Most students on the UW campus know who Marcus Landry is. The casual Badger hoops fan is probably well-aware the 6'7' sophomore power forward has played a critical role in Wisconsin's 5-0 start in the Big Ten Conference. Yet it is also quite possible the majority of the rabid fans that make up the Grateful Red student section at the Kohl Center do not know the 21-year-old Milwaukee native is married and the father of two young children.
Landry married his wife Efueko Osagie-Landry in 2006, and the couple had their daughter Moriah a few months later. Landry also has a son, Marcus, who will turn two years old in March.
The husband and wife form a true basketball family, as Osagie-Landry plays basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles and averages 4.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
According to Marcus, having a family helps him put basketball in its proper perspective.
""It makes me work harder to want to succeed in life as a student and an athlete,"" Landry said.
However, he also admitted that family life poses many challenges.
""It's very hard. It takes a lot of time. You really don't have any time to yourself. You have to always either be with your family or doing schoolwork or basketball,"" he said.
Although Landry might struggle to maintain order in his busy life, his teammates agree he has matured well beyond his years.
""He's juggling a lot right now and he's handled it well,"" UW senior forward Alando Tucker said. ""Being his roommate, [I] see him try to balance his time between being a father, a husband, a student and being a player on the court.
""I think he's done a great job. I'm in awe just to see him handle things like that,"" Tucker added.
Senior guard Kammron Taylor agreed with Tucker's assessment.
""I think most kids wouldn't be able to do that,"" Taylor said. ""Marcus comes from a good family background and he was raised right and he works hard for everything that he has, and you know he went through a situation last year that made him grow more as a person.""
A year ago, Landry's academic ineligibility halfway through the season created an unpleasant situation for UW and head coach Bo Ryan. Wisconsin started the season 14-2, but without Landry and fellow big man Greg Stiemsma to boost the Badgers off of the bench, UW posted a dismal 5-10 record down the stretch.
This season, Landry has reasserted himself both in the classroom and on the basketball court.
""A lot of people are starting to realize that's what we missed last year with him,"" Taylor said. ""He provides that big spark if you need a rebound, if you need him to come and stop a guy from scoring on the inside or if we need a big block. I mean, he's had so many big blocks this year it's unbelievable. You know he just comes out of nowhere.""
Landry gave UW a huge lift against conference rival Ohio State. His four blocks and 10 points helped build a Badger lead which they would never relinquish.
He also had key blocks against Northwestern and brought the Kohl Center crowd to its feet when he stuffed a shot by his brother, Purdue's leading scorer, Carl Landry, last Wednesday night.
""He's brought energy and I think, for the most part, a defensive edge,"" Tucker said. ""He's altering shots, if not blocking them and ... toward the ends of the games he's been big. He shows that he keeps a calm mindset in pressure situations and that's key and that's important for us.""
Although Landry only played 16 minutes in Wisconsin's 71-64 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini Saturday, his steal, tip-in and bank shot late in the game helped UW earn its nation-leading 15th straight victory.
Nevertheless, while Landry certainly relishes beating up on conference foes, he said he also enjoys ""just coming home to my son and my daughter ... and my wife and just seeing the smiles on their faces.""
Landry said he especially looks forward to playing with his son.
""I love playing with him all the time—just teaching him basketball,"" Landry said. ""I already got him a little hoop. He's been shooting and things like that.""
So while he may be rejecting shots by Big Ten opponents, Landry is embracing his life as a family man.
