“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
COVENANT CHRISTIAN AT UNIVERSITY PPD
INDIANA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
BHRA (ILL.) 34 ATTICA 19
OREGON-DAVIS 52 TRI-TOWNSHIP 50
TRITON 39 TRINITY GREENLAWN 24
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
BOYS DUAL RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/dualresults.html/
GIRLS DUAL RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/dualresults.html/211_girls-dual-results/
BOYS TOURNAMENT RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/curtournamentresults.html/boys-tournament-results/
GIRLS TOURNAMENT RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/curtournamentresults.html/212_tournament-results-for-girls-events/
GIRLS REGIONALS:
1. GOSHEN | 10 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: ILLIANA CHRISTIAN, HOBART, MISHAWAKA, GOSHEN
2. ROCHESTER | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: COLUMBIA CITY, LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, CRAWFORDSVILLE, WESTERN
3. ALEXANDRIA MONROE | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: ALEXANDRIA MONROE, MUNCIE CENTRAL, EASTERN HANCOCK, PERRY MERIDIAN
4. MOORESVILLE | 11 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: MT. VERNON, BEN DAVIS, WEST WASHINGTON, FLOYD CENTRAL
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOP 25
#14 HOUSTON 65 TCU 46
ELSEWHERE:
WISCONSIN 75 RUTGERS 63
OHIO STATE 89 MINNESOTA 88 2OT
MEN’S AP COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
1 TENNESSEE 14-0
2 AUBURN 13-1
3 IOWA STATE 12-1
4 DUKE 12-2
5 ALABAMA 12-2
6 KENTUCKY 12-2
7 MARQUETTE 13-2
8 FLORIDA 13-1
9 UCONN 12-3
10 TEXAS A&M 12-2
11 KANSAS 10-3
12 HOUSTON 10-3
13 ILLINOIS 11-3
14 MISSISSIPPI STATE 13-1
15 OREGON 13-2
16 MICHIGAN STATE 12-2
17 OKLAHOMA 13-1
18 GONZAGA 12-4
19 MEMPHIS 12-3
20 PURDUE 11-4
21 WEST VIRGINIA 11-2
22 UCLA 11-3
23 OLE MISS 12-2
24 MICHIGAN 11-3
25 UTAH STATE 14-1
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
PITTSBURGH 91, ARKANSAS 62, NEBRASKA 62, BAYLOR 32, WISCONSIN 31, ST. JOHN’S 27, SAN DIEGO ST. 26, CINCINNATI 22, CLEMSON 19, MARYLAND 7, GEORGIA 6, ST. BONAVENTURE 6, TEXAS TECH 6, INDIANA 6, MISSOURI 5, ARIZONA 3, DAYTON 1, GEORGETOWN 1, VANDERBILT 1, XAVIER 1.
USA TODAY MEN’S TOP 25 POLL
| RANK | SCHOOL (RECORD) | POINTS | LAST WEEK’S RANK | FIRST-PLACE VOTES |
| 1 | TENNESSEE (14-0) | 765 | 1 | 21 |
| 2 | AUBURN (13-1) | 749 | 2 | 10 |
| 3 | IOWA STATE (12-1) | 711 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | DUKE (12-2) | 670 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | ALABAMA (12-2) | 651 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | MARQUETTE (13-2) | 581 | 8 | 0 |
| 7 | KENTUCKY (12-2) | 560 | 11 | 0 |
| 8 | FLORIDA (13-1) | 529 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | TEXAS A&M (12-2) | 488 | 12 | 0 |
| 10 | CONNECTICUT (12-3) | 461 | 13 | 0 |
| 11 | HOUSTON (10-3) | 454 | 14 | 0 |
| 12 | KANSAS (10-3) | 438 | 7 | 0 |
| 13 | MISSISSIPPI STATE (13-1) | 372 | 16 | 0 |
| 14 | MICHIGAN STATE (12-2) | 350 | 15 | 0 |
| 15 | ILLINOIS (11-3) | 300 | 20 | 0 |
| 16 | OKLAHOMA (13-1) | 287 | 10 | 0 |
| 17 | OREGON (13-2) | 284 | 9 | 0 |
| 18 | GONZAGA (12-4) | 246 | 19 | 0 |
| 19 | PURDUE (11-4) | 228 | 22 | 0 |
| 20 | MEMPHIS (12-3) | 192 | 25 | 0 |
| 21 | UCLA (11-3) | 147 | 18 | 0 |
| 22 | MISSISSIPPI (12-2) | 119 | 23 | 0 |
| 23 | WEST VIRGINIA (11-2) | 110 | NR | 0 |
| 24 | MICHIGAN (11-3) | 98 | NR | 0 |
| 25 | UTAH STATE (14-1) | 73 | NR | 0 |
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: BAYLOR (9-4) 49; CINCINNATI (10-3) 38; PITTSBURGH (12-2) 32; SAN DIEGO STATE (9-3) 25; ST. JOHN’S (12-3) 24; CLEMSON (12-3) 10; MARYLAND (11-4) 9; GEORGIA (12-2) 5; ARIZONA (8-5) 4; NEBRASKA (12-2) 4; INDIANA (12-3) 3; VANDERBILT (13-1) 3; WISCONSIN (11-3) 3; ARKANSAS (11-3) 1;TEXAS TECH (10-3) 1; UC SAN DIEGO (13-2) 1.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOP 25
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
WOMEN’S AP COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
1 UCLA 15-0
2 SOUTH CAROLINA 14-1
3 NOTRE DAME 12-2
4 USC 14-1
5 TEXAS 15-1
6 LSU 17-0
7 UCONN 13-2
8 MARYLAND 14-0
9 OHIO STATE 14-0
10 OKLAHOMA 13-2
11 TCU 15-1
12 KANSAS STATE 15-1
13 GEORGIA TECH 15-0
14 DUKE 12-3
15 KENTUCKY 13-1
16 TENNESSEE 13-1
17 WEST VIRGINIA 12-2
18 ALABAMA 15-1
19 NORTH CAROLINA 13-3
20 MICHIGAN STATE 12-2
21 NC STATE 11-3
22 UTAH 12-2
23 IOWA 12-3
24 CALIFORNIA 14-2
25 MICHIGAN 10-4
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
FLORIDA ST. 18, VANDERBILT 18, MISSISSIPPI 14, HARVARD 10, MINNESOTA 7, OKLAHOMA ST. 5, WASHINGTON 2, MISSISSIPPI ST. 1.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
PENN STATE VS. NOTRE DAME (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL GAME — ORANGE BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
TEXAS VS. OHIO STATE (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL GAME — COTTON BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 20
TBD VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME — IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
NFL
NFL PLAYOFFS WILD CARD WEEKEND
SATURDAY, JAN. 11
AFC: 3:30 P.M. — 5 LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT 4 HOUSTON (CBS, PARAMOUNT+)
AFC: 7:00 P.M. — 6 PITTSBURGH AT 3 BALTIMORE (PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, JAN. 12
AFC: 12:00 P.M. — 7 DENVER AT 2 BUFFALO (CBS, PARAMOUNT+)
NFC: 3:30 P.M. — 7 GREEN BAY AT 2 PHILADELPHIA (FOX, FOX DEPORTES)
NFC: 7:00 P.M. — 6 WASHINGTON AT 3 TAMPA BAY (NBC, PEACOCK, UNIVERSO)
MONDAY, JAN. 13
NFC: 7:00 P.M. — 5 MINNESOTA/DETROIT AT 4 LOS ANGELES RAMS (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+/ ESPN DEPORTES; MANNINGCAST-ESPN2/ESPN+)
NBA SCORES
PHOENIX 109 PHILADELPHIA 99
DETROIT 118 PORTLAND 115
INDIANA 113 BROOKLYN 99
MILWAUKEE 128 TORONTO 104
ORLANDO 103 NEW YORK 94
CHICAGO 114 SAN ANTONIO 110
MEMPHIS 119 DALLAS 104
MINNESOTA 108 LA CLIPPERS 106
SACRAMENTO 123 MIAMI 118 2OT
NHL SCORES
BUFFALO 4 WASHINGTON 3
MONTRÉAL 5 VANCOUVER 4
COLORADO 3 FLORIDA 1
NEW JERSEY 3 SEATTLE 2
TOP NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
JAGUARS FIRE COACH DOUG PEDERSON, KEEP GM TRENT BAALKE AFTER ‘BEST TEAM ASSEMBLED’ WINS JUST 4 GAMES
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Doug Pederson is out as Jacksonville’s head coach after the franchise’s “best team assembled” won just four games.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired Pederson on Monday, a day after a 26-23 loss at Indianapolis in overtime. It was the team’s 18th loss in its last 23 games. But Khan kept general manager Trent Baalke, a questionable decision that surely will affect who will become Jacksonville’s next coach.
Khan made the move with one year remaining on Pederson’s contract. The decision came more than five months after Khan stood in front of coaches and players and declared this the “best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever.”
“Winning now” was Khan’s edict as training camp opened and after he committed nearly half a billion dollars to to signing quarterback Trevor Lawrence, pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen and cornerback Tyson Campbell to long-term deals in the offseason. It was the most expensive stretch of roster building in franchise history.
And Khan has gotten little, if any, return on his investment.
“Doug is an accomplished football man who will undoubtedly enjoy another chapter in his impressive NFL career, and I will be rooting for Doug and his wife Jeannie when that occasion arrives,” Khan said in a statement. “As much as Doug and I both wish his experience here in Jacksonville would have ended better, I have an obligation first and foremost to serve the best interests of our team and especially our fans, who faithfully support our team and are overdue to be rewarded. In that spirit, the time to summon new leadership is now.
“I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago. I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville.”
The Jaguars (4-13) ended up with their 10th losing season in Khan’s 13 years as owner. Now, Khan will hire his sixth head coach; current NFL offensive coordinators Ben Johnson (Detroit) and Liam Coen (Tampa Bay) should top the list. But would they even agree to work with Baalke, whose draft picks have been mostly suspect and his latest free-agent class is among the worst in franchise history?
Pederson became the fifth NFL head coach fired this season, joining Robert Saleh (New York Jets), Dennis Allen (New Orleans), Matt Eberflus (Chicago) and Jerod Mayo (New England).
Pederson finished 9-8 in his first two campaigns in Jacksonville and made the playoffs in his first year. He became the first coach in franchise history to start with back-to-back winning seasons and was a welcome relief following Urban Meyer’s 13-game tenure that was filled with dysfunction.
But Pederson’s injury-riddled team went 1-5 down the stretch in 2023 and missed the postseason after spending nearly two months atop the AFC South. He thought getting Lawrence healthy and revamping his defensive staff would change the team’s fortunes. Neither made a difference.
More damning: Pederson failed to develop Lawrence or create a team identity, handed play-calling duties to Press Taylor despite Khan making his wishes known and showed no urgency to try to fix a defense that regressed under new coordinator Ryan Nielsen.
The 56-year-old Pederson went 23-30 with Jacksonville, a far cry from the Super Bowl-winning coach Khan thought he hired in February 2021.
A longtime backup quarterback in the league, Pederson spent part of his coaching career working under Andy Reid in Kansas City. Pederson came to Jacksonville after a one-year coaching hiatus that followed a five-year stint as Philadelphia’s head coach, where he led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title in 2018.
With backup Nick Foles under center, the Eagles beat Tom Brady and New England thanks partly to a trick play called “Philly Special.” That victory is Pederson’s defining coaching moment.
His tenure with Jacksonville was mostly forgettable. Sure, there was the come-from-behind stunner over the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC wild-card round in January 2023. Lawrence rallied the Jaguars from a 27-0 deficit to win 31-30. Otherwise, Pederson was fairly pedestrian.
His ultimate undoing came in close games, with Jacksonville going 3-10 in one-score contests this season. Whether that’s talent or coaching is debatable. Regardless, Pederson got little public support from players down the stretch, a clear sign that the locker room was ready to go in a different direction.
Now Khan has to find the right coach to get Lawrence — and the rest of the team — to another level.
REPORTS: BEARS REQUEST TO INTERVIEW COWBOYS COACH MIKE MCCARTHY
While Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy waits on his future with the team as his contract nears expiration, he could have another suitor in the Chicago Bears, according to multiple reports on Monday.
The Bears, who have a head coaching vacancy, have made formal requests to interview a list of current NFL assistants and one employed head coach in McCarthy, reports said.
ESPN reported that the Cowboys have yet to respond to the request for McCarthy, who completed his fifth season at the helm with Dallas missing the playoffs at 7-10. He is 49-35 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason.
His contract expires Wednesday with the Cowboys having exclusive negotiating rights through Jan. 14, ESPN reported.
McCarthy, 61, said he wants to return to Dallas while owner Jerry Jones has not committed to retaining him.
“I don’t know that I am considering making a change is really what I’m trying to say,” Jones said Sunday after the season finale, a home loss to the Washington Commanders. “Mike’s one of the best coaches that I think there is. He was made the coach here because I thought that, and he’s done absolutely nothing to diminish my opinion of him as a coach.”
McCarthy said he has a lot invested in the Cowboys, and the organization has a lot invested in him.
“And then there’s a personal side to all these decisions,” McCarthy said after Sunday’s game. “They all point the right direction. I think anytime you invest your time, energy, your belief, the connection you have, the relationships that are in place here, the understanding of what the organization can do and is willing to do, those are all positive attributes that you take into account.
“But, you know, absolutely, I’m a builder. I believe in building programs,” he continued. “I believe in developing young players. So, at the end of day, it is about winning, and you have to have those components in place to get this thing where it needs to be. I think we have a very good foundation here.”
McCarthy was head coach of the Green Bay Packers for nearly 13 full seasons (2006-18), getting fired after Week 13 in 2018. His Packers were 125-77-2 in the regular season and 10-8 in the postseason, including six division titles and the Super Bowl championship in the 2010 season.
REPORT: SAINTS REQUEST INTERVIEW WITH EAGLES OC KELLEN MOORE
The New Orleans Saints have requested an interview with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for their vacant head coaching position, NFL Network reported Monday.
In his first season with the Eagles, Moore helped the Eagles to a No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs as Philadelphia finished second in the NFL with 179.3 rushing yards per game.
Moore, 36, was the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys (2019-22) and Los Angeles Chargers (2023) before moving to the Eagles this season.
A former star quarterback at Boise State, he played three games (two starts) with the Cowboys in 2015.
New Orleans fired Dennis Allen after Week 9 and promoted Darren Rizzi to interim head coach. The team went 3-5 the rest of the way to finish 5-12.
Because the Eagles are active in the playoffs, Moore could be available for a virtual interview as early as next week, according to the report.
SOURCES: SEAHAWKS FIRE OC RYAN GRUBB AFTER ONE SEASON
The Seattle Seahawks have fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after one season, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
The move comes a day after the Seahawks finished 10-7 in coach Mike Macdonald’s first season, and after speculation had been mounting that Grubb’s job was not safe.
The Seahawks ranked 21st in offensive scoring (20.0 points per game), 14th in total offense (332.2) and eighth in passing yards (236.5). But the run game Macdonald wanted to rely on as a defensive-minded head coach was a constant struggle, with Seattle finishing 28th in rushing (95.7) and 17th in yards per carry (4.2).
Grubb had never coached in the NFL until the Seahawks hired him in February, bringing the OC and offensive line coach Scott Huff back to Seattle after they had followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama.
Quarterback Geno Smith, a strong Grubb supporter, mentioned that fact while giving a glowing endorsement of his playcaller after Seattle closed out the season Sunday with a 30-25 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
“I think Grubb is an excellent, excellent coordinator,” he said. “Even better man. Our first year, obviously there was some ups and downs, there was some things we can improve on. We’ll work hard to get those things fixed, but I believe in this system. I believe this is a really good system and it’s going to be really good for a long time.
“I think Grubb has exactly what it takes to be a great coordinator in this league, and it’s his first year; you’ve got to give the guy some grace. He’s figuring things out too. I thought he did an outstanding job leading the group. I love the passion that he brings to the game, and he made me a better quarterback.”
EAGLES’ RUN AT THE SUPER BOWL DEPENDS ON IF QB JALEN HURTS HAS RECOVERED FROM A CONCUSSION
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The most optimistic sign yet that Jalen Hurts could play for the Philadelphia Eagles in their playoff opener came not from an injury update or a practice report, but rather a social media post.
“Playoffs start NOW,” the Eagles wrote on the post to announce their game time Sunday against Green Bay.
Smack in the middle of the photo is Hurts, with an Eagles skull cap and eye black and the look of a quarterback ready to make a run at a Super Bowl.
Reading too much into his status? Perhaps. But the Eagles have said nothing about Hurts’ health since he suffered a concussion and left a Dec. 22 game early against Washington. He missed the final two games — where backups Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee led the Eagles to two wins — and coach Nick Sirianni has said only that Hurts remained in the NFL concussion protocol.
There are five phases in the protocol until clearance and the Eagles (14-3) have not said where Hurts was in the process. Sirianni did say that Hurts attended Saturday’s walkthrough a day ahead of the Eagles’ win over the New York Giants.
Is Hurts still suffering from the lingering effects of the concussion?
Or, with little reason to play him in the finale, has Hurts remained sidelined more for competitive reasons headed into a home playoff game against the Packers (11-6)?
The Eagles are not required to list an injury report until after their next practice, which should come Wednesday.
Hurts was 20 of 34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and led the Eagles to a 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the season opener. Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns and A.J. Brown caught five passes for 119 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown in a win that set the tone for arguably the best regular season in franchise history.
Sirianni became just the second head coach in NFL history to win 14-plus games twice in their first four years, joining former 49ers coach George Seifert (1989, ’90, ’92).
“We always talk about doing special things, and you have special things to do during the regular season and then the postseason,” Sirianni said. “Winning the division, tying a franchise record, that’s cool.”
What’s really cool? Winning the Super Bowl.
The oddsmakers must believe Hurts is close to a return: Philadelphia is a 4 1/2-point favorite to beat the Packers and has 7-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
What’s working
Just about everything — as long as Hurts is healthy. Sirianni’s decision to rest his core starters was the wise one and the early clinch of the division title and the No. 2 seed essentially created a bye week for the Eagles. Barkley will get his best professional opportunity yet to shine in the playoffs and win a Super Bowl.
What needs help
The Eagles matched a franchise record with 14 wins, so the weaknesses entering the postseason aren’t as obvious as, say, the Rams. Special teams play — specifically kickoffs and field goals — have been more of a concern than expected this season. The Packers could catch the Eagles on their heels with a fast start. The knock on the Eagles has been their first-half offense, because they failed to score in the first quarter in the first seven games of the season and 10 times overall.
Stock up
McKee. The No. 3 QB just may be the postseason backup for the Eagles. McKee impressed enough over the final two games that he certainly worked his way into the conversation about whether he should get the call if Hurts can’t play. McKee also could be the backup QB next season or possibly used as a trade bait to a team in need of a young prospect with a strong, accurate arm.
Stock down
Jake Elliott is no longer known as “Jake the Make” in Philly after a down year that included another miss against the Giants. Elliott hooked a 39-yarder on a windy day against the Giants but did make two others. He’s only 28 of 36 overall this season and has missed 6 of 7 from 50-plus yards — the kind of long distances so many playoff games come down to in the end.
Injuries
Outside of Hurts, the Eagles are a relatively healthy team. They got a huge lift Sunday when starting tight end Dallas Goedert returned from a four-game absence because of a knee injury and had four catches for 55 yards.
Key stat
300 — The Eagles awarded the game ball to Jeffrey Lurie for celebrating 300 wins as owner since he bought the team ahead of the 1994 season. The Eagles (300-231-3) are one of five NFL franchises with 300-plus victories since 1994 (including playoffs), joining New England (357-192), Green Bay (339-202-2), Pittsburgh (332-202-3) and Kansas City (308-220).
Next steps
Hope Hurts is healthy and get ready for a postseason showdown with Green Bay.
REX RYAN SAYS HE’S CONVINCED JETS WILL HIRE HIM AS NEXT COACH
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, scheduled to interview Tuesday for the team’s head coaching vacancy, is convinced he will land the job.
If it happens, he says he will put an end to the Aaron Rodgers “country club.”
Ryan, appearing Monday morning on ESPN New York radio, ripped the future Hall of Famer for skipping the team’s mandatory minicamp last June to take a vacation to Egypt. He also criticized the organization’s “abysmal” leadership for condoning it.
“Clearly, when you have a guy that doesn’t show up for mandatory minicamp — and, by the way, he’s your quarterback, coming off an injury — I think that’s an absolutely ridiculous message you send to the team,” Ryan said during a spot on the “DiPietro & Rothenberg Show.”
