At first glance, it might not look like home. At least not the way everyone remembers it.

But even as members of the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team watch the Kohl Center get redecorated in advance of this weekend's NCAA Midwest Regional, they can't help but embrace their surroundings.

For the first time since mid-October, the Badgers are able to practice at the Kohl Center for a full week heading into their assignment.

Since this is the most critical weekend of the season — two wins would result in a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four — the timing couldn't be better.

Asked to describe the biggest advantage of being the regional host, UW coach Mike Eaves gestured toward the ice surface and the short walk to it from the home dressing room.

"We haven't been here very much other than games the whole second semester," he said, referring to the fact that four UW teams share the facility for practices and games. "It's just the world in which we live.

"Just to be able to walk from there to there and practice and get used to our boards and the ice and the air in this building, that's a very nice thing to have."

When fans show up Saturday to watch the semifinal games — North Dakota against Princeton and the Badgers against Denver — they probably will notice some alterations required by the NCAA in the name of neutrality.

Advertising has been removed from the boards and the Zambonis. Lighting behind display ads will be turned off and one ad — featuring the Ho Chunk Nation — will be covered because there cannot be references to gambling at NCAA tournament events.

Meanwhile, the Motion "W'' at center ice has been replaced by a NCAA logo, and the red line is now solid instead of the dashed version.

But as far as UW players and coaches are concerned, it's home and there are some good vibes to be felt.

Start with the crowd, which should be quite partisan since the other schools are in the process of returning their ticket allotments.

Roughly 10,000 tickets had been sold as of Thursday for a facility that seats 15,237 for hockey. The only downer to that total is that fewer than 300 tickets had been sold to UW students, who number 2,800 during the regular season and take pride in making it a raucous environment.

"I think we have the best fans in college hockey, and they're going to be behind us," UW junior center and assistant captain Ben Street said.

Another good vibe comes from the fact the Badgers had significantly better statistics at home than on the road this season.

At the Kohl Center, UW has averaged 3.00 goals per game, allowed 2.20, converted 20.8 percent of power plays and killed off penalties at an 86.3 percent rate en route to a 10-6-2 record.

In games elsewhere, the Badgers averaged 2.6 goals per game, allowed 2.90, converted 14.1 percent with the man-advantage and killed off penalties at a 77.5 rate on the way to a 5-10-5 mark.

"We feel really good about playing at home," UW senior defenseman and captain Davis Drewiske said.

Another good vibe stems from the success schools have had playing on their home ice in the NCAA tournament.

Since the 16-team format was adopted in 2003, host teams are 8-0 in regional games. Minnesota and Michigan advanced to the Frozen Four in 2003, Minnesota again in 2005 and North Dakota in 2006.

Since the Badgers are the No. 3 seed, though, they will wear their road sweaters and No. 2 seed Denver will have the last personnel change. However, UW will have its usual bench area.

No one is complaining about the logistics, however.

"It's unreal," UW senior winger Matthew Ford said. "At the beginning of the season, this is where we wanted to be. This is where we are now."

It's rare that the underdog has home ice in a setting like this, but not only are the Badgers (15-16-7) the only team in the field with a losing record, they are all mindful of the fact Denver is 11-1-2 at the Kohl Center since it opened for hockey in 1998.

"Everyone likes to cheer for the underdog and see the upsets, that sort of thing," Street said. "To be able to do it on our home ice will be a lot of fun."