfway point of the Big Ten season, the Badgers have 10 Big Ten games remaining to solidify their record. With hopes for an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament in June, Wisconsin (23-18, 3-7) will… Read more »

For the first time this season, Goodman Diamond was treated to hearing the walk-up music of freshman Mary Massei. The Huntington Beach, Calif. native chose the 2pac hit “California Love” for the speakers and gave the Badgers some much needed love in the outfield and at the plate in her… Read more »

Two games. Two heartbreaks. After a weekend series in Bloomington marked by a pair of losses that came down to the final at bat in each game, Wisconsin (22-17, 2-6) looks to rebound against Minnesota (25-18, 3-5) in a Wednesday doubleheader. While the Badgers are returning home to the friendly… Read more »

The Wisconsin softball team swept South Dakota State Wednesday, but the Badgers now face one of their toughest tests of the season. Traveling to Bloomington, Ind., for a weekend series against the Hoosiers, Wisconsin will have an opportunity to test its mettle against one of the best teams in the… Read more »

South Dakota State came into Tuesday’s doubleheader knowing the potential and talent of Wisconsin ace freshman Cassandra Darrah, but nothing could prepare them for the real thing. In the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Jackrabbits were shut down 4-0 by Darrah’s seven-inning, one hit performance, an outing where the… Read more »

If Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy was looking for a signature win this season, the Badgers found her one in splitting a weekend doubleheader with tough Big Ten foe Northwestern. The Badgers rallied for an incredible 9-8 win in the first game but fell short of the sweep in… Read more »

When it comes to losing, Wisconsin has a short memory. Rebounding from Tuesday’s disappointment against Notre Dame, the Badgers swept Thursday’s doubleheader with North Dakota, recording 5-0 and 7-0 shutouts. The Badgers’ sophomore pitcher Meghan McIntosh (7-8) drew all eyes on her way to dominating the nightcap with a shutout.… Read more »

For four innings the Badgers hung tough with Notre Dame, as freshman Amanda Najdek pitched through the Fighting Irish lineup like a fifth year senior. But when a pitching change removed Najdek in the top of the fifth with two outs, the fight was put back in the Irish, as… Read more »

In the first game of Wisconsin’s home opener against Loyola, the Badgers’ bats awoke in a flurry, scoring five runs in the fourth inning of a 9-4 trouncing of the Ramblers. During the nightcap, though, UW’s bats fell dormant. While the Badger offense struggled in the second game, senior Jennifer… Read more »

Finally, after trips to warmer weather in California, Texas, Florida and a weekend in State College, the Badgers return to the friendly confines of Goodman Diamond. Well, they’ll have to wait one extra day. With Wednesday’s home opener against Illinois-Chicago postponed due to poor field conditions, the Badgers (15-11) will… Read more »

When a new coach is brought in to turn around a program, most people can only expect gradual changes in the first year of new leadership. Head coach Yvette Healy and her staff are not only rapidly changing the Wisconsin softball program, but they are also winning at a rapid… Read more »

With the beginning of spring tournaments, the Wisconsin softball team has one problem: winters in Wisconsin don’t yield fully to spring until April. With the team being largely confided to using indoor facilities, first year head coach Yvette Healy and her team look for improvement early in the season. “We… Read more »

The Wisconsin men’s tennis team is largely made up of fresh faces. Seven freshmen, in fact, make up the Badgers 2011 roster, along with two sophomores and one senior. Sophomore Billy Bertha is one of only three players returning with previous experience in the program. Amidst the overall youth in… Read more »

Hit rewind. The finish of last year’s 2009-2010 wrestling season was one of the most successful in school history for the Wisconsin wrestling team. Junior Andrew Howe went 37-0 on his way to a national championship in the 165-pound weight class, while the Badgers showcased four All-Americans (Howe, Trevor Branvold,… Read more »