UW-Iowa thoughts

I'm back, and the Badgers are back! Good to see the boys take care of business against a team that has no business staying in the game. This is how it should go. This makes our loss to them in Iowa City that much more galling.

-Nice to see J-Bo heating up, I understand he shot really well against Illinois as well. It goes without saying that if he's making perimeter shots everything else goes better for this offense.

-Also nice to see Pop getting his groove back. His last multiple-spin move and layup was simply beautiful.

-Landry didn't do a whole lot, but I love the play where he missed a free throw, got his own rebound, then scored and was fouled on the ensuring layup. Congrats to him reaching 1,000 poins in his career. Illustrates what happens when you're consistent.

-Not having seen it occur, how bad was Keaton Nankivil's ankle injury? Did it happen in practice or a game? I noticed he didn't play against Illinois and just two minutes against Penn State. Too bad -- after the breakout game against Purdue then gets Hightowered at Northwestern before hurting himself.

-I've never seen us get anything like that seven-point run at the end of the first half. What a bonehead move by Gatens.

-That Devan Bawinkel really bugs me. That jumper he made late in the game was his first made two-pointer of the season. Of the season! The kid is obviously a tremendous shooter, but is such a one-trick pony that he could go 20-plus games without making a shot inside the 3-point line. Bo would never let his guys be that one-dimensional. Look at J-Bo -- think he couldn't fill that Bawinkel role of standing in the corner shooting 3s? But he has a nice little dribble penetration game, and can make tough runners in the lane. Bawinkel shouldn't settle for being such a simple player.

-It seemed like Krabby was playing well, but I didn't realize how well until I saw the box score -- 16 points, seven rebounds. He's really having a solid senior season.

-Didn't realize Ohio State was ranked. Should be a good game Saturday, but I'm feeling pretty good about our chances the way we're playing. Isn't ESPN going to be in Madison?