Bo Knows Player Development: UW Coach Ryan Turns Scars Into Stars

Has there ever been a coach in an elite "Power 6" league with a consistent track record for dramatic player development anywhere close to matching Wisconsin's Bo Ryan? In the next couple of years, Jared Berggren (1.1 ppg in 2009-10), Zach Bohannon (2.2 in 2009-10 with Air Force before transferring), Mike Bruesewitz (1.1 in 2009-10), Ben Brust (0.7 in 2010-11) and Frank Kaminsky (1.8 in 2011-12) could join the following chronological list of Badgers who became All-Big Ten Conference selections under Ryan after averaging fewer than three points per game as a freshman:

Kammron Taylor (1.2 ppg in 2003-04)
Michael Flowers (1.2 ppg in 2004-05)
Trevon Hughes (1.4 ppg in 2006-07)
Jon Leuer (2.9 ppg in 2007-08)
Jordan Taylor (1.6 ppg in 2008-09)

Is it any wonder that Wisconsin won 50 consecutive contests under Ryan when the Badgers were ahead or tied with five minutes remaining in regulation? They never finished lower than fourth place in the Big Ten standings in his first 12 years at their helm. There is no satisfactory explanation why neither Ryan nor Billy Donovan, who directed Florida to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007, have ever been named national coach of the year.