With so many voices in the room, hiring the right coach has proven difficult for schools. But as the college game becomes more and more like the NFL, the misses are becoming glaring and harder to dismiss.
NHL Rumor Roundup: Penguins Speculation Goes Quiet, Kadri Rumors Keep Buzzing
Earlier this week, we noted recent speculation about Evgeni Malkin's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He and his teammates are off to a better-than-expected start to this season, but some observers question if it's sustainable and if Malkin would be open to a move at the NHL trade deadline.
However, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos suggested the Penguins' strong start could take Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell out of the rumor mill if they can remain in the playoff chase. Those players have frequently surfaced in media trade chatter since the summer, but Kypreos doesn't see them going anywhere if they're still in the hunt for a postseason berth.
The Penguins' start has also silenced the trade rumors that were buzzing about Sidney Crosby at the start of the season. TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that Penguins GM Kyle Dubas' plan remains building for the future while staying competitive this season.
LeBrun wondered if the Penguins could stay in playoff contention this season but acknowledged that their current performance has ended the Crosby trade chatter, at least for now.
NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest Trade Talk About The Maple Leafs, Oilers And Penguins The Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to find a new home for David Kampf, the Edmonton Oilers could move a depth player or two to make room for returning veterans, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the market for a left-shot defenseman. Meanwhile, the ongoing woes of the Calgary Flames have ensured that Nazem Kadri remains a fixture in the rumor mill.
The 35-year-old center celebrated his 1,000th NHL game on Wednesday, scoring a goal in a 6-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Some pundits have linked Kadri to the Montreal Canadiens, suggesting he would address their need for a second-line center. However, Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette considered Kadri to be an unsuitable option, citing his age, $7 million average annual value through 2028-29 and history of undisciplined play.
Kypreos believes the Carolina Hurricanes could be a suitor for Kadri, pointing out that they've relentlessly pursued a top player in the trade market since last season. However, Kypreos also claimed that the Hurricanes are on Kadri's no-trade list.
The Hurricanes could request permission from the Flames to speak with Kadri and his agent and try to sell them on Carolina. If the Hurricanes make a substantial pitch, Flames GM Craig Conroy could try to convince Kadri to accept a trade.
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Reece Walsh lives up to star billing to become toast of English rugby league
Australia’s talisman, likened to LeBron James, has left lasting legacy in Ashes series amid gloom of sport’s future
The debrief is yet to begin over the failure of England’s Ashes campaign both on and off the field, and just how big a missed opportunity the past few weeks could prove to be for the game in this country. But amid all the gloom, there has been an unlikely beacon of hope for the sport’s promoters.
As the 52,000-plus crowd filtered away from Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday evening, there was a huge ruckus outside the players’ entrance. Not for any of the home players, who had once again flattered to deceive. Not even for Nathan Cleary, regarded as the world’s biggest star for a number of years and someone with genuine worldwide cut-through.
Continue reading...Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 4: Top Adds & Streaming Targets
Injuries are already impacting the fantasy basketball landscape in Week 4. Finding the right waiver wire pickups is crucial for success. We're targeting players capitalizing on new opportunities, like Jaime Jaquez and Jusuf Nurkic, who are seeing more minutes. This article breaks down the top 5 fantasy basketball adds, all rostered in fewer than 40% of leagues, who can provide immediate value as streaming targets or high-upside stashes. Let's find your next league-winner.
NBA Fantasy Waiver Wire Adds
Jaime Jaquez, Miami Heat 
(39% rostered)
With Tyler Herro continuing to work his way back after a preseason injury, Miami is being forced to hand certain players additional minutes. Following a strong rookie campaign, Jaquez scaled back his production last season and was not really on the standard league radar heading into the 2025-26 campaign. However, as fate would have it, he has been the biggest beneficiary when it comes to both playing time and production. He has scored at least 20 points in three of the past five games, playing close to starter's minutes despite coming off the bench. Through eight games, he is averaging 17.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 29.1 minutes per contest, good enough for top 90 value in standard formats. The shooting is likely unsustainable, and Herro will return at some point. For now, however, he should be rostered in just about every league.
Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz 
(29% rostered)
Speaking of unforeseen opportunities, Nurkic might be the poster child for that discussion following a season-ending shoulder injury to Walker Kessler. Kessler lasted just five games before being forced to go under the knife, meaning Nurkic is the next cab off the rank, so to speak. He has now started the past three games, having played at least 30 minutes in each of the past two. While his scoring is likely to be inconsistent, he can be an elite source of rebounds, while also providing out-of-position assists and a smattering of defensive stats. In three games as a starter, he is averaging 6.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals. His value could certainly have a shelf life, especially if the Jazz opt to lean into Kyle Filipowski at some point. For now, Nurkic simply needs to be rostered in all leagues, in what can only be described as an act now, think later situation.
Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons 
(27% rostered)
We will almost certainly reach a point where Stewart is nothing more than a possible streaming candidate. However, that point is not now. Despite playing as the primary backup behind Jalen Duren, Stewart has found a way to be a consistent producer, especially on the defensive end. In eight games played, he is averaging 11.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers. While his overall numbers have been inflated by the fact that he has started the past two games, it's fair to say that Stewart has been a pleasant surprise thus far. Tobias Harris is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury, resulting in the short-term promotion for Stewart. That will obviously come to an end at some point in the near future, but for now, Stewart shouldn't really be floating around on too many waiver wires.
Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers 
(18% rostered)
Seen as a potential breakout candidate coming into the season, Jackson was a popular target late in drafts. Despite being handed the starting role, Jackson's role was largely underwhelming to begin the campaign, playing no more than 15 minutes in each of the first four games. This resulted in him being dropped in a number of leagues, and rightfully so. However, things have taken a turn in recent times, having now played at least 20 minutes in four straight games. During that span, he has averaged 12.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 combined steals and blocks, highlighted by a 21-and-10 performance in a loss to the Bucks. While there are certainly no guarantees when it comes to the center rotation in Indiana, now might be the time to take a chance on Jackson, just in case he can distance himself from the competition.
Josh Minott, Boston Celtics 
(16% rostered)
Minott has provided managers with plenty of headaches already, likely having been on and off waivers across most leagues. Following a strong preseason, the hope was that Minott would finally get an opportunity to prove himself on the big stage. However, those hopes were dashed early in the piece, averaging 4.0 points and 1.0 steals in 9.3 minutes per game over the first three contests. The Celtics lost all three of those games, forcing a change in the starting lineup. Enter Minott. He has since started in six straight games, averaging 10.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 22.25 minutes per game. Although his playing time remains inconsistent, he has proven to be somewhat of a measuring stick when it comes to Boston's overall energy. Assuming you can absorb the lows, Minott should be picked up everywhere.
Drop Candidates
- Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
- CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards
- Kevin Porter Jr, Milwaukee Bucks
- Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Lakers takeaways: Luka Doncic's defense (yes, defense) helps hold off Spurs
The only way that game could have ended was with a free throw.
Thanks to two missed free throws from San Antonio’s Julian Champagnie with 0.2 seconds remaining, the Lakerssurvived 118-116 Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs in a disjointed game that dragged on for nearly three hours and included 66 total fouls and 84 free throws.
The Lakers (7-2) won their fifth consecutive game, fighting through exhaustion from playing in their third game in four days and a short rotation without guard Austin Reaves. At halftime, players and coaches acknowledged how tired they felt. Coach JJ Redick said when he woke up at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday “it was like a bus had hit me.”
But the team that still hasn’t approached its fully healthy form rallied in a way that continued to impress its coach.
Read more:Luka Doncic scores 35 points as Lakers win foul-filled game over Spurs
“Our group is so connected right now,” Redick said. “We were able to get back together and there was no quitting, there was no splintering.”
Here are three takeaways from the game:
Defense wins championships
Marcus Smart couldn’t believe the stat line. Five steals and two blocks for who?
“Lukaaaaa,” Smart said, elongating Luka Doncic’s name while smiling toward his star teammate who was sitting with his feet in an ice bucket with ice bags wrapped around his knees.
Doncic matched his career high for steals in a regular-season game Wednesday. The guard averaging 40 points per game claimed his defense was the only thing he did well on a night when he finished one rebound short of a triple-double. While collecting 35 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, he was an inefficient nine for 27 from the field and four for 11 from three. He missed four free throws, turned the ball over four times and, after picking up his fifth foul with 7:58 remaining in the fourth, nearly fouled out.
The last fact took Rui Hachimura by surprise.
“I've never seen him like that,” Hachimura said. “But you know, he's trying to be more aggressive [on defense] and that's what we need from him, too.”
Read more:No Big 3, no problem: Nick Smith Jr. helps lead Lakers to fourth consecutive win
Redick said Doncic had a few games when he started slow defensively in terms of physicality and engagement, but has been overall “really good” this season. Even when he was switched on to Spurs star Victor Wembanyama or point guard Stephon Castle, Doncic still competed well.
“There wasn't matador defense,” Redick said. “He still guarded. And that was huge. The reason we won the game is because we guarded in the fourth quarter. Our fourth-quarter defense was the No. 1 reason we won the game."
The Lakers limited the Spurs to 36.8% shooting from the field during the fourth quarter while forcing six turnovers. Wembanyama was held to 19 points on labored five-for-14 shooting with eight rebounds. He was nine for 11 on free throws and fouled out with 1:40 remaining when he bowled over Hachimura.
Hachimura delivers the plays of the game
Redick credited Hachimura with the two biggest plays of the game. Besides drawing Wembanyama’s sixth foul, Hachimura also hit a three-pointer off a Doncic assist that put the Lakers up by two with 5:15 remaining. Redick said it exemplified Hachimura’s unique ability to go long stretches seemingly without even touching the ball but still making key shots.
“Somehow mentally, I have to be kind of ready for the moment,” Hachimura said. “... But I think that comes with patience and my mindset to be ready for the moment.”
Hachimura is one of just three Lakers players who have played in all nine games this season as the Lakers have rolled out seven different starting lineups. He finished with 15 points, including two made three-pointers that came in critical situations. He put the Lakers up by one with 4:57 remaining in the second quarter as the team erased a 10-point first-half deficit. A double team pinned Doncic close to the baseline and the guard nearly hopped out of bounds while slinging a one-handed pass over his head to Hachimura, who splashed the shot.
The Spurs called a timeout. Doncic approached Hachimura and bowed to him in appreciation.
"He told me I didn't pass him the ball today, so I got to do that more," Doncic said jokingly. "No, jokes aside, I think he's been amazing. Just staying ready in the moment. And he's a great guy, too. So that kind of people you want to have on your team and the start he's having, it's very underrated and we need him to keep going."
LeBron James progressing, Lakers play it safe with Austin Reaves
Reaves missed his second consecutive game with right groin soreness, but the Lakers got positive news on LeBron James, who has progressed to contact basketball activity, the team announced Thursday.
Four weeks after being diagnosed with sciatica in his right side, James will be re-evaluated by team physicians in one to two weeks, the team added. The 40-year-old superstar hasn’t played this season and was limited to only individual work during training camp.
The timeline for James’ potential return could have him out for at least six more games, including an upcoming five-game trip beginning in Atlanta on Saturday.
Read more:How Marcus Smart grades the Lakers' early season hustle
Redick hopes Reaves can return to play the Hawks, which would be six days since he was injured during the first quarter against the Miami Heat.
But “we’re not going to put him at risk,” Redick emphasized.
