Bucky's 5th Quarter - Wisconsin vs. Illinois: Banged-up Badgers hold on for win over IlliniWelcome to the unofficial online tavern of the Wisconsin Badgers. Please seat yourself.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47803/buckys-fave.png2015-10-26T10:24:02-05:00http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/rss/stream/93713172015-10-26T10:24:02-05:002015-10-26T10:24:02-05:00Roundtable: Final word on Illinois; Rutgers talk
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<p>Closing the book on Saturday's win and looking ahead to what's next.</p> <p><b>The Good: What went well for the Badgers on Saturday?</b></p>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://twitter.com/olewr7">Neal Olson:</a> There have certainly been more talented Wisconsin football teams, but it would be hard to argue there is a grittier one. Down their starting quarterback, running back, tight end and center, the Badgers still outplayed a decent Illinois team on the road. Seemingly every week, there are a few surprise performances that help keep the Badgers winning football games. Against Illinois, it was <span>Bart Houston</span> and <span>Alex Erickson</span>. While the Big Ten West championship is likely out of the question, the Badgers are laying a solid foundation for the future.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/jonarens" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Jon Arens:</a> I have to agree with Neal. This is definitely not a traditional Wisconsin football team, but if you value diversity of experience as an aid for learning, you have to see the value in what this season represents for the program going forward. The Badgers are learning to win games they should not win, and have not traditionally won. I mean, honestly, when was the last time UW won when its leading rusher was not a running back? (waits) I think I've made my point. For a team this injured and this limited to have two conference road wins is a tremendous accomplishment.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/RieseDraft" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Owen Riese:</a> Not as much as I'd like, but you can't ignore the play of Houston, coming in for relief of <span>Joel Stave</span>. It was nice to see that we weren't handcuffed by having the backup in, as Chryst trusted Houston to let it rip. He was able to move the ball well, but two pretty bad Interceptions should stave (no pun intended) off a quarterback competition. Houston put in a nice effort for a job audition for next season.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Luke_Mueller24" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Luke Mueller:</a> You'd have to say resiliency. Not everyone is on the Stave bandwagon (I'm on again, off again admittedly), but anytime a team loses its undisputed QB -- who had thrown for 300 yards the previous two games -- you have to question its ability to win especially when it's struggled to run the ball all year. This team responded to the injury in the best way possible by fighting through that injury and an injury to center <span>Dan Voltz</span>, too. This isn't a powerhouse team, but in a weak West Division, the Badgers have found a way to keep getting W's, which is all they can do to put themselves in the best position come bowl season.</p>
<p><b>The Bad: What hurt Wisconsin against Illinois?</b></p>
<p><b>Neal:</b> Once again, injuries had a huge impact on the game plan. Losing Stave one series and two plays into the game and Voltz later on is just another chapter in an injury-plagued season for the Badgers. The offensive line has been inconsistent all season long, but has been tested with injuries to nearly every position starting in fall camp. All the shuffling combined with relative youth has hampered what was already considered to be a "rebuilding" year up front.</p>
<p><b>Jon:</b> Illinois has one of the better defensive lines in the conference, and it showed. Several of its linemen could be playing on Sundays in the near future. This offensive line lacks the anchor that most of the Badger offensive lines have had the last decade, but that will soon change, as Paul Chryst's staff, particularly OL savant Joe Rudolph, gradually shifts the offense back to its roots. Stave's long release really stood out when compared to the quick trigger Houston showed once he was inserted into the game. Stave has had much more time to throw in previous seasons, and it likely never forced him to change his delivery. Without the time, the long downfield patterns do not have time to develop, which takes away Stave's greatest skill -- the 60-yard moonshot.</p>
<p><b>Owen:</b> The offensive line has been far from the standard set in Madison. Clearly, youth has affected the group as, after Voltz left the game with a knee injury, the Badgers were putting out there a redshirt senior, redshirt freshman, redshirt freshman, redshirt junior and redshirt freshman. Early in the game, Stave was hit on his first three dropbacks, the third eventually taking him out of the game. They improved throughout the game, but the group still has a lot of progress to make. Good thing is, we've got time.</p>
