Wisconsin This Year

[Tugg Speedman]

Uthoff would have graduated last year had he not transferred.

Why stop the wet dream there?

And if HE and Stone went to Madison?  How about Kevon returning for his Sophomore year to Madison, they would have been top 3!

[Dr. Blackheart]

First casualty in Madison.  Riley Dearring just got Boned.

[ChicosBailBonds]

First casualty in Madison.  Riley Dearring just got Boned.

Rumored a few weeks ago

[brandx]

Bryant McIntosh is wayyy better than Koenig, and it's not even close. Demps reminds me of DJO and Olah I'd solid in the post. Falzon is pretty good as a freshman and Scotty Lindsey is a really good perimeter defender. Good depth too with Taphorn and Skelly coming off the bench.

Northwestern is good it's time to start realizing it. This is all without Vic Law too who got injured in the preseason.

Let me put it this way

McIntosh>Koenig
Demps>>>Showalter
Lindsey<Hays
Falzon=Brown
Olah<Happ (But just barely)
NU Bench>>>>>>>>UW Bench

I guess I disagree with you. I think UW will finish ahead of NU. I've seen a couple NU games and came away unimpressed.

But I guess we'll know in a couple of months.

[keefe]

And I think there is a solid argument that the 'turning point' game was exactly that - Iowa.  Team focus and buy-in started after that bed wetting and the past weeks have built to the WI statement win.  They don't respond to that Iowa game the way the did and yesterday's win doesn't happen.

Excellent point. Let me restate that the WI game was the punctuation mark on this team finally coming of age. You are correct that the Iowa debacle was our turning point. What is important is that we could have gone either way. It seems our kids responded well to adversity which is very encouraging.

[Lennys Tap]

I don't know where UW will finish but they're not good. Best news for them is the BIG is weaker than it's been in a long time. Only MSU, Purdue and Maryland stand out, and I'm not totally sold on the last two. Of the remaining 11 teams all have at least 3 losses (except Northwestern who hasn't played anyone) and very few good wins. Rutgers is epic bad, Penn St., Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and Ohio State are awful. Northwestern will probably turn out to be Northwestern. That leaves UW (bad so far), Indiana (mediocre so far but with an easy BIG schedule), Michigan (meh) and Iowa (good). So, bad conference, no more than 6 bids, maybe only 5. MSU, Maryland, Purdue, Indiana and Iowa make it. If there's a sixth team, Michigan, NU and UW will battle for it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Excellent point. Let me restate that the WI game was the punctuation mark on this team finally coming of age. You are correct that the Iowa debacle was our turning point. What is important is that we could have gone either way. It seems our kids responded well to adversity which is very encouraging.

Definitely a nice turnaround, but I have tempered enthusiasm.  Wisconsin is not that good, LSU the same.  We are going to have our hands full coming up.

I like the direction or arc path of the team, but this Vadger scalp is not like those in years past.  The guys will really have to take it up several more notches.  They have the talent, we'll see if they can pull it off.

[keefe]

Definitely a nice turnaround, but I have tempered enthusiasm.  Wisconsin is not that good, LSU the same.  We are going to have our hands full coming up.

I like the direction or arc path of the team, but this Vadger scalp is not like those in years past.  The guys will really have to take it up several more notches.  They have the talent, we'll see if they can pull it off.

I agree that we have not gone up against real quality yet. Our team is a work in progress and I expect that to continue throughout this year. But I am pleased to see that we are moving in the right direction. If we make the Dance I will be pleased but not disappointed with not getting an invite.

[brewcity77]

Just saw that Riley Dearring is tranfering out of Wisconsin. Curious if he made that decision himself or if the staff is running him off to open up a 2016 scholarship. He's only played six minutes this year.

Sucks for the kid, redshirted a year and is now a third year sophomore. Will have to sit out wherever he goes and be eligible to play next December. Guess he at least gets a year and a half, but definitely the downside to redshirting for a kid.

The transfer reality is slowly setting in out west. Uthoff and Marshall are both now starring for different teams while Dearring is likely getting forced out. Very interesting that in his farewell statement, he thanked the University, players, and fans, but somehow forgot to thank any of the coaches.

So now 40% of their 2011 class (Uthoff, Marshall), 50% of their 2012 class (Dekker), and 20% of their 2013 class (Dearring) have left school early, with Hayes and Hill (spoke out last year about not wanting to be a benchwarmer) possible candidates to leave after this year.

Now granted, Dekker and potentially Hayes are leaving the way you want guys to leave, after huge success for better opportunities, but that's still quite the culture change for the program that prides itself on never having transfers.

