1/15/25 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Wednesday
15 January 2025 Sports
The Green Bay Packers did not put their best foot forward in Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
The Packers were not as close to Super Bowl caliber as some once thought. Green Bay was somehow only down by six points in the 4th quarter vs. the Eagles, despite it not even being close to their best performance of the year.
Wednesday was the final press conference of the season with head coach Matt LaFleur.
LaFleur praised his defense for keeping them in the Philadelphia game and said he likes the direction that unit is headed under first-year coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Offensively, however, is a different story — from promising early on, to sputtering late in the year.
“We performed at a pretty high level a majority of the season, and then took a dive. That’s why it feels different than a year ago,” said LaFleur.
There was a lot to unpack at the team’s final press conference. LaFleur voiced his frustration with how the season ended, starting with the leadership — or the lack thereof — showcased by players on his roster during a rough final stretch of the season.
“I have had some of these conversations already with some of our players, like, ‘Hey man, going to push you to get out in front a little bit more.’ There is another step there for certain individuals,” LaFleur said.
“One thing to say it, but we have to be about the action. Another message I gave to our team: the expectation is when you leave today and you come back that you’re going to be better, not only physically better, but mentally better than when you left today. You can’t just talk about it, you have to go do it,” LaFleur said.
A lot of outside criticism has been placed on Packers quarterback Jordan Love, especially considering his recent contract extension worth $220 million.
“The QB is going to get the blame when you lose and the praise when you win,” LaFleur said.
Some of it might be warranted, but Lafleur sees the bigger picture — the blame should not squarely be on #10’s shoulders.
“It’s not just him. We have to catch the ball better. I mean, we had a lot of drops. I don’t know where we ranked in the league — not where we want to be, I guess that’s one example. I think it’s a collective. Do I think he can play better? Absolutely. Do I think I can help him out to be better? Absolutely. Do I think we can play better around him? Absolutely,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur is exactly 100 games into his head coaching career. He has notched 67 total wins and made playoff appearances in five of his six seasons.
Also, in his season-ending news conference, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur announced it’s the end of a career for Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.
Clements, 71, coached Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
“Obviously he’s had the opportunity to coach some of the best. Favre, Rodgers, and then the development of Jordan Love, that’s pretty cool,” LaFleur said Tuesday.
According to Packers.com, Clements spent 11 seasons with the team before leaving and then returning in 2022. That first stint included 5 years as quarterbacks coach from 2006 to 2011. He was promoted to offensive coordinator until 2014 and then associate head coach on offense until 2016.
The Packers finished in the top 10 of the league in scoring offense and total offense 9 out of those 11 years.
Pupil Aaron Rodgers was the first quarterback in NFL history to have a 100-plus rating in six consecutive seasons, awarded league MVP twice, and was named to six Pro Bowls.
After leaving the Packers, Clements tutored Arizona’s Kyler Murray, who was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by The Associated Press and was the first quarterback in his team’s history to be named to the Pro Bowl within his first two seasons.
Clements returned to Green Bay at the end of the 2021-22 season. He worked with Jordan Love, who joined the ranks of Kurt Warner and Patrick Mahomes with 4,000-plus passing yards and at least 32 passing touchdowns in his first season.
“It’s been a cool ride with him for the last three years,” LaFleur continued his effusive praise for Clements. “I know he’s meant a lot to this organization. I can’t say enough great things about him.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for his 50th career triple-double as the Milwaukee Bucks beat Sacramento 130-115 on Tuesday night to snap the Kings’ seven-game win streak.
Antetokounmpo’s triple-double was his fifth of the season. He had a sixth in the Bucks’ NBA Cup championship victory over Oklahoma City, but players’ statistics from that game aren’t official.
Damian Lillard had 24 points, Brook Lopez 21 and A.J. Green 16 for the Bucks, who never trailed and led by as many as 28.
DeMar DeRozan scored 28, De’Aaron Fox 20 and Keon Ellis 16 for Sacramento. Domantas Sabonis had 16 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Sacramento’s Malik Monk didn’t play due to a sore right groin. The Bucks didn’t have Khris Middleton (ankle injury management) or Gary Trent Jr. (hip flexor strain).
The Bucks stay home to face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
John Tonje scored 17 points and No. 24 Wisconsin staved off a late rally by Ohio State, extending its winning streak to six with a 70-68 victory Tuesday night.
Ohio State trailed 37-20 at the half but cut it to 65-64 on Micah Parrish’s layup with 16 seconds left before Tonje helped the Badgers stay ahead from the foul line.
Tonje’s 3-pointer put Wisconsin up 65-57 with just over four minutes remaining.
John Blackwell added 15 points and Steven Crowl 14 for Wisconsin (14-3, 4-2 Big Ten) to give coach Greg Gard his 200th career victory.
Bruce Thornton had 21 points and Devin Royal 12 for Ohio State (10-7, 2-4).
The Badgers hit just one of their first seven shots after the break as Ohio State pulled within 39-30 on consecutive 3-pointers by Thornton and John Mobley Jr.
Royal’s 3-pointer capped a 9-0 run that brought the Buckeyes within 48-44 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Wisconsin, which entered as the nation’s top free-throw shooting team at 85.1%, hit 25 of 28 from the line, including Tonje’s 10 for 10.
Wisconsin opens a two-game West Coast swing at USC on Saturday, then at UCLA on Tuesday.
David Joplin made two of his seven 3-pointers in overtime, and No. 7 Marquette outlasted DePaul for a rugged 85-83 victory on Tuesday night.
Joplin finished with 30 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Kam Jones had 18 points and 11 assists for Marquette (15-2, 6-0 Big East), which earned its sixth consecutive win.
Joplin’s two 3s at the beginning of overtime lifted the Golden Eagles to a 73-67 lead. Two second-chance baskets by Stevie Mitchell made it 77-69 with 1:22 to go.
Chase Ross had 15 points for Marquette, and Ben Gold finished with 14.
CJ Gunn led DePaul with 21 points. Isaiah Rivera added 20, and Conor Enright finished with 11 points and 11 assists.
DePaul (9-9, 0-7) outrebounded Marquette 46-31 and enjoyed a 27-0 advantage in bench points. The Blue Demons fell just short in a bid for the program’s first Big East win since a 66-65 victory over Seton Hall in the conference tournament on March 8, 2023.
Jacob Meyer scored 12 points for DePaul, but he also had a costly turnover in the final seconds of OT.
Marquette trailed 65-61 with 54 seconds left in regulation. But then Jones made a 3-pointer, Enright turned the ball over and Ross made another 3 in the final seconds, putting the Golden Eagles in front.
DePaul rushed the ball up the court and Enright was credited with a tying layup when Gold was called for goaltending on his drive to the basket.
Marquette hosts Xavier on Saturday. The Golden Eagles beat the Musketeers 72-70 on Dec. 21.
Boys: (Tues.)
Plymouth 87 Ripon 54
Lomira 68 Wautoma 62
Appleton North 65 Appleton East 49
Fond du Lac 75 Oshkosh North 68
Kaukauna 82 Kimberly 63
Neenah 85 Oshkosh West 41
Girls:
Markesan 46 Berlin 33
Xavier 55 Waupun 48
Share |