Wisconsin men WILL be top 10 at NCAA XC

They should be, with their roster. I'm not convinced that they will be.

Eidenknow about that one

Why is Wisconsin all of a sudden a "Top 10" team? They had two redshirt freshman go sub 14:25 in the 5K at Worlds.....WOW thats such a big deal. They're a questionable top 3 team in the BIG10 and that's it.

They finished EIGHTH in the BIG10 last year.....gimme a break

That's why it is a bold prediction.

And one of their red shirt freshmen went 14:06, which is a whole different ball park than 14:25. Plus they took both spots on the World 5k team...

Not to mention they were missing key top runners to injury last year.

We shall see.

OP you must have info about the injury status of the team to say they will be top 10. Clearly for the last year uw hasn't had enough healthy talent to be competitive in the big 10, let alone nationals.

What is the basis of your prediction?

I think they have the talent, but as others have said it depends if the talent is healthy. Many top guys didn't even compete in track this past spring. Malachy, Kromer, Hirsch who ran a single race early indoors, and Kai who only has ran a B race at the Wisconsin invite last fall in two years there. So in theory they could've used that time to recover enough to make a good push.

A rumor on another site mentioned that Kromer left the team. Nothing concrete on it though until the roster goes up.

The two World Jr guys should help, but I haven't seen any incoming recruits posted anywhere. Nothing on Milesplit anyway. Surely they have some, but the better ones are usually posted somewhere.

Buckingham wrote:

A rumor on another site mentioned that Kromer left the team. Nothing concrete on it though until the roster goes up.

Although it is only a rumor it is more than likely true. Wisconsin is an intensive research institution. Much higher standards to maintain a 3.5 GPA than your typical state school. For some people it is extremely tough to balance an education with a real career path (read non-liberal arts) and run 80 badger miles per week. Or working your way through school for that matter.

So the kid probably wants to concentrate on school and start his next chapter in life. Nothing wrong with that.

Cry me a river. Wisco is not any harder than most of the schools in its region or conference. (Notre Dame, Michigan, Purdue, and Illinois are all definitely better while Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, and Minnesota are comparable). Joe Hardy pulled a knife on his girlfriend and was running for them a few weeks later what kind of standards are those?

Looks like Kai has left too. It's too bad he couldn't get fully healthy there. He has a lot of talent. Good luck to him wherever he goes.

I was talking with Mick Byrne earlier this month, they have a great group of incoming freshmen that will complement the rising upperclassmen. Wisconsin has a phenomenal program that has huge upside even though it's still riding on the coattails of Schumacher.

However, I was told (firsthand from Mick) that the Badgers plan on peaking for NACACs come outdoor season. Now that the streak of making NCAAs has collapsed he is turning it into a full-fledged track program.

It's important that the Badgers follow last season's trajectory and bomb out completely during the post season. I hear they like to watch the NCAA meet from home - snacks, AC, and non-Flotrack coverage are all a plus for them.

top ten under performing team, brilliant recruiters, awful program!

Top ten done, congrats Wisconsin and OP.

http://www.uwbadgers.com/index.aspx?path=mcross

Harambe69 wrote:

I hear they like to watch the NCAA meet from home - snacks, AC, and non-Flotrack coverage are all a plus for them.

Air conditioning? In Wisconsin. In November. Interesting.

Academic Standards? wrote:

Cry me a river. Wisco is not any harder than most of the schools in its region or conference. (Notre Dame, Michigan, Purdue, and Illinois are all definitely better while Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, and Minnesota are comparable). Joe Hardy pulled a knife on his girlfriend and was running for them a few weeks later what kind of standards are those?

Other than putting Penn State in the wrong group, you raise a good point. Serious academic standards are not a valid reason/excuse for a mediocre or poor program, especially in xc, since most distance runners are smart and disciplined kids to begin with. There are lots of examples of this across the country, both teams and individuals. Not to mention, did Wisconsin suddenly just become a serious academic school at the same time Jerry left?

Perhaps another ranking that was just released is a bit more relevant here. Check the latest ranking of the top party schools in the country. It won't take very long. You don't need to read past number one.

Mick can't coach 3 seasons.

Not a track coach.

Well if the boys are all injured, quitting, alcoholics - i'd hate to know how the girls are faring.

what is wrote:

Mick can't coach 3 seasons.

Not a track coach.

Morgan McDonald has continued his upward trajectory at a similar rate to Justyn Knight. But realistically a plank of wood could coach that kid, it's the mid to fringe level members of any squad that determine the true ability of a coach.

If Wisco doesn't finish in the top 10, will Byrne be out?

No, surely has a job for life based on recruiting ability alone.