FINAL INDIANA SRN BOYS BASKETBALL POLLS
4A
- BEN DAVIS
- PENN
- CENTER GROVE
- HAMMOND CENTRAL
- KOKOMO
3A
- NORTHWOOD
- CONNERSVILLE
- MISHAWAKA MARIAN
- NORWELL
- OAK HILL
2A
- LINTON STOCKTON
- FW BLACKHAWK
- UNIVERSITY
- WAPAHANI
- GARY 21ST CENTURY
1A
- BLOOMFIELD
- ORLEANS
- FOUNTAIN CENTRAL
- MORGAN TOWNSHIP
- LOOGOOTEE
INDIANA BOYS COACHES POLL
FINAL
1. BEN DAVIS (26-0)
2. PENN (23-1)
3. HAMMOND CENTRAL (22-1)
4. KOKOMO (19-4)
5. CENTER GROVE (20-2)
6. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (17-5)
7. BROWNSBURG (18-4)
8. NORTHWOOD (21-2)
9. MISHAWAKA MARIAN (22-2)
10. LINTON-STOCKTON (23-1)
11. GREENFIELD-CENTRAL (21-1)
12. CARMEL (15-7)
13. JENNINGS COUNTY (20-2)
14. NEW PALESTINE (21-2)
15. MUNSTER (22-2)
16. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK (20-3)
17. ANDERSON (19-4)
18. NORWELL (20-3)
18. WAPAHANI (21-1)
20. LAWRENCE NORTH (17-7)
INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL TUESDAY SCHEDULE
MUNSTER SECTIONAL
HAMMOND CENTRAL (22-1) VS. GARY WEST (5-17)
CROWN POINT SECTIONAL
CROWN POINT (14-8) AT PORTAGE (14-8)
LAPORTE SECTIONAL
SOUTH BEND ADAMS (8-13) VS. MICHIGAN CITY (16-6)
PLYMOUTH (10-12) VS. MISHAWAKA (17-6)
ELKHART SECTIONAL
ELKHART (6-16) AT PENN (23-1)
NORTHRIDGE (13-10) VS. WARSAW (14-9)
CARROLL SECTIONAL
DEKALB (6-15) VS. EAST NOBLE (3-19)
FORT WAYNE NORTH (13-9) AT CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) (12-10)
COLUMBIA CITY SECTIONAL
FORT WAYNE WAYNE (17-4) VS. NEW HAVEN (11-12)
HOMESTEAD (17-7) VS. HUNTINGTON NORTH (8-15)
KOKOMO SECTIONAL
HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE) (17-6) VS. LAFAYETTE JEFF (13-10)
LOGANSPORT (8-15) VS. MARION (14-8)
CARMEL SECTIONAL
CARMEL (15-7) AT WESTFIELD (15-7)
FISHERS (13-11) VS. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (7-17)
MUNCIE SECTIONAL
RICHMOND (16-6) VS. PENDLETON HEIGHTS (7-16)
WARREN CENTRAL SECTIONAL
WARREN CENTRAL (13-9) AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL (15-7)
PERRY MERIDIAN SECTIONAL
INDIANAPOLIS RONCALLI (9-13) VS. DECATUR CENTRAL (11-10)
PLAINFIELD SECTIONAL
AVON (10-13) VS. TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (14-10)
CENTER GROVE SECTIONAL
CENTER GROVE (20-2) AT GREENWOOD (8-14)
MOORESVILLE (12-11) VS. BLOOMINGTON NORTH (15-5)
COLUMBUS NORTH SECTIONAL
SHELBYVILLE (9-13) VS. EAST CENTRAL (7-15)
FRANKLIN (10-13) AT COLUMBUS NORTH (14-8)
SEYMOUR SECTIONAL
BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE (16-6) VS. JENNINGS COUNTY (20-2)
FLOYD CENTRAL (7-15) VS. NEW ALBANY (9-13)
NORTH SECTIONAL
EVANSVILLE REITZ (16-6) VS. CASTLE (14-8)
JASPER (12-10) VS. EVANSVILLE HARRISON (16-6)
HANOVER CENTRAL SECTIONAL
BOONE GROVE (5-16) VS. RIVER FOREST (7-15)
LAKE STATION (19-3) VS. GRIFFITH (10-13)
KNOX SECTIONAL
JOHN GLENN (13-10) VS. TIPPECANOE VALLEY (18-5)
JIMTOWN SECTIONAL
MISHAWAKA MARIAN (22-2) VS. SOUTH BEND CLAY (11-11)
JIMTOWN (5-17) AT SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (10-14)
NORTHWOOD SECTIONAL
NORTHWOOD (21-2) AT WAWASEE (9-13)
GARRETT SECTIONAL
FORT WAYNE DWENGER (9-13) VS. ANGOLA (8-14)
FRANKFORT SECTIONAL
WEST LAFAYETTE (13-10) VS. WESTERN (12-10)
PERU SECTIONAL
PERU (14-7) AT MISSISSINEWA (6-16)
NEW CASTLE SECTIONAL
DELTA (14-9) VS. CENTERVILLE (8-13)
DANVILLE SECTIONAL
CRAWFORDSVILLE (8-14) VS. MONROVIA (6-17)
DANVILLE (15-7) AT WESTERN BOONE (6-15)
NORTHVIEW SECTIONAL
OWEN VALLEY (8-15) AT NORTHVIEW (8-15)
SHORTRIDGE SECTIONAL
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN (11-11) VS. BREBEUF JESUIT (14-8)
INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (13-9) VS. INDIANAPOLIS HERRON (2-17)
CHRISTEL HOUSE SECTIONAL
INDIANAPOLIS WASHINGTON (5-17) VS. PURDUE POLY ENGLEWOOD (17-6)
SPEEDWAY (3-18) AT CHRISTEL HOUSE MANUAL (12-9)
GREENSBURG SECTIONAL
RUSHVILLE (5-19) VS. FRANKLIN COUNTY (9-13)
CHARLESTOWN SECTIONAL
NORTH HARRISON (9-11) VS. CORYDON CENTRAL (18-5)
WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
SOUTHRIDGE (13-10) VS. HERITAGE HILLS (15-8)
BOONVILLE SECTIONAL
BOONVILLE (11-11) AT MOUNT VERNON (POSEY) (9-15)
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI (12-10) VS. EVANSVILLE BOSSE (13-10)
WHITING SECTIONAL
GARY 21ST CENTURY (17-5) AT WHITING (9-13)
NORTH JUDSON SECTIONAL
WHEELER (3-19) AT NORTH JUDSON (20-3)
LAVILLE (14-9) VS. HEBRON (12-10)
WESTVIEW SECTIONAL
CHURUBUSCO (3-19) AT WESTVIEW (14-8)
FREMONT (12-10) VS. PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (15-8)
ROCHESTER SECTIONAL
WINAMAC (8-15) VS. NORTH MIAMI (1-21)
PIONEER (5-18) VS. LEWIS CASS (15-7)
SOUTH ADAMS SECTIONAL
ADAMS CENTRAL (18-5) VS. WHITKO (5-17)
DELPHI SECTIONAL
CLINTON PRAIRIE (14-9) VS. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (12-11)
SEEGER (15-6) VS. CARROLL (FLORA) (19-4)
TAYLOR SECTIONAL
BLACKFORD (8-15) AT TAYLOR (17-5)
MONROE CENTRAL SECTIONAL
MUNCIE BURRIS (8-14) VS. WINCHESTER (13-10)
SHENANDOAH SECTIONAL
NORTHEASTERN (18-5) AT SHENANDOAH (9-13)
EASTERN HANCOCK SECTIONAL
IRVINGTON PREP ACADEMY (4-19) AT EASTERN HANCOCK (18-6)
CASCADE SECTIONAL
SHERIDAN (10-12) VS. UNIVERSITY (20-2)
SOUTHMONT SECTIONAL
GREENCASTLE (7-16) VS. PARKE HERITAGE (15-9)
SOUTH RIPLEY SECTIONAL
SWITZERLAND COUNTY (9-14) VS. MILAN (8-15)
SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONAL
HENRYVILLE (16-6) VS. AUSTIN (5-17)
NORTH KNOX SECTIONAL
SULLIVAN (17-7) VS. SOUTH KNOX (16-7)
TELL CITY SECTIONAL
SOUTH SPENCER (21-1) VS. NORTH POSEY (12-10)
CRAWFORD COUNTY (7-16) VS. FOREST PARK (6-17)
MORGAN TWP. SECTIONAL
KOUTS (13-9) VS. WASHINGTON TWP. (6-14)
TRI-TWP. (3-18) AT MORGAN TWP. (18-5)
TRITON SECTIONAL
TRINITY GREENLAWN (6-16) VS. CULVER (10-12)
HAMILTON SECTIONAL
HAMILTON (0-17) AT BETHANY CHRISTIAN (13-10)
WEST CENTRAL SECTIONAL
FRONTIER (10-12) VS. CASTON (8-14)
WEST CENTRAL (8-14) AT SOUTH NEWTON (2-20)
SOUTHWOOD SECTIONAL
FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY (6-16) VS. SOUTHERN WELLS (6-15)
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL SECTIONAL
ATTICA (0-21) AT FOUNTAIN CENTRAL (19-4)
CLINTON CENTRAL (6-17) VS. FAITH CHRISTIAN (9-14)
TRI-CENTRAL SECTIONAL
TRI-CENTRAL (6-17) AT ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY (1-21)
TRI SECTIONAL
TRI (16-5) AT BLUE RIVER (17-6)
WHITE RIVER VALLEY SECTIONAL
SHAKAMAK (13-10) VS. BLOOMINGTON LIGHTHOUSE (15-7)
INDIANA DEAF SECTIONAL
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (18-4) AT INDIANA DEAF (8-15)
INDIANAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL (4-14) VS. TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN (16-6)
LUTHERAN SECTIONAL
EMINENCE (3-18) VS. PROVIDENCE CRISTO REY (5-16)
INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY (11-13) VS. GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (17-6)
EDINBURGH SECTIONAL
SOUTH DECATUR (12-11) AT EDINBURGH (13-9)
WEST WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
WEST WASHINGTON (11-11) AT BORDEN (16-7)
ROCK CREEK ACADEMY (7-14) VS. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (16-6)
NEW WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
SHAWE MEMORIAL (9-14) AT NEW WASHINGTON (10-13)
RISING SUN (10-13) VS. MEDORA (9-12)
LOOGOOTEE SECTIONAL
VINCENNES RIVET (4-17) AT LOOGOOTEE (16-7)
WOOD MEMORIAL SECTIONAL
EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN (14-9) AT WOOD MEMORIAL (8-14)
CANNELTON (1-21) VS. EVANSVILLE DAY (9-15)
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLLS/RANKINGS
AP
| Rank | School | Votes | Prev |
| 1 | Houston 27-2 | 1531 (49) | 1 |
| 2 | Alabama 25-4 | 1456 (5) | 2 |
| 3 | Kansas 24-5 | 1445 (8) | 3 |
| 4 | UCLA 25-4 | 1391 | 4 |
| 5 | Purdue 24-5 | 1200 | 5 |
| 6 | Marquette 23-6 | 1173 | 10 |
| 7 | Baylor 21-8 | 1099 | 9 |
| 8 | Arizona 24-5 | 1091 | 7 |
| 9 | Texas 22-7 | 1077 | 8 |
| 10 | Gonzaga 25-5 | 1026 | 12 |
| 11 | Kansas State 22-7 | 1002 | 14 |
| 12 | Tennessee 21-8 | 736 | 11 |
| 13 | Virginia 21-6 | 718 | 6 |
| 14 | UConn 22-7 | 714 | 18 |
| 15 | Indiana 20-9 | 697 | 17 |
| 16 | Miami (FL) 23-6 | 668 | 13 |
| 17 | Saint Mary’s 25-6 | 592 | 15 |
| 18 | San Diego State 23-5 | 552 | 22 |
| 19 | Xavier 21-8 | 505 | 16 |
| 20 | Providence 21-8 | 299 | 20 |
| 21 | Maryland 20-9 | 184 | NR |
| 22 | TCU 19-10 | 173 | 24 |
| 23 | Kentucky 20-9 | 162 | NR |
| 24 | Texas A&M 21-8 | 161 | 25 |
| 25 | Pittsburgh 21-8 | 140 | NR |
COACHES
| Rank | School | Votes | Prev |
| 1 | Houston 27-2 | 794 (27) | 1 |
| 2 | Alabama 25-4 | 752 (2) | 2 |
| 3 | Kansas 24-5 | 729 (3) | 4 |
| 4 | UCLA 25-4 | 728 | 3 |
| 5 | Purdue 24-5 | 630 | 5 |
| 6 | Marquette 23-6 | 626 | 9 |
| 7 | Texas 22-7 | 558 | 8 |
| 8 | Baylor 21-8 | 527 | 10 |
| 9 | Arizona 24-5 | 518 | 7 |
| 10 | Gonzaga 25-5 | 515 | 12 |
| 11 | Kansas State 22-7 | 469 | 16 |
| 12 | Virginia 21-6 | 389 | 6 |
| 13 | Indiana 20-9 | 362 | 17 |
| 14 | Tennessee 21-8 | 353 | 13 |
| 15 | Miami (FL) 23-6 | 349 | 11 |
| 16 | Saint Mary’s 25-6 | 339 | 14 |
| 17 | Xavier 21-8 | 274 | 15 |
| 18 | UConn 22-7 | 254 | 23 |
| 19 | San Diego State 23-5 | 251 | 20 |
| 20 | Providence 21-8 | 239 | 18 |
| 21 | Texas A&M 21-8 | 113 | 25 |
| 22 | TCU 19-10 | 109 | NR |
| 23 | Creighton 18-11 | 95 | 19 |
| 24 | Maryland 20-9 | 82 | NR |
| 25 | Pittsburgh 21-8 | 64 | NR |
RPI
| Rank | School | RPI | Prev |
| 1 | Alabama 25-4 | 0.6693 | 1 |
| 2 | Kansas 24-5 | 0.6626 | 2 |
| 3 | Gonzaga 25-5 | 0.6408 | 3 |
| 4 | San Diego State 23-5 | 0.6382 | 4 |
| 5 | Houston 27-2 | 0.6345 | 5 |
| 6 | Nevada 22-7 | 0.6342 | 6 |
| 7 | UCLA 25-4 | 0.6312 | 8 |
| 8 | Baylor 21-8 | 0.6311 | 7 |
| 9 | Purdue 24-5 | 0.6270 | 9 |
| 10 | Saint Mary’s 25-6 | 0.6232 | 10 |
| 11 | Texas 22-7 | 0.6209 | 11 |
| 12 | Florida Atlantic 26-3 | 0.6199 | 12 |
| 13 | Kansas State 22-7 | 0.6197 | 13 |
| 14 | Virginia 21-6 | 0.6128 | 14 |
| 15 | Tennessee 21-8 | 0.6112 | 17 |
| 16 | Arizona 24-5 | 0.6110 | 15 |
| 17 | Indiana 20-9 | 0.6107 | 15 |
| 18 | Utah State 22-7 | 0.6102 | 18 |
| 19 | Arkansas 19-10 | 0.6094 | 19 |
| 20 | Memphis 22-7 | 0.6082 | 23 |
| 21 | Boise State 22-7 | 0.6074 | 20 |
| 22 | Duke 21-8 | 0.6072 | 21 |
| 23 | Marquette 23-6 | 0.6050 | 22 |
| 24 | Miami (FL) 23-6 | 0.6044 | 24 |
| 25 | UConn 22-7 | 0.5990 | 25 |
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#7 BAYLOR 74 OKLAHOMA STATE 68
NORTH CAROLINA 77 FLORIDA STATE 66
WEST VIRGINIA 72 IOWA STATE 69
WYOMING 80 NEVADA 71
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/CBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230227
WOMEN’S COLLEGE POLLS/RATINGS
AP
| Rank | School | Votes | Prev |
| 1 | South Carolina 29-0 | 700 (28) | 1 |
| 2 | Indiana 26-2 | 650 | 2 |
| 3 | Utah 25-3 | 599 | 8 |
| 4 | LSU 27-1 | 590 | 5 |
| 5 | Maryland 24-5 | 588 | 7 |
| 6 | Stanford 27-4 | 587 | 3 |
| 7 | Iowa 23-6 | 560 | 6 |
| 8 | Virginia Tech 24-4 | 497 | 9 |
| 9 | UConn 25-5 | 484 | 4 |
| 10 | Notre Dame 24-4 | 481 | 10 |
| 11 | Villanova 25-5 | 378 | 15 |
| 12 | Texas 22-7 | 355 | 19 |
| 13 | Duke 24-5 | 347 | 11 |
| 14 | Ohio State 23-6 | 331 | 16 |
| 15 | Gonzaga 27-3 | 282 | 18 |
| 16 | Oklahoma 22-5 | 273 | 13 |
| 17 | Michigan 21-8 | 202 | 12 |
| 18 | North Carolina 20-9 | 183 | 22 |
| 19 | UCLA 22-8 | 181 | 17 |
| 20 | Colorado 22-7 | 174 | 21 |
| 21 | Arizona 21-8 | 144 | 14 |
| 22 | UNLV 27-2 | 122 | 24 |
| 23 | Iowa State 18-8 | 115 | 20 |
| 24 | Middle Tennessee 23-4 | 58 | 25 |
| 25 | South Florida 25-5 | 42 | NR |
RPI
| Rank | School | RPI | Prev |
| 1 | South Carolina 29-0 | 0.7057 | 1 |
| 2 | Indiana 26-2 | 0.6947 | 2 |
| 3 | UConn 25-5 | 0.6937 | 3 |
| 4 | Stanford 27-4 | 0.6850 | 4 |
| 5 | Utah 25-3 | 0.6663 | 6 |
| 6 | Duke 24-5 | 0.6611 | 5 |
| 7 | Maryland 24-5 | 0.6598 | 7 |
| 8 | Notre Dame 24-4 | 0.6484 | 11 |
| 9 | Virginia Tech 24-4 | 0.6483 | 8 |
| 10 | Texas 22-7 | 0.6463 | 9 |
| 11 | Villanova 25-5 | 0.6459 | 10 |
| 12 | Iowa 23-6 | 0.6450 | 17 |
| 13 | LSU 27-1 | 0.6438 | 12 |
| 14 | Iowa State 18-8 | 0.6407 | 13 |
| 15 | Colorado 22-7 | 0.6379 | 16 |
| 16 | Oklahoma 22-5 | 0.6378 | 14 |
| 17 | Gonzaga 27-3 | 0.6375 | 15 |
| 18 | Creighton 20-7 | 0.6352 | 19 |
| 19 | Tennessee 21-10 | 0.6341 | 17 |
| 20 | UCLA 22-8 | 0.6258 | 23 |
| 21 | South Florida 25-5 | 0.6252 | 22 |
| 22 | Alabama 20-9 | 0.6251 | 20 |
| 23 | Middle Tennessee 23-4 | 0.6245 | 24 |
| 24 | North Carolina State 19-10 | 0.6232 | 21 |
| 25 | North Carolina 20-9 | 0.6221 | NR |
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
#9 UCONN 60 XAVIER 51
#11 VILLANOVA 83 SETON HALL 56
BAYLOR 63 #12 TEXAS 58
CREIGHTON 74 BUTLER 46
MARQUETTE 98 DEPAUL 80
ST. JOHN’S 53 PROVIDENCE 50
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/WCBK/SCOREBOARD.ASP?CONF=-1&DAY=20230227
NBA SCOREBOARD
MIAMI 101 PHILADELPHIA 99
CHARLOTTE 117 DETROIT 106
NEW YORK 109 BOSTON 94
ORLANDO 101 NEW ORLEANS 93
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/SCOREBOARD.ASP
NHL SCOREBOARD
OTTAWA 6 DETROIT 2
VANCOUVER 5 DALLAS 4
BOSTON 3 EDMONTON 2
COLORADO 3 VEGAS 0
ANAHEIM 4 CHICAGO 2
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NHL/SCOREBOARD.ASP
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL – SPRING TRAINING
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 10 SEATTLE 1
MILWAUKEE 10 KANSAS CITY 4
COLORADO 7 OAKLAND 3
CLEVELAND 12 CHICAGO CUBS (SS) 4
TEXAS 13 CINCINNATI 2
SAN FRANCISCO 8 LA ANGELS 6
LA DODGERS 7 SAN DIEGO 6
ARIZONA 3 CHICAGO CUBS (SS) 0
TAMPA BAY 14 BALTIMORE 2
BOSTON 4 MINNESOTA 1
ATLANTA 7 TORONTO 0
MIAMI 4 HOUSTON 3
PHILADELPHIA 9 PITTSBURGH 7
ST. LOUIS 12 NY METS 7
NY YANKEES 8 DETROIT 5
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/MLB/SCOREBOARD.ASP
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
HOUSTON, ALABAMA TOP AP TOP 25; MARQUETTE CLIMBING, PITT IN
(AP) — The top five spots in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll remained the same. The rest of the AP Top 25 was a big jumble.
Houston was No. 1 for the second straight week in the poll released Monday, receiving 49 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel. No. 2 Alabama had five first-place votes and No. 3 Kansas received eight.
UCLA and Purdue rounded out the top five. The Boilermakers held at No. 5 despite losing to No. 15 Indiana.
In the rest of the poll, only No. 20 Providence kept the same position from last week as teams get ready for conference tournaments next week and the start of March Madness.
Alabama held its spot after winning two games despite a challenging week off the court. Brandon Miller had a pair of huge games since police alleged that he brought a gun to former teammate Darius Miles, who is charged with capital murder in a fatal shooting.
Against Arkansas on Saturday, Miller’s regular pregame introduction with a Crimson Tide staffer giving him a pat down didn’t sit well with coach Nate Oats – or anyone else.
“I can assure you it definitely will not happen again the remainder of this year,” Oats said.
Miller had 24 points in the 86-83 win over the Razorbacks after scoring 41 in a two-point win over South Carolina.
SOARING EAGLES
Marquette has made a quick rise under coach Shaka Smart.
The Golden Eagles wrapped up a share of their first Big East regular-season title in a decade with a 90-84 win over DePaul on Saturday and climbed four spots in this week’s poll to No. 6. It is Marquette’s highest ranking hitting No. 1 in 1977-78.
HOUSTON ON TOP
Houston moved into the top spot last week and held onto it after a pair of routs last week. The Cougars’ 76-57 win at East Carolina on Saturday clinched the American Athletic Association regular-season championship, the fourth time in five seasons they’ve at least shared the conference title.
“Our kids know how to win – I say that a lot,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “But we’ve figured out how to play our system, be unselfish.”
RISING/FALLING
Marquette matched No. 14 UConn and No. 18 San Diego State with the week’s biggest jump among teams in the poll, each climbing four spots.
No. 13 Virginia took the biggest tumble, losing seven spots following losses to Boston College and North Carolina last week.
IN AND OUT
No. 21 Maryland is back in the AP Top 25 after wins over Minnesota and then-No. 23 Northwestern.
No. 23 Kentucky returned to the poll after a seven-week absence. The Wildcats had a rapid fall from being No. 4 in the preseason poll, but reeled off wins over No. 12 Tennessee, Florida and Auburn.
No. 25 Pittsburgh is ranked for the first time since 2016 after beating Georgia Tech and Syracuse last week.
Northwestern’s return to the poll for the first time in two years didn’t last long. The Wildcats dropped out this week after losses to Maryland and Illinois.
Iowa State fell out from No. 23 after three straight losses and consecutive losses knocked out Creighton from No. 19.
TERRY HOLLAND, WHO TRANSFORMED VIRGINIA BASKETBALL, DIES
(AP) — Terry Holland, who elevated Virginia basketball to national prominence during 16 seasons as coach and later had a distinguished career as an athletic administrator, has died, the school announced Monday. He was 80.
Holland died Sunday night, according to the school, which confirmed the death with his family. His health had declined since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019 and he stopped taking his prominent courtside seat at Virginia home games.
Holland took over a flailing program in 1974. The Cavaliers had had just three winning seasons in 21 years and Holland created a culture that proved a formula for success: His Cavaliers played rugged defense.
Two of his first three teams finished with losing records but only one more did as Holland compiled a 326-173 record, led Virginia to nine NCAA Tournaments, two Final Fours and the 1980 NIT title. He also guided the Cavaliers to their first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title in 1976 despite a modest 15-11 regular-season record.
Including a five-year stint at Davidson, Holland’s record is 418-216.
His biggest victory, however, likely was luring the nation’s most coveted recruit, 7-foot-4 Ralph Sampson of Harrisonburg, to join the Cavaliers for the 1979-80 season, and it was then that the turnaround took off.
“Terry Holland,” Sampson told The Associated Press in an interview earlier this month when asked what made him choose upstart Virginia over more established suitors. “He was mainly the deciding factor. Good school, good teammates, good education, ACC. I mean, you had Dean Smith and all those people around, but he understood my demeanor and fit what I wanted in a coach. He was the perfect fit for me.”
The Cavaliers won the NIT in Sampson’s freshman season and went to the NCAA Tournament for his last three years, reaching the Final Four in 1981 before losing to North Carolina in the national semifinals.
Sampson, a future Hall of Famer, earned national player of the year honors in each of his last three seasons, and the profile his presence provided surely aided Holland in building his program. Virginia went back to the Final Four in its first season without Sampson, losing in overtime to Houston in the national semifinals, and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in four of Holland’s final six seasons as coach.
Holland also built an extensive coaching tree, with many assistants moving on to become successful head coaches themselves. Among them: Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers, Jim Larranaga at Miami, Jeff Jones at Old Dominion and former longtime college coaches Dave Odom and Seth Greenberg.
With two daughters of his own, Holland also had an appreciation for the women’s game, former Cavaliers coach Debbie Ryan said.
“He knew that we had to go to Clemson and Georgia Tech, so he helped us to get the league to schedule both of us on the same days to play doubleheaders,” she said. “We would fly down to Clemson, bus to Georgia Tech and then fly back, the men’s and the women’s team together, so that it would save us all that wear and tear.”
He also was always concerned about during the right thing, she said.
“He wasn’t impressed with himself at all,” she said, describing him as a Southern gentleman. “He was just there to make sure these boys became men and they became good men.”
When he stepped down as coach at age 48, it was to return to his alma mater, Davidson, as athletic director, beginning an administrative tenure that would bring him back to Virginia five years later in the same position. In 2001, he moved to special assistant to the president of the university, and in 2004, he began an eight-year stint as athletic director at East Carolina before retiring in 2012.
CRYER, BONNER HELP NO. 7 BAYLOR TOP OKLAHOMA STATE 74-68
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) LJ Cryer and Dale Bonner each scored 15 points, and No. 7 Baylor held off Oklahoma State for a 74-68 victory on Monday night.
Jalen Bridges had 14 points and Adam Flagler added 13 for Baylor (22-8, 11-6 Big 12), which earned its second straight win since dropping consecutive games at Kansas State and Kansas.
The Bears played without leading scorer Keyonte George, who sprained his right ankle during Saturday’s 81-72 victory over Texas.
John-Michael Wright scored 17 points for Oklahoma State (16-14, 7-10). Caleb Asberry and Quion Williams finished with 12 apiece. The Cowboys also lost 74-58 to the Bears on Jan. 14.
Oklahoma State trailed 67-50 after Bonner made two foul shots with 4:01 left in the rematch. But Moussa Cisse responded with two free throws, sparking a 15-2 run for the Cowboys.
Bonner made three more from the line and Flagler also made two fouls shots to help Baylor close it out in the final seconds.
Baylor coach Scott Drew credited his veteran backcourt for helping his team hold off Oklahoma State’s furious last-minute run.
“With Adam and LJ, it makes it easy to sleep at night. Dale was tremendous down the stretch,” Drew said. “It starts with your backcourt, they’ve got experience, they made free throws, they take care of the basketball, so you really trust them.”
