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BREWERS NEWS

ROSTER REPORT

The Brewers' major offseason changes are in the infield. 1B Prince Fielder almost certainly will leave via free agency, leaving a huge hole in the lineup. They went to the free agent market to get a new shortstop (Alex Gonzalez) and third baseman (Aramis Ramirez). ARRIVALS: 3B Aramis Ramirez (free agent from Cubs), 1B Travis Ishikawa (minor league free agent from Giants), RHP Jose Veras (trade with Pirates), SS Alex Gonzalez (free agent from Braves), INF Cesar Izturis (minor league free agent from Orioles). DEPARTURES: SS Yuniesky Betancourt (free agent, signed with Royals), RHP Takashi Saito (free agent, signed with Diamondbacks), 3B Casey McGehee (traded to Pirates), RHP LaTroy Hawkins (free agent, signed with Angels), INF Jerry Hairston Jr. (free agent, signed with Dodgers), 1B/OF Mark Kotsay (free agent, signed with Padres). FREE AGENTS: 1B Prince Fielder, INF Craig Counsell. Fielder is expected to bolt for bigger bucks elsewhere. Counsell probably will contemplate retirement but might be coaxed into playing with the right offer. ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Shaun Marcum, CF Nyjer Morgan, CF Carlos Gomez, RHP Kameron Loe, LHP Manny Parra, LHP Mitch Stetter. MEDICAL WATCH: --LHP Chris Narveson (arthroscopic left hip surgery in October 2011) had the operation to address chronic soreness. He must stay off the hip for six weeks but is expected to be ready by spring training. --2B Rickie Weeks (left ankle sprain) will continue to undergo therapy and rehab for the ankle injury that limited him at the end of the season. --LHP Mitch Stetter (hip labral tear) is expected to be ready for spring training. --RHP Brandon Kintzler (right forearm stress fracture) was hurt in early May. He was cleared to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. --LHP Manny Parra (elbow bone spur) was progressing well during his rehab program as of October. He is expected to be healthy enough to pitch in spring training.

NOTES, QUOTES

--1B Mat Gamel, a career .222 hitter with five home runs and 23 RBI in 85 games (194 plate appearances) in the majors, remains the leading candidate to take over for free-agent 1B Prince Fielder. There are some free-agent first basemen still available, such as Carlos Pena and Derrek Lee, but general manager Doug Melvin has shown no inclination to go after either of them. --OF Norichika Aoki, whose posting bid was awarded to the Brewers for $2.5 million by the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League, was scheduled to work out over the weekend in Phoenix for general manager Doug Melvin, manager Ron Roenicke and other staff members. The Brewers have until Jan. 17 to sign Aoki or they get their posting bid back and he returns to Japan. --The Major League Baseball Groundskeepers Association unanimously voted to name the trophy for its new Hall of Fame for former Brewers' groundskeeper Gary Vanden Berg, who died last October after a battle with cancer. Vanden Berg worked for the Brewers for more than 30 years. --For the fourth consecutive year, the Brewers' Class A Wisconsin affiliate will play a Midwest League game at Miller Park. The Timber Rattlers will play Dayton, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, on April 27 while the Brewers are in St. Louis. --OFs Nyjer Morgan and Carlos Gomez appear set to return for the Brewers in a platoon in center field that worked so well in 2011. That would seem to leave no room for center field prospect Logan Schafer, whom club executives really like, but he will get a good look in spring training to show what he can do. BY THE NUMBERS: .329 -- Career batting average of Japanese OF Norichika Aoki, whom the Brewers could try to sign after posting a winning bid for him with the Yakult Swallows. QUOTE TO NOTE: "We don't have a lot of time. We want to withhold judgment on him until we've seen him. He's more of a contact guy. We've had reports on him." -- Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, before a scheduled workout of Japanese OF Norichika Aoki in Phoenix.

