Fanshots

Photos of Ben Brust, Jordan Taylor at Bucks summer league

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Look who's back together. Ben Brust and Jordan Taylor are both participating on the Milwaukee Bucks' summer league team, which is a pretty awesome Wisconsin reunion. @BadgerMBB also has some quotes from Brust about being back with Taylor, as well as Jabari Parker and Jason Kidd.

Melvin Gordon gearing up for junior season

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"They might stack the box. But they stacked the box last year. It'll be no different in that area."

That's Melvin Gordon to Jesse Temple of Fox Sports Wisconsin. The story is really great, and worth the time for any Badgers fan. Among the topics they discuss: Gordon's draft stock, his goals for the season, how his family's been handling relentless calls from agents and what it'd take for him to consider leaving early.

BTN.com ranks Big Ten secondaries

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Wisconsin's comes in at No. 8, which feels honestly and mostly fair. The unit is definitely talented, but that youth/inexperience is scary. What say you?

CBS Sports ranks Wisconsin No. 12 among 2013-14 college programs

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CBS Sports ranks college athletics programs each year, pulling in the results of "those sports that generate the broadest base of fan and media interest" as well as a wild-card spot that went to each school's most successful team from the following group of spectator sports: softball, men's lacrosse, men's ice hockey, men's soccer, wrestling, women's soccer or women's gymnastics. Wisconsin checked in at No. 12, second in the Big Ten only to Michigan State. It's score of 156 in football ranked 22nd, while it's men's basketball score of 166 was fourth. Overall, this seems pretty impressive -- especially when you consider Wisconsin finished 12th despite receiving zeroes for both women's basketball and baseball, as well as a 58.5 for whatever its wild-card team was.

Hilary Knight poses in ESPN Magazine Body Issue

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Former Wisconsin women's hockey star and current Team USA forward Hilary Knight is featured in the latest annual ESPN The Magazine Body Issue, which hit stands this week. No NHL players are repped, which makes Knight hockey's lone representative. She, like the other athletes featured, is posing nude, so you might want to keep this off your work computer. Still, the feature on her is well worth your time -- she uses the spotlight to promote the women's game and spread a few valuable messages. I noticed that if I'm 185 pounds or more [as I was for the Olympics], I get this crazy power-forward mentality and no one can stop me. I definitely still felt feminine at 185. I just jumped right in and took hold of being proud and happy with being a female athlete.

Wisconsin basketball to host Buffalo Dec. 28

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The latest bit of Wisconsin men's basketball scheduling to trickle out comes from Buffalo, which will travel to Madison Dec. 28. Interestingly enough, the Bulls will face two Final Four teams (Kentucky is the other) this season. Check out the link above for a breakdown of Buffalo's full schedule, if you're interested.

Alleged victim testifies in Dominic Cizauskas trial

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The alleged victim in the Dominic Cizauskas trial testified Wednesday morning, and the trial is expected to be turned over to the jury for deliberation later today. Cizauskas is on trial for allegations of third-degree sexual assault, which allegedly occurred while on campus for his official visit in December. The 2014 Mukwonago High School linebacker was named Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. He verbally committed to Wisconsin on June 19, but never signed a National Letter of Intent. Wisconsin has not been able to comment on the situation because the NCAA forbids schools from discussing recruits who have not signed a LOI.

Phil Steele: Wisconsin No. 13 in preseason rankings

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The great Phil Steele has finally reached Wisconsin in his top 40 countdown. You can see the full PDF preview of his UW preview above, while the ongoing top 40 is listed on philsteele.com.

Mohammed Ahmed's brilliant track and field career drawing to a close

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"Ninety to 100 miles a week for five years. That’s a lot."

That's Wisconsin track and field star Mohammed Ahmed in a wonderful feature from the State Journal's Andy Baggot profiling one of UW's most storied runners. A Somali native, Ahmed overcame early classroom struggles and his quiet nature to become a strong team leader and reach numerous milestones along the way. The senior begins the NCAA Outdoor Championships today.

X'zavien Ausborne plans to run track, play football at Wisconsin

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This link is unfortunately paywalled, but you can get the gist of the story from the headline. Together with fellow South Oak Cliff (Dallas) cornerback Takadrae Williams, Ausborne's commitment gives the Badgers new inroads into Texas that have generated even more momentum on the recruiting front. The duo committed to UW on Friday.