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UW’s defense keys successes

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Also by Mike Ackerstein:

UW's defense keys successes (March 11, 2008)
Wisconsin claims Big Ten title outright (March 10, 2008)
Rodgers' new job comes with price (March 6, 2008)
Seniors end final game at Kohl Center with a bang (March 6, 2008)

by Mike Ackerstein

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

All year Wisconsin did it on defense.

In getting the job done on the defensive end, the Badgers finished the regular season leading the nation in scoring average and holding opponents to just 54.3 points per game en route to a 26-4 record, a No. 8 national ranking and a regular season conference title.

“We just took care of business,” Badger head coach Bo Ryan said in his Monday press conference.

“There’s a lot of reasons [for success of the defense], and it just doesn’t start with one person,” Ryan said. “I don’t think enough credit is given to what say a Greg Stiemsma gives us off the bench. Sometimes people look at minutes to judge a person’s play.”

Stiemsma led the team in blocked shots with 33 during the season.

“I think some of the other guys, the way they cover for one another is the key to how this group has played defensively,” Ryan said. “It’s just been mainly guys picking up for one another.”

Wisconsin forced 14.1 turnovers per game from its opponents and held its foes to just 38 percent shooting from the field for the season.

“Well, this group didn’t create as many turnovers as some of the other teams that we’ve had, but shooting percentage-wise, I would have to think this would be the lowest,” Ryan said.

“I think shooting percentage-wise our team has done a good job of maybe getting teams to not have as many good looks as they would like to have. Yet I look at film and see guys wide open, … but there haven’t been a lot of wide-open shots that the other teams have had.”

As for what the basis of the defense is, Ryan cited principles he learned from Bob Knight more than 30 years ago.

“Everything that I’ve done defensively has been off of that clinic in ’72,” Ryan said. “There’s a lot of zone principles in the man-to-man that we play, and I’ve always liked that concept.”

Badgers receive awards

The Big Ten’s annual awards were released Monday afternoon, and several Badgers were among the recipients.

Leading the way was Brian Butch, who was named to the conference’s first-team by both the media and the coaches. Butch lead the Badgers in both scoring and rebounding this season.

Michael Flowers was an all second-team selection by the media and an all third-team selection by the coaches, while Marcus Landry was the coaches’ all second-teamer and a media all-third team pick.

Both Flowers and junior Joe Krabbenhoft were named to the all-defensive team, and sophomore Jason Bohannon was named the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Ryan, while believing the honors were well-deserved, doesn’t think they were the ultimate goals of his players.

“I think our players would tell you they got their award and their reward, and that was a Big Ten Championship,” Ryan said. “I think the first thing that they wanted was what they accomplished.”

As for naming the team’s most valuable player this season, Ryan felt it was just too difficult to decide.

“There’s no way this year. There’s no way,” Ryan said. “You would say defensively Michael Flowers, but you know what, Krabbenhoft, Landry — what they’ve added defensively, Trevon’s gotten better defensively. Offensively then who is the MVP? Can’t do that either. I don’t know where to start on that one.”

Badgers start Big Ten preparations

Wisconsin won’t play again until Friday, but when they return to action the Badgers face the possibility of playing three games in as many days. As such, UW will try to catch up on some rest early this season.

“Well, one of the keys is that we have remained in pretty good physical condition and shape, but you want that to continue,” Ryan said. “Our guys when they practice, they practice hard. … There’s a lot of contact out there, so on a day like today it’s going to be more skill work, shooting free-throws, lifting and conditioning.”

UW faces the winner of Thursday’s game between Iowa and Michigan, but the team will prepare for both to be on the safe side.

“Tomorrow we’ll start preparing,” Ryan said. “Tuesday will be one team for the scout-team, Wednesday will be the other team, and then Thursday we’ll know.”

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