<p><b>Luke:</b> The easy callout here is the running game. Again, the Badgers struggled to run the ball against -- let's face it -- an average defense. They've had to find ways to get creative in order to get their running game going. Reinforcing that is the fact that Erickson is the leading rusher for the day. <span>Dare Ogunbowale</span> and Alec Ingold again struggled, averaging 2.6 and 2.0 yards per carry, respectively, to find a way to get downfield and move the sticks. Neither had a run over 10 yards. Don't get me wrong -- the offensive line is not your typical Wisconsin line and the two running backs are converted from other positions. But you'd still hope they could find a few openings and bust a run or two off to relieve the pressure on a backup quarterback getting his first real action of his career.</p>
<p><b>Team MVP: Who earned the honors down in Champaign?</b></p>
<p><b>Neal:</b> Houston gets the nod for me here. Prior to Saturday, he did not have many opportunities to contribute meaningful football minutes for the Badgers. Replacing a three-year starter on the road in the Big Ten is a tall task for any quarterback, but Houston more than rose to the occasion. He delivered the ball confidently, accurately and never appeared to shrink from the big moment. His two red-zone interceptions were bad decisions, of course, and probably a small snapshot of why Stave has been able to remain the starter. However, Houston showed more than enough to be a capable backup if Stave should miss an extended period.</p>
<p><b>Jon:</b> Has to be Houston. The former backup punter made some bad throws, including one to McEvoy in the endzone that was the definition of stupidity, but ultimately got the ball out quickly and to points where his targets could continue on with the ball after the catch. Without the art punt in the endzone, and the horrendous drop by <span>Robert Wheelwright</span>, Houston would've really had the #startbart fanboys buzzing on Wisconsin Twitter. Hats off to him for stepping up in a big spot on the road in front of the most raucous Illinois student section since at least 2008.</p>
<p><b>Owen:</b> As has been the case for most of the year, the Badgers' defense was absolutely stifling. <span>Michael Caputo</span> with four tackles, a forced fumble and an interception led the unit. UW also got another stellar performance by the entire linebacking unit, as <span>Vince Biegel</span> and <span>Joe Schobert</span> pressed <span>Wes Lunt</span> off the edge, and <span>T.J. Edwards</span> and Chris Orr were stingy in the middle. Aside from one run, the Badgers had the Illini taking little gains rather than chunks.</p>
<p><b>Luke:</b> The choice that stands out as your clear favorite would be Houston, but I'm going to go with Erickson. What can't this guy do?! He's like the Schobert/Biegel/Caputo of the offense where at the end of the game you reflect and say, "Wow! He just does everything that's asked of him and all of the little things right". Have him run a few end-arounds and he becomes your leading rusher (somewhere, <span>George Rushing</span> is scratching his head wondering where his carries from last year went on those plays). Help out the backup quarterback who hasn't played meaningful minutes since high school and catch 10 balls for nearly 100 yards and a TD. And not that it really showed during this game, but the kid from Darlington, Wis., can block too. He's everything you want in a teammate and my MVP for this game after 178 all-purpose yards.</p>
<p><b>Who's next: Rutgers. What do you want to see on Halloween from the Badgers?</b></p>
<p><b>Neal:</b> As much as I feel like copying the bit from the past two weeks regarding <span>Corey Clement</span>, I'm venturing in a new direction. <span>Leonte Carroo</span> will come to town and provide a significant challenge for the Badgers' secondary. Carroo had tallied 14 receptions for 291 yards and six touchdowns in the two weeks before playing Ohio State this weekend. He was held out of the second half against the Buckeyes, presumably with an injury, but he has had some behavioral issues in the past, so... you never know. If he plays against the Badgers, it will be the biggest challenge they have faced to date this season. Carroo is a bona fide NFL caliber talent, so how will <span>Darius Hillary</span> and <span>Sojourn Shelton</span> hold up?</p>
<p><b>Jon:</b> I am very worried about Carroo. Sojourn Shelton has shown little to suggest he is up to the task of guarding the Rutgers star receiver, so one can only hope <span>Tanner McEvoy</span> and Caputo can provide support over the top to limit literally all Rutgers has in the arsenal. Will Rutgers even know how to handle an 11:00 a.m. start time? I thought Rutgers and Maryland only played at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Will the NYC market revolt against the Big Ten for making them watch their beloved Scarlet Knights at noon? These are the important questions. If section M is half-full in the third quarter, I will be floored. This game was meant to be watched in a parking lot whilst dressed as a banana.</p>
<p><b>Owen:</b> I think I'm probably not the only one that wants to see Clement return next weekend. A scary sight for a Rutgers defense who will be looking for some redemption from its spanking against Ohio State Saturday night. Clement said he'd only come back if we were in the Big Ten title race, and only a loss behind Iowa, we're still technically in it. Plus, Clement is a Jersey kid, he wants to play against the Scarlet Knights. Clement had 100-plus yards and two touchdowns last year against his home-state team in Piscataway.</p>
