1995 Men's Basketball team to be inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The 1994-95 University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's basketball team, which was the second Pioneer team to win a NCAA Division III national championship and the second Division III team to go undefeated, will be the second squad to be inducted in its entirety into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 5.

After becoming the first team to navigate a perfect Wisconsin State University Conference slate, the Pioneers went on to defeat St. John's University, 99-67 and conference foe UW-Whitewater, 100-88 in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Williams Fieldhouse.

In the Sweet 16, Millsaps College managed to stay with the Pioneers in the first half, 44-44, becoming the six team to be tied or ahead of the Pioneers at intermission. UW-Platteville scored 21 points in the final five minutes earning the 82-68 victory.  The Pioneers shot a season-best 65.6 percent to defeat host Hampden-Sydney, 99-85, in the West/South Sectional final for a trip to the Final Four in Buffalo, N.Y.

UW-Platteville's stifling defense lead the Pioneers to the NCAA Division III Championship Game with an 82-59 victory over Trinity College (Conn.).

The Pioneers capped off their perfect 31-0 season beating Manchester College (Ind.), who was coached by now UCLA Bruins head coach, Steve Alford, 69-55, which was the first known championship tilt at any level between two undefeated teams.

Bo Ryan and Alford have done a lot since that 1995 title game. Ryan was named the 2013 Big Ten Coach of the Year and has guided Wisconsin to 11 top-four finishes in the conference standings in his 12 years at the helm of the Badgers' program. After guiding New Mexico to six consecutive postseason appearances and being named 2013 Mountain West Coach of the Year, Alford was named the 13^th head coach in UCLA men's basketball history on March 30, 2013.

Previously, Ryan and Rob Jeter '91 were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame individually.

Pioneer fans can purchase tickets for the Induction Ceremony at the Williams Fieldhouse on Bo Ryan Court by calling the Alumni Office at (608) 342-1181 or email alumni@uwplatt.edu. The induction ceremony will start at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow.

The members of the 1994-95 team were:

Coaches: Bo Ryan, Rob Jeter, Ron Raney, Greg Gard

Players:  Jeff Adam (Greenfield, Wis.), Chad Boettcher (Shullsburg), Scott Borroughs (Verona, Wis.), Brian Davis (Libertyville, Ill.), Bill Ellingson (Madison, Wis.), Ben Hoffman (Hartford, Wis.), Erik Holmgren (Monona, Wis.), Aaron Lancaster (Darlington, Wis.), Jamie Leifker (Cuba City, Wis.), Gabe Miller (Plymouth, Wis.), Tim O'Connell (East Troy, Wis.), John Paulsen (Delafield, Wis.), Ernie Peavy (Milwaukee, Wis.), Saul Phillips (Reedsburg, Wis.), Luke Reigel (Reedsburg, Wis.), Pete Stremlow (Clinton, Iowa), Mike Uppena (Cassville, Wis.)

Manager: Bill Kern (Frankin,Wis.), Doug Landerman (Palatine, Ill.), Jason Peterson, Dennis Fry (Trainer) (Dubuque, Iowa)