STEVE MEGARGEE

Sports writer

Megargee is an Associated Press sports writer covering college and professional sports in Wisconsin, including the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, University of Wisconsin and Marquette.

Milwaukee Admirals' Cody Hodgson of the American Hockey League poses for a picture Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Milwaukee. Hodgson is a former NHL player who retired from hockey eight years ago due to a muscle disorder but is now making a comeback. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Health issues forced Cody Hodgson to retire from hockey at 26. Eight years later, he’s playing again

Cody Hodgson is attempting the improbable by trying to get back into the NHL eight years after his retirement.

Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello, left, talks with manager Alex Cora during spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Red Sox make long-term investment in Bello as they await clarity on Giolito’s elbow

The Boston Red Sox have made a major long-term investment in their top returning starting pitcher after getting bad news about the team’s biggest offseason addition to the rotation.

UConn's Alex Karaban drives past Marquette's Oso Ighodaro during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in Milwaukee. UConn won 74-67. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

No. 2 UConn outlasts No. 8 Marquette 74-67 for 1st Top 25 road win in a decade

Alex Karaban and Cam Spencer shot a combined 10 of 16 from 3-point range and No. 2 UConn defeated No. 8 Marquette 74-67.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 4, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Improved defense under coach Doc Rivers has helped the Bucks surge since the All-Star break

The Milwaukee Bucks have won six straight games and own the NBA’s best defensive rating since the All-Star break.

Marquette's Tyler Kolek shoots between Providence's Josh Oduro and Corey Floyd Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Marquette coach Shaka Smart confident that Tyler Kolek will play again at some point this season

Marquette coach Shaka Smart says he is optimistic that Tyler Kolek’s oblique injury won’t knock the 2022-23 Big East player of the year out for the remainder of the season.

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard tries to get past Los Angeles Clippers' Norman Powell during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 4, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Bucks don’t have Antetokounmpo but still beat Clippers 113-106 for 6th straight victory

Damian Lillard scored 41 points and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to rally past the Los Angeles Clippers 113-106 for their sixth straight victory.

Illinois' Marcus Domask (3) shoots against Wisconsin's Tyler Wahl (5) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

Domask’s homecoming helps No. 13 Illinois win 91-83 to continue Wisconsin’s slide

Marcus Domask scored 31 points, Terrence Shannon Jr. added 23 and No. 13 Illinois continued its recent mastery of Wisconsin by defeating the slumping Badgers 91-83.

Former Wisconsin player and assistant coach Howard Moore is greeted by the Wisconsin team Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Madison, Wis., in in his first public appearance at the Kohl Center since a 2019 car wreck killed his wife and daughter and left him with serious injuries. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

Howard Moore gets a standing ovation at his first home Wisconsin game since his 2019 car wreck

Former Wisconsin player and assistant coach Howard Moore received a standing ovation in his first public appearance at the Kohl Center since a 2019 car wreck killed his wife and daughter and left him with serious injuries.

FILE - Pittsburgh Pirates first round draft pick, pitcher Paul Skenes works out as pitching coach Oscar Marin, bottom center, watches, in the bullpen after meeting with reporters after signing with the team in Pittsburgh, July 18, 2023. Skenes, the top overall pick by the Pirates in last year's draft, reported for his first spring training on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, and is hopeful to reach the majors sooner rather than later. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Pirates’ Skenes retires Orioles’ Holliday in Grapefruit League matchup between top draft picks

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes retired the Baltimore Orioles’ Jackson Holliday on a grounder to second base in a spring training matchup of the top overall picks in the last two amateur drafts.

Marquette's Tyler Kolek drives past Providence's Jayden Pierre during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

No. 5 Marquette trounces Providence 91-69 despite losing Kolek to oblique injury

No. 5 Marquette trounced Providence 91-69 despite playing most of the second half without Tyler Kolek, who left the game with an oblique injury.

Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, with his wife Tavia Shackels Hunt, speak to the crowd during their victory rally in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Chiefs owner gets ‘F-minus’ grade from NFLPA, says team needs to improve facilities

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt admitted Wednesday that the Super Bowl champions are overdue for some much-needed upgrades to their practice facilities after the NFL Players Association issued its annual report card and graded Kansas City as the second-worst team in the league overall.

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Bucks roll to 123-85 blowout of Hornets for their third consecutive victory

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points, Damian Lillard had 23 points and Bobby Portis scored 21 as the Milwaukee Bucks pounded the Charlotte Hornets 123-85 for their most lopsided victory of the season.

Marquette's Kam Jones tries together past Xavier's Desmond Claude during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Jones has happy birthday with 2nd straight 34-point game in No. 7 Marquette’s 88-64 rout of Xavier

Kam Jones celebrated his 22nd birthday by scoring 34 points for a second straight game and No. 7 Marquette trounced slumping Xavier 88-64 on Sunday.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Corbin Burnes throws during live batting practice at spring training in Sarasota, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Orioles’ Corbin Burnes looks sharp in first game appearance with his new team

Corbin Burnes’ first outing with his new team looked like an abbreviated version of a typical performance with his old one.

New York Mets' Pete Alonso handles a grounder during a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Mets owner Cohen says he expects Alonso to explore free agency but wants to keep him

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen doesn’t anticipate a resolving Pete Alonso’s future with the team until after the season.

