Wisconsin basketball unofficially begins its 2010-2011 campaign Saturday at the Kohl Center as the Badgers square off against Division III UW-LaCrosse in their first of two exhibition games this season.
The Badgers are 50-4 all time in exhibition games and enter this season as one of the top 30 teams in the nation, according to the preseason AP poll. Wisconsin is used to being overlooked and has embraced that title as the ""underdog"" the past nine seasons with head coach Bo Ryan at the helm.
This season seems to be no different as the team enters exhibition play with the same mindset they would any other game.
""Every time you step on the court you're trying to perform and work hard,"" junior guard Jordan Taylor said. ""I don't think it's any different from a practice even. You always try to come out, compete and do your best.""
This will be the seventh-consecutive season the Badgers have held an exhibition game with a WIAC team as one of its opponents, as they defeated UW-Superior 80-47 last season at the Kohl Center. The WIAC conference remains one of the most competitive non-Division I conferences in the nation, and includes last year's DIII national champions, UW-Stevens Point.
This type of reputation is one of the prominent reasons UW consistently schedules exhibition contests against WIAC foes.
""They're definitely well-coached—it has always been a well-coached league,"" UW assistant coach Gary Close said. ""It's a great opportunity for them. They're going to be ready to play, they get a chance to play at the Kohl Center, so it's a win-win for everybody.""
This game may also be the first indication of how Ryan and the rest of the staff decides to split open minutes at the guard position. Close says they already have an idea of how those minutes will be distributed but is still intrigued by the competitiveness of his guards in practice.
""It's always interesting as a coaching staff to see how well they react and how they play in a live game,"" Close said. ""This is about as competitive a situation we've had in terms of competing for minutes.""
One of those guards who is looking forward to earning some playing time and his first game as a Badger is freshman guard Josh Gasser.
""This is my first game in college so I'm definitely excited for that,"" Gasser said. ""[I've] never really played in front of a big crowd like that so it's going to be good just to go up against someone else but my own teammates.""
As of now, the coaches have been satisfied with the development of their freshmen but are still looking to this weekend's exhibition for indications of weaknesses and improvement.
""In live action with referees and a crowd we just want to see how they will react,"" Close said. ""That's why its always good to have a dress rehearsal.""
