THE SCOREBOARD
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SCORES
| CLASS 4A | ||||
| LAKE CENTRAL | ||||
| HAMMOND CENTRAL | 57 | HAMMOND MORTON | 55 | |
| LOWELL | ||||
| HOBART | 57 | KANKAKEE VALLEY | 46 | |
| PLYMOUTH | ||||
| SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON | 85 | MISHAWAKA | 51 | |
| CONCORD | ||||
| NORTHRIDGE | 59 | PENN | 52 | |
| WARSAW | 61 | CONCORD | 21 | |
| DEKALB | ||||
| DEKALB | 58 | FORT WAYNE NORTH | 33 | |
| CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) | 59 | FORT WAYNE NORTHROP | 38 | |
| HUNTINGTON NORTH | ||||
| NEW HAVEN | 56 | FORT WAYNE SOUTH | 52 | |
| HOMESTEAD | 46 | COLUMBIA CITY | 45 | |
| LAFAYETTE JEFF | ||||
| KOKOMO | 31 | MCCUTCHEON | 22 | |
| LOGANSPORT | 55 | MARION | 17 | |
| NOBLESVILLE | ||||
| FISHERS | 63 | CARMEL | 43 | |
| ZIONSVILLE | 45 | WESTFIELD | 31 | |
| MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) | ||||
| PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 57 | GREENFIELD-CENTRAL | 20 | |
| LAWRENCE CENTRAL | ||||
| LAWRENCE NORTH | 44 | NORTH CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS) | 38 | |
| SOUTHPORT | ||||
| BEN DAVIS | 70 | SOUTHPORT | 48 | |
| TERRE HAUTE SOUTH | ||||
| PLAINFIELD | 51 | TERRE HAUTE NORTH | 38 | |
| BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | ||||
| MOORESVILLE | 50 | BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | 49 | |
| CENTER GROVE | 56 | GREENWOOD | 26 | |
| SHELBYVILLE | ||||
| FRANKLIN | 48 | COLUMBUS NORTH | 45 | |
| COLUMBUS EAST | 60 | EAST CENTRAL | 50 | |
| BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE | ||||
| JENNINGS COUNTY | BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE | PPD. | ||
| EVANSVILLE HARRISON | ||||
| JASPER | EVANSVILLE HARRISON | PPD. | ||
| CASTLE | EVANSVILLE CENTRAL | PPD. | ||
| CLASS 3A | ||||
| GRIFFITH | ||||
| BOONE GROVE | 54 | GRIFFITH | 21 | |
| BREMEN | ||||
| JOHN GLENN | 35 | CULVER ACADEMY | 27 | |
| BREMEN | 34 | ROCHESTER | 21 | |
| MISHAWAKA MARIAN | ||||
| MISHAWAKA MARIAN | 49 | JIMTOWN | 38 | |
| FAIRFIELD | ||||
| NORTHWOOD | 50 | WAWASEE | 42 | |
| FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA | ||||
| HERITAGE | 48 | FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 37 | |
| BENTON CENTRAL | ||||
| TWIN LAKES | 76 | NORTH MONTGOMERY | 23 | |
| NORWELL | ||||
| PERU | 44 | MACONAQUAH | 42 | |
| HAMILTON HEIGHTS | ||||
| JAY COUNTY | 68 | CENTERVILLE | 14 | |
| LEBANON | ||||
| LEBANON | 47 | WESTERN BOONE | 36 | |
| OWEN VALLEY | ||||
| BROWN COUNTY | 66 | SOUTH VERMILLION | 15 | |
| BREBEUF JESUIT | ||||
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN | 60 | INDIANAPOLIS HERRON | 27 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 45 | GUERIN CATHOLIC | 43 | OT |
| SPEEDWAY | ||||
| SPEEDWAY | 41 | BEECH GROVE | 29 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON | 42 | CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL | 24 | |
| RUSHVILLE | ||||
| CONNERSVILLE | 52 | SOUTH DEARBORN | 45 | |
| CORYDON CENTRAL | ||||
| MADISON | 52 | SALEM | 29 | |
| CORYDON CENTRAL | 58 | CHARLESTOWN | 39 | |
| PRINCETON | ||||
| HERITAGE HILLS | SOUTHRIDGE | PPD. | ||
| PIKE CENTRAL | PRINCETON | PPD. | ||
| MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) | ||||
| EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL | MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) | PPD. | ||
| BOONVILLE | EVANSVILLE MATER DEI | PPD. | ||
| CLASS 2A | ||||
| ANDREAN | ||||
| NORTH NEWTON | 47 | LIGHTHOUSE CPA | 5 | |
| WHITING | 52 | GARY 21ST CENTURY | 33 | |
| NORTH JUDSON | ||||
| SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS) | 62 | HEBRON | 25 | |
| LAVILLE | 56 | NORTH JUDSON | 43 | |
| CENTRAL NOBLE | ||||
| WESTVIEW | 36 | CHURUBUSCO | 35 | |
| CENTRAL NOBLE | 52 | PRAIRIE HEIGHTS | 37 | |
| LEWIS CASS | ||||
| PIONEER | 58 | WABASH | 57 | |
| BLUFFTON | ||||
| BLUFFTON | 49 | MANCHESTER | 35 | |
| SOUTH ADAMS | 61 | WHITKO | 42 | |
| LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC | ||||
| SEEGER | 50 | DELPHI | 48 | |
| CARROLL (FLORA) | 69 | COVINGTON | 30 | |
| BLACKFORD | ||||
| EASTBROOK | 50 | MADISON-GRANT | 18 | |
| WAPAHANI | ||||
| LAPEL | 49 | WAPAHANI | 43 | |
| HAGERSTOWN | ||||
| NORTHEASTERN | 51 | HAGERSTOWN | 24 | |
| TRITON CENTRAL | ||||
| EASTERN HANCOCK | 49 | TRITON CENTRAL | 44 | |
| GREENCASTLE | ||||
| GREENCASTLE | 55 | SOUTHMONT | 39 | |
| SWITZERLAND COUNTY | ||||
| SOUTH RIPLEY | 41 | NORTH DECATUR | 35 | |
| AUSTIN | ||||
| PROVIDENCE | 56 | EASTERN (PEKIN) | 39 | |
| EASTERN GREENE | ||||
| PAOLI | NORTH DAVIESS | PPD. | ||
| SULLIVAN | SOUTH KNOX | PPD. | ||
| FOREST PARK | ||||
| CRAWFORD COUNTY | SOUTH SPENCER | PPD. | ||
| NORTH POSEY | FOREST PARK | PPD. | ||
| CLASS 1A | ||||
| KOUTS | ||||
| WASHINGTON TWP. | 56 | DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN | 31 | |
| TRI-TWP. | 53 | HAMMOND SCIENCE & TECH | 15 | |
| CULVER | ||||
| MARQUETTE CATHOLIC | 67 | OREGON-DAVIS | 49 | |
| FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK | ||||
| LAKEWOOD PARK | 49 | HAMILTON | 13 | |
| TRI-COUNTY | ||||
| TRI-COUNTY | 63 | FRONTIER | 34 | |
| NORTH WHITE | 56 | WEST CENTRAL | 38 | |
| SOUTHERN WELLS | ||||
| SOUTHWOOD | 72 | FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY | 31 | |
| ATTICA | ||||
| FAITH CHRISTIAN | 65 | CLINTON CENTRAL | 56 | OT |
| FOUNTAIN CENTRAL | 40 | NORTH VERMILLION | 32 | |
| RANDOLPH SOUTHERN | ||||
| RANDOLPH SOUTHERN | 62 | CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN | 23 | |
| TRI | 61 | UNION CITY | 45 | |
| BLOOMFIELD | ||||
| NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) | 45 | SHAKAMAK | 40 | OT |
| EMINENCE | ||||
| GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN | 53 | INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY | 41 | |
| SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) | ||||
| JAC-CEN-DEL | 64 | WALDRON | 19 | |
| BORDEN | ||||
| WEST WASHINGTON | SOUTH CENTRAL (ELIZABETH) | PPD. | ||
| CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | ROCK CREEK ACADEMY | PPD. | ||
| RISING SUN | ||||
| TRINITY LUTHERAN | 51 | SHAWE MEMORIAL | 38 | |
| RISING SUN | 62 | MEDORA | 19 | |
| SPRINGS VALLEY | ||||
| VINCENNES RIVET | 35 | LOOGOOTEE | 25 | |
| TECUMSEH | ||||
| EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN | NORTHEAST DUBOIS | PPD. |
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL BRACKETS
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FAVORITES
HTTP://SCOREBOARD.HOMESTEAD.COM/GIRLS/PIX.HTM#LOADED
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SAGARIN RATINGS
HTTP://SCOREBOARD.HOMESTEAD.COM/GIRLS/SECTRATE.HTM#LOADED
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SAGARIN RATINGS BY CLASS
HTTP://SCOREBOARD.HOMESTEAD.COM/GIRLS/CLASSRATE.HTM#LOADED
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SAGARIN RATINGS BY CLASS
HTTP://SCOREBOARD.HOMESTEAD.COM/BOYS/CLASSRATE.HTM#LOADED
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES
| CULVER ACADEMY | 61 | SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH | 41 | |
| FORT WAYNE DWENGER | 77 | FORT WAYNE SNIDER | 56 | |
| INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE | 59 | TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN | 47 | |
| JIMTOWN | 51 | ELKHART CHRISTIAN | 47 | |
| SOUTH BEND ADAMS | 82 | VICTORY CHRISTIAN | 74 | |
| UNIVERSITY | 67 | INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD | 51 |
INDIANA BOYS AP BASKETBALL POLLS
CLASS 4A
1. BEN DAVIS (17)
2. PENN
3. CENTER GROVE
4. HAMMOND CENTRAL
5. CATHEDRAL
6. BROWNSBURG
7. NEW PALESTINE
8. KOKOMO
9. JENNINGS CO.
10. MUNSTER
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: CARMEL 67. LAWRENCE NORTH 14. BLOOMINGTON NORTH 12. WESTFIELD 10. GREENFIELD 8. SOUTHPORT 7. MISHAWAKA 7. ANDERSON 6. ZIONSVILLE 6.
CLASS 3A
1. NORTHWOOD (9)
2. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (8)
3. NORWELL
4. N. DAVIESS
5. W. NOBLE
6. S. BEND WASHINGTON
7. SCOTTSBURG
8. LAKE STATION
9. BREBEUF JESUIT
10. OAK HILL
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: TIPPECANOE VALLEY 41. BISHOP CHATARD 41. CONNERSVILLE 28. LEBANON 8. PERU 7. FT. WAYNE CONCORDIA 6. BEECH GROVE 6.
CLASS 2A
1. LINTON-STOCKTON (16)
2. S. SPENCER
3. WAPAHANI
4. FT. WAYNE BLACKHAWK (1)
5. UNIVERSITY
6. BROWNSTOWN
7. PROVIDENCE
8. GARY 21ST CENTURY
9. SOUTHWESTERN (JEFFERSON)
10. TAYLOR
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: CARROLL (FLORA) 28. TIPTON 25. NORTHEASTERN 15. SULLIVAN 14. WABASH 13. EASTERN HANCOCK 13. PARK TUDOR 6. N. DECATUR 6. ADAMS CENTRAL 6.
CLASS A
1. BLOOMFIELD (9)
2. ORLEANS (6)
3. BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (1)
4. LOOGOOTEE
5. MORGAN TWP. (1)
6. EV. CHRISTIAN
7. FOUNTAIN CENTRAL
8. LUTHERAN
9. BLUE RIVER
(TIE) TRI
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: BARR-REEVE 54. TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN 42. BETHANY CHRISTIAN 34. LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 29. EDINBURGH 16. MICHIGAN CITY MARQUETTE 15. ELKHART CHRISTIAN 14. TINDLEY 9.
INDIANA WRESTLING REGIONAL SITES
1. HOBART | 9 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, PORTAGE.
2. CROWN POINT | 8 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CROWN POINT, LAPORTE.
3. PENN | 9 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: MISHAWAKA, PLYMOUTH.
4. LOGANSPORT | 10 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, WINAMAC COMMUNITY.
5. GOSHEN | 9:30 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: ELKHART, WEST NOBLE.
6. CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), NEW HAVEN.
7. PERU | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: PERU, OAK HILL.
8. JAY COUNTY | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: DELTA, JAY COUNTY.
9. NORTH MONTGOMERY | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CRAWFORDSVILLE, FRANKFORT.
10. PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: ELWOOD, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL.
11. PERRY MERIDIAN | 9 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: WARREN CENTRAL, SOUTHPORT.
12. RICHMOND | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: SOUTH DEARBORN, SHENANDOAH.
13. MOORESVILLE | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: AVON, MOORESVILLE.
14. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: BLOOMINGTON NORTH, SOUTHRIDGE.
15. JEFFERSONVILLE | 8 AM ET
FEEDER SECTIONALS: JEFFERSONVILLE, JENNINGS COUNTY.
16. CASTLE | 8 AM CT
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CASTLE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL.
TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#4 ALABAMA 101 VANDERBILT 44
#8 KANSAS 90 #7 KANSAS STATE 78
#15 TCU 76 WEST VIRGINIA 72
BOSTON COLLEGE 62 #20 CLEMSON 54
MARYLAND 66 #21 INDIANA 55
NEVADA 75 #22 SAN DIEGO STATE 66
#23 MIAMI FLORIDA 92 VIRGINIA TECH 83
#24 UCONN 90 DEPAUL 76
ELSEWHERE:
BALL STATE 69 BOWLING GREEN 60
AKRON 81 BUFFALO 64
EASTERN MICHIGAN 90 OHIO 79
KENT STATE 81 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 69
TOLEDO 81 MIAMI OHIO 78
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 73 WESTERN MICHIGAN 59
ILLINOIS 72 NEBRASKA 56
IOWA 86 NORTHWESTERN 70
ARKANSAS 81 TEXAS A&M 70
DUKE 75 WAKE FOREST 73
BOISE STATE 59 AIR FORCE 52
UNLV 83 COLORADO STATE 71
DAYTON 85 LOYOLA CHICAGO 81 OT
KENTUCKY 75 OLE MISS 66
WYOMING 85 FRESNO STATE 62
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230131
TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#20 OKLAHOMA 101 TCU 78
#25 S. FLORIDA 72 E. CAROLINA 48
ELSEWHERE:
GEORGETOWN 44 XAVIER 41
SETON HALL 68 ST. JOHN’S 58
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230131
NBA
MIAMI 100 CLEVELAND 97
LA LAKERS 129 NEW YORK 123 OT
LA CLIPPERS 108 CHICAGO 103
MILWAUKEE 124 CHARLOTTE 115
DENVER 122 NEW ORLEANS 113
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL
OTTAWA 5 MONTRÉAL 4
CAROLINA 5 LOS ANGELES 4
WASHINGTON 4 COLUMBUS 3
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
AP SOURCE: BRONCOS GET PAYTON AS COACH IN DEAL WITH SAINTS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Saints that will make Sean Payton their head coach, a person with knowledge of the accord said Tuesday.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced the agreement, said the Broncos would send their first-round pick, No. 29 overall, in this year’s draft to the Saints along with a future second-rounder.
Payton remained under contract with New Orleans after stepping down from the Saints last season and working in broadcasting this season.
The Broncos, who went 5-12 this season and extended their playoff drought to seven years, fired rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett on Dec. 26 after he went 4-11. Interim coach Jerry Rosburg went 1-1.
Payton’s top task will be to get quarterback Russell Wilson back to his winning ways after the 11-year pro had his worst statistical season following his blockbuster trade from Seattle for four premium draft picks and three players.
The Broncos dealt their first- and second-round picks to the Seahawks for Wilson. They got back into the first round by trading pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins, who sent the Broncos a first-rounder originally owned by the San Francisco 49ers.
That selection, the 29th overall pick, now belongs to the Saints.
Payton also interviewed for the Carolina Panthers’ head coaching vacancy.
AP SOURCE: TEXANS HIRE DEMECO RYANS AS HEAD COACH
HOUSTON (AP) — DeMeco Ryans has been hired as coach of the Houston Texans, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person spoke on the condition on anonymity since the hiring had not been announced.
The move gives him his first head coaching job and brings him back to the place where he started his playing career.
Ryans joins the Texans from the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent the past two seasons as their defensive coordinator.
He replaces Lovie Smith, who was fired after just one season where the team went 3-13-1.
Ryans led a 49ers defense that led the NFL this season by allowing just 300.6 yards a game.
San Francisco was particularly good against the run, ranking second in the league by holding teams to 77.7 yards. That’s a stark contrast to Houston’s run defense, which ranked last in the NFL by allowing 170.2 yards this season.
Ryans helped the 49ers to a 13-4 regular-season record and the NFC West title this season. San Francisco reached the NFC championship game before falling to Philadelphia on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Ryans was a linebacker who was a second-round pick of the Texans in 2006. He led the NFL with 126 solo tackles that season to win AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
He spent his first six NFL seasons with the Texans where he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and 2009.
Ryans becomes the sixth coach in franchise history and the third in three seasons after David Culley also just lasted one year before being fired at the end of the 2021 season.
RODGERS BELIEVES DECISION COULD COME IN ‘COUPLE OF WEEKS’
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he doesn’t expect to make a decision on whether to play next season until after the Super Bowl.
Rodgers, 39, has said he is still making up his mind on whether he wants to return to the Packers for a 19th season, retire or request a trade. The four-time MVP also has noted the possibility the Packers may want to move him.
“It’s going to be a little more time for my decision,” Rodgers said Tuesday during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM and YouTube. “I feel confident that in a couple of weeks I’ll feel definitely more strongly about one of the two decisions.”
The first decision is whether he wants to play at all.
“You’ve got to be cognizant of what was going through your mind during the season,” Rodgers said. “Did you enjoy the grind as much? Did you enjoy practice? Did you enjoy the meeting time? Did you enjoy the routine? And not forget about those feelings and make an emotional response either way. I think that’s important.”
Rodgers was the league MVP in 2020 and 2021, but didn’t perform as well this season while playing with a broken right thumb and dealing with the absence of star wideout Davante Adams, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in March.
Rodgers had his lowest passer rating as a starter and threw 12 interceptions, his highest single-season total since 2008. The Packers went 8-9 and missed the playoffs to end a string of three straight NFC North titles.
Rodgers was asked if he would decide on his plans and would then call the Packers, who would then let him know what they’re thinking.
“I think so,” Rodgers said. “It sounds like there’s already conversations going on that aren’t involving me, which are interesting.”
ANALYSIS: NFL WASN’T AT ITS BEST IN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The NFL didn’t put on its Sunday best for the conference championships.
Before the San Francisco 49ers ran out of luck and quarterbacks, they were burned by a fourth-down catch by Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Devonta Smith that wasn’t even a catch.
Although Kyle Shanahan could have thrown a challenge flag, the league’s replay assist rule allows the replay official to make a quick reversal without a challenge, something that didn’t happen before the Eagles hurried to the line and snapped the ball.
Smith’s 29-yard catch from Jalen Hurts to the San Francisco 6 was quickly followed by Miles Sanders’ TD run that opened the scoring.
After Christian McCaffrey tied it up by pinballing his way into the end zone from 23 yards out, the Niners were done in by their quarterback issues and succumbed 31-7 in an NFC championship that was only slightly more competitive than Georgia’s 65-7 stomping of TCU in college football’s national championship.
At least the Horned Frogs had a quarterback who could still throw the ball more than 5 to 10 yards in the fourth quarter.
Not so the 49ers, who were done in by Philadelphia’s relentless pass rush, losing third-stringer Brock Purdy to a right elbow injury and fourth-string journeyman Josh Johnson to a concussion.
“You dress two quarterbacks and neither one of them can throw and neither one of them is really available,” tight end George Kittle said. “It kind of limits what you can do as an offense, kind of limits our playbook to like 15 plays. You can only do so much.”
Dressing two quarterbacks is the problem.
The NFL used to allow an “emergency” third quarterback to dress for the game, but the league stopped doing that 2011 when it expanded game-day rosters from 45 to 46, with the third quarterback no longer designated an “emergency” active player.
A third QB would count toward the 46-man limit, so teams quit doing it. And it burned the 49ers and the NFL on Sunday.
When Johnson went out with a concussion on the first drive of the second half, the Niners were left with the choice of putting Purdy back in even though he could hardly throw the ball or play the rest of the game in the wildcat with McCaffrey running the show.
They chose Purdy, and the Niners had no shot against a Philadelphia defense that stacked the box with no concern about defending the pass.
On the ice later that night, the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers activated their emergency backup goaltender — affectionately known as the EBUG — Matt Berlin, a player from the University of Alberta Golden Bears. They put him in net with a five-goal lead over the Chicago Blackhawks and 2:26 to play, and he stopped the only shot he faced.
If the NHL can have the EBUG on standby, then there’s no reason for the NFL not to reintroduce its EQBIII.
Another thing the league might have to look into again is its officiating.
The AFC championship went down to the wire and Patrick Mahomes finally beat Joe Burrow when Kansas City prevailed 23-20 over Cincinnati in a game that featured enough infuriating flags and blatantly missed calls — plus some bad clock keeping — to reignite the debate about the league needing to replace moonlighting lawyers with full-time officials.
