Badger Game

First Half

It's 7:58pm and I am ready for some basketball. I'm in my basement enjoying some cokes and will be joined by my dad who will enjoy popcorn and diet coke. Now that you know our refreshments, his pregame thought, "I think we're going to get killed." I think it will be a good game, but think the streak will end. My dad's prediction, 63-45. My prediction, Illinois 66 Wisconsin 58.

Coverage begins at exactly 8:02 pm. How long will it be before Dick Vitale mentions Duke? I am a huge Duke fan, but hate that they get talked about all the time, in every game regardless of what conference is playing. If you haven't heard already, Wisconsin has won 38 games in a row at home and Illinois is number 1 in the country at 19-0.

State from Erin Andrews, tickets in the lower ring have been going for $800-$1200? This is incredible.

8:05pm

Tipoff- the Badgers go small to start, we'll see how it goes. The first 4 minutes of this game are probably the biggest for the Badgers. They cannot get off to a slow start and expect to win this game. Also, the Badgers need to win each 4 minute period before media time-outs. I love watching games in these 4 minute incriments, seeing who won the most, and if that translates into victory. Don't worry, I will be keeping track of this for you.

8:08pm

The Badgers need to slow down and not be so careless with the basketball, or it will be a long game. One turnover already and if Wilkinson wouldn't have been in the right spot on the floor, they'd have 2

8:09pm
17:28

The third Badger turnover leads to an Illini three pointer, and a Wisconsin timeout. It won't be long until we see the Bo Ryan serial killer face.

8:12pm
15:48

The first media time-out. The first four minutes goes to the Illini, and not just because they are winning. The Badgers are trying to force things and are making bad passes and taking bad shots because of this. Also, a weakness for the Badgers on defense has been exposed as Clayton Hansen is trying to defend Luther Head. Hansen isn't quick enough to handle this match-up, so it will be something to keep an eye on. By the way, Cool Runnings is on the Disney Channel right now. Funny movie, not great, just funny.

8:17pm
13:11

If this becomes a three-point contest as the last 5 baskets have been; I like Wisconsin, as long as Ray Nixon stops doing his best Ricky Davis impression.

8:19pm
11:40

As my mom is screamin, "NO!", Shareef Chambliss nails a 25 foot shot to pull the Badgers back within 3. Even though the Badgers played tough, this second four minute period also goes to Illinois. The Illini withstood a 6-0 run by Wisconsin and 4 three pointers in 5 possessions, to maintain a lead. Right now, this is like New England and Pittsburgh. The more experienced team is winning, holding the home team from doing what they want to do in the game, and coming back when it seems like the more inexperienced team is about to go on a run.

8:24pm

I'm amazed as Vitale didn't even take a forced opportunity to talk about Duke, even though a promo for tomorrow night's game came on; way to show restraint Dick.

8:29pm
7:16

Wisconsin is in the midst of a 5-0 run and have tied the game at 26. The Grateful Red is so loud I can't even hear Dan Shulman or Dick Vitale; that may also be because my mom is yelling at the television and clapping loudly after every play. Those four minutes go to the Badgers as they have played with more intensity on defense and continue to make their shots. With only 2 more time-out periods in the first half, the score is 2-1 Illinois.

8:39pm
3:08

Well, being outscored 9-4 since the last time-out wasn't that bad. However, what was really bad; the two free-throw misses by Zach Morley and the horrible decision on the fast break just before the time-out by Michael Flowers, the original shot and then trying to drive against a 7'2" Nick Smith. All of that leads to another period going to the Illini. They will win this half at least 3-2.

8:44pm
1:25

Hey, maybe the Badgers can make a free-throw in a bonus situation. They are 4 of 9 and are down only 2. Well, make it 4 of 10. Talk about the antithesis of Wake Forest against UNC; let's keep an eye on this.

8:46pm
Halftime

Wisconsin wins the final four minutes by playing physically, forcing misses, and cutting the lead to 2. I still am not liking the 40% free-throw shooting and 7 turnovers by Bucky. Underdogs usually don't win games by shooting less than 60% from the free-throw line and having over 10 turnovers; even at home. Otherwise, the Badgers seemed to slow down mentally and not make so many mistakes late in the half. So far my prediction is better than my dad's, and I am letting him know about it.

Here's a preview of tomorrow's Marquette/Louisville game; Louisville will use pressure defense to wear down on Diener and the Golden Eagles. Marquette will have trouble getting into its offense (I still haven't figured out what it is), and will commit many turnovers. Although, I thought Louisville would dominate this game last year as well. I hope I'm wrong, because Marquette is my favorite Wisconsin basketball team.

I really like Dan Shulman's voice. I enjoy when he does games, and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite play-by-play men. In the summers, he does Sunday Night Baseball for ESPNRadio. His voice will someday be as recognizable as Keith Jackson, Dick Vitale, Brad Nessler, or my personal favorite, Brent Musburger. He is pretty much only my favorite because I sat in front of him at a Bucks game and walked out with him. He was a nice guy to talk to and he seemed to enjoy talking with me.

