Wisconsin
Why Wisconsin volleyball’s next two matches could carry big postseason implications
Badgers have two big opportunities to boost RPI at home vs. Minnesota, Indiana
Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield comments on getting swept by Nebraska
Wisconsin volleyball became the 12th consecutive team to be swept by top-ranked Nebraska. Here’s what Kelly Sheffield said after the loss.
MADISON – Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield has not shied away from expressing his dislike of RPI.
“There’s a lot of different metrics out there; our sport uses very little of them,” Sheffield said earlier in the season.
But RPI – as Sheffield fully recognizes – underscores how important Wisconsin’s next two matches are as the 11th-ranked Badgers take on No. 22 Minnesota on Nov. 5 and No. 18 Indiana on Nov. 9 at the UW Field House.
Wisconsin is No. 20 in RPI in the Nov. 3 rankings with eight matches remaining in the 2025 schedule. Indiana and Minnesota are tied for No. 12 in RPI.
“Two teams that are above us in the RPI,” Sheffield said. “And you start getting to this time of year that those types of things start mattering a little bit more.”
While RPI obviously is not the only factor that the NCAA selection committee will use when it announces the postseason bracket on Nov. 30, it does suggest the Badgers have some work to do to earn one of the top 16 overall seeds that are required to host the first two rounds.
UW has hosted the first two rounds in all but two seasons during Sheffield’s tenure. The Badgers had to go to Iowa State in 2017, where they knocked off the Cyclones to advance to the regional semifinals. The other time was in 2020, when the NCAA used only one site due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Obviously a big goal is to be hosting that opening weekend of the tournament,” Sheffield said. “It’s a big deal. It’s a big deal to this community and our fan base. … Coaches are always trying to find a way to spin it anyways, but you really want to be home.”
These two matches are not Wisconsin’s last chance to boost its postseason résumé and increase its chances of hosting. No. 9 Purdue will visit the Field House on Nov. 19, and No. 22 Minnesota will play the Badgers again on Nov. 28 in Minneapolis to conclude the 2025 regular season.
But there is not a massive margin for error for a Badgers team with four losses and only one win against teams currently ranked in the AVCA coaches poll. (Georgia Tech, Florida and UCLA were ranked at the time of Wisconsin’s wins over them, but now they are merely receiving votes.)
None of last year’s top 16 overall teams had more than seven losses. Fortunately for Wisconsin, all four losses so far this year have been to teams that remain ranked, No. 1 Nebraska, No. 4 Texas, No. 17 USC and No. 25 Penn State. Texas and Nebraska are a combined 40-2 so far this season.
At the same time, Wisconsin has not been quite as competitive against top-tier opponents since losing 2024 third-team All-American setter Charlie Fuerbringer to a shoulder injury. (Her timeline to return is unclear.)
The Badgers are 1-3 against AVCA-ranked teams since Fuerbringer’s injury versus 3-1 before that. That record comes with the caveat that the most recent ranked loss – No. 1 Nebraska’s sweep at the UW Field House – would have been daunting, even if Fuerbringer had been healthy.
“We’ve just got to continue to evolve and get better, which I think anybody that’s been watching us can see that,” Sheffield said.
Victories over Minnesota and Indiana would likely stand out on Wisconsin’s postseason résumé as quality wins. The Gophers have lost only once against a team that is not at least receiving votes in the coaches poll and boast a quality win over Indiana.
Then Wisconsin will face what Sheffield described as “maybe the best team that Indiana has ever had.” The Hoosiers are tied with UW for third in the Big Ten with a 9-3 conference record and coming off a sweep over Penn State.
“We’ve got two more opportunities in front of us – really good teams – and then it doesn’t stop there,” Sheffield said. “Probably the back half of our schedule is probably a little bit tougher than our first half. And I think we’ll probably learn a whole lot more about ourselves.”
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Jan. 4, 2026
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing
Midday: 9-1-7
Evening: 1-5-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing
Midday: 5-3-1-1
Evening: 6-5-7-1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from Jan. 4 drawing
Midday: 01-03-04-05-10-12-14-17-18-19-21
Evening: 02-03-04-05-11-12-13-15-16-18-19
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from Jan. 4 drawing
08-11-13-21-30
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from Jan. 4 drawing
06-08-09-23-28-37, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin gets its QB in transfer portal by landing Colton Joseph from Old Dominion
Quarterback Colton Joseph is heading to Wisconsin after throwing for more than 2,500 yards and rushing for more than 1,000 yards at Old Dominion this season.
Joseph announced his decision Sunday with an X post that included the message, “On Wisconsin.”
Joseph completed 59.7% of his passes this season for 2,624 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Old Dominion, which went 10-3. He also rushed for 1,007 yards and 13 touchdowns on 158 carries.
He didn’t play in Old Dominion’s 24-10 Cure Bowl victory over South Florida after deciding to enter the transfer portal.
Joseph completed 59.9% of his passes for 1,627 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions while making eight starts in 2024. He rushed for 647 yards and 11 touchdowns that season.
Wisconsin has gone to the transfer portal for quarterbacks every year since coach Luke Fickell arrived, though injuries have limited their production.
Tanner Mordecai came over from SMU in 2023 but missed 3 1/2 games with a broken hand that season. Tyler Van Dyke arrived from Miami the following year but tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the third game of the season. Former Mississippi State quarterback Braedyn Locke started when Mordecai and Van Dyke were injured.
Billy Edwards Jr. transferred from Maryland and opened the 2025 season as Wisconsin’s starter, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio).
Edwards returned to start Wisconsin’s Sept. 20 loss to Maryland but got hurt again and didn’t play the rest of the season. San Diego State transfer Danny O’Neil, Southern Illinois transfer Hunter Simmons and freshman Carter Smith each started multiple games after Edwards’ injury.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Wisconsin
Purdue basketball opts for backup plan, results in beating Wisconsin
Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter on Braden Smith’s assist record
Hear what Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter said after beating Wisconsin Saturday, Jan. 3.
MADISON, Wisc. ― Matt Painter came to the Kohl Center armed with two different defensive strategies.
Purdue basketball opted for choice No. 2 after choice No. 1 resulted in the Badgers scoring 22 points in the first nine minutes.
A season after watching Wisconsin go 20-for-22 on two-point field goals at Mackey Arena, the Boilermakers were in the midst of seeing a repeat performance when the Badgers started 8 of 10 inside the arc Saturday, Jan 3.
“To start the game the first eight minutes, they were just living in the paint, making good decisions,” Painter said. “They got a lot of layups. Then we switched to hedging and tried to keep the ball out of there. There’s some risk either way. That seemed to help us.”
The final score ― Purdue 89, Wisconsin 73 ― would indicate as much.
When Painter sifted through a roster in the preseason he believes has more than five starters, Cox’s ability to win that gave him a nod.
Drills. Scrimmages. Whatever it was, Cox always seemed to be on the winning side.
“That matters,” Painter said prior to Purdue’s season opener in November.
Cox is a capable scorer, evidenced by his 14 points, but his main priority is defense.
In a first half where Cox watched four good looks come off the rim, the sophomore guard still maintained winning attributes that championship teams cherish. He had two steals in nine minutes, the first coming after Wisconsin scored on four straight possessions.
That allowed Purdue to counterpunch the Badger’s 9-2 run to start the game.
“When you can keep throwing those punches and keep battling back, eventually, you’re going to knock them out,” said senior guard Fletcher Loyer, who led the Boilers with 20 points.
Purdue has no shortage of offensive haymakers it can throw.
During its five-game winning streak, the Boilers have walled up opponents to match.
Purdue held four straight opponents to 60 or fewer points prior to Saturday night. Wisconsin’s strong start was a damper in that streak continuing, but Purdue was prepared.
WATCH Purdue basketball’s Braden Smith on Big Ten assist record, win streak
Hear what Purdue basketball point guard Braden Smith said after breaking Cassius Winston’s Big Ten assist record at Wisconsin Saturday, Jan 3.
The Badgers started 9 of 13 from the field and finished the night shooting 42.1% after being held to 31% in the second half. The easy twos became challenged 3s. Beyond the arc, Wisconsin went 4 of 25. Purdue finished with eight steals, three by Cox, and forced 11 turnovers.
Saturday’s game likely gets remembered at season’s end as the night Braden Smith broke the Big Ten’s career assist record.
What will get lost is a defensive adaptation that altered how the final 30-plus minutes went in a road win that can be as valuable as found gold in a Big Ten championship quest.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
-
World1 week agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
Indianapolis, IN1 week agoIndianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
-
Business1 week agoGoogle is at last letting users swap out embarrassing Gmail addresses without losing their data
-
Southeast1 week agoTwo attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them
-
Politics1 week agoMost shocking examples of Chinese espionage uncovered by the US this year: ‘Just the tip of the iceberg’
-
News1 week agoRoads could remain slick, icy Saturday morning in Philadelphia area, tracking another storm on the way
-
World1 week agoPodcast: The 2025 EU-US relationship explained simply
-
News1 week agoMarijuana rescheduling would bring some immediate changes, but others will take time