Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Wisconsin happens

Making a run at an NCAA takes a lot of talent, a lot of luck, a lot of desire and a lot of poise.

In 1997, the UA men's basketball team had all four.

Arizona used timely runs in the second half to rally from deficits against South Alabama and the College of Charleston.

Players like A.J. Bramlett and Bennett Davison knew their roles on the team and played them perfectly.

When Michael Dickerson struggled from the field in the Final Four, Miles Simon and Mike Bibby put the team on their backs.

In short, a lot of good things happened at the right time, as Arizona came away with its first national championship after beating Kentucky 84-79.

Had the two teams played 10 times, Kentucky might have won seven times. But that's the beauty of the NCAA Tournament - the best team doesn't always win.

Upsets happen.

Disappointments happen.

Wisconsin happens.

On Saturday, the eighth-seeded Badgers played 40 minutes of great basketball and beat a better team. Arizona has more talent, but that doesn't mean a thing in the tournament.

Besides being better coached on Saturday, Wisconsin had more discipline, more hustle and more heart, and it deserves to play in the Sweet 16 against Louisiana State.

The Wildcats had an amazing season, considering all the adversity they overcame. Transfers, defections, injuries . . . the list goes on. Lute Olson, the five-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, could have made a good case for his sixth trophy this season for getting three freshman, two sophomores, a transfer in his first season at Arizona and a junior to win 27 games and win the conference title.

Arizona may have accomplished a lot during the regular season, but March Madness is a different story and Bracketville was built with Cinderella stories.

This season's team has the man-power (when healthy) to play with any squad in the country. They also caught some breaks during the regular season, as losses by Ohio State, Cincinnati and Stanford all paved the way for Arizona's No. 1 seed in the West.

But as Coach O said Saturday, they have a lot to learn about maturity and toughness, which Wisconsin showed plenty of in Salt Lake City.

Arizona will now have to pick up the pieces of a season that easily could have lasted four more games and build a stronger team for a title run next season.

In the meantime, the Wildcats will have to be content with a great season that ended with one terrible game.

That's why it's called March Madness.