Wisconsin News and Sports
The Big Ten’s 2018-’19 league basketball schedule is out. The Big Ten is going to a 20-game league schedule, an increase of two games from last season.
Wisconsin will play home games only against Michigan State, Purdue and Rutgers. They’ll play road games only against Indiana, Nebraska and Ohio State.
The Badgers will play every other team twice in the upcoming season, including border rivals Minnesota and Iowa.
Dates, times and television assignments will be released at a later date.
Camp Randall Stadium: File Photo by David Stluka)
The weather forecast in Madison is calling for a strong chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms on Friday during the late afternoon and evening. The Wisconsin Athletic Department has decided to cancel Friday’s Spring Football Game, which was set to start at 6 p.m. The game will not be rescheduled.
“The safety of our student-athletes and fans is our utmost priority,” UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. “The weather forecast has been pretty consistent in calling for a good chance of rain and thunderstorms on Friday. We thought it was best to make the call early to give the numerous groups involved in the game, including our team, our fans, our media partners and staff, notice of the cancellation as soon as possible.”
Fans who purchased tickets for the Spring Game in advance will receive refunds. Those who purchased tickets with a credit or debit card will have their purchase automatically refunded. No action is required.
Rob Jeter
Former Wisconsin assistant and Milwaukee Panther head coach Rob Jeter is joining the Minnesota Gophers coaching staff.
Gophers coach Richard Pitino announced Tuesday that Jeter will replace Kimani Young, who left for Connecticut to be an assistant coach there.
Jeter spent the last two seasons in Las Vegas as an assistant at UNLV. He coached the Milwaukee Panthers for 11 seasons. Jeter was also an assistant to Bo Ryan for four years at Wisconsin. He played for Ryan at UW-Platteville.
The Gophers are coming off a 15-17 season and return just five scholarship players who saw action this past season.
Zach Baun
Wisconsin Badger outside linebacker Zach Baun is out indefinitely after injuring his left foot during spring practice on Friday.
Baun, who missed the 2017 season after suffering a broken left foot in late August, was watching practice on Tuesday while wearing a protective boot.
JSOnline’s Jeff Potrykus reported that UW officials are waiting for the results of an MRI to determine the severity of the injury but it appears they are optimistic Baun didn’t re-break the foot.
Baun entered spring ball expecting to win a starting spot at outside linebacker and had been working with the first unit. Without Baun, the Badgers are expected to line up Andrew Van Ginkel and walk-on Tyler Johnson.
Van Ginkel finished eighth in tackles last season with 39 and collected a pair of interceptions, one in the Big Ten Championship game and the other in the Orange Bowl. he also forced two fumbles.
Johnson had eight tackles and two fumbles last season.
The Badgers have five practices left this spring and will play their annual Spring Game on Friday evening at Camp Randall Stadium.
Former Wisconsin Badger defensive back Nick Nelson suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during a private workout with an NFL team. Nelson suffered the injury during a workout that occurred inside the McClain Center on the UW Campus. He is expected to be out three to four months.
Nelson has been projected to be picked between the second and fourth rounds in the NFL Draft, which is set for April 26-28.
Nelson said the injury isn’t serious and he expects to be ready to go for the start of NFL Training Camps.
Nelson started all 14 games for the Badgers last season and set a UW single-season record for passes broken up with 21. He helped Wisconsin finish fifth nationally in passing yards allowed (163.6 per game).
Ethan Happ
As expected, Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ announced on Tuesday that he will enter the NBA Draft without hiring an agent. Happ is still waiting to get a picture of where he stands with respect to a potential selection.
Happ averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 rebounds a game for the Badgers last season.
Happ has until June 11 to withdraw his name and return to Madison for another season. The Draft is set to take place on June 21.
For Happ, it’s simple. If he is not projected to be taken in the first round, he’ll return to Wisconsin.
Florida senior point guard Tai Strickland has verbally committed to play basketball at Wisconsin in 2018. He announced on Twitter on Tuesday that he has given Wisconsin an oral commitment for the 2018 class.
Strickland is the son of former NBA standout guard Rod Strickland. He can official sign a letter of intent in April 11.
Strickland chose UW over Rutgers, Minnesota, Boston College, DePaul and South Florida. He joins forward Taylor Currie of Clarkston, Michigan and center Joe Hedstrom of Hopkins, Minnesota in the 2018 class.
Strickland gives the Badgers a number of options at the two guard spots next season.
Dana Rettke
Wisconsin sophomore-to-be, Dana Rettke, has been named to the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team China Tour roster. It’s comprised of current collegiate players who will train and compete in China from May 20-31.
Rettke was one of 12 players and three middles selected to the team. She will be making her first appearance in a USA uniform.
The 6’8 Rettke was named the 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Freshman of the Year. She was also named the AVCA Northeast Regional Freshman of the Year and the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year.
Rettke led the Badgers and ranked third nationally with a .443 hitting percentage. She also led the team and ranked 10th in the Big Ten with a 3.42 kills per set. The freshman had a team-best 1.37 blocks per set, which ranked third in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally. Rettke also ranked second on the team with 25 service aces (0.22 per set).
Barry Davis – Photo Courtesy of UWBadgers.com & UW Athletics
The last match that Barry Davis coached at the University of Wisconsin turned out a winner.
Day three of the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland wrapped up on Saturday and Wisconsin freshman Evan Wick wrapped up third place at 165 pounds, clinching the finish with by pinning Lock Haven’s Chance Marsteller.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to be the last wrestler in college to wrestle for Coach Barry,” Wick said in his post-match interview. “I love him so much. He’s got an incredible passion for the sport, he’s very innovative. A lot of the stuff that I’m doing out here I wouldn’t be able to do without Coach Barry, so I love him, wish him the best and will always be in contact.”
Davis himself, received a standing ovation from the crowd, recognizing his 25-year career at Wisconsin as he walked off the mat.
Wisconsin finished 17th in the NCAA Tournament. Four Big Ten teams captured the top four spots in the final standings, with Penn State repeating as champs. Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan finished second through fourth, respectively.
Wick’s only loss in the NCAA tournament came to Virginia Tech’s David McFadden, 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Wick finished his first NCAA Tournament with a 5-1 mark.
Barry Alvarez says Joe Thomas is the best lineman to play at Wisconsin
Former Wisconsin Badger Joe Thomas announced he is retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL.
The 10-time Pro Bowler with the Cleveland Browns made the decision after spending several months contemplating his future.
Thomas had played 10,363 consecutive snaps before tearing his left triceps during an Oct. 22 game against Tennessee. It’s believed to be the longest run in pro football history.
The Brookfield, Wisconsin native played for the Badgers from 2003 to 2006. He won the Outland Trophy as college football’s top interior lineman in 2006 and his former coach, Barry Alvarez, said Thomas may have been the best offensive lineman to every play at Wisconsin.
Thomas was selected by the Browns with the third overall pick in the 2007 draft.
The Browns plan to enshrine the number 10,363 to recognize his consecutive snaps streak in the team’s Ring of Honor at a home game this season. The former Badgers shouldn’t have to wait too long before he is elected as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame down the road in Canton.
AUDIO: Joe Thomas exemplified what being a Badger was all about :20