Among the flags that drew fans’ ire was a costly intentional grounding call on Burrow on the last possession. Earlier, a nearly identical throw to the ground from Burrow didn’t draw a flag.
Former NFL VP of officials and Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino said the intentional grounding call on Burrow never should have been called because Chris Jones hit him just as he released his pass.
“Was Joe Burrow’s passing motion affected by the contact by Chris Jones?” Blandino asked in a tweet from The 33rd Team. “And that’s the key: if the quarterback starts his throwing motion, which the hand coming forward with the ball starts that motion, and then he’s contacted by a defender, which impacts that motion, then you are not to call intentional grounding.
“And I thought that the contact may have impacted Burrow’s ability to get the ball out toward (Samaje) Perine enough to not calling grounding in that situation.”
The good thing is the NFL has one more marquee evening to get it all right when Jason Kelce’s Eagles and Travis Kelce’s Chiefs square off in Super Bowl 57 in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12.
BROTHER VS. BROTHER: KELCES PREPARE FOR SUPER BOWL SHOWDOWN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Donna Kelce is going to have to pull out that now-familiar custom jersey — the one with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s front stitched to Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce’s back — one more time this season.
At least this time, she’ll get to see her boys in person.
For the first time in Super Bowl history, a pair of siblings will play each other on the NFL’s grandest stage. Kelce helped the Chiefs return to their third championship game in four seasons on Sunday night when they beat the Bengals for the AFC title, while Jason has the Eagles back for the second time in six years after their NFC title win over the 49ers.
“Cool scenario to be in, you know?” Travis Kelce said. “My mom can’t lose.”
Or maybe can’t win.
Indeed, there have been plenty of famous NFL siblings over the years, and many had some memorable matchups: Peyton vs. Eli Manning, Tiki vs. Ronde Barber. But they never reached the same Super Bowl, or had to put their dear old mom in such a predicament, where one will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the other one’s expense.
“It’s going to be an amazing feeling playing against him,” added Travis, whose team has gotten the better of big brother’s Eagles the last three matchups. “I respect everyone over there in the Eagles organization. You won’t see me talk too much trash because of how much I love my brother. But it’s going to be an emotional game, for sure.”
Jason Kelce was even ever-so-briefly a Chiefs fan Sunday night, pulling on a Kansas City sweatshirt for about the three hours between the end of the Eagles’ 31-7 rout of San Francisco and the finish of his little brother’s 23-20 win over Cincinnati.
“That’s it for the rest of the year,” Jason said with a smile. “I am done being a Chiefs fan.”
He’ll leave that to mom and dad.
While her husband, Ed, has mostly kept private over the years, Donna has been a fixture as she crisscrosses the country to watch her boys. During wild-card weekend last year, she started in Tampa Bay watching the Eagles against the Buccaneers, then hopped a plane to Kansas City in time to watch the Chiefs play the Steelers at night.
She already has seen both of her sons win Super Bowls, too: The Eagles beat the Patriots in 2018 in Minneapolis, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the 49ers in Miami two years later.
She hasn’t seen much of them lately, though. The way the playoff schedule worked out for the divisional round and the conference championship games, it was impossible for Donna to make it to see both of her boys in person.
In any case, they’ve come a long way from their solidly middle-class upbringing in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Jason blazed the trail as the star offensive lineman who earned a scholarship to Cincinnati, and Travis soon followed suit. Both caught the eyes of NFL scout during their college careers, and of one coach in particular: Andy Reid.
It was Big Red who, while coaching the Eagles, used a sixth-round pick on Jason during the 2011 draft. And two years later, after Reid had gotten a fresh start in Kansas City, the Chiefs used a third-rounder to bring Travis into the fold.
“Big brother probably protected Travis from doing some crazy things. He probably talked him from dropping off a ladder into raked-up leaves once or twice,” Reid said Monday. “Listen, they’re both at heart very competitive and compassionate, is the biggest thing. They care and they care about people and they care about they’re game.”
They also happen to be very good at it.
Jason has been to six Pro Bowls and was just voted an All-Pro for the fifth time, and he’s emerged as one of the best offensive linemen in Eagles history. Travis has been to eight Pro Bowls, just made a fourth All-Pro team and is second in NFL history to Jerry Rice in playoff catches, yards and touchdowns.
Football’s not the only thing they’re good at, either.
The brothers have new a podcast called “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce,” which takes listeners on a riotous, real-time ride through the NFL season. The weekly shows are recorded on Tuesdays and last between 60 and 90 minutes, the two NFL stars playing off each other as if they were hanging out in mom’s basement.
Special guests have included Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes.
“They have a good mesh there, and a good relationship,” Reid said. “I think Travis has grown up a lot. Jason probably came in a bit more mature — Travis was a little immature. But he’s really grown into a good person.
“I have invested time in both of those two,” Reid added, “so I feel like a part of the family.”
TITANS SWITCH TO NEW SYNTHETIC TURF AT NISSAN STADIUM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are tearing up the grass field at Nissan Stadium and replacing it with a synthetic surface before the 2023 season.
The Titans announced the change Tuesday. The team, which already has started work, is making the change after reviewing injury rates and knowing how difficult it is to grow grass at Nissan Stadium since it opened in 1999.
“Ultimately there’s just a limit to how much can be done for a natural grass surface in this part of the country,” said Burke Nihill, the team president and CEO. “This turf is cutting-edge technology and will be a huge improvement in terms of consistency and performance.”
The Titans have led the NFL in each of the past two seasons for most players used, including setting a league record with 91 players in 2021 — most in a non-strike season — because of injuries.
The franchise also learned from the NFL that games at Nissan Stadium have had players suffer more lower-body injuries than games at the league’s other stadiums with monofilament, synthetic turf fields over the past few seasons and also was among the league leaders for games with players with lower-body injuries.
Nissan Stadium will be the NFL’s first to use the technology featuring a monofilament, Matrix Helix turf with an organic infill that retains moisture better than synthetic fields using rubber. The Titans installed the surface at their indoor practice field last year.
Coach Mike Vrabel said he noticed the grass becoming slick even when replaced with new sod, causing players to slip. Vrabel said players responded favorably to the new indoor surface.
“Just witnessing our practices inside and how they feel and how they respond on that product,” Vrabel said. “We’re excited to be able to add this product to our stadium.”
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NO. 8 KANSAS AVENGES EARLIER LOSS TO NO. 7 K-STATE, 90-78
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jalen Wilson had 20 points, Kevin McCullar Jr. added 16 points and 13 rebounds, and No. 8 Kansas avenged a loss to Kansas State just a couple of weeks ago with a 90-78 victory over the seventh-ranked Wildcats on Tuesday night.
Dajuan Harris Jr. scored 18 for the Jayhawks (18-4, 6-3 Big 12), who built a 12-point halftime lead before coasting to their 17th straight home win over the Wildcats in the 10th matchup of top-10 teams in series history.
Kansas has rebounded nicely from a rare three-game skid that included the overtime loss to Kansas State, and made sure to avoid taking back-to-back losses in its storied home for the first time since the 1988-89 season.
Markquis Nowell scored 23 points and Keyontae Johnson had 22 to lead the Wildcats (18-4, 6-3), who were trying for their first regular-season sweep of their biggest rival in four decades. Nae’Qwan Tomlin added 11 points and David N’Guessan had 10.
In their first meeting on Jan. 17, the Wildcats raced to a big early lead and controlled the game until late in the second half, when the Jayhawks forced overtime — only for Kansas State to win on Johnson’s alley-oop dunk.
It was the Jayhawks who controlled the rematch.
They used a 16-7 run in the first half that included a technical foul on Kansas State coach Jerome Tang to build a 32-19 lead. And when Johnson answered with eight straight points for the Wildcats, and the lead was eventually trimmed to four, the reigning national champs pulled away again down the stretch.
It was 37-32 when Wilson hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Zach Clemence added one of his own. And by the time Wilson made two foul shots with about 10 seconds left, Kansas had built a 49-37 lead that it took to the break.
The Wildcats briefly got within six in the second half before the Jayhawks stretched their lead to as many as 16.
OFFICIATING OOPS
Johnson had to sit with two fouls just 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Only problem? The crew of John Higgins, Kip Kissinger and Marques Pettigrew gave one to the wrong player. By the time they corrected their mistake, the Wildcats’ leading scorer had unnecessarily ridden the bench for several minutes.
SELLOUT … AND THEN SOME
For the first time in more than 15 years, more Kansas students redeemed tickets than there was space available inside Allen Fieldhouse. The overflow had to watch the game on screens in the adjacent Horejsi Family Athletics Center, where the Jayhawks play volleyball games. Those students also got refunds and concessions vouchers.
BIG PICTURE
Kansas State’s three losses in league play have been to ranked teams on the road: TCU, Iowa State and Kansas. And with a more forgiving second half to the Big 12 schedule, the Wildcats remain firmly in the conference title hunt.
Kansas got its mojo back with its win over Kentucky last weekend. This victory over another bunch of Wildcats was crucial because the road doesn’t get any easier for the Jayhawks, who are in the midst of three straight games against teams ranked 13th or better.
UP NEXT
Kansas State returns home for another top-10 showdown Saturday against No. 10 Texas.
Kansas hits the road for the third time in four games against No. 13 Iowa State on Saturday.
ALABAMA ROUTS VANDERBILT 101-44 FOR LARGEST WIN OVER SEC FOE
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 22 points to help No. 4 Alabama rout Vanderbilt 101-44 on Tuesday night for the Crimson Tide’s largest margin of victory over an SEC opponent ever.
Alabama (19-3, 9-0 SEC) shot 59% from the field and 46% from 3-point range to pull off the fourth largest win in school history.
Nimari Burnett added 16 points, his first points after three scoreless games since returning from injury on Jan. 21. Three more Alabama players cracked double-digit points: Rylan Griffen with 12, Noah Gurley with 11 and Charles Bediako with 10.
Mark Sears led all players with eight assists to go with nine points.
Vanderbilt (10-12, 3-6) struggled mightily in the first half, shooting 15% (5-for-33). Freshman Paul Lewis was Vanderbilt’s lone double-digit scorer with 10 points.
Liam Robbins scored nine points and added seven rebounds in his return to action after missing four games with an ankle injury. The Commodores lost three of the four games they played without Robbins, their leading scorer and rebounder.
BIG PICTURE
This was Alabama’s first game after seeing its nine-game winning streak snapped in a 93-69 loss to Oklahoma, a loss that followed a poor performance in a narrow win over Mississippi State. Alabama coach Nate Oats thought the team had lost its edge; Tuesday’s performance suggests the Crimson Tide might have it back, thoroughly handling a Vanderbilt team that has a win over a ranked team in conference play, beating Arkansas on Jan. 14.
UP NEXT: Alabama travels to LSU on Saturday after beating the Tigers by 40 on Jan. 14. Vanderbilt starts a two-game home stand by hosting Ole Miss on Saturday.
BC BEATS NO. 20 CLEMSON 62-54; TIGERS FALL INTO ACC TIE
BOSTON (AP) — Makai Ashton-Langford had two key driving baskets in the closing two minutes and finished with 15 points to help Boston College beat No. 20 Clemson 62-54 on Tuesday night.
Jaeden Zackery added 13 points for the Eagles (11-12, 5-7 Atlantic Coast Conference). BC held Clemson to one field goal — and that came with 18 seconds left — in the final 13:16.
Hunter Tyson led Clemson (18-5, 10-2) with 22 points and Chase Hunter had 12. The Tigers fell into a first-place tie atop the ACC with No. 6 Virginia.
The Eagles used a 5-0 spurt — with T.J. Bickerstaff hitting a free throw and getting a driving layup — to pull ahead 50-45 with just over five minutes to play.
Clemson sliced it to 50-47 before Aston-Langford made his two big baskets. He followed that by making two free throws with 32 seconds left.
Trailing by 10 midway into the second half, the Tigers went on a 10-0 spree, tying it at 45 when RJ Godfrey hit both ends of a 1-and-1.
The Eagles had opened a double-digit lead twice in the opening six minutes of the second half, the later 45-35 on Prince Aligbe’s foul-line jumper with 14:12 to play.
BIG PICTURE
Clemson: Off to a solid start in conference play, the Tigers were tested on the road for the second straight game after edging Florida State by a point on Saturday. It hasn’t been easy for them away from home with a 4-3 record and with three away matchups against North Carolina, North Carolina State and Virginia to go, they’ll need to get it straightened out of they’re going to won the ACC regular-season title.
Boston College: The Eagles proved when they play defense that they’re a tough out in coach Earl Grant’s second season. A little more offense could make them very dangerous for top ACC teams to play.
ARRIVING LATE
In the first half, Clemson’s man-to-man defense smothered the Eagles’ offense for the opening 10 minutes, holding them in single digits in scoring until just about the same time the student section finished filling up late, bringing some energy to a very quiet building.
BC’s players then responded, closing the half with a 22-4 spree that turned an 11-point deficit to a 30-23 halftime edge.
SIDELINED
Both teams were missing key players. Guard Brevin Galloway, Clemson’s fourth leading scorer at 10.6 points per game, was sidelined with an abdominal injury. For BC, guard DeMarr Langford Jr., who logs big minutes at the point, was out with a knee injury.
UP NEXT
Clemson: Hosts No. 23 Miami on Saturday.
Boston College: Hosts Syracuse on Saturday.
NBA NEWS
JIMMY BUTLER SCORES 23 AS HEAT HOLD OFF CAVALIERS 100-97
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Bam Adebayo added 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Miami Heat showed their experience down the stretch in a 100-97 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.
Caleb Martin scored 18 points and matched his career high with 10 rebounds, and Tyler Herro also scored 18 for the Heat, who moved within 1 1/2 games of the fifth-place Cavs in the Eastern Conference standings.
Butler, who has been slowed by injuries much of the season, hit a short jumper to put the Heat up 98-93 with 1:23 left, and his free throw kept the Heat up by five with 12 seconds left.
But Darius Garland hit a 3-pointer to pull the Cavs within 99-97 with 8.7 seconds remaining.
The Cavs fouled Butler with 7.3 seconds left. He split his free throws, giving Cleveland a chance to tie, but All-Star starter Donovan Mitchell’s 3-pointer at the buzzer was short.
Evan Mobley scored 19 points, Mitchell had 16 and Jarrett Allen added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavs, who dropped to 21-6 at home.
Mitchell and Darius Garland were a combined 4 of 19 on 3-pointers.
Cleveland held Miami scoreless over the first 4:59 of the fourth but couldn’t pull away, and the Heat quickly tied it 89-89 when Herro scored six points in a 26-second span.
After falling behind by nine points in the third, the Cavaliers closed the quarter with a 9-2 run, capped by Mitchell’s leaning 3-pointer at the horn to tie it 79-all heading into the fourth.
The NBA’s top-rated defensive team, the Cavs came out looking to make everything difficult for the Heat offensively.
Miami had no early answers and started 2 of 10 from the floor with five turnovers in the first five minutes.
HEAT CHECK
Miami has been one of the league’s steadiest franchises, missing the playoffs just three times since 2008.
It’s a model Cleveland would like to follow.
Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff admires both the Heat’s consistency and ability to adapt. He credits Miami president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra for leading the way.
“They have a philosophy and are flexible enough to change with the times and keep people wanting to be a part of it,” he said. “They have core values they believe in and then they do a great job of acquiring talent but finding talent in the cracks.
“Their best players aren’t always No. 1 picks. They have been able to work free agency, G League, later draft picks and turn it into talent because their player development staff is so good.”
TIP-INS
Heat: Butler and Adebayo will likely be named All-Star reserves when the rosters are announced Thursday. Butler has been an All-Star six times, while Adebayo has only been selected once. Adebayo has scored in double figures in all 47 games this season, and 63 in a row dating to last season. Only Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have had longer streaks in team history. … C Omer Yurtseven, who hasn’t played this season following ankle surgery, was recently cleared for contact.
Cavaliers: Kevin Love (back spasms) sat out his fourth consecutive game. … Mobley was chosen to play in the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars at All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City later this month. It’s his second straight invitation to the event.
UP NEXT
Heat: At New York on Thursday.
Cavaliers: Host Memphis on Thursday.
JAMES HAS TRIPLE-DOUBLE, LEADS LAKERS PAST KNICKS IN OT
NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James moved within 89 points of breaking the NBA’s career scoring record and climbed into fourth place on the assists list, finishing with a triple-double in his return to Madison Square Garden as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 129-123 on Tuesday night.
James had 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, with the points giving him 38,299 for his career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the leader with 38,387.
But James’ game has always been about more than scoring, as he proved again Tuesday. He fed Dennis Schroder for a 3-pointer that snapped a 118-all tie with 3:13 remaining, grabbed his 10th rebound later in the extra period and then powered to the basket for a 127-121 lead with 19 seconds to go.
He had earlier moved ahead of Mark Jackson and then Steve Nash into fourth place on the assists list during his first game at Madison Square Garden in three years.
Anthony Davis added 27 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who had dropped two straight to open their trip. Both James and Davis had sat out their loss Monday in Brooklyn.
Jalen Brunson scored 37 points and Julius Randle had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.
James’ 3-pointer with 1:41 remaining in regulation gave the Lakers a 114-108 lead, but he then missed two long jumpers that could’ve put away the game. The Knicks rallied to tie it at 114 on a basket by Brunson, who then stepped in to draw an offensive foul after James fed Davis near the basket. But Randle couldn’t get a shot off in time in the Knicks’ last possession, sending the Lakers to overtime for the second time in three games.
James sat out Monday with what coach Darvin Ham said was left foot soreness, though the Lakers had listed the injury as an ankle. They listed him as questionable to play in the morning, then upgraded James to available after he moved well during a pregame workout.
He certainly didn’t want to miss this one after being hurt two years ago and suspended last season for striking Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart in the face. His last game here was Jan. 22, 2000, when he was days away from passing Kobe Bryant into third place on the career scoring list.
Now the only one left to catch is Abdul-Jabbar, which could happen in the next 10 days.
The game was tied at 90 before James fed Troy Brown Jr. for a 3-pointer with his eighth assist, then set up Thomas Bryant for a dunk that moved him ahead of Jackson and then Nash into fourth place for assists. He has 10,338 assists.
James has already called MSG one of his favorite places to play and this visit draw a sellout crowd that included celebrities such as Michael J. Fox, Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone and Chris Rock. Fans filled seats in the lower sections of the arena just to watch James warm up, but he struggled to give them one of his vintage performances once the game began.
He threw up an airball in the second quarter as part of his 2-for-8 start, but made his final two shots of the half, then threw a pass that Schroder heaved in from halfcourt to beat the buzzer and cut it to 53-52 at halftime.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Patrick Beverley was out with left knee soreness. Ham said the guard has had some tough defensive matchups lately and they were just being careful in giving him a rest.
Knicks: Second-year G Quentin Grimes was chosen Tuesday to take part in the Rising Stars at All-Star weekend. … The Knicks missed 13 or their first 15 shots as the Lakers took a 15-5 lead.
UP NEXT
Lakers: At Indiana on Thursday night.
Knicks: Host Miami on Friday night.
LEONARD, POWELL LEAD CLIPPERS PAST BULLS, 108-103
CHICAGO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and Norman Powell added 27 to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 108-103 on Tuesday night.
Paul George added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who’ve won six of seven.
Nikola Vucevic had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Bulls, who dropped the first of a four-game homestand. DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and Zach LaVine finished with 18 points and 14 boards.
Los Angeles led 85-84 after three quarters and never trailed in the fourth but couldn’t shake the Bulls until the final seconds. With the Clippers ahead 106-103, Leonard stole the ball from LaVine and made both free throws with 5.2 seconds left to close the door.
Chicago had 20 turnovers, two off its worst mark of the season.
The Clippers trailed by as many as 19 points midway through the second quarter but went to halftime down just 58-54 thanks to a 16-2 run in the final minutes.
Ivaca Zubac finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles.
TIP-INS
Clippers: George and Leonard returned after both were held out of Sunday’s loss at Cleveland with knee soreness.
Bulls: LaVine drew a foul at the top of the key from Powell with 1:03 left but missed the first two of three free throws to keep the Bulls behind 104-103. … DeRozan had a career-worst eight turnovers.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Play the fourth of their six-game road swing Thursday night at Milwaukee.
Bulls: Host Charlotte on Thursday night.
BUCKS BEAT HORNETS 124-115 FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 18 rebounds and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Hornets 124-115 on Tuesday night to win their fifth straight and avenge one of their most embarrassing losses of the season.
The Bucks withstood a triple-double from Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, who had 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte (16-36) entered the night with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, but the Hornets won 138-109 at Milwaukee on Jan. 6 to hand the Bucks their second-most lopsided loss of the season. The Hornets had 51 points in the opening period that night — matching the NBA record for a first quarter — and limited Antetokounmpo to nine points.
Even after scoring 50 points in a 135-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, Antetokounmpo spent part of his postgame press conference talking about how the Bucks needed to play better in the rematch with the Hornets.
The Hornets still made this one interesting.
Milwaukee took a 114-97 lead on an Antetokounmpo 3-pointer with 7:13 left but wouldn’t make another basket until Antetokounmpo provided a driving layup with 27.1 seconds remaining.
Charlotte cut the lead to 118-113 when Mason Plumlee hit a layup and drew a foul with 1:06 left. But Plumlee missed the ensuing free throw, and the Bucks put it away from there.
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton had 18 points in 20 minutes, his longest outing since coming back from a sore right knee that caused him to miss 18 games. The three-time All-Star has come off the bench in each of his four games since returning. Jrue Holday had 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
Terry Rozier scored 20 points, Gordon Hayward 16, Jalen McDaniels 15 and P.J. Washington and Mason Plumlee 14 each for Charlotte. Plumlee also had 14 rebounds.
The first three quarters of the game featured 11 ties and 17 lead changes, with the margin never climbing above seven points.
Middleton helped Milwaukee pull ahead for good late in the third quarter. He scored 11 points during a 14-3 run late in the third quarter that helped the Bucks take a 97-90 lead into the final period.
After Ball’s jumper opened the fourth-quarter scoring to cut Milwaukee’s lead to five, the Bucks went on a 12-2 run to take command. Antetokounmpo scored seven points and Jevon Carter had five during that spurt.
TIP-INS
Hornets: Ball’s triple-double was his second of the season and eighth of his career. His other triple-double this seasson came Dec. 22, when he had 25 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a 126105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. … This game snapped the Hornets’ two-game win streak. The Hornets haven’t won three straight all sesaon. … P.J. Washington inadvertently gave the Bucks a basket in the first quarter by tipping the ball into the net in while trying to get a defensive rebound on a missed shot by Jrue Holiday.
Bucks: Pat Connaughton shot just 1 of 8 from 3-point range. He had gone 25 of 49 from beyond the arc over his last eight games. … After getting a steal in the opening seconds of the second half, Holiday threw an off-the-backboard pass to Antetokounmpo, who was unable to convert the dunk attempt.
UP NEXT
Hornets: At Chicago on Thursday night.
Bucks: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.
MURRAY, JOKIC HELP NUGGETS HOLD OFF PELICANS 122-113
DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 32 points, Nikola Jokic got his 16th triple-double of the season and the Denver Nuggets held off the reeling New Orleans Pelicans 122-113 on Tuesday night.
Jokic finished with 26 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists as the Western Conference leaders improved to 16-0 when Jokic has a triple-double. Murray made a season-high seven 3-pointers on his way to a big night.
CJ McCollum and Herbert Jones both scored 21 points for the Pelicans, who have dropped nine straight games. They finished 3-13 in January.
Part of the reason for the slide has been the absence of standout Zion Williamson, who has missed 15 straight games with a hamstring injury.
The Nuggets led by 13 early in the fourth quarter only to see the Pelicans cut it to five on several occasions, including a layup by Jones with less than a minute remaining. Murray and Jokic each converted a pair of free throws down the stretch to help Denver fend off New Orleans and move to 23-4 at home.
Jokic, who’s been dealing with tightness in his left hamstring, had another efficient shooting performance in going 10 of 14 from the floor. It was the 92nd triple-double of his career.
Jokic turned in a nifty play in the first half that drew quite an ovation. The big man saved a ball from going out of bounds on the defensive end, dribbled up the floor, drove in and scored on a finger roll while being fouled.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Williamson is steadily progressing from a strained right hamstring, coach Willie Green said before the game. “He’s getting there,” Green explained. “It’s something we don’t want to rush, but we’re definitely excited to see him on the floor.” … Brandon Ingram finished with 16 points and nine assists. … Larry Nance Jr. scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Nuggets: Rookie guard Collin Gillespie (broken right leg) has been cleared for some shooting and light running. “If he’s able to play at some point this season, that would be great. But we’re not putting any pressure or a rush on him,” coach Michael Malone said. … G Bones Hyland, mentioned in trade speculation, played 4:43 and scored two points.
RISING STARS
Hyland was selected to the NBA’s Jordan Rising Stars Challenge. So were Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado and forward Trey Murphy III. The mini-tournament will take place on Feb. 17 in Salt Lake City as part of All-Star weekend.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Dallas on Thursday to finish a three-game trip.
Nuggets: Host Golden State on Thursday night.
NHL NEWS
TKACHUK’S LATE GOAL LIFTS SENATORS OVER CANADIENS 5-4
MONTREAL (AP) — Brady Tkachuk scored at 18:41 of the third period to lift the Ottawa Senators to a 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
The surging Senators will head into the NHL All-Star break with a sense of accomplishment, having extended their winning streak to four games.
Tim Stutzle scored two goals and added two assists, while Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux also found the back of the net for the visitors.
Anton Forsberg made 28 saves.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard kept the Canadiens in the game with two third-period goals. Kirby Dach and Mike Hoffman also scored for Montreal, which dropped its fourth in a row.
Jake Allen made 24 saves for the Canadiens and kept the dreaded Reverse Retro curse going as they hold a 0-6-1 record wearing light blue.
During the morning skate, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said he wanted his team to “respect the day and not jump straight into the (All-Star) break.” However, the Senators were the ones with a hot start scoring two goals on their first three shots.
50 IN 50
With an assist on Stutzle’s goal, Tkachuk reached the 50-point mark in his 50th game of the season. He became the fastest Senator to reach that mark since 2018-19.
UP NEXT
Senators: After the All-Star break, host Oilers on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Canadiens: Host Islanders on Saturday, Feb. 11.
AHO SCORES ON POWER PLAY IN OT, HURRICANES RALLY PAST KINGS
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Sebastian Aho scored on a power play with 53.8 seconds left in overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes claimed another comeback win, beating the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Brent Burns, Paul Stastny, Jordan Staal and Teuvo Teravainen also scored for the Hurricanes, who trailed 4-1 entering the third period. Andrei Svechnikov had two assists and Frederik Andersen stopped 17 shots.
Aho has scored in five straight games as the Hurricanes extended their winning streak to six games and their points streak to nine games.
Adrian Kempe scored twice and Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar added goals for the Kings, who scored all four of their goals in the second period. Kopitar and Drew Doughty each had two assists, and Pheonix Copley made 26 saves.
The Kings wrapped up play prior to the All-Star break by going 3-2-1 on a season-high six-game trip.
Carolina also rallied from a two-goal deficit in the last two minutes of regulation in Friday night’s overtime win over San Jose.
Teravainen’s fifth goal of the season with 7:29 to play in regulation forced overtime.
Aho has a team-leading 22 goals, including seven in a five-game span.
Kempe had the first and third goals for the Kings, giving him four two-goal games this season. He leads the Kings with 22 goals.
ICE MATTERS
The Hurricanes improved to 19-2-4 when leading after the first period. … It was just the second Los Angeles game to go beyond regulation in January. The Kings won the other in overtime a week earlier at Philadelphia.
UP NEXT
Kings: After the All-Star break, host Pittsburgh on Feb. 11.
Hurricanes: At Buffalo on Wednesday.
KUZNETSOV’S OT GOAL LIFTS CAPITALS OVER BLUE JACKETS 4-3
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 26 seconds in overtime, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 Tuesday night.
The win extended Washington’s lead over Pittsburgh for fourth place in the Metropolitan Division to three points.
Trevor van Riemsdyk scored twice, Garnet Hathaway added a goal and Kuznetsov also contributed an assist. Charlie Lindgren stopped 31 shots.
Andrew Peeke, Eric Robinson and Johnny Gaudreau scored for Columbus, which has lost three straight and seven of its last nine to remain in last place in the NHL. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30 shots.
Hathaway gave Washington the lead 5:06 into the first period. Van Riemsdyk made it 2-0 with 5:32 remaining before Peeke cut the lead in half 12 seconds later.
The teams traded goals in the second, with van Riemsdyk scoring his second at 8:26 and Robinson getting Columbus within one 2 ½ minutes later.
Gaudreau’s goal at 12:44 of the third knotted the score 3-3.
UP NEXT
Capitals: After the All-Star break, visit Boston on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Blue Jackets: Visit Toronto on Friday, Feb. 10.
MEN’S GOLF
COLUMN: THE ONLY RIVALRY IN GOLF IS ABOUT TOURS, NOT PLAYERS
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Jon Rahm began his year by winning two in a row on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy began his year with birdies on the last two holes to win in Dubai.
This would seem to have the look of golf’s latest rivalry in the making, except that it will be difficult to replace the rivalry golf already has.
It’s a rivalry between tours, not players.
That much was clear in Dubai when there was as much attention on McIlroy leading as the players who were chasing him.
That starts with Patrick Reed, a thorn in McIlroy’s side dating to that energy-draining Ryder Cup singles match at Hazeltine in 2016 that Reed won. Not to be forgotten is when they played in the final group of the 2018 Masters. Reed led by three and went on to win his lone major as McIlroy faded to a 74.
But at various times Monday during the final round in Dubai, a chunk of LIV’s roster was lined up behind McIlroy — Reed, Ian Poulter, Richard Bland, even Bernd Wiesberger made a push to get on the fringe of contention.
McIlroy’s star power is enough to carry any tournament. Reed plays the role of villain exceedingly well, and that made it even juicier. But no one was watching that production without thinking it was the establishment against the Saudi-funded newcomer.
It was like that at the U.S. Open last summer at Brookline, quiet chatter about which LIV player would have the best finish (Dustin Johnson tied for 24th).
Any other year, watching such talent as Rahm and McIlroy win early would prompt the tired phrase, “The Masters can’t get here soon enough.” This year is no different, only the anticipation goes beyond who’s playing well to who’s playing where.
Is that such a bad thing?
Players with LIV Golf are outsiders in the established world of golf. And it will be that way at the other three majors, though the Masters most likely will have the most LIV players (16) in the field.
The networks won’t want to talk about it. Everyone else will be thinking it.
The presumption is LIV players are no longer as motivated with so much money already in the bank, that they won’t be as sharp by competing over 54 holes with no cut against the same roster of players, many of them past their prime. What better place to prove otherwise, particularly since it will happen so infrequently?
The European tour next week goes before an arbitration panel in London that effectively will determine if LIV players can keep showing up. Then again, the European tour schedule is such that it likely won’t attract a strong field until the month leading up to the British Open.
LIV players are not allowed on the PGA Tour. That court case isn’t likely to be decided for at least another year.
McIlroy has been the loudest voice, at times sounding petty, such as when he subtly pointed out upon winning the Canadian Open that his victory moved him past LIV leader Greg Norman in career PGA Tour titles.
But he has put himself out there, and he has backed it up. Not only did McIlroy end last season as the FedEx Cup champion and eventually returned to No. 1 in the world, he delivered the goods on Monday in Dubai to beat a nemesis after an extraordinary week.
Yes, this was personal.
“I had to work really hard to forget about who was up there,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy had not competed in two months and said he was most proud of winning without his best stuff. Even so, the presence of Reed — it had to be Reed — made it look at times as though he had more to lose than to gain.
The week started ominously when Reed approached McIlroy on the range and got blanked, leading the American to casually flick a LIV tee in McIlroy’s direction and later call him an “immature little child.”
McIlroy, long a supporter of the toughness with which Reed plays, had reason to ignore him. He wasn’t happy about being served a subpoena on Christmas Eve, even though that was from a lawsuit with which Reed was not involved. The subpoena was part of a lawsuit filed by Larry Klayman against the PGA Tour and European tour. Call it guilt by association, for Reed hired Klayman to file two defamation lawsuits against the media.
They were sent off at roughly the same time on opposite sides of Emirates Golf Club for the opening two rounds, but they were never too far apart on the leaderboard. And if not for McIlroy making a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th to win, he would have faced Reed in a sudden-death playoff.
That would have dwarfed a Brooks Koepka-Bryson DeChambeau pairing back when golf only thought it had a nasty rivalry.
Of course, there was another side story in Dubai.
Henrik Stenson wound up in the same group as Luke Donald in the third round. Both were appointed Ryder Cup captain for Europe last year. Donald will be leading his team at Marco Simone in September. Stenson will be coming off a LIV event at Rich Harvest Farms in the Chicago suburbs, which once hosted a Solheim Cup.
Donald said it was just like any other round, and that’s probably true. That doesn’t mean the chatter will go away during the four majors. No one will one to talk about it. That doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking about it.
MLB NEWS
DEXTER FOWLER RETIRES AT 36 AFTER 14 MAJOR LEAGUE SEASONS
Dexter Fowler says he is retiring at age 36 after 14 major league seasons.
An All-Star outfielder in 2016 when he won a World Series title with the Chicago Cubs, Fowler hit .259 with 127 homers and 517 RBIs. A 14th-round pick by Colorado in the 2004 amateur draft, Fowler played for the Rockies (2008-13), Houston (2014), the Cubs (2015-16), St. Louis (2017-20) and the Los Angeles Angels (2021).
Fowler signed a minor league contract with Toronto last March 31. He went 5 for 12 (.417) with three RBIs in three games for Triple-A Buffalo from April 28-30, then was released on May 3.
“From an 18-year-old draft pick in Colorado to a ‘vet’ in Anaheim — there are a few things I will never forget,” Fowler wrote on Twitter. “Getting THAT call to the big leagues in September 2008. Wow. My world was spinning. My first ‘you’ve been traded to Houston’ heart pounding call. The feeling of bliss while hearing the words ‘All-Star.’ … Soaking wet and freezing on the field with tears in my eyes after winning the World Series in Chicago. … I’m mostly proud to look back at my career knowing that I played the game the right way and did my best to make a positive impact beyond the win.”
METS LOCK UP BATTING CHAMPION MCNEIL ON $50M, 4-YEAR DEAL
NEW YORK (AP) — Batting champion Jeff McNeil and the New York Mets finalized a $50 million, four-year contract Tuesday that avoided a salary arbitration hearing.
McNeil gets $6.25 million this year, $10.25 million in 2024 and $15.75 million in each of the following two years. The Mets have a $15.75 million option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout, a season that if exercised would make the agreement worth $63.75 million over five years.
He would get $100,000 for winning the World Series MVP, $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or making the All-Star team. McNeil would receive a one-time $500,000 assignment bonus if traded, payable by the receiving team. He also gets a hotel suite on road trips.
A two-time All-Star, McNeil led the majors with a .326 average last season. The second baseman asked for a raise from $3 million to $7.75 million this year, while New York offered $6.25 million.
He was the only one of seven Mets eligible for arbitration who did not agree to terms on a deal and formally exchanged salary proposals with the team at the Jan. 13 deadline.
But the sides settled on a multiyear agreement weeks later, avoiding arguments before a three-person panel in St. Petersburg, Florida.
McNeil, who turns 31 in April, could have become a free agent following the 2024 season but agreed to push that back at least two years, possibly three.
An excellent contact hitter and a versatile defender, McNeil also made 44 starts in the outfield last season: 33 in left field and 11 in right. He had an .836 OPS at the plate with nine home runs, 39 doubles and 62 RBIs in 148 games for a Mets team that made its first playoff appearance in six years.
He won a Silver Slugger Award and finished 15th in NL MVP voting.
McNeil is a .307 career hitter in 4 1/2 big league seasons with 46 homers and an .827 OPS. He has struck out only 242 times in 2,039 plate appearances.
McNeil was drafted by the Mets in the 12th round out of Long Beach State in 2013.
RAYS’ DÍAZ GETS $24 MILLION, 3-YEAR DEAL, AVOIDS ARBITRATION
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yandy Díaz agreed to a $24 million, three-year contract on Tuesday that avoided a salary arbitration hearing.
Díaz’s agreement could be worth $36 million over four seasons.
The 31-year old will receive $6 million this season, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million for 2025. The 2026 club is $12 million with no buyout. There is a $1 million assignment bonus that would be payable by receiving team.
Díaz has spent parts of six seasons in the majors with Cleveland (2017-18) and Tampa Bay (2019-22). He has a career average of .278 with 39 home runs and 198 RBIs.
Acquired by the Rays in a three-team trade on Dec. 13, 2018, Díaz hit .296 with nine homers and 57 RBIs in 137 games last season, He career highs with 71 runs, 140 hits, 33 doubles, and 78 walks.
Díaz was the third Rays’ arbitration-eligible player to reach a deal.
Reliever Pete Fairbanks agreed Friday to a $12 million, three-year contract that could be worth up to $24.6 million over four seasons. The 29-year-old right-hander was 0-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 24 appearances last year after beginning the season on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain.
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs also agreed last week to a $31 million, four-year contract that could be worth $65.75 million over five seasons.
The 30-year-old began last season in the bullpen and transitioned to the starting rotation in May and finished 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA in 33 appearances, including 25 starts.
Tampa Bay remains scheduled for hearings with right-handers Jason Adam and Ryan Thompson, left-hander Colin Poche, and outfielder Harold Ramírez.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS VS LAKERS
As he narrows in on breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record, LeBron James will make his annual visit to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday, when the Pacers (24-28) take on the Lakers (23-28).
James needs 117 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 total points, a record that has stood for decades. Until recently, there was a chance that James could have set the record in Indiana, but that disappeared when he sat out Monday’s game in Brooklyn with a sore left ankle. The Lakers play Tuesday in New York (James is listed as questionable), then will head to Indiana to take on the Blue & Gold on Thursday.
For the Pacers, star point guard Tyrese Haliburton could potentially return to action this week. Haliburton has not played since suffering left elbow and knee injuries in a Jan. 11 loss in New York, but practiced on Tuesday (as did center Daniel Theis, who has yet to play this season after undergoing knee surgery in November).
The Pacers have sorely missed Haliburton, going 1-9 without the NBA assists leader. Certain players have played well in his absence — like rookie guard Bennedict Mathurin, who has topped 20 points in each of his last five games — but the Pacers have struggled defensively and not had enough offensive firepower to make up for their shortcomings on the other end.
The Lakers are led by James and Anthony Davis, who recently returned from a 20-game absence due to a foot injury. James is averaging 30.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on the season, while Davis is averaging 26.7 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – T.J. McConnell, G – Chris Duarte, F – Buddy Hield, F – Aaron Nesmith, C – Myles Turner
Lakers: G – Dennis Schröder, G – Patrick Beverley, F – Troy Brown Jr., F – LeBron James, C – Thomas Bryant
Injury Report
Pacers: TBA
Lakers: TBA
Last Meeting
Nov. 28, 2022: Rookie guard Andrew Nembhard knocked down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift the Pacers (12-8) to a 116-115 win over the Lakers (7-12) on the second night of a back-to-back.
Nembhard’s game-winner capped another thrilling comeback by the Blue & Gold, who trailed by 17 early in the fourth quarter on Monday and were down by 11 with under five minutes remaining.
It came off the 13th assist of the night from star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who spotted Nembhard on the left wing after a mad scramble in the closing seconds.
The entire team mobbed Nembhard — who just returned Monday after a four-game absence — on the court in celebration. Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard even jolted from his courtside seat to join in on the fun.
“It got back to Ty somehow and then it was kind of just like a broken play,” Nembhard said of the final sequence. “They left me open. Ty made a good look, kicked it out, and I had to get it up quick.”
Haliburton led six Pacers in double figures with 24 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds — his sixth straight double-double. Mathurin added 23 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
But the hero of the night was Nembhard, who finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocks, going 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. Russell Westbrook added 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting and six assists off the bench, while LeBron James finished with 21 points and seven boards.
Noteworthy
The Lakers have won their last two games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana’s last win over the Lakers on its home court came on Dec. 17, 2019.
The Pacers are 4-6 on the season when playing on the first night of a back-to-back.
Lakers center Thomas Bryant attended Indiana University from 2015-17.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers welcome LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7:00 PM ET.
INDIANA MEN’S BB
INDIANA CLOSES JANUARY WITH LOSS AT MARYLAND
COLLEGE PARK, MD. — The winning streak is over.
Trayce Jackson-Davis’ run of domination is not.
Maryland (15-7 overall, 6-5 in the Big Ten) won its ninth straight conference home game by beating the No. 21/22 Hoosiers 66-55 on Tuesday night to snap the visitors’ five-game winning streak.
Jackson-Davis set an Xfinity Center record with 20 rebounds. He had 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting against a Terrapin defense designed to limit him.
“Trayce played well in spurts,” coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. “Nobody played well around him. Our perimeter play wasn’t there. We can’t have that.”
Forward Race Thompson added 11 points.
“Trayce has been solid,” Woodson told Fischer. “He’s doing what he needs to do. Race played okay, but defensively he hurt us because he’s still lacking lateral movement (from his knee injury).”
IU (15-7, 6-5) defended Maryland into offensive inefficiency (the Terps shot just 34.0% from the field and 22.7% on 3-pointers) but couldn’t overcome disadvantages in free throws (Maryland was 25-for-29 to Indiana’s 10-for-12) and points off turnovers (14-6).
The Hoosiers struggled offensively, shooting 37.5% from the field. Guard Jalen Hood-Schifino was 1-for-14 from the field for three points.
“We couldn’t find any offense,” Woodson told Fischer. “Our defense was where we wanted it to be. The difference was the free throws and we couldn’t find offense.”
Forward Jordan Geronimo’s left leg injury sidelined him for the second straight game.
Early on, Miller Kopp’s 3-pointer complemented inside baskets from Jackson-Davis and Thompson to forge a 7-7 tie after five minutes.
The Hoosiers defended Maryland into a three-minute scoring drought (on 0-for-5 shooting) to inch ahead 15-13, then kept up the defensive pressure for a 22-15 advantage. The Terps were 1-for-10 on 3-pointers and 6-for-17 overall.
