MADISON – You may never hear a more deafening roar or feel more palpable joy at the Kohl Center than you did Saturday morning before Wisconsin and Illinois took the court.

Former UW assistant Howard Moore was back home, back where he belonged.

UW fans knew the Moore family was to be honored before tip-off Saturday, but most had no idea Moore would be back for his first game at the Kohl Center since March 7, 2019, when UW rolled past Iowa, 65-45, on senior night.

Moore was brought onto the court Saturday in a wheelchair by former teammate Rashard Griffith.

He donned a black UW jacket and black UW cap.

Players from both teams were on the court, standing and applauding.

"Seeing that before the game, seeing everybody’s support, makes me really proud to wear the Badgers jersey," junior guard Chucky Hepburn said. "That is why I have a Badger tattoo. This is not just a fanbase. It’s not just basketball. It’s not just sports.

"This is a brotherhood. It is a family. That is why I love wearing this jersey."

Moore eventually was surrounded at center court by several of his former teammates, including Michael Finley and Tracy Webster.

Before leaving the court, Moore was surrounded by the current UW players and coaches for a photo opportunity.

The cheers continued.

"He is an amazing man," UW's Tyler Wahl said. "It was great to see him and his former teammates…To have the Kohl Center that much love and enthusiasm for a man like that showed what a special place this is."

Remember that a little less than three months after that win over Iowa – on May 25 – Moore was involved in a horrific automobile accident in Michigan.

He lost his wife, Jennifer, and his daughter, Jaidyn. His son, Jerell, suffered only minor injuries. Moore had to be treated for severe burns and didn’t return to Wisconsin until early June.

Moore was determined to return to the bench for the 2019-20 season but on June 25 suffered a heart attack that left him disabled. He was forced to spend months in a rehab facility before eventually returning home in December 2021.

UW officials had billed Saturday as an opportunity to honor the Moore family and support the work of those involved in helping raise money to offset Moore's medical costs.

UW coach Greg Gard became visibly emotional on Thursday when asked about the accident and the 2019-20 season, which ended with the Badgers winning a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.

“It’s hard to put into words," he said. "It is hard to imagine that it has been – it will be five years coming up in May."

Wahl is the only player on the current UW roster left from that season. Gard talked to the team Thursday about Moore's impact at UW and the loss he suffered nearly five years ago.

“I started way back when he came here as a player and what he was a part of and walked him through his time here as an assistant and then with the car accident,” Gard said. “Because they are aware of it, but maybe don’t have all the details.

“Walking through that and talking about it and telling that story takes me back. It was emotional. It is surreal, not in a good way.

“It takes you back to an unspeakable tragedy that has changed people’s lives forever.”

Gard was emotional again after the loss to Illinois when asked about seeing Moore. he noted the UW staff was able to meet with Moore before tip-off.

"That was...that was hard," he said.

"Sometimes in the today in the world we forget. We move on. Because lives are moving so fast. But tragedy struck one of our own. It is great to see his former teammates. They have been non-stop with their support.

"We all want to win more games, and we will. But this is much more than a slap in the face. This is a direct punch.

"But this was a long process to put this together and we’re very fortunate that Howard was able to be here.

"And he knew where he was. He gave me a big smile when I saw him prior to the game and squeezed me so tight."

The Illinois coaches wore specialized ties to honor Moore, a native of Chicago.

"We make this (game) about life and death sometimes," Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. "It truly isn’t. In a world where it is very easy to forget, there’s a lot of things that are a lot more important.

"If that didn’t bring tears to your eyes today, seeing Howard out there, I pity you."

Moore's life was changed nearly five years ago because of a wrong-way driver who also died in the crash.

Moore's road back has been long, tedious and physically and emotionally draining.

The 2019-20 team dedicated that season to the Moore family.

Their motto: Do Moore. Be Moore. 4 Moore.

Moore's family came out to center court at halftime Saturday – his parents, Trennis and Howard Sr., his brother, Darnell, and his son.

Jerell wore a UW uniform, with his father's No. 34.

Athletic director Chris McIntosh announced the men's basketball offices have been named for Howard Moore.

"From the bottom of my heart," Jerell told the crowd, "thank you all – all of you. You have made this journey for me and my family so much easier for us to move on and to keep going forward.

"I have been so appreciate since the year 2019 to see all your support. It makes me so proud to be a Moore and to be a Badger."

The cheers shared and tears shed for Moore on Saturday at the Kohl Center won't soon be forgotten.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ex-Wisconsin basketball assistant Howard Moore returns to Kohl Center