Tag: Western Michigan

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell after Western Michigan win: ‘At halftime, it was interesting’

Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell: ‘At halftime, it was interesting’

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell was, in a word, relieved after the Badgers’ uncomfortable 28-14 win over Western Michigan on Friday night.

Fickell told the Big Ten Network postgame how proud he was of the Badgers for battling adversity. His focus was on the plays the team made in the fourth quarter to win the game, though he also acknowledged the contest was a little too close for comfort.

Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin’s 28-14 Week 1 win over Western Michigan

“I didn’t see any panic,” Fickell said. “The emotions were not high. Just a methodical game. But they handled it really well. And that’s what I’m proud of.”

The head coach continued: “You know, at halftime … it was interesting.”

The Badgers led 10-7 at the break, scoring a touchdown on only one of their three first-half red zone possessions. Fickell’s tone captured the feelings in the stadium at that stage. There was an overwhelming thought of “oh no, here we go again.”

But credit to the Badgers for making plays when it mattered most. That was Fickell’s focus after the game, as his team did not excel in those areas last season.

“You knew you had to come back out, and you go down, and you find a way to come back,” Fickell continued. “We know it’s going to be about adversity and handling adversity, and we didn’t do a great job of that last year. So I’m proud they did.”

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Wisconsin has a lot to improve upon entering Week 2 against South Dakota and Week 3 against No. 5 Alabama and a Big Ten schedule. The improvements will start on offense, where the team did not manage a play longer than 17 yards.

The Badgers are 1-0 after one week, which is technically all that matters. Attention now turns to how to prevent having next Saturday follow the same script as Friday night’s win.

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Wisconsin star cornerback not thrown at during win over Western Michigan

Ricardo Hallman had an impact on the win over Western Michigan:

Wisconsin star cornerback Ricardo Hallman had an impact on Wisconsin’s 28-14 Week 1 win over Western Michigan on Friday night.

That impact did not include any counting statistics. Hallman recorded zero pass deflections, zero sacks, zero tackles for loss and zero overall tackles.

Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin’s 28-14 Week 1 win over Western Michigan

The impact was due more to his sheer presence. Fox flashed a graphic late in the contest that the star cornerback was not once targeted during the Badgers win.

Sometimes less is more for cornerbacks. Those with fewer tackles may allow fewer receptions, and those with fewer interceptions may just never see the ball thrown their way. That was the case with Hallman on Friday night.

The junior cornerback recorded 34 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, five pass deflections and seven interceptions in a breakout 2023 season. If his trajectory holds, he’s in line to be an early selection in the upcoming NFL draft.

Western Michigan avoiding the junior cornerback entirely only helps that case. It may be a strategy that more teams employ as the season continues.

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WATCH: Wisconsin true freshman CB Xavier Lucas’ interception seals win over Western Michigan

This was one of the highlights from Friday night’s win:

Wisconsin did not have a large collection of highlights from its 28-14 Week 1 win over Western Michigan.

The team was down 14-13 early in the fourth quarter, and it took a Western Michigan fumbled punt to shift momentum to the Badgers. The final 10 minutes of action, then, became the only true highlight from the contest.

Related: Takeaways from Wisconsin’s 28-14 Week 1 win over Western Michigan

One play of note came with Wisconsin leading 28-14 with 1:54 remaining. The game was decided, but the Badgers had a final highlight moment.

The play: Western Michigan faced a 4th and 14 from the Badgers 42-yard-line. Broncos QB Hayden Wolff rolled out left and tried to sneak the football to his receiver on the sideline.

Waiting to make an acrobatic interception: Wisconsin true freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas.

 

Lucas finished the game with two tackles and that one interception in limited action.

This impressive development comes after the cornerback was one of the stories from the Badgers fall camp. The four-star recruit made an impression strong enough to make the team’s Week 1 two-deep depth chart.

His game action late gave a glimpse at a bright future with the program. On a night when star cornerback Ricardo Hallman was not targeted once, Lucas’ big-time interception is even more notable. He appears to have too much talent to leave on the bench during meaningful moments this season.

Lucas will look to build on the performance when Wisconsin faces South Dakota next Saturday. It will be a final warmup for the Badgers before No. 5 Alabama visits Madison the following weekend.

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RECAP: Wisconsin holds on to edge Western Michigan 28-14

First reaction to Wisconsin’s win over Western Michigan?

