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2010-11 Wisconsin NCAA Basketball Predictions

The Wisconsin Badgers exceeded expectations last year, going 24-9 overall and finished just one game out of a share for the Big Ten regular-season title at 13-5. The Badgers however struggled to perform in postseason play. After being knocked out in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, the fourth-seeded Badgers were bounced from the NCAA Tournament in the second round by Cornell. It was the third time in the last four years that the Badgers were beat by a lower-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament.

Wisconsin lost senior guards Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes from last season, but once again believe they have as good as shot as anyone to win the conference title this season. Head coach Bo Ryan hasn’t allowed the Badgers to finish worse than fourth in the Big Ten in nine seasons, but with the Big Ten loaded with talent this year, whether or not the Badgers make a run will depend on the development of some of its young players.

Frontcourt: The Badgers return seven players with experience down low, and the most talented of them all is senior Jon Leuer, who averaged nearly 16 points and six rebounds a game last season. Leuer most likely would have received  first-team All-Big Ten honors last season if he hadn’t missed seven games with a broken left wrist. Leuer is a difficult matchup with his ability to score down low and nail the outside jumper, and could be ready for a breakout season in 2010.

Seniors Keaton Nankivil and Tim Jarmusz also return to the starting lineup, but both need to show they have improved from last season. Jarmusz went from shooting 42% from behind the arc to just under 30% last season, and will need to find his touch if he wants to stay in the starting lineup. Junior Rob Wilson and sophomores Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz, and Ryan Evans give the Badgers great depth down low.

Backcourt: How well this team replaces Bonannon and Hughes will go a long way in determining how good this team is this season. Junior Jordan Taylor is the most experienced guard on the roster, and will be counted on to have a huge season this year. Taylor averaged 10 points with just over three rebounds and assists a game, but will likely be needed to score closer to 16 a game this season.

Senior walk-on Wquinton Smith started at the other guard spot in the Badgers opening win over Prairie View A&M, but freshman Josh Gasser scored 21 points in 26 minutes, and could end up stealing the starting job from Wquinton. Adding depth is freshman Ben Brust, who like Gasser, can play either guard spot.

Prediction – 5th Big Ten: While it’s hard to ever go against Ryan and the Badgers, I just believe the Big Ten is too loaded with talent for the Badgers to come away with a conference title. Wisconsin should still be good enough to make the NCAA Tournament, but I have a hard time seeing this team making a deep run unless they get a lot of improvement from their returning players.