Badgers Skate Up the Polls After Consecutive Ties
Wisconsin men’s hockey played the No. 20 Minnesota State Mavericks to back-to-back draws at the Kohl Center, turning two deficits into a 1-1 tie Thursday and a 2-2 tie Friday. Despite unbeaten status (2-0-2) and home-ice heroics, the Badgers saw no change in the USCHO.com poll (steady at 17th) but curiously jumped one spot in the USA Hockey poll to No. 16—provoking more questions about voter logic than the price of cheese in Madison. Up next: a two-game series with the Alaska Nanooks, who’ve never beaten UW on home ice. Coach Mike Hastings credited Wisconsin’s own errors for the drama, not lack of effort.
Fans rejoice: your team can now lose and somehow win—at least in the fickle court of poll voters. It’s like getting a trophy for showing up late to a party and spilling your drink on the host’s rug. But fear not, die-hard Badger faithful: your boys still haven’t lost (officially), so feel free to chant “Un‐beat‐en!” until someone explains why tying counts as a miracle but not quite good enough for an actual win. Pollsters, meanwhile, are busy updating their bingo cards: “Coincidental jump without a victory” is now a square.
Defensive Star Ponders Bailing on the Badgers After ‘Frustrating’ Defeat
Recruit Djidjou Bah, Wisconsin football’s prized 2026 defensive lineman, committed June 1 but is now flirting with other Big Ten suitors after watching the Badgers’ 37-0 drubbing by Iowa. In the 48 hours following that Camp Randall blowout, Nebraska and Maryland extended offers, and Bah is slated to visit No. 7 Georgia Tech this weekend, with a Nebraska trip rumored soon. Previously, Penn State and Colorado eyed the Germantown, Tenn., standout. With injuries piling up and losses mounting, Wisconsin faces a real threat of Bah decommitting—joining wide receiver Tayshon Bardo, who went rogue Oct. 13—and watching four-star RB Amari Latimer and LB Aden Reeder consider jumping ship too.
Welcome to the Holding Pattern of Recruitment: where a single thrashing turns high-school phenoms into indecisive tourists. Bah’s “frustrating to watch” comment is coach-speak for “my highlight reel is ruined.” Wisconsin’s season is a masterclass in recruiting anxiety, as commits treat official visits like free trial subscriptions: “Cancel anytime before kickoff, no hard feelings.” Meanwhile athletic directors are updating PowerPoint slides on how to polish tarnished brand images. Remember: if you can’t beat ’em, at least keep ’em from signing elsewhere… or pray the ping-pong balls in the Power 5 draft are merciful.
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