And that’s just how Bo Ryan and Badger fans like it; go about your business and keep playing hard.

The Badgers will face Illinois on Friday afternoon, a rubber match for two opponents who played well against each other this season.  However, UW clearly has the upper hand going into the Big Ten tournament, as they continue to ride the hot hands of Jason Bohannon and Jon Leuer, as well as the steady guard play of Trevon Hughes and Jordan Taylor.

If all goes accordingly, the Badgers will most likely face Ohio State in the semi-finals.  In my opinion, this would be the best game of the tournament, if not the whole month of March.  In their first meeting, Evan Turner was injured, and the Badgers rolled to an easy victory.  When Turner returned later in the season, OSU toppled Bucky.

So if there’s any pattern here, it’s that the Badgers have many scores to settle throughout the Big Ten tourney.

The gameplan against Illinois is pretty simple: out rebound them, let Jason Bohannon get the hot hand, and have Trevon Hughes pilot the whole operation.  Throw in a healthy dose of Jon Leuer, along with solid play off the bench, and the Badgers should have no problem advancing.

Assuming Ohio State advances through the winner of the Michigan/Iowa game (and they will), the Badgers would play in their second consecutive rubber match of the tournament.

It never comes easy in the Big Ten, but you’d never guess that’d be the case with the way Bo has his guys playing not just this March, but every March.

Peeps’  ”Article of the Week”

I came across this article today and the first thing I thought of was “NBA Live 94″ for Sega Genesis.  Remember the days where some players didn’t have their names used in popular video games? (I’m looking at you, MJ).  Well now, Ed O’Bannon is suing the NCAA for using player’s likenesses in everything from video games, DVD’s, apparel, and magazines.

You’ll have to read the article to get the jist of everything (Frank Deford is a great writer, so its worth it).  But it looks like the NCAA might actually be at fault in this regard, something that you don’t hear often.

Cheers and happy reading! ]]> http://www.wiscosportstalk.com/2010/03/10/badgers-looking-to-capitalize-on-momentum-march/feed/ 2 http://www.wiscosportstalk.com/2010/03/09/nick-collins-signs-tender-offer/ http://www.wiscosportstalk.com/2010/03/09/nick-collins-signs-tender-offer/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:16:11 +0000 Denman http://www.wiscosportstalk.com/?p=954 Packers Safety, Nick Collins has signed his tender offer ( 1 year – 3.3 mil) today according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This is great news for the Green Bay Packers and their fans, who expected Collins to take quite a while to sign the offer.  This breaking news is a good indication that Nick Collins will be back in the fold next season and that him and the Packers seem to be on the same page.  Nick will probably have a new contract by time we see him at OTA’s and Mini-camp this summer.  This deal is another indication that Ted Thompson is committed to keeping last years core in tact and establishing continuity going into next season.  Way to get this done Ted.

Quotes: Nick Collins’ agent, Alan Herman

“Nick really likes it in Green Bay and wants to stay there. Hopefully, this will help us finalize a deal as we move forward.”

“We hope to get things moving as free agency moves forward over the next week or so”

the Badgers are looking strong at the right time

• Chris Dennis
• Adam “Big A” Maritato
• Brian Peoplis
• Greg “Grego” Boulanger

Topics: (segment duration)

1. Big Ten and Big East basketball conference tournament preview (Beginning – 11:05)
2. Packers Free Agency:  has the Packer’s front office been smart or complacent (11:20 – 23:05)
3. Bucks basketball: Where can the Bucks end up come play-off time (23:20 – 33:40)
4. Convince Me! Brewers:  Do the Brewers have enough to reach the post season? Shout Outs! (34:00 – End)

That’s definitely good news for the Packers, who saw their NFC North foes beef up their defensive lines yesterday. With Julius Peppers going to Chicago and Kyle Vanden Bosch signing with Detroit, the Packers are going to need all the help they can get on an already shaky offensive line.

It’s obviously tough to know if Ted Thompson plans on signing a free agent whatsoever (early indications are no), but the re-signing of Clifton is a great way to start the free agent period.

I understand that most years us Wisco sports fans are already looking at draft prospects and seeing where the Bucks could land in the lottery. This is not like most years.  There is a buzz growing around Milwaukee, but the buzz isn’t nearly big enough.

As it stands right now the now the Bucks are 32-29 while holding on to the 6th spot and they’re only a half game out of the 5th seed for the playoffs.  Tonight in the Bradley Center (BC), we welcome the Cleveland Lebron’s for a showdown.  This should be a good way to measure where the Bucks are at for a couple different reasons.  First, The Cavs are an elite team and this would give us a decent estimate to where we actually are as a team.  Another, for me at least, is to see how many BUCKS fans show up in their BUCKS jerseys to support the BUCKS.

While I am expecting a sellout tonight at the BC, its not like a sellout you might see at a Brewer game against a division foe.

The Brewers have proved over the past 3 years that putting a competitive product on the field will draw Milwaukee’s fans out the game in record numbers.  The Brewers have drawn 3 million plus fans for two straight years which, apparently, is a major accomplishment  (my team does it every year).  But, like the Brewers, The Bucks are competing and are likely to be in the playoffs, but still empty seats are all over the BC.  Only a few times this year have the Bucks sold out games, and it was for the usual suspects… LA Lakers, Dwayne Wade’s Miami Heat, and the Chicago Bulls.  On other nights the crowd looks comparable to a WNBA game (maybe not that bad).

Being a Bucks fan and Cubs fan I ask you, Bucks fans, Where’s the same pride in your team?  I can’t show up to a Brewer game wearing my Cubs jersey without getting berated by half the stadium. But If I wore aCavs jersey to tonight’s game, I’d fit in just fine.  Somethings wrong here.

What do the Bucks have to do to draw fans??? I understand the tailgating experience at Miller Park is excellent and most Milwaukee residents are fans of drinking first and their team second.  So it is hard to compare, but if your looking to party with friends before a Bucks game, Water and Old World 3rd St. has got you covered.  Downtown has many establishments right around the BC so fans can grab a bite to eat and some drinks before.  Tickets are cheap; Bucks.com offers many different ticket deals.  They even collaborate with other local businesses to provide several different promotional deals that usually results in people leaving the BC with free stuff.

So, are you guys just not NBA fans? I’ve heard people say that they wont go to an NBA game because they lost the team aspect of the game years ago and that it has become a one on one “street ball” game. You couldn’t be more wrong.  Those same people will use that false statement to say that college basketball is a better brand of basketball than the NBA.  I just ask these people to watch the Bucks once and they will notice this Bucks squad wins games by playing team ball and playing hard defensively all game, every game.  Casual sports fans always say that there is no defense played in the NBA and maybe in some cases your right but the Bucks are most certainly playing defense.

The Bucks have ranked in the top ten in defensive efficiency almost the whole year.  When people compare the pro game to the college game they need to realize that these guys are professionals.  In the college game, there are more set plays because the longer shot clock allows for it .  There is a great deal of difference when playing for 35 seconds compared to 24 seconds. In the NBA if a guard gets daylight, he’s taught to shoot it.  why? because you may not get a better look and since they’re professionals, in most cases, an open shot is going in.  College kids NEED to run sets longer in order to open up easy shot attempts.  UW’S Jason Bohannon needs to play within the swing offense because he doesn’t have the ability to consistently create his own shot effectively.  John Salmons can and does time and time again; so why would you want him to play that so called “better brand of basketball” when he can just go to the hoop and score it?

If people want good, defensive basketball then they should Love tonight’s matchup between two of the best defensive teams the league has to offer.

The bottom line is that all you Bucks fans out there need to get those people out for a game.  You know at least a few people who don’t watch the team because of the ridiculous points listed earlier.  This team doesn’t have any “superstars” but they play excellent basketball as a team and finally starting to turn the corner .  Tell people that.  Milwaukee can be a great basketball city like it was back in 2001 but we just need the fringe basketball fans back at the games and back with the Bucks.   Bucks fans you have one job…. grab someone who doesn’t watch the Bucks and watch a game with them.  Who knows, maybe they may like what they see and want to go to a game.

Build Bucks Nation one fan at a time Bucks fans.  It’s your duty.

What does all this mean? Well, each tender is leveled so the team will receive some sort of compensation from any team who signs one of these players. For example, Nick Collins and Tramon Williams received the highest level tender both money-wise and compensation-wise. If any team gives these players a higher offer, they will have to surrender a both a first and third round pick for either Collins or Williams. Johnny Jolly also received a high first round tender. These moves basically assure that these players will be back with the team next year.

Giving Johnny Jolly a high tender worth almost $3 million dollars for next year seems like a bit of a surprise considering his availability for next year is in question. He has a felony drug charge that has a good chance of netting him a four game (could be more) suspension, with the possibility of jail time. His play on the field last year was undeniably a major factor in why the team would offer him such  a high tender.

Daryn Colledge, who is reportedly angry with the Packers, received a second round tender. This is also a high level tender that will most likely keep away offers from other teams. Colledge had made his desire to test free agency known and is not pleased that his options are very much limited now. Jason Spitz and Atari Bigby also got second round tenders, and will most likely be playing in green and gold next season (for at least the preseason).

Will Blackmon received a fourth round tender, so he will brought back for the preseason with a major opportunity to compete for playing time on defense. It is still up in the air whether the team should keep him or not though.

Low level offers were given to John Kuhn and Spencer Havner.

Clifton is looking for his last big pay day

The Packers have stated that they want to retain the services of both players, but it appears the two will be playing elsewhere next season.

Contract negotiations with Clifton’s agent Jimmy Sexton reportedly heated up as the deadline approached, but still no deal was reached before the deadline. Another NFL agent stated that Sexton was seeking a similar deal to what LT Flozell Adams received from the Dallas Cowboys two years ago.

Clifton remains productive despite his age (33 years old) and recent injuries, but Adams’ deal was for six years at an average of $7.17 mil per season. It also included $16 mil in guaranteed money. Adams was a year younger than Clifton at the time of receiving his deal and was also coming off another Pro Bowl and injury-free season in 2007.

It is believed that Sexton is playing hardball with the Green Bay Packers because he is aware of the weak talent pool at tackle in free agency his offseason, and he knows the Packers do not want to be forced to find an immediate starter at the position in the draft.

While it is still very possible that Clifton rejoins the team (hopefully at a better price than listed above), 30-year-old LB/DE Aaron Kampman appears to be as good as gone. Kampman is only four months into his rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery, and the Packers really just don’t need him back all that badly.

Peace Kampman

Kampman appears to have several suitors, including the division rival Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions. As well, the news just broke that Kampman is apparently the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ top free-agent priority.

It was also reported earlier this afternoon that Clifton is visiting Washington, D.C. to speak with the Redskins. The Redskins are in need of a LT after the retirement of Chris Samuels, and the Packers are reportedly very firm on an average salary of about $5 mil per season.

If the Redskins’ aggressiveness towards free agency in the past carries over into this offseason, then it’s hard to believe that Clifton will back with the Pack next season. But as I said earlier, Clifton’s agent Jimmy Sexton likes to play hardball.

Other unrestricted free agent news

Punter Jeremy Kapinos was also not retained by the Pack and is not expected to be back next season.

This means that the Packer’s have the right to turn down Blackmon if he wishes to sign with another team and the Packers would then be compensated with a 4th round pick. The Packers low tender towards Blackmon consists of $1.76 Million.

However, with Blackmon’s long list of injuries any Packer fan could question on whether Blackmon should stay or go. Overall, I think there are more reasons to keep him around.

Reasons Blackmon should go:

1. The 4th year veteran is made out of glass. In all but one of his seasons he has been injured for seven games or more.

2. As I said before, the Pack get a fourth rounder if he signs with another team. That fourth rounder could be more valuable than the injury prone returner.

Reasons Blackmon should stay:

1. When Will Blackmon has played as a returner, he has been quite  successful. He currently has the franchise record tied with Desmond Howard for most punt return TD’s (3).  While the 08 season was the only one where he wasn’t injured for the majority of games, he had an impressive total of 1,157 yards on kick returns and 398 yards on punt returns.

2. With the uncertain future of Al Harris and with Pat Lee’s unproven  ability, having Will Blackmon fill in at corner couldn’t hurt.

3. If he did sign with another time and became successful, fans would go after Thompson for not resigning him.  One similar player is Allen Rossum, who was not resigned and is still a successful return man to this day.

Although the Pack has given Blackmon many chances, I think one more go around with him is necessary. If he gets injured again this year, it’ll be time for him to go.

Lineup:

• Chris Dennis
• Adam “Big A” Maritato
• Brian Peoplis

Topics:

• Milwaukee Bucks Basketball (beginning- 12:52)

• Badger Basketball (13:00 – 16:20)

• Marquette Basketball (16:20 – 21:00)

• Milwaukee Panther Basketball (21:00 – 29:25)

• WST Headlines and Shout Outs! (29:40 – End)

79-76 (OT), 63-61 (OT), and 84-83 (OT). That’s what you’ll see when you look at MU’s schedule and results for its last three games. As you can see, the Golden Eagles have played in overtime three times in a row, one shy of the NCAA record. Even more astounding, they have won all of these games.

In the first game against Cincy, it was Lazar Hayward- who was having one of his worst games of the season- that hit a game-tying 3 pointer at the end of regulation to send the game to OT. He then proceeded to lead the team in OT to a big win against a tough team on the road.

A few days later, it was Jimmy Butler against St. Johns. The same man who hit a fade-away game winning jumper against UCONN on the road did the same thing in Queens, NY against the Red Storm.

And Saturday, it took a total team effort to put down a pesky Seton Hall team in beautiful Newark, NJ. All five of MU’s starters reached double figures, led by Lazar hayward who had 23. Darius Johnson Odom and David Cubillan also had strong efforts with 16 points each.  DJO would not be denied on his way to the hoop late in regulation.

Bottom line, MU has a lot of clutch players on their team, and that’s why they have won 8 of 9 and hopped off the bubble a little bit. They still have two important games against Notre Dame and Louisville coming up to finish the season plus the Big East Tournament. But, as it stands now, the Golden Eagles have played their way into the big dance.

For a year in which MU lost 3 of their top four players from the year before, and projected starting point guard Junior Cadougan to a major injury, they have really fought hard. Kudos to Lazar Hayward, Jimmy Butler, DJO, Maurice Acker, and David Cubillan.