FILE - Boston College coach Jeff Hafley applauds during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Pittsburgh. Jeff Hafley is leaving his job as Boston College's head coach to become the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator. The Packers announced Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 that Hafley would be taking over for Joe Barry, who was fired last week after three seasons as Green Bay's defensive coordinator.(AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)

Hafley says he wasn’t looking to leave BC. But the chance to join Packers’ staff was too tempting

Jeff Hafley says he wasn’t necessarily looking to get out of college football before he left his job as Boston College’s head coach to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Rivers hasn’t been what the doctor ordered yet and struggling Bucks have work to do down the stretch

Doc Rivers’ arrival was supposed to ensure the Milwaukee Bucks would develop into one of the NBA’s most dangerous teams by the postseason.

Marquette's Tyler Kolek drives past DePaul's Chico Carter Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Tyler Kolek has school-record 18 assists to help No. 7 Marquette rout DePaul, 105-71

Tyler Kolek had a school-record 18 assists, Kam Jones scored a career-high 34 points and No. 7 Marquette bounced back from its most-lopsided loss of the season to rout DePaul 105-71 on Wednesday night.

Los Angeles Angles' Mike Trout hits in the cages during a baseball spring training workout, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Trout says he wants to stay with Angels. Rendon discusses where baseball ranks on his priority list

Mike Trout discussed his future and Anthony Rendon talked about his priorities as the two Los Angeles Angels veterans made some interesting comments Monday with hitters reporting to spring training camps across Arizona and Florida.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) participates in spring training baseball workouts at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

New uniform designs drawing plenty of scrutiny during opening days of spring training

What the players are wearing has garnered as much attention as what they’re doing in the first few days of spring training.

FILE - Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias speaks prior to a baseball game between the Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays, Sept. 15, 2023, in Baltimore. On the day they held their first official workout, the Orioles announced that pitcher Kyle Bradish would open the season on the injured list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Bradish had received a platelet-rich plasma injection to treat the injury. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

Orioles’ Kyle Bradish will miss start of season with elbow sprain

It didn’t take long for spring training to provide its first injury reports. The Baltimore Orioles announced Thursday that pitcher Kyle Bradish would open the season on the injured list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament.

Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo (13) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Jovic scores career-high 24, Adebayo gets triple-double as Heat beat Bucks 123-97 without Butler

Nikola Jovic scored a career-high 24 points, Bam Adebayo had his second triple-double of the season and the Miami Heat rolled to a 123-97 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic tries to shoot past Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Antetokounmpo posts 36 points, 18 rebounds, Bucks flex defensive muscle in 112-95 win over Nuggets

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 18 rebounds and five assists as the Milwaukee Bucks showcased their improved defense by trouncing the Denver Nuggets 112-95.

Marquette's Tyler Kolek (11) and St. John's RJ Luis Jr. 5) chase the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Kolek sparks 2nd-half rally as No. 7 Marquette beats St. John’s 86-75 for 7th straight win

Tyler Kolek scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half and also had 13 assists as No. 7 Marquette rallied to beat St.

Minnesota Timberwolves' Mike Conley fouls Milwaukee Bucks' Malik Beasley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Timberwolves roll past short-handed Bucks 129-105 to spoil Doc Rivers’ home debut

Anthony Edwards had 26 points and nine assists and the Minnesota Timberwolves shot 21 of 41 from 3-point range to trounce the slumping Milwaukee Bucks 129-105.

New Washington head coach Jedd Fisch laughs during an NCAA college football press conference to introduce him to the community, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Coaching carousel adds intrigue to college football recruiting’s February signing period

College football’s busy recruiting calendar created a particularly hectic first few weeks on the job for all the head coaches who switched schools over the last month.

FILE - Southern California head coach Lincoln Riley, left, talks with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch during an NCAA college football practice Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Los Angeles. Grinch says his disappointing tenure as Southern California’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons has given him even more incentive as he begins his new job as Wisconsin’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

New Wisconsin assistant Alex Grinch says disappointing stint at USC gives him chip on his shoulder

Alex Grinch says his disappointing tenure as Southern California’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons has given him even more incentive as he begins his new job as Wisconsin’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator.

Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn (4) shoots against Wisconsin's Tyler Wahl (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

No. 2 Purdue wins 75-69 at No. 6 Wisconsin for 7th consecutive victory

Lance Jones scored 20 points, Zach Edey joined another exclusive club and No. 2 Purdue beat No. 6 Wisconsin 75-69 for its seventh consecutive victory.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) rolls out of the pocket during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Packers GM Gutekunst expresses interest in negotiating long-term deal with Jordan Love

Jordan Love’s ability to lead the NFL’s youngest team to the divisional playoffs in his first year as a starter has the Green Bay Packers eager to work out a long-term extension with him.

FILE - Boston College coach Jeff Hafley applauds during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in Pittsburgh. Jeff Hafley is leaving his job as Boston College's head coach to become the Green Bay Packers' defensive coordinator. The Packers announced Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 that Hafley would be taking over for Joe Barry, who was fired last week after three seasons as Green Bay's defensive coordinator.(AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)

Packers hire Jeff Hafley away from Boston College to become their defensive coordinator

Jeff Hafley is leaving his job as Boston College’s head coach to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator.