The
Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at the Kohl Center, located on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Badger basketball began in December, 1898 with the formation of its first team coached by Dr. James C. Elsom. The Badgers played their first game on January 21, 1899, losing to the Milwaukee Normal Alumni 25-15 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1905, Christian Steinmetz became the first Wisconsin Badger basketball player to be named All-American. In the 1906-07 season, Wisconsin won its first share of the Big Ten Championship, under the coaching of Emmett Angell. They won it again the next year in 1908.
At the beginning of the season, the Badgers played well with victories at in-state rival Marquette, and at home against #2 ranked Pittsburgh and #5 ranked Ohio State. Their lone non-conference loss was against Missouri State. They also lost on the road against Indiana on January 31. On February 19, 2007, the Badgers earned their first #1 ranking in school history with a 26-2 record, but the next day, were defeated by the unranked Michigan State Spartans 64-55 at the Breslin Center. A week later, they also lost to the #2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Entering the Big Ten Tournament as the second seed, their first game was against Michigan State, for their third meeting in three weeks, who they defeated 70-57. Defeating the Illinois in the next round, the Badgers advanced to the final to face Ohio State, who defeated them 66-49.
In the 2006-07 season, the Badgers finished in 2nd place in the Big Ten behind #1 ranked Ohio State. The Badgers were selected as a 2nd seed in the NCAA tournament, but were defeated by 7th seeded UNLV in the second round.
In the 2007-08 season, the Badgers finished first in the Big Ten, winning the Big Ten regular season outright and the conference tournament, defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini in the finals. In the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers were awarded a No. 3 seed and won their first game against California State University, Fullerton. They followed that up with a win in the second round over Michael Beasley and the Kansas State Wildcats, due in part to 25 points from sophomore Trevon Hughes. The Badgers then lost to the No. 10 seed Davidson Wildcats by a score of 73-56 in the Sweet Sixteen.
Team Website: http://www.uwbadgers.com
School Website: http://www.wisc.edu
