GAME NOTES: The 17th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers are perfect in Big Ten play thus far, but they figure to be challenged by the somewhat surprising Penn State Nittany Lions this evening. Wisconsin is 13-2 overall, including 3-0 in league action, and the club is currently riding a seven-game win streak. The Badgers are fresh off a 70-60 victory over Illinois on Thursday, and the lone losses to date have come against Duke and Marquette, a pair of nationally-ranked squads. As for Penn State, it carried a seven-game win streak into Saturday's home clash with Minnesota. The Nittany Lions built a big lead in that contest, but a late collapse resulted in a heart-breaking 76-73 loss. Still, the team is 10-5 overall and 2-1 in league play. Wisconsin holds a 19-8 series lead over Penn State, including a 75-49 romp over the Nittany Lions in the most recent meeting last season.

The key to Wisconsin's success has been its play at the defensive end of the court, as it is limiting opponents to 54.3 ppg on 38.1 percent shooting from the field. The Badgers are also outrebounding foes by 8.4 rpg while scoring 71.3 ppg. Trevon Hughes is tops on the roster in scoring with 14.2 ppg, and Brian Butch is close behind with 13.9 ppg. Butch is also tops with 7.7 rpg. Hughes scored 22 points, recorded six steals and dished out five assists in the win over Illinois on Thursday. Butch posted 16 points in that clash, and Marcus Landry added some balance with 11 points. The Badgers only committed nine turnovers in that contest and shot 52.1 percent from the field. Those factors overshadowed a 35-25 rebounding deficit.

Geary Claxton of Penn State has established himself as one of the top performers in the Big Ten Conference. Through 15 games, Claxton is averaging 18.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg while shooting an even 50 percent from the floor. If he can improve his shaky 55.4 percent shooting from the foul line, the scoring output will be even better. Jamelle Cornley is the only other double-digit scorer in the Penn State lineup, as he is netting 12.0 ppg. Unfortunately, Cornley has been even worse than Claxton at the charity stripe. Claxton posted 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists against Minnesota, but he was 5-of-12 from the foul line in the three-point loss. Talor Battle also scored 19 points for the Nittany Lions, who missed 19 of their 36 free throws and turned the ball over 17 times. For those reasons, the club squandered a 16-point lead.

Expect tonight's game to be close, as Penn State is eager to avenge the heart- breaking loss to Minnesota. Expect the Nittany Lions to play with great energy and upset the Badgers.