|
 |  |
|
AD PARTNERS
|  |
Madtown erupts in celebration Fans swarm streets after Badgers clinch Final Four berth
Posted: Saturday March 25, 2000 09:42 PM
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Thousands of basketball fans erupted in elated disbelief and flooded State Street Saturday night as they realized the Badgers were headed where they hadn't been in 59 years: the Final Four. Celebrating University of Wisconsin-Madison students, alumni and other fans jumped on tables, pounded windows and chanted "Final Four!" in bars before pouring onto Madison's main drag. "Pandaemonium is the only way I can describe this! No once expected this. We barely made the tournament and now we're going to the Final Four. It's unbelievable!" said Ryan Rau, 22, a senior who was carrying a "Final Four Bound" sign, smoking a cigar and wearing a red and black "Cat in the Hat"-style headpiece. Wisconsin's 64-60 West Regional Final victory in Albuquerque, N.M., marked the Badgers' third win over Purdue this season. Purdue beat Wisconsin once, and all games have been rough-and-tumble matches with Wisconsin showing its defensive strength. That defense, plus a strong shooting average, made the difference in the game between No. 8 seeded Badgers and No. 6 seeded Purdue. "I just think our defense was too tough," said Wisconsin alumnus Jim Solper, his girlfriend riding on his shoulders. Solper, who drove in from Green Bay for the game, said it was all just as exciting as when the Green Bay Packers went to the Super Bowl. Wisconsin will play Michigan State in the semifinals, to be held next Saturday in Indianapolis. Madison Police Lt. Bob Housley estimated 7,000 people were on State Street after the game, with about 30 extra police officers to handle the crowd. "It's a happy crowd. People are having fun," Housley said. "What I'm concerned about is people who get too carried away and get hurt, even though they're just having fun." At least two students jumped from trees into the throngs on State Street and several partyers showered other fans with bottles of champagne. "This is just like a football game, except it's even more exciting because it's on State Street," said Wisconsin-Madison freshman Eric Wollerman, 19, who had painted his torso and face red. A rally to welcome the team back from New Mexico was planned for 12:30 a.m. Sunday at Camp Randall Stadium. The school's athletic department said it will begin accepting applications for Final Four tickets Sunday afternoon only from men's basketball season ticket holders and University of Wisconsin students. Tickets are $120 or $100 depending on seat locations. Students and season ticket holders who want tickets to the championship games can get applications at the Kohl Center in Madison or from the Athletic Department's Internet site.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