“It was the right decision, both from him and from performance, to hold him out tonight,” Redick said. “Those injuries, or a further injury on that, is hard. I've had 'em. I've had surgery, we're trying to be safe with him.”
Reaves participated fully in shootaround on Wednesday before the game and even got an extra workout after the morning session to test his injury, but was held out after consultation from staff and trainers.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Northwestern opens new chapter after veteran core moves on
The Wildcats' men's basketball program will rely heavily on its fresh faces as it aims for a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
How to watch South Florida vs George Washington: Live stream info, preview for Saturday’s game
South Florida faces George Washington this Saturday at 1:30 PM ET on Peacock.
Giants claim former Dodgers outfielder Justin Dean as part of roster shuffle
Giants claim former Dodgers outfielder Justin Dean as part of roster shuffle originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Dean started his week riding in a parade in Los Angeles. He’ll end it on the 40-man roster for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ longtime rival.
The outfielder was one of two players claimed by the Giants on Thursday, along with Cincinnati Reds lefty Reiver Sanmartin. To clear a necessary roster spot, the organization DFA’d right-hander Mason Black, who appeared in the big leagues each of the past two seasons.
Dean, 28, is the most well-known of the three after being right in the middle of a controversial moment in the World Series. When a line drive got wedged into the bottom of the outfield wall at Rogers Centre in the ninth inning of Game 6, Dean alertly raised both hands and got a ground-rule double call as the play was ruled dead.
Dean, a strong defender who can play all three spots, didn’t get a plate appearance during the postseason but entered 13 games as a defensive replacement. He made 18 appearances for the Dodgers during the regular season, almost all of which were for defense. He was 0-for-2 with a stolen base, but he did post a .378 on-base percentage in Triple-A.
The Giants have a large collection of young outfielders on their 40-man roster but figure to part with multiple players during the offseason. Marco Luciano, Luis Matos and Wade Meckler are all out of minor league options, and Jerar Encarnacion, Grant McCray and Drew Gilbert are also on the 40-man. Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos are locked in as starters, but the front office will likely be looking for an everyday option in right field this winter.
Sanmartin, 29, is the type of player who likely will be targeted often this offseason by Buster Posey, Zack Minasian and the rest of the front office. The Giants need to rebuild just about an entire bullpen, and they don’t have a lot of depth from the left side. Erik Miller came off the 60-day IL at the end of the postseason and is healthy after missing the entire second half with elbow discomfort. Joey Lucchesi is arb-eligible, but the organization is generally short on left-handed depth.
Sanmartin has a 5.66 ERA in 62 big league appearances, but only one of those has come in the past two years. He had elbow surgery in 2023, but posted a 3.34 ERA in Triple-A last season.
The Giants need starting pitching help this offseason, but Black had fallen far down the depth chart and finished his season as a reliever. A third-round pick in 2021, Black had a 6.47 ERA in 10 big league appearances for the Giants and a 5.81 ERA in Triple-A this season.
The 40-man roster is again full after Thursday’s moves. Justin Verlander, Wilmer Flores, Dominic Smith and Tom Murphy are free agents, but the Giants also had to bring Miller and Randy Rodriguez off the 60-day IL.
Steph Curry out for Friday's Warriors-Nuggets game; Jimmy Butler questionable
Steph Curry out for Friday's Warriors-Nuggets game; Jimmy Butler questionable originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors will be without their best player for the second consecutive game.
Superstar Steph Curry will not play in Friday’s contest against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena as he continues to recover from an illness that sidelined him for the Warriors’ 121-116 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center.
Golden State forwards Jimmy Butler (lower back) and Draymond Green (rib), who also missed Wednesday’s game, are listed as questionable and probable, respectively.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” on Thursday that barring a last-second change, Curry will not travel with the Warriors to Denver after he did not travel with the team to Sacramento on Wednesday.
