This Week in Badger Athletics
February 23, 2009 | General News
Only three teams play at home this week as four teams enter conference championship play. Men's and women's track and field and men's swimming and diving will all compete for a Big Ten Championship while the women's hockey team hosts the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. The women's basketball team and men's hockey team close out regular-season road trips, traveling to Ohio State and Minnesota State, respectively. Men's tennis continues its homestand with two matches at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Softball and women's tennis hit the road to compete in non-conference match-ups and men's basketball will close out the week at the Kohl Center against Michigan on Sunday. While many sports are heading into the post-season, women's rowing looks to open the season with an exhibition meet at Indiana.
The Wisconsin men's swimming and diving team begins its championship season this weekend with the Big Ten Conference Championships in West Lafayette, Ind. The meet begins Thursday and runs through Saturday, with prelims at 11 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. each day. Seven of the league's 10 teams are ranked in at least one of the major polls. In all, the Badgers return nine athletes who scored at last year's championships, including seniors Scott Rice and Kyle Sorensen, who each had top-10 finishes in six different events. Last year, the Badgers finished seventh at the championships, with Michigan claiming the conference title.
The No. 2 Wisconsin women's hockey team (27-2-5, 21-2-5) will host the seventh-seeded Buckeyes (8-23-3, 6-20-2) at the Eagle's Nest Feb. 27-March 1 for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. The winner in the best-of-three series advances to the WCHA Final Face-off hosted by the University of Minnesota. The Badgers have a 19-8-0 record in the WCHA post-season, while advancing to the WCHA Final Face-off after winning the first round in two games the last three seasons. The Badgers have an overwhelming lead in the all-time series against the Buckeyes, going 37-3-6, including two series sweeps this season.
The Wisconsin men's basketball team (17-10, 8-7) is No. 27 in the latest RPI rankings with the No. 4 strength of schedule in the country as they prepare for Michigan at home. UW has played 11 ranked opponents, the most in the nation. The Badgers are 5-1 in February and have limited opponents to just 51.3 points per game during that stretch. Trevon Hughes scored a game-high 21 points at Indiana (2/19). Wisconsin is 19-2 over the last two seasons, 7-1 this year, when an individual scores 20 points or more in a single game.
The University of Wisconsin men's tennis team defeated No. 21 Wake Forest 4-3 on Sunday. The Badgers swept all three doubles matches to win the doubles point, which was led by the No. 18-ranked pair of junior Moritz Baumann and sophomore Marek Michalicka who defeated the No. 1-ranked pair of Cory Parr and Steven Forman. Baumann remains undefeated in singles, as he moves to 9-0 on the season. The UW will continue its home stand with two matches against No. 34 NC State and No. 25 Notre Dame before opening Big Ten play.
The UW women's basketball team (16-12, 6-11) closes out the 2008-09 regular season on the road at Big Ten leader Ohio State (13-3, 22-5). The Badgers are coming off a big win over Michigan State in the Kohl Center finale Sunday. Before Sunday's game, the Spartans were tied with OSU for first in the conference but Wisconsin hung on to win 54-51 in front of a season-high 14,657 fans. Wisconsin looks to avenge a 55-42 loss against Ohio State at home earlier this season. After this week, the Badgers begin post-season play at the 2009 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis, running March 5-8 at Conseco Field House.
The Wisconsin men's track and field team heads to University Park, Pa., for this weekend's Big Ten Conference Indoor Championships. The Badgers have won a record eight-consecutive Big Ten indoor crowns but return to the championships with a much different roster than the one they used to win in 2008. Heading into the championships, nine UW athletes rank among the league's top-five in their respective events, that includes sophomore Quinn Evans as the Big Ten leader in the 600 meters and junior Rayme Mackinson leading the way in the long jump.
The Wisconsin women's track and field team heads to the Big Ten Conference Indoor Championships this weekend with a different-looking squad than the one that finished fourth last season. The young Badgers team is without a number of athletes who scored at last year's meet but are redshirting the current season . In all, eight athletes who scored for the Badgers at last year's championships will compete this weekend. Senior Gwen Jorgensen is the Badgers' top title threat, as she enters the meet ranked second at 3,000 meters and ranked third in the mile. Freshman Dorcas Akinniyi also is ranked third in the pentathlon.
The women's rowing teams open their season with exhibition pieces at Indiana on Lake Lemon. The team is expected to race three 1,500-meter pieces against the Hoosiers in the morning and an additional four or five 1,000-meter pieces in the afternoon.
The Wisconsin men's hockey team (16-13-3, 13-9-2 WCHA) visits Minnesota State (13-15-3, 9-13-2 WCHA) for UW's last regular-season road series of the year. The Badgers are 7-1-1 over their last nine road games entering the series. Wisconsin leads 15-12-3 in the all-time series against the Mavericks, but is 4-8-2 at Alltel Center. The UW sits in fourth place, just one point behind third-place Colorado College with a game at hand, and three points ahead of sixth-place St. Cloud State for the final home playoff spot.
The Badgers will finish up their non-conference schedule when they travel to Missouri, from Feb. 27-28. The two dual matches are against Missouri and Oklahoma. UW is 3-0 in the all-time series against the Tigers, but have yet to face off against the Sooners. Missouri recently upset No. 70 Southern Methodist, 5-2. The UW defeated their first ranked team of the season, beating No. 75 Marquette, 5-2 last week.
The Wisconsin softball team (5-8) heads to Long Beach, Calif. to play in the Mayfair Tournament. The Badgers will take on BYU, Fresno State, Cal-State Northridge and Long Beach State. UW lost to both Fresno State and Long Beach State in the opening weekend of the season. Junior Letty Olivarez leads the team with three wins on the mound and ten RBIs.
Marketing Notes ' Week of February 23
For the Fans - Game Day Promotions
Men's Basketball vs. Michigan on Sunday, March 1 at 1pm
Bucky Poster Giveaway
Fans will receive a poster featuring Bucky Badger courtesy of Fuji Film, Woodman's Markets, Pioneer Photo Albums and Suttle Straus.
Ticket News
Women's Hockey
WCHA Playoffs
2009 WCHA Women's Hockey Playoffs, a best of three series, will be held at the Eagle's Nest Ice Arena in Verona, WI. Game 1 is slated for Friday, February 27 at 7pm and Game 2 is set for Saturday, February 28 at 7pm. Tickets for the first two games are currently on sale. If necessary, Game 3 will be played on Sunday, March 1 at 7pm. Tickets for Game 3 will be sold at the conclusion of Game 2. Ticket quantities are limited due to the capacity of the Eagle's Nest. Fans are strongly encourage to purchase tickets in advance. It is anticipated all games will sell out prior to the event.
Men's Hockey
Single Game Tickets On Sale Now
General public Wisconsin men's hockey single game tickets are currently on sale through UWBadgers.com. Reserved single game tickets are $22.00 and Upper Reserved single game tickets are $18.00.
Elton John / Billy Joel Face 2 Face Tour
Billy Joel and Elton John, the most successful and longest-running concert pairing in pop history, will bring their Face 2 Face tour to the University of Wisconsin's Kohl Center at 7:30 p.m. on May 7. Billy and Elton open the concert with a series of duets, playing twin pianos and trading vocals. Each artist then performs a set with his own band. A grand finale brings the two superstars and their supporting musicians back together for a closing encore. This includes some of both Billy and Elton's greatest hits along with an unpredictable selection of rock and roll classics. Tickets are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets online atUWBadgers.com, over the phone (1-800-GO-BADGERS or (608) 262-1440) or in person at the Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office (Gate 1 of Camp Randall Stadium).
