Bucky's 5th Quarter

Badger Bits: UW basketball headed back to Las Vegas

2012-05-17T13:01:36Z

Details of Wisconsin basketball's 2012-13 non-conference schedule continue to trickle in, and the latest announcement is that the Badgers will play in the Las Vegas Invitational on the Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Possible opponents for Wisconsin in the four-team tournament include Creighton, Arizona State, and Arkansas. A potential matchup with Creighton is intriguing, as the Bluejays return most of their players from their Sweet 16 run this past March, including All-American forward Doug McDermott.

Wisconsin has made an effort in recent years to schedule away games in Las Vegas in both football and basketball, so this announcement comes as no large surprise. The hoops squad last played in Vegas in 2010, losing to UNLV 68-65. That game was best remembered for Mike Bruesewitz throwing an inbounds pass to a UNLV player when the Badgers were trailing by one late in the game.

This tournament also sets up two games for the Badgers to host at the Kohl Center. According to the Cornell Basketball Blog, the Big Red will be one of the two teams slated to play in Madison. I don't think I need to remind you what happened the last time the Badgers played Cornell in basketball.

The Wisconsin football team also plays away from Madison on Thanksgiving weekend, but they will be headed to a much less glamorous destination: State College, Pa. Still, there could be much at stake in the late-season matchup with Leaders Division rival Penn State.

Thursday Links:

College hockey is likely to make a change from full face shields to three-quarter visors on helmets. UW coach Mike Eaves is slightly torn on the issue, though.

Barry Alvarez is still trying to get a football series between Wisconsin and Notre Dame set up, but hasn't made much progress. One of ND's other Big Ten series (Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue) would have to be nixed before they would play Wisconsin, most likely.

Wisconsin softball just missed making the NCAA Tournament this year, but 2B Whitney Massey and OF Kendall Grimm both earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades. It was the first time in program history that two Badgers were named to the first team in a single season.

The Daily Northwestern ranks the Wisconsin offensive line as the best in the Big Ten.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany expects that cities will bid yearly for the right to host the new incarnation of the college football national championship game. Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports thinks that the Big Ten's undying love of the Rose Bowl is absurd.

Badgers Tap Chicago Pipeline For Defenseman Peter Tischke

2012-05-17T08:01:25Z

The Chicago to Madison college hockey recruiting pipeline continues to flow as consistently as ever. The latest Chi-Town native that has chosen to wear the cardinal and white Wisconsin sweater is Mission U16 defenseman Peter Tischke.

Tischke, who hails from Hinsdale which is just outside of Chicago is the third member of the Mission U16 team to commit to the Badgers in the past year. Brookfield's Jake Linhart, who is Tischke's defensive partner with the Mission committed in the fall, and Seamus Malone, a forward with the Mission from Naperville, IL gave his verbal pledge to the Badgers in March.

Linhart and Tischke are expected to join the Badgers in the fall of 2014, while Malone who is a young '96 isn't expected until the fall of 2015.

Tischke, who describes himself as a "Shutdown defenseman who makes good first passes and plays the body," recorded 14 points in 28 games for the Mission last season in the High Performance Hockey League.

The 6'0, 187pound blue-liner recently participated in the Central District Midget Festival where he was chosen as one of six defenseman to represent the Central District at USA Select 16's. The Central District is arguably the toughest festival in the country and includes players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri.

Tischke also recently heard his name called in the USHL Futures Draft. The newest Badger commit was selected by the Des Moines Buccaneers in the 2nd round (22nd overall).

Tischke is the third member of the 2014 class. He joins the previously mentioned Linhart, and Benilde-St. Margaret's forward Grant Besse.

The Tischke File

Player: Peter Tischek
Team: Chicago Mission U16
USHL Draft Rights: Des Moines Buccaneers (2nd round Futures selection)
Hometown: Hinsdale, IL
Position: Defense
Size: 6'0, 187
Handed: Left
Expected Arrival: 2014
Twitter Account: @BendHard4
2012 Stats: 28 games, 3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points

Player	Team	Position	Arrival	Size	DOB	Games	Goals	Assists	Points
Grant Besse	Benilde-St. Margaret's	F	2014	5'10, 175	7-14-1994	31	52	41	93
	Team Northwest***					24	17	18	35
Tim Davison	Notre Dame Academy	D	2013	5'10, 169	3-2-1994	30	13	38	51
	Team Wisconsin***					21	1	11	12
Nicolas Kerdiles	USA NTDP U18	F	2012	6'1, 194	1-11-1994	54	22	26	48
Jake Linhart	Chicago Mission U16	D	2014	5'10, 160	1-17-1996	29	4	10	14
Seamus Malone	Chicago Mission U16	F	2015		5-6-1996	28	13	20	33
Corbin McGuire	Springfield (EJHL)***	F	2013	5'8, 185	3-2-1994	11	4	2	6
	Jersey (EJHL)					40	5	13	18
Kevin Schulze	Muskegon (USHL)***	D	2012	5'9, 155	4-29-1993	8	0	6	6
	Omaha (USHL)					50	2	20	22
Peter Tischke	Chicago Mission U16	D	2014	6'0, 178	1-3-1996	28	3	11	14
Eddie Wittchow	Waterloo (USHL)	D	2012	6'4, 200	10-31-1992	69	5	17	23
Morgan Zulinick	Salmon Arm (BCHL)	C	2012	5'11, 185	6-29-1994	57	24	42	66

Player	Team	Position	Arrival	Size	DOB	Record	GAA	Save %	SO
Gabe Grunwald	Michigan (NAHL)***	G	2013	6'3, 190	3-15-1993	0-4	4.56	.871	0
	Kenai River (NAHL)					1-1	3.14	.896	0

***=Not currently on active roster

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Hoops history lesson: UW recruiting timeline

2012-05-16T15:38:44Z

The offseason does not lend itself to many basketball stories besides occasional recruiting tidbits. Maybe the most frustrating part of the process is that the courting of teenagers routinely makes no sense whatsoever.

Considering the absurd drama of the Jarrod Uthoff saga and the recently concluded Sheldon Jeter recruitment, Wisconsin hoops fans are eager for some good news on the recruiting front. Unfortunately I don't have any right now.

What I can offer is a touch of perspective. I went back over eight years and researched exactly when Badger recruits committed to the program as well as each time there was an unexpected departure. The result is a fairly comprehensive recruiting timeline. Even though the odds favor a slow summer, let's just say the early fall has been generous to the Badgers when it comes to recruiting gems.

I found this exercise to be useful for a couple reasons. For starters, it tempered my expectations for when -- and of what caliber -- upcoming commitments might be. Secondly, in light of the always fluid roster situation at places like Marquette and Indiana, I came across plenty of evidence that Wisconsin's recruiting tactics and promises are pretty honorable on the whole. Even previous players who have transferred out appreciated that the coaching staff was honest about forcing recruits to earn their playing time. We know that is not always the case.

More on my thoughts after the timeline below. Brush up on your nontraditional right-to-left reading skills and have at it.

Recruiting Timeline - Calendar format

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2012

11th:
Uthoff released

2011

5th:
Jordan Smith ('11)**

9th:
Zach Bohannon ('10) transfers**

16th:
Zak Showalter ('12)**

24th: Bronson Koenig ('13)

2010

19th: George Marshall ('11)

6th:
Markolf quits

27th:
Hodges decommits

7th:
Ben Brust ('10)

12th:
Frank Kaminsky ('11)
Traevon Jackson ('11)

15th:
Sam Dekker ('12)

19th: Jarrod Uthoff ('11)

2009

4th:
Devon Hodges ('11)

14th: Jeremy Glover ('09)**

16th:
Taylor & Glover dismissed

10th: Duje Dukan ('10)

19th:
Blue decommits

24th:
Josh Gasser ('10)

2008

20th:
Mike Bruesewitz ('09)

6th: Diamond Taylor ('09)

7th:
Ryan Evans ('08)

28th: Vander Blue ('10)

3rd:
Evan Anderson ('10)

