They're feeling looser at this point in the season than a year ago, not to mention wiser after being too green in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments a year ago. Meanwhile, Wisconsin has stumbled with the five seniors hitting a wall. The Badgers have had to handle Dick Bennett's sudden retirement, suspensions to two players and close losses at Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan State, and three losses in its past four games overall. Soderberg was upset that he wasn't been able to reach the team in the past week, willing them to win the way Bennett would in his classic tense fashion. But he hasn't lost the team's faith in him.
Fans get all crazy and want a big-name coach.
They would be fools not to. If they go in another direction, it could be another 50 years of nothing. Soderberg never made this season about his situation. He said he never felt the pressure he assumes Davis was under in replacing the fired Knight. He said Davis has got it worse than him, especially in a basketball-crazy state with a team devoid of seniors.