Michigan coach Dusty May spoke with reporters following the Wolverines' 91-79 win over Texas A&M in the second round of the 2025 NCAA men's basketball March Madness tournament.
Rick Pitino on RJ Luis Jr benching: ‘I’m not gonna knock one of my players’
The St. John's head coach addressed why the Big East player of the year did not play for the final five minutes of Saturday's loss to Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Blues Recall 2023 First-Round Pick, Will Make NHL Debut Sunday
ST. LOUIS -- The Dalibor Dvorsky era is off and running.
The St. Louis Blues recalled the No. 10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft from Springfield of the American Hockey league on Saturday night, and the center will make his debut against the Nashville Predators.
"Do what got you here, play to your strengths," Blues coach Jim Montgomery on his message to Dvorsky. "I think not only in your first game, but a lot of times you've got to talk to players about what you can do."
Dvorsky, 19, will skate with Mathieu Joseph and Alexandre Texier on a line.
"We're excited to watch him play tonight, as I'm sure all of our fan base is," Montgomery said. "I've never seen him skate, and I've never been on the ice with him. If he's playing well, he's going to play a lot. That's the way I go into every game with every player."
The Dvorsky recall is in correlation to Pavel Buchnevich, who missed a 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday with an illness. Montgomery said after the game and on Sunday that Buchnevich is day to day.
"'Buch' is good," Montgomery said. "It's just a day to day thing. He's not himself right now feeling healthy. We all get viral infections and stuff."
Dvorsky has 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 57 games with the Thunderbirds.
His goals are tied for third among AHL rookies and fifth in points.
Dvorsky was not in the lineup for the Thunderbirds on Saturday and had a four-game point streak (two goals, two assists).
Michigan marches past Texas A&M to Sweet 16
Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and former Big 12 player of the year Marcus Morris Sr. react to the Wolverines’ 91-79 win over the Aggles to advance to the regional semifinal for the sixth time since 2017.
Nets' valiant fourth-quarter comeback attempt denied in 108-103 loss to Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored eight of his 26 points over the final 3 1/2 minutes Saturday and Myles Turner made five three-pointers and finished with 22 points to help the Indiana Pacers hold off the charging Brooklyn Nets, 108-103.
Indiana swept its two home games against Brooklyn this week. The Pacers have won four straight and six of seven.
Turner also had eight rebounds and three blocks after his sister left the court on a stretcher during pregame warmups. All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton returned from an injured back that kept him out of Indiana’s previous three games and recorded his 10th straight double-double with 16 points and 12 assists to go with eight rebounds.
Trendon Watford scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Nets, who have lost three straight and 13 of 15. Cam Johnson added 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The Pacers closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run to take a 90-70 lead, but allowed Brooklyn to open the fourth quarter on a 13-0 run. Then after giving up a dunk, the Nets scored eight straight to get within 92-91 with 4:30 to play.
But Siakam’s late scoring flurry helped seal the win.
Takeaways
Nets: It has been a tough season for Brooklyn and losing twice at Indiana only added to the woes as the Nets continued their late season fade.
Pacers: Indiana entered with a one-game lead over Milwaukee for the No. 4 seed and three games behind New York for the No. 3 seed. They’re trying to earn their first home-court series since 2013-14 — aside from the 2019-20 playoffs that were played in Florida.
Key moment
Brooklyn made only three baskets over the final 4 1/2 minutes after closing it to 92-91.
Key stats
Indiana had 32 assists on 40 baskets and a 21-8 advantage in fast-break points.
Up next
The Nets open a three-game homestand Monday against Dallas. Indiana hosts Minnesota on Monday.
Panthers end road trip with 6-3 loss to East-leading Capitals
The longest road trip of the season for the Florida Panthers came to a frustrating end on Saturday night.
Facing the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals, Florida couldn’t keep up with the high-flying Caps and lost 6-3 at Capital One Arena.
The Panthers fell behind early after Connor McMichael caught Florida’s blueliners in a line change.
McMichael went in all alone on Vitel Vanecek and made a silky smooth move to give the Caps a 1-0 lead at the 3:15 mark.
Just over three minutes later, a fortunate bounce put the puck on the stick of rookie Mackie Samoskevich in the corner and he quickly found Sam Bennett on the doorstep.
All Bennett had to do was redirect the pass into an empty net, knotting the score at one.
The goals continued to come fast and furious after that.
Defensemen John Carlson and Seth Jones traded goals 92 seconds apart, and then a minute later, Anthony Beauvillier gave Washington their third lead of the period at 3-2.
Jonah Gadjovich was quick to tie the game at three just 31 seconds after Beauvillier’s goal, and that’s how the game would go into the first intermission.
The second period was not a great one for the Panthers.
By the time the middle frame was six minutes old, Washington had already scored not one, not two but three more goals, taking a commanding 6-3 lead that would end up being the final score.
On to the Penguins.
QUICK THOUGHTS
Bennett logged his third multi-point game this month. He’s logged 10 points in 10 March games for Florida.
The goal by Jones was his first as a member of the Panthers. He’s logged thee points over his past six games.
Evan Rodrigues’ assist on Jones’ goal was his first point in nine games.
Nico Sturm picked up his first point as a Panther with an assist on Jones’ goal.
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Islanders' three-game win streak snapped after 4-3 OT loss to Flames
NEW YORK (AP) — Nazem Kadri scored at 3:51 of overtime and the Calgary Flames beat the New York Islanders 4-3 on Saturday.
Matt Coronato had two goals and Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and two assists for Calgary in its third straight win. Dan Vladar finished with 26 saves.
Bo Horvat, Marc Gatcomb and Kyle MacLean scored for the Islanders. Maxim Tsyplakov and Noah Dobson each had two assists, and Marcus Hogberg had 31 saves as New York snapped a three-game win streak but extended its point streak to five games (3-0-2).
Hogberg denied Morgan Frost on a breakaway shortly before Kadri scored the winning goal.
Huberdeau, playing in his 900th career NHL game, scored the tying goal with 2:22 remaining — just 29 seconds after MacLean gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead late in the third period.
Vladar made a nifty glove save on Ryan Pulock in the closing seconds to keep the game tied.
Takeaways
Flames: MacKenzie Weegar was a late scratch due to a lower-body injury. The right-handed defenseman has averaged a career-high 23:53 of ice time per game and has 41 points (seven goals, 34 assists) in his third season with Calgary.
Islanders: Hogberg made his first start since March 9. Ilya Sorokin had started the previous five games and Semyon Varlamov has not played since late November due to a lower-body injury.
Key moment
Coronato, a 22-year-old forward from New York, scored twice in his first professional game on Long Island.
Key stat
Dobson and Simon Holmstrom each extended their individual point streaks to four games, a career high for Holmstrom.
Up next
Flames host Seattle on Tuesday while Islanders host Columbus on Monday.
Four NHL Coaches Who Could Be Job Hunting This Summer
The NHL’s coaching carousel is spinning faster than ever, with multiple teams changing coaches – including the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues – during the current regular season. But the way things are shaping up, there are going to be more changes we should expect to see once this season is over.
With that in mind, here are four coaches likely to part ways with their team this summer. In alphabetical order:
1. Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators
The Predators have been one of the biggest disappointments this season, posting a 25-35-8 record that puts them in 14th place in the Western Conference. Consequently, the spotlight is squarely on Brunette, who has been on the job in Nashville since May of 2023. That may not sound like a long time for a coach to leave their mark, but if Preds GM Barry Trotz isn’t going to make material changes to his team’s roster, the thing he can change is his coach.
It’s certainly not solely Brunette’s fault that Nashville is where they are in the standings. However, the Predators may opt for a new voice behind the bench. And that would leave Brunette looking for work after this season concludes.
2. Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres
Many eyebrows were raised when greybeard veteran Ruff was hired for his second tour of coaching duty in Buffalo last April. But the Sabres have been unable to improve in Ruff’s latest tenure, generating the Eastern Conference’s worst record at 27-35-6. The 65-year-old Ruff may see his tenure come to an end this coming off-season – especially if the Sabres dismiss GM Kevyn Adams at season’s end. A new GM will want their own coach in place, so Buffalo could be looking for a new bench boss very soon.
Ruff’s near-lifelong connection to the Sabres hasn’t translated into many wins this year, and in the zero-sum business of NHL coaching, that’s all that really matters. Buffalo has to chart a different course as soon as possible, and that’s why we believe Ruff will be sent packing in favor of a younger coach with a different vision for this constantly-changing Sabres roster.
3. Joe Sacco, Boston Bruins
The Bruins were accustomed to performing well in recent years, which is why their sub-par performance this season is such a downer for Boston fans. Jim Montgomery was fired in mid-November, and Sacco was inserted as an interim replacement for him. But that hasn’t done much good at all, and we don’t see Sacco staying on the job once this year comes to an end.
Who will replace Sacco? Well, we see another coach currently employed by another Eastern Conference team – Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan, who we’ll discuss below – being the choice in Beantown as the Bruins attempt to retool on the fly. Hiring Sullivan for his second stint as Boston’s coach would give the Bs the structure and discipline they’re in dire need of. Sometimes a return to a familiar face makes sense for a team, and that’s where we think the Bruins will be at with Sullivan if and when he becomes a coaching free agent.
4. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins
Sullivan has been Pittsburgh’s coach since December 2015, and he’s led them to two Stanley Cup championships, giving him a lot of leeway in the nine years he’s been on the job with the Penguins. But every coach eventually reaches his "best before" date, and considering that Sullivan’s Pens have failed to make the playoffs for this season and the previous two seasons, the Penguins need a change behind the bench.
Only Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper – another multi-time Cup winner – has more current tenure than Sullivan, and we expect Sullivan would quickly be picked up by another team once the Penguins let him go. But the Penguins need a different voice now, and it’s time for both Sullivan and the Pens to mutually agree to part ways. All good things eventually come to an end, and it’s high time for the Penguins to move on from Sullivan.
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Tom Izzo and Richard Pitino will put their mutual admiration on hold for March Madness meeting
Even though their teams haven't faced each other in four years, the admiration between Michigan State's Tom Izzo and New Mexico's Richard Pitino hasn't diminished. The Golden Gophers had a 3-9 record against the Spartans under Pitino, who was at Minnesota from 2013 to 2021.
St. John’s coach Rick Pitino defends sitting RJ Luis late in Arkansas loss
Rick Pitino explained RJ Luis' absence late in St. John's loss to Arkansas after he didn't play the final five minutes of the second-round game:
Valančiūnas doing ‘spectacular' job at filling Kings' Sabonis void
Valančiūnas doing ‘spectacular' job at filling Kings' Sabonis void originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – The Kings acquired Jonas Valančiūnas nearly seven weeks ago to provide some protection and back-up for center Domantas Sabonis, a job that the 32-year-old Lithuanian handled fairly well during his first six weeks in Sacramento.
With Sabonis unable to play for at least the next week due to a severely sprained right ankle, Valančiūnas has had to shoulder more of the work load on both ends of the court.
While his role with the team has changed Valančiūnas sees no reason to change anything.
“It’s still basketball. You gotta take the ball and put it in the basket,” Valančiūnas said. “Yeah, you have more responsibilities as a starter, but one thing, no matter what, starting or come off the bench, you want to win the game. Whatever your contribution is, you got to put it on.”
The Kings weren’t successful in chasing that goal down against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday at Golden 1 Center, losing 114-108 in a game that had ramifications to their NBA playoff hopes.
With 12 games remaining in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the Kings are trying to hold onto the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. Saturday’s loss trimmed Sacramento’s lead to 1 1/2 games over the Phoenix Suns, who are in the final spot for the NBA play-in tournament.
It’ll be anything but an easy stroll to the finish for interim coach Doug Christie’s squad. Sacramento has games next week against the defending champion Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who current reside atop the West standings.
Sabonis is almost certain to sit that game out, and it’s possible, if not probable, that starting point guard Malik Monk might miss that game, too.
Valančiūnas will be there and said it doesn’t matter who suits up for the Kings.
“Every game matters for us big time,” he said. “Yeah we got a tough schedule, but that’s no excuse. We got to man up and do it. There’s no other way.”
Valančiūnas has been manning up just fine as far as Christie is concerned.
Before Sabonis sustained a cut over his left eye and rolled his right ankle against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, Valančiūnas was averaging 11 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 54.6 percent.
In the three games since then, his number have risen slightly. He had 18 points and seven rebounds against the Bucks while logging 27 minutes, his most in more than two weeks.
“Jonas has been spectacular for us,” Christie said. “He adds a physical presence, his size, protection at the rim. We try to keep him in coverage and not play him outside of the things that we know that he’s comfortable in doing. He has just been a consummate teammate and professional. ‘Whatever you need coach, two minutes, four minutes, whatever it is.’
“For a coach, you can’t ask for anything more.”
All because Valančiūnas has maintained the same focus that he has had all season when coming off the bench.
“I’m just playing the game,” he said. “I’m not trying to do something special, not trying to take over the world. I’m just doing my stuff, setting good screens, rolling, fighting for the rebounds, playing defense. All my life I did that stuff and I’m going to keep doing it.”
Flames Outlast Islanders, Win 4-3 In OT
The New York Islanders picked up a point but fell to the Calgary Flames 4-3 in overtime.
Defenseman Alexander Romanov returned to the lineup after missing the past two games with an illness, while the Flames were without defenseman MacKenzie Weegar due to a lower-body injury.
With Ilya Sorokin starting 20 of the Islanders' last 23 games, coach Patrick Roy went with Marcus Hogberg as the starter.
Here's how it happened:
The Flames wasted no time finding the scoresheet, as Long Island native Matt Coronato fired a shot from the point that beat Hogberg just 36 seconds into the game:
Hometown boy has his Long Island moment as Matt Coronato (19) opens the scoring @UBSArena
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 22, 2025
#Flames 1#Isles 0 pic.twitter.com/drDpVEHA2s
The Islanders quickly responded, and ultimately tied the game at 1-1 when Bo Horvat found Tony DeAngelo's rebound at 10:46:
Horvat heating up 🔥🔥🔥#Flames 1#Isles 1 pic.twitter.com/ZNkw89FLn7
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 22, 2025
This was Horvat's 24th goal of the season and third in his past two games.
The Islanders took the lead later in the period when Marc Gatcomb beat Dan Vladar at 17:41:
Max Tsyplakov sets up Marc Gatcomb (5) and the #Isles go ahead!#Flames 1#Isles 2 pic.twitter.com/S2ToHXSaOU
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 22, 2025
This was Gatcomb's fifth goal of the season, with Max Tsyplakov and Noah Dobson registering assists on the play.
The Flames outshot the Islanders 13-11 in the first period.
A Flames odd-man rush left Coronato open in the slot, where he buried his second goal of the game -- and 20th of the season -- at 6:03 of the second period:
Matt Coronato must like it on Long Island… 2-2. pic.twitter.com/rrGy9EoV4z
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 22, 2025
It was a sloppy period for the Islanders, but Hudson Fasching nearly broke the tie with a slick move around the Flames' net with just under four minutes left in the frame.
The Flames outshot the Islanders 13-6 in the second period.
The third period had the feel of playoff hockey, with both teams locking things down defensively.
The Islanders came close to regaining the lead with around six minutes remaining when Mike Reilly came close on a wraparound attempt.
Then, Kyle MacLean broke through when he put Tsyplakov's rebound past Vladar at 17:09:
Jonny on the spot!!!
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) March 22, 2025
Kyle MacLean puts the #Isles ahead in the 3rd.#Flames 2#Isles 3 pic.twitter.com/498WbOVrgq
The Flames quickly tied the game at 3-3, as just 27 seconds later, Jonathan Huberdeau tipped Rasmus Andersson's shot past Hogberg:
Jonathan Huberdeau answers for the Flames! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4zeAgE8p8v
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 22, 2025
The Islanders outshot the Flames 9-7 in the third period.
The Flames came away with the extra point when Nazem Kadri beat Hogberg 3:51 into the overtime frame:
NAZEM KADRI SNIPE IN OT! FLAMES WIN!#Flamespic.twitter.com/eTMIbbNnUx
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 22, 2025
UP NEXT: The Islanders host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday at 7:30 PM ET
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Duke let Jeremy Roach go. Now Baylor guard can help exact March Madness revenge.
Jeremy Roach is a role player off the bench as a fifth-year senior with Baylor after four years and a Final Four trip with Duke.
VIDEO: Calipari, players postgame – Arkansas 75, St. John’s 66
Video of Arkansas' John Calipari, Johnell Davis, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond after the Razorbacks' win over St. John's.
Blackhawks Swept By Blues; Chicago Drops 7th Straight Game
Before the Chicago Blackhawks kicked off a road tilt with the St. Louis Blues, Patrick Maroon announced that he was retiring from the NHL after this season.
That took over as the big story as Maroon, a St. Louis Native, was now confirmed to be playing in his hometown for the final time.
Unsurprisingly, that didn't give the Blackhawks much of a boost as they have now lost their seventh straight game.
After a scoreless first period, the Blues took a 2-0 lead in the second thanks to goals by Robert Thomas and Alexey Topochenko.
In the final minute of the second period, Ilya Mikheyev gave the Blackhawks some life with a short-handed goal. Mikheyev has been great for Chicago lately and has given himself a chance to be a part of the team going into next season.
In the third period, the Blues scored two more goals (Nathan Walker and Zack Bolduc) to put the Blackhawks away. The 4-1 score was the final in favor of the Blues. This is now the fifth straight win for the Blues who are trying to hang onto their playoff spot.
This is a disappointing result for the Blackhawks who were looking to end a losing streak and end the momentum from their biggest rival.
Pat Maroon didn't score but his final game in St. Louis ended with some fireworks as he had a third-period fight with Tyler Tucker to get the crowd going.
The Blues honored him with a video tribute once the story started to travel and he was named to be the first star of the game. Despite the loss, Maroon will have a fond memory of this game for a long time.
It's now a quick turnaround for the Blackhawks as they will head home to play the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday afternoon. Will they avoid their 8th straight loss or can they finally find that gritty win to break the bad streak?
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