Yesterday's announcement that UW will host Duke in the upcoming ACC/Big Ten Challenge already has fans looking forward to next season (just 215 days away, start your paper countdown chain!).
It will surely be one of the toughest tickets in the history of the Kohl Center, as you would expect when one of the top two or three basketball programs in the country comes visiting.
Just off the top of my head, the four other games that would join the upcoming Duke game on a Top 5 Biggest Games in the Kohl Center list. These aren't necessarily the best games, but the ones that were the most hyped and toughest tickets to get.
No. 1 Illinois at Wisconsin — Jan. 25, 2005
In a game of opposing streaks, Illinois put its undefeated record and top national ranking on the line against UW's 38-game Kohl Center winning streak.
The Badgers hung with the Illini for most of the game and even had as big as an eight-point lead before Illinois stormed back and took control of the final five minutes of the game. The Illini scored 14 of the game's final 15 points to win 75-65.
Lasting memory:
Sitting in the very top row of the Kohl Center after somehow scoring tickets, my best memory of this game is of Jack Ingraham (!), a guy who had hit two threes all season, drilling a pair of threes that swung the momentum toward the Illini.
No. 2 Pittsburgh at No. 7 Wisconsin — Dec. 16, 2006
Dickie V and the ESPN boys were in town for this game, which pretty much launched the season that would see the Badgers earn the national No. 1 ranking.
Wisconsin got out of the gates fast, thanks in large part to Brian Butch and Alando Tucker. Both scored 20 points in the first half as UW kept Pittsburgh at a distance for most of the game.
Lasting memories:
— My roommates and I got to the game ridiculously early to do... we weren't really sure what. Ended up we did two things. One, get a picture with Dick Vitale that ended up in Sports Illustrated.
That's me, or my arm and hand, at least, just to the left of the dude with the red hair and facepaint. It should be pointed out he is in medical school at Georgetown right now. Yes, that's right. You may one day trust your life to a guy who died his hair red and painted his face half white and half red.
The other thing that happened before the game was me telling Pitt big man Aaron Gray, "The Polar Bear is going to eat you!" Special thanks to Brian Butch and his 20-point first half for making me look good on that one.
— When Alando Tucker threw down a breakaway alley-oop from Kam Taylor, that was the wildest crowd I've ever been in for a basketball game. The folding chairs were all connected by a metal bar before that play. Afterward, they weren't.
— I said the worst thing I have ever directed at an opposing player or coach to Jaime Dixon that day. And when I say that, know there is a fairly colorful list to draw from. This was so off base, I'd be ashamed to even print it. And it wasn't vulgar in the least. Let your imagination run with that.
— I sweat through a pair of jeans and had a ringing headache for an hour after the game.
— Oh, yeah. The Badgers won, 89-75.
No. 3 the Ohio State University v. No. 7 Wisconsin — Jan. 9, 2007
The second top-5 team to visit the Kohl Center that season fared about as well as the first. Wisconsin built a 20-point second half lead before the Buckeyes stormed all the way back. Jamar Butler had a look at a three that would have sent the game into overtime, but it clanged harmlessly off the rim.
The Badgers won this one, 72-69, but the Buckeyes would get their revenge in Columbus later in the year.
Lasting memory:
A sign in the student section, with a particularly caveman-ish mug of Greg Oden: "OSU. So easy, a caveman can do it."
No. 14 Illinois v. No. 24 Wisconsin — March 3, 2003
A win and the Badgers could clinch the outright Big Ten title in Bo Ryan's second year.
With the game tied an just four tenths of a second remaining in the second half, Devin Harris missed the first of two free throws. Harris was good on the second one, however, and the Badgers won the regular season title in most dramatic fashion, 60-59.
Lasting memory:
Has to be the picture of Kirk Penney on the shoulders of his classmates after the student section stormed the floor.
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There you have it. With Duke likely to be a top-10 or even top-5 team when the season begins, December 2 will surely plant itself in this level.
I'm sure a game or two slipped my mind somehow. Let me know what I missed in the comments.