BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. – On the day of the game – the final men's basketball game to be staged in the venerable UW Field House whose doors opened in 1930 – the Wisconsin State Journal ran a banner headline on its front page that signaled two departures. It read: "Say goodbye to Okey, the Barn.''

One lasted 68 games, the other 67 years.

That was the backdrop to Wisconsin's 76-57 win over Penn State on January 14, 1998.

The day before, coach Dick Bennett announced that junior Sam Okey, one of the most heavily scrutinized and lionized high school players in state history, was leaving the program and transferring. The Cassville native was a Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin and a Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten.

In bringing down the curtain on the Field House – in addition to playing their first game without Okey – the Badgers left nothing to chance by outscoring the Nittany Lions, 46-20, in the first half. The previous game, the offensively-challenged UW had scored only 40 in a 23-point loss at Michigan State.

"It was like there was some outside force helping us,'' said guard Mike Kelley.

"We didn't want to disrespect this place,'' said forward Sean Daugherty.

During the post-game ceremony, Daugherty held the game ball above his head (in Simba-like fashion) and pivoted to face each of the seating areas. It was a nice sentimental touch before the basketball was transported from the Barn – 5,280 feet – to the Kohl Center at 601 W. Dayton Street.

That was the backdrop to Wisconsin's 56-33 win over Northwestern on January 17, 1998.

It was the first game played in the $76.4 million venue named in honor of U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl who donated $25 million to its construction. Kohl signed ticket stubs, cut a blue ribbon ushering the  team onto the floor and took part in a ceremonial jumpball. He got a thunderous standing ovation.

Tuesday night – January 17, 2023 – the Badgers will celebrate the Kohl Center's 25th anniversary.

All these years later, UW coach Greg Gard would gladly welcome a defensive effort against hot-shooting Penn State the likes of which Bennett got from his players in holding Northwestern to 33 points, the third fewest allowed in the modern era. The Badgers had 12 steals and forced 21 turnovers.

During a timeout with 13:42 left in the second half – and with Wisconsin protecting a slim 28-26 lead – Bennett reminded everybody in the huddle, "This is a defensive arena.'' His players took the words to heart by going on a 15-0 run while holding Northwestern scoreless for the next 7:31.

"It was just plain old getting after it,'' Bennett said.

Northwestern coach Kevin O'Neill cut to the chase and conceded, "They kicked our (bleep).''

Sean Mason led the Badgers with 18 points, including the first basket in the Kohl Center.

"This is one hell of a good place,'' O'Neill said afterwards. "It's top-notch, first-class.''

The Wisconsin players felt the same way about the experience. Moreover, they felt indebted to be playing in such an impressive campus facility. "We owe it to all those people who paid so much money for this place,'' Kelley said, "not only to play our hardest and our best but to win.''

The Kohl Center passed the muster/or mustard, so to speak, thanks to 18 concession stands, a far cry from the Field House. Another was the fact that fans didn't have to wait in long lines like they did to use the only two bathrooms in the Barn. Among the KC's many amenities were 26 public restrooms.

Meanwhile, Bennett concluded, "It's really a nice place to play defense with that noise.''

Bennett couldn't stop smiling. Neither could Senator Kohl.

"I have bittersweet feelings about closing down the old place and opening up a new place,'' Kohl acknowledged. "But progress is inevitable, change is inevitable, and I think with this kind of transition that the change is occurring in a most positive way.

"As years move on and memories begin to be lined up and stored, people are going to feel as strongly or almost as strongly about this place as they have felt about the Field House. It's a great way to transition from where we are now into the 21st century with a first-class facility.

"I feel really great. It's exceeded my fondest expectations.''

Twenty-five years later, here are the top five memories/games that I've lined up and stored.

5. Wisconsin 73, #6 Duke 69 - Dec. 2, 2009


ESPN dispatched an "A'' team to the Kohl Center to cover the game. Brent Musberger handled the play-by-play, Bob Knight the color (and off-color if pushed) and Holly Rowe the sidelines. It was the first time that the Blue Devils had ever played in Madison. They were a heavy favorite. Just ask Brent.

