WSUM Sports Blog: UW-Madison's student radio station covers Wisconsin Badgers sports!

Badger247's Evan Flood

2012-01-31T00:06:00.000-06:00

Evan Flood joined the Student Section Monday to preview Signing Day. Take a listen, check out his site here, and follow him on Twitter here.

The Student Section, WSUM's signature sports talk show, airs Mondays from 4-6 PM on WSUM 91.7 FM.

WSUM to Broadcast 2012 Rose Bowl Game

2011-12-19T00:28:00.000-06:00

For the second time in two years, the Wisconsin Badgers are headed back to the Rose Bowl! And for the second time in two years, WSUM will be there to broadcast it. Tune in on Monday, January 2nd at 3:00 PM central for complete coverage from Pasadena as the No. 10 Badgers take on No. 5 Oregon! The game will air live on 91.7 FM, as well as online on both streams.

Oregon Ducks Beat Reporter Rob Moseley

2011-12-14T14:52:00.002-06:00

Monday, the Student Section talked to Rob Moseley, Oregon Beat Reporter for the Register Guard, about the Wisconsin-Oregon Matchup in the Rose Bowl. For more of Rob's stuff, click here. Live coverage of the 2012 Rose Bowl Game starts at 3 PM central on WSUM.

Marc Sieber: On the Topic of Tebow

2011-12-04T23:57:00.000-06:00

I’m sick of hearing about Tim Tebow. I personally have nothing against him, I’m just sick of all the media hype surrounding him. All of the major sports networks keep looking at the Broncos through Tebow-colored glasses (I don’t care that that doesn’t make sense). The constant attention that Tebow is getting is taking away from the impressive performances that have been submitted by some of the other players on the Denver Broncos. While Tebow is completing only 48% of his passes, Willis McGahee is averaging 4.8 yards a carry. Most impressive is rookie linebacker Von Miller, who has 10.5 sacks this year while leading a Denver defense that has held its last three opponents under 13 points.

Now I could just parade a bunch more statistics in front of you guys, but I know you all expect me to be a lot more entertaining than that. So I’m going to give you all a nice extended metaphor. I’m going to use one of my favorite things to help draw a comparison: rock music.

You see, Tim Tebow is like that lead singer that sounds great on the record, but terrible live. But he tries to make up for it by doing a great job working up the crowd, in other words, does a good job at everything but his main job (I hate to have to elaborate further but I want to be clear about what I mean; in this analogy, singing = throwing the football, got it? Good). Then you have Von Miller, who is the lead guitarist who spends all his spare time in the studio, manages the band, and writes all the music, only to be overshadowed by the media darling trying to sing. He’s the Tony Iommi to Tebow’s Ozzy Osbourne (if you don’t know who those two people are you can stop reading because I no longer want to talk to you).

Everyone in the media needs to stop listening to the album and go to a concert. When they do they will be impressed with Von Miller’s face shredding guitar solos, Willis McGahee keeping the steady rhythm on the drums, and Elvis Dumervil laying down a wicked base line. They will leave with the conclusion that Tim Tebow cannot sing, but was still impressive after he lit himself on fire and bit the head off a bat.

Wayne Larrivee Joined The Sunday Huddle

2011-11-16T18:06:00.001-06:00

Wayne Larrivee, play-by-play broadcaster for the Green Bay Packers, BTN and Westwood One joined The Sunday Huddle. Take a listen to the interview, and tune in to The Sunday Huddle, Sundays at 5 on WSUM.

WSUM alum Scott Rynes: UW Fans, Buck(y) Up

2011-10-26T22:43:00.004-05:00

Silence hung over the city of Madison for ten minutes Saturday night. It struck when the head referee Dennis Lipski stuck his arms in the air in a vertical, parallel fashion, a mannerism that typically represents ‘touchdown’. To Badger fans, it represented much more.

Another loss in East Lansing.

Another heartbreaking ending to a Big Ten game.

Most importantly, the loss of an opportunity for the programs first ever National Championship.
The mood became that of a funeral. Televisions became coffins and the images of our teams walking off the field in despair became the loved ones we lost. And the city mourned through the night. What else could be done? Expectations for THESE Badgers have never been so high. Sure, Wisconsin began the 2000 season ranked fourth in the nation, but they lost early, and multiple times. These Badgers were 6-0, averaging just over fifty points per game and had introduced traditional power Nebraska into the Big Ten conference with a shocking, but incredibly impressive, 48-17 victory in Camp Randall. In a matter of seconds, it was all gone. The national hype which Wisconsin football received throughout the year, the shot at the national title, the hope for something new; all gone, thought never to be seen again.

With the sense of post-mortem depression, Badger fans move to look forward. Although it looks bleak at this moment (as most seasons do after a big loss), this can still be the most successful season in Wisconsin history.

Wisconsin still has the opportunity to win a program record 13 games. This would include a victory in the first ever Big Ten Championship game (a good nugget for trivia connoisseurs) and a Rose Bowl victory over what is likely to be either Stanford or Oregon, two nationally touted programs from the Pac-12 conference. Also, this would be the first time in program history of three consecutive 10-win seasons. Not even the great Barry Alvarez can put that on his resume.
Wisconsin still has one of the best offenses in the country. Russell Wilson has the second best passer rating in the nation at 204.9 (Robert Griffin III [Baylor] is 1st with 205.7; Case Keenum [Houston] is 3rd with 184.8), and Montee Ball leads the nation with 19 touchdowns, one more than Heisman candidate Trent Richardson of Alabama. The combination makes for one of the most balanced and dangerous attacks to take the field on Saturdays. In fact, Wisconsin has passed for only 52 more total yards than they have rushed for thus far this season. Although the Badgers did lose in East Lansing, they did gain close to 450 total yards and put up 31 points on a defense that has only allowed 223 yards and 13.7 points per game, statistically the best in the conference (yards per game second in the nation behind Alabama). Michigan State had to play a nearly flawless game to defeat a mistake filled Wisconsin team (Michigan State had no penalties compared to 6 by Wisconsin).

Although not has heralded, Wisconsin still has a strong defense. Take away the nine points for the safety and the blocked punt for a touchdown, the defense itself allowed 28 points in the game, 22 before the freak Hail Mary completion at the end of the game. With the best linebacker tandem in the league led by Mike Taylor and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year candidate Chris Borland, the defense has allowed only 13.6 points per game (6th in the nation) as well as only 286.7 yards per game (9th in the nation). With that said, Wisconsin statistically remains a favorite to at the very least go to Indianapolis, if not Pasadena.

After the loss, Wisconsin has a new and straightforward season ahead of them; win and they're in. It all begins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, where the Badgers have not won since 2004. Ohio State freshman QB Braxton Miller is likely to start the game this coming Saturday. The last time Wisconsin played a freshman quarterback from Ohio State, the Badgers lost a heartbreaker in Madison in 2008 when Terrelle Pryor ran in a game-winning touchdown. Braxton Miller is not Terrelle Pryor, and these are not the Buckeyes of the last seven years. Bucky is down, and as happened in previous years he will get back up. The best way to make up for a big loss is a big win. After that, they play host to Purdue, travel to a terrible Minnesota and a faltering Illinois, then end the season at home against a Penn State team with a lowly offense.

The exposure the program has received most recently has Wisconsin recruiting one of the best incoming classes Monroe Street has ever seen. Appropriately, it starts on the offensive line with the commitment of three 4-star recruits (notably taking one decommitment from each Ohio State and Penn State). Also, a quarterback from De La Salle (CA), a nationally recognized high school program, and recruitment of another running back from Southeastern Wisconsin, adding to the likes of Brent Moss and John Clay. It may be that Head Coach Bret Bielema giving more media access to the program, and strengthening his own relationship with reporters. It may be the fact that Wisconsin players are having recent success in the NFL (12 rookies in training camp, 5 rookies starting Week 1). Whatever it is, young kids are beginning to consider the Badger program as a formidable choice.

Last Saturday night will hurt for a while, but Wisconsin will build off of this. In order to move to the next step, the program must continue to grow and thrive as it has under Coach Bielema. Wisconsin football has made huge strides in the last two decades alone from doormat to conference competitor and now at the threshold of national contender. For the Wisconsin football program, the immediate and long term futures look bright. Badger fans, look toward the motto of the state Bucky represents as the compass for this program. Look, Forward.

ESPN College Gameday's Chris Fowler

2011-09-28T20:35:00.000-05:00

College Gameday host Chris Fowler joined Red Alert today to talk about Wisconsin turning the corner as a program, Bret Bielema, and the fact that Gameday shows in Madison have been nothing short of weak in terms of atmosphere. He challenges UW students to show up and prove him wrong! College Gameday live from Bascom Hill airs Saturday at 8 AM on ESPNU and 9 AM on ESPN. Be there with your best sign!

Former Badgers QB Brooks Bollinger

2011-09-28T19:59:00.000-05:00

Former Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger joined The Student Section Monday to talk about this year's team, Russell Wilson, and how he feels about being compared to Wisconsin's star QB. Bollinger is the current head football coach at Hill-Murray High School in Minneapolis.

South Dakota Head Coach Ed Meierkort

2011-09-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

South Dakota Head Coach Ed Meierkort joined The Student Section Monday ahead of the Coyotes' match up against Wisconsin. Coach Meierkort candidly spoke about his program, conference realignment, and his team's excitement about the challenge of playing in Madison.

Announcing Fall, 2011, WSUM Sports Lineup!

2011-09-09T00:53:00.005-05:00

WSUM is pleased to announce its fall, 2011, sports talk show lineup. The station will feature eight outstanding shows. this semester, however, features a few changes to the schedule. Perhaps most notably, WSUM's longest-running show, The Student Section, moves from Tuesdays to Mondays. Additionally, Cheddar Chatter moves to Tuesdays, Full Court Press to Sundays, and Red Alert to Wednesdays. Finally, Debate and Tackle, WSUM Sports' newest show, will debut on Tuesdays.

Mondays, 4-6 PM: Student Section

Kyle Deckelbaum, Mike Fiammetta, Sam Maxwell, Nathan Palm

The longest-running show on the station, The Student Section is WSUM’s signature sports talk show. The program is renowned for featuring premier guests, most notably ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Andy Katz and Scott Van Pelt, as well as numerous Wisconsin coaches and student-athletes. This semester, the tradition continues with WSUM Sports Director Kyle Deckelbaum, Badger Herald Sports Editor Mike Fiammetta, Sam Maxwell, and Nathan Palm. Interact with us live by calling 608-265-9786.

Tuesdays, 4-5 PM: Debate and Tackle

Jackson Dahlquist, Nick Patri, Kendall Rozell, Carly Feit

Four of the newest members of the WSUM Sports Department tackle topics and debate disputes every Tuesday from 4-5. Call them live at 608-265-9786.

Tuesdays, 5-6 PM: Cheddar Chatter

Alex Kowalsky, Brian Martin, Caitlyn McCrory, Marc Sieber

Cheddar Chatter returns for its third semester to do exactly as its name suggests: delve into the sports teams throughout America’s Dairyland and beyond. Put on your cheese head and call them live at 608-265-9786!

Wednesdays, 4-5 PM: Red Alert

Kyle Deckelbaum, Nico Savidge, Robb Valentyn

Despite losing two extremely devoted cast members, the show must go on. Red Alert (somehow) returns for its sixth semester in a brand new timeslot: Wednesdays from 4-5. Join WSUM Sports Director Kyle Deckelbaum, former Daily Cardinal Sports Editor Nico Savidge… and Robb Valentyn…for a show that’s far from your typical sports talk show. Get ready to laugh, cry, and be awe-struck at Robb without his shirt on. You can call us to complain at 608-265-9786 or leave your comments on the Facebook page. Just search “Red Alert on WSUM.”

Wednesdays, 5-6 PM: Three Guys and a Mic

Danny Henken, Sam Maxwell, Nathan Palm

In its fifth semester, Three Guys and a Mic remains one of WSUM Sports' most engaging shows. Join Sam Maxwell, Nathan Palm and Danny Henken as they debate the top headlines from both on and off campus. Plus, don't miss the exciting “Around the Mic” segment, modeled after a popular national show of a similar name. Jump in and give your opinion by calling 608-265-9786.

Thursdays, 5-6 PM: The 6^th Quarter

Noah Jarosh, Justin Mertes-Mistretta, Max Sternberg, Sam Sussman

After the first four quarters at Camp Randall, it's the infamous “Fifth Quarter.” After the “Fifth Quarter,” it’s the “Sixth Quarter” on WSUM. Join Noah Jarosh, Justin Mertes-Mistretta, and the Daily Cardinal's Sam Sussman and Max Sternberg as they talk about Badger and professional sports. Plus, don't miss the "Sixth Sense" segment at the end of the show, where the hosts predict the upcoming week in sports. Share your "Sixth Sense" by giving them a call at 608-265-9786.

Sundays, 5-6 PM: Sunday Huddle

Ashley Hearn, Brian Phelps, Chris Ruska, Chris Vosters

One of three entirely new sports talk shows from the spring, 2011, semester, the Sunday Huddle is your source for a look back at the week in sports and a can't-miss look at what's ahead, both on and off campus. Talk to them live at 608-265-9786!

Sundays, 6-7 PM: Full Court Press

Pat Hechinger, Peter Swanson, Noah Tuller

Bring on the pressure… bring on Full Court Press! Pat Hechinger, Peter Swanson, and Noah Tuller bring it each Sunday from 4-5 PM! Talk to them live at 608-265-9786.

Ashley Hearn: Badgers Preview, Offense

2011-08-02T16:00:00.004-05:00

Despite a let down in the Rose Bowl, a slur of un-Wisconsin-like point explosions highlighted the Badgers 2010 campaign on offense including the 83-point slaughter of Indiana and 70-point annihilation of Northwestern. It is a tall order to demand a repeat of last years success, but for the 2011 Badgers a similar point barrage may not be necessary for Bucky to make a return trip to the Rose Bowl. The goal this year is simple - grind out enough wins to make it to Indianapolis for the first Big Ten Championship game.

Quarterback: Considered a position of weakness coming out of spring camp, the Badgers, to much media hype, acquired the services of 5th year senior Russell Wilson from North Carolina State. While Coach Brett Bielema will not name Wilson as the starter yet, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that he will be the man under center for the Badgers this fall. The addition of Wilson changes the entire face of Wisconsin's offense. He will be expected to step in smoothly for steady and dependable Scott Tolzein and lead the Badgers with veteran savy and skill. If Wilson can come close to repeating his production for the Wolfpack last year with the Badgers this year (3563 yards, 28 touchdowns, plus 9 rushing TD's) than Bucky will be in good hands.

Courtesy: AP

Running Back: Despite the coup surrounding the Badger’s quarterback position, Bucky’s offense will still live and die by the success of the ground game. There’s no denying the fact that this year's duo of backs are championship caliber. Though junior Montee Ball (996 yards, 18 touchdowns, 6.1 yards per carry) shed weight in the off-season, he is still expected to be the powerful back to compliment sophomore James White’s (1,052 yards, 14 touchdowns, 6.7 yards per carry) elusive, speedy style. Both backs could easily pass the 1,000 yard mark in 2011.

Full Back: Bradie Ewing can block, pass catch, and run the ball when needed. The well-rounded senior excels at whatever the Badgers ask of him including play special teams. He will presumably get all the snaps at full back while mentoring a trio of freshman behind him including spring game standout Jason Hengel (redshirt freshman).

Wide Receiver: The addition of Wilson at QB puts the spotlight on the suspect wide receiver position. Senior Nick Toon heads up the particularly young core of pass catchers with the only other player of note being redshirt sophomore Jared Abbrederis. Behind Toon and Abbrederis, inexperienced sophomores Manasseh Garner and Jeff Duckworth will get long looks in offensive coordinator Paul Chryst’s offense which likes to rotate receivers. Garner, a converted TE, lead all receivers with four catchers for 57 yards receiving in the spring game. Most importantly for this group, Toon must prove he can stay healthy and be a leader, and Abbrederis will have to prove he can fill the shoes of departed David Gilreath.

Tight End: Jake Byrne is the heir apparent at Lance Kendricks' vacated tight end spot, but as a power player (6 foot 4, 253 pounds), the blocking force is not expected to be the same type of pass catcher as Kendricks, Garrett Graham, and Travis Beckum before him. Instead, pass catching duties will be left up to sophomores Brian Wozniack and Jacob Pedersen. The latter saw action in thirteen games last season, with four starts, and made a key 33 yard catch in the win over No. 1 Ohio State.

Offensive Line: Despite the loss of two first team All-Americans in tackle Gabe Carimi (49 starts) and guard John Moffitt (42 starts), most positions along the line appear already solidified. Line coach Bob Bostad shuffled around his crew of 6 foot 5 plus, 320 plus pound players to assemble a line of mostly players with sporadic starting experience. The presumed starting line will include junior Ricky Wagner at right tackle and senior Josh Oglesby at left, although freshman Rob Havenstein (6-8, 343 pounds), the biggest player on the roster, could make it a competition for the left spot. Travis Frederick, who saw action in five games as a freshman but has since overcome an onslaught of injuries, is expected to make the start at left guard. The two true veterans on the line are junior center Peter Konz and senior right guard Kevin Zeitler. Konz earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten and is shortlisted for the Remington Award for best center. Zeitler is a three-year starter, All-Big Ten honorable mention, and Big Ten Academic All American who will be expected to lead the charge in opening up holes for Wisconsin's fearsome ground game.

Mallards' Third Baseman on Sports Summer

2011-07-11T17:18:00.001-05:00

Andrew Barna, third baseman for the Madison Mallards, joined Sports Summer to discuss the season thus far and life in the Northwoods League.

Andrew Halpern, Ben Roth: MLB Awards

2011-07-04T14:04:00.009-05:00

AL Cy Young
In the AL our prediction for Cy Young is Justin Verlander. He is tied with C.C. Sabathia with the most wins in the American League with 11. Verlander’s arsenal is equipped with a 95 plus fastball, a devastating slider and curveball, and a changeup. What’s most impressive about Verlander is that even in the latter part of the game, his fastball still reaches the high 90s. He is unhittable at times and in his last seven starts he’s gone at least seven innings while giving up less than two earned runs in each game. Having already thrown a no hitter this year and striking out 14 players in one game, he is easily the most dominating pitcher in the AL.

NL Cy Young
In the NL Roy Halladay is the front runner to win this year’s Cy Young. With the same number of wins and losses as his AL counterpart Verlander, Halladay is even better than he was in 2010. Halladay leads in the NL with six complete games and has the most innings pitched. Also, he is second in the league with strikeouts. Although Halladay is the favorite, Jair Jurrjens of the Braves is lesser known, but his league leading 1.89 ERA makes him a sleeper pick. He started the season on the DL, but he reached 11 wins before Roy Halladay did. In Jurrjens’s latest start he pitched a complete game, one hit shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

AL MVP
When Adrian Gonzalez was acquired by the Red Sox over the off-season, everyone expected him to have a monster year, and so far they are right. Through 83 games Gonzalez has smashed 16 home runs, driven in 74 runs and hit at a clip of .350. He leads the league in hits, RBIs and batting average. His numbers are off the charts during his first year with the Red Sox. He has also been picked to participate in the Home Run Derby and he is sure to put on a show at Chase Field in Phoenix.

NL MVP
Over in the National League, Jose Reyes of the New York Mets is having the best season of his career and is a front runner to win the NL MVP. Reyes, 28, leads the Major Leagues in hits, batting average, and triples. He is second in the NL in stolen bases and leads the league in runs scored. Although he left Saturday’s game with a tight hamstring, he is expected to return in a few days at full strength. Reyes is in a walk-year and he is giving the Mets little reason not to resign him.

NBA Draft Analysis, 1st Round Steals

2011-07-04T13:54:00.002-05:00

Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats, Rd 1, PK 9)
Jordan Bertoncini

Kemba Walker going to the Charlotte Bobcats can be a big help to the team. The reason for this is because the Charlotte Bobcats have been lacking a main leader for the team since Gerald Wallace got traded to the Trailblazers. The Bobcats main scorer now is Stephen Jackson who is not very good in late game situations and has been injured for quite some time this season. Since the Bobcats lacked in scoring, acquiring Kemba was a very good pick to boost their record. Kemba Is a high energy player who gets to the rim and draws fouls against the opposing players getting many into foul trouble. He also can score at will and can play for 37-40 minutes per game. Kemba is not only a key scorer, but he is a great passer and rebounder for a guard. He likes to have the ball in close late game situations and gets the job done in lake game situations. He was the first player in Uconn history to break the 900 point barrier.

Jimmer Fredette (Sacramento Kings, Rd 1, PK 10)
Jeremy Bernstein

Jimmer played 4 years of ball at Brigham Young University. The kid is a flat out ridiculous shooter. I have never seen a human being shoot as well as he does. His range is impeccable and he’s just a lights out shooter. Not only is he a spot up shooter but he can also shoot off the dribble. This year Jimmer was the leading scorer in all of NCAA basketball averaging 28.9 ppg. He’s a terrific free throw shooter as well. Fredette is one of the fiercest competitors that college basketball has seen in a while. His passion for the game is on another level. You can feel his love for the game just seeing his expressions and how much effort and hustle he puts into every possession of every game. One aspect of Jimmers game that gets overlooked is his ability to create shots for players on his team. He spreads the court because he’s such a great shooter which then opens passing lanes and makes it easier to look for the open man. He was the 10th pick in the draft and he was selected to the Sacramento Kings. This was a solid pick and a good fit for Jimmer because they are in a rebuilding stage and they have nice young talent. If he and Tyreeke Evans can mesh together the Kings will be better for years to come. Jimmer reminds me of a young Reggie Miller because of his amazing shooting ability and his passion for the game. The intangibles are there for Jimmer, let’s just wait and see what he can do in the NBA.

Marshon Brooks (Boston Celtics, Round 1, PK 25 )
Arjun Iyer

Marshon Brooks exploded onto the scene in his senior season at Providence. Brooks is a player that has tremendous upside and many think he is not even close to reaching his ceiling. After rapidly ascending draft boards across the league, Brooks eventually landed with the Boston Celtics with the twenty fifth overall pick. The Celtics aren’t getting any younger, and the members of their core group, the big three, are all closing in on the final years of their career, which is why it is becoming much more important for them to hit on their draft picks then in years past. Brooks is a player that has the look of a potential superstar in the NBA, in fact, many NBA talent evaluators have said they see flashes of Kobe Bryant in Brooks’ game, including Kobe’s current trainer, Tim Grover. They both have big hands and long arms, which allows them to keep the ball away from defenders when driving to the basket to finish a layup. Brooks also has the potential to be an elite defender at the NBA level so long as he puts in the effort. His long arms and tall frame will allow him to block a lot of shots and occupy a lot of space, but in college he didn’t put in enough work and his defensive stats were not spectacular. Brooks’ shooting is also an underrated part of his game, as his stats are skewed by his poor shot selection. When Brooks takes good shots, he makes them a large percentage of the time, however he tends to take a lot of bad shots which brings his shooting percentage down to the point where it looks as though he is not a good shooter. If Brooks can work on his shot selection his numbers will go way up. Lastly, Brooks is deadly in transition. He had one of the most impressive ¾ court sprints at 3.09 seconds and can finish in a handful of ways. Overall, look for Brooks to be a prolific scorer in the NBA.

NC State's Student Paper on Russell Wilson

2011-06-28T00:33:00.001-05:00

Corey Smith, sports editor of The Technician, NC State's student newspaper, joined Sports Summer to discuss Russell Wilson's commitment to play quarterback for the Badgers this fall.

Pro Cyclist Robbie Ventura Joins Sports Summer

2011-06-27T18:22:00.006-05:00

Former professional cycler Robbie Ventura joined Sports Summer to discuss his upcoming event, the Robbie Ventura Grand Fondo, the Tour de France, and his work training endurance athletes at Vision Quest Coaching.

Ashley Hearn: The Future of Golf

2011-06-24T16:05:00.005-05:00

Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus— two preeminent names on a list of four players 22-year old Rory McIlroy eclipsed at 111th US Open this weekend with a record-setting 72-hole total of 268.

The performance was thorough wire-to-wire devastation, a kid making one of golf’s greatest challenges look like a round of put-put. At 22 years-old He broke dozens of records en route to becoming the youngest Open winner since Bobby Jones at 21 won in 1923.

Because of his outing, as well as his promising showings at the 2010 British Open and 2011 Masters, McIlroy has been anointed as golf’s next great thing— the heir to the throne of Woods and Nicklaus. Now, many fans are tuning in to see whether or not the young man from Northern Ireland can give professional golf what it has been missing since the unraveling of Woods 2009— a bona fide superstar.

One majors win does not a sports legend make, but there is not much to dislike about Rory McIlroy. He may not be an American, but his humble, happy-go-lucky demeanor resonated with the crowd at Congressional screaming Rory-Rory-Rory as the young professional made his way down the 18th fairway, the win sealed.

McIlroy was introduced to golf at an early age by his father Gerry— on hand for Father’s Day as his son cruised to victory. According to his personal website, McIlroy recorded a 40-yard drive at just two-years-old and his first hole-in-one at nine. He became touted as a teen prodigy after playing in his first professional European Tour event at 16.

The talent for McIlroy has always been there. Even his competitors have taken notice to the immense promise he presents both as a golfer and admired competitor. ‘‘The good thing about Rory is that he’s a great guy,’’ said runner-up Jason Day. ‘‘So it’s a hard guy to hate. He’s a really, really great bloke.’

Three time major champion Padraig Harrington lauded the manner in which McIlroy dominated the competition. ‘‘I think this is what makes a difference: There might be people capable of winning a major, but there’s not too many people capable of dominating and running away from the field in a major.”

Nevertheless, McIlroy is still the same player who blew the lead at the Masters only weeks ago. He is not invincible, or even the most feared player on the tour. However, he exploded into the discussion last weekend with one of most dominating performances in the history of the majors.

His play coupled with his age, attitude, and raw-talent are breathing life into the world of golf that has been searching for an answer to Tiger Woods since 2009. The reins are now in the hands of young Irishman, Rory McIlroy, and the world will wait to see what he does next.

2010-11 Badgers Sports Highlight Package

2011-05-03T19:32:00.001-05:00

What a year in Wisconsin sports! We send you to summer with this retrospective of a historic year. Thank you for your continued support of WSUM Sports, and we'll see you in the fall!

Marc Sieber: Packers Draft Recap

2011-05-01T20:44:00.002-05:00

I’ll keep this simple. I’m going to break down every pick and give a final grade. Let’s get started.

Round 1 pick 32: Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi State

This was the guy I was hoping would be there at the Packers’ pick. Sherrod was a fixture at left tackle for MSU over the past 3 years. He did not allow a sack his junior and senior seasons. Has good size at 6-5 319 pounds. Ran a 5.18 40 time and did 28 reps.

Many people were hoping that Gabe Carimi would fall to the Packers, but I actually like Sherrod better. Carimi projects as a right tackle or right guard in the NFL where Sherrod could play left tackle.

I don’t think the Packers are totally sold on Bryan Bulaga as the left tackle of the future. At the worst Bulaga will be a great NFL right tackle, but Sherrod gives them another option (unlike Carimi). I think the Packers will just let Bulaga and Sherrod compete and whoever proves to be the better player will get the left tackle spot (and the bigger paycheck).

Round 2 pick 64: Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky

Love this pick. LOVE. IT. This is exactly the kind of guy I thought the Packers needed. Cobb is a player that can do everything. In his career at Kentucky he played quarterback, running back, wide receiver. He returned kicks and punts and was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.

Cobb strikes me as a poor man’s Percy Harvin. He’s not quite as fast as Harvin, but he doesn’t have the Percy Harvin attitude.

I personally did not think the Packers would draft Cobb because he is smaller (5-10 190) than the receivers they usually like to take. But there was no one happier than I was when Jim Taylor read his name.

Round 3 pick 96: Alex Green, RB Hawaii

When the Packers drafted Green it was immediately obvious to me what he was: Brandon Jackson’s replacement. Why? Because he played in a spread offense at Hawaii. What does that mean? It means he will be a great third down back.

Green has prototype size and speed (6-0 225, ran a 4.46) for a running back. He has great hands out of the backfield (hence, third down back). I think they will work him in as the third down back while they get him used to running in a more traditional offense.

Round 4 pick 131: Davon House, CB New Mexico State

House has great size and speed (6-0 197, 4.44 40 time). He was a four year starter and one of the only good players on a bad New Mexico State team. Has all the tools you look for but lacked consistency at times.

House adds depth to a great Packers’ secondary. He could be the one that pushes guys like Jarrett Bush, Brandon Underwood, or Pat Lee off the team.

Round 5 pick 141: D.J. Williams, TE Arkansas

Best pass catching tight end in the draft. Won Mackey Award given to the nation’s top tight end. Has great hands. Unique size at 6-2 247. Fits into the tight end, H-back role.

When the Packers selected both Randall Cobb and D.J. Williams every defensive coordinator in the NFC North got a head ache. These two guys add so much versatility to an already outstanding offense.

Round 6 pick 169: Caleb Schlauderaff, OG Utah

6-4 303 pounds. Four year starter at left guard for Utah. Started 49 games in his college career.

Solid player that fills a need with Dayrn Colledge and Jason Spitz potentially leaving as free agents.

Round 6 pick 186: D.J. Smith, LB Appalachian State

Played outside linebacker at Appalachian State but is too short (5-11 238) to play that position in a 3-4 so he will probably move inside. Had 525 career tackles which was the most of any player in this year’s draft.

Smith adds depth at inside linebacker and could contribute on special teams.

Round 6 pick 197: Ricky Elmore, OLB Arizona

Elmore will switch from defensive end to outside linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4 defense. He has led the Pac-10 in sacks the past two years. Played opposite Brooks Reed who went to Houston in the second round. 6-5 258, ran a 4.88 40 time, did 26 reps.

Elmore will have to slim down and improve in coverage in order to play outside linebacker for the Packers. He has the potential to develop into a good pass rushing linebacker opposite Clay Matthews.

Round 7 pick 218: Ryan Taylor, TE North Carolina

Played tight end and linebacker at North Carolina. North Carolina’s special teams captain. One of the best special teams players in the draft. 6-3 244, ran a 4.74. Set a team record his senior year for catches by a tight end with 36.

Taylor was a surprise at first but makes more sense when you look closer. He was one of the best special teams players in the entire draft, a definite area of need for the Packers.

Round 7 pick 233: Lawrence Guy, DT Arizona State

Has all the physical ability in the world, but it was never seen on the field. Came out as a junior when he probably should have stayed another year, which may have caused him to drop. Played defensive tackle in college but will probably switch to end.

Guy could develop into a great player with some coaching. Has the talent but needs the motivation.

Overall Grade: B+

I really like all of the players the Packers picked this year. Their first two picks went exactly as I hoped they would. The only thing I wish they would have done was address the outside linebacker and defensive line positions early than they did. However, Ted Thompson has earned my trust and deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Marc Sieber: Packers Draft Preview (Defense)

2011-04-26T21:47:00.000-05:00

On to the defense!

Number 1: Defensive Line

Looks like Cullen Jenkins won’t be back. Any time you lose an impact player it is hard to replace them, but I liked what I saw from Mike Neal in his limited time last year. C.J. Wilson also looked pretty good for a guy who was thrust into the starting lineup.

You can never have too many big defensive linemen so this is an area I could see the Packers addressing early on in the draft. There are a few good 3-4 defensive end prospects that could still be on the board when the Packers pick.

One of them is a name that will be very familiar to Badger fans. Cameron Heyward from Ohio State. Now I need all you Badgers to put your hatred aside for a second. I think Heyward would be a great selection for the Packers at the end of the first round. He has the combination of size and speed that would make him a perfect defensive end for the Packer’s 3-4 defense.

Another intriguing prospect from a Badgers rival is Christian Ballard out of Iowa. He played defensive tackle in college he could switch to end in a 3-4. He is a little smaller but quicker than Heyward and could provide some inside pass rush.

Number 2: Outside Linebacker

Clay Matthews is awesome. No one is arguing that. Unfortunately the Packers haven’t found a consistent player to play opposite him. There has been a rotating door at the other outside linebacker spot, and while guys like Frank Zombo and Erik Walden showed flashes of brilliance this year it’s still unclear if they will be enough.

There are a few players that will probably still be around when the Packers pick at 32 that fit into the 3-4 rush outside linebacker mold.

Unfortunately Von Miller will be long gone before the Packers pick but the second best outside linebacker may still be available. That’s Akeem Ayers out of UCLA. Ayers is a player that excels against the run and the pass and is great at getting to the quarterback. However, his draft stock has been rising lately so it is starting to seem unlikely he will be around when the Packers pick.

Someone who most likely will still be on the board is Brooks Reed out of Arizona. Reed played defensive end in college but has the ability to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. While he could probably play Clay Matthews’ stunt double he is nowhere near the player Matthews is. He could still develop into the kind of player that could help to take some of the attention away from Matthews if the Packers take him.

Marc Sieber: Packers Draft Preview (Offense)

2011-04-26T21:46:00.002-05:00

Ah, draft season! The sports world is overwhelmed with mock drafts and analyses. I think I’ll take a shot at it.

I’m not enough of an expert to give you a mock draft, but I can give you my take on the Packers needs and throw out a few names I think would satisfy them. I’ve identified the two biggest needs (in my humble opinion) on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Here we go with the offense.

Number 1: Offensive Line

Seems like this one keeps coming up year after year after year (after year after year). The Packers took a huge step to improving their offensive line when they drafted Bryan Bulaga last year, but there is still room for improvement.

It looks like Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz may both be gone in free agency. This leaves a gaping hole at the left guard position. Many people were high on T.J. Lang after a strong rookie year, but it remains to be seen what his long term position will be.

Thankfully this draft is very deep at the offensive line positions, so it likely that there will still be a high caliber player available when the Packers pick at 32. Danny Watkins out of Baylor, the top rated guard in the draft, may be there.

If they want to go with a tackle it would probably be someone like Derek Sherrod from Mississippi State or Ben Ijalana from Villanova. Unfortunately Badger fans, it looks like Gabe Carimi will be gone before 32.

Number 2: Wide Receiver

I have recently taken a lot of criticism for suggesting that the Packers need to draft a wide receiver. While I agree that the Packers have had one of the best groups of receivers in the NFL over the past few years, I still think there is room for improvement.

I personally don’t have faith in James Jones or Jordy Nelson. I don’t think either one will be able to step up when Donald Driver retires. Jones isn’t the biggest or fastest guy out there and one of the things he really had going for him were his hands and as we saw at the end of the year, those are not even consistent anymore.

I have more faith in Nelson than in Jones but I’m still not sold. It seems like every time he catches the ball he heads straight for the sideline. It drives me crazy! He’s a 6-3 217 pound receiver but he plays like he’s 5-9 180!

All that being said I think it would be a good idea for the Packers to invest a significant draft choice on a wide receiver. I would like to see them get a speed guy that could also be an impact returner.

While I don’t think they will spend their first round pick on a receiver, a guy I like that would probably be available at that point is Torrey Smith out of Maryland. Smith can regularly run in the low 4.40s and is one of the best returners in the draft.

However, I think it is more likely that they could address this position later in the draft. This is a draft that is deep in receivers that could develop into nice 2nd or 3rd options in the NFL. A guy I like is Edmond Gates from Abilene Christian. He’s a small school guy with a lot of speed, figures to be a 2-4 round pick. Keep your eye on him.

Marc Sieber: Brewers Preview, Pt. 2

2011-04-04T00:47:00.002-05:00

Now I’m warning you: I’m going to be complaining a little here. People always seem to get so excited about the Brewers offense, but I don’t like it. I particularly don’t like their batting order, it isn’t balanced. The Brewers have four guys who I would consider power hitters at the top of their order (Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder). It might seem like an odd thing to say, but this is too much. You don’t need four power hitters, and I’ll explain why.

For Mr. Average Fan who loves to see home runs, having a lot of power hitters might seem like a good thing. Well it’s not. Now the same Mr. Average Fan may not understand how a team puts a batting order together (it’s ok, I didn’t until I started playing baseball video games). What may seem like a simple thing actually takes a lot of thought and consideration. I’ll try to explain it to you the best I can.

The first batter in your order is your leadoff guy. For the Brewers this has been Rickie Weeks for the past few years. You want your leadoff hitter to do one thing: GET ON BASE. It may be a surprise but you don’t want your lead of hitter hitting home runs. The ideal lead of man has a high on base percentage and can steal bases. He’s meant to get on base and become a headache and a distraction for the pitcher. Your leadoff man should NOT be a power hitter.

The number two hitter is ideally in the same mold as your leadoff hitter. He would be batting first if the lead off guy wasn’t on the team. He usually has a little more power than your leadoff guy but is still more of a “just get on base guy”. This is the spot where I think Rickie Weeks would fit perfectly. This is also why I was sorry to see the Brewers trade away Lorenzo Cain. Having Cain leadoff and Weeks bat second would have given the Brewers a much more balanced lineup than they have now.

The number three spot is where you want your best pure hitter, a guy who has a high batting average but can also hit for power. Ryan Braun has held this spot for pretty much his entire career as a Brewer and it is ideal for him. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Casey McGehee here.

Your fourth guy is the cleanup batter. Here is where you want your best power hitter. They call it the “cleanup” spot for a reason. He is supposed to clear the bases. It’s that simple. Prince Fielder has also held this spot for most of his career and it is ideal for him. But at the same time there is a reason Casey McGehee (who bats fifth) led the team in RBI last year. Fielder strikes out too much. Now I don’t want to get on a whole Prince Fielder rant but since I started I might as well keep going.

I like Prince and I appreciate all that he has done, but at the same time I can’t help but think the Brewers would be better off without him. Let’s look at a hypothetical scenario: Say the Brewers had just flat out traded Prince Fielder for Zack Grienke (I know that wasn’t an option but let’s pretend for a minute). They could then have had Lorenzo Cain bat first, Weeks second, Braun third, Hart fourth, and McGehee fifth. This is a much more balanced order than what they have now and I think it would have worked a lot better.

But back to the topic. . The number five guy is usually someone that will make a team not want to pitch around the number four hitter, the pitcher generally bats last and the catcher is usually before him. The six and seven spots are usually just determined by whoever is a better hitter.
This is the ideal model that many of the successful teams follow.

The Brewers don’t.

They do try the best they can. With their current roster the order they have is the one that works the best. What they need to do is focus less on the homerun and more on stringing hits together. Homeruns are great, but you can’t rely on them. People like to blame the Brewers’ lack of success the past few years on pitching, but the offense needs to take some responsibility and become more consistent. Pitching is no longer a scapegoat. Everyone needs to step up.

I would like to get excited about the Brewers this year. They did enough in the offseason that I should be excited, but at the same time I can see too many things that could go wrong. I’m hoping they won’t, but in the meantime I’m going to take a wait and see attitude. Whatever happens baseball season is always fun. If they do well that’s awesome. If not, it gives me something more to complain about.

Marc Sieber: Brewers Preview, Pt. 1

2011-04-04T00:46:00.003-05:00

The NFL is long done and no matter how hard I try I will never be more than a casual basketball fan. I’m so glad that April is finally here and that it brought baseball with it. Thus I present to you, my Brewers Preview for 2011. I’ve split it up into two parts. Here is part one: Pitching.

This seems to be brought up every year at this time. But unlike past years, which mostly seemed to be about how terrible the Brewers pitching staff was, this year the conversation is very optimistic.

This past off season the Brewers significantly upgraded their pitching staff by trading for Shawn Marcum and the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke. With the addition of these two players the Brewers, needless to say, will have a much better rotation this year.

When it happened I was happy to see that they (finally) went out and actively tried to improve their rotation. Marcum seems like a quality guy that will give the Brewers consistency throughout the year.

Greinke is another story.

I was initially excited about the trade in spite of what they gave up for him. But then I did a little research. Turns out Greinke has suffered “social anxiety disorder”. This pretty much means that the most ordinary social tasks give him stage fright (I’m not a doctor so don’t quote me on that).

This concerned me a little but I thought “That’s fine. So long as he goes out there and pitches well ever five days and stays healthy.”

………….and then he got hurt………playing pick-up basketball…………yeah……

The Brewers traded half their minor league for this guy and are investing a ton of money in him and he goes and gets hurt playing basketball! C’mon man! The Brewers are banking on him to be a success and he’s injured before the season even starts.

Then I went and looked at him a little closer.

Greinke won the 2009 Cy Young Award when he went 18-9 and had a 2.16 ERA. But that was the only real outstanding year he had. Greinke has a 60-67 career record with a 3.82 ERA. Now that still makes him a great improvement by Brewers standards, but in my opinion the jury is still out.

It seems like the Brewers reshuffle their bull pen every year and it’s hard to judge most of these guys until you get to see them a few times. However there is one person that I can judge right now and that’s John Axford. Axford impressed everyone last year, stepping up when Trevor Hoffman struggled, and most people were really high on him coming into this year.

And then opening day came.

Right now I’m keeping my fingers crossed hoping that John Axford doesn’t end up suffering from what I like to call the “Derrick Turnbow Effect”. Let me explain.

When a new pitcher comes into the league many times he has success early on. The reason for this is because teams haven’t seen his stuff before and aren’t ready for it. But then, after they see him a few times and study him more, they become better prepared and know what to expect. So many times a young pitcher can look great when no one has seen him before, but then be terrible two or three years later (Derrick Turnbow).

Right now I think all Brewers’ fans should be hoping that John Axford doesn’t follow down Derrick Turnbow’s path. But if he does, the Brewers have to act fast. I think they waited too long to pull Trevor Hoffman from the closer role last year and they cannot do the same. If Axford can’t do it they have to find someone else.

Join the WSUM Bracket Pool!

2011-03-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

March Madness is officially here! Join the WSUM Bracket Pool and compete for great prizes, like concert tickets and WSUM swag! It's free and open to everyone, just click here to join. The brackets are released Sunday at 5 and picks are due before the first games are played Tuesday. Good luck!

Big Ten Network's Dave Revsine 3/8

2011-03-08T18:35:00.002-06:00

Big Ten Network anchor Dave Revsine joined the Student Section Tuesday to talk about the Big Ten Tournament and the Badgers' post season chances.

Wisconsin's Jade Davis on the Student Section

2011-03-01T19:18:00.000-06:00

Wisconsin Jr. G Jade Davis called in to the Student Section Tuesday 3/1 to talk about this weekend's Big Ten Tournament. The Badgers face Indiana on Thursday and WSUM will have live coverage of the game.

ESPN's Andy Katz on the Student Section

2011-02-22T19:24:00.000-06:00

ESPN Senior College Basketball Writer and UW Alum Andy Katz joined the Student Section Feb. 22 to talk about the Badgers' season thus far and the Big Ten overall.

Spring 2011 Sports Talk Shows

2011-01-21T00:17:00.000-06:00

WSUM is pleased to announce our biggest sports talk schedule ever! The spring, 2011 semester will feature eight sports talk shows, including three entirely new ones! Tune in at 91.7 in Madison, online at wsum.org, or on iTunes Radio under college/university radio and WSUM.

Cheddar Chatter
Monday, 5-6 PM
Alex Kowalsky, Brian Martin, Marc Sieber, Caitlin McCrory
One of WSUM’s newest shows, Cheddar Chatter will do exactly as its name suggests: delve into the sports teams throughout America’s Dairyland and beyond. Put on your cheese head and call them live at 608-265-9786!

The Student Section
Tuesday, 4-6 PM
Kyle Deckelbaum, Matt De Re, Max Henson, Stephen Watson
The longest-running show on the station, The Student Section is WSUM’s signature sports talk show. The program is renowned for featuring premier guests, most notably ESPN's Adam Rittenberg and Scott Van Pelt, as well as numerous Wisconsin coaches and student-athletes. This semester, the tradition continues with WSUM Sports Director Kyle Deckelbaum, Assistant Sports Director Matt De Re, Badger Herald Sports Editor Max Henson, and Stephen Watson. Interact with us live by calling 608-265-9786.

Full Court Press
Wednesday, 4-5 PM
Alex Dilling, Pat Hechinger, Peter Swanson, Noah Tuller
Bring on the pressure…bring on Full Court Press! A few of the newest members of the sports press bring it each Wednesday from 4-5 PM! Talk to them live at 608-265-9786.

Three Guys and a Mic
Wednesday, 5-6 PM
Jeff Bailitz, Danny Henken, Eric Skvirsky
In its fourth semester, Three Guys and a Mic remains one of WSUM Sports' most engaging shows. Join Jeff Bailitz, Eric Skvirsky, and Danny Henken as they debate the top headlines from both on and off campus. Plus, don't miss the exciting “Around the Mic” segment, modeled after a popular national show of a similar name. Jump in and give your opinion by calling 608-265-9786.

Red Alert
Thursday, 4-5 PM
Kyle Deckelbaum, Matt De Re, Max Henson, Nico Savidge, Robb Valentyn
Join WSUM Sports Director Kyle Deckelbaum, Assistant Sports Director Matt De Re, Badger Herald Sports Editor Max Henson, former Daily Cardinal Sports Editor Nico Savidge… and Robb Valentyn… every Thursday from 4-5. You know, with such a prestigious cast (other than Robb), it’s a shame this show is far from your typical sports talk show. On second thought, maybe that’s precisely what makes it great. Get ready to laugh, cry, and be awe-struck at Robb without his shirt on. You can call us to complain at 608-265-9786 or leave your comments on the Facebook page. Just search “Red Alert on WSUM.”

The Sixth Quarter
Thursday, 5-6 PM
Noah Jarosh, Justin Mertes-Mistretta, Max Sternberg, Sam Sussman
After the first four quarters at Camp Randall, it's the infamous “Fifth Quarter.” After the “Fifth Quarter,” it’s the “Sixth Quarter” on WSUM. Join Noah Jarosh, Justin Mertes-Mistretta, and the Daily Cardinal's Sam Sussman and Max Sternberg as they talk about Badger and professional sports. Plus, don't miss the "Sixth Sense" segment at the end of the show, where the hosts predict the upcoming week in sports. Share your "Sixth Sense" by giving them a call at 608-265-9786.

Rise and Fire
Sunday, 5-6 PM
Will Horowitz, Jacob Ron, Greg Scalzo, Stephen Watson
Count it! The week in sports just got FAR more exciting than you could ever imagine. Get buckets and join the discussion by calling 608-265-9786. Every Sunday night…purreee.

The Sunday Huddle
Sunday, 6-7 PM
Ashley Hearn, Nathan Palm, Chris Ruska, Chris Vosters
One of three entirely new sports talk shows this semester, The Sunday Huddle is your source for a look back at the week in sports, both on and off campus. Talk to them live at 608-265-9786!

A complete schedule can be found at wsum.org. As always, thank you for your continued support of WSUM Sports!

Previewing TCU with KTCU Sports

2010-12-08T13:25:00.000-06:00

KTCU Sports Director Chris Blake joined the Student Section on Tuesday to talk about the Wisconsin vs. TCU Rose Bowl matchup. KTCU is TCU's student radio station.

Chris Vosters: 2010 WI State Football Preview

2010-11-17T21:24:00.000-06:00

For football fans, this truly is the most wonderful time of year. Think about it: the playoff race is beginning to materialize in the NFL, and given the current state of affairs for the Red and White in college football, I shouldn’t have to say anything to rouse the excitement of even the most fair-weather Badger fan. It’s almost like we are witnessing the plot line develop in an incredibly exciting movie, and right now, we are just beginning the build-up to what promises to be a thrilling finish to another great year of football. And what better way to get this process started than by taking a look at the awesome action coming to Madison this weekend. The Badgers may be out of town, but mid-November always means State Championship football for Wisconsin high schools. This week, the eyes of Wisconsin football will be looking in on Camp Randall for the 35th annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Football State Championships. Each matchup from Division 1 through Division 7 promises to be an exciting showcase of the best high school football the state has to offer. Let’s take a look at some of the matchups:

Division III:

West De Pere Phantoms (13-0) vs. Catholic Memorial Crusaders (11-2)

Matchup: The D3 final is a matchup of the Green Bay suburbs (West De Pere) and the Milwaukee suburbs (Waukesha’s Catholic Memorial). West De Pere has been here before. Looking to avenge their loss in last year’s final, the Phantoms cruised through an undefeated regular season, securing a #1 seed in the playoffs. Lead by a stifling defense that allowed an astonishing 26 points the entire regular season, West De Pere also boasts an offense that notched no less than 37 on the scoreboard during the same span. Catholic Memorial, meanwhile, can crown themselves the official Cinderella of the tournament, reaching the finals in spite of their #5 seed. Don’t let the two losses fool you, however; the Crusaders hail from one of the toughest conferences in the state, the Classic 8. Their two defeats have come at the hands of Division I powerhouses Arrowhead and Waukesha West, this year’s D1 finalist. Playing against schools 2-3 times larger in enrollment, Memorial has still found a way to make the playoffs four straight seasons.

Outcome: On paper, West De Pere looks unstoppable. That said, look for Catholic Memorial’s 12th ranked defense to try and keep the Phantoms in check. Memorial already knows what it takes to beat a #1 seed as they knocked off Delavan-Darien in the semi-finals by a score of 30-20. While West De Pere certainly comes from a respectable part of the state in terms of football prominence, the Crusader’s ultra-competitive conference and tougher playoff schedule have them conditioned to pull off the upset.

Division II:

Cedarburg Bulldogs (12-1) vs. Waunakee Warriors (13-0)

Matchup: The Division II matchup pits two of the state’s most successful programs against each other. Defending champion Waunakee has qualified for the playoffs every year since 1996, making five state championship games and winning three of them (1999, 2002, 2009). The Warriors have been nothing short of unstoppable this season, scoring at least 40 points in every regular season game but one. After securing a #1 seed, their dominant streak has continued throughout the playoffs: no team has come within two scores of them in their four elimination games. Cedarburg has a very impressive playoff record in their own right, qualifying fourteen out of the past fifteen seasons. As a #4 seed, their path to the finals has been defined by an upset over #1 seeded Ashwaubenon in the Round 2, and a 31-30 double overtime thriller over Kimberly in Round 3. This is the Bulldogs first time advancing past the 3rd round in the WIAA playoffs.

Outcome: The Warrior defense will likely receive their toughest test of the season in trying to contain Cedarburg’s prolific offense. RB Logan Lauters has truly been a sight to behold this season, tallying a jaw-dropping 2,539 yards on the ground to go along with 33 touchdowns. With the state’s leading running back on their side, Cedarburg boasts the state’s 6th ranked offense in terms of total yardage. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Waunakee might just have the star power to match. With three players earning 1st Team All-State recognition and three more receiving Honorable Mention, Waunakee will succeed in bringing home a second consecutive D2 championship.

Division I:

Stevens Point Panthers (10-3) vs. Waukesha West Wolverines (12-1)

Matchup: Despite a 6-3 regular season record, Stevens Point succeeded in winning the Wisconsin Valley Conference Title and picked up a #1 playoff ranking along the way. Outside of a 29-28 scare from Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln in the second round, the Panthers have cruised through the playoffs. Their journey was highlighted by a signature victory over Milwaukee Marquette in the state semi-finals. Point has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past nine seasons and has been lead in particular this season by some of the best linemen in the state. Two defensive linemen and one offensive lineman earned 1st Team All-State recognition for the Panthers, while another defensive lineman picked up Honorable Mention recognition. The 2010 playoff experience has also been especially sweet for #3 seed Waukesha West, defined in large part by a 14-10 victory over archrival Arrowhead in the second round. The Warhawks are responsible for West’s only loss of the season and no other team has come within two scores in either the regular season or the playoffs. The Wolverines are solid in all facets of the game, with the #13 ranked defense in the state, the #11 ranked passing offense, and running back Joe Schobert, who has totaled 2,146 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns this season.

Outcome: For the better part of the past decade, the state’s top teams have risen out of the southeastern corner of Wisconsin. Stevens Point has an opportunity to discredit the myth of greater-Milwaukee’s football superiority if they can take down Waukesha West on Friday. The Panthers have already made great strides in taking back some of the lost pride for northern Wisconsin high school football by knocking off Marquette in the semis. But Point should not rest on their laurels just yet. The Panther’s ugliest game of the season by far came in the form of a 48-17 drubbing at the hands of Kenosha Bradford. Bradford is unique in that they played both of the D1 finalists this season. In the state semi-finals, Waukesha West subdued Bradford by a final score of 30-15. While this shouldn’t be anyone’s deciding factor in choosing a favorite for this game, I just don’t feel Stevens Point has what it takes to upend Waukesha West. The north may rise again, but not this year. The Wolverines should be the 2010 Division I State Football Champions of Wisconsin.

Previewing Michigan with Ann Arbor's WOLV-TV

2010-11-16T18:50:00.001-06:00

Earlier today, WOLV-TV General Manager Alex Prasad joined the Student Section to preview the Wisconsin/Michigan game at the Big House. WOLV is Michigan's student television station.

Previewing Indiana with WIUX Sports

2010-11-10T10:40:00.000-06:00

Dan Karell, Sports Director at WIUX, joined the Student Section on Tuesday to preview Saturday's game between the Badgers and Hoosiers. WIUX is Indiana's student radio station.

Jeff Bailitz: If the NFL season ended today...

2010-11-02T02:01:00.003-05:00

It's been hands down the most interesting and unpredictable NFL season that I can ever remember.

No team in the NFC has risen above the rest and the AFC appears to be more top heavy than the NBA.

Already the Saints and Colts have matched their losses from a season ago and the Buccaneers, Rams and Chiefs have surpassed their win total from last year.

Last year's division winners in the NFC are a combined 11 - 18 (Saints 5 - 3, Cowboys 1 - 6, Vikings 2 - 5, Cardinals 3 - 4) and if the season ended today only the Saints would make the playoffs.

Last year's cellar teams in the NFC are a combined 15 - 17 with the Buccaneers making the playoffs and the Rams and Redskins very close with 4 - 4 records a piece.

In the AFC both the Bengals and Chargers won their respective divisions a season ago and share a combined 5 - 10 with losses to Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Seattle, Kansas City, Oakland, and Cleveland. Only Seattle had more than 4 wins a season ago.

The Denver Broncos began the 2009 season 6 - 0, since they are 4 - 14. Tennessee started 2009 0 - 6, and are 13 - 5 since.

The Dallas Cowboys are 1 - 6 in the first 8 weeks - their remaining opponents have a combined .540 winning percentage including 4 games against the Colts, Packers, Giants and Saints.

If the season ended today here is who would be in the NFC playoffs.

Byes:
1 seed: New York Giants
2 seed: Atlanta Falcons

Wildcard match-ups:
3 seed: Green Bay Packers vs 6 seed: New Orleans Saints
4 seed: Seattle Seahawks vs. 5 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

That would mean the 2nd round of the NFC playoffs would feature either the Seahawks or Buccaneers, Falcons, Giants and only the Saints/Packers would be the returning playoff teams from the season prior.

Bubble Teams: Chicago Bears (4 -3), Philadelphia Eagles (4 -3), Washington Redskins (4 - 4), St. Louis Rams (4 - 4).

It's hard not to put the Vikings (2 - 5) and 49ers (2 -6) because either division is really up for grabs at this point.

Here's how the AFC would line up:

Byes:
1 seed: New England Patriots
2 seed: Baltimore Ravens

3 seed: Kansas City Chiefs vs. 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers
4 seed: Indianapolis Colts vs. 5 seed New York Jets

Although the Jets and Steelers are 5 - 2 since Baltimore and New England are division winners it makes them wild card teams. These two could be the best Wild Card teams of all time.

Bubble Teams: Tennessee Titans (5 - 3), Houston Texans (4 - 3) Miami Dolphins (4 -3) and only because the West is that bad - Oakland Raiders (4 - 4) & San Diego Chargers (3 - 5)

Player Awards:
Offensive Player of the Year: Arian Foster 5.5 y/c, 635 yards, 19 Rec, 180 yards, 7 TD
Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews 27 Tack., 1 FF, 10 sacks
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Dez Bryant 29 Rec, 349 yds, 3 TD, 223 Ret yards, 2 TD
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh 27 Tack, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FR, 1 TD
Coach of the Year: Raheem Morris/Todd Haley
MVP: Peyton Manning 2,184 Yds, 15 TD, 2 INT, 104.5 pr, 63% comp. pct.

These playoffs would favor any AFC team that reaches the Super Bowl but for some reason NFC players are having better individual years. Roddy White will give Arian Foster and Peyton Manning a run for their money in Offensive and MVP races.

Also with the way the conferences currently align the Steelers and Saints would be the respective 6 seeds in each conference - if things end this way don't be surprised if we see our first ever 6 seed vs 6 seed Super Bowl, but now since that is a possibility this NFL season won't let it happen.

Marc Sieber: What a Week!

2010-10-09T16:43:00.002-05:00

Well, it’s good to have my Sundays free again. No more football. I mean, the rest of the season won’t matter. Cause the Vikings have already won the Super Bowl. Yep. We might as well not even play all the games now that the Vikings have Randy Moss. The 1-2 Vikings have added a 33 year old wide receiver with 9 catches, which clearly puts them ahead of the 3-1 Packers who refused to trade for a running back who ran for 450 yards last year. The season is over! The Packers better start losing games so they get the number one overall pick and can draft a new General Manager. It’s the end of the world!

Sarcasm aside, acquiring Randy Moss does significantly improve the Vikings. Even if Moss has lost a step this gives the Vikings an experienced wide receiver that can still stretch the field. But there is one thing about this trade that scares me more than Moss running through the Packers depleted secondary; this trade motivates Brett Favre.

Throughout the first few games of the season I thought Favre has looked old and tired. I really think that if those three players hadn’t gone down to Mississippi and gotten him he would have stayed retired. (Thanks a lot Jared Allen, Ryan Longwell, and Steve Hutchinson.) So far Favre has struck me as acting like he really didn’t want to be there. But now he has his boy. He has Randy Moss. And he has motivation. Favre’s going to give it 110% for the rest of the season, and the Packers better be ready for it.

Ah, the Packers! My old friends! Let us take a look at what they have been up to:

Morgan Burnett is now on Injured Reserve and Nick Barnett looks like he will soon be joining him. Marshawn Lynch was traded to the Seahawks. And Aaron Rodgers came out and said he was unhappy with the play calling. Let’s handle these a topic at a time.

Injuries: In Wisconsin, a land of eagle sized mosquitoes, the most recent pest to go on a rampage through the state was the injury bug. Morgan Burnett is out for the year, we know that for sure, Nick Barnett is seeking a second opinion on a wrist injury that may require season ending surgery (kind of makes you glad we kept A.J. Hawk…….kind of). With Burnett out Nick Collins is going to have to play absolutely perfect at safety for the rest of the year, or at least until Atari Bigby can get on the field.

Lynch: While I would have liked to see Lynch as a Packer I’m not totally broken hearted about this. It looks like the Packers would have had to have given up a third round pick for Lynch and I don’t think he’s worth it. One name that keeps popping up that I would love to see in Green Bay is Deangelo Williams. I believe that Williams is a better back than Ryan Grant and would upgrade the Packers significantly at that position. If I was General Manager I would call up the Panthers, offer them a fourth round pick for Williams, but be willing to give up a second.

A-Rod: I loved this. Aaron Rodgers came out and said that he was unhappy with the play calling and thought the Packers needed to throw the ball more. Now while I hate to see a player questioning the coachers I honestly think he’s right. In the second half against Detroit the Packers offense looked out of sync and couldn’t sustain any drives. Against Chicago the Packers were able to really move the ball when they spread out the defense. I’m all for what Rodgers wants. Put him in the shotgun with Finley, Driver, Jennings, Jones, and Nelson spread out wide and let him pick the other team apart.

So what if you don’t run the ball! Running the ball is overrated! The Colts made it to the Super Bowl ranked last in the league in rushing! The Packers proved last week that they can run the ball when they have to; at the end of games to finish out the clock. And I’m happy with that. (But I would still love to see Deangelo Williams in Green Bay. Just a little disclaimer.)

Well I’ve ranted on long enough, so I’ll make my game preview brief.

Packers v. Redskins. The Packers have a banged up secondary and the Redskins rank 31st in the NFL in pass defense. Both teams have great quarterbacks and Clinton Portis is out so no one will run the ball. I think this will be a high scoring air show. I keep saying that this will be the week that Rodgers finally lights a team up, and if I’m not right this time I give up.

Final score: Packers 42 Redskins 34

Marc Sieber: Questions

2010-10-03T18:42:00.001-05:00

Packers 28 Lions 26. Where do I begin? This was not a good game. Anyone watching could tell you that. The Packers really got lucky today, lucky they were playing Detroit. The Lions outgained the Packers by almost two hundred yards and won the turnover battle. What this really came down to was a few key plays that went the Packers way. That being said this game has left me with several question.

Question One: Can the Packers show up for an entire game? So far this year the Packers have started games really well, scoring very early in the game and taking the lead. Now that’s good, in fact it’s great! But then they seem to take a break. The first drive they march the ball down the field and score, but then punt the next three drives.

This allows the other team to get back into the game. Today it seemed like they took the entire second half off. If the Packers could get it together for an entire game they would be blowing out people every game. I know they can’t score on every possession but it would be nice to move the ball a little and give the defense a rest.

Question Two: Can we please get some consistency on special teams? I was happy to see Tim Masthay rebound from an awful first punt. His second two were much better. Overall I thought the coverage units did a good job today, but I was disappointed in Jordy Nelson.

I don’t want to be disappointed in Jordy Nelson, I like Jordy Nelson, but you can’t fumble twice on kickoff returns. If the opponent is kicking off it means they have just scored and you can’t go and give them the ball right back after they’ve scored. Nelson has had several good returns this year and I think he is the best option as a return guy, but he’s got to hang on to the ball.

Question Three: Did Aaron Rodgers learn a little too much from Brett Favre? Rodgers has five interceptions after four games. He had seven all of last year. At this pace he will have 20 by the end of the year. That’s not good. When they traded Favre I thought it would be years before a Packer quarterback threw for over 20 interceptions.

I thought this would be the game where Rodgers would break out and really light it up. For a half I was right. But then Rodgers only completed two passes in the second half. To put it fankly, that’s not good. If the Packers think they are a Super Bowl contender Rodgers needs to cut back on the picks and show that he in a benefit, not a liability.

Well that’s enough questions. I want to end on a positive note. One player that really stood out to me today was Tramon Williams. There were several times during today’s game where Williams really made great plays in coverage. He made two great plays on the ball in the back of the end zone to help hold the Lions to field goals.

As much as I love to rant about how bad the Packers looked they still won the game and I have to get them credit. The ability to win games like this one is what separates teams like the Packers from teams like the Lions. This was a tough win and the Packers fought hard until the end. This was a good way to bounce back after a hard loss. Kudos to them, but they still gotta do better next time.

Marc Sieber: Back to Work

2010-10-01T14:16:00.002-05:00

Well Packer fans, you can dry your eyes and start watching the sports channels again. The Packers loss to the Bears was officially last week. Yes, I know they should have won, yes, I know they gave the game away, but there is nothing anyone can do about it anymore. So on to Detroit.

The Lions have started the season 0-3 (big shocker). But before all you Packer fans mark this down as an easy win and go golfing on Sunday, you might want to stop and really look at this game for a minute. Or, you could read my column.

Despite the three losses Detroit has looked good. This Lions team is much better than the team that only won two games last year. They have made significant improvements on both sides of the ball, adding key free agents and bringing in a (it hurts to say it) great draft class.

Looking at this Lions team, what stands out to me the most is their defensive line. They totally overhauled the position during the off-season, adding free agents Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams, and drafting Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick.

During the weeks leading up to the draft I was really hoping for the Rams to take Suh, just so he didn’t end up in Detroit. After the Packers offensive line woes last year the thought of another elite defensive lineman getting added to the NFC North kept me up at night. And on draft day my worst fears were realized as the Rams took Sam Bradford. Suh fell to the Lions and now the Packers are going to have to deal with him.

Suh isn’t the only rookie giving me worry. Jahvid Best is the kind of player that will give defensive coordinators headaches. He adds another dimension to a Detroit offense that may be one of the most talented in the league.

Calvin Johnson is one of the best offensive weapons in the NFL and adding Nate Burleson to compliment him was a great move by the Lions. Detroit also has two great pass-catching tight ends in Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Sheffler. A quarterback’s best friend is a big tight end. But Best is the guy that the Packers really have to watch out for. The former California running back is a pure offensive weapon that can take it to the house any time he gets his hands on the ball.

But the Packers have a former Cal player of their own that ain’t too bad. This will be a breakout game for Aaron Rodgers. He has looked better and better as the season has progressed and I think this is the week that he puts it all together. If the Packers’ offensive line can give him time to throw, I think he will pick apart a weak Detroit secondary.

On the defensive side I think the key for Green Bay is their pass rush. Even though Clay Matthews had a relatively quiet game at Chicago, the Packers still had three sacks. If Frank Zombo can provide pressure from the other side it could help free up Matthews to make more plays (something every Packer fan wants). The Packers can’t give Lions quarterback Shaun Hill the time to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers.

Detroit has an average offensive line at best and the Packers have to take advantage of this. For the first three games Green Bay has been able to pressure the quarterback and I hope they can continue to for the rest of the season.

Detroit is improved and heading in the right direction (hopefully it takes them a long, long time to get there), but the Packers are still a better team. After a tough loss to the Bears I think Green Bay will bounce back against a division opponent. I think this will be a high scoring shootout, and close at first, with the Packers pulling ahead near the end.

My pick: Packers 42 Lions 27

Marc Sieber: It's a Long Season

2010-09-29T00:07:00.000-05:00

Well, that’s four hours of my life I’ll never get back. For those of you who live under rocks and don’t know the score of the Packers v. Bears games last night, the Bears won 20-17.

Now before all you Packer fans hit the panic button I want you to all calm down and listen to me for a second. It is a long season. One loss is not the end of the world. If anything this is good for the Packers. It shows them that they are not invincible.

Despite the fact that they lost I saw several good things during the game last night. For the first time this year I thought Aaron Rodgers really looked good. Scary good. Bears fans can say all they want, but he lit them up. Rodgers connected on 34 of his 45 passes and threw for over 300 yards for the first time this year. He only had one touchdown and threw an interception, but the pick came on an end of the half Hail Mary.

Rodgers really showed poise in the pocket, checking down to shorter routes when the Bears brought pressure. He engineered several long drives, marching them down the field before stupid mistakes cost them points.

As much as Jon Gruden would like to say that Julius Peppers had the "game of his life", the Packers did not allow a sack. I was happy to see that the line was able to hold up and keep the franchise quarterback off the turf.

Now as much as I love to sugar coat things and pat everybody on the back, I’m not blind. The Packers have some serious problems that they need to correct. Last night they set a franchise record with 18 penalties for 152 yards. The Bears also blocked a field goal and returned a punt for a touchdown. Hmmmmm. Problems with special teams and penalties. Where have I seen this before? Oh! I remember! It was last year. Weren’t we supposed to have fixed these problems! Over the first two games the Packers only had eight penalties and special teams was one of their strong points, but last night they seemed hell bent on making up for it! They had 18 penalties. 18. That’s more than the number of passes Jay Cutler completed. You can’t do that and expect to win.

Now I didn’t think all the penalties were legit. A holding penalty on Mark Tauscher that cost the Packers a touchdown had me shouting at the television. An interception was taken away by a roughing the passer call on Frank Zombo, which has probably earned him a sympathetic phone call from Ray Lewis. But even if you take those two away that’s 16 penalties, which is still too many. One is too many!

I don’t even want to talk about special teams, and since it’s my column, I won’t.

Another thing that bothered me was the lack of a running game. When Ryan Grant went down I was one of the people who thought: “Eh, they’ll be fine.” But after watching both John Kuhn and Brandon Jackson fail to make an impact last night I’m thinking about switching to the other side. One of these guys needs to step up and make an impact or the Packers may need to start looking outside of the organization (Marshawn Lynch).

But enough of the negative ranting. When I woke up this morning the sun had risen and was shining, it was a beautiful day, and, get this Packer fans, the world didn’t end overnight. As I sit here in my pajamas and glasses, writing this and eating my cinnamon swirl bagel, I want to leave you all with the words of an increasingly wiser looking Mark Sanchez: “There’s nothing wrong with going 15-1.”

John Clay: A Heisman Candidate?

2010-09-28T21:17:00.001-05:00

On Tuesday, the Student Section spoke with Chris Huston, author of Heisman Pundit.com. His site is widely regarded as an authoritative source on all things Heisman. Here are his thoughts on John Clay and other Big Ten candidates, such as Terrelle Pryor and Denard Robinson.

Previewing Michigan State with the "State News"

2010-09-28T21:13:00.000-05:00

Earlier Today, the Student Section was joined by the football beat reporter for the State News, Michigan State's student newspaper, to preview Saturday's tilt in East Lansing:

Jeff Bailitz: NFL Picks, Week 2

2010-09-19T12:21:00.002-05:00

Last week I went 12 and 4 in my picks and won my work confidence pool and took second against the spread going 9 - 4 - 3.

This week was pretty difficult to pick outstanding differences in games, but some stood out above the rest.

Here is a pick by pick run down from easiest to pick to hardest.

16. Green Bay over Buffalo - A no brainer for Gbay against the hapless Bills. The injury to Ryan Grant hurts but it's not devastating. I expect Green Bay to roll in their home opener.

15. San Diego over Jacksonville - A heartbreaking loss to the young and speedy Kansas City Chiefs last week will have San Diego hungry for a W. It's their home opener and the fans are going to need a big turn around from a week ago.

14. Atlanta over Arizona - Last week a fumble on the goal line and three Sam Bradford interceptions allowed the Cardinals to squeak passed the St. Louis Rams, Atlanta lost a tough matchup against a rejuvenated Pittsburgh defense and they could light up the scoreboard on Arizona.

13. Philadelphia over Detroit - Mike Vick makes his first start since New Years Eve of 2006 and he looked like he was back to his old self in the 2nd half against the Packers. The Lions gave up over 430 yards of offense to the Bears a week ago, so I don't see Phili having much problems in Detroit.

12. Minnesota over Miami - Minnesota looked slow last week against the reigning Super Bowl champs, but Miami looked slow against the defending AFC East cellar - Minnesota should breeze over Miami and the wildcat.

11. Houston over Washington - I was the lone person in my work pool to take Houston and I took them high on Manning and the Colts - this is the year of the Texan in my opinion and it continues in Washington this week.

10. Indianapolis over New York Giants - Despite the lack of a rush defense and an embarrassing loss in Houston week 1 I still will take Peyton over Eli all season long. New York looked refreshed in week 1, but Carolina isn't a fair test of talent and Eli cannot duplicate his 3 interception performance because Peyton will make him pay.

9. New Orleans over San Francisco - A terrible display in Seattle a week ago has a little cause for concern in San Francisco especially with the defending champs in town this week. Drew Brees loves the national spot light and Monday Night Football is a perfect way to show the world they are ready to repeat.

8. New England over New York Jets - Last year the Jets kind of had the Patriots number but I don't see it this year. A sophomore QB, RB and coach has three potential slumps at the three most important positions in football.

7. Oakland over St. Louis - I expected a bit of a better performance in Tennessee for Oakland and at home for Bradford's Rams, but at home I'll take the better of two bad teams in Oakland this week.

6. Denver over Seattle - Denver looked anemic at times in Jacksonville last week, but it's tough to win on the road in week 1 in the NFL, Seattle looked primed for a turn around season, but took advantage of a lot of Alex Smith mistakes - Kyle Orton is a little more efficient with the ball and Knowshon Moreno might get his first 100 yard game of the season.

5. Tennessee over Pittsburgh - I'm a lot more confident in Tennessee in this game, but I can't go against that Pittsburgh D that shut down Michael Turner a week ago because of CJ28 can't get going out of the gates, the ball will be placed in Vince Young's hands and the advantage might turn to Pitt.

4. Carolina over Tampa Bay - Once survival of the fittest is now a battle of the weakest. Carolina had a couple opportunities they didn't seize in New York last week and I expect Stewart and Williams to both have break out games against the young Bucs.

3. Cleveland over Kansas City - Despite the unbelievably explosive young talent in Kansas City I like Seneca Wallace to lead the Browns to their first win of 2010. It's hard to pick a team that lost to Tampa last week, but it was on the road.

2. Dallas over Chicago - This should probably be higher, but as a Bears fan that knows what that defense can do to an inconsistent quarterback I won't allow myself to pick Dallas as the 7 point favorites they are.

1. Cincinnati over Baltimore - Once again Baltimore is my 1 this week, but this time on the wrong side - I think Carson Palmer will exploit a banged up young secondary, but at the same time Cincinnati's defense wasn't to be seen against the Pats a week ago and Flacco might do the same - that's why I'll take the home Bengals as my one.

Paris Named Badgers' Asst. Mens Bball Coach

2010-09-10T14:48:00.000-05:00

Lamont Paris is the newest addition to the Wisconsin men’s basketball coaching staff, head coach Bo Ryan announced on Thursday. Paris, a 14-year coaching veteran, joins the Badgers’ bench after a six-year stint at Akron.

“We’re extremely excited to add Lamont Paris to our staff,” Ryan said. “He is very well respected across the college basketball landscape as one of the top up-and-coming coaches. His track record and combination of personality, background and recruiting make him a great fit for our staff. He has a strong pedigree as a teacher, a coach and in developing players.”

“The teams he has been associated with, whether that’s as a player or as a coach, have always won at a high level. We had a number of great candidates and it was difficult to trim it down, but the total package that Lamont brings made him stand out from the others.”

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” Paris said. “Any time you have the chance to work with one of the best coaches in the country like Coach Ryan, it’s a blessed opportunity. Being from Ohio, I’m very familiar with the Big Ten and Wisconsin. I’m anxious to get started and I’m looking forward to contributing in any way I can.”

In his six seasons at Akron, Paris served as the lead recruiter and helped guide the Zips to a 139-62 (.692) record and 20-win seasons in each of his final five seasons on the bench. Akron’s 23-10 record in 2005-06 marked the school’s first 20-win season since 1974-75.

Under his tutelage, Akron garnered four postseasons berths, including winning the 2009 MAC Tournament to advance to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Zips also made two NIT appearances and played in the 2010 CBI Tournament in his tenure.

During Paris’ time, Akron players earned first or second-team All-MAC honors on six different occasions. Romeo Travis earned MAC Player of the Year in 2007 and honorable mention AP All-American honors.

Prior to his stint at Akron, Paris spent four seasons at Indiana University-Pennsylvania (IUP), helping the Indians compile a 82-36 (.695) record and claim two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles. Paris also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at both DePauw (1999-00) and his alma mater, Wooster (1997-98).

Paris is the first men’s basketball assistant coach hired at Wisconsin since 2005 when the Badgers hired Howard Moore. Paris becomes the sixth assistant coach to serve under Bo Ryan, who is entering his 10th season on the UW bench.

Paris is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the Black Coaches Association. He was honored as one of five men’s assistant coaches selected to participate in the BCA’s “Achieving Coaching Excellence” program in 2007. Additionally in 2007, he was inducted into Kaleidoscope Magazine’s Forty-Forty Club, a list consisting of Cleveland’s top 40 African-Americans age 40 and under who have made a difference in the community.

A native of Findlay, Ohio, Paris earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Wooster in 1996 and a master’s degree in recreation and sports management from Indiana State in 2000. Paris played four seasons for Wooster and was named the team’s MVP and captain for both his junior and senior seasons. He was also an All-North Coast Athletic Conference pick during his last two seasons. During his playing career, the Scots made three trips to the NCAA Division III tournament and won a pair of conference titles.

Years School Position
2005-10 Akron Asst. Coach
2001-04 IUP Asst. Coach
1999-00 DePauw Asst. Coach
1997-98 Wooster Asst. Coach
1993-96 Wooster Student-Athlete

Jeff Bailitz: NFL Picks, Week 1

2010-09-09T00:59:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year again - football season - and what does that mean for fans? Pick 'em pools, survivor pools and most importantly fantasy football.

Last year I won my pick 'em pool for a third time, lasted until week 10 in survivor and was beaten by 1 point for the fantasy football championship.

Hopefully I'll see more success this season, but nonetheless here we go...

This is a run down of week 1 games in order of difficulty from easiest to hardest to predict for those who play confidence points as well.

16. San Francisco @ Seattle

The first week of the season is always the hardest to predict, but for me this is a no-brainer. Seattle stumbled last season and San Francisco continued to make strides forward. This could be a great year for the 49ers and week one will set the tone. I like San Francisco by 10.

15. Carolina @ New York Giants

After a disappointing 2009 season for both teams, New York will look to move forward with a young offense and aging defense. Carolina will turn to an extremely unproven quarterback in Matt Moore, who in my opinion will be replaced by Jimmy Clausen, and lost it's defensive leader. I'll take the Giants by a touchdown at home in brand new Meadowlands Stadium.

14. Green Bay @ Philadelphia

A season ago this is a great way to start the season. The Packers were coming off a terrible season and McNabb - we didn't know it then, but - was headed into his final season as an Eagle. Now Rodgers and the Packers are favorites to head to the Super Bowl and Phili hands the ball to 3rd year QB Kevin Kolb and sophomore RB LeSean McCoy to lead the way for the Eagles. I'll take the Packers by a touchdown in Philadelphia, but don't count out an Andy Reid coached squad.

13. Cincinnati @ New England

This one may turn some heads as both teams finished 11 - 5 and went to the playoffs, but Cincinnati generally has a hangover season after a good season and I think Tom Brady is hungry to get back a top the AFC. Brady and Belichick are no strangers to statement games they could use the home crowd of Gillette Stadium to embarrass the Bengals and I like New England by 10 over Palmer and company.

12. Miami @ Buffalo

If this game were in Miami it would be my 16, but you can never count out a home team especially in an inner division matchup. However, Buffalo is going to get the first pick in the draft in my opinion - despite the arrival of CJ Spiller there isn't much to be excited about in Buffalo. I like Miami by 13.

11. Denver @ Jacksonville

Once a former playoff match-up both franchises have hit hard times. Last year the Jaguars finished strong and the Broncos lost 8 of their last 10. Denver lost the NFL leaders in both receptions and sacks and could be headed to a top 5 draft pick. I like the Jags at home by 6.

10. Detroit @ Chicago

Originally my 15, but I just can't allow myself to buy into the Cutler-Martz love affair quite yet. I think this is going to be a statement game by Chicago at home against a much improved Lions team that some are saying could be a big problem for Chicago week 1. Until I see Detroit winning regularly I'll take the home division rival all year. I'll take Chicago by 10.

9. Minnesota @ New Orleans

Last year's NFC Championship game isn't going to have as much suspense this time around. Minnesota hobbles into week 1 without its top WR Sidney Rice and its number 2 Percy Harvin is dealing with Migraines. Favre is coming off a career year and there is no way he repeats his performance. I can see a season like he had in New York with the Vikings finishing 9 - 7 and New Orleans is going to prove to a lot of people last year was no fluke. I'll take the Saints at home by 9.

8. Indianapolis @ Houston

Normally this would be a cake walk to pick Indy, they've won 15 of the first 16 meetings between the two division rivals, but I think this is the year of the Texan in the AFC South. I'm taking Houston and I'm taking Houston by 2 scores. Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub are legitimate MVP Candidates and Arian Foster is looking like a legitimate starter. Don't count Peyton Manning's Colts out - there's a reason they've won at least 12 games 8 years in a row.

7. Oakland @ Tennessee

I was back and forth on this game and I think I'm going to give the edge to Tennessee in a hard hitting game solely because Chris Johnson is a wear you down back, but Oakland is an improved squad with a ton of talent. I'm picking Tennessee, but I like Oakland to cover. Titans by 4.

6. Dallas @ Washington

I'm not buying into the Dallas to the Super Bowl craze yet, but this is a very talented team, however Washington has been somewhat of a doormat for the East and the additions of Donovan McNabb and Larry Johnson add some much needed depth to the Redskins. It's going to be a loud Fed Ex Field for Tony Romo and the gang, but I think they squeak one out in the nation's capital by 3.

5. San Diego @ Kansas City

Now it may seem weird that I don't have the confidence I once did in the Chargers, but without Vincent Jackson and a rookie running back division road games could be tough. Ryan Matthews has to prove himself a little bit early on and what better way than week 1 on the road. The Chiefs - much like the Raiders - are young and improved, but I'm not ready to pick them quite yet. I'll take the Chargers by 6.

4. Cleveland @ Tampa Bay

The only reason this game was a tough one to pick is because both teams were so bad a season ago. Cleveland did finish the season winning its final four games and Jerome Harrison was an absolute monster. Tampa had some good late season wins, but are still rebuilding an entire defense and trying to find stability at the quarterback position. Even though I think Cleveland coasts to a 10 point victory I can easily see this game going either way so I'm only putting 4 on the Browns.

3. Arizona @ St. Louis

Once again last year a no brainer 15 or 16 confidence point pick has become a tough on. St. Louis looked flashy with rookie QB Sam Bradford at times this preseason, but without Donny Avery it's going to be tough to do anything offensively, but people are forgetting Steven Jackson is an elite running back and Arizona is absolute disarray right now offensively. I think St. Louis could sneak this one out at home by 3.

2. Atlanta @ Pittsburgh

If Big Ben were playing I think I'd put this one at an 8, but nonetheless this is going to be a smash-mouth football game. Dennis Dixon gets the opening day start and is going to rely on check down routes and Rashard Mendenhall to carry the Steelers at home. Matt Ryan and the Falcons are poised for a rebound season and a trip back to the postseason, but they need Michael Turner to step it up big time. I'll take the Steelers defense over the Falcons to lead them to a 4 point victory at home.

1. Baltimore @ New York Jets

This one is no brainer the game of week 1 even with the rematch of last years NFC Championship game. Baltimore ran all over the AFC last year to get back to the postseason and the Jets had a couple late wins to make their AFC Championship run. A battle of two of the best defenses in football and two of the youngest quarterbacks in football as well looks to be the hardest hitting game, possibly of the year. I'll take the Ravens with the acquisitions of Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmanzadeh helping the passing game and the off-field distractions of Darrelle Revis for the Jets I like the Ravens by a score.

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-09-06T00:57:00.000-05:00

A new year is upon us, so yes, it's the return of Madison's favorite weekly updates...what's coming up this week on WSUM's airwaves!

The fall schedule gets underway this week. On Tuesday, from 4-6 PM, The Student Section kicks things off as the guys discuss Bielema's squad improving to 1-0 on Saturday night in the desert. They'll be joined by ESPN.com Big Ten Blogger Adam Rittenberg at 4:30. Then, don't miss Elliott Almond, College Sports Reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, in a look ahead to Saturday's home opener against the Spartans of San Jose State.

Three Guys and a Mic returns on Wednesday at 5 PM. Red Alert and The 6th Quarter air at 4 and 5 PM, respectively on Thursday. The Sports Bar and SportsSunday round out the week on Sunday, beginning at 5 PM.

On Saturday, don't miss the first live broadcast of the year, as Wisconsin hosts San Jose State. Live coverage from historic Camp Randall Stadium begins at 10:20 AM with the WSUM Pregame Show. Kickoff is slated for 11. Sam Maxwell, Jeff Bailitz, and Eric Skvirsky have the call. Noah Jarosh and Sam Sussman will handle pregame, half, and postgame duties. Tune into the WSUM Online Sports Stream, which you can access by clicking on your preferred streaming option next to "Sports" on wsum.org.

As always, thanks for your support!

Future Wisconsin Football Schedules

2010-09-01T20:14:00.001-05:00

2011 Season Schedule

Sept 3    UNLV
Sept 10    Oregon State
Sept 17    at Northern Illinois (Soldier Field, Chicago, IL)
Sept 24    South Dakota
Oct 1       Nebraska
Oct 8       Bye Week
Oct 16    Indiana
Oct 22     at Michigan State
Oct 29     at Ohio State
Nov 5    Purdue
Nov 12    at Minnesota
Nov 19    at Illinois
Nov 26    Penn State

2012 Season Schedule
Sept 1     Home TBA
Sept 8     at Oregon State
Sept 15   Home TBA
Sept 22   Home TBA
Sept 29 at Nebraska
Oct 6      Illinois
Oct 13    at Purdue
Oct 20    Minnesota
Oct 27    at Michigan State
Nov 3     Bye Week
Nov 10   at Indiana
Nov 17   Ohio State
Nov 24   at Penn State

Big Ten Divisions Announced

2010-09-01T20:04:00.001-05:00

The Big Ten Conference office announced football division alignments beginning with the 2011 season as recommended by conference directors of athletics and reviewed and supported by the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors. Nebraska will officially begin conference competition in 2011, giving the Big Ten 12 football programs for the first time in conference history.

The Big Ten football division alignments will include a division featuring Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin, and a division featuring Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern. Each school will play the other five schools within its division and will also face three teams from the other division, including one cross-division matchup guaranteed on an annual basis. The guaranteed cross-division matchups are Illinois-Northwestern, Indiana-Michigan State, Ohio State-Michigan, Penn State-Nebraska, Purdue-Iowa and Wisconsin-Minnesota. Names for each Big Ten football division will be announced at a later date.

“The Big Ten staff and directors of athletics focused on three criteria as we discussed the divisional alignments: competitive equality, maintaining traditional rivalries and geography,” Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. “A lot went into this and there was a lot of give and take amongst all the schools in the conference. I’m happy with the way things have turned out for our program and our department.”

The Big Ten also announced the conference schedules for 2011 and 2012. In a historic match-up, the Badgers will play host to Nebraska’s first Big Ten conference game with the Huskers visiting Camp Randall Stadium on Oct. 1, 2011. Wisconsin then has a bye week and hosts Indiana on Oct. 15. A pair of road games, at Michigan State and at Ohio State, follow. Purdue visits Camp Randall on Nov. 5 then the Badgers embark on another two-game road swing, at Minnesota and at Illinois. The regular season concludes with a match-up against Penn State in Madison on Nov. 26. The complete 2011 schedule and the confirmed games for 2012 appear in the column on the right.

“This is an ever-changing world in college football and we are excited to be a part of it,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “I know a lot of different scenarios were discussed at the administrative level and we are pleased with the results. It was important to us to keep the longest running continuous rivalry in college football history alive so we are happy that we will play Minnesota every year. And we’ll be part of history when we host Nebraska in its first Big Ten Conference game next October. Also, I think the addition of a championship game will be tremendous for the league and a fantastic opportunity for our players.”

The winner of each Big Ten division will meet in the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game, to be played December 3, 2011, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The championship game will determine the Big Ten Champion and the conference’s participant in the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

“Over the past several months, Big Ten staff and directors of athletics have met on several occasions to discuss and finalize division alignments,” said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. “We focused on competitive equality, traditional rivalries and geography. We considered multiple models and countless permutations in an effort to achieve the most competitively balanced divisions while at the same time respecting our traditions, preserving existing rivalries, and creating opportunities for the establishment and growth of new rivalries. We have listened to the feedback from our institutions, alumni and fans, and while we understand that no final alignments could possibly satisfy all of our constituents, we believe that we have achieved a very exciting result.”

Division A*
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin

Division B*
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern

*Divisions will be given names in the near future.

WSUM Sports Announces Fall '10 Lineup

2010-08-26T18:48:00.001-05:00

The WSUM Sports Department is pleased to announce its programming lineup for the Fall, 2010 semester. The station will boast six outstanding sports talk shows (five returning; one new) that will be there to dissect the ups-and-downs of Wisconsin's 2010 campaigns. The Fall schedule begins on Tuesday, September 7th.

The longest-running program on the station, "The Student Section," returns to its normal day and time slot: Tuesdays, 4-6 PM. This year, the tradition continues with WSUM Sports Director Kyle Deckelbaum, Assistant Sports Director Matt De Re, Badger Herald Sports Content Editor Max Henson, and Sam Maxwell. The show will also feature numerous premiere guests throughout the semester.

"Three Guys and a Mic" is back for its third semester. Jeff Bailitz, Sam Maxwell, and Eric Skvirsky will debate the sports headlines from both on and off campus each Wednesday from 5:00-6:00 PM.

On Thursdays, it's a sports doubleheader. "Red Alert" (somehow)returns for its fourth semester. Kyle Deckelbaum, Matt De Re, Max Henson, former Daily Cardinal Sports Editor Nico Savidge, and Robb Valentyn are all back. The program airs at 4:00 PM. "The Sixth Quarter" follows the "Alert" at 5:00 PM, featuring Nick Grays, Noah Jarosh, the Daily Cardinal's Sam Sussman, and the Badger Herald's Justin Mertes-Mistretta.

The week concludes with another sports doubleheader on Sundays. At 5:00 PM, you're in the "Sports Bar" with Jonah Braun, Will Horowitz, Greg Scalzo, and Stephen Watson. Then, it's WSUM Sports' newest show, "SportsSunday," at 6:00, with Jeff Bailitz, Justin Mertes-Mistretta, and Noah Jarosh. "WSUM SportsSunday" is both the ultimate wrap-up of the preceding week in sports and the cant-miss look at what’s ahead. Each week, a different aspect is examined, such as fantasy sports, MLB, and the NFL.

As a reminder, you can always contribute to shows by calling in at 608-265-9786. For a complete schedule of WSUM's dynamic programming, click here. As always, thank you for your continued support of the WSUM Sports Team!

Yvette Healy Names Assistant Coaching Staff

2010-08-09T20:39:00.002-05:00

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin softball coach Yvette Healy has rounded out her first Badger coaching staff, choosing Randy Schneider and Tracie Adix (ODD-ix) to be her assistants, Healy announced Monday.

Schneider served as the head coach at Valparaiso for the past seven seasons, leaving as the program’s all-time winningest coach. The Crusaders enjoyed winning seasons in each of the past four years and won 20 or more games in six of Schneider’s seven seasons after reaching the mark just three times in the program’s first 22 years.

“I am thrilled to have Randy Schneider join the Wisconsin softball family,” Healy said. “He is one of the most innovative, enthusiastic, and respected coaches in our game. His ability to teach and mentor young athletes has made him one of the top recruiters in the country. Randy is best known for identifying and attracting elite Gold players from the West Coast, to blossom and excel in a supportive Midwest, family environment.

“The program will immediately become more successful on the field, in the community and in the classroom under Randy's leadership. I'm thrilled to have a coach and person of his caliber join the Badger softball family.”

Schneider was named the Horizon League Co-Coach of the Year in 2008 after his team, which was in its first year in the conference, finished in second place. In 2009, he led the Crusaders to a school-record 35 wins and a third-place finish at the Horizon League Championship. In addition, Schneider had 26 players awarded All-League honors and guided the program’s first NFCA All-Region honoree in 2010.

“I’m really excited,” Schneider said. “It's a wonderful opportunity to work for Wisconsin and to have the opportunity to work with Yvette. She is an outstanding softball coach and is poised to do great things. Obviously it's pretty exciting for myself and my family.”

Off the field, Schneider’s teams proved successful as well, boasting 36 NFCA Scholar-Athletes, eight CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees and the program’s first Academic All-American in over 20 years. In the community, he helped the softball program start the “I Need a Hug” initiative, a program run by the softball student-athletes which in its six years of existence has grown exponentially and has placed many thousands of stuffed animals into local schools.

Adix spent the past three seasons as pitching coach at South Dakota State after making the transition from player to coach. She joined the South Dakota State coaching staff in 2008 after a standout pitching career at DePaul that included a run deep into the Women’s College World Series in 2007.

“I am absolutely thrilled and honored to work with Yvette and Randy,” Adix said. “I’ve known Yvette for nine years as she recruited me to DePaul, and I even played for her in my freshman year. Knowing what Yvette and Randy have done and the influence they have in Division I softball, they’re two people I can learn a lot from. I’m excited to be able to work in a great conference like the Big Ten. I think it will be a lot of fun.”

DePaul’s fourth ever run to the WCWS came, in large part, on the right arm of Adix, who went a perfect 10-0 in Big East Conference play, and did not walk a batter in 22 appearances (108 innings), all while holding conference opponents to a .160 batting average.

For the season, the Edmonds, Wash., native finished with a 22-4 overall record, including wins over seven ranked opponents, and the nation’s fifth best earned run average at 0.89. She threw a total of ten shutouts and struck out 168 batters, while walking just 28.

In the postseason alone, Adix combined on a no-hitter at the Carbondale Regional, striking out the side in two innings pitched against Mississippi Valley State and tossed a complete game shutout against Missouri in the semifinals.

She followed that up with 11 scoreless innings at the Super Regional in Norman, Okla., scattering three hits and striking out six Oklahoma batters to earn the victory in both games over the fourth-ranked Sooners, a team that entered the tournament averaging 6.8 runs a game and with a .324 team batting average.

All told, Adix went 6-2 in the NCAA championship, and did not allow a run in her first 23 and two-thirds innings during the NCAA Championship. The eventual national champion Arizona Wildcats ended DePaul’s season in the quarterfinal round.

“Tracie is one of the most highly decorated and successful Division I pitchers currently teaching the game,” Healy said. “While Tracie's athletic accolades, from pitching her team to two College World Series, being named an NFCA All-American and boasting one of the of the lowest ERA's in the country is impressive, it is her mental toughness, work-ethic and commitment to excellence that separates her from her peers.

“Tracie has the personal experience, coaching expertise and competitive minframe to help the University of Wisconsin's pitchers earn national attention.”

Along with being named the Blue Demon’s Most Outstanding Player, Adix earned Big East Pitcher-of-the-Year honors, and took home National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second-Team All-American and NFCA First-Team All-Mideast Region honors in 2007. She also earned NFCA Second-Team All-Region honors in 2005.

Scott Rynes: It’s Not Quite Biggy vs. Pac, but It’ll do

2010-08-04T20:36:00.000-05:00

Hurrah, Hurrah! The Big Ten will finally be visible past Thanksgiving with a conference championship game of their (our) own. Where the game will be played is a matter of (small) debate, whether it is in Chicago or Indianapolis, the top two favorites and hosts of the Big Ten basketball tournaments, or perhaps an indoor stadium such as Ford Field in Detroit (which already hosts the MAC Championship, although I am sure they would be more than willing to NOT cut the MAC some slack (see what I did there?) and boot them for the big shoe that is the Big Ten). One stadium I would be more than supportive for, although a long shot would be to host the game at Lambeau Field, a professional stadium ripe with history that would add to its prestige. What the Big Ten already knows is that they will get huge money through ticket sales and sponsorships every year with the championship game.

What Jim Delany and his Athletic Directors do not know is how will the conference be split to determine who will play for each respective division title?

Delany has stated that he wants to keep a competitive balance within the conference games, as so that one division is not stacked with top tier programs where the other is loaded like a toilet after a meal at PF Chang’s. Basically, Delany does not want the Big Ten to look like the Big XII in the past decade. But he also wants to play the traditional card and does not want to break up some of the oldest and greatest rivalries in college football history.

Topping this list is Michigan/Ohio State. Although the rivalry has leaned toward Jim Tressel and his Columbus crew ever since taking the job, it also determined who won the conference for decades. Delany could play the Miami/Florida State card by splitting them into different divisions in order to have them play for the ACC Championship every season, because that worked so well. However, with the atrocity that has been Michigan football the last two seasons, it would be much more fitting to keep those two in the same division in order to potentially have that last game of the season is to play for the Big Ten championship.

What about Penn State? Well, their rivalries reside in the east and have since they joined the conference. Ohio State/Penn State has been the marquee game of the Big Ten for four of the past five seasons, even when played in season. It would only be fitting for them to stay with both Ohio State and Michigan.

A geographic split of the conference would work tremendously and would look like this:
Eastern:
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue

Western:
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin

Cynics will argue that the East is too top heavy with Ohio State, Michigan AND Penn State, and would say the East winner would more times than not win the conference. Well, if the conference would have been split the last decade the conference champion WOULD have come from the East more times than not, with Ohio State winning at least a share of the title the last five seasons (sharing with Penn State in two of those years). However, Michigan is not what it once was and this season looks to be another rebuilding season.

The West combination of Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin is not quite the match to the tops in the East historically, but they are a formidable trio that could win the Big Ten title game against the East champion. Wisconsin has finished in the top half of the conference for most of the past decade, and Iowa has two BCS trips themselves (2004 and 2010 Orange Bowl), winning one and losing one. Nebraska are a nationally prestigious program that tripped over some hurdles in the decade but is back on the rise under second year coach Bo Pelini and fit the Big Ten grind it out mentality with a running attack and EXTREMELY tough defense. And no, it is not a guarantee that Nebraska would come out of the West every season…Northwestern always seems to beat the good teams and they will get their licks in on the Cornhuskers as well.

The reason the Big XII failed is because the South was top heavy compared to the North. BUT, the Big XII also did not have media revenue sharing, which allowed an unbalanced atmosphere in the conference which eventually allowed Texas to play Darth Vader and use their Jedi mind tricks for evil/control the conference fate by their actions. The Big Ten does not have to worry about an extensive power shift because they DO have revenue sharing and (fairly) equal exposure on the conference network. Even if Ohio State does play most of their games on ABC/ESPN, Northwestern and Indiana have plenty of national exposure on the Big Ten Network not to mention rake in the same amount of TV money that Ohio State does.

Say that Nebraska were to begin their membership in the Big Ten for the 2010 season. Looking at the projected preseason rankings, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa and perhaps Nebraska are lined up to be top 10-15 teams starting the season. THREE OF THOSE TEAMS WOULD BE IN THE WEST!!! No matter how the conference is aligned there will always be a power struggle and comparison of which division is stronger, this happens in the SEC every season.

Jim Delany should recognize that the rivalries that would continue with an East/West alignment. Iowa and Minnesota already have past rivalries with the Cornhuskers, and Bielema would also get his yearly shot by standing in the west division. The only east team that has stated any rivalry toward Nebraska is Penn State, but Head Coach Joe Paterno has also said he does not find it fitting for the teams to be in the same division. So do the right thing Big Ten, let’s make this a battle of East side vs. West side.

Day Two of Big Ten Media Days

2010-08-03T11:05:00.002-05:00

Chicago--Day Two at the Big Ten Media convention was much more informal, and frankly, everyone seemed much more loose and comfortable. Media members and later fans were able to gain much better access to the coaches and players than yesterday's formal group interview session. Players and coaches of all eleven Big Ten schools were given their own table with only a placard name tag in front of them.

I was able to sit down and conduct interviews with all of the players the Badgers brought, and was also able to catch the tail end of a larger crowd interview by Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema.

The highlights of the interviews:

John Clay declared himself one hundred percent healthy and says when camp rolls around this week, he will be participating in every drill and will not reserve himself. He also gave a lot of credit to his offensive line, and praised them for opening up holes for him to run through.

Clay also downplayed the hype coming into this season and himself and the high expectations the team is receiving. While he did admit being on the Heisman watch list is an honor, he seemed entirely focused on team goals and winning big games in conference play this year.

Like Bielema and the rest of the players, Clay reiterated that the experience gained during the disappointing 2008 season helped the team learn. He feels the chemistry on this year's team is better, and they are better prepared to handle adversity, pressure, and especially the high expectations for this season because of that experience gained in 2008.

Scott Tolzien catergorized himself as a "leader by example", but says he is not afraid to be vocal in the huddle when he feels the team is flat. He also feels the 2008 season gave the team and especially this senior class an edge when it comes to preparing for this season. He called that season a "history lesson" in which the team and the coaching staff learned from.

When asked who he thinks will line up as the second tight end in Wisconsin's infamous two tight end package, he listed several names but said he didn't prefer one over the other, stating "that's what camp is for." The players competing are junior Jake Byrne, redshirt freshman Brian Wozniak, and redshirt freshman Jacob Pedersen.

Tolzien, who is normally reserved and generally pretty dull, had the entire table chuckling when he admitted the first time he saw Clay he thought he was a new lineman coming in.

Probably the most impressive of the three players was senior safety Jay Valai. His passion and intensity really showed during our interview. He told me he has worked closely with teammate Aaron Henry as he makes his transition from corner to safety. He called Henry a "brother" and says the secondary is shaping to be much improved from a year ago.

He also called new secondary coach Chris Ash "a good kind of crazy" citing that his arrival improved what many felt was the team's biggest weakness a year ago.

Valai also made it very clear that the team means business during that UNLV game and assured me the team will not let the distractions get to them.

All three players and Bielema seemed genuinely excited for camp and the season to begin.

It's time to get excited everybody...Badger football is less than a month away!

Bielema at Big Ten Media Day

2010-08-02T10:32:00.002-05:00

Bielema seemed excited and even told us that one of his resolutions this year is to be better with the media (we'll see how that goes).

He reiterated his wish to have Nebraska as the year end rivalry game with the Badgers, but did not throw out the possibility of having either Minnesota or Iowa as the every year rivalry game. He recognized the value of adding a program like Nebraska to the conference and seemed genuinely excited about conference expansion.

He is also in favor of having divisions and a conference championship, citing his experience as both a coach and a player in the Big Twelve conference. He did not, however, specify where he would like the game played or if he would prefer a rotating schedule.

Another interesting stat is that in this senior class of sixteen players, the first to come full circle under Bielema, every player has started a game at some capacity. Bielema's eyes twinkled talking about this class, the first in which he recruited as the head coach at Wisconsin.

Tomorrow, we'll continue our live coverage from Chicago as Wisconsin's three player allotment of runningback John Clay, quarterback Scott Tolzien, and safety Jay Valai will speak on behalf of the team.

Yvette Healy Named Badgers Softball Head Coach

2010-07-24T16:37:00.001-05:00

The long search for a new softball Head Coach has concluded. This afternoon, Barry Alvarez announced that Yvette Healy will take the reins of the program.

For the past six years, Healy has served as Head Coach at Loyola (Chicago). In 2007, she was named Horizon League Coach of the Year as she led the Ramblers to a Conference title. In each of her years at the helm of the program, however, her squad finished in the top four of the League. She has coached four NFCA All-Mideast Region players over the last four seasons, and the team set the single-season school record for batting average (.292) in 2010.

“Yvette Healy has proven herself to be a winner both as a player and a coach,” Alvarez said. “That parallels what we are looking to accomplish here at Wisconsin. We’re excited to have her on our staff and we welcome her to the Badgers.”

Prior to joining Loyola, Healy served three seasons as an Assistant Coach at DePaul, her alma matter. While with the Blue Demons, Healy coached five All-Americans as the team won the Conference USA title in 2003 and 2004 to make the NCAA tournament. As a player, she was a two time All-American and three-time Academic All-American. Healy ranks second on the DePaul single-season chart with a .424 batting average and is the school's all-time leader with 102 stolen bases. In her senior campaign in 1999, Healy led the Blue Demons to a school-record 54 victories, an NCAA Regional Championship and the College World Series as the team wrapped up the year ranked third in the nation. She earned All-Mideast Region honors on three occasions as well.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from DePaul in 1999 and her master’s in secondary education and English from DePaul in 2007. Prior to her coaching career, Healy worked for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox Academy as Director of Marketing.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join the University of Wisconsin family,” Healy said. “The UW athletic department has a world-renowned legacy of winning on a national stage and in the Big Ten. I am thrilled to partner with the inspirational leadership team of Barry Alvarez, Shawn Eichorst and Terry Gawlik to bring Badger softball to national prominence.

“The nationally-ranked academic degrees, athletic facilities, financial support and family-atmosphere make Wisconsin a perfect fit for the nation's most talented softball student-athletes. My husband Shawn and I feel extremely fortunate to raise our daughter Grace in Madison, one of the safest, friendliest and most beautiful towns in the country.”

Healy has been described as a strong leader, a good recruiter, and a talented offensive coach. She is known for being aggressive on the basepaths, commonly executing hit and runs and squeeze plays.

Hartzog, Faust to Skate with 2010 Badgers

2010-07-23T09:07:00.002-05:00

MADISON, Wis. -– Forward Gavin Hartzog (Pewaukee, Wis.) and defenseman Joe Faust (Bloomington, Minn.) have signed national letters of intent and will join the Wisconsin men’s hockey team for the upcoming school year.

Hartzog, a 6-3 and 210-pound forward, split his time last year with the Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL and the Fargo Force of the USHL. He posted five goals and 13 points in 31 regular-season games with Bismarck, then put up two goals and five points in 10 playoff games as the team captured the 2010 Robertson Cup as league champions. He began the season with Fargo, scoring a goal and four assists in 15 games for the Force.

Hartzog played 46 games for Fargo during the 2008-09 season, posting four goals and 10 points. He also chipped in a goal and three points in nine playoff games, as the squad reached the USHL Clark Cup finals.

Hartzog was expected to skate this season for the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, but has instead been added to the Badgers’ roster.

Prior to his time in the USHL, Hartzog graduated from Marquette University High School in 2008. While at Marquette, Hartzog was named to the 2008 WIAA First Team after posting a team-leading 23 goals and 44 points in 21 games his senior season.

The right-handed shot will wear No. 13 for Wisconsin.

Eaves on Hartzog: “Gavin is a big body, who will hopefully grow into the classic power forward that we see in hockey. He also has good skating and puck skills to go along with his size.”

Faust, a 5-11 and 190-pound defenseman, played the 2009-10 season for Bloomington Jefferson High School. At Bloomington Jefferson, Faust scored 13 goals and 40 points in 25 games, while also collecting 18 penalty minutes. Selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, 114th overall by the New Jersey Devils, Faust was named to the Associated Press 2010 Minnesota All-State Second Team. Known as an offensive defenseman, he was also named to the Star Tribune All-Metro team in 2009-10.

The Bloomington, Minn., native played three seasons for Bloomington Jefferson High School, where he served as team captain as a junior and senior. He has also played in the Minnesota Elite League and in the Minnesota National Invitational tournament.

A right-handed shot, Faust will wear No. 24 for the Badgers this season.

Eaves on Faust: “Joe is a young man with good skating ability, who is a puck-handling defenseman and who sees the ice very well. He will be a nice addition to our talented defensive corps.”

Jon Leuer Named to USA Men's Select Team

2010-07-08T11:36:00.000-05:00

Wisconsin senior Jon Leuer has been named to the USA Men’s Select Team that will train against the 2010 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its July 19-24 training camp in Las Vegas.

Members of the USA Select Team will converge on Las Vegas and conduct a private training session on July 19. Then, from July 20-23, Leuer and the Select Team will train with the USA National Team, including NBA stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.

The team will practice in preparation for the August 28-September 12 FIBA World Championships in Turkey. All practices will take place at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion, where the Badgers will play on November 20.

Leuer is the second Badger in as many years to be involved with USA Basketball. Last season, Bo Ryan served as the Head Coach. This year, Washington's Lorenzo Romar and Villanova's Jay Wright will serve as co-Head Coaches.

There are five Big Ten players on the 20-man roster, which also features: Lavoy Allen (Temple), LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor), Jimmer Fredette (BYU), Scotty Hopson (Tennessee), Scoop Jardine (Syracuse), Shelvin Mack (Butler), Marcus Morris (Kansas), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State), Kyle Singler (Duke), Chris Singleton (Florida State), Nolan Smith (Duke); Howard Thompkins (Georgia), Kemba Walker (Connecticut), Chris Wright (Dayton) and Tyler Zeller (North Carolina).

“The USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee is thrilled to be able to give some of the top older college players this opportunity to be involved with USA Basketball this summer. I want to thank Jerry (Colangelo) and Mike Krzyzewski for involving the college players,” said Jim Boeheim, chair of the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee and an assistant coach with the USA National Team. “These 20 players now have an opportunity to be involved with USA Basketball in a summer when they normally wouldn’t and they’ll get a chance to play against some great NBA players. It will help them improve and it will help our national team be better prepared for this summer’s World Championship.

“We’re also very fortunate to have two prominent college coaches direct the Select Team. Coach Romar and Coach Wright are successful college coaches and both have extensive international basketball experience having previously served as coaches with several USA Basketball teams,” added Boeheim.

“We believe bringing in a USA Basketball Select Team will help the USA National Team be better prepared for the upcoming FIBA World Championship,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman. “We had USA select teams comprised of young, up-and-coming NBA players train against the national team in 2007 and 2008. That proved not only beneficial for our national team, but also for the select team players who got a great training opportunity and became involved in USA Basketball’s pipeline. This will be a tremendous opportunity for these collegians to be involved in USA Basketball and to get a look at the next level.”

False Alarm: Vigness to Return to Creighton

2010-07-07T23:49:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, Brent Vigness was named Wisconsin's new softball Head Coach. Five days later, he has decided to return to Omaha.

Vigness cites personal reasons for his change of mind. Said Vigness, "Firstly, I want to sincerely thank Barry Alvarez and Terry Gawlik for the opportunity to work at Wisconsin. The head softball job at Wisconsin is a great opportunity and the athletic department proved to be an unbelievable place. After several days of reflection, I came to the realization that my situation at Creighton was too ideal for me to leave. Creighton and Omaha have been my home for 17 years and I have built my life there. My decision came down to my family and in the end I realized that they are of the utmost importance to me and this decision is based on that."

Meanwhile, Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and Associate Athletic Director Terry Gawlik will continue the search for the next leader of the program. "We will immediately move forward with the process of filling our head softball coaching position," Alvarez said. "It remains a terrific opportunity and we're looking forward to bringing someone aboard to lead our student-athletes and build the program."

Ryan McDonagh Signs with NY Rangers

2010-07-06T23:24:00.000-05:00

MADISON, Wis. -- Defenseman Ryan McDonagh (Arden Hills, Minn.) agreed to a contract with the New York Rangers on Tuesday, becoming the fifth Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey player to sign an NHL contract since the completion of the 2009-10 collegiate season.

McDonagh, who leaves school with one year of eligibility remaining, joins graduate Blake Geoffrion (Nashville) and three underclassmen – forward Derek Stepan (New York Rangers), defensemen Cody Goloubef (Columbus) and Brendan Smith (Detroit) – as Badgers who have signed NHL contracts this offseason.

Wisconsin’s would-be captain for next season, McDonagh is a two-time WCHA All-Academic Team member, as well as a member of the 2008 WCHA All-Rookie Team and the 2010 All-WCHA Second Team. An assistant captain his sophomore season and tri-captain his junior season at Wisconsin, he was also voted the team’s Fenton Kelsey Jr., Most Competitive Player both years.

A member of the 2010 NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team, he skated for Team USA at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

Known as a shut-down defenseman, McDonagh proved a man among boys on occasion during his college days, getting called for penalties simply because of his exceptional strength. He finishes his Badger career with 14 goals and 46 points in 119 career games. He posted four goals and 18 points in 43 games in 2009-10, helping the Badgers reach the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four championship game. He also chipped in two power-play goals and one game-winning tally.

McDonagh was originally drafted 12th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, but was traded to the New York Rangers on June 30, 2009 along with Christopher Higgins, Doug Janik and Pavel Valentenko for Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto.

Brent Vigness Named Badgers Softball HC

2010-07-02T11:43:00.001-05:00

MADISON, Wis. -- Brent Vigness has been hired as the third softball coach in Wisconsin history, UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez announced on Thursday. Vigness (VIG-ness) joins the Badgers staff after spending 17 seasons at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

"We are excited about Brent joining our staff," Alvarez said. "He brings a wealth of experience and success to our program."

At Creighton, Vigness was a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and led the Bluejays to six Missouri Valley regular-season titles (1998-2000, 2007-09), six MVC tournament titles (1999, 2003-05, 2007, 2010) and seven NCAA regional appearances (1999, 2003-05, 2007-08, 2010).

"The University of Wisconsin provides an incredible opportunity for me and my family," Vigness said. "I'm excited to be part of a university with such a rich athletic and academic tradition. I want to thank Terry Gawlik and Barry Alvarez for making me feel welcome and putting faith in me as the next coach of Wisconsin softball.

"I'm excited to get to know the returning players and incoming recruits, and I'm looking forward to working with them to build and grow the softball program at Wisconsin."

Beginning with his first league title in 1998, Vigness' teams won a combined 11 MVC regular season and tournament titles. Those 11 championships are the most of any softball program in the conference over that span. He currently boasts a career record of 701-446-3 (.611), which places him among the top 40 active NCAA softball coaches.

In his tenure at Creighton, Vigness coached 10 All-Americans, four MVC Players of the Year, four MVC Pitchers of the Year, as well as one MVC Rookie of the Year.

"I want to thank Bruce Rasmussen and Creighton University for the opportunity they have provided for me and my family," Vigness said. "For the last 17 years, Omaha has been my home. It has been a great place to live, and it has been a very supportive community. I want to thank the people that have supported me in time at Creighton."

Vigness arrived in Omaha after leading Division II Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., to a 148-71-1 (.675) mark between 1989 and 1993. Vigness left as the winningest coach in Assumption College history. He was the Northeast 10 Conference Coach of the Year in both 1989 and 1991 after leading the Lady Hounds to the league regular-season title.

From 1986 to 1988, Vigness served as a student assistant softball coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa, where he graduated in 1988 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education and recreation. Central reached the Division III national quarterfinals in each of Vigness' three seasons, finishing as the national runner-up in 1986 and national champion in 1988.

A two-year letterwinner in football at Central, Vigness was named first-team All-Iowa Conference as a defensive tackle in 1987 as the Dutch won their fifth-straight league title.

Vigness' sister, Brenda Coldren, recently completed her eighth season as head coach at Indiana State. Vigness, 44, and his wife, Cris, have three sons - Brady (14), Boyd (4) and Bryce, born in August 2008.

Vote Blake Geoffrion in 2010 ESPY's

2010-06-25T00:35:00.003-05:00

Former Wisconsin men's hockey player and 2010 Hobey Baker Award Winner Blake Geoffrion has been nominated as Male College Athlete of the Year for the 2010 ESPY's. Fans can vote here.

