2015-16 UW Badger Basketball Discussion Thread

[buckboy]

I still firmly believe that Bennett's dream job is UW. I think he'll be the hire. He's in a great situation right now, but UW is home.

I doubted he'd come back. Seems happy at UVA, better recruiting area, premier conference, etc.

That said, a moderately plugged in person I talked to said he thinks Bennett would at least listen.

I'd put Bennett and greater than zero and Smart at negative chances, even before jumping to Texas.

Agree with all of this. I don't see Bennett happening and Smart was never coming here, not to mention the possibility that Wisconsin may not have even wanted him. It's tough to see that style working in the Big 10. Which isn't to say that I wouldn't have been happy if they'd hired him, just not sure about the fit.

I have no idea who it'll be if it's not Gard. Someone mentioned Gregg Marshall, which would be great. Not sure Wisconsin is high-profile enough for him to leave though. Also, I doubt they'd break the bank for anyone. I think people are likely to be underwhelmed by the next coach.

[chonestown]

I still firmly believe that Bennett's dream job is UW. I think he'll be the hire. He's in a great situation right now, but UW is home.

It's not his dream job. He will not be the hire. UW is not home.

Dick Bennett considered UW his dream job and was disabused of that notion once he got it. Green Bay holds far more significance to Dick and Tony than Madison.

There will be reports that Tony is a legit candidate. These reports should be treated with the same respect one affords a recently-discharged turd.

[Licensed to Il]

Weird how this board is one of the most logical and reasonable places to talk Badgers. Living in Madison, everywhere else I turn its an attempt to get Bo on Mount Rushmore.

Easily the greatest Badger basketball coach of all time.

In the discussion for top ten Big Ten (basketball) coaches of all time.

A coach's coach... get coaches together and there is nothing but respect for Bo.

Seems to have run a clean program in an age when you can't assume that about anyone.

BUT

Was hypocritical in a lot of ways, and by all accounts I heard belittled most around him. Limped out like a quitter when circumstances rendered his team below his normal standards.

I'm eager to see what direction the program goes. There really is very little chance that we will see the program stay or return to this level anytime soon.

[skones]

A few rumors that have been touched on in this thread have been 100% accurate.

[ReasonablySober]

Jeff Goodman:

The Interim

Greg Gard, Wisconsin Badgers
Age: 44
Bio: Gard has been with Ryan since his days at D-III Wisconsin-Platteville and has been on staff with the Badgers since Ryan arrived in 2001. The Badgers are 14-for-14 in NCAA tournament appearances, and Gard has been the associate head coach since 2008.

The Dream Hire

Tony Bennett, Virginia Cavaliers
Age: 46
Bio: Bennett played at Wisconsin-Green Bay, spent a few years in the NBA and was also an assistant to his father, Dick, at Wisconsin before being retained by Ryan. Bennett got his first head coaching gig at Washington State, where he went to three NCAA tournaments (including a Sweet 16) before taking the Virginia job. The Cavaliers have won the last two ACC regular-season titles and are 60-11 in that span.

The Realistic Hire

Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa Panthers
Age: 45
Bio: The North Dakota native was elevated to the head spot at Northern Iowa when Greg McDermott left for Iowa State in 2006. He's best-known for UNI's upset over Kansas in the second round in 2010, but he's gone to three NCAA tournaments in his nine years.

Another Option

Bryce Drew, Valparaiso Crusaders
Age: 41
Bio: He's best-known for hitting "The Shot" to beat Ole Miss in the first round of the 1998 NCAA tournament, but the son of Homer and the brother of Baylor coach Scott Drew has taken the Crusaders to the postseason in each of his four years. He's been to two NCAA tournaments and has a team this season that is capable of making a Sweet 16 run.

[ackypoo]

Spoiler:

Jeff Goodman:

The Interim

Greg Gard, Wisconsin Badgers
Age: 44
Bio: Gard has been with Ryan since his days at D-III Wisconsin-Platteville and has been on staff with the Badgers since Ryan arrived in 2001. The Badgers are 14-for-14 in NCAA tournament appearances, and Gard has been the associate head coach since 2008.

The Dream Hire

Tony Bennett, Virginia Cavaliers
Age: 46
Bio: Bennett played at Wisconsin-Green Bay, spent a few years in the NBA and was also an assistant to his father, Dick, at Wisconsin before being retained by Ryan. Bennett got his first head coaching gig at Washington State, where he went to three NCAA tournaments (including a Sweet 16) before taking the Virginia job. The Cavaliers have won the last two ACC regular-season titles and are 60-11 in that span.

The Realistic Hire

Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa Panthers
Age: 45
Bio: The North Dakota native was elevated to the head spot at Northern Iowa when Greg McDermott left for Iowa State in 2006. He's best-known for UNI's upset over Kansas in the second round in 2010, but he's gone to three NCAA tournaments in his nine years.

Another Option

Bryce Drew, Valparaiso Crusaders
Age: 41
Bio: He's best-known for hitting "The Shot" to beat Ole Miss in the first round of the 1998 NCAA tournament, but the son of Homer and the brother of Baylor coach Scott Drew has taken the Crusaders to the postseason in each of his four years. He's been to two NCAA tournaments and has a team this season that is capable of making a Sweet 16 run.

sauce?

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Jeff Goodman:

The Interim

Greg Gard, Wisconsin Badgers
Age: 44
Bio: Gard has been with Ryan since his days at D-III Wisconsin-Platteville and has been on staff with the Badgers since Ryan arrived in 2001. The Badgers are 14-for-14 in NCAA tournament appearances, and Gard has been the associate head coach since 2008.

