“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
| HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH | 42 | HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (DYER) | 35 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON | 88 | PHALEN ACADEMY | 72 | |
| KIPP INDY LEGACY | 62 | PURDUE POLY NORTH | 35 | |
| MUNCIE CENTRAL | 57 | ADAMS CENTRAL | 48 | |
| SHERIDAN | 74 | FAITH CHRISTIAN | 65 |
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL USA TODAY POLLS
Class 4A
W-L Pts. Prev.
- Fishers (14) 4-0 140 1
- Greenfield-Central 1-0 116 3
- Carmel 3-0 91 6
- Jeffersonville 2-1 84 2
- Lawrence North 1-1 67 5
- Warsaw 3-0 54 8
- Pike 3-0 39 NR
- Noblesville 2-1 38 4
- Northridge 4-0 31 NR
- Crown Point 1-0 30 10
Dropped out: Fort Wayne Wayne (7), Ben Davis (9)
Others receiving votes: Ben Davis 15, Anderson 14, Kokomo 10, FW Wayne 9, SB Riley 9, Westfield 6, Ev. Reitz 4, New Albany 2, SB Adams 1, Homestead 1.
Class 3A
W-L Pts. Prev.
- Crispus Attucks (13) 5-0 139 1
- SB St. Joseph (1) 2-0 119 3
- Guerin Catholic 4-0 102 4
- Cathedral 2-2 91 2
- New Palestine 2-0 72 5
- Southridge 2-0 46 6
- Brebeuf Jesuit 2-0 38 7
- Danville 4-0 33 8
- FW Blackhawk 3-1 27 8
- Princeton 4-0 20 10
Dropped out: None
Others receiving votes: SB Washington 18, NorthWood 12, Silver Creek 11, Brownstown Central 10, Heritage Hills 9, East Chicago Central 8, Maconaquah 6, Ev. Memorial 4.
Class 2A
W-L Pts. Prev.
- Wapahani (11) 3-0 136 1
- Parke Heritage (2) 4-0 108 3
- FW Luers (1) 1-0 106 2
- Gary 21st Century 3-0 85 5
- Tipton 2-0 69 7
- Forest Park 3-0 65 8
- Lapel 2-1 44 6
- Providence 0-0 30 10
- Jimtown 3-0 28 NR
- Park Tudor 0-2 26 4
Dropped out: Manchester (9)
Others receiving votes: Manchester 19, Linton-Stockton 12, Westview 9, Taylor 8, Shenandoah 7, Southmont 5, Sullivan 2, Benton Central 2, Triton Central 2, Southwestern (Jefferson) 1.
Class A
W-L Pts. Prev.
- Orleans (11) 3-0 135 3
- Marquette Catholic (1) 3-0 109 4
- Christian Academy (1) 3-0 87 4
- Liberty Christian 2-2 75 1
- Ind. Lutheran 0-0 62 8
- Barr-Reeve 1-2 61 2
- Rossville 4-0 41 NR
- FW Canterbury 2-1 36 7
- North Daviess 3-1 30 10
- Northeast Dubois 3-0 29 NR
Dropped out: Bethesda Christian (6), Tindley (9)
Others receiving votes: Southwood 28, Bethesda Christian 23, Clay City 16, Tri 16, Ind. Tindley 16, Bloomfield 4, Greenwood Christian 3, Washington Township 3, Carroll (Flora) 2, Triton 2, Lafayette Central Catholic 1, North Central (Farmersburg) 1.
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL
| BELIEVE CIRCLE CITY | 36 | KIPP INDY LEGACY | 23 | |
| CULVER | 64 | TRINITY GREENLAWN | 21 | |
| DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN | 79 | SOUTH NEWTON | 19 | |
| RIVER FOREST | 57 | ILLIANA CHRISTIAN | 55 | |
| SHOALS | 50 | LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN | 14 | |
| SOUTH ADAMS | 47 | MUNCIE BURRIS | 35 | |
| TRITON CENTRAL | 66 | INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA | 21 | |
| WASHINGTON | 63 | HERITAGE HILLS | 53 | |
| WESTERN BOONE | 58 | FAITH CHRISTIAN | 55 |
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING RESULTS
DUAL RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/dualresults.html/
TOURNEY RESULTS: https://indianamat.com/index.php?/curtournamentresults.html/
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, DEC. 13
IDAHO AT MONTANA STATE (FCS QUARTERFINALS) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE VS. JACKSON STATE (CELEBRATION BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ABC
INCARNATE WORD AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (FCS QUARTERFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
MINNESOTA STATE AT VALDOSTA STATE (DII SEMIFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
BETHEL (MN) AT SUSQUEHANNA (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
MARY-HARDIN BAYLOR AT JOHNS HOPKINS (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 12 P.M. | ESPN+
SPRINGFIELD AT NORTH CENTRAL (ILL.) (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
MOUNT UNION AT SALISBURY (DIII QUARTERFINALS) | 1 P.M. | ESPN+
NAVY AT NO. 22 ARMY (NORTHWEST STADIUM IN LANDOVER, MD) | 3 P.M. | CBS
UC DAVIS AT SOUTH DAKOTA (FCS QUARTERFINALS) | 3 P.M. | ESPN+
MERCER AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE (FCS QUARTERFINALS) | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
SLIPPERY ROCK AT FERRIS STATE (DII SEMIFINALS) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTH ALABAMA VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN (SALUTE TO VETERANS BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 17
NO. 25 MEMPHIS VS. WEST VIRGINIA (FRISCO BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18
JAMES MADISON VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY (BOCA RATON BOWL) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 24 UNLV VS. CAL (LA BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 19
SAM HOUSTON VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN (NEW ORLEANS BOWL) | 7 P.M. | ESPN2
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
OHIO VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE (CURE BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
FLORIDA VS. TULANE (GASPARILLA BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 8 INDIANA AT NO. 5 NOTRE DAME (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 8 P.M. | ABC/ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
NO. 10 SMU AT NO. 4 PENN STATE (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 12 P.M. | TNT/MAX
UC DAVIS/SOUTH DAKOTA VS. IDAHO/MONTANA STATE (FCS SEMIFINALS) | 12 OR 3:30 P.M. | ABC
UIW/SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. MERCER/NORTH DAKOTA STATE (FCS SEMIFINALS) | 12 OR 3:30 P.M. | ABC
TBD VS. TBD (DII CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN MCKINNEY, TX) | 2 P.M. | ESPN2
NO. 16 CLEMSON AT NO. 3 TEXAS (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 4 P.M. | TNT/MAX
NO. 7 TENNESSEE AT NO. 6 OHIO STATE (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND) | 8 P.M. | ABC/ESPN
TBD VS. TBD (DIII SEMIFINALS) | TBA | ESPN+
TBD VS. TBD (DIII SEMIFINALS) | TBA | ESPN+
MONDAY, DEC. 23
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. UTSA (MYRTLE BEACH BOWL) | 11 A.M. | ESPN
NORTHERN ILLINOIS VS. FRESNO STATE (FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
SOUTH FLORIDA VS. SAN JOSE STATE (HAWAI’I BOWL) | 8 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, DEC. 26
PITT VS. TOLEDO (GAMEABOVE SPORTS BOWL) | 2 P.M. | ESPN
RUTGERS VS. KANSAS STATE (RATE BOWL) | 5:30 P.M. | ESPN
ARKANSAS STATE VS. BOWLING GREEN (68 VENTURES BOWL) | 9 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, DEC. 27
NAVY VS. OKLAHOMA (ARMED FORCES BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
GEORGIA TECH VS. VANDERBILT (BIRMINGHAM BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
ARKANSAS VS. TEXAS TECH (LIBERTY BOWL) | 7 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 21 SYRACUSE VS. WASHINGTON STATE (HOLIDAY BOWL) | 8 P.M. | FOX
USC VS. TEXAS A&M (LAS VEGAS BOWL) | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, DEC. 28
UCONN VS. NORTH CAROLINA (FENWAY BOWL) | 11 A.M. | ESPN
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NEBRASKA (PINSTRIPE BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. LOUISIANA (NEW MEXICO BOWL) | 2:15 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 13 MIAMI (FLA.) VS. NO. 18 IOWA STATE (POP-TARTS BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
COLORADO STATE VS. MIAMI (OHIO) (ARIZONA BOWL) | 4:30 P.M. | CW NETWORK
NC STATE VS. EAST CAROLINA (MILITARY BOWL) | 5:45 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 17 BYU VS. NO. 23 COLORADO (ALAMO BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
NO. 22 ARMY VS. MARSHALL (INDEPENCE BOWL) | 9:15 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, DEC. 30
NO. 19 MISSOURI VS. IOWA (MUSIC CITY BOWL) | 2:30 P.M. | ESPN
TUESDAY, DEC. 31
NO. 11 ALABAMA VS. MICHIGAN (RELIAQUEST BOWL) | 12 P.M. | ESPN
LOUISVILLE VS. WASHINGTON (SUN BOWL) | 2 P.M. | CBS
NO. 15 SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NO. 20 ILLINOIS (CITRUS BOWL) | 3 P.M. | ABC
LSU VS. BAYLOR (TEXAS BOWL) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 9 BOISE STATE VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — FIESTA BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 12 ARIZONA STATE VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — PEACH BOWL) | 1 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 1 OREGON VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — ROSE BOWL) | 5 P.M. | ESPN
NO. 2 GEORGIA VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF QUARTERFINALS — SUGAR BOWL) | 8:45 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, JAN. 2
NO. 14 OLE MISS VS. DUKE (GATOR BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 3
NORTH TEXAS VS. TEXAS STATE (FIRST RESPONDER BOWL) | 4 P.M. | ESPN
MINNESOTA VS. VIRGINIA TECH (DUKE’S MAYO BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
SATURDAY, JAN. 4
LIBERTY VS. BUFFALO (BAHAMAS BOWL) | 11 A.M. | ESPN2
SUNDAY, JAN. 5
TBD VS. TBD (DIII STAGG BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN HOUSTON, TX) | TBA | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 6
TBD VS. TBD (FCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN FRISCO, TX) | 7 P.M. | ESPN
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
TBD VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL GAME — ORANGE BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
TBD VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL GAME — COTTON BOWL) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
MONDAY, JAN. 20
TBD VS. TBD (COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME — IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
NFL SCOREBOARD
CINCINNATI 27 DALLAS 20
NFL WEEK 15 SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, DEC. 12
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SUNDAY, DEC. 15
DALLAS COWBOYS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P FOX)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1:00P CBS)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (1:00P CBS)
NEW YORK JETS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P FOX)
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1:00P FOX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT NEW YORK GIANTS (1:00P CBS)
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1:00P FOX)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4:25P CBS)
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT DENVER BRONCOS (4:25P CBS)
BUFFALO BILLS AT DETROIT LIONS (4:25P CBS)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4:25P FOX)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4:25P FOX)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, DEC. 16
CHICAGO BEARS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8:00P ABC)
THURSDAY, DEC. 19
DENVER BRONCOS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
HOUSTON TEXANS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1:00P NBC)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (4:30P FOX)
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS 1:00P FOX)
NEW YORK GIANTS AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1:00P FOX)
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT BUFFALO BILLS (1:00P CBS)
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1:00P FOX)
DETROIT LIONS AT CHICAGO BEARS (1:00P FOX)
TENNESSEE TITANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (1:00P CBS)
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT NEW YORK JETS (1:00P CBS)
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1:00P FOX)
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4:05P FOX)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4:25P CBS)
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (4:25P CBS)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, DEC. 23
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (8:15P ESPN)
NFL WEEK 17 SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25 (CHRISTMAS)
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1:00P NETFLIX)
BALTIMORE RAVENS AT HOUSTON TEXANS (4:30P NETFLIX)
THURSDAY, DEC. 26
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CHICAGO BEARS (8:15P PRIME VIDEO)
SATURDAY, DEC. 28
TBD TBD (1:00P NFL NETWORK)
TBD TBD (4:30P NFL NETWORK)
TBD TBD (8:00P NFL NETWORK)
SATURDAY GAME POOL:
DENVER BRONCOS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT NEW YORK GIANTS
ATLANTA FALCONS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
SUNDAY, DEC. 29
NEW YORK JETS AT BUFFALO BILLS (1:00P CBS)
TENNESSEE TITANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1:00P CBS)
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1:00P FOX)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1:00P FOX)
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1:00P CBS)
DALLAS COWBOYS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4:25P FOX)
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (8:20P NBC)
MONDAY, DEC. 30
DETROIT LIONS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8:15P ESPN/ABC)
NFL WEEK 18 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, JAN. 4 OR SUNDAY, JAN. 5
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS
CLEVELAND BROWNS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT DALLAS COWBOYS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT DENVER BRONCOS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT DETROIT LIONS
CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW YORK JETS
NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
HOUSTON TEXANS AT TENNESSEE TITANS
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL AP POLL
1 TENNESSEE 8 – 0
2 AUBURN 8 – 1
3 IOWA STATE 7 – 1
4 DUKE 7 – 2
5 KENTUCKY 8 – 1
6 MARQUETTE 9 – 1
7 ALABAMA 7 – 2
8 GONZAGA 7 – 2
9 FLORIDA 9 – 0
10 KANSAS 7 – 2
11 PURDUE 8 – 2
12 OREGON 9 – 1
13 OKLAHOMA 9 – 0
14 MICHIGAN 8 – 1
15 HOUSTON 5 – 3
16 CLEMSON 9 – 1
17 TEXAS A&M 8 – 2
18 UCONN 7 – 3
19 OLE MISS 8 – 1
20 WISCONSIN 8 – 2
21 MICHIGAN STATE 8 – 2
22 CINCINNATI 7 – 1
23 SAN DIEGO STATE 6 – 2
24 UCLA 8 – 1
25 MISSISSIPPI STATE 8 – 1
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
BAYLOR 150, ARIZONA ST 143, MEMPHIS 123, MISSOURI 119, PENN ST. 90, ARKANSAS 89, DRAKE 67, PITTSBURGH 62, UTAH ST. 57, ILLINOIS 47, ST. JOHN’S 43, MARYLAND 39, DAYTON 38, CREIGHTON 32, INDIANA 30, WEST VIRGINIA 30, NORTH CAROLINA 24, GEORGIA 21, SAINT MARY’S 20, TEXAS 8, RHODE ISLAND 3, LOYOLA CHICAGO 1.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NET RANKINGS
THE NET, WHICH STANDS FOR THE NCAA EVALUATION TOOL, IS USED AS THE PRIMARY SORTING TOOL FOR SELECTION AND SEEDING FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.
THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 8
| TEAM | RECORD | CURRENT | PREVIOUS |
| TENNESSEE | 8-0 | 1 | 1 |
| AUBURN | 8-1 | 2 | 2 |
| GONZAGA | 7-2 | 3 | 3 |
| DUKE | 7-2 | 4 | 4 |
| KENTUCKY | 8-1 | 5 | 5 |
| MARQUETTE | 9-1 | 6 | 7 |
| FLORIDA | 9-0 | 7 | 6 |
| HOUSTON | 5-3 | 8 | 8 |
| IOWA ST. | 7-1 | 9 | 13 |
| ALABAMA | 7-2 | 10 | 9 |
| CLEMSON | 9-1 | 11 | 12 |
| ILLINOIS | 6-2 | 12 | 16 |
| MARYLAND | 8-2 | 13 | 11 |
| UCLA | 8-1 | 14 | 26 |
| OREGON | 9-1 | 15 | 10 |
| PITTSBURGH | 8-2 | 16 | 17 |
| KANSAS | 7-2 | 17 | 15 |
| PENN ST. | 8-1 | 18 | 18 |
| UTAH ST. | 8-0 | 19 | 20 |
| MISSISSIPPI ST. | 8-1 | 20 | 14 |
| OHIO ST. | 6-3 | 21 | 19 |
| GEORGIA | 8-1 | 22 | 24 |
| MICHIGAN | 8-1 | 23 | 25 |
USA TODAY MEN’S TOP 25 POLL
THE USA TODAY SPORTS TOP 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL POLL, WITH TEAM’S RECORDS THROUGH SUNDAY IN PARENTHESES, TOTAL POINTS BASED ON 25 FOR FIRST PLACE THROUGH ONE POINT FOR 25TH, RANKING IN LAST WEEK’S POLL AND FIRST-PLACE VOTES RECEIVED.
| RANK | SCHOOL (RECORD) | POINTS | LAST WEEK’S RANKING | FIRST-PLACE VOTES |
| 1 | TENNESSEE (8-0) | 770 | 3 | 26 |
| 2 | AUBURN (8-1) | 732 | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | IOWA STATE (7-1) | 697 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | MARQUETTE (9-1) | 655 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | KENTUCKY (8-1) | 651 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | DUKE (7-2) | 628 | 9 | 0 |
| 7 | FLORIDA (9-0) | 548 | 13 | 0 |
| 8 | ALABAMA (7-2) | 545 | 12 | 0 |
| 9 | GONZAGA (7-2) | 474 | 8 | 0 |
| 10 | KANSAS (7-2) | 468 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | PURDUE (8-2) | 440 | 7 | 0 |
| 12 | OREGON (9-1) | 385 | 10 | 0 |
| 13 | HOUSTON (5-3) | 304 | 18 | 0 |
| 14 | MICHIGAN (8-1) | 275 | 23 | 0 |
| 15 | MISSISSIPPI (8-1) | 258 | 20 | 0 |
| 16 | CLEMSON (9-1) | 237 | NR | 0 |
| 17 | OKLAHOMA (9-0) | 233 | 21 | 0 |
| 18 | TEXAS A&M (8-2) | 197 | 24 | 0 |
| 19 | MICHIGAN STATE (8-2) | 177 | 25 | 0 |
| 20 | CONNECTICUT (7-3) | 165 | NR | 0 |
| 21 | UCLA (8-1) | 151 | NR | 0 |
| 22 | WISCONSIN (8-2) | 139 | 11 | 0 |
| 23 | CINCINNATI (7-1) | 124 | 14 | 0 |
| 24 | SAN DIEGO STATE (6-2) | 105 | NR | 0 |
| 25 | BAYLOR (5-3) | 99 | 16 | 0 |
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
TOP 25
#15 BAYLOR 88 ABILENE CHRISTIAN 57
ELSEWHERE:
INDIANA 82 MINNESOTA 67
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL AP POLL
1 UCLA 9 – 0
2 UCONN 8 – 0
3 SOUTH CAROLINA 9 – 1
4 LSU 11 – 0
5 USC 8 – 1
6 TEXAS 8 – 1
7 MARYLAND 10 – 0
8 NOTRE DAME 7 – 2
9 DUKE 9 – 2
10 OKLAHOMA 8 – 1
11 OHIO STATE 8 – 0
12 TCU 9 – 1
13 KANSAS STATE 10 – 1
14 NORTH CAROLINA 9 – 1
15 WEST VIRGINIA 9 – 1
16 KENTUCKY 7 – 1
17 MICHIGAN STATE 9 – 0
18 IOWA STATE 8 – 2
19 TENNESSEE 7 – 0
20 MICHIGAN 8 – 1
21 IOWA 8 – 1
22 OLE MISS 6 – 3
22 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 6 – 3
24 NEBRASKA 8 – 1
25 GEORGIA TECH 9 – 0
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:
ALABAMA 73, ILLINOIS 69, CALIFORNIA 23, STANFORD 18, VANDERBILT 15, UTAH 14, LOUISVILLE 9, RICHMOND 8, SOUTH DAKOTA ST. 8, CREIGHTON 5, OKLAHOMA ST. 4, HARVARD 3, FLORIDA ST. 3, TEXAS TECH 3, BAYLOR 1.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NET RANKINGS
THE NET, WHICH STANDS FOR THE NCAA EVALUATION TOOL, IS USED AS THE PRIMARY SORTING TOOL FOR SELECTION AND SEEDING FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.
THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 8
| TEAM | RECORD | CURRENT | PREVIOUS |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 9-1 | 1 | 1 |
| UCONN | 8-0 | 2 | 2 |
| KANSAS ST. | 10-1 | 3 | 6 |
| TEXAS | 8-1 | 4 | 5 |
| UCLA | 9-0 | 5 | 3 |
| MICHIGAN ST. | 9-0 | 6 | 7 |
| NOTRE DAME | 7-2 | 7 | 9 |
| VANDERBILT | 9-1 | 8 | 8 |
| TCU | 9-1 | 9 | 4 |
| DUKE | 9-2 | 10 | 12 |
| LSU | 11-0 | 11 | 11 |
| WEST VIRGINIA | 9-1 | 12 | 10 |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | 8-1 | 13 | 13 |
| OKLAHOMA | 8-1 | 14 | 15 |
| OHIO ST. | 8-0 | 15 | 14 |
| NORTH CAROLINA | 9-1 | 16 | 17 |
| MARYLAND | 10-0 | 17 | 18 |
| OLE MISS | 6-3 | 18 | 21 |
| MICHIGAN | 8-1 | 19 | 16 |
| MISSISSIPPI ST. | 9-1 | 20 | 22 |
| ALABAMA | 9-1 | 21 | 20 |
| BAYLOR | 9-2 | 22 | 19 |
| GEORGIA TECH | 9-0 | 23 | 25 |
| NC STATE | 6-3 | 24 | 29 |
WOMEN’S COLLEGE SCOREBOARD
TOP 25
#14 KENTUCKY 87 QUEENS 45
NBA SCOREBOARD
NEW YORK 113 TORONTO 108
NHL SCOREBOARD
CHICAGO 2 NY RANGERS 1
DETROIT 6 BUFFALO 5
MONTREAL 3 ANAHEIM 2
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES
GENERAL SPORTS NEWS
$1 MILLION PER HOMER? $27,000 A POINT? $229 PER SECOND? SPORTS IS LOADED WITH MONEY ODDITIES
These were Juan Soto’s numbers in 2024: 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .288 batting average.
Keep doing that over the next 15 years, and he’ll be making roughly $1.2 million for every home run. Or $467,890 for every RBI. Or $307,229 for every hit.
(Pre-tax, of course.)
Soto’s $765 million, 15-year agreement with the New York Mets — the richest contract in terms of total value to a player in U.S. major sports history, a massive move by billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen — provides a chance to look at the numbers in some very silly ways.
He’ll make $314,815 per game. Based on his numbers this season, he’d get $671,053 for every extra-base hit. Or $46,322 every time he swings the bat no matter if he misses, hits a tapper back to the mound or has Mr. Met celebrating in the stands after driving one out at Citi Field. Of course, that’s assuming Soto remains as healthy and productive as he was in 2024. If he misses significant time, those rates just go up.
“Thank you Uncle Steve,” Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo wrote on social media.
Some of the numbers around the sports world, when broken down by accomplishment, are simply eye-popping in this era. (And keep in mind, these examples are based on current earnings, not taking into account restructurings or any other potential changes.)
A look:
MLB: Blake Snell, Dodgers
The two-time Cy Young winner will earn about $65 million in 2025, most of which is a signing bonus that comes his way in January. He’s also never made more than 32 starts in a season. If he makes 32 starts in 2025, he’d be getting (when factoring in the signing bonus) $2,031,250 per game. For comparison’s sake, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal made $2.65 million for the entire 2024 season — and won a Cy Young award.
MLB: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
His record $700 million deal is no longer a record because of the Soto deal, but Ohtani still holds the mark for average total value at $70 million a year. The only member of baseball’s 50-50 club (54 homers, 59 stolen bases in 2024) would — at this past season’s rate — be making $619,469 every time he hits one out or steals a base.
NFL: Dak Prescott, Cowboys
It’s unfair to break down his stats this year because he’s hurt, but Prescott’s current deal is worth an average of $60 million a season from Dallas. Based on his career average, that means over the lifetime of his current contract, Prescott gets $13,680 for every passing yard.
NFL: Quarterbacks in general
The per-game numbers in the NFL for starting quarterbacks are wild. Patrick Mahomes’ current $450 million contract isn’t even at the top of the cash-per-game standings: Prescott gets about $3.5 million for every Dallas regular season game, while Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Green Bay’s Jordan Love are around $3.25 million per game.
NBA: Stephen Curry, Warriors
At nearly $56 million this season, Curry leads the NBA salary race (for this year, anyway). The NBA’s all-time 3-point king is earning about $680,000 per game in 2024-25; if he was paid by the 3-pointer only, he’d be getting about $161,908 every time he makes one of those this season.
NBA: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Celtics
Brown is starting a five-year deal worth around $285 million, Tatum will start a five-year deal next year worth around $314 million. At those rates, the Celtics would be paying their two best players (at their current scoring paces) around $27,406 for every point scored. To compare — Larry Bird, for his career, made about $1,100 per point.
NHL: Leon Draisaitl, Oilers
He’ll start a contract next year that will pay him an average of $14 million a season over eight seasons. At his current rate of scoring, he’d be earning roughly $119,393 for every goal or assist over that span.
NHL: Igor Shesterkin, Rangers
Shesterkin just got the richest extension for a goalie, $92 million over eight years. At his current averages, every time he makes a save, he’ll be earning $5,084.
MLS: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami
Based just on his Major League Soccer guaranteed salary, Messi got just over $1 million per goal this season ($20.4 million, 20 goals). Again, just counting the MLS salary — his full deal with Inter Miami is worth at least $150 million for 2½ years — Messi made $229 for every second he was on the field during the 2024 regular season.
Golf: Scottie Scheffler, PGA
Scheffler’s official earnings in 2024 were $29,228,357 (plus an Olympic gold medal, which is priceless). And that doesn’t include $34,037,500 million in bonuses and unofficial earnings, including $25 million for winning the FedExCup. Add it all up, and that meant the world’s No. 1 player earned about $11,243 per shot he took this season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
IS THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF BRACKET FAIR? HERE ARE SOME TWEAKS THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THINGS
The committee that chose the 12 contenders for college football’s national title was only worried about one thing — ranking the teams.
Where those teams landed in the College Football Playoff bracket was based on a formula created by conference commissioners. That jumbled up the pairings — there are some big gaps, for instance, between where a team is seeded and where it’s ranked — and made a strong case for tinkering in the future.
“I think the process to rank the best 25 teams is a great process,” said selection committee chairman Warde Manuel. “I’ve heard debates and discussions about how the seeding of the tournament should go. I will leave that up to the commissioners.”
Among the choices the commissioners made months ago that set the template for the bracket released Sunday:
— Favoring conference champions by giving four of them byes and one more an automatic spot in the field, no matter where they were ranked in the CFP’s top 25.
— Not reseeding the bracket after the first round, a move that could have given the best teams more favorable early matchups.
— Making no attempt to avoid regular-season rematches early in the playoffs.
There was also the issue of the 12-team bracket, which could very well be expanded in the next year or two.
All those choices led to a field full of possibilities, but also one containing head-scratching matchups. The choices could, in some eyes, undermine the College Football Playoff’s main mission, which is ( making more money while) providing more “access” — in other words, a fair shake to more than four deserving teams.
For instance, top-seeded and undefeated Oregon could play its first game against Big Ten foe Ohio State, which was ranked No. 2 for much of the season and lost to the Ducks by a point earlier this year.
And Boise State, from the non-power Mountain West Conference, is the third seed, even though the committee ranked the Broncos ninth.
Here is how things might have looked if certain rules that could come into play in the future were already in place:
What if the committee gave no preference to conference champions?
First things first — there’s not a single tweak that would’ve placed Oregon at anything other than the No. 1 seed. The Ducks are the only undefeated team in major college football and winning a title this year would leave them a jaw-dropping 16-0.
Had the rules called for simply slotting in the top 12 teams, though, Alabama would be in the bracket and Oregon’s path would be wildly different. A look at the coulda-been matchups:
— No. 12 Arizona State at No. 5 Notre Dame: Big 12 champs would’ve made it because they rose three spots after that big win over Iowa State.
— No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Ohio State: Without automatic berths for conference champions, Tide would have been in, not at the ReliaQuest Bowl against a 7-5 Michigan team.
— No. 10 SMU at No. 7 Tennessee: Mustangs could’ve slept soundly despite that heartbreaking loss to Clemson. And the Vols would have had a home game instead of a trip to Ohio State.
— No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Indiana: Hoosiers would’ve gotten the home game their coach thought they deserved, with the winner facing the Ducks.
The third and fourth byes would have gone to Texas and Penn State, both losers in their conference title games — a turn that would have furthered questions as to whether those games have outlived their usefulness.
What if the committee believed in reseeding or in avoiding early rematches?
As things stand, Oregon will face either Ohio State or Tennessee at the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinals. Reseeding or avoiding regular-season matchups in the early rounds would likely have given the Ducks an easier game to start.
Under a reseeding scenario, the Ohio State matchup could only happen if every home team — Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and the Buckeyes — were to win its first-round game.
This tweak also would prevent this year’s possibility of Clemson vs. Arizona State in the quarterfinals — two teams that weren’t in the top 12 a week ago. Or the prospect of two bye teams — ASU and Boise State — being big underdogs against teams, think Texas or Penn State, that have to win a game to play them.
What if the committee had gone to 14 teams instead of 12?
This one is a loaded question, because when the playoffs expand they will do so with different rules.
One formula kicking around involves giving three automatic spots to the Big Ten and SEC, two to the ACC and Big 12, one to the best-ranked champion of a Group of Five conference and three at-large spots.
This, too, would cause problems and shuffling and teams getting passed over. But where it really breaks down is that 18th-ranked Iowa State of the Big 12 would land in this bracket as the 14 seed despite losing to Arizona State by 26.
Hard to see that going over well at Miami, or Ole Miss, or Colorado.
Then again, nobody ever said this was going to be fair.
RUST VS. REST: EXTRA TIME OFF OR POTENTIALLY LOSING EDGE BRINGS ANOTHER WORRY FOR CFP COACHES
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — The expanded College Football Playoff brings something new for coaches who are used to planning for one game, maybe two: Rust vs. rest.
The 12-team bracket released Sunday features four teams in Oregon, Georgia,Boise State and Arizona State with first-round byes, whose games will take place Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
First-round games — Clemson at Texas, SMU at Penn State, Indiana at Notre Dame and Tennessee at Ohio State — all take place on Dec. 20-21.
The CFP committee intentionally or otherwise, gave first-round opponents an equal amount of rest. Clemson, Texas, SMU and Penn State all played in championship games Saturday. Indiana, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee all last played on Nov. 30.
It’s in the quarterfinals when college football might find out if plenty of rest leads to some rust.
The four top seeds get a long, welcome break from a grueling season. Georgia coach Kirby Smart made it clear accepting the trophy at the SEC championship game: “It means rest for a team that (SEC Commissioner) Greg Sankey and his staff sent on the road all year long. We get to take a little bit of a break and get ready for the College Football Playoff. This team needs some rest mentally, needs a little time off.”
But they will face an opponent filled with momentum that’s already tasted playoff success.
“You don’t stay the same during a bye week,” said Pete Shinnick, Towson football coach. “Your team changes. You just hope it gets you better.”
Few know better than Shinnick. He was coach at Division II West Florida in 2019 when he and his Argonauts defeated regional top seed Valdosta State, coming off a bye week, and kicked off a surprise run to the national title.
“We were a team of destiny, no doubt about it,” Shinnick recalled.
Shinnick said he thinks teams like Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State that have played in the four-team CFP championship chase know how to keep their teams on point because they’ve done it before after lengthy layoffs. Newcomers like Boise State and Arizona State?
“It will be an adjustment,” he said.
Some head coaches don’t see the debate, focused instead on championship goals.
“Are you asking me if I want to win a conference championship?” said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney two weeks ago before his Tigers secured their seventh CFP berth with a 34-31 win over SMU in the ACC championship game.
While byes are a CFP first, other NCAA divisions have long had uneven bracketing in their playoffs.
The Championship Subdivision has had a tournament since 1978. It had a 12-team field in 1982, set up like this year’s CFP. The grouping, then classified as Division I-AA, expanded to 16 playoff teams in 1986, 20 in 2010 and its current number of 24 in 2013.
From 2013 through this season, minus the COVID-19 season of 2020, 18 of 88 non-seeded teams won against FCS top eight seeds that received an extra week of rest. None of those 18 winners advanced past the semifinals.
Montana State coach Brent Vigen, whose team beat UT-Martin 49-17 on Saturday as the FCS’s top overall seed, was an assistant at North Dakota State for three national titles from 2011-13. He said the extra time off was essential to the Bison’s championship run.
“It really allows you to reset in some ways, put the regular season behind you and certainly get healthier,” Vigen said.
He concentrated on fundaments during bye week workouts to avoid coming out flat in their playoff opener.
“We go good (players) on good,” Vigen said. “If you were just stone cold taking these weeks off, I think you’d be in trouble.”
South Carolina had a six-game win streak to close the regular season but didn’t make the playoff. Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer was asked last month about the CFP and he noted some concerns about losing the bowl game experience.
“Let’s say you play on Saturday the first round,” Beamer said last month. “You’re going to leave on Friday, travel wherever you are. You play the game and if you lose your season’s over. That’s it. You don’t go to a bowl game.”
Vigen, a former offensive coordinator at Wyoming, said he believes the playoff format instantly engages players, even more so than waiting a month or more for a bowl game.
“You take multiple days off at a time,” he explained. “You might take almost a week off. One time we had a whole month between our last regular-season game and our bowl game. I think that can be tricky.”
The point for all playoff teams, Montana State’s Vigen said, is having a solid, workable plan so players don’t lose focus.
“You’re continually doing everything you can to keep your sword sharpened,” he said.
REPORT: GEORGIA QB CARSON BECK SUFFERED UCL INJURY
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck sustained an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow during the SEC championship game, On3 reported Monday.
Beck is getting second opinions and there is no timetable for his return, according to the report.
Beck was injured on the final play of the first half and was ruled out for the second half. However, he returned to hand the ball off to running back Trevor Etienne for the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat Texas after his replacement, Gunner Stockton, was injured on a big hit.
Texas’ Trey Moore forced a fumble on Beck’s Hail Mary attempt at the end of the first half. Beck remained motionless on the field for a short time before joining the team in the locker room.
Second-seeded Georgia is set to face the winner of No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 10 Indiana on Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl, the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff.
Beck has thrown for 3,485 yards and a career-high 28 touchdowns against 12 interceptions this season. He was 7-for-13 for just 56 yards prior to getting injured.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRANSFER PORTAL OPENS AS OKLAHOMA’S ARNOLD, OTHER TOP PLAYERS LOOK FOR A MOVE
The college football transfer portal opened on Monday, a day after the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field was released.
The portal period closes on Dec. 28.
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi and Miami (Ohio) wide receiver Reggie Virgil were among the players who entered the portal on opening day. Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown announced his transfer intentions on Sunday.
Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold
The sophomore Arnold passed for 1,984 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions and ran for 560 yards and four scores at Oklahoma.
The former five-star recruit took over as the starter before last season’s bowl game after Dillon Gabriel announced he would transfer. Arnold passed for 361 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in the Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona.
Arnold entered this season as the starter, but he struggled to move the team as Oklahoma dealt with major injuries on the offensive line and at receiver. Michael Hawkins Jr. replaced him during a loss to Tennessee, then led the Sooners to a win at Auburn.
Hawkins committed three early turnovers in a loss to South Carolina, opening the door for Arnold to regain the job. Arnold had more success after offensive coordinator Seth Littrell was fired midseason and Joe Jon Finley stepped in as the play-caller.
In a stunning 24-3 win over Alabama, Arnold ran 25 times for 131 yards and completed 9 of 11 passes.
Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi
Mahdi has announced on social media he will enter the transfer portal.
Mahdi ran for 991 yards and four touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 195 yards and two TDs this season. He also gained 184 yards on kickoff returns.
Last season, Mahdi led the nation with 2,169 all-purpose yards. He ran for 1,331 yards and 10 touchdowns and had 275 yards receiving and 563 kick return yards.
Miami (Ohio) wide receiver Reggie Virgil
Virgil, a 6-foot-4 junior, played little his first two years with the RedHawks. He broke out and caught 41 passes for 816 yards and nine touchdowns this season.
“This decision was not easy, but I believe it is the best step for my future,” he said in a social media post. “I am excited for what lies ahead and I’ll remain forever thankful for the support I’ve received.”
Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown
Brown entered the transfer portal after three years as a backup. He announced his intention in a social media post, saying he intends to stay with the Buckeyes through the College Football Playoff.
Brown lost a close quarterback competition to Kyle McCord in 2023 and was relegated to a back seat again when the Buckeyes brought in Kansas State transfer Will Howard for 2024.
For 2025, Ohio State has a crowded quarterback room that includes Julian Sayin, who was the top-rated recruit nationally in the 2024 class.
Brown, from Gilbert, Arizona, has thrown for 325 yards and three touchdowns in the past two seasons, mostly in mop-up duty.
NFL NEWS
JOE BURROW, JA’MARR CHASE TAKE OVER AS BENGALS EDGE COWBOYS
Joe Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 1:01 remaining to give the Cincinnati Bengals a 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night in Arlington, Texas.
The Cowboys (5-8) were on the verge of a huge break when former Bengal Nick Vigil blocked a Cincinnati punt just after the two-minute warning. However, teammate Amani Oruwariye muffed the recovery and Maema Njongmeta grabbed the ball to give Cincinnati possession.
Three plays later, Burrow hit Chase for the game-winning points.
Dallas got up to its own 48 on the final drive of the game but could get no further.
Burrow was 33-for-44 passing for 369 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Bengals (5-8), who snapped a three-game skid. Chase hauled in 14 catches for 177 yards and a pair of scores.
Cooper Rush completed 16 of 31 passes for 183 yards, two TDs and a pick as the Cowboys got outgained 433-322. Rico Dowdle led the rushing attack with 131 yards on 18 carries.
Cade York drew the Bengals even at 20-20 with a 29-yard field goal with 10:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys had overcome a 17-10 halftime deficit. They started the second half strong, moving 70 yards on eight plays in just 4:28 to make it 17-17. Rush capped the impressive march with a 3-yard scoring strike to Brandin Cooks.
Brandon Aubrey booted a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth to put Dallas up 20-17.
The teams traded first-quarter touchdowns, with Rush hooking up with CeeDee Lamb for an 11-yard score before Chase hauled in a pass from Burrow and got into the end zone from 5 yards out to forge a 7-7 tie.
Lamb finished with 93 yards and the TD on six catches.
After Aubrey drilled a 35-yarder, Burrow threw a 19-yard touchdown to Chase Brown to give Cincinnati a 14-10 edge with 3:30 to play in the first half.
York made good on a 37-yard field goal three minutes later for the 17-10 advantage at intermission.
PANTHERS LOSE ROOKIE RB JONATHON BROOKS FOR THE SEASON TO A TORN ACL; SAME KNEE HE INJURED AT TEXAS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have lost rookie running back Jonathon Brooks for the remainder of the season to a torn ACL in his right knee just three games into his return to the field.
Brooks suffered a non-contact injury in Carolina’s 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday on his first carry of the game and was carted to the locker room.
Panthers coach Dave Canales said Brooks will have surgery in the coming weeks, adding that the running back is “really crushed and discouraged” over the second major injury to his knee in 13 months. Brooks first tore his ACL in November 2023 while playing for Texas, requiring surgery and causing his stock to drop in the NFL draft.
The Panthers took a chance on Brooks in the second round with the idea of bringing him along slowly.
Carolina held him out through training camp and he started the regular season on injured reserve and missed the first 10 games of the season. He returned to action three weeks ago, but had just nine carries for 22 yards and three receptions for 23 yards over the past three games.
Canales informed the team of the results of the MRI on Brooks’ knee prior to meeting with reporters.
RAIDERS (2-11) HAND QB1 TO DESMOND RIDDER WITH FALCONS UP NEXT
Another week, another loss and a new starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Desmond Ridder becomes the QB1 for the Raiders (2-11) in Week 15 as Las Vegas prepares to host his former team, the Atlanta Falcons (6-7), next Monday night.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Monday an official diagnosis of Aidan O’Connell’s injured knee was expected later in the day.
“Desmond Ridder will be the starter for now,” Pierce said.
O’Connell is expected to miss the rest of the season and Pierce said the injury “doesn’t look good.”
He was carted to the locker room with an air cast on his left leg after being pushed from behind by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey in the third quarter on Sunday. The Raiders soon ruled O’Connell out for the rest of the game with a knee injury.
The Raiders have lost nine consecutive games and failed to score 20 points in each of the past four defeats.
O’Connell began the season as a backup but became the starter after Gardner Minshew suffered a broken collarbone on Nov. 24.
O’Connell was fleeing pressure toward the right sideline with 1:23 left in the quarter when Kancey shoved him from behind after the play. No penalty was called.
O’Connell, who was 11-for-19 for 104 yards and an interception, was replaced by Ridder.
The 26-year-old O’Connell finished the day with a 63.2 completion percentage for 899 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions over six games (four starts) in his second NFL campaign.
SAINTS QB DEREK CARR (HAND, CONCUSSION) WEEK TO WEEK
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr suffered an injury to his left hand and has also entered concussion protocol, according to interim coach Darren Rizzi.
Rizzi’s Monday news conference came shortly after NFL Network reported that Carr broke his left hand in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants and was expected to miss several weeks.
Rizzi disputed the report Carr has a “major fracture” and said surgery isn’t required. Because the injury is to Carr’s non-throwing hand, it’s feasible he could attempt to play if he clears concussion protocol.
Per NFL Network, the Saints aren’t putting Carr on injured reserve, leaving the door open for a potential return. The Saints have won three of their last four games, but at 5-8, their playoff chances are slim entering Week 15.
New Orleans hosts the Washington Commanders (8-5) on Sunday. Rizzi did not commit to either Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler as the starting quarterback if Carr can’t go.
Carr, who is right-handed, was injured when he tried to leap for a first down late in the final quarter of a 15-11 road win against the New York Giants. He was near the sideline and went airborne, landing hard on the left hand with this face then slamming into the turf as he landed out of bounds with 3:59 left in the game.
Carr completed 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jake Haener finished up the game for the Saints.
Overall, Carr has passed for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He missed three games earlier this season due to an oblique injury.
GIANTS INTEND TO STAY WITH QB DREW LOCK IF HEALTHY
On an eight-game losing streak, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Monday he intends to have quarterback Drew Lock start again Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens if he is healthy.
Lock, 28, was 21-of-49 passing for 227 yards and an interception in Sunday’s 14-11 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. He led the team with 59 yards rushing on five carries.
Lock was experiencing soreness Monday morning in multiple areas and underwent an MRI, according to Daboll, who was not specific on the exact nature of the injuries.
New York has moved on from former first-round QB Daniel Jones this season, with Tommy DiVito starting in a loss to the Tampa Buccaneers in Week 12. Lock has started the last two games while completing 51.9 percent of his passes for a combined 405 yards and two interceptions without a touchdown.
In 33 games (25 starts) over five seasons for the Denver Broncos (2019-21), Seattle Seahawks (2023) and Giants, Lock has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 5,697 yards, 28 TDs and 25 interceptions.
BUCS S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR. (KNEE) TO MISS SEVERAL GAMES
Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. sustained a sprained knee Sunday that will sideline him for multiple games, head coach Todd Bowles said Monday.
Winfield was injured in the second quarter of Sunday’s 28-13 win over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. He exited the game two plays later and did not return. Winfield missed four games earlier this season with an ankle and foot sprain sustained in Week 1.
Winfield, 26, has 60 tackles, three passes defensed, two sacks and a fumble recovery for touchdown in nine starts. He was named All-Pro in 2023 and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021.
He has 17 career sacks and seven interceptions in 68 games (all starts) since being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft.
The 7-6 Bucs climbed into first place in the NFC South with Sunday’s win and visit the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TENNESSEE GRABS NO. 1 IN AP TOP 25 AFTER SHAKEUP; NO. 3 IOWA STATE HAS HIGHEST RANKING SINCE 1950S
Tennessee is the new No. 1 in men’s college basketball after a massive shakeup in the AP Top 25.
The Vols received 58 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel Monday to reach No. 1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Tennessee climbed two spots from last week after Kansas lost twice and Auburn fell to No. 4 Duke. The Tigers remained No. 2 and received three first-place votes.
No. 3 Iowa State had one first-place vote and climbed three places from last week for its highest ranking since 1956-57. Kentucky rounded out the top five.
In all, 14 ranked teams lost last week, including six teams in the top 10; Kansas and then-No. 11 Wisconsin lost twice. Only two teams — Auburn and No. 12 Oregon — remained in the same poll spots they were a week ago and the volatility saw five teams jump into the rankings.
Tennessee (8-0) is off to its best start since opening the 2000-01 season 9-0 and is No. 1 in the NET rankings. The Vols also are second in the KenPom ratings, ranking second in defensive efficiency and ninth in offensive efficiency despite losing four starters from last year’s SEC championship team. Tennessee beat Syracuse 96-70 in its only game last week.
Kansas had been No. 1 since the preseason poll before losing to 76-63 to Creighton and 76-67 to rival Missouri. The losses dropped the Jayhawks to No. 10.
Auburn was poised to move into the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2021-22, but lost 84-78 at Duke before beating Richmond.
Iowa State had its highest preseason ranking at No. 5 after reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 a year ago. The Cyclones lost by two to Auburn in the Maui Invitational, but have reeled off four straight wins since.
Iowa State blew out Jackson State 100-58 in its only game last week before facing rival Iowa this week.
Huskies rebound
Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly dropped out of the poll last week following 0-for-3 run in Maui. The Huskies bounced back nicely last week, picking up impressive wins over Baylor and Texas to move up seven spots in this week’s poll to No. 18.
