THE INDIANA SRN “SPORTSPAGE” TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2025

“THE SCOREBOARD”

INDIANA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

CALUMET	93	CALUMET CHRISTIAN	65
CENTRAL NOBLE	63	BETHANY CHRISTIAN	49
CLINTON PRAIRIE	70	FOUNTAIN CENTRAL	29
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC	69	HAMMOND MORTON	63
MOORESVILLE CHRISTIAN	66	TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN	61
SULLIVAN	56	SOUTH PUTNAM	41
TIPTON	62	MACONAQUAH	61
UNIVERSITY	77	INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD	71
WESTERN BOONE	51	FAITH CHRISTIAN	43
WOODLAN	63	FORT WAYNE NORTHROP	55

INDIANA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

USA FINAL POLLS

CLASS 4A

1. HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN (22-0) (8) 80

2. LAWRENCE CENTRAL (21-1) 72

3. HOMESTEAD (22-2) 58

4. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (21-1) 58

5. WARSAW (21-1) 52

6. CENTER GROVE (18-3) 33

7. BROWNSBURG (19-4) 30

8. PLAINFIELD (17-5) 19

9. NORTHRIDGE (20-4) 17

10. NOBLESVILLE (18-4) 11

11. BLOOMINGTON SOUTH (20-2) 10

CLASS 3A

1. GREENSBURG (21-0) (9) 90

2. SILVER CREEK (20-2) 76

3. WASHINGTON (21-2) 72

4. EVANSVILLE CENTRAL (19-4) 62

5. COLUMBIA CITY (19-4) 57

6. BELLMONT (20-2) 46

7. CORYDON CENTRAL (17-5) 34

8. DANVILLE (17-5) 25

9. NORWELL (16-6) 23

10. NORTHWOOD (17-6) 3

11. NORTHVIEW (17-6) 3

12. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (14-9) 3

13. INDIANAPOLIS CHATARD (14-8) 1

CLASS 2A

1. SOUTH KNOX (22-2) (10) 100

2. RENSSELAER CENTRAL (20-2) 82

3. ALEXANDRIA (22-1) 75

4. BLUFFTON (21-2) 54

5. EASTSIDE (23-1) 54

6. AUSTIN (20-3) 40

7. NORTHEASTERN (22-1) 33

8. NORTH KNOX (16-6) 33

9. LANESVILLE (17-3) 31

10. BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (18-5) 19

11. SHERIDAN (21-1) 10

12. BREMEN (21-2) 7

13. EASTERN HANCOCK (19-3) 7

14. TRITON CENTRAL (14-8) 2

15. OAK HILL (20-2) 1

16. NORTH POSEY (16-6) 1

17. WHITKO (17-4) 1

CLASS 1A

1. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (18-4) (3) 47

2. BORDEN (16-5) (1) 46

3. NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG) (20-3) 34

4. WESTVILLE (21-2) 31

5. TRI-COUNTY (19-2) 25

6. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (19-4) (1) 24

7. ORLEANS (16-5) 22

8. OLDENBURG ACADEMY (18-4) 17

9. FREMONT (17-6) 12

10. TRI (16-7) 5

11. NORTHEAST DUBOIS (15-6) 5

12. WOOD MEMORIAL (14-8) 4

13. WHITE RIVER VALLEY (16-5) 2

14. MORRISTOWN (14-7)

SECTIONAL SCHEDULE TUESDAY

CROWN POINT SECTIONAL

Hammond Central (17-3) at Crown Point (12-11)

CHESTERTON SECTIONAL

Valparaiso (15-7) vs. Hobart (3-18)

LAPORTE SECTIONAL

Mishawaka (2-20) vs. South Bend Riley (14-9)

WARSAW SECTIONAL

Elkhart (12-10) vs. Concord (9-12)

NOBLESVILLE SECTIONAL

Fishers (14-8) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (22-0)

Carmel (10-12) at Noblesville (18-4)

MOUNT VERNON (FORTVILLE) SECTIONAL

Richmond (11-11) vs. Greenfield-Central (16-7)

Anderson (2-21) vs. Muncie Central (8-13)

LAWRENCE NORTH SECTIONAL

Warren Central (13-8) vs. North Central (Indianapolis) (4-16)

BEN DAVIS SECTIONAL

Brownsburg (19-4) vs. Pike (15-6)

FRANKLIN CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Center Grove (18-3) at Franklin Central (15-9)

Perry Meridian (1-20) vs. Mooresville (16-7)

MARTINSVILLE SECTIONAL

Terre Haute South (9-13) at Martinsville (7-15)

COLUMBUS NORTH SECTIONAL

Columbus East (1-20) vs. Whiteland (6-16)

SEYMOUR SECTIONAL

Jeffersonville (10-12) vs. Floyd Central (20-4)

EVANSVILLE REITZ SECTIONAL

Gibson Southern (17-6) vs. Evansville North (14-9)

GRIFFITH SECTIONAL

Calumet (0-15) at Griffith (9-12)

Highland (11-10) vs. Gary West (5-13)

LOWELL SECTIONAL

Hanover Central (13-8) vs. Illiana Christian (11-8)

SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH SECTIONAL

Plymouth (13-8) vs. John Glenn (15-8)

New Prairie (3-19) vs. Culver Academy (17-5)

FAIRFIELD SECTIONAL

West Noble (3-19) vs. Tippecanoe Valley (12-10)

Columbia City (19-4) vs. NorthWood (17-6)

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA SECTIONAL

Fort Wayne Dwenger (10-14) vs. Angola (12-10)

NORWELL SECTIONAL

New Haven (3-19) vs. Heritage (1-19)

Marion (10-13) at Norwell (16-6)

TWIN LAKES SECTIONAL

Peru (12-10) vs. Northwestern (8-13)

CONNERSVILLE SECTIONAL

Yorktown (15-6) vs. New Castle (6-16)

Delta (14-7) vs. Hamilton Heights (5-16)

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Connersville.

LEBANON SECTIONAL

Tri-West (12-9) vs. Frankfort (0-22)

INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL SECTIONAL

Indianapolis Chatard (14-8) at Indianapolis Cathedral (14-9)

Indianapolis Shortridge (14-6) vs. Indianapolis Herron (16-7)

NORTHVIEW SECTIONAL

Owen Valley (14-8) vs. Speedway (9-11)

Edgewood (12-10) at Northview (17-6)

INDIAN CREEK SECTIONAL

Beech Grove (11-11) at Indian Creek (15-7)

LAWRENCEBURG SECTIONAL

Batesville (15-8) vs. Franklin County (11-11)

Greensburg (21-0) at Lawrenceburg (12-8)

SCOTTSBURG SECTIONAL

Charlestown (14-8) vs. Corydon Central (17-5)

Silver Creek (20-2) vs. Madison (16-5)

JASPER SECTIONAL

Vincennes Lincoln (12-10) at Jasper (15-8)

EVANSVILLE CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Evansville Bosse (3-15) vs. Heritage Hills (12-10)

Boonville (6-16) at Evansville Central (19-4)

BOONE GROVE SECTIONAL

Wheeler (7-15) vs. Whiting (3-15)

KNOX SECTIONAL

Jimtown (3-19) vs. Bremen (21-2)

Winamac (14-9) at Knox (4-18)

CENTRAL NOBLE SECTIONAL

Westview (11-11) vs. Prairie Heights (6-16)

Lakeland (6-16) at Central Noble (12-10)

BLUFFTON SECTIONAL

Woodlan (14-7) vs. Whitko (17-4)

Adams Central (5-16) vs. Fort Wayne Luers (8-14)

RENSSELAER CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Seeger (10-12) at Rensselaer Central (20-2)

Delphi (8-14) vs. North Montgomery (14-9)

LEWIS CASS SECTIONAL

Eastern (Greentown) (1-21) at Lewis Cass (16-6)

Oak Hill (20-2) vs. Wabash (18-4)

SHERIDAN SECTIONAL

Taylor (5-18) vs. Lapel (15-8)

Frankton (11-12) at Sheridan (21-1)

ALEXANDRIA SECTIONAL

Muncie Burris (4-16) at Alexandria (22-1)

Eastbrook (7-13) vs. Madison-Grant (4-18)

GREENCASTLE SECTIONAL

Parke Heritage (19-4) vs. South Vermillion (0-23)

North Putnam (12-10) vs. Southmont (10-11)

MONROVIA SECTIONAL

Park Tudor (11-9) at Monrovia (16-7)

Indianapolis Ritter (8-12) vs. Covenant Christian (15-7)

TRITON CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Indianapolis Scecina (10-11) vs. Eastern Hancock (19-3)

HAGERSTOWN SECTIONAL

Centerville (10-12) at Hagerstown (1-21)

Union County (14-7) vs. Shenandoah (13-9)

SOUTH RIPLEY SECTIONAL

Switzerland County (8-15) vs. Southwestern (Hanover) (15-8)

Brown County (2-17) vs. Brownstown Central (18-5)

CRAWFORD COUNTY SECTIONAL

Eastern (Pekin) (12-11) vs. Paoli (8-14)

Clarksville (6-15) vs. Mitchell (4-18)

NORTH KNOX SECTIONAL

Linton (9-12) vs. Sullivan (14-8)

West Vigo (6-15) vs. Eastern Greene (5-17)

FOREST PARK SECTIONAL

Pike Central (3-19) vs. Perry Central (12-8)

BOWMAN ACADEMY SECTIONAL

Marquette Catholic (18-4) at Bowman Academy (8-11)

WEST CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Tri-County (19-2) vs. North Newton (8-14)

DeMotte Christian (18-5) at West Central (14-8)

OREGON-DAVIS SECTIONAL

Triton (2-20) vs. Argos (7-15)

Elkhart Christian (17-5) vs. Trinity Greenlawn (5-15)

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SECTIONAL

Fremont (17-6) vs. Lakewood Park (16-6)

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Covington (4-19) at Fountain Central (18-4)

CLINTON PRAIRIE SECTIONAL

Carroll (Flora) (15-7) at Clinton Prairie (12-10)

TRI-CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Cowan (4-17) vs. Wes-Del (0-20)

Daleville (13-7) at Tri-Central (7-15)

RANDOLPH SOUTHERN SECTIONAL

Monroe Central (17-6) vs. Union (Modoc) (6-15)

Blue River (4-18) at Randolph Southern (12-8)

ANDERSON PREP SECTIONAL

MTI Knowledge (1-13) vs. Indiana Deaf (11-10)

Indianapolis Tindley (13-9) at Anderson Prep (14-9)

EMINENCE SECTIONAL

Indianapolis Lutheran (6-15) vs. Victory College Prep (1-11)

Central Christian (9-5) at Eminence (18-5)

SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) SECTIONAL

Edinburgh (10-12) vs. North Decatur (15-8)

Tri (16-7) vs. Morristown (14-7)

HAUSER SECTIONAL

Rising Sun (5-17) vs. Oldenburg Academy (18-4)

Milan (2-17) vs. Crothersville (4-17)

CLAY CITY SECTIONAL

Lighthouse Christian (1-20) vs. White River Valley (16-5)

Dugger Union (6-15) vs. Cloverdale (5-18)

BARR-REEVE SECTIONAL

Vincennes Rivet (12-10) vs. Washington Catholic (1-15)

BORDEN SECTIONAL

Rock Creek Academy (5-12) vs. Christian Academy (12-10)

NORTHEAST DUBOIS SECTIONAL

Springs Valley (11-9) vs. Cannelton (7-14)

Wood Memorial (14-8) at Northeast Dubois (15-6)

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONALS-WEDNESDAY

LAPORTE SECTIONAL

Michigan City (6-16) vs. South Bend Adams (6-12)

South Bend Washington (21-1) vs. Penn (19-5)

FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA SECTIONAL

East Noble (13-9) at Fort Wayne Concordia (10-12)

DeKalb (13-9) vs. Garrett (5-17)

TWIN LAKES SECTIONAL

Logansport (4-18) vs. Western (8-15)

Maconaquah (13-8) at Twin Lakes (6-17)

LEBANON SECTIONAL

Danville (17-5) vs. Crawfordsville (4-18)

Brebeuf Jesuit (12-9) at Lebanon (9-13)

INDIAN CREEK SECTIONAL

Rushville (7-17) vs. Shelbyville (13-10)

Greenwood (4-18) vs. New Palestine (10-11)

TRITON CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Heritage Christian (10-12) at Triton Central (14-8)

Christel House (0-11) vs. KIPP Indy Legacy (6-10)

CRAWFORD COUNTY SECTIONAL

Providence (8-14) at Crawford County (10-13)

Lanesville (17-3) vs. Salem (1-18)

FOREST PARK SECTIONAL

North Posey (16-6) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (8-11)

South Spencer (10-12) at Forest Park (8-14)

BOWMAN ACADEMY SECTIONAL

Kouts (12-9) vs. Washington Twp. (11-9)

Tri-Township (12-10) vs. Morgan Twp. (13-10)

WEST CENTRAL SECTIONAL

North White (8-14) vs. South Newton (0-17)

Pioneer (10-12) vs. Caston (7-15)

OREGON-DAVIS SECTIONAL

North Judson (18-4) vs. South Central (Union Mills) (8-14)

Culver (14-8) at Oregon-Davis (12-9)

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SECTIONAL

Hamilton (2-14) vs. Fort Wayne Canterbury (2-17)

Lakeland Christian (11-12) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (12-11)

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL SECTIONAL

North Vermillion (16-8) vs. Lafayette Central Catholic (19-4)

Riverton Parke (11-10) vs. Attica (9-15)

TRI-CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Northfield (14-8) vs. Southwood (6-16)

North Miami (12-10) vs. Southern Wells (16-7)

SOUTHWESTERN (SHELBYVILLE) SECTIONAL

Knightstown (11-10) vs. South Decatur (12-11)

Waldron (7-15) at Southwestern (Shelbyville) (3-20)

HAUSER SECTIONAL

Trinity Lutheran (12-10) vs. Shawe Memorial (16-5)

Jac-Cen-Del (7-15) at Hauser (10-12)

CLAY CITY SECTIONAL

Bloomfield (4-18) vs. North Central (Farmersburg) (20-3)

Shakamak (12-11) at Clay City (6-16)

BARR-REEVE SECTIONAL

Loogootee (9-12) at Barr-Reeve (13-8)

Orleans (16-5) vs. North Daviess (11-11)

BORDEN SECTIONAL

West Washington (10-13) at Borden (16-5)

Henryville (13-8) vs. South Central (Elizabeth) (10-11)

INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL-SECTIONAL FAVORITES

CLASS 4A

@CROWN POINT: LAKE CENTRAL 64.7%

@CHESTERTON: VALPARAISO 77.1%

@LAPORTE: SB WASHINGTON 75.5%

@WARSAW: WARSAW 82.0%

@FW NORTHRUP: FW NORTHRUP 64.7%

@HOMESTEAD: HOMESTEAD 95.1%

@HARRISON: MCCUTCHEON 75.5%

@NOBLESVILLE: HAMILTON SE 62.3%

@MT. VERNON: PENDLETON HEIGHTS 78.4%

@LAWRENCE NORTH: LAWRENCE CENTRAL 73.2%

@BEN DAVIS: BROWNSBURG 31.2%, PLAINFIELD 28.5%

@FRANKLIN CENTRAL CENTER GROVE 47.6%, FRANKLIN CENTRAL 40.6%

@MARTINSVILLE: BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 91.2%

@COLUMBUS NORTH: COLUMBUS NORTH 68.7%

@SEYMOUR: FLOYD CENTRAL 64.9%

@EVANSVILLE REITZ: 54.1%, CASTLE 30.1%

CLASS 3A

@GRIFFITH: HIGHLAND 34.3%, EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL 23.2%

@LOWELL: LOWELL 54.2%

@SB ST. JOSEPH: CULVER ACADEMY 43.6%, GLENN 25.4%

@FAIRFIELD: COLUMBIA CITY 78.2%

@FW CONCORDIA: DEKALB 36.8%, EAST NOBLE 24.8%

@NORWELL: NORWELL 57.2%, BELLMONT 42.8%

@TWIN LAKES: MACONAQUAH 36.2%

@CONNERSVILLE: CONNERSVILLE 41.3%, DELTA 32.9%

@LEBANON: DANVILLE 75.5%

@CATHEDRAL: CATHEDRAL 53.6%

@NORTHVIEW: NORTHVIEW 53.5%

@INDIAN CREEK: RONCALLI 64.0%

@LAWRENCEBURG: GREENSBURG 89.7%

@SCOTTSBURG: SILVER CREEK 48.2%, CORYDON CENTRAL 33.9%

@JASPER: WASHINGTON 76.3%

@EVANSVILLE CENTRAL: EVANSVILLE CENTRAL 88.4%

CLASS 2A

@BOONE GROVE: ANDREAN 94.1%

@KNOX: BREMAN 77.5%

@CENTRAL NOBLE: EASTSIDE 87.8%

@BLUFFTON: BLUFFTON 83.9%

@RENSSELEAR CENTRAL: RENSSELEAR CENTRAL 87.7%

@LEWIS CASS: LEWIS CASS 43.6%, OAK HILL 25.1%

@SHERIDAN: LAPEL 49.2%, SHERIDAN 49.1%

@ALEXANDRIA: ALEXANDRIA 80.1%

@GREENCASTLE: PARKE HERITAGE 81.3%

@MONROVIA: MONROVIA 48.9%

@TRITON CENTRAL: EASTERN HANCOCK 60.3%

@HAGERSTOWN: NORTHEASTERN 91.2%

@SOUTH RIPLEY: BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 41.2%, AUSTIN 40.7%

@CRAWFORD COUNTY: LANESVILLE 71.0%

@NORTH KNOX: SOUTH KNOX 80.7%

@FOREST PARK: NORTH POSEY 37.7%, EVANSVILLE MATER DEI 24.3%

CLASS 1A

@BOWMAN ACADEMY: MARQUETTE CATHOLIC 66.4%

@WEST CENTRAL: TRI-COUNTY 70.8%

@OREGON DAVIS: ELKHART CHRISTIAN 42.8%, NORTH JUDSON 35.9%

@BETHANY CHRISTIAN: FREMONT 59.4%

@FOUNTAIN CENTRAL: LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 88.7%

@CLINTON PRAIRIE: 34.6%, ROSSVILLE 33.2%

@TRI-CENTRAL: DALEVILLE 38%, NORTHFIELD 30.9%

@RANDOLPH SOUTHERN: MONROE CENTRAL 77.5%

@ANDERSON PREP: LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 34.6%, INDIANA DEAF 28.9%, TINDLEY 21.5%

@EMINENCE: EMINENCE 35.7%, GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 32.5%, LUTHERAN 30.0%

@SOUTHWESTERN: TRI 38.7%, NORTH DECATUR 36.9%

@HAUSER: OLDENBURG ACADEMY 56.7%

@CLAY CITY: NORTH CENTRAL FARMERSBURG 73.9%

@BARR REEVE: VINCENNES RIVET 50.1%, ORLEANS 34.7%

@BORDEN: BORDEN 82.6%

@NE DUBOIS: EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN 23.6%, NE DUBOIS 22.1%, WOOD MEMORIAL 21.2%, TECUMSEH 18.7%, SPRINGS VALLEY 14.4%

INDIANA BOYS WRESTLING-REGIONALS, FEBRUARY 8

BRACKETS FOR EACH HOST SITE ARE AVAILABLE VIA TRACKWRESTLING.COM.

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

2. CROWN POINT | 9 AM CT | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CROWN POINT, LAPORTE.

3. ROCHESTER | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: MISHAWAKA, PLYMOUTH.

4. LOGANSPORT | 10 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: LAFAYETTE JEFFERSON, TWIN LAKES.

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

6. CARROLL (FORT WAYNE) | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), NEW HAVEN.

7. PERU | 9:30 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: PERU, OAK HILL.

8. JAY COUNTY | 8:30 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: DELTA, JAY COUNTY.

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

10. PENDLETON HEIGHTS | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: ELWOOD, INDIANAPOLIS ARSENAL TECHNICAL.

11. PERRY MERIDIAN | 9:30 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: PURDUE POLYTECH – DOWNTOWN, SOUTHPORT.

12. RICHMOND | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CENTERVILLE, FRANKLIN COUNTY.

13. MOORESVILLE | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: AVON, MOORESVILLE.

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

15. JEFFERSONVILLE | 9 AM ET | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: JEFFERSONVILLE, JENNINGS COUNTY.

16. CASTLE | 9 AM CT | TICKETS | RESULTS
FEEDER SECTIONALS: CASTLE, EVANSVILLE CENTRAL.

INDIANA MAT:

DUAL RESULTS: HTTPS://INDIANAMAT.COM/INDEX.PHP?/DUALRESULTS.HTML/BOYS-DUAL-RESULTS/

TOURNAMENT RESULTS: HTTPS://INDIANAMAT.COM/INDEX.PHP?/CURTOURNAMENTRESULTS.HTML/

RANKINGS: HTTPS://INDIANAMAT.COM/INDEX.PHP?/INDIVIDUAL-RANKINGS-MAIN.HTML/

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING ASSOCIATION: HTTPS://WWW.GOMOTIONAPP.COM/TEAM/RECHSIHSSCA/PAGE/HOME

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS: HTTPS://INHIGHSCHOOLGYMNASTICS.COM/

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TOP 25 POLL

1 AUBURN 20-1

2 DUKE 19-2

3 ALABAMA 19-3

4 TENNESSEE 18-4

5 HOUSTON 17-4

6 FLORIDA 18-3

7 PURDUE 17-5

8 IOWA STATE 17-4

9 MICHIGAN STATE 18-3

10 TEXAS A&M 17-5

11 MARQUETTE 18 – 4

12 ST. JOHN’S 19 – 3

13 TEXAS TECH 17 – 4

14 KENTUCKY 15 – 6

15 MISSOURI 17 – 4

16 KANSAS 15 – 6

17 MEMPHIS 18 – 4

18 MARYLAND 17 – 5

19 UCONN 16 – 6

20 ARIZONA 15 – 6

21 WISCONSIN 17 – 5

22 MISSISSIPPI STATE 16 – 6

23 ILLINOIS 15 – 7

24 MICHIGAN 16 – 5

25 OLE MISS 16 – 6

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

CLEMSON 182, SAINT MARY’S 136, LOUISVILLE 86, CREIGHTON 50, OREGON 39, UCLA 26, NEW MEXICO 23, DRAKE 18, GONZAGA 11, UTAH ST. 8, VANDERBILT 4, BAYLOR 3, GEORGE MASON 3, TEXAS 1, OKLAHOMA 1.

