Ohio State center Jantel Lavender may be a three-time Big Ten Player of the Year, but sheâ??s got nothing on Dan Vechart. Michigan Stateâ??s 6-foot-9 Allyssa DeHaan may be one of the greatest shot blockers in NCAA history, but sheâ??s no Tom Novak. Just ask Lin Zastrow or Tara Steinbauer or Anya Covington, whoâ??ve had the opportunity to mix it up with all of them. Vechart and Novak are two of the male practice players who challenge the University of Wisconsin womenâ??s basketball players in practice to better prepare them for battles with the Lavenders and DeHaans of the Big Ten, and have helped them secure the programâ??s first NCAA tournament berth since 2002.
Office of Strategic Communication