The Dream Hire

Tony Bennett, Virginia Cavaliers
Age: 46
Bio: Bennett played at Wisconsin-Green Bay, spent a few years in the NBA and was also an assistant to his father, Dick, at Wisconsin before being retained by Ryan. Bennett got his first head coaching gig at Washington State, where he went to three NCAA tournaments (including a Sweet 16) before taking the Virginia job. The Cavaliers have won the last two ACC regular-season titles and are 60-11 in that span.

The Realistic Hire

Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa Panthers
Age: 45
Bio: The North Dakota native was elevated to the head spot at Northern Iowa when Greg McDermott left for Iowa State in 2006. He's best-known for UNI's upset over Kansas in the second round in 2010, but he's gone to three NCAA tournaments in his nine years.

Another Option

Bryce Drew, Valparaiso Crusaders
Age: 41
Bio: He's best-known for hitting "The Shot" to beat Ole Miss in the first round of the 1998 NCAA tournament, but the son of Homer and the brother of Baylor coach Scott Drew has taken the Crusaders to the postseason in each of his four years. He's been to two NCAA tournaments and has a team this season that is capable of making a Sweet 16 run.

One could argue, Gard is the least attractive out the bunch.

[Kerb Hohl]

One could argue, Gard is the least attractive out the bunch.

They once hired a lifetime D3/short-time UWM coach. It's probably not going to ever be as good consistently as it was the last 15 years, but I'll trust the process a bit.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

One could argue, Gard is the least attractive out the bunch.

They once hired a lifetime D3/short-time UWM coach. It's probably not going to ever be as good consistently as it was the last 15 years, but I'll trust the process a bit.

Wasn't trying to rip Gard, I was just impressed with the type of names Goodman tossed out. All would be pretty solid hires imo.

[Kerb Hohl]

One could argue, Gard is the least attractive out the bunch.

They once hired a lifetime D3/short-time UWM coach. It's probably not going to ever be as good consistently as it was the last 15 years, but I'll trust the process a bit.

Wasn't trying to rip Gard, I was just impressed with the type of names Goodman tossed out. All would be pretty solid hires imo.

They could probably get Jacobson or Drew, but for UW's situation, I'm not sure one could guarantee that its better than Gard. I don't know what those studying the situation do about Gard, though.

[LUKE23]

I greatly appreciate what Bo has done for the program, and wish him well in his retirement. I don't think he handled the retirement well, and I think he's still coaching right now if the team was winning this year. All I'll say there.

I am fully against hiring Gard without an extensive coaching search. Bennett and Jacobson are probably both ahead of him for me right now, but that is just eyeballing it.

[skones]

I greatly appreciate what Bo has done for the program, and wish him well in his retirement. I don't think he handled the retirement well, and I think he's still coaching right now if the team was winning this year. All I'll say there.

The team winning or not winning is not the primary reason.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I greatly appreciate what Bo has done for the program, and wish him well in his retirement. I don't think he handled the retirement well, and I think he's still coaching right now if the team was winning this year. All I'll say there.

The team winning or not winning is not the primary reason.

Can you PM the private message?

[Kerb Hohl]

I greatly appreciate what Bo has done for the program, and wish him well in his retirement. I don't think he handled the retirement well, and I think he's still coaching right now if the team was winning this year. All I'll say there.

The team winning or not winning is not the primary reason.

Can you PM the private message?

Someone said it a few pages back if you're talking about the rumor. Otherwise the reason is that he wanted to get Gard in place.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

The team winning or not winning is not the primary reason.

Can you PM the private message?

Someone said it a few pages back if you're talking about the rumor. Otherwise the reason is that he wanted to get Gard in place.

Yeah, kind of curious about the affair rumor. Who would make him retire? His wife, the school, or alumni? If I'm his wife, why would you want him to have all that free time?

[skones]

Can you PM the private message?

Someone said it a few pages back if you're talking about the rumor. Otherwise the reason is that he wanted to get Gard in place.

Yeah, kind of curious about the affair rumor. Who would make him retire? His wife, the school, or alumni? If I'm his wife, why would you want him to have all that free time?

To fix their relationship? To limit his time on the road?

[DingleJerry]

To get out of the public spotlight so hopefully it doesn't becoming an embarrassing story in the media.

[RiotPunch]

I still firmly believe that Bennett's dream job is UW. I think he'll be the hire. He's in a great situation right now, but UW is home.

It's not his dream job. He will not be the hire. UW is not home.

Dick Bennett considered UW his dream job and was disabused of that notion once he got it. Green Bay holds far more significance to Dick and Tony than Madison.

There will be reports that Tony is a legit candidate. These reports should be treated with the same respect one affords a recently-discharged turd.

This post is asinine. Where do you get your info, Mr. Insider?

[DingleJerry]

Bennet has huge buyout, just signing it after the initial Bo reports this summer. It was designed to block this move, if he wanted back to UW he wouldn't have done that. Also, his wife is from that area and the word on the street in Madison around the program is that he has no interest in leaving there. I would be absolutely shocked if Bennett is the coach, heck if he even interviews. Have to remember UW is also very cheap.

[RiotPunch]

Of course Tony would sign that buyout agreement to appease the powers that be at Virginia. No guarantees that Bo would actually retire or that we would go after him at that point either. UW may be cheap, but I expect Barry to make an enticing offer. I've heard that Tony is indeed interested.