USA TODAY MEN’S TOP 25 POLL

THE USA TODAY SPORTS TOP 25 MEN’S BASKETBALL POLL, WITH TEAM’S RECORDS THROUGH SUNDAY IN PARENTHESES, TOTAL POINTS BASED ON 25 FOR FIRST PLACE THROUGH ONE POINT FOR 25TH, RANKING IN LAST WEEK’S POLL AND FIRST-PLACE VOTES RECEIVED.

RANK	SCHOOL (RECORD)	POINTS	LAST WEEK’S RANK	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	AUBURN (20-1)	773	1	29
2	DUKE (19-2)	745	2	2
3	ALABAMA (19-3)	710	4	0
4	TENNESSEE (18-4)	644	8	0
5	HOUSTON (17-4)	613	5	0
6	FLORIDA (18-3)	580	6	0
7	PURDUE (17-5)	574	10	0
8	IOWA STATE (17-4)	564	3	0
9	MICHIGAN STATE (18-3)	501	7	0
10	ST. JOHN’S (19-3)	473	14	0
11	MARQUETTE (18-4)	439	9	0
12	TEXAS TECH (17-4)	436	19	0
13	TEXAS A&M (17-5)	410	15	0
14	KENTUCKY (15-6)	310	12	0
15	MEMPHIS (18-4)	309	16	0
16	MISSOURI (17-4)	307	21	0
17	KANSAS (15-6)	288	11	0
18	CONNECTICUT (16-6)	178	24	0
19	WISCONSIN (17-5)	151	17	0
20	ARIZONA (15-6)	148	NR	0
21	CLEMSON (18-4)	145	25	0
22	MICHIGAN (16-5)	117	NR	0
23	SAINT MARY’S (20-3)	114	NR	0
24	MARYLAND (17-5)	110	NR	0
25	ILLINOIS (15-7)	108	20	0

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

MISSISSIPPI STATE (16-6) 88; MISSISSIPPI (16-6) 70; LOUISVILLE (16-6) 50; CREIGHTON (16-6) 44; OREGON (16-6) 31; NEW MEXICO (18-4) 18; UCLA (16-6) 7; WEST VIRGINIA (14-7) 6; GONZAGA (16-7) 4; UTAH STATE (19-3) 4; BRIGHAM YOUNG (15-6) 2; DRAKE (20-2) 2; BAYLOR (14-7) 1; UC IRVINE (20-3) 1.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NET RANKINGS

THE NET, WHICH STANDS FOR THE NCAA EVALUATION TOOL, IS USED AS THE PRIMARY SORTING TOOL FOR SELECTION AND SEEDING FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

THROUGH SUNDAY, FEB. 2

TEAM	RECORD	CURRENT	PREVIOUS
AUBURN	20-1	1	1
DUKE	19-2	2	2
HOUSTON	17-4	3	3
TENNESSEE	18-4	4	4
FLORIDA	18-3	5	5
ALABAMA	19-3	6	6
IOWA ST.	17-4	7	7
TEXAS TECH	17-4	8	8
KANSAS	15-6	9	10
PURDUE	17-5	10	9
ARIZONA	15-6	11	11
ILLINOIS	15-7	12	13
GONZAGA	16-7	13	12
TEXAS A&M	17-5	14	14
MARYLAND	17-5	15	15
WISCONSIN	17-5	16	16
MICHIGAN	16-5	17	17
MARQUETTE	18-4	18	18
KENTUCKY	15-6	19	19
MICHIGAN ST.	18-3	20	20
MISSOURI	17-4	21	21
SAINT MARY’S (CA)	19-3	22	22
OLE MISS	16-6	23	23
ST. JOHN’S (NY)	19-3	24	24
TEXAS	15-7	25	25

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TOP 25

#11 KANSAS 69 #3 IOWA STATE 52

ELSEWHERE:

VIRGINIA 73 PITTSBURGH 57

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TOP 25 POLL

1 UCLA 21 – 0

2 SOUTH CAROLINA 21 – 1

3 NOTRE DAME 19 – 2

4 TEXAS 22 – 2

5 UCONN 21 – 2

6 LSU 23 – 1

7 USC 19 – 2

8 OHIO STATE 20 – 1

9 TCU 21 – 2

10 DUKE 17 – 4

11 KENTUCKY 19 – 2

12 KANSAS STATE 21 – 2

13 NORTH CAROLINA 20 – 4

14 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 17 – 4

15 OKLAHOMA 16 – 6

16 MARYLAND 17 – 5

17 GEORGIA TECH 18 – 4

18 WEST VIRGINIA 17 – 4

19 TENNESSEE 16 – 5

20 MICHIGAN STATE 18 – 4

21 CALIFORNIA 19 – 4

22 FLORIDA STATE 18 – 4

23 ALABAMA 18 – 5

24 VANDERBILT 18 – 5

25 OKLAHOMA STATE 18 – 4

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:

CREIGHTON 30, BAYLOR 24, ILLINOIS 13, UTAH 12, MISSISSIPPI 11, MICHIGAN 7, MINNESOTA 6, SOUTH DAKOTA ST. 6, HARVARD 5, COLUMBIA 2, RICHMOND 1.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL NET RANKINGS

THE NET, WHICH STANDS FOR THE NCAA EVALUATION TOOL, IS USED AS THE PRIMARY SORTING TOOL FOR SELECTION AND SEEDING FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

THROUGH SUNDAY, FEB. 2

TEAM	RECORD	CURRENT	PREVIOUS
SOUTH CAROLINA	21-1	1	1
UCONN	21-2	2	2
TEXAS	22-2	3	3
UCLA	21-0	4	4
NOTRE DAME	19-2	5	6
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	19-2	6	5
KANSAS ST.	21-2	7	7
DUKE	17-4	8	8
LSU	23-1	9	9
TCU	21-2	10	10
OLE MISS	15-6	11	14
WEST VIRGINIA	17-4	12	12
NORTH CAROLINA	20-4	13	13
TENNESSEE	16-5	14	11
OHIO ST.	19-1	15	15
MICHIGAN ST.	18-4	16	17
KENTUCKY	19-2	17	20
OKLAHOMA	16-6	18	16
VANDERBILT	18-5	19	18
ALABAMA	18-5	20	19
FLORIDA ST.	18-4	21	22
BAYLOR	18-5	22	25
GEORGIA TECH	18-4	23	21
NC STATE	17-4	24	23
MARYLAND	17-5	25	24

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TOP 25

#17 NORTH CAROLINA STATE 89 #10 DUKE 83

ELSEWHERE

FLORIDA 108 ARKANSAS 78

NBA SCORES

ATLANTA 132 DETROIT 130

WASHINGTON 124 CHARLOTTE 114

NEW YORK 124 HOUSTON 118

OKLAHOMA CITY 125 MILWAUKEE 96

MEMPHIS 128 SAN ANTONIO 109

SACRAMENTO 116 MINNESOTA 114

DENVER 125 NEW ORLEANS 113

INDIANA 112 UTAH 111

PORTLAND 121 PHOENIX 119 OT

GOLDEN STATE 104 ORLANDO 99

NHL SCORES

OTTAWA 5 NASHVILLE 2

TOP NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES

NBA NEWS

NBA GAMBLING RING ALSO INCLUDES GAMES INVOLVING AT LEAST 3 COLLEGE PROGRAMS, REPORT SAYS

A suspected gambling ring under federal investigation for its role in two NBA betting cases also was involved in unusual wagering activity on at least three men’s college basketball programs this season, ESPN reported Monday.

Sportsbook accounts connected to the gambling ring bet against Eastern Michigan, Mississippi Valley State and North Carolina A&T, according to ESPN, which cited anonymous sources.

Three North Carolina A&T players were suspended indefinitely last week “for violating team rules,” though it was not clear if the statement from men’s basketball coach Monté Ross had any connection to the gambling allegations.

According to ESPN, some of the same sportsbook accounts also placed large wagers on prop bets involving former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter in two games during the 2023-24 NBA season and then-Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier in 2023.

Porter has admitted to manipulating his performance during games for gambling purposes and has been banned from the NBA for life. Rozier declined last week to comment on a reported investigation into unusual betting on his performance in a game.

The sportsbook accounts linked to the gambling ring also wagered on a Temple game flagged for suspicious betting last March.

“The NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition,” the NCAA said in a statement. “The Association works with integrity monitoring services, state regulators and other stakeholders to conduct appropriate due diligence whenever suspicious reports are received. Due to confidentiality rules put in place by NCAA member schools, the NCAA will not comment on current or potential investigations.”

The growth of legal sports betting has prompted concerns about increased stress on athletes and the potential for wrongdoing. In 2023, about two dozen Iowa State and Iowa athletes were criminally charged after a state investigation into illegal sports wagering; some charges were dropped after investigators were found to have misused tracking software that detected open mobile betting apps in Iowa State athletic facilities.

That same year, Alabama fired its baseball coach amid an investigation into suspicious bets involving a Crimson Tide game at LSU.

NBA ROUNDUP: HAWKS NIP PISTONS, END 8-GAME SKID

Trae Young scored the game-winning basket with 1.6 seconds left as the visiting Atlanta Hawks snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 132-130 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

Young led Atlanta with 34 points and nine assists. De’Andre Hunter had 20 points, and Dyson Daniels supplied 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

Cade Cunningham’s 30 points and 14 assists led Detroit, which had won two in a row. Tobias Harris contributed 22 points.

Cunningham’s layup with 26.5 seconds left tied the game, but Young then knocked down a long 2-pointer with the shot clock about to expire. The Pistons didn’t get a shot off on their final possession.

Thunder 125, Bucks 96

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points to lead Oklahoma City to a home rout of Milwaukee.

Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. The Thunder were without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso.

Ousmane Dieng put up a season-high 21 points for the Thunder. Ryan Rollins had a career-high 16 points to lead Milwaukee. Bucks rookies AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith posted season-best tallies of 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Pacers 112, Jazz 111

Pascal Siakam scored 22 points to lead Indiana to its fourth straight victory, a come-from-behind triumph over Utah in Salt Lake City.

Siakam made a game-clinching dunk in the final seconds as the Pacers overcame a 12-point deficit in the final six minutes to win their sixth straight road game. Tyrese Haliburton added 18 points.

John Collins totaled 21 points and 12 rebounds and Jordan Clarkson also netted 21 points for the Jazz, who lost for the ninth time in 10 outings. Clarkson tapped away an Indiana inbounds pass beyond midcourt in the last seconds, but the Jazz couldn’t get a shot off.

Trail Blazers 121, Suns 119 (OT)

Deandre Ayton scored 25 points and collected a season-best 20 rebounds against his former team to help Portland notch an overtime victory over visiting Phoenix.

Deni Avdija recorded 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists before fouling out as the Trail Blazers completed a two-game sweep of the Suns and improved to 8-1 over their past nine games.

Devin Booker scored 34 points and became the all-time leading scorer in franchise history for the Suns, but he missed a free throw that would have tied the game with 4.4 seconds left in OT.

Knicks 124, Rockets 118

Jalen Brunson scored 11 of the final 13 points for host New York, which overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to send Houston to its third straight loss.

Brunson finished with 42 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for the Knicks, who went 4-1 on their now-concluded homestand. Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points apiece for the Knicks, who outscored the Rockets 46-29 while shooting 62.5 percent in the fourth quarter.

Amen Thompson posted 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the undermanned Rockets. It was Thompson’s second triple-double of the season and the third of his career. Jalen Green added 21 points.

Grizzlies 128, Spurs 109

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 31 points, GG Jackson added a season-high 27 and Ja Morant had 25 to lead host Memphis past San Antonio.

Morant, who missed the previous two games with a right shoulder injury, shot 9-for-18 — including 4-for-6 from beyond the 3-point arc — and finished with 11 assists and three steals. Rookie center Zach Edey contributed 16 points and 14 boards. The Grizzlies played without Desmond Bane (ankle).

Victor Wembanyama, who sat out San Antonio’s loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday with an illness, led the Spurs with 27 points and 10 rebounds — his eighth straight double-double. Stephon Castle added 21 points.

Warriors 104, Magic 99

Moses Moody capped a 17-point performance off the bench with a late 3-pointer, Andrew Wiggins had a team-high 25 points and Golden State outlasted Orlando in San Francisco.

Stephen Curry overcame a slow start to score 24 points for the Warriors, who won for the third time in their past four games. Cole Anthony came off the bench to pace Orlando with 26 points.

Wiggins, Kevon Looney and Draymond Green had buckets during a six-point burst that gave Golden State the lead for good. And after Moody countered a Franz Wagner jumper with his 3-pointer for a 99-94 advantage with 1:07 remaining, the Warriors were able to hold on.

Wizards 124, Hornets 114

Bilal Coulibaly pumped in 26 points and reserve Corey Kispert racked up 25 as visiting Washington defeated Charlotte, winning back-to-back games for just the second time this season.

Kyle Kuzma provided 22 points for the Wizards, who ended a 16-game losing streak by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.

All five Charlotte starters scored in double figures, led by Miles Bridges and Nick Smith Jr. with 24 points apiece. Bridges had the first triple-double of his career, supplying 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Nuggets 125, Pelicans 113

Michael Porter Jr. scored a season-high 36 points, Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and host Denver beat New Orleans.

Jamal Murray finished with 20 points and eight assists for the Nuggets, who were missing three rotation players: Russell Westbrook (hamstring), Peyton Watson (knee) and Aaron Gordon (injury management).

The Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III tied his career high with 41 points and matched a season high with eight 3-pointers. He had 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the third quarter.

Kings 116, Timberwolves 114

DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points on 14-for-25 shooting and Sacramento held on for a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Malik Monk added 26 points and eight rebounds for Sacramento, which won for only the second time in the past six games. Naz Reid scored 30 points on 12-for-19 shooting to lead Minnesota.

Monk made two free throws to make it 114-111 Kings with 6.8 seconds left. Domantas Sabonis added two more free throws to increase the lead to five points with 5.2 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer, but it was too little, too late.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

AUBURN, DUKE REMAIN 1-2 ATOP LATEST AP TOP 25; MARYLAND JUMPS IN FOR 1ST TIME SINCE 2023

Auburn and Duke remain 1-2 atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the third straight week, while Maryland is back in the rankings for the first time in nearly two years.

Bruce Pearl’s Tigers (20-1) held the No. 1 ranking for the fourth consecutive week in Monday’s poll and the third in a row as the unanimous choice. Auburn has claimed 246 of 248 first-place votes over the past month while remaining unbeaten in a rugged Southeastern Conference with nine ranked teams.

Auburn’s only loss came to Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils (19-2), who enter the week with the nation’s longest winning streak at 15 games after rolling past rival North Carolina.

The two teams offered the only stability after 15 teams in last week’s AP Top 25 lost last week, with three of those losing twice.

The top tier

Alabama moved up a spot to No. 3, followed by Tennessee jumping four spots to No. 4 in an SEC-heavy top tier. Houston climbed one spot to No. 5 despite an overtime loss to now-No. 13 Texas Tech to end a 33-game home winning streak.

Florida was next at No. 6, followed by Purdue, Iowa State, Michigan State and Texas A&M to round out the top 10.

Rising

Texas Tech (17-4) had the biggest jump among last week’s ranked teams, rising nine spots to 13th after beating TCU at home and then beating the Cougars despite coach Grant McCasland and forward JT Toppin being ejected early.

Two-time reigning national champion UConn climbed six spots to No. 19 after winning at Marquette, while Missouri jumped five spots to No. 15 after beating Mississippi State.

In all, 10 teams moved up from their positions last week. That included Rick Pitino’s St. John’s team rising three spots to No. 12, the highest ranking for the program since finishing the 1999-2000 season at No. 9.

Sliding

Mississippi State had the week’s biggest tumble, falling eight spots to No. 22 after home losses to Alabama and Missouri. Iowa State joined the Bulldogs in a two-loss week, falling five spots after losses to Arizona and Kansas State.

No. 16 Kansas and No. 23 Illinois also fell five spots, pushing the list of sliding teams to 10.

Welcome

No. 18 Maryland, No. 20 Arizona and No. 24 Michigan were the week’s three new additions.

Kevin Willard’s Terrapins (17-5) jumped into the poll at No. 18 after pushing its winning streak to four games, a stretch that includes winning at then-No. 17 Illinois and beating then-No. 17 Wisconsin at home last week.

That gave Maryland its first poll ranking in nearly two years, the last coming with a week at No. 21 in late February 2023.

Arizona (15-6) returned to the poll for the first time since November. The Wildcats opened the year at No. 10 and peaked at ninth, but they’re back in after winning 11 of 12 — including against Iowa State after Caleb Love hit a halfcourt shot to force overtime.

Michigan (16-5) has two previous stints in the poll this season, peaking at No. 14 in early December.

Farewell (for now)

Oregon was one of the three departures from this week’s poll, falling out from No. 16 after being one of the trio to lose twice last week by falling at UCLA and at home to Nebraska. Louisville (No. 21) and Vanderbilt (No. 24) also fell out after losses to unranked foes.

Conference watch

The SEC had at least nine teams in the poll for the seventh straight week, including three weeks with 10 teams to make up 40% of the poll. The SEC has also had at least half of the top 10 eight times in nine weeks, peaking at six teams on Jan. 6. No other league has had more than six ranked teams in any week this season.

Maryland’s arrival pushed the Big Ten to six ranked teams, followed by the Big 12 with five and the Big East with three. The Atlantic Coast and American Athletic conferences each had one.

FLORIDA STATE’S LEONARD HAMILTON RESIGNING AT END OF SEASON

Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton announced Monday that will he will resign as Seminoles coach at the end of this season.

Hamilton, 76, is in his 23rd season at Florida State and 37th overall as a head coach. According to the school, he has an official 434-290 record at Florida State and 634-500 overall, including stints at Oklahoma State (1986-90) and Miami (1991-2000).

“I am deeply thankful for the tremendous support of our fans, alumni, and everyone associated with Florida State throughout my time here,” Hamilton said in a news release. “I am proud of the quality of the young men that it was my privilege to lead, for their faith in this program and in their belief in the philosophy that we tried to instill in them over the years. I have been blessed beyond words for the opportunity and the experience we’ve had here.

“My family and I truly love this place, this institution, and its people. I’m very fortunate to be able to have given this job my all with no regrets. Every head coach inherits a legacy and is obligated to leave the job better than they inherited it. I’m very proud of what we have been able to accomplish here over the last 23 seasons. We were a consistent contender, and we created success for our players during their time here.”

The men’s basketball program had 22 wins from the 2006-07 season vacated due to the athletic department-wide academic fraud scandal that involved 61 athletes over numerous sports.

Hamilton guided Florida State to the Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament on four occasions — including an Elite Eight run in 2018. The Seminoles also reached the Sweet 16 in 2011, 2019 and 2021. Hamilton also took Miami to the Sweet 16 in 2000.

According to Florida State, Hamilton was national Coach of the Year on three occasions and has had 19 players chosen in the NBA draft.

But recent times haven’t been as rosy as the Seminoles missed the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons and aren’t in a good position this season after dropping their past four games.

On Saturday, Florida State led by four over Boston College with less than 10 seconds remaining. Boston College made a basket with seven seconds left, stole the ball and made a 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds left to post a stunning 77-76 victory.

The Seminoles (13-9, 4-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) host Notre Dame on Tuesday.

NO. 16 KANSAS RAMPS UP THE DEFENSE AND BEATS NO. 8 IOWA STATE, 69-52

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo scored 17 points, Hunter Dickinson added 14 points and nine rebounds, and No. 16 Kansas leaned into its defense to shut down eighth-ranked Iowa State in a 69-52 victory on Monday night.

Bill Self improved to 38-0 inside Allen Fieldhouse on ESPN Big Monday. Kansas held No. 8 Iowa State to 52 points, which was the lowest point total allowed to an AP Top 10 team by Kansas since 1982.

“We really guarded them, and we got them into the last 10 seconds of the shot clock I think 10 of the 30 possessions of the first half,” said Kansas head coach Bill Self.

Dajuan Harris Jr. added 12 points for the Jayhawks (16-6, 7-4 Big 12), who avenged a 74-57 loss to the Cyclones (17-5, 7-4) earlier this year in Ames while handing Iowa State its third consecutive loss.

