Former University of Wisconsin basketball player Darin Schubring is in critical condition at UW Hospital and Clinics with a head injury after being sucker-punched by a man in the Main Depot bar Saturday night.

Schubring, 42, had just purchased a drink and turned away from the bar on Halloween when he was hit by a man wearing a Wizard of Oz flying monkey suit and mask, according to Schubring's father, John Schubring.

The elder Schubring said his son sustained further injuries as he fell to the ground. Darin Schubring lost consciousness and was taken to UW Hospital, where he has been in critical but stable condition, according to a hospital spokesperson.

John Schubring said his son just got out of bed for the first time Thursday with the help of nurses and spoke a few words. "We were told that it could be four to six weeks before we find out if he has any memory-loss problems,'' said John Schubring.

Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain said a detective has been assigned to the case but no arrests have been made. John Schubring said witnesses to the incident have been helpful in trying to identify the assailant.

John Schubring said the incident at the Main Depot, 627 W. Main St., began as his son was receiving change from a woman bartender after purchasing a drink. The assailant was giving the bartender a hard time and Darin Schubring told him to calm down and be patient.

"And the guy went off on him and kind of pushed him, but Darin ignored him and walked away,'' said John Schubring, who added that his son, a 6-foot-10 former center who played for the Badgers from 1986-89, refused to fight anyone because he worried that his strength and size advantage might lead to him seriously injuring the other person.

"So when Darin turned to walk away, the guy jumped up on something and hit him. I guess he hit him in the temple area,'' John Schubring said.

Darin "fell back and hit his head on the door at the front of the bar and then fell out of the door and hit his head on a concrete step,'' his father added.

A male bartender jumped over the bar and grabbed the assailant, according to the elder Schubring. But then the bartender saw Schubring on the ground and gasped, "'Schubie!' And in the midst of the excitement, the bartender let go of the assailant and he ran away.''

Rob Andringa, who is the branch director of the RBC Wealth Management office where Schubring works, has been keeping tabs on his friend. "We're very concerned,'' said Andringa, who played hockey at Wisconsin when Schubring attended the school. "We're in touch with his mother and father daily.''

Schubring joined the Badgers in 1986 after starring for the Baraboo boys basketball team. As a junior, he started for the Badgers on the 87-88 team that included sophomores Danny Jones and Kurt Portmann and juniors Trent Jackson and Tom Molaski.