UW notes: Michael Deiter doesn't believe loss was the result of players buying into hype

MADISON – When writers and photographers from national media outlets descended on the Wisconsin campus to give readers a look at the 2018 team, including detailing the caloric consumption of the starting offensive linemen, the players understood the heights the hype had reached. 

When then-No. 6 UW suffered a stunning 24-21 loss to unranked BYU Saturday, they understood the questions about whether the preseason hype had gotten inside their helmets. 

Fifth-year senior offensive lineman Michael Deiter addressed the topic.

“I guess it was humbling,” he said of the loss, “but I wouldn’t say that just because there were (high) expectations for us that we thought we were the greatest ever. We knew we were talented. We knew we were good. 

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“It is football. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. It’s not like we were looking down our noses at anyone. …

“We know we still have to execute. People telling you you’re good doesn’t mean you’re good on Saturday. 

“I guess it is a little bit humbling but I wouldn’t say that we needed to be humbled, if that makes sense.”

Not getting off the field

One sign UW’s defense is working through the growing pains of replacing so many experienced starters is the unit’s work on third down.

UW opponents last season converted only 29.1% of their third-down chances. That was the No. 2 mark in the Big Ten behind Michigan.

Through three games this season, opponents have converted 36.8% of their third-down chances. That is the No. 10 mark in the league. 

Iowa went 0 for 13 on third down in the 38-14 loss to UW last season. The Hawkeyes enter the teams’ Big Ten opener seventh in the league in third-down conversions at 43.8%. 

In case you missed it

One play before a false-start penalty on tight end Kyle Penniston turned a fourth and 1 into a fourth and 6 in the third quarter, UW faced third and 2 from the BYU 33. 

Fullback Alec Ingold tried to use a cut-block against end Corbin Kaufusi but didn’t get enough of the 6-foot-9, 275-pounder. Kaufusi dived in and hit tailback Taiwan Deal, limiting him to a 1-yard gain.

That set up the fourth-and-1 play, which led to the 5-yard penalty. UW’s drive ended with a fourth-down incompletion.

TJ Edwards sends a message

Senior linebacker T.J. Edwards sent out an interesting 14-word tweet late Saturday, after the three-point loss to BYU: "I promise they gonna hate you when you at the bottom! Dissapointed (sic), never discouraged."

"I know how this state works," he said Monday when asked about the tweet. "I know how college football works. I just want our team, our locker room to be whole. Going forward we have to be together. ... What better way to do it than coming out with your Big Ten rival this week."

Extra points

» Redshirt freshman defensive end Matt Henningsen has been placed on scholarship. Hennington, from Menomonee Falls High School, has a total of eight tackles in three games. That is tied with nose tackle Olive Sagapolu for the No. 1 mark among the linemen.

» Tailback Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 2,492 yards in 17 games at UW, an average of 146.6 yards per game. He needs 8 yards to become the 15th player in UW history to rush for at least 2,500 yards.