Awful way for this class to go out
That was a really rough way for that senior class, the one who has the most tournament wins, the one who was 2 seconds too long from tying the most wins, the one that was still great even among the shadows of Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, etc. Trailing 72-64, the Badgers stormed back to tie it and take it into overtime, and led 81-77. The final score was 84-83, on a last second three-point runner from Florida guard Chris Chiozza.
If Koenig hit one more three during regulation, Showalter would have WON the game...
If Vitto Brown didn't foul out with seven minutes remaining...
If Khalil Iverson decided to take clock away instead of wasting time dunking the ball and getting rejected by a guard (that might be the key mistake of the game)...
If Nigel Hayes was more timely with his free-throw shooting, including making it when he should have missed it when the score was 82-81. The perfect scenario there is the rebound goes directly to a Florida player, it takes him a second to grab the ball. It then takes one-two seconds to get it to a reasonable distance like half court and then they have to launch a prayer. That's the reasonable best-case. Any tips, struggles, fumbles, etc. and the game is in the hands of a 70-foot prayer.
It even lined up well for the Badgers after they successfully ruined my bracket by beating my East region Final Four team in Villanova. Arizona had lost the night before, my national champion, which would allow the Badgers to play unmatched by my bracket feelings throughout the tournament.
As for next season, Ethan Happ should return, and pretty much every non-senior is guaranteed to return. A good group of freshmen will join them, but this team is likely to take a step back next season and not make it five Sweet 16's in a row. When Happ & Co. are seniors, however, it's reasonable to believe five out of six.
It's just a bad way for them to go out, they deserve better than this. But, as Wisconsin fans, we are used to losing in ways like this. Packers OT playoff losses and bad performances, Aaron Harrison's shot in 2014, letting a nine point lead slip away in 2015, we are just accustomed to this now. The basketball and football Gods hate Wisconsin sports teams for some reason, and with the continued success we are overdue for a championship.
It just won't happen this April...
