So, how good is Wisconsin?
Lon Krueger's a good coach.
To answer your question, probably as good as usual. Contend, grind out a lot of wins but never a real serious national contender.
UW is traditionally very good.
Wisconsin will be fine. Going on the road to beat a very good UNLV team who returns 5 starters from the previous season is tough thing to do.
UNLV is a very good team, and they were at home. This wasn't a blowout; this wasn't Wisconsin dropping the ball and losing focus. Disappointing for them, I'm sure, but hardly devastating. Bo Ryan only knows how to coach one way, and he'll get them to rebound and grit out similar games like this.
Typical Wisconsin....always good, never great. At this point they look better than MU...man was I disappointed in the way MU played today. Really the UW-GB was much the same, two games in a row that they didn't do anything very well. I hope they are playing down to their competition, or their next two games could be ugly.
Brings back the fond memory of UNLV beating the best team ever assembled in Madison in the second round of the tournament a few years back.
They'll go as far as Gasser can take them.
Quote from: avid1010 on November 20, 2010, 08:42:04 PM
Typical Wisconsin....always good, never great. At this point they look better than MU...man was I disappointed in the way MU played today. Really the UW-GB was much the same, two games in a row that they didn't do anything very well. I hope they are playing down to their competition, or their next two games could be ugly.
+1
Gasser started and played 37 minutes. 2/8 shooting (1/6 from three)
Becky started 4 traditional players along with a kid from my high school. Not sure that recipe works well enough to be an elite team.
You can always find players who were missed in recruiting, especially if they went JUCO. See DJO and Jimmy.
However, Wisconsin is going to find that it is tough to win with players who did not have stars next to their names in the same way MU found that out when we had those 2 NIT years where only Diener, Novak, and D Mason were really any good and D Mason underacheived.
Bo Ryan is an underrated recruiter and overrated coach.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on November 20, 2010, 08:20:59 PM
UW is traditionally very good.
"traditionally" very good? Love the word choice!
I thought I heard on the telecast that Bo took the team to the locker room during the UNLV starting lineup introduction? I didnt catch the whole story - anybody know what happened there?
Quote from: NCAARules on November 20, 2010, 09:51:28 PM
"traditionally" very good? Love the word choice!
He has been traditionally very good when he has all 4 and 5 star players out there. Funny how Wisco has dropped off since Butch and Krabbenoff, his two 5-stars, have left. Last year he had Hughes and J-Bo in his backcourt, two really talented players. Not so anymore.
Recruiting is half the battle so he is definitely one of the better guys to lead a program. But don't be surprised that he is losing to mid-majors when he doesn't have the same talent.
Mu is almost exactly where they were last year in the computer (www.kenpom.com) - 5th in the big east, 32nd in the country. Duke is number 1, then it goes: 4 pitt 5 syracuse 12 west va 15 villanova 32 marquette
Quote from: marquette99 on November 20, 2010, 10:03:36 PM
Mu is almost exactly where they were last year in the computer (www.kenpom.com) - 5th in the big east, 32nd in the country. Duke is number 1, then it goes: 4 pitt 5 syracuse 12 west va 15 villanova 32 marquette
Interesting as from memory/observation I was more confident in their progress last year at this time...hope I'm reading them wrong thus far. They certainly have the talent to play at a level equal to or better than last year. Also felt college bball as a whole was less talented last year.
Quote from: Jay Bee on November 20, 2010, 09:30:05 PM
Gasser started and played 37 minutes. 2/8 shooting (1/6 from three)
Becky started 4 traditional players along with a kid from my high school. Not sure that recipe works well enough to be an elite team.
They were trailing by 1 point at UNLV with 9 seconds left and the ball. They shot below 40%, Taylor was sick, and they still almost won.
They will be a load again for MU this year.
Quote from: HoopsMalone on November 20, 2010, 09:55:06 PM
He has been traditionally very good when he has all 4 and 5 star players out there. Funny how Wisco has dropped off since Butch and Krabbenoff, his two 5-stars, have left. Last year he had Hughes and J-Bo in his backcourt, two really talented players. Not so anymore.
Recruiting is half the battle so he is definitely one of the better guys to lead a program. But don't be surprised that he is losing to mid-majors when he doesn't have the same talent.
Again, tell me how they've "dropped off"?
Bo Ryan is a good coach. I loved to watch his UW Milwaukee teams play. I'm just not a big fan of him wisconsin teams with three quarters of the roster 6'9" or better slowly grinding it out. That's why bucky's best chance at going anywhere in the tourney was during the Devin Harris years. Loved to see them lose today and hopefully the Golden Eagles can put a hurting on them this year!
UNLV channeled the spirit of Kaspars Kambala for this win.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on November 20, 2010, 10:45:21 PM
Again, tell me how they've "dropped off"?
I think they have dropped off in recruiting and standing in their own conference from my point of view. In fairness to them, the B10 might be the best this year.
You are right. They do lose to mid-majors consistently. However, they do have a good record (winning) against MU so I am not totally hating. They are still a good program.
