BADGERS AT A GLANCE

Coach: Greg Gard (57-36, fourth season overall).

2017-’18 record: 15-18 overall, 7-11 Big Ten.

2017-’18 postseason: Lost to Michigan State, 63-60, in quarterfinals of Big Ten tournament.

 Home court: Kohl Center. Tickets: (608) 262-1440.

STARTERS

22 Ethan Happ (6-10 Sr. F): Last season Happ lbecame the first Big Ten player since 1995-’96 to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. 

35 Nate Reuvers (6-11 Soph. F): Reuvers is up to 240 pounds, an increase of 25 since the end of last season.

21 Khalil Iverson (6-5 Sr. F): Iverson developed into a terrific on-ball defender last season and was active on the glass. 

0 D’Mitrik Trice (6-0 Soph. G): Trice was limited to only 10 games last season after suffering a broken foot. 

34 Brad Davison (6-3 Soph. G): Davison is healthy and able to use both arms after undergoing off-season surgery on his left shoulder. 

RESERVES

1 Brevin Pritzl (6-3 Jr. G): Started 21 games last season and shot 35.6% from three-point range. Finished at 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. 

2 Aleem Ford (6-8 Soph. F): Ford likely will miss at least a month after suffering a knee injury in practice. He shot 40.9% from three-point range and 80.8% from the free-throw line but hopes to expand his game and score closer to the basket.

23 Kobe King (6-4 Fr. G): A knee injury limited King to 10 games last season. He could develop into a versatile scorer and tenacious defender.

12 Trevor Anderson (6-2 Soph. G): Anderson redshirted last season after transferring from UW-Green Bay. He has been slowed by a knee injury but should be in the mix for playing time at point guard.

25 Alex Illikainen (6-9 Sr. F): Illikainen, who averaged just 6.8 minutes per game last season, needs to provide defense, rebounding and hit an open three-pointer. 

15 Charlie Thomas (6-8 Sr. F): If Thomas can give UW rebounding and defense for a few minutes each game he will help the team. 

13 Tai Strickland (6-2 Fr. G): UW shouldn’t need Strickland this season but he is already a tenacious defender and that skill could mean playing time. 

32 Joe Hedstrom (7-0 Fr. C): A walk-on who will redshirt and be on scholarship for four seasons. The staff hopes he can develop into a force on the defensive end who also can score. 

33 Taylor Currie (6-8 Fr. F): Originally committed to Michigan but after reclassifying and graduating early chose UW over Xavier. Plans to redshirt.

30 Owen Hamilton (7-0 Soph. C): Hamilton, from Prescott, must sit out this season after transferring from Northern Illinois. 

3 Walt McGrory (6-3 Soph. G): McGrory is an excellent perimeter shooter. That skill will help McGrory play the role of sniper in practice against UW’s No. 1 unit. 

31 Michael Ballard (6-4 Soph. G): A walk-on from Oak Park, Ill., Ballard played in one game last season. He will also be on the scout team. 

4 Carter Higginbottom (6-0 Fr. G): Walk-on from St. Ignatius in Chicago who will be on the scout team.

BIG TEN PREVIEW 

MICHIGAN STATE

Coach: Tom Izzo (574-225, 24th season).

Outlook: Junior guard Cassius Winston, junior forward Nick Ward and sophomore forward Xavier Tillman form an outstanding foundation.

MICHIGAN

Coach: John Beilein (248-143, 12th season; 799-461, 41st overall). 

Outlook: Guards Zavier Simpson, Jordan Poole (Milwaukee King) and Charles Matthews will carry this team, particularly early.

INDIANA

Coach: Archie Miller (16-15, second season; 155-78, eighth overall). 

Outlook: Can freshman guard Romeo Langford, projected to be a star, mesh with the returning talent and lead the Hoosiers to a title?

NEBRASKA

Coach: Tim Miles (97-97, seventh season; 380-317, 24th overall). 

Outlook: This should be Miles’ best team and it is NCAA or bust. 

WISCONSIN

Coach: Greg Gard (57-36, fourth season).

Outlook: UW should have more depth and flexibility in the backcourt and can surround Ethan Happ with scorers. 

PURDUE

Coach: Matt Painter (295-149, 14th season; 320-154, 15th overall).

Outlook: Can Carsen Edwards, the league’s preseason player of the year, do enough to replace four departed starters?

MARYLAND

Coach: Mark Turgeon (46-26, fifth season; 407-240, 21st overall).

Outlook: Junior guard Anthony Cowan and sophomore forward Bruno Fernando form the team’s foundation, but experienced talent is lacking.

OHIO STATE

Coach: Chris Holtmann (25-9, second season; 139-94, eighth overall).

Outlook: Holtmann must replace Keita Bates-Diop, the Big Ten player of the year last season.

MINNESOTA 

Coach: Richard Pitino (90-78, sixth season; 108-92, seventh overall).

Outlook: Pitino appears to be bringing in talent, but the Gophers must stay healthy and better execute the fundamentals. 

IOWA

Coach: Fran McCaffery (151-120, ninth season; 402-297, 23rd overall). 

Outlook: Iowa has plenty of scoring potential but must commit to defending every night. 

PENN STATE

Coach: Patrick Chambers (113-122, eighth season; 155-150, 10th overall).

Outlook: Can the Nittany Lions overcome the early departure of guard Tony Carr, who sometimes carried the team last season?

NORTHWESTERN

Coach: Chris Collins (88-77, sixth season).

Outlook: The Wildcats fell off the map one season after making the NCAA Tournament and have backcourt questions this season.

ILLINOIS

Coach: Brad Underwood (14-18, second season; 123-45, sixth overall).

Outlook: Sophomore guard Trent Frazier is the best returning player on a team with six freshmen and two transfers eligible to play. 

RUTGERS

Coach: Steve Pikiell (30-37, third season; 222-193, 14th overall).

Outlook: The Scarlet Knights will defend hard, but will they score enough with Corey Sanders and Deshawn Freeman gone? 

BIG TEN

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Carsen Edwards, Purdue (Jr. G): A first-team all-conference pick last season after averaging 18.5 points per game on a veteran team.

Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (Sr. F): Happ led UW in just about every important statistical category as a junior.

Cassius Winston, Michigan State (Jr. G): Winston led the league in assists (6.9 per game) and three-point shooting (49.7%) last season.

James Palmer, Nebraska (Sr. F):  Palmer scored in a variety of ways (17.2) but needs to improve his efficiency.

Juwan Morgan, Indiana (Sr. F): Morgan, who should have more help this season, scored (16.5), rebounded (7.4) and shot well (57.9%) last season.