Author: Mitchell Skurzewski

With new coach Luke Fickell now at the helm of the Wisconsin football program, things are already looking different. That includes the roster. Things will look different not just in the future, but already in the Badgers’ 2022 bowl game. Wisconsin plays Oklahoma State Dec. 27 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. In the transfer portal era, when Luke Fickell was hired by Wisconsin, Badgers flooded to the portal or entered the NFL Draft. Either way the roster exodus was large. Here are some of the moves: Star outside linebacker Nick Herbig announced he was entering the NFL Draft. Quarterback Graham…

Marquette comes at you in waves. The Golden Eagles are showing off their depth but most of all their talent recently. The Golden Eagles sit at 8-3 with Big East Conference play beginning Friday against Creighton. Once again picked to finish ninth in the Big East, Marquette is hoping to surprise pundits again. In fact, the Golden Eagles showed their blueprint how they can once again go from predicted bottom feeders in the Big East to earning an NCAA Tournament berth in the team’s throttling of Notre Dame 79-63 on Sunday. Kam Jones, certified bucket-getter Jones was Marquette’s third-leading scorer…

Many thought it was just a matter of time before Jim Leonhard would be the head football coach at Wisconsin. Leonhard was named interim coach on Oct. 2 after a surprising firing of Paul Chryst. A star player at Wisconsin, Leonhard was a Wisconsin guy. A Badger through and through. Also, it was how Wisconsin does business. They don’t go for the splashy hire. It goes for the fit. But, Wisconsin Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh felt the program needed a boost from outside the program. In a diversion from the “Wisconsin Way,” McIntosh went out and wooed Luke Fickell…

Marquette was picked to finish ninth in the Big East a season ago. The Golden Eagles proved the doubters wrong by making the NCAA Tournament. However, after losing its top two scorers – Justin Lewis and Darryl Morsell – Marquette is picked ninth again. Typically that isn’t going to earn a bid to the Big Dance. I think Marquette may be getting overlooked once again. The Golden Eagles should be a competitive team despite being young. While youthful, many of Marquette’s young players are returning contributors. Marquette kicked off Shaka Smart’s second season as head coach Monday at Fiserv Forum…

The Milwaukee Brewers would prefer not to deal Corbin Burnes. However, being a small market team and Burnes likely commanding a 6-year, $180 million-type deal, the Cy Young winner is likely destined to play elsewhere. The logical move is to trade Burnes for a big return. After seeing what a Josh Hader did to the Brewers in-season, that option is likely out. With just two years of control before hitting free agency, the best time to deal Burnes is now. It gives the team acquiring Burnes two years of control for sure and a chance to work on an extension.…

Nearly everyone imitated Michael Jordan with a basketball in the backyard or at the playground. We all had fantasy moments being “Like Mike.” Or Kobe Bryant. LeBron James.  I want to know the more uncommon player you pretended being while doing their signature move. Maybe it was trying to mimic Jason Williams’ handles, Or Ray Allen’s shooting stroke. Perhaps something you watched continuously and added to your game. Drop a comment on who you imagined being. The guy I tried to handle like: Tim Hardaway For me it was Tim Hardaway. He was a guy I tried to mimic particularly…

Playoff disappointment is being fueled with renewed hope for the future in Milwaukee. The Brewers have three top-100 prospects – Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick and Brice Turang – currently in their system. However, in a recent Athletic article, not one of six writers predict the Brewers to win the N.L. Central in 2025. What is to be made of this? One, it was written before Chourio’s meteoric rise. Is it just typical overlooking the small market Brewers? Or are the Cardinals and Cubs going to own the division again? Or is it a case of simply overlooking the small market…

I honestly wasn’t even thinking this was a possibility. However, Craig Counsell may be on the hot seat, according to a writeup on Bleacher Report. Now, this seems like pure speculation. Did the Brewers miss the playoffs? Yeah. Was it frustrating? Yeah. The Brewers, though, made the playoffs four straight years prior to this season, a first in franchise history. Well, I don’t think it is going to happen, why is there a perception of the possibility the Brewers may have a new manager on Opening Day in 2023? Is Craig Counsell really on the hot seat? If you know…

After a disappointing second half and missing out on the playoffs, it is going to be an interesting offseason in Milwaukee. One area I am intrigued to see moving forward is how the crowded outfield shakes out. The Milwaukee Brewers have an abundance of outfield options right now. The current outfielders on the roster are: Christian Yelich, Hunter Renfroe, Tyrone Taylor and Garrett Mitchell. Esteury Ruiz had a cup of water in Milwaukee, coming over in the Josh Hader trade. Waiting in the wings in AAA are two top-4 Brewers and MLB to- 100 prospects Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer.…

The Brewers have a Cy Young winner on the pitching staff. However, it’s been the steady Brandon Woodruff who has been the best pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers in the second half of the season. I would also argue he is the best big-game pitcher on the staff, too. Woodruff added another notch on his big-game resume on Wednesday night. Big Woo went six innings, allowed five hits, not surrendering a run and striking out 10. His 10 strikeouts is now four straight 10+ strikeout games, a Brewers franchise record. Woodruff picked up the win, improving to 13-4 with a…