Being in Wisconsin I've heard some of the inside scoop. Apparently Bo wanted to retire last year but stuck around due to one of Gard's (assistant) parents having cancer.
Furthermore he really wanted the job to go to his assistant (who will be the interim coach) but the athletic department wanted a bigger hire. I assume this was a little planned out as well. The department has no choice but to make the assistant the coach and this can be a bit of a tryout period. If the rest of the season goes well or above expectations expect him to stick around for now. Especially because the team has struggled thus far, they're young but really talented.
If not I fully expect the badgers athletic department to shell out some big bucks for tony. The basketball program is HUGE here and they have the 7th (check my facts) highest profit margin in the NCAA for athletic departments. The money is there and its a great fan base. If they come calling I wholly expect Bennet to go running.
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I don't see him leaving UVA. He has built exactly what he wants there and has potential to stay a top 10-15 team there. They will throw more money at him if they need to.
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They need to throw a lot of money at him. He grew up in Madison his dad is a legend here there's a good bit of history between him and the badgers and one hell of a program setup here for him
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Yeah I don't see Bennett going to Wisky. Bo Ryan timed this retirement to force Barry Alvarez into giving Greg Gard the interim tag for the rest of the year, and essentially passing to torch to Gard long-term. Fully expect that interim tag to be made into a permanent hire by the end of the season.
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Gard is going to have to deliver big to be kept on by Alvarez in my opinion. I think Ryan hurt Gard in that matter because his squad this year is missing quite a few pieces compared to years past. I think anything less than a top 3 finish in the BIG10 will lead to Alvarez going after Bennett first and if he cant get Bennett than whomever is next highest on his list. The tough part for Gard is that this season is the best Purdue has been in quite some time, Michigan State is as good as ever, Maryland is a title contender, and even Northwestern is solid. I would put Wisconsin right in the middle with teams like Indiana, Nebraska, Michigan and Iowa. Considering Wisconsin already has five losses in their OOC slate, its not a good omen going into that conference schedule. There are some especially glaring losses as well. specifically to Western Illinois and Milwaukee. Losses to Oklahoma, Marquette, and Georgetown dont look quite as terrible.
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Badgers lost to Milwaukee earlier this year, I wouldn't even put Us/them in the same breath as michigan and Indiana. There is a ton of talent but its a very young team. I think this job becomes available for Bennett at the end of the year and I think its going to be a very tough one for him to turn down
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I'm not sure they're going to get Bennett. Ryan announced he was going to retire back in June, then decided a week or so later that he would coach one more year after all. While all this was going on, Bennett quietly signed a contract extension that wasn't announced until some time later, if I'm remembering the sequence of events correctly. If TB was going to return to Wiscy, it would've happened back in June, I believe. I'm afraid we're probably stuck with him in our backyard for the foreseeable future.
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Comments
Let's hope he leaves!
And only 9 more days until Christmas. Coincidence?
I'd rather Bennett stay in the ACC, because I want the best teams there, and for Buzz to beat him like a rented Bronco.
Uh oh UVA...
This is the only job I could see Bennett leaving for because of his connections to the school.
Just about to post about this good timing.
Being in Wisconsin I've heard some of the inside scoop. Apparently Bo wanted to retire last year but stuck around due to one of Gard's (assistant) parents having cancer.
Furthermore he really wanted the job to go to his assistant (who will be the interim coach) but the athletic department wanted a bigger hire. I assume this was a little planned out as well. The department has no choice but to make the assistant the coach and this can be a bit of a tryout period. If the rest of the season goes well or above expectations expect him to stick around for now. Especially because the team has struggled thus far, they're young but really talented.
If not I fully expect the badgers athletic department to shell out some big bucks for tony. The basketball program is HUGE here and they have the 7th (check my facts) highest profit margin in the NCAA for athletic departments. The money is there and its a great fan base. If they come calling I wholly expect Bennet to go running.
I don't see him leaving UVA. He has built exactly what he wants there and has potential to stay a top 10-15 team there. They will throw more money at him if they need to.
They need to throw a lot of money at him. He grew up in Madison his dad is a legend here there's a good bit of history between him and the badgers and one hell of a program setup here for him
Yea, he built UVa from the ground up, and he seems to like Charlottesville.
I guess you never know, though. Wisconsin is probably his if he wants it.
I agree, but then again I thought the same thing with Shaka Smart at VCU. If Wisconsin goes all out, it could get interesting.
Yes, it will be interesting.
I agree.. UVA can pay as much or more than Wisconsin. Plus ACC basketball > Big14 basketball.
You sure about that? Wisconsin seems to always rank in the top 5 for athletic revenues. In 2014, they were #2 at $149 million. (http://www.businessinsider.com/texas-revenue-college-sports-2014-9) Virginia did not crack the top 20.
Yeah I don't see Bennett going to Wisky. Bo Ryan timed this retirement to force Barry Alvarez into giving Greg Gard the interim tag for the rest of the year, and essentially passing to torch to Gard long-term. Fully expect that interim tag to be made into a permanent hire by the end of the season.
Gard is going to have to deliver big to be kept on by Alvarez in my opinion. I think Ryan hurt Gard in that matter because his squad this year is missing quite a few pieces compared to years past. I think anything less than a top 3 finish in the BIG10 will lead to Alvarez going after Bennett first and if he cant get Bennett than whomever is next highest on his list. The tough part for Gard is that this season is the best Purdue has been in quite some time, Michigan State is as good as ever, Maryland is a title contender, and even Northwestern is solid. I would put Wisconsin right in the middle with teams like Indiana, Nebraska, Michigan and Iowa. Considering Wisconsin already has five losses in their OOC slate, its not a good omen going into that conference schedule. There are some especially glaring losses as well. specifically to Western Illinois and Milwaukee. Losses to Oklahoma, Marquette, and Georgetown dont look quite as terrible.
Badgers lost to Milwaukee earlier this year, I wouldn't even put Us/them in the same breath as michigan and Indiana. There is a ton of talent but its a very young team. I think this job becomes available for Bennett at the end of the year and I think its going to be a very tough one for him to turn down
Conversation between a UVa and Tech fan:
Do any of you guys not think that's shitty? To leave a team halfway through the year just because they're having a bad year. Very Spurrier-esque
This was my thought, too. If you know you're bad and you're near retirement, bailing seems like an option to many coaches.
I'm not sure they're going to get Bennett. Ryan announced he was going to retire back in June, then decided a week or so later that he would coach one more year after all. While all this was going on, Bennett quietly signed a contract extension that wasn't announced until some time later, if I'm remembering the sequence of events correctly. If TB was going to return to Wiscy, it would've happened back in June, I believe. I'm afraid we're probably stuck with him in our backyard for the foreseeable future.