UW-Green Bay Men’s Basketball On Pace To Make NCAA History By Going From Worst To First This Season

UW Green Bay Head Coach Sundance Wicks - Photo by UW Green Bay

GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – The University of Wisconsin Green Bay men’s basketball team finished last season as one of the worst teams in Division 1 basketball, but this year they’ve turned into one of college basketball’s best stories.

In the last three seasons, the program has won 16 games overall (8-17 in 2020–21, 5–25 in 2021–22, and 3-29 in 2022–23), which established the record for the worst season in the program’s 42-year history and tied for the lowest record in Division I.

However, after defeating Youngstown State 84-83 last week to earn their 17th win of the season, the program now shares the record for the biggest turnaround in Division I men’s basketball history with the and currently sits just a half-game back of Oakland University in the Horizon League standings.

.@fosterwonders FOR THE WIN!!!#RiseWithUs | #HLMBB pic.twitter.com/92T9ddELaC

— Green Bay Men’s Basketball (@gbphoenixmbb) February 10, 2024

When asked about the team’s impressive turnaround, head coach Sundance Wicks told CBS 5 that the players are what has made this season so special saying, “You get the right mix of guys to come together for a purpose, for a mission, for a vision and special things happen. These guys are awesome, man. Every time I walk into the locker room, they’re just hanging out together. That’s the best part of these guys is that they just jack around with each other and love being around each other and that’s what makes this team special. As a coach, you never want this season to end because you just don’t get many years like this.”

Wicks also spoke about the possibility of making the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016 saying,  “Ultimately, it’s a one-bid league. You know it. You could win the league. You could take second, third, fourth, fifth. You still need to win three or four games in a week to make it to the NCAA Tournament. You just stay focused on the next day and the next game because there’s a lot of season left still.”

The Phoenix have won 8 out of their last 10 and will look to rebound on Friday night when they face Purdue Fort Wayne (8-8) after a tough 58-57 home loss to Northern Kentucky (9-7) last Wednesday.