After practicing in Madison, the team and staff (below) departed for Indianapolis Thursday afternoon. Gray skies in Madison... sounds like more of the same in Indy.
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Bo Ryan enters Friday's game against Illinois with 599 career wins as a collegiate head coach.With his next win, Ryan will become the 56th member of the exclusive 600-win club. He would be one of just nine active Div. 1 coaches with 600 career wins joining pretty exclusive company.
Perhaps even more impressive... Ryan's .766 win percentage (599-183 overall record) is second to only Roy Williams' .799 among active coaches. Here are the Div. 1 active members of the 600-win club:
Coach (Current School) Yrs Won Lost Pct.
Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) . . . . . . 35 859 279 .755
Jim Boeheim (Syracuse). . . . . . 34 827 291 .740
Jim Calhoun (UConn) . . . . . . . . 38 822 356 .698
Bob Huggins (West Virginia) . . 28 663 240 .734
Gary Williams (Maryland) . . . . . 32 648 364 .640
Tom Penders (Houston) . . . . . . 36 644 437 .596
Homer Drew (Valparaiso) . . . . . 33 617 415 .598
Roy Williams (N. Carolina) . . . . 21 610 153 .799
Bo Ryan (Wisconsin). . . . . . . 26 599 183 .766
Number one Wisconsin fan Andy North was at practice Tuesday (like he always is), but this time the Badgers were honored to be in his presence. North celebrated his (insert milestone) birthday with the team, complete with a 'Happy Birthday' serenade from the players and coaches.
Loved the brownies. Happy Birthday Andy!
Loved the brownies. Happy Birthday Andy!
Do you want to know the biggest difference between last year's men's hoops team and this year's incarnation? I mean, other than not having a player wearing goggles.
The biggest difference? Finishing games.
Wisconsin has been remarkably good at closing out games in 2009-10. I mean, incredibly good.
The Badgers boast a perfect 22-0 record when leading or tied with 4:00 remaining in regulation. That includes a 12-0 mark in Big Ten play.
By comparison, Wisconsin was 17-8 last season when leading or tied at the four-minute
mark of regulation, including 9-6 in Big Ten play.
The ability to close like Mariano Rivera is what makes this year's Badgers a 23-7 team that has high hopes come postseason time.
The biggest difference? Finishing games.
Wisconsin has been remarkably good at closing out games in 2009-10. I mean, incredibly good.
The Badgers boast a perfect 22-0 record when leading or tied with 4:00 remaining in regulation. That includes a 12-0 mark in Big Ten play.
By comparison, Wisconsin was 17-8 last season when leading or tied at the four-minute
mark of regulation, including 9-6 in Big Ten play.
The ability to close like Mariano Rivera is what makes this year's Badgers a 23-7 team that has high hopes come postseason time.
The Badgers landed in Champaign, Illinois Saturday and spent the afternoon practicing at Assembly Hall. Head coach Bo Ryan put the team through an extended shooting session before running possessions and working on how the team will attack Illinois Sunday.
Scout team point guard Wquinton Smith did his best Demetri McCamey impression zig-zagging off the dribble and finding shooters. Jason Bohannon seemed to match him step for step, keeping up his torrid shooting streak.
If you think the guys just go through the motions the day before a game, you should have seen Jordan Taylor go after a loose ball during the middle of practice. He saved the ball, then launched himself off one of the courtside chairs and came crashing down next to me on one of the media tables.
Coach Ryan turned to me and said, "Check to make sure he didn't damage the table. I know he's alright."
The table and chairs were unharmed. Here is a re-creation of the scene:
The Badgers didn't have Jon Leuer in the season's first match-up with Illinois. He had 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks the last time he faced the Illini. Think he might be a difference-maker Sunday?
When the team arrived at Assembly Hall the scoreboard had been lowered to eye-level on the court and the lights were all off. Not to worry, they raised it (sort of) and turned the lights on. Only one long cord hung down low. Good thing the team's half-court shooting contests start from the sidelines.
Scout team point guard Wquinton Smith did his best Demetri McCamey impression zig-zagging off the dribble and finding shooters. Jason Bohannon seemed to match him step for step, keeping up his torrid shooting streak.If you think the guys just go through the motions the day before a game, you should have seen Jordan Taylor go after a loose ball during the middle of practice. He saved the ball, then launched himself off one of the courtside chairs and came crashing down next to me on one of the media tables.
Coach Ryan turned to me and said, "Check to make sure he didn't damage the table. I know he's alright."
The table and chairs were unharmed. Here is a re-creation of the scene:
The Badgers didn't have Jon Leuer in the season's first match-up with Illinois. He had 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks the last time he faced the Illini. Think he might be a difference-maker Sunday?
When the team arrived at Assembly Hall the scoreboard had been lowered to eye-level on the court and the lights were all off. Not to worry, they raised it (sort of) and turned the lights on. Only one long cord hung down low. Good thing the team's half-court shooting contests start from the sidelines.
Please join Patrick Herb as he chronicles all the action from tonight's game between the 17th-ranked Badgers (20-7, 10-5) and Indiana (9-17, 3-11) with the Gameday Blog.
Continue reading Archived Gameday Blog: Men's basketball at Indiana.
Please join Patrick Herb as he chronicles all the
action from today's game between the 14th-ranked Badgers (19-7, 9-5) and
Northwestern (17-9, 6-8) with the Gameday Blog, live from the Kohl
Center.
Continue reading Archived Gameday Blog: Men's basketball vs. Northwestern.
Please join Patrick Herb as he chronicles all the action from tonight's
game between the 14th-ranked Badgers (19-6, 9-4) and Minnesota (14-10,
5-7) with the Gameday Blog, live from Williams Arena.
Continue reading Archived Gameday Blog: Men's basketball at Minnesota.
Junior forward Jon Leuer has not appeared in a game or practiced since injuring his wrist vs. Purdue on Jan. 9.
Until now.
Until now.
Continue reading Leuer returns to practice.
It's often one of the first questions Coach Ryan asks of his assistant coaches at halftime or after a game, "What were our points per possession? What were they?"
What is Coach Ryan asking for and how are his Badgers doing in that stat?
What is Coach Ryan asking for and how are his Badgers doing in that stat?
Continue reading Points per possession.
