[media-credit name=’GREG SCHMITZ/Herald Photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]Fresh off of a flight from south Texas and a third-place finish in the South Padre Invitational, the No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers (5-1) run right back onto the court, taking on the Florida State Seminoles (4-1) in the eighth annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

To say Wisconsin's third-place result on South Padre Island was disappointing would be an understatement, especially with the Badgers playing so poorly against Missouri State in the first half and digging too deep a hole early in the game. However, head coach Bo Ryan was happy with how his squad responded, dominating a very athletic and talented Auburn team the next day.

Ryan hopes that the improved play of guards Jason Bohannon, Michael Flowers and Kammron Taylor in the second game of the tournament will translate into better court decision in the near future.

"[Missouri State] is a team with veteran leaders and a [transfer guard] that came out of nowhere and was a difference maker," Ryan said. "It helped our guards know that the leadership position with the ball needs to make good decision with the ball. Less than 24 hours later, our guys showed improvement by not turning the ball over against an athletic defense team like Auburn."

The play of Wisconsin's guards will be essential to their success when they host the Seminoles, who are coming off of an 88-66 loss at Pittsburgh. Much like previous Badger opponents, Florida State is small –their tallest player is 6-foot-9 — and loves to push the ball to score in transition.

Senior Al Thornton leads the veteran Seminoles with 16.0 points per game, but this year Florida State has struggled to hold onto the basketball. In four of their five games this season, the Seminoles have had an assist-to-turnover ratio of less than one, including 27 turnovers against Illinois State.

Regardless of FSU's struggles, the Badgers have learned that every opponent deserves their highest respect.

"[Florida State] is a team that could be there at the end of the year," Ryan said. "[All ACC teams] are good. They're all trying to beat you. I've always respected the opponents and the competition. The saying goes if you don't [respect the competition], you don't respect yourself."

Tonight's matchup with the Seminoles will be the fourth different opponent Wisconsin has faced in the event. However, much like the Big Ten itself, Wisconsin has had minimal success, winning only twice in seven tries since the challenge debuted.

While the Big Ten has yet to win the event outright, Ryan doesn't look at the event as a deterrent, but rather as a scheduling benefit.

"I'm looking at the positives that it brings, that it's a top-notch opponent on a home and away basis," Ryan said. "In terms of scheduling, it's great. If we had one of these with four or five different conferences, it would be all right with me. We have several high RPI teams on our non-conference schedule anyhow. That's what I really like about [the event]."

Moreover, Ryan doesn't put much stock in the fact that the ACC has been a better overall league the past seven years by consistently beating the Big Ten. Commenting that the winning streak is more of a phase than anything, Ryan feels that the Big Ten can make a similar run in the near future of the event.

"When you add them up, one league wins X number of games and the other league wins the other amount," Ryan commented, who cared to relate the streakiness of the ACC/Big Ten relationship to that of Major League Baseball. "I watch the American League and National League in the All-Star game go through streaks where it looks like one league is never going to win another game.

"Then the league makes a strong run and that's what we have to do in the Big Ten," Ryan finished. "Maybe we can make one of those pushes."

One thing that doesn't bother the Badgers as much as it bothers some of their fans is with whom Wisconsin is scheduled to play in the event. Excluding Florida State and Georgia Tech, Wisconsin has only played Maryland and Wake Forest in the event while traditional ACC powerhouses such as Duke and North Carolina have constantly evaded Wisconsin's schedule.

While the scheduling decisions baffle him, Ryan is excited to play a good team from a top conference like the ACC.

"I always wondered who behind the scenes thinks these matchups up," Ryan said. "I don't know if it's a pure scheduling thing. You get the opportunity to play [a Duke or North Carolina team] in tournament play. We've played an awful lot of good teams, like the Kentuckys and teams like that. You don't have to be from one of the top conferences to be one of the top teams. Whoever they put down, I'm [excited]."

Last night, the ACC did draw first blood, as North Carolina State hosted Michigan State in the opener of the Challenge, as the Wolfpack gained a 74-67 victory over the Spartans.