Wisconsin HC Luke Fickell: 'I knew [South Dakota matchup] would be a true battle'

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell wasn’t surprised by the Badgers’ narrow margin of victory over South Dakota on Saturday.

Wisconsin entered as three-touchdown favorites. But just like in Week 1, the team struggled to create significant separation. This time it coasted to a 27-13 final score.

“I’m not saying that everybody knew what kind of week it was going to be,” Fickell said postgame. “But this was one that, to be honest with you, I just knew it was going to be some version of a true battle, a fight.”

Wisconsin’s 14-point win was a moderate disappointment after the team entered the halftime break up 17-3. South Dakota started the second half with momentum and eventually came within 10 yards of tying the game at 17. The Badgers did go on to shut the door in the fourth quarter.

But again just like in Week 1, the game was in the balance for much longer than fans expected.

“You never quite know exactly how things are going to turn out,” Fickell continued. “I think some people just assumed, you know, ‘you guys are just going to blow out these first couple games and things are going to roll.’ But I had a good idea we were going to be tested and tested in a different way. We got tested in the first week, we got tested again this week.”

That ‘different way’ likely refers to South Dakota’s strong rushing attack, which totaled 123 yards and 4.4 yards per carry against the Badgers. Wisconsin had moments of defensive dominance, then allowed the Coyotes to finish a 4-play, 75-yard touchdown drive without a pass attempt.

Either way, both South Dakota and Western Michigan are far inferior to the Big Ten competition that awaits Wisconsin on the schedule, and obviously inferior to the No. 4-ranked Alabama team that will visit Madison next weekend.

Wisconsin’s head coach thinks the early struggles will prove beneficial as that schedule continues.

“But I’m telling you that these are the things that continue to make us grow,” Fickell said. “These are the things that get you battle tested. I know there’s a lot of things we want look better at, there’s a lot of things we want to be able to do. Creating turnovers defensively is just one of those things that, man, they haven’t come. It’s our job to make them, but the first two weeks those teams have done a really good job.”

In summation, Fickell was sure to make his thoughts on South Dakota clear:

“That’s a good football team,” Fickell continued. “A lot of fifth and sixth year guys that are battle tested and, like I said, I knew that they were going to give you some different things to make you have to work and grow.”

Wisconsin now moves into a showdown with top-ranked Alabama. It’s safe to say the Badgers must dramatically improve if they are to have a shot at a season-defining upset.

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