A story about Wisconsin redshirt freshman Jarrod Uthoff leaving the Wisconsin basketball program has today turned into a big national story because of the restrictions that coach Bo Ryan put on the list of schools Uthoff can transfer to.

During an interview with ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning, Ryan was painted as a sort of villain because the restricted list included not only the Big Ten, but the entire ACC as well, plus Marquette and Iowa State. The rationale behind that, according to Ryan, is that Wisconsin could possibly play any team in the ACC over the next few years because of the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

That sounds a little excessive. Like Bucky's 5th Quarter says, Wisconsin wouldn't look too silly if Uthoff scored a bunch of points against the Badgers in a non-conference game. It's not as though it was Ryan who kicked Uthoff out of Madison.

While talking with Mike and Mike, Ryan said that he made the list based on advice he got from fellow coaches regarding how to deal with a transferring athlete. The Wisconsin coach made it seem as though extensive lists like this are made every time an athlete wants to change schools. He also made it clear that if Uthoff really wanted to go to one of the schools on the list, he could appeal with school administration and he might get his way if he gives a good reason for leaving. According to Ryan, Uthoff didn't really give him one initially.

If an appeal can be made, then why make the list in the first place? Ryan didn't really give a clear answer, but I got the feeling that he did it because that's what other coaches had done. Now Ryan looks like a bad guy just for following protocol.

Continue reading this post »

If someone had told you that Wisconsin would shoot 8 of 28 from beyond the arc, get almost no offensive contributions from Josh Gasser and Mike Bruesewitz, and that North Carolina would attempt 24 free throws, what would you think?

Well, it wouldn't sound good. But Wisconsin remained resilient and simply did not give up. This was a game that I fully expected the Badgers to lose practically the moment it was announced. And ultimately, Wisconsin lost...but not before making UNC sweat it out in the final minute.

Wisconsin controlled the tempo throughout the game, keeping it a low-scoring affair on the road against a team that was stacked from top to bottom. UNC dictated the physicality, and as a result, they went to the charity stripe. A lot. Wisconsin shot just 6 free throws; UNC went to the line for 24 attempts (making 19). Jordan Taylor was the only Wisconsin player to attempt a free throw (and he missed 3 FT attempts from the stripe, which proved rather devastating down the stretch). UNC went in the bonus with 9 minutes remaining in the 2nd, and Wisconsin put them in the double bonus trying to foul to get the ball back.

And in the end, Wisconsin was down 6 with four seconds to go. Ben Brust let loose a three from half-court at the final buzzer...and banked it in. Wisconsin, at 6-1, returns to Madison to take on rival Marquette.

Continue reading this post »

This past season, the Wisconsin Badgers used the consistent production of Keaton Nankivil and Jon Leuer to make a run to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, neither Nankivil nor Leuer have any years of eligibility remaining. With their absence at Center and Forward, respectively, Wisconsin could face trouble on the inside.

The main contributor for Wisconsin making another NCAA appearance will have to be senior Point Guard Jordan Taylor. There may have been no player as important to his team's success than Taylor last year. Taylor ripped apart the Indiana Hoosiers in Assembly Hall for 39 points (on 11 of 19 shooting, with 7 of 8 shooting from outside). He dropped 27 points and 7 assists against Ohio State in Madison, keying an eventual knock-out of the undefeated Buckeyes. Taylor blasted Michigan State for 30 points with 8 assists in Madison as Wisconsin roasted the Spartans 82-56.

On the flip side; Taylor went sour at exactly the wrong time for Wisconsin. He missed 7 of his 9 shots against Ohio State in Columbus, missed SIX of his seven three-point attempts against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament, and then had his worst game of the year against the Butler Bulldogs, turning the ball over 4 times, missing 13 of his 19 shots, with SEVEN of his ten three-point attempts coming up empty.

If Wisconsin is to do well this season, they need Taylor to avoid having such catastrophic lows. The last time I recall a Wisconsin PG playing as badly as Taylor did against Butler? Trevon Hughes' nightmare game against Cornell: for perspective, Hughes turned the ball over 6 times while committing 5 personal fouls and missing a hundred thousand shot attempts*.

* = okay, that's not fair to Trevon, he was 3 of 8 shooting and 2 of 5 from beyond the arc.

If Taylor cuts down on the poor performances, there is no reason he can't vie with Jared Sullinger for Big Ten Player of the Year honors.

Continue reading this post »

When we last left the Wisconsin Badgers schedule, they were coming off of contests against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Both of these are winnable games, but Iowa has made significant strides under coach Fran McCaffery. With the steady presence of Melsahn Basabe at forward, Iowa could threaten an upset.

Up next is a home game against the Michigan St. Spartans, which will definitely be on national television (5:00 PM EST on ESPN2). Since Bo Ryan took over as the head coach, Wisconsin has never lost to Michigan State in the Kohl Center. After a home tilt with MSU, the Badgers will then hit the road for contests against the Michigan Wolverines and Purdue Boilermakers. Neither Michigan nor Purdue will travel to Madison this year.

Last year's Wisconsin team got a miraculous win in Ann Arbor, as G Josh Gasser hit a bank-shot three for the win as time expired. If you know a lot about Wisconsin basketball, you know that they almost never win in Mackey, and, yes, that is where Wisconsin heads after taking on the Wolverines. If the Badgers can salvage a 1-1 road trip (I do not expect a Wisconsin win in Mackey at all), they'll be in good position for a two-game home stand. The first game will seal their season series with Nebraska (who they opened Big Ten play against) and the second game will be Wisconsin's only face-off with Northwestern.

Continue reading this post »

After a season that saw the Badgers ride a senior-laden squad into the Sweet Sixteen before a disastrous loss at the hands of Brad Stevens Clark Kent, the Badgers have a lot to replace. Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil, two players who gave their every effort as the Badgers managed their run through the NCAA Tournament, are gone; Leuer was a second round pick Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Draft. In addition, little-used big man J.P. Gavinski and guards Brett Valentyn and Wquinton Smith are also out of eligibility.

However, the Badgers return one of the best Point Guards in the nation, Jordan Taylor. However, Taylor, like any other player, had some rough spots, never more evident against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament (where he arguably had the worst game of his career) and Butler in the Sweet Sixteen (where he had possibly the second worst game of his career). But when Taylor got rolling, he was almost impossible to stop. He bombed Indiana for 38 points in Assembly Hall and then shot the lights out against Ohio State as the Badgers handed the Buckeyes their first loss of the year.

Taylor will definitely need a supporting cast to get going, and he has a pretty young group of teammates with which to work. Mike Bruesewitz returns at forward, Josh Gasser (he of the game-winning bankshot against Michigan and the first triple-double in school history) returns at the other guard spot and Jared Berggren will return at center.

Continue reading this post »

Wisconsin doesn't usually sign the McDonald's All-American types. Bo Ryan and his staff tend to consistently recruit three-star athletes, occasionally landing a four-star kid, rarely raising eyebrows on the national recruiting scene.   

That said, the results have spoken for themselves. Under Ryan, the Badgers have been the model of consistency, winning three Big Ten titles, never finishing with less than 19 regular season wins or lower than fourth in the conference. 

The classes of 2011 and 2012 are no exception to the rule. Neither class appears anywhere near the top of the rankings at Rivals, ESPN or Scout, but expect UW to continue to contend for Big Ten championships.

The biggest get in either group is Sam Dekker, a 6-foot 7-inch swing from Sheboygan. He's a top 50 player in his class according to ESPN and a top 100 according to Rivals. 

"The Dekker family was told at some point that Sam was the type of player Bo Ryan had waited 30 years to coach," Phil Mitten of Bucky's 5th Quarter said. "He's the total package. Dekker has great size at 6-7 for someone who can lead the break, finish at the tin and drain threes."

Mitten said he wouldn't be surprised to see Dekker start immediately. 

The prize of the coming winter's freshmen is Jarrod Uthoff, a power forward from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Uthoff is another player ESPN is high on, ranking him no. 88 in his class. Rivals has him at no. 149. 

Mitten projects him as a player similar to Robbie Hummel. 

"Skill-wise, the slender Uthoff is ready. He brings some things to the table, i.e. court vision (and) passing, that Wisconsin could really use right away," he said. "However, his strength and weight will be the determining factor since the Badgers need help up front."

Continue reading this post »

Welcome to Wisconsin Week! Here are a few things the Internet is buzzing about when it comes to Badgers basketball.

Head coach Bo Ryan isn't thinking about retirement just yet.

Continue reading this post »

2010-11 saw the Wisconsin Badgers enter the season unranked. Bo Ryan's team ended in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. And to people who couldn't get past Wisconsin losing Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes to graduation, it was another reminder that Bo Ryan, regardless of players or personnel, will find ways to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers lose a lot this after this season. Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil both are out of eligibility, as are little-known big man J.P. Gavinski, 3-point specialist Brett Valentyn, and point guard Wquinton Smith. Tim Jarmusz also exhausted his eligibility.

After the jump: The Badgers by the numbers, via statsheet.com.

Continue reading this post »