Over the past few years, the top of the Big Ten conference has not varied much. Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan State consistently claim the top three spots in the conference. While these same three teams currently occupy those respective positions, a new team is trying to make its way into the rotation.
That team will be the Badgers' (6-2 Big Ten, 15-4 overall) opponent this Saturday-the Minnesota Golden Gophers. With a 5-3 record in the Big Ten and a 15-6 record overall, the Gophers have been one of the Big Ten's surprises this season.
\They're playing real well, playing with a lot of confidence,"" UW senior guard Clayton Hanson said. ""They've got all the weapons too, like any other team in the Big Ten, plus we're heading into their place and their environment so we're looking forward to going on the road and getting things done.""
The first weapon that Minnesota will employ is junior guard/forward Vincent Grier. After starting his college career at UNC-Charlotte and then transferring to Dixie State Junior College for last season, Grier has finally found his home at Minnesota as the team's leading scorer, rebounder and biggest threat to the Badgers.
""He's great on the attack; he's so athletic,"" Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan said of Grier, who is averaging 16.3 points per game and 5.4 boards. ""You can look across the league and not find very many guys that can get in the gaps like he can. He's a slasher and a half.""
Grier's slashing abilities have contributed to Minnesota's status as one of the best defensive teams in the Big Ten. Despite playing in the same conference with the quick trio of guards from Illinois, the Golden Gophers' 9.25 steals a game is a Big Ten best. The team is also second in the conference (behind Wisconsin) with 23.12 defensive rebounds per game.
While this will be a road game for the Badgers, it will be a homecoming for sophomore guard Kammron Taylor-and it could not come at a better time. The Minneapolis native has recently stepped into the starting lineup for sophomore forward Alando Tucker-who is still day-to-day nursing a right foot injury-and has been Wisconsin's leading scorer for the past two games. Last Saturday against Penn State he posted 20 points, and in Wednesday's victory over Northwestern, he tallied 18. While Taylor is unlikely to score 77 points in a single game like he did in middle school, his team will depend on him to keep the scoring up with Tucker possibly out of the lineup.
""He's a guy with capabilities of getting in the lane and making things happen and with the group of guys that we got, we need him doing that,"" Hanson said. ""To his credit, he's come a long way and really dedicated himself in the off-season, and you know he's doing a tremendous job.\
