Category: NBA

Hubert Davis won nearly 70% of his games as North Carolina head coach.

But that wasn't enough to keep him in the job at his alma mater.

Davis led the Tar Heels to the national championship game in his first season 2021-22 and back to the Sweet 16 in 2023-24. But UNC missed the tournament altogether in 2022-23 and was bounced in the first round the past two seasons, including blowing a 19-point lead to VCU in last week's first round.

At UNC, that's not good enough.

UNC basketball coach candidates: Who will replace Hubert Davis? Expect big names linked

The school announced a "change in leadership" on Tuesday, March 24. Davis went 124-54 in his five seasons in charge in Chapel Hill.

He released a statement Tuesday night after the news of his dismissal:

"Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing."

UNC says it will conduct a "national search" for its next head coach.

Expect the list of candidates to include some of basketball's biggest names as one of the sport's biggest brands looks for a reset.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hubert Davis fired: What former UNC coach said after news of dismissal

North Carolina men's basketball coach Hubert Davis will not return next season, the school announced on Tuesday night.

Davis, 55, was fired by North Carolina, which called the move a "leadership change."

The decision comes nearly a week after the Tar Heels were upset in an overtime loss, 82-78, to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The now-former UNC coach is set to be owed nearly $5.3 million, per his contract.

One NBA coach could be calling it quits after the season.

There is “growing momentum” that Bulls coach Billy Donovan could step away from the job when this season concludes, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.

Donovan, 60, is likely not done coaching, according to the report, but could just take a year off to evaluate what he wants to do next, with the Bulls struggling during a season in which he lost his father and mother-in-law in a matter of weeks. 

The Bulls have only made the playoffs one time during Donovan’s six seasons — a first-round exit in 2021-22. That season was the only time the team won more than 40 games with him. 

Donovan, who signed a multi-year contract extension in July 2025, hasn’t exactly been given the plethora of talent from general manager Arturas Karnisovas, who also could soon be on the hot seat as Donovan’s departure would eliminate one potential scapegoat, per the report.

The Bulls are sitting in 12th place in the East at  29-42, well behind the Nets, Wizards and Pacers in the tanking race. 

Some of Donovan’s top players during his Chicago tenure have been Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Tre Jones. All good players, but not exactly game-changing NBA talent in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.

The team hasn’t picked higher than 11th in the draft the past five seasons, limiting its chance to add a true impact rookie.

It could be a situation that leads to Donovan walking away.

Donovan, who led Florida to back-to-back national championships at the NCAA level, has compiled a 467-401 record over 11 NBA seasons.

He won coach of the year in Oklahoma City in 2019-20 and led the Thunder to the Western Conference finals with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in his first season. 

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — Laura Kluge scored her first PWHL goal midway through the second period, Aerin Frankel tied a season high with 35 saves in her sixth shutout of the season and the Boston Fleet beat the Vancouver Goldeneyes 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Boston (11-5-2-4), which moved into sole possession of first place, remained undefeated at the Tsongas Center this season (4-1-0-0) to set a team points record with 45.

Kluge, in her 33rd career game, tipped a Megan Keller shot past goaltender Kristen Campbell to open the scoring. The Fleet have scored first in 18 of 22 games this season.

Susanna Tapani added an empty netter with 21.8 seconds left for her fourth goal in five games since the Olympic break.

Frankel made 29 saves in the second and third periods to help secure her 15th win of the season. The Fleet tied New York for the most regular-season shutouts in league history with nine all-time.

Vancouver (6-1-4-11) has been held to just 13 goals in away games this season, the fewest by any PWHL team.

Up next

Boston plays at Toronto on Friday.

Vancouver continues its five-game road trip at Toronto on Sunday. The trip ends with the Goldeneyes playing Boston in a Takeover Tour game in Edmonton on Apr. 7.

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

North Carolina basketball is moving on from Hubert Davis.

The Tar Heels made the decision to part ways with its coach after five seasons at his alma mater, a move that will have major ramifications on the college basketball world. There was belief a move could happen after North Carolina had a stunning first round exit in the NCAA Tournament, losing after it had a 19-point lead over VCU for the largest comeback first-round win.

Still, Davis was relatively successful, including a national championship game appearance in his first season. So why did North Carolina decide it was time for a new coach?

UNC basketball coach candidates: Who will replace Hubert Davis? Expect big names linked

Why did North Carolina fire Hubert Davis?

North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham and executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark, the soon-to-be athletic director, made the decision to part ways with Davis.

"We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget," Cunningham said in a statement. "This was not an easy decision because of Hubert's tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level."

The key verbiage is "compete more consistently at an elite level," as the Tar Heels have fallen short of their massive expectations.

After falling just short of winning the national title in 2022, the Tar Heels started the following season the No. 1 team in the country, only to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010. After making the Sweet 16 in 2024, North Carolina had first round exits in each of the past two tournaments, the first time that's happened in program history. Last winning a national title in 2017, the nine seasons since a championship is the longest championship drought in the 21st century.

In Davis' tenure, he went 125–54 in five seasons, one Final Four appearance and one ACC regular season championship.

Hubert Davis buyout

North Carolina said it will honor the terms of Davis' contract, meaning he will get his buyout. According to Davis' contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, North Carolina owes Davis $5.312 million if he is fired on April 1.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hubert Davis fired: Why did UNC basketball make coaching change?

Hubert Davis is out at North Carolina.

That means one of the most well-resourced, tradition-rich jobs in all of college basketball is open.

Expect some of the sport's biggest names linked to the opening. Will UNC stay in the family like it did with Davis, Roy Williams, Matt Doherty and Bill Guthridge since Dean Smith retired after the 1997 season?

Debate: Why Todd Golden, Nate Oats should (and shouldn't) consider UNC

Follow the latest news, updates: Will UNC basketball fire Hubert Davis?

UNC announced its "change in leadership" Tuesday, less than a week after the Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead and lost to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It marked the second straight year UNC was bounced in the first round.

UNC says it will conduct a "national search" for its next coach with help from search firm Turnkey ZRG, as well as take input from "former players, former coaches and supporters of UNC Athletics"

Here's a look at some possible candidates UNC may consider:

Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls coach 

Donovan, 60, was a two-time national champion at Florida and has been in the NBA for the last 11 seasons, including six in his current capacity as head coach of the Chicago Bulls. His history as a college coach for 19 years with the Gators, including 16 straight seasons with 20 or more wins – and his NBA ties – equip him to help UNC adapt to modern college basketball. Donovan brings perspective from the best of both worlds and would be the perfect fit in Chapel Hill.

Hayes: Time to see how serious UNC is about basketball. Go get Todd Golden

Nate Oats, Alabama

If UNC wants to fix its NCAA Tournament woes, then how about a coach who’s gone to the Sweet 16 four straight years at a football school? Oats' success includes a Final Four trip in 2024, with the Tide upsetting North Carolina along the way.

Before the NCAA Tournament, Oats fielded questions from reporters about whether Alabama had the necessary NIL support. He said his program can “be competitive” in that space. His remarks didn’t leave you thinking Alabama would outspend a program like UNC. No matter how much Oats wins, football comes first at Alabama.

That’s not such a bad thing. Oats, 51, won’t face the same type of feverish expectations as Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer does. He’ll be celebrated when his teams reach the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight, instead of questioned as to why he didn’t win a national title.

However, if Oats wants to be at a school where basketball rules, he’ll need to leave Alabama.

Oats’ teams shoot a lot of 3-pointers, but they usually make a lot of 3s. They’re an offensive force. His winning ways in March go back to his years at Buffalo. His Bulls pulled off upsets in consecutive years.  

Drama accompanies Oats' program. Just this season, you had the Charles Bediako circus, then Aden Holloway’s arrest just before the tournament. That’s nothing compared to the black eye the program endured in 2023, a situation that still lingers today, with one former Alabama player facing a capital murder charge.

If you can stomach controversy, Oats wins.

Hubert Davis buyout: Contract details for Tar Heels coach

Dusty May, Michigan coach

May, 49, has built a juggernaut this season at Michigan. One of the top coaches in the sport, May led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four before taking over the Wolverines. Since making the move to the Power 5 level, May has put together fun offenses and defenses built on positional size. He's a modern coach built to lead a modern program.

Mark Byington, Vanderbilt

Byington played in college at UNC Wilmington, and he’s been an assistant within the ACC. So, he knows the terrain but wouldn’t face the type of crippling pressure that comes with coaching your alma mater. That’s a potential sweet spot.

Byington, 49, thrived at a mid-major, taking James Madison to the second round in 2024. Then, he fixed a Vanderbilt program that had been stuck in a rut for the better part of a decade. This isn’t Jerry Stackhouse’s Vanderbilt anymore. Thanks in part to Byington and some NIL support, Vanderbilt is a solid job. Byington has a top-20 recruiting class lined up for next season. He could settle in for a nice ride at Vanderbilt, but with his stock hot, if he craves a program with the loftiest of ceilings, now probably would be a good time to strike.

Other names on this list are splashier, but Byington’s career is on the rise. You could sell this hire to a fan base that knows ball.

Mark Few, Gonzaga coach

Few, 63, has done everything at Gonzaga but win a national title. Roy Williams is a mentor and friend, which could ease the sting of moving on from Hubert Davis and the “Carolina Family” coaching tree. Few has won more than 83% of his games across 27 seasons with the Bulldogs and always seems to produce high-scoring offenses and stingy defenses. It doesn’t seem likely that he’ll leave Spokane, but it would qualify as an elite hire. 

Todd Golden, Florida

Golden was ahead of the curve recognizing the power of building an older team through the transfer portal and spotting undervalued talent who’d polished their skills at mid-majors. That strategy resulted in Golden last year becoming the youngest coach to win a national championship since Jim Valvano. The 2025 Gators' stars included included Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin, who were one-time zero-star recruits before growing their game at mid-majors.

Golden’s Gators inexplicably fizzled this March. That included some bad defensive strategy from Golden in Florida's second-round loss to Iowa. Even so, Golden's stock remains as hot as Moderna on the NASDAQ.

The big question: Why would he leave? He can win at the highest level at Florida. He’s proven that. So did Donovan. And, Golden can do it at Florida without facing UNC-level pressure. Football acts as something of a heat shield for Florida basketball coaches, and yet there’s nothing a good basketball coach can’t achieve in Gainesville.

The North Carolina job is the ultimate ego stroke. If the Tar Heels promised to make Golden the sport’s highest-paid coach and to spare no expense on his roster, perhaps that’s enough to make him at least consider leaving his great situation at Florida for a premier opportunity at UNC.

Jay Wright, retired coach

Here’s the classic “Make him say no!” candidate. And, he’d probably say no, but you don’t know if you don’t ask.

Wright went out at the top of his game, retiring from Villanova in 2022 after a Final Four finish at a school where he won two national championships.

When Wright stepped down at Villanova, he didn’t pin it on NIL or the transfer portal. Instead, he explained he felt like he’d lost his competitive edge. Did four seasons away from coaching allow him to regain that edge?

If so, he could return to coaching at a program where he’ll enjoy the resources necessary to compete at the highest level, right from the jump.

Four years into his coaching retirement, Wright, 64, works as a special assistant to Villanova’s president. He’s not shown much public interest in coming back to coaching. Still, considering his resume, it’s worth kicking the tires.

Scott Drew, Baylor

Two years ago, Drew claimed a spot near the top of Kentucky’s wish list. He turned down the Wildcats, a humbling blow to UK. Two years later, you must wonder whether Drew would benefit from a restart. His Baylor team went 16-16 and got trampled within the Big 12. Drew last reached a Sweet 16 in 2021, when he produced a national title.

Take the macro view, and Drew’s Baylor accomplishments are phenomenal. He rescued from the trash bin a program that had been rocked by a deadly scandal. He took the Bears up, up, up, until they reached the top of the sport.

Zoom in, and you realize Drew’s best days at Baylor are behind him. He’s still widely respected, and if Drew, 55, is ever going to leave Baylor, right now is likely his last best chance.

Tommy Lloyd, Arizona coach 

Like Golden, Lloyd would qualify as a home-run hire. And like Golden, the buyout situation could be tricky for UNC. Lloyd, 53, has won more than 80% of his games in five seasons at Arizona. After spending 22 seasons as an assistant under Few at Gonzaga, Lloyd has become one of the top leaders in the nation. His teams are consistently good on both ends of the floor and perennial national contenders. But would a West Coast guy want to make the move across the country if things are going so well in Tucson?

Mike Malone, former NBA coach

An underrated possibility, the 54-year-old Malone is a championship-caliber coach and has a daughter who plays volleyball at UNC. He’s been around the Tar Heels’ basketball program at times and has history as a college and NBA coach. Malone led the Denver Nuggets to an NBA title in 2023.

T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State

This here falls into the category of meat-and-potatoes hire. Otzelberger has become a wins machine in Ames, Iowa. A Midwest native, he suits Iowa State.

Iowa State does not have a rich history of Final Fours or Elite Eights. Could he level up at a program that demands banners? It’s a fair question. He tends to do more with less at Iowa State, and that’s a compliment to his abilities. Until this year, though, Iowa State typically struggles to play up to its seed line once the tournament starts.

Otzelberger builds blue-collar teams known for defense and discipline. UNC must ask itself if that’s what it craves. If it is, then Otzelberger should get a look if and when the bigger names say no.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hubert Davis fired by UNC basketball. Candidates possible coach names

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been sidelined by the Milwaukee Bucks since March 15 and even though the team has been mum in their reasoning, the National Basketball Players Association has taken notice.

According to reporting by the USA TODAY Network's Jim Owczarski, the NBPA was informed about Antetokounmpo’s availability following the Bucks’ 32-point loss in Utah on March 19. The union reportedly took issue with the Bucks and NBA seemingly not enforcing its own rules, in this case the player participation policy, and released a statement through a spokesperson on March 24.

"The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court," the statement read. "Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked.

"We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking."

The league introduced the player participation policy in the 2023-24 season as a way to help ensure star players were available to play as many nationally televised games as possible. Per the policy, "unless a team demonstrates an approved reason for a star player not to participate in a game, then, among other things, the team must:

• Manage its roster to ensure that no more than one star player is unavailable for the same game.
• Ensure that star players are available for all national television and NBA In-Season Tournament games.
• Maintain a balance between the number of one-game absences for a star player in home and road games.
• Refrain from any long-term “shutdowns” in which a star player stops playing games.
• If resting a healthy player, ensure that the player is present at the games and visible to fans."

Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee and suffered a bone bruise after landing awkwardly March 15 against the Indiana Pacers. He left the game and later told reporters he wanted to stay in, but the team's trainers advised against it because the game was already in hand.

The Bucks played a nationally televised game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on NBC on March 17, with Antetokounmpo's status changed from questionable with a left ankle sprain to out with a knee injury 90 minutes before tip-off.

Despite missing over a week and four games since, Antetokounmpo has maintained that he is healthy and wants to play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting? NBPA questions Bucks

North Carolina basketball is on the search for a new head coach.

Hubert Davis will not return to the Tar Heels, with the coach departing days after its stunning collapse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Davis' time in Chapel Hill ends with a 125–54 record in five seasons and one Final Four appearance. According to Davis' contract, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, North Carolina owes Davis $5.312 million for firing him as of April 1.

UNC basketball coach candidates: Who will replace Hubert Davis? Expect big names linked

Debate: Why Todd Golden, Nate Oats should (and shouldn't) consider UNC

"We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget,"UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement announcing Davis' firing. "This was not an easy decision because of Hubert's tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level."

The firing marks what has been a rough end to Davis' tenure after such a promising start. In his first season at his alma mater, taking over Roy Williams, he led the Tar Heels to the 2022 national championship game as a No. 8 seed. But UNC was unable to hold onto a double-digit lead against Kansas in the contest.

It felt like it would be the start of a successful run for Davis and keep the blue-blood as a national power, but North Carolina hasn't gotten close since then. It started the following season the No. 1 team in the country but ended up missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

Opinion: Time to see how serious UNC is about basketball. Go get Todd Golden

While North Carolina made the Sweet 16 in 2024, it had first round exits in each of the past two tournaments, the first time that's happened in program history. Against VCU on Thursday, March 19, the Tar Heels surrendered a 19-point lead as the Rams forced overtime, where UNC failed to make a field goal in the extra period in the eventual loss to the 11th seed.

It was the largest comeback in NCAA Tournament first round history.

Now, North Carolina begins one of the most intriguing searches in all of college basketball.

Davis was an assistant on Williams' staff for nine seasons prior to being named head coach, and was the favorite to land the job when Williams retired. With Davis lasting just five seasons, North Carolina will have to decide if it goes outside of the "Carolina family" — someone with past ties to the program — or go for a major hire.

"Hubert cares deeply for our University, and it has been inspiring to watch him instill that love and Tar Heel tradition into the players he has coached," executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark," said in a statement. "Chancellor Roberts, Bubba and I join all of the Carolina community in thanking Hubert and his family for all they have done for UNC."

The job is considered one of the highest profile roles in all of the sport, with a rich tradition, large fan base and an abundance of resources, a coach has everything they could need to succeed. But with that, it also carries tremendous pressure, with the expectation to be a national championship contender every year. The 10 seasons since its last national championship is its longest drought this century.

