Hayes guides Badgers to NYC

two runs to the Final Four. Two wins and Hayes gets to go back.

Next up for No. 8 seed Wisconsin (27-9) is No. 4 seed Florida (26-8) in an East Regional semifinal matchup on Friday night in New York, a game that brings Hayes' career full circle. He played his first home game as a freshman on Nov. 12, 2013, when the Badgers beat the Gators 59-53. It was the start of a terrific two-year run for a team that included future NBA players Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker. Ben Brust, Traevon Jackson and Josh Gasser provided backcourt leadership.

Hayes assumed a lead role in the frontcourt as a junior in 2015-16 after Kaminsky graduated and Dekker left early for the NBA. Hayes decided last spring to come back for his senior season after deciding against entering the NBA draft, returning as the Big Ten's preseason player of the year.

“When we got here, we watched [Jackson] make clutch shot after clutch shot. Frank did the same thing, and now we're stepping into their shoes and we're trying to continue,” Hayes said.

He turned into one of the most versatile players in the Big Ten. Hayes is fourth on the school's career scoring list. He is just one of two players in conference history to compile 1,800 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists, joining former Michigan State star Steve Smith. As he has matured, Hayes has used his voice and smarts to speak out on causes, like advocating for pay for college athletes. Hayes and teammate Jordan Hill took a step back from their teammates when they lined up for the national anthem in a pregame protest.