“THE SCOREBOARD”
INDIANA SRN BOYS BASKETBALL POLLS
4A
- BEN DAVIS
- PENN
- CENTER GROVE
- BROWNSBURG
- CATHEDRAL
3A
- MISHAWAKA MARIAN
- NORTH DAVIESS
- NORTHWOOD
- NORWELL
- OAK HILL
2A
- LINTON STOCKTON
- FW BLACKHAWK
- UNIVERSITY
- PROVIDENCE
- GARY 21ST CENTURY
1A
- BLOOMFIELD
- ORLEANS
- BETHESDA CHRISTIAN
- FOUNTAIN CENTRAL
- MORGAN TOWNSHIP
INDIANA WRESTLING SEMI-STATE
1. EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL (JOHN C. BARATTO ATHLETIC CENTER) | 8 AM CT
FEEDER REGIONALS: CROWN POINT, HOBART, LOGANSPORT, PENN.
2. NEW HAVEN (ALLEN COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL COLISEUM) | 8 AM ET
FEEDER REGIONALS: CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), GOSHEN, JAY COUNTY, PERU.
3. NEW CASTLE (NEW CASTLE FIELDHOUSE) | 8 AM ET
FEEDER REGIONALS: FRANKFORT, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, PERRY MERIDIAN, RICHMOND.
4. EVANSVILLE F.J. REITZ (FORD CENTER) | 8 AM CT
FEEDER REGIONALS: BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, CASTLE, JEFFERSONVILLE, MOORESVILLE.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#3 HOUSTON 81 TEMPLE 65
SETON HALL 69 DEPAUL 64
MICHIGAN 77 OHIO STATE 69
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 73 MISSOURI STATE 53
WICHITA STATE 86 TULSA 75
NEBRASKA 72 PENN STATE 63
UTAH 61 CALIFORNIA 46
NORTHWESTERN 54 WISCONSIN 52
COLORADO 84 STANFORD 62
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230205
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
#1 SOUTH CAROLINA 81 #5 UCONN 77
WASHINGTON 72 #2 STANFORD 67
#3 LSU 72 TEXAS A&M 66
#4 INDIANA 69 PURDUE 46
#6 IOWA 95 PENN STATE 51
#7 UTAH 100 OREGON 92
#8 MARYLAND 90 #10 OHIO STATE 54
#16 DUKE 57 #9 NOTRE DAME 52
LOUISVILLE 62 #11 NORTH CAROLINA 55
#14 UCLA 82 ARIZONA STATE 63
#18 MICHIGAN 77 MICHIGAN STATE 67
#22 ARIZONA 81 USC 75 2OT
NORTHERN IOWA 91 INDIANA STATE 51
COLORADO 67 OREGON STATE 48
WASHINGTON STATE 70 CALIFORNIA 60
WAKE FOREST 69 CLEMSON 64 OT
OLE MISS 68 FLORIDA 42
ALABAMA 76 MISSOURI 69
MIAMI FLORIDA 64 GEORGIA TECH 58
MILWAUKEE 62 DETROIT 57
ST. LOUIS 75 SAME BONAVENTURE 61
GEORGIA 79 VANDERBILT 61
PITTSBURGH 60 VIRGINIA 51
GREEN BAY 70 OAKLAND 50
RUTGERS 73 WISCONSIN 67
SYRACUSE 79 BOSTON COLLEGE 72
TEXAS TECH 78 KANSAS STATE 68
ARKANSAS 54 AUBURN 51
ILLINOIS 69 MINNESOTA 62
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230205
NBA
CLEVELAND 122 INDIANA 103
PACERS POST GAME: https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/rewind-pacers-cavaliers-230205
ORLANDO 119 CHARLOTTE 113
NEW YORK 108 PHILADELPHIA 97
TORONTO 106 MEMPHIS 103
NEW ORLEANS 136 SACRAMENTO 104
MINNESOTA 128 DENVER 98
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
NBA NEWS: AP SOURCE: KYRIE IRVING GOING TO THE DALLAS MAVERICKS
DALLAS (AP) Kyrie Irving is getting his wish. He’s getting traded.
And Luka Doncic is getting another All-Star to help him in Dallas.
The Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets agreed Sunday on a blockbuster trade: Irving – the super-talented and often-enigmatic eight-time All-Star point guard – heads to Dallas, ending the pairing with Kevin Durant that never really had a chance to click.
The Nets get Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and a package of draft picks, according to a person familiar with the terms of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been finalized. Dallas also gets Markieff Morris.
The Athletic and ESPN first reported the trade agreement. It will become complete once the teams have a call with the NBA, which is standard for all trades.
The move comes just two days after Irving told the Nets that he wanted to be traded by Thursday’s league deadline, after talks about a contract beyond this season didn’t go to his liking. He wasn’t with the Nets for their game Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon, his time in Brooklyn appeared to be at an end.
It was not immediately clear when Irving would make his debut with Dallas. The Mavericks play at Utah on Monday night.
Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season. Doncic is averaging 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists. They instantly become one of the NBA’s top duos, and figure to make Dallas even a stronger contender in a Western Conference that has no shortage of championship-capable teams.
Irving is, for now, scheduled to become a free agent after the season. The Los Angeles Lakers were believed to have been one of a few teams interested in Irving – a notion that could have reunited Irving with LeBron James, with whom he won a title with in Cleveland in 2016.
The trade does again pair Irving with Dallas general manager Nico Harrison, who was a Nike executive before taking over the Mavericks in 2021.
Irving had a relationship with Nike for the entirety of his NBA career until earlier this season, when the sneaker giant dropped him – and canceled the planned release of his next signature shoe just before it dropped – as part of the massive fallout from Irving posting a link to an antisemitic film on his Twitter account.
That was one of many drama-filled sagas that marked Irving’s time with the Nets. He wouldn’t get vaccinated against COVID-19 and, because of New York City workplace rules, had to miss most of Brooklyn’s home games last season. He also took two leaves of absence during the 2020-21 season.
He has also expressed no shortage of controversial opinions during his career – including repeated questioning whether the Earth was round before eventually apologizing to science teachers.
The various issues limited Irving to 143 games in three-plus seasons with the Nets, and he and Durant were together for just 74 of them after their celebrated pairing in the summer of 2019. Irving signed as a free agent while Durant joined the Nets on a sign-and-trade with Golden State.
After the Nets lost to Dallas at home in overtime in October, Irving said he saw traits of the Mavericks being “a great team.” And he spoke at length of how highly he thinks of Doncic’s game, after the Mavs star had a 41-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist masterpiece.
“I think first, we’ve got to discuss just how long he’s been playing professional basketball. I think it’s been since like 14, 15 years old,” Irving said that night. “He’s used to seeing so many different defenses, so many different roles that he’s played, I’m sure, overseas. And now that he’s in the NBA, you just see him. He plays at an incredible pace. He makes great decisions.”
REPORT: SUNS TO PURSUE DURANT IF NETS MAKE HIM AVAILABLE
All eyes now are on Kevin Durant.
The Phoenix Suns are planning to pursue the Brooklyn Nets superstar if he becomes available, sources told TNT’s Chris Haynes.
The news comes after the Nets reportedly traded All-Star Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for a package that includes Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and multiple picks.
The Suns were apparently among the multiple teams who made a run at Durant this past summer after the Nets star shockingly requested a trade. Durant eventually walked back his demand, but the Suns were reportedly atop his list of preferred destinations, along with the Miami Heat.
Phoenix apparently offered Brooklyn a package for Durant centered around rising two-way forward Mikal Bridges and a bevy of first-round draft picks, though the Nets were said to be uninterested in the proposal. It’s unclear if the Suns would again include Bridges in any bid for the 13-time All-Star ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
Suns general manager James Jones would almost certainly face considerable competition for Durant if he was made available. Following Irving’s trade request Friday, rival teams were far more interested in Durant’s reaction and his availability than inquiring about Irving, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
WARRIORS SAY CURRY SIDELINED WITH LEFT LEG INJURY
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Golden State All-Star guard Stephen Curry will be sidelined due to injuries to his left leg, the team said Sunday, and the Warriors aren’t sure how long he’ll be out.
Curry was diagnosed with partial tears to his superior tibiofibular ligament and interosseous membrane in his left leg and also has a lower-leg contusion. He left Saturday’s game against Dallas with 2:01 left in the third quarter, after his wrapped left leg – which he originally hurt Thursday in a matchup against Denver – appeared to buckle as he played defense.
He immediately began hopping in obvious discomfort, then left the game and didn’t return.
Curry, who is averaging 29.4 points per game this season, won’t play Monday against Oklahoma City. And with the All-Star Game two weeks away, it now seems very possible that Curry might not be there.
If Curry – or any of the other 24 players selected to the NBA All-Star Game – cannot participate in the Feb. 19 contest, Commissioner Adam Silver will select a replacement. Starters were chosen by a formula that included voting from fans, media and NBA players. Reserves were picked by NBA coaches.
Curry already has had one extended absence of the season, missing 11 games from Dec. 16 through Jan. 7 with a shoulder injury. The Warriors went 6-5 in those games.
The Warriors, like many teams in the Western Conference, have very little room for error in the playoff chase. Golden State is 27-26 and entered Sunday seventh in the West – three games back of third-place Sacramento but only one game ahead of 11th-place Portland.
The top six teams in each conference are assured playoff spots. The teams that finish between seventh and 10th will go to a play-in tournament to decide the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in each of the conference brackets.
BANCHERO, MAGIC WIN AS HORNETS STRUGGLE FROM FOUL LINE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Paolo Banchero had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Wendell Carter Jr. added 20 points and 12 rebounds and the Orlando Magic took advantage of Charlotte’s poor foul shooting to beat the Hornets 119-113 Sunday.
The Hornets made just one of nine free throws in the fourth quarter while Orlando was going 13 of 15. Charlotte finished 11 of 23 from the line in its fourth straight loss – Orlando wound up 27 of 30 on foul shots.
“You’re going to lose doing that,” Hornets guard LaMelo Ball said. “It’s very frustrating.”
Markelle Fultz had 16 points and Frank Wagner chipped in with 14 for the Magic, who improved to 9-19 on the road. Orlando (22-32) finished its road trip with a 3-1 record.
“It shows our resilience and that we can go out and compete with some of the best teams in the league,” Carter said of the road trip, which included wins at Philadelphia and Minnesota.
The Magic overcame a terrific second half by Ball, who had 26 of his 33 points after the break and finished with six 3-pointers. Terry Rozier had 24 points for the Hornets, 21 of those in the first half.
Charlotte trailed by five after three quarters, but Ball knocked down back-to-back 3s in the first 33 seconds of the fourth period for a 91-90 lead.
The Hornets’ momentum didn’t last long as the Magic built a 110-103 lead behind Fultz, who scored on short jumpers and finished 8 of 13 from the field. Charlotte squandered chance after chance with Plumlee missing four straight free throws and a layup during that span, allowing the Magic to begin pulling away.
Wagner helped seal the win with a step-through in the lane for a layup to put the Magic up 115-107 with 35 seconds left.
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley liked how his team stepped up its defense after Ball hit the two 3s to open the fourth quarter. From that point on, the Magic outscored the Hornets 29-22 and limited Charlotte to 10 of 23 from shooting from the floor and allowed just one make from beyond the arc.
“Our guys did a really good job communicating, covering for one another and just competing,” Mosley said. “It’s the last game of a long road trip, and think that’s a great way to end it.”
Added Carter: “I think we locked into our game plan when it mattered and got stops when we needed them.”
TRADE RUMORS
With the Hornets among the worst teams in the NBA record-wise and their playoff hopes fading fast, trade rumors continue to swirl around Rozier and Plumlee, two potential movable veterans that could allow them to pick up assets.
Rozier said after the game Charlotte players have talked among themselves on what might be coming, but said he isn’t allowing it to become a distraction.
“My name has been in rumors my whole career so I will let the people upstairs do their job and I will do mine,” Rozier said.
Coach Steve Clifford praised Rozier for his continued effort despite what has become a forgettable season for Charlotte.
“He was the one, I felt like, he was determined,” Clifford said. “He is every night. He plays which such effort and toughness. He’s the one for me that fought like, `We’re all tired, we’ve all been playing a lot, let’s find a way to win.’ We need more of that.”
TIP-INS
Magic: Mo Bamba and Jalen Suggs sat out following their suspensions from an altercation with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bamba began serving a four-game suspension, while Suggs served his one-game suspension.
Hornets: Ball has now made a 3-pointer in 43 straight games. … Dennis Smith Jr. had 14 points, but Charlotte’s bench was outscored 39-28.
UP NEXT
Magic: Host Knicks on Tuesday night.
Hornets: Visit Washington on Wednesday night.
KNICKS RALLY FROM 21 POINTS DOWN, BEAT 76ERS 108-97
NEW YORK (AP) Julius Randle had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, Jalen Brunson scored 21 points and the New York Knicks overcame an early 21-point deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 108-97 on Sunday night.
Evan Fournier came off the bench to add 17 points for the Knicks, who were playing a night after an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“It was great,” Randle said. “I think the biggest difference between last night and tonight, where I thought we could have won, was tonight it was our defense.”
Joel Embiid had 31 points for the 76ers, going 18 of 19 from the free throw line, and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Philadelphia had won nine of its previous 10 games. The 76ers also blew a 21-point lead in a 119-109 loss to Orlando on Monday.
“It’s never easy,” Embiid said. “A 20-point lead in the NBA, that’s nothing. Any team can come back and that’s what they did tonight.”
Philadelphia went ahead by 21 points in the first quarter, but the Knicks continued to chip away and cut it to 53-51 at halftime.
Randle’s 3-pointer to start the second half put New York ahead 54-53, its first lead since 2-0.
Philadelphia went back up by eight and led 79-76 heading into the fourth quarter.
Tyrese Maxey opened the final quarter with a three-point play, but the Knicks scored the next 10 points and capped a 15-2 run on Fournier’s 3-pointer, giving them a 91-84 lead.
They never trailed again.
“I thought our second unit came in and struggled,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. “This is the second time that has happened. The same thing happened in Orlando. Both times, we were scoring too easy. The second group comes in and thinks this is an offensive game and they didn’t see the reason the first group got the lead was because of defense.”
The 76ers pulled within three, but Randle’s floater made it 102-92 with 2:18 remaining.
Philadelphia never got closer than eight the rest of the way.
“It was a great team win all-around,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It was great. We digged in the fourth quarter.”
Miles McBride had 14 points and Isaiah Hartenstein tied a season high with 14 rebounds for the Knicks.
De’Anthony Melton and Tobias Harris each had 14 points for the 76ers. James Harden had 12 points and 12 assists.
“They played harder,” Rivers added. “They got everything. They were the more physical team. They were tougher.”
TIP-INS:
76ers: Philadelphia had won eight straight road games. . No 76er has played in all of their games this season. Georges Niang and PJ Tucker have each played in a team-high 50. Tucker’s appearances have all been starts, while Niang’s have all come off the bench.
Knicks: RJ Barrett did not play due to a non-Covid illness. . The Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit to win a game for the first time this season. . New York is 14-15 at home, the only team in the NBA with a winning record to have a losing record at home.
UP NEXT:
76ers: At Boston on Wednesday.
Knicks: At Orlando on Tuesday.
SIAKAM, RAPTORS RALLY PAST GRIZZLIES 106-103 AS MORANT SITS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, including a pair of free throws with 9 seconds left, and the Toronto Raptors rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 106-103 on Sunday.
Jaren Jackson Jr. missed a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left that would have tied the game for the Grizzlies, who played without star Ja Morant because of right wrist soreness.
Toronto won its second straight game and went 4-3 on its season-long seven-game road swing. Memphis has lost three straight and eight of nine.
Chris Boucher scored 17 points and matched his season high with three 3-pointers for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes scored 13 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a pair of key baskets down the stretch. Fred Van Vleet had 15 points and seven assists.
“Things got tight in the fourth quarter,” Barnes said. “It was just the ball was coming to me, and I was having a ball. I was just trying to get downhill and win the game.”