“If he comes back, things would be different. If he’s back, it ain’t gonna be the country club, show up whenever the hell you want to show up. That ain’t gonna happen. I’ll just leave it at that,” Ryan said.
Rodgers, who blamed his absence on a scheduling mix-up, was fined approximately $100,000 by the Jets for missing the minicamp. Then-coach Robert Saleh called it an unexcused absence, though he wasn’t particularly critical of the four-time MVP. Rodgers, 41, is undecided on his future, saying he will take time to consider it.
Ryan, who has been lobbying for the Jets’ job, will meet with team brass in Palm Beach, Florida, where owner Woody Johnson has a home. The meeting will occur nearly 16 years to the day of his first interview with the team, when he went from Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator to Jets head coach in January 2009.
He went 46-50 in six seasons, leading the Jets to the playoffs and back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010 — the franchise’s last postseason appearances. He was fired by Johnson after going 4-12 in 2014, but he has maintained a relationship with the owner.
The team already has interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel and former Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera. The Jets also have submitted interview requests for at least four offensive coordinators — Arthur Smith ( Pittsburgh Steelers), Bobby Slowik ( Houston Texans), Joe Brady ( Buffalo Bills) and Matt Nagy ( Kansas City Chiefs), according to reports. The Jets are also expected to submit requests for at least three defensive coordinators — Aaron Glenn ( Detroit Lions), Vance Joseph ( Denver Broncos) and Brian Flores ( Minnesota Vikings) — and two quarterback coaches — Josh McCown (Vikings) and Brian Griese ( San Francisco 49ers — sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The ever-confident Ryan, now an ESPN analyst, expects to land the position.
“Oh, 100 percent, absolutely, I do,” he said. “The reason I think I’m going to get it is because I’m the best guy for it. It ain’t close. The thing you have to do is, you have to connect with your football team, you have to connect with your fan base. The way they play, that’s the most important thing.
“It’s not just the X’s and O’s and all that. This Ben Johnson, I love him, I absolutely love him, but I’m a better candidate for this job than he would be.”
The Lions’ offensive coordinator is one of the hottest candidates on the market, but he’s not expected to interview with the Jets, sources said.
Ryan said the current Jets are “not short on talent.” He blamed their 5-12 season on a “lack of organizational leadership,” pointing to the coaching staff. Saleh was fired in October, followed by general manager Joe Douglas in November.
JAGUARS BACK HOME AFTER STORM KEPT PLANE ON TARMAC 7 HOURS
The Jacksonville Jaguars arrived home early Monday morning after the winter storm that snarled travel across the central United States delayed their return from Indianapolis.
The team’s charter was delayed for seven hours, with players and staff remaining on the plane on the tarmac at Indianapolis International Airport after Sunday’s 26-23 loss to the Colts. The chartered flight touched down in Jacksonville at 2:50 a.m. ET Monday morning.
Indianapolis was among the cities under a winter storm warning into Monday. The National Weather Service forecast called for heavy snow at times, an accumulation of 2 to 5 inches, freezing drizzle and wind gusts of up to 40 mph in central Indiana.
The Jaguars (4-13) had hoped to get out of Indianapolis before the worst of the storm, but Sunday’s game went to overtime and caused enough of a delay that players, coaches and staff got stuck.
The charter flight finally was cleared to leave at 1 a.m. EST and landed in Jacksonville two hours later. It delayed owner Shad Khan’s scheduled meeting with coach Doug Pederson to decide their path moving forward.
The Kansas City Chiefs decided to remain overnight in Denver following their game against the Broncos because of the storm.
GIANTS OWNER SAYS GM JOE SCHOEN AND COACH BRIAN DABOLL ARE STAYING PUT AFTER 3-14 SEASON
The New York Giants are sticking with general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll.
Team president and co-owner John Mara announced Monday that he and co-owner Steve Tisch decided to move forward with the Giants’ current leadership even after a 3-14 season that ranks among the franchise’s worst.
“We came to the decision that staying with both of them is the best course of action for us right now,” Mara said at the team’s facility. “I think in Brian’s case, he was the Coach of the Year two years ago. That didn’t disappear all of a sudden. I still believe he can do that again. And in Joe’s case, I thought we had an outstanding draft class this year. I thought we had a really good free agency period. I really like the staff that he’s put together and built.”
Mara said he spoke to Schoen and Daboll for “several hours” last Friday before deciding to bring them both back.
“I think that they’re the right two guys to lead us going forward,” Mara said. “I understand, believe me, that that’s not going to be the most popular decision in Giant land.”
Frustrated fans, unhappy during a franchise-record 10-game losing streak, flew banners from planes above MetLife Stadium before the Giants’ last two home games, urging Mara to make wholesale changes.
“I didn’t need planes flying over me to tell me how upset the fans are,” Mara said. “I hear from them every day. So, that really did not have much of an effect. I get how upset they are. I try to respond to them. Nobody was more upset than I am about how we performed in recent years. I have to stand up here and take the heat for that.”
Instead, Schoen and Daboll will be back next season and spend the next few months searching for a quarterback — the Giants have the No. 3 overall pick in the draft in April — while trying to build a roster to compete in the NFC East after going 0-6 in the division and finishing 1-8 at home overall.
“That’s obviously the No. 1 issue for us going into this offseason, is to find our quarterback of the future,” Mara said. “Whether that be via the draft or acquiring a veteran, it’s going to be up to them to decide, ultimately.”
Mara said he wouldn’t put “any kind of time limit” on his committment to the two, but made it clear he needs to see marked improvement from both Schoen and Daboll next season.
“It better not take too long,” Mara said, “because I’ve just about run out of patience.”
Both Schoen and Daboll were hired by the Giants in 2022 and their tenure got off to a promising start with New York going 9-7-1 and making the playoffs, where they beat Minnesota in the wild-card round before losing to NFC East-rival Philadelphia, the eventual conference champion, in the divisional round. Daboll was also selected the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
But with quarterback Daniel Jones — who received a four-year, $160 million contract extension during that offseason — dealing with injuries and inconsistency, the Giants struggled to a 6-11 finish.
Jones returned this season healthy, but was benched for poor play after New York got off to a 2-8 start. He asked for and was given his release by the Giants, who then used Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock as starting quarterbacks as New York won just one of its final seven games — putting both Schoen and Daboll’s job in jeopardy.
“Three wins, not good enough. So, a lot of work to be done,” Daboll said after the Giants’ season-ending 20-13 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.
“We stunk this year,” Mara said. “The results on the field were not what we wanted them to be. There were a number of factors that went into that.”
Not re-signing running back Saquon Barkley certainly didn’t help, especially after he ran for 2,005 yards for NFC East-rival Philadelphia and challenged Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season record.
“If I’m sitting here a year from now and you’re asking me these questions, I’ll take the heat,” Mara said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got to make a decision and we’ve made one.”
HARBAUGH SAYS BALTIMORE WR ZAY FLOWERS’ KNEE INJURY ISN’T SEASON ENDING, DESCRIBES HIM AS DAY TO DAY
Baltimore Ravens receiver Zay Flowers’ knee injury is not season ending, coach John Harbaugh said Monday, but he gave no assurances about a quick return.
“It’s just going to be day to day, try to do everything he can do to get back as soon as he can,” said Harbaugh, who held a video conference with reporters on a snowy day in the Baltimore area. “We’ll see where that takes us.”
Flowers hurt his knee in Saturday’s victory over Cleveland, which ensured the Ravens would open the playoffs at home. They face Pittsburgh on Saturday to begin the postseason.
After a strong rookie season in 2023, Flowers has taken another step, becoming the first Ravens wide receiver to earn Pro Bowl honors. He caught 74 passes for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns in the 2024 regular season.
Fellow wide receiver Rashod Bateman also has made big progress in his fourth NFL season, catching 45 passes for 756 yards and nine TDs.
“He’s always been high, high on my list, my charts,” Harbaugh said. “I think he’s a tremendous player, tremendous athlete, tremendous competitor. Excellent wide receiver, brings a tremendous skill set to it. He’s been playing at a high level all year. Made big plays for us in that game this past week. He was a factor in those drives and getting us into scoring position numerous times.”
Beyond Flowers and Bateman, the Ravens don’t have much depth at the position after a midseason trade for Diontae Johnson worked out about as poorly as possible. But Baltimore has two tight ends who are significant passing targets in Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.
The Ravens, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, became the first team in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and run for at least 3,000.
“We have a lot of weapons,” Harbaugh said. “We can move guys around different ways, scheme those guys up and they can all make plays.”
Harbaugh also said running back Justice Hill and offensive lineman Patrick Mekari are “trending well” after illness limited them last weekend. Hill didn’t play against Cleveland, and Mekari participated in only six offensive snaps.
BROWNS’ WATSON SUFFERS SETBACK IN RECOVERY FROM TORN ACHILLES
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had a setback in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, general manager Andrew Berry announced Monday.
“We don’t have all the details and everything yet, but it will obviously extend the recovery process for him,” Berry said. “It is new information, just learned in the past couple hours.”
The Browns general manager said the signal-caller alerted staff that something didn’t feel right during his exit interview, which led to the discovery of the setback, according to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
Berry added that it’s “too early to tell” if Watson will play in 2025, per The Athletic’s Zac Jackson. The franchise will find out in the near future whether he requires another surgery.
Watson tore his Achilles on Oct. 20 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He finished the year with a 1-6 record and only five touchdowns to three interceptions.
The 29-year-old has been a major disappointment since the Browns traded three first-round picks and two Day 2 selections to the Houston Texans for him in 2022. Watson, who was brought in to lead Cleveland to new heights, has posted a 9-10 record while also completing only 61.2% of his passes for 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Watson has two seasons remaining on a fully guaranteed five-year, $230-million contract. The Browns reportedly restructured the deal earlier this season to spread his dead cap hit over two years instead of taking it all in 2027 if he remains with the franchise through 2026.
TYREEK SIGNALS DOLPHINS EXIT: ‘IT WAS GREAT PLAYING HERE’
Tyreek Hill left the door wide-open for a potential exit from the Dolphins while expressing his disappointment with Miami’s 2024 season.
“This is the first time I haven’t been in the playoffs, so for me, I have to do what’s best for me and my family, if that’s here or wherever the case may be,” Hill said Sunday after a 32-20 loss to the New York Jets, according to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald.
“I’m about to open up that door for myself. I’m opening the door. I’m out. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for my career. Because I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
Head coach Mike McDaniel downplayed Hill’s comments.
“I’m not going to be too much weight on secondhand postgame disappointment statements,” McDaniel said, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. “We will see how the next couple of days progress in convos with him and I.”
“I’m not going to match emotion with emotion. … It’s a little cloudy in the heat of the moment for multiple reasons,” the sideline boss added, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. “I know that clarity will be found.”
Hill’s remarks follow a loss that dropped Miami to 8-9 to conclude the regular season. The Dolphins needed a win over the Jets and a Broncos loss to the Chiefs to reach the playoffs. Denver blew out an undermanned Kansas City 38-0.
Hill wasn’t on the field for the fourth quarter versus New York and finished the season with 81 catches for 959 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games. He battled a wrist injury for most of the campaign but didn’t miss any contests.
“I was informed he was unavailable right before a drive,” McDaniel said of why Hill missed the final frame Sunday, per Wolfe. “I was not informed that it was a new injury. Focus was on players on the field.”
Hill suggested McDaniel opted to bench him with the Broncos up on the Chiefs by multiple scores at the same time.
“The coach kind of pulled me out. … Just one of those issues that you look up at the scoreboard, the Chiefs are down, and it’s like, ‘OK.'” Hill said, per Kelly.
He added, “There are a lot of things that I need to reassess about my career, just see what I need to do to continue to get better as a player, so I can continue to reach that 1,000-yard mark.”
Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he’ll talk to the wideout about his recent comments.
“That will be an internal discussion I have with Tyreek before I address that publicly,” Rosenhaus said, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Hill wasn’t named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his nine NFL seasons. He led the league with 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdown catches in 2023.
The five-time All-Pro signed a three-year extension with Miami in August and is under contract through the 2026 season. The 30-year-old said last May that he wanted to retire as a Dolphin.
Hill established himself as one of the NFL’s most explosive players while playing for the Chiefs through his first six seasons. He helped Kansas City win a Super Bowl before being traded to Miami in 2022.
Injuries were an issue for the Dolphins in 2024. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed four games in the season’s first half due to a concussion and was also sidelined for the final two weeks with a hip issue.
REPORTS: JETS’ SEARCH HEATS UP WITH INTERVIEW REQUESTS
The New York Jets requested interviews with at least a half-dozen coordinators and other assistants as their coaching search intensified Monday, per multiple reports.
Offensive coordinators Arthur Smith (Steelers), Bobby Slowik (Texans) and Joe Brady (Bills), defensive coordinators Aaron Glenn (Lions) and Vance Joseph (Broncos), and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese (49ers) were candidates named in multiple reports.
The Jets (5-12) fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start this season and went 3-9 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.
In addition, the Jets reportedly completed first interviews with former two-time head coach Ron Rivera and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Smith, 42, is in his first season with Pittsburgh after posting three consecutive 7-10 seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23.
Smith’s Steelers, who will visit the Baltimore Ravens for a wild-card game on Saturday night, finished the regular season ranked 16th in scoring (22.4 points per game) and 23rd in total offense (319.4 yards per game).
Slowik, 37, is in his second season with the Texans after working as an assistant for the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan from 2017-22. The Texans were 19th in scoring (21.9) and 22nd in total offense (319.7).
Brady, 35, joined the Buffalo staff in 2022 and is in his first full season as the offensive coordinator. The Bills ranked second in scoring (30.9) and 10th in total offense (359.1).
Glenn, 52, has been the Lions’ DC since 2021. Detroit finished seventh in the league this season in scoring defense (20.1) and 20th in total defense (342.4).
Joseph, 52, compiled an 11-21 record in two seasons as head coach of the Broncos from 2017-18. In his second season as head coach Sean Payton’s DC in 2024, Denver finished third in scoring defense (18.3) and seventh in total defense (317.1).
Griese, 49, just finished his third season coaching the San Francisco quarterbacks. He was a QB in the league for 11 seasons with four teams from 1998-2008, earning one Pro Bowl selection.
RAVENS WR ZAY FLOWERS (KNEE) DAY-TO-DAY
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers avoided a season-ending right knee injury and is day-to-day, head coach John Harbaugh said Monday.
Flowers left the regular-season finale on Saturday against the visiting Cleveland Browns with what was feared to be a long-term lower-leg injury.
“It’s not a season-ending injury. It’s going to be day-to-day and him doing everything he can do to get back as soon as he can,” Harbaugh said.
Flowers caught a 12-yard pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson and went to the ground at the Cleveland 12-yard line, where he was hit on the knee by Mohamoud Diabate as the Browns linebacker fell to the turf.
After getting medical attention on the field, Flowers walked with a slight limp to the sidelines with 12:03 to go in the quarter. He went to the blue medical tent before leaving the sideline for the locker room. The Ravens ruled him out for the rest of the game.
Flowers, 24, finished with the one catch.
Elected to his first Pro Bowl, Flowers leads the Ravens with 74 receptions for 1,059 yards. He caught four touchdown receptions.
He has not missed a game because of injury in his two seasons.
Flowers started all 16 games as a rookie in 2023, when he had 77 receptions for 858 yards and five TDs, and rushed eight times for 56 yards and another score. The Ravens selected him with the 22nd overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Boston College.
REPORT: BEARS REQUEST INTERVIEWS WITH CARDS OC, LIONS COORDINATORS
The Chicago Bears submitted formal requests to interview Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as well both coordinators from the Detroit Lions, NFL Network reported Monday.
The Bears (5-12) fired head coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29 after a 4-8 start.
The Bears put in requests to interview Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn, per the report. Both are expected to attract multiple interviews this offseason. The Lions garnered the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Chicago snapped a 10-game losing streak and picked up its first win under interim coach Thomas Brown with a season-ending 24-22 victory at Green Bay on Sunday. Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Sunday that Brown, who started the season as the passing game coordinator, will also get an interview.
“It was challenging,” Brown said Monday, “but I learned a lot about myself this year.”
Brown said he is confident Poles learned more about him by watching him run the team than he could articulate in an interview.
Petzing, 37, just completed his second season as the offensive coordinator under Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon.
The Cardinals (8-9) missed the playoffs but finished 12th in the NFL in scoring (23.5 points per game) and 11th in total offense (358.2 yards per game).
Petzing previously worked as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns (2013, 2020-22) and Vikings (2014-19), crossing over with current Bears president Kevin Warren in Minnesota.
BENGALS FIRE DC LOU ANARUMO, THREE POSITION COACHES
The Bengals fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and offensive line coach Frank Pollack on Monday.
Cincinnati (9-8) missed the playoffs in the AFC, coming up short despite a five-game winning streak to end the season.
Anarumo has been defensive coordinator of the Bengals since Zac Taylor became head coach in 2019. He was a finalist for head-coaching positions just two years ago, when the Bengals were coming off of back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances.
But the Bengals were torched repeatedly during a 4-8 start to the 2024 season, dropping one-score games in which they allowed 34 points (Chargers), 35 and 41 (Ravens), 38 (Commanders) and 44 (Steelers).
Cincinnati finished the season 25th in total defense (348.3 yards per game) and tied for 26th in points allowed (25.5 per game).
Defensive line coach Marion Hobby and linebackers coach James Bettcher were also fired Monday, as was Pollack.
Pollack was in his second tour of duty in Cincinnati and has also coached for the Jets, Cowboys and Raiders.
Quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked 48 times in 2024 after Cincinnati allowed 50 total sacks in 2023.
AARON RODGERS PROVED IN WEEK 18 THAT HE CAN STILL PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL IF ANY NFL TEAM WANTS HIM
Aaron Rodgers showed the rest of the NFL in Week 18 that he can still play at a high level in case he wants to return for a 21st season.
The four-time NFL MVP threw four touchdown passes against a team that was playing to preserve slim playoff hopes, helping the New York Jets finish a miserable season on a winning note.
Rodgers became the fifth player in NFL history to reach 500 career TD passes, doing so in New York’s 32-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Now, Rodgers heads into an offseason of uncertainty.
First, he must decide whether he’s coming back or retiring. He doesn’t even know if the Jets will want him after going 5-12 this season.
“I just need some time away to think about my future in the game, and my future here if they want me to be a part of the next phase or they’re ready to move on,” Rodgers said. “Either way, I’m thankful for my two years here.”
The team is seeking a general manager and head coach, so ownership may want input from the new regime before making a decision on Rodgers.
Owner Woody Johnson, vice chairman Christopher Johnson and team president Hymie Elhai are expected to chat with Rodgers at some point during the week.
“I’m looking forward to those conversations,” Rodgers said. “It feels good to be able to do some of the things these last five or six weeks I know I was capable of doing, even at 40, 41. But either way, I won’t be upset or offended with what they decide to do — if they want to move on, if I still want to play.
“And if not, I’ll let them know, if that’s the case.”
Rodgers, who turned 41 last month, was slowed by injuries after coming back from a torn Achilles tendon that ended his first season with the Jets on the fourth snap.
He started moving around better late in the season and saved his best for the last game.
“We have talked a lot about can he still play,” Fox analyst Greg Olsen said. “Can he move? Can he do all of the physical things? Coming into (this game) he had five touchdown passes through 17 weeks where he was under pressure or on the move. He has thrown four (Sunday), which is the most by any quarterback the entire season.
“So the element of his game that has always made him special. The question was had he lost it? Well, in this one-game sample size. … And we have seen it other times throughout the season. This is the best version of Aaron Rodgers we’ve seen all year. And I promise you, there’s a lot of teams around the league that are taking very close note.”
Rodgers is slated to make a nonguaranteed $37.5 million in 2025 with a dead cap hit of $49 million as his salary cap total goes from $17.1 million to $23.5 million.
The Jets could spread the dead money over two years by releasing Rodgers with the use of post-June 1 designation. He has a no-trade clause in his contract, so they would need his permission to make a deal.
If Rodgers wants to keep playing and the Jets don’t want him back, here are five potential destinations for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer:
TENNESSEE TITANS: A six-game losing streak to close out the season clinched the No. 1 overall pick for the Titans, who will be seeking a franchise quarterback after benching Will Levis. They can choose between Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward or make a trade. Rodgers could make sense on a one-year deal to allow a rookie time to develop from the sideline.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: They also closed out the season on a six-game losing streak and will have the No. 2 pick in the draft. The Browns owe Deshaun Watson $92 million and restructured his contract by adding voidable years to extend his dead salary cap through the 2030 season. Watson has struggled and will be coming off a torn right Achilles tendon sustained on Oct. 20. Joe Flacco had success in Kevin Stefanski’s offense last year, leading Cleveland to the playoffs. Rodgers could be a short-term fit for a team that expects to compete in 2025.
