Quick'name the winningest coach in men's college basketball in the 1990s. If you said Bo Ryan, Wisconsin's new head basketball coach, you're right.
Ryan is now in his 18th season as a head coach on the collegiate level. During this time he has compiled an impressive 383-103 (.788) record, and has propelled his teams to winning records for 17 consecutive years.
In his 18 years of coaching, Ryan has been a Division I-A head coach, a Division I-A assistant coach and a Division III head coach.
Ryan spent his last two seasons turning around the UW-Milwaukee Panthers' program and leading them to their first two winning seasons in eight years. However, it was at UW-Platteville that Ryan first established himself as a successful head coach.
In his 15 seasons at Platteville, Ryan led the school to a 353-76 (.822) overall record. His teams also claimed the Division III national title four times (1991, 1995, 1998, 1999.) In his final 12 seasons, UW-Platteville racked up a 157-7 (.957) home winning record, a 30-5 Division III Tournament record, eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, and with a 266-26 (.908) record, his team was the most successful team of the 1990s in all the college basketball divisions.
Ryan is expected to bring not only his tradition of excellence to Wisconsin basketball, but also his own unique style'a style of basketball that is somewhat different than UW teams have exhibited in the recent past.
When asked how Ryan's style of basketball differed from the styles of previous head coaches Dick Bennett and Brad Soderberg, senior captain and forward Charlie Wills said, \There is still structure, and there is still defense, but the way it's done is a little different, it's a little more up-tempo.""
As was evident in the game with EA Sports All-Stars last Saturday, Ryan highlights a more offensively motivated team, but one that still makes key defensive stops. And, rather than working strictly with a rigid system, Ryan feels as though his style depends more on his players' abilities than anything else.
As a result, he tries to craft his game to fit his player's strengths.
""I've said this for many years'coaches don't really change the game, there are a lot of philosophies that maybe sound a little different. But basically we are going to play to our players, meaning there are some things you can and can't do better than others,"" Ryan said.
In his first year, Ryan has inherited a considerably younger squad than UW has been used to in the past. However, this is not something new to him.
""I've been in this position before with young and inexperienced teams,"" Ryan said. ""So maybe that's why I was selected to be in this position. I'm going to use the same method and same teaching philosophy I've used in the past.""
His prior record shows clearly that he has what it takes to work with young and somewhat inexperienced players and produce a successful team. Nevertheless, youth and inexperience will be a large factor in the 2001-'02 season.
""Youth might be a little bit of a disadvantage right now, but I think that once they get some experience, we have good enough guys, that they will be able to adjust their game and play well,"" Wills said.
Junior guard Kirk Penney said he felt the same way.
""We have a lot of young players but they are so keen and so eager,"" Penney said. ""I believe in all the players. From a personnel standpoint I think we'll be fine.""
Because the team is young and the players and coaches are new to each other, the challenges are significant.
""What we're starting by building a program right now with so many young and inexperienced players is ... that fundamental base,"" Ryan said.
Ryan wants the coaches and players starting on the same page, starting with fundamentals.
""We need to make sure we're taking care of the basketball ... [and] defensively make it as tough for the other team to get easy baskets as possible'those are pretty much the fundamentals,"" Ryan said.
Although the team faces uncertainties inherent with youth and a new coach, Ryan's record of achievement should help allay some fan and player anxieties. UW has the opportunity to surprise a lot of people this year.