Desmond Bane led Memphis with 26 points, while Jackson had 18 points and four blocks. In addition to Morant, the Grizzlies were missing center Steven Adams (right knee) and forward Dillon Brooks, who served a league-assessed one-game suspension for his confrontation with Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell on Thursday.
Toronto put the game away by outscoring Memphis 28-17 in the fourth quarter, and Bane said there are obviously things that need to change.
“I think just valuing every possession,” the Grizzlies guard said. “Understanding the magnitude of every possession for a full 48 minutes, but especially down the stretch. When it comes down to it, we’ve got to be able to rebound the basketball and not allow teams to get second chances.”
Memphis led most of the game before Toronto asserted itself late. The Grizzlies were ahead 81-66 with 4:44 left in the third quarter. The Raptors got within 86-78 entering the fourth.
“You don’t want to try and come down and out-jump-shoot teams,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “They were open shots, but we needed to get in attack mode and attack the paint. (Jump shots) are great when they all go in, but when none of them go in, it looks and feels really bad, and you put yourself in a big hole.”
Precious Achiuwa got free for a baseline dunk with 2:32 left that gave the Raptors a 100-99 lead. From there, the teams traded baskets until Barnes hit a pair of shots, the latter with 20.1 seconds left for a 104-103 advantage.
“It was a great win … to close it out with that fourth quarter,” VanVleet said. “Things were not really going our way. We just hung in there and made a couple of more plays at the end.”
TIP-INS
Raptors: F O.G. Anunoby, whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors, missed his fifth straight game with a left wrist sprain. … VanVleet handed out his 2,000th career assist in the first quarter. … Barnes had his 100th career block in the third quarter. … Gary Trent Jr. had 10 points, ending his streak at 11 straight games with at least 15 points.
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama finished with 15 points. … Tyus Jones recorded his 500th career steal in the first quarter. … The loss prevented Memphis from sweeping the series with Toronto. It hasn’t won both games against the Raptors in the regular season since 2012-13.
MORANT FRIEND PUNISHED
Morant tweeted that a friend of his has been banned from games at FedExForum for a year. The punishment stems from a confrontation on Jan. 29, when the Grizzlies hosted Indiana. During the game, there was barking between Pacers players and friends of Morant seated along the sideline. The talking apparently continued into the players’ parking area after the game, leading to an investigation by the league. Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said he was aware of the league’s investigation and that the team addressed the matter internally. He did not elaborate further.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Host San Antonio on Wednesday night.
Grizzlies: Host Chicago on Tuesday night.
MURPHY SCORES SEASON-HIGH 30, PELICANS TOP KINGS 136-104
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Trey Murphy III highlighted his season-high 30-point performance with six 3-pointers – a couple from well behind the arc – and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame the absence of several starters to beat the Sacramento Kings 136-104 on Sunday night.
“Just got to keep shooting, no matter if you hitting or not,” said Murphy, who’d missed 21 of 31 from deep in his previous five games. “Eventually, your percentage is gong to get to where it’s supposed to be. So, I’m just glad my teammates found me and I was able knock down shots.”
CJ McCollum scored 24 points for the Pelicans, who shot 57.1% overall and combined to hit 14 of 26 from 3-point range after struggling from deep throughout their recent 10-game losing streak.
Willy Hernangomez had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Naji Marshall scored 17 points for New Orleans, which led by as many as 35 points en route to a second straight victory.
In addition to being without All-Star forward Zion Williamson (right hamstring) for an 18th straight game, the Pelicans also took the floor without high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram and starting center Jonas Valanciunas.
Ingram, who recently returned from a left big toe injury, was given the night off after scoring 35 points in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Valanciunas sat out after leaving the Lakers game with a sore right quadriceps muscle.
“All the guys understood that we were down a few guys, so we needed to step up,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “Everyone that touched the floor today, they contributed. It started with our defense, getting deflections, challenging shots, rebounding the ball and we just played fast tonight.”
Malik Monk scored 16 for the Kings, who lost their second straight game without De’Aaron Fox. He is away from the team for unspecified personal reasons. Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Trey Lyles scored 12.
“We’ve had a pretty good year so far and we’ve experienced a lot of highs. And now we’ve hit a little adversity,” Kings coach Mike Brown said.
“I don’t know if we’re all in like we talked about at the beginning of the year and how we’ve been because things are flowing and we’re winning and in third place or whatever,” Brown continued. “I’m going to watch and see how we all handle this. It’s tough to go through, but it’s a great thing for this team to experience. Because if we expect to make the playoffs and we do expect to advance in the playoffs, we’ll have to deal with adversity. … And, right now, I don’t think we’re doing a great job with it.”
Murphy attempted 11 shots, hitting nine, including a soaring dunk set up by his ball fake at the start of a baseline drive.
“B.I. was out, so somebody had to be B.I.,” Murphy said, referring to Ingram. “So, I decided to tap into my B.I. skillset.”
New Orleans scored the first five points of the game, led by as many as 20 in the first half and never trailed.
After allowing 70 first-half points in their previous two games, the Pelicans scored that many in the first half against Sacramento, going ahead 70-50 on Kira Lewis Jr.’s 3 before Monk’s driving finger-roll made it 70-52 at halftime.
The lead grew to 30 when Larry Nance Jr.’s free throw made it 80-50 less than six minutes into the third period. Minutes later, Murphy’s rainbow 3 from 29 feet made it 93-60.
TIP-INS
Kings: Davion Mitchell, Kevin Huerter and rookie Keon Ellis each scored 10 points. Ellis’ points came in the final minutes and he hit twice from deep. … Shot 42.7% (35 of 82). … Missed 31 of 42 from 3-point range. … Got 63 points from reserves. … Committed 15 turnovers, leading to 20 Pelicans points.
Pelicans: Nance finished with 10 points and nine rebounds while starting for Valanciunas. … Murphy, a 2021 first-round draft choice out of Virginia, surpassed 1,000 career points. … Outscored Sacramento in the paint, 66-44. … Got 50 points from reserves despite having three of their usual reserves elevated to the starting lineup. … Outrebounded the Kings 48-38.
DEFENDING DOWN LOW
The Pelicans complimented Nance’s defense against Sabonis, who averages nearly 19 points per game.
“Larry, he’s physical. He understands angles and how to cut guys off,” Green said. “He anchored our defense from the start and then his ability to protect the basket. … He’s huge for our team.”
UP NEXT
Kings: At Houston on Monday.
Pelicans: Host Atlanta on Tuesday.
TIMBERWOLVES CRUISE TO 128-98 WIN AGAINST JOKIC-LESS NUGGETS
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) D’Angelo Russell had 14 of his 18 points in the first quarter and added 10 assists, Anthony Edwards scored 20 and the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised to a 128-98 win Sunday night against the Denver Nuggets, who were missing two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and three other starters on the second night of a back-to-back.
Rudy Gobert had 16 points for Minnesota, which never trailed and opened a 20-point advantage in the second quarter on the way to a seventh win in 10 games.
“We were very business-like,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Took advantage of the opportunity that was there for us. I think we only had like three or four turnovers in the first half. That’s kind of been important to our focus. And I thought we made a lot of really good plays.”
Along with Jokic (left hamstring tightness), Denver was without Jamal Murray (left knee injury management), Aaron Gordon (left ankle sprain) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right ankle sprain), who didn’t travel after playing in the Nuggets’ 128-108 win at home against Atlanta the previous night.
Michael Porter Jr., the lone regular starter in the lineup, led Denver with 22 points. Christian Braun added 19 points for the Nuggets. Denver shot just 39.5% from the field and committed 14 turnovers in the first half, trailing by 25 at one point.
“Without four starters, you have to almost play perfect to give yourself a chance,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. “Turnovers fueled their break, 24 fast-break points. Just too many breakdowns on both ends of the floor for us to even have a chance to be competitive tonight.”
Without Jokic and Murray, and choosing not to play Bones Hyland, Denver was without a primary ball-handler. Bruce Brown, a reserve swingman, was the de facto point guard. He finished with 16 points and seven assists.
The Nuggets finished with a season-high 21 turnovers leading to 32 points for Minnesota.
“We’re just playing free and easy but, obviously, a little bit too free and a little bit too easy, at times,” Malone said.
Meanwhile, Minnesota did what it needed to do against a short-handed team, controlling play from the beginning.
The Timberwolves went on a 25-5 run from the end of the first quarter and start of the second, and never looked back.
“In games like these, you kind of play down to the competition,” said Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels, who had 14 points. “So, just made it seem like all their starters were out there and just playing with aggression.”
QUICK TURNAROUND
Malone called the timing and travel of the back-to-back to Minnesota “ridiculous” before the game, pointing out there were just 22 hours between tip-offs.
“When I told our players that, a veteran like Jeff Green looked at me like I was crazy,” Malone said before the game. “He said, `That’s not allowed. That’s not legal.’ And, obviously, it is.”
Malone said he “hopes” that all four starters will return for the next game.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Hyland, who is rumored to potentially be on the move prior to Thursday’s trade deadline, didn’t play despite the lack of a primary ball handler. . Jokic had played four games in a row but did miss four games in January. . Braun, Brown, Vlatko Cancar and DeAndre Jordan were the fill-in starters.
Timberwolves: Backup point guard Jordan McLaughlin returned after missing 30 games with a left calf strain. . Starting forward Kyle Anderson left the game with a recurrence of back spasms. He didn’t play in the second half after playing less than five minutes in the previous game due to the injury. . Austin Rivers served the first of his three-game suspension for his part in Friday’s fight between Minnesota and the Orlando Magic. … The Wolves had 72 points in the paint.
UP NEXT
The two teams play Tuesday in Denver.
WNBA NEWS
ACES TRADE CENTER TO MYSTICS FOR PAIR OF 2ND-ROUND PICKS
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Aces traded recently acquired 6-foot-5 center Amanda Zahui B. on Sunday to Washington for the Mystics’ second-round draft picks in 2024 and 2025.
Zahui B. came over to the Aces from the Los Angeles Sparks on Jan. 21 trade for two-time All-Star Dearica Hamby, a former two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year. That deal allowed the Aces to clear salary cap room to acquire former two-time MVP Candace Parker, who signed Wednesday.
Zahui B. did not play in the WNBA last season after the Sparks placed her on the suspended list. She is averaging 6.2 points in her seven seasons.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
COLORADO ST. SORRY FOR ‘RUSSIA’ CHANT AT UKRAINIAN PLAYER
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) Colorado State has apologized for a group of fans who chanted “Russia” at a player on an opposing team who is from Ukraine during Saturday’s game.
Utah State’s Max Shulga is from Kyiv and was shooting free throws when TV cameras picked up the chant from the student section during the game in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.
“On behalf of Colorado State, we apologize to the student-athlete and Utah State. This is a violation of our steadfast belief in the Mountain West Sportsmanship Policy and University Principles of Community,” Colorado State said in a statement.
“Every participant, student, and fan should feel welcomed in our venues, and for something like this to have occurred is unacceptable at Colorado State.”
Utah State beat CSU 88-79.
On Sunday afternoon, Shulga issued a statement through Utah State that thanked the Colorado State administration and Rams coach Niko Medved for their “immediate support and understanding following the disappointing events during last night’s game.”
Shulga added: “This has been an extremely difficult and challenging year with my family and loved ones so far away and living in constant danger. I pray daily for the conflict to come to a close and for peace to be restored for my people in Ukraine.”
To close his statement, Shulga said that while the chants were “extremely upsetting in the moment, I also know how emotions can run high during competition and people can do and say things they do not really mean. Colorado State and its fans have apologized and I accept and appreciate the apology.”
DICKINSON LEADS MICHIGAN TO 77-69 WIN OVER SKIDDING BUCKEYES
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Michigan to a 77-69 win over Ohio State on Sunday.
Jett Howard added 16 points and Kobe Bufkin 13 with eight rebounds for the Wolverines (13-10, 7-5 Big Ten Conference), who missed their last four shots to drop to 49% for the game.
Bruce Thornton scored 22 points to lead the Buckeyes (11-12, 3-9), who have lost four straight and 10 of 12. Justice Sueing and Brice Sensabaugh both had 13 with Sensabaugh snaring nine rebounds. Thornton was 10-of-13 shooting and Ohio State made five of its last eight shots but that only raised the shooting percent to 41.
Bufkin, Dickinson and Howard combined for for a Michigan 12-3 run for a 24-14 lead midway through the first half. Despite a poor shooting half, the Buckeyes closed it to 41-36 at the half as Sueing hit a last-minute 3-pointer.
The Wolverines hit five 3-pointers and shot 52% (16 of 32) but they also had four more turnovers and the Buckeyes had three more offensive rebounds, which helped off-set Ohio State’s 34% shooting (12 of 35). Ohio State had three 3s but was 9 of 12 from the line to Michigan’s 4 of 7.
Ohio State shot better after the break (48%) but couldn’t put together a run as Dickinson scored 13 points and the Wolverines made 9 of 11 free throws.
Michigan’s three-game homestand continues Wednesday with a visit from Nebraska. Northwestern visits Ohio State on Thursday.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA TOPS FIFTH-RANKED UCONN 81-77
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) In a rematch of last season’s national championship game, South Carolina came out on top again over UConn thanks to a strong fourth quarter by Aliyah Boston.
Boston scored 23 of her 26 points in the second half, including 14 in the final period, to help the No. 1 Gamecocks beat the fifth-ranked Huskies 81-77 on Sunday in front of a sellout crowd.
“Aliyah is just relentless, she plays relentlessly although she had a subpar (first half) as far as statistics, she impacted the game,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “She doesn’t get flustered. she knew she didn’t play up to her standards. What does she do? Raise her standard. Bad first half or not she’s going to continue to play.”
While there wasn’t as much on the line as the title game last April, there was a high intensity to it, including UConn coach Geno Auriemma spiking a water bottle onto the court late in the fourth quarter after getting frustrated by the officiating.
“I thought there were a lot of things being overlooked. It was difficult for some of our guys to move out on the floor,” Auriemma said. “I didn’t think it was one key play, I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer. It was bad. … Dumb mistake by me. Bad decision.”
The Gamecocks (23-0) have won 29 consecutive games since losing to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament title game last year. They’ve won four of the past five meetings with the Huskies, including a victory in the NCAA championship game last season. That ended UConn’s perfect 11-0 record in title games.
“This was a national championship-like game. I wanted us to feel what it takes to do this,” Staley said.
Now South Carolina finally has a win in Connecticut after winning there before.
South Carolina used its size again to top the Huskies. The 6-foot-7 Kamilla Cardoso and Boston, the reigning AP Player of the Year helped the Gamecocks have a 42-30 advantage on the boards, including grabbing 25 offensive rebounds.
Boston finished with 11 rebounds for the 76th double-double of her career. Cardoso added 17 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.
With her team leading by four in the fourth quarter, Boston took over. She scored the next 12 points for South Carolina, two of those came when Auriemma tossed the water onto the court and was charged with the technical foul.
Boston hit the two free throws. She then hit a jumper, a 3-pointer and another basket to give the Gamecocks a double-digit advantage.
“I’m kind of in attack mode. In the second half I made more shots then I did in the first half,” Boston said.
Despite seeing their starting backcourt foul out, the short-handed Huskies (21-3) wouldn’t go away. They whittled the lead down to 80-77 with 10.8 seconds left on Aubrey Griffin’s three-point play.
Raven Johnson hit the first of two free throws a second later and UConn couldn’t convert to close out the game
“They have a lot to feel good about once they get past what it feels like to lose,” Auriemma said. “I feel better at 3 o’clock today then I did at 12 o’clock. I didn’t know how we’d respond. I knew we’d play hard and compete like hell. I didn’t know who was going to make a big play, who was going to get a big rebound, make a big shot. I know now more than I did at noon and I feel better about my team.”
Aaliyah Edwards led UConn with 25 points.
UConn got off to a solid start, outscoring South Carolina 25-14 in the opening period. Lou Lopez Senechal capped the strong start, hitting a running 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
South Carolina asserted its size in the second quarter with Cardoso scoring 11 points in the period. Her putback with just under 10 seconds left tied the game at 34 heading into the half.