Tamin Lipsey, Keshon Gilbert and Joshua Jefferson scored 11 points apiece for Iowa State, but it took a whole lot of shots for them to get there. The trio was 13 of 42 from the field and 2 of 14 from beyond the 3-point arc.

The Cyclones’ leading scorer, Curtis Jones, had seven points on 3-for-11 shooting.

The Jayhawks held Iowa State to its worst offense half of the season while building a 35-19 lead by the break.

Perhaps appropriately, the play of the half came off courtesy of the Kansas defense: Dajuan Harris Jr. corralled a loose ball with a baseball slide near the sideline and passed to Dickinson, who in turn got the ball to David Coit running up floor. He threw an alley-oop from the midcourt line that KJ Adams slammed down to an enormous roar from a packed Allen Fieldhouse crowd.

Kansas never allowed the Cyclones to make a big second-half run and get back in the game.

Takeaways

Iowa State’s biggest problem right now is on offense. The Cyclones managed just 75 points in an overtime loss at Arizona and 61 in last weekend’s lopsided home loss to Kansas State.

Kansas proved it could hold off a Big 12 foe after building a big lead at halftime. The Jayhawks similarly led Baylor 40-21 at the break last weekend but was outscored 60-30 over the final 20 minutes for an 81-70 loss.

Key moment

The Cyclones had closed to 64-49 with 3:25 left when Mayo used a jab step to get open for a 3-pointer. It not only extended the Kansas lead but wiped away any momentum that Iowa State had built.

Key stat

Iowa State finished 3 of 21 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Up next

Iowa State plays TCU on Saturday. Kansas heads to Kansas State the same day.

NEBRASKA, ILLINOIS SCORE MEN’S BASKETBALL WEEKLY HONORS

Player of the Week
Brice Williams, Nebraska
G – Sr. – 6-7 – Huntersville, N.C. – Hopewell

Averaged 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in leading the Huskers to a pair of wins over ranked teams last week
Scored 27 points, including eight straight in overtime, and added a season-high eight rebounds in an 80-74 overtime win against Illinois
Paired 28 points, seven boards, and a season-high six assists in a 77-71 win at Oregon
Claims second Player of the Week honor
Last Nebraska Player of the Week: Brice Williams (December 16, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Will Riley, Illinois
F – 6-8 – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – The Phelps School (Pa.)

Led the Illini to a 2-1 week, averaging 20.0 points on 52% shooting from the field, including 45.5% from three-point range
Scored a team-high 24 points, including 20 in the second half, off the bench in an 87-79 comeback win over Ohio State
His 24 points off the bench are the most in a Big Ten game this season
Added 16 points in an 80-74 overtime loss at Nebraska
Earns his second Freshman of the Week award
Last Illinois Player of the Week: Kasparas Jakucionis (January 6, 2025)

HCAC 2024-25 MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 13

Athlete of the Week:
Tate Ivanyo (Valparaiso, Ind.) Anderson University | Wing | Senior – Tate Ivanyo filled the stat sheet with averages of 21 points, 5 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 3 steals as Anderson went 2-0 on the week. He notched 27 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in Wednesday’s win against Earlham. Ivanyo then provided 15 points, 5 assists, 3 steals and 3 rebounds in Saturday’s win against Transylvania.

Notable Performances:

Ja’Rel Montgomery (Bardstown, Ky.) Berea College | Guard | Senior – Ja’Rel Montgomery, a senior from Bardstown, Kentucky, recorded a double-double in a tough loss to Transylvania, ending the game with 20 points and 11 rebounds in a close 77-79 defeat. He bounced back on Saturday against Rose-Hulman, scoring 22 points and grabbing 3 rebounds, while shooting an impressive 9 of 11 from the field and hitting 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Berea defeated Rose Hulman 86-53.
Ken Walker (Snellville, Ga.) Earlham College | Guard | Sophmore – Ken Walker put up 67 points this week for an average of 33.5 points per game. The sophomore started off with 26 points and six rebounds against Anderson on Wednesday. Walker then dropped 41 points with five rebounds, three assists and two blocks on Saturday at Franklin. On the week, Walker shot 55% from 3-point range.
Cody Samples (Versailles, ind.) Franklin College | Guard | Senior – Samples was a force for Franklin last week, averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game…turned in a season-best performance on Saturday in an overtime win against Earlham, going for a season-high 26 points on 8-for-16 shooting and 9-for-9 from the line, grabbing six rebounds and adding five steals…finished with 15 points, five boards and four assists on Wednesday night against Rose-Hulman.
Coleman Sater (Elletsville, Ind.) Hanover College | Senior -Sater helped propel Hanover to a 2-0 week as they defeated MSJ and Bluffton. The senior finished the week averaging 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind.) Manchester University | Guard | Senior – Bryant Smith became the 8th Spartan all time to surpass 1,500 career points this past Saturday. Smith did this by averaging 21.5 ppg and shooting almost 44% from the field. Smith led the Spartans in a win against Bluffton where he finished with 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. Smith’s 1,514 points puts him currently 8th all time in Manchester scoring history and knocking on the door of 7th.
Miles McGowen (Indianapolis, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Forward | Senior – McGowen led the Fightin’ Engineers to a big road win over the Franklin Grizzlies on Wednesday night with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in the win on 5-8 shooting from the floor.
Hunter Penn (Versailles, Ky.) Transylvania University | Forward | Senior – In a HCAC matchup against Franklin, Penn led the Pioneers with 15 points and 8 rebounds. In a 70-65 win against Manchester, Penn finished the game with a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Colby Napier (Hindman, Ky.) Transylvania University | Guard | Senior – Colby Napier scored 24 points leading the Pioneers in an HCAC victory over Berea. Napier scored a game tying three point field goal with less than 25 seconds remaining to force overtime. In the overtime period, Napier also scored 5 points in the overtime, including a three to put the Pioneers up 1 with less than three points remaining. Against Anderson, Napier added 8 points for the Pioneers scoring a third of the Transylvania three point field goals.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

SOUTHERN CAL DROPS TO NO. 7 AFTER LOSS; UCLA, SOUTH CAROLINA, NOTRE DAME REMAIN ATOP WOMEN’S TOP 25

Southern Cal’s second loss of the season dropped the Trojans to seventh in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll Monday.

The previously No. 4 Trojans were shocked in Iowa when the Hawkeyes beat them 76-69 Sunday on a day Caitlin Clark’s jersey was retired. USC’s only other loss came at home to Notre Dame in November.

UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams in the rankings. The Bruins received all 32 first-place votes in the poll from a national media panel, picking up the one that the Gamecocks garnered last week.

The Bruins beat Minnesota 79-53 in their lone game last week to remain as the only unbeaten team in the country. South Carolina knocked off then-No. 18 Tennessee and Auburn. The victory over the Tigers on Sunday came on a day when the Gamecocks retired the jersey of A’ja Wilson.

Texas, UConn and LSU all moved up a spot to follow the Fighting Irish. Ohio State, TCU and Duke remained eight through 10.

Rising Wildcats

No. 11 Kentucky has its best ranking in four years behind first-year coach Kenny Brooks. The Wildcats (19-2), who last were ranked this high in 2021, have their bye week before hitting a tough stretch of the SEC schedule to close the regular season. They still have games left against South Carolina, LSU, Texas and Tennessee.

The only two losses this season came against North Carolina on Dec. 5 and Texas A&M on Jan. 23.

Conference breakdown

With no new teams in the poll this week, the Southeastern Conference remained atop the standings with eight teams ranked. The ACC had seven. The Big Ten was next with five. The Big 12 has four ranked teams and the Big East one.

Games of the week

No. 9 TCU at No. 12 Kansas State, Wednesday. First place in the Big 12 will be on the line when the Horned Frogs visit the Wildcats. Both teams are 9-1 in conference play.

No. 5 UConn at No. 19 Tennessee, Thursday. These two will renew their rivalry with the Huskies visiting the Lady Vols. It will be the first time that UConn sees Tennessee coach Kim Caldwell’s pressing style.

No. 2 South Carolina at No. 4 Texas, Sunday. The Longhorns will try and avenge a 17-point loss in Columbia last month. South Carolina has a one-game lead in the standings on the Longhorns, Kentucky and LSU.

IOWA, ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN NET BIG TEN WEEKLY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AWARDS

Co-Player of the Week
Lucy Olsen, Iowa
Senior – Guard – Collegeville, Pa. – Spring-Ford
• Averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in a pair of Iowa wins
• Recorded 16 points, six assists and five rebounds versus Northwestern
• Scored 28 points, shooting 10-of-18 from the field, to help the Hawkeyes hand No. 4 USC its first Big Ten loss of the season
• Earns the first Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last Iowa Player of the Week: Caitlin Clark (March 4, 2024)

Co-Player of the Week
Genesis Bryant, Illinois
5th-Yr. – Guard – Jonesboro, Ga. – Lovejoy
• Led Illinois to a 3-0 week, including two road victories and the program’s first-ever win over Maryland
• Finished the three-game swing averaging 20.3 points with a 91.7 free throw percentage
• Added 13 points against Purdue while shooting 83.3 percent from the floor
• Dropped 28 points, six rebounds and two assists at Rutgers
• Connected on the game-winning free throws to upset No. 14 Maryland
• Had 20 points, went 6-for-6 at the charity stripe and grabbed four rebounds versus the Terps
• Claims the third Big Ten Player of the Week award of her career
• Last Illinois Player of the Week: Kendall Bostic (Nov. 25, 2024)

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
Yarden Garzon, IND: Connected on eight three-pointers, the second-most in a single game in Hoosier history, on her way to a career-high 35 points against Washington

Freshman of the Week
Olivia Olson, Michigan
Guard – New Hope, Minn. – Benilde St. Margaret’s
• Recorded the first 30-point game of her career on 13-of-19 shooting with four rebounds, three steals and an assist against Wisconsin
• Posted a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) in 26 minutes versus Oregon
• Collects her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Olivia Olson (Dec. 9, 2024)

HCAC 2024-25 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 13

Athlete of the Week:
Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) Hanover College | Guard | Senior – Bezold helped guide the Panthers to a 1-1 week averaging a double-double. She finished the week averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds per game. In the contest with MSJ, Bezold netted a team-high 20 points. Against Bluffton, the senior netted a game-high 26 with 17 rebounds, 11 of her points came in the first quarter.

Notable Performances:

Victoria Detraz (Valparaiso, Ind.) Anderson University | Post | Sophomore – Victoria Detraz posted averages of 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 10 points as Anderson went 1-1 on the week. Detraz took over the game defensively in the fourth quarter and led the Ravens past Earlham behind 5 blocks, 12 rebounds and 10 points. Against Transylvania, Detraz contributed 14 rebounds, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.
LynKaylah James (Bowling Green, Ky.) Berea College | Forward | Junior – LynKaylah James, a junior from Bowling Green, Kentucky, scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a tough loss to Transylvania. However, she bounced back on Saturday, leading her team to a 65-48 victory over Rose-Hulman with an impressive performance of 27 points and 14 rebounds.
Rachel Clark (Lima, Ohio) Bluffton University | Guard | Sophomore – Clark was outstanding in front of her fans from Bath High School in Wednesday’s 65-56 win over Manchester on Wednesday night. She hit 6-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-4 outside the arc, for 14 points. The sophomore playmaker doled out a game-high five dimes, pulled down six rebounds and picked up a steal. For the week, she netted 14.5 PPG, pulled down 4.5 RPG and dished out 4.0 APG. Clark was 11-of-19 from the field (52.6 percent), including 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) outside the arc.
Abigail Rosenkrans (Pendleton, Ind.) Manchester University | Guard | Junior – Rosenkrans had herself another great week averaging a double-double in the two games Manchester played this past week. Rosenkrans finished the week with 14.0 ppg and 10.5 rbg. She also had stellar week on defense adding 2 blocks and 5 steals. Against MSJ, Rosenkrans forced the Lions to overtime while putting up 15 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 3 steals.
Karlee Mills (Fairfield, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Guard | Senior – MSJ Senior guard led the Mount to a 2-0 week including a win over Hanover on the road and a one-point win at Manchester. She averaged 18.0 ppg and 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. She did so while being extremely efficient .455 from the field, .545 from three and .909 from the free throw line.
Jamie Baum (Los Altos, Calif.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Guard | Senior – Baum became the 11th 1,000-point scorer in Rose-Hulman history on Wednesday, despite only playing five games in her sophomore season. The senior star helped lead the Fightin’ Engineers to a 72-57 win over the Franklin Grizzlies with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 blocks in a traditional stat-stuffer game. She became just the second player in school history to record 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks in a single game and the first to do so in over 20 years.
Sadie Wurth (Dixon, Ky.) Transylvania University | Guard | Sophomore – In two HCAC victories this week, Wurth passed a career milestone and continued to be a huge presence within the Pioneer offense. In the 63-49 midweek win against Berea, Wurth scored 11 points, with four rebounds. Wurth shot 42% from behind the arc. In Saturday win against Anderson, Wurth surpassed 300 career assists. Wurth also finished with a double- double, 24 points and 12 rebounds. She shot 50% from three point range and 47% from the field.

NFL NEWS

GARRETT REQUESTS TRADE FROM BROWNS

Cleveland Browns star pass-rusher Myles Garrett requested a trade, he announced Monday.

“While I’ve loved calling this city my home, my desire to win and compete on the biggest stages won’t allow me to be complacent,” Garrett said in a statement, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport.

“The goal was never to go from Cleveland to Canton; it has always been to compete for and win a Super Bowl. With that in mind, I have requested to be traded from the Cleveland Browns.”

“We’re not entertaining offers for him,” a Browns source told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry said last week that the team won’t trade Garrett, not even for two first-round picks, according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.

“I don’t want to go into contract discussions. I wouldn’t do that publicly,” Berry told reporters. “But I think you can assume that we do anticipate at some point doing a third contract with Myles.”

Garrett has two years remaining on a five-year, $125-million extension he signed in 2020. The Browns could save money on his contract by trading him after June 1, according to Over The Cap.

The 29-year-old has been with Cleveland since the franchise selected him in the first round of the 2017 draft. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023 and is a four-time first-team All-Pro.

Garrett hasn’t experienced much team success in the NFL. The Browns hold a 53-78-1 regular-season record over the last eight years, with just two winning seasons and one playoff victory. Garrett said in late December that he wasn’t interested in being part of a rebuild.

The Texas A&M product is coming off a 14-sack season and is in the running for Defensive Player of the Year once again. He has 116 tackles for loss and 102.5 sacks in 117 career games.

RAMS TO TRADE COOPER KUPP

The Los Angeles Rams told star wide receiver Cooper Kupp that they’re trying to move him.

“I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships,” Kupp posted on X.

“I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in L.A.,” Kupp added.

The Rams shopped Kupp before the league’s trade deadline but opted to keep him for the remainder of the season. L.A. was reportedly seeking a second-round pick in return for the wideout and was willing to take on some of his 2024 salary to facilitate a trade.

Kupp has two years remaining on his current contract that is set to account for $29.7 million against the salary cap in 2025, per Over the Cap.

Kupp has seen his role in the Rams’ offense decline over the past two seasons as Puka Nacua has quickly become a focal point in the passing game.

Although Kupp was unsure of his future with the Rams following their playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he was adamant about his desire to continue his playing career.

The 31-year-old has been with the Rams for eight seasons. He achieved the triple crown during the 2021 campaign when he led the league with 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns, making him a vital part of the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI title run.

The 2021 first-team All-Pro receiver missed time this season due to an ankle injury, but he still finished second on the team with 710 yards on 67 receptions for six touchdowns in 12 games.

Kupp has collected 634 receptions, 7,776 yards, and 57 touchdowns during his time in Los Angeles.

ROGER GOODELL OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL SUPER BOWL, 18-GAME SEASON

NEW ORLEANS — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell rates NOLA as the perfect Super Bowl host but envisions taking the league’s marquee event beyond U.S. borders.

“I do think there’s a potential that someday we’ll have an international franchise,” Goodell said Monday afternoon in the Saints’ locker room at Caesars Superdome, set up for use by temporary tenants, the Philadelphia Eagles. “We do like to have — being here in New Orleans, this is a great thing for the New Orleans Saints. Have the world’s attention. I think the same would be true of an international franchise.”

Prior to last year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas, Goodell publicly embraced moving to a shorter preseason — currently three per team — and expanding the regular season from 17 to 18 games to meet overwhelming interest from fans. Goodell said the NFL and NFLPA haven’t had formal negotiating sessions around expanding the regular season, which must be collectively bargained with players.

But the league definitely believes “18 and 2 might be a possibility,” Goodell said, without disclosing a specific timeframe for the shift.

“The (18-game discussion will) come up in the context of the broader CBA issues. It will be part of the formal discussions (with the NFLPA),” Goodell said.

“We were able to do that when we moved to 17 games back in 2020. This year, the data on safety has been extraordinary on player safety and injuries. Concussions are at a historically low level this year. … I think all of those are factors in, how do we look at the offseason?”

Goodell said the NFL continues to follow up with minority candidates regarding the “sincerity” of coaching interviews called into question recently under the “Rooney Rule” requirement for minorities to be included in team searches for coach and GM vacancies.

Asked about the Trump Administration making efforts to dismantle diversity and inclusion protocol in corporations and federal hiring, Goodell said the NFL is continuing those efforts “because it does make the NFL better.”

“We see that. We see how it’s benefited the National Football League,” Goodell said. “So many of us, including the National Football League and our office, are doing that voluntarily because it has benefitted our company.

“I am proud of it in this sense: I believe our diversity efforts have made the NFL better. We think we’re better when we get different perspectives.”

Goodell was seated on a makeshift stage with emcee Curt Menefee of FOX separated by the Lombardi Trophy and helmets of the Super Bowl LIX teams.

On the field Sunday, the Chiefs are chasing a historic third consecutive Super Bowl victory while some fans and corners of social media are convinced Kansas City is receiving the benefit of favor from officials. Goodell said the NFL sees and hears complaints about officiating but denied there’s any legitimacy to the theory the league “scripts” or prefers that the Chiefs succeed.

“From a lot of those theories are things that happen in social media and they get a new life,” Goodell said. “Nobody wants it to be their theory. I understand it. I think it reflects a lot of the fans’ passion. … That’s a ridiculous theory for anyone that might take it seriously.”

New Orleans serves as the host city for a league record-tying 11th time on Sunday. Goodell and the league applauded renovations to the Superdome as the centerpiece of the headline event in pro sports.

“Obviously the stadium is a big part of that, the stage … we realize this is a place that is sort of perfect for the Super Bowl,” Goodell said.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes attempts to win his fourth Super Bowl ring on Sunday, which would still be three shy of record-holder Tom Brady.

Brady is on the call of the game Sunday with FOX in his first season as the featured game analyst on the network’s No. 1 team with Kevin Burkhardt. Brady’s presence in a dual role since he was approved as minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders has connected him more closely than most know to Goodell.

“He calls frequently,” Goodell said of Brady, his infamous ‘Deflategate’ rival. “To ask, ‘Am I doing OK?’”

The league reiterated Monday that Brady is “still subject to tampering rules and held accountable for that” after new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said Brady is integrally involved in the team’s football operation.

“In the case of this actual transition, we had special rules for this,” Goodell said of Brady’s role as owner and access-holding broadcaster. “That’s something we’ll obviously consider in the offseason — should that policy be adjusted? Right now, Tom has been incredibly cooperative.”

–The NFL has two franchises in Los Angeles — the Rams and Chargers — and will play the Super Bowl at their home stadium in two years. Goodell said the league intends to be “good corporate citizens but also to lead” in the rebuilding process that could take years in some communities.

Five NFL employees lost their homes in the fires.

“The NFL is going to be there to support that,” the commissioner said. “It’s also going to be there to support our platform — give attention and focus to a community or issue that we all need to be aware of. … We’ll want to be part of that and rebuilding L.A. as soon as possible.”

–Goodell celebrated Louisiana on Monday becoming the 15th state to legally recognize girls high school flag football as an official sport. He said there is significant interest from the NFL and beyond to establish a “professional flag football league.”

ROGER GOODELL SAYS PERCEPTION THAT OFFICIALS FAVOR THE CHIEFS IS A ‘RIDICULOUS THEORY’

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell disputed the perception that officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs, saying it’s a “ridiculous theory.”

Goodell addressed several topics, including diversity, an 18-game season, international expansion, Tom Brady’s dual role as a broadcaster and co-owner and more during his annual news conference that kicked off Super Bowl week on Monday.

The Chiefs are going for a three-peat Sunday in a rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to Kansas City 38-35 two years ago.

The two-time defending champions have benefited from calls that have gone their way in the playoffs. There were two roughing-the-passer penalties during a 23-14 victory over Houston in the divisional round that viewers, including Fox broadcasters Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, considered egregious.

A questionable spot on Josh Allen’s sneak on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter of Kansas City’s 32-29 victory over Buffalo in the AFC championship game became a major point of contention.

“A lot of those theories are things that happen in social media and they get a new life,” Goodell said during his 48-minute news conference inside the Saints’ locker room. “I understand that. I think it reflects a lot of the fans’ passion and is a reminder for us on how important officiating is. I think the men and women officiating the NFL are outstanding. We have the highest possible standards. It’s a ridiculous theory for anyone who might take it seriously. But at the end of the day it’s something we have to work at, how do we make our officiating better.”

Goodell said the league evaluates officials in several ways.

