Though most of the Wisconsin men's basketball team's conference title hopes are no longer in their own hands, the Badgers (11-4 Big Ten, 20-6 overall) will look to keep those hopes alive Saturday against Indiana (7-8, 13-13).
Illinois is guaranteed a share of the Big Ten crown, but if they should lose Sunday at Ohio State, Wisconsin could slide in and clinch a share of regular season title. It's not a position the Badgers are happy to be in, but all they can do now is focus on Indiana and hope for some help from the Buckeyes.
\Yeah, it's [frustrating], but we can't worry about everything else that's going on,"" junior forward Zach Morley said. ""We just have to take care of our own business, and put forth our efforts where we have a chance.""
In order to have that opportunity, the Badgers must come out of Bloomington with a win. The Hoosiers have been the Big Ten's most enigmatic team all season. After a 79-45 drubbing at the hands of the Badgers, Indiana won five straight and were sitting atop the league. This success was followed by a plunge to the bottom of the conference, where they remain, having lost seven of their last nine games. Preparing for a team that has been so up and down is no easy task.
""We're preparing for their best,"" junior guard Clayton Hanson said. ""Just because we know that's what they're going to bring ... they're a dangerous team and going into that environment should be a tough game for us.""
Equally as inconsistent as the team's overall performance has been the play of sophomore guard Bracey Wright. Wright is one of the Big Ten's most dangerous scorers and averages 19 points per game. Despite his gaudy stats, Wright is just about as reliable as the cable repairman. His points will show up, you just never know when. Oftentimes he gets his points in garbage-time, when the outcome is already decided.
IU recently lost sophomore forward Sean Kline. His absence should allow the Badger big men much of the same freedom in the post that they enjoyed in the teams' first meeting, when senior forward George Leach was out.
With Kline sidelined due to a knee injury, opposing big men have completely dismantled the Hoosier frontcourt, all this despite the presence of Leach, the league's best shot-blocker. But the perceived lack of interior depth isn't going to change how the Badgers attack Indiana on the offensive end of the court though.
""I think we just have to stay within our offense,"" Morley said, ""We can't try to force too many things (inside). But in our offense, we try to touch the post every trip down.""
When they first saw the schedule, the Badgers probably were not too excited about the prospects of finishing the season with games at Michigan State and Indiana, but closing out the regular season in these hostile environments may be just what the doctor ordered in terms of tournament preparation.
""Now I think everybody realizes that we have the capability of doing it,"" Morley said. ""And no matter where we're at, we have a chance.\