2007

8th:
Jared Berggren ('08)

30th:
Rob Wilson ('08)

17th: Ian Markolf ('08)

2006

6th:
DeAaron Williams quits

30th:
Tim Jarmusz ('07)

17th: Keaton Nankivil ('07)

15th:
Jon Leuer ('07)

6th: Jordan Taylor ('08)

22nd:
Perry released

2005

6th:
Boo Wade quits

10th:
Jason Bohannon ('06)

1st:
Trevon Hughes ('06)

2004

22nd:
Joe Krabbenhoft ('05)

5th:
Devin Harris declares early for NBA

13th:
Mickey Perry ('05)

2nd:
J.P. Gavinski ('06)

17th:
Marcus Landry ('05)

Certainly 2011 was the year of the walk-on. Three high-quality players, including one transfer from Air Force, agreed to become preferred walk-ons at Wisconsin within a four-month period last summer. And thank goodness. Otherwise there would have been nothing to talk about with regards to recruiting.

Besides the huge verbal from La Crosse Aquinas junior Bronson Koenig last September, Wiscosin has not received a commitment from a recruited scholarship athlete in the past 22 months. The only similar stretch in the last nine years was a 16-month period between Evan Anderson and Josh Gasser, with Devon Hodges committing in between. With the opening of Uthoff's scholarship, one or two of those walk-ons will have the opportunity to earn a scholarship for the upcoming season.

Lack of traditional recruiting success could stem from two situations. Part of it has to be attributed to transition on the coaching staff. When Lamont Paris replaced Howard Moore, UW lost its primary recruiter in the Chicago area. Like Moore, Paris has had a learning curve recruiting in the Big Ten. Another factor was the small 2012 class size and the staff's decision to hold a scholarship down to the wire for J.P. Tokoto.

Other quick hits:

1. If you had to bet, put your money on the first 2014 recruit popping before another 2013 prospect. The Badgers have a four-year streak going where the first recruit of any class commits at least two years prior to that class beginning its first practices. That is the nature of the landscape these days as kids are recruited earlier and earlier.

2. The best time to grab a recruit is just before the season starts. Nothing happens in October (practices begin) or March (tourney time), but UW has made a big impact in August and September. While the success rate looks extremely high for the September commits, on average the highest-rated Badger recruits verbal in August, when 75% of commitments have been ranked in the Top 80 of the initial RSCI ranking for their class. I would be interested to see if that is a common trend across the country. Unfortunately, the only Wisconsin commit during August in the last five years has been a walk-on. Overall, 12 of the 28 (43%) commitments studied were either ranked in the final RSCI Top 100 or Rivals150 for their class.

3. Flurries of commitments are exciting, but there's no evidence that it's a desirable pattern for Wisconsin.
Example A: Two summer ago, the Badgers reeled in Ben Brust (2010) and 75% of its 2011 class over a six-week span. A couple of those players (Kaminsky, Dekker) look especially promising, but it's not good that the young group already has a 25% attrition rate (Uthoff). This was also the only stretch that I studied in which more than one player committed during the May-June-July months of the summer.
Example B: Spring 2008. UW got five commitments during a 10-week period. However, the following year Vander Blue decommitted and Diamond Taylor was kicked out of school. Ryan Evans appears to be the biggest success out of the group.
Example C: Success! Starting the last day of June in 2006, Wisconsin pieced together its entire 2007 class plus added the foundation of its 2008 class (Jordan Taylor) in a span of just over four months. It was not a flurry, just a measured, successful autumn.

4. The unanticipated departures and decommitments from the basketball team have usually come at the expected times around semester breaks or at the end of a season. Nobody was pushed out to free up a scholarship. Ian Markolf quit before Ben Brust was even released at Iowa and Devon Hodges' decommitment only affected the following class. Wisconsin doesn't oversign, although it should be noted that Bo Ryan is willing to offer prospects before the NABC's recommended date (June 15 after the recruit's sophomore season).

