Wisconsin enters top 10 of AP poll
The Wisconsin basketball team is in the top 10 of the national rankings for the first time in a year.
The Badgers jumped five spots to No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and have now moved up 15 spots in the last two weeks. The ranking is the highest the club has been since also being eighth in the Jan. 4, 2021 poll. Last year's team fell out of the top 10 in late January and was out of the poll entirely by the end of the season.
This year's group, though, has earned its way into the top-10. The Badgers own a 14-2 record, their best start under coach Greg Gard, and currently sit second in the Big Ten standings at 5-1. They own wins over then-No. 3 Purdue on the road and then-No. 12 Houston on a neutral court. Their only loss with star guard Johnny Davis in the lineup came at Ohio State, but Wisconsin avenged that setback with a 10-point win over the 19th-ranked Buckeyes last Thursday.
The Badgers road won't get easier in what could be argued is the toughest conference in the country. They travel to Northwestern on Tuesday to face a Wildcats team that just beat then-No.10 Michigan State on the road. Wisconsin then comes home to face those Spartans, which fell to No. 14 in this week's poll.
UW still has to go to Michigan State and No. 17 Illinois, while another matchup with Purdue awaits in the final week of the regular season.
The full poll, led by new No. 1 Gonzaga, can be found here.
Packers will host San Francisco on Saturday night at Lambeau Field
San Francisco is headed to Green Bay for a Saturday night playoff matchup against the Packers.
The sixth-seeded 49ers punched their ticket to Lambeau Field by holding on for a 23-17 win at third-seeded Dallas on Sunday.
It will be the second time the teams have met this season. The Packers got a 51-yard field goal from Mason Crosby as time expired for a 30-28 win in Week 3. Green Bay went on to earn the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with a 13-4 regular season, while San Francisco went 4-1 down the stretch of the season to clinch a playoff berth. The only loss in those final five games was to Tennessee, the top seed on the AFC side of the playoffs.
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The two teams have a storied playoff history having split their eight all-time meetings. The Packers won four of the first five games, including the 1997 NFC title game. But the 49ers have won the last three matchups -- 2012, 2013 and 2019. Among those losses were a pair blowouts, most recently in the NFC Championship Game two years ago.
San Francisco has a couple of injuries that will bear watching this week. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Nick Bosa sustained a head injury against the Cowboys and is now in the concussion protocol. He led the 49ers in sacks with a career-high 15.5. The team also lost linebacker Fred Warner to an ankle injury. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Warner would undergo more testing when the team returned to San Francisco.
The Packers, on the other hand, appear to be getting healthy at just the right time. All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari returned to the lineup in Week 18 against Detroit after missing the first 16 games while rehabbing a torn ACL. Rookie center Josh Myers was also back from a knee injury that had sidelined him since Week 6, while right tackle Billy Turner was back at practice last week for the first time since a knee injury in early December. One of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets, wide receiver Randall Cobb, is also expected to be available following a month off while recovering from core muscle surgery.
On the defensive side of the ball, outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith practiced last week for the first time since having back surgery after Week 1. The team is hopeful he'll be ready to go against the 49ers. All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander should also return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out since Week 4.
The only injury concerns for Green Bay are cornerback Chandon Sullivan (knee) and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back). Both left the Detroit game with injuries and did not practice last week. Valdes-Scantling is especially notable as the Packers have scored at least 30 points in nine of the games he played and have yet to top that mark in games he's missed.
Weather could also play a factor. The early forecast has a low of 8 degrees Saturday night with below zero wind chills.
Kick is set for 7:15 p.m.
(13) Wisconsin 78, (16) Ohio State 68: Last word
In a battle of ranked teams, it was No. 13 Wisconsin coming away with a 78-68 win Thursday night over No. 16 Ohio State at the Kohl Center.