The Terps ratcheted up their defense, forced four IU turnovers in a four-minute stretch and went on a 10-0 run for a 33-26 lead.
Hood-Schifino ended that drought with a free throw, but Maryland extended the lead to 37-29 at halftime. It had no turnovers. IU had eight. It was 13-for-15 from the line. IU was 5-for-6.
Jackson-Davis had played 19 minutes and taken just six shots, making four for eight points along with 11 rebounds.
Rallying from on eight-point halftime deficit against a team 13-0 when leading at halftime demanded defending without fouling, limiting the turnovers, and getting Jackson-Davis the ball.
The Hoosiers did it well enough to close within two points early in the second half and five points late but couldn’t finish the rally.
Jackson-Davis opened the second half with a pair of misses. Thompson rebounded both for two baskets and a free throw. Jackson-Davis added a free throw as IU closed to 37-35.
Maryland missed seven-straight shots, plus had a turnover, before ending the Hoosiers’ 6-0 run.
A flagrant foul on guard Tamar Bates gave the Terps two free throws and then a basket for a 43-37 lead with 15 minutes left.
Maryland pushed ahead by 10, then 12. Jackson-Davis willed the Hoosiers back with offense, defense and rebounding. With five minutes left, the deficit was five points.
IU, which hosts No. 1 Purdue on Saturday, got no closer.
“We have to regroup, come home and get ready for Purdue,” Woodson told Fischer.
MIKE WOODSON POST GAME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRX6Ewguk3E
INDIANA WOMEN’S BB
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 4 Indiana will play its next three of four games on the road as it travels to Minnesota on Wednesday night. Tipoff at Williams Arena is set for 8 p.m. ET.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
Minnesota has lost six of its last seven heading into Wednesday’s matchup. Freshman guard Maura Braun averages a team-high 14.8 points per game while sophomore forward Alanna Micheaux adds 14.3 points and a team-high 8.2 rebounds. Freshman forward Mallory Heyer is also averages double figures with 11.6 per game and 6.7 boards per outing.
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota leads 37-35
LAST MEETING
2/23/22 – W, 80-70 (Bloomington, Ind.)
NOTES
Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes and freshman guard Yarden Garzon swept the Big Ten player of the week awards for the second time this season on Monday. Holmes averaged 24.0 points, 6.7 rebounds while shooting 70 percent while Garzon averaged 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and shot 56.7 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from the 3-point line.
Indiana moved up two spots to No. 4 in the Associated Pres Week 14 poll on Monday, which matches its best-ever ranking in the media poll.
With the win over Rutgers on Sunday, IU secured its eight-straight 20-win season. It’s the longest such streak in school history and is the earliest it has secured 20 wins. Overall, the program has 14 20-win seasons in its 51 years.
The Hoosiers picked up three wins last week, extending its overall win streak to eight in victories over a pair of ranked opponents.
In the all-time series, Minnesota is ahead slightly, 37-35, but Indiana has won the last eight of nine in meetings dating back to the 2015-16 season.
UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will travel to in-state rival Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 5. Tipoff at Mackey Arena is set for 2 p.m. ET on FS1.
PURDUE MEN’S TENNIS
BOILERS CLOSE HOME STAND WITH BACK-TO-BACK MATCHES
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.- Following their first win, the Purdue men’s tennis team will close their six-game home stand this weekend against DePaul and Dartmouth.
Riding high from a 5-2 victory over the IUPUI Jaguars, the Boilermakers turn their focus to a pair of tough opponents. Both DePaul and Dartmouth come to West Lafayette with a combined 9-2 record.
With momentum from their win, the Boilers are poised for a strong showing this weekend. The middle of the order had a standout performance with five wins over two matches from No. 2, 3, and 4. Senior Michal Wozniak and freshman Mujtaba Ali-Khan both swept their singles to go 4-0 over the weekend, while tacking on wins in their doubles matches against IUPUI.
MATCH INFORMATION
Purdue (1-3) vs. DePaul (4-2)
Schwartz Tennis Center
Friday, Feb. 3 | 6 p.m. (ET)
Purdue (1-3) vs. Dartmouth (5-0)
Schwartz Tennis Center
Saturday, Feb. 4 | 3 p.m. (ET)
NOTES
Purdue is 5-4 all-time against the Blue Demons. The last three meetings have been in West Lafayette.
The Boilers are 1-0 all-time against Dartmouth with a 4-3 victory over the Big Green in January of 2013.
Doubles pair Michal Wozniak/Julen Morgan improved to 2-1 at No. 2 after their win against IUPUI.
Saturday’s win against the Jaguars snapped an eight-match losing streak, dating back to April 16, 2022 vs. No. 75 Nebraska.
Purdue has won two of its last three doubles points. Both points won at No. 2 and 3.
Hassan Baroudi picked his first career win at No. 6 againt IUPUI.
Michal Wozniak and Mujtaba Ali-Khan have won 3/4 at singles and now ride a two-match winning streak.
Daniel Labrador picked up his first career win at No. 1 against Western Michigan.
Dartmouth College went 9-12 in 2022, 1-6 in conference play.
DePaul also picked up its first win against IUPUI (6-1 on Jan. 13)
Purdue and DePaul share 7 common opponents this season. The Blue Demons are currently 2-1 against those opponents while Purdue is 1-2.
PURDUE WOMEN’S SOCCER
SMITH SIGNS WITH PURDUE SOCCER
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue soccer coach Drew Roff has announced that Makena Smith has committed to the program and will join the team for the 2023 season.
Smith is a defender from Brighton, Michigan, and completes the 2023 Boilermaker signing class.
“Kena is a great fit for our program, and I am very excited that she is a Boilermaker,” Roff said. “She is an athletic center back who is dominant in the air, thrives in 1-v-1 duels, and can be trusted to build play out of the back. Our 2023 class is poised to make a big impact next fall and beyond, and I look forward to her being an integral part of it.”
“I chose Purdue because not only does it have an amazing soccer program, but it’s also a phenomenal school,” Smith said. “The coaches really take time to get to know their players, and the team environment feels like a family. I’ve grown up surrounded by the Big Ten, so I am really excited to be a part of it and representing Purdue.”
Smith is a student at Brighton High and plays club soccer for the Michigan Jaguars and coach Dan Dalzochio. She has played for the girls academy league the last three seasons with the Jaguars, and was selected to the 2022 Mid-America GA Talent ID event. Smith was a 2020 ODP international team invitee and played in the 2019 inter-regional event while a member of the ECNL’s Michigan Hawks. In 2018, she helped her team to a state championship and was selected to the ODP National Training Camp, while the 2020 season included qualifying for nationals.
At Brighton High, Smith has played three years on the varsity basketball team, including serving as team captain this season. She earned all-county honorable mention accolades in 2022 after pacing the conference in rebounds.
Academically, Smith is a scholar athlete and earned honor roll distinction each year in high school.
She aspires to major in business and have a career in finance upon the conclusion of her soccer career. Smith’s parents are Becky and Steve, and she has a twin brother, Cru. Both of her parents played college soccer at Michigan State.
Smith joins a six-player signing class, which was announced in November, and transfer Charlotte Cyr. Smith, Cyr and November’s signees will be joined by 24 returning players that will make up the 2023 Boilermakers that will take the field in the fall at Folk Field.
BUTLER SOFTBALL
2023 Preview Series: Pitchers and Catchers
As Butler Softball prepares to open the 2023 season next week (Feb. 10), coach Scott Hall, who enters his 13th season at the helm of the program, has expectations for returning starters, returning veterans, and a group of newcomers to fill voids left by a departed and talented class of 2022.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2022 season which saw a record number of BIG EAST victories (16) and the most total wins (31) since 2011. Yet, only 15% of production from the pitching rubber returns, so the circle will have a new look and new feel in 2023.
“Obviously, we lost the majority of our innings from last year to graduation,” stated Hall. “However, I am very confident in what I saw this fall. It’s a very diverse pitching staff. We have a returning senior, a grad transfer, a redshirt sophomore and a freshman.”
Senior Mackenzie Griman is the lone returning veteran on the Bulldogs’ pitching staff. In 2022, she pitched 49.1 innings, producing a 2.55 ERA with three wins and five losses. She had one complete game in 17 appearances and notched 31 strikeouts. At the plate, Griman was fifth on the team with a .267 average. She produced 28 hits in 105 at bats, with four home runs and three doubles. Her 19 RBI were third on the team.
Sydney Cammon, a graduate transfer from Eastern Illinois, brings immediate experience to the Bulldogs’ staff. She appeared in 44 games for the Panthers, from 2019-2021, but was out in 2022 due to injury. The southern Illinois native appeared in 17 games in 2021 as a junior, making two starts. She posted a 4-0 record with an ERA of 4.39 that included wins over Jackson State, Alabama State, Morehead State, and Eastern Kentucky. At Flora (Ill.) High School, she was a four-year starter who earned All-State First Team honors her senior season.
Redshirt-freshman, Kayla Noerr, and incoming freshman, Rylyn Dyer, round out the Bulldogs’ pitching staff.
“Mack and Cam have plenty of experience, and we will rely on them to lead our bullpen,” added Hall. “Kayla and Ry also bring talent and a good work ethic to the circle, so I am looking forward to watching them develop.”
Behind the plate, Butler returns junior starter Teagan O’Rilley and has added freshmen Kieli Ryan and Morgan Robertson.
O’Rilley appeared in 39 games in 2022, starting 34. In 69 at bats, she produced 15 hits that included three home runs and three doubles. Her 16 RBI were fifth on the team.
“Teagan is our only returning catcher, and she does a great job with our pitching staff. She had a great fall offensively, as well. Newcomer, Kieli Ryan, handles the running game very well and will see quality time behind the dish. Also, freshman, Morgan Robertson, has shown some defensive versatility this past fall as well as impressive power at the plate.”
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S SOCCER
KORBIN ALBERT SIGNS PRO CONTRACT WITH PSG
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Family environment and genetics supplied a measure of predestination for Korbin Albert.
Notre Dame’s precocious All-American midfielder was taking care of the rest in youth soccer – or even beforehand.
And by the time she was growing closer to middle school competition, Albert was flashing her ambidextrous skillset against adult males in her Chicagoland home.
Today, her historic ascent continues. Albert has inked with globally iconic Paris Saint-Germain to embark on her professional soccer career in the renowned Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Fresh off a two-year tour de force at Notre Dame, Albert is headed to a soccer institution where its stars are revered by single names.
“It’s not even (just) on the girls’ side; the men’s side has Mbappe, Messi and Neymar,” Albert, a Grayslake, Illinois, native, said. “So that influenced my decision a lot. Messi is an idol; a big person I look up to. Once I heard about PSG, I was like, ‘Wow! That’s crazy. There’s no way this is happening.’ But I just saw that opportunity and thought I just need to take it before it’s gone.
“The teammates here, my coaches, my friends, everyone that’s supported me has really helped me grow in that direction. I would say the coaches challenged me every single practice, every single game, to be the best that I could be. And I think that helped prepare me to be where I am at now.”
Her placement is on the precipice of history. Following a meteoric career for the Fighting Irish, during which her superlatives include 28 career goals and 65 points in just 44 career games, as well as a signature hat-trick signature outing against Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals, Albert is here because of lifelong preparation.
Her mother, Janet, a former track and field All-America selection at the University of Iowa, does not recall a time her daughter hasn’t had a ball at foot.
And no challenges could thwart Korbin Albert’s determination – in a family of athletes that included brothers DJ and Keaton playing collegiate soccer as well as sister, Teagon, being a soccer and swimming athlete at Olivet Nazarene University.
“It’s been a journey trying to get her always being challenged,” said Janet Albert, who’s raised a family of six siblings, four of them collegiate athletes. “I had her playing with boys, Croatian boys, boys that ended up playing pro later on, and then it came to a point where she outgrew that, so I had her playing with men when she was much younger.
“It’s been a challenge trying to keep her challenged. Probably in the last two years, she’s taken on a lot of development, bringing in different things to her game. Covid was a really good year for us. We worked on angles to goals and everything else we could. I’m just so proud of her.”
Irish coach Nate Norman has watched as Albert has become the embodiment of what Norman, who’s guided Notre Dame to a No. 1 NCAA Tourney seed and unprecedented success within the ACC, envisioned for the program.
“Obviously, you want to win games and develop people and send them off in the world, but ultimately you want them to achieve their dreams,” Norman said. “Just to be able to see her in this process and help to guide her and see her reach this level at such a young age is unbelievable. Just super proud of her and super excited; I just think she’s going to have a tremendous career.
“It’s a great start to that chapter of her life.”
With Olivia Wingate and Brianna Martinez selected in the most recent National Women’s Soccer League Draft, plus Albert’s international signing, Notre Dame women’s soccer has undeniably crested an elevated stature.
The merging of globally iconic brands – that of the Irish and of PSG – ushers in what Norman believes could be an unparalleled partnership.
“I think, to view it from a marketing standpoint, I can’t imagine two brands working together that could be more powerful, more influential and just significant than those two,” he said. “Those are two of the most iconic brands in the entire world. I’m trying to think of another athlete that could point to being a part of two programs like that who could say, ‘I’m a part of these two families.’
“I actually think this will make waves in terms of a lot people. It will be very eye-opening. To be able to go as a sophomore to the level she’s going, you can literally go straight in to play literally at the highest level in the world. I think it shows not only the level of college soccer and the level of our conference, but I think it also shows the level that our team is playing at right now, and I think that’s a really important, special thing.
“Now we can point to that and say, ‘Hey, you want an opportunity to play at a top-five or top-six club in the world? You can come here and develop and have a chance to go play for their clubs.’”
Still just 19 years old, Albert has a worldview perspective on the opportunity to be a global ambassador of Notre Dame.
“That was really significant. I mean, I love Notre Dame, so any chance I get to show the world what Notre Dame is and what they are for and what they stand for is really important to me,” Albert said, “and this is just another opportunity to do that.”
Moreover, Albert explained, Notre Dame soccer now has emerged worldwide.
“I think it just says that just because you’re not going to a Florida State-school or UNC, you can go to Notre Dame and be at these big clubs regardless of who you are and what you do,” Albert said. “As long as you put the hard work in, it doesn’t matter where you are. You can get to that stage.”
NOTRE DAME MENS LAX
THREE IRISH EARN PRESEASON ALL-ACC ACCOLADES
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The men’s lacrosse season is just around the corner, as the 2023 ACC Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll was announced on Tuesday. Notre Dame was slotted second in the annual rankings, just two points behind the top spot. The Irish had three players selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team.
Baumer Family Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Kevin Corrigan‘s Fighting Irish received 21 points in balloting among the ACC’s five head coaches. Virginia took the top spot with 23 points with Duke placing third with 14 points. North Carolina (9) was picked fourth and Syracuse (8) fifth.
Virginia (2), Notre Dame (5) and Duke (7) all placed in the top 10 in the USILA Preseason Poll. North Carolina also appeared in the poll, coming in at 20th.
Representing Notre Dame, senior attackman Pat Kavanagh, junior midfielder Eric Dobson and senior goalie Liam Entenmann were selected to the Preseason All-ACC Team.
The 2023 men’s lacrosse season gets underway at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 15, as the Irish play Marquette in Loftus Sports Center on the Notre Dame campus.
BALL STATE MBB
CARDINALS SOAR ABOVE FALCONS ON TUESDAY
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Ball State men’s basketball team was back in action on Tuesday inside the Stroh Center against Bowling Green. Jarron Coleman recorded a game-high 19 points as the Cardinals defeat the Falcons 69-60.
Ball State improved to 15-7 overall and 6-3 in Mid-American Conference play, while Bowling Green fell to 10-12 overall and 4-5 in league play. The Cardinals surpassed last season’s win total with nine games left to play.
“We showed some toughness,” said Head Coach Michael Lewis. “We executed well after the under four timeout. We won this with defense. Obviously, the first half was pretty smooth for us offensively. I didn’t like giving up two buckets there before the half. We showed some composure. We executed down the stretch. I thought we missed some shots we normally make there. We keep throwing these dudes into the fire and they keep responding. That was a big road win. When they made that run, teams could fold, and we showed some resolve and some fight. I’m really proud of these guys.”
Coleman finished with a game-high 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Jaylin Sellers tallied 11 points with two rebounds and one block. Payton Sparks finished with a game-high 10 boards along with five points, one assist, and one steal. Demarius Jacobs led the team with three assists, and added eight points, five rebounds, two steals, and one block.
The Cardinals came out of the gates fast and went on an 11-2 run to start the game. Ball State followed with a 10-4 run and took an 21-6 lead with 12:38 left in the opening stanza.
The Falcons were able to outscore the Cardinals, 9-6, and cut the BSU lead to, 27-15, with 8:11 left in the half. Ball State outscored Bowling Green 13-11 in the final 6:46 of the half to take a 40-26 lead into the break.
The Falcons began the second half on an 11-1 run and cut the Cardinal lead to 41-37 with 15:44 on the clock. Ball State answered with an 8-0 run and took a 49-37 lead with just under 14 minutes left in regulation.
Bowling Green went on an 11-2 run that lasted 3:46 and cut the deficit to three, 51-48, with 9:59 left to play. The Falcons outscored the Cardinals, 10-8 and cut the lead to just one, 59-58, with just over five minutes left to play.
Ball State was resilient and ended the game on a 10-2 run and won the game 69-60. Coleman iced the game with a steal and a fastbreak layup.
Leon Ayers III led the Falcons with 14 points and three assists. Chandler Turner chipped in with 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Rashaun Agee went for 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and had two steals.
As a team, the Cardinals finished the game shooting 50.0 percent from the field. Ball State scored the game’s first points and never surrendered the lead the remainder of the game.
Ball State returns to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena for a Friday night matchup against Eastern Michigan. Jump is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network and all Cardinal fans are encouraged to wear red as part of a “Red Out”.
BALL STATE WBB
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HOSTS NIU IN MIDWEEK MACTION WEDNESDAY
Game 22 | Ball State (17-4, 6-1 MAC) vs. Northern Illinois (10-9, 2-6 MAC)
Feb. 1 | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 6:30 pm ET
Opening Tip:
– The Ball State women’s basketball team looks to improve to a 8-1start in Mid-American Conference play for the first time since the 2016-17 season when it hosts Northern Illinois Wednesday in Worthen Arena. Currently, the Caridnals are tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference standings with Bowling Green.
– The Cardinals remained undefeated at home (10-0) in Worthen Arena after an impressive 89-66 victory over Akron in midweek MACtion, Jan. 25. So far, the 10-0 record at home this season is the best in program history.
– This will mark the 65th meeting in a series that began in 1982-83 when the Cardinals defeated the Huskies 86-83 on Jan. 26 in DeKalb, Ill. The Cardinals lead the all-time series record 41-23. The Cardinals split the two-game series with NIU winning on the road then losing at home. Ball State won its last meeting over Northern Illinois in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio March 9 by a score of 60-54.
– Ball State 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee has won 16 of the last 21 meetings against the Huskies dating back to his first season at the helm in 2012-13.
– The Cardinals are coming off of another impressive league victory when Ball State defeated Ohio 78-58 Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center. The win also marked the Cardinals’ 11th-year head women’s basketball coach Brady Sallee’s 200th victory at Ball State. Sallee is now the winningest coach for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs at Ball State.
– Northern Illinois has lost four consecutive games after recently falling to Bowling Green 66-50 Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center. Laura Nickel and Sidney McCrea each had a team-high nine points for the Huskies against the Falcons. NIU’s last win came against Ohio (78-66) Jan. 14.
Where the Cardinals Rank:
Nationally the Cardinals rank 16th in scoring offense (79.3), 18th in 3-pointers per game (8.6), 38th in 3-point field goal attempts (24.6), 16th in field goal percentage (46.6), 21st in assists per game (16.9), 85th in free throw attempts (19.0), 81st in free throws made per game (13.4) and 25th in winning percentage (81.0). The Cardinals currently sit at No. 9 in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll, the second highest of any MAC team.
Scouting Northern Illinois:
– Senior guard Chelby Koker leads the Huskies in scoring with 16.1 points per game. She has scored in double figures in 12 consecutive game before Saturday against Bowling Green when she was held to only five.
– The Huskies are strong statistically in rebounding. Northern Illinois currently averages 38.42 rebound per game which is third-most in the Mid-American Conference. NIU has had at least 35 boards 14 times in 19 games.
– The last time Ball State and Northern Illinois met was at the MAC Tournament March 9, 2022. The Cardinals pulled the 60-54 comeback win over No. 4 Northern Illinois at Rocket Mortgage Field House to advance to the 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament semifinals. It was an all-around team performance, headed by Ally Becki, who had 15 points while going 3-of-6 from the 3-point line.
INDIANA STATE MBB
SYCAMORES LOOK FOR FIRST SEASON SWEEP OF THE YEAR AT EVANSVILLE WEDNESDAY
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State Sycamores will be looking for their first season sweep of the year Wednesday night when they travel to Evansville for their second matchup against the Purple Aces this season. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+ from the Ford Center.
The Sycamores are coming off their first win since Jan. 7, defeating UNI 79-71 at home Saturday afternoon to snap a five-game skid. Cameron Henry posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double while Xavier Bledson and Zach Hobbs combined for 34 points off the bench.
