INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
| BATESVILLE | 63 | MILAN | 54 | |
| CENTERVILLE | 55 | HAGERSTOWN | 41 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN | 69 | KIPP INDY LEGACY | 62 | |
| LAKE CENTRAL | 53 | HANOVER CENTRAL | 38 | |
| MEDORA | 75 | SEVEN OAKS CLASSICAL | 19 | |
| MICHIGAN CITY | 69 | EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL | 65 | |
| NORTH DECATUR | 75 | CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN | 38 | |
| PORTAGE | 94 | CALUMET | 32 |
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL FRIDAY
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SCORES
| AUSTIN | 62 | CLARKSVILLE | 37 | |
| BARR-REEVE | 35 | LOOGOOTEE | 20 | |
| BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE | 67 | SILVER CREEK | 29 | |
| BENTON CENTRAL | 63 | TRI-WEST | 48 | |
| BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | 58 | BLOOMINGTON NORTH | 47 | |
| BOONVILLE | 41 | EVANSVILLE BOSSE | 24 | |
| BORDEN | 62 | SHOALS | 24 | |
| CHARLESTOWN | 69 | NORTH OLDHAM (KY.) | 45 | |
| CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 52 | CANNELTON | 32 | |
| COLUMBUS NORTH | 62 | COLUMBUS EAST | 40 | |
| DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN | 48 | NORTH NEWTON | 11 | |
| EASTERN GREENE | 53 | WHITE RIVER VALLEY | 39 | |
| EMINENCE | 36 | INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS | 25 | |
| EVANSVILLE NORTH | 62 | EVANSVILLE HARRISON | 37 | |
| FOREST PARK | 47 | WASHINGTON | 31 | |
| GARRETT | 46 | FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA | 36 | |
| GIBSON SOUTHERN | 53 | PIKE CENTRAL | 16 | |
| HENDERSON COUNTY (KY.) | 58 | CASTLE | 46 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL | 55 | NEW PALESTINE | 31 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE | 58 | INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON | 24 | |
| JAC-CEN-DEL | 56 | EDINBURGH | 24 | |
| JAY COUNTY | 58 | NEW CASTLE | 15 | |
| JENNINGS COUNTY | 51 | MADISON | 40 | |
| KANKAKEE VALLEY | 53 | MORGAN TWP. | 34 | |
| LAKEWOOD PARK | 43 | HAMILTON | 31 | |
| LANESVILLE | 61 | CRAWFORD COUNTY | 36 | |
| LAPEL | 48 | MONROE CENTRAL | 41 | |
| LINTON-STOCKTON | 62 | SHAKAMAK | 23 | |
| MADISON-GRANT | 62 | ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY | 42 | |
| MEDORA | 55 | SEVEN OAKS CLASSICAL | 35 | |
| MONROVIA | 66 | INDIANAPOLIS HERRON | 8 | |
| NEW PRAIRIE | 50 | JIMTOWN | 8 | |
| NORTH HARRISON | 35 | SALEM | 32 | |
| NORTH JUDSON | 32 | CULVER | 30 | |
| NORTH KNOX | 55 | WOOD MEMORIAL | 42 | |
| NORTHEAST DUBOIS | 33 | JASPER | 20 | |
| PARKE HERITAGE | 59 | RIVERTON PARKE | 34 | |
| PENN | 52 | BREMEN | 39 | |
| PERRY CENTRAL | 54 | ORLEANS | 48 | 2OT |
| PERU | 44 | MACONAQUAH | 21 | |
| PROVIDENCE | 59 | NEW ALBANY | 49 | |
| PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD | 47 | INDIANA DEAF | 38 | |
| ROCK CREEK ACADEMY | 64 | SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER) | 52 | |
| SCOTTSBURG | 54 | MITCHELL | 15 | |
| SEYMOUR | 41 | FLOYD CENTRAL | 32 | |
| SHAWE MEMORIAL | 50 | HENRYVILLE | 32 | |
| SHENANDOAH | 57 | DALEVILLE | 22 | |
| SOUTH BEND ADAMS | 42 | SOUTH BEND CLAY | 20 | |
| SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON | 76 | JOHN GLENN | 17 | |
| SOUTH KNOX | 43 | PRINCETON | 27 | |
| SWITZERLAND COUNTY | 52 | CARROLL COUNTY (KY.) | 45 | |
| TIPPECANOE VALLEY | 56 | WINAMAC | 38 | |
| TRITON CENTRAL | 35 | SPEEDWAY | 19 | |
| VICTORY CHRISTIAN | 28 | ELKHART CHRISTIAN | 18 | |
| WAPAHANI | 59 | COWAN | 28 | |
| WEST LAFAYETTE | 38 | HAMILTON HEIGHTS | 20 | |
| WESTVIEW | 47 | FREMONT | 40 | |
| WOODLAN | 61 | SOUTHERN WELLS | 31 | |
| ZIONSVILLE | 63 | BEN DAVIS | 43 | |
| WESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY TOURNAMENT | ||||
| CULVER ACADEMY | 50 | HUDSON (OHIO) | 39 |
FRIDAY GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
INDIANA BOYS WRESTLING RESULTS
MOUNT VERNON POSEY 37 N. POSEY 35
GOSHEN 40 NORTHRIDGE 33
ADAMS CENTRAL 48 COLUMBIA CITY 27
RENSSELAER CENTRAL 57 W. CENTRAL 12
CENTRAL NOBLE 41 FAIRFIELD 32
MARTINSVILLE 54 MOORESVILLE 28
WINAMAC 46 N. NEWTON 36
MARION 72 NORTHWESTERN 10
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#22 WISCONSIN 78 LEHIGH 56
SOUTHERN INDIANA 84 ST. MARY OF THE WOODS 42
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20221215
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#1 SOUTH CAROLINA 62 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 44
#8 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 81 DAVIDSON 47
#10 UCLA 59 USC 56
#16 OREGON 88 EASTERN WASHINGTON 38
#18 BAYLOR 93 TENNESSEE STATE 27
WESTERN KENTUCKY 58 INDIANA STATE 51
BOWLING GREEN 84 IUPUI 70
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20221215
NFL
WEEK 15
THURSDAY, DEC. 15
SAN FRANCISCO 21 SEATTLE 13
BOX SCORE: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/FB/BOXSCORE.ASP?GAMECODE=20221215026&HOME=26&VIS=25&FINAL=TRUE
SATURDAY, DEC. 17
INDIANAPOLIS AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M.
BALTIMORE AT CLEVELAND, 4:30 P.M.
MIAMI AT BUFFALO, 8:15 P.M.
SUNDAY, DEC. 18
PITTSBURGH AT CAROLINA, 1 P.M.
PHILADELPHIA AT CHICAGO, 1 P.M.
KANSAS CITY AT HOUSTON, 1 P.M.
DALLAS AT JACKSONVILLE, 1 P.M.
ATLANTA AT NEW ORLEANS, 1 P.M.
DETROIT AT NEW YORK JETS, 1 P.M.
ARIZONA AT DENVER, 4:05 P.M.
NEW ENGLAND AT LAS VEGAS, 4:05 P.M.
TENNESSEE AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, 4:25 P.M.
CINCINNATI AT TAMPA BAY, 4:25 P.M.
NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON, 8:20 P.M. (SNF)
MONDAY, DEC. 19
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT GREEN BAY, 8:15 P.M.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, DEC. 16
UAB VS. MIAMI (OHIO) — BAHAMAS BOWL (NASSAU, BAHAMAS) | 11:30 A.M. | ESPN
NO. 24 TROY VS. NO. 25 UTSA — CURE BOWL (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 3 P.M. | ESPN
MOUNT UNION VS. NORTH CENTRAL (IL) — DIII NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND) | 7 P.M. | ESPNU
SATURDAY, DEC. 17
CINCINNATI VS. LOUISVILLE — FENWAY BOWL (BOSTON) | 11 A.M. | ESPN
JACKSON STATE VS. N.C. CENTRAL — CELEBRATION BOWL (ATLANTA) | 12 P.M. | ABC
FERRIS STATE VS. COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES — DII NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (MCKINNEY, TEXAS) | 1 P.M. | ESPNU
NO. 14 OREGON STATE VS. FLORIDA — LAS VEGAS BOWL (LAS VEGAS) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
WASHINGTON STATE VS. FRESNO STATE — LA BOWL (INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA) | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
RICE VS. SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI — LENDINGTREE BOWL (MOBILE, ALABAMA) | 5:45 P.M. | ESPN
SMU VS. BYU — NEW MEXICO BOWL (ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
BOISE STATE VS. NORTH TEXAS — FRISCO BOWL (FRISCO, TEXAS) | 9:15 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, DEC. 19
MARSHALL VS. UCONN — MYRTLE BEACH BOWL (CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 20
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. SAN JOSE STATE — FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL (BOISE, IDAHO) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
LIBERTY VS. TOLEDO — BOCA RATON BOWL (BOCA RATON, FLORIDA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21
SOUTH ALABAMA VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY — NEW ORLEANS BOWL (NEW ORLEANS) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 22
BAYLOR VS. AIR FORCE — ARMED FORCES BOWL (FORT WORTH, TEXAS) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, DEC. 23
HOUSTON VS. LOUISIANA — INDEPENDENCE BOWL (SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA) | 3 P.M. | ESPN
WAKE FOREST VS. MISSOURI — GASPARILLA BOWL (TAMPA, FLORIDA) | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 24
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE VS. SAN DIEGO STATE — HAWAI’I BOWL (HONOLULU, HAWAI’I) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, DEC. 26
BOWLING GREEN VS. NEW MEXICO STATE — QUICK LANE BOWL (DETROIT) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 27
BUFFALO VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN — CAMELLIA BOWL (MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. WISCONSIN — GUARANTEED RATE BOWL (PHOENIX) | 10:15 P.M. | ESPN
MEMPHIS VS. UTAH STATE — FIRST RESPONDER BOWL (DALLAS) | ESPN
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. EAST CAROLINA — BIRMINGHAM BOWL (BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA) | ESPN
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28
DUKE VS. UCF — MILITARY BOWL (ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND) | 2 P.M. | ESPN
ARKANSAS VS. KANSAS — LIBERTY BOWL (MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 15 OREGON VS. NORTH CAROLINA — HOLIDAY BOWL (SAN DIEGO) | 8 P.M.
TEXAS TECH VS. OLE MISS — TEXAS BOWL (HOUSTON) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 29
MINNESOTA VS. SYRACUSE — PINSTRIPE BOWL (BRONX, NEW YORK) | 2 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 13 FLORIDA STATE VS. OKLAHOMA — CHEEZ-IT BOWL (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 12 WASHINGTON VS. NO. 20 TEXAS — ALAMO BOWL (SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, DEC. 30
NO. 23 NC STATE VS. MARYLAND — DUKE’S MAYO BOWL (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 18 UCLA VS. PITT — SUN BOWL (EL PASO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | CBS
NO. 19 SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NO. 21 NOTRE DAME — GATOR BOWL (JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
OHIO VS. WYOMING — ARIZONA BOWL (TUCSON, ARIZONA) | 4:30 P.M.| BARSTOOL
NO. 6 TENNESSEE VS. NO. 7 CLEMSON — ORANGE BOWL (MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 31
IOWA VS. KENTUCKY — MUSIC CITY BOWL (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
NO. 5 ALABAMA VS. NO. 9 KANSAS STATE — SUGAR BOWL (NEW ORLEANS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 2 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 3 TCU (CFP SEMIFINAL) — FIESTA BOWL (GLENDALE, ARIZONA) | 4 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 1 GEORGIA VS. NO. 4 OHIO STATE (CFP SEMIFINAL) — PEACH BOWL (ATLANTA) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 2
NO. 22 MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. ILLINOIS — RELIAQUEST BOWL (TAMPA, FLORIDA) | 12 P.M. | ESPN2
NO. 17 LSU VS. PURDUE — CITRUS BOWL (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 1 P.M. | ABC
NO. 10 USC VS. NO. 16 TULANE — COTTON BOWL (ARLINGTON, TEXAS) | 1 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 8 UTAH VS. NO. 11 PENN STATE — ROSE BOWL (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA) | 5 P.M. | ESPN
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
FCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (FRISCO, TEXAS) | 2 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, JAN. 9
CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA) | ESPN
NBA
MIAMI 111 HOUSTON 108
MEMPHIS 142 MILWAUKEE 101
UTAH 132 NEW ORLEANS 129 OT
PHOENIX 111 LA CLIPPERS 95
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL
LOS ANGELES 3 BOSTON 2
ANAHEIM 5 MONTRÉAL 2
TAMPA BAY 4 COLUMBUS 1
PITTSBURGH 4 FLORIDA 2
PHILADELPHIA 2 NEW JERSEY 1
NY RANGERS 3 TORONTO 1
DALLAS 2 WASHINGTON 1
CAROLINA 3 SEATTLE 2
WINNIPEG 2 NASHVILLE 1
VEGAS 4 CHICAGO 1
BUFFALO 4 COLORADO 2
ST. LOUIS 4 EDMONTON 3
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
Purdy, 49ers topple Seahawks 21-13, win NFC West
SEATTLE (AP) Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy never doubted he’d take the field for the 49ers with a chance at winning a division title.
But how long Purdy would be able to play through his oblique injury lingered all night in the mind of San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan.
“We were going to see how long he’d last and we were ready to go with (backup) Josh (Johnson),” Shanahan said. “But he just got comfortable and got better as the game went on. It’s pretty unbelievable.”
Purdy threw a pair of touchdown passes to George Kittle, and the 49ers won their first NFC West title since 2019, beating the Seattle Seahawks 21-13 on Thursday night.
Despite using their third starting quarterback this season, the 49ers (10-4) continued to show they might be the class of the NFC alongside Philadelphia. San Francisco won its seventh straight, using its stifling defense to frustrate Seattle into countless mistakes.
The Niners got a handful of big plays from their rookie quarterback, who didn’t make any throws during the limited practice time leading into the game.
“My mindset was I was coming into this place to play and start. That was that,” Purdy said.
Playing on the road for the first time in his career, Purdy connected on his first 11 pass attempts, including a 28-yard TD to Kittle in the first quarter when Purdy executed two fakes before hitting his tight end wide open.
The play was called “Hollywood” and was flawless in its execution.
“Whenever Kyle dials something up that you know you’re gonna get the ball, you try to speak it into existence. So you got to say `touchdown’ and visualize it, and it was actually perfect,” Kittle said.
Purdy and Kittle connected again early in the second half as Seattle’s defense blew a coverage and left Kittle open for a 54-yard TD and a 21-3 San Francisco lead. Purdy finished 17 of 26 for 217 yards, joining Aaron Rodgers as the only QBs since at least 1950 to have a passer rating of at least 115 in each of their first two starts.
“Honestly my mindset was even though I haven’t thrown a ball, I played four days ago,” Purdy said. “So I know where guys are supposed to be. I know what it’s like to rip a ball on rhythm and in tight on time.”
Kittle had four catches for 93 yards and Christian McCaffrey rushed for 108 yards, including a 1-yard TD run in the final minute of the first half following a Seattle turnover.
Seattle (7-7) lost for the fourth time in five games and its playoff hopes took another hit. Geno Smith threw for 238 yards and Seattle’s first offensive TD this season against the 49ers, but was under constant pressure.
Seattle pulled within one score late in the fourth quarter after Robbie Gould missed a 43-yard field goal and the Seahawks went 67 yards in 1:25. Smith hit Noah Fant on a 10-yard TD with 3:35 remaining. But Purdy converted a third-and-1 with a scramble before the 2-minute warning, and Jordan Mason sealed the victory with a 55-yard rush with 1:02 remaining.
“I don’t know if I have all the right words. But man, I just hate losing and gotta figure it out,” Smith said.
Smith was sacked three times and hit nine times. When he did have time to throw, open windows for his pass catchers were small. Seattle had one play longer than 20 yards, and wide receiver Tyler Lockett suffered a broken bone in his hand late in the game.
And Seattle missed taking advantage of a 49ers mistake late in the first half.
Seattle scored its first offensive points in two games against the 49ers midway through the second quarter on Jason Myers’ 38-yard field goal. Seattle’s only points in the first matchup in Week 2 came on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.
But the Seahawks followed with a pair of critical mistakes. Quandre Diggs dropped a potential interception that would have given Seattle the ball on San Francisco’s side of the field. And Travis Homer fumbled on a big hit by Dre Greenlaw at the Seattle 41 with 1:08 left in the second quarter. The fumble was returned 35 yards by Charvarius Ward, and two plays later, McCaffrey scored to give the 49ers a 14-3 lead.
