Wisconsin basketball signee shines in FIBA EuroBasket championship
In more than 30 minutes of action, Bieliauskas tallied a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting 7-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-7 from 3-point range. That production was not enough to lift Lithuania to the championship, however, as Italy triumphed 83-66.
The performance caps off an impressive FIBA EuroBasket circuit for the incoming Badger. In seven games, he averaged 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game in 24.4 minutes. Sunday's 17-point, 12-rebound showing was his best performance, leading a 10-point, 11-rebound output in the group stage against Greece, 15-point games against both Romania and Poland, and a 16-point, seven-rebound effort in a quarterfinal win over Slovenia.
Bieliauskas committed to the Badgers back in April, reportedly choosing them over significant interest from Kansas. He most recently averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and one block per game for Zalgiris II in Lithuania's second-tier minor league.
Notably, the forward's addition followed the offseason departure of depth forward Xavier Amos, a move that significantly thinned out Wisconsin's frontcourt rotation. The Badgers have since also added Temple transfer Elijah Gray to further bolster the position.
Bieliauskas projects to play a depth role as a freshman with the Badgers in 2025-26. He, sophomore Riccardo Greppi and freshman Will Garlock will contend for minutes behind the team's top frontcourt trio of Nolan Winter, Portland transfer Austin Rapp and Gray.
For more, here is our latest projection for Wisconsin's starting lineup and rotation entering the 2025-26 season.
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Associated Press
17 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Football season looms with no clear guidance in athlete battles to win more eligibility from NCAA
The stream of lawsuits across the country from college athletes trying to grab another season of eligibility appears ready to fizzle out for a bit. With fall football practice cranking up this week, players still hoping for a judge allowing them to take the field may be left waiting for a ruling that likely won't help them compete again. 'We're at a point in the summer where I think any athlete out there is going to know that it's probably too late to file a case and be able to get relief on it,' said Sam Ehrlich, a professor of legal studies at Boise State studying the 2021 Alston ruling's affect on college athletics. Relief on a larger question surrounding eligibility may be a while coming, too: In cases from California to Wisconsin, judges have provided inconsistent results for players seeking legal help for another season and it may very well be a topic settled for good by a higher court. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is perhaps the highest-profile athlete to win his court fight. The New Mexico State transfer sued the NCAA last fall, arguing that his junior college years should not count against his eligibility, citing the potential losses in earnings from name, image and likeness deals. U.S. District Judge William Campbell Jr. in Tennessee granted a preliminary injunction, ordering the NCAA to allow Pavia to play. The NCAA is appealing Campbell's decision but granted a blanket waiver that will allow Pavia and other athletes who played at non-NCAA Division I schools prior to enrollment an extra year of eligibility if they were going to exhaust their eligibility this year. Pavia won. Others, such as Wisconsin cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean, have lost or are in limbo. Practice starts Wednesday for Southeastern Conference members Vanderbilt and Tennessee. Chris Bellamy and Targhee Lambson are among four football players waiting on the same federal judge who gave Pavia another season of football last December. Some schools have helped by filing waivers. Others wait and hold a spot, letting the athlete fight the legal battle. 'They're just kind of in limbo in the transfer portal because schools don't really know whether they're going to have eligibility,' Ehrlich said. 'It's a really weird situation right now.' The NCAA would like Congress to grant limited liability protection to help address all the lawsuits over eligibility. NCAA President Charlie Baker noted in June that athletes had five years to play four seasons for about a century, a situation that changed recently. Baker told The Associated Press then that the NCAA has won more of these cases than the association lost. 'But the uncertainty it creates, the consequences of this for the next generation of young people if you play this thing out, are enormous,' Baker said. 'Moving away from an academic calendar to sort of no calendar for college sports is hugely problematic.' Duke coach Manny Diaz thought such eligibility issues would be addressed after the House settlement, which took effect July 1. 'All I have been told is once they got House out of the way they are going to be double back on a lot of these oddities and make sure eligibility is tied into a college career,' Diaz said at ACC media days. 'We don't want nine-year guys playing the sport.' Thanks to the extra season added to careers for the coronavirus pandemic, the college eligibility calendar has been scrambled a bit. Pavia will be playing his sixth season after starting with two at New Mexico Military Institute, a junior college, then two more at New Mexico State. Fullback Hayden Large played three NAIA seasons at Dordt before transferring to Iowa, where he will be playing his sixth season this fall after being granted another year. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz sees a simple solution in giving players five years to play five seasons. He's also in favor of players who start in junior college having an extra year, even as he sees the need for a limit even if he doesn't know what that should be. 'If a guy during his first year ends up being able to play five or six games, why not let him play?' Ferentz said. 'It's all about creating opportunity, in my mind. I've never understood the rationale for not doing that.' Ehrlich is attempting to track all lawsuits against the NCAA, ranging from the House settlement;name, image and likeness litigation; college athletes as employees; and Title IX lawsuits, along with other cases. Ehrlich has tracked more than a dozen lawsuits involving eligibility and common factors are hard to come by. He saw three very different rulings from judges appointed by President Donald Trump. Standards of evidence for a preliminary injunction also have varied from judge to judge. 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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Guardians at trade deadline: Teams want Emmanuel Clase, Shane Bieber, but will Cleveland sell?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ahead of Friday's series opener between the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals, an executive offered a familiar trade deadline thesis. 'I think we have a good team right here. We believe in a lot of the guys we have. We're starting to see signs of the offense coming to life, which is really what's been missing all year. So, we're as confident as we've been in this team, and the pitching is still doing a phenomenal job. We just have to be open-minded to different ways to make our team better.' Advertisement No, that wasn't a Cleveland executive describing the Guardians' state of affairs. It was J.J. Picollo, the Royals' president of baseball operations, though it sounded like he was reading off a Chris Antonetti cue card. The Guardians and Royals are in similar positions. So, too, are the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. They're all hanging around the wild-card chase and have to determine by Thursday evening whether they want to bolster their chances, shift their focus to 2026 or stand pat. Having three wild-card berths in each league not only keeps more teams in the mix but also stifles and complicates trade activity. So, how do teams like the Guardians approach this week? Well, it started with surveying their fellow front offices in early July to get a sense of who might become available later in the month. Then, they diverted their attention to the draft for a few days. Now, the trade conversations, in all forms, have resumed and gained steam. The Guardians, figuring a more inviting part of the schedule could fuel a pre-deadline surge, prepared themselves so that no matter their ultimate path forward — buying, selling, both, neither — they had done the legwork on each approach. It's why Picollo, for instance, wouldn't classify the Royals as strictly buyers or sellers but instead said, 'We're in the business of getting better,' noting that could mean in 2025 or the future. The Royals have added two position players in recent days: second baseman Adam Frazier and outfielder Randal Grichuk. Neither veteran is going to transform what's been a lackluster lineup, but it surely signals — along with extending pitcher Seth Lugo — a more aggressive approach than the Guardians have exhibited, despite a similarly deficient offense and a nearly identical record. Aside from perhaps prospect C.J. Kayfus, no internal reinforcements for Cleveland's lineup are on the way, thanks to injuries to Chase DeLauter, Juan Brito and Lane Thomas. If the Guardians want to stay in the race, they'll need an outside addition or two to their lineup. Advertisement The Guardians weathered a 10-game skid and have since won 12 of 17. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers are in a free fall. They once led Cleveland by 15 1/2 games in the AL Central. Now it's eight, and the soft patch in the Guardians' schedule reaches a crescendo this week as they welcome the dreadful Colorado Rockies to Progressive Field. A fascinating (or boring — it could definitely wind up being boring) few days lie ahead. As Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase retreated to the visitors dugout Saturday afternoon, he attempted a frustration-filled kick of Jonathan India's blue helmet, which had rolled away from the Royals' celebration at home plate after his walk-off home run. Clase whiffed on the boot (probably for the best). It was the first walk-off homer he has surrendered since July 16, 2021. He wasn't thrilled with the strike zone in the 10th inning of the first game of the doubleheader. He urged manager Stephen Vogt to let him pitch in the nightcap, and he sealed a Guardians win. Clase is the most prolific closer in franchise history, and despite the India homer, he has resurrected a season that started miserably. Before Saturday, he had logged a 1.10 ERA since May 1. He has three more seasons of team control remaining after 2025, and at less than $30 million total. As far as relievers go, Clase has a bunch of value and a lot of teams calling — all the contenders you'd expect. Clase has heard the chatter and says he doesn't give it much thought. The Guardians tend to move on from pitchers before it's too late — that's how they acquired Clase in the first place, for Corey Kluber in December 2019 — but they certainly don't have to trade Clase this week. That's the message to other teams, too. The Guardians have scouts checking in on prospects for some of the legitimate contenders, due diligence that every team conducts this time of year. 