NEW YORK GIANTS: A win last week cost the Giants the No. 1 pick and they slipped to the third slot. They need a franchise QB but won’t have their choice unless they trade up. Rodgers wouldn’t have to move and could make sense as a bridge quarterback.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: They also need a quarterback and will have the sixth pick. New minority owner Tom Brady believes rookie quarterbacks need time to develop and learn. Brady and Rodgers have a great relationship, so the seven-time Super Bowl champion likely would be in favor of having Rodgers start and tutor a youngster. Brady was a Super Bowl MVP at age 43 and played until he was 45. He could inspire Rodgers to keep playing.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: They drafted Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in 2023, but he’s been inconsistent. The Colts haven’t reached the playoffs since Philip Rivers led them to an 11-5 record in 2020. They fell short with Carson Wentz in 2021, going 9-8. They were 4-12-1 with Matt Ryan in 2022 before selecting Richardson. Bringing Rodgers in to make a playoff run for one season while allowing the inexperienced Richardson to learn from one of the all-time greats could be enticing for owner Jim Irsay.
TOMLIN SAYS THE STEELERS’ RECENT PLAYOFF FAILURES ARE HIS BAGS TO CARRY, NOT HIS SKIDDING TEAM’S
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin is well aware of his playoff resume, particularly the part where the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t won a postseason game in eight years.
The way the NFL’s longest-tenured coach looks at it, the weight of those failures falls on his sturdy shoulders, not the team that will try to end that skid on Saturday in Baltimore.
“(That’s) my story, not this collective’s story,” Tomlin said Monday. “Many of these guys involved do not tote those bags. I happily tote those bags. But that’s not something I’m going to project on the collective.”
Maybe because there are plenty of other things the Steelers (10-7) will lug to M&T Bank Stadium, namely a four-game losing streak to end the season that includes a lopsided loss to the Ravens (12-5) the weekend before Christmas.
Tomlin tried to strike an upbeat tone, pointing out that Monday is a “trash bag” day for the 18 teams that didn’t reach the playoffs as they packed up their belongings and eyed an uncertain future. The Steelers, for the 12th time in Tomlin’s 18 seasons, are not a part of that group.
Yet Pittsburgh also hasn’t been part of a group that’s advanced in January since the divisional round in 2016, the franchise’s longest-playoff victory drought of the Super Bowl era and the ninth-longest active streak in the league.
Each of the flameouts has followed a similar pattern: the Steelers fall behind quickly early then spend the rest of the game futilely trying to catch up. It happened in the AFC championship in 2016, the divisional round in 2017 and the first round in 2020, 2021 and 2023.
While Tomlin always makes the distinction that the story of one season doesn’t necessarily bleed into the story of another, the reality is Pittsburgh’s late swoon has mirrored its recent postseason pratfalls.
The Steelers have fallen behind by multiple scores in the first half during every game of their current slide, including at Baltimore on Dec. 21.
Asked why his team struggles to “warm up to the game” — to borrow one of Tomlin’s pet phrases — and he shrugged.
“That’s a good question,” he said. “Some of it has had to do it with some of the people that we played … Some of it has to do with us, but rest assured that we’re working extremely hard to rectify it. And I’m excited about taking another whack at it.”
Pittsburgh’s losing streak has come against three playoff teams (Baltimore, Philadelphia and Kansas City) and perhaps the best team that failed to reach the 14-team tournament ( Cincinnati ). Yet the Steelers didn’t just lose those games, in most cases they were dominated, dropping the first three by at least 14 points. A late rally against the Bengals brought Pittsburgh within two, but only after it had fallen behind by 12 before showing signs of life that have been hard to come by of late.
Tomlin declined to single out any specific shortcoming, simply admitting that his team has learned plenty of lessons over the past month, with little time to absorb them against a familiar opponent led by a perennial MVP candidate (Lamar Jackson) that ended Pittsburgh’s recent run of dominance in one of the NFL’s most heated rivalries with a rare blowout victory on Dec. 21.
Despite the nature of the defeats, Tomlin doesn’t believe his team is lacking in confidence.
“I just think that we’ve been in too many battles and we’ve had too much success to be fragile in that way,” he said. “We certainly can hate our recent performances and the outcome of those recent performances, but I don’t think it’s reflected in terms of how we feel about ourselves or our ability to make plays or engineer victory or win games.”
Maybe, but Pittsburgh’s play against the league’s elite has done little to provide optimism outside the building. Oddsmakers have made the Steelers the longest shot in the field to win the Super Bowl, much as they were a year ago when they went to Buffalo and were picked apart by Josh Allen.
That loss led to a significant offseason overhaul, particularly on offense. If the Steelers want to avoid another turbulent late winter and early spring, trying to regain the swagger that carried them to a 10-3 start is a must.
Backup quarterback Justin Fields was a part of that early success. Pittsburgh got off to a 4-2 start with Fields filling in for an injured Russell Wilson. Tomlin is open to reincorporating Fields in certain packages in search of a spark that’s been missing, though Tomlin has been around long enough to know it will take more than one player or one play for Pittsburgh to shift the narrative that the franchise finds itself in the purgatory of “good but not good enough.”
“(I) don’t know that I’m looking for comfort, to be quite honest with you,” he said. “It’s important that we own our ills and build a course of action in which to correct it.”
STEELERS RG MASON MCCORMICK (HAND) COULD PLAY VS. RAVENS
Pittsburgh starting right guard Mason McCormick fractured his hand in the regular-season finale against Cincinnati, but the rookie could play in Saturday’s playoff game, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Monday.
The Steelers finished 10-7 after a four-game losing streak to end the regular season, and they’ll visit AFC North champion Baltimore on Saturday in the AFC wild-card round.
McCormick, 24, broke his hand and was replaced by Spencer Anderson as the Steelers lost to the Bengals last Saturday, but Tomlin said McCormick might be able to play.
“He’ll be sized for a cast and/or a brace and check functionality there,” Tomlin said. “And so his participation and the quality of his participation will kind of be an indication of his potential availability as we push forward.”
Pittsburgh selected McCormick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of South Dakota State. He has started 14 of 17 games and played on 83 percent of the offensive snaps.
Tomlin also said that starting cornerback Donte Jackson, who sat out Sunday’s game because of lingering back issues, is possible to return on Saturday.
“He feels good this morning, but again, we’ll watch him throughout the course of the week and see what his participation does in terms of the possibility of his inclusion,” Tomlin said.
Jackson, 29, has started all 15 games that he has played this season and has 38 tackles, a career-high five interceptions and eight passes defended. He played the previous six seasons for Carolina before being traded to Pittsburgh last March. He has 19 career interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — 341 tackles and 54 pass breakups in 95 games (91 starts).
The Panthers selected Jackson in the second round of the 2018 draft.
RAMS EXPECT RT ROB HAVENSTEIN (SHOULDER) TO RETURN FOR PLAYOFFS
Los Angeles Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein is expected to play in the wild-card playoff game against the visiting Minnesota Vikings next Monday, head coach Sean McVay said on Monday.
Havenstein hasn’t played since the Rams’ 19-9 victory over the host New York Jets on Dec. 22. He injured his shoulder in practice and missed the last two regular-season games as Los Angeles finished 10-7 and won the NFC West.
McVay said he discussed Havenstein’s health with vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott on Monday.
“(Havenstein’s) made great progress, (but) you want to make sure that you don’t leave yourself susceptible throughout the course of the week in practice to any sort of setbacks, while also making sure that you get it tested accordingly,” McVay said. “And so those will be things that we’ll be cognizant of. But, I know he’s really chopping at the bit, ready to go, ready to help lead and do his thing and play the way that he’s capable of.”
Havenstein, 32, has started all 11 games that he has played this season for 97 percent of the offensive snaps. He missed the season opener against the Detroit Lions with an ankle injury, then missed a three-game stretch in November with more ankle issues.
The Rams selected Havenstein in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft when the franchise was in St. Louis. He has started all 141 regular-season games and all 11 playoff games that he’s played in his Rams career.
REPORT: PACKERS FEAR TORN ACL FOR WR CHRISTIAN WATSON
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is believed to have suffered a torn ACL and additional damage to his right knee, NFL Network reported Monday.
Watson sustained the noncontact injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears. The injury would likely force Watson to miss the beginning of the 2025 season.
Watson was carted off the field and initially ruled questionable to return before being downgraded to out. Watson missed the Packers’ Week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings with a left knee injury.
Watson had 29 catches for 620 yards and two touchdowns in 15 starts this season. He has 98 receptions for 1,653 yards and 14 TDs in 38 career games (35 starts) since being selected in the second round of the 2022 draft.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love was held out of the second half against the Bears as a precaution after injuring his throwing elbow, but coach Matt LaFleur said postgame that he will be good to go for the team’s NFC wild-card game Sunday at Philadelphia.
AFTER FALCONS’ COLLAPSE, RAHEEM MORRIS SAYS ‘2025 STARTS TODAY’
It would have been hard to believe on Nov. 3 that the Atlanta Falcons were going to be watching the NFL playoffs from home for a seventh straight year, but that’s the franchise’s reality.
After beating the Dallas Cowboys 27-21, Atlanta was 6-3 and had a two-game lead and a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. But the Falcons dropped six of eight games down the stretch while benching their $180 million quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in the process.
Despite the calls made by many Falcons fans and radio personalities to dump Raheem Morris, the first-year coach survived “Black Monday” and will live to see another season in Atlanta.
That doesn’t mean this year was any less of a letdown for Morris and the team.
“Obviously I’m disappointed for our organization, our fanbase, for all of us,” Morris said in his press conference on Monday. “But the work has to start today. 2025 starts today and the process has already begun.”
Cousins, who was benched in December after signing with Atlanta in the offseason, is expected to be cut before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17.
In his place, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 775 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions over the final three weeks of the season. Penix, along with running back Bijan Robinson (1,456 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns in 2024) and wide receiver Drake London (100 receptions for 1,271 yards and nine scores) will give Falcons fans reason to be hopeful heading into 2025 after an 8-9 campaign.
“Michael Penix in those last three games was definitely a positive,” Morris added. “Pairing him with Drake London and Bijan Robinson, watching that combo get a chance to start fresh and grow will be something you really lean on.
“This is 100 percent an awful day. You hate it. But when you look at those guys on the offensive side of the ball, it does create a certain level of excitement for you. This is certainly a disappointing day because you want those guys to get a chance to showcase what they can do at a high level. We’ll get there. It’s our job to get there.”
Defensively, Atlanta allowed 24.9 points per game, ranking 23rd in the league and representing the franchise’s worst scoring defense since 2021 (27.0 ppg).
Morris didn’t give a definitive answer on whether first-year defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake would return next season.
“We’ve got to evaluate all of our coaches,” Morris said. “We’ve got to evaluate everything we do within our entire program. … There will never be anything that’s the same in the National Football League, whether it’s players or coaches. That’s just how it is.”
THINKING OF NEXT YEAR? NFL FINALIZES OPPONENTS FOR 2025
For fans of the 18 NFL teams that did not reach the playoffs, it’s understandable to spend Black Monday thinking about next year.
The 2024 regular season concluded Sunday with the Detroit Lions’ 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings to secure both the NFC North title and the top playoff seed in the conference. When that game was complete, the league was able to finalize the list of opponents for every team in 2025.
In the 17-game scheduling formula, three games on each team’s schedule are based on the prior season’s standings. Two intraconference opponents and one interconference opponent are determined by where teams placed in their divisions the year before.
As usual, each team will play six division games, four games against a division within its conference and another four games against a division from the opposite conference.
Below are the 2025 opponents for every team, listed by division. The schedule itself will be announced sometime this spring.
AFC EAST
1. Buffalo Bills
Home: Miami, New England, N.Y. Jets, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Philadelphia
Away: Miami, New England, N.Y. Jets, Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Houston
2. Miami Dolphins
Home: Buffalo, New England, N.Y. Jets, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, L.A. Chargers, Washington
Away: Buffalo, New England, N.Y. Jets, Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis
3. New York Jets
Home: Buffalo, Miami, New England, Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Denver, Dallas
Away: Buffalo, Miami, New England, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville
4. New England Patriots
Home: Buffalo, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Atlanta, Carolina, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, N.Y. Giants
Away: Buffalo, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Tennessee
AFC NORTH
1. Baltimore Ravens
Home: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, New England, N.Y. Jets, Houston,?L.A. Rams
Away: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Green Bay, Miami, Minnesota, Kansas City
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
Home: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Buffalo, Green Bay, Minnesota, Miami, Indianapolis, Seattle
Away: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, New England, N.Y. Jets, L.A. Chargers
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, New England, N.Y. Jets, Jacksonville, Arizona
Away: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Green Bay, Miami, Minnesota, Denver
4. Cleveland Browns
Home: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Green Bay, Miami, Minnesota, Tennessee, San Francisco
Away: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, New England, N.Y. Jets, Las Vegas
AFC SOUTH
1. Houston Texans
Home: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Arizona, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Buffalo, Tampa Bay
Away: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Baltimore
2. Indianapolis Colts
Home: Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Arizona, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta
Away: Houston, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Pittsburgh
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Home: Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Seattle, N.Y. Jets, Carolina
Away: Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Arizona, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Cincinnati
4. Tennessee Titans
Home: Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, L.A. Rams, Seattle, New England, New Orleans
Away: Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Arizona, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Cleveland
AFC WEST
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Home: Denver, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Detroit
Away: Denver, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, Dallas, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee, Buffalo
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Home: Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Minnesota
Away: Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Dallas, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee, Miami
3. Denver Broncos
Home: Kansas City, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, Dallas, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Green Bay
Away: Kansas City, Las Vegas, L.A. Chargers, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, N.Y. Jets
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Home: Denver, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Dallas, Jacksonville, N.Y. Giants, Tennessee, Cleveland, Chicago
Away: Denver, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, New England
NFC EAST
1. Philadelphia Eagles
Home: Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Washington, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, L.A. Rams
Away: Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Washington, Green Bay, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Minnesota, Buffalo, Tampa Bay
2. Washington Commanders
Home: Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Seattle
Away: Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Minnesota, Miami, Atlanta
3. Dallas Cowboys
Home: N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, Washington, Green Bay, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Minnesota, Arizona
Away: N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, N.Y. Jets, Carolina
4. New York Giants
Home: Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, Green Bay, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers, Minnesota, San Francisco
Away: Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, New England, New Orleans
NFC NORTH
1. Detroit Lions
Home: Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Cleveland, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay
Away: Chicago, Green Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington, Kansas City, L.A. Rams
2. Minnesota Vikings
Home: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta
Away: Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Cleveland, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, L.A. Chargers, Seattle
3. Green Bay Packers
Home: Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina
Away: Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota, Cleveland, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, Denver, Arizona
4. Chicago Bears
Home: Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Cleveland, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Pittsburgh, New Orleans
Away: Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington, Las Vegas, San Francisco
NFC SOUTH
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Home: Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Arizona, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco, Philadelphia
Away: Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Buffalo, L.A. Rams, Miami, Seattle, Houston, Detroit
2. Atlanta Falcons
Home: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, L.A Rams, Miami, Seattle, Washington
Away: Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Minnesota
3. Carolina Panthers
Home: Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, L.A. Rams, Miami, Seattle, Dallas
Away: Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Green Bay
4. New Orleans Saints
Home: Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Arizona, New England, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco, N.Y. Giants
Away: Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Miami, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Tennessee, Chicago
NFC WEST
1. Los Angeles Rams
Home: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Detroit
Away: Arizona, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Baltimore, Philadelphia
2. Seattle Seahawks
Home: Arizona, L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Minnesota
Away: Arizona, L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Washington
3. Arizona Cardinals
Home: L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Green Bay
Away: L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, Dallas
4. San Francisco 49ers
Home: Arizona, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Chicago
Away: Arizona, L.A. Rams, Seattle, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, N.Y. Giants
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NO. 12 HOUSTON BREAKS AWAY FOR ROUT OF TCU
Emanuel Sharp scored 14 points, J’Wan Roberts added 12 and the 12th-ranked Houston Cougars rode a second-half rally to a 65-46 victory over the visiting TCU Horned Frogs on Monday.
Baskets by Trazarien White and Vasean Allette to start the second half pulled the Horned Frogs to within 29-26 early in the second half, but
Sharp hit a step-back jumper and a 3-pointer to highlight a 9-0 run. Roberts began that burst with a layup.
Houston (11-3, 3-0 Big 12) extended that rally to 19-4 on a 3-pointer by L.J. Cryer to widen the lead to 48-30.
The Cougars ran their overall winning streak to seven games and its homecourt winning streak to 31 games, the longest in the nation. Cryer finished with 10 points.
Noah Reynolds paced the Horned Frogs (8-6, 1-2) with 19 points while Allette added 11 points and five rebounds.
TCU shot 42.6 percent overall, missed 15 of 18 3-pointers and committed 19 turnovers that Houston converted into 16 points en route to its wire-to-wire victory.
Houston made its initial six shots, including three 3-pointers, while darting to a 15-4 lead. But the Horned Frogs clawed back, forcing the Cougars into eight consecutive misses while closing to within 19-13 on a 3-pointer by White.
Cryer answered a three-point play by Reynolds with a 3-pointer that ended a stretch of seven straight misses from deep and upped the lead to 24-16.
TCU kept scrapping, following its 2-for-10 start by making 8 of 13 shots down the stretch of the first half. White hit a turnaround jumper in the lane that pulled the Horned Frogs to within five with 1:04 left, before Reynolds beat the buzzer with a layup that left the Horned Frogs down 29-22 at the half.
Reynolds kept TCU afloat almost by himself by tallying 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting, while his teammates totaled 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. Yet, despite forcing 11 turnovers in the first half, Houston failed to seize control after missing 17 of its final 23 shots.
MARQUETTE GUARD SEAN JONES WILL TAKE REDSHIRT THIS SEASON AFTER TEARING HIS ACL IN JANUARY 2024
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Marquette guard Sean Jones will sit out this entire season and take a redshirt as he continues his comeback from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Jones hasn’t played since injuring his right knee in a 69-62 loss to Butler on Jan. 10, 2024. He underwent surgery two weeks later.
Marquette coach Shaka Smart said at the end of November that Jones had progressed to the point that he was participating in five-on-five practice drills.
School officials said Jones will have two seasons of eligibility remaining when he returns to action.
Jones, a 5-foot-10 guard from Columbus, Ohio, averaged 5.8 points, 2 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 16.3 minutes in 16 games last season. He played 33 games in 2022-23 and averaged 3.6 points, 1.1 assists and 12.2 minutes.
The eighth-ranked Golden Eagles (13-2, 4-0 Big East) host Georgetown (12-2, 3-0) on Tuesday.
TENNESSEE, NATION’S LONE UNBEATEN, STRENGTHENS GRIP ON NO. 1; WVU, MICHIGAN, UTAH ST ENTER AP TOP 25
Tennessee tightened its grip on No. 1 in the AP Top 25 on Monday following a pair of lopsided wins, including one over SEC rival Arkansas, that left the Volunteers as the only undefeated team in men’s Division I college basketball.
The Vols picked up four more first-place votes and had 45 of 60 from the national panel to remain atop the poll for the fifth straight week. Auburn earned the other 15 first-place nods and stayed at No. 2, while Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out a top five that was unchanged following the first week of conference play for many leagues around the country.
Tennessee improved to 14-0 after beating Norfolk State and a 76-52 rout of the then-No. 23 Razorbacks, tying the third-longest winning streak in school history. And when Florida lost a shootout to Kentucky and Oklahoma was blown out by the Crimson Tide, it left the Volunteers as the only team in men’s major college hoops without a blemish.
“They’re the No. 1 team in the country for a reason,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said, “and my disappointment wasn’t coming to Tennessee and losing a game. It was that they kind of manhandled us.”
The Vols have done that a lot this season. Only once have they failed to beat someone by double digits.
“It all goes to the players, you know? Good families,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “They come in knowing what we expect, but they expect it from themselves, too. It just needs to be reemphasized daily to them.”
The Wildcats rode their win over Florida up four spots to No. 6. They were followed by Marquette, the Gators, UConn and Texas A&M, which routed Texas for the Aggies’ eighth consecutive win.
