DETROIT — On a snowy weeknight in mid-February, Marcus Landry found himself back at the Kohl Center putting in some extra work on his jump shot.

His wife, Efueko, served as his rebounder while his children — 3-year-old Marcus Jr. and almost-2-year-old Moriah — rode their bikes and played on the University of Wisconsin's home court.

The scene served as the surest sign that Landry's family and basketball lives are in perfect alignment this season.

No longer does the junior forward have to commute to Milwaukee after practice a few times a week to visit his wife and children, as he did last season. And there are no more early morning drives back to Madison in order to make it to class on time.

Now, the Landrys call Madison home.

"I'm really enjoying it because they're here every day with me. They're five minutes away," Landry, 22, said. "But it still gets complicated because me, being the type of father and husband that I am, I want to spend time with my family. It kind of gets hard some days. I have other priorities, too. It kind of gets hard when you just want to be home right away.

"But it's easier (this year) because of the simple fact they're here. My wife can see all of my games, she's a (former Marquette player). She helps me so much, giving me little things to do, keeping me encouraged. You still have your ups and downs and things like that, but having somebody by your side and your kids right there instead of driving to see them. ... It's a lot easier."

The game of basketball, likewise, appears to be coming easier for Landry in his third season at UW.

The 6-foot-7 Landry, who led the sixth-ranked Badgers in scoring (12.1 points per game) in Big Ten Conference play, is averaging career-best totals of 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game heading into Friday night's NCAA tournament Midwest Regional semifinal against Davidson at Ford Field.

A second-team, All-Big Ten pick by league coaches and a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the media, Landry also was named the Big Ten tournament's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds in UW's three victories two weeks ago in Indianapolis.

"I think it's a lot of things," UW assistant coach Howard Moore said of Landry's productivity. "I think it starts off with the maturity, being a third-year player, finally finding that comfort level within his role and what (UW coach Bo Ryan) expects of him on a daily basis.

"We knew he had a lot of talent when we brought him here, so that wasn't an issue. It's starting to come to fruition, and you're seeing the total development of Marcus Landry."

After a strong start to his freshman season, Landry was declared academically ineligible to play during the second semester of that season. While trying to balance family in Milwaukee and basketball in Madison last season, Landry averaged 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game.

"He lives a different college life," said Landry's former roommate and teammate, Alando Tucker. "All it took was a little time to get adjusted to everything. I think he's comfortable now. ... He seems more relaxed out there. He's just letting the game come to him and he's not trying to force anything. As a basketball player, that's big when you're able to do that."

At the outset of this season, Landry had to make the adjustment to playing a new position — small forward. He started at that spot the first seven games of the season, but moved back to the power forward spot he was more accustomed to when senior guard Michael Flowers moved into the starting lineup.

Landry has scored in double figures in 18 of the Badgers' 28 games since — including a career-high 21 points against Northwestern on Jan. 19 — while showing off an improved outside and in-between offensive game, in addition to his prowess in the paint.

"I think that's from playing (small forward)," said Landry, who is shooting a respectable 35.8 percent from 3-point range. "That really helped me when I moved back to (power forward). I'm able to get out on the perimeter a little more and handle the ball and knock down shots."

Defensively, Landry also has improved. He's one of UW's anchors in the post on that end of the court, and he routinely holds his own against bigger players.

By his own admission, Landry is currently at his most comfortable both on and off the court.

"Seeing him really grow up as far as being a family man, being a husband and a dad, and having that responsibility here in Madison, I think that allows everything to fall into place," Moore said. "I think it allows him to say, 'OK, my family is here, I can take care of (basketball) and take care of academics.'

"It's just a better balance that way."