The halftime show has kind of been picking on both Wisconsin and Brian Butch being over-rated. The arguments made were solid; the Badgers haven't been that tough away from home (but I don't really think they are necessarily think they are the most over-rated team in the Big Ten, Michigan anyone?), and I never thought Butch was that good. When I saw him in the WIAA High School state tournament against Milwaukee Vincent, I thought he was soft and slow. He has put on weight, but is still slow. Anyway, the game is coming back on.

9:05pm
Start of 2nd half (Cool Runnings is over. The Jamaican's lost).

Wisconsin needs to take the lead by the 10 minute mark if they are going to win this game. I just don't think the team is solid enough at the guard position yet to rely on them to score down the stretch. By the way, Illinois hasn't trailed in the second half all season.

9:07pm
18:35

Dick Vitale mentions Duke and shooting guard J.J. Reddick. This happened about 20 game minutes later than I thought it would. Not too bad of a job by him holding back is Duke bias.

9:08pm
17:00

Wisconsin has gone on a nice little run here and has actually tied the game at 44. This is like when the Jamaican's in Cool Runnings moved up in the placings at the Calgary olympics and had a chance to medal on the final day; only to fall at the end. Hopefully this act ends better than it did ffor the bobsledders from Jamaica.


9:12pm
16:28

Illinois is down in the second half for THE FIRST TIME ALL SEASON!

9:13pm
15:56

The Badgers won the first four minutes in the second half helped by a none call on Mike Wilkinson. A three by Tucker and now the Badgers are in the driver's seat. Like I said, they needed to take the lead by at least the 10 minute mark, now they need to hold it until at least the 10 minute mark, and not let Illinois go on any runs.

9:18pm
14:58

The Badgers are surprisingly up 7 points right now. The place is rocking, can't hear the announcers, let's see if Wisconsin can keep up this intensity. Hopefully this isn't one of those situations where a team plays superbly for a long period of time and because of that doesn't have enough to finish.

9:21pm
13:00

Tucker hits a shot, starts limping and then by the time I am writing this sentence, he hits a three to put Wisconsin up 8, incredilbe. I was going to say this is something which needs to be watched, but apparently he is feeling good enough to hit big shots. The Badgers need him on the court to have a chance to win this game.

9:24pm
11:39

The Badgers have won a third straight period and have taken a 4-3 lead in this category. Remember the famous line by Michael Corleone, "Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in!"? That's kind of the way this game is going for me. The second half didn't start out that great, but the Badgers showed why they have won 38 straight games at home and are still winning by 8. Just when it seemed like Illinois could break away from Wisconsin or make a run back at the lead; Wisconsin makes a defensive stand or hits a big shot. Let's see if this kind of great play is sustained for the rest of the game.

9:30pm
9:22

Michael Flowers doesn't look like he is ready to play in a game this intense. He has made a few stupid mistakes right now, and these are exactly the things you can't do against the number 1 team in the country. Right now he's like
James Gounaris who played Anthony Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II. He is just a young kid surrounded by all of these great college players; Mike Wilkinson, Alondo Tucker, Dee Brown, and Darrin Williams, just like Gounaris acting wide-eyed along side; James Caan, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, and Diane Keaton. By the way, we have yet to see the Bo Ryan "I'm ready to kill someone" face.

9:34pm
7:29

No doubt Illinois won that period after a 13-2 run to take a 61-58 lead. I don't have anything to say; they are doing what they need to in order to win the game and the Badgers aren't. This is a different Wisconsin team than what we saw for the first 10 minutes of this half, and I don't like it.

9:43pm
3:51

Wisconsin wins the last four minutes period, just playing inspired and taking every shot the number one team in the country has to give them. Right now I would compare the Badgers to Daniel LaRusso in his last fight against his former dojo at the All Valley Karate Championship. He took everything his opponent threw at him, but was simply the better fighter that night.

9:48pm
2:20

It's over. I have no confidence that Wisconsin can win this game now, and even less now that Chambliss misses a wide open three.

This was a great game and I will have no problem putting Illinois at number 1 Wednesday in my college hoops column. Illinois wins the final four minute period of the game and those are tied at 5. This stat (even though it is completely based solely on my feelings) shows just how close this game was. 38 games in a row is nothing to sneeze at; I'm just sad that now the Badgers will only be 16-1 when Mike Wilkinson's fiance sings the national anthem. That may be the greatest stat I have ever heard in my life. Just one more thing Dan Shulman brings to broadcasts; incredible stats.

I will expand on this in college hoops, but Illinois did what great teams do; come through in the end. They got two straight dunks to extend the lead to 3 and 5 points respectively with over 2 minutes left. The final score will be 75-65 and Dick Vitale must be happy because the fans gave the kids a standing ovation at the end of the day. I really don't see the Badgers being with in 15 points in the rematch, but this was a great college basketball game.

On a side note; I like Erin Andrews as a side-line reporter. Good info and good looking, can't beat it. Well, it's time for the Simpsons, so here is the unedited version of the diary; enjoy.

-Until next time...