Wisconsin's NCAA Tournament Guide | Varsity Magazine | @BadgerMBB
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The Badgers reached the end of their road on Friday, with a late flurry by sixth-seeded Notre Dame sinking seventh-seeded Wisconsin's bid for a third-straight appearance in the Elite Eight. The Fighting Irish advanced to the East Regional final with a 61-56 win.
Recap | Highlights | Postgame News Conference | Lucas' Five Takes
With only one senior on the roster and a rotation that expanded as the season went along, Wisconsin returns a wealth of experience for Greg Gard's first full season at the helm of the program in 2016-17. The Badgers are well aware of their potential — and are prepared to work to live up to it — Mike Lucas writes:
Badger Rewind: Future already the focus for Wisconsin
From recreating Rocky's famous run to chowing down on cheesesteaks, the men of Moesch Madness, Aaron Moesch and Matt Ferris, took to the streets of Philadelphia in a quest to emulate some of their teammates.
If you love college hoops, there are few better places to be this weekend than Philadelphia, where the East Regional semifinals promise a pair of intriguing matchups. Brandon Spiegel gets a breakdown on the Badgers' matchup with Notre Dame from the Voice of the Badgers, Matt Lepay.
Notre Dame has no shortage of talent that will be on display against Wisconsin, but one matchup to watch specifically is the battle on the block between Ethan Happ and Notre Dame's Zach Auguste. Mike Lucas takes a look at a matchup that will make a major impact on the outcome Friday night:
Happ knows low post is of high importance against Irish
In the News
USA Today: Wisconsin symbolically rebuilds team, one brick at a time
USA Today: Tough times unite Greg Gard with Wisconsin coaches, players
ESPN.com: Chance encounter between Nigel Hayes, Tom Izzo impacts Wisconsin
ESPN.com: Wisconsin players know why Badgers are in the Sweet 16: Greg Gard
Sporting News: Moore's gamble to join Wisconsin staff pays off
Sports on Earth: Gard pulls off best coaching job in college hoops
Madison.com: Gard handles unusual questions with ease
Madison.com: Happ rises in NCAA tournament after poor Big Ten finale
Madison.com: Ignore the critics -- winning is never ugly
Madison.com: Nigel Hayes working hard to break out of shooting slump
Madison.com: Top plays of the 2015-16 season
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Badgers' confidence rooted in winning culture
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Showalter embodies core principles of UW basketball
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Badgers are battle-tested in close games
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: One-on-one sessions leave Hayes, Koenig battle-tested
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Confident Vitto Brown emerges as consistent scorer
"The team plane touched down about 7 or 8 and we yelled to the pilot, 'Yo homes smell ya later'..."
Hey, Philly, the men of Moesch Madness are here.
In honor of the Badgers' return to the Sweet 16, Andy Baggot runs through 16 things to know about Wisconsin's return to the regional round of the NCAA tournament.
What to know about Wisconsin's regional run
Talking one-on-one with Zak Showalter on the eve of the Badgers' Sweet 16 matchup with Notre Dame.
The Badgers got their first look at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday, going through their open practice session at the arena and meeting with the media before heading to the historic Palestra for a traditional practice session.
Gard & Players News Conference | Transcript
They're back... Aaron Moesch and Matt Ferris' latest installment of Moesch Madness takes a swing — and a miss — at recreating Bronson Koenig's big shot vs. Xavier. Come for the shooting, um, display and stay for the commentary from Will Decorah and T.J. Schlundt.
The March 23 edition of Varsity Magazine is now available, featuring a complete preview of the Badgers' trip to the Sweet 16, a look back at Bronson Koenig's dramatic buzzer-beater and a touching story of how the team has rallied around assistant coach Lamont Paris.
Varsity Magazine: Sweet 16 Preview
Watching Wisconsin make a run in the NCAA tournament from his couch has been much more stressful than Sam Dekker anticipated — and much more stressful than his experiences on the floor as a Badger. Still, count Dekker among those who aren't surprised by how the Badgers have handled the pressures of March, Andy Baggot writes:
Proud product Dekker not surprised by Badgers’ poise
Kahlil Iverson is a high-flyer, no doubt, but his contributions in leading the Badgers' bench in the NCAA tournament have gone well beyond his highlight-reel dunks.
