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SWENsSON                             Bi :,
Another Championship Team
B3%CAP~Its "Bii i'CH\o
HE basketball season of 1917-18 was one of the best and most successful seasons Wisconsin
has ever gone through. At the beginning of the year prospects for a good season were
anything but bright, due to the loss of such men as Carlson, Meyers, Hemming, and NIcIn-
tosh, who entered military service, and the graduation of Levis and Olsen. With but two veter-
ans left, Mr. Lowman, who succeeded Dr. NIcanwell as coach, began what was generally expected
at that time by the student body to be a poor year. Many thought that Dr. Mcanwell was the
only man who knew anything about basketball, and that by losing "Doc we were losing our
chances for a winning team. But from the start Coach Lowman showed his knowledge of bas-
ketball, and, after cutting the squad down to twelve men just before the practice games, improve-
ment was rapid.
The preliminary games were won by close margins,. and a favorable season was not anticipated
by the fans. At first the men lacked teamwork as well as headwork, but a gradual change took
place, and the team play grew better. On January 8 we lost our first conference game, on the
Northwetcrn floor, by the score of 33 to 17. The result of this game was the best thing that
could ha1e happened to the team. It made the men realize the hard job they had, and created
a desperate, winning spirit. Not discouraged, the team
went to Iowa and won, 30 to 22. lowa was again
beaten, on our own floor, and then Purdue went home
with a 21 to lo beating. Illinois was another victim,
22 to 21.  We lost the next game to Chicago, 23 to
21, though the score does not show the true strength
of the teams, Wisconsin outplaying the Maroons, but
having hard luck in shooting. Illinois and Chicago took
beatings, and Wisconsin gained a commanding lead by
beating Minnesota, 18 to 17, at Minneapolis. North-
western was then eliminated from the race by being
handed a licking here, 2o to 18. Purdue was then the
only team to stand between us and the title and we took
care of that at LaFayette, clinching the championship
with a win, 24 to 18.
When the team returned from the Purdue game, it was
met at the depot by 300 students, who showed their ap-
preciation of the team with a demonstration that has never
been excelled by Wisconsin students. Minnesota won
from us in the last game of the season here.
The success of the team was due to the ability of Coach
Lowman, the cooperation and good feeling which existed
among the players, and the support of the student body.
Ci1 ANot Elk CAPT.

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