B5Q Blogopean Union: Time for the Knockout Stages

Good morning! This is going to be a daily(ish) post that discusses the goings on of the rest of the Big Ten Conference, and the country as needed. Much like the European Union, the Big Ten is a loosely confederated group of entities that sometimes have the same goals (like free movement of people between countries or not winning national titles in football or basketball) and sometimes accept new members that they later regret (Estonia or Rutgers).

We hope that you will use this post to comment on things happening around the conference and also as a sort of daily open thread to discuss breaking news or argue about Spotted Cow.

Hello, it’s me, your temporary host Tyler... you’re probably wondering where our beloved leader Drew is. Well, ya see, Drew welcomed a baby girl into his family on Saturday morning so he is a little busy at the moment. I’m sure you all will give him a pass (and a congrats) and allow me to take a crack at this B5Q Blogopean Union. Much appreciated. Let’s get to it!

• The big attention of the day is obviously on the US Women’s National Team who begin the knockout stages of the World Cup at 11 AM Central against Spain. Wisconsin’s own Rose Lavelle is in the starting XI (yeah I know a little soccer) as they try to survive and advance for a date with host country France on Friday afternoon.

• We mentioned in the last B5Q Blogopean Union that Wisconsin Legend Ethan Happ was not drafted, however Happ has agreed to play with the Chicago Bulls in the upcoming summer league in Las Vegas. Happ will look to make an impression and improve his stock to eventually make an NBA roster.

• Since we often talk the Big Ten as a whole in this thread, we have to talk about the College World Series where the Michigan Wolverines advanced to the Series Finals and will take on Vanderbilt in Game 1 tonight, in a best of three contest. The Wolverines are the first Big Ten team to advance to the CWS Finals since Ohio State did in 1966.

It’s safe to say the Big Ten isn’t really a baseball conference, making Michigan a pretty cool Cinderella story. Maybe someday we’ll be talking Badger Baseball on this site (one can dream can’t he). Anyway, anytime the Big Ten and SEC clash, you know who to root for. Taking down the powerhouse of Vanderbilt Baseball would be quite a perk for the better conference to the North.

• Lastly the American Family Insurance Open finished up this weekend at University Ridge in Madison. Two Madison residents battled it out in a playoff before Jerry Kelly took down Steve Stricker and Retrief Goosen in a three man playoff. While neither Kelly or Stricker attended UW, they do have a lasting tie to Madison, and the AmFam event is always a special one for Madison and locals alike.