The 49ers have allowed 17 points or fewer in every game of their win streak.
“I think just from the first time we played them we knew we had an advantage, and we were going to have to take full advantage of it,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa said. “We definitely did our job.”
TRIUMPHANT IN SEATTLE
Shanahan also won his first division title at Seattle when San Francisco won the final game of the 2019 regular season.
GREEDY GREENLAW
Greenlaw has either a forced fumble, fumble recovery or interception in five straight games. He had eight tackles.
INJURIES
Seattle was without starting defensive tackle Al Woods due to an Achilles tendon injury and lost his backup Bryan Mone to a knee injury in the first quarter. … San Francisco CB Ambry Thomas suffered an ankle injury. … Seattle LB Jordyn Brooks (neck) didn’t play in the fourth quarter. … 49ers DE Samsom Ebukam limped off in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
San Francisco: Hosts Washington on Dec. 24.
Seattle: At Kansas City on Dec. 24.
Herro hits 10 3s, scores career-high 41 points for Heat
HOUSTON (AP) Tyler Herro matched the Miami record with 10 3-pointers and scored a career-high 41 points to help the Heat beat the Houston Rockets 111-108 on Thursday night.
A night after making nine 3-pointers and scoring 35 points in a victory at Oklahoma City, Herro became the fourth Heat player to hit 10 3s in a game – a feat most recently accomplished by Duncan Robinson on Dec. 10, 2019.
“I didn’t know it was the record until last night when I hit nine, and they said I was one short,” Herro said. “I didn’t have any intention of coming in to tie the record, but I was just trying to get 3s up. I think shooting more 3s is helping.”
Herro was 10 of 15 from 3-point range and 13 of 20 overall. He also had six rebounds.
“The last couple of games, that’s been really the scheme against him,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s been open. But regardless, he’s too good of a shooter for us to not take 3s off the catch. He has to continue to be assertive in those opportunities. He’s just a brilliant shooter. He can do it off the dribble and off the catch.”
Jimmy Butler added 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, and Caleb Martin had 13 points. Miami has won three straight to improve to 15-15.
Jalen Green led Houston with 22 points on 8-of-21 shooting. Kevin Porter Jr. added 21, Jabari Smith Jr. had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Alperen Sengun finished with 12 points.
Herro had 25 first-half points, carrying the Heat to a 37-point second quarter where they took a 14-point halftime lead.
The Rockets rallied back in the third quarter, cutting Miami’s lead to 86-85 entering the fourth.
Porter missed a 3 in the closing seconds that would have tied it.
“Any shot I put up, I feel like I can make,” Porter said. “Personally, I would have liked it in the flow of that rebound on that last stop, but we had to play against a set defense, and Miami is good when they get a chance to set their defense up. It was a tough shot I can make. I missed it.”
Porter was referencing a timeout that Rockets coach Stephen Silas called when the team was in transition following a rebound with less than 15 seconds remaining. There were 12.7 seconds remaining for the Rockets’ final possession where Porter’s attempt to tie the game rimmed out.
“It was definitely encouraging to give the fight that we did at the end of the game,” Silas said. “Our late-game defense has been really good. But the way the first half went, where there were 50-50 balls and hustle plays that we weren’t getting, that’s not us.”
Miami was playing without Bam Adebayo, who was dealing with a left ankle sprain. The Heat also were missing Kyle Lowry (rest), Dewayne Dedmon (left foot plantar fasciitis), Nikola Jovic (back spasms) and Victor Oladipo (left knee injury management).
Miami’s pregame injury report also mentioned Butler, who missed the last game for right knee management, Herro, Robinson, Martin and Max Strus for various injuries, but those five played in the game.
TIP-INS
Heat: Spoelstra received a technical in the second quarter after yelling at the officials. Udonis Haslem and Strus later received technical fouls in the third quarter for talking to officials. . Rookie Orlando Robinson had nine points off the bench.
Rockets: Coach Stephen Silas received a technical in the third quarter after yelling at the officials. . The Rockets outrebounded the Heat 50-40, thanks in part to Smith’s and Usman Garuba’s eight in 20 minutes off the bench.
UP NEXT
Heat: Vs. San Antonio in Mexico City on Saturday night.
Rockets: Host Portland on Saturday night.
Morant has triple-double as Grizzlies trounce Bucks 142-101
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Ja Morant had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Memphis Grizzlies pounded the Milwaukee Bucks 142-101 on Thursday night.
Dillon Brooks added 18 points and Tyus Jones had 16 as eight Grizzlies scored in double figures. Memphis led from start to finish in its seventh straight win.
Memphis’ win, coupled with New Orleans’ overtime loss to Utah on Thursday night, moved the Grizzlies into first place in the Western Conference.
“When teams face us, they’ve got to be ready to come out and play,” Morant said, adding: “We’ve got multiple guys who can go out and score the ball. If you scout us, you’ve got to name everybody on the list.”
The Grizzlies opened a 50-point lead in the fourth quarter for the NBA’s largest advantage this season. Milwaukee was held to 38 points in the paint, while Memphis had 86.
“I don’t think it is anything earth-shattering,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said of the defensive effort. He added that the Grizzlies were disciplined and showed multiple players against Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I thought we did a really good job just taking them out of the paint.”
Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis led the Bucks with 19 points apiece before Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer emptied the bench late in the third quarter.
“We were just beaten soundly in every way, shape and form, and we have to own that,” Budenholzer said.
The game featured two of the top teams in their respective conferences. Milwaukee began the night a game behind East-leading Boston, while Memphis was tied for first with the Pelicans in the Western Conference.
But the Bucks struggled from the start of the game. Memphis led 70-41 at halftime. It was the most points given up in a half by Milwaukee this season.
“They were just playing well. Knocking down shots,” Antetokounmpo said. “They were running. Their pace was really fast. They were just playing good basketball.”
TIP-INS
Bucks: G Jrue Holiday missed his second game with a non-COVID-19 illness. Serge Ibaka also was a late scratch for the same reason. … F Khris Middleton was 1 of 12 in the game, including 1 of 8 from 3-point range. … Milwaukee’s biggest loss in franchise history was by 48 two times, the last time in the 1994-95 season against Orlando.
Grizzlies: Jenkins is tied with Dave Joerger for second place on the franchise career wins list with 147. Lionel Hollins has the most wins as Memphis coach with 214. … F/C Brandon Clarke made all six of his shots in the game and has connected on 55 of 77 shots over his past 11 games. … Rookie David Roddy scored a season-best 15 points.
BLOCK PARTY
The game featured two of the league’s best shot blockers. Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez leads the league with an average of 2.9 blocks a game and 75 overall. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. of Memphis entered with a 3.64 average despite playing only 11 games. Neither had a block in the game, and Milwaukee only had one block – by Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
Instead, it was Memphis center Steven Adams who had a season-high five blocks.
LAST WORD
“We feel like we’re about to get on that stride like we had last year and won 10 straight. As you can see, we’re flowing and playing pretty good right now,” Morant said.
UP NEXT
Bucks: Face the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
Grizzlies: Travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Saturday.
Clarkson scores 39 points, Jazz outlast Pelicans in OT
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Jordan Clarkson scored a season-high 39 points and had eight rebounds in the Utah Jazz’s 132-129 overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night.
Clarkson was 15 of 26 from the field and made seven 3-pointers to help Utah sweep the two-game set after beating New Orleans 121-100 on Tuesday night.
“Got in a rhythm early,” Clarkson said. “Mike (Conley) was feeding me, just getting open shots, all-in-the-flow offense. It definitely felt good to see the ball go in.”
Lauri Markkanen added 31 points and Malik Beasley had 17 for Utah.
Zion Williamson had 31 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and two blocks for New Orleans. C.J. McCollum added 28 points, and Nate Marshall and Larry Nance, Jr. each had 13.
“The effort was there a lot more than two nights ago,” Williamson said. “Just too many turnovers in crucial parts of the game.”
Clarkson tied it going into the final minute with his first basket of the fourth quarter.
Markkanen followed with another 3 to give the Jazz a 121-118 lead. Trey Murphy III made a corner 3 for New Orleans with 2.9 seconds remaining to force overtime.
The Jazz never trailed in the extra period after Clarkson made a pair of baskets to put Utah up 127-123. McCollum had a chance to tie it but missed a 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left.
“We just didn’t execute good enough to get the ball in bounds and get a shot off,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said.
New Orleans threatened to break a close game open in the third quarter after charging out to a 76-63 lead behind a 14-2 run. The Pelicans made 10 of their first 12 shots to open the quarter. Williamson fueled the run by scoring back-to-back baskets and assisting on another bucket.
Utah erased the deficit before the quarter ended. Beasley made an alley oop layup to cap a 14-1 run and put the Jazz up 91-90.
“They kind of had control of the game there for a little bit, especially to start the third quarter and I thought that our team dug deep,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “The bench gave us a big lift, and the guys responded.”
BIG BLOCK
The Jazz had a chance at a game-winning basket in regulation when Markkanen tossed up a short jumper in the final second. Nance switched onto the Utah forward and denied him with a block to force overtime. Officials reviewed the play for goaltending, but it stood after review.
“It was probably the highest point of the shot,” Markkanen said. “We had to play another five minutes, but it was a good play. We got a great look at it. He made a great play.”
TIP INS
Pelicans: Marshall had four steals, matching his career high. . New Orleans went 12 of 30 from 3-point range after making just four outside baskets against Utah on Tuesday night.
Jazz: Clarkson scored 17 points in the first quarter – a career-best for first-quarter points. . Utah scored 33 points off 18 New Orleans turnovers.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Phoenix on Saturday night.
Jazz: At Milwaukee on Saturday night.
Suns snap 5-game skid with 111-95 win over depleted Clippers
LOS ANGELES (AP) Mikal Bridges scored 27 points, Chris Paul added 15 points and 13 assists and the Phoenix Suns snapped a five-game losing streak with a 111-95 victory over the depleted Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
Devin Booker scored 14 points in his return from a two-game absence with a hamstring injury for the Suns, whose longest skid in three years ended with a blowout of a Clippers lineup missing most of its important players. Phoenix took a 27-point lead in the first half and maintained a comfortable double-digit margin while closing out just its second win in eight games in December.
“Ain’t no easy nights in this league,” said Bridges, who went 11 for 18. “I know they were missing some players, but they’re still in the league. We came out here and we played hard. Felt good to make some shots early.”
Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Norman Powell, Reggie Jackson and Ivica Zubac didn’t play, leaving Los Angeles without its top three scorers, four of its starters Wednesday in a victory over Minnesota, and five regular rotation players averaging a combined 74.5 points and 28.4 rebounds per game.
The Suns also were depleted: Deandre Ayton couldn’t play after injuring his ankle in the first half of Phoenix’s loss at Houston on Tuesday, and Cameron Payne sat out with a foot injury that incurred in the same game.
“I’m happy we finally got a win out of this road trip, and we’re going to try to keep this train moving,” Paul said.
Although Booker struggled with his shot from all ranges, going 6 for 22 and missing eight of his nine 3-point attempts, Bridges rebounded sharply from a 4-for-24 shooting effort against the Rockets.
“He’s a prideful player,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “He needed a forklift to get his lip off the ground the other night, he was so down about his performance. … When he’s shooting the ball like (tonight), we’re a pretty good team.”
Terance Mann scored a season-high 22 points for the Clippers, whose three-game winning streak ended. John Wall had 12 points and five assists in his second start for LA after sitting out Wednesday’s game with knee soreness.
“In the second half, we did a better job of attacking the paint and trying to make a play,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We didn’t do that in the first half. I’m just proud of our guys to keep competing and keep trying to play the right way.”
Leonard sat out for the 21st time this season to rest his surgically repaired right knee. George sat for the ninth time this season, citing left knee soreness after playing in the previous six games.
Without their dynamic duo, the Clippers couldn’t come close to the standard they set in two home games over the previous three days, beating the NBA-leading Boston Celtics and the Timberwolves.
“It’s definitely real frustrating when we had a good thing going, had a nice little rhythm, figuring stuff out again, about to start a nice little win streak, I thought, and this happens,” Mann said. “We’ve just got to figure it out from here now.”
TIP-INS
Suns: Bismack Biyombo had five points, five rebounds and five fouls while starting in place of Ayton. … Cameron Johnson missed his 21st straight game while recovering from knee surgery. … Jock Landale had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Clippers: Zubac left Wednesday’s game with left knee pain. … Powell hasn’t played since November due to a groin injury. … Jackson sat out for the second time in four games with a left Achilles injury.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host New Orleans on Saturday night
Clippers: Host Washington on Saturday.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker to be next NCAA president
(AP) — The NCAA announced Thursday that Baker will replace Mark Emmert as the head of the largest college sports governing body in the country, with some 500,000 athletes at more than 1,100 schools.
Baker, a Republican, has been governor of Massachusetts since 2015. He announced a year ago he would not seek re-election. His second term ends in January and he will start is new job in March.
He has never worked in college sports.
“I must say that when I was first approached about this, my initial reaction was that I was not exactly what you would call a traditional candidate,” Baker said on a video conference call with reporters.
Some of the traits that have made Baker a successful governor — including his ability to negotiate with a Democrat-controlled Legislature and his more moderate stand on many social issues — have been seen as closing off a pursuit of higher office in GOP that has turned sharply to the right.
Baker said his time in state government, building consensus among various constituencies, coalitions and factions, should help in leading a diverse association with a wide range of priorities.
“I certainly think the challenges here are significant,” Baker said.
He said he was approached by the NCAA’s search firm about two months ago.
“When you consider the priorities that we have right now in the NCAA, it’s hard to imagine a better fit than Governor Baker,” said Baylor President Lind Livingston, who is the chairwoman of the NCAA Board of Governors. “As a public servant, he showed a talent for working across party lines, convening Bay Staters of all types to do big things together.”
The NCAA emphasized Baker’s high approval ratings as the Republican governor of a blue state in announcing the hire. He will now become the face of an increasingly unpopular entity that has been viewed as an impediment to athletes getting a fair share of the billions of dollars generated by big-time college sports.
Emmert announced he would step down earlier this year after 12 years of leading the NCAA through a tumultuous time. Battered by losses in court and attacks by politicians, the NCAA is going through a sweeping reform, trying to decentralize the way college sports is run.
College sports leaders, including Emmert, have repeatedly asked for help from Congress to regulate name, image and likeness compensation (NIL) since the NCAA lifted its ban in 2021 on athletes being able to earn endorsement money.
Now the association will be led by a politician for the first time.
Baker mostly side-stepped specifics when asked about whether college sports needed government intervention and if a model could include athletes being paid, something schools have long opposed while arguing that it would upend the amateur sports model that is the foundation of college athletics.
“I’m going to wait until I actually have the job and I’ve had some conversations before I get into the details of several of these questions,” Baker said. “But to me the jewel of college sports is the opportunity and the access that it provides to so many people and the experiences and the learning that comes with that.”
Baker was born in upstate New York, went to high school in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard, where he played basketball. He also had two sons who played college football and his wife, Lauren, was a gymnast in college.
That’s the extent of his experience in college sports.
The last two NCAA presidents, Emmert and the late Myles Brand, moved into the job after being university presidents. Before that the job had typically been held by former college sports administrators.
With the NCAA moving into a new phase and college sports becoming more professionalized, it was clear the role of the president of the association was also changing.
Emmert and other college sports leaders have been spending ample time in recent years in Washington, hoping for a federal law to manage NIL and a narrow antitrust exemption for the NCAA.
The NCAA has been leaning on broad bylaws that outlaw recruiting inducements and pay-for-play to deal with NIL compensation, but detailed, uniform rules have been lacking. More than 30 states have passed their own NIL laws and it has resulted in a patchwork of regulations and hard-to-enforce rules.
Some federal lawmakers has expressed a desire to dig into college sports beyond NIL, with long-term health care and revenue sharing for athletes potential issues.
NCAA revenues have surpassed $1 billion in recent years, most of that coming from its media rights deal for the men’s Division I basketball tournament. The majority of the NCAA’s revenue is distributed back to the schools through their conferences.
There are also billions flowing into the major conferences that play big-time college football. The top-tier of Division I football (known as FBS) operates mostly outside the NCAA. That includes College Football Playoff, which is on the verge of expanding from four teams to 12.
Amy Privette Perko, the CEO of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, said the biggest challenge Baker will face is trying to figure out how and if major college football can continue to exist under the NCAA’s umbrella.