INSIDE PITCH

The Brewers hoped to know by the end of the weekend whether it made sense to pursue signing Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki. Aoki was scheduled to work out in Phoenix in front of general manager Doug Melvin, manager Ron Roenicke and other coaches and staff members to allow the Brewers to see him in person. The Brewers won the rights to negotiate with Aoki by posting the winning bid of $2.5 million to the Yakult Swallows in December. They did not announce the timing of the workout to avoid turning it into a media event. "We want to take a look at him and visit with him," Melvin said. Last season with Yakult, Aoki batted .292 but the three-time batting champion hit a career-best .358 with 209 hits in 2010. The Brewers have until Jan. 17 to work out a deal with the 5-10, 170-pound Aoki should they choose to pursue him. Otherwise, they will be refunded their posting bid and he will return to Yakult. Aoki played mainly in center field in Japan but is viewed more as a left fielder in the majors. The Brewers might need left field help if Ryan Braun is suspended for the first 50 games of the season for a reported positive test for a banned substance. Braun is appealing that finding and his case will be heard later this month by an arbitration panel. Aoki is represented by CAA agent Nez Balelo, who also represents Braun. But Melvin said Aoki was not proposed to the Brewers as a possible replacement for Braun should he be suspended. "Nez told us before the winter meetings that he represented this player and expected him to be posted," Melvin said. "He said he might be a guy we'd be interested in so we put in a bid on him to see what would happen. You never know what the winning bid might be."

Japanese outfielder set to audition | BREWERS Team will look at Aoki in Phoenix

The Milwaukee Brewers will work out Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki this weekend in Phoenix to determine whether they will pursue signing him for 2012. General manager Doug Melvin on Wednesday confirmed the workout but didn't disclose the exact day or time it will be held at the team's training facility because it will be closed to media and fans. "It's going to be a private workout," said Melvin. "We want to take a look at him and visit with him." The Brewers won the right to negotiate with Aoki, 29, by posting the winning bid of $2.5 million to his team, the Yakult Swallows, in December. A lefthanded hitter known for making contact as a leadoff type, Aoki has won three batting crowns in Japan.

UW BADGER FOOTBALL NEWS

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Ravens Update

Drennon Reacts to Lambert Rutgers Commitment

Williams Reacts to Coaching Changes

MILWAUKEE BUCKS NEWS

ROSTER REPORT

PLAYER NOTES: --C Drew Gooden had an impressive string of games before struggling against the Suns on Sunday night. Gooden, plagued by plantar fasciitis most of last season, came close to posting three straight double-doubles. He had 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Clippers on Saturday night after having had 18 points and nine rebounds against the Kings on Thursday and 24 points and 12 rebounds against the Jazz on Tuesday. Gooden never got untracked against the Suns, though. He was just 3 of 12 from the field and finished with eight points and six rebounds. --G Brandon Jennings played only 26 minutes on Sunday night against the Suns. That was substantially fewer minutes than in his previous four games. To wit: Jennings played 37 minutes against the Nuggets, 44 minutes against the Jazz, 42 minutes against the Kings and 44 minutes against the Clippers. In that four-game stretch, Jennings averaged 41.7 minutes. --F Jon Leuer has definitely earned the confidence of Bucks coach Scott Skiles. Leuer, a second-round draft pick from Wisconsin, was the first player off the bench in Sunday night's game against the Suns and now has played in all eight games this season. After getting just a minute of playing time in the regular-season opener against the Bobcats, Leuer has played at least nine and as many as 26 minutes in every game. MEDICAL WATCH: --G Beno Udrih (sprained left shoulder) is out indefinitely. --F Mike Dunleavy (groin injury) remains day to day. --C Andrew Bogut (personal reasons) remains day to day. --F Luc Mbah a Moute (right knee tendinitis) is out indefinitely. ROTATION: Starters: --Point guard Brandon Jennings --Shooting guard Stephen Jackson --Small forward Carlos Delfino --Power forward Ersan Ilyasova --Center Drew Gooden Bench: --Center Jon Leuer --Guard Shaun Livingston --Forward Tobias Harris --Center Larry Sanders --Guard Darington Hobson --Center Jon Brockman

NOTES, QUOTES

--Another trip to Phoenix, another loss for the Bucks. The Bucks fell to the Suns 109-93 on Sunday night, marking their 24th straight setback to the Suns in Phoenix. The streak dates to Feb. 21, 1987. The Suns' run against the Bucks is the second-longest active streak in the NBA. Only the Spurs' 27-game home winning streak over the Warriors is longer. --With their loss to the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday night, the Bucks saw their record fall to 0-6 on the road this season. The Bucks and Pistons (0-3) are the only Eastern Conference teams that are still winless on the road this season. QUOTE TO NOTE: "It has been difficult on this trip, for sure." -- Veteran swingman Stephen Jackson on the Bucks' five-games-in-seven-days trip that resulted in no wins for them.