TIP-INS:
UConn is 8-10 against No. 1 teams all time. … The Huskies are still missing guards Azzi Fudd (knee), Caroline Ducharme (concussion) as well as Paige Bueckers (knee) and Ice Brady (knee), who are both out for the season. … Many former UConn players were in the crowd including Sue Bird, Jen Rizzotti, and Napheesa Collier sitting a few rows behind the Huskies bench. … South Carolina has gone 41-6 against ranked teams since the start of the 2019-20 season.
DEPTH:
The Gamecocks reserves outscored UConn’s 37-0. The Huskies only had eight healthy players.
UP NEXT:
South Carolina: visits Auburn on Thursday before a showdown with No. 3 LSU on Feb. 12
UConn: visits Marquette on Wednesday.
BROWN, NO. 18 MICHIGAN WOMEN BEAT MICHIGAN ST. 77-67
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Leigha Brown scored 19 of her 29 points in the second half and finished two assists shy of a triple-double to lead No. 18 Michigan to a 77-67 win over rival Michigan State on Sunday.
Brown scored 10 in the fourth quarter, eight from the foul line, and Maddie Nolan had two big 3-pointers in the fourth and scored 22 points for the Wolverines (19-5, 9-4 Big Ten Conference).
Michigan pulled out a second-straight win without leading scorer Laila Phelia, who has a lower leg injury. Brown was 8 of 9 and Nolan 5 of 6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.
Matilda Ekh and Moira Joiner both had 12 for the Spartans (11-12, 3-9), who lost their third straight since coach Susy Merchant had a medical issue and a minor car accident on Jan. 28. Dean Lockwood is the interim head coach. DeeDee Hagemann added 11 points and a season-high nine assists.
Michigan State, which lost the first meeting 70-55 and has 10 losses by 10 points or less, went 5 of 23 from the field and 1 of 3 from the line in the fourth quarter.
Nolan sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around four Brown free throws to open the fourth quarter as the Wolverines surged to a 66-55 lead. Nolan finished with five triples. Brown had 12 rebounds and eight assists.
The Spartans scored the first 10 points of the game but Nolan scored Michigan’s last eight with a pair of 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 21-15 after one quarter. Brown scored eight-straight Wolverine points, tying the game at 31-all three minutes before halftime but the Spartans’ last three buckets were 3s, with Julia Ayrault and Ekh connecting in the final two minutes for a 40-33 lead.
Brown and Kiser combined for 17 points in the third quarter when Michigan outscored the Spartans 23-15 to take a 56-55 lead into the fourth quarter. The Wolverines were 10 of 16, MSU just 5 of 17 but had a Hagemann 3 at the buzzer.
Michigan State shot 35% in the second half and 31% for the game.
Michigan doesn’t play until Nebraska visits on Sunday. Michigan State hits the road to play Wisconsin on Wednesday.
REESE’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE HELPS NO. 3 LSU BEAT TEXAS A&M 72-66
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — As the wins have piled up and No. 3 LSU has remained perfect, coach Kim Mulkey has seen teams attacking the Tigers differently than they did earlier in the season.
That observation led the veteran coach to remind her team that it will have a target on its back in every game from here on out.
“I just tell them you are becoming relevant in women’s basketball,” Mulkey said. “It’s out there that you’re undefeated and you’re going to have to learn how to be the aggressor. I think we’re learning that.”
Angel Reese led the way for LSU again on Sunday with 26 points and 22 rebounds in a 72-66 win over Texas A&M.
Alexis Morris added 22 points before fouling out late to help LSU (23-0, 11-0 Southeastern Conference) remain unbeaten ahead of next week’s showdown with top-ranked and undefeated South Carolina. It was Reese’s 23rd consecutive double-double.
The Tigers won their first eight SEC games by an average of 23 points, but needed overtime to beat Georgia 82-77 last week before Sunday’s close game with the Aggies.
Mulkey raved about the job Reese did to close out the win.
“She’s just a talent,” Mulkey said. “She’s a talent that hates to lose. She has an unbelievable will to win.”
Mulkey was impressed with how Reese fought through an A&M defense that was determined to slow her down.
“I thought they defended her better today than they did at our place,” Mulkey said. “She’s just a competitor. She’s learning that she draws a lot of attention. She was guarded tough today.”
An 8-0 run by Texas A&M (6-15, 1-10), capped by six consecutive free throws, cut the lead to 66-62 with less than two minutes to go. Reese made two free throws before Kay Kay Green made 1 of 2 free throws on the other end to leave LSU up 68-63 with less than a minute left.
Last-Tear Poa added two free throws for the Tigers to push it to 70-63 seconds later. LSU forced a turnover and Reese added a basket to make it 72-63 with 17 seconds left.
Sahara Jones scored 14 points for the Aggies, who lost their third straight.
Texas A&M coach Joni Taylor was encouraged by her team’s performance Sunday after the Aggies lost 74-34 to LSU earlier this season.
“I just think we’re more settled in,” she said. “We’re a different team than when we played them at the beginning of January. I think we’re more confident, we have a better understanding of what we wanted to do.”
Jones was asked how the Aggies were better Sunday than they were in the blowout in Baton Rouge.
“Did you see the score?” she asked. “We didn’t get beat by 40. We did the best we could.”
The Tigers led by 13 at halftime, and the Aggies refused to let them pull away in the fourth quarter.
Tineya Hylton made a 3-pointer for A&M after a turnover by Reese to cut the lead to three points early in the fourth quarter. But Reese was fouled on the next two possessions and made three free throws to make it 52-45.
Another 3 by the Aggies, this one from Jones, cut it to four again. But Ladazhia Williams made an off-balance layup to start a 6-2 spurt that pushed the lead to 58-50 with 5 1/2 minutes to go.
Texas A&M used a 5-0 run to cut the lead to five. But Flau’jae Johnson grabbed a steal and finished with a jump shot as the first of six straight points by the Tigers to make it 66-55 with three minutes left.
TIP-INS
LSU: Johnson had 11 points … The Tigers made 3 of 9 3-pointers. … LSU made 21 of 26 free throws.
Texas A&M: Hylton had 12 points. … A&M scored 20 points of LSU’s turnovers. … A&M made 6 of 17 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
LSU: Visits top-ranked South Carolina next Sunday.
Texas A&M: Visits Mississippi State next Sunday.
CLARK’S TRIPLE-DOUBLE LEADS NO. 6 IOWA OVER PENN STATE 95-51
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Lisa Bluder loves pretty basketball and Iowa’s coach got her fill of highlights on Sunday.
The No. 6 Hawkeyes — decked out in pink uniforms with white lettering — transitioned with ease, deftly set each other up for basket after basket and made stop after stop to rout Penn State 95-51 on Sunday.
Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark was at the center of Iowa’s eighth straight win.
The junior had 23 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for her ninth career triple-double.
“There were some beautiful passes,” Bluder said. “I love it when we pass the ball so well and we transition so well and we did a lot of that today.”
Enough that the result wasn’t in doubt after one quarter.
Clark scored 11 of her points in the first half while Penn State’s best shooters went cold early.
Taniyah Thompson led Penn State (13-11, 4-9) with 11 points while Leilani Kapinus had 10. But Kapinus, Makenna Marisa and Shay Ciezki, all averaging in double figures for Penn State this season, combined to go just 2 for 15 from the floor in the first quarter, when Iowa (19-4, 11-1 Big Ten) took control.
The two teams, both clad in pink-and-white uniforms for breast cancer awareness, traded baskets until Iowa took the lead for good. As Penn State’s shooters clanked misses off the rim, the Hawkeyes heated up and used a 12-2 run over the final 6:27 of the first quarter to pull ahead 19-9.
Clark chipped in six points during that run, then fueled her teammates with sharp passes over her head and behind her back in the second. Iowa’s leading scorer set up six buckets and drained a 3-pointer off a fast-break to help the Hawkeyes take a 45-22 lead into halftime.
“She’s at the top of everyone’s scouting report,” Marisa said. “She makes the right read, she rebounds, she kind of does it all and I have a lot of respect for her.”
Monika Czinano scored 14 points and Kate Martin added 11 for the Hawkeyes, who controlled the paint and poured on points in a lopsided second half.
Clark’s 3-pointer put Iowa up by 23, a lead it would extend by as many as 49 in the second half.
GET INSIDE
Iowa outclassed Penn State inside all afternoon. The Hawkeyes outscored the Lady Lions 58-18 in the paint and outrebounded them 51-24, with 43 coming on the defensive glass.
No Hawkeye was better in the paint than Czinano, who buried pinpoint feeds from Clark all game. Many of them came off fast-breaks, too.
“When you have 28 assists on 39 baskets, that’s pretty special,” Bluder said.
CLARK’S STREAK
Clark has hit double figures in an NCAA-best 75 straight games and in all but one game ever.
That was back on Jan. 9, 2021, when she played 32 minutes against Northwestern and was held to just eight points in a 77-67 loss.
Bluder called her “a generational player” afterward. Penn State coach Carolyn Kieger agreed.
“Caitlin Clark is a once-in-a-generation player,” Kieger said. “I’ve watched her since she was probably in sixth grade and every time you see her play, it seems like she gets better and better.”
RANKINGS GAME
Penn State fell to 0-5 against AP Top 25 teams this season.
THE BIG PICTURE
Iowa: The Hawkeyes won their eighth straight in the series, dating back to 2018. Three of Iowa’s next four opponents are a combined 10-23 in Big Ten play, but two games against No. 4 Indiana remain, along with a trip to No. 8 Maryland in the final two regular-season games.
Penn State: The Lady Lions are at their best when their shooters are clicking. It didn’t happen in this one. They made just eight of their first 37 shots.
UP NEXT
Iowa: Visits No. 4 Indiana on Thursday.
Penn State: Visits Michigan State on Sunday.
NFL NEWS
KIRK COUSINS RALLIES NFC TO 35-33 WIN OVER AFC IN PRO BOWL
LAS VEGAS (AP) For Kirk Cousins, it wasn’t quite the NFL-record 33-point comeback against the Indianapolis Colts to win the NFC North.
However, Cousins was the quarterback for the third and final flag football game at the Pro Bowl on Sunday for a reason.
NFC coach Eli Manning wanted Cousins in that spot to decide the overall winner, and the Minnesota Vikings QB responded by throwing three touchdowns passes to rally the NFC to a 35-33 victory over the AFC in the Pro Bowl Games and end that conference’s five-game losing streak.
Cousins completed 15 of 19 passes for 150 yards in the NFL’s reformatted all-star contest, which gave the NFC the victory.
“It’s hard to wait around that long to play, but I appreciate Eli letting me be the third guy and fun to go in there and be the closer,” Cousins said.
Based on the earlier flag games and skills competitions, the AFC took a 21-15 lead into the final flag game.
The Pro Bowl changed its format this season, eliminating the traditional game and replacing it with three flag games played on a 50-yard field and a series of skills competitions.
Each of the first two flag games was worth six points and each skills event was three. The total points were accumulated to form the score entering the final flag game.
“I thought it was awesome,” San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey said. “Guys had fun. It got intense there at the end.”
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams noticed the NFC took the game more seriously than expected, such as sending Cowboys safety KaVontae Turpin at the quarterback.
“Hopefully, next year the NFC will actually play some man and not sit back in Cover-2 the whole time and blitz one of the fastest men in the league,” Adams said. “Interesting technique by them, but it was still a good time.”
BROTHERLY COMPETITION
Brothers Eli and Peyton Manning each have two Super Bowl rings, but Eli has this Pro Bowl victory over his older sibling.
“I am the greatest coach of the Mannings,” Eli said tongue-in-cheek on the NFL’s Twitter account. “I am so much better at coaching than Peyton, it’s unbelievable.”
He wasn’t the only brother to earn bragging rights. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs intercepted a pass off a trick play from Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
MYLES GARRETT INJURED
The Cleveland Browns, however, announced defensive end Myles Garrett dislocated a toe Sunday, but X-rays were negative.
Garrett played with a sprained shoulder this season from a car accident in September, but still had a team-record 16 sacks.
Injuries were something the NFL hoped to avoid by switching to this new format.
Though tackling wasn’t allowed, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey leveled Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill at the goal line.
PLAYGROUND FOOTBALL
Cousins said he hopes youngsters watching the Pro Bowl will want to participate in flag football and help that version of the sport grow.
The change to a flag game took some getting used to, but Cousins said that also made it more fun.
“You’re kind of drawing stuff up in the dirt,” he said. “It’s not as defined of a plan, so some of our guys were coming into the huddle saying, `Hey, I think if we did this.’ You try to listen to them and incorporate it. So it was fun, but also a little hectic.”
McCaffrey agreed.
“Learning the rules was a little tricky because this was so different,” McCaffrey said. “But I think everybody learned pretty quick and had fun.”
FANS COME OUT
The Pro Bowl has received quite a bit of criticism in recent years, but the NFL keeps the event for a reason – fans pay attention.
The announced crowd of 58,331 was more than 2,000 more than last year, also played at Allegiant Stadium.
No site has been announced for next year’s Pro Bowl, but it’s unlikely the NFL will want that event to be played in the same venue just before the Super Bowl, which will be in Las Vegas.
CHIEFS’ HUNT, EAGLES’ LURIE BEHIND SUPER BOWL-WINNING TEAMS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Clark Hunt proudly held aloft the AFC championship trophy bearing his father’s name, the one signifying that his Kansas City Chiefs were headed back to the Super Bowl for the third time in four years, and reflected that not so long ago, success seemed elusive.
It had been 50 years between Super Bowl trips when Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes led them back the NFL’s apex in 2020 — five full decades of heartbreak, disappointment and oftentimes despair.
The always-pragmatic Hunt uses the stretch in football’s wilderness to keep the current ride in perspective.
“I don’t know that it gets better,” Hunt said this week, “but we do know not to take it for granted. One of the things about going 50 years between Super Bowls is it teaches you how to appreciate it. You know, certainly over the last five years, we’ve been blessed playing in five straight AFC championship games, all here at home, and the three Super Bowls you mentioned.
“It’s special, but we’re not going to take it for granted,” he said.
Nor does his counterpart, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, who purchased the franchise in the 1990s and lost four conference title games and a Super Bowl before finally winning his first Lombardi Trophy. The Eagles reached two more playoffs before sliding to a 4-11-1 record two years ago.
Most of those years of excruciating letdowns came while Reid was the coach, which only adds to the subplots in the Feb. 12 Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
“Jeffrey is a phenomenal owner,” said Reid, whose affinity for the man who gave him a chance to be a head coach was hardly harmed by Lurie firing him. “He did a great job for me, my family, everything.”
In truth, both owners have done well for their franchises and their cities.
Hunt had unimaginably large shoes to fill when his father, Texas businessman Lamar Hunt, died in 2006. The elder Hunt remains a beloved figure in Kansas City. He helped found the AFL, established the Chiefs and even coined the term “Super Bowl.” He also was one of the key figures in the creation of Major League Soccer.
Clark Hunt made plenty of missteps early, including a series of coaches and general managers that he hired with great fanfare but produced little results. Slowly, steadily and often behind the scenes, Hunt was becoming one of the NFL’s most respected owners, sitting on important committees and even helping to end the 2011 lockout.
Two years later, Hunt changed the Chiefs’ entire trajectory with a trip to Philadelphia.
Reid had just been fired when Hunt, who had just fired Romeo Crennel, picked up the phone and set up a meeting. The interview came Jan. 2, 2013, in a conference room in a Philadelphia-area airport, where a plane sent by the Cardinals to ferry Reid to Arizona for another interview was waiting on the tarmac.
Hunt proved two things that day: He was an astute businessman and exceptional salesman. The owner convinced Reid they could build a winner in Kansas City — he never did get on that other plane. Over the past decade, they have done just that: seven straight AFC West titles, four conference titles and, they hope, a second Lombardi Trophy.
