Badgers

Big Ten/ACC Challenge Schedule released

June 28, 2021 By Bill Scott

The matchups for the 2021 Big Ten/ACC Men’s Basketball Challenge are set. All 14 Big Ten teams will see the court against 14 ACC teams on Monday, Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1. All 14 games of the event will be televised on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU with network assignments to be announced later.

The University of Wisconsin will hit the road to face 2020-21 ACC Tournament Champion Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets went on to earn a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament last season but fell in the first round to Loyola-Chicago.

The Badgers beat Louisville 85-48 at the Kohl Center in last season’s Big Ten-ACC Challenge.

The Badgers are also scheduled to host Providence on Nov. 15 in the Gavitt Games with that schedule being released late last seek. The Badgers are also set to compete in the Maui Invitational this coming season.

Chris McIntosh named Wisconsin Athletic Director

June 2, 2021 By Bill Scott

Chris McIntosh PHOTO courtesy of David Stluka Wisconsin Athletics

The University of Wisconsin on Wednesday named Chris McIntosh the school’s new athletic director, replacing the retiring Barry Alvarez.

McIntosh played for the Badgers from 1996-99 and served as captain of two of the most celebrated teams in school history. After a successful NFL career, McIntosh would later return to the school’s athletic department, serving as deputy athletic director since 2017 where he was being groomed to succeed Alvarez.

McIntosh oversaw the day-to-day operations of the department, student-athlete recruitment, business development, human resources and strategic planning. Prior to his role of deputy athletic director, McIntosh joined the department in 2014 as associate athletic director for business development.

McIntosh captained the 1999 and 2000 Rose Bowl teams, two of the most stories teams in Badgers history. He was a consensus NCAA All American in 1999 and 22nd pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, playing professionally for the Seattle Seahawks until 2004. He is a member of the Badgers Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Pewaukee, Wisconsin native holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy analysis and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and applied economics, both from UW-Madison.

UW lands Cincinnati big man

May 10, 2021 By Bill Scott

After losing Nate Reuvers, Micah Potter and Aleem Ford after the season, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team landed Cincinnati 7’1 center Chris Vogt from the NCAA’s transfer portal.

It gives the Badgers an experienced big man going into next season with a number of young players returning.

Steven Crowl (12 games), Ben Carlson (7 games) and Carter Gilmore (9 games) are returning big men to the Badger roster, with a four-man freshman class adding to the mix.

Vogt averaged 11 points and 5.9 rebounds two years ago, then dropped to 5 points and 3.5 rebounds last season.

When his coach at Cincinnati, John Brannen was fired, Vogt decided to transfer. He becomes the third transfer to join the Badgers, joining guard Jahcobi Neath from Wake Forest and guard Isaac Lindsey of UNLV.

Badgers add to non-conference football schedule

May 3, 2021 By Bill Scott

The University of Wisconsin has added another solid opponent to its future non-conference football schedule, reaching a agreement to play Utah in 2028 and 2033.

The Badgers will host the Utes on Sept. 16, 2028 and play in Salt Lake City on Sept. 10, 2033.

In 16 seasons, Coach Kyle Whittingham has posted a 134-66 overall record, 80-54 in league play.

Besides Utah, the Badgers will face Notre Dame this fall, then have home-and-home non-conference series against Washington State, Alabama, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Virginia Tech.

Wisconsin Volleyball falls short in NCAA Semifinals (AUDIO)

April 23, 2021 By Bill Scott

Kelly Sheffield (File Photo)

The top-ranked Wisconsin women’s volleyball season came to an end on Thursday night with a 3-set loss to Texas in the semifinals of the NCAA Final 4 in Omaha.

The Badgers led the first set 20-16 before the 5th-ranked Longhorns rallied for a 26-24 victory.

Texas (27-1) took the second set 25-19 and built an early 8-2 lead in the third set before Wisconsin mounted an attack, only to fall short 25-23.

All-American Logan Eggleston had a match-high 17 kills for the Longhorns, who advanced to play 2nd ranked Kentucky in Saturday night’s title match.

Freshman Devyn Robinson had a team-high 14 kills for the Badgers, who finished 18-1.

Wisconsin was trying to reach the national championship match for the third time in coach Kelly Sheffield’s eight seasons and fourth time in program history, but fell short.