Wisconsin held on to defeat Western Michigan 28-14 on Friday night, improving to 1-0 on the young 2024 season.

The final score tells the story of a comfortable, multiple-possession victory. The actual game was far from that. Overall, the Badgers’ performance was, in a few words, uninspiring.

Wisconsin led just 10-7 at halftime after scoring a touchdown on only one of its first four trips to the red zone. The problems persisted into the second half, as Western Michigan got out to a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter before a fortunate bounce of the football handed Wisconsin the momentum.

The Badgers rode that momentum to a touchdown and two-point conversion, a big-time fourth-down stop on defense, and a game-sealing score.

Running backs Chez Mellusi and Tawee Walker led the way with 34 combined carries for 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Van Dyke added 192 yards through the air and a rushing touchdown on the ground. He showed glimpses of NFL potential and high level play, though also struggled at times to keep the ball out of harms way.

Luke Fickell’s team will enter Week 2 with a 1-0 record, which is technically all that matters. But the team’s overall performance reminded of its struggles to open 2023 against Buffalo, struggles which went on to forecast some of the growing pains to come.

Wisconsin is back in action next Saturday against South Dakota (FCS). It will be a final tune-up before Alabama visits Madison on Sept. 14.

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WATCH: Chez Mellusi scores Wisconsin’s first touchdown of 2024 season

WATCH: Chez Mellusi scores Wisconsin’s first touchdown of 2024 season

Wisconsin is officially on the board to begin the 2024 football season.

The Badgers first struck against Western Michigan with less than 12 minutes left in the first half. It came in the form of a 9-yard Chez Mellusi touchdown run. Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke handed Mellusi the shotgun snap before the senior weaved through the Western Michigan defense on his way to the end zone.

Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s Week 1 contest vs. Western Michigan

Mellusi is up to eight carries for 35 yards and the touchdown early on in the contest. It has been an impressive return to action after he missed most of the 2023 season with a severe leg injury.

Both he and Oklahoma transfer Tawee Walker have performed well in the Badgers season opener. The duo figures to be a central cog in Phil Longo’s air raid offense throughout the season.

Badgers fans hope this touchdown is the first of many for the veteran running back:

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Report: Wisconsin transfer WR in street clothes for opener vs. Western Michigan

Wisconsin will be without one of its transfer WR additions against Western Michigan

Wisconsin transfer wide receiver Joseph Griffin Jr. is not in uniform for the Badgers’ season-opener against Western Michigan, according to multiple reports.

Griffin Jr. was not listed on the Badgers’ pregame injury report. He was also not included on the team’s two-deep depth chart earlier this week. His status is unknown, though it appears clear he will not play in the Badgers’ Week 1 contest.

Related: Wisconsin releases pregame injury report for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan

Griffin Jr. transferred to Wisconsin after two productive years at Boston College, totaling 43 receptions for 579 yards and six touchdowns in those two seasons. He was a notable spring transfer addition by Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin staff as they worked to round out a crowded wide receiver room.

The receiver’s 6-foot-4 frame figures to help the team in red zone and tight-quartered situations. That impact will apparently need to wait another week, at least.

Wisconsin enters Friday’s game with Will Pauling, Bryson Green, Vinny Anthony and C.J. Williams starting at wide receiver. Trech Kekahuna and Chris Brooks Jr. should also see snaps.

The Badgers and Western Michigan Broncos will kick off at 8 p.m. CT, 9 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned after the game and throughout the week as Griffin’s status gains clarity.

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BREAKING: Western Michigan leading receiver ruled out for Week 1 vs. Wisconsin

Western Michigan leading receiver ruled out for Week 1 vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s Week 1 opponent Western Michigan will be without its top offensive weapon tonight.

That is star wide receiver Kenneth Womack, who has reportedly been ruled out of the contest with a broken hand (per SB Nation’s Steve Helwick).

Related: Wisconsin releases pregame injury report for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan

Womack led the Broncos in receptions (76) and receiving yards (691) in 2023, an output that led to a first-team All-MAC selection.

His absence is major news for a Western Michigan offense that enters 2024 with familiar faces at quarterback and running back, but will be operating under new leadership. OC Walt Bell is in his first season with the program after spending 2022 and 2023 on Tom Allen’s coaching staff at Indiana.

Western Michigan will now lean heavily on senior Anthony Sambucci, redshirt junior Malique Dieudonne and transfer Jordin Parker to lead the wide receiver room. The team should also heavily feature RB Jalen Buckley, a redshirt sophomore who excelled with 1,164 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023.

