Chicago Sports

The college basketball coaching carousel can be cruel on a teen-aged basketball prospect, particularly one finishing up his senior year.

Glenbrook South’s Nick Martinelli committed to Elon last July, signed in November and was completely content, excited and ready to play for coach Mike Schrage. He would be headed to Elon for the start of his freshman year in a couple of months.

Then he received a call that rocked his world last week.

Schrage was resigning as head coach to be Jon Scheyer’s special assistant at Duke.

“I was super shocked when I got the call,” Martinelli said. “I had no clue at all.”

There was a wave of emotions that swept over Martinelli, the 6-7 forward who is among the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top 10 prospects in the state in the senior class.

Martinelli committed to Elon in early July, just before his stock soared. A couple of weeks after committing, he shined brightly and produced at a high level in last summer’s EYBL travel circuit and the famed Nike Peach Jam.

There were other schools lurking, set to pounce if Martinelli chose to re-open his recruitment. But he never wavered. He was set on Elon. Martinelli was labeled a “recruiting steal.”

“Obviously it hurt a little bit when I heard about it,” Martinelli said of Schrage’s decision to be part of a Blue Blood program. “I had stayed committed to the coaching staff, and I believed in how they always told me about the future of the program and all the things I was excited for there. It hurt a ton to hear that coach Schrage left, and to even hear that [Andrew] Dakich left.”

Dakich, who was Elon’s Director of Basketball Operations, left as well recently to become an assistant coach for newly hired Ryan Pedon at Illinois State.

“Those two were both big impacts on my decision to go there,” Martinelli said of Schrage and Dakich. “I don’t blame coach Schrage. He’s a great coach and a great guy. Whatever is best for him. I am super happy for him. I would never have hard feelings towards him.”

But it left Martinelli without a school and wondering what was next for him.

“That night that I got the call, I was just thinking to myself, ‘What am I going to do?'” Martinelli said. “I was a little nervous because I was committed to Elon and had my mind set on Elon for eight or nine months. It felt a little weird. Gradually I got over it. I have to find a new school, and it could be Elon if they hire a coach I like. But it was definitely shocking.”

Martinelli finished his career with 1,331 points. And following a senior season in which he put up 22.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a game while leading the Titans to a 33-3 record, there will be no shortage of suitors for Martinelli.

There is an endless list of mid-major programs and a few high-majors poking around, including an offer from Northwestern on Monday.

Anyone who watched Martinelli over his career appreciated all he brought to his team. He impacted games in so many different ways, always produced and made winning plays. Martinelli is the quintessential “crafty player” with a competitive spirit and an unmatched work ethic.

Now he is taking a positive approach to suddenly being a coveted prospect again, albeit one with a shorter window to research and decide.

“I am very excited and grateful and feel like everything happens for a reason,” Martinelli said. “Maybe I will find a spot where I will flourish more than I would have at Elon. Or if Elon hires a coach I like once again, I could end up there for sure.”

Being the winner that Martinelli has been, he was intrigued by helping Elon become just that — a winner. The fact the program had never reached great heights intrigued him. Part of the reason he chose Elon in the first place, he said, was because it had never been to a NCAA Tournament before.

“I really wanted to do my best to make an impact on that program and reach that goal,” Martinelli said of reaching the NCAA Tournament at Elon. “What stood out in their presentation was they were an up-and-coming team that had never made the tournament.

“I am now trying to find the best fit for me. I just want to go play college basketball and win games. That’s what makes me happy: winning. That’s the main thing. I want to get to know the team and staff well, have a family there to rely on and win with.”

He said he will sit down with his family and narrow down a lengthy list of schools currently pursuing him.

“My mindset, as it’s always been, is when I feel the right one in my heart I will just pull the trigger,” he said. “That’s what happened with Elon. It felt like home and I decided to pull the trigger. So whenever I find that, whether it’s on a visit or learning about the school, and I have that feeling of ‘This is where I want to be,’ I will certainly be ready and pull the trigger on it.”

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MLB fined and suspended Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson three games for hitting the Brewers’ Andrew McCutchen during the eighth inning of the game Saturday.

Manager David Ross received a one-game suspension, which he will serve Tuesday for the game against the Pirates. Unless Thompson appeals, his suspension would begin then, as well.

After Willson Contreras and Ian Happ were hit by pitches — and Happ left the game after being plunked on the left knee — Thompson threw inside to McCutchen, then hit him with the next pitch. The benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.

Thompson, who was ejected, denied throwing at McCutchen. But McCutchen said he knew he was going to get hit.

“Contreras didn’t even move his glove when I got hit,” he said. “We all knew it was coming.”

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At this time a year ago, second baseman Nick Madrigal was a foundational piece for a White Sox team expected to make multiple October runs.

Then on June 9, Madrigal suffered a proximal tear of his right hamstring, an injury that required surgery and one that ended his season and a late-spring breakout that saw him slash .365/.420/.568 over his final 20 games. That play was also his last with the Sox before the blockbuster deadline deal that sent him and reliever Codi Heuer to the Cubs for Craig Kimbrel.

So, to put it mildly, a lot has happened to Madrigal over the last 12 months. He’s still a foundational piece in Chicago, just for a different team with a different timeline after getting traded while recovering from a severe injury.

“There’s a lot of different moving parts,” Madrigal said. “A lot has happened the last couple years. Some good, some bad. It’s just part of the business. I’m fortunate to be with this organization. I think it truly was a blessing to come over here and meet some of these guys, work with the staff. I’ve been so happy over here. It’s just been incredible.

“I’m looking forward to this year. A lot has happened the last couple years, but I’m very blessed to be in this position.”

That Madrigal is handling the upheaval of the last year the way he is doesn’t surprise Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner. Madrigal and Hoerner have known each other for years and trained together during the lockout.

Hoerner said Madrigal is very level-headed, and that’s a trait that’s helpful regardless of the situation.

“He does a really good job of building relationships with people all around the organization, from staff to players, coaches, everybody,” Hoerner said. “He brings a lot to the clubhouse, likes to work but has fun while doing it. It’s all you can ask for.”

Madrigal has one hit three games into his Cubs career. But more importantly he said he feels great physically, even despite the chilly weather during the Cubs’ opening series at Wrigley Field against the Brewers. Madrigal also felt tightness in his right glute during spring training this year.

He also has to put out of his head what happened last June, when his hustle to first base on a slow chopper to third ripped up his hamstring and ended his season.

“I’ve got to have faith in everything I’ve done, all the work I’ve put in to get back to this point,” Madrigal said. “You can’t really worry about what happened in the past. I know it was a tough one, but I’m confident in everyone that’s gotten me to this point. My body’s feeling really good at this point.

“I just focus on going out there and giving everything I have and just not worrying.”

Madrigal doesn’t have to worry much about his role with the Cubs. Since last summer’s teardown, the Cubs have stressed a contact-first approach at the plate that focuses on getting the ball in play, and that’s what Madrigal is known for.

And as Hoerner alluded to, Madrigal also seems to be a snug fit in the Cubs clubhouse.

“I love it. I think this is a really good clubhouse,” Madrigal said. “With the chemistry, the people, it makes it easy to show up every single day, get along with anyone you see. I think if we have good chemistry in the clubhouse it will show on the field. I really do feel comfortable out there with these guys and I’m looking forward to it.”

NOTE: Reliever Keegan Thompson was suspended three games and fined for hitting the Brewers’ Andrew McCutchen during the eighth inning of Saturday’s game. Manager David Ross was suspended for a game, which he will serve Tuesday.

Thompson has the right to appeal.

