The Badger football team has the week off in anticipation for the announcement of which bowl game they will be attending. However, there are plenty of other UW sports for Badger fans to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week, including the beginning of men’s basketball, the conclusion of women’s volleyball and an eight game unbeaten streak (5-0-3) in men’s hockey.

The men’s basketball team will play their home opener against Eastern Illinois tonight at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center. The Badger basketball fans have a pretty high ranking to be thankful for this holiday season. The Associated Press has the basketball team ranked No. 15 and the ESPN/USA Today poll has the Badgers ranked No. 14.

When asked what he was thankful for in regards to his team, UW head coach Bo Ryan responded by saying, “I’m thankful that they are hanging together and handling the physical adversity that we have been hit with, because it happens to other teams, it happens at other times, and they’ve hung in there together and really helped one another along, and also they’ve helped the guys who are out by keeping their spirits up. So I am thankful that I’ve got a bunch of guys that enjoy playing with one another.”

The Penn game on Nov. 21 was a great win for the Badgers and a time of nostalgia for coach Ryan. When asked at Monday’s press conference about the scheduling of the Penn game, Ryan responded, “You can think back to a teacher that you’ve had in school who turned you on to a subject … or a learning experience that made something in your mind click, to say that’s what I want to do.”

Bo continued by saying, “My love for basketball started in that building (the Palestra) about 1952 to 1953 … I can trace my love for basketball to the Palestra.”

Volleyball fans are hoping to have a lot to be thankful for this weekend. The volleyball team will wrap up the regular season against Indiana Friday and Purdue Saturday. Two victories this weekend will put the volleyball team at 21-10 for the regular season. Both games are at home and the Saturday game, which is the last regular season game, is also seniors’ night and the four seniors on the team will be recognized.

“We’re hoping to have a good crowd on this Thanksgiving weekend because we’re trying to secure that second spot in the national attendance figures,” UW head coach Pete Waite said. “So we’re hoping everyone comes out for that.”

When asked what he thought of this year’s senior class, Waite’s only negative comment was about their smaller size.

“They have been amazing,” Waite said. “As a class, they are the shortest class we have, so what they bring is the speed and the intensity and the real drive of our team right now.” Waite concluded by saying this of his seniors: “They’ve really been inspirational for the rest of the team.”

While all UW students prepare for a short week of classes, the Badger hockey team is preparing for two games this weekend. When asked about a short week in Monday’s press conference, UW head coach Mike Eaves replied, “It is a normal week for us. I mean, we play Friday and Saturday.”

There is plenty to be thankful for recently if you are a Badger hockey fan, and head coach Mike Eaves is no exception. When he was asked what he was thankful for in regards to his team, Eaves responded by saying, “Well, on a bigger picture, I am thankful for the health that we have …. We forget that it’s a game, and you take that for granted when you feel good, and when you get sick, ‘Geez, I wish I felt good,’ or … all of a sudden you remember we’re just playing a game.” Mike Eaves concluded his response with, “I am thankful for the health we have and hopefully we’ll all have a safe holiday season.”

The UW hockey team will need their health this weekend when facing No. 7 Michigan Friday and No. 14 Michigan State Saturday.