3 Sheboygan Area Lutheran vs. 1 Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran Game Preview

Tonight at 7pm in Two Rivers, the 3 Sheboygan Area Lutheran Crusaders 18-7 (13-3) take on the 1 Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran Blazers 25-0 (14-0) in a WIAA Division 5 Sectional Semi-Final game. Sheboygan Lutheran, the defending Division 5 state champions, come into this game after upsetting Suring 46-33 on the road on Saturday to win the regional championship. Coach Nick Verhagen has a talented group of players led by Tyler Zastrow, a 5-9 junior guard who averages a team best 17.8 points per game. Jacob Jurss, a talented sophmore, chips in 13.9 for the Crusaders. They finished second in the tough Central Lakeshore Conference, only behind 22-2 Oostburg. N.E.W. enters this sectional contest after beating Hilbert 70-58 on Monday night to claim a regional championship. They led by just one after three quarters and trailed 53-49 until Dakota Zinser, a talented transfer from Green Bay Preble, took over and went on a 10-0 run on his own to give the Blazers the lead for good. Travis Voigt, the catalyst for the Blazers balanced attack, leads N.E.W. with an average of 14.7 points per game for coach Mark Meerstein. The Blazers are looking to go to state for the third time in four years. These two teams met on January 7 in Sheboygan, with N.E.W. claiming an 82-61 nonconference road win. Look for this to be just as entertaining, but I think the Blazers are too talented and will keep their undefeated season going with a win.

4 Hilbert vs. 1 Green Bay NEW Lutheran Game Preview

Tonight at 7pm, the 4 Hilbert Wolves 12-12 (8-10 Olympian) take on the 1 Green Bay NEW Lutheran Blazers 24-0 (14-0 Packerland) in a WIAA Division 5 Regional Final game at Ashwaubenon High School. Hilbert comes into this game after a very convincing 77-45 win against Gibraltar on Saturday night. The Wolves led 29-5 after the end of the first quarter and led throughout the game and rolled to the victory. These two teams played in a makeup game in Ashwaubenon in a regional final that was also played on a Monday last year. That ended the Blazers' bid to land in Madison for the third straight year. Spencer Schulz is the go-to player for coach Nate Wesener this season and leads the Wolves with 14.2 points per game. NEW enters this game after throttling Living Word Lutheran 93-42 on Friday night. The Blazers also throughout, leading 21-6 after one quarter and 54-21 at halftime. The Blazers are undefeated this season and can lean on several different players to lead a balanced attack for coach Mark Meerstein. Junior Dakota Zinser led the Blazers with 27 points on Friday night and averages 13 points per game. Travis Voigt leads the Blazers with 14.2 points per game. This should be a close game but expect the undefeated Blazers to go to Sectionals with a big win tonight.

4 Michigan State at 18 Ohio State Game Preview

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Today at 3pm on CBS, the 4 Michigan State Spartans 22-5 (11-3) travel to Value City Arena to take on the 18 Ohio State Buckeyes 19-7 (9-5). Michigan State comes into this game after dropping their first home game of the season, a 72-68 decision at the hands of 1 Indiana on Tuesday night. They are the only team in the nation to play four straight conference games against ranked opponents. They are 4-3 against ranked opponents this season and have beaten the Buckeyes at the Breslin Center on January 19, 59-56. Keith Appling leads the Spartans with 13.8 points per game. He also averages 3.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for coach Tom Izzo. Ohio State enters this home contest after a 71-45 blowout at home against 18 Minnesota on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Aaron Craft was named to the Capital One All American Academic Team. He is a nutrition major with a GPA of 3.92. Deshaun Thomas, a National Player of the Year candidate, leads the team with 20.1 points per game for coach Thad Matta. I think this should be a really good game but look for the experience and the depth of Michigan State to take over and win this crucial Big Ten game.

Lakers at Heat Game Preview

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Today at 2:30 on ABC, the Los Angeles Lakers (24-27) visit the AmericanAirlines Arena to take on the defending champion Miami Heat (33-14). The Lakers have had an up and down season, and have won one straight. They had a 20 point third quarter deficit erased on Friday night to down the Charlotte Bobcats, 100-93. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers in that game with 20 points. He also had seven rebounds and eight assists. Kobe has been a facilitator lately. In a four game stretch that were all wins, Bryant had 48 assists in four games. He still leads LA with 27.4 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The Heat enter this Sunday Showcase on a four game win streak that started in Toronto back on Sunday. Their latest win was a 111-89 blowout win at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night in which  Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and Chauncy Billups all returned from injuries. LeBron James, the reigning MVP and is headed to the All-Star game next week, finished with a game high 30 points in the win despite both Ray Allen and Chris Bosh being out with the flu. James leads Miami with an average of 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists each game. Amid all the distractions surrounding the Lakers, I think the Heat will play lights out and come out with a very convincing victory to make it five in a row.

