Thanks John

Thanks John.

Thank you for 3 great years leading our Badgers to win after win. Thanks for all the great moments- for stomping on OSU in the horseshoe, for taking the axe back from Minnesota and keeping it, for the passes you drilled to Brandon Williams, Jonathan Orr, Owen Daniels, Travis Beckum, and more. Thanks for the 9-0 start, followed up by an 8-1 start and then a 11-1 season (already predicting a win here). Thanks for coming off the bench your freshman year against Iowa and only going 10/17 for 123 yards and almost leading an overmatched Badger team to a New Year's Day Bowl. Thanks for never complaining. Oh sure, you had the chances to- Anthony Davis got hurt every time you sneezed in his direction. The offensive line for most of your first two years were suspect, and then this year you lose you RB, and everyone who caught a pass last year.
Thanks for being unflappable. You bounced back better than any UW qb I've ever seen. Thanks for also staying healthy. Sure you missed the last game, but after the Sorgi and Bollinger eras, being able to stand upright for 3 straight games was an improvement. You did so for 35 straight.
Thanks for being strong. You were ripped by Badger fans over and over your first two years. Even a 9-0 start wasn't enough for them. You kept your head up and kept this team winning.

Thanks for being a leader, thanks for being a teammate, thanks for being a cheerleader, thanks for being a teacher, and thanks for being the guy you could count on every Saturday. For those of us who know football and bleed Badger red we knew we could count on you almost every Saturday. We knew that in the waning moments of a huge game on a rainy night in Madison, facing Wisconsin's #1 nemesis that we could count on you to claw your way those few yards to the south end zone and beat those hated Wolverines.

Thanks John.

Tale of the tape: #1 vs #2 version

For those of you who have not heard, Tomorrow is a pretty big day in the Big 10 and in college football. This is probably the biggest regular season game since 1993's Notre Dame/FSU clash. Actually, this is probably bigger than that matchup as well since it guarantees the winner a spot in the title game and because it features two heated rivals. Personally, I think it is sad that the loser is forced to go to the Rose Bowl. This is why we need to shelve the BCS.

Anyways, as a Badger fans who hates OSU and Big Blue I really have no idea who to root for. But you can't go into a game of this magnitude without picking a side, so with that in mind I had to seek out an old friend. On my other blog when faced with a difficult choice I always seek out my old friend, ESPN contributor, and the former voice of Salem the cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Mr. Nick Bakay. Nick always helps me see the full side of the decision by helping me break things down scientifically.

Finding Nick wasn't easy. He has changed phone numbers on me and has blocked me from his e-mail account. To track him down I hit a Starbuck's in LA.

TR (approaching counter) Hello Nick

NB: (started, totally annoyed) Oh God no, not you again. What do you want?

TR: Grande Lowfat Peppermint mocha, no whip

NB: No, I mean what do you want, why are you here??

TR: For the mocha

NB: (to the other barista) Grandel lowfar peppermint, hold the whip

TR: Thanks man

NB: What is it now?

TR: Nick, we have a big game tomorrow- Bukeyes/Wolverines, #1 vs #2 in the horseshoe

NB: I head, I'm taking the over

TR: yeah, well as a Badger fan who hates both teams I have no idea which squad to root for.

NB: Hmmm, that is a good one. Well you came to the right place

TR: You can help me?

NB: No, but we have good coffee. Just kidding, I am going on break soon, here is your drink- lets break this down scientifically, ok.

TR: You are the best, Nick



NB: Ok, so let's start with Stadium:

OSU: The Horseshoe, the best college stadium not located in Pasadena, Jesse Owens used to run track here, holds just over 90k

UM: The Big House. Smells like a porta potty- probably because it is a piece of crap. Most overrated stadium in college football. Do the fans even cheer there?

ADVANTAGE: OSU


Next, team colors:

OSU: Red and Silver

UM: Maize and Blue

ADVANTAGE: OSU, maize sounds like something I am going to have on Thursday, Plus, red trumps every other color- at least for Badger fans



Dubious Quotes:

OSU: Maurice Clarett: "Your money or your life"

UM: Gary Moeller: "Take me drunk boys, I'm home"

ADVANTAGE: UM


Bands:

OSU: Sucks, but calls themselves the Best Damn Band in the Land. Script Ohio is overrated.

UM: Used to be the best band in the nation. Now they probably can't compete with the LSU band

Advantage: OSU


Dead Coaches:

OSU: Woody Hayes, slugged a Clemson player

UM: Bo Schembechler, wanted a Michigan coach to coach a Michigan team- ended up winning the 1989 Final Four because of that move. I believe, over a certain Flying Illini team

TR: Don't remind me, I still have not gotten over that.

NB: Well then...

