Badger Bits: Ahead of NBA Draft, Madison Cone shows off hops

The 2017 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday night and we’re all ready for the annual #WojBomb extravaganza.

Though the prospects of both forward Nigel Hayes and guard Bronson Koenig being drafted are up in the air, the former Wisconsin Badgers should have an opportunity to showcase their talents in some fashion this summer.

Before the festivities begin, make sure you check Dylan Paris’s NBA Draft profiles of both Hayes and Koenig, along with our podcast from Tuesday night featuring ESPN Milwaukee’s Eric Nehm.

Check back to B5Q during the evening for any draft news pertaining to Hayes and Koenig, along with updates regarding possible free-agent/summer landing spots for Vitto Brown and Zak Showalter.

On to the links:

• Well worth your time as well, here are more Camp Randall 100 profiles of Don Gehrmann and Dave Schreiner.
• Former punter Drew Meyer played in 54 games for Wisconsin, tied for the most in school history. Now, he’s heading off to Virginia to be a graduate assistant.

Congrats to Meyer, a former walk-on who also holds records for punt yards and punts in a season (3,323 yards on 80 attempts in 2012) and career punts (256).

• He may be only 5’9, but that doesn’t mean true freshman cornerback Madison Cone doesn’t have vertical capabilities on the basketball court.

See Exhibit A:

Cone’s dunk calls back to memory a slam by his current position coach and Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, about 15 years ago (check around the :20 mark):

• Our friends at Finish Line Events are putting together their inaugural Cooney Classic Bike Tour east of Madison in Oconomowoc on July 15. Per event organizer Craig Schaning, the event is a non-competitive bike ride beginning and ending at the Hops & Leisure restaurant. Participants can choose between three route options (about 20, 40, or 60 miles). Rest stops with refreshments will be placed approximately every 15 miles along the routes. Upon finishing, each participant will receive a burger and beer or soda from Hops & Leisure.

Two cool things here. First, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin will benefit from the event, as a portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to the organization. Second, B5Q readers get 20 percent off the registration fees by using code “BUCKY”, which should be up today.

Through June 28, registration is $50 ($40 if you utilize the code) and includes a T-shirt, the burger and beverage (latter dependent upon your age). Check out their website for more details.