Cornell's Win Over Wisconsin Sends Both Teams Home

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Bo Ryan lamented it was a coach's worst nightmare to prepare for Cornell in one day. He was partially correct. Game day was just as bad, if not worse.

No. 12 seed Cornell continued its magical journey Sunday afternoon in the NCAA tournament, exploding to an early double-digit lead and sending another favorite home in its 87-69 win over No. 4 Wisconsin here at Veterans Memorial Arena.

Here's what the historic second-round victory does for the Big Red of Ithaca, N.Y.:

• Advances them to their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance next weekend against No. 1 seeded Kentucky at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, just one hour from their New York campus.

• Improves their record to 29-4 overall, breaking an Ivy League record for wins in a season (the 1970-71 Penn Quakers were 28-1).

• Gives the Big Red consecutive wins over Top 25 teams in a span of three days after going 17 years without one at all (4-63 all-time versus Top 25 teams).

• Gives them their 17th win in their last 18 games.

"I am not sure three of four days (of preparation) would have stopped what they do because they just do it so well," Ryan said.

On Saturday, Cornell's Jeff Foote, the team's 7-foot center and rush chairman, said the Big Red were just getting started.

Two days after the Big Red embarrassed Temple's vaunted defense in a 78-65 victory, they were just as effective -- if not more so -- against the nation's top-rated unit.

Guards Ryan Wittman, the Ivy League Player of the Year, (24) and Louis Dale (26) combined to score 50 points. Wittman was on fire early, converting 6 of 9 field goals in the first half for 14 points.

The Badgers entered limiting opponents to 56 points a game, a total that Cornell breezed by at the 15:06 mark in the second half en route to a season-high point total against Wisconsin.

Only Penn State scored more than 70 points against the Badgers this season -- 71 in a 79-71 overtime defeat on Jan. 24

Including Wisconsin's 53-49 win over Wofford in Friday's opening round, Wisconsin had held 14 teams to 50 or fewer points, the most of any team in the nation.

Of course, the Badgers had never faced the Big Red.

Backdoor cuts, hard screens, crisp, accurate passes and deadly shooting are parts of Cornell's entertaining game.

After shooting 57 percent in a first-round win over Temple, the Big Red connected on 59.3 percent in the first half against Wisconsin to build a 43-31 lead. Cornell also appeared fresher and more athletic, beating the Badgers to loose balls and to the hoop.

Cornell, in fact, has not trailed in the NCAA tourney since being down 5-4 to Temple. That means the Big Red has led or been tied for the last 77:17 of play.

The 18-point victory also represents the largest margin of victory for an Ivy League school in an NCAA game since Columbia defeated St. Bonaventure in the East Region (78-60) in 1968.

Center Jon Leuer led Wisconsin with 23 points, 14 in the first half. Leuer scored the Badgers' first 12 points of the game.

"We never pay attention to what seed they are," Leuer said.

"They're going to be a tough out for anybody in the tournament because they can all shoot and they all play well off one another. We just have to give them credit. I am, they just -- they beat us."

Dale said Cornell's successful senior class doesn't want the fun to end.

"We've got eight seniors on this team, and we want to take this ride as long as we can because after this, it's nothing but babies and memories," Dale said. "So, we'll just have to keep it going."

KEY ELEMENT

Shooting. Cornell makes it look as easy as firing away at the local YMCA on a Sunday afternoon.

The Big Red shot 61.1 percent (33 of 54) against the Badgers and placed four players in double digits, paced by Louis Dale's game-high 26 points. Cornell was hot early and late. It shot 59.3 percent in the first half, and was even better in the second half at 63 percent (17 of 27).

These are remarkable numbers considering the Badgers entered with one of the country's top defenses. It was actually the best percentage by an opponent since Indiana shot 70.2 in an 85-55 win in 2001.

Every Cornell starter must have gotten a good night's sleep.

Ryan Wittman was 10 of 15 from the field; Dale 10 of 17; Jeff Foote 4 of 4; Chris Wroblewski 5 of 9; Jon Jaques 3 of 4. The Big Red also drained 13 of 16 free throws.

"I got a lot of good looks," Wittman said.

"A lot of credit has to go to our bigs, Jeff Foote is one of the best screeners in the nation. It seemed like every one of my baskets was coming off a ball screen or a dribble hand-off from him."

GAME BALL GOES TO

The Ivy League -- autographed by the Cornell players, of course.

"You know, I just thought in all my coaching, all the experience I had on any team that I ever played on, this game here was as well executed that I couldn't even imagine that we could play that well in stretches that we did," said Cornell head coach Steve Donahue, who shared an emotional hug with his athletic director following the game.


HEART GOES OUT TO

Wisconsin guard Trevon Hughes.

Hughes, the emotional leader of the Badgers, struggled from start to finish. He fouled out with 10 points and six turnovers. Hughes never could find his rhythm against Cornell's varied defenses.

WHERE TO MOVE HERE

Cornell is headed home to the Sweet 16. Wisconsin (24-9), meanwhile, failed to get past the opening weekend for the fourth time in five years.

SOUNDBITE:

"That's how good they are. They can beat you in so many different ways. That was something that once you get behind to them, it made it very, very difficult to get back, and good teams will do that to you." -- Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.