“It’s not just the performance on the field but things that go on in their own lives.” Goodell said. “We monitor that very closely in a number of ways. …. It’s a tough job, a really hard job. I’ve never seen a more dedicated group of people to getting it right, doing the best job they possibly can. And I’m proud of the work they do.”

NFL executive Kimberly Fields told The Associated Press last week the league plans to engage its Competition Committee on technology to take virtual line-to-gain measurements next season, but officials will continue to spot the football.

“What this technology cannot do is take the place of the human element in determining where forward progress ends,” Fields said. “There will always be a human official spotting the ball. Once the ball is spotted, then the line-to-gain technology actually does the measurement itself.”

Goodell said the league will continue to work with partners to develop the technology needed to potentially help with spotting the ball in the future.

Diversity

Goodell said he doesn’t believe the NFL’s policies to promote diversity are in conflict with the Trump administration’s efforts to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government.

The NFL has rules in place that require teams to interview diverse candidates for key coaching and front office positions as part of the Rooney Rule that has been in place for more than two decades.

Several NFL owners contributed to Donald Trump’s campaign or conservative causes during the 2024 election cycle.

“Our owners participate in everything that we do,” Goodell said. “Our policies have been designed to be well within the law, well within the practice. There are no quotas in our system. This is about opening that funnel and bringing the best talent into the NFL.

“We also believe we are doing the right thing for the NFL and our policies are consistent with the current administration as well as the last administration.”

International expansion

The NFL is aiming to have a team outside the United States.

“I do think there’s potential that someday we will have an international franchise. If we do, it would not surprise me at all if a Super Bowl follows and is played there,” Goodell said.

The NFL has made a big effort to expand its footprint worldwide with games played in England, Germany, Mexico and Brazil in recent years with a game scheduled for 2025 in Spain.

But as of now, the Super Bowls have been played in NFL stadiums and international sites haven’t been considered.

A Super Bowl outside of North America would present challenges in terms of time zones for the U.S.-based broadcasters.

18-game season

Goodell said there’s “a lot of work to be done” before the NFL possibly expands its season to 18 regular-season games.

The league hasn’t had formal negotiations with the players’ union about adding a game to the season but Goodell said he has had informal discussions with NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr.

The NFL added a 17th game and cut the preseason from four games to three before the 2021 season and Goodell has indicated an interest in eventually adding another regular-season game.

“If we do, 18 and 2 might be a possibility,” he said. “We know fans love football and they want more football. But we have to be incredibly sensitive and smart with the balance and how we deal with that.”

Goodell said changes the league has made in terms of equipment, and training in the offseason and preseason have helped reduce the number of concussions and other injuries, making adding an additional game more palatable.

Tom Brady

The league will consider whether rules surrounding Tom Brady’s role as an analyst for Fox and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders need to be altered in any way.

Brady was officially approved as a minority owner of the Raiders in Las Vegas and played a big role during the team’s search for a new coach and general manager last month that led to the hiring of Pete Carroll and John Spytek.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion is also in his first season as an analyst for Fox and is under rules that prevent his access to team facilities and production meetings with players and coaches.

Brady is under the same tampering rules as any other member of the league and has checked in frequently to make sure he isn’t violating any rules.

“I think he’s serious that he separates these two and he doesn’t put the league or anyone in a position of conflict,” Goodell said.

Justin Tucker

The NFL plans to look into the “serious” allegations that Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker engaged in sexually inappropriate conduct with several massage therapists.

Nine massage therapists from five spas and wellness centers have told the Baltimore Banner that Tucker engaged in sexually inappropriate conduct during sessions from 2012-16.

Tucker said in a statement last week that he has never received any complaints from a massage therapist or been told he was not welcome at a spa or other place of business.

“They are obviously serious issues and he is taking that seriously as are we,” Goodell said.

CHIEFS, CHASING HISTORY, ATTEMPT TO TUNE OUT DISTRACTIONS

NEW ORLEANS — The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t interested in distractions.

As they prepare to pursue an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, they will have to deal with more than usual.

Super Bowl Opening Night — the media kickoff that was held Monday — almost always presents a multitude of diversions and hysteria, with celebrities, international media and jokesters alike all vying for the attention normally directed at the participating teams.

After all, this is an event at which a reporter once showed up in a wedding dress and asked both starting quarterbacks if they would marry her.

Underscoring the fun on Monday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston, who formerly played for the New Orleans Saints, was on hand passing out (OK, throwing) cookies to all of the players.

It might have been somewhat tame by New Orleans standards. The city, set to host its record-tying 11th Super Bowl, has a well-earned reputation for being a travel destination for those looking to give in to most any interruption or vice a person could devise.

It’s a lot of the reason New Orleans continues to win Super Bowl hosting nods.

Within that environment, at a sometimes crazy media event in an often wild city, it was perhaps more than appropriate that the theme of distractions came up repeatedly for the Chiefs on Monday.

Several players spoke about tuning out the noise and focusing on the football.

“New Orleans is great .. they do a great job of hosting,” Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said. “We came here to do something special. At this point of the year when you have this on the line, you’ve got to stay focused.”

Teammate Trent McDuffie agreed, noting that it was already tougher this year than last, when they stayed in a hotel far away from the Las Vegas strip.

“This year, we’re right downtown,” the cornerback said. “All hours of the night you can hear bands and trumpets playing; there’s a lot of chaos right outside the building. So, we’re staying inside, chilling, kicking my feet up — that’s how I’m locking in.”

Late last week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid took it a step further, saying he probably would even boycott his favorite New Orleans restaurant this week (Emeril’s), though he had a good reason beyond the distraction angle.

“The head chef there, tremendous chef, was a huge Eagles fan,” Reid noted. “I probably won’t go there.”

The bigger concern might be the biggest elephant in the room of all. The pursuit of a third title in a row and earning a place in the history books could be called a distraction all by itself. No NFL team has ever won three Super Bowls in a row.

In fact, no major professional sports team in the United States (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA, MLS) has managed to pull off the feat of winning three championships in a row in the past 22 years.

Chiefs players and coaches have been asked about it ever since it became a possibility following their win in Super Bowl LVIII last season.

But Kansas City players know that none of that — winning a championship, let alone a third straight while making history in the process — is even possible without a focus on the task at hand: winning a singular football game against the Eagles.

Several players pointed to their veteran roster — a team that has been in high-pressure situations before — as having the culture in place to cross the finish line.

“I think our team (stays focused) really well,” offensive lineman C.J. Hanson said. “We’re all really close, sticking together at all times, and being together, it keeps it the same and keeps that formula together.”

Kansas City defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah added, “We follow along in (the veterans’) footsteps, follow their processes so that those processes can help me.”

CHIEFS TE TRAVIS KELCE: QUITTING TIME CAN WAIT

NEW ORLEANS — Travis Kelce is enjoying the Kansas City Chiefs’ dynasty era, with no plans to contemplate retirement no matter the outcome of Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.

Kelce, 35, said he has weighed what riding off into the sunset in the afterglow of a three-peat might feel like, but he is not seriously considering giving up football just yet.

“I’ve thought about it, but I still love what I do,” Kelce said Monday at Super Bowl LIX Opening Night.

“It’s moments like these, weeks like these, the month that we just had in the playoffs that make me feel like I could play this game forever. I think I still got a lot of football left in me. I think this year has been one of the most special years of my life. I think it’s gonna continue to make me want to do more in the football world.”

Kelce has averaged 7.8 receptions and 87.5 yards per Super Bowl during his career — both figures representing records among players who have appeared more than once. He needs three catches on Sunday to surpass Jerry Rice’s career Super Bowl record of 33.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said for the second year in a row with a Super Bowl backdrop that he is not done yet, either. Kelce’s brother Jason, drafted by Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, retired after last season at age 36.

But Travis Kelce hopes to still be playing football in three years.

“I love doing this. I love coming into work every day,” Travis Kelce said. “I feel like I still got a lot of good football left in me. We’ll see what happens.

“I know I’ve been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That’s always been the goal, knowing that football only lasts for so long. You’ve got to find a way to get into another career, another profession. I’ve been doing that in my offseasons. But for the most part, I’m planning on being a Kansas City Chief and playing football.”

Kelce added regarding his coach and teammates, “We’re a family in Kansas City. You only get to Super Bowls if you have that family atmosphere. I’m so lucky to do it with guys like (Reid), Pat Mahomes and Chris Jones.”

CHIEFS PREACH SOLIDARITY IN PURSUIT OF FIRST SUPER BOWL THREE-PEAT

NEW ORLEANS — The Kansas City Chiefs are chasing history in their pursuit of a third straight championship when they face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, but they are neither fixated on the challenge nor intimidated by it.

After defeating the Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII and the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs could become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls.

At Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday, no player or coach shied away from the moment, while also sticking to the company line about focusing on the matter at hand.

“I don’t think I understand truly the weight that this has, what this moment means,” Kansas City cornerback Trent McDuffie said. “I’m trying to live in the moment, take each day as I can, and making sure I’m thankful for having this opportunity.”

How rare is that opportunity? No major U.S./Canada professional sports franchise (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA, MLS) has managed three straight league championships in two decades. The last team to achieve it was the Los Angeles Lakers juggernaut spearheaded by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant and coached by Phil Jackson, which won three straight from 2000-02.

Before that, the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000 as the Houston Comets were also winning four in a row (1997-2000) in the WNBA.

Jackson coached Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to a pair of three-peats (1991-93, 1996-98) earlier in the 1990s. The most recent NHL three-peaters were the New York Islanders, who won four in a row from 1980-83.

If you’re counting along, that’s just six teams to do it since 1980, a span of 45 years.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who have been doing this a long time,” Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton said. “We know we’ve got the opportunity. If you get to this point of the year … just put your faith where it belongs and put your best foot forward.”

The Chiefs are already further along in that pursuit than any NFL team has been in the Super Bowl era. No other back-to-back Super Bowl winner has advanced to a third straight Super Bowl since the inception of the game in 1966.

The Green Bay Packers were technically the NFL’s first three winners of straight, from 1929-31 (predating a championship game of any sort), and they repeated the feat from 1965-67, with the first of those championships coming before the advent of the Super Bowl (with no AFL representation). Those legendary Packers, helmed by Vince Lombardi, won the first two Super Bowls against AFL foes to cement the NFL’s second-ever three-peat.

The Canton Bulldogs won two straight championships from 1922-23, but the organization had merged with another franchise to become the Cleveland Bulldogs when it won a third in 1924.

Even in the pre-Super Bowl era, only two other teams made it to the same position as these Chiefs: the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. The Bears won NFL championships in 1940-41 before getting knocked off by Washington in 1942. The Lions earned titles in 1952-53 before losing in the championship game to the Cleveland Browns in ’54.

The Chiefs may soon be mentioned alongside Lombardi’s Packers, but they know it would take a collective effort, just as it has to get to this point.

“It’s been everybody,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “Blocking field goals, defensive guys getting big stops, scoring touchdowns: That’s what makes a football team special, when everybody has an impact on the final result of the game.”

EAGLES’ DALLAS GOEDERT IS MORE THAN ‘OTHER TIGHT END’ IN SUPER BOWL

NEW ORLEANS — Dallas Goedert doesn’t have a girlfriend with a bunch of Grammy Awards, and the Philadelphia Eagles tight end hasn’t attracted any national endorsements. At least not yet.

The Kansas City Chiefs are the ones with the glamorous tight end in Super Bowl LIX, Travis Kelce, who is not only Taylor Swift’s boyfriend but is one of the most productive players at his position in league history.

However, when it comes to the potential impact on the title game on Sunday, Goedert is more competitive with Kelce than he is in those other categories.

Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni noted Goedert’s value after the tight end, who missed seven games this season because of multiple injuries, caught seven passes for 85 yards in a 55-23 thrashing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 26.

When Goedert approached his station on the Superdome turf for the start of Media Day on Monday night, the roar from a throng of Eagles fans standing behind barricades just a few feet away suggested maybe Kelce, or perhaps even Swift, were in the building.

However, it was just Goedert, who ate up the attention the same way Kelce and Swift seem to eat up their attention from the paparazzi. The Eagles tight end pumped his fist and yelled “Go Birds, E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!” to the appreciative crowd.

One coy reporter asked Goedert to name his favorite Taylor Swift song, and “the other tight end” tried really hard to come up with a title. He finally named a song, then asked if it was in fact a Swift song.

He was told it wasn’t, but continued unfazed, saying, “She’s an incredible artist. She’s just not on my playlist.”

Well played.

Goedert went on to say that his most recent play list featured “a lot of Kendrick Lamar,” who will be performing at halftime in the Super Bowl one week after winning five Grammys. He noted that, of course, he will be preoccupied and unable to listen to Lamar.

As far as performances in the Superdome go, even Lamar will be challenged to top the one Goedert had there in Week 3 on Sept. 22. He caught 10 passes for 170 yards, including a 61-yarder on third-and-16 in the final two minutes. The big play set up a 4-yard Saquon Barkley touchdown run that gave the Eagles a 15-12 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

“The last time in New Orleans was a productive day,” Goedert said. “I’m going to try and enjoy the experience again.

“I had a beignet on that trip. I guess I’ll have to try and have another on Saturday.”

If Goedert can just keep doing what he’s been doing, that should make Sirianni and the Eagles happy. Goedert returned for the regular-season finale against the Giants following a four-game absence caused by a knee injury and caught four passes for 55 yards. In the three playoff games last month, he had 15 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown.

All that football stuff is nice, but when the television cameras inevitably scan the suites in the Superdome on Sunday looking for Swift, keep in mind that the Eagles tight end is a talented unicyclist who has participated in parades in his hometown of Britton, S.D.

Additionally Goedert’s girlfriend, Aria Meyer, has established an enthusiastic following on Instagram.

It’s not the Grammys, but it’s something.

EAGLES’ ZACK BAUN, C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY IN NOLA

NEW ORLEANS — Zack Baun and C.J. Gardner-Johnson have played plenty of games in the Caesars Superdome.

But they’ve never experienced one like they will Sunday, when they and their Philadelphia Eagles teammates face the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX in their former home stadium.

The New Orleans Saints drafted Baun in the third round in 2020 and Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round in 2019.

Baun immediately found a significant role on special teams, but never had a consistent place in the Saints’ linebacking corps, so he left in free agency after last season. Gardner-Johnson made 31 starts in three years in New Orleans’ secondary, but couldn’t come to terms with the organization as his rookie contract was about to expire, and he was traded as the 2022 season was getting started.

Both have been key players in Philadelphia’s push to the championship, especially Baun, who was one of the most improved players in the NFL this season.

Baun’s significance to the Eagles was demonstrated at Media Night on Monday on the floor of the Superdome. He was one of 12 Philadelphia representatives placed on a riser to accommodate excess media attention while the rest of the team was scattered about in smaller gaggles on the turf.

“I was just looking for an opportunity,” Baun said of his experience in free agency. “That’s all I ever wanted. I knew nothing would be given to me. I had to work for a spot.”

Baun likened his pro career to his college career at Wisconsin, in which he played very little in his first two seasons then jumped from 2.5 sacks to 12.5 sacks in his third and final season.

In Philadelphia, he’s earned a spot as a starter — and has shown throughout the season why he was deserving of it.

After starting a total of 14 games on defense in New Orleans, Baun started 16 this season. He had 151 total tackles and 93 solo tackles, 63 more total tackles and 33 more solos than he had during his Saints career. He entered the year with two career sacks and tallied 3.5 this season.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was the position coach of New Orleans’ famed “Dome Patrol” linebacking corps in the 1980s. He didn’t expect Baun to equal Pro Football Hall of Famers Rickey Jackson and Sam Mills, or the quartet’s other standouts in Pat Swilling and Vaughan Johnson, but he did like what he saw on film when Philadelphia was evaluating the free agent.

“I just thought he could be an inside linebacker off the ball,” Fangio said. “That’s not what he played (in New Orleans). He didn’t hardly play at all (with the Saints). He exceeded my expectations.

“I’ve really enjoyed Zack Baun. He’s done a hell of a job for us. He’s had a great season. Pro Bowl, obviously, got a great future.”

Gardner-Johnson was acquired from New Orleans along with a seventh-round draft choice from the Saints in exchange for a fifth-rounder and a sixth-rounder. He made six interceptions on Philadelphia’s last NFC championship team in 2022 despite missing five games due to injury.

He signed with Detroit before last season and returned to the Eagles on a three-year contract in March. Gardner-Johnson went on to duplicate his six interceptions of 2022, and Philadelphia duplicated its conference championship.

SUPER BOWL MIGHT HINGE ON MIDDLE MEN AS CHIEFS, EAGLES PREP FOR OPPONENT’S FIERCE INTERIOR PASS RUSH

Once Josh Allen backpedaled from the shotgun snap after the Buffalo Bills had just gone ahead of Kansas City, this crucial 2-point conversion play late in the third quarter of the AFC championship game quickly turned into chaos.

Allen retreated to the 14-yard line, sized up the pressure and desperately darted right as two pass rushers converged. Chris Jones, the star of this daunting Chiefs defense, fittingly finished the strip-sack.

Over those few unfortunate seconds for Bills left guard David Edwards, Jones provided yet another vivid example of why he’s been a first team All-Pro for three years in a row.

With a straight-forward bull rush, Jones simply overpowered Edwards from his defensive tackle position and single-handedly destroyed the pocket around Allen. Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis, after pushing right tackle Spencer Brown back more than 5 yards, shrewdly veered left to keep Allen from scrambling around the end and then deftly shed the block with a jump back inside. Karlaftis helped corral Allen low, while Jones hit him high to dislodge the ball.

There’s no better way to blow up a play in the NFL these days than with strong pressure through the middle.

“It’s the most direct path to the quarterback,” NFL Network analyst and former offensive lineman Brian Baldinger said. “The evolution of the quarterback position and the ability of these guys to either extend plays or just become a runner, it’s changed the way people have to rush these guys now. If you can collapse the pocket on the inside, you can make it a lot harder on them.”

The outcome of Super Bowl 59 on Sunday between Kansas City and Philadelphia might well hinge on which team can better protect the interior against the fierce pass rush lurking on the other side. The Eagles, led by Pro Bowl pick Jalen Carter, accounted for three of the top eight and four of the top 22 interior pass rushers in the league this season as ranked by Pro Football Focus.

Jones got the highest overall grade for interior defenders in 2024 and was also ranked as the best pass rusher at his position in PFF’s independent analysis.

“He’s got very light feet for a big guy. He’s very big, size-wise. He’s got tremendous hands, and his feet and his hands are always moving. He’s very slippery. It’s hard to get hands on him, and he’s excellent at getting his hands off you. He’s constantly gaining ground while getting to your edge,” Baldinger said. “He just knows when those key moments are and how to win those moments.”

Interior offensive linemen have become increasingly more valuable

Left tackle has always been a premium position for the vital role of blocking the right-handed quarterback’s blind side, and as the quality of pass rushers spread across the league, a right tackle who could also consistently hold his own against a dominant player on the edge became equally important to have. There are 32 tackles in the NFL with contracts carrying an annual average value of $10 million or more, according to salary data compiled by Over The Cap.

But the guards and the centers are catching up in value. There are 20 guards and six centers whose current deals average at least $10 million per year, according to OTC, beginning with Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson. The Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey is the league’s highest-paid center.

Just like with the defensive linemen they’ll be trying to fend off, this Super Bowl will be a showcase of some of the best interior blockers in the game — whose success has been aided by revered veteran offensive line coaches. Kansas City’s Andy Heck is in his 12th season with the team and 21st as an NFL coach. Philadelphia’s Jeff Stoutland is also in his 12th season with the team, spanning three head coaches, and his 41st year of coaching.

Humphrey and left guard Joe Thuney, who recently moved over to left tackle to help shore up an unsettled position, gave the Chiefs a pair of first team All-Pros. Right guard Trey Smith was a Pro Bowl pick who’ll be a prize free agent at age 25 next month. The Chiefs could move Thuney back to his natural spot if D.J. Humphries is deemed healthy enough to return to left tackle.

For the Eagles, Dickerson was selected for his third straight Pro Bowl. Center Cam Jurgens got his first such honor after stepping in this season for retired stalwart Jason Kelce. Right guard Mekhi Becton, a 2020 first-round draft pick by the New York Jets, was a former tackle who signed with Philadelphia and quickly took to his new position. Dickerson started the NFC championship game at center because Jurgens was dealing with a back injury. Then Dickerson hurt his knee, forcing Jurgens back into duty.

“These guys are playing through pain. I just can’t say enough about how much I respect these guys of what they have to do with their bodies,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “I don’t think anyone knows the half of it, what they have to do to play the long season.”

The job has been getting tougher

Aaron Donald redefined the defensive tackle position with an eight-time All-Pro career over 10 seasons, and Jones has picked up the baton for the interior pass rushers since Donald retired. But the guards and centers have more than just those freak-of-nature players to be concerned about.

More and more teams will slide their edge defenders inside on passing downs for a matchup advantage. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, for one extreme example, repeatedly put his four best pass rushers in standup positions on the line on third downs.

“The guys we’re going against are bigger, and as they get bigger they’re still staying fast, they’re still staying twitchy,” Vikings right guard Dalton Risner said earlier this postseason. “The game of football is ever changing, ever evolving. Everyone’s trying to figure out one way to one-up it.”

The teams with more vulnerability in the middle play at their own peril. Take the Vikings as another example, with interior pass protection that has been a problem for the past several years. Their 14-win season went up in flames when they were blown out in Week 18 by the Detroit Lions and in their wild-card round playoff game by the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterback Sam Darnold was swallowed up by the rush in those games, starting up the middle.

