Wisconsin has already wrapped up its second straight Big Ten regular season title.
Now, the 18th-ranked Badgers begin their quest for their first conference tournament title as they face Ohio State in the quarterfinals Friday at the United Center.
Wisconsin (22-6) earned its first back-to-back conference titles since 1924, and first outright title since 1947 with a 60-59 win over No. 13 Illinois on March 5. The Badgers, who tied the school record for wins in a season, have won four straight and seven of their last 10.
"People said last year was a first-year fluke and that everyone was going to catch up with us, and I even said I don't know how good we can be this year," second-year coach Bo Ryan said. "I don't know until we go through it."
Ryan, voted conference coach of the year on Tuesday, became just the third Big Ten coach to win conference titles in his first two seasons.
However, the Badgers, who received a first-round bye, have struggled recently in the league tournament.
Last season, the Badgers entered the Big Ten tournament as a No. 1 seed but were upset by Iowa in the first round. The loss was Wisconsin's third straight conference tournament loss.
Ryan knows that the pressure is on his team this year, but he's not concerned.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to be successful, and when you are you know people are going to come after you. That just goes with the territory," he said. "Pressure is OK. That means there's going to be something you're held accountable for and you work like the dickens to get it done as well as you can."
Devon Harris hit one of two free throws with four-tenths of a second remaining to beat the Fighting Illini. Harris finished with 13 points for the Badgers, while Kirk Penney scored 14 points, Alando Tucker had 12 and Mike Wilkinson added 11.
Penney leads the Badgers, who allow a conference-best 58.7 points per game, with 16.4 points per game.
The eighth-seeded Buckeyes (15-13) come in off Thursday's 66-64 win over Iowa -- their third win in five games.
Brent Darby, who led the team with 18.1 points per game during the regular season, nailed a layup over two defenders with 1.8 seconds left to earn the win.
"We put the ball in the hands of our best player, and he delivered," Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien said. "We were waiting for something like this to happen, something good."
Darby finished with 18 points, Sean Connolly added 15 points, Velimir Radinovic had 14 and Zach Williams had 10.
"We know it's a new season," Darby said. "We've put the regular season behind us."
Ohio State leads the all-time series 79-55.
Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes 53-52 on Jan. 18 in the only other meeting this season. Shun Jenkins had a game-high 16 points for Ohio State, while Tucker led Wisconsin with 15.
Now, the 18th-ranked Badgers begin their quest for their first conference tournament title as they face Ohio State in the quarterfinals Friday at the United Center.
Wisconsin (22-6) earned its first back-to-back conference titles since 1924, and first outright title since 1947 with a 60-59 win over No. 13 Illinois on March 5. The Badgers, who tied the school record for wins in a season, have won four straight and seven of their last 10.
"People said last year was a first-year fluke and that everyone was going to catch up with us, and I even said I don't know how good we can be this year," second-year coach Bo Ryan said. "I don't know until we go through it."
Ryan, voted conference coach of the year on Tuesday, became just the third Big Ten coach to win conference titles in his first two seasons.
However, the Badgers, who received a first-round bye, have struggled recently in the league tournament.
Last season, the Badgers entered the Big Ten tournament as a No. 1 seed but were upset by Iowa in the first round. The loss was Wisconsin's third straight conference tournament loss.
Ryan knows that the pressure is on his team this year, but he's not concerned.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to be successful, and when you are you know people are going to come after you. That just goes with the territory," he said. "Pressure is OK. That means there's going to be something you're held accountable for and you work like the dickens to get it done as well as you can."
Devon Harris hit one of two free throws with four-tenths of a second remaining to beat the Fighting Illini. Harris finished with 13 points for the Badgers, while Kirk Penney scored 14 points, Alando Tucker had 12 and Mike Wilkinson added 11.
Penney leads the Badgers, who allow a conference-best 58.7 points per game, with 16.4 points per game.
The eighth-seeded Buckeyes (15-13) come in off Thursday's 66-64 win over Iowa -- their third win in five games.
Brent Darby, who led the team with 18.1 points per game during the regular season, nailed a layup over two defenders with 1.8 seconds left to earn the win.
"We put the ball in the hands of our best player, and he delivered," Buckeyes coach Jim O'Brien said. "We were waiting for something like this to happen, something good."
Darby finished with 18 points, Sean Connolly added 15 points, Velimir Radinovic had 14 and Zach Williams had 10.
"We know it's a new season," Darby said. "We've put the regular season behind us."
Ohio State leads the all-time series 79-55.
Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes 53-52 on Jan. 18 in the only other meeting this season. Shun Jenkins had a game-high 16 points for Ohio State, while Tucker led Wisconsin with 15.
