It's the upperclassmen who know Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan's system best.
Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 11 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesday's finals of the Cancun Challenge.
Four juniors figured prominently in the win that has kicked undefeated Wisconsin (7-0) off to its best start of the Ryan era. The Badgers have not opened the season with seven consecutive wins since starting 11-0 in 1993-94.
Juniors Traevon Jackson scored 16 points and Frank Kaminsky added 12 Tuesday in a game that saw the Badgers execute Ryan's trademark disciplined defense and head's-up offense.