How Wisconsin Made It To The FINAL FOUR

Big TenNetwork ^ | April 2, 2014 | Tom Dienhart

[Diana in Wisconsin]

When the season dawned, Michigan State was the consensus pick to win the Big Ten. And for good reason, with talents like Gary Harris, Adreian Payne, Keith Appling and Branden Dawson, among others.

Wisconsin? The Badgers were supposed to be good—they always are under Bo Ryan, never finishing lower than fourth place.

But Ryan’s club has taken things to another level this season during an unexpected march to the Final Four as a No. 2 seed after going 12-6 in the Big Ten. At one point this season, Wisconsin was 4-5 in Big Ten play. Look at the Badgers now. Incredible.

Here’s a look back at how they got to the Final Four, where a date with red-hot No. 8 Kentucky looms.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Terrific videos of their rise to the Final Four at the link. Love My Badgers! Go, Bucky!

[Doctor 2Brains]

By beating the other teams...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Well, that's a BIG part of it, LOL!

Go, Bucky!

[Mad Dawgg]

"How Wisconsin Made It To The FINAL FOUR"

I'm gonna go with: "By getting a higher score than the team they played in the Elite Eight"...

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[skinndogNN]

Frank Kaminsky

This guy has been hard to stop.

[EEGator]

Go Gators! (Random hot Gator chick...)

[blueunicorn6]

Bo Ryan. He’s a very good coach.

[skinkinthegrass]

Umm..they still have to play,
"The (University of) KY Wildcats".
not an slouching problem.

[henkster]

Well Diana, this Hoosier fan was hoping you’d have B1G company in the Final Four, but those Michigan teams choked despite having poached our state of most of it’s native talent.

The last thing I want is a Kentucky championship. I despise everything about the program, players, coach, school and arena. (Although I did see The Who there in 1980).

Go Bucky! (I said that? I need a shower.)

Go B1G!!!

[Sir Napsalot]

Badgers played as a team more so than others. Not saying the others don’t play as a team, just saying they are MORE so ....... I kept thinking one of the ‘off game’ will show up (that none of the shots would go in, etc.)

/Badgers fan here, but I’ve had them exiting in the Elite Eight (against Creighton)

p/s, I am Soooooo nervous

[JimRed]

How? By winning the right games at the right times, of course!

I hope all the final four games are as competitive as so many in the earlier rounds were. Overtime is fun!

[onyx]

B T T T ! ! ! ©

[driftless2]

Ryan's teams are almost always the most disciplined if not the most physically talented team on the court. This year his players are a little more physically talented than usual. Plus all five starters can shoot and four can shoot the three well. He has two reserves who could start.

Unlike other teams, Ryan does not tolerate bad shots, passes, or other plays even from his stars. One ill-advised shot, pass, dribble, or missed defensive assignment will find a player a quick spot on the bench. They have a player, Kaminsky, who's been very hard to contain in the last month.

They're certainly not a perfect team, but they've had the good fortune to jell the last month after a stretch of playing poorly one month before. On Wisconsin.

[driftless2]

If McGary was healthy, I’d have picked Michigan to win it all. Too bad for the Wolverines....they still came very close to making the Final Four.

[Coldwater Creek]

The Badger’s have my vote. Of course, anyone that plays Dirty Cal is the team that I want to win.

[Coldwater Creek]

SI cover page is the kiss of death........

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’ve heard that, too. BUT I have faith in our team! :)