BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — The two moments in history are tied together by multiple threads, but Freddie Owens didn't realize that until well after the fact.
On March 22, 2003, Owens sent the Wisconsin men's basketball community into delirium when he drained a 3-pointer with 1 second left to lift the Badgers to a 61-60 NCAA tournament victory over Tulsa in Spokane, Washington.
On March 20, 2016, Owens was watching from his home in Worcester, Massachusetts, when Bronson Koenig swished a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give UW a 66-63 NCAA tournament triumph over Xavier in St. Louis.
Owens, now an assistant coach at Holy Cross, didn't have an immediate flashback to the details of his heroics, but then friends, family and fans began to reach out via social media.
"I didn't put two and two together because I was so excited with what was going on at the present time and was just so happy for Coach (Greg) Gard, the staff and the players," he said.
Thirteen years later the moments and the men have distinctive links that some might find eerie.
Owens was a junior guard, as is Koenig.
Owens wore No. 24, as does Koenig.
Owens was born and raised in Wisconsin (Milwaukee), as was Koenig (La Crosse).
Owens' shot capped a massive second-half comeback (down 13 with 3:36 left), as did the one by Koenig (down by nine with 6:19 remaining).
Owens' shot came from the deep corner, as did the one by Koenig.
Owens' trey sent the Badgers into the Sweet 16, as did the one by Koenig.
Owens and Koenig also share the same zodiac sign (Scorpio), experienced Wisconsin coaches resigning in mid-season (Owens had Dick Bennett; Koenig had Bo Ryan), played for played for interim coaches during their UW careers (Owens had Brad Soderberg in 2001; Koenig had Gard) and won multiple Big Ten Conference titles.
"Initially I didn't realize it," Owens said of all the shared touchstones. "Then I started thinking, 'Oh, man, that's a pretty cool coincidence.'"
There was another shared element between Owens and Koenig.
"It was an amazing feeling," Owens said. "Just watching the expressions and the celebrations of everybody in the crowd and on the bench — my teammates and our staff and how excited everyone was — it was just a great feeling.
"To make a shot like that on the big stage, national TV, March Madness, was just amazing. Every player would love to have an experience like that."
Some of the details differ, though.
Owens' open shot came from the left corner off a feed from point guard Devin Harris.
Swish.
"I just had to basically catch and shoot like I was working on my game," Owens said. "Devin put in on a platter for me and I was able to knock it down."
Koenig, meanwhile, peeled round a series of screens, hit the brakes in the right corner, stepped back with Xavier's best defender, Remy Abell, in his face and fired.
Swish.
"His was tough," Owens said of Koenig. "He didn't have much room to operate or to turn and fire. He had a defender draped all over him and he was in the deep corner.
"An incredible shot. It was much more difficult than mine was."
Another difference in the moment was the weight of the shot.
"His was to take the lead with time running down, so if he missed they'd go to overtime," Owens noted. "Mine was an easier shot, but if I miss we lose the game."
The clutch make by Owens sent the fifth-seeded Badgers to the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals in Minneapolis where they fell to top-seeded Kentucky 63-57.
The unforgettable shot by Koenig sent seventh-seeded Wisconsin to the East Regional semifinals in Philadelphia where it will face sixth-seeded Notre Dame on Friday.
For perspective, Koenig's was just the 20th buzzer-beater in program history dating back to 1945.
Owens and Koenig were media darlings in the aftermath of their big shots. Owens recalled during a slew of telephone interviews before returning home. He also remembered a family celebration thrown by his cousin, Tihesha Sims.
"Had a lot of friends and family over there," Owens said.
The last two seasons ended with Owens on hand to see the Badgers play in the Final Four. His shot was the trigger mechanism for lots of impromptu conversations.
"Everywhere we went people who recognized me mentioned something about that shot," he said. "I've been hearing about it a lot whenever I'm around Wisconsin fans.
"It's a hard thing to forget. It's a great feeling to know I was a part of it."
Hitting that shot was not the high point of Owens' career at UW, though.
"The championships in the Big Ten was by far the highlight," he said, referring to regular-season titles in 2002 and '03 and the tournament crown in 2004. "Those were amazing."
In addition to watching the Badgers from afar, Owens got an up-close look at the NCAA tournament when Holy Cross qualified out of the Patriot League. In 2012, he was on Montana's staff when the Grizzlies fell to his alma mater in a first-round NCAA tournament game.
"When you were a player, you had a lot more control over what happened on the floor," he said. "You can make plays and do things that actually impact the game.
"When you're more of a spectator or coach, it's tough because you literally have no control over what happens. You're hoping for an outcome you have no control over and it's difficult to watch."
Owens doesn't know Koenig personally, but he said he direct-messaged him after the victory over Xavier.
"Great shot. Way to come through," it read.
It was signed, "The other 24."
Owens doesn't expect a reply "because he's swamped with messages and trying to prepare for class and the Sweet 16."
Perhaps, but just think of the conversation they could have.
