Entering tonight with an 8-match losing streak, the Wisconsin volleyball team will look to end its season on a high note Saturday as the Badgers host Purdue at the Field House.

It's also senior night and Brittney Dolgner and Caity DuPont will be playing for the UW for the last time tonight in the season finale.

Join Associate Sports Editor Jordan Schelling as he provides live coverage from the Field House for tonight's match between the Wisconsin Badgers and Purdue Boilermakers.

Tomorrow may be Thanksgiving, but Wisconsin's 78-69 win today is one that could make a difference in March when they are evaluated for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Head coach Bo Ryan's squad started slow as the Maryland Terrapins jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the Badgers answered quickly with a 16-2 run and never looked back.

After backup point guard Jordan Taylor led all scorers with 19 points off the bench Tuesday night, it was a trio of starters that took control on the game for UW.

Senior guard Jason Bohannon led all scorers with 20 points as he had easily his best shooting game of the young season, hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and connecting on 6-of-6 from the line. Bohannon hit four of his six free throws in the last minute to help seal the win.

Junior guard Jon Leuer added 16 points on 6-for-11 from the field as well as a team-high seven rebounds as he continued to show potential to be a leader down low for the Wisconsin Badgers this season.

Wisconsin's leader, senior point guard Trevon Hughes, was the other Badger in double figures as he scored 14 points despite shooting just 5-for-17 from the floor. Hughes also finished with three assists, though he did not pick up his first of the game until late in the second half.

UW led 37-27 at the half and extended its lead to a game-high 12 points when guard/forward Tim Jarmusz scored a layup just 17 seconds after halftime.

Maryland cut the lead to just three points midway through the period, but the Badgers quickly pushed it back out to 10 points and controlled the game the rest of the way.

When Ryan and the Badgers return to Wisconsin they'll begin preparing for another tough ACC opponent coming up next week. UW hosts No. 7 Duke on Dec. 2 at the Kohl Center as a part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

In a game that was decidedly less thrilling than Wisconsin opening-round victory over the Arizona Wildcats, the Badgers fell 74-61 to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Tuesday's semifinal matchup in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational.

It was another foul-filled affair as Wisconsin and Gonzaga combined for 37 fouls and 39 attempts from the charity stripe. The result was disappointing to say the least for head coach Bo Ryan's squad, but there were a few bright spots.

Sophomore guard Jordan Taylor showed what he can do on the offensive end when given the opportunity to create off the dribble, scoring a career and game-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, 2-for-3 from beyond the arc and 3-of-6 from the free throw line.

Likewise, junior forward Jon Leuer showed flashes of dominance down low, grabbing five rebounds to go along with 18 points. Unfortunately for the Badgers, though, Leuer also missed a lot of chances, going 8-for-17 from the floor and 0-for-3 from long distance.

Gonzaga opened up a double-digit lead early and kept it there for much of the game, taking a 10-point lead into the locker room at the break.

Wisconsin managed to cut the lead to just six points in the second half with nine minutes remaining, but failed to get any closer than that as the Bulldogs rallied back to put the game away.

The Badgers (3-1) will have to bounce back quickly from their first loss of the season as they are set to battle the No. 21 Maryland Terrapins in Wednesday's third-place game. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. local time, or 3:30 p.m. CST.

It certainly wasn't pretty, but the the Badgers found a way to get by the Arizona Wildcats in a physical opening round of the Maui Invitational last night as they earned a 65-61 victory.�

Wisconsin jumped out to an early lead only too see�their�advantage wither away as the entire team went into a cold-spell offensively. Led by an impressive 25-point performance from freshman Derrick Williams, Arizona stormed back and tied the game at 55 with a little over two minutes to go.�

From there, Trevon Hughes and Keaton Nankivil closed out the game for UW, and a steal by Hughes in the final stages sealed the victory for Bo Ryan and his squad.�

Here are some quick observations from UW's thrilling tournament opener:

1. Hughes is emerging as a leader

The UW point guard led the team in scoring with 24 points, but it was the late steal that spoke to Hughes' leadership. The senior guard had been struggling at the free throw line, but he continued to work on the defensive end and that pushed the Badgers to a late victory.�

2. Nankivil is showing some explosiveness

Keaton Nankivil missed a couple dunks early on some rebound attempts, but he made sure to finish when it mattered most. In the final minutes, Nankivil had two powerful dunks to secure the win and he showed a newfound aggressiveness around the rim whenever he was on the floor.

