Thursday, October 27, 2005

Quarterback adds to stature

Basanez is stronger physically and on field for Northwestern in a wondrous season.

By Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

Tom Pidgeon / Getty Images Michigan State couldn't handle Brett Basanez of Northwestern. Basanez file Position: Quarterback Year: Senior Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 218 pounds *Career victories: 20 *Career completions: 778 *Career passing yards: 9,139 *Career total yards: 9,980 *Northwestern records Related links  NCAA football scores and stats Big Ten Talk Big Ten Weblog U-M schedule U-M roster U-M stats Big Ten schedule Big Ten standings Big Ten stats AP Top-25 poll USA Today / ESPN Top-25 poll Sports Challenge: Pick the college winners weekly, win prizes Game photo galleries U-M 33, N. Illinois 17 Notre Dame 17, U-M 10 U-M 55, EMU 0 Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

ANN ARBOR -- When Brett Basanez arrived at Northwestern in 2001, having turned down offers from Miami (Fla.) and Penn State, among others, he was a skinny 185-pounder.

When Basanez, a 6-foot-2, fifth-year senior quarterback, showed up this fall for his final preseason camp, he weighed 218.

"He almost resembles a Division I quarterback," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said jokingly in early August at the Big Ten football kickoff.

Basanez not only looks like a Division I quarterback these days, but he also is one of the nation's best, leading the 21st-ranked Wildcats to a 5-2 record (3-1 Big Ten) and their first national ranking since the 2001 season. He has made 35 straight starts and is Northwestern's career passing leader with 9,139 yards.

As the Wildcats prepare to host No. 25 Michigan on Saturday night, they do so with the nation's worst defense -- ranked No. 117 -- but also with Basanez, who has been nearly flawless directing the spread offense since a loss to Penn State in a Big Ten opener.

Since then, Basanez, who is ranked third nationally in total offense, averaging 349.9 yards, has led the Wildcats to three straight victories. During that streak, he has completed 72 percent of his passes and thrown for eight touchdowns without an interception. He has had only one interception this season, compared to his first two seasons, when he had 19 interceptions and 11 touchdowns.

"What you are dealing with in Basanez is a guy with great leadership," U-M coach Lloyd Carr said. "He has got every intangible you want, and he has been there. He knows that offense inside and out.

"It's an amazing thing. ... I can remember when he was a freshman, and you know, even then he was not physically strong. He has grown up. He is mature. But at that time, there were things you could see. He was tough. I mean, he could take a punch and get back up. I think even four years ago, it was obvious that someday he was going to be an outstanding quarterback, and today that's exactly what he is."

Basanez is tough. He endured a broken leg in 2002 and a dislocated shoulder in 2004.

Nothing has taken away from his ability to be a threat as a passer and runner. In fact, the weight gain in the offseason was done the healthy way. He did away with fast food and went with high nutritional content.

It is his ability to run in the Northwestern spread that defensive coordinators find most concerning. He is averaging 3.8 yards a carry and has five rushing touchdowns, including two against Michigan State last Saturday.

"If you have a quarterback who can beat you running the ball, who can get first downs consistently, then you have to account for him," Basanez said.

It doesn't hurt that Northwestern has a more-than-reliable back in freshman Tyrell Sutton, Ohio's Mr. Football in 2004. Sutton is averaging 138.6 yards rushing, second-best in the Big Ten. He has 14 touchdowns.

Although the Wolverines enter Saturday's game with the Big Ten's second-rated pass defense -- they are yielding 194.2 yards -- they have not faced a stiffer challenge than the Wildcats.

Five receivers have 15 or more receptions, but Basanez's favorite target is Shaun Herbert. He has 54 catches for 573 yards.

If Basanez doesn't run, he looks for the short pass and gets rid of the ball quickly.

"It's going to be hard to rattle that guy because he knows exactly what he is doing," Michigan safety Jamar Adams said.

"He has seen all the blitzes, he has seen all the zone coverages, and he played us two times before. He is an experienced quarterback. I think he is one of the best in the Big Ten."

Walker said he reluctantly voted for Northwestern this week in the coaches' poll. The Wildcats' goal before the start of season was to qualify for a bowl game. They're almost there.

But Walker, in his seventh season at Northwestern, does not want his players to think about anything but Michigan.

"They were getting their butts knocked around and getting jeered," Walker said, reflecting on the 2002 season, when NU went 1-7 in the Big Ten, only a year after going 2-6. "Life was not good here."

You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at Angelique.Chengelis@detnews.com.