Football
Athletic Director Barry Alvarez announced Monday that proceeds from ticket sales of the Badger spring game will go to University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Education in its fight to improve literacy. The game is scheduled for April 12, and the tickets will be $5.
“We look forward to working with the School of Education to highlight their efforts to improve literacy while also promoting our spring game,” Alvarez said.
This is the fourth year that the spring game benefits one of the schools on campus. Ticket sales in the past went to the Schools of Nursing, Human Ecology and Pharmacy the last three years, respectively.
“This is an exciting and unique opportunity for the School of Education. We look forward to involving partners from across the community in raising funds for, and putting a spotlight on, efforts to improve student literacy,” said School of Education Dean Julie Underwood.
Former Badger and Packers’ offensive lineman Mark Tauscher has been announced as a co-chair with Underwood. During his time as a Badger, Tauscher earned a master’s degree from the School of Education in educational administration.
“Teaming up with athletics to promote the spring game presents a golden opportunity to bring widespread attention to the importance of improving student literacy,” Tauscher said.
Women’s Basketball
Wisconsin (3-6 Big Ten, 10-11 overall) broke a four-game skid by beating Ohio State (4-5, 14-11) 82-71 Sunday. With the win, the Badgers matched their Big Ten win total from last season, and are only two wins away from last year’s overall win total of 12.
Head coach Bobbie Kelsey acknowledged their previous troubles, and changed things up in the win against the Buckeyes.
“We were taking too many 3s,” Kelsey said. “[Our staff] tried to help them get to the basket because you’ve got to get to the free-throw line. A lot of your points come off of free throws, and then the other team is not so aggressive because now they’re in foul trouble.”
This week, the Badgers host Nebraska (5-3, 15-5) Wednesday, then travel to Bloomington to face Indiana (3-6, 16-6) Saturday.
Despite the upcoming quality competition, Kelsey is confident in her team.
“If you just go in the game and not believe it, then you’re probably not going to have it happen for you,” Kelsey said. “I believe we could win every game. If I’m the coach and I don’t believe it, then what’s that saying to the players?”
Women’s Hockey
The Badgers (17-3-2 WCHA, 21-3-2 overall) haven’t taken the ice since their sweep of Minnesota-Duluth (11-8-5, 13-10-5) last weekend. The team enjoyed its bye week, but looks forward to its upcoming series with WCHA foe Ohio State.
“It’s sort of crunch time,” head coach Mark Johnson said. “Should be a fun week of practice, looking forward to the opportunity to go down to Columbus and play Ohio State, a team that hasn’t lost in eight games.”
With the Winter Olympic games in Sochi approaching, Johnson also reminisced on his time with the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, as well as his time as head coach of the 2010 U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team.
Johnson scored two goals in the United States’ 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union in 1980, in what came to be known as the “Miracle on Ice,” a crucial game in the team’s path to the gold medal. Johnson also coached the 2010 team to a silver medal.
While the Ohio State game is Wisconsin’s next contest, all eyes are looking forward to the “Fill the Bowl” series Feb. 14 and 15, where the team will play in the Kohl Center against rival and No. 1 Minnesota. The team normally plays in LaBahn Arena, located next door.
“They’re certainly playing well coming off a sweep this past weekend up in North Dakota,” Johnson said. “It will be entertaining, two high-powered and explosive teams, and obviously stakes will be large.”
Men’s Basketball
Head coach Bo Ryan and a struggling Wisconsin (4-5 Big Ten, 17-5 overall) squad are coming off a 59-58 loss to Ohio State (17-5, 4-5) at the Kohl Center Saturday. It was the team’s fifth loss in six games after starting the season a school-record 16-0.
“They still have to believe in what they’re doing,” Ryan said. “They’re taking care of the ball. They’re getting good looks.”
Of the five recent losses, three were by single digits. Ryan stressed that it’s only a few possessions per game that could swing the outcome either way.
A bright spot in the OSU loss emerged with the breakout of freshman forward Nigel Hayes, who led the team in scoring with 17 points, and also recorded five rebounds and a block.
“Without Nigel, we might not have anything near what we have,” Ryan said. “And the results haven’t been great on the scoreboard, but man, the things he’s given us defensively, [he] rarely makes the same mistake twice.”
The Badgers will face off against Illinois (2-7, 13-9) Tuesday, and Ryan refuses to overlook the Illini despite a seven-game losing streak.
“Earlier in the year, there were just some things that were getting away from them,” Ryan said. “But now they’re just more in tune with one another and their talent level is starting to show through. I mean, sometimes you can have talent, but it’s not in sync. But now they’re playing a lot better together.”
