Welcome to The Field House Chronicles, where we look at the goings on of the wide world of Badger sports. We almost called it “The Field House / Kohl / LaBahn / Goodman / Porter / McClimon / Nielson / URidge Chronicles,” but it maxes out the character limit. Take a look as we preview this weekend in UW sports that are not football or men’s basketball.

No. 2 women’s hockey (14-1-1 overall, 8-1-1 WCHA)

4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov 29: vs. Harvard (Nashville)—stream live via Live Barn ($)
1 p.m. Saturday, Nov 30: vs. No. 8 Boston College (Nashville)—stream live via Live Barn ($)

I have been waiting for this weekend ever since news broke back in June that Daryl Watts would transfer to Wisconsin from Boston College. Wisconsin and No. 1 Minnesota each will play top-tier east-coast teams this weekend in Harvard and Boston College.

This weekend will go a long way to deciding who will receive home ice in the first round of the NCAA tournament, as it is one of the few crossover games between the WCHA and the ECAC and Hockey East.

While Harvard is the only unranked team at the event, it is the unofficial No. 11 since it tops the “also receiving votes” category.

No. 5 volleyball (21-5 overall, 17-1 B1G)

5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov 29: at No. 8 Penn State—watch live on BTN
6 p.m. Saturday, Nov 30: at Rutgers—stream live on BTN plus ($)

The Badgers finish the regular season on the road this weekend with a lot on the line. Wisconsin can win the title outright with a win over Penn State, or it can earn at least a share of the title with a win against Rutgers. For more detailed B1G title scenarios and preview, check out The Sett.

Needless to say, Penn State will be another critical test for the Badgers, but Rutgers volleyball is struggling mightily. I cannot even fathom a circumstance Wisconsin goes winless this weekend; I expect them to take home at least a share of the B1G title.

No. 7 wrestling (6-0 overall, 0-0 B1G)

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec 1: at No. 1 Iowa—watch live on BTN

There are a lot of Badgers sports, and I want all of them to be successful. That said, I have never had much interest in sitting down and watching wrestling.

Until now.

I simply cannot wait to tune in on Sunday evening to watch this top ten matchup with Iowa to kick off the B1G season. This match will feature the best of the best, included five battles between ranked wrestlers.

No. 19 men’s hockey (6-7-1 overall, 1-4-1-1 B1G)

7 p.m. Saturday, Nov 30: vs. Michigan—watch live on FSW plus
4 p.m. Sunday, Dec 1: vs. Michigan—watch live on BTN

Let’s try this again.

Wisconsin faces another team with a poor record in Michigan (4-8-2 overall, 0-5-1 B1G). Michigan struggles on the road, and Wisconsin has played significantly better at home.

Anything less than a sweep is unacceptable.

Women’s basketball (4-1 overall, 0-0 B1G)

6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29: vs. Ball State (Nassau, Bahamas)—listen live on 100.7 FM/iHeart Radio
6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Arkansas (Nassau, Bahamas)—listen live on 100.7 FM/iHeart Radio

The last few years, Wisconsin has started off strong against weaker opponents only to struggle in B1G play. While women’s basketball will likely be lost in the noise of #AxeWeek and the top ten matchups listed above, this weekend could go a long way in determining how good the Badgers are.

Ball State (4-2 overall, 0-0 MAC) and Arkansas (5-1 overall, 0-0 SEC) are not necessarily world-beaters. However, these would be solid wins on the resume.

Plus, Wisconsin’s weekend at the Bahamas Hoopfest has to be better than men’s basketball’s trip to New York, right?