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In addition to Clase, teams have called about Steven Kwan. He's the exact player the Phillies desire in left field. For the Guardians, it's the same thought process they have with Clase. Is it something they need to do right now, or can they revisit it this winter, especially if long-term extension talks continue to hit a dead end? Advertisement Cade Smith falls into this group, too, but it's almost impossible to envision the Guardians trading him when he has 4 1/2 years of team control remaining and could be the heir apparent to Clase. Carlos Santana's punchless bat — and at 39 years old, that shouldn't be a shocking development — has sapped him of his value, at least at the plate. He remains a skilled defender, but teams aren't exactly lining up for glove-first first basemen this time of year. He likely ranks behind Baltimore's Ryan O'Hearn and, if the Rays make him available, Yandy Díaz in the first-base pecking order. Santana did not crack The Athletic's big board of the top 50 trade candidates. The Seattle Mariners, who tried to sign Santana last winter, opted to deal this week for Josh Naylor, whom Santana replaced in Cleveland. 'Any moment that a team shows interest in you and the product that you bring,' Bo Naylor said of his talk with his brother about the trade, 'and the type of player you are, that's always something to be excited about.' If the Guardians move Santana, they could promote Kayfus from Triple-A Columbus to share first-base/DH duties with Manzardo and David Fry. If Fry could play first base at some point in the final two months — he's throwing out to 90 feet, and one coach said his arm looks great — that would give the front office even more motivation to part with Santana. Vogt, though, sprinkled some doubt on Fry's playing in the field in 2025 and said the focus is for him to catch in 2026. Lane Thomas, another impending free agent, would have been a trade candidate, but his foot has not cooperated. He's likely out until September because of a lingering case of plantar fasciitis. This contract year has been an abject nightmare for him. Paul Sewald, who has a $10 million club option for next year that almost certainly will not be exercised, is on the shelf with a strain in the back of his shoulder. He said himself that it probably eliminates him from trade consideration. And then there's the curious case of Shane Bieber. He logged three innings at Class-A Lake County on Tuesday, but his start Sunday for Triple-A Columbus was rained out. If the Guardians want to move him, there's a market. He's earning $10 million this year and has a $4 million buyout or a $16 million player option for next season. Barring a significant setback, it's difficult to envision him exercising that option, so he should hit free agency this winter. Advertisement The Guardians have received calls on Bieber, and they know all about midseason acquisitions of pitchers recovering from injury. They signed Matthew Boyd and traded for Alex Cobb last summer to rescue their rotation. The starting pitching market is lacking in sizzle — that is, unless the AL Central reshapes the market. Even with Lugo off the board, Bieber and Minnesota's Joe Ryan would be two of the top names on the market. For Cleveland to move Bieber, it would need to acquire a prospect with more potential than whoever it could select with the draft pick it would recoup if Bieber departs in free agency. If the Guardians hold on to him and he opts out, they can submit a qualifying offer (which last year was worth about $21 million for one year). If Bieber rejects that and signs elsewhere for at least $50 million, the Guardians would be awarded a compensatory pick after the first round. If he signs elsewhere for less than $50 million, the Guardians would be awarded a compensatory pick after the second round. If his rescheduled outing takes place Tuesday in Akron, the staff at Canal Park might want to clear some extra seats for scouts. (Top photo of Emmanuel Clase: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Herd to host golf outing in memory of late Wisconsin basketball legend Joe Wolf
OSHKOSH – An annual golf event will be held in memory of the late Joe Wolf. The Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League team of the Milwaukee Bucks, is organizing the Joe Wolf Memorial Golf Outing in honor of their former assistant coach. The event is scheduled for Aug. 27 at Lake Breeze Golf Course, Winneconne. Registration for the event is open for both individuals and groups of four at Participants will receive 18 holes of golf, access to a golf cart, lunch, dinner, a drink ticket, a $50 gift card to the Wisconsin Herd Pro Shop, and a ticket to a Wisconsin Herd home game for the 2025-26 season. Read more: Herd honors late coach Joe Wolf as team falls 105-99 on opening night at Oshkosh Arena Check-in will start at 8 a.m., and the golf will begin at 9 a.m. A dinner reception and awards ceremony will follow the golf. The event will also feature a raffle with prizes including NBA and NBA G League jerseys, aiming to raise funds for the Joe Wolf Foundation. The foundation supports various charities, including youth development programs, food distribution for those in need, cancer research and heart disease prevention. Read more: Kohler's Joe Wolf played with Michael Jordan at North Carolina and was 13th in the NBA Draft. He was voted the state's all-time greatest high school basketball player. Wolf, a Kohler native who was a well-respected and dedicated figure in the NBA and NBA G League, had an illustrious career that spanned more than 37 years. He spent 12 years as a player in the NBA and 25 years coaching at different levels, including college, CBA, NBA G League and NBA. This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, ntazeen@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Joe Wolf memorial golf outing organized by Wisconsin Herd
