Wisconsin was one of the nation’s most consistent programs in the country during the 2000s and that continued into these last 10 years. Mostly under the leadership of Bo Ryan, the program took the next step into the national spotlight with back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015. A vital core of Frank Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, and Bronson Koenig led to these sensational seasons and pushed the Badgers firmly up this list.
What makes their stretch so special is that it was not a surprise. Given their successes as a program during the 2000s, it was only a matter of time before Coach Ryan made a significant run in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers were due to finally have a breakout campaign that led to an appearance on the biggest stage of the sport and that occurred in back-to-back seasons. This was not just a flash in the pan.
Wisconsin boasts one of the best overall records in the country over the past 10 years and they made nine trips to the Big Dance. Head coach Greg Gard is now the leader of the program and he is showcasing significant recruiting chops to potentially carry the Badgers into their next era. Wisconsin has been consistently great for 20+ years.