Player of the Game: Tyler Wahl
The last time these two teams played Wahl scored three points and was one of several big men that got challenged to step up and be more physical by star guard Johnny Davis after the game. Thirty-three days later Wahl did everything he could to make sure there would be nothing to critique him for this time around.
Wahl had a monster first half, scoring 12 points, grabbing six rebounds (two offensive), and dishing out five assists. He also played a role in slowing big man EJ Liddell, who went 1-for-5 with three turnovers as the Badgers led by 13 at the break. Liddell had more success in the second half, totaling 18 points for the game, and helped Ohio State get to within 61-55. But Wisconsin answered with a big run of its own that was highlighted by a steal and dunk from Wahl.
https://twitter.com/BadgerMBB/status/1481816880327413765
The junior finished with 20 points (8-for-10), seven rebounds and six assists, while also hitting his first two 3-pointers of the season. It followed up a career-high 21 points against Maryland and over the last four games he is averaging 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 75.8% from the field.
The good: Winning without offensive greatness from Johnny Davis
Wisconsin is where it is this season because of Johnny Davis. He is a national player of the year contender, a potential NBA lottery pick and has a chance to become the first Badgers player to average more than 20 points per game since 1995. But the sophomore guard did not have his best performance of the season Thursday night. He scored 14 points but went just 4-for-18 from the field.
One of the biggest questions for the team was could it win a game against a quality opponent without Davis putting up monster offensive numbers and the answer turned out to be yes. The Badgers got 25 points from Brad Davison, Wahl’s 20 and then nine from Steven Crowl.
Davis contributed in other ways (seven rebounds, two assists) but Wisconsin’s effort without his normal offensive production feels very important for the Badgers’ chances of chasing a second Big Ten title in three years.
The not so good: Not putting Ohio State away
Wisconsin has won 14 of its 16 games this year but has not always made it easy on itself. Already boasting three games in which they led by 20 or more points only to see teams rally to get within at least three, the Badgers allowed the Buckeyes some hope twice in the second half.
Ohio State trimmed a 17-point lead with 13:35 left into just a 6-point advantage for Wisconsin with 5:52 remaining. After the Badgers took back control of the game with a 13-2 run, the Buckeyes got back to six with :55 seconds to go.
Coach Greg Gard’s club was able to close things out with a double-digit win but it feels at times they are playing on the edge of a cliff by not putting teams away.
Stat of the Game: 10-for-23
That was what Wisconsin shot from beyond the arc, with six different players hitting at least one 3-pointer. It was the Badgers most made triples since also hitting 10 against Marquette, while their 43.5% shooting percentage was the second-best all year. For a team that came in hitting just 29.6% of their shots from deep, the aim from distance was a welcome sight.
Best Tweets
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In Case You Missed It
-- After missing a game with a lower body injury, guard Jahcobi Neath returned to action Thursday. He played just five minutes but did a 3-pointer.
-- Wisconsin earned its seventh Quad 1 win. Coming into the day, no other team had more than four such wins.
-- Johnny Davis appeared to tweak his ankle in the first half while scrambling for a loose ball. He stayed in the game with a slight limp before eventually heading to the locker room with less than a minute left in the half. The injury turned out not be serious, as Davis would return and play nearly the entire second half.
-- Wisconsin improved to 14-2 on the season, its best start since the 2014-15 season. That group would go on to win the Big Ten regular-season title, the conference tournament title and make it all the way to the national championship game.
What’s next?
Wisconsin (14-2, 5-1) will travel to Northwestern (8-6, 1-4) to face the Wildcats next Tuesday.
Packers getting another important piece back as OLB Whitney Mercilus returns to practice
The good news on the injury front keeps rolling in for the Green Bay Packers.
When the team hit the field for practice Thursday, there was Whitney Mercilus going through drills with the rest of the outside linebackers. The veteran tore his left bicep against Seattle in mid-November and was thought to be done for the season. But with him practicing, it means the Packers have designated him for return from injured reserve.
