I dont know about you guys but i feel that the Badgers could be a title contender next year. They got the transfer in Shariff Cambliss who led the big ten in 3 point shooting before he transferred. They got one of Dick Vitales "Diaper Dandies" in Brian Butch who decided to red shirt last year. Wilkinson will contintue to shine, and the PG Kamrron Taylor as a Sophmore who could play some decent ball. He was if im not mistaking Mr Basketball in Minnesota. We got Clayton Hanson and Zach Morley. Boo Wade will play nice and Ray Nixon will get better.DONT FORGET Alando Tucker who redshirted last year so im 99% sure he is a sophmore next year.
I think Wisconsin could be very good this year. Chambliss will, without a doubt, help a ton. He can shoot with the best of them and it's always good to have a good shooter on the team. Brian Butch will also be good. He's 6'10" but he'll be able to extend defenses due to the fact that he has great range and a very good shooting touch for someone of his height. Wade will be good and could likely be their shutdown defender this year as he is a fantastic defensive player.
You missed it, but I had them ranked #1 in my rankings (now deleted). I'll post my response about them. Keep in mind that I wrote this response before Devin Harris hired an agent, so a bit of it is outdated. For the most part though, everything else in it is up to date. I think Wisconsin will still be a top 5 team minus Harris. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="1">1.Wisconsin - You can say what you want to say about Duke and North Carolina bringing in two High School All-Americans, or about Michigan State returning every player that counts as well as adding the best High School player in Michigan. However, nothing quite tops what Wisconsin is doing by activating redshirt freshman, Brian Butch, and transfer Sharif Chambliss. Wisconsin also returns every player that contributes, and they will take their second leading scorer Alando Tucker, who they were without for the majority of last season, off of the injured list. For those of you who are not familiar with Butch, in the 2002-2003 season he was a High School All-American and a consensus top ten recruit. Butch was highly recruited by the likes of Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Arizona. Yet, he chose to stay close to home and go to Wisconsin. He was not injured this season; rather, he opted to redshirt so he could gain weight and learn the college game before he played it. It?s extremely rare to see such a high profile player such as Butch redshirt, but it should make him a much better player. Some reports say that he has added up to thirty pounds of muscle. Wisconsin is so deep next year that it is even uncertain if this High School All-American will even start! The other newcomer, Sharif Chambliss should be a pleasant surprise for most Wisconsin and Big Ten fans. Chambliss was a big time High School prospect. He was named to the all-state team in Wisconsin and was an All-American honorable mention. However, he made his name at Penn State where he and the Crispin brothers helped lead Penn State to the Sweet Sixteen. After the Crispins left, Chambliss took on the scoring load. Saying that he was a great scorer is an understatement. He is the all-time leading scorer in Penn State history. Now, after making school history and being named to an All-Big Ten team, he probably won?t even start at Wisconsin either! Next, you have to look at the addition of Alando Tucker. Alando, who nbadraft.net ranked as a top 40 sophomore, isn?t exactly a newbie, but he missed the majority of last season due to a right foot injury he suffered in December. Before the injury, Tucker recorded 24 points and 18 rebounds (11 offensive) against UNLV. His ?hops? are out of this world as well. He has over a forty inch vertical. Tucker is the Badger?s second leading scorer behind Devin Harris. Harris, a consensus NCAA All-American this year, has been considering a jump to the pro?s. However, if he stays he?ll help give the Badgers the best backcourt in the country. Harris averaged about 20 ppg and 4 rpg last season. As well as being named an All-American, Harris was named the Big Ten Player of the Year. If he decides to go to the NBA next season, he is expected to be drafted in the top ten. Along with Sharif Chambliss, Alando Tucker, and Devin Harris in the backcourt is returning Junior, Boo Wade. As a Sophomore, Wade started on the Badgers averaging about 7 ppg. Wade is known more for his defensive presence and his Battier-like hustle than he is for his offensive production, but he can still score with the best of them. Against Michigan State this season, Wade put up fifteen points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out three assists. He will most likely take a seat on the bench this season to let the Senior P.S.U. transfer, Sharif Chambliss, get the starting job he?s more than earned by now. Don?t think the Badgers are without a froncourt presence though. Aside from Brian Butch, Wisconsin?s front court is headed by Zach Morley and Mike Wilkinson. Aside from the injured Tucker, Mike Wilkinson was Wisconsin?s second leading scorer and leading rebounder last season. Next season he will be a fifth year Senior, and the team veteran leader. He averaged about thirteen points and seven rebounds this season. He?s also notorious for recording double-doubles. Zach Morely really came out of his shell this season, averaging nine points and six rebounds (2nd on team). He?ll be returning as a senior as well. To me, it?s basic logic. The Badgers finished the season in the top ten, won the Big Ten championship, and played well all season as a team. They don?t lose anyone significant, yet they add three players that were out last year who are better than any three incoming High School recruits. The Badgers will and should be the number one team in the nation next season. If Devin Harris leaves for the NBA draft, I?ll obviously drop the Badgers, but I think I?ll only drop them as far as the seventh or eight ranking. <font color="Red">Note: Devin Harris has declared himself eligible for the 2004 NBA Draft; however, he has not yet signed an agent. If Harris opts to sign an agent, I will drop them. For the time being though, I will keep Wisconsin at #1 as it appears Harris may come back.</font></font></div>
