MADISON, Wis. >> Every time defensive end Kennedy Tulimasealii butchered the Ohio State offensive line, Matt Millen butchered his name.

He’s used to it. He shrugs and smiles (smiling is his default expression anyway). Even some people in Hawaii have had trouble pronouncing the junior from Waianae’s last name. Tulimasealii is just happy Millen — the former NFL linebacker and GM turned TV analyst — had reason to try to say it often that Saturday two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio.

The leader of Hawaii’s defense notched a quarterback sack of Cardale Jones and two QB hurries as the Rainbow Warriors defenders acquitted themselves well against the high-powered Buckeyes before fading late and losing 38-0 to the No. 1 team in the country.

It was reminiscent of when Hawaii played at USC early in the 2003 season and Isaac Sopoaga made a name for himself (also often mispronounced) sacking Matt Leinart and forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass in a 61-32 loss.

On that day Sopoaga proved he could shine against top-level talent. He went on to a 10-year NFL career plugging the middle of the line that included a Super Bowl appearance with the 49ers.

Tulimasealii wasn’t looking that far ahead as the Rainbow Warriors prepped for another trip into the Central Time Zone to play another ranked Big Ten team.

This time it’s the Wisconsin Badgers. And if Tulimasealii is doing anything differently than he did to gear up for FCS weakling UC Davis at home or No. 1 Ohio State on the road, it’s hard to tell.

"It’s basically the same game plan as always," he said. "Hit gaps. Slants and stunts. It’s the same thing every week. It’s all about technique. If the technique is sound, you’re going to do well."

Once again, last week, he disrupted the opposing offense. This time more of his teammates on both sides of the ball won their battles, too, and UH improved its record to 2-1 with a 47-27 win over the Aggies.

The Badgers are 2-1, and so are the Rainbows. But in just about every other way, the programs are worlds apart.

Camp Randall Stadium is as much a museum as it is a place where more than 80,000 people watch football a few Saturdays each year. Everyone from Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch to J.J. Watt is memorialized on its walls (did you know Watt was a walk-on?). Even ‘Iolani grad R.J. Morse from Waipahu is immortalized, for three solid years of punting here.

Student-athletes at Wisconsin receive an average of $4,316 a year in the NCAA’s new Cost of Attendance stipend allowance. Meanwhile, UH’s average COA is $1,000. UW athletic director Barry Alvarez commands 10 to 20 times that much to give a speech.

Hawaii was down to a 24 1/2-point underdog Friday afternoon after the line had opened at 28, partly because it was confirmed during the week that Badgers running back Corey Clement is definitely out with a sports hernia.

In addition to a Power Five conference contender playing a midmajor team that hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2010, the Warriors’ crossing four time zones to get here contributes to the spread. UH has won one road game in coach Norm Chow’s four years, at San Jose State last season.

Tulimasealii said making basically the same lengthy trek for a game as two weeks ago doesn’t affect the team either way. There’s no blueprint to deal with hours in cramped airplane seats and jet lag.

"We don’t really have a certain routine for a long trip. The coaches give us a lot of rest," he said. "We don’t worry about that. We look at it as fun. We’re going to play a game we love. So why worry? And we’re going to a new place where most of us have never been."

It’s all an adventure for Kennedy Tulimasealii. As it should be.

He turned heads in Columbus. He has a chance to do so again today in Madison.

And eventually, they will get his name right.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.