Game Coverage
Friday, Nov. 10 | 6 pm — Kohl Center
MADISON, Wis. — After an eight-game preseason schedule, which included a foreign trip this summer to Australia and New Zealand, the Wisconsin men's basketball team officially tips off its 2017-18 season at home on Friday. The Badgers host South Carolina State at the Kohl Center for a 6 p.m. (CT) tip in Madison. The game can be streamed live on BTN Plus and heard on the Badger Sports Network.
We've got "Five Things to Know" for Friday's opener.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW: SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
1. WHO'S BACK: Wisconsin returns just 1 starter from last season, 2017 third-team All-American Ethan Happ. Sophomore guard D'Mitrik Trice is the only other player on the roster that has started a game, making two starts in 2016-17. The Badgers will have just one senior in 2017-18, former walk-on Aaron Moesch. In all, UW brings back just 38.3% of the points scored a year ago and 39.4% of the minutes played.
2. HAPP-ENS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST: Junior Ethan Happ is following up on his 2017 third-team AP All-America and All-Big Ten honors with 2017-18 preseason recognition. The forward was named to the preseason All-Big Ten team and second-team preseason All-American by ESPN.com.
3. LONG EXHIBITION SEASON: The Badgers enjoyed an 8-game exhibition schedule, including a 5-game foreign tour of New Zealand and Australia this summer. UW went 7-1, boasting wins over Missouri and Northern Iowa, as well as 3 wins over teams from Australia/New Zealand's top professional league (National Basketball League). UW's only loss came on a buzzer-beater to Melbourne United (NBL).
4. TOUGH ROAD AHEAD: Wisconsin's 2017-18 schedule features a minimum of 9 games against teams in the AP preseason poll and another 3 against teams receiving votes. The Badgers earned.
5. 20/20 VISION:Â Wisconsin posted a 27-10 record last season, reaching at least 20 wins for the 11th straight season. UW also reached 12 Big Ten wins for the 8th-consecutive season. Both are the longest active marks in the conference.
ALL-TIME vs. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE: Wisconsin will take on South Carolina State for the first time in history. The Badgers are 14-0 all-time against teams from the MEAC, most recently topping Florida A&M, 90-37, last season.
Learn more about the SCSU Bulldogs.
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