Two years earlier, Duke had crushed the Badgers, 82-68, at Cameron Indoor. All the numbers again pointed favorably in the direction of Mike Krzyzewski's team: 10-0 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge; 150-9 vs. unranked nonconference foes; 141-25 on the road or at neutral sites since the 1997-98 season.

Nonetheless, Bo Ryan had his own edge, the Kohl Center. The Badgers were 59-5 in nonleague home games and they would add to that win total with a stirring victory over the Blue Devils. To punctuate the upset over such a brand program and heavyweight, the students stormed the floor.

"For 40 minutes, I thought they were really good,'' Krzyzewski said. "(Trevon) Hughes and (Jon) Leuer were terrific. They controlled the game. They always looked poised. When you have two veteran who played like that, the other guys just play better.''

Hughes had 26 points (9-of-16 FG, 4 triples), Leuer had 17 and 7 rebounds. Jason Bohannon had 10 points and was perfect from the free throw line (4-of-4). As was Hughes. The Badgers made 6 of 8 from the stripe over the final 25 seconds to seal the win. Kyle Singler had 28 points for Duke.

The Blue Devils had a plus-9.8 rebounding margin. Wisconsin won the glass, 34-32.

"Their offense beat our defense, especially early on, and it gave them confidence – that's the story of sport,'' opined Krzyzewski. "It was a great crowd, a great atmosphere, a night when Wisconsin fans should feel pretty darn good. They should be very proud of that basketball team.

"When you put good coaching and good players with those fans …

"It's a tough combination to beat.''

4. Wisconsin 65, #2 Michigan 62 (OT) - Feb. 9, 2013


In a wildly entertaining, see-saw game – in which the score was tied nine times and there were 12 lead changes – Bo Ryan called a timeout with only 2.8 seconds remaining in regulation. The Wolverines had just taken a 60-57 lead on Tim Hardaway Jr.'s clutch 3-pointer.

In the huddle, Ryan looked directly at Ben Brust, who made a half-court shot at North Carolina the previous season and had sunk one at Iowa that didn't count because it came a split second after the first half buzzer. "Bo told me that I was the wild card and I knew what that meant,'' Brust said.

The Badgers had just practiced a similar late-game situation.

"I'm the wild card,'' Brust said, "and my job was to get open.''

Michigan coach John Beilein opted not to put a defender on the baseline inbounder, Mike Brusewitz, who assumed the role of a football quarterback intent on hitting a receiver in full stride. Brusewitz waited for Brust to break open – going away from the baseline – before inbounding.

"I gave myself enough room to get the ball and then get squared,'' said Brust who was checked by Caris LeVert. "John Beilein was yelling 'foul' before the ball was even given to Bruesewitz. It was pretty clear that was their goal … they just didn't execute it and I'm very thankful they didn't foul me.

"As soon as I let it go, I knew it was going in,'' Brust said of his improbable make on the desperation, half-court shot. The Kohl Center erupted. Ryan rarely if ever shows emotion on the sidelines. But he raised his arms in triumph after Brust had tied the game and sent it into overtime.

Fittingly, Brust hit the game-winning 3 in OT. "I remember running to the huddle after the half-court shot,'' said Brust. "And I was saying, 'We need to win this game so that shot means something. Let's not just have a cool memory on a loss.' It wouldn't mean as much.''

That was on Brust's mind before draining the triple (on LeVert) with 39 seconds remaining. When Trey Burke missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer, the UW students rushed the court. Brust got a ride. So did Brusewitz on the shoulders of 330-pound Beau Allen, a UW gridder.

In the UW locker room after the game, the players clapped along to Ke$ha and her hit song "Die Young'' which had become their anthem. To this day, people will stop Brust and share their "Where were you when story'' when he made the shot. "It's something I'll remember forever,'' he said.