Kansas dropped four spots to No. 11 after losing a nailbiter to West Virginia and blowing out UCF. The Jayhawks were followed by Houston and Illinois — the biggest climber this week, moving up nine spots — along with Mississippi State and Oregon.
Michigan State was No. 16 and Oklahoma fell five spots after its 107-79 loss to the Crimson Tide. Gonzaga, Memphis and Purdue rounded out the top 20 after the Boilermakers beat Minnesota and Northwestern last week.
The Mountaineers, who followed their win over Kansas by beating Oklahoma State, were at No. 21 for their first ranking since Dec. 26, 2022. They were followed by UCLA, Mississippi, Michigan and Utah State, with the Wolverines returning after a two-week absence and the Aggies making their season debut at No. 25.
“You’re 14-1 and you’re mad. That’s kind of childish behavior, but you can’t be satisfied,” Utah State coach Jarrod Calhoun said after his team gutted out an 89-83 win over Fresno State on Saturday. “That’s kind of how I live my life, in survival mode.”
Rising and falling
Illinois rose nine spots to No. 13 following a 109-77 rout of then-No. 9 Oregon and its win at Washington on Sunday.
Cincinnati fell all the way out from No. 16 after losing to Kansas and Arizona. The Ducks dropped six spots and UCLA fell seven to No. 22 after the Bruins lost at Nebraska in their only game of the week.
In and out
West Virginia’s appearance at No. 21 is only its second in the AP Top 25 since the final edition of the 2020-21 season. Michigan is ranked for the third time this season while Utah State is ranked for the first time with Calhoun on the sideline. Those three entered at the expense of the Bearcats, the Razorbacks and Baylor.
On the radar
Pittsburgh was the first team outside the Top 25 after opening ACC play with wins over California and Stanford. Nebraska was on 21 ballots amid its six-game winning streak. St. Bonaventure appeared on five ballots after beating Fordham for its eighth straight win; the Bonnies, whose only loss is to Utah State, have spent just three weeks in the poll since the 1970-71 season.
Conference watch
The SEC again led all leagues with nine ranked teams, including three of the top five and six of the top 10. The Big Ten was next with six teams in the poll, while the Big 12 had four and the Big East had two — both in the top 10. The ACC, West Coast, American Athletic and Mountain West each have one team in the poll.
PURDUE, ILLINOIS, RUTGERS SCORE MEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY ACCOLADES
Player of the Week
Braden Smith, Purdue
G – Jr. – 6-0 – Westfield, Ind. – Westfield
- Averaged 25.3 points, 9.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while shooting 27-of-55 from the field and 14-of-32 from three-point range with a 4.14 assist-turnover ratio as No. 20 Purdue went 3-0
- Recorded a pair of points-assists double-doubles (34-12 vs. Toledo; 20-10 vs. Minnesota) and narrowly missed a third with 22 points, seven assists against Northwestern.
- Claims first Player of the Week honor
- Last Purdue Player of the Week: Zach Edey (March 11, 2024)
Co-Freshman of the Week
Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
G – 6-6 – Vilnius, Lithuania – Barcelona FC
- Averaged a team-best 16.0 points and 5.3 assists and along with 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals across three wins for No. 13 Illinois
- Recorded 16 second-half points with game-high six assists along with six rebounds in a 109-77 victory at then-No. 9 Oregon, as the Illini recorded the largest road win over a top-10 team in college basketball history.
- Earns his second Freshman of the Week award
- Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Kasparas Jakucionis (Dec. 16, 2024)
Ace Bailey, Rutgers
G – 6-10 – Chattanooga, Tenn. – McEachern
- Averaged 31.5 points on 57.4 percent shooting from the field, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots, as Rutgers split a pair of games
- Tied the program freshman scoring record with 39 points with eight rebounds, four blocks and one steal on 16-of-29 shooting in an 84-74 loss to Indiana
- Collects his first Freshman of the Week award
- Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Dylan Harper (Dec. 16, 2024)
EAGLES’ NELSON TABBED MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Da’Sean Nelson, Senior, Forward, Eastern Michigan
Toledo, Ohio (Robert S. Rogers)
Eastern Michigan’s Da’Sean Nelson scored 32 points with nine rebounds to lead EMU to a MAC-opening win over NIU, Jan. 4. Nelson’s 32 points are the most by an Eagle since Tyson Acuff scored 34 points against Bowling Green on Feb. 17, 2024. His 32 points are also the most by an Eagle in a conference opener since Ray Lee also netted 32, Jan. 6, 2016, against Central Michigan. Nelson’s 12 made field goals are a career high, and he now has nine-straight games with at least 10 points for the first time in his career.
HCAC 2024-25 MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 9
Athlete of the Week:
Joey Schmitz (Bargersville, Ind.) Guard | First Year – Schmitz was lights out from anywhere on the court on Saturday as he led the Fightin’ Engineers to a 75-73 victory over Berea. The freshman scored a career-high 28 points with 8 threes in the win over the Mountaineers. His 8 threes are tied for the second-most in school history and the most in a single game since 1996.
Notable Performances:
- Tate Ivanyo (Valparaiso, Ind.) Anderson University | Wing | Senior – Tate Ivanyo posted averages of 24.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3 steals as Anderson captured wins against North Central and Transylvania. Against North Central, Ivanyo filled the stat sheet with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. Against Transylvania, Ivanyo contributed 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals.
- Nevin Robson (Kenton, Ohio) Bluffton University | Guard | Junior – Robson put up a career-high 28 in a loss to Kalamazoo on Tuesday afternoon. He hit 12-of-19 from the field (63.2 percent) and ripped down a team-high nine rebounds. Robson averaged 18.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG for the week. He hit 15-of-28 from the field (53.6 percent) for the week, including 4-of-9 (44.4 percent) from distance. Robson also chipped in with 3 assists and 3 steals for the week.
- Lynn King (South Bend, Ind.) Franklin College | Forward | Senior – King led the way for a balanced Franklin attack in Saturday’s win at Earlham, dropping a team-high 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the campaign and ninth of his career.
- Malachi McNair (Evansville, Ind.) Hanover College | Forward | First Year – McNair led the Panthers as they took on Otterbein and Bluffton. The freshman finished the week averaging 17.5 points per game. In the game with Bluffton, he netted a game-high 16 points. In the team’s contest with Otterbein he added 19 points and was named a member of the all-tournament team.
- Matthew Menninger (Cleves, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Forward | Junior – Menninger delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 25 points. He showcased incredible efficiency, shooting 10-11 from the field and 2-3 from beyond the arc, playing a key role in the team’s success over Manchester.
- Colby Napier (Hindman, Ky.) Transylvania University | Guard | Senior – Colby Napier led Transylvania with 21 points in Transy’s loss to Anderson on Saturday. Napier knocked down five three-point field goals and added two blocks.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
BIG TEN, SEC EACH HAVE 4 TOP 10 TEAMS IN AP WOMEN’S POLL AS UCLA, SOUTH CAROLINA STILL LEAD WAY
The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference both have arguments to be considered the top league in women’s basketball.
Each has seven teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll Monday, including four apiece in the first 10. Both leagues have been bolstered this season by conference realignment, with No. 1 UCLA and No. 4 USC joining the Big Ten while No. 5 Texas and No. 10 Oklahoma are new to the SEC.
UCLA was once again the top choice in the poll after receiving 30 of 32 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Bruins have been the solid No. 1 team since knocking off former top team South Carolina in late November. The Gamecocks, who remained No. 2, host No. 5 Texas on Sunday.
Notre Dame remained third, garnering the other two first place votes, taking one away from the Gamecocks.
LSU and UConn were next after the Longhorns. Undefeated Maryland was eighth with Ohio State moving up one spot to ninth after Oklahoma split a pair of games with Texas and then-No. 15 Tennessee.
Ranked Utes
Utah underwent a coaching change in the first month of the season when Lynne Roberts left to coach in the WNBA. Longtime assistant Gavin Petersen stepped in and now has the Utes ranked for the third consecutive season as they entered the poll at No. 22.
“I don’t know if it’s ever happened in our game before. leaving a few games in,” Petersen said in a phone interview. “Our resilient crew has stepped up and faced the adversity that’s in front of them. We got through that feeling-out phase and put to rest all the unknowns.”
Utah had a huge Thanksgiving tournament win over Notre Dame. The Utes next face No. 12 Kansas State on Wednesday.
Rising Tide
No. 18 Alabama is off to its best start in the SEC in 21 years as the Crimson Tide improved to 2-0 in the conference for the first time since the 2003-04 season with a 68-49 win over Missouri. Alabama visits No. 5 Texas on Thursday.
Conference breakdown
The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten each have seven teams ranked this week after Ole Miss fell out of the Top 25. The ACC has six while the Big 12 has four and the Big East one.
Games of the week
No. 4 USC at No. 8 Maryland, Wednesday. The Terrapins will look to stay unbeaten as they host JuJu Watkins and the Trojans in a Big Ten showdown. This is the first top-10 matchup for Maryland this season.
No. 14 Duke at No. 19 North Carolina, Thursday. The first meeting between these two rivals who are looking to stay near the top of the ACC.
No. 5 Texas at No. 2 South Carolina, Sunday. The Longhorns face defending national champion South Carolina in their lone meeting in the regular season.
MARYLAND, USC AND MINNESOTA GRAB BIG TEN WEEKLY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS
Co-Player of the Week
Kaylene Smikle, Maryland
Junior – Guard – Bay Shore, N.Y. – Westtown
• Led Maryland to three conference wins, including a pair against ranked opponents
• Put together averages of 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 steals while shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc
• Tallied 19 points, 11 of which she scored in the second half, against No. 21 Michigan State
• Chipped in 13 points and five steals versus Rutgers
• Record a season-high 26 points and career-best six steals at No. 23 Iowa
• Went 15-for-17 from the free throw line during the stretch
• Earns the first Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last Maryland Player of the Week: Diamond Miller (Feb. 13, 2023)
Co-Player of the Week
JuJu Watkins, USC
Sophomore – Guard – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon
• Averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks during three USC wins
• Connected on a season-best 13 free throws versus No. 23 Michigan on her way to 31 points
• Scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-12 free throw shooting against Nebraska
• Record her second double-double of the season behind 23 points and a career-high 14 rebounds at Rutgers
• Over the three-game span, she went 28-of-31 from the charity stripe for a 90.3 percent clip
• Earns the third Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last USC Player of the Week: JuJu Watkins (Dec. 23, 2024)
Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Lauren Betts, UCLA: Averaged a double-double (19.7 points, 10.0 rebounds) in three victories for the Bruins
Elle Ladine, WASH: Dropped a career-high 40 points in Washington’s win over Northwestern
Freshman of the Week
Tori McKinney, Minnesota
Guard – Minnetonka, Minn. – Minnetonka H.S.
• Helped Minnesota to a trio of victories over that last two weeks
• Posted a team-high 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block to lead the Gophers past Penn State
• Also went 8-for-8 at the charity stripe against the Lady Lions
• Added seven points, six assists, four boards and two steals versus Wisconsin
• Had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists against Illinois
• Collects her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Grace Grocholski (Feb. 19, 2024)
HCAC 2024-25 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 9
Athlete of the Week:
Emma Schipp (Jasper, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Forward | First Year – Schipp dominated the paint with a career day on the court as she helped lead the Fightin’ Engineers to a narrow 71-68 victory over Berea for their fifth consecutive win. Schipp recorded career-highs with both 19 points and 10 rebounds for her first career collegiate double-double.
Notable Performances:
- Victoria Detraz (Valparaiso, Ind.) Anderson University | Post | Sophomore – Victoria Detraz notched 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks against Transylvania.
- Tamron Brinkman (Dayton, Ohio) Bluffton University | Forward | Senior – Brinkman averaged 13.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG as the Beavers split a pair of games over the week. She bucketed a career-high 16 in a loss to Hanover on Saturday. Brinkman finished the week 10-of-20 from the field for 50 percent shooting and she was 6-of-7 from the line (85.7 percent).
- Jay Bright (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Earlham College | Guard | Senior – Jay Bright led the Quakers in a loss to Franklin College with 24 points and eight rebounds. The senior went 3-for-5 on 3-pointers and dished out three assists with one steal.
- Erica Buening (Franklin, Ind.) Franklin College | Forward | First Year – Buening came just shy of her third double-double of the season on Saturday in a win at Earlham, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds as the Grizzlies claimed their sixth victory in a row.
- Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) Hanover College | Guard | Senior – Bezold led the Panthers past Bluffton posting her seventh double-double of the year. The senior finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. She also added four blocks an assist and a steal. Her seven double-doubles rank her among the top 12 in NCAA Division III.
- Madison Drummonds (Hebron, Ky.) Mount St. Joseph University | Forward | Senior – Madison Drummonds excelled in the Lions’ win over Manchester, recording 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in 38 minutes. Her leadership and clutch plays were crucial to the team’s success.
- Sadie Wurth (Dixon, Ky.) Transylvania University | Point Guard | Senior – In a 62-47 victory over Anderson, Wurth led the Pioneers with 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. She recorded a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line and a block on the afternoon as well.
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO CUTS HAND, NETS TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 11 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists in only 29 minutes — the reduced minutes due in part to a cut he suffered during the game — and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks trounced the Toronto Raptors 128-104 on Monday night.
Damian Lillard had 15 of his 25 points in the third quarter for the Bucks, who were coming off two straight home losses and led by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.
It was Antetokounmpo’s fourth triple-double of the season and the 49th of his career. He had a cut finger that was treated during the game. He was able to continue until the game was under control, and he sat for the fourth quarter.
RJ Barrett had 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Toronto after missing three games with an illness. With his return, the Raptors had their projected starting lineup together for the first time this season.
Kings 123, Heat 118 (2OT)
DeMar DeRozan poured in nine of his game-high 30 points in the second overtime, helping Sacramento outlast visiting Miami for its fifth straight win under interim coach Doug Christie.
After missed shots and free throws dominated the final seconds of regulation and the first overtime, the teams were still tied — at 117-all — in the second extra session before DeRozan hit three shots, the third an 18-footer that opened up a five-point lead with just 12.8 seconds to play.
Domantas Sabonis put up a triple-double for the Kings with 21 points, a game-high 18 rebounds and a game-high 11 assists to go along with three blocks. Without Jimmy Butler (suspension) in the opener of a six-game Western Conference road trip, the Heat were led by Tyler Herro (26 points).
Pistons 118, Trail Blazers 115
Cade Cunningham had 32 points, nine assists and six rebounds and host Detroit won its season-high fourth straight game with a victory over Portland.
Tim Hardaway Jr. supplied 26 points and Tobias Harris contributed 17 as the Pistons reached the .500 mark for the first time this season. Detroit forward Ausar Thompson was a late scratch due to an illness.
Anfernee Simons led six Portland players in double figures with 36 points and chipped in nine assists while Shaedon Sharpe had 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Suns 109, 76ers 99
Bradley Beal scored 25 points off the bench and Kevin Durant added 23 as Phoenix snapped a four-game losing streak with a win at Philadelphia.
Rookie forward Ryan Dunn chipped in 15 points for Phoenix, which overcame a 3-of-16 shooting night from Devin Booker (10 points, 10 assists).
Tyrese Maxey notched 31 points and 10 assists to pace Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid (foot sprain). Kelly Oubre added 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul George chipped in 13 points, nine boards and five assists but shot just 5 of 18 from the field.
Magic 103, Knicks 94
Cole Anthony scored 14 of his team-high 24 points in the second half as undermanned Orlando grabbed the lead and didn’t let go to beat host New York.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 19 points off the bench while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 15 points for the Magic, who avoided being swept in the four-game regular season series despite missing leading scorers Franz Wagner (torn right oblique), Jalen Suggs (back) and Moritz Wagner (torn left ACL).
Josh Hart collected 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each scored 24 points for the ice-cold Knicks, who suffered their season-high third straight loss.
Bulls 114, Spurs 110
Zach LaVine scored 14 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and added 10 rebounds for the game while Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 11 boards to lift host Chicago over San Antonio.
Chicago overcame a 19-point deficit that it faced in the third quarter, taking its first lead of the night on Coby White’s driving layup with 47.1 seconds left in the fourth that made it 111-110. The Bulls ended the game on an 11-0 run.
Chris Paul missed a desperation 3-pointer in the final second for San Antonio. The shot followed a jump ball that was the result of a won challenge by the Bulls, who were able to get a foul call on a 3-point attempt by the Spurs reversed.
Pacers 113, Nets 99
Tyrese Haliburton totaled 23 points and eight assists as Indiana led for the final three quarters and moved over .500 for the first time since winning its season opener by beating Brooklyn in New York.
Bennedict Mathurin added 20 points and Pascal Siakam finished with 19 as the Pacers shot 50.6 percent, survived getting outrebounded 51-35 and withstood 33 second-chance points by the Nets. Reserve Obi Toppin contributed 11 points and Myles Turner chipped in 10 to help Indiana win its third straight.
The Pacers won for the 10th time in 14 games since their 99-90 loss in Brooklyn on Dec. 4 and moved to 19-18. Indiana also won for the eighth time in its past nine road games since its loss to the Nets
Grizzlies 119, Mavericks 104
With both teams missing key players, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jaylen Wells had double-doubles and Memphis snapped a two-game skid with a victory over visiting Dallas.
Memphis played without injured starters Desmond Bane and Ja Morant, along with key reserves Santi Aldama and Marcus Smart. Stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving did not play for the Mavericks, who have lost five in a row.
Jackson finished with 35 points and 13 rebounds, while Wells added 17 points and 11 boards. Jackson was 13 of 23 shooting and had five assists, three steals and a block. Scotty Pippen Jr. contributed 18 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists, and John Konchar grabbed 13 rebounds.
Timberwolves 108, Clippers 106
Anthony Edwards drained back-to-back 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter, and Minnesota held on to edge Los Angeles in Minneapolis.
Edwards finished with 37 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for Minnesota, which snapped a three-game skid. Naz Reid scored 18 points off the bench and Rudy Gobert grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds to go along with his eight points.
Norman Powell scored 25 points to lead Los Angeles. James Harden collected 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, while Kawhi Leonard scored eight points on 3-for-11 shooting in his second game of the season since returning from a knee injury. He played 21 minutes.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: SABRES SPOIL JOHN CARLSON’S BIG NIGHT
Alex Tuch scored one goal in the shootout after nailing two in regulation as the Buffalo Sabres topped the visiting Washington Capitals 4-3 on Monday night.
After Tuch’s marker in the third round of the shootout, JJ Peterka scored the clinching goal in the next round. Following Peterka’s goal, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made the save on Jakob Chychrun’s attempt to seal the win for Buffalo, which had lost three straight games (0-2-1) after winning three in a row.
Luukkonen made 25 saves, and Peterka had two assists in regulation.
Tom Wilson notched his fifth multi-goal game of the season for the Capitals, who are 5-2-2 in their past nine games. John Carlson had two assists, putting him at 700 points in his NHL career, and Charlie Lindgren made 24 saves.
Canadiens 5, Canucks 4 (OT)
Nick Suzuki’s power-play goal 48 seconds into overtime gave Montreal the win over visiting Vancouver for its eighth win in 10 games (8-2-0).
Suzuki collected two assists during regulation and buried a shot from the slot for his fourth career overtime winner. Lane Hutson had a goal and two assists, and Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist. Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle also scored for the Habs. Sam Montembeault stopped 16 of 20 shots to earn his 15th win of the season.
J.T. Miller had two goals and two assists for the struggling Canucks, who dropped to 4-5-5 in their last 14 games. Jonathan Lekkerimaki had a goal and an assist, Jake DeBrusk scored a power-play goal and Kevin Lankinen stopped 19 of 24 shots. Quinn Hughes had two assists in his return after missing four games.
Avalanche 3, Panthers 1
Devon Toews scored two goals and added an assist, Mikko Rantanen also scored to extend his point streak to 14 games, and Colorado beat Florida in Denver.
Mackenzie Blackwood turned away 26 shots for Colorado. The Avalanche are 7-0-1 in their past eight games and wrapped up a 3-0-1 homestand. It was Toews’ first two-goal game since May 8, 2021.
Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves for Florida.
Devils 3, Kraken 2
Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist as New Jersey broke out of a rut by edging host Seattle.
Paul Cotter and Ondrej Palat also scored for the Devils, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves.
Adam Larsson and Shane Wright found the back of the net for Seattle, which went 0-2-1 in the last three games of its four-game homestand after winning the opener. Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 of 29 shots.
COLLEGE TENNIS NEWS
BIG TEN CONFERENCE REVEALS 2025 BIG TEN WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced the 2025 Women’s Tennis Players to Watch list, as selected by the conference head coaches.
Among the list are 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Conference selection and recent NCAA Singles qualifier Luciana Perry of Ohio State, USC’s Grace Piper, who earned bids to NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships in the fall and also earned All-Conference recognition in 2024, Michigan’s Julie Fliegner who in the fall, became the second player in Wolverine program history to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Singles Championship and UCLA’s Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer who qualified for NCAA Singles competition in the fall.
A trio of freshmen from Northwestern, Penn State and Purdue are also featured on the preseason watch list.
The complete list of the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Tennis Players to Watch can be found below.
2025 Big Ten Women’s Tennis Players to Watch List
Mckenna Schaefbauer, Jr., Illinois
Nicole Teodosescu, Jr., Indiana
Tereza Dejnozkova, Jr., Iowa
Kallista Liu, Sr., Maryland
Julia Fliegner, Sr., Michigan
Liisa Vehvilainen, Sr., Michigan State
Aiva Schmitz, Jr., Minnesota
Ana Zamburek, Sr., Nebraska
Mika Dagan Fruchtman, Fr., Northwestern
Luciana Perry, So., Ohio State
Olivia Symons, Jr., Oregon
Patricia Grigoras, Fr., Penn State
Ece Gencer, Fr., Purdue
Zuzanna Frankowska, So. Rutgers
Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer, Jr., UCLA
Grace Piper, Sr., USC
Erika Matsuda, Jr., Washington
Taylor Cataldi, Sr., Wisconsin
BASEBALL NEWS
REPORT: REDS TO ACQUIRE LUX FROM DODGERS
The Cincinnati Reds are acquiring infielder Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a competitive balance round A draft pick, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Lux, 27, hit .251/.320/.383 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs across 139 games with the Dodgers last season. Due to his struggles against left-handers, he was primarily deployed at second base against right-handed pitching as part of a platoon.
His place in the Dodgers’ infield became more of a question after L.A. added Korean star second baseman Hyeseong Kim last week.
The New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners reportedly had interest in trading for Lux before he was sent to Cincinnati.
AUTO RACING
REPORT: HELIO CASTRONEVES BOOKS DAYTONA 500 RIDE WITH TRACKHOUSE
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves is set to make his NASCAR debut as he attempts to qualify for the Feb. 15 Daytona 500 for Trackhouse Racing, The Athletic reported.
A longtime open-wheel competitor, the 49-year-old Castroneves won the Indy 500 in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021. He has familiarity with the Daytona International Speedway, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona from 2021-23 on the circuit’s road course.
Trackhouse Racing has three full-time Cup Series teams with a part-time No. 91 car dubbed “Project 91.” Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen drive the No. 91 car to a victory on the Chicago street course in 2023 in his NASCAR debut.
Castroneves still will have to earn his spot in the Daytona 500 field during qualifying. While 36 spots are accounted for by full-time and charter teams, additional spots are available in qualifying. A total of 42 cars qualified for the 2024 Daytona 500 field.
Castroneves is one of four drivers to win the Indy 500 four times, with A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr. also accomplishing the feat. Only Foyt and Mario Andretti have won both the Indy 500 and Daytona 500.
TOP INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IHSWCA TEAM STATE-JANUARY 11
4A
@ BROWNSBURG-INDIANA MAT WRESTLERS TO WATCH
106: #3/#1 Daniel Brown (Center Grove) , #4/#2 Traevon Ducking (Brownsburg) , #5/#3 Case Bridge (Avon) , #8/#1 Sam Westfall (Crown Point) , #9/#2 Tate St. Laurent (Indianapolis Cathedral) , #14/#7 Alden Walker (Evansville Mater Dei) , #18/#4 Lucas Manning (Portage) , #20/#6 Camden Raypole (Homestead) , NR/NR Joseph Hamilton (Center Grove) , NR/NR Levi Overbay (Portage) , NR/NR Omar Garcia (Portage) , NR/NR Chase Mikels (Portage)
113: #1/#1 Case Bell (Brownsburg) , #5/#2 Nathan Reyes (Indianapolis Cathedral) , #6/#3 Colin Strayer (Crown Point) , #14/#3 Justus Thrasher (Center Grove) , #17/#9 Drew Heisler (Homestead) , #19/#5 Zavier Acuna (Portage) , NR/NR Cam Baumann (Evansville Mater Dei) , NR/NR Griffin Webber (Crown Point) , NR/NR Ethan Bayliss (Indianapolis Cathedral) , NR/NR Jackson Lavin (Indianapolis Cathedral) , NR/NR Brady Elfreich (Evansville Mater Dei) , NR/NR Sam Blanco Colemanes (Avon)
120: #1/#1 Revin Dickman (Brownsburg) , #2/#1 Gavin Lewis (Crown Point) , #3/#2 Royce Malone (Center Grove) , #7/#3 Mason Goelz (Avon) , #11/#4 Lincoln Underwood (Portage) , #16/#6 John Bissmeyer (Indianapolis Cathedral) , #17/#7 David Altstadt (Evansville Mater Dei) , NR/NR Daniel LaRocca (Center Grove) , NR/NR Caden Rodgers (Indianapolis Cathedral)
126: #1/#1 Gavin Jendreas (Crown Point) , #2/#1 Nathan Rioux (Avon) , #3/#2 Ty Henderson (Evansville Mater Dei) , #4/#3 Dominic Brown (Center Grove) , #16/#5 Landen Haines (Brownsburg) , NR/#6 Connor Bayliss (Indianapolis Cathedral) , NR/#6 Kaeden Benedict (Homestead) , NR/#6 Cameron Woods (Portage) , NR/NR Ryan Hockaday (Brownsburg)
132: #1/#1 Jake Hockaday (Brownsburg) , #3/#2 Eddie Goss (Center Grove) , #4/#1 Landon Hawkins (Crown Point) , #6/#1 Hunter Douglas (Homestead) , #7/#3 Caleb Schaefer (Evansville Mater Dei) , #15/#9 Cullen Crowley (Indianapolis Cathedral) , NR/#5 Ayden Campbell (Portage) , NR/NR Cash Mays (Brownsburg) , NR/NR Lucas Day (Brownsburg) , NR/NR Anthony Zuranski (Avon) , NR/NR Michael Oberlin (Homestead) , NR/NR Xavier Flores (Center Grove)
138: #2/#1 Isaiah Schaefer (Evansville Mater Dei) , #3/#2 Braylon Reynolds (Brownsburg) , #8/#6 Quinten Schoeff (Avon) , #9/#2 Sonny Sessa (Crown Point) , #18/#9 Marcus Malone (Center Grove) , #20/#4 Cooper Wilkins (Portage) , NR/NR Brian Thomas (Indianapolis Cathedral)
144: #3/#1 Tommy Gibbs (Brownsburg) , #6/#2 Peyton Hornsby (Center Grove) , #19/#4 Logan Haney (Crown Point) , NR/#7 Anthony Gurrola (Homestead) , NR/#8 Chase Kline (Avon) , NR/#8 Kristian Tapia (Portage) , NR/NR Clinton Shepherd (Crown Point) , NR/NR Eli Randolph (Evansville Mater Dei) , NR/NR Owen Reyes (Indianapolis Cathedral)
150: #2/#1 Parker Reynolds (Brownsburg) , #4/#2 Seth Syra (Avon) , #7/#6 Sean Breedlove (Center Grove) , #11/#2 Tyler Lavin (Indianapolis Cathedral) , #18/NR Teigan Newell (Crown Point) , NR/#3 Oscar Baca (Crown Point) , NR/#9 Grant Voelker (Evansville Mater Dei) , NR/#10 Ian Hutchinson (Homestead) , NR/NR Alejandro Alvarez (Portage)
157: #3/#1 Silas Stits (Center Grove) , #6/#2 Mason Day (Brownsburg) , #9/#3 Michael Ortega (Portage) , #16/#8 Ben Hartzell (Homestead) , NR/NR Kaden Farmer (Evansville Mater Dei) , NR/NR Lucas Boe (Avon)
165: #5/#3 Griffin Van Tichelt (Crown Point) , #7/#3 William Vander Luitgaren (Center Grove) , NR/#5 Ben Clark (Crown Point) , NR/#6 Griffan Larson (Avon) , NR/#7 Carson Godinez (Homestead) , NR/#9 Camden Baumann (Evansville Mater Dei)
175: #5/#3 Julian Weems (Center Grove) , #18/#2 Jake Thrash (Homestead) , NR/#5 Calvin Stewart (Crown Point) , NR/NR Anthony Rinehart (Crown Point) , NR/NR Drew Schapker (Evansville Mater Dei)
190: #1/#1 Gunner Henry (Brownsburg) , #4/#2 Ceasar Salas (Crown Point) , #5/#2 Kyle Harden (Indianapolis Cathedral) , #18/#6 Caden Thacker (Evansville Mater Dei) , NR/NR Elliot Jones (Center Grove)
215: #2/#1 Caden Brewer (Brownsburg) , #9/#4 Everett McClelland (Portage) , #13/#2 Austin Reading (Crown Point) , NR/NR Jackson Sarjent (Brownsburg) , NR/NR Zachary Clark (Crown Point) , NR/NR Mark Gonzales (Crown Point) , NR/NR Grant Stewart (Avon) , NR/NR Miguel Flores (Center Grove)
285: #1/#1 Lucas Szymborski (Crown Point) , #2/#1 Maximus Forrester (Brownsburg) , #3/#2 Caleb Evans (Homestead) , #8/#3 Triston Meschede (Portage) , NR/#10 Braden Love (Avon) , NR/NR Tony Brooks (Crown Point)
3A AT FRANKLIN
106: #1/#1 Julianna Ocampo (New Haven) , #16/#5 Jaxsen Jean (Bloomington South) , #19/NR Cameron Schofield (Franklin Community) , NR/#6 Carter Sanford (Roncalli) , NR/#9 Tyler Quarles (Lowell) , NR/NR Blake Doeing (Hobart) , NR/NR Diego Irizarry (Hobart) , NR/NR Alex Snow (Lowell) , NR/NR Colton Campbell (Terre Haute South) , NR/NR Carter Sanford (Roncalli)
113: #2/#1 Peyton Schoettle (Roncalli) , #3/#1 Noel Verduzco (Lowell) , #10/#3 Lincoln Parsons (Greenfield-Central) , #13/#8 Bakari Cooper (New Haven) , NR/#4 Ethan Poling (Columbus East) , NR/#6 Blake Doss (New Palestine) , NR/NR Leblanc Phan (Floyd Central)
120: #5/#4 Cameron Meier (Bloomington South) , #6/#1 Blake Getz (Roncalli) , #8/NR Talon Jessup (Columbus East) , #9/#2 Jett McGuire (Greenfield-Central) , #18/#4 Timmy Rocha (New Haven) , #20/#3 Daniel Mata (Hobart) , NR/NR Fynn Douglas (Floyd Central) , NR/NR Wesley Harbert (New Palestine) , NR/NR William Rader (Terre Haute South) , NR/NR Aiden Woods (Franklin Community)
126: #13/#4 Gavyn Kemp (Roncalli) , #15/#3 Seth Aubin (Hobart) , #19/#2 Sean Harris (New Haven) , NR/#7 Brennan Leonard (Martinsville) , NR/#9 Hunter Mallory (Lowell) , NR/NR Matthew Rossman (Roncalli) , NR/NR Isaac Campbell (Floyd Central)
132: #9/#3 Cole Vandygriff (New Palestine) , #12/#4 Gage Rutan (Columbus East) , #13/#6 Dalton Robson (Lowell) , #17/#4 Jack Richardson (Roncalli) , NR/#5 Anthony Kessinger (Floyd Central) , NR/NR Brayden Clauser (New Haven) , NR/NR Kegan Jochim (Franklin Community) , NR/NR Jacoby Moore (Hobart)
138: #1/#1 Evan Stanley (Lowell) , #5/#2 Gunner Butt (New Palestine) , #11/#5 Amrin Pratt (Bloomington South) , #13/#7 Caleb Kirkpatrick (Columbus East) , #15/#2 Malachi Thullner (New Haven) , NR/#7 Cade Zuber (Greenfield-Central) , NR/#10 Hunter Banet (Floyd Central) , NR/NR Quinton Buckmaster (Lowell) , NR/NR Owen Trimpe (Franklin Community) , NR/NR Nathan Bryan (Terre Haute South) , NR/NR Andrew McHugh (Roncalli)
144: #5/#1 Bryce Doss (New Palestine) , #14/#4 Caleb Cooper (Columbus East) , NR/#3 Alex Plahitko (Roncalli) , NR/#7 Daniel McGill (Hobart) , NR/#7 JJ Harlow (Greenfield-Central) , NR/#9 Noah Fields (Terre Haute South) , NR/NR Vince Kessinger (Floyd Central) , NR/NR Wayne Harden (Bloomington South) , NR/NR Jon Fuller (Martinsville)
150: #1/#1 Easton Doster (New Haven) , #6/#3 Lincoln Cooper (Columbus East) , #8/#4 Wyatt Cooksey (Bloomington South) , #15/#4 Dieter Gerst (Lowell) , NR/#5 William May (Roncalli) , NR/NR Cole Weber (Hobart)
157: #19/#7 Jesus Lopez (Terre Haute South) , NR/#9 Jackson McCurdy (Roncalli) , NR/#10 Cameron Sommers (Franklin Community) , NR/#10 Tymothy James (Lowell) , NR/NR Ian Amstutz (New Haven) , NR/NR Hunter Fender (Bloomington South) , NR/NR Jayden Azcona (Hobart)
165: #2/#1 Evan Roudebush (Bloomington South) , #4/#1 Aidan Costello (Hobart) , #9/#2 Evan Hamblin (Martinsville) , #15/#3 James Dozier (Roncalli) , #20/#5 Mason Thompson (Greenfield-Central) , NR/#7 Bradley Rivera (Lowell) , NR/#8 Cori Tonte (Franklin Community) , NR/NR Lucas Barkley (New Haven) , NR/NR Cory Fuller (Franklin Community) , NR/NR Miller Clayton (Columbus East) , NR/NR Gabe Flick (New Palestine)
175: #3/#1 Coy Bender (Terre Haute South) , #16/#7 MJ Morton (Roncalli) , NR/#8 Hank Redman (Columbus East) , NR/NR Tristian Hicks (Bloomington South) , NR/NR Hayden Mancilla (Hobart)
190: #8/#2 Colin McMahon (Columbus East) , #14/#5 Noah Sumner (Martinsville) , #15/#4 Aleksandar Tatum (Hobart) , NR/NR Spencer Fain (Floyd Central)
215: #5/#2 Colin Whetsel (New Palestine) , #6/#3 Aidan Abad (Lowell) , #11/#4 Kellen Fellure (Franklin Community) , #15/#9 Ezra Frederick (Martinsville) , #18/#7 Tristen Lanum (Greenfield-Central) , NR/#4 Brody Heidelberger (Roncalli) , NR/#5 James Moss (Columbus East) , NR/#8 Josh Diaz (Hobart) , NR/#10 Vince Lepera (New Haven)
285: #5/#2 Kameron Hazelett (Lowell) , #14/#4 Luke Juris (Hobart) , #17/#5 Sean Murphy (Terre Haute South) , NR/#2 William Glesing (New Palestine) , NR/#8 Dominick Mercer (Martinsville) , NR/#8 Zach Blevens (Greenfield-Central) , NR/#10 Charles McGrant (New Haven) , NR/NR Zane Baker (Roncalli)
2A-JAY COUNTY
106: #7/#2 Reed Wicker (Delta) , NR/#4 Jackson Webb (Yorktown) , NR/#5 Ramon Sierra (Garrett) , NR/#7 Julian Deluna (Hanover Central) , NR/#8 Michael Skaggs (New Prairie) , NR/#10 Austin Boltinghouse (Owen Valley) , NR/NR Taiga Koyanogi (Crawfordsville)
113: #4/#2 Abrum Swathwood (Garrett) , #9/#1 Kaid Jackson (Delta) , NR/#5 Griffin Byrum (Jay County) , NR/#7 Germaine Johnson (Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown) , NR/#8 Nathan Scott (New Prairie)
120: #4/#1 Ayden Bollinger (Delta) , NR/#6 Caleb Halfacre (New Prairie) , NR/#7 Caleb Asa (Garrett) , NR/#8 Tobias Bowling (Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown) , NR/NR Ben Mills (Bellmont) , NR/NR Brendan Hubbard (Mount Vernon (Posey))
126: NR/#10 Kameron Baker (Garrett) , NR/#10 Berke Eisenhauer (Heritage Hills) , NR/NR Will Franze (Bellmont) , NR/NR Brock McCartney (Garrett) , NR/NR Rocco Leraci (New Prairie) , NR/NR Jensen Boyd (Delta) , NR/NR Evan Cryderman (Hanover Central)
132: #8/#2 Sam Mosier (Delta) , NR/#9 Gabriel Myers (Bellmont) , NR/#10 Eli Hedges (Heritage Hills) , NR/NR Isaiah Buikema (Hanover Central) , NR/NR Emery Jackson (Owen Valley) , NR/NR Sean Windell (Heritage Hills)
138: #12/#1 Henry Faurote (Bellmont) , NR/#3 Ryan Kochendorfer (Garrett) , NR/#6 Preston Hammond (New Prairie) , NR/#10 Tanner Eppard (Yorktown) , NR/NR EJ Rainey (Mount Vernon (Posey))
144: #1/#1 Jeffrey Huyvaert (New Prairie) , #2/#1 Carter Fielden (Garrett) , #7/#3 Jack Davis (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) , #12/#2 Wyatt Hoppes (Yorktown) , NR/#4 Gabriel McNamee (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) , NR/#10 Landon Vaught (Crawfordsville) , NR/NR Jayden Stillwagoner (Mount Vernon (Posey)) , NR/NR Xavier Nusbaum (Garrett) , NR/NR Jackson Smith (Heritage Hills)
150: #5/#5 Alex Smith (Heritage Hills) , #9/#2 Jayden Lewis (New Prairie) , #13/#6 Sam Bustamante (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) , NR/#6 Sam Wolpert (Bellmont) , NR/#9 Jacob Robinson (Jay County) , NR/NR Carter Hall (Hanover Central)
157: #1/#2 Matthew Staples (New Prairie) , #7/#2 Silas Foster (Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown) , NR/#7 Daniel Adams (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) , NR/#9 Dalton Pledger (Heritage Hills) , NR/#10 Brian Barrett (Garrett) , NR/NR Christian Wittkamp (Jay County)
165: #8/#1 Gavin Davis (Bellmont) , NR/#6 Israel Sinnott (Hanover Central) , NR/#7 Lucas McBee (Owen Valley) , NR/#8 Xaviour Akpan (Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown) , NR/#10 Colten Schneider (Mount Vernon (Posey)) , NR/NR Landon Mills-Blowers (Jay County) , NR/NR Charlie Rushenberg (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard)
175: #14/#3 Hayden Whitenack (New Prairie) , NR/#5 Braeden Hites (Crawfordsville) , NR/#10 Nate Wells (Garrett) , NR/NR Caleb Chambers (Hanover Central)
190: #6/#3 Devin Kendrex (New Prairie) , #7/#3 Xavior Palacios (Bellmont) , #12/#2 Kaeb Stebbins (Delta) , #17/#3 Kade Rickard (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) , NR/#5 AJ Myers (Jay County)
215: #4/#1 Jayden Bartoszek (Hanover Central) , #8/#3 Jett Goldsberry (Heritage Hills) , NR/#6 Aiden Hunt (Garrett) , NR/#8 Andrew Troy (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) , NR/NR Antonio Cisneros-Rodriguez (Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown)
285: #10/#4 Alan Ortiz (Jay County) , #11/#2 Hayden Smith (Heritage Hills) , NR/#7 Kendall Moore (Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown) , NR/#9 Grady Baker (Bellmont) , NR/NR Jacob Arteaga (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) , NR/NR Parker Hart (Heritage Hills) , NR/NR James Hartleroad (New Prairie) , NR/NR Dylan Hale (Owen Valley) , NR/NR Jacob Reynolds (Garrett) , NR/NR Wyatt Roach (Yorktown)
1A-ADAMS CENTRAL
106: NR/#9 Wyatt Cox (Eastside) , NR/#9 Noah Stingley (Rossville) , NR/NR Grant Holloway (Rochester) , NR/NR Devin Bashem (Rochester) , NR/NR Jace McCormick (Tell City) , NR/NR Hunter Duncan (North Miami)
113: NR/#4 Kolby Robinson (Rensselaer Central) , NR/#10 Max Adams (South Adams) , NR/NR Donovan Storey (Rossville) , NR/NR Tyler Huffman (Alexandria Monroe) , NR/NR Cooper Good (Northfield)
120: #10/#3 Braylon McIntire (North Miami) , NR/#2 Beck Doughty (Rensselaer Central) , NR/#5 Ezra Fye (Alexandria Monroe) , NR/#9 Walter Hagedorn (Tell City) , NR/NR Myles Kaehr (Adams Central) , NR/NR Titus Loshe (South Adams) , NR/NR Dakota Fields (Switzerland County) , NR/NR Lucas Richards (Milan)
126: #17/#1 Jordan Korreckt (North Miami) , #18/#3 Matthew Baylor (Milan) , #20/#9 Ethan Rose (Switzerland County) , NR/#5 Kale Beer (Adams Central) , NR/#9 Dakota Sprunger (South Adams) , NR/#10 Alfredo Origel (Rensselaer Central) , NR/NR Will Patterson (South Adams) , NR/NR Kaleb Evans (North Miami) , NR/NR Luke Weaver (Rossville) , NR/NR Brayden Rice (Northfield)
132: #5/#2 Layne Horn (Rochester) , NR/#8 Noah Dove (Eastside) , NR/NR Max Fortwendel (Tell City)
138: #10/#3 Peyton Richards (Switzerland County) , NR/#5 Lane Snyder (Eastside) , NR/#6 Will Roberts (Rossville) , NR/NR Tate Barlow (Northfield)
144: #9/NR Chase Stephens (Tell City) , #11/#3 Avery Stanley (Rensselaer Central) , #16/#4 Dylan Ogg (Adams Central) , NR/#5 Gabe Rose (Switzerland County) , NR/#9 Kameron Pratt (Northfield) , NR/NR Kale Shotts (Rochester) , NR/NR Riley Kling (North Miami)
150: #10/#7 Elijah Gahl (Northfield) , NR/#2 Brason Schortgen (Adams Central) , NR/#7 Braddock Behling (Rochester) , NR/NR Cayden Webb (Rensselaer Central) , NR/NR Max Byerly (Adams Central)
157: #2/#1 Brant Beck (Rochester) , #8/#3 Linkin Carter (Eastside) , #12/#3 Jacob Weaver (Rossville) , #20/#4 Maverick Dubach (Adams Central) , NR/#4 Kaleb Wilburn (Milan) , NR/#5 Isaiah Meyer (South Adams) , NR/NR Diego Hernandez-Reyes (Rensselaer Central) , NR/NR Dylan Lynch (Rossville)
165: NR/#5 Ethan Fike (Eastside) , NR/#6 Jacob Cole (Rossville) , NR/NR Kayden McClellen (Milan)
175: #4/#2 Landon Terry (Tell City) , NR/#2 Wyatt Davis (Rochester) , NR/#4 Jordan Simon (North Miami) , NR/NR Cameron Gilb (Milan) , NR/NR Matt Heiser (Adams Central) , NR/NR Camden Shelton (Alexandria Monroe)
190: #9/#3 Noah Terry (Tell City) , NR/#8 Job Richman (Eastside) , NR/#10 Derek Worthley (Rochester)
215: #1/#1 Noah Weaver (Rossville) , #7/#2 Ethan Schraner (Tell City) , #10/#3 Hartley Hoover (North Miami) , NR/#10 Zane Richardson (Milan)
285: #12/#7 Declan Gard (Rochester) , NR/NR Nathan Freeman (Rossville) , NR/NR Harrison Fife (Alexandria Monroe)
INDIANA MAT HOMEPAGE: https://indianamat.com/
INDIANA GIRLS WRESTLING REGIONAL INFORMATION
FINAL GIRLS RANKINGS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/individual_rankings.html/girls-final-r393/
FINAL GIRLS POWER POLL: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/team_rankings.html/209_2025-season/girls-power-poll-final-r461/
REGIONAL AT GOSHEN
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COLTS FOOTBALL
COLTS PART WAYS WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR GUS BRADLEY
The Colts on Monday parted ways with defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
“I’m appreciative of Gus and the commitment he made to the Colts,” head coach Shane Steichen said. “He is a man of great character, and I have the utmost respect for him. I felt like we needed to move in a different direction. I wish Gus and his family all the best moving forward.”
