Bonduel vs. Oconto Game Preview

Tomorrow at 1:40pm, the Bonduel Bears (6-0, 3-0 CWC-8) take on the Oconto Blue Devils (3-4, 2-3 Packerland) in game 3 of the 2014 Sun Drop Shootout at the Kress Center on the campus of UWGB. Bonduel comes into this game with a perfect record. Their last victory was a 78-49 thumping at home against Manawa on Friday, December 19th. The Bears led by 8 at the break and cruised to the win. Bonduel's top three scorers are averaging in double figures, led by Colton Dobratz who leads the team with 13.3 points per game. Peyton Czarapata leads the team with 14 rebounds per game. Connor Rosin leads the team in assists for coach Duke Copp. Oconto last played on Thursday, December 18, where they were defeated in Algoma 55-48. The Blue Devils got off to a slow start by scoring only 5 points in the opening quarter and never recovered. They are led by big man Sawyer Koch, as he leads the team with 16 points per game for coach Jon Bostedt. Koch also is the team leader in rebounds with 7.7 per game. Brady Bostedt, son of Jon, is the leader in assists at a clip of 5 a game. This should be an interesting game as I think it will be a defensive battle, as both teams sometimes have issues scoring points. I think Bonduel has more talent and will take advantage of that on their way to the nonconference victory.

2014 Week-By-Week Best Matchups WIAA 8-Man Football

Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran, the 2013 WIAA 8-Man State Football Champions

Stiehm Stadium, the site of the 2014 WIAA 8-Man Football Jamboree on Saturday, November 1

My best week-by-week matchups of the 2014 WIAA 8-Man Football season:  

Week 1:  Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah at Bowler/Gresham (August 22) - Elkhart has one of the easiest schedules in the league this season and could run the table if they win against a Bowler team that is loaded with size and is in the hunt for the Great 8 championship this season.

Week 2:  Prairie Farm at Luck (August 28) - The best and second-best teams in the Lakeland Conference the last two years, respectively, meet in a crucial game that could determine the conference champion once again this season.

Week 3:  Valley Christian at Stockbridge (September 5) - This game could be the only win of the season for one of these teams. But it's still a football game.

Week 4:  Bowler/Gresham at Gibraltar (September 12) - Likely one of the best games of the season.  Each team is capable of handing the other team their only loss of the season, which could also cost the losing team a spot in the State Championship game come November.

Week 5:  Gibraltar at Oakfield (September 19) - The home Oaks were destroyed 90-18 at the visiting Vikings last season. That score will most likely be on the minds of the Oakfield team this time around.  Don't expect the same score this year.

Week 6:  Prairie Farm at Bruce (September 26) - Prairie Farm's win over the Raiders last season guaranteed their spot in the State Championship last year.  The Panthers could be in the same spot this season, but Bruce could be as well.

Week 7:  Siren at Prairie Farm (October 4) - On a fairly straightforward week, the Dragons visit Prairie Farm looking to get into position to be in the Jamboree for the first time.

Week 8:  Bowler/Gresham at Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran (October 11) - The Panthers visit the Blazers in a game that clashes Bowler's size against the speed of N.E.W. Lutheran.

Week 9:  Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran at Gibraltar (October 17) - The visiting Blazers defeated the host Vikings 55-44 at N.E.W. last season in a matchup of unbeatens with the winner going to the State Championship. The same could be on the line this season as both squads could be without a loss heading into the last week of the 2014 regular season. 

2014 Week-by-Week Best Matchups WIAA Football

My 2014 best matchups week-by-week for the WIAA High School Football season:  

The WIAA Football State Championships this year are held at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin on November 20-21.

Week 1:  Platteville at Darlington (August 22) - The D4 runner-ups from last year visit the D6 runner-ups from last year:  Platteville lost to Winneconne 28-14, while Darlington fell to Shiocton 35-0.

Week 2:  Seymour at Menasha (August 29) - Menasha reached Level 4 a season ago and will most likely receive its biggest test in its new conference from a hungry Seymour team, led by offensive lineman and Wisconsin recruit Jon Dietzen.  

Week 3:  Pittsville at Edgar (September 5) - Pittsville advanced to Level 4 in a bit of a surprise year last season, while Edgar is trying to recapture its dominance in D6 from its former years.

Week 4:  Menomonie at Hudson (September 12) - The two heavyweights from the Big Rivers Conference clash in a game that could once again decide the conference champion. The Raiders have beaten Menomonie six years in a row.

Week 5:  Mukwonago at Arrowhead (September 19) - Two D1 powerhouses collide at the home of the two-time defending state champions.  The Indians were a win away from playing the Warhawks in the championship game last season.

Week 6:  Cedarburg at Homestead (September 26) - These teams are the cream of the crop in the North Shore Conference.  Both teams lost to Kimberly in the playoffs last season as the Cedarburg Bulldogs fell to the Papermakers in Level 2, while the Homestead Highlanders dropped a 37-7 decision to Kimberly in Level 3.  Homestead went on the road and won a 35-31 thriller over the Bulldogs last season.  

Week 7:  Ashwaubenon at Bay Port (October 3) - This game will most likely decide the FRCC champion.  Ashwaubenon is led by senior QB James Morgan, a Bowling Green recruit, while Bay Port is led by senior QB Alec Ingold, a Northern Illinois recruit.

Week 8:  Brookfield Central at Sussex Hamilton (October 10) - New coach Jed Kennedy leads the Lancers into a Greater Metro showdown with the host Chargers, who beat Central twice last year:  once on the road in the regular season, and once at home in Level 1 of the playoffs.

Week 9:  Roncalli at Kewaunee (October 17) - Both powerhouses of the Olympian-Packerland Conference advanced to Level 4 in their respective divisions last season. (Roncalli in D4, Kewaunee in D5).  This could be the most entertaining conference game this season.  Both were undefeated heading into their Week 9 matchup last season, as Roncalli shut out the Storm at home 35-0.

Bears at Eagles Game Preview

Tonight at 7:30PM CST on NBC, the Chicago Bears (8-6) visit Lincoln Financial Field to take on the Philadelphia Eagles (8-6). Chicago comes into this pivotal Sunday Night Contest after defeating the Cleveland Browns on the road last week in come-from-behind fashion 38-31. They outscored the Browns 21-7 in the final period to secure a crucial win. Matt Forte rushed for 127 yards to lead the Bears. He also leads the team in rushing this season with 1,200 yards and 7 touchdowns. Jay Cutler has thrown for 2,173 yards this season and 16 touchdowns for Chicago. Their leading receiver is Alshon Jeffery, who has 1,265 yards this season to go along with 7 touchdowns. Brandon Marshall is the team leader for receivers with touchdowns, as he has 10 on the year. Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East with a win and a Dallas loss today. That is possible because Dallas lost at home to Green Bay last week. The Eagles lost 48-30 in Minnesota, but Green Bay's win kept Philly at the top of the East division. Quarterback Nick Foles threw for 428 yards and 3 touchdowns in a losing cause. Foles also leads the team with 2,398 passing yards on the season and 23 touchdowns. He filled in at starting QB halfway through the year due to Michael Vick's injury, shutting him down for the remainder of the season. LeSean McCoy leads the Eagles' rushing attack with 1,343 yards and 7 touchdowns. He is the only player with over 1,000 rushing yards this season. DeSean Jackson has 1,275 receiving this yards and 9 touchdowns, as he is the only receiver over the 1,000 yard barrier this year. This should be a great game as both teams need this win to stay in contention for their respective division titles and a home playoff game. I think the Eagles, being at home, will win this game with their passing attack and move one step closer to a playoff berth.

20 Creighton vs. Arizona State Game Preview

Tonight at 10pm CST, the 20 Creighton Bluejays (4-0, 0-0 Big East) take on the Arizona State Sun Devils (6-0, 0-0 Pac-12) in a quarterfinal of the Wooden Legacy at Titan Gym on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. The Jays come into the first round of this tournament after defeating Tulsa 82-72 at home on Saturday night. National Player of the Year candidate, Doug McDermott, scored a team-high 33 points to lead Creighton. McDermott, coached by his father, Greg, leads the team with an average of 27.5 points per game. He also paces the Jays with 8 rebounds a game. Arizona State enters this game after squeaking out a 79-77 win at home against 25 Marquette on Monday night. Sophomore sensation Jahii Carson had 23 to lead State to the upset win. Carson is averaging 23 points per game, good to lead the team. Jordan Bachynski has an average of 11.8 rebounds per game to lead the Sun Devils, and he also has 29 blocks through six games. This should be a shootout as McDermott and Carson, two of the best scorers in the country, due. Look for the depth of Creighton as well as the red-hot shooting of McDermott to hold off Carson and the Sun Devils in the second half and earn a résumé-building win.

Oral Roberts at 12 Wisconsin Game Preview

Tonight at 7:30pm on the Big Ten Network, the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (2-0, 0-0 Southland) visit the Kohl Center in Madison to take on the 12 Wisconsin Badgers (5-0, 0-0 Big Ten) as part of the Cancun Challenge. Oral Roberts enters this game after being defeated at Saint Louis 72-55 in their opening game of the Cancun Challenge on Thursday night. ORU took a 31-28 lead into halftime, but was outscored 44-24 in the second half en route to a blowout loss. Shawn Glover led the team with 18 points. Obi Emegano leads the team with an average of 19 points per game, and Korey Billbury is the team leader in rebounds with 8.5 per game. Wisconsin enters this contest after starting the season 5-0, with their latest triumph being an 88-64 decision over Bowling Green on Thursday night in their opening game of the Cancun Challenge. Ben Brust led the team with 19 points, as the Badgers scored 44 points in each half on their way to the victory. After scoring a Wisconsin single-game record with 43 points on Tuesday night in a win at home against North Dakota, and a strong follow-up performance on Thursday night, Frank Kaminsky leads the Badgers with 16.6 points per game, as Brust leads the team with 6 rebounds a game. This should be an exciting game, as the Golden Eagles give up on average 69 points per game, while the Badgers score to the tune of 81 points per game. Look for Wisconsin's offense to test the ORU's defense. Even though they are known for their methodical offense under Bo Ryan, I think that the Badgers will continue to score at a blistering pace and win this game easily at home.

Week-By-Week Best Matchups WIAA 8-Man Football

Stiehm Stadium: Site of 2013 8-Man Football Jamboree

My best matchups of the WIAA 8-Man Football season week-by-week:

Week 1: Valley Christian at Sevastopol (August 23) - The home Pioneers play their first 8-man game ever against a Warrior team that is eager to improve on last season's one win record.

Week 2: Luck vs. Gibraltar (at D.C. Everest, August 29) - This game is being played at a central location due to the distance between the schools; Gibraltar is a sleeper in the Great 8 this year in their first season of 8-man football. Luck won the matchup of the 2-seeds in the jamboree last season, which was also held at D.C. Everest.

Week 3: Luck at New Auburn (September 6) - An interesting matchup between the runner-up in the North division and the third-seed team in the North from last season.

Week 4: Oakfield at Abundant Life (September 14) - A rookie team to 8-man ball in Oakfield takes on the defending South champs from last season in Abundant Life.

Week 5: Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah (September 20) - The defensive combination of Nathan Toenjes and Luke Lana leads the Blazers into Elkhart Lake for a midseason contest.

Week 6: Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran at Abundant Life (September 28) - This is a rematch of a game last season at Abundant Life in which the road Blazers lost 56-54. The home Challengers ended up winning the South because of that win, as the Blazers finished with one conference loss, and the Challengers went undefeated in conference play.

Week 7: Prairie Farm at Luck (October 4) - A game between the top two teams in the North last year; the defending 8-man champion Panthers visit the host Cardinals.

Week 8: Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran at Bowler/Gresham (October 11) - One of the most underrated games of the 8-man season, N.E.W. visits a very up-and-coming Panther team looking for a signature win in their inaugural season of 8-man football.

