Wisconsin Badgers News

With 6,727 fans in attendance, pitcher Rusty Shellhorn, who threw a no-hitter in his last start, took the mound for the Madison Mallards on Saturday night, as they defeated the Eau Claire Express 7-4 for their second straight win. However, the win didn't come easy.

Shellhorn got himself into a bind early on by loading the bases with two outs. However, he was able to strike out Express outfielder Lucas Herbst, escaping the inning. The Mallards offense picked up where it left off the previous night, coming off a three home run 7-0 victory over the Express.

Unlike Shellhorn, Express pitcher Brad Goldberg was not able to escape the first inning without giving up a run. After striking out shortstop Josh Parr, Goldberg gave up three straight hits to load the bases. With only one out, infielder Reed Gragnani crossed home plate after an RBI fielder's choice to right field by catcher Rafael Lopez. One batter later, Goldberg threw a wild pitch to Mallards outfielder Lucas LeBlanc. The pitch advanced Lopez from first to third, and scored outfielder Kyle Gaedele, giving the Mallards a 2-0 lead. Two pitches later, LeBlanc hit an RBI single, scoring Lopez and giving the Mallards a 3-0 lead heading into the second inning.

The second and third innings were routine for the Mallards and the Express. Both pitchers failed to give up a hit in either inning, keeping the Mallards lead at 3-0 headed into the fourth inning. In the top of the fourth, the Express were able to pick up a run on infielder Andy Leonard's RBI single, cutting the Mallards lead to 3-1. With bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Parr and Gragnani hit back-to-back RBI singles to give the Mallards a convincing 5-1 lead.

"The middle of our line-up has been good all series long," manager C.J. Thieleke said. "It's good to get the guys in the three, four, and five-spots swinging the bats well."

In the top of the fifth inning, two straight errors by the Mallards lead to an unearned run by Express infielder Drew Heithoff, which put the score at 5-2 in favor of the Mallards. With runners on first and second, Shellhorn hit Herbst with a pitch, loading the bases for the Express. This would be the last pitch by Shellhorn, as he was pulled in favor of reliever Ryan Gorton. Shellhorn finished with 4.1 innings pitched, giving up four hits, two runs, and striking out one batter. As Gorton took the mound with one out, the Mallards were faced with an all-too-familiar situation of bases loaded. However, Gorton did his best first-inning Shellhorn impression by recording two straight outs to escape the inning.

"[Eau Claire] started to build some momentum and I just came in trying to limit the damage," Gorton said. "I was able to get a key strikeout, followed by the pop-out to end the inning."

The Mallards were able to put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning, thanks to Lopez, who hit an RBI double and eventually scored an unearned run off an error by Express shortstop Ty Forney. In a game that had a combined 20 hits, Lopez's double was one of only two extra base hits by either team.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Express gave the Mallards a bit of a scare. An RBI double by infielder Josh Scheffert and an RBI single by catcher Will Fadness, pulled the Express within three of the Mallards 7-4. However, in fitting fashion, Leonard struck out, leaving a runner on first base. The Express finished the game by leaving a total of 14 runners on base.

"Our gameplan was to just throw good pitches," Thieleke said. "We wanted to force them to put the ball in the air, especially on a night where the wind was blowing in. The ball really wasn't carrying out there."

Gorton picked up the win for Mallards, his second of the season. With the win, the Mallards move to 18-11 during the second-half, and sit only a half game back from the Green Bay Bullfrogs for second place in the Northwoods League.

The Mallards' five-game win streak came to a screeching halt Tuesday night as the Wisconsin

Starting pitcher Rusty Sellhorn put the Mallards in a bind early. The Woodchucks put runners on

the corners with only one out in the top of the first inning. Fortunately for the Mallards, Sellhorn

was able to escape the inning scotch free by striking out the next two batters. This would be the

In the top of the second inning, the Woodchucks led off with three straight hits, two singles and

a two-run home run by first baseman Brock Stassi. The lone bright spot for the Mallards was

Justin Parr, brother of shortstop Josh Parr. Justin Parr joined the team Monday and made his

first start for the club tonight in left field. In the bottom of the second inning, Parr got his first hit

"Even though it wasn't the night we were looking for, it's amazing to come out here and play in

front of a big crowd," Parr said. "It was a great experience, because it's something I'm not used

"Justin handled himself great out there," manager C.J. Thieleke added. "We're excited about his

In the top of the third inning, the Woodchucks led off with two doubles, eventually scoring to

give take a 3-1 lead. Things continued to go downhill from there for Sellhorn, loading the bases

with one out. Thieleke had seen enough, pulling Sellhorn in favor of pitcher Dillon Napoleon. It

looked to be the right move, as Napoleon forced Woodchuck first baseman Brock Stassi to hit

"Shellhorn felt good to go, but it was a matter of execution as he struggled to get ahead of

The Mallards were able to keep the Woodchucks in check during the fourth and fifth innings,

somehow trailing by only one run, with a score of 3-2 headed into the sixth inning. The score

was deceiving as the Woodchucks couldn't take advantage of players in scoring position,

leaving a total of five men on base through five innings. Someone must have told this to

Woodchuck infielder Eric Fritz, as he came out in the top of the sixth inning and hit a three-run

Hitter of the game, third baseman Travis Whitmore followed Fritz's lead hitting a two RBI single,

giving the Woodchucks an 8-2 lead. Whitmore finished the game 4-for-5, with two runs and

two RBI. The Mallards finally ended the inning, giving up five runs, but by this point the fans

had seen enough as most of the 6,284 that were in attendance began to file out one-by-one.

Despite the empty stands, the Mallards were able to hold off the Woodchucks for two

more innings until the flood gates opened back up in the ninth inning. The Woodchucks

scored five runs off of five hits, one of which was a two run homer by second baseman Rob

Lind. This sealed the deal, as if it hadn't already, giving the Woodchucks the 13-4 victory.

Although the loss ended the Mallards five-game win streak, the Mallards edged the

Woodchucks in the series six games to four. Tuesday's game also marked Mallards first

baseman Harold Riggins' 35th straight game reaching base safely, which leads the league.

While the All-Star Break provided a rest for the Madison Mallards, this weekend surely a change

of pace. After treacherous weather postponed the Mallards' Thursday night game, they were

forced to play a double-header on Friday. The Mallards were able to come out with one of the

victories against the Eau Claire Express. Most importantly, they were able to save their energy

for Saturday's double-header against the La Crosse Loggers, winning both games in decisive

In the first game, the Mallards jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a bases loaded 2 RBI

single by catcher Adam Davis in the bottom of the first inning. Davis finished the game with

the lone hit, but managed another RBI in the third inning, scoring infielder Reed Gargnani and

The story of the game was Gargnani, who went 3-for-4 with both of his runs coming off of Davis.

Gargnani picked up his sixth double of the season and now has two straight multi-hit games.