Saturday’s win was the first time ISU dished out 15 or more assists and had five players score in double figures since the win against UIC Jan. 7. The Sycamores also improved to 10-1 when outrebounding their opponent.
Before Saturday’s game, ISU was 0-6 when tied or trailing at the half. After being tied 39-39 at halftime versus UNI, the Sycamores are now 1-6 when being tied or trailing at the half.
At 14-9 (7-5 MVC), head coach Josh Schertz has surpassed last season’s amount of total (11) and Valley (4) wins. Only four ISU coaches have improved win totals from year one to year two.
SERIES HISTORY
Indiana State leads the all-time series 100-83 dating back to 1921, picking up its 100th win in the series earlier this season on Dec. 29 at the Hulman Center. The Sycamores have won nine of their last 10 against the Aces but are 34-53 all-time against Evansville on the road.
LAST GAME AGAINST THE ACES
Julian Larry shot lights out and led the Sycamores with a career-high 21 points as Indiana State defeated Evansville 91-63 at the Hulman Center to remain perfect in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Sycamores opened the game on a 13-0 run, shooting 5-of-5 from the field and forcing three Evansville turnovers during that span. ISU did not allow an Evansville bucket until 16:37 in the first half.
This game was the first time Indiana State has beat a Valley team by 25 or more points since beating Loyola by 29 points Feb. 5, 2020.
Julian Larry made his first start of the season and 49th career start as a Sycamore. He shot a perfect 100 percent across the board and assisted or scored each of ISU’s first four baskets in the game. Larry finished his night with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-8 shooting with three triples, and he dished out four assists with two steals and no turnovers.
All 13 active Indiana State players saw the floor in the game, and 12 of those 13 Sycamores scored. The only player who did not score was Rob Martin, and he had three assists in 7:47 of action.
LAST TIME OUT
Five different Sycamores scored in double figures Saturday afternoon as Indiana State got back on track, snapping a five-game skid with a 79-71 win over Northern Iowa at Hulman Center in front of a loud home crowd that included men’s basketball alumni dating back to 1948.
In a game that saw 10 lead changes and six ties, the Sycamores led by just two points at 70-68 with just 2:00 to go in the second half. Indiana State took advantage of late free throws, shooting 6-of-6 at the line down the stretch with four straight stops to end the game.
Xavier Bledson led the Sycamores in scoring off the bench with 20 points while Cameron Henry posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Cooper Neese and Zach Hobbs added 14 points each while Robbie Avila posted 10 points.
The Panthers reached a game-high 18-10 lead with 11:51 to go in the first, but Bledson checked in with an immediate impact and assisted two straight Sycamore buckets before hitting his second triple of the day to cut ISU’s deficit to 22-18 at 10:00.
Henry laid up a basket and then hit two free throws to retake the lead for ISU at 30-19 with 5:04 remaining in the opening frame, and back-to-back buckets from Neese put the Sycamores up 37-31 at 2:45. UNI closed out the first half with a 6-0 run including a last-second dunk to even things up at 39-all going into the break.
Neese opened the second half with a triple and Courvoisier McCauley put his name on the scoresheet with a trey at 16:25 to tie things back up at 46-46. Hobbs nailed his fourth 3-pointer of the game before a Henry slam dunk put the Sycamores up 64-60 with 7:39 to go.
With ISU leading by just two points at 70-68 with two minutes left, Bledson drew an and-one and completed the three-point play to push the lead to 73-68. The Sycamores hit all six free throws in the last 18 seconds of action to cushion the win.
POWERED BY THE BENCH
Bledson posted a team-high 20 points Saturday for his second 20+-point outing this season, and Hobbs nailed four triples for a season-high 14 points. Those 34 points are tied for ISU’s second-most bench points against DI opponents this season, even with 34 bench points against Drexel when Bledson had an ISU career-high 22 points off the bench and behind 38 bench points against Evansville when 12 different Sycamores made it on the scoresheet. ISU ranks second in the Valley in bench points this season.
INDIANA STATE WBB
SYCAMORES, PURPLE ACES SQUARE OFF ON NGWSD
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State closes a three-game homestand Wednesday evening when it faces Evansville for a 6 p.m. tip inside Hulman Center. The game will be carried on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
Gameday Sponsor
Old National Bank is the sponsor for Wednesday’s game. For more information on our game sponsor, click HERE.
Gameday Promotions
Wednesday is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Indiana State will be recognizing its female student-athletes at Wednesday’s game.
Additionally, youth sports players eighth grade or younger will be admitted for free if wearing their youth jersey or team gear. Parents, family and friend can get discounted $5 tickets. Contact Austin Bishop for more information.
Last Time Out
Del’Janae Williams scored a team-high 24 points Sunday afternoon, helping Indiana State overturn an early double-digit deficit in a 62-56 Alumni Weekend win over Murray State inside Hulman Center
Williams led the Sycamores in scoring despite not hitting her first basket until the final minute of the first quarter. Chelsea Cain added 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while eight different Sycamores found the scoring column.
Facing a 10-point deficit midway through the second quarter, Indiana State responded by shooting 50 percent from the field over the middle 20 minutes. Williams went on a personal 9-0 run as part of a 17-5 Sycamore run to close the first half, and Bella Finnegan hit a 3-pointer early in the third to give the Trees the lead for good. Murray State made it a two-point game in the fourth quarter, but Williams knocked down a clutch 3-pointer from the corner inside the final minute to seal Indiana State’s first home conference win of the season.
Comeback Kids
Of Indiana State’s four MVC wins this season, two have involved the Sycamores overcoming a double-digit deficit spearheaded by Del’Janae Williams. The Trees rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second quarter to defeat Murray State 62-56 in their last game, with Williams dropping a team-high 24 points against the Racers.
Williams had a season-high 25 in a come-from-behind win over Valparaiso earlier in January, as the Sycamores overcame an 11-point deficit to win that game 66-58.
Lockdown Defense
Indiana State improved to 6-1 this season and 12-2 under head coach Chad Killinger when holding teams to less than 60 points following Sunday’s 62-56 win over Murray State.
The Sycamores limited the Racers to 56 points, their second-fewest in an MVC game this season, while also holding the Racers to 20 percent from 3-point range (4-for-20), Murray State’s worst 3-point percentage in an MVC game this season.
Murray State’s 20 turnovers against the Sycamores were also the most by the Racers in a conference game this season and Indiana State took full advantage, turning those into 25 points on the other end.
Milestone Watch
Two members of the Indiana State women’s basketball programs are nearing career milestones, with one also occurring earlier this month.
Chelsea Cain hit 1,000 points for her collegiate career with a layup in the first quarter at Evansville. Cain scored 857 points in three seasons at Nicholls State and has 201 points for the Sycamores this year, giving her 1,058 career points.
Del’Janae Williams is also closing in on 1,000 career points, as she is currently 82 points away from reaching the milestone with at least 13 games left on the schedule.
Head coach Chad Killinger is also nearing a career milestone on the sidelines, as the Sycamore leader needs just two wins to reach 300 for his head coaching career.
Second Chances
Indiana State has developed a penchant for extending possessions this season, as the Sycamores rank third in the MVC in offensive rebounds per game with 12.1.
The Sycamores have pulled down double-digit rebounds in six of their 10 MVC gamess, and nine of the last 13 overall dating back to mid-December.
Indiana State has turned those extra possessions into an 10.4 second chance points per game, while scoring 12 or more second chance points eight times this season.
Guards Getting it Done
Indiana State relied heavily on the backcourt duo of Anna McKendree and Del’Janae Williams against Belmont, and the backcourt duo delivered for the Trees despite the outcome of the game.
Not only did McKendree and Williams combine for more than half of Indiana State’s points, the duo combined to shoot 50 percent from the field (11-for-22) and accounted for 55 percent (11 out of 20) of the Sycamores’ field goals.
Evansville at a Glance
Evansville enters Wednesday’s game at 9-9 overall and 4-6 in MVC play. The Purple Aces fell at home to Belmont in their last game.
Abby Feit, who earned First Team All-MVC honors last season, leads the Purple Aces in scoring and rebounding at 15.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Myia Clark (11.9) is also scoring in double-figures, while four other Evansville players average five-plus points per game. Anna Newman has a team-high 76 assists.
Evansville head coach Robyn Scherr-Wells is in her second season at the helm and has already led the Purple Aces to more wins this season (nine) than they had in 2021-22 (eight). Her 17 wins on the Purple Ace bench are more than Evansville had the previous four seasons prior to her arriving (16).
Series History Against Evansville
Indiana State owns a 42-21 advantage in the all-time series and a 23-8 advantage in games played in Terre Haute. Evansville won the first meeting between the teams in January.
Last Game Against Evansville (Jan. 11, 2023)
Indiana State’s two-game road win streak was snapped, as the Sycamores dropped a 65-54 decision to Evansville inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Chelsea Cain led all scorers with 18 and was one of three Sycamores to grab a team-high five rebounds. Cain also reached the 1,000-point mark for her collegiate career. Del’Janae Williams had 15 points and five boards, while Bella Finnegan finished with eight points.
Indiana State got off to a strong start and led by double-digits less than five minutes into the game, but Evansville flipped the script after the opening quarter. The Sycamores trailed by double-digits in the third, but Williams and Cain led the Trees on a comeback charge, cutting their deficit to one possession early in the fourth quarter. Shots didn’t fall for the Blue and White in the final frame, though, as the home side held on in front of a frenzied crowd.
Up Next
Indiana State hits the road for the next three games, starting with a Sunday afternoon game at Northern Iowa slated for 3 p.m.
SYCAMORE SOCCER ANNOUNCES SPRING SCHEDULE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women’s soccer released their schedule for the spring on Tuesday which includes a pair of home contests at Memorial Stadium.
The Sycamores will begin their spring slate on February 26 in Urbana, Illinois where ISU will participate in a 7v7 event hosted by the University of Illinois.
Indiana State will then host two matches in Terre Haute with Butler coming to town on March 25 at 1 p.m. ET and UIndy the following weekend on April 2 at 1 p.m.
On April 8, the Sycamores will travel to Charleston, Illinois to face Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m. ET.
To finish the spring slate, ISU will be on the road at Purdue Fort Wayne with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
HENNING NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MVC, SYCAMORES TABBED EIGHTH
ST. LOUIS – Junior first basemen Isabella Henning was named to the preseason All-Conference team for the second straight season as Indiana State was selected to finish eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll released by the Valley office on Tuesday.
Henning, an Owensboro, Kentucky native, batted .372 last season while collecting 55 hits which included 12 doubles and seven home runs en route to her second All-MVC selection, garnering First Team All-MVC honors in 2022 after being named the 2021 MVC Freshman of the Year.
Northern Iowa has been picked as this year’s preseason favorite in the conference poll which is voted on by the league’s coaches. The Panthers earned nine first-place votes and 140 points. Murray State was picked in second-place with 126 points while Southern Illinois claimed third with 103 points.
Mike Perniciaro enters his sixth season as head coach of the Sycamores where he will have to replace the production of graduates Bella Peterson, Amanda Guercio and Lexie Siwek who were key pieces for ISU in previous seasons. In addition to Henning, returning for the Trees is MVC All-Defensive Team selection Abi Chipps and the ace of ISU’s pitching staff in Lexi Benko who won 14 games last season with a 2.73 ERA, recording 104 strikeouts. Behind the plate, catcher Annie Tokarek returns for her graduate season, currently tied for the third-most home runs all time at ISU with 22. Outfielder Olivia Patton also returns for her graduate season with 161 games of experience and 96 hits in her Sycamore career.
Indiana State will open their 2023 campaign on Friday, February 10 in Charleston, South Carolina at the Charleston Invitational where they will take on host C of C, Chattanooga and James Madison.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WBB
MASTODON WBB GOES FOR FOUR IN A ROW WHEN PENGUINS VISIT GATES
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball puts its three-game winning streak on the line against Youngstown State on Thursday (Feb. 2).
Game Day Information
Who: Youngstown State Penguins
When: Thursday, February 2 | 7 PM
Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Link
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | Youngstown State | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
Horizon League preseason favorite Youngstown State is 16-5 and 10-2 in league play. The Penguins are riding a four-game winning streak, with their last loss coming on January 16 to IUPUI. The only other team the Penguins lost to in league play was Cleveland State. Player of the Year candidate Lilly Ritz is averaging a double-double with 17.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
The Series
Youngstown State leads the all-time series 10-2 and has won the last seven meetings. The Mastodons’ last win came in 2010, which saw Stephanie Rosado score 22 points and grab 12 rebounds.
National Girls & Women in Sports Day
Purdue Fort Wayne will celebrate the National Girls and Women in Sports Day prior to Thursday’s game with a panel of women in sports associated with the Mastodons, including women’s soccer Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year Samantha Castaneda.
Defense (Clap, Clap) Defense
Purdue Fort Wayne has held its opponents to 64 points or fewer in 12 games this season. They are 9-3 in such games.
She’s Back!
After four games of four points or less, Amellia Bromenschenkel has averaged 16.6 points per game in the last five games.
In The Wins…
In the Mastodons’ wins this year, Amellia Bromenschenkel is recording 18.0 points and 6.2 rebounds with a 58.6 percent shooting clip and a 52.5 percent 3-point shooting percentage. She is also averaging 2.0 steals, 1.9 assists and 0.6 blocks per game in those games.
The Best Choice For Defensive Player of the Year
In Horizon League play, Shayla Sellers leads the league with 2.3 steals per game and is 14th in the league with 0.7 blocks per game. She is one of two players in the league that is in the top 14 in both categories.
It’s Not Over Until It’s Over
The Mastodons had three deficits of 10 points or more this season from which they came back to win: Bellarmine (10), Milwaukee (11) and Wright State (13).
Checking In On The Standings
Through 12 Horizon League games played, the Mastodons are tied for sixth in the league standings. If the current standings were to hold, the Mastodons would host a Horizon League Championship first round game on February 28.
Thieves!
Purdue Fort Wayne is leading the Horizon League and 55th in the country with 9.6 steals per game. The ‘Dons also force the 56th-most turnovers in the country at 19.00 per game, a league-best.
Especially Those Two!
In league play, Amellia Bromenschenkel and Shayla Sellers are tied for first in the Horizon League with 2.3 steals per game.
Sellers Swiper
Shayla Sellers ranks in the top-150 in the country with 39 steals this season.
Block Party
Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and just outside the top-100 nationally with 3.4 blocks per game.
Linbo Limbo
Jazzlyn Linbo is second in the Horizon League with 29 blocks this season.
Bro!
Amellia Bromenschenkel is in the top 120 in the nation with a 45.6 field goal percentage. This ranks third in the Horizon League.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne blew out Detroit Mercy 69-45 on the road. Audra Emmerson scored 18 points, all of which came in the first half. Amellia Bromenschenkel had 16 points, 13 of which came in the second half.
Coming Up
Purdue Fort Wayne will welcome Robert Morris to the Gates Sports Center for its 16th-annual Pink Out Celebration on Saturday (Feb. 4).
UE MEN HOST INDIANA STATE ON WEDNESDAY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three of the next four games will take place inside the Ford Center with the University of Evansville men’s basketball team opening the stretch on Wednesday against Indiana State. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage.
Setting the Scene
– In the first meeting of the season on Dec. 29 in Terre Haute, it was the Sycamores finishing with a 91-63 victory
– Julian Larry paced the Sycamores with 21 points as ISU led by as many as 34 points
– Tying for the game’s scoring high was Kenny Strawbridge Jr., who posted 21 – since that time, Strawbridge has scored 18 or fewer in eight consecutive games
– The Sycamores have won 11 of the last 12 games in the series against UE
Last Time Out
– Jumping out to a 12-0 lead to open the game, Valparaiso fended off a late challenge to defeat the Purple Aces, 81-69, on Saturday evening inside The ARC
– Gage Bobe registered a career scoring high with 22 points
– Ben Krikke paced the Beacons with 30 points and 9 rebounds
Sharpshooter
– Continuing his rise from a walk-on to starter, Gage Bobe reset his career scoring high on Saturday with 22 points at Valpo
– Bobe drained six of his 11 tries from long range while playing his top total of 36:49
– It was his third double figure game of the season following 11 at Southern Illinois and 12 in the Dec. 21 win over Bellarmine
– He is a 37.0% outside shooter on the season but after starting the season hitting 3 of his first 22 attempts (13.6%), he has knocked down 20 of the last 41 (48.8%) since Dec. 21
Making the Adjustment
– Yacine Toumi has put together a nice 5-game streak that has seen him average 12.2 points per game
– Highlighting the stretch was an 18-point game at home versus Valparaiso, which tied his career mark
– On the boards, Toumi ranks 14th in the MVC with an average of 5.9 per game
– He has grabbed at least five rebounds in 10 of the last 11 contests while raising his season average from 5.1 to 5.9 per game
– His top tally of 11 came in the win over Bellarmine
– Over the last two games, Toumi has knocked down 3 of his 4 attempts from long range – prior to that, he converted just three of his previous 26 tries
Scouting the Opponent
– Indiana State ended a 5-game skid on Saturday with a 79-71 home victory over Northern Iowa
– Prior to that, the Sycamores dropped road games at Drake, Murray State and Missouri State along with home games against Bradley and Southern Illinois
– Courvoisier McCauley continues to lead ISU with 16.2 points per game
– McCauley is a 42.9% shooter from the field and has a team-best 66 makes from outside
– Cameron Henry comes into Wednesday’s game with a 10.9 PPG average while Cooper Neese is recording 10.2 PPG
– Julian Larry was the top performer in the first meeting on Dec. 29 scoring a game-high 21 points
EVANSVILLE WBB
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BEGINS BUSY UPCOMING SLATE WITH TRIP TO INDIANA STATE
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Looking ahead to a stretch of five games in 10 days, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team makes a trip to take on Indiana State at 5 PM (CT) on Wednesday evening in Terre Haute, Ind.
Meeting for the fifth time in 379 days, Evansville and Indiana State clash for the 65th all-time meeting between the two sides with the Sycamores owning a 43-21 advantage in the series. Evansville captured the first leg of the season series with Indiana State, 65-54, on Jan. 11, 2023 inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
The Sycamores come into Wednesday’s matchup with a 9-10 overall mark and are tied with UE in the MVC standings at 4-6 at the halfway point of The Valley season. Indiana State matched what the Aces did over the weekend, picking-up a victory over Murray State and dropping a matchup with Belmont. Guard Del’Janae Williams continues to pace Indiana State’s offense, averaging 13.7 points per game.
Evansville enters the midweek matchup having alternated wins and losses over the last eight games. With its 75-67 win over Murray State on Friday, the Aces earned their most overall wins (9) since the 2016-17 season. Evansville has also surpassed its most conference wins (4) since the 2016-17 campaign.
The middle portion of the MVC standings is crowded with five teams coming into the week tied at 4-6 including the Sycamores and Aces. With a win, either side could jump as high as six in the standings.
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S GOLF
EAGLES PROJECTED TO FINISH SIXTH IN OVC
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Golf was projected to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference the league announced on Tuesday. The Screaming Eagles are coming off one of their best seasons in program history, advancing to the NCAA II Super Regional for the first time since 2000 last spring.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock was picked to finish first in their first year in the OVC, earning eight of the nine first place votes. Tennessee Tech University received the lone other first place vote and was picked to finish second. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the University of Tennessee at Martin, and Morehead State University were the other three schools picked to finish above USI. Lindenwood University, Eastern Illinois University, and Tennessee State University round out the remainder of the standings.
“The Ohio Valley Conference will be strong this spring with Arkansas Little Rock being the team to beat. USI has put in a lot of work over the off season and will be ready to go in Tennessee starting in March.” USI Head Coach David Turpin had to say on his teams upcoming season after leading the Eagles to a historic season in 2022.
USI had a very strong fall season and are looking to build off recent success. The Eagles finished in the top half of four out their five tournaments and finished the fall with a second-place finish at the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational and a tie for first place at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational.
The Eagles open the spring season March 12-14 when they travel to Sevierville, Tennessee to compete in the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate hosted by Tennessee Tech. They then head to Gulf Shores, Alabama to compete in the Craft Farms Intercollegiate March 26-28, hosted by the University of South Alabama. USI then heads east for their final three matches, starting on April 3-4 when they compete in Louisville, Kentucky at the Ernie Denham Classic hosted by Bellarmine University. They then head to Batavia, Ohio to compete in The Jewell hosted by Northern Kentucky University April 10-11. The Eagles then finish off their regular season at the Wright State Invitational April 16-17 in Springboro, Ohio hosted by Wright State University. USI will then head to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference Championships April 23-26 to finish the season.
The Eagles are led this season by senior Zach Williams (Mt. Vernon, Illinois) and sophomore Jason Bannister (Laguna Niguel, California) who are coming off a 2022 season which saw them take home the first All-Great Lakes Valley Conference awards since 2013 for USI Men’s Golf. Williams was also named the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship honoree for the Eagles. Both Bannister and Williams broke the previous record for average score in a season. The previous record was held by Williams from the 2018-19 season with a 74.7 average. Bannister finished last season with a 74.0 average while Williams set the record with a 74.27 record.