<p><b>Luke:</b> I want to see the scariest guy on the football team have a big game on defense, Vince Biegel. After a coming-out-party of a year last season, the linebacker has rightfully not seen as much of the spotlight this season due to the development of his counterpart Joe "The Show" Schobert. I think Biegel puts on his scariest face and leaves Rutgers with nightmares on Halloween.</p>
https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/26/9614618/wisconsin-badgers-football-illinois-rutgersJake KocorowskiLuke MuellerJon ArensOwen RieseNeal Olson2015-10-26T07:47:00-05:002015-10-26T07:47:00-05:00Film Study: Breaking down UW's jet sweep
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<p>A look at how Paul Chryst turned to an old tactic to aid the Badgers' ailing run game Saturday.</p> <p><i>[Ed. note: Please welcome Owen Riese to B5Q. He's been helping with roundtables and will be writing about football this season.]</i></p>
<p>Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst's first season in Madison has been anything but normal.</p>
<p>He's replacing the least "Wisconsin" coach in the past 25 years after Gary Andersen bolted to Corvallis, Ore., of all places. Chryst had a short time to patch up the rest of the recruiting class, retaining whom he could and getting some of his own players to come to UW. Leading up to the season opener against Alabama, he had to prepare with a top running back who wasn't completely healthy.</p>
<p>Since then, <span>Corey Clement</span> hasn't played. Backup Taiwan Deal has also been dinged up, so a former walk-on in junior <span>Dare Ogunbowale</span> and a true freshman moved from inside linebacker, Alec Ingold, have carried the rock for the Badgers. On top of that, Wisconsin's renowned offensive line is as weak as it's been in a decade after losing three starters from a year ago along with injuries preventing a consistent, cohesive starting lineup.</p>
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<p>To say that the Badgers have fought some adversity on the field this season would be an understatement. Due to this, Chryst has been forced to get creative. A team known for that hulking offensive line, creating massive holes for big, thunderous running backs, has hardly done so.</p>
<p>In order to alleviate stress from quarterback <span>Joel Stave</span>, the Badgers have used the jet or fly sweep, a play they started running during Chryst's previous tenure in Madison and continued through the Matt Canada and Andy Ludwig eras (most notably seen with Melvin Gordon).</p>
<p>Opponents traditionally have condensed their defenses when facing Wisconsin in order to attempt to mitigate the rushing attack. To combat this, while still running the ball, wide receivers can use their speed to stretch defenses horizontally. This forces the defense to respect both runs up the middle, as well as having to sprint to the sideline to cover the edge. Wide receiver <span>Alex Erickson</span> displayed this on Saturday in Wisconsin's 24-13 win over Illinois.</p>
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<p>Here is the first play of the third quarter. The Badgers are in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends). <span>Robert Wheelwright</span> is at the top of the screen and Erickson is in motion on the bottom. The Illinois defense is in its Under Up Roll with one-technique defensive tackle Chunky Clements (No. 11) on the strong side (defensive right side) of the field. However, the most important part of this play on defense is the player with the yellow star, defensive end Jihad Ward (No. 17). When teams prepare for Wisconsin, as I mentioned earlier, they like to condense the field. Because of this, Ward knows what Wisconsin tries to do with the sweep motion to open up the inside zone running play.</p>
<p>So when Erickson starts to cross the formation, Ward "slow plays," not making much of a movement in any direction. This is what the Badgers want, as they leave him unblocked.</p>
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<p>Here is how the Badgers prefer to block this play, and Illinois plays right into it. The entire line, along with Ogunbowale, sells a normal zone play to the right. This makes Ward squeeze down the edge, as if he doesn't, it creates a cutback lane for the running back. This is exactly what Wisconsin wants, as it allows a much more athletic Erickson and his speed to out-leverage the defensive lineman to the outside.</p>
<p>The motion of the line and runner going to the defensive left also force the linebackers to respect the run fake, which puts them out of position to make a play on Erickson. Preferably, but not necessarily between the left side offensive linemen, tackle <span>Tyler Marz</span> and guard <span>Michael Deiter</span>, one could get up to and pester a linebacker enough to disrupt his pursuit angle. The two tight ends to the play side are double-teaming the under outside linebacker <span>Eric Finney</span> (No. 14), or the linebacker who is on the line of scrimmage. Like most zone concepts, they're combo-blocking to a second, or in this case, third-level player.</p>