Mallard's infielder Jon Pierre Garcia's solo homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to

be the nail in the coffin for the Loggers, as they went on to lose 4-1. Junior pitcher Matt Morgan

picked up his third win of the season for the Mallards, while pitcher J.R. Graham picked up his

The win enabled the Mallards to head into their second game of the day with a much deserved

sense of confidence. Just like in their first game, the Mallards pounced all over La Crosse

early, expect this time they didn't stop. Mallard's outfielder Harold Riggins drove in 2 runs in the

bottom of the first inning, with infielder Jacob Esch also driving in one run. The hit by Riggins

marked the 32nd straight game he has reached base safely, which leads the league.

The onslaught continued as the Mallards batted around the order in the second inning, putting

up six runs off of four hits. Four of the runs in the second inning came off of Garcia's grand

slam, which marked his second home run of the double header. As if the Mallards needed any

more runs, they continued to pour them on with a three-run inning in the fifth. The Mallards

ended up crushing the Loggers 12-1. Mallard's pitcher Matt LaMothe finished the game with 4

strikeouts, picking up his third win of the season. Reliever Nick Rice picked up the save, his first

While the bats were hot in both games, especially the second game, the pitching was even

better. As a matter of fact, in their four games since the All-Star Break, the Mallards have only

given up a total of four runs, which is something manager C.J. Thielke is impressed by.

"It all begins with starting pitching," Thieleke said. "Our last four starters [LaMothe, Morgan,

Uriegas and Shellhorn] are all providing the team with an effective top of the rotation and that's

This weekend not only proved to be huge in the standings for the Mallards, moving them into

third place in the division, it also provided a chance for manager Thielke to get a look at some of

"The guys showed great energy," Thielke said. "It was exciting to see guys, who don't always

play, produce for us. I think it says a lot about the kind of depth we have on this team."

The Mallards look to extend their win streak to four games heading into their final game of the

series against La Crosse Sunday night. With a win, they could move into a tie for second place

with the Wisconsin Woodchucks, setting them up nicely for a possible playoff-birth.

That has become a redundant question in Big Ten country lately, as Ohio State has continually dominated the conference. The Buckeyes have had at least a share of the conference crown in each of the last five seasons, and with budding superstar Terrelle Pryor returning, OSU has once again been tabbed as the early favorite.

But ten other teams are ready to take their shot at a Big Ten title, and a couple have the talent to compete with the powerhouse in Columbus.

Let's take a look at the state of the conference with a ranking of the 11 programs heading into 2010.

No surprise here, as Ohio State is ready for another run at a national title. Pre-season polls have the Buckeyes in the top-3 nationally and for good reason. OSU dominated a high-powered Oregon team in the Rose Bowl last year and a solid core returns in 2010. A tough defense led by stud defensive lineman Cameron Heyward will be brutally tough to score on, and if Pryor can improve as a passer, the Bucks will have the components of a national power. However, two road trips could cause trouble. OSU has to travel to both Madison and Iowa City, and Pryor is going to have to be at the top of his game to escape those hostile environments with wins.

It looked as though Iowa was a team of destiny last season - until they met the pesky Northwestern Wildcats. But the Hawkeyes, 9-0 at one point last season, got a shot in the Orange Bowl and made it count, beating Georgia Tech 24-14. Expect Iowa to be near the top of the conference once again this time around. Ricky Stanzi returns to lead a balanced offense and Adrian Clayborn anchors a stout defensive line. Tough losses to the NFL in the linebacking corps and secondary will sting, but Iowa has enough talent to compete for a conference title.

The Badgers redeemed themselves a year ago with a 10-3 record after a disastrous 7-6 season in 2008, and in 2010, many in Madison and around the country expect UW to make a run for its first conference title in over 10 years. UW has had good teams over the course of the last decade, but they will need to be great to surpass Ohio State and Iowa. Wisconsin certainly has the talent to win the Big Ten, with John Clay headlining an explosive offense that returns ten starters and a playmaking defense on the other side of the ball, but ultimately, UW's fate will come down to their performance in big games against Ohio State and Iowa - two teams that have had the Badgers' number as of late.

Change is never easy, especially at the quarterback position. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, multi-year starter Daryll Clark has exhausted his eligibility, meaning an inexperienced signal caller is about to take over. Clark was a prolific passer for PSU tearing up secondaries with a deep group receivers, so a new starter is going to need some time to create that chemistry in a timing offense. Running backs Evan Royster and Stephfon Green will have to carry the load to take some pressure off the passing game and you can always expect to see good defense played in Happy Valley. There is plenty of ability in the PSU locker room, but some growing pains on offense could hold them back from challenging for a title.

Years of improved recruiting is paying off in East Lansing, as Michigan State continues to field talented teams. Returning starter Kirk Cousins is back to lead the Spartan offense, which is always loaded with quick receivers. Linebacker Greg Jones, the conference's defensive player of the year a season ago, is a tackling machine, but the rest of the MSU defense needs to raise its level to compete with the Big Ten's elite. Unfortunately, off-field problems and numerous arrests have haunted the Spartans and raised questions about the team's maturity. That is not what you want to see heading into a new season.

Things are looking up for the Wildcats with former linebacker Pat Fitzgerald leading the charge as head coach. An opportunistic defense coupled with an explosive spread offense has given top programs fits and NU is beginning to earn opponents' respect. Mike Kafka's graduation means a new quarterback is taking the reins and that could limit the Wildcats a bit, but this a gritty team that seems to find ways to pull off upsets. The energetic coach has the team in purple playing with a ton of confidence and Northwestern should be in the thick of things once again in 2010.

The winningest program in all of college football hasn't been doing a lot of winning lately. In two years under Rich Rodriguez, the Wolverines have just three victories in conference play and it looks like the maize and blue will be out of the bowl picture once again this year. Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier showed glimpses of potential last season, but inconsistency has opened up the opportunity for mobile-backup Denard Robinson to step in full time. Michigan's defense will have to find a way to replace defensive end Brandon Graham and a host of veteran linebackers in 2010, which means a disappointing unit must now turn to unproven youngsters. The transition from Lloyd Carr to Rodriguez hasn't been easy for Michigan, and the upcoming season will be another stiff challenge for the storied program.

Miami transfer Robert Marve is the new starting quarterback for Purdue and he was looking forward to utilizing some prolific weapons this fall. Unfortunately, Ralph Bolden, the Boilermaker's star running back, suffered a serious knee injury in the spring and he might not see the field. Luckily, Marve still has wide receiver Keith Smith to throw to. The senior led the Big Ten in both yards and receptions in 2009 and if Marve gets into a groove early in the year, Purdue will put up plenty of points through the air. Purdue has a talented d-line and a determined new signal caller, but a re-tooled secondary and Bolden's injury will be difficult to overcome.

The Golden Gophers are trying to figure things out on offense with three offensive coordinators in three years, but losing Erik Decker certainly won't help a team that went 6-7 last season. Decker was Mr. Everything for Minnesota from his wide receiver position but he has moved on to the NFL. Quarterback Adam Weber needs to limit mistakes in Decker's absence if the Gophers want to be competitive and Duane Bennett will need to show he can provide consistent production on the ground. Almost the entire defense is getting a makeover due to graduation so don't expect much improvement on that side of the ball.

