No. 9 Badgers no match for unbeaten Michigan
A battle of top-10 teams Tuesday night was no battle at all.
No. 7 Michigan (11-0, 6-0) stayed unbeaten with a dominating 77-54 win over No. 9 Wisconsin (10-3, 4-2) in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines only led 26-23 with 6:21 left in the first half, but things got out of hand quickly after that. Michigan went on a 14-0 run to end the half and then opened the second half on a 29-6 run. In total, the Wolverines outscored Wisconsin 43-6 during that 16 minute, 18 second portion of the game. Michigan eventually grew its lead to 40 points, showing everyone their first 10 wins were anything but a fluke.
The Badgers struggled at both ends of the floor, allowing Michigan to shoot 51.6% from the field, including going 9-for-16 (56.3%) from beyond the arc. On offense, Wisconsin shot a season-worst 30.8%, while going 9-for-28 on 3-pointers.
Guard Mike Smith led the way for Michigan scoring 16 points and dishing out six assists. Forward Franz Wagner had a double double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while also picking up four steals. Forward Isaiah Livers did it all, too, with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
Wisconsin got a game-high 20 points from senior D’Mitrik Trice. Forward Micah Potter was on the bench for much of Michigan’s run in the first half with foul trouble. He ended up being the only other player in double digits for the Badgers by scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds. The rest of Wisconsin's starting lineup -- Nate Reuvers, Brad Davison and Aleem Ford -- went a combined 5-for-25 from the field, while the bench contributed just 10 points and got nothing from freshman Jonathan Davis (0-for-6).
The 23-point loss was the largest the Badgers have experienced since Purdue beat them by 28 in January of 2018. Wisconsin hosted the No. 3 Boilermakers the next month in Madison and pulled off a huge upset win. Michigan will travel to the Kohl Center next month.
The Badgers will now move on and get ready for another tough road game on Friday at Rutgers.
Packers healthy, Rams hurting heading into Saturday's playoff game
The Green Bay Packers are healthier now than they’ve been for much of the season.
While the team has its share of important players on injured reserve, including tackle David Bakhtiari, the injury report issued Tuesday was among the shortest of the year. There were a total of seven players on the list, and only one, defensive lineman Kingsley Keke (concussion), didn’t practice at all. The rest, which included outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, tackle Rick Wagner and wide receiver Allen Lazard, all took part on a limited basis.
The news was not as glowing for their opponent in Saturday's NFC Divisional Round game. Los Angeles only held a walk-through on Tuesday, but had they practiced fully, a number of key players wouldn’t have taken part. That included quarterback John Wolford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, guard David Edwards and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
While the status of Wolford, Edwards and Kupp is a little murky, the Rams fully expect Donald to play despite leaving their win over Seattle in the first half with a rib injury. For their part, the Packers are expecting the same.
“He’s a freak. He’s as good as they get. “Like I said, he’s a once in a lifetime type player,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I assume he’ll be ready to go and full speed ahead.”
Quarterback Jared Goff did take part in the walk-through and would have been a full participant if the team had practiced. Goff, the Rams normal starting quarter, was the backup against the Seahawks because he was less than two weeks removed from thumb surgery. When Wolford went down early, Goff came in and helped lead the Rams to the victory.
Veldheer officially back
Just days after starting at left tackle for Indianapolis in its loss to Buffalo in the playoffs, Jared Veldheer was on the practice field in a Packers uniform getting ready for Saturday’s playoff game against the Rams. Despite starting the last two games, the Colts never actually elevated him to their active roster, allowing Green Bay to swoop in and sign him off the practice squad.
Vehldeer was with the Packers at the end of last season, playing an important role in Week 17 against Detroit and then starting at right tackle against Seattle in the playoffs. He figures to be an insurance policy for Green Bay at either tackle spot behind Billy Turner on the left side and Wagner on the right.
“I think we’ve got to kind of just wait and see just how much recall he has from last year,” LaFleur said. “What’s interesting is he just played in a game this weekend with a totally different offense, so we’ll try to get him acclimated and welcome him back as quickly as possible. As far as what the expectations are, I think that remains to be seen.”
If he does play, Veldheer will be the first player in NFL history to see action with two teams in the playoffs in the same season.
Rodgers hosting Jeopardy!
It got out sooner than the Jeopardy! folks apparently wanted, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be guest hosting the show at some point during the offseason. Rodgers revealed that information during his normal Tuesday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1349056749593120768
During his availability with reporters later in the day, Rodgers apologized to those that run the show for breaking the news, saying he was just too excited not to share it.
Rodgers was a contestant on “Celebrity Jeopardy!” in 2015, and ended up winning his episode by beating astronaut Mark Kelly and Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary. Longtime host Alex Trebek passed away in November.
PODCAST: Waiting...
2021 Wisconsin Football Outlook (0:00)
Packers Add Jared Veldheer (24:13)
Packers-Rams Matchup (35:32)
Wisconsin-Michigan Preview (47:46)
Antetokounmpo, Bucks pull away late to beat Magic 121-99
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a one-game absence because of a minor back injury and scored 22 points as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Orlando Magic 121-99 on Monday night.
Antetokounmpo, the reigning two-time NBA MVP, started slowly and battled through second-half foul trouble before coming alive in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee won a second straight and beat Orlando for a fifth consecutive time in the regular season.
“At the end of the day, I had five fouls, but I was just trying to play the game, go downhill and get my teammates involved,” said Antetokounmpo, who had six rebounds and four assists. “I was just wanting to execute down the stretch.”
Khris Middleton finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, while reserve Bobby Portis played well for a second straight game, scoring 20 points.
Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 13 rebounds to lead the short-handed Magic, who have lost three straight since Markelle Fultz was lost to a season-ending knee injury. Aaron Gordon had 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds and contributed solid defense against Antetokounmpo.
“We felt like we played OK for three quarters and we were right there and then we just made too many mistakes on both ends of the fourth,” Vucevic said. “Milwaukee is a team that’s going to take advantage of it.”
Milwaukee missed 17 of its first 24 3-point shots but drilled six 3s in the fourth quarter. Seconds after Gordon spectacularly dunked over Antetokounmpo to get the Magic within 88-86, Milwaukee’s superstar forward hit a straight-on 3-pointer that quieted the pandemic-restricted crowd of 3,248. He followed that up by finding Portis for another 3 as the Bucks went on a 22-2 run.
“He puts in a lot of time and effort in and he’s growing in all ways,” Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It was just two big plays because the momentum could have swung on the (Gordon) dunk. It’s a huge momentum swing for him to make the 3 and then to create the open 3 for Bobby.”
The teams were playing for the first time since last August, when they squared off in a first-round playoff series in the bubble at Walt Disney World. Orlando won Game 1 of that series before Milwaukee captured the next four. Milwaukee also won the four regular-season meetings with Orlando last season.
Milwaukee led 63-54 at the half despite missing 13 of its first 17 3-point shots. The Bucks forced eight turnovers in the second quarter and 11 in the first half and turned those Magic mistakes into 17 points.
In the fourth quarter, the Magic shot 7 of 21, including 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
“The game was the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter where we had just poor possessions on offense, lack of purpose and fouling at the other end of the floor,” Magic coach Steve Clifford said.
Bryn Forbes added 14 points and three 3s for Milwaukee, which shot 50.5% from the floor.
The Swing: Jan. 11, 2021
On this episode of The Swing, Zach Heilprin and Jesse Temple are joined by Wisconsin assistant Alando Tucker to discuss his work with D'Mitrik Trice and Tyler Wahl, what his intense conversation with Micah Potter during the Indiana game was about and the progress of freshman Jonathan Davis.
Zach and Jesse also look back at the Indiana game, talk about the Big Ten race and more.
Packers reportedly sign veteran OL Jared Veldheer
Green Bay has added some veteran offensive line help in advance of Saturday’s NFC Divisional Round game against Los Angeles.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers have signed tackle Jared Veldheer off of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. Veldheer was actually called up by the Colts and started in their last two games, including their AFC Wild Card loss to Buffalo last Saturday.
The name should be a familiar one to Packers fans. The 33-year-old came out of retirement last season and joined Green Bay for the final stretch of the season. When Bryan Bulaga got sick and was unable to play against Seattle in the playoffs, Veldheer filled in and performed admirably in that victory.
Green Bay’s offensive line took a significant hit prior to Week 17 this year when left tackle David Bakhtiari went down with a torn ACL. It’s expected that Billy Turner, as he did in the finale against Chicago, will be the left tackle, while Rick Wagner will be the right tackle. However, Veldheer gives the Packers a veteran that can play both tackle spots.
According to Schefter, Veldheer would become the first player in NFL history to play for two different teams in the playoffs.
PODCAST: It Begins
Packers-Rams Matchup (0:00)
The QB Situation (8:50)
Wisconsin Basketball Update (26:20)
Former Packer LeRoy Butler (37:09)
Sports & Analytics (46:50)
Packers to face Rams in NFC Divisional Round at Lambeau Field
It took until early Sunday night but the Green Bay Packers finally know who their opponent for the Divisional Round of the playoffs will be.
