Wisconsin Badgers
From Hoopedia
The University of Wisconsin is the system of public universities in the state of Wisconsin. It is one of the largest public higher education systems in the country, enrolling more than 160,000 students each year and employing more than 32,000 faculty and staff statewide. The University of Wisconsin System comprises two doctoral research universities, eleven comprehensive universities, thirteen freshman-sophomore colleges, and statewide UW-Extension.
Men's basketball
After decades of mediocrity (notwithstanding a 1941 national championship), the men's basketball team has enjoyed success in recent years. They are now a perennial attendee of the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four in 2000. Bo Ryan, a four-time Division III national championship coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, has coached the team since 2001 after the retirement of venerable Dick Bennett. The Badgers play at the Kohl Center, where the students, known as the Grateful Red. Wisconsin has been in the NCAA tournament the last nine seasons (1999-2007). In the 2006-2007 basketball season, the Badgers attained their highest AP ranking (#1) (Feb. 19-25) in school history, as well as garnering 35 first-place votes.
Wisconsin tied for first place in the Big Ten in the 2001-02 season along with Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio State. In 2002-03 the Badgers won the Big Ten outright, but then lost in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament to Ohio State. In the NCAA Tournament, Wisconsin lost to Kentucky in the Sweet 16.
In 2003-04, Wisconsin finished second in the Big Ten. They went on to win the Big Ten Tournament, the only time they have won since the inception of the tournament in 1998. However, the Badgers lost to #3-seeded Pittsburgh in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In the 2004-05 season Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten.
In the 2005 NCAA Tournament, Wisconsin advanced to the Elite Eight by defeating #11 seed Northern Iowa, #14 seed Bucknell, and #10 seed North Carolina State.
In 2005-2006 the Badgers had a somewhat disappointing season that culminated in a blowout loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, and another blowout loss to Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. During the regular season, Wisconsin lost a home game to Division 1 North Dakota State University. The highlight of the season was a win over intrastate rival Marquette.
In the 2006-07 season the Badgers played extremely well with big victories at Marquette and at home against #2 ranked Pitt. Their lone non-conference loss was against Missouri State. The Badgers also lost on the road against Indiana on January 31, but on February 19, 2007, they earned their first #1 ranking in school history with a 26-2 record. The next day, they were defeated by the unranked Michigan State Spartans 64-55 at the Breslin Center. Then, a week later, they lost to the #2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 48-49.
Dick Bennett is largely credited with beginning the turnaround of the program. During his six-year tenure at Wisconsin (1995-2000), the Badgers achieved a 91-68 record and had two 20 win seasons. Only twice previously had the Badgers won at least 20 games in a season, the most recent being the 1940-41 Championship season. Current coach Bo Ryan has been in charge since the 2001-02 season and has led the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament every year. As of 2005-06, Ryan has compiled a record of 112-49 with the Badgers, and during the 2006-07 season, he not only achieved his 500th win as a college coach but the Badgers also were ranked #1 in the AP Top for the first time in program history.
Notable Badgers currently in the NBA: Michael Finley and Devin Harris. In the 1941 NCAA tournament John Katz was named tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Badgers play their home games at the 17,190-seat Kohl Center, where they have one of the best home winning records in college basketball. Wisconsin's student fans are known as the Grateful Red.
