Connect with us

Wisconsin

Wisconsin defense faces major challenge in bid to stay elite

Published

on

Wisconsin defense faces major challenge in bid to stay elite


MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin has boasted one of many nation’s stingiest defenses nearly each season since Jim Leonhard took over as coordinator in 2017.

Leonhard faces maybe his greatest check in sustaining that normal this yr.

Wisconsin should exchange eight of the highest 10 tacklers from a protection that allowed the fewest yards per recreation (235.3), yards per play (4.10) and yards per rush (1.99) of any Soccer Bowl Subdivision crew final season. Leonhard welcomes that problem.

“It’s been a enjoyable spring,” Leonhard mentioned this week. “Numerous teaching. Guys are placing it on the market. They’re enjoying laborious. They’re enjoying bodily. They’re not all the time enjoying sensible, identical to any younger crew. It means that you can coach.”

Advertisement

The one returning gamers who began at the least 5 video games on protection for Wisconsin final yr are nostril deal with Keeanu Benton, outdoors linebacker Nick Herbig and defensive finish Isaiah Mullens. Wisconsin should exchange certainly one of school soccer’s high inside linebacker duos from 2021 in Related Press All-America second-team choice Leo Chenal and three-year starter Jack Sanborn.

But the Badgers say they nonetheless could be as stout as common on protection. Wisconsin is ending spring apply Friday because it prepares for its Sept. 3 opener with Illinois State.

“Expectations, I really feel like, shouldn’t change,” Benton mentioned. “We’ve nonetheless bought the identical coaches. We nonetheless have the identical motive. We nonetheless have the identical objectives.”

Leonhard’s presence offers them cause to consider.

A former star security at Wisconsin who performed 10 seasons within the NFL, Leonhard has developed into certainly one of school soccer’s high assistants since becoming a member of Paul Chryst’s employees. Wisconsin has ranked first in whole protection (284.8), second in cross protection (181.4) and third in run protection (103.4) and scoring protection (17.3) over Leonhard’s 5 seasons as coordinator.

Advertisement

“We’ve bought Jim Leonhard, so my confidence is excessive,” security John Torchio mentioned. “He speaks for himself along with his monitor document right here. Now we have the expertise. Now we have him. So I’m assured we’re going to be a typical Wisconsin protection.”

If Wisconsin goes to have its sometimes dominant protection, loads of unproven performers must step up.

Herbig needs to be one of many Large Ten’s high defensive gamers this fall after amassing 14 ½ tackles for loss and a team-high 9 sacks final season. Benton has began two dozen video games during the last three seasons.

However they’re the exceptions.

In some respects, this compares to the state of affairs Wisconsin confronted in 2018 when its protection needed to exchange 4 draft picks from a crew that went 13-1 a yr earlier. That 2018 crew additionally handled key accidents and ranked twenty ninth in whole protection, the one time the Badgers have completed outdoors the highest 5 throughout Leonhard’s tenure as coordinator.

Advertisement

Wisconsin now has to exchange much more firepower but in addition has the good thing about pursuing transfers who wouldn’t have to take a seat out a yr.

The Badgers capitalized by including three switch cornerbacks in Justin Clark (Toledo), Cedrick Dort (Kentucky) and Jay Shaw (UCLA) to make up for the departures of Faion Hicks and Caesar Williams, who mixed for 70 profession begins. These three transfers have been working alongside fifth-year senior Alexander Smith.

“That’s the place the switch portal adjustments issues sufficient,” Leonhard mentioned earlier this spring. “You don’t should go from skilled to non-experience in at present’s soccer. … We knew we wanted depth. We didn’t should go as younger as we did up to now.”

Wisconsin hasn’t dominated out going again to the switch portal to deal with the protection place, the place depth is a significant concern following a leg damage to Travian Blaylock this spring.

The Badgers additionally will miss the playmaking skill of Chenal and Sanborn at linebacker. The crowded checklist of candidates competing at these spots contains Jordan Turner and Tatum Grass amongst others.

Advertisement

Wisconsin will spend the remainder of the offseason attempting to determine the following playmakers on its roster who can proceed the Badgers’ current custom of excellence on protection.

Leonhard appears ahead to discovering which guys take that leap.

“I just like the group,” Leonhard mentioned. “It’s a extremely enjoyable group to educate — very hungry, very motivated.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin volleyball sweeps No. 3 Penn State in dominant fashion. Nittany Lions suffer first Big Ten loss.

Published

on

Wisconsin volleyball sweeps No. 3 Penn State in dominant fashion. Nittany Lions suffer first Big Ten loss.


play

MADISON – The Wisconsin volleyball team had the eyes of the nation on it Saturday afternoon and put on a show.

The Badgers swept third-ranked Penn State in front of a packed house at the UW Field House and knocked the Nittany Lions out of first place in the Big Ten. The 25-23, 25-12, 25-13 victory took just 90 minutes to complete and snapped Penn State’s 15 match winning streak.

Advertisement

The contest was shown on NBC, just one of two broadcast by the network this season.

The victory also kept UW alive in the Big Ten race. The Badgers (19-5, 13-2) remained in third place, but closed the gap on Penn State (23-2, 13-1). Nebraska (23-1, 13-0) sits in sole possession of first place thanks to the outcome. The Cornhuskers play at Washington tonight and still have matches with Penn State (Nov. 29) and Wisconsin (Nov. 23) on the schedule.

Seniors Anna Smrek and Sarah Franklin finished with 13 kills each while hitting .462 and .419, respectively. Julia Orzol, another senior, added 11 kills and a .526 hitting percentage.

Six Badgers had multiple kills and each hit at least .375. UW also had the rare distinction of not getting blocked once. Penn State entered play averaging a respectable 2.52 blocks per set.

Advertisement

Freshman setter Charlie Fuerbringer (36 assists) played what Badgers coach Kelly Sheffield said was her best match of the season.

The UW defense, meanwhile, held Penn State to a .117 hitting percentage and had 11 blocks. The Nittany Lions entered play leading the Big Ten and ranking ninth in the nation in hitting percentage .295.

Nittany Lions All-American Jess Mruzik finished with nine kills and a .075 hitting percentage.

Check jsonline later for more on the match.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Wisconsin

Here’s the Wisconsin high school football playoffs 2024 schedule for semifinals

Published

on

Here’s the Wisconsin high school football playoffs 2024 schedule for semifinals


play

The 2024 WIAA football playoffs continue next weekend, with semifinals in each of seven 11-player divisions and the championship game in the eight-player division.

All games are at 7 p.m. Friday, unless otherwise noted.

Advertisement

Here’s the schedule of games:

WIAA Division 1 semifinals

No. 7 D.C. Everest vs. No. 2 Bay Port at UW-Oshkosh

No. 4 Muskego vs. No. 2 Mukwonago at West Allis

Advertisement

WIAA Division 2 semifinals

No. 3 West De Pere vs. No. 2 Rice Lake at Marshfield

No. 1 Slinger vs. No. 1 Badger at Waukesha West

WIAA Division 3 semifinals

No. 3 La Crosse Logan vs. No. 2 Notre Dame at Wisconsin Rapids

No. 3 Wisconsin Lutheran vs. No. 1 Catholic Memorial at Muskego

Advertisement
play

Notre Dame 28, Grafton 6: Highlights from marquee D3 showdown

Behind a four-touchdown outing from Christian Collins, Notre Dame eliminated Grafton in the WIAA Division 3 high school football tournament, 28-6.

WIAA Division 4 semifinals

No. 2 Baldwin-Woodville vs. No. 1 Winneconne at Medford

No. 1 Racine St. Catherine’s vs. No. 1 Aquinas at Madison La Follette

Advertisement

WIAA Division 5 semifinals

No. 2 Northwestern vs. No. 1 Wrightstown at Rhinelander

No. 1 Prairie du Chien vs. No. 1 Stratford at Wisconsin Dells

WIAA Division 6 semifinals

No. 2 Bonduel vs. No. 2 Grantsburg at Stanley-Boyd

No. 8 Belleville vs. No. 2 Lomira at Oconomowoc

Advertisement

WIAA Division 7 semifinals

No. 2 Boyceville vs. No. 1 Edgar at Chippewa Falls

No. 3 Potosi/Cassville vs. No. 1 Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic at Madison Memorial

WIAA eight-player championship game

No. 1 Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas vs. No. 1 Owen-Withee at Wisconsin Rapids, 1 p.m. Saturday



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Wisconsin

How to watch Wisconsin vs. Penn State volleyball today: Channel, time, schedule, live stream for NCAA college match | Sporting News

Published

on

How to watch Wisconsin vs. Penn State volleyball today: Channel, time, schedule, live stream for NCAA college match | Sporting News


A major Big Ten clash is set for Saturday as No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 3 Penn State women’s volleyball go head-to-head in Madison. 

Wisconsin (16-5) has been a strong competitor this season, but struggles to pull together against major opponents. Just last week, the Badgers dropped a 3-0 sweep to No. 2-ranked Nebraska, in which they were held under a .100 hitting average for the first time this year. 

Sitting at 22-1, Penn State has yet to lose a game to any single opponent ranked below them. The Nittany Lions have consistently been dominant in conference play, with Jess Mruzik, Camryn Hannah and Taylor Trammel a power trio in the front row. 

WATCH: Wisconsin vs. Penn State volleyball match live on Fubo (free trial)

Advertisement

Which top-10 contender will leave the court victorious? Here’s everything you need to know about Wisconsin vs. Penn State.

How to watch Wisconsin vs. Penn State volleyball today

The Badgers and Nittany Lions will be broadcast on NBC. Fans can also live stream the match on Peacock or Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

For a limited time, you can get your first month of Fubo for as low as $59.99, a $20 savings. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Wisconsin vs. Penn State volleyball time

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 9
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET | 2:30 p.m. CT

Wisconsin hosts Penn State on Saturday, Nov. 9. First serve is set for 3:30 p.m. from the Badger’s UW Field House in Madison, Wisc. 

Wisconsin volleyball schedule 2024

Here are the Badgers’ next five matchups:

Date Game Time (ET) TV/Live stream
Nov. 9 vs. Penn State 3:30 p.m. NBC, Peacock, Fubo
Nov. 14 at USC 11 p.m. BTN, Fubo
Nov. 16 at UCLA 10:30 p.m. BTN, Fubo
Nov. 20 vs. Minnesota 9 p.m. BTN, Fubo
Nov. 23 at Nebraska 8 p.m. BTN, Fubo

Penn State volleyball schedule 2024

Here are the Nittany Lions’ next five matchups:

Advertisement
Date Game Time (ET) TV/Live stream
Nov. 9 at Wisconsin 3:30 p.m. NBC, Peacock, Fubo
Nov. 15 vs. Illinois 7 p.m. B1G+
Nov. 17 at Maryland 2:30 p.m. B1G+
Nov. 21 vs. Purdue 6 p.m. BTN, Fubo
Nov. 24 vs. Washington 2 p.m. B1G+

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending