Credit Bo Ryan

Class of 2002

Jason Chappell- 6’10 PF New Berlin WI

Alando Tucker- 6’5 SG Lockport IL

Ray Nixon- 6’7 PF Whitefish Bay, WI

Maurice Wade- 6’3 SG Milwaukee WI

Class of 2003

Brian Butch- 7’ 215 lbs.C Appleton, WI 5 Stars

Zach Morley- 6’8 PF Maryville MO 3 Stars

Kammron Taylor- 6’2 158 lbs. Minneapolis MN 3 Stars

Class of 2004

Sharif Chambliss- 6’1 PG Racine WI 2 Stars

Michael Flowers- 6’2 SG Madison WI 3 Stars

Greg Stiemsma- 6’11 225 Randolph WI 4 Stars

DeAaron Williams- 6’4 SF Bartonville IL 3 Stars

Class of 2005

Joe Krabbenhoft- 6’7 SF Sioux Falls SD 5 stars

Marcus Landry- 6’7 PF Milwaukee WI 3 Stars

Class of 2006

Jason Bohannon- 6’3 PG Marion IA 4 Stars

Trevon Hughes- 6’2 PG Delafield WI 4 Stars

J.P. Gavinski- 6’10 C Wisconsin Dells WI 3 stars

University of Wisconsin may be the most pure state university basketball team in the country. Nearly all the players in the program are from the state of Wisconsin, a true rarity in college sports today. Many of their stars are from their home state as well. On this year’s team Butch, Stiemsma, Landry, Flowers and Hughes are 5 of the 7 guys that play significant minutes. On North Carolina, not one of the players from the state of North Carolina sees a significant minute in most games (GravesMinnesota, Illinois (x2), South Dakota, Iowa are all real close to Madison and the furthest recruit is Zach Morley who came up from Missouri. To show the complete opposite extreme Duke (a team who has had less success then Wisconsin these past three years) doesn’t have one player from the state of North Carolina and has a greater connection to New Jersey (2 players), Oregon, Arkansas, California, Oregon, Colorado and Lithuania than the state of North Carolina. comes in for like 30 seconds-doesn’t count). Also the guys that come in from out of state aren’t being flown in cross-country they are from neighboring states.

Not only does Coach Ryan recruit unbelievably well in his home state, once he gets his players to Madison he makes them better. If you are asked which state is home to the best basketball in the country, Wisconsin isn’t even in your top 20. Yet using Wisconsin born players Coach Ryan consistently makes them a top 10 team in the country. Brian Butch for example came into campus as the most highly recruited player Wisconsin has had since 1993. He was a McDonald’s All-American yet he redshirted. He agreed with Coach Ryan that he wasn’t ready for the physicality of the Big 10 and gained 20 lbs. of muscle and is now the best player on a sweet sixteen team as a senior. Kam Taylor was said to be too skinny when he was recruited by Coach Ryan. He came to Madison as a 158 lb. scrawny point guard but left as the best point guard in the big 10 (did I mention he was 175 lbs. and physical). The best example is probably the bruiser on this year’s Wisconsin team Greg Stiemsma. Stiemsma was pretty highly viewed coming out of high school and was given 4 star status but was said to be to slow and not big enough to bruise down low in the big 10. Now he is the classification of bruiser. He has gained 35 lbs of muscle since entering Madison and outmuscled Kansas St. on Saturday for the win.

Maybe teams like North Carolina and Duke should stop going cross country looking for the next big star and instead start working on recruiting in their own backyards. They each missed on Stephen Curry (40 pts in the first round) and now he is starring at Davidson. They both missed on K.C. Rivers who was probably the best shooter in the ACC this year (Duke isn’t that what you pride yourselves on). They should learn from coaches like Bo Ryan who develops his talent and uses homegrown talent. People of Wisconsin can be proud of their team. They are a true state university team that represents the whole state. Congrats Bo, you built a winning program the fans can be proud of.