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Fave 5: Sports reporter Jim Polzin shares his most memorable stories from 2020
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Fave 5: Sports reporter Jim Polzin shares his most memorable stories from 2020

  • JIM POLZIN | | 608-252-6473
  • Dec 18, 2020
  • Dec 18, 2020 Updated Sep 4, 2021

Calling these my favorite stories from 2020 isn’t accurate because a couple of them weren’t particularly enjoyable to report and write. But trying to get to the bottom of the Erik Helland saga and, later, the COVID-19 outbreak on the UW football team definitely can be classified as memorable. The remarkable run to a share of the 2019-20 Big Ten Conference regular-season title by the UW men’s basketball was a blast to cover, and I included a Senior Day piece on Brevin Pritzl and my game story from the championship-clinching win at Indiana. Finally, I chose a story I did this season on how Greg Gard got started in coaching 30 years ago in tiny Hazel Green.

(5) updates to this series since Updated Sep 4, 2021

Brevin Pritzl rolling at the right time for the Badgers men’s basketball team

Brevin Pritzl rolling at the right time for the Badgers men’s basketball team

Others had noticed Pritzl’s nervous tics during games, and I had as well. Pritzl explained for a Senior Day story it was something that had be…

The events that led to Erik Helland’s ouster as strength coach for the Badgers men’s basketball team

The events that led to Erik Helland’s ouster as strength coach for the Badgers men’s basketball team

There were a lot of questions left unanswered when Helland was forced to resign for using a racial epithet in front of a group of players. Get…

Instant classic: Wisconsin Badgers storm past Indiana Hoosiers late to secure share of Big Ten title

Instant classic: Wisconsin Badgers storm past Indiana Hoosiers late to secure share of Big Ten title

I’m thankful this was an afternoon game, because I didn’t have to rush a game story that had a lot of elements to it. That postgame news confe…

What went wrong at Wisconsin: Daily COVID-19 testing was supposed to protect Big Ten football from outbreaks

What went wrong at Wisconsin: Daily COVID-19 testing was supposed to protect Big Ten football from outbreaks

I don’t think I’ve learned so much while reporting a story. Let’s just say I’m thankful some very smart sources in this story were generous wi…

$705 and a mischievous 8th-grade team: Greg Gard’s path to Big Ten Coach of the Year started 30 years ago at Southwestern

$705 and a mischievous 8th-grade team: Greg Gard’s path to Big Ten Coach of the Year started 30 years ago at Southwestern

Funny story: I almost rushed this into print after Gard won the award last spring. But then the pandemic ended the season abruptly and there w…

As featured on

Quick hits from Wisconsin Badgers' overtime victory over Minnesota Golden Gophers

Quick hits from Wisconsin Badgers' overtime victory over Minnesota Golden Gophers

A quick look at the Badgers' 20-17 OT victory over the Golden Gophers in the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe Saturday at Camp Randall.

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