Badgers Entertain, Fall Short

Shakespeare wrote, "Heavy is the head that bears the crown."

There isn't an actual crown for a ranking of #3 in the country, but that's what it's felt like this week after the 16-0 Wisconsin Men's Basketball team ascended to the third spot.

A Tuesday night stumble in Assembly Hall to the Hoosiers was the first blemish.

Last evening's defeat in a mauling by the Wolverines made it a full-on exploded pimple on the end of the nose.

Yikes!

It was the first game in the stands this season for me - and it's always great to get to a game in the Kohl Center.

But the Badgers felt to be a bit out of sorts from the start of the game... and were trailing by 15 with 12 minutes left in the game.

That's when a feverish comeback got the Battling Buckys within a point and less than five minutes left.  It looked hopeful.  The fans were on their feet.  We were loud - imploring the breezes inside Kohl to nudge Michigan shots off the rim.

Climbing the mountain may have taken it out of the Badgers, as they fell on a 77 - 70 score.  The Badgers don't lose many at home (having won the last 11 at home against U of M), but it wasn't happening today.

The upside?  A cool Badger hat from the Wisconsin National Guard with the "motion W" on a camouflage cap.  And a Bucky Badger face mask, since it's always a good time to look like a Badger.

Unlike college football, a couple of losses don't doom a season's prospects.  It gives Coach Ryan some things to work on with his team and the rest of the B1G season to get it right.

It's way too early to throw in the towel - just like it was too early a week ago to project these guys into the Final Four.  That's OK, the joy as a fan is in the journey and I'm not jumping off the bandwagon.

Go, Bucky!