Heading into a new week, the Badgers hope to correct mistakes and adjust to the recent injuries to senior offensive leaders Matt Bernstein and Owen Daniels as they prepare to travel to Northwestern (0-1, 2-2) this Saturday.
Bernstein did not dress for Indiana and according to head coach Barry Alvarez, \Nothing has changed. It'll be a little while with Bernie.""
Fortunately, Bernstein's replacement Chris Pressley's foot injury in the first quarter was not as bad as initially believed. Still, Alvarez has yet to hear an update on tight end Owen Daniels. The amount of injuries posed questions about the lineup and the focus of practice.
""I am very sensitive to the number of injuries we have, particularly the key people,"" Alvarez said. ""I'll change the practice format drastically this week.""
Wisconsin also faces a team coming off of a bye week, a coincidence Alvarez was ""not crazy"" about. Indiana, and now Northwestern have both had two weeks to prepare for the Badgers.
""I feel real good,"" junior linebacker Mark Zalewski said. ""We've got a couple guys that are beat up, but I think a lot of the other guys are feeling fresh.""
Despite the injuries, Alvarez will continue the intensity among his younger players in practice.
""If you have a veteran team you can back off them sooner. If you have a young team I think you have to continue to hit.""
""If they're injured and they don't practice during the week, they don't play well on Saturday,"" he said.
After the victory over Indiana, Alvarez was quick to mention Northwestern after Saturday's game. Indiana and Northwestern's similar offense packages have helped ease the transition for preparation.
""It helps two weeks in a row,"" Zalewski said. ""Indiana runs a lot of the same looks.""
Northwestern's offense, led by senior quarterback Brett Basanez, is currently ranked No. 14 overall in the country, averaging 473.8 yards per game.
""He's probably better than anyone we've faced,"" said Alvarez. ""He really has the knowledge [of the game] and a strong arm that gets [the football] out there.""
Basanez's experience is only one faccet of Northwestern's package offense. Wisconsin must also look out for running back Tyrell Sutton, who averages 132 yards on the ground.
Defensively, Alvarez plans to use veteran linebackers Zalewski and Dontez Sanders to contain the Wildcats.
""They can be physical and they can run,"" Alvarez said. ""Those two guys can play in [open] space. They fit defending Northwestern's offense as well as you can.""
Northwestern will look to take a page out of Indiana's book and limit the production of Brian Calhoun. The Hoosiers put eight and nine players in the box and held the junior running back to 101 yards on 26 carries.
""I think that's why it's important that we get some deep balls and get behind the secondary,"" said quarterback John Stocco.
The Badgers are looking to avenge a 2003 loss to Northwestern that took them out of Big Ten title contention.
""After that game everyone seemed dead and unfilled, everyone looked real slow,"" Zalewski said. ""You have to have a short-term memory.\
