CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 28: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Rocket Arena on January 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 129-99. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a hectic 24 hours for the Cleveland Cavaliers. A swap featuring Darius Garland for James Harden is potentially on the way—and Cavs fans are scrambling to figure out how we got here.
According to multiple NBA insiders, it’s because the front office is concerned that this might be the last chance to convince Donovan Mitchell to sign a contract extension in the summer.
“The key here is that the Cavs are moving away from believing in the Core 4,” Brian Windhorst told ESPN Cleveland. “And I think the genesis of this is because they’re worried that Donovan is not going to re-sign this summer.”
Mitchell is in the middle of a stellar season. He’s averaging a career-high 28.8 points and has consistently translated his scoring to the playoffs. The argument here is that Mitchell is growing frustrated with Cleveland’s shortcomings in the postseason and could decline to sign an extension with the franchise.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps shared the same sentiment, saying he believes an extension is unlikely if the Cavs fall short again in the playoffs this season.
Now let’s get some context out of the way.
Speculation is fair. Especially when that’s part of your job. But, with all due respect, Bontemps also said that the Cavs had ZERO chance of extending Mitchell two summers ago. In fact, numerous NBA media members were adamant about Mitchell refusing to stay in Cleveland.
Does that mean that everyone is wrong this time? Of course not. It would make sense if Mitchell felt frustrated and looked for a change of scenery if the Cavs collapsed in the playoffs again. That’s only natural. I’m just trying to provide context and temper the flames before they get out of hand on Twitter.
Things change fast in the NBA. Mitchell signed an extension in 2024 before he believed in the future of the franchise. Two disappointing seasons are more than enough to shift that perspective. Regardless of whether or not the Cavs make any blockbuster trades before the deadline, they certainly have pressure on them to compete in the playoffs and convince Mitchell that this ship isn’t sinking.
The Ottawa Senators take a four-game winning streak into the Lenovo Center to face the Carolina Hurricanes tonight.
My Senators vs. Hurricanes predictions and top NHL picks are calling for Ottawa to cover the puck line in a low-scoring game tonight.
Senators vs Hurricanes prediction
Senators vs Hurricanes best bet: Under 6.5 (-105)
The Ottawa Senators have allowed the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, and the Carolina Hurricanes have surrendered the eighth-fewestper 60, so I’m not expecting the scoreboard to be lit up tonight.
Additionally, the Sens will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back road set, and for the third time in four nights, so it’s a tough schedule spot for Ottawa.
Hurricanes starter Brandon Bussi has also posted a rock-solid .912 SV% and 2.01 GAA with a respectable 4.36 goals saved above expected across his past nine starts.
Senators vs Hurricanes same-game parlay
Ottawa has won four straight with just six goals against, and that highlighted strong defensive play will enable the Sens to keep this game close. Carolina has only won once by multiple goals across its past six games, too.
Sens winger Drake Batherson has marked the scoresheet in three consecutive games and continues to skate on the top line and jump the boards with the No. 1 power-play unit alongside leading scorer Tim Stutzle. The duo has been on the ice for a high-end 5.45 goals per 60 minutes this season, too.
The Senators have covered the puck line in eight of their last 13 away games for +6.35 units and a 34% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Senators vs Hurricanes
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, FDSN-North
Senators vs Hurricanes latest injuries
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PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Assistant coach Todd Nelson, Nick Bonino, head coach Dan Muse and Mike Stothers talk during the game against the St. Louis Blues at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 27, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
There are a couple of different ways you can look at the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.
You could take the charitable approach and say they have been playing spectacular hockey for more than a month now, and that after such a long, sustained run of excellent play they were probably due for a stinker and a regulation loss.
You could also rightfully acknowledge that the Senators are probably a better team than their record indicates, and with better goaltending would probably be closer to a playoff spot right now. They were nearly flawless on Monday and have been on a roll over the past week-and-a-half, beating quite a few playoff teams rather convincingly.
But I was not really in the mood to be overly charitable after that game. Not because the Penguins are not entitled to loss, or an off night, or because they should win every game. It was not about the result. It was about the way they played. It was about how much of a no-show performance it was in a game where two points were there for the taking against a team below them in the standings.
If the Penguins were still the team everybody expected them to be at the start of the season I think games like Monday become more tolerable, especially after a hot streak. But the Penguins are not that team. They have raised the bar for what should be expected of them this season, and they have done that through their own play.
They entered Monday’s game with the sixth-best points percentage in the NHL, the third-best points percentage in the Eastern Conference, the fifth-most regulation wins in the NHL and a top-10 goal differential. Their underlying numbers are strong, their defensive play has steadily improved, they are getting steady, winnable goaltending.
What anybody expected before the season does not matter at this point.
What you think of their roster on paper does not matter at this point.
What matters is what they are doing on the ice, the way they are playing and the results they are producing.
And those results are that of a good team. A very good team.
This is no longer a team that should be looking at this season as, “Hey, what if we make the playoffs?” This a team that should be looking at this season and expecting to make the playoffs.
The question should not be “can they make the playoffs?” It should be “what can they potentially do in the playoffs?”
That is the position the Penguins have put themselves in in the standings. We are getting down to under 25 games in the regular season, and they are not only in a good position to potentially have home ice in the first round of the playoffs, there is a gap forming between them and the teams on the outside of the playoff picture. Not only due to the gap in points, but also due to the fact the Penguins still have multiple games in hand on pretty much every team they are competing with for one of those playoff spots.
It is a good team, and our expectations for them should be that of a good team. Sometimes that means being disappointed with such a flat effort. Sometimes that means criticism for such a flat effort, even in the context of a larger sampling of good to great games.
That is what makes Monday so disappointing. They did not just lose. They did not lose a competitive, well-played game. They were dominated from start to finish. While Ottawa was excellent, a lot of the Penguins mistakes were also very self-inflicted. There was no crispness to their game, their best players were some of their worst players in the game and had it not been for starting goalie Arturs Silovs absolutely standing on his head that could have easily been a 6-2 or 7-2 game. The fact they were even in a position to potentially get a point with five minutes to play in regulation is a testament to the game Silovs played.
When the Penguins had that disastrous home stand against against the Minnesota Wild and Seattle Kraken back in late November, coming back from the Sweden trip, head coach Dan Muse fumed after one of the games that just playing well and not getting results was not acceptable, and that they should be beyond that point in their expectations.
At the time, when the Penguins were still very early in the season and had not yet developed a larger sampling of play, it was a pretty bold statement from a first-year head coach of a team that was thought to be in a rebuilding season. That mindset is even more true now. Even though this is a team in some sort of a rebuilding phase, and even though there are young players on the roster and players developing, it is still, in general an older more veteran team that now should have serious playoff expectations.
Generally speaking, I am not down on the Penguins based on yesterday’s game.
I am simply down on that performance because my expectations have changed on this season.
This is a good team. Part of me thinks it is a really good team, and perhaps even a better team than a lot of people in Pittsburgh think it is. With strong play comes expectations. The Penguins failed to meet those expectations on Monday. Not because they lost. The way they lost. They have a big opportunity on Tuesday in a big game against the New York Islanders to make up for it.
After Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested and federally indicted last October for allegedly participating in an illegal "insider trading" gambling scheme tied to organized crime, he was placed on leave from the Heat, and the money from his $26.6 million salary was placed in an escrow account until his case was resolved.
On Monday, an arbitrator ruled that the NBA could not withhold Rozier's money under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and to pay the man, the National Basketball Players Association confirmed Monday in a statement to media outlets.
"We are pleased with the arbitrator's ruling and remain committed to ensuring Terry's due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process," the NBPA said in a statement first given to ESPN (and then other outlets).
Under the terms of the CBA, players can only be put on unpaid leave in cases of domestic abuse or child abuse, sources told ESPN.
Rozier remains away from the Heat, but he and his salary remain on their books. His name has come up in trade rumors for Giannis Antetokounmpo and others, simply as salary ballast to make the trade work under the NBA's CBA.
Federal prosecutors alleged Rozier conspired with professional gamblers to help them win "prop bets" based on his statistical performance in a game. Prosecutors specifically pointed to a game on March 23, 2023, when Rozier, then playing for the Hornets, allegedly told his conspirators he planned to exit the game early with a supposed injury and that they should bet the under on his prop bets. Rozier allegedly was given a portion of the winnings by the conspirators, who are tied to organized crime.
Rozier has vehemently denied any involvement in such a plot. "Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight," Rozier's attorney, Jim Trusty, had previously told NBC Sports.
Rozier remains away from the Heat while his case works its way through the courts.
The Florida Panthers were once again on the losing end of another key Atlantic Division matchup, falling 5-3 to the Buffalo Sabres.
The urgency was apparent, with 43 shots on goal, but in the end, they allowed timely goals and paid the price.
While the performances haven't given the organization much to be happy about as of late, one bright spot is the play of rookie Sandis Vilmanis.
He's now played 12 games in his first NHL stint, and he’s given the Panthers every reason to keep him in the NHL for the rest of his career. While averaging 10:44 of ice time, Vilmanis has notched two goals and four points. As the games have gone along, he’s begun to garner more trust from coach Paul Maurice, now recording seven games with more than 10:00 of ice time.
Last night against the Sabres, Vilmanis got the scoring started, firing the puck into the top corner. It’s been known for quite some time that Vilmanis has a dangerous wrist shot. It’s heavy, accurate and his release is quick, which makes it challenging for goaltenders to track and prepare themselves for.
While the Panthers have been impressed with his shot, he’s shown so much more during these 12 games. His playmaking flies a bit under the radar, but he is more than capable of creating plays for himself and his teammates. But he’s also shown an attentiveness to the defensive side of the puck, and the willingness to mix it up physically.
“He’s not a single-style player where he has to play with a certain kind of player,” said Maurice about his rookie winger. “He looks like he could play with some guys and be a good player. He’s a good one.”
