B5Q Blogopean Union: women’s hockey back in first in the WCHA

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 Nebraska).

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 (which we NO LONGER DO).

• Ahead of a huge dual meet against No. 2 Iowa, the Badgers move up to No. 9 in the Intermat rankings. Freshman Dean Hamiti leads the team as the highest ranked individual wrestler at No. 6 in his weight class.

• J.J. Watt could fill the backup power forward minutes pretty nicely for the Badgers I think.

• WiScOnSiN rUnNiNg BaCkS cAn’T pLaY iN tHe NfL.

• A number of Badgers players took to social media on Tuesday to show support for QB Graham Mertz after transfer QB Caleb Williams picked Southern Cal over the Badgers. Say what you will about Mertz’s on field performance last year, he definitely has the love and respect of the rest of the roster which is an extremely important part of being a quarterback tbqh.

• Future Badger Caroline Harvey is already representing her country in the Olympics. Read more on her here before the hockey portion of the Olympics gets started (later Wednesday aka tonight!).

Also this!

• Pretty good to get the endorsement of the last Wisconsin National Player of the Year methinks.

• Here’s a cool “insiders” look at how Jerry Mao made the sweet Johnny Davis NPOY video from earlier this week.

• Captain America is now Captain of the All-Star Game too!

• Some dude on Twitter who reports on the Dallas Cowboys (naturally) commented that TE Jake Ferguson made some nice catches during Senior Bowl practice for a player that was mostly a blocking tight end. He was summarily roasted by Badgers fans and we won’t post his asinine tweet here, but we do hope he gets better scouting reports for other players.

• Speaking of postseason all-star games, our very own Owen Riese has been in Las Vegas working at the East-West Shrine Bowl, for which he is a scout. He’ll, eventually, have a post for us on how the trio of Badgers performed there!

• The Wisconsin women’s hockey team went 3-0 on their lengthy road trip to Minnesota over the weekend, sweeping St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday while beating St. Thomas on Monday evening on their way back to Madison. With the three wins, the Badgers are now back in first place in the WCHA but sit at No. 4 in the nation behind Minnesota, Ohio State and Northeastern.

• Indiana lost their running backs coach to Notre Dame. However, both of his sons are planning on remaining in Bloomington.
• Jim Harbaugh expected to take Minnesota Vikings job!
• Will Northwestern women’s hoops make the NCAA Tournament?
• Iowa men’s hoops is frustrated.
• Former Wisconsin recruiting target RB Nicholas Singleton is at Penn State. Here’s a breakdown of his talents.
• LMAO, remember when Scott Frost turned down Joe Burrow?

Men’s basketball results from Monday/Tuesday

Iowa 86 - Penn State 90, 2OT
No. 13 Michigan State 65 - Maryland 63
Rutgers 78 - Northwestern 79, OT
Nebraska 79 - Michigan 85

Women’s basketball results from Monday/Tuesday

No. 6 Indiana 50 - No. 7 Michigan 65
No. 22 Ohio State 92 - No. 23 Iowa 88
Rutgers 38 - Nebraska 50