Wisconsin's Ethan Happ a unanimous preseason all-Big Ten Conference pick

Wisconsin redshirt junior Ethan Happ is a unanimous selection on the Big Ten’s 2017-’18 preseason all-conference team released Thursday.

Happ, UW’s lone returning starter from a team that reached the Sweet 16 and finished 27-10, averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season.

Michigan State sophomore Miles Bridges, also a unanimous pick, was named the preseason player of the year. 

The full team: Justin Jackson, F, Maryland; Moritz Wagner, F, Michigan; Miles Bridges, G/F, Michigan State; Nick Ward, F, Michigan State; Amir Coffey, G, Minnesota; Nate Mason, G, Minnesota; Scottie Lindsey, G/F, Northwestern; Bryant McIntosh, G, Northwestern; Vincent Edwards, F, Purdue; Happ, F, Wisconsin.

Happ's desire to extend his shooting range has been chronicled, but UW coach Greg Gard reaffirmed Thursday during Big Ten media day that Happ will continue to do the bulk of his work close to the basket.

"One of his greatest qualities is that he understands who he is," Gard said. "And he understands where his bread is buttered and what he's the best at. Has he worked on his perimeter game? Yes. Has he tried to improve that part? Yes. Is it essential for him to shoot from the perimeter for us to have success? No."

Meanwhile, Big Ten officials announced men’s teams will begin playing 20 league games in 2018-’19. Teams currently play 18 league games. 

Under the new format, teams will play seven opponents twice and six teams once (three home and three away) each season.

The three in-state rivalries – Illinois/Northwestern, Indiana/Purdue and Michigan/Michigan State – will be played twice annually.

The new format also will include a regional component to increase the frequency of games among teams in similar areas. 

Over the course of a six-year cycle (12 playing opportunities), in-state rivals will play each other 12 times, regional opponents will play 10 times, and all other teams will play nine times.

"We've got a pretty full plate, normally," Gard said, referring to the team's non-conference schedule. "And now you add two more conference games, obviously, Power Five games. And you have to make a decision on what you're going to substitute out.

"And the numbers, obviously, tell you that it's going to help RPI and help the league and those things. So I think it's to be determined yet how each school will go about that and how they will build their schedule. But from our standpoint, strength of schedule has never been an issue and being tested and being ready for what comes."

"I think our players are excited about it. I know our fans will be excited about it. It will really increase the quality and spread the quality out of the games you're going to be playing obviously well into December."