THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2023

THE SCOREBOARD

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SCORES

CLASS 4A
LAKE CENTRAL
HAMMOND CENTRAL	59	GARY WEST	34
LAKE CENTRAL	55	MUNSTER	39
LOWELL
PORTAGE	56	HOBART	41
VALPARAISO	60	CHESTERTON	46
PLYMOUTH
SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON	77	SOUTH BEND ADAMS	30
PLYMOUTH	62	MICHIGAN CITY	27
CONCORD
NORTHRIDGE	54	GOSHEN	42
ELKHART	55	WARSAW	53
DEKALB
FORT WAYNE SNIDER	50	DEKALB	36
CARROLL (FORT WAYNE)	57	EAST NOBLE	34
HUNTINGTON NORTH
HUNTINGTON NORTH	55	NEW HAVEN	11
HOMESTEAD	73	FORT WAYNE WAYNE	32
LAFAYETTE JEFF
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE)	49	KOKOMO	31
LOGANSPORT	53	LAFAYETTE JEFF	39
NOBLESVILLE
FISHERS	67	NOBLESVILLE	64	2OT
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN	46	ZIONSVILLE	42
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE)
MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE)	29	PENDLETON HEIGHTS	25
NEW PALESTINE	50	ANDERSON	45
LAWRENCE CENTRAL
LAWRENCE NORTH	42	INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL	36
WARREN CENTRAL	71	INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS	27
SOUTHPORT
BEN DAVIS	58	PIKE	45
FRANKLIN CENTRAL	46	DECATUR CENTRAL	36
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH
AVON	66	TERRE HAUTE SOUTH	47
BROWNSBURG	65	PLAINFIELD	48
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH
MOORESVILLE	61	MARTINSVILLE	23
CENTER GROVE	42	BLOOMINGTON NORTH	30
SHELBYVILLE
FRANKLIN	66	WHITELAND	43
SHELBYVILLE	65	COLUMBUS EAST	62
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE	65	JEFFERSONVILLE	50
SILVER CREEK	45	SEYMOUR	31
EVANSVILLE HARRISON
JASPER	43	EVANSVILLE REITZ	33
EVANSVILLE CENTRAL	44	EVANSVILLE NORTH	38
CLASS 3A
GRIFFITH
HIGHLAND	63	BOONE GROVE	28
HANOVER CENTRAL	57	HAMMOND NOLL	38
BREMEN
JOHN GLENN	39	KNOX	30
TIPPECANOE VALLEY	56	BREMEN	33
MISHAWAKA MARIAN
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH	62	SOUTH BEND CLAY	54
MISHAWAKA MARIAN	55	NEW PRAIRIE	29
FAIRFIELD
FAIRFIELD	55	WEST NOBLE	6
LAKELAND	41	NORTHWOOD	39
FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA
WOODLAN	45	HERITAGE	34
GARRETT	44	FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA	38
BENTON CENTRAL
TWIN LAKES	68	WEST LAFAYETTE	61	2OT
BENTON CENTRAL	54	RENSSELAER CENTRAL	51
NORWELL
NORWELL	70	PERU	25
NORTHWESTERN	50	BELLMONT	44
HAMILTON HEIGHTS
HAMILTON HEIGHTS	58	JAY COUNTY	47
YORKTOWN	43	FRANKTON	35
LEBANON
CASCADE	57	LEBANON	38
DANVILLE	66	TRI-WEST	42
OWEN VALLEY
NORTHVIEW	49	BROWN COUNTY	43
INDIAN CREEK	60	EDGEWOOD	27
BREBEUF JESUIT
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN	65	INDIANAPOLIS SHORTRIDGE	24
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD	33	BREBEUF JESUIT	32
SPEEDWAY
PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD	43	SPEEDWAY	40
INDIANAPOLIS RITTER	48	INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON	12
RUSHVILLE
LAWRENCEBURG	49	CONNERSVILLE	37
RUSHVILLE	51	FRANKLIN COUNTY	44
CORYDON CENTRAL
SCOTTSBURG	71	MADISON	56
CORYDON CENTRAL	53	NORTH HARRISON	39
PRINCETON
SOUTHRIDGE	52	VINCENNES LINCOLN	44
PRINCETON	53	WASHINGTON	50	OT
CLASS 2A
ANDREAN
NORTH NEWTON	55	WHITING	40
ANDREAN	62	ILLIANA CHRISTIAN	22
NORTH JUDSON
SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS)	70	SOUTH BEND CAREER	11
LAVILLE	45	WHEELER	23
CENTRAL NOBLE
WESTVIEW	39	FREMONT	30	OT
CENTRAL NOBLE	51	EASTSIDE	42
LEWIS CASS
NORTH MIAMI	49	WINAMAC	31
PIONEER	40	LEWIS CASS	36
BLUFFTON
ADAMS CENTRAL	57	BLUFFTON	50
FORT WAYNE LUERS	57	SOUTH ADAMS	46
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC	69	SEEGER	36
CARROLL (FLORA)	53	CLINTON PRAIRIE	48
BLACKFORD
EASTBROOK	59	ELWOOD	5
TIPTON	44	BLACKFORD	42
WAPAHANI
LAPEL	58	ALEXANDRIA	56
WINCHESTER	72	WES-DEL	15
HAGERSTOWN
SHENANDOAH	43	KNIGHTSTOWN	33
UNION COUNTY	41	NORTHEASTERN	34
TRITON CENTRAL
INDIANAPOLIS SCECINA	72	INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE	14
EASTERN HANCOCK	97	IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY	13
UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY	77	SHERIDAN	44
PARK TUDOR	35	COVENANT CHRISTIAN	24
GREENCASTLE
GREENCASTLE	59	CLOVERDALE	37
PARKE HERITAGE	68	SOUTH PUTNAM	46
SWITZERLAND COUNTY
HAUSER	53	MILAN	46
SOUTH RIPLEY	47	SWITZERLAND COUNTY	36
AUSTIN
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL	30	PROVIDENCE	28
AUSTIN	54	SOUTHWESTERN (HANOVER)	49
EASTERN GREENE
PAOLI	60	SULLIVAN	29
NORTH KNOX	39	LINTON-STOCKTON	26
FOREST PARK
SOUTH SPENCER	58	PERRY CENTRAL	39
FOREST PARK	52	TELL CITY	20
CLASS 1A
KOUTS
WASHINGTON TWP.	44	MORGAN TWP.	40
KOUTS	43	TRI-TWP.	25
CULVER
TRITON	45	MARQUETTE CATHOLIC	30
ARGOS	48	WESTVILLE	45
FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK
BETHANY CHRISTIAN	33	FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK	32
LAKEWOOD PARK	47	ELKHART CHRISTIAN	30
TRI-COUNTY
TRI-COUNTY	51	SOUTH NEWTON	15
NORTH WHITE	42	CASTON	39	OT
SOUTHERN WELLS
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN	63	SOUTHERN WELLS	33
SOUTHWOOD	59	NORTHFIELD	39
ATTICA
FAITH CHRISTIAN	55	ATTICA	39
ROSSVILLE	41	FOUNTAIN CENTRAL	16
TRI-CENTRAL
TRI-CENTRAL	65	DALEVILLE	28
COWAN	47	ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY	32
RANDOLPH SOUTHERN
BLUE RIVER	52	RANDOLPH SOUTHERN	45
TRI	65	UNION (MODOC)	23
BLOOMFIELD
NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG)	79	DUGGER UNION	31
BLOOMFIELD	49	CLAY CITY	29
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN
INDIANA MATH & SCIENCE	32	TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN	13
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN	60	INDIANA DEAF	21
EMINENCE
EMINENCE	45	INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN	25
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN	40	CENTRAL CHRISTIAN	15
SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE)
JAC-CEN-DEL	53	SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE)	27
SOUTH DECATUR	50	MORRISTOWN	38
BORDEN
BORDEN	60	WEST WASHINGTON	32
LANESVILLE	58	ROCK CREEK ACADEMY	24
RISING SUN
TRINITY LUTHERAN	67	CROTHERSVILLE	8
RISING SUN	61	NEW WASHINGTON	60
SPRINGS VALLEY
SPRINGS VALLEY	53	VINCENNES RIVET	45
BARR-REEVE	54	ORLEANS	42
TECUMSEH
TECUMSEH	73	CANNELTON	22
WOOD MEMORIAL	37	NORTHEAST DUBOIS	35

INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SCORES

BLOOMINGTON LIGHTHOUSE	83	BROWN COUNTY	64
ELKHART CHRISTIAN	63	CHURUBUSCO	46
INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS	87	IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY	35
INDIANAPOLIS HOMESCHOOL	70	INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN	62
INDIANAPOLIS RIVERSIDE	70	KIPP INDY LEGACY	65
SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH	88	SOUTH BEND CLAY	83	OT

INDIANA WRESTLING REGIONAL SITES

1. HOBART | 9 AM CT 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, PORTAGE.

2. CROWN POINT | 8 AM CT 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CROWN POINT, LAPORTE.

3. PENN | 9 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: MISHAWAKA, PLYMOUTH.

4. LOGANSPORT | 10 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, WINAMAC COMMUNITY.

5. GOSHEN | 9:30 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: ELKHART, WEST NOBLE.

6. CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), NEW HAVEN.

7. PERU | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: PERU, OAK HILL.

8. JAY COUNTY | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: DELTA, JAY COUNTY.

9. NORTH MONTGOMERY | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CRAWFORDSVILLE, FRANKFORT.

10. PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: ELWOOD, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL.

11. PERRY MERIDIAN | 9 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: WARREN CENTRAL, SOUTHPORT.

12. RICHMOND | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: SOUTH DEARBORN, SHENANDOAH.

13. MOORESVILLE | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: AVON, MOORESVILLE.

14. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: BLOOMINGTON NORTH, SOUTHRIDGE.

15. JEFFERSONVILLE | 8 AM ET 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: JEFFERSONVILLE, JENNINGS COUNTY.

16. CASTLE | 8 AM CT 
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CASTLE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL.

TRACK WRESTLING: HTTPS://WWW.TRACKWRESTLING.COM/LOGIN.JSP?TIM=1643731384335&TWSESSIONID=WAENAMISOK&TNAME=IHSAA%20REGIONAL&STATE=&SDATE=&EDATE=&LASTNAME=&FIRSTNAME=&TEAMNAME=&SFVSTRING=&CITY=&GBID=&CAMPS=FALSE

TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

#22 SAN DIEGO STATE 72 BOISE STATE 52

ELSEWHERE:

BALL STATE 91 EASTERN MICHIGAN 90 OT

FRESNO STATE 82 UNLV 79

NEVADA 72 AIR FORCE 52

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:  HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230203

TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

#2 STANFORD 71 WASHINGTON STATE 38

#7 UTAH 75 OREGON STATE 73 OT

#22 ARIZONA 71 #14 UCLA 66 OT

ELSEWHERE:

GREEN BAY 56 DETROIT 47

OAKLAND 74 MILWAUKEE 71

COLORADO 63 OREGON 53

USC 64 ARIZONA STATE 49

WASHINGTON 70 CALIFORNIA 54

COMPLETE SCOREBOARD:  HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230203

NBA

INDIANA 107 SACRAMENTO 104

DETROIT 118 CHARLOTTE 112

PORTLAND 124 WASHINGTON 116

PHOENIX 106 BOSTON 94

TORONTO 117 HOUSTON 111

ORLANDO 127 MINNESOTA 120

PHILADELPHIA 137 SAN ANTONIO 125

ATLANTA 115 UTAH 108

BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP

NHL

ALL-STAR BREAK

BOX SCORES:

TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES

NFL NEWS

ANALYSIS: EAGLES WEREN’T AFRAID TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS

The Philadelphia Eagles are playing for another Super Bowl title because they weren’t afraid to make difficult decisions following a disastrous 2020 season.

Just three years after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in franchise history, the organization was at a crossroads following a 4-11-1 finish in the pandemic-altered season. Philadelphia had gone from winning it all to winning one playoff game to losing in the wild-card round to last place.

Coach Doug Pederson and the front office didn’t see eye-to-eye. Franchise quarterback Carson Wentz was debating his future after being benched for a terrible performance in the first season of a lucrative contract extension he’d received two years earlier.

Pederson was fired and Wentz was traded three years after finishing third in NFL MVP voting and helping put the Eagles in position to win that Super Bowl by going 11-2 before he was injured.

Those moves laid the foundation for a rebuild that only ended up being a quick retool.

Pederson was an excellent coach in Philadelphia, turning Chip Kelly’s mess into a championship team in just two years. He led the Eagles to a pair of division titles and three playoff appearances in five seasons.

He took his aggressive coaching style, strong leadership skills and sharp mind to Jacksonville this season and transformed the Jaguars from doormat to AFC South champions.

But Pederson had to go in Philadelphia because he disagreed with management on some issues, including his assistant coaches. His loyalty ended up costing him his job.

Owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman were criticized for meddling and interfering with game plans and play-calling.

Nick Sirianni came to Philadelphia with no fanfare after three seasons as an offensive coordinator in Indianapolis. The perception in Philly was Lurie and Roseman wanted a young coach they could mold and compel to follow their plans.

If that was the case, it’s hard to argue with their success.

After a rough start in 2021, Sirianni led the Eagles to a playoff berth in his first season with Jalen Hurts as the starting quarterback.

Hurts and the rest of the team took a giant leap this season and here they are at 16-3, one win away from another parade on Broad Street.

“This is not a time for reflection,” Hurts said after the Eagles dominated the 49ers in the NFC championship game. “It’s really hard for me to do that. I try to enjoy the moment, but my joy comes in winning. I know the job isn’t done. I never knew how far we would come, I never knew how far we’d go, but I never said it couldn’t be done.”

The first step for management was deciding to make tough decisions. Trading Wentz meant absorbing a $33.8 million cap hit. Their next moves had to pay off for it to work out.

Hurts came to Philly as a surprise second-round pick to provide insurance for the oft-injured Wentz and play a utility role somewhat similar to New Orleans’ Taysom Hill. Now, he’s a finalist for AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.

“He is a great young leader. He is a terrific young quarterback,” Lurie said. “When we drafted him it was the upside we were banking on. We thought he had a huge upside. It takes a couple years. And somebody so dedicated as Jalen and such a great teammate. Inevitably he is going to maximize everything he has and that’s what he’s done. And he’s got great teammates and great coaches.

“I can’t understate it takes everybody. Talk about the owner, talk about the head coach, talk about the quarterback, talk about the GM. We’re only as good as the staff that we have and in a way that is the secret sauce — the culture, and the staff.”

During Lurie’s 29 years as owner, the Eagles have reached the playoffs 17 times, advanced to the NFC title game seven times and are 1-1 in the Super Bowl going into next Sunday’s game against former coach Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Lurie once proclaimed he wanted the Eagles to be the “gold standard” for NFL teams. His hometown New England Patriots filled that role for two decades with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

Silver isn’t bad, though, especially in the form of a Lombardi.

FROM REID TO SUPER BOWLS, EAGLES 4 STALWARTS DONE IT ALL

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jason Kelce felt the pull of retirement after the Eagles slogged through a miserable 2020 season and a second Super Bowl any time soon seemed like a joke. The Christmas album crooner,honorary Mummer and All-Pro center — how many players have all those titles in their NFL.com bio? — considered walking away at the end of last season. His future was one of the more pressing offseason questions on tap, so Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni shipped the big guy two cases of beer to coax him to stay.

So Kelce stayed.

“I’ve learned now I don’t know when that last game is going to come,” the 35-year-old Kelce said.

Hey, at least Kelce knows for sure when the last game this season is going to come.

Kelce has tried not to consider that the Super Bowl against Kansas City could be his final game as an Eagle. But he’s not the only veteran Eagle and Super Bowl champion with a murky future. Kelce, Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham are the lone holdovers from former coach Andy Reid’s last season with the Eagles in 2012. There’s a chance none of the three will be back for the 2023 season.

“I know them personally and they are tough guys, tough-minded,” Reid said. “They’re good leaders, fun to be around, and they’re good football players. Each one has their own characteristic, but in general I’d tell you that about all of them, great team guys.”

Lane Johnson completes the four veteran anchors and was a rookie in former coach Chip Kelly’s first season in 2013.

The tenured stars — the Core Four — have won a Super Bowl under former coach Doug Pederson and won just four games in 2020. They’ve been hurt and set records. They’ve also raised the standard on what it means to be an Eagle. The best way to do that is go out and win the big one in style.

“Since the day I got here, that’s all they talk about,” defensive tackle Javon Hargrave said. “Tell me how they feel when they went to the Super Bowl and all the memories they had. It’s pretty cool to have people who have done it before.”

Hargrave’s nod to the veterans was interrupted when Graham pulled on his gaudy Super Bowl jacket — with tags dangling from the sleeve — at the neighboring locker. All they need is a new ring to complete the ensemble.

If they beat the Chiefs, some might go out in Philly on top.

This is no ordinary game for Kelce. On the Kansas City side, there’s Reid, the coach who drafted him. Also over there is his brother, tight end Travis Kelce, marking the first time siblings will face off in the Super Bowl. One more thing, Kelce’s wife Kylie is pregnant and the couple is bringing their ob-gyn to Arizona just in case.

Kelce has been as durable as they come, with the Super Bowl putting him at 149 consecutive games.

“He’s out there at practice every day limping around and giving his all to the team,” tight end Dallas Goedert said.

Let’s take a look at some of the foursome’s finer moments:

_____

Jason Kelce. Age 35. Center. Sixth-round pick, 2011. Five-time first-team All-Pro.

The burly, bushy-haired Bird has been a stalwart of the offensive line since he was drafted and as an Iron Man after he missed most of the 2012 season with a partially torn MCL and torn ACL. He’s in the last season of his contract.

He’s a fan favorite and has done it all outside the football field, such as singing the national anthem at a 76ers game, partying with the Phanatic and pounding a beer to a roaring ovation at a Phillies postseason game.

But the moment that endeared him for life to the Philly faithful came at the 2018 Super Bowl parade when he dressed as one of Philadelphia’s famed Mummer’s and the ultimate underdog delivered a fiery, profane speech that whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

“No one likes us! No one likes us! No one likes us! We don’t care,” Kelce exclaimed. “We’re from Philly! (Expletive) Philly. No one likes us! We don’t care!”

___

Brandon Graham. Age 34. Defensive end. First-round pick. 2010. 2020 Pro Bowl.

The most famous moment in Eagles history is the trick play that saw QB Nick Foles catch a touchdown to lead them past the New England Patriots for the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. Right behind it? Graham’s strip-sack of Tom Brady in the same game with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter. Derek Barnett recovered and the Eagles hung on to win 41-33.

He missed most of last season with a torn Achilles but came back to post a career-high 11 sacks. Graham said he’s not retiring and was excited about testing free-agency for the first time in his career.

“I know I’m not the guy I was early on,” he said. “I do feel like I’m still pass-rushing the same. I’m able to be dominant in the run game. I’m enjoying being the leader for the guys.”

___

Lane Johnson. Age 32. Right tackle. First-round pick. 2013. Two-time first-team All-Pro.

Johnson, signed through 2025, bypassed surgery late in the season and has played through the postseason with a torn adductor in his groin. He did not allow a sack all season. But Johnson has received kudos for his openness in dealing with his mental health. Johnson took a leave during the 2021 season as he battled anxiety and depression and has since shared his story at depression treatment clinics in the area.

“I felt the shame, I felt like it was a crutch,” Johnson said last year.

___

Fletcher Cox. Age 32. Defensive tackle. First-round pick 2012. First-team All-Pro 2018.

Cox added seven sacks this season to give him 65 in his career. Cox was briefly released last season before signing a new deal for essentially one season. He may not be back in Philly next season but he’s not calling it quits.

“I’m still playing at a high level,” Cox said. “That hasn’t crossed my mind once, at all.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

CLEMSON GIVES RAISES, CONTRACT EXTENSIONS TO FOOTBALL STAFF

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson’s board of trustees approved raises for special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and defensive tackles coach Nick Eason on Friday.

Reed and Eason also received one-year extensions keeping them tied to the Tigers through Jan. 31, 2026.

Reed, who’s been with the Tigers since 2013, had his yearly salary increased $50,000 to $800,000. Eason, the former Clemson standout defensive lineman, joined the staff this past season. He also had his compensation upped by $50,000 to $800,000.

Seven other assistants were given one-year extensions by the trustees’ compensation committee, but without a raise in salary.

Co-defensive coordinators Wes Goodwin and Mickey Conn had their contracts extended through Jan. 31, 2026.

Defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall, tight ends coach Kyle Richardson, offensive line coach Thomas Austin, running backs coach C.J. Spiller and wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham all got one-year extensions through Jan. 31, 2025.

New offensive coordinator Garrett Riley last month received a three-year contract at $1.75 million per season.

Clemson will pay its 10 on-field assistants $7.475 million this season, an increase of $925,000 from the total for 2022.

The Tigers went 11-3 last season, winning the Atlantic Coast Conference title for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

ALABAMA’S OATS RECEIVES NEW 6-YEAR, $30 MILLION CONTRACT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Alabama coach Nate Oats has agreed to a new six-year, $30 million contract amid the program’s best regular season in decades.

Oats will average $5 million plus incentives over the deal running through the 2028-29 season under a deal approved Friday by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.

It makes him the fourth-highest paid basketball coach in the Southeastern Conference and among the Top 10 nationally, athletic director Greg Byrne said.

Oats, who is in his fourth season, will make $4.5 million for the first year with $200,000 annual raises. The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide (19-3, 9-0 SEC) has the team’s highest ranking this deep into a season since 1976-77.

“I am honored and humbled to receive a contract extension from the University of Alabama,” Oats said in a statement. “As I have said many times, my family and I love this community, the city of Tuscaloosa and the university.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to build during our time at UA which is a direct reflection of the student-athletes, coaches and staff who have all played a big part in our success. I am excited for what’s happening in the future of our program and the direction we are heading.”

Alabama has gone 80-39 under Oats, winning the 2021 SEC regular season and tournament championships.

“Coach Oats has done an outstanding job leading our men’s basketball program, and we want him to continue doing so for many years to come,” Byrne said in a statement. “He and his staff have lifted the program back to national prominence and built a product that is exciting to be a part of for our team and for our fans.

“We were confident Nate was going to be an outstanding coach for us when we hired him, and he is not only that, but also a great leader of our young men.”

NEW BLOODS CHANGING COLLEGE HOOPS LANDSCAPE

Perennial powers frontloaded the final poll of the 2012-13 college basketball season.

The top 10 included Louisville, Kansas, Duke, Indiana and Georgetown. Gonzaga was No. 1, at the start of its rise to the sport’s upper echelon.

Flash forward 10 years and the AP Top 25 has a different look and feel.

New programs have risen to the top tier. Upsets have turned up the madness in March even more. A few bluebloods have lost a bit of their shine.

“When you look at college basketball, there are some new bloods,” said ESPN college basketball analyst and former coach Seth Greenberg. “The bluebloods have an opportunity to reemerge as the season goes along, but we’ve got some new bloods that are stepping up and making a statement.”

Changes in the sport have led to the shuffling at the top.

Elite recruits have become more willing to eschew the traditional powers for smaller schools, spreading talent across the country. NIL deals have helped facilitate the shift, offering players opportunities they had never had before at those schools.

