Arguably every year, a rookie in collegiate athletics outperforms expectations. As the season lingers, the spotlight seems to shine brightest on successful first-year players. Consequently, fans can rest easy during the offseason. Like a lullaby, we generate soothing assumptions that the rookie will return and improve come next season.

However, a looming notion often interrupts offseason slumbers. It is a nightmarish scenario commonly known as the “sophomore slump.”

Very few sports terms create as much consternation as this phenomenon of regression. To summarize, a sophomore slump occurs after a player underperforms during their second campaign and doesn’t reach previously set expectations.

Presently, the sophomore slump may create a feeling of restlessness amongst Badgers fans. Two prominent senior players, quarterback Bart Houston and point guard Bronson Koenig, have moved onto the professional ranks. As the university’s top revenue athletics undergoes a dramatic changing of the guard, two newcomers will play a larger role on their respective teams. Ultimately, the success of the 2017-2018 Wisconsin men’s football and basketball programs rest in the hands of Alex Hornibrook and D’Mitrik Trice.

Only the fifth true freshman to start for Wisconsin basketball since 2000, Trice, who is penciled in to replace Koening, has large shoes to fill next season. The rising sophomore from IMG Academy in Florida, ranked best among the team’s reserves in points (5.6), minutes per game (18.3) and assists (1.7). Most impressively, Trice was among the Big Ten’s best in shooting from behind the arc (41.8 percent), finishing ninth in the conference.

In a similar fashion, Hornibrook, who will be a redshirt sophomore this fall, not only earned his first letter in 2016 but turned the heads of many skeptics and players. The lefty gunslinger finished with a completion percentage of 58.6 percent for 1,262 yards and helped pave the path to a 2017 Cotton Bowl victory. His yardage total was second best by a freshman in program history and even more notable in a defensive-heavy conference.

Thus, the performances and expectations cannot be higher for two players that must transition into major leadership roles. Fittingly, both will become key factors that control the field or floor. Hornibrook (6-foot-4, 213 pounds) will direct players and passes with a football, Trice (6-foot, 178 pounds) likewise using a basketball. Yet, gone are mentors Houston and Koening. In 2017, the pressure will lurk towards the sophomores.

With expectations raised, Badger fans have a right to believe drops in production are imminent. Both athletes excelled when called upon, especially with their limited experience. It is hard to imagine opponents haven’t noticed trends after an offseason of watching game footage.

Despite growing pains and forthcoming pressure, Badgers fans have little reason to lose sleep. In fact, throughout the school’s athletic history, many notable first-year players improved their second year in Madison. Take a moment to analyze a compiled list of former Wisconsin athletes shown below.

For the reader: Each player’s statistics are analyzed on their first and second eligible total seasons as players at the University of Wisconsin. Redshirt seasons and transfer statistics are not considered. The numbers shown below are a small sample size from archived totals and do not represent the entire player, rather analytical purposes.

Overall, each player showed significant improvement in these highlighted areas and others that are not listed. Although the term “slump” is difficult to define because of its flexibility and person-to-person variation, one observation is clear: the Badgers listed above displayed the opposite of any definition of slump.

Although these averages do not indicate the player improved in each of their abilities, it is important to consider these skills contributed to the overall success of the team. Furthermore, players like Sam Dekker may not have improved in certain areas but other teammates helped ease the load. Thus, drastic increases in other skills convey improvements in all-around performances.

In conclusion, whether the sophomore slump is truly a jinx or a hoax, UW athletes have proven they possess the key to overcoming this malediction. Thus, history teases Hornibrook and Trice will fare well in their second full year donning red and white.

Sleep tight, Wisconsin faithful. The future would appear to be in good hands.