'Sconnie Six-Pack 12/8
Wisconsin football gets a new offensive coordinator and sends offers to players in the transfer portal - plus, you should watch Wisconsin volleyball in the Sweet 16 tonight
Exciting news!
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Without further ado -
What’s brewing:
#1 Wisconsin volleyball ready for Sweet Sixteen matchup against #4 Penn State
Wisconsin football swings for the fences again - hires coordinator of one of the nation’s top offenses
Bucks hold off Kings’ high-powered offense to win third consecutive game
Who is Luke Fickell targeting in the transfer portal for Wisconsin football?
The long-awaited return of Thirsty Thursday!
Topping off the six-pack: The newest addition to the Milwaukee Brewers is a pitching prospect I watched toss a perfect game in Tulsa
Wisconsin football swings for the fences again - hires coordinator of one of the nation’s top offenses
After Badgers athletic director Chris McIntosh made the college football hire of the cycle, new head coach Luke Fickell wasted no time making a splashy hire of his own. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has reported that North Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo is leaving the Tarheels for the same position at Wisconsin.
Longo has run an offensive system in stark contrast to that of Wisconsin. While Wisconsin’s offense has been motivated by the mantra to “run the damn ball,” Longo’s offenses have focused on an Air Raid-style passing attack.
Longo has coached two NFL Draft-caliber quarterbacks at North Carolina. Sam Howell was selected in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft. This season, redshirt freshman Drake Maye has turned into one of the top QB prospects in the 2024 draft. Maye has passed for the third-most yards and fifth-most touchdowns in FBS this season.
Do not expect Wisconsin’s bread and butter of the run game to disappear on Longo. North Carolina has produced three running backs drafted into the NFL in the past two seasons. RB Javonte Williams was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft after compiling the sixth-most rush yards in FBS in the 2020 season.
The change will likely be a welcome one from Badgers fans as Wisconsin’s offenses have sputtered in recent years. In the three years with Graham Mertz, who entered the transfer portal this week, as Wisconsin’s starting quarterback, the Badgers finished no higher than 87th in total offense. Longo spent four years at North Carolina and his offenses ranked in the top 15 each year.
The Badgers also needed an offensive line coach following Bob Bostad’s departure from Wisconsin for Indiana. Longo is reportedly bringing along Jack Bicknell J. who has coached the offensive line under Longo for the past six seasons.
#1 Wisconsin volleyball ready for Sweet Sixteen matchup against #4 Penn State
#1 Wisconsin and #4 Penn State meet in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament this evening just 19 days after their last match against each other. This will be Wisconsin’s first televised match of the NCAA tournament and you can watch it at approximately 5:00 PM CST on ESPNU (technically the match begins thirty minutes following the conclusion of #2 Pitt and #3 Florida.
Wisconsin has defeated Penn State twice this season. First, in a match in Madison that the Badgers swept the Nittany Lions. Their second meeting, that match just 19 days ago, went the distance with Wisconsin defeating Penn State in five sets and the fifth set being decided by a score of 15-12.
Four Wisconsin Badgers were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association all-Northeast Region team yesterday. If tonight’s tournament match is your first time watching Wisconsin volleyball this season, read yesterday’s ‘Sconnie Six Pack to learn more about Wisconsin’s key contributors.
Penn State has a few standout players, but none stand out more than graduate student outside hitter Kashauna Williams. Williams tallies the ninth most kills per set in the Big Ten and Penn State goes to her again and again. Her 947 hitting attempts are 318 more than the player next-most on the Nittany Lions’ roster. The Badgers know shutting down Williams is key to their success. In the last match these two teams played, she recorded a match-high 18 kills but did so on only .087 hitting as Wisconsin forced her to commit 14 errors on 46 attempts.
On the block, Penn State is led by junior middle blocker Allie Holland. Wisconsin’s incredibly accurate hitting will need to show up against the all-Northeast Region middle blocker who has recorded the eighth-most blocks per set in the Big Ten this season. Holland shows her prowess on the attack as well as the third-leading hitter for the Nittany Lions.
If Wisconsin prevails this evening, the Badgers will play the winner of Pitt-Florida in the regional final on Saturday at 7:00 PM CST at the UW Field House.
Bucks hold off Kings’ high-powered offense to win third consecutive game
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo being in foul trouble for much of the night, the Milwaukee Bucks (18-6) defeated the Sacramento Kings (13-10) 126-113. Both teams shot over 47% from the field, but Milwaukee was able to hold Sacramento at bay in the fourth quarter.
Milwaukee had only a three point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Down the stretch, the Bucks dominated the Kings outscoring Sacramento 17-8 in the final 6:15. Sacramento scored a mere two points in the final 2:13.
Giannis added to his streak of stellar performances and did so in historic fashion. His 35 points tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the second-most consecutive games with 30 or more points in Bucks history. Giannis also made both of his three-point attempts and made nine of his ten free throws.
Jrue Holiday was a key contributor scoring 31 points on the night. Holiday scored from every level making two of four three-pointers, hitting shots from the mid-range, and shooting opposite-hand floaters in the lane.
Milwaukee next plays in Dallas against the Mavericks tomorrow night.
Who is Luke Fickell targeting in the transfer portal for Wisconsin football?
With news around which Wisconsin football players are leaving via the transfer portal quiet for a day, the noise around who head coach Luke Fickell might be bringing in is heating up. Top of the wish list for all Wisconsin fans is a shiny new quarterback.
QB: Jacolby Criswell (North Carolina)
According to reporting by BadgerExtra, former four-star quarterback Jacolby Criswell will visit Wisconsin next week. The visit was quickly scheduled following the news that former North Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo would be joining Luke Fickell’s staff at Wisconsin.
Longo coached Criswell for three years at North Carolina, but their relationship goes even further back. Longo’s relationship with Criswell dates back to 2018 - before Longo began coaching for the Tarheels. Before Longo was the lead recruiter for Criswell at North Carolina, he was the lead recruiter for Criswell at Ole Miss.
At North Carolina, Criswell was behind starting quarterback Sam Howell and then Drake Maye - an even more highly touted prospect. Criswell started one game for North Carolina in 2021. In his sole game as a starter, he threw 11 complete passes on 19 attempts for 125 yards against Wofford. He added 66 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown on five attempts.
Criswell has a visit with Arkansas scheduled for today and has three years of eligibility remaining.
CB: Tony Grimes (North Carolina)
Another former Tarheel at a position of need, cornerback Tony Grimes holds an offer from Wisconsin and more than two dozen other schools. Four of Wisconsin’s regular contributors at cornerback this season will not be with the program in 2023. A high-level transfer would be a significant addition to the roster.
Grimes is a former five-star recruit who was ranked as high as the nation’s sixth-best player in his recruiting class by ESPN.
Grimes has been a contributor for North Carolina ever since arriving on campus. He played in all but one game (37) for the Tarheels in his three years at North Carolina. His nine passes defended in 2021 tied for the most in the ACC according to Sports-Reference.
Grimes has two years of eligibility remaining.
TE: Kyle Morlock (DII - Shorter University)
Tight end Kyle Morlock from DII Shorter University is one of the biggest names to know in the transfer portal. Making the jump from DII to the Power 5 is not scaring-off some of the biggest programs in college football.
Morlock announced a scholarship offer from Wisconsin on November 26th when Jim Leonhard was still the Badgers’ interim head coach. He has a four-star transfer rating according to 24/7 Sports and two years of eligibility remaining.
Tennessee and Florida State appear to be the current frontrunners to land the 6’ 7” 250-pound TE. Morlock is visiting Florida State today.
DE: Elijah Jeudy (Texas A&M)
A former four-star recruit out of Pennsylvania, Elijah Jeudy is no stranger to being recruited by Wisconsin. The defensive end transferring from Texas A&M received an offer from the Badgers in high school, but he did not visit Madison.
Wisconsin’s new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel gave Jeudy a scholarship offer just two days ago. Jeudy is visiting Nebraska this weekend.
With three years of eligibility remaining, an opportunity for more playing time is likely top of mind for Jeudy. He redshirted in 2021 and only saw action in two games this season.
WR: Andrew Armstrong (FCS - Texas A&M Commerce)
With Longo on his way to Wisconsin with an offense that features a greater volume of pass attempts compared to seasons past in Madison, the Badgers will need more depth at wide receiver to catch those passes. Andrew Armstrong, a wide receiver transferring from FCS Texas A&M Commerce, is an exceptional candidate to fulfill that need.
Armstrong is an exceptionally talented WR with two years of eligibility remaining. He racked up 1,020 yards on 62 catches (16.45 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns this season. Armstrong received a four-star transfer rating from Rivals.
Wisconsin wide receivers coach James Whitted offered Armstrong a scholarship on November 23rd, but other Power 5 programs are closing in on the talented pass catcher. Armstrong is visiting Arkansas this weekend and Missouri next weekend.
The long-awaited return of Thirsty Thursday!
Happy Thirsty Thursday! As both a Wisconsin sports and beer-themed newsletter, I’d be remiss to not celebrate properly. Since November 17th, I’ve been remiss because I failed to bring back this segment.
On Thursdays, I’ll highlight a Wisconsin brewery, and this week I’m highlighting Lakefront Brewing in Milwaukee.
There’s plenty of beer to enjoy at Lakefront from their Riverwest Stein Amber Lager to their tequila barrel-aged series, but they may shine even brighter in one place important to Wisconsinites: fish fry.
On the recommendation from my sister who called it “Milwaukee’s best fish fry,” I recently made the trip myself and could not have been more pleased. With your choice of baked or fried, walleye or cod, and incredible sides like mac & cheese and potato pancakes, you can’t go wrong at Lakefront. And who could forget their incredible cheese curds?
If you haven’t been, visit Lakefront’s taproom soon. You will not regret it.
Do you have a brewery suggestion to highlight for next week’s Thirsty Thursday? Let me know in the comments!
Topping off the six-pack: The newest addition to the Milwaukee Brewers is a pitching prospect I watched toss a perfect game in Tulsa
Did I get your attention with “perfect game?” Good.
Most people define a perfect game from a pitcher as 27 batters up and 27 batters down with no hits or errors. Not me. On July 1st, 2022, I watched the latest addition to the Milwaukee Brewers, right-handed pitcher Gus Varland throw my idea of a perfect game. 90-degree
On a beautiful 90-degree day in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Varland and the Dodgers’ AA affiliate Tulsa Drillers squared off against Mariners’ affiliate Arkansas Travelers. The Drillers had opened up a comfortable 9-1 lead thanks in part to sixth inning homeruns by outfielders Andy Pages and Ryan Ward. The eighth inning is when fans at ONEOK field finally saw perfection.
After Jose Hernandez allowed the Travelers to score two runs on three hits and a walk, Drillers manager Scott Hennessey (who earned his 300th win as Tulsa’s manager that day) brought in the man of the hour: Gus Varland.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Varland knew the task in front of him was daunting. The Drillers held only a six run lead in the top of the eighth. The pressure was on.
The first batter for Arkansas, catcher Matt Scheffler stepped up to the plate, and with the pitch clock winding down, Varland delivered. A beautiful pitch high and inside that nailed Scheffler and loaded the bases.
Next up, shortstop Patrick Frick took to the batters’ box. Varland got ahead in the count, 1-2, but Frick battled back to take the right-handed reliever to a full-count. Finally, after fouling off two more pitches, Varland got a strike three called and completed the inning and his perfect game.
Two at-bats. One hit batter and a one bases-loaded strikeout. What more could you ask for? I expect Varland’s #14 to be hanging with Robin Yount in the rafters very soon. Get your jerseys now; I know I will.
On a serious note though, Varland played two seasons at AA and recorded an ERA of 5.71 and 6.11. He was a starting pitcher most of that time and saw some improvement coming out of the bullpen increasing the velocity on his fastball and slider. He’s probably nothing more than bullpen-depth.
On, Wisconsin.