Chicago Sports

Thursday, December 8, 2022

CENTRAL SUBURBAN – SOUTH

Evanston at Glenbrook North, 7:00

CHICAGO PREP

Northtown at Cristo Rey, 7:00

METRO PREP

CPSA at Hinsdale Adventist, 5:00

NOBLE LEAGUE – GOLD

Johnson at Bulls Prep, 7:00

Noble Academy at ITW-Speer, 7:00

Rowe-Clark at Comer, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED-SOUTH / CENTRAL

Curie at Morgan Park, 6:30

Hyde Park at Brooks, 5:00

Longwood at Lindblom, 6:30

Simeon at Perspectives-Lead, 6:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-CENTRAL

Dunbar at DuSable, 5:00

Englewood STEM at Kennedy, 5:00

King at Hubbard, 5:00

Richards (Chgo) at Catalyst-Maria, 5:00

Urban Prep-Englewood at Bogan, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Agricultural Science at Fenger, 5:00

Dyett at ACE Amandla, 5:00

South Shore at Harlan, 5:00

Urban Prep-Bronzeville at UC-Woodlawn, 5:00

Vocational at Corliss, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-CENTRAL

ACERO-Garcia at Horizon-Southwest, 5:00

ACERO-Soto at Solorio, 5:00

Excel-Englewood at Tilden, 5:00

Gage Park at Hancock, 5:00

Instituto Health at Back of the Yards, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-SOUTH

Bowen at Washington, 5:00

Carver at Julian, 5:00

Chicago Military at Air Force, 5:00

EPIC at Hirsch, 5:00

Excel-South Shore at Goode, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-WEST

Kelvyn Park at Little Village, 5:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – BLUE

Hillcrest at Thornton Fr. South, 6:00

Lemont at Tinley Park, 6:30

Thornton Fr. North at Oak Forest, 6:30

SOUTH SUBURBAN – RED

Oak Lawn at Evergreen Park, 6:00

Shepard at Reavis, 6:00

SOUTH SUBURBAN – CROSSOVER

Bremen at Argo, 7:00

WEST SUBURBAN – SILVER

Downers Grove North at Hinsdale Central, 7:00

NON CONFERENCE

Carmel at Libertyville, 7:00

DRW Prep at Chicago Tech, 5:00

Elgin at Round Lake, 7:00

Genoa-Kingston at Hinckley-Big Rock, 7:00

IC Catholic at Montini, 6:00

Neuqua Valley at Schaumburg Christian, 7:00

Providence at Southland, 7:00

Rockford Christian at Richmond-Burton, 7:00

Sycamore at Byron, 7:00

Universal at Yorkville Christian, 7:00

Westminster Christian at St. Edward, 7:00

Westmont at IMSA, 7:00

Woodstock North at Wauconda, 7:00

HALL

Mendota vs. St. Bede, 5:00

Hall vs. Bureau Valley, 6:30

Stillman Valley vs. Fieldcrest, 8:00

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Illinois bettors plunked down more than $1 billion on sports in October, a new record for the state’s young sports betting industry and one of the highest monthly figures recorded anywhere in the U.S. since the industry was legalized, gambling regulators announced Thursday.

The staggering monthly handle — or total amount of money wagered — cements Illinois’ status as one of the nation’s most bet-hungry sports markets, joining New York, New Jersey and Nevada as the only states to cross the billion-dollar mark in a single month.

Illinois casino sportsbooks came out ahead for the month with more than $102 million in revenue, state Gaming Board Administrator Marcus Fruchter said during a monthly meeting held by the agency.

The overall house earnings for the month generated about $15 million in state tax revenue and roughly another $1 million for Cook County government.

Illinoisans have now wagered almost $17 billion on sports since the industry launched in the state just a few days before the COVID-19 pandemic started in March of 2020.

The state’s 12 sportsbooks have netted almost $1.3 billion over that time, creating almost $190 million in tax revenue.

