Sometimes the biggest wins come out of the toughest losses.
Remember UW's horribly-awful loss to Penn State two weeks ago? Sure you do. The Nittany Lions won that game simply because the Badgers didn't have the guts to finish it. It was a humiliating defeat to one of the worst teams in the country and a defeat that, with only four games remaining, severely crippled their Big Ten title chances.
Four games and four wins later, the Badgers have their second Big Ten title in a row, and they owe it all to Penn State.
In the two weeks and four games since it's loss, UW has become a team to reckon with, and a team that will make noise come March Madness.
Two weeks ago against Iowa, a team with its season on the line, the Badgers absorbed the Hawkeyes' best shot and tore their hearts out in the second half. A week later, against Minnesota, a team desperate for a win and playing at its intimidating home, UW never trailed, never shied from the big shot and never flinched.
Wednesday night, however, would be the true test. If Wisconsin didn't get past Illinois, they'd finish 0-5 on the year against Top 25 teams, they'd be swept by Head Coach Bill Self's squad, and the identity the team had built since the Penn State game would disappear. The road wins against Iowa and Minnesota would be meaningless.
The shades of the Penn State loss with its fatal indecision and lack of killer instinct appeared only once Wednesdsay night, although at the most important time. In the last minutes, UW milked the clock down on every possesion but seemed unsure of itself, like at Penn State. Meanwhile, Illinois' Dee Brown was the ghost of blown-games past, streaking by the Badgers to pave the way for a remarkable comeback. When senior forward Brian Cook calmly stroked a two pointer to tie the score at 59-59, Wisconsin was still in pre-Penn State mode. Then Harris got the ball.
With less than five seconds, Harris quickly cut back to his left, leaving Brown in his wake. Without hesitating, he took it hard and decisively to the hoop. The foul call was deserved and so was the result.
The Badgers are Big Ten Champs because, more than any other team, they have learned from their defeats.
