Wisconsin Badgers athletics have officially gone down the tubes, at least as far as this year is concerned. Just months after the Badgers football team completely offended every fan within the great state of Wisconsin, the Badgers basketball seems to be on a mission to do the same. Bo Ryan's squad dropped their fourth straight game in the Big Ten on Saturday, this time by a score of 64-57 to Illinois.It's the first time they've dropped four straight games in the Big Ten since the 1997-1998 season.
An inability to come through in the clutch coupled with a 35.6 shooting percentage ultimately lead to the Badgers' demise in this one. The loss puts them at 3-4 in the Big Ten, and now 12-7 on the season. A decent record, sure, but not something the Badgers have been used to in years past.
Clearly, the number one thing is team is missing is a go-to guy. They have nobody to answer in the clutch, and nobody to give them a comfortable lead. That's kind of always been the Bo Ryan mantra though, to have an emphasis on the team first. It's worked in the past, but this year the Badgers just can't keep up with the competition. And with Landry and Krabbenhoft leaving after this season, one has to wonder how much longer Bo Ryan's system can bring success to Wisconsin.
I'm not by any means suggesting the termination of Ryan's tenure with the team, I'm just saying maybe it's time for him to think of other philosophies on how to win a ballgame. It seems he's already ready to shake things up a bit for the remainder of the season, as he's planning to play more of a three guard offense featuring freshman Jordan Taylor.
The Badgers won't have long to test out the new offense before it premieres though as they have an upcoming showdown with Purdue this Tuesday. After that, they'll face Northwestern, so at least we know the losing streak will come to an end within the next two games.
4 comments:
It's the first time they've dropped ten straight games in the Big Ten since the 1997-1998 season.
Four.
I get what you are saying, but what Bo Ryan has always done is implement a system in which a leader rises out of team play. Tucker, Kelly and even Harris were guys who emerged as leaders. I thought Landry would be that guy this year, and he is, just not to the degree as the others.
I don't think Ryan has to change anything. You aren't going to be perrenial studs every year at Wisconsin, there just isn't the recruiting pool that mega-successful programs have.
I still think this team will make the field of 65 and that it will be a team with upset potential in that tourney.
There are plenty of bright spots among some of the young guys, to get Wisconsin back to the top of the Big Ten in coming years.
Didn't Northwestern just dismantle Izzo's Spartans in East Lansing? Apparently NW isn't an easy win anymore.
Fluke.
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