The University of Wisconsin men's track team was supposed to be vulnerable this year.

So, what does it say that the Badgers were able to not only win a record eighth consecutive Big Ten Conference Indoor Championships at home on Sunday, but score 127 points — eclipsing the 120 points scored by last year's powerhouse team?

Well, it tells the rest of the conference there is some work to be done to close the gap UW has created. And, oh, by the way, good luck snapping that streak anytime soon.

"That's the statement we're trying to make to them now," Badgers junior James Groce said of the rest of the conference, after winning the 600-meter run. "That we can get it done when we're young (or) when we're old. We can get it done by any means."

This one was extra special for UW coach Ed Nuttycombe, who won his 24th Big Ten title, because it happened at the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center in front of an enthusiastic sellout crowd that featured more than 150 alumni from the school's track and field and cross country programs.

"The eighth straight is wonderful and great," Nuttycombe said. "I will say, that was a very, very special meet, because we were at home. I don't think at the beginning of the year anybody would have picked us to win because of all the people we graduated last year.

"That was just a tremendous team effort. I do think we were helped by being at home."

Purdue coach Jack Warner, whose team finished second with 102 points, knew the Badgers wouldn't surrender the title easily, no matter how big of a rebuilding job they faced this year.

"I knew they would defend that title with all they had here at home and they did a great job," he said. "I didn't think they were vulnerable. I knew it was going to be a (heck) of a meet. My hat's off to them."

The Badgers showed again the three key factors they have used to build a dynasty: 1, A steady influx of young talent; 2, Multiple scorers in just about every distance event; and 3, The ability to rise to the occasion.

"We're young, but we have the pleasure of having young guys who can get out here and compete on the conference level," said Groce, who is from Milwaukee Riverside. "Although we've got a lot of sophomores out here, getting experience last year, it helps a whole lot."

One of those sophomores, Brandon Bethke, became a double-winner by taking the 5,000 meters after winning the 3,000 on Saturday. He led four UW distance standouts who accounted for a whopping 25 points in the 5,000, with junior Matt Withrow third, freshman Landon Peacock fourth and junior Chris Eagon fifth.

The four ran a strong tactical race. Withrow was the only one to run with the leaders for the first half of the race. Bethke made his move late, winning in a time of 14 minutes, 23.84 seconds by blowing away the field on the final lap.

"I'd never run a 5K," he said. "I knew I just had to be in it when the wheels started to come off toward the end and then just let it go. I came into the last lap and it was like, 'I've got to go.' I just kind of took off. I didn't know I had that."

That kind of depth in distance events makes up for any runners who might have off days.

UW sophomore Jack Bolas came in with the No. 2 qualifying time in the mile and finished fifth. That didn't matter because three other teammates were ahead of him — freshman Evan Jager (second) and sophomores Craig Miller (third) and Ryan Gasper (fourth) as the Badgers scored 23 points in that event.

"What's nice about having multiple people per event, you have multiple chances," said UW assistant Mark Guthrie, who built a track dynasty of his own at UW-La Crosse before joining Nuttycombe. "So, if somebody drops a little bit, somebody can pick it up. Even though it's only my second year, it's probably been one of the greatest parts of the success of Wisconsin."

Finally, UW athletes seem to rise to the occasion, such as freshman David Grzesiak, who finished third in the heptathlon. Nuttycombe said that comes from the athletes, more than the coaches.

"I think a lot of it comes from the other guys on the team, who have been there before," he said. "There's a lot of nurturing and understanding what it takes, not so much from a work-ethic standpoint on a day-to-day basis, but how important it is to do it when you're supposed to do it. Do it on the day. And they did."