“Internally we had high expectations,” Hunt said, “but if you listen to much of the national media, you know, you would’ve thought that we had no chance this season. I remember Andy commenting in response to a questions that, ‘We’re not going to be too bad ourselves,’ because people were talking about these other teams in the AFC West.
“Obviously, really, the credit goes to Andy and the coaching staff.”
Along with the owner.
In Philadelphia, Reid’s firing gave way to ultra-successful college coach Chip Kelly taking the reins. When that experiment failed, Lurie, a movie producer, plucked away Reid’s offensive coordinator, Doug Pederson. Within two years, Pederson had done what Reid could not: win the Super Bowl.
Pederson went to two more playoffs before things fell apart. He was fired, too. Lurie’s off-the-radar replacement was Nick Sirianni, then the offensive coordinator of the Colts.
If Hunt’s hiring of Reid underscored his salesmanship and business acumen, Lurie’s decision highlighted his keen eye for talent and willingness to take a gamble.
The Eagles lost in in the wild-card round in Sirianni’s first season, and in his second, they are back in the big game.
“I can’t overestimate the value of the coaches,” Lurie said. “Nick is outstanding — smart, connects with everybody, cares, is passionate. And at the same time, his staff is outstanding. They are all similar age, they are young, they get along great. You have to have a great culture of a coaching staff. He has that.”
Yet it’s Lurie who has established a culture of success within the Eagles organization. Just like Hunt has done with the Chiefs.
“I’ve been out to eat with him a few times. I talk to him when he’s around the building because he’s here a lot,” Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert said of Lurie. “Just really thankful for him and everything he gives the team so we can be as successful as we have been. He fits right along with the Philadelphia culture. He knows how important Eagles football is to the city.”
SUPER BOWL-BOUND EAGLES ARE BUILT AROUND QB JALEN HURTS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles’ decision to draft Jalen Hurts in 2020 came with as much hand-wringing as intrigue regarding how to use the talented Heisman Trophy finalist.
The Eagles already had quarterback Carson Wentz locked into a $128 million contract. They certainly had more pressing needs at the time on all sides of the ball.
Three seasons later, there’s no doubt in Philly that drafting Hurts was the right call.
Hurts would win any Philly most-popular athlete poll these days —- well, it is football season — and the third-year quarterback has the Eagles just one win away from only their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
Turns out, the Eagles were built on the strength of a QB still on his paltry rookie deal. He’s a finalist for AP NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and tied a franchise record with 33 total touchdowns.
At just 24, Hurts has a Super Bowl — and super riches — ahead. He’s due for a new contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $50 million a season, one that could rival the mammoth 10-year contract given to Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes that has choked the team’s salary cap. The Chiefs have been creative in finding ways to remain at an elite level despite Mahomes’ salary. The Eagles will have to do the same.
General manager Howie Roseman has been masterful of late at making all the right moves in drafts, trades and smart contracts. If the Eagles are to remain contenders for the same window the Chiefs have smashed open with Mahomes, Roseman will have to be just as adept at working the salary cap and finding gems in the draft.
The future can wait until Feb. 13. On deck, the Super Bowl.
“We want to go out there and play to our standard,” Hurts said. “That doesn’t change, regardless of the magnitude of the game.”
The Eagles offseason is already off to an astounding start. Roseman swung a 2022 draft-weekend deal with New Orleans that involved all draft picks — notably, the Eagles would get the Saints’ first-round pick in 2023. Hey, the Saints were supposed to be pretty good and a pick in the 20s would have been fine. Instead, the Saints sank (though they did beat the Eagles) and Philadelphia has the No. 10 pick of the draft. Not bad for a team in the Super Bowl. The Eagles can only hope they can land a star player that could keep them championship contenders for another decade.
Odds are, though, this time they won’t stun anyone and pick a quarterback.
OFFENSE
Did someone say steal? Roseman outmaneuvered the Titans during the 2022 draft when he engineered a deal to get wide receiver A.J. Brown.
With Brown upset with his contract in Tennessee, the Eagles sent two draft picks to the Titans and immediately gave the wide receiver a $100 million, four-year deal with $57 million guaranteed. Brown was worth the price and his playmaking ability has only brought out the best in Hurts. The two are close friends and their chemistry is evident on the field.
He had 155 yards receiving in his Eagles debut and kept on rolling all the way to 88 catches for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season. He topped Mike Quick’s 1,409 yards in 1983 for the Eagles’ single-season high.
Across the field, DeVonta Smith put up similar bold numbers. Smith, a first-round pick in the 2021 draft, finished his second NFL season with 95 catches, which are the most by a wide receiver in team history.
Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson have anchored the offensive line for a decade. Miles Sanders was a second-round pick who had 1,269 yards rushing this season and 11 touchdowns. Dallas Goedert has blossomed into one of the top tight ends in the league and made the offense one of the more dynamic in the league.
DEFENSE
Did someone say steal, Part II? Haason Reddick signed a $45 million, three-year contract, that included $30 million guaranteed. It turned in one of the greatest season performances in team history. He had 16 sacks and 3½ more in the playoffs to pace the Eagles. Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox are 10-plus-year veterans who helped the Eagles win their first Super Bowl.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jake Elliott, a fifth-round pick in 2017, has kept a low profile this season as Philadelphia’s fourth-down aggressiveness has kept him from putting up big field goal numbers. Elliott has at least been automatic on extra points, missing only one this season. It seems almost laughable that it’s worth noting, but Dallas kicker Brett Maher missed five extra points in the postseason.
The Eagles this week activated the 21-day practice window for punter Arryn Siposs to return from injured reserve. Siposs had been sidelined since mid-December with an ankle injury. The Eagles have since used veteran Brett Kern. Siposs could be activated for the Super Bowl ahead of Kern.
FORMER NFL PLAYER FACES DUI CHARGE IN FLORIDA AFTER CRASH
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) A former NFL player was arrested on a misdemeanor driving under the influence charge after troopers say his vehicle rear-ended a pick-up truck that was on the side of a South Florida highway because of a flat tire, injuring the truck’s driver who had been standing outside.
Vontae Davis, 34, smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes and could barely stay awake while being interviewed by a trooper after the accident early Saturday on the Florida Turnpike in Hollywood, Florida, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to troopers, Davis lost control of his Tesla sedan and it collided with the parked pickup truck on the side of the turnpike. The impact of the collision sent the pickup truck spinning into a concrete barrier, and the truck struck its driver who had been waiting outside. The driver was taken to a hospital with multiple injuries, the report said.
Davis refused to provide a blood or urine sample and wouldn’t agree to perform a field sobriety test, the report said. He told the trooper that he had consumed two drinks at a club.
No attorney was listed for Davis in an online court docket.
Davis is perhaps best known for announcing his retirement in 2018 in the middle of a game between his team at the time, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Chargers. Davis also played for the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins.
NFL ANNOUNCES 2022 DON SHULA HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
The National Football League has named Maine-Endwell High School Coach MATT GALLAGHER and Boys and Girls High School Coach CLIVE HARDING as the AFC and NFC recipients of the 2022 NFL Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award.
For the first time, the NFL recognized the top high school coach from each conference as nominated by their respective NFL clubs. The honor is given to the high school football coaches that best represents character, integrity, leadership, dedication to the community, commitment to player protection and on-field success, in honor of the late DON SHULA, the winningest coach in NFL history.
Gallagher, of Maine-Endwell High School in Endwell, NY, was nominated by the New York Giants. He led his team to a second consecutive state championship after a 13-0 season, compiling a 140-24 record in 15 seasons, winning six state championships.
Off the field, the high school football team is connected to the youth football program, with Spartans players and coaches helping coach area youth. The football team’s community impact includes raking leaves, shoveling snow, setting up events at the high school, and serving as mentors for elementary school students.
As a USA Football certified Master Trainer since 2015, Gallagher travels all over the region assisting with clinics for coaches and kids to make the game better and safer for everyone. In this role, he has led numerous clinics and coaching certifications, including teaching Heads Up Football (football safety and techniques), Stop it Now! (child abuse prevention), and InSide Out Coaching (social-emotional and character development). He worked extensively on USA Football’s creation of the Football Development Model to prioritize the development of young athletes by allowing them to learn the game and related skills in a progression that best suits them, and served on a committee for the age and skill assignments within the model.
“I love football and I love coaching football,” said Gallagher. “But most importantly, I believe football is a vehicle to teach young students perseverance, respect, integrity, and the many characteristics that make us good people and contributing members of our community.”
Harding, of Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, NY, was nominated by the New York Jets to represent the AFC.
A retired New York City police officer and first responder who has always put others before himself, Harding has coached at Boy’s and Girl’s High School in Brooklyn since 2009 and this year led his team to an undefeated 10-0 season. Aside from football drills, Harding coaches his team for life beyond football. Throughout the season, his team has mock interviews and career prep, so they are prepared for job interviews and college recruiters. He cares deeply about education and setting academic goals for all of his players. He is frequently in-check with their teachers and counselors to ensure they are on track for graduation and having a variety of colleges to choose from. He truly wants the best circumstances for every individual on his team and says the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing his players mold into successful young men.
Harding and his team, in partnership with the Jets, takes part in an annual helmet reconditioning program, which dates back to the early 2000s. Harding coaches and implements fundamentally sound tackling skills into their practices in order to improve player health and safety. Only a fraction of Harding’s coaching is on the field: the rest is building their character to be genuine and kind people.
“My reward is seeing the success they have after high school – playing college football, earning their degrees, getting their first job,” said Harding. “Every year I have the opportunity to impact students not only on the football field but preparing them for life.”
All 32 NFL teams selected a nominee for the award, which was then chosen by a panel that features, Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING, Super Bowl champion and NFL Vice President of Football Development ROMAN OBEN, Former NFL general manager and analyst SCOTT PIOLI, Executive Director of USA Football SCOTT HALLENBECK and DAVE SHULA, former NFL coach and son of the late coach Shula, among others.
In partnership with Nike, as the 2022 Don Shula NFL High School Coaches of the Year, Harding and Gallagher will each receive $15,000 for their high school football programs. And each coach will receive a $10,000 cash prize. They will both be guests of the NFL at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas, and they will attend Super Bowl LVII in Arizona and will be recognized at NFL Honors.
NHL NEWS
ISLANDERS SIGN HORVAT TO 8-YEAR EXTENSION WITH REPORTED $8.5M AAV
Bo Horvat has a long-term deal with his new team before even making his debut.
The New York Islanders signed the 27-year-old to an eight-year extension, the team announced Sunday. The contract has an average annual value of $8.5 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello didn’t confirm the details of the contract but noted that “it’s too long and it’s too much money,” according to Newsday’s Andrew Gross.
The $68-million deal doesn’t include any signing bonus, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
New York acquired Horvat on Jan. 30 in a blockbuster deal with the Vancouver Canucks. The Islanders sent Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, and a top-12 protected 2023 first-round pick to the Canucks in the trade.
Horvat is in the midst of a career season. His 31 goals are tied for eighth in the NHL and already match his output from 2021-22. He has 54 points through 49 contests and is set to blow past his previous career high of 61 points in the 2018-19 campaign.
“I feel right at home here,” Horvat said, according to Gross. “All the guys have been great toward me and welcoming me.”
The Islanders held their first practice since adding Horvat on Sunday. Typically a center, the left-shot Horvat lined up at right wing with Josh Bailey and Mathew Barzal, according to Gross.
“We haven’t had a spark like this for a while,” Barzal said of the deal, via Gross.
Horvat will become New York’s second-highest-paid player behind Barzal when his extension kicks in next season. The Islanders have nine players – including seven forwards – signed for the 2023-24 campaign at a cap hit of $5 million or more.
BRUINS ROLLING, REST OF NHL MAKING FINAL PUSH FOR PLAYOFFS
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Bruce Cassidy’s Vegas Golden Knights lost eight of 10 games going into the All-Star break after leading the Pacific Division at the midway point of the NHL season.
They’re still safely in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they can’t keep it up.
“We’re still in a good position — that’s the way we look at it,” Cassidy said. “There’s not too many teams that can cruise home the last 30 games in this league, and we’re certainly not one of them.”
Cassidy’s old team, the Boston Bruins, probably could. They’re atop the NHL and running away with the Atlantic Division.
With 39 wins and 83 points through 51 games, Boston is on pace to break the record for the best regular season in NHL history. The Carolina Hurricanes, who beat Boston in seven games in the first round last year, are next in the standings at 76 points.
“Top to bottom, there’s no weaknesses,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
The Bruins are in a class of their own, but the playoff races behind them in the East and West should be hot down the stretch with roughly 30 games to go before the chase for the Stanley Cup begins.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
The Hurricanes rode a seven-game winning streak into the break, putting some fear into the Bruins in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy and home-ice advantage through the postseason. Winger Max Pacioretty re-tearing his right Achilles tendon five games into his return didn’t slow them down, and if their goaltending holds up, Carolina stands a good chance of reaching the East final.
“This team, it’s a special group of guys,” said Brind’Amour, who captained Carolina to the Cup in 2006 and is in his fifth year as coach. “We kind of show that nightly. It’s just very consistent, and they take their job real serious. They do it right.”
The second-place New Jersey Devils are contending for the first time since 2018. Bottoming out the next season helped them win the lottery for No. 1 pick Jack Hughes, a two-time All-Star who has them winning ahead of schedule.
“Much better than being out of the mix,” Hughes said. “We’re really excited because it’s going to be a lot of important hockey, and it’s going to be really competitive and we’re really pumped to be where we are.”
They’re followed by the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. All three New York-area teams could make it, which was the expectation for the Rangers after reaching the East final last year.
“I think the run last year really taught us a few things and stuff that we obviously could build on for the rest of this year,” 2021 Norris-Trophy winning defenseman Adam Fox said.
ATLANTIC
The Rangers lost to the Lightning in six games last spring, when two-time champion Tampa Bay reached the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season before getting beat by the Colorado Avalanche.
The Lightning are almost certain to face the Toronto Maple Leafs — who haven’t won a playoff series since the NHL salary cap era began in 2005 — in the first round and remain a threat to the Bruins.
But Boston has separated itself despite starting the season without top left winger Brad Marchand and No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins have lost only 12 games under new coach Jim Montgomery.
“You just keep winning,” said All-Star right winger David Pastrnak, who’s tied for third in the league in scoring. “Every single line and every single guy is going and it obviously builds our confidence. It’s funny sometimes what confidence can do in hockey.”
The Islanders should have some more confidence after acquiring 30-goal scorer Bo Horvat from Vancouver, but still need to make up ground to get in.
CENTRAL
Defending champion Colorado climbed in the standings — winning seven of eight going into the break despite an injury-riddled first half of the season. Captain Gabriel Landeskog still has not made his season debut since undergoing knee surgery. It would be foolish to bet against the Avs coming out of the West again.
“It’s up to us: We control our own fate,” All-Star center Nathan MacKinnon said. “We need to definitely keep playing the way we were before the break. No matter who’s in the lineup we were playing well, playing hard, so it would definitely help with healthy bodies.”
They still trail the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild in the Central, and the Nashville Predators are on their heels. Only the Stars and Jets are essentially guaranteed a spot.
“Every point, you grind for it,” Stars leading scorer Jason Robertson said. “Every point’s going to be a dog fight, so it’s going to be a fun 30 games down the stretch.”
PACIFIC
Undisputed MVP favorite Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, who were swept by Colorado in the West final, have a little bit of catching up to do in the Pacific Division.
The top spot is held by the Seattle Kraken, who surprisingly are on pace to make the playoffs in their second season but still need to fend off the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Edmonton — and the Battle of Alberta rival Calgary Flames — have the talent to not only get in but make a run. McDavid leads the league with 41 goals and 92 points, 16 more than No. 2 scorer and teammate Leon Draisaitl, and is producing unlike anyone since Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux in the mid-1990s.
Now he’ll try to carry the Oilers into the playoffs and beyond.
“It hasn’t been easy at all for our group. We’ve kind of had to battle for everything that we’ve got,” McDavid said. “We’ve always been a second-half team for whatever reason. Even since my first year, we’ve always been better in the second half, so we’ll definitely look to continue that. That being said, we’re not going to hang our hat on that and expect that to carry us to the playoffs. There’s a lot of work to be done.”
MEN’S GOLF
RODGERS TAKES PRO-AM AT PEBBLE AS ROSE GRABS 54-HOLE LEAD
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finally gets his name on the Wall of Champions behind the first tee at Pebble Beach, joining a long list that includes Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Justin Rose would love nothing better than to be on an adjacent plaque for winning the PGA Tour event at Pebble.
Rose, whose third round was suspended by wind strong enough to blow his golf ball across the green, returned Sunday morning at Monterey Peninsula by playing 10 holes in 6 under for a 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The final round was to start Sunday afternoon, featuring only professionals, and there was no way for the tournament to finish until Monday.
The only champions crowned Sunday were Rodgers and Ben Silverman of Canada, who held on for a one-shot victory in the pro-am portion of the event. The prize is their name listed on the wall, which features pro-am winners, tournament winners, USGA champions at Pebble and more.
“It’s really significant,” Rodgers said, whose Packers failed to reach the NFL playoffs for only the fourth time in his 15 years as the starter. “It’s always been on my bucket list.”
Rodgers did his share of heavy lifting. Silverman, coming off a Korn Ferry Tour win, finished at 1-over 216 and missed the cut. Rodgers, playing off a 10 handicap, said he had not played golf since training camp until last Monday.
They finished at 26-under par, one shot ahead of Peter Malnati and Don Colleran, the retired president and CEO of FedEx whose name already is on the wall.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Keith Mitchell were four behind. Minus the weather, the leading 25 pro-am teams would have played Sunday afternoon.
“Josh Allen was telling me there’s going to be an asterisk by this win because there was only three rounds,” Rodgers said. “But I think our names are going to be up there for a long time.”
After a wild week of weather, the final round features everyone on the same course at Pebble Beach in roughly similar conditions. It still feels more like a marathon than a sprint because it will be played over two days.
Rose was simply happy to be there. This is his first 54-hole lead since he won at Torrey Pines four years ago, though his form has been trending upward toward the end of last year and early into 2023.
He was at 12-under 203.
“The morning couldn’t have gone better,” Rose said, whose 10 holes were punctuated by an eagle on the par-5 16th.
In the three hours it took to finish the third round, there was wind and rain, and then hail over at Monterey Peninsula, followed by sunshine.
Malnati had a 67 at Pebble, having avoided the holes most exposed to the wind when it turned nasty on Saturday, and Kurt Kitayama had a 70 at Spyglass Hill. They were one shot behind.
Mitchell’s pitch over a bunker and across the 18th green at Pebble hit the hole with too much pace. He would have tied Rose had it dropped. Instead, the ball settled 7 feet away and he missed that to make par for a 70, leaving him two shots behind.
Rose was in the middle of the stoppage Saturday.
The ninth hole bends back toward the ocean with nothing to block the wind, and the former U.S. Open champion had to hit 5-wood to get to the green. It was a magnificent shot to 3 feet. But he said when he reached the green, a gust knocked his ball 7 feet away before he had a chance to mark it.
That’s when rules officials conferred and suspended play on all three courses – the wind is not as big of a problem on tree-lined Spyglass Hill. Rose returned and holed the birdie putt on No. 9 and was on his way.
Eight players were within three shots of the lead, a list that included Viktor Hovland. He’s playing the tournament for the first time, but his last two trips to Pebble have worked out well. He won the U.S. Amateur in 2018 and was low amateur in the 2019 U.S. Open.
The difference between then and now was mostly about the apparel. There was no need for three layers of clothes and a wool cap in June or August. And those USGA rounds went a little quicker.
AUTO RACING NEWS
TRUEX WINS NASCAR’S SLOPPY RETURN TO LOS ANGELES COLISEUM
LOS ANGELES (AP) Martin Truex Jr. won NASCAR’s return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for its season-opening exhibition race – a sloppy Sunday night extravaganza in which the Wiz Khalifa halftime show might have been the most entertaining part of the event.
Truex took the lead with 25 laps to go in the Busch Light Clash, a 150-lap race that was moved from Daytona International Speedway last year to the Coliseum. NASCAR built a temporary quarter-mile track inside the iconic venue in a bold attempt to try something radically different.
Truex, who contemplated retirement during last year’s winless season, won for the first time since Sept. 11, 2021.
“Last year was a pretty rough season for us with no wins, and to come out here and kick it off this way, really proud of all these guys,” Truex said.
Last year’s race was considered a smashing success based on the new fans drawn to the event and excitement over the progressive approach to creating a brand new type of racing.
NASCAR knew it was going to be difficult to duplicate the success in its return and the racing Sunday wasn’t great – there were 25 cautions, and laps under yellow didn’t count. There were only five cautions in last year’s race.
“Last year’s show I felt like was relatively clean and good racing, some bumping, some banging, but we could run long stretches of green flag action,” said Kyle Busch. “Today was, I would call it a disaster with the disrespect from everybody of just driving through each other.
“But it’s a quarter mile. It’s tight-quarters racing. Actually this is probably how it should have gone last year, so we got spoiled with a good show the first year. Maybe this was just normal.”
Truex put Joe Gibbs Racing in victory lane to start 2023 after a horrible close to last year. Coy Gibbs, who essentially ran his father’s race team, passed away in his sleep the night before the November season finale. Coy Gibbs’ death came just hours after his son, Ty, won NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series championship.
Austin Dillon and Busch, in his debut for Richard Childress Racing, finished second and third for RCR. They joined Truex on a podium for a NASCAR-first medal ceremony held below the Coliseum’s famed peristyle.
Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson went fourth and fifth for Hendrick Motorsports, and Tyler Reddick was sixth in his debut for 23XI.
“It’s tough when it takes 45 minutes to make like six laps,” Bowman said of the messy race. “That was pretty bad when we were just crashing and crashing and crashing.”
Ryan Preece, in his debut race for Stewart-Haas Racing, led 43 laps until a late electrical issue took him out of contention. Before Sunday night, Preece had led a total of 25 laps in 115 Cup races over five seasons. Preece finished seventh.
Bubba Wallace was dominant early for 23XI but was spun late by Dillon and then banged into Dillon after to show his displeasure. He finished 22nd after leading 40 laps.
“I hate it for Bubba, he had a good car and a good run,” Dillon said. “But you can’t tell who’s either pushing him or getting pushed. I just know he sent me through the corner and I saved it three times through there, released the brake and all kinds of stuff, and then when I got down, I was going to give the same. Probably was a little too hard.”
LCQ’s
The format of the exhibition Clash included heat races and a pair of 50-lap “last chance qualifiers” to help drivers make the 27-car field. Three drivers from each of the LCQ’s advanced: Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell and Todd Gilliland advanced from the first race, and Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and AJ Allmendinger advanced from the second.
Those who did not advance to compete in the main event were Brad Keselowski and RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher, Harrison Burton of The Wood Brothers, Corey LaJoie and Ty Dillon of Spire Motorsports, and Cody Ware and J.J. Yeley for Rick Ware Racing, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of JTG Racing and B.J. McLeod of Live Fast Motorsports.
JOHNSON SCHEDULE
Jimmie Johnson made his return to NASCAR on Sunday as team co-owner of Legacy Motor Club, which fields two cars for Erik Jones and Noah Gragson. The seven-time NASCAR champion spent the past two years racing IndyCar and will run a limited scheduled this season that includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Johnson was already entered in the Daytona 500 later this month, then said Sunday he will also enter NASCAR’s first-ever street course race, scheduled for downtown Chicago in July.
UP NEXT
The Cup Series opens Daytona International Speedway a week from Wednesday to begin preparations for the Feb. 19 season-opening Daytona 500.
NEW-LOOK LOGANO LEADS NASCAR BACK TO THE L.A. COLISEUM
LOS ANGELES (AP) Joey Logano arrived at the first event of the season with a jet black shock of thick hair and a banner in the grandstands advertising the company that treated NASCAR’s reigning champion for alopecia and early baldness.
“Ask Joey!” the company Hairclub urged on a banner draped in the lower bowl of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The voluminous locks on the two-time champion has been the talk of NASCAR’s offseason, a short break from the December awards ceremony to Sunday’s exhibition Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum.
In the eight weeks since he picked up his second Cup and Saturday, when he pulled his No. 2 Team Penske Ford into the Coliseum, Logano underwent a procedure that has given him a full head of hair for the first time in a decade.
He did not reveal Saturday if he received implants, but raved about the change in his appearance. Logano also said many drivers have reached out to him with questions since he revealed his new look.
“They had a fix for me, probably have a fix for everybody, and so I look 10 years younger,” said the 32-year-old father of three. “I’m like the old days again. I’m back. I look better and I feel good.”
Logano opens his championship reign where it began last season: Logano was the winner of last year’s inaugural Clash at the Coliseum. It was a radical experiment that NASCAR tried by shifting its exhibition opening race from its only previous home at Daytona International Speedway to a temporary track built inside the iconic University of Southern California football stadium.
NASCAR added a halftime show performed by Ice Cube, filled the stands with a younger, curious audience, and succeeded with a flawless show.
“Last year, this was one of the biggest risks, if not the biggest risk, our sport has ever taken,” said Logano. “I was very nervous. This could be really bad for the sport, and it was great. I would almost look at winning the Clash last year as one of my biggest victories, and I don’t think there’s many non-points paying races that you’d ever say that about.”
So it was somewhat quizzical that NASCAR would return to the Coliseum for a second year and try to duplicate that success on Sunday. The event is a warm-up for the season-opening Feb. 19 Daytona 500, but after the Coliseum worked so well last year, NASCAR theoretically was emboldened to try something entirely different.
“I think this has opened a lot of doors that in the past probably weren’t expected to be open, because when I came here last year, I really thought this was going to be a joke,” Kevin Harvick said. “And it was one of the races that I probably had the most fun at last year. The atmosphere, it was a great event, and I think coming back this year, everybody is looking forward to it.”
NASCAR for this second edition booked Cypress Hill for the pre-race concert and Wiz Khalifa will play the halftime show. Cheat Codes, a popular DJ group, will entertain during caution breaks Dixie D’Amelio is scheduled for a special performance. Rob Lowe is the grand marshal.
NASCAR has put mufflers on the cars for Sunday to dull the grumble and give spectators an opportunity to both carry on conversations inside the Coliseum and enjoy the musical acts.
The tweak is another attempt by NASCAR to break from its mold and reach new audiences. It will do it again in July when NASCAR runs its first-ever street race in downtown Chicago. NASCAR has committed to using mufflers in Chicago, too.
But returning to the Coliseum for a second year might also be calculated.
Dave Allen, the president of Auto Club Speedway in nearby Fontana, said Saturday the track will not host any racing in 2024 as it renovates into a new configuration. Allen couldn’t even guarantee the track will be ready by 2025.
Before the Clash came to Los Angeles last year, the race at Auto Club was NASCAR’s only stop in Southern California. It could be that the Coliseum in 2024 hosts a points-paying Cup race to maintain NASCAR’s presence in the area as the Fontana track is renovated.
“I think it’s a great venue,” said Brad Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing. “The potential is here to do so many different things – points races or carry the idea to other venues. I think it’s certainly in one year’s time earned a lot of respect within the industry that opens up numerous doors and opportunities.
“How that plays forward, I know I’m pretty open-minded to it as both a driver and an owner and look forward to see it play out.”
TOP INDIANA NEWS
COLTS FOOTBALL
ESPN PREDICTS COLTS MAKE SEVERAL OFFSEASON CHANGES AT QB
While the talk of the Circle City remains with the head coach search for the Indianapolis Colts, the next topic of conversation includes the quarterback position.
Without knowing who the next head coach will be, it’s incredibly difficult to suggest which way the Colts will lean at the quarterback position. Given the wide variety of head coach candidates, there are certain quarterback combinations that will work better than others.
Regardless, ESPN simulated what the offseason might look like at the quarterback position for the Colts. The first order of business is one that’s expected to come regardless of the new head coach: releasing Matt Ryan.
That move would force the Colts to eat $17.2 million in dead cap but would save them $18 million in salary-cap space.
The next move predicted by ESPN would be a bit of a surprise in signing free-agent Jameis Winston to a cheap one-year deal to work as the starter if the rookie quarterback isn’t ready.
Here’s what Stephen Holder of ESPN said about the move:
“Before learning of Matt Ryan’s availability in March 2022, the Colts were actually in discussions with Winston and were strongly considering him as an option. In this instance, the Colts go back to him as a veteran fallback plan for the rookie they plan to draft in April. One hope is that Winston’s willingness to push the ball downfield could help revitalize the Colts’ deep passing game and perhaps give life to their play-action game with running back Jonathan Taylor. One thing’s for sure: The Colts intend to finally put a stop to their quarterback carousel this offseason.”
Winston would be an interesting addition as long as it would be on a one-year deal to be the backup. Considering how things went in New Orleans for Winston in 2022, he’s likely looking for a new home.
While Colts fans are likely shaking their head thinking about another veteran retread option joining the roster, the next prediction made by ESPN would certainly change their tune.
“4. Colts: Bryce Young, Alabama
The size knocks (6-foot, 194 pounds) on Young are legitimate and perfectly fair. He is an outlier when it comes to measurables. But his unique talent supersedes those concerns, from his accuracy to his playmaking ability to his elite pocket presence — all of which can help immediately jump-start a punchless Colts offense. And Young wouldn’t be forced to start right away with Jameis Winston also in the fold. — Stephen Holder“
Taking Young at No. 4 overall without having to trade up would certainly be an exciting move for the Colts. Whether Young is the type of quarterback Chris Ballard would want is up for debate. His size is a concern, and Ballard may want to go bigger at the position, regardless of how electric Young’s game is.
If this were to happen, the Colts would (hopefully) have a younger, offensive mind as the head coach. That route seems to benefit the prospect of an electric talent like Young’s over the style of a veteran, defensive-minded head coach.
This simulation would make for an exciting offseason with the potential of a franchise quarterback being introduced into the mix.
PACERS BASKETBALL
GAME REWIND: PACERS 103, CAVALIERS 122
The Cleveland Cavaliers spoiled the Pacers’ hopes of securing a winning homestand on Sunday evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Cavs (33-22) closed the second quarter with a 26-9 run to open up a double-digit lead, then never let Indiana (25-30) get back within single digits the rest of the way, rolling to a 122-103 win.
With the loss, the Pacers went 1-2 over a three-game homestand that began on Thursday. They have also dropped two of three on the season to their Central Division rivals from Cleveland.
Myles Turner scored a team-high 27 points and pulled down 10 rebounds on Sunday for Indiana while also blocking three shots to move into third place in franchise history.
But the Pacers simply didn’t have enough firepower to hang with the Cavs, who had all five starters score at least 17 points.
Turner asserted himself early on Sunday with his physical play in the post, tallying 10 of Indiana’s first 15 points via two three-point plays, two more free throws following a third drawn foul, and another interior bucket.
“Just an attack mindset,” Turner said of his strong start. “I think whenever I see my opportunities to try to be as aggressive as possible…I was going early.”
Still, it was the Cavs who led after one. Led by seven points from Darius Garland and six from Jarrett Allen, the visitors took a 27-25 lead after the opening frame.
The second quarter featured six lead changes and two ties over its first six minutes. Cleveland eventually surged ahead midway through the frame thanks to a 10-0 run.
Buddy Hield’s 3-pointer with 3:41 remaining in the quarter ended that spurt and made it 46-40, but Cleveland outscored Indiana 16-6 over the remainder of the half — capped by a step-back three from All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell just before the buzzer — to take a 62-46 advantage into the intermission.
The visitors’ run carried over to the second half, as Cleveland outscored Indiana 13-4 over the first 2:21 of the third quarter to extend its lead all the way to 23 points.
Turner did his best to try to keep the Blue & Gold within shouting distance, tallying 15 points in the quarter. His final two points were the start of a 10-3 Indiana run to close the quarter that trimmed the deficit to 98-84 heading into the fourth.
