[lawrence-newsletter]Rivals.com’s Adam Gorney recently released a “crossover series” piece entitled “Which schools are best in both worlds?” Those “worlds” are the universes of college basketball and college football, and the Badgers are highly ranked when you combine both.
The rankings were decided based on a combination of records in basketball and football over the past four years. Clemson and Ohio State tied for the top spot in the rankings with a combined 76% overall win percentage in basketball and football during that time span.
The Badgers came in at No. 6 overall on the list at 70%. The 2017-18 basketball season where UW went 15-18 overall was a major mark on the record that otherwise would have had Wisconsin closer to the top of the pack.
Here is what Gorney had to say about the Badgers when he listed them in the rankings.
“The Badgers continue to be consistent winners on the football field getting 10 or more wins in three of the last four seasons, including a 13-1 run in the 2017 season. One hiccup was an 8-5 finish in 2018 after Wisconsin was ranked fourth in preseason polls. Another 10-plus victories that year and the Badgers would be even higher. Along the way, Wisconsin won the Cotton, Orange and Pinstripe bowls but lost the Rose Bowl this past season.
Over the past four seasons, Wisconsin’s basketball team has won 21 or more games three times and stumbled only in the 2017-18 season when the Badgers finished 15-18. They had 21 wins closing out this basketball season before the remainder was canceled.”