Bradley spent the last three seasons as the Colts’ defensive coordinator, and has been a defensive coordinator or head coach from 2009-2024. He joined the Colts in 2022 after former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was hired as the Chicago Bears’ head coach.
INDIANA PACERS
GAME REWIND: PACERS 113, NETS 99
Game Recap
The Indiana Pacers remain undefeated to start 2025.
Beating the Brooklyn Nets 113-99 on Monday at Barclays Center, the Pacers extended their winning streak to three straight games. With the victory, the Pacers (19-18) are also above .500 in the record column for the first time since Oct. 24.
Indiana led by 16 points at halftime, holding Brooklyn (13-23) to just 39 points at intermission, and never trailed in the second half despite a strong push by the Nets in the third quarter.
Point guard Tyrese Haliburton topped the Pacers with 23 points and eight assists, while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points, Pascal Siakam added 19, Obi Toppin supplied 11 off the bench, and Myles Turner chipped in 10. The Pacers outshot the Nets 50.6 to 41.8 percent in the game, draining 12 3-pointers to Brookyn’s 10 treys, while making 21 of 23 free throw attempts.
Day’Ron Sharpe led the Nets with 16 points and 13 rebounds off the bench, Tyrese Martin scored 15 points, and Noah Clowney had 14. Brooklyn was missing a slew of players Monday night, as eight players sat out with injuries.
Indiana led 55-39 at halftime after holding the Nets to just 34.8 percent shooting through the first 24 minutes. The 39 points are the fewest the Blue & Gold have given up in any half this season.
The Pacers shot 53.8 percent as a team in the first half, as Mathurin led the charge with 11 points while Haliburton and Turner each chipped in 10.
After a so-so first quarter, the Pacers scored 31 points on 60 percent shooting in the second to build the 16-point halftime lead.
Neither team could get much separation in the first quarter, with a jump shot from T.J. McConnell just inside the free throw line with 3 seconds left putting the Pacers ahead 24-22
Two big runs in the second quarter helped the Pacers to the double-digit lead at the break.
The Pacers opened the second quarter on a 10-3 run, behind four different scorers, to lead 34-27 with 7:20 left in the half.
After the teams exchanged baskets for the next two minutes, Mathurin made three straight baskets, including a three, to keep the visitors ahead 48-39 with 2:27 on the clock.
The Pacers then extended their scoring streak to 12-2, as Haliburton made a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws in the final 44 seconds of the half to keep the Blue & Gold momentum.
The Pacers had a promising start to the third quarter, but did not score a field goal in the final 5:50 of the period as the Nets narrowed the deficit to 78-70. Brooklyn outscored Indiana 31-23 in the frame, with Siakam accounting for 11 of the Pacers’ points.
Indiana opened the second half on an 11-2 run, highlighted by five points by Siakam and 3-pointers from Mathurin and Haliburton, to lead 67-44.
Brooklyn then responded with its own 11-2 scoring run before using a 14-2 stretch in the final 4:31, where Sharpe and Keon Johnson scored four points each and Clowney hit a 3-pointer, cut it to 78-70.
Indiana started the fourth quarter strong and didn’t let up in the final moments.
Mathurin drilled a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, McConnell scored four quick points, and Thomas Bryant finished an and-one to give the Pacers an 88-74 advantage with 10:15 left in the game.
After a mini 5-0 Brooklyn run, the Pacers mustered a 17-4 stretch where Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, and Toppin scored five points each to put the Pacers in front 105-83 with 4:33 remaining.
Brooklyn couldn’t make a comeback from there as the Pacers opened their week with a win.
Indiana will play its next two games at home, hosting the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and Golden State Warriors Friday.
Inside the Numbers
Tyrese Haliburton has scored 20 or more points in 14 games this season. The team is 12-2 when he reaches that mark.
Bennedict Mathurin has scored 20 or more points in a game 12 times this season.
The Nets outrebounded the Pacers 51-35, including 20-5 on the offensive glass.
Indiana finished with 10 turnovers and the Nets had 14 giveaways.
Obi Toppin has scored in double figures in each of the last three games for the Pacers.
Tthe Nets outscored the Pacers 33-8 in second-chance points.
You Can Quote Me on That
“Brooklyn’s a very smart organization. They’re rebuilding this franchise the right way, with hard-playing guys. A lot of these guys are names that people don’t recognize, but they’re all underrated players, and they’re high-level competitors, and that’s how you build a winning culture and a winning team.” – Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle on the shorthanded Nets
“This is a winning brand of basketball that he’s playing now. He’s learned some things, he’s realized some things. He and I spent a lot of time talking about it and watching things. If he’s willing to run and take open shots, avoid the temptation to drive into crowds and try to draw fouls, and play tough, hard-nosed defense … that’s a winning formula for a young player., He’s put together three solid games. Tonight, he just had a lot of timely buckets. He had some very good passes that were pretty simple in nature, but probably very underrated given the situation. He’s just got to play a simple game.” – Carlisle on Bennedict Mathurin’s recent play
“(The Nets) have athletes that are just high-level athletes, you know, and they’re highly competitive. They play a 94-foot game defensively, and they’re going to make it hard. …. We stayed into it competitively, well enough to win the game, and built some separation at the end. There were some good things that were happening.” – Carlisle on the win
“I feel like I’m in a good situation being able to take tough matchups and still be myself on offense.” — Mathurin on his improvements on defense
Stat of the Night
The Pacers gave up just 39 points in the first half, which is the fewest they’ve allowed in any half this season.
Noteworthy
The Pacers have won eight of their last nine games on the road.
Brooklyn and Indiana, tied at 1-1 this season, will play in back-to-back games in Indianapolis on March 20 and March 22.
Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith has missed 31 straight games with a left ankle sprain.
Nets forward Bojan Bogdanovic spent two seasons with the Pacers (2017-2019). He didn’t play on Monday due to left foot injury recovery.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
BRI COPELAND AND TAYLOR MINNICK SELECTED TO SOFTBALL AMERICA PRESEASON TOP 100
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana seniors Brianna Copeland and Taylor Minnick were both named to Softball America’s Preseason Top 100 list on Monday morning.
Copeland was listed at No. 51 and Minnick at No. 56 in the preseason slate.
Copeland was the ace in the circle and hit at the top of the lineup for the Hoosiers in 2024. In the circle, Copeland had a 2.88 ERA, 174 strikeouts and recorded 20 wins. She hit eight home runs and 10 doubles, charted 36 RBI and 18 stolen bases.
Copeland was an NFCA Second Team All-Region selection.
Minnick hit third in the Indiana order and has been a four-year contributor in the outfield for the team. The Bloomington, Ind. native hit .357 from the plate with 24 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs, 54 RBI and drew 33 walks.
She was named NFCA First Team All-Region and All-Big Ten Second Team in 2024.
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL SIGNS PROGRAM RECORD CLASS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Amidst a run of outstanding sustained success – highlighted by 28 Big Ten wins since the beginning of 2022 – head coach Steve Aird and the Indiana Volleyball program has officially put pen to paper on the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history.
IU signed the No. 15 overall class by Prep Volleyball in 2020 – a group that featured middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede and outside hitter Morgan Geddes. However, this class could have even more of an impact. This year’s collection of talent features five players, including two outside hitters, one middle blocker and two defensive specialists.
Of the two major ranking services, Prep Dig was the first to release its final class of 2025 rankings. It tabbed IU’s recruiting class as the No. 14 overall class in the country. All five Hoosier signees were ranked inside the top-150 of the final individual rankings. Prep Volleyball has yet to release its updated rankings but IU is expected to land a top-15 class by that service as well.
IU’s 2025 class is highlighted by a pair of outstanding outside hitters in Charlotte Vinson (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) and Jaidyn Jager (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon). The pair of talented players are ranked No. 25 and No. 31 respectively by Prep Dig and will figure to factor into IU’s offense next season.
The Hoosiers wanted to add depth in the back row for next season. Defensive specialist Avery Freeman (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North) and outside hitter/defensive specialist Audrey Jackson (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound) come to Bloomington with exceptional motors and ball handling skills.
Freeman is the No. 73 overall prospect in the class and the first Bloomington native to sign with IU since Ashley Benson (2007-10). Jackson – a late addition to the class – switched her collegiate plans from beach to indoor and is tabbed as the No. 142 overall recruit in the country.
One of the fastest rising players in the entire class is middle blocker Victoria Gray (Temperance, Mich./Bedford). The 6-foot-2 volleyball and basketball player was signed out of the state of Michigan where she was a finalist for MHSAA Ms. Volleyball and was named an AVCA Third Team All-American.
All five players will come to Bloomington in the summer where they will join a returning core of players that includes outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and opposite hitter Avry Tatum. The Hoosiers are also expected to add a couple players from the transfer portal to supplement next year’s crop of talent.
PURDUE VOLLEYBALL
DIOR CHARLES JOINS BOILERMAKERS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Head coach Dave Shondell signed junior transfer Dior Charles to the 2025 volleyball roster. Charles, 6’1″, comes to Purdue from Wake Forest with two years of eligibility remaining.
Purdue has signed five transfers over the off season with an average height of over 6’3″, with Charles joined by Lindsey Miller (6’4 middle from USC), Akasha Anderson (6’3 outside hitter from Michigan State), Nataly Moravec (6’3 outside hitter from Iowa) and Bianka Lulic (6’5″ middle from Miami).
The Boilermakers finished No. 9 in the AVCA final Coaches’ Poll, marking the third time in the last five years the program has finished in the top-10 in the nation.
2024 / AS A SOPHOMORE AT WAKE FOREST
Continued to be a defensive force at the net during her second year, playing in every match including 28 of the team’s 31 matches
Led the team in blocks with 133.0, tying for the fourth-best mark in Wake Forest’s single-season history (matched 2013’s Kristen Grissom)
Finished sixth in the ACC in blocks among all league individuals (1.23/set), resting in the top 5 for a good portion of the fall
Recorded a career-high 13 blocks at South Carolina (9/15)
Posted 10 blocks versus Duke (10/11) and at Notre Dame (10/20)
Shined in the team’s offensive attack at No. 17 Georgia Tech (10/27), tallying a career-best 12 kills while also adding five blocks
Went 11-of-18 on attacks with only one error in a home victory over Syracuse (11/3)
Had 10 kills and five blocks at Clemson (10/25)
Notched a season-best three solo blocks twice
Averaged 2.14 points per set
Ranked fifth on the roster in kills with 154, including nine performances of 7-plus kills
2023 / AS A FRESHMAN AT WAKE FOREST
ACC All-Academic Team
Quickly emerged as an athletic, defensive presence during her first year while competing in 25 matches and starting in 18
Second on the squad in total blocks (80.0)
Contributed five or more blocks nine times
Registered seven blocks in three different showings: versus App State (9/15), at Boston College (10/6) and versus Notre Dame (10/22)
Showed out at Davidson (9/16), posting a career-high 10 kills on a .389 attacking clip and adding five blocks
Tallied five or more kills in nine matches
Stood out in a two-way performance against Mississippi State (Sept. 10) at the 2023 Kennesaw State Invitational — going 7-of-10 on attacks with only one error (.600) and collecting six blocks through three quick sets
Posted six kills (.455) and four blocks in the season finale versus Boston College (Nov. 22)
Stood as a top-10 individual in the ACC for blocks at a midpoint of the fall
HIGH SCHOOL
2021-22 MaxPreps national champion at Marymount
Also finished as a CIF state champion in 2021-22
AVCA All-America Watchlist
Member of Sunshine Volleyball Club, as her team placed second at the JVA West Coast Cup and finished second at USAV Windy City Qualifier
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
BIG WEEK EARNS SMITH BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – After a week of historic performances, Purdue junior guard Braden Smith was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for his role in three Boilermaker victories over the last two weeks.
It marks his first career Big Ten Player of the Week honor and second this season for a Boilermaker (Trey Kaufman-Renn; Dec. 2). The Big Ten used games from Dec. 24 to Jan. 5, for this week’s selection.
In wins over Toledo, Minnesota and Northwestern, Smith averaged 25.0 points, 9.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, while shooting 27-of-55 (.491) from the field and 14-of-32 (.438) from 3-point range. He surpassed 1,000 career points in the win over Minnesota and became the first Big Ten player to have recorded 1,000 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds in the player’s first three seasons, still with at least 17 games to play this season.
In the win over Toledo on Dec. 29, Smith scored a career-high 34 points with 12 assists, becoming the first player since Oklahoma’s Trae Young to reach those numbers in a regulation game.
Then in the victory over Minnesota to ring in the New Year, he recorded 20 points, 10 assists and six rebounds with no turnovers, becoming the first Big Ten player with 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds against zero turnovers since Draymond Green in March 2012.
Finally in the win over Northwestern, Smith scored 22 points with seven assists and six rebounds.
For the season, Smith is averaging 15.4 points, 8.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game, leading the league in both assists per game (8.6) and 3-pointers made (42). He is on pace to become the first player nationally since Murray State’s Ja Morant in 2018-19, and third player this century, to average at least 15.0 points, 8.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range and 88.6 percent from the free throw line.
Prior to this season, Purdue had two games with 20 points and 10 assists in school history. Smith has reached those marks three times in the last six games and he has 14 career point-assist double-doubles, all of which have come in the last 53 games he has played in.
Smith and the No. 20-ranked Boilermakers travel to Rutgers for a 6 p.m. ET, tip on Thursday.
PURDUE FOOTBALL
BOILERS SIGN DB
Former TCU and Nevada safety Richard Toney Jr. signed with Purdue Monday. Toney totaled nine tackles and one pass breakup over nine games for the Horned Frogs last season.
Purdue football transfer portal additions (21)
| Name | Previous School | Position |
| Evans Chuba | QB | Washington State |
| EJ Colson | QB | UCF |
| Carson Dean | LB | Arkansas |
| Sam Dubwig | P | Arkansas |
| Christian Earls | TE | UNLV |
| Tony Grimes | CB | UNLV |
| Chauncey Magwood | WR | UCF |
| Christian Moore | TE/FB | UNLV |
| CJ Nunnally IV | DE | Akron |
| Mani Powell | LB | UNLV |
| Luca Puccinelli | TE | Wake Forest |
| Hank Purvis | OL | UNLV |
| Tahj Ra-El | S | Memphis |
| Charles Ross | WR | USC |
| Alex Sanford Jr. | LB | Arkansas |
| Malachi Singleton | QB | Arkansas |
| Jalen St. John | OL | UNLV |
| Malachi Thomas | RB | Virginia Tech |
| Richard Toney Jr. | S | TCU |
| Giordano Vaccaro | OL | Manitoba (Can.) |
| Mason Vicari | OL | UNLV |
Purdue football transfer portal exits (32)
| Name | Position | New school |
| Botros Alisandro | CB | Old Dominion |
| Koy Beasley | CB | Miami of Ohio |
| Drew Biber | TE | Minnesota |
| Anthony Boswell | OL | Toledo |
| Cole Brevard | DL | Texas |
| Anthony Brown | S | |
| Ryan Browne | QB | North Carolina |
| Keelan Crimmins | P | |
| Marcos Davila | QB | Nebraska |
| Jamarius Dinkins | DL | |
| Jahmal Edrine | WR | Virginia |
| Tayvion Galloway | TE | Middle Tennessee |
| Jalen Grant | OL | NC State |
| Tarrion Grant | CB | Texas Tech |
| Nyland Green | CB | |
| Will Heldt | Edge | Clemson |
| Elijah Jackson | RB | Ball State |
| Joseph Jefferson II | CB | Western Michigan |
| Yanni Karlaftis | DL | Northwestern |
| Max Klare | TE | Ohio State |
| Damarjhe Lewis | DL | SMU |
| Jeffrey M’Ba | DL | Auburn |
| Mahamane Moussa | OL | Louisville |
| Shamar Rigby | WR | Oklahoma State |
| Aaron Roberts | OL | |
| Derrick Rogers | CB | Florida Atlantic |
| C.J. Smith | WR | |
| Leland Smith | WR | San Jose State |
| Dillon Thieneman | S | Oregon |
| Jaron Tibbs | WR | Kansas State |
| DJ Wingfield | OL | USC |
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
ADDISON AMARAL NAMED TO SOFTBALL AMERICA PRESEASON TOP 100 LIST
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Sophomore middle infielder Addison Amaral was named to the Softball America Preseason Top 100 list, the organization announced this morning. Amaral slots in at No. 71 following a breakout freshman campaign.
