On Wednesday, Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin Badgers defeated #6 ranked Duke to help the Big 10 finally win the Big Ten / ACC challenge. This moved Wisconsin to 5-1 with wins over Arizona, Maryland & Duke and they will likely be ranked in the top 25 when the new polls are released.
Bo Ryan calls out his doubters.
Credit: Mark Hoffman
Early in the year, projections were not very kind to Wisconsin. Most had them finishing anywhere from 7th to 9th in an improved Big Ten conference. At the time, I found these projections to be silly. Wisconsin was 20-13 last year and finished 4th in the Big Ten. They had loss starters Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft, but neither guy seemed irreplaceable. So, why bet against Bo Ryan and pick the Badgers to finish so low this season?
Since Bo Ryan became the coach of Wisconsin (2001-2002), they have never finished worse than 4th in the Big Ten. They have won three Big Ten Conference Titles and racked up two 30 wins seasons. They have won over 20 games in six of the seasons, and never finished with any lower than 19 wins.
The graduations of Landry and Krabbenhoft represent the loss of two quality players, but Bo Ryan has lost better players in the past with Devin Harris, Kammron Taylor, Alando Tucker & Brian Butch and continued to churn out 20 win seasons.
I imagine Wisconsin will once again finish towards the top of the Big Ten Conference and make it to the Sweet 16. I wonder if those who write projections for the 2011 Season will remember not to bet against Bo Ryan.
