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Big Ten Tournament UW’s next challenge
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Also by Mike Ackerstein:
- Big Ten Tournament UW's next challenge (March 12, 2008)
- UW's defense keys successes (March 11, 2008)
- Wisconsin claims Big Ten title outright (March 10, 2008)
- Rodgers' new job comes with price (March 6, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Still plenty left to play for (March 11, 2008)
- Around the Big Ten (October 22, 2002)
- UW heads to Indy with highest seed ever (March 5, 2002)
- UW sees last in Big Ten tourney (February 28, 2002)
- UW men's soccer won't let Marquette loss stop momentum (November 12, 2002)
by Mike Ackerstein
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
It took 16 wins for Wisconsin to claim the Big Ten regular
season title. To win the conference’s next championship, it only needs three.
UW will travel to Indianapolis this week for the Big Ten
tournament where, as the No. 1 seed, the team will be the favorite to add a
tournament title to its regular season one.
“It would mean a lot,” junior Marcus Landry said of the
importance of a tournament championship. “Obviously that’s what everybody wants;
everybody is going for that.”
Though the tournament officially starts Thursday, the
Badgers have a bye in the first round and will play either Iowa or Michigan on
Friday. Wisconsin beat each team twice in the regular season, but not knowing
their next opponent right away just adds to the difficulty the Badgers already
have with the potential of playing three games in as many days.
“It’s a situation that we’ve been in before,” Landry said.
“But we prepare for both teams, and when you find out, you prepare for that
team. It’s kind of a different situation, but that’s how it works.”
UW played in a regular season tournament at the Kohl Center
earlier this season that also saw the team play three games in three days.
“That prepared us for something like the Big Ten tournament
and the NCAA tournament,” Landry said.
Wisconsin has twice previously been the Big Ten tournament’s
top seed, but his lost in the quarterfinals both times, and only three teams
have been able to follow up a regular season title with one in the conference
tournaments.
“Obviously when you’re the top seed there’s a target on your
back,” sophomore Jason Bohannon said. “You just have to go in there with the
mindset of one game at a time and not try and overlook anyone because everyone
is fighting for their lives.”
Should Wisconsin advance to the semifinal round it would
play the winner of the Ohio State-Michigan State game, and only a trip to the
finals could gave UW a third chance to play Purdue — the team responsible for
both of UW’s conference losses this year.
“If we get to them, the third shot is great, but if we don’t
or they don’t, it doesn’t really matter,” Landry said.
Wisconsin is safely in the NCAA tournament, but like some of
the conference’s other teams, UW will be playing to improve their seed. Others
will be desperate for a tournament championship win and an automatic bid into
the big dance.
“Every game is going to be physical, every game is going to
be a dogfight. … Every team is trying to get into the NCAA tournament,”
Bohannon said.
With such a grueling schedule ahead, the Badgers will need
to rely on their bench to provide valuable minutes. Wisconsin has the potential
to go nine-deep, and Jason Bohannon was honored as the conference’s sixth man
of the year Monday.
“It feels pretty good,” Bohannon said of winning the award.
“I just tried to provide a spark off the bench however I could this year.”
Wisconsin hasn’t played since claiming sole possession of
the regular season title Saturday, and in addition to being rested, UW will
enter the Big Ten tournament on a winning streak. The Badgers have won their
last seven games and 20 of their last 22.
“I think we’re playing pretty good,” Landry said. “I think
that there’s a lot more that we could do, that we’re capable of, but I think
we’re playing pretty well as a team.”
With the NCAA Tournament set to begin next week, the Big Ten
Tournament will also give the Badgers additional experience playing in games
where a loss means going home.
“We know it’s going to be a long stretch, but we’ve got to
take things one game at a time,” Bohannon said. “It’s good preparation for us,
and hopefully we can get something out of it.”
The tournament kicks off Thursday when Iowa takes on
Michigan. Penn State will also play Illinois and Minnesota will finish the day
when it plays Northwestern.
Last season Wisconsin lost in the championship game to Ohio
State. Wisconsin’s only Big Ten Tournament championship came in 2004.
Anonymous (March 15, 2008 @ 1:07pm):
GO BADGERS!!!
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