Badger Bits: Wisconsin finishes in Top 15

Did you know there are only 17 more days until the spring football game? Not that I'm counting or anything. 

Let's shift gears for a minute- back to basketball. Connecticut's win over Butler in the national championship game gave the Huskies the top spot in the final ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, and the voters didn't punish the Badgers for their Sweet Sixteen loss to the Bulldogs. The Badgers finished the year at No. 15, right around where they were at the start of the tournament.

It'll be interesting to see where the voters put the Badgers at the start of next season. Year after year it seems as though both the media and the coaches underrate Bo Ryan's squad, but Jordan Taylor's breakthrough season will probably keep them in the preseason polls. The Badgers are losing a lot though- they'll need to replace a large senior class. Forward Jon Leuer is probably heading to the NBA, and the Badgers lose Keaton Nankivil to graduation.

Interesting note: UConn was not the unanimous national champion in the final USA Today poll. Ohio State received one first-place vote. More Badger Bits after the jump!

Football

It looks like center Pete Konz will miss the rest of spring practice, due to a high ankle sprain. Konz is also having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and expects to be ready for summer conditioning. 

Mike Fiammetta of The Badger Herald writes a little bit about the void J.J. Watt is leaving behind on the team. 

Elliot Hughes of The Badger Herald says cornerback Devin Smith is focused on regaining his starting spot.

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com has his spring superlatives up for the Badgers. He also has the Badgers ranked No. 15 in his spring Top-25 ballot. 

Check out the post-practice video from UWBadgers.com!

Hockey

Chuck Schwartz has the preliminary 2011-12 schedule for the men's hockey team.

Basketball

Andy Baggot thinks the college sports world is getting smaller, especially after all three of Wisconsin's revenue sports lost in the postseason to non-BCS schools. 

Have a great day!