“The NCAA receives zero dollars from the CFP, but it remains liable for the legal and health costs of FBS football,” Perko said. “The explosion of revenues, just for FBS football, is at the heart of much of the controversy about the future of all of college sports.”
During Emmert’s tenure, the NCAA increasingly found itself tangled in political debates. The NCAA pulled its championship events out of states over official use of the Confederate flag and made a similar move when state lawmakers moved to pull back protections for members of the LGBTQ community.
The NCAA became a target for some conservatives over its policies that allow transgender athletes to compete for national championships.
Baker will step to the front of an organization that is in the process of determining how it wants to govern and lead. Meanwhile, college sports themselves have never been more popular.
“That in some ways, I think, is an enormous asset,” he said, “when you’re trying to have a discussion about what the best way to ensure that what we have is not lost going forward.”
AP source: Yankees, Rodón agree to $162 million, 6-year deal
NEW YORK (AP) The New York Yankees added Carlos Rodon to their rotation on Thursday, agreeing to a $162 million, six-year contract with the left-hander, a person familiar with the negotiations said.
The person confirmed the contract to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical.
New York took care of its most pressing question when it persuaded AL MVP Aaron Judge to stay in the Bronx with a $360 million, nine-year contract – baseball’s biggest free agent deal ever. The Yankees also re-signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo with a $40 million, two-year deal.
But the contract for Rodon is an addition for the reigning AL East champions.
Rodon went 14-8 this year with a 2.88 ERA in his lone season with the San Francisco Giants, setting career highs for wins, starts (31), innings (178) and strikeouts (237). He also earned his second straight All-Star selection.
Just two years ago, Rodon was non-tendered by the White Sox after another injury-riddled season. But he re-signed with his first big league team for a $3 million, one-year deal, and then started to show the form that made the lefty the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 amateur draft.
Working with White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz, Rodon went 13-5 with a career-low 2.37 ERA in 24 starts in 2021. He threw a no-hitter against Cleveland that April that was his first career shutout and second complete game.
Rodon, a Florida native who turned 30 on Saturday, agreed to a $44 million, two-year contract with San Francisco in March. But he opted out after one season, giving up a $22.5 million salary for next year and becoming a free agent.
Rodon looked like a potential star when he went 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA over the last eight starts of his rookie season with Chicago in 2015. But injuries kept getting in his way.
He was limited to 12 starts in 2017 because of left biceps bursitis and left shoulder inflammation, and then had arthroscopic shoulder surgery that September.
He began the 2018 season on the injured list while he recovered from the shoulder operation and then returned that June. But he had Tommy John surgery on May 15, 2019, cutting short another season.
Rodon is 56-46 with a 3.60 ERA in 152 major league appearances over eight seasons. He has 947 strikeouts in 847 1/3 innings.
Vesey scores twice as Rangers down Maple Leafs 3-1
NEW YORK (AP) Jimmy Vesey had two goals, Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves and the New York Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight win.
Vesey snapped a tie with 4:27 left in the second period. He added an empty-netter with 1:13 remaining for his fifth of the season.
The Rangers improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight games after an inconsistent several weeks. They have won three straight at Madison Square Garden after winning only four of their first 14 home games.
“We’re in high spirits,” Vesey said. “We’re going into every game feeling like it will be a win.”
Filip Chytil also scored for New York, and Vincent Trocheck had two assists.
Toronto lost in regulation for the first time since Nov. 11. It went 12-0-3 in its previous 15 games. The Maple Leafs also had recorded a point in nine straight road games, including seven wins.
Toronto failed to score on three power-play chances.
“Sometimes stuff doesn’t go your way,” said Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who had his points streak stopped at 23 games. “I think something we can definitely look at is our power play. That was pretty bad, it was horrible really. Not creating a whole lot for our team.”
Vesey, who won a job with the Rangers out of training camp, skated down the right wing before flipping a high wrist shot past Toronto goaltender Matt Murray in the second.
Vesey, 29, played three seasons for the Rangers after four years at Harvard before skating for four other teams, including Buffalo, Toronto and Vancouver. He played 68 games for the New Jersey Devils last season.
“I have come full circle and the end of the day, this is where I have wanted to play all along,” Vesey said about returning to the Rangers.
Michael Bunting had Toronto’s lone goal. Murray made 18 stops.
Shesterkin improved to 5-0-1 in his last six starts and 15-4-4 overall this season. He denied Marner at 14:29 of the third, ultimately stopping Marner’s franchise-record point streak.
“It’s a cool accomplishment to have your name with some great legends,” said Marner, just the 12th player in NHL history with a point streak of least 23 games. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the guys in this room, so a lot of love goes out to them.”
Chytil opened the scoring for New York, netting his seventh on a power play 3:52 into the game. He rifled a high shot past Murray.
Bunting responded with his seventh at 14:06, tapping a rebound past Shesterkin. Bunting extended his point streak to 10 games.
The brisk pace continued in the second as both goaltenders made sterling saves.
Murray denied a shot from the high slot by Artemi Panarin seven minutes in. Shesterkin stopped Auston Matthews’ point-blank shot midway through the period.
Toronto had a flurry of chances during a man advantage late in the second but couldn’t solve Shesterkin.
“We just didn’t do enough,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I thought defensively we were excellent.”
Shesterkin also stopped Toronto’s Zach Aston-Reese five minutes into the third, sparking chants of “Igor! Igor!” from the Garden crowd, and then smothered a close-in shot by Toronto captain John Tavares at 12:16 of the third.
“We did a good job of tilting the ice for significant portions of the game,? Tavares said. “We just need to find a way to get the puck a little more to the net and challenge a little more.”
Toronto was coming off three home wins – a 7-0 thrashing of Anaheim on Tuesday after victories over Calgary and Los Angeles.
Following a stretch of one win in six games, the Rangers started their current winning streak against St. Louis on Dec. 5, and then defeated Vegas and Colorado on the road before rallying past the New Jersey Devils in overtime on Monday.
“Good effort by our group,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “The whole group played really well. A team effort from start to finish. Everybody bought in.”
WORTH NOTING
Defenseman Ben Harpur played his first game for the Rangers since he was recalled from the minors on Dec. 3. … Forward Vitali Kravtsov returned after being a healthy scratch the past three games as the Rangers scratched forward Sammy Blais – who has yet to score in 27 games – and defenseman Libor Hajek. … Toronto scratched forward Wayne Simmonds and defenseman Jordie Benn.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Maple Leafs: Visit the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
Kris Letang scores in 3rd game since stroke, Penguins win
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang scored in his third game back since having a stroke and the Penguins beat the Florida Panthers 4-2 on Thursday night.
Letang had the stroke Nov. 28, returned to practice 10 days later and got back in the lineup Saturday against Buffalo. In the second period against Florida, Letang scored a short-handed goal off a breakaway pass from Bryan Rust to tie it at 1.
“He has worked hard to get back especially this quick,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. “That was a big goal in the game, a shorthanded goal is big but for him, what he has gone through, it is fun to see him back out there doing his thing. He really did not ease his way into it and that is the way he likes it.”
Jake Guentzel scored twice and Evgeni Malkin added a power-play goal for the Penguins. They won for the seventh consecutive time and are 12-1-1 in their past 14 games.
Tristan Jarry made 32 saves to win his sixth consecutive start. Jarry is 10-0-1 in his past 11 games.
Ryan Lomberg and Sam Reinhart scored for Florida.
Malkin appeared to have injured his right knee on his goal as he was struck by a slap shot from Crosby.
The puck ended up in the net off the post, but Malkin hit the ice and had to be helped to the team’s medical room. Malkin has had surgery on his right knee in the past but both Crosby and coach Mike Sullivan did not think it was too serious an injury.
“It’s a funny way to score, but a goal is a goal,” Sullivan said. “The preliminary prognosis is positive so that is a positive sign.”
Guentzel scored the go-ahead goal at 12:42 of the period by knocking in a power-play shot from Malkin with his skate. He also scored into an empty net with 1:18remaining.
Malkin’s goal made it 3-1 as Pittsburgh went 2 for 3 on the power play as well as got the short-handed goal from Letang.
Lomberg gave the Panthers – who were playing without leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk due to an unspecified illness – a 1-0 lead by following up a rebound from Eric Staal 5:30 into the game.
Reinhart one-timed a pass from Carter Verhaeghe at 10:14 of the third.
Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, coming off a shutout win against Columbus on Tuesday, took the loss and made 35 saves.
“I thought 5-on-5 they played their butts off down a guy,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said of his team. “It was a sprint game and there was no way to play that other than full-out. I thought we did a good job.”
NOTES: The Panthers again started a game short-handed as Tkachuk did not play due to an illness which has been sweeping through his team’s locker room. Captain Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Verhaeghe and Spencer Knight have all missed games in the past few weeks because they were sick. Florida was also without Radko Gudas and Chris Tierney as both are in concussion protocol; Colin White did not play due to an unspecified injury. . Pittsburgh forward Jason Zucker continues to be out with a foot injury. Drew O’Connor and Mark Friedman were healthy scratches by the Penguins.
UP NEXT
Penguins: At Carolina on Sunday.
Panthers: At New Jersey on Saturday night.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
Game Preview: Colts vs. Vikings, Week 15
One Big Storyline
Fresh legs. Fresh minds.
Coming off the NFL latest’s possible bye week (Week 14) for a second straight season, the Indianapolis Colts feel refreshed and refocused heading into Saturday’s road matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
At 4-8-1, the Colts have plenty to play for over the final four games of the season, and could play the role of spoiler — or, at least the role of “delayer” — against a Vikings team that, at 10-3, simply needs a win to claim its first NFC North Division title since 2017, but is shaken a bit coming off a loss last week to the upstart Detroit Lions.
“Obviously, a good week to recharge a little bit, get a little break,” Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday said of the bye week and the challenge ahead. “Looking forward to the next four weeks. Big week for us against Minnesota, going up there. I know they’re trying to clinch and clinch their division. Obviously, didn’t get it done against Detroit. So, they’ll be gunning to close this thing out and we’ve got to go up there and play our best ball. So, looking forward to it.”
The Colts on Saturday will hope to avoid a recent trend against some of the best teams the NFC has to offer this season — a fourth-quarter collapse.
Back in Week 11 at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy outscored the Philadelphia Eagles — who own the NFL’s best record at 12-1 — 13-3 heading into the fourth quarter. But Jalen Hurts & Co. fought back with a 14-3 run over the final quarter to fly home with a narrow 17-16 victory.
Then, in Week 13, the Colts’ final game before the bye week, Indy was step-for-step on the road against the now 10-3 Dallas Cowboys, with just a two-point deficit through three quarters. What developed from there — 33 unanswered points by the Cowboys — was the type of fourth-quarter onslaught that has rarely been seen in the NFL.
It’s not that the Colts don’t emphasize finishing games; in fact, it’s been their M.O. in their four wins this season. But against some of the best the NFL has to offer — and the Vikings certainly fall into that category — Indy by now has plenty of time to digest how to go about not only playing with the top teams, but finishing them off, as well.
“We talked about the focus obviously after the Bye Week. Don’t be denied what you should be doing,” Saturday said. “That means go take advantage of all the matchups that you have. So, I’ve challenged each guy individually – just talked about where we need to be, what we need to see from each guy in particular and the progress we want to see being made. Again, we’ve made some progress.
“Obviously, the Dallas game was the last one we had. That’s an awful taste in your mouth, the way we finished that game. We have to continue to get better in certain areas and everybody has a job they have to go get better at. Job one is beating Minnesota. You’ve got a four-game season. When I look at this, we’re very capable of winning all four, but you have to start in Minnesota. They’ve got a lot to play for, playing for the division at their place, getting beat by Detroit. Like I said, nobody feels sorry for you in this league. They’re going to come at you full tilt so expect their best, and then go show them what your best looks like.”n
5 Things To Watch
Matt Ryan to remain starter. Saturday told reporters on Monday that after taking advantage of the bye week to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the entire team, the Colts will stick with Matt Ryan as their starting quarterback heading into the post-bye Vikings matchup.
The veteran Ryan has had his shares of ups and downs in his first season with the Colts in 2022, showcasing the true meaning of his “Matty Ice” nickname by helping lead Indy to last-minute victories against the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 6), and guiding five fourth-quarter comebacks in all, second most in the league. But Ryan has also struggled with taking care of the football, as evidenced by his league-leading 13 interceptions and 14 fumbles.
Saturday said Ryan certainly takes his share of the blame for his struggles, but the interim head coach also acknowledges, and the film backed him up, that many of the issues on those particular plays — from botched protections up front, to pass-catchers in the wrong position, and more — should not be ignored, either.
“I think the problem is, from the outside looking in, you want to attribute all those to one guy,” Saturday said. “And if I could, that would be an easy position to change and all of a sudden now you think you’ve made the team — all of a sudden we got no warts. But that’s not the case. I feel like Matt has continued to give us the best chance. And unfortunately we keep turning the ball over but it’s not just on him, it’s on a number of different guys.”
The good news for Ryan and the Colts’ offense? The Vikings’ defense is ranked 32nd — dead last — in the NFL in total yards allowed. They’ve allowed the most passing yards, most net yards per pass attempt, the second most pass attempts, and their opponents average 36.1 yards per offensive drive — third worst in the league.
In seven career games against Minnesota, Ryan has averaged 253 passing yards and two touchdowns to less than one interception per contest. His last game against the Vikings in 2020 was a masterpiece: 30-of-40 passing for 371 yards with four touchdowns to zero picks for a quarterback rating of 136.6 in a 40-23 blowout victory.
The way the Colts’ defense has come to play in most games this season, however, the team doesn’t necessarily need that 2020 version of Matt Ryan on Saturday against the Vikings. But if he can decisive, limit the turnovers, get the ball into playmakers’ hands — and, as noted below, perhaps see if Jonathan Taylor wants to take over on the ground — then Indy should have a shot.
“There’s work that we’re going to have to do there,” Ryan said this week. “it’ll be a good challenge for us and it’s a great place to play. I’ve been in the NFC for a long time playing up there a lot. It’s a great atmosphere and a fun spot to go win.”
Two words: Justin. Jefferson. The argument can easily be made that Justin Jefferson is off to one of the best starts to a career by a wide receiver in NFL history. As he enters the last four games of his third NFL season, his 98.2 receiving-yards-per-game average ranks first in NFL history.
In second place? Julio Jones at 89 yards per game. Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson sits in third place at 86.1.
Point being: Jefferson has been quite the menace for opposing NFL defenses, and on the Colts’ side, they already know what’s coming — now it’s on them to try to stop it.
“A guy like Jefferson — he’s a tremendous player,” Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “He’s extremely talented. He can get 200 yards on you in a hurry. They find ways, creative ways, of getting him the ball. He’s a great route runner. He catches the short ball and can turn that into big gains. The deep ball — he’s got that same ball skills and athleticism that you see in great wide receivers.”
Jefferson this season leads the NFL with 1,500 receiving yards, and is right up there in receptions (99), to go along with six touchdowns.
Jonathan Taylor back on track? After setting the NFL on fire in 2021 — winning the league rushing title by a mile and breaking the Colts’ single-season records in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns — those who don’t closely follow the Colts might look at Taylor’s 2022 season and wonder where all that pizazz went.
Truthfully, Taylor has displayed on multiple occasions this season that the 2021 magic is still in him. But lingering injuries (he’s missed three full games this year), a couple untimely fumbles and some major shuffles up front along the offensive line have resulted in Taylor “only” ranking 10th in the NFL in rushing to this point of the season (861 yards).
But since returning from an injury that caused him to miss the Week 9 game against the New England Patriots, Taylor has certainly seemed to return to form. He has 20-plus carries and 80-plus rushing yards in those four games — tied for the longest active such streak in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Now he’s back on pace, with good health, to rack up about 1,200 rushing yards on the year, which would put him extremely close to breaking into the top-10 list of the most rushing yards by a running back in their first three seasons in NFL history.
“Yeah, definitely felt like we’ve had more momentum in the run game, which ultimately is obviously what we want to pride ourselves on, what we want to find our identity in. I’ve felt like we’ve had a little momentum, especially here and there in certain games.” Colts pass game specialist/assistant quarterbacks coach Parks Frazier said this week. “Definitely think there’s places that we can still get better, but I think like you said, since he’s come back the second time, we’ve made some improvements in some certain areas that we needed to and feel good about the trajectory of where we’re going with that. Want to continue to do that throughout the last four weeks, but definitely feel good about where we’re at.”
Non-Sunday Cousins. Statistically, Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league since he won the starting job with his first team, now the Washington Commanders, in 2015, and certainly has maintained that production since signing with the Vikings in 2018. This season he has 3,358 passing yards with 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions for a QB rating of 91.2.
