It's a little early to declare them done as a program but the inevitable decline has finally started. Wisconsin now has 3 home losses with a few more likely coming. It was always a surprise if they lost any game at home. They've even gotten another one of those "Where did this come from?" type players in that Jared Berggren went from bench warmer to solid contributor but it doesn't seem to be enough. Jordan Taylor is still great but the rest of the team is devoid of talent. Bo Ryan's recruiting the past 4 years has been very reminiscent of Gene Keady's recruiting towards the end. Wisconsin used to be able to pull one or two top 50 players every year. The only one they have now is Jared Berggren who looked like a bust until this year. Taylor developed into a great player but when I see the rest of the team I see a bunch of role players that are asked to do too much. The slow, grind it out, let's be the first to 50 points and we win style can only overcome this so much.

This is especially bad for Wisconsin given that the days of poor recruiting in the Big Ten is over. About half the league is stocked with talent and continues to recruit a lot of talent. Unlike football, the Big Ten in basketball is recruiting better than anyone. They do have one highly regarded recruit in the pipeline but compared to the other schools in the conference that probably won't be enough to be anything more than average.

I still think Bo Ryan is a good coach but this is what happens to all of them eventually. It will be interesting to see how much of a cushion Bo Ryan has at Wisconsin. He'll get a few more years at least but will Wisconsin be willing to accept a decline in the program?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I have had this conversation with a buddy of mine who is a big time Wisc fan. He says I am crazy and Ryan is a good enough coach to coach up the players they are able to get and continue to compete at a high level in the Big 10. I do not see it. As you stated, other teams in the league are recruiting circles around them right now and it does not look to be getting better any time soon.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

That is exactly what they said about Keady post-2000. Part of it is that it's overhyped at how they "coached up" players. In hindsight, you always can see a lot talent. Keady's best teams still had players like Robinson and Brad Miller and Brian Cardinal. I think Keady was a good coach but he's a miracle worker if he made those guys into long time NBA players.

It wouldn't shock me if they go 9-9 in the Big Ten.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I think throwing them out to pasture already is a little early. I don't think they are that good this year and have been having that arguement with a lot of the cheeseheads around here. But, to say the whole program is about to tank maybe putting the cart before the horse. Time will tell and no Brick, I am not going to argue with you. I could see them being .500 in the Big Ten, and Jordan Taylor has been a big disappoint this year.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

I agree with all analysis above. They had to swallow a bitter pill last night when they thought they
had pulled off a miracle victory only to have the refs go to the review. The shot clock was at 0.0
but the game clock was 0.2. How are they not synched up correctly? The Big Ten schedule is
going to chew this team up and spit them out I am afraid. I hope I am wrong.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

3 bad games and this program is done? GMAFB.

Do you guys even read what is wrote here?

Even Brick said it was too early to declare them dead. No one here said they were dead. But to ignore the decline that is starting to take place is silly.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I try not to read everything he writes, my doctor told me it was not good for my health.

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2018
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10 More Wins

This has been coming for a few years. The three games are evidence but you could see this coming even last year.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Michigan 59 Wisc 41

Now 1-3 in the Big 10

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

A good friend of mine follows the Badger with vigor as he was almost the head coach! If you look at the roster, they have 6 freshman,6'8", 6'10" and 6'11". I am not telling you these guys will be great, but they become good big men in the Big 10 under Ryan and he has a pipeline to the state! Dekker, 6'8" shooter coming in, is an example.

All programs will have a downturn, but Badger Hoop has a great pipeline for the players they want and how they want to play basketball.

They notch up the physical play for the whole league.

Hate the way they play, but respect any coach that creates a program that wins with the style they created.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Quality win against Purdue last night.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Agreed. They couldn't miss for the first 10 minutes.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The best big men under Ryan have been Nankavil, Leuer, Krabbenhoft, Stiemsma, and Brian Butch. Every single one of them was rated at least a 4 star by Rivals, and 2 of them were 5 stars. None of the guys you mention are at that level.

That doesn't mean he can't turn them into good players but he's at a much bigger disadvantage than he was with them.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

They really needed it, especially after that special performance against Iowa.

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2018
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I pin that loss on Ryan - he let the team shoot up a million three's even though they couldnt hit one to save their life. When they started to drive and dish, they started to chip into the lead but the mighty Hawkeyes still won.

The word mighty and Hawkeyes basketball should never be used in the same sentence.

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2018
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That's how Wisconsin won yesterday though. They were on fire from behind the line especially in the first ten minutes.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Just wait!

Hawkeye basketball is one mighty big pile of shit.

They beat Wisconsin

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2018
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10 More Wins

First road win over a ranked team in 10 tries. This program is going places!!

Sshhh, Bucky. Let's let Brick enjoy his post.

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2018
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Reports of their demise seem to have been greatly exaggerated.

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To be perfectly honest, I am not the biggest fan of this team and don't think they are that good. They do 2 things, play defense and extremely hard, which is a classic Bo team. They will make the NCAA's and will probably get beat in the 2nd round after winning a tight first game.

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2018
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10 More Wins

Actually agree with most of it. Lot of silly plays. And Ryan Evans drives me nuts sometimes. But you can't knock the effort.

Not really. I never said this year would go badly. I've been able to catch a few of the recent wins and I'm more confident than ever. They are lacking in talent outside of Taylor with no one in the pipeline to step up. It looks like they'll do better than 9-9 in the Big Ten though.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Bo Ryan's teams are as grindy as they get. They could be a Sweet 16 team if Taylor gets hot.
These Big 10 teams are just beating the crap out of each other this season. Not gonna be much
left after the conference championship moving into the NCAA's.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami