Sports - The Daily Cardinal

HOCKEY

No. 18 Badgers stay hot, sweep Michigan State

By Ethan Levy | Feb. 5, 2017

All season, the Badgers have prided themselves on their ability to adjust. Whether that comes in the form of changing lines mid-game or dressing different players on the fourth line and on defense, the Badgers have found a way to overcome adversity and often earn wins. In No. 18 Wisconsin’s (8-2-0-0 Big Ten, 15-8-1 overall) sweep of Michigan State (1-7-2-0, 5-16-3) in East Lansing this weekend, the Badgers once again had to adjust in order to earn a tough six points. In the first game of the weekend, Badgers senior defenseman Tim Davison drew a kneeing penalty, but was taken to the locker room and did not return.

Ethan Happ dominated the Indiana Hoosiers as Wisconsin returned to conference play earlier this week.

COLUMNS

Mondays with Rasty: Despite Swanigan's dominance, Happ in race for Big Ten POY

By Zach Rastall | Feb. 5, 2017

As little as two weeks ago, it looked like Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan was about ready to lap the field in the Big Ten Player of the Year race. Swanigan has been a double-double machine, is a matchup nightmare for almost any defense and is a bona fide Naismith Trophy candidate.

Brevin Pritzl scored a team-high 19 points, helping UW's bench outscore OSU's bench 30-16.

SPORTS

Pritzl plays key role as Badgers down Indiana

By Ben Pickman | Feb. 5, 2017

Brevin Pritzl has tried just about everything to get on the court. At the end of last year, the redshirt freshman began growing out his hair, hoping a “new year, new me” mantra would help him see the floor.

BASKETBALL

Happ, Hayes lead Badgers in tight win over Indiana

By Ben Pickman | Feb. 5, 2017

Redshirt sophomore Ethan Happ’s breakaway slam with just over three minutes to play in No. 10 Wisconsin’s (9-1 Big Ten, 20-3 overall) 65-60 victory over Indiana (5-6, 15-9) was just about the only highlight that the Badgers had Sunday afternoon.

BASKETBALL

Badgers return home, host Hoosiers in rematch

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Feb. 4, 2017

After a nearly two-week break from playing in front of a home crowd, the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (8-1 Big Ten, 19-3 overall) return to the Kohl Center to welcome an Indiana (5-5, 15-8) team that has fallen well short of expectations this season. Though the Badgers enjoyed their trip to Madison Square Garden, there’s no hiding that they are ready to be back in front of the Madison faithful this weekend.

The senior men from the Badger swim team. Back row: Ryan Barsanti, Matt Hutchins, Sean Maloney, Harrison Tran. Front row: Brett Pinfold, Cannon Clifton.

SPORTS

Swimmers and divers shatter records on senior night

By Kelly Ward | Feb. 3, 2017

The record board at the UW Natatorium likely needs a full-on repair job after the complete demolition the Wisconsin swim and dive team did to it Friday night. On senior night, the Badgers outperformed all expectations and set twelve pool records while winning all but one event in their rout of UW-Green Bay.

HOCKEY

Badgers record 500th win in blowout of Bemidji State

By Ben Leadholm | Feb. 3, 2017

Back in 1999 when the Wisconsin women’s team played its first game, few knew what to expect from the program.

PODCAST

Cardinal Zone Podcast: Swim and dive update, women's hockey stays hot, men's hockey turnaround, men's basketball surviving the Big Ten

Feb. 3, 2017

In this week's episode of the Cardinal Zone Podcast, Kelly Ward talks about the swim team and their prospects in the Big Ten.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Badgers drop ninth straight to Northwestern

By Isaiah De los Santos | Feb. 3, 2017

The Badgers came into Wednesday night’s game against Northwestern as polar opposites, with the Cardinal and White looking at a dismal 5-16 record, while the Wildcats stood strong at 16-5.

Head coach Mark Johnson's Badger squad is riding a 10-game win streak.

