Screen Shot 2014-03-24 at 1.07.24 PM.png

Wisconsin beat Oregon on Saturday in an NCAA Tournament victory.

(Thomas Boyd/Oregonian)



I've lived in the midwest, shoveled snow, covered Big Ten football and basketball. Still, surprised how touchy Wisconsin Badgers fans are about being informed that their basketball team is not all that athletic . They've got a 7-foot center who can shoot. I love two of their bench players, which gives them depth. And as much grief as Traevon Jackson gets for not being his father, he's a terrific decision maker. I get why Bo Ryan wants him on the court.

But Wisconsin is not the most athletic team left in the NCAA Tournament. Not even close. Maybe bottom eight of 16 remaining.

Badgers fans, "Do I look fat in these pants?"

Me, "Yes."

You know the rest.

Talked with Badgers assistant Gary Close during Wisconsin's run to the Sweet 16 and he said, "Our kids don't get enough credit for their athleticism." A lot of that has to do with the fact that Wisconsin spent a few decades getting outrecruited regularly by Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana and maybe some others.

The Badgers leaned on a system, and development of players, and have done a very nice job being relevant in college basketball. Their 16-straight NCAA Tournament appearances is trumped only by runs from North Carolina, Kansas, Duke, Indiana, Michigan State and Kentucky.

That said, this Wisconsin team was not even as athletic as Oregon, which finished 10-8 in the Pac-12. I'd take the Ducks wing players, I'd take the Ducks guards, I'd even take coach Dana Altman over Bo Ryan ---- in one of those old ABC Wide World of Sports Superstars competitions.

But if we're talking about a team, I'd take the Badgers.

I wonder if @JohnCanzanoBFT knows Wisconsin beat MSU, Arizona, Florida, Michigan. Don't kid yourself, Wisconsin is more talented than Oregon — Scott Thompson (@scottwisconsin) March 24, 2014

I'm aware of all those things (except the Arizona part... they never played). And not picking on Scott, it's a good point. But let's be real, the most athletic team doesn't always win. Wisconsin has enough athleticism, but its real strength is in that group that plays so well together. It's a band of brothers.

Wrote poster Scotmandu: "

"

No. I'm saying this because they aren't particularly athletic as a group. Being on a watch list is one thing. Being a great athlete is another. Kaminsky is a 7-footer who can shoot it. He's tall, and skilled, but needs a lot more development if he's going to be an NBA player. I thought Dekker was the best athlete on the team, long, runs well, can jump, but he's going to need to be a lot stronger and work really hard. No way can he defend NBA players at his position right now.

We're off topic now. But yeah.

Wisconsin fans are busying, too, pointing out that they were the higher-seeded team, and they're hopping mad over a columnist from Oregon pointing out that they weren't all that athletic individually, just a great team. I suspect it's why the Badgers struggle to get beyond the Regional Semifinal or early rounds in most years. They run into athletically superior teams that are also well coached and well play together.

Oregon was only two of three there, and nearly beat them.

Wisconsin has great cheese. The most athletic cheese on the planet. It has wonderful beer. Skilled. I saw a guy on the streets soaking bratwurst in a vat of beer, garlic and onions before he barbecued them. That guy, sensational athlete as street vendors go. But this year's Badgers basketball team, if it advances deeper in this tournament, is going to do so because it plays so well together, is well coached, and just athletic enough.

I suspect the sensitivity from Badgers fans is that they routinely hear that they're not all that athletic because they're compared to Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Indiana all the time, even Purdue in the glory years. It probably gets old. If we're looking for a good comparison in the Pac-12, Oregon State is the Wisconsin-type program. If it could cultivate more good culture, and success, and model itself after Wisconsin I think we'd be talking about the Beavers fans the same way.

Maybe Close is the guy Bob DeCarolis should hire when/if the basketball job ever opens?

Wisconsin, I love you, man. Picked you over the Ducks in my bracket for this very reason. Miss the brats and beers already. But if you want honest advice, embrace the lack of eye-popping athleticism on that roster. It says so much more about you.

---