Alando Tucker is stuck in a Saturday-morning time warp: The stacks of DVDs in his Madison apartment are heavy on animated classics such as Thundercats and Scooby-Doo. Growing up in a one-parent, five-child household in Lockport, Ill., Tucker (left) had to help raise his two younger siblings, especially after his eldest brother joined the Army in 1998. Now he says he uses his downtime "to relive the cartoon days of my youth." Not surprisingly he takes some flak for it. "My girlfriend can't believe," he says, "that a so-called big-time basketball player is so 'kiddie-ish.'" On the hardwood Tucker, a 6'6", 205-pound small forward, is anything but. The fifth-year senior is the favorite to win the Big Ten player of the year award after averaging 19.0 points in 2005--06, third best in the league. During the team's August trip to Italy, coach Bo Ryan says, the Badgers took their cues from one source. "I'm a big watcher of eyes," Ryan says, "and I could see them looking to see what Alando was going to do." In UW's swing offense, Tucker's athletic attacks at the basket can be "pretty wild," teammate Marcus Landry says. "When you're holding Tuck on defense, you can feel his strength. It almost makes you think of Tarzan." Tucker hopes to use that power, as well as an improved shot, to lead Wisconsin to its first Big Ten championship since 2003--04. Ryan thinks he'll be "one of the best captains I've ever had." For the Badgers' big kid, those are full-grown expectations. STARTING
LINEUP RETURNING STARTER *HIGH SCHOOL STATS SCHEDULE Nov. 12 Mercer Nov. 19 Southern* Nov. 21 Delaware State*   
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