T.J. McConnell scored the first points of the final frame on a layup with 10:54 to play to bring the hosts within 12, but that would be the closest they would get. The Cavs outscored Indiana 20-6 over the next six minutes to seal the victory.
“I told the guys after the game, this is all on me,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “I didn’t do a good job at all preparing them for the kind of game that this was going to be and how we had to compete. I take all the heat for this loss.”
Tyrese Haliburton recorded a double-double for Indiana in the loss, tallying 15 points and 11 assists. Hield finished with 16 points and five rebounds, going 4-for-9 from 3-point range.
Garland led Cleveland with 24 points and six assists while going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Isaac Okoro scored 20 points, Mitchell added 19 points and six dimes, and Allen (18 points and 13 rebounds) and Evan Mobley (17 points and 10 boards) both recorded double-doubles.
The Pacers will have two days off before heading to Miami to take on the Heat on Wednesday. They will return to Indianapolis to host Phoenix on Friday.
Inside the Numbers
Turner recorded his third straight double-double and his 15th overall. With three blocks, he now has 1,095 for his career — one more than Herb Williams amassed during his time with Indiana. Turner now just trails Rik Smits (1,111) and Jermaine O’Neal (1,245) on the franchise’s all-time list.
Haliburton recorded his team-leading 24th double-double of the season on Sunday.
The Cavaliers had a distinct advantage from beyond the arc, going 15-for-37 (40.5 percent) to Indiana’s 8-for-32 (25 percent).
Hield made four more 3-pointers on Sunday, the sixth time in his last eight games that he has made at least four treys. He has a league-leading 208 made 3-pointers on the season, trailing only Paul George (210 in 2015-16) and Reggie Miller (229 in 1996-97) for the most threes made by a Pacer in a single season.
The Pacers did an admirable job on Mitchell early. The All-Star guard missed his first six attempts and did not score until five minutes were remaining in the second quarter. He went 6-for-12 the rest of the game, but shot just 2-for-10 from 3-point range.
After going 9-for-15 from 3-point range over his previous two games, Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith was 0-for-5 from beyond the arc on Sunday.
You Can Quote Me On That
“They did a good job of controlling me in the pick-and-roll, controlling us in the pick-and-roll. And I think we’re better when we’re getting stops. We weren’t able to get stops and that kept us out of transition and allowed us to set their defense. Kudos to them. They played a heck of a game and a lot of guys contributed for them tonight.” -Haliburton on Cleveland’s defensive success
“Everybody is going to pay a lot of attention to Tyrese Haliburton. Guy’s an All-Star and people know the impact that he has on our team. I’ve got to do a better job, our coaching staff’s got to do a better job of putting him in the right situations.” -Carlisle on how defenses are focusing on slowing down Haliburton
“I think it’s just a testament to the film study and the work I put in on the floor. The other testament is to the trust and belief that my teammates have in me, putting me in good positions to be successful. And overall, I just think that I’ve been more aggressive.” -Turner on his strong offensive play in recent games
“He’s just continued to be consistent. He’s playing well, his reads are good. I thought he gathered and went strong in a lot of instances tonight — he’s doing that better and better. He banged in a couple threes when we needed them.” -Carlisle on Turner’s contributions
“Just a vet, man. Solid. Been to the Finals, been on some good teams and he brings that experience to this roster.” -Turner on backup center Daniel Theis, who had seven points, two rebounds, and two blocks off the bench in his third game since returning from knee surgery
Stat of the Night
From the 6:35 mark in the second quarter to the 9:39 mark in the third, Cleveland outscored Indiana 37-13.
Noteworthy
The Pacers and Cavaliers will meet once more in the regular season in Cleveland on April 2.
Pacers guard Chris Duarte was scratched shortly before Sunday’s game due to a sore left ankle.
Third-year forward Jalen Smith, who had not played in the Pacers’ past three contests, played the final 6:20 on Sunday, tallying four points on 2-of-4 shooting and three rebounds.
Up Next
The Pacers travel to Miami for their fourth and final regular season meeting with Jimmy Butler and the Heat on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 PM ET.
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:00 PM ET.
FUEL HOCKEY
FUEL FALL TO MAVERICKS ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON
INDIANAPOLIS- The Fuel hosted the Kansas City Mavericks for the second day in a row on Sunday afternoon. They won by a final score of 6-3 on Saturday night and fell 6-3 Sunday.
1ST PERIOD
Kansas City opened the scoring just three and a half minutes into the game with a goal on the first shot by Hugo Roy. Less than a minute later, Pascal Laberge made it 2-0 for the Mavericks. At 6:11, Luke Stevens added to Kansas City’s lead making it 3-0. Ryan Harrison scored at 14:08 to make it 4-0, which is how the first period ended.
2ND PERIOD
At the start of the second period, Mitchell Weeks took over in the Fuel’s net for Cam Gray.
Alex Wideman scored at 4:08 of the second period with the help of Chad Yetman to make it 4-1. Less than two minutes later, Conner Jean scored his first ECHL goal to make it 4-2. Carson Rose and Jared Thomas both claimed assists.
Late in the second, a large scuffle ensued behind the Kansas City goaltender and Indy’s Seamus Malone was ushered off the ice. The only resulting penalty was a slashing call on Thomas.
The Mavericks took advantage and scored a power play goal to make it 5-2 with a goal by John Schiavo.
3RD PERIOD
At 1:07 of the period, Jordan Sambrook took a holding call. With just one second left on the power play, Andrew Perrott scored his third goal of the season with a slap shot that blew past Kansas City goaltender Shane Starrett. 22 seconds later, the Mavericks gave it right back with a goal from Jay Powell.
About 12 minutes into the third period, Jared Thomas was given a penalty shot opportunity after a play prevented his shot attempt. Starrett blocked the shot.
A few more penalties were assessed but killed off through the end of the game and ultimately it was the Fuel who fell to the Mavericks 6-3 on Sunday after winning with that same score against them just a day prior.
The Indy Fuel are back in action at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Friday, February 10 at 7 p.m. against the Iowa Heartlanders for Indy 500 Night.
INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NO. 4/5 INDIANA ROUTS PURDUE ON THE ROAD
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A staunch defensive second half helped No. 4/5 Indiana pick up the 69-46 win over Purdue at Mackey Arena on Sunday afternoon.
KEY MOMENTS
Indiana (22-1, 12-1 B1G) scored the first seven points of the game before Purdue was able to get on the board with 6:07 remaining in the first quarter. Junior guard Sydney Parrish kept the Hoosiers on top at the media timeout, 10-5, with her first triple of the afternoon.
Despite not scoring a field goal in the final 3:10 of the first, IU held on to a 14-10 lead. Purdue (15-7, 6-6 B1G) punched back in the second, taking brief leads early. Junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil would take the reins of the offense, scoring 10 of her 13 points in the second. The Boilermakers cut the lead to one with 2:27 to play before the break as senior guard Sara Scalia knocked a triple down to make it 27-23.
Holding on to a 31-26 lead at the break, IU put up a fight defensively in the third, allowing just two points in the frame and winning the quarter 19-2. Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes scored 11 of her 15 points in the third as her team shot 63.6 percent.
Purdue would muster just one shot in the third with 7:39 to play, going scoreless for the remainder of the frame as IU took a 50-28 lead.
The lead stretched to as many as 26 in the fourth quarter, as Parrish poured in seven in the final 10 minutes to help seal the victory.
NOTABLE
Indiana wins its eight-straight in the series with Purdue.
It also extends its win streak to four games at Mackey for the first time since 1983-86.
It’s 23-point win is the second largest in a road game against the Boilermakers in program history. IU by 25 points on Jan. 15, 1985.
IU gave up just two points in the third quarter, the fewest allowed in any quarter since the quarter system began in 2015-16. It also held Purdue to just 20 second half points, its fewest in the second half by any team this season.
IU’s 46 points allowed by Purdue was the fewest by any Big Ten foe faced this season.
Moore-McNeil led the way on the boards with nine rebounds and added 13 points. She also tied a season-high five steals in the effort.
Holmes and Parrish combined to lead the way with 15 points each.
Senior guard Sara Scalia added 14 points off the bench as she added three 3-pointers.
Freshman guard Yarden Garzon added seven points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
QUOTABLE
Indiana head coach Teri Moren
“First of all, what a great crowd today in Mackey. Give credit to Purdue, our fans traveled as well, but for filling up this place today. It was a great environment just not for us, but for Big Ten women’s basketball and even larger than that for women’s basketball. We continue to do that in the Big, and fans are coming out to watch. I have said it before and I will keep saying it, this particular year is the best conference in women’s basketball. I am really proud of our gang for playing in such a ruckus environment but also really keeping their cool. I don’t think it affected us from an emotional standpoint, and that’s what happens when you have a veteran team the way we do. I thought they had a week to prepare for us, and we went to the game, and they decided to play a little bit off Chloe and try to clog it in with the double with Mack. I thought Chloe (Moore-McNeil) did a tremendous job at handling herself and not just hitting down the threes but taking the opportunities to attack as well. I am really proud of the way she handled herself. And the rest of them, obviously Syd. I thought Sara Scalia came in and gave us great minutes off the bench which was a great shot in the arm for us. Going back to Mack, I do think she handled herself. She knows the double is coming and she continues to work out of it in a mature kind of way. I am really pleased for the most part with how we handled ourselves. We have played in front of crowds like this before at our place, usually there is more red in the place than there was this afternoon. I am really happy to be a part of this game today with a really good Purdue team.”
UP NEXT
Indiana will host No. 6 Iowa on Thursday night inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
INDIANA MEN’S TENNIS
INDIANA MEN’S TENNIS DEFEAT DARTMOUTH, 5-2
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Men’s Tennis captured their first win of the day, 5-2, against Dartmouth in their first match of their double-header at the IU Tennis Center on Sunday morning.
Indiana’s No. 2 doubles pair Luc Boulier and Sam Landau won the first of two doubles point after a 6-2 win. No. 3 doubles duo, Luka Vukovic and Ekansh Kumar, clinched the doubles point for the Hoosiers after an 8-6 tiebreaker, to win the set 7-6, giving the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.
The Hoosiers had stellar performances in the singles matches, winning three straight matches to take a 4-0 lead on Dartmouth.
In the No. 1 singles match, Fletchall earned a point for the Hoosiers with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Vukovic followed up with a win on No. 2, 7-6, 6-0, giving the Hoosiers a 3-0 lead.
Kumar gave the Hoosiers their fourth point of the match, with a win on No. 6, 7-5, 6-1.
Tiraspolsky lost a nailbiter after splitting sets 1-1 on No. 4, 5-7, 6-1, 14-12.
Landau followed the loss up with a win on No. 3, 7-5, 6-2, giving the Hoosiers their fifth point of the match.
Saylor closed out the morning with a loss, fighting till the end, on No. 5, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4.
The Hoosiers improve to 5-1 on the season. Up next, Indiana will compete against Xavier at 4 p.m. at the IU Tennis Center.
Final Results
Indiana 5, Dartmouth 2
Singles competition
1. Patrick Fletchall (IU) def. Carlos Guerrero Alvarez (Dart), 6-4, 6-4
2. Luka Vukovic (IU) def. Miles Groom (Dart), 7-6, 6-0
3. Sam Landau (IU) def. Waleed Qadir (Dart), 7-5, 6-2
4. Henry Ren (Dart) def. Ilya Tiraspolsky (IU), 5-7, 6-1, 14-12
5. Hikaru Takeda (Dart) def. Jagger Saylor (IU), 7-5, 0-6, 6-4
6. Ekansh Kumar (IU) def. Logan Chang (Dart), 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Fletchall/Tiraspolsky (IU) vs. Qadir/Groom (Dart), 6-6, TB 9-10, unfinished
2. Boulier/Landau (IU) def. Knox-Jones/Chang (Dart), 6-2
3. Vukovic/Kumar (IU) def. Takeda/Guerrero Alvarez (Dart), 7-6, TB 8-6
Order of Finish:
Singles: 1, 2, 6, 4, 3, 5
Doubles: 2, 3, 1-unfinished
INDIANA WOMEN’S TENNIS
INDIANA WOMEN’S TENNIS DROPS CONTEST AT YALE
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Indiana women’s tennis (4-2) faced their first road loss of the season against Yale, 4-1, at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center.
Lara Schneider and Saby Nihalani clinched the doubles win for the Hoosiers, 7-5. The Bulldogs would take the number two spot, but a forfeit in No. 3 doubles would put IU up.
Yale would take the first two singles matches in the No. 5 and 4 spots to take the lead, 2-1.
Schneider dropped the No. 1 singles match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Nihalani was battling for the win as she entered a third set, 2-6, 6-1, 1-0, but Yale would clinch the win after winning the No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-4.
NOTABLES
• Indiana drops to 3-1 in the series against Yale.
INDIANA 1, YALE 4
SINGLES
1. Chelsea Kung (YU) def. Lara Schneider (IU), 6-2, 6-4
2. Saby Nihalani (IU) vs. Rhea Shrivistava (YU), 2-6, 6-1, 1-0, unf.
3. AnnWright Guerry (YU) def. Alexandra Staiculescu (IU), 6-3, 6-4
4. Vivian Cheng (YU) def. Mila Mejic (IU), 6-4, 6-1
5. Sophia Zaslow (YU) def. Lauren Lemonds (IU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Xiaowei “Rose” Hu (IU) vs. Rebecca Lynn (YU), 6-0, 4-5
DOUBLES
1. Schneider/Nihalani (IU) def. Cheng/Kung (YU), 7-5
2. Shrivistava/Guerry (YU) def. Mejic/Lemonds (IU), 7-5
3. Staiculescu/Hu (IU) def. Yale (Retired)
ORDER OF FINISH
Singles: 5, 4, 1, 3, unfinished
Doubles: 2, 1
UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will host Xavier on Feb. 11 at the IU Tennis Center. Match time is set for 11 a.m. ET.
BUTLER WOMEN’S TENNIS
BUTLERWTENNIS PICKS UP 4-3 WIN OVER CLEVELAND STATE
Sunday’s meeting with Cleveland State saw the Butler women’s tennis team secure a comeback win. After falling down 3-1, the Bulldogs rallied back to take the 4-3 victory—their second in a row.
The Vikings struck first, picking up the doubles point. They won at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions 6-4 and 6-3, while the No. 3 spot went unfinished.
The Bulldogs mounted their comeback in the singles competition. Katie Beavin got on the board first with a dominate straight-set win at the No. 5. Meanwhile, Cleveland State put themselves at match point by winning at the No. 6 and No.4.
Butler would complete the comeback by rattling off close victories at the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. Chase Metcalf was down after the first set but would win two in a row at the No. 3 to earn the point. Natalie Boesing then took the No. 1 spot after impressive first and third sets. Delaney Schurhamer closed out Butler’s win at the No. 2 position, winning in a close three-set match.
Butler hosts UIndy at the Butler Bubble in their next matchup on Thursday, Feb. 16.
Match Results
Singles:
1. Natalie Boesing (BU) def. Oihane Vicario (CSU) 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
2. Delaney Schurhamer (BU) def. Bethany Yauch (CSU) 6-7, 6-4, 7-5
3. Chase Metcalf (BU) def. Tereze, Vevere (CSU) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
4. Sima Heren (CSU) def. Norah Balthazor (BU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Katie Beavin (BU) def. Selma Tounsi (CSU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Filippa Frogner (CSU) def. Emma Beavin (BU) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles:
1. Sima Heren/Bethany Yauch (CSU) def. Natalie Boesing/Chase Metcalf (BU) 6-4
2. Selma Tounsi/ Filippa Frogner (CSU) def. Veronika Bruetting/Delaney Schurhamer (BU) 6-3
3. Oihane Vicario/Tereze Vevere (CSU) vs. Norah Balthazor/Jordan Schildcrout (BU) 5-4, unfinished
BALL STATE WOMEN’S GOLF
WOMEN’S GOLF OPENS 2023 AT FALCON FLORIDA CLASSIC
MUNCIE, Ind – The Ball State women’s golf team begins the 2023 portion of the 2022-23 campaign on Monday, Feb. 6, on the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. Five Cardinals will compete on the Royal Lakes Course at the Falcon Florida Classic.
