Seven days ago, then-No. 17 Wisconsin began the 2015-16 season in mildly triumphant fashion.
Another banner was headed to the roof of the Kohl Center, and while it wasn't a national title cloth, enough time had passed since April's loss to Duke that commemorating a second straight run to the championship game -- and the remarkable players who produced it -- felt more wistful than bitter. Remembering the good times, and all that. Then, after the banner was raised, a new-look Badgers team would tune up against the lowly Western Illinois Leathernecks, a guarantee game opponent paid to travel to Madison and lose.