Geoffrion tallied 28 goals and 22 assists this season. He led the Badgers to the National Championship game and was recognized as First-Team All-WCHA, USCHO.com First-Team All-America, and USCHO.com Player of the Year. He was drafted 56th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2006.

The former Badger faces tough competition, however. Other nominees include Mark Ingram (Alabama), Evan Turner (Ohio State), John Wall (Kentucky) and Garrett Wittels (Florida International; Finished the 2010 baseball season with a 56-game hit streak).

According to his Twitter page, Geoffrion has been invited to attend the ESPY's live at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. The awards show, hosted by SNL's Seth Myers, will air live on ESPN on July 14th at 8:00 PM CT.

Scott Rynes: Rise to the Mountain Top

2010-06-13T10:48:00.005-05:00

Why did Jim Delany have to go out and open his mouth about potential conference realignment? The only legitimate college football news all summer has been rumor after rumor of who is going where and what now seems the inevitable destruction of the once powerful Big XII conference. The business side of sports has once again super-ceded the actual game itself…and I love it.

In a way it is sad to see business dominate college sports the way it has over the last two decades. It takes away the sense of fairly equal competition across the board and creates epic failures such as the BCS. There is no doubt that even in the recent talks of conference realignment, smaller conferences and programs will get lost in the mix, as well as the destruction of what was considered a top conference in both football and basketball (not too bad at baseball, either: Texas and Nebraska). It is almost assured that the Sun Belt, MAC and WAC will be essentially forgotten about (if not already), and Big East football will also lose what national attention they had left. However, one conference has more opportunity to rise in this situation than any other conference; a conference that in the last decade has become a sleeper in both football and basketball: The Mountain West Conference.

Currently, the Mountain West (MWC) sits at nine programs but will be ten with the addition of Boise State (now official) in 2011. This move to grab Boise State from the WAC is mutually strong for both parties. Boise State, along with it’s usually tough non-conference schedule, will now have a much tougher conference schedule going against foes such as BYU, Utah and TCU almost every season (Air Force is not too bad themselves). The Big XII has already lost Nebraska to the Big Ten and Colorado to the Pac-10 and seems poised to lose the Big XII south (besides Baylor) to the Pac-10 as well. This leaves Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State all looking for new affiliations. Rule out Iowa State from receiving a major conference invitation, their football program was most relevant when Seneca Wallace led the Cyclones to a 7-6 record in 2002 and have never challenged for the Big XII NORTH title, whereas their basketball program had a decent stretch under Tim Floyd but have not come close to the same level since. Geographically, Missouri might be too far to warrant entrance into the conference, although they might want to expand their television network to a market as far east as St. Louis (more on that later). This leaves Kansas and Kansas State, two schools with outstanding basketball programs (one historically, one on the rise) with no major player who seems to be interested.

Looking at Kansas State, the football program came to prominence in the 1990’s under Coach Bill Snyder, who turned the program around from national bottom feeder to Big XII Champion and National Title contender. Frank Martin has built on the foundation Bob Huggins laid in basketball and led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance this last NCAA tournament. Kansas had a strong 2007 football season, going 12-1 and defeating Virginia Tech in the 2008 Orange Bowl, but had two mediocre seasons afterwards and several horrible seasons before. And do I need to mention the Jayhawks Basketball program?? Allen Fieldhouse…more like Allen POWERHOUSE!!!! The biggest victim of this entire ordeal is a Kansas Basketball, a notorious cash cow itself. However, the focus of realignment is all about football, hence why Kansas is left in the “dust bowl” of the Big XII demolition.

Rumors are beginning to swirl that the Mountain West is looking toward Kansas and Kansas State to join the conference. In my eyes, there are three advantages to this:

The MWC is the only other conference to have its own network (The Mtn.). Including the two major schools in Kansas would bring more TV exposure to markets like Kansas City and smaller markets like Topeka and Wichita. Although these are not the most glamorous TV markets, it would still be a huge improvement to what they have now. Also, the network would expand even further east. This is where adding a team like Missouri would be beneficially as it would add the St. Louis region along with Kansas City, thus bringing more income to the network and thus the conference squads.
Kansas and Kansas State, along with the addition of Boise State, would move the conference from nine teams to twelve allowing the MWC to host a conference championship game that would likely be played in either Denver or San Diego. A game like Boise State vs. TCU for the conference title would be sure to bring in major sponsors and would be broadcast on a major network. The conference would gain more exposure and legitimacy, not to mention a larger chance at the all inclusive BCS auto-bid.
IT IS KANSAS BASKETBALL!! How would you not want this program in your conference? It would be seen as a step down in the eyes of many but it is not as if the MWC is a push over in this sport. The MWC had four representatives in the 2010 NCAA Tournament (the same number as the SEC) and had a top ten team for most of the season in New Mexico. The chance is that Kansas would be the favorite for the conference title every season but this would not be a change from their time in the Big XII. Kansas Basketball will always have a high profile, so really it would improve the profile of Mountain West basketball if they compete strongly against the Jayhawks.

This next part becomes a plea to Craig Thompson, commissioner of the Mountain West. Mr. Thompson, please do use all the dubious favor of inviting Kansas and Kansas State into your conference. If you have any sense, which you clearly do after inviting Boise State, you will pick up the scraps of the Big XII and make your conference even stronger and more nationally accepted. Ever since the conference began in 1999 as a spawn of the WAC, your programs have become more nationally known in both basketball and football, as well as have stayed loyal to the conference. Every move made by the conference since its inception has been formidable (TCU in 2005, conference network in 2006) and promotion of top games has been phenomenal considering most schools are in a sparsely populated region. As we sit here in the dawning of a new age of college sports, you, Mr. Thompson, have control of what happens to your conference. Will the MWC take advantage and play vulture or let opportunity slip through the fingers like a pass to Roy Williams? As my friend Phil would exclaim at bar owner trying to close his establishment, “There’s money to be had!!” I have for the last few years attempted to proclaim your conference as a new power conference and considered it the ‘next big thing’ to the scrutiny of others. So please, Mr. Thompson, for your conference, your network, and my respectability, pick up where the Big XII dropped off and make your conference stronger.

Nebraska Officially Joins Big 10

2010-06-12T06:06:00.000-05:00

Park Ridge, Ill. — The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors (COP/C) announced unanimous approval today for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to join the Big Ten Conference effective July 1, 2011, with competition to begin in all sports for the 2011-12 academic year. UNL will also seek admission into the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), which can occur on or before July 1, 2011.

The addition of the University of Nebraska marks the Big Ten’s first expansion since Penn State University joined the conference in June of 1990 and will increase Big Ten membership to 12 institutions for the first time in conference annals. Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany will join University of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Director of Athletics Tom Osborne on campus in Lincoln, Neb., for press conference at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, June 11.

“By unanimous vote, the Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors are pleased to welcome the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to the Big Ten Conference,” said COP/C Chair and Michigan State President Lou Anna K. Simon. “We believe Nebraska is an extraordinary fit, reflecting the criteria we established at the beginning of the process – high academic quality, competitiveness, cultural compatibility and fiscal responsibility. The extensive and in-depth discussions my colleagues and I have had about Big Ten expansion permitted us to act expeditiously and prudently on the application submitted by Nebraska. We look forward to working with our colleagues at UNL in the years ahead.”

“We are pleased that the Presidents/Chancellors of the Big Ten universities agree that the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a proper partner from both an academics standpoint and athletics perspective,” Perlman said. “This makes sense for the future of our University. We are honored to be included in the Big Ten.”

“The Big Ten Conference has much to offer,” Osborne said. “This is a tribute to our athletic program, our academic programs and our fans. This is the right move at the right time. This is a rare opportunity that may not have been an option for us in the future.”

In order for an institution to be admitted to the Big Ten Conference, it must submit a written application, which must then be approved by at least 70 percent of the Big Ten COP/C. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents formally submitted an application to join the Big Ten Conference Friday afternoon. The Big Ten COP/C then met via conference call and approved Nebraska’s application.

“While Big Ten expansion is exciting and important both academically and athletically, what we are really excited about is building solid, long-lasting relationships with the University, its administrators and staff, its fans and the people of Nebraska,” Delany said. “We look forward to reaching out to these groups in the months and years ahead.”

Said UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, "The University of Nebraska is a great fit for the Big Ten Conference," Alvarez said. "I was fortunate enough to have been a student-athlete in Nebraska's storied football program and I realize the magnitude and brand identity of their athletic program. Nebraska's fan base is as enthusiastic and passionate as any in the country and is similar to that of many Big Ten schools. Nebraska is a tremendous university, an AAU institution that brings quality academics and athletics to the Big Ten. On behalf of our athletic department, we want to welcome Nebraska to the Big Ten."

MBB Releases Non-Conference Schedule

2010-06-12T06:03:00.003-05:00

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men’s basketball team has announced its non-conference schedule for the upcoming season. The Badgers will play seven non-conference games at the Kohl Center and could play as many as five road/neutral games vs. 2010 NCAA Tournament teams.

The Badgers, who will enter next season having lost just two seniors, Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, begin the journey for a 13th-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance with a pair of exhibition games at the Kohl Center. UW will welcome UW-La Crosse (Nov. 6) and Minnesota State (Nov. 10) in the preseason, with both exhibition games scheduled for 7 p.m.

The regular season tips off on Sunday, Nov. 14, when the Badgers host the Panthers of Prairie View A&M at the Kohl Center. On just two days rest, the Badgers’ non-conference season continues with the arrival of North Dakota to the Kohl Center on Nov. 16.

A trip to Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 20, to take on UNLV marks the first road trip of the season for the Cardinal and White. The Rebels return seven of their top eight scorers from last season’s team which boasted a record of 25-9 and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament. The last time Wisconsin faced UNLV was a 74-68 loss in the second round of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.

Following the game at UNLV, the Badgers will participate in the 2010 Old Spice Classic at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando, Fla. A three-game tournament held over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 25, 26 and 28), the Old Spice Classic field also includes 2010 NCAA Tournament teams California, Notre Dame, Temple and Texas A&M as well as Boston College, Georgia and Manhattan.

On Wednesday, Dec. 1, Wisconsin welcomes North Carolina State into the Kohl Center in the 2010 ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Wisconsin looks to win its third-straight game in the Challenge and fifth consecutive game overall vs. the ACC. Wisconsin won at Virginia Tech in the 2008 Challenge and stunned eventual-national champion Duke in last year’s contest.

Saturday, Dec. 4, marks the next game on Wisconsin’s schedule when the Badgers welcome South Dakota to the Kohl Center. The Jackrabbits went 22-10 last season, posting the best record among teams in the Great West conference and earning a bid in the 2010 College Insider Tournament.

Wisconsin will then play its first of three consecutive in-state rivals beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 8, with Milwaukee coming to the Kohl Center. The Badgers then head east to claw with the Marquette Golden Eagles on Saturday, Dec. 11, in the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Marquette has made five consecutive NCAA tournaments, but has lost eight of its last 12 match-ups with Wisconsin, including a 72-63 Badger win in 2009.

A date with Green Bay on Monday, Dec. 13 rounds out the Badgers’ in-state competition as UW will look to avenge an 88-84, overtime loss to the Phoenix last season. Finally, a Dec. 23 home contest vs. Coppin State concludes the Badgers’ non-conference schedule.

Wisconsin’s Big Ten slate is scheduled to be announced in August.

Barnes Named Assistant WBB Coach

2010-06-08T10:19:00.003-05:00

MADISON, Wis. – John Barnes, the head coach at Michigan Tech University for seven years, has been named an assistant coach with the Wisconsin women’s basketball program, Coach Lisa Stone announced Tueday. His starting date is July 1.

“We are pleased to have John join our Badger family,” said Stone. “He’s been a very successful head coach and that’s experience you can’t teach. John brings a passion for defense and a great offensive mind as well. He has great ideas and he’s very familiar with the motion offense.

“John brings seven years of successful head coaching experience and 15 years of overall coaching experience on both the men’s and women’s side. He has an unbelievable work ethic and passion for the game. He’s also from upper Michigan so he has great Midwestern ties for recruiting.”

Barnes guided Michigan Tech to winning records in all seven seasons, compiling an overall record of 156-55 (.739). The Huskies advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament five times during his tenure, including Elite Eight appearances in 2009 and 2010.

“I’ve been at Michigan Tech for about 18 years, including playing, and I’m very thankful for everything they’ve done for me but when the opportunity at the University of Wisconsin came up, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Barnes. “Lisa’s done an outstanding job and would be a great person to work for. This kind of opportunity is once in a lifetime and I can’t tell you how excited I am to get down there and go to work.

“When I came down and met Coach Alvarez and the rest of Lisa’s staff it just cemented my excitement about the job. When she called and offered it, it was just a dream come true.”

Tech won three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season championships and two tournament titles under Barnes. The Huskies were 104-30 (.750) in GLIAC games during his tenure.

Barnes earned GLIAC Coach of the Year accolades three times in his career (2005-06, 2008-09 and 2009-10) and he was also named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year in 2009-10.

Prior to taking the controls of the women’s program, Barnes played an integral role in building the Huskies’ men’s program into one of national prominence. During his six-year tenure as assistant coach, the Tech men compiled a 133-48 record and made four appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Huskies also won four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and two GLIAC Tournament championships.

The Escanaba, Mich., native was a member of Michigan Tech’s men’s basketball team from 1991-95. He competed in 102 games for the Huskies and earned a spot on the GLIAC All-Defensive Team during the 1994-95 season.

Barnes graduated from Michigan Tech in May 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in scientific and technical communication. He went on to serve as junior varsity girls’ basketball coach at Baraga (Mich.) High School during the fall of 1995. That same year, Barnes began as junior varsity boys’ basketball coach at Chassell (Mich.) High School but left early to accept the assistant men’s basketball coaching position at Lake Superior State, where he helped guide the Lakers to the GLIAC title during the 1995-96 campaign.

In 1996-97, Barnes played for the Kolding Basketball Club in Denmark, where he helped the team to an 18-1 record. He also served as the head coach for St. Nicolai, a men’s travel team in Denmark.

UW Spring Coaches Renewed; Schulte Not

2010-06-04T09:49:00.006-05:00

The UW Athletic Board met on Thursday afternoon and approved recommendations for the renewal of the following contracts for UW spring sports head coaches:

Brian Fleishman, women’s tennis: contract renewed through 5/31/11
Todd Oehrlein, women’s golf: contract renewed through 6/30/11
Greg Van Emburgh, men’s tennis: contract extended through 6/30/13
Jim Schuman, men’s golf: agreement maintained (expires 5/31/11)

The contract of Wisconsin softball Head Coach Chandelle Schulte, however, was not renewed. The second coach in program history, Schulte departs the program after guiding the Badgers to a 21-30 record in 2010. Her overall record at Wisconsin was 95-153. The Badgers won 22 games in 2006, 27 in 2007, 10 in 2008, and 15 in 2009.

UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez released this statement: “I appreciate Chandelle’s efforts during her years with us and I wish her well. We will immediately begin the process of searching for a new head softball coach.”

Brendan Smith Signs with Detroit Red Wings

2010-05-27T15:43:00.000-05:00

MADISON, Wis. – Defenseman Brendan Smith, who completed his junior season with the Wisconsin men’s hockey program this past season, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Smith was drafted in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft as the 27th overall pick.

A Mimico, Ontario native, Smith led the nation’s defensemen with 15 goals and 52 points this past season, and helped the Badgers reach the 2010 NCAA Championship Game. A First-Team All-American and top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, Smith finishes his career with 87 points in 95 games played as a Badger. He was also named the 2010 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, a 2010 First-Team All-WCHA pick and a member of the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team after tying the NCAA record for NCAA single-game assists with five in the semifinals against RIT.

ESPN to Televise San Jose St. Game

2010-05-26T11:06:00.000-05:00

The Big Ten has announced that ESPN will televise Wisconsin's game on September 11th against San Jose State. Kickoff at Camp Randall is scheduled for 11 AM (CT).

This will be one of three games that Wisconsin will play on the ESPN family of networks. The Badgers will face Arizona State on September 18th at 2:30 PM on ABC, and Ohio State on October 16th at 6 PM on ESPN or ESPN2.

These ESPN games might be good news for Badgers fans, as Wisconsin has historically fared well when playing in front of a national television audience. The Badgers own a 41-24 record all-time on ESPN, including a 4-1 record last season.

Wisconsin and San Jose State have met just once prior to this season. The Badgers topped the Spartans 56-10 in San Jose on Sept. 13, 1997, as Ron Dayne ran for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

UW WBB to Host Duke in BT/ACC Challenge

2010-05-24T15:31:00.001-05:00

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women’s basketball team will host Duke in the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference/Big Ten Conference Challenge, the two conferences announced on Monday. The Badgers face the Blue Devils on Thursday, Dec. 2. Tip-off time and TV information will be announced at a later date.

The lone meeting between UW and Duke took place in Durham, N.C. on Nov. 27, 1987. Duke defeated Wisconsin, 86-66, to own a 1-0 lead in the all-time series between the two squads.

This year marks the fourth annual ACC/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge, which began as a four-year agreement and has been extended until 2012. The 2010 Challenge will take place over two days beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Wisconsin is 2-1 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Badgers dropped their inaugural game on the road against Virginia in 2007 but were one of four Big Ten teams to win in 2008. Wisconsin defeated N.C. State 53-48 on the road in last year’s challenge.

The Badgers (21-11) posted one of their most successful seasons in program history in 2009-10. Wisconsin qualified for its first NCAA tournament since 2002 and just the seventh in program history. UW tied for third in the Big Ten Conference regular season standings at 10-8, equaling the second-best league finish in program history. Head coach Lisa Stone and the Badgers lose just two seniors and two starters to graduation in Rae Lin D’Alie and Teah Gant.

Duke is under the direction of fourth-year head coach Joanne P. McCallie and comes off a 30-6 season in 2009-10. The Blue Devils advanced to the 2010 NCAA Elite Eight before falling to Baylor, 51-48, in the final of the Memphis Regional. Duke also won the ACC Championship and had a share of the ACC regular season title with a 12-2 mark in conference play last season.

The ACC/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge matches 11 teams from each conference in head-to-head competition traditionally on the first Wednesday and Thursday after Thanksgiving, following the ACC/Big Ten Men’s Basketball Challenge. Last year, the ACC won seven of the 11 Big Ten/ACC Challenge games. In 2008, the ACC also won, 7-4, while the inaugural Challenge in 2007 saw the ACC win by a margin of 8-3.

The ACC and the Big Ten have long been among the most dominant conferences on the women’s basketball scene. Last season, the ACC was represented by six teams in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, making it the eighth-straight year the league has had at least six in the Big Dance. Duke and Florida State advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals, giving the ACC at least one team in the Elite Eight for the ninth consecutive year. Overall, the ACC has made 14 Final Four appearances, including four in the past five years.

The Big Ten tied a conference record in 2010, sending nine teams into postseason play. Four Big Ten teams – Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin – earned bids to the NCAA Championship, while five – Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue – participated in the Postseason WNIT. Historically, the conference has sent at least one team to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 in 24 of the last 26 years and has had at least one squad participate in five of the last 12 Final Fours, owning eight overall appearances.

Since the 1999-2000 season, the two conferences have squared off in head-to-head competition on 99 occasions with the ACC holding a 57-42 advantage. Last season, the ACC boasted a 9-5 record over Big Ten teams, including a meeting between Miami and Michigan in the Postseason WNIT semifinals, which the Hurricanes won, 76-59.

Mike Eaves Names New Assistant Coaches

2010-05-21T23:36:00.003-05:00

MADISON, Wis. – Head coach Mike Eaves has named Gary Shuchuk and Bill Butters assistant coaches for the Wisconsin men’s hockey program.

“Our hockey program is ecstatic to bring on board two outstanding people,” said Eaves.

In Shuchuk and Butters, Eaves adds two coaches boasting NHL playing experience.

Shuchuk, a former Badger player, returns to Wisconsin from his position as executive director of Madison Ice, Inc., where he oversees the daily operations of Madison Ice Arena and Hartmeyer Ice Arena in Madison.

In addition to his current position, Shuchuk brings a wide range of coaching experience in the state of Wisconsin. Since 2008, he has served as coach for Team Wisconsin U16 and helped select and develop that and the U18 team. As coach of the U16 team, he has guided the squad to back-to-back Tier I National Championship tournaments.

In 2008, Shuchuk took part as a coach in USA Hockey’s Select 17 Player Development Camp. He has seen time volunteering as a coach for Madison West, Memorial and Edgewood high schools and been involved with the Wisconsin Elite Hockey League, including leading the selection of players for the Madison Elite U16 team that was Tier II National Championship runner up in 2010.

A 1990 First-Team All-American and the 1990 WCHA Player of the Year, Shuchuk was the leading scorer for Wisconsin’s 1990 NCAA championship team and an assistant captain for the squad. The team also captured the 1990 WCHA regular-season and playoff titles.

He set Wisconsin’s single-season goal-scoring record for seniors with 41 that year, while his 80 points that season are second on UW’s all-time list for seniors, trailing only Mike Eaves’ 89 points. Shuchuk collected 85 goals and 176 points in 177 career games for Wisconsin from 1986-90.

The Edmonton, Alberta, native arrived in Madison from the AJHL, where he played his junior hockey for the St. Albert Saints. He was league rookie of the year and team MVP during his two years with the Saints.

Following his Badger career, Shuchuk played parts of five seasons in the NHL between 1990 and 1996, including part of one season with the Detroit Red Wings and four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. His stint with the Kings included the team’s 1993 run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

He also spent time in the AHL, winning the Calder Cup with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1992 and earning team MVP honors in 2004 with the Springfield Falcons, while also serving as one of the team’s assistant coaches. During his professional playing career, Shuchuk co-captained three different teams, including the Orlando Solar Bears and the Houston Aeros of the IHL and the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings.

Shuchuk also spent time playing professionally in the German Elite League, as well as in Austria and Switzerland.
“Since returning to Madison, Gary has blended his years of pro experience with coaching and developing Midget-aged hockey players,” Eaves stated. “His teams have competed and excelled nationally. On the recruiting front, Gary keeps strong connections to Wisconsin and Western Canada, which are two key areas for us.”

Butters joins UW’s staff with a record of developing collegiate defensemen from 10 years as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota. He will serve in a similar capacity at Wisconsin.

Butters spent those 10 years – 1985 through 1995 – as an assistant coach for his alma mater, serving as recruiting coordinator, while also handling team travel, alumni relations and the team’s defense. He helped the Gophers reach six NCAA Frozen Fours, and Minnesota finished in the top three of the WCHA during every season of his tenure.

Among the players who played for him at Minnesota were NHL defensemen Doug Zmolek, Chris McAlpine, Lance Pitlick, Mike Crowley, Tom Pederson, Dan Trebil and Todd Richards. Richards is now the head coach of the Minnesota Wild.

