Keeping their composure

Badgers shook off Big Ten losing streak

MADISON - With his team in the midst of an ugly stretch that included five losses in six Big Ten games, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard noted the stress would toughen the players if they could work through the stretch and remain confident.

UW’s scintillating 65-62 victory over top-seeded Villanova on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA East Regional showed Gard’s words to be prophetic.

“Just so excited and proud of these guys,” Gard said after UW advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive season. “Because they’ve had to battle through a lot this year as we’ve worked and grown through the season together.”

That growth has No. 8 UW (27-9) in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals against No. 4 Florida (26-8) at 9 p.m. Central time Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The game will be telecast on TBS.

UW associate head coach Lamont Paris, in his seventh season on the staff, said the growth was evident during the comeback against Villanova, particularly during a timeout in the final minute.

“The stuff being said by our seniors about what needed to be done,” Paris said. “We’re coaches. We’re supposed to tell them what needs to be done.

“But when those guys are looking at each other in the eyes and telling people what needs to be done and how to do it, then our jobs are made easy.

“We’re just along for the ride. We push a couple buttons here and there.

“And those are changes. Those are things we didn’t see as much earlier in the year, even when we were winning games.” Growth. Seniors Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes, who combined for 44 points in UW’s firstround victory over Virginia Tech, combined for 13 of UW’s final 15 points against Villanova.

“I aspire to be like those guys when I get older,” redshirt sophomore Ethan Happ said. “B keeps making big shot after big shot. Nigel had big plays throughout the game, but that isolation when he scored that lay-up was huge for us.”

Hayes and Koenig combined for 36 points in the victory over Villanova, on 15for-26 shooting.

Koenig scored 8 of his 17 points after he returned to the lineup, with four fouls, with 5 minutes 43 seconds remaining.

“It’s just never losing poise, never getting rattled,” Koenig said when asked about UW’s