Without its three veteran stars on Wednesday, young players like Will Richard, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga stepped up big for Golden State against Sacramento, and might have to again against Denver on Friday.
However, the Warriors at least should have Green back, and potentially Butler.
How to watch Virginia Tech vs Providence: Live stream info, preview for Saturday’s game
Tip-off for Virginia Tech vs Providence is at 4:00 PM ET on Peacock.
NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games 2025-11-07 19:07:23
Kyle Tucker Free Agent Profile: Contract prediction, best fits, stats
After a historic World Series, the MLB offseason is underway, and we're taking you through the potential markets for some of the biggest stars. So far we discussed the market and potential landing spots for Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, and Bo Bichette, and Matthew Pouliot also ranked every free agent on the market this offseason.
Today, I'm going to continue with the curious case of Kyle Tucker. At one point, he looked set to challenge Juan Soto with one of the biggest free agent contracts in recent memory. However, two seasons marred by injuries that weren't properly identified marred his ascent into superstardom. So, are MLB teams still willing to bet on Tucker as a bona fide star? That could be one of the most important questions of the offseason.
Everything you need to know about MLB free agency, including key dates, the top names on the market, qualifying offers, and draft pick compensation.
- ,
D.J. Short
Don’t forget: Check out theRotoworld player news feed for all the latest news, rumors, and transactions as MLB’s Hot Stove gets underway!
▶ Tucker in Review
Sadly, Tucker's 2025 season was his second season in a row that we can't discuss without mentioning injuries.
On the season, Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases in 136 games. Overall, not bad numbers, but that 136-game number stands out, especially since he only played 78 games in 2024. However, before we dive into the question marks on the bad news, let's focus on what Tucker showed on the field.
The 29-year-old slashed .291/.395/.537 with 17 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in his first 83 games of the 2025 season. He then suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand while sliding into second base in early June. Of course, it would have been nice if we knew that's what happened when the injury occurred; yet, much like in 2024, the injury was not immediately diagnosed as a fracture, and, this time, Tucker continued to play before the pain and discomfort got worse.
In 48 games in July and August, while Tucker battled through the injury, he hit .232/.363/.345 with four homers and 18 RBIs. Then, a calf strain caused him to miss three weeks in September, and we ended the season with a drastically different feeling about Tucker's talent and performance than we had when June began.
Still, we need to take the context of the injuries into account. Fracturing your hand when sliding into second base and fracturing your shin by fouling a ball off of it, as he did in 2024, are not recurring injuries. They are fluky injuries that shouldn't make teams worry about Tucker's ability to stay healthy. Since his breakout season in 2021, Tucker has played at least 140 games in three seasons and averaged 149 games per year. There is no reason for teams not to expect him to get back to that level.
Tucker will also be 29 years old next season, so it should be a few years before we see his skills erode. Yes, his barrel rate dropped to 10.8% this season, and his hard-hit rate was a career-low 40.2%, but those numbers are also impacted by the weeks he spent trying to hit with a fractured hand. That could also be the reason why his performance against fastballs dipped as well. But what we do know is that he has now posted a fWAR of at least 4.2 in every season since 2020 and has not seen his wRC+ dip below 130 since then either. Even in an injury-impacted season, his 136 wRC+ this season was good for 16th in baseball, tied with Matt Olson and Byron Buxton, and one point below Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
There's still a strong case that Tucker is a top 10 offensive player in baseball.
Kyle Tucker homers AGAIN
— MLB (@MLB) August 24, 2025
He makes it a 10-0 ballgame! pic.twitter.com/d4zBHP2ZZY
▶ Market Outlook
At one point, it looked like Kyle Tucker was a lock to push somewhere close to Juan Soto's $765 million contract with the Mets. However, injuries over the last two seasons have made that outcome unlikely. Still, Tucker remains one of the most talented players in baseball and should command a deal close to, or larger than, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year, $500 million extension with the Blue Jays last off-season.
