Bo Ryan’s star system comes with adhesive
by Mike Lopresti, USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO – Sure, Indiana can be ranked No. 1 much of this year, and win the Big Ten regular-season title, and put up 80 points most nights, and place two names on most All-American teams.
But can Indiana ever beat Wisconsin? A pertinent question, because the Hoosiers are facing their worst Big Ten nightmare Saturday – the coach who has beaten them 11 games in a row.
Which makes this as good a time as any to ask why Bo Ryan doesn’t get more national renown.
Bo Ryan? You’ll find him on the short list of Division I coaches with 600-plus victories. When it comes to winning percentage in that majestic group, the only men ahead of him are named Adolph Rupp, John Wooden, Roy Williams, Jerry Tarkanian, Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski. That’s keeping faster company than the starting grid of a NASCAR race.
Bo Ryan? This is his 12th season coaching Wisconsin. The 22-10 Badgers will be in the NCAA Tournament for the 12th consecutive time.
Bo Ryan? Wisconsin’s all-time winning percentage was 53.1 the day he took over. It’s been 72.3 since. Same school, same Bucky Badger, different coach.
Bo Ryan? In this scintillating Big Ten season, he was named coach of the year, for causing so much trouble among the ranked teams ahead of him. Such as the night Wisconsin beat Indiana in Bloomington – for the fifth consecutive time.
He does that with nobody’s idea of super talent, but rather capable guys with names hard to spell and harder to beat. The basketball is not always pretty, but the score usually is.
You would think that might raise his national profile, but does it?
“No. But I don’t think he really cares,” said Mike Bruesewitz, the senior forward with the red hair that looks as if he just stuck two fingers into a live electrical socket. “It reflects on all of us that way. We’re not really concerned about what … [For more on Bo Ryan's star system comes with adhesive, click here.]
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