Nimreitz

I've been very encouraged by our start this season, which is apparently Bo's first 6-0 start at Wisconsin. Josh Gasser looks like the real deal as a college player; he seems to have added to his game and is a legitimate starting 2 guard in the B1G. But the story as far as I'm concerned is Ben Brust. The kid has made 19 of 39 threes through the first 6 games of the season and looks down right automatic from behind the arc. He hit 7/10 vs. BYU to tie a school record for 3's in a game that he will probably break numerous times before his career is over.

Oh, and we looked pretty bad against BYU's zone, turning the ball over far too many times.

Nimreitz

No one is going to stay away from him. I'm hearing NBA buzz, I'm hearing "Kevin Durant" buzz. At this point he looks like a program changer and Tobacco Road is NOT staying away from him. Kansas, Georgetown, Mizzou have all allegedly offered; when he starts his junior year I'm sure Duke and UNC will throw their hats in the ring as well. He was just named the City Conference Player of the Year as a Sophomore which is definitely a big deal. Schedule permitting, I'll try to see a couple of their games in the Milwaukee Area regional/sectional. I believe they have a regional 1 seed. Probably have to get past King or Vincent to get to State. Would love to see him go against Germantown for the state title.

Nimreitz

If you talk about big days for the program, I truly do not believe there has been on in the Bo Ryan era as big as today, March 17th 2012.

Let's start with the easy stuff, the team advanced to the Sweet 16 on the back of Jordan Taylor. Devin Harris was better, but Jordan Taylor has been better for the team; we have now advanced to the Sweet 16 in both of his years as the starting point guard. Devin only took us once, and he had better players around him. It's no secret that I have not been enamored with this team watching the fewest Badger games in a season since before I was a student (the last decade). But let's do one of these team breakdowns:

Jordan Taylor - The Jelly to Bo Ryan's Peanut Butter and the Swing Offense's Bread. They say Rob Jeter was great at Platteville, but I think Jordan Taylor is probably the most perfect point guard for Bo Ryan that he's ever had. Has struggled at times this year because the offense needs him so much and losing Leuer and Nankivil without any real replacements put a massive burden on his shoulders. Still, he has stepped up time and time again in the second half of this season proving his worth.

Ryan Evans - Love him, love his high top fade. It's kind of a shame for him that he's only 6'6'' and has essentially been a wing his whole life. Just to get his weaknesses out of the way, he can't shoot, although even that has gotten a lot better in post season play. The positives are numerous, we have never had a player like this. He will occasionally and sometimes often, run the offense from the high post like he's Vlade or Brad Miller. Awesome defender, clearly a hard worker (I think us and N.Arizona were the only offers he had, and we were in LATE), and creates all kinds of matchup problems with his versatility. The high post mid-range shot is coming around too, which is scary for opponents. Senior next year.

Jared Berggren - Honestly, there's not much to say about Berggren, just imagine a bulkier, more traditional post player version of Jon Leuer. Blocks, rebounds, knocks down 3s, posts up. Very good player, probably the most important aside from Jordan Taylor. Had a hell of a game earlier in the season against UNC. Shame he didn't ****ING REDSHIRT! Senior next year.

Josh Gasser - I would say he's the hardest working player on the team. This is the Vander Blue replacement, and if I'm not mistaken he was the first true freshman to start under Bo Ryan at Wisconsin. Also recorded the first triple double in school history last year. Can't create his own shot and is short for an off guard. Will be interesting to see if he plays some point next year. Amazing glue guy and can really knock down open 3s. Junior next year.

Mike Bruesewitz - Ehhhhhh, I think he left his ability in the afro. Great hustle guy, but he has been exposed this year as not really being able to do much other than hustle and rebound. On Wisconsin to be known as that guy is a pretty big accomplishment because to some extent it describes everyone. Hope he can turn it around next year, because he had what we thought was a coming out party on our run to the 2011 Sweet 16. Senior next year.

Ben Brust - Pure shooter, nothing else. Streaky, holds the Wisconsin record for most Three Pointers in a game. Nothing else though. Uninterested in defense it seems, which is a big no-no, and I've never seen any evidence that he can create his own shot. Still like him though, in an offense based on rotation a guy like this is huge. Junior next year.

Rob Wilson - Hard working kid, but just doesn't have great natural ability. Pretty good athlete and will do the dirty work. Graduating.

Frank Kaminsky - He's just a classic Wisconsin big guy. Thin, pasty white, moves mechanically, shoots 3. Reminds me of Wilkinson a little bit out of all the bigs we've had. Sophomore next year.

George Marshall - The X factor. A week hasn't gone by this basketball season without me reading some article about what George Marshall is doing in practice on his redshirt year. To say the coaches love him would seem to be a massive understatement. I've been upset that some of our guys don't take redshirts despite Bo never playing freshmen in the past, but I'm actually skeptical of this one because the point guard situation is uncertain next year. Marshall appears to be the only one on the roster, which is why even 10 minutes per game could have been important for him this year. Taylor got 13 his freshman year and was starting next to Trevon Hughes halfway through his sophomore year (and out playing him IMO, but that's another story). Anyway, he's important and I don't know much about him other than the coaches seem to love him.

Everyone else - Haven't seen enough to comment.

But the other big stuff is that Sam Dekker is coming.



And Zach Showalter led Germantown to Division 1 State Title and is walking on. I'm expecting him to be a Clayton Hanson level of walk on. This kid is GOOD. Germantown does not just win State.

Nimreitz

Could have used Sam

Prince

Why did we not call a timeout at the end? Why did we not pass it inside? This team frustrates me.

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Dornado

Germantown also went 6'10" and 6'8" at the 5 and 4, did they not?

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FSH

I got to say i was laughing pretty hard when they jacked up a 3 when they where only down by 1

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Prince

I look forward to the demise of Syracuse in this tournament.

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Nimreitz

Yeah, they were a big team, but Showalter really stood out. Really athletic kid, and a coach's son. And if he doesn't come good, not even a wasted scholarship!

apelman42

And I would've been laughing in your face had it went in.

No doubt that was a horrible 15 seconds to end the season. At the very least you need to get your best offensive plalyer back in the game. Berggren has to be on the floor in that situation.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a few years ago in our first round game against Florida State, Bo called timeout to set up a play at the end of the game. Travon drove to the bucket and made a leaning bank shot and we won. Why not set something up going to the rim, Bo?

This one really ****ing hurts. I thought we outplayed them, NOT THAT WE'RE BETTER THAN THEM, but I thought we outplayed them last night.

Nimreitz

What Bo said is that he doesn't like to leave an inbounder without any timeouts. It would be easy to envision a scenario where we called timeout to discuss the final possession, and then couldn't inbound the ball or get past half court against a Syracuse press.

I didn't know this, but apparently it's true that Bo Ryan doesn't have a board to draw up plays. We run sets and that's it. As great as Jordan Taylor is, he has never been very good at penetrating and getting in the lane; that was probably Trevon Hughes' greatest strength. Getting the ball to Trevon to make something happen at the end of a game (of Kam Taylor for that matter) is probably going to work out better than getting Jordan the ball and asking him to make something happen. Jordan Taylor makes up for some of those deficiencies by being so clutch with his shooting, but it didn't work out this time.

Anyway, I'm excited for the George Marshall era. They say he's quicker like Trevon, but a good shooter like Jordan, and a strong defender to boot. Could be some growing pains next year, but I expect 4 really great years from him. If Gasser has to run point we're ****ed.

Nimreitz

I also feel the need to plant another recruiting seed in here. Class of 2015 big man Diamond Stone from Whitefish Bay Domincan. Dominican won the D4 title this season and from what I've heard, Diamond Stone could be the best big man recruit out of Wisconsin since Butch, and the best big man out of Wisconsin ever. I would expect him to collect 3 more state titles before he's done (Dominican dominated D3 before we went to 5 divisions, so with a player like Diamond in the middle and an easier schedule, they should have no problem). He threw up a triple double in the state semifinals, 15 points, 15 rebounds, 14 blocks. Dominican's only loss this season was actually to Germantown, the D1 champ. His first cousin is Ryan Evans.

Sadly, there's this:

He also might be stupid

Finally, I found this on a marquette forum while googling:

If I was a post big man I wouldn't want to play for Buzz at all, but looks like the Marquette coach thinks Stone is legit.

Nimreitz

There are five Wisconsin players in ESPN's top 100 for the class of 2013. There is no way this has ever happened before.

Nimreitz

Should I drool now, or wait until he gets on campus?

Nimreitz

Only 3.5 years away from him playing his first college game, but Diamond Stone is the #3 player in his class nationally.