Much is going on in the world of sports and more importantly, in the world of Badger sports. Recent events have led to an influx of speculation of what the coming weeks and months will bring the Badger faithful. So in my best attempts to play Nostradamous, I will attempt to successfully provide the answers to the lingering questions in the Madison sports world.
Keeping in mind that it is around 4 p.m. as I am composing this column, my boldest insight has come in the result of the basketball game Tuesday at the Kohl Center. Visiting UW-Platteville makes its first trip to the Kohl Center and is subsequently greeted with a 39-point drubbing at the hands of the Badgers. Tanner Bronson leads all scorers with 26 points, going 5 for 5 from beyond the arc.
My next prediction may be the most anticipated, as I foresee Ohio State beating Michigan in overtime by a score of 27-26. Hours later, Wisconsin takes full advantage of the recent turn of fate, beating host Iowa by two touchdowns, propelling them into the Rose Bowl.
Michigan's loss and the Badgers' win lands Barry Alvarez in the Rose Bowl for the fourth time. However, while Barry is accustomed to leaving Pasadena victorious, this year will be painfully different. Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who later finishes third in the Heisman voting, California defeats Wisconsin with a late score in the fourth quarter that sends the Badgers back to Madison empty-handed.
The Badgers' \dream season"" ends on a sour note, but the program produces nine NFL products-headed by first-round picks Erasmus James and Anttaj Hawthorne-that will be on a team's active roster in '05.
Returning to the world of basketball, the Big Ten Co-Player of the Year (who shares the award with Indiana's Bracey Wright): Mike Wilkinson teams with Freshman of the Year Brian Butch to form the best down-low duo in the Big Ten. However, poor guard play has hurt the Badgers all year long, and they never are quite able to replace Rhodes Scholar Boo Wade and NBA phenom Devin Harris.
As a result, Wisconsin finishes second in the Big Ten, but makes it to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to eventual champion, North Carolina.
In related news, Wade switches his major from art history to a more appropriate agricultural journalism, Wilkinson is drafted in the second round by the Charlotte Bobcats and Jason Chappell eludes NCAA regulations and tacks on another redshirt season for himself in his quest to be the oldest Badger athlete since Darrel Bevell.
Oh yeah, men's cross country team will finish 3rd in their 33rd NCAA Championship appearance, and like the previous 32, no one seems to care.
Some other quick notes:
-Badger women's hockey wins the WCHA title and is awarded the upcoming cover of the ""Sports Illustrated"" swimsuit edition.
-Men's hockey team skates around some more.
-Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl.
-NBA title stays in Detroit.
-After Camp Randall renovations are complete, Barry Alvarez resigns as A.D. and within three years is replaced by Bret Bielema as Head Coach.
These upcoming events are as close to a guarantee as I can promise my loyal fan base. If there is ever going to be a column that you can hang on your refrigerator and watch its value increase by the day, it is this one.
Undeniably, the sports world will soon recognize that my vast knowledge is second to none. Then again, if you believe that was the central focus of this piece of writing, you are drastically off. Because the point here is that art history is a difficult major. Very difficult.
Jon is a junior majoring in journalism, English and seeing into the future. If you think what he says is the furthest thing from the truth, e-mail him at jrmcnamara@wisc.edu.