“Maybe the people with the shovels and the dirt, maybe they were too quick to grab the shovel and throw the dirt on us,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said.
Rising and falling
Oklahoma had the biggest jump within this week’s poll, climbing eight spots to No. 13 after beating Georgia Tech and Alcorn State. Duke and No. 17 Texas A&M each moved up five spots.
Kansas had the biggest drop, followed by No. 20 Wisconsin, which fell nine spots. No. 22 Cincinnati dropped eight places.
In and out
Multiple teams moved in and out of this week’s poll.
No. 14 Michigan is ranked for the first time in nearly three years after tight wins over Wisconsin and Iowa. The Wolverines have won seven straight under first-year coach Dusty May.
No. 16 Clemson is ranked for the first time this season following wins over Kentucky and Miami. No. 21 Michigan State also is ranked for the first time after wins over Nebraska and Minnesota.
No. 24 UCLA is ranked for the first time in nearly two years following wins over Washington and Oregon. No. 25 Mississippi State is back in the poll after blowing out Pittsburgh 90-57 and beating Prairie View A&M.
Baylor, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Illinois and North Carolina all dropped out of the rankings.
Conference watch
The SEC led all conferences with nine ranked teams, followed by the Big Ten with six and the Big 12 with four. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East each had two ranked teams, while the West Coast and Mountain West conferences each had one.
BAYLOR DROPS OUT OF TOP 25, STILL CRUSHES ABILENE CHRISTIAN
Jayden Nunn went 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and finished with 18 points as Baylor cruised to an 88-57 victory over Abilene Christian on Tuesday night in Waco, Texas.
The Bears (6-3), who fell out of the top 25 earlier in the day after being ranked 15th a week prior, didn’t seem to let their unranked status phase them. They never trailed, scoring 12 of the game’s first 15 points to set the tone in what ended up being a blowout.
Norchad Omier finished with 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting for Baylor, while V.J. Edgecombe had 14 points and six boards. Josh Ojianwuna finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
It was a 24-point game at the break, as the Bears shot a stunning 74.1 percent from the field in the first half to build a 46-22 cushion. They did a good portion of their damage during a 17-4 run that came after the Wildcats (6-4) had pulled within 12-9 with 13:52 to go in the opening period.
Edgecombe capped that game-changing outburst with a jumper, a dunk and a free throw.
Abilene Christian simply couldn’t keep up. The Wildcats shot just 26.9 percent from the field before intermission and were 0-for-6 from 3-point range. The lone highlight was Leonardo Bettiol scoring 12 of his 16 points in the first half.
Baylor didn’t let up in the second half. It did see its lead get cut to 17, 54-37, with 15:39 to go, but the Bears responded with eight unanswered points and were up by at least 22 the rest of the way.
Nunn knocked down two of his triples and added a layup during an 18-2 run in the game’s final minutes that caused the Baylor lead to balloon to 38, 88-50.
Quion Williams was the Wildcats’ only other scorer in double figures, posting 10 points. Abilene Christian finished at 34.5 percent from the floor for the game.
MICHIGAN, MARYLAND EARN MEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY ACCOLADES
ROSEMONT, Ill. (Dec. 9, 2024) – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Men’s Basketball Players of the Week for the week of December 2-8, 2024.
Player of the Week
Vladislav Goldin, Michigan
C – Gr. – 7-1 – Voronezh, Russia – Putnam Science Academy
- Averaged 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and shot 62.5 percent (15-for-24) from the field, helping Michigan start Big Ten play with a pair of wins against No. 11 Wisconsin and Iowa
- Scored a career-best 24 points, adding five rebounds, three blocks and a steal in the Wolverines’ 67-64 win at Wisconsin
- Posted a second 20-point game and his first double-double at Michigan (11th career) with 20 points and 11 rebounds against the Hawkeyes
- Last Michigan Player of the Week: Hunter Dickinson (Jan. 3, 2024)
Freshman of the Week
Derik Queen, Maryland
C – 6-10 – Baltimore, Md. – Montverde Academy
- Averaged 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds as Maryland opened Big Ten play 1-1 with a win against Ohio State (83-59) and a road loss at No. 8 Purdue (83-78)
- Shot 60.7% (17-28) from the field and was 7-8 from the free throw line, while adding three steals, two assists and two blocks
- In the win against Ohio State, Queen posted 17 points and 11 rebounds with two steals
- Tallied a career-best 26 points and 12 rebounds with two blocks, one assist and one steal at Purdue
- Earns his second Freshman of the Week award
- Last Maryland Freshman of the Week: Derik Queen (Nov. 25, 2024)
CREIGHTON’S ISAACS NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK; UCONN’S MCNEELEY EARNS FRESHMAN HONORS
NEW YORK – Creighton guard Pop Isaacs has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week and Connecticut forward Liam McNeeley has earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors. Isaacs paced the Bluejays to a double-digit win over top-ranked Kansas. McNeeley supported the Huskies in victories over No. 15 Baylor and at Texas.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Pop Isaacs, Creighton, G, Jr.
Isaacs fueled Creighton’s 76-63 victory over the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks with 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He shot 10-of-15 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range. Later in the week, it was announced that Isaacs will miss the remainder of the season due to a hip injury.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Liam McNeeley, UConn, F, Fr.
McNeeley earns Freshman honors for the second time after contributing to a 2-0 week. He led the way in a 76-72 win over Baylor with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. In a 76-65 victory at Texas, he had seven points, nine boards and three assists.
BIG EAST Honor Roll
Alex Karaban, UConn, F, Sr. – Returned to the lineup for the win at Texas (76-65) and had a team-high 21 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Kam Jones, Marquette, G, Sr. – Averaged 23.0 points, 7.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in a 1-1 week against ranked opponents. Had 32 points, six assists and four steals in a win against No. 11 Wisconsin (88-74).
Bryce Hopkins, Providence, F-G, Sr. – Averaged 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a 1-1 week. Posted 16 points, five rebounds and four assists in a win against BYU (83-64).
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s, F, Jr. – Posted career highs of 28 points and 13 rebounds in a victory over Kansas State (88-71). It was his third double-double of the season. Shot 6-of-11 from the field.
Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, Gr. – Averaged 27.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week. Had 31 points and seven boards in a win against No. 14 Cincinnati (68-60). Scored 24 points in a triumph over Temple (95-64).
MIAMI’S SUDER, BGSU’S BUTLER NAMED MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MAC Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week | 12.9.24
Derrick Butler, Bowling Green, Guard
Senior, Charlotte, N.C.
Derrick Butler erupted for the Falcons against Morgan State, scoring 35 points. Not only was it a career-high for Butler, but the most points scored by anyone on BGSU’s active roster. Butler began the day with 20 points in the first 14 minutes, finishing the first half with 22. He followed it up with another 13 in the second half. Butler hit six threes for the Falcons in the game, the most by a BGSU player this season. Butler added six rebounds to his stat line as well as an assist and a steal while leading BGSU to the team’s first 100-point game against a Division-I opponent since 2021.
Peter Suder, Miami, Guard
Junior, Carmel, Ind. (Carmel High School)
Peter Suder had a historic week for the Red and White. Suder led all players with a career-high 42 points (17-of-21 from the field) in a 73-60 win over Air Force, the most ever by a Miami player at Millett Hall. This point total is tied for the sixth-highest all-time by a Miami player and the largest amount scored since Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 in 1999. On the week, he averaged 25.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.5 assists and 0.5 blocks.
Other Nominees
Tavari Johnson, Akron, Guard
Junior, Chicago, Ill. (Lyons HS)
Tavari Johnson was one of the driving forces for the Zips that resulted in a 2-0 week. Tavari shot 60 percent (12-of-20) from the field and was 50 percent (4-of-8) from beyond the arc against Northern Kentucky and SUNY Brockport. Johnson was stellar from the charity stripe, knocking down 11-of-12 (.917) free throws. He added eight assists, four rebounds and two blocks on the week. Johnson recorded a career-high 27 points against Northern Kentucky on December 3 that saw him go 8-of-11 (.727) from the field, 4-of-6 (.667) from 3-point range and 7-of-8 (.875) from the free throw line. He followed that performance with a 12-point night against SUNY Brockport on December 7 where he recorded a career-high two blocks. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line while adding three assists and two rebounds.
Cian Medley, Kent State, Guard
Sophomore, Sicklerville, N.J. (Camden)
Cian Medley tied a career high in scoring in Kent State’s win over Portland on Friday, Dec. 6. His 15 points matched what he had for Saint Louis against Duquesne at the end of last season. He also led the Flashes in assists with six.
Jackson Paveletzke, Ohio, Guard
Junior, Kimberly, Wisconsin
Junior guard Jackson Paveletzke led the Bobcats this past weekend in their 88-76 victory over Morehead State on Dec. 7 inside the Convo. Paveletzke led Ohio with a season-high 23 points, going 10-of-19 from the field, with one three, and going 2-of-2 from the line. He also snagged a career-high eight rebounds, while dishing out three assists and grabbing one steal in the victory.
Sam Lewis, Toledo, Guard
Sophomore, Chicago, Ill. (Simeon Academy)
Sophomore Sam Lewis led the Rockets with a career-high 18 points and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field to lead Toledo to a 111-49 victory over Defiance College. Lewis also grabbed five rebounds and made one three-point field goal. Lewis scored 12 of his points in the first half to help UT take a 55-23 halftime lead.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
USC AND MICHIGAN SCORE BIG TEN WEEKLY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS
Player of the Week
JuJu Watkins, USC
Sophomore – Guard – Los Angeles, Calif. – Sierra Canyon
• Averaged 30.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks during USC’s two wins
• Set a new USC record with nine made three-pointers against California Baptist
• Shot a career-high 9-for-11 from beyond the arc on her way to a season-best 40 points versus the Lancers
• Third Big Ten women’s basketball player in the last 25 years to score 40 points and nine three-pointers in a game
• Added 21 points against Oregon
• Earns her first Big Ten Player of the Week award
• Last USC Player of the Week: JuJu Watkins (Dec. 9, 2024)
Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Cotie McMahon, OSU: Scored a season-high 25 points, five rebounds and three assists against No. 21 Illinois
Serah Williams, WIS: Dropped 20 points, 13 rebounds and a career-best six assists while shooting 70 percent (7-of-10) versus Rutgers
Julia Ayrault, MSU: Earned her second straight double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds) against DePaul
Freshman of the Week
Olivia Olson, Michigan
Guard – New Hope, Minn. – Benilde St. Margaret’s
• Finished with a game-high 18 points in Michigan’s win over Northwestern
• Also grabbed six boards and recorded a block in 36 minutes of action
• Started the fourth quarter on a solo 8-0 run to erase the Wolverines’ deficit
• Collects her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Syla Swords (Dec. 2, 2024)
#BIGEASTWBB WEEKLY HONORS (12.9.24) UCONN’S SARAH STRONG SWEEPS WEEKLY AWARDS
NEW YORK – UConn freshman forward Sarah Strong earned both BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Week after leading the Huskies to a 2-0 week, including an 85-52 win over #22 Louisville. The freshman averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Creighton’s Lauren Jensen, Marquette’s Lee Volker, Providence’s Grace Efosa, St. John’s Lashae Dwyer and Seton Hall’s Savannah Catalon were named to this week’s honor roll.
BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Week
Sarah Strong, UConn, Fr., F
Strong averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting .773 from the field, including .700 from distance in a 2-0 week for UConn. The freshman went 9-for-12 from the field and 4-for-5 from three for a career-high 22 points in the 88-52 win against Holy Cross. She then led the team to an 85-52 victory over #22 Louisville with 21 points (8-10 FG/3-5 3FG) and eight rebounds. She is averaging 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds verses ranked opponents this season.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Lauren Jensen, Creighton
Jensen led Creighton to road victories at Xavier and Northern Iowa last week, averaging 20.0 points per game. She was second on the squad with 10 rebounds and led the Bluejays with 13 assists, including her first double-digit assist contest with 10 in the 75-71 win at Northern Iowa on Saturday.
Lee Volker, Marquette, Sr., G
Volker averaged 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals in 2-0 week against Indiana State and Illinois State.
Grace Efosa, Providence, Gr., G
In a pair of wins over Rhode Island and Brown, Efosa averaged 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal per game while shooting .581 from the field (18-31), .600 from three (3-5) and .750 from the foul line (6-8).
Lashae Dwyer, St. John’s, Sr., G
Dwyer recorded a career-high 25 points in the 72-67 victory at Penn State last Monday, to become one of just four players in NCAA Division I to record 25 or more points and seven or more steals in a single-game.
Savannah Catalon, Seton Hall, So., G
Catalon scored a career-high 26 points on 6-for-11 shooting from three-point range versus San Francisco (W, 59-53). She also had five rebounds and three steals in Seton Hall’s victory over the Dons. In the 87-63 victory against Howard, Catalon again led The Hall with 21 points, fueled by five three-pointers. She also collected a career-high six steals against the Bison with three rebounds.
NBA NEWS
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS TAKES OVER LATE, KNICKS TOP RAPTORS
Karl-Anthony Towns scored the go-ahead layup in the final minute and had 24 points and 15 rebounds as the visiting New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors 113-108 on Monday night.
Towns followed his key basket with a 3-pointer to clinch New York’s fifth win in its past six games.
Mikal Bridges added 23 points for New York, Jalen Brunson had 20 points and 11 assists, Josh Hart scored 10 points, and former Raptor OG Anunoby had 14 points and three blocked shots.
Former Knick RJ Barrett scored 30 points for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes scored 15 points before leaving the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter. Jakob Poeltl had 10 points and 12 rebounds and Ja’Kobe Walter scored a career-best 19 points off the bench.
The Knicks led 34-27 after one quarter and used a 7-0 spurt to lead by 11 points with 7:18 to play in the second quarter. Toronto scored 13 straight points to take a 55-53 lead with 2:35 remaining. The Raptors led 61-60 at halftime after Brunson missed two free throws with six seconds remaining.
Barnes hit consecutive 3-pointers to give Toronto a five-point lead with 8:23 to play in the third quarter.
Barnes and Towns were both down on the floor after tangling feet with 6:47 to play in the third. Barnes, who was called for a foul on the play, limped to the dressing room. Towns stayed on the court and made two free throws. Barnes (sprained right ankle) did not return. Toronto led 86-83 after three quarters.
New York took a two-point lead on a 3-pointer by Towns with 5:12 to go in the game. Barrett tied the game on a layup and Davion Mitchell’s 3-pointer gave Toronto a 104-101 lead.
Brunson converted a four-point play to put New York ahead by one with 3:03 left. Toronto regained the lead on Mitchell’s layup but Bridges answered with a 3-pointer with 1:38 left. Barrett’s layup tied the game with 42 seconds remaining, setting up the final sequence in which Towns put the game away.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: BLACKHAWKS SINK RANGERS, SNAP OUT OF COLD SPELL
Taylor Hall scored the tiebreaking goal with 13:44 remaining and added an assist as the visiting Chicago Blackhawks stopped a season-worst five-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the struggling New York Rangers on Monday night.
Outscored 21-10 during their skid, the Blackhawks gave interim coach Anders Sorensen his first win in two games since he replaced Luke Richardson on Thursday. Chicago also stopped a six-game road losing streak (0-5-1) and earned its fourth win in 15 games (4-10-1).
Tyler Bertuzzi also scored for the Blackhawks, who won for just the second time in 19 games this season when scoring two goals or fewer.
Chicago goaltender Arvid Soderblom made 29 saves a day after Petr Mrazek went on injured reserve with a groin ailment. Soderblom highlighted his ninth career victory (and second this season) with a left skate save on Artemi Panarin during a New York power play in the second.
Red Wings 6, Sabres 5 (SO)
Lucas Raymond had a goal and an assist and also scored during a shootout as visiting Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak by topping slumping Buffalo.
Andrew Copp had two goals and Moritz Seider supplied a goal and an assist. Detroit goalie Sebastian Cossa, the 15th overall pick of the 2021 draft, recorded the win in relief while making his NHL debut.
The Red Wings entered the contest on an 0-3-2 skid. Jason Zucker had two goals and an assist for Buffalo, which has lost seven straight games (0-4-3).
Canadiens 3, Ducks 2 (SO)
Patrik Laine recorded a goal and an assist in regulation before host Montreal won in a shootout against Anaheim.
Kirby Dach also scored and Sam Montembeault made 27 saves, including four in overtime, for the Canadiens, who improved to 3-1-0 on their five-game homestand.
Troy Terry scored both goals and Lukas Dostal made 19 saves for the Ducks, who lost for the sixth time in their past eight games (2-4-2). Laine and Cole Caufield scored in the shootout for Montreal, while Terry and Mason McTavish both failed to find the back of the net for Anaheim.
BASEBALL NEWS
CARDINALS REVEAL PLAN TO TRADE ALL-STAR 3B NOLAN ARENADO
The St. Louis Cardinals’ rebuilding plan is likely to include the departure of third baseman Nolan Arenado.
John Mozeliak, the club’s president of baseball operations, made that announcement Monday at the winter meetings in Dallas.
Arenado, 33, is under contract for 2025 at $32 million, 2026 at $27 million and 2027 at $15 million.
“(Having Arenado remain a Cardinal) is a possibility, but I’m not sure that puts us where we want to be,” Mozeliak said. “From a financial standpoint of trying to move our payroll, there are certainly other ways to do that, but (dealing Arenado) would be a big help. It’s financial, but it also creates a runway for someone else.”
He added, “These decisions are not something we ever take lightly. (Arenado) is not demanding a trade. He’s not telling me I have to do it, but I think in the best interest of both sides, I’d like to try to find him someplace to land.”
The odds of that mission succeeding are reduced by the amount of money Arenado is owed, as well as the full no-trade clause in his contract. Arenado did waive the clause when he was dealt from the Colorado Rockies to the Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2021, but he received significant financial incentives for doing so.
“(The no-trade provision) is a complicating task, but again we’ve had open dialogue, and we understand where this may end,” Mozeliak said.
Arenado is coming off the first of his 12 major league seasons in which he didn’t make the National League All-Star team, win a Gold Glove or both. He is an eight-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove honoree who has finished in the top eight in NL Most Valuable Player voting six times.
In 2024, Arenado hit .272 with a .325 on-base percentage, a .394 slugging percentage, 16 homers and 71 RBIs in 152 games. The homer and RBI totals were his worst in 10 years, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
Arenado owns a career batting line of .285/.342/.515 with 341 homers and 1,132 RBIs in 1,680 games.
The Cardinals are coming off an 83-79 season in which they tied for second place in the NL Central but failed to make the playoffs.
MLB WINTER MEETINGS NOTEBOOK: JUAN SOTO, ROKI SASAKI DRIVE DAY 1 CHATTER
DALLAS — The Hilton Anatole has become Major League Baseball’s top destination this week as teams converge for the winter meetings with writers, agents and even some fans circling the vast lobby floors.
The biggest offseason news came down Sunday night, when the New York Mets and star free agent slugger Juan Soto reportedly agreed on a 15-year, $765 million deal, which would be the largest contract ever given to a professional athlete.
That was a key talking point when managers started meeting with the media on Monday.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez reflected on when he was Soto’s first manager in the big leagues back in 2018.
“This kid, he was different,” Martinez said. “The ball comes off his bat differently. The way he approaches the hitting was way different than a lot of kids I’ve seen. But the one thing that I always remember about him, the first conversation I had, the first thing that came out of his mouth when I asked him what motivates him, what drives him, and he just came out and said, ‘I love baseball.’ Truly you can see it in him. He loves playing the game.”
The Red Sox were among the clubs in the mix for Soto. Boston manager Alex Cora didn’t get into specific details, but he enjoyed the organization’s pursuit of the four-time All Star.
“It was fun in a way, you know, to get to know people and players of that status,” Cora said. “It’s amazing. The kid, he gets it. He gets it. Let me put it that way.”
Royals manager Matt Quatraro, meanwhile, spoke about the impact such a monumental contract may have on smaller market teams in order to compete in today’s market.
“We have to be creative. We have to put the best 26 guys on a roster or the best 40 guys on a roster, not the best one or two,” Quatraro said. “At the end of the day, you have a chance to compete against those guys. Soto is going to hit four to five times a night. Those are impactful at-bats, but there’s other ways to combat that with a full 26-man roster.”
Sasaki Posted
Outside of the Soto reaction, Monday’s other main storyline – at least going into the afternoon hours – centered on Japanese ace right-hander Roki Sasaki officially being posted. The 23-year-old phenom is available to sign as a free agent from Tuesday through 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 23.
The rumor mill was churning with plenty of speculation and talk about where Sasaki might sign. He was just one of many big-name players being discussed on Monday.
The list of top free agents behind Soto includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried and infielders Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso and Christian Walker. On the trade front, much attention is being placed on White Sox left-handed starter Garrett Crochet.
It was a relatively quiet Day 1 through the standard working hours, although things are always subject to change at meetings of this nature.
Tito is Back
Terry Francona joked that his desire to manage again resurfaced when his daughters went on a 10-day trip to Europe.
“I watched the grandkids. That was the one day I thought maybe I’ll go back to baseball,” Francona said, laughing.
All joking aside, Francona said it simply happened that when the Reds reached out, the timing felt right. He’s healthy and refreshed as he’s set to enter his 24th season as a manager.
“I had a really good year and maybe I just needed that,” Francona, 65, said. “Then, when these guys called, it just felt right.”
Honoring Mays
The winter meetings kicked off with MLB announcing that its annual charity auction during the event would help revitalize Willie Mays Park in the late Hall of Famer’s hometown of Fairfield, Ala.
At a news conference, April Brown, MLB’s senior vice president of social responsibility and diversity, said the vision for the project includes access for all levels of players, from youth leagues to advanced levels.
“This effort will not just be MLB alone,” Brown said. “We have the blessing of so many connected to his legacy and that have the mission to instill the love of our game that Willie had to all of the youth in the area growing up in the neighborhood where he grew up.”
The auction, which features items from every major league club, runs through Thursday.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
COLTS NEWS
HOW COLTS ARE APPROACHING MAJOR PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS OF WEEK 15 MATCHUP VS. BRONCOS
The Colts’ Week 15 game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday is about as close as you can get to a win-or-go-home game (in December, of course) for head coach Shane Steichen and his squad.
A loss to the 8-5 Broncos wouldn’t fully remove the Colts from the playoff picture, but it would take them from a 28 percent chance to make the postseason to eight percent, according to The New York Times playoff simulator. A win, on the other hand, would boost the Colts’ playoff odds to 55 percent.
It’s a big game. That’s no secret to anyone, including those inside the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. But even so, the Colts are approaching this Sunday’s game just as they would any other game.
“We know what’s on the line, but (we’re) just taking it step-by-step,” cornerback Jaylon Jones said Monday. “Every week is a big week from here on out to get to where we want to get to.”
That’s the mindset Jones has always had, ever since he was playing high school football under Friday night lights in Texas. It didn’t change when he was playing on Saturdays for Texas A&M, and it hasn’t changed now that he’s realizing his dream of playing in the NFL.
“Every game counts,” Jones said. “I live for games like this, but I also live for games people might not see as big ones. Because to me, it’s always a blessing to step on the field and it’s always an opportunity to get better and display your game.”
Jones’ sentiments are representative of the entire Colts locker room; their preparation and mindset this week won’t be any different, because their main goals are to prove themselves and win a football game – just as they have been all season.
And that mentality starts at the top, with Steichen setting the tone.
“We’re not going to be oblivious to how big this game is,” Steichen said. “But we know that we’ve got to handle our business and we’ve got to prepare the right way and go play a football game. That’s going to be the main message.”
INDY FUEL
FUEL SIGN GOALTENDER MARCO COSTANTINI
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel announced on Monday that they have signed goaltender Marco Costantini to a standard player contract.
Costantini, 22, was signed with the Allen Americans earlier this season but was released by the team on November 17 after appearing in just one game, recording a .972 save percentage.
Last season, Costantini recorded 25 games in the ECHL, one for the Idaho Steelheads and 24 for the Allen Americans. He played on a loan from the Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL.
With Allen last season, Costantini recorded a .913 save percentage, 3.19 goals allowed, and a record of 13-6-1. He also recorded one shutout. In the playoffs for Allen, Costantini played three games recording a .895 save percentage, 3.70 goals allowed, and a record of 1-1-1.
Prior to his professional playing career, Costantini played in the OHL, his best season coming in 2021-22 with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He appeared in 45 games recording a .917 save percentage, 2.32 goals allowed, and a record of 31-9-4. He recorded six shutouts for the Bulldogs that season. In the playoffs that same year, Costantini went 16-2-1 with a 9.13 save percentage and helped lead his team to an OHL championship.
CAM HAUSINGER LOANED TO AHL CHICAGO WOLVES
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel announced today that Forward Cam Hausinger has been loaned to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. This will be Hausinger’s third stint with an AHL team.
So far this season, Hausinger has played in all 17 games for the Fuel. He is tied for the team lead in goals with five and the team lead in points with nine. Hausinger joined the Fuel at the end of last season and signed back with the team this offseason.
In his previous AHL stints, he’s seen time with the Milwaukee Admirals and Iowa Wild. In his AHL career, Hausinger has played 10 games and has scored one goal.
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
TUCKER PROVIDES SPARK IN BIG TEN OPENING VICTORY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Fun found Bryson Tucker and Kanaan Carlyle well before they put the misery into Minnesota’s first road game of the season, before they came off the bench to help shoot and pass Indiana to a Big Ten opening 82-67 victory.
Their Monday night pre-game warmups left them loose and laughing, and when it turned serious, they delivered for a combined 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting.
Tucker, a 6-7 freshman forward had 11 points in eight first-half minutes and finished with 16 points and six rebounds. He bounced back after going 0-for-4 from the field and failing to score in Friday night’s win over Miami of Ohio.
“I had to stay focused and keep my mind right,” he said. “There are plenty of games to come.”
That includes Friday night’s trip to Nebraska (6-2).
“When we recruited (Tucker), we thought he would be a big piece of the puzzle, and he is,” coach Mike Woodson said. “We have to push him to play at a high level, play harder and smarter.
“Tonight, he came in and played a sold game. Hopefully he has a nice carryover to Nebraska.”
Carlyle, a 6-3 sophomore transfer guard out of Stanford, added 14 points on 3-for-6 3-point shooting, plus five assists. He had missed the previous three games with an injury.
“I feel good,” he said. “I did a lot of shooting to get my confidence back. The hard work is paying off.”
Added Woodson: “He had a full practice for the first time (Sunday). “He said he felt good, so we played him.”
Carlyle rotated with starting guard Trey Galloway, who had come off the bench in IU’s first six games.
“I went with Gallo because I’d been starting him,” Woodson said. “Kanaan didn’t take it personal. He did his job. Somebody has to come off the bench. I don’t know if the lineup will stay the same. He did his job coming in for his first Big Ten game.”
Added Carlyle: “I’m fine coming off the bench. I just want to win, whether it’s sixth man, eighth man, starting guard, I’m here to my job. That’s it.”
Carlyle and Tucker sparked IU (8-2) to 57 percent shooting and its fourth straight victory.
“We were all on the same page,” Tucker said about the strong shooting. “We knew we had to make a statement, work hard and stay focused.”
Eight Hoosiers played and eight scored with five reaching double figures.
Center Oumar Ballo had 18 points and seven rebounds, plus two assists, one block and one steal. Forward Malik Reneau had 16 points and seven rebounds. Mackenzie Mgbako rebounded from a sub-par performance with 13 points.
Minnesota (6-5) had no answer, but Woodson saw offensive flaws.
“We played great the first half, and the ball moved,” he said. “The second half started well, but then we had lapses and some selfish play. We have to get some things fixed. We you get a team down by 15 or 20 points, you have to remember how you got them down. I don’t think we did that down the stretch.”
IU’s poor defensive switching from its Friday night win over Miami of Ohio transformed into a stifling, swarming, shot-altering approach that left Minnesota scrambling for any semblance of offense in the final 11 minutes of the first half. The result — the Hoosiers built a 13-point halftime lead, and never lost control, but like the offense, there were defensive lapses Woodson wanted cleaned up.
“When we play good defense,” he said “it’s nice to watch the film. But when things go sour and we have miscues and get beat back down and give up offensive rebounds, we have to clean that up. When you’re playing in the Big Ten through this grind, those plays can beat you.”
IU pounded inside right away with two inside Reneau baskets and a Ballo layup for a 6-2 lead. Minnesota went ahead 12-7. Mgbako’s 3-pointer made it a two-point game after four minutes. Reneau tied it at 12-12 with an inside basket.
The teams exchanged two-point leads until a basket by Tucker and a pair of Ballo free throws pushed the Hoosiers ahead 26-22 with nine minutes left in the half. A Tucker jumper and layup, plus a Ballo free throw, made it a 31-23 Hoosier lead with six minutes left.
IU kept pushing and defending. Minnesota missed seven straight baskets. The lead grew to 36-23. By halftime, it was 44-31. Tucker and Ballo each had 11 points.
Rice and Reneau scored to open the second half for a 48-31 lead. A Luke Goode jumper made it 63-45 with 11 minutes left. Ninety seconds later, a Carlyle three-point play boosted the lead to 21.
A Ballo free throw made it a 75-57 score and the Hoosiers cruised from there. Tucker credit Woodson for continuing to push the team.
“Coach kept talking to us, making sure we had the same mindset each game. We kept going and working. We still have a long way to go, but we’ll get there.”
INDIANA BASEBALL
HOOSIERS ANNOUNCE 2025 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Seventh-year head coach Jeff Mercer and the Indiana Baseball program announced the 2025 schedule on Friday (Dec. 6th) afternoon. IU is set to play a traditional 56-game slate, beginning Friday, February 14th against UNLV in Surprise, Ariz.
With the Big Ten adding four west coast schools to the conference, the league expanded its schedule to a 30-game, 10-series slate. Big Ten play will now begin on the first weekend of March and last through the final week of the regular season.
“Annually, we work to build a schedule that challenges and prepares us to compete at the top of the conference and for postseason play. We believe we have done that again this year,” Mercer said. “With the addition of the four west coast universities, we have added tremendous competition as well as expanded our conference schedule from 24 to 30 games. We look forward to competing this spring and having a successful season.”
The traditional non-conference series during the 11-week league period will remain in place given the odd number of programs in the Big Ten. IU’s off weekend – from conference play – in the regular season comes at the beginning of May with the Hoosiers set to travel to Abilene Christian (May 2-4).
IU’s first three non-conference weekends will take the team to Arizona, North Carolina and Florida. The Hoosiers will open at the College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Ariz. with games against UNLV (2), Xavier and national powerhouse Oregon State.
The second weekend of the season will send IU to the USA Baseball facilities in Cary, N.C. to play Fordham, Xavier and Big Ten foe Northwestern. IU’s game against the Wildcats will be considered a non-conference contest in the official league standings. On the final week of February, IU will head to DeLand, Fla. for two games against host Stetson and two neutral site contests with Mount St. Mary’s.
On the schedule at Bart Kaufman Field includes Big Ten series against Ohio State (March 12-14), USC (March 28-30), Michigan State (April 4-6), Maryland (April 18-20) and Purdue (May 9-11). The Hoosiers will host 23 games in Bloomington including eight midweek games.
Louisville (April 1) is the premier home game on the schedule but IU will also host NCAA Tournament teams from 2024 in Northern Kentucky (March 4), Evansville (March 18) and Indiana State (April 8). IU will also return to Victory Field to host Ball State (April 23).
Road weekends in league play take Mercer and company to Penn State (March 7-9), UCLA (March 21-23), Illinois (April 11-13), Iowa (April 25-27) and Michigan (May 15-17). In addition to its road series at Abilene Christian, IU will play midweeks away at Indiana State (March 11), Evansville (April 29) and Cincinnati (March 13).
IU is boosted by the return of All-American outfielder Devin Taylor. Junior shortstop Tyler Cerny, sophomore second baseman Jasen Oliver and junior third baseman Josh Pyne all return in the field while senior left-hander Ryan Kraft leads the way in a new look lineup on the mound.
2025 Schedule Breakdown:
Overall
Home Games: 23
Away Games: 23
Neutral Games: 10
Big Ten
Home Opponents: Ohio State, USC, Michigan State, Maryland, Purdue
Away Opponents: Penn State, UCLA, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan
Notes
Season Opener: Indiana vs. UNLV (Feb. 14, 2025); Surprise, Ariz.
Home Opener: Indiana vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Feb. 19, 2025)
Big Ten Opener: Indiana at Penn State (March 7, 2025)
Opponents
2024 NCAA Tournament Teams:
– Oregon State, Stetson, Northern Kentucky, Evansville, Indiana State, Illinois
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER
SOMMER REPRESENTS WOMEN’S SOCCER WITH UNITED SOCCER COACHES ALL-EAST REGION HONOR
Butler women’s soccer junior Talia Sommer has been named to the United Soccer Coaches’ 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s All-East Region Second Team. This is the 17th season that at least one Bulldog has received an All-Region selection.
Sommer, from Tel Aviv, Israel, was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection this season after leading the conference with 29 offensive points. She was second in the league with 11 goals and tied for second with 7 assists. The midfielder led the Bulldogs in each of those categories.
Butler produced an overall record of 10-4-5 in 2024, finishing in the third spot in the BIG EAST with a 5-2-3 conference record.
BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL
BULLDOGS AND BISON SET FOR TUESDAY NIGHT TIP AT HINKLE FIELDHOUSE
Butler welcomes North Dakota State to Hinkle Fieldhouse Tuesday night in the Bulldogs’ final non-conference home game of the season. The Bulldogs are coming off a road loss at No. 17/18 Houston Saturday, which ended Butler’s six-game winning streak.
THE SPECIFICS:
Butler (7-2) vs. North Dakota State (7-4)
Tuesday, Dec. 10 • 6:30PM
Hinkle Fieldhouse • Indianapolis, Ind.
FOLLOW ALONG:
TV: FS1 • Chris Vosters & Shelvin Mack
Audio: Varsity Network App, SiriusXM 380, XM App 970 & TuneIn • @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
THE SERIES: This is the first meeting between Butler and North Dakota State as men’s basketball opponents.
TEXT TO SCROLL THROUGH AT YOUR LEISURE:
• Saturday’s game against Houston began a five-game stretch that includes four Top 25 opponents (Wisconsin, Marquette and UConn follow Tuesday’s NDSU game).
• Butler is 5-1 at Hinkle Fieldhouse so far this season.
• Butler ranks 16th nationally, averaging 19.3 made free throws per game. The Bulldogs got to the line 22 times at Houston, making 16. The 16 made free throws were a season-low for the Bulldogs.
• Butler has shot at least 70 percent from the free throw line in each game so far this season. The Bulldogs went 20-for-25 from the line against Eastern Illinois Tuesday.
• Jahmyl Telfort leads the BIG EAST in both free throws made (49) and attempted (58), while his 84.5-percent accuracy is sixth in the conference.
• The Bulldogs rank 12th nationally in three-point percentage, making 40.4 percent of their attempts on the season.
• Butler has made at least nine three-pointers in five of the team’s nine games this season, including in Saturday’s loss at Houston.
• Patrick McCaffery is 16th nationally, making 49.1 percent of his three-point attempts on the season. He has hit multiple three-pointers in eight of the team’s nine games, including five twice.
• Despite allowing Houston to shoot 53 percent from the field Saturday, Butler’s field goal percentage defense still ranks 20th nationally as opponents have hit only 37.9 percent of their attempts from the field.
• McCaffery and Augusto Cassia each scored 11 points at Houston to lead the Bulldogs; for Cassia, it was the first time in his career that he has led the Bulldogs in scoring.
• Telfort, McCaffery, and Pierre Brooks II rank 1-2-5 in the BIG EAST in minutes played per game.
• Telfort’s scoring average of 16.3 points per game is seventh in the BIG EAST.
• Andre Screen is ninth in the BIG EAST at 6.7 rebounds per game.
• 6-2 guard Kolby King has led the Bulldogs in rebounding in each of the last two games; he is averaging 5.1 rebounds per game in 19.9 minutes of play per game.
• Butler’s Big 3 of Telfort, Brooks and McCaffery have scored 388 of the team’s 664 points this season (58.4 percent of the team’s output).
• The Bulldogs defeated Northwestern and No. 25 Mississippi State in taking the Arizona Tip-Off title over Thanksgiving. Butler is 3-1 against power conference opponents so far this season (also defeating SMU) with a non-conference match-up with Wisconsin looming.
• The Arizona Tip-Off title was Butler’s first in-season, multi-team event championship since the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City.
• Jahmyl Telfort earned Tournament MVP honors at the Arizona Tip-Off, averaging 23.5 points per game in the team’s two contests. Telfort scored 23 in the win over Northwestern and then followed that with 24 in the championship game win over Mississippi State.
• Butler Bulldog great Shelvin Mack will be the FS1 analyst for Tuesday’s game. In his three seasons at Butler, Mack scored 1,527 career points, leading the Bulldogs to the 2010 and 2011 Final Fours.
‘Bout the Bison
• North Dakota State enters the game with a record of 7-4 and on a current four-game winning streak.
• Jacari White and Jacksen Moni combine to average 33.0 points per game; as a team, the Bison make 39.8 percent of their three-point attempts on the season.
• NDSU ranks fourth nationally, making 11.9 three-pointers per game; 54.8 percent of their shot attempts are from behind the three-point line, which is the highest percentage in the nation.
• One of NDSU’s losses came against Illinois State, where former Butler assistant Ryan Pedon is the head coach.
• Butler and NDSU met as football opponents to open the 2019 season. The game was played at Target Field, home of the MLB’s Minnesota Twins.
IU INDY WOMEN’S SOCCER
IU INDIANAPOLIS NAMES ANGELA BERRY WHITE HEAD WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH
INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indianapolis Athletics Department and Director of Athletics Luke Bosso have named Angela Berry White as the new head coach of the women’s soccer program, effective immediately. White, an Indianapolis-native, becomes the third head coach in program history, replacing longtime leader Chris Johnson who announced his retirement at the close of the 2024 season. White brings a highly decorated background to the Jaguars program, joining IU Indy after a historic 11-year run at nearby Brebeuf Jesuit Prep in Indianapolis.
She’s the first female player ever inducted into the state’s Soccer Hall of Fame and brings experience as a former All-American player, U.S. Women’s National Team player, college assistant coach and high school head coach.
“I’m excited to welcome Angela as our head women’s soccer coach. She brings great soccer experience and has deep roots in the Indianapolis community,” Bosso said. “She is everything we look for in a coach. She’s a winner with the ability to recruit local talent and has experience at every level. She’s going to connect incredibly well with the student-athletes and brings a ton of passion and energy to the position.
“I know she’s poised to put her stamp on the program and lead the program to Horizon League championships.”
“First of all, I want to thank President Whitten, Chancellor Ramchand and Athletic Director Luke Bosso for this tremendous opportunity. With a solid foundation already in place, we will grow a program that is focused on accountability, belief, unselfishness, and commitment to excellence – principles that will take us back to top of the Horizon League and to the NCAA Tournament,” White said. “I am beyond excited to start this journey and help build a team that excels both on and off the field, as well as in the community. As an Indianapolis-native who grew up here and spent almost my entire life in this city, this is a dream come true and I’m deeply honored for the confidence IU Indy has placed in me.”
As head coach at Brebeuf, White amassed a 168-49-23 record (.748 winning percentage), which included a national championship, an IHSAA state championship and an IHSAA runner-up finish. She captured a record eight Marion County Tournament titles and became the only coach in history to win five straight Marion County titles in 2018. Her 2015 Brebeuf squad captured the MaxPreps National Championship and was the smallest school in state history to win the 2A title. She mentored and helped develop back-to-back Gatorade State Player of the Year honorees Reilly Martin (2014) and Alia Martin (2015), both of whom continued their careers at the University of Michigan. She also coached former Wake Forest standout Ryanne Brown, who currently plays for Seattle in the NWSL.
White began her coaching career at Butler University as an assistant coach, where she helped the start of the program and saw the Bulldogs post back-to-back winning seasons. She later helped usher in the Indiana University women’s soccer program as an assistant, helping them to a 50-46-1 record over five seasons, which included the lone Big Ten title in the Hoosiers history.
As a player, she was an All-American at George Mason University where the Patriots posted a 48-25-8 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in three of her four seasons. She later played for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1992 and 1993 and for Cincinnati and Columbus in the USWISL. She was an All-State performer in three sports at North Central High School, earning Marion County Female Athlete of the Year honors. She also played for the U.S. Youth National Team during her playing career.
White inherits an IU Indy program that has reached the Horizon League Tournament in each of the past three seasons.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO NO. 12/7 OHIO STATE TUESDAY
Ball State (6-3) vs. No. 12/7 Ohio State (8-0)
Dec. 10, 2024 >>Schottenstein Center>>6 pm ET>>Columbus, Ohio
Opening Tip:
– The Ball State women’s basketball team defeated Davidson by a score of 80-61 in front of 5,049 screaming fans for its eighth annual “Field Trip Day” on Thursdy, Dec. 5. The attendance was the second largest crowd in program history. Ally Becki led the Cardinals with a 20-point performance.
– Ohio State opened Big Ten conference play Sunday evening as the Buckeyes hosted No. 21/21 Illinois. Ohio State went on to win the game by a score of 83-74 versus the Fighting Illini. Currently, the Buckeyes are ranked nationally No. 12/No. 7 in the latest polls and remain undefeated with an 8-0 mark. Ohio State has defeated two teams from the Mid-American Conference, Ohio (106-42) and Bowling Green (96-53). The Cardinals and the Buckeyes have one common opponent during non-conference action as both squads have defeated Old Dominion.
– This will be the seventh meeting between the Cardinals and the Buckeyes. Ball State and Ohio State played three games prior to their first meeting in 1976 before women’s basketball was considered an “official” sport at Ball State. Ohio State leads the all-time series record, 4-2. The last time the two teams met was on Dec. 15, 1996 in Columbus, Ohio, resulting in a 73-51 loss for the Cardinals
– The NCAA Division I net rankings have been released (Dec. 8) with the Cardinals being ranked in the top 70 coming in at 68. Ball State has earned in the highest net ranking out of all the schools in the Mid-American Conference.
– After today’s contest, the Cardinals will wrap up 2024 road play at Northern Kentucky (Dec. 15). Ball State will then return home for their final contest of 2024 at Worthen Arena on Dec. 19, against Anderson University at 6:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for $1.00 for that game and make sure you wear an ugly Christmas sweater.
– The month of December has been good to the Cardinals their last two seasons. Ball State owns a 12-3 ledger during the festive holiday month from 2022- present.
Ally Buckets:
Ally Becki has picked up where she left off last season. The senior guard recently recorded her first triple double on Nov 13 against Memphis. For the game, Becki scored 22 points, pulled down 10 rebounds while dishing out 10 assists. Becki’s triple double also marked the first from a Ball State women’s basketball player since at least 2010 when the NCAA started keeping the triple double stat. Becki is one of only 10 players who have achieved a triple double so far this season.
Last Time the Cardinals Beat a Ranked Opponent:
The last time Ball State defeated a top 25 team was on March 14, 2014 when the Cardinals defeated Bowling Green in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The Falcons were ranked 25th in the nation when the Cardinals beat them by a score of 73-55. The Cardinals are set to face its second top-25 opponent on Dec. 10 at No. 12/7 Ohio State at 6 pm ET.
Sideline Notes:
– With the win over Texas A&M, Ball State head coach Brady Sallee has now defeated a Power 5 conference team eight times during his tenure with the Cardinals — Minnesota (54-51, 2012-13), Iowa (77-72, 2015-16), Vanderbilt (88-79, 2017-18), Purdue (66-60, 2017-18), Pitt (68-66, 2022-23), Pitt (73-62, 2023-24), Georgia (52-51, 2023-24) and Texas A&M (75-62).
– In the second quarter against Columbia University on Nov.25, senior Marie Kiefer became Ball State women’s basketball’s all-time blocks leader with 153 total blocks passing former Cardinal Tamara Bowie who owned the record of 152 since 2003.
– The Cardinals welcomed their first twin duo to the roster last season after welcoming Hailey and Olivia Smith. The twosome are from Fishers, Ind., and attended Fishers High School. Hailey was an Indiana Junior All-Star. Olivia helped the Tigers to the 2021-22 Hoosier Crossroads Conference Championship after scoring 10 points in a victory over Avon. She was also named to the First Team HCC All-Conference Team along with her twin sister Hailey.
– Three of the Cardinals’ seniors this season were tabbed to their respective states all-star squads in high school. Both Ally Becki and Madelyn Bischoff were selected to the Indiana All-Star team while fellow teammate Marie Kiefer was a Kentucky All-Star. All three seniors are in the starting lineup and have combined for 287 points thus far for the Cardinals, 128 rebounds, and 71 assists.
– For the second consecutive season, the Ball State women’s basketball team will host a nationally televised regular season contest when Mid-American Conference rival Toledo visits Worthen Arena on Monday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. ET. This will also be the third season in a row the Cardinals will play on a national stage. Ball State has been chosen to display its past success on ESPN2, ESPNU and CBS Sports Network. Last year, Ball State won both of its nationally televised contests beating Toledo, 65-61, in Muncie on CBSN and Kent State on the road on ESPNU by a score of 75-71.