AUDIO: Sydney Hilley says all things considered, they had a heck of a season :21

AUDIO: Coach Kelly Sheffield on falling short of their ultimate goal :18

AUDIO: Kelly Sheffield said there’s nothing he can say to take the pain away :14

Wisconsin Volleyball team back in NCAA National Semifinals (AUDIO)

April 20, 2021 By Bill Scott

Molly Haggerty

For the second straight year, the Wisconsin volleyball team will compete in the NCAA National Semifinals. The Badgers (15-0) advanced with a 30-28, 18-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-12 win over eighth-seeded Florida on Monday night from the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.

Redshirt senior Molly Haggerty led Wisconsin with 17 kills while Dana Rettke had 16 and Grace Loberg 10.

The Badgers had been forced to go five sets all season long, but they were put to the challenge by the Gators on Monday night.

Wisconsin hit a season-low .153 (59 kills – 30 errors – 189 attempts) against the Gators that hit .170 (63-31-188).

The Badgers were out-blocked 12-9, marking just the second time this season they have been out-blocked. Freshman Devyn Robinson recorded a career-high six blocks to lead UW. [Read more…]

Badger women’s soccer advances to Big Ten title game

April 15, 2021 By Bill Scott

For the second time in three weeks, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team took down No. 22 Rutgers, earning a 2-1 win in Thurday’s semifinals of the 2020-21 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament at Jeffrey Field in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Senior Lauren Rice and sophomore Emma Jaskaniec scored second-half goals for the Badgers (7-3-3) to propel UW to their first Big Ten tournament title game appearance since 2014.

UW improved to 6-1-2 all-time against Rutgers. Thursday’s win was the Badgers’ second over a ranked team this year.

Wisconsin will face Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament title game on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. The game, which is a rematch of the 2014 Big Ten title game that UW won, can be seen live on the Big Ten Network.

Wisconsin volleyball advances to eighth-straight NCAA Sweet 16

April 15, 2021 By Bill Scott

Despite being tested in the second set, the No. 1-seed Wisconsin volleyball team swept Weber State in the second round of the NCAA Championship on Thursday night at the CHI Health Center Convention Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Wisconsin (16-0) won its first tournament match with a 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 sweep of the Wildcats (19-2) to remain undefeated on the season.

As a team, the Badgers hit .408 (45-4-98), marking the third time this season hitting over .400, as Sydney Hilley put up 37 assists. Weber State hit just .175 (36-16-114).

Wisconsin’s defense outblocked the Wildcats 11-4 behind a season-high nine blocks from Danielle Hart. Devyn Robinson added a career-high five stuffs.

The Badgers advance to their eighth-straight NCAA Sweet 16 under head coach Kelly Sheffield. Wisconsin will be making its 18th overall regional appearance in 24 tournament appearances. UW improves to 52-23 all-time in NCAA tournament appearances with Thursday nights win.

The Badgers will play the winner of UCLA and BYU, which kicks off at 9:30 p.m. Thursday evening, either on Saturday or Sunday in the regional semifinals.

Davison to return to Badgers next season

April 14, 2021 By Bill Scott

Brad Davison (Photo by David Stluka)

At least one veteran player will be returning to the Wisconsin Badger men’s basketball team next season.

Guard Brad Davison announced on Twitter on Wednesday that he plans to return to Wisconsin for his final season, taking advantage of the NCAA’s decision that athletes who competed in their sport during the 2020-21 academic year could so so without losing a season of eligibility.

Davison has started 124 of 218 games during his first four seasons and averaged 10 points and 3.5 rebounds a game last season.

“After taking some time to reflect, there is no place I would rather be than in Madison,” said Davison.

“Being a Badger is a privilege. I am grateful for one last ride with my coaches and teammates this upcoming season!”

Teammate D’Mitrik Trice decided not to return for an extra season and Trevor Anderson, who originally started his collegiate career at Green Bay, has decided to transfer to Valparaiso for his final season.

Alvarez finalizes retirement plans from UW (AUDIO)

April 7, 2021 By Bill Scott

Barry Alvarez

Barry Alvarez announced his retirement during a celebration in Madison on Tuesday, making official what had been reported by various media outlets in the past two weeks.

Alvarez has been at the University of Wisconsin for nearly 32 years, including the final 18 as the school’s Director of Athletics and will officially retire on June 30, 2021.

Under his watch, Wisconsin produced 16 National Championship teams and 74 conference regular-season or tournament crowns. In 2017-18, the 74-year-old Alvarez captured Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year honors.

His impact goes beyond the playing field too. Alvarez oversaw numerous capital projects and inspired donors to contribute more than $150 million over the past 10 years. During his tenure, UW Athletics’ endowment to support student-athlete scholarships more than doubled and rose to one of the largest in the Big Ten. [Read more…]