Quote from: The Sultan on February 19, 2026, 04:18:22 PMMan, I am not a big fan of figure skating but Alysa Liu seems like an absolute joy.

Absolutely! She took the skating arena by storm, receiving a standing ovation from the awed fans. Her radiant personality showed so strongly throughout her performance.

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on February 19, 2026, 02:24:14 PMFirst, what changes the equation to me is Nigel, Royce, and Adrien.  They are proving with each game they can be counted on next season and beyond.

Royce will be an upper classmen. Nigel might be pre-season All Big East 1st or 2nd team next season as a sophomore.  And Adrien has shown a lot as well. 

For me, that's a very nice core to start with. 

In regard to the portal, I think we do need to balance out the classes with a couple of one-year guys that will be seniors, and maybe a guy with 2 years left.  If Sean and Tre are both gone, this team will have no seniors so that is a spot where you can add that experience. 

I'd like to see them add 3 guys via the portal.  A starting 5 with one year of eligibility left, a starting wing (one or two years left), and a combo guard (one or two years left). 

Starters:
C - Portal addition
F - Royce
G/F - Portal Addition
SG - Adrien
PG - Nigel

Bench:
Portal addition (combo guard)
Sheek
Owens
Egbuonu

Plus, Phillps, Miletic, Walker

I get that the bench is unproven but I see depth and upside. To me, I don't see why this hypothetical squad wouldn't be competitive. 

How so? They have not played one game of D1 ball. You don't even know the caliber of play of the transfers. I'll reserve judgement until next year's team plays some actual games and performs better than they do in practice.

Quote from: JWags85 on February 19, 2026, 02:43:16 PMI know some chalk it up to the macho image of the NHL back to its pre-helmet history and I've seen some comments on misogyny/differing expectations of male vs female athletes on the difference in standards on helmets.

That is hilarious. Hockey helmets are the new battle line in the fight for equality? 

One more thing...Mike Tirico has really become THE GUY in sports broadcasting hasn't he.

There's a bill going around in the Wisconsin state assembly that would address several open concerns regarding NIL and how it's handled in the state along with a few other collegiate athletics issues. 

One of those other issues is a change in funding for debt service on Badger athletics facilities to the toon of almost $15 MILLLION annually that would become tax payer funded.  Right now that money comes from the operation of the facilities (40% by law is required to be self funded by the athletics department) but this bill would eliminate that requirement and instead be paid for by Wisconsin tax payers. 

Basically, if the bill passes as-is, taxpayers are giving UW an extra $14.6 million per year to fund their bloated athletics budget. 

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2026/02/19/how-proposed-bill-could-impact-wisconsins-nil-provide-public-funding/88750236007/ 

Link may be behind a paywall. 

Man, I am not a big fan of figure skating but Alysa Liu seems like an absolute joy.

It doesn't matter where they are, but as a Packers fan boy would I have some fun with it if they move to Indiana.

I bet players from Mars have incredible sparkles in their eyes.

A lot of handwringing for a football stadium, but this place will be a sight to see when Michigan throws a boat load of money at the Packers to relocate to the UP. 

Quote from: onepost on February 19, 2026, 02:15:57 PMA buddy on mine in the know says we're currently second for Donovan Davis behind Wisconsin.
Not that it's some giant revelation, but man I'd love to win that recruiting battle and bring Davis in.

Thanks for passing along that tidbit.