Which Wisconsin sports team will win a championship next?

[Baldkin]

Yeah I am changing my pick to the Bucks

 

What a difference a year (and coach) makes

[MrTPlush]

Would be great if the Bucks could win. Looking at past champions I am kindly reminded why my interest in the NBA is so little.

 

8 teams have won it since 1983...8. In comparison the NFL has seen 8 different teams win in the last 10-11 years and the MLB has seen 8 in the last 10-11 years.

 

Would be nice if the Bucks could do something so improbable, especially in this super team era where players just team up. If not it will just be another reminder why the NBA sucks.

[OldHeidelberg]

Would be great if the Bucks could win. Looking at past champions I am kindly reminded why my interest in the NBA is so little.

 

8 teams have won it since 1983...8. In comparison the NFL has seen 8 different teams win in the last 10-11 years and the MLB has seen 8 in the last 10-11 years.

 

Would be nice if the Bucks could do something so improbable, especially in this super team era where players just team up. If not it will just be another reminder why the NBA sucks.

 

I swore I was done with the NBA after watching Heat fans celebrate titles after bringing in Lebron and Bosh to join Wade. I am not sure if that was the first free agent super team but it really annoyed me that a team could be built like that. But this Bucks team has me enjoying the games again. I used to always watch the finals, it was just a fun early summer event that was always on broadcast TV. In recent years I can't say I have watched more than a couple of non Buck playoff games and even then only when hanging out in a bar or something. Would be nice for the city of Milwaukee to get another title, building the new arena and keeping the team was pretty big for Milwaukee, even if you don't like the NBA having pro teams is a big deal for a declining old rust belt city. If they lost them they would never get the NBA back.

[MrTPlush]

Maybe nothing can be done to avoid it, but man the same matchup 4 years in a row and one of those teams will make it to five straight? Possibly winning 4/5?

 

Everyone complains about competitive balance...NBA is literally the worst sport product there is for competitive balance. Not to mention they also have to combat tanking for draft picks with some horrid lottery system.

 

I enjoy NCAAB so much, but man...tough to watch the NBA. This maybe be the Bucks one good shot in our lifetimes and our kids lifetime.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Would be great if the Bucks could win. Looking at past champions I am kindly reminded why my interest in the NBA is so little.

 

8 teams have won it since 1983...8. In comparison the NFL has seen 8 different teams win in the last 10-11 years and the MLB has seen 8 in the last 10-11 years.

 

Would be nice if the Bucks could do something so improbable, especially in this super team era where players just team up. If not it will just be another reminder why the NBA sucks.

 

 

It's actually 10 (semantics, I know ), and 11 if you count the '83 76'ers. But still, yeah, your point remains....

[Pugger]

FWIW these are the odds I could find to win next title:

 

Bucks 8:1

Brewers 18:1

Packers 20:1

Marquette BB 40:1

Badger FB 50:1

Badger BB 80:1

 

 

I remember having a bar conversation in La Crosse shortly after the Brewers lost to the Cards in the NLCS where it was agreed that the Packers are the only team in Wisconsin that has a realistic shot. Everyone else is at a disadvantage. Since then Bucky BB came oh so close and now the Brewers/Bucks are contending but I think the Packers are still the best bet, they have Rodgers and a hard salary cap and you only have to get hot and win 3-4 in a row at the end.

 

Edit: Just reread and saw the OP was about pro teams but I will leave all the odds up anyway

 

 

Is it really though? With the money that's carried over from year to year and all the ways around it, it's more like a firm cap. But that actually benefits the Packers. There are rumors that the reason why the Raiders didn't re-sign Mack was they simply could not afford to put 100 million dollars into an escrow account for his signing bonus. That'll never be a problem with the Packers. There are a few teams that are gonna spend more than them, but if they want they can spend with anyone.

 

 

Anyway, I agree with everything else. The Bucks are close, but they just took a huuge hit with Brogdon, though Giannis just keeps getting better. I can't even imagine what he could do if he would shoot a few more 3's, but shoot them without thinking about it and shoot in rhythm instead of dribbling twice and then shooting like it's practice almost.

 

I could see the Brewers finishing 4th in the division this year. I don't think they will, but baseball is so much luck and momentum. And of course healthy pitching.

 

The Packers, well, Rodgers probably missed more throws last year, throws that could have changed games, overthrowing guys on deep balls by just a yard or two than probably every other year combined. I doubt that happens again. He was still a top 3-4 QB last year in what I believe was his worst year and the Packers have done so much to address the D, they are in a great spot with draft picks, and I still think you see a couple veteran signings either after the draft, or after roster cuts. I think Gute is gonna keep being aggressive.

 

And given how quickly you can turn things around in the NFL, teams seem to go from first to worst every year and then worst to first(Jags last year for one example).

 

 

It's easy to imagine things going wrong, but lets just imagine a few things go right.

1-Rodgers is re-invigorated with the new offense, the Packers add a TE like Hockenson, Brown, Fant in the draft, the two freakishly big, athletic WR'ers make a big jump next year, Bulaga stays healthy and Turner is an improvement at guard, Adams is Adams, and the running game is as effective, just used more.

 

2-Defense, King stays healthy and you have a combo of Alexander and Kevin King together finally. A stud in Amos at safety. The two OLB'ers we signed continue their development. Preston Smith who has 60 QB hurries last year, an elite number and Za'Darius Smith also takes his next step. Clark, Daniels, Wilkerson, Adams and Lowry are the type of DL we expected going into last year. Just have to hope that a few other guys emerge from the draft or be it Josh Jackson, Josh Jones, or whoever it may be.

 

None of those things are exactly long shots. And with Pettine's history, it'd be a bigger shock to me if they're NOT top 10 than if they are.

 

 

And it's always possible with the 12th, 30th, 44th pick and 2 4th rounders, it's hardly a reach to think that we draft some real impact rookies.

 

 

I just think Rodgers is too good to not win another SB and I think we have a number of guys who are ready to make big jumps this year.

 

I love the Bucks, I think Giannis is going to be the NBA's best player for a long stretch, maybe 5-6 years, but it's real tough to see them getting past the Warriors and while I think he's going to sign at least one more deal with the Bucks that takes him through age 30...it's not a given.

 

The Brewers pitching worries me. Nelson looks good, but Jeffress is a huge concern and even though they were a game away from the WS last year, they were way more than a game away from WINNING the WS last year. Houston, NYY, Boston are all so loaded. Then add in that the Cubs under-performed last year and we still had to go on a historic run last year to win the division and I would personally put the Bucks odds on winning a title at about 10 pct, the Brewers shot at making the playoffs at about 33 pct and the Packers could easily win the NFC which looks pretty up for grabs to me. The Saints and Rams look like the two best teams, but Philly sure didn't look like the best team two years ago.

 

Like you said, a 3-4 game hot stretch could give you another big shinny trophy.

 

 

It would be nice to see a Boston like run though and get a few titles from our teams in the same year. If all 3 won in the same year, I think I could die happy!

 

If the Packers defense improves along with the young WRs GB can still win another ring before Rodgers retires. But right now the Bucks have the best shot at winning.

[OnTheBlack]

Maybe nothing can be done to avoid it, but man the same matchup 4 years in a row and one of those teams will make it to five straight? Possibly winning 4/5?

 

Everyone complains about competitive balance...NBA is literally the worst sport product there is for competitive balance. Not to mention they also have to combat tanking for draft picks with some horrid lottery system.

 

I enjoy NCAAB so much, but man...tough to watch the NBA. This maybe be the Bucks one good shot in our lifetimes and our kids lifetime.

 

 

LeBron ruined the NBA when he went to Miami. That caused Durant to go to an already loaded GSW team and...there you have it.

 

It's a sport dominated by one superstar more than any other team sport(not breaking news to anyone).

 

Just when I started thinking I was looking foolish in having not believed in the Bucks earlier this year....they piddle away a 2-0 lead and lose the next 3.

[Menotti80]

No doubt its GB...

[coolhandluke121]

Maybe nothing can be done to avoid it, but man the same matchup 4 years in a row and one of those teams will make it to five straight? Possibly winning 4/5?

 

Everyone complains about competitive balance...NBA is literally the worst sport product there is for competitive balance. Not to mention they also have to combat tanking for draft picks with some horrid lottery system.

 

I enjoy NCAAB so much, but man...tough to watch the NBA. This maybe be the Bucks one good shot in our lifetimes and our kids lifetime.

 

NCAA is much worse for competitive balance. In the NBA, you may stay on top for years, but any team has a chance to be that team if they draft well and get a little lucky. In the NCAA, it's just all this blue-blood garbage and all kinds of scandals.

 

I would like more parity in the NBA, but I understand why they don't encourage it. It's strictly business. It has more bandwagon fans than any other sport. Many players are fans of the greatest players, rather than being fans of the home team. I'm not, but I understand it. Every sport has that to some degree, and ratings are always king, but the NBA has more of a vested interest in creating payroll rules that encourage heavyweight teams to keep duking it out for years.

 

I'd like a hard cap, but I'm not going to advocate for one now because the soft cap is finally in the Bucks' favor, allowing them to keep this team together for several more years if they are willing to pay that much luxury tax. And make no mistake - small market teams can afford to have top-5 payrolls in the NBA. The revenue sharing is adequate, unlike in baseball.

[adambr2]

Yeah, everyone sings the praises of college sports, but really the NCAA is worse than any professional sports organization for parity.

 

In football, it's Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson, and Duke and Kentucky and other 1 year basketball camps.

 

Year after year these guys have the pick of the 5 and 4 star recruits while programs like Wisconsin are left picking the leftovers.

[monkeyman343434]

Yeah, everyone sings the praises of college sports, but really the NCAA is worse than any professional sports organization for parity.

 

In football, it's Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson, and Duke and Kentucky and other 1 year basketball camps.

 

Year after year these guys have the pick of the 5 and 4 star recruits while programs like Wisconsin are left picking the leftovers.

 

Maybe that's the perception of college basketball, but there have been 11 different winners in the past 20 years.

[MrTPlush]

12 unique teams have won the NCAA championship in the last 20 years and 7 unique champions in the last 9 years (both by my count). Compared to the NBAs 8 since the mid 80s. All the talk of Kentucky, but does anyone actually realize they have only won the championship once this century? I get it, the forum is mostly salty Wisconsin fans that are bitter Kentucky knocked them out in 2014...however they didn't win it that year or 18 of the other years this century. I bet if we compare runner ups in the two the NCAA would be waaay more diverse over the years...and if we take the four semi final teams...I think you get the point. The best in the NBA almost always make the final yet the NCAA I would argue they very often don't even make the Final Four.

 

Also you might want to recheck those "1 year basketball camps you speak of". Outside of Duke/Kentucky no one religiously has that many one and done players...just isn't the reality. So many one and done players are staying local these days or they simply aren't performing well enough to make a huge impact and then leave.

 

The best teams in the NCAA can and do lose to teams ranked #68 or even ranked into the 100s on any given night. The NBA? No way...college basketball is pretty darn even these days. Sure there is a good chunk that will consistently do well in conference play and make deeper tourney runs...but not always.

[pacopete4]

Imagine if NCAA basketball had a system like college football. Now that would be terrible. At least with the tourney, those 5-star schools have to earn it.

[HiAndTight]

Yeah, everyone sings the praises of college sports, but really the NCAA is worse than any professional sports organization for parity.

 

In football, it's Ohio State, Alabama, and Clemson, and Duke and Kentucky and other 1 year basketball camps.

 

Year after year these guys have the pick of the 5 and 4 star recruits while programs like Wisconsin are left picking the leftovers.

 

Maybe that's the perception of college basketball, but there have been 11 different winners in the past 20 years.

 

 

There are also 350 or so college BB programs compared to 30 NBA.

 

And you look at the list over the 20 years, it's almost exclusively the programs you'd expect. The Uconn, Kentucky, Duke, the bluebloods.

 

And if you look at the recruiting rankings, it gets even more pronounced.

 

 

CFB is even worse as the recruitings tilts the same, but one player doesn't make as big of a difference. So if a top 10, 5 star recruit flames out for a College BB program, that's tough to overcome whereas it happens regularly at a program like Alabama or OSU.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

You have to be a little realistic and give them some leeway. Chattanooga and Montana can't be expected to win things as often as Alabama etc.

 

But IMO where the NCAA really sucks, is for the teams that are big enough to be on the radar a lot but just won't ever get the blue chip recruits. Like Wisconsin. I'm never been really engaged in anything NCAA, but that is a big reason why. Football in particular is an absolute snooze fest. We're 11-1 and headed to the 6th place Bowl. Yippee.

[HiAndTight]

12 unique teams have won the NCAA championship in the last 20 years and 7 unique champions in the last 9 years (both by my count). Compared to the NBAs 8 since the mid 80s. All the talk of Kentucky, but does anyone actually realize they have only won the championship once this century? I get it, the forum is mostly salty Wisconsin fans that are bitter Kentucky knocked them out in 2014...however they didn't win it that year or 18 of the other years this century. I bet if we compare runner ups in the two the NCAA would be waaay more diverse over the years...and if we take the four semi final teams...I think you get the point. The best in the NBA almost always make the final yet the NCAA I would argue they very often don't even make the Final Four.

 

Also you might want to recheck those "1 year basketball camps you speak of". Outside of Duke/Kentucky no one religiously has that many one and done players...just isn't the reality. So many one and done players are staying local these days or they simply aren't performing well enough to make a huge impact and then leave.

 

The best teams in the NCAA can and do lose to teams ranked #68 or even ranked into the 100s on any given night. The NBA? No way...college basketball is pretty darn even these days. Sure there is a good chunk that will consistently do well in conference play and make deeper tourney runs...but not always.

 

 

Yeah, I don't think you do. When I think of the Badgers and Kentucky, I think about that ridiculously loaded undefeated team that we beat. The team that had a chance to be one of the best teams in NCAA history and we knocked them out.

 

 

The best NBA team can certainly lose to a bad team on any given night. But you're arguing apples and oranges. The 68th best CBB team is still in the top 20 pct of College programs. Compare that to the NBA and you have one of the top ~6 teams. So you're basically talking about a Utah type team(or better) beating a Golden State type team on a given night.

 

Still believe that never happens? Even the worst teams win in the NBA against the top teams on a somewhat regular basis. The Bucks lost to the Suns twice this year while beating GSW and Portland. So I don't get how you could say "No way," that happens in the NBA.

 

Yeah, never happens in the NBA...

 

 

Finally, I'll say this. At least in the NBA, a moribund franchise can become one of the best in the league. Golden State was a joke for years. The Bucks, a joke for years. 2 of the final teams this year.

 

Not sure I can picture a scenario where Iona goes on a 4 year run of final fours and wins a couple of championships.

[bucks2281]

10 teams have won the NBA title since the mid-80s, not 8.

 

GS, CLE, SA, MIA, DAL, LAL, BOS, DET, CHI, HOU.

 

Not to mention, you’re obviously going to have more fluky outcomes in a single elimination tournament, as opposed to a best of 7. By and large, the top programs in NCAAB are going to be a high seed year after year

[adambr2]

I'll go ahead and answer my own thread question again.

 

It's the Bucks. It's going to be the Bucks.

[brwrsfan]

I'll go ahead and answer my own thread question again.

 

It's the Bucks. It's going to be the Bucks.

 

This may be their best shot ever if they can stay healthy. No Durant, no Warriors. The East primed to be won. Then likely a battle with one of the LA teams (and the officials).

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The officials have no stake in the Finals. There have been numerous red carpet teams losing in the Finals in the last 20 years, some of them have gotten absolutely smoked. The Bucks have no one to blame but themselves if they don't win it this year. They have absolutely no excuse for not at least getting there. Superstars get calls and we have the biggest one.

 

I don't think the NBA wants anything more than Giannis vs. LeBron.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Well the Packers will win their Super Bowl in February, so them. Bucks won't be hoisting the Naismith Trophy until June, and the Brewers would be done with their championship run until early November.

[PeaveyFury]

Wisconsin Volleyball!

[adambr2]

They were my next pick.

[paul253]

The Admirals are looking pretty darn good!

[yourout]

Wisconsin Volleyball!

 

Not going to happen.

Stanford is on a completely different level.