Miracle on Hardwood? Bo Ryan receives texts comparing Wisconsin game to Miracle on Ice

Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin Badgers are being compared to 1980 U.S. hockey team after beating Kentucky

Should we start calling this the Miracle on Hardwood?

It may not have the same ring to it, but some observers of Wisconsin’s Final Four victory over Kentucky apparently saw enough similarities to text Badgers coach Bo Ryan, comparing the win to the Miracle on Ice.

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The two games featured similar giant-slaying scenarios, as the 1980 U.S. national hockey team vanquished the formidable Soviet team, while Ryan’s Badgers became the first team to defeat John Calipari’s unbeaten Wildcats.

However, the comparison gets a little weak after that: the Final Four game wasn’t a matter of national pride, didn’t have any Cold War significance to it, and Al Michaels wasn’t on hand. It didn’t have an especially memorable ending, either.

Not to say it wasn’t a great game, because it was maybe the best of the NCAA Tournament so far. But let’s cool it with comparisons to possibly the greatest game in American sports history.

After receiving the texts, Ryan says he got a sobering reminder from a fellow Badgers coach:

Mark Johnson, the Wisconsin women’s hockey coach, was a member of that 1980 U.S. team.

Wisconsin’s 71-64 win over Kentucky vaulted them to the National Championship game against Duke, ended Kentucky’s dreams of a 40-0 season, and ensured that the college basketball season will end without an undefeated team for the 17th consecutive year. (Bobby Knight’s 1976 Indiana team was the last to complete an undefeated season).

People can text Bo Ryan all they want, but that won’t make this the Miracle Not on Ice, or whatever you want to call it. However, this will go down as one of the biggest games in NCAA Tournament history, and regardless of whether they win the national title, these Badgers will be remembered. Although it will definitely help peoples’ memories if they do win.

Now the Badgers have to be careful. They have to make sure they haven’t used all their energy defeating Kentucky, and have nothing left in the tank for Duke. Beating Kentucky is huge; but it doesn’t get bigger than the national title game, and they need to be prepared.

Wisconsin plays Duke Monday night to decide the national title.

Next: Kevin Sumlin welcomes Avery Johnson to the SEC

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