By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The University of Wisconsin's improbable run to college basketball's Final Four is bringing back memories for Dick Bennett's most successful UW-Stevens Point team.
Bennett's 1983-84 squad was the best in the school's storied history, finishing second in the NAIA national tournament while setting a school record with 28 wins. Members of the team can't help but reminisce about that season while watching the Bennett-coached Badgers in the NCAA tournament.
"It brings memories back," said Tim Naegeli, who was the starting power forward on the team. "It's brought back more memories of coach Bennett, the fond memories of the freshman and sophomore seasons when he coached me.
"I have a lot of respect for him as a person and I'm really proud knowing I played for the guy who is doing it. His life has been fulfilled by it, so it's really gratifying to see."
Added Tim Lazarcik, the starting center and co-captain with point guard Brad Soderberg: "I watch every game I can. I just love to see them play. They play so hard and it brings back the memories."
Several former UW-SP players see a resemblance between what they did then and the Badgers are doing now.
"I see a lot of similarities to the team and the run they're having," said Mike Janse, the starting off-guard.
"We were really an unknown that year. We snuck up on a lot of teams. Teams knew of us but certainly weren't prepared to play against us. Bennett, being the great coach he is, he had us ready to play against any different style.
"I'm praying that he can carry it forth and win two more games. We were ever so close to getting that championship ring. It would certainly be his crowning achievement," added Janse, who lives in Appleton and is a sales representative Great Northern Corp. in Appleton where he sells corrugated cardboard boxes to businesses in the Appleton area.
The 1983-84 team was certainly close to winning a national title for Bennett. The team won the Wisconsin State University Conference title and then captured the NAIA District 14 title. Led by small forward Terry Porter, who now plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, the Pointers advanced to the NAIA championship game against Fort Hays State at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. Fort Hays State handed UW-SP a heartbreaking, 48-46 overtime loss.
"Another similarity that I see is that they are getting production from all their players," Janse said. "We truly were a team - we were battle-tested in practice. In games, you were getting contributions from many different sources."
The Bennett style, which he brought from the high school game to UW-SP and then took to UW-Green Bay and now Wisconsin, is the same - hard-working defense and a patient offense.
"It shows the firm beliefs and the principles that he taught hold true program to program," said Naegeli, who works in Racine as a sales manager for Electronics Systems of Wisconsin and coached at Racine Lutheran High for seven years.
Added Lazarcik: "He hasn't changed his style. And that's what's so nice to see, that some things still work.
"I listened to his players talk now - it's the same thing everybody's said. Green Bay guys, everybody said the same thing."
While the style and philosophies remain the same, the incorporation of the shot clock into the college game meant Bennett's best UW-SP team was even more patient than the Badgers are.
"We didn't run as much as they do now," said Craig Hawley, a guard on the team. "There were no shot clocks. See how patient they are now. Some of the shots they are taking right now we would have considered bad shots.
"It's just a great coach taking you to another level that no one expected, not even the players," added Hawley, the branch manager for Mortgage Concepts in Little Chute. "I saw it first hand. People witnessed it at Green Bay, Stevens Point and now Wisconsin."
One big difference between the 1983-84 UW-SP team and the Badgers is Porter. Porter was a standout, setting a then single-season scoring record with 600 points. Brant Bailey broke the record with 723 points in the 1999-00 season.
"We fortunately had a go-to-guy when things stalled on us," Janse said. "I wish Terry had another year of eligibility left. I think Dick could use a guy like that."
Added David Schlundt, a forward on the team who now lives in Antigo and owns a McDonald's franchise there: "The one difference that I see is that we had a star on our team and they don't."
Janse, who is traveling to Indianapolis, thinks the city will be full of former players who are there to cheer on their former coach's team.
"In some sorts it will be a reunion because coach Bennett touched a lot of players," Janse said. I know there'll be a lot of Green Bay support and purple and gold support down there. He will have support in every corner of the state.
"I talked to Terry (Porter) on Sunday and he wishes our whole team could go down there and support him in Indy. Unfortunately that's not going to happen, but I'm going down there and I'm hoping Terry can pull some strings for tickets."
Those who aren't able to make the trek to Indianapolis will be glued to their televisions Saturday.
"I just have a good feeling about their chances," said Lazarcik, an elementary guidance counselor in Holmen. "Michigan State, I agree with Dick when he said they are hard to play because they have a similar style. Fourth times are a charm, right? I just can't wait for the game."