User:Phizz007/1994–95 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team

The 1994–95 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1994–95 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Stan Van Gundy, in his first season coaching the Badgers. The team played its home games in Madison, Wisconsin at the Wisconsin Field House. Wisconsin finished the season 13-14, 7-11 in Big Ten play to finish in ninth place.

Offseason
At the conclusion of the 1993-94 season, forward Otto McDuffie declared his intention to transfer, seeking more playing time. The rising junior played in his hometown at UW-Milwaukee for his final two seasons.

On July 22, 1994, head coach Stu Jackson was hired by the NBA's expansion Vancouver Grizzlies to be their vice president of operations and general manager. Stan Van Gundy, 35, became the youngest coach in the Big Ten when he was promoted to head coach that same day, signing a five-year contract that paid him a base salary of $105,000.

Season summary
The season was a major disappointment for the Badgers after the excitement around the previous season. Despite Michael Finley and Rashard Griffith returning for their senior and sophomore campaigns, respectively, Wisconsin

Finley in particular struggled with his shot, shooting the lowest field goal percentages of his career by a significant margin. Foreshadowing his NBA career, Finley logged 1,000 minutes for the second consecutive year and took on more ball handling duties. Even the highlights were clouded by negatives. On December 10, 1994, Finley tied a Wisconsin record with a 42-point performance -- including a school-record 33 points in the second half -- against Eastern Michigan, but it came in a surprising blowout loss in which Wisconsin trailed 50-17 at halftime. Griffith missed the game with an ankle injury and the Badgers were out-rebounded 47-30. The Eagles, led by head coach Ben Braun and freshman point guard Earl Boykins, jumped out to a 33-4 lead at home.

Road woes were not uncommon. Wisconsin was 2-10 away from Madison.

Sophomore swingman Jalil Roberts was ruled academically ineligible for the second semester and transferred. He later resurfaced briefly at Seton Hall.

On January 14, 1995, Finley set a new Wisconsin record for career points, surpassing Danny Jones, in the first half against Minnesota. The Badgers went on to win, 74-67, at the Field House.

Awards and honors
All-American


 * Michael Finley - honorable mention (AP)

All-Big Ten


 * Michael Finley - 1st team (coaches), 2nd team (media)
 * Rashard Griffith - 1st team (media), 2nd team (coaches)

Schedule
!colspan=9 style=""| Regular Season

!colspan=9 style=""|NCAA Tournament

Records and trivia
Rashard Griffith's 44 blocks in Big Ten play during 1994-95 still stands as a single-season Badger record. He broke Brad Sellers' record for career blocked shots and finished his two-year career with 124, a total that has since been eclipsed by several players.

Griffith also became the first Badger to average a double-double for an entire season since 1976-77, a feat no Wisconsin player achieved again until Ethan Happ in 2018-19.

By averaging 20.5 points his senior season, Michael Finley became the only Badger to score more than 20 points-per-game in three different seasons. He also set a new Wisconsin single-season records for field goal attempts in Big Ten games, with 335, and three-point attempts (204) overall.