It's unlikely that Tucker will get 14 years considering he's 29 years old, but his 13.6 fWAR over the last three years far outpaces Guerrero's 9.8 mark, and Tucker not only has more defensive value currently but should be able to easily transition into a DH role as he ages. If we believe he will command more than Guerrero but less than Soto, that would put Tucker at about $39 million per season.
The rest of the factors in the larger free agent market don't really impact Tucker. It doesn't matter how many other impact hitters are available or whether the outfield class is deep or shallow. Players like Tucker exist in a free agent landscape of their own. They are franchise-altering pieces. They can single-handedly shift the outlook of a team's season and its World Series hopes. The only factor in the market that impacts what a team would offer Tucker is simply how much money they have to spend on him.
We also should note that, with a potential lockout looming, some team could make an excessive offer to Tucker and use tons of deferred money before the league decides to cut back on that. We know one team that would be more than happy to take that approach.
▶ Best Fits
Cubs: We can start with the team that Tucker played for last year. We know they need his bat, and we know they have the money to pay him, especially with them moving on from the remainder of Shota Imanaga's contract. However, you could argue that an extension could have been worked out between the two sides earlier in the season or immediately after the trade if Tucker really wanted to stay. The Cubs have not been aggressive on free agents in recent years, so this feels a bit unlikely.
Dodgers: The Dodgers are the heavy favorites here because, well, they always are. They played Michael Conforto in the outfield for much of the 2025 season, so we know they have a need in the outfield, and the World Series showed us that their lineup is missing another impactful hitter or two. While it may not seem like they can afford to sign Tucker, we know that they can always find a way.
Yankees: Both Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham are free agents, which means that the Yankees have a hole in the outfield that can be filled. Jasson Dominguez has proven to be a better defender in center field than as a corner outfielder, so the Yankees could move him there and have Tucker and Aaron Judge as their corner outfielders for the foreseeable future.
Giants: We know the Giants would make a move like this because they swung for the fences when they traded for Rafael Devers.Still, even after that addition, their offense lacked punch. But will Tucker want to sign to play in a stadium that doesn't profile extremely well for left-handed hitters?
Phillies: The Phillies have been a World Series contender for a few years now, but keep coming up short. They are getting older, and the time is now. With Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto now free agents, there is money for them to spend on Tucker.
Astros: Yes, the Astros traded Tucker away, but they also let Carlos Correa go and then just brought him back last season. Houston still needs an impact bat in the outfield, and so maybe they decide that a reunion makes some sense.
Contract Prediction
I still expect Tucker to command a large offer this offseason. I think the contract could go up to 12 years, but I'm going to be a tad more cautious here. I'm also going to pivot from the expected Dodgers landing spot, partly out of spite, but also because Tucker, from his time with the Astros, strikes me as a player who wants to compete to take down the Dodgers, not join them. Tucker is originally from Florida, so let's put him back on the East Coast with a chance to play with other stars and win a title.
Phillies - 10 years, $405 million
Marcus Smith urged to kickstart England attack against Fiji after setbacks
Genge to captain side as Borthwick makes seven changes
Itoje on the bench after missing training due to injury
Steve Borthwick has acknowledged the challenges presented by managing Marcus Smith’s diminished role for England but has urged the recalled playmaker to kickstart his side’s attack against Fiji on Saturday.
Borthwick revealed that he met with Smith before England’s autumn campaign to offer support to the Harlequins No 10, who was first-choice fly-half 12 months ago before being moved to full-back and then to the role of super sub.
Continue reading...How to watch FGCU-Illinois vs. UConn: TV, live stream info, storylines for Friday’s game
The 17th-ranked Fighting Illini will be facing the Eagles for the first time.
How to watch FGCU vs. Illinois: TV, live stream info, storylines for Friday’s game
The 17th-ranked Fighting Illini will be facing the Eagles for the first time.