BY MATT LEPAY
Voice of the Badgers
MADISON, Wis. — Going to touch on a few things today. Hopefully you won't mind bouncing around various topics.
One of my personal highlights from last week was chatting with Rashard Griffith. The former Wisconsin basketball star is back in town. The big fella is from Chicago, but he considers Madison home as well. I had a fun conversation with Rashard and assistant coach Howard Moore. The two were teammates under Stu Jackson and Stan Van Gundy in the mid-90s.
As this season begins amidst lofty outside expectations, it was a cool trip down memory lane with Griff and "The Duck." Today, NCAA trips are an annual happening. When the 1993-94 Badgers qualified for the Big Dance, it was Wisconsin's first such trip since 1947.
The big man was a big reason why the Badgers played in the postseason. He was here two seasons and now Griffith is returning to campus. That is good for him and good for the current Badgers. He has issued a challenge to Nigel Hayes, which includes leading the Big Ten in rebounds and free throws made. Not attempted, but made.
Griffith spent some time on campus last season and he and Hayes seem to have a good give-and-take relationship. I hope that remains the case. A star from the past can offer plenty of wisdom to a star of the present.
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With the beginning of another season, it might be a good idea to remind ourselves that in college hoops, teams can survive a couple of early season losses. Maybe even three or four. As we move through November and into December, there will be surprising scores. Some of the nation's best teams will lose to programs most of us know nothing about. It happens every year.
The Badgers have another rugged schedule. Next week they play at Creighton. In a couple of weeks, they'll be in Maui. Great location. Wonderful tournament. Highly competitive games against other strong teams.
There might be a bump or two along the way. If it happens, don't overreact. Remember last year's team split its first 18 games. Then it improved to the point of coming within a few seconds of advancing to the Elite 8.
This year's Badgers have a chance to be special, but it usually takes time for a team to evolve. Even a team with nearly all of its scoring returning from a year ago.
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Finally — and yes, this hurts a little — congrats to the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. As a part-time employee of the Milwaukee Brewers, I hope the day will come when fans in that city can have one of those championship parades.
Until then, seeing tears of joy from long suffering fans — sons and daughters celebrating with parents and grandparents — is kinda cool. At its best, a sporting event can give us that feeling. It can bring families closer. It can do the same for communities.
In a world that at times seems filled with outrage and cynicism, witnessing unabashed joy doesn't seem so bad.
Badgers fans have had numerous opportunities to celebrate big moments. The exciting part is wondering when that next moment will arrive. Who knows? It might be just around the corner.
Happy Homecoming. Enjoy the weekend.