No matter who North Carolina hires, it will have major ripple effects to all of college basketball.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hubert Davis fired by UNC basketball after March Madness exit, search begins

CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Flacco has agreed to terms to return to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he will serve as a backup for Joe Burrow.

Flacco was dealt to the Bengals from the Cleveland Browns in October and made six starts for Cincinnati while Burrow was out with a toe injury.

The 41-year-old Flacco played well despite going 1-5 as a starter with the Bengals. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.

He also started the first four games for the Browns last season with two touchdowns with six interceptions.

Flacco, who was Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2012 season, has played for the Broncos, Jets, Eagles, Jets again, Browns, Colts, Browns again and the Bengals.

He has thrown for 48,176 yards, 272 TDs and 172 INTs in 19 seasons. He is 10-6 in the playoffs with 3530 yards passing, 26 TDs and 12 INTs.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to push their winning streak to four games as they take on the Orlando Magic on national TV.

Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!

Go Cavs!

Cleveland Cavaliers head coachKenny Atkinson provided an update for injured center Jarrett Allen, and it was an encouraging one.

“He’s ramped it up in the last few days,” Atkinson said before Tuesday night’s game against the Orlando Magic. “Trending positive, watched him yesterday on the court. I think we are in the last stage of getting him ready.”

Allen has now missed nine games in a row, having first felt discomfort on March 3 against the Detroit Pistons. The team has described it as tendonitis, though there has been a bit of ambiguity since it was first thought to be a banged knee. But his impending return would be a boon for the Cavs, who have missed the pick-and-roll dynamism and rim protection. That has not stopped the Cavs from finding ways to win games, however.

Evan Mobley has filled the role of center admirably with more confidence and force of late, though his inability to hit free throws leaves a lot to be desired. But the overarching theme is that his play is translating in a way that should persist even when his front-court mate is back in the starting lineup.

“When he (Mobley) goes back to the four when Allen is back, I anticipate him playing better,” Atkinson continued. “I feel like post-All-Star, Evan has just been a different character.”

Sure enough, Mobley is shooting nearly 10% better from the floor after the All-Star Break compared to prior while maintaining similar rebounds, steals, and blocks. The return of Allen will impede those numbers, surely, but the bigger question for Mobley has been aggressiveness and confidence. If that manages to continue even with Allen’s return, it would be a very positive development for the Cavs as they head toward the postseason.

The New York Knicks (47*-25) host the New Orleans Pelicans (25-47) tonight at Madison Square Garden. This matchup gives the Knicks a chance to pad their Eastern Conference standing against a weak Western team that doesn’t always play like it. Zion broke 30 points when they played last, and Dejounte Murray has given the birds a little lift since returning 10 games ago. Underestimate them at your peril, Knickerbockers.

Tonight’s tip off is 7:30 p.m. EST on MSG and NBA TV. This is your game thread. This is The Bird Writes. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be shining stars of humanity. And go Knicks!

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups have false bottoms.

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal underlined its credentials for back-to-back Women’s Champions League titles by beating English rival Chelsea 3-1 in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Also, Wolfsburg took a 1-0 lead over record eight-time champion Lyonnes in a meeting of two of the competition’s most storied names.

Stina Blackstenius — with her first Champions League goal since the winner in the final against Barcelona last season — and Chloe Kelly gave Arsenal a 2-0 halftime lead at Emirates Stadium.

Lauren James curled a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner to reduce the deficit for Chelsea but Arsenal regained its two-goal cushion when Alessia Russo drove home from the edge of the area.

Chelsea finished higher in the league stage — third place, compared to Arsenal in fifth — but has work to do in next week’s return leg across London to reach the semifinals for the fourth straight season.

Lineth Beerensteyn scored the only goal for Wolfsburg with a deflected 14th-minute shot against Lyon in the 12th Champions League meeting between the teams, which makes it tied for the most-played fixture in the competition’s history.

Four of those matches have been in finals, highlighting their status.

Kadidiatou Diani hit the post late in the game for Lyon, whose most recent of its eight titles came in 2022.

Remaining quarterfinals

The other two first-leg matches in the quarterfinals are on Wednesday, when Real Madrid hosts Barcelona in a big Spanish rivalry and Manchester United makes its debut at this stage against Bayern Munich.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer