The Badger State: Christian Yelich, Aaron Rodgers and Milwaukee Bucks’ New Win Streak
The Badger State is the essential daily (Monday-Friday) newsletter about the state of Wisconsin sports, including updates about the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Christian Yelich, and more.
The state of Wisconsin sports is inconsistent, to say the least. The Milwaukee Bucks continue their hot ways and look as unstoppable as ever, while the Wisconsin Basketball team continues to discover new lows. Let’s check in around the state with the latest news.
Milwaukee Bucks: New Win Streak
The Bucks had their 16-game win streak snapped on Saturday night in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they’ve quickly started a new streak, winning three straight games since. That’s already tied for the longest streak in the Eastern Conference and the second-longest in the NBA (the Phoenix Suns have won four straight).
Milwaukee defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night 118-113 without the help of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Their next game is on Saturday night at the Golden State Warriors.
Milwaukee Brewers: Is Christian Yelich back?
Since suffering a nasty injury to his kneecap toward the end of the 2019 season, it’s been a rough three years for Yelich. He’s been a shadow of the MVP-form Milwaukee got to know in his first two seasons with the squad. After belting 40 home runs on average in 2018 and 2019, he’s only totaled 35 dingers in the three years since.
What if….he’s back? It’s premature to announce his return to greatness, but I’m starting to ask myself the question. In 12 at-bats this Spring, he has six hits–two for doubles and two home runs. He’s got a ways to go, but it’s a start!
Wisconsin Badgers Men’s Basketball: Two Sides to Greg Gard Coin
I’ve been an advocate of Wisconsin firing Gard for a while now, and I still think it’s the right thing to do. The Badgers’ program has been trending down for most of the eight years he’s been the head coach. They will very likely miss the NCAA tournament for the second time in his tenure–something they never did under Bo Ryan.
In seven Big Ten Tournament appearances under Gard, Wisconsin lost the first game they played three times, won one game three times, and won twice on only one occasion. That’s completely unacceptable.
Like anything in life, however, it’s not all good or all bad.
Gard proponents point to the two regular season conference championships the Badgers have won in the last four years. Wisconsin has had some nice stretches under their current head coach, there’s no denying that. They just haven’t been able to sustain a high level of play or one that warrants keeping a coach around who has proven he’s not a good recruiter, in-game coach, or talent developer.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers’ Watch
What will happen with the Packers, New York Jets, and Aaron Rodgers? It seems we are getting closer to a resolution, as Rodgers met with the Jets’ brass this week.
Next. 6 moves Packers can still make to save $23 million. dark
I laid out three realistic trade scenarios for the teams to make a deal happen. But then reports started to come out about the type of draft compensation the Packers might get in a deal, and it seems like I was way off. We should brace ourselves for a disrespectful level of draft compensation to head the Packers’ way if they trade Rodgers.