Wisconsin
Quick Hits: Max Klesmit's 26 points lead Wisconsin Over Montana State
MADISON, Wis. – Max Klesmit had to feel left out.
With the University of Wisconsin emphasizing shooting open three-point shots, the fifth-year senior started his final season with a 1-for-7 clunker.
Klesmit’s game-high 26 points was delivered thanks to a career-high six three-pointers, two coming on an 8-0 run early in the second half that gave the Badgers the separation needed in a 79-67 victory over Montana State at the Kohl Center.
Graduate senior John Tonje backed up his 23-point debut with a workmanlike 13 points and four rebounds while sophomore John Blackwell chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Senior Kamari McGee added 11 points, three assists, and no turnovers off the bench while Nolan Winter had eight rebounds.
Wisconsin (2-0) shot 45.3 percent from the field but went 11-for-22 from three to average 1.214 points per possession.
Brian Goracke had 14 points for the Bobcats (0-1), an NCAA Tournament team the last three seasons and one of the most experienced teams in the country, with five rotational players with 102 career games played and nine players with at least four years of college experience.
They provided a test for Wisconsin during the first half that was tied six times with 10 lead changes.
Klesmit and Tonje each had 11 in the first half to give Wisconsin a 39-33 lead, getting the same point total in different ways. Klesmit found his perimeter touch by drilling a trio of threes while Tonje’s aggressiveness got him to the line, where he went 8-for-9. The duo helped UW never go more than 2:53 between scores.
Montana State cut the Wisconsin lead to three on the first possession of the second half, but the Badgers scored eight points on their next three possessions to push the lead to 10. UW didn’t let the lead dip below nine after that, as Klesmit dropped 15 points in the second half.
What it means: Wisconsin has showcased impressive offensive balance through a small sample size. Montana State could be an NCAA Tournament team at the end of the year, so delivering a better performance on both ends of the floor was vital. It’s easy to see that Wisconsin got better from game one to game two.
Star of the game: Beyond the 26 points from Klesmit, the graduate senior registered two steals, no turnovers, and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line.
Stat of the game: Wisconsin finished 20-for-21 from the free-throw line (95.2 percent) compared to Montana State going only 5-for-8.
Reason to be Concerned: Steven Crowl was quiet for the second game in a row, finishing with only six points on four shots. The speed of their bigs made it a tough game for Crowl, who has yet to get going this season.
Don’t overlook: Montana State wanted to get out and push to get open threes, but the Badgers didn’t allow the Bobcats to score a transition basket until 4:13 remained.
What’s next: Wisconsin welcomes Appalachian State – a 27-game winner a season ago – to the Kohl Center on Sunday. The Mountaineers (1-1) won the regular season title in the Sun Belt last season, the program’s first title since 1979, before being upset in the tournament semifinals and left out of the NCAA field. Needing to replace its top three scorers, the Mountaineers saw nine players make their collegiate debut in the season opener, a 14-point loss to Miami (OH). The tip is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on BTN Plus.
Minimum wage hike to go into effect for some across US
Workers in several states and cities will see minimum wage increases go into effect on January 1, 2025, as they continue to battle with high prices.
On Dec. 11, the Journal Sentinel published “23 states to boost minimum wage in 2025.”
It’s laudable for full-time workers to receive a living wage. However, I’m not convinced that boosting minimum wage is a long-term solution to economic inequity. A more effective approach might be to decrease the earnings gap between company owners and their employees. I am not anti-CEO. People who run successful companies take great risks and expend much energy and worry. Moreover, for a product to remain successful there must be ongoing research.
I am not advocating that government enforce a ceiling for maximum earnings. In the best of circumstances, management and workers would negotiate together a working wage necessary for a healthy life where the workers live. In the best of worlds, a priority agenda item at shareholders’ meetings would be the well-being of company employees.
Many will scoff at “the best of worlds.” My response is that the only way we can have the best — or, for starters, the better — is if we step forward and make it happen.
Sheryl Slocum, Milwaukee
Tips for getting your letter to the editor published
Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state:
- Please include your name, street address and daytime phone.
- Generally, we limit letters to 200 words.
- Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter.
- Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing.
- Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person.
- We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.
- We don’t publish poetry, anonymous or open letters.
- Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months.
- All letters are subject to editing.
Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page.
Wisconsin volleyball unveils Final Four banner inside UW Field House
The Badgers unveiled the banner from their 2023 Final Four appearance before their exhibition match against Bradley on Aug. 20.
MADISON – Saige Damrow is headed to Nebraska but not the Cornhuskers.
The former defensive specialist/libero for the Wisconsin volleyball team announced Saturday her commitment to Creighton, the undefeated Big East champion that calls Omaha home.
The Bluejays (32-3) reached the Elite 8 this season before falling to eventual national champion Penn State in five sets.
That team was led by three senior All-Americans that included libero Maddy Bilinovic. Damrow, a native of Howards Grove, will be in the hunt to replace her.
Damrow announced her commitment on Instagram.
A leg injury sidelined Damrow for all but three matches of her freshman season. This year Damrow ranked fourth on the Badgers with 2.24 digs per set and played in 19 of 33 matches. That included a five-match run at libero at the end of the regular season when freshman Lola Schumacher, the starter, was out due to injury.
Damrow has three years of eligibility remaining.
Wisconsin Badgers (10-2, 1-0 Big Ten) at Indiana Hoosiers (9-3, 1-0 Big Ten)
Bloomington, Indiana; Saturday, 1 p.m.
Watch on the Big 10 Network, listen here, or keep up with live stats here.
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana takes on Wisconsin after Shay Ciezki scored 20 points in Indiana’s 90-55 win against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies.
The Hoosiers are 6-1 in home games. Indiana scores 72.0 points while outscoring opponents by 10.2 points per game.
The Badgers have gone 1-0 against Big Ten opponents. Wisconsin averages 13.0 turnovers per game and is 3-1 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.
Indiana scores 72.0 points, 10.6 more per game than the 61.4 Wisconsin allows. Wisconsin averages 8.0 more points per game (69.8) than Indiana allows to opponents (61.8).
The Hoosiers and Badgers match up Saturday for the first time in conference play this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Yarden Garzon is scoring 14.2 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Hoosiers.
Serah Williams is scoring 20.0 points per game and averaging 12.3 rebounds for the Badgers.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hoosiers: 8-2, averaging 71.4 points, 30.8 rebounds, 16.7 assists, 6.2 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 61.0 points per game.
Badgers: 8-2, averaging 66.4 points, 33.6 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 6.1 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 60.8 points.
Talk to us:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error
Critical stretch of 5 Freeway partially shut down after semi-truck crash during holiday travel rush
Lions Listed as Potential Landing Spot for Dolphins DT Calais Campbell
San Francisco’s new political motto is ‘throw the bums out’ – The San Francisco Standard
Stars Fined by NHL for Violating CBA
Dolphins playoff picture: Scenarios, chances for Miami to make postseason
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
European officials pitch new idea to shore up defenses with Trump's return
Italy says talks ongoing with Iran to release Cecilia Sala from prison
A Sunday in the Park : Up First from NPR
State attorneys general ask SCOTUS to uphold TikTok divest-or-ban law amid Trump request to pause ban
Plane veers off runway and crashes in S Korea, killing at least 29: Report
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24924653/236780_Google_AntiTrust_Trial_Custom_Art_CVirginia__0003_1.png "Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps")
Technology1 week agoGoogle’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News1 week agoNovo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics1 week agoIllegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment1 week ago'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle1 week agoThink you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25672934/Metaphor_Key_Art_Horizontal.png "There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does")
Technology5 days agoThere’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
News6 days agoFrance’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister
-
Business4 days agoOn a quest for global domination, Chinese EV makers are upending Thailand's auto industry