Wisconsin Badgers news, 9/25: Warren Herring expected out longer; Big Ten hockey media day notes

Good news, friends. Three-sport season is nearly upon us. Big Ten football season is just around the corner, Wednesday was Big Ten hockey media day and basketball is always this close to us now considering the wild expectations for this season. So let's tackle Thursday's Badger Bits sport-by-sport.

Football

Herring likely to miss more time | Badger247

One reason to be thankful for Wisconsin's soft schedule: nose tackle Warren Herring (knee) might miss more time than initially expected, Badger247 reports. While he was initially expected back for the Northwestern game next weekend, defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a says the Oct. 25 Maryland game (also homecoming) is a more likely return date. Nothing should be taken for granted, but Northwestern/Illinois/Maryland should be a survivable slate for Wisconsin's defensive line.

Freshman kicker Rafael Gaglianone works through growing pains | Madison.com

Gaglianone probably still qualifies as a fan-favorite, but he's now missed an extra point and a field goal in his last two games. Three games into a season, those qualify as "early-season struggles." Cue special teams coach Jeff Genyk, who isn't worried.

"I've had kids who have ended up being All-Big Ten, All-Pac 12, played in the pros," Genyk said, "and they were an absolute mess as a true freshman."

Rafael Gaglianone has been anything but a mess three games into his UW career, according to Genyk.

"From my vantage point," Genyk said, "he's doing a great job."

Badgers' Sam Arneson lowers weight, ups yards | JSOnline.com

Arneson carried 257 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame in 2013, when he was the third tight end behind seniors Jacob Pedersen and Brian Wozniak.

He entered this season at 243 and the results through three games have been promising.

Arneson enters UW's game Saturday against visiting South Florida leading the team in yards per catch (19.4) and second in catches (eight).

Andrew Endicott going deep this year on Badger kickoffs | JSOnline.com

Through three games this season, Endicott is averaging 62.6 yards per kick and UW is second in the Big Ten in kickoff coverage with a net average of 42.3 yards.

Endicott, 5 feet 9 inches and 175 pounds, recorded nine touchbacks on 57 kicks last season (15.8%). He had six touchbacks on 12 kickoffs last week against Bowling Green and has six on 21 kicks this season (28.6%).

Recruiting Radar: Austin Kafentzis rewriting Utah's record book | JSOnline.com

The Austin Kafentzis hype trail rolls on. Click through for Matt Velazquez's run-through of the latest highlights from Wisconsin commits.

Badgers freshmen watch: Game 3 | FOX Sports Wisconsin

Dave Heller's weekly feature tracks how many freshmen have played this season and how they've fared.

Defense still looking to improve | BadgerBlitz

Hockey

Big Ten Media Day News & Notes | SB Nation College Hockey

SBNCH bros were on site in in Detroit for Wednesday's Big Ten hockey media day. Here's one Wisconsin-relevant part:

-Mike Eaves (or his wife) had the line of the day when talking about Wisconsin's 11 freshmen.

"As my wife says, (the freshmen) may lack in experience, but what they lack in experience they bring with enthusiasm. She makes the analogy they're like puppies in a box. They're going to try to get out of the box, and we've just got to put them back in day after day until they figure it out."

Big Ten Coahes Poll | SB Nation College Hockey

This came out on Wednesday, so you might've seen it already. Apologies we missed it here. Wisconsin came in third, and also placed two players on the "Players to Watch" list: forward Joseph LaBate and goaltender Joel Rumpel (unanimous).

Basketball

OK so maybe there isn't a ton of basketball news. This Frank Kaminsky love from Corey Clement was pretty entertaining, though.

This just made my day getting to see god of the campus @FSKPart3 , I WANNA BE JUST LIKE YOUU MAN YOURE AWESOME pic.twitter.com/Pp6zGGM2Dj

— Corey Clement (@CoreyClement_6) September 25, 2014