With almost the entirety of the team’s nucleus returning from last year’s Big Ten championship winning squad, the UW men’s basketball team enters the 2003-04 season as one of the most highly touted in the country.

According to this year’s first ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, Bo Ryan’s Badgers are the No. 14-ranked team in the nation, and many expect them to once again make a run at the conference crown.

If Wisconsin is to earn their third consecutive Big Ten title, they will once again need a solid year from shooting guard Freddie Owens and point guard Devin Harris.

Owens and Harris, entering their senior and junior seasons, respectively, will be counted on to step up their leadership role, especially with the loss of the team’s leading scorer, Kirk Penney, to graduation.

“[Our role] changes a lot because I’m a senior now, and [Harris] is a junior now,” Owens said. “I mean, we’re a year older. Kirk (Penney) is gone; he brought great leadership to the team last year. Now we’ve just got to feed off what he brought to the team and pretty much learn from him last year. We’re going to try to carry it over to this year and lead the team.”

“[Owens and I] have taken on a little more vocal role in the locker room and kind of off the court,” Harris added. “We’re just kind of taking that leadership to the next level.”

According to Owens, part of that heightened level of leadership will be assisting the coaching staff in the development of the Badgers’ incoming freshmen.

“I know where I was coming in as a freshman. So does Devin,” Owens said. “I mean, we looked to the older guys for guidance, because it’s a huge transition between high school and college ball. It’s a lot more competitive; guys are stronger, faster and smarter. It helps when you got teammates who have experience to help you out with things.”

One of the Badgers’ two incoming freshmen this season is guard Kammron Taylor. Taylor, a two-time all-state selection and Mr. Basketball finalist as a high school star in Minnesota, will likely be the Badgers’ primary backup at point guard, and Harris has tried to help “Kam” pick things up as quickly as possible.

“I mean, it’s just like last year,” Harris said. “I took Boo (Wade) under my wing. He learned under me, and ‘Kam’ is doing the same thing. He’s learning slowly, but he’s starting to pick up things a little bit faster … it’s a learning process, and he’s going through it, and I’m just trying to help him the best way I can.”

Although their impact as teachers and leaders will be crucial to Wisconsin’s level of success this season, Owens and Harris may also be counted on to carry more of the scoring load than they have in the past. With the graduation of Penney and the injury of star-forward Alando Tucker, the Badgers will be without their first and third leading scorers from last year’s team to start the season.

According to Owens, neither he nor Harris will be looking to force the issue on offense, though.

“We’ve just got to take what they give us, pretty much. I mean, we’re not going to be out there forcing more shots,” Owens said. “Of course we have to be more aggressive because we’re losing out on 28 points a game, with Kirk (Penney’s) 16 and Alando (Tucker’s) 12, so we’ve just got to make up for it in other ways and just take what the other teams give us.”

Like Owens, Harris said the two will just be looking to play within the offense and help the team win any way they can — whether it means scoring more or not.

“It’s hard to say [if Owens and I will look to score more] since we really haven’t played a game yet,” Harris said. “I mean, I don’t really dwell on it that much. If it’s needed and that’s what the team needs, then we’ll go out and do it, but we try to play within our role and try to do things that are team-oriented and not as individuals — just play as a team and go from there.”

UW fans will get their first opportunity to see Owens, Harris and the other Badgers in action this Saturday, as Wisconsin is scheduled to play the EA Sports All-Stars in an exhibition game at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers’ two most experienced backcourt players are anxious for the start of the season, and, according to Owens, are “ready to roll.”

“I can’t wait (for the start of the season),” Owens said. “This is my last go around, and I’m looking to try and do big things and try to help this team win.”

“It’s game week. I mean, everybody’s excited,” Harris added. “Everybody has a little bit more pep in their step, and I’m ready to get after it Saturday. I know the fans are ready, so it’s just a matter of time.”