Wisconsin Badgers Top 5 Seasons under Bo Ryan

Mar 22, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan reacts during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament against the Oregon Ducks at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin Badgers, 2002-03

In Bo Ryan’s first season, Ryan took over a scrappy dysfunctional Badger team and finished the year 19-13 having barely scratched the rankings, in 2002-03 what Ryan did should be considered incredible.

What’s impressive about this Badger team is how Bo Ryan took his team from among the contenders in the Big Ten to the very top. We aren’t forgetting that the Big Ten is one of the best basketball conferences in America and this Badger team emerged as one of the nations elite finishing the season in the top 15 at #13.

Led by the future long time NBA player and eventual #5 draft pick, Devin Harris, the Badgers were atrocious on the offensive end scoring just 70 points a game. What did they care? They were busy playing tough defense and only allowing 59 points per game- 6th best in the nation.

Once again it was a group of unselfish play that helped the Badgers hit their stride, guys like Kirk Penney averaging 16 points per game played a huge role heading into the Tournament. Michael Wilkinson grabbing seven rebounds a game and adding ten points motivated their role players. Devin Harris, the facilitator of it all, got everything cooking. Everything was going great for the Badgers until they met the Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet 16, sparking a rivalry between UK and Bo Ryan.

Next: 2011-12