HOCKEY

Top-ranked Wisconsin has seen improvement on power play over win streak

By Ben Leadholm | Feb. 2, 2017

Every great team, regardless of the sport, has had that one shortcoming that makes people think “yeah, but...” that they needed to overcome to hit on all cylinders and compete for a title.

HOCKEY

Former Badgers' coach Jeff Sauer dies at 73

By Bobby Ehrlich | Feb. 2, 2017

Legendary coach Jeff Sauer, who guided the Badgers to two national championships in 1983 and 1990, passed away at the age of 73.

SPORTS

Brotherton signs contract with Sunderland AFC, could become first Badger to play in English Premier League

By Jake Nisse | Feb. 2, 2017

Feb. 1, 2017 will go down as a bittersweet day in the history of Wisconsin men’s soccer, as sophomore defender and team captain Sam Brotherton signed a contract with Sunderland AFC of the English Premier League (EPL) until 2019. After a stellar college career that included 33 starts, three goals and an All-Big Ten second team selection in 2016, Brotherton will jet off to England this Saturday to join Sunderland’s under-23 squad. “I'm really excited about the opportunity at Sunderland, and think it is going to be great for my development as a football player,” Brotherton said.

FOOTBALL

Coan, Davis headline 2017 recruiting class

By Colleen Muraca | Feb. 2, 2017

In an interview with Chris Hall, Senior Director of Operations and Recruiting Andrew Marlatt stressed that the 2017 recruiting class had to be smart, tough and dependable.

HOCKEY

Decorated Desbiens battles injuries in quest for elusive NCAA title

By Cameron Lane-Flehinger | Feb. 1, 2017

In his 25 years as a goaltending coach, Mark Greenhalgh has worked with numerous award-winning goaltenders, including All-Americans Jessie Vetter and Alex Rigsby.

BASKETBALL

Bradenton brothers: Trice, Ford developed close bond in Florida

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Feb. 1, 2017

Wisconsin’s recruiting has long been predicated on snagging local players from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois.

HOCKEY

Zimmer coming alive after difficult transition

By Ethan Levy | Feb. 1, 2017

When freshmen hockey players step onto the Madison campus and the Kohl Center ice, quite a bit gets thrown at them all at once.

Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes (10) shoots a three over Illinois' Leron Black (12) during the game at State Farm Center on Tuesday, January 31.

COLUMNS

Jake's take: Rondo, Hayes and social media

By Jake Nisse | Feb. 1, 2017

A day after the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Rajon Rondo felt compelled to respond to the criticisms levied onto the team by Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade in the wake of the defeat. As detailed in his latest Instagram post, Rondo was apparently incensed that Wade and Butler vented to “the media” after the game, as they criticized the team’s effort and execution vs.

SPORTS

Badgers need McMorris to step up in big moments

By Isaiah De los Santos | Feb. 1, 2017

The Badgers (0-8 Big Ten, 5-16 overall) have sputtered out to an eight-game losing streak as the young Wisconsin team has been thrashed in Big Ten play.

Wisconsin's Zak Showalter (3) drives to the basket during the game against Illinois at State Farm Center on Tuesday, January 31.

SPORTS

Wisconsin fends off feisty Fighting Illini for 11th-straight time

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Feb. 1, 2017

Though he didn’t light up the scoreboard Tuesday night to the same extent he did at Madison Square Garden, Ethan Happ backed up his masterful 32-point performance with a strong all-around contribution in Champaign, Ill. The sophomore forward found himself involved on every inch of the court as the No. 10 Badgers (8-1 Big Ten, 19-3 overall) downed a feisty Illinois (3-7, 13-10) team, 57-43 for the 11th-straight time. UW rushed out to a quick 14-point lead that would eventually grow as large as 16, as the Badgers hit 10 of their first 14 field goals.

SPORTS

Badgers have strong showing at Shamrock Invitational

By Will Stern | Jan. 31, 2017

On Saturday, the Badgers swimming and diving team took a trip to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational hoping to find their lucky charms. Overall, the Badgers had an excellent showing.