Mercilus played in four games for Green Bay and was seeing roughly 45-percent of the defensive snaps. He was having his best game against the Seahawks, recording one sack and had quarterback Russell Wilson in his grasp for a second one when the injury happened.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry said they learned early this week that Mercilus was making progress in his rehab but he didn't think the 31-year-old would be back on the field this soon.
"You talk about a pro and an incredible leader, just an incredible guy," Barry said after practice Thursday. "He’s been saying since the night that he got hurt, he’s like, ‘I’m going to be back. I’m coming back. I promise you, I’m coming back.’ He’s worked his tail off to get to where he’s at."
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The former Houston Texans standout was the second addition to outside linebacker room this week, as two-time Pro Bowl selection Za'Darius Smith also returned to practice for the first time since undergoing back surgery after Green Bay's Week 1 loss to New Orleans.
"He looks great," Barry said. "I think he's in a great place.
"We're going to go out and get another day's work with the guys (Friday), so I think this weekend obviously will be big him for specifically on just how his body feels and how his body reacts to three days of work."
Those two join an all-star cast of important players returning from long absences. Left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) played for the first time all year against Detroit, while center Josh Myers (knee) was back for the first time since Week 6. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder) has practiced on a regular basis for the last month, while wide receiver Randall Cobb (core muscle surgery) has taken part the last two weeks. Right tackle Billy Turner (knee) missed the last four games of the season but was back at practice on a limited basis this week.
Only two players on the active roster didn't practice at all Thursday -- wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and cornerback Chandon Sullivan. Valdes-Scantling left the Detroit game with a back injury, while Sullivan exited with a knee injury.
Packers: Aaron Rodgers believes his toe is nearing 100-percent, OLB Za'Darius Smith practices
Aaron Rodgers played through a fractured pinky toe the last eight games of the season and called it one of the most painful injuries he's ever had. But as the Green Bay Packers get set for what they hope will be a run to Rodgers' second Super Bowl title and the franchise's fifth, the quarterback is feeling the best he has in the last two months.
"I haven't taken one in a number of weeks now. That's been the most encouraging thing," said Rodgers of a numbing shot he took to mask the pain. "The whole goal was to be able to not have to do and it's been a few games now without doing that. I'm feeling good. I practiced (Wednesday). I'm close to 100% and think I should be 100% probably by next week."
The injury sustained while working out during his quarantine for COVID-19 has not impacted his play. Since returning to the field Nov. 14, Rodgers has thrown 20 touchdowns and just one interception. That effort helped the Packers to the No. 1 seed in the NFC and strengthened his bid for a fourth Most Valuable Player award. It also earned them a first-round bye in the playoffs, an opening Rodgers plans to take advantage of.
"Rest. Rest," Rodgers said with added emphasis the second time. "I'm about to go home and it's what 12:22. It's pretty freaking sweet. I'm going to enjoy this rest. I'm sure many people -- hopefully it's not just me -- I still got a semi messy house post-Christmas and New Year's. It's the end of the season so you don't have time for that. I'm going to clean my house. I'm going to rest. I'm going to read some books. I'm going to relax. That's what I'm getting out of this week."
Coach Matt LaFleur is hoping to get more out of the week than Rodgers. It's why the Packers practiced Wednesday and will do so again Thursday even though there is no opponent to prepare for.
"I'd say, number one, making sure that we're staying in football shape, especially with some of the guys that are coming back. It's a great opportunity to use this time effectively to up their conditioning levels," LaFleur said. "I would say also just keeping your mind sharp, and then kind of re-acclimating ourselves with the elements outdoors. Last week being that we practiced everyday in indoors (before playing inside at Detroit), I think it's a good opportunity to get get back outside where it's not quite as cozy with the temperature."
When the Packers did venture out for practice Wednesday, they had some familiar faces back with them. That included linebacker Za'Darius Smith. He was taking part for the first time since before the season opener against New Orleans. He underwent back surgery the next week and landed on injured reserve.
