The Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s fall to University of Kentucky was tough for Grateful Red fans nationwide, but it was perhaps especially difficult for University of Wisconsin-Madison junior Lauren Peterson.
Peterson, whose mother attended University of Louisville, has harbored a disdain for the Kentucky Wildcats from a young age and, following a week of trash-talking from relatives supporting UK, she wanted more than anything to see a Wisconsin victory.
Alas, the Badgers were unable to clinch a win, but Peterson said she was pleased to see the fans’ continued support of the team, citing students’ relatively peaceful State Street procession Saturday night.
“I think it just shows the goodwill of everyone here,” she said. “Yeah, it really sucks that we lost, but we were still happy to just be that far and it kind of shows that we still rally around the positive things regardless of what happens to the team.”
Peterson added that she looks forward to next year and hopes this season will make recruitment more competitive and hopefully help establish a basketball dynasty in Wisconsin.
Similarly, UW-Madison sophomore Alex Jenkins said he is proud of the team’s accomplishments thus far and has high hopes for next year and the Badgers’ potential to make the upcoming season “something special.”
Jenkins boarded a university-provided coach bus and headed down to Texas alongside fellow fans Friday morning to cheer on the Badgers. He was one of 79,444 basketball enthusiasts present Saturday, helping to set a NCAA Final Four attendance record, according to the Associated Press.
Jenkins said a substantial crowd of Wisconsinites was present and their energy never waned.
“Our students by far were the loudest,” he explained. “Even when we were losing, or after the last shot, we all sang ‘Varsity’ and supported our team. I just think it made us look like the best school that was at the Final Four.”
He added that, while the game was an unforgettable experience, his favorite part of the trip was going to an alumni pregame event which was attended by hundreds of Wisconsin graduates and several former UW-Madison basketball players.
“It was just such a great atmosphere to be there and see Badgers young and old all cheering for one team,” Jenkins said.
