By Adam Roberts – 12/30/2020

Behind 14-0 to Wake Forest early in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl today, Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonard needed to adjust quickly to avoid an embarrassing bowl game defeat.

Four interceptions later, no one was doubting the Badger defense anymore.

Colin Wilder nearly had a pick six for Wisconsin, and a 42-7 run after falling behind early carried Wisconsin to a 42-28 Mayo Bowl victory.

Offensively, the stats were pretty middle of the line, with quarterback Graham Mertz throwing 11 completions for 130 yards and a score, while also running in for a score as well. Local boys contributed to the win as well, with Winona’s Aaron Witt had a sack and a forced fumble while Holmen’s Tatum Grass had a big hit on special teams.

Wisconsin finishes a tumultuous 2020 4-3, and now we will wait and see who comes back next season. It should be a complex offseason with everything going on pandemic-wise in sports.

By Adam Roberts – 12/30/2020

What a difference a few days makes.

Just a couple of days ago, the Milwaukee Bucks couldn’t make a three-point bucket to save their lives at Madison Square Garden in a 130-110 loss to the Knicks.

Then last night, they go and set a new record.

Milwaukee shot 29-51 from three, a new NBA record for threes made, in their 144-97 destruction of the Miami Heat. Consider it a little bit of revenge for the Heat knocking Milwaukee out of the bubble postseason this past summer.

Surprisingly, Giannis had very little to do with the record, or for that matter the entire game. He not only had just nine points, but was the only Buck to not make one of the 29 three pointers last night.

It was Sam Merrill, the second round draft selection from Utah State, who would make the record-setting shot. It would be his only made shot of the night. Jrue Holiday was the best deep shooter of the night, going 6-10 from three and 9-15 overall.

Milwaukee faces the Heat again tonight.

By Adam Roberts – 12/29/2020

The NCAA is starting a public awareness campaign to promote the benefits of wearing masks.

The NCAA has filed a trademark for “Mask Madness.” The official filing says the NCAA will sell “Mask Madness” branded face masks and use the campaign to bring more awareness and promote the benefits of wearing masks as a protection against viral infections.The trademark was filed December 23rd.

The tournament will be held in one location this year, with all 68 teams playing in Indianapolis. Fans have been allowed at the venue, Lucas Oil Stadium, during the Colts regular season home games this year, so it stands to reason fans could be admitted in some capacity to the event next March.

By Adam Roberts – 12/28/2020

It hasn’t been too often in recent history that an Aquinas girl’s basketball team has found themselves in a hole needing to climb out, but that was the case today against Lake Mills. Down 43-25 to the #2 (D3) L-Cats, the Blugolds found scoring where they have so far this season and likely will all year: Macy Donarski.

The next member of the Donarski basketball clan scored 32 to propel the Blugolds to a 28-4 run and a 75-60 late December win.

Aquinas is now 6-0 and next faces Sparta on the road tomorrow.

By Adam Roberts – 12/28/2020

Litmus test games, sometimes called barometers of success, are commonplace in Week 16 of the NFL regular season. Teams often use this week to gauge their readiness for the postseason, and fans can use it to determine if their team is legit or perhaps a playoff imposter.

If this is the case, the Packers passed with fairly flying colors last night.

Running back Jamaal Williams was out last night to injury, and so A.J. Dillon played in his first real meaningful game. He made the most of it, rushing for 124 yards and two scores to compliment four Rodgers touchdown passes, including three to Davante Adams, in the 40-14 Green Bay win over Tennessee.

Dillon’s big game could serve as the catalyst for more in-depth offseason discussion over whether to keep Aaron Jones next year (he’ll be demanding money with his contract expiring after the season ends), or release Jones and stick with the rookie Dillon and Jamaal Williams.

For now, the win comes at the best possible time for Green Bay, who in addition to the fine night on offense were also pretty good on the other side of the ball. The much-vaunted Derrick Henry was held under 100 yards rushing on 23 carries and he didn’t score a touchdown, either. Mike Pettine was getting rare praise from Packers Twitter last night for his approach to Henry, often stacking eight or nine guys in the box to counter the ability of Henry to shake of initial contact.

As far as the playoff race goes, Green Bay was unable to clinch the #1 seed courtesy of Seattle beating LA, but they can do so Sunday with a win at Chicago. If they lose, they’ll need some help from the 49ers, who face Seattle in Week 17. For Chicago, a win puts them into the postseason at 9-7; otherwise, they’ll need the Rams to beat Arizona.