The weakness of running a system...

[LON]

I have to agree with Lance on this, and it's kind of absurd to think otherwise.  There's always pressure on local top athletes to go to the big State U.  In a state like WI with only one big state school, there's even more pressure on them, especially if they're from outside the Milwaukee area, and especially since UW remembered they have a basketball program a little over 10 years ago. I remember reading stories about Butch saying random people would come up and tell him he should go to Wisconsin.  I know Diener got a lot of crap, but he was a different breed since he was heckled his entire HS career because of the redshirting issue.  UW didn't even want Maymon, and look at the reception he got when he played at the Kohl Center this year.

And Appleton is a bustling metropolis compared to Randolph.

Read the comments under the Diener stories a couple weeks ago in the JS online, people are still pissed at him.  

EDIT:  Made an incoherent reference, deleted

[Mayor McCheese]

I have to agree with Lance on this, and it's kind of absurd to think otherwise.  There's always pressure on local top athletes to go to the big State U.  In a state like WI with only one big state school, there's even more pressure on them, especially if they're from outside the Milwaukee area, and especially since UW remembered they have a basketball program a little over 10 years ago.  I remember reading stories about Butch saying random people would come up and tell him he should go to Wisconsin.  I know Diener got a lot of crap, but he was a different breed since he was heckled his entire HS career because of the redshirting issue.  UW didn't even want Maymon, and look at the reception he got when he played at the Kohl Center this year.

I remember going to the Kohl Center for Marquette v Wisconsin when the trio were freshman.

Wesley Matthews reception wasn't very kind, as I had 50-70 year old alums around me shouting "f-----g traitor!"  ... they also started yelling at me because I applauded when he was announced.  An old lady turned around and said "why would you applaud a player who turned his back on his state"

People believe that all good players from WI should go to Bucky.

[MUBurrow]

the best part about this whole culture of the state going gaga over Bucky is how disparate the views and lifestyles are at UW-Madison (Berkeley of the East) compared to the rest of pink state WI.  I don't bring this up to be political, but merely to point out that I think a lot of folks in the northern half of WI really would be shocked if they went to Madison and saw a drum circle on every other street corner. The folks in the post above me at the Kohl Center obviously were in Madison, so they might not be the greatest example. But I can tell you that in NEW, kids going off to Bucky, and coming back radically liberal to parents' shaking heads is a regular occurrence.
It's kind of funny that the beliefs of (most?) people in WI are more congruent with the mission and beliefs of MU than UW, yet when you go to MU, you are a traitor.

[Mayor McCheese]

the best part about this whole culture of the state going gaga over Bucky is how disparate the views and lifestyles are at UW-Madison (Berkeley of the East) compared to the rest of pink state WI.  I don't bring this up to be political, but merely to point out that I think a lot of folks in the northern half of WI really would be shocked if they went to Madison and saw a drum circle on every other street corner. The folks in the post above me at the Kohl Center obviously were in Madison, so they might not be the greatest example. But I can tell you that in NEW, kids going off to Bucky, and coming back radically liberal to parents' shaking heads is a regular occurrence.
It's kind of funny that the beliefs of (most?) people in WI are more congruent with the mission and beliefs of MU than UW, yet when you go to MU, you are a traitor.

Well... Wisconsin has been a democrat state for some time, so no, most of the peoples beliefs in WI aren't unlike those found in Madison... possibly not that radical however.

[MUBurrow]

maybe I was overstating the position a bit - the election that stuck in my mind was Bush-Gore when MKE and Dane counties essentially carried the state, even though a majority of counties went red. but the more important point is that there is a general belief in much of (especially northern WI) that Madison really is ____ sq. miles surrounded by reality.  there are TONS of guys walking around in Bucky gear while complaining about the hippies in Madison, the liberals in Madison, etc etc. yet when recruits go to MU, they are traitors.  just an observation on the dissonance that exists in a lot of the state over the pride for Bucky contrasting with the general outlook toward the rest of the school, students, culture, etc.

[GGGG]

maybe I was overstating the position a bit - the election that stuck in my mind was Bush-Gore when MKE and Dane counties essentially carried the state, even though a majority of counties went red. but the more important point is that there is a general belief in much of (especially northern WI) that Madison really is ____ sq. miles surrounded by reality.  there are TONS of guys walking around in Bucky gear while complaining about the hippies in Madison, the liberals in Madison, etc etc. yet when recruits go to MU, they are traitors.  just an observation on the dissonance that exists in a lot of the state over the pride for Bucky contrasting with the general outlook toward the rest of the school, students, culture, etc.

