Commentary from another college student friend of mine:
I don’t suggest that lightly. Having run off six consecutive Big Ten wins, Wisconsin is going to have to work hard to get back to the NCAA Tournament this year where madness rules the March and, well, continuing into April these days. Wisconsin is the quintessential student-athlete university where many players don’t look to visit family in the summer but look from internships.
I’m going to tell you a story
I’m a former alumnus from the University of Wisconsin. I grew up a mere six blocks from both Camp Randall and the Field House.
Yes, I recognize that Badger Basketball has shifted itself to a venue that provides more seating for both hockey and basketball at the lovely Kohl Center.
But, I also know that I grew up at the corner of Jefferson and Grant Street and know the type of fans you are.
Hell, I parked cars on my parents’ lawn at the age of six (’79) and had $30 in my pocket but snuck into the game rather than immediately beginning what turned out to be an unsustainable vinyl habit from that great record store next to the Brat & Brau where I heard students twice my age talking about on campus internships before fall term began.
Distance doesn’t matter, support is support
If I need to refresh your memory, the Badgers returned to the Final Four after an appearance that shocked the commentators, critics and pundits alike in 2014. The Badgers and their many fans were shocked with their progression through the tournament under the guidance of all-time great Bo Ryan.
In that fateful Final Four matchup, they were gutted like many who came to love the Badgers’ team and coach by a buzzer beating three by Aaron Harrison of Kentucky.
A true Badger fan felt it like the players, or at least felt as though they had been stabbed along with the players that suffered that 3-point dagger. Everyone stopped, over-educated high school students drinking Coke discussing summer internships with their friends stop to watch the last minutes.
I watched that from Guatemala and cried that night with my Madison Mom.
Right back to it says Coach Ryan
Without reminding you how heartbroken you were following a repeat performance plus a game, Wisconsin furthered their objectives in 2014-2015 and narrowly lost out on its first national championship in men’s basketball since 1947.
With an unheard of four players leaving to the NBA, what chance could the Badgers possibly have in 2015-2016.
I’ll say a hell of a chance. After future Hall of Fame coach Bo Ryan left in a fit of “take my assistant coach Mr. Alzarez” that brought tears to my eyes – hope has finally been restored.
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His coaching legacy continues and the players, after suffering horrible back-to-back non-conference losses to in-state rivals UW-Milwaukee and Marquette, looked lost under interim coach Greg Gard.
Not anymore, the UW team that fought, scratched and clawed their way back into Big Ten contention in recent weeks has a swagger about them. They won’t win the conference in regular season, but I myself wouldn’t wish to face them.
Either way, Wisconsin is where you want to play basketball and further your career. Internships are something that players on this team used to discuss in December, now it’s late applications in April.
Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig, Ethan Happ and a team with more freshmen on the roster of any NCAA Division One team need your help. They face an uphill battle and need your support as they run to the tourney and once again become not only Wisconsin’s darlings but also the nation’s choice.
On Wisconsin. (Did I mention I watched every one of these games from my home in Guatemala?) If I can nearly fall off my roof installing a satellite, you can certainly tune in to some potential late season magic.
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