Week 9: Oakfield at Three Lakes (October 19) - A critical season finale for both teams. A win could clinch a spot in the jamboree for one of these teams, as both could be on the bubble. A loss could possibly put that team out of the jamboree.

Week-by-Week Best Matchups WIAA Football

My best matchups of the WIAA Football season week-by-week:

Week 1: Kenosha Bradford at Arrowhead (August 23)- The season opens with the last two Division 1 champs facing off in Arrowhead, the defending champs.

Week 2: Arrowhead at Homestead (August 30)- These former D1 powerhouses met annually in the state championship from 2006-2008. They now face off as defending state champions, as Homestead has moved to D2.

Week 3: Pulaski at Bay Port (September 6)- Gary Westerman, second year head coach of Bay Port, faces off against his former team for the second time. He was the head coach of Pulaski before he took the coaching position at Bay Port. Westerman got the better of his former team with a 56-35 trouncing last year on the road.

Week 4: Kewaunee at Wrightstown (September 13)- Two former Division 4 state champions meet in a critical Olympian-Packerland contest, with Kewaunee now in Division 5.  The Tigers trounced the Storm 30-7 last year in Week 1; Wrightstown hosts this game for the second year in a row.

Week 5: Brookfield East at Brookfield Central (September 20)- Bragging rights in Brookfield will be on the line as these teams always produce an entertaining contest. East beat Central 37-14 on the road last year and will try to do it again this season.

Week 6: Sun Prairie at Madison Memorial (September 27)- Athletes will be all over the field in this Big 8 matchup. Sun Prairie shut out the Spartans 35-0 in the regular season last year, then the Cardinals bounced Memorial in Level 1 of the playoffs 45-20. Memorial looking for the upset this season.

Week 7: West De Pere at Seymour (October 4)- One of the favorites to dethrone WDP from the top of the Bay Conference, offensive lineman and Wisconsin recruit Jon Dietzen leads a powerful Thunder offense looking for a signature win.

Week 8: Regis at Fall Creek (October 11)- A critical matchup in the race for a Cloverbelt championship, Regis advanced to the Division 6 State Championship Game last season before falling to two-time champ Saint Mary's Springs.

Week 9: Owen-Withee at Athens (October 18)- Almost a guarantee this game will decide the Cloverwood champion. The Blackhawks handed the Bluejays their only regular season loss in the finale last year; Owen-Withee came out with a 22-7 win. Athens advanced to Level 2 last year, while Owen-Withee quietly had a terrific season. They were eliminated in Level 3.

Brewers at Mariners Game Preview

Tonight at 8:10 CST on Fox Sports Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Brewers (50-66) visit Safeco Field to take on the Seattle Mariners (53-62). This is the second of three meetings between the teams this season. Milwaukee came away with a 10-5 win last night. Yuniesky Betancourt hit a grand slam in the 5th inning to run the Brewers' lead to 10-2 and blow the lead open. Kyle Lohse picked up the win after going 7 innings of 6 hit ball with 3 earned runs. Tom Gorzelanny is the starting pitcher for Milwaukee tonight. He will be starting for the first time since being hit on the forearm by a line drive last Friday. He left the game after being injured. Shortstop Jean Segura leads the team in batting average with a .313 average. Outfielder Carlos Gomez has 18 home runs to lead the team, and catcher Jonathan Lucroy has 60 RBI, tops on the club. Seattle had their one game winning streak snapped last night with the loss. First baseman Justin Smoak hit a two run home run in the 8th inning last night, the only long ball of the night for Seattle. Smoak also led the team in total bases with four.  He also is riding a 9 game hitting streak. Hisashi Iwakuma is the starter for the Mariners tonight. He has a record of 10-5 with an ERA of 2.75. Iwakuma is 5-2 on the season at home. Outfielder Carlos Peguero leads the team with a .333 batting average, but he only has 6 at bats. Catcher Humberto Quintero has a batting average of .320, but he has just 25 plate appearances. Infielder Kendrys Morales has a batting average of .297, and he has 431 at bats, second on the team. Outfielder Raul Ibanez has 24 home runs to lead the team, and Morales has 64 RBI to pace Seattle. This should be an entertaining pitching matchup, but look for the offense to provide just enough run support for Gorzelanny in a series-clinching win.

