Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard credits playing tough competition as a major reason why the Badgers have gotten off to a 7-2 start.

(via Evan Flood):

“I just think the strength of schedule, who we played, where we’ve had to play. This is the 6th already in a row, in terms of Stanford and all the way through the Bahamas trip, and come back with Wake [Forest] last week and Marquette. These guys have gotten a lot of experience and got their feet to the fire, which is what we needed. It forces growth when you have to really buckle down and play.”