Wisconsin News and Sports
Big Ten
Michigan 28, Purdue 10
Nebraska 27, Rutgers 17
Ohio State 54, UNLV 21
Central Florida 38, Maryland 10
Indiana 52, Georgia Southern 17
Notre Dame 38, Michigan State 18
Penn State 21, Iowa 19
Byes: Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois & Minnesota
State
Stevens Point 41, Adrian (Mich) 28
Platteville 56, Lakeland 22
La Crosse 41, Carroll 6
Knox, 13, Ripon 6
St. Norbert 66, Grinnell 13
Carthage 55, Augustana 14
Cornell 55, Beloit 36
George Fox (Oregon) 44, Eau Claire 0
Clay Matthews
When Clay Matthews takes the field against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, he’ll have his sights set on becoming the Green Bay Packers all-time franchise sack leader.
Matthews has 74 sacks in his career, which started back in 2009. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (74.5 sacks) is the all-time franchise leader, leaving Matthews a half sack shy of sharing the record and one full sack from moving into the lead.
Matthews is tied for the second-most six-plus-sack seasons in the NFL since 2009 with seven. Former Packer Julius Peppers (Carolina/Chicago/GB) is the leader in that category with eight.
Matthews ranks in the top five in sacks since 2009 among active players. Miami’s Cameron Wake tops that list with 81.5. Houston’s J.J. Watt is next with 76.
Matthews has put himself in some elite company and he’s not even close to being done.
AUDIO: Clay Matthews is hoping to get the sack record and the win on Sunday :09
AUDIO: Clay Matthews said the sack record will mean more when he’s done :12
AUDIO: Clay Matthews was asked of numbers and stats matter to him :23
For the second straight game, the Milwaukee Brewers let a late lead get away, resulting in 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings.
With emergency closer Jeremy Jeffress on in the ninth, trying to protect a 3-2 lead, Ian Happ rolled a ground ball to first and beat Jeffress to the bag for an infield hit. He eventually scored on Javier Baez’ base hit to tie the game 3-3.
The Brewers loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out. The Cubs went to a five-man infield and closer Wade Davis struck out Domingo Santana. With two outs and the Cubs defense back to normal, Orlando Arcia then grounded out to Davis and the game went to extra innings.
In the tenth, Kris Bryant clubbed a two-run home run to deep right center field and Davis held off the Brewers in the bottom half to pull out the victory. [Read more…]
David Bakhtiari remains sidelined with hamstring injury.
With Mike Daniels sidelined by a hip injury in Atlanta, the Green Bay Packers resigned veteran Ricky Jean Francois. The Packers had released Jean Francois when they needed depth on their offensive line a week earlier.
Daniels hasn’t practiced all week and isn’t expected to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jean Francois was on a plane to Dallas when the Packers called him back. He returned to Lambeau Field and signed a contract on Thursday.
To make room on the roster, the Packers placed tackle Jason Spriggs on injured reserve. Spriggs has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in week one against Seattle.
Spriggs must sit a minimum of eight weeks but would be eligible to return of the Packers decide to make that move.
Offensive tackle update
Right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who has missed the first two games of the season, has practiced both days this week and would appear set to return to the lineup against the Bengals on Sunday.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari missed both workouts on Wednesday and Thursday, making it less likely that he would return to the starting lineup on Sunday.
Bronson Koenig – Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jack Arent/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks requested waivers on former Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig, ending his two-way contract with the team.
Koenig averaged 5.2 points on 29.4% shooting while averaging 15.8 minutes during Milwaukee’s five-game stint in the Las Vegas Summer League.
The Bucks have both of their two-way contracts available. Those contracts allow designated players to spend most of their time with the Bucks G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, and get called up to the Bucks for no more than 45 days during the season.
Releasing Koenig doesn’t necessarily cut his ties with the Bucks. If Koenig clears waivers, he will be able to sign with any interested team, including the Herd.
Marshall signs
The Bucks also announced it has signed 6’4 point guard Kendall Marshall to a training camp contract.
Marshall was the 13th overall pick in the 2012 draft and has played with four different NBA teams previously, including the Bucks.
