I never thought the state of Wisconsin was a bastion of great basketball. That title was usually reserved for a state like Indiana, with all its storied history and an echelon of great players. Bobby Knight, Larry Bird, Rick Mount, Isiah Thomas and Jimmy Chitwood all have their places in the lexicon of basketball lore.
But after a weekend of great basketball in this state, I began to reconsider my opinions about basketball in the cheese state. Why is not Wisconsin considered a stronghold of great basketball in the traditional sense?
First of all, the University of Wisconsin has never been a perennial basketball powerhouse. There is the 1947 NCAA championship banner in the Kohl Center, along with some prehistoric Big Ten titles (as well as last year’s banner), but nothing in the modern era truly stands out.
Dick Bennett holds great esteem among other coaches and knowledgeable basketball persona, but the legend of Mr. Bennett is guarded within the state’s borders and falls short of transcending into the national spectrum, despite his five-year run with UW and a berth in the Final Four.
So it’s no surprise when studying the historical ranks of collegiate basketball in the cheese state that the focus is generally reserved for the Golden Eagles/Warriors of Marquette University.
Marquette holds fond memories of Al McGuire and his 1977 run to the national championship over Dean Smith and North Carolina. McGuire’s swagger and accent delved deeply into the greater basketball story, but more as an announcer than as the great head coach he was.
The recent revival of the Marquette basketball program under Tom Crean has put basketball in Wisconsin back on the map. His recruiting prowess, along with fiery courtside demeanor and slick hair, have the man on every fan’s radar, but the absolute talent that is Dwyane Wade has brought the national spotlight to Milwaukee.
But why not let the light shine in both Milwaukee and in Madison?
After the Badgers dismantled the Hoosiers Saturday in front of a hostile capacity crowd at the Kohl Center, Bo Ryan and company are in prime position to claim their second conference title in as many seasons.
Kirk Penney is making a strong case for Big Ten player of the year, while the Kohl Center itself is establishing itself as one of the conferences toughest places to play. With 14 consecutive wins in conference home games, the Badgers are on the map, and it’s an absolute shame that neither national poll honored UW after one of the best weeks the organization has ever had.
But you still can’t take anything away from Marquette, who took it to the wire against No.2 Louisville. If it wasn’t for Reese Gaines’ gutsy three-pointer with six seconds remaining, Marquette might have come away with a win for the ages. Despite the loss, Marquette is still No. 12 in the country and has a late season rematch with their conference rival. (Oh, by the way, that guy who hit the big shot, Gaines, he’s from Madison.)
Some of the spotlight must also be reserved for UW-Milwaukee, where Bruce Pearl has his Panthers in first place in the Horizon League with a record of 21-5. Clay Tucker and Dylan Page have established themselves as a feared scoring duo, and it seems the Cinderella slipper might find its way onto the Panthers feet this March.
It’s a great time for collegiate basketball in the state of Wisconsin, so why don’t we capitalize on it? Let’s establish an annual early-season tournament with Marquette, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Green Bay. The “Wisconsin Showdown” could alternate between the Kohl Center, the Bradley Center and possibly the Resch Center, giving each city a chance to host the tourney.
Bo Ryan schedules each of these three instate opponents every year, so why not make it interesting? Wisconsin, believe it or not, is quickly establishing itself as a place to talk about when it comes to collegiate basketball. A statewide tournament would not only be a great marketing tool, but a way to grab some much-needed national attention.
