It's been a long time, 82 years to be exact, since Badger basketball won their first and only championship. Then head coach Bud Foster defeated Washington State by a score of 39-34 in Kansas City. This would've been a more recent, albeit boring, article had the Badgers beaten Duke in the title game in 2015, but here we are 82 years years later and still waiting. So let's take a look back at what else was going on in the world in 1941.
Events and People of 1941
The longest ever serving President, Franklin D. Roosevelt was in his third of four terms in 1941. He also holds the unofficial record of most opening day pitches thrown by a President with eight.
The Mount Rushmore monument ceased work after 14 years in 1941 and has remained in its unfinished state ever since. Someone find me the prop bet for which happens first -- a Wisconsin championship or the monument finished.
The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup and the New York Yankees won the World Series. Some things never change.
The US entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.
Costs of Living in 1941
The average salary was $2,050. It's strange to think about, but a lot people were apparently paid in quarters.
The cost for a ticket to see a game was about $1.50. I'm assuming it would've been a bit more to see Bucky drop 39 on Washington State's head in the championship.
Gas was $0.19 per gallon. I wonder if the Badgers had a team bus?
A loaf of bread was $0.08. Accounting for inflation, it's not that far off from current costs of white bread.
2024 Badgers
Could this be the year that the streak is broken and the Badgers win their second title? Probably not. There's a lot of turnover on the roster and many of the transfers and freshman have not played Power Five basketball. With a rough year, Greg Gard could end up on the hot seat. But as long as the team can make the Big Dance, anything can happen.