Wisconsin
Eastview's Steven Crowl leads Wisconsin to 87-56 demolishing of Maryland in Big Ten tournament
Steven Crowl’s goal Thursday was to stay aggressive and get shots up frequently. In a Big Ten tournament second-round matchup against Maryland on Thursday, the Wisconsin junior and former Eastview standout made the most of his attempts.
Crowl was part of a Badgers unit that completely dominated the Terrapins across the board in an 87-56 victory. The 7-foot Crowl sliced up the Terrapins for 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting with a variety of post moves and made all three of his long-range attempts. He did all of that in just 18 minutes, allowing him to rest his legs ahead of Friday’s quarterfinal against fourth-seeded Northwestern.
The Badgers as a team dismantled Maryland with their hot shooting from deep. Wisconsin went 16-for-25 from three, including 10-for-13 in the first half, to bury a Terrapins group tied for fifth in the nation in fewest three-pointers against per game entering the day (5.1).
Through 11 minutes, Wisconsin was doubling Maryland’s score. By the end of the first half, the Badgers led by 21. And after an 18-0 Wisconsin run to start the second half made the Terrapin deficit 39, the game was all but over.
Crowl’s strong play helped introduce the conference tournament to his home state for the first time. After 25 years split between Chicago and Indianapolis, with one year apiece in Washington, D.C., and New York, the Big Ten men’s tournament is making its debut this weekend in the Twin Cities, after the women’s tournament did the same last year.
Luckily for Crowl and Wisconsin, strong performances in his home state are nothing new.
“I thought it was a lot of fun, not only for me, but the other Minnesota guys — Tyler, Jack, Nolan — just being able to play in front of our friends and family and get a win,” Crowl said. “I enjoy playing here. We tend to have a lot of success in Minnesota.”
Tyler Wahl and Nolan Winter, both Lakeville North graduates, combined for 10 points for the Badgers. Freshman Jack Janicki (White Bear Lake) is redshirting this season.
Wisconsin (20-12) will try to continue its momentum into Friday’s matchup with the Wildcats (21-10). Northwestern ranks sixth in the nation in three-point percentage at 39.6%, but shot 6-for-21 from range in a Jan. 13 Badgers victory in Madison.
Coach Greg Gard said he’s felt confident in his team’s ability to make long-range shots, even after a late-season stretch where the Badgers struggled.
“I see these guys every day, in every drill, in every workout, so I know we’ve got good shooters,” Gard said. “That’s a credit to defenses that have been able to do different things to us. But I think you also go through ebbs and flows of the season, and when you hit a little dip or a valley, don’t beat yourself up mentally. You have to keep playing and keep playing aggressively.”
Gard said that during their February and March stretch when the Badgers went only 3-8 to end the regular season, they weren’t being aggressive enough. If important players such as Crowl continue to be as aggressive as he was Thursday, and the rest of the team shoots the lights out like it did against Maryland, the same Wisconsin team that was ranked No. 6 in the country at the end of January could pull off a few surprises in March.
“I kept telling them all the time when we were going through this, we’re a really good team,” Gard said. “We’re a really good team, and we’ll fight our way out of it. I’m glad to see that they’re getting rewarded for their perseverance and their persistence.”
Wisconsin
Cult-classic filmed in central Wisconsin returns to big screen, with enhancements, this weekend
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) – A giant spider isn’t actually invading central Wisconsin this weekend.
But an enhanced, big-screen version of the cult-classic 1975 film The Giant Spider Invasion is crawling back into local theaters — and it’s bringing some central Wisconsin nostalgia with it.
The movie was famously filmed in Merrill and Stevens Point, and the updated 2026 release adds enhancements designed for a modern theatrical experience.
What’s new in the 2026 enhanced version?
Executive Producer J.B. Thompson says the team took the original 1975 film and enhanced it for the big screen in 2026, giving audiences a refreshed way to experience a movie that’s long been a Wisconsin oddity — and a point of pride.
Actor and Producer Dan Davies is featured in newly filmed scenes created specifically for this updated release.
Stevens Point’s role in the original film
While much of the film is associated with Merrill, Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza says Point also played a major role in the production — another reason the film’s return matters to local history buffs and movie fans alike.
Why does this movie still capture attention 50 years later?
Whether it’s the over-the-top creature feature story, the uniquely Wisconsin filming locations, or the nostalgia of seeing familiar places on screen, the group says the film’s staying power is real — even five decades later.
Screenings this weekend
The enhanced version of The Giant Spider Invasion is set for local screenings this weekend in Central and North Central Wisconsin. To purchase tickets for showings in Stevens Point, Marshfield or Waupaca, click here.
Click here to download the WSAW news app or WSAW First Alert weather app.
Click here to submit a news tip or story idea.
Copyright 2026 WSAW. All rights reserved.
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.
Copyright 2026 WMTV. All rights reserved.
-
Los Angeles, Ca18 minutes ago‘What’s going on with our society?’ Elderly L.A. street vendor violently beaten
-
Detroit, MI38 minutes agoTrailblaze Detroit: Blazing New Trails while Backpacking Metro Detroit | Visit Detroit | Visit Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA48 minutes agoGiants open to moving big names before Trade Deadline
-
Dallas, TX53 minutes agoReports: Mavericks acquire Sergio De Larrea in four-team Draft night trade
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoMiami Gardens police make arrest in cold case murder from 2019
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoWoman killed in Mattapan carjacking crash honored at vigil
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoNuggets trade 26th pick in NBA Draft to Spurs, moving out of first round
-
Seattle, WA1 hour agoNBA Commissioner says Las Vegas, Seattle remain expansion targets for 2028-29 season
