[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

Though Wisconsin dropped its rivalry game against Marquette
Saturday, head coach Bo Ryan believes that with the aggressive all-around
scoring, stamina and key leadership within the team, the Badgers played with a
determined mindset.

"You're always trying to put your players in the best
position to be successful," Ryan said during his Monday press conference. "You
never want to overburden anybody, and nobody has ever done that with anybody
else."

Despite a valiant effort against the Golden Eagles, the
Badgers lost, 81-76, snapping a 28-game home winning streak. However, Ryan is
pleased with the way the team played.

"We did a pretty good job … we got the clock stopped," Ryan
said. "Actually, it couldn't have played out any better for having a chance to
come from behind."

Scoring
continues to stay balanced

One of the key trends for UW this season has been the
balanced scoring pattern throughout the team. In each of the last seven games,
eight different players have scored in double figures. Saturday, Brian Butch
led the team with 17 points, shooting 50 percent from the field. Trevon Hughes
added 16 points and four assists, while Michael Flowers chipped in an
additional 14 points in his first start of the season.

When asked if this teamwork was an accurate display of the
type of squad he is coaching this season, Ryan was quick to defend his Alando
Tucker-less team.

"A guy doesn't have to go on the floor and feel that he has
to get 20 points," Ryan said. "We can get five or six guys scoring between
eight and 14 and still end up with very good production. We still want guys to
be aggressive with scoring, looking for their shots, improving with their
individual moves, being able to deliver … of course we want all that."

Additionally, Ryan emphasized distributing the basketball.

"You have to think about yourself as a player so that you
can deliver when it is a good shot and it is a good opportunity. But also, how
to get somebody else an opportunity: draw in help, finding the open person,
kicking it out," he said.

Rebounding
deters Badgers

Despite another aggressive scoring effort for the majority
of the game, the Badgers struggled against Marquette in other areas. For the
first time this season, the team was out-rebounded 41-34. The Badgers only
converted on 60 percent of their free throws, while the Golden Eagles hit seven
of their last nine free throws of the game to hold on to the lead.

"You have to believe in your players — that they want to do
the right things the next opportunity they have," Ryan said of the struggles.
"Sometimes you've got to get knocked upside the head … figuratively, where you
stumble and you've got to get up."

Ryan looks to
seniors

With a tougher schedule in the near future, Ryan is looking
to the older players on the team to set the tempo. Senior Brian Butch ranks
third in the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 8.6 boards a game, while senior
Michael Flowers is averaging 9.4 points and shooting .444 (28-of-63) from the
field. Junior Joe Krabbenhoft is second on the team in minutes, and tied for
second in rebounding and assists. To Ryan, the offensive contributions that
these players bring to the team come secondary to the overall impact they
have.

"If you have success doing certain things early, when you
understand the process, it is really about not trying to do things that you
can't do," Ryan said. "From my 30 years of experience, that's what we try to
do. We try to get people to set examples. And sooner or later, the younger guys
get it."

Leuer's play
reflection of team

Forward Jon Leuer hit two big 3-pointers against the Eagles,
but Ryan made it clear that these offensive opportunities can be directly
attributed to an overall team contribution, not just the growing play of the
freshman.

"It could have been him (Leuer) in that position, it could
have been J-Bo (Bohannon), it could have been Michael Flowers," Ryan said.
"Balance … we're going to need that. You can't always refer to what has been,
but how many explosive players do you find like Alando Tucker that can create
something on his own? They're rare. A lot of times then, you might have a team
that might have to make one more pass."