In Bo We Trust

While Up North I was blissfully away from any computer, but I did have access to cable TV and watched the Badger loss to Ohio State. Nothing to be ashamed of, by any means, OSU is a very good team with probably two future pros in the starting five. It was tough to lose the way they did with Taylor missing the freebies and then getting jammed on a somewhat wild and rushed last gasp shot.

The Brian Butch injury was U-G-L-Y. Consider yourself lucky if you missed it - the lower part of his arm was twisted in a way it ought not to have been twisted. Reminded me of the horrific leg injury suffered by Mo Peterson some dozen years ago - people were literally passing out in the stands from that one. I know a lot of people knock Butch and he is what he is, but he does put up 9 points and 6 boards a game in just 20 minutes of playing time.

Fortunately, the Badgers are deep if nothing else and they do have the ability to adjust. The NCAA does downgrade seeds based on injuries so getting a couple wins would demonstrate to the committee that they can still play. Still, they are likely headed for #2 or #3 seed in the NCAA tournament regardless, so they have two games for Coach Bo to figure out who gets the minutes. Steimsma, Landry and Krabbenhoft will get some, but I'm thinking so will Kevin Gullikson. In Bo we trust.

A really encouraging sign has been the improved play of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon. But with Bo these guys have to earn the PT and earn his trust.

In the end they will probably go as far as Kam Taylor will take them although Ryan has tried to get other people involved in running the offense because of Taylor's weakness as a point guard.

I was really looking forward to watching them clinch the Big Ten title with a win over Michigan State - it was sweet when they beat the Illini to clinch a couple years ago, but beating Tom Izzo to win the title? Now that would have been worth seeing.