After tripping out of the Big Ten gates in early January, it looked as if the Badgers’ hopes of defending their conference title had faded. Yet the Badgers were able to bounce back and reel off an impressive win streak. As the wins have piled up, the Badgers have moved nearly to the top of the conference standings but have failed to make a dent in the national rankings — but this doesn’t worry head coach Bo Ryan in the least.

“I’ve said it many times about any high school league I have coached in or at Platteville or here: You try to play the league’s first. Take care of business in your conference,” Ryan said. “If you do well in your conference you tend to get to play a little bit longer, especially in the conferences that we have been fortunate enough to coach in.”

Ryan’s interest in the present, and only the present has echoed in the mindset of his players, whose focus is continually alert to the preparations of the next game at hand. It may sound cliché, but it’s the truth, and in Ryan’s eyes is the most effective way to coach.

“These young men are smart enough to know that if you want to do things later on, you always have to take care of now. What other people are saying is never … I think you’ll get to know me in the next couple of years, that’s not really something that is going to matter that much. I’m concerned about what our players are doing, how they’re working, how they respond.”

Freddie Owens’ return to form: The Badgers’ slow start to the conference season echoed the slow start of Freddie Owens’ Big Ten season. While Owens remained one of the most solid defenders on the team, he began suffering early foul trouble and bouts with low scoring, but since the Iowa game, the junior guard from Milwaukee has really picked it up. Owens has scored 43 points in the Badgers’ last four games, bringing him back to near the same level of contribution he began the season with.

“He seems to be listening, and he’s always worked hard at things that we have given him,” Ryan said. “It takes time. Some people, it takes longer than others. As long as you see progress, it certainly helps when you are a coach. And Freddie has made some progress.

With the return of an added scoring presence, Kirk Penney and Devin Harris don’t have to carry so much of the scoring load from the guard spot. Owens brings an added scoring presence that brings more balance to the Badger offense that can only benefit the team.

“There are some teams that are going to try to get Kirk [Penney] to not be able to go to his strengths, for Devin [Harris] to go to a weakness,” Ryan said. “That cat-and-mouse game has taken place every time we play. But recently, Freddie has been doing some things as a result of his conscientious effort to get better. And that’s a good sign, because he’s willing. We don’t have anyone out there who isn’t willing.”

Badgers showing promise in the stats: The Badgers are currently ranked at the top of the Big Ten in scoring defense, only allowing 60.0 points per game from the opposition, while leading the conference in average turnover margin (+3.47). UW also is ranked second in many conference categories, including average rebounding margin (+4.6), steals (7.5pg), and field-goal percentage (47.7).