The USI roster also features 10 other members, including three returnees and seven newcomers. Senior Evan Bonnell (Evansville, Indiana), junior Jace Day (Bloomington, Indiana), and junior Peyton Short (Greenwood, Indiana) all return to the squad. Day was one of three other Eagles to compete at last season’s Super Regional with Williams and Bannister.
Of the seven newcomers, four are freshmen while three are new transfers to the program. Freshmen Carter Goebel (Breese, Illinois), Will Perkins (Noblesville, Indiana), Gabe Suiter (Clarksville, Tennessee), and Jaden Wilson (LaGrange, Kentucky) all are making their first collegiate appearances this season. The Eagles also welcomed in three transfers this year. Junior Bryce Kirchner (North Vernon, Indiana) comes to USI from Vincennes University, junior Trevor Laub (Edwardsville, Illinois) transfers to USI from Heartland College, and junior Tanner Walton (Jackson, Missouri) comes to the program from John A. Logan College.
2022-23 OVC Golf Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Men’s Predicted Order of Finish
1. Little Rock (8 first-place votes) – 64 points
2. Tennessee Tech (1) – 57
3. SIUE – 49
4. UT Martin – 41
5. Morehead State – 39
6. Southern Indiana – 25
7. Lindenwood – 23
8. Eastern Illinois – 15
9. Tennessee State – 11
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S GOLF
USI WOMEN’S GOLF VOTED TO FINISH FIFTH IN OVC
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Golf is predicted to finish fifth within the Ohio Valley Conference standings after receiving 14 points from the league’s head coaches. The Screaming Eagles are competing in NCAA Division I and the OVC for the first time in program history.
“It will be interesting to see how we compete in our first conference season,” says USI Head Coach, Jim Cheaney. “There are very good teams in the OVC and we will be ready to play in March.”
University of Arkansas at Little Rock was predicted to finish atop the conference after receiving 36 points and a league-high six first-place votes. Morehead State University was given one first-place vote and received 29 points to place second. Earning the next two spots are Tennessee Tech University (28) and conference newcomer, Lindenwood University (15). USI had 14 points to place fifth with Eastern Illinois University (13) and Tennessee State University (12) going sixth and seventh, respectively.
The Eagles competed in five tournaments last fall with a season-best sixth-place finish at the Saluki Invitational where graduate Hannah Herma (DeMotte, Indiana) and sophomore Kylee Hormuth (Wentzville, Missouri) tied for 20th after shooting 242, going 26 over par in three rounds. USI brings back six returners from last season along with a pair of newcomers that includes junior Haylee Exline (Poseyville, Indiana) who transfers from Oakland City University.
USI’s spring season begins with a trip to Sevierville, Tennessee for the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate hosted by Tennessee Tech March 12-14. The Eagles continue the campaign at the Nevel Meade Intercollegiate hosted by Cleveland State University March 20-21 then head to Batavia, Ohio to compete in The Julie hosted by Northern Kentucky University March 27-28. USI ends the regular season in Murray, Kentucky with the Jan Weaver Invitational hosted by Murray State University April 3-4.
The OVC Golf Championships will take place April 16-18 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama on the Fighting Joe Course at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals.
2023 OVC Preseason Women’s Golf Predicted Order of Finish
1. Little Rock (6 first-place votes) – 36 points
2. Morehead State (1 first-place vote) – 29 points
3. Tennessee Tech – 28
4. Lindenwood – 15
5. Southern Indiana – 14
6. Eastern Illinois – 13
7. Tennessee State – 12
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
EAGLES HOST A PAIR FOR HOMECOMING WEEK
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball will celebrate Homecoming Week by hosting a pair of Ohio Valley Conference games Thursday and Saturday. USI is slated to host Tennessee State University Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Morehead State University for the homecoming game Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles (13-10, 6-4 OVC) begins the week looking to get back on track after having its five-game losing streak snapped on Saturday in overtime at the University of Tennessee at Martin, 86-83. USI had extended the streak to five games with a 78-74 win over Eastern Illinois University at home.
Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) led the way for USI last week with 23.5 points in the two games, including a career-high tying 26 points in the loss to UT Martin. Senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) averaged a double-double with 16.0 points and 22.0 rebounds per game and earned one half of the co-OVC Player of the Week honor.
For the season, Simmons moves into USI’s top scoring spot with 14.3 points per game after a 47-point week in the last two games. Graduate Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) and sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) follow with 13.5 points per outing each, while Polakovich is averaging with 12.3 points per outing along with grabbing a team-best and OVC-best 13.1 rebounds per game.
The TSU Tigers (12-11, 4-6 OVC) got back on track with an 83-66 victory over Lindenwood University. TSU, who is 2-4 in the last six games, is led by graduate guard Jr. Clay, who leads four Tigers in double-figures with 19.0 points per game. Clay also is the OVC Preseason Player of the Year.
USI leads the series with TSU, 3-1, dating between 1976 and 1979. The Eagles won the last three meetings in the 1970s (1978-78: 73-72 (ot); 1977-78: 57-56; 1976-77: 92-66) but lost the series opener to Tennessee State (112-52) in the 1975-76 season.
Morehead State has four in a row after posting a 55-50 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and earn a share of first in the OVC. The MSU Eagles (14-9, 7-3 OVC), who will host Tennessee Tech University Thursday before coming north to visit USI, are led by senior guard Mark Freeman with 15.9 points per game.
In the first ever meeting between the two programs in January, USI rallied from a 13-point, second half deficit, but fell short, 84-80. The USI Eagles were led by Swope, who had 25 points in the loss, while MSU was led by senior guard Mark Freeman, who had 24 points.
VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TAKES ON UIC WEDNESDAY
Valparaiso (4-15, 2-8 MVC)
Game #20 – Feb. 1, 2023 – 6 p.m.
UIC (12-9, 4-6 MVC)
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000) – Valparaiso, Ind.
Next Up in Valpo Basketball: With the start of February comes the beginning of the second half of the MVC slate for the Valpo women’s basketball team, as the back half of the conference schedule opens up Wednesday night at the ARC when UIC comes to town. It is Valpo’s Women in Sports game, as the program celebrates 50 Years of Title IX.
Previously: Senior Olivia Brown matched her career high with 24 points on Sunday at the ARC, while junior Leah Earnest delivered 19 points as part of her seventh double-double of the year to lead the way as the Beacons closed out the first half of MVC play with a 78-71 victory over Bradley. Ali Saunders tallied 15 points as well as Valpo posted its highest scoring game in regulation of the season.
Following Valpo Basketball: Streaming Video: ESPN+
Radio: None
Streaming Audio: YouTube
Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com
Head Coach Mary Evans: Mary Evans is in her fifth year at the helm of the program in 2022-23 and owns a record of 52-83. Evans has made an impact on the program in her first four years, raising the team’s level of play to be competitive in a strong Missouri Valley Conference. Evans’ preferred style of play has been a big part of the program’s turnaround, as Valpo has led the MVC in 3-pointers made per game in each of the last three seasons and in steals per game in two of the last three years.
Series Notes: Valpo renews acquaintances with the most common opponent in program history on Wednesday, as the Beacons match up with UIC for the 52nd time – the Flames hold a slim 27-24 edge in the series. The MVC marks the fourth different conference the two programs have shared affiliation in, as Valpo and UIC were both previously together in the North Star Conference (1988-92), the Mid-Continent Conference (1992-94) and the Horizon League (2007-17). In their first meeting as Valley foes, Valpo looked poised for the road win in Chicago last month, leading by eight with 4:58 to play, but UIC rallied and won 51-50 on a Josie Filer 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds to play. Olivia Sims scored 12 points off the bench to lead the Beacons.
@ValpoWBB…
…and @ValleyHoops
– Valpo was picked to finish in 10th place in the MVC preseason poll, totaling 197 points, just 10 points behind Evansville.
– Valpo is in its sixth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
– The Valley was ranked 10th in conference NET last year, was ranked seventh nationally in conference NET in 2020-21 and was eighth nationally in conference RPI in 2019-20.
…looking back at last year
– Valpo finished last year with an 11-19 overall record, but was strong in MVC play, going 9-9 in conference and finishing in sixth place – both of which match the program’s best since joining the Valley.
– The Beacons registered the first win at Drake and the first win at Bradley in program history.
– Valpo swept the season series over Drake, the program’s first two wins ever against the Bulldogs.
– The Beacons also tallied four top-100 wins within Valley play.
– Grace White was named MVC Sixth Player of the Year – the program’s first major postseason award since joining the Valley. Shay Frederick was a First Team All-MVC choice, while White was an All-Defensive Team selection and Olivia Brown earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team.
…versus Bradley
– Bradley led 19-18 at the end of the first quarter, but Valpo outscored the Braves by four in the second period to lead 35-32 at intermission.
– A 10-2 run spanning the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth pushed Valpo’s lead into double figures for the first time at 63-53.
– Bradley closed to within 72-68 with 1:35 to play, but Valpo erased over a minute off the game clock on its next offensive possession. The Beacons missed a pair of 3-point attempts during the trip, but Olivia Brown brought down a pair of offensive rebounds. Bradley finally fouled Saunders to send her to the line with 34 seconds to play, and the rookie calmly knocked down both to make it a 74-68 game.
– Olivia Brown led the way with 24 points to tie her career high, 13 of which came in the first quarter.
– The senior went 8-of-10 from the field, including a 6-of-8 mark from the 3-point line. The 6-of-8 effort from deep matches her performance in the MVC opener at Belmont, tying a career high for 3-pointers made and tying for the seventh-best 3-point percentage in a single game in program history.
– Leah Earnest finished just one point off her career high with a 19-point afternoon. The junior picked up her seventh double-double of the campaign as she tied for game-high honors with 11 rebounds.
– Earnest also rewrote her career bests in a pair of other categories. She dished out four assists for the first time in her collegiate career and matched her career high with three steals.
– Valpo posted its season-high point total in regulation with its 78 points on Sunday. The Beacons shot 48.2% (27-of-56) from the floor, their best shooting percentage since the MVC opener at Belmont, and were 9-of-24 from 3-point range.
– Valpo won despite Bradley hitting at a 50% clip from the field and going 6-of-12 from the 3-point line.
…versus Illinois State
– The Redbirds led 23-6 at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to as many as 28 points in the second quarter.
– An 11-2 Valpo run, which included two 3-pointers from Ali Saunders, cut the Illinois State lead to 38-19, but the Redbirds got 3-pointers on their final two possessions of the half to lead 44-19 at intermission.
– Valpo played Illinois State even in the third quarter, thanks in large part to six strong minutes Jayda Johnston. Johnston came in and delivered 13 points in the third period alone, hitting all five of her field goal attempts.
– Johnston, who entered halftime scoreless, ended up leading the Beacons with 14 points on Friday — just two points off her career high.
– Saunders delivered strong offense off the bench as well, finishing with 13 points and connecting on three 3-pointers for the first time in her career.
– Ava Interrante finished with eight points and a team-high three steals as the Beacons registered 10 steals as a team — the third time in the last five games Valpo has recorded double-digit steals.
– Valpo shot just 32.6% from the field and was a season-worst 4-for-26 from the 3-point line.
– Sophomore Katie Beyer received her first career start on Friday.
…looking ahead
– Valpo heads down to Carbondale on Saturday for its lone matchup against Southern Illinois in the regular season.
– The Beacons then return right back home to the ARC next weekend as they host Drake and UNI.
U OF I TRACK
HOUNDS MOVE UP TO #17 IN USTFCCCA RANKINGS
NEW ORLEANS – The second edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) top-25 poll has been released, and the women’s squad from the University of Indianapolis ranks at No. 17 after earning 46.25 points.
The Hounds make a jump up by six positions from last week and are currently the only GLVC school in the poll. Minnesota State holds the top spot while Grand Valley State, Pittsburg State, Northwest Missouri State, and Adams State go second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
Last weekend at the Tom Hathaway Distance Carnival, Ellie Lengerich broke the school record and earned a provisional mark in the pentathlon after scoring 3,642 points. The Hounds are also strong in the field events, with the duo of Brittney Clark and Sabrina Robison ranking sixth and seventh, respectively, in the pole vault. Zoe Pentecost sits second in the weight throw.
U OF I SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL VOTED GLVC PRESEASON FAVORITE BY LEAGUE COACHES
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference softball title, the league office announced on Tuesday. The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC bylaws, were not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Indianapolis
Received the max 12 first-place votes and 144 total points.
Ranked 16th in National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) DII Preseason Poll.
Earned No. 2 seed in GLVC Championship last season, advancing to final round in rain-shortened tournament.
Garnered at-large bid and hosting rights to NCAA Midwest Regional #2 as second seed, going 1-2.
Coached by Melissa Frost, who enters her 19th season after a 48-10 overall and 24-4 GLVC record in 2022.
Return GLVC Freshman of the Year, Megan Nichols, along with fellow First Team All-GLVC selections Kenzee Smith, Dominique Proctor, and Lexy Rees, as well as Second Team selection Emily O’Connor.
No. 2 Drury
Received one first-place vote and 133 total points.
Receiving votes in NFCA D-II Preseason Poll.
Earned No. 3 seed in GLVC Championship last season, advancing to semifinal round in rain-shortened tournament.
Garnered at-large bid to NCAA Midwest Regional #1 as fifth seed, going 1-2.
Coached by Jerry Breaux, who enters his sixth year after a 37-17 overall and 21-7 GLVC record in 2022.
Return GLVC Pitcher of the Year, Kristina Bettis, who was also a unanimous First Team All-GLVC selection, along with Second Team selection Rylee Kolb and Third Team selections Lauren Beier and Sydney Sneed.
No. 3 Missouri-St. Louis
Received 117 total points.
Earned No. 5 seed in GLVC Championship last season, falling in quarterfinals of rain-shortened tournament.
Coached by Amanda Scott, who enters her seventh season after a 28-22 overall and 16-13 GLVC record in 2022.
Return All-GLVC Second Team selection Annie Scaramuzzi, as well as Third Team selections Mimi Bradley and Megan Brown.
No. 4 Illinois Springfield
Received 108 total points.
Earned No. 6 seed in GLVC Championship last season, falling in quarterfinals of rain-shortened tournament.
Coached by Shannon Guthrie, who enters her ninth season after a 31-19 overall and 15-13 GLVC record in 2022.
Return Second Team All-GLVC selections Danielle Dennis and Jillian Mathis.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 13th was Maryville University (91 points), Rockhurst University (87), McKendree University (85), Lewis University (65), Missouri S&T (52), Quincy University (46), William Jewell College (43), Truman State University (31), and Southwest Baptist University (12).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
RK SCHOOL (1st-plave votes) PTS
1. UIndy (12) 144
2. Drury (1) 133
3. Missouri-St. Louis 117
4. Illinois Springfield 108
5. Maryville 91
6. Rockhurst 87
7. McKendree 85
8. Lewis 65
9. Missouri S&T 52
10. Quincy 46
11. William Jewell 43
12. Truman 31
13. Southwest Baptist 12
U OF I WOMEN’S LAX
TRIO SELECTED AS USA LACROSSE MAGAZINE PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
BALTIMORE – Kara Antonucci, Mekayla Montgomery, and Quinn Malcolm from the University of Indianapolis women’s lacrosse team have been selected as 2023 USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-Americans.
Antonucci was tabbed as a first team honoree while Montgomery was a second team selection. Malcolm found a spot on the third team.
Antonucci, who is the reigning GLVC Defender of the Year and was a 2022 IWLCA First Team All-American selection, played in and started all 23 games a season ago and was a key piece to the Hounds’ defense. With the help of Antonucci, UIndy was able to outscore its opponents by 254 goals last year. She also finished second on the team with 65 draw controls while notching 21 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers in 2022.
Montgomery, who was also an IWLCA First Team All-American honoree in 2022, played and started in all 23 contests and led the Greyhounds with 38 ground balls and 33 caused turnovers. Along with this, she finished third on the team in draw controls (56) while contributing seven goals and two assists on offense.
Malcolm enters her senior campaign after having a breakout season last year for UIndy. She ended third on the team in goals (49) and points (62) and had a solid NCAA Tournament run where she scored one or more goals in all four games. Most notably, she tallied three goals against Adelphi in the national semifinals and then chipped in a goal and an assist against East Stroudsburg in the national championship game.
U OF I MBB
HOUNDS CLIMB THREE SPOTS IN NABC POLL
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The UIndy men’s basketball team climbed to No. 7 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) rankings, announced Tuesday afternoon. The poll position is the first time the Hounds have been ranked seventh since Feb. 10, 2015.
UIndy also came in at No. 8 in the weekly D2SIDA national poll, topping the Midwest Region for the third consecutive week.
Currently on a 12-game winning streak, the Greyhounds are back at home this weekend with a pair of GLVC bouts scheduled from Nicoson Hall. All remaining home games are now $5 per ticket to catch the nationally-ranked program.
Jesse Bingham tops the team with 15.8 points per game, while Kendrick Tchoua leads all of NCAA Division II with a 73.0 field goal percentage.
NABC DII Coaches Poll
| RK | SCHOOL (1st-place votes) | REC | PTS | PREV |
| 1. | Indiana (Pa.) (12) | 20-0 | 396 | 1 |
| 2. | Nova Southeastern (3) | 20-0 | 386 | 2 |
| 3. | Black Hills State | 18-1 | 363 | 6 |
| 4. | Northwest Missouri State | 19-2 | 349 | 7 |
| 5. | UNC Pembroke | 21-1 | 330 | 8 |
| 6. | Central Oklahoma | 19-2 | 303 | 4 |
| 7. | UIndy | 18-2 | 298 | 10 |
| 8. | Lincoln Memorial | 20-2 | 276 | 3 |
| 9. | Hillsdale | 19-2 | 269 | 11 |
| 10. | Colorado School of Mines | 19-2 | 255 | 5 |
| 11. | Bentley | 17-2 | 233 | 14 |
| 12. | Point Loma | 20-3 | 227 | 13 |
| 13. | Fort Lewis | 18-2 | 222 | 17 |
| 14. | Augusta | 17-3 | 198 | 9 |
| 15. | Angelo State | 18-3 | 169 | 21 |
| 16. | West Liberty | 17-3 | 153 | 22 |
| 17. | Cal State San Bernardino | 15-3 | 146 | 12 |
| 18. | St. Thomas Aquinas | 19-3 | 91 | 23 |
| 19. | MSU Moorhead | 18-4 | 89 | 15 |
| 20. | Southern Nazarene | 16-3 | 78 | NR |
| 21. | North Georgia | 14-3 | 76 | 18 |
| 22. | Colorado Mesa | 16-4 | 69 | 16 |
| 23. | West Alabama | 17-4 | 52 | NR |
| 24. | Mercyhurst | 15-3 | 47 | 20 |
| 25. | Missouri-St. Louis | 17-4 | 45 | 19 |
MARIAN WRESTLING
MARIAN CLOSES REGULAR SEASON VICTORIOUS OVER ROCHESTER 38-10
INDIANAPOLIS – The Marian wrestling team capped an undefeated home campaign on Tuesday night, defeating Rochester University 38-10 in their final regular season dual. Marian closes the regular season with a 5-1 record in WHAC competition, closing strong to enter the WHAC Tournament.
Marian started the dual with an 18-0 lead, as Alex Cottey, Dylan McKelvey, and Logan Wagner all were victorious by forfeit. The first action on the mat came at 149, with Ian Heath wrestling against Anthony Gonzales. Gonzales took an early lead in the bout against Heath, scoring a takedown and a nearfall en route to a 10-2 lead after the first period. Heath looked strong in the second period getting a reversal, but ultimately fell by major decision.
After a scoreless first period in the 157 weight class, Zach Wilson went to work in the second period, forcing his opponent Rico Brown to get called for multiple stallings. Wilson tied his bout with two stallings, and took a lead going into the third with a stall point. After taking a point for the escape to start the third, Wilson hung on to win by a 5-2 decision.
Jordan Fulks dominated his match 165 from the jump, scoring an early takedown before claiming a nearfall. Fulks continued his aggressive approach with another takedown, and opened the second period with a slam. Leading 11-1, Fulks finished the job with a win by fall at 4:57, giving Marian a 27-4 lead.
At 174 Jeff Dunasky Jr. energized the crowd in his first taste of the home mat, scoring an early takedown against Julius Polk. Dunasky kept the fight going, and earned his first home victory with a 7-5 decision. Sam Osho kept win streak going as he got off to a huge lead in the first period, scoring multiple takedowns and a nearfall to lead 13-4. Osho led 19-6 after owning the second period, and in the third period scored multiple takedowns to claim a 28-8 tech fall win.
Jack Servies owned his match at 197 as he scored early points in an 8-1 win by decision, vaulting the score to 38-4 before the final match. Austin Lane would lose by fall in the 285 match to close the match, wrapping up Marian’s 38-10 victory over the Warriors.
