SPORTS
Wisconsin starts to earn recognition, even in losses
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Also by Michael Poppy:
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by Michael Poppy
Thursday, February 22, 2007
If Tuesday night is a sign of things to come, the University of Wisconsin may soon be known for being a basketball school just as much as it is a football school.
Granted the No. 1 UW men's basketball team lost to Michigan State 55-64, it was what happened after the game that is indicative of how far Wisconsin's hoops program has come.
After the Spartans' upset victory, the "Izzone" student section erupted and stormed the Breslin Center's court. At first glance, the fan's rush was understandable — their team just beat the top squad in the country. Furthermore, Wisconsin and Michigan State have created a strong rivalry over the years with head coaches Bo Ryan and Tom Izzo going at it.
It's just rather ironic seeing such a storied program like Michigan State storm the court after beating Wisconsin, of all schools.
While the Badgers' basketball history may stack up to the Spartans' on paper, Michigan State's resurgence this decade has put Izzo's program on an elite level. Over the past eight years, MSU has four Final Four appearances and won the national championship in 2000, beating none other than UW along the way.
It would seem Michigan State wouldn't even bother with storming the court against Wisconsin. So what if it was the first time the Spartans beat a No. 1 team in the Breslin Center? It came against a conference team, one it has outperformed in terms of postseason success over the years.
Last Tuesday wasn't the first time this happened to the Badgers, either.
About a month ago (Jan. 31), fans at Indiana rushed Assembly Hall's court after upsetting then-No. 2 Wisconsin 71-66. If Spartan fans storming the court against Wisconsin sounds absurd, Hoosier fans doing it is even worse. Indiana is the state of hoops… Wisconsin is the state of cheese, 'nuff said.
While the Badgers do have a national championship hidden in their burrow (1947), Wisconsin went 47 straight years without making the NCAA tournament before 1994. However, Bo Ryan and company are quietly etching their names into the UW record books this season.
This March will mark the ninth-straight year the Badgers have made the Big Dance, which will be just one of many UW records this season.
Prior to this season, Wisconsin had never been ranked in the top five. Now, the Badgers have reached the top, and while Tuesday's loss may take away that laurel, the success UW is experiencing this year should carry over to future seasons with the system and young talent Ryan has in place.
The hype for the basketball team on campus is reminiscent of what the football team did in the '90s. Like hoops, Wisconsin's team on the gridiron was once down in the dumps before Barry Alvarez took over the reins. Sixteen seasons and three Rose Bowl victories later, Alvarez built the program up to one of the best in the nation, and Bret Bielema picked up right where his predecessor left.
Is it possible for Wisconsin's basketball team to reach the same national status that the football team did? Judging by the fan reactions in Indiana and Michigan State's upset wins this season, it already has. However, a trip to the Final Four would solidify the Badgers as one of the best programs in the country.
Then comes perhaps the more important question: Is Wisconsin's basketball team worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as national powerhouses such as Florida, North Carolina and UCLA? The Badgers are just barely peeking their heads above those teams this year, and have the potential to hang with the Gators, Tarheels and Bruins for years to come. Sure, UW may not get the hyped recruits the nation's other top teams are able to nab, but Ryan gets the players he wants — the players he knows he can win with.
So while it may hurt for Badger players to see opposing fans storm the court against them, it can also been seen as a sign of respect, as Wisconsin basketball is finally start to receive some national prominence.
"It's a tremendous compliment to Wisconsin and what they've accomplished over the past few years," said college basketball analyst Jay Bilas on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning Wednesday. "Beating the Badgers is now worthy of a court-storming from a Big Ten opponent."
Michael is a senior double majoring in journalism and communication arts. You can reach him at mpoppy@badgerherald.com
Anonymous (February 22, 2007 @ 8:16am):
You missed Izzo's tears after the game. Nothing says respect like tears of joy from the opposing coach when they beat you.
Anonymous (February 22, 2007 @ 4:07pm):
I wouldn't read that far into it. You had excited college kids running out on the court after a big win against a team that is having a great season. I'd hold off on the North Carolina comparisons for a while.
Anonymous (February 22, 2007 @ 4:42pm):
Where was Alando in the 2nd half?? Doubt he will show up next week at home neither
Anonymous (February 26, 2007 @ 10:20am):
wisconsin has a long way to go before being mentioned with the likes of MSU, duke, UNC and UCLA
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