Recruiting timeline - Linear format

2012

April 11: Uthoff released

2011

September 24: Bronson Koenig (Class of 2013) - y
August 16: walk-on Zak Showalter (2012)**
May 9: walk-on transfer Zach Bohannon (2010)**
May 5: walk-on Jordan Smith (2011)**

2010

July 19: Jarrod Uthoff (2011) - y
June 15: Sam Dekker (2012) - #31/?
June 12: Frank Kaminsky (2011)
June 12: Traevon Jackson (2011)
May 7: Ben Brust (2010)
April 27: Hodges decommits
April 6: Markolf quits
January 19: George Marshall (2011)

2009

November 10: Duje Dukan (2010)
September 24: Josh Gasser (2010)
September 16: Taylor & Glover dismissed
May 19: Blue decommits
May 14: walk-on Jeremy Glover (2009)**
January 4: Devon Hodges (2011)

2008

May 3: Evan Anderson (2010) - #88/#95
April 28: Vander Blue (2010) - #53/#48
April 7: Ryan Evans (2008)
March 6: Diamond Taylor (2009) - y
February 20: Mike Bruesewitz (2009) - y

2007

July 17: Ian Markolf (2008)
April 30: Rob Wilson (2008)
January 8: Jared Berggren (2008) - /#100

2006

December 22: Perry released
November 6: Jordan Taylor (2008) - y
September 15: Jon Leuer (2007) - /#86
August 17: Keaton Nankivil (2007) - #79/
June 30: Tim Jarmusz (2007)
January 6: DeAaron Williams quits

2005

Aug. 1: Trevon Hughes (2006) - #57/#88
May 10: Jason Bohannon (2006) - /#62
January 6: Boo Wade quits

2004

August 17: Marcus Landry (2005)
August 2: J.P. Gavinski (2006) - #69/
June 13: Phillip "Mickey" Perry (2005)
May 5: Devin Harris declares
January 22: Joe Krabbenhoft (2005) - #33/#28

Rankings: y=Rivals150, #/# = initial/final RSCI rank

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Badger Bits: Scientific proof that Wisconsin is among the best at developing NFL talent

2012-05-16T14:00:53Z

If you are looking for light reading material, this FanPost at Black Heart Gold Pants isn't it. If you're looking for more fodder to throw at your friends that Wisconsin is truly one of the best programs in the country at turning 2 and 3-star recruits into NFL-ready machines, well you're in luck.

The nitty gritty methodology is all in the link. In a nut shell, this UpUpDownDown fellow figured out what fraction of Rivals recruits at the 2-star, 3-star, 4-star and 5-star levels from 2002-2009 actually develop into NFL Draft prospects, and based on that data came up with a list of which programs were making the most efficient use of their talent.

The evidence adds more fuel to the fire that Iowa and Wisconsin are among the best schools in the country, not just the Big Ten, at getting players ready for the next level. The Hawkeyes have had 28 players drafted over the last eight years, and based on their recruiting efforts should have only had 14.7 (Riley Reiff's baby arms account for the fraction). By this measure, Kirk Ferentz' players have an 89 percent chance above average at being selected in April, making Iowa the best developmental program in the country.

Wisconsin came in at No. 12 with 20 players drafted despite only 15 projected, putting them behind Ohio State (No. 4 overall) and ahead of Penn State (No. 13) within the conference. Caveats re: sample sizes and what not, the data is further testament to just how well the Badgers have done with less recently.

The post has a lot of other fascinating tidbits, including a look at conferences (the B1G is tops) and position groups (Iowa and Wisconsin are Nos. 1 and 2 at developing linemen). The data also confirms that recruits tend to head South when given the opportunity, which makes sense.

Two things to note: 1) This could be construed as evidence of regional bias within the rankings of recruiting services and 2) So does this mean Wisconsin is better at developing 2 and 3-star recruits or simply better at evaluating talent at the high school level?

More links after the jump.

Speaking of BHGP, it's a crime that their version of Wisconsin's Pro Combat uniforms weren't posted sooner. Minnesota's are even better.

An exception had to be made, but Montee Ball's eventful Mifflin put Wisconsin on the board for the Fulmer Cup with one point for "superloitering."

