A few minutes after the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team concluded a practice back in late December, Morris Cain was casually asked what was on his holiday wish list.

The Badgers' junior forward responded that he was the giving type more so than the getting type, and that he was planning to help pay for a plane ticket so his sister could travel to Europe.

"That's typical of who he is," UW assistant coach Howard Moore said after being told of Cain's holiday goodwill. "He's always trying to figure out how he can be a helper. He's never asked what we can do for him, but what he can do for the program. Guys like that, you've got to be able to reward somehow."

That reward came Cain's way before this season, and came courtesy of UW coach Bo Ryan. Ryan, who had one scholarship available for this season, chose Cain — a walk-on his first two seasons — to be the recipient.

"I never expected it. It was the biggest surprise," Cain said of receiving the one-year ride. "I literally called my dad and he was like, 'Don't joke like that.' It took me about five minutes to convince him I was actually on scholarship."

In his third year as a Badger, Cain clearly is entrenched as a member of UW's basketball family.

Though he hasn't received much playing time this season — he's appeared in 10 games and totaled 17 minutes — the 6-foot-5 Cain's contributions have come behind the scenes. He's a scout team stalwart who takes his role in preparing UW's regulars seriously.

"He's very unselfish. He wants the team to win as much as anybody," said UW senior guard Tanner Bronson who played with Cain for one season at Glendale Nicolet High School. "You always hear stories about guys who are unhappy and want minutes and stuff like that and cause problems. That's not what we have on this team, and Mo's a great example of that."

The fun-loving Cain almost always is wearing a smile on his face. That was even the case when he had to go to the bench for treatment during October's Red-White scrimmage after having his mouth bloodied via an elbow from senior center Greg Stiemsma.

"No matter what I'm doing — whether it's stretching or playing in a game or when I'm on the bench cheering my team on, I'm smiling," Cain said. "I'm living this whole thing and just loving it at the same time."

Cain's biggest individual achievement this season came when he drained a jumper in a victory at UW-Milwaukee in December.

"I remember Keaton (Nankivil) dribbling and kicking it out," Cain said of his basket in the final minute against the Panthers. "I really didn't have a choice but to shoot because the shot clock was almost out. And then it went in. ... My family was there, it's my hometown. ... probably one of the biggest rushes I've had (at UW)."

Also in the vicinity is his admission into UW's School of Business. Cain, who earned 2007 academic All-Big Ten honors, has his sights set, at this point, on becoming an accountant.

Clearly, Cain is enjoying the best of both worlds when it comes to being a student-athlete.

"He loves basketball, he loves playing basketball," Bronson said of Cain. "But he knows there's also life after basketball, whenever that may be. That's why he's worked hard to get into the business school here and he's going to get a degree that's going to help him wherever he goes. He's going to be successful in his life no matter what he does.

"He sees the big picture."