3. Depth down-low is concerning�

When John Leuer and Keaton Nankivil got into some foul trouble early, the Badgers sputtered on offense. Those two are going to need to stay away from foul trouble for this team to effectively run it's offense, beacuse to be honest, the guys behind them just don't seem ready.�

4. Free throw shooting is another area of concern

Not much to be said here, but Hughes, Taylor, Nankivil and company have got to hit their free throws otherwise these close games wont end with a "W".�

5. Bruesewitz shows flashes

The true freshman forward is contemplating taking a redshirt, but Monday night he showed that he is ready to contribute. He doesn't need to play a huge role, but Bruesewitz has a very high basketball IQ and his toughness and athleticism can provide this team with some production off the bench.�

After losing the series opener in demoralizing fashion, the Wisconsin men's hockey team will try to salvage a split tonight in game two against the St. Cloud State Huskies.

UW's history of playing poorly at the National Hockey Center continued in a 4-1 loss in Friday's game. Despite the final, the Badgers outplayed the Huskies in what was essentially a 2-1 game. SCSU got an empty net goal and a garbage time breakaway in the last minute of play.

Join Herald sports editor Adam Holt as he covers the action live from St. Cloud, Minn.

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It's the final week of the Big Ten season and nearly every game in the conference has title implications.

Beginning with Ohio State-Michigan this morning, the results of four games will have a direct impact on where the Wisconsin Badgers and Northwestern Wildcats will be headed a month from now. The Minnesota-Iowa and Michigan State-Penn State games also will be significant for their bowl hopes.

With a Wolverine victory in Ann Arbor, the Badgers could earn a share of the Big Ten title today for the first time since 1999. If the Buckeyes win, Wisconsin could move ahead of either Iowa or Penn State if either team loses.

Historically, Wisconsin has struggled on the road at Northwestern, but they have not played in Evanston since 2005, before Bret Bielema took over as head coach.

Join BH sports editors Michael Bleach and Jordan Schelling as they provide live blog coverage of Saturday's game between the Badgers and Wildcats. They also hope to be joined by current and former sports editors Jonah Braun, Adam Holt and Tyler Mason, among others.

The Wisconsin men's hockey team went 5-1 in its three-week homestand, but now faces a challenge on the road as they take on the St. Cloud State Huskies.

UW (6-3-1, 4-3-1 WCHA) will hope history doesn't become a factor, as the team is just 5-6-1 at St. Cloud in the Mike Eaves coaching era. The Huskies are 4-4-2, 3-2-1 in the WCHA and are unbeaten at home this season, with a 2-0-2 mark.

Join Herald sports editor Adam Holt as he covers the action live from the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.

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If you're as excited about basketball season as we are, you've come to the right place for UW men's basketball coverage.

Tonight, we're live from the Kohl Center as the Wisconsin Badgers host the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.

Oakland is off to an 0-1 start after losing Saturday to Eastern Michigan 81-77 at home. Wisconsin enters the game after dominating IPFW a week ago in its home opener.

The Golden Grizzlies, like the Mastodons, hail from the Summit League.

Oakland was picked to win its conference this season, so they should provide a stiffer test than the overmatched and undermanned IPFW squad, which was picked to finish sixth in the Summit League.

Tonight's game is on BigTenNetwork.com, but why pay to watch their streaming video when you can get live coverage from The Badger Herald?