Marian will enjoy a rest period before taking on their WHAC foes in the WHAC Tournament, held at Rochester University on February 11.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
SPORTS EXTRA
NBA STANDINGS
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | CONF GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| 1 BOSTON | 36 | 15 | .706 | — | 19-6 | 17-9 | 6-1 | 20-11 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 2 MILWAUKEE | 34 | 17 | .667 | 2.0 | 21-5 | 13-12 | 7-4 | 20-13 | 7-3 | 5 W | ||
| 3 PHILADELPHIA | 32 | 17 | .653 | 3.0 | 19-8 | 13-9 | 5-3 | 18-11 | 8-2 | 1 L | ||
| 4 BROOKLYN | 31 | 19 | .620 | 4.5 | 15-8 | 16-11 | 6-4 | 21-10 | 4-6 | 2 W | ||
| 5 CLEVELAND | 31 | 22 | .585 | 6.0 | 21-6 | 10-16 | 8-3 | 18-10 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 6 MIAMI | 29 | 23 | .558 | 7.5 | 17-9 | 12-14 | 6-3 | 13-14 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 7 NEW YORK | 27 | 25 | .519 | 9.5 | 12-14 | 15-11 | 3-7 | 18-15 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 8 ATLANTA | 25 | 26 | .490 | 11.0 | 13-11 | 12-15 | 5-4 | 17-17 | 6-4 | 2 L | ||
| 9 WASHINGTON | 24 | 26 | .480 | 11.5 | 12-10 | 12-16 | 5-3 | 13-15 | 7-3 | 6 W | ||
| 10 INDIANA | 24 | 28 | .462 | 12.5 | 16-10 | 8-18 | 3-4 | 17-14 | 1-9 | 3 L | ||
| 11 CHICAGO | 23 | 27 | .460 | 12.5 | 13-11 | 10-16 | 5-4 | 19-15 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 12 TORONTO | 23 | 29 | .442 | 13.5 | 15-12 | 8-17 | 4-9 | 15-19 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 13 ORLANDO | 20 | 31 | .392 | 16.0 | 13-13 | 7-18 | 2-7 | 10-21 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 14 CHARLOTTE | 15 | 37 | .288 | 21.5 | 7-16 | 8-21 | 5-6 | 8-24 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 15 DETROIT | 13 | 39 | .250 | 23.5 | 6-19 | 7-20 | 0-8 | 5-23 | 2-8 | 2 L | ||
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | CONF GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| 1 DENVER | 35 | 16 | .686 | — | 23-4 | 12-12 | 9-4 | 26-10 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 2 MEMPHIS | 32 | 18 | .640 | 2.5 | 21-3 | 11-15 | 6-2 | 15-15 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 3 SACRAMENTO | 28 | 21 | .571 | 6.0 | 16-11 | 12-10 | 5-5 | 16-10 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 4 LA CLIPPERS | 29 | 25 | .537 | 7.5 | 14-11 | 15-14 | 4-4 | 17-15 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 5 GOLDEN STATE | 26 | 24 | .520 | 8.5 | 19-6 | 7-18 | 4-4 | 15-9 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 6 DALLAS | 27 | 25 | .519 | 8.5 | 18-9 | 9-16 | 6-2 | 19-12 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 7 PHOENIX | 27 | 25 | .519 | 8.5 | 19-8 | 8-17 | 8-0 | 20-14 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| 8 MINNESOTA | 27 | 26 | .509 | 9.0 | 18-11 | 9-15 | 6-6 | 18-17 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 9 UTAH | 26 | 26 | .500 | 9.5 | 17-9 | 9-17 | 4-5 | 19-15 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 10 NEW ORLEANS | 26 | 26 | .500 | 9.5 | 17-9 | 9-17 | 7-3 | 16-13 | 1-9 | 9 L | ||
| 11 OKLAHOMA CITY | 24 | 26 | .480 | 10.5 | 15-11 | 9-15 | 4-6 | 11-14 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 12 PORTLAND | 24 | 26 | .480 | 10.5 | 14-11 | 10-15 | 5-7 | 17-15 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 13 LA LAKERS | 24 | 28 | .462 | 11.5 | 13-12 | 11-16 | 1-9 | 12-17 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 14 SAN ANTONIO | 14 | 37 | .275 | 21.0 | 9-19 | 5-18 | 2-7 | 5-29 | 1-9 | 6 L | ||
| 15 HOUSTON | 12 | 38 | .240 | 22.5 | 7-17 | 5-21 | 1-8 | 6-27 | 2-8 | 1 W |
NHL STANDINGS
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | ROAD | L10 | ||
| 1 BOSTON BRUINS | 50 | 38 | 7 | 5 | 81 | 36 | 187 | 109 | 22-1-3 | 16-6-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 2 CAROLINA HURRICANES | 50 | 33 | 9 | 8 | 74 | 30 | 168 | 135 | 17-5-2 | 16-4-6 | 8-1-1 | |
| 3 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS | 51 | 31 | 12 | 8 | 70 | 31 | 173 | 136 | 20-4-4 | 11-8-4 | 6-3-1 | |
| 4 NEW JERSEY DEVILS | 49 | 32 | 13 | 4 | 68 | 31 | 171 | 131 | 13-10-2 | 19-3-2 | 8-1-1 | |
| 5 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING | 48 | 32 | 15 | 1 | 65 | 31 | 175 | 141 | 20-4-1 | 12-11-0 | 8-2-0 | |
| 6 NEW YORK RANGERS | 49 | 27 | 14 | 8 | 62 | 25 | 157 | 129 | 13-9-4 | 14-5-4 | 6-2-2 | |
| 7 WASHINGTON CAPITALS | 53 | 27 | 20 | 6 | 60 | 26 | 166 | 152 | 14-8-3 | 13-12-3 | 4-6-0 | |
| 8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | 49 | 24 | 16 | 9 | 57 | 23 | 161 | 153 | 14-6-4 | 10-10-5 | 4-3-3 | |
| 9 BUFFALO SABRES | 49 | 26 | 19 | 4 | 56 | 25 | 185 | 165 | 11-12-2 | 15-7-2 | 6-2-2 | |
| 10 NEW YORK ISLANDERS | 52 | 25 | 22 | 5 | 55 | 25 | 148 | 144 | 15-9-2 | 10-13-3 | 3-5-2 | |
| 11 FLORIDA PANTHERS | 52 | 24 | 22 | 6 | 54 | 23 | 178 | 183 | 13-7-3 | 11-15-3 | 5-3-2 | |
| 12 OTTAWA SENATORS | 50 | 24 | 23 | 3 | 51 | 23 | 151 | 159 | 14-11-1 | 10-12-2 | 6-4-0 | |
| 13 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS | 51 | 21 | 21 | 9 | 51 | 21 | 142 | 162 | 10-12-2 | 11-9-7 | 5-3-2 | |
| 14 DETROIT RED WINGS | 48 | 21 | 19 | 8 | 50 | 20 | 145 | 160 | 12-10-3 | 9-9-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 15 MONTREAL CANADIENS | 51 | 20 | 27 | 4 | 44 | 16 | 134 | 189 | 11-14-1 | 9-13-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 16 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS | 51 | 15 | 32 | 4 | 34 | 14 | 131 | 198 | 11-15-2 | 4-17-2 | 3-5-2 | |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | ROAD | L10 | ||
| 1 DALLAS STARS | 51 | 28 | 13 | 10 | 66 | 27 | 173 | 133 | 13-5-6 | 15-8-4 | 4-2-4 | |
| 2 SEATTLE KRAKEN | 49 | 29 | 15 | 5 | 63 | 29 | 177 | 151 | 13-10-3 | 16-5-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 3 WINNIPEG JETS | 52 | 32 | 19 | 1 | 65 | 32 | 166 | 137 | 18-8-0 | 14-11-1 | 5-5-0 | |
| 4 LOS ANGELES KINGS | 53 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 63 | 24 | 173 | 183 | 14-9-2 | 14-9-5 | 5-4-1 | |
| 5 VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS | 51 | 29 | 18 | 4 | 62 | 26 | 160 | 148 | 14-13-0 | 15-5-4 | 2-6-2 | |
| 6 MINNESOTA WILD | 48 | 27 | 17 | 4 | 58 | 23 | 151 | 138 | 15-8-1 | 12-9-3 | 5-4-1 | |
| 7 EDMONTON OILERS | 50 | 28 | 18 | 4 | 60 | 28 | 187 | 162 | 13-11-3 | 15-7-1 | 7-1-2 | |
| 8 COLORADO AVALANCHE | 48 | 27 | 18 | 3 | 57 | 23 | 151 | 133 | 13-9-3 | 14-9-0 | 7-3-0 | |
| 9 CALGARY FLAMES | 50 | 24 | 17 | 9 | 57 | 23 | 157 | 152 | 14-9-2 | 10-8-7 | 5-3-2 | |
| 10 NASHVILLE PREDATORS | 48 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 54 | 22 | 137 | 141 | 14-7-3 | 10-11-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 11 ST. LOUIS BLUES | 51 | 23 | 25 | 3 | 49 | 20 | 156 | 185 | 10-12-2 | 13-13-1 | 3-7-0 | |
| 12 VANCOUVER CANUCKS | 49 | 20 | 26 | 3 | 43 | 17 | 165 | 193 | 10-13-1 | 10-13-2 | 3-7-0 | |
| 13 SAN JOSE SHARKS | 51 | 15 | 25 | 11 | 41 | 14 | 157 | 196 | 5-12-7 | 10-13-4 | 3-4-3 | |
| 14 ARIZONA COYOTES | 50 | 16 | 28 | 6 | 38 | 14 | 131 | 177 | 10-8-2 | 6-20-4 | 3-6-1 | |
| 15 ANAHEIM DUCKS | 50 | 16 | 29 | 5 | 37 | 13 | 125 | 205 | 9-13-1 | 7-16-4 | 4-5-1 | |
| 16 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS | 48 | 15 | 29 | 4 | 34 | 15 | 118 | 176 | 9-16-2 | 6-13-2 | 6-4-0 |
FOOTBALL HISTORY
FEBRUARY 1, 1913 – AMERICAN ALL-ROUND ATHLETE JIM THORPE SIGNS A CONTRACT TO PLAY BASEBALL WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS; UNLIKE HIS OTHER SPORTING ENDEAVOURS THE OLYMPIC-MEDAL WINNER’S CAREER IN MLB WAS UNINSPIRING
FEBRUARY 1, 1968 – VINCE LOMBARDI STEPPED DOWN AS GREEN BAY PACKERS HEAD COACH. GREEN BAY’S LONGTIME ASSISTANT PHIL BENGTSON BECAME THE FRANCHISE’S GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE 1968 SEASON.
FEBRUARY 1, 1972 – THE 1972 NFL DRAFT WAS HELD AND THE TOP PICK WAS WALT PATULSKI FROM UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME WHO WAS THE CHOICE OF THE BUFFALO BILLS. THERE WAS ONLY ONE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME PLAYER FROM THIS DRAFT SO FAR ACCORDING TO THE PRO FOOTBALL REFERENCE AND THAT WAS PENN STATE RUNNING BACK FRANCO HARRIS WHO WENT TO PITTSBURGH WITH THE 13TH OVERALL PICK.
FEBRUARY 1, 1981 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – THE NFC TRIPLED UP THE AFC, 21-7 IN THE 1980 SEASON’S NFL PRO BOWL. THE GAME’S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER WAS EDDIE MURRAY THE KICKER OF THE DETROIT LIONS ACCORDING TO THE ONTHISDAY.COM.
FEBRUARY 1, 1987 – THE 1986 SEASON’S NFL PRO BOWL WAS ALSO PLAYED AT BEAUTIFUL ALOHA STADIUM IN HONOLULU. THE RESULTS OF THE CONTEST WERE THAT THE AFC TEAM EDGED OUT THE NFC SQUAD, 10-6. THE GAME’S MVP WAS LEGENDARY DEFENSIVE END OF THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT THE TIME, REGGIE WHITE.
FEBRUARY 1, 1998 – ANOTHER NFL PRO BOWL WAS PLAYED ON THIS DAY IN GRIDIRON HISTORY AND AGAIN AT THE PLAYER’S CHOICE VENUE, ALOHA STADIUM IN HONOLULU, HAWAII. WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO MAKE THE PRO BOWL JUST FOR THAT TRIP? THE AFC NIPPED NFC IN THE GAME BY THE FINAL SCORE OF 29-24. THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS VETERAN SIGNAL CALLER OF THAT SEASON, LEGEND WARREN MOON WON THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER.
FEBRUARY 1, 2004 – RELIANT STADIUM, HOUSTON, TEXAS – WHAT A GAME SUPER BOWL XXXVIII WAS TO MATCH THE LEAGUE’S TOP TWO TEAMS, THE CAROLINA PANTHERS AND THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. AMERICAN FOOTBALL FANDOM HAS THE SCOOP. ALTHOUGH NEITHER TEAM COULD SCORE IN THE FIRST AND THIRD QUARTERS, THEY BOTH ENDED UP WITH A COMBINED TOTAL OF 868 YARDS AND 61 POINTS. THE GAME WAS SCORELESS FOR A SUPER BOWL RECORD 26:55 BEFORE THE TWO TEAMS COMBINED FOR 24 POINTS PRIOR TO HALFTIME AND AN AMAZING 37 COMBINED POINTS IN A FAST PACED FOURTH QUARTER! NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SQUEAKED BY THE CAROLINA PANTHERS, 32-29. THE BIG GAME MVP WAS GOAT QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY WHO HAD SET A SUPER BOWL RECORD FOR THE MOST PASS COMPLETIONS WITH 32,WHILE COMPLETING 66.7 PERCENT OF HIS PASSES AND ACCUMULATING 354 PASSING YARDS FOR 3 TOUCHDOWNS. IT WAS THE SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP IN THREE YEARS FOR THE PATRIOTS.
FEBRUARY 1, 2009 – RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA, FLORIDA – THE ARIZONA CARDINALS AND THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS BUTTED HEADS IN SUPER BOWL XLIII. THIS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME MAY HAVE MORE HIGHLIGHT REEL PLAYS THAN ANY OTHER GAME IN HISTORY! WHO CAN FORGET THE LARRY FITZGERALD 64 YARD SCORE WITH 2:45 REMAINING TO PUT THE CARDS UP ON THE SCOREBOARD. OR THE SANTONIO HOLMES TOE TAP IN THE END ZONE LATE IN THE GAME THAT ENDED UP BEING THE GAME WINNER. BUT PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PLAY WAS THE GAME CHANGING JAMES HARRISON 100 YARD PICK SIX TO END THE FIRST HALF THAT WAS MOST LIKELY A 14 POINT SWING! OH THE DRAMA OF THAT PLAY AT THE TIME IT OCCURRED! THE STEELERS DEFEATED THE ARIZONA CARDINALS, 27-23 AND THE TOE DANCE ALONG WITH SOME OTHER CRUCIAL GRABS ON THE FINAL DRIVE EARNED SANTONIO HOLMES THE MVP.
FEBRUARY 1, 2014 – DENVER BRONCOS QUARTERBACK PEYTON MANNING SETS AN ALL TIME RECORD FOR THE MOST NFL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARDS PER THE WASHINGTON POST. THE GREAT QUARTERBACK WON HIS 5TH SUCH TROPHY AT THE NFL HONORS IN NEW YORK CITY. HE ALSO CAPPED OFF THE EVENING BY CAPTURING THE 2013 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AS WELL.
FEBRUARY 1, 2014 – RAY GUY (OAKLAND/LA RAIDERS) BECOMES SECOND PURE KICKER, AND FIRST PURE PUNTER TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
FEBRUARY 1, 2015 – UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM, GLENDALE, ARIZONA – THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE’S MIND AT THE COMPLETION OF SUPER BOWL XLIX WAS, “ WHY DIDN’T THEY GO BEASTMODE?” WITH 26 SECONDS REMAINING SEATTLE HAD THE BALL 2ND AND GOAL FROM THE PATRIOT’S ONE YARD LINE WITH ONE TIMEOUT REMAINING. RUSSEL WILSON WAS IN SHOTGUN FORMATION HAVING SHORT YARDAGE EXPERT MARSHAWN LYNCH PERCHED ON HIS LEFT HIP. NEW ENGLAND HAD EIGHT IN THE BOX EXPECTING A RUN, BUT WILSON TOOK THE SNAP AND PROMPTLY TRIED FIRING A SHORT SLANT PASS OVER THE MIDDLE WHICH MALCOLM BUTLER THE PATRIOTS CORNER UNDERCUT AND INTERCEPTED IT PER ESPN.COM. THERE WAS NO JOY IN THE NORTH WEST THAT EVENING AS THE PATRIOTS DENIED THE SEAHAWKS ANOTHER LOMBARDI AS THEY HELD ON TO WIN BY THE SCORE OF 28-24 OVER THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS. THE GAME’S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER WAS QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY.
FEBRUARY 1, 2022 – SPEAKING OF TOM BRADY, HE ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM PLAYING FOOTBALL ON HIS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT. AFTER 22 SEASONS ( 20 WITH NEW ENGLAND AND 2 WITH TAMPA BAY), BRADY PLAYED IN A TOTLA OF 10 SUPER BOWL GAMES, HOISTED THE LOMBARDI TROPHY 7 TIMES AND HE PERSONALLY WON 5 SUP[ER BOWL MVP AWARDS.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR FEBRUARY 1
FEBRUARY 1, 1908 – NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT – ALBIE BOOTH THE GREAT YALE UNIVERSITY HALFBACK ARRIVED INTO THIS LIFE. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION VOTERS SELECTED ALBIE BOOTH FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1966.
FEBRUARY 1, 1915 – RUPLE, LOUISIANA – THE LEGENDARY LSU END, GAYNELL TINSLEY WAS BORN. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION GRANTED GAYNELL TINSLEY’S COLLEGIATE GRIDIRON LEGACY ENTRANCE INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1956.
BASEBALL HISTORY
1913 OLYMPIC HERO JIM THORPE, TURNING DOWN AN OFFER FROM THE LAST-PLACE BROWNS, SIGNS WITH THE GIANTS, THE DEFENDING NL CHAMPS. THE NATIVE AMERICAN, WHO GREW UP IN THE SAC AND FOX NATION IN OKLAHOMA, WILL COMPILE A LIFETIME .252 BATTING AVERAGE DURING HIS SIX SEASONS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES, INCLUDING STINTS WITH THE REDS AND BRAVES.
1914 IN THE FIRST GAME EVER IN THE EGYPTIAN DESERT, THE WHITE SOX AND GIANTS PLAY TO A 3-3 TIE. THE CONTEST IS PART OF A 56-GAME WORLD TOUR, INCLUDING STOPS IN TOKYO, PARIS, AND LONDON, ORGANIZED BY NEW YORK MANAGER JOHN MCGRAW AND CHICAGO OWNER CHARLES COMISKEY TO PROMOTE BASEBALL GLOBALLY.
1954 IN A SIX-PLAYER TRADE, THE BRAVES DEAL A PAIR OF SOUTHPAWS, JOHNNY ANTONELLI AND DON LIDDLE, CATCHER EBBA ST. CLAIRE, AND SHORTSTOP BILLY KLAUS TO THE GIANTS FOR PLAYOFF HERO BOBBY THOMSON AND BACKSTOP SAMMY CALDERONE. MILWAUKEE’S NEW OUTFIELDER WILL BREAK HIS ANKLE IN AN EXHIBITION GAME AND APPEARS IN ONLY 43 GAMES, WHILE JOHNNY ANTONELLI POSTS A 21-7 RECORD, LEADING THE LEAGUE WITH AN ERA OF 2.30 FOR HIS NEW TEAM IN NEW YORK.
1957 AT THE AMERICAN LEAGUE MEETING IN NEW YORK, A THREE-MEMBER COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF GEORGE WEISS, HANK GREENBERG, AND JOE CRONIN SUBMITS A CATASTROPHE PLAN, ENABLING A CLUB AFFECTED BY A TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT TO FIELD A HIGH-CALIBER TEAM. THE PROPOSAL, PROMPTED BY THE TEAMS’ INCREASED USE OF AIR TRAVEL, CALLS FOR THE DISABLED CLUB AFTER A DISASTER TO MAKE SELECTIONS FROM A TALENT POOL CREATED BY EACH JUNIOR CIRCUIT TEAM SUBMITTING TEN NAMES FROM ITS ACTIVE 25-MAN ROSTER.
1965 THE NATIONAL LEAGUE ADOPTS A DISASTER PLAN IF A TEAM’S PLANE CRASHES OR IS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER TYPE OF CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THE SENIOR CIRCUIT’S EMERGENCY CRISIS RULE ALLOWS THE AFFECTED CLUB TO DRAFT FROM A POOL OF TWO OR THREE REPLACEMENT PLAYERS FROM EACH TEAM, FOLLOWING A SIMILAR CONCEPT ADOPTED BY THE AMERICAN LEAGUE IN 1962.
1970 THE SPECIAL VETERANS COMMITTEE SELECTS EARLE COMBS, A LIFETIME .325 HITTER DURING HIS 12 YEARS WITH THE YANKEES, AND JESSE HAINES, A RIGHT-HANDER WHO POSTED A 210-158 (.571) RECORD DURING HIS 18 YEARS WITH THE CARDINALS, FOR INDUCTION INTO THE HALL OF FAME. THE GROUP ALSO ELECTS FORMER COMMISSIONER FORD FRICK, WHO CAMPAIGNED FOR A HALL OF FAME TO HONOR BASEBALL’S GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYERS WHEN HE BECAME THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PRESIDENT IN 1934.
