Category: NBA

Green Bay men's basketball coach Doug Gottlieb has been suspended by the Horizon League for his postgame comments about referees.

The Horizon League announced it was suspending Gottlieb for one game for his comments following a 75-72 loss to in-state rival Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Sunday, Feb. 15. As a result, he will miss the Phoenix's matchup against Oakland on Friday, Feb. 20.

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"The Horizon League is suspending Green Bay men's basketball head coach Doug Gottlieb for violating the League's Operating Regulations on Sunday, Feb. 15," the league wrote in a statement shared on X.

The post also added that it considers the matter closed and will have no further comment.

League Statement on Disciplinary Action#OurHorizon 🌇| #HLMBB 🏀 pic.twitter.com/JcQpbtsuyg

— Horizon League (@HorizonLeague) February 18, 2026

Shortly after the league announced the discipline, Gottlieb took to his own personal X (formerly Twitter) account to apologize for his actions.

"I'd like to apologize to the Horizon League and the officials for my disparaging comments following Sunday's game," Gottlieb wrote. "I understand and appreciate how difficult their job is, and respect what they do for the sport of basketball. I will be better moving forward."

pic.twitter.com/6yLtZ0KpFY

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) February 18, 2026

Gottlieb was upset about a foul call against his best player, CJ O'Hara, which was his fourth and came with 4:25 left in the game. The Phoenix led by four at the time, but the foul changed the direction of the game.

Later on, Gottlieb was further angered by a no-call for a foul when his player drove to the hoop for a potential game-winning shot with just a few seconds remaining.

"You had the exact same play at both ends on the last play of the game," Gottlieb said to reporters, pausing momentarily to aggressively slam his fists onto the table.

"The exact same [expletive] play!" he yelled, "The exact same play!"

Following UWGB’s loss to UW-Milwaukee on Sunday, 75-72, Doug Gottlieb gave an intense postgame speech on the late second half technical foul. Full story in comments. pic.twitter.com/MsOxU8LNYz

— WFRV Local 5 (@WFRVLocal5) February 16, 2026

Gottlieb also took exception to a technical foul he was hit with, with just under seven minutes left in the game.

"I need the new commissioner of the Horizon League to explain to me what a technical foul is when I don't leave the box, I don't curse, I'm not demonstrative," Gottlieb said. "There was nothing, nothing that should have been called a technical foul. I know when I earn one. I did not earn one.

"The CJ play, we're up [four] points, that dramatically changed the [trajectory] of the game."

For the game, Milwaukee shot 37 free throws, while Green Bay shot 19, despite drawing only five more fouls. 

"All we ask is that there's a fair game. That's what we ask," Gottlieb said. "CJ O'Hara goes and gets an offensive rebound, their player dives at his legs and CJ gets called for a foul. I need [Jill Bodensteiner] at the league, our new commissioner, to explain to me the disparity in the officiating. That's what I need explained to me."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Doug Gottlieb suspended by Horizon League after Green Bay coach's rant

It’s been a long season full of recurring injuries for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Soon, hopefully, they can put those concerns behind them and finish the final 27 games strong. That means getting multiple key players such as Evan Mobley, Dean Wade and Max Strus back on the court.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson says those guys are starting to ramp up towards a return.

“All are trending very positive,” said Atkinson. “Dean and Evan are trending toward playing tomorrow. They went through a full practice today and looked good.”

Getting back Mobley and Wade would give this surging team another boost. They both bring tremendous value defensively and should pair well offensively with newcomer James Harden. There’s an entire pick-and-roll game to develop between Harden and Mobley, while Wade should benefit from catch-and-shoot attempts in the corner off Harden’s drive-and-kicks.

As for Strus, the timeline is still murky.

“Max is progressing,” said Atkinson. “Did a pretty high-level workout today, no contact still, but he’s starting to ramp up. Don’t get too excited, but he’s doing a lot more, so that’s good news.”

Strus has not played yet this season after suffering a foot injury in August. It was announced in January that Strus would miss at least another month with the injury.

The Cavs have missed Strus for his ability to space the floor and get hot in a hurry. He’s one of the streakiest three-point shooters in the league, and that’s led to some of the most entertaining games of the last few years for Cleveland. They’d love to have him back, not only for his volume shooting, but for the connective tissue he brings to both ends of the floor. Strus is a competitor that raises the floor for everyone.

For now, Cavs fans can at least look forward to Mobley and Wade returning soon. Cleveland is back from the All-Star break tomorrow as they host the Brooklyn Nets.

LONDON (AP) — Real Madrid set up a Clasico against three-time champion Barcelona in the women's Champions League quarterfinals by beating Paris FC 2-0 on Wednesday.

Striker Naomie Feller opened the scoring and Melween N’Dongala put through her own net as Madrid advanced 5-2 on aggregate, having won the first leg in Paris 3-2.

Later Wednesday, defending champion Arsenal protects a 4-0 lead when it hosts Belgian side OH Leuven. Qualification for the London club would set up a quarterfinal with rival Chelsea.

Early red card

Paris' cause was made harder when defender Théa Greboval was sent off in the fifth minute for pulling back Feller as she ran through on goal.

Still, the visitors came close to taking a 19th-minute lead at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano when Océane Picard’s low shot from 20 meters was well saved by goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez.

Attacking midfielder Caroline Weir missed a chance to put Madrid ahead from the penalty spot in the 36th after Picard handled a cross. Goalkeeper Mylène Chavas, playing against her former club, pushed away the spot kick with both hands.

Feller broke Paris' resistance in the 54th when she volleyed in from close range following a fine cross from right back Eva Navarro, who also set up the second goal midway through the second half when her cross led to N’Dongala's own goal from near the penalty spot.

The revamped women’s Champions League format has followed the men’s competition, with an opening league phase of six rounds instead of eight.

The top four in the 18-team league phase — Barcelona, Lyon, Chelsea and Bayern Munich — advanced directly to the quarters and teams placed fifth to 12th went into the playoffs.

To come

In Thursday's second legs, Juventus hosts two-time champion Wolfsburg with the score 2-2 while Manchester United defends a 3-0 lead at home to Atletico Madrid.

___

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

Late in the 2024–25 campaign, the Bucks featured a three-guard look that was quite effective, even in the playoffs: Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., Giannis, and Bobby Portis. It was so intriguing that many fans thought the answer this year would be to replace Portis with newcomer Myles Turner and run with it. But while that lineup has been good, we’ve barely seen it thanks to injuries and ineffectiveness. Still, we’ll attempt to figure out how playing three guards is going this year.

Yesterday, we found that when the best lineups stayed together over the 2024 offseason, they remained pretty good, even with a drop-off from increased playing time. That generally held when these teams swapped or added significant talent to their rotations too, improving their holdover lineups on paper. It also held when said talent came in the form of a big man.

But that was only entering last season. To get a handle on how it’s gone in recent years, we’re going to increase the scope here. I looked at teams that made a significant frontcourt acquisition the previous offseason, particularly additions who regularly played the five, then I compared how they integrated with smaller or less-talented groups from one year to the next. This dates back to offseason big man additions since 2018:

