Bo Gets His Due

I don't often agree with SI's Rick Reilly, but I always find his columns interesting. This week's entry (you'll need SI subscriber status to access) was particularly compelling, as he asked readers to answer three questions:

1. Who had the highest winning percentage among college basketball coaches in the 1990's?

2. What BT coach has the highest winning percentage in the league (min. 5 years)?

3. Standing next to UNC's Roy Williams, this coach has the highest winning percentage among those with 500+ wins.

The answer to all three questions is of course Bo Ryan. I need not rank UW coaches across history because most have been pretty mediocre and only Dick Bennett in recent history deserves mention in the same breath as Coach Ryan. Instead, I'll take a stab at the best active coaches in the business. I invite additions, squabbles with my rankings, and of course subtractions.

1. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke: Nobody runs a classier, more consistent program than Coach K. His kids play the right way, succeed in school, and in life.

2. Bo Ryan, Wisconsin: While I admit Bo has yet to take the Badgers beyond the Elite Eight, his 4 national championships at Platteville, rebuilding job at UWM, and consistency at UW stand out. His swing offense is the stuff of legend, and his players exude a poise reflective of their coach regardless of who or where they play.

3. Tom Izzo, MSU: Even though Sparty is down a bit this year, Coach Izzo's teams out-tough their opponents, run a myriad of offensive sets to perfection, and are always a dangerous team come tournament time. His 2000 national championship is his crowning achievement.

4. Ben Howland, UCLA: Turned Pitt and UCLA into perenial title threats, belongs in this lofty group because he can both drill x's and o's and recruit.

5. Bobby Knight, Texas Tech: The winningest coach in NCAA history, his place was cemented when he left Indiana. Two national championships, perfecting the motion offense, and tenacious man-to-man defense with switches are his calling cards. The General's players graduate and his teams win. Enough said.

6. Jim Calhoun, UConn: My revised rankings cannot omit this icon in Storrs. He speaks the language of the East Coast playgrounds despite a generational difference and blends offensive talent with defensive toughness to compete for the Big East and national title nearly every year.

7. Billy Donovan, Florida: Pinino's protege has passed his master through exceptional recruiting and great development of young players. Has a realistic shot at back-to-back national championships.

8. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse: Another legend who has perfected the 2-3 zone like no other. Excellent recruiter, but early defections have damaged his program of late.

9. Roy Williams, UNC: Many will quarrel with this relatively low ranking for the winningest coach in recent memory, but I attribute his success more to his unparalleled recruiting than his basketball IQ.

10. Kelvin Sampson, Indiana: As much as I resent the fact that he entered the BT fraternity, I must admit this is mostly on account of the fact that Indiana will once again contend for the league title because this guy is a top-notch recruiter (see Eric Gordon), motivates his teams to play hard, and emphasizes defense on a level parallel to the aforementioned Bennett now in retirement.

On the cusp: Rick Pitino, Thad Matta, Tom Crean, Jay Wilson.

Two Horse Race

Indiana's brutal second half performance against Illinois on Tuesday (add the last 10 minutes of the 1st half) is indicative that a significant gap remains between the Hoosiers and the two BT frontrunners, UW and OSU. Regardless of how Bucky fares in Bloomington next Wednesday, the Badgers and Buckeyes will battle until the end for the regular season title. With the halfway point of the BT season only a week away, what follows is a projection of what the remaining ten games hold for Bo Ryan and Thad Matta.

Bucky:
1/24: @ Iowa (W-a nail-biter, but Bucky is too talented to lose to the Hawks minus horrible FT shooting)

1/31: @ Indiana (L-Bucky will play a 40-minute game making this a winnable game against the younger Hoosiers)

2/3: NW (W-blowout)

2/7: @ Penn St. (W)

2/10: Iowa (W)

2/14: at Minnesota (W-blowout)

2/17: Penn St. (W-blowout)

2/20: @ MSU (L-Izzo's team improving each week)

2/25: @ OSU (L-Oden too much for Chappel and polar bears)

3/3: MSU (W-payback, and mini-losing streak halted)

Ohio State:
1/27: MSU (W-close game)

1/31: @ Purdue (W-no answer to bearded man in middle)

2/3: @ MSU (L)

2/6: Michigan (W)

2/10: Purdue (W-blowout)

2/14: @ Penn St. (W)

2/18: @ Minnesota (W-blowout)

2/21: Penn St. (W)

2/25: Wisconsin (W)

3/1: @ Michigan (W-close game)

Doing the math, OSU boxes out the Badgers for the title with a 14-2 record, one game better than UW's 13-3. Bucky plays a tougher schedule with road games at UI and IU and no payback in Madison, while OSU doesn't travel to Bloomington or IC. This makes the Badgers next two games critical as they can erase this imbalance with 2 road wins. I still expect OSU to drop one they shouldn't on the road on account of youth. The contests at Purdue and Michigan are the most likely candidates, especially the latter given the emotional high from playing Bucky in Columbus.