Kiah Parrott, Sarah Gallagher, Jasmine Driscoll, Madelin Boyd, and Peyton Broce will represent BSU in the field of 69 golfers.
Ball State is joined by host Bowling Green, Akron, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Idaho, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Illinois, and Western Michigan.
The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club – Royal Lakes Course is a 6,069, Par-72 course. Day one will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Ball State will be joined by Bowling Green and Central Michigan and will tee off from holes 1-4. Round two will immediately follow round one.
BALL STATE MEN’S GOLF
MEN’S GOLF BEGINS 2023 WITH EARL YESTINGSMEIER MATCH PLAY
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s golf team returns to the course for the first time in 2023 as the Cardinals host the Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play tournament at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club on Monday, Feb. 6.
Joey Ranieri, Kash Bellar, Griffin Hare, Ali Khan, Carter Smith, and Colin Nasser will represent BSU in match play. Ball State is joined by Central Michigan, Dayton, Drake, Eastern Michigan, High Point, Loyola – Chicago, and Western Kentucky.
The Cardinals will open the tournament against the Central Michigan Chippewas. Ball State will face either High Point or Eastern Michigan in the second matchup on Monday.
Day one begins with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. and the Cardinals will start on holes 1-3, 5, 6, and 8. Live stats can be found on Golfstat.com or by clicking here.
Eastern Michigan won the 2022 Earl Yestingsmeier Match Play and returns for the 2023 tournament.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
IRISH FALL TO BLUE DEVILS AFTER STAGNANT FOURTH QUARTER, 57-52
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The first half looked as expected. The second half was a different story.
On Sunday, No. 9/8 Notre Dame (18-4, 9-3) hosted No. 16/15 Duke (20-3, 10-2) at Purcell Pavilion in a battle for sole possession of first place in the ACC. The Irish entered the game having lost two straight games to Duke but having never lost at home.
The Irish came out hot, shooting 50 percent in both of the first two frames (12-24). After a couple of early baskets, Duke cooled off and struggled to make anything outside of the lane. Notre Dame led by 6 at the break, 31-25. No one had a scoring run greater than 6, either.
In the third quarter, Notre Dame gave up the aforementioned lead and surrendered three 3-pointers. Leading scorer Celeste Taylor drained two of them. Duke had made zero before the half.
The fourth quarter was Notre Dame’s lowest point output in a quarter this year, as the Irish went 2-13 from the floor (15.4 percent) and scored just 6 points. There were numerous wide-open shots and opportunities, but a young Irish team without graduate students Dara Mabrey and Lauren Ebo was unable to capitalize. A turnover with 15 seconds remaining sealed the deal, and the Blue Devils walked away with the top ACC spot.
“It’s part of our growth, our journey,” Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey said after the game. “When you lose the way we lost today it’s never easy, but there’s always something you can take from it.”
Maddy Westbeld led Notre Dame with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. She is the first player this season to play all 40 minutes of a game for the Irish. Sonia Citron continued her personal hot streak that started with 23 points at Boston College on Thursday. The sophomore guard posted 14 points including one of just three treys by Notre Dame on the day.
Ivey took a few moments during her postgame press conference to focus on the positive: Sunday’s game was Notre Dame’s first ACC sellout since 2019.
“I’m really thankful for our Notre Dame community who came out,” the third-year head coach said. “Our fans are so amazing. Everywhere we go, they love this group. They embrace me, they embrace this team. I’m just so grateful to have such an incredible atmosphere.”
The Irish also sold out the UConn game earlier this year. The last time the team had three sellouts was 2018, the year they won the national title.
Notre Dame continues its home stand on Thursday; the Irish will see Pittsburgh (8-15, 1-11) for the first time this year. The Panthers got their first ACC win on Sunday, defeating UVA at home, 60-51.
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 | ||||||||||||
| ATLANTIC DIVISION | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| BOSTON | 37 | 16 | .698 | — | 20-7 | 17-9 | 7-1 | 21-11 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| PHILADELPHIA | 34 | 18 | .654 | 2.5 | 20-8 | 14-10 | 5-4 | 19-12 | 8-2 | 1 L | ||
| BROOKLYN | 32 | 20 | .615 | 4.5 | 16-8 | 16-12 | 6-5 | 22-11 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| NEW YORK | 29 | 26 | .527 | 9.0 | 14-15 | 15-11 | 4-7 | 20-15 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| TORONTO | 25 | 30 | .455 | 13.0 | 15-12 | 10-18 | 4-9 | 15-19 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| CENTRAL DIVISON | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| MILWAUKEE | 36 | 17 | .679 | — | 23-5 | 13-12 | 7-4 | 21-13 | 9-1 | 7 W | ||
| CLEVELAND | 33 | 22 | .600 | 4.0 | 22-6 | 11-16 | 9-3 | 19-10 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| CHICAGO | 25 | 27 | .481 | 10.5 | 15-11 | 10-16 | 5-4 | 20-15 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| INDIANA | 25 | 30 | .455 | 12.0 | 17-12 | 8-18 | 3-5 | 17-15 | 2-8 | 1 L | ||
| DETROIT | 14 | 40 | .259 | 22.5 | 7-20 | 7-20 | 0-8 | 6-23 | 3-7 | 1 L | ||
| SOUTHEAST DIVISION | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| MIAMI | 29 | 25 | .537 | — | 17-9 | 12-16 | 6-3 | 13-16 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| ATLANTA | 27 | 27 | .500 | 2.0 | 13-11 | 14-16 | 5-4 | 17-17 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| WASHINGTON | 24 | 28 | .462 | 4.0 | 12-11 | 12-17 | 5-3 | 13-16 | 6-4 | 2 L | ||
| ORLANDO | 22 | 32 | .407 | 7.0 | 13-13 | 9-19 | 3-7 | 11-22 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| CHARLOTTE | 15 | 40 | .273 | 14.5 | 7-17 | 8-23 | 5-7 | 8-27 | 4-6 | 4 L | ||
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| NORTHWEST DIVISION | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| DENVER | 37 | 17 | .685 | — | 25-4 | 12-13 | 9-5 | 27-11 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| MINNESOTA | 29 | 27 | .518 | 9.0 | 20-12 | 9-15 | 7-6 | 20-17 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| UTAH | 27 | 27 | .500 | 10.0 | 18-10 | 9-17 | 4-5 | 19-15 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| PORTLAND | 26 | 27 | .491 | 10.5 | 14-11 | 12-16 | 5-7 | 18-15 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| OKLAHOMA CITY | 25 | 27 | .481 | 11.0 | 16-11 | 9-16 | 4-6 | 12-15 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| PACIFIC DIVISION | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| SACRAMENTO | 29 | 23 | .558 | — | 16-11 | 13-12 | 5-5 | 17-11 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| LA CLIPPERS | 30 | 26 | .536 | 1.0 | 14-11 | 16-15 | 4-4 | 17-15 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| PHOENIX | 29 | 26 | .527 | 1.5 | 19-9 | 10-17 | 8-0 | 20-14 | 8-2 | 2 W | ||
| GOLDEN STATE | 27 | 26 | .509 | 2.5 | 20-6 | 7-20 | 4-4 | 16-11 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| LA LAKERS | 25 | 29 | .463 | 5.0 | 13-12 | 12-17 | 1-9 | 12-18 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| SOUTHWEST DIVISION | ||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | LAST 10 | STREAK | |||
| MEMPHIS | 32 | 21 | .604 | — | 21-5 | 11-16 | 6-2 | 15-16 | 2-8 | 3 L | ||
| DALLAS | 28 | 26 | .519 | 4.5 | 19-9 | 9-17 | 7-2 | 20-13 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| NEW ORLEANS | 28 | 27 | .509 | 5.0 | 19-9 | 9-18 | 7-4 | 18-14 | 2-8 | 2 W | ||
| SAN ANTONIO | 14 | 39 | .264 | 18.0 | 9-21 | 5-18 | 2-7 | 5-30 | 1-9 | 8 L | ||
| HOUSTON | 13 | 40 | .245 | 19.0 | 8-18 | 5-22 | 1-8 | 7-28 | 3-7 | 2 L |
NHL STANDINGS
| EASTERN CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | GF | GA | HOME | ROAD | L10 | ||
| 1 BOSTON BRUINS | 51 | 39 | 7 | 5 | 83 | 37 | 192 | 111 | 22-1-3 | 17-6-2 | 7-2-1 | |
| 2 CAROLINA HURRICANES | 51 | 34 | 9 | 8 | 76 | 31 | 173 | 136 | 17-5-2 | 17-4-6 | 9-0-1 | |
| 3 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS | 52 | 31 | 13 | 8 | 70 | 31 | 175 | 141 | 20-5-4 | 11-8-4 | 5-4-1 | |
| 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 | 50 | 26 | 20 | 4 | 56 | 25 | 186 | 170 | 11-13-2 | 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 6, 1926 – GEORGE HALAS HELPED TO GET A RULE PASSED WHERE AS NFL CLUBS WERE PROHIBITED TO SIGN PLAYERS WHOSE COLLEGE CLASS YEAR HAD NOT GRADUATEDPER THE PROFOOTBALLHOF.COM WEBSITE. THE RULE WAS INTENDED TO HELP POTENTIAL PLAYERS TO GET THEIR EDUCATION COMPLETED BEFORE JOINING THE LEAGUE.
FEBRUARY 6, 1983 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – NFL PRO BOWL WAS HELD AND THE NFC SQUAD SQUEAKED BY THE AFC BY THE NARROWEST OF MARGINS 20-19. THE MVPS IN THIS EDITION WERE FROM EACH CONFERENCE TEAM. DAN FOUTS THE QUARTERBACK OF THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AND JOHN J.J. JEFFERSON, THE TALENTED WIDE RECEIVER OF THE GREEN BAY PACKERS, WERE SELECTED.
FEBRUARY 6, 1994 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – AT THE NFL PRO BOWL FOR THE 1993 SEASON THE BOYS FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ALL BUT SHUT DOWN THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE TEAM, 17-3. WIDE OUT ANDRE RISON OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS TOOK HOME THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER HONORS.
FEBRUARY 6, 2000 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – THE NFL PRO BOWL GAVE THE FANS THAT LOVE OFFENSE THEIR MONEY’S WORTH. THE NFC TEAM PUT UP A 51 BURGER AND SURPASSED THE 31 POINTS OF THE AFC TO WIN THE BRAGGING RIGHTS. THE GAME’S MVP WAS WIDE RECEIVER RANDY MOSS THEN OF THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS.
FEBRUARY 6, 2005 – ALLTEL STADIUM, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SUPER BOWL XXXIX WAS ONE OF THOSE CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES THAT THE LEAGUE DREAMS OF. THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES OF COACH ANDY REID CAME INTO THE CONTEST WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 15-3 RECORD TO BATTLE THE BILL BELICHICK LED NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WHO SPORTED AN EVEN BETTER RECORD THAN THEIR OPPONENT OF 17-2. AFTER A SCORELESS FIRST QUARTER PER THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL FANDOM WEB PAGE ARTICLE, THE TEAMS TRADED TOUCHDOWNS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTERS UNTIL THE PATRIOTS GAINED AN ADVANTAGE IN THE FOURTH BY GOING UP BY TEN OVER THE EAGLES VIA A COREY DILLON 2 YARD TD RUN AND AN ADDITIONAL 3 POINTS FROM ADAM VINATIERI 22 YARD KICK AT THE 8:40 MARK OF THE FOURTH. PHILLY CUT THE DEFICIT TO 3 JUST AFTER THE TWO MINUTE WARNING WHEN QUARTERBACK DONOVAN MCNABB FOUND A STREAKING GREG LEWIS ON A 30 YARD SCORING STRIKE. THE PATRIOTS HELD ON TO DEFEAT THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, 24-21. THE GAME’S MVP WAS GIVEN TO WIDE RECEIVER DEION BRANCH OF NEW ENGLAND WHO SNAGGED 11 BALLS FROM TOM BRADY FOR 133 YARDS BUT DID NOT SCORE A TOUCHDOWN. BRANCH WAS THE THIRD OFFENSIVE PLAYER EVER TO WIN SUPER BOWL MVP HONORS WITHOUT SCORING A TOUCHDOWN OR THROWING A TOUCHDOWN PASS FOLLOWING THE PATH OF JOE NAMATH AND FRED BILETNIKOFF.
FEBRUARY 6, 2011 – COWBOYS STADIUM, ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SUPER BOWL XLV FEATURED THE HIGH FLYING OFFENSE OF THE GREEN BAY PACKERS WITH AARON RODGERS AGAINST THE TROY POLOMALU LED DEFENSE OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS. RODGERS GOT THE BETTER OF THIS MATCHUP AS HE THREW FOR 304 YARDS WITH THREE TOUCHDOWNS AS HIS DEFENSE BACKED HIM UP WITH 2 INTERCEPTIONS OF BEN ROETHLISBERGER EVEN TAKING ONE OF THEM FOR A SCORE AIDING THE GREEN BAY PACKERS TO A 31-25 VICTORY OVER THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS. AARON RODGERS SECURED THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER NOMINATION PER AN ESPN.COM WEB PAGE ON THE GAME.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR FEBRUARY 6
FEBRUARY 6, 1886 – HATFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS – JACK HUBBARD THE GREAT HALFBACK FROM AMHERST COLLEGE WAS KNOWN TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH. HUBBARD WAS INITIALLY A HALFBACK BUT HIS GREAT ATHLETIC PROWESS ALLOWED HIM TO PLAY ALMOST EVERY POSITION ON THE FIELD WITH FRUITFUL RESULTS. JACK WAS DESCRIBED BY THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AS AN IRONMAN OF EARLY FOOTBALL AS HE DID NOT MISS ONE GAME OF HIS FOUR YEAR CAREER IN COLLEGE. THOUGH HE WENT TO A SMALLER SCHOOL HE DID NOT ESCAPE THE EYE OF NATIONAL ATTENTION WHEN HE MADE IT ON WALTER CAMP’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM. JACK WAS A “BIG BACK” FOR THOSE DAYS AT 180 LBS AND HE COULD RUN LIKE THE WIND AND STRONG. HUBBARD EMPLOYED HIS TRACK TALENTS FROM THE HURDLES AS A WEAPON WHEN HITTING HOLES THROUGH THE LINE, BUMPING RUNS AROUND THE END OR GLIDING OFF TACKLE. JACK ALSO WAS A GREAT KICKER, NOT MISSING ONE POINT AFTER ATTEMPTS IN 3 STRAIGHT SEASONS! THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION SELECTED JACK HUBBARD FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1966.
FEBRUARY 6, 1950 – BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY – THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA’S GUARD, RICH GLOVER WAS BORN. ACCORDING TO THE NFF GLOVER’S COLLEGE COACH, BOB DEVANEY, CALLED HIM ” THE GREATEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER HE EVER SAW.” IN RICH’S FIRST TWO SEASONS WITH THE HUSKERS THEY WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN BOTH 1970 AND 1971, AND THE NEXT SEASON THEY RANKED FOURTH. NEBRASKA PLAYED IN THE ORANGE BOWL ALL THREE YEARS AND WON EVERY TIME OVER SOME VERY GOOD PROGRAMS, KNOCKING OFF LSU 17-12, ALABAMA 38-0, AND NOTRE DAME 40-6. RICH IN 1972 WON THE TOP TWO NATIONAL AWARDS FOR LINEMEN, THE OUTLAND AND THE LOMBARDI. PERHAPS HIS MOST PRESTIGIOUS HONOR ALSO CAME IN 1972: HIS PICTURE WAS ON THE COVER OF THE NCAA FOOTBALL GUIDE. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION VOTERS SELECTED RICH GLOVER FOR INDUCTION INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1995. GLOVER’S NFL WAS CUT SHORT DUE TO INJURY AS HE PLAYED TWO SEASONS IN THE LEAGUE WITH THE GIANTS AND EAGLES.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
31 – 9 – 14 – 83 – 7 – 16 – 22 – 80 – 11 – 84 – 10 – 83 – 12
FEBRUARY 6, 1926 – ST LOUIS BROWNS ACQUIRE CATCHER WALLY SCHANG FROM NEW YORK YANKEES. THOUGH HE DID NOT WEAR A NUMBER THEN, SCHANG WAS KNOWN TO HAVE THE NUMBER 31 ON HIS UNIFORM IN 1931 WITH THE TIGERS.