GETTING INSIDE

Andrew Bogut is back in the United States and ready to play again. Bogut, the Bucks' veteran center, had been in Australia since last Tuesday for a family matter. Bucks officials haven't revealed the specifics of Bogut's absence. But Bogut, who missed his fourth straight game on Sunday night when the Bucks lost to the Suns 109-93 in Phoenix, departed Australia on Sunday morning and flew to Los Angeles. He was expected to arrive in Milwaukee on Monday. According to David Bauman, Bogut's agent, his client is physically fit and fully intends on being in the starting lineup when the Bucks host the Spurs on Tuesday night. Bogut had gotten off to a excellent start this season before leaving the team. He not only was averaging a double-double with 14.3 points and 10 points but was also averaging 1.75 blocked shots and 2.8 assists.

ROSTER REPORT

PACKERS NEWS

Giants rout Falcons 24-2, eager to play Packers

Time to go on alert, Green Bay.

Any doubts? Giants have fixed problems

Once shaky, G-Men have tightened ship in impressive fashion.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

PLAYER NOTES --QB Aaron Rodgers goes into Sunday's NFC divisional playoff against the New York Giants with a 4-1 record and 112.6 passer rating in five postseason starts for the Packers since the 2009 season. Rodgers has thrown 13 touchdowns with only three interceptions in the playoffs. --CB Charles Woodson, who joined Rodgers on this season's Associated Press All-Pro Team, has 37 interceptions during the regular season in his six years with the Packers. Woodson, however, is without an interception in seven games during the playoffs with Green Bay - and has only one pick in 14 postseason appearances in his 14-year career with the Oakland Raiders and Packers. --WR Jordy Nelson, who led the team with 68 catches for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns in the regular season, will look to build on his breakthrough 2010 postseason. Nelson had 21 receptions for 286 yards and two touchdowns in his last three playoffs games, capped by a career-high nine catches for 140 yards and a TD in the Super Bowl XLV win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. --OLB Clay Matthews, coming off a third straight regular season of leading the team in sacks with six, has been a prolific pass rusher in the postseason as well in his young career. Matthews has 4.5 sacks in five games, including 3.5 during the team's four-game blitz to the Super Bowl title. --LT Chad Clifton, who is expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday after missing most of the regular season because of hamstring and back injuries, leads all players on the current roster with 12 starts for Green Bay in the postseason.

