reclegend22;1411793 wrote:I think picking Ryan to the Sweet 16 is a solid pick. The Final Four was obviously reaching looking back, but Wisconsin has been to five Sweet 16s under Ryan, including two straight, and an elite eight. So, on a normal year, when I wouldn't pick Wisconsin all the way to the Final Four, I would be alright picking them. This year they got upset early and I lost.
But I still think that this Wisconsin team could have went deep in this tournament with the matchups it had from here on out. Ole Miss ended the game on a crazy run, though, and Wisconsin is going home.
That is all probably true.
But the E8 you keep harping on was a GIFT. Sure they played UNC tough. They also had to beat an 11, 14, 10 to get there. Literally cannot have an easier path to the E8. Even a 1 seed is guaranteed to have to play an 8/9...
His 1st S16 run was a gift. A 12 and a 13 to get there...before losing to a real team in UK
2nd S16 run he was 31-5 and had a 14, 11 and then LOST to a 10...
3rd S16 run he finally did what is expected beat the 14 and then the 5, but did lose to an 8...
4th S16 run I would say was his best tournament. Really his only one I would point to. Beat the 14, 5 and then lost in a close game to the 1. But again, didnt overachieve...just did what his seed said he should.
You can think he is a better March coach than me, but the numbers are definitely on my side. He constantly losses to worse teams, and rarely...if ever...pulls an upset. The best he has ever done is what his seed said he should do (then the gift of an E8 run...)
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