Bo Ryan taking shots?

On3 imageby:Drew Franklin03/31/14

DrewFranklinKSR

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="583"] Getty Images[/caption] Did Wisconsin head basketball coach Bo Ryan take a shot at Kentucky basketball on today's Final Four teleconference? Ryan was asked about Badger fans in the state of Wisconsin and his comments can be interpreted as a dig at Big Blue Nation. Read for yourself:
I tell you, the people here in this state are crazy about basketball. They realize they didn't invent it like some other states believe, but they also know they have a passion for it. Because there's been a lot of success by state schools, by schools in the state of Wisconsin, Division I, Division III, NAIA, different levels of college basketball, Division II with Parkside, which is one of my... the head coach is one of my former players -- I don't want to leave him out. So they love it here, but they're not so over the edge that they don't understand. What I like about the Wisconsin fans is they understand these are student-athletes who actually are here for the purpose of an education first and playing ball second. That's what I believe makes them really endearing, as far as a coach who's stayed in the state this long. Because they're so supportive of their players, of their teams. That's been really neat for me to see. And I'm not saying that wasn't the case back in Philly growing up, in the Chester area or anything else. Here in the state of Wisconsin, I think the love for basketball, passion for basketball is definitely as high as anywhere else.
Ryan suggests other fan bases -- like, Kentucky maybe? -- don't understand that student-athletes are in school for an education. He also commends Wisconsin fans for knowing their state didn't invent basketball, a clear shot at the University of Kentucky, in my opinion. At least we realize we didn't invent cheese. Who ever thought we'd have beef with Wisconsin?

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2024-03-28