Lineup	Team	MP	Year 1 Net	MP	Year 2 Net	Diff.
Horford/G. Williams/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS	117	13.1
Horford/Porzingis/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS			118	16.2	+3.1
Horford/Smart/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS	432	12.2
Horford/Porzingis/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS			118	16.2	+4.0
Horford/R. Williams/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS	69	44.9
Horford/Porzingis/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS			118	16.2	-28.7
Horford/Brogdon/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS	48	2.0
Horford/Porzingis/Brown/White/Tatum	BOS			118	16.2	+14.2
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Vanderbilt	UTA	133	15.7
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Collins	UTA			256	4.3	-11.4
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Kessler	UTA	79	-0.1
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Collins	UTA			256	4.3	+4.4
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Beasley	UTA	37	-3.8
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Collins	UTA			256	4.3	+8.1
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Conley	UTA	30	30.4
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Sexton/Collins	UTA			256	4.3	-26.1
Olynyk/Clarkson/Markkanen/Horton-Tucker/Kessler	UTA	41	18.4
Collins/Clarkson/Markkanen/Horton-Tucker/Kessler	UTA			84	-22.1	-40.5
Russell/Towns/Vanderbilt/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN	155	-4.6
Russell/Towns/Gobert/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN			260	4.0	+8.6
Russell/Towns/Beasley/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN	104	11.9
Russell/Towns/Gobert/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN			260	4.0	-7.9
Russell/Towns/Beverley/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN	76	10.7
Russell/Towns/Gobert/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN			260	4.0	-6.7
Russell/Towns/Okogie/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN	45	-0.9
Russell/Towns/Gobert/Edwards/McDaniels	MIN			260	4.0	+4.9
Thompson/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Theis	BOS	95	-4.3
Horford/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Theis	BOS			59	33.9	+38.2
Thompson/Smart/Brown/Tatum/G. Williams	BOS	32	30.1
Horford/Smart/Brown/Tatum/G. Williams	BOS			61	-13.7	-43.8
Valaciunas/Anderson/Melton/Morant/Bane	MEM	50	14.0
Adams/Anderson/Melton/Morant/Bane	MEM			60	-25.2	-39.2
Redick/Favors/Ingram/Ball/Hart	NO	94	-10.7
Redick/Adams/Ingram/Ball/Hart	NO			46	20.0	+30.7
Bledsoe/Henson/Middleton/Giannis/Brown	MIL	32	20.7
Bledsoe/Lopez/Middleton/Giannis/Brown	MIL			130	-10.4	-31.1
Bledsoe/Henson/Middleton/Giannis/Snell	MIL	606	5.8
Bledsoe/Lopez/Middleton/Giannis/Snell	MIL			67	3.5	-2.3
Bledsoe/Henson/Middleton/Giannis/Brogdon	MIL	224	13.0
Bledsoe/Lopez/Middleton/Giannis/Brogdon	MIL			597	5.7	-7.3
Bledsoe/Henson/Snell/Giannis/Brogdon	MIL	40	-23.4
Bledsoe/Lopez/Snell/Giannis/Brogdon	MIL			35	61.7	+85.1
Livingston/West/Iguodala/Thompson/Green	GS	139	9.4
Livingston/Cousins/Iguodala/Thompson/Green	GS			67	13.2	+3.8
Durant/Pachulia/Curry/Thompson/Green	GS	414	8.5
Durant/Cousins/Curry/Thompson/Green	GS			268	13.1	+4.6

These aren’t all elite teams by any means, but does the pattern above—the best lineups fell off but were still generally very good, and increased exposure lowered net ratings overall—hold? Well, lineups that shifted their biggest guy down the positional spectrum, then installed their shiny new big man in place of a guard or wing, sometimes saw a nice jump. Look at the Celtics replacing Malcom Brogdon with Kristaps Porzingis in 2023, then further down the list, Tristan Thompson with Al Horford in 2021. A post-ACL tear DeMarcus Cousins elevated some Warriors holdovers too.

On the other hand, newcomer Rudy Gobert plus lesser defender Karl-Anthony Towns lineups in Minnesota were a mixed bag, as were groups that added John Collins alongside one of Utah’s returning bigs, Kelly Olynyk or Walker Kessler. Even Lopez couldn’t elevate two of the Bucks’ better quintets in 2017–18, though they were still solid (the 20.7 net with Sterling Brown looks quite fluky).

Generally, though, new big men lineups did fit the pattern I mentioned: the four-returnees-plus-one-new-guy groups averaged a 1.5 points per 100 possessions decrease in their net rating. And when previous-year lineups saw an uptick in minutes, their net decreased 73% of the time. But the truly elite groups didn’t usually maintain a standard of excellence. Of all the fivesomes with net ratings above 12 (usually around 80th percentile), nearly all sank to league average or below in net, except for the Porzingis crews.

We now finally arrive to this year’s Bucks. Unfortunately, only two Milwaukee lineups with Turner replacing Lopez and the other four not changing have carried over from 2024–25 to 2025–26 thus far. The sample size is far too small to glean anything from:

Lineup	MP	24–25 Net	MP	25–26 Net	Diff.
Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Lopez	17	75.8
Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Turner			17	48.9	-26.9
Porter/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Lopez	43	-9.8
Porter/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Turner			4	18.3	+28.1

Though Giannis may be returning soon, we may not get more data on last year’s three-guard trio since Trent seems to have been replaced by Cam Thomas in the rotation. But it’s really Rollins who has replaced him in the Bucks’ three-guard groups, which they have used a lot this year: they’ve played 373 minutes together, which CTG defines as 754 non-garbage time possessions. They have a very solid 119.9 offensive rating and 111.0 defensive rating; a +8.9 net rating, good for the 90th percentile. Their most successful and most used groups slot Giannis alongside Portis, Turner, or Kuzma, though using Portis and Turner together has also worked in small doses (only seen in four games):

Lineup	Possessions	Net Rtg	%tile	ORtg	%tile	DRtg	%tile
Rollins/Porter/Green/Giannis/Turner	356	13.6	81st	123.0	74th	109.4	74th
Rollins/Porter/Green/Kuzma/Turner	99	-17.6	12th	104.0	11th	121.6	26th
Rollins/Porter/Green/Giannis/Portis	94	30.2	96th	120.2	62nd	90.0	99th
Rollins/Porter/Green/Sims/Turner	87	4.1	54th	114.9	38th	110.9	68th
Rollins/Porter/Green/Portis/Sims	36	-2.0	37th	133.3	96th	135.5	3rd
Rollins/Porter/Green/Kuzma/Portis	28	-59.1	0th	96.4	2nd	155.6	0th
Rollins/Porter/Green/Portis/Turner	26	32.6	98th	115.4	42nd	82.8	100th
Rollins/Porter/Green/Kuzma/Giannis	19	31.6	97th	142.1	100th	110.5	70th

Of the four lineups that are made up of returning players from 2024–25, only one saw any action last year: the one at the very bottom, with just five possessions. But the third lineup down, with its +30.2 net, is probably the best analogue for Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Portis, and the top lineup is the closest we’ll get to Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Lopez. If we use Rollins as our Trent equivalence (not too far off, given Trent’s excellent shooting last year and scratch defense), here’s how they compare across seasons:

Lineup	Poss.	24–25 Net	Poss.	25–26 Net	Diff.
Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Lopez	34	88.2
Porter/Green/Rollins/Giannis/Turner			356	13.6	-74.6
Porter/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Lopez	84	-7.4
Porter/Green/Rollins/Kuzma/Turner			99	-17.6	-10.2
Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Portis	88	54.6
Porter/Green/Rollins/Giannis/Portis			94	30.2	-24.4
Porter/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Portis	33	61.5
Porter/Green/Rollins/Kuzma/Portis			28	-59.1	-120.6
Porter/Green/Trent/Portis/Lopez	22	-58.2
Porter/Green/Rollins/Portis/Turner			26	32.6	+90.8
Porter/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Giannis	58	-6.3
Porter/Green/Rollins/Kuzma/Giannis			19	31.6	+37.9
Porter/Green/Trent/Kuzma/Sims	96	4.2
Porter/Green/Rollins/Kuzma/Sims			3	133.3	+129.1

In a sense, the Bucks’ small-ball “death lineup” didn’t go anywhere, if you just replace Rollins with Trent, and the three-guard “triumverate” still exists with him alongside Porter and Green. The sample sizes of Porter/Green/Trent/Giannis/Portis and Porter/Rollins/Green/Giannis/Portis are now about the same, and though it’s seen a net falloff of 24.4, it’s still 96th percentile. That’s in line with findings from other teams dating back several years: the best lineups fell off but remained generally very good, and increased exposure lowered net ratings overall.

And as much as we’ve bemoaned the Bucks’ lack of size on the wing, playing AJG as an undersized three has actually worked pretty well as long as he has the right frontcourt: CTG gives lineups with Green playing alongside two smaller guards (not just Rollins and KPJ, but also small doses of Cole Anthony and Cam Thomas) a +7.8 net. What you don’t want, though, is him plus another non-ballhandling guard (-28.6 in 35 possessions). Or worse yet, one of Trent or Gary Harris moving up a spot to the three (-9.4 in 1228 possessions).

Rollins’ emergence has been so critical to the Bucks this year, as roster construction and an injury to Taurean Prince have dictated that they play three guards very often. Though they can now play bigger on the wing when necessary, thanks to Ousmane Dieng, it’s still a good weapon. One question moving forward is how it will work with Thomas: playing next to any of Rollins, KPJ, or Porter, will he bring enough offense to keep three-guard lineups above water? If so, how high above even, and who do they need in the frontcourt? We’ll check on this down the road, provided Doc doesn’t abandon the three-guard look, which he shouldn’t, even if playing that small is usually a necessity.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb was suspended one game by the Horizon League on Wednesday for comments he made while criticizing officials after a 75-72 loss to Milwaukee last Sunday.

Gottlieb slammed his hands on the table at one point and used an expletive in his postgame news conference while complaining about what he perceived as inconsistency in the officiating. Video of his news conference garnered attention on social media.

“Gottlieb’s postgame comments do not reflect the League’s values or sportsmanship expectations,” the Horizon League said in a statement announcing the suspension. “The Horizon League considers this matter closed and will have no further comment.”

The suspension will take effect for Friday when Green Bay (15-13, 10-7) visits Oakland (14-13, 10-6).

“I’d like to apologize to the Horizon League and the officials for my disparaging comments following Sunday’s game,” Gottlieb said Wednesday in a statement. “I understand and appreciate how difficult their job is, and respect what they do for the sport of basketball. I will be better moving forward.”

Kerry Rupp, an assistant on Gottlieb's staff, will be Green Bay's acting head coach on Friday.

“We have talked to Coach Gottlieb about the comments he made following Sunday’s game," Green Bay chancellor Michael Alexander athletic director Josh Moon said in a statement. “We appreciate his apology and respect the commissioner’s decision, however, we do not believe his actions warrant a suspension. We feel a reprimand or public censure would have been appropriate.”

Green Bay was trailing 73-72 in the closing seconds when Milwaukee’s Stevie Elam stole the ball from Preston Ruedinger, who was driving to the basket. Elam then made two free throws with 1 second left.

On Milwaukee’s previous possession, Amar Augillard had driven to the basket, got a foul call and made two free throws to put the Panthers ahead. Green Bay believed a foul should have been called on Ruedinger’s drive as well.

“It’s the exact same play as the other end — could not be more similar,” Gottlieb said after the game. “And yet, every time they drove, it was a foul. And every time we did, it was mixed.”

Milwaukee went 30 of 37 on free-throw attempts, while Green Bay was 14 of 18. There were 23 fouls called on Green Bay and 18 on Milwaukee.

Gottlieb also wondered why he received a technical foul at one point in the game. Gottlieb said he didn’t curse, wasn’t demonstrative and hadn’t left his box before the technical was called.

“There was nothing, nothing that should have been called a technical foul,” Gottlieb said. “I know when I’ve earned one. I did not earn one.”

___

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UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin did it again Tuesday night — he keeps doing this — and someone needs to get him under control. I’d suggest Cronin needs to control himself, stop bullying his players and others, but these aren’t isolated incidents. This keeps happening. It’s who he is:

A bully. A vicious one.

Yeah, I hear some of you: Wah, wah, you’re so soft…

Maybe so. But maybe being soft, being vulnerable, is more of what this world needs. Everywhere you look, on the streets and on social media and even in our seats of government, we’re being hard, being invulnerable, being downright mean. Look around. You like what you see? Not me.

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And what we’re seeing from Bruins coach Mick Cronin is appalling. Here’s what we saw Tuesday night, and please, see the whole picture. Don’t focus on one thing — the foul by one of his players — and decide: Welp, that’s what the kid deserved.

Nah. UCLA senior forward Steve Jamerson II didn’t deserve this.

Neither did the reporter who asked Cronin, afterward, about the atmosphere in East Lansing, Michigan.

Here’s how it started:

Michigan State’s Carson Cooper is running down the court, ahead of the pack, going up for a dunk. The No. 15 Spartans lead UCLA by 27 with 4½ minutes left, well on their way to victory, when Cooper rises for a dunk. Behind him, Jamerson arrives a split-second late. He goes for the block, nothing dirty — watch the play yourself — but Cooper’s momentum, combined with the contact Jamerson makes on his arm, sends Cooper to the floor.

Cooper rises, angry. Hey, that’s his right. Jamerson stands his ground. His right, too.

And then Mick Cronin did one of the single cruelest things I’ve ever seen.

First, UCLA's Mike Cronin ejects his own player

You’re picturing the scene, right? The Breslin Center is furious, turning all its rage on Jamerson. That was the crowd’s right. So far, nobody has done anything wrong. Jamerson was hustling, competing. Didn’t look frustrated, just a split-second late as he contested the shot. Cooper was angry. The crowd was furious.

It happens.

But then Cronin does something that can’t happen. Cronin grabs Jamerson by the shirt, by the arm, and tells him to get out. Points angrily to a staffer, then to Jamerson, and gives the “get him out of here” signal.

Watch the video. See that look on Jamerson’s face? He’s bewildered, dejected. The entire building has just turned on him, and now his coach is sending him off the court, into the locker room, to face all that fury by himself? The video shows students giving Jamerson the middle finger, and shouting at him. You can see the finger(s). Can’t hear the shouting, thank goodness.

You hope Jamerson didn’t hear it, either, but that’s naïve.

After the foul, UCLA HC Mick Cronin ejects his own player, Steven Jamerson III. pic.twitter.com/KOFMCDRYjg

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) February 18, 2026

This was the worst example, but just the latest example, of Cronin humiliating his players. His postgame news conferences tend to go viral after losses, because he questions his players’ toughness or effort in the most straightforward terms, and has even suggested — rather blatantly — that his players aren’t smart enough.

“The most important thing for a teacher is for his students to have aptitude or they can’t learn,” he said in 2024 after a loss to Stanford. “If a team makes adjustments, we struggle to adjust to instruction on the fly.”

"It’s really hard to coach people that are delusional," Cronin said in 2025 after a loss to Michigan. "We got guys who think they’re way better than they are. They’re nice kids. They’re completely delusional about who they are.”

“You can't call your mommy; she can't help you,” he said in 2024. “You've got an opportunity of a lifetime and it may not last forever depending on your performance.”

Cronin thinks he’s old-school tough, and that players are soft. He’s not the problem — they are.

“If you’re hard on Little Johnny in this era,” he said earlier this month, after a win at Rutgers, “you might get investigated.”

At first, forgive me, I found it almost refreshing. Maybe that’s because I was inclined to like Cronin — because I’d always liked Cronin — since meeting him 20 years ago when he was coaching Cincinnati and I was living there, covering college basketball for CBSSports.com. In 2011, when players from Xavier and Cincinnati brawled, Cronin’s postgame disgust was so real, so deserved, I texted him that night to thank him for standing up for decency.

Now this is me, standing up for decency, and telling Mick — or telling UCLA — this has to stop. What happened to Steven Jamerson was the breaking point, for me.

What happened afterward, to a reporter? Another brutal, bully move.

Then Mick Cronin bullies a reporter

This story hinges on Xavier Booker, who spent the past two seasons at Michigan State before transferring to UCLA this season. The Breslin Center student section, the 5,000-strong Izzone, taunted Booker by chanting his name.

Afterward, a reporter asked Cronin what he thought about that.

“I could give a rat’s ass about the other team’s student section,” Cronin said. “I would like to give you kudos for the worst question I’ve ever been asked.”

A second reporter starts to ask a question on another topic, but Cronin ignores him to turn on the first reporter. His team has just been embarrassed. Cronin’s about to take it out on someone else.

“You really think I care about the other team’s student section?” he asks.

The second reporter tries to defend himself, and if his voice went up ever so slightly — and that’s all it was — could you blame him? He was being humiliated by the coach of UCLA, with cameras running. He was standing up for himself, and you know bullies:

They don’t like that.

“Are you raising your voice at me?” Cronin demanded.

The reporter, trying to calm the situation, backed down and said he wasn’t.

“Yeah, you are, yeah, you are,” Cronin said. “Come on, dude … everybody’s standing here listening to you. Everybody. This is on camera. They can hear you. I answered the question. I could give a rat’s ass about the other team’s student section. I coach UCLA. I don’t care about Michigan State students. Who cares?”

UCLA coach Mick Cronin's thoughts on the Michigan State student section. @ThisistheIZZONEpic.twitter.com/7pJJHEs7sQ

— Owen Oszust (@Owen_Oszust) February 18, 2026

This was the biggest kid in the schoolyard, pushing down a smaller one and then mocking him. It’s what Cronin had done to Jamerson, using the assembled crowd to reinforce his own cruelty.

This is who Cronin is with cameras rolling, and NBA scouts tell me he’s even worse behind closed doors, at practice. A Western Conference scout, a longtime friend of mine, was discussing Cronin’s recent odd behavior with me before tipoff at a recent Big Ten game. This was before the incident Tuesday night at Michigan State — that’s how bizarre Cronin has been behaving — when the scout told me:

“He mother(bleeps) them in practice like you wouldn’t believe,” the scout said. “Oh, he (bleeps) them. Mick is the only coach I know who doesn’t film his practice. You know why? He doesn’t want evidence.”

An Eastern Conference scout, another longtime friend who has attended UCLA practices, said he’s heard the same — that Cronin doesn’t film practice — and added: “John Wooden would be beside himself” at the way Cronin treats his players on a daily basis.

“Not sure why he’s so combative,” the scout continued. “He’s an excellent coach, and actually a great guy off the court.”

As I said, I’ve found Cronin to be charming away from the court as well, and was such a fan of his — past tense, was — that I suggested the Indiana basketball program hire Cronin last season after firing Mike Woodson. It’s OK to admit when we’re wrong.

What is Cronin waiting on? How about you, UCLA? Contrast UCLA’s silence, its unspoken approval of Cronin, with what Kansas State did Sunday, firing basketball coach Jerome Tang for a postgame rant that included: “These dudes do not deserve to wear this uniform, and there will be very few of them in it next year.”

You ask me, Kansas State wasn’t standing up for its players but being cheap and opportunistic, using Tang’s rant to try to fire its losing coach for cause — and get out of his $18 million buyout. That might stick in court, but probably not.

Contrast Cronin’s postgame behavior Tuesday with Purdue coach Matt Painter the same night, when Michigan trounced his team at Mackey Arena and Painter stuck up for his players, said he “liked” them and even “loved” them, and then joked with reporters afterward.

“That was way too much talking,” he said as he rose to head back to the locker room.

“That’s on you,” a reporter teased.

“You have to own your part,” said Painter, teasing back, maybe the nicest great coach ever.

Mick Cronin? If he’s not the meanest coach in the country, God help the players of any coach who deserves the title more.

Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Threads, or on BlueSky and Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar, or at www.facebook.com/greggdoyelstar. Subscribe to the free weekly Doyel on Demand newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mick Cronin ejects UCLA players, rips into reporter. Can't stop bullying

A franchise and its biggest star need to be aligned, and it appears the Lakers have that with Luka Dončić.

The Lakers traded for him last February, and he showed that he wanted to stay here by signing an extension in the summer.

Since then, every move has been about building around Luka and maintaining flexibility so that they can have optionality this summer with as much cap space as possible.

This is why they had a rather quiet trade deadline and why Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka described the team as being aggressive by saying no to bad deals.

While fans might’ve been unsatisfied with the activity at the trade deadline, according to a recent piece by Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Luka supports how LA approached it.

A source familiar with Doncic’s thinking told ESPN that L.A.’s deadline approach with “adherence to discipline” and focus on the “long-term picture” was supported by the 26-year-old star. He has not pushed the team to add a superstar-level co-star for when James is no longer on the roster.

The relationship between Luka and the Lakers is still fairly new, but they’ve shown that they’ll work hard to do what he approves of.

When he joined the team in the middle of the season and asked for a center, they got him one. This summer, he was part of the recruiting pitch for Marcus Smart, and they landed him as well.

So, if he understands the inner workings of the organization and believes in the plan, then that’s what matters most.

Still, the pressure will be on the Lakers’ front office to prove they didn’t waste a deadline and can actually capitalize on the opportunity they created in the summer.

Because if they don’t upgrade the roster in significant ways this summer, then it won’t be long before even Luka will be wondering what’s being done to foster winning.

And while things are good now, as we’ve seen around the NBA with other franchises and their stars, it doesn’t take much for a situation to turn sour.

For now, though, Luka is happy and aligned with the vision.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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The NBA All-Star Break is deceptive.

This is not midseason, but rather there is only a third of the season remaining. The playoff picture is very much in focus.

NBA championship odds already reflect that, but they may overvalue the Oklahoma City Thunder. My NBA picks tell you why the Celtics and the Timberwolves are viable alternatives. 

NBA Championship odds

The post-All-Star break schedule can yield a genuine amount of absurdity as tanking takes hold and other teams coast into the postseason.

In a genuine way, the most telling stretch of the regular season is the six weeks following December 1. Everyone in the NBA is still playing competitively, and the season’s fatigue has not yet grabbed total hold.

Looking at the net ratings in those six weeks, two teams are well ahead of the pack: The Oklahoma City Thunder at +10.8 and the Boston Celtics at +10.0.

Betting on the Thunder is obviously the safe play, but those odds of just +130 are not rewarding enough for this thought process, especially since taking Oklahoma City’s series price in four straight rounds would likely create a rollover approach close to that +130.

But the Celtics are worth considering at +1200.

The talk of Jayson Tatum’s possible return should be ignored in this moment. Perhaps he does make a risky return, but making this bet because of that raises your risk profile. Instead, look at the Boston roster as it is known.

At his best, Jaylen Brown can match up with anyone over a series. Derrick White is one of the most all-around clutch players in the NBA. Adding Nikola Vucevic should help both on defense in the post and on the glass.

That may seem like a shorthanded group when facing deeper Eastern Conference teams like the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks or the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Celtics’ net rating was 2.4 points better per 100 possessions than the Pistons’ in that six-week stretch following December 1. Some faith should be put into that.

NBA Championship prediction: Boston Celtics to win (+1200 at bet365)

NBA Championship sleeper pick

Full disclosure: Yours truly has Minnesota Timberwolves season tickets. No one would be more delighted by the Timberwolves winning the Western Conference (+1800). If they did, they would likely be favorites in the NBA Finals.

Look back at that same six-week stretch beginning on December 1. The three-highest net ratings are the Thunder (+10.8), the Celtics (+10.0) and the Pistons (+7.6). Detroit has the longest title odds of that group at +1400.

Only two other teams had net ratings higher than +4.5. The San Antonio Spurs (+5.5) are still as short as +1400 to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

But the Timberwolves (+5.8) are a lofty +3500. There is a disconnect there.

Minnesota has been better at season’s end than at the All-Star Break in each year of Chris Finch’s tenure, particularly the last two seasons.There is a reason the Timberwolves made the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two years.

Adding Ayo Dosunmu at the trade deadline may seem like a low-impact move, but Minnesota added a quality contributor to its bench without sacrificing any present pieces. Simply put, the Timberwolves got better.

Just know, if Minnesota goes on such a run for a third straight spring, yours truly will be telling you he told you so from inside Target Center.

NBA sleeper prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves to win (+3500 at bet365)

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Detroit Pistons have the best record in the league through the All-Star break, and there is a lot to like. In this Zach Lowe “10 Things” inspired piece, we’ll go over 10 things about the team that could represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

Finish em’ Cade

Cade has always been streaky at the rim. He’d make a triple-contested scoop lay, then miss a one-on-one lay attempt against a not-so-big player. That’s why he’s hovered around 56% finishing at the rim throughout his career. The angles he took or the decision to go up against multiple players tanked his rim field goal percentage in the past.

The Pistons MVP candidate has been more stable at the rim this season, shooting a career high 65% (58th %tile amongst point guards). His versatility in getting to the rim keeps defenses honest. Drives, transition takes, curls, hand-offs, and post-ups are all play types that allow Cade to get his finishes off. His shot-creating has led to finishes and jump shots, and the film is filthy.

Cade is a big guard, and he’s abusing smalls like always. He is an ambidextrous finisher who can sprinkle in tough, skilled layups or power through your chest with strength-based layups.

This finishing uptick will aid the Pistons halfcourt offense quite a bit. They will need every bit of finishing come playoff time. If their offense can remain average or just above it, that dogged defense can carry Detroit to early 2000s heights.

Duncan Robinson is more than a shooter

Duncan Robinson helps the halfcourt offense in many ways. The spacing he provides is second to none. How he weaponizes his shot is the bigger story.

Running Robinson off the 3-point line means you want the 6-foot-7 wing who’s a great finisher to get a lane to the basket. Robinson’s rim volume is low compared to his position, but he gets there plenty for his sharpshooter archetype. He’s not the unconscious get-it-up-at-all costs shooter Detroit has had in the past, but Robinson is an impactful driver, screener, and a plus passer.

Those three skills work in unison in dribble hand-off actions. Robinson takes advantage of defenses glued to his hip. After he runs off screens with shoulder-to-shoulder precision, the defense is at his mercy. Robinson can fire from deep, drive all the way to the cup, where he finishes 74 percent, or deliver pinpoint passes.

Duncan Robinson dishing out free eats to bigmen this season in Detroit pic.twitter.com/SFEiVdluCX

— 🌴🇺🇸🇨🇴🌴 (@Birdey954theWin) February 13, 2026

Bigs eat off Robinson’s gravity and movement. He makes defenses pay for playing him like he’s only a shooter. Wings eat off his gravity, too. Robinson is going to be a crucial piece in the postseason. Detroit needs him to play like the 2023 playoffs version of himself, not whatever these last few years have been.

How good can Jalen Duren be?

Jalen Duren is one of the bigs who eats the most while playing next to Robinson. Detroit is +10.1 when those two share the floor. That’s a theme for Duren. He has a positive two-man Net Rating with every player on the roster.

Duren’s getting assistance from all over, but nobody makes him. Duren is super impactful in his own right. From competing as a defender to his individual growth as a self-creator, the sky is literally the limit for him.

Young bigs who are poor defenders usually stay that way for a long time, but Duren has shaken off that narrative. Bball-Index’s rim protection grade, which factors in rim deterrence, activity, and disruption in on-ball and help rim defensive situations, grades Duren an A. His value is 10 points better than it was last year.

Duren still has meat on the bone as an offensive player. He’s creating for himself more and more. Duren has self-created 194 field goal attempts compared to 162 last year (PBP Stats). He’s always been a decent passer, and he’s taking boards off the glass and pushing the break more this year.

Not here to say he’ll ever be a point center, but he’s shown some of those skills that those who are that archetype have. With Cade excelling coming off curls and Iverson cuts, maybe Duren can be a hub at his peak.

Peak Duren is so far from now as he’s only 22. This All-Star breakout is encouraging, and his future is limitless. He’s always been an elite lob catcher, that hasn’t changed. But now there’s more than one guy on the squad who constantly wants to throw it up to JD.

Tricky passer

Those are the types of dimes Daniss Jenkins drops when sharing the floor with Duren.

Jenkins is willing to try any pass, and his handle makes life easier for him. Jenkins keeps his dribble alive while running through the paint. This gets defenders off balance, and Jenkins is throwing pinpoint accurate passes before they can blink.

This “nashing” move is a staple in Jenkins game. The fact that he’s a threat to score gets defenses to react favorably. If he were just nashing always to pass and never score, defenders wouldn’t help off their man because they know he’s not a threat to get a bucket. You can’t do that with Jenkins.

He’s eager to throw lobs, and it’s clear bigs loves playing with guards that spoonfeed guaranteed two points. Whether it’s off-hand passes to the corner man or right-on-target dump-offs in PnR play types, Jenkins is going to find the open man.

The alley oop to Isaiah Stewart involved Jenkins using a Shammgod move to create space before giving Stew an easy one. That goes back to his handle. Detroit has two strong ball handlers.

Jenkins has several tricks up his sleeve in addition to taking care of the ball. Jenkins’ 11.8 TO percentage is a solid mark for someone who handles the ball as often as he does. Jenkins isn’t careless with the rock and is willing to try any pass. Chances make champions.

Insane depth

Jenkins has helped establish the next man up culture in Detroit. The Pistons have won with their All-Stars out of the lineup, and JB Bickerstaff is getting the most from his guys. The Pistons’ turnaround isn’t getting enough shouts.

While tanking and All-Star Weekend fixes dominate headlines, remember the actual game. Remember that Detroit won 14 games a few years ago and now has the best record as we start the back end of the season. This isn’t normal, and Bickerstaff and the deep roster are news.

The Pistons were underdogs in the matchup with the Toronto Raptors before the break. Odd makers or the public thought it made sense that Detroit would struggle without Duren and Stew. There’s sound logic in that thought process.

Paul Reed had other thoughts, though. He was the best big on the floor in Detroit’s dominant win against the playoff-bound Raptors — not the first time he’s been impactful this year. Reed has stepped up all season when needed. He stays ready. Reed plays every game like it’s his last and is looking to shake up every game with endless effort and thunderous slams.

Javonte Green was an afterthought signing, but he’s contributing to the insane depth Detroit has — he’s a handsy nuisance and another candidate to put anyone on a poster.

Jenkins has developed into a late-game closer right before our eyes. Marcus Sasser can make big shots. Caris LeVert provides solid play on his best days. Everywhere you look, Detroit has a player who can step in when needed. We’re yet to see what Kevin Huerter can provide as well. There are options.

The Pistons are 8th in bench points. Their backups have been game changers in the regular season. Ron Holland is a part of the rabid bench attack, but unlike the rest of these names, he was expected to do so. Holland’s second year has been positive so far, and his hustle remains his game-changing trait.

Hustlers don’t stop

Holland, alongside Green, check in every game as must-see firecrackers. If nothing else, something is going to happen when those two touch the floor. Holland is susceptible to missing a steal, falling face-first into the hardwood, and recovering to get his hands on the ball in seemingly one motion. That’s the type of motor he has — Holland’s STL percentage remains in the 98th percentile amongst forwards.

Those brilliant hands allow him to turn defense into offense. Detroit is one of the best teams scoring in transition off steals, and Holland has a hand in that.

Green zig zags on the floor, tagging everyone in sight. Offensively, Green is always on poster watch and has made timely 3s. He is shooting 36 percent from deep, but it feels even better. Green has active hands — he is top 20 in deflections and has not played 1,000 minutes this season. Only he and the Miami Heat’s Dru Smith are in that club. Green doesn’t need a significant amount of minutes to show his value.

These two Tazmaynian devils will bring energy and pop on the Pistons’ postseason run. A lot of their value is defensively slanted. The Pistons have more defensive monsters who should be locks for league honors.

All-Defense

Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart bring effort and best-at-what-they-do technique defensively. Ausar is the best perimeter defender in basketball. If you told me “pick one player to defend a random superstar,” I’m going with Ausar every time. You’re comfortable with him guarding smalls, big wings, forwards, and the occasional switch on a big is in his repertoire.

Surprisingly to some, Ausar hounds point guards better than those other positions. That’s insane considering his height, but his lateral quickness and instincts are second to none.

Ausar is the best Pistons defender in the passing lanes. He’s third in deflections league-wide, and his film has some “what was that?” in there.

There’s no way anybody thought Ausar would get back into this play. The way he patiently baits Memphis is beautiful. He blew that thing up and turned offense to defense. That’s a Deion Sanders-level lurk job, and he’s just as good on the ball as he is playing the lanes.

The league honored Ausar with Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month in January. If that’s a sign of things to come, the third-year play-destroyer should be in line for his first All-Defense first team selection.

Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama (65-game rule), Scottie Barnes, Rudy Gobert, and Bam Adebayo are in the mix for first-team, but Stew should be too if these awards are a snapshot of the season.  

The story of this season wouldn’t be whole if Stew were left off both All-Defense teams. Ausar is the Pistons’ most versatile and destructive defender, but Stew is the anchor for the best(?) defense in the NBA.

Lowest opponent FG% allowed on shots at the rim this szn (min. 200 FGA defended):

42.7 – Isaiah Stewart
.
46.6 – Chet Holmgren
.
52.6 – Evan Mobley
53.5 – Rudy Gobert
53.9 – Luke Kornet
54.5 – Jaren Jackson Jr.
55.1 – Alex Sarr
55.1 – Derrick White
55.3 – Jay Huff
55.3 – Wemby pic.twitter.com/wFmpANDMgb

— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) February 16, 2026

Nothing is allowed with Stew at the cup. Opponents shoot 42 percent at the basket when he’s there. That’s just a comical number. Nobody else is near that. He defends fewer shots at the rim compared to today’s rim protectors because he is a backup, but there aren’t many better per-minute rim protectors. And at 6-foot-8, one could make the argument that Stew is the best pound-for-pound rim protector.

Everyone else in that conversation is longer than Stew, even though he has a freakish 7-foot-4ish wingspan. His timing, anticipation, and intimidation factor put him in these conversations.

Stew gets challenged at the rim, but the result will never stop him from continuing to man the paint. If he gets postered, he shrugs it off and defends his yard over and over again.

Shaedon Sharpe is known for his Looney Tunes bounce, but that means nothing to Stew. He challenged both of these back-to-back Kodak moment dunk attempts and lived with the outcome both times (that block was clean). You’re going to have to be an insane leaper to catch Stew as Sharpe did on his second attempt.

Stew has easily been a top-10 defender this year. He is the anchor of Detroit, which thrives off its defense, and his contagious attitude is in the fabric of this franchise. The 65-game rule could keep Stew awardless this year, but that’s just not a reflection on how this season went.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had Jalen Williams and Lu Dort make defensive teams last year as the best team defense, and Detroit should have two this year as well.

Is it 2004?

Sure, the Thunder are still the No. 1 D in hoops, but the early portion of the season is doing some lifting there. Since November 19th, the Pistons have the No. 1 ranked defense with garbage time filtered out.

The Thunder have dealt with injuries. Naysayers will say that’s why Detroit has passed the defending champs in defensive efficiency in that time frame, but Detroit’s personnel is on par with a healthy Thunder team.

Ausar is the best perimeter defender of the bunch, full stop. Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Dort are more than a strong perimeter trio in fairness, though. Williams or Caruso are the most versatile defenders on either team, but OKC’s clear-cut advantages stop there.

Holmgren over Stew as a defender? Not an outrageous take, but Stew is right there. Holmgren’s advantage is length and the ability to stay out of foul trouble. Duren vs Hartenstein is pretty even in terms of what their team’s ask of them. Duren’s effort and consistency on that end are noticeable. We’ve mentioned all the junk yard dogs Detroit has at its disposal, like Holland and Green, but Deuce doesn’t get enough love for his defense.

Cade has turned into a legit good defender. He’s a problem when sitting in his defensive stance, and he’s a plus weakside help defender. The All-Star game is only an exhibition, but Cade’s all-around and two-way game was on full display in that setting. The offensive burden is heavy, but that hasn’t stopped him from locking in on defense.

Robinson is the only huntable defender the Pistons play a lot (Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins aren’t world beaters either). He’ll never be a great on-ball defender, but he does communicate and rotate off the ball. Detroit’s defense is better with him off the floor, but he doesn’t sink the ship. Robinson will be hunted in the postseason, but a team on a string like Detroit could overcome his individual isolation struggles.

Throw it to Unc

Tobias Harris’ post-up game should be a bail-out option for Detroit in the postseason. He’s always posted up plenty in his career, but he’s posting like a league-leading man this year.

Harris posts up less frequently than bigs like Nikola Jokić, Ivica Zubac, and Joel Embiid, but he’s outperforming two of them when he is on the block. Harris’ 1.18 points per possession on post-ups is better than anyone who posts up as frequently as he does, besides Jokić (1.21) and Kristaps Porzingis (1.23).

That shot will be a reliable option for the Pistons halfcourt offense. Harris hasn’t always thrived with expectations throughout his career, but he’s the third or fourth option here. Solid defense and bail-out shotmaking are what Detroit needs from Unc to reach the Finals. He has it in there.

State of the East

To reach the Finals, Detroit’s lack of shooting or a go-to secondary scorer must be mitigated. The Thunder indeed won the title last year without shooting the leather off the ball, so shooting mitigation is possible, but Jalen Williams did have a 40-piece in the Finals, and he’s a dependable second option for the most part.

Cade would need to be at an MVP level shotmaking-wise, and somebody else has to come along for the ride. Whether that be Duren, a shooter flaming on, or the group as a collective, there needs to be a dynamic second option that puts pressure on the defense.

Another obstacle in Detroit’s Finals aspirations is the field. The New York Knicks are rolling, winning 8 of their last 10 games. Jalen Brunson is who he is. That’s a tough cover for anyone, but Ausar made him work last year, even though all the casual fans remember is the ending. Their Jose Alvarado addition adds some feistiness to a passive Knicks squad. They’re the biggest threat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers could be serious contenders, too. We’re yet to see the James Harden + Evan Mobley connection, but Harden has helped Jarett Allen thrive so far. The Pistons have the double bigs to match Cleveland and the perimeter defenders to make Donovan Mitchell and Harden sweat.

The Boston Celtics are probably lower on the contender tier compared to these teams. Jaylen Brown has been spectacular, and they added more shooting with Nikola Vučević at the deadline, but they don’t have their horses. Without Tatum (maybe he returns), I envision a world where JB isn’t the most efficient No. 1 option in a playoff setting. Detroit could take advantage of his eventual cold nights and grind Boston down. Toronto and Philly are there, but the Pistons are better.

Detroit could very well be better than every team in the East and go on a real run for the first time since the Goin to Work era. There’s a lot to like about the team with the best record in the NBA as we enter the post-All-Star break portion of the year.

Stats as of 2/18/2026 via Basketball Reference, Bball-Index, Cleaning The Glass, PBP Stats, PivotFade, and NBA.com

Tyrese Haliburton’s not an All-Star this year, but he’s certainly having a good All-Star break.

The injured Pacers forward has been down in Mexico enjoying his days off from work with his fiancée, Jade Jones, and based on some pictures she shared from their vacation on Tuesday, neither is all that upset about being away from the hardwood for a week.

In the snaps, Haliburton and Jones could be seen soaking in some sunshine on a day bed while sporting nothing more than small swimsuits.

---

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Jones enjoyed at least one cold beverage during the outing as well.

“on island time w my baby ‍,” Jones wrote in a caption on the pics.

Based on their social media activity, it appears the two have been in Puerto Vallarta for several days, as on Wednesday, Jones shared an image of what appeared to be a Valentine’s Day gift from her future husband.

The NBA, of course, has been on pause since Feb. 12.

While Haliburton has been out the entirety of the 2025-26 season after sustaining a torn Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals, he’s nonetheless been very involved with the Pacers, sitting on the team’s bench throughout the first half of the year.

He told NBA on Prime earlier this month he’s “in a really good space” with his rehab, and while he won’t suit up again until 2026-27, he has advanced to playing 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 games.

“I’m getting there slowly,” he said.

The All-Star break is the unofficial midway point of the NBA season, but the Sixers have just 28 games remaining, beginning Thursday night as they host the Atlanta Hawks — a team they really need to beat, quite frankly.

Coming out of the break, the Sixers sit at 30-24, good for the sixth seed (and final guaranteed playoff spot) in the East. The conference is jumbled — the Sixers are five games back of the two seed, but five games up on the nine seed. These last 28 games will determine a whole lot.

After a quiet deadline that saw the team make no additions, Cameron Payne was brought back from overseas to take up the team’s final standard roster spot. Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker had their two-way deals converted. Dalen Terry and Tyrese Martin took over the vacant two-way slots.

So, what are your most pressing questions and thoughts as the Sixers resume play?

Mark Pope is attempting to pull off the unthinkable, a feat Mark Stoops never had a prayer of achieving. He’s turning Kentucky into a football school.

Seriously, after Kentucky lost to Georgia inside Rupp Arena on Feb. 17 for the first time since 2009, spring practice can’t get arrive quickly enough in the Bluegrass State.

OK, so one look at the Rupp environment tells you Big Blue Nation remains ravenous for hoops — and particularly hungry for a team that plays better than this one did in an 86-78 upset loss that serves as the latest rebuke of Pope’s second season.

John Calipari once made sure everyone, including Stoops, knew Kentucky is "a basketball school," and Georgia is a football school.

Well, that makes this weird, then.

March Sadness: College basketball's 10 most disappointing teams

Bracketology: Who is rising in latest March Madness predictions

Kentucky is unranked and not about to be ranked after a home loss to a bubble team.

“We feel like we got a beautiful Ferrari, and we can’t wait to take it for a spin,” Pope told reporters before the season.

Those mega millions bought a team that keeps stalling.

Mark Pope: 'Disappointing effort' in Kentucky loss to Georgia

What went wrong against Georgia?

“We were not good defensively,” Pope said.

Also:

“Disappointing effort.”

And:

“They got us on our heels.”

Yep, this too:

“We fell apart.”

One more:

“You cannot take plays off in this league. You can’t get distracted.”

Other than that, coach, how was the game?

Buck up, Kentucky. Will Stein's first season on the way

In Pope’s defense, multiple injuries haven’t helped Kentucky. Also, there’s no quit in these ‘Cats, at least. Kentucky nearly rallied past another double-digit deficit, just as it did in a pair of critical victories against rival Tennessee.

Kentucky is consistent. It’s perfected the art of falling behind by big margins and then furiously trying to erase the deficits.

Question is, why was Kentucky losing by double digits to Georgia in the first place?

Maybe, because Pope’s team had 13 turnovers. Or, because Georgia drilled 14 3-pointers.

Best thing you can say about this Kentucky season is it could be worse. These are tough times for basketball royalty. Take it from UCLA. The Bruins are a bubble team. After their latest loss, Mick Cronin said he could “give a rat’s ass” about Michigan State’s student section, as UCLA’s cantankerous coach popped off at a reporter. At least Kentucky’s coach isn’t a jerk.

Speaking of ass, the Bruins played like it in a 23-point loss to the Spartans.

This came on the same night North Carolina lost by 24 points to rival NC State.

Banners hanging inside historic arenas don’t carry the weight they once did. Just don’t tell blue-blooded fans that. Though the Wildcats are still pointed toward the NCAA Tournament, this is not the product Kentucky expects, and Pope knows that better than most. Heavy is the head that wears his alma mater’s crown.

Hey, it’s not all bad around Kentucky. The snow finally melted. How long ‘til fall?

New football coach Will Stein signed a top-10 transfer class.

As for Pope’s 2026 recruiting class, well, it doesn’t include a single commitment.

Not that Calipari is keeping score. Well, maybe he is. He’s got three five-stars lined up for Arkansas.

What day do the shoulder pads go on in Lexington?

Stoops, Stein’s predecessor, could tell you all about just how much Kentucky invested in basketball and how much he wished it invested in his football program. In Stoops’ final seasons, he bemoaned Kentucky’s football cheapness.

That didn’t stop Stein from lining up Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey, who’s got the potential to be Kentucky’s most exciting quarterback in years.

“We have plenty of (money) here,” Stein said after Kentucky hired him.

There’s a refreshing new energy at the head of a football program that badly needed it.

Used to be in Kentucky, Midnight Madness would provide a necessary distraction from the doldrums of football season. Times change. When’s the spring game?

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After latest Mark Pope loss, is Kentucky now a football school?

Here’s another edition of our Round(Ball) Table, where the Posting & Toasting crew convene to share our speculations, worries, and frustrations. With the All-Star weekend now behind us, it’s time to speculate about the remainder of the season.

With the New York Knicks sitting third behind the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics, what seed should they realistically target, and how hard should they push for No. 2?

Antonio Losada: No. 2, and not much. It’s going to be rather hard to overtake Detroit in the standings, and I don’t think it’s worth entering a war for the regular-season Eastern Conference crown. Let the Pistons win it, sit second, beat them in the playoffs. The Celtics, I don’t believe, will hold onto that No. 2 seed, and I think there’s nothing left to add about the Cavs’ chances at anything, because they’ve lowkey turned into Clippers East—now even with James Harden in town!

Michael Zeno: No. 2. The Pistons are out of reach, barring an unforeseen collapse by them, so the Knicks will have to strive for the 2-seed and their first Atlantic Division (is that still a thing?) title in 12 years. I believe they should prioritize getting as high a seed as possible, as we’ve seen the team go from dominant at home to average on the road. Average doesn’t cut it in the playoffs, so they’ll need to secure home-court against a potential second-round matchup against Cleveland or Boston.

Andrew Polaniecki: Maintaining their position is more important than anything right now. Securing the No. 2 seed would certainly be ideal, but slipping from the No. 3 spot could prove far more damaging for the New York Knicks. They are currently just one game ahead of the fourth seed, and the Cleveland Cavaliers look like a very different team than they did two weeks ago following the addition of James Harden. The Knicks cannot afford to surrender home-court advantage, especially with only 1.5 games separating Cleveland and the Boston Celtics in the standings, particularly given the uncertain timetable surrounding Jayson Tatum’s return.

Miranda: I don’t think it matters. The Knicks won three times in Detroit and twice in Boston in last year’s playoffs, and those Celtics didn’t feature Jayson Tatum working his way back after nearly a year away. Adding Nikola Vučević gussies up their ability to play 5-out, but when he’s on the floor the defense that’s eighth in defensive rating and top-five the past four years has a soft underbelly. The last time the Cavaliers got past the second round without LeBron James was 1992. These Knicks don’t need to duck anyone.

Kento Kato: The two seed, but not at all costs. The Knicks should want to secure home-court advantage through the first two rounds, but at the end of the day, health is all that matters. This team, when healthy, and not coming off of an ugly NBA Cup hangover, have shown that they can beat anyone. Teams like that shouldn’t, and don’t need to, lay everything on the line during the regular season. Outside of last season, when Jalen Brunson missed 15 games after going down with an ankle injury, the Knicks have fared well after the All-Star break in recent years. In 2023, thanks in large part to the Josh Hart trade, the Knicks went 14-8 after the festivities, and a year later, they went 17-10, despite both Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby missing significant time. New York will be sans Deuce McBride for a few weeks, and that’ll sting. But I don’t see why a team that seems to have put their lowest lows behind them, and has historically saved some of it’s best for February, March, and April, can’t do so again.

What players deserve high marks for the season so far, and who has underwhelmed you?

Losada: Brunson gets into the high-mark category by default, so I’m picking Josh Hart for proving Coach Brown wrong early in the season, putting on never-ending Engerzier Bunny efforts, and simply being invaluable for this team (honorable mention for Deuce, whose injury hella bugged me). On the other end, I have KAT. He’s sublime at his absolute best, but he does so many maddening things on a nightly basis that I just can’t deal with him more often than not, let alone his awful shooting this season.

Zeno: Brunson, Hart, Shamet, Deuce (when healthy), and Mitch get the high marks. Hart’s recovered well from his early-season struggles and has become a sniper from deep, as has Shamet. Mitch is as healthy as he’s been in several years thanks to load management. KAT and Clarkson are the more underwhelming ones, but you see flashes from the Big Bodega. Clarkson just seems completely lost right now. I’m in the middle when it comes to Wingstop, as they’ve both excelled defensively but have had extremely inconsistent offense.

Polaniecki: I have to go with Josh Hart. He struggled in the first four games and has missed 11 due to injury, but his impact when he’s on the court is undeniable. The Knicks are more than +75 in plus/minus with Hart on the floor this season. During the 11 games he missed, the Knicks lost six of them, roughly a third of their total losses this year

Miranda: If John Starks, Pablo Prigioni and Jeremy Lin had a baby, that baby would be Jose Alvarado. That’s impressive! Also impressive: Mo Diawara going from a bright future to a bright present. The biggest disappointment has been how many national games Mike Breen’s done this year, because Tyler Murray and Walt Frazier go together like Ewing and Cartwright. Frazier’s been funnier than ever this year, something Murray never, ever runs with. Sometimes he sounds like he has no sense of who Frazier was, like the time he told him he’d been underrated defensively; Clyde couldn’t hide his surprise before gently explaining the seven All-Defensive honors. If Breen and Frazier are the Frazier and Monroe of MSG broadcasters, Murray & Clyde are more Marbury/Francis.