Following his time with Minnesota, Butters assumed the role of co-head coach at Bethel College through 1998, before taking over as head coach of his former team at White Bear Lake High School until 2002.

As a player, Butters played three years at Minnesota, where he served as co-captain during the 1972-73 campaign. During his career, he was teammates with current Nebraska-Omaha head coach Dean Blais and played for legendary head coaches Glen Sonmor and Herb Brooks.

His professional hockey career began in the CHL with the Oklahoma City Blazers for two seasons. From there, he moved on to the WHA for nearly five seasons. He skated for Minnesota, Houston, Edmonton and New England in the WHA. He reached the pinnacle in 1977-78, playing 23 games with the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars. Butters returned the following season to Minnesota, before finishing his career with the Oklahoma City Stars of the CHL. He spent his final professional season as a player and coach for Oklahoma City, where he was teammates with Mike Eaves.

Recently, Butters has worked with Hockey Ministries International, where he has staffed and coached hockey camps.

“I have known Bill Butters since our playing days with the Minnesota North Stars,” explained Eaves. “He fills a big void left by Coach Osiecki. He can step right in with his experience at the college and professional level to work with our young defensemen. He also keeps important connections in the recruiting world, including in his home state of Minnesota.”

Eaves concluded, “Both men are quality people and terrific additions to our program. We look forward to working together.”

Molly Spence Named Second Team All-D I Region

2010-05-20T12:03:00.002-05:00

MADISON, Wis. -- Molly Spence capped off her tremendous freshman season by being named 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced on Wednesday. Spence was named to the second team in the Great Lakes Region.

With the award, Spence becomes the first freshman position player in school history to be named to an All-Region team. She joins Andrea Kirchberg, who was named first team All-Mideast as a pitcher in 2000, as the only freshmen to earn All-Region honors in Wisconsin history.

The last Badger to be named All-Region was Katie Hnatyk, who was named second team All-Mideast in 2007.

Spence led the Badgers offense in several offensive categories during the 2010 season, including batting average, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

The Wilmette, Ill., native also set numerous school records throughout the season.

Her 41 RBI set a new single-season record at Wisconsin, and she tied the mark for most multi-RBI games in one year with 11.

On April 21 against South Dakota State, Spence set the school’s single-game record by recording seven RBI thanks to a grand slam, a two-run triple and an RBI single.

Spence’s .347 batting average for the season was the highest ever for a freshman, as was her .424 on-base percentage, .600 slugging percentage, 1.024 OPS (on-base plus slugging), 34 runs scored and 90 total bases. In addition, Spence tied the freshman record with 10 stolen bases.

Wisconsin Softball All-Big Ten Honorees

2010-05-19T23:37:00.000-05:00

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin had three softball players named third-team All-Big Ten, the conference announced on Wednesday. Senior Letty Olivarez, junior Jennifer Krueger and freshman Shannel Blackshear were all recognized for their performances this season as third-team all-Big Ten members. In addition, freshman Kendall Grimm was named the team’s Sportsmanship Honoree.

It is the most players Wisconsin has had named All-Big Ten since four players (Boo Gillette, Katie Hnatyk, Anastasia Miller and Kris Zacher) were named to the third team in 2005.

Krueger was also named third-team All-Big Ten in 2009, making her just the sixth player in UW softball history to be a two-time All-Big Ten selection.

This season, Krueger set Wisconsin’s career and single-season stolen base record. She stole 29 bases in 2010, smashing the mark of 19 set by Carin Bouchard in 1997. For her career, Krueger now has 55 swipes, separating herself well from the previous record of 41 set by Zacher (2002-05).

Krueger led the team in stolen bases and walks (23), while finishing second in runs (28) and triples (3) and third in hits (44), batting average (.306) and on-base percentage (.405).

She finished the season on a remarkable stretch, raising her batting average 87 points over the last 13 games. She was hitting just .219 on April 20, but went 21-for-39 (.538) with 12 runs, six RBI, two triples, six walks and stolen bases down the stretch to be one of three Badgers to bat over .300.

Olivarez capped her senior campaign by being the team’s leading hitter in Big Ten play. In 18 conference games, the Newark, Calif., native led the team with a .350 batting average, a .575 slugging percentage two home runs and seven walks. In addition, she was second on the team in those games with three doubles, nine RBI, 23 total bases and a .447 on-base percentage.

As a pitcher, Olivarez led the team in nearly every category and set a new single-season school record by starting 37 games. Her 193 strikeouts will go down as the most strikeouts ever thrown in a season by a pitcher other than Andrea Kirchberg, who owns the top four single-season punch-out marks.

Blackshear enjoyed one of the finest seasons by a Badger freshman. All-time among UW freshmen, Blackshear finished second with a .414 on-base percentage, .945 OPS (on-base + slugging) and 36 RBI. She was third all-time with a .333 batting average, a.531 slugging percentage and 78 total bases.

In Big Ten play, Blackshear led the team with a .448 OBP, two home runs and 26 total bases and was second only to Olivarez with a .347 average and .531 slugging mark.

Grimm hit .255 for the season with 15 runs scored, three doubles, one triple and 12 RBI. She led the team with eight sacrifice hits and was 8-for-10 on stolen bases. As a Sportsmanship Honoree, she is now a candidate for the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.

2010 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule Announced

2010-05-12T13:41:00.001-05:00

2010 Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule

Times and networks to be determined:

Monday, Nov. 29

Virginia at Minnesota

Tuesday, Nov. 30

Iowa at Wake Forest

Michigan at Clemson

Ohio State at Florida State

North Carolina at Illinois

Georgia Tech at Northwestern

Wednesday, Dec. 1

Indiana at Boston College

Purdue at Virginia Tech

Michigan State at Duke

North Carolina State at Wisconsin

Maryland at Penn State

Scheduling for Next Year

2010-05-11T15:03:00.005-05:00

This week, we learned of a few football and mens basketball games and tournaments on slate for the 2010-2011 academic year. Let's review:

Men's Basketball will compete in the 2010 Old Spice Classic November 25-28 in Disney World. Other teams competing include Cal, Notre Dame, Temple, Texas A&M, BC, Georgia, and Manhattan.
Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports also reports that Bo Ryan's squad will host NC State at the Kohl Center for the 2010 Big Ten/ACC Challenge. A confirmation from UW Athletic Communications is expected later this week.

Update: UW Ath Comm confirmed that the Badgers will indeed host NC State. The game will be on Wednesday, December 1st, and the time has yet to be announced. The Badgers are 5-6 all-time in the Big-Ten ACC Challenge, but 3-1 at the Kohl Center. This will be the first meeting between these two meetings since the Badgers knocked off the Wolfpack in the Sweet 16 of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

We now know start times for three of UW's seven home football games:

Kickoff against Arizona State on September 18th is set for 2:30 PM and the game will air live on ABC. This will be the Badgers’ first non-conference appearance on ABC since opening the 2007 season against Washington State. (That is also the last time UW faced a team from the Pac 10.)
The homecoming game against Minnesota on October 9th is scheduled for 11:00 AM.
The matchup with Ohio State the following weekend will begin at 6:00 PM and will be televised by ESPN. (As we mentioned, perhaps clearing the way for a College Gameday visit???)

The first game of the season will kickoff at 10:00 PM CT at UNLV and will air on Versus.

As a reminder, stay with us as more announcements are made. Follow us on Twitter @WSUMSports for the latest.

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-05-02T16:29:00.000-05:00

This is the final week of WSUM sports talk shows for the 2009-2010 academic year.

With that, we want to take a moment to thank our seniors for their tremendous contributions: Ben Breiner, Matt Fox, Jon Leener, Ben Meyer, Scott Rynes, Nick Schmitt, Josh Weingardt, and Derek Zetlin. They will all surely be missed, but we wish them the best of luck.

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-04-25T13:01:00.000-05:00

As the NBA and NHL playoffs roll on, so too does WSUM Sports shows.

On Tuesday, join us for a very special "Student Section" as Matt, Max, Derek and Kyle debate how much potential a varsity college baseball team would have to be successful in Madison, and what hypothetical steps would be necessary to ensure its success. We'll be joined by Jeff Block, UW Club Baseball Coach, Jordan Kobritz, author of The Economics of Winning in Baseball and current contributor to the acclaimed blog Biz of Baseball, and James Hoyt, a Professor Emeritus in the Wisconsin School of Journalism and past member of a variety of NCAA committees, Big Ten Conference committees and Western Collegiate Hockey Association committees. The Student Section airs from 4-6 PM on Tuesdays.

The Wisconsin softball team is also in action this week as they host North Dakota for a doubleheader beginning at 3 PM at Goodman Diamond. Game One airs on UWBadgers.com, and Game Two airs on BigTenNetwork.com and re-airs the following day on the Big Ten Network.

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-04-18T17:56:00.000-05:00

We're headed down the home stretch of the semester here at Wisconsin, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty going on in the world of sports! WSUM sports talk shows will discuss the Spring Game and NFL Draft. Plus, the NHL and NBA playoffs are well underway.

The Wisconsin softball team is in action twice this week, with a doubleheader on Tuesday against Northern Illinois and a doubleheader on Wednesday against South Dakota. On both days, the first game begins at 3 PM at Goodman Diamond. If you can't make it to the game, tune in to UWBadgers.com for a live play-by-play broadcast of each contest. The second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, however, will air live on BigTenNetwork.com (for a fee) and will re-air via tape-delay on Thursday at 7 PM on Big Ten Network.

Spring Game Stats

2010-04-17T16:30:00.003-05:00

Final Score: Cardinal 33, White 11

More importantly, here are some brief stats:

Offense
Scott Tolzien: 12-22, 0 INT, 138 YDS, 0 TD, 0 SACK
Jon Budmayr: 12-25, 2 INT, 0 TD, 3 SACK
Nate Tice: 0-1, 3 SACK

Lance Kendricks: 6 Catches for 63 Yards
Isaac Anderson: 5 for 46
Kyle Jefferson: 2 for 23

Montee Ball: 24 Rushes for 75 Yards (3.1 Avg.)
Zach Brown: 13 for 50 (3.8 Avg.)

Special Teams
Brad Nortman: 3 Punts, 40.7 Avg., Long: 43
Philip Welch: 3-3 FG (20, 26, 32)

Defense
Louis Nzegwu: 3 Sacks
Aaron Henry: 4 Tackles (2 Solo, 2 Ast)
JJ Watt: 2 Tackles, 1 Sack
Niles Brinkley: 3 Tackles (2 Solo, 1 Ast)
Patrick Butrym, Blake Sorensen: 1 Tackle each

Tune in to WSUM Sports Talk shows throughout the week, beginning Sunday Night at 5, for a breakdown of the game.

Wisconsin Spring Game Rosters

2010-04-16T22:20:00.003-05:00

The 2010 Cardinal & White Game begins at 2 PM. For complete coverage, tune in to the Online Sports Stream at 1:45.

CARDINAL ROSTER

2 Jay Valai DB 5-9 200 Sr. Euless, Texas

3 Kyle Jefferson WR 6-4 181 Sr. Cleveland

6 Isaac Anderson WR 5-10 175 Sr. Minneapolis

7 Aaron Henry DB 6-0 202 Jr. Immokalee, Fla.

9 Blake Sorensen LB 6-1 227 Sr. Eden Prairie, Minn.

10 Devin Smith DB 5-11 186 Jr. Coppell, Texas

15 Culmer St. Jean LB 6-0 232 Sr. Naples, Fla.

16 Scott Tolzien QB 6-3 208 Sr. Rolling Meadows, Ill.

18 Philip Welch K 6-3 198 Jr. Fort Collins, Colo.

26 Antonio Fenelus DB 5-9 190 Jr. Boca Raton, Fla.

28 Montee Ball RB 5-11 234 So. Wentzville, Mo.

34 Bradie Ewing RB 6-0 230 Jr. Richland Center

41 Kevin Rouse LB 6-0 228 Jr. Yorkville, Ill.

62 Kyle Wojta LS 6-2 225 Jr. Madison

67 Josh Oglesby OL 6-7 331 Jr. Milwaukee

68 Gabe Carimi OL 6-7 315 Sr. Cottage Grove

70 Kevin Zeitler OL 6-4 312 Jr. Waukesha

72 Travis Frederick OL 6-4 323 So. Sharon

74 John Moffitt OL 6-5 323 Sr. Guilford, Conn.

76 Bill Nagy OL 6-3 318 Sr. Hudson, Ohio

82 Jake Byrne TE 6-4 257 Jr. Rogers, Ark.

84 Lance Kendricks TE 6-4 239 Sr. Milwaukee

85 David Gilreath WR 5-11 169 Sr. Minneapolis

91 Jordan Kohout DL 6-3 292 Fr. Waupun

93 Louis Nzegwu DL 6-4 247 Jr. Platteville

95 Patrick Butrym DL 6-4 293 Jr. New Berlin

98 Brad Nortman P 6-3 208 Jr. Brookfield

99 J.J. Watt DL 6-6 285 Jr. Pewaukee

Injured - will not play

1 Nick Toon WR 6-3 211 Jr. Middleton

10 Curt Phillips QB 6-3 224 So. Kingsport, Tenn.

32 John Clay RB 6-1 248 Jr. Racine

44 Chris Borland LB 5-11 232 So. Kettering, Ohio

53 Mike Taylor LB 6-2 211 So. Ashwaubenon

66 Peter Konz OL 6-5 312 So. Neenah

92 Pat Muldoon DL 6-3 242 Fr. Mason, Ohio

WHITE ROSTER

5 Jon Budmayr QB 6-0 201 Fr. Woodstock, Ill.

5 Andrew Lukasko DB 5-10 180 Jr. Edgar

11 David Gilbert DL 6-4 237 So. Coral Springs, Fla.

12 Dezmen Southward DB 6-1 207 Fr. Sunrise, Fla.

12 Nate Tice QB 6-5 228 Jr. Edina, Minn.

13 Jared Abbrederis WR 6-2 181 Fr. Wautoma

13 Conor O'Neill DB 6-0 200 Fr. Delray Beach, Fla.

14 Marcus Cromartie DB 6-1 185 So. Mansfield, Texas

15 Jeff Duckworth WR 6-0 200 Fr. Cincinnati

16 Chukwuma Offor WR 6-0 177 Jr. Madison

17 Josh Peprah DB 5-11 205 Fr. Kinney, Texas

20 T.J. Williams WR 6-0 181 So. Kenosha

22 Darius Feaster DB 5-11 192 Fr. Mequon

23 Jerry Ponio DB 6-1 202 Fr. Chicago

24 Shelton Johnson DB 6-0 182 So. Carrollton, Texas

25 Adam Hampton DB 5-11 182 Jr. Lancaster

27 Kyle Zuleger RB 5-11 181 Fr. Appleton

28 Coddye Ring-Noonan LB 5-10 212 So. Madison

29 Niles Brinkley DB 5-10 191 Sr. St. Louis

30 Zach Brown RB 5-10 213 Sr. Royal Palm, Fla.

36 Ethan Armstrong LB 6-2 232 Fr. Ottawa, Ill.

37 Kevin Claxton LB 6-1 218 Jr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

39 A.J. Fenton LB 6-1 227 Fr. Erie, Pa.

45 Warren Herring DL 6-3 252 Fr. Fairview Heights, Ill.

46 Zach Davison TE 6-4 253 So. Waukee, Iowa

48 Jacob Pedersen TE 6-4 230 Fr. Menominee, Mich.

49 Brian Wozniak TE 6-4 249 Fr. Loveland, Ohio

51 Tyler Dippel DL 6-4 252 Fr. Slinger

54 Clinton Heckner OL 6-3 284 Fr. Kimberly

55 Eriks Briedis DL 6-4 279 So. Miami

58 Ricky Wagner OL 6-6 313 So. West Allis

60 Jake Current OL 6-3 305 Jr. Troy, Ohio

61 Sam Edmiston OL 6-7 278 Fr. Cincinnati

63 Casey Dehn OL 6-6 299 Fr. Owatonna, Minn.

64 Robert Burge OL 6-7 325 So. Holmen

65 Joe Schafer OL 6-4 304 So. St. Paul, Minn.

69 Alex Dietzen OL 6-8 317 Fr. Appleton

75 Ethan Hemer DL 6-6 291 Fr. Medford

75 Zac Matthias OL 6-5 320 Fr. Hemlock, Mich.

79 Ryan Groy OL 6-5 305 Fr. Middleton

81 Rob Korslin TE 6-4 258 Jr. Brookfield

87 Tyler Westphal DL 6-6 239 So. Menasha

90 Anthony Mains DL 6-6 228 So. Naples, Fla.

90 Ryan Wickesberg P 6-1 207 Jr. Saukville

96 Alec Lerner K 5-7 183 Fr. Omaha, Neb.

97 Brendan Kelly DL 6-6 228 So. Eden Prairie, Minn.

Admirals Sign Hobey Baker Winner Blake Geoffrion

2010-04-16T13:34:00.001-05:00

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League announced today that the team has signed 2010 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Winner Blake Geoffrion to an Amateur Try-Out Contract (ATO). The former University of Wisconsin star will look to make his Admirals debut tonight when the team travels to Chicago for game two of the West Division Semifinals at 7:30 pm at the All-State Arena.

Geoffrion won the award given to college hockey's most outstanding player after finishing third in the nation in goals (28) and finishing first in Division I hockey in power-play tallies (15). A tri-captain for the Badgers in 2009-10, Geoffrion posted 50 points (28g-22a) in 40 games, helping the school reach the NCAA National Championship Game. The 6-1, 196-pound right wing was both a First Team West All America, and First Team WCHA selection in his senior season, and was named Most Valuable Player of the West Regional after leading UW to victories over Vermont and St. Cloud State with five points (2g-3a) in the two games.

During his four-season collegiate career, the Nashville Predators first pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft amassed 114 points (55g-59a) and 243 penalty minutes in 146 games. His grandfather, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion and great grandfather, Howie Morenz, are both Hockey Hall-of-Famers who won a combined nine Stanley Cups as members of the Montreal Canadiens. His father, Danny, was drafted eighth overall by the Canadiens in the 1978 Draft, and played for both Montreal and Winnipeg during his career.

Geoffrion will become the second Hobey Baker winner to play for Milwaukee. Admiral's legend Tony Hrkac, who won the award with North Dakota in 1987, was the first.

The Admirals will host games three and four of the series on Saturday, April 17 at 7:00 and Monday, April 19 at 7:00 pm respectively.

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-04-11T00:13:00.001-05:00

Hockey and basketball seasons have now both come to their official close, but it's still another exciting week. All of WSUM's sports talk shows will dissect Wisconsin's loss in the National Championship, but they'll also look ahead to the Spring Game.

On Wednesday, Four Guys and a Mic will be joined by Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLBTradeRumors.com. Join them at 5 PM to talk about all things baseball.

Next weekend, WSUM will have the 2010 Spring Game completely covered. Tune in to the Online Sports Stream at 1:45 live coverage of the annual Cardinal & White event.

Plus, WSUM is also excited to announce more participation in the Big Ten Network's Student-U Initiative. WSUM Announcers will have the privilege of calling four games that will air live on BigTenNetwork.com and re-air on television, beginning with the Spring Game this weekend. For more information, visit bigtennetwork.com.

Final: BC 5, Wisconsin 0

2010-04-10T20:51:00.000-05:00

The Badgers were shutout at Ford Field in Detroit as the Boston College Eagles won their fourth national championship and second in three years.

Wisconsin had a few chances, but failed to get any scoring momentum throughout the game. The contest was close, however, as the score was 1-0 entering the third. BC scored 3 goals in about a five minute span, and then sealed it with an Empty-Netter.

Complete coverage on WSUM Sports Talk Shows this week.

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-04-03T11:40:00.000-05:00

After a one-week hiatus for Spring Break, all WSUM Sports Talk shows return this week.

WSUM will also hit the road this week. Tune in to the Online Sports Stream on Thursday, April 8th, for live coverage from Ford Field in Detroit as Wisconsin takes on RIT in the Frozen Four. Pregame begins at 3:45 PM CT, and the puck drops at 4:00.

The Wisconsin softball team is also in action, as the Badgers host South Dakota State on Wednesday in their first home series of the year. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 4:00. Tickets are only available at the Goodman Diamond Box Office on the day of the event. If you can't make it, be sure to tune into UWBadgers.com for live coverage.

Body found believed to be brother of Barry Davis

2010-04-02T21:21:00.002-05:00

Our thoughts go out to UW Wrestling Head Coach Barry Davis and his family. This statement from UW Athletics:

MADISON– The body of Martin Davis, 52, the brother of University of Wisconsin wrestling coach Barry Davis, is believed to have been found Friday afternoon in Coralville, Iowa.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was called to an area in the Coralville Reservoir after an individual in a kayak discovered a body. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office, recovered the body believed to possibly be Davis. An autopsy will be completed on Sunday to positively identify the body.

“It sounds as if my brother’s body has been found,” said Barry Davis. “This will allow closure to this situation for my entire family and it will give us the opportunity to begin moving forward. I want to thank everyone for their love and support during these past few months. I also want to thank the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office for their work and cooperation.”

Martin Davis was last seen on Jan. 3 when he left his home on snowmobile. A snowmobiler’s helmet, believed to belong to Davis, was found in the Coralville Reservoir about two weeks ago.

Davis, who guided the Badgers to a fourth-place NCAA team finish last month, was named national coach of the year in 2009-10. Davis and his family are asking for privacy from public or media inquiries at this time.

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-03-21T23:53:00.001-05:00

This weekend was a difficult one for Badger Basketball fans, but WSUM Sports Talk shows will break down exactly what happened. Tune in throughout the week as we try to make the best of an early exit for both squads.

On a bright note, the Men's hockey team is heading to St. Paul as a one-seed. They will take on Vermont on Friday. Stay with the WSUM Sports Blog for complete coverage.

As a reminder, WSUM shows will be on a one-week hiatus for Spring Break. There will be no Thursday shows (Red Alert, Sixth Quarter), and the normal schedule will resume the following Sunday, April 4th.

Update: WSUM will cover the Men's Hockey game this weekend in St. Paul. Tune into the Online Sports Stream on Friday night for live play-by-play coverage as Wisconsin takes on Vermont. The pregame show begins at 7:45. Nico Savidge and Matt De Re have the call.

Back to Xcel: UW Mens Hockey a 1 Seed in West

2010-03-21T11:19:00.001-05:00

The #1 seed Wisconsin Badgers (25-10-4) will face Vermont (17-14-7) in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Mens Hockey Tournament. The puck will drop next Friday at 8 PM CT in St. Paul.

The winner will take on either St. Cloud State or Northern Michigan on Saturday at 8 PM CT. Those two teams face each other at 4:30 PM CT on Friday.

This will be second time in 5 days that a Badger squad will face the Catamounts, as the Womens basketball team is set to battle Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament today.

