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Badgers' NCAA streak only looks easy BEHIND THE DESK BARRY ALVAREZ • UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS D on't take it for granted. That's one of my biggest messages now when I speak to alumni groups. Over the last 12 or 13 years, we have more combined bowl games and NCAA basketball tournament appearances than anyone in the county. There's a very fine line between winning and losing. It's a balancing act. We've been so successful that, sometimes, I think people take it for granted. Success just doesn't happen and it doesn't automatically continue, either. Your players and coaches have to stay hungry. They have to keep an edge. They have to keep grinding. Sustaining success is not easy. There are football and basketball programs that have every recruit- ing advantage in the world and a national reputation but you see them take a dip for one reason or another. Indiana is one of the storied basketball programs in the coun- try, and they had a dry spell. Now they're finally back in the tourna- ment for the first time in four years. Sports Illustrated just did a story on UCLA's basketball pro- gram, and all the problems there. You lose a little discipline and you bring in some bad people into the program, and it disintegrates. You don't have to look very far to see how people can slip. Pittsburgh has been on top for a long time and didn't even make the NIT field this season. I just don't want our fans to get to the point where they think, "Ho- hum, here we are going to another NCAA tournament.'' They have to understand how hard it is to do. When I hear complaints about When I hear complaints about getting to the next level, I tell them, "We are at the next level. We've played in back-to-back Rose Bowls and we're a No. 4 (NCAA) seed again.'' This is pretty special. Don't lull yourself to sleep that it's automatic. getting to the next level, I tell them, "We are at the next level. We've played in back-to-back Rose Bowls and we're a No. 4 seed again.'' This is pretty special. Don't lull yourself to sleep that it's automatic. Just look at what Bo Ryan has done: 11 straight fourth place or higher finishes in the Big Ten and 11 consecutive trips to the Big Dance. That's not easy to do without slipping someplace along the line. But we haven't slipped, and now Bo is the all-time winningest coach in Wisconsin history. One thing about him is that he's not going to compromise any of his beliefs in the guys that he recruits. He has identified those kids who fit into his program and fit his style. He knows what he wants and the type of player that he can get to Wisconsin. And he winds up with very unselfish, team-oriented play- ers who are good kids. Bo is consistent with his message and how he teaches and coaches. He won't accept anything but his way, and his way has proven to be a winner. There has always been a con- sistency in his approach. And his teams reflect that. They're going to play good defense, and they're not going to turn the ball over very often. Those two things always give you a chance. We've gone through some games this season where we haven't shot it very well. But we were still in the game. Whether we won or lost, we had a chance to win. This is a very exciting time of the year. It's a great opportunity to see a lot of different styles and teams in the NCAA tournament. And once again we're part of it. Don't take it for granted. 12 » VARSITY MARCH 15, 2012