Big Ten Tournament 2012: Wisconsin Stars Who Must Step Up in Conference Tourney

Wisconsin enters the Big Ten tournament as the No. 4 seed. While most of the attention is being focused on Michigan State and Ohio State, the Badgers have a good chance to fly under the radar and shock their conference foes by winning the tourney.

Here are three players who must have terrific performances to make it happen.

Jordan Taylor

Taylor is Wisconsin's most recognizable player. The senior guard has watched his numbers drop across the board this season, however, and he will need to bounce back if the Badgers are going to make a run in Indianapolis.

The biggest reason for his struggles has been a loss of shooting touch. It's an issue that plagued him for a good portion of the season, but he started to show signs of breaking out of the funk recently. He shot at least 43 percent from the field, last year's average, in four straight games.

If he's able to keep that positive momentum rolling, the Badgers will become a much bigger threat. One thing's for sure: He's a workhorse that will be out there for most of the game.

Josh Gasser

Gasser has developed into exactly what you would expect from a Badger. He's a solid defender, which is vital since the team's entire game plan is to limit possessions, and is also an efficient shooter. Those two things are important to anybody who wants to play for Bo Ryan.

Since he shoots such a good percentage, Gasser is ability to contribute on the offensive end without needing a boatload of shots. As teams begin to key in on Taylor, he might need to start taking charge a little bit more often down the stretch.

Should he step up to that challenge, not only will he put the Badgers one step closer to winning the tournament, but he'll finally start to get some well-deserved recognition.

Mike Bruesewitz

Some people might wonder why Bruesewitz continues to start even though his stats lag behind the other starters. It's because he's willing to do the little things to help Wisconsin win games. He's the guy diving to secure possession or taking a charge in a key situation.

For some teams, especially those that play a more up-tempo style, Bruesewitz wouldn't see much playing time. When it comes to the Badgers, he's a perfect fit. Every possession truly does matter when you play as slow as they do.

The Badgers don't have as much top-end talent as the Buckeyes or Spartans. But if depth players like Bruesewitz make enough of their opportunities, Wisconsin will win the tournament.