Jordan Taylor’s heady play has the Badgers on the verge of reaching the Elite Eight. Taylor leads the country in assist-to-turnover ratio, and his leadership, on and off the floor, has been invaluable.

"I've learned a lot from the coaching staff, but I think I could say I've learned just as much from Jordan,” teammate Mike Bruesewitz said. “He's constantly talking to guys, constantly telling them what he sees, why he sees it and what's going on and why that happens."

Taylor, who averages 18 points a game, is clear in his goals for the Badgers, something that impressed Ryan when Taylor visited Madison as a high school star from the Minneapolis area.

"When I first met him, (he's) not a very imposing guy, not long and lanky, physically short of stature, vertically challenged, as we say, but his eyes never left mine," Ryan said. "He spoke very clearly, very succinctly."

That cool, unwavering confidence struck a chord with Ryan, who has built Wisconsin's program for the last 10 years on the foundation that it's a super team over superstars.