Badgers report: Notes, quotes
 

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Notes, quotes · Getting inside · Strategy and personnel
 

FINAL RECORD
31-5, 16-2, first in Big Ten

WHAT WENT RIGHT
Why did the Badgers eclipse everyone's preseason expectations? Because every player, to a man, delivered more than expected. From sophomore point guard Trevon Hughes' breakout campaign to Brian Butch's stellar senior season, the Badgers' individual parts were better than anticipated and their sum was even more.

Junior forward Joe Krabbenhoft joined senior Michael Flowers on the all-Big Ten defensive team -- a key to Wisconsin building the nation's No. 1 scoring defense -- while sophomore sixth man Jason Bohannon showed he'll be one of the Big Ten's most consistent perimeter players over the next two years.

WHAT WENT WRONG
There aren't many negatives in a 31-5 season, especially when the five losses all came against teams that did no less than reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In fact, if Hughes' gimpy ankle hadn't given out during the Badgers' season-ending loss to Davidson, Wisconsin might not have bowed out in the Sweet Sixteen.

If there's going to be any regret over the way the season played out, it will be in the way that Wisconsin's freshmen didn't get a ton of playing time to accelerate their learning curve. Jon Leuer, Tim Jarmusz and Keaton Nankivil combined for 411 minutes and 116 points in Wisconsin's 36 games. Unless an incoming freshman is going to earn a starting job, which seems unlikely under Bo Ryan, then one of these three guys, must start next year.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"We had a great year. Big Ten championship. All those things are great and I'm so proud of 'em. But, you know, you always like 40 more minutes. We're not going to get it." -- Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan to the media after the Badgers lost to Davidson March 28 in the Midwest regional semifinal.

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