Brian Bennett tabs Jared Abbrederis and Chris Borland as Wisconsin's two most indispensable players

BT Powerhouse takes a look at every matchup of the 2012 ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

It's relegation week over at the mothership. Spencer Hall discusses why it just might be awesome. Jason Kirk interviews Kevin McCauley, who knows a thing or two about how these things work.

Wisconsin came in fifth in the country, No. 1 in the Big Ten, in basketball attendance last season.

Tim Krumrie is still a hall of famer in our hearts (also at UW).

Pat Richter continues to be recognized for things.

The Wisconsin women's rowing team earned its fifth consecutive bid to the NCAA Championships.

Wrapping up: Bret Bielema uses cheesy football terms to describe nine weeks of wedded bliss.

Eaves Rounds Out 2012 Class With Waterloo's Eddie Wittchow

2012-05-15T21:16:50Z

Mike Eaves made his 2012 recruiting class official when he announced the signing of Burnsville, Minnesota native Eddie Wittchow on Tuesday. Wittchow, currently a defenseman for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) made his verbal pledge to the Badgers back on December 8th.

A 6'4, 200 pound blue-liner, Wittchow notched 18 points in 60 regular season games for the Black Hawks and was a team best +22. Waterloo is in the middle of a playoff run, and are currently tied 1-1 in the Clark Cup Finals against the Green bay Gamblers. Wittchow has four points in nine playoff games.

In a release today from the University, Eaves noted that the Badgers expect big things from Wittchow right out of the gates.

"Eddie will be able to come in and give us a real physical presence on the blue line," said Eaves. "He's got a big body and moves very well. He's got the propensity to make a good breakout pass and gets back quickly to help get the puck out of the zone. He possesses a really nice shot from the point - a smart shot. He's going to be a real anchor for us on the blue line."

Wittchow burst on to the national recruiting scene in the 2010-11 season with a huge senior year at Burnsville high school. The self proclaimed defensive-defenseman turned the heads of scouts all year and was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 6th round of the NHL Draft last summer.

Waterloo head coach P.K. O'Handley has had success with other former Badgers like Joe Pavelski and Craig Smith taking the Waterloo to Wisconsin pipeline on to the NHL. He thinks that Wittchow could follow in their footsteps.

"Eddie has the skills to be successful in college and the size to be intriguing to pro general managers," said Black Hawks coach P.K. O'Handley. "Wisconsin has helped a few Black Hawks get to the NHL, and Eddie could join that list."

Wittchow is the fourth member of the class of 2012 to sign his letter of intent. Barring an unforeseen late departure, the Badgers are only expected to bring in four to Madison in the fall. Forwards Morgan Zulinick (Kamloops, B.C.) and Nic Kerdiles (Irvine, CA) as well as defenseman Kevin Schulze (White Bear Lake, MN) all signed letters of intent in the fall.

2012 Recruits

Player: Eddie Wittchow
Team: Waterloo (USHL)
Hometown: Burnsville, Minnesota
Position: Defense
Size: 6'4, 200
Handed: Left
2012 Stats: 69 Games, 5 goals, 17 assists, 23 points, +26
Head Coach Quote: "He is playing well. He leads our team in +/- and is generating chances from the point. Works his tail off in the weight room and in practice."-Waterloo Black Hawk's head coach P.K. O'Handley
Mike Eaves on Wittchow: ""Eddie will be able to come in and give us a real physical presence on the blue line," said Eaves. "He's got a big body and moves very well. He's got the propensity to make a good breakout pass and gets back quickly to help get the puck out of the zone. He possesses a really nice shot from the point - a smart shot. He's going to be a real anchor for us on the blue line."
Chuck's analysis: Wittchow was created more in the mold of a John Ramage than a Justin Schultz. He's outstanding in his own end and it shows in his team leading plus/minus. Wittchow is an elite skater for his size and will be a force for the Badgers for years to come.

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Player: Nic Kerdiles
Team: USA NTDP U18
Hometown: Irvine, California
Position: Center/Left Wing
Size: 6'1, 196
Handed: Left
2012 Stats: 54 games, 22 goals, 26 assists, 48 points (team leader)
Head Coach Quote: "Nic has had a great first half of his second year with the NTDP. His game has become faster and stronger and he is becoming a ‘200 foot player' that can dominate both ends of the ice. He scores goals in the dirty areas and uses his speed well to separate himself from defenders on offense and close on defense. It has been fun to see him excel in NCAA DI games and it shows that he will not miss a beat when he moves on to the University of Wisconsin." - U.S. National Under-18 Team head coach, Danton Cole
Mike Eaves on Kerdiles: "He's a big forward with great feet, good first step and is really good in the corners. For his age group, he's one of the top players in the country."
Chuck's analysis: Kerdiles continues to look every bit the blue-chip recruit he was when he committed to Wisconsin. He leads the U18 National team in scoring and by all scouting reports looks like he'll be selected in the first round of the NHL draft this summer. Penciled in as a top six forward next season.

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Player: Morgan Zulinick
Team: Salmon Arm (British Columbia Hockey League)
Hometown: Kamloops, British Columbia
Position: Center
Size: 5'11, 185
Handed: Left
2012 Stats: 57 games, 24 goals, 42 assists, 66 points (team leader)
Mike Eaves on Zulinick: “He’s an offensive forward playing in British Columbia. He sees the ice really well and protects the puck well. He’s a very strong competitor who will bring an offensive flair to our forward group.”
Chuck's analysis: Zulinick is an outstanding hockey player playing on a terrible hockey team. Salmon Arm finished second to last in their division and Zulinick, who is one of the youngest players on the team carried the load offensively with little help. He'll step into the Badger lineup right away next year. Projected third line center right now.

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Player: Kevin Schulze
Team: Omaha (USHL)
Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Position: Defense
Size: 5'9, 155
Handed: Left
2012 Stats: 58 games, 2 goals, 26 assists, 28 points, +9
Mike Eaves on Schulze: “Kevin is a real smooth skating young defenseman. He sees the ice very well and can make a really good pass. For his size, he plays very aggressively and very well away from the puck.
Chuck's analysis: Schulze is a smaller defenseman but he's an elite puck mover and skates very well. He's going to be in a fight for ice time next season but he's got very good skills with the puck that will give him an edge over some others.

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Badger Bits: Wilson with great opportunity to start in NFL

2012-05-15T13:53:07Z

Less than a month after the NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks' head coach Pete Carroll already said Russell Wilson will get the opportunity to compete for the starting quarterback position. Typically, I would not put much stock in stories like this; we often hear way too much talk based purely on speculation and the possibility of something that may happen. But this story is different.

It may seem obvious to some that Wilson will get the opportunity to start. Coaches often do not like to name their starter early in the offseason and will hold an open competition to avoid doing so. Look no further for an example than last summer, when Wilson did not come in as the "starter" and had to compete with Joe Brennan and Jon Budmayr, but it was obvious from the moment Wilson transferred that he would start.

What makes this story unique is its timing and Seattle's current quarterback situation.

Rarely will you hear a head coach say a newly drafted quarterback, entering at third-string, will compete for the starting job...and in May! Not to mention Seattle just handed out 26 million dollars to free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, who appeared to be the clear-cut starter when the Seahawks signed him in the offseason.

Again, there is no need to over-hype this story, but the fact that Carroll said this means Wilson must have made a quick impression on the former USC coach, especially with his smart decision-making skills on the field.

Besides Flynn, who recently signed that 3-year, 26 million dollar contract, the Seahawks also have quarterback Tavaris Jackson. In a surprising move last offseason, Seattle made Jackson its starter after signing him to a two-year deal. Nothing against Jackson, but his upside is very low. He is a mobile quarterback who can make short throws and plays with his feet, but after six seasons in the NFL, he has not shown he can be a smart, reliable starter in the league.

Like other experts in the field, I do believe the starting job is still Flynn's to lose. It is obvious Seattle signed him to be its quarterback of the future, but it is still difficult to know if Flynn is the real deal after only having one great performance (overblown by the media) on his resume.

Wilson's ability to stay composed and make smart decisions will take him a long way. I give him a better spot to win the starting position than Jackson for those reasons, but it will be interesting to watch him compete against Flynn. The fact we are already discussing a quarterback competition with the Seahawks, tells us "Russellmania" has just begun in Seattle.

Part of Carroll's comments on Wilson:

"He's showed us enough," Carroll said. "He's in the competition. And that is going to tax us, as you know. It was already going to be taxing with two. But he's shown us enough that we need to see where he fits in with these guys."

Tuesday's Links:

No surprise seeing Montee Ball atop Tom Dienhart's Big Ten running back rankings, but you may be surprised to see where he has teammate James White.

Currently with six verbal commits, Wisconsin experts look at how the Badgers' 2013 recruiting class is shaping up.

After a three-day rookie minicamp this past weekend, the Atlanta Falcons signed Peter Konz and Bradie Ewing, so Konz can officially start working on his "Dirty Bird" dance.

The crew of ESPN Madison's "The Jump Around" talked with Virginia basketball head coach Tony Bennett, after discovering Wisconsin's newest opponent in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

It is uncommon to see two-sport athletes at D-1 schools, but a few Big Ten football players are making it work.

Reflecting on spring practice for the Leaders Division, ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett believe Wisconsin is the team to beat but Rittenberg thinks it may be a tougher road to Indy than anticipated for the Badgers.

Badgers get Cavs in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

2012-05-14T21:33:23Z

Depending on how you look at it, the Wisconsin-Virginia game announced Monday as a part of the 14th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge will either be a dream or a nightmare.

For those who admire and respect what the Bennett family means to Wisconsin basketball, the coaching storyline makes the Nov. 28 tilt in Madison must-see television. To ESPN, the driver of the event, it probably gives an excuse to bury two slow-paced teams with one swoop.

Wisconsin ranked dead last in the country last season in adjusted tempo, averaging 58.5 possessions per contest. Virginia, coached by former UW assistant Tony Bennett, ranked 338th out of 345 teams (60.6). Yet the two schools combined to go 48-20, so the quality of basketball should not be in question.

The game will mark just the third meeting all-time between the Badgers and Cavaliers. Wisconsin defeated Virginia. 66-56, in a pre-conference tournament back in 1998 when Dick Bennett was still pacing the sideline for UW.

This fall's pairing was widely anticipated due projected conference finishes for both sides, not to mention the Bennett connection. Each program must replace all-conference seniors in UW's Jordan Taylor and UVa's Mike Scott. But both are expected to be very competitive in their respective leagues.

Yahoo's Jeff Eisenberg ranked the matchup the 6th most watchable among the challenge games.

The only head scratcher in the full Big Ten/ACC Challenge slate released today was Florida State hosting Minnesota, which appears to be an advantage for the ACC.

Merrill, Wis. native Paul Jesperson also will return to his home state for the first time as an opposing sophomore shooting guard. Jesperson was pressed into service late late season due to some defections from the UVa squad.

Wisconsin has a chance to even its overall record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, as well as help the Big Ten aim for its fourth straight victory after 10 straight losses to the ACC to begin the annual event.

Big Ten/ACC Challenge pairings

Tuesday, Nov. 27
Minnesota at Florida State
North Carolina at Indiana
North Carolina State at Michigan
Maryland at Northwestern
Iowa at Virginia Tech
Nebraska at Wake Forest

Wednesday, Nov. 28
Purdue at Clemson
Ohio State at Duke
Georgia Tech at Illinois
Michigan State at Miami
Boston College at Penn State
Virginia at Wisconsin

Badger Bits: Making old school look cool

2012-05-14T14:13:00Z

Please allow me to get misty eyed for a moment. One of my favorite things about my fair Alma Mater is its unwillingness to move away from the little antiquated things that make it charming. Those things include but aren't limited to: Beer from a rathskeller, oompa-playing tubas, and a brand of football that hasn't fundamentally evolved much beyond what modern rules and safety requirements say they must.

