What’s brewing?
New publishing schedule
Wisconsin basketball looks to bounce back against Penn State
Jrue Holiday powers Bucks past Pacers; Milwaukee takes on Toronto tonight
Wisconsin football hires a sitting head coach to coach outside linebackers
Milwaukee Brewers sign 29 international prospects
Topping off the six pack: what’s that noise?
New publishing schedule
I’m so glad to announce the re-launch of the ‘Sconnie Six Pack with some key new features.
First, a dedicated publishing schedule. To take readers a bit behind the scenes, this newsletter was typically written the day it is published. All the way from the ground up. Getting out six stories to publish the same day is a lot of work, but more importantly, I felt it did not allow me to share my best work in a timely manner. I felt rushed. I felt disappointed when I couldn’t publish until 5pm or later. Now, every newsletter will hit your inbox at 7AM or earlier (obviously starting tomorrow). You can expect to drink your morning coffee and read the ‘Sconnie Six Pack before you start your work day.
Second, updated publishing days. This is a six pack after all, so expect to receive this newsletter six days a week. With new episodes published Monday through Saturday, you can expect to get all your Wisconsin sports news from a weekend recap to a weekend preview, every week.
Third, an extra special announcement you’ll have to read to the bottom to find! Enjoy today’s news!
Wisconsin basketball looks to bounce back against Penn State
Wisconsin started Big Ten play 3-0 and rose to as high as #14 in the AP poll. Since then, the Badgers (11-5, 3-3 B1G) dropped three straight and fell to a three-way tie for seventh in the conference. Among those fellow 3-3 teams is the Penn State Nittany Lions (12-5, 3-3). Wisconsin and Penn State play tonight at 7:30 PM CST inside the Kohl Center. Big Ten Network is televising the game.
The Badgers and Nittany Lions each played the Indiana Hoosiers in their most recent games, but the results could not have been more different. Wisconsin fell to Indiana on Saturday by a score of 63-45. Penn State defeated the Hoosiers 85-66.
In its three conference losses, Wisconsin has been without Tyler Wahl. The senior forward suffered an ankle injury that has kept him out of the lineup for two weeks. According to Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wahl is expected to return to the lineup tonight.
Wahl's presence or absence fundamentally changes the Badgers' offense. He leads the team in 13.2 points per game, and his usage rate of 31.1% is the 18th highest nationally, according to KenPom.
Perhaps even more significant are Wahl's contributions on defense. His 6.4 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game are the second-most on the team. Through Wahl's last complete game, Wisconsin was ranked 18th in defensive efficiency, allowing opponents to score 61.2 points per game, according to BartTorvik. In his absence, UW has rated 113th, allowing 70.3 PPG.
Jalen Pickett is the do-it-all star to watch for Penn State. The 6'4" point guard leads the Nittany Lions in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game. His 7.4 assists per game are the fourth most nationally.
Jrue Holiday powers Bucks past Pacers; Milwaukee takes on Toronto tonight
Milwaukee (28-16) held onto the third-place spot in the NBA's Eastern Conference standings by defeating the Indiana Pacers (23-22) yesterday afternoon. Despite allowing 76 first-half points, the Bucks came back from down as many as 13 to win 132-119.
Indiana capitalized on lapses by the Milwaukee defense in the first half. Pacers backup point guard TJ McConnell had 25 first-half points, surpassing his previous career high for an entire game of 23. McConnell did not miss a shot in the first half. As a team, Indiana made 12 of 22 three-point attempts. Despite scoring 65 first-half points and shooting 13 of 29 from beyond the three-point line, the Bucks looked destined to lose their third straight.
The Bucks' defense came alive in the second half, allowing only 43 points. Milwaukee outscored Indiana in the fourth quarter 39-21. After scoring 25 in the first half, McConnell only managed four points in the final 24 minutes.
Jrue Holiday led the Bucks' scoring effort on the day. The 6'4" point guard had a season-high 35 points and added 11 assists. Holiday has led his team in scoring in two of the three-straight games Giannis has missed due to knee soreness and three of the Bucks' last four games overall.
Milwaukee plays against the Toronto Raptors (20-24) inside Fiserv Forum at 6:30 PM tonight. It will be televised on TNT and Bally Sports Wisconsin.
Giannis is out again tonight and Khris Middleton appears unlikely to make his return to the lineup. Earlier today, Middleton was assigned to Milwaukee's G-League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.
Oddly, this is the second time the Bucks play the Raptors on the second day of a back-to-back this season. Toronto, however, is on the second day of a back-to-back itself after defeating the Knicks in New York yesterday. Milwaukee won the first meeting this season 104-101 in overtime.
Wisconsin football hires a sitting head coach to coach outside linebackers
Luke Fickell's assistant coaching hires have been reported on since the moment Chris McIntosh introduced him as the Badgers' head coach. Now, with only one more assistant coaching role to fill, Fickell has hired a current head coach to lead outside linebackers and special teams units.
Matt Mitchell has been the head coach of the Grand Valley State Lakers since 2010. In his twelve seasons at the helm, his division two program out of Allendale, Michigan, amassed a record of 117-31. Before becoming head coach, Mitchell coached linebackers and was defensive coordinator for the Lakers.
The addition of Mitchell leaves Fickell with just one more assistant coach slot to fill. Wisconsin has yet to hire a running backs coach.
Milwaukee Brewers sign 29 international prospects
MLB's international signing period opened Sunday. One of the quirkiest means of attaining baseball prospects technically runs for eleven months. As evidenced by clubs like the Brewers signing 29 prospects, the Baltimore Orioles signing 27, or the Tampa Bay Rays' 24, most teams formalize contract details with their entire international free agent class on the first day.
The 29 signings do not mean that fans should expect to see each of these players in a Milwaukee Brewers, or one of their minor league affiliates, uniform anytime soon, if ever. The oldest member of the Brewers' international free agent class is 18 years and 122 days old. The youngest is 16 years and 146 days old.
Notably, Milwaukee signed three players ranked in the top 35 of international prospects per MLB Pipeline. Venezuelan shortstops Filippo DiTuri and Kevin Ereu rank 33rd and 35th, respectively.
At 22nd, the highest-rated player in the class is Yophery Rodríguez, a centerfielder from the Dominican Republic. The Brewers' scout team is particularly impressed with his patience at the plate. "If I had to sum up his game in one word, it's discipline," said James Armstrong, Brewers manager of international scouting and player personnel. "It feels like every action with him is very deliberate. He takes his craft very seriously."
Topping off the six pack: what’s that noise?
I’m proud to announce the ‘Sconnie Six Pack podcast! If you’re looking for another way to digest the headlines for Wisconsin sports fans, head to anywhere you listen to Podcasts. You’ll get the day’s news in less time than it takes to complete your morning commute.
As setup finishes on the Spotify, Apple, etc, side, listen here on Substack!
On, Wisconsin.