Boyd played under Dusty May at Florida Atlantic and was May's starting point guard during the Owls' 2023 Final Four run.
Michigan head coach Dusty May at B1G Media Days in October:
"I love Nick Boyd. That's my guy, man... We're gonna try to bust them up in Ann Arbor this year, but, other than that, I'm gonna be rooting like hell for those guys. I'm gonna be a fan of the #Badgers every other night because of Nick."
Wisconsin has advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, and outperformed seed expectations, for the third-straight season under #Badgers head coach Greg Gard.
Wisconsin is 0-4 all-time in overtime games played on its home court against Illinois.
Wisconsin is 2-0 in overtime games against Illinois played anywhere else.
212th meeting*
Wisconsin and Illinois played for the first time ever in 1906. This is their 211th meeting.
It's only the 6th time they've played overtime.
One third of their overtime meetings have been this season!
Illinois is 4-1 against Wisconsin in which games go past regulation.
Those FTs by Rapp are 2 of the only 5 points for the #Badgers scored by anyone other than Boyd and Blackwell this half.
They are the first UW points for anyone other than Boyd/Blackwell in 14 minutes and 38 seconds.
Nick Boyd has 28
John Blackwell has 27
No one else on the #Badgers has more than 4
Just an incredible performance from the UW backcourt.
Ali FarokhmaNick Boyd
Shades of Ali Farokhmanesh from Nick Boyd sheesh
I'm not sure if there's been a one-year player more impactful to Wisconsin from a team culture standpoint than Nick Boyd and it's in large part because he's always jawing
Holy moly illini
Some reaction this morning from #Badgers women's hockey captain Caroline Harvey on watching last night's NCAA Tournament regional semifinal and her team's upcoming matchup with Quinnipiac.
emerson jarvis's opening goal in fpu-qu was absolutely disgusting
FPU head coach David Stockdale on goaltender Jill Hertl who made 49 stops on 53 shots tonight:
"I think she showed today, you know, you could put her on on one of the top teams in the country, and she would be lights out."
"I think our league needs a lot more respect than it receives, and I just hope we can keep building that respect for our conference." - Jill Hertl
"I definitely think that within the next coming years the NEWHA will be a very very strong representative of the bid." - FPU captain Maggie Korneta
Best day of the season
Saturday's NCAA Quarterfinals are set:
(6) Connecticut at (3) Penn State at 2 pm eastern
(7) Quinnipiac at (2) Wisconsin at 1 pm central
(5) Northeastern at (4) Minnesota at 2 pm central
(8) Yale at (1) Ohio State at 6 pm eastern
All games will be on ESPN+
FINAL
Some extra head pats for Jill Hertl as Franklin Pierce's season has come to an end. With its 4-0 victory, Quinnipiac advances to the NCAA Tournament regional final to face the #Badgers.
Narrowest margin of defeat ever for a NEWHA team in the NCAAT, but the first time one has been shut out.
It appears the breaking point has been reached.
Hertl leaves a big rebound in the slot, and QU winger Laurence Frenette bangs it home five-hole.
4-0 game with under five minutes to play now.
Quinnipiac takes a 3-0 lead with 7:42 to play in regulation
Franklin Pierce goaltender Jill Hertl has been incredible tonight. 40 saves on 42 shots and she's turned away some really tough looks.
Anyone saying she leads the country in save percentage because she plays in the NEWHA is selling her short.
FPU winger Addison Andre had this look. She's clearly been the Ravens' greatest offensive threat tonight. Maybe Franklin Pierce's only player who can truly keep up with Quinnipiac's speed.
She needs the puck in the 3rd for Franklin Pierce to have a chance here.
End of 2, Quinnipiac may have found its stride here. Another goal on a 2-on-1 rush makes it 2-0 just before time expired.
Bryn Prier passed to Kahlen LaMarche, and LaMarche banked a shot off Prier into the net.
Third period is starting to feel like a formality.
The Bobcats finally have the lead. 1-0 Quinnipiac over Franklin Pierce with 4:10 to play in the 2nd.
QU's Emerson Jarvis with just an incredible set of moves to beat two defenders and Jill Hertl.
Quinnipiac defender Zoe Uens appeared to have broken the scoreless tie
She ripped a wrister from the center faceoff circle that beat FPU's Jill Hertl high blocker side, but QU did not have its players all back from the zone.
no goal because players were offsides.
Sheesh.
And now she's back on the ice after a whistle.
Crisis averted for Quinnipiac.
LaMarche is putting her helmet back on.
LaMarche was holding a white towel, which... is still white (not visibly red) after taking off her helmet and applying it to her head.
She's heading to bench, but still shaken up.
The country's leading goal-scorer, Kahlen LaMarche, just took a puck to the head on a shot from a QU defender's shot from the point.
She's down in front of the net and in a lot of pain.