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<p>This is about two seconds or so into the play, and as evidenced by the yellow star, Ward is out-leveraged to the outside. On the far left, tight end <span>Eric Steffes</span> has washed out the under linebacker and redshirt sophomore <span>Troy Fumagalli</span> (No. 81) has moved on from the combination block and is about to block junior defensive back <span>Taylor Barton</span> (No. 3) from Illinois. These are the key blocks on the play, along with Wheelwright, who is out of the screen blocking the play-side cornerback. Because of the well-executed blocking on the perimeter, Erickson is untouched as he advances upfield for 13 yards and a first down.</p>
<p><span>On the first play of UW's third drive in the second half, Erickson also went for 56 yards on a jet sweep, leading to an Ingold touchdown later in the third quarter. The former walk-on carried the ball four times for 81 yards, leading the Badgers in both rushing and receiving on the afternoon. </span>See the full play beginning at the 1:40 mark below:</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sCgPNDHcuzE?t=1m40s" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>The jet sweep, which Wisconsin has also run<span> with wide receivers </span><span>Reggie Love</span><span> and </span><span>George Rushing</span>, <span>is just one of a few different ways the Badgers will continue to look to get production out of the running game, at least until Clement can come back. Clement returning could boost the lackluster offensive line play into a much more respectable threat to defenses, in turn making the jet sweep even more effective.</span></p>
https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/26/9613252/wisconsin-football-illinois-recap-film-study-jet-sweep-alex-ericksonOwen Riese2015-10-25T20:54:18-05:002015-10-25T20:54:18-05:00Offense review: Houston, Erickson, lead UW to win
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<figcaption>Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/">Wisconsin Badgers</a> (6-2, 3-1) were in quite the predicament during their second drive in Saturday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thechampaignroom.com/">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> in Champaign, Ill.</p>
<p>Redshirt senior <span>Joel Stave</span> was sacked and shaken up with what was later confirmed as a head injury. He came back in for the next series and helped drive the Badgers -- but still appeared not right.</p>
<p>Enter <span>Bart Houston</span>, last year's back-up/rugby-style punter. The redshirt junior came into the game and asserted himself when pressed into action. Along with a former walk-on leading the Badgers in both rushing and receiving in wide receiver <span>Alex Erickson</span>, Wisconsin did enough offensively to pull off the 24-13 win. This all despite not having six contributors on offense by the end of Saturday's game.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">ICYMI: Bart Houston replaced an injured Joel Stave and lead <a href="https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball">@BadgerFootball</a> to a 24-13 win over Illinois. <a href="https://t.co/mhHslLHBh5">https://t.co/mhHslLHBh5</a></p>
— Wisconsin on BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) <a href="https://twitter.com/WisconsinOnBTN/status/658053128911089664">October 24, 2015</a>
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<h4>The Good</h4>
<p><b>1. Houston stepping up.</b> There's no quarterback controversy. Really, there's not -- but the heralded prep standout from California shone when the Badgers needed him in relief mode. He threw the ball with some zip and, for 22 of 33 passes, got it to his receiving targets. He passed for 232 yards on the afternoon, and though he did throw two interceptions (more on that later), it was an impressive performance for Houston.</p>
<p><b>2. Erickson's big day. </b>The Darlington, Wis., native had a huge game. He hauled in 10 receptions for 96 yards and a 9-yard touchdown pass from Houston to close out UW's scoring in the fourth quarter. He also ignited Wisconsin's offense in the third quarter, as his fly/jet sweep went for 56 yards with the Badgers eventually scoring on true freshman running back Alec Ingold's 2-yard run to make it 17-13 -- with Wisconsin never trailing again. He accounted for 177 total yards, 81 of those rushing.</p>
<p>Erickson now has 52 receptions on the season. The school record for catches in a season? Another former walk-on, <span>Jared Abbrederis</span> with 78.</p>
<p><b>3. <span>Dare Ogunbowale</span> as a receiving threat. </b>He may have gained only 42 yards rushing on 16 carries, but the former walk-on and converted cornerback showed he can continue to be reliable in the passing game catching five passes for 63 yards, including a 35-yard reception from Stave on Wisconsin's first scoring drive in the first quarter.</p>
<p>Ogunbowale is now third on the team in receptions in 2015 with 25.</p>
<p><b>4. Third-down conversions.</b> Nine-of-16 on the afternoon isn't too shabby, especially without some main contributors for all or part of the game.</p>
<h4>The Bad</h4>
<p><b>1. Turnovers took points off the board. </b></p>
<p><b></b>It was Houston's first meaningful game action, but two costly interceptions halted possible points for the Badgers.</p>
<p>The first interception by Illinois defensive back <span>Eaton Spence</span> in the end zone stopped a 10-play, 63-yard drive at the end of the first half. Houston wasn't helped by junior wide receiver Robert Wheelwright's drop the play immediately before, as the quarterback placed the ball where a catch should have been made. That derailed what would have been a 17-6 lead heading into halftime.</p>