With the Bears losing two frontcourt starters to fouls in the final minutes, Cryer said it was up to the guards to take charge.
“Just not to panic because things were going left,” Cryer said. “At the end of the day, we still had the lead and control of the game, even though they were on their run. It was like, we just have to take care of the ball and finish the game.”
The Bears got off to a solid start, taking a 41-30 halftime lead. Baylor shot 56% (15 for 27 ) from the field in the first half, including 8 for 16 from 3-point range.
Oklahoma State dropped its fifth straight, and coach Mike Boynton says it is impossible for his team not to think about their need to finish the conference season with a win at Texas Tech and then win at the Big 12 Tournament to secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“We don’t dance around this stuff. We show them the standings. This is where we are, this is what we’ve done, this is what we have in front of us,” Boynton said. “If you’re a basketball player, that’s what you think about and you’re one of the teams that people are talking about being on the line. That’s why I don’t pretend that it’s not a real thing.”
TIP-INS
Baylor: George will be evaluated again before the regular-season finale against Iowa State. He is averaging 16.3 points per game this season, which ranks fifth among freshmen in NCAA Division I. He has 12 games of 20 points or more this season.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys outrebounded the Bears 40-32 and enjoyed a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint. But the Cowboys went 5 for 9 at the line, compared to 17 for 20 for the Bears.
UP NEXT
Baylor: Hosts Iowa State on Saturday.
Oklahoma State: Visits Texas Tech on Saturday.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEWS
NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN RUN AP TOP 25 STREAK TO 36 WEEKS
After a week of upsets that saw 15 ranked teams lose, South Carolina remained the lone unbeaten school.
The Gamecocks ran their streak to 36 consecutive weeks atop The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll to match Louisiana Tech for the second-longest run in the history of the poll that dates to 1976.
South Carolina (29-0) finished the regular season unbeaten and was back to being a unanimous choice at No. 1 in national media poll released Monday. The Gamecocks only trail UConn (51 weeks) for the longest consecutive streak atop the Top 25.
“There’s definitely no relief” after their flawless regular season, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston said. “Now, were into the season where winning is the only option.”
While the Gamecocks won both of their games last week and enter the SEC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, the rankings got a big reshuffling. The 15 ranked teams losing at least one game was by far the most Top 25 schools to lose in the same week this season; 11 had lost in the same week a few times earlier this season.
Indiana, which lost at the buzzer to then-No. 6 Iowa on Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointer on Sunday, remained No. 2. Utah jumped up five places to No. 3 after beating then-No. 3 Stanford to clinch a share of the Pac-12 title. It’s Utah’s best ranking ever. The Cardinal dropped to sixth.
LSU and Maryland rounded out the top five.
Iowa was seventh with Virginia Tech eighth. UConn fell five spots to ninth after losing to St. John’s. Notre Dame was 10th. The Irish lost guard Olivia Miles to a knee injury in Sunday’s win over Louisville.
Villanova jumped four places to 11th. It’s the Wildcats best ranking since the team finished the 2003 season in the same spot. Texas made the biggest improvement, climbing seven spots to 12th.
Most of the Power Five conferences enter tournament play this week. The Big 12 Tournament is next week ahead of Selection Sunday and the beginning of March Madness.
BACK IN THE RANKINGS
South Florida re-entered the Top 25 at No. 25 after winning 15 of its last 16 games. The Bulls have one conference game left, at Cincinnati on Wednesday. South Florida was ranked for two weeks earlier this season. Florida State dropped out of the rankings.
FALLING ARIZONA
The Wildcats dropped seven places to No. 21 after losing at Oregon and Oregon State over the weekend. Arizona is 12-3 at home but 7-5 on the road.
NO. 9 UCONN BEATS XAVIER 60-51 TO TAKE BIG EAST TITLE
STORRS, Conn. (AP) No. 9 UConn has won a conference regular season, conference tournament or national title in each of the last 30 years. This one was more difficult than most.
Aaliyah Edwards scored 19 points and Connecticut secured the Big East regular-season title with a 60-51 win over Xavier on Monday night.
Caroline Ducharme added 14 points and Lou Lopez Senechal scored 12 for the Huskies (26-5, 18-2 Big East), who have won a regular-season league title 29 times, including in each of the past 10 seasons, the last three back in the Big East.
It was the 10th consecutive single-digit game for a program that had become accustomed to blowing teams out. Coach Geno Auriemma said that’s going to have to change if the Huskies hope to win a 10th straight conference tournament title, or a 12th national championship.
“Who we are right now? It ain’t happening,” Auriemma said, before adding, “They could fool me.”
Nika Muhl had five points and seven assists, helping her set the school’s single-season assist record. The junior from Croatia, who became Connecticut’s starting point guard after star Paige Bueckers suffered a season-ending knee injury over the summer, now has 236, five more than Sue Bird (2001-02).
Fernanda Ovalle had nine points to lead Xavier (7-22, 0-20), which lost its 19th consecutive game.
UConn scored eight of the game’s first 10 points, but saw Xavier take a 22-20 lead after an 11-0 run into the second quarter.
The Huskies gathered themselves from there, going on a 16-2 run to close the half. Ayanna Patterson’s driving layup just before the buzzer gave UConn a 36-24 lead at the break.
The Huskies led by as many as 18 points in the second half, but just 50-38 after three quarters and had a hard time separating themselves from the pesky Musketeers.
A championship “is always the goal, so it feels good to accomplish that,” Ducharme said. “But there’s a standard and the way we’ve been playing is not up to the standard of how we know we can play and how good we know we can be.”
INJURIES
The Huskies played without starting forward Dorka Juhasz, who sprained her right ankle on Saturday against DePaul. The injury is just the latest in a long line of ailments for the Huskies, who are without star Bueckers and Azzi Fudd (knee injury) as well as freshman Ice Brady (season-ending knee injury). Fudd warmed up with the team before the game and could return for the conference tournament. Auriemma said he expects Juhasz to be available this weekend.
BIG PICTURE
Xavier: The Musketeers have not won a game since beating Cincinnati on Dec. 9. They will be the bottom seed in the upcoming conference tournament, but coach Melanie Moore likes the way her team has been competing lately.
“We are young, but I thought today our kids didn’t play young,” Moore said. “They played together and they believed they could win, and they competed.”
UConn: The win came just hours after the Huskies dropped five spots in the AP Poll after a loss last week to St. John’s and a close win on the road at DePaul. UConn has played in 10 straight games decided by 10 points or fewer points, going 7-3 over that span.
“There’s a reason why the last 10 games have been the way they’ve been,” Auriemma said. “It has nothing to do with fatigue. We’ve used that long enough. That story has sailed. Now, it’s just being held accountable for doing what you’re being coached to do, not what you feel like doing.”
ASSIST RECORD
Muhl came into the game needing three assists to pass Bird. It didn’t take her long to do that. Her pass setting up a 3-pointer by Ducharme was her third assist in the game’s first five minutes.
UP NEXT
Xavier: The Musketeers will play Friday in the Big East Tournament against No. 6 seed Seton Hall.
UConn: The Huskies get a bye into the quarterfinals of the tournament, and will open play at noon on Saturday against either No. 8 seed Butler or No. 9 Georgetown.
NBA NEWS
AP SOURCE: HASLAMS AGREE TO PURCHASE LASRY’S STAKE IN BUCKS
MILWAUKEE (AP) Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam have agreed to purchase Marc Lasry’s 25% stake of the Milwaukee Bucks in a deal that puts the value of the NBA franchise at $3.5 billion, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday.
The agreement has not been finalized, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the Bucks nor the Haslams publicly disclosed any element of the agreement.
The Haslams have explored buying other professional sports teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves in the past. Sportico was first to report the Haslam Sports Group’s interest in the Bucks. ESPN and The Athletic were first to report the agreement on Monday.
Those numbers, if finalized, would mean the Haslams plan to spend about $875 million for Lasry’s stake of the team.
It would be the second-highest valuation in NBA history, behind only the $4 billion valuation for the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury when Mat Ishbia acquired them in a deal that closed earlier this month. It’s also a massive return on Lasry’s initial investment.
Lasry and Wesley Edens, both New York investment firm executives, bought the Bucks from former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl for about $550 million in 2014 with pledges to keep the team in Milwaukee. The Bucks’ ownership group also includes Jamie Dinan and Mike Fascitelli.
The Bucks have enjoyed great success since that sale. They moved into a new arena in 2018, won their first NBA title in 50 years in 2021 and have built a perennial contender around Greek superstar and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The surging valuations almost certainly mean that the expansion fees will be well beyond what was originally thought when the NBA decides to add teams – something that will likely start getting discussed seriously once the league and the union complete their talks on a new labor agreement and the NBA completes its next rights deal with broadcast partners.
If the Suns and Bucks are both being valued in the $3.5-to-$4 billion range, it stands to reason that expansion fees will be at least that much and likely more when the league decides the time is right to add clubs.
“It is natural at some point that an organization expands,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month at the All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City.
“The view from our governors has been let’s figure out exactly what the new CBA looks like, let’s figure out what our new media deals look like. Then let’s think about expansion,” Silver said. “So invariably we will. There’s no active discussions in the league office right now, but we’ll turn back to it in a few years.”
AP SOURCE: LAKERS BRACING FOR JAMES TO MISS MULTIPLE WEEKS
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers may miss multiple weeks with an injury to his right foot, a person familiar with the situation said Monday night.
The full extent of the injury is not yet known and more test results were pending, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither James nor the Lakers announced anything about a long-term absence.
The Lakers had already ruled James – the NBA’s all-time leading scorer – out for Tuesday’s game at Memphis with what they called right foot soreness.
James played 37 minutes in the Lakers’ 111-108 win at Dallas on Sunday, helping Los Angeles rally from a 27-point deficit. But he left the arena with a pronounced limp, with video from The Dallas Morning News showing how much the foot was bothering him.
He got hurt in the third quarter, grabbing at the ankle after spending some time on the floor in obvious pain. But he stayed in to finish the game, noting how important it was to the Lakers’ playoff hopes.
“It’s been better,” James said. “But I definitely wasn’t going to locker room and not finish the game. The importance of this game and then the momentum that we had, I felt like we could steal one after being down.”
James leads the Lakers in scoring at 29.5 points per game, and said at the All-Star break earlier this month that the team’s closing stretch this season would be some of the most important games he has played – noting he didn’t want to miss the postseason for a second consecutive year.
The Lakers (29-32) started Monday 12th in the Western Conference, a game from 10th and the final spot in the play-in tournament, and only 2 1/2 games behind Dallas in the race for sixth. The top six teams in each conference are guaranteed playoff berths.
If James – a 19-time All-Star, playing in his 20th NBA season – misses extended time, the Lakers’ task of getting in figures to become significantly tougher.
BALL FRACTURES ANKLE IN HORNETS’ 117-106 WIN OVER PISTONS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) LaMelo Ball made six 3-pointers before breaking his right ankle in the third quarter, and the Charlotte Hornets held on to beat the Detroit Pistons 117-106 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory.
Terry Rozier scored 22 points, Gordon Hayward had 19 points and rookie Mark Williams added 15 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte, which is still second-to-last in the Eastern Conference standings – ahead of only Detroit.
Ball finished with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, his fifth straight game making at least five 3s. He was hurt on a non-contact play in the third, and the Hornets announced after the game that X-rays revealed a fracture to his right ankle.
Hayward said Charlotte’s players didn’t find out about the severity of the injury until after the game, with most of them figuring Ball had just tweaked something.
“It’s certainly disappointing because he’s a major part of our team and we felt like we were rounding the corner,” Hayward said.
Ball’s other ankle has been bothersome this season – he’s sprained his left ankle three ties, limiting him to 36 games.
This time, he hurt his right ankle as he was he was dribbling and attempting to make a move near half court. Ball fell down, but managed to prevent the ball from going out of bounds. He left the game and did not return.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford didn’t say how long Ball would be out. Charlotte has 19 games left and isn’t in playoff contention, so it would be hard to imagine the team rushing him back.
“It’s just a basketball ankle and there is nothing that you can do about that,” Clifford said.
Hamidou Diallo scored 23 points, and James Wiseman had his best game since coming to Detroit from Golden State as part of a four-team trade, finishing with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. Marvin Bagley added 21 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for Detroit, which has lost five straight.
The Pistons trailed by 24 in the second half before cutting the lead to five on a driving left-handed layup by Killian Hayes with five minutes remaining. But Rozier answered with a short jumper and Kelly Oubre Jr. canned a 3-pointer from the corner to push the lead back to double digits.
Rozier put the game away when he drove the right side of the lane and scored and drew a foul for a 3-point play, putting the Hornets up 10 with 46 seconds left.
Ball had an interesting start to the game.
After knocking down an early 3, he turned the ball over on three straight possessions, slapping his hands together in a moment of frustration after the third miscue. But the former All-Star point guard bounced right back, connecting on three 3s on Charlotte’s next four possessions to spark a 34-8 run to end the first quarter and give the Hornets a 20-point lead.
The Hornets were 7 of 7 from 3-point range in the first quarter and 13 of 26 for the game.
The Pistons shot 11.5% (3 of 26) from long range.
“We did not have a good shooting night,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “For us to be successful, we’ve got to have a balance between interior scoring and also 3-point shooting, and we did not have that from the outside for whatever reason.”
MCGOWENS EXTENDED
The Hornets guard Bryce McGowens signed a multi-year contract extension. The 40th overall pick in the 2022 draft has appeared in 26 games this season, averaging 4.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.7 minutes.
“It means a lot that the team believes in me, believes in my growth as a person and a player,” McGowens said. “I’m going to continue to come in day by day and just try to get better, try to learn and try to win some games.”
TIP-INS
Pistons: Isaiah Livers left the game with a left ankle sprain in the first half and did not return. … Bojan Bogdonanovic (Achilles tendon) and Jaden Ivey (personal reasons) did not play.
Hornets: Played without Cody Martin (knee soreness) and P.J. Washington (foot strain).
UP NEXT:
Pistons: Host Chicago on Wednesday night.
Hornets: Host Phoenix on Wednesday night.
KNICKS WIN 6TH STRAIGHT, DROP CELTICS FROM TOP SPOT IN NBA
NEW YORK (AP) Jayson Tatum was gone a few minutes before the Boston Celtics relinquished the top spot in the NBA, thrown out of a game for the first time in his career.
The referees frustrated the All-Star forward. New York’s defense caused the frustration for the rest of the Celtics.
“It wasn’t our best night shooting the ball,” forward Al Horford said. “They were the better team tonight.”
Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley each scored 23 points, and the surging Knicks knocked Boston out of the top spot in the overall NBA standings with their sixth straight victory, 109-94 on Monday night.
Tatum struggled through a 6-for-18 shooting performance and was ejected in the fourth quarter after picking up his second technical foul. He finished with 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Jalen Brunson added 17 points for the Knicks (36-27), who inched ahead of Brooklyn into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re in a good place but with a lot of work to do,” Brunson said.
Malcolm Brogdon scored 22 for the Celtics (44-18), who were missing All-Star Jaylen Brown due to personal reasons. They slipped percentage points behind Milwaukee (43-17), which has won 14 straight games and now owns the NBA’s best record.
Marcus Smart added 19 points but Boston missed 20 of its first 22 attempts from 3-point range and had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Tatum beat the 76ers on Saturday in Philadelphia with a 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left for a 110-107 victory, but couldn’t get his outside shot going Monday. He missed his first six 3-point tries and finished 1 for 9 behind the arc.
Even when he got inside, things didn’t work out. Mitchell Robinson stuffed his dunk attempt in the first half, and Tatum’s driving dunk in the third quarter was followed by his first technical foul for his reaction afterward, believing he was fouled.
He picked up his second and was thrown out moments after his final 3-point miss in the fourth, screaming and gesturing at halfcourt believing he was fouled.
Tatum said he didn’t know the difference between normally keeping his temper in check but going too far Monday.
“But all the great players get thrown out a few times in their career, so it’s good for my rep,” he said.
New York took control in the second quarter and never gave it up. The margin was in double digits for most of the second half, with the Celtics unable to shoot well enough to sustain any good stretch.
Randle scored 12 points in the first quarter and Boston went 1 for 12 behind the arc as New York took a 27-15 lead.
Brunson’s three-point play capped an 8-0 run and gave the Knicks a 47-27 lead midway through the second quarter. The Celtics rallied with 12 in a row to get within 49-41, but RJ Barrett steadied the Knicks with a 3-pointer followed by a three-point play, and the lead was back up to 60-46 at the break.
“Obviously their record tells you how good they are and they can make up ground very quickly because of the way they shoot the 3,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Their shot profile is terrific, so no lead feels safe.”
But it was Monday. The Celtics finished 9 for 42 from 3 and never made a significant run after halftime.
The teams meet again Sunday in Boston.
TIP-INS
Celtics: Coach Joe Mazzulla said Brown is expected back Wednesday against Cleveland. … Derrick White started for Brown and scored 13 points but missed all five 3-point attempts.
Knicks: Need one victory to match their total from last season after finishing 37-45. … Mitchell Robinson had 10 points, making all five shots, and 13 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Host Cleveland on Wednesday.
Knicks: Host Brooklyn on Wednesday.
BUTLER’S ACROBATIC LAYUP, 23 POINTS LEAD HEAT PAST 76ERS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Jimmy Butler hit an acrobatic reverse layup in the final minutes, and his 23 points led five Miami players in double figures as the Heat edged the Philadelphia 76ers 101-99 on Monday night.
Butler was an assist shy of a triple-double, adding 11 rebounds and nine assists. He also had four steals. His spinning move and finishing layup while driving between the Sixers’ Joel Embiid and P.J. Tucker gave the Heat a 100-99 lead with 1:28 to play after Philadelphia rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. He added a free throw with 8.1 seconds left.
“I work on that kind of stuff every day,” Butler said of his highlight-reel basket. “I love to play this game and I love to compete, but it’s always much more fun when we win.”
James Harden had a chance to win the game for the 76ers, but his 3-point try at the buzzer bounced off the back of the rim.
“You have to expect things to be a little bit gnarly on the road,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You have to weather a bunch of different storms. . Sometimes you just need the ball to bounce the right way. Harden had a window there and was open, but we contested so many shots tonight that sometimes when you do get an open shot you don’t have a great rhythm.”
Gabe Vincent scored 14 points and Bam Adebayo added 13 as the Heat snapped a four-game losing streak.
Embiid led all scorers with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Harden finished with 20 points and 12 assists.
Max Struss hit a pair of free throws with 7:10 to play in the fourth quarter, giving the Heat an 11-point lead. But the 76ers mounted a furious rally, erasing the deficit and taking the lead on a pair of Harden free throws.
The Sixers rally was keyed by Tyrese Maxey, who scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half before fouling out with 3:21 to play.
The Heat did a nice job on Philadelphia defensively, forcing 18 turnovers. However, the 76ers also missed several layups, especially in the second half.
“I just think we were really sloppy tonight, sluggish,” Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said. “It happens, but you still have to find a way to win the game. Tonight, we didn’t.”
Miami also got help from the bench as Struss scored 13 points and Victor Oladipo added 11.
The 76ers have lost back-to-back games. Philadelphia hasn’t lost three in a row since the first week of December. They look to avoid the skid in a rematch with the Heat on Wednesday in Miami.
TIP-INS
Heat: There was a thought that G Kyle Lowry would return to the lineup Monday after he was upgraded on the injury report to questionable on Sunday. However, the Heat downgraded Lowry just as quickly on Monday and he missed his ninth straight game with knee soreness. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said there’s no timetable for his return, but that he was making progress. … G Tyler Herro was also listed as questionable Sunday with a rib contusion, but he was in the starting lineup.
76ers: Philadelphia played its final home game before heading out on a five-game trip. More than that, it is facing an incredibly daunting March schedule. The 76ers will play 17 games in 31 days and 12 of the first 15 will be on the road. If that weren’t enough, the Sixers will play four sets of games on consecutive nights, with all eight contests on the road in eight different cities.
HAMLIN CELEBRATED Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was in attendanc e, sitting with 76ers owner Joshua Harris and Fanatics owner Michael Rubin. He was wearing a No. 3 Sixers jersey and received a nice ovation from the sellout crowd when introduced during a second quarter timeout.
UP NEXT
The teams play again at Miami on Wednesday night.
BANCHERO SCORES 29, MAGIC TOP PELICANS 101-93
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Paolo Banchero capped a 29-point performance with three clutch mid-range jumpers in the closing minutes, and the Orlando Magic defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 101-93 on Monday night.
The first two of Banchero’s big shots broke ties before he hit another to make it 97-93.
“In those moments, you kind of just got to be able to go get a basket. I was confident I could do that,” Banchero said, adding that his teammates “trust me to make the right play.”
“I don’t take that for granted. I don’t take that lightly,” Banchero continued. “We’re close as a group and I think on the court it shows in moments like that.”
Franz Wagner, who had 11 points, added a 10-foot floater from the baseline with 25 seconds left, and Orlando held on from there by holding the Pelicans scoreless on their final four possessions.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said the game demonstrated why his team needs to defend at a high level.
“Your effort, your energy level, your togetherness – I think those things have to continue to be who we are,” Mosley said.
It was the 30th game in which Banchero scored at least 20 points. That moved him one game ahead of Penny Hardaway for the second-most such games by a Magic rookie. Shaquille O’Neal set the franchise mark with 60 in the 1992-93 season.
“Tonight he did a great job of staying aggressive, getting to the free-throw line . getting to his spots, and knocking them down with confidence,” Magic guard Markelle Fultz said. “When he’s playing like that it helps our team go. Everybody’s super excited for him.”
Fultz and Moritz Wagner each scored 14 points for the Magic, who also got 11 points and 11 rebounds from Wendell Carter Jr.
Brandon Ingram scored 25 points for New Orleans (30-32), which is clinging to the 10th and final Western Conference play-in spot by percentage points over Portland (29-31), with those clubs set to play one another later this week.
CJ McCollum added 18 points for the Pelicans, who’ve struggled ever since star power forward Zion Williamson went out with a right hamstring injury in early January.
“We gave ourselves a chance defensively, but we just have to be better offensively – more crisp and take care of the ball,” McCollum said.
Pelicans coach Willie Green said his team improved in a key area.
“The first order of business for us – playing harder, playing more together – was there,” Green said. “It’s just a tough loss on our home floor. I thought the guys fought. They feel awful about it. This is a part of the NBA season. You have moments where you’re just trying to find your rhythm and confidence, and that’s where we are.”
Orlando led by as many as 11 points when Jalen Suggs’ 3 made it 36-25 at the end of the first quarter.
Trey Murphy III’s 27-foot 3 and alley-oop dunk of Naji Marshall’s lob in transition helped the Pelicans slowly chip away during the second quarter, when New Orleans held Orlando to just 14 points.
Josh Richardson’s pull-up jumper from the top of the key pulled the Pelicans within 50-49 as time expired in the first half.
Orlando led for most of the second half, but never by more than eight, allowing the Pelicans to claw back into an 89-all tie on Herb Jones’ free throw with 4:51 left.
TIP-INS
Magic: Improved to 11-20 on the road after going 10-31 in away games last season. … Outshot the Pelicans 45.6% (36 of 79) to 44.7% (34 of 76) and outrebounded New Orleans 43-38.
Pelicans: Williamson missed his 25th straight game with a right hamstring injury. The Pelicans are 7-18 during that stretch. … Jones scored 10 points. … New Orleans shot 22.2% (6 of 27) from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Magic: Visit Milwaukee on Wednesday in the second of three straight road games.
Pelicans: Visit Portland on Wednesday to open a three-game trip.
NFL NEWS
CHARGERS PROMOTE DERRICK ANSLEY TO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
(AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers have promoted Derrick Ansley to defensive coordinator.
Ansley was the secondary coach on Brandon Staley’s staff the past two seasons. He takes over for
who left to join Miami’s staff as pass-game coordinator.
Staley is expected to remain the defensive play-caller though.
The Chargers also announced on Monday the additions of quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, linebackers coach Jeff Howard and defensive quality control assistant Robert Muschamp.
Ansley does have experience as a defensive coordinator. He spent two seasons leading the University of Tennessee’s defense (2019-20) before joining the Chargers.
The Chargers were ranked eighth against the pass last season as they made the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
However, Los Angeles was 20th in total defense and had the fourth-worst average in scrimmage yards allowed per play.
COMMANDERS RELEASE QUARTERBACK CARSON WENTZ AFTER ONE SEASON
(AP) — After giving up draft picks to acquire him in a trade with Indianapolis last March, the Commanders were able to get out of the final two years of Wentz’s contract without any salary cap penalty.
Wentz threw for 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games, going 2-5 as the starter sandwiched around a broken finger that sidelined him for several weeks.
When Taylor Heinicke struggled late in the season, coach Ron Rivera turned back to Wentz, who had three interceptions in a loss to Cleveland that contributed to knocking Washington out of playoff contention.
From that point forward, Rivera gave no thought to handing the job back to Wentz. Rookie Sam Howell started the regular-season finale and goes into offseason workouts as the starting QB.
Wentz, on the other hand, faces a very uncertain future at age 30. If signed, he would join his fourth NFL team in as many seasons after flaming out in Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Washington.
The Commanders also released veteran safety Bobby McCain, whose presence was made redundant by the emergence of Darrick Forrest. McCain’s release saves roughly $2.32 million in salary cap space.
McCain, 29, had four interceptions in 34 games over two seasons with Washington but none in 2022 for a defense that often played with three safeties on the field at once.
The Commanders must next decide what to do about standout defensive tackle Daron Payne, who led the team with a career-high 11+ sacks and could get a big payday in free agency. Putting the franchise tag on him at a price of $18.9 million – much less than the money saved by cutting Wentz – is one option.
If Payne is back, Washington’s defense will again have high expectations, especially with Chase Young fully healthy after recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee.
The Commanders are expected to change more on offense than defense after hiring two-time Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl-winning assistant Eric Bieniemy as coordinator and assistant head coach. That includes at quarterback after Wentz was shown the door.
REPORT: BEARS ‘LEANING TOWARD’ MOVING NO. 1 OVERALL PICK
The Chicago Bears are “leaning toward” moving the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Multiple clubs have approached Chicago about trading the selection, per Schefter.
The Bears have quarterback Justin Fields but plenty of holes elsewhere on the roster. Trading down would give them more ammo to help build a better team around the former first-round pick.
“We have flexibility where if there’s opportunities where if we can turn that into a lot of players that come in and help us, we can do that,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said in January, according to Schefter.
Teams that fail to address their quarterback position in free agency or via trade could be looking to acquire the pick. Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo are the top free agents, whereas Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers could be available for trade.
The last time the No. 1 overall pick was traded before the draft was in 2016 when the Los Angeles Rams moved up to select quarterback Jared Goff.
REPORT: STROUD, RICHARDSON TO THROW AT COMBINE; YOUNG WON’T
Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Florida’s Anthony Richardson will participate in throwing drills at the 2023 NFL Combine, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, per NFL.com’s Christian Gonzales.
Kentucky’s Will Levis will also feature at the combine, per Rapoport.
Bryce Young will wait for his Alabama pro day to do on-field work, Rapoport adds. Young is believed to be fully recovered from a sprained AC joint he suffered in September.
The Crimson Tide product won the Heisman trophy in his junior year, throwing 32 touchdowns and five interceptions in 12 games. Stroud, Richardson, Levis, and Young are all projected to go in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker won’t throw at the combine, sources tell theScore’s NFL Insider Jordan Schultz. Hooker had ACL surgery in December, although his recovery is ahead of schedule. The 25-year-old won SEC Offensive Player of the Year, totaling 32 touchdowns with only two interceptions.
The NFL combine will start March 2, with throwing drills beginning March 4.
NHL NEWS
RANGERS’ MILLER TO HAVE DISCIPLINARY HEARING FOR SPITTING
NEW YORK (AP) K’Andre Miller of the New York Rangers will have a hearing with the NHL’s department of player safety for spitting at L.A. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.
The league announced Monday that Miller would have a hearing for unsportsmanlike conduct.
It was not immediately clear when the hearing would take place. The Rangers do not play again until Wednesday at Philadelphia.
Miller in a message posted on social media earlier Monday called his actions “completely accidental.”
“I would never intend to do something like that on purpose,” Miller wrote. “It goes against everything I am as a person and player. I felt awful about it.”
The 23-year-old also thanked Doughty for giving him the opportunity to apologize after the game. Miller was given a match penalty and ejected late in the first period, and the Rangers played the remainder of their 5-2 victory down to five defensemen.
Every match penalty carries an automatic suspension, pending review. In this case, Miller’s audience with the player safety department serves as that review.
There’s recent precedent for this kind of incident. Garnet Hathaway, then with Washington, was suspended three games in 2019 for spitting on Anaheim’s Erik Gudbranson.
After the game Sunday, Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said he didn’t see the play when it happened and added Miller “feels bad about it.”
Doughty said he was caught off guard.
“I was just shocked, obviously,” Doughty said. “I don’t even know if I said anything to him after. You don’t want to see things like that in this game. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that. I’m sure it has happened, not that I’ve seen. It’s unfortunate.
“Whether or not he meant to do it, I have no idea. It’s pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty (miffed).”
MAPLE LEAFS ANSWER LIGHTNING BY MAKING TRADE WITH BLACKHAWKS
AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe from Chicago on Monday, their latest big trade that comes in the aftermath of division-rival Tampa Bay making another pre-deadline splash.
Toronto sent a conditional 2025 first-round pick, a second-rounder in 2026, prospect Pavel Gogolev and forward Joey Anderson to the Blackhawks for Lafferty, McCabe and conditional fifth-round picks in 2024 and `25. Chicago is retaining half of McCabe’s salary.
The Leafs look to again be on a crash course to face the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, after losing to them in a seven-game series last year. Tampa Bay on Sunday paid a hefty price for forward Tanner Jeannot, sending young defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks – including a first in 2025 – to Nashville.
The Lightning won the Stanley Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21 and went to the final in 2022. This move could set them up for another deep run, no matter the cost.
“The reality at the trade deadline is you’re going to have to overpay,” Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said at a news conference Monday in Tampa. “A lot had to go our way for us to accumulate such a critical mass of good players all at once. My job, my responsibility as the custodian for this group is to sometimes take risks to maximize our return for this era.”
Lafferty and McCabe to Toronto continued the flow of talent from sellers in the Western Conference to contenders in the East. Also Sunday, New Jersey acquired big winger Timo Meier from San Jose, and NHL-leading Boston got defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from Washington on Thursday.
“Everybody wants to put all the really good players in the East on trades,” Fitzgerald said with a chuckle. “It’s amazing.”
Previously, the New York Islanders got 30-goal-scoring center Bo Horvat from Vancouver and the Rangers acquired prolific offensive winger Vladimir Tarasenko and hulking defenseman Niko Mikkola from St. Louis. The Leafs already traded for Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly and depth forward Noel Acciari to boost their chances of winning a playoff series for the first time in nearly two decades.
But getting through the Atlantic Division with the Lightning and first-place Bruins and the East at-large with one of the Carolina Hurricanes, Devils or Rangers likely waiting in the conference final won’t be easy.
“The East, it’s a powerhouse,” Fitzgerald said Sunday night. “It really is. It’s really a powerhouse.”
And that’s even before the Rangers get Patrick Kane from Chicago, the last highly anticipated trade before the deadline Friday that is hinging on New York’s salary cap situation. But Fitzgerald also pointed out the Lightning are still the best of the East until someone beats them.
The Leafs would like to do that, and McCabe – signed for two more seasons after this one – certainly strengthens the blue line that has been one of their weaknesses. Lafferty, also under contract beyond this year, gives Toronto more forward depth.
The same goes for Jeannot with Tampa Bay in a trade similar to BriseBois getting Brandon Hagel from Chicago at the deadline a year ago. BriseBois in previous years acquired defenseman David Savard (2021) and forwards Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman (2020) and lifted the Cup each time.
Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, an assistant for the Lightning during their three trips to the final, told reporters in Ottawa: “I’ll never question Julien BriseBois.” And Tampa Bay might not be done.
“Never say never,” BriseBois said. “The focus has been on this trade the last little while. Now that we’re able to bring that to the final line, we’re going to reconvene today and look at whether there are other opportunities out there worth exploring.”
GIROUX HAS GOAL, 3 ASSISTS AS SENATORS BEAT RED WINGS 6-2
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Claude Giroux scored the tiebreaking goal and had three assists, Thomas Chabot had a goal and two assists and the Ottawa Senators beat the Detroit Red Wings 6-2 Monday night.
Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Jake Sanderson also scored to help Ottawa win its second straight after a two-game skid. Cam Talbot finished with 22 saves.
Senators coach D.J. Smith credited Tkachuk’s physical play as a key to the win.
“He came to play,” Smith said. “He’s played a lot of games, a lot of minutes against everyone’s top defenders and he’s been good the whole year, but there’s been a couple games where he’s really elevated his game and this is one of them.
“Not just with the puck, but his physicality … he was emotionally dialed right in.”
David Perron and Tyler Bertuzzi scored goals for the Red Wings, who have lost two straight after winning seven of eight. Magnus Hellberg had 36 saves.
This matchup of teams chasing a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference was a makeup for the game that was canceled on Dec. 23 due to a snowstorm. The teams meet again here on Tuesday.
Detroit remained three points behind Pittsburgh for the East’s second wild card. Buffalo is just a point behind the Penguins, and the Red Wings are in a three-way tie with Florida and Washington with 64 points.
“Everyone’s fighting for their lives,” Detroit’s Dylan Larkin said. “We have teams that we’re playing against that are battling for the same spot that we are. It did (feel like a playoff game) on the ice.”
The Red Wings know in order to have a chance Tuesday night they’ll need to stay out of the penalty box. Ottawa was 2 for 6 with the man advantage, which helped put the game out of reach.
“Too many penalties,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “That team will lose to nobody in the league if you give them six power plays.”
Perron fired a shot from the left circle on a power play for his 15th goal of the season to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead at 5:11 of the second.
The Red Wings then scored four goals over an 8 1/2-minute stretch to take control.
“Sometimes when the game is big you don’t let it be a big game, you just play hockey,” Giroux said. “You don’t overthink it and tonight I think we did that. … We had a game plan and we just followed it.”
Batherson tied it with Ottawa’s second power-play goal of the game on a shot from the right circle with 7:25 remaining in the middle period. It was his 19th of the season – 12th on the power play.
Giroux put the Senators ahead for good as he got a long pass from Dylan Gambrell and skated in on Hellberg on a breakaway and slid the puck through the goalie’s legs for his 24th with 5:50 left in the period.
Tkachuk took a pass from Giroux and fired it past Hellberg from the left circle for his 25th with 2:19 left in the second to make it 4-2.
“I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Tkachuk said. “Whether that was by emotion or physicality or making the play at the right time, but everybody did that tonight.”
Chabot beat Hellberg top shelf for his ninth to give the Senators a three goal lead 47 seconds into the third period and Stutzle got his 27th with 5 minutes left.
Bertuzzi got the Red Wings on the scoreboard first as he skated in all alone on Talbot, cut across the front of the goal and put a backhander in from the left side with 8:12 left in the first period. It was his fourth.
Sanderson tied it on the power play at 3:41 of the second as he got the return pass on a give and go from Giroux and fired a shot from center point through traffic and past Hellberg. It was his fourth.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: At Ottawa on Tuesday night to wrap up the two-game series and trip.
Senators: Host Detroit on Tuesday night to finish the two-game series and homestand before playing six of next seven games on the road.
DUCKS SNAP BLACKHAWKS’ 5-GAME WIN STREAK WITH 4-2 VICTORY
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Max Jones scored the go-ahead goal, Troy Terry had a goal and an assist, and the Anaheim Ducks beat Chicago 4-2 on Monday night to snap the Blackhawks’ five-game winning streak.
Isac Lundestrom and Jakob Silfverberg also scored, Mason McTavish had a career-high three assists, and the Ducks won their third straight game. Lukas Dostal made 24 saves after losing his previous five starts.
“It’s nice to see us kind of get rewarded,” McTavish said. “I think competing a lot harder, playing with more emotion and a little bit more passion, so it’s nice to see.”
Tyler Johnson had a power-play goal and an assist, and Andreas Athanasiou scored for the Blackhawks, who had been on their longest run of sustained success since winning five in a row in January 2020. Petr Mrazek allowed four goals on 33 shots.
While the Ducks and Blackhawks are both firmly in the mix to win the draft lottery and and select forward Connor Bedard with first overall pick, they are in different stages of their rebuilds.
Terry, whose cheeky sharp-angle chip at 8:15 of the third ensured Anaheim’s second three-game winning streak of the season, acknowledged a young core including McTavish and Trevor Zegras is better equipped to handle uncertainty ahead of the trade deadline on Friday.
“Last year was a lot more change that probably we thought would have happened. . This year, I think we’re just coming to the rink and doing our job,” Terry said.
The Blackhawks continued to clear out their veteran ranks on Monday, trading forward Sam Lafferty and defenseman Jake McCabe to Toronto. A separate transaction sent defenseman Jack Johnson back to Colorado, where he was part of its Stanley Cup championship run last season.
Despite those moves and the likelihood of more to come – notably the expected departure of modern-era franchise icon Patrick Kane – Chicago started out well before fading as the first went on.
A similar regression happened in the second where Athanasiou, another Blackhawks player that could potentially be dealt this week, tied it at 2 midway through the second, only for Jones to give the Ducks a 3-2 lead with 17.5 seconds left in the period.
“We’ve got a lot of new players right now, so we are just going to have to find a new rhythm,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. “But these guys have been resilient, and tonight they pushed right through until the end.”
NICE TO MEET YOU
Joey Anderson was part of the package of four players and draft picks the Blackhawks received from the Maple Leafs, and the 24-year-old forward was thrown right in. He had a minus-2 rating in 11:17 but was pleased with the warm welcome he received from his new teammates.
“They were great,” Anderson said. “Obviously the game didn’t go quite as we would have hoped, but it’s a good group of guys and I’m excited to be a part of it and hopefully build towards something.”
COMING ON
Jones isn’t the flashiest member among Anaheim’s collection of talented young forwards, but coach Dallas Eakins said he is providing a stability and grit that is allowing McTavish and Terry to shine.
“We want Jonesy to be the conscience of a line,” Eakins said. “He has to be able to give them the freedom to make plays with the puck. Maybe sometimes take an extra chance where they know that he’s got them covered.”
WORTH NOTING Blackhawks F Colin Blackwell sustained a groin injury during the game and will miss some time, Richardson said. . Blackhawks F Philipp Kurashev did not play because of a non-COVID-19 illness. … Blackhawks D Jarred Tinordi returned after missing six games because of a knee injury he sustained at Montreal on Feb. 14. Tinordi was activated off injured reserve earlier on Monday.
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: At Arizona on Tuesday.
MLB NEWS
JAYS HIRE FORMER ASTROS GM CLICK AS BASEBALL STRATEGY VP
TORONTO (AP) Former Houston Astros general manager James Click was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday as vice president of baseball strategy.
Click, 45, helped build the Houston teams that went to three straight AL Championship Series and back-to-back World Series, winning it all last year. But he clashed with owner Jim Crane, and the Astros announced six days after clinching the title that he would not be back.
It’s believed to be the first time a World Series-winning GM did not return since 1947, when the Yankees’ Larry MacPhail was replaced by George Weiss.
The Blue Jays said Click will work closely with GM Ross Atkins across both professional and amateur levels.
A Yale graduate, Click spent 14 years with the Rays, starting as a coordinator of baseball operations before becoming the team’s director of baseball research and development and director of baseball operations. He spent three seasons as vice president of baseball operations before Houston hired him.
IT’S WORKING: PITCH CLOCK SHAVES 20 MINUTES FROM EARLY GAMES
(AP) — By the time Cubs outfielder Brennen Davis actually saw a pitch from Arizona’s Joe Mantiply, the count was already at a ball and a strike.
Both the hitter and pitcher were penalized at the start of Davis’ at-bat to lead off the top of the third inning of Monday’s spring training game, the latest odd twist in baseball’s speed-up rules. After Mantiply entered the game as a reliever, he took too long to throw his warmup pitches; then Davis was too slow to get ready for the pitch.
Major League Baseball approved its first pitch clock this season, and every day is a new experience for the players as they try to get used to them this spring. On Saturday, Boston’s game against Atlanta ended on a walk-off automatic strike; on Sunday, Mets ace Max Scherzer struck out Washington’s Joey Meneses in just 27 seconds.
“I like the idea of games being shorter,” Marlins reliever Matt Barnes said. “In Boston, we played a nine-inning, four-and-a-half-hour game against New York on a Tuesday. That’s not fun. So I like the idea of it being quicker.”
So far, it’s working.
The new rules, which also limit the number of times a pitcher can throw to first base, have helped cut more than 20 minutes from spring training games through the first weekend, dropping from an average of 3 hours, 1 minute last spring to 2:39.
“It’s here, and we have to abide by the rules, and we have to learn how to do it,” Barnes said. “I’ll just have to figure out my routine, adjust my routine a little bit and kind of go from there.”
ASTROS STARS RETURN
Houston’s star infielders Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena made their exhibition season debuts in Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Marlins in West Palm Beach, Florida. Both were hitless in three at-bats apiece, but they turned a double play in the fourth.
Pena batted .345 in the postseason last year, and was the first rookie position player to win the World Series MVP. He also won a Gold Glove and was the AL Championship Series MVP.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said he hopes to play Altuve and Pena together as much as possible during Spring Training before the World Baseball Classic starts in March. Altuve will play for Venezuela, and Pena will play for the Dominican Republic.
“Those guys, they have to really know each other,” Baker said. “Especially now, going back to the new defenses, they really have to know the range of each guy and where they are on double plays.”
INJURIES
-Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux went down going from second to third in Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres and had to be taken off the field on a cart. He was clutching his right leg.
-Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow threw just six pitches before cutting short a live batting practice session with an abdominal muscle injury, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The paper said he will have an MRI on Tuesday.
-Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki has pulled out of the World Baseball Classic. Suzuki was set to play for Japan, but he was scratched from Chicago’s exhibition lineup on Saturday because of left oblique tightness.
MAKING UP
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and umpire C.B. Bucknor shook hands when lineup cards were exchanged before the game, a day after Bucknor refused to.
“I was raised and brought up this organization to do exactly what I did today,” Marmol said. “You go to home plate. You hand the lineup card and you shake the hands of the four umpires who are running that game.”
The bad blood dates back to a game last year when Bucknor ejected Marmol and the manager said Bucknor had “no class.”
SPRING TRAINING FOR EVERYONE
Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, making his first spring start, was also dinged with an automatic ball for throwing a warmup pitch with less than 30 seconds left on the between-innings clock. Miles Mastrobuoni ended up grounding out to the pitcher, and after the inning Bieber and Guardians manager Terry Francona each had discussions with home plate umpire Jordan Baker.
“It was his first action as well. We were joking around, figuring it out together,” said Bieber, who walked one and struck out one. “They don’t want to have to hit anybody on a violation. They’re just trying to do their best to communicate beforehand.”
OLD DAYS
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there will be no pitch clock in use when New York plays Tampa at Disney’s ESPN Wide World Sports on Tuesday because the facility isn’t equipped for it.
The Rays’ game with the Yankees will be the only one played at the complex, and the first big-league spring training game there since the Atlanta Braves moved to North Port, Florida following the 2019 exhibition season.
Tampa Bay relocated workouts to the Disney facility near Orlando after Hurricane Ian damaged the team’s spring training facility in Port Charlotte, Florida, last year. But the Rays will play the remainder of its home spring training games at Tropicana Field, the Rays regular season hone.
EASY BEING GREENE
Reds right-hander Hunter Greene, the second pick in the 2017 amateur draft, made his first start and pitched into the second inning before exhausting his pitch count.
Greene went 5-13 with a 4.44 ERA as a rookie last year, including a September game in which he threw 47 pitches at 100 mph or more – the most in baseball. He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in one start and allowed just one hit in seven innings in another.
“He experienced a lot of success. He had adversity,” Cincinnati manager David Bell said, noting that Greene spent some time on the injured list. “He handled it all. You don’t want them to get hurt or have failures but it was a perfect season for his development.”
Greene was also called for two pitch clock violations.
ON THE OTHER HAND
A day after Scherzer fanned Meneses on three pitches in the time it used to take a lot of pitchers to throw one, the Mets played a more traditional 2:59 game against the Cardinals, with St. Louis winning 12-7.
The teams combined for 19 runs – St. Louis won 12-7 — 25 hits, 11 walks and 18 strikeouts. There were two balks, neither of them because a pitcher stepped off too many times, and three wild pitches.
Mets manager Buck Showalter made three pitching changes in the middle of an inning; Cardinals pitching coach Dusty Blake made two mound visits.
Marmol said it was more like what he was used to.
“The pace is obviously is going to be quicker. That’s for sure,” he said. “But the 2:26s of the world-I’m not sure about those.”
MLB AVERAGE SALARY ROSE 14.8% TO RECORD $4.22M LAST SEASON
NEW YORK (AP) Major League Baseball’s average salary rose 14.8% to a record $4.22 million last year after the end of the lockout, boosted by big deals for Max Scherzer, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.
The rate of increase was the highest since a 17.7% increase in 2000 to $1.61 million, according to final calculations by the players’ association.
The average had dropped in each of the previous four seasons before 2022, sparking player anger that was expressed by the union during a 99-day lockout that ended last March.
Last year’s average salary was calculated by the union at $4,222,193, up from $3,679,335 in 2021. MLB, which uses a slightly different method, calculated the average at $4,117,472, up 15% from $3,579,341 in 2021.
Payrolls, a more complete reflection on spending, rose 12.6% to $4.56 billion from $4.05 billion.
Salaries have escalated higher this past offseason. The Mets have boosted their payroll to a projected $370 million, well past the previous record of $297.9 million of the 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers.
Some owners are arguing for significant change to lessen payroll disparity when the current labor contract expires after the 2026 season, and MLB this month established another committee to examine economics.
“History would suggest that an economic committee … is really hyperfocused on a salary cap – or getting to a salary cap when we next sit down to negotiate,” union head Tony Clark said Saturday.
“We’re never going to agree to a cap. Let me start there. We don’t have a cap, we’re not going to agree to a cap,” Clark added. “A salary cap is the ultimate restriction on player value and player salary. We believe in a market system. The market system has served our players, our teams and our game very well.”
Clark suggested some teams maintain low payrolls as strategy rather than because of lack of revenue.
“The product on the field does well, fans come to the ballpark. Fans come to the ballpark, local revenue increase in all facets. That model has served our industry remarkably well,” he said. “Can or won’t is a valid question to ask when teams in an industry that has grown are still in a world where their payrolls are half of what they may have been 10 or 15 years ago.”
Manfred has said MLB had $10.8 billion in revenue last year. Clark praised the active free-agent market.
“What is interesting is the comments finding into the way into the headlines against the backdrop of a remarkably exciting offseason, where teams competing and engaging in the free-agent market created a level of excitement that I would think is a positive,” Clark said.
Figures are based on the 1,043 players on active rosters and injured lists as of Aug. 31, the last day before active rosters expanded from 26 to 28. The union’s average includes prorated shares of option buyouts, which MLB does not.
Neither side included the $50 million bonus pool for pre-arbitration-eligible players.
METS’ SCHERZER LOVES ‘CAT-AND-MOUSE’ GAME OF MLB’S NEW RULES
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Max Scherzer described pitching under Major League Baseball’s new rules as a “cat-and-mouse” game.
Contrary to previous years, Scherzer feels the pitcher finally has control of the tempo because of the new pitch clock.
In his first start of the Grapefruit League schedule, Scherzer allowed a run in the second inning but struck out five while working the first two innings of the Mets’ 6-3 win over Washington.
“Really, the power the pitcher has now — I can totally dictate pace,” the three-time Cy Young Award winner said. “The rule change of the hitter having only one timeout changes the complete dynamic of the hitter-and-pitcher dynamic. Yeah, I love it.”
The pitch clock is among a series of new rules for this season — including limits on infield shifts and larger bases — that MLB hopes will improve pace of play and introduce more action into the game.
The average game time through three days of spring training is 2 hours, 39 minutes, down from an average of 3:01 for all of spring training last year.
Scherzer says he is learning to play around with the pitch clock.
Washington’s Michael Chavis, the second hitter in the second inning, stepped out of the box when he felt Scherzer was taking too long. That was fine with Scherzer.
The right-hander held the ball for more than 10 seconds before delivering the next pitch as Chavis had to remain in the batter’s box, locked eyes with Scherzer. The veteran pitcher felt he had imposed his will, even though Chavis ultimately singled to right.
“I can work extremely quick. And I can work extremely slow,” Scherzer said. “There’s another layer here to be able to mess with the hitter’s timing.
“I can come set even before the hitter’s in the box. I can’t pitch until eight (seconds left on the clock). But as soon as his eyes are up, I can go. If his eyes are up with 12 seconds to go, I can fire.
“I had the conversation with the umpire (David Rackley) to make sure that’s legal. And that is (legal). I’m just getting used to how this is going to be in 2023.”
According to MLB, there were 69 pitch-timer violations through the first 35 spring training games over the weekend — including 35 violations in 16 games Sunday.
While Scherzer thinks the timer is working in pitchers’ favor, hitters aren’t complaining, either.
“I like it,” Yankees star Aaron Judge said. “I think you can kind of play around with it a little bit. I think it definitely speeds up the game. Anything that kind of keeps the pitcher moving and on the go, and hopefully keep him out of breath, I’m looking forward to it.”
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said MLB is providing updates — nearly in real time — on the rules changes package that is making this spring training unique.
The two major changes are a pitch clock and a limit on extreme infield shifts.
“They did a really nice job of sending out a memo this morning with all the things that took place yesterday and questions that players and managers that just had to be addressed in order that you can cover it with your staff and club as you feel appropriate,” Marmol said. “So we did that with our staff and brought two different points with our players because they’ve done a really good job of communication.”
There were more hiccups on Sunday throughout the Cactus and Grapefruit League games, but most took the changes in stride.
Rockies reliever Daniel Bard was called for a ball after throwing a warmup pitch after the 30-second deadline heading into an inning. The 30-second mark before innings was also a source of confusion during the Cardinals-Marlins game. Two Cardinals pitchers were called for balls before the start of innings before, according to Marmol, the umpires gathered and realized they were interpreting the rule incorrectly.
“It’s spring training for everybody,” Marmol said. “Those things will get ironed out before we get out of here.”
COLLEGE BASEBALL
COLLEGE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: MSU PITCHER BRINGS HEAT BOTH WAYS
Jurrangelo Cijntje is one of the most fascinating novelties in college baseball so far this season.
The Mississippi State freshman is a rare ambidextrous pitcher, the most notable since Pat Venditte appeared in 61 major league games from 2015-20.
Cijntje already throws harder than Venditte did. His fastball was clocked at 97 mph right-handed and 92 mph left-handed when he pitched four shutout innings and gave up one hit in a 14-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe last Wednesday. Cijntje struck out six with his right arm and one with his left in his first start.
“He’s as chill as you’ll find in everything he does,” coach Chris Lemonis said. “He left his country, came to Starkville, Mississippi. Nothing fazes him. He’s just a competitor. He’s going to get hit at times. You’re going to see a kid who gets a lot better.”
Cijntje, who was not made available for an interview Monday, said in a recent story for the MSU athletics website that he is a natural lefty. He grew up on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao and started throwing with his right arm because he wanted to imitate his father, Mechangelo, who played professionally in the Netherlands. Eventually his right arm became stronger than his left.
Cijntje lived with his cousin while attending high school in Florida. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him as a shortstop in the 18th round of the MLB amateur draft last year, but Cijntje didn’t want to give up pitching and went to college instead.
Cijntje uses a specially made glove worn on either hand. He must indicate which arm he’ll use to pitch before the batter steps into the box, and he must use the same arm throughout the at-bat.
“It’s probably the coolest thing,” catcher Ross Highfill said of being Cijntje’s battery mate. “It’s a little weird trying to get used to his lefty and righty. You have to prepare in advance and catch a lot of his bullpens.”
IN THE POLLS
Iowa handed LSU its first loss Saturday in Round Rock, Texas, but the Tigers (6-1) remain the consensus No. 1 team in the polls.
The top three in the D1Baseball rankings were unchanged, with Stanford (5-2) and Tennessee (6-2) following LSU.
Baseball America kept its top three the same, as well, with Florida (7-1) second and Stanford third.
Wake Forest (9-0) earned a big promotion in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll, rising from No. 6 to No. 2 after outscoring opponents 122-14. Florida slipped to No. 3 to make room for the Demon Deacons.
CONSECUTIVE NO-HITTERS
Oklahoma State pitchers combined to throw back-to-back no-hitters in Stillwater.
Janzen Keisel struck out 11 over 5 1/3 innings against Cal Baptist last Tuesday. Isaac Stebens, Drew Blake, Evan O’Toole and Nolan McLean finished the 2-0 win.
Juaron Watts-Brown, O’Toole and McLean combined on the no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Loyola Marymount on Saturday. Watts-Brown struck out eight and walked two in six innings.
MONMOUTH’S MAMMOTH COMEBACK
Maine’s Caleb Leys had a no-hitter and was up 9-0 after five innings against Monmouth on Friday before the Hawks’ offense emerged in a big way. Monmouth scored 13 runs over three innings to take the lead but was down 14-13 when it came to bat in the bottom of the ninth.
Austin Denlinger, a graduate transfer from Division III York College, connected with two outs for his first Division I homer and a 15-14 walk-off win.
GATOR EIGHT
Jac Caglianone connected three times and Florida finished with a program-record eight home runs in a 13-7 win over Cincinnati on Sunday.
Josh Rivera went deep twice and Cade Kurland, Luke Heyman and Colby Halter each homered once.
HE’D RUN THROUGH A FENCE
Houston center fielder Drew Bianco made college baseball’s play of the week when he stole a home run from Incarnate Word’s Alec Carr on Sunday.
Bianco gave chase when Carr sent a deep fly to left center in the sixth inning and, never slowing down, flipped over the fence after catching the ball.
Bianco, the son of Mississippi coach Mike Bianco and a graduate transfer from LSU, also made an electric play a week ago when he perfectly timed his jump at the wall to take away a homer from California’s Caleb Lomavita.
MEN’S TENNIS
NOVAK DJOKOVIC BREAKS RECORD FOR MOST WEEKS RANKED NO. 1
Novak Djokovic broke the record for the most time spent at No. 1 in the professional tennis rankings by a man or woman, beginning his 378th week in the ATP’s top spot on Monday to surpass Steffi Graf’s 377 leading the WTA.
He already held the men’s mark, eclipsing Roger Federer’s old ATP standard of 310 weeks in March 2021.
“I’m flattered, obviously. Extremely, extremely proud and happy for this achievement,” Djokovic said in a video posted on social media, in which he referred to Graf as “one of the greatest, most legendary, tennis players.”
After Djokovic and Graf on the all-time No. 1 weeks list are Martina Navratilova, with 332, and Serena Williams, with 319, followed by Federer. The computerized rankings began in the 1970s.
Djokovic has finished seven years atop the ATP, another men’s record.
The 35-year-old from Serbia returned to No. 1 this time by winning the Australian Open in January, jumping up from No. 5 to overtake Carlos Alcaraz. That title was Djokovic’s 22nd at a Grand Slam tournament, equaling Rafael Nadal for the most by a man in tennis history.
Djokovic is 12-0 so far in 2023, heading into this week’s tournament in Dubai.
