East Region

[LittleHurt05]

Thats how the Wisconsin Buzzcuts roll. Slow, methodical, then BOOM 3 pointer.

 

Ryan always has the skilled player or two that can take over a game or create his own shots when needed. I've seen Trevon Hughes do it plenty of times this year, in the past he's had Alando Tucker, Devin Harris, etc.

[whitesoxfan101]

But they've overcome it plenty enough. Wins against Maryland, Duke, Purdue with Hummel, Ohio State, Marquette, Michigan State...that's about as good as a profile as anyone in the country. Now are any of those teams as good as Kentucky? I'm not sure. The Wildcats have yet to beat a top tier team. They surely haven't even played a team like Wisconsin, whether that be stylistically or statistically.

 

Every one of those wins were at home except Maryland. If the game were at the Kohl Center, I'd certainly give Wisconsin a chance to beat Kentucky. But I'd give them a chance to beat anybody there.

[whitesoxfan99]

They played well against the Illini in Champaign this year, losing by only 5 or 7, although we all know games vs. NIT teams dont count.

 

Illinois beat them by 14

[Soxbadger]

Im not saying Wofford is good or bad, just if Wisconsin had the 5 seed they probably dont beat Cornell the way they played today.

 

As for "overcome lack of talent", Im not exactly sure thats a fair statement.

 

Leur was a pretty highly regarded recruit, same with Nankivil. Bohannon was Mr. Basketball in Iowa, Taylor was Mr. Basketball in Minnesota and Jarmusz was Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin.

 

Sure a few of them werent Bo's first choices (Ryan was close on Evan Turner and Manny Harris) but Wisconsin has some solid talent, and (imo) 2 players who may play in the NBA (Leur and Taylor).

 

(Edit)

 

They lost by 2 to Purdue @ Purdue with out Leur.

 

They lost to OSU with out Leur.

 

Its hard to really say what Wisconsin would have done on the road with their best player.

Edited March 19, 2010 by Soxbadger

[fathom]

I'm looking forward to the inevitable fight in round 2 between Cousins and Chas McFarland. Battle of two of the biggest pieces of crap to ever play college basketball. I hope they get into a fight and both can never play basketball again.

[danman31]

Illinois beat them by 14

Right, but I watched that game. It was close for about 30 minutes before Illinois got hot. It's not a knock to Illinois that Wofford hung with them, there's no need to qualify it. Wofford is solid.

 

How about Cornell though? Everybody is talking Wisconsin vs. Kentucky, but I like Big Red in that game.

[RockRaines]

But they've overcome it plenty enough. Wins against Maryland, Duke, Purdue with Hummel, Ohio State, Marquette, Michigan State...that's about as good as a profile as anyone in the country. Now are any of those teams as good as Kentucky? I'm not sure. The Wildcats have yet to beat a top tier team. They surely haven't even played a team like Wisconsin, whether that be stylistically or statistically.

Ohio State without Turner. Michigan beat them without him too. Wisconsin, like Minny, lives and breathes by home wins. They can throw a team out of its rhythm in the tourney however which is an advantage.

[whitesoxfan101]

Im not saying Wofford is good or bad, just if Wisconsin had the 5 seed they probably dont beat Cornell the way they played today.

 

As for "overcome lack of talent", Im not exactly sure thats a fair statement.

 

Leur was a pretty highly regarded recruit, same with Nankivil. Bohannon was Mr. Basketball in Iowa, Taylor was Mr. Basketball in Minnesota and Jarmusz was Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin.

 

Sure a few of them werent Bo's first choices (Ryan was close on Evan Turner and Manny Harris) but Wisconsin has some solid talent, and (imo) 2 players who may play in the NBA (Leur and Taylor).

 

(Edit)

 

They lost by 2 to Purdue @ Purdue with out Leur.

 

They lost to OSU with out Leur.

 

Its hard to really say what Wisconsin would have done on the road with their best player.

 

You could make a point they aren't generally overcoming lack of talent (although I still think they are when they play good teams,) but they would definitely have to do that to beat Kentucky if they do actually get to play them. Then again, Kentucky has noticeably more talent than every team in the country except maybe 3 or 4 at most.

Edited March 19, 2010 by whitesoxfan101

[Soxbadger]

Outside of a handful of teams, Wisconsin has about the same talent level.

 

Does Kentucky have more raw talent?

 

Yes, but they are also extremely young and play an entirely different pace/style of game.

 

I dont believe Kentucky would have gone 32-2 in the Big 10.

[RockRaines]

Im not saying Wofford is good or bad, just if Wisconsin had the 5 seed they probably dont beat Cornell the way they played today.

 

As for "overcome lack of talent", Im not exactly sure thats a fair statement.

 

Leur was a pretty highly regarded recruit, same with Nankivil. Bohannon was Mr. Basketball in Iowa, Taylor was Mr. Basketball in Minnesota and Jarmusz was Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin.

Bohannon was seriously MR Basketball in Iowa? Wow that actually speaks more about the talent level in Iowa. Jarmusz is garbage, sorry. Leur is good, as are Hughes and Taylor, underrated really.

[Soxbadger]

Bohannon was a 4* recruit at the time, and was booed relentlessly every time he played Iowa (his dad was a rose bowl qb for them).

 

Jarmusz has not turned out that great, but he was Mr Basketball.

 

And what I meant is that you never know what talent will turn into, just because a kid is a 4* doesnt mean hes that great.