The transfer portal has allowed schools to replenish rosters quickly, pull in players who have experience and maturity that can fit in quickly. Some schools have invested more in facilities and coaches, adding to the allure of their programs.

The lasting effects of the pandemic — namely the extra year of eligibility — has also made teams older, adding cohesiveness and coachability.

“Because of the COVID year, you have older, more experienced teams that have grown or been put together that have the maturity and understanding of what it takes to be successful,” Greenberg said. “But the big thing is new coaches in certain leagues have done a really good job of evaluating and recruiting.”

The evidence is in the rankings.

Purdue has continued its rise under coach Matt Painter, spending six weeks atop the poll this season after earning the program’s first No. 1 ranking a year ago. Tennessee has become a defensive menace, steadily rising until reaching No. 2 this week.

Kelvin Sampson has molded Houston into one of the nation’s toughest teams to play. The Cougars went to the Final Four in 2021 and had two stints at No. 1 this season. No. 4 Alabama has shown it can play some basketball, too, reaching the Sweet 16 two years ago, climbing to No. 2 last week.

No. 7 Kansas State, picked to finish last in the Big 12, has made a quick rise under first-year coach Jerome Tang, a former long-time assistant at Baylor. No. 15 TCU is no longer known as just a football school, while schools like Florida Atlantic and Charleston have risen through the ranks.

No. 20 Clemson leads the ACC and Pittsburgh is just a game back. No. 18 Saint Mary’s is ahead of No. 12 Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference.

On the flip side, North Carolina fell off quickly. A national finalist last season, the Tar Heels went from preseason No. 1 to out of the AP Top 25 in less than a month.

Kentucky struggled so much earlier in the season, fans were calling for coach John Calipari to be fired. Villanova dropped off precipitously in its first season since Jay Wright retired.

Of course there’s still a month left in the regular season, so the middling bluebloods can still turn it around.

And once it gets to March Madness, the final chapter has still tended to be written by established powers.

Kansas won last year’s national championship after an all-blueblood Final Four. ACC schools won three titles between 2015-19, wrapped around two Villanova championships.

But with those big-name champions, chaos has reigned with some of the biggest upsets and unexpected deep March runs the past few years.

Loyola Chicago reached the 2018 Final Four after Maryland-Baltimore County beat Virginia to become the first No. 16 seed to topple a No. 1 in NCAA Tournament history. Oral Roberts reached the Sweet 16 in 2021, Saint Peter’s the Elite Eight a year ago.

The way this season has gone so far, college basketball fans could be in for the maddest March yet.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

DUKE WOMEN’S COACH LAWSON SAYS MEN’S BALL USED VS. FSU

Duke coach Kara Lawson said her team played with a men’s basketball for the first half of a loss to Florida State last Sunday.

The 16th-ranked Blue Devils lost to the Seminoles 70-57 in Tallahassee, Florida — the team’s second Atlantic Coast Conference loss of the season.

After her team beat Pittsburgh 53-44 on Thursday, Lawson ended her news conference by speaking animatedly about Sunday’s game.

“This would never happen in a men’s game. This would never happen. It’s embarrassing for our sport,” she said.

The circumference of a women’s ball is about an inch smaller than a men’s ball and it is typically 2 ounces lighter. While it may not seem like a lot, that’s a big difference.

Lawson said throughout the first half, Duke players were “complaining about the ball.” The Blue Devils were 7 for 34 from the field in the opening 20 minutes of that game. They were 12 for 38 in the second half. Florida State made 10 of its 30 shots in the first two quarters and 14 of 31 in the second half.

“To have a game that, at the end of the season, could be the difference between a seed, between a title, my players don’t deserve that and neither do their players,” Lawson said. “It’s a complete failure. And you can figure out who the people I’m talking about that failed the sport and our players and both teams.”

Lawson said assistant coach Winston Gandy went to the scorer’s table at the half to check on the ball when he realized what the problem was. She said the game officials changed the ball to start the second half.

“We have concluded through our investigation that it was a men’s ball,” Lawson said. ”The conference and Florida State is saying that it wasn’t.”

The ACC said it did a comprehensive review talking with game officials, administrators, the table crew and both schools.

“Following the thorough and objective review process, there was no evidence found to support the claim,” the conference said in a statement. “Per NCAA playing rules, there is no appeal or protest process.”

The ACC has instituted a procedural change that the game ball will be brought to the pregame meeting with the captains for approval.

“It’s very frustrating that (the game) … was not treated with the utmost respect that players on both teams deserve,” she said.

This wasn’t the first time this has happened in women’s basketball. In 2017, the College of Charleston played home games and practiced with men’s balls for most of its season until the error was was discovered.

“Let me be clear: Florida State beat us. They beat us playing with a men’s ball in the first half and a women’s ball in the second half. But I can’t say if we’d have played with a women’s ball in the first half and the second half that we would have won. But they can’t say that either,” Lawson said.

NBA NEWS

REPORT: KYRIE IRVING REQUESTS TRADE FROM NETS

Brooklyn Nets All-Star guard Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources told The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Irving reportedly informed the Nets on Friday that he prefers to be moved ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline, or he’ll leave in free agency in July.

Irving’s representation didn’t request specific teams for him to be traded to, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Earlier in January, Irving was looking to stay in Brooklyn, but the two sides hadn’t had significant conversations about a contract extension.

The eight-time All-Star is in the final season of a four-year, $136.4-million contract signed in 2019. He exercised his $36.5-million player option for this season last summer.

Irving has a 15% trade kicker worth $2.1 million that Brooklyn would be responsible for, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

In July, the Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly discussed a deal that would send Irving to L.A. for a package including Russell Westbrook.

At last season’s trade deadline, the Nets dealt former MVP James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for a haul that included Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond.

The 30-year-old Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and a steal in 40 games for Brooklyn this season. The Nets currently hold a 31-20 record, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Biggest all-star snubs (the score)

With only seven reserve spots available for each conference, some talented players were guaranteed to miss out on an NBA All-Star berth.

Plenty of perennial All-Stars won’t be making the trip to Salt Lake City after the league announced the coaches’ picks for reserves Thursday.

Here are the biggest snubs from each conference.

Eastern Conference

Reserves: Joel Embiid (76ers), Bam Adebayo (Heat), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers), Julius Randle (Knicks), DeMar DeRozan (Bulls), Jrue Holiday (Bucks)

Pascal Siakam (Raptors): The Raptors’ lackluster season was undoubtedly the main argument against Siakam’s inclusion. Individually, the Cameroonian forward is having a stellar career year with 24.9 points, eight rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game, but he would have been the All-Star with the worst team record thanks to Toronto’s 23-30 mark. Still, the omission is a tough blow for the 28-year-old, whose only selection came four seasons ago despite multiple impressive runs since. It also has financial implications for Siakam, who now needs to earn All-NBA honors for a second consecutive year to qualify for a super-max extension worth 35% of the cap this summer, according to TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.

James Harden (76ers): Harden isn’t the lethal scorer he was with the Houston Rockets, but he’s settled in nicely playing a pass-first role for the 76ers, orchestrating the league’s seventh-best offense. Philadelphia scores 9.4 more points per 100 possession when Harden is on the floor; he’s averaging 11 assists and trails only Haliburton in assist percentage (44.8%). Harden has taken great care of the rock as well, posting a solid 3.08 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Jalen Brunson (Knicks): The Knicks haven’t had two All-Stars in one year since Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler in 2013. That decade-long streak seems set to continue after Brunson failed to garner enough votes from NBA coaches to join Randle as a reserve. Like Randle, though, Brunson has crafted a strong case: He’s been the Knicks’ long-awaited answer at point guard, registering 22.8 and 6.2 assists per game on 39.4% shooting from deep – more than living up to the $104-million contract he signed this past summer.

Jimmy Butler (Heat): The Heat’s top star missed out on a seventh All-Star nomination Thursday despite another formidable campaign on both ends of the floor. Not only does Butler top the league in steals per game at 2.1 – the same NBA-best rate he posted in 2020-21 – but his 22 points per game represent his best scoring output since he averaged 22.2 with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017-18. With Miami on course for a playoff berth, the four-time All-NBA selection had a solid argument to be an Eastern Conference representative again this year.

Western Conference

Reserves: Ja Morant (Grizzlies), Domantas Sabonis (Kings), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Paul George (Clippers), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Lauri Markkanen (Jazz), Jaren Jackson (Grizzlies)

De’Aaron Fox (Kings): The Kings have been the feel-good story of the season and are in position to snap their NBA-record playoff drought thanks to a high-powered offense. Fox has been one of the main engines driving that offense, averaging 24.3 points and 6.1 assists per game. The sixth-year floor general has been exceptional when the game is on the line, leading his peers in both total clutch points (119) and field goals made (48).

Anthony Davis (Lakers): Davis’ 20-game injury absence certainly hurt his candidacy, but his body of work with the Lakers has arguably been good enough to justify another All-Star nod. The former No. 1 overall pick was on a tear before being sidelined, averaging 30.8 points, 13.3 boards, 2.7 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals in the 14 contests preceding his foot injury. He ranks 13th in true shooting percentage (65.3%) and 16th in total blocks (57). Though Davis has played seven fewer games than Jackson, he entered Thursday’s action with only 12 fewer minutes played.

Aaron Gordon (Nuggets): The Western Conference-leading Nuggets deserved another All-Star alongside Nikola Jokic. Gordon is enjoying arguably his best NBA campaign, registering 16.8 points on a career-high 57.7 shooting percentage – including a 38.8% mark from deep. The Arizona product has been a perfect fit for Denver since it acquired him from the Orlando Magic two years ago. Gordon has provided the club with some solid perimeter defense, and his ability to make timely cuts has meshed well with Jokic.

Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves): This year’s midseason spectacle will once again be without Edwards’ electric talents. Edwards has been a revelation for the Timberwolves this season, carrying the scoring load with star teammate Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined seemingly indefinitely with a strained calf. He leads the team with 24.9 points per game, elevating that mark to 26.4 points during Towns’ 33-game absence to help keep Minnesota inside the West’s top six. Boasting averages of 6.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 37.1% 3-point shooting – all without missing a single game this year – Edwards has good reason to be miffed.

FIGHT BETWEEN MAGIC, TIMBERWOLVES LEADS TO 5 PLAYERS EJECTED

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A fight broke out and punches were thrown during the game between the Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Five players were ejected following the brawl, which started in front of the Orlando bench late in the third quarter. Minnesota guard Austin Rivers and Magic center Mo Bamba were the initial players involved, and it spilled over to include several others on the court.

Rivers, Jaden McDaniels and Taurean Prince were ejected from the Timberwolves. Jalen Suggs was tossed along with Bamba for Orlando, which went on to win 127-120.

“This isn’t like a cool moment for me,” Rivers said after the game. “I feel embarrassed. I’m the oldest on the team. I consider myself the leader of the team, or one of the leaders of the team. It was a weird game, and I don’t think that helped at all. If anything right now, I’m just (ticked off) that we lost, and that I had (something) to do with that. It doesn’t make me feel good.”

Bamba and Suggs were not available for comment after the game.

“You obviously want to have your teammate’s back and at the same time, you’ve got to be a professional,” said Orlando center Moritz Wagner, also involved in a skirmish with Detroit in December.

“So, that’s a challenge for a young team like us. I think this time around we did a good job compared to last time. So, yeah, I don’t really know. It’s a weird dynamic. You don’t really want to be in those situations and it’s not really the best look. You want to be professional. At the same time, there is something in me that appreciates the team sticking together like that.”

Wagner appeared to get knocked out in that fight with the Pistons in Detroit. Wagner and Detroit’s Killian Hayes and Hamadou Diallo were all ejected.

On this night, the fight began with Rivers right in front of the Magic bench as play was ongoing at the far end of the court. Bamba came off the bench and Rivers threw punches at him. Suggs later pulled Rivers away and swung him to the court. McDaniels and Prince joined the scrum.

“Their guy came off the bench and threw a punch,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Pretty egregious. Then it’s a melee, and somehow our guys get punished a lot worse. One guy got sent for not being a peacekeeper. I just looked at the film, and I didn’t see any difference between what their guys were doing and what our guys were doing.”

The altercation seemed to stem from talk from the Magic bench, particularly Bamba. A few moments earlier, Rivers missed a 3-point attempt in front of the Orlando bench, and Bamba and Markelle Fultz could be seen reacting to the miss.

Rivers said he approached the 7-foot, 231-pound Bamba about his comments.

“I’m not gonna snitch on the dude or whatever, but I just didn’t like the way he was talking to me,” said Rivers, listed at 6-4 and 200 pounds. “For no reason, too. I don’t even know that dude. I don’t know anything about him. Obviously, I just know he’s a player for the Magic. And he proceeded to talk, so that next possession, when I went down there, I just said, pretty much, `Just keep it respectful, bro.'”

Rivers later added: “I went up to him and I pressed him, and at that point, it can go one of two ways. I didn’t think we were going to get in a fight. But when you stand up that fast and put your hands up – he threw a punch and missed, thankfully. At that point, I’ve got to protect myself. Ain’t no one worried about him.”

The fight came one night after an on-court altercation between Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.

Brooks swung and struck Mitchell in the groin area during the third quarter Thursday after the Grizzlies guard had fallen to the floor. Mitchell retaliated by throwing the ball at Brooks and then shoving him.

Both players were ejected from Cleveland’s 128-113 win. Afterward, Mitchell accused Brooks of being a dirty player.

The NBA announced punishments for both players Friday, with Brooks getting suspended one game without pay and Mitchell fined $20,000.

BRIDGES SCORES 25, LEADS SUNS TO 106-94 WIN OVER CELTICS

BOSTON (AP) Devin Booker wore a hockey toque to deal with the sub-zero temperatures in Boston and pulled out a baseball metaphor to describe his possible return to the basketball court.

“Rounding third,” Booker said after watching from the bench as his Phoenix Suns teammates beat the Celtics 106-94 on Friday night.

Mikal Bridges scored 25 points and Dario Saric had 14 with 13 rebounds Friday night to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 106-94 victory over Boston and send the NBA-leading Celtics to their fourth loss in six games.

Chris Paul added 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Phoenix, which had a 20-point, second-quarter lead trimmed to one by the end of the third. The Suns opened the fourth with eight straight points to turn back Boston’s rally.

Booker, a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, wore a Detroit Red Wings knit cap as he sat on the bench in the same building where he scored 70 points in 2017. He hasn’t played since sustaining a groin injury on Christmas; it was just the second time he has joined the team on a road trip since.

“I’m mindful of what I say because I don’t want to get everybody excited about it, or depress everybody, either. It’s just where he is,” Suns coach Monty Williams said before the game. “We do feel like he’s getting closer and closer to coming back.”

The Suns lost nine of their first 11 games after the three-time All-Star went out, but have won seven of the last nine while they wait for his return, which could come during current the five-game road trip.

“For us to win it without Book is big for everyone’s confidence, because he will be back shortly,” center Jock Landale said. “We would have liked to win a few more games, but now that we’re winning a lot of games and he’s on the verge of coming back, it’s big for us.”

Jaylen Brown scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum had 20 for the Celtics, who beat the Brooklyn Nets by 43 points on Wednesday and beat the Suns by 27 in December. But the two Boston All-Stars shot a combined 12 for 36 from the floor and 6 for 22 from 3-point range.

The Suns led 74-73 to start the fourth quarter before running off the next eight points, prompting Boston coach Joe Mazzulla to call a timeout. Derrick White drove for a layup to snap the slump, but Damion Lee and Saric hit back-to-back 3s, and the Celtics never got closer than six from there.

The Celtics scored the first seven points of the game, but quickly gave it all back. Phoenix scored the next 12, with Ayton putting in three straight baskets to start the run.

The Suns started the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers by Ish Wainright and Lee – sparking another 8-0 run that helped them open a 32-20 lead. It was up to 20 points with four minutes left in the second before Tatum hit his first basket of the game – a 3-pointer – as Boston scored 11 in a row before going into the half trailing 57-44.

TIP-INS

Tatum missed his first six shots. … Wainright sank a full-court shot, but it was just after the buzzer to end the third quarter. … Boston’s Luke Kornet left early in the fourth and limped to the locker room. … The Celtics took the court on Jan. 23 with a 35-12 record and a nine-game winning streak.

UP NEXT

Suns: At Detroit on Saturday.

Celtics: At Detroit on Monday night.

EMBIID’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE KEYS 76ERS AS SPURS DROP 8TH STRAIGHT

AN ANTONIO (AP) Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers beat San Antonio 137-125 on Friday night, sending the scuffling Spurs to their eighth straight loss.

Tyrese Maxey had 25 points and James Harden added 16 for Philadelphia, which has the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.

“Tonight was one of those games where it was difficult to get up,” Harden said. “But you’ve got to still be professional. You’ve got to be an elite team. That’s where we are trying to get to consistently. We weren’t consistent enough tonight.

“We got a win, but we’ve got to try to be better overall.”

San Antonio rookie Malaki Branham set a season high for the second straight game with 26 points, eclipsing his 22-point outing Wednesday in a loss to Sacramento.

Keldon Johnson added 18 points and Jakob Poeltl had 16 points and 10 rebounds in San Antonio’s final home game before embarking on a nine-game road trip that ends Feb. 28.

The Spurs are 9-37 since opening the season 5-2.

Embiid, Harden and Tobias Harris returned to the court with five minutes remaining after San Antonio trimmed Philadelphia’s 22-point lead to just 10 at 122-112. Embiid and Harden combined for eight points and three rebounds in 3 1/2 minutes to seal the victory.

“A couple of us older guys on the bench were happy for them when they brought it back all the way to like 10 or nine points,” Poeltl said. “Made them bring their starters back in. It was fun to watch them out there just playing free, playing aggressive.”

Embiid, who was listed as questionable with a sore left foot, was 10 for 18 from the field, 2 for 3 on 3-pointers and 11 for 13 on free throws in an efficient 29 minutes. Named an All-Star reserve Thursday, Embiid added four assists and two steals.

The Spurs were without injured starters Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan and Tre Jones, as well as Romeo Langford, who has started 19 games.

Their absence contributed to San Antonio committing 18 turnovers that led to 26 points for Philadelphia.

“Giving up 26 points off turnovers makes it impossible (to win),” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “That was the most disappointing part of the game. Their grunt and their ability to just play the game is super, but taking care of the basketball is pretty important and we didn’t do that tonight. That was the bad part of the game.”

Philadelphia started the game with three straight turnovers in falling behind 8-1. The 76ers rallied to end the first quarter tied at 26 and then outscored the Spurs 47-35 in the second quarter.

The run included a one-handed alley-oop dunk by Embiid on a pass from Harden followed by a fastbreak dunk by Harris in building a 66-49 lead.

The second unit then began a charge that ended in Philadelphia’s bench outscoring San Antonio’s 67-42.

“That’s what we’re going to need from them,” Harden said. “Consistently they run their sets. With that unit, it’s about just getting stops. We get stops, we give ourselves a chance to get out in transition.”

TIP-INS

76ers: Harden said he was fine after exiting for the locker room with a second remaining in the first half after falling on his elbow late in the first half. Harden returned early for warmups and started the second half. … Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers was honored before the game as part of the Spurs’ 50th anniversary celebration. Rivers played his final two seasons in the NBA with the Spurs, beginning in 1994. … Play was stopped midway through the first quarter so the 76ers could tend to a minor cut near Embiid’s right thumb that was bleeding. Embiid drained a 3-pointer on the next play.

Spurs: San Antonio’s next home game is March 2 against Houston. … San Antonio has the league’s second-longest active losing streak, trailing New Orleans’ 10-game skid. … Popovich received a technical foul with 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter after stomping down the sideline and screaming at official Mousa Dagher. Popovich was upset no foul was called on a reverse layup attempted by Keldon Johnson.

UP NEXT

76ers: At Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

Spurs: At Chicago on Tuesday.

NHL NEWS

CAPITALS SIGN DYLAN STROME TO $25 MILLION, 5-YEAR EXTENSION

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) The Washington Capitals signed forward Dylan Strome to a five-year extension worth $25 million.

The team announced the contract Friday during NHL All-Star Weekend, which is taking place in South Florida – the place Strome was drafted third in 2015.

Strome will count $5 million against the salary cap through the 2027-28 season. He was set to be a restricted free agent this summer.

“Dylan is an intelligent and skilled center and has been a great addition to our organization,” general manager Brian MacLellan said. “We are pleased to sign him to a long-term contract. We feel his skill set is a great fit for our team as he enters the prime years of his career at an important position.”

Strome is getting a raise from the $3.5 million deal he signed with the Capitals after the Chicago Blackhawks opted not to tender him a qualifying offer and made him a free agent. Strome has 11 goals and 25 assists in 36 games this season and ranks third on Washington’s roster with 14 power-play points.

The Mississauga, Ontario, native who played his junior hockey alongside Connor McDavid with the Erie Otters has 206 points in 325 regular-season NHL games with the Arizona Coyotes, Blackhawks and Capitals.

SUPPORT GROWING IN NHL FOR LONGER 3-ON-3 OT, FEWER SHOOTOUTS

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Troy Terry made his name in hockey with his shootout heroics for the U.S. in the 2017 world junior championship against Russia, much like T.J. Oshie did at the Olympics a few years earlier.

Still, the Anaheim Ducks All-Star wouldn’t mind seeing fewer of them decide NHL games.

A movement is growing to play more than just five minutes of 3-on-3 overtime during the regular season in the hope of cutting down on the number of shootouts. Implementing 3-on-3 already has significantly reduced how often games are decided by shootout.

Two-time NHL MVP and four-time scoring champion Connor McDavid spoke out in favor of longer overtime and it’s clear he’s not alone.

“The 3-on-3 overtime as a whole is great for this sport,” Terry said. “It’s fun for us. It feels more like hockey than going to the shootout.”

The NHL implemented the shootout in 2005-06 coming out of a lockout that had wiped out an entire season, getting rid of ties that had been part of the league for decades. There is no consideration of going away from continuous 5-on-5 overtime in the playoffs until a game-winning goal is scored.

The shootout was intended to jazz up regular-season games but by 2015 the NHL had what it considered a problem: 13% of its regular-season games, 160 in all, went to a shootout after five minutes of 4-on-4 play did not produce a deciding goal.

After some experimentation in the American Hockey League, the league approved 3-on-3 OT and that number plummeted to 8% last season.

It’s down to 6.5% so far this season — 51 of 803 games at the break, with the 3-on-3 All-Star tournament Saturday night another chance to show how effective it is — but that’s still too many for a lot of folks around the sport.

“Any time you have an opportunity to decide the outcome of the game in a team atmosphere, I think it’s more indicative of the fabric of the game,” Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “The shootout, I know it’s exciting and there’s an entertainment value there, but for me it’s deciding the outcome of a baseball game with a home run derby.”

The NHL is far from alone in tinkering with how to end games in the regular season. Major League Baseball began starting each half of extra innings with a runner on second in 2020, while the NFL has cut overtime from 15 minutes to 10 and altered how games end by giving each team a chance to score a touchdown.

McDavid, who told Sportsnet in Canada that “no one wants to see the game end in a shootout,” acknowledged the potential wear and tear of more 3-on-3 play. If he and other players are willing to take that on, there’s a good chance the league seriously considers extending OT.

“I think you’ll see goals scored in the last 5 minutes if you play that extra 5,” Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones said. “(The shootout is) exciting for the fans. I understand why we do it. You work for 65 minutes and play a good game and you don’t get rewarded sometimes based on the shootout.”

St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko said the shootout sometimes feels like a lottery. There is a certain randomness to it; Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, now the NHL’s No. 2 scorer, cashes in on fewer than a third of his shootout attempts.

“It’s harder than people think: goalies preparing for shooters, shooters preparing for goalies,” said Tarasenko. “I think it should be either you play until you score, or you play five (minutes) and a shootout.”

Recency bias certainly clouds the conversation for some. Jason Robertson is against longer OT after he and the Dallas Stars lost three consecutive games going into the break, while coach Bruce Cassidy is fine with shootouts because his Vegas Golden Knights have an All-Star goaltender who happens to be good at them.

Still, Cassidy said he thinks there could be some benefits to a longer 3-on-3 overtime, such as getting more players involved. And it would shed the odd feeling in the ultimate team sport of losing in a 1-on-1 competition like the shootout.

“When you lose a shootout where maybe you’ve had a lot of good things going, you feel like you’ve lost,” Cassidy said. “Any time you win in the National Hockey League — shootout, overtime, regular — you’re feeling pretty good. It’s the loss in the shootout: The pain of that is bigger than the joy of the win.”

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS

PITCHER LUZARDO BEATS MIAMI MARLINS IN SALARY ARBITRATION

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Pitcher Jesus Luzardo became the second player in two days to beat the Miami Marlins in salary arbitration and was awarded $2.45 million on Friday.

Miami had argued for $2.1 million during a hearing Thursday before a panel of John Stout, Melinda Gordon and Richard Bloch.

AL batting champion Luis Arraez, an All-Star infielder acquired by the Marlins from Minnesota last month, was awarded a $6.1 million salary on Thursday rather than the team’s $5 million figure.

Luzardo, a 25-year-old left-hander, was 4-7 with a 3.32 ERA in 18 starts last year, striking out 120 and walking 35 in 100 1/3 innings. He is 13-18 with a 3.59 ERA in 45 starts and 16 relief appearances over four big league seasons.

Luzardo made $715,000 last season and was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He can become a free agent after the 2026 season.

Players have won two of three decisions this year, with about 20 more scheduled for hearings.

Seattle defeated Diego Castillo in the first decision this year on Wednesday, and the relief pitcher will get a raise to $2.95 million rather than his request of $3,225,000.

A decision is being held for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe, whose case was argued Monday.

ROYALS, ZACK GREINKE FINALIZE $8.5M DEAL FOR 2023 SEASON

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals finalized Zack Greinke’s $8.5 million contract for the upcoming season on Friday, bringing back a well-known and veteran arm to their otherwise young starting rotation.

The deal for the 39-year-old right-hander includes up to $7.5 million in performance bonuses. He made $13 million with the Royals last season, when he went 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA while allowing two runs or fewer in 17 of 26 starts.

Greinke began his career in Kansas City as a first-round pick in the 2002 amateur draft. And after fits and starts, and nearly walking away from baseball early in his professional career, he flashed onto the scene two years later, beginning a 20-year career that has included time with the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Astros.

It was largely his affinity for then-general manager Dayton Moore that led him to return to Kansas City, where he pitched well last season despite two stints on the injured list. Moore was fired late in the season, though, and it was the new GM J.J. Picollo — one of Moore’s longtime lieutenants — who decided to bring Grienke back this season.

To make room on the roster, the Royals designated left-hander Anthony Misiewicz for assignment.

AUTO RACING NEWS

FORD RETURNS TO FORMULA ONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RED BULL

(AP) — Formula One’s booming popularity in the United States has lured another American brand to the series as Ford said Friday it would return to the globe-trotting series as the engine provider for Red Bull Racing.

The partnership begins with immediate technical support this season, but Ford engines in 2026 when F1 adopts new hybrid regulations that lured Ford back after a 24-year absence.

Red Bull powertrains and Ford will partner on the development of a hybrid power unit that will supply engines to both Red Bull and AlphaTauri when new F1 regulations begin in 2026. The partnership – which is for at least eight years – was announced in New York as Red Bull unveiled the car design it will use in 2023. Red Bull won the constructors title last season, and Max Verstappen is the two-time defending world champion.

“Red Bull is committed to winning and they’ve demonstrated that they are capable of winning,” Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance, told The Associated Press. “We want to be in motorsports for the technology and for the marketing, but we want to do it winning and with the right partner. They’re committed to that, they have a winning culture.”

Ford dominated F1 in the late 1960s and 1970s as an engine manufacturer with Cosworth and the American automaker is the third most successful engine maker in F1 history with 10 constructors’ championships and 13 drivers’ championships. Ford won 176 races and owned and ran the Jaguar F1 team until 2004 when Jaguar was sold and became Red Bull Racing.

Ford was lured back to F1, where it competed for 38 years until it pulled out in 2004, by F1’s focus on sustainable racing and explosion in popularity throughout North America.

“To have the ability to draw on Ford’s experience, EV knowledge and depth of resource is tremendously exciting,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “From the first moment we met and spoke, it was clear there was a natural synergy between the two companies. an easy deal to put together because the desire was there from both sides.”

Ford is the first American engine supplier to commit to F1 and its impending regulations as the series is set to race five times this year in North America, with three of those races in the United States. General Motors has announced a partnership with Andretti Global to be its engine supplier if Andretti gets an F1 team.

“The numbers globally are enormous for Formula One,” Rushbrook told The AP. “Especially in the United States, where the growth and diversity of the fans is enormous. That’s important for us. We don’t want to just race and learn technology. We need to do that. We must do that. But we also must be able to connect with fans.

“With Red Bull and AlphaTauri, that’s exactly what we will be able to do.”

Ford chairman Jim Farley and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali appeared on Fox early Friday to announce Ford’s return and discuss the push toward electric technology. The partnership with Red Bull was not announced until Red Bull’s launch an hour later.

“Ford is a global brand with an incredible heritage in racing and the automotive world and they see the huge value that our platform provides with over half a billion fans around the world,” Domenicali said. “Our commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and to introduce sustainable fuels in the F1 cars from 2026 is also an important reason for their decision to enter F1.

“We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing round F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.”

And Mohammed Ben Sulayem, head of F1 ruling body FIA, said Ford’s return to the series is validation of the 2026 engine rules.

“There are few manufacturers who have such a celebrated motorsport history as Ford, so to see them coming back to the FIA Formula 1 world championship is excellent news,” Sulayem said. “It further underlines the success of the 2026 Power Unit Regulations that have at their heart a commitment to both sustainability and spectacle, and of course having more interest from the United States is important for the continued growth of the world’s top motorsport category.”

The F1 2026 rule changes call for the current twin-turbo V6 engines to run on sustainable fuel and be fitted with hybrid components.

Red Bull will continue to race with unbranded Honda power units until 2026. Honda withdrew from F1 at the end of the 2021 season and Red Bull used its own-badged engines to win both championships in 2022. Honda still owns the intellectual property of the engines and agreed to maintain and support the powerplants until 2026.

Porsche was set to replace Honda with Red Bull and when that deal collapsed, Ford jumped in. Ford will begin with immediate technical assistance and then supply Ford engines when the new regulations begin.

Ford has split itself into two divisions, one to focus solely on electric vehicles and the other to handle internal combustion engines. Last year Ford laid off about 3,000 white-collar workers to help fund the multi-billion dollar transition to EVs. The company is acquiring battery minerals and setting up partnerships to build EV batteries.

It has announced three new battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee. Ford expects to be able to produce electric vehicles at a rate of 600,000 per year by late this year, and hit a manufacturing rate of over 2 million per year by the end of 2026.

“This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company,” said Bill Ford, executive chair. “Ford, alongside world champions, Oracle Red Bull Racing, is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”

MEN’S GOLF NEWS

CADDIE FOR AMATEUR AT PEBBLE BEACH COLLAPSES DURING TOURNEY

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) The caddie for an amateur in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am collapsed on the 11th fairway Friday, and CPR was performed on him until an ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital.

In a tournament known for its easy vibe with celebrities and scenery, the final three hours at Pebble Beach took on a somber tone, particularly those on and around the 11th hole when the caddie fell over.

The PGA Tour did not release his name. Early reports were the caddie’s condition was improving. He was working for Pebble Beach businessman Geoff Couch, who did not return to finish the round.

“I turn around and he’s on the ground and I ran over to him and turned him over,” said country singer Lukas Nelson, the other amateur in the group. “And he didn’t have a lot of color in him. Luckily, there was a police officer on the sideline. He knew CPR so he came in and effectively saved his life.”

Gary Young, the PGA Tour’s chief referee, said a spectator began the CPR and an officer from Cal Fire took over from there.

PGA Tour players Beau Hossler and Max McGreevy, after consultation with PGA Tour officials, chose not to speak to reporters out of respect to the caddie’s family.

“It was especially jarring, the weirdest thing that can happen on a golf course,” Nelson said. “The good news is he’s at the moment doing better. From my perspective, it seemed like we lost him. And he’s still with us, so that’s important.”

After consulting with a PGA Tour rules official, Hossler and McGreevy marked their golf balls on the 11th hole and returned to the clubhouse. They were able to warm up and returned to the 11th hole after every group had come through to finish the round.

Harry Higgs was playing two groups behind and saw it all unfold. It brought back memories of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game against Cincinnati and had to be resuscitated on the field.

“It had some shades of that,” Higgs said. “I was standing on the tee. They looked like they were 250 yards away, maybe even less, and they were hammering away CPR on the gentleman. It was weird.”

The groups behind, which included retired All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald, played through as the tour figured out what the players wanted to do.

“We teed off on 11 and once I got up there and saw the group that the caddie was in, they were off to the side and they were obviously very emotional, hugging each other,” Higgs said. “I called a rules official over and just wanted to like, `Is this OK? I don’t want to be rude and keep going.’ It’s like golf doesn’t matter at all now, right?”

Nelson wasn’t sure he wanted to return, a feeling shared by others, except for getting good reports on the caddie’s improved condition.

“I think everybody on property knew what had happened and everybody was flat,” Higgs said. “There was no energy, no juice on any of the holes coming in. … Fortunately, we got some good news and kept going. I hope there’s more good news in the coming hours and days. Just very difficult and kind of a first – hopefully, a last.”

Two years, caddie Alberto Olguin collapsed on the ninth tee during a PGA Tour Latinoamerica event and died an hour later at a hosptial in Mexico.

In 2016, the first round of a Ladies European Tour event in Dubai was suspended when caddie Max Zechmann collapsed on the 13th fairway and died at a nearby hospital.

At the 2014 Madeira Island Open on the European Tour, caddie Ian MacGregor collapsed and died on the ninth hole while working for Alastair Forsyth. The tournament continued when Forsyth said that’s what his caddie would have wanted. One player, Peter Lawrie, withdrew out of respect.

KITAYAMA LEADS PEBBLE BEACH AS THE WORST OF THE WIND LOOMS

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) Kurt Kitayama is starting to feel more comfortable each time he gets in contention on the PGA Tour, and the Californian can only hope that’s the case going into the weekend at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Kitayama opened with 10 straight pars before getting on track and finished birdie-par on two of the tougher holes at Pebble Beach for a 2-under 70 that gave him a one-shot lead Friday.

Kitayama was at 9-under 134 and led by one over Keith Mitchell, Brandon Wu, Joseph Bramlett and Hank Lebioda.

The way the forecast looks, getting comfortable on the Monterey Peninsula takes on a different meaning.

Katayama’s last shot at his first PGA Tour win was in the fall in the CJ Cup of South Carolina at Congaree. He was tied for the lead going into the weekend with Jon Rahm, and he was in the final group and one shot behind Rory McIlroy going to the final round.

He also finished runner-up to Rahm in Mexico last year, and to Xander Schauffele in the Scottish Open.

“I think the more you put yourself in that position the more you can get comfortable feeling uncomfortable,” Kitayama said. “It’s definitely good experiences to fall back on and use coming Sunday, hopefully.”

The contenders at Pebble don’t have that kind of star power. Of the leading 10 players, only four have won on the PGA Tour and Scott Stallings is the only multiple winner.

Far more daunting is the fickle weather at this tournament.

Starting times for Saturday were moved up one hour because of strong wind, and it doesn’t take much in these parts for it to be a problem.

Lebioda felt it coming down the stretch Friday at Pebble Beach. He was leading most of the day until a double bogey on the par-3 fifth hole when he went well left of the green, dumped the next shot in a bunker and took three to get down.

He finished with a bogey and had to settle for a 72.

“It was definitely more difficult,” Lebioda said. “I thought there was a little bit more wind during my round than I had yesterday out at Monterey. Course is probably a little bit more difficult, as well. So a combination of those two things made it a challenging round.”

Lebioda moves over to Spyglass Hill and become a unique footnote in history. Saturday will be his 11th consecutive PGA Tour round on his 11th different course. That’s partially a produce of missing his last five cuts on tour.

He played Port Royal in the Bermuda Championship. He played the Plantation and Seaside courses at Sea Island in the RSM Classic. He started this year playing three courses in The American Express. From there he was off to Torrey Pines on the North and South Course. And this week he’s been at Monterey Peninsula, Pebble and Spyglass Hill.

“We do our best to try to approach each round as its own event,” he said.

Mitchell (68), Wu (66) and Bramlett (67) all played at Monterey Peninsula.

Seamus Power of Ireland delivered the low round of a day that began with rain before giving way to steady wind and occasionally chilly weather when the shifting clouds kept the sun away. He had a 64 at Monterey Peninsula to get within two of the lead.

“The first five, six holes kind of rainy and the ball just wasn’t going anywhere. Not much wind,” Power said. “Then we got to the turn and then for like an hour, hour-and-a-half, it really blew like pretty strongly there for awhile. The last few holes was very pleasant.

“It was one of those days kind of like back home in Ireland where you get a lot of seasons in one day.”

Viktor Hovland, who won a U.S. Amateur and was low amateur in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, is playing this tournament for the first time. He shot 67 at Monterey Peninsula and was three shots to par behind.

Jordan Spieth had a 68 at Monterey Peninsula and was five behind.

They next face Pebble Beach, the toughest of the three courses in the wind because so many holes are exposed along the ocean.

Spieth was hoping for a little better Friday, but he was mildly pleased that the lead didn’t get too far away from him.

“Still in it,” he said. “But we got what looks like a tough couple days coming up.”

LEADERBOARD: http://hosted.stats.com/golf/final.asp?tour=PGA

TOP INDIANA RELEASES

PACERS BASKETBALL

On night two of back-to-back games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers showed few signs of fatigue against the highest scoring team in the NBA.

The Pacers (25-29) used a pair of 3-point barrages to build a 19-point third quarter advantage before relying on solid defense to hold off a late Sacramento Kings (29-22) rally in a 107-104 Blue & Gold win in Indianapolis Friday.

With the win, the Pacers snapped a four-game losing streak and split the season series against the Kings.

Buddy Hield led the Pacers with 21 points on five made 3-pointers to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists while Aaron Nesmith made four threes en route to 17 points. Pacers center Myles Turner registered a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

In his first game in Indianapolis since being traded from Indiana to Sacramento last season, Domantas Sabonis collected 15 points, 16 rebounds and six assists for the Kings. Harrison Barnes led the Kings with 23 points.

“He’s having a hell of a season, he has brought that franchise up quite a bit with the way he is playing over there,” Turner said of Sabonis. “It’s fun going back-and-forth with him, with similar games and whatnot. I think we both enjoy the challenge, enjoy the battle, you know, make each other better and that’s what that’s what this league is about.”

Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox, who leads the team in scoring at 24.3 points per game, did not play due to personal reasons.

One of the most important margins on the night proved fastbreak points, as the Pacers outscored the Kings 28-17 in that area.

After a close first quarter, the Pacers got hot from deep in the second to take a 60-48 lead into the locker room.

The teams struggled on offense to start the game, as both squads hit just three of their first 10 shot attempts.

Out of a timeout, Bennedict Mathurin and Daniel Theis came off the bench and each scored quick buckets to put the Pacers ahead 13-8 by the midway point of the opening frame.

After the teams tied the score four more times, Turner hit a free throw and Hield drained a 3-pointer – his 200th overall of the season – to put the Pacers back ahead before a trey at the buzzer by the Kings’ Trey Lyles cut it to 28-27.

The score stayed within two baskets until the Pacers made four straight 3-pointers – including three from Nesmith and one from Hield – to go on a 12-0 run and go up 49-39 with 5:47 left in the half.

Indiana maintained the lead the rest of the half by outscoring the Kings 7-4 in the final 2:09.

At the break, the Pacers held the Kings to 39.1 percent shooting.

Out of intermission, the Pacers continued nailing triples as Tyrese Haliburton, Hield and Turner each made 3-pointers as part of a 11-2 run to put the Blue & Gold up 73-58 with 7:26 left in the third quarter.

While the Pacers led by 19 points at 79-60 at one point, the Kings answered with an 11-0 run to narrow the deficit to 79-71 with 2:51 on the clock.

Three baskets by T.J. McConnell and a layup from Mathurin helped the Pacers stay ahead at 87-80 going into the final frame

Sacramento continued to chip away at the deficit to start the fourth quarter, using an 11-2 run to make it a one-point game with 6:31 left in the game, but a 3-pointer by Hield and breakaway dunk from Haliburton reignited the team and crowd with 5:27 remaining.

While the Kings had two possessions down three to tie it with a minute left, the Pacers got a pair of stops to secure the win.

“We stuck to the gameplan. We came fired up,”  Nesmith said. “We know they’re a fast-paced team and are the highest-scoring team in the NBA. With that on our minds, we just had to make sure we took care of business on that side of the ball.”

Postgame, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said it was a solid defensive performance in the fourth quarter.

“We had some pretty good looks during that stretch, we just missed them,” Carlisle said. “And when you’re missing, your defense has got to hold you up and that’s what happened. We were able to get enough stops to win the game.”

From the field, the Pacers shot 44.9 percent and Kings went 43 percent. The Pacers were outrebounded 49-47 but had more points in the paint (44-40_.

The Pacers will complete their three-game homestand against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.

Inside the Numbers

Hield has hit five or more 3-pointers in a game 22 times this season.

Hield has three double-doubles this season and Turner has 15.

The Kings were held to 15 points under their NBA-leading scoring average of 119.5.

The Kings’ bench outscored the Pacers’ reserves 44-36.

Theis, in his second game as a Pacer since returning from injury, finished at +12 with eight points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.

Haliburton finished at +18 with 10 points, nine assists and four rebounds.

You Can Quote Me On That

“That’s how it has to be all the time. I think that this game obviously meant a lot to Buddy, Ty, some guys on staff, and I think that we had a little extra incentive to go out there and get the job done. But that’s gotta be the mentality we have every night — the way we were just out there covering for each other and talking, rotating. I like our chances when we play like that.” – Turner on the team’s defensive performance

“We just have to keep encouraging him. He’s guarding the best matchup every night – he’s guarding Lebron (James), Kyrie (irving) and (Kevin Durant)  – while making shots (which) is pretty hard to do. Hats off to him, he brings that dog mindset to our team.” – Hield on Nesmith’s recent play.

“(He’s) someone that I have a relationship with and someone that’s gonna be a friend down the line, and we just continue to compete.” – Turner on going up against Sabonis

“It’s probably No. 1 for sure.” – Hield on his posterizing dunk in the fourth quarter

“I thought Hield had one of his best all-round games of the season. He rebounded, he hit shots, he defended. He was great, Nesmith was great. Myles did a really solid job on Domas and Ty was +18 out there, so what are you going to say about that. I thought if you’re going to give a game ball tonight it would go to Theis. He showed  the type of player he is and the kind of impact he can have on our team. Plus-12 off the bench, he just gives us a different kind of big. A guy who has feel, skill but stil has toughness and protects the rim.” — Carlisle on players who stepped up in the game

“The idea tonight was to keep the wheels on the wagon and stay on the basics, which is just solid team defense. Guard your yard, you know, stick with the basic rules. This kind of game, if it was a ballet, they would have kicked our ass. If it was a slugfest, it’s more of our kind of game.” – Carlisle

“That was a hard-fought game. We just had to buckle down and make winning plays.” – Nesmith on closing out the win

“It’s huge to be able to put this one in the win column. It was just a difference between making those one or two winning plays that we didn’t do yesterday.” — Nesmith on bouncing back after the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday.”

Stat of the Night

Hield’s five made 3-pointers in the game puts him at 204 for the season. He is just the third Pacer ever to make at least 200 3-pointers in a season, and trails just Paul George (210, 2015-2016) and Reggie Miller (229, 1996-1997) in the franchise record books.

Noteworthy

The Pacers are now 7-4  in the second games of back-to-backs.

Indiana had zero players sitting out due to injury for just the second time this season on Friday.

Up Next

The Pacers wrap up a three-game homestand by welcoming Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5:00 PM ET.

INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

HOLMES FEATURED ON 2023 LISA LESLIE AWARD TOP 10

LOS ANGELES – Senior forward Mackenzie Holmes was named one of 10 finalists for the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award, announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

Holmes is leading Indiana and one of the best in the Big Ten as she averages 22.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and shoots 69.2 percent from the floor. The senior forward has scored in double figures in all 22 games, recording 14 games with 20-plus points or more and two 30-point plus games. She has recorded nine double-doubles this season, which includes seven of those in conference play which is tied for seventh in a single season.

The Gorham, Maine native set a new career-high 32 points against Michigan State and has scored 21 points or more in the last six games for the Hoosiers. Her 30-point, 25-point and 26-point efforts against three AP Top 25 teams was the first time a player had scored three 25-point games against said foes since Maya Moore from UConn did it in 2010-11.

Holmes is second in the nation in field goal percentage, third in field goals (200) and seventh in both total points and points per game.  She has also been featured on other national watch list for player of the year including the 2023 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy women’s watch list, 2023 Wooden Award preseason Top 50, misdeason Top 25 and Late Season Top 20 and 2023 USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year watch list.

In March, five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Lisa Leslie Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.

The winner of the 2023 Lisa Leslie Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and the Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), in addition to the Men’s Starting Five.

PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL

#1 PURDUE FACES #21 INDIANA IN RANKED ROAD BATTLE

PURDUE NOTES

GAMEDAY INFO

Saturday, February 4, 2023

[1] Purdue (22-1, 11-1) vs. [21] Indiana (15-7, 6-5)

Bloomington, Indiana | Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222)

TELEVISION: ESPN | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network

ANNOUNCERS: Bob Wischusen, Dick Vitale, Kris Budden

THE NOTES TO KNOW

• Purdue returns to the road on Saturday when it travels to Bloomington to face Indiana for the first meeting in a three-week span with the Hoosiers. The Boilermakers put their unbeaten road record (7-0) on the line against the surging Hoosiers, who have won five of their last six games. It will mark Purdue’s fourth game against a top-25 team this year, all of them coming away from Mackey Arena (3-0 previously).

• Saturday’s game marks the beginning of a tough stretch for the Boilermakers with three of their next four games on the road. Purdue hosts Iowa next Thursday, before facing Northwestern on Super Bowl Sunday and Maryland on Feb. 16.

• With Purdue ranked No. 1 this week in both the AP and coaches poll, the Boilermakers have now been ranked No. 1 in eight weeks in the last two years. Since the 2018-19 season, only Gonzaga (36), Baylor (11) and Kansas (10) have been ranked No. 1 in more weeks than Purdue. Prior to last season, Purdue had never been ranked No. 1 in school history.

• In addition with being a unanimous No. 1 this week, Purdue becomes the first power-conference program in the last 20 years to be voted unanimous No. 1 in back-to-back seasons. Purdue (2022, 2023), Gonzaga (2022, 2021), Kansas (2020, 2010) and Kentucky (2015, 2010) are the only teams to be voted unanimous No. 1 in two different seasons in the last 20 years.

• Purdue’s 22-1 record is the program’s best 23-game start in school history. A win over Indiana will give Purdue a 23-1 record through 24 games, just the third time since 2000 that a Big Ten team would start the season 22-1 (2011 Ohio State – 24-0; 2005 Illinois – 29-0).

• Purdue’s seven-game road winning streak is tied for the nation’s longest with Houston and UC Santa Barbara. Purdue is 11-0 away from Mackey Arena, easily the most wins away from home for a power-conference team (Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee – 8).

• Purdue can claim America’s best resume, boasting a 9-1 quad-1 record, six of them against teams ranked in the NCAA Net’s top 30 (Gonzaga, West Virginia, Marquette, Duke, Maryland). Seven of the wins (Marquette, Maryland) have come away from Mackey Arena.

• After being one of the final two teams in the country with zero losses (New Mexico was last), Purdue is now the only team nationally with just one loss (Purdue). Remarkably, just three teams nationally have two or fewer losses and Purdue is the only major program in that group. Just four power-conference teams have three or fewer losses (Purdue, Alabama, Arizona, Virginia).

• Purdue has MADE 340 free throws this season, while opponents have SHOT just 217. Purdue has made 184 more free throws (340 to 154) than its foes this season, the highest discrepancy in the nation (Purdue +191, North Carolina +174, Iowa +152, Providence +137, UAB +129).

• Purdue ranks fourth nationally in fewest fouls per game (13.3) and is first nationally in opponent free throw rate via KenPom (16.5). Coincidentally, Creighton is second nationally in free throw rate. The teams are 1 and 2 nationally in opponents taking long 2-point jumpers.

• Purdue has held 24 straight opponents to 70 points or less, tied for the longest streak in the country with Saint Mary’s.

• Purdue is ranked No. 1 in this week’s AP Top 25 rankings for the seventh week this season. Purdue is the sixth Big Ten team to voted No. 1 twice in the same season (Indiana – 2013, 1993; Michigan – 1977, 1965; Ohio State – 2011). Purdue is 9-2 all-time as the nation’s No. 1-ranked team with both losses coming on buzzer-beaters by Rutgers.

• Zach Edey ranks No. 1 in the KenPom POY ratings by a significant margin and has been the game MVP in 16 of the 22 Purdue games that he has played in (missed New Orleans with the flu). Edey has scored 10 or more points in 39 straight games — the nation’s longest streak.

• Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Week (shared with Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis) for the fifth time this season. It marks the fourth most for a player in Big Ten history (Evan Turner – 7). With five more weeks to go, the record is in sight.

• Fletcher Loyer was named the Big Ten’s Player and Freshman of the Week (Jan. 17) becoming the first freshman since Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn in Nov. 2019, to win Player of the Week honors, and the first Purdue freshman since Robbie Hummel in Feb. 2008, to earn the honor.

MATT PAINTER PRESS CONFERENCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6ylFW1mEqg

INDIANA NOTES

Opening Tip

• Indiana University continues its 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball with a top-25 showdown with archrival Purdue on Saturday afternoon. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Feb. 4 from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

• The Boilermakers, led by 18-year head coach Matt Painter, enter the matchup with a 22-1 record and a 11-1 mark in B1G play. Purdue is ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches Poll.

Game Information

Feb. 4, 2023 • 4 p.m. ET

Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.

TV: ESPN (Bob Wischusen, Dick Vitale, Kris Budden)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Series History: Indiana trails, 90-125

Last Meeting: PUR 69, IU 67 on March 5, 2022 in West Lafayette

Series History

• For the 216th time in program history, Indiana will take on archrival Purdue. The Boilermakers hold a 125-90 advantage in the series, the most victories of any opponent against the Hoosiers. No team has appeared on IU’s schedule more often than Purdue.

• Indiana picked up head coach Mike Woodson’s first signature victory in collegiate basketball with a 68-65 win over No. 4 Purdue on Jan. 20, 2022. Senior guard Rob Phinisee scored 20 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 17 seconds on the clock. The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for IU against Purdue.

• The two programs have met 16 previous times with both teams ranked inside the top-25 of the Associated Press. IU holds a record of 11-5 in the ranked matchups, including three-straight games dating back to Feb. 29, 2000. Ten of the games have been played at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. No. 21 Indiana defeated No. 16 Purdue by a score of 77-73 on Feb. 20, 2016 in the last matchup of ranked rivals.

Last Time Out

• Indiana saw its five-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of Maryland on Jan. 31 at the Xfinity Center. The Hoosiers fell 66-55.

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis paced the Hoosier attack with 18 points and 20 rebounds. The game marked his seventh double-double in his last eight outings.

• Sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson added 11 points and four rebounds in the loss.

Jackson-Davis’ Historic January

• In the month of January, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis averaged 23.0 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.4 blocks per game.

• Over the last 25 years of basketball only Jackson-Davis, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal have averaged at least 23.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in a calendar month (min. 5 games) in Division I basketball or the NBA.

 • Jackson-Davis made 83-of-151 (55.0%) of his shots from the floor and 41-of-57 (71.9%) of his free throw attempts in the opening month of the calendar year.

• TJD posted three 30-pooint games in the month, including back-to-back games with 35 points at Illinois (Jan. 19) and 31 points against Michigan State (Jan. 22). He also grabbed at least 20 rebounds three times during the stretch of nine games.

• He has posted nine or more rebounds in nine-straight games, the longest streak of his career. During that stretch, Jackson-Davis is averaging 14.6 boards per game.

Reneau for Two

• After scoring 64 total points (10.7 per game) in his first six collegiate games, freshman forward Malik Reneau tallied just 64 points (4.9) in his next 13 games.

• The Miami native has regained his footing and has averaged 10.3 points in his last three games, including a career-high-matching 15 points against Ohio State.

• The 6-9 forward is averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 61.5% (16-of-26) from the floor in his last five games.

Indiana Versus No. 1-Ranked Teams

• The Indiana Hoosiers will take on the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Top-25 poll for the 25th time in program history. IU has posted seven wins against No. 1-ranked opponents.

• Indiana’s last win over a No. 1-ranked team came over the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Feb. 2, 2013. Current Team & Recruiting Coordinator Jordan Hulls was one of five Hoosiers to score in double figures in the 81-73 win.

• Christian Watford won an ESPY for Best Play after drilling a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to down No. 1 Kentucky (73-72) on Dec. 10, 2011. Dick Vitale, who will be serving as the analyst for the Purdue game, was on the call for ESPN that night.

• On Jan. 7, 2001, a Kirk Haston triple at the buzzer sank top-ranked Michigan State by a score of 59-58. Haston finished with a game-high 27 points in the win.

The Trey Gallo-Way

• In his last five starts, junior guard Trey Galloway has averaged 8.8 points per game on 14-of-26 (53.8%) shooting from the floor and 8-of-12 (66.7%) shooting from the 3-point line. He has made more 3-pointers (19) this season than his first two seasons on campus (12) combined.

• Galloway scored a career-high 20 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep in IU’s first Big Ten win of the season over Nebraska on Dec. 7.

• The Culver Academies graduate scored 17 points on 4-of-4 shooting from behind the arc against Michigan State on Jan. 22.

Double Double, Double Double (CAREER)

Trayce Jackson-Davis: 43; last at Maryland, 1/31/23

Race Thompson: 9; last vs. Elon, 12/20/22

Xavier Johnson: 4; last vs. Arizona, 12/10/22

Jordan Geronimo: 2; last vs. Wisconsin, 1/14/23

The Voice of Indiana Athletics

Veteran voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer enters his 50th season as the play-by-play voice of Indiana Men’s Basketball. During that time, he’s called more than 2,000 games and four NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship games. He’s been honored as the National Sports Media Association’s Indiana Sportscaster of the Year 27 times, and earlier this summer was awarded the prestigious National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s Chris Schenkel Award. He was also awarded with the Indiana University Bicentennial Award in 2019 in recognition for his enormous contributions to Indiana University and IU Athletics. He was induced into the IU Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2022.

Longest-Tenured DI MBB Radio Announcers

55th season – Ray Goss, Duquesne

54th season – Bill Hillgrove, Pittsburgh

52nd season – Jay Jacobs, West Virginia

50th season – Don Fischer, Indiana

50th season – Kevin McKinney, Wyoming

49th season – Rich Chvotkin, Georgetown

45th season – John Cox, Southern Miss

TJD, The Big Fundamental, and The Diesel

• In the last 30 seasons of Division I men’s college basketball, only senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and NBA Hall of Famer Tim Duncan have averaged at least 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.

• Over the last 25 years of basketball only Jackson-Davis, Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal have averaged at least 23.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in a calendar month (min. 5 games) in Division I basketball or the NBA.

Chasing History

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis currently sits eighth all-time at IU in scoring (1,959), fourth in rebounds (1,010), and holds the school record for blocked shots (236). He joins Alan Henderson as the only Hoosiers to be top-10 all-time in career scoring, rebounding, and blocks.

• The Center Grove product is the only active men’s Division I player to tally at least 1,950 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 225 career blocks. In the last 25 seasons, only nine players have achieved those numbers in college basketball. Only Kyle Hines (UNCG) produced those numbers on a higher career scoring average.

• Jackson-Davis is one of two high-major players (Zach Edey; Purdue) to average at least 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game this season.

Career Tallies

• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has notched 10 career 30-point games, the most recent coming against Michigan State on Jan. 22.

• The preseason All-American has recorded 17 career 20-point, 10-rebound outings, with the most recent coming against Minnesota on Jan. 25.

• The former McDonald’s All-American has recorded 10 career 15-point, 15-rebound games in his career, the third most among active major-conference players. He ranks behind Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe (19) and North Carolina’s Armando Bacot (13).

• In 113 career games, TJD has scored at least 10 points in 99 outings.

• The senior forward has swatted at least two shots in 70 of his 113 career games played. He has blocked at least one shot in 93-of-113 career starts.

MIKE WOODSON PRESS CONFERENCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSgtP9eKsVg&t=199s

PURDUE WRESTLING

PURDUE SET FOR SATURDAY NIGHT DUAL WITH #10 NEBRASKA

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –  After a close loss to rivals Indiana last weekend, Purdue Wrestling plays host to No. 10 Nebraska on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. ET in Holloway Gymnasium for its second to last home dual of the season.

The Boilermakers (4-8, 0-4 B1G) will once again be streamed on B1G+ with stats on TrackWrestling.

PURDUE POINTS

• Purdue head coach Tony Ersland will be very familiar with this Cornhuskers staff, as he was an assistant coach under Nebraska head coach Mark Manning for eight seasons.

• No. 3 Matt Ramos stayed hot, winning his fourth Big Ten match in a row against Indiana’s Jacob Moran after taking down the No. 6 and 5 ranked wrestlers the week before.

• No. 6 Kendall Coleman picked up his fifth win over a ranked opponent with a 10-3 decision over No. 19 Derek Gilcher. His four takedowns in the match gave him 292 in his career, five shy of the eighth most in program history.

• In 52 total matches this season, Ramos and Coleman have only given up takedowns in nine (17.3%) . They won four of those and four came against top-15 opposition.

• One of the youngest teams in the country, Purdue has put 10 different true or redshirt freshman in the starting lineup at some point this year.

• Redshirt freshmen Dustin Norris and Ben Vanadia picked up decisions against the Hoosiers over the weekend. For Norris, his 8-6 victory over No. 28 Henry Porter was the first ranked win of his career.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 1 – Matt Ramos and Kendall Coleman both own the most wins (23) and matches wrestled (26) of anyone ranked inside the top-15 at any weight.

• 19 – Intermat put the Boilermakers at No. 19 in their team tournament rankings, a reflection of projected postseason success.

• 88.5 – Ramos and Coleman hold a 88.5% win rate on the year, which would be good for 10th in the Purdue single-season record book.

• 150 – Parker Filius has 150 career back points, putting him in 16th in program history.

RUN IT BACK

Last season, the No. 15 Boilermakers opened their Big Ten schedule in dramatic fashion, knocking off No. 9 Nebraska in Lincoln 18-15. It was the first top-10 dual win since 2004 and the first of Ersland’s career.

Purdue won five of the 10 matches, with back-to-back upsets at 174 and 184 pounds to take down the No. 3 and No. 10 ranked Cornhuskers at those weights. A tech from Devin Schroder and a major from Filius helped push the Boilers into the win column.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION

No. 10 Nebraska (7-3, 3-1 B1G) comes into a log-jam of a weekend hot off a 24-11 win over No. 13 Wisconsin in Lincoln last weekend. The Huskers won seven of the bouts with the Badgers, coming away with bonus points in three. It was the 300th career win for head coach Mark Manning.

The Cornhuskers are led by four top-10 wrestlers in No. 5 Liam Cronin (125), No. 6 Brock Hardy (141), No. 1 Peyton Robb (157) and No. 2 Mikey Labriola (174), setting up exciting ranked matchups at three weights for those in Holloway on Saturday.

LAST TIME OUT

Purdue Wrestling’s 12 match win streak against their in-state rivals came to an end last Sunday, as the team came up short in a 17-16 loss at the hands of No. 25 Indiana in front of 1,103 fans in Holloway Gymnasium.

The Boilermakers split the matches five-to-five and held the lead for nine of the ten weights, but were ultimately done in by bonus point wins for the Hoosiers. Head coach Tony Ersland’s team started the dual hot, winning the first three and four of the first five bouts.

The highlight wins came in the form of a ranked upset from redshirt-freshman Dustin Norris and a major decision from No. 14 Filius. Ramos, Coleman and redshirt-freshman Ben Vanadia picked up decisions.

TITLE TYPE OF YEAR

It’s been quite the run for Matt Ramos over the last few months. He has claimed titles at the Southern Scuffle, Clarion Open and a freestyle title at the U.S. Open in addition to a runner-up finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

In those four tournaments, he is 17-1 with eight bonus point wins including four tech falls and three pins. He beat four ranked opponents along the way.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Head coach Tony Ersland has announced the 2023 Purdue wrestling signing class, inking six new Boilermakers to national letters of intent. He welcomes Joey Blaze, Greyson Clark, Orlando Cruz, Ashton Jackson, Delaney Ruhlman and Cole Solomey to the Boilermaker family to make up what will surely be Ersland’s sixth top-25 recruiting class.

Blaze and Clark highlight the class as the No. 17 and No. 33 ranked prospects respectively with five state titles between the two of them. Purdue is one of just nine schools to have at least two top-35 ranked signees.

BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BUTLER TO HOST #19 VILLANOVA SATURDAY AT 2 PM

INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women’s basketball team returns to action this weekend with a 2 PM Saturday tip vs. #19 Villanova. Brendan King and Garrett Butcher will call the action on FloSports.com.

GameDay

Date: Saturday, Feb. 4

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse

Live Stats: ButlerSports.com – Statbroadcast

Watch: FloSports.com – BEDN

Bulldog Bits

– Saturday will be the 21st overall meeting between Butler and Villanova.

– Butler led Marquette for 27 minutes on Sunday, but were beat at the buzzer by the Golden Eagles.

– Marquette’s largest lead over Butler was just three points with 2:53 remaining in the fourth quarter.

– BU shot 50% from the field in the first, second and third quarter vs. Marquette.

– The Bulldogs made four of their first five 3-point attempts to build an 18-10 first quarter lead.

– Caroline Strande led Butler with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals.

– Tenley Dowell landed on 400 career points by scoring nine against Marquette.

– Rachel McLimore and Sydney Jaynes each had 10 points and four rebounds for the Bulldogs.

– Jaynes has scored in double figures in five of her last six games.

– Jaynes ranks 10th in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (49.7).

– Jessica Carrothers ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (51.3) and 11th in steals (1.4).

– Shay Frederick ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (40.3).

– Frederick has made five 3-pointers over the last three games while shooting 50 percent from deep.

– Frederick, Carrothers and Mortag were all inactive in the first meeting between Butler and Villanova.

– Trinity White had her best game of the season at Nova with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

– White and Kendall Wingler each got their first start of the season at Villanova.

– Wingler needs five more 3-pointers to reach 100 in her collegiate career. She hit two vs. Nova on 1/8.

– Jordan Meulemans has hit multiple 3-pointers for Butler in back-to-back games.

– BU played in front of 1,074 fans vs. Marquette marking their third largest home crowd of the season.

Scouting #19 Villanova                                                                        

Villanova heads to Hinkle Fieldhouse with a 19-4 overall record that includes a 10-2 mark in conference action. The Wildcats opened BIG EAST play with a home loss to Creighton (67-46), but followed that contest with nine-straight league wins before the five-point setback at UConn (Jan. 29). The Wildcats lead the BIG EAST in scoring defense (57.6), blocks per game (5.5), turnover margin (+4.4) and assist to turnover ratio (1.5). Standout senior Maddy Siegrist leads the nation in scoring (28.2) and is second in the BIG EAST in rebounds (9.5).

All-Time Series vs. Villanova                                                              

Villanova defeated Butler earlier this season to move ahead in the all-time series 14-6. Butler’s last win over the Wildcats came on Feb. 9, 2020 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs narrowly defeated Villanova that day 63-61. They swept the season series that year by adding a 58-41 win at Villanova.

Butler’s Last Game vs. Villanova                                                                      

Maddy Siegrist tallied 36 points and 13 rebounds in the home win for Villanova. The nation’s leading scorer upped her average following her seventh 30-point game of the season. Siegrist jumped to No. 5 on the BIG EAST’s all-time scoring list with 1,279 points over 55 conference games, passing UConn’s Maya Moore. Villanova led wire-to-wire, with Butler getting within five late in the third quarter. Kendall Wingler led the Bulldogs with 16 points off 5-of-7 shooting.

Villanova’s Last Game                                                                          

No. 19 Villanova took control of the game with its second quarter effort. The Wildcats (19-4, 10-2) outscored Marquette (14-8, 7-6) by a 24-4 margin in the second stanza to open-up a 37-17 lead at halftime. Maddy Siegrist was dominant in the second quarter, scoring 14 of her team’s 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Siegrist finished with a game-high 24 points as she now moves 104 points shy of the BIG EAST career scoring record. Jordan King led Marquette with 18 points. The Golden Eagles welcomed back Liza Karlen, who had missed the month of January due to injury. She came off the bench to add eight points on 4-of-9 shooting along with five rebounds. Lucy Olsen added 16 points and a game-high six assists for the Wildcats. With the win, Villanova earned the season sweep of Marquette.

Behind The Arc                                                                                      

Butler ranks 6th in the NCAA and second in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8). The Bulldogs average 7.6 made 3-point field goals per game (3rd in the BIG EAST) and have shot 50 percent or better from behind the arc in back-to-back games. Three Bulldogs came off the bench to hit multiple 3-pointers when Butler hosted Marquette last weekend. Nine Bulldogs are shooting over 35 percent from behind the arc this season.

Big Butler Upset                                                                                                  

The last time the Bulldogs faced a nationally ranked Wildcat team they won 76-53! Butler traveled to #21 Villanova on Jan. 2, 2018 to play the Wildcats at Jake Nevin Field House. The ‘Dawgs led by two at the half, but erupted for 27 third quarter points to take full control of the action. The victory was Butler’s first win over a ranked opponent as a member of the BIG EAST Conference (2013-14).

Balanced Scoring                                                                                                 

Rachel McLimore leads the team with her 10.9 scoring average. The only other Bulldog teams in program history to have a leading scorer average less than 11 points came in 2008-09 and 2001-02. The balanced scoring approach worked out great for the 2008-09 team. Butler went 20-12 that season and reached the WNIT. For this year’s club, (22 games) Butler has had six different players lead the team in scoring. McLimore has done it seven times, but only twice this calendar year.

So Close                                                                                                                 

The Bulldogs have lost five games this season where they held at least a one-point lead over the opposition in the fourth quarter. BU led Marquette (51-50) with 9:20 left; they led St. John’s (60-59) with 3:26 left; they led Illinois (51-50) with 7:40 left; they led DePaul (52-51) with 9:48 left, and they led IUPUI (55-54) with 2:51 left. The Bulldogs have lost their last two games by a combined four points.

Tournament Talk                                                                                                 

The 2023 BIG EAST women’s basketball tournament is one month away! If the tournament started this weekend, Butler would play as the No. 10 seed and face No. 7 seed Georgetown. The winner of that contest would advance to the quarterfinals to play No. 2 seed Villanova. Other first round pairings would feature No. 6 seed Marquette playing No. 11 seed Xavier and No. 8 seed DePaul playing No. 9 seed Providence. The tournament will be held in Uncasville, Conn. at Mohegan Sun Arena. Action starts March 3 and the championship game will air March 6 on FS1.

Team Leaders                                                                                        

Rachel McLimore and Sydney Jaynes are the only Bulldogs to start in all 22 games this season. McLimore leads the team in minutes played, made 3-pointers, assists and points. Jaynes is the team leader in made field goals, offensive rebounds and blocked shots. Caroline Strande leads BU in made free throws, defensive rebounds and overall rebounds. The Bulldog team leader in steals is Jessica Carrothers.

Marquette Recap                                                                                                

For the second straight game, Butler knocked on the door of upsetting a team higher in the BIG EAST standings but Marquette escaped Indianapolis with the win on Sunday afternoon in buzzer-beating fashion. Freshman Emily La Chapell made the go-ahead layup in the final second as the Golden Eagles (14-7, 7-5 BIG EAST) won their third straight game. The Bulldogs (7-15, 2-11), who fell by two at St. John’s on Wednesday, led by as many as 11 in the first half before Marquette rallied for the win. MU shot 50-percent from the field in the second half to erase the deficit and committed just 10 turnovers on the afternoon. Chloe Marotta posted game highs of 27 points and 14 rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Caroline Strande led Butler with 14 points and six boards.

Up Next                                                                                                                  

Butler will travel to Chicago next week to play DePaul on Wednesday night. Tip at Wintrust Arena is set for 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM Central.

BUTLER MEN’S BASKETBALL

BUTLER TRAVELS TO NO. 14 MARQUETTE FOR A SATURDAY AFTERNOON TIP

After a week off, the Bulldogs return to action with a trip to Milwaukee to face off with a Top 15 opponent in Marquette.

Butler (11-12, 3-9 BIG EAST) at #14/12 Marquette (18-5, 10-2)

Saturday, Feb. 4;  2PM ET

Fiserv Forum; Milwaukee, Wis.

TV: FS1 – Jeff Levering & Brian Butch

Radio: 1430AM – @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)

Varsity Network Radio App, SiriusXM 388, SXM App 978

PDF notes can be found here.

Bulldogs vs. Marquette

• Of the current BIG EAST members, Butler’s history with Marquette dates back the farthest as the teams first met in 1922.

• The teams met 18 times from 1922 through 1942.

• The teams met twice in the 2012-13 season, one year prior to Butler joining the BIG EAST. Those two games included a Rotnei Clarke game-winner for Butler at the 2012 Maui Invitational, and Marquette defeating Butler, 74-72, in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

• Butler owns a 10-8 lead in the series since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013-14 season.

Series: Butler Leads, 24-23

Streak: Marquette, W1

In Milwaukee: Marquette Leads, 15-10

First Meeting: MU, 18-17; 12/16/1922

Last Meeting: MU, 64-56; 2/26/22

• According to KenPom, Butler has played the nation’s 13th-toughest schedule so far this season.

• Saturday marks the first match-up of the season with Marquette. Butler also has yet to play Xavier this season, but has concluded home-and-home BIG EAST series with UConn, Creighton, Providence and Seton Hall.

• Butler enters Saturday’s game after not playing a midweek contest, the team’s first bye of the BIG EAST season. Butler had played 10 games over a 31-day stretch.

• Butler is committing only 13.0 fouls per game, which is second nationally. Only BIG EAST foe Creighton fouls less.

• Butler had nine blocks in Saturday’s loss to Seton Hall, the second-most by the Bulldogs this season. Jalen Thomas and Connor Turnbull each had three blocks. Butler ranks 43rd nationally at 4.5 blocks per game.

• Bates has 38 blocks this season, which already places him tenth on Butler’s single-season list.

• Bates is 19th nationally with a 61.4 field goal percentage and is 37th nationally in blocks per game at 1.9 per game.

• Simas Lukosius is fourth in the BIG EAST in three-point shooting at 41.4 percent on the season.

• Lukosius has hit 27 of his 31 free throw attempts in BIG EAST play and his 87.1 percentage in conference action is fifth in the league.

• Jayden Taylor is averaging a team-best 14.0 points per game in the team’s 11 contests away from Hinkle Fieldhouse this season. He is shooting 38 percent from three-point range in those games.

• Chuck Harris left the Seton Hall game Saturday after a collision in the first half caused a concussion; he played 11 minutes.

• In BIG EAST games, Butler is committing only 10.9 turnovers per game, which is second among league schools.

• In Butler’s 11 wins this season, the Bulldogs have shot 43 percent from three-point range and have a +2.5 rebounding advantage per game; in the team’s 12 losses, their opponents have averaged a rebounding advantage of +12.8 per game while the Bulldogs have hit only 28 percent of their three-point attempts.

• Butler is 11-0 this season when leading at halftime; Villanova opened the second half with a 16-1 run Jan. 13 to erase a 10-point Butler halftime lead before the Bulldogs responded for the win.

• Butler is 11-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points.

• The Bulldogs are 7-0 this season when out-rebounding their opponent.

• Jalen Thomas has led the Bulldogs in rebounding in six of his 12 games played this season since returning from a pulmonary embolism; that includes pacing the team in boards in five of the last seven games.

• Lukosius, Harris, Bates and Taylor have each led the Bulldogs in scoring in at least five games this season (includes ties).

• Turnbull has nine blocks in 60 minutes of BIG EAST play so far this season.

• Butler has shot 40 percent or better from behind the arc 11 times this season.

• Butler has 10 games so far this season shooting 50 percent or better from the field. Butler shot 56.6 percent from the field against Villanova Jan. 13, which was the second-best output of the season.

• Butler went 16-for-16 from the free throw line Jan. 22 at UConn; it’s the fourth time in program history that the Bulldogs have made at least 15 free throws in a game without a miss.

• Among active coaches with at least 10 seasons of NCAA Division I experience, Matta’s .731 winning percentage ranks fourth (Few, Self, Calipari). The Jan. 13 win over Villanova was Win No. 450 for Matta.

IUPUI MEN’S BASKETBALL

IUPUI TO WELCOME GREEN BAY ON SATURDAY AT THE COLISEUM

INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI basketball team will cap its quick two-game homestand on Saturday (Feb. 4) when the Jaguars host Green Bay (2-21, 1-11 HL) at noon inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Jaguars have piled off a collection of near misses recently, including a 72-69 home defeat to Milwaukee inside the Coliseum on Thursday.

Those planning to attend Saturday’s game at the Coliseum are asked to allow extra time for traffic and parking within the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Tickets to Saturday’s game can be purchased by clicking here. The IUPUI Athletics Department will be highlighting a number of Central Indiana non-profit organizations as part of Non-Profit Day at the Coliseum. Many will be setting up at tables inside the entry pavilion on Saturday also.

IUPUI (3-21, 0-13 HL) had two attempts to tie the score in the closing minute against Milwaukee on Thursday as sophomore Jlynn Counter had a potential game-tying layup blocked and Vincent Brady II misfired on a wing three in the final seconds of regulation. Counter had a monster game with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals while DJ Jackson added 15 points and seven rebounds. Junior John Egbuta contributed 10 points, including a pair of threes, off the bench.

IUPUI shot a respectable 48 percent from the field and held Milwaukee under 38 percent. However, the Panthers had 15 more field goal attempts than the Jaguars, fueled by 18 offensive boards and 16 IUPUI turnovers.

For the year, Counter has been on a tear and now ranks among the Horizon League’s top-15 in scoring (14.5 ppg), assists (3.3 apg), field goal percentage (49.8%) and free throw percentage (83.3%). Freshmen are accounting for nearly 29 points per game as Vincent Brady II is scoring 10.1 points per game and Jackson checks in at 7.1 points per contest.

QUOTABLE

“Honestly, I thought it was a spirited, tough game. The IPS kids were loud and made it a true home court advantage for us today and both teams kind of fed off that energy. There were a lot of adjustments being made throughout the game today on both sides and a lot of players just stepped up and made plays on both sides. We had a look to tie it at the end of regulation against one of the best teams in this league and that shows you just how competitive this league is. We were right there. We need to take that next step and start winning these close games, but I’m proud of my guys and I’m proud of the overall effort,” Crenshaw said following Thursday’s game with Milwaukee.

SCOUTING GREEN BAY

Green Bay enters play at 2-21 overall and 1-11 in Horizon League play with the one coming against the Jaguars on Dec. 5. The Phoenix are 0-15 away from home this season and have lost 13 straight coming into play. Cade Meyer leads the Phoenix with 11.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while sitting tied for the team lead with 14 blocked shots. Clarence Cummings III is second on the team at 10.0 points per game as the team averages 58.4 points per game.  

UP NEXT

IUPUI will take on Wright State on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

Tidbits heading into Saturday’s game (click here for full game notes (PDF))  

    SIX AWARDS   

    IUPUI freshmen have collected six #HLMBB Freshman of the Week Awards this season as Vincent Brady II has collected four honors and Armon Jarrard has been honored twice, including this past week.

    Brady is second on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.0 rpg) and leads the team in minutes played (31.4 mpg, 15th in the HL) and threes made (40). Brady comes in having made at least one three in 19 straight games and in 22 of the team’s 24 games this season.

    Jarrard had a career-high 22 points (6-8 FG, 5-7 3’s, 5-5 FT) at Cleveland State on Sunday in earning his second award of the year.

    FRESHIES   

    All total, IUPUI freshmen are accounting for 28.7 points per game, paced by Vincent Brady II’s 10.1 points per game.

    Here’s a look at how the four have performed so far this season.    

Vincent Brady II: 31.4 mpg (15th in the HL), 10.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 40 3’s made (leads team)

Amhad Jarrard: 22.9 mpg (5th on the team), 5.7 ppg, 2.1 apg (3rd on the team), 7 steals

Armon Jarrard: 19.7 mpg (7th on the team), 5.8 ppg, 19 steals (4th on the team)

DJ Jackson: 20.3 mpg, 7.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg

    FRESH DUBS

    It would appear that Brady will be hovering around double-digits in scoring all season long as he sits at 10.1 points per game entering today’s game. 

    Earlier this season, he had a stretch of four straight games with 15-or-more earlier this season, becoming the first IUPUI freshman to do so since Alex Young in 2008.

    Freshmen scoring in double-digits has been a rarity for the IUPUI program as just two have done so in the program’s Division I-era. The aforementioned Young went on to score 2,286 points in his four-year IUPUI career and George Hill scored 1,619 points in three-plus seasons before being drafted in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.

    Here’s the full list of IUPUI true freshmen to score in double digits for a season in the Division I era (1998-present).

    Alex Young – 10.8 ppg (2008-09)

    George Hill – 10.7 ppg (2004-05)

    COUNTER POINTS (INCLUDING 50-40-90 STATUS)

    It’s safe to say that sophomore guard Jlynn Counter has emerged as the program’s most important player this season. Here are a few nuggets about the Oklahoma City-native, including a recent five-game surge that has him among the top players in the Horizon League. l

    -he’s scored 20-or-more in four of IUPUI’s last five games and hit for double-digits in each of the past five games

    -during that five-game stretch, he’s averaging 21.4 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 53.2 percent (41-77) from the floor, 41.2 percent (7-17) from three and 90 percent (18-20) from the foul line

    -he started the year 0-of-14 from three in the season’s first 12 games, but has gone 9-of-25 (36 percent) since and made at least one three in each of the past five games 

    ALL 12

    Following IUPUI’s game at Cleveland State on Sunday (Jan. 29), all 12 of the Jaguars’ scholarship players have now started at least one game this season. Graduate student Jonah Carrasco started in place of an injured Chris Osten, becoming the 12th different IUPUI player to start a game and IUPUI’s 12th different starting unit of the year.

    TOPS IN THE COUNTRY

    IUPUI is tops in the nation, having had 14 different players miss at least one game due to injury or illness, 12 of whom are scholarship student-athletes. Highest on the list are Zach Gunn (out for the season), Bryce Monroe (20 games missed) and DJ Jackson (11 games). Other scholarship student-athletes who have missed multiple games this season include Amhad Jarrard (9 games), Armon Jarrard (7 games), Daylan Hamilton (6 games), John Egbuta (5 games) and Cooper Dewitt (3 games).

    Behind IUPUI, Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Iona have all had eight student-athletes miss time. 

    IUPUI has not had a game this season in which the entire roster was available.

    THE ONLY ONE IS NO. 1

    True freshman Vincent Brady II is the only IUPUI player to have appeared in all 24 games this season and is tied with Chris Osten with a team-high 23 starting nods.

    TEN HIT TEN

    Freshman DJ Jackson became the tenth different IUPUI player to have a double-digit scoring game for the Jaguars this season, doing so against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 21. Amazingly, of all 10 players who have scored in double-digits this season, none were on the IUPUI roster last season.

    CHRIS DON’T MISS

    Graduate transfer Chris Osten is currently shooting 66.2 percent for the season, chasing the school record for single-season shooting percentage (Jon Avery – 67.9 percent in 2008-09). The 6-foot-9 forward is shooting an absurd 76.6 percent from the field (49-of-64) at home this year.

    Coming into this season, he had scored in double-digits just one time in his Division I career

in stops at both Arizona State and Northern Illinois, and never had a double-double. However,

in 21 games this season, Osten has hit double-figures 12 times and registered four double-doubles.

    BUTA EMERGES

    The past six games have seen a new star emerge off the IUPUI bench as John Egbuta has provided a huge lift. The New York-native has contributed 12.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while making 27-of-44 (61.4 percent) shots, including 5-of-9 from three.

    SEEING 20-20

    IUPUI had a pair of 20-point scorers against Oakland last Thursday as freshman Vincent Brady II had a career-high 23 points (8-16 FG, 4-9 3’s, 3-3 FT) and Jlynn Counter tallied 22 (8-16 FG, 1-2 3’s, 5-6 FT). It marked the first time under head coach Matt Crenshaw that two players have gone for 20-or-more in the same game.

    CRUNCH TIME

    With so many new faces and primarily young faces, head coach Matt Crenshaw is still seeking a closer to help in crunch time. IUPUI has gone down to the wire in six of its past eight games, falling short on all six occasions.

    At Robert Morris on Jan. 9, IUPUI trailed 44-29 at halftime, but rallied to come all the way back in the second half. The Jaguars tied the game at 61 all and again at 63-63 before being outscored 14-7 over the game’s first five-plus minutes in the 77-70 loss.

    Against Oakland on Jan. 19, IUPUI again rallied from a nine-point deficit and led by as many as four in the closing minutes before a Jalen Moore trey with 3.0 seconds left sent the game to overtime. Oakland outscored the Jags 15-9 in overtime to secure an 83-77 win, keeping the Jags winless in league play.

    Against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 21, it was a two-possession game with five minutes remaining before the Titans outscored the Jags 20-12 down the stretch.

    At Purdue Fort Wayne, IUPUI rallied from 11 down to cut the Mastodons’ lead to two in the waning minutes, but couldn’t get over the hump late.

    At Cleveland State on Jan. 29, the Jaguars rallied from down 20 in the second half to down three with 3:01 to play. However, IUPUI was never able to draw even late in that contest before ultimately falling short, 78-72.

    Against Milwaukee on Thursday, IUPUI had two chances to tie the score in the closing minute but came up empty on both in a 72-69 home loss to one of the league’s top teams.

    FRESH STARTERS

    IUPUI had three freshmen in the starting lineup in the season opener at Iowa State as Vincent Brady II, Amhad Jarrard and Armon Jarrard all got the starting nod. The trio, all of whom are Indianapolis natives, combined on four points, five boards and an assist in their collegiate debut.

    A fourth freshman, DJ Jackson, made his first collegiate start on Dec. 31 against NKU.

    4K

    IUPUI hosted its annual NCAA Readers Become Leaders game on Dec. 12 against Spalding University and had a program best 4,114 fans in attendance. The game attracted roughly 3,500 3rd graders from Central Indiana and stressed the importance of creating reading habits at a young age. The 4,114 fans easily surpassed the previous record for an IUPUI home game – 3,327 against Indiana State inside Conseco Fieldhouse on Dec. 23, 2008.

    The previous record for an IUPUI game inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum was 3,159 in the inaugural game against Indiana State on Nov. 14, 2014.

    THE MONROE EFFECT

    After missing the first three games of the season to injury, junior transfer Bryce Monroe came in and made a major impact in the Jaguars’ lineup. In his four appearances, Monroe led the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) and assists (3.8 apg), despite suffering an injury in his third game back. More importantly, the team as a whole has improved its output. Without Monroe in the lineup, the Jags averaged just 53.4 points per game and scored 65.0 points per game with him available.

    The San Diego-transfer had a monster game at New Orleans on Nov. 24, pumping in 29 points (13-20 FG, 3-6 3’s) and seven assists – both of which are the most by an IUPUI player this season. However, Monroe was injured during the New Orleans trip and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. 

    BOOK WORMS

    The Jaguars put together a 3.03 team grade point average during the fall semester with 12 members of the team earning a 3.0 or better. Junior John Egbuta was most impressive with a perfect 4.0 mark during the fall. 

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL REPORT: TOMMY REES IS LEAVING THE IRISH FOR ALABAMA OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOB

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are going to need a new offensive coordinator for the 2023 season. According to an Irish Illustrated report, Tommy Rees has accepted an offer from Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide to be their new OC.

Tommy has flirted with other jobs in the past, but had remained loyal to Notre Dame since his rise to power following the departure of Chip Long after the 2019 regular season. Tommy had a chance to follow Brian Kelly to coach the LSU Tigers, but Jack Swarbrick was able to convince him to stay and be Marcus Freeman’s offensive coordinator in South Bend.

BALL STATE ATHLETICS

BALL STATE HIRES JEFF MITCHELL AS NEW ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

MUNCIE, Indiana – Geoffrey S. Mearns, president of Ball State University, has selected Jeff Mitchell as the Cardinals’ new director of athletics.

Mitchell will join Ball State after serving as deputy director of athletics at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., since 2018.

Mitchell will be formally introduced at a program on Monday, Feb. 6, at the Ball State Alumni Center, 2800 W. Bethel Ave., Muncie, IN 47304. The event, which is open to the public and will be livestreamed at bsu.edu/live, will begin at 1:30 p.m.

“After conducting a thorough national search, what impressed me about Jeff, in addition to his extensive professional executive experience in intercollegiate athletics, is his character—a values-based approach to leadership that embodies our enduring values,” President Mearns said. “I am confident that Jeff will help our University extend a legacy of excellence in Ball State Athletics—a tradition that instills pride and passion among our students, our graduates, and our fans.”

As Ball State’s director of athletics, Mitchell will oversee athletic programs competing in the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA. He will also continue to implement the imperatives set forth within “Onward,” the Ball State athletics department’s comprehensive strategic plan, as well as guide the department’s “Ball YOU” program, an easily accessible platform to empower student-athletes in their name, image, and likeness (NIL) exposure and opportunities.

“I am grateful to President Mearns and the leadership at Ball State University for affording me this exciting opportunity,” Mitchell said. “Ball State’s reputation as a world-class institution devoted to immersive learning and comprehensive student success is reinforced through its athletics department. I am impressed by the outstanding coaches, staff, and student-athletes who are consistently competing for conference championships and qualifying for NCAA tournaments while setting records both in competition and in the classroom. I look forward to building upon this tradition of excellence and also contributing to the vitality of the communities we serve.”

Mitchell has more than two decades of experience in higher education and athletics administration. At Southern Miss, he has managed the daily operations of the Golden Eagle athletics department and provided leadership for special projects, such as “#ToTheTop25,” the department’s strategic plan. He also negotiated the university’s long-term, multi-million-dollar multimedia partnership with LEARFIELD, and its long-term agreement with ticketing partner Paciolan, which is expected to generate $100 million in revenue over the term of the deal.

Mitchell served as the University of Southern Mississippi’s interim director of athletics during the 2018-19 academic year. He also assisted in the planning and development of $7.5 million in facility upgrades at Southern Miss, including a new 18,000-square-foot student-athlete academic center, a new synthetic turf baseball field and state-of-the-art LED lighting system, a new basketball court redesign and state-of-the-art LED lighting system, and enhancements to the baseball locker room, the M-Club lounge and kitchen, and the athletics administration building.

Dr. Charlene Alexander, chief strategy officer at Ball State, served as chair of the University’s screening committee for the search. She said Mitchell’s proven success with advancing organizational development and enhancing revenue generation, and his excellent track record of hiring diverse coaches and staff, made him an ideal candidate for the position.

“We are excited to welcome Jeff and his family to Muncie,” Alexander said. “Throughout the hiring process, Jeff displayed a genuine sense of passion and creativity that will be an asset to our athletics department—and to our University. Jeff’s emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and community engagement aligns with our University’s values and will serve him well in this role.”

Mitchell joined Southern Miss after a 12-year stint at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif., where he most recently served as the senior associate athletic director for external operations.

A collaborative campus leader, Mitchell has served in various leadership roles and committees at Santa Clara and at Southern Miss—where he also taught business classes as an adjunct professor. As an accomplished public address announcer for 20 years, Mitchell has announced Division I baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball in the SEC, PAC-12, C-USA, WCC, Division III football and basketball in the SCAC, and Division III NCAA Tournament basketball.

Mitchell is the co-author of a textbook entitled “Sport, Ethics and Leadership,” which was published in 2017. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (2001) and Master of Business Administration (2003) from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., where he was a four-year member of the varsity baseball team, a four-year member of the athletic department’s sports information staff, and assistant baseball coach. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2005, where he also served as a graduate assistant in the external relations unit and primarily worked with the Ole Miss football and men’s basketball programs.

Mitchell and his wife, April, are parents to daughter, Harper Wynne (14), and son, Carson (9).

In addition to announcing Mitchell’s hiring, President Mearns thanked Ken Bothof for his service as interim director of athletics.

BALL STATE BASEBALL

KLEIN NAMED NCBWA PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA

DALLAS – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced its 22nd annual Preseason All-America teams on Thursday. Ball State pitcher Sam Klein received a second-team honor.

Klein was a dominate closer for the Cardinals last season. He finished the season tied for 18th in the NCAA with 11 saves and led the MAC. He earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team as a relief pitcher, which is his first all-conference nod. He tallied 47 strikeouts in 34 innings of work. He produced an ERA of 1.45 in MAC games and held MAC hitters to a .103 batting average. He finished with an overall record of 4-3. Earlier this offseason, Klein was named a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Third-Team All-American.

“Sam has a unique gift to be able to me calm, cool, and collected when the game is on the line,” said Head Coach Rich Maloney. “He has been able to make big pitches in tough situations and when things haven’t gone his way, he has stayed confident and worked his way to great heights. Sam is an extremely hard worker and a great teammate. Good to see him get positive attention, a reward for his hard work and development.”

BALL STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL

SPARKS, COLEMAN FINISH WITH DOUBLE-DOUBLES TO PROPEL CARDINALS OVER EAGLES

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team returned to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena for a Friday night showdown with Eastern Michigan on CBS Sports Network. Payton Sparks and Jarron Coleman each produced double-doubles, as the Cardinals defeated the Eagles, 91-90, in front of the fourth largest crowd (6,068) since 2009.

The Cardinals were trailing by three points, 87-84, with 1:13 left in overtime. Demarius Jacobs picked Emani Bates’ pocket and recorded the easy fastbreak layup to pull Ball State within one, 87-86. The BSU defense picked up its intensity and forced a contested shot to which Sparks brought down the defensive board.

After a timeout by Ball State, Sparks made a layup to give the Cardinals an 88-87 lead with just 15 seconds left on the clock. Sparks came up huge on the defensive end on as he blocked a layup to keep the Eagles from retaking the lead. Mickey Pearson Jr. brought down the defensive rebound and was fouled. Pearson made both free throws to put the Cardinals up three, 90-87. BSU was stout on the defensive end once again as it forced another tightly contested shot. Sparks brought down the rebound and was sent to the free-throw line. He made the first free throw to put Ball State up by four, 91-87. The Cardinals claimed a 91-90 victory after EMU’s Tyson Acuff made a last-second 3-pointer.

Ball State improved to 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. BSU is now 7-3 in Mid-American Conference play, while EMU fell to 6-17 overall and 3-7 in league action.

“Awesome atmosphere,” said Head Coach Michael Lewis. “It was a great college basketball game. We withstood a really good individual performance. Unbelievable atmosphere to play a nationally televised game, it was great for the fans. I thought our execution in the second half was special, especially late. We were able to exploit some things that helped up get a win. I thought DJ’s (Demarius Jacobs) steal down the stretch was huge. It got us back within one. Emoni is a good player, that’s why there were NBA scouts here tonight. I thought our guys kept their fight and stayed into it. They got a stop to get it into overtime, and then really executed in overtime. Very proud of these guys. The crowd was unbelievable, their energy was great. The students were great.”

Sparks led the team with 22 points and 15 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. He became the first BSU player to record a double-double with 20 or more points and 15 or more rebounds since Tahjai Teague in January of 2020. Sparks added four assists, a game-high three blocks, and added a steal. Coleman tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. It is the first time this season that the Cardinals had two players produce double-doubles in the same game. Coleman collected five assists, with one block.

Jaylin Sellers recorded 17 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block. Jacobs tallied a game-high eight assists to go along with 16 points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal. Pearson finished with 13 points, six in overtime to pace the Cardinals, and added six boards.

Coleman opened the game on fire from behind the arc as he made three 3-pointers to score Ball State’s first nine points. Ball State started the contest with a 12-4 run that ended with 16:28 left in the first half. BSU outscored EMU 11-9 over the next 3:17 to take 23-13 lead with 13:11 remaining in the opening stanza.

EMU answered with a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to three, 26-23, with 6:37 left in the half. Eastern Michigan continued to gain momentum as the Eagles outscored the Cardinals 17-11 to end the first stanza. EMU led BSU 40-37 at the break.

After Bates knocked down a 3-pointer to start the second half, the Cardinals went on a 10-0 run and regained the lead, 47-43, with 16:46 left in regulation. During the BSU run, Sparks accounted for seven of the team’s 10 points.

Ball State outscored Eastern Michigan, 10-8, over the next 3:51 of action and extended its lead to 57-51 with 12:55 left in the second half. Bates outscored BSU 7-1 to tie the game at 58-58 with 11:29 to play.

The final 9:55 of regulation was a back-and-forth battle that saw 10 lead changes and two ties. The two squads needed an overtime period to decide the winner as the score was tied 78-78.

EMU opened overtime with a 9-6 run and took an 87-84 lead with 1:44 left to play.

Bates finished with a game-high 35 points with five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Acuff went of 18 points, two assists, and one rebound. Noah Farrakhan recorded 16 points with two assists and a steal. Farrakhan, Kevin-David Rice, and Orlando Lovejoy tied for a team-best six rebounds.

Ball State returns to the road for a matchup against Central Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Tip is slated for 7 p.m.

BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

WBB LOOKS TO STAY ATOP OF THE MAC STANDINGS SATURDAY AT HOME AGAINST KENT STATE

Game 23 | Ball State (18-4, 7-1 MAC) vs. Kent State (14-6, 6-3 MAC)

Feb. 4  | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena | 11 am ET

Opening Tip:

– The Ball State women’s basketball team looks to improve to a 9-1start in Mid-American Conference play for the first time since the 2001-02 season when the Cardinals went 10-1 that year. Ball State will look to improve to 12-0 at home and also win its seventh-straight when it hosts Kent State Saturday in Worthen Arena. Currently, the Caridnals are tied for first place in the Mid-American Conference standings with Bowling Green.

– The Cardinals are coming off of a gritty win over the Huskies Wednesday. Ball State defeated Northern Illinois by a score of 75-68 in Worthen Arena. Redshirt senior Anna Clephane led all scorers with 16 points. Defensively, sophomore Marie Kiefer pulled down a team high 10 rebounds.

– Kent State is looking to extend its win streak to four after recently beating Northern Illinois (82-61), Western Michigan (64-38) and Akron (57-55).

– Saturday’s game against Kent State will mark the 65th time in program history the two schools have me with the Golden Flashes leading the all-time series, 42-22.

– Ball State head coach Brady Sallee is familiar with the Golden Flashes, he was an assistant women’s basketball coach from 1996-2002 under former legendary head coach Bob Lindsay.

 – Ball State 11th-year head coach Brady Sallee knows how to win in the month of February. Under Sallee, the Cardinals have a 45-30 (.600) overall record for the shortest month of the year. Sallee’s most successful February was in 2019-20 after the Cardinals posted a 7-1 record that year.

– The Cardinals fell to the Golden Flashes last season in both their home and away meetings. Ball State lost to Kent State 51-54 in Muncie Jan. 9, 2022 and then at Kent State, 62-67, Feb. 16.

Home Sweet Home:

John E. Worthen Arena has been very good to the Cardinals for the past decade. Ball State has a record of 170-85 (.653) at Worthen Arena from 2004-present. In 11 seasons Brady Sallee has compiled a 105-50 (.658) record in Worthen Arena. His best season at home was in 2017- 18 when the Cardinals went 15-3 in Muncie. So far this season the Cardinals are undefeated at home with a 11-0 mark.

When BSU Scores 80+ We Win:

When the Cardinals score 80+ points this season it results in a victory for Ball State. The Cardinals are 9-0 when the reach the 80 point plateau with wins over Indiana University East (105-51), Butler (84-68), Utah State (80-55), Western Kentucky (82-76), Saint Louis (85-51), Tarleton State (80-77), Chicago State (119-53), Bowling Green (81-73), Miami (92-61), Buffalo (81-59) and Akron (89-66).

Scouting Kent State:

– Kent State’s defense has been among the best in the MAC this season. The Flashes lead the conference in scoring defense (60.5 ppg) and rank second in field goal percentage defense (.377). Kent State is 13-1 when holding opponents to fewer than 70 points and 5-0 when opposing teams shoot less than 30% from the field.

– Forward Lindsey Thall is the top scorer at 11.9 points per game and has also totaled team-best marks of 34 three-pointers and 19 blocked shots. Thall is Kent State’s all-time leader with 252 triples, which ranks 21st among active NCAA Division I players, and ranks 10th among active players in career blocks (189).

– The first-ever meeting between Ball State and Kent State was the 1979-80 season. The Golden Flashes won that meeting by a score of 84-59 in Ohio.

In the Nation:

Nationally the Cardinals rank 16th in scoring offense (79.3), 18th in 3-pointers per game (8.6), 38th in 3-point field goal attempts (24.6), 16th in field goal percentage (46.6), 21st in assists per game (16.9), 85th in free throw attempts (19.0), 81st in free throws made per game (13.4) and 25th in winning percentage (81.0). The Cardinals currently sit at No. 9 in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll, the second highest of any MAC team.

INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL

INDIANA STATE HOSTS MURRAY STATE SATURDAY ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State welcomes Murray State to the Hulman Center Saturday for the first time since 2008. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network as the Sycamores look to split the season series with the Racers after dropping the first meeting 82-73 Jan. 21 in Murray.

Saturday is ISU’s Hall of Fame game where the five inductees of the 30th ISU Athletics Hall of Fame Class will be recognized throughout the game. Former player Jake Odum and former coach Royce Waltman represent men’s basketball in this year’s induction class.

The Sycamores are coming off an 83-75 win at Evansville Wednesday night where ISU came from a 10+-point deficit to win for the first time since Feb. 12, 2022 against Illinois State. Courvoisier McCauley posted his third double-double of the year (18pts, 11reb) in the game.

Wednesday night was ISU’s first road Valley win since Jan. 4, 2023 at Illinois State. ISU has now won four Valley road games this season after winning just one last season.

Cooper Neese hit three triples Wednesday night to make 200 for his career and put him in the top-20 for career points in ISU program history.

Xavier Bledson has posted 33 points (20 vs UNI, 13 at Evansville) off the bench across the last two games after scoring 28 combined in his previous 11 games where he was averaging under 10 minutes per game.

At 15-9 (8-5 MVC), head coach Josh Schertz has surpassed last season’s amount of total (11) and Valley (4) wins. Only four ISU coaches have improved win totals from year one to year two.

It’s a tight race in the Valley down the stretch as eight teams are currently all within one game of first place. The top four teams are tied at 9-4 while the next four, including Murray State and Indiana State, are sitting at 8-5.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be the 11th all-time meeting between Indiana State and Murray State, and the second meeting this season after Murray State won 82-73 at home Jan. 21. The series dates back to 1945 and ISU leads 7-4 including 4-1 at home.

Before the previous meeting this season, the two teams had not met since 2008. Despite the Sycamores winning seven of the overall 10 meetings, Murray State has taken the last three of four games and the last two straight. Indiana State will be looking for its first win at home against Murray State since Dec. 3, 2001.

LAST GAME AGAINST THE RACERS

Robbie Avila posted a career-high 18 points, but the Sycamores saw their losing streak hit a season-high four games as Indiana State fell 82-73 to Murray State at CSFB Center.

The Sycamores rode an 11-0 run across the end of the first half into the second, including a buzzer-beating putback from Cade McKnight that tied things up at 36-all at the break. After opening the second half with three-straight buckets to take a 42-36 lead, the Sycamores gave up a 9-0 Racer run that turned the lead over to Murray State for the rest of the game.

Courvoisier McCauley paced all scorers in the game with 19 points, and Avila pulled down a tied team-high seven boards alongside his 18 points. Cooper Neese also hauled in seven rebounds, and Cameron Henry dished out a game-high six assists beside 16 points. McKnight rounded out the Sycamores in double-figures with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

LAST TIME OUT

Indiana State men’s basketball completed the season sweep against Evansville Wednesday night by overcoming a double-digit deficit to defeat the Purple Aces 83-65 at the Ford Center.

Cooper Neese joined Evansville’s Yacine Toumi to pace all scorers in the game with 19 points while Courvoisier McCauley posted an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double for Indiana State. Julian Larry also scored in double figures while dishing out a career-high seven assists.

Larry opened the scoring in the game, but the Aces spouted off a 12-0 run to force an Indiana State timeout with a 10-point lead less than four minutes in. The Sycamores came out of that timeout with back-to-back threes that sparked a 14-0 run for a 16-12 lead at 13:44. Indiana State shot 5-of-5 from the field including 3-of-3 beyond the arc in that span while forcing three Evansville turnovers.

Evansville reeled it in to 23-21 at 8:55, but shortly after that Neese took a charge and then drove all the way in through contact on the other end to make it 25-21. Xavier Bledson hit back-to-back threes to push Indiana State’s lead to double figures at 31-21 with 6:09 to go in the opening frame. The Sycamores led 37-23 with 3:44 left in the first half, but Evansville closed out the half on a 13-0 run to make it 37-36 at the break.

After being tied up at 39-all early in the second half, Indiana State went on a 10-0 run to go up 52-41 and force an Evansville timeout at 15:34. Zach Hobbs checked in an applied pressure to force a Cameron Henry steal which Larry laid up to push ISU’s lead to 63-51 with 9:27 to go. The Indiana State lead hit 72-53 at 6:17 thanks to a 9-0 run, and the Sycamores closed things out with back-to-back triples in the last minute of action.

Neese’s season-high three triples on the night makes 200 career 3-pointers, and his game-high 19 points ties a season-high. Larry dished out a career-high seven assists while pulling down a season-high eight rebounds. Bledson posted double figures (13) off the bench in his second consecutive game. McCauley’s 18-point, 11-rebound effort marks his third double-double of the season.

POWERED BY THE BENCH

Bledson posted a team-high 20 points against UNI for his second 20+-point outing this season, and Hobbs nailed four triples for a season-high 14 points. Those 34 points are tied for ISU’s second-most bench points against DI opponents this season, even with 34 bench points against Drexel when Bledson had an ISU career-high 22 points off the bench and behind 38 bench points against Evansville when 12 different Sycamores made it on the scoresheet. ISU ranks second in the Valley in bench points this season.

PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

HOTTEST TEAM IN HORIZON LEAGUE PLAYS HOST TO ROBERT MORRIS FOR PINK OUT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Riding a four-game winning streak, the longest in the Horizon League, the Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball team is set to play Robert Morris on Saturday in the Mastodons’ 16th annual Pink Out game.

Game Day Information

Who: Robert Morris Colonials

When: Saturday, February 4 | 2 PM

Where: Fort Wayne, Ind. | Gates Sports Center

Know Your Foe

Robert Morris is 8-14 and 2-11 in the Horizon League. The Colonials are riding a five-game losing streak coming into Saturday’s game, which included a 34-point loss to Wright State. Their last win was a 69-63 home win over IUPUI. The Colonials are led by Phoenix Gedeon, who is averaging 13.2 points per game. She scored 11 against the Mastodons in their last meeting.

The Series

Robert Morris has a 4-2 edge in the all-time series against the Mastodons, with Purdue Fort Wayne’s two wins sandwiching the four RMU wins. The ‘Dons won the last meeting earlier this season 52-41. Their first win (Feb. 19, 2021), was also a Pink Out game.

Think Pink!

Saturday’s game against Robert Morris will be the 16th annual Pink Out game for Purdue Fort Wayne. There will be a check of $5430 presented at halftime to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. In the ‘Dons’ 15 Pink Out games to date, they are 9-6.

Defense (Clap, Clap) Defense

Purdue Fort Wayne has held its opponents to 64 points or fewer in 12 games this season. They are 9-3 in such games.

She’s Back!

After four games of four points or less, Amellia Bromenschenkel has averaged 15.5 points per game in the last six games, with double-figures in each.

In The Wins…

In the Mastodons’ wins this year, Amellia Bromenschenkel is recording 17.2 points and 6.0 rebounds with a 56.6 percent shooting clip and a 41.7 percent 3-point shooting percentage. She is also averaging 1.9 steals, 1.9 assists and 0.5 blocks per game in those games.

The Best Choice For Defensive Player of the Year

In Horizon League play, Shayla Sellers leads the league with 2.3 steals per game and is 13th in the league with 0.7 blocks per game. She is the only player in the league that is in the top 16 in both categories.

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over

The Mastodons had three deficits of 10 points or more this season from which they came back to win: Bellarmine (10), Milwaukee (11) and Wright State (13).

Checking In On The Standings

Through 13 Horizon League games played, the Mastodons are tied for fifth in the league standings. If the current standings were to hold, the Mastodons would either host a first round tournament game on February 28, or earn a bye to the quarterfinals depending on tiebreakers.

On Fire!

Purdue Fort Wayne has the longest active winning streak in the Horizon League having won its last four games.

Thieves!

Purdue Fort Wayne is leading the Horizon League and 61st in the country with 9.5 steals per game. The ‘Dons also force the 62nd-most turnovers in the country at 18.70 per game, a league-best.

Especially Those Two!

In league play, Amellia Bromenschenkel and Shayla Sellers are tied for first in the Horizon League with 2.2 steals per game.

Sellers Swiper

Shayla Sellers ranks in the top-150 in the country with 40 steals this season.

Block Party

Purdue Fort Wayne is second in the Horizon League and just outside the top-100 nationally with 3.4 blocks per game.

Linbo Limbo

Jazzlyn Linbo is second in the Horizon League with 32 blocks this season.

Last Time Out

Purdue Fort Wayne knocked off Horizon League preseason favorite Youngstown State 67-65 behind 19 points from Shayla Sellers.

Coming Up

The Mastodons will hit the road to face IUPUI on Thursday (Feb. 9) before taking on Cleveland State at home on Monday (Feb. 13).

PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL

TITANS AND ‘DONS SET FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON TILT

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne will try to sweep the weekend in Michigan on Saturday (Feb. 4) with a visit to Detroit Mercy. The ‘Dons took down Oakland on Thursday.

Game Day Information

Who: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (15-9, 7-6 Horizon League) at Detroit Mercy (9-15, 5-8 Horizon League)

When: Saturday, February 4 | 1 p.m. ET

Where: Detroit, Mich. | Calihan Hall

Series Record: Mastodons lead 4-3

About Detroit Mercy:

// The Titans are led by Antoine Davis. He has 3,367 points, 300 away from Pete Maravich’s NCAA-record 3,667. Davis owns an NCAA record 537 3-pointers.

// The ‘Dons fell to Detroit Mercy 75-66 in Fort Wayne earlier this season.

‘Dons and Ends:

// Deonte Billups went over 1,000 points for his career in the game at Oakland on Thursday (Feb. 2). He now owns 1,006 career points.

// Jarred Godfrey needed 30 points on Thursday to reach 2,000 and he scored 32 to reach the mark. He is only the second Mastodon in program history to reach 2,000. John Konchar is the other. Konchar sits in first place in program history with 2,065 points.

// Jarred Godfrey tied a career high in made free throws (11) and earned a career high in free throw attempts (13) on Thursday at Oakland (Feb. 2).

// Jarred Godfrey is the all-time leader in games played in program history. He played in his 142nd career game on Jan. 25th at Northern Kentucky to pass Cameron Benford (2017-22) who had 141 games for the mark. Godfrey now owns 145 career games played.

// Jarred Godfrey has nine games of 20 or more points this season. He has 34 career games of 20 or more points.

// The Mastodons shot 54.9 percent at Oakland on Thursday, a season best against a Division I opponent.

// Ra Kpedi on the season has six double-digit rebound games, including double-doubles at Northwestern (Nov. 18), vs. Oakland (Dec. 3) and vs. Cleveland State (Jan. 16).

// The ‘Dons have had 12 or fewer turnovers in seven of the last 10 games.

// Jarred Godfrey is the only active player in NCAA Division I men’s basketball with 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 3-pointers and 200 steals. Since 1992-93 only four other student-athletes have finished with such a career stat line. D.J Cooper (Ohio, 2010-13), Kerry Kittles (Villanova, 1993-96), Ricky Minard (Morehead State, 2001-04) and Marreon Jackson (Toledo/Arizona State, 2017-12) are the others. (per sports-reference.com)

// The ‘Dons are 13-1 this season when scoring 71 or more points in a game.

// Per sports-reference.com, Ra Kpedi leads the Horizon League in offensive rebounding percentage at 15.7 percent. He is second in the league with 89 total offensive boards.

// Jarred Godfrey owns 611 rebounds, fourth in program history. He is also in the top five in points, assists, steals, field goals, free throws and 3-pointers in program history.

// Jarred Godfrey is shooting 91.0 percent (101-of-111) from the free throw line this season, 8th in the nation. Only once in program history has a player made 50 or more free throws in a season and finished at 90 percent or better. That was Ben Botts in 2009-09, making 65-of-71 (91.5 percent).

// Ra Kpedi has won the opening tip in 21-of-24 games this season. He also won the tip in overtime against Oakland (Dec. 3).

// The ‘Dons are 11th in the nation in 3-pointers per game (9.9).

// The ‘Dons are 5th in the nation in 3-point defense with teams shooting just 27.8 percent against them from three.

// Jarred Godfrey (2,002), Damian Chong Qui (1,505), Anthony Roberts (1,495), Bobby Planutis (1,125) and Deonte Billups (1,006) have each scored 1,000 career NCAA points.

// The ‘Dons have 15 games of double-digit offensive rebounds this season.

EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL

PURPLE ACES READY FOR MATCHUP AT UIC

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Meeting up for the first time as members of the Missouri Valley Conference, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team makes the trek to Chicago on Saturday to take on UIC.  Tip is set for 1 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and ESPN+ having the coverage.

Setting the Scene

– This will mark just the seventh meeting between the programs with the Flames taking five of the first six games in the series

– Four of the Purple Aces’ five losses to UIC have come by four points or less

– The teams last met on Nov. 23, 2011 with UIC taking a 79-75 victory; Ned Cox led UE in the game with 24 points

Last Time Out

– Evansville jumped out to a 12-2 lead to open the night but it was Indiana State rebounding for an 83-65 win on Wednesday inside the Ford Center

– Following the quick start by the Aces, the Sycamores took a double digit lead in the first half; UE rallied with a 13-0 run in the final minutes of the half to trail by a 37-36 score at the break

– Indiana State pulled away in the second half for the 18-point victory

– Yacine Toumi recorded a career-high 19 points while Kenny Strawbridge Jr. had 17

Another Career Mark

– Hitting 8 out of 16 attempts in Wednesday’s game against Indiana State, Yacine Toumi registered a career-high 19 points

– Toumi is averaging 14.5 points over his last four games while shooting 48.0% (24/50)

– His 19-point game passes his previous high of 18, which came twice this season (Campbell and Valpo)

– On the boards, Toumi ranks 15th in the MVC with an average of 5.8 per game

– He has grabbed at least five rebounds in 11 of the last 12 contests while raising his season average from 5.1 to 5.8 per game

– His top tally of 11 came in the win over Bellarmine

Back on Track

– Over his last two games, Kenny Strawbridge Jr. has shot 61.1% while tallying 17 points against Indiana State

– In the nine games before, he converted just 36.0% of his attempts (41/114)

– He was 7-for-10 from the field versus Indiana State and has chipped in at least 8 points in 23 out of 24 games

– He continues to lead the Aces while sitting 10th in the MVC with his season average of 14.9 points per game

– Finishing with a game-high 22 points at Indiana State, he reached the 20-point mark for the 7th time this season

Scouting the Opponent

– For the first time since 2011, the Aces and Flames will meet up on the hardwood

– UIC enters Saturday’s game with a 9-15 overall mark while sitting at 1-12 through their opening 13 games in the MVC

– Jace Carter paces three double digit scorers with 16.2 points per game

– Carter leads the squad with 43 steals while ranking second with 6.4 rebounds/contest

– Tre Anderson is averaging 12.5 PPG while Toby Okani averages 12.0 points and a team-high 7.0 caroms per game

VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VENTURES TO SIU SATURDAY

Valparaiso (4-16, 2-9 MVC)

Game #21 – Feb. 4, 2023 – 2 p.m.

at Southern Illinois (7-13, 4-7 MVC)

Banterra Center (9,000) – Carbondale, Ill.

Next Up in Valpo Basketball: The Valley gauntlet continues for the Valpo women’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon as the Beacons travel to take on Southern Illinois. The matchup with the Salukis is the only one of the regular season.

Previously: Valpo battled nearly all the way back from a 14-point first-half deficit on Wednesday evening at the ARC in a physical battle with UIC, but the Beacons were unable to complete the comeback, falling by a 55-53 final to the Flames. Olivia Brown continued her hot shooting, going 4-for-7 from the 3-point line as part of a team-best 16-point effort.

Following Valpo Basketball: Streaming Video: ESPN3

Radio: WVUR (95.1 FM, Valparaiso)

Streaming Audio: TuneIn app

Links for live coverage: Available via ValpoAthletics.com

Head Coach Mary Evans: Mary Evans is in her fifth year at the helm of the program in 2022-23 and owns a record of 52-84. Evans has made an impact on the program in her first four years, raising the team’s level of play to be competitive in a strong Missouri Valley Conference. Evans’ preferred style of play has been a big part of the program’s turnaround, as Valpo has led the MVC in 3-pointers made per game in each of the last three seasons and in steals per game in two of the last three years.

Series Notes: It’s a brief series between SIU and Valpo, as the two programs did not meet prior to Valpo joining the MVC in 2017-18. SIU won the first five meetings, but Valpo has won four of the last five matchups. Last season, the two squads split the series, as SIU won 62-52 in Carbondale before Valpo defeated the MVC regular season champions in the regular season finale at the ARC, 67-54.

@ValpoWBB…

…and @ValleyHoops

– Valpo was picked to finish in 10th place in the MVC preseason poll, totaling 197 points, just 10 points behind Evansville.

– Valpo is in its sixth season as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

– The Valley was ranked 10th in conference NET last year, was ranked seventh nationally in conference NET in 2020-21 and was eighth nationally in conference RPI in 2019-20.

…looking back at last year

– Valpo finished last year with an 11-19 overall record, but was strong in MVC play, going 9-9 in conference and finishing in sixth place – both of which match the program’s best since joining the Valley.

– The Beacons registered the first win at Drake and the first win at Bradley in program history.

– Valpo swept the season series over Drake, the program’s first two wins ever against the Bulldogs.

– The Beacons also tallied four top-100 wins within Valley play.

– Grace White was named MVC Sixth Player of the Year – the program’s first major postseason award since joining the Valley. Shay Frederick was a First Team All-MVC choice, while White was an All-Defensive Team selection and Olivia Brown earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team.

..looking ahead

– The Beacons return right back home to the ARC next weekend as they host Drake on Friday night and UNI on Sunday afternoon.

– After next weekend’s games, Valpo plays its next four in a row on the road.

…on the road

– Saturday’s game is the 10th of 14 true road games for Valpo this season.

– The Beacons are currently 1-8 on the road.

@SIU_WBasketball

– Southern Illinois enters Saturday’s game at 7-13 overall this year and with a 4-7 record in MVC play.

– The Salukis most recently dropped a narrow two-point decision to Missouri State on Wednesday, their fourth consecutive defeat.

– Ashley Jones, who has previously played at West Virginia, Temple and Mississippi State before arriving at SIU, leads the Salukis with 16.2 points/game, good for fourth in the MVC.

U OF I MEN’S LAX

BILLIG HIGHLIGHTS GREYHOUND QUARTET AS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS

BALTIMORE, Md. – Four UIndy men’s lacrosse student-athletes were named preseason All-America by USA Lacrosse Magazine, the organization announced earlier this winter. Redshirt senior Drew Billig highlighted the list for the Hounds, who earned second team distinction.

Wyatt Auyer, Kyle Basch, and Josh Jackson rounded out the UIndy representation on the third team.

Meanwhile, the trio of Basch, Billig, and Jackson garnered USILA Preseason All-America Second Team status.

Both announcements can be found at the links above.

Billig tallied 71 points on 28 goals and 43 assists a season ago, earning All-America Second Team accolades and All-GLVC First Team honors. Meanwhile, Basch and Jackson were first-team earners last spring by the organization, as the former repeated as GLVC Specialist of the Year. Auyer was named to the All-GLVC Second Team in 2022, leading the Hounds with 45 goals.

UIndy opens the season tomorrow at 12 p.m. from Key Stadium when Lake Erie visits the Circle City.

ALSO:

MEN’S LACROSSE RANKED EIGHTH IN INITIAL USILA POLL

BALTIMORE, Md. – The UIndy men’s lacrosse team debuts at No. 8 in the preseason USILA rankings, announced earlier this week. The Greyhounds have been in the top 10 in each of the last 19 weeks.

Defending national champion Tampa earned all 21 first-place votes to lead the poll, while Mercy, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Le Moyne round out the top four.

UIndy has 12 scheduled contests for the 2023 spring, including five home games. The Greyhounds open the season on Feb. 4 when they host Lake Erie from Key Stadium at 12 p.m.

Complete rankings can be found here.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | TAYLOR WOMEN SURGE TO NO. 14 IN THE NATION

NEW ORLEANS – The Taylor women climbed 17 spots in the national rankings to the No. 14 rank in the NAIA, according to the most-recent poll released on Wednesday by the USTFCCCA.

Since the previous poll was released on January 25, the Trojans have competed in one invitational, their own Trojan Invite where they claimed eight individual titles, hit eight NAIA qualifying marks, and broke one school record.

Ahna VanderWall provided the program record-breaking mark with a time of 17:26.08 in her title-winning 5,000-meter race, hitting the NAIA A-standard along the way. Audrey Brinkruff and Mollie Gamble also hit NAIA A-standards in the 5,000-meter race, claiming the second and third-place finishes.

Patience Sakeuh earned an A-standard mark of her own with an individual title in the long jump, leaping 5.72 meters for the fourth-best mark in the NAIA this season. Sakeuh went on to collect a second NAIA A-standard mark with a 60-meter hurdle time of 8.82.

Freshman, Kiana Siefert, meanwhile placed behind Sakeuh for second in the 60-meter hurdles, earning an NAIA B-standard time herself.

Fellow freshmen, Noel VanderWall, and sophomore, Lynae Ackley, then provided the final two standards for the Trojans in their home meet, with VanderWall hitting the NAIA A-standard in the mile and Ackley meeting the B-standard in the 3,000-meter race.

After collecting an eightfold crop of NAIA standards, the Trojan women jumped 17 spots in the national rankings, now representing one of three Crossroads League teams to crack the nation’s top-25.

No. 14 Taylor is slated to compete in its final invitational of the regular season this Saturday, February 4, at the Indiana Wesleyan Invite in Marion, Indiana.

TAYLOR ATHLETICS | TROJANS LAND NO. 20 SPOT IN USTFCCCA’S LATEST POLL

NEW ORLEANS – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its second top-25 national poll of the 2023 indoor track & field season on Wednesday, when the Taylor men came home with the No. 20 ranking in the NAIA.

The Trojans fell five spots in the national rankings since the last poll was released on January 25. In the week following the USTFCCCA’s previous poll, Taylor participated in its lone home invitational of the season, an invite in which the Trojans won individual titles in nine of the 19 total events.

Taylor was particularly impressive in the field events, winning five-of-six individual titles in that regard. Jake Thompson, Sammy Sommers, and Damon Knowles each won their respective events, while senior, Liam Hesting, claimed a pair of titles in the shot put and weight throw.

On the track, the Trojans piled on four more individual titles, including Ben Eiffert and Alex Ortiz in the mile and 3,000-meter races respectively. Meanwhile, Sommers claimed the 60-meter title, and the Trojan quartet of Cole Whitehead, Aidan Guckenberger, Sommers, and Braden Bixler stole the show in the 4×400 relay.

Furthermore, Sommers, Knowles, and Hesting each hit NAIA A-standard marks in their respective events.

Despite their impressive performance at the Trojan invite, the Taylor men fell five spots to No. 20 in the nation, representing one of four Crossroads League teams to crack the nation’s top-25.

No. 20 Taylor is slated to compete in its final invitational of the regular season this Saturday, February 4, at the Indiana Wesleyan Invite in Marion, Indiana.

SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:

INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/

EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/

WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/

FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/

ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/

ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index

TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index

BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/

DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/

HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/

MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/

HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/

OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx

ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index

IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/

IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/

IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/

PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/

INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx

GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/

ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/

GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/

HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php

TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/

VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index

SPORTS EXTRA

NBA STANDINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE
	W	L	PCT	CONF GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	LAST 10	STREAK
1 BOSTON	37	16	.698	—	20-7	17-9	7-1	21-11	6-4	1 L
2 MILWAUKEE	35	17	.673	1.5	22-5	13-12	7-4	20-13	8-2	6 W
3 PHILADELPHIA	34	17	.667	2.0	20-8	14-9	5-3	19-11	9-1	2 W
4 BROOKLYN	31	20	.608	5.0	15-8	16-12	6-5	21-11	4-6	1 L
5 CLEVELAND	32	22	.593	5.5	22-6	10-16	8-3	18-10	5-5	1 W
6 MIAMI	29	24	.547	8.0	17-9	12-15	6-3	13-15	6-4	1 L
7 NEW YORK	28	25	.528	9.0	13-14	15-11	3-7	19-15	4-6	1 W
8 ATLANTA	27	26	.509	10.0	13-11	14-15	5-4	17-17	6-4	2 W
9 WASHINGTON	24	27	.471	12.0	12-11	12-16	5-3	13-15	7-3	1 L
10 CHICAGO	24	27	.471	12.0	14-11	10-16	5-4	20-15	5-5	1 W
11 INDIANA	25	29	.463	12.5	17-11	8-18	3-4	17-14	2-8	1 W
12 TORONTO	24	30	.444	13.5	15-12	9-18	4-9	15-19	4-6	1 W
13 ORLANDO	21	32	.396	16.0	13-13	8-19	2-7	10-22	5-5	1 W
14 CHARLOTTE	15	39	.278	22.5	7-16	8-23	5-6	8-26	4-6	3 L
15 DETROIT	14	39	.264	23.0	7-19	7-20	0-8	6-23	3-7	1 W
WESTERN CONFERENCE
	W	L	PCT	CONF GB	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF	LAST 10	STREAK
1 DENVER	36	16	.692	—	24-4	12-12	9-4	27-10	7-3	2 W
2 MEMPHIS	32	20	.615	4.0	21-4	11-16	6-2	15-16	3-7	2 L
3 SACRAMENTO	29	22	.569	6.5	16-11	13-11	5-5	17-10	6-4	1 L
4 DALLAS	28	25	.528	8.5	19-9	9-16	7-2	20-12	4-6	2 W
5 LA CLIPPERS	29	26	.527	8.5	14-11	15-15	4-4	17-15	6-4	1 L
6 PHOENIX	28	26	.519	9.0	19-9	9-17	8-0	20-14	7-3	1 W
7 MINNESOTA	28	27	.509	9.5	19-12	9-15	6-6	19-17	6-4	1 L
8 GOLDEN STATE	26	26	.500	10.0	19-6	7-20	4-4	15-11	5-5	2 L
9 PORTLAND	26	26	.500	10.0	14-11	12-15	5-7	18-15	6-4	3 W
10 UTAH	27	27	.500	10.0	18-10	9-17	4-5	19-15	6-4	1 L
11 NEW ORLEANS	26	27	.491	10.5	17-9	9-18	7-4	16-14	0-10	10 L
12 LA LAKERS	25	28	.472	11.5	13-12	12-16	1-9	12-17	6-4	2 W
13 OKLAHOMA CITY	24	27	.471	11.5	15-11	9-16	4-6	11-15	6-4	2 L
14 SAN ANTONIO	14	39	.264	22.5	9-21	5-18	2-7	5-30	1-9	8 L
15 HOUSTON	13	39	.250	23.0	8-18	5-21	1-8	7-27	3-7	1 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

BASEBALL HISTORY

1861       In front of a reported crowd of over 10,000 spectators, the champion Atlantics defeat the Charter Oak Club, 36-27, in a game played on frozen Litchfield Pond in South Brooklyn. The players, wearing ice skates, are allowed to glide past the bases painted on the icy surface.

1893       The first recorded version (Columbia Graphophone Grand, #9649) of the poem Casey at the Bat, vocalized by recording pioneer Russell Hunting, is released. The more well-known rendition of Earnest Thayer’s work, the one popularized by DeWolfe Hopper, will not be heard by the public until 1906.

1909       Hall of Fame hurler John Clarkson, a 326-game winner, dies from pneumonia at 47. The right-hander pitched for the Worcester Ruby Legs (1882), Chicago White Stockings (1884-1887), Boston Beaneaters (1888-1892), and the Cleveland Spiders (1892-1894).

1956       Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick introduces the Cy Young Memorial Award in memory of the Hall of Fame hurler who died last year, honoring the outstanding major league pitcher of the year. The first recipient will be Don Newcombe, who will post a 27-7 record and a 3.06 ERA for the Dodgers next season.

1956       The American League announces its plans to test automatic intentional walks during spring training. The major leagues will not implement the rule until 2017, but some youth leagues and academic teams will use the concept before then.

1963       Mayor Robert Wagner signs a bill that officially changes the stadium’s name under construction in Queens to William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, honoring the New York lawyer who was instrumental in obtaining a National League team for the Big Apple. The ballpark, formerly known as Flushing Meadows Stadium, served as the Mets’ home from 1964 to 2008.

1969       Bowie Kuhn, a compromise candidate filing an interim one-year term, becomes baseball’s fifth commissioner when the owners cannot resolve the stalemate between the Giants vice president Chub Feeney and the Yankee president Michael Burke. The 42-year-old former National League attorney, who will hold the position until 1984, replaces the unpopular William Eckert, who resigned after serving only three years of his seven-year term.

1969       Bob Gibson, appearing as a guest of Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, shares with the nationwide audience, using carefully chosen words, that the Major League Baseball Players’ Association has suggested that the union members consider striking before the start of the regular season. The Cardinals’ ace also reveals, in addition to seeking increased contributions by the owners to the players’ pension and insurance funds, the MLBPA is seeking maintenance of the same and an ongoing percentage of the growing television revenues.

1971       After Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces former Negro League players will have a separate wing in the Hall of Fame, the outpouring of negative public opinion causes the concept’s quick abandonment. The inclusion of former black players into the regular Hall of Fame will continue to be a more fitting honor.

1976       Federal judge John W. Oliver of the United States district court for Western Missouri upholds Peter Seitz’s arbitration ruling, making Dodger right-hander Andy Messersmith and Expo southpaw Dave McNally free agents. The pitchers challenged the reserve clause by playing but not signing their contracts, contending they are now free to sign with another team for next season, negating the owners’ belief that the one-year contracts renew perpetually without a player’s consent.

1984       The Yankees obtain third baseman Toby Harrah and minor leaguer Rick Brown from the Indians for Dan Boitano, rookie outfielder Otis Nixon, and minor leaguer Guy Elston. The team’s new third baseman will hit just .217 in the one season he plays for the Bronx Bombers, but Nixon will go on to have a solid 17-year major league career, leaving the game in 1999 with a lifetime batting average of .270.

1990       Bobby Tolan’s St. Petersburg Pelicans defeat the Palm Beach Tropics to win the first and only championship of the Senior Professional Baseball Association, 12-4, played in Fort Myers when the Tropics could not host the game at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium. The eight-team Florida winter circuit for 35-and-older professional baseball players and a minimum age of 32 for catchers, the brainchild of 32-year-old former University of Arizona ballplayer and Colorado property developer Jim Morley, will shut down less than halfway through next season.

1991       The twelve Hall of Fame board of directors vote unanimously to accept the proposal presented last month by a select committee that excludes any player placed on the permanently ineligible list from consideration for enshrinement. The decision will prevent Pete Rose’s name from being placed on the HOF ballot.

2002       The Minnesota Supreme Court refuses to consider an appeal of an injunction that forces the Twins to fulfill their Metrodome lease in 2002. The decision ends any possibility of contraction in major league baseball this season.

2004       The Cardinals and Albert Pujols, avoiding an arbitration hearing, agree to a $100 million, seven-year deal. The 24-year-old slugging first baseman/outfielder (.359, 43, 124) was the runner-up to Barry Bonds of the Giants in the National League’s MVP voting.

2005       The Cubs, needing to fill the void created by Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou’s departure, sign an arbitration-eligible Aramis Ramirez (.318, 36, 103) to an $8.95 million, one-year contract. All-Star manager Clint Hurdle selects the 26-year-old Dominican as a reserve for the National League squad this season.

2005       A dentist, who became partially blind after being struck attempting to catch a foul ball, is appealing his case in which he alleges the Phillies need to do more to protect fans. The case, dismissed by a Philadelphia Common Pleas judge citing the club made multiple warnings, including public address announcements, text on the back of the ticket, and posted signs in the ballpark, will now be heard in the state’s Commonwealth Court.

2008       Curtis Granderson (.302, 23, 74) and the Tigers come to terms on a five-year contract, including a club option for 2013 worth $30.25 million. The 26-year-old outfielder last season became the third player in major league history, joining Willie Mays and Frank Schulte, to swipe 20 bases, and hit at least 20 homers, 20 triples, and 20 doubles.

2009       Brian Bannister and the Royals avoid salary arbitration, agreeing to a one-year deal valued at $1,737,500. The right-hander, who was 9-16 with a 5.76 ERA in 32 starts for Kansas City in his sophomore season, placed third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2007 after being obtained from the Mets for Ambiorix Burgos.

2010       Justin Verlander and the Tigers finalized an $80 million, five-year deal that keeps the talented hurler in the Motor City until 2014. The 26-year-old right-hander compiled a 65-43 record and a 3.92 ERA during his first four years in the major leagues, all with Detroit.

2010       Minnesota unveils a bronze statue of Rod Carew outside Target Field, the team’s new home, beginning this season. The bigger-than-life sculpture, created by Twins fan Bill Mack, depicts the Panamanian infielder’s unorthodox batting stance, used to bat .334 during the dozen seasons played for the team, beginning in 1968.

2011       In an SRO news conference at Yankee Stadium, 38-year-old southpaw Andy Pettitte becomes the first ‘Core of Four’ teammate, a group which includes shortstop Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada, and closer Mariano Rivera, to announce his retirement. The five-time World Champion, who compiled a 240-138 record and won the most postseasons games (19) in history during his sixteen years in the major leagues, tells the reporters, “my body would get to where it needs to be, but my heart’s not where it needs to be.”

2014       The Diamondbacks announce the contracts of general manager Kevin Towers and skipper Kirk Gibson have been extended but do not disclose the length and financial terms of their new deals. The extensions prevent the club’s brain trust from becoming lame ducks with just a year remaining on their current agreement with Arizona, which they signed after its 2011 National League West championship season.

2015       Former major leaguer John Hudek’s daughter, Sarah, announces she has signed a letter of intent with Louisiana’s Bossier Parish Community College, making her one of the first females to compete in baseball at the collegiate level. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound teenage southpaw, whose fastball clocks in at 82 mph, is as good as, or even better than, some of the males on the team, according to BPCC coach Aaron Vorachek.

2015       Carlos Delgado, who enjoyed eight consecutive 30-homer seasons with the Blue Jays while becoming the team’s all-time leader in home runs (336), RBIs (1,058), and runs (889), will be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in June. The Class of 2015 will also feature former Canadian players Corey Koskie and Matt Stairs, longtime Montreal Expos skipper Felipe Alou, and Toronto Sun columnist Bob Elliott, the recipient of the 2012 Spink Award given by the National Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

FOOTBALL HISTORY

FEBRUARY 4, 1969 – JOHN MADDEN IS NAMED HEAD COACH OF THE OAKLAND RAIDERS. WITH THE HIRING JOHN WAS THE YOUNGEST COACH IN THE AFL AT 34. MADDEN REMAINED THE HEAD MAN FOR THE RAIDERS SIDELINES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CONCLUSION OF THE 1978 SEASON. HE AND THE RAIDERS WON SUPER BOWL XI, HIS CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE 10 YEAR TENURE WITH THE SILVER AND BLACK. UNDER JOHN MADDEN THE RAIDERS HAD AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF 103-32-7 AND THEY NEVER SUFFERED UNDER A LOSING SEASON PER THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME. THE TEAM WON 5 STRAIGHT AFC WESTERN DIVISION TITLES FROM 1972 THROUGH 1976. AFTER HANGING UP THE COACHING WHISTLE MADDEN BECAME AN OUTSTANDING BROADCAST COLOR ANALYST, PERHAPS THE BEST THE GRIDIRON HAD EVER SEEN.

FEBRUARY 4, 1990 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – T THE 1989 SEASON’S NFL PRO BOWL THE NFC DEFEATED THE AFC, 27-21 THE GAME’S MVP WAS DEFENSIVE BACK JERRY GRAY OF THE LOS ANGELES RAMS.

FEBRUARY 4, 1996 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – THE NFL PRO BOWL FOR THE 1995 SEASON RESULTED IN AN NFC VICTORY OVER THEIR AFC RIVALS BY THE SCORE OF 20-13. JERRY RICE, THEN OF THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS USED HIS AWESOME RECEIVING SKILLS TO CATCH THE GAME’S MVP HONORS!

FEBRUARY 4, 2001 – ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU – WE HAD ANOTHER NFL PRO BOWL PLAYED ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY. IN THE CONTEST IT WAS THE AFC THAT EXTINGUISHED THE NFC, 38-17. THE GAME’S MVP HONORS WENT TO RICH GANNON, QUARTERBACK OF THE OAKLAND RAIDERS.

FEBRUARY 4, 2007 – DOLPHIN STADIUM, MIAMI GARDENS, MIAMI, FLORIDA – AT SUPER BOWL XLI TONY DUNGY AND PEYTON MANNING HAD EACH FINALLY RECEIVED THEIR SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP THAT HAD BEEN SO ELUSIVE TO EACH OF THEM EARLIER IN THEIR CAREERS. ACCORDING TO THE PRO FOOTBALL REFERENCE MANNING THREW FOR 247 YARDS PASSING AND A TD AGAINST A VERY STRONG CHICAGO BEARS DEFENSE TO WIN THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD IN THE CONTEST. THE BRILLIANT SIGNAL CALLER AND HIS TOP NOTCH COACH HELPED GUIDE THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS OVER THE CHICAGO BEARS, 29-17.

FEBRUARY 4, 2018 – US BANK STADIUM, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SUPER BOWL LII WAS A GAME THAT WAS QUITE SURPRISING TO MOST WHO WATCHED IT. THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES LED BY THEIR QUARTERBACK NICK FOLES WHO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON WAS A BACK UP TO CARSON WENTZ WERE PLAYING THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WHO HAD THE GREAT TOM BRADY UNDER CENTER. ESPN.COM TELLS HOW FOLES LED THE EAGLES ON A GUTSY 75-YARD DRIVE TO THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN, AN 11 YARD TOSS TO TIGHT END ZACH ERTZ WITH 2:21 TO GO. THE ERTZ CATCH ADDED TO THE GAME’S DRAMA BY HAVING TO BE REVIEWED, LEAVING MILLIONS OF VIEWERS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT. AFTER REPLAY SUPPORTED THE CALL ON THE FIELD , PHILADELPHIA WENT FOR TWO AND FAILED. THE EAGLES DEFENSE WOULD THEN GO ON TWO FINAL STANDS AGAINST THE CRAFTY BRADY AND FRIENDS TO TASTE GREATNESS. YES THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES DEFEATED THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 41-33 TO WIN ALL THE MARBLES. THE SUPER BOWL LII MVP WAS NONE OTHER THAN NICK FOLES.

HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR FEBRUARY 4

FEBRUARY 4, 1933 – DES MOINES, IOWA – THE GREAT LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI HALFBACK, LEO LEWIS WAS BORN. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION SAYS LEWIS ALSO KNOWN AS THE “THE LINCOLN LOCOMOTIVE” HAD SOME IMPRESSIVE STATS IN HIS FOUR YEARS AT LINCOLN UNIVERSITY IN MISSOURI, LEADING THE BLUE TIGERS TO AN IMPRESSIVE 27-5-3 RECORD IN HIS TIME ON THE TEAM. LEO SET RECORDS FOR THE BLUE TIGERS INCLUDING 22 TOUCHDOWNS IN A SEASON, 64 TDS IN A CAREER, POSTED 1239 RUSHING YARDS IN A SEASON AND CAREER RUSHING YARDS WITH 4,561 TO BECOME A TWO-TIME FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA SELECTION. LEO LEWIS RECEIVED THE HONOR OF BEING FOREVER REMEMBERED IN HIS INDUCTION INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 2005.

FEBRUARY 4, 1940 – TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – BILLY NEIGHBORS THE POWERFUL GUARD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA ARRIVED INTO THIS LIFE. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION VOTERS SELECTED BILL NEIGHBOR’S GRIDIRON LEGACY TO GO INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1973.

FEBRUARY 4, 1960 – OAKLYN, NEW JERSEY – WIDENER COLLEGE GREAT, SAFETY TOM DEERY WAS BORN. THE NFF STATES THAT DEERY WAS VOTED AS AN ALL-AMERICA SELECTION IN THREE DIFFERENT SEASONS BY THE AP AND THE AMERICA COACHES ASSOCIATION FOR HIS BRILLIANT DEFENSIVE SECONDARY PROWESS. TOM AMASSED 126 UNASSISTED TACKLES, 44 ASSISTED TACKLES, 32 INTERCEPTIONS IN THE 43 CAREER GAMES HE PLAYED IN DURING COLLEGE. THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION SELECTED TOM DEERY FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1998.

SPORTS IN NUMBERS

42 – 31 – 80 – 66 – 12 – 13 –

FEBRUARY 4, 1952 – LEGENDARY ATHLETE JACKIE ROBINSON WHO NOT ONLY HELPED TO BREAK THE COLOR BARRIERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CLIMBED OVER ANOTHER HURDLE. ON THIS DATE, NUMBER 42 BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN -AMERICAN TO BECOME AN EXECUTIVE AT A MAJOR TELEVISION STATION WNBC IN NEW YORK.

