2008-2009 Prediciton

i thought the badgers were supposed to play in the malibu invitational some time soon.

What teams are in the paradise jam?

I appreciate the optimism expressed in this thread and hope it turns out as the posters suggest. Plus, I was floored at the season we wound up with last year given the returning talent, which is really all about Bo. It was a great year.

But I am doubtful about some of the predictions. Trevon and JBo make for an adequate backcourt, but not defensively up to what coach is used to putting out there. The forwards, Krabbs and Landry, are scrappy but will be overmatched by bigger and more athletic players.

Rebounding is going to be down, and the 16 inside/outside ppg of Butch/Steimsma won't be replaced in the post by Landry alone. I'd be hopeful that someone would step up, and I'm sure Leuer will be challenged to do so, but the minutes played last year by the bench and the production don't make me think so.

So yes, I'm bleeding Badger Cardinal, but I think Purdue, MSU and OSU in that order are all faster and more athletically talented. Minnesota is recruiting better and I think Manny Harris at Michigan could well be the best guard in the Big 10 next year.

So I hope I am proved wrong for thinking Badgers finish middle of the pack next year. Go Bucky!

Just like the how some were saying that the many points of Tucker/Taylor wasn't going to be replaced by any one person?  Of course they weren't, and we saw a team effort where everyone stepped up their production, most notably Landry and Hughes.  It'll be the same again next year.  It always is.  Next year a combination of Leuer/Nankivil/Berggren will take a chunk of that scoring load, and don't think for a second that Krabbenhoft won't be working on himm jumper every day of the offseason.  Look at it this way.  Tucker/Taylor/Chappell accounted for over 55% of the scoring two years ago.  Last year Butch/Stiemsma/Flowers accouted for only 35%.  That's a lot easier to make up.

Remember how Wisconsin was supposed to be a distant third to the Spartans and Hoosiers?  Well, the Badgers swept both of them.  I see no reason why the Badgers can't have a repeat performance next year.  All that's missing is a man in the middle, and there's plenty of options for that one.  So please don't tell me that you really think the Badgers could finish behind Michigan and Minnesota.  Because it would make me sad to know that someone actually thought that could happen.

I love Bo but I think you underestimate how talented the team really was, they are more talented and athletic than some give them credit for.

The JBo/Hughes backcourt is atleast as good defensively as the Flowers/Taylor backcourt. Taylor was a HORRIBLE defender, barely tried, atleast JBo tries and frankly while he is a little different I think Hughes as a sohmore was on par if not better than Flowers was defensively as a sophmore so if Hughes continues to improve as I think he will I think Hughes will be as good of a defender in his junior year as Flowers was his junior year. So while this year was special because Hughes and Flowers were so good defensively I think next year WILL be on par with any other normal year for the Badgers.

As for Krabbs and Landry, well....LMFAO. Krabbenhoft is 6' 7" shooting forward, he is incredibly athletic for that position, yes sometimes when he has to guard Power Forwards he is a little outmuscled and sometimes when he has to guard two guards he is a little (not much) slower than them but when he is allowed to play his natural three spot there is NO ONE in the country he can't guard and there are few that can guard him when he is being agressive (the aggressiveness needs adressing in the offseason). As for Landry, well as I recall a guy named Greg oden called Landry "the toughest defensive matchup he faced in his entire collegiate year" and considering he is 6' 8" and how good he is getting on the wing and how quick he is I think he is more than a formidable PF in college.

Sorry man I think Krabbs and Landry might be the best forward tandem in country next year, when you combine skill, strength and EXPERIENCE. There might be some raw talented freshman that are "better" pro prospects but in college I don;t think many if any will be able to match Krabbs and Landry. I think you are wrong on this one by a long shot.

Rebounding is going to be down, and the 16 inside/outside ppg of Butch/Steimsma won't be replaced in the post by Landry alone. I'd be hopeful that someone would step up, and I'm sure Leuer will be challenged to do so, but the minutes played last year by the bench and the production don't make me think so.I know we can replace the scoring. Hughes' scoring will be up, Landry and Krabbs scoring will go up. Leuer, Nankivil and JBO's scoring will go up and I suspect atleast one fo the freshman will contribute significantly next year. So their scoring will be replaced if not improved. As for rebounding, it might be a little down it might be about the same, Butch was a decent rebounder but Bo's system is built around team rebounding, I wouldn't count on the rebounding being much different atleast not significantly so. It has been about the same every year under Bo so why would it change next year.

I won't predict a finish but I will say this. Purdue will be good and I predict they will finish with either a 15-3 or 16-2 record in the Big Ten next year. MSU will be counting on alot of underclassmen next year and none of them particularly impress me as being able to carry the team. OSU loses their team leader and PG in Butler, and possibly they lose Koufus, if Koufus leaves don't expect better than a 4th or 5th place finish out of the Buckeyes. I like Minne but they are still a year or two away from challenging for the top 3 or 4. I love Manny Harris but he can't do it alone and I am still not sure Beilein has the players for HIS system yet but Michigan will get better. That said I think the Badgers can challenge for the BT title and finish top 3 next year