Well, the Badgers just played in the Sweet 16. I posted in a thread that I was hoping that I walked into an alternate universe and that the Badgers did not actually get handled by Davidson. Turns out, I didn't wander through a worm hole as I had hoped. The Badgers did get handled by Davidson.
It's a strange feeling I have right now. I don't feel quite as disappointed as you'd think. After all, the Badgers were so thoroughly outplayed that there's not a few plays you can point to where you think "if only that call would have gone their way" or "if only that one shot would have fallen." The game was so one sided in the second half that there's nothing that would have tilted the game in the Badgers favor.
As for this Badgers team? I'm as proud of them as any other Badgers team I've ever cheered for. And the reason goes beyond the fact that they played above all expectations this year. What? They did? But, didn't they get owned by a mid-major in the Sweet 16? Yup. But remember, this team was not picked to do much this year. They were picked, at best, to finish 3rd in the Big 10. What did they do? They won a school record 31 games, swept the Big 10 titles, and made it to the Sweet 16. Not bad.
But, it's not just the play of the team that makes me proud. It's the character of it's players. Many have probably heard story about Michael Flowers and a kid who had leukemia. If you haven't, click on this youtube replay of the story. It'll choke you up...guaranteed. Flowers showed that, not only is he one of the best defenders in Wisconsin history, but he's also a great guy.
It's Marcus Landry overcoming a learning disability, juggling time commitments of a family, school, and basketball, yet still making fatherhood a priority. It's Greg Stiemsma overcoming depression and high expectations and playing an important roll on the team without a single complaint about not getting more playing time. And it's the unity and dedication to unselfish basketball that the whole team shows, from top to bottom.
It's also the coach. It's the way he gives a scholarship to a guy because he works hard, even if it's just running the scout team. It's the way he chooses to be a teacher first and foremost and the way he chooses players based on who they are as people as well as how good they are at playing the game. It's the dedication to doing things the right way and putting mentoring above all else.
No, this team may not have made it to the Final Four. But I'm as proud of having this Badgers team represent my alma mater as I ever have been of any other team. After all, when it comes down to it, basketball is just a game. What a university means to a person is so much more than the basketball team. But it sure is nice that this basketball team represents everything that makes me proud to be a Badger.
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