MSU football QBs continue to get sacked. The OL could be key to who starts vs Penn State, Alessio Milivojevic or Aidan Chiles.
John Calipari: Michigan State basketball PG Jeremy Fears Jr. shows he’s about winning
It's not all about points and shooting for Michigan State basketball PG Jeremy Fears Jr., whose leadership and tenacity impressed John Calipari.
LSU football will still land elite coach to replace Brian Kelly, politics be damned
Crazy circus is background noise, money will dictate LSU football coaching hire.
CFP rankings right one wrong, while two SEC schools fight for final spot
Vanderbilt is sneaking around the CFP, and no one is really paying attention.
Islanders’ Penalty Kill Turns A Corner Under Bob Boughner
Bob Boughner had his work cut out for him when the New York Islanders hired him to run the defense and penalty kill.
The Islanders allowed 3.13 goals per game in 2024-25, and while that wasn't horrific, the offense was only providing 2.71 goals per game, making it difficult to overcome the defensive lapses.
The bigger concern was the penalty kill, which ended the season second-worst in the NHL, at 72.2 percent. There's no question that if Tommy Albelin's PK was 10 percent better last season, they likely would have found a way to sneak into the playoffs.
The penalty kill was led by Ryan Pulock (159:33), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (135:34), Alexander Romanov (122:30), Adam Pelech (115:34), Scott Mayfield (108:36), Simon Holmstrom (104:12), Bo Horvat (88:01) and Kyle Palmieri (85:56), with Casey Cizikas (69:05) and Brock Nelson (76:15) as the extra forwards.
This season, Boughner's penalty kill cast hasn't changed much -- but the results certainly have.
After allowing at least on power-play goal in eight of the first nine games, Boughner's guys have flipped a switch. Since Oct. 30 -- seven games -- the Islanders' penalty kill has been executing at a 90 percent clip, killing off 18-of-20.
What's changed?
Pelech and Pulock remain as the No. 1 PK pairing, with Pageau, Holmstrom, Horvat, and Palmieri leading the way amongst the forwards.
What you will notice is that Cizikas, who has struggled to find his game this season, has played sparingly on the kill, just 2:05 minutes this season.
The PK has been much more aggressive, keeping the opposition's power play to the outside while also clearing the front of the net as much as they can.
Because of the stronger structure, we've seen Ilya Sorokin turn things around when his club is shorthanded.
Last season, Sorokin owned an .847 PK SV%. This season, it's up to .852, but since Oct. 30, it's at .923.
Your goaltender has to be your best penalty killer and he's risen to the occassion as of late.
Ilya Sorokin’s Rebound Is Powering the Islanders’ Road Trip MomentumA coaching change ignited Ilya Sorokin's stellar play, now propelling the Islanders' critical road trip with game-saving heroics.Given the Islanders' offense, which averages 3.31 goals per game, they can overcome a shaky PK. But if the PK is going to be a strength rather than an Achilles' heel, the Islanders will be an even more dangerous team.
The Islanders next five opponents' PP:
Vegas Golden Knights: 22.6% (11th)
Utah Hockey Club: 16.3% (27th)
Colorado Avalanche: 17.5% (24th)
Dallas Stars: 32.8% (2nd)
Detroit Red Wings: 18.9% (16th)
The Islander are 2-0-0 to kick off this road trip where the penalty kill is 5-for-6.
Sixers give injury updates on George and Embiid following victory over Boston
Sixers give injury updates on George and Embiid following victory over Boston originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Fifteen or so minutes after beating the Celtics and improving to 7-4, the Sixers released an official injury update on Paul George.
George met with doctors on Tuesday night to assess his progress, a team official said.
“The final stage of his return-to-play plan involves the continued strengthening of his left quadricep,” per the official, “which will be managed through a strength and conditioning program and on-court basketball activities. He will be re-evaluated later this week.”
George has been cleared to practice for over a month and looked good physically in post-practice periods open to the media. However, he’s been out for the Sixers’ first 11 games.
The 35-year-old forward underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July to repair an injury suffered during an offseason workout. He missed 41 games last year in his first season as a Sixer because of lingering injuries to his left knee, left adductor muscle and left pinkie.
Although the Sixers did not formally announce anything on Joel Embiid, head coach Nick Nurse also had an update to share on his star center. Embiid sat against Boston because of right knee soreness and had imaging done on the knee Tuesday.
Nurse’s update was short and sweet.
“Joel has no structural issues,” he said. “He’s day-to-day.”
Embiid played very well in his last appearance, posting 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting, six rebounds and four assists Saturday in the Sixers’ win over the Raptors.
“I think he’s trending upwards,” Nurse said. “I think the minutes and conditioning and everything are going to trend up to playing even better. So I think it’s really important that we’re going to hopefully get him out there soon.”
Veteran big man Drew Eubanks thriving in thankless Kings backup center role
Veteran big man Drew Eubanks thriving in thankless Kings backup center role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – Backup center is one of the most thankless jobs in the NBA. Playing time comes in small, generally anonymous bursts while any stats of significance are as rare as a four-leaf clover.
Drew Eubanks is changing that narrative to a certain extent in his first season with the Kings this season.
The season isn’t even a month old and the 28-year-old journeyman has found a way to make his presence felt. He hasn’t done anything spectacular, per se, but Eubanks already has provided far more than Kings brass could have hoped for when they signed him to a one-year contract in July.
Through Sacramento’s first 13 games, Eubanks was putting up decent numbers that were amplified when starting center Domantas Sabonis was dealing with hamstring and rib injuries.
Sabonis has returned to the lineup and played well but fouled out of Tuesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, which opened the door for Eubanks to really prove his worth.
And he did exactly that while going up against three-time MVP and seven-time All-Star Nikola Jokić.
Jokić did what Jokić always does, no matter the opponent, but what stood out for the Kings was how well Eubanks did against the Joker when the two were matched up.
The Sacramento backup had 19 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Sabonis, by comparison, also scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 25 minutes.
“Drew was really good,” Kings coach Doug Christie said. “He’s playing against a monster (Jokić), first of all, but he gave some good minutes. He did some good things.
“In that backup role, we need him to be aggressive, be physical, rebound, (be) up to the level on pick-and-rolls, impact the basketball when he sets screens, roll extremely hard and use your athleticism, sprint the floor, flatten it out. He can do all that. When he has his regular minutes, that is totally something that he can do to take advantage of the opposition.”
Eubanks got the extra playing time against Denver because Sabonis was in foul trouble for most of the night before eventually fouling out.
Even before that, though, the Kings have found ways to keep Eubanks involved.
His average playing time of 15.8 minutes in Sacramento’s first 13 games was more than double the court time he got in 24 games with the Los Angeles Clippers last season.
Eubanks also is shooting at a higher clip than he has since 2022-23. While rebounds and assists are down from his career average, Eubanks is blocking shots at a clip of 1.2 per game, the second-best mark he’s had in the NBA.
“Drew’s a pro,” Zach LaVine said. “Come off the bench, start him, throw him in late … he’s going to figure it out. His energy and just him day to day, his charisma helps us out.”
The Kings actually began benefiting from Eubanks in the offseason.
During training camp he and Sabonis would engage in 1-on-1 battles or oppose each other in full squad scrimmages.
“He had a great training camp, huge training camp,” Sabonis said. “He looked amazing and it’s showing right now in the games. I’ve been hurt a couple games and (against the Nuggets) I fouled out. He stepped up big time.”
Asked how the training camp battles between the two centers went, Sabonis smiled.
“He was kicking my butt. He was really good. I was impressed.”
Susie Wolff: ‘I can be very punchy and pragmatic. If I have to fight for something, I’ll fight’
Head of F1 Academy explains how close she came to a grand prix debut, her quest to produce female drivers and a frightening knock on her hotel room door by a powerful man in the sport
“There was a deep loneliness to karting, and then definitely in single-seaters, because no one else was going through the same thing as me,” says Susie Wolff as she remembers her long struggle in motorsport, from racing as a teenager against Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to her determined, but unfulfilled, quest to become a Formula One driver.
“After the whole #MeToo movement, we forget what it was like before. But the way I heard boys talking about girls in the paddock made me think I never want to be spoken about in that way. I realised I’d have to be whiter than white to get through it unscathed.”
Continue reading...Landeskog Lights The Lamp As Avalanche Stay NHL’s Top Team
DENVER — March 5, 2022.
That was the last time Gabriel Landeskog had lit the lamp in a regular season game, but alas, the wait is finally over.
Landeskog scored his first goal of the season and the go-ahead tally on Tuesday night, as the Colorado Avalanche ended the Anaheim Ducks’ seven-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory at Ball Arena.
B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on XCAPTAIN LANDESKOG HAS HIS FIRST REGULAR SEASON GOAL IN OVER 3 YEARS 🤯🤯The longtime Avalanche captain had found the back of the net twice earlier this season, but both goals were wiped out by offsides challenges, one in a heavily disputed call against the Utah Mammoth on October 21, and another against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The latter was the correct call, but no less frustrating, with Landeskog’s expression saying it all.
Landeskog cleaned up the garbage 11:37 into the second period, capitalizing on a rebound from Valeri Nichushkin’s shot to beat Lukáš Dostál, who was otherwise spectacular for the Ducks in defeat. The sequence began when Sam Malinski’s stick shattered on the initial attempt, sending the puck fluttering forward. Nichushkin gathered it and fired toward the net, and after Dostál made the first save, Landeskog drove it home.
When asked if he paused to make sure the goal counted, Landeskog joked: “Yeah, I did. I thought maybe I caught the goalie stick and (committed goaltender interference), you never know. Yeah, no. Got back to the bench and obviously there’s nothing to argue there, so it felt good.”
Another Massive Win
This is the third instance this season in which Colorado has brought an opponent’s extended winning streak to an end. The Avalanche halted an eight-game run by the New Jersey Devils, a five-game streak by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and most recently, a seven-game surge by the Anaheim Ducks heading into this matchup.