The Chiefs and Eagles are here because they’ve kept that from happening.

“How many pressures you gave up and how many sacks you gave up, those are the stats that we all know,” Sirianni said. “Sometimes you only get focused on for the negative thing. But I love offensive linemen. I’ve always loved offensive linemen because of that selflessness they have. They’re protectors, right? They’re there to protect and serve other people. That’s the best thing you can say about a human being, that you want to do well for yourself to do well for others.”

REPORTS: TEXANS HIRING RAMS ASSISTANT NICK CALEY AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

The Houston Texans are hiring Los Angeles Rams assistant coach Nick Caley as their offensive coordinator, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

Caley, 42, served the past two seasons as the Rams’ tight ends coach and added the responsibility of pass game coordinator in 2024.

He replaces Bobby Slowik, who was fired after two seasons in Houston.

Caley spent eight years with the New England Patriots as a tight ends coach (2017-22), TEs and fullbacks coach (2020-21) and an offensive assistant (2015-16).

The native of Canton, Ohio, previously coached in the college ranks from 2005-14.

NHL NEWS

SENATORS KNOCK OFF PREDATORS FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN

Adam Gaudette and David Perron each had a goal and an assist, Shane Pinto scored the tiebreaker early in the third period, and Ottawa defeated host Nashville 5-2 on Monday night for its fifth straight win.

Jake Sanderson scored in his third consecutive game, Brady Tkachuk and Artem Zub each had two assists, and Tim Stutzle recorded his 300th career point on an assist for Ottawa, which is 10-2-1 in a run that started on Jan. 11.

With the game tied 2-2, Ottawa’s Thomas Chabot sent the puck toward the Nashville net, but it was deflected into the slot, and Pinto chipped it past Predators netminder Juuse Saros (34 saves) at 6:17 of the third.

Perron added some power-play insurance for his first of the season with 5:54 left, and moments after no penalty was called when Nashville’s Adam Wilsby was taken down on a short-handed breakaway. Ridly Greig notched an empty-netter.

Filip Forsberg scored and assisted on Jonathan Marchessault’s goal for Nashville, which has allowed 20 goals during its five-game losing streak.

Each team recorded eight shots on goal during a scoreless first period. Ottawa challenged a no-goal call due to goaltender interference with 3:33 remaining in the frame, but was not successful.

Nashville eventually opened the scoring at 3:59 of the second. Forsberg was the beneficiary of some solid passing between Roman Josi, in his club-record 957th game, and Vinnie Hinostroza, and beat Ottawa’s Anton Forsberg (25 saves). Filip Forsberg snapped a three-game point drought.

However, the Senators answered. Stutzle earned his milestone point when he drove the net with the puck, and a trailing Gaudette put in the rebound at the halfway mark of the second period.

Ottawa, which posted 22 shots on goal in the second, took the lead with 6:56 left in the middle frame. Sanderson sent a long wrister through traffic and past Saros for his ninth point in five contests.

Nashville tied it just 47 seconds into the third. On the power play, Marchessault converted a one-timer off some tic-tac-toe passing with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly.

Josh Norris, Ottawa’s second-leading goal scorer with 19, is expected to “a couple weeks” a mid-body injury, coach Travis Green said Monday.

BASEBALL NEWS

MLB FIRES UMP PAT HOBERG OVER BETTING VIOLATIONS

Major League Baseball on Monday upheld its decision to fire umpire Pat Hoberg for violating the league’s betting policies.

Hoberg had appealed his initial firing late last May following a months-long investigation that involved a legal sports betting account Hoberg opened in his name.

While the investigation found no evidence that Hoberg bet on baseball, it did discover that he shared his gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball. Hoberg also intentionally deleted text messages relevant to the investigation, which the league cited as another reason for his termination in a release Monday.

“The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules governing sports betting conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in the release.

In his own statement, Hoberg apologized to MLB but maintained he never manipulated the outcome of any game he umpired.

“I take full responsibility for the errors in judgment that are outlined in today’s statement (by MLB),” Hoberg said. “Those errors will always be a source of shame and embarrassment to me.

“Major League Baseball umpires are held to a high standard of personal conduct, and my own conduct fell short of that standard. That said, to be clear, I have never and would never bet on baseball in any way, shape, or form. I have never provided, and would never provide, information to anyone for the purpose of betting on baseball. Upholding the integrity of the game has always been of the utmost importance to me.”

Hoberg can apply for reinstatement at the start of spring training in 2026.

The 38-year-old became a full-time umpire in 2017 and established himself as one of the game’s best at calling balls and strikes correctly. That was on full display in Game 2 of the 2022 World Series, when Hoberg accurately called all 129 pitches taken from behind the plate.

FORMER INFIELDER RICH DAUER, WHO WON TITLES WITH ORIOLES AS PLAYER AND ASTROS AS COACH, DIES AT 72

Rich Dauer, an infielder who played a decade in the major leagues and won a World Series as a player with Baltimore and as a coach with Houston, has died. He was 72.

The Orioles announced Dauer’s death Monday. They did not announce a cause of death.

“My long time teammate Richie Dauer passes. Was part of the Oriole way, where you didn’t have to be a star to help the O’s win,” Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer said on social media. “Richie had an infectious personality that kept us loose, yet focused. Another reason I was so blessed to be an Oriole for life. RIP.”

Shortly after the Astros won the World Series in 2017, Dauer — their first base coach — had emergency surgery on a blood clot in his brain. MLB.com reported in 2023 that he had recently had a significant stroke.

“Baseball has brought incredible people into my life. Loved him when he coached me and learned from him when he was on my staff in Houston,” former Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “RIP, my friend. And thank you for being you.”

Dauer played for the Orioles from 1976-85. He homered to open the scoring in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series against Pittsburgh, but the Pirates came back and won. Baltimore returned to the World Series in 1983 and defeated Philadelphia.

Dauer entered the Orioles Hall of Fame in 2012. Dauer was also part of the 2021 class for the College Baseball Hall of Fame. He helped Southern California win national titles in 1973 and 1974.

RAYS ACQUIRE RHP ALEX FAEDO FROM TIGERS

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired right-hander Alex Faedo from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor league catcher Enderson Delgado and cash on Monday.

The Tigers designated Faedo, 29, for assignment last week after signing Tommy Kahnle.

Faedo, a Tampa native, went 5-3 with a 3.61 ERA in 37 games (six starts) for the Tigers in 2024. He’s 8-13 with a 4.51 ERA in 64 career games (30 starts) for the Tigers, who drafted him in the first round (No. 18 overall) of the 2017 draft.

Delgado, 20, batted .259 with four home runs and 30 RBIs between stints in rookie ball and Class-A Charleston in 2024.

The Rays announced that infielder Osleivis Basabe was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

YANKEES SIGN RHP CARLOS CARRASCO TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

The New York Yankees signed right-hander Carlos Carrasco to a minor league deal, YES Network reported Monday.

The deal includes an invitation to spring training, per the report.

Carrasco, who turns 38 in March, went 3-10 with a 5.64 ERA in 21 starts for the Cleveland Guardians last season.

Carrasco is 110-103 with a 4.14 ERA in 324 career games (277 starts) in 15 seasons, all but three of which have come in Cleveland. Carrasco went 19-20 with a 5.21 ERA in 61 starts with the New York Mets over three seasons (2021-23).

INFIELDER HA-SEONG KIM, TAMPA BAY RAYS FINALIZE $29 MILLION, 2-YEAR CONTRACT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Infielder Ha-Seong Kim and the Tampa Bay Rays finalized a $29 million, two-year contract on Monday.

Kim, who played his first four seasons in the majors with the San Diego Padres and won a Gold Glove in 2023, will be paid $13 million this year. He also could earn $2 million in performance bonuses — $10,000 per plate appearance starting at 326 through 525.

Kim has a $16 million player option for 2026.

The 29-year-old South Korean tore the labrum in his right shoulder on Aug. 18 and needed season-ending surgery. He hit .233 with 11 homers, 47 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in the final season of a $28 million, four-year contract.

Kim had a .242 average with 47 homers, 200 RBIs and 78 stolen bases in 540 major league games over four seasons with the Padres.

Left-hander Brandon Eisert was designated for assignment.

LEFT-HANDER TIM MAYZA AND PITTSBURGH PIRATES AGREE TO $1.15 MILLION, 1-YEAR CONTRACT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Left-hander Tim Mayza and the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed Monday to a $1.15 million, one-year contract.

Mayza was 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in 50 relief appearances last season for Toronto and the New York Yankees. He did not allow a run in three postseason appearances.

Mayza, who turned 33 last month, is 20-9 with a 3.88 ERA and four saves over seven seasons with Toronto (2017-24) and New York. He had Tommy John surgery on Sept. 18, 2019, five days after injuring his elbow during a game against the Yankees, and returned to a major league mound in April 2021.

Infielder Alika Williams was designated for assignment.

GOLF NEWS

CHARLEY HOFFMAN IMPLORES FELLOW PROS TO PLAY FASTER, COMMIT MORE TO PGA TOUR

Charley Hoffman wrote a letter to his fellow PGA Tour players addressing slow pace of play and other issues within the ranks.

The letter, shared on social media by Golf Magazine on Sunday night, follows the lead of Justin Thomas, whose memo last month implored golfers to be more accommodating to the sport’s broadcast partners as a means to connect with the fans and improve television viewership.

“We’ve taken a lot of heat over the past few weeks about slow play,” Hoffman wrote. “And yeah, it’s an issue-for our fans, for us as players-cutting down field sizes will help, but only by a few minutes a day. As players, we still need to make a concerted effort to speed up. Pace of play has been a challenge my entire 20 years on Tour, and it was an issue 20 years before that.

“Golf is a tough game, and when conditions get extreme, it takes time to play it the right way. We all need to take responsibility to be ready when it’s our turn to play and having the awareness to realize that we are out of position and speed up even before the rules official shows up. We do it all the time, we just need to be more aware of it!”

Hoffman, 48, is a four-time winner of the PGA Tour, the most recent the Valero Texas Open in 2016.

The native of Poway, Calif., outside San Diego has served multiple terms on the Player Advisory Council and twice served on the higher-level policy board of the PGA Tour.

“We have a responsibility to work with our broadcast partners — whether that’s doing on-course interviews or just giving fans a better look at what we do out there,” Hoffman wrote. “But just as we help them, we need to make sure our Tour and our players are being properly highlighted. We’re the best players in the world competing on the best tour in the world. That should always be the focus — showcasing the thought, skill, passion, and competition that makes our game great.”

He commented about limited opportunities for golfers to play their way into Signature Events, pledging as a Player Advisory Council member to monitor how the AON Swing 5 is included in the process.

He was more critical of players reducing their PGA Tour participation yet finding time to play in the new TGL (which features 24 players) and other non-tour events.

“If we truly care about strengthening our Tour, we should be supporting as many PGA Tour events as we can,” Hoffman wrote. “Many of you keep saying you want to play fewer events, yet you still find time for TGL, Race to Dubai, and other non-PGA Tour events, and that’s going to continue regardless of field size.

“The best competition happens when the best players go head-to-head in a deep, competitive field-not in small, limited-entry events that leave deserving players on the outside looking in. This Tour was built on open competition, where anyone with the game to compete has a chance to prove it against the best. That’s what has made our Tour special for generations, and we need to keep pushing for that.”

INJURED PHIL MICKELSON (SHOULDER) TO MISS LIV OPENER

Phil Mickelson suffered a minor shoulder injury during a workout in the gym and will miss the LIV Golf season opener in Saudi Arabia this week.

Mickelson, 54, made the announcement Monday on social media.

Ollie Schniederjans will replace Mickelson in the LIV field this week, joining the captain’s HyFlyers team at LIV Golf Riyadh beginning Thursday. The HyFlyers are still looking for their first team victory.

Mickelson said he expects to compete next weekend at LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club in Australia.

“I’m definitely disappointed that I will miss the season opener, but I look forward to playing in Adelaide,” he said.

Schniederjans, a 31-year-old who grew up in Georgia, narrowly missed earning a full LIV card at the LIV Golf Promotions event late last year but gained the right to play in the 10 events in The International Series in 2025.

He capitalized on that Sunday, winning The International Series India by four strokes over U.S. Open champion and LIV star Bryson DeChambeau. Another stroke back in third place sat a pair of LIV players, Joaquin Niemann and Abraham Ancer.

NASCAR NEWS

NASCAR’S PRESEASON CLASH WAS ONCE A DAYTONA 500 PREVIEW. CHASE ELLIOTT HOPES THAT’S STILL THE CASE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — One win — particularly in an exhibition race — does not guarantee anything.

But if this was NASCAR of only five years ago, then Chase Elliott’s dominating victory in the preseason Clash would make him the favorite to win the Daytona 500. That’s what the Clash was all about from 1979 to 2021, when it was the warmup at Daytona International Speedway for NASCAR’s version of the Super Bowl.

The drivers used the event to see who had the car to beat in the 500. Elliott’s own father did that in 1987 when “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” won the Clash, then won the 500 from the pole seven days later for his second victory in “The Great American Race.”

Six times the winner of the Clash went on to win the 500; the exhibition event was that important of a test for NASCAR’s biggest race of the season.

But the event now has been moved twice in the last four seasons. NASCAR ran it for three years on a temporary track inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and then last weekend returned to its roots with the first Cup Series race since 1971 at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem.

Now, a Clash victory is worth nothing more than a trophy and pride, and perhaps a little bit of momentum before the season officially begins. Although the energy and enthusiasm was palpable over two days at sold-out Bowman Gray, the exhibition was nothing more than a throwback event for those longing for NASCAR’s good ol’ days.

NASCAR raced at Bowman Gray from 1958 to 1971, then began expanding into bigger markets and modern venues. Denny Hamlin, the last driver to win the Clash and then the 500 when he did it in 2016, was one of the few drivers who lamented that the race is no longer the warmup to the 500.

“I thought it provided tons of storylines for the 500,” Hamlin said. “Back then, if you saw someone that was really dominate in the Clash, it was like, ‘They have a great handling car, they are going to be tough to beat, doesn’t matter where they start.’ Now that it is such a track position race, I don’t know that you will get the direct correlation.”

Hamlin’s one hope was that Sunday night’s race at Bowman Gray would “bring back some hype to the 500,” and that’s quite possible given Chase Elliott’s victory.

Elliott, after all, is NASCAR’s seven-time reigning fan-voted most popular driver and his win was naturally enthusiastically embraced by the 17,000 in attendance. He won his Saturday night heat race to start from the pole and led 172 of the 200 laps on the quarter-mile track to win the exhibition for the first time.

But he’s 0 for 9 in the Daytona 500, where he’s twice started from the pole but his 2021 runner-up finish is his best showing. He lost that year to underdog journeyman Michael McDowell as Elliott, then the reigning Cup champion, wasn’t even a true contender and other drivers crashing aided his second-place finish.

So, no, his Clash victory is not an indicator of what Elliott might do when teams head to Florida next week to begin preparations for the Feb. 16 Daytona 500.

He remained hopeful that, if nothing else, the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports crew will at least have some momentum when it gets to Daytona International Speedway.

“I mean, look, I know it’s not a points race, but I don’t care,” Elliott said. “These things, man, they are so hard to win. Whether it’s a points race, not a points race, before the season, the All-Star — this garage has become so competitive, these guys are so good at what they do, it’s very rewarding to cross the finish line first in whatever type of event it is when you’re racing against those types of drivers and teams.

“That to me is very enjoyable from our perspective. We’ll take the positives from the weekend. For sure we recognize there’s 37 more (races) to go. There’s a lot of racing left. Just hope we can build on this.”

Elliott hasn’t made it to the championship four since 2022 and has just one points-paying victory over the last two seasons. But for crew chief Alan Gustafson, seeing Elliott win the Clash was a step in the right direction and provided hope for what’s to come this season.

“I’m pretty sure everyone wanted to win who was here. The fact is that we did, so we’re pleased with that. Doesn’t pay any points, doesn’t pay any bonus points. We certainly understand that,” Gustafson said. “I think it’s just some validation to we all tried to come here and win, we all tried to come here and be successful. Gives you validation in your process, validation in how your team is operating and working.

“Certainly I think it’s going to give Chase some confidence and validation seeing he did an amazing job to win the race. Basically did everything right. Those are all good things. How far is that going to carry you? Not ‘til you get to Daytona, you unload and have to do it all over again.”

TOP INDIANA SPORTS RELESES/HEADLINES

INDIANA PACERS

GAME REWIND: PACERS 112, JAZZ 111

The Pacers took on the Jazz in the first contest of a west coast road trip on Monday, and did so without Myles Turner. Turner missed just his fourth game of the season, and Thomas Bryant earned the start in his absence. After trailing for three quarters, the Pacers (28-20) left Delta Center with a win over the Jazz (11-37), 112-111.

They’ve won 11 of their last 12 road games with the victory in Utah.

Bennedict Mathurin’s focus on the defensive end was evident early – he notched a blocked shot in the initial defensive stand as the Pacers forced a shot clock violation to open the contest.

The defensive poise slipped late in the first quarter as the Pacers allowed a 17-0 run by the Jazz behind a barrage of 3-point shots from Jordan Clarkson. A halfcourt alley-oop from Clarkson found a cutting John Collins at the rim and forced an Indiana timeout with under four minutes to play in the first frame.

Obi Toppin injected some energy into Indiana’s offense off the Pacers’ bench as he notched five first quarter points in six minutes, but the Blue and Gold trailed after the first quarter, 32-24.

The Pacers pieced together a 9-1 run to open the second quarter and cut the Utah lead down to six points just 1:31 into the second frame. Indiana made all of its first four field goals in the quarter while allowing Utah to make just one of its four. The Pacers cut the Jazz lead all the way down to just four points before Utah pushed it back to as many as 10 points midway through the second quarter.

Andrew Nembhard returned from a rest to spark Indiana’s offense as he scored five consecutive points to keep the Pacers within arms length of the Jazz. Nembhard was the first and only Pacer to record a double-figure scoring total through the first half with his 10 first-half points.

Indiana struggled to get the deep ball to fall as just six of its 25 tries from behind the 3-point line found the bottom of the net at halftime. The defense picked up, however, as the Pacers forced 13 Utah turnovers and recorded eight first-half steals. Those eight steals fell just short of Indiana’s season-high mark of nine in the first half. They set that mark against the Bulls on Jan. 8.

Clarkson continued to plague the Pacers with his shooting throughout the second quarter – he finished the first half with 17 points for the Jazz, and led all scorers. Nembhard led Indiana with 10 points, and Tyrese Haliburton’s activity on both ends helped the Pacers stay competitive through the first 24 minutes. He recorded just seven points, but tallied four assists and three steals at the halftime break.

Utah doubled Indiana’s rebound total at the half – the Jazz collected 28 rebounds to Indiana’s 14.

Haliburton opened the second half with some offense as he drilled a fastbreak two to make the contest a one-possession game. He continued his personal run of offense with a 3-pointer that cut the lead to just one point before a Mathurin layup recaptured the lead for the Blue and Gold.

The Jazz responded with a 6-0 run, and continued to grow their lead to as many as 10 points before Haliburton drove down the middle of the lane and slammed a dunk down over Keyonte George. It sparked an Indiana sequence that cut the Jazz lead down to just three points in the final two minutes of the third quarter.

Toppin drained a 3-pointer just seconds before T.J. McConnell stole Utah’s inbounds pass. He passed it to a cutting Ben Sheppard who hammered a dunk down through contact, and converted the free throw for a six-point Pacers run in seven seconds of game time.

Indiana finished the third quarter down just five after trailing by as many as 11 points, 88-83.

The two teams traded runs early in the fourth quarter before Jarace Walker blocked Isaiah Collier’s shot attempt to spark an Indiana fastbreak. Mathurin collected the rebound and outletted the ball to Haliburton, who found Siakam cutting down the middle of the lane. Siakam threw it down over Clarkson to cut the lead back down to a manageable five points.

Bryant’s dunk off a pass from Haliburton cut the Utah lead to just four points with under four minutes to play. He grabbed an inbounds steal on the following defensive possession, and laid in a layup through contact to bring the Pacers within two points of the lead. After connecting on the free throw, Bryant cut the lead down to just one point.

After struggling through much of the first three quarters, Bryant’s sequence in the fourth quarter sparked the comeback that ultimately won the game for Indiana.

“Thomas [Bryant] was tremendous down the stretch,” coach Rick Carlisle said postgame. “His big body was everywhere. He finished plays, he had a transition dunk, he had an and-1. He was ever-present, and there were a lot of big plays down the stretch.”

Haliburton lined up a 3-pointer after four lead changes, and connected on the long-range try to give Indiana a two-point advantage with under a minute left to play.

The Pacers’ defense stood strong in the final minute, and they would go on to win after trailing for three quarters, 112-111.

Siakam led Indiana in scoring with his 22 points, and tallied six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in the victory. Haliburton followed with his 18 points, three rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and three steals. Clarkson finished with 21 points for Utah.

Despite being outrebounded 60-36, Indiana finished the game on a 23-10 run to seal the win. It’s the Blue and Gold’s fourth straight win, and they have an opportunity to extend that winning streak as they take on the Trail Blazers in Portland on Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET.

Inside the Numbers

The Pacers recorded 32 assists on 43 made field goals.