Right tackle Billy Turner was also back after missing the last four games of the season with a knee injury. He was limited to individual drills, but the team is hopeful he'll be able to play next weekend. His return, along with left tackle David Bakhtiari and center Josh Myers coming back last week, leaves some questions to answer for LaFleur and his staff as to how the offensive line will look.
"I would say (starting spots) are always up for competition," LaFleur said. "Obviously, it's predicated on who is available. We definitely have a plan. I'm sure you guys (media) would love to hear our plan but I'm going to keep our plan secret for now."
The Camp: Jan. 12, 2022
The Big Ten released a revised schedule for 2022 on Wednesday. The guys look at the impact on Wisconsin's slate, as well as debate some of the way-too-early Top 25s and discuss the biggest storylines facing the Badgers this offseason.
Wisconsin's 2022 Big Ten schedule has a new look
The Big Ten announced some tweaks to its 2022 football schedule Wednesday and they will impact Wisconsin.
In an effort to account for changes made to the 2020 schedule due to the pandemic, the conference will have the Badgers travel to Nebraska on Nov. 19 and host Purdue on Oct. 22. With the original schedule, Wisconsin would have hosted the Cornhuskers and visited the Boilermakers in back-to-back seasons.
In 2020, Wisconsin's games at Nebraska and at home against Purdue were canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Badgers program.
There was also some shuffling of dates, including Wisconsin no longer opening the season against Illinois. Instead, it will be Illinois State on Sept. 3. The Redbirds were originally slated to visit Madison on Sept. 24. That date now has Wisconsin traveling to face Ohio State in the Big Ten opener for both teams. They had been scheduled to meet in November. The Badgers game against former coach Bret Bielema and the Illini will come the following week (Oct. 1) at Camp Randall Stadium.
The next part of the schedule got pushed back a week, including games at Northwestern (Oct. 8) and at Michigan State (Oct. 15). After facing Purdue on Oct. 22, Wisconsin will get its bye week as scheduled. Then the Badgers will host Maryland on Nov. 5, a game originally set for Oct. 15. They'll close things out by traveling to Iowa (Nov. 12) and Nebraska (Nov. 19) before finishing the season against Minnesota (Nov. 26) at home.
Here is a look at the full schedule:
Sep 3 vs. Illinois State
Sep 10 vs. Washington State
Sep 17 vs. New Mexico State
Sep 24 at OSU
Oct 1 vs. Illinois
Oct 8 at Northwestern
Oct 15 at MSU
Oct 22 vs. Purdue
BYE
Nov 5 vs. Maryland
Nov 12 at Iowa
Nov 19 at NEB
Nov 26 vs MINN
The Swing: Jan. 11, 2022
Wisconsin finished off a 3-0 week in Big Ten play. The guys talk about how whiny Iowa was after the game, Tyler Wahl's huge effort against Maryland, where the Badgers sit two months out from the NCAA Tournament and Lee Sports Wisconsin's Jim Polzin joins the show.
Badgers move up 10 spots in latest AP rankings, Johnny Davis earns honor
Wisconsin is moving up in the national rankings.
Fresh off a 3-0 week, the Badgers jumped 10 spots to No. 13 in the latest Associated Press poll. They are one of five Big Ten teams in the poll, headlined by Purdue at No. 7. Michigan State comes in at No. 10, while Ohio State is at No. 16. Illinois entered the poll at No. 25.
Wisconsin's ascension was well earned. Coach Greg Gard's club went on the road at upset the then-No. 3 Boilermakers, just the Badgers fifth win against Purdue at Mackey Arena since its opened in 1967. They followed that up with a blowout win over Iowa and then held on for another road win against Maryland on Sunday. It was the first time since January of 2019 that Wisconsin had won three Big Ten games, including two on the road, in a single week.
UW has a chance to further improve its impressive resume in the next 11 days, as a home game against the Buckeyes is set for Thursday and a visit from the Spartans comes Jan. 21.
Baylor remained the top rated team, with Gonzaga, UCLA, Auburn and USC rounding out the top five.
Davis honored
Johnny Davis was a big reason for Wisconsin's success last week and he was honored for his efforts.
The sophomore guard was named the Big Ten co-Player of the Week after averaging 27.3 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game.
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It's the second time Davis has won the award this year and it's the third week a Wisconsin player has won it.
Davis shared the honor with Illinois center Kofi Cockburn
Packers: Za'Darius Smith set to return, several other key players could also be back for playoffs
When the Green Bay Packers take the field for the divisional round of the playoffs the team should have two more All-Pros on the field.
A day after left tackle David Bakhtiari returned to action for the first time in more than a year, news broke Monday that outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith had been cleared medically and will be designated to return from injured reserve. If things go as planned, Smith will be available for the playoffs.
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Smith confirmed the news with a post on Instagram.
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Smith hasn't played since Week 1 against New Orleans. He underwent back surgery just days later and has been on injured reserve since then. In his first two seasons with the Packers, Smith led the team with 26 total sacks.
"I want to kind of temper the expectations," coach Matt LaFleur told reporters Monday afternoon. "Here's a guy that hasn't practiced since before the New Orleans game. We'll get him back out there (Wednesday) and see how he looks, see what type of shape he's in. If he progresses and checks all the boxes, then he'll be back out on the field."
Green Bay is also expecting to get cornerback Jaire Alexander back on the field. He hasn't played since Week 4 due to a shoulder injury but has practiced on a regular basis for the last month. It's possible he would have suited up against Detroit on Sunday but tested positive for COVID-19 and practiced just once last week.
Integrating him back into a group that has seen really good play from cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes will be a challenge, especially since all three thrive playing outside and not in the slot. Alexander has the most experience there, seeing 174 snaps inside during his rookie season, but that total dropped to 33 in 2020.
"There are a lot of conversations that are taking place right now because we have a pretty good problem in that we've got some other pretty good players, especially at the corner position," LaFleur said. "And how do you get all these guys out on the grass at the same time and where are you placing them. Those are some of the things that we're kind of working through as a staff right now. How to get all these guys out on the field and then put them in a position to be successful."
Offensive line getting healthy
Green Bay saw the return of Bakhtiari (torn ACL) and center Josh Myers (knee) against the Lions, with each playing most of the first half. Bakhtiari got 27 reps before taking himself out of the game, while Myers ended up with 32.
"I thought David did an outstanding job. He looked great, he moved well. Certainly, there's no substitute for football shape and that takes time. But I thought he handled himself very well," LaFleur said. "I think you're looking at two just completely different circumstances in terms of the number of plays David has played throughout the course of his career versus the number Josh has. I would say David probably looked a little further along than than Josh, but we're confident that Josh will get there. I think he's another guy that just has to get back into football shape."
Both will almost surely being in the starting lineup when the playoffs open. The same could be true for right tackle Billy Turner. He missed the final four games of the regular season with a knee injury, but LaFleur expects him back on the practice field at some point this week.
Hackett getting attention
The Packers offense has been among the best in the NFL the last two seasons and many people within the organization credit offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett with being a big part of that. Now those outside the facility are taking notice, too, as Hackett will interview for two head coaching positions -- Denver and Jacksonville -- this week.
"I would anticipate more interest in Nathaniel if teams are doing their homework," LaFleur said. "I think he's definitely deserving of at least being in the conversation with everybody and getting an opportunity to present what he's all about to all these teams. I know if I was leading the search, he would be high on my list."
Playoff opponent?
Green Bay will have to wait until after Wild Card weekend to find out its first playoff opponent. There are four possibilities -- Los Angeles, Arizona, San Francisco or Philadelphia. The Packers didn't face the Eagles this year but went 3-0 against the other teams.
