All the doubters of Bo Ryan are now sitting quietly in their chairs, alone and grasping for straws. Yep, that's what happens when Ryan and his Wisconsin Badgers finally get a marquee opponent to come into the Kohl Center in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Wednesday night's 73-69 victory over No. 5 ranked Duke showed that Bo is among the elite coaches in the game and was a coming out party for senior point guard Trevon Hughes. I saw the kid play in high school at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield and yes, he can ball.
But for Ryan, and yes I may be a little partial growing up 10 minutes from Platteville where he led the winningest college basketball program in the 90s to four NCAA Division 3 National Championships, this was as much his night, too. Going against a Hall of Fame coach in Coach K (I'm not going to try to spell that name) this was Ryan's chance to show he indeed belonged in the same sentence with one of the best coaches in the game.
All this time with Bob Knight doing color commentary with Brent Musberger for ESPN, it only seemed right Bo got his guys up for this game and in the Kohl Center where, let's face it, Bucky is nearly unbeatable, Ryan kept his "Defend the home court" mantra alive just as he did when he was playing at what is now Bo Ryan Court at Williams Fieldhouse on the UW-Platteville campus.
On top of it all, amidst this whole Vander Blue and recruiting fiasco where people are doubting if he can recruit and if he can win the big game.
Well the first question is up in the air (There are a couple big names staying in-state to play for him next year led by Port Washington's Josh Gasser and Eau Claire North's Tyler Brown), but he just showed you he can win the big game.
Every time the Blue Devils punched the Badgers were able to counter and led the entire game, not folding when Duke made the run every one of the 17,500 in the Kohl Center knew they would and the millions watching on TV expected.
No it's not flashy, but I ran that swing offense in high school and it works and it was the fundamental defense that was drilled into my head every Saturday morning since I was in third grade that helped Bucky tear slay the Giant. So doubters, you're going to have to be quiet for a while, Bo just showed you what he's made of and got the most out of his players like a great coach. He just bought himself a year free of doubt and now has already started to accumulate the type of resume that will get this team back into the "Big Dance" in March.
OK folks, we got NFL football tonight so I got my NFL picks for you now.
Winning team is in bold.
Jets @ Bills
Eagles @ Falcons
Rams @ Bears
Lions @ Bengals
Titans @ Colts
Broncos @ Chiefs
Saints @ Redskins
Bucs @ Panthers
Texans @ Jaguars
Raiders @ Steelers
Patriots @ Dolphins
Chargers @ Browns
49ers @ Seahawks
Cowboys @ Giants
Vikings @ Cardinals
Ravens (14) @ Packers (20)
And I'm almost done with beating this Tiger Woods thing, but this found this Chris Cooley video today and can't resist. Check it!
And this next thing isn't a sports thing at all. Just kind of cool. Found it on today's SI.com's Hot Clicks. It might be the coolest car wash I've seen! Ha!
Ok, now it's time for the Nussie Hunter portion of the broadcast. I usually don't like copying Jimmy Traina on the Hot Clicks, but today I just couldn't find a better option. I mean, I love me some Katy Perry. And I'm not even considering the "Kissed a Girl" trash she put out because I thought that was complete trash. But an interview on Howard Stern where she was just herself endeared her to me. Well, she hosted the Grammy Nominations Concert last night and looked amazing. Check for youself. WHOA!!!
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