Thanks to its win over Seattle and New Orleans beating Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams will come to Lambeau Field on Saturday (3:35 p.m.) to face quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
The Rams were powered largely by their defense this season as they went 10-6. That unit ranked No. 1 in the league in total yards allowed (281.9 ypg), passing yards allowed (190.7) and in points allowed (18.5 ppg) per game. Offensively, Los Angeles ranked 11th in total yards but 23rd in scoring (23.3 ppg).
Among the bigger storylines of the week will be the relationship between Packers coach Matt LaFleur and Rams coach Sean McVay. LaFleur served as the offensive coordinator under McVay in 2017. The two were also together for several years in Washington.
Perhaps the biggest question for the Rams is the health of several key players. Quarterback Jared Goff had surgery on a broken thumb after Week 16 and wasn’t expected to play against Seattle. But his replacement, John Wolford, was knocked out of the game early and Goff was forced into action. He completed just 47.4% of his passes and threw for only 155 yards.
One of Goff’s main targets, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, left the Seahawks game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. The NFL Network reported that the injury wasn’t considered serious.
And then there is Aaron Donald. The defensive tackle is in the running for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award, but left Saturday’s game with a rib injury and did not return. The NFL Network reported that an X-ray didn’t show any broken ribs but there was an MRI planned for Sunday. The Rams said they are hopeful he’ll be able to play.
https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1348324436613730304
If Donald does play, his battles with All-Pro center Corey Linsley and the rest of the Packers offensive line will go a long way to determining the outcome. The same could be said for a potential one-on-one battle featuring All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams going up against All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
This will be the second playoff matchup between the teams, though the other came in 2001 when the Rams were still in St. Louis. In that one, quarterback Brett Favre threw six interceptions and three were returned for touchdowns as Green Bay got blown out 45-17.
The most recent meeting of the two teams came in 2018 in Los Angeles. The Rams got a late field goal from Greg Zuerlein and stayed unbeaten with a 29-27 win.
Bucks beat Cavaliers 100-90 without injured Antetokounmpo
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 27 points and the Milwaukee Bucks withstood the absence of two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 100-90 on Saturday night.
Antetokounmpo sat out with back spasms after taking a hard fall one night earlier in a loss to the Utah Jazz.
“He’s very sore, very stiff,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. “There’s not much of a discussion or anything today. We are hopeful that it’s a short-term thing.”
Bobby Portis replaced Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee’s starting lineup and scored 17 points as the Bucks (6-4) closed a five-game home stretch in which they went 4-1. After Jrue Holiday made the game’s first basket, Portis scored the Bucks’ next 10 points.
The Bucks overcame a huge performance from Cleveland’s Andre Drummond, who had 26 points and 24 rebounds. Drummond was the first Cavalier to have at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in the same game since Anderson Varejao did it against Boston on Jan. 31, 2012.
Cleveland (5-5) needed a big night from Drummond because it was missing so many weapons as it completed a six-game road swing.
Collin Sexton, who averages a team-high 25.1 points, missed a second straight game with a sprained left ankle. Other sidelined Cavaliers included Kevin Love (strained right calf), Matthew Dellavedova (concussion), Dante Exum (strained right calf), Darius Garland (sprained right shoulder), Kevin Porter Jr. (personal reasons) and Dylan Windler (fractured left hand).
Damyean Dotson scored 21 and Larry Nance Jr. added 17 for Cleveland. Holiday had 15, D.J. Wilson scored 12 and Donte DiVincenzo added 11 for Milwaukee.
The Bucks led by 19 early in the second quarter before the Cavaliers got back into the game with a 16-0 spurt that included nine points from Drummond.
Cleveland tied the game at 37-all on Drummond’s basket with 3:12 left in the second quarter, but Middleton responded with eight straight points as the Bucks closed the first half with a 10-0 run.
The Bucks stayed in front the rest of the way.
Badgers: DE Garrett Rand announces retirement from football
Wisconsin will have to replace both of its starting defensive ends next season.
Days after Isaiahh Loudermilk confirmed he was headed to the NFL, fellow senior Garrett Rand announced he was retiring from football.
https://twitter.com/rand3218/status/1348003920359141376
Rand cited injuries as the main reason he would not be pursuing a professional career or taking advantage of the NCAA’s waiver allowing players a sixth year of eligibility due to the pandemic. The Arizona native had a number of injuries throughout his career, including tearing an Achilles tendon in 2018 and missing the entire year.
During his time with the Badgers, Rand had 57 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. The numbers don’t do him and the rest of the defensive line justice, though, as the group is mainly used to keep the offensive line off of the linebackers. Wisconsin had a top-10 run defense in all four years Rand played.
Rand was one of the first big recruits of Paul Chryst’s tenure at Wisconsin, as the Badgers beat out UCLA, Arizona, Michigan State, Washington, Stanford and Nebraska among others for the 4-star prospect in 2016.