3. Wisconsin 56, #14 Indiana 53 - March 5, 2000


In what was billed as a "must-win'' game to secure a berth in the Big Dance – at least that was the speculation prior to the opening tipoff – the Badgers left no doubt about their post-season plans by riding a tidal wave of emotion in the Kohl Center to shock the Hoosiers and head coach Bob Knight.

But it didn't look all that promising for the home team midway through the second half. Indiana had a 12-point lead, 46-34. That's when Duany Duany, a Bloomington, Ind. native, went to work. Duany scored nine straight points. "Duany's inspired play really gave us hope,'' Dick Bennett said.

Explained Duany of his Senior Day heroics, "I kept looking at the clock and there were 12 minutes left and I was like, 'It's now or never.' I was trying to figure out what I could do to help my team and get us going. I'm sitting here now and I'm still in the clouds. It's indescribable.''

So was Maurice Linton's overall play – a team-high 16 points and a game-best 10 rebounds. He saved his best for last, too, scoring on a left-handed scoop layup to push the Badgers into a 52-50 lead (their first since 8-6) with 61 seconds left. "I really didn't want to take a big shot and miss,'' Linton said.

Praised Bennett, "Maurice was just absolutely vital to our success.''

So was the Kohl Center. "That's why we built this facility – so we could have 17,000 people on their feet cheering for us and giving us energy,'' said Mike Kelley who got a ride off the floor on the shoulders of UW students. "It was a uphill battle and the crowd carried us,'' Bennett added.

That Wisconsin team rode the momentum all the way into the Final Four.

2. Wisconsin 71, #1 Ohio State 67 - Feb. 12, 2011


Sporting a 24-0 record – the only unbeaten left in Division 1 – Ohio State looked particularly invincible after making nine of its first 10 shots to start the second half. With 13:59 to play, the Buckeyes held a commanding 47-32 lead. It was daunting, not insurmountable, Jordan Taylor thought.

"They made a run,'' he said. "And we knew we had a run in us.''

Sure enough, Taylor was the catalyst, too. In less than two minutes, he scored eight points (on a floater and two triples) and it triggered a 15-0 run that tied the game with 9:47 remaining. The Buckeyes would retake the lead, only to have the unflappable Taylor spark yet another run.

"They had to play damned near perfect to beat us,'' said OSU's Thad Matta. "And they did.''

Over the final 13 minutes, Taylor made six of seven field goal attempts, including four of five from beyond the 3-point arc. During that intense stretch, he also had four assists and just one turnover. Taylor finished with 21 of his game-high 27 points in the second half.

"Good decision after good decision …'' Bo Ryan said of Taylor's performance.

In the media room afterwards, Taylor was asked about his adrenaline rush. He compared it to storming the turf, himself, at Camp Randall Stadium after the Badgers upset No. 1 Ohio State in the fall. And to a court-storming in December of that year at the Kohl Center after beating Duke.

Among those in attendance were David Gilreath whose touchdown return on the opening kickoff had set the tone for win over the Buckeyes on the gridiron; and John Erickson who was the honorary captain and the only previous UW coach to ever beat a No. 1. He stunned OSU in 1962.

"You could feel the energy in the building and crowd and we just fed off that,'' said forward Jon Leuer. The Badgers outscored Ohio State, 30-8, the final 9 minutes. Taylor had 18 in that span. "It was unbelievable what he was able to do in such a short period when we were battling adversity.''

In the end, Taylor conceded, "It's something you'll remember forever.''

1 (tie). Wisconsin 60, #14 Illinois 59 - March 5, 2004
Wisconsin 70, #8 Purdue 67 - March 1, 2022


Sorry. Couldn't pick between Devin Harris' game-winning free throw with four-tenths of a second left and Chucky Hepburn's game-winning banked 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. If nothing else, picking one over the other, should spawn some healthy, spirited debate and discussion.

Go ahead. The floor, the Kohl Center floor, is yours. Happy 25th.