It seems as if all the stars and planets have aligned for the No. 24 Wisconsin Badgers' (11-4 Big Ten, 21-6 overall) Big Ten regular season finale versus No. 14 Illinois (10-4 Big Ten, 20-5 overall) tonight at the Kohl Center. With Senior Night, a conference championship on the line and a hero's last appearance before the home crowd all factoring into the game, not many expected this year to end in the improbable fashion that has quietly grown in the last few weeks.
Not even senior guard Kirk Penney.
\I mean in the last week or two it has just evolved into being this situation and you find yourself in it and it's like, 'Man, this is cool,' but we have got to take care of business, we have got to make sure we make the most of this opportunity,"" Penney said.
It seems that ""taking care of business"" has been the tagline for the Badgers this season. All season long the players and coaching staff have stressed taking one game at a time and the pitfalls of looking ahead.
Up to this point that motto has treated the team well, but Illinois will definitely provide the Badgers with the most ""business"" of the Big Ten season. Even so, sophomore guard Devin Harris and the rest of the team are treating this game just like any other.
""It's just like a normal game to us. Regardless of what it means, we have still got to treat it like a normal game,"" Harris said.
And there lies the problem. Illinois is not a normal team. The Illini feature Big Ten Player of the Year favorite and senior forward Brian Cook. At 6' 10"", Cook contributes to the Illini's team height, which has given the Badgers problems on offense and the boards in the past.
The Illini boast solid supporting cast members in freshman point guard Dee Brown and sophomore center Nick Smith. Additionally, sophomore forward Roger Powell has recently emerged as a threat for the Illini as well.
""They use their high-low game very well and we have got to learn to take that away, because they have been killing everybody with that,"" Harris said.
Recently increased defensive intensity of late will help the Badgers in dealing with Illinois' high-low game. Wisconsin has allowed more than 60 points just once in the last seven games. The Badgers are 6-1 over that span, but Illinois is playing just as well--5-2 in their last seven, including a big road win at Michigan.
""There's a time when you want to be hot and when you want to be playing well. We've put ourselves in a situation where we want to be. We're at home and have a huge game against Illinois. The confidence is high and we are definitely looking forward to the challenge,"" Penney said.
There is one bittersweet storyline to this game, however. Penney will be playing his last game in Madison, his home away from home for the last four years. It's safe to say that Penney will miss the game days as much as the fans will miss his sweet game.
""[The Kohl Center] is the best stadium in the country. It means everything to us, you know? Especially, obviously, to the fans and the student section. Just the atmosphere this place creates is nuts,"" Penney said. ""I've been fortunate enough to play in all the places around the world, and the Kohl Center, it's just the cream of the crop.""
One would have to agree the same could be said about Penney.