FEBRUARY 6, 1958 – FUTURE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME OUTFIELDER NUMBER 9, TED WILLIAMS BECAME THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN MLB HISTORY AT THE TIME WHEN HE RE-SIGNED WITH BOSTON RED SOX FOR $135,000
FEBRUARY 6, 1983 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – AT THE NFL PRO BOWL, THE NFC STARS OUTSHINED THEIR AFC COUNTERPARTS, 20-19. THE GAME MVPS WERE DAN FOUTS, NUMBER 14 AND QUARTERBACK OF THE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AS WELL AS GREEN BAY PACKERS, WR JOHN JEFFERSON, NUMBER 83.
FEBRUARY 6, 1986 – NEW JERSEY DEVILS PETER MCNAB, NUMBER 7 AT THAT POINT IN HIS CAREER, BECAME THE 42ND NHL PLAYER TO SCORE 350 GOALS.
FEBRUARY 6, 1990 – BRETT HULL, NUMBER 16 OF THE ST LOUIS BLUES ON THIS DAY REACHED A MILESTONE THAT COMBINED WITH HIS FATHER, BOBBY HULL TO BECOME THE FIRST FATHER/SON DUO IN NHL HISTORY TO SCORE 50 GOALS EACH IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CAREERS. THE ELDER HULL WORE NUMBER 9 FOR MUCH OF HIS NHL CAREER.
FEBRUARY 6, 1993 – MIKE GARTNER, NUMBER 22 AND THE RIGHT WINGER OF THE NEW YORK RANGERS WAS SELECTED AS THE GAME MVP OF 44TH NHL ALL-STAR GAMEPLAYED AT THE MONTREAL FORUM, MONTREAL, QUEBEC. THE WALES CONFERENCE CRUSHED THE ALL-STARS OF THE CAMPBELL, 16-6.
FEBRUARY 6, 1994 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – AT THE NFL PRO BOWL, THE NFC OUT SCORED THE AFC, 17-3. THE GAME’S MVP: WAS WIDE RECEIVER OF THE ATLANTA FALCONS, ANDRE RISON, WHO SPORTED THE NUMBER 80 THAT SEASON.
FEBRUARY 6, 1998 – THE MINNESOTA TWINS TRADED CHUCK KNOBLAUCH TO NEW YORK YANKEES FOR $3M & 4 MINOR LEAGUERS. THE TALENTED PLAYER WORE NUMBER 11 FOR BOTH CLUBS.
FEBRUARY 6, 2000 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – THE MVP PF THE NFL PRO BOWL WAS MINNESOTA VIKINGS STANDOUT WIDE RECEIVER NUMBER 84, RANDY MOSS. IN THE CONTEST THE NFC DEFEATED THE AFC, 51-31.
FEBRUARY 6, 2000 – AIR CANADA CENTRE, TORONTO – THE RESULTS OF THE 50TH NHL ALL-STAR GAME WORLD BEATS NORTH AMERICA, 9-4. THE CONTEST’S MVP WAS PAVEL BURE, NUMBER 10, THE TALENTED RIGHT WING OF THE FLORIDA PANTHERS TOP LINE.
FEBRUARY 6, 2005 – ALLTEL STADIUM, JACKSONVILLE – SUPER BOWL XXXIX SAW THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS BEAT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, 24-21. MVP WAS PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER, NUMBER 83 DEION BRANCH.
FEBRUARY 6, 2011 – COWBOYS STADIUM, ARLINGTON – SUPER BOWL XLV WITNESSED THE GREEN BAY PACKERS KNOCKING OFF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 31-25. THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF THE GAME WAS PACKERS QB AARON RODGERS, NUMBER 12.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1921 THE NEW YORK AMERICAN LEAGUE FRANCHISE PURCHASES A TEN-ACRE PLOT OF LAND FOR $675,000 FROM WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR’S ESTATE AS THE FUTURE YANKEE STADIUM SITE. THE CLUB’S NEW BALLPARK, LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BRONX, WILL SIT DIRECTLY ACROSS THE HARLEM RIVER FROM THE POLO GROUNDS, THE TEAM’S CURRENT HOME FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS AS TENANTS OF THE GIANTS.
1934 NEW YORK NEWS REPORTER AND BROADCASTER FORD FRICK IS NAMED THE NATIONAL LEAGUE’S PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR. IN NOVEMBER, THE DEPAUW UNIVERSITY GRADUATE WILL BE ELECTED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENIOR CIRCUIT, SUCCEEDING JOHN A. HEYDLER, WHO RESIGNED DUE TO POOR HEALTH.
1935 CARDINAL RIGHT-HANDER DIZZY DEAN, WHO POSTED A 30-7 RECORD LAST SEASON FOR THE GASHOUSE GANG, BECOMES A HOLDOUT WHEN THE TEAM REFUSES TO MEET HIS DEMAND FOR A YEARLY SALARY OF $25,000. THE 23-YEAR-OLD FUTURE HALL OF FAMER, THE NL’S REIGNING MVP, QUICKLY COMES TO TERMS WITH THE REDBIRDS THE FOLLOWING DAY, SIGNING FOR $18,500, INCLUDING A THOUSAND-DOLLAR BONUS.
1956 DODGER OWNER WALTER O’MALLEY, SHOWING HIS SUPPORT FOR THE WAGNER-CASHMORE PLAN TO BUILD A $30-MILLION DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN SPORTS CENTER, PROMISES TO BUY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BONDS FOR THE PROJECT. THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, WHICH WILL BE PASSED AND SIGNED BY NEW YORK GOVERNOR AVERILL HARRIMAN IN APRIL, BECOMES IRRELEVANT DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDING FROM THE CITY’S BOARD OF ESTIMATES.
1958 THE RED SOX SIGN TED WILLIAMS FOR REPORTEDLY $135,000, MAKING HIM THE HIGHEST-PAID PLAYER IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY, SURPASSING HIS ANNUAL SALARY OF A HUNDRED GRAND HE’S COLLECTED SINCE 1949. THE 39-YEAR-OLD OUTFIELDER, STARTING HIS 18TH SEASON WITH THE CLUB, LED THE MAJOR LEAGUES WITH A .388 BATTING AVERAGE LAST YEAR.
1962 THE PHILLIES ANNOUNCE THE TEAM WILL RETIRE ROBIN ROBERTS’ UNIFORM NUMBER 36 WHEN HIS NEW CLUB, THE YANKEES, VISITS CLEARWATER TO PLAY PHILADELPHIA IN A MARCH SPRING EXHIBITION GAME. THE TEAM’S TRIBUTE TO FUTURE HALL OF FAMER MARKS THE FIRST TIME A UNIFORM NUMBER HAS BEEN RETIRED IN THE FRANCHISE’S 79-YEAR HISTORY.
1986 THE YANKEES SIGN WELL-TRAVELED FREE-AGENT AL HOLLAND, WHO SAVED A TOTAL OF FIVE GAMES FOR THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS LAST SEASON. THE ONE-YEAR CONTRACT HAS A CLAUSE THAT REQUIRES THE 33-YEAR-OLD SOUTHPAW RELIEVER, ONE OF THE PLAYERS GRANTED IMMUNITY IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR TESTIMONY IN LAST YEAR’S PITTSBURGH COCAINE TRIALS, TO SUBMIT TO DRUG TESTS.
1992 JEFF INNIS (0-2, 2.66, 84 IP) LOSES HIS ARBITRATION BID AGAINST THE METS, AWARDED THE TEAM’S OFFER OF $355,000 (MORE THAN DOUBLE HIS 1991 SALARY) RATHER THAN THE $650,000 HE SOUGHT. DURING THE SEASON, THE 29-YEAR-OLD MIDDLE-RELIEVER WITH A SUBMARINE DELIVERY BECAME THE FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHER TO APPEAR IN 60 OR MORE GAMES WITHOUT RECORDING A WIN OR A SAVE, A STAT THAT WORKED AGAINST WINNING HIS CASE.
2008 THE RANGERS HIRE NOLAN RYAN AS TEAM PRESIDENT DURING A PIVOTAL POINT IN CLUB HISTORY, ACCORDING TO CLUB PRESIDENT TOM HICKS. THE 61-YEAR-OLD HALL OF FAME HURLER, WHO RETIRED WITH THE RANGERS IN 1993 AFTER PLAYING A RECORD 27 MAJOR LEAGUE SEASONS, IS INTRODUCED AT THE BALLPARK IN ARLINGTON WITH MUCH FANFARE, INCLUDING A VIDEO HIGHLIGHT PACKAGE FEATURING MANY OF THE RIGHT-HANDER’S MILESTONES.
2010 AFTER SEATTLE DECLINED TO OFFER HIM SALARY ARBITRATION, OFT-INJURED FREE AGENT ERIK BEDARD AGREES TO STAY A PART OF THE MARINERS’ PITCHING ROTATION, INKING A ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH A MUTUAL OPTION FOR 2011. THE 30-YEAR-OLD SOUTHPAW, WHO IS REHABILITATING AFTER SURGERY ON HIS PITCHING SHOULDER LAST AUGUST, WILL NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE HIS DISAPPOINTING ROLE AS THE TEAM’S ACE WITH THE OFF-SEASON TRADE FOR CLIFF LEE AND THE EMERGENCE OF FELIX HERNANDEZ.
2012 AN ARBITRATION PANEL RULES IN FAVOR OF 27-YEAR-OLD ANIBAL SANCHEZ (8-9, 3.67), AWARDING THE MARLIN RIGHT-HANDER WITH A RECORD-BREAKING $8 MILLION SALARY THIS SEASON. THE DECISION, WHICH PUTS ASIDE THE TEAM’S COUNTEROFFER OF $6.9 MILLION, REPRESENTS THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT EVER GIVEN TO A STARTING PITCHER WHO WENT TO ARBITRATION.
TV MONDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| UMASS LOWELL AT HARTFORD | 6:00PM | – |
| DUKE AT MIAMI (FL) | 7:00PM | ESPN |
| LAFAYETTE AT HOLY CROSS | 7:00PM | CBSSN |
| GREEN BAY AT MILWAUKEE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| IDAHO STATE AT NORTHERN ARIZONA | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHERN AT ALABAMA A&M | 8:00PM | – |
| FLORIDA A&M AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M | 8:30PM | – |
| TEXAS AT KANSAS | 9:00PM | ESPN |
| BETHUNE-COOKMAN AT TEXAS SOUTHERN | 9:00PM | ESPNU |
| MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE AT ALCORN STATE | 9:00PM | – |
| WEBER STATE AT NORTHERN COLORADO | 11:00PM | ESPNU |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| BOSTON AT DETROIT | 7:00PM | NBCS-BOS BALLY SPORTS |
| CLEVELAND AT WASHINGTON | 7:00PM | NBCS-WSH BALLY SPORTS |
| LA CLIPPERS AT BROOKLYN | 7:30PM | NBATV BALLY SPORTS YES |
| SAN ANTONIO AT CHICAGO | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CHI |
| SACRAMENTO AT HOUSTON | 8:00PM | NBCS-CA ATTSN-SW |
| DALLAS AT UTAH | 9:00PM | ATTSN-RM BALLY SPORTS |
| OKLAHOMA CITY AT GOLDEN STATE | 10:00PM | NBCS-BAY BALLY SPORTS |
| MILWAUKEE AT PORTLAND | 10:00PM | NBATV ROOT SPORTS BALLY SPORTS |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| NY ISLANDERS AT PHILADELPHIA | 7:00PM | MSGSN2 NBCS-PHI |
| TAMPA BAY AT FLORIDA | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| CALGARY AT NY RANGERS | 7:30PM | SPORTSNET MSG |
| VANCOUVER AT NEW JERSEY | 7:30PM | SPORTSNET MSGSN |
| ANAHEIM AT DALLAS | 8:30PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| MINNESOTA AT ARIZONA | 9:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| SERIE A: HELLAS VERONA VS LAZIO | 12:30PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| SERIE A: MONZA VS SAMPDORIA | 2:45PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| LA LIGA: RAYO VALLECANO VS ALMERÍA | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: HURACÁN VS BANFIELD | 6:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: GIMNASIA LA PLATA VS DEFENSA Y JUSTICIA | 6:00PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
TV TUESDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| MARQUETTE VS. UCONN | 6:30PM | FS1 |
| RUTGERS AT INDIANA | 6:30PM | BTN |
| NORTH CAROLINA AT WAKE FOREST | 7:00PM | ESPN |
| AUBURN AT TEXAS A&M | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| ETSU AT UNCG | 7:00PM | ESPNU |
| OLE MISS AT GEORGIA | 7:00PM | SECN |
| LOUISVILLE AT PITT | 7:00PM | ACCN |
| DAYTON AT VCU | 7:00PM | CBSSN |
| CINCINNATI AT TULANE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BALL STATE AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BOWLING GREEN AT KENT STATE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN MICHIGAN AT BUFFALO | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TOLEDO AT AKRON | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| WESTERN MICHIGAN AT MIAMI (OH) | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OHIO AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| DRAKE AT MURRAY STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ST. JOHN’S AT BUTLER | 8:30PM | FS1 |
| MINNESOTA AT ILLINOIS | 8:30PM | BTN |
| ARKANSAS AT KENTUCKY | 9:00PM | ESPN |
| MARYLAND AT MICHIGAN STATE | 9:00PM | ESPN2 |
| TCU AT KANSAS STATE | 9:00PM | ESPNU |
| SOUTH CAROLINA AT MISSOURI | 9:00PM | SECN |
| NC STATE AT VIRGINIA | 9:00PM | ACCN |
| RHODE ISLAND AT SAINT LOUIS | 9:00PM | CBSSN |
| COLORADO STATE AT AIR FORCE | 9:00PM | ALT2 |
| SAN JOSE STATE AT FRESNO STATE | 10:00PM | STADIUM |
| NEVADA AT NEW MEXICO | 10:30PM | FS1 |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| NEW YORK AT ORLANDO | 7:00PM | MSG BALLY SPORTS |
| PHOENIX AT BROOKLYN | 7:30PM | YES BALLY SPORTS |
| ATLANTA AT NEW ORLEANS | 7:30PM | TNT |
| CHICAGO AT MEMPHIS | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CHI |
| MINNESOTA AT DENVER | 10:00PM | TNT |
| OKLAHOMA CITY AT LA LAKERS | 10:30PM | SPECTRUM BALLY SPORTS |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES | TIME ET | TV |
| COLORADO AT PITTSBURGH | 7:00PM | ALT ATTSN-PIT |
| SAN JOSE AT TAMPA BAY | 7:00PM | NBCS-CA BALLY SPORTS |
| EDMONTON AT DETROIT | 7:30PM | ESPN+ HULU |
| SEATTLE AT NY ISLANDERS | 7:30PM | ROOT SPORTS MSGSN |
| VEGAS AT NASHVILLE | 8:00PM | ATTSN-RM BALLY SPORTS |
| ANAHEIM AT CHICAGO | 8:30PM | BALLY SPORTS NBCS-CHI |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| DFB POKAL: SANDHAUSEN VS FREIBURG | 12:00PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: BURNLEY VS IPSWICH TOWN | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: GRIMSBY TOWN VS LUTON TOWN | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: SHEFFIELD UNITED VS WREXHAM | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: FLEETWOOD TOWN VS SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| DFB POKAL: EINTRACHT FRANKFURT VS DARMSTADT 98 | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| SERIE A: SALERNITANA VS JUVENTUS | 2:45PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: SPORT HUANCAYO VS NACIONAL ASUNCIÓN | 7:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |