This Week in Badger Athletics
December 29, 2009 | General News
Dec. 29, 2009
MADISON, Wis. -- The women’s basketball team’s upset of No. 16 Michigan State on Monday kicked off a busy week that continues Tuesday with the football team in the Champs Sports Bowl and a full slate of action at the Kohl Center, all This Week in Badger Athletics.
The Badgers (9-3) will be making their eighth straight bowl appearance, the second-longest streak in the Big Ten and tied for the 13th-longest streak in the country, when they face Miami on Tuesday night at 7 p.m (CT) in the Champs Sports Bowl. The game will air live on ESPN. If Wisconsin proves victorious, it would mark the team’s 10th win in a season for just the sixth time in school history.
The Badgers enter the game with a balanced offense, averaging 209.2 passing yards per game and 206.7 rushing yards per game. Defensively, UW is eighth in the country against the run, surrendering just 90.5 yards per game.
The No. 23-ranked men's basketball team (10-2) is on a four-game winning streak heading into its Big Ten opener against Ohio State at 1 p.m Thursday at the Kohl Center. The Badgers have won six consecutive Big Ten openers overall, and have never lost a conference home opener under head coach Bo Ryan.
Last week, the Badgers recorded wins over Horizon League foes Milwaukee and Illinois-Chicago, to give them 10 non-conference wins for the third time in the last four seasons. Over the last five games, junior Jon Leuer has averaged 21.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
The Badgers follow their Thursday opener with a second Big Ten game Sunday, as they travel to University Park, Pa., to face Penn State at 1 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
The women’s basketball team (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten), fresh off its upset of the Spartans on Monday, packs two more conference contests into the week by hitting the road to face Iowa on Thursday and Illinois on Sunday. Both games can be viewed live on BigTenNetwork.com.
After being away from competition for two weeks, the Wisconsin wrestling team returns to action at the 47th annual Midlands Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday in Evanston, Ill. The event will air on a tape-delay basis on Big Ten Network on Jan. 3, 2010, at 6 p.m. (CT). The Badgers are one of 31 teams from 11 different conferences at the event. Four UW wrestlers are ranked in the tournament: Andrew Howe (No. 1 at 165 lbs.), Kyle Ruschell (No. 2 at 149 lbs.), Trevor Brandvold (No. 3 at 197 lbs.) and Tyler Graff (No. 5 at 133 lbs.).
The highlight of the slate at the Kohl Center this week is the UW men’s hockey team (11-5-2, 8-4-2 WCHA) hosting the 21st and final Badger Hockey Showdown. The Badgers open the event against Merrimack (7-8-0, 4-6-0 Hockey East) on Saturday. The winner and loser of the game will meet the winner and loser, respectively, of the Saturday Yale (7-3-2, 4-1-2 ECAC) and Ferris State (13-3-2, 8-2-2 CCHA) game. The championship and third-place games take place on Sunday.
The field for the final Badger Hockey Showdown includes three teams ranked among the nation’s top 11 schools (No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 8/9 Yale, No. 11 Ferris State) with a four-team combined record of 38-19-6.
Four of the nation’s top 12 offenses will take part in the Badger Hockey Showdown as Yale (1st - 4.33 goals-per-game), Wisconsin (2nd - 4.03 goals-per-game), Merrimack (11th - 3.47 goals-per-game) and Ferris State (T-12th - 3.44 goals-per-game) rank among the nation’s highest scoring teams this season.
Marketing Notes – Week of December 28
For the Fans - Gameday Promotions
• Men’s Basketball vs. Ohio State on Thursday, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m.
Badger Halftime Showcase
Fans will enjoy a very special halftime performance featuring Quick Change, courtesy of Coke Zero.
Ticket Offers
• Men’s Hockey vs. Merrimack on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.
Scout Night
All Scouts receive discounted tickets by contacting their local leader or the Athletic Marketing Office at (608) 262-7453 to receive an order form
Merchandise Updates
• The “Red Shirt” – Second Edition
“On, Wisconsin” turns 100! Celebrate and commemorate this Wisconsin tradition with the Red Shirt, Second Edition. Bucky’s Locker Room is pleased to partner with the Wisconsin Alumni Association on this fashionable way to give back. A portion of the proceeds from the Red Shirt, Second Edition, will support need-based financial aid through the UW Foundation’s Great People Scholarship Campaign. Available for only $15 at Bucky’s Locker Room.
Mark Your Calendar
• Women’s Hockey Kids Clinic on Monday, Jan. 4
Bucky's Buddies Women's Hockey Clinic
This year’s Bucky’s Buddies Women’s Hockey Clinic will be held January 4th and there is STILL ROOM TO SIGN UP! Check in and registration will begin at 5:30 p.m.. The clinic will be run by the Wisconsin women’s hockey teams. For only $9 each, participants will receive a camp T-shirt, pizza courtesy of Papa John’s, and tickets to future games. The clinic will begin promptly at 6 p.m.. Pizza, courtesy of Papa John’s, and beverages will be served following the clinic at about 7 p.m. and an autograph session with the women’s hockey teams will follow. The Bucky’s Buddies Women’s Hockey Clinic, sponsored by Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation, is a great opportunity for kids to interact with their favorite Wisconsin women’s hockey players as well as practice their hockey skills! If you have any questions please contact Heather at (608) 239-3520 or email hmg@athletics.wisc.edu. See you on January 4th!
• Women’s Hockey vs. Team USA on Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.
Local Hero Night presented by Becker Law
Mark your calendars to be a part of the action when the USA Olympic Team makes a stop at the Kohl Center to play your Wisconsin Badgers. The Women’s Hockey team would also like to welcome all Madison area fire fighters, EMS personnel, police officers, and veterans to the game. For more information and event details, please visit UWBadgers.com