The Cold Center

The Badgers have won 16 straight games at their home digs, but venue doesn't seem to be huge factor for this veteran team. Their 15-game win streak ties a program record established in 1940-1941, and Michigan has a streak of their own in Madison. They have not won there in 13 tries. This predates my tenure at the UW, as the Wolvernines last triumphed when the complete Fab Five still reigned. (1993)

The Chicago Tribune continued with their favorable coverage of the Badgers, and looked at the entire BT in comprehensive fashion, determining teams on the rise (UW, OSU, Michigan, Indiana, and MSU), and teams on the decline (Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, PSU, Minnesota, and NW).

Things are so bad for the Illini that they must finish 7-3 just to make the dance. With both Randle and Pruitt tentatively out for an undetermined amount of time, the NIT is the more likely option. Turns out they can't host a game in the Not Invited Tournament given its new affiliation with the NCAA. That's not a rain dance they're doing in Champaign. It's the Chief's tears.

The Best Ever?

Michael Hunt of the JS makes a case that Alando Tucker is the best Badger ever, ranking above both Michael Finley and Devin Harris. While I only have the perspective of my lifetime of watching basketball, what follows is my top ten, all of whom have played since 1980.

1. Alando Tucker. Five seasons, on the cusp of the scoring record, and potentially on the best team ever to wear Wisconsin uniforms. A great guy who does a little bit of everything.

2. Michael Finley. Earns the nod over Harris because he gave 4 years to the program. Was part of the renaissance that resulted in continuous trips to the post-season with the exception of two seasons since he first led Bucky back to the Dance in 1994. Program's all-team leading scorer.

3. Devin Harris. The will go down as the program's best NBA player. Had he stayed Bucky would have competed with Illinois for the conference and national title. Led team to two BT titles and a conference tournament championship.

4. Danny Jones. Teamed with Trent Jackson as dual threats on fun teams to watch in the late 1980's, but never made it beyond the NIT. Program's #3 scorer.

5. Wes Matthews. People still talk about his buzzer-beater vs. Michigan State and Magic Johnson. Allowing his son to attend Marquette not easily forgiven.

6. Mike Wilkinson. The most fundamentally-sound big man the program has produced, led team to an Elite Eight performance where they nearly knocked off the eventual national champs.

7. Kirk Penney. Probably the best shooter I've seen come through Madison, and a guy who improved tremendously throughout his 4 years. He went from a bit player on the Final Four team to one of the top players in the Big Ten and the country.

8. Tracy Webster. Teamed with Finley to give the Badgers a formidable backcourt that defeated Cincinnati and nearly went to the Sweet Sixteen in a barn-burner against Norm Stewart and Mizzou.

9. Patrick Tompkins. Who can forget the dunk he threw down against Minnesota on ESPN? Dick Vitale screamed: "Wisconsin basketball...you gotta love it baby!" Shaped like a middle linebacker, PT was a man in the middle.

10. Trent Jackson. Gap-toothed PG led Bucky to big win against the Flying Illini, part of Steve Yoder's best team.

Orange Crushed

Alando Tucker, Rock Taylor, and J-Cheezy Chappel have won at least one game in every BT venue over the course of their UW careers with the 71-64 win at Illinois yestersday. The win is a credit to Bo Ryan's program and a testament to senior leadership that refuses to fade in tight ballgames on the road. Although it wasn't pretty, the Badgers are 5-0 and off to their best start since 1916 (19-1).

A few numbers from Champaign are particularly telling:

Bucky was 18-21 from the FT line, a notable improvement from Wednesday and a key to winning on the road.

Wisconsin committed only 7 turnovers. This allows teams to weather cold spells because at least they're taking shots at the basket and not contributing to transition points at the other end. The Illini only had 9 TO's.

38 rebounds, 4 more than Illinois.

Two lingering concerns from yesterday also mandate attention:

1. Shawn Pruitt scored 19 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. With Chappell in foul trouble UW didn't have the quickness in the post to match up with him and didn't collapse down on him sufficiently with helpside defense. This should be a point of emphasis in practice this week.

2. Closing out three-point shooters wherever they linger on the arc. Brian Randle hurt Bucky here as did OSU and at times Purdue. These shots must be contested even when hoisted from NBA range. (a nod to Sherby)

A final point. UW excels when Tucker and Taylor do their usual and one other player steps up on offense. Against OSU that was Landry, Purdue had Chappel, and Illinois Greg Stiemsma. Who will answer the call on Wednesday against Michigan and in the two big road games at Iowa and Indiana?

As for BT rankings this week, I think the standings speak for themselves with a couple of caveats. I still think MSU is better than Michigan and will be a bubble team come tournament time. Moreover, Tom Izzo can coach the pants off Amaker. Nice win by IU at UConn. The Hoosiers are clearly the third best team in the league and will present a formidable challege for Bucky on 1/31. Penn State is a bit of a disappointment. Their failure to defend their home court will sentence the Nittany Lions to another lower division finish.