Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, Sweet 16 appearance, and another recruiting class for Bo Ryan.  Ryan’s 2008 recruiting class consists of guards Robert Wilson and Jordan Taylor, and forwards Ian Markolf and Jared Berggren. Because the ’08 class was completed, was able to turn his attention to 2009.  This means as other coaches spent time recruiting for 2008, Ryan focused on coaching; and recruiting for 2009, nearly two years before the signing date.

The 2009 class includes Mike Bruesewitz, a 6-foot-7 junior, averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds last year. The Minnesota native has been compared to current Badger Joe Krabbenhoft, the fifth player in four years Ryan has taken from Minnesota.

Also in the 2009 class is Diamond Taylor.  Taylor, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, attends the same school that produced Isiah Thomas.  He averaged 19.1 points, and 5.5 rebounds last year for St. Joseph Carondelet, in Chicago.  Diamond was named player of the year in the East Suburban Conference. According to St. Joe’s coach Gene Pingatore, Diamond’s strengths are his three-point range and his instincts for the position. He is considered a blue-chip player.

Will Ryan continue his recent trend and sign another non-Wisconsin native? Maybe, but I doubt he will pass on the serious prep talent  in Wisconsin.

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Speaking of the Big Ten, The Big Ten Network just isn’t cutting it. When the Network launched last August, athletic directors and network officials claimed the channel would help recruiting. Their reasoning? It gives high school athletes around the nation an opportunity to see Big Ten teams.

I fail to see how that’s possible when most people don’t get BTN. Seems to me the Big Ten is hurting itself.  Two respected coaches, Bo Ryan and Tom Izzo, are against the network.  Ryan doesn’t even get the channel, at least not yet.

And Tom Izzo had this to say, ”I think it is a PR nightmare. And I think it has hurt all of us. We have so many things right now that we’re trying to fight—the price of tickets, the economy of our state (Michigan)—and then they throw this at us.”

Madison area cable providers don’t offer the network. All I know is that the promises have not been delivered.

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The Packers have had a much more eventful and publicized off-season than most of us expected. In short, Brett Favre retired; the Packers traded Corey Williams and cut Bubba Franks, and that’s just the beginning.

The Packers had very few holes going into the off-season; last season’s won-loss record demonstrates that. The league’s youngest team last year promises to be even younger this year. Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Mark Tauscher, and Chad Clifton are now the oldest players on the team.  Offensive tackle and cornerback are not usually the positions where you want aging players.  The good news is that all four of those players are coming off stellar and productive seasons.

On draft day, General Manager Ted Thompson will look to add depth, especially at quarterback and offensive line. Cornerback and linebacker might also be need areas.

Thompson is a known for being an exceptional drafter. This year Thompson and Coach Mike McCarthy will have three picks in the top 60.  One interesting pattern for Thompson is that he seems to draft at least one mid-major, non-power conference, or Division 1AA player in the first three rounds.

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Last year I predicted that the Milwaukee Brewers would challenge for a division title. Well, the Brewers will contend again this year.  The injury bug hit Brewer pitchers Chris Capuano and Yovanni Gallardo this spring. But, the staff is deep and should improve. The offense should be borderline explosive. It is stacked full of power and speed with Rickie Weeks, Mike Cameron, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Bill Hall , and Corey Hart.The defense should be vastly improved, which is easy to say after a poor showing in that category last season.

The signing of outfielder Mike Cameron will help the Brewers. The acquisition moved Bill Hall from center to third base and Ryan Braun from third base to left field.

The move also improves the chances of two other young Brewers, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Matt LaPorta. Gwynn has been stuck behind anointed starters the last two seasons. He is the son of arguably the best hitter ever to play the game, and no slouch on defense either. Gwynn also would give the crew another left-handed bat in the everyday lineup.

Matt LaPorta is likely two years away from being major league ready. When drafted out of Florida, LaPorta was moved from first base to left field, because Fielder was emerging as a star. However, now Ryan Braun is in left field, which means there is no place for LaPorta.

Will Braun be moved again? Or will it be LaPorta switching positions again? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure; you can’t play two people in left field at the same time.

Long story short: the Brewers have some of the best young talent in baseball. They will contend in the National League Central for many years to come.

[Sources: Wisconsin State Journal; The Capital Times; jsonline.com; badgernation.com; packers.com; brewers.com]