Los Angeles Game Notes
Miami Game Notes

3 Michigan at Wisconsin Game Preview

Today at 11am on ESPN, the 3 Michigan Wolverines 21-2 (8-2) visit the Kohl Center to take on the Wisconsin Badgers 16-7 (7-3). Michigan comes into this game after a big home win against archrival and 10 Ohio State on Tuesday night. The Wolverines escaped at home by a final of 76-74 in overtime and avenged the loss in Columbus earlier this season that gave Michigan their first loss. Trey Burke, who is on the watch list for the Bob Cousy Award which is the best point guard in the country, did a terrific job of guarding one of the country's best point guards in Aaron Craft. Burke is leading the team averaging 18.1 points per game. The Wolverines are exceptionally balanced as they have four of five starters averaging in double figures. Wisconsin enters this one after knocking off Iowa in double overtime on Wednesday night, 74-70. They are currently on a two game win streak this week after beating Illinois on the road and then Iowa on Wednesday night. Jared Berggren leads the Badgers with 11.8 points per game. He is also second in the Big Ten in blocks and had seven against Iowa to go along with 14 rebounds and 16 points. Wisconsin has three starters averaging in double digits and also have a deep bench. This should be a good one but look for the Grateful Red at the Kohl Center to get a signature win for the Badgers.
Michigan Game Notes
Wisconsin Game Notes

Pacelli at Bonduel Game Preview

Tonight at 7:30pm, the Pacelli Cardinals 13-6 (8-4) visit Bonduel to take on the Bonduel Bears 10-9 (5-7). Pacelli comes into this game having won their last contest, a 69-47 decision at home against Weyauwega-Fremont on Tuesday night. They have excellent speed, defense, and I think their biggest weapon are their unbelievable shooters. Isaac Elliott leads the Cardinals attack with a team best 13.2 points per game. Brett O'Sullivan also averages in double figures with 11.5 points per game. James Gollon, a talented sophmore who transferred from Stevens Point High School, also shoots at a high percentage and has 4.1 rebounds per game and 4.2 assists per game for coach Brad Rutta. This is the final home game of the regular season for the Bears, as they head to Oconto on Tuesday and Iola-Scandinavia on Thursday of next week. This is their third game in five days at home after they defeated Menominee Indian on Monday night and Wittenberg-Birnamwood on Tuesday night. Jacob DeBauch leads the Bears with an average of 15.5 points per game. Connor Rosin, who had 29 points and 7 three pointers on Monday night, is second n the team with 12.5 points per game for coach Jerry Reinke. These two teams met in Pacelli on January 8 as the Cardinals came out a winner, 74-52. Hopefully this one will be closer as I think it will, but look for Pacelli as the better team to come out with at W again.

25 Marquette at 12 Louisville Game Preview

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Today at 1pm on ESPN, the 25 Marquette Golden Eagles 15-4 (6-1) visit the KFC Yum! Center to take on the 12 Louisville Cardinals 17-4 (5-3). Marquette is currently leading the Big East thanks to a Syracuse loss at Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon. The Golden Eagles enter this game on a two game win streak. Their latest win was a 63-50 home win against South Florida on Monday night. Marquette suffered their first and only Big East loss on January 19, a 63-61 overtime loss at Cincinnati. Vander Blue, the team's leading scorer with an average of 14.8 points per game, had a career high 30 points in the win against USF on Monday night. Louisville started the season 18-1, but have lost three of their las four conference games. Their only conference win since January 14 was a 64-61 squeaker at home against Pittsburgh on Monday night. They have been ranked number 1 this season, only to lose in their second game in that spot on January 19 against then 6 Syracuse. Russ Smith, one of the nation's best passers, leads the team with 18.4 points per game. Marquette is riding high and Louisville is looking to get back on track. This should be a good game but look for the Golden Eagles to get a big win on the road.

Coleman at Bonduel Game Preview

Today at 3:30pm, the Coleman Cougars 1-15 (1-11 M&O) visit Bonduel to take on the Bonduel Bears 7-9 (4-7 CWC-8). Coleman has been struggling this season as they have mustered just one win this season, a 42-40 win at Lena back on January 11. They have had a string of four straight losses, the latest being a 51-35 loss at Saint Thomas Aquinas on Thursday night. The Cougars had just one point in the second quarter and just seven points at the end of the first half. Offensive production has been the biggest issue for coach Tim Forner this season. They are led by Austin Malecki, who leads the team with 7.5 points per game. Bonduel has also been struggling this season after a trip to the regional finals last season. They already have seven conference losses this season, compared to just one last season. Their most recent loss was a 50-34 win at Weyauwega-Fremont on Thursday night. They have not registered a victory since January 25, a 60-46 win at Manawa. Jacob DeBauch leads the Bears with an average of 15.5 points per game for coach Jerry Reinke. Look for this to be two struggling teams to want a win, but I think Bonduel at home will be too much for Coleman.