It hasn't been easy for the University of Wisconsin football team to find playing time for redshirt freshman quarterback Curt Phillips and true freshman wide receiver Kraig Appleton.

So, long after most fans had probably lost interest in the Badgers' 37-0 win over Purdue Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, Phillips and Appleton were getting valuable experience in the fourth quarter.

While neither put up big numbers, those snaps should pay dividends down the road.

"You'd like to say all the reps are the same," offensive coordinator Paul Chryst said. "But those game reps are probably really good for them."

Phillips played only three snaps, all against Iowa, in the previous four games and did not look sharp against Purdue. But he also missed practice time last week with a hamstring injury suffered during the bye the previous week.

"True tribute to him, he went in there, didn't bat an eye and made some things happen," UW coach Bret Bielema said Monday.

Phillips completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards with one interception. He also finished with four carries for 3 net yards, counting a sack.

Bielema said part of the problem was the Badgers went to their No. 2 offensive line before Purdue pulled its starters.

Even with the lack of practice time, Chryst took issue with a couple of things Phillips did. Chryst was unhappy with the backup offense settling for a field goal after taking over on the Purdue 20-yard line following a turnover.

"To be first-and-goal (at the 9-yard line) and not punch it in, I don't care who's in there," Chryst said.

Chryst joked about a missed opportunity Phillips had for a 96-yard touchdown pass with a little more than 2 minutes to play.

The Badgers faced a third-and-9 from their 4-yard line and Phillips had David Gilreath open for what looked like a sure touchdown. It appeared Phillips lost his grip on the ball while attempting to throw.

"I thought he absolutely choked on the last pass," Chryst said. "I told him, 'Don't worry, you'll get another 95-yard touchdown.' "

Chryst was happy with a conversion from Phillips to Gilreath of 13 yards on third-and-8, and a 9-yard pass to Appleton on third-and-10 setting up a fourth-down conversion.

"This is all really good for him," Chryst said. "He made a couple plays, moved out of the pocket twice. It was good for him to get extended (time)."

As for Appleton, he has been highlighted in the developmental scrimmages for young players on Sundays, much like the Badgers did with tailback John Clay during his redshirt year in 2007.

"During some of our periods, we just keep throwing the ball at him and throwing the ball at him," Bielema said.

In addition to the two receptions, Appleton had another catch along the sidelines that was incomplete because a foot came down on the line.

"It was probably his best catch of the day," Bielema said. "His foot was out, it was the right call, but to get that ball down and try to get (his foot in) where he was. ... I think he's going to be very special."

Extra points

Bielema said highly regarded freshman defensive end Pat Muldoon, who is being redshirted, will undergo surgery this month for a torn ACL. He will be on a similar rehabilitation schedule as redshirt freshman linebacker Mike Taylor. Both are expected back for summer conditioning. ... In conference games, UW leads the Big Ten in rushing offense and rushing defense. The only time in school history the Badgers have led the league in both categories in conference games was 1951. The last Big Ten team to do it was Ohio State in 1996.

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