Men's Basketball - The Daily Cardinal

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

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig extend season, college careers with crunch-time performances

By Ben Pickman | Mar. 17, 2017

BUFFALO — Like elite runners in a 4-man relay race, the No. 8 seed Wisconsin Badgers (26-9) know the importance of a good handoff. Senior guard Bronson Koenig might have carried UW’s baton for most of its 84-74 victory over Virginia Tech (22-11) Thursday night, but when the Badgers needed a play most, Koenig passed the baton off to senior forward Nigel Hayes and let Hayes take Wisconsin to the finish line. Leading by only one point with 2:25 to play, Hayes received a pass from sophomore swingman Khalil Iverson on the left block.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA Tournament: Wisconsin Badgers will have to play at own pace to defeat Virginia Tech Hokies

By Ben Pickman | Mar. 15, 2017

BUFFALO, NY — With blistering winds and constant snowfall, No. 8-seed Wisconsin’s (25-8 overall) trip to Buffalo certainly isn’t the most warm or inviting location for a Spring Break trip.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wisconsin must balance scoring, improve free-throw shooting to advance in March Madness

By Jake Nisse | Mar. 14, 2017

With seniors Bronson Koenig, Nigel Hayes, Vitto Brown and Zak Showalter playing in their last NCAA Tournament for Wisconsin, the team will have some extra motivation to make a deep run this March. However, for that to be possible, there are some facets of play that Greg Gard’s team needs to emphasize in the immediate future.

If Wisconsin wants to make a deep tournament run, they will have to take down college basketball Goliaths along the way.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

One more shining moment? Wisconsin Badgers' seniors take final shot at March Madness run

By Ben Pickman | Mar. 13, 2017

Vitto Brown almost never wears his two Final Four rings. He knows where they are—in a mural of his athletic achievements at his house in Bowling Green, Ohio—but the rings, for now, are just museum relics on display for visitors of the Brown house to marvel at. Over the past two years, Brown—who still uses his 2014 Final Four backpack—has come to fully appreciate UW’s 2014 and 2015 deep tournament runs.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA Tournament preview: Revisiting the Badgers' brightest moments from a rollercoaster season of ups and downs

By David Gwidt | Mar. 13, 2017

Happ goes off at the Garden: Under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, redshirt sophomore Ethan Happ walked onto one of the most hallowed floors in all of basketball and took center stage, delivering his best performance of the season. In Wisconsin’s 61-54 overtime victory over Rutgers, Happ carried the load on both ends, torching the Scarlet Knights for a career-high 32 points while also anchoring the defense with two blocks. On a night when scoring woes nearly cost Wisconsin the game, it was up to Happ to keep his team alive.

With a victory over Florida Friday night, the Badgers would advance to their third Elite Eight in four years.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

NCAA Tournament Preview: Showy and '3tto' Brown form supporting cast

Mar. 13, 2017

Vitto Brown burst onto the scene last year in his junior season when he lept from 6.4 minutes per game to more than 25.

Could a red-hot Michigan Wolverine team make a run to the final four? They are the Daily Cardinal's dark horse in the Midwest.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wisconsin Badgers come up short again as Michigan Wolverines claim conference crown

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Mar. 12, 2017

WASHINGTON — All season, the Wisconsin senior class talked about wanting to close their careers with a Big Ten Tournament crown.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wisconsin Badgers fall apart in second half as Michigan Wolverines cap improbable run with Big Ten title

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Mar. 12, 2017

WASHINGTON — It was a long night on the offensive end for the No. 24 Badgers (12-6 Big Ten, 25-9 overall) Sunday at the Verizon Center as they couldn’t string enough successful possessions together to knock off Michigan (10-8, 24-11) 71-56 and claim the Big Ten Tournament crown. Wisconsin fell behind early, 30-20, but clawed back into the game to close the half.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Happ's hard work finally paying off at the free-throw line for Wisconsin

By Ben Pickman | Mar. 11, 2017

WASHINGTON — On multiple occasions this season, redshirt sophomore Ethan Happ has had to run extra sprints in front of teammates at the end of a Wisconsin practice.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wisconsin Badgers dominate Northwestern Wildcats, advance to Big Ten Championship Game

By Thomas Valtin-Erwin | Mar. 11, 2017

WASHINGTON ? The Badgers opened their Big Ten Tournament semifinal game with two airballs in the first three possessions.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Wisconsin seeking revenge in Big Ten semifinal matchup with Northwestern Wildcats

By Ben Pickman | Mar. 11, 2017

WASHINGTON — In the games leading up to No. 24 Wisconsin’s (12-6 Big Ten, 24-8 overall) 66-59 loss to Northwestern (10-8, 23-10) in mid-February, the Badgers had been playing with fire. While UW had won eight games in a row, in its wins over Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois and Rutgers, Wisconsin pulled out victories not because of its offense, but in spite of it. Against the Wildcats, the Badgers finally got burned.