April 08--INDIANAPOLIS -- The scene was as difficult for Wisconsin players to absorb as it was for them to believe.
Junior forward Sam Dekker clasped his palms behind his head. Frank Kaminskystared in disbelief as Duke's players celebrated before squatting and hanging his head.
The team that played its way into America's favor with a nothing-to-lose attitude looked like they had lost everything.
"Sometimes, you know, life's not fair," senior guard Josh Gasser said. "This is not the outcome we envisioned. We knew we were going to win, just didn't happen."
After falling short in the Final Four semifinals a season ago to Kentucky and losing 68-63on Monday to Duke in the NCAA tournament championship game, Wisconsin must grasp that perhaps its best chance for a title have slipped away for now.
Kaminsky, who won several player of the year awards, will graduate. Dekker's NBA stock rose to potential lottery-pick status through the tournament, giving him a viable option of leaving the program early. Sophomore forward Nigel Hayes told reporters Monday night that he planned return to Wisconsin.
The Badgers also lose seniors Gasser, Traevon Jackson and Duje Dukan to graduation.
Hayes and guard Bronson Koenig could become the program's cornerstones but rebuilding is likely to take some time.
Coach Bo Ryan, who had just lost to a Duke team with a few freshmen expected to declare for the NBA draft, said he prefers long-term players in his program.
"We don't do a rent-a-player," he said Monday night. "(We) try to take a fifth-year guy. If other people (don't) do that, that's OK. I like trying to build from within. It's just the way I am. And to see these guys grow over the years and to be here last year and lose a tough game, boom, they came back."
After the loss to Duke, most of the team focused on the season that had concluded in disappointment minutes earlier.
"It will be in their memory bank, and it will be in my memory bank," Ryan said. "But it's not something that you easily express. It's hard to describe them. It's just an inner feeling that you have. But this group was so together and enjoyed each other's company, could needle with each other. They did a lot of good things."
Those happier days included winning the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, and upsetting an undefeated Kentucky team in the Final Four.
And ultimately, the Badgers helped redefine how the program is considered nationally, busting old stereotypes of a plodding, methodical offense by running a high-scoring, offensively skilled machine that led the nation in offensive efficiency.
"What a fantastic job these guys did all year," Ryan said. "They just came together to do all the things that they accomplished. Highest offensive efficiency. A team that committed the least number of fouls during the year. A team that got to the free-throw line. So these guys played 30-some games that way. It's just unfortunate that this (loss) had to be played out that way."
The Big Ten has not had a NCAA tournament champion since Michigan State in 2000, despite sending two teams to the Final Four this season.
The conference will have stronger contenders next season for Wisconsin to battle, including Maryland, Michigan State, Indiana and Michigan.
sryan@tribpub.com