[RockRaines]

Bohannon was a 4* recruit at the time, and was booed relentlessly every time he played Iowa (his dad was a rose bowl qb for them).

 

Jarmusz has not turned out that great, but he was Mr Basketball.

 

And what I meant is that you never know what talent will turn into, just because a kid is a 4* doesnt mean hes that great.

Truth. I cant believe that Jarmusz was Mr Basketball. He's bench filler. OSu fans always point to Turner being like the #13 SF in his class and how nobody saw what he would become, except maybe Bo and Thad.

[Soxbadger]

Supposedly Turner was Wisconsin's to lose and Matta found his estranged father in Columbus and worked some magic.

 

Its why Ryan always talks so much to Turner because he really thinks highly of him.

[southsider2k5]

Supposedly Turner was Wisconsin's to lose and Matta found his estranged father in Columbus and worked some magic.

 

Its why Ryan always talks so much to Turner because he really thinks highly of him.

 

Wow that is some dirty pool right there... Chasing down someone's estranged father to try to recruit them? Damn.

[fathom]

Wow that is some dirty pool right there... Chasing down someone's estranged father to try to recruit them? Damn.

 

Turner's the same person who one day said Illinois was his leader, and the very next day, announced he was going to Ohio St. I love Turner though, as he seems to hate Weber and the Illini as much as I do.

[RockRaines]

Turner's the same person who one day said Illinois was his leader, and the very next day, announced he was going to Ohio St. I love Turner though, as he seems to hate Weber and the Illini as much as I do.

Illinois was the last school to offer him, he was waiting. Ryan was by far the leader for his services until Thad snatched him up. The father stuff isnt true though. His mother LOVES Thad, and she's the king in that family.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/201...d_a_buckey.html

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sport...at=&sid=101

Edited March 19, 2010 by RockRaines

[RockRaines]

Supposedly Turner was Wisconsin's to lose and Matta found his estranged father in Columbus and worked some magic.

 

Its why Ryan always talks so much to Turner because he really thinks highly of him.

They had some really good exchanges on some behind the scenes stuff when he played for him on the national team and also on the Journey on the B10 network.

[whitesoxfan101]

Illinois was the last school to offer him, he was waiting. Ryan was by far the leader for his services until Thad snatched him up. The father stuff isnt true though. His mother LOVES Thad, and she's the king in that family.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/201...d_a_buckey.html

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sport...at=&sid=101

 

Yeah Illinois' interest in Turner was lukewarm at best, as it was in E'Twaun Moore. They would have been in good shape with both of them had they wanted to be. Oops.

Edited March 19, 2010 by whitesoxfan101

[RockRaines]

Yeah Illinois' interest in Turner was lukewarm at best, as it was in E'Twaun Moore. They would have been in good shape with both of them had they wanted to be. Oops.

They would have been ridiculous with those two and McCamey. Turner was though of as a defensive specialist, so its not a surprise they didnt go after him hard.

[whitesoxfan101]

They would have been ridiculous with those two and McCamey. Turner was though of as a defensive specialist, so its not a surprise they didnt go after him hard.

 

Yeah, Derrick Rose and Eric Gordon were the reasons Turner and Moore were largely ignored. In hinsight though, that obviously doesn't look too good for the Illini.

[whitesoxfan99]

Yeah Illinois' interest in Turner was lukewarm at best, as it was in E'Twaun Moore. They would have been in good shape with both of them had they wanted to be. Oops.

 

You are simply incorrect on this. Moore didn't want to play with Gordon but Illinois recruited him hard. And Illinois recruited Turner very hard. He got an offer early in his junior year when he visited with Peoples (who is at ND).

[whitesoxfan99]

Illinois was the last school to offer him, he was waiting. Ryan was by far the leader for his services until Thad snatched him up. The father stuff isnt true though. His mother LOVES Thad, and she's the king in that family.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/201...d_a_buckey.html

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sport...at=&sid=101

 

Turner said Illinois was his leader and that if he was going to commit early it would be to Illinois. A couple weeks later he committed to OSU. Ryan wasn't before the leader for his services.

[whitesoxfan101]

You are simply incorrect on this. Moore didn't want to play with Gordon but Illinois recruited him hard. And Illinois recruited Turner very hard. He got an offer early in his junior year when he visited with Peoples (who is at ND).

 

Turner was a backup plan. Just because you get an early offer (and junior year is practically a late offer nowadays) doesn't mean you are particularly wanted. I am not as knowledgable about the Moore situation though, so I'll take your word for it there. I usually refer to him more in the form of hearsay I heard because it's nice fodder to rip on Bruce.

Edited March 19, 2010 by whitesoxfan101

[whitesoxfan99]

Turner was a backup plan. Just because you get an early offer (and junior year is practically a late offer nowadays) doesn't mean you are particularly wanted. I am not as knowledgable about the Moore situation though, so I'll take your word for it there. I usually refer to him more in the form of hearsay I heard because it's nice fodder to rip on Bruce.

 

Turner wasn't a backup plan, they had 5 scholarships in that class and he was their top target at the SF position. He might not have gotten the love that Gordon and Rose got but they wanted him badly.

[LittleHurt05]

Illinois beat them by 14

 

Wow. I remember coming out of that game impressed with Wofford, thought it was closer, although the Illini needed a 2nd half run to make it double digits. Looking at the schedule, that was the game before the whole season fell apart.