Wisconsin's recruiting secret
Posted: Friday March 28, 2008 06:45AM ET
Wisconsin has amassed a 31-4 record with 11 players from the state of Wisconsin, not particularly known as a hotbed of basketball talent. Three more Wisconsin players are from neighboring Minnesota and Iowa, and one each hails from South Dakota and New York. That New Yorker, Trevon Hughes, who calls Queens home, attended high school at a military academy less than an hour's drive from Madison. That Wisconsin's team is more homegrown than its cheese is no accident. And neither is the fact that the Badgers have won 30 games two consecutive seasons and have captured either the Big Ten's regular-season or tournament championship in four of Coach Bo Ryan's seven years at the helm, including winning both conference titles this season.
Bo Ryan, AP
Comments (17)
Wisconsin has a basketball team?
LSH99 | 03/28/08, 07:50 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe H.S. B-Ball in the Midwest just kicks butt!!!
RobG | 03/28/08, 08:19 AM
Report Offensive CommentYeah, Wisconsin has a basketball team. It's kind of like hockey, except in basketball there's no ice, you can't hit each other, and it sucks.
The Dave | 03/28/08, 10:01 AM
Report Offensive Commentnothing but hatters, we must have beat your team for the last 5 years.
downisthenewup | 03/28/08, 11:27 AM
Report Offensive CommentBo recruits players that fit his system. Simple as that.
1Hawkeye1 wants Vida | 03/28/08, 01:46 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe Dave and LSH99 you guys get Gold Stars for ignorance.
DriveC | 03/28/08, 01:46 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe country better get used to the fact that the Badgers have arrived . Bo Ryan will take 3-star recruits , and turn them into 4's and take 4 star recruits and turn them into 5's all day long . They have been the most consistant team in the Big Ten since his arrival and they get better every year . They may not have the "flash" of some other teams , but when your solidly in the top 10 in the national rankings year in and year out , who needs flash...It's only a matter of time before Bo brings a National Title at the highest level back to Wisconsin.....On Wisconsin!!!
pkbadger1 | 03/28/08, 02:21 PM
Report Offensive CommentI agree On Wisconsin On Wisconsin but what are you on, Wisconsin?
Drugs or just some very strong cheese?
Tiger Fan in NY | 03/28/08, 03:22 PM
Report Offensive CommentNew Yorkers go to Wisconsin? It's a long way from the Q-Borough to Madison.
J. HOVA: ALL FOR THE LOVE | 03/28/08, 04:36 PM
Report Offensive CommentWashington State University has better cheese than Wisconsin. COUGAR GOLD YUM YUM!
zY | 03/28/08, 04:59 PM
Report Offensive CommentYou know, there is an ethic of cooperation here in Wisconsin, the submission of self over the interests of working together. There is "The Wisconsin Idea," where the borders of the University (UW) are the borders of the state, there is the self-deprecating humor of Ole and Lena jokes that would not be understood in other places, and there are Wisconsin cooperatives, rural institutiions that grew up a long time ago to help ordinary famers band together to help themselves. It's a nice place to live. Bo Ryan's teams fit this state perfectly, I'm happy to say. That's why UW basketball is so interesting. Bo Ryan apparently gives a hoot about the latest phenom or what the "experts" think. He'll take an occasional McDonald's All-American, but what seems to interest him most is intelligence, willingness to learn, and the ability to work together. He recently said that with players like that he'll "sleep well at night." I got most of my education at the University of North Carolina and watched Michael Jordan develop and I'm here to tell you that I have never seen defense played so well that it is as interesting as a Carolina fast break. So Bo knows. He labored in obscurity for years at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he produced four national champions at that level. All selfless players. I love it when these guys get together. That man is a real teacher.
Paul Benjamin
Pahadi1 | 03/28/08, 06:03 PM
Report Offensive CommentJ Hova, if you can get them to come, NY kids will do the job. Al McGuire brought in a whole bunch of them when he coached Marquette to a national championship. And you still see most of those guys in Wisconsin from time to time. (Granted, rarely during winter months but you get my point ... )
Cheesy Texan | 03/28/08, 07:41 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe Midwest HS b-ball is amazing. That's why Indiana gets 4 teams in the tourney, Wisconsin gets to the Sweet 16, and Ohio always has good mid-majors.
IrishR#1 | 03/29/08, 12:08 AM
Report Offensive CommentWow, that game against Davidson was real impressive. How do you let a mid major team blow you out?
MichaelD8577 | 03/29/08, 06:23 AM
Report Offensive CommentDidn't help them last night. If I was a Badger fan, I'd want Ryan's head on a platter right about now. Why didn't they press the whole game?
George W. Watson | 03/29/08, 11:26 AM
Report Offensive CommentThis is where Tubby comes in and steals the recruits. Will see what happens here.
KCMAC929 | 03/29/08, 01:59 PM
Report Offensive CommentToo bad all your teams were home watching the Badgers. No need to be jealous of a quality program.
Lutesy | 03/30/08, 01:38 PM
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