The October betting numbers — the most recent available from the Gaming Board — were boosted largely by the first full month of NFL games. Football was the most popular sport to bet on, with a handle of $358 million, followed by basketball ($114 million) and tennis ($85 million).

“It is an incredible accomplishment for everyone involved in the Illinois sports betting industry to exceed $1 billion in handle,” said Dave Briggs, an analyst for the sports betting website PlayIllinois.com. “Betting on the NFL and the opening of both the NBA and NHL regular seasons were major catalysts behind the record month.”

Sports betting was legalized as part of a massive gambling expansion signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in 2019.

Industry insiders and government officials alike are banking on the market to keep booming as new sportsbooks are earmarked for Chicago’s major sports stadiums, and as the state solicits applications for an online-only sports betting license. The sports betting apps that are advertised so ubiquitously across the airwaves and internet currently operate in Illinois only in partnership with a brick-and-mortar casino or racetrack.

Opponents note that the state’s sports betting explosion have also resulted in rising gambling addiction. Calls to the state’s gambling addiction hotline more than doubled over the first year the industry was live in Illinois.

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The Blackhawks returned to Chicago and welcomed back a plethora of familiar faces to practice Thursday, providing some optimism in an otherwise bleak stretch for the team.

Goaltenders Alex Stalock (concussion) and Petr Mrazek (groin), forwards Jonathan Toews (illness) and Sam Lafferty (back) and defenseman Jarred Tinordi (hip) all hit the ice at Fifth Third Arena, and all but Mrazek were full participants in practice.

Stalock’s return was most notable, since his status has wavered up and down since Islanders forward Casey Cizikas decked him back on Nov. 1 and gave him the first concussion of his career.

He’d participated in a morning skate one time since then (on Nov. 27) but was promptly pulled back after his symptoms worsened. He has now worked his way back to this stage.

“It has been a few times now where you feel like you’re ready to give it a try and then, the next day, you wake up and it’s not even close to what it was,” Stalock said Thursday. “I was warned earlier that you’re going to have setbacks, but you never feel like it’s going to happen. Sure enough, it happens a few times, and it’s not fun to deal with something like that mentally.

“It’s tough when you’re by yourself, especially [when the team is] on the road and you’re wondering when and if you’re going to be back around the group. Hopefully, at some point, [I’m] fully engaged in a practice and feel comfortable again. But it’s a step, that’s for sure.”

Stalock was one of the Hawks’ most pleasant surprises in October, starting the season 3-2-1 with a .914 save percentage after making only one NHL appearance over the last two seasons combined due to myocarditis.

But from the start of training camp, he seemed confident the myocarditis issue was behind him. It’ll be more difficult to teach himself not to worry about the risk of another head injury.

“You want to be able to react and feel comfortable when the puck’s coming in at a high rate of speed,” he said. “You don’t want to be pulling back on a puck. [You’re usually] not expecting it to hit you in the head, but you’re going to get hit in the head again.

“A head is a tough spot for a goalie. It’s going to be a mental hurdle to get over. But that’ll come with time and reps.”

There’s no official timeline yet for Stalock, considering the obvious unpredictability of his situation. The same applies to Mrazek, who skated Thursday with Stalock and currently active goalies Arvid Soderblom and Jaxson Stauber but didn’t stay out for team drills.

Toews, on the other hand, will almost certainly play Friday against the Jets. And Lafferty, who has been sidelined since quietly departing mid-game Nov. 23 at the Stars with his back issue, also could potentially return Friday.

“It was a little buildup and then something happened — I don’t know exactly what it was, but I just felt a pop,” Lafferty said. “I’ve done all the work with the trainers and got it back to where it’s feeling good. I’m excited to be back.”

Tinordi likely won’t play Friday, coach Luke Richardson said, but could return as soon as the Hawks’ next game beyond that — Tuesday against the Capitals.

And even Tyler Johnson, the Hawks’ only injured player not seen Thursday, is “getting close to being back where he was” before he suffered a setback in his ankle recovery. Out since Oct. 25, Johnson was considered questionable to play Nov. 20, but then was seen back in a walking boot a few days later.

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The 2021 season was an unremarkable boondoggle for the Bears, and when new general manager Ryan Poles took over in January, he saw little worth clinging to from the 6-11 roster as he embarked on the rebuild.

It was a bizarre last-ditch effort by Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy to save their jobs: a team led by a castoff quarterback with no left tackle and a clearance rack secondary. Predictably, that got them nowhere.

The one redeeming quality of that team was that it sputtered so badly that chairman George McCaskey could no longer deny the necessity of change. It was time to clean house, and while the Bears sit near the bottom of the NFL at 3-10, there’s far more confidence that they’re headed the right direction.

Now that the Bears have moved on, here’s a look at how the top players that left have done this season:

Khalil Mack, OLB, Chargers

Poles couldn’t have been clearer about his rationale behind dealing Mack for a second-round pick a month and a half into his tenure: He was a great player the Bears simply couldn’t afford. While Mack is still very good, the salary-cap space and draft capital (Poles took safety Jaquan Brisker with the pick) made more sense in a rebuild.

Mack played just seven games for the Bears before needing season-ending foot surgery, but recovered well and hasn’t missed any time with the Chargers. He leads the team with seven sacks.

Roquan Smith, LB, Ravens

Smith seemed sure to be starring for the Bears into the next decade, but the bottom line was Poles and coach Matt Eberflus don’t value that position and were set against paying Smith the record-breaking contract he sought.

Poles dealt Smith to the Ravens on Oct. 31, and he has 31 tackles and a sack in four games with them. Meanwhile, his replacement, undrafted rookie Jack Sanborn, has 43 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery in five games since taking his starting spot.

Allen Robinson, WR, Rams

Robinson once aspired to be the greatest wide receiver in Bears history, but it has been a rough road since the team used the franchise tag on him in 2021 after fruitless contract negotiations.

He dropped to a career-low 410 yards while playing through injuries last season, then signed a three-year, $46.5 million deal with the Rams and suffered a season-ending foot injury 10 games into it. With his contract, he’s near-certain to be back with them next season.

Andy Dalton, QB, Saints

Of all the absurdities from last season, the notion that the Bears wanted to keep first-round pick Justin Fields on the bench for the entirety of it in favor of playing Dalton is high on the list. That plan never made sense, fell apart immediately, and now Fields is thriving in a functional situation.

Nonetheless, Dalton is hanging on admirably at 35 with the Saints. He stepped in as their starter when Jameis Winston got hurt and has the second-highest passer rating of his career at 96.2, which is almost 20 points above the career-worst 76.9 he posted for the Bears.

Robert Quinn, DE, Eagles

It was a wild ride for Quinn with the Bears after signing a five-year, $70 million deal in 2020. He bombed with just two sacks in his debut season, then set the franchise record with 18.5 sacks last season. He had one sack in seven games when Poles dealt him to the Eagles for a fourth-round pick in October.

Quinn, 32, never got going in Philadelphia. He played just five games — never getting more than 27% of the defensive snaps — before going on injured reserve Tuesday with a knee issue. He will not play when the Bears host the Eagles on Dec. 18

Akiem Hicks, DT, Buccaneers

Hicks undoubtedly is ring chasing at this point and joining the Bucs was logical in that pursuit, but it hasn’t gone like he hoped. Hicks, 33, has played just six games, and while the Bucs are in first place in the NFC South, no one views them as a contender at 6-6.

Jakeem Grant, WR, Browns

Grant was one of just two Pro Bowl players on the Bears’ 2021 roster, earning that accolade as a return man. He got a three-year, $10 million contract with the Browns, but tore his Achilles tendon in the preseason.

Jimmy Graham, TE, free agent

The Bears likely will go down as the last team to overpay for Jimmy Graham, failing to learn from the Packers’ error before them. They spent $16 million over two seasons for a total of 64 catches, 623 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Graham infringed on necessary snaps for up-and-comer Cole Kmet. Graham is 36 and essentially retired.

