Bo Ryan

  (11:57 AM)

I am here and ready to go!

Tim (Owatonna, MN)

What is the key to Wisconsin going deep into the NCAA tournament

Bo Ryan

  (11:58 AM)

Well, we have to stay healthy. We can't affored to lose anyone else. We have to keep playing team ball. Devin is putting up great numbers and is very unselfish. We have to continue that.

Nate (Superior, WI)

Who taught you the swing offense and why don't we see more little guys posting up in the college game?

Bo Ryan

  (12:00 PM)

I developed the swing from being an asst. coach in the Big Ten. As a player, I think in my development I was fortunate to be the guy that always was put on the best scorer. Offensively, having been a point guard, I took things I thought would help me and tried to put tall that thinking together. It deals with a lot of unselfish play, bigs and smalls posting, everybody developing better passing skills. If you have a good bigger player, they can still get a lot of touches in the post. We don't take our bigs away from the block all the time. You can do different things in this game and be successful and some coaches just don't feel comfortable with guards in the post. That's OK too.

Eric (Eau Claire)

How important is the Big Ten tournament. Would you like to win it all or would you like to just get it out of the way so the guys can rest up for the dance?

Bo Ryan

  (12:02 PM)

Excellent question. It's asked every year. So much is going on around about the teams that lost early in their conf. tourney and had a chance to refocus and heal up. Here is the thing .. the Big Ten tourney is next on the schedule. We want to compete and play as many games as possible. We have played well in the NCAA Tournament so I don't think losing in the first round hurt us in the tournament. Do we go into something without preparing to be successful? No. We love to compete. We want to get it done.

Mike

Bo, since you're a Philly guy, what's your take on the Terrell Owens situation? Is he the answer for the Eagles to avoid their 4th straight NFC title game loss?

Bo Ryan

  (12:03 PM)

(Laughing) I've been an Eagles fan as long as I can remember .. all my relatives are Eagles fans as well .. in this day and age, it's in the eyes of the coach, what they feel is best. The owners can pull the trigger though. It's a tough call if a player really wants to be with your team .. who is in control? That's a reason I've never wanted to coach past the collegiate level. There is a little more order. I hope the Eagles are strong enough to get to the Super Bowl. If not the Eagles, then the Packers. If not the Packers, then the Vikings.

Andrew Kruse (Minneapolis, MN)

Yo Bo -- What seed do you expect to get for the tourney? A lot of the "experts" have you as a No. 5 seed. Do you think this is where you should be, or do you believe you deserve a No. 3 or 4 having finished 12-4 in an admittedly down year for the Big Ten?

Bo Ryan

  (12:04 PM)

I'm not as well versed as some coaches in this regard. It's more where you are placed in your matchup, moreso than the seed. We'll be between 4 and 6. Wherever they send us we will be ready. We are just happy to have the chance to play.

David (Skokie, Illinois)

Bo, first and foremost, congrats the teams' success. You have really turned the UW program into something special, thank you. Heading into next year, how do you see the roles of incoming players, such as Brian Butch and DeAron Williams, affecting the team and its success? Will either see significant action?

Bo Ryan

  (12:05 PM)

I see those guys adding quite a bit. They are great young men. That will be a big boost for us. As long as everyone is healthy, it could be very interesting. A lot of things have to go right, no injuries, guys on same page, etc. But I'm really looking forward to it. We have a lot more to do this year though.

Andy (Madison)

Have you watched UW on "The Season" and what is your impression? Any favorite parts?

Bo Ryan

  (12:07 PM)

(Laughing) In the first one, I got a chuckle out of the way my wife presented dinner by saying, "Dinner is ready, time to complain!" My son Matt did a good rendition of Marv Albert - Bill Walton and ALF as a sideline reporter. It was a week we lost at Illinois and Michigan so not a lot of court action to get excited about. The second one had some really good story lines and neat things about the players. That's why I agreed to do it .. to give a feel of what it's like to be a student athlete and live on campus. Tonight should be a good one .. it covered the week of beating Mich. St. and Indiana. The good thing is it really shows basketball student athletes in a diff. light.

Mike (Mukwonago, WI)

Bo, What are the chances, and what are you going to do (if anything) to convince Devin Harris to play his senior season?

Bo Ryan

  (12:08 PM)

We haven't even touched on that much other than us talking when the season is over. He has handled everything so well and having so much fun playing college basketball. Intelligent decisions will be made based on good info, not street talk or agent talk. He has a good head on his shoulders and understands what this is all about.

Sarah (Madison)

One thing you get mad propers for is developing the inside game. Do you think this will surprise other teams going into the dance if they try to force WI away from the perimeter?

Bo Ryan

  (12:11 PM)

If we look at points in the paint, we have done a good job. If you are big, you have to ask, do you have good feet? Are you strong? Our inside players have done a great job devloping their shooting percentage, rebounding, etc. If they are looking at film, they will know about our inside presence.

Aaron O. (Muncie, IN)

Coach, for the tourney or next season is there any possibility in your incorporating the killer full court press you utilized with your past teams before you got to Wisconsin?

Bo Ryan

  (12:12 PM)

We had already started in Sept. in our individual workouts and then the injuries started. It just wasn't going to happen. Hopefully we can be in a position again to use it.

Clark, Eau Claire, WI

Coach, You've taken a lot of heat lately for running up the score and leaving starters in too long. What is your response to that?

Bo Ryan

  (12:13 PM)

Haven't heard a thing. Nobody has mentioned it. Our guys haven't. We only have 9-10 players. Usually around the four minute mark, if we are up, that's when we sub. I've never heard any complaints.

Russell (Chicago)

Hey Bo, It is obviously good to research a team before you play them, but have you ever researched the style of an official to prepare for a game?

Bo Ryan

  (12:14 PM)

To be real honest, I never even look at the names of the officials. I've talked to some coaches who do but it goes from game to game. Depends on the styles of the teams, the players, etc. People try to overanalyze the officials and it can backfire. I just get our guys to play a certain way with their feet and watch their hands and work on positioning.

Cody (Jefferson,Wi)

Bo, right now you have a little time between games, what do you have the players doing right now on a daily basis to keep their focus and help to stay fresh?

Bo Ryan

  (12:15 PM)

We did some things yesterday with offensive drill work and shooting from particular areas. We also shot a lot of free throws. We'll scouts Minnesota andPurdue today and tomorrow and then fly to Indy.

Menomonie WI

Hello, I'm a UW-Stout student and wanted to congradulate you and your team on another solid season. I haven't hardly missed a game this season, and I was wondering from your personal judgement, what was the best team you guys faced this season? Evan Gabriel

Bo Ryan

  (12:17 PM)

Well, I'll tell you, I really liked Michigan and Illinois. Also Michigan St. They are so tough. Northwestern played us really tough in the second half. Purdue is still a pretty good team as well. The teams in the Big Ten create problems for everyone. Hard to pick just one.

Jamieson Johnson (NY, NY)

Bo, if you had a choice, would you rather have a higher seed in the Tourney or be placed in a nearby Regional?

Bo Ryan

  (12:20 PM)

I'll say this simply because it's easier on fans and family .. it would be nice to be in a nearby regional. Historically we have been sent to some pretty far away places. So many of our players are from this area. Because of the travel and all the people that have been so loyal, it would be nice to be close to home. Thanks for the questions and all the nice comments .. I'll pass all your well wishes on to the team. Hopefully we will give you even more to cheer about this season! Take care everyone!