By:  Chris Terlop

Bo Ryan’s Badgers put up 103 points Tuesday night against the University of North Dakota.  This three digit number is as rare as a Packers quarterback getting hurt (whoops) when it comes to Badger basketball.  The last time Bucky put up triple digits was in 1995 under Dick Bennett. That’s 18 years ago!  Kids were born grew up and got their licenses in between 100 point performances.

The question has never been, “Do the Badgers have the talent to score 100?” but, “Will Bo Ryan let his offense loose?”  We got that answer, albeit against a team that doesn’t even have a nickname.  Bo may actually let these guys loose this year.

Last season Wisconsin averaged 66 points per game, so far in this young season, 79.  Sure, the defense was not stellar on Tuesday, something that if anybody can fix, it’s Bo, but we saw the potential offensively of this team.  To me, that was the most promising thing, as this team is not built for half court games as teams in the past.  This team is athletic and to stifle that athleticism would be a shame.

When you start three guards, a small forward at power forward and a perimeter 7-footer who weighs 230 pounds soaking wet, you cannot afford to get into a slow it down game with Adrian Payne in the post, or Mitch McGary, or even Amir Williams.  You take advantage and you run, Sam Dekker is more athletic than most fours you will face, and Kaminsky can outrun most centers.  Coming off the bench, you have two guards in George Marshall and Bronson Koening with big men Nigel Hayes and Dujan Dukan, who can both run the floor.

It is nice to slow it down and be able to chuck threes all game, but we have seen how that story ends.  I’m not saying to completely transform, but for Bo to let the reigns off his team when it is needed. Who knows, perhaps Badgers fans can set their hopes higher than the Sweet Sixteen.

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