'Sconnie Six Pack 12/6
Transfer portal, Jackson Chourio, updates on Packers injuries, Wisconsin basketball opens Big Ten play, and more
Compete for bragging rights and a chance to top-off the six pack!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: #BowlSZN
In just ten days, the Bahamas Bowl will kick off the first of 41 FBS bowl games at 10:30AM CST. Personally, I love Bowl Season. Even if you don’t have rooting interest in every game, the December 26th Quick Lane Bowl between New Mexico State and Bowling Green gives you something to watch on TV while getting through another holiday gathering.
To maybe give you some rooting interest, join the ‘Sconnie Six Pack Bowl Pick’Em League! Sign up through ESPN and pick the winner of every bowl game. In return, the league winner will get a chance to pick a story in the ‘Sconnie Six Pack. Wisconsin sports or not, I’ll find a way to dive in and give you what you need to know that day about your favorite topic.
Join by clicking the link here. The group password is: Six-Pack
Without further ado -
What’s brewing:
Wisconsin basketball hosts #13 Maryland tonight to begin Big Ten play
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur gives injury updates going into Green Bay’s bye week
Over 1,000 players entered the NCAA transfer portal yesterday - including four Badgers
Brewers manager Craig Counsell provides insight on Milwaukee’s upcoming season
Topping-off the six pack: Wisconsin football wide receiver earns all-American honors
Giannis drops 34 points as Bucks defeat the Orlando Magic
With Brook Lopez sitting-out his first game of the season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks (17-6) defeated the Orlando Magic (5-20) by a score of 109-102. The game was Milwaukee’s 12th consecutive win over Orlando.
Milwaukee led by 19 points with 1:40 remaining in the third quarter, but the youthful Orlando Magic were able to come back and stop the game from being decided until the final minute. Despite not shooting well as a team overall (36.6%), four of the five Magic starters (Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Mo Wagner, and Markelle Fultz) scored at least 19 points.
The Bucks, meanwhile shot 44.7% from the field, but could not get Khris Middleton going in his second game of the season since finishing rehabilitation from injury. Middleton scored only five points and shot one for 11 from the field and missed all seven of his shots from three-point range.
Giannis recorded 34 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. He also made eight of his 11 free throw attempts. This was Giannis’ seventh consecutive game scoring at least 30 points.
The Bucks also got a great effort from guard AJ Green. Green recorded 12 points, a career high, in ten minutes.
The Bucks next play the Sacramento Kings in Milwaukee tomorrow night.
Wisconsin basketball hosts #13 Maryland tonight to begin Big Ten play
The Wisconsin Badgers (6-2) host the #13 Maryland Terrapins (8-0) tonight in the Badgers’ Big Ten opener. You can watch tonight’s game at 8:00PM CST on ESPN2.
The Badgers and Terrapins are both exceeding expectations thus far this season. Wisconsin was picked to finish ninth in the Big Ten with Maryland picked to finish right behind in tenth.
Head coach Kevin Willard is leading the Maryland Terrapins in his first season and is doing so with record-setting results. Willard is the first head coach in Maryland’s program history to have the Terrapins ranked in his first season. He is also the first head coach in Big Ten history to win each of his first seven games by 15 or more points.
Maryland is led by three seniors who are the team’s three leading scorers. Forward Donta Scott leads the Terrapins with 15.4 points per game. Guard Jahmir Young, a transfer from Charlotte follows Scott with 15.1 PPG and leads Maryland with 3.3 assists per game. G Hakim Hart scores the third-most PPG (13.8) and leads the Terrapins with just over a steal per game.
Young is a unique scorer for Maryland. When at Charlotte, he earned First Team All-Conference USA honors in back-to-back seasons; he averaged nearly 20 points per game. In the Terrapins’ last game, Young hit a three-pointer with just seconds remaining to give Maryland a four point lead over Illinois and seal a victory.
In Wisconsin’s previous two games, the Badgers have struggled down the stretch. Against Marquette, Wisconsin shot only 35.5% in the second half allowing the Golden Eagles to force overtime. Against Wake Forest, Wisconsin allowed its opponent to make five of its last seven field goal attempts. Wisconsin, on the other hand, made only one of its final five field goal attempts in the three point loss for the Badgers.
With Maryland’s penchant for winning games by wide margins this season, Wisconsin cannot afford to falter in the second half.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur gives injury updates going into Green Bay’s bye week
The Green Bay Packers have been no strangers to injury this season, but now the team will get a chance to get healthy during a bye week. Head coach Matt LaFleur addressed the media today and provided insight on the injury status of some key players.
Running back Aaron Jones and quarterback Aaron Rodgers both played on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but have each been dealing with injuries throughout the season. Jones exited the game with a shin injury, which he was dealing with before, but LaFleur says Jones should return to play after the bye week. LaFleur also said that Rodgers did not aggravate his rib injury on Sunday; Rodgers injured his ribs the prior week against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari did not play against the Bears following an emergency appendectomy on Friday. When asked about the timeline for Bakhtiari’s return, LaFleur said, “from what I’ve been told it could be a while.”
Wide receiver Romeo Doubs has not played since the Packers’ first offensive play against the Detroit Lions in week nine. Doubs returned to practice this week as a limited participant and, according to LaFleur, the Packers’ coaching staff was “hopeful” Doubs could play against Chicago. When asked about Doubs potential availability after the bye week, LaFleur said, “I would think we’re going to get [him] back.”
Over 1,000 players entered the NCAA transfer portal yesterday - including four Badgers
This year, the NCAA created windows in which players that wish to transfer and play the following season must enter their names in the transfer portal. Yesterday was the first day of the new transfer portal window for FBS college football players. Over 1,000 players entered the portal yesterday including four Wisconsin Badgers.
The most notable player to enter for Wisconsin is quarterback Graham Mertz. I covered Mertz’ decision to transfer more in depth on yesterday’s edition of the ‘Sconnie Six Pack.
Safety Titus Toler entered the portal yesterday. Toler has been with Wisconsin for three seasons, but did not play during the 2021 season due to injury. He was listed as the second-string strong safety this season. Toler played a total of seven games as a Badger recording seven tackles and one interception. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Freshman defensive end Tristan Monday has already found a new home after entering the portal yesterday. The Arizona native is returning home to play at Arizona State. Monday did not see any game-action this year and has four years of eligibility remaining.
Perhaps most notable outside of Mertz’, was senior offensive lineman Michael Furtney’s decision to transfer. Furtney started ten games at guard for the Badgers including eight this season. He was pushed for the starting right guard position by sophomore Tanor Bortolini during training camp. Furtney was named the starter following an injury to Bortolini. Furtney may have decided to transfer in pursuit of a guaranteed starting spot. He has one year of eligibility remaining as a graduate transfer.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell provides insight on Milwaukee’s upcoming season - will Chourio play in the big leagues?
At the MLB Winter Meetings yesterday, Brewers manager Craig Counsell sat down for an interview on MLB tonight. The interview provided some insight on what the Brewers’ lineup may look like next year.
Counsell first mentioned Milwaukee’s wealth of outfield prospects who may have opportunities to contribute at the MLB level in 2023. Garret Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, and Esteury Ruiz were all mentioned when Counsell was asked about outfielders ready to come up and contribute at the next level.
Counsell also mentioned Brice Turang, an infield prospect, as a player who has a chance to be on the Brewers’ roster quickly following Milwaukee’s decision to trade second baseman Kolten Wong.
Per MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, Counsell also mentioned that Milwaukee’s top-prospect, Jackson Chourio, may get a chance to play this year. Chourio has ascended through Milwaukee’s prospect rankings. He finished the season with the AA Biloxi Shuckers after the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers season ended. When asked if Chourio could see time with the Brewers next season, Counsell said “I don't know why [not]. I think he did so much that why would you say you're not open to it?”
Topping-off the six pack: Wisconsin football wide receiver earns all-American honors
Freshman wide receiver Skyler Bell was named by College Football News as an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American today.
Bell is a redshirt freshman. He played one game last season - the Las Vegas Bowl in which he recorded one catch for 15 yards. This season, Bell played in all twelve games and recorded the second-most receptions (29), receiving yards (439), and receiving touchdowns (5) for the Badgers. Junior WR Chimere Dike was first in each of those categories. Bell also added 116 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Bell is an exciting weapon at WR for Wisconsin. With a, hopefully, improved Wisconsin offense, he will be exciting to watch in the years ahead!
On, Wisconsin.