It was five years ago this month that Brian Butch signed with the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team.

Mindful that another highly regarded 6-foot-11 state prep player, Greg Stiemsma, already had committed to the Badgers, Butch spoke of the two combining to do something special at UW.

"People may think I'm crazy for saying it," Butch said, "but I truly believe we are going to win a national championship at Wisconsin."

Reminded recently that Butch had made that statement, Stiemsma could only laugh.

"That was a young Brian Butch, I think," he said.

And what's the difference between a young Brian Butch and the fifth-year senior who will take his final shot at fulfilling that promise starting with UW's non-conference opener Sunday against Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne?

"He's maybe not so quick with his tongue," Stiemsma said.

No, Butch chooses his words more carefully now, not because he's given up on winning an NCAA title but because he's more mature than he was back then.

Besides, the Badgers proved last season, when they won a school-record 30 games and earned UW's first No. 1 ranking, that Butch wasn't all that far off.

UW wasn't the best team in the nation, but it was in the discussion right up until Butch injured his elbow and missed the final six games, including a second-round loss to UNLV in the NCAA tournament.

The prevailing opinion is that UW, which lost 47 percent of its scoring with the departure of All-American Alando Tucker and point guard Kam Taylor, whiffed on its best chance for a national title last season.

In fact, most of the experts are picking UW to finish fourth or fifth in the Big Ten Conference.

But the people who think UW will fall precipitously haven't been watching the program or coach Bo Ryan closely enough.

Whether it was at UW-Platteville, where he won four NCAA Division III titles, or during his six seasons at UW, Ryan's program doesn't go backward very far, if at all, once he gets it established.

You can expect UW, which wrapped up its exhibition season with a 74-35 victory over UW-Eau Claire Wednesday night, to be a different team this season, one that is better defensively and has more balanced scoring.

You also can expect the Badgers to be right in the thick of the Big Ten race.

Butch and Stiemsma are seniors and could finally give UW the twin tower look everyone hoped for five years ago.

Butch has not become the superstar people wanted him to be, but UW found out when he was hurt how valuable he was and much he did on the floor.

Stiemsma's career has been up and down, but he showed flashes late last season of becoming a defensive force and effective spot-up shooter.

But the reason UW shouldn't be written off easily is that Butch and Stiemsma still have enough talent and depth around them that the Badgers will be able to play with anyone.

The guard rotation of senior Michael Flowers and sophomores Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon gives Ryan offense, defense and, most of all, versatility.

Junior forwards Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft have played very well at times; now they have to do it all the time despite having to play more on the perimeter this season.

And the freshman class of Keaton Nankivil, Tim Jarmusz and the surprisingly impressive Jon Leuer is more college-ready than any group Ryan has recruited.

The experience gained last year will help, too.

Even the new, more-reserved Butch admits it was hard not to think of winning an NCAA title when the Badgers reached No. 1 late in the season.

"As players, definitely we were talking about it here and there," he said. "But Coach did an excellent job at really making sure we were focused every game. He's been through it. He's had the opportunity to coach teams that have been that good before. So he kept us grounded."

Both Butch and Stiemsma insist they feel no additional pressure because this is their final chance to live up to Butch's long-ago statement.

"I wouldn't really say it's a sense of urgency, but there's definitely things you want to accomplish while you're still here," Stiemsma said. "If this is our last chance to do it, we're going to work our hardest to do it and we're going to try to get the guys around us to climb on board. Hopefully, we can accomplish those goals."

Even if they don't, there's no reason UW shouldn't be a very good team again this season.

Contact Tom Oates at toates@madison.com or 608-252-6172.