Wisconsin has lost its coach. Xavier has lost its first-team all-conference player. But this game has lost none of its luster.

XU at WISCONSIN

• When: 2 p.m. today   • Where: Kohl Center, (17, 142), Madison, Wis.   • Records: XU 4-0, W 2-1   • TV: Ch. 64   • Radio: WLW-AM (700)   XAVIER   Player-Ht-Yr-Avg   Kevin Frey-6-8-Jr.-13.5   David West-6-8-So.-12.8   Maurice McAfee-6-0-Sr.-6.8   Romain Sato-6-4-Fr.-13.3   Lionel Chalmers-6-0-Fr.-10.3   Coach: Skip Prosser (Seventh season, 131-57; 148-70 overall)   WISCONSIN   Player-Ht-Yr-Avg   Andy Kowske-6-8-Sr.-10.0   Charlie Wills-6-8-Jr.-8.3   Kirk Penney-6-5-So.-11.0   Mike Kelley-6-3-Sr.-8.0   Roy Boone-6-3-Sr.-12.0   Coach: Brad Soderberg (First season, 0-0; 115-63 overall)   BY THE NUMBERS   • 62: Years since the only other meeting in this series, a 27-26 Wisconsin victory.   • 24-10: Wisconsin's record in the Kohl Center.   • 12, 1: Assists and turnovers, respectively, by Kelley against No.13 Maryland.

BIG GAMES

Xavier is 5-11 vs. ranked opponents in Skip Prosser's tenure, including 1-3 in road games. Here is a breakdown of its road games against ranked foes:   • '95-96: Lost to No.16 Virginia Tech, 70-61   • '96-97: Beat No.1 Cincinnati, 71-69   • '98-99: Lost to No.5 Cincinnati, 87-77   • '99-00: Lost to No.24 Temple, 59-40

        Xavier gets a rare opportunity today at No.23 Wisconsin, playing just the fifth road game against a ranked opponent in Skip Prosser's seven-season tenure.

        Prosser told his team the nation will be watching the game because of the interest in how Wisconsin rebounds from Dick Bennett's retirement from coaching.

        “Kids come to Xavier to play in games like this,” Prosser said.

        This is a statement-making game.

        Xavier (4-0) is playing a team that returned four starters from a Final Four season.

        The Musketeers are without Lloyd Price, whose sprained ankle continues to trouble him. They went 4-9 on the road last season.

        A victory despite such adversity would say this: Xavier is for real.

        “We could take a huge step forward,” XU sophomore swingman Dave Young said. “If we win, our confidence would be at an all-time high.”

        XU and Wisconsin (2-1) couldn't be more different. The Badgers are Big Ten bullies, using old-school defense and discipline to make their way to a Final Four last season while averaging fewer than 60 points a game. XU relies on athleticism, intending to run and press the Badgers into the 21st century.

        XU can't know what to expect. It has been just two days since Bennett stunned the Badgers with his retirement. They might be out of sorts, or instead might have win-one-for-the-Gipper resolve.

        “We'll see how that situation manifests itself,” Prosser said. “I'd expect there'd be an extra level of excitement on their part.”

        Brad Soderberg, who played for Bennett at Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the 1980s and was in his sixth season as Bennett's assistant, is the interim coach.

        “It has been a very emotional week,” Soderberg said. “He was my mentor and my friend. I had hoped one day to be the coach at Wisconsin, but not under such circumstances.”

        Soderberg is doing his best to preserve the status quo. “It'd be a foolish move to make changes in style,” he said.

        He even has tried to keep his family life the same, including coaching his son's sixth-grade basketball practice Friday night. But he can't make his son's game this morning: “If I was still the assistant, maybe I could make the first half and then leave for the (Wisconsin) game,” he said.

        Wisconsin comes in battle-tested, having played two ranked teams (Tennessee and Maryland) in its first three games. It is still without Maurice Linton and Travon Davis, who are serving suspensions for receiving discounted shoes. When Linton returns, Wisconsin will have an all-senior starting lineup.

        “I'm anticipating that our guys will come out focused,” Soderberg said. “Xavier definitely has our attention. As far as I'm concerned, they're a (Top 25) team.”

        XU's biggest goal is poise. Last year, it unraveled on the road.

        “It's easy when the crowd gets loud to get stage fright and stop moving,” Prosser said. “We're emphasizing that when the crowd gets louder, move faster.”

        It's the third game in five days for XU, a stretch junior Kevin Frey likens to an NCAA Tournament week. And today, he'll face an NCAA-type opponent.

        “There's no way you can't get excited for this,” Frey said.

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