Nick Perry & Clay Matthews
For the second time in as many years, Nick Perry is headed for hand surgery. The Green Bay Packers starting outside linebacker will have the procedure something this week.
Perry missed two games late last season when he needed screws placed into several broken fingers on his left hand. He returned to the lineup with a club cast and tallied three sacks in the last two games to finish with a career-high 11 for the season.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy wouldn’t say if it’s the same hand or even the same injury and he told the media at his Thursday press conference that a timeline for Perry’s return won’t be established until they get through the surgery.
Perry signed a five-year, $60 million contract during the offseason. Perry was the 28th overall pick in the 2012 draft and if he doesn’t play in Sunday’s game against the Bengals, it means he won’t play in all 16 regular season games for the sixth straight season.
The Packers do get help with recently acquired Ahmad Brooks, who was cleared from the teams concussion protocol and returned to the practice field on Wednesday. He sustained the concussion early in the opener against Seattle and is expected to have a larger role this week.
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent guard Kendall Marshall to a training camp contract on Thursday.
Marshall was the 13th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He has career averages of 5.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists over 160 games (57 starts) with Phoenix, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.
Marshall appeared in 21 games (18 starts) last season for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA G League and averaged 15.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 9.0 assists in 36.2 minutes per game.
Marshall also started in all five games this summer for Team USA in the FIBA AmeriCup tournament and averaged 3.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Gold Medal winning squad.
Corey Knebel
The Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs had already lost their games and the Milwaukee Brewers had their closer on the mound with two outs in the 8th inning, trying to secure a victory over Pittsburgh and close the gap in the playoff race.
Corey Knebel hasn’t failed too many times this season, but he let one slip away on Wednesday night at PNC Park. Knebel’s throwing error on a routine play allowed the Pirates to tie the game 4-4 in the 8th inning. Then in the 9th, Knebel served up an Adam Frazier two-run, walk-off home run to send the Brewers to a 6-4 loss.
The Pirates saw their 7-game losing streak come to an end and avoided a sweep at the hands of Milwaukee. Had the Brewers held on, they would have pulled even with the Rockies in the National League wild card race and within 2 1/2 games of the Cubs in the race for the Central Division title.
Chicago’s lead remains 3 1/2 games over the Brewers with 10-games left to play. The Brewers open a crucial four-game series against the Cubs at Miller Park on Thursday night. [Read more…]
Chase Anderson (File) Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
The Milwaukee Brewers continue to struggle to score runs, but they have their pitching staff to thank after yet another dominating performance.
Chase Anderson tossed six-innings of 5-hit, shutout ball to lead the Brewers to a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday night. Domingo Santana homered in the fourth inning and the Brewers made it stand up.
Anderson struck out eight over his six innings. Anthony Swarzak worked the 7th and 8th and Corey Knebel came on in the 9th for his 37th save of the season.
The win is the 81st of the season and guarantees no worse than a .500 season. They’re 11-games over .500, which ties their high mark for the season.
The Colorado Rockies fell to the San Francisco Giants 4-3 last night. It means the Brewers have climbed to within one-game of the Rockies for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. The Chicago Cubs knocked off Tampa Bay 2-1, maintaining their 3 1/2 game lead on the Brewers in the National League Central. [Read more…]
#20 Kevin King
After getting just six snaps in the Green Bay Packers season opener against Seattle, defensive back Kevin King played in 46 snaps in last Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Packers top draft pick was one of the few bright spots in that contest and could see more opportunity this week when the Packers host the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field.
King didn’t get the start against Atlanta, but where others failed, King came on to try to slow down Atlanta’s Julio Jones and was successful.
King replaced Damarious Randall at right corner in the second quarter.
“I thought Kevin did a good job,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “I think he continues to grow, you know? We’re encouraged with his progress. He competes well. You saw him break up a couple (of) balls on crossing routes. he’s not afraid to get up and challenge receivers, and I like his style of play.”
The Packers selected King and safety Josh Jones, who also saw an increase in playing time after Kentrell Brice left the game with a groin injury. The Packers identified a lack of speed as one of its goals to improve on during the offseason.
We’ll see Sunday if the time is now for King and Jones.