Sports Editors Jordan Schelling and Michael Bleach will be bringing unparalleled live blog coverage tonight.

Amidst all of the UW victories on the field of play this past week, there was some pretty big victories off the field as the football and basketball teams both picked up commitments.�

Coach Bret Bielema and his staff�received�a verbal from �Peniel Jean, an athletic defensive back from Wellington FL. Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge is responsible for the�recruiting�in Florida, and once again he delivered by bringing in UW's best prospect in the�recruiting�cycle - this�according�to Rivals.com. Jean was recruited as a safety by most schools, but the Badgers like him at cornerback and that is where the 5-foot-11 prospect will play once he arrives in Madison. Jean should compete for playing time as soon as he gets on campus, as UW's current cornerback situation is far from perfect.�

UW hoops got a commitment of�their�own as Duje Dukan gave his pledge to Bo Ryan and his staff. Dukan is a 6-foot-8 small forward who is known for his nice shooting touch. He�received�a late offer from UW once Vander Blue committed to Marquette, and it didn't take long for the Illinois-native to take advantage of the open spot.�

After dominating UAA to the tune of a 5-1 win Friday night, the Wisconsin men's hockey team returns to the ice tonight to try to sweep the Seawolves.

Wisconsin moved into a tie for fourth place in the WCHA with its win last night. UAA is currently in eighth place in the conference.

Join Herald sports editor Adam Holt as he covers the action live from the Kohl Center.

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As Bret Bielema and the Badgers take the field one last time at home in 2009, Herald Sports will feature live coverage of the Wisconsin-Michigan game as we do every week.

Join Sports Editors Michael Bleach and Jordan Schelling as they provide unparalleled live blog coverage of the matchup between the Badgers and Wolverines at Camp Randall Stadium.

Please feel free to add your own opinions to the commentary and play-by-play provided by The Badger Herald as you watch the game at home. If you are unable to watch the game, please join us for comprehensive coverage of the game that almost makes it feel like you're there.

We would also like to join the University of Wisconsin in thanking the 2009 senior class for their contributions and efforts that have led to such an exciting season of Badger football.

Scroll down for today's live blog.

After managing just a split against Minnesota last weekend, the Wisconsin men's hockey team finishes its three week homestand with a series against Alaska-Anchorage.

The Badgers (4-3-1, 2-3-1 WCHA) hope to move up in the WCHA standings with wins against the Seawolves (4-6-0, 2-4-0 WCHA). Wisconsin is tied for third in the conference with five points, though there are five teams ahead of the Badgers in points. Alaska-Anchorage is fourth, with four points.

Despite being swept by Minnesota, the Seawolves own a 2-1 win over North Dakota and a 7-3 win over Denver. UND and UD are tied for first in the WCHA with nine points.

Join Herald sports editor Adam Holt as he covers the on-ice action live from the Kohl Center.

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By Ian McCue

Redshirt freshman Brendan Kelly has had a tough start to his career. After just three games last season, the defensive end for the Badgers' football team suffered an injury that knocked him out for the rest of the season.

A recruit from Eden Prairie, Minn., Kelly has had much more of an impact on the team in his second year. He has seen action in six games in 2009, coming up with two tackles in the Badgers' impressive defensive showing against Purdue.

As it is for most college athletes, the jump from the high school to college level has been a major adjustment for Kelly, but one that he's enjoyed.

"It's definitely a different speed than high school, I'd say, it's a lot more fun, a lot more work, I think it's a lot more up-tempo," Kelly said. "Guys are just a lot bigger than high school. You could pretty much run anyone you want over in high school, college is, it's a different story."

The freshman defensive end also noted that the time commitment has been the hardest adjustment to the college game.

"In high school it's more of a, you know, it's a sport," he said. "In college it's a lifestyle."

Highly touted coming out of high school, Kelly says the coaching staff was what convinced him to choose Wisconsin over other schools.

"Coach Bielema and Coach Partridge, my D-Line coach, are the two big, the two great coaches here that really have a great legacy as being good people and good coaches," he added.

Kelly has gained a reputation among coaches and teammates as a hard-worker.

"He's a guy that works really hard--he overworks himself at times," senior defensive end O'Brien Schofield said. "He's very dedicated to what he does."

Partiridge also sees a lot of potential in Kelly and envisions him becoming a crucial part of the Badgers' defense in the future.

"Without question he's got a tremendous work ethic," Partridge said. "And his hand use, he does a great job with his hands."

After an impressive performance in the Purdue game, Kelly feels that the defense can continue to have such dominating performances.

"Preseason...a lot of people said that our defense wasn't going to be up to par," he said. "But, you know, we're one of those teams that, you say that and we're going to come out and try to prove you wrong."

Even with Kelly's recent success, Partridge believes improving his fundamental skills are key to his success.

"I think just continuing to get consistent with his initial footwork, which is a huge key for defensive linemen," Partridge said.

And though Kelly is not currently a starter, he remains confident in his abilities and believes he can take on an important role for the Badgers football team.

"I think I can come off the edge and give you good pass rush, I think I can play the run real well too. I can really give you, give the starters some breaks, you know, when they need it," Kelly added.

Schofield also sees a lot of potential in Kelly, and described him as "a good pass rusher and a very smart football player."

"I'm just happy with his progress," Partridge said. "Like I said, needs to continue to get a little bit better each time he's on the practice field and the game field."

By Jackson Dargan

Peter Konz came to Wisconsin as one of the top recruits in his class, figuring that he would play offensive tackle, offensive guard or even be moved the defensive line.

After redshirting his freshmen year, he entered the summer trying to compete with Josh Oglesby and Gabe Carimi as one of the offensive tackles. However, illness and injuries by the starting center gave him a few weeks of work at the center position during the summer.

With 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter of the game against Fresno State, starting center Travis Frederick went down with an ankle sprain forcing Konz into the starting position.

"I saw Travis go down, and then heard coach say, 'Konz get in there', it felt like a classic T.V. show moment," Konz said. "I realized that this was really it."

Standing on the sideline baffled at what was soon to transpire, he was quickly rushed to by Scott Tolzien.

"He told me that we can do some snaps, we can practice, it was a crazy experience."

As Konz ran out onto the Camp Randall field he felt a rush through his entire body.

"All I could think about was don't fumble, don't fumble, don't fumble and this well be good."

Having a strong performance filling in, and with Travis Frederick still injured, he got the start at center the next week. Along with getting the start, he also was able to practice with the first team offense.

"That week and the week after were huge for me, I got a better handle on the speed, learned a lot of the calls, and got more settled," Konz said.

UW not only boasts one of the biggest offensive lines, but it is also a group that is one of the closest on the team. Whether it is Gabe Carimi, John Moffit, or Konz himself, the joking with each other never seems to stop.

"Without all those guys the move would have been a lot more difficult, Moff really helped me take some big steps...were all really close as a group," Konz said.

The past six weeks have been highly critical in the development for Konz, as he is not only dealing with the pressures of starting for UW, but also in learning how to play the position.

"I've really become more confident, I was making quiet calls, but now I make more and louder calls, and I really am being able to see defenses better."

Although he is quite the jokester, Konz does realize what the rest of the season means not only for him, but also for the entire team.

"We got to finish strong as a team, I want to do that for our seniors, and me personally I got to get better, I'm young, I got a lot to learn," he said.

When asked if he wanted to play center, and if not where would he like to play, he had a quick and humorous response.

"I want to play running back, I can read any hole like a book," Konz said "The only issue is that there gone by the time I get there."

The Hoosiers put up a tough fight, but in the end the Badgers were too strong as they earned their seventh win of the season. Here is what we learned from UW's most recent performance:

1. Ball is the real deal

Montee Ball is just a true freshman, but you wouldn't know it watching him this past Saturday. The young tailback had over 20 carries as John Clay sat out with a concussion and he didn't miss a beat. For a player so young, Ball shows a solid grasp of the offense and very few weaknesses in his game - if any.�

2. The cornerback situation isn't getting any better

I've seen a little improvement in Devin Smith, but Niles Brinkley was exposed once again against Tandon Doss and the Hoosiers. Araon Henry and Antonio Fenelus are seeing limited action, so UW is counting on Brinkley to keep plays in front of him.�

3. Toon is this team's go-to wide receiver

Toon made a couple crucial grabs on third downs to help the Badgers seal the victory. He runs excellent routes and shows tremendous hands, allowing Tolzien to survive without being so precise. The good thing for UW is that sophomore wideout will only get better with the years he still has left in the program.�

After a 4-2 win last night here at the Kohl Center, the Wisconsin men's hockey team will try to sweep Minnesota for the second series in a row.

A win tonight would give the Badgers (4-2-1, 2-2-1 WCHA) their fourth win in a row. The Gophers (2-4-1, 2-4-1 WCHA) will try to avoid the falling further behind in the conference standings.

Join Herald Sports editor Adam Holt as he covers the on-ice action live from the Kohl Center.

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After dominating Purdue last week, the Wisconsin Badgers look to keep their momentum going in Bloomington against the Indiana Hoosiers, a team they crushed 55-20 a year ago at Memorial Stadium.

For those of you who did not make the six-plus hour drive down to the IU campus, Associate Sports Editor Jordan Schelling will provide live coverage from the press box.

He will be joined by Sports Content Editor Michael Bleach, among other current and former sports editors of The Badger Herald, who will provide commentary while watching live on the Big Ten Network.

The Badger Herald would like to welcome its readers who have been directed to the blog today by The Capital Times and thank you for following its live coverage of today's game.

Scroll down for today's live blog from Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.

The Wisconsin men's hockey team takes on Border Battle rival Minnesota at the Kohl Center tonight at 7.

The Gophers (2-3-1) are fresh off a weekend sweep of Alaska-Anchorage where they earned their first two wins of the season.

The Badgers also swept their series last weekend, outscoring New Hampshire 10-2.

Herald Sports Editor Adam Holt will bring you the action, live from the Kohl Center.

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Games of the week:

#9 LSU @ #3 Alabama

Another week and other mouth-watering matchup in the SEC. As odd as it seems, LSU has a direct line to the national championship game. The Tigers control�their�own destiny and if they win out, you'll see Les Miles vying for another crystal football. The two teams standing in their way are Alabama and Florida, two squads that have their minds' set on a championship appearance. Let's see if LSU can work some magic, or if we're just destined to watch a UF - Bama showdown for the SEC championship.�

#16 Ohio State @ #11 Penn State

The most exciting game in the Big Ten this year takes place in Happy Valley. Last season, the Nittany Lions came into the Horseshoe and upended the Buckeyes. This time around, OSU has to travel to Beaver Stadium to keep�their�Big Ten title hopes alive. The white out failed to rattle the Hawkeyes earlier in the season, it will be interesting to see if it has an effect on Terrelle Pryor and the Bucks.�

#8 Oregon @ Stanford�

Oregon is in the driver's seat for a Pac-10 title after running over USC, but this conference always seems to create some unexpected upsets. Stanford has played spoiler before, and there is some talent on that Cardinal squad. Look for Stanford to put up a good fight in front the home crowd.�

Player to Watch:

Mike Kafka, Northwestern

The Wildcats were worried Kafka was going to miss the showdown with Iowa, but it looks like the talented quarterback will be just fine. Kafka is going to need a big performance against a rigid defense if Northwestern wants to upset the Hawkeyes. We have seen surprises take place at Ryan Field before, and this Iowa team has looked very�vulnerable�as of late.�

By Jackson Dargan

Although many people think of Wisconsin as a smash mouth running football team, it has yielded some top receivers who have made careers for themselves at the next level. Guys like Chris Chambers, Lee Evans, and the legendary Al Toon have come through UW

Kraig Appleton could be the next big time receiver produced by the University of Wisconsin. Standing at 6-foot-4 inches he is a large, and strong target for quarterbacks.

Coming out of high school Appleton was highly recruited and was named to the Army All American game, while also being named one of the top-10 receivers in the class of 2009. After a brief commitment to Illinois, he decided the UW best fit him.

"The coaches here at UW told me exactly how we do things here, opposed to Illinois who just told me what I wanted to here," he said.

As soon as he arrived at UW in the early summer he stood out to the coaches in his ability, however it isn't any easy task to learn the in depth UW playbook that features many various formations.

"Kraigs got some size, he's a big receiver" UW wide receivers coach DelVaugn Alexander said, " He's constantly getting better with him learning the playbook".

"It was real slow and hard at first trying to handle the playbook, but now I feel I'm coming along in the offense".

Early in the summer, and early in the season the coaching staff flirted with the idea of giving him a redshirt but decided to drop the idea because of what he brought to the team making him one of only several true freshmen not redshirting.

"I felt I was ready to play coming out of high school but there's always room for improvement," Appleton said.

Although he played in a highly competitive high school football division, college football is on an entirely different level.

"Guys are faster, bigger, and you need to make sure your minds right with no blown plays or else they'll make you pay for it."

Although highly talented, he's stepping into a receiving corps which features an up and coming Nick Toon, Isaac Anderson and Second Team All Big Ten selection last year David Gilreath. Appleton nonetheless is still finding ways to make an impact.

"The (receivers) we got here are real talented, but they are still finding time to help me when things get a little cloudy," Appleton said.

Alexander sees a lot of potential in Appleton and he was proud of his young receiver's breakthrough performance this past Saturday.

"Kraigs a big time competitor and that could be seen in those two catches where he had defenders draped all over him," Alexander said.

The buzz around Madison is Obamarama, but at the Kohl Center, it's all basketball.

Bo Ryan's Badgers open their exhibition season tonight with a matchup against Division II opponent Bemidji State.

Wisconsin will look to evaluate its team as it goes up against another opponent for the first time in the 2009-10 season. Key players to watch will be guards Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon, forwards Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil, and newcomers Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz, and Ryan Evans.

Tonight's game is available for a fee on www.BigTenNetwork.com or you can join BH Sports Editors Michael Bleach and Jordan Schelling for free as they provide unparalleled coverage live from the Kohl Center.

Scroll down for tonight's live blog.

In my three years of watching Wisconsin football I have never seen a more dominant performance than the one I witnessed this past Saturday. The Badgers played a full 60 minutes and controlled every aspect of a game the Purdue Boilermakers wanted no part in.�

Here is what we learned from an impressive week nine Badger victory:

1. Kendricks has emerged as a playmaker

Lance Kendricks was everywhere on Saturday. He carried the ball for 90-plus yards and provided excellent run-blocking from his tight end position. Kendricks is a freakish athlete and the sky is the limit for this gifted tight end.

2. The coaching staff figured out how to take advantage of a bye week

Last season, UW had a bye week after a huge win against a ranked Fresno State team. They followed the week off with a miserable collapse in Ann Arbor. This time around the Badgers looked prepared and focused coming off the bye week. Few�penalties�and solid execution led to a big Badger win.

3. The injury to Mike Taylor won't hurt too much thanks to Chris Borland

Taylor was the team's leading tackler and his loss weakens the linebacker depth, but Borland will be just fine as his replacement. The true freshman is always around the ball and he made his presence known once again with a forced fumble and fumble recovery all in one play. The future looks bright with Taylor and Borland manning the outside linebacker positions.�

4. Welch is back on track

In windy conditions Welch performed well connecting on all of his field goal�attempts. It was a strong performance from a kicker who has been struggling to find his accuracy. �