BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer

MADISON, Wis. – Markus Ilver made his final two field goal attempts of Thursday's practice. One from inside, one from outside. Both baskets were against Wisconsin scout teamers – his usual calling. Ending up on a positive note with the rotation players was a confidence builder for the 20-year-old Ilver.

"Obviously with Tyler (Wahl) being day-to-day, I get more reps with the real team and not the scout team,'' said Ilver, referring to the uncertain status of Wahl, the UW's leading scorer and impact senior who didn't practice Thursday because of an injury suffered in Tuesday's win over Minnesota.

"It's easier to keep your confidence up on the scout team because that responsibility isn't that big but when you get to the real side … the real five … and I haven't been there that much … you have to gain that confidence and definitely making those shots helped that.''

The "real team'' – per Ilver's designation – is made up of the starters and top reserves. Up until now, he has been on the fringe of the gameday rotation. But when Wahl was injured in the first half against the Gophers, Ilver wound up playing 10 minutes and 52 seconds, a career high.

"It was my first actual Big Ten Conference experience,'' said Ilver who appeared in only three league games (a total of five minutes) last season. "I think it was a great experience for me. As coach (Greg) Gard says, 'You've got to stay ready – you never know when you're getting that opportunity.'

"It helped me a lot just to know what it's like to play in the Big Ten and how physical it is.''

It was Ilver's main takeaway from his exposure to the likes of Minnesota's Pharrel Payne, a sturdy 6-9, 255-pound freshman. On what he learned, he said, "That I have got to get more physical if I want to gain those minutes. Even if Tyler is back, I've got to get more physical to get on the floor.''

There was no better illustration of the point that Ilver was making than a free throw sequence in the second half. Ilver grimaced almost immediately after failing to execute a block-out on the right lane line on a missed attempt and it led to an offensive rebound and Minnesota basket.

"It was on the scouting report that they're not a good free throw shooting team,'' Ilver said of the Gophers who were shooting 59 percent from the stripe through their first 12 games. "And we've got to box out. I knew right away that I messed up.''

After the 63-60 win, Gard brought up the developmental value. "There were a lot of good things to build on,'' he said, "and some good experiences even though they maybe weren't pleasant going through – like Marcus Ilver getting a little taste of what he needs to be better at in live game action.

"It's just physicalness. You see that on the rebounding. He's got to play more physical. Part of that is getting stronger and he has made jumps since he has been here. There's no doubt he has improved but he has to take another jump and part of that is physical development.

"Part of it just developing a mindset of embracing physical play.''

To his credit, Ilver has changed his approach, his frame of mind since his freshman season.

"I didn't want it as much last year, I'm just going to be honest right now,'' admitted Ilver who scored five points (1-of-8 field goals) in his eight overall appearances combined. "Last year when I didn't get playing time, I kind of gave up. But this year, I feel the need to get those minutes.

"I want those minutes and I need to show coach that.''

Prior to the Minnesota game, Ilver had logged nine or more game minutes just three times: South Dakota (9:10), Green Bay (10:28) and Dayton (9:50). The latter – at the Battle 4 Atlantis – was by far his most productive outing of the season: he had six points (2-of-4 triples) and two rebounds.

"My family was there and I had to give it my all – that was the first time they saw me on the court,'' said Ilver who's from Talinn, Estonia. His parents traveled to Las Vegas for the relocated Maui Invitational last season. But he didn't see any action. Hitting his first shot against Dayton helped, too.

"It helped gain confidence,'' he said. The Badgers edged the Flyers, 43-42, with the bench accounting for 24 points (Connor Essegian had 13, and Isaac Lindsey had 5 to complement Ilver) in one of their many close calls. Dating to last season, they are 18-5 in games decided by five or fewer points.

Even though Ilver has played sparingly since then – he saw action in all three games in the Bahamas (Nov. 23-25) – he has filed away those experiences and tried to build upon them whenever the opportunity has presented itself. Like it did Tuesday against the Gophers. Rough spots and all.

"You get through this and come out on the left-hand side and it's a lot of good experience specifically for him,'' Gard said. "It's a great example. It puts all of our teaching points and why we've demanded the things that we have of him, and it has brought them to light in a game situation.

"Hopefully, he'll take steps and be better the next time …''

That will be Saturday at Illinois in one of the more hostile environments in the Big Ten, the State Farm Center. The Badgers have lost four straight in the series, including their only meeting last season, a 80-67 defeat in Champaign. Kofi Cockburn had 37 points (16-of-19 FG) and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes.

Unstoppable was an understatement to describe the 7-foot, 295-pound Cockburn who's now playing in Nagaoka, Japan for Niigata Abirex in the B1-League. Cockburn, who's averaging 20 points and 13 rebounds, signed a one-year contract with the hopes of earning a future shot in the NBA.

Besides filling the huge void left by Cockburn, the Illini are minus four other starters from the team that tied for the Big Ten regular season title with Wisconsin. Also gone are Alfonso Plummer (14.6 points), Trent Frazier (11.6), Jacob Grandison (9.6), Andre Curbelo (7.5). They were the top five scorers.

The Illini return just 14 percent of the points and 20 percent of the minutes from last season's 23-10 team. As a result, head coach Brad Underwood has been searching for chemistry from a nine-player rotation that features seven newcomers, including four true freshmen and two sophomores.

Illinois, the winningest program in the Big Ten over the last three-plus seasons, has had its moments: a 79-70 win against No. 8 UCLA and a 85-78 overtime victory against No. 2 Texas. But the Illini are coming off a low, a 73-60 loss at Northwestern, snapping an eight-game winning streak in the series.

The Wildcats outscored Illinois, 32-6, at the free throw line (40-10 in attempts). And yet, despite the unexpected bumps and personnel turnover, the Illini have still outrebounded 12 of 14 opponents, topped by 6-10 Coleman Hawkins (6.4) and 6-9, 270-pound Dain Dainja (5.7), a Baylor transfer.

Ilver, for one, understands the challenge that awaits him. "It starts on the defensive side and rebounding,'' he said. "It doesn't matter how much you score the ball. Did you do your job on the defensive end? I have to show coach that I want to get those minutes and sustain those minutes.''

Last July, Ilver was a member of the Estonia team that won the Division B bronze medal in the Under 20 European Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. While limited to five games due to a quad injury, he averaged 21.6 minutes, 8.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. "We accomplished our team goal,'' he said.

In general, the 6-8, 215-pound Ilver feels much stronger physically. "But,'' he said, "being with the national team held me back a little with all the games. We went for two months – playing and practicing, playing and practicing – we did lift weights but not as much as I could have.''

With or without Wahl, the Badgers are looking to shore up their frontline with 6-7, 225-pound Carter Gilmore and Ilver. Last season, Gilmore came off the bench and averaged 7.8 minutes in 22 games. This year, he's averaging 18.3 minutes and looms as the starter if Wahl isn't available.

"I'm kind of in the same role that he (Gilmore) was in last year,'' Ilver said. "So he's been helping me and telling me what to do – same with Tyler and Steve (Crowl). All the big men are trying to help me. They've got more experience than me.'' Yet, he stressed his inexperience is "not an excuse anymore.''

It's why those final two makes Thursday can be a springboard. To more minutes, more makes.

With the real team.