Tashaun Gipson, S, 49ers

Gipson, now 32, was one of the few bargains that was worthwhile in the Pace era. He was ultra-reliable for the Bears in 2020 and ’21 and found work quickly as a free agent this year. He has played 98% of the defensive snaps for the 49ers and has 41 tackles and an interception.

Nick Foles, QB, Colts

Foles was clear since 2021 that he wanted to go to the Colts and quickly signed a two-year, $6.2 million deal with them. However, even with all their upheaval, he has played just two snaps.

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The College Football awards are tonight 12/8 and they include two finalists from Illinois and one from Northwestern.

Northwestern did not have much to be proud of this year after they went 1-11. Their only win came in Ireland at the beginning of the year and they didn’t win a single game in America. Despite that it seems they have one player to be proud of in Peter Skoronski. Following in the footsteps of Rashawn Slater, Skoronski is set to become a first rounder and some mock drafts have him being selected in the top 10.

Skoronski is currently up for the Outland Trophy which is awarded to the top interior lineman in the country. The award will probably go to Olusegun Oluwatimi from Michigan as they went undefeated and his name has been called on a bigger stage more times than Skoronski. Nonetheless Skoronski is a highly sought after player for this upcoming draft and even with a pretty miserable season from the Wildcats there is something to be excited about.

Illinois could have had a brilliant year and definitely one to remember but unfortunately it slipped away towards the end after a couple bad losses. Although the season did not end as it should have there were definitely a couple players that were the highlights of this team.

Starting with Devon Witherspoon who was the Illini’s best defensive back and quickly became one of the best in college football. His statistics were very good as he contributed greatly to an Illinois defense that was top 5 in college football for passing defense all year long. Devon is a finalist for the prestigious Jim Thorpe award. This award is given to the best defensive back in college football. He looks like he has a real shot to win this one comparatively. Devon is another player who is shown in mock drafts for 2023 that could be taken in the first round.

The final player up for an award is Illinois football’s Chase Brown. Arguably the best running back in college football this year but many seem to think otherwise.

Chase Brown is the leader of the offense and was the workhorse. He was the guy Illinois looked to when they needed momentum or points. His stats were absolutely incredible rushing but he was so helpful in the passing game for DeVito and the Illini. Brown is up for another prestigious award in college football, the Doak Walker award. The award given to the best running back in college football. Brown joins some solid company with Bijan Robinson from Texas and Blake Corum from Michigan. Although Chase may not win this one it is undeniable that he had an incredible season and was a major part of Illinois football’s success.

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Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced the signing of former Chicago Cubs Outfielder, Jason Heyward to a minor league deal, with an invitation to Major League camp.

This wasn’t exactly the move fans were hoping for, as Heyward has been a shell of his former All-Star self over the last few years. The 13-year-veteran hit .204 last year in 48 games with the Cubs, with one home run and 10 RBIs.

The five-time Gold Glove winner has spent time in both right and center field in his career — and the Dodgers obviously have a big need in center with the loss of Cody Bellinger – who incidentally was recently signed by the Cubs.

In Chicago, Heyward was considered a willing mentor and a fabulous teammate – he’ll always be known for his speech during the rain delay in the late stages of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series – but was no longer deemed worthy of a roster spot.

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When Andre Crews first came to Simeon, he’d already been playing football for nearly 10 years in Park District leagues.

Coach Dante Culbreath could see right away that Crews was more than just experienced — he was also an exceptional talent.

“I saw it as a freshman when he walked through the building [that] he was a hell of a football player,” Culbreath said. “And we got him out there as a sophomore [on varsity], a little bit as a freshman as well.”

Crews, a running back and defensive back, was an integral part of a young Wolverines team that finished 6-7 in 2021. And then as a senior, he put together a season for the ages this fall as Simeon went 12-1 and won the Prep Bowl.

He ran 205 times for 2,307 yards — an 11.2 yards per carry average — and 40 touchdowns. Throw in his receiving stats, and Crews finished with 2,385 total yards and 41 TDs. That earned him Public League Player of the Year honors from the Chicago Public League Football Coaches Association.

