B5Q Blogopean Union: updates from throughout the past week in Wisconsin athletics

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.

• First, lets take a look at some news from this past week relating to the Badgers.
• I think the most important thing to note here is that TEXAS IS BACK 100% FOR SURE NO QUESTIONS AT ALL!

• If you weren’t able to catch the B1G Champion and national runner-up volleyball team this past season, why not try and catch a spring preseason game?

• Former Badger volleyball player Mallory Dixon is finishing her career at South Carolina.

• Three current Badgers are trying out for the national team this weekend.

• I wonder if the dance team gets frustrated by the football team’s lack of rhythm? But, shout out Matt Henningsen’s jumping split skills. A man that big shouldn’t be able to do that.

• Tough to win at Camp Randall. Imagine how much tougher it would be if beer was sold there!

• Pro Football Focus named Eric Burrell one of the top-10 returning players in the conference.
• The swimming team won some medals at the B1G Championships this week.

Beata Nelson cleaned up, winning three gold medals.

• The Badgers are slowly turning into Linebacker U.

Speaking of the NFL Draft, The Ringer has a new mock draft out and it features two Badgers going in the first round. Zack Baun going to Seattle at No. 27 and Jonathan Taylor going to the Titans at No. 29.

• Speaking of JT, he was awarded the Doak Walker trophy on Friday night in Dallas. Personally, I can’t wait to see what his fit will be for the NFL Draft.

• I don’t know what Joe Pavelski did, but apparently there is some sort of deflection goal challenge going on now and the Badgers women’s team is in on it.

• Big weekend for the softball team with a chance to play each of the top-three teams in the country and see how they stack up.

Unfortunately, the Badgers blew leads in both games on Friday night, falling 5-3 to No. 2 Washington and 3-2 to San Diego State. Wisconsin was up 3-0 against the Huskies but gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth and the bottom of the seventh to lose. Against SDSU, Wisconsin jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a first inning Stephanie Lombardo homer. The game ended up going into extras and the Aztecs scored in the top of the ninth to eek out the win.

• Badgers were edged out by Northern Iowa on Senior Night and now must prepare for the postseason.

• The women’s basketball team will be having their Senior Day celebrations on Saturday at 11 a.m., but it’s a freshman that I think we should focus on today.