Is Bo Ryan's "Never worse than 4th place" legacy still intact?

[OnceAhawk]

Coming into this year, Bo Ryan never finished worse than 4th in the B1G. He also made the NCAA tournament every year while head coach at Wisconsin. Both records were in danger this year, of course. Since Ryan quit prior to the the start of the B1G conference season, does his "never worse than 4th place" and his "14 consecutive NCAA tournaments" legacy stand? Or will his name still be attached to this season's final results?

Wisconsin is currently in 10th place, btw.

His quitting right before conference play began makes me wonder if there was more behind the timing of when he quit. Wisconsin is now 9-8, and is NIT bound, at best.

Current standings:


Big Ten Standings

TEAM CONF OVERALL

Maryland 4-0 15-1
Indiana 3-0 13-3
Iowa 3-0 12-3
Ohio State 3-0 11-5
Michigan State 2-1 15-1
Purdue 2-1 14-2
Michigan 2-1 12-4
Northwestern 1-2 13-3
Penn State 1-2 10-6
Wisconsin 1-3 9-8
Illinois 0-3 8-8
Nebraska 0-3 8-8
Minnesota 0-3 6-9
Rutgers 0-3 6-10

 

[DanL53]

I say no because I called the end of it last summer. He can't just leave when he's been called out like that and say he won the last ten hands or whatever! I called him, he folded and left. Streak is over!

 

[Steve Waite]

This is his team, regardless if the Grinch quit!
If the truth be known. He didn't want to come to Iowa City and watch Uthoff destroy his team.
I won't miss him. He's a great coach, but a overall piece of shit.
Karma's a bitch Bo!

 

[wneff]

You guys all think Bill Frieder won the championship in 1989?

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

He Spurriered. As the old saying goes, if you can't beat em quit before you play em. Or something like that.

 

[Hans81]

Darn, I really wanted him to be in Iowa City when Uthoff and the Hawks dismantle is baaadgers!

 

[Herkuleez]

No, this years team will not finish in the Top 4...probably miss the top half. It warms the heart.

 

[gablefan73]

I think Bo did a stand up thing by giving his buddy a shot at earning the Head coach gig. His record is intact, and I will miss the old prick. He and Izzo did a wonderful job of carrying the Big Ten.

 

[Herky T Hawk]

I'd say it depends upon where they finish. He assembled this team so he is responsible for it.

If they are only a game or two out of fourth place then I say his legacy is still intact because you could make a case that maybe they would have won another game or two if he was coaching. If they finish nowhere close, then I think people start talking about him bailing out on his team before the ship went down.

Either way it doesn't take away from his coaching accomplishments.

 

[MWardT]

I think Bo did a stand up thing by giving his buddy a shot at earning the Head coach gig. His record is intact, and I will miss the old prick. He and Izzo did a wonderful job of carrying the Big Ten.

He quit on his team to protect his own legacy. Spin it any way you want, though.

 

[Ronman]

Doesn't really matter to me. He was a great coach. Just glad he is gone.

 

[MarkRules]

You guys all think Bill Frieder won the championship in 1989?

I think Glenn Rice won it.

 

[thewop]

A DNF is lower than 4th. Ask any racer of any kind.

 

[theIowaHawk]

Out of all his impressive feats at Wiscy, this is one of the least, it was just a quirky fun stat, when so many others better described his tenure.

 

[Packer54]

This was his idea of doing what he wanted to do and not be dictated to by BA. He stuck it to BA. You don't like my coaching suggestion after all I did for the program???? I will show you....

No way short of a NCAA appearance does the current coach stay past this year. BA will make the change for sure but in Bo's mind he at least gave Gard a chance to show he can coach.

I could care less as I can't stand Wisconsin but I can tell you this is as close to the truth as anything.

 

[icantfindausernamethatisntused]

The legacy is no longer intact. However, it will always be prefaced with a note that he retired mid-year his final season.

I still believe that what he did at Wisconsin was the most impressive coaching job anyone in the country did at the same time, and this year doesn't change that. I have no inside information on what happened this year, but my guess would be that he started delegating more of his coaching responsibilities because he knew he was on his way out and he wanted to give Gard more experience to groom him to takeover. I also believe that had Ryan treated this like any other year, he would have found a way to get this team to finish in the top 4 of the Big 10. There's still a lot of talent on this roster and he's won with less talent at Wisconsin.

For Iowa's sake, I am glad he is gone.

 

[DanL53]

The legacy is no longer intact. However, it will always be prefaced with a note that he retired mid-year his final season.

I still believe that what he did at Wisconsin was the most impressive coaching job anyone in the country did at the same time, and this year doesn't change that. I have no inside information on what happened this year, but my guess would be that he started delegating more of his coaching responsibilities because he knew he was on his way out and he wanted to give Gard more experience to groom him to takeover. I also believe that had Ryan treated this like any other year, he would have found a way to get this team to finish in the top 4 of the Big 10. There's still a lot of talent on this roster and he's won with less talent at Wisconsin.

For Iowa's sake, I am glad he is gone.

Bo must really hate Wisconsin to try to install a coach that can't succeed even with a lot of talent.

 

[Packer54]

I think they have some talent but it is very limited and there just is not much depth. Hard is at least trying to develop more of a bench via playing time. Bo just would not play some of these guys. Not saying it would be their salvation but when the starters are pulling almost all the minutes with the type of defense they play, you pay for it in your shooting. They have played Purdue, Maryland and Indiana tough but could not manufacture the points. Also 2 of those were at home so that hurts even more. Frankly I do not see their record being any different right now with Bo there or not. I have not seen and glaring differences on the court with the exception of Gard trying to get more minutes to the bench.

 

[theIowaHawk]

This was, imo, an obviously calculated move, but not to keep this silly "record" intact. He had already announced he was a lame duck, which had to be screwing with recruiting and everything else. He had publicly said he wanted this guy, his 2nd in command, to take over, but Alvarez isn't one to be told what to do, so I think there was a legitimate concern that he wouldn't hire his guy, evidenced by the refusal to announce the hiring. By quitting midseason he has bound BA's hands, at least for the time being. Allows his guy to keep his recruits while giving him the authority and likelihood of being hired.

But I still think BA won't take kindly to this type of move, and I think he moves on to a new coach, IF there is a good one for the taking at the end of the season.