Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - March 13, 2014

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16 // VARSITY March 13, 2014 BY MATT LEPAY // VOICE OF THE BADGERS THE VOICE I n a league full of terrific basket- ball venues, the atmosphere in Lincoln, Neb., last Sunday night was as loud as I can remember in many years. Granted, everything was in place for a rowdy crowd. The Huskers are trying to make the NCAA field for the first time since 1998, and they had all the bells and whistles going at Pinnacle Bank Arena. On what school officials called "No Sit Sunday," the fans were ready, the music was blaring, and football legend Ndamukong Suh had a front row seat. While the result was disap- pointing for the Badgers, the noise level in the football-crazy state of Nebraska is one more reminder of what is special about Big Ten hoops. This week's conference tourna- ment figures to be wild, but can it be any crazier than the just-con- cluded regular season? Bankers Life Fieldhouse in India- napolis is a jewel of a facility, but can the crowds bury the needle the way they do in arenas across the conference? Don't get me wrong. Fans who are headed to Indy should be in for a treat. Teams in good shape to make the Big Dance will hope to im- prove their NCAA seeding, and play as close to home as possible (see: Wisconsin, BMO Harris Bradley Center). Teams considered to be on the bubble will try to fight their way into the field (See: Minnesota, among others). And there is this little thing called a trophy that goes to the win- ning team late Sunday afternoon. Hopefully the Big Ten tourna- ment will be a celebration of the game, and how well it is played in this league. To be sure, the fans have re- sponded. During a winter of mis- erable weather throughout the Midwest, the Big Ten will have attendance figures not seen in four decades. Large crowds and ear-ringing volume levels. The Badgers saw and heard it first-hand, especially in Bloomington, Ann Arbor, Iowa City and, of course, Lincoln. Visitors to the Kohl Center got a taste of it as well, especially Michi- gan State. It was that Sunday after- noon one month ago when Traevon Jackson knocked down a jumper in the closing seconds of the thrilling game with the Spartans. Recently, the conference office released the matchups for next sea- son, when Rutgers and Maryland join the Big Ten. The Badgers will have double- play games with Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Nebraska and Penn State. They will have single-play games at Maryland, Rutgers, Michi- gan and Ohio State. The single-play home games are with Michigan State, Illinois, Indiana and Purdue. At first glance, part of me says ― great! ― the Badgers get to miss the Breslin Center, Assembly Hall, the State Farm Center and Mackey Arena. Traditionally, they make up the league's loudest houses. On the other hand, I am disap- pointed because I enjoy those trips because of the atmosphere. And I have to admit it is pretty cool when the Badgers play well and quiet those crowds. Clearly, this is the time of year when it seems everyone pays atten- tion to college basketball. Fair or unfair, a good chunk of the sporting public will judge a season on what happens in these next few weeks. Believe what you will, but take a trip in Big Ten country during the regular season and you discover those games in January, February and early March matter a great deal. Every team hopes the best is yet to come, but Big Ten basketball had a heck of a regular season. The bal- ance on the floor was special. The fans who supported their teams made it even better. Loud crowds part of terrific Big Ten season

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