Jan. 12, 2012

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin Department of Athletics has issued the following statement and information it has made available to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) as the two groups plan for future WIAA events on the UW-Madison campus.

"UW Athletics appreciates and values its lengthy and historic relationship with the WIAA," UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. "We realize the importance of WIAA events to our city and campus, as well as to the many people who annually come to Madison from around our state. We don't want any of that to change."

Below are several pieces of information UW Athletics wishes to share ...

* Changes in the national college hockey landscape have brought about post-season scheduling adjustments that have subsequently created scheduling conflicts between WIAA boys and girls basketball state tournament games and UW hockey playoff games.

* For 2010-2012, UW Athletics agreed with the WIAA to play the girls high school basketball tournament a week after the boys high school basketball tournament in order to bring the event back to the Kohl Center from the Alliant Energy Center (AEC).

* For 2013 UW Athletics answered the WIAA's request to move the girls high school basketball tournament to the UW Field House the week before the boys high school basketball tournament, however, it does not appear that the WIAA is interested in using this facility.

* UW Athletics is still working to find a solution on the scheduling conflict between the individual state wrestling tournament and UW men's hockey series in 2013. Attempting to move hockey series to Sunday-Monday (Feb 24-25) in order to keep currently scheduled WIAA individual wrestling dates the same.  If hockey series cannot be moved, WIAA could move individual wrestling tournament to Thursday-Friday-Saturday (Feb 28-March 1-2) at the Kohl Center and combine with team wrestling tournament currently scheduled in the Field House Friday-Saturday (March 1-2).

* UW Athletics is still working to find a solution on the scheduling conflict between the boys high school basketball tournament and WCHA first round hockey playoffs in 2013.

* Current Big Ten Conference men's hockey playoff format is set for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

* Current contract between UW Athletics and WIAA runs thru June 2013.

* UW Athletics values its relationship with both the WIAA and the City of Madison. We will do everything we can to strengthen those ties for future years as we work on solving these scheduling issues.

OPTIONS PRESENTED TO WIAA BY UW ATHLETICS

February 2013

• UW men's hockey home series scheduled against Penn State on Friday-Saturday (Feb 22-23).
• UW Athletics attempting to move Penn State men's hockey series to Sunday-Monday (Feb 24-25) in order to keep currently scheduled WIAA individual wrestling dates the same.
• If Penn State men's hockey series cannot be moved, WIAA could move individual wrestling tournament to Thursday-Friday-Saturday (Feb 28-March 1-2) at the Kohl Center and combine with team wrestling tournament currently scheduled in the Field House Friday-Saturday (March 1-2).

March 2013

• WIAA has moved the dates of their girls basketball tournament to Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 7-8-9).  The Kohl Center is not available on these dates due to a UW men's hockey series.  The UW Field House has been offered as an option for this tournament to be played in.  If WIAA is not interested in this facility, girls basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 5-6-7).
• Boys basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 14-15-16).  This conflicts with the WCHA first round hockey playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday-Sunday (March 15-16-17).
• Boys basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 12-13-14) or Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 21-22-23).
• We have also suggested to the WIAA that they combine the boys and girls basketball tournaments into one weekend at the Kohl Center and only play the 10 championship games in order to fit the games into 3 days.

March 2014

• Girls basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 13-14-15).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference first round hockey playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday-Sunday (March 14-15-16).
• Girls basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 11-12-13).
• Boys basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 20-21-22).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference hockey championship playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday (March 21-22).
• Boys basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 18-19-20), provided UW Athletics does not receive a bid to host the NCAA women's hockey frozen four, or Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 27-28-29).

March 2015

• Girls basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 12-13-14).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference first round hockey playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday-Sunday (March 13-14-15).
• Girls basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 10-11-12).
• Boys basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 19-20-21).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference hockey championship playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday (March 20-21).
• Boys basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 17-18-19), provided UW Athletics does not receive a bid to host the NCAA women's hockey frozen four, or Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 26-27-28).

March 2016

• Girls basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 10-11-12).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference first round hockey playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday-Sunday (March 11-12-13).
• Girls basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 8-9-10).
• Boys basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 17-18-19).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference hockey championship playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday (March 18-19).
• Boys basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 15-16-17) or Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 24-25-26).

March 2017

• Girls basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 9-10-11).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference first round hockey playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday-Sunday (March 10-11-12).
• Girls basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 7-8-9).
• Boys basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 16-17-18).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference hockey championship playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday (March 17-18).
• Boys basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 14-15-16) or Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 23-24-25).

March 2018

• Girls basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 8-9-10).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference first round hockey playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday-Sunday (March 9-10-11).
• Girls basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 6-7-8).
• Boys basketball tournament is scheduled for Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 15-16-17).  This conflicts with the Big Ten Conference hockey championship playoffs at the Kohl Center Friday-Saturday (March 16-17).
• Boys basketball tournament could be played in the Kohl Center Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday (March 13-14-15) or Thursday-Friday-Saturday (March 22-23-24).