One hundred and six days ago (that's 15 weeks; 2,544 hours; 152,640 minutes, etc.), I sat here and told you that the athletic department did a disservice to UW's football senior class. I wrote that Senior Day was overlooked and one of the greatest graduating classes in the school's history were all but forgotten like last year's Madden game by the game-day staff.

I then issued a challenge for the school to make sure the same didn't happen to the men's basketball team last Saturday.

So, just what do I have to say following the Badger hoopsters' Senior Day?

Bravo. Job well done.

I'm not disillusioned enough to believe that what I wrote made the difference between how Joe Thomas and John Stocco's Camp Randall farewells went in comparison to those of Alando Tucker, Kammron Taylor and Jason Chappell. But the fact is that the team, game-day staff, athletic department and all involved put together a fantastic, well-deserved sendoff for maybe the most successful senior class in men's basketball team history.

It was an event. It was exciting. It was exactly what the players deserved.

The stands were almost full when Tucker, Taylor and Chappell received plaques and were recognized. And the crowd gave them a moving ovation. After the game and Taylor's late-game heroics, the many fans stuck around to watch a post-game video presentation that concluded with players, fans and coaches all reaching for Kleenex.

Sure, it might've been a little over-the-top, a little too high school graduation, but who cares? It's way better to overdo it a little bit than to not do enough. I'd rather see baby photos of Tucker with his Gerald from "Hey Arnold" haircut than see no video montage at all.

All involved said the experience was wonderful.

Tucker gushed at how emotional the whole experience made him, from the pre-game ceremony to Taylor's shot of redemption to the post-game video package, calling the entire ordeal "picture perfect."

It couldn't have happened to a better group of seniors, either. Tucker, Taylor and Chappell were ideal student athletes. The group never once brought negative publicity to the program, boasting spotless off-the-court records.

They played in maybe the most successful stretch of basketball in UW history, pulling in a Big Ten title, a Big Ten tourney title, NCAA appearances every season, more than 3,500 points, 1,200 rebounds and four to five of the best years of basketball Wisconsin fans have ever seen.

It was probably harder for fans to think they will never again see Tucker throw down a high-flying dipsy-do dunkaroo at the Kohl Center again — unless he's in an alumni game and still has hops at age 50 — than it was for the players to say goodbye. They can always come back like Devin Harris does annually.

Again, all involved with creating Senior Day should be commended and receive a standing ovation of their own.

Now what's the trick? Keeping it up.

In just 188 days from now (6 months; 4 days; 26 weeks; 4,512 hours; 16,243,200 seconds; 999,999,999 Gilbert Brown Twinkies devoured, etc.), the Badger football team in a potentially huge matchup with Michigan at home, will again have Senior Day.

Men's basketball head coach Bo Ryan said Saturday that all senior classes are special in some way and every Senior Day is one to be remembered.

While this group of seniors for the gridiron gang likely won't be as high profile as the past one — or Tucker, Taylor and Chappell — that doesn't mean they don't deserve the same treatment. In fact, they might even deserve better if the school challenges itself and tries to improve upon a pretty tough act to follow from Saturday.

With any luck, the Wolverines will never know what hit them.

Dave McGrath is a senior majoring in English and journalism. If you think Tucker should still rock the "Gerald" cut too, you can write him at [email protected].