FEBRUARY 4, 1979 – AT THE 29TH ANNUAL NBA ALL-STAR GAME WHICH WAS HELD AT THE PONTIAC SILVERDOME, PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, THE WEST STARS OUTLASTED THE EAST STANDOUTS BY THE TUNE OF 134-129. THE GAME’S MVP WAS NUMBER 33 OF THE DENVER NUGGETS SHOOTING GUARD DAVID THOMPSON.

FEBRUARY 4, 1986 – 38TH NHL ALL-STAR GAME, HARTFORD CIVIC CENTER: WALES CONFERENCE BEATS CAMPBELL CONFERENCE, 4-3 (OT); MVP WAS GOALIE GRANT FUHR, NUMBER 31 OF THE EDMONTON OILERS. FUHR GOT HIS PROFESSIONAL START IN THE AJHL WITH THE SHERWOOD PARK CRUSADERS AND THEN MOVED INTO THE WHL’S VICTORIA COUGARS ACCORDING TO ELITEPROSPECTS.COM.

HE THEN MADE HIS NHL DEBUT WITH WAYNE GRETZSKY AND THE EDMONTON OILERS AGAINST THE WINNIPEG JETS ON OCTOBER 14, 1981. FUHR BECAME AN INTEGRAL PIECE OF THE OILERS DYNASTY IN THE 1980S, BY ALMOST BECOMING AN IMPENETRABLE STONE WALL IN FRONT OF THE EDMONTON GOAL FOR MOST OF THE NEXT DECADE. GRANT WAS PART OF THE EDMONTON SQUADS THAT WON FOUR STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FIVE YEARS AND IT WASN’T JUST THE GREAT ONE SCORING, BUT THE DEFENSE OF THE OILERS NET WAS A BIG PART OF THE TEAM’S SUCCESS TOO. IN TEN SEASONS FUHR HAD 11059 SAVES WITH THE OILERS IN 423 GAMES PLAYED. HIS AVERAGE OF SAVING ABOUT 90% OF SHOTS FIRED ON HIS NEVER REALLY WAIVERED MUCH THROUGHOUT HIS STELLAR CAREER.

EVERYTHING WAS GOING PRETTY WELL FOR THE YOUNG NET MINDER. THEN ALMOST OUT OF THE BLUE IN 1989 THE FUTURE HALL OF FAME GOALIE THREATENED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE GAME AT 26-YEARS OF AGE, AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS TALENTED RUN, THANKS TO AN APPARENT DISPUTE WITH GLEN SATHER AND SOME REALLY BAD ADVICE FROM HIS AGENT RITCH WINTER. MUCH OF THIS STEMMED FROM WINTER NOT GETTING ALONG WITH SATHER. ALLEGEDLY THE TWO HAD A CONFRONTATION IN WHICH THEY ENGAGED IN A SESSION OF SHOVING EACH OTHER WHILE TRYING TO WORK OUT A NEW DEAL FOR THE FUHR BACK IN 1987. PERHAPS THE SAVING GRACE FOR EDMONTON, WHO NOTORIOUSLY WAS KNOWN TO UNDERPAY THEIR TOP TALENT, WAS THAT RICH WINTER WAS ABLE TO SECURE FUHR A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE PEPSI-COLA, THAT WOULD’VE SEEN THE FUTURE HALL OF FAMER HAS A PEPSI LOGO ON EACH OF HIS PADS, STARTING IN THE UPCOMING 1989-90 SEASON. THE CONTRACT WITH PEPSI WAS QUITE A GOOD SALARY SUPPLEMENT ON PAPER FOR FUHR. THERE WAS ONE PROBLEM THOUGH HOWEVER WITH IT, THE NHL DID NOT ALLOW FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE ADVERTISING ON THEIR PERSONS. THEY WANT A STANDARD UNIFORM ON EVERY PLAYER ON THE TEAM. THIS FUELED THE HEAT BETWEEN FUHR AND THE OILERS EVEN FURTHER. HE LITERALLY FILED THE RETIREMENT PAPERS WITH THE CLUB, BUT SATHER NEVER FILED THEM WITH THE LEAGUE OFFICES. EVENTUALLY, THINGS SETTLED DOWN IN THE DISPUTE.

ROB SORIA ON THE THEHOCKEYWRITERS.COM ARTICLE FROM JULY OF 2021 WROTE THIS:

“AFTER COMING TO THE REALIZATION IT WAS THE NHL AND NOT THE OILERS WHO WAS PROHIBITING HIM FROM PUTTING THE DEAL WITH PEPSI INTO ACTION, HIS STANCE SOFTENED. ON AUGUST 24TH, 1989, IT WAS MADE OFFICIAL THAT FUHR WOULD BE REMAINING WITH THE ORANGE AND BLUE. THOUGH HIS AGENT DID HIM NO FAVORS WITH THE APPROACH HE TOOK, THE FACT THIS SITUATION TURNED INTO THE FIASCO IT DID WAS ON THE PLAYER.”

AFTER A COUPLE MORE LUKEWARM SEASONS OF CONTRACT DISPUTE, SUSPENSION AND INJURY, FUHR WAS SET TO MAKE HIS RETURN IN THE CREASE IN THE 59TH GAME OF THE 1990 SEASON. IT HAD BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE HE WAS ON THE ICE HEALTHY. THE GOALIE SHED HIS NORMALLY COLORFUL PADS AND WORE MAINLY WHITE ONES TO REPRESENT HIS CLEAN NEW START. APPARENTLY IN THE BACKGROUND HE HAD BEEN BATTLING SOME DEMONS AND NOW AFTER A YEAR OF MENDING HE WAS READY TO REKINDLE HIS HICKEY CAREER. HIS COMEBACK GAME AGAINST THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS SHOWED HE WAS BACK AS THE OILER WON 4-0. HE ENDED UP REGAINING HIS STATUS AS THE TOP GOALIE ON THE SQUAD AND CONVINCED THE LEAGUE THAT HE WAS INDEED BACK TO OLD FORM.

FURH DEPARTED THE OILERS IN 1991 AND WENT ON TO PLAY FOR TORONTO, BUFFALO, LOS ANGELES, CALGARY, AND ST LOUIS BEFORE CALLING IT A CAREER AFTER THE 1999 SEASON.

WE SALUTE NUMBER 31 GRANT FUHR FOR OVERCOMING HIS PERSONAL OBSTACLES AND GIVING TO OTHERS INSPIRATION AND HOPE THAT MAY BE IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE THAT THEY TOO CAN RECOVER AND THRIVE IN LIFE.

FEBRUARY 4, 1990 – NFL PRO BOWL, ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU, HI: NFC BEATS AFC, 27-21; MVP: JERRY GRAY, LA RAMS, DB

1996 NFL PRO BOWL, ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU, HI: NFC BEATS AFC, 20-13; MVP WAS NUMBER 80 OF THE 49ERS WIDE RECEIVER JERRY RICE.

FEBRUARY 4, 1997 – PITTSBURGH PENGUINS NUMBER 66 STAR MARIO LEMIEUX BECAME 7TH NHL PLAYER REACH THE PLATEAU OF SCORING 600 GOALS.

FEBRUARY 4, 2001 – NFL PRO BOWL, ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU, HI: AFC BEATS NFC, 38-17. MVP WAS NONE OTHER THAN NUMBER 12 OF THE OAKLAND RAIDERS QB RICH GANNON.

2001 – NUMBER 13 OF THE BOSTON BRUINS, RW BILL GUERIN WAS SELECTED AS THE MVP OF THE 51ST NHL ALL-STAR GAME PLAYED AT THE PEPSI CENTRE, DENVER, CO. NORTH AMERICA BEATS WORLD, 14-12.

2007 SUPER BOWL XLI, DOLPHIN STADIUM, MIAMI GARDENS, MIAMI, FL: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS EASED BY THE CHICAGO BEARS, 29-17. THE GAME’S MVP AS INDIANAPOLIS, QB PEYTON MANNING, NUMBER 18.

2018 SUPER BOWL LII TOOK PLACE AT US BANK STADIUM IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES SURPRISED THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, 41-33 TO TAKE HOME THE LOMBARDI GUIDED BY THE PHILLY SPECIAL PLAY. THE GAME’S MVP TROPHY WAS GIVEN TO THE RECIPIENT OF THAT NOW FAMOUS PASS PLAY PHILADELPHIA QUARTERBACK NICK FOLES, WHO WORE NUMBER 9 IN THE BIG GAME

OUR SPORTS JERSEY TAKE OF THE DAY IS BY RAY DURBIN OF ROW ONE BRAND AS HE SPEAKS OF THE COMPARISONS OF HIS TWO FAVORITE NUMBER 40’S CRAZY LEGS HIRSCH AND GALE SAYERS.

TV SATURDAY

BOWLING	TIME ET	TV
PBA: US OPEN	4:00PM	FS1
COLLEGE BASKETBALL – MEN’S	TIME ET	TV
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RUTGERS	12:00PM	FOX
KANSAS AT IOWA STATE	12:00PM	ESPN
VIRGINIA AT VIRGINIA TECH	12:00PM	ESPN2
UCONN AT GEORGETOWN	12:00PM	FS1
UCF AT CINCINNATI	12:00PM	ESPNU
A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI AT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA	12:00PM	ESPNEWS
GREEN BAY AT IUPUI	12:00PM	ESPN+
DAVIDSON AT UMASS	12:30PM	USA
TEXAS TECH AT BAYLOR	1:00PM	CBS
HBCU LEGACY CLASSIC DELAWARE STATE VS. MORGAN STATE (AT NEWARK, NJ)	1:00PM	TNT
OLE MISS AT VANDERBILT	1:00PM	SECN
GEORGIA TECH AT NC STATE	1:00PM	ACCN
WAKE FOREST AT NOTRE DAME	1:00PM	ACCN
LEHIGH AT LAFAYETTE	1:00PM	–
NEW HAMPSHIRE AT BRYANT	1:00PM	ESPN3
NJIT AT UMASS LOWELL	1:00PM	ESPN3
STONEHILL AT ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN	1:00PM	NEC
WAGNER AT FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON	1:00PM	NEC
PURDUE FORT WAYNE AT DETROIT MERCY	1:00PM	ESPN+
CLEVELAND STATE AT OAKLAND	1:00PM	ESPN+
UNCG AT THE CITADEL	1:00PM	ESPN+
AUBURN AT TENNESSEE	2:00PM	ESPN
FLORIDA STATE AT LOUISVILLE	2:00PM	ESPN2
BUTLER AT MARQUETTE	2:00PM	FS1
TULANE AT MEMPHIS	2:00PM	ESPNU
DUQUESNE AT GEORGE WASHINGTON	2:00PM	NBCS-WSH
CHARLESTON AT DELAWARE	2:00PM	NBCS-PHI
DREXEL AT MONMOUTH	2:00PM	SNY
ELON AT NORTHEASTERN	2:00PM	NESN
NAVY AT HOLY CROSS	2:00PM	NBCS-BOS
UNCW AT WILLIAM & MARY	2:00PM	–
CHATTANOOGA AT WESTERN CAROLINA	2:00PM	–
MIAMI (OH) AT OHIO	2:00PM	ESPN3
UMBC AT MAINE	2:00PM	ESPN3
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AT SACRED HEART	2:00PM	NEC
EVANSVILLE AT UIC	2:00PM	ESPN+
VMI AT MERCER	2:00PM	ESPN+
TCU AT OKLAHOMA STATE	2:00PM	ESPN+
CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT STETSON	2:00PM	ESPN+
WINTHROP AT RADFORD	2:00PM	ESPN+
CAMPBELL AT LONGWOOD	2:00PM	ESPN+
PRESBYTERIAN AT GARDNER-WEBB	2:00PM	ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS AT GEORGIA STATE	2:00PM	ESPN+
CHICAGO STATE AT HARTFORD	2:00PM	–
NORTH DAKOTA AT SOUTH DAKOTA	2:00PM	–
ILLINOIS AT IOWA	2:30PM	FOX
GEORGE MASON AT LOYOLA CHICAGO	2:30PM	USA
BUFFALO AT WESTERN MICHIGAN	2:30PM	ESPN3
MIAMI (FL) AT CLEMSON	3:00PM	ACCN
NORTH DAKOTA STATE AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE	3:00PM	–
SAINT FRANCIS U AT MERRIMACK	3:00PM	NEC
ETSU AT SAMFORD	3:00PM	ESPN+
VERMONT AT UALBANY	3:00PM	ESPN+
UNC ASHEVILLE AT USC UPSTATE	3:00PM	ESPN+
SOUTH ALABAMA AT ULM	3:00PM	ESPN+
COASTAL CAROLINA AT ARKANSAS STATE	3:00PM	ESPN+
WESTERN ILLINOIS AT OMAHA	3:00PM	–
HBCU LEGACY CLASSIC HAMPTON VS. NORFOLK STATE (AT NEWARK, NJ)	3:30PM	TNT
ARKANSAS AT SOUTH CAROLINA	3:30PM	SECN
PURDUE AT INDIANA	4:00PM	ESPN/2
TEXAS AT KANSAS STATE	4:00PM	ESPN2/U
ALABAMA AT LSU	4:00PM	ESPN2/U
MURRAY STATE AT INDIANA STATE	4:00PM	CBSSN
UTEP AT WKU	4:00PM	STADIUM
FIU AT UAB	4:00PM	ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC AT CHARLOTTE	4:00PM	ESPN+
QUEENS AT AUSTIN PEAY	4:00PM	ESPN+
JACKSONVILLE STATE AT BELLARMINE	4:00PM	ESPN+
SMU AT EAST CAROLINA	4:00PM	ESPN+
COLGATE AT AMERICAN	4:00PM	ESPN+
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AT TENNESSEE TECH	4:00PM	ESPN+
JAMES MADISON AT APP STATE	4:00PM	ESPN+
STONY BROOK AT HOFSTRA	4:00PM	FLOSPORTS
SOUTHERN AT ALABAMA STATE	4:30PM	–
TENNESSEE STATE AT EASTERN ILLINOIS	4:30PM	ESPN+
MOREHEAD STATE AT SOUTHERN INDIANA	4:30PM	ESPN+
SIUE AT LITTLE ROCK	4:30PM	ESPN+
ST. JOHN’S AT XAVIER	5:00PM	FOX
SYRACUSE AT BOSTON COLLEGE	5:00PM	ACCN
ILLINOIS STATE AT BELMONT	5:00PM	ESPN3
NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT BOWLING GREEN	5:00PM	ESPN3
BOSTON UNIVERSITY AT LOYOLA MARYLAND	5:00PM	ESPN+
UIW AT NEW ORLEANS	5:00PM	ESPN+
JACKSONVILLE AT NORTH FLORIDA	5:00PM	ESPN+
LIBERTY AT LIPSCOMB	5:00PM	ESPN+
IDAHO AT SACRAMENTO STATE	5:00PM	ESPN+
UTRGV AT TARLETON	5:00PM	ESPN+
SAM HOUSTON AT UTA	5:00PM	ESPN+
TEXAS STATE AT TROY	5:00PM	ESPN+
MCNEESE AT A&M-COMMERCE	5:30PM	ESPN+
BELMONT AT UNI	6:00PM	ESPN2
MISSOURI AT MISSISSIPPI STATE	6:00PM	SECN
WOFFORD AT FURMAN	6:00PM	CBSSN
COLUMBIA AT PRINCETON	6:00PM	–
BROWN AT HARVARD	6:00PM	NESN
ST. THOMAS AT DENVER	6:00PM	–
CORNELL AT PENN	6:00PM	ESPN+
YALE AT DARTMOUTH	6:00PM	ESPN+
NORTHERN COLORADO AT MONTANA STATE	6:00PM	ESPN+
UTSA AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE	6:00PM	ESPN+
FLORIDA A&M AT TEXAS SOUTHERN	6:00PM	YOUTUBE
NORTH CAROLINA AT DUKE	6:30PM	ESPN
BETHUNE-COOKMAN AT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M	6:30PM	–
WASHINGTON STATE AT UCLA	7:00PM	PAC12N
CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT TOLEDO	7:00PM	ESPN3
NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE	7:00PM	ESPN+
WRIGHT STATE AT ROBERT MORRIS	7:00PM	ESPN+
DRAKE AT VALPARAISO	7:00PM	ESPN+
ARMY WEST POINT AT BUCKNELL	7:00PM	ESPN+
NORTHWESTERN STATE AT LAMAR	7:00PM	ESPN+
NORTH ALABAMA AT FGCU	7:00PM	ESPN+
KENNESAW STATE AT EASTERN KENTUCKY	7:00PM	ESPN+
UC IRVINE AT LONG BEACH STATE	7:00PM	ESPN+
HAWAI’I AT CAL POLY	7:00PM	ESPN+
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT HIGH POINT	7:00PM	ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT OLD DOMINION	7:00PM	ESPN+
VILLANOVA AT CREIGHTON	7:30PM	FOX
UT MARTIN AT LINDENWOOD	7:30PM	ESPN+
OKLAHOMA AT WEST VIRGINIA	8:00PM	ESPN2/U
DAYTON AT ST. BONAVENTURE	8:00PM	ESPN2/U
UTAH STATE AT COLORADO STATE	8:00PM	CBSSN
PORTLAND AT PEPPERDINE	8:00PM	STADIUM
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN AT GRAND CANYON	8:00PM	–
MARSHALL AT LOUISIANA	8:00PM	ESPN+
NICHOLLS AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN	8:00PM	ESPN+
WEBER STATE AT IDAHO STATE	8:00PM	ESPN+
NORTH TEXAS AT RICE	8:00PM	ESPN+
ORAL ROBERTS AT KANSAS CITY	8:00PM	–
GRAMBLING STATE AT ALABAMA A&M	8:00PM	YOUTUBE
FLORIDA AT KENTUCKY	8:30PM	ESPN
GEORGIA AT TEXAS A&M	8:30PM	SECN
PACIFIC AT BYU	9:00PM	BYUTV
MARYLAND AT MINNESOTA	9:00PM	BTN
SEATTLE U AT NM STATE	9:00PM	–
SOUTHERN UTAH AT UTAH TECH	9:00PM	ESPN+
NORTHERN ARIZONA AT MONTANA	9:00PM	ESPN+
UC RIVERSIDE AT CAL STATE FULLERTON	9:00PM	ESPN+
WASHINGTON AT USC	9:30PM	FS1
OREGON STATE AT ARIZONA	9:30PM	PAC12N
OREGON AT ARIZONA STATE	10:00PM	ESPN2
SANTA CLARA AT SAN FRANCISCO	10:00PM	ESPNU
WYOMING AT SAN JOSE STATE	10:00PM	CBSSN
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT AT SAN DIEGO	10:00PM	STADIUM
ABILENE CHRISTIAN AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST	10:00PM	ESPN+
UC SANTA BARBARA AT CSUN	10:00PM	ESPN+
CSU BAKERSFIELD AT UC SAN DIEGO	10:00PM	ESPN+
EASTERN WASHINGTON AT PORTLAND STATE	10:00PM	ESPN+
GONZAGA AT SAINT MARY’S	10:30PM	ESPN
COLLEGE BASKETBALL – WOMEN’S	TIME ET	TV
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT WAGNER	2:00PM	CBSSN
BAYLOR AT IOWA STATE	6:00PM	ESPNU
GOLF	TIME ET	TV
PGA TOUR: AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM	3:00PM	GOLF
NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES	TIME ET	TV
WASHINGTON AT BROOKLYN	6:00PM	NBCS-WSH YES
PHOENIX AT DETROIT	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
LA CLIPPERS AT NEW YORK	7:00PM	BALLY SPORTS MSG
PORTLAND AT CHICAGO	8:00PM	ROOT SPORTS NBCS-CHI
MIAMI AT MILWAUKEE	8:00PM	BALLY SPORTS
LA LAKERS AT NEW ORLEANS	8:00PM	SPECTRUM BALLY SPORTS
HOUSTON AT OKLAHOMA CITY	8:00PM	ATTSN-SW BALLY SPORTS
DALLAS AT GOLDEN STATE	8:30PM	ABC
ATLANTA AT DENVER	9:00PM	ALT BALLY SPORTS
NHL ALL-STAR GAMES	TIME ET	TV
CENTRAL AT PACIFIC	3:00PM	ABC ESPN+
METROPOLITAN AT ATLANTIC	4:00PM	ABC ESPN+
SOCCER MATCHES	TIME ET	TV
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE: LEICESTER CITY WFC VS MANCHESTER CITY	6:30AM	CBSSN
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: EVERTON VS ARSENAL	7:30AM	USA
LA LIGA: ESPANYOL VS OSASUNA	8:00AM	ESPN+
SERIE A: CREMONESE VS LECCE	9:00AM	PARAMOUNT+
BUNDESLIGA: EINTRACHT FRANKFURT VS HERTHA BSC	9:30AM	ESPN+
BUNDESLIGA: KÖLN VS RB LEIPZIG	9:30AM	ESPN+
BUNDESLIGA: UNION BERLIN VS MAINZ 05	9:30AM	ESPN+
BUNDESLIGA: BORUSSIA DORTMUND VS FREIBURG	9:30AM	ESPN+
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: MANCHESTER UNITED VS CRYSTAL PALACE	10:00AM	PEACOCK
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS VS LIVERPOOL	10:00AM	PEACOCK
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION VS AFC BOURNEMOUTH	10:00AM	PEACOCK
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: ASTON VILLA VS LEICESTER CITY	10:00AM	USA
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: BRENTFORD VS SOUTHAMPTON	10:00AM	PEACOCK
LA LIGA: ELCHE VS VILLARREAL	10:15AM	ESPN+
LIGUE 1: PSG VS TOULOUSE	11:00AM	BEIN SPORTS
SERIE A: ROMA VS EMPOLI	12:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: NEWCASTLE UNITED VS WEST HAM UNITED	12:30PM	NBC
BUNDESLIGA: BORUSSIA M’GLADBACH VS SCHALKE 04	12:30PM	ESPN+
LA LIGA: ATLÉTICO MADRID VS GETAFE	12:30PM	ESPN+
LIGUE 1: TROYES VS OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS	1:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
SERIE A: SASSUOLO VS ATALANTA	2:45PM	PARAMOUNT+
LA LIGA: REAL BETIS VS CELTA DE VIGO	3:00PM	ESPN+
LIGUE 1: RENNES VS LILLE	3:00PM	BEIN SPORTS
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: ARSENAL VS ESTUDIANTES	3:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: SARMIENTO VS BARRACAS CENTRAL	3:00PM	PARAMOUNT+
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: BELGRANO VS RIVER PLATE	5:15PM	PARAMOUNT+
LIGA MX: LEÓN VS PACHUCA	6:00PM	UNIVISION
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: ARGENTINOS JUNIORS VS RACING CLUB	7:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
ARGENTINA PRIMERA DIVISIÓN: LANÚS VS SAN LORENZO	7:30PM	PARAMOUNT+
LIGA MX: CRUZ AZUL VS TIGRES UANL	8:05PM	UNIVISION
LIGA MX: SANTOS LAGUNA VS AMÉRICA	10:05PM	FS2
TRACK & FIELD	TIME ET	TV
NEW BALANCE INDOOR: BOSTON GRAND PRIX	4:00PM	NBC