Teams love seeing Indiana next on the schedule. That's the harsh reality of Hoosier football, but quarterback Ben Chappel will try to change things this fall after recording just a single conference victory last season. He has a terrific wideout in Tandon Doss, and IU will try to spread teams out and get the ball in the hands of their receivers. The defense is below average but the Hoosiers are playing with more toughness under head coach Bill Lynch and that's a step in the right direction.

Three seasons ago, Illinois was playing for the Rose Bowl. Now, head coach Ron Zook needs to prove he's worthy of keeping his job. After a dismal 3-9 campaign in 2009, the Illini basically have nowhere to go but up. Quarterback Juice Williams, and his go-to target, Arrelious Benn, have moved on, meaning it's redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase's turn to run the show. There isn't much proven talent around him and it's the same story on defense. Last year, stopping the run was especially difficult for the Illini. If linebacker Martez Wilson can recover from an injury and anchor the center of the defense, the Fighting Illini might scratch out a few wins. However, expect Zook's seat to get hotter in 2010 as Illinois once again finishes in the cellar of the Big Ten.

Any program that has Big Ten title aspirations needs star power. And entering the 2010-2011 season, it's safe to say Bret Bielema and the Wisconsin Badgers have plenty of it.

UW has tremendous depth and experience returning this fall, but there is a select group of Badgers that will be counted on to deliver in big ways.

Here is a rundown of the seven Badgers you must know before entering the gates of Camp Randall Stadium.

Without a doubt, UW's brightest star is tailback John Clay. He's also one of their biggest. At over 250 pounds, the junior regularly plows through defenders, but maintains the breakaway ability to take it the distance on any given play. Clay earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors last season after compiling 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns, and the spotlight will once again be focused on the bruising back. With all five starters on the offensive line returning and a wealth of experience under his belt, Clay should produce another tremendous season on the ground for the run-happy Badgers and perhaps earn an invite to the Heisman Trophy presentation at season's end.

Running backs tend to get the headlines here in Madison, but a potent aerial attack should be in full force with returning starter Scott Tolzien under center. Tolzien was the surprise winner of the starting job last fall, but after breaking the UW record for completions in a season and leading the team to 10 wins, no one doubts Wisconsin's signal caller. Tolzien shows toughness and grit, taking hits to complete clutch throws, but he struggled in big games, throwing costly picks against Ohio State and Iowa. It's been years since UW had an established returning starter at the quarterback position and if Tolzien can cut down on the interceptions, he could produce one of the best seasons for a Badger QB in recent memory.

The Badgers churn out NFL-caliber tight ends on a regular basis, and Lance Kendricks is next in line. A converted wide receiver, Kendricks has tremendous athleticism and reliable hands that make him a nightmare for opposing defenses. And after years in the UW program, the senior has developed into a physical blocker. Having recorded over 100 yards receiving in last season's Champs Sports Bowl victory over Miami, Kendricks is primed for a big season as UW's go-to target on third downs and in the red zone.

When the UW offensive coordinator Paul Chryst needs a big play through the air, he'll look no further than No.1. Nick Toon has all the physical tools to be a dominant wideout - soft hands, a 6-foot 3 frame, terrific speed and the leaping ability to make jaw-dropping catches. Toon reeled in 54 catches for over 800 yards last season and the junior appears ready to burst onto the scene as one of the conference's top receivers this fall.

With some newcomers debuting on the defensive line, UW is lucky to have J.J. Watt ready to lead the way. The overpowering defensive end is hard to miss - listed at 6-foot-6 and 285-pounds. However, the junior has quickness off the ball and brute strength, and he will be counted on to be a disruptive force on the line of scrimmage for the Badger defense after recording 15.5 tackles for loss in 2009. After that breakthrough season, look for Watt to wreak havoc in opponent's backfields and make big plays week in and week out this fall.

You never know what kind of production you're going to get from a true freshman, but it didn't take long for the UW coaches to realize they had something special in Chris Borland. After posting 54 tackles, 5 sacks, and forcing and recovering three fumbles, Borland was named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year. The multi-talented Borland was a sparkplug on defense, but he also returned six kickoffs and even hit three extra points when UW had some kicking issues in its game against Hawaii. Not bad for a freshman.

Have you ever seen someone get hit so hard that the decal on the side of their helmet flew off? Badger fans have seen it with their own eyes thanks to the one and only Jay Valai. Standing at 5-foot-9 Valai is known as one of the Big Ten's hardest hitters and opponents are always well aware of his presence on the field. The energetic, smack-talking Valai brings a lot of personality and physicality to the UW secondary. And he'll be the first to tell you.

There is an old adage in baseball that "chicks dig the long ball." If a player hits home runs -- and lots of them -- they are instantly a fan favorite. Who doesn't like watching a ball get cranked out of the park 400 feet from home plate?

But every once in a while there is a player that does things a little differently -- like Mallards shortstop Josh Parr. Standing at six feet and weighing 170 pounds, he has never been known to hit for power, but that hasn't stopped him from being both successful and a favorite among fans and players. Earlier this week his teammates named him the leader of the team.

Parr was born in Chillicothe, Ill., where he played high school ball for Illinois Valley Central High School. He was named to the 2007 and 2008 All-State Teams as a shortstop, and finished his senior season ranked as the 34th best prospect in the state of Illinois.

After high school, Parr decided to attend the University of Illinois. Often, freshmen tend to struggle adjusting to the college game, but for Parr that was not the case. The shortstop started 51 of 52 games, finishing in the top five on the Illini in steals (13), batting average (.337) and multi-hit games (18). As a sophomore, Parr started all 52 games, finishing second on the team in steals (21) and tied for first in triples (6).

"It's a lot of fun playing for Illinois," Parr said. "Our assistant coach Eric Snider is great with teaching hitting and I think that's the biggest part of my game that has improved since coming to Illinois."

Joining Parr on the Mallards is Illinois teammate and former roommate Adam Davis, who is fourth in the Northwoods League with a .370 batting average. Both were just recently voted to the Northwoods League All-Star team. This marks Parr's second consecutive all-star appearance, as he was voted to last year's Prospects League All-Star Game as a member of the Springfield Sliders.

"It's awesome to be able to play with Adam," Parr said. "We have a very close relationship. We're great friends. We were fishing today and he caught a six-pound bass. Those are the types of moments I enjoy the most with him. I'm happy he's going up to the All-Star game with me."

While Parr and Davis are close friends on and off the field, it is their competitive nature that drives them.

"Adam and I really push each other to get better," Parr said. "There is definitely a little competition involved."

When asked who the better player is, "I'll always say Adam is the better player, but in a foot race I think I would have the edge," Parr admitted.

If there is one thing Parr can do, it's run. It's no coincidence that he consistently ranks among the team leaders in steals wherever he goes. While most players tend to steal more bases playing at home, Parr is just the opposite. Thirteen of the 20 bases Parr has stolen this summer have been on the road.

"Coach always talks about how we need to be a little better on the road," Parr said. "I tend to get more comfortable when I play at home, so when I'm on the road I feel a sense of urgency to steal a few more bases."

Although Parr may not have the power that makes major league scouts drool, he has just about everything else:; his blazing speed, tremendous hustle and quick bat are rivaled by few in the Northwoods League. Most young players struggle with discipline at the plate, but not Parr. He has an uncanny patience, which was evident Thursday night when Parr took a four-pitch walk in the bottom of the second inning. What separates Parr from others is not only his ability to be a leader for his team, but also the ability to do so with modesty.

"I have no idea, probably watching (Mallards outfielder) Kyle Gaedele on TV," he said.

That's not to say the guy doesn't have ambitions. Growing up in Illinois, it has always been Parr's dream to play for the Chicago Cubs someday.

"I've been a Cubs fan my entire life," Parr said. "I realize they may never win a championship, but if the major league is in my future that'd be pretty cool to play there."

If you're like me, and working a soul-crushing summer job with hours only a fascist would love, then you can't wait for fall semester to begin. And once school begins, it's a three-month wait-a-thon until said semester is finally over. All you young'uns are either mentally crossing off the days until you turn 21 and finally get that fishbowl at Wando's you've heard so much about, or lying about the fact you're mentally crossing off the days until you turn 21.

There's a lot of waiting involved when you're a student here at Wisconsin. But let's add one more thing to be anxious for: An annual Big Ten title game in football.

See, in the over 100-year history of the conference, the Big Ten champion has received that honor due to regular season performance. When Penn State entered the fold 20 years ago, any thoughts of a title game died with the accuracy of the "Big Ten" moniker.

But as Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany sat on his couch last Dec. 5 and noticed almost 18 million people tuned in to see Alabama take on Florida, while 12 million watched Nebraska play Texas in the SEC and Big 12 title games, it was the straw that broke the camel's back: The Big Ten needed a title game too*.

*I'm using this as a nod to Sports Illustrated columnist Joe Posnanski's "Posterisks." Yes, I realize a lot of Delany's motive to expand the conference was to further the reach of the cash cow Big Ten Network. But if that was really the worry, the Big Ten wouldn't have been so quick to jump on Nebraska and its population of 1.8 million, and would have tried to expand east with Pitt, Rutgers or Syracuse. A conference title game was the real motive in this move.

Arguments have long been made about whether the nation's oldest conference needed a 12th member so they could stage a revenue/viewer-generating championship bout. The Big Ten's 21 BCS bowl appearances and nine at-large bids (both tops in college football) would say no. The fact that Big Ten football becomes irrelevant while its friends down south stage flashy title games evidently outweighs the former argument.

So here's the abbreviated version of events: Last December, the Big Ten announces it will pursue expansion. The Pac-10 and SEC respond similarly, threatening the existence of the Big 12 and Big East. By mid-June, the Big Ten and Big 12 needed to heavily consider trading names, and in the end, Texas was the tease at the party who flirted with everybody, but went home with nobody.

The University of Nebraska became the Big Ten's 12th member in June and is set to compete in athletics for the 2011-2012 season. Delany is pleased; UW Athletic Director Barry Alvarez is happy as well. Fans of Badger football should be, too.

See, conference title games are tricky things. If you're Florida in 2009, they can mean the difference between the BCS championship game and the Sugar Bowl. Or if you're Wisconsin in 2006, it could mean the difference between the Rose Bowl and the Capital One Bowl.

UW's 2006 football team set program highs with 11 regular season wins and a 12-1 overall record, the only loss coming at the hands of Michigan. Due to BCS rankings, the Wolverines earned a BCS bowl bid, while the Badgers were left out of the picture because a conference can only send two teams to BCS games (Ohio State played in the national title game that year). At season's end, Wisconsin was one of just five FBS teams to win at least 12 games. A conference title game in that season -- depending on how divisions were aligned -- gives UW a shot at Ohio State, and a chance to get to a BCS bowl and hurdle UM in the BCS standings.

Or, if you're the Buckeyes in that scenario, it's one more hurdle to overcome en route to a possible BCS title game. A win -- as expected -- gets you there. A loss, well, that could ruin everything, which is why Texas fans were dumping their trunks in that game against Nebraska last year.

But let's look at it from the Badger perspective. As much as Wisconsin has improved since Barry took the team to a Rose Bowl in 1994, the program's success essentially began with Alvarez. UW has been fighting to reach that top tier in the Big Ten hierarchy, but still hasn't made the leap. Wisconsin will probably never attract the same level of recruits Michigan or Ohio State or even Penn State get year in and year out. Big Ten titles are dreamt of in Madison, but not expected every season.

Let's face it; Wisconsin is not an elite football program. A Rose Bowl berth this season -- which is very doable in my eyes -- would be a great step toward becoming part of the preseason Big Ten champion talk on an annual basis.

That being said, a championship game gives the (typically) underdog Badgers a chance to swoop in and claim a title more often than it would in the current format. Sure, UW will likely have to deal with fighting Iowa and Nebraska for the division crown, but worrying about two other teams is better than worrying about 10.

A conference title game might only offer a chance, an opportunity. But that's all the 2006 team would have wanted.

Adam is a senior majoring in journalism. Think expansion will play in Wisconsin's favor? Excited about the Badgers' chances this year? E-mail him at aholt@badgerherald.com.

Wisconsin men's track and field head coach Ed Nuttycombe won't admit to total satisfaction unless his team ends a season on top of all others.

Though the Badgers didn't finish at the top of the podium, Nuttycombe nevertheless holds much enthusiasm for the team that overcame injuries to finish second in the Big Ten Championships and collected numerous individual accolades over the course of the 2010 outdoor season.

"I think I was overall pleased in the progress of the team in the sense that I definitely think we were better than we were the previous year," Nuttycombe said. "We competed better at the Big Ten Championships and fared well at the NCAAs, both indoors and outdoors.

"I think we had some injuries to some key athletes, and that didn't help us, but that's athletics."

Entering the season ranked No. 25, Wisconsin began the first month outdoors strong despite the absence of senior All-American mid-distance runner Jack Bolas, who was sidelined with a leg injury. Breakout performances, however, came soon enough in the Gateway Classic and the Drake Relays.

Four Badgers won their respective events in Edwardsville, Ill., for the Gateway: Adam Hexum in the 110 meter hurdles, Zach Beth in the 1,500 meters, Josh Flax in the long jump and Paul Annear in the triple jump.

In Des Moines, Iowa, for the Drake Relays, Wisconsin laid claim to the Jim Wheelock Distance Medley Relay in school-record-breaking pace. Ryan Gasper, James Groce, Zach Beth, and Craig Miller penciled in the new record at 9:32.84 - the second fastest in the nation at that time - and gave UW their first title in the event at the Drake Relays since 1949.

On that same day, while most of the team competed at Des Moines, a few Badgers participated in the UW-Whitewater Invitational where personal bests and titles became abundant, as UW collected five victories in various events.

Bolas finally returned to the track at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. The senior wasted no time in his recovery, winning his section at the Cardinal and then posting a personal-best time in the 800 meters just a week later at the Wisconsin Twilight Invitational. Seven teammates joined Bolas at the winner's stand at the Twilight, in what was seen as a "tune-up" to the upcoming conference championships.

With the momentum at its back, Wisconsin entered the Big Ten Outdoor Championships and pushed to a second place finish after placing sixth in the meet a year earlier.

On the first day of competition, true freshman Mohammed Ahmed claimed his first Big Ten title, winning the 10,000 meters in his first race of the outdoor season. The Badgers then closed out the tournament on day three in a flash.

Seniors Bolas and Miller finished 1-2 in the 1,500 meters in the first race of the day. Immediately after that, UW surprised some by winning the 4x100 meter relay without even having any relay members participating in the open 100 meters.

In the third race of the day, Beth finished second in the 800 meters, totaling seven All-Big Ten performances for the Badgers.

"We had a great meet," Nuttycombe said. "We ended up second - that's not where we want to be - but it was a very good meet for us and we competed very well."

"I thought it was a phenomenal [third] day, I was very pleased with the way that meet started."

Wisconsin sent nine athletes in five events to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, including its 4x100 meter relay for the first time since 1978. Ahmed earned his first All-American honor while Bolas and Miller added their fourth and eighth as their collegiate careers came to a close.

With "two very strong recruiting years back-to-back," Nuttycombe believes the team is on its way bolster the potential even more. What's more valuable though, is the team's constant willingness to succeed when needed most, he says.

"The last three meets of the year, meaning the Big Ten Championships, the regional NCAAs and the NCAAs themselves, the athletes that competed there competed very successfully and I was very proud of them," he said. "In athletics, at least in [this] sport, it's about being good when you're supposed to be good and you're supposed to be good during the championship part of the season and I think that we were able to accomplish that this year."

Heading into the 2009 fall season, the University of Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team held fairly lofty expectations. After all, the program had been the IRA National Champion five of the last six years and was a consistent powerhouse in the Eastern Sprints conference.

For the most part, setting the bar high yielded positive results. Once again, head coach Erik Miller's squad took home the Eastern Sprints title -- its sixth-straight -- and won every race in the fall season and every race in the spring up to the national championships. Yet, at the 2010 IRA National Championships in early June, Wisconsin was bested by another perennial powerhouse in Stanford. Still, the loss was UW's first in over two years, and the Badgers took home the silver at the IRAs to cap another successful year.

"Everyone once in a while, you're going to not come out on top," Miller said of the IRAs. "We actually had a pretty good race, but the team that beat us, Stanford, just had a little better race than we did. I think, overall, it was a pretty good effort. It shows we've got to come back and go a little faster next year."

Perhaps the Cardinal were motivated by a chance at redemption in the IRAs, as they were victorious in the schools' first showdown at the Stanford Invitational back on April 10 and 11. On the first day of the two-day event, the UW varsity eight defeated Stanford as well as Princeton, while the second varsity eight also topped Stanford's openweight novice eight and second varsity eight.

"I thought that we were going to be pretty strong coming into this season," Miller said. "It wasn't surprising that we had a spring racing season and a fall racing season that were as good as they were."

That April weekend proved to be one of the highlights of Wisconsin's season, as Miller also sent some freshman boats to New Jersey for the Knecht Cup.

"The guys that went out to the Knecht Cup ended up winning the varsity lightweight eight race and also the novice heavyweight eight race, so that kind of showed the strength of the freshmen that we had last year," Miller said. "That was a pretty big weekend for us, and it showed that we've definitely got some good depth and some good underclassmen who are going to be growing up and helping the team out in coming years."

Individually, the Badgers also produced impressive seasons in 2009-10. Two freshmen, Abby Knight and Constance Chucholowski, raced with their fellow first-years for most of the season, but were moved up to the varsity boats for the IRAs. In addition, junior Mia Cava also impressed year-round on the ergometer rowing machine.

"Mia Cava, she did a really good job, trained really hard all of last summer and into the fall and was one of the top five erg scores," Miller said. "I think she's fourth on the overall list now of ergometer, the rowing machine, scores, all-time in the history of the lightweight team. So she's somebody who came into the school and wasn't necessarily super strong, but just really sort of turned it up and found a whole other gear and was really one of the team leaders this year."

For the upcoming fall season, the Badgers' mission is clear: Continue to dominate the conference and recapture the national title.

"We'll get our first taste of racing many of the top lightweight schools in October when we go to the Head of the Charles," Miller said. "That's where we'll see where we stand. Last year, we won that event and it set us up for a pretty good year. I expect us to be competitive and be one of the top lightweight teams and hopefully, at the end of the season, we come out on top."

In a regulation baseball game, nine Innings are played to decide the winner. However, in last night's game between the Madison Mallards and Battle Creek Bombers, the game was all but decided in one inning as the Mallards won 6-2.

The key inning for the Mallards was the bottom of the third. With one out and bases loaded, Mallards center fielder Lucas LeBlanc, hit a three-run double, which gave the Mallards a 4-0 lead. It was LeBlanc's 13th hit in the past 10 games, hitting .342 during that stretch.

"I feel relaxed at the plate and I have my timing down," LeBlanc said. "I'm just glad to be able to help the team win games."

The third inning nightmare continued for the Bombers, as Mallards infielder Stephen Bruno hit an RBI double, widening the lead to five. Bruno finished the game 2-for-3, giving him his sixth multi-hit game of the season. The Bombers finally retired the final out, but the damage was already done. The Mallards were able to load the bases twice, go through the entire batting order and get five hits. This all translated into a five-run inning for the Mallards and that only means one thing to Mallards fans. Whenever five runs are scored in one inning by the Mallards, every fan gets a free single scoop of ice cream from Culver's.

In the fifth inning, the Mallards hit a small speed bump, giving up two runs, one of which was unearned. While the Mallards were able to come away with the victory, they had four errors on the game. This is concerning due to the fact that they have been struggling with errors all season long. As a matter of fact, the Mallards have committed 48 errors total, a number that head coach C.J. Thieleke would like to see go down.

"We have been giving up way to many easy runs," Thieleke said. "Teams aren't earning their runs. It makes me feel uneasy until the very last out."

Aside from the fielding mistakes, the Mallards were at the top of their game, especially in the pitching department. Starting pitcher Matt Morgan threw a near masterpiece through the first four innings, only giving up one hit. Morgan was able to come away with his second win of the season, striking out six and giving up only one earned run. The Mallards only gave up a total of three hits in the entire game. This is especially impressive given the fact that they gave up 12 hits to the Bombers the night before in an 8-7 loss.

"Matt Morgan's start was exactly what we needed," Thieleke said. "[the Bombers] swung the bats last night. To hold that team to three hits tonight, we had to do some things on the mound. I was happy with the way Matt started. He gave us a chance to be in the game after five innings."

Another key difference from tonight's game, was the fact that the Mallards were able to keep the ball in the park. After hitting two home-runs the night before, the Bombers were shutout in the home-run column. As a matter of fact, there were no home-runs hit by either team in this game, as opposed to the six home-runs hit in the night previous. Granted, Thieleke loves the long ball, but he prefers playing small-ball.

"Obviously the home-runs are fun, but I would rather manufacture runs like we did tonight," Thieleke admitted. Whether it's getting guys over or hitting the ball in the gaps, execution creates tempo."

With the win, the Mallards find themselves 4-3, only one game back from first place in the Northwoods League South Division.

"If we can play good defense, the way we've been hitting we're going to be a hard team to beat," LeBlanc said.

The Madison Mallards headed into Sunday's game at Warner Park against the Wisconsin Woodchucks on a nine-game win streak. More importantly, they were 2-0 to start the second half of the season. Both wins came over the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Friday night, pitcher J.R.

Graham showed off his versatility by hitting a game-winning RBI single. He also picked up his first win of the year on the mound. On Saturday, the Mallards routed the Woodchucks 16-3. A series sweep looked imminent, but Madison fell 7-3.

The Mallards started off the game strong with a leadoff triple from Kyle Gaedele in the bottom of the first. He eventually scored to put Madison up 1-0.

The success continued for the Mallards as J.R. Graham kept his hot bat going with a leadoff double in the second inning. He was driven in by first baseman Jacob Esch, giving the Mallards a 2-1 lead heading into the third inning.

From here, things started to unravel for Madison, giving up two runs off an error and a wild pitch. A contributing factor to the Mallards struggles was the fact that they went into the game with a slew of injuries to key infielders.

"We had some guys playing out of position," assistant coach Matt Rademacher said. "We have some injuries, but we can't make excuses. The guys filling in are college baseball players, who all know how to play the game."

Things got even worse for the Mallards in the fifth, when Wisconsin scored three runs to go up 6-2.

Mallards pitcher Tyler Jones (2-3) had a rough fifth inning, giving up three hits, two of which were RBI singles.

"I didn't make the pitches I needed to make," Jones said. "I left some fastballs done the middle of the plate and they took advantage. That's what good teams do."

Home fans were given a sense of hope as the Mallards put up a fight in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Gorton hit a RBI groundout to put the score at 6-3. In the bottom of the Eighth, the Mallards had an opportunity to cut into the lead. Instead, they left two runners stranded at first and second.

The Mallards were unable to put together a miracle comeback in the bottom of the ninth, eventually losing to the Woodchucks with a final score of 7-3.

With the Mallards playoff hopes resting on whether or not they win the second-half of the Northwood League, Rademacher still likes their chances.

"I'm still really excited, because we were rolling heading into the second-half," Rademacher said. "I think it's going to be scary good. If we heal our bumps and bruises and get everybody healthy, we are going to make a push for it." Jones has an even more optimistic outlook.

"We were rolling for a while, but all good things come to end at some point," Jones said."We are going to win 20-in-a-row from this point forward, hopefully."

It may be a little unrealistic to expect a 20-game win streak. However it's not hard to foresee the Mallards quickly bouncing back from this loss, especially given their upcoming schedule. They set off on a two-game road trip against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, who they just swept last week.

Thursday night, millions of Americans waited on pins and needles for LeBron James' free agency decision. However, in Madison there was only one thing on the minds on local fans: Mallards baseball. 4,753 hardcore baseball fans were in attendance at Warner Park to watch the Madison Mallards beat the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 4-3. The Mallards headed into the game as one of the hottest teams in the Northwoods League with a six-game winning streak.

Ex-Packer kicker/offensive lineman Jerry Kramer threw out the first pitch, bagpipers played the national anthem and the "Duck Pond" grew rowdy in anticipation as the announcer yelled, "Play ball!"

The game started off with a bang as Wisconsin Rapids first baseman Evan Laude hit a solo home run in the top of the first to put the Rafters up 1-0. The Mallards answered back with an RBI single from center fielder Lucas LeBlanc, who broke out of his first half slump going 3-for-3 with 2 RBI's.

"I was trying to do too much at the beginning of the year," LeBlanc said. "I felt a lot better tonight. I just relaxed and tried to have fun."

The fun continued for LeBlanc, as he hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. LeBlanc scored off a wild pitch one batter later, giving the Mallards a 3-2 advantage heading into the sixth.

LeBlanc was selected in the 11th round by the Boston Red Sox in the 2010 MLB Draft. He plans on playing for LSU next year.

"LeBlanc had a couple of great games right away and started to struggle," assistant coach Randy Molina said. "It's nice to see him start to realize his potential."

In the sixth inning, both teams went back and forth, scoring one run a piece. By the seventh inning stretch, the Mallards held a 4-3 lead and the fans showed their delight by singing in unison to "take me out to the ball game." There were fruit races (a knockoff of Milwaukee Brewers' sausage races), dizzy bat races and more mid-inning events to provide fans of all ages with a great experience.

The Mallards closed out the game, thanks in large part to the pitching of closer J.R. Graham, who clocked in at 95 miles per hour. He struck out the last two batters to pick up his second save of the season.

"Everything felt good tonight," Graham said. "I was locating my fastball and throwing hard."

Although, the Mallards fell short of winning the first-half of the season, they are hoping that their seven-game win streak can give them momentum heading into the second-half of the season. When you consider the recent play of the pitching staff along with the emergence of Lucas LeBlanc, winning the Northwood League in the second-half is not out of reach.

"This team is on a roll," Graham said. "I hope we can go out and win the second-half now."

After three consecutive losing seasons, Chandelle Schulte's run as head softball coach at the University of Wisconsin is over.

Schulte, who went 99-153 overall and 23-70 in Big Ten play over her five years at the helm, did not have her contract renewed Thursday, as the UW Athletic Board voted not to do so.

Schulte's only winning season over five years at Wisconsin came in 2007, as the Badgers went 27-20 in her second year as head coach. They were just 6-12 in conference play, however.

The 2010 version of the Badgers improved from the previous two, going 20-31 after back-to-back 15-40 seasons, but it was not enough to earn Schulte an additional year as head coach.

"I appreciate Chandelle's efforts during her years with us and I wish her well," UW athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement. "We will immediately begin the process of searching for a new head softball coach."

Schulte was just the second head coach in the history of the program after replacing Karen Gallagher, who resigned in 2005.

In her final season before taking the position at Wisconsin, Schulte earned her 300th career victory as a head coach. She did so at College of Charleston, where she was head coach for four years. During her tenure, the Cougars were 163-82, with one NCAA regional appearance, a conference tournament championship and two regular season Southern Conference titles.

Schulte's most successful season as a head coach came in 2005, when she led College of Charleston to a school and Southern Conference record 53 wins. The Cougars also had seven players named to all-conference teams while Schulte was named SoCon Coach of the Year.

In the world of NCAA basketball, the sixth game of the season -- especially when it's nearly a month before the beginning of conference play -- is generally not a big deal.

In the world of Bo Ryan and the Wisconsin men's basketball team, however, that sentiment does not exist.

Back on that Wednesday night last December, Ryan's 4-1 squad had a date with the 6-0, No. 5 Duke Blue Devils. Two years prior, the Dukies had utterly embarrassed the Badgers 82-58 in Durham, N.C. This time, however, the setting was the friendly confines of the sold-out Kohl Center, where Bucky and the Grateful Red were in full force to make sure a different outcome sent them home happy.

In a closely contested 73-69 victory that night, the Badgers never trailed, although the Blue Devils did come within 70-69 in the final seconds. For Wisconsin, the victory was a classic UW win -- strong defense held Duke to only 69 points, while smart basketball resulted in only four turnovers, compared to the Blue Devils' 11.

Individually, senior Trevon Hughes was huge for the Badgers, leading the team with 26 points on 9-16 shooting. Hughes was also a perfect 4-4 from the line, and perhaps most importantly, given his reputation as a sometimes-reckless ball handler, had zero turnovers.

Aside from Hughes, junior forward Jon Leuer contributed 17 points and seven rebounds, while Hughes' fellow senior co-captain Jason Bohannon scored 10 points and posted four rebounds and four assists.

Up six at halftime, the Badgers kept their lead largely due to Hughes' stellar second half performance. Hughes scored 19 of the team's 35 second half points and went 6-9 from the field. He also drained two huge shots from behind the arc down the stretch, the second of which put the Badgers ahead 65-54 with 5:08 left on the clock.

Of course, Duke would not go away quietly. Freshman reserve guard Andre Dawkins provided some drama by nailing two consecutive three-pointers, the second coming at the 1:54 mark to make the score 67-65.

Just two minutes later, it was over. What Wisconsin had, though, was something special. After the game, Badger fans mobbed their heroes on the court. Hughes and Leuer found themselves hoisted on the shoulders of fans, and they were given a moment that would not be soon forgotten.

It was a cold night in Orlando, Fla. -- a place where 50 degrees on a Dec. 29 night is chilly.

While the Miami Hurricanes' players could be seen foolishly shivering and huddling around heaters on the sidelines, Wisconsin wasn't bothered one bit.

Miami's incredible speed looked to be slowed by the cold, but the Badgers just ran all over the Hurricanes in the Champs Sports Bowl. John Clay, who was named game MVP by the media, rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.

Though Clay scored both UW touchdowns, the Wisconsin passing attack was incredibly effective as well. Quarterback Scott Tolzien threw for 260 yards on 19-of-26 passing with one interception. His primary targets were tight ends Lance Kendricks and Garrett Graham, who combined for 205 receiving yards on 13 catches.

Most impressive, though, was how silly the Badgers made Miami quarterback Jacory Harris look. Harris was just 16-for-29 for 188 yards with a touchdown and five sacks -- three of which were courtesy of defensive ends O'Brien Schofield and J.J. Watt.

All told, the Badgers dominated the Hurricanes at the Champs Sports Bowl, despite winning by just six points. It was a great moment because it was a validation of the Wisconsin football program.

"This makes a big statement," Watt said. "It was prime time television; a lot of people were watching and we're really excited about the statement we sent today. Wisconsin football is back to where it belongs -- Wisconsin football is power football, tough football and it's going to be a tough team to beat."

The proud Wisconsin men's hockey program has six national championships, 11 Frozen Four appearances and dozens of all-Americans, but until recently, the Badgers were always missing something --- a Hobey Baker Award-winner.

Thanks to former tri-captain Blake Geoffrion, UW can now cross that off the list.

Geoffrion was given the honor of college hockey's best player at the 2010 Frozen Four in Detroit with family, fans, coaches and, of course, teammates watching. The rest of the Badgers, sporting their unique playoff mustaches, had front-row seats as they applauded their honored captain.

"He's very deserving. I think he embraces what Hobey Baker was, as they described him. Being a talented athlete, but perhaps a better human being," UW head coach Mike Eaves said.

Geoffrion beat out Maine's Gustav Nyquist and New Hampshire's Bobby Butler to win the Hobey Baker.

The award was first given out in 1981, and the Badgers have had plenty of talented candidates passed over since its induction. Players like Mark Johnson, Gary Shuchuk, Steven Reinprecht, Brian Rafalski and Dany Heatley come to mind when thinking of the great talents of UW's past, but Geoffrion is the one and only Hobey Baker award winner.

The Brentwood, Tenn. native insisted throughout the season he wasn't concerned with individual awards or honors. He was focused on winning a national championship in his final collegiate season.

Unfortunately, that goal was never achieved, as Boston College emerged victorious in the national title game. The Badgers as a team were not able to get their hands on a regular season or postseason trophy, but Geoffrion brought home some hardware for UW.

Now, the Hobey may be an individual award, but Geoffrion's accomplishment spoke to the terrific group of players he played with throughout the season. The Badgers can look to Geoffrion's historic honor as a representation of their tremendous season.

The Hobey Baker award may not be the seventh national championship the Wisconsin hockey program hoped for, but it was a long awaited first for UW.

It was a moment that added even more glory to Wisconsin's hockey legacy, as the highest individual honor was finally bestowed on a member of the cardinal and white.

"It's an honor to win the award," Geoffrion said. "And I'm just happy to bring this award back to the Wisco family."

Geoffrion didn't bring a national title to Madison, but with the Hobey Baker Award, he certainly left his mark on the Badger program.

When the Wisconsin men's hockey team got back to its roots with an outdoor game, the Badgers brought a few friends with them; 55,031 friends, to be exact.

In front of the largest hockey crowd in UW history, Wisconsin came back in dramatic fashion to beat Michigan by a score of 3-2 in the Camp Randall Hockey Classic. Prior to the men's game, the women's team set an attendance record as well, with over 8,000 fans on hand to watch the Badgers have their way with the Bemidji State Beavers to the tune of a 6-1 final.

UW almost didn't walk off the ice with the win, though -- it took two power play goals in the last six minutes by defenseman Brendan Smith to down the Wolverines.

"To come back late, the crowd just kept getting fired up," senior tri-captain Ben Street said after the game. "We were cold, but I think we just had goose bumps because of how loud it was and the way the game was going."

The game also featured nods to the usual denizens of Camp Randall, with Smith striking a Heisman pose after scoring, and the entire crowd bouncing to "Jump Around" in the third period -- as much to keep warm as anything else.

It was hockey the way it was meant to be played. It was also the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience that felt just as special as it was.

"I'll tell you what, I was really nervous before the game. I felt like a freshman again out there; I had the butterflies going and everything," senior tri-captain Blake Geoffrion said. "It was unbelievable."

Heading into the 2009-10 season, head coach Mike Eaves finally had a team loaded with depth, and thanks to the presence of seven seniors combined with a good mix of young talent, the wins, and goals, piled up for UW.

The Badgers sat near the top of the rankings for the majority of the year thanks to their balanced scoring and at season's end they were one of the last two teams standing.

A 5-0 loss in the championship game to Boston College was a harsh end to a special season, but the 2010 Badgers were a team loaded with skill, giving fans plenty of ice cream and opposing goalies plenty of fits over the course of the year.