The Pacers forced 19 Utah turnovers, scored 26 points off those turnovers, and committed just nine turnovers themselves.

Pascal Siakam and Thomas Bryant scored 17 combined points in the fourth quarter.

Of the ten Pacers that played, nine recorded either a block or a steal.

Indiana collected just 37 rebounds to Utah’s 60.

You Can Quote Me on That

“This is what being a resilient player on a resilient team means…At one point he got riled up and got a technical, but he calmed down, and he pulled himself together, and down the stretch, major, major plays. It was a great win.” – Carlisle on Thomas Bryant

“He was ready. He played with presence, he played with force, and defensively he made some really important plays. And he was fearless. I wish all top-10 picks in the NBA could learn about being a pro the way he’s learning about it and the way he’s adapting. And the way he’s managing everything in his life to stay ready.” – Carlisle on Jarace Walker

“His teammates trust him and the coaching staff trusts him. Trust is earned and not given. I’ve got a lot of respect for that kid. Where he came from his first year, through the early parts of this year, to now. He’s a man.” – Carlisle on Walker’s development

“Tonight, this was a game where collectively we had to find a way and not find an excuse. Give the guys a lot of credit. [It was a] very difficult game, and to hang in and to make the plays at the end was really important for us.” – Carlisle on team win

“We were getting good looks. We were moving the ball, we were playing well. We were playing our game, the ball just wasn’t going in. We just kept with the same pressure, same way, we kept playing our game.” – Aaron Nesmith on finding a way on offense

Stat of the Night

After starting 1-for-9 from the field through the first three quarters, Thomas Bryant was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and notched a critical seven points in the fourth quarter comeback.

Noteworthy

Thomas Bryant recorded his 100th career steal in Monday’s matchup with Utah.

Myles Turner missed the game with an ankle injury and will be considered day-to-day moving forward.

Pascal Siakam needs five rebounds to reach 4,000 career rebounds.

Up Next

The Pacers travel to Portland to complete the back-to-back against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 10:00 PM ET.

GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT TRAIL BLAZERS

Two of the NBA’s hottest teams will meet on Tuesday night in Portland, when the Pacers (28-20) visit the Trail Blazers (21-29). Indiana enters Tuesday riding a four-game win streak and having won 12 of 14 contests since the calendar flipped to 2025. The Blazers, meanwhile, have also won four straight and eight of their last nine.

Both teams will be on the second night of a back-to-back, as the Pacers eked out a 112-111 win on Monday night in Utah, while the Blazers held on for a 121-119 overtime win over the Suns in Portland.

The Pacers trailed the Jazz 101-89 midway through the fourth quarter, but reeled off 14 straight points to take the lead and then held on down the stretch. Indiana found a way to win despite being outrebounded 60-37 overall and 17-6 on the offensive glass and shooting just 10-for-42 (23.8 percent) from 3-point range.

The Blue & Gold were without starting center Myles Turner, who missed Monday’s game with an ankle injury. That left Thomas Bryant as the only available center, one reason the Pacers struggled on the boards. If Turner can’t go on Tuesday, they’ll have their hands full to contain Blazers center Deandre Ayton, who had 25 points and 20 rebounds on Monday against Phoenix.

Portland was just 13-28 on the morning of Jan. 19, but has been playing great basketball over the last two weeks. The Blazers have won four straight games on their home floor, beating the Bucks and Magic before sweeping a two-game set with Phoenix. Portland has been especially strong on the defensive end over its last nine games, posting the second-best defensive rating in the NBA over that span (104.9).

The Pacers have a chance to match a franchise record with a win on Tuesday. Indiana has won six straight road contests dating back to Dec. 29. The longest road win streak in a single-season in franchise history is seven games (the Blue & Gold won their first seven games to open the 2003-04 season from Oct. 29 – Nov. 24, 2003).

Projected Starters

Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Thomas Bryant

Trail Blazers: G – Anfernee Simons, G – Deni Avdija, F – Toumani Camara, F – Jerami Grant, C – Deandre Ayton

Injury Report

Pacers: Myles Turner – questionable (right peroneal strain), Isaiah Jackson – out (torn right Achilles tendon), James Wiseman – out (torn left Achilles tendon)

Trail Blazers: Robert Williams III – questionable (sore right hand), Matisse Thybulle – out (right ankle sprain)

Last Meeting

Nov. 27, 2024: The Pacers beat the Blazers 121-114 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the night before Thanksgiving. The Blue & Gold’s stars all came through with strong performances in the victory, with each of their four leading scorers making key plays to help seal the win.

Pascal Siakam had a team-high 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting, while also stuffing the stat sheet with seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. Tyrese Haliburton, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on a triple-double, tallying 28 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists while going 5-for-10 from 3-point range.

Bennedict Mathurin had a double-double of his own with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Myles Turner finished with 15 points, eight boards, and five blocks.

Anfernee Simons led Portland with 30 points in the loss, going 10-for-21 from the field and 6-for-12 from beyond the arc.

Noteworthy

The Pacers are 1-4 on the season when playing on the second night of a back-to-back. This is Indiana’s first back-to-back since Dec. 26-27.

Indiana has lost three straight and 14 of its last 15 games at Portland. The Pacers’ only road win over the Blazers since that span came on Jan. 14, 2021 in a game that no fans attended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pascal Siakam needs five rebounds on Tuesday to reach 4,000 career rebounds.

Tyrese Haliburton needs 10 assists on Tuesday to reach 2,000 assists as a Pacer. He would be the fifth player in NBA franchise history and the eighth in overall franchise history to reach that mark.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month on Monday after guiding Indiana to a league-best 10-2 record in January.

Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)

TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)

Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

Tickets

After a four-game road trip out West, the Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 PM ET.

INDIANA FEVER

THREE-TIME WNBA CHAMPION NATASHA HOWARD RETURNS TO INDIANA FEVER

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 3, 2024) — The Indiana Fever today announced the signing of free agent Natasha Howard, a three-time WNBA Champion, Defensive Player of the Year and former First Round draft pick of the Fever. Howard, who was selected by Indiana No. 5 overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft, will again suit up for the Circle City having previously played for the team in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

“Natasha has been a top free agent target for us since day one. In addition to being one of the most versatile forwards our league has ever seen, she is also a proven winner and will bring a great veteran presence to our locker room,” said Indiana Fever General Manager and COO Amber Cox. “Having worked with her the last two seasons, I came to admire her professionalism and approach to the game. She’s an incredible player and even better person and we are thrilled to welcome her back to the Fever.”

“I’m so thankful to God for leading me back to my home with the Indiana Fever. No matter the situation, when you believe and uplift, a great gift will be waiting for you,” Howard said. “I’m excited to get back to Indiana to represent and share the love with those who believed in me from day one.”

A native of Toledo, Ohio, the signing reunites Howard with Head Coach Stephanie White, who was an assistant with the Fever in 2014 before taking over as Head Coach in 2015. Together the pair reached the 2015 WNBA Finals after having made it to the Conference Final the year prior, Howard’s rookie campaign.

Howard won back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2017 and 2018, with the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm, respectively. The 2018 title marked her first with Seattle, again winning with the side in 2020 – her third career championship.

Individually, Howard was honored as the 2018 Most Improved Player after leading the Storm to a league best record and posting a then career-high 13.2 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, 1.97 blocked shots and 1.29 steals. A year later, in 2019, the Florida State University product was named to the All-WNBA First Team and earned the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award following a season that saw her total a league-leading 74 steals while also finishing third in the WNBA in total blocked shots (59) and blocks per game (1.74).

Howard is also a two-time WNBA All-Star (2019 & 2022).

The forward has also won numerous championships overseas, including two Turkish League championships (2022-23 & 2023-24), two EuroLeague titles (2023 & 2024), the 2023 FIBA Europe SuperCup and the 2024 Turkish Cup.

Currently competing with Turkey’s Çukurova, Howard is averaging a team-high 19.2 points per game to go along with 10.8 rebounds.

INDY IGNITE

INDY IGNITE VS OMAHA SUPERNOVAS

Don’t miss our next home match at Fishers Event Center THIS THURSDAY! Our Girls & Women in Sports Night presented by Bloombase will be against the Omaha Supernovas!

Quick Match Details:

Date: February 6

Time: 7:00 PM

Venue: Fishers Event Center

Opponent: Omaha Supernovas

INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL

INDIANA BASKETBALL GAME NOTES – GAME 23 AT NO. 21/19 WISCONSIN

Opening Tip

• Indiana University continues Big Ten Conference play in its 125th season of competition in men’s basketball at No. 21/19 Wisconsin at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Kohl Center. The game will be streamed on Peacock with Noah Eagle (pxp) and Robbie Hummel (analyst) on the call.

• The Badgers enter the game with a record of 17-5 (7-4 Big Ten) under 10th-year head coach Greg Gard. Wisconsin is led by 18.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game from senior guard John Tonje. The Missouri transfer ha shot 41.5% from behind the 3-point line and 92.9% from the free throw line. Sophomore guard John Blackwell has averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

Game Information

Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 • 9 p.m. ET

Kohl Center (16,838) • Madison, Wis.

TV: Peacock (Noah Eagle, Robbie Hummel)

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

Series History: Indiana leads, 98-81

Last Meeting: IU 74, WIS 70 on Feb. 27, 2024, in Bloomington

Series History

• The programs split the two-game series in 2024 as both teams secured wins on their respective home floors. Wisconsin claimed a 91-79 victory on Jan. 19, 2024. Malik Reneau (28 points) and Mackenzie Mgbako (17) combined for 45 points on 16-of-31 shooting. Indiana returned the favor with a 74-70 win on Feb. 27, 2024, behind 27 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocked shots from Kel’el Ware.

• Indiana opened the Kohl Center with a 69-59 win on Jan. 25, 1998, eight days after the building opened. Andrae Patterson led IU with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocked shots in the victory. The Hoosiers have not secured a win in Madison since.

Last Time Out

• Indiana took No. 10 Purdue down to the wire in an 81-76 loss at Mackey Arena on Friday, Jan. 31. Sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the floor. The game marked his third 25-plus point game of the season.

• The Hoosier bench, led by fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway (15 points, 5 assists) and senior forward Luke Goode (13 points) outscored the Boilermakers 28-14.

• Sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo added 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and eight rebounds.

Mack on the Attack

• Sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako scored a career-high 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting from the floor and 4-of-5 shots from behind the arc in Indiana’s victory over SIUE on Nov. 6 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

• The 31 points scored marked the most in a season debut for a Hoosier since 17-year NBA veteran Eric Gordon dropped 33 points in his debut against Chattanooga on Nov. 12, 2007.

• Mgbako has put together 38 double-figure scoring games in his two-year career with the Cream ‘n Crimson. He has topped 20 points eight times, with six such games against Big Ten opponents.

• Over his last three starts, Mgbako has averaged a team-high 20.3 points per game on 58.1% (25-of-43) shooting from the floor and 40.0% (8-of-20) shooting from behind the arc.

Luke Playing Some Goode Ball

• Senior forward Luke Goode has averaged 11.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.1% (39-of-81) from the floor, 49.1% (26-of-53) from the 3-point line, and 88.2% (15-of-17) from the free throw line over his last 10 game (8 starts).

• Since Dec. 29 (Goode’s first appearance in the starting lineup) no B1G player has made more 3-pointers than Goode. He is tied for 12th (26 makes) among all major conference players over the last month.

• Goode scored a career-high 23 points at Ohio State (Jan. 17). He knocked down four triples against the Buckeyes, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:07 to play in overtime.

• He has made at least one 3-point field goal in 18 of the last 19 games, including all eight games he started. The Fort Wayne native has made 127 3-pointers in 98 career collegiate games.

The Leal Deal

• Fifth-year senior guard Anthony Leal was a team-best + 39 in Indiana’s 97-71 victory over Sam Houston on Dec. 3 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. He added four points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the win.

• The Bloomington South graduate has started the last four contests and has averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 stocks (steals+blocks) per game. He has been tasked with the toughest perimeter assignment each game.

• Leal, the 2020 Mr. Basketball, is a Kelley School of Business graduate is in the midst of earning his MBA from the school. He has launched MotionSports, a fully-integrated, single platform solution — all in a mobile-native, NIL-native experience.

• The name MotionSports pays homage to legendary Indiana men’s basketball head coach Bob Knight and his successes running the motion offense in Bloomington.

PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL

KAUFMAN-RENN, SMITH NAMED TO OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY WATCH LIST

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue juniors Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith have been selected as 1-of-50 semifinalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, given to the nation’s player by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

The winner will be announced at the Final Four in San Antonio, with a formal presentation to follow at the USBWA awards luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. A final watch list will be released in early March.

Purdue is looking to have a repeat winner for the third straight year as Zach Edey won the award following both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Kaufman-Renn, a forward from Sellersburg, Indiana, is averaging 18.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, while shooting 60.4 percent from the field. He has twice been named Big Ten Player of the Week and was selected as the Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week for his role in wins at Washington and No. 13 Oregon.

Kaufman-Renn is the only player nationally to average at least 18 points, six rebounds and two assists per game while shooting at least 60 percent from the field. In Big Ten history, only three other players have reached those marks (Zach Edey, Evan Eschmeyer and Chris Webber).

Kaufman-Renn has scored in double-figures in every game and been at his best against ranked teams, averaging 18.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in seven games against ranked teams. He has scored at least 20 points in eight games this season, including a career-high 26 points with eight rebounds and four assists against No. 2 Alabama. He matched that career high with a 26-point showing against Ohio State and has recorded the first double-doubles of his career against No. 23 Ole Miss (25 pts, 13 rebs) and No. 13 Oregon (23 pts, 11 rebs).

He has started every game of the last two seasons, and has scored 812 points with 357 rebounds in 96 career games.

A Westfield, Indiana, native Smith is having one of the top seasons thus far by a point guard in NCAA history, averaging 15.8 points, 8.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game, while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from 3-point range and 83.9 percent from the free throw line. He is on pace to become the first player since California’s Jason Kidd in 1993-94 to average at least 15.0 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

Smith has already recorded eight double-doubles on the season, including four games of at least 20 points and 10 assists. Prior to this season, there had been two 20-point, 10-assist games in Purdue history. He scored a career-high 34 points with 12 assists in a win over Toledo in late December, a victory that started a stretch of nine wins in 10 games for the Boilermakers.

Smith just wrapped up a January where he scored 158 points, 82 assists and 28 steals, becoming the first player (men’s or women’s college basketball) this century with at least 150 points, 80 assists and 25 steals in a calendar month.

So far this season, Smith is the only player in the country to amass 325 points, 175 assists and 100 rebounds. He ranks third nationally in assists and eighth in steals, attempting to become the first Big Ten player to lead the league in both since Ohio State’s Mike Conley Jr., in 2006-07.

Earlier today, Smith was named one of 10 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s top point guard.

The Boilermakers face Iowa on Tuesday night.

SMITH NAMED A SEMIFINALIST FOR BOB COUSY AWARD

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue junior point guard Braden Smith has been named 1-of-10 semifinalists for the Bob Cousy, given to the nation’s top point guard by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Smith is one of three Big Ten players named to the list, joined by Penn State’s Ace Baldwin and Rutgers’ Dylan Harper. Others on the semifinal list are Alabama’s Mark Sears, Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard, Iowa State’s Keshon Gilbert, Marquette’s Kam Jones, Tennessee’s Zakai Ziegler and West Virginia’s Javon Small.

Smith and Sears were finalists a year ago.

Smith is having one of the top seasons thus far by a point guard in NCAA history, averaging 15.8 points, 8.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game, while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from 3-point range and 83.9 percent from the free throw line. He is on pace to become the first player since California’s Jason Kidd in 1993-94 to average at least 15.0 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

Purdue has had two players win three positional awards in the history of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame awards (started in 2015). Carsen Edwards won the Jerry West Award in 2018, while Zach Edey won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award in 2023 and 2024.

Only Gonzaga, Duke and Kentucky have had three different positions with positional awards.

Smith and his teammates face Iowa on Tuesday night in Iowa City, Iowa.

#7 PURDUE LOOKS TO KEEP MOMENTUM GOING TUESDAY AT IOWA

GAMEDAY INFORMATION — GAME 23

[7] Purdue (17-5, 9-2) vs. Iowa (13-8, 4-6)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT

Iowa City, Iowa | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (14,998)

TELEVISION / STREAM: Peacock (Paul Burmeister, Stephen Bardo

RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)

THE NOTES TO KNOW

• No. 7 Purdue tips off the crucial month of February with a road test at Iowa on Tuesday night. The Boilermakers have bounced back from their second loss in Big Ten play with victories over Michigan and Indiana and look to keep pace with league leader Michigan State as the stretch run commences in Big Ten play. A win would give Purdue a 10-2 league start (or better) for the third straight season.

• Since 2014-15, Purdue is 17-2 in the next game following the Indiana contest, including an 8-0 record after the game played in Mackey Arena.

• Purdue has won four straight road games after starting the season 0-2 on the road. The four wins have come by a combined 56 points with just one game (Oregon) determined by single-digits. However, Purdue hasn’t played a road game in 17 days. A win would give Purdue just its seventh Big Ten road winning streak of at least five games in school history (fifth under Matt Painter; last 2022-23).

• Through Sunday’s games, Purdue’s six quad-one victories are the fifth most in the country (Auburn, Oregon, Texas A&M, Kentucky), while the 12 quad-one and two victories combined are the third most (Auburn, Alabama – 14).

• In the last four years, Purdue has defeated teams ranked No. 1 (Arizona), No. 2 (Alabama), No. 4 (Marquette), No. 5 (Villanova), No. 6 (Wisconsin, Tennessee, Gonzaga), No. 7 (Tennessee), No. 8 (Duke), No. 9 (Illinois), No. 12 (Illinois), No. 13 (Oregon, Illinois), No. 16 (Ohio State), No. 17 (Illinois), No. 18 (North Carolina, Gonzaga), No. 20 (Utah State) and No. 21 (Michigan).

• Since the turn of the calendar to January, Purdue ranks No. 2 nationally in efficiency (.9775) behind Houston (.9905) via BartTorvik.com. The Boilermakers are eighth in offensive efficiency (126.1) and ninth in defensive efficiency (90.9) in that span. Through December 31, Purdue ranked 29th overall in efficiency while placing 15th in offensive efficiency and 77th in defensive efficiency.

• During the month of January (9 games), Purdue averaged just 9.0 turnovers per game while forcing 16.3 (+7.33 margin). The Boilermakers outscored their opponents 188-79 (12.1 points per game) in points off turnovers during that span, including 85-28 in the last three games. Since January 1, Purdue’s defensive turnover rate is 24.6 percent (3rd nationally). Through December, the rate was 16.8 percent (228th).

• Since the 2015-16 season (10 years), Purdue owns a 134-50 (.728) record in Big Ten regular-season play. The 72.8 winning percentage is the best by a Big Ten program over a 10-season span since Indiana went 132-48 (.733) from 1975 to 1984.

• Braden Smith (3rd) and Trey Kaufman-Renn (7th) are the only teammates nationally to rank in the top 10 for the KenPom National Player of the Year race. The duo ranks 1-2 on the KenPom All-Big Ten Conference player ratings.

• Braden Smith is the only player in America with 300 points, 150 assists and 75 rebounds. Smith is on pace to become the first player since California’s Jason Kidd (1993-94) to average 15.0 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The others to do so in NCAA history include Gary Payton (1989-90), Kenny Anderson (1989-90) and Magic Johnson (1978-79).

• Braden Smith leads the Big Ten in assists (8.8) and steals per game (2.6). Mike Conley Jr. (OSU; 2007) is the only Big Ten player to do that.

• The backcourt tandem of Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith have started all 96 games together (100th game will come against Wisconsin on Feb. 15), posting a record of 80-16 as starters. The duo has combined to score 2,249 career points with 832 assists and 666 rebounds. They have combined for 307 made 3-pointers. When the pair combines for 30 points in a game during their career, Purdue is 19-0.

• Braden Smith needs just 26 rebounds to become the second player ever with 1,000 points, 600 assists and 500 rebounds in his first three years.

• Trey Kaufman-Renn is the only player nationally to average 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and shoot at least 60 percent from the field. In Big Ten history, only Zach Edey (2024), Evan Eschmeyer (1998) and Chris Webber (1993) have reached those marks.

PURDUE WOMEN’S GOLF

BOILERS SHAVE STROKES BEHIND UNDER-PAR ROUNDS BY KAHLER AND KIEL

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico – Jasmine Kahler and Natasha Kiel fired 1-under par rounds of 71 to help Purdue Women’s Golf improve and move up the leaderboard on the second day of the Purdue Puerto Rico Classic. The Boilermakers shot 1-over (289) as a team, shaving 11 strokes off their opening 18 and jumping into 13th place heading into Tuesday’s final round.

For the second straight day, Kahler led the Boilermakers. The Carlsbad, California, native made a team-high four birdies to sneak into the Top 25 on the individual leaderboard at 1-over. Her first birdie came at the par-4 fourth before rolling in a pair of 10-footers for back-to-back birdies at Nos. 7 and 8. Kahler carded a 1-under 35 on the front side before playing the back even.

Kiel recorded her team-best ninth par-or-better round of the season. The senior dominated the front nine with three birdies and six pars for a bogey-free 33 (-3). She only made one bogey over her final 16 holes to secure the under-par round.