Last season, Amaral started all 50 games (49 at second base, 1 at shortstop) and batted .340 with a team-high 10 home runs and 53 RBI. She was the first Irish freshman to lead the team in home runs since 2021 and RBI since 2007. The California native earned second team All-ACC and was tabbed to the Freshman All-ACC team for her efforts last year.
Amaral and the Irish are set to begin the 2025 season February 7th against Morgan State at the 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida.
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
BULLDOGS TAKE ON PROVIDENCE WEDNESDAY
The Bulldogs return to the East Coast Wednesday night, traveling to Providence for a BIG EAST tip with the Friars. Butler enters the contest after dropping a 70-62 decision at St. John’s Saturday afternoon.
Butler (7-8, 0-4 BIG EAST) at Providence (7-8, 1-3)
Wednesday, Jan. 8 • 8:30PM
Amica Mutual Pavilion • Providence, R.I.
TV: Peacock • John Fanta & Tim Welsh
Audio: Varsity Network App, SiriusXM 381, XM App 971 & TuneIn • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
Quick Hits
• Patrick McCaffery posted his first double-double of the season (and the second of his career) with 13 points and 11 rebounds against St. John’s.
• Butler has had a player record a double-double in four straight games (McCaffery, Jahmyl Telfort twice, Andre Screen); four different Bulldogs have posted at least one double-double this season (Pierre Brooks II had one against Merrimack Nov. 22).
• Butler has lost seven straight games, which is the program’s longest skid since February, 2014. Butler’s schedule is currently ranked as the 17th-toughest nationally by KenPom.
• Butler held a 47-46 rebounding advantage over St. John’s as all eight Bulldogs who saw action pulled down at least three rebounds.
• The Bulldogs’ defense limited St. John’s to 1-for-21 shooting from three-point range (5 percent); it marked the eighth game this season that a Butler opponent has been held to less than 30-percent shooting from behind the arc.
• On the season, Butler’s opponents are shooting only 29.1 percent from three-point range, a defensive effort that leads the BIG EAST and is Top 40 nationally.
• After shooting better than 70 percent from the free throw line in 12 of the team’s first 13 games, Butler is a combined 21-for-43 (49 percent) from the charity stripe over the last two games. The past two games have dropped Butler’s free throw accuracy from 76.7 percent (43rd nationally at the time) to 73.4 percent (126th nationally currently).
• Butler’s average of 17.9 made free throws per game ranks 27th nationally. The Bulldogs attempt 24.3 free throws per game, which is 24th nationally.
• Butler’s 38.2-percent accuracy from three-point range ranks 30th in the country. Butler’s top three scorers (Telfort, Brooks, McCaffery) are shooting a combined 40.6 percent from three-point range.
• Butler committed a season-worst 21 turnovers at St. John’s; Butler had turned the ball over a total of 38 times over the previous five games (7.6 per game).
• Butler ranks 350th nationally in turnover margin (-4.6 per game) as the team generates only 3.5 steals per game (353rd nationally) and forces opponents into only 7.7 per game (which is 352nd nationally).
• Telfort played all 40 minutes Saturday at St. John’s; he leads the BIG EAST and is Top 30 nationally in minutes played at 35:34 per game; McCaffery (sixth) and Brooks (seventh) are also among the conference leaders.
• Telfort leads the BIG EAST in both free throws made (67) and is second in free throws attempted (86).
• Telfort’s season average of 15.8 points per game ranks ninth in the BIG EAST.
• Brooks is 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring at 14.8 points per game.
• McCaffery’s 41.8-percent accuracy from three-point range is 60th nationally. He has hit multiple three-pointers in 11 of the team’s games, including five twice.
• Screen enters Wednesday’s game just shy of a milestone with 997 career points.
• Screen is fifth in the BIG EAST at 1.7 blocks per game, while his 5.8 rebounds per game rank 13th.
• Kolby King made his first start in a Butler uniform Saturday at St. John’s; he had 4 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
• The Bulldogs defeated Northwestern and No. 25 Mississippi State in taking the Arizona Tip-Off title over Thanksgiving.
Tough Slate
• KenPom ranks Butler’s schedule as the 17th most difficult nationally (as of Jan. 6).
• The Bulldogs’ 2024-25 schedule includes six games against teams ranked in the Top 15 of this week’s AP poll (Jan. 6) and an additional seven against teams receiving votes in this week’s poll. (Butler has already played four of the six games against those current Top 15 teams.)
Profiling Providence
• Providence is 7-8 on the season, which includes a 6-2 mark at home.
• The Friars are 2-8 since winning their first five games of the season; those two wins came against BYU and at DePaul in their BIG EAST opener.
• Bryce Hopkins is both the leading scorer (17.0) and rebounder (7.7) for the Friars, but he has been limited to three games, a stretch from Dec. 3-10 that included the wins over BYU and DePaul.
• Jayden Pierre (24) and Wesley Cardet Jr. (18) led the Friars in Sunday’s 87-84 loss at No. 11 UConn.
The Series with the Friars
• All 25 meetings in the series has come since Butler joined the BIG EAST prior to the 2013-14 season.
• Butler’s 75-72 win over Providence at Hinkle Fieldhouse Feb. 10, 2024 in the most recent meeting between the two programs halted a seven-game winning streak for the Friars in the series.
• Providence holds a 9-2 advantage in games played in Rhode Island.
Series: Providence Leads, 19-6
Streak: Butler, W1
At PC: Providence Leads, 9-2
First Meeting: Jan. 21, 2014; PC, 65-56 (at PC)
Last Meeting: Feb. 10, 2024; BU, 75-72 (at BU)
Up Next
The Bulldogs return to Hinkle Fieldhouse to host Creighton Saturday. The Noon tip will air on FOX. The game is also the program’s annual IMS Checker Out game, which will include a large Indianapolis Motor Speedway and INDYCAR presence with fans asked to wear blue or white depending on the section they are seated in.
BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLER ANNOUNCES SELLOUT FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SENIOR DAY GAME VS. UCONN FEB. 22
The Butler women’s basketball game against UConn set for Saturday, Feb. 22 is officially sold out! The final home game of the regular season for BU is a 4:30 p.m. tip airing on SNY. The sell out will set a new program single-game attendance record with more than 9,000 fans expected to be at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Butler witnessed a record-setting crowd early in the 2024-25 season when they hosted Indiana on Nov. 13. 4,135 fans attended that game and saw the Bulldogs take down the Hoosiers 56-46. The result was one of Butler’s 10 non-conference wins.
There are many options for fans looking to see the Bulldogs in action prior to UConn game. Four of Butler’s next five games will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse, beginning with Wednesday night’s 7 p.m. tip against Providence.
The BIG EAST Road Trip game against Creighton also lands during this stretch on Jan. 22. That 7 p.m. tip will feature giveaways for fans in attendance, pop-a-shot, and photo opportunities with the BIG EAST trophy.
The contest against UConn is one of four home games for the Bulldogs in February. Fans can visit Hinkle Fieldhouse to see the team face Villanova on Feb. 5 or select a weekend game against Marquette on Feb. 9. Rival Xavier will be in Indianapolis on Feb. 19, just three days before the UConn matchup.
Fans looking to secure seats for women’s basketball conference match-ups can do so online at ButlerSports.com/BuyTickets or in person at the Butler Athletics Ticket Office at Hinkle Fieldhouse (which is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.).
BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL HOSTING MIAMI (OH) TUESDAY NIGHT IN MAC HOME OPENER
The Ball State men’s basketball team rides a four-game winning streak into a matchup with Miami (OH) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Worthen Arena.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Mick Tidrow and David Eha on the call, while Mark Foerster and Scot Bunnell handle the radio broadcast on WMUN 1340AM – 92.5FM.
Miami leads the head-to-head series 68-43, but Ball State holds a 27-26 edge in games played in Muncie. The RedHawks won 87-80 in overtime last Jan. 20 in their last trip to Worthen.
The Cardinals (7-6, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) limited Kent State to 1-for-11 shooting in the final four minutes, and 35.8 percent overall from the field, in a 75-67 win to begin MAC play on Saturday afternoon. Jermahri Hill put up 18 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Mickey Pearson Jr. contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks to lead the visitors to victory.
Miami (9-4, 1-0 MAC) also took its conference opener on Saturday with a 93-79 decision over Buffalo in Oxford. The RedHawks are in their third season under the direction of head coach Travis Steele and were picked to finish sixth in the MAC preseason poll.
The RedHawks lead the league in 3-pointers made per game (11.7, No. 5 in NCAA Division I), turnovers forced per game (16.5, No. 13), turnover margin (+5.0, No. 16), steals per game (9.5), scoring offense (83.2 points per game), scoring margin (+11.5), field goal percentage (49.2) and effective field goal percentage (58.4).
Redshirt sophomore Kam Craft gets his shots up, pacing the MAC in 3-pointers per game (3.4, No. 18 nationally), total 3-pointers (44), 3-point attempts (100) and field goal attempts (173). Sophomore guard Mekhi Cooper runs the offense to the tune of a conference-best 2.94 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Cardinals stay home to host Bowling Green at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
LOCK IT DOWN: The Ball State defense leads the Mid-American Conference in field goal percentage defense (40.3) and ranks second in 3-point defense (30.8 percent) and third in scoring defense (70.2 points per game).
Ball State limited Kent State to 1-for-11 shooting from the field in the final four minutes of Saturday’s game to secure the road win. The Cardinals have allowed opponents an average of 62 points in their last three games as part of a four-game winning streak.
HERNANDEZ HEATING UP: Graduate guard Jeremiah Hernandez has scored in double figures each of the last four games to increase his scoring average to 7.5 points per game on the season.
Hernandez tallied 13 on Saturday to lead Ball State to a win against his former school.
1,000 FOR SPARKS: Senior center Payton Sparks scored his 1,000th career point late in the second half of the New Year’s Eve win against Anderson on his way to a 23-point, 16-rebound double-double.
The 16 boards matched his career-best, while the 23 points were one shy of tying his career-high, as the big man recorded his first double-double of the year.
ONE-TWO PUNCH: Sparks and junior guard Jermahri Hill combined for 72 points, 41 rebounds and nine assists in last week’s wins against Anderson and Kent State.
Hill led the Cardinals in scoring both games while Sparks was the leading rebounder in both contests for Ball State.
DOMINANT DEFENSE: Ball State limited Evansville to 43 points and 29.1 percent shooting from the field on Dec. 21. Those were the lowest tallies the Cardinals had allowed an NCAA Division I opponent to get since March 11, 2019 against Eastern Michigan.
The Cardinals limited the Purple Aces to their fewest points in the 58-game series history since 1935, and the 37-point margin of victory was the second-highest for Ball State ever vs Evansville.
MICKEY MONEY FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE: Mickey Pearson Jr. went 12-for-12 at the free throw line in Ball State’s win at Bellarmine on Dec. 14 including sinking two foul shots with six seconds to play to secure the 86-82 decision.
Pearson’s 12 free throws made were the most by a Ball State player since Taylor Persons also sunk a dozen on Nov. 18, 2018 vs App State. Pearson is the only Cardinal with multiple career games making at least 10 free throws without a miss in the last 10 seasons (10-for-10 vs Central Michigan on Jan. 6, 2024).
GORO-THREE-TO: Junior guard Juanse Gorosito was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week after hitting seven 3-pointers for 21 and adding four assists and three steals on Dec. 14 at Bellarmine.
Gorosito is second in the conference in 3-pointers made (39) and leads the league while ranking No. 13 in NCAA Division I in shooting percentage (45.9) from distance.
MILESTONE WATCH: After Sparks (1,011 points) reached the milestone last Tuesday afternoon, Hernandez (924) and Pearson Jr. (859) are each closing in on scoring 1,000 points in his Division I career.
Ethan Brittain-Watts recently made his 100th career 3-pointer, while Sparks (610 rebounds) is currently No. 17 in Ball State program history for a career.
GETTING TO THE LINE: The Cardinals pace the Mid-American Conference in both free throw attempts per game (27.5) and free throws made per game (19.2) through the season’s first 13 games.
Ball State ranks No. 5 and No. 8 in those categories in NCAA Division I, respectively. The total tallies (358 attempts and 249 makes) outpace the next-closest MAC team (Buffalo) by 89 attempts and 63 makes.
TOP OF THE HILL: Hill was named the Mid-American Conference Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 2 after averaging 21.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Hill had assists on three-point plays to Mickey Pearson Jr. and Payton Sparks in the final minute of the 63-61 win over Eastern Kentucky in the opener on Nov. 25. The guard ranks second in the MAC with 16.6 points per game on the year.
I REMEMBER YOU: Ball State played seven different players this nonconference season who were on MAC rosters during the 2023-24 season. SIUE’s Darrion Baker (from Akron) was the seventh. The full list is below.
Darrion Baker (Akron to SIUE)
Legend Geeter (Eastern Michigan to Detroit Mercy)
Markus Harding (Central Michigan to Indiana State)
Orlando Lovejoy (Eastern Michigan to Detroit Mercy)
Cyril Martynov (Eastern Michigan to Eastern Kentucky)
Zarique Nutter (Northern Illinois to Georgia State)
B. Artis White (Western Michigan to Richmond)
HOME STATE HEROES: Brittain-Watts (2019), Zane Doughty, Joey Hart and Mason Jones (2023) were each named Indiana High School All-Stars, while three more Cardinals also had ties to the state before arriving in Muncie.
Ball State has the second-most players from Indiana high schools among Indiana-based Division I teams behind Purdue.
WORLD FLYERS: The 2024-25 Ball State roster consists of student-athletes from three different countries in addition to the United States of America.
Gorosito (Argentina), Ben Hendriks (Canada) and Jurica Zagorsak (Croatia) are international Cardinals this season. Interestingly, Juanse, Ben and Jurica were born on different continents, so Ball State has student-athletes from North America, South America and Europe on the team.
TRANSFERS FROM ALL OVER: Each of Ball State’s seven student-athletes who have transferred into the program have come from different college basketball conferences.
The list includes Brittain-Watts (Patriot League, Boston), Gorosito (West Coast Conference, Portland), Hart (SEC, Kentucky), Hernandez (Ohio Valley Conference, USI), Pearson Jr. (Big 12, TCU), Sparks (Big Ten, Indiana) and Hill who played junior college ball at South Plains in Levelland, Texas.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
TAEYA STEINAUER SELECTED AS HORIZON LEAGUE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS – After helping the Mastodons to a 2-0 week, Purdue Fort Wayne’s Taeya Steinauer was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Monday (Jan. 6).
The Mastodons beat Youngstown State and Oakland to ring in 2025, beating the Penguins by 14 and the Golden Grizzlies by 40 on the road. The two wins extended the Mastodons’ win streak to eight in a row, including a 6-0 mark to start Horizon League play. Purdue Fort Wayne is the only undefeated team in the league.
This week, Steinauer averaged 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 points, 2.0 steals and 1.0 assists per game. This is Steinauer’s second Freshman of the Week award.
The 11-5, 6-0 Mastodons will play host to Milwaukee on Thursday (Jan. 9) at the Gates Sports Center.
EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL
TAYSHAWN COMER NAMED MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ST. LOUIS – Highlighted by the top scoring game of his career, University of Evansville junior Tayshawn Comer was recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
In Wednesday’s victory at Southern Illinois, Comer scored a career-high 26 points before recording 24 against Indiana State on Saturday. Playing all 40 minutes against the Salukis, Comer was 8-for-13 from the field and 8-of-9 from the line on the way to his career game. He added three steals, three rebounds and a pair of assists.
Comer followed that up with another stellar effort versus the Sycamores, finishing with 24 points while converting seven field goals and seven free throws. The Indianapolis native added a game-high seven assists and two steals.
For the week, Comer averaged 25 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 boards and 2.5 steals per game. He played 79:07 out of a possible 80 minutes in the two games. Comer converted 51.7% of his attempts, 55.6% (5-9) from outside and 15-of-18 from the line (15-18). The junior eclipsed his previous scoring high of 23 points in both games of the week.
VALPO MEN’S BASKETBALL
ALL WRIGHT NAMED MVC FRESHMAN OF WEEK FOR THIRD TIME THIS SEASON
Valparaiso University men’s basketball guard All Wright (Durango, Mexico / Link Year) was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday. This marked the third time this season he has earned the honor, the fourth time a member of the program has won the award this season and the team’s 10th MVC Freshman of the Week Award since head coach Roger Powell Jr. arrived at Valpo prior to the 2023-24 season. Wright is the only player in the league who has won the award more than once this season.
Wright averaged 10.5 points per game and 3.0 assists per game this week, helping the Beacons to a 2-0 week. His efforts helped Valpo snap a nine-game head-to-head losing streak with Missouri State on Wednesday in Springfield before stopping a 15-game skid against teams picked first or second in the Missouri Valley Conference by prevailing 80-73 vs. UNI on Saturday. Wright played a key role in the 73-72 New Year’s Day win that took place near the town where he spent the bulk of his youth – Joplin, Mo. He tallied 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and drilled his only 3-point attempt in that contest. This season, Wright ranks second among MVC rookies in points per game (10.3) and assists per game (2.9).
Wright and the Beacons will host Indiana State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center with hopes of extending the winning streak to three. It’s a Gold Out at the ARC with tickets available at tickets.valpoathletics.com.
MARIAN MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL SWEEPS WEEKLY CROSSROADS LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Jackson, Mich. – Following the Knights’ biggest win of the season so far, the freshmen tandem of Noah Lovan and Josiah Gustin of Marian men’s basketball have been named as the Crossroads League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. Lovan was tabbed as the CL Offensive Player of the Week, while Gustin was named the Defensive Player of the Week.
This is the second consecutive week Marian has swept the Crossroads League Player of the Week honors, as the freshmen duo follows the awards won by Dylan Moles and Gavin Foe last week.
Noah Lovan poured in a career-high 30 points in Marian’s 78-76 upset win over No. 17 Huntington. The freshman guard drilled eight-of-12 shots, including all three from deep and scored the game-winning points from the foul line in the closing moments. Lovan’s second 30-point game of the season moved him to No. 14 in scoring in the Crossroads League, while his late game heroics at the foul line moved him to fourth in free throws made and sixth in free throw percentage.
Josiah Gustin was dominant on the defensive end in MU’s 78-76 upset win over No. 17 Huntington. The freshman forward swatted four blocks in the game and grabbed eight rebounds, challenging the game-winning attempt from Huntington’s Lane Sparks.Gustin’s four blocks moved him to No. 8 in the Crossroads League in blocked shots this season.
Marian resumes their Crossroads League schedule this week, traveling to Bethel University on Wednesday night. Tip is slated for 7:30 p.m.
MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
ABBEY MCNALLY EARNS CROSSROADS LEAGUE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Jackson, Mich. – For the second time this season, Abbey McNally has been named as one of the Crossroads League’s women’s basketball players of the week, as the Marian junior was named the Defensive Player of the Week. McNally’s honor is her first on the defensive end, as she previously was named the Offensive Player of the Week on November 25.
Abbey McNally powered No. 15 Marian to wins over Concordia and Huntington with 13.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists per victory. The junior post had at least three steals and two blocks in each contest to anchor the Knights on defense. The junior recorded 22 total rebounds in a win over Huntington, marking her first 20-rebound game of the season.
Marian looks to extend their Crossroads League winning streak to six on Wednesday night, as they travel to Bethel University for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
19 – 20 – 31 – 41 – 34 – 10 – 20
January 7, 1899 – Walter Camp published his 1st All-American football team in Collier’s Magazine. On this list of eleven players all were from Penn, Yale, Harvard, or Princeton save one. Carlisle’s Issac Seneca. From the Penn Quakers: Truxton Hare, Josiah McCracken, and Peter Overfield made the list. Yale members included Gordon Brown, George Stillman, and Malcolm McBride. For Harvard Charles Daly and David Campbell were joined by Princeton Tigers R T Hillebrand and Arthur Pie.
January 7, 1927 – Harlem Globetrotters played their 1st game in Hinckley, Illinois. The iconic red, white, and blue uniforms of this talented bunch still entertain millions across the world. The uniform has changed over the past almost century of their existence but their colors, and unique jersey style still ring true. Check out this great post on Globe Trotters uniform history on UniWatch.
Our sweater Number 19 belongs to Bryan Trottier who on January 7, 1982 completed his 10th career hat trick while playing for the New York Islanders. With the Islanders he won four Stanley Cups as one if its core players that carried the dynasty on the ice.
