BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — If we're judged by the company we keep, what to make of Ethan Happ?
He's putting together a one-of-a-kind career with the Wisconsin men's basketball team, one that might well force a massive rewrite of the program's record book.
It could also put the 6-foot-10 senior forward in three very exclusive clubs, including one where he'd be the only name on the roll call and two whose only members are all in their 60s.
Happ, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten pick, enters his final college season with a legitimate chance at becoming the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in school history.
He needs 677 points to move from eighth to first on the scoring list. Along the way he would surpass a first-team All-American (record-holder Alando Tucker with 2,217) and a first-round NBA draft pick (No. 2 Michael Finley with 2,147).
Happ needs 30 rebounds to move from second to first on that career list and eclipse a standard that's endured since 60-year-old Claude Gregory amassed 904 boards 38 years ago.
Overall, Happ has 1,541 points and 875 rebounds in 105 career games for the Badgers, putting him on the cusp of becoming the first player in school history to top 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for his career.
As part of that pursuit, Happ is vying to become the third Big Ten player in history to stand as the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at his school.
The others are 63-year-old Mychal Thompson, who starred at Minnesota from 1974 to '78, and 64-year-old Phil Sellers, a standout at Rutgers from 1976 to '79.
Happ, from Milan, Illinois, is seeking to become the fourth player in Big Ten history to join the 2,000-1,000 club.
That group now includes Greg Kelser of Michigan State (2,014-1,092), Joe Barry Carroll of Purdue (2,175-1,148) and Herb Williams of Ohio State (2,011-1,111).
Kelser, age 61, did it from 1975 to '79; Carroll, 60, from 1977 to '80; and Williams, 60, from 1977 to '81.
Happ, a two-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection, is fresh off a junior year in which he became the first player in the Big Ten to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals since 1995-96.
In addition to pursuing his Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Happ has some other program standards on his list of things to do.
He's third with 283 offensive rebounds, needing 32 to pass Tucker, the current record-holder.
Happ is third with 179 steals and needs five to move into second place behind the likely uncatchable Mike Kelley, who had 275.
Happ is fourth with a .550 field goal percentage and fourth with 31 double-doubles, needing 17 to surpass Joe Franklin.
Happ is sixth with 110 blocked shots, needing 44 to climb past Frank Kaminsky.
Happ has 270 assists and probably won't get anywhere near Tracy Webster and his standard of 501, but he needs only 20 to crack the top 10.
To review, Happ is in position to top 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 assists, 200 steals and 100 blocks for his Wisconsin career.
Exactly four players have done that in NCAA history.
Lionel Simmons (La Salle), Danny Manning (Kansas), Ron Harper (Miami, Ohio) and Stacey Augmon (UNLV).
None of those four played in the last 25 years.
Regardless of the company he keeps, that's an extraordinary club.