We, at The Hockey News asked Landeskog how it feels to have this kind of momentum so early in the season, leading the NHL and taking down the league’s top competition.
“That’s kind of what we expect out of ourselves,” Landeskog said. “We feel like we’re able to collect points, win hockey games, and beat good teams at the same time, all while trying to perfect our game.
“I don’t think our game is perfect by any means, but at this point in the season, I think we’re doing a good job of making adjustments on the fly and trying to really hone in on the details that will make us successful. Obviously, the power play has been better as of late, and that’s been big for us. I think we just showed our depth tonight, and that’s what we need to do moving forward.”
Power Play Improving
Landeskog makes a compelling point regarding the power play. Earlier in the season, the Avalanche ranked among the league’s poorest in that category. Now, however, they sit in a three-way tie for 11th, alongside the New Jersey Devils and reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, having converted on 17.5% of their opportunities. Martin Nečas’ third-period goal, which gave the Avs a 3-1 lead over the Ducks, came on the man advantage.
The Adjustments
Lately, the Avalanche have excelled at staying with plays—meaning that even when a pass isn’t perfect or doesn’t land exactly where intended, the team still finds a way to get pucks in the back of the net. Even when unexpected events occur, Colorado is quick to capitalize on any opportunity that presents itself.
A prime example came in the Avalanche’s 5-4 overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday, when Nathan MacKinnon scored just before the nine-minute mark of the opening period. Victor Olofsson delivered a pass that wasn’t particularly precise, yet MacKinnon remained composed, took his time, and still managed to snap the puck into the net. How often do we see a misdirected or slightly off pass completely disrupt a team’s rhythm?
Much like Landeskog’s goal in this game, Malinski’s stick shattered. Yet everyone remained disciplined; no one panicked, the team stuck to the game plan, Nichushkin directed the puck on net, and Landeskog was ready when it mattered most.
Firing On All Cylinders
That, however, has been the message the Avalanche have conveyed all season: everyone has a role, everyone supports one another, and that is how championship teams are built. With a record of 11-1-5, Colorado stands as the NHL’s top team. While Landeskog acknowledged that their play is not yet perfect, being the best team in the league at this stage is an achievement worth celebrating.
“For us, it’s just a standard that we want to uphold really and continue to play well and continue to hone in on the details and improve our game the best we can as we move deeper into the season, so I think for us, it’s a standard thing,” Landeskog continued. “That’s what it is. You enjoy the wins, you learn from the wins, and you learn from the losses. That’s really the way it is. This one tonight, I guess a good team is no different. We’ll look at the video and get some rest and get back on it Thursday.”
Next Game
The Avalanche square off against Bowen Byram and the Buffalo Sabers for the second time this season on Thursday at Ball Arena. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. local time.
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No. 19 Gonzaga dominates 2nd half in 90-63 win over No. 23 Creighton
Graham Ike had 20 points and 10 rebounds as No. 19 Gonzaga smothered No. 23 Creighton in the second half of a 90-63 victory Tuesday night.
Stojakovic scores 23 and blocks late 3 attempt as No. 14 Illinois beats No. 11 Texas Tech 81-77
Andrej Stojakovic scored 23 points and blocked a potential tying 3-pointer in the final seconds as No. 14 Illinois defeated No. 11 Texas Tech 81-77 on Tuesday night.
Freshman Brown rises to the occasion for No. 12 Louisville in 96-88 win over No. 9 Kentucky
Freshman Mikel Brown Jr. scored 20 of his 29 points in the first half and No. 12 Louisville held on to defeat No. 9 Kentucky 96-88 on Tuesday night.
Abbott ruled out of first Ashes Test as Hazlewood cleared to join squad in Perth
Fast bowlers were both assessed for hamstring injuries
Green does not bowl on day two of Sheffield Shield game
Josh Hazlewood has indicated his hamstring scare is not serious and he will join the squad as planned after Australia suffered a double injury concern just nine days out from the first Ashes Test.
It is not such good news for fellow quick Sean Abbott, who along with Hazlewood left NSW’s Sheffield Shield game with Victoria on Wednesday for a hamstring scan after bowling in the first session.
Continue reading...No. 6 Michigan holds off Wake Forest 85-84 in overtime, led by Elliot Cadeau and Aday Mara
Elliot Cadeau scored 17 points, including a go-ahead free throw with 13.8 seconds left in overtime, and Nate Calmese missed a shot in the lane just before the buzzer that allowed No. 6 Michigan to hold off Wake Forest 85-84 on Tuesday night.
Ouch! Louisville coach Kelsey injures finger trying to avoid postgame celebration
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey did not get through his first victory against Kentucky completely unscathed. The second-year coach was a little late to the press conference after his 12th-ranked Cardinals defeated the No. 9 Wildcats 96-88 on Tuesday night. When he finally appeared in the media room, his right middle finger was in a splint and taped together with his ring finger.