The offense is pure, simple, rock-paper-scissors-style fun. Run the ball, lull them into the false sense of security that is rock, then play-action paper their asses. It's easy to understand, and it has been way more successful than it has any right to be the last few seasons. And the offense should in theory become more effective as defenses prepare for more and more spread offenses.

We've been doing old school so long that it has become new again. Isn't that sort of the definition of cool? Like the last guy playing vinyl looking fresh while the other kids spend their time one step behind technology? I think that makes sense.

Anyway, Andy Staples wrote one of the 20 articles you'll read this season about Wisconsin being big and beefy and manly and tough, among other things. As much as I like Andy Staples, there isn't much to glean from it that you don't already know except this, one of the better Bret Bielema quotes I think I've read (though I would love to be reminded of other choice nuggets):

"We're a very unique preparation," Bielema said. "When you've got seven days to get ready for an opponent, it's not the easiest thing to prepare for. I've read comments in papers where coaches have said, 'We're getting ready to play Wisconsin. We've got to be tough this week.' Well, you can't tap somebody on the head on Monday and say, 'You're tough.' It's something that's in the program 365 days a year."

That about sums it up, right?

Links after the jump:

Brian Bennett wraps up Spring Practice for Wisconsin with answers answered, questions still being questioned, etc.

Athlon had a whole bunch of coverage on Wisconsin this past week. Notably: Will coaching attrition sink the team this season and 2012 predictions.

Russell Wilson isn't waiting to compete for the Seahawks starting job. Pete Carroll confirmed that Wilson will compete with Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson. Hey Mel Kiper, HOW 'BOUT DEM APPLES. Link dump with all sorts of Wilson love.

Bret Bielema is the Sporting News' second best head coach in the conference behind Urbz, and the 12th best in the nation.

Bennett/Rittenberg break down Spring for the conference as a whole. Melvin Gordon gets a lot of love (rightfully) and Wisconsin-Ohio State is tabbed as one of the three conference games to watch this season. Also, Montee Ball is a player to watch but you probably knew that.

Four-star quarterback-type entity Kevin Olsen has Wisconsin in his Top 5 along with Miami, Auburn, South Carolina and Alabama.

Jerel Worthy call Wisconsin's O-line the "by far the best offensive line that I faced in collegiate sports," deviating from Sparty's usual "snide public comments only" policy.

Kyle Jefferson, tired and dehydrated from running two races already, guts out an impressive leg in the 1,600 relay to help Wisconsin to B1G track and field title.

A severely undersized Wisconsin first heavyweight eight earned bronze at the EARC conference championships in Worcester, MA, this past weekend. Head coach Chris Clark had plenty to say before the race.

"I've said this before many times, that there's people die out on the water by suicide, not by homicide. That's generally the way it works. You hate to see that when somebody self inflicted. That happens a lot of the time. That's the worst fear for most coaches, that you just fall apart for some unknown reason. It's a noncontact sport. So they can't board your boat and do whatever pirate people do when they board boats. It can't happen. It's generally self inflicted. We don't even like to talk about it. But I'm talking about it. I'm breaking the taboo. Hopefully they won't do that."

Wrapping Up: Peter Konz does the dirty bird.

Bucky's 5th Quarter

Badger Bits: UW basketball headed back to Las Vegas

Badgers Tap Chicago Pipeline For Defenseman Peter Tischke

The Tischke File

Player

Team

Position

Arrival

Size

DOB

Games

Goals

Assists

Points

Grant Besse

F

2014

5'10, 175

7-14-1994

31

52

41

93

24

17

18

35

Tim Davison

D

2013

5'10, 169

3-2-1994

30

13

38

51

21

1

11

12

Nicolas Kerdiles

F

2012

6'1, 194

1-11-1994

54

22

26

48

Jake Linhart

D

2014

5'10, 160

1-17-1996

29

4

10

14

Seamus Malone

F

2015

5-6-1996

28

13

20

33

Corbin McGuire

F

2013

5'8, 185

3-2-1994

11

4

2

6

40

5

13

18

Kevin Schulze