Dodgers at Cubs Game Preview

Tonight at 7:10 CST on Prime Ticket, the Los Angeles Dodgers (57-49) visit Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (49-58). The Dodgers come into this game after splitting a two game series at home against the Yankees. Los Angeles was were shutout yesterday night by a score of 3-0. Pitcher Clayton Kershaw started the game for the Dodgers, and went 8 scoreless innings. New York scored 3 runs in the top of the 9th, and career save leader Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth for the Yankees to earn a split. Ronald Belisario took the loss for Los Angeles to drop his record to 4-6. Ricky Nolasco will be on the hill for the Dodgers tonight. He has a record of 6-9, with an ERA of 3.72. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez is the team leader in batting average for position players at .374. Pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Zack Greinke have averages of .667 and .400, respectively, but Nolasco has only 3 at bats, and Greinke only has 35 at bats. Chicago enters this four game series with the Dodgers after losing three of four at home against the Brewers this past week. Starting pitcher Edwin Jackson, who has been traded three times at the trade deadline, including twice in one day, overcame a 66 minute rain delay yesterday to pick up the win for the Cubs. He pitched 8 innings of one run ball. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro homered for Chicago. Chris Rusin will be the starting pitcher for the Cubs tonight. He has a record of 2-1, with a decent ERA of 2.93. Outfielder Junior Lake leads the team in batting average at .310. Rizzo leads the team in home runs at 15, and RBI with 60. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano was the team leader in home runs with 17, but he was traded to the Yankees last week. This is an interesting matchup. Look for the experienced hitters of Los Angeles to force Rusin into an early exit. I think Nolasco will be dominant, and the Dodgers will collect a road win.

Brewers at Cubs Game Preview

Tonight at 7:10 CST on Fox Sports Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Brewers (43-61) visit Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs (48-55). Milwaukee enters the four game series in Chicago after dropping two of three in Colorado over the weekend. The Brewers were defeated 6-5 yesterday. They led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the 8th, but gave up two in the frame and were unable to come back. Donovan Hand was the starting pitcher for the Crew. He pitched 6 innings and gave up 8 hits and 3 runs, all earned. John Axford took the loss to drop his record to 4-4. Norichika Aoki belted his 100 career home run (Japan and MLB), and Yuniesky homered as well. Kyle Lohse will be the starter for the Brewers tonight. He has a record of 7-7 with an ERA of 3.37. Lohse picked up the win Wednesday in his last start at home against the Padres. Shortstop Jean Segura leads the team in batting average at .315. He will be back in the lineup tonight after missing yesterday's game. He swung at a pitch that hit his right forearm on Saturday night, causing him tightness and to miss the series finale. Outfielder Carlos Gomez is the club leader in home runs with 17. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy has 56 RBI to lead the team. Chicago comes into this series on a four game winning streak. They swept the Giants in San Francisco over the weekend. Starting pitcher Kerry Wood hit his third home run of the year, and Wellington Castillo belted one as well to lead them to victory. Jeff Smardzija will take the mound for the Cubs tonight. The former star wide receiver at Notre Dame has a record of 6-9 with an ERA of 3.94. Outfielder Junior Lake leads the team in batting average at .349. First baseman Anthony Rizzo is the club leader in home runs with 14. He also leads the RBI column with 58. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano led the team with 17 home runs, but this past week he was traded to the New York Yankees. This should be an exciting game, but look for the offense of Gomez, Segura, and Lucroy as well as the pitching of Lohse to carry the Brewers to a win tonight.

