Sports

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SPORTS

Hutchins takes plunge into unknown

By Kelly Ward | Feb. 22, 2016

Matt Hutchins has traveled a bit longer than most to be a Badger—8,489 miles to be exact. The junior swimmer from Christchurch, New Zealand has made the most of his journey that’s taken him across the Pacific Ocean and 66 lengths across the pool every time he swims the 1,650-yard freestyle; an event in which he is currently ranked No. 1 in the country. In August 2013, when fellow juniors Cannon Clifton and Sean Maloney were moving into their dorms, Hutchins was back in New Zealand trying to figure out if and where he would be attending school and swimming in the United States.

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SPORTS

Happ, Badgers use second-half comeback to rally past Illinois

By Zach Rastall | Feb. 21, 2016

Trailing by 13 with just over 12 minutes left in the game, Wisconsin appeared headed for a devastating home loss that would’ve dealt a serious blow to its NCAA Tournament aspirations. The offense had been stagnant all night, Illinois seemingly couldn’t miss in the second half and the Badgers were in dire straits. But thanks to some heroics from Ethan Happ and Co. down the stretch, a disaster was averted for UW. Behind a 28-4 second-half rally, Wisconsin (9-5 Big Ten, 17-10 overall) defeated Illinois (4-10, 12-15) 69-60 Sunday night at the Kohl Center.

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SPORTS

Miller's late-game power surge comes up short

By Jake Nisse | Feb. 21, 2016

Wisconsin ended the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with a devastating 6-5 loss to North Carolina State Sunday. For a majority of the game at Dail Stadium, Wisconsin was playing from behind, as the Wolfpack took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.

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SPORTS

Wisconsin's comeback bid falls short in overtime

By Jessi Schoville | Feb. 20, 2016

Trying to rebound off of a tough 4-0 loss to No. 3 Minnesota (24-3-1-0 WCHA, 29-1-1 overall) Friday evening, No. 2 Wisconsin (24-3-1-1 WCHA, 30-3-1 overall) managed to bounce back from two goals down, but ultimately fell to the Gophers in overtime by a score of 4-3.

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SPORTS

Wisconsin miscues help Michigan State complete sweep

By Bobby Ehlrich | Feb. 20, 2016

Wisconsin proved to be its own worst enemy Saturday night as they made several mistakes that resulted in a 3-1 Michigan State victory to complete the sweep.

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SPORTS

Stewart, Badgers split second day at Raleigh, N.C. tournament

By Ben Leadholm | Feb. 20, 2016

The offensive struggles continued for Wisconsin (5-3 overall) in day two of the ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge, as it lost to Louisville 5-0 and defeated North Carolina State 2-1 Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

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SPORTS

Badgers look to bounce back against Illinois

By Matt Tragesser | Feb. 20, 2016

Thursday’s lackluster performance in a loss to No. 8 Michigan State may have brought significant concern for players and fans, but the reality of the matter is that Wisconsin had an uncharismatic game and was defeated by arguably one of the nation’s top teams.

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SPORTS

Badgers take sixth place at Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor

By Kelly Ward | Feb. 20, 2016

Coming into this past week’s Big Ten Championships at the University of Michigan, many teams did not really know what to expect from the UW women’s swim team.

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SPORTS

Badgers fall to Wildcats on emotional senior day

By Ben Pickman | Feb. 20, 2016

The Wisconsin Badgers’ (3-13 Big Ten, 7-19 overall) relatively large senior class didn’t have the storybook ending it wanted.

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SPORTS

Leonhard hired as defensive backs coach

By Jake Powers | Feb. 20, 2016

Following the Feb. 9 departure of defensive backs coach Daronte Jones, head coach Paul Chryst announced Saturday the hiring of former Badger Jim Leonhard to fill Jones’ position.

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SPORTS

Badgers shut out by rival Minnesota

By Jessi Schoville | Feb. 20, 2016

The No. 3 Minnesota Gophers (23-3-1 WCHA, 28-3-1 overall) ambushed No. 2 Wisconsin (24-2-1 WCHA, 30-2-1 overall) in Minneapolis in the first match of a two-game series.

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SPORTS

Wisconsin stumbles in first game of ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By Ben Leadholm | Feb. 19, 2016

Wisconsin dropped its first game of the inaugural ACC/Big Ten Softball Challenge 7-1 to Louisville in Raleigh, N.C.

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SPORTS

Badgers host Northwestern on senior day

By Ethan Levy | Feb. 19, 2016

Wisconsin (3-12 Big Ten, 7-18 overall) is gearing up for what ought to be an emotional afternoon on the Kohl Center floor.

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SPORTS

Column: The evolving world of sports fandom

By Jake Powers | Feb. 19, 2016

Now, Hinrich represents the time in my sports fandom when things were simpler. The politics, business, scandals and insane amount of scrutiny surrounding both collegiate and professional sports didn’t concern me when Hinrich broke into the league.

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SPORTS

Cold-shooting Badgers have winning streak snapped by MSU

By Matt Tragesser | Feb. 18, 2016

In one month, Michigan State altered the Badgers’ season in two very distinct ways. 31 days ago, Wisconsin defeated the Spartans at the Kohl Center, the beginning of a seven-game win streak that enabled them to get back into the NCAA Tournament picture.

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SPORTS

Badgers fight to climb out of Big Ten cellar against Michigan State

By Bobby Ehrlich | Feb. 18, 2016

After losing to No. 6 Michigan in a shootout last Saturday, the Badgers (6-13-7 overall, 1-8-3 Big Ten) welcome Michigan State (7-20-3, 3-10-1) to the Kohl Center, looking to earn at least another series split with the Spartans.

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SPORTS

Maryland Madness: A review of the raucous Terrapin crowd and exemplary bench seating

By Matt Ferris | Feb. 18, 2016

If you’re reading this column, I assume that you follow the basketball team at least casually. So unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past four weeks, you know that we haven’t lost a game for four weeks (knock on wood). In the basketball world, we call this a winning streak. Most recently, we defeated Maryland, a Big Ten goliath which hasn’t lost on its home court since its inception in the conference two years ago.

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SPORTS

Badgers look to snap Breslin Center losing streak

By Zach Rastall | Feb. 18, 2016

The last time Wisconsin went into the Breslin Center and knocked off the Spartans, Bo Ryan was in just his third year as head coach of the Badgers. Needless to say, it’s been awhile. Wisconsin (8-4 Big Ten, 16-9 overall) will take on No. 8 Michigan State () Thursday night at 8 p.m.

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SPORTS

Wisconsin hits the road for Border Battle matchup with Minnesota

By Ryan Weinkauf | Feb. 18, 2016

The No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers (24-1-1 WCHA, 30-1-1 overall) have already clinched the fifth WCHA conference championship in program history, but the regular season isn’t done yet.

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SPORTS

Badgers blown out despite Whyte's big night

By Ethan Levy | Feb. 17, 2016

In their penultimate game at the Kohl Center this season, Wisconsin (3-13 Big Ten, 7-18 overall) looked to seek revenge against an Illinois team (2-13, 9-17) whose lone win this conference season came against the Badgers in a close 71-65 game in Urbana-Champaign.