At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Crews is both strong enough to run through defenders and fast enough to run away from them. He knows his skill set is a perfect fit for the position he’s been playing since he was 5 years old.

“What do I like about running back? It’s that feeling when you run past everybody,” he said. “Running people over, juking people, making people fall. It’s just a better feeling when you’re scoring that touchdown.”

Crews believes patience played a big role in his breakout season.

“I feel like I’ve been more disciplined this year, as far as listening to my coach and how my linemen have everything set up,” he said. “Taking my time, reading my holes, reading my blocks, following my blocks.”

The blocks were usually well-executed, too. Two Simeon offensive linemen — Jose Manning and Khristien Childs — joined Crews as Public League first-team picks, and a third — Sean Goodrum — received honorable mention.

And opponents couldn’t just stack the box to stop Crews and the Simeon run game. If they tried that, they were likely to get burned by the multi-talented Malik Elzy, another Public League first-teamer who is a four-star prospect and a top-50 receiver nationally.

As for Crews’ own recruiting, “it’s going a little slow,” but he has a few Division I offers and is hoping to set up an official visit to FCS South Dakota. One thing recruiters won’t have to worry about is getting Crews into school: he has a 3.4 grade-point average.

“Being little, I couldn’t play football without my grades,” he said.

The All-Public League football team was selected by a committee of Public League coaches and administrators.

2022 All-Public League Team

Offense

QB Askia Bullie, Westinghouse, Jr.RB Andre Crews, Simeon, Sr.RB Tysean Griffin, Morgan Park, Jr.WR Malik Elzy, Simeon, Sr.WR Adam Muench, Amundsen, Sr.WR Chris Durr, Morgan Park, Jr.WR Charlie Newton, Payton, Sr.ATH Aleksandar Dale, Young, Sr.OL Jose Manning, Simeon, Sr.OL Grzegorz Krupa, Taft, Sr.OL Keevan Blanton, Phillips, Sr.OL Michael Barretto, Taft, Sr.OL Khristien Childs, Simeon, Sr.K Russell Anglada, Amundsen, Sr.KR Davonte Johnson, Kenwood, Sr.

Defense

DL Marquise Lightfoot, Kenwood, Jr.DL Mikeshun Beeler, Simeon, Jr.DL AJ Robinson, Phillips, Sr.DL Aaron Mathews, Hyde Park, Sr.LB K’Vion Thunderbird, Kenwood, Sr.LB Jovan Clark, Morgan Park, So.LB Scott Thomas, Perspectives, Sr.LB Antwan Rocquemore, Simeon, Sr.DB Kahlil Tate, Kenwood, Sr.DB Jaykwon Armour, Simeon, Sr.DB DeWayne Brooks, Westinghouse, Jr.DB Finn Merrill, Lane, Sr.P Humberto Velazquez, Prosser, Sr.

Second Team offense

QB Marcus Thaxton, Morgan Park, So.RB Wilham Lord, Hyde Park, Sr.RB Reginald Fox-Holden, Phillips, Sr.WR Jacob Williams, Englewood, Sr.WR Deshaun Wright Jr., Johnson, Jr.WR Ryan McDonald, Phillips, Sr.WR Frank Iverson, Urban Prep, Sr.ATH Kameron Pointer, Bulls Prep, Sr.OL Jermani Massey, Perspectives, Sr.OL Mkhyle Williams, Richards, Sr.OL Donte Gearring, Morgan Park, Sr.OL Alejandro Guzman, Goode, Sr.OL Babanifesimi Opadele, Young, Jr.K Isa Katz, Payton, Jr.KR Martese Whitehurst, Goode, Sr.

Second Team defense

DL Tyler Washington, Hubbard, Sr.DL Konnor Thomkins, King, Sr.DL Stephon Duncan, Sullivan, Sr.DL Deandrew Seals, Chicago Richards, Sr.LB Zyier Griffen, Urban Prep, Jr.LB Marques Whitehurst, Goode, Sr.LB Mar’Sean Cohen, Simeon, Jr.LB Jordan Jones, Phillips, Sr.DB Ahmad Grayer, Morgan Park, Sr.DB Kiwaun Davis, Kenwood, Sr.DB Anthony Hood, Young, Jr.DB Thomas Randle Jr., Ag. Science, Sr.