Sunday Game Time Announced

2010-03-20T11:48:00.000-05:00

The Badgers will face the Cornell Big Red at 1:50 PM CT on Sunday, March 21st. Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg will have the call for CBS. Should the Badgers advance, they will take on the winner of Kentucky/Wake Forest in the Sweet 16.

The Student Section's Picks

2010-03-16T21:30:00.005-05:00

Thanks to everyone who joined us today at Der Rathskeller for WSUM's second remote broadcast ever. In addition, thank you to WSUM Technical Guru Matt Rockwell, General Manager Dave Black, Promotions Director Alex Elman, Jeff Bailitz, and Kaitlin Koehler and all of the staff at Memorial Union for their hard work.

Here are the picks that Matt, Kyle, Max, and Derek came up with today on the show:

Join the WSUM Bracket Challenge!

2010-03-15T01:20:00.001-05:00

It's free and you can win great prizes!

Just sign up by clicking here.

(We will announce the prizes by the start of the tournament).

This Week in WSUM Sports

2010-03-14T19:25:00.001-05:00

This is an exciting week that will culminate in the start of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. Wisconsin will face Wofford on Friday (time TBA) in Jacksonville. Tune into WSUM Sports talk shows throughout the week for previews of the matchup.

On Tuesday, from 4-6 PM, come hang out and watch a live broadcast of "The Student Section" at Der Rathskeller, Memorial Union. We'll get you set for March Madness by previewing Wisconsin's first round game. We'll be joined by the Terriers' basketball beat reporter or radio broadcaster. Plus, we'll help you fill out those brackets by predicting every matchup. This will be WSUM's second-ever remote broadcast. We hope to see you then!

Finally, next weekend, WSUM will provide live coverage from the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul. Max Henson and Nico Savidge will have the call on the WSUM Online Sports Stream. The Badgers face St. Cloud State at 2:00 PM on Friday, and the winner of that game will take on either North Dakota or UMD. Wisconsin split the season series with the Huskies, with each team winning once at home and once on the road.

Brackets Announced!

2010-03-14T17:52:00.001-05:00

It's official: Wisconsin (23-8) is a 4-seed and will take on #13 Wofford (26-8) on Friday in Jacksonville, Florida. Starting time has not been announced. The UW football team beat Wofford 44-14 on September 9th.

Wofford won their conference and is led by Noah Dahlman, a 6-6, 215 pound junior forward from Braham, Minnesota who averages 16.8 PPG and 6.3 Rebounds. However, he only averages 0.7 assists. No other player averages more than ten points. Wofford was 0-2 against AP top 25 teams this year, with losses at #9 Michigan State (72-60) and #21 Illinois (78-64). In addition, Wofford lost at Pittsburgh 63-60. Their biggest win was against Georgia (60-57). Wofford enters the game on a 13-game winning streak.

Update: Game time is set for 1:50 PM CT (or 30 minutes after conclusion of Temple/Cornell game, which tips at 11:30 AM CT).

Wrapup: Ohio State 90, Minnesota 61

2010-03-14T16:27:00.000-05:00

Ohio State won the 2010 Big Ten Tournament Title in blowout fashion. Led by Evan Turner's 31 points and 12 rebounds, the Buckeyes topped the Golden Gophers 90-61. After a close call against Michigan and a Double OT game against Illinois, the Buckeyes put on a performance perhaps worthy of a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Ohio State led most of a very close first half. In the second half, however, seemingly in the blink of an eye, the Buckeyes jumped ahead. Similar to Ohio State's 20-0 run against Illinois yesterday, the Buckeyes hit seven straight shots around the ten-minute mark to open up a nineteen point lead with three minutes to go. Minnesota's surprising tournament quickly came to and end as Ohio State finishes the Big Ten Tournament with a tremendous amount of confidence and momentum.

Ohio State has proved itself as a true threat in the NCAA Tournament. Not only do they have one of the best, if not the best, player in the country in Evan Turner, but they boast a 1,000 career-point scorer in Jon Diebler. David Lighty set the Ohio State single-season record for three-pointers. Even William Buford had a tremendous Tournament.

All eyes now turn to the difficult decisions the Selection Committee will have to make. From the Big Ten's standpoint, both Illinois and Minnesota made huge statements. Will the Big Ten really get six teams into the Big Dance? Or will the power-four be the conference's only representatives? How about Wisconsin? "Experts" have them as high as a 3 or as low as a 6. The Bracket will be announced at 5:00 PM CT.

Wrapup: Minnesota 69, Purdue 42

2010-03-13T22:49:00.000-06:00

In front of a sold-out Conseco Fieldhouse that was 75% dressed in black and gold, Minnesota continued its run upset run and advanced to the Title game for the first time in program history with a 69-42 blowout victory over Purdue. The Golden Gophers become just the second #6 seed to ever advance to the championship game, joining Iowa, who defeated #4 Indiana, in 2001. This was Minnesota's first win against Purdue in three tries this season.

The Gophers got off to a hot start and never looked back, as they led 32-11 after the first 20 minutes. Ten different players scored for Minnesota, but Ralph Sampson III led the way with 13 points. Paul Carter had 10 boards and 8 points, as he was 4-4 from the field. Devoe Joseph had 10, and Colton Iverson had 11. Iverson is now shooting .789 from the field in the Big Ten Tournament. The Record is .765 by Jerrod Gee of Illinois in 1998. For Purdue, JaJuan Johnson had 17, but E'Twaun Moore only scored 2. DJ Byrd scored 11 off the bench. Minnesota shot 48% from the field, while the Boilermakers shot just 28%.

"Any time your shots are not falling, they're rebounding really well, and they're having shots fall for their end, it really doesn't-- it's not good on your end really. So credit to them. They really played hard. They played with a sense of urgency", JaJuan Johnson said after the game.

The Gophers most likely played with that intensity because of how aware they were of what they needed to accomplish. Entering the game, Minnesota was a long-shot to make the NCAA Tournament, but with two quality wins over Michigan State and Purdue, the Gophers just might have moved off the bubble and into the field of 65. In their three Big Ten Tournament games, Minnesota has held opponents to just .345 shooting from the field, and more importantly, have kept each team's leading scorer in check.

The Golden Gophers have played every team in the conference besides Ohio State. The two teams will face each other in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game at 2:30 PM CT tomorrow.

Wrapup: OSU 88, Illinois 81 (Double OT)

2010-03-13T15:09:00.000-06:00

Saturday's first matchup was yet another wild and close game that required an additional ten minutes, making this the first Big Ten Tournament ever to feature two Overtime games.

Ohio State jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the first six minutes off of four early points by Evan Turner, but Illinois charged back and held a 16-15 lead at the ten-minute mark. The Illini held onto a lead the rest of the way, as they led 37-31 after the first 20 minutes. (At halftime, by the way, we saw an awesome trampoline show...one of the coolest things we've ever seen. They even jumped on trampolines with snowboards and skis on!)

The second half featured lengthy runs by both teams. Illinois went on an 8-4 run over the first five minutes of the second half, as Tyler Griffey, who played just 3 minutes and recorded 1 rebound against Wisconsin, scored 9 points for the Illini. Illinois continued to hold onto a lead, but an emphatic dunk by Evan Turner at the 10:30 mark and a 3-poiner by Jon Diebler capped off a 9-0 run that brought the Buckeyes within one with 9:30 to go. Ohio State took a 51-50 lead off a layup by Evan Turner with 9:10 remaining, and then Diebler hit another three to put the Buckeyes up by four. Overall, it was a 25-5 run, including 20 unanswered, that put the Buckeyes up 59-50 with about five minutes remaining. Illinois, however, then went on a 6-0 run and were back within three with 3:45 remaining. They continued to trail by three at the 2:00 mark, but three point plays by McCamey and Davis put Illinois ahead by three with 50 seconds to go. Ohio State answered with a three point play of their own with 40 seconds to go, but Demitri McCamey then made two free throws to put the Buckeyes ahead by two with 26.7 remaining. Evan Turner scored in the paint to tie it up at 66 with ten seconds remaining, but Bruce Weber waited until there were only 3.2 ticks left to call his final timeout.On the inbounds, McCamey dished it to Davis, who missed a layup at the buzzer. He did not get the shot off in time, anyways.

Just two minutes into Overtime, Mike Tisdale fouled out after hitting a big three. Demitri McCamey hit another trey, as Illinois went on a 7-3 run to begin the extra period. But Ohio State answered the call. Evan Turner, despite having four fouls, tied it at 75. Illinois couldn't get a final shot off.

Jon Diebler opened the second overtime period with a three, and Evan Turner followed with a breakaway layup to give Ohio State an 80-75 lead with 3:30 remaining. DJ Richardson answered with a layup of his own, followed by another Evan Turner two points in the paint. Tyler Griffey hit a big three, but the Buckeyes hung onto an 84-80 lead with 1:09 left. With 1:00 left, Evan Turner fouled out, but Tyler Griffey hit only one of his two free throw attempts. On the ensuing Buckeye possession, David Lighty hit a layup to give OSU an 86-81 lead with 34.6 to go. Demitri McCamey, who scored 19 of his 22 points after the half, was stripped of the ball, but Illinois recovered. Lighty then intercepted a Mike Davis pass and scored on a breakaway layup to put OSU up 88-81. Illinois did not foul, and the Buckeyes advance to the Championship game by that score.

Preview: Ohio State vs. Illinois

2010-03-13T12:35:00.003-06:00

Good morning from Conseco Fieldhouse, where we're getting set for #1 Ohio State versus #5 Illinois. Fans are still filing in, but so far, the arena is mostly filled with Orange shirts.

Of course, the Fighting Illini advanced to the semifinals with a 58-54 victory over Wisconsin. With 8 assists in that game, Demetri McCamey moved into sixth on Illinois' all-time list with a career total of 489. Mike Davis also recorded his 13th double-double of the season. With that win, Illinois improved to 23-10 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament (the most wins of any team in the conference) and 12-5 under Bruce Weber. Illinois most likely punched their ticket to the Big Dance.

Ohio State beat Michigan 69-68 on Evan Turner's last-second three-pointer from a mile away. Turner also had 8 assists, as Ohio State shot 52 percent in the game. The Buckeyes are now 16-0 when making more than half their shots. The Buckeyes also improved to 23-0 when leading with five minutes to play. This is their fourth appearance in the Tournament semifinals in five years. As great as Evan Turner is, however, watch out for David Lighty. He is just 11 points shy of the 1,000 point career mark.

Ohio State swept the season series against Illinois, winning 72-53 on February 14 and 73-57 on March 2. However, in the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois holds a 3-2 record against Ohio State.

Starting Lineups:
Illinois Fighting Illini (19-13, 10-8)
C Mike Tisdale           7-1 JR
F Mike Davis        6-9 JR
F Bill Cole                  6-9 JR
G DJ Richardson        6-3 FR
G Demitri McCamey 6-3 JR

Ohio State Buckeyes (25-7, 14-4)
F Dallas Lauderdale    6-8 JR
F Evan Turner    6-7 JR
G Jon Diebler             6-6 JR
G William Buford       6-5 SO
G David Lighty           6-5 JR

Saturday's Matchups

2010-03-12T22:39:00.000-06:00

The field of four is now set for Saturday's contests:

1:40 PM ET/12:40 PM CT: Ohio State vs. Illinois
25. min. after conclusion: Purdue vs. Minnesota

Both games will air on CBS. Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg have the call.

Wrapup: Minnesota 72, Michigan State 67 (OT)

2010-03-12T22:38:00.000-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, our first major upset of the 2010 Big Ten Tournament. #6 seed Minnesota knocked off #3 seed Michigan State by a final score of 72-67 in overtime.

The two teams hung together tightly in the first half. It was a back-and-forth battle as Damian Johnson was 2-2 from the field and had 6 points in the first 20 minutes. Blake Hoffarber added 9 first-half points as he hit three treys to become Minnesota's single-season leader in that category. Minnesota also scored 7 points off turnovers, compared to the Spartans' 2. Korey Lucious and Raymar Morgan each scored 6 for Michigan State, which trailed by 2 after the first twenty minutes.

The second half was also close, with Minnesota clinging to single-digit leads for the first ten minutes. With about nine minutes remaining Minnesota shot out to a ten-point lead, their largest of the night. But the Spartans charged back. They went on an 8-3 run to cut the Gopher lead in half with about six minutes remaining. Then, a big three by Korie Lucious and free throws by Kalin Lucas on the next Spartan possession cut the Minnesota lead to two. With 1:25 left, Raymar Morgan connected on an easy layup to tie it up at 55. Kalin Lucas then had an excellent opportunity for a layup with five seconds left, but he turned the ball over. With 3.9 seconds left, Devoe Joseph put up a half court shot that missed, sending the game to overtime, knotted at 55.

Each team hit a three to begin the third period, then the Gophers went on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to take a commanding seven point lead. After some shoving between the two teams, Lawrence Westbrook was called for a foul that gave the Spartans two easy points. On their next possession, Draymond Greene laid down an emphatic slam, but it wasn't enough. Whether Minnesota's 20th win of the year is enough to send them to the Big Dance remains to be seen, but they certainly looked good today in knocking off the Spartans.

While this was the only major upset today, every single game was close and came down to the final couple of minutes. Announced attendance for the evening session was 17,563--only about 800 shy of a sellout. That was noticeable, as the two night games were definitely more packed and much louder than the first two. With West Lafayette only about 30 minutes away from Indianapolis, Purdue fans traveled well and took over Conseco Fieldhouse for much of the night. We'll see how many make the trip down tomorrow, and how many fans of other teams stick around for the semifinals to try to drown them out.

Preview: MSU vs. Minnesota

2010-03-12T20:12:00.001-06:00

The fourth and final game of the night is Michigan State versus Minnesota. Although the fans dressed in Black and Gold have largely left, most of the fans have hung around.

Strangely, no one seems to be talking about Michigan State, a team known for playing its best basketball of the year in late February/early March. Since the 1998-99 season, MSU is 55-21 in the month of March. Plus, Tom Izzo is 62-28 in his career in March. The Spartans have advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in seven of the twelve Big Ten Tournaments, and look to do so today against Minnesota.

The Golden Gophers enter the game 6-4 in their last ten games, and 3-1 in their last four. Minnesota topped Penn State 76-55 yesterday. It was the second game in a row that they shot 58% or more from the field (31-53 against Iowa on 3/7 and 29-50 against PSU yesterday). By the way, watch out for Blake Hoffarber, who is one three-pointer shy of Minnesota's single-season record, currently held by Lawrence McKenzie (78).

Starting Lineups:
Michigan State Spartans (24-7, 9-9)
C Derrick Nix                 6-8 FR
F Raymar Morgan    6-8 SR
F Delvon Roe          6-8 SO
G Durrell Summers          6-4 JR
G Kalin Lucas                 6-1 JR

Minnesota Golden Gophers (19-12, 9-9)
F Damian Johnson    6-7 SR
F Ralph Sampson III       6-11 SO
G Lawrence Westbrook 6-0 SR
G Blake Hoffarber           6-4 JR
G Delvon Joseph             6-3 SO

Wrap-up: Purdue 69, Northwestern 61

2010-03-12T20:00:00.000-06:00

69 to 61 was the final here at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Purdue Boilermakers held off a late game surge by the Northwestern Wildcats to pull out the victory. Northwestern led by as much as 9 in the first half which ended with the Wildcats leading 34 to 30, but foul trouble and poor shot selection is what ultimately held them back. Purdue saw excellent performances out of E'Twaun Moore who dropped 16 points in the first half and finished with 28, as well as JaJuan Johnson who finished with 22.

Northwestern received 15 and 16 points out of Drew Crawford and Jon Shurna, respectively, but foul trouble plagued the Wildcats' short bench. E'Twaun Moore scored 28 for the Robbie Hummel-less Boilermakers, and JaJuan Johnson added 22. Purdue shot just 29.6% in the first half, but shot 41.7% in the second to squeak past Northwestern.

This marks the end of the season for the Wildcats, a team many thought had a shot at going to the NCAA Tournament earlier this season. Purdue advances and will take on the winner of Michigan State/Minnesota tomorrow.

Another great game here at the Big Ten Tournament as we look towards Minnesota and Michigan State coming up!

Tune in!

2010-03-12T12:21:00.002-06:00

For an OSU-Michigan wrap and Wisconsin-Illinois preview, tune into the WSUM Online Sports Stream. We'll have pregame coverage taking you right up to the tip! Then, stay tuned following the game, for "Badgers Live"- which will take you right up to the WCHA Playoffs at the Kohl Center as Wisconsin hosts Alaska-Anchorage.

Preview: OSU-MICHIGAN

2010-03-12T10:54:00.000-06:00

Hello from Conseco Fieldhouse!

We're up and streaming live on our online sports stream just settling in to watch the #8 seed Michigan Wolverines take on the #1 seed Ohio State Buckeyes. The game will tip off at 12:00 PM Eastern (11:00 AM Central). Both teams come into the game with a lot on their shoulders. Ohio State is the favorite to take the championship and is hoping to make a run for a #1 seed in the tournament of 64. Winning the Big Ten Tournament would give them a very significant push in the right direction, but getting past Michigan is no walk in the park. Led by sophomore forward Deshawn Sims and junior guard Manny Harris, Michigan arguably has one option if they plan to make it to the big dance; take the Big Ten Tournament title. Coming off a huge 7 point win against the Hawkeyes of Iowa last night, Michigan looks to take down an incredibly talented Buckeye team led by 6-7 Junior Evan Turner. The starting lineups for this afternoon's game are as follows:

Ohio State University Buckeyes:

F Dallas Lauderdale
G/F Evan Turner
G Jon Diebler
G William Buford
G David Lighty

University of Iowa Hawkeyes

F Zack Novak
F Deshawn Sims
G Stu Douglass
G Darius Morris
G Manny Harris

BTT Review: Day One (Thursday)

2010-03-12T02:17:00.000-06:00

Greetings from Indianapolis, where the Big Ten Tournament is officially underway! Already, three games are in the books:

#8 Michigan 59 (15-6), #9 Iowa 52 (10-22)
In the first game of the tournament, Michigan survived a pesky Iowa team that shot 20 treys. The duo of Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims was too much, as they combined for 36 points. Michigan's victory today was its sixth Big Ten Tournament win ever, four of which have come against the Hawkeyes.

#6 Minnesota 76 (19-12), #11 Penn State 55 (11-20)
Devoe Joseph led the Gophers with 15 points in a rout of the Nittany Lions. Despite the first two meetings between these teams being decided by a total of 11 points, this one was decided by 21. It was only the fifth game in Big Ten Tournament history decided by 20 or more points. The disappointing season for Penn State could not have ended soon enough, but with this win, Minnesota has a chance to earn a quality win to improve their slim NCAA Tournament chances.

#7 Northwestern 73 (20-12), #10 Indiana 58 (10-21)
Today's win marks the first for the Wildcats since 2005. Northwestern is now 17-6 when Michael Thompson scores in double figures, as he led the way with 16 points. John Shurna added 14, and in so doing, climbed to first on Northwestern's single-season points list. While both these teams will not take part in March Madness, they have a lot of young talent.

Friday's Matchups:
#1 Ohio State vs. Michigan, 11:00 AM CT
#4 Wisconsin vs. #5 Illinois, ~1:30 PM CT
#2 Purdue vs. #7 Northwestern, 5:30 PM CT
#3 Michigan State vs. #6 Minnesota, 8:00 PM CT

Your Home for Complete BTT Coverage!

2010-03-11T00:32:00.000-06:00

As the wild weekend gets underway today, we remind you that the WSUM Sports Blog is your home for complete Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Coverage!

Starting with Wisconsin's game on Friday, we will have pre and post game wrapups, articles, and much, much more! Follow us on Twitter @WSUMSports, too! Plus, don't forget to tune into the live broadcast on the WSUM Online Sports Stream as Wisconsin takes on Illinois on Friday! Pregame coverage begins at 1 PM CT.

WSUM's coverage of the 2010 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament is presented by State Street Brats.

Conf. Recognizes Trevon and J-Bo, but not Bo

2010-03-08T20:10:00.003-06:00

On the same day that the Coaches inexplicably voted Wisconsin two places lower in the weekly poll, the head coach of the Badgers did not receive an award most Madison fans thought he was guaranteed to receive. Instead, Matt Painter and Thad Matta were recognized as Big Ten Coach of the Year. Wisconsin's Trevon Hughes, Jason Bohannon, and Jon Leuer, however, all earned their share of hardware. The conference announced its annual individual awards on the Big Ten Network earlier tonight.

Big Ten Coaches
FIRST TEAM
Demetri McCamey, Illinois
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
EVAN TURNER, Ohio State
Robbie Hummel, Purdue
E’Twaun Moore, Purdue

SECOND TEAM
DeShawn Sims, Michigan
John Shurna, Northwestern
Talor Battle, Penn State
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Trévon Hughes, Wisconsin

THIRD TEAM
Manny Harris, Michigan
Draymond Green, Michigan State
Raymar Morgan, Michigan State
William Buford, Ohio State
Jason Bohannon, Wisconsin

HONORABLE MENTION
Mike Tisdale, Illinois
Verdell Jones III, Indiana
Aaron Fuller, Iowa
Matt Gatens, Iowa
Lawrence Westbrook, Minnesota
Michael Thompson, Northwestern
Jon Diebler, Ohio State
David Lighty, Ohio State
Chris Kramer, Purdue
Jon Leuer, Wisconsin

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Jeremy Nash, Northwestern
Dallas Lauderdale, Ohio State
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
CHRIS KRAMER, Purdue
Trévon Hughes, Wisconsin

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Evan Turner, Ohio State

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chris Kramer, Purdue

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
D.J. Richardson, Illinois

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
DRAYMOND GREEN, Michigan State

COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Painter, Purdue

Media
FIRST TEAM
Demetri McCamey, Illinois
Kalin Lucas, Michigan State
EVAN TURNER, Ohio State
Robbie Hummel, Purdue
E’Twaun Moore, Purdue

SECOND TEAM
DeShawn Sims, Michigan
John Shurna, Northwestern
Talor Battle, Penn State
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Trévon Hughes, Wisconsin

THIRD TEAM
Manny Harris, Michigan
Draymond Green, Michigan State
William Buford, Ohio State
David Lighty, Ohio State
Jason Bohannon, Wisconsin

HONORABLE MENTION
Mike Davis, Illinois
Mike Tisdale, Illinois
Verdell Jones III, Indiana
Raymar Morgan, Michigan State
Lawrence Westbrook, Minnesota
Drew Crawford, Northwestern
Michael Thompson, Northwestern
Jon Diebler, Ohio State
Chris Kramer, Purdue
Jon Leuer, Wisconsin

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
EVAN TURNER, Ohio State

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Drew Crawford, Northwestern

COACH OF THE YEAR
Thad Matta, Ohio State

UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN ALL CAPS