At his weekly press conference Monday afternoon at the Kohl Center, Wisconsin basketball head coach Bo Ryan stressed the importance of every game on the Big Ten schedule.

Games at the end of the season, although they may ultimately determine the team’s place within the Big Ten, are no more important than the contests at the beginning of the Big Ten season.

So while the Badgers’ game against Illinois Wednesday night is of great importance because the Illini trail the Badgers by only a single game in the Big Ten standings, Ryan and his team will prepare for the game as if it were the team’s first.

“[The game] isn’t any different than when we first started the Big Ten season,” Ryan said. “You just keep preparing and practicing as you did back in early January as you do in mid to late February. Our preparation and approach does not change.”

Ryan knows Assembly Hall is a very difficult place to play for any team. And he knows that the Badgers’ goal of stealing a victory in Champagne will be even more difficult because the Illini are beginning to peak.

“They are playing extremely well; they’re getting the looks they want and they’re on the boards defensively,” Ryan said. “They’re just playing better.”

One of the keys to the game may be the play of junior forward Zach Morley. Morley, one of the Badgers’ most consistent and energetic players over the course of the season, has been mired in a mini-slump. Over the past two games, Morley has shot a combined 2-15 and scored only nine points.

Ryan feels, however, that slumps are only temporary and eventually Morley will bounce back.

“You can’t yell a person into making shots. You can’t berate a person into shooting it (the ball) better,” Ryan said. “He’ll do better.”

Morley may be a vital key in a Badger victory but the catalyst for Wisconsin has always been, and will likely continue to be, Devin Harris.

The junior guard from Milwaukee collected his second Big Ten Player of the Week honor after scoring 16 clutch points in a crucial win at Iowa and pouring in 33 in the Badgers’ weekend matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Ohio State game marked the third time in the last six games that Harris has scored more than 30 points.

Ryan knows his star player is special, and he realizes that a large reason for the team’s continued success after last season’s Big Ten title has been the stellar play of Harris.

“He’s taking care of the ball,” Ryan said. “He’s taking care of business, and he’s taking care of his teammates.”

“He’s done a little bit of everything,” Ryan continued. “He’s a complete person, and he’s trying to do the right things for the University of Wisconsin.”

Ryan knows every successful team has an unselfish playmaker like Harris who keeps the team together and is an integral part of every uplifting victory and every disheartening defeat. As a result, Ryan feels privileged just watching Harris play the game and he wants everyone else to partake in that joy.

“Just enjoy him, just enjoy watching him play,” Ryan said.

Many Wisconsin fans heed Ryan’s advice and enjoy Harris’ play. On Wednesday at Assembly Hall against the Illini, it will be no different.