The Badger basketball team opens up its season against in-state little brother UW-Parkside tonight at the Kohl Center.
Bo Ryan is using the game as \a dress rehearsal on how to go to the scorers table and report in; to make sure you have your towel when you replace a player."" Taken literally, this quote should allow Badger fans like myself who didnt recieve tickets a little playing time at the point guard spot for pre-season games as compensation.
However, Coach Ryan and his players know there is much more on the line tonight in the David vs. Goliath confrontation. The Badgers have little to gain and much to lose, as a defeat would spark bragging rights and issues of respect that would linger for years to come.
This year, Ryan and his squad are doing something they haven't done in past exhibition play by hosting two in-state teams-, Division II Parkside and Division III UW-Platteville.
For the smaller programs in Wisconsin, opportunities to compete against Division I programs are few and far between. In comparison, it is not uncommon for teams like Marquette to dodge city-rival Milwaukee, citing scheduling commitments as the barrier standing in their way.
It should be noted that the Badgers annually take on UWM and Marquette, as well as UW-Green Bay, providing an opportunity for them to gain heightened national exposure.
Marquette coach Tom Crean should adopt the example set by Ryan. He continuously bypasses these particular show-downs and the huge benefits they would bring to Wisconsin hoops, in favor of hosting Binghamton, Kent State and Sam Houston State.
Crean has stated that UWM is not their rival and Wisconsin is the only rivalry of significance. Crean, however, is well aware that just a few miles away, UWM coach Bruce Pearl is slowly closing the talent gap between the two teams and is not going to risk being labeled ""the second-best team in Milwaukee"" as long as he has a voice in the decision.
Coupled with the exposure these teams receive, rivalries are also rehashed that were created during high school and AAU ball. Most D-III schools take in-state talent and the Badgers themselves have 10 players of their 15 who hail from Wisconsin.
Many have suggested that an annual tournament featuring the Badgers, Marquette, Green Bay and UWM should kick off the season to create hype in Wisconsin hoops.
This particular idea will remain unrealistic as long as teams like Marquette avoid embarrassment in order to remain the Kings of Milwaukee. But to their disappointment, as long as UW remains on their schedule, they will never be the Kings of Wisconsin.
Jon might see some P.T. tonight. Reach him at jrmcnamara@wisc.edu.
