I was watching College Game Night Monday and got extremely aggravated when Digger Phelps said the Badgers have no center and that Tuesday's game at Michigan State was set up perfectly for an upset.
""What does Digger know?,"" I screamed. ""When has this guy been around Wisconsin this season?""
And then I remembered that we don't have a center and I had been walking around all day telling people we were going to lose to Michigan State.
I guess the difference is that I've been around this team since November and I'm a pessimistic fan from Chicago—so Digger had a basis for his claim, but he's just the 100th ESPN employee of the month to disrespect Wisconsin. Congrats, ESPN probably gave him a pay raise for reaching that plateau.
I'm not going to write the ""Wisconsin Gets No Respect Column"" because I've seen that one just as many times as I saw ""Tim Hardaway is a Homophobe"" last week. But I have been waiting since Jan. 10 to talk up Sunday's game at Ohio State. Unfortunately, Bo Ryan is such a good coach that in the midst of his talks of consistency and not looking too far ahead, he has even kept my mind on the likes of Northwestern, Minnesota and Penn State before even uttering the word ""Buckeyes"" in the Kohl Center.
The time is now, however. Sunday's game in Columbus, Ohio is the biggest game of the season even if the Badgers did lose in Michigan State last night. It's the best game of the season in all of college basketball.
Wisconsin can still earn a split-Big Ten title with a win and it could decide who gets a No. 1 seed in both the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. Senior forward Alando Tucker did not help his case for National Player of the Year with only two points in the second half against Michigan State, but a big game against Ohio State in a win could clinch the honor.
Youth or experience? Scarlet or Cardinal? NBA prospects or role players? Thad Matta or Bo Ryan? How much do I really hate Ohio State?
Oops, sorry, I kind of got carried away—but seriously, I hate that school.
Since I have been at UW only the ‘05 games against undefeated Illinois and eventual national champion North Carolina even compare to Sunday's game. But this one is still bigger.
I don't really know how a team on everybody's preseason Final Four goes 26-3 and then is suddenly out of everybody's Final Four, but that has been the path of the '06 Badgers—or at least it seems that way.
Everyone forgets UW already beat OSU this season and that's because it doesn't matter. Ohio State has not lost since and Wisconsin has two conference losses now. But UW's destiny is still in its own hands. Win Sunday and the regular season can still end positively. Wisconsin could still be the Big Ten Champ, get a No. 1 seed and if Tucker isn't named Player of the Year, Madison will see its worst riots since Vietnam.
The players get it. Every program has a window. Some, like the Dukes and North Carolinas have more windows than others. Duke's window closed last season and Wisconsin will be in a similar situation next season—ranked, but without a dominant scorer on offense that can lead a team to a Final Four. For UW, that window closes for at least a year this spring—win or lose.
Digger might be leaning towards UW losing, but those of us in Madison know this team can win because the players are so well coached. How do you explain not having a single player foul out all season?
The inside track to winning comes Sunday. Split the Big Ten title, get a No. 1 seed and let the Player of the Year lead you to Atlanta.
Hear Hoge break down Sunday's game on ""The Student Section"" Thursday from 3-5 p.m. on WSUM 91.7FM or online at www.wsum.org. He can be reached at hoge@dailycardinal.com.
