A large part of the issue appears to have been resolved, so why not think outside the box a little?
The WIAA state high school boy’s basketball tournament, held annually in Madison for more than 90 years, had been jeopardized by the newly sanctioned Big Ten men’s hockey playoffs coming in 2013-14. Scheduling conflicts threatened to force the popular high school tourney elsewhere, possibly to Ashwaubenon’s Resch Center, before the Big Ten elected to choose neutral site hosts for its new hockey league. Instead of the feared logjam of athletic events at the Kohl Center, the conference will reportedly look at sites in Detroit, Mich. and St. Paul, Minn. for its hockey tournament and consequently eliminate some of the complications impeding the WIAA’s normal course of events.
Some scheduling issues – the first round of the league hockey playoffs will overlap with the boy’s basketball tournament – and concerns over parking, concession prices and hotel accommodations persist. But given the major roadblock to keeping the WIAA tourney in Madison has been abated, there’s cause for celebration.
At the same time, why not continue the re-evaluation of the high school basketball tournament? History and tradition are invariably difficult to part with, but with all the consideration set forth toward determining alternatives for the WIAA, why not keep those thoughts churning?
One person who can speak to the tournament’s history and future is Evan Anderson, a redshirt freshman center on Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team. Anderson grew up in Stanley, Wis., and attended Eau Claire North High School. There, he helped lead the school to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009.
Having experienced the tournament firsthand, Anderson said it “would be a little disappointing” to have to move the tournament. But does the event lose its allure if it’s not held in the Kohl Center?
“I wouldn’t even say that, just because the state tournament, it is what it is,” Anderson said. “You’re trying to get to the top and competing with the best teams in the state.”
The strongest opposition to moving the state tourney centered on the “specialness,” as the Wisconsin State Journal termed it, of being so close to the Capitol. Well, the Kohl Center isn’t exactly next door to the square. If we can keep the event in Madison but UW’s arena is no longer a viable option, why not consider other in-town options?
Adjacent to the city’s most historical athletic venue, Camp Randall Stadium, the Wisconsin Field House once housed UW’s men’s basketball team, as well as the university’s renowned boxing program. Currently, it houses Wisconsin volleyball and wrestling, both of which enjoy legitimate home-court advantages. For the past 20 years, the volleyball team has ranked among the top 10 in national attendance, as well as the top four over the last 10 years.
The Field House isn’t a new recommendation for a fallback option for the WIAA, though it has had its critics. Opponents to the idea cite the need for renovations to the building, which opened in 1930. However, those attendance numbers should trump questions regarding the building’s practicality.
Furthermore, the Field House has not gone untouched in recent years. When Camp Randall was renovated in 2005, the Field House improved its locker rooms and media room. Four years later, the floor was resurfaced and new bleachers were constructed on the building’s west side.
In recent years, UW’s men’s basketball team has also hosted pre-season scrimmages in the Field House. Two years ago, 2,650 fans attended Field House Madness Saturday even though later that night, Wisconsin’s football team was slated to take on No. 1 Ohio State.
The Field House is obviously treasured enough to still be consistently in use, and its track record of hosting some of UW’s top athletic programs should alleviate concerns regarding hosting the WIAA tourney. Although the Kohl Center’s basketball attendance is measured at 17,230 – nearly 6,000 more than the Field House’s 11,500 – the former isn’t exactly packed when the high school boys roll into town. Imagine the intimate atmosphere the Field House would foster for families and fans coming from all areas of the state.
Sure, it’s probably still a secondary option to the tried and true Kohl Center. But the WIAA already has been forced to think outside the box, so why not go a little further?
Mike is a senior majoring in journalism. What are your thoughts on the men’s state basketball tournament? Let him know on Twitter @mikefiammetta.
