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Nigel Hayes became a star while at UW, dazzling on the court while being outspoken about issues in the Madison community.

COLUMNS

Wednesday word: Prospects must learn to be cautious on social media

By Jake Nisse | Mar. 8, 2017

There are lots of things that can derail the draft stock of an NFL prospect. A poor combine showing, injury issues, and even small hands on a quarterback are often red flags for team scouts. However, nothing embarrases draft prospects more than social media mishaps, which give players unwanted attention and can send them tumbling down draft boards. The most recent example of this occurred before last year’s NFL Draft, as the Twitter account of Laremy Tunsil posted a video of the offensive tackle smoking out of a bong.

Bronson Koenig went on a shooting tear to seal Wisconsin's victory.

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Mondays with Rasty: Seniors give Badger fans glimmer of hope, for now

By Zach Rastall | Mar. 5, 2017

“I feel like we can run the table, I really do,” said Nigel Hayes, maybe. Well perhaps that’s a bit of a stretch, but Badgers fans, coaches and players alike all had to let out a huge collective sigh of relief after Wisconsin’s convincing 66-49 win over Minnesota Sunday. The victory snapped a three-game skid for UW and a brutal stretch of basketball where it had lost five of six.

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Mondays with Rasty: Badgers must right ship before March

By Zach Rastall | Feb. 27, 2017

Postseason play is only two games away, and the Wisconsin Badgers look like a team with an identity crisis. A loss to Michigan State—the Badgers’ fourth in their last five games—denied them a tie with Purdue atop the Big Ten standings.

swimming in the Women's Big 10 Championships on February 20, 2016 in Canham Natatorium. Michigan won with 1,361 points. (Amelia Cacchione/Daily)

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Column: Transphobia must not be tolerated within sports media

By Kelly Ward | Feb. 23, 2017

The 500-yard freestyle and the mile are two of the most exciting races in collegiate swimming. The length is long enough where there are constant lead changes, and when multiple swimmers are going stroke-for-stroke near the end and one breaks away, the energy around the pool is electric. When I was watching these races on Big Ten Network during the Big Ten Championships last week, they sure didn’t feel electric.

COLUMNS

Wednesday word: Athlete's controversies must be covered as extensively as their community service

By Jake Nisse | Feb. 22, 2017

When Kyrie Irving joined the Road Trippin’ With RJ & Channing podcast last week, listeners were likely expecting the point guard to reflect on his season thus far, talk about the upcoming All-Star weekend in New Orleans or possibly just dabble in the X’s and O’s of basketball. However, what those listeners heard, at least for part of Irving’s time on the show, were some unexpected scientific remarks from the 24-year-old. Irving claimed that the Earth is flat. “This is not even a conspiracy theory," Irving said on the podcast.

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Wednesday Word: Social media allows Moesch, Ferris to build following despite limited on-court action

By Jake Nisse | Feb. 8, 2017

When the Badgers travel to Lincoln, Neb., this Thursday to face the Cornhuskers, Ethan Happ will take center stage on national television.

Ethan Happ dominated the Indiana Hoosiers as Wisconsin returned to conference play earlier this week.

COLUMNS

Mondays with Rasty: Despite Swanigan's dominance, Happ in race for Big Ten POY

By Zach Rastall | Feb. 5, 2017

As little as two weeks ago, it looked like Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan was about ready to lap the field in the Big Ten Player of the Year race. Swanigan has been a double-double machine, is a matchup nightmare for almost any defense and is a bona fide Naismith Trophy candidate.

Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes (10) shoots a three over Illinois' Leron Black (12) during the game at State Farm Center on Tuesday, January 31.

COLUMNS

Jake's take: Rondo, Hayes and social media

By Jake Nisse | Feb. 1, 2017

A day after the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Rajon Rondo felt compelled to respond to the criticisms levied onto the team by Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade in the wake of the defeat. As detailed in his latest Instagram post, Rondo was apparently incensed that Wade and Butler vented to “the media” after the game, as they criticized the team’s effort and execution vs.

Even in the days of Russell Wilson, Wisconsin football fell apart when it mattered most.

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Mondays with Rasty: Wisconsin's latest loss another in long pattern of heartbreaking defeats on the big stage

By Zach Rastall | Dec. 5, 2016

The first rule of Wisconsin sports: Never underestimate the team’s ability to build your hopes up and then proceed to shred your soul to smithereens in new and creative ways. Thus was the case on Saturday night in Indianapolis, when the Badgers built up a 28-7 lead, only to see it slowly dissipate as their secondary seemed to forget how to football.

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Mondays with Rasty: Can Badgers still make Playoff?

By Zach Rastall | Nov. 28, 2016

Around 4:00 p.m. Saturday, all this talk from myself and many others about the different College Football Playoff scenarios that may or may not involve Wisconsin looked like it could be for naught. The Badgers came out extremely flat against archrival Minnesota, allowing the Gophers to build up a 17-7 halftime lead that left the state of Wisconsin holding its breath. Luckily for Wisconsin fans, Minnesota imploded, thanks in large part to quarterback Mitch Leidner completing more passes to the Badgers defense (four) than to his own receivers (two) in the second half.

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Mondays with Rasty: Playoff scenarios practically limitless

By Zach Rastall | Nov. 21, 2016

For a second straight week, I’ll take most of this time to discuss the bigger picture of Wisconsin’s season rather than focus heavily on the most recent game. The Badgers’ 49-20 victory was exactly what you’d hope to see out of a team that’s fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff against a significantly inferior opponent.

Clement dashes toward the end zone in Wisconsin's blowout victory over Illinois.

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Mondays with Rasty: Chaos in Week 10 could help Badgers

By Zach Rastall | Nov. 13, 2016

While most of the college football landscape descended into sheer chaos this past weekend, the Badgers held serve at home in convincing fashion. A Wisconsin football team beating an Illinois team coached by Lovie Smith isn’t exactly uncharted territory.

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Tough talk: Football still tolerates domestic abuse

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Nov. 4, 2016

Trigger warning from the writer: This story contains graphic descriptions of domestic assault. Ray McDonald, Kevin Williams, Brandon Marshall, Santonio Holmes, Ray Rice, Dez Bryant, Greg Hardy.

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Mondays with Rasty: Chryst must quit using two quarterback system

By Zach Rastall | Oct. 30, 2016

There is quite a bit to unpack from Wisconsin’s thrilling overtime victory against No. 7 Nebraska this past Saturday. For starters, a lot of credit has to be given to Mike Riley and the Cornhuskers for how well they battled back in that game.

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Thursday thoughts: Despite public reaction, Hayes' outspoken disposition a stellar example for American children

By Bobby Ehrlich | Oct. 27, 2016

No, Nigel Hayes does not need to just “shut up and play basketball.” And, no, he doesn’t need to “stick to sports,” either.

COLUMNS

Mondays with Rasty: Inability to cash in on redzone opportunities troublesome for UW

By Zach Rastall | Oct. 24, 2016

There is nothing quite like a Wisconsin-Iowa game to make you second-guess your love for football. I must admit that I didn’t get to watch almost any of the game live, as I was taking in The Daily Cardinal’s 56-35 pummeling of the Badger Herald in our at annual flag football game at Vilas Park.

Badgers topple Iowa in classic grit match

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Sibling rivalry extends to Iowa-Wisconsin

By Ellie Herman | Oct. 21, 2016

Stacks of old photo albums at my Wisconsin born-and-raised grandma’s house are proof of the importance my family places on Badger football.

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Tough talk: Violence unavoidable, celebrated in football

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Oct. 21, 2016

I’ll be the first to admit that I love football. There’s something inherently primal about lining up in front of someone, knowing that your only goal in that moment is either to get past them or stop them from getting past you. It’s not necessarily always that simple, but when you get the ball in your hands, all you’re focused on is plowing through people to reach your goal.

COLUMNS

Mondays with Rasty: Despite loss to Buckeyes, Badger football has bright future

By Zach Rastall | Oct. 18, 2016

Saturday night began with the hope of picking up a signature win for Wisconsin football, but ended with the most bitter of defeats. It’s the kind of loss that was agonizing to endure as it happened and can stick with both players and fans for quite some time.

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Thursday Thoughts: College football must consider expansion in playoff format

By Bobby Ehrlich | Oct. 13, 2016

By almost all measures, the College Football Playoff is a perfect way to determine a champion. Except for one tiny, little problem: Some of the best teams in the nation get left out. Look, the CFP is a serious improvement from the old Bowl Championship Series, which featured no playoff at all and often had two teams that hadn’t quite earned it playing for all the marbles. The expansion to a four-team playoff was a good stepping-stone, but that is where the problem lies.