Honorable Mention

QB Chris Clark, Amundsen, Sr.ATH Earnest Davis, Chicago Academy, Sr.DB Donnie Buckner, Richards, Sr.DL Sean Brown, Bronzeville, Sr.DL Maasai Gipson, Hyde Park, Sr.DL Sedrick Washington, Hyde Park, Sr.LB Keyth Williams, Morgan Park, Sr.LB Marcel Wade, Lindblom, Sr.LB Travonta Gist, King, Sr.OL Jamal McKenzie, Corliss, Sr.OL Brandon Fizer, Perspectives, Sr.OL Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lincoln Park, Sr.OL Sean Goodrum, Simeon, Sr.RB Jaiden Padilla, Taft, Sr.RB Casey Joyce, Lane, Sr.RB Keshawn Tuggle, Ag. Science, Jr.WR Tyrell Lockett, Perspectives, Jr.WR Dwayne Williams, Phillips, Sr.WR Darian Humprey, Crane, Sr.

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Xander Bogaerts signs with San Diego: What’s next for the Chicago Cubs?

The Chicago Cubs have been quite busy during the opening days of free agency. After inking deals with pitcher Jameson Taillon and outfielder Cody Bellinger, it was reported they were also in on former Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins don’t look shy this off-season, as they seem to be ready to write some big checks.

However last night, it was reported that Xander Bogaerts signed a lucrative, 11 years, 280-million-dollar deal with the San Diego Padres. Yes, you read that correctly. It was expected that the Cubs were going to make a push towards the former All-Star, but it seems they’ve shifted focus to a different shortstop. 2022 All-Star and Gold Glover, Dansby Swanson.

Swanson would be a huge addition to this Chicago Cubs roster, and if signed it would likely be forcing Nico Hoerner to move to second base. He batted a career high .277 last year, to go along with 25 homeruns and 96 runs batted in. Swanson’s bat has improved mightily over the past few years, and it’s helped the Atlanta Braves have some great seasons as of late. Swanson was a member of the 2021 World Series winning team and a key contributor.

After seeing the money that these shortstops have been getting, it’s very intriguing to see what Swanson will eventually end up receiving. Some Chicago Cubs fans don’t want upper management to overpay for him, as he’s soon to turn 29 years old in February of 2023. The Atlanta Braves haven’t been shy themselves in keeping all of the talent they have, re-signing nearly every key member of the championship team. I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow retained him, but it’s unlikely at this point.

Another interesting note was reported by Jon Heyman a few days ago. Swanson’s fiancée is Mallory Pugh, a member of the Chicago Red Stars. That may or may not play a factor in Swansons decision, but who knows? It’s worth mentioning that’s for sure. We should know where he is headed in the coming days, as the MLB hot stove seems to be ramping up with all of the big names flying off the board. Credit the Chicago Cubs for making a strong push.

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Xander Bogaerts signs with San Diego: What’s next for the Chicago Cubs?

The Chicago Cubs have been quite busy during the opening days of free agency. After inking deals with pitcher Jameson Taillon and outfielder Cody Bellinger, it was reported they were also in on former Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins don’t look shy this off-season, as they seem to be ready to write some big checks.

However last night, it was reported that Xander Bogaerts signed a lucrative, 11 years, 280-million-dollar deal with the San Diego Padres. Yes, you read that correctly. It was expected that the Cubs were going to make a push towards the former All-Star, but it seems they’ve shifted focus to a different shortstop. 2022 All-Star and Gold Glover, Dansby Swanson.

Swanson would be a huge addition to this Chicago Cubs roster, and if signed it would likely be forcing Nico Hoerner to move to second base. He batted a career high .277 last year, to go along with 25 homeruns and 96 runs batted in. Swanson’s bat has improved mightily over the past few years, and it’s helped the Atlanta Braves have some great seasons as of late. Swanson was a member of the 2021 World Series winning team and a key contributor.

After seeing the money that these shortstops have been getting, it’s very intriguing to see what Swanson will eventually end up receiving. Some Chicago Cubs fans don’t want upper management to overpay for him, as he’s soon to turn 29 years old in February of 2023. The Atlanta Braves haven’t been shy themselves in keeping all of the talent they have, re-signing nearly every key member of the championship team. I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow retained him, but it’s unlikely at this point.

Another interesting note was reported by Jon Heyman a few days ago. Swanson’s fiancée is Mallory Pugh, a member of the Chicago Red Stars. That may or may not play a factor in Swansons decision, but who knows? It’s worth mentioning that’s for sure. We should know where he is headed in the coming days, as the MLB hot stove seems to be ramping up with all of the big names flying off the board. Credit the Chicago Cubs for making a strong push.

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

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There is a finesse to Andre Drummond’s game … when called for.

The when called for part being the key for the Bulls big man.

At 6-foot-10, 280 pounds, Drummond knows what the true foundation of his game is built on. He knows what pays the bills.

On most nights, that involves physically moving other grown men, reminding them that rebounds are his for the taking, and anything that happens to fall in the hands of someone else is simply on loan.

Brute force exemplified, except when it comes to making waves.

The Bulls are Drummond’s sixth team since the end of the 2020 season, so the veteran understands that complaining about playing time or his role was something a younger Drummond may have done.

That doesn’t mean he’s thrilled with the current situation over his last six games. Since getting just seven minutes in the loss to Oklahoma City, Drummond has been handed single-digit minutes in three of the last five contests. That included eight minutes in the Wednesday win over the Wizards.

This for a guy that was averaging just under 17 minutes per night in the first month of the season.

Coach Billy Donovan has admittedly leaned on a smaller second unit lately, which has severely cut into Drummond’s playing time.

“I have a lot of confidence in Andre, he’s been a really good guy,” Donovan said. “Like any of these players, they want to be out there on the floor. But you’re not going to be able to play everybody all the time.”

But not everybody has a per 36 like Drummond.

If the center was to get 36 minutes a game, his rebounding numbers would be a career-best 19.4 per game, to go along with 16.6 points.

Rebounding numbers that would lead the NBA.

“For me it’s just a position I have to accept for the time being,” Drummond said. “My job is to do whatever it takes to help this team win, whether it’s playing 15 or playing 30 minutes. I said this before, earlier in the year – anyone who knows basketball and has seen me play, knows what I’m capable of doing in 30-plus minutes, but that’s not what this team is asking of me right now.

“It’s to come out off the bench, be a spark anyway I can, and try and help them win games. That’s what I have to accept.”

There are two truths going on.

More playing time for Drummond has been better for the Bulls this season in the win-loss column, but just not lately. Drummond and the second unit were dominant in the plus-minus category the first six weeks of the season, but Drummond’s plus-minus has plummeted lately.

As of Thursday, his minus-27 was the fourth-worst on the team with only Zach LaVine (minus-36), Patrick Williams (minus-95) and Ayo Dosunmu (minus-120) trailing.

The problem is that second unit has also undergone different looks the last few weeks, as Donovan continues searching for groupings that work. One of those looks was making Alex Caruso a permanent starter.

The heart of that “Bench Mob ’22 version” was Caruso, Drummond and Goran Dragic. There was a chemistry with the three that’s now changed.

“Goran and I played together before, so we had that chemistry,” Drummond said. “You put our three heads together, the three vets, Goran, myself and Alex, and it can be incredible for us. We were going out there and taking it personal. Whoever was with us, we knew that we we’re better than the next five that were coming in for the opposing team.”

Now, Drummond isn’t sure who he’s going in with, and for how long. His hope is that as rotations settle in that will change.

“I’ve learned to control what I can control,” Drummond said. “Like I said, you just have to accept it.”

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