Wisconsin had two kids go in the first round of the NBA Draft last night. One was Jordan Poole. He played at Milwaukee Riverside then want to Michigan. No one expected Poole to go in the first round, so, that came as a surprise to many. The other was not a surprise. Tyler Herro went to the Miami Heat at number 13 in a draft slot that might be a little higher than expected, but Herro gets to spend his days and nights in South Beach. That’s a helluva way to start your NBA career. Herro is living proof that it is okay to bet on yourself when you’re right.

Herro originally started his college career committed to the University of Wisconsin. It was a big coup for Greg Gard and the Badgers. Many people were thrilled with his ability to score, defend and brought a swagger to the Badgers that they were missing since the Final Four teams. But that all changed as the Whitnall product had a great summer leading to bigger schools wanting to poach him from his home state team. He decided to de-commit from Wisconsin and go to Kentucky. He had a successful year with the Wildcats and was good enough to be a one-and-done player in the league. This is not an indictment on Wisconsin, rather, a kid who understood he was better than whatever the Badgers had envisioned for him. He did not believe Wisconsin had the system to make him into a one-and-done talent, which is totally fair.

Herro joins a Heat team that could desperately need him, especially from the outside. They’re not a good shooting team and adding someone like Herro is a plus for them. He’ll get to play in front of a hometown audience once or twice a year next season. Curious to hear how many Badgers fans are there and boo him. It would be unnecessary yet not surprising.

Congrats and loved the Whitnall shoutout.

CHarlie.