INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL TUESDAY SCORES
| CLASS 4A | ||||
| Munster | ||||
| Munster | 61 | Merrillville | 55 | |
| Lake Central | 70 | East Chicago Central | 55 | |
| Crown Point | ||||
| Hobart | 55 | Kankakee Valley | 44 | |
| Valparaiso | 62 | Lowell | 26 | |
| Muncie Central | ||||
| Mount Vernon (Fortville) | 62 | Muncie Central | 32 | |
| Anderson | 55 | Greenfield-Central | 48 | |
| Warren Central | ||||
| Lawrence North | 91 | North Central (Indianapolis) | 75 | |
| Indianapolis Attucks | 76 | Indianapolis Tech | 54 | |
| Perry Meridian | ||||
| Franklin Central | 39 | Perry Meridian | 34 | |
| Ben Davis | 62 | Southport | 46 | |
| CLASS 3A | ||||
| Hanover Central | ||||
| Hammond Noll | 53 | Highland | 33 | |
| Hanover Central | 71 | Calumet | 55 | |
| Garrett | ||||
| Fort Wayne Concordia | 51 | Leo | 33 | |
| Woodlan | 66 | Garrett | 40 | |
| Frankfort | ||||
| Benton Central | 53 | Frankfort | 40 | |
| Rensselaer Central | 70 | North Montgomery | 48 | |
| Peru | ||||
| Maconaquah | 60 | Bellmont | 47 | |
| Norwell | 49 | Northwestern | 45 | OT |
| New Castle | ||||
| Frankton | 44 | Jay County | 39 | |
| New Castle | 52 | Yorktown | 46 | |
| Northview | ||||
| South Vermillion | 80 | Brown County | 44 | |
| Edgewood | 68 | West Vigo | 59 | |
| Greensburg | ||||
| Lawrenceburg | 50 | Connersville | 41 | |
| Greensburg | 53 | South Dearborn | 36 | |
| Charlestown | ||||
| Scottsburg | 69 | Madison | 35 | |
| Silver Creek | 55 | Charlestown | 54 | |
| Washington | ||||
| Vincennes Lincoln | 39 | Princeton | 33 | |
| North Daviess | 48 | Pike Central | 32 | |
| CLASS 2A | ||||
| Whiting | ||||
| Bowman Academy | 91 | Lighthouse CPA | 62 | |
| Illiana Christian | 59 | North Newton | 54 | |
| South Adams | ||||
| Manchester | 92 | Bluffton | 54 | |
| Fort Wayne Blackhawk | 62 | South Adams | 30 | |
| Taylor | ||||
| Madison-Grant | 53 | Eastern (Greentown) | 36 | |
| Tipton | 74 | Eastbrook | 38 | |
| Monroe Central | ||||
| Lapel | 63 | Alexandria | 54 | |
| Wapahani | 76 | Monroe Central | 33 | |
| Southmont | ||||
| North Putnam | 31 | Southmont | 29 | |
| Riverton Parke | 43 | Cloverdale | 37 | |
| Southwestern (Hanover) | ||||
| Brownstown Central | 46 | Eastern (Pekin) | 35 | |
| Providence | 43 | Clarksville | 23 | |
| North Knox | ||||
| Mitchell | 59 | North Knox | 45 | |
| Linton-Stockton | 72 | Paoli | 48 | |
| Tell City | ||||
| Forest Park | 57 | Crawford County | 45 | |
| CLASS 1A | ||||
| Triton | ||||
| Argos | 50 | Triton | 49 | |
| Marquette Catholic | 82 | Westville | 69 | |
| Tri | ||||
| Cambridge City Lincoln | 65 | Randolph Southern | 59 | |
| Seton Catholic | 61 | Union City | 52 | |
| White River Valley | ||||
| White River Valley | 44 | Dugger Union | 32 | |
| Bloomfield | 65 | Clay City | 52 | |
| Edinburgh | ||||
| Jac-Cen-Del | 66 | Southwestern (Shelbyville) | 40 | |
| Waldron | 58 | Morristown | 39 | |
| Loogootee | ||||
| Springs Valley | 83 | Washington Catholic | 48 | |
| Orleans | 66 | Shoals | 43 |
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL SEMI-FINAL’S FRIDAY
MUNSTER SECTIONAL
Hammond Morton (8-15) vs. Hammond Central (23-1)
Munster (23-2) at Lake Central (16-8)
CROWN POINT SECTIONAL
Chesterton (18-5) at Crown Point (15-8)
Hobart (12-11) vs. Valparaiso (12-13)
LAPORTE SECTIONAL
LaPorte (17-6) at Michigan City (17-6)
South Bend Riley (13-9) vs. Mishawaka (18-6)
ELKHART SECTIONAL
Goshen (11-11) vs. Penn (24-1)
Concord (11-10) vs. Northridge (14-10)
CARROLL SECTIONAL
Fort Wayne Northrop (4-18) vs. East Noble (4-19)
Fort Wayne Snider (3-20) vs. Fort Wayne North (14-9)
COLUMBIA CITY SECTIONAL
Fort Wayne South (4-19) vs. Fort Wayne Wayne (18-4)
Columbia City (13-10) at Homestead (18-7)
KOKOMO SECTIONAL
Kokomo (19-4) at Harrison (West Lafayette) (18-6)
McCutcheon (6-17) vs. Marion (15-8)
CARMEL SECTIONAL
Noblesville (17-6) vs. Westfield (16-7)
Zionsville (14-8) vs. Fishers (14-11)
MUNCIE SECTIONAL
New Palestine (21-2) vs. Pendleton Heights (8-16)
Mount Vernon (Fortville) (15-8) vs. Anderson (20-4)
WARREN CENTRAL SECTIONAL
Indianapolis Cathedral (17-5) at Warren Central (14-9)
Lawrence North (18-7) vs. Indianapolis Attucks (17-7)
PERRY MERIDIAN SECTIONAL
Pike (15-8) vs. Decatur Central (12-10)
Franklin Central (4-18) vs. Ben Davis (27-0)
PLAINFIELD SECTIONAL
Terre Haute North (15-9) vs. Brownsburg (18-4)
Plainfield (17-6) at Terre Haute South (15-10)
CENTER GROVE SECTIONAL
Bloomington South (16-8) at Center Grove (21-2)
Martinsville (9-13) vs. Bloomington North (16-5)
COLUMBUS NORTH SECTIONAL
Whiteland (9-14) vs. Shelbyville (10-13)
Columbus East (2-19) at Columbus North (15-8)
SEYMOUR SECTIONAL
Jeffersonville (13-8) vs. Jennings County (21-2)
Seymour (10-12) at New Albany (10-13)
NORTH SECTIONAL
Evansville Central (7-15) vs. Evansville Reitz (17-6)
Evansville North (8-15) at Jasper (13-10)
HANOVER CENTRAL SECTIONAL
River Forest (8-15) vs. Lake Station (20-3)
Hammond Noll (13-12) at Hanover Central (15-9)
KNOX SECTIONAL
Knox (13-9) at Culver Academy (14-8)
Bremen (2-20) vs. John Glenn (14-10)
JIMTOWN SECTIONAL
South Bend Washington (16-5) vs. Mishawaka Marian (23-2)
New Prairie (9-13) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (11-14)
NORTHWOOD SECTIONAL
Lakeland (16-7) vs. West Noble (20-3)
Fairfield (8-14) at NorthWood (22-2)
GARRETT SECTIONAL
Heritage (13-11) vs. Fort Wayne Dwenger (10-13)
Fort Wayne Concordia (17-6) vs. Woodlan (19-5)
FRANKFORT SECTIONAL
Twin Lakes (8-14) vs. Western (13-10)
Benton Central (17-7) vs. Rensselaer Central (19-5)
PERU SECTIONAL
Oak Hill (20-2) at Peru (15-7)
Maconaquah (16-7) vs. Norwell (21-3)
NEW CASTLE SECTIONAL
Hamilton Heights (8-14) vs. Delta (15-9)
Frankton (13-11) at New Castle (13-11)
DANVILLE SECTIONAL
Tri-West (11-12) vs. Crawfordsville (9-14)
Lebanon (15-8) at Danville (16-7)
NORTHVIEW SECTIONAL
Indian Creek (12-8) at Northview (9-15)
South Vermillion (9-15) vs. Edgewood (10-14)
SHORTRIDGE SECTIONAL
Guerin Catholic (15-8) vs. Brebeuf Jesuit (15-8)
Indianapolis Shortridge (11-11) at Indianapolis Chatard (14-9)
CHRISTEL HOUSE SECTIONAL
Indianapolis Ritter (10-12) vs. Indianapolis Washington (6-17)
Beech Grove (14-6) vs. Speedway (4-18)
GREENSBURG SECTIONAL
Batesville (16-6) vs. Franklin County (10-13)
Lawrenceburg (19-6) at Greensburg (18-6)
CHARLESTOWN SECTIONAL
Salem (1-21) vs. Corydon Central (19-5)
Scottsburg (18-5) vs. Silver Creek (12-11)
WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
Washington (11-11) at Heritage Hills (16-8)
Vincennes Lincoln (6-18) vs. North Daviess (21-5)
BOONVILLE SECTIONAL
Gibson Southern (11-12) at Boonville (12-11)
Evansville Memorial (14-8) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (13-10)
WHITING SECTIONAL
Andrean (6-16) vs. Gary 21st Century (18-5)
Bowman Academy (11-12) vs. Illiana Christian (18-5)
NORTH JUDSON SECTIONAL
South Central (Union Mills) (5-16) at North Judson (21-3)
South Bend Career (10-12) vs. LaVille (15-9)
WESTVIEW SECTIONAL
Eastside (9-13) at Westview (15-8)
Central Noble (17-6) vs. Prairie Heights (16-8)
ROCHESTER SECTIONAL
Wabash (16-6) vs. Winamac (9-15)
Rochester (11-9) at Lewis Cass (16-7)
SOUTH ADAMS SECTIONAL
Fort Wayne Luers (9-14) vs. Adams Central (19-5)
Manchester (18-5) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (21-3)
DELPHI SECTIONAL
Delphi (12-11) at Clinton Prairie (15-9)
Covington (12-12) vs. Carroll (Flora) (20-4)
TAYLOR SECTIONAL
Elwood (8-16) at Taylor (18-5)
Madison-Grant (17-6) vs. Tipton (16-6)
MONROE CENTRAL SECTIONAL
Wes-Del (9-12) vs. Muncie Burris (9-14)
Lapel (12-12) vs. Wapahani (22-1)
SHENANDOAH SECTIONAL
Hagerstown (7-16) vs. Knightstown (10-11)
Union County (3-20) vs. Northeastern (19-5)
EASTERN HANCOCK SECTIONAL
Triton Central (16-6) vs. Indianapolis Riverside (9-10)
Indianapolis Scecina (15-6) at Eastern Hancock (19-6)
CASCADE SECTIONAL
Covenant Christian (14-9) vs. Park Tudor (14-8)
Cascade (7-16) at University (21-2)
SOUTHMONT SECTIONAL
South Putnam (11-10) vs. Parke Heritage (16-9)
North Putnam (15-9) vs. Riverton Parke (10-14)
SOUTH RIPLEY SECTIONAL
North Decatur (19-5) at South Ripley (11-12)
Hauser (11-12) vs. Milan (9-15)
SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONAL
Southwestern (Hanover) (20-3) at Henryville (17-6)
Brownstown Central (20-4) vs. Providence (19-4)
NORTH KNOX SECTIONAL
Eastern Greene (8-15) vs. South Knox (17-7)
Mitchell (7-17) vs. Linton-Stockton (24-1)
TELL CITY SECTIONAL
Perry Central (7-16) vs. North Posey (13-10)
Tell City (1-22) at Forest Park (7-17)
MORGAN TWP. SECTIONAL
Hammond Science & Tech (4-15) vs. Kouts (14-9)
DeMotte Christian (14-9) at Morgan Twp. (19-5)
TRITON SECTIONAL
Oregon-Davis (2-20) vs. Culver (11-12)
Argos (15-7) vs. Marquette Catholic (17-7)
HAMILTON SECTIONAL
Lakewood Park (9-13) vs. Lakeland Christian (18-5)
Elkhart Christian (7-15) vs. Bethany Christian (14-10)
WEST CENTRAL SECTIONAL
Tri-County (10-12) vs. Frontier (11-12)
North White (6-16) at West Central (9-14)
SOUTHWOOD SECTIONAL
Northfield (7-15) at Southwood (10-12)
Smith Academy (7-14) vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury (7-16)
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL SECTIONAL
North Vermillion (6-16) at Fountain Central (20-4)
Rossville (11-12) vs. Faith Christian (10-14)
TRI-CENTRAL SECTIONAL
Cowan (10-12) vs. Liberty Christian (13-9)
Daleville (10-11) at Tri-Central (7-17)
TRI SECTIONAL
Union (Modoc) (4-16) vs. Blue River (18-6)
Cambridge City Lincoln (10-12) vs. Seton Catholic (11-14)
WHITE RIVER VALLEY SECTIONAL
North Central (Farmersburg) (12-11) vs. Bloomington Lighthouse (16-7)
White River Valley (7-17) at Bloomfield (22-3)
INDIANA DEAF SECTIONAL
Indiana Math & Science (14-10) vs. Bethesda Christian (19-4)
Indianapolis Metropolitan (9-13) vs. Traders Point Christian (17-6)
LUTHERAN SECTIONAL
Indianapolis Lutheran (14-7) at Providence Cristo Rey (6-16)
Victory College Prep (3-18) vs. Greenwood Christian (18-6)
EDINBURGH SECTIONAL
Oldenburg Academy (6-15) vs. South Decatur (13-11)
Jac-Cen-Del (15-9) vs. Waldron (12-11)
WEST WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
South Central (Elizabeth) (14-9) vs. Borden (17-7)
Lanesville (1-20) vs. Rock Creek Academy (8-14)
NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
Trinity Lutheran (6-16) at New Washington (11-13)
Crothersville (8-14) vs. Rising Sun (11-13)
LOOGOOTEE SECTIONAL
Barr-Reeve (12-11) at Loogootee (17-7)
Springs Valley (8-15) vs. Orleans (21-3)
WOOD MEMORIAL SECTIONAL
Tecumseh (8-14) vs. Evansville Christian (15-9)
Northeast Dubois (12-10) vs. Evansville Day (10-15)
INDIANA GIRLS BB IBCA ALL-STATE
SENIOR ALL-STATE
SUPREME 15
Asiah Baxter, Warren Central
Ashlynn Brooke, Pioneer
Cristen Carter, Ben Davis
Asia Donald, Hobart
Nevaeh Foster, Mishawaka Marian
Laila Hull, Zionsville
RaShunda Jones, South Bend Washington
McKenna Layden, Northwestern
Riley Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern
Karsyn Norman, Bedford North Lawrence
Amiyah Reynolds, South Bend Washington
Hailey Smith, Fishers
Saige Stahl, Columbus East
Josie Trabel, East Central
Amber Tretter, Forest Park
LARGE SCHOOL ALL-STATE
Savanna Bischoff, Center Grove
Olivia Brown, Hamilton Southeastern
Ava Couch, North Central (Indianapolis)
Taylor Double, Huntington North
Julia Economou, Penn
Eva Fisher, Northridge
Brea Garber, Fairfield
Layla Gold, Cathedral
Isabella Gizzi, New Palestine
Saniya Jackson, Fort Wayne Northrop
Bailey Kelham, Garrett
Renna Schwieterman, Jay County
Olivia Smith, Fishers
Ava Weber, Corydon Central
Monica Williams, Lawrence North
SMALL SCHOOL ALL-STATE
Tori Allen, Andrean
Carley Begle, Forest Park
Caitlyn Campbell, Winchester
Ally Capouch, Kouts
Lauren Colon, Andrean
Gloria Brewer, Greencastle
Kelsey DuBois, University
Olivia Marks, South Central (Union Mills)
Bailey Parham, Tri
Ashlee Schram, Tipton
Payton Seay, University
Bailey Tabeling, Trinity Lutheran
Tori Thompson, Lafayette Central Catholic
Madison Vice, Central Noble
Linzie Wernert, Lanesville
UNDERCLASS ALL-STATE
SUPREME 15
Lillian Barnes, Valparaiso
Addison Baxter, Columbia City
Kennedy Fuelling, Norwell
Avery Gordon, Brownsburg
Jaylah Lampley, Lawrence Central
Lola Lampley, Lawrence Central
Maya Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern
Ellery Minch, Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
Jordyn Poole, Fort Wayne Snider
Kira Reynolds, South Bend Washington
Chloe Spreen, Bedford North Lawrence
Meredith Tippner, Noblesville
Reagan Wilson, Noblesville
Faith Wiseman, Indian Creek
Juliann Woodard, Jennings County
LARGE SCHOOL ALL-STATE
Kamrah Banks, Decatur Central
Aniyah Bishop, Lake Central
Addison Bowsman, Twin Lakes
Joh’nea Donahue, Fort Wayne Snider
Lauren Foster, Indian Creek
Talia Harris, Fishers
Denyha Jacobs, Warren Central
Ellie Kelleher, Westfield
Monique Mitchell, South Bend Washington
Olivia Nickerson, Twin Lakes
Camryn Runner, Hamilton Heights
Gabby Spink, Gibson Southern
Samiyah Stout, Elkhart
Leah West, Greensburg
Ryiah Wilson, South Bend Washington
Small School All-State
Carley Barrett, Lafayette Central Catholic
Ella Bobe, South Knox
Bradie Chambers, Linton-Stockton
Hadley Crosier, Lanesville
Kenzie Garner, Sheridan
Alli Harness, Carroll (Flora)
Jacklynn Hosier, Alexandria
Maya Layton, Faith Christian
Addisen Mastriano, Northeastern
Sophia Morrison, Eastbrook
Isabel Scales, Caston
Emma Simpson, Parke Heritage
Madison Wagner, Carroll (Flora)
Zoe Willems, Bethany Christian
Laniah Wills, Lapel
HONORABLE MENTIONS
SENIORS
Shayla Alexander, Mishawaka Marian; Leah Bachmann, Columbus East; Laney Baker, East Central; Lauren Barker, Columbus North; Caroline Bell, Bishop Chatard; Lydia Betz, Forest Park; Skylar Bos, DeMotte Christian; Trinity Britton, South Spencer; Amiyah Buchanan, Evansville North; Kristin Bukata, Valparaiso; Maci Chamberlin, Blue River Valley; Aubry Cole, Seeger; Jackie Crews, Paoli; Anjelicia Del Valle, Portage; Taylor Delp, Plymouth; Bailey Duke, Riverton Parke; Kylee Edwards, Shelbyville; Gretchen Farley, Park Tudor; Katelyn Fennell, West Vigo; Abby Fleetwood, Indian Creek; Riley Flinn, Harrison (West Lafayette); Taylor Fordyce, Carroll (Fort Wayne); Sophia Frasure, North Judson,
Morgan Gawthrop, Fairfield; Addie Graf, Washington Township; Lizzie Graham, Triton Central; Taylor Guess, Ben Davis; Maddy Hackman, Brownstown Central; Lailah Hadley, Purdue Poly-Englewood; Kendall Hale, Cannelton; Nakiya Harris, North Central (Indianapolis); Peyton Hartsough, Lakeland; Deannaya Haseman, Lapel; Ella Haupert, Southwood; Caitlin Heim, Bloomington South; Aliyah Hershberger, Mishawaka Marian; Sydney Horton, Roncalli; Journey Howard, New Albany; Emma Hunter, Greencastle; Nevaeh Jackson, Fort Wayne Northrop; Kyndell Jochim, Franklin Community; Rhylan Kalb, Northeast Dubois; Sydney Keane, Bellmont; Grace Kreischer, Eastside; Bailey Kuesch, Southridge; Morgan Lawrence, Winchester; Ashley Lewis, Monrovia
Tyra Marcum, Goshen; Kennedy Martin, West Lafayette; Reagan Martin, Owen Valley; Emily Mattingly, Evansville Memorial; Kyia McKinley, Eastern (Pekin); Brooklyn McLemore, Fort Wayne Northrop; Kaydence Mellott, Tippecanoe Valley; Preslee Michael, Terre Haute North; Campbell Moore, Harrison (West Lafayette); Briley Munchel, Rushville; Annaka Nelson, Fort Wayne Concordia; Bailey Orme, Corydon Central; Kylie Palmer, White River Valley; Abby Parsons, Cascade; Khloe Patterson, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Cameryn Rector, Danville; Lizzie Redar, Lawrenceburg; Delaney Richardson, Bloomfield; Gabby Richie, Logansport; Tessa Robertson, North White; Katheryn Rutherford, Western Boone; Kassidy Schell, Franklin County; Hallie Schweitzer, Triton Central; Lela Scott, Southport; Jalyn Shelby, Evansville North; Avah Smith, Woodlan; Morgan Sonner, Lanesville; Audri Spencer, Northview; Grace Stapleton, Eastern Hancock; Alison Stephens, Homestead; Sydney Swan, Clinton Prairie; Aleia Sweet, Southwood; Kailyn Terrell, Brownsburg; Sanaa Thomas, Warren Central; Lilly Toppen, Kankakee Valley; Alexis Tucker, Gibson Southern; Addison Ward, Twin Lakes; Sydney Warran, Cascade; Kate Wenger, Evansville Mater Dei; Camryn Wise, Wapahani; Isabelle Wooten, Danville; Amari Wright, Yorktown
UNDERCLASS
Kimber Abshear, Monroe Central; Madi Allen, North Decatur; Emma Ancelet, Danville; Audrey Annee, Center Grove; Madisyn Bailey, Bedford North Lawrence; Molly Baker, Columbia City; Audry Barron, Shawe Memorial; Payton Benge, Plainfield; Hannah Bledsoe, Barr-Reeve; Joslyn Bricker, Warsaw; Chaney Brown, Greenfield-Central; Erica Buening, Franklin Community; Maddie Carnes, Springs Valley; Hailey Cole, Bellmont; Kennedy Coleman, Charlestown; Kenley Cornelius, Tri; Morgan Cross, Northridge; Jalyn Davidson, North Central (Farmersburg); Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic; Mya Davis, Heritage Christian; Aijia Elliott, Kokomo; Myah Epps, Homestead; Gracie Fields, Huntington North; Makenzie Fuess, Norwell, Becca Gerdt, Valparaiso; Arianna Gerkin, Vincennes Lincoln; Sarah Gick, Benton Central; Soriah Gouard, Decatur Central; Chloey Graham, Gibson Southern; Alyssa Groover, Corydon Central; Emma Haan, Zionsville; Lexi Hale, Northwestern; Rachel Harshman, Mooresville; Ella Hickok, Hamilton Heights; Bren Hill, South Knox; Kyra Hill, Goshen; Olivia Howell, Eastbrook; Keylee Hudson, Eastern Greene; Chloe Hunt, Western; Swynn Jackson, Fort Wayne Northrop; Kaiden James, New Washington; Sydney Jerrells, Linton-Stockton; Sophie Johnson, Evansville Memorial; Madison Keith, Trinity Lutheran; Avery Kelley, Evansville Memorial; Scarlett Kimbrell, Franklin Community; Clair Klinger, Washington Township; Taylor Kneubuhler, Woodlan; Ayla Krygier, Lake Central; Kayla Lacombe, Tech; Claire Lindsey, Roncalli; Gracie Little, Washington Township; Koryn Marshall, Heritage Christian; Alex McKinley, North Knox; Kassie McMasters, Southport; Nicole Mears, Franklin County; Julia Meyer, Jac-Cen-Del; Norah Miller, Evansville Reitz,
Brynn Owens, Austin; Emily Parker, Boonville; Tia Phinezy, Fort Wayne Snider; Madelyn Poynter, Lapel; Lexi Primus, North Knox; Brooklynn Renn, Silver Creek; Emma Reust, Homestead; Ellie Richardson, Scottsburg; Mia Robbennolt, Bloomington North; Abagail Rousey, Bloomington Lighthouse; Molly Schulte, South Spencer; Shelby Seay, North Central (Farmersburg); Addie Shank, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers; Kyndra Sheets, Columbia City; Madalynn Shirley, Evansville Central; Aniah Smith, Avon; Emma Sperry, Frankton; Kendall Sterling, Seymour; Mariah Stoltzfus, Bethany Christian; Adrianne Tolen, West Lafayette; Marissa Trout, Huntington North; Jessa Troy, Penn; Josie Vaughn, Corydon Central; Addyson Viers, Triton; Kaycie Warfel, Pendleton Heights; Sarah Werth, West Lafayette; Ava Wheeler, Borden; Ruby White, Eastern Hancock; Trinity Wilburn, Faith Christian; Ava Wilson, Shelbyville; Vanessa Wimberly, Lake Central; Brooke Winchester, Warsaw; Ava Ziolkowski, Crown Point
TOP 25 MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#2 Alabama 90 Auburn 85 OT
#22 TCU 75 #9 Texas 73
#10 Gonzaga 104 Chicago State 65
#11 Kansas State 85 Oklahoma 69
#14 UConn 88 Depaul 59
#19 Xavier 94 #20 Providence 89
Ohio State 73 #21 Maryland 62
Vanderbilt 68 #23 Kentucky 66
Notre Dame 88 #25 Pittsburgh 81
elsewhere:
Southern Illinois Edwardsville 68 Southern Indiana 54
Penn State 68 Northwestern 65 OT
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: http://hosted.stats.com/cbk/scoreboard.asp?conf=-1&day=20230301
TOP 25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#16 Oklahoma 90 Kansas State 86 OT
#19 UCLA 81 Arizona State 70 OT
Kansas 98 #23 Iowa State 93
#25 S. Florida 85 Cincinnati 55
elsewhere:
Bowling Green 81 Ball State 76 OT
Penn State 72 Minnesota 67
Rutgers 63 Northwestern 59
Buffalo 64 Akron 50
Northern Illinois 73 Eastern Michigan 63
Miami Ohio 81 Ohio 75
Toledo 64 Kent State 60
Western Michigan 74 Central Michigan 65
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: http://hosted.stats.com/wcbk/scoreboard.asp?conf=-1&day=20230301
NBA SCOREBOARD
Chicago 117 Detroit 115
Phoenix 105 Charlotte 91
Boston 117 Cleveland 113
Philadelphia 119 Miami 96
New York 142 Brooklyn 118
Memphis 113 Houston 99
Milwaukee 139 Orlando 117
LA Lakers 123 Oklahoma City 117
New Orleans 121 Portland 110
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/nba/scoreboard.asp
NHL SCOREBOARD
NY Rangers 3 Philadelphia 2
Edmonton 5 Toronto 2
Dallas 4 Arizona 2
New Jersey 7 Colorado 5
Washington 3 Anaheim 2
Vegas 3 Carolina 2
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/nhl/scoreboard.asp
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL – SPRING TRAINING
LA Angels 4 Milwaukee 3
Cleveland 9 Chicago White Sox 6
LA Dodgers 4 Texas (SS) 2
Chicago Cubs 5 Seattle 3
Cincinnati 14 Oakland 14
Arizona 8 San Francisco 5
San Diego 5 Texas (SS) 1
Kansas City 8 Colorado 6
Toronto 2 Baltimore 1
Detroit 8 Pittsburgh 7
Philadelphia 4 Minnesota 4
NY Yankees 4 Washington 2
Tampa Bay 3 Atlanta 3
Boston 4 Houston 4
NY Mets 8 Miami 4
BOX SCORES: http://hosted.stats.com/mlb/scoreboard.asp
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
GEORGIA STAR JALEN CARTER CHARGED WITH RACING IN FATAL WRECK
ATLANTA (AP) Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, projected as one of the top players in next month’s NFL draft, has been charged with reckless driving and racing in conjunction with the crash that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and a recruiting staff member.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has issued an arrest warrant, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, that alleges Carter was racing his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against the 2021 Ford Expedition driven by the recruiting staffer, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy, which led to the Jan. 15 wreck.
Carter had been due in Indianapolis on Wednesday for the NFL’s scouting combine, and he is expected to address the arrest warrant when he returns to Athens, according to Lt. Shaun Barnett of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
“It is my understanding that Mr. Carter is making arrangements to turn himself in,” Barnett said in an e-mail to the AP.
Carter, one of six players who was not present Wednesday for scheduled media interviews at the combine, issued a statement on his Twitter account saying he expects to be “fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.”
“This morning I received a telephone call from the Athens, Georgia, police department informing me that two misdemeanor warrants have been issued against me for reckless driving and racing,” Carter said. “Numerous media reports also have circulated this morning containing inaccurate information concerning the tragic events of January 15, 2023. It is my intention to return to Athens to answer the misdemeanor charges against me and to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented. There is no question in my mind that when all of the facts are known that I will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.”
The crash occurred just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship with a parade and ceremony, killing LeCroy and Willock.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart expressed his concern about the charges in a statement issued Wednesday.
“The charges announced today are deeply concerning, especially as we are still struggling to cope with the devastating loss of two beloved members of our community,” Smart said.
“We will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities while supporting these families and assessing what we can learn from this horrible tragedy.”
According to the arrest warrant, the investigation by Athens police found that LeCroy and Carter were operating their vehicles “in a manner consistent with racing” after leaving downtown Athens at about 2:30 a.m.
The warrant says evidence shows the vehicles switched lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes, overtook other motorists and drove at high rates of speed “in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.”
Police determined LeCroy’s Expedition was traveling at about 104 mph (167 kph) shortly before the crash. The warrant says LeCroy’s blood-alcohol concentration was .197 at the time of the crash. The legal limit in Georgia is .08.
Willock, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. LeCroy was transported to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.
Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith became emotional on Wednesday when talking about Willock at the scouting combine.
“This is the first time I’m talking about it,” Smith said. “That’s my guy. That’s one person that never did anything wrong. I get sensitive talking about it just because I love him. He never did anything wrong in his three years.”
Offensive lineman Warren McClendon, who had just announced plans to enter the NFL draft, sustained minor injuries in the crash. Georgia football staffer Victoria Bowles was hospitalized with more serious injuries.
The Jan. 15 wreck was not the only recent incident in which a Georgia player was accused of racing and speeding. Linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, the second-leading tackler in 2022, was arrested on Feb. 22 on charges of reckless driving and racing.
According to Athens-Clarke County jail records, Dumas-Johnson was released on Feb. 23 after posting a combined bond of $4,000 – $2,500 for allegedly racing on highways/streets and $1,500 for alleged reckless driving.
Georgia athletic department officials said on Jan. 28 that the vehicle driven by LeCroy was expected to be used only for recruiting activities, not personal use.
HALL OF FAMER AULT AMONG 3 JOINING CFP SELECTION COMMITTEE
IRVING, Texas (AP) — Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault of Nevada, Washington athletic director Jennifer Cohen and Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler are joining the College Football Playoff’s 13-member selection committee next season.
The CFP on Wednesday announced the three new members that would be replacing Wyoming AD Tim Burman, Colorado AD Rick George and former Penn State and NFL player John Urschel on the panel that chooses the four teams that play for the national championship.
CFP executive director Bill Hancock also said North Carolina State AD Boo Corrigan will serve as the chairman of the committee for another season.
New members will serve three-year terms on the committee.
The 2023 season will be the last in which the playoff has a four-team format. The CFP will expand to 12 teams starting with the 2024 season.
Ault did three separate stints as Nevada’s coach from 1976-2012, going 234-108-1. He is credited with inventing the Pistol offense, with a running back lined up behind the quarterback in a shotgun formation.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS NEWS
NEW NCAA PRESIDENT SAYS NIL RULES COULD PROTECT ATHLETES
As Charlie Baker takes over as NCAA president, he brings a different way of thinking about one of the most important and polarizing issues in college athletics: regulating how student-athletes monetize their fame.
To Baker, athletes such as quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada and Miami basketball players Hanna and Haley Cavinder are consumers who need help in a burgeoning name, image and likeness market. That market currently lacks transparency and uniformity, and the athletes would benefit from legal protections to ward off unqualified, unaccountable and even unscrupulous actors.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Baker paraphrased a quote he read recently from an athletic director: “The only thing that’s true about NIL is everybody’s lying and whatever you hear about it, basically, don’t believe it.”
“And I think that creates enormous challenges for student-athletes and for families,” Baker said.
Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts, was hired in December and starts the job officially Wednesday. Getting a handle on NIL compensation is at the top of his to-do list, as it has roiled the NCAA’s vast membership of 1,100 schools like few other issues. Like his predecessor, Mark Emmert, Baker says the NCAA needs help from Congress in the form of a federal law to govern NIL.
There had been plenty of talk and some posturing by politicians in Washington about the state of college sports before the NCAA lifted its ban on third parties paying athletes for NIL endorsements on July 1, 2021.
Since then, there has been no significant movement on a federal bill. Meanwhile, more than 30 states have passed NIL laws, creating a patchwork of rules and regulations for schools that are competing and recruiting against one another.
“I hope Charlie Baker brings a fresh approach to the NCAA and advises that instead of lobbying Congress, the NCAA and its member colleges should work directly with the athletes to ensure they are fairly compensated and get the health, safety and academic protections they deserve,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who has been one of the most vocal and active lawmakers in Washington pushing college sports reform. “The NCAA doesn’t need permission from the federal government to do the right thing.”
The NCAA enacted an interim NIL policy that leaned into general rules against pay-for-play and recruiting inducements but lacked detail. With schools allowed only minimal involvement in their athletes’ deals, the NCAA’s inaction created a void that has been filled by boosters, lawyers and fledgling agents.
Rashada, the blue-chip quarterback from California, had a potential multimillion-dollar deal with a NIL collective run by Florida boosters fall through that led to him being released from a letter of intent by the school. He is now going to play at Arizona State.
The first school the NCAA has punished for NIL-related violations is Miami, which received a year of probation because coach Katie Meier inadvertently helped arrange impermissible contact between booster John Ruiz and the Cavinder twins. Haley and Hanna Cavinder, top players as well as social media stars, transferred to Miami from Fresno State after last season.
Baker said 19 months of NIL in its current state has helped reveal the pitfalls.
“I think for the NCAA, until you actually had NIL, it would be hard to know what it was going to look like,” Baker said. “Now we have it and the question becomes, should there be an attempt to make this more visible, more transparent, more — the word I guess I’m really looking for is easier for kids, student-athletes, families to understand what’s real and what’s not.”
Dan Lust, a sports law attorney and professor at New York Law School, said Baker’s framing of NIL regulation as consumer protection for the athletes is a new approach.
“I’d say it’s a unique spin to what otherwise was a stale amateurism argument that they needed to protect the student-athletes to enable them to pursue an education,” Lust said. “But now they’ve seemingly pivoted that argument to say we need to protect the student-athletes in order to allow them to earn compensation, absent predatory agents and boosters that might otherwise get them in trouble.”
Baker laid out priorities for his first 100 days in office, including meeting with every conference commissioner at all three divisions of NCAA athletics. The NCAA’s member schools have some 500,000 athletes competing in nearly 100 conferences.
He said he also plans to bring in an outside firm to conduct a “state of the business” review for the association to assess its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
The courts have presented a serious threat to the NCAA for years, and that only increased after the 2021 unanimous Supreme Court ruling in an antitrust case against the association. Two active cases, including one in Pennsylvania, could pave the way for college athletes to be considered employees of their schools.
Baker said the fundamental challenge college sports faces is creating a system that allows what he called “revenue-positive” sports programs — big money-makers such as major college football and basketball — to operate differently from the rest of the enterprise.
“At the same time, recognize and understand that for the vast majority of the schools and the kids there’s an investment here being made by their schools, and by their supporters in these programs,” Baker said. “And they’re doing it because they think it’s an important part of the student-development process, and I just don’t want that to get lost.”
NFL NEWS
RODGERS SAYS DECISION ON FUTURE WILL COME ‘SOON ENOUGH’
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that was released Wednesday morning. He spent much of the 1 1/2-hour conversation describing his recent isolation retreat in which he said he spent four days alone in a dark room.
“There’s a finality to the decision,” Rodgers said. “I don’t make it lightly. I don’t want to drag anybody around.”
The podcast was released one day after Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was asked about Rodgers and said that they “haven’t had the conversations that we need to have yet.” Gutekunst indicated he hoped a decision was made by the start of free agency on March 15.
“There’s been some contact back and forth,” Gutekunst said. “Obviously he’s had some things on his plate. Hopefully those things will happen soon.”
Gutekunst also indicated that he believes 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love is ready to be an NFL starting quarterback. Love has backed up Rodgers the past three seasons.
Rodgers, who is due to make about $59.5 million if he plays, noted that “for everyone involved, directly and indirectly it’s best for a decision earlier.”
He referenced the latter stages of Brett Favre’s career in Green Bay, when the Packers didn’t know whether the Hall of Fame quarterback would play or retire. Rodgers backed up Favre for the first three seasons of his career.
Favre did retire in the spring of 2008 before changing his mind, leading the Packers to trade him to the New York Jets because they already had announced Rodgers as their starter.
“Look, I’m answering questions about it because I get asked about it,” Rodgers said. “I’m talking about it because it’s important to me. If you don’t like it and think it’s drama, me being a diva or whatever, just tune it out. That’s fine. But this is my life. It’s important to me. I’ll make a decision soon enough and we’ll go down that road and be really excited about it.”
Rodgers has noted he planned this retreat several months ago and that it wasn’t planned specifically so that he could think about his football future. Rodgers said he wanted a chance to “disconnect from technology and from the world” and give himself “the gift of rest.”
But the solitude did give him plenty of opportunities to consider the possibilities.
Rodgers said he would have plenty of incentive if he does come back after a 2022 season in which he had his lowest passer rating as a starter after the Packers went 8-9 and missed the playoffs.
He compared it to the situation he faced heading into 2020, which marked the Packers’ second year under coach Matt LaFleur and the season after the team drafted Love. Rodgers earned MVP honors in 2020 and 2021.
“I’ve been doubted before,” Rodgers said. “Honestly I felt in the first year that Matt was here, Matt was in Green Bay in ’19 and I felt at times like a game manager, like I didn’t quite understand what we were doing at times on offense. My job was to take care of the football and I did. I threw four interceptions and 26 touchdowns, and we were 13-3, but I felt like there was so much more. Then they drafted my replacement and I won MVP twice, and I threw 85 touchdowns and nine interceptions in two years.
“Obviously there were some changes that happened on the team and the coaching staff and I didn’t have my best year playing (last season) and there are probably people who think I’m done. They thought I was done before I became COVID MVP twice. So there would be plenty of inspiration down that road.”
NFLPA SURVEY: VIKINGS, DOLPHINS, RAIDERS TOP FREE AGENCY REPORT CARDS
INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL Players Association on Wednesday released what it describes as ” free agency report cards” for all 32 teams, presenting the results of a player survey on topics ranging from quality of team facilities to treatment of player families. The players’ union ranked all 32 teams against each other in the hope of providing players with information they might be able to use in free agency when deciding on new teams.
The three top-ranked teams overall, in order, were the Minnesota Vikings, the Miami Dolphins and the Las Vegas Raiders. The bottom three (ranked 30 through 32, in order) were the Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Commanders.
NFLPA president JC Tretter said that roughly 1,300 players responded to the survey. Players were asked their opinions on their own teams only and received a 60-question survey covering eight topics: treatment of player families, food service/nutrition, weight room, strength coaches, training room, training staff, locker room and team travel.
“Basically, one of the things we wanted to be able to present to players was, what are the decisions your team is making when given the option to do something for you,” Tretter told a group of reporters Wednesday at the NFL combine.
Some of the more surprising survey results included the revelation that three of the league’s 32 teams don’t keep their cafeterias open for dinner, one of the teams (the Bengals) doesn’t provide nutritional supplements, and seven of the teams don’t offer first-class travel for their players.
Tretter said the plan is to make the survey an annual thing so as to account for changes in coaching and training staffs that address some of the issues. His hope is that the teams on the back end of the rankings learn from the teams on the front end and adjust some of their decision-making accordingly. Some adjustments will be made regardless — for example, the Chargers plan in the next couple of years to move into their own, newly constructed facility and out of the temporary one they’ve been using since moving from San Diego to Los Angeles.
“I don’t want this to be a mudslinging,” Tretter said. “There were a lot of examples of teams doing great things for their players.”
The NFLPA said the results of the survey would be posted on the public portion of its website (nflpa.com) Wednesday afternoon.
CHARGERS GM SAYS VETERAN KEENAN ALLEN ‘ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE’
Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco on Wednesday ended speculation that the organization could move on from 10-year veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen this offseason.
“Keenan Allen isn’t going anywhere,” Telesco told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
With the Chargers currently $20.39 million over the salary cap, according to OvertheCap.com, it has been widely speculated that Allen, 31, could be traded or released. He is scheduled to earn $15.5 million in 2023, with $21.7 million charged against the salary cap. If released, the Bolts would save $14.8 million against the cap.
Telesco likened Allen to Hall of Fame receivers Andre Reed, who played 15 seasons for the Buffalo Bills, and Charlie Joiner, who spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year career with the Chargers.
“He’s an incredible player,” Telesco told NFL Network of Allen. “We have an incredible quarterback. We need weapons around him. There’s never been any thought of that. He’s with us.”
The Chargers must be in compliance with the salary cap at the start of the new league year on March 15.
Allen missed seven games last season because of a left hamstring injury. He finished with 66 catches for 752 yards and four touchdowns.
“It’s not tempting to me,” Telesco said when asked after the season if it was tempting to move on from Allen. “Good players make money, and I would rather have a lot of good players on our roster than a lot of cap space.”
In 10 seasons, Allen has caught 796 passes for 9,287 yards and 52 touchdowns. He has recorded the most games in NFL history with at least 12 receptions (10) and is among three active NFL players — along with Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins — with four seasons of 100 receptions or more.
Allen is among a receiving corps that includes Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer. The Chargers also are on the clock to sign quarterback Justin Herbert to a record contract extension, which he became eligible for at the end of the season.
JUDGE: NFL COACH CAN PRESS DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS IN COURT
NEW YORK (AP) NFL Coach Brian Flores may get his day in court to press discrimination claims against the league and its teams after a federal judge on Wednesday rejected the argument that his lawsuit must be handled in arbitration, presumably before Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to arbitration, citing contracts that coaches had signed.
Flores sued the league and three teams a year ago, saying the league was “rife with racism,” particularly in its hiring and promotion of Black coaches.
The judge said Flores can let a jury decide the merits of his discrimination claims against the league, the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the Houston Texans, but he must pursue his claims against the Miami Dolphins through arbitration.
“We are pleased that Coach Flores’ class claims of systematic discrimination against the NFL and several teams will proceed in court and ultimately before a jury of his peers,” attorney Douglas Wigdor said in an email.
He added: “We are disappointed the court compelled arbitration of any claims before Mr. Goodell as he is obviously biased and unqualified to rule on these matters. We expect him to delegate those matters to a truly neutral arbitrator as a matter of fundamental fairness.”
The league did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press or say whether Goodell would recuse himself from the process.
Flores brought the lawsuit after he was fired by Miami, where he led the Dolphins to a 24-25 record over three years.
According to the lawsuit, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told Flores he would pay him $100,000 for every loss during the coach’s first season because he wanted the club to “tank” so it could get the draft’s top pick.
The lawsuit alleged that Ross then pressured Flores to recruit a prominent quarterback in violation of the league’s tampering rules. When Flores refused, he was cast as the “angry Black man” who is difficult to work with and was derided until he was fired, the suit said.
The Dolphins responded to the lawsuit when it was filed by saying it vehemently denied any allegations of racial discrimination and was “proud of the diversity and inclusion throughout our organization.”
When he brought the lawsuit, Flores said he knew he was risking his coaching career that he loves, but he hoped to bring positive change for generations to come by challenging systemic racism in the league.
The judge noted that Flores was announced as the new defense coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this month.
The judge ruled that the claims brought by Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, two other coaches who joined the lawsuit, must go through arbitration.
The lawsuit said Wilks was discriminated against by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 when he was hired as a “bridge coach” but was given no meaningful chance to succeed, while Horton was subjected to discriminatory treatment when he was given a sham interview for the Tennessee Titans head coach position in January 2016.
In her opinion, Caproni said the case had shined “an unflattering spotlight on the employment practices of National Football League” teams.
“Although the clear majority of professional football players are Black, only a tiny percentage of coaches are Black,” she wrote.
In deciding what claims in the lawsuit must go to arbitration rather than being litigated in court, the judge cited specifics about individual contracts and whether they were properly signed.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
NO. 2 ALABAMA RALLIES, BEATS RIVAL AUBURN 90-85 IN OVERTIME
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Alabama got to cut down the nets and celebrate a Southeastern Conference title, but only after staging a big comeback and forcing overtime.
Not to mention everything else swirling around the program.
Jahvon Quinerly scored 24 points, Brandon Miller made the clinching free throws with six seconds left and No. 2 Alabama rallied from a 17-point deficit before beating archrival Auburn 90-85 in overtime Wednesday night.
The Crimson Tide (26-4, 16-1 Southeastern Conference) clinched outright their second regular-season SEC championship in three years but continued to live on the edge over a troubling eight days that included courtroom revelations in a capital murder trial.
“Listen, I just couldn’t be more proud of this group,” coach Nate Oats said. ”Obviously, it’s a heartbreaking situation. That’s never lost on us, but the kids have worked really hard. Winning the SEC is not an easy thing to do. I mean, look at the teams in this league. It’s a great league.”
Miller rebounded teammate Jaden Bradley’s missed dunk and drew a foul, making both free throws. Noah Clowney had blocked K.D. Johnson’s layup attempt on the other end.
The Tigers (19-11, 9-8), who had three key players foul out, couldn’t close it out after leading almost the entire way in regulation. They were up 17 with under 11 minutes left.
“They’re a very, very worthy champion,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said of Alabama. “But we came here to win a basketball game.”
Alabama won its fourth straight but the past three have gone down to the wire since courtroom revelations tied freshmen Miller and Bradley to the scene of a murder. Neither has been charged or accused of a crime, but then-teammate Darius Miles and another man are facing capital murder charges.
Police said Miles texted Miller asking him to bring the gun.
Quinerly tied his season scoring high after coming off the bench and had six assists. Miller, Clowney and Mark Sears all had 17 points for Alabama.
Miller committed six turnovers but made 10 of 11 free throws. He then was among players high-fiving fans during the celebration, with cameras following his every move.
Bradley scored all six of his points in overtime, going 3 of 4 on free throws over the final minute.
Johnson was 4 of 5 on 3-pointers and led Auburn with 21 points, despite shooting just 7 of 12 at the free throw line.
Allen Flanigan scored 17 points and Jaylin Williams 15 before both fouled out in overtime. Johni Broome had already picked up his fifth foul with 10 points, and then Dylan Cardwell limped off after hurting his right ankle in overtime.
“Just incredibly outnumbered at the end,” Pearl said.
At the end of this night, the Tide were celebrating the SEC title and cutting down the nets after a big rally.
“We talked about at the under-8 timeout, we needed to play harder,” Oats said. “I said, `We’re not losing this game because we didn’t play hard enough to win.’ Our guys came out and played harder.”
Miller dropped his pat-down routine from the pregame introductions, instead settling for a shoulder bump with a teammate. After Saturday’s game against Arkansas, Oats apologized for not halting the pat-downs in light of the murder trial and promised they wouldn’t continue.
A melee near Auburn’s basket led to technical fouls on Quinerly and Auburn’s Wendell Green Jr. with 7:31 left. The Tide’s Rylan Griffen and starting center Charles Bediako were ejected for leaving the bench.
“We’re at Alabama. They play football over there at the football stadium,” Pearl said. “We threw the ball, a couple of defensive backs climbed on (Broome’s) back and the ball went out of bounds. There was some sort of scuffle. Our bench stayed on the bench, and they had some guys come off, I guess.”
Quinerly gave Alabama its first lead on a pair of free throws with 1:37 left in the second half, making it 75-73, but Flanigan tied it with a layup inside the final minute. Neither team scored in regulation after that, with Green missing a contested jumper at the end.
BIG PICTURE
Auburn: Started 8 of 10 from 3-point range and finished 12 of 20 (60%). … Has dropped eight of 11 games and missed a chance to make a huge statement for the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
Alabama: Continued its struggles since the courtroom revelations about Miller and Bradley, having been taken to overtime by South Carolina and edging Arkansas, 86-83. … Alabama has made just 11 of 53 shots from 3-point range over the past two games. … The Tide finished with a perfect home record for the third time and first since the 2010-11 season.
UP NEXT
Auburn hosts No. 12 Tennessee on Saturday in the regular-season finale.
Alabama closes the regular season Saturday at No. 24 Texas A&M.
NO. 22 TCU WINS 75-73 TO DENY NO. 9 TEXAS A B12 TITLE SHOT
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Damion Baugh had a steal and a breakaway layup off the opening tip of the game to get 22nd-ranked TCU off and running in its home finale.
No. 9 Texas, which began the game still with a chance to share the Big 12 title, never even led, though the Longhorns made it close at the end.
Baugh scored a career-high 24 points, Emanuel Miller added 20 and the Horned Frogs held on for a 75-73 win Wednesday night, denying Texas a chance to play for its first conference title since 2008 when the regular season wraps up this weekend.
“We’re still playing for something,” Longhorns interim coach Rodney Terry said. “You’re playing for seeding, you’re playing to put yourself in the best position right now for the big prize. And I think we have as good as a team in the country that has a chance to win a national championship.”
Texas (22-8, 11-6 Big 12) hosts third-ranked Kansas (25-5, 13-4) on Saturday. The Jayhawks had clinched a share of their 21st Big 12 title by beating Texas Tech on Tuesday night, and now it’s theirs alone.
It was the second loss in a row and third in five games for the Longhorns.
Baugh made two free throws with 19 seconds left for a 73-68 lead. After Brock Cunningham’s layup for Texas, Miller had a breakaway two-handed slam to seal it for the Frogs (20-10, 9-8).
“They did a great job of just fighting back. They did a great job competing,” Miller said. “But at the end of the game, we did a better job of just imposing our will.”
As for the game’s opening play, Baugh said he knew where Texas would tip it.
“But I didn’t know what he was going to do with the ball,” Baugh said. “When I saw his back turned, I just went for the steal.”
Sir’Jabari Rice had 16 points for the Longhorns, and Tyrese Hunter had 15. Marcus Carr, their leading scorer at nearly 17 a game, had 10 with his last points a 3 off a TCU turnover with 1:02 left that got them within 71-68.
TCU finished with a 46-28 rebounding edge and won even though Mike Miles Jr., the preseason Big 12 player of the year, missed all eight of his shots from the field and finished with one point on a free throw. He entered averaging 18 a game, but was in only his fourth game since missing five in a row because of a hyperextension of his right knee.
“We’ve got balanced scoring. I know Mike stands out a lot, but we’ve played a lot without him obviously,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “It just wasn’t his day, but he kept playing, played hard on defense. … Good to win a game when not everybody plays their best game.”
STREAKY SHOOTING
TCU made nine consecutive shots over a span of nearly seven minutes in the first half and had its biggest lead at 42-28 with 2:45 left on Eddie Lampkin’s putback dunk of a miss by Miles that ended the shooting streak. Six different Frogs made shots during that stretch. But after shooting 62.1% (18 of 29) before halftime, they made only 29.6% (8 of 27) in the second half.
“Great win for us, and did it with defense and rebounding, which is what we emphasized,” Dixon said. “It wasn’t going to be a pretty game just because we knew what they do and then what we knew we had to do.”
BIG PICTURE
Texas: The Longhorns are guaranteed a top-four finish in the Big 12 with Terry, who has a 15-7 record since taking over in mid-December after the suspension and eventual dismissal of second-year head coach Chris Beard.
TCU: The Frogs have won consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 21 and 24, blowout wins at Kansas and against Oklahoma, before Miles got hurt in the following game. They were 2-5 in February, including a win at Texas Tech last Saturday. … Beat the Sooners again on Saturday, and TCU finishes over .500 in conference play since a 9-7 record in WAC games 22 years ago.
UP NEXT
The regular-season finales Saturday with Texas home against Kansas, and TCU at Oklahoma.
SILLS, SENIORS LEAD NO. 11 K-STATE TO 85-69 WIN OVER SOONERS
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Keyontae Johnson and Markquis Nowell have been the savvy seniors leading Kansas State’s basketball renaissance all season, a nearly inseparable duo helping to put the No. 11 Wildcats in position to make a deep March run.
Desi Sills shined every bit as bright as them Wednesday night.
The often-overlooked Arkansas State transfer flirted with a triple-double in his own Bramlage Coliseum farwell, joining Johnson and Nowell in leading the Wildcats to an 85-69 victory over Oklahoma. Sills finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists before riling up the student section with a fiery postgame speech.
“I wanted to leave a legacy. Leave it all on the floor,” Sills said afterward. “I was shy of a triple-double but that doesn’t matter. I’m just glad we got the win.”
Johnson finished with 16 points and Nowell added 11 points and 10 assists, helping the Wildcats (23-7, 11-6 Big 12) end a three-game skid against the Sooners. Nae’Qwan Tomlin also scored 19 points for Kansas State, which led by as many as 20 early in the second half before holding on down the stretch.
Then the party started: Jerome Tang sent his entire team pouring into the student section, where they danced the “Wabash Cannonball,” while the first-year coach headed to the pep band and joined right in.
“I was just so thankful and grateful that I decided to finish my career here at k-state,” Nowell said. “I’ve been on both sides of the deal, the losing side and now the winning side, so I’m just thankful for it all.”
The Sooners (14-16, 4-13) applied a little pressure late, getting within 75-65 with just under 2 minutes to go. But that’s when Tanner Groves was ejected for hitting Sills with an errant elbow, and his free throws put the game away.
“It definitely wasn’t intentional,” Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. “It was an unfortunate play. I don’t think it was malicious. I know the kid; that’s not who he is. It was a high-elbow play. An unfortunate play.”
Milos Uzan had 20 points to lead the Sooners. Otega Oweh finished with 18.
Oklahoma spent most of the first half mired in foul trouble. Groves and Oweh took a seat with two apiece 5 minutes into the game, and Kansas State spent the last 15 minutes parading to the line in the bonus.
Yet it wasn’t until the closing stretch that the Wildcats established some breathing room.
The game was tied 25-all when Tomlin began a 9-0 run to carry Kansas State into the locker room. David N’Guessan added a bucket a couple of minutes later, Johnson drilled a 3-pointer off a nifty behind-the-back pass from Sills, and N’Guessan added a punctuating dunk off Nowell’s feed for a 34-25 advantage.
“The wheels fell off,” Moser said. “Not that you can’t overcome a 9-0 run to end the half, but we were up and up, and back and forth. Next thing we know we’re down nine.”
It wasn’t long until they were down much more than that.
After a bucket by Groves to start the second half, the Wildcats ripped off seven straight points – dunks by Tomlin bookending Nowell’s 3-pointer. And after Nowell hit another 3 from well beyond the arc, he saved a steal as he fell out of bounds, starting a fastbreak that ended with Sills’ reverse layup for a 48-31 lead with 16 minutes to go.
The lead stretched to 53-33 before the Oklahoma began to mount its failed comeback bid.
We all bought in,” Sill said. “We all committed on the defensive end, we got easy transition buckets. I thought that was the key to the game. We took off from there.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Oklahoma is the only Big 12 team that must win next week’s conference tournament to earn an NCAA tourney berth, though three others are teetering on the brink. But the Sooners proved in wins over the Wildcats, Iowa State and No. 2 Alabama that they are capable, and they showed glimpses of it again Wednesday night.
Kansas State remains in the mix for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would match the 2010 team for its best since seeding began in 1979. But the Wildcats likely have to beat West Virginia on Saturday and win a couple of Big 12 tourney games to make that happen.
UP NEXT
The regular season wraps Saturday when Oklahoma plays No. 22 TCU and Kansas State visits West Virginia.
WRIGHT’S LATE JUMPER LIFTS VANDERBILT OVER NO. 23 KENTUCKY
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Shots finally started falling again for Jordan Wright, whose boldest attempt came with the game on the line.
Wright hit a go-ahead fall-away jumper in the lane with 2.6 seconds remaining to finish with 23 points, and Vanderbilt topped No. 23 Kentucky 68-66 on Wednesday night for its first win at Rupp Arena since January 2007.
Jubilation followed for Vanderbilt and the senior reserve guard, who was eager to break out after a scoreless outing against Florida and just 15 points the previous three games. Some advice from Vandy coach Jerry Stackhouse helped.
“He said that (after) the last game, I could pick it up and that’s what I did tonight,” said Wright, who finished with a career high in points. “I came out, stayed focused, kept doing my work and kept my routine. And it showed tonight.”
The surging Commodores (17-13, 10-7 Southeastern Conference) earned their seventh win in eight games and are 7-3 since losing to Kentucky 69-53 on Jan. 24 in Nashville. Their run has included a home upset of then-No. 6 Tennessee and a sweep of Florida, providing confidence to win a tense game in one of the sport’s loudest environments and snapping a 14-game series drought.
Vanderbilt trailed 26-21 late in the first half before leading 34-30 at halftime and 46-35 early in the second before withstanding Kentucky’s rally for a 66-64 advantage with 1:10 left on Oscar Tshiebwe’s layup.
Wright answered with a drive from the right wing to tie the game with 42 seconds left, and Tyrin Lawrence grabbed Antonio Reeves’ missed jumper with 20 seconds left. Vanderbilt let the clock run and Wright took a pass from near midcourt and dribbled to just inside the free-throw line, spun and fell back with the game winner.
“It feels great and it was a game that we knew we had to win to keep our hopes alive for March Madness,” Wright added. “Every game is a huge game for us, but this is one that we needed.”
Antonio Reeves’ 3-point attempt missed the rim altogether as time expired. Kentucky had won its previous four and re-entered the rankings on Monday for the first time in seven weeks.
Tshiebwe finished with 21 points and 20 rebounds for the Wildcats (20-10, 11-6). Reeves added 14 points.
“He’s a load down there, but our guys just continued to battle,” Stackhouse said of Tshiebwe. “We still have a lot of basketball ahead of us, but we’re just happy about tonight, coming in, having something to play for this time of the year. And beating the King at its house is pretty special.”
Wright made all four 3-point attempts and 8 of 12 overall for a season high total. Lawrence added 21 points and Quentin Millora-Brown 10, including a buzzer-beating 3 to close the first half.
Vanderbilt won without 7-footer Liam Robbins, who injured his lower right leg early in the game after landing awkwardly while going for a rebound. He also missed the first meeting with an injury.
Stackhouse said Robbins would be evaluated.
Kentucky freshman guard Cason Wallace left the game early in the second half with a leg injury. Coach John Calipari said there was no swelling and hoped Wallace would be “OK” for Saturday’s regular-season finale.
BITTERSWEET FAREWELL
The loss spoiled the presumed home finales for Tshiebwe, the reigning consensus national player of the year, and five other seniors.
Tshiebwe naturally received the loudest cheers in a pregame ceremony that also recognized forwards Jacob Toppin and Brennan Canada, guards Antonio Reeves, CJ Fredrick and injured Sahvir Wheeler, who was absent after having a medical procedure on his ankle earlier in the day. Wheeler was represented by Calipari’s wife, Ellen, who wore the point guard’s No. 2 jersey. The coach said afterward that Wheeler would be out a couple of weeks.
BIG PICTURE
Vanderbilt: The Commodores didn’t flinch or panic, even after Robbins limped off the floor and didn’t return. They simply started hitting from deep as usual to seize momentum and spread Kentucky out on defense. They also made 8 of 24 from deep and finished 40% overall from the field.
Kentucky: The Wildcats overachieved just to get their lead, and it just got harder after they yielded it by failing to stop Vandy’s outside game. They missed 10 of their first 11 from behind the arc and finished just 3 of 19 from long distance. Kentucky was also 25 of 35 from the line, missing several key attempts down the stretch.
“When you shoot the way we shot today, you’re going to lose a lot of games,” said Calipari, whose team finished at 32%. “We got open shots, a lot of misses. We missed some free throws down the stretch that could have done some things.”
UP NEXT
Vanderbilt hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.
Kentucky visits Arkansas on Saturday in its SEC regular-season finale, looking to avenge last month’s 88-73 home loss.
NBA NEWS
BUCKS ROUT MAGIC 139-117, EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO 16 GAMES
MILWAUKEE (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to make sure the Milwaukee Bucks shouldn’t rely too much on the 3-point shot.
But for one night, the Bucks showed how dangerous they could be from long range as they extended the longest winning streak in the NBA this season.
Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and the NBA-leading Bucks hit a season-high 26 3-pointers in a 139-117 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night for their 16th straight victory.
“It’s part of our game, but it’s not our only game,” Antetokounmpo said. “We cannot fall in love and rely on our 3-point shot. When it goes in, it’s a bonus. It’s a plus.”
It went in early and often against Orlando.
The Bucks went 26 of 56 from 3-point range. Grayson Allen, AJ Green, Joe Ingles and Brook Lopez each sank four 3-pointers. Antetokounmpo and Pat Connaughton added three each.
“I didn’t even realize we hit that many 3’s,” said Lopez, who scored 18 points and shot 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. “I knew we hit a lot, but that’s a lot of 3s.”
Milwaukee’s win streak is the longest in the NBA since the Phoenix Suns won 18 in a row early last season. The Bucks’ run is their longest since winning 18 straight in the 2019-20 season.
The Bucks’ franchise record for consecutive wins came in their 1970-71 championship season, when they claimed 20 straight.
“That’s a team that’s rolling right now,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “They’re playing at a high level.”
Milwaukee hasn’t lost since Jan. 21, when it fell 114-102 at Cleveland. The Bucks haven’t lost a game in which Antetokounmpo played since Jan. 6 against Charlotte.
The Bucks also have won their last 13 matchups with the Magic.
Orlando had snapped the Boston Celtics’ nine-game winning streak on Jan. 23 and ended the Philadelphia 76ers’ seven-game streak on Jan. 30, but the Magic couldn’t stop the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo shot 10 of 14 overall, 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 8 of 10 from the line. The two-time MVP also had seven rebounds and six assists.
Jrue Holiday had 23 points and nine assists for the Bucks. Brook Lopez scored 18 and Ingles 16.
“We’ve talked a lot about the depth of our shooting, the quality of our shooting,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It felt like a lot of them caught a hot streak tonight.”
Orlando’s Cole Anthony scored a season-high 28 points. Markelle Fultz added 21, Wendell Carter Jr. 19 and Franz Wagner 18. Carter also had 10 rebounds.
TIP-INS
Magic: Jonathan Isaac (strained right hamstring/adductor) missed a third straight game. … Orlando went 6 of 12 on 3-point attempts in the first half, but was 3 of 21 from beyond the arc the rest of the game. … Paolo Banchero shot just 4 of 13 overall. Banchero finished with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Bucks: The Bucks requested waivers on Sandro Mamukelashvili before the game. The 6-foot-10 forward had appeared in a combined 65 games for the Bucks over the last two seasons after they selected him out of Seton Hall in the second round of the 2021 draft. … The Bucks rested Khris Middleton on the second night of a back to- ack as they monitor the right knee that caused him to miss 19 straight games earlier this season. …. Wesley Matthews missed a fourth straight game with a strained right calf.
UP NEXT
Magic: At Charlotte on Friday to close a three-game trip. The Magic are 2-1 against the Hornets this season.
Bucks: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. The Bucks have split two matchups this season, both at Philadelphia. The Bucks won 90-88 on Oct. 20 and lost 110-102 on Nov. 18.
KEVIN DURANT SCORES 23 POINTS IN CHARLOTTE IN SUNS DEBUT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Kevin Durant feels a sense of comfort.
Durant scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting in his Suns debut, helping Phoenix snap the Charlotte Hornets’ five-game winning streak with a wire-to-wire 105-91 victory Wednesday night.
Devin Booker scored 37 points and Deandre Ayton had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the Suns’ seventh victory in 10 games. Chris Paul added 11 assists.
Durant, acquired in blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 9, showed no lingering effects from a sprained right knee that kept him out of action for more than seven weeks. And the 34-year-old star fit in rather seamlessly with his new club, also grabbing six rebounds and blocking two shots in 27 minutes.
“I feel like I fit in pretty well,” Durant said. “Everybody out there was trying to make me as comfortable as possible. I just have to keep riding it, man.”
Durant made two 3s, a flurry of mid-range jumpers and showed he still has the burst to get to the hole on a driving left-handed layup for his first basket with the Suns. He also provided a boost on defense, blocking Hornets rookie center Mark Williams twice in the opening five minutes.
Suns coach Monty Williams said he doesn’t want Durant worrying about being a team leader, but rather just playing.
“I think there’s too many players in the NBA that get too much pressure to lead,” Williams said. “I just don’t think it’s necessary. It’s my job to lead. The players do it in spots, but that’s the one thing I told him, I said, ‘I’m not looking for you to lead. We just want you to be yourself and hoop,’ and I think that’s where he’s the most free to be himself.”
Phoenix (34-29) entered the game in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, but could be poised for a strong finish with Durant anchoring what has the potential to be an explosive offense.
The Hornets played without LaMelo Ball, who underwent season-ending surgery on Wednesday to repair a fracture in his right ankle. Kelly Oubre Jr. picked up the scoring slack with 26 points for Charlotte (20-44), while Terry Rozier added 20 points.
“We’ve been together since training camp, but it’s obviously tough when key players are out and in-and-out of the lineup all season with guys missing six weeks and coming back,” Rozier said. “So, things might be a little off but we fight another day. Just keep fighting.”
Durant scored 12 points in the first half as Phoenix opened a 57-41 lead.
Charlotte cut Phoenix’s lead to six entering the fourth quarter behind former Sun Oubre, who got the start with Ball out.
But Durant, who had only played 19 minutes in the first three quarters, returned to the start the fourth quarter and began to take over.
He hit a 17-footer off a ball fake, drawing a foul to set up a three-point play. The 15-year seemed to find his groove from there, knocking down three more mid-range jumpers to push the lead to 12 and finished with nine points in the fourth quarter.
BALL’S SEASON OVER
The Hornets announced Wednesday night that Ball had surgery to repair a fracture in his right ankle and will miss the remainder of the season.
The third-year point guard was injured in Charlotte’s victory Monday night over the Detroit Pistons. The 21-year-old Ball was limited to 36 games this season. He sprained his left ankle three times earlier this season, costing him 27 games.
TIP INS
Suns: There were plenty of questions over who’d be the team’s fifth starter, with Williams going with Josh Okogie alongside Durant, Ayton, Booker and Paul.
Hornets: P.J. Washington missed his third straight game with knee soreness. … Oubre returned to the starting lineup in Ball’s absense.
UP NEXT
Suns: At Chicago on Friday night.
Hornets: Close out a four-game homestand against Orlando on Friday night.
LAVINE SCORES 41, BULLS TOP PISTONS 117-115 AFTER TO BLUNDER
DETROIT (AP) Zach LaVine scored 41 points and the Detroit Pistons called one too many timeouts, helping the Chicago Bulls hold on for a 117-115 win Wednesday night.
The Pistons were trailing by two points with 9.7 seconds left when rookie Jaden Ivey called a timeout – one more than they had – to trigger a technical foul that gave LaVine a free throw that he made.
“That was the first,” said 33-year-old DeMar DeRozan, who scored 21 points, including two at the line on the extra possession Detroit gave the Chicago due to the timeout blunder. “I’ve never seen that.”
Pistons coach Dwane Casey said the loss was not Ivey’s fault.
“He panicked, but the game wasn’t won or loss on that one play,” Casey said. “It was lost in the first quarter. With the laissez-faire approach we had defensively, they got whatever they wanted. It’s such a mountain to climb when you get behind in this league.”
Chicago led Detroit by at least 15 points in each of the first three quarters, and by as much as 21 in a game that suddenly got close in the final minutes.
The Pistons pulled into a tie three times in the final 3:04, but couldn’t stop LaVine from driving into the lane and drawing a foul with 48.9 seconds left that gave him two free throws that he made to restore a two-point lead.
“Zach had a big play when he drove and drew that foul,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan said.
Chicago (29-34) has won three of four overall this season, clinging to hopes of rallying into a spot in the playoffs.
“We just got to be more focused and locked in and understand these games are our season,” DeRozan said. “We got to treat it like that.”
Coby White had 14 points, Nikola Vucevic scored 12 points and Patrick Williams added 11 for the Bulls, who have won 14 straight against Detroit.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 34 for the Pistons, who have dropped six straight games for the third time this season.
“They were the ones that got back in the game,” Donovan said. “I don’t want to make it seem like they did nothing.
“They were putting the ball in Bogdanovic’s hands as much as they could.”
Detroit (15-48) has the worst record in the Eastern Conference and is contention with Houston and San Antonio for the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, expected to be 7-foot-3 French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
The Pistons were without three injured players – Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and Isaiah Livers – and the Bulls took advantage for three-plus quarters.
LaVine made his first five shots and helped Chicago lead by 15 in the opening quarter. After Detroit rallied to pull within two points, White scored nine in the second quarter to help to turn a slim lead into a 69-54 cushion.
“We have to show a sense of urgency coming out of halftime, especially when we have a lead,” DeRozan said. “Teams are not going to lay down and just let us win. They’re going to come out swinging as well.”
TIP-INS
Bulls: The team’s last loss in the series was March 10, 2019. … LaVine entered the game averaging 20 points in 24 games against the Pistons, who allowed him to score a season-high 43 points in December.
Pistons: Ivey had 18 points, two assists and four turnovers, reserve Hamidou Diallo scored 19, Killian Hayes and Alec Burks each scored 11 points. … Duren (ankle) missed his third straight game, Stewart (hip) was out for a second game in a row and Livers (ankle) sat out after leaving the previous game with an injury.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Host Phoenix on Saturday night.
Pistons: Play at Cleveland on Saturday night.
TATUM SCORES 41 TO HELP CELTICS OUTLAST CAVALIERS 117-113
BOSTON (AP) Jayson Tatum is two days shy of his 25th birthday and has already accomplished more than many of his peers will in their entire careers.
Yet he isn’t where he wants to be. Not yet. Having more nights like Wednesday was a nice preamble to blowing out his birthday candles.
Tatum scored 18 points in a pivotal third quarter and finished with 41 points as the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-113.
“I guess I never really take time to think about where I’m at or the things I’ve accomplished,” Tatum said. “Time does fly. My sixth season. About to be 25. So I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and stay present.”
Tatum added 11 rebounds and eight assists as Boston earned its first victory in three games versus Cleveland this season. With his 20th career 40-point game, the 24-year-old surpassed Giannis Antetokounmpo for seventh place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list for players under 25.
It helped Tatum outduel fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who scored 44 points and sidestepped an injury following a fall in the third quarter.
Al Horford added 23 points and 11 rebounds for Boston. Jaylen Brown finished with 16 points.
Cleveland dropped to 13-19 on the road this season and 19-12 against teams above .500. Darius Garland added 29 points and nine assists for the Cavaliers.
“Tatum’s a heck of a player, Brown’s a heck of a player that knows how to make you pay,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
Mitchell’s scary moment came with under six minutes left in the third quarter. While driving into the lane, he lost his footing and tumbled awkwardly to the court, leading to a layup on the other end by Tatum.
Mitchell briefly remained on the floor after the Cavs called a timeout, but he was able to walk to the bench. He stayed in the game when play resumed, scoring Cleveland’s next 10 points and 19 in the quarter. But his teammates managed just seven points, while shooting 3 of 11 from the field. It was Mitchell’s seventh 40-point game this season.
Mitchell told reporters afterward that he felt pain in his groin similar to what kept him out for a total of six games in January and February.
“There was no coming out of the game for me,” Mitchell said. “Just trying to find ways to make plays.”
Bickerstaff said Mitchell will continue to be evaluated.
“I kept talking to him. He wanted to stay on the floor,” Bickerstaff said. “He knew once he came out it would stiffen up on him, make it difficult for him to come back in. We talked to the medical staff, he was ready to go, so we kept him out there.”
Boston outscored Cleveland 41-26 in the third and saw its three-point halftime advantage grow to 96-78 entering the fourth.
Cleveland closed within 107-94 with less than five minutes to play when Marcus Smart was whistled for a loose ball foul on Mitchell as the two jockeyed for position on a rebound.
Spurred by pleas from Smart and the entire Celtics bench, coach Joe Mazzulla challenged the call. A review showed Mitchell had grabbed Smart’s arm and yanked it in the air, and the call was overturned.
Tatum knocked down a 3 on the ensuing possession.
Cleveland made one last push late, getting consecutive 3s by Garland to get as close as 113-108 in the final minute. Boston was able to close it out at the foul line.
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: Mitchell posted his 23rd 30-point game of the season, tying his career high for 30-point games in a season (2021-22). … Garland had 12 points, six assists and two steals in the first half. … The Cavs scored 30 points in the paint in the first half.
Celtics: Improved to 15-18 this season against teams above .500. … Went 6 of 7 from the 3-point line in the third quarter. … Marcus Smart had three steals in the first half.
UP NEXT
Cavaliers: Host Pistons on Saturday.
Celtics: Host Nets on Friday.
MAXEY SCORES 27, 76ERS ROLL PAST HEAT 119-96 WITHOUT EMBIID
MIAMI (AP) Joel Embiid got the night off. The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t need him anyway.
Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points, James Harden added 23 and the 76ers took control early on the way to a 119-96 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Tobias Harris scored 18 points, while Paul Reed had 16 points, 14 rebounds and was plus-26 in 29 minutes for the 76ers, who played without their All-Star center; Embiid sat with left foot soreness.
The 76ers are 9-4 when Embiid doesn’t play this season.
“We are a versatile, deep basketball team. … Everybody who came in was ready,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said.
Bam Adebayo scored 20 for the Heat, who beat Philadelphia on the road Monday but trailed by as many as 25 in the rematch at home. Jimmy Butler scored 16 for Miami before leaving in the fourth quarter with right knee soreness.
“We’ve shown that we can be the very best against anybody anywhere,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’ve also shown this.”
Philadelphia was 15 for 39 on 3s; Miami – the NBA’s lowest-scoring team – was 7 for 29.
That was a huge part of the story, and so was the second quarter: Philadelphia outscored Miami 37-15 in that period, the best single-quarter differential of the season for the 76ers and the worst single-quarter differential of the season for the Heat.
Miami has now lost five of its last six, and remains in the No. 7 spot – meaning the play-in round – in the Eastern Conference with 19 games left.
“We have to start really figuring it out,” Adebayo said.
Philly’s most lopsided quarter win, before Wednesday, was 18 points on three different occasions. The Heat’s worst quarter loss of the season had been getting outscored by 20 points against the Los Angeles Clippers – in a game Miami actually won.
Not this time. Miami got the lead down to 11 in the third quarter, before it ballooned back to 19 after three quarters and 25 when the 76ers opened the final period on a 6-0 run. It was 102-77 with 10:08 left when Butler walked down the tunnel toward the Heat locker room and didn’t return.
This was the start of a league-high 15 road games in the season’s final 40 days for Philadelphia. Memphis has the second-most in that span with 12. Philadelphia has only seven home games left, tied with Minnesota for the fewest in the NBA.
“We’ll be fine. We’ll get through it,” Rivers said. “The key is winning as many of these games as you can during this stretch and then being healthy. You have to try to figure out both. If this was early in the year, you’d rest guys way more because you want to get through the year. The second half, you’re really trying to ramp guys up more. And that’s a tougher task given the amount of games we have.”
TIP-INS
76ers: Philadelphia started a five-game trip, matching its longest of the season. The 76ers had a 5-0 trip from Jan. 14-21. … The 76ers snapped a two-game slide. They’ve had two three-game losing streaks this season – an 0-3 start, then another 0-3 stretch from Nov. 30 through Dec. 5. … The 76ers were 22 for 22 from the foul line.
Heat: It was the 36th game in Heat history in which they were outscored by at least 22 points in a quarter. Not surprisingly, Miami is 1-35 in those games. The win was over Washington in 2007. … Spoelstra remained three wins behind Red Holzman (696) for No. 20 on the NBA’s all-time win list.
HOME WARRIORS
Miami began a stretch where it’ll play six consecutive games at home. The Heat don’t play outside of Florida again until March 18 at Chicago; they play at Orlando on March 11 as the lone road game in their next nine.
SPO VS. DOC
Spoelstra has faced Rivers 65 times, including playoffs, which is more than he has any other coach. The only coach Rivers has faced more often than Spoelstra is Indiana’s Rick Carlisle; they’ve gone against each other 80 times.
UP NEXT
76ers: Visit Dallas on Thursday.
Heat: Host New York on Friday.
BRUNSON SCORES 39, KNICKS ROUT NETS 142-118 FOR 7TH STRAIGHT
NEW YORK (AP) Whatever Jalen Brunson and Tom Thibodeau were discussing before bumping fists near the end of the game, it wasn’t the point guard’s brilliant play.
“He don’t care about that,” Brunson said. “He cares about wins.”
The New York Knicks are racking them up lately.
Brunson scored 30 of his 39 points in the first half and the Knicks rolled to their seventh straight victory, routing the Brooklyn Nets 142-118 on Wednesday night.
The Knicks made nearly 80% of their shots in a 47-point first quarter and coasted to their second victory over the Nets since their city rivals traded Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Brooklyn had won the previous nine meetings, including the first two this season.
Quentin Grimes scored 22 points and Julius Randle added 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Knicks opened a two-game lead over the Nets for the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.
“I like where we are in the season in terms of, we know the intensity is getting different now,” Thibodeau said, “so we have to respond accordingly and this should bring the best out in us.”
It did for Brunson, who scored 16 points in the first quarter and went 6 for 6 en route to 14 more in the second. He scored 40 in a 124-106 victory over the Nets on Feb. 13, but took only four shots in the second half of this one, finishing 15 for 18.
The Knicks made 10 of their first 13 shots, going 6 for 7 behind the arc, and led by double digits before the first quarter was halfway over. It was 47-29 by the end of the period, with the Knicks shooting 18 for 23 (78.3%) and 9 for 11 (81.8%) on 3s.
Brunson, who was briefly limping early in the game after banging knees with Mikal Bridges while defending a drive, had his perfect second quarter as the Knicks extended it to 81-54.
Cam Johnson scored a season-high 33 points for the Nets, who have lost four straight.
The Knicks won eight in a row in December, but followed immediately with a five-game skid that dropped them to .500. They seem much more stable now, having gone 9-2 in February. At 37-27, they have matched their win total from last season, when they finished 37-45.
They came in averaging 120.7 points during their winning streak and were already past that barely four minutes into the fourth quarter, when fans had already begun chanting for seldom-used veteran Derrick Rose.
Bridges added 21 points for the Nets, who are in dire need of a break in their schedule. They lost on Tuesday to the Bucks, winners of 15 in a row. After this loss to the second-hottest team in the league, Brooklyn next travels to face the Boston Celtics, who are just behind the Bucks for the best record in the NBA.
“I tried to use all those timeouts pretty early to somehow get our group to think about the challenge,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “The way I’m built, I just look at it as part of the schedule and a tough part of the schedule, but you’ve just got to deal with it.”
TIP-INS
Nets: Vaughn said Ben Simmons will miss a fourth straight game Friday with left knee soreness. … On the night Durant made his debut with Phoenix, Vaughn said he’s pulling for his former player to do well and will watch some games. “I love basketball, so I’m a basketball fan, so when I go home I turn on League Pass and I see what’s going on,” Vaughn said. “He’s a West Coast team, so I’ll probably watch and see if they’re still playing, so I’ll turn it on just like I turn on any game.” … Seven of the Nets’ next eight games are on the road.
Knicks: Brunson arrived wearing a blue Patrick Kane No. 88 jersey, a day after the New York Rangers acquired the forward from the Chicago Blackhawks. ,,, Duane Washington Jr., signed to two-way contract Tuesday, made his debut with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League on Wednesday in a 147-125 loss to Delaware. Mac McClung, who won the slam dunk contest at the NBA’s All-Star weekend, scored 31 for Delaware.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Boston on Friday.
Knicks: At Miami on Friday.
BANE SCORES 30 POINTS TO LEAD GRIZZLIES OVER ROCKETS 113-99
HOUSTON (AP) Desmond Bane scored 30 points, Ja Morant added 20 and the Memphis Grizzlies breezed by Houston 113-99 on Wednesday night to send the Rockets to their 11th straight loss.
Morant wasn’t nearly as dominant against Houston as he was Tuesday night when he scored 28 of his 39 points in the third quarter of a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. But he also had seven assists and seven rebounds against the Rockets without playing in the fourth quarter to help the Grizzlies to their third straight victory.
The win snapped an eight-game road skid in the opener of a four-game road trip and was the Grizzlies’ first victory away from Memphis since Jan. 14 at Indiana.
“Our focus was just trying to right the ship,” coach Taylor Jenkins said. “And any time you can start a road trip with a victory, it just gives you a different mentality for the rest.”
After scoring the final six points of the third quarter, Bane – who had nine rebounds and six assists – opened the fourth with five points, capped by a 3-pointer, to extend the Grizzlies’ lead to 90-68.
Houston scored the next five points, including a 3 by Josh Christopher, but the Grizzlies used an 8-1 spurt to make it 98-74 with nine minutes to go. Jenkins took most of his starters out soon after that with the game out of hand.
Bane discussed the difference in the team after halftime.
“We made some adjustments and we were able to get some stops that allowed us to get out in transition,” he said. “We were getting great shots in the first half and they weren’t falling, but in the second half they started to fall.”
Bane made six of the team’s 17 3-pointers and Dillon Brooks added four and finished with 16 points.
Jalen Green scored 20 points and Kenyon Martin Jr. 19 for Houston.
Green was disappointed the Rockets let things get away from them in the third quarter after staying close early.
“I’m not sure exactly what happened,” he said. “They just hit big shots, started hitting 3s and stuff. We were pretty solid on defense overall during the game, they just go on that run and we couldn’t catch up.”
Memphis led by 3 early in the third quarter before going on a 16-5 run to make it 69-55 with 5½ minutes left in the quarter. The Grizzlies got one 3 from Bane and two from Brooks to power that run.
A 3-pointer by Tari Eason got Houston within 11 later in the third when Morant made a nifty backwards shot in the lane before hitting another short shot on the next possession to make it 79-64.
Jae’Sean Tate made consecutive baskets for Houston, but Bane scored the last six points of the quarter to leave the Grizzlies ahead 85-68 entering the fourth.
“I thought our execution was pretty much the same for all four quarters,” Jenkins said. “We just started making shots in that third, got us that juice that we needed to build a nice lead going into the fourth.”
TIP-INS
Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr. had 17 points and five blocks. … The Grizzlies made 16 of 19 free throws, with Morant going 7 for 10.
Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. had a tough night in his return after missing 20 games with a bruised toe, going 3 of 11 for 11 points. … TyTy Washington Jr. left in the second half with a migraine and didn’t return.
UP NEXT
Grizzlies: Visit the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
Rockets: Visit San Antonio on Saturday night before hosting the Spurs on Sunday night.
DENNIS SCHRODER SCORES 26 POINTS, LAKERS TOP THUNDER 123-117
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Dennis Schroder scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-117 on Wednesday night.
Schroder went down holding his left ankle in the first quarter but stayed in the game. He turned out to be fine, making 8 of 18 shots and finishing with six assists to help the Lakers overcome their injury issues. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both were out with right foot injuries and D’Angelo Russell sat out because of a sprained right ankle, yet the Lakers won for the fourth time in five games.
Troy Brown Jr. scored a season-high 19 points and Austin Reaves added 19 for the Lakers.
Reaves said his role was much different without the Lakers’ stars.
“Anytime you play without your three most of all dominant guys that you run mostly everything through, the game’s going to be – I won’t say awkward, but there’s just a lot of new situations for guys and especially myself,” he said.
Jalen Williams scored 24 points, Josh Giddey had 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds and Lu Dort added 19 points for the Thunder.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averages 31 points, sat out due to health and safety protocols and an abdominal strain. Oklahoma City is 0-5 since the All-Star break.
Even with the Thunder missing Gilgeous-Alexander, the Lakers were focused.
“They’ve got a lot of talent there, a lot of young talent that knows how to play the game and plays hard,” Reaves said. “They’re not a bad team at all. But we needed this win and we knew that coming in.”
The Thunder led 60-57 at halftime behind 12 points each from Dort and Giddey.
The Lakers opened the second half on a 10-2 run to take a 67-62 lead. They took a 90-84 edge into the fourth, then took a 13-point lead in the final period before holding on.
“For the most part, I thought we played really hard for much of the game,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Bounced back a couple of times, like, weathered a couple of runs and just kind of kept ourselves in it. Playing from behind like that down the stretch is tough to evaluate, but I was just impressed by the compete level of the team tonight.”
TIP-INS
Lakers: Reaves, who finished his college career at the University of Oklahoma, made 5 of 5 field goals, his only 3-point try and 8 of 9 free throws. He didn’t miss any shots until he missed a free throw in the final minute. He said he “thought it was trash” to miss the free throw. … F Wenyen Gabriel had 10 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Thunder: Made 11 of 14 shots inside the 3-point line in the second quarter, helping Oklahoma City outscore the Lakers 30-26 in the period. … F/C Dario Saric scored 13 points in 15 minutes. … F Jaylin Williams had 12 rebounds.
FAIR AND BALANCED?
The Lakers shot 39 free throws to 24 for the Thunder, leaving Daigneault unhappy.
“The officials aren’t perfect and that’s not the expectation,” he told the media after the game. “All we’re asking for is fairness and consistency. I do feel like I end up answering a lot of questions from you guys about free throw discrepancies and how the game’s called. And I’m not choosing your questions. So I think there’s probably something to that which is disappointing.”
QUOTABLE
Reaves on the fans being against him late in the game, despite many of them having cheered for him at Oklahoma: “It’s all fun,” he said. “I love those those types of moments. And, you know, that’s what we play the game for.”
UP NEXT
Lakers: Host the Minnesota on Friday night.
Thunder: Host Utah on Friday night.
MLB NEWS
MLB SETS UP LOCAL MEDIA GROUP, COULD BROADCAST 17 TEAMS
NEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball added three executives to its new local media department as it prepares for a possible takeover of local broadcasts for 17 teams amid the financial deterioration of the Bally and AT&T SportsNet regional sports networks.
Doug Johnson was hired as senior vice president and executive producer of local media, Greg Pennell as senior vice president of local media and Kendall Burgess as vice president of local media technical operations, the commissioner’s office said Wednesday.
“These new hires are an important step in our preparation to address the changing landscape of MLB game distribution in light of the increasing challenges and pressure facing regional sports networks,” MLB chief revenue officer Noah Garden said in a statement.
Diamond Sports Group, the subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group that operates networks under the name Bally Sports, has the rights to 14 major league teams and skipped about $140 million in interest payments due Feb. 15. Diamond said as of Sept. 30 it had debt of $8.674 billion. The company has nearly $1 billion in rights payments, mostly to baseball teams, due in the first quarter this year, and a bankruptcy filing is possible.
Diamond owns rights to the broadcasts for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s AT&T SportsNet networks told the Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates last week that the companies do not have the money to make scheduled rights fee payments. The networks told the teams they have until March 31 to reclaim their broadcast rights and if there are not deals, the networks would file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Billy Chambers, who had been Sinclair’s chief financial offer, started work on Feb. 1 with MLB in a new position as executive vice president for local media. The new hires will report to Chambers.
Johnson, a 27-time Emmy Award winner, has been with AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh and will be responsible for MLB’s locally produced games. Pennell oversaw Bally Sports Regional Networks’ day-to-day financial operations. Burgess was vice president of technical operations for Bally Sports.
NEW MLB RULES GET MIXED FAN REACTION AFTER FIRST LIVE LOOKS
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It took 2 hours, 19 minutes for the Miami Marlins to beat the Houston Astros 4-3 in a spring training game Monday — a game so fast that Ryan Murphy, a lifelong Houston fan, found himself lingering in the ballpark for a while after.
“I’m a baseball fan,” said Murphy, wearing 2022 Astros World Series gear, “so if I stay here for four hours, for two hours, it doesn’t matter to me.”
Faced with criticism of dwindling cultural relevance and a laggardly product compared to other major sports, Major League Baseball introduced a set of new rules this year to speed up games and attract younger fans.
The bases are bigger to improve player safety and may also encourage more aggressive baserunning. Pitchers can only disengage from the pitching rubber twice per plate appearance. And there’s a new pitch clock that gives players 30 seconds to resume play between batters. Between pitches, pitchers have 15 seconds with nobody on and 20 seconds if there is a baserunner.
Less than a week into the spring training exhibition schedule, MLB seems to be getting what it wants, shaving about 20 minutes off the average length of games compared to last spring.
Players have been mostly pleased with the rollout.
“The game feels more exciting,” Washington Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin said. “Even some of the high-scoring games are under three hours.”
Fans seeing the new-look sport for the first time this week have had mixed reviews. Some, like Murphy, are indifferent to the changes.
“It’s irrelevant to us as fans, honestly,” said Murphy, who traveled from Utah to West Palm Beach for Houston’s exhibition season. “Players might think something different of it, but for us it’s all the same.
“How would I know the bases are bigger, honestly? I mean, we see a pitch clock out here, and we know it’s there, but it doesn’t matter to me.”
Some fans like the idea of being in and out of a game in under three hours, which is about how long an average nine-inning baseball game lasted in 2022.
Others feel a nostalgic pull to how the sport has always been.
“I’m not a big fan of the pitch count,” said Mark Mezzatesta, who traveled to Florida from Queens in New York. “I feel like that’s rushing the game. I feel it was fine the way it was. Pitchers do take a while. And batters do take a while, too. Fifteen seconds with nobody on base and 20 seconds with somebody on base is too short.”
Barbara Schiffman of Roseland, New Jersey, said she’s OK with some of the rules but “they should never let a game end on either the pitch clock or the batter clock.”
She was referring to a recent game between Atlanta and Boston that ended in a tie after Braves prospect Cal Conley was assessed an automatic strike for a pitch clock violation.
Conley originally thought he’d won the game with a two-out, bases-loaded walk but instead was given an at-bat-ending strike after the umpire said he wasn’t set in the box as the clock wound under 8 seconds.
“When you get to that point in the game,” Schiffman said, “you’ve got to let the game play out without the clock. That would be my only concern.”
She also had a complaint about new limits on pitcher disengagements from the rubber. Pitchers can only attempt to pick off a runner twice — if they try a third pickoff and are unsuccessful, the runner gets to advance a base.
“That doesn’t really work as far as keeping the runner from stealing, especially with the bigger base,” Schiffman said. “Those two things don’t really go together.”
Mary Theresa Fosko of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, said she liked the new rules but added, “The only tough thing is that the pitchers don’t get time to rest.”
That’s a trade-off that pitchers have grappled with early in the spring.
“The game does go quick, especially when they’re swinging a lot,” said Corbin, who started for Washington in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss to the Cardinals. “I’ve always worked kind of quick. I think it’d be a little bit tougher on guys that may be out of the ’pen or guys that aren’t used to working that fast. But that’s why we have this in spring training and hopefully get used to it.”
Fosko’s brother, Frank, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, said that even a 12-7 game between the Cardinals and New York Mets that he and Mary watched in Jupiter, Florida, moved along more quickly than the 2:59 game time might have suggested.
“The game went a good hour shorter than it probably would have,” Mary Fosko said, “That 15-second thing? That works for us.”
But she still wants to see more action.
“A few hits here and there is great,” she said. “But the walks just take forever. Everybody is swinging for the fences, and stuff like that.”
NHL NEWS
KINGS TRADE QUICK TO BLUE JACKETS FOR GAVRIKOV, KORPISALO
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Kings achieved their goal of adding a quality defenseman near the trade deadline. It came with a heavy cost.
The Kings acquired defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo in a trade with Columbus Blue Jackets. In return, Los Angeles sent two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltender Jonathan Quick, a conditional 2023 first-round draft pick and a third-rounder in 2024.
“Jonathan Quick is a two-time Stanley Cup winner who has been an outstanding goaltender in our league for a long time and this deal provides us with draft capital that will be valuable as we move forward as an organization,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. “It’s never easy to trade players like Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo as they have been exceptional Blue Jackets, but given our current position these moves were in our club’s best interest.”
The first-rounder is conditional on the Kings making the playoffs, as expected. If they do not, Columbus gets a second-round pick from L.A. each of the next two drafts as part of the trade completed late Tuesday night and announced Wednesday.
Quick backstopped the Kings to their Cup titles in 2012 and ’14. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2012 after recording three shutouts in 20 starts. He also allowed only seven goals in the six-game finals victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Quick is in the final season of a 10-year, $58 million contract but had been supplanted as the Kings No. 1 goaltender by Pheonix Copley. It’s unclear if Columbus will keep Quick or flip him to a contender before the trade deadline Friday.
The 37-year old Quick had started three of the last six games. He made 16 saves in last Friday’s 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders to pick up his 370th career win, which surpassed Tom Barrasso for third place on the wins list by a U.S.-born goaltender in NHL history.
He is 11-13-4 on the season with a 3.50 goals-against average, .876 save percentage and one shutout.
Quick – a third-round pick by the Kings in 2005 – also holds the franchise records for goalies in games played (743) and shutouts (57).
Gavrikov has three goals and seven assists in 52 games, but has not played since Feb. 11. He was expected to be dealt last week to the Boston Bruins before that fell through.
Gavrikov was among Columbus’ leaders in ice time. He also is a left-handed shooter and a quality penalty killer, which are two areas where the Kings have been lacking.
Los Angeles is tied with Vegas for most points in the Pacific Division with 76. The Kings got to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2018 but lost in seven games to Edmonton in the first round. They have not won a postseason series since winning the Cup in 2014.
Korpisalo had won three of his last four starts along with posting a .921 save percentage. He made nine starts for the Blue Jackets during the 2020 playoffs.
Copley is 18-4-2 since making his debut on Dec. 6. The wins are tied with Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy for the most during that span, but Copley’s .899 save percentage is 24th among 31 goalies who have played 18 or more games over the past three-plus months.
Korpisalo’s .915 save percentage since early December is ranked 11th. His overall record this season is 11-11-3 with a 3.17 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.
Gavrikov and Korpisalo are also in the final year of their contracts, and are expected to be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season.
Quick’s trade leaves captain Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty as the only remaining players from the Kings’ Cup-winning teams.
KANE TRADE REINFORCES HARD REALITY OF BLACKHAWKS REBUILD
CHICAGO (AP) After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance.
The reverberations of Chicago’s decision to trade Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers were felt almost immediately, with the flat Blackhawks losing 4-1 at Arizona on Tuesday night. And there will be more shockwaves Thursday night, when they host Dallas in the franchise’s first home game since the deal.
“We knew it was going to happen, but still when you see it’s actually true, it’s pretty crazy,” Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev said. “I never thought that he would play for a different team, but that’s how it went.”
Kane, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, had spent his entire career with Chicago, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Even as Chicago struggled in recent years and the 34-year-old winger started managing a hip issue, he still provided bursts of flashy play that delighted faithful crowds at the United Center.
But the Blackhawks (21-34-5) are tanking, hoping for a fortunate bounce with a ping-pong ball and a chance to take Connor Bedard with the No. 1 pick in the draft. And Kane is in the final year of his contract.
General manager Kyle Davidson said all along it was up to Kane what he wanted to do, and he decided last week he would waive his no-movement clause for a trade to New York.
Davidson had no leverage in his conversations with New York GM Chris Drury, and the best part of Tuesday’s three-team deal for Chicago was a conditional 2023 second-round draft pick and a fourth-rounder in 2025. The conditional pick turns into a first-rounder if the Rangers reach this year’s East final.
“If you look at it from the pure hockey standpoint and an asset return standpoint, it probably doesn’t compute,” Davidson said. “But given the circumstances and the situation, I think we achieved what we wanted to, and that was to put Patrick on a team that he wanted to go to. That’s the main goal here, was hopefully get some assets for the future, which we feel we did, but mainly was repaying a player that’s done so much for the franchise.”
The Blackhawks also traded defenseman Jack Johnson to Colorado on Sunday and dealt forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe to Toronto on Monday. Max Domi, who leads the team with 18 goals and 31 assists, and fellow forward Andreas Athanasiou also could be on the move ahead of Friday’s deadline.
The Kane trade means Jonathan Toews is the team’s last link to its most recent three Stanley Cup titles, and it’s unclear when the captain might play again. Toews, who also is in the final year of his contract, announced last month that he is dealing with symptoms of long COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome.
With all the moves, the Blackhawks have two first-round picks in each of the next three drafts. They have four second-rounders this year, after they selected three players in the first round of the 2022 draft.
But it could be years before any of those prospects make it to the NHL, and Chicago has 22 games left season – all without Kane.
“We’ll never be one player come in and do what Patrick Kane can do, whether it be on the ice skill-wise or just leadership-wise and his presence in the room,” first-year coach Luke Richardson said. “I think we got to do it by the committee … and I think this team has that ability do that.”
DEALS DONE LONG BEFORE NHL TRADE DEADLINE SET STAGE FOR MORE
David Poile did not go into the final deadline of his quarter-century-long tenure as general manager of the Nashville Predators thinking he would trade longtime defenseman Mattias Ekholm or 25-year-old forward Tanner Jeannot.
But the seasoned executive started listening on offers a long time ago, has so far completed three deals and said, “My phone is on.” Not just his, and there’s still plenty of time until 3 p.m. EST Friday.
“There’s been a lot of phone calls, not a lot of sleep and a lot of activity the last few days,” Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen said Wednesday. “I expect that to continue.”
The Blue Jackets got in on the action very late at night Tuesday to finish the flurry of 11 trades agreed upon, most notably Patrick Kane going to the New York Rangers. Several of those moves set the table for more trades to come before the dealing is done.
On Wednesday, the domino effect continued with the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche acquiring center Lars Eller from the Washington Capitals for a 2025 second-round pick. Eller scored two of the biggest goals on Washington’s 2018 championship run, including the game-winner in the clinching game of the final, and can win faceoffs and kill penalties and fill a void down the middle.
“Solid, big, strong third-line center,” coach Jared Bednar told reporters in Denver. “That’s what he is. Penalty killer, good on draws, lots of experience. This is a good pickup.”
Eller was expected to be traded with free agency pending. Two-time Cup-winning goaltender Jonathan Quick was not.
The stunning deal of Quick from Los Angeles to Columbus immediately made the 37-year-old a top target to get dealt again. The last-in-the-league Blue Jackets took Quick along with a first- and a third-round pick to balance out the salaries of defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goalie Joonas Korpisalo going to L.A.
Columbus could now flip Quick to a contender looking for depth in net, and Kekalainen said he’s “going to try to do the right thing” with the respected veteran. Vegas, Toronto, Seattle and Pittsburgh are options.
Perhaps even Carolina, since the Hurricanes still have plenty of salary cap space left after acquiring winger Jesse Puljujarvi from Edmonton, which was clearing room to get Ekholm from Nashville. Goaltending injuries contributed to derailing the Hurricanes’ playoff run last year, and now in first place with a deep roster, now’s the chance to bolster the odds of coming out of a loaded Eastern Conference.
After NHL-leading Boston added size, toughness and depth by acquiring defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from Washington, the New York Rangers got elite playmakers Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, New Jersey stocked up for now and later with big winger Timo Meier, Tampa Bay gave up the farm for Jeannot and Toronto added six new players over the past two weeks, Carolina has plenty of motivation to make another trade.
Ducks defenseman John Klingberg, who was linked to the Hurricanes at the deadline last year before Dallas opted to keep him, is an option to help the power play, even though he’s going through a rough season. Anaheim is keeping Klingberg out of game action for trade-related reasons.
Another is Arizona’s Jakob Chychrun, the 24-year-old blue liner who has been on the block for more than a year. The Oilers getting Ekholm, the Maple Leafs trading for Jake McCabe, Luke Schenn and Erik Gustafsson and the Kings making the move for Gavrikov dried up the landing spots for Chychrun.
But with an impetus to get something done with Chychrun before Friday, Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong could find a trade partner in an unlikely place. The Capitals have shown a willingness to buy as well as sell, giving up a first-round pick with Gustafsson to get Rasmus Sandin from Toronto, and because Chychrun is signed for two more years he’s got value beyond teams looking ahead to the playoffs.
Columbus could even be a player for Chychrun with the extra high draft picks from the Kings — and more if Quick is on the move again.
“Definitely with the picks we have now as assets, we’re looking to make our team better — not just be picking year after year,” Kekalainen said. “It’s a busy time, and everybody’s trying to figure out the present and the future.”
TARASENKO SCORES WINNER IN OT, LEADS RANGERS PAST FLYERS 3-2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Patrick Kane has an NBA star wearing his new jersey, his new teammates buzzing over his upcoming debut and a Stanley Cup to chase in New York.
The Rangers gave Kane a winning welcome in the warm-up to his anticipated arrival.
Vladimir Tarasenko scored the winner 2:32 into overtime, and had assists on goals by Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider to lead the New York Rangers past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Wednesday night.
“Just shows that guys are here to win,” Tarasenko said.
The Rangers won their final game before Kane, acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, makes his debut for the team on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson wore a No. 88 Kane jersey into MSG before Wednesday’s game against Brooklyn. The Rangers could have sold a few more in Philly — Blueshirts took over the lower bowl of the Wells Fargo Center and had a healthy and vocal presence overall inside the arena.
Flyers fans were thwarted in their attempt to drown out the “Let’s Go Rangers!” chants that echoed throughout the arena. Rangers fans erupted when Kreider tied the score with 9:27 left in the game.
Wait until they get to cheer for Kane.
The arrival of the three-time Stanley Cup champion boosted the Rangers to immediate Stanley Cup contender status.
“I think everyone in this room believes it is possible,” Rangers forward Tyler Motte said.
Owen Tippett and Scott Laughton scored for the Flyers. Carter Hart had 22 saves.
“I saw some really good things with the guys tonight,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “I saw some things where I’m not sure where it’s at.”
Igor Shesterkin stopped 25 shots for the Rangers.
Motte briefly played with Kane in Chicago but it’s another Blackhawks transplant in New York that truly made the trade exciting for the Rangers. The 34-year-old Kane was reunited with former teammate Artemi Panarin. Kane enjoyed playing with Panarin for two seasons at the beginning of the Russian forward’s NHL career, one reason why the newest Ranger waived the no-movement clause in his contract.
The Rangers already made one splash before the deadline when they acquired Tarasenko from St. Louis last month. He pounded his 13th goal of the season – and third with New York – past Hart midway through OT.
Tarasenko scored his 11th career overtime goal and first since Feb. 10, 2019 .
“I feel like the more I hang out around the guys, the more I talk with them, the more I understand what’s going on on the ice, where is everybody going, I’ll feel more comfortable over there,” he said.
The additions of Tarasenko and Kane showed the players the front office has confidence the team could be on the brink of a special season.
“I think it just goes to show the belief that, not only the guys in this room, but the organization has in us,” Motte said. “It gives us all a lot of confidence for the push for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs. Adding big names is going to open some eyes. I think it just continues to build the confidence in the room.”
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said of the mood in the locker room now, “it definitely feels different.”
The Flyers are well out of the playoff race and will be sellers leading into Friday’s deadline. Philadelphia, though, did not hold out any players as a precaution – or as a precursor to a potential deal.
Tortorella has cautioned it could take years before the team is a contender again and willing to deal for big names at the deadline.
“Hopefully, along the way we get this turned around,” he said. “Not sure when.”
Hey, at least in Philly, Flyers fans are used to the wait.
THAT’S GOTTA BE KANE!
Kane scored the biggest goal of his NHL career in Philly, an overtime winner in Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, ending Chicago’s 49-year title drought.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Host Ottawa on Thursday night.
Flyers: Host Detroit on Sunday.
MCDAVID HAS 2 GOALS, ASSIST AS OILERS BEAT MAPLE LEAFS 5-2
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) Connor McDavid had two goals and an assist, and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 Wednesday night.
Zach Hyman and Klim Kostin each had a goal and an assist, and Kailer Yamamoto also scored as Edmonton won for the third time in five games. Stuart Skinner had 26 saves.
“Big win here tonight,” McDavid said. “You’re playing a good team. They’re always going to have momentum swings. I thought we did a good job of managing that, we defended well.”
For McDavid, it was his fifth straight multi-goal game. He became the fifth player in NHL history to have such a run, joining Joe Malone (1921), Punch Broadbent (1922), Alexander Mogilny (1993) and Mario Lemieux (1989).
“Sometimes it just goes in,” McDavid said. “I felt like I was playing good hockey kind of before, it just wasn’t going in for me. You get a bounce and it seems to go in for you. It’s a funny game that way.”
Mitchell Marner had a goal and an assist, and David Kampf also scored for the Maple Leafs, who had won five of their previous six games. Ilya Samsonov stopped 27 shots.
“We wanted to try and keep these guys out of the middle and didn’t do a great job of that tonight,” Marner said. “We let them have the freedom, speed and space through that neutral zone and they can make you pay for it and they did.”
McDavid gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead with his second goal of the night and 52nd of the season as he got a pass from Kostin, skated down the middle of the ice, maneuvered into the left circle and fired a shot that beat Samsonov with 6:07 left in the first period. It was his 10th goal in the last five games.
“He’s coming at teams at a certain level of pace that backs them off,” Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft said of McDavid. “He’s willing to shoot through traffic. He goes to hard areas to score. He played a great game tonight.”
Hyman fired a shot from the left circle that was blocked, but the puck came back to him and he beat Samsonov from between the circles for his career-best 29th with 1:55 left in the opening period to give Edmonton a two-goal lead.
Yamamoto deflected a shot by Cody Ceci at 8:46 of the second, and Kostin scored from the left side off a pass from Ryan McLeod 2:48 left in the middle period to push the Oilers’ lead to 5-1.
“We didn’t have a very good start, obviously, letting their best people get going and getting opportunities off the rush and grabbing the lead,” Toronto forward John Tavares said. “They defended hard, played us hard and we weren’t at the level that we needed to be.”
Marner scored a power-play goal from the right circle at 1:08 of the third to pull the Maple Leafs within three.
It seemed as though Edmonton had rapidly responded with another power-play goal by Warren Foegele, but a quick whistle negated the goal.
McDavid got the Oilers on the scoreboard first with a power-play goal as he knocked in the rebound of Leon Draisaitl’s shot from the right side in front 3:49 into the game.
Kampf tied it 1-1 as he got a pass from Marner, skated up and beat Skinner from between the circles for his seventh with 7:45 left in the first.
MILESTONE
Toronto’s William Nylander played in his 500th career game.
DEBUTS
D Mattias Ekholm, acquired from Nashville on Tuesday, made his Oilers debut. … D Jake McCabe and F Sam Lafferty both played their first game with Toronto after coming over rom Chicago. D Luke Schenn joined the team after being acquired from Vancouver but did not dress. D Erik Gustafsson, acquired from Washington, will join the Blackhawks in Calgary on Thursday.
UP NEXT
Maple Leafs: At Calgary on Thursday night in the third of a five-game trip.
Oilers: Host Winnipeg on Friday night in the finale of a three-game homestand and opener of a home-and-home set with the Jets.
HEISKANEN ENDS DROUGHT, SEGUIN NETS 2 AS STARS TOP COYOTES
DALLAS (AP) Defenseman Miro Heiskanen ended a 19-game goal drought by scoring the winning goal early in the third period and Tyler Seguin had two goals and an assist as the Dallas Stars rallied from a two-goal first-period deficit to beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Roope Hintz also scored for the Stars, who will complete a back-to-back at Chicago on Thursday. Jake Oettinger made 18 saves for his 25th win, tied for sixth place in the NHL.
The Stars lead the Central Division by three points but struggled recently against lesser teams, losing at home to Vancouver, Columbus and Chicago. They went 1-3-3 in their previous seven games and went in 1-7-4 in games in which they trailed after one period.
“It’s been muck,” Seguin said. “Sometimes you can call it bad bounces. Sometimes you can call it hot goalies. We said, ‘Let’s not leave here saying we hit a hot goalie or that we deserved to win.'”
Clayton Keller and Barrett Hayton scored for the Coyotes, who finished a back-to-back after beating Chicago at home on Tuesday night. Connor Ingram stopped 37 shots. Ingram, a rookie, has faced at least 40 shots in eight of his 21 starts.
Heiskanen fired a wrist shot from the left point that trickled through Ingram at 4:38 of the third period for his first goal since Jan. 8.
“One lucky bounce, and it’s an important goal,” Heiskanen said.
Seguin scored a power-play goal early in the second period and a shorthanded insurance goal with 3:48 to play.
The Coyotes broke out to a 2-0 lead 14 minutes in with Juuso Valimaki assisting on both goals. Keller’s goal, his team-leading 25th of the season, came on the lone shot on goal on three first-period Arizona power plays when he faked a one-timer in the slot and sent a wrist shot past Oettinger – his teammate at Boston University in 2016-17.
The Stars pulled even with goals in the last two minutes of the first period from Hintz and in the first two minutes of the second period from Seguin.
LITTLE HELP, PLEASE
The Coyotes traded two defensemen earlier Wednesday – Shayne Gostisbehere to Carolina and Jakob Chychrun to Ottawa – and made forward Nick Bjugstad a healthy scratch for trade-related reasons for the second consecutive game. They then lost forward Nick Schmaltz, second on the team with 42 points, midway through the second period when a slapshot by Dallas’ Jani Hakanpaa rode up Schmaltz’s stick and struck him near his left ear.
NOTES
Keller has a season-long six-game point streak. … Stars forward Mason Marchment took two first-period penalties giving him 78 penalty minutes this season, moving into the league’s top 10. … Dallas forward Evgenii Dadonov had an assist after recording a goal on Monday in his Stars debut following Sunday’s trade from Montreal. … Both of Valimaki’s multipoint games this season have come in the last nine games. … The Coyotes lead the NHL with 21 road losses.
UP NEXT
Coyotes: Begin a four-game homestand on Friday night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Stars: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. They’ve split two previous games with the Blackhawks and are 2-4-0 this season closing back-to-backs.
MERCER HAS GOAL, 3 ASSISTS AS DEVILS BEAT AVALANCHE 7-5
DENVER (AP) Dawson Mercer stayed hot with a goal and three assists, Tomas Tatar had a goal and two assists, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Colorado Avalanche 7-5 on Wednesday night.
Nico Hischier and Miles Wood each had a goal and an assist, and Nathan Bastian, Ondrej Palat and Dougie Hamilton also scored for New Jersey. Vitek Vanecek had 14 saves before being replaced early in the third period after giving up five goals. Akira Schmid came on and stopped all 12 shots he faced.
Mercer has scored a goal in seven straight games and has 10 overall in that span, helping the Devils go 5-2.
“Playing with Nico and (Tatar), we’ve been having a great stretch right now and we just want to make sure we keep this going,” Mercer said.
New Jersey forward Timo Meier, acquired from San Jose on Monday, was scratched.
Nathan MacKinnon had two goals to extend his points streak to nine games and Mikko Rantanen scored his 41st of the season for Colorado. Valeri Nichushkin and J.T. Compher also scored, and Artturi Lehkonen had two assists. Justus Annunen finished with 22 saves.
The Avalanche had their six-game winning streak snapped and failed to get a point for the first time in nine games.
Colorado completed a deal with Washington for center Lars Eller on Wednesday morning, and he landed in Denver in time to play. His first shift as an Avalanche came 25 seconds into the game and he was on the ice when Palat beat Annunen 42 seconds later to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.
“It is a special opportunity to be on a team being in a playoff spot and have the history here with what they did last year,” said Eller, who won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018. “Certainly can’t take it for granted. So I’m very privileged to be here.”
Bastian and Tatar scored 2:35 apart later in the first and MacKinnon’s goal at 19:46 cut the lead to 3-1.
The offenses dominated the second period, with Hamilton and Wood scoring 2:40 apart to make it 5-1. Colorado answered with goals by Rantanen, MacKinnon and Compher in a span of 2:04. For Rantanen, it gave him a goal in six straight games.
“Even when they scored the three I felt good about the way we’re playing,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “I just didn’t like a couple of mistakes.”
Mercer scored his 20th of the season late in the second and Nichushkin made it a one-goal game again 1:26 into the third. Schmid then came on for Vanecek.
Hischier’s empty-netter with 1:14 left capped the scoring. It gave the Tatar-Hirschier-Mercer line nine points on the night.
“We’re getting good bounces, our pucks are going in but I think our main goal is playing responsible,” Tatar said. “Obviously if you score to help the team that’s a bonus.”
MAKAR STILL OUT
Colorado D Cale Makar missed his fifth game in a row and eighth in the last 10 due to two separate concussions. Makar suffered the first one Feb. 7 at Pittsburgh, returned to play two games but suffered the second one at St. Louis on Feb. 18.
200 CLUB
Compher notched his 200th career point with his goal. Not to be outdone, Lekhonen’s two assists also gave him 200 career points.
UP NEXT
Devils: At Vegas on Friday night.
Colorado: At Dallas on Saturday.
WILSON SCORES IN OT, CAPITALS KNOCK OFF DUCKS 3-2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Tom Wilson scored his second goal of the game 1:09 into overtime and the Washington Capitals beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Martin Fehervary also scored, Darcy Kuemper made 21 saves and the Capitals won for the second time in three games following a six-game skid.
“When we’re playing together and we’re playing for each other, we can win some games,” Wilson said. “Just got to start racking them together, and who knows?”
Trevor Zegras had a goal and an assist, Troy Terry scored for the fourth straight game, and the Ducks had their three-game win streak snapped. John Gibson made 36 saves.
“I thought we were actually better tonight than we were in our last game,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said, referring to a 4-2 win against Chicago on Monday following a four-game East Coast road trip.
The Capitals needed a victory to stay in the crowded Eastern Conference wild-card race considering their recent struggles, and Wilson ensured they picked up both points by shooting a bouncing puck between Gibson’s legs off T.J. Oshie’s centering pass during the extra 3-on-3 hockey.
“It just seemed like their guys kind of lost me, and I saw the seas part, so I figured I’d try and go to the net,” Wilson said. “Just tried to get whatever I could on it, and I think stick to feet to through his legs, but we’ll take it.”
Wilson scored 8 seconds into the third for a 2-1 lead, burying a one-timer in the slot after Trevor van Riemsdyk picked off a poor clearance attempt at the blue line.
Zegras notched 20 goals for the second straight season when he tied it at 2, reaching out to slap in Mason McTavish’s rebound at 4:17, shortly after a power play expired.
Zegras had been benched late in the second period after receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for yelling at the officials, but Eakins was pleased by how Zegras “channeled his emotion” back onto the ice following the external and internal discipline.
“He’s got a ton of passion for the game,” Eakins said. “He cares, and we’re just trying to get those emotions into his game and not into the referees.”
ABSENCES APLENTY
Capitals D Nick Jensen did not return after sustaining an upper-body injury in the first period. Jensen, who signed a three-year contract extension worth $12.15 million on Tuesday, appeared to be hurt making contact with Ducks D Simon Benoit in the corner 5:05 into the first.
Fehervary, who opened the scoring off a cross-ice pass through the slot by Nicklas Backstrom for his fifth goal 8:58 into the game, left in the third and did not return because of a lower-body injury. Washington had to finish out the game with four defensemen.
“Not ideal,” Kuemper said. “But they did a great job stepping up, and I think just as a group the forwards did a good job of helping them the best they could knowing the situation, and we got through it.”
MAKING MOVES The Capitals traded veteran C Lars Eller to Colorado for a second-round draft pick on Wednesday. Eller, who is in the final season of a five-year contract, had seven goals and nine assists in 60 games for Washington.
The Ducks held D John Klingberg and Dmitry Kulikov out of the lineup for trade-related reasons ahead of Friday’s deadline. Both Klingberg and Kulikov will be free agents at the end of this season and would bring playoff experience to interested teams that can overlook their struggles with dismal Anaheim.
UP NEXT
Capitals: At San Jose on Saturday.
Ducks: Host Montreal on Friday night.
LATE GOAL GIVES GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3-2 WIN OVER HURRICANES
LAS VEGAS (AP) Reilly Smith scored off a pass from Michael Amadio with 3:42 left to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night.
The Knights went back into first place alone in the Pacific Division with 78 points. Vegas has points in 10 of its past 11 games (7-1-3).
Carolina, which is first in the Metropolitan Division with 86 points, lost back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 3 and 5.
Jack Eichel scored two goals for the Knights, both coming in the second period. The first was on a shot from the slot and the second on a breakaway, to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. He has scored five goals in five games and has a team-high 22 for the season.
Ivan Barbashev assisted on the second goal, giving his first point with Vegas since being acquired from St. Louis on Sunday.
Smith’s goal came after Carolina tied the score with 7:16 left in the third period as Jordan Staal redirected Brent Burns’ shot from the point.
The Hurricanes’ other goal came from right wing Martin Necas, who has a team-best 53 points. Necas faked out Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and scored from the slot.
Amadio’s assist came in his 100th career game for the Knights.
TRADING DAY
Vegas and Carolina made trades.
The Knights traded for Pittsburgh forward Teddy Blueger, sending the Penguins defenseman Peter DiLiberatore and a third-round pick in the 2024 draft.
The Hurricanes picked up defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere from the Coyotes, giving Arizona the third-round pick in 2026.
UP NEXT
Hurricanes: At Arizona on Friday night.
Golden Knights: Host New Jersey on Friday night.
RED WINGS SIGN DYLAN LARKIN TO 8-YEAR, $69.6M DEAL
DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Red Wings have signed center Dylan Larkin to an eight-year, $69.6 million contract, banking on their captain being a key player in the next phase of their rebuilding plan.
The Red Wings announced the deal on Wednesday, two days before the NHL trade deadline.
Larkin’s new contract will pay him an average of $8.7 million per year.
Also on Wednesday, the Red Wings acquired a conditional first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick from Vancouver for defenseman Filip Hronek and a 2023 fourth-rounder. The first-rounder is the Islanders’ pick from the trade for Bo Horvat, which is top-12 protected.
The Red Wings have lost three in a row after consecutive losses to the Ottawa Senators earlier this week and are attempting to end their lengthy playoff drought. They enter Wednesday five points behind Pittsburgh for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Wings, who haven’t reached the postseason since the 2015-16 season, will try to make up ground as they host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
Larkin, a three-time NHL All-Star, leads the Red Wings with 22 goals and 57 points in 59 games this season. The 26-year-old has 169 goals and 415 points since making his NHL debut in Detroit during the 2015-16 season.
Larkin, who is from Waterford, became first Michigan native to be a Red Wings captain when he was given that honor two years ago.
Detroit drafted the University of Michigan product with the No. 15 pick overall in 2014 and he has given the franchise a dependable, two-way player during a string of lackluster seasons followed its run of 25 straight postseason appearances.
On Tuesday, Detroit signed defenseman Jake Walman to a three-year, $10.2 million contract.
MEN’S GOLF NEWS
PGA TOUR MOVES TOWARD ELITE FIELD WITH NO CUTS FOR 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The PGA Tour is moving toward an elite schedule in 2024 with 16 designated events — half of them with no more than 80-man fields and no cuts — along with a chance for players on the outside to play their way in.
Still to be finalized are which events get the $20 million prize funds and details for how players can earn a spot in the field.
Players were apprised of the changes in a memo Wednesday from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan in which he wrote, “There is no doubt in my mind that we made decisions that will transform and set the future.”
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which also indicated the Player Impact Program bonus pool will be cut in half to $50 million to 10 players (instead of 20 players), with the other $50 million going to bonus pools for the FedEx Cup and the Comcast Business Tour Top 10 for leading players in the regular season.
The part likely to cause the most divide among players is the no-cut policy for the designated events (except for the four majors and The Players Championship). One criticism of Saudi-funded LIV Golf has been its 54-hole events do not have a cut.
Eight of the 16 designated events — the exceptions are the majors, The Players and three FedEx Cup playoff events — are guaranteed to have the best players for the entire week.
Monahan had said at the start of the year at Kapalua that he thought a cut “is an important element to this tour” and he felt it was “absolutely an important consideration.”
Rory McIlroy, the primary voice in player meetings geared toward reshaping the PGA Tour’s future, said precedent has been set for no-cut events such as the former World Golf Championships and events like the CJ Cup and Zozo Championship.
“The only reason no-cut events are a big deal is because LIV has come along,” McIlroy said. “So there is precedent for no-cut events. Is there maybe going to be a few more of them? Maybe. … You ask Mastercard or whoever it is to pay $20 million for a golf event, they want to see the stars at the weekend. They want a guarantee that the stars are there.
“So if that’s what needs to happen, then that’s what happens.”
Ian Poulter immediately took to Twitter with a George Bernard Shaw quote: “Imitation is not just the sincerest form of flattery — it’s the sincerest form of learning.”
“I think in general if a company or a product doesn’t have competition the incentive to innovate is low,” said Patrick Cantlay, who serves on the PGA Tour board. “So now with competition it makes everyone want to look inside to see how they could make their product better, how they could do things better. I think the tour has done that.”
The elite events would comprise the top 50 from the FedEx Cup the previous year, 10 players who performed the best in the fall for the early part of 2024, five leading players in points from standard tournaments, players who win PGA Tour events that year and four sponsor exemptions. They also will take anyone from the top 30 in the world if they are not already eligible.
Monahan also said the elevated events would be spread out to avoid situations like the Honda Classic, which had two elevated events both before and after its tournament. The Honda had only three players from the top 25 in the world.
The tour is promoting the idea that by having smaller fields for elite events — no more than 80, compared with 120 players at Bay Hill and two weeks ago at Riviera — it would strengthen the tournaments that don’t have $20 million purses because those players would need somewhere to compete.
“If we made these fields very large in these designated events it would ruin nondesignated events that have been staples of the PGA Tour,” said Max Homa, who is part of the Player Advisory Council that advised on changes. “No one would play in half of them because it would no longer fit your schedule by any means.”
One aspect the tour is promoting is that by not having $20 million events toward the end of the season, more players will be playing tournaments to make sure they get into the top 70 to qualify for the postseason, and then the top 50 to assure being in all the big events the following year.
Monahan has scheduled a players meeting next Tuesday at The Players Championship to discuss any changes. For now, it has the look of a tour divided between the top players and everyone else.
At The Players Championship last year, Monahan boldly said the PGA Tour had momentum and wasn’t about to be distracted by rumors of a rival league.
LIV Golf began three months later with players like Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, and other major champions from the last five years soon followed.
“It does seem like the emergence of LIV forced us as players and the executives of the PGA Tour to just look at their product,” Homa said. “They (LIV) got to make something from scratch, which is a lot easier than us building something that has been around for so long that’s been on the shoulders of someone like Arnold Palmer, who has built a lot of what we do today.”
MEN’S SOCCER NEWS
JUST FONTAINE, WHO SCORED 13 GOALS AT 1958 WORLD CUP, DIES
PARIS (AP) — No one could beat Just Fontaine’s World Cup scoring record during his lifetime.
His 13 goals in a single tournament was set with France in 1958 and has withstood 16 World Cups since.
Fontaine’s death was confirmed Wednesday by his former club Reims and the French soccer federation. He was 89.
The closest anyone has come to Fontaine’s tally was Gerd Müller, who scored 10 for West Germany in 1970. Kylian Mbappé scored eight at last year’s World Cup.
Fontaine took six games to achieve his feat at the World Cup in Sweden, shortly after winning a French league and French Cup double with Reims and leading the league with 34 goals.
“Justo is, and will remain a legend of the French team,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.
Entering the World Cup tournament, the Moroccan-born Fontaine was a little-known forward outside of the French league. Yet he tormented opponents with his lightning speed and finishing touch — and even with someone else’s boots. He had to borrow a pair of cleats after damaging his own in practice.
Fontaine scored four goals in the third-place game against West Germany but could have had five if he had taken the penalty kick.
Fontaine set the record when FIFA did not present a specific award for the tournament’s top scorer — now called the Golden Boot.
Fontaine was modestly but symbolically rewarded.
“All I got was a rifle from a Swedish newspaper for being top marksman,” Fontaine told The Associated Press in a 2006 interview.
In addition to his feats with the national team, Fontaine won the French league title four times, the French Cup and reached the final of the 1959 European Cup during his club career with USM Casablanca, Nice and Reims.
After he retired, Fontaine co-founded France’s players’ union and served as chairman for a few years. He also briefly coached France’s national team before stints with Luchon, Paris Saint-Germain, Toulouse and the Moroccan national team.
“A French football icon has passed, and Paris Saint-Germain would like to pay tribute to the man who led them to the first division some 50 years ago,” PSG said in a statement, referring to Fontaine guiding the club to the top league after a playoff win in 1974.
The French soccer federation said tributes to Fontaine will take place across France this weekend with a “minute of homage” that will also be observed Wednesday before French Cup games at Toulouse, Marseille and Nantes.
“The death of Just Fontaine plunges French soccer into deep emotion and immense sadness,” said Philippe Diallo, the French federation’s interim president. “He wrote one of the most beautiful pages in the history of the French national team.”
Fontaine considered his World Cup record to be out of reach in modern soccer.
“I don’t think it can ever be done,” Fontaine told The AP in 2006. “The person who wants to beat me has a massive task, doesn’t he? He has to score two goals per game over seven games.”
Playing in the days when no substitutions were allowed, France lost 5-2 in the semifinals against a Brazil team featuring 17-year-old Pelé.
“As soon as Pelé touched the ball you knew he was wonderful,” Fontaine said in 2006. “He scored three against us. But it was only when I watched the final (vs. Sweden) that I realized just how good he was.”
Fontaine, who scored in every match, gave France an early lead with the first goal Brazil allowed in the tournament. But at 1-1, France defender Robert Jonquet broke his leg. Amazingly, he played on against the genius of Pelé, but the French defense was considerably weakened.
The men’s record for most goals scored in a World Cup career is 16 by Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who played in four tournaments. Fontaine, who broke the record of 11 goals scored by Hungary striker Sándor Kocsis set at the 1954 tournament, only played at one World Cup.
Brazil striker Marta has scored 17 goals at the Women’s World Cup, playing in five tournaments.
Fontaine’s meteoric rise as a scorer saw him get 200 goals in 213 games. He scored 30 goals in 21 games for France, where he formed a superb partnership with playmaker Raymond Kopa.
He described Kopa, who played for Real Madrid and then alongside him for Reims, as having “a magical left foot” and “a final pass that was pure genius.” Kopa died in 2017.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday praised the pair’s impact on French soccer, and Reims Mayor Arnaud Robinet said he wants a statue of Fontaine to be built to stand alongside Kopa’s outside Reims’ stadium. Reims hosts Ajaccio in the French league on Sunday.
Fontaine’s career at the top was effectively ended when he suffered a horrendous leg fracture after a mistimed tackle in March 1960.
The sound of Fontaine’s snapping bones was so brutally loud, France goalkeeper Dominique Colonna claimed he heard it from the other end of the pitch.
Fontaine came back from that, but his speed was gone and he retired just short of his 29th birthday.
The injury robbed him of playing at his peak — a frightening prospect — and cost him a dream move to Spain.
During his AP interview in 2006, Fontaine was asked who was the best finisher of all time.
“Fontaine,” he replied, as swiftly as he once ran.
TOP INDIANA NEWS RELEASES
INDIANA PACERS GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT SPURS
Halfway through their current four-game road trip, the Indiana Pacers haven’t taken any wrong turns.
On top of that, the team is moving back in the right direction after facing its toughest stretch of the 2022-2023 season.
The Pacers (28-35) can extend their winning streak to three games and avenge an early-season loss when they take on the San Antonio Spurs (15-47) on Thursday at AT&T Center.
Indiana enters the game coming off a thrilling 124-122 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday in the Lone Star State. The Pacers have won three of the last four games after dropping 16 of 18.
Since the All-Star break the Pacers are 3-1, with the lone loss coming to the first-place Boston Celtics in overtime.
Against the Mavericks, Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton dazzled by scoring 32 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists while veteran center Myles Turner made 10 of 13 shot attempts for 24 points while collecting seven rebounds and managing four blocks.
Jordan Nwora, in just his fifth game since being traded to the Pacers from the Milwaukee Bucks, scored in double figures for a second straight game with 16 points off the bench while Jalen Smith achieved 11 points and nine rebounds in 15:35 of action for the Blue & Gold.
Following their win over the Mavs, the Pacers sat in 12th in the Eastern Conference standings – two games behind the final Play-In Tournament spot.
The Spurs enter the game holding on to a 102-94 Tuesday night win over the Utah Jazz, which snapped a 16-game losing streak. San Antonio is tied with the Detroit Pistons for the second-worst record in the NBA, trailing just the Houston Rockets (13-48).
Against the Jazz, Keldon Johnson scored 25 points while former Pacer Doug McDermott came off the bench and added 19.
Indiana will face a much different team than the one they hosted in October, as trades and injuries have reshaped the Spurs’ roster.
The Spurs’ leading scorer from the first matchup, Josh Richardson, who scored 27 points in a 137-134 Black and Silver victory, is no longer with the team after being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in February. Additionally, Jakob Poeltl, who had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the first game, is no longer on the Spurs after being traded to the Toronto Raptors.
Two other key players have also missed significant time as of late for the Spurs, as Devin Vassell and Tre Jones, both who started for the Spurs in the October game, are not expected to play Thursday due to injuries.
Johnson leads the Spurs at 21.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds while Vassell is putting up 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists. One new player the Pacers will need to account for is Devonte’ Graham, who has scored in double figures in six of the seven games for the Spurs since being traded to the team from the Pelicans.
As a team, the Spurs average just 112.3 points per game but are putting up the second-most points in the paint per game at 56.4 per contest.
The Pacers (42.7) and Spurs (42.6) have the two highest scoring benches this season.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Buddy Hield, F – Aaron Nesmith, C – Myles Turner
Spurs: G – Malaki Branham, G – Keldon Johnson, F – Keita Bates-Diop, F – Jeremy Sochan, C – Zach Collins
Injury Report
Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton – questionable (sore right calf), Kendall Brown – out (right tibia stress fracture)
Spurs: Devin Vassell – probable (left knee procedure), Malaki Branham – questionable (lower back contusion), Keldon Johnson – questionable (left foot sprain), Tre Jones – questionable (sore left foot), Khem Birch – out (right knee chondromalacia), Romeo Langford – out (left adductor tightness), Isaiah Roby – out (right ankle sprain)
Last Meeting
Oct. 21, 2022: Despite scoring a franchise-record 49 points in the fourth quarter, the Pacers couldn’t overcome a slow start in a 137-134 loss to the Spurs at Gainbridge FIeldhouse.
The Pacers almost erased a 16-point deficit in the final five minutes, pulling within a point with 3.8 seconds.
San Antonio scored at least 32 points in each quarter and held a 102-85 advantage going into the final frame.
Haliburton led the Pacers with 27 points and rookie Bennedict Mathurin added 26. Richardson topped the Spurs with 27 points, Johnson and Vassell each scored 23 points and Poeltl had 21 points for the Spurs.
The Spurs shot 54 percent from the field to the Pacers’ 49 percent. The Pacers outrebounded the Spurs 42-37 and won the points in the paint 70-42.
Noteworthy
If Haliburton tallies 10 or more assists against the Spurs, he will tie the franchise record for most 10+ assists games in a season. Haliburton currently has 30 10+ assists games while Don Buse (1976-77) and Mark Jackson (1997-98) each had seasons with 31.
Turner is five blocks away from passing Rik Smits (1,111 blocks) for the second-most blocks by an individual in Pacers franchise history. Jermaine O’Neal currently owns the overall record at 1,245.
Thursday’s matchup will be the 100th meeting between the Pacers and Spurs. The Spurs lead the all-time series 56-43.
Indiana high school hoops legend Romeo Langford, a New Albany native, is expected to miss the game for the Spurs due to a thigh injury.
INDIANA ATHLETICS
EIGHT SWIMMERS, ALL FIVE RELAYS INVITED TO WOMEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s swimming and diving will send eight swimmers and all five relays to the 2023 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships as the NCAA announced invitations to the national meet on Wednesday (March 1).
The four-day meet will take place between March 15-18 at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Including the five relays, Indiana will have competitors in 16 swimming events. IU’s most concentrated events will be the 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard IM, with three participants in each. The Hoosiers have multiple swimmers in eight races.
IU could add a ninth swimmers to its meet roster, as senior Maggie Wallace is listed as the alternate in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Should an athlete scratch from that event, Wallace would earn the invite.
Indiana will look to add more NCAA qualifiers via the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. IU will host the Zone C qualifiers at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center March 9-11.
INDIANA WOMEN’S SWIMMING QUALIFIERS
2023 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
200 Freestyle Relay (1:27.70)
400 Freestyle Relay (3:13.45)
800 Freestyle Relay (6:58.44)
200 Medley Relay (1:35.98)
400 Medley Relay (3:29.82)
Brearna Crawford – 100 Breaststroke (59.86), 200 Breaststroke (2:09.36)
Mariah Denigan – 500 Freestyle (4:40.52), 1,650 Freestyle (15:57.82), 400 IM (4:11.25)
Ching Hwee Gan – 500 Freestyle (4:38.96), 1,650 Freestyle (15:65.55), 400 IM (4:14.00)
Mackenzie Looze – 200 Breaststroke (2:08.58), 200 IM (1:56.52), 400 IM (4:09.67)
Kristina Paegle – 50 Freestyle (21.91), 100 Freestyle (48.15), 200 Freestyle (1:46.69)
Anna Peplowski – 200 Freestyle (1:43.33), 100 Backstroke (51.62), 200 Backstroke (1:51.81)
Noelle Peplowski – 100 Breaststroke (59.10), 200 Breaststroke (2:05.52)
Ashley Turak – 50 Freestyle (22.00), 100 Freestyle (48.66)
INDIANA MEN’S TENNIS TO FACE NO. 64 PRINCETON AND NO. 71 YALE OUT EAST
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. ––––– Indiana Men’s Tennis is set to play in two road matches against Ivy League opponents this weekend with a 6 p.m. start on Friday, March 3 at Princeton and a 11:00 a.m. match on Sunday, March 5 at Yale.
It’s the Hoosiers’ second weekend in a row heading to the east coast to play ranked competition.
Last weekend, the Hoosiers dropped their match at No. 24 Cornell. This weekend, Princeton is ranked No. 64 and Yale is No. 71, in the most recent ITA poll.
Indiana enters the matchups as the nation’s No. 54-ranked squad and a 9-3 record. These will be Indiana’s last matchups on the road before returning home on March 10 for a home date with Illinois State.
Indiana’s strengths are versatility and firepower up and down the lineup. Three Hoosiers have already reached seven wins in singles play as Patrick Fletchall (No. 1), Sam Landau (No. 3) and Ekansh Kumar (No. 6) have already reached that mark.
In doubles, Kumar and Luka Vukovic have become a dangerous duo, owning a 9-1 record at No. 3 doubles.
For the opposition, Princeton enters the match with a 6-7 record and has faced a lot of tough competition, including Virginia, Middle Tennessee and Cornell, among others.
Yale owns a 5-3 record including wins over Western Michigan, Temple and Dartmouth.
There will be live stats and live video available for the Princeton match, and only live video available for the Yale match.
PURDUE ATHLETICS
#5 PURDUE BEGINS FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON THURSDAY AT WISCONSIN
GAMEDAY INFO
Thursday, March 2, 2023 | 9 p.m. ET
[5] Purdue (24-5, 13-5) vs. Wisconsin (16-12, 8-10)
Madison, Wis. | Kohl Center (17,250)
TELEVISION: FS1 | RADIO: Purdue Sports Network
ANNOUNCERS: Adam Amin, Jim Jackson
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• With just two regular-season games left on the schedule and a share of the Big Ten regular-season championship already locked up, the No. 5-ranked Purdue Boilermakers look to gain some postseason momentum with a Thursday night tilt in Madison. The Boilermakers are aiming for their 25th regular-season victory for the second straight year, something done just once in consecutive seasons in school history (2017, 2018).
• The Boilermakers have mathematically locked up a double-bye for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Under its current format, Purdue has NEVER played on Wednesday or Thursday, receiving a double-bye in all eight tournaments that have been played. Entering this year, just Wisconsin and Michigan State have earned as many as four double-byes.
• Purdue is one of three teams to rank in the top 20 of both offensive (11th) and defensive (18th) efficiencies (Houston, Alabama).
• Purdue is 53-13 since the start of last season. The 53 wins over a two-year span are already the seventh most in school history and Purdue needs just four wins to tie the record for most wins in a two-year span (57 in 2017, 2018). Iowa is second among Big Ten teams with 45 wins.
• The Boilermakers have clinched at least a share of their league-best, 25th Big Ten regular-season championship. By finishing no worse than first, head coach Matt Painter has now finished first or second eight times in his 18 years at Purdue, and in the top three in seven of the last nine seasons. Having won three crowns in the last seven seasons, Purdue is a Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State) tip-in at the buzzer in 2018, and your pick of four buzzer-beating defeats a year ago from having five titles in the last seven years.
• Purdue ranks fourth nationally in Quad-1 victories with nine and is tied with Alabama for the most among teams not in the Big 12. Purdue’s 14 Quad-1 and 2 victories are also the fourth most nationally. The Boilermakers’ 11 wins away from Mackey Arena are the most among power-conference squads. Purdue leads the Big Ten with six road victories in the league.
• Purdue has been ranked in the AP top 5 in 14 straight weeks, doubling the longest stretch in school history. Since the start of last year, Purdue has been ranked in the top 5 in 26 weeks, five more weeks than the next-closest team (Gonzaga).
• Purdue owns wins over three teams that won their respective conferences (Hofstra – Colonial; Gonzaga – West Coast; Marquette – Big East).
• Purdue has MADE 441 free throws this season, while opponents have SHOT just 305. Purdue has made 218 more free throws (441 to 223) than its foes this season, the highest discrepancy in the nation (Purdue +218, Portland +181, North Carolina +171, Charleston +154).
• In Purdue’s last five games (2-3), Purdue is shooting just 28.7 percent (29-of-101) from long distance.
• The Boilermakers lead the country in rebound margin (+11.4) and have 13 games this season where it has outrebounded their opponents by 15 or more rebounds — the most in the country. Over the last two games, Purdue has outrebounded its foes 90 to 51, with 35 offensive rebounds.
• After a three-game stretch from Feb. 4 to Feb. 12, where it averaged 16.3 turnovers per game against Indiana, Iowa and Northwestern, the Boilermakers are averaging just 9.3 turnovers per game over its last three games.
• Purdue is in search of its fourth No. 1 seed in school history, previously earning the No. 1 seed in 1988, 1994 and 1996. In addition, Zach Edey is the leader to earn consensus National Player of the Year accolades. The last time Purdue earned a No. 1 seed, it was led by its last consensus National Player of the Year recipient, Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson. Since 2000, eight players have earned consensus National Player of the Year accolades and led their team to a No. 1 seed, including four times in the last eight years (Williamson, Brunson, Mason, Kaminsky).
• Zach Edey surpassed 750 career rebounds in the win over Ohio State and is the only active junior (or younger) in the country with 1,400 career points and 750 rebounds. He and former No. 1 NBA Draft pick Joe Barry Carroll are the only Purdue players to ever do it.
• Edey and Michigan’s Chris Webber (1992-93) are the only Big Ten players in the last 30 years to have at least 600 points, 350 rebounds and 50 blocked shots in a season. Only Ohio State’s Jerry Lucas (1959-60) has had 700 points and 400 rebounds in a season in Big Ten history.
GAME NOTES: https://purduesports.com/documents/2023/3/1/GAME30_Purdue_Game_Notes.pdf
MATT PAINTER MEDIA SESSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfjwOGfKxis
BRADEN SMITH MEDIA SESSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7mT1OACG8o
VANOS QUALIFIES FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Fifth-year Johnny Vanos of the Purdue track & field team has qualified to compete at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday, March 10.
Vanos will compete in the weight throw at 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT. He is seeded No. 15 overall in the event.
This will be Vanos’ first career NCAA competition, indoors or outdoors. He is the first Boilermaker thrower to qualify for the indoor championships since 2019, while Purdue had two throwers compete at last season’s outdoor championships.
The Big Ten silver medalist in the weight throw, Vanos had a throw of 22.12 meters at the conference championships last weekend. The mark ranks No. 2 in school history and earned Vanos his first career Big Ten medal and third podium finish in any event, indoors or outdoors.
Vanos opened the year with a personal-best throw of 21.95m on December 10, which moved him up to fourth on Purdue’s top-10 list and was the best mark by a Boilermaker since 2015. One month later, on January 27, Vanos rose to No. 2 all-time with a throw of 22.10m.
In five meets this season in the weight throw, Vanos has three wins and has been second twice.
The top 16 competitors in each event earned a berth at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and will compete for individual and team national championships from March 10-11.
SOFTBALL RETURNS TO EAST COAST FOR THE CAROLINA CLASSIC
CAROLINA CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, March 3
at North Carolina | 3 p.m. ET | ACCNx
Saturday, March 4
vs. James Madison | 10 a.m. ET
at North Carolina | 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 5
vs. James Madison | 11 a.m. ET
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Purdue softball is set to return to the state of North Carolina for the Carolina Classic, hosted by the North Carolina Tar Heels. Over the weekend, Purdue will face UNC and James Madison for a total of four games, including a pair of Saturday matchups.
LAST WEEK LOOK BACK: AT THE KNIGHTS CLASSIC (ORLANDO, FLA.)
Purdue went 3-2 over the weekend at UCF’s Knights Classic.
Victories included a 8-7 walk-off victory vs. Bradley, which saw Jade Moy, with a full count and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, single to center field to score Kate Claypool for the Boilermaker win.
Six Boilermakers recorded a .333 batting average or better last weekend, led by Kiersen George’s .556 avg.
Purdue totaled six doubles, two triples and a home run while averaging .336 from the plate.
Purdue out-hit opponents 45-36 and scored more runs (28-18).
AMONG THE BIG TEN
Purdue’s defensive success has led to .980 fielding %, not only the best in the Big Ten, but No. 21 in the nation.
In total, the team ranks among the top-5 in the Big Ten in seven statistical categories, including second in hit by pitch (20), fielding % (.980) and third in batting avg. (.302)
Kiara Dillon is one of the fastest players in the league with nine stolen bases, which is good for third-most.
Anna Lonchar ranks 2nd in HBP (7), 5th in OB% (.488), 9th in OPS (1.101), 10th in slugging % (.613).
Mo Wimpee ranks 6th with an ERA of 1.36 and is 3rd with just four runs allowed.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Boilermakers enter the weekend with at least one double in the last nine consecutive games. They are joined by Penn State as the only two Big Ten teams to own as long of a streak.
Leading Purdue with four doubles this season is outfielder Kiersen George. Meanwhile, eight total Boilermakers have posted two or more doubles this year.
Purdue totaled 12 doubles in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, including four vs. NC State in the team’s 4-0 victory (2/18). The last time the Boilermakers have posted as many doubles in a four-game stretch was in 2019.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
Series History: 2-6 (UNC Leads) | Last Meeting: W, 1-0 (2/22/20)
Leading in batting average is #24 Skyler Brooks (.387) followed by #47 Destiny Middleton (.370) and #29 Abby Settlemyre (.356).
The leading pitcher with an ERA of 2.03 is #31 Bailey McCachren followed by #99 Lilli Backes (2.95).
RBI leaders include Abby SettleMyre (10) and Kiersten Licea (10).
SCOUTING JAMES MADISON
Series History: First Meeting
Leading in batting average is #1 Hannah Shifflett (.387) followed by #9 Kylee Gleason (.371) and #14 Hallie Hall (.357).
The leading pitcher with an ERA of 1.83 is #21 Alissa Humphrey followed by #24 Rebecca Muh (2.66).
Notably, JMU is 5-0 in their last 5 games.
BUTLER ATHLETICS
#BIGEASTWBB FIRST ROUND: NO. 8 BUTLER VS. NO. 9 GEORGETOWN
INDIANAPOLIS – The first game of the 2023 #BIGEASTwbb Tournament will feature the Butler Bulldogs playing the Georgetown Hoyas. Action at Mohegan Sun Arena will tip at 11 AM on Friday, March 3 as the No. 8 seed Bulldogs try to advance against the No. 9 seed Hoyas. Fans can watch the game live on SNY.
GameDay
Date: Friday, March 3
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Uncasville, Conn. – Mohegan Sun Arena
Live Stats: BIGEAST.com – Statbroadcast
Watch: SNY
Bulldog Bits
– Friday will be the 21st overall meeting between Butler and Georgetown.
– This is the first meeting between Butler and Georgetown in the BIG EAST Tournament.
– Butler has won three BIG EAST Tournament games (Xavier 2x – 2016, 2017 and Providence 2018).
– Butler leads the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (38.0) and Georgetown is last (29.1).
– Anna Mortag leads the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage (44.1).
– Mortag led Butler in scoring for the sixth time this season on Monday night with 16 points at Creighton.
– Mortag has made at least one 3-pointer in seven-straight games.
– Mortag was not active for Butler in the first meeting at Georgetown. She scored eight vs. GU in Indy.
– Shay Frederick ranks fifth and Rachel McLimore ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in 3-point field goal percentage.
– Sydney Jaynes ranks sixth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage (51.4).
– Jaynes is just three rebounds away from 200 in her BU career.
– Jessica Carrothers recorded a career-high six assists at Georgetown.
– Carrothers pulled down a career-high nine rebounds in the second meeting vs. GU.
– Tenley Dowell is eight rebounds shy of 300 for her BU career.
– Butler is 2-0 this year when playing at a neutral site.
– The Bulldogs are 2-1 this season when playing on Friday and are 4-11 in day games.
– Georgetown has not scored 20 points in a quarter against Butler this year.
– Butler had 20+ turnovers in each game vs. Georgetown this season.
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 18-2, 26-5
Villanova 17-3, 26-5
Creighton 15-5, 21-7
St. John’s 13-7, 22-7
Marquette 13-7, 20-9
Seton Hall 10-10, 17-13
DePaul 8-12, 15-16
Butler 6-14, 11-18
Georgetown 6-14, 13-16
Providence 4-16, 13-18
Xavier 0-20, 7-22
Scouting Georgetown
The Hoyas earned the No. 9 seed in the tournament with a 6-14 conference record. They ended the regular season losing six of their final seven games to move their overall record to 13-16. Head Coach James Howard has a defensive-driven group that leads the BIG EAST in turnovers forced per game and ranks second in steals per game. Kelsey Ransom and Kennedy Fauntleroy lead the team in scoring and steals. Ransom, Graceann Bennett and Kristina Moore have started in all 29 games for the Hoyas. Bennett has scored in double figures in five-straight games heading into the tournament, but Fauntleroy was inactive in Georgetown’s last game.
All-Time Series vs. Georgetown
Butler leads the all-time series over Georgetown 11-9. The Bulldogs swept the Hoyas this year just as Georgetown swept Butler the previous season. The two programs have split the season series five times. Butler has swept the series three times and Georgetown has swept it two times.
Butler’s Last Game vs. Georgetown
Butler scored on their final possession to take a two-point lead and the Bulldogs would end the game with a stop to record a 58-56 win. Rachel McLimore drove past a Hoya defender and scored a layup while being fouled with just 17 seconds left. McLimore scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She made three 3-pointers and was perfect from the charity stripe (6-6). Georgetown saw four finish in double figures with Kelsey Ransom leading the way with 12 points.
Georgetown’s Last Game
The Hoyas ended the regular season with a 61-53 setback at St. John’s on Feb. 24. Graceann Bennett led GU in scoring with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. She was one of three Hoyas to reach double figures. Kristina Moore had 14 against the Red Storm and Jada Claude was in the box score with 13. The game was a defensive battle that featured a 30-22 halftime score. Georgetown shot 36 percent from the floor and struggled from 3-point range (3-15). Jayla Everett and Kadaja Bailey led STJ to victory. That duo combined for 32 points and 12 rebounds.
First Year Success
Austin Parkinson is the third coach in program history to win more than 10 games in his first year with the program. The Bulldogs have won 10 more games this year than last marking the largest jump in wins by a first-year head coach in Butler history.
Behind The Arc
Butler leads the BIG EAST and ranks eighth in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (38.0). The Bulldogs average 7.8 made 3-point field goals per game (2nd in the BIG EAST) and have made 10 or more 3-pointers in a single-game seven times this season. BU is 5-2 this season when hitting 10+ 3-pointers. They made a season-high 14 at Xavier and nearly matched that effort with 13 in the win at Georgetown.
3-in-1
Butler will attempt to defeat Georgetown for the third time this season on Friday afternoon to signal the start of the BIG EAST Tournament. The Bulldogs accomplished this feat in 2018 by beating Providence three times. They won 68-57 at Hinkle Fieldhouse and 69-48 at Alumni Hall. The third meeting however went into overtime with Butler defeating the Friars 73-67 in the first round. That was Butler’s last tournament win (March 3, 2018).
Tournament Seeding
This is Butler’s second time playing as the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament. Butler won the 8-9 matchup against Providence in 2018 to reach the quarterfinals. The following year, BU played as the No. 3 seed, but were upset by No. 6 seed Creighton in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs are 3-2 all-time in the first round. They have never advanced past the quarterfinals.
First Time in the First Round
Only four players on the Butler roster have experience playing in the First Round of the BIG EAST Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena (Jaynes, White, Dowell, Wingler). Dowell is the only Butler player to have earned playing time in multiple tournament games.
Switch Spots
Kendall Wingler scored a career-high 23 points at Georgetown, but scored just one point in the next meeting vs. the Hoyas. On the flip side, Rachel McLimore didn’t score a point at Georgetown, but scored 21 points and dished out six assists in the rematch.
Keep It Going
Rachel McLimore needs to make four shots vs. Georgetown to reach 500 career field goals! McLimore has shot 42 percent from the field over her career and heads into the conference tournament with 1,366 points.
Follow The Action
For the first time, SNY will air the BIG EAST Tournament First Round. John Fanta and Kim Adams will call the Butler game. The broadcast will be enhanced by the use of ShotTracker.
Butler at Creighton Recap
Butler ended the regular season with a 74-46 setback at Creighton. The Bulldogs shot just 28 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3-point range. Anna Mortag was the team’s leading scorer with 16 points. She added four rebounds and two blocked shots to her stat line. Creighton had four players in double figures and were led in the scoring column by Lauren Jensen. The Bluejays made nine 3-pointers, but were also dominant inside winning the points in the paint battle 32-14.
Up Next
No. 1 Seed UConn is waiting to play the winner of the Butler vs. Georgetown game. The Huskies beat Georgetown 65-50 in Hartford and 67-59 in D.C. The Bulldogs were also swept, taking an 80-47 loss at Hinkle Fieldhouse and a 79-39 setback in Storrs.
IUPUI ATHLETICS
JAGUARS HOST MASTODONS FOR BARBASOL #HLWBB QUARTERFINALS ON THURSDAY
INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI women’s basketball team will host Purdue Fort Wayne in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Barbasol #HLWBB Championships on Thursday night (March 2) with a 7:00 PM tipoff at the Jungle. The Jaguars swept PFW this season with wins at both Fort Wayne and at home.
IUPUI enters the postseason as the No. 3 seed with an overall record of 17-12 and conference record of 13-7. Rachel Kent was named to the #HLWBB All-League First Team while Destiny Perkins and Jazmyn Turner were voted to the All-League Second Team. Kent was named to the All-League First Team after averaging 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season.
Perkins earned All-League Second Team honors currently ranking fifth in scoring in the Horizon League averaging 14.1 points and leading the league in assists with 4.2 assists per game. Turner also earned All-League Second Team honors in her first season with the Jaguars. The senior is efficient while on the floor with a team-high and second-best in the league 57.2 field-goal percentage. She sits in fourth in the Horizon League in scoring with 14.6 points in just 22 minutes per game.
Purdue Fort Wayne began their Horizon League Championship journey on Tuesday when they defeated Detroit Mercy, 65-61.
Thursday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
BALL STATE FOOTBALL
MAC ANNOUNCES 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
CLEVELAND – – The full 2023 Ball State football schedule was released Wednesday (March 1), with six Saturday home games slated for Scheumann Stadium. The Cardinals open the season with four non-conference games followed by eight Mid-American Conference matchups.
Ball State will be tested early, starting with back-to-back road games at Southeastern Conference foes. The first, a Sept. 2 showdown at Kentucky. The second, a Sept. 9 tilt at two-time defending national champion Georgia.
The Cardinals open the home portion of the campaign on Sept. 16 for Family Weekend versus Indiana State. For its last pre-conference tune-up, Ball State welcomes Georgia Southern to The Scheu on Sept. 23.
Ball State will play its first two MAC contests on the road at Western Michigan (Sept. 30) and at Eastern Michigan (Oct. 7).
BSU’s first league home game has Toledo coming to town on Oct. 14, followed by Homecoming versus Central Michigan on Oct. 21.
After a bye week, the Cardinals jump into Midweek #MACtion for road games at Bowling Green (Nov. 1) and Northern Illinois (Nov. 7).
Ball State closes the regular with back-to-back Saturday home games versus Kent State (Nov. 18) and Miami (Nov. 25) for the annual Red Bird Rivalry game.
This year’s MAC title game is set for Saturday, Dec. 2, at Ford Field in Detroit.
The Cardinals finished the 2022 season with a 5-7 record under eighth-year head coach Mike Neu. Ball State is returning four of eight All-MAC selections from a year ago, in addition to welcoming in one as a transfer.
Kick times and initial television selections for the 2023 season will be announced at a later date.
Fans looking to purchase 2023 Ball State Football season tickets can:
Renew their season tickets here: https://ballstatesports.com/myaccount
Order new season tickets here: https://am.ticketmaster.com/bsuathletics/football
2023 Ball State Football Schedule
Sept. 2 (Sat.) at Kentucky
Sept. 9 (Sat.) at Georgia
Sept. 16 (Sat.) vs. Indiana State (Family Weekend)
Sept. 23 (Sat.) vs. Georgia Southern
Sept. 30 (Sat.) at Western Michigan
Oct. 7 (Sat.) at Eastern Michigan
Oct. 14 (Sat.) vs. Toledo
Oct. 21 (Sat.) vs. Central Michigan (Homecoming)
Nov. 1 (Wed.) at Bowling Green
Nov. 7 (Tue.) at Northern Illinois
Nov. 18 (Sat.) vs. Kent State
Nov. 25 (Sat.) vs. Miami
Dec. 2 (Sat.) MAC Championship (Detroit, Mich.)
CARDINALS EARN INDIVIDUAL MAC INDOOR END OF SEASON AWARDS
CLEVELAND, OHIO – The Ball State track and field program collected several accolades as the Mid-American Conference announced the indoor track and field postseason season awards. Charity Griffith and Kayla Jones were named All-MAC First Team, Jenelle Rogers All-MAC Second Team, and assistant coach Matt Bigelow earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors. Those are on top of specialty awards for both Griffith and Alana Springer.
Griffith was named to the All-MAC First Team and earned MAC Most Outstanding Field Performer honors. She won the pentathlon with 4,315 points (before track conversions), winning four out of the five events. She notched a personal-best height in the high jump (1.90m / 6-2.75), and she set another Ball State program record with her indoor pentathlon score. She was named the MAC Championship’s Most Valuable Performer after earning 26 solo points out of Ball State’s 83. Griffith qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 10-11 in the high jump and pentathlon events.
Jones received All-MAC First Team honors. She won the 800m at this year’s MAC indoor championships, collecting the gold in the event for the second consecutive year. She ran a 2:07.47 to secure her victory. Jones also broke the Ball State program record earlier this season for the indoor 600m (1:30.69) at the Gladstein Invitational.
Rogers was named to the All-MAC Second Team, finishing second in the pentathlon (3,938) and tallying four top-five finishes in pentathlon events (shot put, long jump, 60m hurdles, high jump). She won the pentathlon shot put (12.60m / 41-4.25) and finished fourth in the long jump event (5.88m / 19-3.5).
Alana Springer earned the MAC Freshman Track Performer of the Year award. Springer has brought a competitive edge all indoor season and placed third in the 60m finals (7.55) and seventh in the 200 m (24.86) at the MAC Championships. She also ran a career-best 200m of 24.55 at the GVSU Big Meet (Feb. 10).
Assistant Coach Matt Bigelow was named the MAC Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Bigelow helped guide the Cardinals to their highest-scoring performance at a MAC indoor track and field championship since 2008. Bigelow’s group score of 46.25 points from the pentathlon, high jump, long jump, triple jump, and the shot put tallied over half of Ball State’s total points (83) at this year’s indoor championships.
MVB USES TEAM EFFORT TO SWEEP CENTRAL STATE
MUNCIE, Ind. – – Ball State men’s volleyball used a strong team effort to score a 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-19) sweep of visiting Central State Wednesday evening in Worthen Arena.
In improving to 10-5 on the year, the 12th-ranked Cardinals received contributions from 14 different players to turn in one of its best attacking nights of the season. BSU hit .412 (34-6-68) for the match, led by an opening-set .750 (6-for-8) rate of success from Tinaishe Ndavazocheva.
Bryce Behrendt would lead the squad with eight kills, while Trevor Phillips smashed seven. Overall, 10 different Cardinals blasted at least one kill in the victory over the Marauders (8-12).
Ball State was just as solid on the defensive end, holding Central State to a .052 (25-21-77) rate of success. BSU’s defenders collected 24 digs and 6.5 team blocks for the win.
A total of 12 different players collected at least on dig for the Cardinals, paced by Griffin Satterfield’s nine. Anthony Vuksinic was credited with a team-high three total blocks, including a solo stuff.
Ball State also served up four aces in the win, while Satterfield dished out a team-leading 17 assists.
The Ball State men’s volleyball team returns to action Friday, when it visits fourth-ranked Long Beach State for a 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PST) first serve. The Cardinals will also play at UC San Diego (March 5) and at No. 5 Grand Canyon (March 8) in its West Coast swing.
NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS
IRISH SEND BREY OFF ON HIGH NOTE, WITH 88-81 WIN OVER #25 PITT
SOUTH BEND. – It was Senior Day for both Notre Dame men’s basketball grads and Glenn & Stacey Murphy Head Coach Mike Brey on Wednesday night inside Purcell Pavilion. With that said, the Fighting Irish (11-19, 3-16) cooked up some magic to send Brey out on a high note in his final home game, knocking off No. 25/25 Pittsburgh (21-9, 14-5) via the score 88-81.
Five Irish finished in double figures, led by a season high 20 points from Marcus Hammond. Cormac Ryan matched him point-for-point with 20 as well. Both Trey Wertz and Nate Laszewski scored double-digit points in the second half to finish with 14 each. Then Dane Goodwin rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12. Also note, Ven-Allen Lubin tallied eight points.
The Irish led at 14 at the half and built a lead as large as 20 with 12 minutes remaining in the game. Pitt, trailing to rally for an ACC regular-season title, cut it to as low as five points, but a Ryan breakaway dunk was the exclamation point on the victory.
How It Happened
Notre Dame jumped out to a 15-9 lead at the 15:54 media timeout thanks to a hot start from Cormac Ryan. The graduate guard recorded three three-point plays to score a quick nine points in the opening minutes.
Pitt retaliated with a swift 7-0 run over the next two minutes, claiming a 16-15 lead. However, that lead would only last for 30 seconds and that was their only lead of the entire half.
Marcus Hammond inspired the next offensive spurt for the Irish, registering 11 of the team’s next 19 points, giving ND a 34-28 lead at the 3:12 media timeout.
All-in-all, the Irish ended the first half on a 14-2 scoring spree to garner a 42-28 halftime lead. What was great about the run was the different players stepping up: a Wertz three, a Hammond three, a Laszewski layup, a Ryan and-one and a Goodwin three.
The Irish were certainly feeling it from three as half their field goals for the half were from beyond the arc – seven three-pointers to be exact. At the midway point, both Ryan (12 points) and Hammond (13 points) were in double figures already.
Notre Dame made five of its first seven shots to start the second half to keep the momentum. Five different players contributed to the five field goals to maintain a lead at 53-36 at 15:26.
At 11:49, Pitt Head coach Jeff Capel was called for a technical foul. The Irish used that to their advantage as both Goodwin and Laszewski knocked down some free throws to build a 20-point lead at 61-41.
Over the course of the next seven minutes, Notre Dame would hover around a 16-point lead. At the four-minute media timeout, the Irish were up 74-60, but both Goodwin and Lubin had fouled out and Wertz and soon Hammond had four fouls.
Matt Zona, who just checked into the game, made an immediate impact with a huge offensive board that led to two Laszewski free throws, which stopped a Pitt 7-0 run. Follow that up with a great drive, move and reverse layup from Ryan under the basket – it was then 78-65 ND with 2:22 left.
Pitt cut it to eight after a three-pointer at 1:14, but Ryan calmly responded on the free-throw line to make it double-digits once again at 82-72 with 69 seconds left. A Pitt three-pointer with 38 seconds left then cut it to five points – the closest it had been all half. Wertz then went to the line a mere three seconds later and converted two critical free throws.
A big defensive stand on the next possession led to an exclamation point dunk from Ryan – 88-79 ND with 14 seconds left. Mere moments later, victory Irish!
Up Next
The Irish look to ride this momentum into its final road swing of the season. First, Notre Dame travels to Clemson on Saturday to wrap the regular season. Then, the Irish will bus to Greensboro to begin the ACC Tournament on Tuesday, March 7.
GINO GUIDUGLI JOINS FOOTBALL STAFF AS QUARTERBACKS COACH
Gino Guidugli (guh-DOO-lee) has been named the Bob and Leslie Mohr Family Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Notre Dame. Guidugli spent the 2022 season as the Cincinnati offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before moving to Wisconsin as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in January of 2023. He reunites with Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman after the two served together on the Bearcat coaching staff from 2017-20.
“We are thrilled to welcome Gino to our program,” said Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman. “I have seen firsthand his talent in developing quarterbacks and teaching them how to consistently perform at an elite level in college and go on to have success in the NFL. He also brings a lot of experience in helping guide an offense to execute at a high level. He is a great addition to our staff.”
Guidugli brings 12 total years of coaching experience with him to the Fighting Irish staff, including four years as a passing game coordinator and quarterback coach. In his time as an offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati (2018-22), the Bearcats completed over 60 percent of their passes for 14,317 yards and 116 touchdowns.
A key component of the Cincinnati success during that time was the development of eventual third-round NFL draft pick Desmond Ridder. A back-to-back American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021, Ridder led the Bearcats to a 13-0 regular season in 2021, as well as the AAC Championship and a College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance. Under Giudugli’s guidance, Ridder won the third-most games in FBS history (44) and finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in yards (10,239) and touchdown passes (87). Ironically, most of the Cincinnati records Ridder surpassed were Guidugli’s own numbers he compiled during his remarkable playing career with the Bearcats.
A charter member of the Nippert Stadium Ring of Honor (2005), Guidugli led Cincinnati to three bowl berths during his four-year career from 2001-05, earning two team MVP awards, a Freshman All-America selection and he was named a three-time Conference USA Scholar-Athlete. He finished his career at Cincinnati as the only quarterback to throw for 3,500 or more yards in a season and posted 14 career 300-yard passing games.
Guidugli spent some time on the Tennessee Titans roster in 2005 and played professionally in the Canadian Football League and the American Football League, before joining the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan from 2009-11.
He moved up to become CMU’s running backs coach and recruiting coordinator from 2013-15, then to offensive coordinator in 2016 and helped the Chippewas average nearly six yards a play and 400 total yards per game, while earning a berth in the 2016 Miami Beach Bowl.
Recognized as one of the up-and-coming talents in the collegiate coaching ranks, Guidugli was selected to participate in the 2019 American Football Coaches Association Under-35 Coaches Leadership Institute.
Guidugli returned to his alma mater for the 2017 season as running backs coach. He shifted to
quarterbacks in 2018 and then added on the passing game coordinator title in March of 2020. His time on the Cincinnati staff included a 9-1 Peach Bowl campaign in 2020, a 13-0 run to the CFB Playoffs at the Cotton Bowl in 2021 and back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019.
In 2021 UC set the school records for touchdowns (70) and points scored (516) and ranked second in the AAC and 11th nationally in scoring (36.5). That ‘21 campaign followed up on the 2020 team that ranked 15th in scoring offense, 18th in team pass efficiency and 19th in total offense.
Guidugli earned his bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Cincinnati in 2005 and his master’s degree in sport administration from Central Michigan in 2012.
The Fort Thomas, Kentucky, native was a standout basketball and football player at powerhouse Highlands High School and was part of three state championship football teams. He still ranks in the KHSAA record books as one of the top QBs in the state’s history.
He and his wife, Michelle, have four children – sons, Ryland and Ezra and daughters Willow and Oakley. Guidugli has three brothers, Ben, Tony and Jeff. Ben played football at Cincinnati from 2007-10 and was a key part of two conference championship teams and later played in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams. Jeff also played college football at Southeastern Louisiana.
A NEW SEASON AWAITS IN B1G TOURNAMENT
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team returns home for the postseason, having clinched the final home ice spot with their 2-1 overtime victory at Michigan last weekend.
The fourth-seeded Irish closed out their regular season Big Ten schedule with 35 points in order to host the first round of playoffs. The best-of-three series against the Michigan State Spartans gets underway Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
The puck will drop on Saturday’s tilt at 4:30 p.m. before a 6 p.m. start the following night (if necessary). All games are set to air on FS2.
The Irish, at 15-14-5, look to seal their NCAA Tournament fate this weekend as they currently sit at No. 14 in the latest PairWise rankings.
QUICK HITS
The Irish clinched home ice in the first round of the conference tournament following a pair of wins in extra time at No. 4/4 Michigan last weekend. After forcing overtime in game one against the Wolverines at Yost Ice Arena, Ryan Bischel turned aside all four shots faced in the overtime period to send the contest to a shootout. In a three-round shootout, Nick Leivermann scored first for the Irish while Bischel stopped all three Michigan shooters to secure the extra conference point.
On Saturday, the Irish and Wolverines were locked in a 0-0 tie until partway through the third period when Drew Bavaro scored the opening goal, on the powerplay, 3:35 into the final period of regulation. Michigan would answer six minutes later as the Irish faced their third-consecutive overtime game.
Bavaro registered all three shots on goal in the overtime session, picking up two of his own rebounds before burying the puck just 90 seconds into the period to secure the fourth seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
Prior to their bye week, the Irish closed out their regular season home schedule with five of six league points against Ohio State. Behind two goals from Landon Slaggert Friday night, the Irish defeated the Buckeyes 2-1 to open up the weekend series.
The Irish faced a 2-0 deficit halfway through Saturday night’s contest against OSU but a pair of seniors lit the lamp to knot things up and force overtime. Jack Adams and Nick Leivermann scored for the Irish in regulation while senior netminder Ryan Bischel made 45 saves in regulation to send the contest to an overtime frame. Bischel made five additional saves in overtime to finish the night with 50 official saves, his second 50+ save performance of the season and his career, before securing the extra conference point in a nine-round shootout.
Leivermann opened the shootout with a goal before Hunter Strand gave the Irish the advantage in round four. The Buckeyes evened it out in the fourth round to force additional shots. On senior night, Chase Blackmun found the go-ahead tally in the ninth round to give the Irish a 3-2 shootout lead. Bischel made the final save on the ensuing Buckeye attempt to get the extra point on his senior night. In net, Bischel made seven saves in the shootout to finish the night with an unofficial count of 57 saves.
Bischel was named Big Ten Second Star of the Week on Feb. 14 after officially stopping 87 of 90 shots faced in the two games played.
With 1,095 total saves this season, Bischel currently ranks first nationally in the category while his .932 save percentage is second in the nation.
NOTRE DAME vs. MICHIGAN STATE
In four meetings with the Spartans in 2022-23, the Irish posted a 1-2-1 record with their foe.
In their most recent series, the Spartans had the upperhand, stealing both games from the Irish in East Lansing.
The two teams previously met inside Compton Family Ice Arena to open conference play at the end of October, with the Irish clinching four of a possible six league points at home.
ND opened up with a 5-0 victory over the Spartans in game one of the series, before skating to a 1-1 tie with MSU the following night.
Three Irish skaters set career high point nights in the Friday night shutout of the Spartans as Chayse Primeau (1-2-3) and Ryder Rolston (1-2-3) each tallied three points for a team-best. Hunter Strand also tied his career-best two-point night with a goal and an assist in the 5-0 win over the Spartans to open league play in 2022-23.
Ten individuals highlighted the box score at home against the Spartans earlier this season, including Strand and Chase Blackmun picking up their first points of the season in the weekend series.
The Irish and Spartans have met 139 times in program history with MSU leading the all-time series, 72-52-15. At home however, the Irish hold the series edge, 32-26-10.
INDIANA STATE ATHLETICS
NO. 5 INDIANA STATE FACES NO. 12 EVANSVILLE IN MVC TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND THURSDAY
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – »The fifth-seeded Sycamores begin their run at the MVC Tournament Title Thursday afternoon against No. 12 Evansville. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET from Enterprise Center in St. Louis, and the game will be live on ESPN+.
» The winner of Thursday’s game will face No. 4 Belmont in the quarterfinals Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
» Indiana State became the first-ever five seed to win Arch Madness back in 2001
» Indiana State is 27-39 all-time in the MVC Tournament and 0-1 under second-year head coach Josh Schertz. The Sycamores are 3-3 against Evansville in the tournament.
» The Sycamores went from 4-14 in Valley play and a ninth-place finish in the Valley standings last season with a 2022-23 preseason ranking of seventh to a 13-7 record in Valley play with a fifth-place finish this year in Coach Schertz’s second year at the helm.
» The Sycamores are coming off back-to-back losses to close out the regular season, both losses coming by a combined five points. ISU is 6-10 in games decided by 10 points or less with five of those losses by three points or less, and 14-1 in games decided by 11 or more points.
» The Sycamores hit a season-low three triples against Missouri State to bring their season total to 285 which extends the program record for 3-pointers in a single season.
» Indiana State leads the MVC and ranks 29nd nationally for team field goal percentage (47.9). The Sycamores have led the MVC in team field goal percentage just one time in ISU history — their 1978-79 MVC championship and Final Four season with Larry Bird. ISU also continues to lead the league and ranks 32nd nationally in scoring (78.7 ppg).
SERIES HISTORY
After sweeping the season series this year, Indiana State leads the all-time series against Evansville 101-83 dating back to 1921. The two teams are tied 3-3 in their meetings at the MVC Tournament. The Sycamores have won 11 of their last 12 meeting against the Purple Aces including the last meeting between the two teams in the MVC Tournament, 53-43 on March 5, 2021.
A WIN WOULD…
» Give ISU 21 wins for the first time since 2013-14 when the Sycamores won 23. The Sycamores have won 21 or more games in a single season just six times in the Valley era dating back to 1976.
» Give Coach Schertz his first MVC Tournament win.
» Improve ISU’s record to 28-39 in the MVC Tournament.
» Give ISU its first MVC Tournament win since a 53-43 quarterfinal win against Evansville March 5, 2021 and just its second MVC Tournament win since 2016.
LAST GAME AGAINST THE PURPLE ACES
ISU completed the season sweep against Evansville by overcoming a double-digit deficit to defeat the Purple Aces 83-65 at the Ford Center Feb. 1, 2023.
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.
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. Larry laid up a basket off a steal from Cameron Henry 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.
LAST TIME OUT
Indiana State got down early and could not completely get out of the hole on senior day Sunday afternoon as the Sycamores fell 66-62 to Missouri State in the final game of the regular season Feb. 26. Indiana State trailed by as much as 14 in the first half and outscored the Bears in the second half, cutting the deficit to one point in the final 23 seconds, but could not fully overcome the deficit.
The Sycamores conclude the regular season with a 20-11 overall mark and 13-7 Valley record, a nine-win improvement from last season. This marks ISU’s first 20-win season since 2013-14 and just the eighth time overall since joining the Valley in 1976-77. The Sycamores also notched 13 Valley wins for the first time since 1999-20 when Indiana State won the Valley with a 14-4 league record.
A trio of seniors scored in double figures led by Cooper Neese with 14 points, followed by Cade McKnight and Courvoisier McCauley with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Julian Larry had a season-high four steals alongside a tied team-high three assists, and McCauley led the Sycamores on the boards with seven rebounds.
Sunday is the first time this season the Sycamores have not made a 3-pointer in the first half, and they finished with a season-low three triples in the game which ties the season-low of 16.7 percent at Murray State when ISU shot 5-of-30 in an 82-73 loss to the Racers.
Indiana State’s 25 points in the first half mark a season low for points in the first half of a game for the Sycamores this year.
The loss marks Indiana State’s first and only time getting swept in a season series this year. Both losses to Missouri State have come by a combined six total points.
There have been just two games this season in which the Sycamores did not hold a lead at any point, and both of those games have been against Missouri State.
CLIMBING THE CAREER LADDER
» Cooper Neese ranks fifth on ISU’s all-time list of career 3-pointers at 212, closing in on Jordan Printy in fourth with 215.
» He also ranks second in career games played with 132, behind Jake Odum in first with 134.
» Among MVC active career leaders, Neese ranks seventh in total points (1,332) and second in total 3-pointers made (212).
FRESHMAN PHENOM IN A BIG MAN’S LEAGUE
» Robbie Avila sits in sixth place on ISU’s all-time list of freshmen scoring marks with 294 points behind Jake Odum with 316.
» He currently ranks second in the Valley in freshmen scoring behind Belmont’s Cade Tyson with 385 points and ahead of UNI’s Michael Duax with 293 points.
ANOTHER BROKEN RECORD
» After tying the record last season, the Sycamores officially broke the program record for 3-pointers in a single season Saturday against Illinois State.
» The record was 270 originally set in 2017-18 but with their six triples Saturday, the Sycamores hit 273 for the season in the game.
NEW FACE SETS THE PACE
» Grad transfer Courvoisier McCauley leads the way for the Sycamores in his first year at ISU. He leads the team in total points (493, 196 more points than ISU’s second leading scorer Cooper Neese with 297 points) while averaging a team-high 16.4 points per game. He also leads the Sycamores on the glass with 5.6 rebounds per game. His 16.4 points per game rank seventh in the Valley, and he’s top-20 in the league in rebounding.
» McCauley has three double-doubles this season and is one of just 15 players in the Valley to record three or more on the year. He is one of six Valley players with multiple 30-point outings this season. With nine 20+-point games, McCauley joins just five other Valley players with nine or more this year.
» McCauley leads the league in 3-pointers per game and ranks second in total 3-pointers made which both rank top-15 nationally. His 95 treys are third-most among the all-time bests for a player in his first year in the MVC, and he ranks second on ISU’s all-time list of 3-pointers in a single season (behind Jordan Barnes with 117 2017-18).
CHARITY SUCCESS
» Indiana State shot 95.8% (23-of-24) from the free throw line in Saturday’s 18-point win at UNI, marking the third-best percentage in program history (minimum 10 FT made) and the best percentage since 1993. The program record is 100% (31-of-31) against Wichita State Feb. 18, 1991.
» Nine different Sycamores made two or more free throws in the game, led by Cade McKnight and Julian Larry who each made 4-of-4.
» ISU made a season-high 30 free throws Saturday against Illinois State out of 35 attempts.
» ISU ranks third in the league and 31st nationally in free throw percentage at 76.2 percent.
EVANSVILLE ATHLETICS
ACES OPEN ARCH MADNESS ON THURSDAY
ST. LOUIS – For the seventh time at Arch Madness, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will face Indiana State on Thursday. Tip is set for 2:30 p.m. CT with the Purple Aces Radio Network and the MVC TV Network having the coverage.
Setting the Scene
– Evansville enters as the #12 seed and will face the 5th-seeded Sycamores
– This will mark the seventh Arch Madness meeting between the squads, the most meetings between any UE opponent at the tournament
– It is the 6th meeting in St. Louis between the programs since 2011 with the Aces taking two of the last three match-ups
Last Time Out
– Down to just six healthy players in Sunday’s regular season finale at Illinois State, UE fell by a final of 72-53
– Kenny Strawbridge Jr. scored 12 points while Gabe Spinelli finished with 10
– Preston Phillips added 7 points and 6 rebounds
He’s #1
– Completing the 20-game MVC slate with a 44.0% showing from 3-point range, Gage Bobe led the way for the league
– He was 2-for-5 from outside in the finale versus Illinois State after going 4-of-7 in the final home game against UIC
– Bobe recorded 12 versus the Flames , marking his sixth double figure game of the seasons; five of those have come in the last 12 games
– Hitting 16 of his last 34 attempts from long range, Bobe is shooting 38.6% on the season but is even better in the MVC
Racking up the Minutes
– Playing 34 minutes or more in 20 of the last 21 games, Marvin Coleman II ranks 6th in the MVC with 35.0 per game
– His average of 35.7 minutes in MVC games is 4th-best in the league
– With 11 points versus UIC on Feb. 22, Coleman picked up his 17th double figure scoring effort in the last 21 games
– Hitting 9 of his 13 shots at Southern Illinois, Coleman reset his career scoring high with 25 points
– Over his last 21 games, Coleman is averaging 13.6 points while shooting 40.6%
Scouting the Opponent
– Indiana State comes into Arch Madness with a 20-11 mark while going 13-7 in the Valley to earn the #5 seed
– The Sycamores dropped their final two games of the regular season, falling at Belmont on Feb. 22 before losing to Missouri State in the home finale on Sunday
– Courvoisier McCauley led the Sycamores with 16.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the regular season
– Playing 30 minutes per game, McCauley was a 44.3% shooter from the field
– Cooper Neese (10.6 PPG), Robbie Avila (10.1 PPG) and Cameron Henry (10.0 PPG) also scored in double figures for the Sycamores.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE ATHLETICS
MASTODON WOMEN’S HOOPS TAKES ON IUPUI IN #HLWBB QUARTERFINAL ON THURSDAY AT 7 PM
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – No. 6 seed Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball’s march to the Horizon League Championship continues on Thursday (Feb. 2) at No. 3 seed IUPUI on Thursday (Feb. 2) at 7 p.m. in the Jungle.
Game Day Information
Who: IUPUI Jaguars
When: Thursday, March 2 | 7 PM
Where: Indianapolis, Ind. | The Jungle
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: Adult tickets (ages 13+) are $10 per ticket. Youth tickets (ages 3-12) are $5 per ticket. Kids ages 2 and under and all Horizon League students (with valid campus ID) are free. Tickets only available at box office, no online order.
Game Notes: Purdue Fort Wayne | IUPUI | Horizon League
Know Your Foe
IUPUI finished the regular season 17-12 and earned the No. 3 seed in the Barbasol Horizon League Championship. Since the last meeting between the two teams, IUPUI lost two to Cleveland State and Detroit Mercy then won at Oakland and against Youngstown State and Robert Morris. Jazmyn Turner and Destiny Perkins are a one-two punch, scoring 14.6 and 14.1 points per game for the Jaguars.
The Series
IUPUI leads the all-time series against Purdue Fort Wayne 25-12. The last win for the Mastodons at the Jungle came in 2011, when Stephanie Rosado scored 20 points in 18 minutes for the Mastodons. The Jaguars have won the last nine on-court meetings.Survive and Advance
Purdue Fort Wayne’s win over Detroit Mercy in the First Round of the Barbasol Horizon League Women’s Basketball Championship was the Mastodon’ first league tournament win in 10 years. That was a 106-101 2OT win over Western Illinois in the Summit League Championship in 2013.
Bromenschenkel, Third-Team All-League
Amellia Bromenschenkel was among the best all-around players in the league in the 2022-23 season. In league games, she was 18th in points (11.4), 17th in rebounds (5.2), 19th in blocks (0.5) and third in steals (1.9) per game. She had seven 20-point games and shot 44.9 percent from the floor and 32.5 percent from three.
Sellers, All-Defensive Team
Shayla Sellers was one of five selected for the All-Defensive Team. She was the Mastodons’ stopper all year, playing defense against the league’s best players all year, regardless of position. In Horizon League play, she led the league with 2.2 steals per game and was 13th with 0.7 blocks per game. Sellers is the first player in Mastodon history to be named to a league’s All-Defensive Team.
Things Are Looking Up
Purdue Fort Wayne earned the No. 6 seed for the Horizon League Championship, which marked the highest regular-season finish for the Mastodons since 2013-14. The Mastodons’ 13 wins is also the most since that season.
That Seems Good
The Mastodons’ 32 points in the fourth quarter against Wright State (Feb. 16) was the most points scored by a Mastodon team in a quarter since quarters were introduced in women’s basketball in the 2015-16 season.
Grabbing Boards
The Mastodons held Wright State to just 19 rebounds on February 16, which tied the fewest rebounds by an opponent since the Mastodons held Centenary to 17 on January 31, 2011.
Ball Control
The Mastodons had a season-low five turnovers against Wright State on February 16. It tied the fewest turnovers dating back to at least 1990 (given available records) with three other games: Manchester (2021), Western Illinois (2016) and North Dakota State (2008).
Ball Control Times Two
The Mastodons had a then-season-low seven turnovers against Cleveland State and won the points off turnovers battle 23-1.
Thieves!
Purdue Fort Wayne leads the Horizon League and is top-70 in the country with 9.2 steals per game. The ‘Dons also force the most turnovers in the league at 18.23 per game
Especially Those Two!
In league play, Shayla Sellers and Amellia Bromenschenkel finished first and third in the Horizon League with 2.2 and 1.9 steals per game.
Sellers Swiper
Shayla Sellers ranks in the top-100 in the country with 57 steals this season.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne beat Detroit Mercy in the first round of the Horizon League Championship 65-61 for its first postseason win since 2013.
Coming Up
With a win, Purdue Fort Wayne will head to Indianapolis again next week for the Horizon League Championship semifinal on March 6.
VALPO ATHLETICS
VALPO FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES ADDITIONS TO COACHING STAFF
Head coach Landon Fox has announced five additions to his coaching staff as the team gears up for the upcoming spring practice schedule. Andrew Prevost has joined the staff as offensive line coach, while Damien Ross has been tabbed the team’s wide receivers coach. In addition, Jackson Smith has returned to the staff in an assistant coaching capacity, while Trevor McConnell and Owen Chandler will handle quality control.
Prevost arrives at Valpo after having previously been on staff at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D. since the 2016 season. After coaching tight ends and assisting with special teams during his first two years on staff, Prevost was elevated to offensive line coach beginning with the 2018 season. He helped the Coyotes reach the FCS Playoffs in 2017 and 2021, the first two appearances in program history.
During his time in South Dakota, Prevost coached three All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honorable mention choices, three All-MVFC Second Team selections, five MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week recipients, four MVFC All-Academic Team choices, two Freshmen All-Americans, two Academic All-Americans and one Preseason All-American.
“My family and I are very grateful to be a part of the Valparaiso community, Valparaiso University and the Valpo football program,” Prevost said. “I have had the opportunity to watch film of previous Coach Fox football teams, and I was always impressed with their high level of effort, toughness, and discipline. I’m excited to learn from this great staff and to mentor these young men to be great football players, students and community members.”
Before arriving in South Dakota, Prevost spent three seasons at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. He coached the defensive line in 2013 before working with tight ends and being involved in all aspects of special teams each of the next two seasons. During his time with the program, the Leathernecks advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs in 2015. He coached one All-MVFC selection and one All-MVFC Honorable Mention choice.
Prevost spent two seasons at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2012 and 2013, coaching outside linebackers, short snappers and long snappers while having a variety of responsibilities within special teams. He coached two first team all-conference selections, one all-conference honorable mention, two D2Football.com All-American honorable mention choices, one second team all-region pick and two academic all-conference honorees. The team made back-to-back NCAA Playoff appearances, won one conference title and won the conference’s north division in both seasons.
Prevost got his start at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, where he coached running backs and assisted with the offensive line. A 2011 Wisconsin Eau Claire graduate with a degree in organizational communication and information systems, Prevost went on to earn his master’s in educational administration from Minnesota Duluth in 2013.
“I’m excited about the experience that Coach Prevost is going to bring to the offensive line group,” Fox said. “He has good experience in a really competitive league in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He worked for Bob Nielson, who has a chance to be a College Football Hall of Famer, and was with him from Minnesota Duluth to Western Illinois to South Dakota. Everywhere Andy has been, they’ve won.”
Ross comes to Valpo after a stint at Northwood University in Midland, Mich., where he spent the last year as the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator. He served as Interim Offensive Coordinator for one game, which saw the offense produce 55 points, its highest scoring output since 2005. He tutored a wide receiver who finished 13th in program history in career receptions. Ross co-coordinated the team’s special teams unit, overseeing kickoff and kickoff return teams. Northwood led the GMAC in net kickoff yards per kick and total kickoff return yards.
“Anytime you get to be a part of an institution that has the academic prestige Valpo does, you have to jump at that opportunity,” Ross said. “It’s great to see what Coach Fox has done with the football program in such a short period of time. I’m excited to come help continue the growth, and also learn and collaborate with some really good coaches on staff.”
Prior to Northwood, Ross worked as the wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator at Missouri University of Science and Technology from March 2019 to February 2022. Before that, he was the head coach at Bangor High School (2017-2019), the wide receivers coach at MacMurray College (2016-2017), the running backs coach at Midland University (2015-2016) and the defensive backs coach at Midland (2014-2015).
A 2014 Siena Heights University graduate with a degree in sport management, Ross earned his MBA from Midland in December 2015.
“Damien comes to us from Northwood and also has a background at Missouri S&T, which is attractive both in terms of good football and good academics,” Fox said. “He not only fits from a football standpoint, but also understands academics being a high priority for the players and for the University. He’s a good Valpo fit.”
Smith returns for a second stint on staff after previously serving as the defensive tackles coach from February 2020 to May 2021. Since leaving the Brown & Gold, Smith gained experience at Averett University in Danville, Va. as the defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and co-special teams coordinator. His unit led the conference in blocked punts, while he was a position coach for four all-conference selections. He also instructed Averett’s single-season and career sacks recordholder and coached the individual who led the nation for combined kickoff returns and punt returns.
“I am very excited to be rejoining Coach Fox and his staff here at Valparaiso University,” Smith said. “My fiancé Nicole and I are thrilled to be back in this community. This program embodies what it means to truly develop student-athletes, and does so with a competitive nature that has created an amazing opportunity moving forward for the Valpo Football program.”
Smith began his coaching career at his alma mater Elmhurst College, where he worked with linebackers (2017), the defensive line (2018) and outside linebackers/defensive ends (2019) while helping two players in his position group garner all-conference recognition. Smith graduated from Elmhurst in May 2017 after playing football from 2012-2016 including his final season as a team captain.
“One thing we always say is that we want really good people as part of our program,” Fox said. “Jackson did a tremendous job in an intern role for us. When we had an opportunity to bring him back to our staff, this was a no-brainer. He does an outstanding job in terms of his player relationships and he’s from Chicago.”
McConnell will handle offensive quality control while serving as assistant quarterbacks coach. He was a team captain and five-year quarterback at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, where he graduated in May 2022 with a degree in sports management and public relations.
“I am excited to join a program and community that is all about people and relationships,” McConnell said. “Coach Fox has an incredible vision for where he believes Valparaiso football can go, and I am excited to join this University and continue to grow and learn from, and with, this phenomenal staff.”
McConnell spent the final four weeks of his senior season as a quarterback player-coach due to an injury. He helped a senior QB earn first-team all-conference accolades. McConnell also served as Ohio Northern football’s director of multi-media and recruiting assistant.
“Trevor is bright and understands offensive scheme well from a big-picture perspective,” Fox said. “More importantly, he’s eager to assist by whatever means necessary to make our program successful.”
Chandler was teammates with McConnell at Ohio Northern and closed out his career as a student assistant after his playing tenure was cut short by an injury. He assisted in player development drills with linebackers (2021) and defensive backs (2022). He also served as a football operations intern.
“From a defensive perspective, Owen really gets it as a young coach,” Fox said. “Because of his injury, he was able to become part of the staff at Ohio Northern, so he was able to gain experience as both a coach and a player as an undergraduate student.”
Chandler, who graduated from Ohio Northern in December 2022 with a degree in business administration, earned the Daniel Q. Gennett Bear Award in Fall 2021 for overall contribution to the Ohio Northern football program. He garnered the OHSAA Archie Griffin Award in Spring 2019 for displaying positive sportsmanship and leadership while maintaining a high level of play.
The Valpo football program will continue to announce additions to the coaching staff in the coming weeks. The Beacons will look to build on their recent run of success this fall after garnering the program’s highest Pioneer Football League win total in a three-year period in program history over the last three seasons.
What They’re Saying About Andrew Prevost
AJ Blazek, Vanderbilt Offensive Line Coach: “Andy is a passionate coach who will pour into his players. He has high energy and is great at building a culture in his position room. Andy and Courtney are outstanding parents and they will take care of the Valpo offensive line like their own kids. They are definitely a football family.”
Ron Crook, South Dakota Tight Ends Coach & Special Teams Coordinator: “Andy is an extremely hard worker and he coaches his players hard. He is greatly respected by his players and colleagues.”
What They’re Saying About Damien Ross
Andy Ball, Missouri S&T Head Coach: “In his time at S&T, Coach Ross did a tremendous job of recruiting and developing top notch student-athletes. He was a wonderful mentor and voice to everyone he coached. Coach Ross also helped us develop a high-powered offense. He is going to be a great asset for the Valpo football program.”
What They’re Saying About Jackson Smith
David Clark Jr., Averett Defensive Coordinator: “Coach Smith did a great job as a coach and mentor for both our defensive line and special teams units. He did a great job working alongside our staff and transferring his knowledge to his players. He was a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to watching the rest of his career.”
Eli Kosanovich, Offensive Line Coach at RPI: “Jackson is a relentless worker, a tireless recruiter and one of the best friends a guy could ask for. He’s going to contribute immediately and his impact will be felt.”
What They’re Saying About Owen Chandler
Dean Paul, Ohio Northern Head Coach: “Owen knew he wanted to coach earlier than most who make that choice. It was clear from early on that he had a full understanding of the entire defense. When he transitioned from player to coach while injured, he made such a positive impact that his role continued to increase rapidly. He brings positive energy daily and connects with players from various backgrounds. His demeanor really helps him keep his poise and use his football knowledge during a game or practice. We look forward to watching his future success in the coaching profession.”
Austin Cordova, Austin Peay Defensive Quality Control: “In my time working with Coach Chandler, he continuously brought positive energy and a willingness to learn and work. His drive and passion for the game is second to none, but his genuine care for the players and his coworkers is what will set him apart in the coaching profession.”
Andy Tabler, Ashland University Defensive Ends Coach: “Football develops young men of this country more than any other game because of the coaches who foster relationships with these young men and teach them how to play the game the right way. Owen Chandler is one of these young, up and coming coaches. Owen is an eager student of the game but also a great role model for his players. I had the privilege to coach Owen and present him with the Ashland High School George Valentine Sportsmanship Award in recognition of his character. He will be a great asset to the coaching staff at Valparaiso.”
What They’re Saying About Trevor McConnell
Dean Paul, Ohio Northern Head Coach: “Starting during the recruiting process, Trevor had an uncommon presence about him. He possessed exceptional communication skills and a confident but not arrogant way about him. As a player in our program, he earned the players’ trust with his work ethic, football IQ and ability to connect. His unselfish attitude and vision for greatness allowed him to lead and hold teammates accountable. He was very involved in the recruiting process as a player, hosting prospective students and their families, and even evaluating video. I’m confident he will make a positive impact at Valparaiso.”
Aaron Krepps, Washington & Jefferson Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time coaching Trevor at Ohio Northern University. He was extremely coachable and really worked hard on mastering the techniques being taught. He was a smart QB; it was like having another coach on the field. I expect him to be very successful in the coaching profession.”
Devin Russell, Davenport University Offensive Coordinator: “I am excited to watch as Trevor begins his coaching journey. Trevor did a great job in our time together at Ohio Northern and has all the characteristics to make a great coach. Trevor has the ability to learn quickly and a football knowledge that is beyond his years. I am looking forward to watching the impact he has on Valpo football moving forward.”
Jim Cordle, Ohio Northern Offensive Coordinator: “I am excited for Trevor as he starts his coaching career. Trevor has a high football IQ, but more importantly a passion to teach the game. He has been preparing for this opportunity during his playing career. He gained valuable experience in multiple roles in the last year. He will be a great asset to the staff at Valparaiso.”
BASEBALL LOOKS TO KEEP GOOD TIMES ROLLING IN LITTLE ROCK
Valparaiso (4-2, 0-0 MVC)
at Little Rock (4-2, 0-0 OVC)
Gary Hogan Field (2,250) | Little Rock, Ark.
Friday, March 3, 3 p.m. – RHP Griffin McCluskey
Saturday, March 4, 2 p.m. – RHP Connor Lockwood
Sunday, March 5, 1 p.m. – RHP Ryan Mintz
Next Up in Valpo Baseball: After starting the season with a 4-2 record including a solid showing against power-five foe Kansas and a series sweep at UT Martin, the Valparaiso University baseball team will look to keep the mojo going with this weekend’s trip to Little Rock. This will be the first stop of the team’s annual spring-break road trip, a lengthy journey that will continue on to Mississippi State for a midweek matchup before finishing with a three-game set at Southern Miss.
Last Time Out: Valpo went on the road and achieved a series sweep of UT Martin, capped off by a 17-4 shellacking of the Skyhawks in the series finale. That came after a dramatic 5-4, 10-inning victory on Saturday that saw the Beacons fend off being down to their last out in the ninth. Valpo won the series opener in convincing fashion by a 10-2 score.
Following the Beacons: All three games this weekend will be broadcast on ESPN+. Links to live video and stats will be available on ValpoAthletics.com. For all the latest in Valpo baseball, follow @ValpoBaseball on Twitter and Instagram.
Head Coach Brian Schmack: Brian Schmack (172-269) is in his 10th season in charge of the program. He ranks third in program history in seasons coached and games coached as he enters 2023 having skippered 435 Valpo games. He enters the season with 168 victories, one of four coaches in program history with over 150. The former big-league pitcher led Valpo to 25 wins in his inaugural campaign in 2014, a school record for victories by a first-year skipper. Schmack, a member of the 2003 Detroit Tigers, served as pitching coach/associate head coach at Valpo for seven seasons prior to his promotion.
Series Notes: Valpo made one prior visit to Little Rock back in 2009, when head coach Tracy Woodson’s team bounced back from dropping the opener 5-0 to win the series by prevailing 2-0 and 10-8 in the remaining games.
In the Other Dugout – Little Rock
Little Rock was picked to finish fourth of nine in the OVC preseason poll.
The Trojans feature one Preseason All-OVC choice, starting pitcher Jackson Wells.
The department is in its first season in the OVC.
Little Rock is in a stretch of games against MVC opponents after splitting a doubleheader with Bradley last weekend. They won the opener 2-0 before dropping the second game 19-9 in 10 innings (yes, the game went extras and was decided by 10 runs).
The Trojans won two of three against South Dakota State and picked up a midweek victory over Arkansas Pine Bluff.
Strong Start
Valpo has won four of its first six games for the second consecutive season.
Prior to last season, Valpo had not featured a record of 4-2 or better through six games since 2009.
The Beacons are ranked 58th in the RPI and have the top RPI in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Bringing Out the Brooms
Valpo’s three-game sweep of UT Martin marked the program’s first series sweep of three or more games since May 10-12, 2019 vs. Southern Illinois at Emory G. Bauer Field.
This was the team’s first sweep of a road series of three or more games since March 18-20, 2016 at Northern Kentucky.
Not only did Valpo polish off the sweep on Sunday, Feb. 26, but the Beacons invoked the 10-run rule with a 17-4 blowout. The 17 runs marked Valpo’s highest total since also scoring 17 on May 1, 2021 at Illinois State.
The Beacons notched 17 hits for the second time in the series in Sunday’s series finale. Prior to that series, the program had not recorded 17 or more hits in a game since 18 in the aforementioned May 1, 2021 game against the Redbirds.
They had not notched 17 or more hits in a road game since May 8, 2018 at Western Michigan.
The 13-run margin of victory was Valpo’s largest since beating Milwaukee 23-5 on April 11, 2018.
Valpo hit four home runs in the series finale, its highest single-game home run total since launching five on May 1, 2021 vs. Illinois State.
The three-game series against the Skyhawks saw Valpo produce 32 runs on 46 hits while batting .383 and slugging seven home runs.
Bonus Baseball
While Valpo won two of the three games at UT Martin in lopsided fashion, the middle game of the series featured significant late drama. UT Martin took the lead by scoring twice in the eighth, then Valpo tied it despite being down to its final out in the ninth before winning it with a run in the 10th.
This was Valpo’s first extra-inning game since April 26 of last season, a 6-5 loss at Purdue.
This was the squad’s first extra-inning victory since a 6-4 win over Missouri State in the opening round of the MVC Tournament on May 25, 2021.
The 6-5 edging of UT Martin was Valpo’s first one-run win since May 1, 2022 at Southern Illinois, an 11-10 triumph.
Beacon Bombs
Valpo leads the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks 12th nationally with 2.17 home runs per game.
The Beacons rank second in The Valley and 24th nationally with 13 total long balls.
Valpo has already launched 13 home runs this season through just six games. Last year, Valpo had only 15 home runs in the 20 Missouri Valley Conference contests. The Beacons did not hit their 13th home run of 2022 until the 19th game of the season on March 29.
Kyle Schmack has drilled four home runs this season, tied with SIU’s Steven Loden for the league lead. Schmack hit two home runs in the Feb. 26 game at UT Martin.
Schmack is tied for 13th nationally in home runs.
Nolan Tucker has cracked three home runs on the year, one of six players in the MVC tied for third in home runs.
Entering this year, Tucker had two home runs in 57 career games. He has three home runs in six games this season.
Valpo also holds the league lead in batting average (.296) and on-base percentage (.402).
In the series against Little Rock, Ryan Maka (.571) and Nolan Tucker (.533) both hit over .500.
Pitching Prowess
The offense has given us plenty to write about, but the Valpo pitching should not be overlooked.
The Beacons lead the Missouri Valley Conference in team ERA at 3.12, over two full runs ahead of the second-place team.
Valpo is also atop the Valley in opponents’ batting average, holding the opposition to .209.
Valpo ranks 24th nationally in ERA and 26th in hits allowed per nine innings (6.92).
In the Feb. 26 game at UT Martin, Jacob Rosenkranz was awarded his first collegiate victory. He allowed one run on two hits while walking two and striking out three in 3 1/3 innings.
The middle game of the series in Tennessee also saw a Beacon notch his first Valpo victory. Bobby Nowak was charged with no runs on one hit and one walk while striking out six in 2 1/3 innings to obtain the W.
Connor Lockwood leads the league in innings pitched (13 1/3), ranks second in opponents batting average (.136) and ranks third in ERA (1.35).
Jumping on the Jayhawks
Valpo’s 11-3 win in the middle game of the series vs. Kansas represented the program’s first win over a Power-5 conference opponent since knocking off No. 25 Illinois 11-7 on April 17, 2018.
This marked Valpo’s second Big 12 win of the Brian Schmack Era and first since beating Oklahoma 11-4 on Feb. 24, 2018.
The 11 runs represented the team’s highest single-game run total since beating Southern Illinois 11-10 on May 1 of last season.
Lockwood = Locked In
Connor Lockwood built on his late-season success from 2022 in his first outing of 2023, delivering seven shutout innings of two-hit ball while walking none and fanning six to earn the victory in Saturday’s 11-3 triumph vs. Kansas.
The seven innings marked the longest outing of Lockwood’s career after he went no longer than six as a freshman last season.
This was the first outing of Lockwood’s career where he pitched shutout ball while throwing more than three innings.
The six strikeouts outdid his previous career high of four.
By virtue of his successful outing against the Jayhawks, Lockwood was tabbed the MVC Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 20. He joins Jake Miller, Colin Fields (twice) and Easton Rhodehouse as the only Valpo hurlers to garner MVC Pitcher of the Week accolades since the program joined the Missouri Valley Conference.
Power Surge
Valpo slugged six home runs in the season-opening series with the Jayhawks, including two from Jake Skrine, a graduate transfer from Indiana University who was competing in his first weekend with the Brown & Gold. Skrine’s home runs were the first two of his collegiate career.
Kade Reinertson’s three-run big fly in Saturday’s game played a crucial role in the outcome. That was his first collegiate home run and came as part of a four-RBI game. He entered the day with one RBI in his first 23 career games.
Kyle Schmack spanked the 10th homer of his Valpo career, while Brady Renfro had his 12th and Nolan Tucker contributed his third.
The most home runs Valpo hit in a single series last year was three. The six home runs in Corpus Christi marked Valpo’s most in a series since six in a home set with Illinois State from April 30 – May 2, 2021, and that was a four gamer.
Through one weekend of games, Valpo is tied for 22nd nationally in home runs and is one of 39 teams in the nation with six or more long balls.
Other Notes Wrapping up Kansas
Grant Jablonski worked 3 1/3 shutout innings of hitless ball while striking out four and walking one in Sunday’s game. That marked his career high in terms of both innings pitched and strikeouts. He faced the minimum as the only player who reached base against him was erased on a double play.
Redshirt sophomore Matt Olive made his season debut in Sunday’s game as the designated hitter. That was his first appearance since March 13, 2022 after he missed the bulk of last season with an injury.
Valpo outhit the Jayhawks 5-4 in Sunday’s game and owned an overall 17-14 edge in the hit column over the three games.
Four of Kansas’ six runs in the rubber match were unearned tallies.
Valpo pitchers notched 10 strikeouts on opening day and fanned 26 Jayhawks over the three games.
Inside the Schedule
The 2023 nonconference schedule will see Valpo take on opponents from nine different conferences including four of the power five – the Big 12, ACC, Big Ten and SEC as well as the Ohio Valley Conference, Sun Belt, Summit League, Horizon League and Mid-American Conference.
Valpo will make a trip to preseason top-25 Southern Miss (March 10-12) to match up with a team that won Conference USA last season as part of a 47-19 record, hosting and winning an NCAA Regional before making an NCAA Super Regional appearance.
Valpo will play twice at Notre Dame (March 21, April 18), a team that reached the College World Series as part of a 41-7 season last year.
valPROS
Valpo’s program produced a pair of pitchers who went on to continue their careers in professional organizations following the 2022 spring.
Left-hander Jake Miller was selected with the 237th overall pick in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Detroit Tigers. He became Valpo’s first draft choice since Scott Kapers was selected in the 17th round of the 2018 draft by the Texas Rangers.
Miller was Valpo’s highest draft choice since 2010, when Kyle Gaedele went to the San Diego Padres in the sixth round. The New York native was the highest Missouri Valley Conference pitcher taken in the 2022 draft.
Miller made his professional debut by pitching in five games in 2022 for the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Class-A Florida State League.
Right-hander Colin Fields was signed by the Tigers as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 draft.
Miller and Fields are part of a long list of Tiger ties within Valpo’s program. Valpo legend Lloyd McClendon was on the Tigers big league coaching staff from 2006-2013 and 2017-2020 including a stint as interim manager, former Valpo players Bo McClendon and Dalton Lundeen were also drafted by the Tigers, Valpo head coach Brian Schmack played in the big leagues with the Tigers in 2003 and current Valpo player Patrick Ilitch is the grandson of longtime Tigers owner Michael Ilitch (1992-2017) and the nephew of current owner Christopher Ilitch (2017-present).
Who’s Back, Who’s Gone, Who’s New?
The Valpo offense is loaded with returning talent in 2023 as 82.7 percent of the team’s hits from last season came from players who are back for the 2023 campaign. The top six Beacons in terms of batting average return and 11 of the 15 position players who saw action a year ago are back with the program.
Relievers Nathan Chasey and Bobby Nowak are back after posting the club’s top two ERAs a year ago, but the top two arms in the weekend rotation – Jake Miller and Colin Fields – were snatched up by the Detroit Tigers.
Valpo’s newcomers include five freshmen (Kyle Tyler, Will Radich, Adam Guazzo, Cole Syversen and Thomas Cooper), two junior college transfers (Josh Spencer and Kaleb Krier) and one four-year transfer (Jake Skrine, Indiana).
Tucker’s Tear: Nolan Tucker hauled in several awards at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign as he was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper while also earning All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team and MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team honors. He was in his third season on campus but qualified for the Freshman All-American honor based on receiving a medical redshirt in 2021 and the 2020 campaign not counting toward eligibility due to COVID-19. Tucker finished his 2023 season second in the conference in batting average both overall (.365) and in league play (.384). He also ranked ninth in the league in on-base percentage (.440) and had four hits on three different occasions. He finished with the highest batting average by a Valpo player since Ryan O’Gara hit .388 in 2010, making a significant jump after entering the season with a .188 batting average. He finished a home run shy of the natural cycle on April 30 at Southern Illinois as his single, double and triple came in that order as part of a four-hit game. That helped him earn MVC Player of the Week on May 2.
Sophomore Jump: Valpo shortstop Alex Thurston enjoyed a sophomore jump rather than a sophomore slump last season. After hitting .158 as a freshman, Thurston finished the season with a .301 batting average, the second-best on the team and one of two Beacons to finish the year above the .300 line.
Renfro’s Rise: After finishing with a .231 batting average in 2021 both overall and in MVC play, Brady Renfro hit for Valpo’s second-highest batting average in league play last year. He ranked fifth on the team with a .252 nonconference batting average, but did his best offensive work in league play, where he finished second on the squad with a .319 average.
National Player of the Week: Valpo freshman Ryan Maka was named a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball newspaper on May 16 of last season after a breakout series against Bradley that featured four home runs. He enjoyed the first three-homer game of the season by a Missouri Valley Conference player in league play in the May 13 series opener against the Braves. In addition, Maka became the first Valpo player since 2018 (Blake Billinger) and just the second since 2008 to achieve that feat. That came as a part of a four-hit game to begin a three-game set that saw him record five extra-base knocks. Maka went 7-for-13 (.538) over the three games with six RBIs, six runs scored, 20 total bases and a 1.538 slugging percentage. The rookie outfielder followed his career-high four hits in the series opener with three hits in Valpo’s 8-2 victory on May 14. Maka was second on D1Baseball.com’s list of the top 30 hitting performances in the nation on Friday, May 13. Maka became the first Valpo player to earn national Player of the Week honors since Colin Fields did so on March 15, 2021 following his no-hitter against Middle Tennessee State.
Nowak Nailing It Down: Bobby Nowak nailed down eight saves last season, finishing just outside the program’s single-season top 5. He finished with Valpo’s highest single-season save total since 2014, when Karch Kowalczyk had 11. In addition, Nowak enters 2023 ranked tied for ninth in program history in career saves despite having pitched just one season at Valpo.
SOUTHERN INDIANA ATHLETICS
USI FALLS SHORT IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE WITH SIUE, 68-54
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball lost a defensive battle with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 68-54, in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Wednesday evening at the Ford Center. The Screaming Eagles, the seventh seed, go to 16-16 overall, while the Cougars advance with a 19-13 mark.
USI spotted SIUE an 8-2 lead in the opening minutes before the Eagles rallied to tie the game, 8-8, after a pair of three-point buckets by sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana). The Cougars responded by retaking the lead, 12-8, with four-straight points.
SIUE would post 23-18 lead with 5:55 left in the opening half when USI held the Cougars scoreless for 4:44 and took the lead 25-23 on five-straight points by junior guard Tyler Henry (Brooklyn, New York).
After trading buckets, the Eagles took a 30-29 lead into the intermission after Swope connected on his third three-point bomb of the half. The sophomore guard finished the half with a team-best 11 points.
The USI offense sputtered in the first 10 minutes of the second half, going one-of-12 in the first eight minutes, and fell behind 46-33. The Eagles came to life with a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to 48-45 with 7:20 to play in the contest, but that would be as close as they would come the rest of the game.
SIUE got back on track and held USI scoreless for the next 2:30 as the Cougars methodically pulled away and closed the door on the 68-54 final. The 54 points were the lowest scoring game of the year for the Eagles, who shot 29.2 percent from the field (19-65).
Individually, Swope led three Eagles in double-digits with 15 points. He was five-of-15 from the field, including the three first half three-pointers.
Henry followed with 11 points, while senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. Senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) led USI on the boards with 20 rebounds, his sixth game with 20-or-more.
USI played well defensively, holding SIUE to 37.3 percent from the field (19-51) and forcing 13 turnovers.
USI SOFTBALL HEADS TO FLORIDA FOR THE SPRING GAMES
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball concludes the main portion of its nonconference season during the next week, March 4-8, as the Screaming Eagles travel south for eight games at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Florida.
USI will face Holy Cross University, Yale University, Central Michigan University, Bethune-Cookman University, Creighton University, and Long Island University throughout the week.
The exact schedule is as follows:
March 4 against Holy Cross at 2 p.m. CT
March 4 against Yale at 4:30 p.m. CT
March 5 against Central Michigan at 1 p.m. CT
March 5 against Bethune-Cookman at 3:30 p.m. CT
March 7 against Central Michigan at 10 a.m. CT
March 7 against Creighton at 12:30 p.m. CT
March 8 against Long Island at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. CT
Last season, while at the Division II level, USI went 4-3 in The Spring Games hosted in Winter Haven, Florida. The Spring Games are the world’s largest college softball event with teams from all college levels running February 18 through March 27 and are played in seven different Florida cities.
After a 3-1 start, the Screaming Eagles enter The Spring Games at 3-5. Last weekend at the Samford University Bulldog Classic, USI won its opener, 1-0, over Samford before dropping four straight games against the University of North Alabama twice, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), and Samford. USI will look to wake up the bats after being held to eight runs across five games last weekend at the Bulldog Classic. Plus, USI will also seek to tame opposing batters after giving up 25 runs in the five games.
In last week’s opener against Samford, sophomore pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) pitched her first shutout of the season. Newman threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts across seven innings. She earned her second win of the 2023 season. The shutout performance on Friday follows six shutouts a season ago during Newman’s freshman campaign.
Last Saturday, the first inning was a thorn in the side for the Screaming Eagles, as USI surrendered all six of North Alabama’s runs in the first inning. IUPUI also tagged USI for two runs in the first inning in the second contest of the day for USI.
On Sunday, while Southern Indiana was able to do some damage control and limit big, crooked numbers on the scoreboard by the opponents, both North Alabama and Samford were able to scatter hits and manufacture runs against USI.
Senior pitcher Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana) was solid at the plate, going 8-for-12 with three doubles and two RBIs during the Bulldog Classic. Both of her hits on Saturday against North Alabama were double, and then Goodin went 3-for-3 in Sunday’s game against Samford.
Offensively, junior outfielder Mackenzie Bedrick (Brownsburg, Indiana) and senior infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois) are both hitting above .300. Junior catcher Sammie Kihega (Greenfield, Indiana) and sophomore outfielder Kennedy Nalley (Huntingburg, Indiana) are tied for the team lead with three RBIs.
Goodin paces the Screaming Eagles with a .409 batting average and three doubles entering The Spring Games. In the circle, sophomore Hailey Gotshall (Lucerne, Indiana) leads USI with a 1.05 ERA, while Newman leads with 26 strikeouts.
All USI games at The Spring Games will feature the first all-time meetings for Southern Indiana.
All games at The Spring Games can be seen with a subscription to FloSoftball. Plus, 95.7 FM The Spin will have radio coverage for the last seven of the eight games from Madeira Beach, Florida starting on March 4. John Morris, 95.7 The Spin General Manager, will be on the call. Coverage links can be found on the USI Softball schedule page on usiscreamingeagles.com.
EAGLES FLY TO THE WEST COAST TO PLAY WASHINGTON STATE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball (5-3) makes its first trip to the West Coast since 2014 when it visits Washington State University for a three-game set March 3-5. The series opens Friday with a first pitch at 6:05 p.m. (CST); continues Saturday at 4:05 p.m. (CST); and concludes Sunday at 3:05 p.m. (CST).
Links to follow the Eagles during 2023 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com.
USI Baseball Notes:
USI wins second series of the season: The USI Screaming Eagles have started its first NCAA Division I season with a pair of series wins. USI opened the season with a 3-1 series win over Western Illinois University and a 2-1 series win over Bellarmine University.
USI rallies to win series with Bellarmine: The Eagles had to rally to win the series with Bellarmine. Following a 4-2 game one loss, USI scored six in the eighth to defeat the Knights, 6-3, and closed out the series win with a lopsided, 18-5, win in game three.
Kahre leads USI last week. USI senior leftfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) led USI last week by batting .438 with five runs scored, two doubles, and two triples. He also ranked second on the team with five RBIs.
USI started last week by falling at Lipscomb: The Eagles tried to rally in the ninth but fell short at Lipscomb University, 6-4, Tuesday. Senior outfielder Evan Kahre led the Eagles with a pair of hits, including a two-run double.
Seebold has best start last week: Sophomore right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) had USI’s best start of the week, posting his first win of the season. Seebold allowed one run on three hits, while striking out four in five innings of work.
Long ball Eagles: Junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) has a team-high three home runs in the first eight games. Freshman infielder Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) follows with a pair of home runs.
Leading hitters: Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) and junior infielder Daniel Lopez (Dominican Republic) are leading the Eagles in batting averaging, hitting .429 each.
McNew climbing the USI All-Time charts: Senior catcher Lucas McNew is sixth all-time at USI in home runs (21); ninth in RBIs (141) and 13th in doubles (41).
USI vs. Washington State: USI and Washington State University are meeting for the first time in the history of the two programs.
Washington State in 2023: The Cougars of Washington State (7-1) have won seven of their first eight games in 2023 after posting a 3-1 outing in the Tony Gwynn Classic at San Diego State University. After falling in the opening game to the University of California-Irvine, 8-3, Washington State defeated SDSU, 14-1; the University of California San Diego, 3-2; and the University of Nevada Las Vegas, 10-9.
Last trip to the West Coast: The last time USI traveled to the West Coast was a visit to the California State University Stanislaus in 2014. Cal State Stanislaus took the series, 2-1, but USI grabbed a win in the final game, 8-1.
INDIANAPOLIS ATHLETICS
GREYHOUNDS RETAIN #1 SPOT IN MIDWEST RANKINGS
INDIANAPOLIS–The UIndy men’s basketball team remained atop the latest and final set of regional rankings, released Wednesday. With the GLVC Championship Tournament on tap, the Greyhounds hope to hold on the the No. 1 spot and thus earn hosting rights at the upcoming NCAA Division II Midwest Regional tournament, set for March 11-14.
The Hounds are on pace for their 13th NCAA tournament berth. They amassed a 25-3 verall record in the regular season to secure the top seed at the conference tournament. Hosted at former GLVC-member Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., the GLVC tourney kicks off this Thursday afternoon, with UIndy facing eight-seeded Quincy at 1 p.m. ET.
TCHOUA, CORSARO EARN GLVC MAJOR POSTSEASON AWARDS
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – UIndy center Kendrick Tchoua was named GLVC Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday, becoming the third Greyhound in program history to earn the league award.
In addition, bench boss Paul Corsaro claimed GLVC Coach of the Year distinction, while Jesse Bingham was voted to both the All-GLVC First Team and All-Defensive squad. Jakobie Robinson joined Bingham on the All-Defensive team.
Ben Nicoson also completed the four-peat as the team’s James R. Spalding sportsmanship nominee.
The All-GLVC teams and major award winners are voted upon by the league’s 13 head coaches. Per conference policy, head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own players or themselves.
“I’m really happy for Jesse and Kendrick for earning unanimous selections on this year’s All-GLVC First Team,” said Corsaro. “I think they were both worthy candidates for Player of the Year; it just goes to show you that we have a great team.”
Tchoua joins Tyrone Barksdale (1997) and David Logan (2005) as the program’s GLVC Player of the Year recipients, averaging 14.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the regular-season champion Greyhounds. The Silver Spring, Md., product also leads the entirety of the NCAA (all three divisions) with a 73.7 field goal percentage. The big man posted eight double-doubles this winter, including a season-best performance of 27 points and 14 boards against Drury on Feb. 16.
Ranked third among all GLVC glass cleaners in rebounds per game, Tchoua also topped the conference with 88 offensive boards (3.1 per contest). The first-time league honoree also recorded 26 steals, 25 assists, and 17 blocks in 28 games, while winning GLVC Player of the Week honors twice this season.
Bingham earned his second All-GLVC accolade, including his first on the top team. The Warren Central grad ranked third in the conference with 15.7 points per game, shooting 44.1 percent from the floor. In addition, Bingham led the Hounds with 32.1 minutes and 3.1 assists per game.
UIndy was one of two schools with multiple players on the 10-person All-Defensive team, as Bingham (second time) and Robinson represent the south siders. The length proved to be instrumental to the Greyhound defense this winter, who led the league in scoring defense (63.1 points allowed per game).
“Both Jakobie and Jesse are two of the main reasons why we have the best defense in the league and one of the best in the country,” Corsaro continued. “Their length and versatility really bother teams. They both fill up the stat sheet with the defensive statistics, such as deflections, steals, blocks, rebounds. They can affect the game without scoring.”
Robinson ranked fifth with 40 steals, while in the top 20 in blocks and rebounds. Meanwhile, Bingham was fifth with 27 blocked shots and committed 15 thefts during the season.
Corsaro became the third coach in UIndy history to be voted the league’s top honor on the bench and first since Stan Gouard following the 2013-14 campaign. The Hounds finished the regular season with a 25-3 record, winning the second regular-season title in program history, while the team led the conference in eight categories: blocks per game (3.7), field goal percentage defense (40.1), fouls per game (15.0), rebounds per game (37.1), scoring defense (63.1), scoring margin (13.8), turnovers per game (9.9), and winning percentage (89.3).
Corsaro concluded: “I have a great staff. All of the credit goes to my staff and the student-athletes for believing in my vision and executing it. None of it’s possible without them. And I always say that individual success is a direct result of team success.”
Missouri-St. Louis’ Isaiah Fuller was named the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year and Drury’s Logan Applegate the GLVC Freshman of the Year. Overall, 21 individuals earned a place on two All-GLVC teams, including 10 on the All-Defensive Team and five on the All-Freshman unit.
The GLVC Championship Tournament tips tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. ET as the top-seeded Greyhounds face eighth-seeded Quincy in St. Charles, Mo.
HOUNDS DOMINATE FALCONS, REMAIN PERFECT ON THE SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS– The UIndy women’s lacrosse team took down the Notre Dame College Falcons by a final of 17-2 on Wednesday night at Key Stadium. With the win, the Hounds improve to 5-0 and have now won their last 22 games dating back to last season.
A total of nine different players had one or more point on the offensive side of the ball. Megan Dunn led the team with six (three goals and three assists) while Quinn Malcolm was close behind with five (four assists and one goal). On defense, Joey Fowler had a team-leading three caused turnovers while Audrey Moran secured two saves in the winning effort protecting the net.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Much like they’ve done all season, the Hounds raced out ahead early and garnered a six-goal advantage after the opening frame and extended the lead out to 10 heading into the halftime locker room. Down 13-0, Notre Dame finally found the scoreboard in the third but the Hounds continued to pack a powerful punch until the final whistle.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-The Hounds had 29 shots while the Falcons had just eight.
-UIndy forced Notre Dame into 17 turnovers tonight.
-The Greyhounds recorded 12 assists. Malcolm led the team with four.
-UIndy was a perfect 14-of-14 on clears while Notre Dame finished at 8-for-14.
UP NEXT
The Hounds are now set for a tall test coming up on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. UIndy will face No. 2 Tampa at 11 a.m. ET.
HILL, WELLS CLAIM ALL-GLVC SECOND TEAM HONORS
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Sadie Hill and Elana Wells from the UIndy women’s basketball team have each collected Second Team All-GLVC honors for the 2022-23 season, officials at the conference office announced on Wednesday.
Entering the GLVC tournament, Hill currently leads UIndy at 14.8 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. She has produced five double-doubles this season and scored her season high of 32 points back on Feb. 18 in a win over Southwest Baptist. The Indianapolis native also earned her first GLVC Player of the Week honor back on Jan. 3 after her strong performance of 20 points and 11 rebounds against Ferris State.
Wells sits second on the team behind Hill at 9.9 points per game and has had eight double-digit scoring outings this season. The Elgin, Ill., native dropped her career high of 23 points back on Jan. 7 against Drury. This honor for her comes just after she was named to the GLVC All-Freshman Team a season ago.
The Hounds are preparing to battle the No. 5-seeded Missouri S&T Miners on Friday in the GLVC Quarterfinals. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
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 Milwaukee | 45 | 17 | .726 | — | 27-5 | 18-12 | 8-4 | 26-13 | 10-0 | 16 W | ||
| 2 Boston | 45 | 18 | .714 | 0.5 | 25-7 | 20-11 | 9-2 | 28-13 | 8-2 | 1 W | ||
| 3 Philadelphia | 40 | 21 | .656 | 4.5 | 24-10 | 16-11 | 7-6 | 23-15 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 4 Cleveland | 39 | 26 | .600 | 7.5 | 26-7 | 13-19 | 11-3 | 23-13 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 5 New York | 37 | 27 | .578 | 9.0 | 19-15 | 18-12 | 7-8 | 26-16 | 9-1 | 7 W | ||
| 6 Brooklyn | 34 | 28 | .548 | 11.0 | 18-12 | 16-16 | 6-8 | 24-17 | 2-8 | 4 L | ||
| 7 Miami | 33 | 30 | .524 | 12.5 | 19-11 | 14-19 | 7-4 | 16-20 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 8 Atlanta | 31 | 31 | .500 | 14.0 | 17-13 | 14-18 | 5-6 | 19-20 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 9 Toronto | 31 | 32 | .492 | 14.5 | 20-13 | 11-19 | 4-9 | 19-20 | 8-2 | 1 W | ||
| 10 Washington | 29 | 32 | .475 | 15.5 | 14-13 | 15-19 | 7-3 | 16-19 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 11 Chicago | 29 | 34 | .460 | 16.5 | 18-13 | 11-21 | 6-7 | 23-21 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 12 Indiana | 28 | 35 | .444 | 17.5 | 18-15 | 10-20 | 4-5 | 19-18 | 4-6 | 2 W | ||
| 13 Orlando | 26 | 37 | .413 | 19.5 | 15-16 | 11-21 | 3-8 | 13-27 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 14 Charlotte | 20 | 44 | .313 | 26.0 | 11-19 | 9-25 | 7-8 | 11-29 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 15 Detroit | 15 | 48 | .238 | 30.5 | 8-23 | 7-25 | 0-10 | 6-31 | 1-9 | 6 L | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Denver | 44 | 19 | .698 | — | 28-4 | 16-15 | 10-5 | 31-12 | 7-3 | 2 W | ||
| 2 Memphis | 38 | 23 | .623 | 5.0 | 26-5 | 12-18 | 7-2 | 20-16 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 3 Sacramento | 36 | 25 | .590 | 7.0 | 18-12 | 18-13 | 6-6 | 24-13 | 7-3 | 4 W | ||
| 4 Phoenix | 34 | 29 | .540 | 10.0 | 21-10 | 13-19 | 9-1 | 22-15 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 5 Golden State | 32 | 30 | .516 | 11.5 | 25-7 | 7-23 | 4-7 | 20-15 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 6 LA Clippers | 33 | 31 | .516 | 11.5 | 15-15 | 18-16 | 6-5 | 19-19 | 4-6 | 3 L | ||
| 7 Dallas | 32 | 31 | .508 | 12.0 | 20-12 | 12-19 | 8-2 | 24-17 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 8 Minnesota | 32 | 32 | .500 | 12.5 | 20-14 | 12-18 | 8-7 | 23-20 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 9 Utah | 31 | 32 | .492 | 13.0 | 20-13 | 11-19 | 5-6 | 21-19 | 4-6 | 1 L | ||
| 10 New Orleans | 31 | 32 | .492 | 13.0 | 20-11 | 11-21 | 7-4 | 20-15 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 11 LA Lakers | 30 | 33 | .476 | 14.0 | 15-14 | 15-19 | 3-9 | 17-21 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 12 Portland | 29 | 33 | .468 | 14.5 | 17-15 | 12-18 | 5-8 | 21-19 | 3-7 | 2 L | ||
| 13 Oklahoma City | 28 | 34 | .452 | 15.5 | 17-15 | 11-19 | 5-7 | 15-22 | 3-7 | 5 L | ||
| 14 San Antonio | 15 | 47 | .242 | 28.5 | 9-21 | 6-26 | 2-8 | 6-32 | 1-9 | 1 W | ||
| 15 Houston | 13 | 49 | .210 | 30.5 | 8-22 | 5-27 | 1-9 | 7-35 | 0-10 | 11 L | ||
Eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.
X – Clinched Playoff Spot, Y – Clinched Division, Z – Clinched Conference
NHL STANDINGS
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Boston Bruins | 60 | 47 | 8 | 5 | 99 | 45 | 226 | 129 | 24-2-3 | 23-6-2 | 9-1-0 | |
| 2 Carolina Hurricanes | 59 | 39 | 12 | 8 | 86 | 36 | 200 | 154 | 21-7-2 | 18-5-6 | 7-3-0 | |
| 3 New Jersey Devils | 60 | 40 | 15 | 5 | 85 | 39 | 215 | 162 | 18-11-2 | 22-4-3 | 7-2-1 | |
| 4 Toronto Maple Leafs | 61 | 37 | 16 | 8 | 82 | 37 | 209 | 163 | 23-6-4 | 14-10-4 | 6-4-0 | |
| 5 New York Rangers | 61 | 35 | 17 | 9 | 79 | 32 | 204 | 170 | 17-10-4 | 18-7-5 | 6-3-1 | |
| 6 Tampa Bay Lightning | 60 | 37 | 19 | 4 | 78 | 35 | 213 | 180 | 22-5-3 | 15-14-1 | 5-3-2 | |
| 7 New York Islanders | 64 | 31 | 25 | 8 | 70 | 31 | 184 | 176 | 18-11-3 | 13-14-5 | 4-3-3 | |
| 8 Pittsburgh Penguins | 60 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 69 | 29 | 195 | 191 | 16-9-4 | 14-12-5 | 5-5-0 | |
| 9 Buffalo Sabres | 59 | 31 | 24 | 4 | 66 | 30 | 223 | 208 | 12-16-2 | 19-8-2 | 5-5-0 | |
| 10 Florida Panthers | 62 | 30 | 26 | 6 | 66 | 28 | 214 | 214 | 16-9-3 | 14-17-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 11 Washington Capitals | 63 | 30 | 27 | 6 | 66 | 29 | 191 | 189 | 15-13-3 | 15-14-3 | 3-7-0 | |
| 12 Ottawa Senators | 60 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 64 | 28 | 189 | 188 | 18-12-2 | 12-14-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 13 Detroit Red Wings | 60 | 28 | 24 | 8 | 64 | 26 | 182 | 196 | 15-12-3 | 13-12-5 | 6-4-0 | |
| 14 Philadelphia Flyers | 62 | 23 | 28 | 11 | 57 | 22 | 163 | 205 | 11-15-4 | 12-13-7 | 2-6-2 | |
| 15 Montreal Canadiens | 60 | 26 | 30 | 4 | 56 | 22 | 166 | 215 | 14-15-1 | 12-15-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 61 | 20 | 35 | 6 | 46 | 19 | 159 | 225 | 13-18-2 | 7-17-4 | 5-3-2 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Vegas Golden Knights | 61 | 36 | 19 | 6 | 78 | 33 | 195 | 171 | 19-13-1 | 17-6-5 | 7-1-2 | |
| 2 Dallas Stars | 61 | 32 | 16 | 13 | 77 | 29 | 199 | 161 | 16-8-8 | 16-8-5 | 4-3-3 | |
| 3 Los Angeles Kings | 62 | 34 | 20 | 8 | 76 | 28 | 211 | 211 | 17-9-2 | 17-11-6 | 6-2-2 | |
| 4 Minnesota Wild | 61 | 34 | 21 | 6 | 74 | 27 | 177 | 167 | 21-10-2 | 13-11-4 | 7-1-2 | |
| 5 Edmonton Oilers | 62 | 33 | 21 | 8 | 74 | 33 | 237 | 206 | 15-12-5 | 18-9-3 | 4-3-3 | |
| 6 Colorado Avalanche | 59 | 34 | 20 | 5 | 73 | 30 | 190 | 164 | 16-10-4 | 18-10-1 | 7-2-1 | |
| 7 Seattle Kraken | 60 | 33 | 21 | 6 | 72 | 33 | 208 | 192 | 15-12-3 | 18-9-3 | 4-5-1 | |
| 8 Winnipeg Jets | 61 | 35 | 24 | 2 | 72 | 34 | 187 | 165 | 20-10-1 | 15-14-1 | 4-5-1 | |
| 9 Calgary Flames | 61 | 27 | 21 | 13 | 67 | 26 | 193 | 191 | 15-11-3 | 12-10-10 | 3-4-3 | |
| 10 Nashville Predators | 58 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 64 | 26 | 170 | 174 | 16-11-3 | 13-12-3 | 5-5-0 | |
| 11 St. Louis Blues | 60 | 26 | 29 | 5 | 57 | 23 | 183 | 220 | 13-14-4 | 13-15-1 | 3-5-2 | |
| 12 Vancouver Canucks | 60 | 24 | 31 | 5 | 53 | 21 | 204 | 240 | 11-16-1 | 13-15-4 | 4-5-1 | |
| 13 Arizona Coyotes | 61 | 21 | 31 | 9 | 51 | 18 | 166 | 216 | 14-10-2 | 7-21-7 | 4-3-3 | |
| 14 San Jose Sharks | 61 | 18 | 31 | 12 | 48 | 17 | 180 | 226 | 6-16-8 | 12-15-4 | 3-6-1 | |
| 15 Anaheim Ducks | 62 | 20 | 34 | 8 | 48 | 17 | 158 | 255 | 10-16-2 | 10-18-6 | 3-5-2 | |
| 16 Chicago Blackhawks | 60 | 21 | 34 | 5 | 47 | 19 | 150 | 217 | 12-16-3 | 9-18-2 | 5-5-0 | |
Last updated Mar. 2, 1:28 ET
Eight teams in each conference qualify for the divisional playoff format. The top three teams from each division make up the first six spots. The two remaining teams with the highest points, regardless of division, qualify for the final two wild card spots.
X – Clinched Playoff Spot, Y – Clinched Division, Z – Clinched Conference
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1927 Babe Ruth becomes the highest-paid player in major league history when the Yankees announce the Bambino will earn $70,000 per season for the next three years. The ‘Sultan of Swat,’ who had asked for $100,000, meets Colonel Jacob Ruppert at the owner’s brewery in the Yorkville section of Manhattan to finalize the historic deal.
1966 Commissioner William Eckert, citing a rule prohibiting clubs from signing players during their collegiate season, voids the Braves’ contract with USC standout Tom Seaver, who had signed with Atlanta for a $50,000 bonus a week earlier. The Mets will be awarded the future Hall of Famer’s signing rights in a lottery that includes the Phillies and Indians, who also were willing to match the Braves’ terms.
1989 “When he punched Keith Hernandez in spring training last season, it was the only time that Darryl Strawberry hit the cutoff man.” – STEVE WULF, Sports Illustrated journalist. At a photo session, Mets’ outfielder Darryl Strawberry throws a punch at Keith Hernandez, the team’s no-nonsense All-Star first baseman. The spring training scuffle started over comments about salaries and results with the Straw walking out of camp.
1992 The highest-paid player tag now belongs to Ryne Sandberg, when the All-Star infielder signs a four-year contract extension worth 7.1 million dollars per season. The future Hall of Famer will unexpectedly retire during the season in 1994, walking away from nearly $15.8 million from the record deal he inked today.
1995 “Cleveland got the better of the deals. They didn’t get anybody.” – DAVEY JOHNSON, Reds’ manager. The Indians send Mike Curtis, Barbaro Garbey, Lee Granger, and Dave Gray to the Reds for “future considerations.” The transaction, which helps Cincinnati add much-needed players to their roster, marks the first trade of replacement players during a baseball strike.
2001 Rusty Greer, now the Rangers’ new leadoff hitter due to the A-Rod deal, signs a $21.8 million, three-year contract extension with Texas. The .307 career-hitting outfielder could make $36 million with incentives and options.
2005 Wearing their regular-season home uniforms instead of the traditional batting-practice spring training jerseys, the Nationals, in their first game ever, beat the Mets in the exhibition opener at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida, 5-3. The Expos’ first and last games were also against the Mets before leaving Montreal for their new home in Washington, D.C.
2005 In a Capitol Rotunda ceremony, with legislators from both the House and Senate and baseball commissioner Bud Selig in attendance, President George W. Bush awards the nation’s highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously to Jackie Robinson’s widow. Rachel, the widow of the courageous ballplayer, accepts the award for her late husband, who died in 1972.
2005 With hundreds of Red Sox Nation citizens in attendance on the south lawn, President George W. Bush praises the team spirit and winning style of the 2004 World Champions during a White House ceremony. Fall Classic hero and Bush supporter Curt Schilling gives the former owner of the Texas Rangers a white baseball jersey emblazoned with the forty-third Chief Executive’s name and the number 43.
2007 Michael Young signs an $80 million, five-year contract extension offered by the Rangers. The deal, which keeps the three-time All-Star shortstop with Texas through the 2013 season, is the second-largest in franchise history, eclipsed only by the $252 million, 10-year deal Alex Rodriguez free-agent signing in December 2000.
2007 A chartered bus accident at Interstate 75 and Northside Drive in Atlanta kills five Bluffton University baseball players and the driver and his wife. The players, Zach Arend, David Betts, Scott Harmon, Cody Holp, and Tyler Williams, were en route to Sarasota, Florida, to play a twin bill with Eastern Mennonite University before participating in the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers.
2012 In the first change to the MLB playoff structure since the introduction of wild-card teams in 1995, a new one-game, a wild-card game between the teams with the best records in each league, which are not division winners, will become the initial round of the postseason. The new postseason system, which would have allowed the Red Sox and the Braves to avoid their historical collapses last season, increases the reward of winning a division title but opens the door of the possibility of a third-place team winning the World Series.
BASEBALL’S BEST
In 1999 Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced the creation of “The Hank Aaron Award”, initially to honor the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s career home run record. It has since been awarded to the best overall hitter in the National and American Leagues, establishing itself as a fitting tribute to a man arguably recognized as baseball’s most complete performer, and premier example of the definition of the games five tool player (hit, hit with power, field, throw, run).
Born in Mobile, Alabama on February 5, 1934, Hank Aaron never played high school baseball and began his playing career in semi-pro ball before moving on to the Negro Leagues to play shortstop for the Indianapolis Clowns, where his talent and ability were quickly noticed. “He’s a natural born ballplayer. God done sent me something,” said Clowns Manager Buster Haywood. While trying out for the Clowns, Aaron was scouted by the Boston Braves Dewey Griggs and eventually the Braves won out over the Giants for his services. In 1952 he was named the Northern League’s Rookie of the Year, despite playing in just 87 games, batting .336. The following year he was promoted to the South Atlantic League (that circuit’s first African-American player) and earned Most Valuable Player honors by winning the batting title (.362), and leading the league in runs batted in (125), runs (115) and hits (208).
Aaron began his major league career in 1954 (he was the last Negro League player to play in the major leagues) when a spring training injury to Bobby Thomson opened up a spot on the Braves roster. After going 0-5 in his debut on April 13, he settled in and connected for his first career home run off Vic Raschi ten days later. He finished the season with a respectable .280 average. In 1955 he blossomed into one of the game’s best players batting .314 with 27 home runs and 106 runs batted in. He won his first of two National League batting titles in 1956 with a .328 mark and reached the 200 hit plateau for the first time. It all came together for Aaron and the Braves in 1957 as Milwaukee won the NL pennant (with Aaron homering to clinch it.) Hank claimed the Leagues MVP Award and just missing out on winning the Triple Crown, leading in HR (44) and RBI (132), while finishing third in batting with a .322 average. Then it was on to the World Series, Aaron’s first appearance on the national scene, and the now star player didn’t disappoint. Playing against a superstar he was to be compared with in future years, Mickey Mantle, Hank responded with a .393 average, three home runs and seven RBI as the Braves upset the mighty Yankees in seven games to claim baseball’s world championship. 1958 saw the Braves once again win the pennant, but despite another fine World Series performance by Aaron (he batted .333), Milwaukee fell to the Yankees in a seventh and deciding game.
By this time Hank was posting, season after season, the consistent great numbers that were to become his trademark. Another batting title was won in 1959 (.355), and he also led the league in slugging (.636) and had his only lifetime three home run game versus the Giants. As his career moved into the sixties he again just missed winning the Triple Crown in 1963 with league leading totals in HR (44) and RBI (130), while settling for third in batting average (.319). That year he also joined baseball’s exclusive 30/30 club (30 home runs, 30 stolen bases) by stealing 31 bases. Keeping himself in peak physical condition, a typical Aaron season for 19 years was to average 33 HR, drive in and score 100 runs or more, and hit .300. Hank often attributed his remarkable consistency to something Jackie Robinson had said to him early in his career. “He said, baseball was a game you played every day, not once a week,” said Aaron speaking of Robinson. While many times being overlooked by fans and media when compared to other flashy stars in the 1960’s, such as Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente, Aaron was often given his due praise from his competitors. Once after Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax had struck out young Brave’s hitting star Rico Carty three times in one particular game, the shook up youngster confronted Koufax. “You mad at me, Koufax?” asked Carty. Sandy replied “Young man, I don’t even know you, but as long as you’re hitting in front of Henry Aaron, you’re going to have a tough time with me.” In 1966 the Braves moved to Atlanta and Hank didn’t disappoint his new fans as he clubbed 44 HR and drove in 127 runs. 1969 saw baseball introduce divisional play and Aaron and the Braves were the first winners of the National League’s Western Division. Hank put up his usual consistent great numbers for the season and, despite his team being swept by the eventual World Champion Mets, he homered in all three games of the first National League Championship Series, and batted .357 with seven RBI against the young, hard throwing New York pitching staff.
Continued success came to Hank Aaron in the 1970’s as he collected his 3000th hit (the first player with 500 home runs to do so) in 1970, attained career highs with a .669 slugging percentage and 47 HR in 1971, and accumulated his 2000th lifetime RBI in 1972. His career home run total reached 639, moving him to third on the all time career HR list behind Willie Mays and Babe Ruth. He was now a clear threat to break what many thought was the insurmountable Ruth total of 714 career HR. “As far as I’m concerned, Aaron is the best ball player of my era…He is to baseball of the last 15 years what Joe DiMaggio was before him,” said Mickey Mantle in 1970. While chasing the Ruth mark Aaron continued to speak out and seek racial equality in baseball. He often criticized the game for not having a minority manager and minorities in front office positions. “On the field, Blacks have been able to be super giants. But, once our playing days are over, this is the end of it and we go back to the back of the bus again.” said Hank. Sadly, the speaking out and the color of his skin deemed Aaron undeserving of Ruth’s hallowed record to many, who showered him and his family with insults at games and death threats through the mail. Hank persevered and, after slamming 40 HR at the age of 39 in 1973, he stood on the threshold of breaking a record few thought would ever be broken.
As if he didn’t have enough distractions in his pursuit of Ruth’s mark, Aaron faced another controversy as the Braves announced at the start of the 1974 season that Hank would not play in any of the games of the their opening series against the Reds in Cincinnati in hopes of Aaron tying and breaking the record in Atlanta the following week. Then MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn intervened and ordered the Braves, “in the best interests of baseball”, to play Aaron in at least two of the three games versus the Reds. So Hank was in the lineup for the opener against the Reds on April 4. 1974 and rose to the occasion in the first inning, lining a Jack Billingham pitch over the left field fence to join the Babe at 714. Aaron played one of the other two games in Cincinnati and did not homer, so the stage was set for the record breaker to be hit at home. On Monday night, April 8, 1974, against the Dodgers before a National TV audience, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Hank stroked a 1-0 Al Downing pitch over the left field fence for his 715th career homer and baseball history was made.
Aaron finished 1974 with just 20 home runs and after the season was traded to the American League’s Milwaukee Brewers, enabling him to finish his career in the city he had helped bring many baseball memories. His playing days ended after the 1976 season and along with his all time total of 755 home runs he holds Major League lifetime marks for runs batted in (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), and total bases (6,856). He ranks second in at bats (12,364) and intentional walks (293), is third in runs (2,174 tied with Ruth), games (3,298), and hits (3771), fourth in sacrifice flies (121), and ninth in doubles (624). He hit .300 or better in 14 seasons (winning two National League batting titles), led the NL in hits twice, won three NL home run crowns (and tied for a fourth), slugged 40 HR’s or more eight times, hit 20 or more homers 20 consecutive years, drove in 100 runs on 11 occasions (leading the NL four times), led the NL in slugging percentage four seasons, never struck out 100 times in a year, scored 100 runs in 13 seasons (topping the NL three times), and won three Gold Gloves.
After his retirement as an active player in 1976, Hank Aaron returned to Braves in the front office capacity of Vice President of Player Development. His overseeing of young talent such as former NL MVP Dale Murphy was instrumental in the Braves winning the NL Western Division in 1982. Since 1989 he has served the Braves as Senior Vice President and Assistant to the President. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982 and was named to Baseball’s All-Century Team in 1999.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW
1901 AMERICAN LEAGUE
Off the field…
As President William McKinley began his second term, he was fatally shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz. Czolgosz stated that the President was “an enemy of good working people” and was later judged to be sane and executed. The chief event of McKinley’s administration was the war with Spain, which resulted in the United States’ acquisition of the Philippines and other islands. Theodore Roosevelt was promptly sworn in as his successor and embarked on a wide-ranging program of governmental reform and conservation of natural resources.
In the American League…
On April 28th, Cleveland Indians rookie pitcher Charles Baker surrendered an American League record twenty-three singles in a 13-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
In May, White Stockings Herm McFarland and Dummy Hoy set one of the first American League records (most homeruns in a game) with two grand slams during Chicago’s 19-9 win over the Detroit Tigers. Detroit also set a Major League mark of their own with twelve errors (ten by the infield) that was amazingly matched by the White Sox in 1903 — against the Tigers.
With two outs in the ninth, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Bill Reidy set a Major League record after surrendering ten consecutive hits for a 13-2 loss to the Boston Somersets on June 2nd.
In the National League…
Cincinnati Reds ace Noodles Hahn struck out sixteen Boston Brave batters on May 22nd for a 4-3 victory and a record that would stand until Jim Maloney matched it in 1963.
On June 20th, Honus Wagner became the first twentieth century player to steal home twice in a single game, as the Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the New York Giants, 7-0.
The Brooklyn Dodgers tied their highest score of the previous century (May 20, 1896) after beating the Cincinnati Reds 25-6 in a September 23rd outing at League Park II.
Around the League…
The American League formally organized with the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Somersets, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Blues, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago White Sox. Three of the leagues original clubs in Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Buffalo were dropped. The player limit was set at fourteen per team, and the inaugural schedule was set at one-hundred forty games.
The National League Rules Committee decreed that all foul balls are to count as strikes, except after two, catchers must play within ten feet of the batter, a ball will be called if the pitcher does not throw to a ready and waiting batter within twenty seconds, and that the umpire will remove all players using indecent language.
At the December league meeting, the Milwaukee Brewers franchise was officially dropped from the American League and replaced by the St. Louis Browns.
OPENING DAY HISTORY
For over a century, baseball has been hailed above all other sports as America’s National Pastime. And no other game during the regular one-hundred sixty-two game season has been as eagerly anticipated as Opening Day. Just look at any die-hard baseball fan’s calendar. Vacation? Holidays? Anniversaries? All are often forgotten and pale in comparison with the coveted first game of the season. Ask any fan what the “official” start of Spring is. Chances are their answer will be Opening Day. Much more than just an event, it is an experience.
Major League Baseball’s first officially recognized franchise the Cincinnati Reds were historically awarded the privilege of “opening the Openers” and hosted the outings from 1876-1989. Only twice during this time (1877 and 1966) were they forced to debut on the road due to rain. Finally in 1990, the tradition was broken and the Reds were scheduled to appear as the visitors against the Houston Astros. Despite the prestige of being christened as baseball’s opening act, Cincinnati has posted an average record of 50-52-1 that has been shadowed by the countless spectacles off the baseline including parades, fireworks, circus performances and the opening of new ballparks in 1884, 1894, 1912 and 2003.
A national event, Opening Day has also become a “political pitcher’s” arena for U.S. Presidents to show their “stuff.” On April 14, 1910, President, and baseball enthusiast, William Howard Taft attended the home opener in Washington D.C. Since then, eleven sitting U.S. presidents have tossed out the season’s ceremonial first pitch. One standout, Harry S. Truman, showcased his ambidextrous talent when he threw out balls with both his right and left arm in 1950. Beyond Presidents, Opening Day has witnessed many other historical performances:
Ted Williams was a .449 hitter in openers, with three home runs and fourteen runs batted in during fourteen games. “Teddy Ballgame” also boasted at least one hit in every Opening Day game he appeared in. Williams’ first Opening Day (April 20, 1939) was especially noteworthy as he faced the rival New York Yankees and Lou Gehrig, who was playing in his 2,123rd consecutive game.
Opening Day 1940 witnessed one of the most famous pitching events as Cleveland ace Bob Feller and White Sox hurler Eddie Smith went head-to-head. Smith blinked, but Feller remained in control and tossed the only Opening Day no-hitter in Major League history.
Hammerin’ Hank Aaron ignited the crowd at Riverfront Stadium on his first swing of the 1974 season when he tagged Cincinnati Reds for his 714th career home run to tie Babe Ruth on the all-time list.
Unfortunately, Opening Day has also been marred by riots and civil disobedience. At the start of the 1907 season, the New York Giants opened against the Phillies following a heavy snowstorm. In preparation for the game, groundskeepers were forced to shovel large drifts of snow onto the outer edges of the field in foul territory. After falling behind 3-0, the disappointed fans at the Polo Grounds began hurling snowballs onto the playing field, disrupting play. As the melee progressed, chaos ensued and fans began rushing onto the field to continue the snowball fight. After being pelted, Home plate umpire Bill Klem had enough and called a forfeit in favor of the Phillies.
Statistically speaking, how important is Opening Day to a team in regards to a championship season? The answer is not that much. The record for most consecutive Opening Day wins by a team is nine, set by the Cincinnati Red (1983-1991). The Detroit Tigers, who won every Opening Day from 2009 through 2017, tied the Big Red Machine, but lost number ten in 2018. The Houston Astros are currently on a nine-game winning streak which started in 2013, and has continued through 2021. On April 18, 2022, when the Astros play their Opening Day game at Minute Maid Park, they could possibly set a new Major League record!
Individual Opening Day stats however, speak volumes on the career accomplishments of a player. On the mound, Greg Maddux was a sure thing with a perfect 6-0 record in seven career starts. Jimmy Key holds the record for most wins on Opening Day without a loss, with seven and other perfect Opening Day hurlers include Wes Ferrell at 6-0, and Lon Warneke and Rip Sewell with 5-0 scorecards.
At the plate, Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson, future Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and 2x All-Star Adam Dunn each hit eight career / record setting home runs on the first day of the season, while Willie Mays and Eddie Mathews each belted seven Opening Day round-trippers.
Above all others Walter Johnson was perhaps the greatest ballplayer ever to don a uniform on Opening Day. In fourteen season openers for the Washington Senators, Johnson hurled a record nine shutouts with a nine and five (9-5) overall record. His two most famous starts include a 3-0 masterpiece against the A’s in 1910 and a 1-0 marathon victory while battling fifteen innings against Philadelphia’s Eddie Rommel.
Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn, who played for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, summed up the essence of Opening Day when he said, “An opener is not like any other game. There’s that little extra excitement, a faster beating of the heart. You have that anxiety to get off to a good start, for yourself and for the team. You know that when you win the first one, you can’t lose ’em all.”
Regardless of the outcome, Opening Day still remains as the number one date in the hearts, minds (and on the calendars) of baseball fans everywhere. The official countdown begins after the last pitch of the World Series when we can’t wait to hear those two magic words again, “Play Ball!”
FOOTBALL HISTORY
March 2, 2004 – Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Peyton Manning to a 7-year, $98 million deal with a $34.5 million signing bonus. To that date it was the largest package ever in the NFL. Manning rewarded the franchise by winning a Super Bowl Championship and losing another title game. He was eventually replaced after a neck injury but returned triumphantly in Denver to win a another Super Bowl game, He was in 14 Pro Bowls, 5 times was the NFL MVP and had numerous other awards and records held per the Pro Football Reference.
March 2, 2012 – Bountygate – NFL establishes existence of a bounty program at the New Orleans Saints 2009-11. The Saints players had allegedly been given incentives to injure opposing players by Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams. Head Coach Sean Payton along with GM Mickey Loomis and Williams were all suspended for the 2012 season due the findings.
HOF Birthdays
March 2, 1946 – Bay City, Michigan – Wayne Meylan the Nebraska Corn Huskers standout linebacker was born.
March 2, 1954 – Los Angeles, California – UCLA’s fine Quarterback John Sciarra arrived into the world. The FootballFoundation.org website says that John was a Consensus All-America selection in 1975. Sciarra was named as the Player of the Game in the 1976 Rose Bowl after leading the Bruins to an upset over No. 1 ranked, undefeated Ohio State. Sciarra holds the school record for rushing yards gained by a quarterback with 1,813. The National Football Foundation voters selected John Sciarra for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
13 – 9 – 4 – 7 – 23 – 17 – 19 – 66 – 13
March 2, 1974 – National Association of Professional Baseball Players officially adopts the batter’s box; decide any player betting on his own team will be expelled; any player betting on any other team to forfeit his pay
March 2, 1918 – Joe Malone goes scoreless in Montreal Canadiens’ 5-3 season-ending loss to Toronto Arenas; finishes the first NHL season with 44 goals, a record that stands until 1944-45
March 2, 1929 – George Hainsworth becomes first NHL goaltender to record 20 shutouts in one season when the Montreal Canadiens beat the visiting Boston Bruins, 3-0; ends season with 22
March 2, 1962 – Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain, Number 13 scored 100 points in the Warriors’ 169-147 win over New York Knicks in Hershey, PA. The Big Man went 36-of-63 from field, 28-of-32 from free-throw line and set a record for the most ever points scored by an NBA player in a single game.
March 2, 1966 – Chicago Black Hawks right wing Number 9, Bobby Hull becomes the NHL’s first 2-time 50-goal scorer when he strikes in a 5-4 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Stadium
March 2, 1966 – Jean Béliveau, Number 4 scored his 380th career NHL goal when his Montreal team tied Toronto, 3-3. This goal moved him ahead of Ted Lindsay into the #3 spot all time, behind Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe and Maurice Richar.
March 2, 1969 – Boston center Phil Esposito, Number 7 became the first skater in NHL history to record 100 points in a season when on this day, he scored not one but two, 3rd-period goals in the Bruins’ 4-0 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.
March 2, 1980 – Phoenix Suns point guard Mike Bratz, Number 23 had is NBA free throw streak end at 57 games with a miss in the Suns’ 123-115 home win over the LA Lakers.
March 2, 1986 – Edmonton’s right wing Jari Kurri, wearing Number 17 scored 2 goals, including the overtime wining lamp lighter, to lead the Oilers to a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kurri, put up 100 points for the 4th straight NHL season.
March 2, 1988 – The flaming basketball is adopted as NBA franchise Miami Heat’s official logo from over 13,000 entries; Mark Henderson submits the winning entry
March 2, 1991 – On a day when his father Bobby made history some 25 years earlier, St. Louis right wing Brett Hull, Number 19 becomes a 70-goal scorer for the 2nd straight season and has 3 assists to help the Blues earn a 4-4 tie in Philadelphia; finishes season with NHL career-best 86 goals
March 2, 1993 – Number 66 of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mario Lemieux undergoes his 22nd and final radiation treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, then joined the Penguins in Philadelphia and has a goal and assist in a 5-4 loss to the Flyers.
March 2, 1993 – Winnipeg Jets Number 13, right wing Teemu Selänne, from Finland, breaks NHL record for goals by a rookie with a hat-trick in a 7-4 loss to the visiting Quebec Nordiques. In the effort he passed Mike Bossy’s mark of 52
March 2, 1995 – Joe Mullen Number 7 of Pittsburgh, becomes second NHL player to appear in 300 NHL games with 3 different teams when he played for the Penguins in a 6-3 loss in Buffalo. His game count went something like this: 379 in Pittsburgh, St. Louis 301, and Calgary 345
TV THURSDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| ASUN Semifinal | TBA | – |
| ASUN Semifinal | TBA | – |
| Sun Belt Second Round: South Alabama vs. App State | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| MVC First Round: UNI vs. Illinois State | 1:00pm | – |
| Sun Belt Second Round: Troy vs. Coastal Carolina/Arkansas State | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| MVC First Round: Indiana State vs. Evansville | 3:30pm | – |
| Patriot League Quarterfinal: Boston University at Army West Point | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Sun Belt Second Round: Old Dominion vs. Texas State/Georgia State | 6:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Michigan at Illinois | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| Wichita State at Houston | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Rutgers at Minnesota | 7:00pm | FS1 |
| UCF at Temple | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| MVC First Round: Murray State vs. Valparaiso | 7:00pm | – |
| Manhattan at Siena | 7:00pm | – |
| Marist at Iona | 7:00pm | ESPN3 |
| Patriot League Quarterfinal: #8/#9 at Colgate | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Rider at Saint Peter’s | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| FIU at Louisiana Tech | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Coppin State at Morgan State | 7:00pm | – |
| Quinnipiac at Fairfield | 7:30pm | ESPN3 |
| OVC Quarterfinal: Tennessee State vs. Southeast Missouri/Lindenwood | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Middle Tennessee at North Texas | 8:00pm | CBSSN |
| Charlotte at UTSA | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Florida Atlantic at Rice | 8:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Alabama A&M at Grambling State | 8:00pm | – |
| Sun Belt Second Round: Georgia Southern vs. ULM | 8:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Alcorn State at Mississippi Valley State | 8:30pm | YouTube |
| Arizona State at UCLA | 9:00pm | ESPN |
| Memphis at SMU | 9:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Purdue at Wisconsin | 9:00pm | FS1 |
| Norfolk State at Howard | 9:00pm | ESPNU |
| Stanford at Oregon State | 9:00pm | PAC12N |
| WCC First Round: Portland vs. San Diego | 9:00pm | BYUtv |
| Jackson State at UAPB | 9:00pm | – |
| UC Santa Barbara at UC Davis | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| WKU at UTEP | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Alabama State at Southern | 9:00pm | – |
| MVC First Round: Missouri State vs. UIC | 9:30pm | – |
| OVC Quarterfinal: UT Martin vs. SIUE/Southern Indiana | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| UC Irvine at UC Riverside | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Cal Poly at UC San Diego | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| CSU Bakersfield at Long Beach State | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Hawai’i at CSUN | 10:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Arizona at USC | 11:00pm | ESPN |
| California at Oregon | 11:00pm | FS1 |
| Washington State at Washington | 11:00pm | ESPNU |
| WCC First Round: Pacific vs Pepperdine | 11:30pm | BYUtv |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA: Arnold Palmer Invitational | 2:00pm | GOLF |
| MLB SPRING TRAINING | TIME ET | TV |
| Philadelphia vs Boston | 1:00pm | ESPN |
| Arizona vs LA Dodgers | 3:05pm | MLBN |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Toronto at Washington | 7:00pm | Sportsnet NBCS-WSH |
| Philadelphia at Dallas | 7:30pm | TNT |
| Indiana at San Antonio | 8:30pm | Bally Sports |
| LA Clippers at Golden State | 10:00pm | TNT |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Buffalo at Boston | 7:00pm | MSG-BUF NESN |
| Nashville at Florida | 7:00pm | Bally Sports |
| Ottawa at NY Rangers | 7:00pm | Sportsnet MSG |
| Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay | 7:00pm | Bally Sports ATTSN-PIT |
| Seattle at Detroit | 7:00pm | Root Sports Bally Sports |
| Dallas at Chicago | 8:30pm | NBCS-CHI Bally Sports |
| Toronto at Clagary | 9:00pm | Sportsnet |
| Minnesota at Vancouver | 10:00pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Montreal at Los Angeles | 10:30pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| St. Louis at San Jose | 10:30pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CA |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| Copa del Rey: Real Madrid vs Barcelona | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Copa Libertadores: Always Ready vs Magallanes | 5:00pm | beIN Sports |
| Copa Libertadores: Fortaleza vs Deportivo Maldonado | 7:00pm | beIN Sports |
| Copa Libertadores: Millonarios vs Universidad Católica | 7:00pm | beIN Sports |