Wisconsin is the New Indiana
Name three players on the University of Wisconsin Basketball team. Time is up. Yesterday, the No. 2 Badgers lost a heartbreaker to the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes. Tenacious defense is what UW is all about and it was evidenced by the low scoring game that ended 49-48. Bo Ryan doesn’t even have a player that people think is an All-American, yet his team is No. 2 in the Country.
When I was a rabid NCAA fan, despite going to Illinois, you couldn’t help but admire Bobby Knight’s accomplishments as a coach. Now, I sit and watch the Badgers with the same admiration I had for the Hoosiers in the 80’s and early 90’s. They play tough defense. They take smart shots. They play hard and they give it their all each game.
So, now that Illinois has abandoned the Chief, I need to find a team to root for in rebellion. Madison is closer than Champaign. The city is nicer. It is a better academic university (see latest US News and World Report rankings). So, all I can say is, “Go Badgers!”