Kato: Brunson is the by far the best player on the team, and as ungrateful as it may sound, his production at this point is almost a given. We all take it for granted at times, but that’s also what star players make you do. When I think of players that deserve high marks, I think of players who have overperformed expectations. And to me, that has been Deuce McBride, and Mo Diawara. We’ve all known what McBride can do, and what he is capable of. But somehow, he continues to surprise us, and defy what an undersized combo guard can really do for a team. He’s followed up a somewhat disappointing season with career-highs in PPG, RPG, and 3P%, and has certified himself as one of the best role players in the league with one of, if not the, best contracts in the league. As for Diawara, not many had him being this good, let alone this quick when he was drafted. But after a surprising Summer League, and some very intriguing minutes over the last few weeks, he has leapfrogged every other recent draftee as the most promising and exciting prospect on the roster due to his unique combination of size, defense, passing, and an unexpected level of shooting.

Will the deadline addition of Jose Alvarado stabilize the bench?

Losada: It should, even more with Deuce McBride out for the regular season and due to his defensive chops. We have yet to see if Jordan Clarkson ever returns to a playable dude, but on the other hand, we’ve enjoyed some blossoming from Mohamed Diawara, and we’ve yet to see how the Jeremy Sochan addition works, and if it provides a little boost up front while helping keep bodies (looking at you, Mitch) fresh for the playoffs.

Zeno: Absolutely. Tyler Kolek has had his moments this season, but he still hasn’t solidified himself as the team’s backup point guard who can run the offense when Brunson sits. Alvarado not only brings the ability to do that, but his intensity on defense makes it so that you can feasibly play him with Brunson in certain lineups, giving him a more diverse role. The bench will really be turbocharged when McBride returns from his hernia.

Polaniecki: 100%. He’s already made an immediate impact and plays with the kind of energy you can’t fake. You can tell he’s genuinely thrilled to be wearing a New York Knicks jersey and representing New York, you could just tell how he wears his heart on his sleeve every night.

Miranda: Stabilize? Stabilize? The past two playoffs, McBride led all Knick reserve guards in minutes; Alec Burks was second in 2024, Cameron Payne last year. Assuming Deuce is back for the postseason, Alvarado, Shamet, Clarkson and Kolek are an entirely different class of bench backcourt.

Kato: We’ve had a small sample size thus far, but we’ve already seen Alvarado impact the game in multiple ways, in a way, akin to McBride. Alvarado may not be the shooter that McBride is, but he provides some much needed ball-handling, passing, and connectivity that the roster, both starters, and bench players, lacked. McBride will be sorely missed, but being able to replace Clarkson, and Kolek’s minutes with Alvarado cannot be anything besides a big win for New York. We’ve already seen him go off 26-points against the Sixers, and dish out five assists in 18 minutes against the Pacers, so in a way, we’re getting the best out of both Clarkson, and Kolek, while getting much, much, much more defense. Alvarado, along with Shamet, Diawara/Sochan, and Robinson should prove to be one of the better benches in the league.

Has Mike Brown met expectations in Year One, and what adjustments would you like to see?

Losada: The expectations were gaudy from the onset, and James Dolan only made it tougher for Brown with his mid-season, championship-or-bust, comments. That said, Brown took over a team nearly fully built and already on its way to making a Finals run, so he’s doing what he was supposed to, even amid ups and downs. There is still time to address a few pending issues and perfect the machine, but we’ve already seen how the Knicks can perform when everything clicks. I have to approve Brown’s work, solid A grade.

Zeno: There were three main reasons the Knicks moved on from Tom Thibodeau after last year’s Eastern Conference Finals run. They wanted to lean more on the team’s depth to minimize regular-season workload, get the most out of this offensive juggernaut, and get a coach who would adjust and not be so “my way or the highway”. Mike Brown has met all three, lowering the starters’ minutes while leaning on rejuvenated depth, augmenting the offense to make it one of the best in basketball, and making a big defensive adjustment to stop the early January nosedive. We’ll see how the playoffs go, but I’m a fan through the All-Star break.

Polaniecki: In some ways yes, and in some ways no. Would they be sitting in third place if Thibs were still the coach? Maybe. But his stubbornness and reluctance to expand the rotation ultimately cost him his job. It’s been great to see the New York Knicks actually use their depth this season. The bench has a role. The minutes are more balanced.

But are they truly better than they were a year ago? That’s still up for debate. If Brown doesn’t take them to the Finals, then for me, the answer is no.

Miranda: They’ve gone from 11th in corner 3s to third. The defense has been best in the league since they shifted from pushing ballhandlers to the middle of the floor to pushing them toward the sidelines. I don’t know if Towns is “struggling” so much as having his role changed, and I don’t hate it; even when his shot’s off, he’s impactful on the glass and as a spacer. All that said, if Brown is still coaching in June, his hiring was a success. If not . . .

Kato: This largely depends on what your expectations were. For me, his regular season was always going to be graded on his, and the team’s process. Sure, winning 55+ regular season games would be nice. But if he did that by running the same heliocentric, stagnant offense, limiting on-court experimentation, and forgoing playing time of the younger players, then keeping Thibodeau would have been the move as it would’ve lead to a higher floor. Thus far, Brown has done a good enough job of, simply put, not being Thibodeau. His offense, while still over reliant on Brunson at times, sees more movement, more threes, and more sets, and actions, and his rotations aren’t perfect, but still better than Thibodeau’s. So far, so good, but ultimately, he’ll be graded on how the Knicks fare in the playoffs.

What’s the biggest obstacle for a Finals run?

Losada: It’s going to be a grueling playoffs, as “weakened” as the Eastern Conference is said to be. See, the Pistons are young, tough, strong, and will probably have homecourt advantage through the postseason. The Celtics might bring back Jayson Tatum, and I fear that if they know he’s coming the might take it easy later in the season to enter the playoffs healthier, thus dropping to a lower seed and making it tougher for a top-4 seed. The Cavaliers, I don’t care about. But the Raptors, the Sixers, and mostly the Magic and Heat have underperformed and/or can give you fits and steal a couple of postseason games, so it’s going to take more than a Fo’ fo’ fo’ to get to the Finals. Will the Knicks stay healthy through it all? Will they get the No. 2 seed and actually benefit from starting (and finishing) series at MSG, or will it turn against them? Not an obstacle this year: another 1-in-100000-odds shot made by Hali.

Zeno: Inconsistency. One day, they look like they’ll win the Finals, the next day, they might be a first-round exit. There are certain first-round matchups that make you wince, but those mostly depend on health (looking at you, Philly). If Jayson Tatum returns, Boston could be extremely tough. The Cavs can’t be counted out, and then, of course, there’s Detroit. The Knicks will need to play their best basketball come playoff time and can’t rely on Brunson’s hero-ball for the fourth year in a row. We need KAT to get back to what made him a perennial all-star, Bridges to get more confident on-ball, OG to be making his shots, and the bench to be healthy and able to hold their own. I’m confident in the team, but there’s a lot that can go wrong.

Polaniecki: The Cup curse. Just kidding! But all jokes aside, the Knicks eliminated the Detroit Pistons in last year’s playoffs, but now sit five games behind them in the standings. They beat the Boston Celtics with Jayson Tatum available for most of that series, yet currently trail Boston as well.

Cleveland added James Harden. The conference landscape has shifted, and the path to the Finals is going to be much harder than people thought at the beginning of the season, especially if Tatum comes back for the Celtics.

Miranda: The likelihood that at some point in the playoffs, KAT’s gonna be in foul trouble, Mitch is gonna be injured and Ariel Hukporti’s playing 30+ minutes.

Kato: I’m stuck between saying “themselves”, and “roster construction”. I think talent-wise, they are, and should be, the favorites. But there’s still a part of me that fears KAT’s ability to hold up defensively more times than not through three or hopefully, four playoff series. And offensively, the Knicks still lack reliant ball handlers, and playmakers over the height of whatever Brunson, and Alvarado are listed as. But even with those roster limitations-the same ones they dealt with last season, they found themselves a couple games, and a historical choke job away from making the NBA Finals, even while being coached sub-optimally. That leads me to lean towards the former. If they are healthy, get their minds right, and show up, they’re still good enough to win four out of seven times against most teams in the league.