Trading for Lillard?

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Butch and Wills join Badger Radio Network basketball broadcast
UW announces voices for Wisconsin basketball lead analyst position

Sept. 28, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – The Badger Radio Network is adding a pair of Wisconsin men's basketball champions to its broadcast team to join the Voice of the Badgers, Matt Lepay, beginning this season.

Brian Butch, a Big Ten champion at Wisconsin in 2008 and a 10-year professional player, will take over as the lead men's basketball analyst for the Badger Radio Network beginning this season. In addition, Charlie Wills, who won a Big Ten title in 2002 and was a member of UW's Final Four team in 2000, will add to the team by filling in the analyst role for select games.

"Wisconsin basketball is truly a special program and I'm honored to have the chance to work next to the legend Matt Lepay." Butch said. "I loved every minute of my time at the University of Wisconsin and I cannot wait to be a part of the next chapter of Badgers basketball."

Butch's expanded role will also include helping produce additional content for Wisconsin Athletics and LEARFIELD/Badger Sports Properties.

"I am honored, excited and in a way thrilled to be reconnected to UW men's hoops, which has already afforded me so many great memories and relationships," Wills said. "It's an added bonus to get the opportunity to work with the best in the business in Matt Lepay. I am going to have fun working with both Matt and Brian this season."

"It's exciting to add Brian and Charlie to our broadcasting team," Voice of the Badgers, Matt Lepay said. "As Wisconsin fans know, each of these two were integral pieces of championship seasons, and through the years they have stayed very connected to the program. On top of that, both 'Butchie' and Charlie are really good people who represent the University of Wisconsin in a first-class manner. I look forward to working with them."

"Having two former Badger men's basketball standouts providing commentary on our radio broadcasts is going to be outstanding," UW Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh said. "Brian and Charlie know the game and they know our program. They are going to provide great insights for our fans and will be an excellent complement to Matt Lepay."

BRIAN BUTCH
A standout for the Wisconsin men's basketball program from 2004-08, Brian Butch was a member of UW's 2007-08 team that won both the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships. A consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior in 2008, he finished his career ranked 24th in school history with 1,115 career points and ranked ninth with 667 career rebounds.

Butch went on to enjoy a 10-year career playing professional basketball, which included stops overseas, in the NBA Development League, and time with the Denver Nuggets. After his time as a player, Butch spent two years as a coaching associate with the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G-League from 2017-19.

In 2019, Butch joined FOX and the Big Ten Network as a game and studio analyst for men's basketball. Working radio since 2018, Butch worked with Woodward Radio from 2018-2022 and started at iHeartRadio in 2020 co-hosting shows as on-air talent.

CHARLIE WILLS
A member of Wisconsin's Final Four team in 2000 under head coach Dick Bennett, Charlie Wills also played an integral role in 2001-02 for the Bo Ryan led Badgers, which claimed a share of the Big Ten regular season title for the first time since 1947.

Wills played in every game (129 straight) over his four-year collegiate career with the Badgers (1998-2002), which included making 61 starts. He finished his career ranked fourth on Wisconsin's all-time games played list and started all 32 games of his senior year.

For three years, Wills has gained experience in sports broadcasting working with WPTV.

Had a hard time with the stock down this week. Good sign.

A look at how five-stars in the 2021 class are performing:

Berger, Franklin and Melvin for MSU and Bracey for CMU

Are you back in your house on FMB? Hope so.

Hey @BadgerPerko I don't see a question thread yet, but if you do one this week here's a question.

I'm assuming the staff will be out recruiting this weekend, who are the top 25/26 kids that they are after, and who will they be seeing?

https://wisconsin.rivals.com/news/three-burning-questions-heading-into-the-bye-week

What else are we curious about this week?

Sneaking Nate White in on some gadget plays? From the tape that I've seen, he's a water bug type guy. I know that he's not big enough yet to play much, but he could be a spark. Thoughts?

I’m totally guessing here but I think the situation with this player at UNC is similar to what’s happening with Mack. Both players transferred previously and I believe the NCAA is saying that because they transferred before they cannot be immediately eligible so will have to sit a year.

Regardless, Brown is not happy with the NCAA.

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Heisman Runner Up Passes Away After Battle With Cancer

Special Teams Player of the Week

Nathanial Vakos, Wisconsin

K – So. – Avon, Ohio – Avon

Was perfect in Wisconsin's win over Purdue, converting 3-of-3 extra points and 3-of-3 field goals

Hit from 38, 22 and 48 to help the Badgers pull away from the Boilermakers
Becomes the only Big Ten kicker to have a perfect clip while attempting 5+ field goals this season and has made five field goals of 30+ yards on the season

Garners the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor of his career

Last Wisconsin Special Teams Player of the Week: Collin Larsh (Oct. 25, 2021)

Oregon up over Colorado 35-0 at half? 👀👀

Who’s in (on) first!!!
Only unbeaten team in west standings.
Wooohooo
Should be that way after next weeks game as well.