BY MATT LEPAY
Voice of the Badgers
MADISON, Wis. — This week Big Ten Network released the results of a fan vote determining the all-time starting five in Wisconsin men's basketball history. Topics such as this are fun and harmless. What makes it better is trying to narrow it to five players. Good luck with that.
Based on the results of the voting, my guess is those who participated make up a younger portion of the demographic. Here are your starters:
Excellent selections, but it is worth noting the "old man" of the group is Finley, who finished his UW career all the way back in 1995.
Clearly, the last two-plus decades have been a golden era for Badger hoops. In 1994, the program ended a 47-year NCAA tournament drought. This year's team is trying to make the field for the 18th consecutive season.
However, as some older fans already know, it is worth noting that this program has produced several other players who would need to be in the conversation. It is part of what makes this exercise so enjoyable.
For yours truly, a couple of names who come to mind are Danny Jones and Tracy Webster. In 1989, Jones was an honorable mention All-American, averaging 20.4 points per game. That team just missed an NCAA bid, but by making the NIT, it was Wisconsin's first postseason appearance since 1947. Jones left as the school's all-time scoring leader. Today, more than a quarter century since his last game as a Badger, he still ranks third.
To this observer, Webster is one of the more important figures in helping put Wisconsin basketball on the map. A point guard in the early 1990s, Webster remains the school's career leader in assists, and he ranks behind Mike Kelley in steals. Webster also could score. In his sophomore year under head coach Steve Yoder, the Chicago native scored 17 points per game. The numbers declined a bit under Stu Jackson, but Webster's value to the team was as strong as ever. He, along with Finley and Rashard Griffith helped take the Badgers to the Big Dance — at long last.
About Kelley and Griffith. I mean, the Badgers did make the 2000 Final Four, right? Many will tell you the heart and soul of that team was Kelley. The school's steals leader also ranks fifth in assists.
Griffith played just two seasons, but it was no small coincidence that when he became a Badger, tickets to the UW Field House became a bit more difficult. In the 1994-95 season, the big man also averaged a double-double.
You will notice we still are not going back very far. What about Claude Gregory? His UW career ended in 1981, and he remains at the top of the list for career rebounds and fourth in scoring. Rick Olson? If only the three-point line existed throughout his career.
In 1950, Don Rehfeldt was the Big Ten's MVP. He also was an All-American. He was the first Badger to score 1,000 points in a career. The club now has 40 other members.
We could go on and on. Kirk Penney? Jordan Taylor? Jon Leuer? Dick Cable? No doubt you can make an argument for others.
Yes, naming an all-time starting five is one of those debates that can last a long time. Some schools have more to choose from than others. No matter who would make up your five, it is nice to know there are so many stars from past seasons that any number of lineups would be difficult to beat.
There is quite a tradition here. Makes me wonder about this year's Badgers. Who knows? In a few years, perhaps there will be another player — or two — or three — who might need to be in the discussion.
