[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]He might not be putting up eye-popping stats each night. He probably wouldn't be considered the face of Wisconsin basketball in any shape or form.

But Ray Nixon represents what every coach craves; a selfless leader who simply knows how to win.

"I just think he's the ultimate team player. He does whatever needs to be done to win," said UW assistant coach Gary Close. "He's been a part of some terrific basketball teams that have won a lot of games, have won championships, and what better way to be remembered [than] as a part of a winning organization."

In a season with many ups and downs, Nixon has been — as the Badgers' lone senior — awarded the label of experienced leader who can be looked at for guidance on the court.

With guys like forward Alando Tucker and guard Kammron Taylor, a pair of Badgers putting up at least 15 points a game, Nixon has not been responsible as a primary ball-handler or frequent shot-taker.

Yet according to Close, this fits the senior guard just fine.

"If you're a selfish kind of player or if you're out for yourself, than that might bother you," Close said. "But he knows that, hey, Alando's got this role and Kammron's got that role, and this is his role. This is the way he can help the team be successful, and that's what he does."

While there's not much to write home about with this season's statistics — Nixon is averaging 6.1 points, as well as 1.6 rebounds and assists each — he has been a durable, reliable guard who can shoot the 3-ball with consistency and has the ability to offensively explode from time to time.

"I've tried to be more aggressive," Nixon said. "Our team has been struggling a little bit lately, so it's a necessity for guys to step up now; I've figured out how to take on that role."

Nixon has certainly paid his dues prior to this year, in which he's started all of Wisconsin's 24 games so far. Following a freshman year in which he played in 17 games, Nixon saw over 11 minutes per game in 64 contests over the next two seasons as the first option off the bench for head coach Bo Ryan.

"[As] a starter, I get more time to be on the court, where I can produce more for the team," Nixon said. "I get the change to make more positive things happen."

UW's 72-43 victory over Penn State marked Nixon's 100th career game, a testament both to Ryan's trust in the senior and to his stellar conditioning.

"He's waited for his time to play more extended minutes, patiently, and without any qualms, so to speak, and that's character," Close said. "Those are the kind of guys you like being around and coaching."

One of the bright sides of Wisconsin's recent struggles has been watching Nixon grow into a greater offensive threat over the past month. Since Jan. 14, Nixon has scored 13 or more points four times in nine games, compared to hitting the double-digit mark just twice in his previous 15 games.

"That's what you like to see in your seniors, seeing them step up and improve and make some plays," Close said. "Hopefully that will continue, and it wouldn't surprise me."

Close added that Nixon has maintained his status on the squad as the ultimate team player, even with his recent scoring success.

"He's doing that within the framework of what we're trying to do, he's not going outside of what we're trying to do, and that gets back to his unselfishness," Close said. "I think that's his real character strength, he just wants to win."

While it might be a stretch to consider him a realistic NBA draft pick for the 2006-07 campaign, Nixon says he isn't worried about the future, and won't be until his job as a Badger has ended.

"I'm just thinking about finishing the rest of the season," he said. "If all that stuff comes afterward, then hopefully it will be something good, but I don't look that far ahead."

While he didn't spell out any specific goals, Nixon said there is still much to be accomplished as UW heads into the homestretch of his final college season.

"It's still a race right now, any team [in the Big Ten] can win on any given day, so we just need to keep that style as a team and not as individuals, and I think we can go far."