Apr 11, 2023; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, left, talks with head coach Luke Fickell during practice Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin finished the 2023 season with SP+’s No. 7-ranked defensive unit. That digit may be a bit inflated, but the unit did finish the season ranked No. 21 in points allowed, No. 25 in yards per play and No. 39 in total defense. That side of the ball wasn’t the problem during the team’s 7-6 2023 season.
Predictably, the opposing coaches expect big things from the Badgers defense in 2024.
“Defensively, we expect them to be much improved. I’d say they’re on a timeline similar to what Luke [Fickell] did at Cincinnati. That’s not the side of the ball to worry about here.”
That path saw the Bearcats go 4-8 in Fickell’s first season in 2017 before going 11-2 and 11-3 in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
An improvement on Wisconsin’s respectable 2023 defense could see it rise toward the top of the conference. Given the transfer additions and personnel changes, that rise shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
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Publish date : 2024-06-01 08:10:00
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