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UW MENS BASKETBALL

college basketball highlights;DePaul falls short at Villanova

Maalik Wayns scored 21 points and Dominic Cheek 20, and Villanova ended a three-game losing streak with an 87-71 victory Sunday against DePaul in Big East action in Villanova, Pa.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: --at Purdue, Jan. 12. KEY MATCHUPS: The Boilermakers looked strong in victories over Iowa and Illinois, but took a step back in a 20-point loss at Penn State on Jan. 5. Wisconsin has been successful by holding teams under their season scoring average most of the season. Robbie Hummel has led the Boilermakers in scoring in 11 games this season. Boilermakers scored just 45 points in their last game at Penn State. --vs. Nebraska, Jan. 15 KEY MATCHUPS: The Badgers destroyed Nebraska in its first ever Big Ten contest back on Dec. 27 in Lincoln. This is certainly a matchup of teams struggling, with Nebraska winless in the Big Ten and the Badgers losing three straight league games after falling at Michigan. The Badgers limited Nebraska to 40 points in their first meeting with a good defensive effort. FUTURES MARKET: Six-foot-11 freshman forward Frank Kaminsky is the perfect Wisconsin recruit. Coming from a solid private school in Lisle, Ill., Kaminsky has played in 16 of Wisconsin's 17 games this season. Kaminsky can hit 3-pointers -- he has made six in 21 attempts -- and hit the boards. He must add size to his frame, but his ability to step out causes problems for opponents. PLAYER NOTES --Sophomore G Ben Brust didn't light up the scoreboard with six points in UW's loss at Michigan. But the two 3-pointers he hit were a welcome relief after shooting 1-of-13 on three-pointers in his last two games. Brust's scoring off the bench is important for a team struggling to score points. --Senior PG Jordan Taylor was the lone Badger to finish in double figures with 12 points in a Jan. 8 loss at Michigan. Taylor shot 5-of-15 from the floor, including 2-of-7 on 3-pointers. Taylor was averaging 20 points during Wisconsin's first three Big Ten games to raise his scoring average to 13.7 points in 16 games.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Sophomore guard Ben Brust experienced a cold spell that is hampering Wisconsin's win-loss record. Brust was 1-for-13 from 3-point range in back-to-back home losses to Iowa and Michigan State and missed 23 of his last 27 shots from beyond the arc. Brust, who has made seven threes twice this season, somewhat broke out of the slump by making two of three treys in Wisconsin's loss at Michigan. --Senior point guard Jordan Taylor raised his scoring average to 13.7 points per game after averaging 17.2 points in his past six games heading into the Michigan game on Jan. 8. Taylor's scoring is becoming more important with the recent struggles by Wisconsin's offense scoring points. The Badgers haven't scored more than 65 points in their last four games. BY THE NUMBERS: 20.0 -- Senior point guard Jordan Taylor raised his scoring average since the start of Big Ten play. Taylor is averaging 13.7 points through the first 16 games this season after averaging 20 points in his first three league games. QUOTE TO NOTE: "With any player, from age 5 to NBA, you start missing shots, you start thinking about it a little bit more instead of just shooting it. I think at the beginning of the year, we were just shooting it, letting it fly, having a good time with it. And now it's in our heads a little bit. But at the same time, we know we can all shoot it, we know they're going to start falling." -- Wisconsin sophomore guard Josh Gasser on the team's shooting woes.

GETTING INSIDE

The Badgers were riding high in late November before losing two straight games to North Carolina and Marquette. Wisconsin responded with six consecutive victories to revive talk about contending for a Big Ten championship and making a long run in the NCAA Tournament. But the Badgers have fallen on hard times in Big Ten Conference play. After opening league play with a blowout victory at Nebraska, the Badgers lost their third straight conference matchup to fall to 12-5 and 1-3 in league play. The most recent loss, a double-digit defeat at Michigan on Jan. 8, represents a troubling trend that bubbled to the surface early in the season but was masked by Wisconsin's fiery 3-point shooting. The No. 19 Badgers don't get any breaks with their next game at Purdue on Jan. 12. The Badgers relied on strong defense and good shooting from 3-point land to beat teams, but haven't been able to continue the trend during their three-game losing streak. After the loss to Michigan State in overtime at home on Jan. 3, Wisconsin point guard Jordan Taylor stressed that the Badgers will overcome their recent problems. "It's definitely important to be a leader," Taylor said. "It's definitely a tough loss, but I recall two years ago Ohio State started 0-2 in the league and went on to win it or at least a share of it, so there's a lot of basketball left. We put ourselves in a hole, but we go to Michigan next, play a good team on the road, a place where we've had some success and hopefully we can correct the things we aren't doing right and get a win there and start a winning streak. It's definitely going to be tough, but we aren't going to stop trying. We'll work hard every day; that's the type of character that we have on this team and it's going to be a fun ride." Wisconsin allowed 72, 63 and 59 points to Iowa, Michigan State and Michigan. Meanwhile, the Badgers haven't been able to sustain their scoring from the nonconference season, registering just 65, 60 and 41 points in the three losses. Wisconsin has gone ice cold from 3-point range during its losing streak. The Badgers shot 35 percent against the Wolverines, making seven threes in 20 attempts. In the loss to Michigan State in overtime, the Badgers made just 5-of-22 attempts to finish with 60 points. In a home loss to Iowa on Dec. 31, the Badgers shot 10.7 percent on threes, shooting 3-of-28 from the floor.