Sandis Vilmanis will represent Latvia in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)
The 22-year-old has thrown 22 hits, blocked three shots, and has fired 10 shots on goal. If the Panthers had a complaint, it would be that they’d like to see Vilmanis shoot more. With age and experience, Vilmanis will feel more comfortable shooting the puck more frequently.
There’s a lot to like about the Vilmanis’ game, and the stats back it up. According to naturalstattrick.com, at 5-on-5, the Panthers own a 53.40 Corsi For percentage, 54.71 percent of the expected goals, and 60.61 percent of the high danger chances, when Vilmanis is on the ice. Additionally, the Panthers have outscored opponents 6-5 at 5-on-5 while Vilmanis is on the ice.
Although injuries may end up being the downfall of the Panthers’ season, it has created an opening for Vimanis, and he’s taken advantage of it. The next step for Vilmanis is to force his way up the lineup, but that will come in time; his goal should continue to leave a positive impact on games.
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UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 2: Malachi Smith #18 of the Long Island Nets and Nate Williams #19 of the Long Island Nets high five during the game against the Grand Rapids Gold on February 2, 2026 at The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Marcus Stevens/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It was eight years ago that E,J. Liddell and Malachi Smith combined to win an Illinois state championship for Belleville West High School. Liddell was also Illinois Mr. Basketball and the two went on to sterling college careers, ending up at Ohio State (Liddell) and Gonzaga (Smith.) Now, the two have been reunited in Long Island, both of them big contributors to the Nets G League affiliate’s success.
Last night was just another reason for the Nets to thank Belleville West as the two combined for 39 points in a 115-107 win over the Grand Rapids Gold at Nassau Coliseum which included a 25-0 run, the biggest in franchise history. Liddell, the Nets two-way, scored 14 and Smith 25 in starting roles, Liddell at power forward and Smith in a combo guard role. It was yet another big game for Smith who’s on a G League only deal.
The 6’4” 26-year-old hit 12 of his 18 shot attempts. Since getting the starting role, Smith has reached new heights in his G League career, his development took a right turn when he began starting with Long Island. He started putting up numbers that he always had potential to and has averaged 17.1 points over the past 10.
Smith came close to a triple-double, as he picked up seven rebounds and eight assists. Smith even had a block to his credit. Smith could become Long Island’s next big development project, similar to Tyson Etienne from last season.
Liddell, his fellow Maroon, made his return to Long Island in this one, after spending a week in Brooklyn and playing in Brooklyn’s big loss against the Detroit Pistons, putting up five points in 10 minutes. After the game, Liddell spoke to ND about his time in Brooklyn again, and playing against the East’s top team.
Brooklyn Nets two-way player, EJ Liddell, on the Brooklyn Nets tough loss against Detroit, learning under Jordi, his performance on Monday for Long Island, his play style, and his goal of a standard NBA deal.@NetsDaily#StrongIsland#NetsWorldpic.twitter.com/5Q4AAZo3MI
“We took a couple of tough losses,” Liddell tells ND of his time in Brooklyn. “But, just what Jordi (Fernandez) has been teaching all along, resilience. We have to play with grit and how we’re going to handle adversity as a team. You have to respond a certain way, and we responded when we went to Utah. We took a tough one, so hopefully they’ll respond tomorrow.”
When Liddell asked ND about playing in such a brutal loss, he said, “It’s basketball, I love playing basketball no matter where I’m at.”
After getting back to Long Island late Sunday night, he scored 14 points while shooting 40% for Long Island. Liddell also had three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Despite his 6’7” height Liddell is one of the G League’s top shotblockers, averaging better than two a game. He also spoke to ND after the game about his performance and mindset coming out of a win like this.
“Coming into today, it’s honestly all about winning,” Liddell tells ND. “I got in late last night, so I tried to get as much sleep in as possible. But you know, come in and compete with these guys that have been here for it, so it’s good to always be back with the guys that welcome me back.”
Liddell proved once again to be one of the court’s most physical players on Monday in his 28 minutes. This is a part of his game that has grown exponentially this season. Whether he blocks the ball or makes tough shots in traffic, the physical part of his game is growing.
“Physicality,” Liddell says. “That’s what they preach. They said that it would be a big part of my game. I’ve even shedded a lot of weight, and I’m still just a broader guy. My dad’s a bigger guy, so that’s just my build. So, I got to use it to my advantage.”
Asked about possibly being elevated to a standard NBA contract, Liddell said he believes he’s an NBA player, adding that it’s not up to him.
“I’ll let the cards fall where they may,” Liddell said. “Obviously, I want to play in the NBA one day. I believe I’m an NBA player, true to heart. But, whatever happens, happens. I have to worry about where my feet are at now; I can’t really worry about what goes on with the politics and everything. I’m just a basketball player. I’m just EJ. If they want me around, I’m going to be around.”
The trade deadline is often a time when NBA teams make decisions on standard deals as well as two-ways with roster moves opening up spots. A few days ago, Grant Nelson, the 23-year-old 7-footer who’s started the last seven games for Long Island, discussed how his goal is a two-way deal, as it has been since he joined the Nets on an Exhibit 10 last summer. With Brooklyn’s Haywood Highsmith’s situation unsettled – he has yet this season and is on an expiring deal, it’s possible both could get their wish.
