Mike Eaves brought a tough brand of hockey with him when he began his coaching career at Wisconsin in 2002. When he took the helm, he vowed to whip his team into shape with a healthy dose of discipline and hard work.

He would also teach them how to play defense.

Eaves' first season was not as successful as he would have liked. His first team went 13-23-4 overall and finished eighth in the WCHA. The Badgers that year averaged just 2.3 goals per game while allowing 3.3 goals per game to the opposition.

The Badgers improved their defense the next two years, giving up just 2.2 goals per game from 2003 to 2005. Now, the Badgers rank first in the country in team defense, allowing a paltry 1.44 goals per game on their way to a unanimous No. 1 ranking.

"Our coaches are great teachers of the game," sophomore defenseman Joe Piskula said. "They make sure we know everything we need to for any defensive situation."

Assistant coaches like Mark Osiecki and Kevin Patrick, both former defensemen, have made impacts with the team early on. Their success is evident in the way every player on the ice works together defensively, no matter what the situation.

Players who have come to Wisconsin in the Eaves era have been asked to buy into his defensive system. Beginning with his first class, his teams have bought into that system, and the results have shown. Even with a lean offense, Eaves managed to squeak out wins with a defense that made opponents work for every goal.

"Those kids bought in right away," Eaves said of the first Wisconsin team he coached. "Our seniors and juniors, they've had a lot of reps at this now. It has almost become second nature to them."

Eaves' defensive system isn't complicated by any means. Even a casual hockey fan could understand it with a little practice. When the opponent has control of the puck, the Badgers leave one defender in front of the net while the other works the corner. One of the forwards goes down low to help the defenseman in the corner, and the other two forwards remain at the front of the defensive zone covering the slot and the point.

The effectiveness of this defense comes from repetition in practice and in games. Players must make their reads and know how to position themselves. They must also have the discipline to worry only about their individual jobs.

To this point, the Badgers have done just that. And as their opponents' scoring average has gone down, Wisconsin's scoring average has gone up. Wisconsin has averaged 3.25 goals per game this season overall, and 3.5 goals per game in league play, good for second in the conference.

"Good defense leads to offense," Eaves said. "One of the ways you can sell good defense is if we're good when they have the puck, we get it back quicker. If I'm an offensive guy, that makes a lot of sense to me."

The Badger defense is led by the duo of Tom Gilbert and Piskula. The two have played side by side all season long, shutting down some of the country's best players, including national scoring leader Brett Sterling of Colorado College and Minnesota's dynamic freshman Phil Kessel, who were all but invisible when they went up against Wisconsin.

"They're both rangy guys. They're both six feet or over. They both skate very well. Tommy gets a lot of the credit for helping a young man like Joe learn the game," Eaves said of the duo.

Added Piskula: "Tom's just a great defenseman. He knows where to be with and without the puck. He's always there to support you. I think I've found that role being there for him, too. We just click."

Players like sophomore Kyle Klubertanz, junior Jeff Likens and junior Matt Olinger have also bought into the Eaves system, filling out a talented Badger defensive corps.

The defenders, as well as the forwards, have also learned one of the hallmarks of defensive hockey — blocking shots.

"Osiecki and our coaching staff emphasized that and taught us the proper way to block shots. It really helps our team out," Piskula said of his team's shot blocking abilities.

Forward Robbie Earl, perhaps the Badgers' most offensive-minded player, summed up his team's defensive efforts best.

"You have to play defense to win championships," he said.