Momo Sugiyama added a 73 (+1), a one-stroke improvement from the opening round. She birdied both par 5s on the back nine. Samantha Brown bounced back in the second round, as the freshman carded a 74 (+2).

Purdue (+13) has 18 holes left to continue its climb up the leaderboard in an extremely competitive field. The final round begins bright and early with a 6:30 a.m. ET shotgun start. The Boilermakers will be paired with Furman (+16), Minnesota (+21) and Kent State (+25).

For updates throughout the final round, follow Purdue Women’s Golf on Twitter @PurdueWGolf.

BOILERMAKERS

T24. Jasmine Kahler: 74-71—145 (+1)

T37. Momo Sugiyama: 74-73—147 (+3)

T45. Natasha Kiel: 77-71—148 (+4)

T72. Jocelyn Bruch: 75-76—151 (+7)

91. Samantha Brown: 83-74—157 (+13)

*T56. Lauren Timpf: 71-78—149 (+5)

*99. Michaela Headlee: 83-80—163 (+19)

*Competing as an individual

TEAM LEADERBOARD

1. Vanderbilt: 283-282—565 (-11)

2. #19 Ole Miss: 284-286—570 (-6)

3. #2 Arkansas: 292-280—572 (-4)

4. #9 Northwestern: 290-283—573 (-3)

T5. #20 Auburn: 290-290—580 (+4)

T5. #16 LSU: 290-290—580 (+4)

T7. #22 Michigan State: 287-294—581 (+5)

T7. Kansas State: 294-287—581 (+5)

9. Georgia Southern: 293-292—585 (+9)

T10. North Texas: 297-290—587 (+11)

T10. Iowa State: 296-291—587 (+11)

12. North Florida: 289-299—588 (+12)

13. Purdue: 300-289—589 (+13)

14. Furman: 293-299—592 (+16)

15. Minnesota: 305-292—597 (+21)

16. Kent State: 305-296—601 (+25)

17. UTSA: 305-298—603 (+27)

18. UNCW: 305-302—607 (+31)

NOTRE DAME MEN’S BASKETBALL

CLEARING ONE MORE ACC VENUE

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Fighting Irish (10-11, 4-6) have stayed in the state of Florida to complete a road swing with the Seminoles (13-0, 4-7) on Tuesday night. That matchup will tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network. Notre Dame looks to quickly put the Miami loss behind them and refocus on climbing up to .500 in ACC play. After this trip, six of the last nine games are inside Purcell Pavilion.

Glenn & Stacey Murphy Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry looks to exorcise one more opposing venue demon on Tuesday night. Coach Shrews already ended the program’s drought in Charlottesville, ending it at 0-9. Now he can do the same in Tallahassee in his first ever trip there. The program is 0-7 all-time inside the Donald L Tucker Civic Center.

Irish are 5-11 all-time against the Seminoles and have lost four straight in the series. Last season, ND fell to Florida State, 58-67, at home. Markus Burton recorded a team-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from three. J.R. Konieczny earned 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Two categories hurt the Irish in that game: second-chance points and free throws. The Seminoles grabbed 10 offensive boards in the first half (finished with 12) and ultimately recorded 16 second-chance points. FSU also went 13-of-15 from the free-throw line compared to Notre Dame’s 3-for-11.

BURTON AMONGST NATION’S TOP SCORERS

After 39 days away rehabbing his knee injury, Burton returned on Jan. 4 and he’s been playing his best ball of his career. The sophomore fired off five consecutive games with 20 or more points, which hasn’t been done by an Irish player since Ben Hansbrough in February of 2011. With that said, Burton averaged a red-hot 22.3 ppg in January, which ranked second in the ACC only to Duke’s Cooper Flagg (25.4). That average ranked fourth amongst all power conference players.

He’s averaging 21.6 ppg in ACC play which ranks second to Flagg (23.3) as well. Overall on the year, he’s averaging 20.1 ppg which places him 12th nationally, but here’s the kicker.

If you take out his two-point Rutgers injury game in which he departed four minutes in, Burton’s average would be 21.5 ppg which would rank him fifth nationally.

CHASING ACHIEVEMENTS

Burton is currently averaging 20.1 ppg and a team best 3.2 apg. If Burton can keep this up, he’ll join David Rivers as the only Irish players to average 20+ points and 3+ assists in a season. He would be just the 15th ACC player since 1996.

However, Burton isn’t the only one who can cement his name in the Irish record books this season. Grad transfer Matt Allocco owns a 3.76 assist-to-turnover ratio – the highest in program history for a season was 3.16 by Martin Inglesby back in 2000-01.

Allocco is also converting a career high 47.3 percent from deep. That number currently ranks second all-time for a season. The top spot belongs to Joe Fredrick who shot 52.1 percent in 1988-89.

THREE BALL HEATING UP

The Irish worked hard in the offseason to improve from beyond the arc and it’s showing. In ACC play, Notre Dame is converting 40.9 percent from deep, which leads all league schools. For perspective, the Irish converted 33.4 percent in league play last year.

Overall on the year, the Irish have drained 37.9 percent from deep which ranks 26th in the country and third in the ACC.

The Irish have connected on double-digit treys three times now over the past six games. They sunk 14 at Duke (which tied their season high), 12 in the win at Virginia and 10 in the win over Georgia Tech.

Allocco, Shrewsberry and Burton have been leading the three barrage, but Burton specifically has stepped up his game. He went from 30.0 percent from three-point range last year to 41.8 percent this season. He’s tied his career high of four made triples three times over the last six games.

Lastly, Burton’s 2.4 threes per game in league play rank seventh while Shrewsberry’s 3.1 rank third.

THE TAE-KOVER

Tae Davis should be a candidate for Most Improved. He’s averaging a career best 15.5 ppg, up from last year’s 9.2 ppg. His scoring average ranks 12th amongst ACC players. The Indy native is also shooting a career best 48.7 percent, which ranks sixth in the league.

The junior has been highly proficient around the rim where he’s 75-of-111 (.676). He’s also improved from the free-throw line where he’s converted a career best 75.8 percent. Tae ranks fourth in the league in FT attempts.

Tae produced a career high streak of 14 straight games in double figures which game to an end Jan. 28 vs. Georgia Tech.

EVOLVING

When Burton was recovering, other Irish had to step up and evolve. We’ve already mentioned Tae Davis’ emergence but we’ve also seen Braeden Shrewsberry’s evolution.

The sophomore guard is averaging 14.7 ppg, up from last year’s 10.2. He’s shooting 43.9 percent, which is up from last year’s 39.8.

He’s connecting on 2.8 threes per game this season, with a .373 clip from beyond the arc. Shrewsberry’s sweet spot has been the corner three where he’s 14-31 (.452).

Shrewsberry boasts higher three ball numbers in ACC play where he ranks third in threes/game at 3.1 and fourth in three-point percentage at 42.5.

However, Braeden is more than just a three-point shot, take his floater for instance. He’s added to his arsenal and is shooting 50.0 percent from midrange twos.

He’s 54.7 percent overall from two-point range and converting 61.5 percent over the last five games.

NOTRE NOTABLES

Allocco boasts a true shooting percentage of 61.0 on the year.

Kebba is averaging 2.7 offensive rebounds/game in ACC play, which ranks fourth in the league.

Burton is shooting 47.8 percent in midrange twos.

Yes Sir! – The freshman guard impressed at #4 Duke, recording his first double-digit scoring performance with 11 points on 4-7 shooting, plus 2-4 from three.

The KenPom Offense Adj. Efficiency was as low as 38th but dropped back to 50th after the Miami game.

IRISH LEGEND JOHN SHUMATE PASSES AWAY AT AGE 72

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame men’s basketball legend John Shumate passed away at the age of 72 on Monday. Shumate donned the Blue and Gold from 1971-74 and was inducted into Notre Dame’s prestigious Ring of Honor in December of 2022. A two-time All-American and consensus First Team pick in ‘74, Shumate was a great ambassador for the University and the Irish basketball program, cementing a legacy here that will forever be remembered far beyond the court.

Shumate’s story here on campus started with resilience and determination. As a sophomore, the New Jersey native simultaneously overcame a blood clot in his calf and a virus infection found in the sac around his heart that left him in intensive care and ultimately 45 pounds lighter. His comeback over his final two years was emphatic and strong, averaging a double-double at 22.6 ppg and 11.6 rpg, totaling 1,334 career points and 684 rebounds.

No one in the 100+ year history of the program was more efficient than Shumate, as his 61.0 career shooting percentage ranks first all-time. In addition, Shumate still ranks eighth all-time in points scored in a single season (703 in ‘73-74), and fifth in shooting percentage for a season (.627 in ‘73-74).

As a senior, he led the Irish to a magical 26-3 record, which included a 15-0 mark at home. He was a major contributor in Notre Dame’s memorable upset bid over No. 1 UCLA, tallying 24 points and 11 rebounds on his way to snapping the Bruins’ 88-game winning streak. Later that season, Shumate posted the best scoring average in the 1974 NCAA Tournament, averaging 28.7 ppg over three games.

Soon after, Shumate was drafted by the Phoenix Suns as the fourth overall pick and later earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors in his first season. He went on to average 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds over a shortened pro career due to health problems. During his playing days, Shumate spent time with the Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Buffalo Braves and Detroit Pistons.

Shumate’s love for the game continued on way past his playing days as he dived into the realm of coaching. He spent three years as a head coach at Grand Canyon (1983-86), seven years at SMU (1988-95) and one year with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury (2003). Shumate also spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Notre Dame (1981-82, 1986-88) and one with the Suns (2009-10).

On December 11, 2022, Shumate’s No. 34 banner was lifted into the rafters of Purcell Pavilion. Shumate became the program’s 10th honoree into the Ring of Honor where his memory will live on forever.

John Shumate is survived by his loving wife, Mary Shumate; his children, Brittany (Alix) Shumate Pereira, John Anthony Shumate, Ishmael Hall; his grandchildren Mia Jade, Margaret, and Eliot; sisters Barbara Jennings, Yvonne Winona Newman, Patsy Wright, Lorraine Shumate, and Evangeline Walker; his three brother-in-laws, six sister-in-laws and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

HIDALGO COLLECTS HER FOURTH ACC WEEKLY HONOR OF THE SEASON

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the fourth time this season and sixth time in her young career, Hannah Hidalgo is your ACC Player of the Week. The All-American guard helped lead the third-ranked Irish to double-digit wins at Virginia Tech and Louisville, thus making Notre Dame the first ACC team to start a conference slate 10-0 since 2021-22. The Irish are 19-2 overall and have won 14 straight games.

In Blacksburg, Hidalgo had 30 points and 5 assists in a 10-16 showing from the floor and 7-7 day at the charity stripe in a 77-61 win. Against the Cardinals on Sunday, a rivalry contest Notre Dame won 89-71, Hidalgo had a season-high 34 points plus 6 rebounds and 5 assists. She went 8-8 from the line, giving her a perfect 15-15 on the week.

There were just three 30-point games in the ACC last week, and Hidalgo had two of them. She also was the only player in the country with a pair of 30-point games last week.

The sophomore now has nine games in her career with 30+ points, second in Notre Dame history only to Arike Ogunbowale. Hidalgo also has five career games with 30 points and 5 assists, tied for the second most in the ACC in the last 25 years. Finally, Hidalgo and Jewell Loyd are the only Irish players with back-to-back 30-point games in the last 25 years. Hidalgo has done it twice (Georgia Tech and UConn last season).

Hidalgo continues to pace the ACC with 4.0 steals per game this season and sits second with 26.1 points per game. She’s been highly efficient from the floor as well with a 50.1 field goal percentage and a 42.5 percent success rate from beyond the arc, both of which are top-10 in the ACC.

Hidalgo and the Irish host Stanford and Cal this weekend at Purcell Pavilion. The Cardinal visit on Thursday at 8:30 p.m., and the 21st-ranked Bears come Sunday at 2 p.m.

HIDALGO, MILES EARN SPOTS ON USBWA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON TOP 50

INDIANAPOLIS — Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles have been stuffing the stat sheets together this season and earned midseason recognition for it on Monday, as the U.S. Basketball Writers Association named the two guards to the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year Midseason Top 50.

Hidalgo had a record-breaking freshman season and has taken it up a notch in her second year. The sophomore out of South Jersey is averaging 26.1 points (second in the nation) and 4.0 steals (third in the nation) per game. She is pacing the ACC in swipes, ranks seventh in field goal percentage (50.1), fourth in free throw percentage (85.5) and third in 3-point percentage (42.5). She is also sinking 2.4 triples per game, good for sixth in the conference.

This season, Hidalgo reached 1000 career points in 44 games, a program record. After back-to-back 30-point performances last week against Virginia Tech and Louisville, the guard now has nine with 30+ in her career, second in program history and trailing only Irish legend Arike Ogunbowale.

After suffering a torn ACL in February 2023, Miles has returned and is having the best year of her career. She is averaging 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game and is the only player in the nation posting 16, 5 and 5. Miles leads the ACC in both assists (137) and assists per game (6.5), and the Phillipsburg, N.J., native is the NCAA’s active leader with 6.7 assists per game across her career. She also ranks sixth in the conference this year with a 52.8 field goal percentage and is one of three ACC guards averaging at least 15 points and shooting better than 50 percent.

The greatest improvement in Miles’ game since her return has come from beyond the arc. Over the first three years of her career, Miles shot 24.6 percent from deep. This season, she’s sitting at 41.9 percent, which is 32nd in the country.

Additionally, Miles has three triple-doubles already this season, more than anyone else in the nation, and now has six in her career, tied for the most in ACC women’s basketball history. She also is the only active player with at least 25 double-doubles and at least five triple-doubles.

Hidalgo, Miles and the Irish will be back on their home court on Thursday, as No. 3 Notre Dame (19-2) hosts Stanford (11-10, 3-7) at 8:30 p.m. The matchup will air on ESPN, the program’s sixth game on a major network (ESPN/2 or NBC) this season.

BUTLER FOOTBALL

LYNCH ADDS FIVE TO BUTLER FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

Butler Football Head Coach Kevin Lynch added five talented coaches to his staff on Monday morning. The core group includes a run-game coordinator, defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, wide receivers coach, and strength and conditioning coach.

“I am excited to add Luke Shively, Jordan Belfiori, Collin Coffer, Jack Connolly, and Dan Wenger to the Butler football coaching staff,” Lynch stated. “All five are all high character men that understand Butler and will represent The Butler Way. I’m eager to see them and their families on campus as we move forward toward our goal of winning a PFL Championship.”

Luke Shively

Run Game Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach

Shively joins the Bulldogs after a successful stint as the offensive line coach at Wisconsin River Falls. The Falcons averaged 40 points per game in 2024, rushing for 180 yards per game and passing for 265. Five student-athletes made the D3Football.com All-Region Team, including senior offensive lineman Ethan Sigler.

Prior to UWRF, Shively was at Duke as a graduate assistant coach working primarily with the offensive line. There, the Blue Devils compiled a 17-9 overall record while Shively helped coach several All-ACC offensive lineman, including an All-American in 2023.

Before Duke, Shively spent three seasons (2019-21) at Temple as a graduate assistant coach working with the offensive line. With the Owls, Shively mentored three to All-American Athletic Conference honorees, including All-American Matt Hennessy, who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

As a student-athlete, Shively was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at center for Northern Illinois from 2015-18. During his time in Dekalb, Shively helped the Huskies register 29 wins and reach three bowl games.

A native of Tipton, Ind., Shively graduated from Northern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 2018. He added a master’s degree from Temple in 2021.

Jordan Belfiori

Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach

Belfiori joins the coaching staff at Butler after spending seven years at Colgate. In his first season at Colgate, Belfiori worked as the outside linebacker coach. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2021 before moving to defensive coordinator and outside linebacker coach in 2022.

With Belfiori in charge of the defense, Colgate placed four Raiders on 2024 All-Patriot League Teams, including First-Team All-League defensive back selection Owen Goss. The Raiders saw success during Belfiori’s first season with the program in 2018. Colgate reached 10 wins for just the fourth time in program history en route to its 10th Patriot League Championship.

The Raiders started that year 9-0, allowing just 29 points during the win streak and tying the NCAA FCS record with five shutouts in one season. Over a seven-game stretch, Colgate allowed 3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0 and 0 points. Belfiori’s linebackers helped the Raiders lead the nation in scoring defense (9.3).

Before arriving at Colgate, Belfiori was a graduate assistant at Western Michigan. He coached linebackers while helping the program with video and recruiting. Additional coaching experience included a stop at Wayne State where Belfiori spent two years with the Warriors, resulting in two winning seasons.

Belfiori earned his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan in 2012, and he completed his master’s degree from Wayne State in December of 2019.

Collin Coffer

Recruiting Coordinator / Cornerbacks Coach

Butler’s new recruiting coordinator will also coach cornerbacks for the Bulldogs in 2025. Coffer is an Indianapolis native who most recently worked with wide receivers and was the pass-game coordinator at Indiana State. Coffer oversaw multiple all-conference honorees during his four years in Terre Haute.

Prior to his time with the Sycamores, Coffer coached at UIndy for five seasons. Throughout his time in Indianapolis, Coffer assisted the Greyhounds during four successful GLVC title runs and five NCAA DII playoff appearances.

In 2019, UIndy led the GLVC and ranked Top 10 in the nation in fewest turnovers lost (1st in DII), scoring offense (2nd), time of possession (4th) and team passing efficiency (6th). Team totals of 47.1 points per game, 506.7 total yards of offense per game, 69 total touchdowns and 147 rushing first downs all set new UIndy benchmarks.

As a student-athlete, Coffer was a four-year starter at cornerback at UIndy before becoming a coach for the Greyhounds. He spent two seasons at UIndy as a graduate assistant before moving on to become an assistant wide receiver coach at Ball State in 2014. In 2015, Coffer spent one season as a defensive back coach at Saint Joseph’s College. He rejoined UIndy in 2016 and stayed until 2020.

Jack Connolly

Wide Receivers Coach

Connolly worked with Lynch as a graduate assistant at Ball State. In 2024, the Cardinals averaged nearly 350 yards of offense per game, scoring 25 points per contest. BSU picked up five yards per play and were great in the red zone, scoring on 30 of their 34 trips.

Connolly joined Ball State as an offensive graduate assistant coach in April of 2022. He assisted the offensive coordinator and collaborated with the quarterbacks coach throughout the season. As a Cardinal, he led scout teams, created self-scout reports, and built presentations for offensive meetings.

Prior to his time with Ball State, Connolly worked as the wide receivers coach at Carthage College. He earned a degree at Carthage and added another master’s degree while at Ball State. His undergrad degree came from Wisconsin La Crosse.

Dan Wenger

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Wenger will be the Bulldog strength and conditioning coach in 2025. He arrives after a three-year stint at Ball State. Wenger was hired as an assistant strength coach at BSU in 2021. He was promoted to assistant director of football strength and conditioning in the summer of 2023 and advanced to the director for his final season.

Prior to his time in Muncie, Wenger served as the associate director of sports performance at Stephen F. Austin. He also worked at Western Michigan as the strength coach for the football team from 2013-16.

Before moving into his current field, Wenger worked as an offensive graduate assistant football coach at the University of Florida. He gained additional experience with Notre Dame from 2006-11 and worked the New York Jets Rookie Mini-Camp in 2012.

Wenger has three degrees with his first coming from Notre Dame in 2010. His second was earned from Florida in 2015 and his last from Concordia University in 2019.

IU INDY MEN’S BASKETBALL

GOODE COLLECTS THIRD #HLMBB FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONOR OF THE SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS – For the third time this season, IU Indianapolis men’s basketball freshman DeSean Goode has been named #HLMBB Freshman of the Week for his efforts last week. The 6-foot-8 forward had back-to-back career-highs in the scoring column in helping the Jags to a 1-1 record on the road trip. For the two-game trip, Goode averaged 20.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting better than 76 percent from the floor and hitting 4-of-5 three-point attempts.

Goode opened the trip with a career-high 18 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3’s, 5-8 FT), five rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal at RMU on Thursday (Jan. 30). He then followed up with a new career-high 23 points (10-13 FG, 3-3 3’s), eight rebounds and two assists at Youngstown State on Saturday (Feb. 1).

Goode’s 23 points tied for the most in a game by a Horizon League freshman this season and are the most by a freshman in a league game this season. For the season, Goode is third among Horizon League freshman in scoring (8.0 ppg) and tops among rookies in rebounding (5.7 rpg) and double-doubles (3).

INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB 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”

NUMBERS IN SPORTS

42 – 31 – 80 – 66 – 12 – 13 –

February 4, 1952 – Legendary athlete Jackie Robinson who not only helped to break the color barriers in college football and Major League Baseball climbed over another hurdle. On this date, Number 42 became the first African -American to become an executive at a major Television station WNBC in New York.

February 4, 1979 – At the 29th annual NBA All-Star Game which was held at the Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, the West Stars outlasted the East standouts by the tune of 134-129. The game’s MVP was Number 33 of the Denver Nuggets shooting guard David Thompson.

February 4, 1986 – 38th NHL All-Star Game, Hartford Civic Center: Wales Conference beats Campbell Conference, 4-3 (OT); MVP was Goalie Grant Fuhr, Number 31 of the Edmonton Oilers. Fuhr got his professional start in the AJHL with the Sherwood Park Crusaders and then moved into the WHL’s Victoria Cougars according to EliteProspects.com.

He then made his NHL debut with Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers against the Winnipeg Jets on October 14, 1981. Fuhr became an integral piece of the Oilers dynasty in the 1980s, by almost becoming an impenetrable stone wall in front of the Edmonton goal for most of the next decade. Grant was part of the Edmonton squads that won four Stanley Cup Championships in five years and it wasn’t just the Great One scoring, but the defense of the Oilers net was a big part of the team’s success too. In ten seasons Fuhr had 11059 saves with the Oilers in 423 games played. His average of saving about 90% of shots fired on his never really waivered much throughout his stellar career.

Everything was going pretty well for the young net minder. Then almost out of the blue in 1989 the future Hall of Fame goalie threatened to walk away from the game at 26-years of age, at the height of his talented run, thanks to an apparent dispute with Glen Sather and some really bad advice from his agent Ritch Winter. Much of this stemmed from Winter not getting along with Sather. Allegedly the two had a confrontation in which they engaged in a session of shoving each other while trying to work out a new deal for the Fuhr back in 1987. Perhaps the saving grace for Edmonton, who notoriously was known to underpay their top talent, was that Rich Winter was able to secure Fuhr a five-year contract with the Pepsi-Cola, that would’ve seen the future Hall of Famer has a Pepsi logo on each of his pads, starting in the upcoming 1989-90 season. The contract with Pepsi was quite a good salary supplement on paper for Fuhr. There was one problem though however with it, the NHL did not allow for individuals to have advertising on their persons. They want a standard uniform on every player on the team. This fueled the heat between Fuhr and the Oilers even further. He literally filed the retirement papers with the club, but Sather never filed them with the League offices. Eventually, things settled down in the dispute.

Rob Soria on the TheHockeyWriters.com article from July of 2021 wrote this:

“After coming to the realization it was the NHL and not the Oilers who was prohibiting him from putting the deal with Pepsi into action, his stance softened. On August 24th, 1989, it was made official that Fuhr would be remaining with the Orange and Blue. Though his agent did him no favors with the approach he took, the fact this situation turned into the fiasco it did was on the player.”

After a couple more lukewarm seasons of contract dispute, suspension and injury, Fuhr was set to make his return in the crease in the 59th game of the 1990 season. It had been nearly two years since he was on the ice healthy. The goalie shed his normally colorful pads and wore mainly white ones to represent his clean new start. Apparently in the background he had been battling some demons and now after a year of mending he was ready to rekindle his hickey career. His comeback game against the New Jersey Devils showed he was back as the Oiler won 4-0. He ended up regaining his status as the top goalie on the squad and convinced the league that he was indeed back to old form.

Furh departed the Oilers in 1991 and went on to play for Toronto, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Calgary, and St Louis before calling it a career after the 1999 season.

We salute Number 31 Grant Fuhr for overcoming his personal obstacles and giving to others inspiration and hope that may be in the same circumstance that they too can recover and thrive in life.

February 4, 1990 – NFL Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI: NFC beats AFC, 27-21; MVP: Jerry Gray, LA Rams, DB

1996 NFL Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI: NFC beats AFC, 20-13; MVP was Number 80 of the 49ers Wide Receiver Jerry Rice.

February 4, 1997 – Pittsburgh Penguins Number 66 star Mario Lemieux became 7th NHL player reach the plateau of scoring 600 goals.

February 4, 2001 – NFL Pro Bowl, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI: AFC beats NFC, 38-17. MVP was none other than Number 12 of the Oakland Raiders QB Rich Gannon.

2001 – Number 13 of the Boston Bruins, RW Bill Guerin was selected as the MVP of the 51st NHL All-Star Game played at the Pepsi Centre, Denver, CO. North America beats World, 14-12.

2007 Super Bowl XLI, Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Miami, FL: Indianapolis Colts eased by the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The game’s MVP as Indianapolis, QB Peyton Manning, Number 18.

2018 Super Bowl LII took place at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Philadelphia Eagles surprised the New England Patriots, 41-33 to take home the Lombardi guided by the Philly Special play. The game’s MVP trophy was given to the recipient of that now famous pass play Philadelphia Quarterback Nick Foles, who wore Number 9 in the Big Game

FOOTBALL HISTORY

Football History Headlines

February 4, 1969 – John Madden is named head coach of the Oakland Raiders. With the hiring John was the youngest coach in the AFL at 34. Madden remained the head man for the Raiders sidelines all the way through the conclusion of the 1978 season. He and the Raiders won Super Bowl XI, his crowning achievement in the 10 year tenure with the Silver and Black. Under John Madden the Raiders had an impressive record of 103-32-7 and they never suffered under a losing season per the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team won 5 straight AFC Western Division titles from 1972 through 1976. After hanging up the coaching whistle Madden became an outstanding broadcast Color Analyst, perhaps the best the gridiron had ever seen.

February 4, 1990 – Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – T the 1989 season’s NFL Pro Bowl the NFC defeated the AFC, 27-21 The game’s MVP was Defensive Back Jerry Gray of the Los Angeles Rams.

February 4, 1996 – Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – The NFL Pro Bowl for the 1995 season resulted in an NFC victory over their AFC rivals by the score of 20-13. Jerry Rice, then of the San Francisco 49ers used his awesome receiving skills to catch the game’s MVP honors!

February 4, 2001 – Aloha Stadium, Honolulu – We had another NFL Pro Bowl played on this date in history. In the contest it was the AFC that extinguished the NFC, 38-17. The game’s MVP honors went to Rich Gannon, quarterback of the Oakland Raiders.

February 4, 2007 – Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardens, Miami, Florida – At Super Bowl XLI Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning had each finally received their Super Bowl Championship that had been so elusive to each of them earlier in their careers. According to the Pro Football Reference Manning threw for 247 yards passing and a TD against a very strong Chicago Bears defense to win the Most Valuable Player Award in the contest. The brilliant signal caller and his top notch coach helped guide the Indianapolis Colts over the Chicago Bears, 29-17.

February 4, 2018 – US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota – Super Bowl LII was a game that was quite surprising to most who watched it. The Philadelphia Eagles led by their Quarterback Nick Foles who at the beginning of the season was a back up to Carson Wentz were playing the New England Patriots who had the great Tom Brady under center. ESPN.com tells how Foles led the Eagles on a gutsy 75-yard drive to the winning touchdown, an 11 yard toss to Tight End Zach Ertz with 2:21 to go. The Ertz catch added to the game’s drama by having to be reviewed, leaving millions of viewers on the edge of their seat. After replay supported the call on the field , Philadelphia went for two and failed. The Eagles defense would then go on two final stands against the crafty Brady and friends to taste greatness. Yes the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots, 41-33 to win all the marbles. The Super Bowl LII MVP was none other than Nick Foles.

Hall of Fame Birthday for February 4

February 4, 1933 – Des Moines, Iowa – The great Lincoln University of Missouri halfback, Leo Lewis was born. The National Football Foundation says Lewis also known as the “The Lincoln Locomotive” had some impressive stats in his four years at Lincoln University in Missouri, leading the Blue Tigers to an impressive 27-5-3 record in his time on the team. Leo set records for the Blue Tigers including 22 touchdowns in a season, 64 TDs in a career, posted 1239 rushing yards in a season and career rushing yards with 4,561 to become a two-time First Team All-America selection. Leo Lewis received the honor of being forever remembered in his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

February 4, 1940 – Tuscaloosa, Alabama – Billy Neighbors the powerful guard from the University of Alabama arrived into this life. The National Football Foundation voters selected Bill Neighbor’s gridiron legacy to go into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

February 4, 1960 – Oaklyn, New Jersey – Widener College great, safety Tom Deery was born. The NFF states that Deery was voted as an All-America selection in three different seasons by the AP and the America Coaches Association for his brilliant defensive secondary prowess. Tom amassed 126 unassisted tackles, 44 assisted tackles, 32 interceptions in the 43 career games he played in during college. The National Football Foundation selected Tom Deery for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

Feb. 4

1861 — The Philadelphia Athletics beat Charter Oak 36-27 in a baseball game played on frozen Litchfield Pond in Brooklyn, N.Y., with the players wearing ice skates.

1924 — The first Winter Olympics close in Chamonix, France. Sixteen countries competed in 17 events from seven sports.

1932 — The Winter Olympics open in Lake Placid, N.Y., the first Winter Games in the United States.

1957 — Joe McCarthy and Sam Crawford are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1969 — The 24 major league owners unanimously select Bowie Kuhn as commissioner for a one-year term at a salary of $100,000.

1971 — The Baseball Hall of Fame establishes a separate section for players from the old Negro Leagues. In July, commissioner Bowie Kuhn, along with Hall president Paul Kirk, announce a change of heart and scrap plans for the separate section.

1976 — U.S. District Court Judge John W. Oliver upholds the ruling of arbitrator Peter Seitz that declared Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally free agents.

1977 — Rick Martin scores two goals in the third period, including the game-winning goal with under two minutes to play, to lead the Wales Conference to a 4-3 win over the Campbell conference in the NHL All-Star game at Vancouver.

1979 — Denver’s David Thompson scores 25 points on 11-of-17 shooting to lead the West Conference to a 134-129 victory over the East at the 1979 NBA All-Star Game in Detroit. Thompson also grabs five rebounds and is named the games MVP. Philadelphia’s Julius Erving leads all scorers with 29 points and san Antonio’s George Gervin adds 26 for the East.

1987 — The Sacramento Kings have the worst first quarter since the inception of the shot clock in 1954. The Kings set the NBA record with only four points in the opening quarter of a 128-92 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

1987 — Stars & Stripes, skippered by Dennis Conner, sweeps Kookaburra III 4-0 at Fremantle, Australia, to bring sailing’s America’s Cup back to the United States.

1991 — The doors of Cooperstown are slammed shut on Pete Rose when the Hall of Fame’s board of directors votes 12-0 to bar players on the permanently ineligible list from consideration.

1997 — Mario Lemieux scores his 600th goal, an empty netter, to help the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 6-4 win against the Vancouver Canucks. Lemieux is the first player to score 600 goals while spending his NHL career with one team.

2003 — Jaromir Jagr scores three goals, including his 500th, for his 11th career hat trick as Washington beat Tampa Bay 5-1.

2007 — Peyton Manning is 25-of-38 for 247 yards and a touchdown as he rallies Indianapolis to a 29-17 Super Bowl victory over Chicago in the South Florida rain. Tony Dungy becomes the first black coach to win the championship, beating good friend and protege Lovie Smith in a game that featured the first two black coaches in the Super Bowl.

2012 — Lindsey Vonn captures her 50th World Cup victory, winning the downhill with temperatures plunging to minus 13 on the demanding Kandahar course in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

2017 — Gregg Popovich becomes the winningest coach with a single franchise in NBA history, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 121-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Popovich earns his 1,128th victory to pass former Utah coach Jerry Sloan for the mark.

2018 — The Philadelphia Eagles win a record-setting shootout between Nick Foles and Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. Foles, the backup quarterback, leads a pressure-packed 75-yard drive to the winning touchdown, 11 yards to Zach Etrz with 2:21 to go. Then the defense makes two final stands to win 41-33.

2022 – XXIV Olympic Winter Games open in Beijing, China.

_____

Feb. 5

1913 — The New York State Athletic Commission bans boxing matches between fighters of different races.

1919 — Charges against Cincinnati’s Hal Chase of throwing games and betting against his team are dismissed by National League president John Heydler. Two weeks later, Chase is traded to the New York Giants.

1948 — After landing the first double axel in Olympic competition, Dick Button becomes the first American to win the Olympic gold medal in figure skating. Gretchen Fraser becomes the first U.S. woman Olympic slalom champion.

1960 — Bill Russell grabs 51 rebounds in the Boston Celtics’ 124-100 victory over the Syracuse Nationals. Russell is the first player in NBA history to pull in 50 or more rebounds.

1972 — Bob Douglas is the first black elected to Basketball Hall of Fame. Known as “The Father of Black Professional Basketball,” Douglas owned and coached the New York Renaissance from 1922 until 1949.

1976 — Austrian Franz Klammer wins the Olympic gold medal in the downhill at Innsbruck, Austria. Bill Koch wins a silver in the 30-kilometer cross-country race to become the first American to win a medal in a Nordic event.

1980 — Gordie Howe plays his 23rd and final All-Star Game. Howe doesn’t score, but sets up the final goal of the game, by Real Cloutier, in the Wales Conference’s 6-3 win against the Campbell Conference at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

1990 — Notre Dame bucks the College Football Association and becomes the first college to sell its home games to a major network, agreeing to a five-year contract with NBC beginning in 1991.

1991 — Dave Taylor of the Los Angeles Kings has two assists in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers to become the 29th player in NHL history with 1,000 points.

1999 — Patrick Roy, at 33, becomes the youngest goalie in NHL history to earn 400 wins when he makes 26 saves in the Colorado Avalanche’s 3-1 win against the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

2003 — Bode Miller of the United States captures his first major title, winning the gold medal in the combined at the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

2006 — Pittsburgh wins a record-tying fifth Super Bowl, but its first since 1980 with a 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

2009 — Tennessee’s Pat Summitt becomes the first Division I basketball coach — man or woman — to win 1,000 career games after her Lady Vols beat Georgia 73-43.

2011 — Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia wins the men’s 3,000 at the Boston Indoor Grand Prix, after losing his right shoe at the start of the race. Gebremeskel stays close to the lead throughout the race and takes over on the final lap to finish in 7:35.37. Britain’s Mo Farah finishes second in 7:35.81.

2012 — Eli Manning and the Giants one-up Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute score to beat New England 21-17 for New York’s fourth Super Bowl title.

2017 — Tom Brady leads one of the greatest comebacks in sports, let alone Super Bowl history, lifting New England from a 25-point hole to the Patriots’ fifth NFL championship in the game’s first overtime finish. The Patriots score 19 points in the final quarter, including a pair of 2-point conversions, then marches relentlessly to James White’s 2-yard touchdown run in overtime beating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28.

2022 – Six days before his 50th birthday, 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater wins his 8th Pipeline title beating 22-year old Hawaiian Seth Moniz in the final.

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Feb. 6

1943 — Montreal’s Ray Getliffe scores five goals to lead the Canadiens to an 8-3 triumph over the Boston Bruins.

1958 — Ted Williams signs a contract with the Boston Red Sox for $135,000, making him the highest paid player in major league history.

1967 — Muhammad Ali successfully defends his world heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Ernest Terrell in the Houston Astrodome.

1970 — The NBA expands to 18 teams with the addition of franchises in Buffalo, Cleveland, Houston and Portland.

1981 — Wayne Gretzky scores three goals and three assists in a 10-4 Edmonton victory over the Winnipeg Jets, giving him 100 points in the season.

1985 — Seventeen-year-old Dianne Roffe becomes the first U.S. woman to win a gold medal in a World Alpine Ski Championship race, capturing the giant slalom in 2:18.53.

1988 — Chicago’s Michael Jordan wins the NBA Slam Dunk contest with a perfect score of 50 on his final dunk, in front of a hometown crowd at Chicago Stadium.

1990 — Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues scores his 50th goal, making him and his Hall of Famer father, Bobby Hull, the only father-son combination in NHL history to reach that milestone.

1993 — Riddick Bowe easily wins his first defense of his WBA and IBF heavyweight boxing titles by beating Michael Dokes in the first round of their championship bout held at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

2000 — Randy Moss sets records with nine catches for 212 yards, and Mike Alstott scores three touchdowns in the NFC’s 51-31 victory over the AFC, the highest-scoring Pro Bowl.

2000 — Pavel Bure records the 11th hat trick in All-Star history and goalie Olaf Kolzig plays a shutout third period as the World team routs North America 9-4 in the NHL’s 50th All-Star game.

2005 — The New England Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years, 24-21 over the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s their ninth straight postseason victory, equaling Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.

2011 — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady becomes the first unanimous choice for The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Brady gets all 50 votes since the AP began using a nationwide panel of media members who cover the league.

2011 — Aaron Rodgers throws three touchdown passes and Nick Collins returns an interception for another score, leading the Green Bay Packers to a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.

2022 – NFL Pro Bowl, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada: AFC beats NFC, 41-35; MVPs: Justin Herbert, QB LA Chargers; Maxx Crosby, DE LV Raiders.

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2020 The Phillies announced the team plan to posthumously retire Roy Halladay’s No. 34 in a pregame ceremony at Citizens Bank Park on May 29, marking the 10th anniversary of his perfect game. ‘Doc,’ who died in a 2017 plane crash, posted a 55-29 (.655) record during his four seasons with the team, winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2010.

2023 The Dodgers bypass their unofficial policy of retiring the numbers only of players who had been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame when the team announces the addition of uniform #34 worn by Fernando Valenzuela, joining the honor bestowed on Pee Wee Reese (1), Tommy Lasorda (2), Duke Snider (4), Gil Hodges (14), Jim Gilliam (19), Don Sutton (20), Walter Alston (24), Sandy Koufax (32), Roy Campanella (39), Jackie Robinson (42), and Don Drysdale (56). The fan-favorite Mexican southpaw, the only pitcher to win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year award in the same season, made 331 appearances in a Dodger uniform, posting a 141-116 (.549) record and a 3.31 ERA during his 11 years with the club.

TV SPORTS TUESDAY

NBA REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Dallas Mavericks vs Philadelphia 76ers	7:00pm	KFAA NBCS-PHI
New York Knicks vs Toronto Raptors	7:30pm	MSG Sportsnet
Houston Rockets vs Brooklyn Nets	7:30pm	SCHN YES
Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers	7:30pm	TNT truTV MAX
Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls	8:00pm	FanDuel Sports Sun CHSN
Indiana Pacers vs Portland Trail Blazers	10:00pm	FanDuel Sports IND Rip City
Los Angeles Lakers vs Los Angeles Clippers	10:00pm	TNT truTV MAX
NHL REGULAR SEASON	TIME ET	TV
Minnesota Wild vs Boston Bruins	7:00pm	ESPN+ FanDuel Sports North NESN
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Buffalo Sabres	7:00pm	ESPN+ MSG-BUF FanDuel Sports OH
Ottawa Senators vs Tampa Bay Lightning	7:00pm	ESPN+ FanDuel Sports Sun Sportsnet
New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins	7:00pm	ESPN+ ATTSN-PIT MSGSN2
Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals	7:00pm	ESPN+ Scripps MNMT
Vegas Golden Knights vs New York Islanders	7:30pm	ESPN+ Scripps MSGSN
Carolina Hurricanes vs Winnipeg Jets	8:00pm	ESPN+ FanDuel Sports South Sportsnet
Edmonton Oilers vs St. Louis Blues	8:00 PM	ESPN+ Hulu
Philadelphia Flyers vs Utah Hockey Club	9:00 PM	ESPN+ Utah16 NBCS-PHI
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Calgary Flames	9:00 PM	ESPN+ Sportsnet<
Colorado Avalanche vs Vancouver Canucks	10:00 PM	ESPN+ ALT Sportsnet
Detroit Red Wings vs Seattle Kraken	10:00 PM	ESPN+ FanDuel Sports DET KONG
Montreal Canadiens vs San Jose Sharks	10:30 PM	ESPN+ Sportsnet NBCS-CA
Dallas Stars vs Anaheim Ducks	10:30 PM	ESPN+ Hulu
MEN’S NCAA BASKETBALL	TIME ET	TV
Marquette vs. St. John’s	6:30pm	FS1
Texas Southern at UAPB	6:30pm	SWACN
Kent State at Eastern Michigan	6:30pm	ESPN+
Kentucky at Ole Miss	7:00pm	ESPN
Drake at Murray State	7:00pm	ESPN2/U
Wichita State at Charlotte	7:00pm	ESPN2/U
Minnesota at Penn State	7:00pm	BTN
Vanderbilt at Florida	7:00pm	SECN
Notre Dame at Florida State	7:00pm	ACCN
La Salle at VCU	7:00pm	CBSSN
Davidson at Dayton	7:00pm	ESPN+
Purdue at Iowa	7:00pm	Peacock
Saint Louis at UMass	7:00pm	ESPN+
Miami (OH) at Central Michigan	7:00pm	ESPN+
Northern Illinois at Bowling Green	7:00pm	ESPN+
Western Michigan at Ohio	7:00pm	ESPN+
Ball State at Akron	7:00pm	ESPN+
Buffalo at Toledo	7:00pm	ESPN+
Oklahoma State at Houston	8:00pm	ESPN+
Georgetown at Xavier	8:30pm	FS1
Utah State at Wyoming	8:30pm	MWN
Eastern Illinois at SIUE	8:30pm	ESPN+
Baylor at Texas Tech	9:00pm	ESPN2
USC at Northwestern	9:00pm	BTN
Oklahoma at Auburn	9:00pm	SECN
Georgia Tech at Clemson	9:00pm	ACCN
St. Bonaventure at Loyola Chicago	9:00pm	CBS SN
Nevada at Air Force	9:00pm	ALT2
Indiana at Wisconsin	9:00pm	Peacock
San Jose State at Fresno State	10:00pm	MWN
Michigan State at UCLA	10:00pm	Peacock
Kansas State at Arizona State	10:00pm	ESPN+
Arizona at BYU	11:00pm	ESPN/2
SOCCER	TIME ET	TV
DFB Pokal: Stuttgart vs Augsburg	2:45pm	ESPN+
Coppa Italia: Atalanta vs Bologna	3:00pm	Paramount+
Copa del Rey: Atlético Madrid vs Getafe	3:30pm	ESPN+
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Real du Cap vs Cruz Azul	8:00pm	FS2 fuboTV