MADISON — Students heading to college can find the transition tough — a new city, classes more difficult than high school and a separation from family and friends.

Collegiate student-athletes have to add more to their plate — practice, weight lifting, film study and travel for games. For University of Wisconsin freshman Sydney Hilliard, settling into the role of student has been perhaps tougher than when she walks on the basketball court for the Badgers.

“It’s a tough transition, but it’s the same for anyone. I’m kind of getting into the swing of everything,” said Hilliard, a 2019 Monroe graduate who hasn’t yet picked a major. “It’s a lot different. You really have to take advantage of your time when you are given it here. I think just going from thing to thing can be mentally and emotionally draining, but it’s a good learning experience and it’s helpful for my future.”

From Crimson to Cardinal Red

Hilliard is joined on the Badgers by former high school teammate, Sydney Mathiason, who is studying biomedical engineering. The duo played together for three years at MHS, reaching the state finals twice in that time and winning a pair of Badger South Conference titles.

“She’s a great basketball player and I love to watch her play. It’s nice to be out there with her, too,” said Mathiason.

A 2018 Monroe grad and daughter of high school girls basketball coach Sam Mathiason, Sydney Mathiason finished her prep career with 912 points. Hilliard capped her time at MHS with the most points in Monroe history (1,991) while collecting a number of all-conference and all-state honors, as well as leading the Cheesemakers to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament in three straight years (2017-19).

“To have Syd Mathiason and Sydney Hilliard, it’s a pretty neat dynamic to have those kids there,” Wisconsin head coach Jonathan Tsipis said.

This season, the Badgers have a slew of former Badger Conference players on the roster — Tara Stauffacher, a freshman, and Kara Crowley, a junior, both played for Beaver Dam. In fact, in a Nov. 26 home game against Eastern Illinois at the Kohl Center in Madison, there were five players on rosters from the 2017 WIAA Division 2 state semifinal game between Monroe and Beaver Dam, with former Beaver Paige Schuman suiting up for EIU. 

“They bring that expectation of winning, and that’s pretty fun. Tara had to switch the green and gold for the red and white, and Syd could just switch the names on the uniform,” Tsipis said.

Finding their roles

Hilliard missed the EIU game due to a concussion. Mathiason suited up, but did not enter the game, which was won by Wisconsin 63-55.

Both Monroe players have seen the court this season, though each plays a different role on the team. Mathiason began as a manager in 2018, but due to transfers and injuries, she joined the playing squad in the middle of the season. She doesn’t see the floor as often during games as she’d like, but she takes her roll on the scout team seriously.

“I’m here to play basketball, and if that means in practice, I’m here to help the team and I’m going to do what I have to do,” said Mathiason, who added that she felt more ready to help the team to open the season this year, given that she spent the offseason training and prepping as a player and not in a manager’s role.

“Just being around, I feel like I’m able to be in shape and stuff and not just jumping into it,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Hilliard, meanwhile, was one of four highly-sought recruits that Tsipis was able to bring in this year, along with Stauffacher, Julie Pospisilova of Prague, and Sara Stapleton of Minnesota. 

From early on in summer camp, Hilliard turned eyes in the program with her combination of skills, aggressiveness and swagger. She made an immediate impact on the court despite a preseason knee injury.

“I think one of the advantages that we had in the summer was with Niya Beverly out it gave (Hilliard) a lot of repetitions with the ball in her hands. I think those eight weeks were crucial,” Tsipis said. “She had a really good preseason and got put on the shelf for a little bit. That’s part of this game in college. Everybody is going to go through some sort of injury. How do you come back both mentally and physically? I think that part is important.”

Hilliard is third on the team in scoring average at 9.6 and rebounding at 5.3, with only sophomore forward Imani Lewis (12.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and senior forward Abby Laszewski (11.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg) ahead of her in both categories. Hilliard is third on the team in assists, second in 3-point percentage (42.9%), and second in field goal percentage (56.1%) among players that have played in half the games.

Mathiason has seen the floor in four games and has collected a rebound, a blocked shot and made her only shot attempt from the field.

Season underway

In the regular season opener, Hilliard played just 13 minutes but finished with 11 points in a 13-point win over North Florida. Five days later in a win over Wofford, Hilliard played 18 minutes and scored 14 points, which was the second most on the team. In fact, she went on a personal 8-0 run in the second half that pushed the Badgers to a 20-point lead at the time. Wisconsin won by 13.

“I’ve been out a little bit just because of injury. I’ve had a really good time here and I’m enjoying every moment so far. I love my teammates. I love the atmosphere. It’s just been a lot of fun,” Hilliard said. “Whenever I’m on the court I’m excited to play. Whether it’s two seconds or 20 minutes, it’s all just the same to me.”

In the third game of the year at Colorado, Hilliard played 27 minutes, scoring six points and dishing out five assists. However, she had a rough fall to the ground, knocking her head on the hardwood. 

“I think you could see in our first three games how valuable she is. I think you saw it in the North Florida and Wofford games, she’s not afraid of the big moment — she’ll take the big shot; she’ll put the ball on the ground and attack it,” Tsipis said. “That was the one intangible I felt like I saw when I had the job for just a month — she has a swagger about her — she believes she’s a really good player. There’s not an arrogance about it, she’s just going to figure out a way to beat you and make the team successful. She’s somebody that we think is going to have a bright, bright future here.

“I give credit to our seniors, too, to not be threatened,” Tsipis continued. “They see how that’s helping our team with the different things she’s able to do on the floor like pushing us in practice.”

Overcoming a speed bump

Diagnosed with a concussion, Hilliard would miss back-to-back home games against UW-Milwaukee and Eastern Illinois. Hilliard said despite not being on the court, she was still able to find a positive takeaway.

“I think just learning from my position and following what Kendra (Van Leeuwen) and Niya (Beverly) do every game. They’ve played a couple of years here, so learning from them and what they do on the court,” Hilliard said. “We have a great group of seniors. They are great leaders and great players on the court and off the court. I think just having the four freshmen in give us that extra boost and different style of plays.”

The morning following the win over Eastern Illinois, the Badgers boarded a plane and flew south for the Bahamas Hoopfest. Hilliard was cleared to play, then saw the court for 21 minutes in the opening win over Ball State Nov. 29, scoring 13 points on 6 of 8 shooting with five rebounds. The next day Hilliard scored eight points to go with seven rebounds in a tight 4-point loss to Arkansas. Hilliard was named to the all-tournament team.

A Badger Buzz

As the season rolls on, the Badgers are looking to prove they are ready to take the next step as a program. A year ago, the club struggled in the win column, but made a surprise run to the quarterfinals in the conference tournament. 

The Badgers have won two of their past three games and sit at 7-3 overall with a perfect 5-0 mark at home. Wisconsin hosts Prairie View A&M Dec. 20 before an eight-day break over the holidays. Once back, the Badgers open Big Ten play with a Dec. 28 home game against Rutgers.

“I think it’s going pretty well. We’ve worked well as a team and we’re just growing on the end of last year and hoping to improve this year,” Mathiason said.

The buzz around the team is not just felt in Madison. Both Hilliard and Mathiason have been pleased to see some familiar faces at home games this season — and not just parents, siblings and extended families. The former Cheesemakers have noticed several former teachers, classmates and other Monroe fans finding their way up to the Kohl Center to get a view.

“Even when I’m not playing, I always see familiar faces in the crowd cheering us on, wearing red, just like back in Monroe,” said Hilliard, adding that it’s nice to see her parents at every game even when she was sitting out with her concussion. “They’ve always been Badger fans no matter what the sport is. I think it’s just awesome to have them up there no matter if I’m playing or not.”

“The support is amazing. Just being able to see them here all the time to at the games — all the support from Monroe in general — is just amazing,” Mathiason said.

The Badgers will host a Monroe Community Day Jan. 19 against Iowa. Tickets purchased in advance of gameday will be just $2. Sunday games also have a special for kids — the first 1,000 kids 12 and under will get a free pair of Bucky Badger slippers. After the game, players will be available to sign autographs and pose for pictures for fans that stick around.

“I think all of Wisconsin athletics is so fortunate to have such great in-state support,” said Tsipis, who added that this year’s roster is made up of the most in-state players of his tenure (six). “When you’re a state player playing for the flagship school, you’re not just a family’s daughter, you’re everybody from Wisconsin’s daughter. And that’s something we try to talk about, how special that is.”