The Wisconsin men's basketball team heads east Friday for their season opener against Pennsylvania. The No. 15 Badgers look to battle their way through the non-conference schedule in preparation to defend back-to-back Big Ten championships. The Quakers, defending two-time champions of the Ivy League, are favorites to win the league again despite losing three starters.
The Wisconsin roster received another setback Monday with the decision by freshman center Brian Butch to redshirt this season. Add that to the injuries of sophomore forwards Alando Tucker and Jason Chappell, who are both expected to be out until mid-December, and the depth chart seems a little thin.
\We've got a bunch of young guys who are looking to step up now. We want to get some experience out on the court, on the road, in some tough places,"" said junior forward Mike Wilkinson. ""When Tucker comes back, and Jason comes back, we'll be that much better and have that much more experience.""
With two big guys out, the Badgers will rely on Wilkinson, senior center Dave Mader and junior college transfer forward Zach Morley to handle the big men of Penn. The Quakers boast five players that stand 6'9' or taller.
A game against Penn sounds like an easy victory to most, but no non-conference game can be taken lightly. While the Ivy League is not considered one of the most revered conferences in college hoops, the Quakers recorded an undefeated conference season a year ago. If the Badgers go in expecting an easy game they could find themselves digging out of a hole, and Head Coach Bo Ryan is doing all that he can to make sure that does not happen.
""Coach is really telling us that we can't look past them,"" said sophomore guard Boo Wade. ""They come off of a lot of ball screens, they've got a lot of good shooters and they make smart plays.""
""You have to come out ready to play every night in college athletics, otherwise you're going to be in for a long night,"" Wilkinson said. ""That's something that I think we need to get across to everyone.""
The Badgers went 2-0 in their exhibition preseason. Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, junior guard Devin Harris looks to be a premiere leader on this team and quality minutes from newcomers Morley and freshman guard Kammron Taylor could be the key to a successful start for the Badgers this season.
The Quakers got a head start on the season, playing six games in 10 days during a trip to Spain at the end of August. Senior guard Jeff Schiffner, last year's NCAA leader in three-point field goal percentage, led his team to a 4-2 record overseas. Junior guard Tim Begley and senior center Adam Chubb also averaged double figures in scoring.
""We want to go out and really find out how good we are both offensively and defensively,"" Wilkinson said. ""I think the biggest thing is really trying to find out who we are mentally. [If we can] handle our emotions playing good teams on the road.""
The Badgers will need to play well both mentally and physically against a team like Penn if they hope to come home successful. A win on the road would give them the start they need for what is expected to be another great season.
