'Sconnie Six Pack 11/18
Feedback Friday, Packers fall to Titans, Bucks battle 76ers, multiple Badgers teams in action
Feedback Friday!
Thanks to all of you that have been part of the first week of the ‘Sconnie Six Pack. If you’re new here, the goal of this newsletter is simple: to bring the top stories for fans of Wisconsin sports to your inbox every single day. That means the latest on the Packers, Badgers, Bucks, Brewers, and sometimes a little bit extra.
While feedback is always welcome, I want to encourage everyone to leave a comment, find me on Twitter, or simply reply to the email version of this newsletter to give your two cents on our first Feedback Friday. Let me know what you want to see more of, see less of, or anything else that comes to mind.
Without further ado -
Packers fall on Thursday Night Football to the Tennessee Titans
The Green Bay Packers lost to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football by a score of 27-17. The Packers have just a five-percent chance to make the playoffs according to FiveThirtyEight as they are now two games behind the San Francisco 49ers for the final playoff spot in the NFC.
“They whipped us in pretty much every phase [of the game]” were head coach Matt LaFleur’s opening comments to Larry McCarren last night and they could not have been more correct. Despite holding Titans star running back Derrick Henry to just 87 yards and 3.1 yards per carry, the Green Bay defense was unable to stop Tennessee’s passing attack. Coming into last night, Tennessee had the worst passing offense in the NFL. The Packers played soft-zone coverage throughout the night in obvious passing situations allowing Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill to pass for 333 yards and 12.3 yards per attempt without much difficulty.
On offense, the Packers failed to take advantage of a Titans team with one of the worst pass defenses in the league. In the half, the Packers ran 20 plays on offense and called 11 passes and nine runs. Normally, this split would make sense for this version of the Packers offense, but because the Titans have a great run defense and a terrible pass defense, it allowed Tennessee to take a 14-6 lead into the half. Green Bay struggled when they did pass the ball as well. Aaron Rodgers averaged only 5.8 yards per attempt and missed multiple wide-open passes to receivers throughout the night. Allen Lazard had a particularly disappointing performance in the passing game as he finished the night with only five catches on 11 targets for 57 yards. The one positive takeaway for the offense, was Christian Watson adding another two receiving touchdowns. Despite not having any touchdowns just five days ago, Watson now leads all rookie wide receivers in touchdowns.
In the third phase of the game, the Packers added yet another special teams blunder. To finish Green Bay’s sole scoring drive of the first half, Mason Crosby had an extra point attempt blocked. Crosby struggled throughout the night to force touchbacks on kickoffs as well. While he has been playing through a back injury, it may be time to question what Crosby’s future with the Packers will look like following this season.
Bucks head to Philadelphia to play the 76ers
The Milwaukee Bucks (11-3) are back in action tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers (7-7). Those of you without TV access to most Bucks games will by happy to know that you can catch tonight’s game at 6:30PM CST on ESPN (or Bally Sports Wisconsin).
The Bucks backcourt continues to be marred with injuries. Despite his status being upgraded to probable on Wednesday, Pat Connaughton sat out from the Bucks victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and he will remain out tonight as head coach Mike Budenholzer says the team is being “cautious” with Connaughton’s return. Jrue Holiday is still questionable to return with an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for over a week. After sitting out Wednesday due to an ankle injury he suffered on Monday, Grayson Allen’s status has been upgraded to probable for tonight’s game.
The lack of guards available to shoot the ball may create a matchup nightmare for the Bucks tonight. With some of their best shooters still out with injuries (Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton), Milwaukee is facing a 76ers team that boasts the NBA’s best three-point defense. Milwaukee will certainly hope to recreate the improved shooting from Wednesday night where Brook Lopez and Jordan Nwora shot the ball incredibly well from three-point range. It was an uncharacteristic offensive performance for this Bucks team as it has shot the ball only 34.3% from three and has the third-worst field goal percentage in the NBA so far this season. Besides defending the three-point shot, Philadelphia does not do anything else at a particularly elite level (except for whatever Joel Embiid happens to be doing on the court of course). Look for the Bucks to try to win this game by scoring in the paint and with their league-leading defense.
Wisconsin volleyball tries to extend its 14-match win streak at Rutgers
The Badgers are in Piscataway to, once again, take on Rutgers after defeating the Scarlet Knights just last Friday in straight-sets. You can catch tonight’s match at 6:00PM CST on B1G+.
Rutgers has failed to win a single set in its matches against Wisconsin in a streak that dates back to 2015. Rutgers managing to win even one set in tonight’s match would be a monumental surprise. Wisconsin boasts the Big Ten’s best hitting percentage and holds its opponents to the conference’s second-lowest hitting percentage. Rutgers on the other hand, is the conference’s worst in both categories. Here’s a throwback to my analysis I offered in the ‘Sconnie Six Pack on the morning of the last Wisconsin-Rutgers match:
Put simply, while Wisconsin has a great offense, Rutgers has a terrible defense. While Rutgers has a horrendous offense, Wisconsin has a stout defense.
Rutgers currently sits in last place in the Big Ten standings. Wisconsin is tied for first with Ohio State which each have a one-game lead over Nebraska.
Wisconsin men’s hockey opens home series against Lindenwood
Wisconsin (4-8-0) begins another home series against a nascent men’s hockey program tonight: the Lindenwood University Lions (4-8-0). The Lions are in their first season of competition. You can catch tonight’s game ay 7:00PM CST on Bally Sports Wisconsin Extra.
Wisconsin hosted Long Island University, a program in its third season of competition, last weekend and escaped with a pair of one-goal victories. The wins allowed Wisconsin to claw its way a bit higher up the pairwise rankings to 37th. Lindenwood is currently ranked 45th in the pairwise rankings. Lindenwood’s best win is over an Air Force team (6-5-1) that is similarly rated by pairwise to Wisconsin - Air Force checks in at 32nd.
Similar to my sentiment ahead of Wisconsin’s series against Long Island, the fact that I expect Lindenwood to play Wisconsin competitively is absurd. Lindenwood is in its first year of competition. Wisconsin has won six national championships. Although I have a hard time seeing Wisconsin bringing back Tony Granato as head coach next season already, I truly believe a loss tonight or tomorrow will be the nail in the coffin for the Granato era.
LHP Brent Suter claimed off of waivers by Rockies, leaves Brewers after seven seasons
33 year-old pitcher Brent Suter will not return to the Milwaukee Brewers for the first time in eight seasons after being claimed off of waivers by the Colorado Rockies.
Suter has spent his entire professional baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers organization after being drafted in the 31st round of the 2012 amateur draft. He notched 36 wins with a 3.51 earned run average with the Brewers. The Brewers currently have 38 of their 40 roster spots filled.
Topping-off the six pack: Wisconsin high school football season culminates with championship games at Camp Randall
Camp Randall Stadium has played host to the WIAA football state championships this weekend. The games culminate in the Division 1 state championship game scheduled for 4:00PM CST between Kimberly and Mukwonago. You can see the latest scores and play-by-play for the games being played today from JR Radcliffe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Congratulations to the 2022 state champions!
Division 7: Regis defeats Shiocton 41-7
Division 6: Stratford defeats Mondovi 32-14
Division 5: La Crosse Aquinas defeats Mayville 22-14
Division 4: Columbus defeats Catholic Memorial (Waukesha) 23-21
Division 3: Monroe defeats West Salem 35-14
Division 2: Kettle Moraine defeats West De Pere 27-10
Like the format, maybe just a touch shorter? Americans have very short attention spans now. :)
What is LPH?