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With just two games between the University of Wisconsin
men?s basketball team and a regular season conference championship, the Badgers
have started to focus on what a Big Ten title would mean.

?It?s first. This is the first thing where they allow you to
cut down nets or to celebrate a championship,? head coach Bo Ryan said in his
Monday press conference. ?How important is the conference championship? It?s
the most important because it?s what we?re in right now.?

UW is currently in the middle of a six-day layoff that gives
the team a chance to rest up before the final regular season games.

?We?ll find out how useful it is when we play,? Ryan said.
?We had some guys nicked up a bit, and they needed some tender love and care.?

As for where the Badgers stand heading into postseason play,
Ryan is fairly confident about his team?s chances of success.

?Defensively our guys buy into what it takes. You?ve got to
play hard on each possession,? Ryan said. ?I just like where we are right now,
and I?m thinking Big Ten, and I?m not thinking anything past that.?

With 24 wins already, the Badgers are essentially assured a
NCAA tournament bid at this point, and Ryan acknowledged that all a team needs
is a chance.

?If you?re in [the NCAA tournament] you can win it, and I?m
not the first one to say it.?

Big Ten network affects season

The launch of the Big Ten Network this year has had both
positive and negative impacts on the Badgers this season.

On the plus side, it gives potential recruits more
opportunities to see Wisconsin play, as the team had 19 games televised on the
station this year.

?I think they have, for the ones that have been able to get
it,? Ryan said of whether recruits have been able to track the team?s games.

However, due to the network?s scheduling, the Badgers have
had to deal with unfavorable game times.

?The only thing that might have hurt us a little bit is
having those late games on the road,? Ryan said. ?I think exposure-wise we
still get plenty, but I think it?s just the time on those late games, I don?t
know if they can ever change it ? but the concept [of the network] is obviously
very good.?

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Bronson?s contributions noted

On Wednesday, Wisconsin?s four seniors ? Brian Butch,
Michael Flowers, Greg Stiemsma and Tanner Bronson ? will all play their final
game at the Kohl Center.

While the contributions of Butch, Flowers and Stiemsma are
all reflected on the stat sheet, Bronson, who has only played 25 minutes all
season, has affected the team in a different way.

?Tanner Bronson, all-time captain of the scout-team,? Ryan said.
?Every day he came ready to do the job, and when he?s on the bench he?s
coaching.

?He knows what the [opposing] team is going to run, and
he?ll yell it out. ? Tanner is pretty sharp.?

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Play of Krabbenhoft critical to success

It seems the play of junior Joe Krabbenhoft has been a topic
of conversation after every game this season. For the year Krabbenhoft is
averaging 7.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and leads the team with 2.75
assists per game.

?A lot of things have been said about Joe, and they?re all
true,? Ryan said. ?He?s that kind of guy. He?s the kind of guy everyone wants
on their team. If I?m playing pickup I want Joe. ? I?m glad he?s with us.?