Return of the MAC
The Cardinals are set to face 18-game conference slate with the addition of two contests being played in the second year of the MAC-SBC Challenge. The Ball State women’s basketball team opens its 2025 18-game MAC campaign which will include nine games at home and nine on the road over a 10-week span with a break in February for the second year of the Sun Belt Conference Challenge on Feb. 8. The Cardinals will start conference action at Miami (Jan. 1). Ball State’s home league opener is slated for Jan. 4 versus Central Michigan and then BSU will close out MAC play in Worthen Arena against Ohio (March 8).
Next Up:
The Cardinals will close out their road portion of their non-conference schedule when Ball State plays at Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3:30 pm ET. It will mark the third meeting between the two squads with the all-time series record being split, 1-1. The Cardinals defeated Vikings in their last meeting on Dec. 21, 2013 by a score of 67-63 in Highland Heights, Ky.
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
TEEL EARNS SECOND NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK HONORS
ST. LOUIS – Indiana State men’s basketball senior Samage Teel earned his second Newcomer of the Week bid on Monday, announced by the league office on Monday.
Teel neared triple-double territory in Indiana State’s victory in the conference opener on the road at Missouri State. He scored 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the floor, including a 50% clip from deep with three triples. He grabbed seven rebounds, dished out nine assists, and swiped one pass (one rebound away from tying season-high, two assists away) to secure the third-straight win for Indiana State. He kept the Sycamores within striking distance in the first half, scoring 13 on 5-for-6 shooting while the rest of the team shot 10-for-25. The senior grabbed five of his seven rebounds in the first 20 minutes. This was Teel’s second-straight 23+ point game, and he now has six 20+ point games in Indiana State’s 10 on the season.
The senior is shooting 55.8% on the year from the field, hitting from three at 37.7%. He leads the team in scoring average (17.2), total rebounds (56), assists (49), steals (18), and is the only player that has started each game this year.
Teel and the Sycamores return to action in just over a week on Wednesday, December 18 at home against Murray State. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
SYCAMORES ANNOUNCE TWO MORE TO JOIN THE 2025 SIGNING CLASS
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head baseball coach Tracy Archuleta announced Ty Brown and Talan Steinway will be joining the Sycamore baseball team for the 2026 season.
The duo joins Colin Sander, Owen Robert, and Trevor Fenters among the early players joining the Sycamores’ 2025 class.
Ty Brown | INF/OF | 6-0 | Richland, Ind. | South Spencer High School
Brown joins the Sycamores by way of Richland, Ind. and South Spencer High School where he lined up under Coach Brian Kuester. He also played for the Rockport American Legion Post 254 squad under Coach Jim Haaff. He was a two-time All-Conference selection and earned Home Team Friday honors. He was also a two-time Week 1 MVP and the Week 8 Play of the Night Award.
Statistical highlights from his prep days include posting a .500 batting average and .571 on-base percentage, while slugging .786. He connected on 14 extra-base hits including seven doubles, four triples, and three home runs, while adding 36 runs scored and 16 RBIs. He was adept on the basepaths with 15 stolen bases.
In addition to baseball, he was a two-time All-Conference and offensive captain on the South Spencer football team, and a two-time All-Conference selection on the basketball team. He posted 1,108 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, while adding 871 passing yards and 10 additional touchdowns. He posted 51 tackles and six interceptions. On the hard court, he added 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game.
Off the field, he was a member of the National Beta Club while earning Academic Honors and Academic All-State selections. He is the son of Lindsay and Brandon Brown and plans on majoring in exercise science at Indiana State.
Talan Steinway | RHP | 6-2 | Trafalgar, Ind. | Indian Creek High School
Steinway joins the Sycamores by way of Trafalgar, Ind. and Indian Creek High School where he lined up under Coach Greg Taylor. He also played on the Indiana Bulls under Coach Ryan Bunnell. He was a two-time All-Conference and one-time All-County selection.
Statistical highlights from his prep days include recording 32.0 innings with 1.70 ERA over his junior season. He posted a 47:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing opponents to hit just .147 from the plate.
He’s the son of Chris and Robin Steinway and plans on majoring in business management at Indiana State.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
LAUREN ROSS NAMED HORIZON LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS – Lauren Ross of the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team was named the Horizon League Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday (Dec.9).
Ross had back-to-back 25-point games to lead the Mastodons to a 2-0 start to Horizon League play. She 25 points in the Mastodons’ first-ever win over Green Bay, including all 14 of Purdue Fort Wayne’s points in the fourth quarter. She added nine rebounds in the Mastodons’ victory over Robert Morris. The Muskegon, Michigan native shot 65.2 percent (15-of-23) from the floor and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from 3-point range, including 6-for-6 from deep against Green Bay.
Ross’ 25 points per league game leads the Horizon League and 7.0 rebounds is fifth. She is second in field goal percentage (65.2 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (68.8 percent). Her 5.5 3-point makes per league contest is a league-best by 1.5 per game.
Nationally, no player in Division I has made more 3-pointers than Ross this season. She also ranks 10th in the nation with a 51.4 clip from beyond the arc in her final season of eligibility.
This season, Ross is shooting 51.3 percent from the floor, 51.4 percent from 3-point range and 91.7 percent from the charity stripe. She is one of three players in the Division I to do so through this point in the season, and is looking to be the first player since at least the 3-point line was added to college basketball.
With Ross at the helm, the Mastodons beat the reigning Horizon League champ Green Bay to start 2-0 in league play. They will look to make it 3-0 with a trip to IU Indianapolis on Wednesday (Dec.11).
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
USI BASEBALL ANNOUNCES 2026 SIGNING CLASS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball announced early signees for the 2026 class. The Screaming Eagles welcome seven players to the program for 2026.
“Each player in this signing class does something that stands out on the baseball field,” USI Baseball Head Coach Chris Ramirez said. “Our recruiting focus was to become more explosive and dynamic both on the mound and throughout our lineup.
“We expect to win and compete for a championship,” continued Ramirez. “These future Eagles come from winning programs that are at the top of the national rankings every year.”
The class of 2026 newcomers, who are fifth in the @TheJBB Early Window Recruiting Class Ranking, are:
Dane DeWees | Outfielder | 6-0 | 175 | R-R | Sellersburg, Indiana
DeWees is in his second season at Southwestern Illinois College. He batted .369 as a freshman with 64 runs scored, 38 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, and one home run in 55 games. The right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder was a member of the Silver Creek High School’s state championship team in 2023.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on DeWees: “Dane is an absolute spark plug. He has game-changing speed and uses it on the bases and in the outfield. He is an elite athlete who has great bat-to-ball skills. Dane can create momentum quickly by making exciting plays on both sides of the ball. We look forward to getting Dane into our program”
Ryan Skwarek | Infielder/Pitcher | 6-0 | 170 | R-R | Crystal Lake, Illinois
Skwarek helped McHenry County College conference and regional championship team in 2024. He was named All-Conference and All-Region after hitting .384 batting average and producing a 4.91 ERA and two saves in five appearances on the mound. Skwarek was a two-time All-State, All-Area, and All-Conference performer at Crystal Lake South High School. He batted .430 as a junior and .400 as a senior at Crystal Lake South.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Ryan: “Ryan is a plus athlete that can play all over the infield, really handle the bat in the box and step on the mound and be a difference maker as well. With the changing rosters, Ryan is going to be a huge addition to our program, allowing us to do a lot of different things with him. We are excited to get him in our program and watch him continue to develop.”
Jared Eckstein | Pitcher | 6-1 | 225 | R-R | Cincinnati, Ohio
Eckstein is appearing in his second season at Wabash Valley College. He produced a 3.38 ERA in 10 games as a freshman, striking out 18 in 10.2 innings of work. The right-handed pitcher also had a 1.47 ERA and 38 strikeouts as a senior at Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Eckstein: “Jared comes from a winning program in Wabash Valley. He has a big-time arm and the ability to strike out a lot of hitters. He has pitched in big games and is not afraid of the situation. We are looking forward to getting Jared into our program and seeing him continue to develop”
Konner Quinn | Pitcher | 6-5 | 235 | R-R | South Bend, Indiana
Quinn is in his second season at Wabash Valley College after producing a 4.50 ERA and nine strikeouts as a freshman in 2024. The right-hander was 4-1 as a senior in 2023 with a 1.06 ERA and 59 strikeouts for LaVille High School. He struck out 14 batters versus Oregon-Davis High School as a senior at LHS.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Quinn: “Konner comes from up the road at Wabash Valley. Quinn is a big body with a big-time arm up to 94 miles per hour. He is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential, and we are excited to watch him continue to grow.”
Trey O’Neil | Pitcher | 6-2 | 189 | L-R | Williamsburg, Iowa
Entering his second season at Southeastern Community College, O’Neil was 5-0 with three saves as a freshman, finishing with a 3.90 ERA and 25 strikeouts. He also was an all-around athlete at Williamsburg High School, lettering in baseball, basketball, cross country, and track & field.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on O’Neil: “Trey is a competitor on the mound. His pitch ability is off the charts. He can start or close a game out. O’Neil comes from a winning program in Southeastern, pitching in the NJCAA World Series as a freshman. Coming from Southeastern, we know he will be prepared for anything that is thrown his way.”
Jacob Barrett | Pitcher | 6-0 | 200 | R-R | Evansville, Indiana
Barrett, who originally started his career at Murray State University, appeared in 11 games, making one start, while compiling a 0-1 record with three saves at Kirkwood Community College last spring. He also had a 4.26 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 12.2 innings of work. Barrett lettered in baseball at Castle High School (Newburgh, Indiana).
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Barrett: “Jacob, who comes from a winning program, is a local kid who we are excited to get back to Evansville. He can close games out with one of the best-breaking balls in the country. He has pitched in big spots, and we look for him to continue to do that at USI to help us bring home an OVC championship”
Gavyn Boyle | Outfielder | 6-2 | 200 | L-R | Gasport, New York
An All-American in 2024, Boyle batted .395 during his first collegiate season with 57 RBIs, 55 runs scored, and eight home runs in 57 games during his first season at Niagara County Community College. He lettered in baseball, soccer, and basketball at Royalton Hartland High School in Middleport, New York, before originally signing with Virginia Commonwealth University.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Boyle: “Gavyn is a big-time power bat with the ability to make any park look small. On top of his power, he is a plus athlete with the ability to steal bases. Gavyn was an All-American as a freshman and is playing for Niagara, which is one of the winningest programs in NJCAA baseball over the last 10 years. We can’t wait to get his bat on campus.”
Allen Hernandez | Infielder | 6-2 | 205 | R/R | Wallington, New Jersey
Hernandez started his collegiate career at Howard Community College prior to transferring to Mineral Area College this spring. He had a .352 batting average in 32 games with six home runs, 22 RBIs, and 24 runs scored as a freshman. Hernandez lettered in Don Bosco Prep before starting his collegiate career.
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Hernandez: “Allen is an advanced hitter who had good power numbers as a freshman. He can play multiple positions across the infield. We are excited to get Allen in our program and watch him to continue to grow.”
Lars Dabrowiak | Pitcher | 6-7 | 225 | R/R | Nashville, Tennessee
Dabrowiak is in his senior season at Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tennessee).
Assistant Coach Brandon Krennrich on Dabrowiak: “Lars is a big body with a power arm and his ceiling is through the roof. He pitched well this summer in the Area Code games against the top players in the country. Lars is going to continue to get better and become a big part of our program. We are looking forward to getting Lars on campus and watching him become a household name in Evansville over the next few years”
VALPO FOOTBALL
ANDY WADDLE NAMED HEAD COACH OF VALPO FOOTBALL PROGRAM
Director of Athletics Laurel Hosmer has announced that Andy Waddle has been named the 19th head coach of the Valparaiso University football program.
Waddle will be formally introduced at a press conference and welcome reception on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. CT time at the Athletics-Recreation Center. The event is free and open to the public and will also be streamed live on ESPN+.
A two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Waddle possesses over two decades of collegiate coaching experience including the last 12 years as the head coach at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. The Pioneers started the 2024 season 8-0, the first 8-0 start in program history. The program enjoyed a 13-game winning streak that spanned the end of the 2023 season and start of the 2024 campaign, tied for the longest in program history and the program’s longest since 1920. The 13-game winning streak was at the time tied with Army for the second longest active winning streak in all of NCAA college football, behind only Division-III SUNY-Cortland’s 20-game streak.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Waddle to the Valpo Athletics family,” Hosmer said. “His experience building success and winning culture as a head coach, passion for developing student-athletes on and off the field and high character made it clear he was the right leader for our football program. I’m confident Coach Waddle will continue to build on the foundation that has been laid and look forward to what our program will accomplish under his leadership.”
Waddle guided the squad to a combined 16-5 record and 14-2 mark in the NCAA Division-III Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) over the last two seasons. He successfully engineered a turnaround of the Marietta program, leading the team to a record of .500 or better in seven of the last eight years after the Pioneers had previously experienced nine consecutive losing seasons.
“My family and I are extremely excited to be joining the Valpo community and for the opportunity to lead the Valpo Football Family,” Waddle said. “I think that there is a great group of young men on the roster, and we’re excited to invest in those student-athletes and continue to add more high-quality people and football players to the program. During my interview, I met some wonderful people who shared the same values and vision that I have. I think Valpo is not only an outstanding fit for me professionally, but also an outstanding fit for me and my family personally. We look forward to taking Valpo to the top of the Pioneer Football League.”
When Waddle took over as the head coach at Marietta prior to the 2013 season, he inherited a program that had won three or fewer games in each of the previous six years and was coming off an 0-10 season. Before Waddle’s eight-year run of sustained success that began in 2017, Marietta had a winning record just twice in a 20-year span. The program enjoyed as many winning seasons in Waddle’s final eight years as head coach as it had experienced in the previous 30 years combined.
The 2024 season culminated with Marietta’s second-ever postseason appearance and first since 1973 as the Pioneers competed in the Extra Points Bowl, hosted at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. After the 8-0 start, Marietta was ranked 22nd nationally by D3Football.com and 23rd by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). The Pioneers finished the 2024 campaign ranked among national leaders in the following categories – third-down conversion percentage defense (first, .250), redzone offense (eighth, .912), total defense (10th, 236.1), sacks per game (3.18, 16th), total offense (453.9, 19th), scoring offense (40.5, 21st) and scoring defense (14.9, 23rd).
Marietta placed 16 players on the All-OAC team in 2024 and had 101 total all-league selections during Waddle’s tenure. Following the 2023 campaign, Waddle was named the OAC Coach of the Year after leading Marietta to its highest win total since 1995. Waddle earned his first OAC Coach of the Year award in 2017 after leading the Pioneers to a 6-4 mark, the team’s first winning season in 11 years. During his time at Marietta, Waddle instructed 19 all-region performers, 20 All-Americans and three Academic All-Americans.
Prior to his dozen years leading the Marietta program, Waddle spent eight seasons at Wittenberg University, where he joined the staff in 2005 as the defensive secondary coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator a year later. Wittenberg won four North Coast Athletic Conference championships and made four NCAA playoff appearances in the seven seasons with Waddle running the defense. His 2009 defensive unit led all of the NCAA in total defense (189.9) and scoring defense (8.85) and the program tied a school record with 12 wins.
Waddle began his coaching career in 2003 at Mansfield University (Pa.) as the defensive backs coach. The NCAA Division-II Mountaineers went 8-3, a six-game improvement over the previous season, and recorded the team’s first winning season in nearly 30 years. In 2004, Waddle served as the secondary coach at D-III Maryville College (Tenn.), where he helped the program win as many games as it had in the previous three seasons combined.
