Gophers lose, complain (what else is new?)

Fantastic article by Tom Oates today, following UW’s 65-56 win over the Gophers.

An excerpt:

The abridged version: UW gets to the rim and makes sure the ball touches the post on offense and plays with its feet and bodies — but not its hands — on defense. The consistency with which Ryan’s teams follow those marching orders has led to a huge foul disparity throughout his 24 seasons as a head coach.

“If on defense you’re trying to block every shot, if you’re leaving your feet, if you’re lazy and use your hands, if you’re lazy and don’t move your feet, you’re going to foul more,” Ryan said. “So discipline is extremely important and I demand that. … I’m not the only one that demands that, but the players are going to do what you’re willing to accept. So we try not to commit fouls when they’re out of being lazy or being overly aggressive to where you think you have to block everything.”

No surprise, then, that UW ranks fifth in the nation in fewest fouls per game this season. But the other half of the Badgers’ free-throw disparity equation takes place on the other end.

“On our offensive end, we’re trying to get people out of position so they have to use their hands,” Ryan said. “So when we attack an open lane, a baseline, a lane line, if people put their hands on you it’s exposed to the officials. If you touch the post with the ball, you will shoot more free throws. Everybody in the country’s heard that at clinics a million times. Now, what are you doing with your players in practice and what are you settling for in games?”

Ryan doesn’t settle for it, which is why visiting coaches will continue to complain, and UW will continue to win.

Of course, that kind of sound logic hasn’t convinced the mouth-breathing Minnesotans over at The Gopher Hole that, um, maybe the refs weren’t the problem after all…that maybe the real issue is their team sucks? I realize it’s a harsh reality to have to come to terms with. But if dragging Bo Ryan’s name through the mud (anonymously! on the Internet!) helps you sleep better at night, by all means….go right ahead. My favorite comment comes from “Bad Gopher” (referring to how the rest of the Big Ten coaches apparently “hate” Ryan, even though there is no evidence to support this):

Just accept that his peers don’t like him for very obvious reasons and move on.

This is an oft-used form of persuasion. See other examples from history:

“Just accept that the Aryan race is superior for very obvious reasons and move on.” — Adolf Hitler

“Just accept that there are WMD’s in Iraq for very obvious reasons and move on.” — George W. Bush

“Just accept that we’re going to tax you without representation for very obvious reasons and move on.” — King George III