Zook expects physical test from Badgers

Considering Ron Zook grew up tackling tires rolled downhill by his older brother - then started at safety for Bill Mallory at notoriously tough Miami (Ohio) - it's safe to say Illinois' coach appreciates an arduous physical task.

That explains why Zook, on more than one occasion Tuesday, expressed admiration for Wisconsin's style of play.

"As we talked (Monday) night, last year was the most physical ballgame I've been involved in a number of years," Zook said. "There's no reason to think it won't be the same kind of game (this year)."

Illinois sneaked away with a 31-26 win over the Badgers at Memorial Stadium last year, but Zook felt it took enough of a toll that it impacted the following week's upset loss at Iowa.

"Both teams just lined up and knocked the (crud) out of each other," Zook said.

In recent weeks, of course, Wisconsin has had the stuffing knocked out of it.

The Badgers (3-4, 0-4) have gone from the Top 10 to the bottom of the Big Ten.

While their offense has switched quarterbacks and dealt with injuries to running back P.J. Hill and two key linemen, the defense has taken a startling turn for the worse.

Wisconsin's veteran-laden crew allowed just 41 points in its first 14 quarters. But in the 14 quarters since leaving the halftime locker room at Michigan with a 19-0 lead, the Badgers have surrendered 133 points.

In the last two weeks, Wisconsin has been gashed for 9 rushing touchdowns.

That makes Saturday's game (11 a.m., ESPN2) sound like the perfect scenario for Illinois true freshman Jason Ford's second breakout game.

Iowa fireplug Shonn Greene rushed for a career-high 217 yards and 4 touchdowns against Wisconsin last week.

While Ford isn't quite as much of a bowling ball as Greene - nor does he have as lengthy a resume as the nation's third-leading rusher - he did impress with his physical style while pounding Indiana for 172 yards and 3 scores.

"I think you'll see Jason continue to improve," Zook said. "But these guys, once again, there's still a lot of rough water out there.

"I think we have to realize and remember that they still are freshmen and there will still be some things that we have to get corrected."

Saving the earth: Wisconsin has chosen Saturday's visit from Illinois as the Big Ten's first "carbon-neutral" game.

To make up for all of the carbon dioxide that will be emitted by the 80,000 at Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin will plant "thousands of trees" at a tree farm several miles east of the campus in Cambridge, Wis.