After last weekend’s heartbreaking 26-23 loss to Purdue, Barry Alvarez and the Badgers look to rebound against the Northwestern Wildcats Saturday in Evanston, Ill.
Although the Wildcats come into the game with a losing record of 3-4, their three wins so far equal their entire win total from last season. In addition, the Wildcats’ opening weekend victory came against a Kansas team that is 5-2 with a convincing win over previously ranked Missouri.
Most recently, Northwestern defeated a hapless Indiana team 37-31 in overtime for their first conference win of 2003. Despite leading by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Wildcats allowed Indiana (1-6) to creep back into the game, eventually taking the lead early in the fourth quarter. Northwestern needed to scramble at the end of regulation to tie the game, and later won the contest after senior running back Jason Wright scored on Northwestern’s first offensive possession of the extra period.
The leader of the Wildcat offense is the aforementioned Wright. After rushing for over 1,200 yards last season, Wright, a Doak Walker Award candidate, is once again running through defenses. His 141 yards and 4 touchdowns against Indiana have pushed his season totals to over 700 yards rushing to go along with 13 touchdowns. Wright is not only a great runner, but he is also the team’s fifth-leading receiver. Wright is a dangerous weapon the Badgers defense will have to closely monitor.
If the defense concentrates too heavily on Wright, however, sophomore quarterback Brett Basanez is prepared to operate on the Badger secondary. Though his numbers are not eye-catching, two touchdowns to seven interceptions, Basanez has been effective in his first year as Northwestern’s starting signal caller.
Helping out Basanez are a series of wide receivers, maybe not as talented as the Purdue receivers the Badger defensive backs faced last weekend, but still talented nonetheless.
Senior Kunle Patrick is tied for the team lead in catches with 22 and has caught a pass in 41 straight games dating back to his freshman season. The record for passes caught in consecutive games, set by Kareem Kelly of USC last season, is 47. Patrick will surely be looking to add to his streak Saturday.
Another receiver whom the Badgers will have to contend with is sophomore Mark Philmore. He is the team’s second-leading receiver and caught a season-high five balls two weeks ago versus Indiana.
One last deep threat for the Badgers’ defensive backfield to watch is sophomore Brandon Horn. Though he only caught one pass against Indiana, it was a 77-yard touchdown pass from Basanez. For the year, he is averaging 44 yards per reception.
On the other side of the ball, the Wildcats have a gritty defense that will stop at nothing to disrupt the Badger offense.
Senior linebacker Pat Durr averages 11 tackles per game and is the heart and soul of the defense. After registering a team-high 15 tackles against Ohio State Sept. 27, Durr exploded with a season-high 22 tackles against Indiana Oct. 11.
Helping out Durr is 270 pound defensive end Loren Howard. Howard leads the team in tackles for a loss with five and sacks with three. The offensive line will probably double-team him Saturday.
Fifth-year coach Randy Walker remembers the last time these two teams met. He remembers how his team stunned the Badgers 47-44 on their way to the Big Ten crown at Camp Randall in 2000. He remembers how well quarterback Zak Kustok used the spread offense to shred the Wisconsin defense. Accordingly, the Badgers defense should expect to see the spread offense come Saturday.
Any Wisconsin fans believing that the Badgers will have an easy time at Ryan Field should beware. Northwestern’s homecoming is this weekend, and homecoming teams have a knack in finding that extra incentive, never wanting to disappoint their fans.
