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'Here's another example why it's often hard to take statistics at face value.
The numbers say Indiana has one of the worst defenses in the Big Ten Conference and is little more than a paper tiger when it comes to challenging for its first football title since 1967.
But you need to be careful as the emerging Hoosiers get ready for a Leaders Division game against the University of Wisconsin on Saturday in Bloomington, Ind.
Yes, Indiana ranks last in rushing defense (208.4 yards allowed per game) and total defense (428.1) in the Big Ten.
Yes, the Hoosiers have allowed 300 yards rushing in a game twice and lost three games in which they scored 30 or more points, which is as many as the other Big Ten teams combined (Nebraska two, Iowa one) this season.
But there are two parts to this defensive equation where Indiana (4-5 overall, 2-3 Big Ten) is concerned.
The majority of its struggles have come against jazzed-up schemes like the spread and option. Northwestern and Ohio State, both featuring spread offenses, rushed for 394 and 353 yards against the Hoosiers, respectively. Navy, which employs a triple option, piled up 257.
Now look at how Indiana fared against more traditional offenses. Michigan State averaged 2.9 yards per rush (42 attempts, 120 yards) and Iowa was limited to 3.2 yards per carry (30 rushes, 96 yards).
The Badgers definitely fall into the latter category and have the added burden of using a backup quarterback who will either make his first college start (Curt Phillips) or who has labored to execute since losing the No. 1 job after three games (Danny O'Brien).
Asked about the disparity Tuesday during the Big Ten coaches' teleconference, Indiana coach Kevin Wilson steered clear of specifics other than to note his defense has made strides despite being young — only two senior starters — and his rebuilding project is only in its second season.
"I think we're just year two into our process: understanding our schemes, getting players to better places, physically getting a little bit better," he said. "It's a young team and we've just embraced getting better every day. That's all we're trying to do."
Look even closer at the Hoosiers and you'll see their defense ranks ninth nationally and first in the Big Ten in tackles for losses (7.4 per game) and are third in the league in quarterback sacks (2.4 per game).
The ring-leaders for those two developments are senior tackles Larry Black and Adam Replogle. Both have nine tackles for losses and four sacks.
Greg Heban, who moved from corner to safety four games ago, is another playmaker on defense. He leads Indiana in tackles with 65 (46 solo) and is among the Big Ten leaders in passes defended with 10.
Indiana has built a two-game winning streak by limiting the two worst offenses in the league — Iowa is 11th at 328 yards per game and Illinois 12th at 301 — and expects the degree of difficulty to increase against the Badgers.
Both UW tailbacks, senior Montee Ball and junior James White, have had big days against the Hoosiers. Ball has three 100-yard games and has scored eight touchdowns — the most against any Big Ten opponent — while White has averaged 7.2 yards per carry and scored three TDs in two games.
"They're going to run it on you (and) run it well. They do every week," Wilson said of the Badgers. "I think they're a heck of a team."
The winner of this game has a leg up on representing the Leaders Division in the Big Ten title game, but Wilson isn't portraying it as a big moment to his players.
"This game's a (11 a.m.) kick. We're a 4-5 team. This isn't a big game," he said. "If it was, we wouldn't be 4-5. If it was, we wouldn't be playing at (11). This is us just taking this week to keep getting better."
Wilson doesn't know what to make of the atmosphere that will greet his team at Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers haven't won a November home game since 2007 and are 2-11 in the month dating to 2003.
"We're a long way from where we want to be, but our kids are playing hard," Wilson said. "They've been fighting in games. We've been in some exciting games.
"We've got to build our fan base, but the best way to do that is how we keep playing on the field. I think we've shown our kids are going to play hard and it's going to be a fun environment.
"I hope this week we'll get a great crowd not only from our students, but our local fans. We need to get this house built up for a change."'