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Walk on this way: Trying out for Wisconsin basketball

When the Badgers held open walk-on tryouts for the men's basketball team, I air-mailed passes and took charges with hopes of fulfilling a dream. Looks like they'll have to make three straight Final Fours without me.

On an unseasonably warm October evening in Madison, Wis., there was every reason for students to soak in what may have been Mother Nature's final gift of 2015.

As the sun went down over Picnic Point's peninsula on Lake Mendota, pedestrians took in the view from atop Observatory Hill. Dozens lounged on the Bascom Hill grass.

In the southeast corner of campus, however, a collection of students opted to forego the amicable weather in exchange for the unlikely chance to walk on to the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.