Greg Gard has made note of how his team has grown closer over the course of a sometimes-tumultuous season. The way the Badgers have rallied around assistant coach Lamont Paris in a time of need is the latest example of their tight-knit nature, Mike Lucas writes:
Lucas at Large: No doubt Badgers are in this together
Wisconsin's loss to Nebraska in the Big Ten tournament — seems like a long time ago, right? — has already been forgotten. With his game-winning triple, however, Bronson Koenig provided the latest March memory that won't fade for Badgers fans, Matt Lepay writes:
The Voice: Not all March memories are fleeting
Nigel Hayes is in a shooting slump. How does he break out of it? By shooting, of course.
The similarities are striking, though it took Freddie Owens a while to realize just how much his 2003 buzzer-beater had in common with Bronson Koenig's game-winning 3-pointer from Sunday night. If there's anyone who can appreciate what it's like for Koenig to play hero in March, it's Owens.
Thrill of a March buzzer-beater? Owens knows the feeling
Head coach Greg Gard brought up the Badgers' improvement on defense as a major reason for their late-season success on Monday. He also referenced how his team has grown closer over the course of a sometimes tumultuous season. Growing as a team, it seems, has allowed the Badgers to keep going as a team, Andy Baggot writes:
Coming together has allowed Badgers to keep going
While still basking in the glow of Sunday's dramatic win over Xavier, UW head coach Greg Gard has already turned his attention to Notre Dame, the Badgers' opponent in Friday's East Regional semifinal. Defense, Gard says, will continue to be key for his team.
Highlights, highlights, highlights. Watch 'em, love 'em, watch 'em again.
Bronson Koenig's buzzer-beating game-winner certainly qualifies as unforgettable, but don't lose sight of all the plays the Badgers made down the stretch to make Koenig's heroics possible. Mike Lucas dives into how it all came together in his Badger Rewind:
Badger Rewind: The plays that set the stage for The Shot
Just call him Klutch Koenig. First, he tied the game with a deep 3-pointer with 11.7 seconds to play. Then, after Zak Showalter drew a charge to get the ball back with 4 seconds remaining and coach Greg Gard used a timeout with 2 seconds left to draw up a play, Bronson Koenig splashed a fall-away 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift seventh-seeded Wisconsin past No. 2 seed Xavier, 66-63, in Sunday's second-round NCAA tournament matchup.
Koenig's sweet shot sends Badgers to Philadelphia | Lucas' Five Takes
"Got it! Got it! Bronson Koenig at the buzzer!" Matt Lepay calls an instant classic and the celebration is on in the Badgers' locker room.
Yes, Xavier likes to push the tempo, but what else should we know about the Musketeers heading into Sunday's second-round showdown in St. Louis? The Voice of the Badgers, Matt Lepay, gives his version of the Badgers' scouting report.
The challenges of preparing for an opponent are magnified by the short windows of preparation that teams have after advancing in the NCAA tournament. The task only increases with an opponent of the quality of second-seeded Xavier, which brings a tricky 1-3-1 zone defense and an offensive attack driven by a host of playmakers. Mike Lucas breaks down what to look for from the Musketeers with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
Lucas: Badgers must get 'creative' to get past Xavier
Quick turnarounds are the norm when you advance in the NCAA tournament, so Badgers coach Greg Gard certainly isn't complaining about a sleepless night as he and the UW staff began scouting second-round opponent Xavier. "If you're sleep-deprived at this time of year, thumbs up. You're still dancing."
Transcripts: Coach Gard | Happ & Showalter
"I mean, geez, it was easily the most physical game that we've played this year," Bronson Koenig said of the Badgers' victory over Pittsburgh. Mike Lucas looks at a game that offered a throwback to the 40's — as in the 47-43 score — as well as a throwback to the '40s — as in the Badgers' last NCAA tournament win over the Panthers — in his Badger Rewind.
Badger Rewind: Throwback win keeps Badgers moving forward
Here's an outstanding look inside the Badgers' opening-round win — before, during and after.
It wasn't pretty, but the Badgers are moving on. Seventh-seeded Wisconsin struggled offensively but got the playes it needed down the stretch to score a 47-43 win over No. 10 seed Pittsburgh in Friday's first-round matchup in St. Louis.
The Badgers will face No. 2 seed Xavier at approximately 7:40 p.m. Sunday with a trip to their fifth Sweet 16 in six years on the line.
Grind it Out: Badgers scrape by Pitt to win NCAA opener
Highlights: Wisconsin 47, Pittsburgh 43
Happ Powers Badgers to Win
Postgame News Conference
It's gameday in St. Louis. UWBadgers.com's Brandon Spiegel breaks down the keys to Wisconsin's first-round clash with Pitt with the Voice of the Badgers, Matt Lepay.