1973 COMMISSIONER BOWIE KUHN ANNOUNCES THE SELECTION OF MONTE IRVIN TO THE HALL OF FAME BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE NEGRO LEAGUES. THE OUTFIELDER, WHO HIT .293 DURING HIS EIGHT SEASONS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES, PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE GIANTS’ NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1951, HITTING .312 WITH 24 HOMERS AND A LEAGUE-LEADING 121 RBIS.
1976 THE EAST LANSING POLICE ARREST MIKE MARSHALL FOR TAKING BATTING PRACTICE ON THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. MSU OFFICIALS HAD ASKED THE DODGER RELIEVER NOT TO HIT BASEBALLS NEAR THE TENNIS COURTS, FEARING FOR THE STUDENTS’ SAFETY.
1985 THE GIANTS TRADE FIRST BASEMAN JACK CLARK TO THE CARDINALS FOR DAVID GREEN, JOSE URIBE, DAVE LAPOINT, AND GARY RAJSICH. THE SILVER SLUGGER AWARD RECIPIENT WILL PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE REDBIRDS WINNING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT THIS SEASON.
1999 THE YANKEES TRADE HIGHLY-TOUTED THIRD BASE PROSPECT MIKE LOWELL TO THE MARLINS FOR MINOR LEAGUE PITCHERS EDDIE YARNALL, TODD NOEL, AND MARK JOHNSON. SCOTT BROSIUS’ OUTSTANDING 1998 PERFORMANCE MADE THE FORMER MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR EXPENDABLE.
2001 POSTSEASON HERO JIM LEYRITZ SIGNS A $500,000, ONE-YEAR MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT WITH THE METS. THE FORMER YANKEE HAS HIT ONE HOME RUN PER 7.6 POSTSEASON AT-BATS, MAKING HIS PERFORMANCE THE THIRD-BEST FOR PLAYERS WITH FIVE OR MORE POSTSEASON ROUND-TRIPPERS.
2002 SIX-TIME ALL-STAR KENNY LOFTON (.261, 14, 66) AGREES TO A $1.25 MILLION, ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE WHITE SOX. THE 34-YEAR-OLD CENTER FIELDER, WHO HAS PLAYED WITH THE INDIANS, BRAVES, AND ASTROS DURING HIS 11-YEAR MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER, HAS A .302 LIFETIME BATTING AVERAGE.
2003 RED SOX PRESIDENT LARRY LUCCHINO ANNOUNCES FOUR SENATORS, EDWARD M. KENNEDY D-MA, JOHN F. KERRY D-MA, JOHN MCCAIN, R-AZ, AND TOM DASCHLE, D-SD, WILL FILE LEGISLATION NOMINATING JACKIE ROBINSON FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. OTHER MEDAL RECIPIENTS HAVE INCLUDED STATESMAN GEORGE WASHINGTON, BOXER JOE LOUIS, AND POET ROBERT FROST.
2005 YOGI BERRA HAS FILED A $10 MILLION LAWSUIT WITH THE NEW YORK SUPREME COURT AGAINST TURNER BROADCASTER SYSTEM DUE TO A ‘SEX AND THE CITY’ AD, WHICH USED THE HALL OF FAMER’S NAME AS A POSSIBLE ANSWER CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF YOGASM. THE CHOICES INCLUDED (A) A TYPE OF YO-YO TRICK, (B) SEX WITH YOGI BERRA, AND (C) WHAT SAMANTHA HAS WITH A GUY FROM YOGA CLASS.
2006 AT A LUNCHEON AT SAFECO FIELD, ASTROS’ SECOND BASEMAN CRAIG BIGGIO BECOMES THE 41ST RECIPIENT OF THE HUTCH AWARD. THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, NAMED IN HONOR OF SEATTLE’S FRED HUTCHINSON, A MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHER AND MANAGER WHO DIED OF CANCER IN 1964, IS GIVEN ANNUALLY TO A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES HUTCH’S FIGHTING SPIRIT AND COMPETITIVE DESIRE.
2008 IN THE RICHEST CONTRACT EVER GIVEN TO A PITCHER, SOUTHPAW JOHAN SANTANA AGREES TO A $137.5 MILLION, SIX-YEAR DEAL, COMPLETING THE BLOCKBUSTER TRADE BETWEEN THE TWINS AND THE METS. IN EXCHANGE FOR THE TWO-TIME CY YOUNG AWARD WINNER, MINNESOTA GETS FOUR OF NEW YORK’S HIGHLY TOUTED MINOR LEAGUERS, INCLUDING THREE TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS, PHILIP HUMBER, KEVIN MULVEY, AND DEOLIS GUERRA, AS WELL AS FLEET-FOOTED OUTFIELDER CARLOS GOMEZ.
2008 AVOIDING ARBITRATION, THE INDIANS SIGN CASEY BLAKE (.270, 18, 78) TO A $6.1 MILLION, ONE-YEAR DEAL. THE 34-YEAR-OLD THIRD BASEMAN MOVED TO CLEVELAND’S HOT CORNER, REPLACING ANDY MARTE, WHO WAS INJURED AND THEN SENT BACK TO THE MINORS LAST SEASON.
2010 THE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 58-YEAR-OLD JON MILLER IS THE RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR’S FORD C. FRICK AWARD, AN HONOR GIVEN FOR BASEBALL BROADCASTING EXCELLENCE. THE VETERAN BROADCASTER, STARTING HIS CAREER WITH THE A’S IN 1974 AND CALLING GAMES FOR THE RANGERS, RED SOX, AND ORIOLES, IS THE CURRENT VOICE OF THE GIANTS AND HAS SERVED AS ESPN’S SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL PLAY-BY-PLAY COMMENTATOR ALONG WITH COLOR ANALYST JOE MORGAN SINCE THE TELECAST’S DEBUT IN 1990.
2010 THE REDS TRADE CENTER FIELDER WILLY TAVERAS AND INFIELDER ADAM ROSALES TO THE A’S FOR INFIELDER AARON MILES AND A PLAYER TO BE NAMED. CINCINNATI, USING THE MONEY THEY SAVED IN THE DEAL, AGREES TO A $3.02 MILLION, ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH ORLANDO CABRERA TO BECOME THE TEAM’S STARTING SHORTSTOP
2011 MANNY RAMIREZ AND JOHNNY DAMON SIGN ONE-YEAR DEALS WITH THE RAYS. THE FREE-AGENT OUTFIELDERS, FORMER RED SOX TEAMMATES WHO WON TWO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DURING THEIR TENURE IN BOSTON, WILL HELP TAMPA BAY FILL THE VOID CREATED BY GOLD GLOVER CARL CRAWFORD’S DEPARTURE TO THEIR OLD TEAM.
2011 WANDY RODRIGUEZ AND THE ASTROS AVOID ARBITRATION BY AGREEING ON A $34 MILLION, THREE-YEAR DEAL. THE 32-YEAR-OLD SOUTHPAW, WHO HAS COMPILED A 62-64 RECORD IN HIS SIX YEARS IN THE MAJORS, ALL WITH HOUSTON, WON EIGHT OF HIS LAST TEN DECISIONS, POSTING A 2.03 ERA OVER HIS FINAL 18 STARTS LAST SEASON.
2021 MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF THEIR FANS, THE ROCKIES OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE THE NOLAN ARENADO TRADE, SENDING THE THIRD BASEMAN AND CASH CONSIDERATION TO THE CARDINALS FOR FIVE PLAYERS, INCLUDING SOUTHPAW AUSTIN GOMBER AND FOUR MINOR LEAGUE PROSPECTS. IN APRIL, COLORADO WILL FIRE GENERAL MANAGER JEFF BRIDICH OVER BEING FLEECED BY ST. LOUIS AND HIS HANDLING OF THE ALL-STAR INFIELDER, WHO IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE FRONT OFFICE’S EFFORTS TO BUILD A CONTENDER.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
4 – 99 – 24 – 20 – 5 -12 – 77 –
FEBRUARY 1, 1913 – PERHAPS THE MOST PROMINANT WORLD ALL-ROUND ATHLETE AMERICAN JIM THORPE SIGNS TO PLAY BASEBALL WITH THE NY GIANTS. HE HAD JUST WON GOLD AT THE 1912 THE OLYMPIC IN SWEDEN.
FEBRUARY 1, 1914 – IN AN EXHIBITION BASEBALL GAME IN CAIRO, EGYPT, THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX AND NEW YORK GIANTS PLAY A 10-INNING, 3-3 TIE IN AN EXHIBITION MLB GAME AS PART OF SPECIAL 56-GAME WORLD TOUR.
FEBRUARY 1, 1919 – THE NATIONAL LEAGUE’S BROOKLYN ROBINS FRANCHISE TRADED FORMER NL MVP JAKE DAUBERT TO THE CINCINNATI REDS FOR OUTFIELDER TOMMY GRIFFITH AS THE RESULT OF A SALARY GRIEVANCE
FEBRUARY 1, 1950 – GREEN BAY PACKERS FOUNDER, PLAYER AND COACH CURLY LAMBEAU RESIGNS AFTER 31 SEASONS AND 6 NFL TITLES TO HIS CREDIT
FEBRUARY 1, 1955 – HAP DAY BECOMES THE FIRST MAN TO SERVE AS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS’ CAPTAIN, COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER WHEN HE IS APPOINTED TO RUN THE FAMOUS CANADIAN NHL CLUB. DAY WORE NUMBER 4 DURING HIS MAPLE LEAFS TENURE ON THE ICE.
FEBRUARY 1, 1959 – OUTFIELDER ZACK WHEAT, A BROOKLYN ROBINS FAVORITE OF THE CLUB FROM 1909 THROUGH 1927, WAS SELECTED TO BECOME INDUCTED INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME. WHEAT HIT .317 OVER 19-YEAR CAREER, AND BATTED .300 OR BETTER AN AMAZING 14 TIMES DURING THE SPAN OF HIS CAREER.
FEBRUARY 1, 1962 – THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF BASEBALL RELEASED ITS FIRST EVER162-GAME SCHEDULE. THE INCREASE OF GAMES WAS DUE TO GROWTH WITH THE ADDITION OF THE NEW YORK METS AND THE HOUSTON COLT 45S.
FEBRUARY 1, 1967 – THE 10-TEAM AMERICAN BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (ABA) WITH GEORGE MIKAN AS COMMISSIONER IS FORMED AND LASTS 9 YEARS; ITS THREE-POINT SHOT REMAINS A FEATURE OF THE GAME. MIKAN WHO STARRED ON THE MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS FROM 1948 THROUGH 1956 WORE NUMBER 99 DURING HIS PLAYING DAYS. MAKE SURE YOU CHCK OUT RICK LOAYZA ON THE BASKETBALL HISTORY 101 PODCAST ON THE SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK WHERE HE HAS MULTIPLE EPISODES WITH STORIES ABOUT MIKAN, INCLUDING A COUPLE TIMES WHERE MIKAN AND THE LAKERS PLAYED THE HARLEM GLOBE TROTTERS.
FEBRUARY 1, 1968 – GREEN BAY PACKERS HEAD COACH VINCE LOMBARDI STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS POSITION WITH THE FRANCHISE. LONGTIME PACKER ASSISTANT, PHIL BENGTSON TOOK OVER AS CLUBS’S GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE 1968 SEASON.
FEBRUARY 1, 1970 LONG TIME NEW YORK RANGERS’ GOALIE TERRY SAWCHUK RECORDS HIS 447TH AND FINAL WIN BETWEEN THE PIPES, AND HIS 103RD CAREER SHUTOUT, BOTH WERE NHL RECORDS AT THE TIME, AS HIS NEW YORK TEAM BLANKED THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS, 6-0. THE HIGHLY DECORATED GOAL TENDER WORE NUMBER 99.
FEBRUARY 1, 1973 – OUTFIELDER MONTE IRVIN IS ELECTED TO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE NEGRO LEAGUES. THOUGH HE WORE NUMBER 20 FOR MUCH OF HIS CAREER WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS, HISTORIAN LARRY LESTER HAS RESEARCHED THAT IRVIN WORE THE NUMBERS 6, 16, AND 18 IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES. HE ALSO WORE NUMBER 7 IN HIS INITIAL YEAR ON THE GIANTS ROSTER AND 39 LATER WITH THE CHICAGO CUBS. MR. IRVIN IS THE FOURTH INDUCTEE THROUGH THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. YOU CAN FIND MORE ON LARRY LESTER’S RESEARCH ON THE NEGRO LEAGUE PLAYERS IN AN INTERVIEW ON SPORTS JERSEY DISPATCH ABOUT HIS GREAT BOOK, THE NEGRO LEAGUES THAT HE CO-WROTE.
FEBRUARY 1, 1992 – PITTSBURGH PIRATES OUTFIELDER BARRY BONDS SIGNED THE HIGHEST SINGLE YEAR CONTRACT IN MLB HISTORY, $4.7 MILLION WITH THE FRANCHISE. THE SLUGGER WORE NUMBER 24 FOR 6 OF HIS 7 SEASONS WITH THE PIRATES AND THEN SPENT 15 LATER YEARS WEARING NUMBER 25 WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS.
FEBRUARY 1, 1992 – DEFENSEMAN DENIS POTVIN’S BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER OF THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS TO HAVE HIS NUMBER RETIRED BY THE CLUB. POTVIN WHO WORE NUMBER 5 PLAYED HIS ENTIRE 15 YEAR NHL CAREER IN NY.
FEBRUARY 1, 1995 – AT THE DELTA CENTRE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH JAZZ NUMBER 12, GUARD JOHN STOCKTON PASSED MAGIC JOHNSON’S ALL-TIME NBA ASSISTS MARK OF 9,221, IN A 129-98 WIN OVER THE DENVER NUGGETS. STOCKTON PLAYED WITH THE JAZZ FROM 1984 THROUGH 2003.
FEBRUARY 1, 1997 – FUTURE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME DEFENSEMAN RAY BOURQUE SCORES A GOAL AND AN ASSIST TO BECOME THE BOSTON BRUINS’ ALL-TIME SCORING LEADER, WITH 1,341 POINTS IN AN 18-YEAR NHL CAREER. HE WORE THE NUMBER 77 FOR THE MAJORITY OF HIS HOCKEY CAREER BUT WAS KNOWN AS NUMBER 7 IN YOUR PROGRAMS IN THE FIRST 11 OF HIS EVENTUAL 23 SEASONS PLAYING IN THE LEAGUE.
FEBRUARY 1, 2004 – RELIANT STADIUM, HOUSTON, TEXAS – WHAT A GAME SUPER BOWL XXXVIII WAS TO MATCH THE LEAGUE’S TOP TWO TEAMS, THE CAROLINA PANTHERS AND THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS EDGED BY THE CAROLINA PANTHERS, 32-29. THE BIG GAME MOST VALUABLE PLAYER NUMBER 12, QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY WHO HAD SET A SUPER BOWL RECORD FOR THE MOST PASS COMPLETIONS WITH 32.
SPEAKING OF BRADY AND THE PATRIOTS… TB12 CAPTURED ANOTHER SUPER BOWL MVP HONOR ON THIS DATE IN 2015 AT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM, GLENDALE, ARIZONA. – SUPER BOWL XLIX SAW THE PATRIOTS DENIED THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS ANOTHER LOMBARDI AS THEY HELD ON TO WIN BY THE SCORE OF 28-24 WITH A LATER INTERCEPTION AT THE GOAL LINE.
FEBRUARY 1, 2006 HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR EPIPHANNY PRINCE SCORES US GIRLS NATIONAL PREP BASKETBALL RECORD 113 POINTS IN MURRY BERGTRAUM HS’S 137-32 WIN OVER BRANDEIS HS IN DOING SO SHE SURPASSED CHERYL MILLER’S 105 FROM A FEW YEARS EARLIER.
FEBRUARY 1, 2009 – THE ARIZONA CARDINALS AND THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS BUTTED HEADS IN SUPER BOWL XLIII. A REMARKABLE END OF THE FIRST HALF 100 YARD PICK SIX BY NUMBER 92 JAMES HARRISON, AND SOME LATE OFFENSIVE HEROICS BY NUMBER 7 QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER HOOKING UP WITH GAME MVP NUMBER 10, SANTONIO HOLMES ON A TOE TAP TOUCHDOWN, ALLOWED THE STEELERS TO PREVAIL 27-23.
FEBRUARY 1, 2014 DENVER BRONCOS QUARTERBACK PEYTON MANNING, WHO WORE NUMBER 18, BECOMES ALL-TIME RECORD-HOLDER FOR MVP TROPHIES, WINNING HIS 5TH AT THE NFL HONOURS IN NEW YORK; ALSO 2013 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
FEBRUARY 1, 2014 NUMBER 8 RAY GUY WHO PLAYED FOR THE OAKLAND/LA RAIDERS BECAME JUST SECOND KICKER ONLY PLAYER, AND FIRST PURE PUNTER TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.
TV WEDNESDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| UALBANY AT UMASS LOWELL | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| PROVIDENCE AT XAVIER | 6:30PM | FS1 |
| PENN STATE AT PURDUE | 6:30PM | BTN |
| CREIGHTON AT GEORGETOWN | 6:30PM | CBSSN |
| TENNESSEE AT FLORIDA | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| EAST CAROLINA AT SOUTH FLORIDA | 7:00PM | ESPNU |
| GEORGIA AT AUBURN | 7:00PM | SECN |
| PITT AT NORTH CAROLINA | 7:00PM | ACCN |
| GEORGIA TECH AT LOUISVILLE | 7:00PM | ACCN |
| ST. BONAVENTURE AT RICHMOND | 7:00PM | MASN2 |
| UMASS AT GEORGE MASON | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| RHODE ISLAND AT SAINT JOSEPH’S | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON AT LA SALLE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BINGHAMTON AT UMBC | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| MAINE AT BRYANT | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE AT NJIT | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TULSA AT CINCINNATI | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GARDNER-WEBB AT CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LONGWOOD AT WINTHROP | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| RADFORD AT PRESBYTERIAN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| USC UPSTATE AT CAMPBELL | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NAVY AT LAFAYETTE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ARMY WEST POINT AT LEHIGH | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BUCKNELL AT AMERICAN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| HOLY CROSS AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAMFORD AT WESTERN CAROLINA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| CHATTANOOGA AT FURMAN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| WOFFORD AT ETSU | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT BRADLEY | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SAM HOUSTON AT UTRGV | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| UIC AT ILLINOIS STATE | 8:00PM | MARQ |
| BELMONT AT MURRAY STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| INDIANA STATE AT EVANSVILLE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| VALPARAISO AT MISSOURI STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TARLETON AT UTA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| VILLANOVA AT MARQUETTE | 8:30PM | FS1 |
| MINNESOTA AT RUTGERS | 8:30PM | BTN |
| SETON HALL AT ST. JOHN’S | 8:30PM | CBSSN |
| OKLAHOMA STATE AT OKLAHOMA | 9:00PM | ESPN2 |
| SMU AT TULANE | 9:00PM | ESPNU |
| LSU AT MISSOURI | 9:00PM | SECN |
| FLORIDA STATE AT NC STATE | 9:00PM | ACCN |
| UNI AT DRAKE | 9:00PM | MVC TV |
| SOUTHERN UTAH AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ABILENE CHRISTIAN VS. SEATTLE U | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| NEW MEXICO AT UTAH STATE | 10:30PM | FS1 |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| WASHINGTON AT DETROIT | 7:00PM | NBCS-WSH BALLY SPORTS |
| ORLANDO AT PHILADELPHIA | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS NBCS-PHI |
| PORTLAND AT MEMPHIS | 7:00PM | ROOT SPORTS BALLY SPORTS |
| BROOKLYN AT BOSTON | 7:30PM | ESPN YES NBCS-BOS |
| OKLAHOMA CITY AT HOUSTON | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| GOLDEN STATE AT MINNESOTA | 8:00PM | NBCS-BAY BALLY SPORTS |
| SACRAMENTO AT SAN ANTONIO | 8:00PM | NBCS-CA BALLY SPORTS |
| TORONTO AT UTAH | 9:00PM | SPORTSNET ATTSN-RM |
| ATLANTA AT PHOENIX | 10:00PM | ESPN BALLY SPORTS |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| CAROLINA AT BUFFALO | 7:30PM | TNT |
| BOSTON AT TORONTO | 7:00PM | NESN SPORTSNET |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| COPPA ITALIA: FIORENTINA VS TORINO | 12:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| DFB POKAL: RB LEIPZIG VS HOFFENHEIM | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| FIRST DIVISION A: AS EUPEN VS GENK | 12:45PM | ESPN+ |
| LIGUE 1: NANTES VS OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE | 1:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| PRIMEIRA LIGA: MARÍTIMO VS PORTO | 2:00PM | GOLTV |
| BELGIAN CUP: UNION SAINT-GILLOISE VS ANTWERP | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| DFB POKAL: MAINZ 05 VS BAYERN MÜNCHEN | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND LEAGUE CUP: MANCHESTER UNITED VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LA LIGA: REAL BETIS VS BARCELONA | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| LIGUE 1: MONTPELLIER VS PSG | 3:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| COPPA ITALIA: ROMA VS CREMONESE | 3:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| LIGA MX: ATLAS VS TOLUCA | 9:05PM | TUDN |