As the clock ticked down and the seconds dwindled away, Badger fans everywhere began to feel the rush of adrenaline. The security guards grew tense as students began pilling along the baseline, most hardly able to contain themselves.

UW point guard Devin Harris stepped up to toe the free-throw line and released his first of two free throws with only 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock. Bounce, bounce, bounce and out went the shot. As Harris stepped back from the line, anxious looks circulated through the crowd.

Back to the line he went, and this time the ball only found the bottom of the net as Harris swished his free throw to seal a second consecutive Big Ten championship for the Wisconsin Badgers.

At that moment, what could only be described as pure pandemonium broke loose as the entire student section exploded onto the court.

Streamers and flashbulbs filled the air as a gigantic mosh pit filled the boundaries of the Kohl Center floor, energy surging through the building.

As clips of the game played over the sound system, players and coaching staff slowly navigated the crowd, making their way to the stage set up in front of the scorer’s table.

Athletic Director Pat Richter, Chancellor John Wiley and Gov. Jim Doyle joined the members of the 2003 Big Ten Championship team on stage, and the trophy presentation began.

Wiley began by thanking the Badgers’ only senior, Kirk Penney, for all he had done for the team in the past four years.

Next up to speak to the crowd was Doyle, who enthusiastically exclaimed, “Bo knows basketball and Bo for president,” with a smile stretching from cheek to cheek. His comments were met by rowdy screams from the crowd as Richter took control of the microphone.

The athletic director thanked Penney once again and predicted that the UW men’s basketball program would be a dynasty for years to come.

Finally the crowd had enough. No longer able to contain themselves, the crowd began to chant insistently for their prized senior. As Penney stepped through his teammates to the front of the stage, he threw his hands in the air, tipped his head back and screamed, “Whoo!” to the delight of the fans, who began jumping up and down yet again.

“On behalf of the team, the coaches and supporters, we thank you so much for your support here tonight. It was unbelievable … we were all part of it. Go Badgers!”

After his comments, the Big Ten championship trophy was finally presented to a team eager to touch the symbol of its achievement.

Because no representative from the Big Ten was present to award the trophy, Richter was chosen to bestow the honor upon the team.

With grins the size of Texas, the players reached out as one, surrounding the trophy with eyes gleaming with pride.

Finally the man of the hour, head coach Bo Ryan, approached the microphone and said, “Someone has to remind Tucker he is a freshman.”

After introducing his coaching staff and thanking numerous members of the championship journey, the celebration was once again turned over to the players and fans as Ray Nixon, Freddie Owens, Deandre Buchanan and Alando Tucker led the team in dance to the song “Celebrate Good Times” while soaking up the charged atmosphere.

Shortly after this scene, Penney broke free of the crowd and headed to the stands to take a seat for a minute, exclaiming, “I am getting dizzy.” He went on the say that the win last night could not have gotten any better and that there could be no better ending to his career at home in the Kohl Center.

At the post-game press conference, Tucker was the first player to wander in, telling the media that this was the greatest feeling in the world.

Shortly after, Harris joined his teammate, sat down and let out a sigh of relief, almost exuding disbelief that he had just had won the Big Ten championship.

In description of his free throws, he said, “They were mine to take; I just wanted to make sure I got my rhythm going.”

Bo Ryan ended the evening by concluding, “I have more fun than 10 people … I can’t believe I am allowed to do this for a living.”

As the players got home, it still might not have registered to them what the team had just accomplished, but it is safe to bet that when each player woke up today and looked at the piece of the net he had cut down, it all come rushing back.

Many players never win a conference championship, and even fewer can claim to have won two back-to-back.