ONE GAME AT A TIME. The top seed in the Wisconsin basketball tournament understands the implications of single elimination.

There are some who say Milwaukee Hamilton is the favorite to win the boys state basketball championship.

Tom Diener, the second-year coach of the Wildcats, isn't one of them.

"No, I would never say that," Diener said. "I think most years, to be honest, there's usually around five teams I think can put it together and win six or seven in a row. Usually there are four to five teams that are capable of winning the state championship. I think it's that way again this year.

"I think we are one of the four or five teams that can do that. Having said that, there's probably 10 teams that can knock you off on your way to get there. When you look at the state championship, I don't think you can say there's a team that's favored."

True enough. The smart money was on Madison West in 1972.