Wisconsin's freshmen are ready to making their own March Madness memories if the Badgers' bench is called upon against a deep Pittsburgh team.
Lucas: Will Badgers' bench be pressed into service?
In the News
USA Today: A very different Wisconsin team back in NCAA spotlight
Chicago Sun Times: Badgers believe they can go deep again
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ethan Happ will need to play big for Badgers
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin counting on youngsters for NCAA Tournament and beyond
Wisconsin State Journal: Assistant coach Moore excited to be back in tournament
From Scottrade Center to the Gateway Arch, and everywhere in between, Moesch Madness has taken St. Louis by storm. Soak it all in.
Wisconsin got its first glimpse of Scottrade Center with a 40-minute open practice as well as press conferences and open locker room media availability.
Photos: Inside the Badgers' NCAA tournament journey
There were no Dictionary of the day words for Nigel Hayes this year, but that didn't mean he wasn't the darling of the Dance.
The fun didn't all graduate after last year's NCAA tournament run — Nigel Hayes can attest to that — but the Badgers are also still fully capable of locking in when they need to.
Transcripts: Greg Gard | Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig
It's been well-publicized that head coach Greg Gard was raised in a the village of Cobb, an hour's drive from Madison. Now that Gard has raised the profile of this small town, UWBadgers.com Insider Andy Baggot made the drive to see how Gard's hometown continues to embrace its most famous son.
Read: Where the Streets Have His Name: A trip to Greg Gard's Cobb
In the News
UWBadgers.com: How the Badgers fought their way back to the Big Dance
Wisconsin State Journal: Hayes carries hunger for knowledge, dream of reaching NBA
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Gard trying to get bench ready for Big Dance
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ethan Happ will need to play big for Badgers
Pittsburgh Tribune: Dixon insists Pitt season more than first-round game
The Badgers arrived in St. Louis late Wednesday. Allow Aaron Moesch and Matt Ferris to be your tour guide through the tournament experience with the first installment of "Moesch Madness."
Headed to St. Louis? Join your fellow Badgers fans for a pregame pep rally at Ballpark Village. Complete details: St. Louis events set for Badgers fans
The X-factor in Friday's first-round matchup may just be matching Pittsburgh's toughness, the Badgers say.
The March 16 edition of Varsity Magazine is available, featuring a complete preview of the Badgers' 18th-straight trip to the NCAA men's basketball tournament and an exclusive journey to head coach Greg Gard's hometown of Cobb, Wisconsin. Plus, in his weekly column, "The Voice of the Badgers" Matt Lepay writes about what many fans feel, that March Madness will never get old.
Read: Varsity Magazine | iOS App | Android App
In the News
UWBadgers.com: A road trip to Greg Gard's Cobb
Pittsburgh Tribune: Wisconsin dusts off 'Swing' offense for late-season surge
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Players-only meeting part of UW's turnaround
Prior to departing for St. Louis, the Badgers prepared for their date with Pittsburgh at the Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion on campus in Madison.
When Wisconsin faces off with Pittsburgh to open the 2016 NCAA Tournament, it will be a new experience for a number of players in the Badgers' rotation, even though the tournament environment is nothing new to UW.
Get to Know Pittsburgh
UWBadgers.com: Toughness remains touchstone for Pitt program
Pittsburgh Tribune: Pitt prepares for Wisconsin's patient approach
In the News
UWBadgers.com: Lepay: Repetition doesn't remove thrills of March
Wall Street Journal: A few more words from Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Is Wisconsin tough enough to take down Pittsburgh?
Wisconsin State Journal: Paul Chryst can relate to Pitt's Jamie Dixon
After getting his first look at the Panthers on film, UW head coach Greg Gard met the media Tuesday to offer another look ahead to the Badgers' opening-round matchup with Pittsburgh.
Wisconsin NCAA Tournament Guide Get Adobe Acrobat Reader
Wisconsin earned a trip to the NCAA tournament for the 18th-consecutive season, a streak that began in 1999. The Badgers' 18 consecutive trips to the Big Dance is tied for the 5th-longest in NCAA history. UW is a No. 7 seed in the East Region and will take on No. 10 Pittsburgh in the opening round on Friday, March 18 at 5:50 p.m. (CT) at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Let's Dance: Badgers draw Pitt in first round of NCAA tournament
After they learned their first-round opponent and destination, head coach Greg Gard and the Badgers met with the media to discuss their draw.
