Sports - The Daily Cardinal

COLUMNS

Wednesday word: Athlete's controversies must be covered as extensively as their community service

By Jake Nisse | Feb. 22, 2017

When Kyrie Irving joined the Road Trippin’ With RJ & Channing podcast last week, listeners were likely expecting the point guard to reflect on his season thus far, talk about the upcoming All-Star weekend in New Orleans or possibly just dabble in the X’s and O’s of basketball. However, what those listeners heard, at least for part of Irving’s time on the show, were some unexpected scientific remarks from the 24-year-old. Irving claimed that the Earth is flat. “This is not even a conspiracy theory," Irving said on the podcast.

SPORTS

Behind Runge and Kinney, Badgers take home third at Big Ten Championships

By Kelly Ward | Feb. 20, 2017

With the highly touted recruiting class that head coach Whitney Hite brought in at the beginning of the year, the Wisconsin women’s swim and dive team was expected to finish in the Top 5 at the Big Ten Championships.

Courtney Fredrickson tied a career-high with 18 points and set a career-high with 14 rebounds, but UW still fell to Minnesota.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Fredrickson, Van Leeuwen set to be faces of new era for Badgers

By Isaiah De los Santos | Feb. 20, 2017

On a campus like UW-Madison, where football and men’s basketball grab headlines week in and week out, women’s sports can go unnoticed, despite achieving continuous success.

HOCKEY

No. 1 Badgers win streak snapped in shootout loss to Minnesota

By Ben Leadholm | Feb. 20, 2017

For the second straight game, 65 minutes was not enough time to decide a winner between top-ranked Wisconsin and No. 4 Minnesota.

Wisconsin has only two regular season matches left against Rutgers and Purdue.

SPORTS

Badgers end Big Ten season on high note, defeat Michigan State

By Bremen Keasey | Feb. 20, 2017

Wisconsin got off to a dismal start Friday at the Field House, but rebounded quickly to claim another victory.

Nigel Hayes and the Badgers may have finally broken out of their slump in the second half against Maryland Sunday.

COLUMNS

Mondays with Rasty: UW silences doubters but issues remain

By Zach Rastall | Feb. 20, 2017

At least for the moment, Wisconsin has righted the ship and is back on course toward at least a share of the Big Ten title. Thanks to an emphatic 11-point win over Maryland Sunday afternoon, the Badgers sit tied with Purdue atop the conference standings with only four games left in the regular season.

Bronson Koenig ignited the offense and the Kohl Center crowd after returning from injury.

BASKETBALL

Koenig provides spark, Showalter shines on defense as Badgers get back on track

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Feb. 19, 2017

The Badgers sorely missed Bronson Koenig against Michigan Thursday as they watched 3-pointer after 3-pointer clang off the rim in their second-straight conference loss.

Koenig scored nine points in his return and keyed a Badger run in the second half.

BASKETBALL

Koenig returns, Badgers roll past Maryland

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Feb. 19, 2017

After scoring fewer than 60 points in back-to-back losses, the first half of the No. 11 Badgers’ (11-3 Big Ten, 22-5 overall) matchup with No. 23 Maryland (10-4, 22-5) looked like more of the same.

HOCKEY

Cavallini, Kunin carry Badgers past fiesty Wolverines

By Bobby Ehrlich | Feb. 18, 2017

Senior Aidan Cavallini, a perpetual fourth-liner, was promoted to the second line for the first time in his Wisconsin career Saturday night.

Cayla McMorris and the Badgers are looking to win back-to-back conference games for the first time this season.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

McMorris, Young power Badgers past Rutgers as Gilreath sets record

By Isaiah De los Santos | Feb. 18, 2017

In the annual “Think Pink” game, Wisconsin took the court covered in pink from headbands to shoelaces.

Sarah Nurse leveled the score in the third period to keep the Badgers alive in Minneapolis, Minn.

HOCKEY

Heroics from Nurse, Ryan help Badgers escape No. 4 Minnesota on road

By Cameron Lane-Flehinger | Feb. 18, 2017

Facing off against arch rival Minnesota, the Wisconsin women’s hockey team twice found itself trailing the Golden Gophers on the road, needing a goal to stay alive.

BASKETBALL

In tie atop conference standings, stagnant Badgers welcome Maryland

By Ben Pickman | Feb. 18, 2017

As the rest of his teammates filed out of the Nicholas Johnson Pavilion Friday evening, freshman guard D’Mitrik Trice stayed behind.

SPORTS

Badgers top line propels Badgers past Wolverines

By Ethan Levy | Feb. 17, 2017

Head coach Tony Granato is known for adjusting and switching up his offensive line pairing until he can find a combination that works.

TENNIS

Hungry Badgers' men's tennis team chomping at the bit to begin conference play

By Will Stern | Feb. 17, 2017

Wisconsin men’s tennis has come into 2017 locked and loaded. The young group, led by lone senior John Zordani, has racked up an impressive four wins in five matches this season—including two 7-0 sweeps of South Dakota State and Middle Tennessee. The Badgers’ only loss came last week against a strong Pennsylvania team, when they fell in hostile territory to the Quakers, 4-3.

PODCAST

Cardinal Zone Podcast: Breaking down both hockey teams, basketball's current struggles

Feb. 17, 2017

Sports editor and men's hockey beat writer Bobby Ehrlich hosts this week's edition of the Cardinal Zone Podcast, in which the panel gives their analysis regarding this week in Badger sports.

Koenig was sidelined with an injury and the Badgers couldn't get a win in his absence.

BASKETBALL

With Koenig absent, Badgers fall on road to Wolverines

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Feb. 16, 2017

For 136 games, Bronson Koenig’s cool handle and sharp shooting guided the Badgers through treacherous waters in the Big Ten.

Badger defensemen are often left hung out to dry in their own zone.

HOCKEY

X's and O's: Ethan Levy breaks down the Badgers' defensive woes

By Ethan Levy | Feb. 16, 2017

Throughout this 2016-17 campaign, the Badgers have often been plagued by defensive zone mishaps that have turned into uncontested goals for their opponents.

SOFTBALL

Softball opens up season with tournament championship

By Andrew Guckes | Feb. 16, 2017

The Badgers opened their season with a bang last week in Cedar Falls, Iowa at the Ramada UNI-Dome Classic, coming away with a perfect 4-0 record.

HOCKEY

Jack Frost: Freshman Berry cool as ice

By Bobby Ehrlich | Feb. 16, 2017

Jack Berry spends his time on the ice between the pipes, often facing a barrage of shots from the opposing team.

Bronson Koenig was the only Badger who could find any rhythm offensively Thursday night on the road.

BASKETBALL

Happ, Badgers look to bounce back against much-improved Wolverines

By Ben Pickman | Feb. 15, 2017

Senior guard Bronson Koenig sat out Tuesday afternoon’s practice resting the calf injury he sustained in No. 11 Wisconsin’s (10-2 Big Ten, 21-4) victory over Penn State last month.