An all-conference defensive back, Waddle played for two North Coast Athletic Conference championship teams and made three NCAA playoff appearances at Wittenberg. He spent two seasons at the University of Findlay prior to transferring to Wittenberg. He was redshirted during the Oilers’ 1997 NAIA national championship season and was a starter the following year.
Waddle earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wittenberg in 2003 and completed his master’s in executive leadership from Liberty University in 2014. A native of Enon, Ohio, Waddle and his wife Kerry Jean have a daughter, Hopelyn, and a son, Spencer. The Waddles are involved with the Be The Match Bone Marrow Registry and have raised nearly $20,000 while registering over 2,000 potential bone marrow donors.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S SOCCER
USI WOMEN’S SOCCER ADDS DEPENBROCK TO 2025 SIGNING CLASS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer announced another addition to its 2025 signing class, welcoming Anna Depenbrock. Depenbrock’s signing raises USI Women’s Soccer Head Coach Eric Schoenstein’s 2025 signing class to nine student-athletes.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Anna to the USI Soccer family,” Schoenstein said. “She joins an already talented freshmen class.”
Anna Depenbrock (Pinehurst, North Carolina) is a 6’0″ centerback/center midfielder out of Pinecrest High School. Depenbrock is coming off a solid 2024 season with 17 goals and five assists, earning First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-Region for the second consecutive year. As a team captain, Depenbrock led her high school squad to a conference regular-season championship in 2023. In three years, Depenbrock has totaled 26 goals and 14 assists. Depenbrock plays club soccer for NC Fusion ECNL 07.
“Anna is great in the air and can play anywhere in the back line as well as in the six-spot,” Schoenstein added. “She brings a physical presence, is a great distributor of the ball, and is dominant on set pieces.”
USI Women’s Soccer heads into 2025 after being a quarterfinalist in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament for a second consecutive season in 2024. The 2025 schedule will be released at a later date.
MARIAN TRACK
ARMANI GLASS EARNS CROSSROADS LEAGUE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS
Jackson, Mich. – After hitting an A standard on Friday, the Crossroads League announced Monday afternoon that Armani Glass of the Marian men’s track and field program was named the CL Field Athlete of the Week.
Glass hit the NAIA A standard with a winning leap of 7.32 meters in the long jump for Marian at the Indiana Tech Warrior Open. That performance set a new MU record and was one of two personal-bests for the senior, who also posted a 13.62 in the triple jump. Glass broke the long jump record by 0.23m, and also finished ninth in the 60m race.
Marian will return to competition on Friday, December 13 as they send a group to compete at Indiana University.
KATIE WOODS NAMED CL INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jackson, Mich. – After setting a Marian school record on Saturday in the mile, the Crossroads League has announced that Katie Woods of the Knights’ women’s track and field team has been named the CL Indoor Track Athlete of the Week.
Katie Woods posted a winning time of 4:52.93 in the mile for Marian at the Indiana Tech Warrior Open. The blazing time set a new MU record by 32 seconds, and automatically qualified the cross country All-American for NAIA Nationals.
Marian nexts competes on Friday, December 13 at the Indiana University Early Bird meet.
MARIAN VOLLEYBALL
LYONS, WILKINSON NAMED TO AVCA MIDCENTRAL REGION TEAM
Lexington, Ky. – The AVCA is pleased to announce its 2024 All-Region teams for NAIA women’s volleyball, as chosen by the NAIA Selection Committee. Marian was honored with two selections from the AVCA, as both Emma Lyons and Nicole Wilkinson were named to the team.
Each of the 10 regions named 14 student-athletes to the All-Region team, and eight players earned honorable mention honors. Additionally, a Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Assistant Coach of the Year were selected for each region. This year’s All-Region first-team or honorable mention players represent 118 different NAIA schools.
Emma Lyons was named to the AVCA Midcentral Region First Team for a second consecutive year, dominating from her libero position. The two-time Crossroads League Libero of the Year led Marian in digs with 691 on the season while averaging 5.57 digs per set. The libero recorded her 1000th dig at Marian this year, and was the fourth-leader in assists with 137 throughout the season. Lyons also had three kills on the season, and scored 22 service aces.
Nicole Wilkinson had a breakout season in her second year as a Knight, earning AVCA Midcentral Region Honorable Mention team honors. Wilkinson was named to the All-Crossroads League First Team this season, posting strong blocking numbers as she led Marian with 147 total blocks on the season. The middle blocker had 128 block assists and 19 block solos to average 1.37 blocks per set, and on offense recorded 146 kills, averaging 1.36 kills per set.
The Knights ended the season with a 25-9 overall record, appearing in the NAIA Tournament Pool Play for the first time in two seasons.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
18 – 98 – 20 – 21 – 19 – 7 – 2 – 8
December 10, 1922 – Canton Bulldogs player, Number 18, Pete Henry made the longest known NFL drop-kicked field goal of 45 yards
December 10, 1940 – 1941 NFL Draft: Tom Harmon, Number 98 from University of Michigan first pick by Chicago Bears
December 10, 1961 – Houston Oilers utility back Number 20, Billy Cannon gained an AFL record 373 yards combined rushing/receiving in 48-21 win over New York Titans at the Polo Grounds, NYC
December 10, 1986 – Atlanta Hawks Number 21, Dominique Wilkins dropped 57 points on the Chicago Bulls
December 10, 1992 – NHL awarded franchises to Miami and Anaheim for 1994-95
December 10, 1994 – 60th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Colorado running back, Number 19, Rashaan Salaam.
December 10, 2001 – 67th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Nebraska Quarterback, Number 7, Eric Crouch
December 10, 2005 – 71st Heisman Trophy Award was won by USC running back Number 5, Reggie Bush. Bush later forfeits trophy
December 10, 2012 – 78th Heisman Trophy Award was won by Texas A&M Quarterback, Number 2, Johnny Manziel. He was the first freshman to win the award
December 10, 2016 – 82nd Heisman Trophy Award was won by Louisville Cardinals Quarterback, Number 8, Lamar Jackson, youngest player to win at 19
FOOTBALL HISTORY
December 10, 1922 – Pete Henry didn’t look like the prototypical gridiron player, he was 5’-11” and 240 pounds according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s website. His teammates called him “Fats” but opponents should have never doubted the threat he was on the football field. It was on this day, as a member of the Canton Bulldogs, that Fats Henry allegedly made the longest known NFL drop-kicked field goal when he nailed it from 45 yards as documented on the American Football Database against the Toledo Maroons in a 19-0 Bulldog victory that gave the undefeated Canton Bulldogs the title of the Leagues’ inaugural champions.
December 10, 1938 – At the Grey Cup it was a repeat of the previous season, as the Toronto Argonauts walloped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 30-7 to keep the Canadian title.
December 10, 1939 – West Allis, Wisconsin – “The Dairy Bowl” – The National Football League’s Championship game in 1939 pitted the Green Bay Packers against the New York Football Giants. The Pack took home their fifth title as they blanked the Giants, 27-0 according to the packershistory.net site.
December 10, 1940 – The Chicago Bears used the number one pick in the 1941 NFL Draft to select Tom Harmon from the University of Michigan. Harmon had just won the Heisman Trophy as well as the Maxwell Award, according to IMDB.com. Harmon turned down George Halas and the Bears, though, and accepted an offer from the upstart American Football League’s New York Americans. After that version of the AFL folded the subsequent off-season, Tom became a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corp. and fought in WWII for four years. In 1946 he returned and played in the NFL for the LA Rams for three seasons.
December 10, 1961 – In the AFL the Houston Oilers great rusher, Billy Cannon set a single game all-purpose yards record of 373 yards against the New York Titans. The Houston Chronicle shares a great video of the event with more details.
December 10, 1983 – Shea Stadium the home of the New York Jets for 20 seasons had its last NFL game played at it as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Jets 34-7 according to a great News Day article with more details.
December 10, 1994 – The 60th Heisman Trophy Award went to Rashaan Salaam of the University of Colorado who played the position of running back. The Heisman’s official webpage tells us that Rashaan was the first player from Colorado to win the award as he became the third finalist in history of the Trophy to surpass 2000 yards rushing in a season for Division I. Salaam totaled 2055 yards on the season with 24 scores and a remarkable 7.61 rushing average to lead the Buffs to a 4th place ranking in the polls.
December 10, 2001 – Eric Crouch the option quarterback from Nebraska won the 67th Heisman Trophy Award. Eric was a dual threat in the 2001 season as he rushed for 1115 and 18 scores on the ground while passing for 1510 yards according to Heisman.com. In addition to the Heisman, Crouch also took home the Davey O’Brien quarterback Award and the Walter Camp player of the Year Award.
December 10, 2005 – The 71st Heisman Trophy Award was given to USC standout runner Reggie Bush. However if you look at the Heisman’s website you will not see an entry for a winner in 2005. That is because Bush later forfeit his trophy due to what ESPN.com describes as him and other Trojan athletes receiving improper benefits that violated NCAA rules.
December 10, 2012 – 78th Heisman Trophy went to the first freshman to ever win the award when Quarterback Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M was chosen to receive the coveted honor in his red shirt season with the Aggies. It is interesting to note that on Manziel’s bio on Heisman.com it states that he originally committed to play at Oregon out of High School signing about the same time as the 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. Johnny Football tossed 24 TD’s on 3419 yards passing while using his legs for another 1181 yards and 19 scores. The game that really set the table for Manziel’s Heisman votes was most likely when he led the A&M to a 29-24 upset of the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, where he tallied 345 yards of total offense and performed some real dazzling plays.
December 10, 2016 – The youngest player to win a Heisman Trophy Award did it at the age of just 19 in the 82nd edition of the Trophy. Lamar Jackson, the uniquely talented option quarterback of the Louisville Cardinals was given the Trophy per Heisman.com. Jameis Winston of Florida State was 5 days older than Jackson when he took home the hardware in 2013. Lamar’s 4928 yards of total offense was second in Heisman history only to Ty Detmer’s 5022 yards in the 1990 season. Jackson was the first player from Louisville to receive the honor and he was only the fourth sophomore to win it in the Trophy’s history.
Hall Of Fame Birthdays for December 10
December 10, 1916 – Tunica, Mississippi – Ole Miss Halfback Linus Parker Hall was born, but he may be better known as “Bullet” Hall. The NFF’s bio states that Hall had an incredible 1938 season where he led the nation in all-purpose yards and scoring while being unnamed by the UPI and AP as an All-America player. His eleven TDs and 7 extra points chalked him up for a total of 73 points and his all-purpose yards season total stood at 1558. Bullet was also the nation’s leader in rushing average, kick return average, had the most interceptions, and total touchdowns made with 11 rushing and 11 more passing the ball. The National Football Foundation selected Bullet Hall to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
December 10, 1933 – Decatur, Georgia – Larry Morris the great Georgia Tech center and linebacker was born. Larry excelled at more than just two positions on the gridiron. He not only lettered and captained the Ramblin Wreck football team but he also was the captain of the Yellow Jacket baseball team as well as lettering in that sport too. The footballfoundation.org website states that on the gridiron he was an All-conference player as well as an All-America team member in 1953. The National Football Foundation selected Larry Morris to enter into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Larry went into the NFL ranks after college as he played for the Rams, Bears and Falcons during his 12 year career.
TODAY IN SPORTS
Dec. 10
1939 — The Green Bay Packers register the first shutout in an NFL championship game by beating the New York Giants 27-0.
1961 — Billy Cannon of the Houston Oilers rushes for 216 yards, catches five passes for 114 yards and scores five touchdowns in a 48-21 victory over the New York Titans. Cannon finishes with 373 combined yards.
1971 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores a career-high 55 points in Milwaukee’s 120-104 victory over the Boston Celtics.
1982 — Michael Dokes knocks out Mike Weaver in the first round to capture the WBA heavyweight title in Las Vegas.
1985 — The Indiana Pacers hits only 19 field goals in an 82-64 loss to the New York Knicks, setting an NBA record for the fewest field goals made by one team since the inception of the shot clock.
1986 — Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins scores 57 points to lead the Hawks to a 123-95 rout of the Chicago Bulls.
1992 — The NHL awards expansion franchises to Anaheim and Miami. The newcomers, scheduled to begin play in the 1993-94 season, bring the NHL to 26 teams.
1994 — Art Monk sets an NFL record for consecutive games with a reception on New York’s first play in the Jets’ 18-7 loss to the Detroit Lions. Monk’s 5-yard catch gives him 178 consecutive games with a reception, breaking Steve Largent’s NFL mark.
1999 — Laffit Pincay Jr. guides Irish Nip to a two-length victory in the sixth race at Hollywood Park for his 8,834th victory, breaking Bill Shoemaker’s 29-year-old record and making him the world’s winningest jockey.
2006 — LaDainian Tomlinson breaks Shaun Alexander’s NFL single-season touchdown record of 28 when he scores three times in the San Diego Chargers’ 48-20 victory over the Denver Broncos. Tomlinson has 26 TDs rushing and three receiving.
2006 — Marvin Harrison of Indianapolis is the fourth player in NFL history with 1,000 receptions, joining Jerry Rice, Tim Brown and Cris Carter.
2008 — Carmelo Anthony matches George Gervin’s NBA record for points in a quarter with 33 in the third and finishes with a season-high 45 points in Denver’s 116-105 victory over Minnesota.
2010 — George Karl earns his 1,000th coaching victory, the seventh coach in NBA history, as Al Harrington scores a season-high 31 points and Nene adds 26 to help the Denver Nuggets hold off the Toronto Raptors 123-116.
2016 — 82nd Heisman Trophy Award: Lamar Jackson, Louisville Cardinals (QB), youngest player to win at 19.
2016 — Army ends a 14-year run of frustration against Navy, using an overpowering running game and opportunistic defense to carve out a long overdue 21-17 victory.
2016 — Roman Torres scores in the sixth round of penalty kicks to give the Seattle Sounders their first MLS Cup title, 5-4 over Toronto FC after 120 scoreless minutes. It’s the first MLS Cup final to fail to produce a goal in regulation, setting the stage for a dramatic tiebreaker.
2017 — Ben Roethlisberger completes 44 of a franchise-record 66 passes for 506 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to top 500 yards passing three times and leading Pittsburgh past Baltimore 39-38. Antonio Brown caught 11 passes for 213 yards for Pittsburgh.
TV SPORTS TUESDAY
College basketball, men
3:30 p.m.
ESPN — Miami vs. Tennessee
FS1 — North Dakota State at Butler
4 p.m.
CBSSN — Morgan State at Xavier
ESPN2 — Albany at Syracuse
5:30 p.m.
FS1 — Providence at DePaul
6 p.m.
ESPN — Arkansas vs. Michigan
7 p.m.
ESPN+ — Kansas City at Portland, 910-AM
8 p.m.
BTN — Eastern Washington at Washington
College basketball, women
6 p.m.
BTN — Fresno State at USC
NBA
4 p.m.
TNT — Orlando at Milwaukee
6:30 p.m.
TNT — Dallas at Oklahoma City
NHL
7 p.m.
KGW 8.2 — Florida at Seattle
Soccer
NoonCBSSN — UEFA Champions League: Aston Villa at RB Leipzig