For two teams that haven't met since 2003, there could be plenty of familiarity when Detroit Mercy faces Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., on Sunday afternoon. Over the offseason, Detroit Mercy

An Italian forward made his Wisconsin debut but, long before that, there were positive steps forward for the Badgers. Here's what we learned.

Following a three-game skid against Michigan, Marquette and Illinois, UW dropped significantly in both KenPom and ESPN BPI. The much-needed Dec. 14 win over Butler stabilized Wisconsin in the mid-30s — a place it remains after vanquishing Detroit Mercy in the final home game before the holidays.