Everything seemed to be going according to plan.

University of Wisconsin senior wrestler Craig Henning was playing the waiting game, waiting for his opponent to rush in. He was waiting for a mistake so he could counter. But it never came. Instead, Illinois' Mike Poeta got deep on a double -- an attack move -- stacked Henning and eventually pinned him.

"I just kind of got caught on my back and that's all that it takes, just a second being held there, for the referee to call the pin," said Henning, an All-American at 157 pounds who can't remember the last time he got pinned before Poeta bested him. "I got out of position and ended up exposing too much of my back."

Although it didn't officially count, Poeta's win at the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic in November stripped Henning of his No. 1 ranking.

Less than two weeks later, Poeta dropped Henning again at the Cliff Keen Invite. The junior also claimed the nation's top spot at 157 pounds, where he remains today.

"I'm sure it bothers him a little bit," UW coach Barry Davis said about Henning's losses. "But that's good though. It should bother him. It bothers me."

So there will be some unsettled business of sorts when Henning, who is now ranked third, and No. 13 Wisconsin face ninth-ranked Illinois (9-2, 1-1 Big Ten Conference) tonight in Champaign, Ill.

For the Badgers (11-3-1, 2-2), who lost to top-ranked Iowa 22-20 Sunday at the UW Field House, it's building off a tough, yet satisfying loss. For Henning, who hardly ever smiles or expresses anger -- let alone speaks -- according to sophomore teammate Kyle Ruschell, it's about getting even.

"Hopefully I'll get a little revenge now," said Henning, who beat the top-seeded Poeta at last year 's Big Ten championships. "It will be nice to get out there and wrestle Poeta again and hopefully, this time, come away with a victory."

Unranked Jeff Marsh of Michigan beat Poeta last weekend. UW's Dallas Herbst, who wrestles at 197 pounds, doesn't see why Henning can't do the same.

"It's definitely do-able," Herbst said. "Craig's probably thinking the same thing."

Davis thinks for Henning, who is 20-1 overall with seven pins, to win he will need to play a more active role in the match.

"He has to get offensive with his hands, push the guy into his positions and force the pace that way," Davis said. "If Henning wants it bad enough, he has to go get it. It's not going to just come to him for the taking."