As the season-opener for Wisconsin Men’s Basketball lies just 16 days away, Bo Ryan spoke during the team’s annual media day Thursday at the Kohl Center.
Despite losing key contributors in guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, the 2010-2011 Badgers look poised to continue their trend of outperforming expectation.
If there is one thing that can be said about Bo Ryan’s program, it is that the program takes precedent over the individual. Ryan may not get the top recruits, but he always gets the right ones. In the nine years since he took the helm, this philosophy of team-first, philosophy-based recruiting and coaching has led to an NCAA tourney birth in each year, running the Badgers’ tourney streak to 12, third in the nation to Michigan State’s 15 and Kansas’ 19(?).
Ryan believes that ultimately it is the emphasis on character in recruiting that has been the key to continuing this unprecedented streak. “I firmly believe its your players, “ Ryan argued when asked about the key to this consistency. “Their conversations in the locker room, their camaraderie in the off-season, the idea that they don’t want to let something down.”
While the consistent philosophy of the program certainly gives reason to believe that expectations may once again be exceeded, the loss of both starting guards definitely presents a challenge as Ryan and his staff try to use the pre-season to build up depth at these positions.
Still, Ryan doesn’t think that this is a problem this team cant handle.
“They’ve never ranked our recruiting class so you know we don’t have anyone coming,” Ryan joked.
Among this unheralded recruiting class is 6-3 guard Josh Gasser. Also a high school quarterback, the Port Washington native has made an impression in the early going. “He’s got confidence in his shot,” Ryan pointed out. “Nothing rattles him, that’s what I like about him.”
With Jordan Taylor expected to take the other guard spot, Gasser will definitely be in the conversation as the program tries to fill in the second vacated spot.
Gasser joins 6-10 center Evan Anderson, 6-7 forward Duje Dukan, and 6-1 guard Ben Brust in a freshman class that, while characteristically lacking national attention, is exactly what coach Ryan is looking for.
Though doubts remain and uncertainties abound with this unproven group, the work ethic of the program is as strong as ever.
“If there was an award for the hill,” Ryan said, referring to the team’s famed pre-season conditioning ritual. “We would have won the championship this year.”
With the Big Ten as strong as ever, this work ethic will be crucial as the Badgers try to overcome the loss of two scorers and team leaders in Bohannon and Hughes.
Judging by the expectations of the national media, it would seem that Badger nation is in for a rough season. But then again if the last nine years should have taught us anything, we shouldn’t read much into these so-called “expectations”.
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