You clearly do not know outstate Wisconsin very well.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/president/33703659.html

Northern Wisconsin is about as much of a "swing" area as any.  Hell, it has elected Dave Obey to Congress regularly.  It is hardly Republican...nor would I really call it conservative.  Waukesha and Ozaukee Counties are by far the most "red" counties in the state.

[RawdogDX]

Good basketball is good basketball.  If UW played in the ACC or Big Tweleve this year they still would have made the dance with a decent seed.  You get a decent seed with a good basketball team..... you have a chance at the Final Four.  Bo does not have the players right now.  He may never have the players.

However, original point was about the system can only take him so far.  The system is not the issue.  If Bo and his coaches were dynamite recruiters no one would be talking about the system since they would probably would have made the Final Four by now.  Look at Georgetown... not the most interesting system to sell a recuit but they get talent.  Good enough to make the Final Four in 2007.  I don't see why UW-Madison would be any different if they could get the players.

Agree with everything but they have 0% chance of ever winning a title.  It just won't go to a team who can't kick it into high gear when some team starts running and puts up 40 in a half.  It will happen at some point and they can't handle it.   I think they are a team that runs a grind it out offence in today's nfl (like the bears).

And your point about the recruits is true.  But there are many people who question if going to wisconsin will help a player reach the NBA, those questions are in large part due to the system.  GT has produced Hilbert, that guy on the thunder and soon to have a top 10 pick in monroe.  So those questions don't exist.

[shiloh26]

Northern Wisconsin is about as much of a "swing" area as any.  Hell, it has elected Dave Obey to Congress regularly.  It is hardly Republican...nor would I really call it conservative.  Waukesha and Ozaukee Counties are by far the most "red" counties in the state.

The point is still valid...

I'm from Washington county, which is one of the most conservative counties in the nation, and I get the MU-stare everywhere I go.  "Why didn't you go to Madison?" is a question I receive quite often. 

[LON]

The point is still valid...

I'm from Washington county, which is one of the most conservative counties in the nation, and I get the MU-stare everywhere I go.  "Why didn't you go to Madison?" is a question I receive quite often.  

Combine that with telling them how you weren't wait-listed at Madison and then watch their head explode.

[GGGG]

The point is still valid...

I'm from Washington county, which is one of the most conservative counties in the nation, and I get the MU-stare everywhere I go.  "Why didn't you go to Madison?" is a question I receive quite often. 

That is far from the "Marquette hatred" that everyone says that they have experienced and is prevalent throughout the state.

[shiloh26]

That is far from the "Marquette hatred" that everyone says that they have experienced and is prevalent throughout the state.

True, but I think the person you were responding to wasn't really saying "MU hatred" so much as "bucky-blowing." 

I agree that its more MU indifference combined with UW love than it is just MU hate.  It still pisses me off to no end.

[shiloh26]

Combine that with telling them how you weren't wait-listed at Madison and then watch their head explode.

Wait, so you could have gone to UW and you didn't?!   

[Litehouse]

That is far from the "Marquette hatred" that everyone says that they have experienced and is prevalent throughout the state.

You clearly seem to have a different set of standards for anti-MU reactions.  If I tell someone I went to MU and they say "why didn't you go to Madison?", that bugs me and I find it anti-MU that people can't conceive that anyone would choose to go to MU over UW.

[JWags85]

Wait, so you could have gone to UW and you didn't?!   

A girl I graduated High School with was wait-listed and then denied from UW while being accepted at Michigan, Emory, and another great school I can't recall.  She however went through 3-4 appeals and ended up getting accepted in June.  I remember being chastised by a teacher cause I happened to question why she didnt just attend one of the other great schools and transfer to UW if she wished.  The response was along the lines of "But its Wisconsin!  An amazing university and the flagship school of our home state!"  I wish I was exaggerating or kidding...but sadly I am not.

[GGGG]

You clearly seem to have a different set of standards for anti-MU reactions.  If I tell someone I went to MU and they say "why didn't you go to Madison?", that bugs me and I find it anti-MU that people can't conceive that anyone would choose to go to MU over UW.

Yes.  I clearly am not nearly as sensitive as other are on here.