Reds at Dodgers Game Preview

Today at 3:10 CST, the Cincinnati Reds (59-46) visit Dodger Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (55-48). Cincinnati enters the final game of this four game set on a two game losing streak after winning the series opener. The Reds were defeated 4-1 yesterday. They were held to just two hits, one of them to pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was the winning pitcher for the Dodgers. Bronson Arroyo took the loss for the Reds. He scattered 8 hits over 5 1/3 innings. Kenley Jansen picked up his 14th save of the season. Tony Cingrani will be on the hill for Cincinnati today. He has a record 4-1 with an ERA of 3.18. First baseman Joey Votto leads position players with a batting average of .317. Pitcher Manny Parra has an average of .500, but he has only had two at bats. Right fielder Jay Bruce leads the team with 26 home runs, and second baseman Brandon Phillips has a team high 81 RBI. Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers have a record of 8-1. The Dodgers' record of 25-6 the last 31 games is tied for the best start in the team's history. That feat was accomplished in 1962, 1976, and 1977. Source: Elias Sports Bureau. Chris Capuano will be on the hill for Los Angeles today. He has a record of 3-6 with an ERA of 5.03. The Dodgers are fifth in the Majors with a team ERA of 3.57. The starters are fourth in MLB with an ERA of 3.43. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez leads position in batting average at .383. Pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Zack Greinke have averages of .667 and .394, respectively, but Nolasco only has three at bats and Greinke only has 33 at bats. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez leads the club with 15 home runs as well as 65 RBI. This should be a great series finale between two powerhouse franchises and clubs, but look for the power in the Los Angeles lineup to wear down Cingrani. I expect the Dodgers to continue their hot streak and pick up the win today.

Brewers at Rockies Game Preview

Tonight at 7:40 CST on Fox Sports Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Brewers (42-59) visit Coors Field to take on the Colorado Rockies (49-54). Milwaukee enters this three game series after losing three out of four games at home against the San Diego Padres. The Brewers lost 10-8 yesterday. They scored five runs in the 7th inning to make it 10-8, but they were unable to finish the comeback attempt. Yovani Gallardo took the loss after allowing six runs over 3 2/3 innings. Wily Peralta will make the start for the Brewers tonight. He has a record of 7-9 with an ERA of 4.30. Milwaukee is trying to cope with the season-ending suspension of Ryan Braun. According to MLB.com, he came clean about "violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program." Shortstop Jean Segura leads the team in batting average at .313. Centerfielder Carlos Gomez leads the team with 16 home runs, Jonathan Lucroy is the team leader in RBI with 55. Colorado enters the final series of their 10 game homestand on a one game losing streak. The Rockies dropped a 5-3 decision to the Miami Marlins yesterday. The Rox scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th but they couldn't finish complete the rally to earn a four game split in the series. Tyler Chatwood will be on the hill for the Rox tonight. He enters this game with a record of 6-3 and an ERA of 2.48.  This is the first and only time the Rockies will host the Brewers this season. Milwaukee hosted Colorado for the first series of the season. Milwaukee won Opening Day on a walkoff sacrifice fly by Jonathan Lucroy, but Colorado won the final two games to earn a series win. Michael Cuddyer, a participant in the MLB Home Run Derby last week, leads the team with a .331 batting average. Carlos Gonzalez is the team leader with 26 home runs, and he also leads the team with 67 RBI. This should be a great game, but look for the pitching of Chatwood and the home field of Colorado to get the job done 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.

Algoma at 2 Green Bay NEW Lutheran Game Preview

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Tonight at 7:30pm, the Algoma Wolves 11-6 (6-4) visit the Blazerdome to take on the 2 Green Bay NEW Lutheran Blazers 18-0 (10-0). Algoma comes into this game after a 61-43 home win against Manawa on Monday. They have four conference losses, with a pair being to Sturgeon Bay, one at Southern Door, and another at home to NEW. The Wolves were trounced by the Blazers on December 11 back at Algoma, an 86-46 defeat. The Blazers had a commanding 36 point lead going into the fourth quarter after being tied at the end of one. Travis Kostichka leads the team with an average of 14.9 points per game for coach Bob Graf. The Blazers come into this game riding an 18 game win streak to start the season, their latest being a 69-64 win against Reedsville at home on Tuesday night. They play very good man to man defense and should continue to run their offense very well. Travis Voigt leads the Blazers with an average of 14.2 points per game. I expect this game to be much like the first meeting as NEW is much better than the Wolves at this point in the season.