<p>The second pick is all on Houston, as a bad judgment throw -- though redshirt senior <span>Tanner McEvoy</span> signaled for the ball, <span>Clayton Fejedelem</span> lept and made the play. It ultimately didn't hurt UW, but erased another opportunity for Wisconsin to put the proverbial dagger to close out the game <i>(writer's note: do I have to pay Green Bay Packers' radio voice Wayne Larrivee every time we say that?).</i></p>
<p><b>2. Pressure early in the game. </b>The first two offensive series were as bad a set of drives for the offensive line as seen in recent memory. Credit Illinois for starting off hot with several pressures and the sacks on both Stave and Houston.</p>
<p>Wisconsin's line recovered nicely, however, and along with some adjusted playcalling by head coach Paul Chryst with moving the pocket, the Badgers recovered nicely.</p>
<h4>The Ugly</h4>
<p>Junior running back Corey Clement's been out since the Alabama game, and though he's been practicing the past couple of weeks, he didn't make the trip to Champaign. Neither did redshirt freshman <span>Taiwan Deal</span>, so UW relied upon Ogunbowale and Ingold.</p>
<p>Redshirt senior <span>Austin Traylor</span> is still out at least a few more weeks, but redshirt sophomore <span>Troy Fumagalli</span> stepped up nicely with five receptions for 52 yards on Saturday.</p>
<p>But three other injuries to Stave, Wheelwright (left leg), and then junior center <span>Dan Voltz</span> (right leg) developed through the game against Illinois and could have further hampered an already hamstrung offense. Wheelwright's and Voltz' injuries came on the go-ahead scoring drive in the third quarter. The Badgers fought through, however, and still put up 419 yards in the win.</p>
https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/25/9610410/wisconsin-illinois-football-recap-bart-houston-alex-ericksonJake Kocorowski2015-10-24T18:59:00-05:002015-10-24T18:59:00-05:003 things we learned from UW's 24-13 win
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<p>Quick analysis from Wisconsin's tough-minded win over Illinois.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/">Wisconsin Badgers</a> have been without <span>Corey Clement</span> for the majority of the 2015 season with his sports hernia injury.</p>
<p>Thus, head coach Paul Chryst's offense relied on redshirt senior <span>Joel Stave</span> to carry the offense, and he has for the most part while averaging 244 yards per game through the air. However, when Stave was knocked out of Saturday's game at Illinois with a head injury, Wisconsin needed to rely on redshirt junior <span>Bart Houston</span> at quarterback to lead an offense that was missing five key starters.</p>
<p>The results: the back-up throwing for 232 yards and two touchdown passes, and a defense allowing only 13 points in a a hard-fought, resilient 24-13 victory over the Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium.</p>
<p><b>1. Bart Houston asserted himself well despite a couple of mistakes.</b> The former prep standout from California came in and threw the ball well for the most part, albeit with some errors along the way. Completing over 66 percent of his passes (22-of-33), Houston showed he can run Chryst's offense and move the ball well without really missing a beat (and no, there's no quarterback controversy at the moment).</p>
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<strong>More</strong>: <a href="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4194893/Wisconsin_vs._Illinois.0.pdf" target="new">Final stats, play-by-play</a>
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<p>Houston did make a couple of errors -- a bad interception at the end of the first half, along with a bad pick that he should have thrown away in the fourth quarter with the Badgers already up 11 -- but for the most part, he was impressive in his first effort with significant, meaningful playing time.</p>
<p>Also credit Chryst and his staff for making adjustments against Illinois's attacking front from the first two series, going to more rollouts and re-establishing some of the fly sweeps that made the Illini defense honest in guarding the edge.</p>
<p><b>2. Wisconsin's defense contained a potent receiving target and passing offense. </b>The Badgers gave up 333 yards on the afternoon -- only 55 rushing -- to an Illini offense that many were worried about. They held wide receiver <span>Geronimo Allison</span> to only eight receptions for 99 yards, and they held quarterback <span>Wes Lunt</span> to just over a 50 percent completion percentage.</p>
<p>UW also forced two turnovers and made Lunt uneasy in the pocket at times. Another solid effort for Dave Aranda's bunch, who came into the game only allowing 10.9 points per game.</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/maZao1IyxAs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><p><b>3. Despite injuries all around, the Badgers were still competitive and adapted for the win</b>. Going into the game, if you were to know that the starting quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver and center would all be out of the game or would be knocked out later, would you have picked Wisconsin to win?</p>
<p>This team is showing its resilience when down to its second and fourth tailback, its back-up quarterback and seeing its stud center knocked out of the game with a not-so-great looking right knee injury. The defense held for the most part, despite the bad five-play, 86-yard drive that led to the Illini taking a 13-10 lead in the third quarter. The offense still drove the ball despite the injuries and got the points needed to take a win out of Champaign.</p>
<p>These wins haven't been pretty, and they haven't been able to truly establish a "dagger" mentality (see: Wisconsin's second-to=last drive with Houston's second interception of the afternoon), but the Bdagers have grinded out victories when they could have instead cashed in.</p>
https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/24/9608648/wisconsin-illinois-football-2015-score-recapJake Kocorowski2015-10-24T14:00:02-05:002015-10-24T14:00:02-05:00GAME THREAD: Wisconsin vs. Illinois
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<p>Can Wisconsin get the win down in Champaign?</p> <p>The Wisconsin Badgers (5-2, 2-1) continue its conference season against the Illinois Fighting Illini (4-2, 1-1). Watch on the Big Ten Network or listen on the Badger Sports Network -- then follow the game with us here on B5Q's game thread!</p>
<p>Need some pre-game reading? Check out our fine links below:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/23/9602292/wisconsin-football-illinois-2015-preview">Wisconsin vs. Illinois game preview: Can the Badgers continue their winning ways?</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/23/9601374/wisconsin-badgers-illinois-football-preview-2015">Wisconsin vs Illinois: Q&A preview with The Champaign Room</a></p>
https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/24/9606716/game-thread-wisconsin-vs-illinoisJake Kocorowski2015-10-24T11:06:19-05:002015-10-24T11:06:19-05:00Clement, Deal sit out vs. Illinois
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<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Wisconsin's backfield will once again be thin for Saturday afternoon's game at Illinois.</p> <p>Get ready to see more of <span>Joel Stave</span>, Wisconsin fans.</p>
<p>The Badgers face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thechampaignroom.com/">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> in Champaign Saturday afternoon and will do so <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasAtLarge/status/657938743702257665">minus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasAtLarge/status/657940788370915329">running backs</a> <span>Corey Clement</span> (sports hernia surgery) and <span>Taiwan Deal</span> (ankle). Center <span>Dan Voltz</span> (elbow) is also a game-time decision, but head coach Paul Chryst said Monday he expects Voltz to play.</p>
<p>Defensively, lineman <span>Arthur Goldberg</span> also didn't make the trip. <span>Conor Sheehy</span> will start in his place, according to UWBadgers.com's <span>Mike Lucas</span>, who first reported the absences Saturday morning.</p>
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<p>That's certainly a hefty injury list, even for a team that is getting four or five points as a road favorite. At running back, the Badgers will send out <span>Dare Ogunbowale</span> and Alec Ingold -- both former defensive players. Ogunbowale, a junior, leads UW with 95 carries for 482 yards and four touchdowns. Ingold, a true freshman who moved over from inside linebacker earlier in the season, has 24 carries for 93 yards and three touchdowns.</p>
<p>So, back to Stave. The always polarizing quarterback attempted 39 passes last weekend in the win over Purdue, one week after attempting a career-high 50 against Nebraska. Wisconsin won both games, and over those two games, Stave is 54-for-89 (60.7 percent) for 644 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Decent numbers, but if Illinois is able to contain Ogunbowale and Ingold, the game could absolutely fall on Stave's shoulders.</p>
<p>We'll have more updates here should any develop.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash">#Badgers</a> TB Corey Clement didn't make trip to Illinois. Decision made after Thurs. practice. Took some reps this week. Still not game-ready.</p>
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasAtLarge/status/657938743702257665">October 24, 2015</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash">#Badgers</a> TB Taiwan Deal also didn't make the trip to Illinois. Deal, who's 2nd leading rusher (81 for 357yds & 4 TDs), last played at Neb.</p>
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasAtLarge/status/657940788370915329">October 24, 2015</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash">#Badgers</a> center Dan Voltz' availability will be game-time decision at Illinois. Michael Deiter shifted from guard & handled snaps vs Purdue</p>
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasAtLarge/status/657942120796397568">October 24, 2015</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash">#Badgers</a> defensive lineman Arthur Goldberg sidelined with injury and didn't make Illinois trip. Conor Sheehy will start. Can play DE or NG</p>
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasAtLarge/status/657944085542604800">October 24, 2015</a>
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https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/24/9607450/wisconsin-football-corey-clement-taiwan-deal-dan-voltz-illinoisMike Fiammetta2015-10-24T07:00:02-05:002015-10-24T07:00:02-05:00Wisconsin vs. Illinois: TV, live stream info
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<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<h4><a href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/24/9608648/wisconsin-illinois-football-2015-score-recap"><i>Wisconsin defeated Illinois 24-13. Read B5Q's full recap here.</i></a></h4>
<p><span>The Wisconsin Badgers (5-2, 2-1) look to keep pace with the Big Ten West division-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/">Iowa Hawkeyes</a>, as Paul Chryst's squad heads across the border to face an improved <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thechampaignroom.com/">Illinois Fighting Illini</a> (4-2, 1-1) team on Saturday.</span></p>
<p>The Badgers come off a 24-7 win on homecoming weekend against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hammerandrails.com/">Purdue Boilermakers</a>. Redshirt senior quarterback <span>Joel Stave</span> passed for 322 yards, while the offense accounted for three rushing touchdowns -- including two from true freshman and converted-inside-linebacker Alec Ingold.</p>
<p>The defense held its own against a struggling Purdue offense, allowing 10 points or under in its fifth of seven games played during the 2015 season. Led by senior outside linebacker <span>Joe Schobert</span>, the Badgers' defense has allowed only 10.9 points per game -- third-best in the nation.</p>
<p>Wisconsin takes on a rejuvenated Illinois team. B5Q's Andrew Rosin <a href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/23/9602292/wisconsin-football-illinois-2015-preview" target="_blank">previewed the Illini</a>:</p>
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<p>When you have a pretty efficient combination of quarterback <span>Wes Lunt</span> and one of sixteen people to average one hundred yards per game catching the ball in wide receiver <span>Geronimo Allison</span>, you definitely have a challenge set up through the air for the player that draws them -- yet his receiving tag team partner Marchie Allison is set to miss the game. And while Desmond Cain and Malik Taylor are both talented and athletic, they are rather young wide receivers. A veteran and experienced secondary is set to face what one could argue is their best wide receiver of the season. But his support might not be ready.</p>
<p>In the running game, the Illini have statistically trailed the Badgers in terms of all the major categories. In most seasons, that's fine. After all, toting the rock to a ridiculous level is what the Badgers do. That said, Illinois joins Purdue as teams whose running games are lesser than the Badgers. When healthy, that is not a problem -- but senior running back and second best weapon on the team, <span>Josh Ferguson</span>, is out. The youth amongst the Badgers front seven is set to face true freshman Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who while talented, hasn't really been a big play threat on the ground with 397 yards on 4.1 yards per carry (though he has broken off a 48-yard run this season).</p>
<p>As for the Badgers, the question is will the back teaming with <span>Dare Ogunbowale</span> be Alec Ingold or possibly <span>Corey Clement</span>? Clement's achingly close to a return, but it's not as certain as the fact that Tawian Deal is flat out for the game. Ingold runs with the leverage and power of an all-state wrestler, but Clement is a strong upgrade -- and with a run defense that has been shown to be had by power five opponents, there are gains to be made on the front seven led by junior defensive linemen Chunky Clements.</p>
<p>The pass defense can shut down an opponent with a subpar quarterback (Insert your joke about redshirt senior Joel Stave...here), but this is a passing game that has weapons that have more quantity, if not the statistical quality of Middle Tennessee. (Middle Tennessee already has two wide receivers with 50-plus catches. Seriously. They're pretty great.) I'm not gonna tell you that a bad day from Stave is out of the question, but linebacker <span>Dawuane Smoot</span> has five of their six sacks on the year. Keep him blocked and odds are the Badgers are set to have a real strong day through the air especially if the hands remain as strong as they were last week.</p>
<p>The special teams aspect that is most interesting is the place kicking. Sophomore Rafael Gaglianone has been cursed by the support of Hamm (B5Q writer Drew Hamm) and is currently 10-for-17 on field goals or worse than <span>Kyle French</span> in 2012. For the Illini, <span>Taylor Zalewski</span> is 8-for-13. In a game that could be close, the shakiness of the kicker might be the difference.</p>
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<p>Read below for the game's complete viewing information.</p>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/" target="_blank">Wisconsin Badgers</a> vs. Illinois Fighting Illini | Saturday, Oct. 24 | 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT | Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill.</h4>
<p><b>TV: </b>Big Ten Network</p>
<p><b>Live stream:</b> The game can be live streamed on BTN2Go (subscription required)</p>
<p><b>Mobile:</b> BTN2Go mobile app for iOS and Android phones.</p>
<p><b>TV crew:</b> Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Lisa Byington (sideline reporter)</p>
<p><b>Radio:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.badgersportsnetwork.com/main.html">Badger Sports Network</a>; Satellite: Sirius 81, XM 81; Mobile: iHeartRadio app (WIBA)</p>
<p><b>Radio crew: </b>Matt Lepay (play-by-play), Mike Lucas (analyst), Patrick Herb (sideline reporter)</p>
<p><b>Odds:</b> <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/game?gameId=400763547" target="_blank">Wisconsin, -5.5; o/u 45.5</a></p>
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https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/24/9606586/wisconsin-badgers-illinois-fighting-illini-game-time-tv-schedule-live-streamJake Kocorowski2015-10-23T17:23:43-05:002015-10-23T17:23:43-05:00Preview: Badgers face improved Illini
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<p>Illinois has been spry at times this year, but will their injuries stop their dreams of an upset?</p> <p>While the tour de force #Rosin4Illinois head coaching campaign has been a failure, the Fighting Illini have been able to build on last season's 6-7 record that included sneaking into the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Sure, there's been a lucky bounce or two, but they've definitely made strides -- and on homecoming with their Red Grange tribute uniforms, they feel like everything's going for them before a 2:30 p.m. CT game this Saturday against the Badgers.</p>
<p>When you have a pretty efficient combination of quarterback <span>Wes Lunt</span> and one of sixteen people to average one hundred yards per game catching the ball in wide receiver <span>Geronimo Allison</span>, you definitely have a challenge set up through the air for the player that draws them -- yet his receiving tag team partner <span>Marchie Murdock</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/JWernerScout/status/657338532709728257" target="_blank">is set to miss the game</a>. And while Desmond Cain and Malik Taylor are both talented and athletic, they are rather young wide receivers. A veteran and experienced secondary is set to face what one could argue is their best wide receiver of the season. But his support might not be ready.</p>
<p>In the running game, the Illini have statistically trailed the Badgers in terms of all the major categories. In most seasons, that's fine. After all, toting the rock to a ridiculous level is what the Badgers do. That said, Illinois joins Purdue as teams whose running games are lesser than the Badgers. When healthy, that is not a problem -- but senior running back and second best weapon on the team, <span>Josh Ferguson</span>,<a href="https://twitter.com/JWernerScout/status/657338532709728257" target="_blank"> is out</a>. The youth amongst the Badgers front seven is set to face true freshman Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who while talented, hasn't really been a big play threat on the ground with 397 yards on 4.1 yards per carry (though he has broken off a 48-yard run this season).</p>
<p>As for the Badgers, the question is will the back teaming with <span>Dare Ogunbowale</span> be Alec Ingold or possibly <span>Corey Clement</span>? Clement's achingly close to a return, but it's not as certain as the fact that Tawian Deal is flat out for the game. Ingold runs with the leverage and power of an all-state wrestler, but Clement is a strong upgrade -- and with a run defense that has been shown to be had by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cfbstats.com/2015/team/301/rushing/defense/gamelog.html">power five opponents</a>, there are gains to be made on the front seven led by junior defensive linemen Chunky Clements.</p>
<p>The pass defense can shut down an opponent with a subpar quarterback (Insert your joke about redshirt senior <span>Joel Stave</span>...here), but this is a passing game that has weapons that have more quantity, if not the statistical quality of Middle Tennessee. (Middle Tennessee already has two <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cfbstats.com/2015/team/419/receiving/index.html">wide receivers with 50-plus catches</a>. Seriously. They're pretty great.) I'm not gonna tell you that a bad day from Stave is out of the question, but linebacker <span>Dawuane Smoot</span> has five of their six sacks on the year. Keep him blocked and odds are the Badgers are set to have a real strong day through the air especially if the hands remain as strong as they were last week.</p>
<p>The special teams aspect that is most interesting is the place kicking. Sophomore Rafael Gaglianone has been cursed by the support of Hamm (B5Q writer Drew Hamm) and is currently 10-for-17 on field goals or worse than <span>Kyle French</span> in 2012. For the Illini, <span>Taylor Zalewski</span> is 8-for-13. In a game that could be close, the shakiness of the kicker might be the difference.</p>
<p>The Illini are better than they were last year, but they still have distance to close before they reach their peak. With them being as banged up the Illini are still underdogs in Champaign, Ill., it's not a game the Badgers can look past even beyond the Illini's history of being a game opponent.</p>
<p>But if the Badgers play to their paper level, they'll be bowl eligible when the sun goes down.</p>
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https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/10/23/9602292/wisconsin-football-illinois-2015-previewAndrew Rosin