Intra-state rivalries among the Division I teams provide early holiday gifts for college basketball fans. It will be real special when UWM's Rob Jeter faces mentor Bo Ryan of UW.
That clash will take place Dec. 15 at the Kohl Center in Madison. UW actually hosts three intra-state rivals in December. First, UW-Green Bay travels to Madison on Dec. 7. Marquette is next on Dec. 10 and then UWM.
UWM hosts UWGB on Dec. 17. That actually is a Horizon League game for both teams. All three Division I teams also played Division III teams from the state earlier in the season.
The Badgers and Panthers matchup takes on additional meaning this year, since Jeter played for Ryan at Platteville and served as an assistant coach for him at Platteville, UWM and UW. The two coaches have nothing but admiration for each other.
"Coach Ryan, who I played for and coached with, always had high standards. I have always had high standards for myself, personally," said Jeter, who also served as an assistant coach for one season at Marquette. UWM athletic director Bud Haidet called Ryan a "tremendous mentor" for Jeter.
"I never had a younger brother, so I guess Rob would be like a combo younger brother or another son to me," said Ryan, when Jeter was hired at UWM. "When you coach a guy or coach with him, you are like family, but Rob has been something really special to me."
The Marquette-UW matchup also traditionally has created a lot of buzz. Because both those schools' programs have more of a tradition, and have had more success, their game often is seen as a battle for bragging rights in the state.
Perhaps because he came up through the state college ranks, Ryan always has been a big believer in promoting intra-state rivalries. "It's good for the schools involved. It's good for basketball in the state overall," Ryan has said.
About the only thing that could be better for state basketball would be a holiday tournament, including all four Division I teams and alternating between the Bradley Center and Kohl Center.
Marquette always has been the major hangup on that tournament. This writer won't rehash the issue again in this column. But, such a tourney would be great for the holiday buzz. At least an annual crosstown game between MU and UWM should become a tradition.
But, for now, state college basketball fans have several interesting matchups coming this month, including a clash between a former student and his mentor.
Event of the Month
The Packers' upset of the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 13 has to be picked for this distinction. For at least one game, Brett Favre and his depleted cast looked like the powerful Green Bay teams of the 90s.
Barry Alvarez's last game at Camp Randall and the Bucks' 103-102 win over the Pacers on Nov.12 also have to get special mention. The Badgers lost to Iowa in Alvarez's last game, but the very fact it was his goodbye after 16 seasons deserves mention.
The Bucks overcame deficits of 20 and 14 points to beat the Pacers on Mo Williams' 3-pointer at the buzzer in that Nov. 12 game.
The Name Game
Chelsie Memmel earned the State Sports Buzz Player of the Month for her World Championship gymnastics title in Melbourne, Australia. John Clay of Racine Park should get special mention after he was named the AP Prep Football Player of the Year. Clay, only a junior, gained 2,032 yards and scored 30 touchdowns for the state champion Park team. The Bucks' Michael Redd also deserves special mention. Redd averaged over 25 points a game in the first month ... Wisconsin speedskaters Casey FitzRandolph and Chris Witty finished third and fourth respectively in recent World Cup competition at the Pettit Center ... Jeff Cirillo, Chad Moeller and Rick Helling re-signed with the Brewers. The veterans give the team depth in the infield, behind the plate and on the mound respectively ... Simon Gamache, the Admirals' leading scorer last season, rejoined the team from Nashville on a conditioning assignment during November ... Admirals' goal tender Brian Finley was named the American Hockey League Player of the Week for last week ... The Wave's Chad Dombrowski was named the MISL Defensive Player of the Week for last week.
Hot Tix
The basketball games mentioned in the lead section of the column are not the only Hot Tix events in December.
Tonight (Dec. 1), the Brewers host their first annual Winter Warmup event at the 300 Club in Miller Park. Fox Sports North and WTMJ will carry the event live.
The Packers finish out their season during the month (actually the last game is on Jan. 1). Included are two games with traditional rivals, da Bears, on this Sunday in Chicago and Christmas Day at Lambeau Field.
Whitewater plays defending champ Linfield College this Saturday for the NCAA Division III football championship. The Warhawks beat St. John's, 34-7, last weekend to get into the title game.
Highlights among the Bucks' 14 games in December are a Dec. 6 appearance by the Lakers and a Dec. 20 game against the Spurs. Both games are at the Bradley Center.
The Admirals play 16 games in December. A highlight is the Dec. 26 game at the BC against I-94 rivals, the Chicago Wolves.
In soccer, the Wave plays four games in December. The Dec. 9 contest against perennial power Philadelphia should be a good one. A New Years Eve day game against the California Cougars also could be a highlight.
The Bucks' prep series, including high school games before regular season NBA games, has started. The series Web site is nba.com/bucks.
