OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) — It’s hard not to get excited about the basketball being played at UW–Oshkosh right now. The Titans are off to an 18–0 start for the first time since 1998.
Despite the early-season success, Titans Head Coach Brad Fischer says the approach to their day-to-day hasn’t changed.
“We usually say, especially the day before a game, win the game today,” Fischer said. “For 14 years, we’ve tried to prepare the same every game. We never talk about any game differently.”
The defensive brand of basketball the Titans play has been the M.O. since Fischer arrived at Oshkosh, holding opponents to just 45 points per game and winning by more than 20 points a night this season — sitting atop the WIAC in total defense five of the last six seasons.
“If you can make it tough on the defensive end, at least you give yourself a chance,” Fischer added. “If you can frustrate people and take away the stuff they really want to lean on, you can kind of turn their mentality in the opposite direction.”
And, at the forefront of this hot start are several local standouts who chose to stay home and play for the Titans — including Sammi Beyer, an Appleton East graduate, and Sarah Hardwick, a Notre Dame Academy alum.
“It means a lot for the community,” Beyer said. “Family is a huge thing for me, so being able to play here and have my parents around means a lot.”
A sentiment Fischer echoes, and one he believes has fueled his program’s sustained success.
“When recruits come in and ask why they came here, our players can talk about everything they’ve accomplished,” Fischer said. “I’m super proud of them, and I love that their people get to watch them so often.”
The hot start has sparked belief that Oshkosh can make another deep run into the postseason, like it did last year when the Titans started the season 17-0 and went all the way to the Final Four, before falling to Smith College by two points.
“There’s a thought there,” Beyer said. “But it’s taking it one step at a time. There’s so much basketball left to play.”
“I think it’s about focusing on us and where our feet are,” Hardwick added.
And, until then, the Titans will continue to get a little bit every day in their pursuit of bringing that title back to Oshkosh.
