Wisconsin Men's Basketball Exhibition Against UW-Stevens Point

The Badgers Are Back! Tradition, Stats, and a Special Cause in This Year's Basketball Exhibition

Wisconsin guard Chucky Hepburn puts up a shot under coverage from Oregon guard Tyrone Williams as the Oregon Ducks host Wisconsin in the quarterfinal round of the NIT Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. Ncaa Basketball Wisconsin At Oregon Mbb Nit Wisconsin At Oregon :: © Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

A Tradition 18 Years Strong: Wisconsin vs. WIAC

As the winter chill slowly descends upon Madison, the warm glow of basketball season is upon us. The Wisconsin men's basketball team is gearing up for an exhibition game against UW-Stevens Point slated for 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center, streaming live on B1G+. This matchup is a time-honored tradition; for the last 18 seasons, the Badgers have hosted a team from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) to kick off their exhibition play. And UW-Madison Head Coach Greg Gard is no stranger to WIAC, being an alum of WIAC member UW-Platteville.

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More Than Just a Game: The Seventh Annual Cancer Awareness Game

Aside from the on-court action, this game also bears significant weight as the seventh-annual Cancer Awareness Game. In collaboration with Garding Against Cancer and the UW Carbone Cancer Center, Wisconsin will be recognizing the valiant efforts of survivors, doctors, and researchers in their fight against cancer. Founded in 2016 by Coach Greg Gard and his wife, Michelle, Garding Against Cancer has impressively raised $7.5 million for cancer research in the state.

In a recent press conference, Head Coach Greg Gard emphasized the anticipation building up in the team: "I think any time you get to this time of year, guys are a little anxious to play someone in a different color jersey other than red or white or what we've done in practice. So it's another chance for us to get out and see another opponent. And obviously, with being at the Guarding Against Cancer game, there's an extra layer of meaning to it, too".

Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit fouls Oregon forward Quincy Guerrier as the Oregon Ducks host Wisconsin in the quarterfinal round of the NIT Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. Ncaa Basketball Wisconsin At Oregon Mbb Nit Wisconsin At Oregon :: © Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Final Thoughts

The Badgers have a strong historical precedent against WIAC teams, standing at an 18-0 record. Their last encounter with UW-Stevens Point was back in 2011 when they secured a commanding 80-54 win. In overall exhibition play, the Badgers hold a 60-4 record, with a jaw-dropping 49 straight exhibition game victories. Tonight is sure to be an exciting game!

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