CUBS AT PIRATES
Tusday: Drew Smyly (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Jose Quintana (0-0, 0.00), 3:12 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM
Wednesday: Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 1.69) vs. JT Brubaker (0-1, 12.00), 11:35 a.m., Marquee, 670-AM

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Philipp Kurashev knows he fits best as a first- or second-line winger.

“Most of my life, I played on the top two lines,” Kurashev said Monday. “That’s where I’m trying to get to here at [the NHL] level, too. I’m going to work my hardest to try to get there.”

Blackhawks interim coach Derek King knows that, too.

“He’s got to be a top-six player, if you’re in a perfect world,” King said Monday.

But the challenge, for both Kurashev and the Hawks, has been first justifying putting him in a top-six role and then receiving the necessary production and performance to justify keeping him there.

As Kurashev, still just 22 years old, nears the end of his second season as a basically full-time NHL forward, that confluence of events has yet to occur.

“The work part of it — the consistency of the work ethic — [has been] his struggle,” King added. “He’d give you a couple good games, and then he’d fade away. So you’d put him on the bottom line, hoping he learns to work well without the puck.”

That cycle of Kurashev slotting into a big role, then a depth role, then being healthy-scratched, has happened over and over this season.

He nonetheless keeps restarting that cycle, rather than falling into permanent irrelevance, because he occasionally shows flashes of dynamic talent with the puck on his stick.

Memories of his Connor McDavid-style wondergoal in February 2021 in Detroit resurface whenever he dangles past a defenseman or makes a zone entry look easy or perfectly reads a developing offensive play –and he does those things just often enough to stay interesting.

Taken on the whole, however, Kurashev’s body of work doesn’t stand out. He ranks ninth on the Hawks with 18 points (six goals and 12 assists) in 59 games — a nearly identical scoring pace to last season, when he tallied 16 points in 54 games.

He ranks 18th (as in, fourth-worst) on the team with a 42.0% even-strength scoring-chance ratio. He also falls below league average in terms of dump-in retrievals, carry-ins with possession, shot attempts, shot attempt assists and just about every other advanced stat, per All Three Zones.

“Overall [I need to work on my] consistency,” he said. “Every time you’re in, you’ve got to do positive things for the team. That’s a hard thing, but that’s what I’m trying to do.”

He’s a pending restricted free agent and said he “of course” wants to earn a new contract. The Hawks will probably try to bring him back at another cheap salary, but they’ll surely wish –when they enter negotiations –they had clearer idea of what Kurashev currently is and what he could eventually become.

Perhaps this season’s final 11 games will provide a glimpse. After two consecutive games out of the lineup, Kurashev was thrust Sunday directly onto a new first line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, of all people. It sounds like he’ll stay there Tuesday against the Kings and beyond, too.

“Coming [into] the last 11, it was like, ‘OK, if certain guys are going to be in the lineup, they’ve got to play in the spot that we think they may be able to play,'” King explained. “And that’s where we think he may be able to play: the top six.

“He’s a creative guy. He has some skill. He has some hockey sense. But it’s just the working part he has to get. Hopefully all those practices, not playing, getting bag-skated or being on the third and fourth line –during games when he is in –helps him now.”

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It’s not a secret that the Chicago Bears are looking to add to their wide receiver room this offseason in hopes of giving Justin Fields some weapons. And they are certainly doing their homework in the predraft process.

The latest visit for the Bears is with former Baylor Bears receiver Tyquan Thornton. The speedy receiver is a vertical threat that could be added to Chicago’s offense as a weapon and a big downfield target for Fields in his second year.

Thornton comes from a sprinter background and has good long speed that allows him to get past defenders. Here is the scouting report on him via NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:

There is a lot to like about Thornton’s game, including his instincts, long speed and ability to create separation on the move. He’s a vertical threat with the speed and poise to win deep and has an excellent feel for maintaining spacing when working against zone coverage. He’s skinny and linear, which is a bad combination in defeating strong press-man corners on the next level. The poise and catch radius will work in his favor, but the success rate on contested catches will be lower than teams like, based upon his history and physical traits. Wideouts with his size profile have struggled mightily to succeed in the league, but Thornton’s speed and talent make him worthy of a shot on Day 3.

A former four-star recruit out of high school, Thronton played four seasons at Baylor and finished his career with 143 receptions, 2,242 yards, 19 touchdowns. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection for his play in the 2019 season.

It wouldn’t shock us to see the Bears double up on receivers in this draft and with Thornton possibly being there on Day 3, he could make a lot of sense for Ryan Poles and his staff.

Make sure to check out our Bears forum for the latest on the team.

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The Chicago Cubs opened up their 2022 season in surprising fashion. Despite blowing a three-run lead in Sunday’s finale, the Cubs were able to win the series 2-1 over Milwaukee, a good start to the new campaign.

Despite facing a formidable Brewers pitching staff, the Cubs answered with some great performances of their own on the mound, as well as some timely hitting. Here is went right and wrong for Chicago in the opening series, as well as a glance towards what’s ahead.

What Went Right?

The pitching staff was the main hero of this series. Despite plenty of question marks surrounding starting pitching and bullpen depth, everyone did their part to secure the series win. Ace Kyle Hendricks opened things up with 5.1 innings opening day, allowing only 1 run while collecting 7 strikeouts. 4 relievers managed to maintain a 5-4 Cubs lead into the 9th inning, where closer David Robertson converted the save.

Justin Steele kept things rolling with a 5 inning shutout performance in game 2, and once again the bullpen locked things down, with an impressive 2.2 innings pitched from Keegan Thompson leading to a 9-0 shutout win. While the Cubs did give up 4 runs in the back half of game 3 to lose 5-4, it was undoubtedly a promising start on the mound overall. If the starting pitchers can continue giving the team 5 quality innings on a nightly basis, it should be fairly easy to keep the bullpen rested and ready to finish out close games.

On the offensive side, the Cubs relied on some timely hitting to win games 1 and 2. Tied 1-1 in the 5th, shortstop Nico Hoerner managed to tag a Corbin Burnes slider for a 374 foot home run to give Chicago a 3-1 lead in game 1. Later in the same game, Ian Happ broke a 3-3 tie with a 2 run double to the wall, giving the Cubs just enough to hang on and get the win. Happ collected 2 more RBI’s in game 2, while Seiya Suzuki plated 3 in the rout.

The lineup showed great consistency overall, with nearly every hitter contributing in some way across the three game series. The Cubs also managed to convert on their opportunities, hitting well with runners in scoring positions and scoring late in the game to keep things close. Cubs fans showed be encouraged by the start the lineup has had.

What Went Wrong?

There were not many glaring issues the Cubs had in their opening series. However, there are a few players Chicago fans would like to see settle in a bit more. Of course, it is extremely early in the season, so there is no reason for any major concern, but 3-hole hitter Nick Madrigal struggled throughout the series. Madrigal ended up going 1-11 with walk and a single. The good news is he only struck out twice, but the Cubs will need more from him going forward, especially if he continues to hit at the top of the lineup.

Reliever Daniel Norris also had a tough series. Norris ended up pitching 2.1 innings, in which he gave up 3 earned runs and took a loss. Norris is positioned to be a key middle reliever, so his rough start is slightly concerning. On the bright side, Norris only allowed 2 total hits, one of which is a home run, so expect his 11.57 ERA to drop considerably if he can put together just a few solid outings next series

 What’s Next?

The Cubs will head to Pittsburgh to begin a two game series with the Pirates. The quick back to back gives Chicago a chance to try out the back half of their pitching rotation against a less than stellar opponent. It also allows the lineup an opportunity to settle into a sustainable groove after a hot start. If the Cubs can keep things rolling in Pittsburgh, it would set them up for a nice month of April overall.

Make sure to check out our Cubs forum for the latest on the team.

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As nice baseball stories go, the one about Tanner Banks making the White Sox Opening Day roster is as sweet as they come.

It goes like this: Lifetime minor leaguer, at age 30, comes out of nowhere in spring training to make the team, a team with World Series aspirations at that.

That was last week.

Banks made the story better by making his debut with a two-inning, four strikeout, no-run performance Sunday, finishing off the Tigers in a 10-1 victory that gave the Sox a series win over an AL Central division rival. It was a pleasant moment and a welcome closing act to an otherwise harrowing long weekend for a team with Yoan Moncada (oblique) and Ryan Burr (shoulder) joining a burgeoning injured list, Lucas Giolito (abdominal strain) getting hurt during his Opening Day start and the season opener ending with a misplayed fly ball by AJ Pollock.

All’s well that ended well, and Banks was there to cap the finish.

“I told myself, ‘you are only going to debut once,’ ” said Banks, an 18th-round Sox draft choice in 2014. “When? I was starting to question. But they said, ‘Hey you’ve got the next inning.’ ”

After the game, Banks was treated to privileged status in the handshake line and a beer shower from teammates in the visitors clubhouse at Comerica Park. As reporters waited to talk to him, the Utah native apologized for needing to find his wife and two young children before they departed the premises.

With the Sox starting rotation in disarray in the wake of injuries to Lance Lynn and Giolito, an all-hands-on deck, next-man-up climate offers opportunities for guys like Banks, who made the roster in large part because of lefty reliever Garrett Crochet’s season ending injury. Banks has started 115 games in his seven minor league seasons, and wasn’t ruled out by manager Tony La Russa to make a start if needed.

Who knows, after right-hander Vince Velasquez starts the home opener today against the Mariners and veteran lefty Dallas Keuchel starts Wednesday, Banks hasn’t been ruled out to start Thursday.

“Everybody’s an option,” pitching coach Ethan Katz said, including a bullpen day scenario.

After Banks was invited to major league camp, he opened eyes with stuff that “jumped,” as player development director Chris Getz said. He started a Cactus League game against the Dodgers and struck out five batters, including Trea Turner, Max Muncy and Austin Barnes in a perfect first inning and Cody Bellinger in the second. Banks posted a 4.98 ERA last season at Triple-A Charlotte.

“The Dodgers talked about his stuff, it spoke for itself,” Katz said. “It’s just a matter of he’s here now and now it’s about finding the best situation for him. He could be starting a game, he could come in and throw three, four innings [in relief]. It’s kind of what’s needed, especially with where we’re at. He could do a bunch of different things, we have a lot of options with him.”

Banks described making the team as “surreal” and said he was “shocked” when he got word.

On Sunday, he got his first chance to pitch in a major league game.

“When I came out of the bullpen gate, I just told myself, ‘Deep breathe. Breath it in. Enjoy this moment,’ ” he said. “And I started to get a little emotional. I was like ‘Keep it together. You’ve got to go perform.’ I wasn’t nervous per se, but I needed to collect myself a little bit. The first strikeout, [Spencer] Torkelson, gave me that confidence boost that I needed.

“After that, I was able to pitch my game and attack the way I wanted to. It was a matter of settling those little bit of nerves.”

What comes next is anybody’s guess. What’s know is the Sox have pitching needs and Banks will get more chances to show he can stay.

ON DECK

MARINERS AT SOX

Tuesday: Matt Brash (MLB Debut) vs. Vince Velasquez (3-9, 6.30 in 2021), 3:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM

Wednesday: Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.29) vs. Dallas Keuchel (9-9, 5.28 in 2021), 6:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM

Thursday: Logan Gilbert (0-0, 1.80) vs. TBA, 1:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM

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A memorable season recently concluded, but it’s never too early to take a sneak peek at next year.

Individual players will step up and emerge as the spring and summer plays out, and we will get a better feel for teams in June. But here is a way-too-early top 10 (listed alphabetically) for a season that is still many months away.

Brother Rice

Everyone returns from a team that won 24 games this past season, headlined by all-area point guard Ahmad Henderson (15.2 ppg). He’s led the Crusaders in scoring in each of the past two seasons.

A plethora of returning juniors will be joining Henderson, including perimeter scorer Nick Niego (10.5 ppg), 6-3 Peter McShane (7.3 ppg) and some size and length with 6-6 Khalil Ross (10.5 ppg), 6-6 Ryan Kenney (4 ppg) and 6-6 Jayden Watson (6.5 ppg).

The sophomores won the Catholic League and finished 24-4 overall while sophomore guard Tre Dowdell averaged 5.3 points at the varsity level.

Curie

When you look at the record (26-7) and accomplishments of the past season, it could be argued coach Mike Oliver’s team overachieved a bit.

The Condors will have a lot back, including unheralded but impactful Jeremy Harrington. While the 6-5 junior was the backbone of this year’s team, sophomore guard Carlos Harris has the look of an emerging star in the city.

Big man Chikasi Ofoma, a physical presence inside at 6-7, and guard Shawn Brown are two other returning starters.

Hillcrest

Aside from a sectional upset loss to Lemont, everything went just about perfect for the Hawks this past season while winning 26 games, especially considering coach Don Houston didn’t return a single starter.

But next year there will be a wealth of experience returning.

The Hawks will have an abundance of size up front with a pair of returning 6-7 juniors, Matthew Moore and Darrion Baker, along with 6-4 sophomore Nyzir Duncan. All three either started or played major minutes this past season.

The backcourt is set with junior Bryce Tillery and up-and-coming sophomore Isaiah Green, who were both double-figure scorers this past season.

Kenwood

Fresh off winning the first sectional title in program history, coach Mike Irvin has a bonafide state title contender returning.

There is a surplus of overall talent and big-name prospects in the program, including two of the best juniors, dynamic scoring guard Darrin Ames and versatile 6-7 Davius Loury, in the state. Freshman Bryce Heard is on the verge of becoming a young star.

Lake Forest

Quietly, coach Phil LaScala’s team won 27 games this season, including a 13-1 mark in the North Suburban Conference. Lake Forest’s season ended with a sectional championship game loss to St. Patrick.

The Scouts return arguably the best returning shooter in the state in 6-6 Asa Thomas, one of the top players in the state with high-major offers. The supporting cast will be strong with the return of sophomores Tommie Aberle and Bolurin Taiwo and junior Anthony Mordini.

Lemont

This team arrived a bit early, winning regional and sectional titles without a senior contributing in a significant way.

There is pivotal backcourt experience with Rokas Castillo and Matas Castillo and a budding star in sophomore Nojus Indrusaitis. Surround those three with valuable role players who gained a ton of big-game experience late in the season and Lemont enters next year with some lofty expectations.

Rolling Meadows

Even with the departure of last year’s Player of the Year, Max Christie, the Mustangs still rolled to 28 wins and a regional title behind junior Cameron Christie.

It stung to have the season end in a blowout loss to New Trier in the sectional, but next year could be the best team coach Kevin Katovich will have during this six-year run of Christie brother basketball in Rolling Meadows.

While the loss of senior Orlando Thomas will be felt, Cameron Christie returns as one of the elite players in the state. Plus, 6-4 big man Foster Ogbonna will be a seasoned veteran next year and there is a ton of upside in the return of 6-6 freshman Ian Miletic, 6-7 junior Mark Nikolich-Wilson and 6-7 junior Tsvet Sotirov.

Simeon

The progress and growth of big men Miles Rubin and Wesley Rubin over the past year has been quite measurable. If the 6-8 juniors make a similar jump over the next year the Wolverines will boast a game-altering frontline.

Jalen Griffith will take on more responsibility and a bigger role in the backcourt with the departure of Jaylen Drane and Aviyon Morris. And keep an eye on a pair of youngsters, freshman Ameer Morrow and sophomore Kenric Mosby coming up from the lower levels.

St. Rita

After finally getting a full season of development and continuity under its belt, coach Roshawn Russell’s team is set to take a significant step.

When you bring back the top two prospects in the Class of 2023, a pair of future high-major players, it’s a heck of a start. Yes, it all begins with the talented tandem of 6-9 James Brown and 6-8 Morez Johnson.

Kaiden Space will be a seasoned senior at point guard while promising freshman Melvin Bell will be a star sophomore.

Young

The loss of a pair of all-state 6-8 players in AJ Casey and Xavier Amos will certainly be felt for the Class 4A state runner-up. But the firepower is still there for the Dolphins to be one of the best teams in the state, starting with returning point guard Dalen Davis.

Both 6-6 Daniel Johnson and physical guard Marcus Pigram are Division I prospects and return, while talented freshman Antonio Munoz will add a new dimension next season.

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Zach LaVine wasn’t going to predict how the playoff series with Milwaukee would end, but he knows how it needs to begin.

Throw the first punch, and keep punching.

If not?

“I feel like they’ve been a championship-caliber team for a couple years now,” LaVine said of the Round 1 showdown. “They’re experienced. We have to come in and try and shake it up a little bit. We have to bring the fight to them, because if we’re back on our heels it’s not going to be good.”

Or it will simply be like it has all season long when taking on the defending NBA champions. Two competitive games in the first two meetings, and then two laughers in which the Bucks looked like the hunter rather than the hunted.

That’s a trend that’s been going on in this series for a few seasons now. Thankfully, the Bulls have a little less than a week to try and change that, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday in Milwaukee. A week in which LaVine & Co. not only have to figure out how to slow Giannis Antetokounmpo down, but look in the mirror and do a self-examination of why they played so poorly against elite teams this season.

A lot of film watching, a lot of sweat, but also a ton of soul searching.

“We have a lot of guys that this is going to be new to them, including the group as well, so I think it’s a step in our next direction,” LaVine said. “We should be going at it full force and with confidence. Like I said at the end of [the Charlotte loss], we’re a good team. We just have to start playing like it and bring that confidence to it. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Easy for LaVine to say early week.

Milwaukee is a bad matchup for most opposing teams on any given night, but even more so against the Bulls.

They have a defensive stopper in Jrue Holiday that can give fits to either LaVine or DeMar DeRozan, and not need help. They have an underrated rim protector in Brook Lopez, who also has the ability to pull the Bulls defense out because of his three-point shooting. Khris Middleton is a clutch shot-maker, and then there’s Antetokounmpo: A two-way elite force that the Bulls haven’t been able to slow down in years.

Every team has flaws, but Milwaukee has very few.

“They’re a very vet-savvy team,” LaVine said. “Obviously, they play with a lot of confidence, physicality. They’ve got Brook at the rim, obviously Giannis coming weak-side and Jrue Holiday as well. They’ve got a really good team, a complete team. I think we do as well. We’ve just got to attack them and figure out ways to beat them.”

A process that will start on Tuesday, with the Bulls getting Monday off to rest up, both mentally and physically. The hope is LaVine (left knee) and Alex Caruso (back) will be full participants in all the practices, but that remained an unknown.

What was known? Milwaukee will not allow the Bulls to have in-game slippage without making them pay. If the underdog doesn’t come in with a punch-first mentality, a sweep is not only a reality, but very likely.

“I think it’s more about us and how we play,” second-year forward Patrick Williams said. “We can’t really worry about them. We have to lock in to our habits. I think it’s more making sure we’re connected offensively and defensively. We’ve shown when we are connected on both ends of the floor and all the guys are connected, we’re pretty good. At that point it just turns into, ‘Let’s play.’ ”

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