ADVANTAGE: Michigan


Best player

OSU: Ted Ginn

UM: Mario Manningham

ADVANTAGE: Push, both can take over the game and win it on one play


City Names:

OSU: Columbus, named after Christopher Columbus

UM: Ann Arbor, named after a whore

Advantage: OSU


Annoying fan chants:

OSU: O-H
-I-O

UM: Go Blue

Advantage: Push, I hate them both


Fight songs:

OSU: Across the Field

UM: Victors

Advantage: Both are annoying, both are overplayed, and neither is On Wisconsin
therefore, Push


Scandals:

OSU: Maurice Clarett

UM: Chris Webber

ADVANTAGE: UM, at least that was basketball


Badger History:

OSU: Wisconsin has won 3 in a row in Columbus

UM: Wisconsin finally beat them last year

ADVANTAGE: OSU (remember we are pro-Badger here)


Friend of the Badgers:

OSU: Beat Mich in 1998 to send Wisconsin to Rose Bowl. Beat Mich in 2004 to give the Badgers a shot at the Rose Bowl, but Wisconsin lost to those a-holes from Iowa

UM: Beat OSU and John Cooper in 1993 to send Wisconsin to Rose Bowl

ADVANTAGE: OSU, 2 beats 1


Schedule strength:

OSU: Chickened out, wouldnt play Wisconsin this year

UM: Killed ND, and was brave enough to play the Badgers

ADVANTAGE: Michigan


And Finally, fans get scared when:

OSU: They see Maurice Clarett buying a bottle of Grey Goose

UM: They realize that they forgot the brie for their tailgate

ADVANTAGE: OSU


So there you have it, TR, see how easy it is when you break things down Scientifically.
By a 7-4-3 margin the gang will all be there for the Buckeyes in Columbus tomorrow. Enjoy the game football fans, and until next time, the numbers never lie.

O-H...

UW-GB Game Blog Second Half

2nd Half

20:00 The starting five for the Badgers are on the floor. Chappel hits a jumper. Chappel really didn't get to much PT in the first half.

18:39 Steisma blocks an alley-oop dunk and is called for the foul. The replay shows all ball and a great play.

18:01 UW-GB is within 11 (47-36). The UW offense has really stalled the last 10 minutes. The Badgers are settling for the outside shot instead of driving or feeding the post.

17:05 Taylor hits 2 of 2 FTs after driving to draw the foul. See how easy that was?

Oral Roberts is leading Kansas by 5 midway through the second half. This is one of the favorites to make the final four? Do Bucknell and Bradley ring a bell?

15:10 Tucker hits a 3. But the Badgers are doing too much standing on offense, not enough movement. 52-38

14:41 The enforcer causes a tie-up on D. Possession arrow UW. Relentness.

14:09 Bohannon gets a great transition bucket. The play started with Krabbenhoff cleaning the boards. A minute later the Enforcer hits a three. Badgers up by 17.

12:27 My boy Bohannon hits a three. There is plenty of room on the bandwagon. All aboard!

Oral Roberts is now up by 10 AT KANSAS with 6 minutes left. Vegas didn't have a line on the game, so it is safe to say that Kansas was considered a huge favorite. Bill Self can recruit, but that is only half the battle.

11:24 Landry drives the lane, makes the shot and gets fouled. But he misses the FT.

10:49 Bohannon scraps for a rebound fighting off a Phoenix (or is it Phoeni?) and converts the lay-up.

9:49 The Polar Bear (sorry Coach Lav) sets up shop on the 3 pt line and knocks it down. The Badgers have pushed the lead out to 20.

8:05 Tucker hits the shot in traffic and is fouled. HE MISSES THE FT.

6:02 This is the 5th time Tucker has faced the Phoenix. You don't see that too often.

Since this game is basically over, I have switched over to the ORU-Kansas game (only available on ESPN Full Court - order now for only two payments of $55). ORU is up by 7 with 17 seconds left. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. How does a top 3 team lose its second game of the season, at home no less. ORU pulls off the stunner, 77-71. Bill Self loses to his old team. Was KU on the cover of SI? If so, the jinx has claimed another victim.

3:33 Ok, back to the Badger game. They are up 73-59 with three and a half left.

2:12 Badgers up 77-61. For those of you wondering, the line was Badgers by 18. I say that purely for entertainment purposes only.

Badgers are 73-5 at home the last five years.

Badgers win 79-62. Tucker is the high man with 18. Taylor and Flowers with 12.

UW-GB Game Blog First Half

Welcome from my living room for Wisconsin's first televised game of the year. I have to say that ESPN Full Court is worth every penny.

Game note: Wisconsin is 12-0 vs. UW-GB

1st Half

19:40 Flowers opens up the scoring with a three. Great ball movement leads to the open look. Chappel looks improved from last year, which is great news.

18:00 Flowers knocks down another 3 and gets fouled, continuing his great perimeter shooting from the Italy trip. However, he misses the free throw, which continues the trend of poor team FT shooting this season. Bo has to be concerned about missing the FTs.

16:40 Badgers pound the offensive boards on the shorter Phoenix, playing volleyball until Tucker lays it in. Landry is the first sub of the game, sporting goggles. Krabbenhoff comes in as well.

15:46 The score is 14-4 at the first TV timeout. Shot clock has gone down, but it hasn't been a real issue so far with both teams getting into their sets quickly.

15:00 The Wisconsin D has been suffocating and has forced more than a couple turnovers.

14:30 Steisma takes the charge. The close up shot shows he is sporting a mohawk, but not quite as colorful as Zalewski's.

14:00 Landry knocks down a corner jumper. The Badgers are shooting 67% from the field.

13:20 Bohannon checks into the game for the first time. He takes a charge a minute later.

13:01 Tucker makes 1 of 2 FTs. In baseball, 50% would win the batting title, but it is not so good from the line.

11:54 Badgers up 22-4. They are clicking on all cylinders.

11:24 Joe Krabbenhoff has been nicknamed the "enforcer" by the local writers for his willingness to throw his body around the court. I could see him playing free safety for Bret Bielema. He is the type of player every teams needs to do the little things.

9:24 The offense is really flowing with players coming in and out and fitting right in. Tucker makes 2 of 2 FTs. Wisconsin has only committed 2 TOs so far (to UW-GBs 7).

9:08 Hughes checks in the for first time. He just looks like a PG.

8:14 27-11 Badgers. UW-GB tries a 1-2-2 zone to stop the Badgers' hot shooting, but Taylor puts it on the floor and hits a 10 ft jumper. Taylor hits a triple on the next possession down the floor. UW is 4-5 from behind the arc.

6:58 Tucker hits 1 of 2 FTs. 30 seconds later he gets called for a charge and Bo displays his first angry face of the season.

5:48 UW-GB has been shooting better and they are now within 15 pts.

5:22 UW-GB hits another 3. Tucker answers with a great cut and Krabbenhoff feeds him for the easy layup.

4:21 Tucker makes a fallaway jumper after spinning out of a double team. He seems to have moved his game inside after spending the first half of the Mercer game shooting 3s. I think he was trying to prove to the NBA scouts that he could hit the long-range shot.

4:00 Just as I say that, Tucker takes an ill-advised 3 and misses. Wisconsin by 16 at the under 4 timeout. Flowers has 10 pts so far.

2:49 Tucker hits 1 of 2 FTs. Anybody see a trend?

1:48 Taylor makes a beautiful pass to Butch, who blows the dunk and hangs on the rim for basket interference. Put it down Big Fella, put it down.

0:30 Wisconsin has the ball for the final shot of the half. They clear out for Taylor, who drives and kicks to Bohannon for 3. But the ball hits the back iron and the half is over. Wisconsin 45-29 at the half.

BTW, Winthrop just lost by 7 against UNC. They will visit the Kohl Center on December 4th. This is the same team that took Tennessee to the wire in the first round last year.

Cover of SI!!!

The Badger basketball team is featured on a regional cover of the Sports Illustrated college hoops preview. Let's hope this team doesn't fall victim to the famed curse.

Bohannon for 3?!

I tend to agree with Sherby that Wisconsin desperately needs an outside shooter besides "Rock" Taylor to compliment its well-fortified inside game. Brian Bohannon is emerging as this year's JB, or maybe Clayton Hanson. Every team needs a reliable marksman who can line up beyond the arc and shoot daggers into an opponent's heart.

Donovan Ready for Act II?

Given the fact that Stocco sat out last Saturday's game and shook the hands of the Iowa captains with his left paw, and the feeble opponent lined up for this Saturday, TD should start his second game of the season. Unfortunately, this will deny Stocco the opportunity to tie Bollinger for the UW record of 30 wins as a starting QB with a bowl win. Given the liklihood of facing a top team from the SEC, #7's health is too important to risk injury in a meaningless game against the Bulls.

Buffalo's starting QB is also out for Saturday's game, although a senior will take his place. The team boasts no starting lineman over 300 lbs.

Is there any talk of how the outcome of this weekend's game (Michigan-OSU) could impact UW's bowl fate? Should Michigan win big on the road and OSU drops below Bucky in the BCS standings, couldn't we be California Dreamin'?

Text Twist

Watching the Indiana/Lafayette Preseason NIT game and Dukie V is taking about the Kelvin Sampson/Bruce Webber/Eric Gordon recruiting love triangle. Apparently Sampson was asked what he would do differently if he could do it again and he said "A lot has been made about me not contacting Bruce Webber, and I might have handled that differently"

Really, Kelvin?

Anyone else think that if presented with this situation again, and knowing his background, Sampson would have chosen to text message Webber?

I'm sure it would have gone something like this:

bruce goin aftr e grdn he calld me - kewl?



Much will be made of the new rivalry. I dunno, personally I think one or both gone by 2011.

UW's Rock

While Badger hoops got off to a sound start yesterday on the back of senior point guard Kammron Taylor, the box score reveals cause for concern. Last year's poor shooting at the charity stripe reared its ugly head once more in a 12-27 performance. Minus improvement, Bucky will have a difficult time winning against good teams on the road as the season progresses. If they can top the 70% threshhold they will play well into March. Hopefully this is a point of emphasis in practice from here on out, especially for #42.