But much of Cousins’ success has come on games played on Sunday. This matchup is being played on Saturday, which is a good opportunity to remind folks that, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, Cousins has an 8-17 (.320) record in his career when playing games on any day other than Sunday, including the playoffs — tied for the second-worst such winning percentage among qualifying quarterbacks in the NFL since 1970.
For reference, Matt Ryan is 18-17 (.514) in non-Sunday starts, including the playoffs. But I think it’s also fair to mention: “QB wins” is not exactly a great stat to rely upon too much, and we’re just having a little fun here.
Playing spoiler. At 4-8-1, with four games left, the Colts still have life in the AFC playoff picture. According to FiveThirtyEight, Indy enters Saturday’s game with a three-percent chance of making the postseason, and two-percent chance of winning the AFC South Division.
Now, a loss to the Vikings on Saturday, coupled some other results around the league — including a road win or tie by the Tennessee Titans against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday — and Indy will have been officially eliminated from postseason contention.
On the other side of the coin, a near-flawless finish to the season by the Colts, coupled with an equally bad finish for the Titans, and things could start to get interesting again.
But before we start receiving Jim Mora “Playoffs?!” memes (definitely don’t send them to webmaster@colts.com), you can rest assured that whether the playoffs are in the picture or not, this team, led by Jeff Saturday, is going to try to make some noise one way or another over these final four games. And they can be a major pest to the Vikings on Saturday if they’re able to accomplish that feat.
The Vikings, as mentioned before, need a victory over the Colts Saturday to claim their first NFC North Division title since 2017. They’ll be playing in front of their home fans, and one can imagine the organization will be eager for the opportunity to be selling official division champions gear to a rabid fanbase in a celebratory (and generous) mood on their way out of the stadium.
Saturday and his squad, meanwhile, will be doing everything they can to delay that celebration — and keep those boxes of apparel at bay — for at least another week.
Game Preview: Pacers vs Cavaliers
Game Preview
After splitting two tight games to start the week, the Indiana Pacers will face another tough matchup on Friday when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Indiana (15-14) enters the game coming off a 125-119 series-sweeping win on Wednesday against the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors. On Monday, the Blue & Gold fell to the Miami Heat 87-82 at home.
Cleveland (18-11) currently ranks third in the Eastern Conference after beating the Dallas Mavericks 105-90 on the road Wednesday.
Against the Warriors, the Pacers scored 47 points in the second quarter to take an early 25-point lead.
The Warriors battled back, making it a three-point game late in the fourth quarter, before the Pacers managed a pair of stops in the final minute to secure the win.
Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton bounced back from a one-point performance on Monday by leading the Blue & Gold with 29 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds against Golden State. Indiana standout rookie Bennedict Mathruin added 24 points – his 12th 20-plus-point-game of the season– and Buddy Hield chipped in 17 against the Warriors.
Stephen Curry exited the game with a shoulder injury midway through the third quarter, but had a game-high 38 points.
Overall, the Pacers shot 50 percent and 41 percent from 3-point range (16-for-19). Indiana has made at least 15 3-pointers in five of the last six games.
At the end of Wednesday night’s games, the Pacers sat seventh in the East.
After a red-hot start to their season, winning seven straight to open with an 8-1 record, the Cavaliers have cooled down in recent weeks – but by no means have gone cold.
This season, the Cavs have given up the fewest points per game at 105.1 per contest while also achieving the second-best defensive rating at 107.0. They’re a low-scoring team, averaging 110.9 points per game, while the Pacers are putting up 114.6 points on average.
The Cavs have dominated at home, posting a 12-2 record when playing in Cleveland.
In the offseason, the Cavs made headlines after trading for three-time NBA All-Star Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell, who played six seasons with the Utah Jazz, has averaged 29 points per game to go along with 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals in his first season with the Cavs.
Cavs point guard Darius Garland, who also made the All-Star team last year, is also putting up solid numbers thus far, scoring 21.4 points per game on 42 percent shooting while also averaging 7.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Former Pacer Caris LeVert is scoring 12.4 points per game off the bench for the Cavs.
Cleveland’s bigs? They’ve also been among the best in the league as 6-11 forward Evan Mobley is averaging 15.5 points (55.7 percent shooting), 9.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while 6-9 center Jarrett Allen is putting up 26.9 points (62.5 percent shooting), 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Veteran forward Kevin Love is averaging 9.9 points and 6.9 rebounds across 20 minutes per contest.
Six players scored in double figures for the Cavs against Dallas, led by 34 points from Mitchell and 20 points and 10 rebounds by Lamar Stevens. Allen and Mobley each scored 14.
The 90 points were the second fewest by the Mavericks in a game this season, but Luka Doncic still had a strong night finishing with 30 points, six assists and three rebounds.
Last season, the Cavs swept the Pacers 4-0. It was the first time the Cavs had swept the Pacers since the 2007-08 season.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Buddy Hield, F – Jalen Smith, C – Myles Turner
Cavaliers: G – Darius Garland, G – Donovan Mitchell, F – Lamar Stevens, F – Evan Mobley, C – Jarrett Allen
Injury Report
Pacers: Kendall Brown – out (right tibia stress reaction), Chris Duarte – out (G League assignment), Daniel Theis – out (right knee surgery)
Cavaliers – Ricky Rubio – out (ACL surgery), Dean Wade – out (left shoulder sprain), Dylan Windler – out (right ankle sprain)
Last Meeting
March 8, 2022: Garland scored a then-career-high 41 points while dishing out 13 assists as his team came back in the fourth quarter to escape with a 127-124 win over the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Pacers led 98-90 after three quarters before Garland scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, including hitting the game-winning free throws with 14 seconds left, to secure the season sweep over the Blue & Gold.
Mobley finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds and Lauri Markkanen, who is now on the Jazz, added 21 points for the Cavaliers.
Haliburton topped the Pacers with 25 points while Duane Washington Jr., Goga Bitazde and Smith each finished with 15 off the bench.
Both teams shot 50 percent from the field, but the Cavaliers went 24-for-27 from the free throw line while the Pacers made 10 of 15 from the stripe.
Noteworthy
Indiana leads the all-time series over Cleveland 105-98, but hasn’t beaten the Cavs since May 10, 2021.
Pacers second-year guard Chris Duarte, who hasn’t played for the team since Nov. 4 due to an ankle sprain, suited up for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Wednesday and scored 18 points in 22 minutes. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said earlier in the week Duarte will also play in Friday’s game for the Mad Ants at Wisconsin.
Haliburton leads the NBA with 286 total assists and Mathurin leads all rookies in scoring with 517 points.
Cavaliers forward Dylan Windler was born in Indianapolis and attended Perry Meridian High School. He led the state in points (27.3) and rebounds (10.2) per game as a senior before attending Belmont from 2015 to 2019. He was the 26th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Cavs.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers return home Sunday, Dec. 18, to take on Julius Randle and the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 5:00 PM ET.
Indiana Basketball Game Notes – Game 11 at Kansas
Opening Tip
• Indiana University continues its 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball with a blue-blood battle at No. 8/6 Kansas at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET on Dec. 17 at Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
• The game will mark the fourth in the last five outings for the Hoosiers with an opponent ranked inside the KenPom top-40, with three of the games coming away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
• The Jayhawks, led by 20th-year head coach Bill Self, enter the game with a 9-1 record. KU won the 2022 NCAA Championship.
Game Information
Dec. 17, 2022 • 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET
Phog Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) • Lawrence, Kan.
TV: ESPN2 (Dave O’Brien, Dick Vitale)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 8-6
Last Meeting: IU 103, KU 99 (OT) on Nov. 11, 2016 in Honolulu
Series History
• Indiana and Kansas have played 14 times in men’s basketball with the Hoosiers earning victories on eight occasions. Indiana is 2-1 all time in Lawrence.
Games in Lawrence
Indiana 72, Kansas 55 (Dec. 5, 1972)
Indiana 74, Kansas 70 (OT) (Dec. 4, 1974)
Indiana 83, Kansas 86 (OT) (Dec. 22, 1993)
• IU took down KU to claim both the 1940 and 1953 NCAA Championship crowns. The Hoosiers won the program’s first title in ’40 by a score of 60-42 behind double-figure scoring efforts from Marv Huffman (12), Jay McCreary (12), and Paul Armstrong (10). The ’53 title came in a 69-68 win on the strength of a 30-point, 10-rebound outing from Don Schlundt. Charley Kraak added a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Bob ‘Slick’ Leonard tallied 12 points.
• The last time the two sides met came in a 103-99 overtime thriller on Nov. 11, 2016 in Honolulu.
Last Time Out
• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson scored 16 points on a career-best 4-of-7 from the 3-point line in Indiana’s 89-75 loss to No. 10/9 Arizona in the Las Vegas Clash on Dec. 10.
• Fifth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson tallied 11 points and 11 assists for his fourth career double-double. Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp (14), sophomore guard Tamar Bates (13), and senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (11) all reached double figures.
Fireworks on Offense
• Indiana ranks second among Big Ten Conference (34th nationally) offenses in scoring at 81.4 points per contest on a league-best (third nationally) 51.1% shooting from the floor.
• No other team in the conference is shooting over 50.0%. Ohio State, 56th nationally, has shot the ball at a 48.2% mark this season to rank second in the conference.
• Indiana is third in the Big Ten and 14th in the NCAA with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.54.
Miller Time
• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp has knocked down 23-of-47 (48.9%) 3-pointers to open the season. He is third on the team with a scoring average of 9.9 points per game.
• Kopp matched a career best with five made triples at Rutgers, his eighth career game with at least three made 3-pointers.
• The Houston native averages a team-high 16.0 points over the last three contests. He has made 10 of IU’s 27 3-pointers in that span.
• He knocked down a critical 3-point field goal to extend Indiana’s lead to eight with 2:25 to play in the road victory over Xavier on Nov. 18.
Scoop, There it is
• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates, nicknamed “Scoop”, is the first Hoosier off the bench and leads all second-unit players in minutes played this season (214). He averages 8.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
• Bates recorded career bests in points (22), made field goals (8), and assists (4) in the win over Jackson State on Nov. 25.
• The IMG Academy product scored 32 points off the bench on 6-of-11 (54.5%) shooting from the 3-point line against Nebraska (Dec. 7) and Arizona (Dec. 10).
• Bates became a father to his daughter, Leilani, on March 20, 2022, two days after his freshman season concluded.
Double Double, Double Double (CAREER)
Trayce Jackson-Davis: 36; last vs. Nebraska, 12/7/22
Race Thompson: 8; last at Michigan State, 2/12/22
Xavier Johnson: 4; last at Arizona, 12/10/22
Jordan Geronimo: 1; vs. Merrimack, 12/12/21
Chasing History
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis currently sits 10th all-time at IU in scoring (1,739), seventh in rebounds (873), and fourth (tied) in blocked shots (196). He joins Alan Henderson as the only Hoosiers to be top-10 all-time in career scoring, rebounding, and blocks.
Up Next: Career Scoring Leaders
1. Calbert Cheaney – 2,613
2. Steve Alford – 2,438
3. Don Schlundt – 2,192
4. A.J. Guyton – 2,100
5. Mike Woodson – 2,061
6. Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell – 1,986
7. Alan Henderson – 1,979
8. Damon Bailey – 1,741
9. Kent Benson – 1,740
10. Trayce Jackson-Davis – 1,739
Up Next: Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Alan Henderson – 1,091
2. Walt Bellamy – 1,087
3. Kent Benson – 1,031
4. Archie Dees – 914
5. Steve Downing – 889
6. Ray Tolbert – 874
7. Trayce Jackson-Davis – 873
Up Next: Career Blocks Leaders
1. Jeff Newton – 227
2. Alan Henderson – 213
3. D.J. White – 198
4. Uwe Blab – 196
Trayce Jackson-Davis – 196
Other Notables
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis recorded the third triple-double in Indiana basketball history with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists against Nebraska on Dec. 7. He added three blocks and three steals in the win.
• Jackson-Davis joined historic company of triple-doubles in IU history. Juwan Morgan notched a 10-point, 10-rebound, and 10-assist triple-double against Jacksonville on Dec. 22, 2018. Steve Downing tallied 28 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 blocks against Michigan on Feb. 23, 1971.
• He is the first player to compile a triple-double with at least three blocks and three steals since Luke Walton accomplished the feat with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, four blocks, and four steals against USC on Jan. 17, 2002.
• Junior guard Trey Galloway scored a career-best 20 points on a career-high 4-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line in the win over the Huskers on Dec. 7.
• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates scored 19 points on a career-high five 3-point baskets on Dec. 7 against Nebraska.
• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson scored a team-high 16 points to go along with nine rebounds against No. 10/9 Arizona on Dec. 10.
• Thompson hit a career-high 4-of-7 shots from the 3-point line, his fourth career game with multiple made 3-pointers.
• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp tallied 14 points against the Wildcats. Kopp has averaged 16.0 points in his last three contests.
• Fifth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson secured his fourth career double-double on 11 points and 11 assists against Arizona.
• Sophomore guard Tamar Bates scored 13 points against the Wildcats. Bates has tallied double figures in three of the last five games.
• Indiana charted seven-straight games from Nov. 18-Dec. 7 with at least five blocks. IU currently averages 5.6 blocks per game.
• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp converted three-straight double-figure scoring outputs for this first time in his Indiana career with 21 points at Rutgers on Dec. 3, 13 points against Nebraska on Dec. 7, and 14 points against Arizona on Dec. 10.
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has swatted at least two shots in 27 of his last 44 games played.
• The Hoosier bench has outscored opponents 278-108.
• Head coach Mike Woodson holds a record of 15-2 in non-conference games at the helm of the Hoosiers.
Purdue Alum Drew Brees to Return as Assistant Coach for Citrus Bowl
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football will have a familiar face assisting the program during bowl preparations this month, as former Boilermaker quarterback Drew Brees will serve as an assistant coach, it was announced on Thursday, Dec. 15, by vice president and director of athletics Mike Bobinski.
Fresh off his exemplary 20-year NFL career (2001-20), Brees will relocate to West Lafayette during the coaching transition to lend his knowledge, acumen and experiences to the squad of current Boilers. Hired as a countable assistant coach per NCAA guidelines, Brees will have the ability to work on-field with student-athletes and participate in recruiting activities.
“Purdue University is fortunate to have alumni who are impactful leaders in industries and careers across a wide spectrum, including professional football,” said Bobinski. “For more than two decades, Drew Brees has shown the world what makes the Boilermakers special. He was an elite football player, but most of all, Drew is an extraordinary leader. Gaining his insights on the football field and in our coaching offices during this time of transition will be of great value to our student-athletes and staff. We’re grateful to Drew for his willingness to share his time and expertise in yet another show of support for the Boilermakers.”
Purdue Football (8-5) won the Big Ten West Division title for the first time in program history this past season. With the trip to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Monday, Jan. 2, vs. LSU), the Boilermakers are playing in the program’s 21st bowl game and fourth bowl in the past six seasons.
“I am extremely excited to work with our team over the next few weeks as we prepare for the Citrus Bowl,” said Brees. “I see it not only as an opportunity to coach and mentor this group of young men, but represent all the former Purdue players that care so much about our program. This is also preparation for the future of Purdue Football with new head coach Ryan Walters. I had a great conversation with Coach Walters last night, and love the energy, passion and detail he will bring to our program. The future is bright, and there is no better time to be a Boilermaker!”
Brees has donated millions of dollars to Purdue University and the John Purdue Club, from the Brees Academic Performance Center that bears his name to the renovation of the football complex and Ross-Ade Stadium. A consistent supporting presence for the Boilermakers, he has represented the university in a variety of leadership capacities and has been at the forefront of the department’s ongoing Name, Image and Likeness efforts via the Boilermaker Alliance.
Brees, a Super Bowl champion and MVP (XLIV, 2010) with the New Orleans Saints, retired from the NFL holding the league’s all-time records for career touchdown passes, completions, yardage and completion percentage. He was a 15-year team captain for the Saints and led the squad to nine playoff appearances and seven division titles.
Brees was the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in 12-straight seasons, including an NFL-record five 5,000-yard passing seasons. He was selected 12 times to the Pro Bowl, a Saints record.
The bowl game against LSU, the first Boilermaker-Tiger matchup in program history, will provide the opportunity for Purdue to post back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time since the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Those two campaigns, the beginning of head coach Joe Tiller’s legendary career at Purdue, were Brees’ freshman and sophomore years wearing the Old Gold & Black.
“When I first heard about Drew coming back to help coach our guys for the bowl game, I was hoping the rumors were true,” said head coach Ryan Walters. “Our players have the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest leaders in football history, a valuable experience that they will never forget. Drew taking time out of his busy schedule to coach the bowl game is a perfect example of Purdue Football being one big family, and I cannot wait to see him on the sidelines in Orlando.”
Brees’ college career at Purdue (1997-2000) included leading the Boilers to their second-ever Rose Bowl to close the 2000 season. He was an Academic All-American as a senior, as well as the 2000 Maxwell Award winner (nation’s most outstanding player). His name tops numerous career passing categories in Purdue’s record book: yards, completions, attempts and touchdowns.
Turner Leads Offense In Jaguar Loss To Bowling Green, 84-70
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI women’s basketball team fell behind early and couldn’t recover as Bowling Green defeated the Jags on Thursday night, 84-70. Jazmyn Turner led the offense with 17 points followed by Destiny Perkins with 15.
Bowling Green took the early lead in the first quarter, 22-15 but the Jags fought back in the second quarter pulling the game within five at 40-35.
The Falcons came out shooting in the second half going on an 8-4 run to open the third quarter. They jumped out to a ten-point lead to end the third quarter. The Jaguars were outscored in the fourth and final quarter 21-17 to end with a final score of, 84-70.
Turner scored 17 points shooting 7-for-7 from the floor to lead the Jaguar offense while Perkins followed closely behind with 15 points and three assists. Rachel Kent and Natalie Andersen each added 10 points with Kent adding a season-high tying seven assists. Ali Berg chipped in nine points with a team-high six rebounds.
Overall, the Jags shot 54.2 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from behind the arc. The Falcons outrebounded IUPUI 35 to 28.
The Jaguars will next host the Northern Illinois Huskies on December 21st inside the Jungle with a 1:00 PM tipoff.
Game 11 Preview: Irish Go Down To Georgia
ATLANTA – The Fighting Irish men’s basketball team goes down to Georgia on Sunday and are looking to garner a key win in a battle between two 7-3 teams. Notre Dame will challenge Georgia on Dec. 18 in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta as part of the Holiday Hoopsgiving event. Tip is set for 5:30 pm ET on ESPN2.
BOUNCE BACK MODE – UGA
Coach Brey has used the phrase bounce-back mode and here’s why. Notre Dame is 2-0 this season after a loss with wins over #20 Michigan State and Boston U. Dating back to last season, they boast an 8-match win streak following a loss. Thus, they haven’t suffered back-to-back losses since Nov. 29 of last year when they lost at Illinois.
With that said, the next match for the Irish is a pivotal one. It’ll be against a fellow 7-3 Georgia squad, who has already lost to two ACC opponents already in Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
Interestingly enough, the two sides have only met three times with all three games occurring at neutral sites. That tradition will continue on Sunday when they meet in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The Irish lead the series 2-1 and have not met since Nov. 22, 2011.
NOTRE NOTABLES
The Irish are currently leading the country in fouls per game, only committing an average of 11.6. That has been a Coach Brey staple. In the last 12 years, Notre Dame has only failed to finish among the top 10 in least amount of personal fouls committed just once. They have also led the country in least amount of personal fouls five times.
Next, they rank 3rd in the country in turnovers per game, only surrendering 8.9.
Lastly, if the Irish can get to the free-throw line in late-game situations, look out. They rank 7th in free-throw percentage, converting 80.4 percent from the stripe – leads the ACC as well. Cormac Ryan is the guy you want on the line late in games, connecting on .893 on the year.
TRENDS
Freshman JJ Starling has recorded back-to-back games in double figures, totaling 27 points. Plus, after a slow start from three, he’s beginning to heat up, knocking down 3-of-6 from three over the last two games.
Cormac Ryan is 15-of-23 (.652) from three over the past four games, averaging 16.3 ppg in that span. That also includes two 20+ point performances.
Lastly, there’s Nate Laszewski who broke free from a three-game single-digit scoring streak with a 20-point performance in the last game vs. Marquette. It marked his third 20-plus point effort on the season.
2 NAMES, 1 DYNAMIC OPTION
Ven-Allen is starting to come into his own, making a great case for more minutes — 3 double-digit scoring performances over the last 6 games.
He doesn’t have a large shooting sample size but when he does get shots up, they are going in. Lubin is shooting a highly efficient 73.2 percent from two and he’s knocking down 64.4 percent from the floor overall, which leads the team. In fact that FG% would rank second all-time for a ND freshman if the season ended today, challenging Harold Swanagan’s 64.5 percent in 1998-99.
He’s also becoming ND’s best defender, leading the team in blocks, averaging 0.9 per game. Case in point, he sealed the win vs Boston U on Dec. 7. Lubin was subbed in for his defense with under a minute left and it paid off, earning a pivotal block and rebound, then converting a free throw on the other end.
NATE’S GREAT START
Nate Laszewski is averaging a career-best 14.9 ppg and a career-high 8.3 rpg.
With four years under his belt, he entered the year with nine career double-doubles to his name and six 20-point performances. Already this season he has three double-doubles and three 20+ point efforts.
ACC individual rankings – Laszewski ranks 14th in scoring (14.9), 4th in FT% (.864), 2nd in defensive rebounds (7.3) and 12th in 3PT FG% (.395). In fact his 7.3 defensive rebounds per game rank 15th in the country.
Lastly, to show how dynamic Laszewski’s style of play is — he’s 1-of-8 people in the country averaging at least 14 points, 8 rebounds and 1.5 three’s, while converting at least .390 from beyond the arc.
THREAT FROM THREE
Notre Dame has recorded double-digit three-pointers in three of the last four games and the one game they didn’t – Boston U – they connected on nine. Over that four-game stretch, they’ve knocked down 41 three-pointers aka 10.3 per game.
Overall on the season, they are averaging 8.7 three’s per game, which would crack the program’s all-time top-10 at the No. 8 spot. The program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad.
The big reason for that – the squad’s big three but specifically Goodwin and Ryan who respectively rank 4th and 6th in three-point field goal percentage in the ACC.
3 players above .400 and one on the verge:
Goodwin – .472 – ranks 4th in the ACC
Ryan – .435 – ranks 6th in the ACC
Hammond – .429
Laszewski – .395
Goodwin has hit some big late three’s early this season – hitting a trey with 2:48 left against USI and 14 seconds left against Lipscomb. The latter was the gamewinner in a 66-65 victory over Lipscomb. Goodwin tied his career high in made three-pointers, converting 6-of-8 from deep.
Notre Dame Opens Acc Play With No. 6 Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. — It’s a battle of the best offense in the ACC and the best defense in the ACC. Something has to give.
Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey would prefer her team to add to its win streak, as the No. 5 Irish (8-1) head to No. 6 Virginia Tech (10-0, 1-0) for a top-10 clash on Sunday. It will serve as Notre Dame’s ACC opener, while the Hokies have already seen Boston College this year.
Notre Dame’s most recent appearance on the basketball court yielded a 64-point win over Merrimack, which ranked as the 10th-largest margin of victory in program history. The Irish shot 55 percent on the day and had seven players in double figures.
Virginia Tech is unlikely to let that happen. Led by Preseason ACC Player of the Year and most recent ACC Player of the Week Elizabeth Kitley, the Hokies are allowing just 48.5 points per game and coming off of an 86-48 win over UNC Asheville. A 6-6 Kitley is shooting .525 on the year, which is sixth in the ACC and just behind Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron (.526). The Virginia Tech center is averaging 19.0 points per game, which is currently third in the conference.
Hokies head coach Kenny Brooks will be without Kitley’s partner in crime, Ashley Owusu, however. The guard is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a broken pinkie. Owusu is a Maryland transfer and last year’s winner of the Ann Meyers Drysdale award for the nation’s best shooting guard. Kayana Traylor, Georgia Amoore and Cayla King will be tasked with picking up some slack. The three guards are posting 12.2, 12.1 and 11.2 points per contest, respectively.
While Virginia Tech has played a few formidable opponents over the first six weeks of the season, they have yet to face an offense quite like Notre Dame’s. The Irish are averaging 88.2 points every time they take the floor.
Ivey’s squad is headed up by Miles, who posted a program record third career triple-double on Saturday. She’s Notre Dame’s leading scorer (16.0 per game) and rebounder (7.8 per game), and she leads the ACC with 7.2 assists per contest.
If it’s not Miles’ night, Notre Dame has options; in addition to Miles, six other Irish women are averaging more than 8.0 points per game. Transfers and bigs Kylee Watson and Lauren Ebo have been very effective down low, combining for 19.5 points per contest. It’s worth noting that Ebo is performing at a high level off the bench; she has yet to make a start. Her 27 offensive rebounds on the year rank 10th in the nation among bench players and give Notre Dame numerous second-chance-point options.
The Virginia Tech game will also be a trip to familiar territory for Dara Mabrey, who played her first two years of college basketball in Blacksburg. Over her five-year collegiate career, Mabrey has hit 292 three-pointers, which ranks fifth overall among active Division I players.
Notre Dame is 14-2 all-time against Virginia Tech, including a 5-1 mark on the road. The Irish have won the last four meetings.
Sycamores edged by Lady Toppers in Education Day slugfest
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Anna McKendree led Indiana State with 16 points Thursday and Chelsea Cain added 13, but visiting Western Kentucky used a fourth-quarter run to narrowly defeat the Sycamores, 58-51, inside Hulman Center.
Cain added a season-high six rebounds, while McKendree had four rebounds and five steals for the Sycamores. Del’Janae Williams had six points, six assists and five rebounds for the Trees, who welcomed more than 1,000 middle school students from around Vigo County for the contest.
In what became a defensive slugfest where neither team led by more than two possessions in the opening half, Indiana State managed to take an eight-point lead late in the third quarter. Western Kentucky responded in the final minutes of the third and took control in the fourth, as the Sycamores made just two field goals in the final 10 minutes. Down by two with less than two minutes remaining, a layup by McKendree just missed and WKU iced the game with free throws down the stretch.
First Half
Indiana State got out to a quick start as McKendree hit a pair of early buckets to give the Trees a 7-2 lead. WKU found offense off the bench in the form of Hope Sivori, who hit a trio of 3-pointers in the quarter to put the Lady Toppers in front. Two baskets by Adrian Folks in the final three minutes, including a three-point play, had the Sycamores in front late but a 3-pointer by Sivori saw Western Kentucky take a 13-12 lead after the opening frame.
McKendree and Folks started the second with early baskets to give the Trees a narrow lead, and Ella Sawyer tacked on a 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 19-15 midway through. A free throw by Cain put Indiana State back up by four, but the visitors responded with an 8-0 run to take a 26-22 lead late. McKendree knocked down a 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds to keep the Sycamores within reach, as WKU led 27-25 at halftime.
Second Half
McKendree opened the third quarter with a jumper to even the score, and Williams hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Sycamores the lead midway through. Hattie Westerfeld started an 8-2 run for the home side with a basket down low, which was followed by 3-pointers from both McKendree and Williams to make it 44-36 in favor of Indiana State. WKU closed the quarter strong, though, as the Sycamores took a narrow 45-44 lead into the final frame.
Indiana State struggled to find a rhythm on the offensive end in the fourth, but defensive intensity kept the Sycamores within two possessions throughout. McKendree hit a pair of free throws to make it a 48-47 deficit, and consecutive baskets by Cain made it a two-point game late at 53-51. McKendree had a chance to tie the game in the final minute, but her layup attempt just missed off the rim. WKU was able to close out the game from the free throw line, as the Lady Toppers escaped Hulman Center with a 58-51 win.
Inside the Numbers
Anna McKendree’s 16-point game was her fourth game in double-figures through seven this season after scoring 10-plus points just seven times last season (27 games).
Indiana State was plus-six in the rebound battle (40-34), with 10 of the Sycamores’ rebounds coming on the offensive end.
Chelsea Cain’s 13 points were her most in a game since the season opener against Saint Louis, when she had 14. Her six rebounds were also a season high.
News & Notes
Thursday’s attendance of 2,321 was the most in a home game this season for the Sycamores. It was also the highest-attended Indiana State women’s basketball home game since Dec. 8, 2015, when 2,340 fans filled the stands to see the Trees face Indiana.
Thursday’s game was the first of a five-game homestand which also sees the Sycamores play Purdue Fort Wayne (Sunday), Detroit Mercy (Wednesday), Missouri State (Dec. 29) and Southern Illinois (Dec. 31). The last time Indiana State played five straight home games was during the 2017-18 season.
Indiana State dropped to 7-2 under head coach Chad Killinger when allowing fewer than 60 points. Conversely, the Sycamores are 2-15 when scoring fewer than 60 points under Killinger.
Up Next
Indiana State’s homestand continues Sunday afternoon when the Sycamores welcome Purdue Fort Wayne to Hulman Center for a 1 p.m. tip.
Eagles break the Pomeroys, 84-42
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball rolled through Saint Mary’s of the Woods, 84-42, Thursday evening at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Screaming Eagles rise above .500 for the first time as a Division I team and are 6-5 after tonight’s action, while the Pomeroys are 4-7.
The Eagles and Pomeroys started slow with each team posting a bucket through the first four minutes. USI ignited after the first media timeout with senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) sparking a 14-1 run to put the Eagles up 16-3.
Polakovich had six of the 14 points during the run as the Eagles were five-of-eight from the field offensively and held the Pomeroys to just two shots in three minutes. The USI defense would go on to hold SMWC to under 10 points through the first 12 minutes of the contest.
After graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) broke a three-minute scoring drought with a three-point bomb from the top of the key, USI went on an 11-2 run to post a 22-point, 34-12 lead. The Eagles were a perfect four-of-four from the the field during the run, led by sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana), who had five of the 11 points.
USI finished the opening 20 minutes by increasing the lead to as many as 24 points twice, including the 38-14 score at the intermission.
The Eagles pulled away for gook early in the second, expanding the lead to more than 30 points through the first 10 minutes. Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) scored 13 of his 18 points during the first 10 minutes of the final half as USI outscored SMWC, 27-15.
The USI lead would grow to as many as 44 points before the final buzzer on the 84-42 victory.
In addition to Simmons’ team-high 18 points, sophomore guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) and Polakovich followed with double-digits in the scoring column with 11 points and 10 points, respectively.
USI, as a team, won the battle on the boards, 40-36, led by sophomore forward Nick Hittle (Indianapolis, Indiana), who grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.
Next Up 2022-23:
USI return to the road next week to play in the Indiana Classic hosted by Purdue University Ft. Wayne at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne. The Eagles will play a neutral site game versus Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis Monday at 3 p.m. (CST) before concluding the classic against Ft. Wayne Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CST).
IUPUI, which hosts Eastern Illinois University Saturday before playing in the Indiana Classic, is 2-8 overall and is led by junior guard Bryce Monroe and sophomore guard Jlynn Counter, who are posting 12.0 points and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
USI holds a 12-5 series lead between the two programs, dating back to the 1972-73 season. The Eagles took back-to-back games with the Jaguars (then known as the Metros) to start the 1994-95 season, 117-99 at the Physical Activities Center and 89-83 in Indianapolis.
Ft. Wayne, who was Indiana University/Purdue University Ft. Wayne when it and USI were a part of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, is 7-5 overall and have won three-straight games. The Mastodons are led by graduate guard Jarred Godfrey and graduate forward Bobby Planutis, who are posting 15.3 points and 13.0 points per game, respectively.
USI leads the all-time series with Ft. Wayne, 25-13, and had a GLVC advantage, 22-13. The Eagles had won 16-straight versus the Mastodons, prior to Ft. Wayne making the jump to Division I. The last meeting in 2001 ended with USI posting a 110-108 victory at Ft. Wayne.
Eagles Add Five for 2024
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball announces the signings of catchers Logan Mock and Conner Anglin, pitchers Braden Watts and Abdriel Figueroa, and infielder Yahir Fonseca.
Mock will transfer to USI from San Joaquin Delta College (Stockton, California). Mock also played his high school baseball at Granada High School (Livermore, California). Last season at Delta College, Mock hit for a .412 average while having a .524 on-base percentage and a .412 slugging percentage. While attending Granada, Mock was named Team MVP on two occasions, 2018 and 2021, was named an All-EBAL Honorable Mention at catcher in 2019, and earned All-EBAL First Team Catcher honors in 2021. Mock was also a four-year honor roll awardee in the classroom.
“Logan is catching for one of the best juco teams in California,” said USI Baseball Head Coach Tracy Archuleta. “He is a good catch and throw guy that has handled the bat well during his juco career. We are excited to get him at USI and will be a nice addition to our roster.”
Anglin is a senior at Tecumseh High School (Lynnville, Indiana) where he has lettered in both football and baseball. The 2022 PAC First Team All-Conference Utility Player goes into his final year of high school ball after hitting for a .489 average, 29 RBI, six doubles, three triples, and three homeruns his junior year. Anglin and the Tecumseh Braves were also 2022 IHSAA Class A State Runner Ups after falling to Lafayette Central Catholic in the final. He plays club ball for the 18u Evansville Leathernecks.
“Conner is a tremendous competitor that has had a great high school career in baseball and football,” said Archuleta. “Conner is very athletic and has shown much improvement over his high school career. Looking forward to watching him develop into a great college player.”
Watts is a senior at Austin High School (Austin, Indiana) where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and cross country. While having very successful 2019 and 2022 seasons with the cross-country team, Watts was also named a 2021 All Mid-Southern Conference player and was invited to play in the IHSBCA Futures Game in both 2021 and 2022. During his junior season, Watts recorded a 2.1 earned run average for Austin while posting a .312 average and 2.9 earned run average for his travel ball team, Demand Command. Watts has excelled in the classroom as well, being a part of the National Honor Society as well as being named 2022 Cross Country Academic All-State, an IASP Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2023, and earning national recognition for his SAT performance while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
“Brady has made some big strides on the mound and can really spin it,” commented Archuleta. “We are looking forward to helping him develop his game and be a contributor to our program.”
Figueroa comes to USI from Yauco, Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School. While at the academy, Figueroa earned high honors academically.
“Abdriel has a very quick arm and has the potential to be a power arm for us,” said Archuleta. “He has played against great competition and been around some great coaches at the Puerto Rican Baseball Academy and High School.”
Fonseca comes to USI from the International Baseball Academy and High School (IBAHS) where he was a part of championship teams at the Prospect Wire Championships and the Perfect Game Championships. Fonseca also was part of the Championship Team in the Baseball Academy Tournament in 2022.
“Yahir is a 6’3′ 185 lbs. infielder with an athletic build that his body projects well,” commented Archuleta. “He has great arm strength with good actions on the infield. Yahir has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order bat for us. IBAHS has done a great job helping Yahir improve his skills.”
The Screaming Eagles open their first season at the NCAA Division I level and as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference on February 17 when they take on Western Illinois University in Millington, Tennessee. USI will play their first home game on February 24 as they host long-time rival Bellarmine University. The Eagles open OVC play on March 24 when they host Morehead State University.
Balanced Scoring Leads UIndy Past Bethel
INDIANAPOLIS – A total of nine players for the UIndy women’s basketball team found the scorebook tonight as the Greyhounds defeated NAIA-member Bethel (Ind.) in a non-conference showdown by a final of 72-58 at Nicoson Hall. With the win, the Hounds improve to 6-5 on the year while the Pilots fall to 4-10.
In a career-high effort, Caroline Jakaitis managed a team-leading 13 points on a 4-of-6 shooting night. Mya Scheidt also scored in double figures at 11 while Jodi Mullins rolled out nine points for the Hounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Looking to collect an upset win and end an eight-game skid in the process, Bethel held strong against the Greyhounds and trailed by just three points after the opening quarter. Luckily for UIndy, the Pilots would manage only a 3-of-12 mark from the field and gave up eight turnovers through the next 10 minutes which helped the Hounds notch a lead of 11 heading into the intermission.
The lead for the Hounds blossomed to 15 midway through the third and stayed around that area through the remainder of the game. UIndy continued its solid defensive effort by forcing 10 more turnovers in the second half while finishing the game with 18 points off of takeaways.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-The Hounds shot 42.9 percent from the field (24-of-56) while the Pilots ended at 39.7 percent (23-of-58).
-UIndy out-rebounded Bethel by 10.
-The 23 forced turnovers tonight by the Hounds is tied for a season-high.
-The Greyhounds had 28 bench points.
UP NEXT
UIndy will now travel to Ohio Dominican on Monday to battle the Panthers. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET.
Zach Sibila, Ben Stevens, And Logan Blake Named Naia Afca All Americans
WACO, TEXAS — The 2022 AFCA NAIA Coaches’ All-America Teams were announced today by the American Football Coaches Association, with the Marian football team tying a program record with three All-American honors. Zach Sibila headlines the Marian trio as he was named to the First Team All American group, while Ben Stevens and Logan Blake were named to the Honorable Mention Team.
Zach Sibila was named to the NAIA AFCA All American First Team, as the junior right tackle’s career year ends with his first career All American honor. Sibila was named the 2022 MSFA Mideast Offensive Lineman of the Year, as the junior earned his second career First Team All-MSFA honor. Sibila did not allow a sack in 2022 on nearly 300 passing plays, and logged over 600 snaps on the offensive line throughout the season. The Zionsville native was a member of Marian’s offensive line that ranked in the top-25 in yards per game on offense, ranked 13th in rushing touchdowns, and averaged 165.2 yards per game on the ground.
Joining Sibila on the All American team was Ben Stevens, who earned his first career honor by being named to the NAIA AFCA Honorable Mention team. Stevens had a career-season as a fifth-year player, leading the Knights in all receiving categories with 71 catches, 1184 yards, and 12 receiving touchdowns. Stevens broke the Marian and MSFA Mideast single-game receiving record with 283 yards on eight receptions in a win over Missouri Baptist on September 24, and was named to the MSFA Mideast League First Team on offense. The all-time leader in punt return yards, touchdowns, and attempts ended his career as one of the top-three receiving threats in program history, ranking third all-time behind Krishawn Hogan and Johnny William in yards and touchdowns. Stevens finished the season ranked fourth in the NAIA in yards per game and total yards.
For the second time in his career, Logan Blake was named to the NAIA AFCA Honorable Mention All American team, as the senior linebacker finished his career in a Knights uniform with personal best numbers. Blake was named the MSFA Mideast Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and led the Knights with 74 total tackles. Blake had 13.5 tackles for loss and made four sacks on the season, climbing to No. 9 all-time on Marian’s career sack list. The senior had three interceptions with 145 return yards, taking two touchdowns to the house to set the program record for career pick-sixes. Blake ended his career as a Knight with five interceptions, 31 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and 165 total tackles, and was ranked in the top-100 in total tackles in the NAIA as a senior.
Marian Softball Releases 2023 Schedule
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian softball team has released their 2023 schedule, as announced by head coach Scott Fleming on Thursday. Marian enters the season coming off a 40-13 record last season and a trip to the NAIA Opening Round. The Knights are scheduled to play a 52-game regular season, with the season opening on March 2 at Indiana Tech.
Marian will play their 2023 season opener at Indiana Tech, as the Knights open on March 2 with a 3 p.m. doubleheader against the Warriors. Following the season opener, the Knights will travel to Florida over spring break, playing 10 games in five days. Marian will face off with seven opponents from the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference during their spring break trip, as well as Roosevelt University and Culver-Stockton.
Upon returning home, the Knights will kick off Crossroads League play with three doubleheaders during the week of March 13, including Marian’s home opener against Grace, a trip to St. Francis, and another home doubleheader with Huntington. The following week will feature four doubleheaders, including three Crossroads League matchups with home contests against Goshen and Spring Arbor, and trip to Indiana Wesleyan. The Knights will also have a tough non-conference battle with IU-Southeast.
Marian will wrap up the month of March with an away doubleheader at Bethel before kicking off April with a doubleheader at Mount Vernon Nazarene on April 1. The Knights will close out the first half of Crossroads League play hosting Taylor on April 4. The second half of league play will start on April 6 as Marian hosts St. Francis. The following week, Marian will have three road games beginning with Grace on April 11 before traveling to Huntington and Goshen on April 14 and 15.
The last two weeks of April will include three home Crossroads League doubleheaders with Bethel, Indiana Wesleyan, and Mount Vernon Nazarene on April 18, 22, and 25. On April 21 and 29, the Knights will be on the road with Spring Arbor and Taylor. Marian’s last week of regular season play will include a non-conference doubleheader at Calumet-St. Joseph on April 27.
Mt. Vernon Nazarene will be the host of the Crossroads League Softball Tournament in 2022, with the tournament dates scheduled for May 3-5. The NAIA Opening Round is scheduled to be played at campus sites on May 15-17, with the NAIA World Series beginning in Columbus, Ga., on May 25.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC 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
NFL STANDINGS
| American Football Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | |
| Buffalo Bills | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | 0.0 | 353 | 221 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 5 – 2 – 0 | 7 – 2 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 4 W |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | 0.0 | 384 | 298 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 5 – 2 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 0 – 0 | 1 W |
| Baltimore Ravens | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | 0.0 | 301 | 250 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 5 – 2 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 0 – 0 | 2 W |
| Tennessee Titans | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 0.0 | 241 | 276 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 3 L |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | 0.0 | 335 | 265 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 5 W |
| Miami Dolphins | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | 0.0 | 316 | 312 | 5 – 1 – 0 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 1 – 0 | 2 L |
| New England Patriots | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 0.0 | 276 | 239 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 1.0 | 295 | 326 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 1 W |
| New York Jets | 7 | 6 | 0 | .538 | 1.0 | 264 | 243 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 2 L |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 3.0 | 294 | 294 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 3.0 | 308 | 313 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 2 – 6 – 0 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| Cleveland Browns | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 3.0 | 300 | 323 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 7 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 1 L |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 3.0 | 227 | 293 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 7 – 0 | 1 – 3 – 0 | 1 L |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 | 8 | 1 | .346 | 3.5 | 209 | 298 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 4 – 1 | 4 – 5 – 1 | 1 – 3 – 1 | 3 L |
| Denver Broncos | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | 5.0 | 194 | 238 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 2 – 8 – 0 | 0 – 4 – 0 | 5 L |
| Houston Texans | 1 | 11 | 1 | .115 | 6.5 | 211 | 314 | 0 – 5 – 1 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 1 | 1 – 1 – 1 | 8 L |
| National Football Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | T | Pct | GB | PF | PA | Home | Road | vs. Conf | vs. Div | Streak | |
| x-Philadelphia Eagles | 12 | 1 | 0 | .923 | 0.0 | 386 | 248 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 6 – 0 – 0 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 4 W |
| Minnesota Vikings | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | 0.0 | 312 | 313 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 2 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 L |
| xy-San Francisco 49ers | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 0.0 | 338 | 210 | 6 – 1 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 8 – 2 – 0 | 5 – 0 – 0 | 7 W |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | 0.0 | 224 | 254 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 6 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 1 L |
| Dallas Cowboys | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | 0.0 | 360 | 229 | 7 – 1 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 7 – 3 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 4 W |
| Washington Commanders | 7 | 5 | 1 | .577 | 0.0 | 253 | 256 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 4 – 2 – 1 | 4 – 4 – 1 | 1 – 2 – 1 | 1 T |
| New York Giants | 7 | 5 | 1 | .577 | 0.0 | 267 | 300 | 4 – 3 – 1 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 5 – 1 | 0 – 3 – 1 | 1 L |
| Seattle Seahawks | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 1.0 | 355 | 355 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 6 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 2 L |
| Detroit Lions | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | 1.5 | 349 | 347 | 4 – 4 – 0 | 2 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 2 W |
| Green Bay Packers | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 2.5 | 263 | 302 | 3 – 3 – 0 | 2 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 2 – 2 – 0 | 1 W |
| Carolina Panthers | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 2.5 | 260 | 290 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 1 – 0 | 2 W |
| Atlanta Falcons | 5 | 8 | 0 | .385 | 2.5 | 288 | 312 | 4 – 3 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 4 – 5 – 0 | 1 – 3 – 0 | 2 L |
| Arizona Cardinals | 4 | 9 | 0 | .308 | 3.5 | 277 | 348 | 1 – 7 – 0 | 3 – 2 – 0 | 3 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 3 L |
| New Orleans Saints | 4 | 9 | 0 | .308 | 3.5 | 265 | 297 | 3 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 5 – 0 | 3 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 3 – 0 | 2 L |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4 | 9 | 0 | .308 | 3.5 | 218 | 296 | 3 – 5 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 3 – 7 – 0 | 1 – 4 – 0 | 1 W |
| Chicago Bears | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | 4.5 | 270 | 333 | 2 – 4 – 0 | 1 – 6 – 0 | 1 – 8 – 0 | 0 – 4 – 0 | 6 L |
NBA STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Boston | 22 | 7 | .759 | — | 11-2 | 11-5 | 4-0 | 14-5 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 2 Milwaukee | 20 | 8 | .714 | 1.5 | 13-3 | 7-5 | 4-1 | 11-4 | 7-3 | 1 L | ||
| 3 Cleveland | 18 | 11 | .621 | 4.0 | 12-2 | 6-9 | 3-2 | 13-5 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 4 Brooklyn | 17 | 12 | .586 | 5.0 | 10-5 | 7-7 | 4-2 | 13-6 | 8-2 | 4 W | ||
| 5 Philadelphia | 15 | 12 | .556 | 6.0 | 10-5 | 5-7 | 2-3 | 11-8 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 6 New York | 15 | 13 | .536 | 6.5 | 7-7 | 8-6 | 1-2 | 10-6 | 6-4 | 5 W | ||
| 7 Indiana | 15 | 14 | .517 | 7.0 | 9-6 | 6-8 | 1-1 | 10-6 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 8 Miami | 15 | 15 | .500 | 7.5 | 9-6 | 6-9 | 5-1 | 8-9 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 9 Atlanta | 14 | 15 | .483 | 8.0 | 9-5 | 5-10 | 2-3 | 10-11 | 3-7 | 2 L | ||
| 10 Toronto | 13 | 15 | .464 | 8.5 | 10-4 | 3-11 | 1-5 | 9-11 | 4-6 | 3 L | ||
| 11 Chicago | 11 | 16 | .407 | 10.0 | 7-6 | 4-10 | 2-1 | 9-8 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 12 Washington | 11 | 18 | .379 | 11.0 | 8-7 | 3-11 | 3-3 | 7-13 | 1-9 | 8 L | ||
| 13 Orlando | 9 | 20 | .310 | 13.0 | 8-9 | 1-11 | 2-3 | 5-15 | 4-6 | 4 W | ||
| 14 Detroit | 8 | 22 | .267 | 14.5 | 4-9 | 4-13 | 0-5 | 3-14 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 15 Charlotte | 7 | 21 | .250 | 14.5 | 4-10 | 3-11 | 3-5 | 4-16 | 3-7 | 6 L | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Memphis | 19 | 9 | .679 | — | 13-2 | 6-7 | 3-2 | 8-6 | 9-1 | 7 W | ||
| 2 New Orleans | 18 | 10 | .643 | 1.0 | 12-3 | 6-7 | 5-1 | 12-7 | 7-3 | 2 L | ||
| 3 Denver | 17 | 10 | .630 | 1.5 | 8-3 | 9-7 | 6-2 | 14-6 | 7-3 | 3 W | ||
| 4 Phoenix | 17 | 12 | .586 | 2.5 | 12-3 | 5-9 | 6-0 | 14-8 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 5 Portland | 16 | 12 | .571 | 3.0 | 7-6 | 9-6 | 4-2 | 12-7 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 6 Sacramento | 15 | 12 | .556 | 3.5 | 8-4 | 7-8 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 7 Utah | 17 | 14 | .548 | 3.5 | 11-5 | 6-9 | 3-4 | 15-9 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 8 LA Clippers | 17 | 14 | .548 | 3.5 | 9-7 | 8-7 | 3-4 | 11-11 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 9 Dallas | 14 | 14 | .500 | 5.0 | 11-5 | 3-9 | 1-2 | 9-5 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 10 Golden State | 14 | 15 | .483 | 5.5 | 12-2 | 2-13 | 4-3 | 9-8 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| 11 Minnesota | 13 | 15 | .464 | 6.0 | 7-7 | 6-8 | 3-4 | 7-11 | 3-7 | 3 L | ||
| 12 LA Lakers | 11 | 16 | .407 | 7.5 | 6-7 | 5-9 | 0-5 | 6-10 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 13 Oklahoma City | 11 | 17 | .393 | 8.0 | 6-6 | 5-11 | 1-5 | 5-10 | 4-6 | 4 L | ||
| 14 San Antonio | 9 | 19 | .321 | 10.0 | 5-11 | 4-8 | 1-3 | 3-17 | 3-7 | 1 L | ||
| 15 Houston | 9 | 19 | .321 | 10.0 | 6-6 | 3-13 | 1-3 | 5-14 | 5-5 | 1 L |
BIG 10 MEN’S BASKETBALL
| Conference | Overall | vs | ||||||||
| W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | Nt | Top 25 | |
| 1 Purdue | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 10-0 | 1.000 | 5-0 | 2-0 | 3-0 | 2-0 |
| 22 Wisconsin | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 9-2 | .818 | 4-1 | 2-0 | 3-1 | 1-1 |
| Northwestern | 1-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 7-2 | .778 | 4-1 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| 23 Ohio State | 1-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 0-0 | 7-2 | .778 | 5-0 | 0-1 | 2-1 | 1-2 |
| Michigan | 1-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 6-3 | .667 | 3-1 | 1-0 | 2-2 | 0-2 |
| 14 Indiana | 1-1 | .500 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 8-2 | .800 | 6-0 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| 20 Maryland | 1-1 | .500 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 8-3 | .727 | 5-1 | 1-1 | 2-1 | 1-2 |
| Penn State | 1-1 | .500 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 7-3 | .700 | 4-1 | 1-1 | 2-1 | 1-0 |
| Michigan State | 1-1 | .500 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 7-4 | .636 | 3-1 | 2-1 | 2-2 | 1-2 |
| Rutgers | 1-1 | .500 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 6-4 | .600 | 6-1 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 1-1 |
| Iowa | 0-1 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 7-3 | .700 | 5-1 | 1-0 | 1-2 | 1-1 |
| 18 Illinois | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 7-3 | .700 | 5-1 | 0-1 | 2-1 | 2-2 |
| Nebraska | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 6-5 | .545 | 4-1 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Minnesota | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 5-6 | .455 | 4-3 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
BIG 10 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
| Conference | Overall | vs | ||||||||
| W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | Nt | Top 25 | |
| 3 Ohio State | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 10-0 | 1.000 | 6-0 | 4-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 |
| 4 Indiana | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 10-0 | 1.000 | 6-0 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2-0 |
| 12 Iowa | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 5-1 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 1-2 |
| Nebraska | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 5-0 | 1-3 | 2-0 | 1-2 |
| 19 Michigan | 1-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 0-0 | 9-1 | .900 | 4-1 | 2-0 | 3-0 | 1-0 |
| Purdue | 1-1 | .500 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 9-2 | .818 | 6-1 | 1-0 | 2-1 | 0-1 |
| Illinois | 1-1 | .500 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 9-2 | .818 | 6-0 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| 15 Maryland | 1-1 | .500 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 9-3 | .750 | 3-2 | 4-0 | 2-1 | 3-1 |
| Minnesota | 1-1 | .500 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 7-5 | .583 | 6-2 | 0-3 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Northwestern | 0-1 | .000 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 5-5 | .500 | 4-2 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-3 |
| Penn State | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 8-3 | .727 | 6-2 | 0-1 | 2-0 | 0-1 |
| Michigan State | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 6-5 | .545 | 5-2 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 0-3 |
| Rutgers | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 5-8 | .385 | 5-3 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 0-3 |
| Wisconsin | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 4-9 | .308 | 3-2 | 1-3 | 0-4 | 0-1 |
BIG EAST MEN’S STANDINGS
| Conference | Overall | vs | ||||||||
| W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | Nt | Top 25 | |
| St. John’s | 1-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 0-0 | 10-1 | .909 | 8-0 | 0-1 | 2-0 | 0-1 |
| 3 UConn | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 11-0 | 1.000 | 7-0 | 1-0 | 3-0 | 1-0 |
| Xavier | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 6-1 | 1-0 | 1-2 | 0-3 |
| Marquette | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 6-1 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-0 |
| Providence | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 7-0 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| Butler | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 6-0 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 0-1 |
| Seton Hall | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 7-4 | .636 | 5-1 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 0-1 |
| Creighton | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 6-5 | .545 | 4-1 | 0-1 | 2-3 | 2-2 |
| Villanova | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 5-5 | .500 | 4-0 | 0-2 | 1-3 | 0-0 |
| Georgetown | 0-0 | – | 0-0 | 0-0 | 5-6 | .455 | 4-3 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| DePaul | 0-1 | .000 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 6-5 | .545 | 4-1 | 2-2 | 0-2 | 0-0 |
BIG EAST WOMEN’S STANDINGS
| Conference | Overall | vs | ||||||||
| W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | W-L | Pct | Hm | Rd | Nt | Top 25 | |
| St. John’s | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 10-0 | 1.000 | 7-0 | 1-0 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
| Seton Hall | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 3-2 | 3-0 | 2-1 | 1-0 |
| 9 UConn | 1-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 0-0 | 7-2 | .778 | 5-0 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 3-2 |
| DePaul | 1-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 8-3 | .727 | 3-1 | 3-1 | 2-1 | 1-0 |
| 16 Creighton | 2-1 | .667 | 0-0 | 2-1 | 8-1 | .889 | 2-0 | 6-1 | 0-0 | 3-0 |
| 25 Villanova | 1-1 | .500 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 9-2 | .818 | 2-1 | 5-0 | 2-1 | 1-2 |
| Marquette | 1-1 | .500 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 8-2 | .800 | 5-0 | 1-1 | 2-1 | 1-1 |
| Georgetown | 1-1 | .500 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 7-3 | .700 | 4-1 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
| Providence | 0-2 | .000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 8-4 | .667 | 7-1 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| Butler | 0-2 | .000 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 5-5 | .500 | 3-4 | 0-1 | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| Xavier | 0-3 | .000 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 7-3 | .700 | 5-2 | 2-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 |
NHL STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Boston Bruins | 29 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 48 | 21 | 112 | 64 | 15-0-2 | 8-4-0 | 6-2-2 | |
| 2 New Jersey Devils | 30 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 44 | 21 | 105 | 73 | 10-6-1 | 11-1-1 | 5-3-2 | |
| 3 Toronto Maple Leafs | 31 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 44 | 19 | 101 | 73 | 11-2-3 | 8-4-3 | 8-1-1 | |
| 4 Carolina Hurricanes | 29 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 40 | 15 | 84 | 75 | 6-3-1 | 11-3-5 | 7-1-2 | |
| 5 Pittsburgh Penguins | 30 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 40 | 17 | 106 | 86 | 9-3-2 | 9-5-2 | 8-1-1 | |
| 6 Tampa Bay Lightning | 29 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 39 | 19 | 105 | 85 | 12-4-1 | 7-5-0 | 8-2-0 | |
| 7 New York Rangers | 31 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 37 | 15 | 96 | 86 | 7-6-4 | 9-4-1 | 6-3-1 | |
| 8 New York Islanders | 30 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 35 | 17 | 95 | 84 | 9-6-0 | 8-6-1 | 5-4-1 | |
| 9 Washington Capitals | 32 | 15 | 13 | 4 | 34 | 15 | 95 | 94 | 8-5-1 | 7-8-3 | 6-3-1 | |
| 10 Detroit Red Wings | 29 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 32 | 12 | 85 | 91 | 7-5-3 | 6-5-3 | 3-5-2 | |
| 11 Florida Panthers | 31 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 32 | 13 | 104 | 102 | 8-4-3 | 6-9-1 | 4-5-1 | |
| 12 Buffalo Sabres | 30 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 30 | 13 | 119 | 105 | 7-8-2 | 7-6-0 | 5-3-2 | |
| 13 Montreal Canadiens | 30 | 14 | 14 | 2 | 30 | 10 | 88 | 105 | 7-8-0 | 7-6-2 | 4-5-1 | |
| 14 Ottawa Senators | 29 | 13 | 14 | 2 | 28 | 13 | 89 | 91 | 8-8-0 | 5-6-2 | 7-2-1 | |
| 15 Philadelphia Flyers | 31 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 27 | 10 | 74 | 100 | 6-8-1 | 4-6-6 | 3-5-2 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 29 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 81 | 119 | 8-10-1 | 2-7-1 | 3-6-1 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Vegas Golden Knights | 32 | 22 | 9 | 1 | 45 | 20 | 108 | 86 | 8-7-0 | 14-2-1 | 6-4-0 | |
| 2 Dallas Stars | 31 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 41 | 18 | 112 | 85 | 9-3-3 | 9-5-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 3 Winnipeg Jets | 29 | 19 | 9 | 1 | 39 | 19 | 96 | 76 | 11-5-0 | 8-4-1 | 7-3-0 | |
| 4 Los Angeles Kings | 33 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 37 | 14 | 109 | 120 | 7-5-2 | 9-7-3 | 4-3-3 | |
| 5 Seattle Kraken | 29 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 35 | 16 | 100 | 94 | 7-6-2 | 9-4-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 6 Minnesota Wild | 29 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 34 | 13 | 92 | 86 | 9-6-1 | 7-5-1 | 7-3-0 | |
| 7 Edmonton Oilers | 31 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 35 | 17 | 112 | 106 | 9-7-1 | 8-6-0 | 6-3-1 | |
| 8 Colorado Avalanche | 28 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 32 | 13 | 87 | 80 | 6-5-2 | 9-6-0 | 4-5-1 | |
| 9 Calgary Flames | 30 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 32 | 12 | 90 | 93 | 10-5-2 | 3-6-4 | 4-3-3 | |
| 10 Vancouver Canucks | 29 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 29 | 12 | 101 | 112 | 5-7-1 | 8-6-2 | 7-3-0 | |
| 11 St. Louis Blues | 30 | 14 | 15 | 1 | 29 | 12 | 89 | 111 | 6-7-1 | 8-8-0 | 4-5-1 | |
| 12 Nashville Predators | 28 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 28 | 10 | 71 | 87 | 7-5-2 | 5-7-2 | 4-4-2 | |
| 13 San Jose Sharks | 31 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 25 | 9 | 96 | 112 | 3-8-5 | 7-8-0 | 3-5-2 | |
| 14 Arizona Coyotes | 27 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 22 | 9 | 74 | 99 | 3-2-1 | 6-12-3 | 3-5-2 | |
| 15 Anaheim Ducks | 31 | 8 | 20 | 3 | 19 | 6 | 75 | 132 | 5-7-0 | 3-13-3 | 2-6-2 | |
| 16 Chicago Blackhawks | 28 | 7 | 17 | 4 | 18 | 7 | 66 | 105 | 4-10-2 | 3-7-2 | 1-8-1 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
December 15, 1929 – Memphis, Tennessee – National Football League Champion Green Bay Packers who sported an unblemished record 12-0-1 in League play played an exhibition game against the Memphis Tigers. A story on the PackersHistory.net site explains that the Tigers were an independent team owned by the man who eventually started the Piggly Wiggly Grocery chain, Clarence Saunders. Austin Applewhite, Bucky Moore and Tiny Drouilhet all scored for the Sole Owner Memphis team to shock the World Champs with a 20-6 upset. As for the NFL title, remember that there were no games to determine the champs of the NFL back then, it was strictly the team with the best record that won the crown. With no game gate there was no revenue to pay the players for the accomplishment so the Green Bay Press-Gazette led a community fund drive to raise money for the players. In 1929, each player was given $220 plus a watch from the more than the $5,000 that was raised. I would bet this is yet another reason why after winning the title that the Pack would risk their reputation by going on a barnstorming tour to play an exhibition game. As far as reputation, they had everything to lose and nothing to gain. But in the individual pockets of the players, they were trying to scrape out a living.
December 15, 1935 – University of Detroit Stadium – The National Football League Championship game pitted the New York Football Giants against the Lions of Detroit. This was the third time that the League had a final game pitting the top two teams from each division to determine the title. The Lions jumped out to an early two touchdown lead and never looked back as their defense frustrated the G-men most of the game according to the American Football Database. Four different Detroit Lions ran the ball across the goal line as the Football Men of the Motor City beat New York Giants, 26-7 to win the Lions first championship title.
December 15, 1946 – Polo Grounds, New York City – National Football League Championship the Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants, 24-14 in front of a record crowd of 58,346. In an interesting bit of news that came out just before kick off two players on the Giants were allegedly offered a bribe to throw the game by a person in the underworld. Vice.com covers the story well. Giants All-Star halfback Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes were under investigation by NFL Commissioner Bert Bell. Filchock was allowed to play but Bell suspended Hapes when he didn’t report the bribe attempt to anyone.
December 15, 1982 – The New York Giants hired Bill Parcells as their new coach. Parcells was the 12th person in history to serve in that role for the franchise.
December 15, 1997 – The San Francisco 49ers franchise retired Joe Montana’s #16 jersey number from ever being worn by another player for the Niners.
December 15, 2002 – Southern Cal Quarterback Carson Palmer won the voting for the 68th Heisman Trophy Award. According to Heisman.com Palmer threw for 3,639 yards and 32 touchdowns as the Trojans finished 10-2 and earned a trip to the Orange Bowl. He really blossomed into an elite passer under the instruction of coordinator Norm Chow.
December 15, 2008 – The 74th Heisman Trophy went to Sam Bradford, the fantastic Quarterback from the Oklahoma Sooners. According to Heisman.com, Sam’s combined 53 touchdowns from the run and the pass are tied with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota for the most in Heisman history. Sam Bradford and his Sooners teammates were the highest-scoring offense ever in NCAA history. Passing for 4,464 yards with 48 touchdowns and just six interceptions was a monumental feat as Braford again led the nation in passing and also added five rushing touchdowns as the Sooners went 12-1 and qualified the BCS national title game.
December 15, 2019 – Oakland, California – Raiders play their final NFL home game in Oakland before moving to Las Vegas. The Jon Gruden-led Raiders gave up 17 unanswered second half points to fall at the hands of the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-16.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR DECEMBER 15
December 15, 1938 – Natchez, Mississippi – Billy Shaw the standout guard from Georgia Tech was born. Billy was an All-America selection in 1961 and was coveted by teams from both the NFL and the AFL in their respective drafts according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s bio on Billy Shaw. The Dallas Cowboys picked him but so did the AFL’s Buffalo Bills and Billy chose to go with the Bills so that he could concentrate on playing on the offensive line. Well his decision was a great one as he and the Bills won back to back AFL Championship Titles in 1964 & 1965. He was selected to the All-AFL team five times and played in 8 All-Star games. At the Enshrinement Ceremony of 1999 Billy Shaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
December 15, 1940 – Springfield, Massachusetts – The great linebacker from the University of Notre Dame, Nick Buoniconti was born. Nick was picked by the Patriots in the 13th round of the 1962 AFL Draft. His bio on the Pro Football Hall of Fame website tells how he made an immediate impact with the defense of the Patriots by in the 1963 season the Pats captured the Eastern Division of the AFL. The “undersized” linebacker that no NFL team dared to pick registered 5 interceptions in 1964, and in a game against the Bills in 1968 he picked off 3 passes alone to help him achieve a total of 24 in his 7 seasons with the Patriots. In 1969 he was traded to the Dolphins and helped that team eventually go undefeated and win the Super Bowl in 1972 and appear in 3 straight NFL Title games, The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Nick Buoniconti in 2001.
BASEBALL HISTORY
1938 The Braves deal catcher Ray Mueller to the Pirates for Al Todd, who will get traded to Brooklyn in March, and Johnny Dickshot, who moves to the Giants in April. Mueller will play in only 90 games over two seasons for Pittsburgh.
1953 In an 11-player trade, the Yankees deal their top prospect Vic Power to the Philadelphia A’s. The powerful first baseman, who had hoped to be the first black to play for the Yankees, enjoyed three outstanding seasons in the minors, including batting .331 and driving 109 runs for the Newark Bears last season, the team’s top farm club.
1954 Willie Mays becomes the first player to win the Most Valuable Player Award in his first full year in the majors when he easily outdistances Reds’ first baseman Ted Kluszewski for the honor. The 23-year-old Giants center fielder made his big league debut at the end of May in 1951 but missed the last two seasons due to his military service in the U.S. Army.
1975 With little encouragement from the other owners, Bill Veeck, who will see his team win their first pennant in 40 years, reacquires the White Sox when he purchases 80% of the team as part of an investment group intent on keeping the franchise in Chicago. The American League pressured former owner John Allyn to sell his club to a Seattle interest to help quell a lawsuit, resulting from the Junior Circuit’s approval in 1970 to move the one-year-old expansion Pilots from the ‘Emerald City’ to Milwaukee.
1976 The Reds trade first baseman Tony Perez along with pitcher Will McEnaney to the Expos for pitchers Woody Fryman and Dale Murray. The former Cincinnatti infielder, considered by many to be the Big Red Machine’s heart and soul, spends three seasons in Montreal, hitting 46 home runs with 242 RBIs and a .281 batting average before signing as a free agent with the Red Sox in 1980.
1982 Tom Seaver’s trade back to New York from the Reds becomes complete when ‘Tom Terrific’ comes to contract terms with the Mets. Cincinnati obtains pitcher Charlie Puleo and two minor leaguers, Lloyd McClendon and Jason Felice, in exchange for the’ Franchise.’
1983 Replacing Billy Martin (91-71, third place), Yogi Berra is hired for the second time to manage the Yankees. The Hall of Famer’s self-exile from Yankee Stadium will last for nearly 15 seasons after he is dismissed 16 games into the 1985 season despite receiving assurances from owner George Steinbrenner that would not happen.
1991 Clemente Nunez, signed by Florida scout Edmundo Borrome, becomes the first player in Marlins history. The 16-year-old Dominican right-hander will compile a 29-26 record and an ERA of 3.51 during his five seasons in the team’s farm system but will never appear in a major league game.
1992 Dusty Baker is selected to replace Roger Craig in the dugout as manager of the Giants. The 44-year-old former hitting coach will compile an 840-715 (.540) record, becoming the National League Manager of the Year three times during his ten-year tenure.
1996 Unable to come to terms with the Yankees, World Series MVP John Wetteland signs a four-year free-agent deal worth $23 million to close games for Texas. The 29-year-old right-handed reliever, who saved all four victories in the Fall Classic against Atlanta, became expendable in New York with the emergence of Mariano Rivera, the team’s nearly-perfect setup man.
2001 The Giants obtain their first Japanese player since 1964 when Masanori Murakami became the first ballplayer from Japan to appear in a major league game. San Francisco trades starting pitcher Shawn Estes (9-8, 4.02) to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo (.267, 10, 56) and infielder Desi Relaford (.302, 8, 36), later dealt to the Mariners for David Bell.
2002 After being invited to the Dominican Republic by President Hipolito Mejia, the Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh meets one of his favorite players, island resident Sammy Sosa. The Dominican outfielder, who is one homer shy of the coveted 500, will have to hit several hundred more to reach the 62-year-old’s mark of 868 set during his 22 seasons playing for the Yomiuri Giants.
2002 After declining the $4.6 million two-year contract offer by the Yankees on December 7, which he had only 15 minutes to consider, Mike Stanton (7-1, 3.00, 6 saves) decides to stay in the Big Apple by agreeing to a $9 million, three-year, no-trade contract with the crosstown rival Mets. The Bronx Bombers didn’t offer the All-Star reliever salary arbitration after he failed to respond to their ultimatum.
2003 “We’re tickled pink. It continues the tradition of great Orioles shortstops. That’s always been a cornerstone of the great Oriole tradition.” -MIKE FLANAGAN, Orioles’ vice president for baseball operations. Miguel Tejada agrees to a six-year $72 million contract with the Orioles, making it the richest deal in the franchise’s history. Last season, the shortstop batted .287 with 27 home runs while driving in 106 runs for the Western Division champions Oakland A’s.
2008 The Phillies finalize their $31.5 million, three-year deal with free-agent Raul Ibanez (.293, 23, 110). The 36-year-old former Seattle outfielder, who will replace the departing Pat Burrell, provides another left-handed bat in an already potent Phillies lineup, including lefties Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
2008 The Orioles sign former Cardinal infielder Cesar Izturis to a $6 million two-year deal to fill the team’s void at shortstop. The 28-year-old free agent, considered an outstanding defensive player, won a Gold Glove playing with the Dodgers in 2004.
2009 John Lackey and the Red Sox agree on an $82.5 million, five-year deal. The 31-year-old right-hander, who compiled a 102-71 record and a 3.81 ERA in eight seasons in the major leagues, all with the Angels, adds depth to a strong rotation that includes Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Jon Lester.
2009 In a series of moves involving four teams and nine players, and results in two Cy Young Award winners getting traded, the Phillies send three top minor leaguers, Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Drabek (son of former CYA winner Doug Drabek), and Michael Taylor, later traded to get A’s third baseman Brett Wallace, to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. After securing their new ace, Philadelphia sends their former ace, Cliff Lee, to the Mariners to restock their minor league system by getting prospects outfielder Tyson Gillies along with right-handers Phillippe Aumont and Juan Ramirez from Seattle.
2009 Yankee free-agent Hideki Matsui signs a one-year deal worth $6.5 million with the Angels. This year’s World Series MVP decided to take LA’s offer rather than wait to see if the uninterested Bronx Bombers planned to bring him back as the DH, the role he is expected to play with his new club.
2009 The Red Sox and 36-year-old Mike Cameron (.250, 24, 70) finalize a $15.5 million, two-year contract. The three-time Gold Glove winner will help fill the void in the outfield with the anticipated departure of free agent left fielder Jason Bay.
2011 A federal judge sentences former Giants’ super-star Barry Bonds to 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation, 250 hours of community service, and a $4,000 fine. The all-time home run champion, who is appealing his guilty verdict for the obstruction of justice, could have faced 15 months of jail time, as recommended by the prosecution.
2012 Torii Hunter signs a two-year, $26 million contract with the Tigers, the team the free-agent wanted to play for after leaving the Angels. The deal, completed in less than an hour, brings the well-respected Gold Glove outfielder to the Motor City in the pursuit of a World Championship, a prize yet to be realized in the All-Star’s 16-year major league career.
2020 On the centennial of the founding of the Negro Leagues, MLB announces it was “correcting a longtime oversight in the game’s history” by reclassifying the Negro Leagues as a major league. Big-League records will now include the verified statistics from 1920 through 1948 of the seven black baseball circuits.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
55 – 7 – 8 – 14 – 13 – 32 – 12 – 5 – 9 – 18
December 16, 1922 – The Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Baseball Clubs formally organizes
December 16, 1946 – 1947 NFL Draft: Bob Fenimore, Number 55 from University of Oklahoma A&M first pick by Chicago Bears
December 16, 1958 – Ballon d’Or: Real Madrid’s French midfielder Number 7, Raymond Kopa won the award for best football player in Europe ahead of German winger Number 8, Helmut Rahn and French forward Number 8, Just Fontaine
December 16, 1962 – New York Giants QB Number 14, Y A Tittle set an NFL season touchdown pass record at 33 with 6 touchdowns vs Dallas (41-31)
December 16, 1967 – Number 13, Wilt Chamberlain of Philadelphia 76ers scored 68 points vs Chicago
December 16, 1973 – Buffalo Bills running back, Number 32, O J Simpson became the 1st NFL running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a season
December 16, 1979 – Dallas QB Number 12, Roger Staubach threw for 3 TDs and 336 yards in his last NFL regular season game with the Cowboys, a 35-34 win over Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium
December 16, 2013 – 79th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Florida State Quarterback Number 5, Jameis Winston
December 16, 2019 – New Orleans Saint Number 9, Drew Brees broke Number 18, Peyton Manning’s NFL record (539) for career touchdown passes as New Orleans Saints rout Indianapolis Colts, 34-7; Brees 29 of 30 for 307 yards & 4 TDs for record 96.7% pass completion
December 16, 2020 – US Major League Baseball announces it is elevating the Negro Leagues to Major League status
TV FRIDAY
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| Schreiner at A&M-Corpus Christi | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Xavier at Georgetown | 6:30pm | FS1 |
| FGCU at St. Bonaventure | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Dartmouth at South Florida | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Connecticut at Manhattan | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Mississippi Valley State at Tulsa | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Delaware at Princeton | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Bethune-Cookman at UIW | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Green Bay at Stanford | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southern at Youngstown State | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Chicago State at Southern Illinois | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Austin Peay at Murray State | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Antelope Valley at Utah Valley | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Missouri State at Oral Roberts | 8:00pm | – |
| Creighton at Marquette | 8:30pm | FS1 |
| Northwest Indian at Idaho | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Weber State at Cal Poly | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Bahamas Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. UAB | 11:30am | ESPN |
| Cure Bowl: (22) UTSA vs. (23) Troy | 3:00pm | ESPN |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| DP World: AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open | 3:30am | GOLF |
| NBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Atlanta at Charlotte | 7:00pm | Bally Sports |
| Sacramento at Detroit | 7:00pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CA |
| Golden State at Philadelphia | 7:30pm | ESPN |
| Brooklyn at Toronto | 7:30pm | YES Sportsnet |
| Orlando at Boston | 7:30pm | Bally Sports NBCS-BOS |
| Indiana at Cleveland | 7:30pm | Bally Sports |
| Minnesota at Oklahoma City | 8:00pm | Bally Sports |
| Portland at Dallas | 8:30pm | Root Sports Bally Sports |
| Denver at LA Lakers | 10:00pm | ESPN |
| NHL | TIME ET | TV |
| Chicago at Minnesota | 8:00pm | ESPN+ HULU |
| St. Louis at Calgary | 9:00pm | Sportsnet Bally Sports |
| NY Islanders at Arizona | 9:30pm | Bally Sports MSGSN |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| UEFA Women’s Champions League: Vllaznia vs Chelsea FC | 12:45pm | DAZN |
| UEFA Women’s Champions League: Roma vs St. Pölten | 12:45pm | DAZN |
| UEFA Women’s Champions League: Wolfsburg vs Slavia Praha | 3:00pm | DAZN |
| UEFA Women’s Champions League: PSG vs Real Madrid | 3:00pm | DAZN |
| England Championship: Birmingham City vs Reading | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Copa por Mexico: Pumas UNAM vs Cruz Azul | 8:00pm | TUDN |
| Copa por Mexico: Guadalajara vs Mazatlán | 10:00pm | UniMas TUDN |
TV SATURDAY
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| Indiana at Kansas | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Wake Forest at Rutgers | 12:00pm | BTN |
| Saint Francis U at Miami (FL) | 12:00pm | ACCN |
| Missouri vs. UCF | 12:00pm | – |
| Eastern Illinois at IUPUI | 12:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Providence at Seton Hall | 12:30pm | FOX |
| Bryant vs. Liberty | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Gonzaga vs. Alabama | 1:00pm | CBS |
| North Florida at Pitt | 1:00pm | ACCN |
| Montana vs. Prairie View A&M | 1:00pm | – |
| Longwood at The Citadel | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Central Arkansas at Oklahoma | 1:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Houston at Virginia | 2:00pm | ESPN2 |
| DePaul at Northwestern | 2:00pm | BTN |
| Florida A&M at Louisville | 2:00pm | ACCN |
| Indiana State at Duquesne | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Charlotte at Monmouth | 2:00pm | FLOHOOPS |
| UT Martin at Bowling Green | 2:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Oneonta at Binghamton | 2:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Stetson at Ohio | 2:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Alabama State at Georgia Tech | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Radford at Eastern Kentucky | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Little Rock at Jacksonville State | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Montreat at Wofford | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| North Carolina Central at Gardner-Webb | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Morehead State at Mercer | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Knox (IL) at Lindenwood | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Troy at Southeastern Louisiana | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Georgia College at Kennesaw State | 2:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Delaware State at Drexel | 2:00pm | FLOHOOPS |
| FIU at Florida Atlantic | 2:00pm | CUSAtv |
| Ecclesia at UAPB | 2:00pm | – |
| St. John’s vs. Florida State | 2:30pm | Staduim |
| North Carolina vs. Ohio State | 3:00pm | CBS |
| Nicholls at Mississippi State | 3:00pm | SECN |
| Cornell at Syracuse | 3:00pm | ACCN |
| Lamar at ULM | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UMass vs. North Texas | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Campbell at Georgia Southern | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sam Houston at Texas State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Bryan at Tennessee State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northwestern Ohio at Wright State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northern Arizona at Southern Utah | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Northwestern State at Rice | 3:00pm | CUSAtv |
| Jackson State vs. Texas Tech | 3:30pm | – |
| Toledo at Marshall | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Illinois State vs. Ball State | 3:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Villanova at Saint Joseph’s | 4:00pm | CBSSN |
| Alabama A&M at Illinois | 4:00pm | BTN |
| Grambling State at Virginia Tech | 4:00pm | ACCN |
| Northern Illinois at VCU | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Hampton vs. Norfolk State | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UNC Asheville at ETSU | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Regent at App State | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Western Carolina at Tennessee Tech | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Miami (OH) at Bellarmine | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Charleston Southern at Jacksonville | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| La Salle at Cincinnati | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Lipscomb at Michigan | 4:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Clarks Summit at Maryland Eastern Shore | 4:00pm | – |
| St. Francis Brooklyn at Hartford | 4:00pm | – |
| Stephen F. Austin vs. Furman | 4:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Temple at Ole Miss | 5:00pm | SECN |
| San Francisco at UNLV | 5:00pm | MWN |
| Occidental at UC San Diego | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UC Davis at Eastern Washington | 5:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UCLA vs. Kentucky | 5:30pm | CBS |
| Utah at BYU | 6:00pm | CBSSN |
| Northwest Indian at Montana State | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Davidson vs. Purdue | 6:15pm | BTN |
| North Carolina A&T vs. Texas Southern | 6:30pm | ESPN+ |
| UConn at Butler | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| Winthrop at LSU | 7:00pm | SECN |
| Texas A&M at Memphis | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| San Jose State at Pacific | 7:00pm | Staduim |
| Sacramento State at Fresno State | 7:00pm | MWN |
| Richmond vs. Clemson | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| St. Elizabeth at Lehigh | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Nebraska vs. Kansas State | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Pepperdine at Grand Canyon | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Dayton vs. Wyoming | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
| Portland at Oregon | 8:00pm | PAC12 |
| Drake at Saint Louis | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Southeast Missouri at Iowa | 8:30pm | BTN |
| Oklahoma State at Wichita State | 9:00pm | ESPNU |
| The Master’s at Utah Tech | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Louisiana Tech at UTEP | 9:00pm | CUSAtv |
| Idaho State at Washington | 10:00pm | PAC12 |
| UC Santa Barbara at Portland State | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Abilene Christian at CSU Bakersfield | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Tennessee at Arizona | 10:30pm | ESPN2 |
| Vanderbilt vs. NC State | 10:30pm | CBSSN |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Fenway Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Louisville | 11:00am | ESPN |
| Celebration Bowl: Jackson State vs. NC Central | 12:00pm | ABC |
| New Mexico Bowl: SMU vs. BYU | 2:15pm | ESPN |
| LA Bowl: Fresno State vs. Washington State | 3:30pm | ABC |
| LendingTree Bowl: Rice vs. Southern Miss | 5:45pm | ESPN |
| Las Vegas Bowl: Florida vs. (17) Oregon State | 7:30pm | ABC |
| Frisco Bowl: North Texas vs. Boise State | 9:15pm | ESPN |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| Champions Tour: PNC Championship Pro-Am | 2:00pm | NBC |
| NBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Washington at LA Clippers | 4:00pm | NBCS-WSH Bally Sports |
| Miami at San Antonio | 5:00pm | NBATV Bally Sports |
| Dallas at Cleveland | 8:00pm | Bally Sports |
| Memphis at Oklahoma City | 8:00pm | Bally Sports |
| Portland at Houston | 8:00pm | Root Sports ATTSN-SW |
| Utah at Milwaukee | 8:00pm | ATTSN-RM Bally Sports |
| New Orleans at Phoenix | 9:00pm | NBATV Bally Sports |
| NFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Indianapolis at Minnesota | 1:00pm | NFLN |
| Baltimore at Cleveland | 4:30pm | NFLN |
| Miami at Buffalo | 8:15pm | NFLN |
| NHL | TIME ET | TV |
| Columbus at Boston | 1:00pm | NHLN NESN Bally Sports |
| Ottawa at Detroit | 1:00pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Anaheim at Edmonton | 4:00pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Toronto at Washington | 7:00pm | NHLN Sportsnet NBCS-WSH |
| Tampa Bay at Montreal | 7:00pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Dallas at Carolina | 7:00pm | Bally Sports |
| NY Rangers at Philadelphia | 7:00pm | NBCS-PHI MSG |
| Florida at New Jersey | 7:30pm | Bally Sports MSGSN |
| Buffalo at Arizona | 9:00pm | Bally Sports MSG-BUF |
| NY Islanders at Vegas | 10:00pm | ATTSN-RM MSG |
| Winnipeg at Vancouver | 10:00pm | Sportsnet |
| San Jose at Los Angeles | 10:30pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CA |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Scottish Premiership: Aberdeen vs Celtic | 7:30am | CBSSN |
| FIFA World Cup Third Place Match: Croatia vs Morocco | 10:00am | FOX Peacock Telemundo |
| England Championship: West Bromwich Albion vs Rotherham United | 10:00am | ESPN+ |
| England Championship: Norwich City vs Blackburn Rovers | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |