Badger Bits: Did Watt make right decision?

As you may have heard, Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt announced yesterday that he will forgo his final season of eligibility and leave Wisconsin for the NFL draft. While the Wisconsin football team probably would have preferred Watt to stay for a final season, the real question is whether or not leaving early is good for him personally.

At least one teammate thinks that Watt made the right decision, according to Rob Hernandez of Madison.com. Watt's fellow defensive end and roommate Louis Nzegwu said on his Twitter page: "It is his goal and dream to make it to the NFL and the opportunity has been given to him now. So he's going to take it." Madison.com's Tom Oates also agrees that Watt made the smart move.

What do you think? I have to agree with Nzegwu and Oates. According to numerous sources, Watt had a good idea at the beginning of the year that if he was projected to be a first or early second-round draft pick he would leave for the NFL. I can hardly blame him, not only for getting to fulfill a dream of playing in the NFL, but to have an opportunity to get some financial security for his family. We've seen what can happen if a player (such as Washington's Jake Locker) decides to wait another year before leaving, and I am at least glad that Watt is seizing his chance to play in the NFL.

What do you think? Vote in the poll below!

Football

With Watt's decision to go pro, it seems appropriate to look at some mock drafts. Notably, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. rates Watt as the 8th best defensive end. Kiper also has Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi as the No. 2 offensive tackle.

Former Badger Joe Panos says that Watt "loves to compete with the best," according to Tom Mulhern of Madison.com.

The "Where will Paul Chryst be in 2011" merry-go-round continues to spin, with several job opportunities coming and going by the day. It looks like Chryst is a candidate for the recently-available head coaching job at Pittsburgh, according to Adam Mertz of Madison.com. However, even that report is being contradicted.

Mertz also writes that the personnel-turnover for the Minnesota Gophers and the Minnesota Vikings is resulting in fewer coaching connections with the Wisconsin football program. Don't worry Badger fans, I'm sure our secret spy Joel Maturi is still doing his best to bring down the Gophers from the inside.. actually, forget I said that.

Hockey

For all of you hockey nuts out there, the Badgers begin their weekend series with Canisius tonight!

Andy Baggot of Madison.com writes that the Badgers had the highest team GPA since 1981 this fall. Their cumulative 2.92 is extreemly close to the team's goal of a 3.0 average.

Baggot also says that an increased sense of maturity from Craig Smith and Patrick Johnson have helped the Badgers from committing too many penalties.

Basketball

Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel recaps the Badgers' 66-50 win over the Michigan Wolverines.

A Final Note

For those of you that are overly broken-up over JJ Watt's departure to the NFL, do not fear. Monty Python is here to cure what ails you.

Have a great weekend everybody!