Wisconsin’s defensive strength is in the secondary. Womack’s absence should only heighten that advantage.

The matchup will play out when the game kicks off at 8 p.m. CT, 9 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.

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WATCH: Luke Fickell gives final thoughts before Badgers Week 1 matchup vs. Western Michigan

Final thoughts entering Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan?

The preparation is complete. It’s time for the Wisconsin Badgers to begin their 2024 football season. Kickoff for Week 1 against Western Michigan is now less than 90 minutes away.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell recently caught up with Mark Tauscher on the field at Camp Randall Stadium before warmups for the season opener. He gave his final thoughts before the contest, including his nerves before the matchup and, notably, what he’s looking for from starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke.

Related: Wisconsin releases pregame injury report for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan

“I want consistency,” Fickell said about his new starter. “I want to see him play with some calm, play with a great demeanor, regardless of what happens, the up and down. But take what they give you. I think sometimes you come out here and a guy is trying to prove himself right away. He’s proven himself to us. He’s proven himself to this team. And you want him to kind of just let the thing roll.”

Van Dyke will be a central story to the Badgers’ season debut, a game that is unlikely to be very competitive. Western Michigan is fresh off a 4-8 2023 season and enters 2024 ranked No. 110 in the nation by SP+. Wisconsin, meanwhile, looks to be a fringe top-30 team with the chance for a steep rise if its offense can click.

Before the matchup begins and offseason questions are answered, here are Fickell’s full final thoughts:

https://twitter.com/BadgerFootball/status/1829660097393615257

Wisconsin and Western Michigan will kick off at 8 p.m. CT, 9 p.m. ET, broadcast on Fox Sports 1. All eyes will be on what’s changed entering a pivotal year two of the Luke Fickell era.

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Wisconsin releases pregame injury report for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan

Wisconsin Badgers release pregame injury report for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan

Wisconsin has released its pregame injury report for tonight’s season-opening contest against Western Michigan.

The Badgers will be without backup wide receiver Quincy Burroughs, depth offensive linemen Leyton Nelson and Barrett Nelson, and true freshman tight end Rob Booker.

Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s Week 1 contest vs. Western Michigan

Those injuries are in addition to the previously-known absences of true freshman standout outside linebacker Thomas Heiberger and veteran defensive lineman James Thompson Jr..

Those six players are the players listed as ‘Out’ for the Week 1 matchup. There are zero players listed as ‘Questionable.’

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Wisconsin enters the 2024 season mostly healthy, minus the critical injury to Thompson Jr. The team having its entire two-deep depth intact should help it to a strong start against Western Michigan — SP+’s No. 110-ranked team entering the year.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT, 9 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.

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Wisconsin top defensive lineman likely to miss entire 2024 season

Wisconsin top defensive lineman likely to miss entire 2024 season

Wisconsin will likely play the 2024 season without veteran defensive lineman James Thompson Jr.

Reports surfaced last week that Thompson would be out indefinitely with an upper-body injury. Confirmation came on Monday during Luke Fickell’s game-week press conference for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan.

Related: Wisconsin releases two-deep depth chart for Week 1 vs. Western Michigan

“I don’t know that we’ll have (James Thompson Jr.) for the year,” Fickell said. He specified the veteran defensive lineman had surgery last week and has a 4 to 5 month recovery timeline.

Thompson’s injury is a significant blow to a critical position on the Wisconsin defense. The redshirt senior totaled 29 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, three sacks and two pass deflections in 2023. He was one of the team’s better linemen last season and was expected to break out further in 2024.

The Badgers added transfers Elijah Hills (Albany) and Brandon Lane (Stephen F. Austin) at the position this offseason. The group is led by those two, plus returning contributors Curt Neal, Ben Barten and Cade McDonald. The Badgers were set to go six-deep at the position before losing Thompson,  their No. 1 option. The team’s depth and performance both take massive hits with this news.

Wisconsin’s first game-week depth chart lists Neal and Barten as the two starters and McDonald and Hills as the primary backups. Lane is sure to play a big role as will true freshman Dillan Johnson.

Defensive coordinator Mike Tressel may need to get creative to offset the loss of Thompson. That, or someone within the room emerges as difference-making option. The team will need the group to perform with preseason No. 3 Oregon, No. 5 Alabama, No. 8 Penn State, No. 23 USC and No. 25 Iowa on the schedule.

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