State Sports Roundup: Bucks like their defensive play so far

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MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Bucks have beefed up their front-court to make it harder for opponents to glide into the lane and score easy lay-ups. The Bucks blocked eight shots in Tuesday night’s exhibition opener against Cleveland. Coach Scott Skiles cautions that it’s only the pre-season – but it’s clear that quote, “We’re a much longer team this year, and we’re going to be more of a factor around the rim.” The Bucks traded for veteran center Samuel Dalembert with the goal of being tougher in the post and swatting away opponents’ shots. Dalembert had three blocks against the Cavaliers in just 16 minutes. And Epke Udoh had a pronounced block of a lay-up attempt by former Buck and Wisconsin Badger Jon Leuer. The Bucks beat the Cavs by 17, and will host Detroit on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the online odds-makers at Bovada-LV give the Bucks a 125-to-1 chance of winning the NBA title this season. Only nine other teams have worse odds. The Charlotte Bobcats, who won just seven games last year, are 500-to-1 long-shots. Defending champion Miami is the favorite to repeat at 11-to-5.

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University of Wisconsin defensive end Tyler Dippel might not play in Saturday’s Big Ten Leaders’ Division contest at Purdue. Dippel, a redshirt junior, has been wearing a sling on his left arm – and he has not practiced this week. Line coach Charlie Partridge did not elaborate on Dippel’s injury, and would not comment on his playing status against the Boilermakers. If Dippel does not make the trip, redshirt freshman James Adeyanju could be one of the five defensive ends who will be available. Partridge says Dippel has been playing quote, “solid football.” He has started the last three games for Wisconsin. Dippel has two sacks, and he’s fourth among the Badgers’ linemen with 12 tackles this season.

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Prince Fielder broke out of his playoff slump last night, but his Detroit Tigers still lost at Oakland 4-3 as the A’s tied their American League Division Series at two games apiece. Fielder, a former Brewers’ All-Star, went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and a single. He broke out of a 1-for-12 slump in the first three games of the ALDS, and he’s now batting .188 in the series. The Tigers were on the verge of advancing when the A’s scored three times in the ninth to win it. Coco Crisp hit the game-winner with a two-out walk-off single. Former Brewers’ catcher George Kottaras went 0-for-1 in the game as a pinch-hitter for the A’s. Their decisive Game-Five will be played tonight in Oakland.

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In the other American League series, the New York Yankees lead Baltimore two-games-to-one, after the Yanks won a 3-to-2 game in 12 innings last night. Ex-Brewers’ shortstop J-J Hardy struck out twice and went 0-for-5 for the Orioles. In the National League, Cincinnati blew a two-games-to-none lead, as San Francisco tied the series with an 8-to-3 victory on the Reds’ home diamond. And Washington has an elimination game today, after going down two-games-to-one against Saint Louis. The Cardinals crushed the Nationals 8-0 in Game-Three yesterday in the first playoff game in the nation’s capital in 79 years.

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The University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team lost to UW-Milwaukee 1-0 in Madison last night. Jamie Bladen scored early in the second half, as Milwaukee ended a streak of 451 scoreless minutes against the Badgers in their annual contests over the last five years. Meanwhile, Wisconsin continues a scoreless streak that has now extended for about two-and-a-half games. The Badgers fell to 3-6-3 on the year, while UWM improved to 6-4-2.

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The UW-Milwaukee women’s soccer team edged Loyola 2-1 in double overtime at home last night. Helen Steinhauser scored the game-winner with 23 seconds left in the second OT. It gave the Panthers back-to-back victories for the first time this season. Milwaukee is now 3-2 in the Horizon League, and 4-7-1 overall.

Tags: wisconsin sports, sports, proam, bucks