56 // VARSITY April 3, 2014
INSIDE
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Worth the wait: Final Four
concludes historic run
Extended season concludes in Arlington, Texas
BY JEREMY WODAJO @BADGERMBB
W
hen asked about
climbing the lad-
der to cut down the
net last weekend in Anaheim
after securing a Final Four
berth, UW head coach Bo Ryan
reached back to his days as the
head coach at UW-Platteville,
when he had multiple oppor-
tunities to cut down nets as a
four-time Division III national
champion.
"In Division I they had a
sturdier ladder," Ryan re-
marked. "In Division III it was
tough (with) budget cuts, the
budget."
All jokes aside, Ryan and
the Badgers enter this week as
one of four teams remaining in
the hunt for the most prized
possession in all of college
basketball: the national cham-
pionship trophy.
As the team prepares for its
national semifinal showdown
with eighth-seeded Kentucky
on Saturday, Ryan keeps it
simple when reflecting on the long jour-
ney.
"Well, it's another week of practice,"
Ryan said. "That's great."
On the surface, Ryan seems grateful to
be one of four squads still standing fol-
lowing three weekends of tournament
play. But underneath that is the recol-
lection of just how long this season has
been for the Badgers.
After beginning practices in July to
prep for an international tour that in-
cluded five games in Canada, the team
also began regular-season practices two
weeks earlier than usual in late Septem-
ber.
"Boy, this is quite the journey," Ryan
said. "We've had more practices, and
we've been together more than any team
I've ever coached.
"If you take the hours that this squad
has been together, by far, and we still
get along. We still talk to one another. So
that's not bad."
UW will remain together for a few more
practices this week with their sights set
on accomplishing one final goal before
ending the elongated 2013-14 campaign
at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
"It's been very enjoyable because
we've got young men that are outstand-
ing and really know how to handle every-
thing that's been given," Ryan said. "It's
always nice when you see in their eyes
that they're so excited about this, to be
able to play again. That's why we do it."
SCHEDULE (30-7)
LAST TIME OUT - WEST REGIONAL
March 27 vs. #6 Baylor W, 69-52
March 29 vs. #1 Arizona W, 64-63(OT)
COMING UP - FINAL FOUR
Saturday vs. #8 Kentucky 7:49 p.m.