The Wisconsin men's basketball team (5-1) will be a busy bunch over winter break, playing a total of eight games from Dec. 11 to Jan. 11. As they wrap up the interstate rivalry next week at home against UW-Milwaukee Dec. 15, they will begin a four-game stretch at home and finish non-conference play Dec. 29.
From then on, it is the run for the Big Ten title. By the time classes resume in January, the Badgers will have played three conference games, including two on the road to tip off conference play.
Even though Head Coach Bo Ryan's team hates to look further than the next game, here is a look at the strongest of UW's opponents in the following weeks. The team's records are as of Dec. 9.
Dec. 11 at Marquette (8-0)
The unbeaten Golden Eagles play host to the Badgers in Milwaukee in the battle for state bragging rights. Head Coach Tom Creen's Marquette team is averaging nearly 74 points per game and is led in scoring by senior guard Travis Diener. So far this season, the unquestionable leader of Marquette is averaging 20.1 points per contest and shooting 46.3 percent from the field.
In addition to Diener, Marquette boasts two other players averaging double-digit scoring-junior forward Steve Novak (15.9 ppg) and sophomore guard Dameon Mason (14.6 ppg). Novak is the team's leading three-point shooter, connecting on 60 percent of his attempts from downtown (27 of 45). Mason is arguably the Golden Eagles' most athletic player and also ranks second on the team in rebounding (7.6 rpg).
Defensively, Marquette is limiting opponents to 38.8 percent shooting and holding them to 62.5 points per game.
Dec. 15 versus UW-Milwaukee (6-0)
Head Coach Bruce Pearl's Panthers will be in Madison to give Wisconsin its next test at home. UWM averages 79.2 ppg and boasts a margin of victory of more than 26 points. On the year, the Panthers are shooting better than 50 percent from the field as a team and are led in scoring by junior forward Joah Tucker's 15.3 ppg. Junior forward Adrian Tigert, third on the team in scoring with 11.2 ppg is the team leader in rebounds per game (8.0) and field goal percentage (72.2 percent).
On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers average more than eight steals per game and are forcing opponents into 19 turnovers a contest.
UWM, from the Horizon League, will play in Valparaiso before the trip back to Wisconsin.
Dec. 29 versus Alabama (7-1)
In a rematch with the Crimson Tide from a year ago, the Badgers host Alabama at the Kohl Center this season to close out 2004. After eight games this season, 'Bama is one of the country's top scoring teams, averaging 89.2 ppg, and led by three players scoring better than 16 points a contest-senior guard Earnest Shelton (19.1) and junior forwards Kennedy Winston (18.5) and Chuck Davis (16.9).
Head Coach Mark Gottfried and his team from the Southeastern Conference will be Wisconsin's final test before the conference season.
Last season, the Badgers lost at Alabama, 71-56.
Jan. 5 at Purdue (1-5)
The last time Wisconsin saw Purdue, the Badgers handed the Boilermakers a 36-point pounding in UW's season finale at home. This year, the Badgers must play their first conference game on the road at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind., a place where they have not won since 1972.
The Boilermakers return just two seniors to a team that finished 17-14 last season. The leading scorer back from a year ago is junior guard David Teague, who, in two games against the Badgers last season, averaged 11.5 ppg.
Jan. 8 at Indiana (2-3)
UW will stay in the state of Indiana for their second Big Ten game of the year, when they take on the Hoosiers at Assembly Hall. IU is led by junior guard Bracey Wright, a preseason pick for the all-conference team. Wright ranked third in the Big Ten last year in scoring with 18.5 ppg.
Head Coach Mike Davis' team looks to be well-tested entering conference play considering the team plays five squads that participated in the NCAA tournament a season ago in their non-conference schedule alone.