The Badgers were led by Hobey Baker award winner, Blake Geoffrion, who centered the top line and led the team in goals with 28. But the senior tri-captain was just one of four Badgers who reached the 50-point mark.

Sophomore center Derek Stepan led the team in points with 54 thanks to an astounding 42 assists, tied for top in the nation.. Many of those passes found the stick of his linemate, senior forward Michael Davies, who tallied 20 goals on the year. Davies was the team's playmaker on the power play, notching 52 points in his final season. When all was said and done, six of UW's seven seniors posted career bests in goals, assists or total points.

And the UW forwards weren't the only ones doing the scoring. Junior Brendan Smith scored 15 goals and had 52 points as the country's highest scoring defenseman. Smith's slapshot from the point proved to be a viable scoring option all year as the Badgers stretched out opponents with their talent up front and on the blue-line. Two of his biggest goals might have been his game-tying and game-winning goals in the outdoor game.

Senior forwards Ben Street and Aaron Bendickson along with sophomore Jordy Murray also contributed with double-digit goal totals.

The 2010 Badgers will be known for their high-scoring attack, as Geoffrion and Smith were tabbed first team all-Americans for their efforts, but UW also boasted one of the nation's top defensive pairings.

Junior tri-captain Ryan McDonagh and sophomore Jake Gardiner stifled opposing teams' top forwards night in and night out as the top pair. The two d-men had the best plus-minus ratings on the team as McDonagh finished plus-23 with Gardiner ending the year plus-25.

McDonagh and Gardiner, along with other NHL draftees Smith, Cody Golobuef and Justin Schultz combined to form one of the most talented defensive corps in recent memory and they protected a first-year starter in goal, junior Scott Gudmandson.

Gudmandson and Boston University transfer Brett Bennett battled through most of the season to grab to the starting spot between the pipes, but Gudmandson emerged as the top option down the stretch.

The junior netminder was solid in postseason play, suring up the most important position on the ice and the Badger offense flourished in front of him, as UW enjoyed a memorable ride to the Frozen Four.

Coming off a tough loss at No. 11 Michigan State earlier in the week, Wisconsin needed a big win over No. 4 Purdue to salvage a split in its first two games against the Big Ten favorites. With an upset over No. 5 Duke already on their r�sum�, the Badgers knew a second win over a top-five team at the Kohl Center was not out of the question.

Still, most fans and members of the media would tell you they weren't entirely convinced that Wisconsin could beat Purdue. Not with the way the Badgers had played in their loss at MSU and not with the way the Boilermakers had been playing to start the season.

Plus, after senior point guard Trevon Hughes went to the bench with two fouls just over six minutes in, the Badgers' chances of victory began to look bleak. Could UW really contend with the nation's fourth-best team with its star point guard riding the bench? But with his team up 10-6, sophomore guard Jordan Taylor stepped in for Hughes, and the Badgers didn't miss a beat. Taylor's play, especially in the first half, was the key to the game, according to Purdue head coach Matt Painter.

"Taylor was the difference in the game," Painter said. "Any time you can bring somebody off the bench and get 23 points on 11 shots, that's pretty impressive."

Still, Hughes and fellow senior guard Jason Bohannon didn't play too poorly either. Hughes scored 14 points in the game, nine of which came in the second half, on a night when he couldn't miss -- 3-for-3 from the floor, 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 6-for-6 at the line. Bohannon added 20 points of his own, which gave the UW guards a total of 57 points on the afternoon, or nearly 80 percent of the Badgers' offensive output.

Wisconsin led 8-0 to open the game, and the energy in the building never let up over the next 37:36. UW lost its momentum and trailed by as many as four points in the first half, but rallied back and caught fire before holding its largest lead of 14 points just over five minutes into the second half.

Junior forwards Keaton Nankivil and Jon Leuer -- who fractured a bone in his wrist during the game but played through it -- combined to go 3-for-20 from the field, scoring six points combined. Wisconsin's other starter, Tim Jarmusz, did not score in the game.

Taylor scored 13 of his 23 points in the first half, playing 17 minutes while Hughes had to sit after just six. Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan agreed with Painter about Taylor, whose efforts kept them in the ball game at a very crucial moment.

"That could have been a 10-15 point half in their favor," Ryan said. "You tell me how it was that score at halftime? My answer would be because of Jordan Taylor."

It was the high point of the season for the Badgers, and the win put them in the conversation for the Big Ten regular season crown.

Here in the heart of Badger Nation, it seems almost hyperbolic to tout Bo Ryan's coaching prowess. After all, his list of accolades at UW -- 217 wins, a .727 winning percentage, nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances, two Sweet Sixteen births, two Big Ten Tournament championships and successful mastery of the Hambone and Soulja Bo dances -- pretty much speaks for itself.

However, after the 2010 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball season, Ryan is wholeheartedly deserving of even more praise. Don't expect him to listen to it, though.

After junior forward Jon Leuer -- the team's leading scorer and rebounder at 15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game -- fractured a bone in his wrist in the Badgers' 73-66 Jan. 9 victory over Purdue, much of the college basketball world was preparing to write Wisconsin's obituary. After all, who would step up in place of the 6-10, 240 lb. power forward who also excels on the perimeter? Keaton Nankivil? Ryan Evans? Tim Jarmusz? Mike Bruesewitz? The now-departed Ian Markolf?

Yet, resisting the urge to mix and match the above-mentioned big guys in and out of the lineup, Ryan exhibited the patience and calm, rational thinking that has defined his coaching tenure at Wisconsin. Playing to his team's strengths, Ryan inserted sophomore guard Jordan Taylor into the lineup to provide the Badgers with a formidable three-guard lineup along with senior co-captains Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon.

Having gotten off to a solid 13-3 (3-1) start before Leuer went down, the Badgers, at the minimum, really just had to tread along until their starting power forward returned. Leuer ended up returning Feb. 18 against Minnesota, and the Badgers went 6-3 in his absence. Crisis averted.

On the court this season, Ryan's coaching genius was as evident as ever. The Badgers executed Ryan's patented swing offense to the Big Ten's second-best scoring margin at +10.2 points per game, behind only Ohio State at +12.6. In addition, Ryan's squad exemplified traditional UW basketball as the Big Ten's No. 1 scoring defense, allowing only 56.9 points per game; the second-best was Purdue, nearly five points worse at 61.3.

Renowned for his ability to coach up players and instill a mentally tough, confident attitude, 2009-2010 saw some of Ryan's best work. Nankivil, who moved into the starting lineup this year with the departures of Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft, saw his points per game nearly double from last year's 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game to this year's 8.1 and 4.7. Badger fans were even treated to a few Nanky throw-downs this year, a stark contrast from the attitude the seemingly-delicate forward exhibited the previous year.

While the second round exit to Cornell in the NCAA Tournament was surely a disappointment for Wisconsin, Ryan's coaching ability provided more than just a silver lining. Already earning $1.25 million per year through 2015, UW extended Ryan an additional year, saying in numbers what Badger Nation knows all too well -- Bo Ryan is one heck of a coach.