As the game clock expired and the score showed 74-67, with the University of Chicago on top, the Eau Claire men’s basketball 2000-01 season came to a halt. The Blugolds had won the WIAC tournament and advanced into the NCAA Div. III Tournament on a 19-10 record.

During the holiday break, however, coach Terry Gibbons already was looking ahead. His senior guard that year was Matt Fermanich, and Gibbons was looking for someone to take his place.

“The Appleton East High School coach, John Mielke, told me about a senior at Oshkosh West,” Gibbons said. “I went to watch him play and fell in love immediately.”

Gibbons is referencing sophomore guard Dan Archambault, who was finishing up his last year in high school at the time.

“He was the perfect match for us,” Gibbons said. “He was the kid we envisioned to replace (Fermanich).”

Before he came to Eau Claire, Archambault helped lead Oshkosh West to the Div. I state tournament in Madison. His team took second place after losing to Milwaukee Vincent.

Archambault said that he had a great time playing in high school, but looked forward to his career in college.

“I wanted to go to school and play ball at the same time,” Archambault said. “Eau Claire had exactly that.”

During a practice before the season began, Gibbons said that Archambault came in and earned his spot with his hard work ethic in practice. Due to his efforts, he was given the opportunity to start.

As a freshman starter, he saw a large amount of playing time. He started and played in 24 of 25 games and had the most minutes (763) of any player on the roster.

“I didn’t feel much pressure starting,” Archambault said. “It was part of the reason I came to Eau Claire. I looked at it as a challenge.”

It was a challenge he lived up to, as he averaged 10.5 points a game and held a .438 shooting percentage; both of which were better than Fermanich’s senior year. Fermanich averaged 9.9 points a game and held a .388 shooting percentage. Archambault’s statistics are from 24 games, while Fermanich played in 28 that season.

Archambault also dished out 87 assists that season, the highest on the team. For it, he became the team’s Assist Award winner. He also won the Free Throw and 3-Point Percentage Award and was the Co-Most Outstanding First-Year Player winner.

“(Archambault) is a good perimeter player,” Gibbons said. “He’s like the quarterback of our team. He gets our offense going.”

The 2001-02 season, however, didn’t bring to the Blugolds the same success they experienced since Gibbons’ start in 1995. They finished the season 11-14 overall and 3-13 in the conference.

Archambault said that he still remained confident after his first season, despite the ‘Golds finish.

“College-level basketball is a new level of competition,” he said. “Last year, we were all young and new; but it was a great learning experience and it is helping us out this year.”

This season, Archambault is averaging 13.9 points a game and is shooting 42 percent. He also has 37 steals with five games remaining. Last year, he had 22 at the season’s end.

“Archambault is more of a consistent player this year,” Gibbons said. “He has stepped into the leadership role and will benefit this team even more down the road.”

Archambault said that basketball came into his life as far back as he can remember. His dad played in high school and also helped him develop a love for it.

“I played on one of those small hoops inside my room when I was younger,” he said. “My dad originally taught me and I loved it ever since.”

For the future, Archambault isn’t sure what he’ll be doing in terms of basketball.

“I’m not sure where (basketball) will take me,” he said. “I know that I’ll always love it, though.”

For now, Archambault has other things to focus on, like the remainder of this season. Eau Claire is 12-8 overall and in seventh place in the WIAC. With five conference games remaining, the ‘Golds have an opportunity to move up in the standings.

Gibbons said that if they are to be successful in the final stretch, they’ll need Archambault to step up.

“(Dan) is one of our strongest links,” he said. “He is one of those players that is going to make some noise down the stretch.”