[GGGG]

If Hayes goes to the NBA after this year so far, I would be surprised.  Compare and contrast his game to Henry's and you see that Hayes lacks a great deal.

[brewcity77]

If Hayes goes to the NBA after this year so far, I would be surprised.  Compare and contrast his game to Henry's and you see that Hayes lacks a great deal.

Ellenson is clearly better and more prepared. I think Hayes should have gone after last year. Probably would have snuck into the first round. He benefited a ton from Kaminski and Dekker, and he's struggling without them. But if he leaves after this year, he might have a chance to get drafted. If he sticks two years and can't replicate the impact he had on games as a sophomore, there's no chance he makes the league.

[Badgerhater]

Just saw that Riley Dearring is tranfering out of Wisconsin. Curious if he made that decision himself or if the staff is running him off to open up a 2016 scholarship. He's only played six minutes this year.

Sucks for the kid, redshirted a year and is now a third year sophomore. Will have to sit out wherever he goes and be eligible to play next December. Guess he at least gets a year and a half, but definitely the downside to redshirting for a kid.

The transfer reality is slowly setting in out west. Uthoff and Marshall are both now starring for different teams while Dearring is likely getting forced out. Very interesting that in his farewell statement, he thanked the University, players, and fans, but somehow forgot to thank any of the coaches.

So now 40% of their 2011 class (Uthoff, Marshall), 50% of their 2012 class (Dekker), and 20% of their 2013 class (Dearring) have left school early, with Hayes and Hill (spoke out last year about not wanting to be a benchwarmer) possible candidates to leave after this year.

Now granted, Dekker and potentially Hayes are leaving the way you want guys to leave, after huge success for better opportunities, but that's still quite the culture change for the program that prides itself on never having transfers.

The whole idea of redshirt and then get forced out later isn't going to sit well with too many recruits who simply don't dream of playing for Wisconsin.

[Lennys Tap]

I'm not even that big of an IU fan.  In fact, way down my list.

Somewhat true.

You didn't like Indiana much under Knight, Davis or Sampson.

But then you also didn't much like Marquette under KO or Buzz.

What you do like is Indiana and Marquette under Tom Crean. It's not the name on the front of the jersey, it's the maniac on the sidelines with the ill fitting clothes and the store bought tan who makes you swoon.

[HoopsterBC]

Just saw that Riley Dearring is tranfering out of Wisconsin. Curious if he made that decision himself or if the staff is running him off to open up a 2016 scholarship. He's only played six minutes this year.

Sucks for the kid, redshirted a year and is now a third year sophomore. Will have to sit out wherever he goes and be eligible to play next December. Guess he at least gets a year and a half, but definitely the downside to redshirting for a kid.

The transfer reality is slowly setting in out west. Uthoff and Marshall are both now starring for different teams while Dearring is likely getting forced out. Very interesting that in his farewell statement, he thanked the University, players, and fans, but somehow forgot to thank any of the coaches.

So now 40% of their 2011 class (Uthoff, Marshall), 50% of their 2012 class (Dekker), and 20% of their 2013 class (Dearring) have left school early, with Hayes and Hill (spoke out last year about not wanting to be a benchwarmer) possible candidates to leave after this year.

Now granted, Dekker and potentially Hayes are leaving the way you want guys to leave, after huge success for better opportunities, but that's still quite the culture change for the program that prides itself on never having transfers.

Why do you think they are running him off, I disagree, the kid is tired of sitting on the bench and he will never be good enough to play there.  If I loved playing ball, who wants to sit for 4 years. They also have an open scholy for next year as well.  Bo plays 8 players he is not one of them.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Ellenson is clearly better and more prepared. I think Hayes should have gone after last year. Probably would have snuck into the first round. He benefited a ton from Kaminski and Dekker, and he's struggling without them. But if he leaves after this year, he might have a chance to get drafted. If he sticks two years and can't replicate the impact he had on games as a sophomore, there's no chance he makes the league.

Have been thinking this since April.

[brewcity77]

Why do you think they are running him off, I disagree, the kid is tired of sitting on the bench and he will never be good enough to play there.  If I loved playing ball, who wants to sit for 4 years. They also have an open scholy for next year as well.  Bo plays 8 players he is not one of them.

Because in his transfer announcement he didn't thank Bo Ryan or the coaches. Usually when people leave, they at least give the courtesy "thank UW, the students, players, and coaches" type line. He covered all the other courtesies, but didn't thank them at all. His omission leads me to believe there's some animosity there. Maybe I'm misreading the situation, but it's not the first time I feel Bo's pushed someone out of the program.