He managed to get back to the top of the rankings despite not being able to enter a handful of big tournaments in 2022, including the Australian Open and U.S. Open, because is not vaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic was able to compete at Melbourne Park this year after Australia relaxed its pandemic-era rules; his status for two key events in the United States that begin in March — at Indian Wells and Miami — is still in doubt, and he’s asked for permission to be allowed to travel to the country.
Djokovic also did not get any boost from his championship at Wimbledon in 2022, because no rankings points were awarded there. The ATP and WTA both withheld points in response to the All England Club’s decision to bar players from Russia and Belarus from competing as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. It is still not known whether those athletes will be allowed to play at Wimbledon this year.
Alcaraz, the 19-year-old from Spain who won last year’s U.S. Open, remained at No. 2 on Monday, followed by Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas and two-time major finalist Casper Ruud. Taylor Fritz rose two places to a career-best No. 5, making him the first American man in the ATP’s top five since Andy Roddick in 2009.
Nadal, who hasn’t competed since injuring his left hip flexor during a loss at the Australian Open, slid two spots to No. 8 on Monday.
There were no changes Monday in the WTA’s top 10, where Iga Swiatek still holds a substantial lead at No. 1, with Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka at No. 1. Barbora Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open champion who beat Swiatek in the final at Dubai on Saturday, soared from No. 30 to No. 16.
BIG 10 NOTEBOOK
MARYLAND, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA AND RUTGERS EARN BIG TEN SOFTBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
Player of the Week
Taylor Krapf, Minnesota
So. – C – Oviedo, Fla. – Winter Springs – Major: Biology
• Posted a .692 batting average, 1.860 slugging percentage and .667 on-base percentage in a 3-2 week for the Golden Gophers at the Baylor Invitational in Waco, Texas
• Blasted five home runs (at least one in four of Minnesota’s five tournament games) while adding nine hits, seven runs and eight RBI
• Had two home runs, four RBI and scored three times in the tournament opening win over Texas A&M Commerce on Feb. 24 — as a team, Minnesota hit a school-record seven home runs in the game
• Added home runs in a pair of wins over No. 21 Maryland, as well as one against host and No. 22 Baylor
• Earns her first career Big Ten Player of the Week award
• Last Minnesota Player of the Week: MaKenna Partain (April 13, 2021)
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Trinity Schlotterbeck, Maryland
Sr. – RHP – Williamsport, Md. – Saint James School – Major: Communications
• Tossed the seventh perfect game in program history and Maryland’s first since 2013 with a pristine performance on Feb. 24 against Texas A&M Commerce at the Baylor Invitational in Waco, Texas
• Struck out eight in the five-inning masterpiece
• Added a seven-inning complete game effort with six more strikeouts in Sunday’s tournament finale against Minnesota
• Collects her first career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award
• Last Maryland Pitcher of the Week: Courtney Wyche (April 25, 2022)
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Sarah Harness, Nebraska
Jr. – RHP – Bowling Green, Mo. – Bowling Green – Major: Child, Youth and Family Studies
• Went 2-0 last week with one solo and one combined shutout, striking out 12 while allowing just one hit in 11.0 scoreless innings in Nebraska’s 4-1 weekend at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.
• Pitched a no-hitter on Feb. 24 at tournament host New Mexico State, striking out 10 over 7.0 innings and allowing just one base runner (on a fielding error with two outs in the seventh)
• Started and gave up just one hit in four innings of Sunday’s 1-0 victory over New Mexico
• Secures her first career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award
• Last Nebraska Pitcher of the Week: Courtney Wallace (Feb. 13, 2023)
Freshman of the Week
Ryann Orange, Rutgers
DP – Torrance, Calif. – Torrance – Major: Undeclared
• Batted .563 with a 1.375 slugging percentage and .611 on-base percentage last week, helping Rutgers go 4-1 at the Low Country Classic in Charleston, S.C.
• Hit three home runs as part of nine hits (six for extra bases), while adding seven RBI and seven runs scored
• Went 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles, two runs and three RBI in a Feb. 25 win over tournament host College of Charleston
• Captures her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Maddie Lawson (March 1, 2022)
INDIANA SCORES MEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY AWARD
Player and Freshman of the Week
Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana
G – 6-6 – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Monteverde Academy – Major: Sports Marketing and Management
- Averaged 25.5 points and five rebounds as No. 17 Indiana split a pair of games last week
- Shot 14-24 from the field for a career-high 35 points, grabbed seven rebound and blocked a shot to lead Indiana to a win at No. 5 Purdue
- Scored the second most points by a freshman in Indiana history (36 – Jay Edwards, 1988)
- Garners his first career Player of the Week award and fourth Freshman of the Week honor.
- Last Indiana Player of the Week: Trayce Davis-Jackson (Jan. 13, 2023)
- Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Jalen Hood-Schifino (Jan. 13, 2023)
IOWA AND WISCONSIN EARN BIG TEN WEEKLY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS
Player of the Week
Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Jr. – G – West Des Moines, Iowa – Dowling Catholic – Major: Business
• Averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game last week as the Hawkeyes split a pair of top-10 matchups at No. 7/8 Maryland and at home against No. 2/2 Indiana
• Tallied 34 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and made the game-winning three-pointer as time expired to give Iowa an 86-85 victory over Big Ten champion Indiana on Sunday at a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena
• Added 18 points, five rebounds and four assists in a Feb. 21 game at Maryland
• Named a first-team College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America and Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2022
• Earns her 18th career Big Ten Player of the Week award (third-most in conference history) and sixth this season
• Last Iowa Player of the Week: Caitlin Clark (Feb. 6, 2023)
Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Brinae Alexander, Sr., G, MD: Posted 20.0 ppg. with a .542 FG% and .556 3FG% last week, helping the Terrapins to wins over No. 6/6 Iowa and No. 16/13 Ohio State
Jaz Shelley, Jr., G, NEB: Compiled 22.5 ppg., 9.0 rpg., 6.0 apg. in two wins last week, including 26 points in a Feb. 22 victory at No. 25 Illinois and 19 points/13 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Northwestern
Julie Pospíšilová, Sr., G, WIS: Collected 20.7 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 5.7 apg. last week as the Badgers closed the regular season with their first three-game Big Ten winning streak since 2010-11, highlighted by her 25 points in Sunday’s victory over No. 12/17 Michigan
Freshman of the Week
Serah Williams, Wisconsin
F – Brooklyn, N.Y. – Niagara Prep – Major: Nursing
• Recorded 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game last week, helping Wisconsin to three consecutive victories
• Scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a Feb. 20 win over Rutgers
• Added 14 points and five rebounds in Sunday’s victory over No. 12/17 Michigan, the Badgers’ first over the Wolverines since 2014
• Receives her third Big Ten Freshman of the Week award
• Last Wisconsin Freshman of the Week: Serah Williams (Feb. 6, 2023)
BIG TEN WRESTLING PRE-SEEDS ANNOUNCED
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the preliminary seeds for the 2023 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, which are set for March 4-5 at Michigan. Six schools boast at least one top-seeded wrestler, with Penn State leading the way with four No. 1 seeds. The pre-seeds, as voted on by the conference’s coaches, rank 14 starters in all 10 weight classes.
The Nittany Lions boast four top-seeded wrestlers, with 133-pounder Roman Bravo-Young, 174-pounder Carter Starocci, 184-pounder Aaron Brooks and 197-pouder Max Dean. Iowa’s Spencer Lee (125) and Real Woods (141), Michigan’s Mason Parris (285), Nebraska’s Peyton Robb (157), Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso (149) and Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti (165) round out the group of top-ranked grapplers.
This year’s field contains a combined 12 Big Ten individual championships (seven wrestlers) and 10 NCAA individual championships (five wrestlers).
For more information on the 2023 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, visit the Big Ten Championships Central page here. The complete list of Big Ten Championships pre-seeds can be found below.
125 lbs.
- Spencer Lee (IOWA)
- Liam Cronin (NEB)
- Matt Ramos (PUR)
- Eric Barnett (WIS)
- Patrick McKee (MINN)
- Michael DeAugustino (NU)
- Malik Heinselman (OSU)
- Braxton Brown (MD)
- Dean Peterson (RU)
- Jack Medley (MICH)
- Gary Steen (PSU)
- Tristan Lujan (MSU)
- Jacob Moran (IND)
- Maximo Renteria (ILL)
133 lbs.
- Roman Bravo-Young (PSU)
- Jesse Mendez (OSU)
- Lucas Byrd (ILL)
- Chris Cannon (NU)
- Dylan Ragusin (MICH)
- Aaron Nagao (MINN)
- Joe Heilmann (RU)
- Brody Teske (IOWA)
- RayVon Foley (MSU)
- Taylor LaMont (WIS)
- Henry Porter (IND)
- Kyle Burwick (NEB)
- Dustin Norris (PUR)
- Jackson Cockrell (MD)
141 lbs.
- Real Woods (IOWA)
- Beau Bartlett (PSU)
- Brock Hardy (NEB)
- Frankie Tal Shahar (NU)
- Jakob Bergeland (MINN)
- Danny Pucino (ILL)
- Joseph Olivieri (RU)
- Parker Filius (PUR)
- Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)
- Cole Mattin (MICH)
- Joseph Zargo (WIS)
- Jordan Hamdan (MSU)
- Cayden Rooks (IND)
- Kal Miller (MD)
149 lbs.
- Sammy Sasso (OSU)
- Austin Gomez (WIS)
- Yahya Thomas (NU)
- Max Murin (IOWA)
- Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
- Michael Blockhus (MINN)
- Graham Rooks (IND)
- Ethen Miller (MD)
- Chance Lamer (MICH)
- Tony White (RU)
- Dayne Morton (NEB)
- Jake Harrier (ILL)
- Peyton Omania (MSU)
- Jaden Reynolds (PUR)
157 lbs.
- Peyton Robb (NEB)
- Levi Haines (PSU)
- Kendall Coleman (PUR)
- Chase Saldate (MSU)
- Cobe Siebrecht (IOWA)
- Will Lewan (MICH)
- Michael Carr (ILL)
- Trevor Chumbley (NU)
- Garrett Model (WIS)
- Derek Gilcher (IND)
- Brayton Lee (MINN)
- Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
- Andrew Clark (RU)
- Michael North (MD)
165 lbs.
- Dean Hamiti (WIS)
- Cameron Amine (MICH)
- Patrick Kennedy (IOWA)
- Alex Facundo (PSU)
- Carson Kharchla (OSU)
- Caleb Fish (MSU)
- Maxx Mayfield (NU)
- Danny Braunagel (ILL)
- Andrew Sparks
- Bubba Wilson (NEB)
- Nick South (IND)
- Robert Kanniard (RU)
- Stony Buell (PUR)
- John Martin Best (MD)
174 lbs.
- Carter Starocci (PSU)
- Mikey Labriola (NEB)
- Ethan Smith (OSU)
- Bailee O’Reilly (MINN)
- Edmond Ruth (ILL)
- DJ Washington (IND)
- Nelson Brands (IOWA)
- Troy Fisher (NU)
- Max Maylor (MICH)
- Jackson Turley (RU)
- Ceasar Garza (MSU)
- Dominic Solis (MD)
- Josh Otto (WIS)
- Cooper Noehre (PUR)
184 lbs.
- Aaron Brooks (PSU)
- Kaleb Romero (OSU)
- Isaiah Salazar (MINN)
- Matt Finesilver (MICH)
- Abe Assad (IOWA)
- Layne Malczewski (MSU)
- Lenny Pinto (NEB)
- Brian Soldano (RU)
- Dylan Connell (ILL)
- Tyler Dow (WIS)
- Evan Bates (NU)
- Ben Vanadia (PUR)
- Clayton Fielden (IND)
- Kevin Makosy (MD)
197 lbs.
- Max Dean (PSU)
- Silas Allred (NEB)
- Zac Braunagel (ILL)
- Cameron Caffey (MSU)
- Jacob Warner (IOWA)
- Jaxon Smith (MD)
- Gavin Hoffman (OSU)
- Braxton Amos (WIS)
- Michial Foy (MINN)
- Nick Willham (IND)
- Billy Janzer (RU)
- Andrew Davison (NU)
- Brendin Yatooma (MICH)
- Hayden Filipovich (PUR)
285 lbs.
- Mason Parris (MICH)
- Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)
- Tony Cassioppi (IOWA)
- Lucas Davison (NU)
- Trent Hillger (WIS)
- Boone McDermott (RU)
- Tate Orndoff (OSU)
- Jacob Bullock (IND)
- Jaron Smith (MD)
- Hayden Copass (PUR)
- Garrett Joles (MINN)
- Ryan Vasbinder (MSU)
- Matt Wroblewski (ILL)
- Austin Emerson (NEB)
MAC NOTEBOOK
NIU’S DAVIS EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
MAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
A’Jah Davis, Forward, Northern Illinois
A’Jah Davis averaged 20.5 points and 13.0 rebounds per game this week as NIU split two games against Miami and Central Michigan. She led the Huskies with 21 points and seven rebounds at Miami last Wednesday night. On Saturday, Davis recorded her 50th career double-double with 20 points and 19 rebounds in NIU’s 84-80 double overtime victory over CMU on Senior Day. Davis tied the NIU career record for double-doubles in the first half with 15 points and 13 rebounds. She also made the game-winning basket with 0:31 left in the second overtime. Davis made a career-high 10 free throws and added a season-high six assists.
EASTERN MICHIGAN’S BATES, MIAMI’S LAIRY NAMED MEN’S BASKETBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MAC Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week
Emoni Bates, Eastern Michigan, G
Sophomore, Ypsilanti, Mich. (Ypsi Prep)
Sophomore Emoni Bates led the Eagles to two big home wins that not only snapped a five-game skid, but also kept the Eagles in the hunt for berth into the MAC Tournament. Bates nearly averaged a double-double as he averaged 20.5 points and 9.0 points in the two games. He started the week with 17 points and seven rebounds to help the Eagles come from behind, turning a 10-point deficit into a 66-59 win over the Broncos. He followed that with his fourth double-double of the season by scoring 24 points and pulling down 11 rebounds as EMU again came from 10 points down to win, 75-68, and move into the No. 8 position in the MAC standings with two games to play. All told, Bates currently ranks second in the league and 26th nationally in scoring.
Mekhi Lairy, Miami, Guard
Fifth Year, Evansville, Ind. ( Evansville Bosse)
Fifth year guard Mekhi Lairy averaged 19.5 ppg, 4.5 apg and 4.0 rpg to lead Miami over Bowling Green (74-65) and Ohio (85-68). With his leadership, Miami has now extended their win streak to three games. Lairy shot 52.0 percent from the field (13-of-25) and went 80.0 percent (8-of-10) from the free-throw line over the week. Against Bowling Green he scored 13 points, a game-high seven assists and added four rebounds. He followed this with a game-high 26-point performance versus arch-rival Ohio. Lairy went 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from three-point range and added four rebounds to take home a win on senior day. Lairy also moved into fourth place on the program’s all-time career scoring list with 1,699, passing Eric Newsome (1984-88).
HCAC 2023 Baseball Notebook, Week 1
Athletes of the Week:
Hitting Athlete of the Week:
Ryan Murray (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Outfield | Graduate Student – Murray was lethal from the plate for the Lions this weekend. Murray hit .600 launching three home runs, one triple, one double while knocking in 17 runs in just four games. Murray also drew three walks while staying perfect in the field. The Graduate Senior set a new school record on Friday knocking in nine runs as the Lions finished the weekend with a 3-1 record.
Pitching Athlete of the Week:
Dylan Sprong (Greenwood, Ind.) Franklin College | Pitcher | Junior – Sprong dominated in his first career start at FC on Sunday, going the distance in a 3-2 win over Saint Mary’s (Minn.). He scattered seven hits and allowed two earned runs while striking out nine.
Notable Performances:
- Tyler Smitherman (Westfield, Ind.) Anderson University | First Base | Senior – Smitherman went 5-for-13 with four doubles in a three-game series against Trine, closing the week with a .385 batting average, a .385 on-base percentage and a .692 slugging percentage.
- Carter Knoblauch (New Haven, Ind.) Anderson University | Pitcher | First Year – Knoblauch recorded a quality start in his collegiate debut against Trine. He struck out six batters, issued one walk and allowed two runs on five hits in six innings.
- Gunner Gregg (Graytown, Ohio) Defiance College | Infield | Sophomore – Gregg led Defiance in hitting over a three-game weekend, going 6-for-12 with a double. He hit safely in all three DC losses and climbed on base three times during each game of Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Muskingum.
- Tyler Sickmiller (Leipsic, Ohio) Defiance College | Pitcher | Sophomore – Sickmiller kept Defiance close during a 5-4 loss with three scoreless, one-hit innings vs. Muskingum on Saturday. He also recorded one strikeout and did not issue any walks.
- Max Fries (Cleves, Ohio) Earlham College | First Base / Utility | Senior – Fries led the Quakers in a three-game sweep of Olivet on opening weekend. The senior posted a .500 batting average with five hits, one double, one triple, and a home run. Fries brought in eight RBI with a slugging percentage of 1.1.
- Hayden Scalf (Richmond, Ind.) Earlham College | Pitcher | First Year – Scalf led the Quakers to a comeback win over Olivet in the season opener on Friday night. The first year tossed 3.2 innings with three hits for one earned run and seven strikeouts. Scalf faced a total of 10 batters in his three complete innings after entering.
- Eric Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) Hanover College | Outfield | Junior – Roudebush led the Panthers as part of the weekend series at Maryville going 5-for-11 at the dish with two runs and three RBI. He added a solo homerun as part of the weekend opener and drew two walks.
- Marcus Goodpaster (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hanover College | Pitcher | Junior – Goodpaster got the start in game two of a three game series at Maryville where he pitched five complete innings, giving up no runs on four hits. He added a weekend best seven Panther strikeouts, surrendering just one walk.
- Austin Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas) Manchester University | Infield | Junior – During Manchester’s 1-1 weekend in Myrtle Beach against York College of Pennsylvania, Austin Knowles went 5-9 from the plate, scoring two runs, one RBI, and hitting two doubles for the Spartans.
- Carter Hooks (Rochester, Ind.) Manchester University | Pitcher | Graduate Student – Hooks completed the save for Manchester during their 12-10 against York College of Pennsylvania on Saturday. Hooks allowing two earned runs and struck out five batters in three innings pitched for the Spartans.
- Ethan Mason (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Pitcher | First Year – Mason made his college debut on Saturday and was dominant. The first year made his first start tossing six innings allowing just four hits and one unearned run. Mason struck out four batters while walking just one earning his first win of his career.
- Kade Kline (Terre Haute, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Designated Hitter | Sophomore – Kline led Rose-Hulman with four hits, including a double, to record a .333 batting average with three runs scored in a three-game series at No. 3 ranked LaGrange.
- Josh Erpenbeck (Clayton, N.C.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Pitcher | Junior – Erpenbeck helped Rose-Hulman secure a win over No. 3 ranked LaGrange with 4.2 innings of strong work out of the bullpen. Erpenbeck allowed one earned run and one hit in 4.2 innings with one strikeout to help Rose-Hulman knock off No. 3 ranked LaGrange 6-3 on Sunday.
- Trent Youngblood (Louisville, Ky.) Transylvania University | Infield | Junior – In three games, Youngblood hit one homerun whole scoring four runs. He posted a .667, .500 and .444 batting average to add to two RBI and hitting a double. On the week, he had four hits in nine at bats.
HCAC 2023 Softball Notebook, Week 3
Athletes of the Week:
Hitting Athlete of the Week:
Eriana Wagner (Indianapolis, Ind.) Franklin College | Outfield | Sophomore – Wagner batted .556 (5-for-9) with four RBI and two doubles as Franklin ripped off four wins to open up the regular season. She had a pair of multi-hit games coming against Carroll and University of the Ozarks. Wagner recorded the game-tying RBI single in Franklin’s final at-bat against Carroll, forcing extras where the Griz would win.
Pitching Athlete of the Week:
Stephanni Kleber (Seymour, Ind.) Franklin College |Pitcher | Sophomore – Kleber went 2-0 with a pair of complete game wins for Franklin over the weekend. She scattered seven hits while allowing one earned run and striking out eight over six innings in a 9-1 win over Monmouth on Saturday. Kleber tossed all seven innings in a 4-2 win over DePauw on Sunday, giving up one earned run on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Notable Performances:
- Savannah McCoy (Bettsville, Ohio) Defiance College | Pitcher | Junior – McCoy was a tough luck loser as she started the season with an 0-2 record. However, she ended up pitching 13 innings, allowed only three earned runs, and struck out 11 total batters in her first two starts of the year as the Yellow Jackets lost 3-0 and 2-1 in the two games she started. Her ERA through her first two starts is 1.62.
- Lauren Beaman (Indianapolis, Ind.) Hanover College | Pitcher / Outfield | Sophomore – Beaman led the Panthers to a 1-3 overall mark in a competitive weekend in Edwardsville, Ill. She went 3-for-13 at the dish over three games with two doubles and two RBI. Beaman posted a strong .231 batting average. Beaman not only found success at the plate but she also got it done in the circle for the Panthers pitching 20 innings over the course of the weekend allowing just three runs. She posted a 0.70 ERA with three complete games pitched.
- Kaci Finchum (Mooresville, Ind.) Mount St. Joseph University | Third Base | Junior – Finchum was dominant at the plate this week for the Lions. The Junior finished 7-of-12 from the plate scoring three runs while knocking in four. Finchum also led the Lions to a massive victory over No. 14 Wartburg on Saturday.
- Casey Kemp (Blanchester, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Pitcher | Junior – Kemp was dealing in the circle for the Lions this weekend. Kemp led the Lions past No. 14 Wartburg tossing seven innings of scoreless softball while striking out six batters. The Junior finished the week with 10 innings pitched allowing 10 hits, three runs while striking out nine batters.
- Briana Morrow (Atlanta, Ill.) Manchester University | Utility | Sophomore – Morrow helped lead Manchester softball to a 2-0 start to the 2023 season on Saturday after sweeping Asbury in a doubleheader. Morrow went 4-for-7 at the plate for the Spartans, finishing the afternoon with two runs, one RBI, and one double.
- Kaitlyn Carr (Valparaiso, Ind.) Manchester University | Pitcher | Sophomore – In game two of Manchester’s non-conference doubleheader against Asbury, Carr pitched 6.2 innings in relief, allowing five hits and one run against 28 batters faced. Carr also tallied two strikeouts in 21 pitches thrown.
- Lexi Fortuna (Griffith, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Left Field | Senior – Fortuna finished 3-of-5 at the plate (.600 batting average with a .600 slugging average) with three singles and two RBI as Rose-Hulman swept a doubleheader from Agnes Scott on Sunday to open the season.
- Baylee Uhrick (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Pitcher / First Base | Sophomore – Uhrick tossed a complete game shutout in Rose-Hulman’s opening day 6-0 win at Agnes Scott. Uhrick scattered seven hits and allowed zero runs with two strikeouts as the team’s game one opening day starter.
- Abby Fraizer (Lascassas, Tenn.) Transylvania University | Third Base | Senior – Frazier in a doubleheader this weekend went, 4-for-6 batting two of which were two second base hits. She stole a combined three bases while also earning two runs herself. This was capped off by winning both games against Illinois Wesleyan. This was a season high for Frazier in hits, doubles, and bases stolen.
- Carlee Jeter (Lexington, Ky.) Transylvania University | Pitcher | Junior – In a doubleheader this weekend, Jeter pitched in one game for a season high seven innings. Jeter faced 26 batters only allowing four hits while producing four strikeouts. This was backed by 10 groundouts and six forced outs. Only allowing one run in her win this weekend keeping her 3-0 as pitcher this season.
HCLC 2023 Men’s Lacrosse Notebook, Week 3
Athlete of the Week:
Offensive
Sam Sargent (South Weber, Utah) Earlham College | Attack | Senior – Sargent led the Quakers on offense with five goals and three assists this week. The senior is third in the HCLC in goals per game, and second in the conference in assists per game after three games.
Defensive
Emmitt Shaughnessy (Saint Paul, Minn.) Earlham College | Goalkeeper | Junior – Shaughnessy recorded 37 saves in a 1-1 week for the Quakers. Shaughnessy in second in NCAA Division III in both save percentage and goals against average after three complete games in the cage.
Notable Performances:
- G’Colby Spivey (Dallas, Texas) Centenary College | Attack | Sophomore – Spivey scored three goals on Sunday in the Gents’ loss at LaGrange after scoring one on Friday at Huntingdon as he now leads the Gents with seven this season. He added six ground balls and three caused turnovers along with a total of four points in the two games. He now has an impressive eight multi-goal games in his young career.
- Nick Adams (Greenwood, Ind.) Hanover College | Attack | Junior – Adams led the Panthers as they competed at Southwestern (Tex.) netting two goals on four shots, all of which landed on frame. He also added an assist and a ground ball in the contest.
- Lance Guttormson (West Bend, Wis.) Hanover College | Goalkeeper | Junior – Guttormson picked up 30 minutes in frame for the Blue and Red as they hit the road for Southwestern (Tex.). He charted a game-high 17 saves allowing just six goals in the 14-8 loss to the Pirates.
TOP INDIANA NEWS RELEASES
INDIANA BOYS HS BASKETBALL
ALL-CITY TEAM
First team
Xavier Booker, Cathedral, Sr.
Dezmon Briscoe, Crispus Attucks, Soph.
Myles Colvin, Heritage Christian, Sr.
Jaron Tibbs, Cathedral, Sr.
Ron Rutland III, Crispus Attucks, Jr.
Second team
Robert Davidson, Bishop Chatard, Sr.
Jake Davis, Cathedral, Sr.
Malik Hasani, Tech, Sr.
Tony Flatt, Covenant Christian, Sr.
Arlondo Hall, Tindley, Sr.
Third team
Ethan Roseman, Bishop Chatard, Fr.
Donovan Pruitt, Christel House Manual, Sr.
DeZhon Hall, Tindley, Fr.
Chris Hurt, Crispus Attucks, Soph.
Jason Johnson Jr., Providence Cristo Rey, Sr.
Honorable mention
Elexander Harris, Tech; Mikial Miller, Cardinal Ritter; Benny Smith, Cardinal Ritter; Kamari Slaughter, Cathedral; Trey Marcelin, Tindley; Javon Tyler, Christel House Manual; Terrance Hill, Christel House Manual; Andrew Crane, Covenant Christian; De’Andre Lott-Hancock, Crispus Attucks; Dylan Doss, Heritage Christian; Benen Newcomb, Herron; Shonn Roberts, Herron; Ju’Shaun Primus, Purdue Poly; Chris Perkins, Purdue Poly; Keaton Thibo, Scecina; Kalen Milan, Scecina.
INDIANA PACERS
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT MAVERICKS
After picking up a much-needed road win on Saturday night in Orlando, the Pacers (27-35) will try to make it two in a row on Tuesday night in Dallas against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks (32-30).
Prior to Saturday, the Blue & Gold had not won a road contest since Dec. 23, dropping 11 consecutive games away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That changed thanks to contributions from up and down the lineup in a 121-108 win over the Magic.
There were the usual strong contributions from Myles Turner (24 points and eight rebounds), Tyrese Haliburton (15 points and 14 assists), and Bennedict Mathurin (19 points off the bench). But the Pacers also got big minutes from the likes of Jordan Nwora and Jalen Smith that helped lift them to victory.
Nwora, playing in just his fourth game with Indiana after being acquired at the trade deadline, tallied 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds, and six assists in his breakout performance for the Blue & Gold. The Pacers will hope that Nwora can continue to build on that night as he becomes more comfortable with his new team over the final 20 games of the regular season.
It had been a difficult month for Smith, a one-time starter who had fallen out of the rotation. But his number was called in Orlando and he responded in a big way, tallying seven points and seven rebounds and blocking a career-high five shots in 20 minutes off the bench.
The Mavericks are coming off a disappointing performance on Sunday, where they blew a 27-point lead at home in a 111-108 loss to the Lakers. That left a sour taste in the mouth of Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, who told reporters after the game that “we have to grow up if we want to win a championship.”
Dallas made one of the biggest splashes ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring Kyrie Irving from Brooklyn. The eight-time All-Star is now paired with MVP candidate Doncic to form arguably the best backcourt in the NBA. So far, however, the Mavs have dropped three of their first four games with Irving and Doncic both in the lineup.
Doncic is having a stellar season and looks destined for his fourth straight All-NBA first-team selection. He ranks second in the league in scoring at 33.1 points per game and sixth in assists at 8.1 while also tallying 8.8 rebounds per contest.
Irving, meanwhile, has averaged 26.2 points and 6.5 assists while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from 3-point range in six games since joining the Mavs.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Buddy Hield, F – Aaron Nesmith, C – Myles Turner
Mavericks: G – Luka Doncic, G – Kyrie Irving, F – Justin Holiday, F – Reggie Bullock, C – Dwight Powell
Injury Report
Pacers: Kendall Brown – out (right tibia stress fracture)
Mavericks: Maxi Kleber – questionable (right hamstring tear), Davis Bertans – out (left calf strain)
Last Meeting
Jan. 29, 2022: Luka Doncic racked up 30 points, six rebounds, and 12 assists as the Mavericks led wire to wire and pulled away in the second half to knock off the Pacers, 132-105, in Rick Carlisle’s return to Dallas.
It was an emotional night for Carlisle, returning to the arena where he coached the Mavericks for 13 seasons from 2008-21, leading Dallas to the only NBA championship in franchise history in 2011. Dallas honored Carlisle with a two-and-a-half minute video tribute during pregame introductions. As the crowd rose for a standing ovation at the end of the tribute, Carlisle wiped away tears.
“The only other time I’ve felt that kind of emotional moment was when we raised the (championship) banner the first game of the (2011-12) season,” Carlisle said. “It was the same kind of feeling. But I was not expecting anything like that (tribute video).
“It was a wonderful gesture. Very much appreciated.”
Domantas Sabonis tallied 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting, 15 boards, and eight assists in 29 minutes for Indiana. Duane Washington Jr. finished with a career-high 22 points off the bench for the Blue & Gold, going 9-for-17 from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Reggie Bullock had 23 points for the Mavericks off the bench, going 8-for-11 from the field and 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Maxi Kleber recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson chipped in 13 points and eight assists.
Noteworthy
The Pacers and Mavericks have split the season series for four straight years. After Tuesday’s matchup, the two teams will meet again at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 27.
The Mavericks signed former Pacer Justin Holiday on Feb. 15. Holiday, who played for Indiana from 2019-22, was traded from Atlanta to Houston on Feb. 9 and had his contract bought out by the Rockets on Feb. 13 before signing with Dallas.
Pacers center Myles Turner has 1,103 career blocks and is eight shy of tying Rik Smits for second place in franchise history.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
After a four-game road trip, the Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, March 6 at 7:00 PM ET.
INDY FUEL
INDY HOSTS KALAMAZOO FOR EDUCATION DAY
GAME DAY TIMING:
9:30 A.M.: Doors open
10:30 A.M.: Puck drop
EDUCATION DAY
This game is currently sold out but click below to learn more about future opportunities for educators!
Season Ticket Holders that can’t play hooky from work can exchange their tickets for any other available home game in the 2022-23 season.
INDIANAPOLIS- The Fuel will be up bright and early for their annual Education Day game, Tuesday morning. Indy hosts the Kalamazoo Wings for a game in front of a sellout crowd of students. This is the tenth meeting this season between these two teams.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was for back-to-back games in Kalamazoo in which the K-Wings swept the weekend with two 3-2 wins over Indy. Prior to that, the Fuel were in Kalamazoo the week before and defeated the K-Wings 5-0. Indy is 7-3 against them this season.
BEING BELLANT
Forward Andrew Bellant has been hot against the Kalamazoo Wings this season. In 7 games, he has 4 goals against them, including one in their last meeting. Bellant has 20 points on the season including two shorthanded goals.
EDUCATION DAY HISTORY
The Fuel are 2-2 all time in Education Day games. Last year, Indy defeated Kalamazoo 2-1 on the morning of February 24th. All three goal scorers in that game are no longer with their respective teams, but current Fuel forward Bryan Lemos did claim an assist.
INDIANA ATHLETICS
HOOD-SCHIFINO NAMED PLAYER, FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Indiana freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino was named the Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Hood-Schifino is the first player to sweep the award since Kofi Cockburn (Illinois) on Nov. 25, 2019.
The award marks the first career Player of the Week nod, while the Pittsburgh native has earned Freshman of the Week four times this season. Since the inception of the Freshman of the Week award ahead of the 2010-11 season, only Cody Zeller (7 times), Noah Vonleh (7), and Trayce Jackson-Davis (5) registered more honors at Indiana.
Across the entire Big Ten Conference only Jared Sullinger (12 times, Ohio State), Bryce McGowens (8, Nebraska), Trey Burke (7, Michigan), Kofi Cockburn (7, Illinois), Hunter Dickinson (7), D’Angelo Russell (6, Ohio State), and Max Christie (5, Michigan State) have claimed the award more.
Hood-Schifino averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in Indiana’s two road games last week.
He became the first freshman in the last 25 seasons to score at least 35 points in a road victory over an Associated Press top-5 team when he tallied a career-best 35 points, seven rebounds, and two assists at No. 5/5 Purdue on Feb. 25. The Hoosiers won the game, 79-71.
His 35 points also marked the second-most points scored by a Hoosier freshman on record. Jay Edwards holds the top spot after ripping off 36 points at Minnesota on March 10, 1988. The scoring output also marked the third most by a major conference freshman this season, trailing only 41-point and 36-point games from Alabama freshman Brandon Miller.
JHS is the first Hoosier to record multiple 30-point games in his debut season since Eric Gordon accomplished the feat three times during the 2007-08 season.
The No. 15/13 Indiana Hoosiers will close out the regular season with homes games against Iowa (Feb. 28) and Michigan (March 5).
INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 30 VS. IOWA
Opening Tip
• Indiana University enters the final week of play in the 123rd season of competition in men’s basketball against Iowa on Feb. 28 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET and will be aired on ESPN2.
• The Hawkeyes, led by 13th-year head coach Fran McCaffery, enter the game with an 18-11 record and a 10-8 mark in B1G play. Iowa trailed Michigan State by 13 points with 1:34 to play in their last game. The Hawkeyes stormed back to force overtime and eventually prevailed, 112-106, in the Big Ten’s highest-scoring game of the season.
Game Information
Feb. 28, 2023 • 7 p.m. ET
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.
TV: ESPN2 (Brian Custer, Robbie Hummel, Myron Medcalf)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 106-81
Last Meeting: IOWA 91, IU 89 on Jan. 5, 2023 in Iowa City
Series History
• Indiana leads the all-time series against Iowa, 106-81. The Hawkeyes have won the last three games of the series, including a 91-89 result at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 5.
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis posted 30 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots for the Hoosiers in the contest. In his last two contests against the Hawkeyes, TJD is averaging 30.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
• Sixth-year senior Race Thompson injured his knee in the loss and was limited to just 10 minutes of run.
Last Time Out
• Indiana defeated No. 5/5 Purdue by a score of 79-71 on Feb. 25 at Mackey Arena. The loss marked the second for the Boilers in West Lafayette this season and the first time the Hoosiers waltzed out of Mackey Arena with a road win since Jan. 30, 2013.
• Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino totaled a career-best 35 points, including 23 in the first half, in the victory. He carved up the Purdue defense in the pick-and-roll and shot 14-of-24 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis was held scoreless for the entire first half but bounced back to finish the night with 10 points, eight rebounds, and a game-high seven assists.
• Fifth-year senior forward Miller Kopp and junior guard Trey Galloway each chipped in 13 points. The tandem combined to shoot 6-of-11 from behind the arc.
• In the victory, head coach Mike Woodson earned his first career (player or coach) road victory over an Associated Press top-5 team in the country. He also snagged his first career (player or coach) win at Mackey Arena.
• Coupled with Indiana’s triumph over No. 1/1 Purdue (79-74) on Feb. 4, the Hoosiers completed the first multi-game sweep of the Boilers since the 2012-13 season. It also signified the first time IU defeated the same top-5 team twice in a single season since 1992-93, when they defeated Michigan twice.
Jackson-Davis, The All-American
• Since the calendar flipped to 2023, senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis has averaged 22.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.9 blocks per game. His rebounding figure marks the highest tally in the NCAA during the 16-game stretch.
• In Big Ten play, Jackson-Davis ranks second in the league with 21.3 points and 12.5 rebounds per contest. He leads the conference with 3.0 blocked shots per game. His rebounding rate is the second highest in conference play in the last 25 seasons.
• Over the last 25 years of basketball only Jackson-Davis (Jan. 2023), Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal have averaged at least 23.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game in a calendar month (min. 5 games) in Division I basketball or the NBA.
• TJD posted three 30-pooint games in the month of January, including back-to-back games with 35 points at Illinois (Jan. 19) and 31 points against Michigan State (Jan. 22). He also grabbed at least 20 rebounds three times during the stretch of nine games.
JHS – Just Hit Shots
• Freshman guard Jalen Hood Schifino became the first freshman in the last 25 seasons to score at least 35 points in a road victory over an Associated Press top-5 team when he tallied a career-best 35 points, seven rebounds, and two assists at No. 5/5 Purdue on Feb. 25. The Hoosiers won the game, 79-71.
• His 35 points also marked the second-most points scored by a Hoosier freshman on record. Jay Edwards holds the top spot after ripping off 36 points at Minnesota on March 10, 1988.
• The freshman phenom is the first Hoosier to record multiple 30-point games in his debut season since Eric Gordon accomplished the feat three times during the 2007-08 season.
Built for the Moment
• In five wins against Associated Press ranked opponents, freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino is averaging 17.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest. He is shooting 56.5% (35-of-62) from 2-point range and 90.0% (9-of-10) from the free throw line in those games.
• The Hoosiers are 5-1 against ranked foes with JHS in the lineup with wins over No. 18 North Carolina (Nov. 30), No. 18 Wisconsin (Jan. 14), No. 1 Purdue (Feb. 4), No. 24 Rutgers (Feb. 7), and No. 5 Purdue (Feb. 25).
• In eight crunch-time Big Ten games, defined as single-digit outcomes in the final four minutes of play, Hood-Schifino 9-of-15 (66.7%) from the floor, 2-of-2 from the 3-point line, and 9-of-10 (90.0%) from the free throw line.
Road Warriors
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis scored a Big Ten career-high 35 points at Illinois on Jan. 19, the sixth-highest output for a Hoosier on the road in program history.
• Not to be outdone, freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino totaled a career-best 35 points at No. 5/5 Purdue on Feb. 25.
• Only Alan Henderson (41 at Michigan State) Bracey Wright (39 at North Texas), Steve Alford (38 at Wisconsin), Damon Bailey (36 at Kansas), and Jay Edwards (36 at Minnesota) tallied more points in an IU road game.
• As a team, Indiana earned five true road game wins this season, the most since IU went 6-4 on the road in the Big Ten Championship-winning season of 2015-16.
The Trey Gallo-Way
• Junior guard Trey Galloway has averaged 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 19 starts this season. Indiana is 13-6 in his starts this season.
• Overall this season, Gallo is shooting 50.7% from the floor and 51.9% from the 3-point line. He has made more 3-pointers (27) this season than his first two seasons on campus (12) combined.
• Galloway entered the season as a 19.7% 3-point shooter. His 32.2% increase from his career shooting number to his 2022-23 single-season split marks the highest in all of college basketball (min. 50 career made 3-pointers). Only one other player (Jayvis Harvey, Tennessee Tech) has hit a 30.0% difference.
• The third-year player has recorded nine double-figure scoring games this season. In his previous two years combined, Gallo tallied five.
Chasing History
• Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis currently is tied for fourth all-time at IU in scoring (2,110), third in rebounds (1,083), and holds the school record for blocked shots (252). He joins Alan Henderson as the only Hoosiers to be top-10 all-time in career scoring, rebounding, and blocks.
Up Next: Career Scoring Leaders
1. Calbert Cheaney (2,613)
2. Steve Alford (2,438)
3. Don Schlundt (2,192)
4. Trayce Jackson-Davis (2,110)
Up Next: Career Rebounding Leaders
1. Alan Henderson (1,091)
2. Walt Bellamy (1,087)
3. Trayce Jackson-Davis (1,083)
Up Next: Career Double-Doubles
1. Walt Bellamy (59)
2. Archie Dees (56)
3. Alan Henderson (49)
4. Trayce Jackson-Davis (47)
• TJD is the fifth player in Big Ten history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, joining Joe Barry Carroll (Purdue), Ethan Happ (Wisconsin), Greg Kelser (Michigan State), and Herb Williams (Ohio State).
• The Center Grove product is the only active men’s Division I player to tally at least 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 250 career blocks. In the last 25 seasons, only five players have achieved those numbers in college basketball. Only Kyle Hines (UNCG) produced those numbers on a higher career scoring average.
BIG TEN CONFERENCE UNVEILS PRE-SEED LIST FOR BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– The Big Ten Conference announced the pre-seed list for the 2023 Big Ten Wrestling Championships taking place this weekend.
The pre-seeds make the preliminary bracket setup for each weight class’ bracket for the Big Ten Championships. The seedings are not final at this time.
There will be a Big Ten coaches meeting the day before the start of the Championships to discuss and finalize seeding.
At this time, Indiana’s ten starters were seeded as followed for their weight class.
125: No. 13 Jacob Moran
133: No. 11 Henry Porter
141: No. 13 Cayden Rooks
149: No. 7 Graham Rooks
157: No. 10 Derek Gilcher
165: No. 11 Nick South
174: No. 6 DJ Washington
184: No. 13 Clayton Fielden
197: No. 10 Nick Willham
285: No. 8 Jacob Bullock
TUCKER NAMED CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana head football coach Tom Allen announced on Monday morning that Anthony Tucker will serve as the program’s co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
“We are very excited to welcome Anthony to our football family,” Allen said. “He brings tremendous knowledge and expertise to our staff and the wide receivers room. Anthony has been a part of highly productive and successful offenses over the last several years, and we look forward to that continuing with us.”
Tucker comes to Bloomington after two seasons as offensive coordinator at Utah State. In his 13 years of collegiate coaching, he has appeared in nine bowl games and captured four conference championships.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity to join Coach Allen and his staff,” Tucker said. “I’m equally excited to be here in Bloomington, representing and working for a great and respected university like IU.”
Tucker worked on the same staffs as IU offensive coordinator Walt Bell at Arkansas State (2014-15) and Maryland (2016).
Utah State tied a program record with 11 wins in 2021, won its first Mountain West Championship, defeated Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, and finished No. 24 in both national polls.
The Aggies set eight school marks, including 41 touchdown passes, 4,248 passing yards, and three receivers with 10-plus TD receptions, the only team in the country to accomplish the feat. USU ranked 15th nationally in passing offense (303.4), 23rd in total offense (445.6), and 33rd in scoring offense (32.6).
Deven Thompkins carded third-team All-America status and was a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist after he ranked second in the nation in receiving yards. He set three school marks with 102 receptions for 1,704 yards and five games with at least 170 yards.
Quarterback Logan Bonner broke five school records, including 3,618 passing yards and 36 touchdowns (7th nationally).
Tucker arrived at Utah State after three seasons at Central Florida, where the Knights posted a 28-8 overall record, a 19-5 conference mark, and appeared in three bowl games. The 2018 team finished the campaign ranked No. 11 with a 12-1 record and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.
He mentored running backs in 2018, was elevated to passing game coordinator in 2019, and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2020.
Under his tutelage, UCF produced the best three-year rushing stretch in school history with a program-record 3,448 yards (265.2) and a school-best 43 touchdowns in 2018; 2,909 yards (223.8) and 34 TDs in 2019; and 2,107 yards (210.7) and 23 scores in 2020.
The 2020 Knights ranked second nationally in total offense (568.1), third in passing (357.4), ninth in scoring (42.2), and 25th in rushing (210.7).
In 2019, UCF went 10-3 and closed out the campaign second in the country in total offense (540.5), fifth in scoring (43.4), eighth in passing (316.7), and 19th in rushing (223.8).
Central Florida’s ground attack set program marks with 3,448 yards, 265.2 yards per game, 43 touchdowns, and 5.8 yards per carry. The Knights ranked fifth in the nation in total offense (522.7), sixth in scoring (43.2), and eighth in rushing (228.4).
Tucker oversaw the running backs at Maryland in 2016 and 2017. The Terrapins rushed for 2,594 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2016, and made a trip to the Quick Lane Bowl. The 2016 season marked the first time the Terps eclipsed 2,500 rushing yards since 2003, and their rushing TDs were the most since 2007.
He coached the running backs (2014-15) and wide receivers (2013) at Arkansas State, where the Red Wolves claimed the 2013 and 2015 Sun Belt Conference titles, and played in three-straight bowl games.
ASU rushed for 3,007 yards, ranked 15th in the nation in rushing offense, and set school records for points scored and touchdowns in 2015. The previous campaign Arkansas State set a program record for total offense and ranked 25th nationally in rushing offense.
Idaho State ranked in the Top 10 in the country in passing during the 2010 and 2011 seasons with Tucker instructing wide receivers.
He got his start in the collegiate ranks as an offensive technical assistant at Colorado in 2010 and mentored wide receivers and was the passing game coordinator at Lakewood (Calif.) High School from 2006-09.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Tucker signed as a free agent with the New York Giants in 1999 and secured a place on the practice squad in 2000. He later played for NFL Europe’s Amsterdam Admirals in 2001 and signed with the St. Louis Rams in 2002 before he suffered a career-ending injury.
Tucker earned his bachelor’s degree from Fresno State University. A two-year starter at wide receiver, he was a Western Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete, a three-time Dean’s List member, and a President’s List honoree.
BASEBALL GAMEDAY: HOST BUTLER
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In a series that dates back to 1896, the Indiana baseball program will host Butler on Tuesday evening at Bart Kaufman Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. between the Hoosiers and Bulldogs.
With the Indiana men’s basketball program hosting Iowa on Tuesday, those wishing to attend the baseball game can park for free in the RV/Auxiliary Lot located at the corner of SR 45/46 and Fee Lane.
Gameday Info
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
IU: Ty Bothwell, LHP, R-Sr.
BU: Grant Brooks, RHP, Fr.
Live Video: bit.ly/3xWdVxt
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/IUStatbroadcast
Quick Hitters
Indiana and Butler will meet for the second straight season after IU grabbed a 9-1 victory at Victory Field last season behind a 15 strikeout game from the pitching staff. MORE ON PAGE 3
Indiana placed four student-athletes on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2022 and redshirt-junior Matthew Ellis was named third-team All-B1G by the conference coaches.
Freshman Carter Mathison and redshirt-senior Matthew Ellis each hit home runs on opening weekend to bring their career totals to 20 and 19, respectively, for the Cream and Crimson.
Mathison has played in 66 career games and has 64 career RBIs over that span to go along with his 20 home runs.
MORE ON PAGE 7
Senior Hunter Jessee carries a 23-game reached base streak into the week, which dates back to the 2022 season, and marks a career long for the left-handed hitter. MORE ON PAGE 7
Jessee posted his second career multi home run game versus Miami (Ohio) with a first inning home run to right field and a seventh inning shot to the opposite field.
Indiana’s pitching staff posted a program record 600 strikeouts in 2022. That mark ranks No. 2 in Big Ten history, behind Iowa’s 602 punchouts in 2022, as well. MORE ON PAGE 8
Head coach Jeff Mercer became the eighth IU skipper to reach 100 victories in the cream and crimson with a series finale win at Auburn on February 19, 2023. FULL BIO ON PAGE 17
Scouting the Opponent
Butler enters the week with a 2-5 record, winning two of four games over Fairleigh Dickinson in Lexington, South Carolina, to open the season, before dropping all three games at Campbell last weekend.
Freshman Joey Urban leads the team with a .419 batting average, 13 hits – eight for extra bases – and 10 runs scored.
Graduate student Jake DeFries paces the squad with three stolen bases and eight runs scored. He is one of three Bulldogs with a home run in 2023, as well.
The Bulldogs are averaging 11.0 strikeouts per game and are batting .249 as a team. On the base paths, BU is 10-of-12 on stolen base attempts through seven games.
The pitching staff has struck out 63 and walked 44 over the first 61 1/3 innings and have allowed 10.1 hits per game in seven contests.
Relievers Lukas Galdoni and Jon Vore each lead the team with three appearances in the early season. Each have three strikeouts in 4 and 5 2/3 innings, respectively.
Series Notes
Indiana and Butler will meet for the 126th time on Tuesday, with the Hoosiers owning a 95-30 all-time edge in the series that dates back to 1896.
IU won the first six games in the series and have met in each decade since the 1920s.
The Hoosiers have won the only three neutral site meetings between the two programs, which were played in 1998 (Evansville), 2016 (Port Charlotte, Fla.) and 2022 (Indianapolis).
Since 1970, the two teams have played in Bloomington 37 times and Indiana owns a 30-7 mark in those games. Of those games, 13 have been decided by two-or-fewer runs.
Tuesday will mark the second game played between Butler and Indiana played in February, with the earliest meeting coming on Feb. 27, 2019, a 9-3 victory for IU at Bart Kaufman Field.
The latest meeting in a season came on May 30, 1938, a 5-4 Butler victory in Indianapolis.
PURDUE ATHLETICS
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS PRE-SEEDS
INDIANAPOLIS – The Big Ten Conference released the 2023 Big Ten Wrestling Championships Pre-Seeds on Monday afternoon, unveiling the projected seeds for the 10 Purdue wrestlers set to enter the tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich., this weekend.
Three Boilermakers earned top-eight seeds as redshirt-senior Kendall Coleman and redshirt-sophomore Matt Ramos secured the No. 3 spots in their brackets and sixth-year senior Parker Filius checked in at No. 8 at 141. It is Coleman’s fourth straight season as a top-four seed at the conference tournament, where he has placed second (2020), fifth (2021) and sixth (2022).
Last year as a freshman and wresting at 133 pounds, Ramos was given the No. 9 seed for his postseason debut and wrestled his way to a seventh-place finish. Filius is gearing up for his fifth trip to the Big Ten tournament and matches his career-best seed by coming in at No. 8. He has earned eighth (2020), fifth (2021) and eighth (2022) place podium spots across the last three years.
Redshirt-freshman Hayden Copass is the next highest seeded Boilermaker, checking in at No. 10 in the heavyweight division. He is joined in the field by fellow redshirt freshmen Ben Vanadia, Stoney Buell, Dustin Norris, Hayden Filipovich and Jaden Reynolds. Vanadia was given the No. 12 seed at 184, Buell and Norris slot into No. 13 seeds, and Filipovich and Reynolds are joined by junior Cooper Noehre on the No. 14 line.
Brackets and more information will be released by the Big Ten as the week progresses.
125 lbs.
Spencer Lee (IOWA)
Liam Cronin (NEB)
Matt Ramos (PUR)
Eric Barnett (WIS)
Patrick McKee (MINN)
Michael DeAugustino (NU)
Malik Heinselman (OSU)
Braxton Brown (MD)
Dean Peterson (RU)
Jack Medley (MICH)
Gary Steen (PSU)
Tristan Lujan (MSU)
Jacob Moran (IND)
Maximo Renteria (ILL)
133 lbs.
Roman Bravo-Young (PSU)
Jesse Mendez (OSU)
Lucas Byrd (ILL)
Chris Cannon (NU)
Dylan Ragusin (MICH)
Aaron Nagao (MINN)
Joe Heilmann (RU)
Brody Teske (IOWA)
RayVon Foley (MSU)
Taylor LaMont (WIS)
Henry Porter (IND)
Kyle Burwick (NEB)
Dustin Norris (PUR)
Jackson Cockrell (MD)
141 lbs.
Real Woods (IOWA)
Beau Bartlett (PSU)
Brock Hardy (NEB)
Frankie Tal Shahar (NU)
Jakob Bergeland (MINN)
Danny Pucino (ILL)
Joseph Olivieri (RU)
Parker Filius (PUR)
Dylan D’Emilio (OSU)
Cole Mattin (MICH)
Joseph Zargo (WIS)
Jordan Hamdan (MSU)
Cayden Rooks (IND)
Kal Miller (MD)
149 lbs.
Sammy Sasso (OSU)
Austin Gomez (WIS)
Yahya Thomas (NU)
Max Murin (IOWA)
Shayne Van Ness (PSU)
Michael Blockhus (MINN)
Graham Rooks (IND)
Ethen Miller (MD)
Chance Lamer (MICH)
Tony White (RU)
Dayne Morton (NEB)
Jake Harrier (ILL)
Peyton Omania (MSU)
Jaden Reynolds (PUR)
157 lbs.
Peyton Robb (NEB)
Levi Haines (PSU)
Kendall Coleman (PUR)
Chase Saldate (MSU)
Cobe Siebrecht (IOWA)
Will Lewan (MICH)
Michael Carr (ILL)
Trevor Chumbley (NU)
Garrett Model (WIS)
Derek Gilcher (IND)
Brayton Lee (MINN)
Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
Andrew Clark (RU)
Michael North (MD)
165 lbs.
Dean Hamiti (WIS)
Cameron Amine (MICH)
Patrick Kennedy (IOWA)
Alex Facundo (PSU)
Carson Kharchla (OSU)
Caleb Fish (MSU)
Maxx Mayfield (NU)
Danny Braunagel (ILL)
Andrew Sparks
Bubba Wilson (NEB)
Nick South (IND)
Robert Kanniard (RU)
Stony Buell (PUR)
John Martin Best (MD)
174 lbs.
Carter Starocci (PSU)
Mikey Labriola (NEB)
Ethan Smith (OSU)
Bailee O’Reilly (MINN)
Edmond Ruth (ILL)
DJ Washington (IND)
Nelson Brands (IOWA)
Troy Fisher (NU)
Max Maylor (MICH)
Jackson Turley (RU)
Ceasar Garza (MSU)
Dominic Solis (MD)
Josh Otto (WIS)
Cooper Noehre (PUR)
184 lbs.
Aaron Brooks (PSU)
Kaleb Romero (OSU)
Isaiah Salazar (MINN)
Matt Finesilver (MICH)
Abe Assad (IOWA)
Layne Malczewski (MSU)
Lenny Pinto (NEB)
Brian Soldano (RU)
Dylan Connell (ILL)
Tyler Dow (WIS)
Evan Bates (NU)
Ben Vanadia (PUR)
Clayton Fielden (IND)
Kevin Makosy (MD)
197 lbs.
Max Dean (PSU)
Silas Allred (NEB)
Zac Braunagel (ILL)
Cameron Caffey (MSU)
Jacob Warner (IOWA)
Jaxon Smith (MD)
Gavin Hoffman (OSU)
Braxton Amos (WIS)
Michial Foy (MINN)
Nick Willham (IND)
Billy Janzer (RU)
Andrew Davison (NU)
Brendin Yatooma (MICH)
Hayden Filipovich (PUR)
285 lbs.
Mason Parris (MICH)
Greg Kerkvliet (PSU)
Tony Cassioppi (IOWA)
Lucas Davison (NU)
Trent Hillger (WIS)
Boone McDermott (RU)
Tate Orndoff (OSU)
Jacob Bullock (IND)
Jaron Smith (MD)
Hayden Copass (PUR)
Garrett Joles (MINN)
Ryan Vasbinder (MINN)
Matt Wroblewski (ILL)
Austin Emerson (NEB)
BUTLER ATHLETICS
BRENNAN AND HUETE EARN BIG EAST DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK
Senior’s Thomas Brennan and Alvaro Huete Vadillo earned BIG EAST Men’s Doubles Team of the Week after helping Butler clinch the doubles point in their 7-0 win over St. Louis on Sunday.
The duo featured in the No. 1 spot, defeating Eliott Ekindi and Sansh Kumar in a decisive 6-1 score line. The two were also victorious in their respective singles matches at the No. 1 and No. 2.
This is their first doubles honor this season after having received the recognition twice last season. They hold a 6-5 record on the year and have won three in a row from the top spot.
As a team, Butler has won three consecutive matches which moves them to 8-5 on the year. Up next for the Bulldogs is a trip to California where they will compete in the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship.
BUTLER TAKES ROAD LOSS AT CREIGHTON TO CAP OFF REGULAR SEASON
OMAHA – The BIG EAST women’s basketball regular season came to a close on Monday night with the Creighton Bluejays recording a 74-46 win over Butler. Anna Mortag scored 16 points for the Bulldogs. Butler heads to the conference tournament at 11-18 overall and 6-14 in the BIG EAST.
How It Happened
Butler opened the game going 1-for-9 from the field allowing Creighton to lead 8-3 at the first media timeout. The Bulldogs got the game back to two points at 10-8, but a 10-0 CU scoring run would follow to give the home team a 20-8 advantage after the first quarter.
The Bluejays went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter to hold a 33-11 lead near the five-minute mark. Lauren Jensen had 10 in 13 minutes to pace CU. Points in the paint were 18-2 at the half and Creighton would enjoy a 38-15 lead after 20 minutes of action.
After three quarters, Butler had seven made field goals and the Bluejays had seven made 3-pointers. Creighton led 60-27 after 30 minutes and would end the regular season with a 74-46 win on their Senior Night.
Stat of the Game
Creighton caused 16 Bulldog turnovers and scored 24 points off those BU miscues.
Inside the Box Score
– Anna Mortag scored 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting
– Mortag made three of Butler’s five 3-pointers on Monday night
– Kelsy Taylor scored seven points and had four rebounds
– Caroline Strande had six points and three rebounds
– Rachel McLimore scored four points and had five rebounds
– Creighton shot 48 percent from the field
– Jensen matched Mortag with 16 points for CU
– Points in the paint favored Creighton 32-14
– The Bluejays outrebouned BU 36-32
Up Next
Butler will play Georgetown in the First Round of the 2023 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by JEEP. The Bulldogs enter the postseason as the No. 8 seed and the Hoyas are in as the No. 9. The winner will advance to the Quarterfinals to face #1 UConn. Butler and Georgetown are the first game of the tournament. They play Friday, March 3 at 11 AM.
BUTLER HOSTS NO. 6 MARQUETTE FOR SENIOR NIGHT TUESDAY AT HINKLE
Butler (14-15, 6-12 BIG EAST) vs. #6/6 Marquette (23-6, 15-3)
Tuesday, Feb. 28; 6:30PM ET
Hinkle Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, Ind.
TV: FS1 – Brandon Gaudin & Stephen Bardo
Radio: 1430AM – @MarkMinner & Nick Gardner (@n_gardner)
Varsity Network Radio App, SiriusXM 380, SXM App 970
Bulldogs vs. Marquette
• This is the second meeting this season between Butler and Marquette; the Golden Eagles won, 60-52, Feb. 4 in Milwaukee.
• Of the current BIG EAST members, Butler’s history with Marquette dates back the farthest as the teams first met in 1922.
• The teams met 18 times from 1922 through 1942.
• The teams met twice in the 2012-13 season, one year prior to Butler joining the BIG EAST. Those two games included a Rotnei Clarke game-winner for Butler at the 2012 Maui Invitational, and Marquette defeating Butler, 74-72, in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
• Butler owns a 10-9 lead in the series since joining the BIG EAST prior to the 2013-14 season.
Series: Tied, 24-24
Streak: Marquette, W2
At Hinkle: Butler Leads, 13-7
First Meeting: MU, 18-17; 12/16/1922
Last Meeting: MU, 60-52; 2/4/23
• Butler did not have a weekend game, which constituted the team’s second “BIG EAST bye” of the season; for the second time, Butler will face Marquette immediately after its bye.
• Eric Hunter Jr., the only Butler player who will exhaust his NCAA eligibility at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, will be recognized in a pregame ceremony Tuesday night.
• According to KenPom, Butler has played the nation’s 25th-toughest schedule so far this season. Including games this week against ranked foes in Marquette and Xavier, 22 of the team’s 31 regular season games will come against teams currently among the Top 100 of the NCAA NET rankings.
• Regardless of how the final week of the regular season unfolds, Butler and St. John’s will meet in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament (in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game).
• Marquette is averaging 80.8 points per game (17th nationally); the 60 points that Butler limited MU to on Feb. 4 are the second-fewest scored by Marquette in a game this season.
• Butler overcame a 12-point, second-half deficit to defeat DePaul Wednesday in Chicago.
• Ali Ali scored a season-best 15 points for the Bulldogs, adding a season-high five assists. He has scored in double figures in back-to-back games for Butler.
• Butler has shot a better field goal percentage than each of its four most recent opponents; on the season, Butler is 13-2 when out-shooting its opponent.
• Butler is 10-5 at Hinkle Fieldhouse this season.
• Thad Matta is 23-6 at Hinkle Fieldhouse as the head coach at Butler (2000-01 and the current 2022-23 seasons).
• Simas Lukosius is 35-for-78 (45 percent) from three-point range in Butler’s 15 home games.
• Jayden Taylor scored 19 points in the Feb. 4 game at Marquette, which began a stretch of five consecutive games scoring 19 or more points and leading the Bulldogs in scoring in each of those games; that streak came to a close at DePaul Wednesday when Taylor netted 13 points.
• Manny Bates (shoulder) has missed Butler’s last two games after sustaining the injury late in the Feb. 14 game at Villanova. All seven of Butler’s top scorers have only been available together in nine of the team’s 29 games this season.
• Butler is committing only 13.4 fouls per game, which is fourth nationally.
• Butler is 11-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points.
• Butler has 11 games so far this season shooting 50 percent or better from the field; eight of those have come at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler has won all 11 of those games.
• Butler has shot 40 percent or better from behind the arc 11 times this season; Butler is 9-2 in those contests.
• Butler’s average of 4.5 blocks per game is 41st nationally. Butler has four games this season with eight or more blocks.
• Bates has 47 blocks this season, which already places him in seventh on Butler’s single-season list.
• Chuck Harris is now 21st in Butler history in career three-pointers (130).
• Lukosius, Harris, Bates and Taylor have each led the Bulldogs in scoring in at least six games this season (includes ties).
• Dating back to the Jan. 4 win over DePaul, Lukosius has scored in double figures in 11 of Butler’s last 14 games.
• Butler has a +1.0 rebounding margin in its 14 wins, while the Bulldogs’ opponents have a +11.2 rebounding margin in Butler’s 15 losses this season.
INDIANA TO HOST BUTLER ON TUESDAY
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler’s first midweek game of the season will take the Bulldogs to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers on Tuesday, Feb. 28. First pitch on BIG+ is slated for 4 PM.
Projected Starters
RHP Grant Brooks vs. LHP Ty Bothwell
Scouting Indiana
The Hoosiers are 3-4 at the start of the 2023 season. IU opened the year with a three-game series at Auburn and went 1-2. They were able to even their record with a 13-5 home win over Miami, but recently went 1-2 at Texas. Each series win for Indiana came in the finale. They won 11-2 at Auburn and 4-2 at Texas. Hunter Jessee, Phillip Glasser and Josh Pyne are all batting over .300 this season. Jessee has two doubles and two home runs over seven games to give him a team-high seven RBI. Glasser and Pyne share the team-lead in hits with 10. On the mound, Ty Bothwell will get the start. The left-hander is 0-1 this year with a 7.71 ERA. He lone start covered 2.1 innings. He was replaced after walking four, and giving up two runs on three hits.
Last Game vs. Indiana
Butler and Indiana played last year at Victory Field. The Hoosier won the game 9-1 and Bothwell was credited with the win. Kollyn All hit a homer down the right field line for the Bulldogs.
Close at Campbell
Butler had a chance to win all three games at Campbell over the weekend. The Bulldogs led the Camels 4-2 after seven full innings in game one and 9-6 after seven in game three. Even game two got off to a promising start with Butler in front 5-3 after three innings at Jim Perry Stadium.
Best from the Weekend
Joey Urban and Cory Bosecker were electric in Buies Creek last weekend. Bosecker started the Friday game and gave BU 5.1 innings of excellent baseball. He struck out 10 and only walked one before exiting the mound. He limited the Camels to just one run off two hits. At the plate, Urban stayed hot with a .400 batting average. He had six hits in 15 at-bats and came up with four RBI off three extra base hits. Urban hit a triple on Saturday and had a double and homer in the getaway game.
Reached Base Streaks
Joey Urban, Jake DeFries and Xavier Carter have reached base safely in all seven games this season. Urban has a hit in all seven games!
Fantastic Start for the Freshman
Joey Urban has four multi-RBI games to his credit after two weeks of the regular season. He also leads BU with five multi-hit games. Urban has the best batting average on the team at .419. He has three doubles, two triples and three home runs.
Bulldogs Chose Brooks
Freshman Grant Brooks will get the first midweek start for the Bulldogs this season. Brooks has appeared in two games this year and has a 9.00 ERA. He has six strikeouts over three innings and just two walks.
Butler vs. Lefties
The Bulldogs have not seen many left-handed pitchers this season. The team is batting .208 (5-for-24) against left-handed arms this year. Joey Urban has the best average, collecting two hits in his four at-bats.
Up Next
Butler will play four games over the weekend against two opponents. On Friday March 3, Butler will play a doubleheader against Central Connecticut State and #1 LSU. Saturday they return to action with a 6:30 game vs. Central Connecticut State and they end the trip at LSU on Monday night. Each game against LSU will stream live on the SEC Network+.
IUPUI ATHLETICS
JAGUARS TO OPEN BARBASOL #HLMBB CHAMPIONSHIPS ON TUESDAY
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The IUPUI basketball team will open the 2023 Barbasol #HLMBB Championships on Tuesday night (Feb. 28) when the Jaguars take on No. 6 Robert Morris (15-16) at 7:00 p.m. inside RMU’s UPMC Events Center. The two teams split the regular season series with each team collecting a win on their home floor. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
IUPUI (5-26) enters the postseason as the No. 11 seed, but played increasingly well as the season progressed. Sophomore Jlynn Counter was voted third team all-league by the league’s coaches after finishing the regular season averaging 14.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor. The Jaguars also boast two members of the league’s All-Freshman Team in Vincent Brady II (10.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 56 3’s) and DJ Jackson (9.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg). The duo combined to win the league’s Freshman of the Week Award seven times this season with Jackson earning the final two of the regular season.
With a win, IUPUI would advance to play top-seeded Youngstown State inside YSU’s Beeghly Center on Thursday (Mar. 2) at 7:00 p.m.
THREE JAGUARS EARN #HLMBB POSTSEASON HONORS
INDIANAPOLIS – Three members of the IUPUI basketball team earned #HLMBB All-League honors as voted on by the league coaches and announced by the league office on Monday (Feb. 27). Sophomore Jlynn Counter was voted third team all-league while Vincent Brady II and DJ Jackson were named to the five-man All-Freshman Team.
Counter, a 6-foot-3 guard, averaged a team-high 14.2 points per game during the regular season while contributing 3.9 rebounds and a team-high 3.3 assists per game. He’s shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 79.4 percent from the free throw line. He’s scored in double-digits 13 times during the Horizon League season with six games of 20-or-more. He had a season-high 27 points (10-18 FG, 2-5 3’s, 5-5 FT) against Purdue Fort Wayne on Jan. 25. He’s grabbed eight boards in a game twice this season and delivered a season-high eight assists in the win over Green Bay on Feb. 4. In league play, Counter increased his output to 14.3 points, 4.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Brady, a 6-foot-4 guard, earned four #HLMBB Freshman of the Week Awards this season, tying for tops in the league. The Indianapolis-native averaged 10.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while leading the team in made threes (56) and steals (29). He’s made a three in 26 straight games entering the postseason and made a trey in all 20 Horizon League games. In Horizon League play, he’s averaging 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 34 percent from three-point range. He’s scored in double-digits 16 times this season, including a season-high 23 (8-16 FG, 4-9 3’s, 3-3 FT) against Oakland on Jan. 19.
Jackson, a 6-foot-4 guard, collected three #HLMBB Freshman of the Week Awards this season, including the final two of the regular season. For the year, he’s averaging 9.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field. Despite missing two months due to injury, Jackson has scored in double-figures seven times, including a pair of 20-point outings. He notched his first collegiate double-double with a season-high 24 points (7-11 FG, 10-10 FT) and 12 rebounds in the win over Robert Morris on Feb. 23. In Horizon League play, the Ontario-native is averaging 10.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
The full listing of postseason awards are listed below.
2022-23 #HLMBB All-League Awards
Player of the Year: Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
Coach of the Year: Jerrod Calhoun, Youngstown State
Freshman of the Year: Brandon Noel, Wright State
Defensive Player of the Year: Ahmad Rand, Milwaukee
Sixth Player of the Year: Trevon Faulkner, Northern Kentucky
All-League First Team (alphabetical by school)
Tristan Enaruna, Cleveland State
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
Jalen Moore, Oakland
Trey Calvin, Wright State
Dwayne Cohill, Youngstown State
All-League Second Team (alphabetical by school)
BJ Freeman, Milwaukee
Marques Warrick, Northern Kentucky
Trey Townsend, Oakland
Jarred Godfrey, Purdue Fort Wayne
Kahliel Spear, RMU
All-League Third Team (alphabetical by school)
Jlynn Counter, IUPUI
Sam Vinson, Northern Kentucky
Enoch Cheeks, RMU
Adrian Nelson, Youngstown State
Brandon Rush, Youngstown State
All-Freshman Team (alphabetical by school)
Vincent Brady II, IUPUI
DJ Jackson, IUPUI
Elijah Jamison, Milwaukee
Brandon Noel, Wright State
John Lovelace Jr., Youngstown State
All-Defensive Team (alphabetical by school)
Deante Johnson, Cleveland State
Deshon Parker, Cleveland State
Ahmad Rand, Milwaukee
Sam Vinson, Northern Kentucky
Kahliel Spear, RMU
THREE JAGS EARN 2022-23 #HLWBB ALL-LEAGUE HONORS
INDIANAPOLIS – 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 as announced by the Horizon League on Monday, February 27.
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. The senior has become most versatile this season and is among the top in the Horizon League in several categories. She currently sits at number eight in the league in scoring, ninth in rebounding, sixth in three-point field goals per game (2.0), fifth in assists and 10th in blocked shots (0.7 per game). Kent scored a career-high 30 points against Oakland on January 22 and recorded four double-doubles this season.
Perkins earned All-League Second Team honors. The graduate student has been a key contributor to leading the program to new heights over the past five years and changed roles this season from a facilitator to a scorer. She currently ranks fifth in scoring in the Horizon League averaging 14.1 points and leads the league in assists with 4.2 assists per game. Perkins joined Kent in the 1,000 career point club on February 9 against Purdue Fort Wayne. She also recorded a double-double on November 20 against Ohio with 20 points and 10 assists.
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. She also ranks seventh in free throw percentage (70.6%) and is tied with Kent in blocked shots per game with 0.7. Turner scored a career-high 25 points against Robert Morris on January 14 and recorded her first double-double on February 18 against Oakland with 21 points and 10 rebounds. She was named #HLWBB Player of the Week on January 2 for her efforts in the Jaguars’ sweep over Northern Kentucky and Wright State.
The IUPUI women’s basketball team is the No. 3 seed heading into the Horizon League Tournament and will face the highest seed remaining, after the first round, for the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 2nd at the Jungle with tip-off set for 7:00 PM.
BALL STATE ATHLETICS
BROWN, PELTIER SWEEP MAC WEEKLY HONORS
CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference announced its weekly Pitcher and Player of the Week on Monday. Ryan Brown and Ryan Peltier swept the weekly honors after stellar weeks for the Ball State baseball team.
Brown was electric on the mound for the Cardinals. He made two appearances in relief. He picked up two wins in 6 1/3 innings of work. He finished the week with 17 strikeouts and just one walk. Against Canisius, he struck out 12 of the 13 batters he faced. He did not give up a hit. For the weekend, he faced 20 batters and struck out 17.
Brown currently leads the NCAA with 22.09 strikeouts per nine innings and in total strikeouts with 27.
Peltier led the team with a .529 batting average this weekend. He scored a team-high six times and was tied for the team lead in RBIs with four. he was a perfect 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts. He added a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000, with four putouts and three assists.
“Ryan Brown and Ryan Peltier had special weekends to help our win 3 games,” said Head Coach Rich Maloney. “Ryan Brown was dominate in earning two wins in relief. He had 17 strikeouts to one walk. Amazing! Ryan Peltier sparked our offense with his hot bat and defensively with his gold glove.”
Ball State returns North Carolina for a tournament at Wake Forest on Friday, March 3. The Cardinals will open against the Cornell Big Red with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m.
CARDINALS FLOCK TO AKRON FOR MATCHUP WITH ZIPS
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men’s basketball team takes to the road for the final time in the regular season with a contest against Akron on Tuesday. The Cardinals (20-9, 11-5 MAC) and the Zips (20-9, 12-4 MAC) are slated for a 7 p.m. tip.
Head Coach Michael Lewis is the first, first-year head coach to produce a seven-game winning streak. Ball State started 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. The 19-7 start is the best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record. He is the second coach in BSU history to win the regular season opener and the MAC opener in their first season as a head coach. He joins Rick Majerus in achieving the feat. Ball State has won 20 games for just the 13th time in program history.
Last Time Out
Ball State looks to bounce back after a tough road loss to Eastern Michigan, 75-68. Demarius Jacobs led BSU with 19 points, five assists, and four steals. He was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and added four rebounds. Jaylin Sellers chipped in with 14 points, three rebounds, and one assist. Mickey Pearson Jr. finished with 12 points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Basheer Jihad led the Cardinals with eight rebounds to go along with nine points and a team-high two blocks.
Boogie on Down
Jarron Coleman is averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game. He leads the team with 68 made 3-pointers and is shooting 36.2 percent from behind the arc. He leads the team with 110 assists and leads the squad in steals with 40. Coleman has added 10 blocks. He has compiled five games of 20 or more points. Earlier this season, Coleman recorded his 1,000th career point.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers is second on the team with 13.8 points per game. He is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team. He is averaging 3.6 rebounds per game. He has produced a field-goal percentage of 50.2 on the season. Sellers has collected 24 assists, 18 steals, and 15 blocks. He has notched six games with 20 or more points for the season, including back-to-back games.
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game, which is tied for 54th in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.25 offensive rebounds per contest have him tied for 28th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 12.8 points per game. He is shooting 59.3 percent from the field, which leads the team. He has nine double-doubles on the season, which is tied for 53rd in the country and is third in the MAC. He is third on the team with 54 assists, second on the team with 24 blocks, and has added 14 steals.
Spreading the Love
The Cardinals have four players averaging double-digit points. Demarius Jacobs rounds out the double-digit scorers with 12.1 points a contest. He has a team-high 35 blocks, which is tied for 112th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. His 1.21 blocks per contest is tied for 125th in the nation and tied for first in the conference. He second on the team in assists with 97 and is second on the team in steals with 39. He is averaging 3.9 boards per contest. Pearson is second on the squad with 5.6 rebounds per contest and is averaging 7.9 points a game. Pearson is shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 24.6 free throws per game, which is third in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.8 free-throws made per contest, which is tied for 15th in the nation and is best in the conference. Sparks is 12th in the nation with 203 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 46.9 percent from the field, which is 50th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.2 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 37th in the country and is third in the MAC.
Series History with Akron
Ball State and Akron will meet for the 48th time on Tuesday. The Zips have the series advantage 28-19. The Cardinals won the meeting earlier this season, 70-63, in Muncie. Ball State snapped a five-game losing streak to Akron. BSU is 6-16 at Akron.
Scouting the Zips
In the matchup earlier this season, Enrique Freeman posted a double-double for the Zips with 23 points and 14 rebounds, both a game high. He also led the team with two blocks, two steals, and one assist. Greg Trimble was the only other Akron player in double figures with 14. Xavier Castaneda leads the Zip with 21.5 points per game, which is 12th in the NCAA and best in the MAC. He leads the team with 77 assists. He is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game to go along with 27 steals and three blocks. Castaneda is sixth in the NCAA with 3.56 3-pointers per game, which is tops in the conference. Freeman leads the team in rebounding and is averaging a double-double per game. He is collecting 11.1 boards per game with 15.9 points a contest. He is sixth in the NCAA with 16 double-doubles, which leads the conference. His 11.1 boards per game are fourth in the nation and best in the MAC. He paces the Zips with 34 blocks. Freeman has 58 assists and 18 steals.
NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS
MILES NAMED 1 OF 5 LIEBERMAN AWARD FINALISTS
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Olivia Miles made the cut. Again.
On Monday, the Basketball Hall of Fame and WBCA announced five finalists for the 2023 Nancy Lieberman Award, which is presented to the nation’s top point guard. Miles is on the list for the second straight season.
Miles leads Notre Dame in rebounds (7.2), assists (6.9) and steals (2.1). She is the only player in the ACC to rank in the conference’s top 10 in points, rebounds and assists; and she leads the conference in assists per game. There have been six single-game performances with 12+ assists in the ACC this year. Miles is responsible for three of those, while no other player has posted more than one. Her 14 assistants against Merrimack are the most in any ACC game this season.
The 5-10 point guard from New Jersey has been a rebounding machine this year. Miles is averaging 6.8 defensive boards each time she takes the floor, which is ninth in the nation among guards.
On the national level, Miles is the only player in the nation averaging at least 14 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game. She most recently made national news after hitting an overtime game-winning buzzer beater against Louisville on Feb. 16. It was her first game-winning shot since high school.
In addition to Miles, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Colorado State’s McKenna Hofschild, UConn’s Nika Muhl and Seton Hall’s Lauren Park-Lane are finalists for the 2023 award. Clark won last season. Skylar Diggins is the only other Notre Dame player to earn the laurels, doing so in both 2012 and 2013.
The full release from the Basketball Hall of Fame can be found here. Notre Dame will be back in action on Friday, as the Irish head to Greensboro for the 2023 Ally ACC Tournament.
BRANSFORD NAMED ACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Notre Dame freshman KK Bransford closed out the regular season with two huge performances, earning her ACC Rookie of the Week honors for the first time.
Bransford, a 5-11 guard out of Cincinnati, started the week with 10 points against Georgia Tech in a 76-53 home victory. She went 5-for-7 from the floor over nearly 19 minutes of play.
On Sunday, the rookie had a career day at Louisville. Bransford had 14 points via 7 buckets. The latter mark was a career-high. Bransford approached her career-high in minutes with nearly 31, as her time on the court increased in the absence of point guard Olivia Miles. Bransford’s accuracy and willingness to flock to the basket — she had 3 rebounds as well — helped Notre Dame beat Louisville, 68-65. The Irish walked away with a regular season ACC title.
Overall on the week, Bransford went 12-for-18 from the field (.667) with 4 rebounds and a pair of assists. Her 12 points a game over those two contests was tied for the ACC lead amongst freshmen last week.
In total this year, Bransford has brought valuable depth to Karen and Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey’s roster. She played in all 28 games and made seven starts while center Lauren Ebo recovered from injury. Bransford has put up 12 performances with 10+ points and four games with 6+ rebounds.
When coming off the bench, no other freshman in the ACC has been as dominant. Bransford leads the league with 65 made field goals and 50 made free throws in a non-starting role. Her 8.6 points per game off the bench is second in the conference.
Bransford and Notre Dame will be back in action on Friday, as the Irish play the winner of Thursday’s NC State-Syracuse game at the 2023 Ally ACC Tournament.
GAME 30 PREVIEW: ONE LAST RIDE IN PURCELL FOR BREY
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The last week of the regular season is upon Notre Dame men’s basketball. With that said, it’s Senior Day on Wednesday, March 1, inside Purcell Pavilion. Graduate guard Marcus Hammond, along with two senior managers, will be celebrated in a special pregame ceremony. It’ll also mark Glenn & Stacey Murphy Head Coach Mike Brey’s senior day farewell as well. Don’t miss a special video presentation before tip honoring the ND career of Coach Brey.
With that said, once all the pregame festivities has passed, it’ll be the Fighting Irish (10-19, 2-16) tipping off against No. 25 Pittsburgh (21-8, 14-4) at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
ND VS PITT
A series that began all the way back in 1927 with a 33-17 win in the ND Fieldhouse. Almost a hundred years later, the Irish own a 37-31 series lead, with a 19-11 mark at home. Notre Dame has won four straight in the series and seven of the last eight.
This year however, the Irish have a tall task at hand and face a Panthers squad that sits in first place and is fighting for their first ACC regular season title.
Pitt entered the AP Poll at No. 25 this week, making its first appearance in the poll since Jan. 11, 2016. In head coach Jeff Capel’s fifth season, Pitt has been one of the best teams in the country from mid-November on. The Panthers have won 20 of their past 25 games with the 20 wins since Nov. 20 tied for 11th most in the NCAA in that span.
THE DIFFERENCE A FEW POSSESSIONS CAN MAKE
How unlucky have the Irish been this season? Just in ACC play alone, they have lost 11 games by single digits. Of those 11, a whopping eight have been by five points or less. Plus, an incredible five has been decided by one possession.
If those eight that were decided by five points or less went a different direction, aka the difference of 2-3 possessions, the Irish could easily be sitting at 10-8 and in the middle of the pack.
Taking a deeper look at six of ND’s last eight losses – excluding both Wake Forest games – the Irish have lost by a combined margin of 21 points over those 6 games, which equates to a 3.5 average margin of defeat.
UNLUCK OF THE IRISH
The Irish battled Duke, No. 7 Virginia and North Carolina to the final minute. All three – Unluck of the Irish.
At Duke, the Irish Trailed by 10 in the 2nd half and rallied to make it a one-point game at 62-63 with 36 seconds left. The comeback was fueled by Dane Goodwin, who scored 17 straight points from 12:35-4:29. Goodwin finished with a season high 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting. ND thought they would have a chance for at least the tie at the end if it wasn’t for the heroics of Duke’s Mark Mitchell, who had one field goal at that point in the game. He then hit a corner three with 12.0 seconds left.
A few days later in Charlottesville, the Irish thought they had a miracle at the buzzer. Down two with three seconds on the clock, Trey Wertz was on the free-throw line with one to shoot. He then shot a ‘perfect miss’ as the ball found its way back to him. Wertz calmly dished to Dane Goodwin who was wide open for the game-winning three. It hit off the rim as ND fell at the buzzer 57-55.
A few days later at home vs North Carolina, it was 57-56 UNC with one minute remaining. UNC’s Davis took his defender 1-on-1 and converted a tough jumper just beyond the free-throw line, extending the lead to 59-56. The Irish put the ball in Starling’s hands and the freshman beat his defender with a driving layup down the right side of the paint – now 59-58 UNC with 30.3 seconds left. Next, the offensive boards helped the Tar Heels again as they got two shots off but no rim. Notre Dame was a second away from a huge defensive stand and on UNC’s third shot of the possession they hit the front end of the rim as the rebound was knocked out-of-bounds. It stayed with UNC with now just nine seconds on the clock, shot-clock off, which meant ND had to foul. The Tar Heels made both free throws and then fouled Notre Dame so they couldn’t shoot the three. ND ultimately fell 63-59.
THREAT FROM THREE
Notre Dame’s offense may struggle from time to time, but you can’t argue with the team’s three-point shooting ability. The Irish rank 3rd in the ACC in made three-pointers per game and 45th in the country, converting 8.8 per game. Their 8.8 threes per game would crack the program’s all-time top-10 list- the program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad.
Career Three-Pointers Made
Goodwin – 226
Laszewski – 231
Ryan – 206
Hammond – 244
Trey Wertz – 190
Between those 5 players, a whopping 1,097 career three-pointers made.
VEN-ALLEN – THE STARTER
Ven gets the award for most-improved Irish player down the final stretch of the season. He’s moved into a starting role and has posted five double-digit scoring performances over the last seven games.
Lubin is coming off a career high 19 points at Wake Forest (2/25), where he went 9-of-13 from the field. He had a near double-double with 8 boards and tied his career high of 3 blocks.
WERTZ WATCHER
Trey Wertz is 10 threes away from 200 in his career and 22 assists away from 500 — If he can get to both, he’d become just the 3rd Irish player to achieve 200 made threes + 500 career assists since 1996. The other two: Chris Thomas and Prentiss Hubb.
*Note that not all of Trey’s threes and assists happened at Notre Dame.
SYCAMORES REPEAT AS MEN’S MVC INDOOR CHAMPIONS, WOMEN FINISH THIRD
CHICAGO – Indiana State won its second straight MVC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship Monday afternoon, capping off a strong showing at Gately Park in Chicago.
The championship was Indiana State’s sixth men’s indoor championship, all of which have come since 2011. The Indiana State women finished third.
In addition to the team title, JaVaughn Moore also punched his ticket to the NCAA Indoor National Championship in the 60m. Indiana State picked up multiple specialty awards at the meet, with Angela Martin earning MVC Coach of the Year honors, Moore picking up MVC Most Outstanding Track Athlete honors, Ryann Porter winning MVC Female Athlete of the Meet and Porter and William Staggs both earning Elite 17, which goes to the student-athletes who have the highest GPA and event finishes at the meet.
Monday MVC Champions
JaVaughn Moore – 60m (6.56, school, facility and MVC Championship record and NCAA Indoor Championship qualifying time)
Zoe Sullivan – 60m hurdles (8.33, second in program history)
Ryann Porter – triple jump (12.59m/41-03.75)
Monday All-Conference
Terrance O’Bannon – 60m (second, 6.65)
Ryann Porter – 60m hurdles (second, 8.52)
Wyatt Wyman – 800m (second, 1:55.74)
Kevin Krutsch – high jump (second, 2.12m/6-11.50)
Eva Grace Quinlan – high jump (second, 1.72m/5-07.75)
Wyatt Puff – shot put (second, 17.89m/58-08.50)
Noah Malone – 60m (third, 6.76), 200m (third, 21.62)
Trevor Thompson – high jump (third, 2.07m/6-09.50)
Brett Norton – shot put (third, 17.85m/58-06.75)
Monday Scoring for the Sycamores
Jackson Krieg – men’s mile (fourth, 4:14.75)
Quincy Armstrong, Cameron Stevens, Wyatt Wyman, Napoleon Hernandez – 4x400m relay (fourth, 3:18.91)
Alysha Bradford, Maria Biskopstoe, Sierra Long, Iyanla Hunter – 4x400m relay (fourth, 3:49.56)
Emmanuel Odubanjo – triple jump (fourth, 14.42m/47-03.74)
Brittney Walker – triple jump (fourth, 11.99m/39-04.00)
Hannah Redllin – shot put (fourth, 14.80m/48-06.75)
Quincy Armstrong – 60m hurdles (fifth, 8.16)
Ethan Breen – men’s mile (fifth, 4:15.27)
Riley Tuerff – 60m hurdles (fifth, 8.71)
Ali Ilupeju – triple jump (fifth, 14.20m/46-07.25)
JaVaughn Moore – 200m (sixth, 1:10.73)
Cameron Stevens – 400m (sixth, 48.68)
Napoleon Hernandez – 800m (sixth, 1:57.39)
Daryl Black – 60m hurdles (sixth, 8.29)
Elias Foor – shot put (sixth, 17.00m/55-09.25)
Kelsey Bowlds – high jump (seventh, 1.64m/5-04.50)
Isiah Thomas – 60m (eighth, 6.88)
Sunday MVC Champions
William Staggs – pole vault (5.41m/17-09.00, school record)
Brett Norton – weight throw (20.55m/67-07.25, fourth in program history)
Sunday All-Conference
Selene Weaver – pole vault (second, 3.95m/12-11.50)
Claire Pittman – long jump (third, 5.77m/18-11.25)
Sunday Scoring for the Sycamores
Cael Light, Quincy Armstrong, Jocqael Thorpe, Ethan Breen – distance medley relay (fourth, 10:10.26)
Landis Brandon – pole vault (fourth, 3.95m/12-11.50)
Noah Bolt – weight throw (fourth, 19.63m/64-05.00)
Eva Grace Quinlan – pentathlon (fourth, 3375)
Daniel O’Laughlin – pole vault (fifth, 4.60m/15-01.00)
Mitch Conard – long jump (fifth, 7.07m/23-02.50)
Brittney Walker – long jump (fifth, 5.71m/18-08.75)
Frankie Young III – long jump (sixth, 7.03m/23-00.75)
Niesha Anderson – weight throw (sixth, 18.56m/60-10.75)
Erica Barker – 5000m (seventh, 17:01.48)
Cassidy Bagby, Iyanla Hunter, Maria Biskopstoe, Sara Skaff – distance medley relay (seventh, 12:14.12)
Ryann Porter – long jump (seventh, 5.58m/18-03.75)
Ryan Golliher – weight throw (seventh, 18.83m/61-09.50)
Kamille Gaskin-Griffith – pentathlon (seventh, 3235)
Brooklyn Giertz – pole vault (eighth, 3.85m/12-07.50)
Faith Frye – long jump (eighth, 5.57m/18-03.25)
Elias Foor – weight throw (eighth, 18.77m/61-07.00)
Sprints/Hurdles
Indiana State’s sprinters made a statement on the final day of the conference championships, scoring points in every men’s event while also taking home a pair of event wins.
JaVaughn Moore led a sweep of the men’s 60m podium for the Sycamores, with his time of 6.56 shattering the school, championship and facility record while also qualifying him for the NCAA Indoor National Championships. Terrance O’Bannon was right behind him in second at 6.65, the second-best time in program history, while Noah Malone rounded out the podium sweep in third at 6.76. Isiah Thomas also scored in the event for Indiana State, finishing eighth with a time of 6.88.
Malone also picked up all-conference honors in the 200m with a time of 21.62, while Moore picked up an injury in the event but still completed the lap needed to earn the Sycamores valuable points. Similar to the 200m, Indiana State faced adversity in the 400m with Tahj Johnson suffering an injury early in the race. The Sycamores still put up points in the event, though, with Cameron Stevens placing sixth with a time of 48.68.
Indiana State’s hurdlers got things going early on Monday, with Zoe Sullivan and Ryann Porter taking the top two spots atop the 60m hurdles podium. Sullivan won the event in 8.33, the second-best time in program history, with Porter clocking a time of 8.52 to finish right behind her. Riley Tuerff ran a career-best 8.71 to place fifth in the event, with Indiana State earning 22 points in the event. On the men’s side, Quincy Armstrong placed fifth with a time of 8.16, with Daryl Black coming right behind him in sixth with a time of 8.29.
The championships came down to the final event of the meet, the men’s 4x400m relay. With half of Indiana State’s top relay team unavailable, Armstrong, Stevens, Wyatt Wyman and Napoleon Hernandez got the job done for the Sycamores with a time of 3:18.91 to place fourth. Indiana State’s women’s 4x400m relay team also placed fourth, with Alysha Bradford, Maria Biskopstoe, Sierra Long and Iyanla Hunter running a season-best time of 3:49.56.
Distance
Wyman had the headline result in the distance events on Monday, using a strong final lap to finish second in the 800m with a time of 1:55.74. Hernandez also scored for the Sycamores in the event with a time of 1:57.39 to place sixth.
Indiana State also had a pair score in the men’s mile, as Jackson Krieg placed fourth with a time of 4:14.75 and Ethan Breen was right behind him in fifth with a time of 4:15.27.
In the 3000m, Erica Barker nearly put points on the board for the Sycamores as Indiana State’s top finisher in ninth with a time of 9:57.05. On the men’s side, Jason Dworak was the top finisher for the Trees in 12th with a time of 8:28.96.
Jumps/Pole Vault
Despite adversity coming its way, Indiana State’s jumpers put together another strong outing in its championship push. Emmanuel Odubanjo (14.42m/47-03.75) and Ali Ilupeju (14.20m/46-07.25) had season-best performances in the triple jump to place fourth and fifth, while Kevin Krutsch (2.12m/6-11-50) and Trevor Thompson (2.07m/6-09.50) both earned all-conference honors in the high jump by placing second and third.
On the women’s side, Ryann Porter continued her triple jump dominance by winning her second straight MVC indoor crown with a top mark of 12.59m (41-03.75). Brittney Walker had a top mark of 11,99m (39-04.00) to finish fourth, while Dominique Wood placed seventh with a top mark of 11.27m (36-11.75).
Eva Grace Quinlan also put together an all-conference performance in the high jump, clearing 1.72m (5-07.50) to finish second in the event. Kelsey Bowlds added points for the Sycamores in the event with a seventh-place finish after clearing 1.64m (5-04.50).
Throws
Indiana State once again got significant contributions from its throwers in its championship win. Wyatt Puff led the way on the second day with a second-place finish in the shot put, with his top mark coming in at 17.89m (58-08.50). Brett Norton was right behind him in third, also earning all-conference honors with a throw of 17.85m (58-06.75), while Elias Foor placed sixth with a throw of 17.00m (55-09.25).
The Sycamores also picked up points in the women’s shot put, with Hannah Redlin finishing fourth with a top mark of 14.80m (48-06.75). Niesha Anderson narrowly missed out on scoring in the event, placing ninth with a top throw of 14.02m (46-00.00).
Team Scores
MEN
1. Indiana State – 153
2. Illinois State – 149
3. Northern Iowa – 123
4. Southern Illinois – 82
5. Bradley – 72
6. Drake – 47
T-7. Belmont – 14
T-7. Valparaiso – 17
9. UIC – 5
WOMEN
1. Illinois State – 130
2. Murray State – 108
3. Indiana State – 99
4. Bradley – 84
5. Southern Illinois – 57
T-6. Belmont – 55
T-6. Northern Iowa – 55
8. Missouri State – 45
9. Drake – 27
10. UIC – 3
Up Next
JaVaughn Moore’s season will continue at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships March 10-11 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE ATHLETICS
MEN’S HOOPS STARTS TITLE CHASE AT DETROIT MERCY ON TUESDAY NIGHT
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The second season begins on Tuesday (Feb. 28) for the Mastodon men’s basketball team. The ninth-seeded ‘Dons will travel to eighth-seeded Detroit Mercy for an opening round game in the 2023 Barbasol Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (17-14) at Detroit Mercy Titans (13-18)
When: Tuesday, February 28 | 7 p.m. ET
Where: Detroit, Mich. | Calihan Hall
Live Stats:Link
Watch: ESPN+
Radio:Listen
Game Notes (PDF): Purdue Fort Wayne | Detroit Mercy
Series Record: Series tied 4-4
Ticket Info: $10 I Horizon League students free with ID I Buy online
‘Dons and Ends:
// Jarred Godfrey was named to the 2023 All-Horizon League Second Team. He now has four all-league honors to his name in his career.
// Jarred Godfrey scored 29 points at Green Bay on Saturday to close the regular season. It is his fifth highest scoring game of his career.
// Jarred Godfrey broke the program’s all-time scoring record vs. Robert Morris (Feb. 12). He now owns 2,157 points. John Konchar’s 2,065 points is now in second place. Godfrey broke the record on a free throw. Konchar also broke the record on a free throw when he set the previous record Jan. 24, 2019 against Omaha. // Jarred Godfrey is closing in on the program’s all-time 3-point record. Godfrey owns 260 3-pointers. Only Mo Evans (266 from 2013-17) had made more 3-pointers than Godfrey in program history.
// Jarred Godfrey has five games of 20 plus points over the last eight games. He has 14 games of 20 or more points this season.
// Jarred Godfrey is the all-time leader in games played in program history with 152. He set the record on Jan. 25th at Northern Kentucky, when he passed former teammate Cameron Benford (2017-22) who played in 141 games for the previous record mark.
// Ra Kpedi on the season has seven double-digit rebound games, including double-doubles at Northwestern (Nov. 18), vs. Oakland (Dec. 3) and vs. Cleveland State (Jan. 16).
// Bobby Planutis made four 3-pointers in both games of last week’s Wisconsin swing. He has 16 games in his career of four or more 3-pointers.
// Jarred Godfrey’s six steals against Wright State on Feb. 19 was a career best. It was the most steals in a game by a Mastodon since John Konchar had seven against Denver on Jan. 6, 2017.
// Jarred Godfrey has made a career-high 134 free throws, 7th most in a single season in program history.
// Ra Kpedi has already passed his rebound total from last season. He owns 254 rebounds this season, and had 208 last year. He’ll need to reach 262 to crack the top 10 in program history in single-season rebounds.
// Ra Kpedi broke into the top 10 in career rebounds against Youngstown State (Feb. 10). He now owns 534 career rebounds as a Mastodon, 7th in program history.
// Ra Kpedi averaged 8.6 rebounds per game in league play. The last Mastodon to average that many rebounds per game in league play was John Konchar in 9.3 in the Summit League in 2016-17.
// Jarred Godfrey is the only active player in NCAA Division I men’s basketball with 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists, 200 3-pointers and 200 steals. Since 1992-93 only four other student-athletes have finished with such a career stat line. D.J Cooper (Ohio, 2010-13), Kerry Kittles (Villanova, 1993-96), Ricky Minard (Morehead State, 2001-04) and Marreon Jackson (2017-12, Toledo/Arizona State) are the others. (per sports-reference.com)
// The ‘Dons are 15-3 this season when scoring 71 or more points in a game.
// Per sports-reference.com, Ra Kpedi leads the Horizon League in offensive rebounding percentage at 15.0 percent. He is first in the league with 113 total offensive boards.
// Jarred Godfrey owns 646 rebounds, third in program history. He is also in the top three in points, assists, steals, field goals, free throws and 3-pointers in program history.
// Jarred Godfrey is shooting 89.7 percent (134-of-150) from the free throw line this season, 14th in the nation. Only once in program history has a player made 50 or more free throws in a season and finished at 90 percent or better. That was Ben Botts in 2008-09, making 65-of-71 (91.5 percent). The best free throw percentage in program history with 100 attempts in a season is Steve Bard in 1987-88 who made 88-of-102 (86.3 percent). The Division I era program record for best single-season free throw percentage in school history is Bryson Scott’s 81.8 percent in 2017-18 on 202-of-247 shooting.
// Ra Kpedi has won the opening tip in 26-of-31 games this season. He also won the tip in overtime against Oakland (Dec. 3).
// The ‘Dons are 16th in the nation in 3-pointers per game (9.6).
// The ‘Dons are 20th in the nation in 3-point defense with teams shooting just 29.9 percent against them from three.
// Jarred Godfrey (2,157), Damian Chong Qui (1,569), Anthony Roberts (1,530), Bobby Planutis (1,202) and Deonte Billups (1,062) have each scored 1,000 career NCAA points.
// With a pair of student-athletes with 1,500 career points at the Division I level (Jarred Godfrey and Damian Chong Qui) ‘Dons are one of 13 teams in the nation with two or three players who have reached that mark in Division I contests.
// The ‘Dons have 15 games of double-digit offensive rebounds this season.
JARRED GODFREY EARNS ALL-HORIZON LEAGUE SECOND TEAM ACCOLADES
INDIANAPOLIS – Jarred Godfrey of the Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball team has been named to the 2022-23 All-Horizon League Second Team.
Godfrey has 14 games of 20 or more points this season. He ranks 15th in the nation in free throw percentage (89.3 percent).Godfrey made 103-of-115 from the free throw line in league play this season. He averaged 19.5 points per game in Horizon League play, fourth in the league. In all games, Godfrey ranks sixth in the league in steals per game (1.7) and 10th in assists per game (3.6). Godfrey is first in program history in points (2,157), second in field goals (740), second in 3-pointers (260), third in free throws (417), third in assists (472), third in steals (217) and third in rebounds (646).
This is Godfrey’s fourth league honor of his career.
His Mastodons travel to Detroit Mercy on Tuesday (Feb. 28) for a Barbasol Horizon League Championship First Round contest against the Titans. Tip is set for 7 p.m. It will be aired on ESPN+ and 1380 The Fan.
AMELLIA BROMENSCHENKEL AND SHAYLA SELLERS EARN ALL-LEAGUE HONOREES
INDIANAPOLIS – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s basketball players Amellia Bromenschenkel and Shayla Sellers earned All-Horizon League honors on Monday (Feb. 27). Bromenschenkel earned a spot on the All-League Third Team and Sellers was named to the All-Defensive Team.
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-piont games and shot 44.9 percent from the floor and 32.5 percent from three. She had a season-high 25 points against Wright State and top-15 Maryland. She finished the regular season with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds at the Horizon League regular season champion Green Bay.
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. She was one of two players in the league to rank in the top 13 in both categories, the other being Defensive Player of the Year Lilly Ritz of Youngstown State. Sellers is the first player in Mastodon history to be named to a league’s All-Defensive Team. Bromenschenkel, Sellers and the Mastodons earned the No. 6 seed in the Horizon League Championship. They will host Detroit Mercy on Tuesday (Feb. 28) in the Gates Sports Center at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are two dollars if pre-purchased here. Horizon League students are free with a valid ID.
SOUTHERN INDIANA ATHLETICS
EAGLES OPEN OVC TOURNAMENT WITH SIUE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball begins its first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament action Wednesday when it takes on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the opening round at the Ford Center. Game time is set for 9 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles (16-15 9-9 OVC) open OVC Tournament play as the seventh seed in the tournament after splitting the final week of the regular season. USI lost a heartbreaker to Tennessee Tech University, 82-79, at Screaming Eagles Arena, but bounced back to defeat Tennessee State University, 93-81, on the road.
USI sophomore guard Isaiah Swope (Newburgh, Indiana) led five Eagles in double-digits for the week with 25.5 points per game. Graduate forward Trevor Lakes (Lebanon, Indiana) followed with 18.0 points per outing, while sophomore guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois) dropped in a season-best 13.5 points per contest. Senior guard Jelani Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) and senior forward Jacob Polakovich (Grand Rapids, Michigan) averaged 12.0 points per game each.
For the season, the Eagles finished their first NCAA Division I season over .500, marking the 31st-straight season that USI has had a winning record. The streak started in 1992-93 under first-year Head Coach Bruce Pearl and has included the 1995 Division II national championship; 1994 and 2004 Division II Tournament final; the 2019 Division II semifinals appearance.
Swope and Simmons lead the Eagles in 2022-23 with 15.6 points and 13.8 points, respectively. Polakovich is averaging 12.8 points per outing along with grabbing a team-best and OVC-best 12.8 rebounds per game.
SIUE (18-13, 9-9 OVC) opens OVC Tournament play after earning the sixth seed with a final week split and won the tiebreaker with USI. The Cougars broke a four-game losing streak with their 93-78 win over Southeast Missouri State University in the regular season finale.
USI leads the all-time series, 45-21, that started in 1971-72. The Eagles and the Cougars split the 2022-23 season series, each winning on the others home court (SIUE 69, @USI 62; USI 82, @SIUE 72).
Four of the last five meetings between the Eagles and the Cougars have gone in USI’s direction, dating back to 2007 when teams faced off in the GLVC.
In the post-season, SIUE has a 3-0 lead over USI in the post-season, all NCAA Division II Tournament meetings. The Cougars won the 1986 (90-87) and 1987 (88-82) NCAA II Great Lakes Regional meetings in Owensboro, Kentucky, and the 2006 (64-60) NCAA II Midwest Regional in Rensselaer, Indiana.
The winner of the USI-SIUE contest Wednesday advances to play the University of Tennessee at Martin Thursday at 9 p.m. UT Martin (18-13, 10-8 OVC), the third seed in the tournament, earned a first round bye.
The first two rounds of the OVC Tournament will be streamed live on ESPN+ in addition to being heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin. The OVC Tournament semifinal games will air live on ESPNU, while the championship game will air live on ESPN2 and Westwood One.
EVANSVILLE ATHLETICS
HUG NAMED MVC BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike/Olney Central) was named the Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Player of the Week on Monday by the conference office after being a driving force offensively last week to help the Purple Aces to a series victory over Eastern Michigan.
Hug hit .667 (8-for-12) while posting a 1.083 slugging percentage and .778 on-base percentage in four starts last week for UE. He produced multi-hit games in three of UE’s four contests, including opening the week by going 2-for-3 with a walk at Kentucky. Hug then exploded in the final two games of the series against Eastern Michigan to help power the Purple Aces to a pair of victories.
In Saturday’s 9-7 victory over EMU, Hug went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a two-run home run and four RBI. He hit both a two-run home run and two-run double to power Evansville’s nine-run eighth inning. In fact, Hug finished just a triple shy of the cycle, and if not for a runner in front of him during his two-run double in the eighth inning, he likely would have achieved that mark, as he had to be stopped at second with the lead runner stopping at third base on a ball down the right-field line.
On Sunday, Hug went 2-for-3 with two walks in UE’s 5-3 victory over Eastern Michigan, and he finished the series by reaching base safely in eight of his final nine plate appearances on the weekend, with six hits and two walks in nine trips to the plate.
INDIANAPOLIS ATHLETICS
MEN’S LACROSSE HOLDS STEADY IN NATIONAL COACHES POLL
BALTIMORE, Md. – The UIndy men’s lacrosse team stood pat at No. 7 in this week’s USILA national coaches’ poll, announced on Monday. It is now the 22nd consecutive week the Hounds have been ranked inside the organization’s top 10.
The Greyhounds improved to 4-0 on the season this past weekend with a dominating 12-4 victory over Montevallo.
Tampa remains atop the poll, collecting all 22 first-place votes, while Le Moyne – UIndy’s opponent this coming Sunday – is No. 2.
The complete poll can be found here.
MORAN NAMED GLVC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS – UIndy goalkeeper Audrey Moran has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Defensive Player of the Week in women’s lacrosse, it was announced by the league office Monday.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Audrey Moran, #7 UIndy
R-Jr. | GK | Naperville, Ill.
Major: Psychology
Team Result: 13-3 W at Lee (2/25)
Made career-high nine saves in lone win last week
Recorded .750 save percentage, facing 16 shots
Scooped up game-high five ground balls, causing two turnovers
Earns first career Defensive Player of the Week award
Last Greyhounds’ Defensive Player of the Week: Christina Sato (2/13/23)
UINDY’S CRAWFORD PICKED AS GLVC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS – UIndy junior defender Dougie Crawford has been named the GLVC Defensive Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, it was announced by the league office Monday.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dougie Crawford
Jr. | D | Keswick, Ontario
Major: Exercise Science
Team Result: 15-8 W vs. Montevallo (2/25)
Recorded five caused turnovers and two ground balls in lone win last week
Four of the five caused turnovers came in second and third quarters when UIndy surrendered one goal
Earns first career Defensive Player of the Week Award
Last Greyhounds’ Defensive Player of the Week: Josh Jackson (2/20/23)
HOUNDS STAY PUT AT #7 IN ILWOMEN/IWLCA RANKINGS
NORTHBOROUGH, Ma.– Sitting at a perfect 4-0 on the season, the UIndy women’s lacrosse team has stayed put at No. 7 in the recently released ILWomen/IWLCA top-25 rankings, officials announced on Monday.
The Hounds earned 543 points and one first-place vote in the poll. East Stroudsburg still holds the top spot while Tampa has vaulted all the way up to the No. 2 spot. Florida Southern, West Chester, and Le Moyne sit in third through fifth, respectively.
In the USA Lacrosse Magazine rankings, the Hounds jumped up to No. 5.
UIndy is set to return to action on Wednesday to battle Notre Dame (OH) at Key Stadium. The game will begin at 7 p.m. ET.
ILWOMEN/IWLCA DII Poll
| RK | SCHOOL (1st-place votes) | REC | PTS | PREV |
| 1. | East Stroudsburg (21) | 1-0 | 714 | 1 |
| 2. | Tampa (5) | 4-0 | 644 | 6 |
| 3. | Florida Southern (1) | 3-0 | 635 | 4 |
| 4. | West Chester | 2-0 | 609 | 3 |
| 5. | Le Moyne | 1-0 | 595 | 5 |
| 6. | Adelphi (1) | 0-2 | 551 | 2 |
| 7. | UIndy (1) | 4-0 | 543 | 7 |
| 8. | Regis (CO) | 1-0 | 508 | 8 |
| 9. | Rollins | 3-0 | 477 | 9 |
| 10. | Grand Valley State | 1-1 | 442 | 10 |
| 11. | Mercy | 1-1 | 408 | 11 |
| 12. | Wingate | 3-1 | 399 | 12 |
| 13. | Pace | 1-0 | 351 | 13 |
| 14. | Lynn | 2-1 | 317 | 14 |
| 15. | Flagler | 3-1 | 284 | 17 |
| 16. | Assumption | 1-0 | 277 | 16 |
| 17. | Seton Hill | 0-1 | 254 | 15 |
| 18. | New Haven | 0-0 | 215 | 18 |
| 19. | Embry-Riddle (FL) | 1-1 | 179 | 19 |
| 20. | Saint Leo | 2-0 | 176 | 21 |
| 21. | Mercyhurst | 1-0 | 144 | 20 |
| 22. | Bentley | 0-1 | 94 | 23 |
| 23. | Mount Olive | 1-2 | 88 | 25 |
| 24. | Colorado Mesa | 0-0 | 76 | 24 |
| 25. | Roberts Wesleyan | 2-1 | 67 | 22 |
MARIAN ATHLETICS
KNIGHTS FALL AT INDIANA WESLEYAN IN CROSSROADS LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Marion, Ind. – The Marian women’s basketball team put up a battle against the fifth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats, but were unable to make a final comeback push as the Knights fell in the Crossroads League Tournament Championship game 81-71 on Monday night. Marian drops to 26-5 after falling in the league championship game.
The Knights went on the first run of the game, scoring inside and out as they opened with a 5-0 lead. Multiple turnovers would help the Wildcats get on the board, however a strong offensive presence from Abbey McNally kept Marian in rhythm as the freshman helped pad the 11-7 lead. With 3:42 remaining in the opening quarter the Wildcats made their move, knocking down an open three and then converting on a three-point play, as the six point swing gave the home team their first lead of the night. Ella Collier would answer the run with a trey of her own, however the scoring would go back and forth to end the quarter with Indiana Wesleyan remaining on top by a 20-17 margin.
In the second quarter the Wildcats pounced early, as Marian made unforced mistakes which allowed the home team to build a 10-point lead with 5:18 to play before the break. The Knights called for a timeout after falling behind 34-24, with the stoppage getting the team back into a flow on both ends of the court. Immediately out of the timeout Collier found McNally for an open two, while the freshman and Tamia Perryman each scored inside on the next trips down the court to keep the pace.
Collier, Allison Bosse, and Aliyah Evans would each score as Marian kept rolling, forcing an IWU timeout with 1:55 remaining as they had cut the deficit to a single score. The Wildcats would go on to score the final four points of the half after the timeout, as they held a 43-37 lead at the intermission.
Both teams shot the ball extremely efficient in the first half, with Marian’s 9-for-11 second quarter putting them at 72 percent from the field in the game.
The two sides exchanged baskets on their opening trips to start the third quarter, with a pair of blocked shots from McNally keeping the Knights in the game on the defensive end. A three form Jayla Wehner would help Marian inch within five points, but the Wildcats answered with a 5-0 run to reclaim a double-digit lead. Indiana Wesleyan could not miss as the quarter waned, knocking down jumpers left and right as they grew their lead to as many as 16 in the third. Aliyah Evans would score the final basket of the quarter, but Marian would still find themselves trailing 66-52 going into the final quarter.
Consistent attacks from Tamia Perryman and Sara Majorosova helped the Knights whittle their deficit to 10 points within the first three minutes of the quarter, however Indiana Wesleyan remained on top, answering the pressure with open layups. Back to back scores from Collier and Evans cut the Knights hole to seven points as the clock ticked under five minutes remaining, as Marian aimed to make one final push. Trailing 75-68 with 4:17 remaining, the offense for Marian fell short, going scoreless for three minutes as a set of turnovers and missed shots spoiled the momentum.
The drought ruined the comeback chances, as Indiana Wesleyan knocked down four free throws to make it a double-digit lead, icing the game as Marian fell 81-71 to the Wildcats.
Marian shot 60.9 percent form the floor in the loss, however 15 turnovers played a role in the Wildcats pulling out the victory. McNally led the Knights in the defeat with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Collier scored 15 points playing the entire 40 minutes. McNally had six blocks and Collier had five steals, with Perryman leading the bench scoring with 11 points.
Marian will learn their pairings for the NAIA National Tournament First and Second Rounds on Thursday, March 2. The NAIA Selection Show will air on the NAIA YouTube Channel at 7:00 p.m.
ELLA COLLIER TABBED CROSSROADS LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jackson, Mich. – Coming off two wins in the Crossroads League Tournament, Marian women’s basketball junior guard Ella Collier has been named the Crossroads League Player of the Week. The honor is Collier’s second of the season and fifth in her career.
Collier poured in 50 points over a pair of wins for No. 8 Marian to open the CL Tournament. The junior guard scored at least 22 points in each contest and was dialed in, shooting 63.6 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from three-point range.
Collier made history in Marian’s win against Grace in the semifinals after she posted a season-high 28 points to become the third player all-time to eclipse the 1500 threshold. With her efforts, she moved to third all-time on the Marian scoring list.
The Knights head to No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan tonight at 7 p.m. for the Crossroads League Tournament Championship.
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 | 43 | 17 | .717 | — | 26-5 | 17-12 | 8-4 | 24-13 | 10-0 | 14 W | ||
| 2 Boston | 44 | 18 | .710 | — | 24-7 | 20-11 | 9-2 | 27-13 | 7-3 | 1 L | ||
| 3 Philadelphia | 39 | 21 | .650 | 4.0 | 24-10 | 15-11 | 7-6 | 22-15 | 6-4 | 2 L | ||
| 4 Cleveland | 39 | 25 | .609 | 6.0 | 26-7 | 13-18 | 11-3 | 23-12 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 5 New York | 36 | 27 | .571 | 8.5 | 18-15 | 18-12 | 6-8 | 25-16 | 8-2 | 6 W | ||
| 6 Brooklyn | 34 | 26 | .567 | 9.0 | 18-11 | 16-15 | 6-7 | 24-15 | 3-7 | 2 L | ||
| 7 Miami | 33 | 29 | .532 | 11.0 | 19-10 | 14-19 | 7-4 | 16-19 | 4-6 | 1 W | ||
| 8 Atlanta | 31 | 30 | .508 | 12.5 | 17-12 | 14-18 | 5-5 | 19-19 | 6-4 | 2 W | ||
| 9 Toronto | 30 | 32 | .484 | 14.0 | 19-13 | 11-19 | 4-9 | 18-20 | 7-3 | 1 L | ||
| 10 Washington | 28 | 32 | .467 | 15.0 | 14-13 | 14-19 | 6-3 | 15-19 | 4-6 | 2 L | ||
| 11 Chicago | 28 | 33 | .459 | 15.5 | 18-13 | 10-20 | 5-7 | 22-20 | 4-6 | 2 W | ||
| 12 Indiana | 27 | 35 | .435 | 17.0 | 18-15 | 9-20 | 4-5 | 19-18 | 3-7 | 1 W | ||
| 13 Orlando | 26 | 36 | .419 | 18.0 | 15-16 | 11-20 | 3-8 | 13-26 | 6-4 | 1 W | ||
| 14 Charlotte | 20 | 43 | .317 | 24.5 | 11-18 | 9-25 | 7-8 | 11-29 | 5-5 | 5 W | ||
| 15 Detroit | 15 | 47 | .242 | 29.0 | 8-22 | 7-25 | 0-9 | 6-30 | 2-8 | 5 L | ||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| W | L | Pct | Conf GB | Home | Road | Div | Conf | Last 10 | Streak | |||
| 1 Denver | 43 | 19 | .694 | — | 28-4 | 15-15 | 10-5 | 30-12 | 7-3 | 1 W | ||
| 2 Memphis | 36 | 23 | .610 | 5.5 | 25-5 | 11-18 | 6-2 | 18-16 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 3 Sacramento | 35 | 25 | .583 | 7.0 | 18-12 | 17-13 | 6-6 | 23-13 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 4 Phoenix | 33 | 29 | .532 | 10.0 | 21-10 | 12-19 | 9-1 | 22-15 | 6-4 | 1 L | ||
| 5 LA Clippers | 33 | 30 | .524 | 10.5 | 15-14 | 18-16 | 6-5 | 19-18 | 5-5 | 2 L | ||
| 6 Dallas | 32 | 30 | .516 | 11.0 | 20-11 | 12-19 | 8-2 | 24-17 | 5-5 | 1 L | ||
| 7 Golden State | 31 | 30 | .508 | 11.5 | 24-7 | 7-23 | 4-7 | 19-15 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 8 Utah | 31 | 31 | .500 | 12.0 | 20-12 | 11-19 | 5-6 | 21-18 | 5-5 | 2 W | ||
| 9 Minnesota | 31 | 32 | .492 | 12.5 | 20-14 | 11-18 | 8-7 | 22-20 | 4-6 | 3 L | ||
| 10 New Orleans | 30 | 32 | .484 | 13.0 | 20-11 | 10-21 | 7-4 | 19-15 | 4-6 | 4 L | ||
| 11 Portland | 29 | 31 | .483 | 13.0 | 17-14 | 12-17 | 5-8 | 21-17 | 5-5 | 1 W | ||
| 12 LA Lakers | 29 | 32 | .475 | 13.5 | 15-14 | 14-18 | 3-9 | 16-20 | 6-4 | 3 W | ||
| 13 Oklahoma City | 28 | 32 | .467 | 14.0 | 17-13 | 11-19 | 5-7 | 15-20 | 4-6 | 3 L | ||
| 14 San Antonio | 14 | 47 | .230 | 28.5 | 9-21 | 5-26 | 2-8 | 5-32 | 0-10 | 16 L | ||
| 15 Houston | 13 | 47 | .217 | 29.0 | 8-20 | 5-27 | 1-8 | 7-33 | 1-9 | 9 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 | 59 | 46 | 8 | 5 | 97 | 44 | 222 | 126 | 24-2-3 | 22-6-2 | 8-2-0 | |
| 2 Carolina Hurricanes | 58 | 39 | 11 | 8 | 86 | 36 | 198 | 151 | 21-7-2 | 18-4-6 | 8-2-0 | |
| 3 New Jersey Devils | 59 | 39 | 15 | 5 | 83 | 38 | 208 | 157 | 18-11-2 | 21-4-3 | 7-2-1 | |
| 4 Toronto Maple Leafs | 60 | 37 | 15 | 8 | 82 | 37 | 207 | 158 | 23-6-4 | 14-9-4 | 7-3-0 | |
| 5 Tampa Bay Lightning | 59 | 37 | 18 | 4 | 78 | 35 | 212 | 176 | 22-4-3 | 15-14-1 | 5-2-3 | |
| 6 New York Rangers | 60 | 34 | 17 | 9 | 77 | 31 | 201 | 168 | 17-10-4 | 17-7-5 | 6-3-1 | |
| 7 New York Islanders | 63 | 31 | 25 | 7 | 69 | 31 | 183 | 174 | 18-11-3 | 13-14-4 | 5-3-2 | |
| 8 Pittsburgh Penguins | 59 | 29 | 21 | 9 | 67 | 28 | 192 | 190 | 16-9-4 | 13-12-5 | 5-5-0 | |
| 9 Buffalo Sabres | 58 | 31 | 23 | 4 | 66 | 30 | 220 | 203 | 12-15-2 | 19-8-2 | 5-4-1 | |
| 10 Detroit Red Wings | 59 | 28 | 23 | 8 | 64 | 26 | 181 | 190 | 15-12-3 | 13-11-5 | 7-3-0 | |
| 11 Florida Panthers | 61 | 29 | 26 | 6 | 64 | 27 | 210 | 213 | 16-9-3 | 13-17-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 12 Washington Capitals | 62 | 29 | 27 | 6 | 64 | 28 | 188 | 187 | 15-13-3 | 14-14-3 | 3-7-0 | |
| 13 Ottawa Senators | 59 | 29 | 26 | 4 | 62 | 27 | 183 | 187 | 17-12-2 | 12-14-2 | 6-3-1 | |
| 14 Philadelphia Flyers | 61 | 23 | 28 | 10 | 56 | 22 | 161 | 202 | 11-15-3 | 12-13-7 | 2-7-1 | |
| 15 Montreal Canadiens | 59 | 25 | 30 | 4 | 54 | 21 | 163 | 214 | 14-15-1 | 11-15-3 | 5-5-0 | |
| 16 Columbus Blue Jackets | 60 | 19 | 35 | 6 | 44 | 18 | 154 | 222 | 13-18-2 | 6-17-4 | 4-3-3 | |
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | ROW | GF | GA | Home | Road | L10 | ||
| 1 Vegas Golden Knights | 60 | 35 | 19 | 6 | 76 | 32 | 192 | 169 | 18-13-1 | 17-6-5 | 6-1-3 | |
| 2 Dallas Stars | 60 | 31 | 16 | 13 | 75 | 28 | 195 | 159 | 15-8-8 | 16-8-5 | 3-3-4 | |
| 3 Los Angeles Kings | 61 | 33 | 20 | 8 | 74 | 28 | 205 | 206 | 17-9-2 | 16-11-6 | 5-3-2 | |
| 4 Colorado Avalanche | 58 | 34 | 19 | 5 | 73 | 30 | 185 | 157 | 16-9-4 | 18-10-1 | 7-1-2 | |
| 5 Minnesota Wild | 60 | 33 | 21 | 6 | 72 | 27 | 175 | 166 | 20-10-2 | 13-11-4 | 6-2-2 | |
| 6 Edmonton Oilers | 61 | 32 | 21 | 8 | 72 | 32 | 232 | 204 | 14-12-5 | 18-9-3 | 3-3-4 | |
| 7 Winnipeg Jets | 60 | 35 | 24 | 1 | 71 | 34 | 182 | 159 | 20-10-0 | 15-14-1 | 4-6-0 | |
| 8 Seattle Kraken | 59 | 32 | 21 | 6 | 70 | 32 | 203 | 189 | 15-12-3 | 17-9-3 | 3-6-1 | |
| 9 Calgary Flames | 60 | 27 | 21 | 12 | 66 | 26 | 190 | 187 | 15-11-2 | 12-10-10 | 3-4-3 | |
| 10 Nashville Predators | 57 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 64 | 26 | 169 | 171 | 16-10-3 | 13-12-3 | 6-4-0 | |
| 11 St. Louis Blues | 59 | 26 | 28 | 5 | 57 | 23 | 180 | 215 | 13-13-4 | 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 | 59 | 20 | 30 | 9 | 49 | 17 | 160 | 211 | 13-10-2 | 7-20-7 | 4-2-4 | |
| 14 San Jose Sharks | 60 | 18 | 30 | 12 | 48 | 17 | 179 | 223 | 6-15-8 | 12-15-4 | 4-5-1 | |
| 15 Chicago Blackhawks | 59 | 21 | 33 | 5 | 47 | 19 | 149 | 213 | 12-16-3 | 9-17-2 | 6-4-0 | |
| 16 Anaheim Ducks | 61 | 20 | 34 | 7 | 47 | 17 | 156 | 252 | 10-16-1 | 10-18-6 | 4-5-1 | |
Last updated Feb. 28, 1:11 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
1903 Pittsburgh owner Barney Dreyfuss and James Potter lead a syndicate to buy the Phillies from John Rogers and A. J. Reach for $170,000. Owning more than one team will not be prohibited for another seven years.
1966 Refusing to report to spring training, Dodger pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale begin their joint holdout, asking for a $1 million three-year contract to be divided equally between them. The deal, equivalent to an annual salary of $167,000 for each hurler, will make them the best-paid baseball players, easily surpassing Willie Mays’ $125,000 yearly paycheck with the Giants.
1975 The Mets purchase slugger Dave Kingman from the Giants. San Francisco drafted the 26-year-old first baseman/outfielder as the team’s first pick in the initial round of the secondary phase of the 1970 amateur draft.
1985 Rick Reuschel signs as a free agent with the Pirates, spending the first two months in the minors. After being called up in May, ‘Big Daddy’ will win 14 games and be named the National League’s Comeback Player of the Year by the Sporting News.
1986 Joaquin Andujar, Dale Berra, Enos Cabell, Keith Hernandez, Jeffrey Leonard, Dave Parker, and Lonnie Smith, known as the ‘Cocaine Seven,’ are severely disciplined for their “prolonged pattern of drug use” and the distribution of drugs to others in the sport. Commissioner Peter Ueberroth drops their season-long suspension after they agree to donate ten percent of their base salaries to drug-related community service in the city they played, submit to random drug testing, and do one hundred hours of community service.
1989 The Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee elects Red Schoendienst, who spent 19 years in the major leagues and managed the Cardinals to a world championship in 1967, and Al Barlick, a 29-year veteran umpire, best known for his booming voice. The pair joins last month’s BBWAA selection of Reds’ catcher Johnny Bench and Red Sox outfielder Carl Yastrzemski.
1990 After meeting for more than five hours and taking three ballots, the Veterans Committee does not select a player for induction to the Hall of Fame for the second time in three years. The finalists, Phil Rizzuto, Nellie Fox, Richie Ashburn, Leo Durocher, Joe Gordon, Tony Lazzeri, Cecil Travis, Carl Mays, Vic Willis, Hal Newhouser, and umpire Bill McGowan do not receive the 11 votes required for election from the 14 members present at the annual meeting.
2000 “In the end, I could not ignore Darryl’s past infractions and concluded that each of us must be held accountable for his or her actions. I am hopeful that he will use this time away from the game productively and will care for himself and his family.” – BASEBALL COMMISSIONER BUD SELIG, commenting on his decision to suspend Darryl Strawberry. Baseball suspends Yankee outfielder/DH Darryl Strawberry for one year after his positive test for cocaine last month. Commissioner Bud Selig does not make any provision for an early return to the eight-time All-Star game from the suspension based on good behavior.
2005 Right-hander Jake Peavy (15-6, 2.27) and the Padres agree to the terms of a four-year deal, with the team holding an option for a fifth year. The 23-year-old right-hander, who led the majors with the lowest ERA, opted to sign now rather than take a chance in his first year of salary arbitration eligibility after the season.
2011 The U.S. government places a plaque at Jackie Robinson’s former apartment in Montreal as a tribute to the Canadian city for its exemplary treatment of the future Hall of Fame infielder. The season before he broke the color barrier, the Dodger farmhand led the hometown Royals to the 1946 International League championship with a .349 batting average and earned the circuit’s Most Valuable Player for his outstanding performance.
2014 In an online contest sponsored by the MLB Network, the fans choose Mets’ third baseman David Wright as the Face of Major League Baseball. The seven-time All-star, dubbed “Captain America” due to his heroics last season’s WBC, narrowly beat A’s infielder Eric Sogard in the bracket-style competition where fans voted on Twitter.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
February 28, 1931 – The Canadian Rugby Union officially adopts the forward pass
February 28 , 1963 – Original NY Titans AFL owner Harry Wismer runs into financial difficulties midway through the 1962 season and is forced to sell the bankrupt team in February 1963 according to the Heritage Sports Art website. The AFL itself runs the franchise from November 1962 until the conclusion of the ’62 season, when it is bought by a group of 5 – spearheaded by Sonny Werblin – for $1,000,000.
February 28, 2001 – NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is named the Sports Industrialist of the Year by the Sports Business Daily.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS
February 28, 1933 – Corpus Christi, Texas – The great pass catching end from Southern Methodist University, Raymond Berry celebrates his birth. For more on this legend, please click his name.
February 28, 1945 – Orange, Texas – Michigan State’s giant of a defensive end, Bubba Smith was born. Read more about the this top player by clicking his name.
February 28, 1976 – The stalwart tight end from the University of California, Tony Gonzalez was born. Tony was the 13th overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Pro Football Hall of Fame tells of how he was an impact player right from the onset and in his seventeen year career he never caught less than 59 passes in a season. He played with KC for many seasons and then was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. His 1325 pass receptions ranked as the second most in NFL history when he retired and he still has the record with 16 consecutive seasons of over 50 receptions in a season. Tony Gonzalez received his Gold Jacket and posed for his bronze bust in Canton in 2019.
SPORTS IN NUMBERS
32 – 53 – 13 – 23 – 11
February 28, 1940 – The world’s first televised basketball game as the University of Pittsburgh defeated Fordham University, 50-37. It would have been hard to appreciate the uniforms on the black and white broadcast.
February 28, 1960 – We touched upon it a bit the other day on the historic first Miracle on Ice as the US knocked off the USSR, but on this date the United States wins its first Olympic ice hockey gold medal at Squaw Valley before a home crowd, with 9-4 win over Czechoslovakia
February 28, 1966 – Los Angeles baseball pitching greats , Sandy Koufax, Number 32 and Number 53 Don Drysdale begin a joint holdout against Dodgers. They had some weight behind it to as this pair provided 49 wins for the Dodgers in 1965. Drysdale earned 23 W’s and Koufax led the Majors with 26 in ’65.
February 28, 1967 – Number 13, Wilt Chamberlain did the incredible once again when he drained his 35th consecutive shot in an NBA game
February 28, 1981 – Here is one man that you didn’t want to foul and put on the line. Houston Rockets star guard, Calvin Murphy who wore Number 23, set an NBA record with 78 consecutive free throws over a span of games.
February 28, 1998 – Vancouver Canucks Mark Messier is fourth NHL skater to earn 1,600 career points. The legendary star center and left winger wore Number 11 for his entire career with 3 different NHL teams which included the Canucks, the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers.
TV TUESDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| SUN BELT FIRST ROUND #12 VS. #13 | 6:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| MARQUETTE AT BUTLER | 6:30 PM | FS1 |
| NC STATE AT DUKE | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| IOWA AT INDIANA | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE AT WAKE FOREST | 7:00 PM | ESPNU |
| FLORIDA AT GEORGIA | 7:00 PM | SECN |
| CLEMSON AT VIRGINIA | 7:00 PM | ACCN |
| SAINT LOUIS AT VCU | 7:00 PM | CBSSN |
| GEORGIA TECH AT SYRACUSE | 7:00 PM | ACCN |
| LA SALLE AT DAYTON | 7:00 PM | – |
| BRYANT AT MAINE | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| NJIT AT NEW HAMPSHIRE | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| UALBANY AT VERMONT | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| UMBC AT BINGHAMTON | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| BALL STATE AT AKRON | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| EASTERN MICHIGAN AT BOWLING GREEN | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| MIAMI (OH) AT WESTERN MICHIGAN | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| OHIO AT KENT STATE | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| TOLEDO AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| BUFFALO AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 8:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| VILLANOVA AT SETON HALL | 8:30 PM | FS1 |
| SUN BELT FIRST ROUND #11 VS. #14 | 8:30 PM | ESPN+ |
| TEXAS TECH AT KANSAS | 9:00 PM | ESPN |
| ARKANSAS AT TENNESSEE | 9:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| MICHIGAN STATE AT NEBRASKA | 9:00 PM | BTN |
| TEXAS A&M AT OLE MISS | 9:00 PM | ESPNU |
| SOUTH CAROLINA AT MISSISSIPPI STATE | 9:00 PM | SECN |
| VIRGINIA TECH AT LOUISVILLE | 9:00 PM | ACCN |
| SAN DIEGO STATE AT BOISE STATE | 9:00 PM | CBSSN |
| FRESNO STATE AT NEW MEXICO | 10:30 PM | FS1 |
| COLORADO STATE AT SAN JOSE STATE | 11:00 PM | CBSSN |
| MLB SPRING TRAINING | TIME ET | TV |
| HOUSTON VS NY METS | 1:00PM | ESPN |
| BOSTON VS MIAMI | 6:40PM | MLBN |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| WASHINGTON AT ATLANTA | 7:30PM | TNT |
| MILWAUKEE AT BROOKLYN | 7:30PM | BALLY SPORTS YES |
| CHICAGO AT TORONTO | 7:30PM | SPORTSNET NBCS-CHI |
| DENVER AT HOUSTON | 8:00PM | ALT BALLY SPORTS |
| LA LAKERS AT MEMPHIS | 8:00PM | SPECTRUM BALLY SPORTS |
| SACRAMENTO AT OKLAHOMA CITY | 8:00PM | NBCS-CA BALLY SPORTS |
| INDIANA AT DALLAS | 8:30PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| SAN ANTONIO AT UTAH | 9:00PM | ATTSN-RM BALLY SPORTS |
| MINNESOTA AT LA CLIPPERS | 10:00PM | TNT |
| PORTLAND AT GOLDEN STATE | 10:00PM | ROOT SPORTS NBCS-BAY |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| DETROIT AT OTTAWA | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS SPORTSNET |
| FLORIDA AT TAMPA BAY | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| COLUMBUS AT BUFFALO | 7:30PM | ESPN+ HULU |
| LOS ANGELES AT WINNIPEG | 8:00PM | SPORTSNET BALLY SPORTS |
| NY ISLANDERS AT MINNESOTA | 8:00PM | MSGSN BALLY SPORTS |
| PITTSBURGH AT NASHVILLE | 8:00PM | ATTSN-PIT BALLY SPORTS |
| SEATTLE AT ST. LOUIS | 8:00PM | ROOT SPORTS BALLY SPORTS |
| BOSTON AT CALGARY | 9:00PM | NESN SPORTSNET |
| CHICAGO AT ARIZONA | 9:00PM | NBCS-CHI BALLY SPORTS |
| MONTRÉAL AT SAN JOSE | 10:30PM | NBCS-CA-PIT SPORTSNET |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| SERIE A: CREMONESE VS ROMA | 12:30PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: STOKE CITY VS BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION | 2:15PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: LEICESTER CITY VS BLACKBURN ROVERS | 2:30PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: FULHAM VS LEEDS UNITED | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| SERIE A: JUVENTUS VS TORINO | 2:45PM | PARAMOUNT+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: BRISTOL CITY VS MANCHESTER CITY | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: CERRO PORTEÑO VS CURICÓ UNIDO | 5:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
TV WEDNESDAY
| NCAA BASKETBALL GAMES – MEN’S | TIME ET | TV |
| LAMAR AT NICHOLLS | 4:00PM | ESPN+ |
| BIG SOUTH FIRST ROUND: HIGH POINT VS. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN | 6:00PM | ESPN+ |
| XAVIER AT PROVIDENCE | 6:30PM | FS1 |
| AUBURN AT ALABAMA | 7:00PM | ESPN2 |
| PITT AT NOTRE DAME | 7:00PM | ESPNU |
| VANDERBILT AT KENTUCKY | 7:00PM | SECN |
| MARYLAND AT OHIO STATE | 7:00PM | BTN |
| DEPAUL VS. UCONN | 7:00PM | CBSSN |
| FORDHAM AT GEORGE MASON | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| TULSA AT SOUTH FLORIDA | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON AT DAVIDSON | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UMASS AT DUQUESNE | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| RICHMOND AT SAINT JOSEPH’S | 7:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OVC FIRST ROUND: SOUTHEAST MISSOURI VS. LINDENWOOD | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| SAM HOUSTON AT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7:30PM | ESPN+ |
| BIG SOUTH FIRST ROUND: CAMPBELL VS. PRESBYTERIAN | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OKLAHOMA AT KANSAS STATE | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UTA AT UTAH VALLEY | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA AT HOUSTON CHRISTIAN | 8:00PM | ESPN+ |
| GEORGETOWN AT CREIGHTON | 8:30PM | FS1 |
| NEW ORLEANS AT MCNEESE | 8:30PM | ESPN+ |
| TEXAS AT TCU | 9:00PM | ESPN2 |
| TULANE AT EAST CAROLINA | 9:00PM | ESPNU |
| MISSOURI AT LSU | 9:00PM | SECN |
| PENN STATE AT NORTHWESTERN | 9:00PM | BTN |
| RHODE ISLAND AT LOYOLA CHICAGO | 9:00PM | CBSSN |
| CHICAGO STATE AT GONZAGA | 9:00PM | WCCN |
| GRAND CANYON AT SOUTHERN UTAH | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI AT A&M-COMMERCE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| SEATTLE U AT UTAH TECH | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UIW AT NORTHWESTERN STATE | 9:00PM | ESPN+ |
| OVC FIRST ROUND: SIUE VS. SOUTHERN INDIANA | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UTRGV AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST | 10:00PM | ESPN+ |
| UTAH STATE AT UNLV | 11:00PM | CBSSN |
| MLB SPRING TRAINING | TIME ET | TV |
| WASHINGTON VS NY YANKEES | 1:00PM | ESPN |
| MILWAUKEE VS LA ANGELS | 3:10PM | MLBN |
| NBA REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| PHOENIX AT CHARLOTTE | 7:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| CHICAGO AT DETROIT | 7:00PM | NBCS-CHI BALLY SPORTS |
| CLEVELAND AT BOSTON | 7:30PM | ESPN BALLY SPORTS NBCS-BOS |
| PHILADELPHIA AT MIAMI | 7:30PM | NBCS-PHI BALLY SPORTS |
| BROOKLYN AT NEW YORK | 7:30PM | YES MSG |
| MEMPHIS AT HOUSTON | 8:00PM | ATTSN-SW BALLY SPORTS |
| ORLANDO AT MILWAUKEE | 8:00PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| LA LAKERS AT OKLAHOMA CITY | 8:00PM | SPECTRUM BALLY SPORTS |
| NEW ORLEANS AT PORTLAND | 10:00PM | ESPN ROOT SPORTS BALLY SPORTS |
| NHL REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| NY RANGERS AT PHILADELPHIA | 7:30PM | TNT |
| TORONTO AT EDMONTON | 8:00PM | SPORTSNET |
| ARIZONA AT DALLAS | 8:30PM | BALLY SPORTS |
| NEW JERSEY AT COLORADO | 9:00PM | MSGSN ALT |
| CAROLINA AT VEGAS | 10:00PM | TNT |
| WASHINGTON AT ANAHEIM | 10:00PM | NBCS-WSH BALLY SPORTS |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| COUPE DE FRANCE: NANTES VS LENS | 12:15PM | FS2 |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: SOUTHAMPTON VS GRIMSBY TOWN | 2:15PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: BURNLEY VS FLEETWOOD TOWN | 2:30PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: ARSENAL VS EVERTON | 2:45PM | USA |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: MANCHESTER UNITED VS WEST HAM UNITED | 2:45PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLAND FA CUP: SHEFFIELD UNITED VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR | 2:55PM | ESPN+ |
| ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL VS WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS | 3:00PM | PEACOCK |
| COUPE DE FRANCE: OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE VS ANNECY | 3:00PM | FS2 |
| COPA DEL REY: OSASUNA VS ATHLETIC CLUB | 3:00PM | ESPN+ |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: HURACÁN VS BOSTON RIVER | 5:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: MEDELLÍN VS EL NACIONAL | 7:00PM | BEIN SPORTS |
| COPA LIBERTADORES: ATLÉTICO MINEIRO VS CARABOBO | 7:30PM | BEIN SPORTS |