I guess just put me down as saying that Wisco will not do as well without 4 and 5 stars in their lineup. It's hard to say in November if they have "dropped off" but I don't subjectively see talent in their lineup. Who knows.
I am not as impressed with Bo and their program as others are on this board. The won't always get to play Bucknell in the NCAA's. They won't always have two 5-stars (Butch and Krabbenoff(sp?)) starting for them. Let's see what the swing does without the talent they have had in the past.
I'm just happy Wisconsin lost. I don't care about UNLV, or how good they are, or Lon Krueger. Wisconsin lost. They weren't even playing a top 25 team, and they lost. It makes me happy when Wisconsin loses.
Regardless of feelings for UW, it is in the best interest of MU that every team we play has a high ranking.
Quote from: marquette99 on November 20, 2010, 10:03:36 PM
Mu is almost exactly where they were last year in the computer (www.kenpom.com) - 5th in the big east, 32nd in the country. Duke is number 1, then it goes: 4 pitt 5 syracuse 12 west va 15 villanova 32 marquette
Kenpom predicted that UNLV would beat Wisconsin in this game. This isn't an upset.
it was a tough one to listen to on the radio-
bucky announcers whined about each and every call that went against them.
guess that they just couldn't believe UW could actually foul.
or more likely, be called for a foul.
annoying couple of guys.
I caught a couple minutes on the radio and thought the same thing. Several times saying the refs were screwing the Badgers. Well I don't know how much intelligent basketball commentary you can expect from a retired pro golfer.
UNLV was in the big dance last season and is a strong home team.
Bucky was a 3 point dog.
Quote from: MUEng92 on November 21, 2010, 08:48:14 AM
I caught a couple minutes on the radio and thought the same thing. Several times saying the refs were screwing the Badgers. Well I don't know how much intelligent basketball commentary you can expect from a retired pro golfer.
I'm pretty sure those were their back-up announcers since Lepay and Lucas were in Michigan.
And honestly, why would you listen to them on the radio?
You people still have radios?
UNLV also has a history of upsetting someone big in November.
They beat Louisville in 2008-2009 which was a team that went 31-6 and beat a then ranked #8 Marquette. That Louisville team went on to be an Elite 8 team and lost to MSU.
So Wisco lost to a decent team early in the season on the road. They also haven't gotten 4 or 5 stars for the last couple of years and they are still contending for the Big Ten title. Their style of play negates a lot of athleticism on the other team because they slow it down until they get the best shot. If you keep the score low then it is hard for the atheletic team to get a huge lead. The reverse is also true which is if you are down by a margin since you slowed it down it is hard for you to get back into it.
Do I think Wisco is Elite 8 team...probably not but I see them in the top 4 of the Big Ten. I also think they have a legitimate shot at beating MU. MU needs to figure out how to stop Leuer(sp?). A big man who can handle to ball, shoot, or play with his back to the basket. Who does MU use to guard him? I think Gardner would have a hard time keeping up with him on the perimeter. Otule is quicker but I think isn't a great defender. Williams might be the best guy but he is a yr away from truly getting it.
Jeronne Maymon is who actually did a pretty good job on Leuer last year.
I think you are probably going to have to go with JFB. Unlike the last couple years, we match up well height wise with them. We can bring in an Otule or a Gardner where we didn't have that luxury last year.
Quote from: DaCoach on November 21, 2010, 03:09:16 AM
Regardless of feelings for UW, it is in the best interest of MU that every team we play has a high ranking.
come on dude, u R whining big time bro
Quote from: MUWarrior4Life on November 21, 2010, 09:42:00 PM
come on dude, u R whining big time bro
Even though I knew it would be better for MU if Madison had won, as I was watching the game I could not root for Madison and was happy they lost. Just the way my gut feels.... Maybe it is cause of the things that I witnessed said to our players and coaches during a game at Madison way back when. Or maybe I was just born with that feeling in my gut?
Quote from: chren21 on November 21, 2010, 10:05:52 PM
Even though I knew it would be better for MU if Madison had won, as I was watching the game I could not root for Madison and was happy they lost. Just the way my gut feels.... Maybe it is cause of the things that I witnessed said to our players and coaches during a game at Madison way back when. Or maybe I was just born with that feeling in my gut?
I just can't cheer for Becky. Not in basketball, not in football, not in hockey, not in curling, not in any sport. I just don't like her. Yes, if UW goes 28-1 with that one loss coming at the BC, it looks great on the resume, but I'd much rather watch them lose repeatedly. That's the feelings you inspire when you're the bad guy, and Becky is definitely the bad guy.
Quote from: brewcity77 on November 22, 2010, 09:16:41 AM
I just can't cheer for Becky. Not in basketball, not in football, not in hockey, not in curling, not in any sport. I just don't like her. Yes, if UW goes 28-1 with that one loss coming at the BC, it looks great on the resume, but I'd much rather watch them lose repeatedly. That's the feelings you inspire when you're the bad guy, and Becky is definitely the bad guy.
Agree with both of you.
Never even crosses my mind to root for UW. Just doesnt feel "right".