As the 2020 Wisconsin Badgers try to find firmer footing in the middle third of February, one month before Selection Sunday, they exist in multiple realms. One is the realm of a 10-loss team likely to carry at least 12 or 13 losses into the NCAA Tournament. Another is the realm of the team which struggles to find consistency but knows that when it plays well, it is really good. Bottling up and replicating a successful formula is the elusive component, not the winning formula itself.
If you’re worried UW won’t make the NCAAs with 12 losses, or if you’re convinced this team can’t get on a roll in the remainder of the 2020 season, past Wisconsin teams indicate otherwise. Bo Ryan’s first Wisconsin team, the 2001-2002 squad, offers proof.
The 2002 Badgers were 12-11 in early February after 23 games. They started the season 3-6, which is worse than the 2020 team’s 5-5 start, but still reminiscent of a November-December nightmare in which little went right. Would you believe that like the 2019-2020 Badgers, the 2001-2002 team won four games in a row in the second half of December? Sounds really familiar, doesn’t it?
Would you believe that the 2001-2002 Badgers beat Tennessee on the Saturday after Christmas Day? That’s exactly what the 2019-2020 Badgers did as well. This is almost creepy at this point!
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
Wisconsin played three road games in a four-game sequence in late January and early February. It lost the three road games and won the home game… just like the 2020 team, which lost at Purdue, Iowa and Minnesota but won at home against Michigan State!
After losing three of four — with the three losses all coming on the road and the one win at home — the 2002 Wisconsin team returned home in early February to host Ohio State. Wisconsin won.
Hey now, wait a minute — THAT JUST HAPPENED WITH THE 2020 TEAM AS WELL!
Aren’t sports fascinating?
Here’s the unwritten part of the 2020 story, however, and how it relates to the 2002 team: The 2002 Badgers proceeded to win their next six games, starting with that Ohio State win in Madison.
What if the 2020 team can get hot like that? While you ponder that question, do realize that Wisconsin lost its first game in the 2002 Big Ten Tournament to go 18-12. The Badgers not only made the NCAA Tournament but got in comfortably, as a No. 8 seed.
If the 2002 Badgers could lose 12 games and comfortably make the Big Dance, and also play close to .500 ball for most of the season but then find a higher gear in February, there’s no reason the 2020 can’t do the same… or better.