Nelson, however, remains on a minutes restriction. He broke 20 minutes for the first time Monday night, his eighth start and ninth game since returning from a seven-week layoff that he said had gone a long way towards correcting a knee issue that’s bothered him since he 18, five years ago.
He finished with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 1-of-2 from deep. It was his first three since his return. He also grabbed six boards. But his big contribution was what might be the dunk of the year for Long Island. The 7-foot Nelson took off down the lane and posterized 7’2” Moses Brown who’s had stints both with the Nets and Knicks.
Brown had started the game dominating the Nets bigs, but after Nelson’s jam, things turned around as coach Mfon Udofia assigned both Nelson and 6’11” David Muoka to him…
“Honestly, he’s a great player. For his size, he can move really well,” Muoka said of Brown. “I’ve had a couple of games against him in my previous two years in the league. For me, with guys like that, it’s just be as physical as I can be and do my work early. There was one or two times I didn’t, and he got the left hook over me. That kind of stuff is what I take pride in, being the guy that guys can’t really score on, whether that’s off-ball or on-ball, just being that defender that I know I can be.”
The game was big as well for Tyson Etienne who could also be in line for a standard deal, although the Nets are at the moment not in need for another guard. The Nets two-way had a game-leading 26 points. The 6’0” 26-year-old point guard entered this game as the all-time Long Island Nets scoring leader. He connected on nine of his 15 shots, including seven of 12 from 3-point range. Etienne also picked up four rebounds and six assists while turning the ball over only one time
Finally, Nate Williams finished with yet another double-double. He tallied 16 points and had 12 rebounds to his credit. The 6’6” wings who turns 27 next week has the most NBA experience on Long Island.
His is another name to watch, for a potential two-way deal, whether with Brooklyn,another NBA team or even overseas. Long Island has already lost two top players to international teams, Yuri Collins to the Israeli league and Jay Scrubb to the Mongolian league where he scored 43 points last week.
Morgan Tucker talks about her two hats
The game also marked Long Island’s big New York Liberty affiliation night which included Long Island playing in Liberty themed uniforms and fan giveaways. The new Liberty’s new head coach, Chris DeMarco, and Libs center Nyara Sabally were in attendance.
Before the game, NetsDaily got the chance to speak with the Vice President of Business Operations for both the Long Island Nets and the New York Liberty, Morgan Taylor. Taylor spoke on the partnership between Long Island and the Liberty and the importance of it all.
“It’s really important,” Taylor tells ND. “It started before I got my role with the Long Island Nets. It’s important to our whole company to celebrate what the Liberty means to Brooklyn, to Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. Once this partnership started, once the Liberty came over to Brooklyn and started their full season in 2021. It’s great because the players get to wear a jersey that’s similar to what the Liberty wear on court. It’s great to know that the players understand their relationship too. Now it’s even more fun because I work for both teams, so I’m happy that we’re able to cross-promote the night and the two teams.”
Nelson also picked up six rebounds and three assists. He also had one steal to round out his pretty complete game. While he wasn’t a scoring machine in this one, Nelson still showed a ton of progress in different aspects of the game, mainly his physicality and play in the paint. Nelson also hit his first three of the season, trying to expand his shooting out to three-point land. He connected on just one of his two tries.
The third and final Brooklyn two-way on hand in this one was Chaney Johnson. Johnson entered the game from the bench, tallying eight points for 100% day shooting the ball. He went three-for-three, including hitting both of his shots from deep. Johnson also had two rebounds and two steals. However, he had three turnovers, which were tied for the team lead.
David Muoka continued his impressive play as of late. After starting the season off slowly, Muoka has seemingly gotten back on track. He has looked like a force out on the court, and his physical play has seemingly helped him to turn the page. After the game, Muoka spoke to ND about his turnaround this season.
Long Island got off to a strong start from beyond the arc, shooting 55.6 percent (5-for-9) from deep in the opening quarter while limiting Grand Rapids to just one made triple, but the Gold held a 30-25 lead after the first frame. Grand Rapids went on a 27-9 run from 3:34 in the first quarter to 8:10 in the second. Long Island battled back to end the quarter on a 10-2 run and cut the deficit to 66-55 entering the break. Etienne led the Nets with 19 points on 77.8 percent (7-for-9) shooting from the field and 71.4 percent (5-for-7) shooting from downtown in the first half.
Long Island went on a 25-0 run marking the longest run of consecutive points in franchise history. The Nets erupted for 40 points in the third while holding Grand Rapids to just 12 points in the frame. The Gold fought back with an 11-0 run. Long Island held on for a 115-107 win. Long Island finished the game shooting 50 percent (43-for-86) from the field and 42.4 percent (14-for-33) from deep in the win.
Next Up
The Long Island Nets (10-7) return to the court on Friday, February 5th, as they travel to Chicago to take on Mac McClung and the Windy City Bulls. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on the NBA G League and Long Island Nets respective websites.
RALEIGH, NC - FEBRUARY 01: Goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) of the Carolina Hurricanes congratulates teammates after the NHL game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Carolina Hurricanes on February 1, 2026 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes (34-15-6) are back in action as they take on the Ottawa Senators (27-21-8) tonight at the Lenovo Center.
This will be the last home game before the Olympic break for Carolina, so come and see your team or wait until their next home game which will be on February 26th against the Lightning.
The Canes are riding an eight game point streak. They are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games.
The Sens have won four games in a row since their 4-1 loss to Carolina on January 24th. They are 6-2-2 in their last 10.
Brandon Bussi was in the starter’s crease at the morning skate and will get the start tonight. Bussi has a 21-3-1 record and he sets a new NHL record for fewest number of games needed for every win he gets.
The lines for the Hurricanes at the skate were the same as in recent games.
Svechnikov – Ah0 – Jarvis
Hall- Stankoven – Blake
Ehlers – Staal – Martinook
Kotkaniemi – Jankowski – Carrier
Slavin – Chatfield
Walker – Miller
Nikishin – Gostisbehere
For more information about the game, check out the game preview put out by the team.
The charity event came during the Lightning’s game with the Bruins.Photograph: Josh Lavallee/NHLI/Getty Images
The NHL has received backlash after slashing a donation to cancer research by $800,000 after a missed shot during a charity promotion.
The incident came during Sunday’s game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. Rob Higgins, the athletics CEO of the University of South Florida, was brought on to the ice to attempt a shot through a very small opening in an empty goal. If Higgins, who is a cancer survivor, made the shot the NHL said it would donate $500,000 to cancer charities; if he missed the donation would be $100,000. The event was broadcast live on Sportsnet in Canada and ESPN in the US. Higgins missed what was a very tough shot. He was then given another chance, with a guaranteed donation of $200,000 if he missed, which would increase to $1m if he scored. Higgins missed again.
Higgins thanked the Lightning and the NHL for an “amazing honor” but many on social media attacked the league for leaving $800,000 on the table that could have gone to charity.
One account said the move was “classless”, adding that “the NHL should’ve built the widest net and asked dozens of survivors to score symbolically”. Another user called the event “dystopian”.
Higgins was a little more upbeat. “And with that, my hockey career (which thankfully only lasted two shots) is now officially over,” he wrote on X.
Jul 16, 2019; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jeremy Jeffress (32) pets his dog during Bark At The Park event prior to the game against the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Another season of Milwaukee Brewers baseball is nearly upon us, and with it, the team has announced their list of theme nights, community nights, and an on-sale date for single-game tickets.
For those of you looking for single-game tickets, all games will go on sale on Thursday, February 12 at 10 a.m. CT. That includes tickets for opening day and the team’s community nights.
Milwaukee’s theme nights for 2026 are as follows. Please note that in order to get the giveaway, you must purchase a special ticket from this page. Theme night tickets are already available for purchase.
Friday, April 24 — Star Wars™ Night with postgame laser show (Grogu™ bobble giveaway), presented by ESPN Milwaukee
Tuesday, May 12 — Bark at the Park (rope chew toy giveaway), presented by Tavo Pets
Friday, May 22 — Boy Band Night with postgame fireworks show (BrewCrew Boyz t-shirt giveaway), presented by Wintrust
Wednesday, June 3 — Backyard Baseball Night® with postgame fireworks show (Pablo Sanchez bobblehead), presented by T-Mobile®
Wednesday, June 17 — Pokémon Go™ Night (collectible Brewers Pokémon Go Item)
Sunday, July 19 — Paw Patrol™ Day (lunch box giveaway)
Wednesday, August 5 — NARUTO™ Night with postgame laser show (NARUTO™ Brewers jersey giveaway)
Sunday, August 9 — Sesame Street™ Day (Oscar the Grouch bobblehead)
Wednesday, August 19 — Hello Kitty® Night (Brewers Hello Kitty® bobble giveaway)
Friday, September 25 — Peanuts® Night (Brewers Lucy bobble giveaway)
March Madness is so ingrained as a national spectacle at this point the controversial selections and snubs are an inevitability, and even an expected part of the show when college basketball fans gather on Selection Sunday for the reveal of the bracket.
Bracketology sprouted from our collective thirst to know what teams must do to hear their name on Selection Sunday, and where those teams might be ranked. So too did a collection of rankings based on computer models and formulas and, like last year, seven of those metrics will be listed on the team sheets used by the selection committee as it meets heading into Selection Sunday to determine the field for the 2026 NCAA tournament.
Each ranking or rating is separated into two distinct categories — predictive metrics and results-based metrics. The NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET), KenPom, ESPN's BPI and the Torvik rankings are considered predictive rankings that measure how good a team is based on its offensive and defensive efficiency, adjusted for opponent strength and location. The KPI, ESPN's Strength of Record (SOR) and Wins Above Bubble (WAB) are results-based rankings that judge how hard it was for a team to attain its résumé.
For many teams, the two types of ratings largely converge by the end of the season. For others, however, there can be a wide swath of outcomes based on how a game was played and whether it was won or lost. These are the schools from major and mid-major conferences that could inspire the most robust conversation and debate among committee members, either over their selection into the 2026 NCAA tournament as an at-large and/or their potential seeding in the field, due to the differences between their ranking in predictive metrics and results-based metrics.
Here's an early look at 10 teams with polarizing profiles ahead of Selection Sunday based on the metrics used for the men's NCAA tournament:
How the NCAA tournament selection committee seeds the defending national champions is developing into a fascinating subplot for Selection Sunday after Florida didn't get wins in high-profile nonconference games against Arizona, Duke and UConn. But the Gators remain in the SEC driver's seat with a huge matchup against Texas A&M looming on Feb. 7. Predictive rankings have them already in contention for a top-two seed, but results-based metrics have Florida hovering just inside the top-20. Will committee members give the Gators the benefit of the doubt over teams with fewer losses?
The Cardinals are 11-2 when freshman Mikel Brown is in the lineup, with losses to only Duke and Arkansas, and look poised to return to the NCAA tournament in coach Pat Kelsey's second season. But Louisville is 4-4 without Brown, including three losses in four games last month as ACC play got underway. So the Cardinals are positioned as high as No. 11 in predictive metrics as a result of their ceiling with Brown, but their results-based rankings are as low as No. 32. If those dynamics remain the same over the next month, there will be lingering questions about how Louisville will be seeded by the selection committee.
The Hoosiers are as high as No. 23 and as low as No. 49 among the seven metrics used by the NCAA tournament selection committee, with a weak schedule and lack of significant wins until recent triumphs over Purdue and UCLA leaving them in an interesting spot to start February. Indiana hasn't slipped up against inferior competition and had several metric-boosting blowouts to help juice its predictive metrics. The Hoosiers would likely make the NCAA tournament field as an at-large team if Selection Sunday were this week, but they're only a loss or two away from being on the wrong side of the bubble again.
The Knights' résumé won't be straightforward for selection committee members if UCF continues on its current trajectory, with the predictive metrics of a bubble team and results more in line with a top-six seed. The Knights didn't test themselves much in the nonconference schedule, but got a key road win over Texas A&M, already beat Kansas and Texas Tech in Big 12 play and have no bad losses. Coach Johnny Dawkins is having his best season since he last made the NCAA tournament in 2019.
The Longhorns could present challenges for the committee if they linger along the NCAA tournament bubble around Selection Sunday. Their predictive metrics rank among the top-40 after some impressive SEC wins over Vanderbilt and Alabama last month, but they've also got a Quad 3 loss at home to Mississippi State and only one nonconference win of note on their résumé. Texas still has chances to boost its profile with games looming against Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas at the end of SEC play, but its profile can't withstand too many more setbacks.
The Huskies would be a fascinating test case if Selection Sunday were this week instead of next month as no Big Ten team has a wider gap between its metrics. The predictive rankings are all mostly the same, ranging from No. 43-47, and put Washington on the bubble. The results-based rankings are similar as well, only those range from No. 60-64 because of the team's 10 losses. That would put the Huskies in danger of missing the NCAA tournament. None of those defeats, however, are outside of the first two quadrants.
The predictive metrics haven't caught up to the results-based metrics after Cal knocked off UNC, Stanford and Miami to emerge from a three-game losing skid. The Golden Bears have played their way onto the NCAA tournament bubble and have no bad losses on their ledger. A few closer-than-expected results facing a weak nonconference schedule leaves them limited margin for error the next month.
The Cowboys look like they could provide a window into how the NCAA tournament selection committee judges a team that does well in nonconference play only to then stumble in conference action. Oklahoma State is considered the 12th-best team in the Big 12 by predictive metrics after it started league play with five losses in eight games. But it's nearly 22 spots higher nationally, on average, in results-based metrics thanks to early wins over Texas A&M, USF, Northwestern and Grand Canyon that have aged better than expected. The Cowboys still have a shot based on the strength of the Big 12.
This one-time Final Four phenomenon could be poised for another mid-major NCAA tournament run involving a borderline Selection Sunday résumé. The Patriots have won 20 of their first 22 games, but both losses came in rare Quad 1 or 2 opportunities. Their predictive metrics continue to lag significantly when compared to their results-based rankings. It doesn't help that George Mason won't face Atlantic-10 Conference favorite Saint Louis until its regular-season finale. The Patriots need more quality win opportunities.
The undefeated darlings of the MAC could present the NCAA tournament selection committee with a real issue to sort through if they were to get upset before claiming the league's automatic berth into March Madness. KenPom and ESPN's BPI have Miami rated outside the top 75 with no Quad 1 wins, but the RedHawks rank among the top 35 in ESPN's strength of record and the NCAA's wins above bubble metrics thanks to their unblemished record. Would Miami with one or two losses merit an at-large berth on Selection Sunday?
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Daniel Robert #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, July 26, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Friends, fear not. The bottom of the bullpen churn will continue in some fashion.
Daniel Robert agrees to return to Phillies. Minors deal for the RHP. MLB camp invite.
Listen, Robert wasn’t deserving of a major league deal. He works well as minor league depth, someone who has had at least a modicum of success at the major league level. Having those kinds of players at Lehigh Valley has value, so why not bring him back.
It’ll add more players in case the team wants to do different things later on in the season. Maybe an injury, maybe a trade, maybe a release. At least they’ll have players to help in those case.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 29: James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome on November 29, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers and LA Clippers are in the final stages of agreeing to a deal that would swap 11-time All-Star James Harden and 26-year-old Darius Garland. Reports of the trade originally broke last night with Chris Haynes stating this morning that both sides are motivated to get a deal completed “relatively soon.”
Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers have ramped up conversations on a James Harden, Darius Garland package with both sides motivated to executing a deal relatively soon, league sources tell me.
It’s unclear what else would be included in this trade. Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix reported last night that the Cavs were asking for at least one draft pick to be included in the deal. That, at the time, was too much for the Clippers. Perhaps things have changed.
For as banged up as Garland has been this season, he’s still 10 years younger than his counterpart. He might not be having a better season than Harden up to this point, but the future is far brighter with DG than it is with Harden. It makes sense that the Cavs would want an additional sweetener added to the deal.
More so, the Cavs could very well be lining themselves up for another move after this. Blowing up the core four won’t be a half measure. If Garland is gone, the next step could be trading Jarrett Allen or even Evan Mobley in a swing for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Cavs have reportedly discussed trading for any star player who is available, including Anthony Davis.
Of course, this is part of the chaos that happens during the trade deadline. Rumors swirl and madness ensues. It’s still possible that this deal with the Clippers falls through, and the subsequent moves stay locked in the chamber for the offseason.
All that being said, today is a bad day to be away from your phone if you’re a Cavs fan. The future of the franchise could be permanently altered within the next 60 hours. It certainly seems to be trending towards chaos. I’d get your takes ready.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: A detail shot of the main entrance to Dodger Stadium prior to Game One of the National League Wild Card Series between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Star players are exciting to watch, no doubt, but baseball seasons are long, and there is plenty of time to build up an affection for just about every type of player.
Miguel Rojas is entering his 13th and final major league season, before he transitions into a front office role with the Dodgers. He’s never made an All-Star team, but was a dependable regular at shortstop for five years with the Miami Marlins before returning to Los Angeles in more of a reserve role over the last three seasons.
“It’s coming on your feed every single day. You’re seeing the homer, you’re seeing the plays, you’re seeing the whole series,” Rojas said on SportsNet LA during Dodgers Fest on Saturday. “And then the feedback from the people on the streets. When they come to you and say, ‘That was the most memorable World Series,’ ‘That was the best game I’ve ever seen,’ it’s really impactful, because you were part of something really cool in baseball. That’s a moment you will never forget.”
Rojas has 57 regular season home runs in his 12 years to date. Scioscia made two All-Star teams with the Dodgers so perhaps he doesn’t fall into the underrated or unheralded category.
Eric Karros never made an All-Star team, but is generally well-regarded as the Dodgers’ home run leader since moving to Los Angeles, and is still broadcasting games for the team on television from time to time. I’m not sure he is underrated, but maybe he is. To each their own.
There can be many reasons for having an affinity for a non-star player. Maybe it was a specific moment from a game you watched as a kid. Maybe they have a penchant for earning three-inning saves. Who knows?
Today’s question is who is your favorite underrated or unheralded Dodgers player, past or present, and why?
Dec 8, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro speaks with the media during the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings at Signia by Hilton Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Though it was stunningly cold this past Saturday, plenty of Kansas City Royals fans showed up to the fourth annual Royals Rally event. Fans who bought tickets received access to autograph sessions and could listen to select roundtables throughout the day.
Additionally, just like last year, this event served as the first big media event of the year, with a variety of Royals players, coaches, and front office members sitting down to field questions from the group. I was there during media availability and got a few questions in–including one that had been burning a hole in my proverbial pocket that I finally asked principal owner John Sherman.
This year, we’ll look at some quotes that I jotted down that I found noteworthy as we look ahead to the 2026 season.
“Stability” and “Reach”
Ok, this isn’t a quote per se, you got me. But they are two words that Cullen Maxey, the Royals’ new president of business operations, repeatedly said in regard to Kansas City’s broadcasting situation.
With FanDuel Sports Kansas City and its parent company, Main Street Sports Group, traversing the thorny path of financial ruin, the Royals have faced a choice in how to proceed: stick with FanDuel or transition to MLB. Just two days after the event, the Royals confirmed they were ditching FanDuel for the season in favor of an in-house MLB broadcast. All the broadcasters will remain on board.
When Sherman was available for an interview, I asked him about the instability with FanDuel and if that had impacted revenue or their ability to field the payroll they wanted. Sherman said that there has indeed been some revenue “erosion” and that a non-FanDuel option would result in further revenue erosion. Interestingly, Sherman also said that they considered it a short-term impact, and as such, they were simply eating the monetary difference so it wouldn’t impact the team.
So, why then did the Royals go with MLB if it meant even lower revenues? Maxey and Sherman believe that maximizing reach is the best and most profitable way in the long haul. That’s why they did it.
“We got away from our identity.”
It was a mostly quiet offseason for Kansas City, with a young core in place surrounded by a starting pitching staff with high-end and depth talent. Still, Picollo says that there were some growing pains last year and said that the team “got away from our identity.”
Interestingly, JJ said that this identity wasn’t about any individual playing factor, but that their identity was about putting pressure on other teams. And if you watched the 2025 Royals very often, you know that some things plagued the team all year long: a lack of getting on base, baserunning blunders, and defensive miscues.
If you’re wondering why the Royals didn’t grab another bat, Picollo said that there were “few available hitters to make us significantly better,” and it is that “significantly better” part that stands out for me, because the implied part of that is “for the cost.” Picollo knows the Royals would ideally like to add another bat, and Sherman said later that there still could be opportunities to add a bat–after all, it’s only February and we’ve got two months before Opening Day.
So if the Royals do add a bat, it’ll mean that they found that piece to make them significantly better at a cost that they agree with.
“We’ll match up and move guys around.”
The Royals acquired Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas in the offseason, and they’ll have Jac Caglionone from opening day. What will the outfield look like?
That was my question to Matt Quatraro, who agreed that those three will receive a lot of playing time in the outfield. But he followed that up by strongly suggesting that the outfield would be fluid. The first additional name Q brought up as someone who would get outfield time was Michael Massey, and Q also said that Nick Loftin and John Rave would be prepared to play there, too.
Kansas City is in a better place with the outfield, but there’s enough uncertainty that we may see platoons to some degree for all three outfield spots. While the Royals think that Collins is likely going to play a lot of left field, it sounds like there will be some healthy competition and enough plate appearances to go around.
“I want to retire here.”
During JJ’s interview, Salvador Perez’s loud voice could be heard from the hallway. When JJ referred to him as a Hall of Famer, Salvy quipped that he was glad to hear it. Perez’s smile and personality are as big as ever.
Salvy was asked about signing his most recent extension, and he was unequivocal in his happiness as a Royal. He wants to retire here, and he does not want to play for any other team. Will he make it to the Hall of Fame? It’ll be an interesting case. He could get to 350 home runs and 2,000 hits if he continues to play well. But make no mistake: Salvy is going to be a big part of the team this year.
“Last year was a failure.”
Vinnie Pasquantino is beloved by fans, teammates, and media alike because of his big personality, respectfulness, and honesty. It was the honesty that was on full display here.
When asked about how he felt about the season, he brought up last year and did not mince words, calling it a failure. They felt like they were good enough to make the playoffs, but they didn’t. To Vinnie, that wasn’t just an “aw shucks” situation, but a true failure. He brought up that Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia are on long-term deals and that the time to win is now.
New and returning Royals pitcher Matt Strahm later mentioned the same thing–that there is a drive and an expectation to win. “I was happy to hear how disappointed they were,” he said about his new teammates’ thoughts on the previous season. Strahm went on to say that he was tired of being a loser and wanted to win.
Somebody asked a clarifying question of Strahm about what would not constitute losing; he replied simply: the World Series. It’s clear that Royals players have their standards set high.
“We wanted to play in a more neutral setting more consistently.”
The Royals are in the process of moving in their fences, a decision that the team made after they crunched the numbers and determined it would help the team more than it would hurt them. During the event, you could clearly see that they were actively at work doing so, as you can see from a few photos I snapped of the snow-clad field:
Sherman put it in terms of a return on investment. Vinnie stated that he was excited about it and that he was looking forward to what it felt like in the regular season. Seth Lugo offered a measured response from a pitcher’s perspective, and said that as long as he does his job in limiting hard-hit fly balls and line drives, he won’t have to worry about where the walls are.
But Quatraro’s statement about playing in a neutral setting more consistently seems to be one of the core reasons for the change. It’s not that Kauffman was a hitter’s or pitcher’s park; it’s that it was so different from the rest of the league. We’ll see how it plays out in the regular season.
“We’re not going anywhere.”
It was during last year’s Royals Rally press conferences where Sherman said that the Royals would have an answer on where they wanted to play by the middle of the year. That didn’t happen, the latest in what has been more than one missed self-imposed deadline.
Since then, there has been very little official information from the club. But with John Sherman himself appearing before the media, Saturday was a rare opportunity to get some answers.
Perhaps taking some lessons from last year, though, those answers were mostly noncommittal. Sherman stated that they “feel good about where we are” and didn’t give a specific timeline. When asked if the team was trying to get a deal done without a public vote like in April 2024, Sherman did not directly answer, saying that those decisions weren’t up to the Royals and they were focused on what they could control.
However, Sherman did confirm that the team was no longer looking at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. Additionally, he said that the team was still looking at sites “on both sides of the state line.” And for the first time that I can recall, Sherman said that extending the lease to stay at Kauffman Stadium was a possibility if necessary, though he preferred not to do that because that amounted to “kicking the can down the road.”
Sherman was also asked again if the Royals would move away from the metro. He responded, “We’re not going anywhere,” and that if somebody ever moved the team away from Kansas City, it wouldn’t be them.
