Wis. gubernatorial candidates weigh in on NCAA unionization

MADISON (WITI) -- As the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team prepares for the Final Four in Texas, college sports are in the headlines for another reason -- unionization.The discussion over whether college athletes should be paid and able to unionize has been a recent hot topic from locker rooms to classrooms to court rooms.

UW-Platteville coaches are Backing Bucky and Bo Ryan

PLATTEVILLE (WITI) -- The Badgers are in Texas practicing and getting ready to take on the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the Final Four on Saturday -- but no matter where the team plays, there's a piece of Coach Bo Ryan that forever remains in Platteville.Ryan served as head coach of the UW-Platteville Division 3 men's basketball team from 1984 to 1999, and those still at the college say he's more than ready to take on the NCAA Tournament."You always want to call in and say, 'listen, this guy's been there five times to the Final Four and bringing back four national titles to Platteville," said Jeff Gard, who used to coach with Ryan at Platteville.Gard's brother, Greg, is currently serving as the Badgers assistant coach.

Badgers Final Four apparel a hot seller, hard to find

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Getting your hands on Final Four gear is not unlike a competitive sport as Wisconsin fans are Backing Bucky and the Badgers men's basketball team.Hot merchandise has been hard to come by, requiring many fans to do some leg work."I've been calling Monday, Tuesday and today they finally came in," said Jane Frish, who scored the same Net Worthy shirts the Badgers wore on the court after their last win.Even former Badger basketball great Michael Finley was looking to upgrade his wardrobe when he tweeted a photo showing off his school spirit but proclaiming "I need some new Wisconsin gear."Employees at Name of the Game say Final Four items aren't staying in stock for long as many shoppers are showing their support by buying a t-shirt instead of a plane ticket to Texas.The more games the Badgers win, the more shoppers want to show their Wisconsin spirit and Frisch is ready to keep spending."We're gonna have to come back if they win it all.

FOX6 News is 'Backing Bucky,' presents special on Friday, April 4th

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6 News is "Backing Bucky" as the team ventures to North Texas and the Final Four.FOX6's Tom Pipines is heading down to Arlington, Texas -- and will have live coverage from the Lone Star State on Thursday evening, April 3rd.Then on Friday, April 4th, we invite you to tune into FOX6 News at 9 p.m. when we present "Backing Bucky" -- a FOX6 special about the Badgers and their run to the Final Four. 

Retailers benefit from Badgers' trip to Final Four

ADISON (AP) — The Wisconsin Badgers' trip to the Final Four is generating additional revenue for some retailers.Sales of Wisconsin apparel are brisk this week as the Badgers prepare to take on the University of Kentucky in Arlington, Texas Saturday night.

Final Four: Badgers play Kentucky Saturday 7:49pm

TEXAS (AP) — The Final Four is set in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and it will be seventh seed Connecticut against No. 1 Florida in the first game before eighth seed Kentucky takes on No. 2 Wisconsin.

Florida, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Kentucky headed to TX for Final Four

UNDATED (AP) — The Final Four will not have any upstarts like the past few years.The power programs that did make it will still have plenty to prove in North Texas.Florida, the top overall seed, is back in the Final Four for the first time since winning consecutive titles in 2006-07, this time without all those first-round NBA picks.The Gators will face Connecticut, 2011 national champions who were barred from last year's bracket because of academics.Wisconsin has reached the Final Four for the first time under coach Bo Ryan, who is finally going as a coach after taking his late father every year since 1976.Rounding out the foursome is Kentucky, the preseason No. 1 thought to be out of contention after struggling midseason.

Badgers advance to Final Four with OT win over Arizona

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Wisconsin bumped and grinded its way into the Final Four.Frank Kaminsky had 28 points and 11 rebounds for Wisconsin, rallying the Badgers to a 64-63 overtime victory against Arizona in the West Region final Saturday night, March 29th.The Badgers (30-7) advanced to their first Final Four appearance since 2000 on Saturday night, and first for 69-year-old coach Bo Ryan, who earned his 704th career victory.Nick Johnson had the ball with a chance to win, but he missed a shot that came just after the buzzer for Arizona (33-5), the top-seeded team that has yet to win a West Region final in Anaheim in four tries.

Fans gather to cheer on the Badgers in the Elite 8

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Fans gathered to cheer on the Badgers men's basketball team as they faced the Arizona Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 Saturday evening, March 29th.Wisconsinites who are fans of both college and professional basketball had some extra cheering to do as the game happened to fall on the same night the Bucks take on the Miami Heat at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.Some fans bought tickets to see the Bucks, unaware the Badgers may be playing a huge game this evening."Not really looking ahead to the point, we noticed the schedule didn't really work and now the Bucks game falls on the Badger potential berth of the Final Four," said Paul Konkol.Many people said their smart phones would be a lifesaver, using it to track whatever game they weren't watching.

Wisconsin, Arizona set for Saturday showdown in Elite 8

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Arizona's Sean Miller and Wisconsin's Bo Ryan are one win from their first trip to the Final Four.In the only 1-2 matchup in the Elite Eight, top-seeded Arizona will play No. 2 seed Wisconsin in the West Regional final on Saturday.The Badgers (29-7) haven't been to the Final Four since 2000, shortly before Ryan took over in Madison.

Aaron Rodgers stops by the Badgers' locker room following win

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A surprise visitor joined the Wisconsin Badgers for some postgame revelry following their convincing win over Baylor in the NCAA tournament.Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took in the Badgers' Sweet Sixteen game in Anaheim, Calif., as Wisconsin advanced to the Elite Eight.