Number 20 stands for Lou Brock. This legend was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 7, 1985. The 6-time All Star win two World Series during his career which was most notably played with the St Louis Cardinals. That same day legend Number 31, Hoyt Wilhelm was also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Wilhelm played Major League baseball for over 20 seasons from 1952 through 1972. He wore multiple numbers but perhaps the Number 31 with the Chicago White Sox was his longest stint. The right handed pitcher might be most well known for being on the roster of the 1954 World Series Champions New York Giants.
Speaking of legendary pitchers, Tom Seaver is our Number 41 that is remembered today. On January 7, 1992 the 3-time Cy Young winner and 12-time All-Star had his name registered in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Joining Seaver at the induction ceremonies that day was another great hurler, Rollie Fingers, most famously who wore the Number 34 with the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and the Milwaukee Brewers was also elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame that same January day.
January 7, 1998 – Los Angeles Lakers center Number 34, Shaquille O’Neal blocks 3 shots in a 114-102 win over Milwaukee to bring his career total to 1,002
January 7, 2013 – FIFA Ballon d’Or: Barcelona forward Number 10, Lionel Messi wins award for a record 4th consecutive year; US forward Number 20, Abby Wambach wins women’s award
FOOTBALL HISTORY
January 7, 1899 – Walter Camp published his 1st All-American football team in Collier’s. Ten of the eleven players named had played for Ivy League schools. The sole exception was Isaac Seneca, a Native American who played at the fullback position for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Others on the 1898 All American Team include from the Penn Quakers: Truxton Hare, Josiah McCracken, and Peter Overfield made the list. Yale members included Gordon Brown, George Stillman, and Malcolm McBride. For Harvard Charles Daly and David Campbell were joined by Princeton Tigers R T Hillebrand and Arthur Pie. Camp along with Caspar Whitney started publishing the honor in 1889 in a magazine called “The Week’s Sport” and then in Harper’s Weekly per Britannica.com. 1899 was the first year that Collier’s received the honor of publication and Camp and them would carry on the tradition every year until Camp’s untimely death in 1925. The Magazine then asked Grantland Rice the era’s most prominent sportswriter, to continue the annual selection.
January 7, 1961 – Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida – The 1st NFL Playoff Bowl was played between the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns. According to the AmericanFootball.Fandom.com website this game was officially named the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl and was created to determine a third place finisher in the NFL as it pitted the two losing teams from the Divisional Playoff games. The game was played ten different times from 1960 through the 1969 season. The name was in honor of the late Bert Bell who was the former NFL commissioner and co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles and a former co-owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game was developed to give the NFL more television air time to compete with the AFL. The American Football League had a contract with ABC to air most of its regular season games as well as the postseason. The more established NFL was lagging behind their rival league as very few regular season games were on national television broadcasts at that time and the NFL Championship was the only post season contest shown across the country. This new Playoff Bowl was played the week after the NFL Championship game. In the game itself in 1961 Detroit beat Cleveland in an exciting one 17-16 to claim the third place in the pecking order for the 1960 NFL season.
January 7, 1962 – Balboa Stadium, San Diego – The inaugural AFL All Star Game was played. The contest pitted the best from the AFL’s Western Division against the greats from the AFL’s Eastern Division. The story of the game is nicely told by RemebertheAFL.com. Players such as Jim Otto, Jack Kemp and Coach Sid Gillman were on the West’s sidelines while the East boasted George Blanda, Billy Cannon and Gino Cappelletti. The outcome was that the Western Division out-shined the Eastern Division 47-27, The MVP of the game was the Dallas Texans Quarterback Cotton Davidson.
January 7, 1979 – Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh – The AFC Championship game once again came to the home of the Steelers per the Pro-Football-Reference.com website. It was the Houston Oilers, the Steelers AFC Central rivals who came to challenge the team of the 1970’s on this occasion. It was a very sloppy game for being the two best teams in the AFC as 14 turnovers were committed between the two offenses, 9 of them were against the Oilers. The Steel Curtain Defense came to play as they held the Oilers powerful running back Earl Campbell to 62 yards rushing and flustered Houston’s passing attack to less than 100 yards for a grand total of 142 yards of offensive production on the day for the Oilers. Meanwhile Terry Bradshaw and company churned out 379 yards as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Houston Oilers, 34-5.
January 7, 1979 – LA Memorial Coliseum – The NFC Championship game was extremely one sided as the Dallas Cowboys demolished the Los Angeles Rams, 28-0.
January 7, 2008 – Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans – The game was the Allstate Sugar Bowl to be played for the 2008 BCS National Championship. The Top team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes were challenged with the number 2 team in the nation the LSU Tigers per the allstatesugarbowl.com internet page. The game started off strong for Ohio State as they led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers had something else in mind as they rattled off 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a lead that they would not once again relinquish. Louisiana State became the national champs as they stunned the Buckeyes 38-24.
January 7, 2010 – Rose Bowl, Pasadena – 12th BCS National Championship took place as the Rose Bowl played its turn to host the big game. The #2 Texas longhorns were out for the title against the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide. The Bama defense got after it early and knocked Texas star QB Colt McCoy out of the game early and then wore the Texas defense down with a strong running game from the tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson who each went over 100 yards on the game. The Crimson Tide took home the Title as they outlasted Texas 37-21 per ESPN.com.
January 7, 2013 – Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens – 15th BCS National Championship was not much of a game at all as the powerful #2 Alabama outmatched the #1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 42-14. Sports-Reference.com shows that Tide runners T J Yeldon and Eddie Lacy each went over 100 yards in the romp.
January 7, 2019 – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California – The National Championship pitted the top two teams in the country once again as #2 Clemson took on #1 Alabama. CBSSports.com reports that with strong defense and on the arm of the Tigers sensational freshman Quarterback Trevor Lawrence who tossed for 347 yards and three touchdowns led Clemson to a dominating claim to the title in a 44-16 victory.
Hall of Fame Birthday for January 7
January 7, 1884 – Bartlesville, Oklahoma – Carlisle’s fantastic End, Albert Exendine was born. Albert played on the all Native American teams of Carlisle Institute just after the turn of the twentieth century. The National Football Foundation describes how good of an end Exendine truly was, in fact they quote his coach, the legendary Pop Warner as calling Albert “Sheer brilliance” on the football field. Albert may have had his best game of his young career when against the University of Chicago, he repeatedly stuffed legendary halfback Wally Steffen. Walter Camp in 1907 named Exendine to his All-America team and as we just learned a little bit earlier in this edition it was with Collier’s magazine. The NFF voters selected Albert Exendine to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970.
January 7, 1930 – San Rafeal, California – Quarterback Eddie LeBaron from the College of the Pacific celebrated his day of birth. Eddie’s first year on the gridiron was the last one for the legendary Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Le Baron played for three more seasons after that great experience when Stagg retired and used what he learned well. In 1949 according to the NFF’s bio on him, Pacific’s offense with Eddie under center was averaging 52 points per game while allowing opponents to average a measly six points per game. LeBaron wasn’t just good with his Pacific teammates as shown when he was Most Valuable Player in the East-West Shrine game as well as in 1950 when Eddie quarterbacked the College All-Stars to a 17-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Eddie LeBaron was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.
YESTERDAY IN BASEBALL
Mike Schmidt is a former third baseman who played his entire 18-season career in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies. Schmidt was a 12-time All-Star and a three-time winner of the National League MVP award, and he was known for his combination of power hitting and strong defense. As a hitter, he compiled 548 home runs and 1,595 RBIs, and led the NL in home runs eight times and in RBIs four times. As a fielder, Schmidt won the National League Gold Glove Award for third basemen ten times. Schmidt was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995 and is widely considered to be the greatest third baseman in baseball history.
Career highlights and awards:
12× All-Star (1974, 1976, 1977, 1979–1984, 1986, 1987, 1989)
World Series champion (1980)
3× NL MVP (1980, 1981, 1986)
World Series MVP (1980)
10× Gold Glove Award (1976–1984, 1986)
6× Silver Slugger Award (1980–1984, 1986)
8× NL home run leader (1974–1976, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986)
4× NL RBI leader (1980, 1981, 1984, 1986)
Hit 4 home runs in one game on April 17, 1976
Philadelphia Phillies No. 20 retired
Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame
Major League Baseball All-Century Team
Major League Baseball All-Time Team
National Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1995)
From 1965 to 1979, Catfish Hunter played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees. Hunter was the first pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by age 31. He is often referred to as baseball’s first big-money free agent, and was a member of five World Series championship teams.
Hunter retired at age 33 following the 1979 season, after developing persistent arm problems, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.
Career highlights and awards:
8× All-Star (1966, 1967, 1970, 1972–1976)
5× World Series champion (1972-1974, 1977, 1978)
AL Cy Young Award (1974)
2× MLB wins leader (1974, 1975)
AL ERA leader (1974)
Pitched a perfect game on May 8, 1968
Oakland Athletics No. 27 retired
Athletics Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1987)
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
Jan. 7
1920 — Joe Malone of Quebec scores two goals to become the NHL’s career leader with 59 and leads the Bulldogs to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Arenas.
1925 — Harry Broadbent of the Montreal Maroons scores five goals in a 6-2 triumph over Hamilton.
1972 — The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Atlanta Hawks 134-90 for their 33rd straight victory, an NBA record.
1979 — The Pittsburgh Steelers win their third AFC championship by beating the Houston Oilers 34-5 in a cold, steady rain at Three Rivers Stadium.
1981 — Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings scores his 1,000th point with a goal in a 5-3 triumph over the Hartford Whalers.
1987 — Gary Bossert of Niagara sets an NCAA record by hitting 12 of 14 three-point shots, including 11 straight, against Siena.
1992 — Pitchers Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Seaver receives the highest percentage of votes in baseball history.
1997 — Rutgers-Camden ends its NCAA-record 117-game losing streak with a 77-72 victory over Bloomfield College. The Division III Pioneers were winless since beating Ramapo 74-73 on Jan. 18, 1992.
2003 — Kobe Bryant makes an NBA-record 12 shots from 3-point range, including nine straight, and scores 45 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-98 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics.
2004 — Brian Boucher becomes the first NHL goalie in almost 55 years to record four consecutive shutouts. His 27 saves carry the Phoenix Coyotes past Washington 3-0.
2006 — The New England Patriots set an NFL mark with 10 straight postseason victories by beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 28-3. New England’s milestone surpasses the nine straight playoff victories by Green Bay in the 1960s.
2007 — Coach Phil Jackson gets his 900th NBA victory as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated Dallas 101-98. Jackson is the fastest to reach 900, doing so in 1,264 games.
2008 — Second-ranked LSU turns the BCS national championship game into a horrible replay for No. 1 Ohio State. Matt Flynn throws four touchdown passes in a 38-24 win. LSU (12-2) becomes the first two-loss team to play for the title and wins its second BCS crown in five seasons.
2010 — Alabama knocks Texas quarterback Colt McCoy out of the BCS title game early and goes on to a 37-21 victory for the Crimson Tide’s first national title since 1992.
2011 — Rookie Luke Harangody has career highs with 17 points and 11 rebounds for his first NBA double-double, and the Boston Celtics earn the 3,000th victory in franchise history, beating the Toronto Raptors 122-102.
2012 — Old Dominion routs hapless Towson 75-38 giving the Tigers the NCAA Division I record for consecutive losses at 35. Towson had been tied at 34 with Sacramento State.
2012 — Jarome Iginla scores his 500th career goal, leading the Calgary Flames to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Iginla is the 42nd player in NHL history to reach the milestone and the 15th to do it with one team.
2013 — Alabama rolls to its second consecutive BCS championship, and third in four seasons, beating No. 1 Notre Dame 42-14 in a BCS championship game. AJ McCarron throws four touchdown passes and Eddie Lacy runs for 140 yards and scores twice for the second-ranked Crimson Tide.
2019 — College Football, National Championship, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara: #2 Clemson beats #1 Alabama, 44-16.
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Jan. 8
1972 — The NCAA announces freshmen will be eligible to play on varsity football and basketball teams starting in the fall.
1973 — David Vaughn of Oral Roberts grabs 34 rebounds in a 123-95 win over Brandeis.
1984 — The Executive Committee of the NCAA votes to expand the championship basketball field to 64 teams starting in 1985.
1984 — Bengt Gustafsson of the Washington Capitals scores five goals in a 7-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
1993 — Michael Jordan becomes the 18th NBA player to reach the 20,000-point plateau when he scores 35 points in the Chicago Bulls’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Jordan reaches 20,000-points in 620 games, faster than anyone except Wilt Chamberlain, who did it in 499 games.
1994 — Dino Ciccarelli becomes the 19th NHL player to score 500 career goals in the Detroit Red Wings’ 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
2000 — Eddie House scores 61 points to tie Lew Alcindor’s Pac-10 record and lead the Sun Devils to 111-108 double-overtime victory over California.
2003 — Utah guard Mark Jackson becomes the third NBA player to reach 10,000 career assists in the Jazz’s 99-93 win over the Phoenix Suns. Jackson joins career assists leader and teammate John Stockton (15,425) and Magic Johnson (10,141).
2007 — Second-ranked Florida dominates Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and No. 1 Ohio State for a 41-14 in the BCS National Championship Bowl. The Gators become the first Division I school to hold football and basketball titles at the same time.
2008 — Goose Gossage becomes the fifth relief pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame.
2009 — Tim Tebow wins the matchup of Heisman winners as No. 1 Florida beats No. 2 Oklahoma and this year’s Heisman winner Sam Bradford, 24-14, in the BCS National Championship Bowl.
2011 — The Seattle Seahawks stun the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints 41-36 to open the NFL playoffs. Seattle, the first division winner with a losing record at 7-9, advances behind four touchdown passes by Matt Hasselbeck and a brilliant 67-yard run by Marshawn Lynch.
2012 — Denver’s Tim Tebow connects with Demaryius Thomas on an electrifying 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime and the Broncos stun the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in a AFC wild-card game. The play, the longest to end a playoff game in overtime, takes 11 seconds and is the quickest ending to an overtime in NFL history.
2014 — Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas are elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame, while Craig Biggio fell two votes short.
2016 — Oakland’s Khalil Mack makes history earning a selection at two positions on the 2015 Associated Press All-Pro Team, an NFL first. The second-year Raiders defensive end and outside linebacker draws enough support from a panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league to make the squad both spots.
2018 — College Football National Championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta: #4 Alabama beats #3 Georgia, 26-23.
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Jan. 9
1942 — Joe Louis knocks out Buddy Baer with four seconds left in the first round at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain the world heavyweight title.
1977 — Oakland wins their first NFL Championship and the Minnesota Vikings drop their fourth Super Bowl as the Raiders post a 32-14 triumph.
1988 — Anthony Carter catches 10 passes for an NFL postseason-record 227 yards to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 36-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers and advanced to the NFC title game.
1991 — Dean Smith collects his 700th career coaching victory as North Carolina routs Maryland 105-73. Smith is the sixth Division I basketball coach to reach the 700-win plateau and does so in the shortest time.
1996 — The Toronto Raptors set an NBA record by not making a single free throw in a 92-91 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The expansion Raptors shoots 0-for-3 from the foul line.
2004 — Brian Boucher of Phoenix posts his fifth consecutive shutout in a 2-0 win over Minnesota. He stops 21 shots and passes Bill Durnan’s NHL mark of 309:21, early in the third period.
2006 — Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers scores 45 points against Indiana, making him the first player since Wilt Chamberlain — in November of 1964 — to score at least that many in four straight games.
2007 — Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mark McGwire, whose 583 home runs ranked seventh on the career list, does not make it on his first ballot.
2008 — Golf Channel suspends anchor Kelly Tilghman for two weeks for saying a week earlier that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should “lynch him in a back alley.”
2010 — Peyton Manning becomes the first player to win The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player honors four times.
2010 — Detroit’s Ben Gordon scores 20 points, including the 10 millionth point in NBA history, in a 104-04 loss to Philadelphia.
2012 — Jeremy Shelley kicks five field goals and Trent Richardson breaks a 34-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter as No. 2 Alabama beats No. 1 LSU 21-0 — the first shutout in BCS title game history.
2013 — No one is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. For the second time in four decades, baseball writers fail to give any player the 75 percent required for induction to Cooperstown. Craig Biggio, 20th on the career list with 3,060 hits, appears on 68.2 percent of the 569 ballots, the highest total but 39 votes shy.
2016 — Quarterback Carson Wentz, out since mid-October with a broke wrist, returns to lead North Dakota State to an unprecedented fifth straight FCS championship with a 37-10 victory over top seed Jacksonville State.
2016 — Chris Boswell kicks a 35-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining as the Steelers somehow pull out an 18-16 victory over Cincinnati in the AFC wild-card game. Pittsburgh moves into field goal position after a pair of 15-yard penalties on the Bengals, one on linebacker Vontaze Burfict and another on Adam Jones after Burfict hits defenseless Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
2017 — College Football National Championship, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa: #2 Clemson beats #1 Alabama, 35-31.
TV SPORTS TUESDAY
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Phoenix Suns vs Charlotte Hornets | 7:00 pm | AFSN FanDuel Sports SE |
| Houston Rockets vs Washington Wizards | 7:00pm | SCHN MNMT |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks | 7:30pm | TNT Spectrum |
| Minnesota Timberwolves vs New Orleans Pelicans | 8:00pm | FanDuel Sports North GCSN |
| Atlanta Hawks vs Utah Jazz | 9:00pm | FanDuel Sports SE KJZZ |
| Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets | 10:00pm | TNT NBCS-BOS |
| Miami Heat vs Golden State Warriors | 10:00pm | FanDuel Sports Sun NBCS-BAY |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning | 7:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports SE FanDuel Sports FL |
| Edmonton Oilers vs Boston Bruins | 7:00pm | ESPN+ NESN Sportsnet |
| Ottawa Senators vs Detroit Red Wings | 7:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet FanDuel Sports DET |
| Dallas Stars vs New York Rangers | 7:00pm | ESPN+ Victory+ MSG |
| Columbus Blue Jackets vs Pittsburgh Penguins | 7:00pm | ESPN+ ATTSN-PIT FanDuel Sports OH |
| Toronto Maple Leafs vs Philadelphia Flyers | 7:30pm | ESPN+ HULU Sportsnet |
| St. Louis Blues vs Minnesota Wild | 8:00pm | ESPN+ FanDuel Sports North FanDuel Sports MW |
| Nashville Predators vs Winnipeg Jets | 8:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet FanDuel Sports South |
| Calgary Flames vs Anaheim Ducks | 10:00pm | ESPN+ Sportsnet Victory+ |
| Vegas Golden Knights vs San Jose Sharks | 10:30pm | ESPN+ Scripps NBCS-CA |
| MEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| St. John’s at Xavier | 6:30pm | FS1 |
| Pitt at Duke | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Clemson at Louisville | 7:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| Tennessee at Florida | 7:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| Kentucky at Georgia | 7:00pm | SECN |
| Georgia Tech at Syracuse | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| Arizona at West Virginia | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Eastern Michigan at Toledo | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Kent State at Northern Illinois | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Miami (OH) at Ball State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ohio at Buffalo | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Bowling Green at Western Michigan | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Michigan at Akron | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tulane at UAB | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Georgetown at Marquette | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
| Nebraska at Iowa | 8:00pm | Peacock |
| Tulsa at UTSA | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cincinnati at Baylor | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Utah at Iowa State | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Kansas State at Oklahoma State | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UIC at Missouri State | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| SIUE at Eastern Illinois | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Mississippi State at Vanderbilt | 9:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| Auburn at Texas | 9:00pm | ESPN2/U |
| LSU at Missouri | 9:00pm | SECN |
| SMU at North Carolina | 9:00pm | ACCN |
| Fresno State at Colorado State | 9:00pm | MWN |
| Texas Tech at BYU | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| New Mexico at Wyoming | 10:00pm | CBSSN |
| Utah State at San Jose State | 10:00pm | MWN |
| Michigan at UCLA | 10:00pm | Peacock |
| UNLV at Boise State | 10:30pm | FS1 |
| Loyola Marymount at Saint Mary’s | 11:00pm | ESPN2 |
| WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| UCLA at Purdue | 7:00pm | BTN |
| DePaul at St. John’s | 8:30pm | FS1 |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Belgian Cup: Club Brugge vs OH Leuven | 2:45pm | ESPN+ |
| EPL: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Nottingham Forest | 3:00pm | USA Peacock |
| Copa del Rey: Eldense vs Valencia | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Adelaide-ATP/WTA, Auckland-ATP & Hobart-WTA Early Rounds | 1:30am | TENNIS |