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Five Brewers named to Baseball Prospectus’ top 101 prospects

MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 25: Newly-signed first-round draft pick Andrew Fischer takes batting practice prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, July 25, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Baseball Prospectus is widely regarded as one of the best sites for prospect analysis. While most major publications have already released their lists of the top prospects in baseball, BP didn’t release theirs until this Wednesday.

Four of the five Brewers who made the list are consensus top prospects. The fifth is a recent draftee who hasn’t appeared on any other list this offseason.

No. 3 Jesus Made

No surprises here. Made hasn’t been ranked lower than fourth by any of the main prospect publications. He has one of the highest ceilings in the game and has only gotten better while rising through the minors. For more on Made, check out my recaps of the Baseball America and MLB Pipeline lists.

No. 30 Luis Peña

Peña is ranked slightly lower than on many other lists — MLB Pipeline, ESPN, and The Athletic’s Keith Law had him ranked either No. 26 or 27. Baseball America had him at No. 45. Peña has just as much upside as Made does, especially if he figures out defensive concerns. With his speed and arm, he might be a better centerfielder than he is a shortstop. Peña’s numbers also fell off a bit in High-A, so a strong first couple of months of the season would have him even higher by the time midseason prospect rankings come out.

No. 41 Jett Williams

Williams, acquired from the Mets in the trade that sent Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to New York, seems like a quintessential Brewers prospect. His best traits are his speed, his on-base ability, his swing decisions, and his baserunning. He’s a well-rounded, versatile prospect who can play both middle infield positions and the outfield. I won’t say too much more about Williams because I have a film breakdown coming — if that interests you, check BCB next week.

No. 75 Andrew Fischer

Fischer hasn’t been on any other list that I’ve covered, but he was ranked the top third base prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline earlier this offseason. He was widely hailed as a great pick by the Brewers at No. 20 overall and has done nothing but live up to that billing in his limited time with the organization. Fischer is a developed hitter who spent three years in college (at Duke, Ole Miss, and finally the University of Tennessee) and hit at least .285 every season. Scouting reports leading up to the 2025 draft detailed his mature approach, his ability to drive the ball to all fields, and his propensity to make hard contact. He hit .341 in his final collegiate season with 25 home runs and an insane .497 on-base percentage.

Upon joining the Brewers, Fischer went straight to High-A Wisconsin and slashed .311/.402/.446 (.848 OPS) in 19 games. To put it succinctly, he has the makings of a player who could rise very, very quickly through the farm system — something Baseball Prospectus probably took into consideration ranking him this high. BP also tends to weigh analytics pretty heavily. Despite a limited sample size, Fischer has already been making hard contact and generating high exit velocities — two things that stood out about his profile in college. There’s a world where he more than justifies this ranking after a full season of minor league ball.

No. 76 Brandon Sproat

Sproat, like Made, Peña, and Williams, is pretty much universally considered a top 100 prospect in baseball. He’s been a top prospect for a couple of years now, but fell in the rankings compared to last year (No. 39). To be fair, his season-long numbers weren’t great in 2025 — an ERA over 4 isn’t exactly eye-popping. Despite that, the signs are there that Sproat could become a valuable piece for the Brewers in 2026. He had a rough start to 2025, but pitched extremely well (2.44 ERA, 30% strikeout rate) over his last 11 Triple-A starts. His September call-up didn’t go all that well (4.79 ERA), but it’s hard to take much away from just four starts.

For more on Sproat, check out the Baseball America article linked at the top. Like Williams, I have an article coming on him, so I don’t want to say too much…

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Is Baylor Scheierman a viable starter for the Celtics?

Baylor Scheierman | Getty Images

I need to start with a confession: at the beginning of this season, I wasn’t a Baylor Scheierman believer.

Not because he wasn’t good, but more that he was hard for me to place. He wasn’t jumping off the screen in any obvious way, and he didn’t dominate one skill the way some of the other young Celtics wings do. On a roster full of players with already-sharpening identities, Scheierman felt like he didn’t have a clear lane coming into the season.

That’s beginning to change.

In Boston’s win over the Rockets on Wednesday night, Scheierman finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 23 minutes. The box score was solid, but the context mattered more. He rebounded in traffic, knocked down his open looks, and stayed involved when plays broke down.

With Payton Pritchard shifting back into his familiar sixth-man role — another example of this team prioritizing collective success over individual status — at least one starting spot will quietly remain fluid from game to game. Outside of Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, there are fewer fixed answers than it might seem.

After a recent 112-93 win over the Sacramento Kings, Scheierman joked that opponents see him as, “a 6’7” white guy with shaggy hair and some tattoos,” someone they like to test. Early on, I probably saw him the same way. He was a player that was easy to overlook.

What’s becoming clear is that overlooking him is missing the point.

Instead of focusing on what Scheierman might become, I want to talk about the role he’s playing now, and how the Celtics are benefitting from it.

Why Baylor Scheierman’s role fits Joe Mazzulla’s system

Joe Mazzulla’s system does not ask every player to bend the game, but rather asks them to understand it. Decisions matter more than volume, and connection matters more than individual output. The Celtics function best when lineups stay organized, possessions stay alive, and players know exactly why they are on the floor.

Baylor Scheierman does not need touches to stay involved. He rebounds to extend possessions, moves the ball quickly when advantages are small, and spaces the floor without drifting out of the offense. Defensively, his value shows up less in isolation stops and more so in anticipation. He’s clearly got a knack for reading actions early, understanding personnel, and staying attached long enough for the system to hold.

Feb 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles the ball as Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) defends during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Scheierman has described his defensive strengths as “feel” and “understanding,” knowing what an opponent wants to do before they do it. That mindset lines up with how Mazzulla allocates trust. Players who remove chaos from possessions tend to earn more rope, especially when the roster gets thin over the course of a grueling 82-game season.

In that sense, Scheierman is not pushing to become something else, nor should he. He’s simply leaning into exactly what this team needs him to be.

Is Baylor’s recent performance sustainable?

If this is going to be a real conversation, we have to discuss the numbers. On the surface, Scheierman’s season averages do not exactly scream breakout. He’s averaging 3.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and just under 1 assist per game, numbers largely in line with last season. What has changed is how efficiently he’s producing with his minutes. After shooting 35 percent from the field and 31 percent from three last year, Scheierman has pushed those marks up to 45 percent and 40 percent this season.

Things look even rosier when you zoom in on the last ten games. Over that stretch, Scheierman has averaged just over 22 minutes per night while posting 8.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. The production has followed the opportunity, and the efficiency has held. He’s not taking over more possessions; he’s simply doing more with the ones he’s involved in.

That trend shows up in lineup data as well. Units featuring Scheierman alongside primary creators have held their own on both ends, particularly in offensive efficiency and rebounding rate. The tape backs it up, too. Passes get tipped. Spacing stays intact. Possessions end with shots the Celtics are comfortable taking. Those are small things, but they travel across opponents and game scripts.

Taken together, this is why the recent stretch feels different from a hot week or a shooting blip. Under Joe Mazzulla, minutes are earned, not gifted. Scheierman’s efficiency has been steady, his responsibilities are clear, and his production fits within the structure of what Boston wants to be. 

That combination is usually a sign something is real.

So, is he a starter?

The straightforward answer is he can be. The more honest answer is that the label matters less than the function.

On nights like last night, where the Celtics were severely undermanned, Scheierman showed he can absorb bigger minutes without changing the shape of the team. When he starts or closes or slides into any of Joe’s rotating carousel of lineup combinations, the Celtics still look like the Celtics. Possessions stay connected. Spacing holds. The offense does not tilt or stall. On a roster built around a star who bends defenses to his will (and with another potentially returning later this season), that kind of reliability is huge.

And it’s the reliability that speaks to something bigger about this Celtics team. They are not chasing individual leaps as much as they are identifying which parts need to be played and trusting the players best suited to play them. Scheierman fits because he does not try to stretch outside his role. Joe Mazzulla once described him as having, “a chip on his shoulder… an F-you mentality to where he’s just gonna make it work,” and that mindset shows up in the margins. He fills gaps, accepts contact, and stays involved in moments that break down for others.

Which brings me back to the beginning. I wasn’t convinced this would work. Early in the season, it was hard to know what to make of Scheierman, not because anything was missing, but because his impact wasn’t loud or obvious. It can take time for a picture to come into focus.

With Scheierman’s identity sharpening, the future has me optimistic. His minutes are starting to make sense, the contributions are beginning to stack, and when he’s on the floor, the Celtics stay true to who they want to be. To me, that kind of contribution matters more than any single label.

Somewhere along the way, I became a Bayliever. Or a Schei-liever? Those nicknames are both unpleasant and confusing.

Fortunately, Scheierman’s role on the Celtics is anything but.

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Duke-North Carolina headlines men's college basketball weekend games to watch

As you, the astute reader, are no doubt aware, there are a few events of note taking place in the sporting world this weekend. The conclusion of the pro football season and the start of the Olympic winter games in Italy will of course receive their share of the spotlight, but there are plenty of key contests in men’s college basketball over the weekend as well.

As luck would have it, there’s a Top 25 showdown in each of the five power conferences. A key tilt in the Big East gets things underway Friday night, and the Saturday slate includes one of the sport’s most intense rivalry games. Let’s delve into the Starting Five, shall we?

No. 3 Connecticut at No. 22 St. John’s

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

The Huskies quietly remain unscathed in Big East play, but the Red Storm can grab a share of the league lead with a win here at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s isn’t always the most efficient offensive operation, but forward Zuby Ejiofor’s work on the boards often makes successful possessions out of organized chaos. UConn gets great scoring balance with all its starters averaging in double digits, but if a big shot is needed it will usually be Solo Ball taking it.

BRACKETOLOGY: Kansas among teams surging in tournament projection

No. 4 Duke at No. 18 North Carolina

Time/TV: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Round one between these long-time ACC foes will be in Chapel Hill, where the Tar Heels have yet to lose this season. The Blue Devils, however, are looking to run away with the league race once again. While Duke’s national player of the year candidate Cameron Boozer rightly gets much of the attention, the Blue Devils are even harder to beat when Isaiah Evans is on target from the arc. UNC’s own standout freshman Caleb Wilson’s stats actually compare favorably with Boozer’s, but the Tar Heels will need better ball security than they displayed in their nearly disastrous second-half collapse against Syracuse in their most recent outing.

Duke forward Cameron Boozer dribbles against the defense of Kansas forward Flory Bidunga during the 2025 State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.

No. 6 Illinois at No. 10 Michigan State

Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox

This week’s top-10 showdown in the Big Ten features teams heading in opposite directions. The Fighting Illini have won 12 in a row and are playing like Final Four contenders, while the Spartans have dropped their last two as some of the team’s on-court decisions have drawn the ire of opponents and coaches alike. Michigan State’s veteran floor leader Jeremy Fears is also likely to receive additional attention from game officials, so he’ll need to keep a level head. Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler will look to continue his hot shooting that has helped the Illini compensate for the absence of starting guard Kylan Boswell.

No. 16 Florida at No. 25 Texas A&M

Time/TV: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, SECN

Kentucky and Tennessee are getting the main channel treatment from ESPN, but this one is actually for the outright SEC lead. That is still the case despite the Aggies’ close loss Wednesday at Alabama. They’ll be happy to be back at home, but the Gators have won seven of their last eight and appear to be peaking at the right time. There’ve been few answers for Florida’s interior trio of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu. The Aggies should have a depth advantage in the backcourt, but Ruben Dominguez and Rylan Griffen will have to be on target.

No. 8 Houston at No. 14 Brigham Young

Time/TV: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Saturday nightcap takes us to an all-Cougars showdown in the Big 12, where the host Cougars of BYU are trending the wrong way on a three-game skid. BYU’s issues have primarily been at the defensive end, which does not bode particularly well with Houston’s high-scoring guard trio coming to Provo. BYU will also have to keep Houston’s Joseph Tugler and Chris Cenac from controlling the boards, a more manageable task if center Keba Keita can avoid foul trouble.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College basketball weekend games schedule features Duke-North Carolina

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Which country has the most expensive Olympic men's hockey roster?

Call it the cost of winning gold.

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina are fast approaching, and a select group of NHL stars are gearing up for what could be the experience of a lifetime. At the same time, NHL teams are watching closely and remaining mindful of the risks tied to their most valuable assets.

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Olympic participation is the financial risk of losing a player to injury. NHL teams continue to pay players during the tournament, and any injury sustained on the international stage becomes the organization’s responsibility. According to a recent interview with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, the 158 players heading to Milan are insured for $3.7-billion.

Which raises an important question: where is all that money going? And more important, how much does it cost to purchase a gold medal?

As you can see in the below breakdown, Team USA and Canada have a significant financial advantage over smaller countries such as Czechia and Slovakia. We'll know in a couple of weeks whether that advantage translates to a gold medal.

(All figures are based on players’ NHL cap hits, per capwages.com. In cases where exact contract details are unavailable, we used the highest end of credible estimates, assuming all players discussed are paid like top end talent.)

United States

$199,375,000 total cap hitSkaters: $174,375,000Goalies: $25,000,000

The U.S. will have by far the most expensive goaltending trio at the Winter Games, with defending Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, along with Boston's Jeremy Swayman, and Dallas' Jake Oettinger each earning more than $8.25 million per season.

Somewhat surprisingly, only one American skater holds a contract inside the NHL’s top 16, with Toronto’s Auston Matthews leading the way at $13.25 million. Beyond that, the roster remains pretty top-heavy, with Vegas’ Jack Eichel, Columbus’ Zach Werenski, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk, Boston's Charlie McAvoy and Tampa Bay's Jake Guentzel among the top 40 with cap hits of $9 million or more each. With a deep pool of established talent and virtually every player beyond their entry-level deal, the U.S. roster offers few true bargain contracts, with Vincent Trocheck’s $5.625-million cap hit at the bottom.

Canada

$191,815,000 Skaters: $174,715,000Goalies: $17,100,00

Canada narrowly edges the United States in forward payroll, holding three of the five most expensive contracts in the NHL. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon leads the way at $12.6 million, followed by Edmonton’s Connor McDavid at $12.5 million and Vegas’ Mitch Marner at $12 million.

Interestingly, Canada also features a trio of well-known agitators in Brad Marchand, Tom Wilson and Sam Bennett, who have a combined cap hit of $19.75 million, but who have also collectively cost themselves $3.06 million due to suspensions.

Canada also benefits from notable value deals. Rookie standout Macklin Celebrini counts just $975,000 against the cap, while defenseman Thomas Harley is earning $4 million this season after playing a pivotal role in Canada’s win at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

In net, Canada’s goaltending also remains comparatively cost-effective. Unlike the United States’ expensive goalie group, with Jordan Binnington, Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper averaging $5.7-million.

Sweden

$155,600,000Skaters: $145,520,000Goalies: $10,080,000

Despite a significant drop in overall team payroll, Sweden remains firmly in the gold medal conversation, thanks to a roster featuring a mix of some of the NHL’s most expensive contracts — and several of its best bargains. Headlining the list are three of the league’s 10 highest-paid players in Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson ($11.6 million), Toronto’s William Nylander ($11.5 million) and Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million).

On the opposite end of the spectrum are some exceptional value contracts. Breakout goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who has shared the net with fellow countryman Filip Gustavsson in Minnesota, carries a modest $2.2 million cap hit, while veteran Wild forward Marcus Johansson, who is enjoying one of his best years, has an $800,000 cap hit.

Finland

$115,500,000Skaters: $100,260,000Goalies: $15,240,000

The remaining teams in the tournament have a mix of players in the NHL but also pro leagues across the world. For the Finns, they will have a cheap option on the back end with defenseman Mikko Lehtonen, who is paid anywhere between $320,000 to 650,000 USD while playing in the National League in Switzerland. Despite this, the Finns are viewed as legitimate gold-medal contenders, as they have several top end players who also earn quite a bit. 

The most-expensive player is Dallas' Mikko Rantanen ($12 million), while Carolina's Sebastian Aho is close behind ($9.75 million). The Finns' best-valued player is easily Montreal's Oliver Kapanen, who is having a solid season as the second line center for the playoff-bound Habs, and is still on his entry-level deal ($925,000).

Of course, Finland's overall total would have been even higher had Florida's Aleksander Barkov ($10 million) and Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen ($5.75 million) not been injured.

Czechia

Czechia, $69,240,500NHL skaters: $50,462,500; non-NHL skaters: $5,040,500Goalies: $14,600,000

The Czech roster is where a true mix of global talent begins to emerge. Established NHL stars such as Boston's David Pastrnak ($11.25 million), who is Czechia's flag-bearer, Colorado's Martin Nečas ($6.5 million) and Lukáš Dostál ($6.5 million) headline the national team.

Beyond the NHL contingent, Czechia’s roster features a wide range of contracts across several European leagues. Seven players skate in the Czech Extraliga, including former NHL forward Ondřej Kaše, where salaries are estimated between $40,000 and $213,000 USD per season. Three others, including former NHLer Dominik Kubalík, play in the National League alongside Finland’s Mikko Lehtonen, with contracts generally ranging from $320,000 to $650,000 USD. Two more play in the Swedish Hockey League ($215,000 to $325,000 USD) and defenseman Jiří Ticháček plays in Finland’s Liiga ($80,000 and $300,000 USD).

This blend of current NHL players, former NHL contributors, and seasoned European veterans gives Czechia a deep, balanced roster that should make them a difficult opponent at the Olympic Games.

Slovakia

Slovakia, $25,032,200NHL skaters: $19,060,000; non-NHL skaters: $4,834,200Goalies: $1,138,000

Similar to Czechia, Slovakia is an emerging hockey nation built around a wave of young talent that is expected to produce more NHL players in the coming years. For now, the roster is anchored by several established names, including Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovský ($7.6 million), Tampa Bay’s Erik Černák ($5.2 million) and Calgary’s Martin Pospíšil ($1 million).

Slovakia also features players competing in the KHL, with varying contract estimates for forwards Adam Ružička at approximately $591,300 USD and Adam Liška at $325,000 USD, along with defenseman Martin Gernát at roughly $788,400 USD. Like Finland and Czechia, the Slovak roster draws from leagues across Europe, including the Czech Extraliga, the Swedish Hockey League, and the Swiss National League.

The team also includes players outside the traditional professional ranks, with representation from the NCAA, as well as homegrown talent in the Slovak Extraliga. That group includes forward Samuel Takáč and one of the team’s goaltenders.

While Slovakia does not carry one of the more expensive rosters in the tournament, its mix of youth, international experience, and emerging talent gives the team the potential to challenge for a medal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 Olympics: Which country has most expensive men's hockey roster?

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Similarities between cricket, baseball ahead of T20 Cricket World Cup

The 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is set to begin in India and Sri Lanka on Feb. 7.

While most Americans might not be acquainted with the sport, they may have gotten a glimpse into the sport in 2024 when Team USA pulled off a miraculous defeat of the usual cricket power Pakistan on June 7, 2024, in Dallas.

According to many cricket experts, the USA's win over Pakistan is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.

A chance at repeating history is on the table for the U.S., as it is slotted in the same group as Pakistan for the World Cup, along with India, Nambia and the Netherlands. The U.S. and Pakistan face off on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Singhalese Sports Club in Sri Lanka.

As the World Cup approaches, here's what fans need to know about the similarities and differences between cricket and America's pastime: baseball.

Similarities in cricket, baseball

Just like in baseball, the premise of the sport is the same. A thrower throws the ball to the batter, who has to hit the ball and help his team score as many runs as possible. In both sports, there are fielders whose main job is to prevent runs.

In both sports, when the ball is hit in play, the batter becomes a runner who is looking to score runs in whatever the rules of the sport require.

Another similarity is hitting the ball outside of the parameters of the field, without it bouncing. In baseball, that is a home run that could be worth between one and four runs. Meanwhile, in cricket, it is called a "six" and is worth six runs.

In both sports, when a player "gets out," the next person in the batting order is up to bat. When a set number of players are retired on each side, the fielding team comes to bat, while the batting team takes the field.

A catch in both sports is when the ball goes from the bat to the fielder, without the ball touching the ground.

Of course, whichever team scores the most runs wins the match. Matches generally do not end in ties.

Just as in baseball, the T20 format lasts about three hours for a full, complete game. Per the ICC, the average cricket match lasts 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Differences in cricket, baseball

The ball

A baseball is made of cork, rubber or a mixture of both, and can sometimes be layered. The legal weight for a baseball is between 5 ounces and 5 1/4 ounces, while it is 9 to 9.25 inches in circumference.

Meanwhile, a cricket ball is made of cork and string and covered with red leather. The ball weighs between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces and measures between 8 13/16 and 9 inches in circumference.

Bowling vs. pitching

While the object remains the same in both sports, it's the differences that make the sports interesting. The differences start with the terminology. In baseball, what is called a pitcher is called a bowler. That name difference makes sense.

A bowler begins his process of throwing the ball in a run-up, and then throws the ball in an arc-like formation from a flat surface. The bowler typically bounces the ball, while a baseball pitcher throws from a mound and does not have a running start, but rather a windup.

Bowlers are allowed four overs in a T20 match at most. Unlike in baseball, where a pitcher can pitch a "complete game," that is not an option in cricket, as different bowlers will get opportunities.

Batting and running

Another key difference is the batting gear. In baseball, a cylindrical and hollow bat is used, while a cricket bat is flat and has a cane handle. In baseball, a batter is on the field for the offense, while other players wait in the dugout, unless they are on base. In cricket, there are two batsmen on the field at a time, while others on offense wait for their turn in the clubhouse.

In baseball, after the batter makes contact with the ball, they are to run around the bases to score a run. The bases are 90 feet apart in baseball. In cricket, the hitters run between two creases, which are typically 22 yards apart. Each time each runner crosses the crease, it counts as one run.

When a runner runs between the creases in cricket, the fielders are to attempt to throw out the runner before he reaches for a "wicket," which means the runner is out. In baseball, fielders either throw the ball to a base or tag the runner.

In baseball, a batter is done when his at-bat is done or if he gets on base or scores a run. In cricket, the batter continues until he is recorded out.

Fielding

In baseball, fielders are equipped with gloves to catch a ball and record outs. In cricket, the only fielder who has gloves on is the wicket keeper, who stands directly behind the wicket. Every other fielder is gloveless.

While there are 10 players per side for baseball, with nine on the field at a time, cricket rules have 11 players on the field at a time.

Runs

In baseball, each runner who crosses the plate counts as a run. Multiple runs can be scored on a play, if there are men on base.

In cricket, each time the two batsmen trade the crease on either side, it counts as a run. One, two or three runs can be scored on a ball that is kept in the playing field. If a ball bounces at least once and gets over the boundary, it counts as four runs. When the ball goes over the boundary without bouncing, it counts as six runs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Similarities between cricket, baseball ahead of T20 Cricket World Cup

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Pens Points: Rookies shine in Buffalo

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Avery Hayes #85 of the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing in his first NHL game, celebrates his second goal of the game against the Buffalo Sabres during a game on February 05, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…

Before the game, the Penguins gave a few roster updates, including the ill-timed news that forward Rickard Rakell suffered a lower-body injury. As a result, one of the Penguins’ top forward prospects, Avery Hayes, had been recalled from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. [PensBurgh]

And speaking of Hayes, he had quite the night on Thursday. A two-goal debut performance is something he’ll remember forever. Fellow rookie Ben Kindel also notched two goals, as Pittsburgh rolled past the Buffalo Sabres 5-2. [Recap]

Members of the Penguins organization, both new and old, are rallying around former team general manager Craig Patrick, 79, who suffered a severe stroke in late December and has been in a Pittsburgh hospital since. [The Athletic]

Updates from around the NHL…

A police affidavit says video footage shows top draft prospect Gavin McKenna allegedly punching a man twice in the face, leaving the victim with a fractured jaw that required surgery and his jaw to be wired shut. [TSN]

Calgary Flames forward Jonathan Huberdeau has seen his season come to an end after it was revealed that he requires hip surgery. [Sportsnet]

New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer has taken the NHL by storm in his rookie season. He was left off Team Canada’s Olympic roster, but at only 18, he still hopes to don the maple leaf in the future. [NHL]

As the NHL shifts toward its Olympic break, which players lead the races for the top NHL trophies, including the Hart, Norris, and Calder? [ESPN]

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Amari Williams and Celtics agree to 2-year contract

Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Amari Williams (22) dunks against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

One of the core players from Kentucky’s first team in the Mark Pope era has agreed to a contract with the team that drafted him.

Amari Williams, who had a triple-double against Ole Miss last season, has agreed to a two-year, $2.7 million deal with the Boston Celtics. Williams was drafted 46th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Williams was previously on a two-way contract with the Celtics, which he signed back in August. He was originally drafted by the Orlando Magic and then traded to Boston.

In his lone season with Kentucky, Williams averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. Williams was a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year at Drexel before transferring to Kentucky.

During last year’s Sweet 16 run, Williams became famous for eating Weetabix cereal, a company he eventually signed with an NIL deal. I can remember seeing a box of it in the press room in Indianapolis during the Sweet 16. Weetabix clearly caught on.

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Cavs believe James Harden raises their playoff ceiling

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 16: James Harden #1 of the LA Clippers before the game against the Toronto Raptors on January 16, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers believe that the Eastern Conference is wide open right now. Trading for James Harden gives them a better chance to seize that opportunity.

“We think that he raises our ceiling and gives us a chance to have real playoff success,” Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said on Thursday.

“He gives us a different look in the backcourt. He’s 6’5” and he gets downhill, and he is ninth in the league in drives. He’s strong. He’s creative. I think he’s going to be great for our bigs. I also know that Donovan [Mitchell] is excited to play alongside him. Obviously, this is not a trade that we took lightly. But we do know that James is going to help us, and so we’re excited to welcome him.”

Harden will help the Cavs in many ways. He’s still one of the best point guards in the league and is a clear upgrade over Darius Garland at this point.

“[We’re] really excited about when it gets to a chaotic time in the playoffs and we’re on the road, and there’s a fever pitch, being able to throw the ball to him and calm this thing down,” Altman said. “Let’s get a good possession, right? Let’s get a good possession when it gets really, really tight, and it’s loud in that building. We’ve gone to the playoffs the last few years largely as a young team, not a very experienced playoff team, trying to figure it out. Now I think we’re adding just a tremendous amount of experience and know-how.”

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Harden is a one-man offense that can seemingly get good shots for himself and his teammates every time down the court.

That said, those comments ignore the elephant in the room. Harden was brought in to help in the playoffs despite being known as one of the biggest postseason chokers in league history.

“We looked at it, and we studied really hard,” Altman said. “There’s some elimination games that he probably wishes he had back, probably five really bad games out of 173 playoff games. But overall, he certainly raises his level, raises our level. It’s hard being the number one option on a championship-level team. I think the good news for him is he has another number one option right next to him.”

Whether or not Harden fits next to Mitchell remains to be seen. We’ve seen Harden coexist decently well with other ball-dominant players like Chris Paul, Tyrese Maxey, and Kevin Durant. How that carries over to sharing the floor with Mitchell will determine whether this trade ultimately pays off.

What we do know is that the Cavs have a second player who can carry some of the playmaking burden in the playoffs. That has been an issue in recent postseason runs.

“When it gets really tough in the playoffs, the team takes away your play, your second counter, and we need to get the ball in Donovan’s hands, we need to get the ball in James’ hands, that we’re going to have a great possession, we’re going to have a great possession,” Altman said. “And so really that’s what we’re thinking of. And in the playoffs, I do still think it comes down to largely a half-court game when it comes down to it.”

There’s also the concern that the Cavs play a different brand of offensive basketball than Harden. Head coach Kenny Atkinson’s teams have been built around ball and player movement and attacking in transition.

Harden’s teams have been the opposite. He’s thrived in slower tempo, iso-heavy systems. The Cavs are hoping both sides can meet in the middle.

“We’re going to have to adapt to James,” Altman said. “He’s that good a player, but I think we’re going to still run. … [Playing fast is] still part of what we do. I don’t think that’s going to stop. I do know that James is a great rebounder, and so our pitch-ahead game is going to be great.”

Harden can take the Cavs to another level. How exactly that’s going to look remains to be seen. There will undoubtedly need to be some give-and-take on both sides. But there’s a reason this move was made. The skill upgrade is clear, and that will help when it matters most.

“My job at the end of the day is to bring the best talent to Cleveland and set them up for success,” Altman said. “That’s the job. And so we’re bringing one of the greatest players of all time to Cleveland, who’s still playing at an elite level. We couldn’t be more excited.”

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Brew Crew Ball Daily Question: What would a successful 2026 season look like?

June 22, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Milwaukee Brewers 1982 American League Champions pennant during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

As Brewers fans, we’ve quickly become used to making it into the postseason.

After just four playoff appearances from the franchise’s inception in 1969 (as the Seattle Pilots) through their first 49 seasons, Milwaukee has now made it to October baseball in seven of the last eight seasons, including five NL Central titles.

But is it enough?

The team’s “bites of the apple” approach has clearly worked in terms of making it to the postseason, but they have yet to make it back to the World Series, with the franchise’s lone appearance coming back in 1982. The 2018 Brewers were a Game 7 win away from making it, and the 2011 and 2025 Brewers also made it to the NLCS, but nobody has won a pennant.

After Freddy Peralta became the fourth big-name pitcher traded by the team in the last four years (joining Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and Devin Williams), they’ll look to extend their playoff streak to four consecutive seasons in 2026 with a roster built around veterans Brandon Woodruff and Christian Yelich along with a whole bunch of youngsters, headlined by soon-to-be 22-year-old Jackson Chourio.

Is making it back to the postseason still considered a success in your book? Or do the Brewers need to take another step forward in 2026?

Weigh in in the comments, and join us throughout the month as we keep these conversations rolling into spring training. Have a question you’d like to ask in a future BCB Daily Question? Drop one in the comments, and we may use it later this month.

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What will it take for Anthony Volpe to have a good season?

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, September 26, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The 2026 Yankees have a lot riding on their stars repeating the quality seasons that they put up in 2025, but there’s a select few that they would like to see rebounds from. No one fits that latter category more than Anthony Volpe, who was brutally bad at the plate for months at a time and endured a dreadful season at shortstop for the first time after posting excellent defense at a minimum in his previous two seasons. Of course, now we know that he was playing through a shoulder injury for most of the year, but a third-straight underwhelming season offensively has put him in the hot seat entering 2026.

Volpe’s expected to miss the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery, but he should be ready to go sometime around May-June. When he returns, it’s likely that the Yankees will give him the starting shortstop gig back unless José Caballero manages to put on an otherworldly performance in his stead. Should he disappoint a fourth time in a row, even a Yankees front office that has been enamored with Volpe’s potential for years would find it prudent to chase an upgrade, but what would qualify as a “good” season for Volpe, or at least good enough to warrant keeping him in the plans for the future?

One of the biggest detriments for Volpe has been his inability to get on base, whether that’s because he’s struggled to generate good contact or work walks. Getting above a .300 OBP mark isn’t exactly a sign of a future star, but it would be a first for Volpe in his career if he could do so this year. Getting on the basepaths would enable him to use one of his best tools as well — his speed. Volpe started his career red-hot timing steal attempts, nabbing 13 bags without getting caught by May. Since then he’s struggled to pick his spots, perhaps because of how inconsistently he’s had the opportunity to, and it resulted in him taking just 18 bags last year. Jumping back into that 25-30 range of steals would go a long way to making the bottom of the Yankees’ lineup more threatening.

Of course there’s always the question of Volpe’s power. He aimed to drive the ball out of the park in his rookie campaign, hit a respectable 21 bombs but struggled to do much else on contact, and then flipped his strategy completely in 2024 becoming more of an even-plane swinger. His power plummeted, and the tradeoff didn’t do too much for his ability to find the gap as he hit .243 and bumped his OBP up only 10 points despite the sizeable batting average jump. Last year he went into the season aiming for more of a middle ground, but the injury prevented him from showcasing whether he had found a suitable way to attack pitchers. Perhaps a jump in statistical performance wouldn’t be as big of an indicator for a good year for Volpe so much as merely finding consistency and knowing that he’s found his form at last. Is there a particular benchmark you’d set for Volpe that he’d need to beat to regain some faith, or is it all in how comfortable he looks at the dish? Let us know what you think.

On the site today, Andrés leads off with a look at Michael Kopech as a high-risk, high-reward option for the bullpen. Then, Sam wishes the Bambino a happy birthday and looks at the lasting legacy he’s cast on the sport, Michael gives us the day’s season preview focused on Oswaldo Cabrera, and Estevão takes us back to the infamous Jacoby Ellsbury signing ahead of the 2014 season. Later on in the day, I’ll be back to answer your latest questions in our mailbag.

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March Madness bracketology projection NCAA tournament sees Kansas on rise

Our latest NCAA men’s basketball bracket projection features a few changes in the upper quadrant. Several programs with national titles in the past decade are among the teams with upward mobility.

Kansas, riding a six-game winning streak, has surged to a No. 3 seed along with defending champ Florida. Purdue is also back up to the third line, as Michigan State slips to a No. 4 after dropping its second game in a row Wednesday night at Minnesota. Virginia is back in the top 16 as well, grabbing a No. 4 seed as Brigham Young slides to a five after a three-game losing skid.

STARTING FIVE:The biggest college basketball games to watch this weekend

Gonzaga, thanks to a stunning upset Wednesday at Portland, falls off the second line to a No. 3. That result wasn’t all bad for the West Coast Conference, however, as it moved Santa Clara into first place in the league standings. That puts the Broncos in line for the automatic bid, giving the WCC three teams in the field for the moment. Saint Louis is now the lone Atlantic 10 squad in the projected field with George Mason taking a damaging loss to Duquesne this week.

March Madness bracketology update for NCAA tournament

March Madness Last four in

San Diego State, UCLA, Ohio State, New Mexico.

March Madness First four out

Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech, California, Missouri.

NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (11), SEC (10), ACC (7) Big 12 (7), Big East (3), Mountain West (3), West Coast (3).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bracketology: Kansas rises in March Madness NCAA tournament projection

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Slot praises Wirtz’s gym work, Ronaldo warned, Milner eyes record – football live

⚽ All the latest news heading into the weekend’s action
⚽ Premier League: 10 things to look out for | Mail John

Quiz of the week: I guessed my way to a rather decent 12/16.

Virgil van Dijk has hit out at ex-pro pundits in an interview with, er, Gary Neville, ahead of Sky’s broadcast of Liverpool v Manchester City.

For me personally, I can deal with it, but I’m a bit worried for the next generation. I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation. Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way. But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for a mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media.

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Now or never for Townsend’s Scotland with head coach in Six Nations spotlight

Ravaged Italy await a Scottish squad that has too often flattered to deceive while Ireland begin post-mortem after France humbling

If not now, then when? The stakes are never low in the Six Nations but for Scotland and Gregor Townsend the 2026 championship feels more loaded with significance than most.

Under the tutelage of the 52-year-old head coach, the many disappointments of recent campaigns have been met with an assurance that there is potential for success in this squad. Between now and mid-March would be a handy time to prove it.

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Luka Garza posts solid performance versus Rockets

Feb 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) defends against Boston Celtics center Luka Garza (52) during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics were down several key players on the second night of a back-to-back as they took on the Houston Rockets. Houston, who came into the game as the fourth seed in the West with a record of 31-18, was widely seen as the favorites given the absences of Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, and the recently traded Anfernee Simons, whose replacement, Nikola Vucevic, was not yet officially a member of the Celtics despite the trade being agreed upon.

Taking on a top team on the back half of a back-to-back is hard enough, but doing so short handed would be asking too much of almost any team. The Celtics aren’t just any team, though. By the look of things this season, there’s no task too tall for them. They have too many young, talented, hard-working players to ever be out of a fight.

Luka Garza may just be the hardest working player in the league. It feels like he’s incapable of giving anything less than 100%. He was working all night against the Rockets, and put together one of the best performances of the game in the process.

Garza finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, shooting 7-13, and hitting two threes enroute. He was also the third highest scorer for the game, outscoring every Rockets player. Yes, you read that right. On a night where Kevin Durant, who was the highest scorer for Houston, played 33 minutes, Luka Garza scored more points.

That was, in big part, thanks to some stellar defense by Ron Harper Jr., who held KD to 1-5 shooting while matched up as the primary defender. It doesn’t take away from Luka’s night, however. With his second three of the night, Garza knocked down his 32nd of the season. That’s twice as many as he made in his entire rookie season, which was also his career high for a season prior to this season. Not only that, but he’s shooting it at a 45.7% clip, by far a career high.

Garza has been a great find by Brad Stevens, and earned a big vote of confidence by the team. Prior to the start of the year, Luka probably would have been viewed as expendable, especially if you were told that Boston would be adding in Nikola Vucevic. As the trade deadline passed, the Celtics dumped several salaries to try to duck under the Luxury Tax, including the Simons – Vucevic swap. After that move, dumping four minimum salaries, converting the two-way guys to standard contracts, and signing players from the buyout market would have been enough to get under the tax.

Three minimum players ended up getting the axe, Chris Boucher, Xavier Tillman, and Josh Minott, all guys who couldn’t find a spot in the rotation. If Garza wasn’t playing well, he easily could have been the fourth. Instead, Brad and the rest of the front office decided to craft a complicated, but extremely clever plan with some tight margins to operate below the league mandated minimum roster size for, presumably, as long as possible, buying just enough time to find a prorated contract on the buyout market which will put them back in roster compliance while keeping them under the tax-line.

The point being, Luka has earned his respect with this team. His performance against Houston was 19th game in double figures this season, and one of many examples of the value he provides. Even with the addition of Nikola Vucevic, it seems like Joe Mazzulla will continue to lean on Garza in the big-man rotation. He’s very easily been one of the best stories of the season, and deserves every good thing that’s coming to him thanks to his own efforts.

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In defense of another quiet Rafael Stone NBA Trade Deadline

We’ve been here before.

That’s worth remembering. This is not the first time in the Rafael Stone era that there’s been widespread displeasure with Rafael Stone. It’s familiar territory for Houston Rockets fans.

Specifically, it happens on an annual basis at the NBA Trade Deadline.

To be sure, their recent thrashing at the hands of a Brown-less Celtics squad was aesthetically horrifying. Rockets fans would have done as well to throw on Terrifier.

Early in the season, the notion that Houston’s rebound-focused attack was “gimmicky” was controversial. Now, it’s axiomatic. Anyone should recognize that the Rockets are not going to win at the highest level with this strategy.

There’s friend of the show (who I believe still reads these?), Andrew Soukup, with a succinct summary of the problem. A pair of non-shooters. For all the high-falutin’ conceptual stuff about dribble hand-offs, cuts from the high post, triangle offense, etc., the reality is that it’s difficult to build a high-powered, portable NBA offense with two non-shooters in the lineup.

So, the roster is flawed. That at least partly reflects on management. Yet, it would be an oversimplification to suggest that putting a flawed roster on the floor singularly characterizes a team’s general manager as “bad”.

Stone has done plenty well during his tenure.

Rockets have drafted well under Stone

Here’s a refrain I’ve heard several times recently:

“Four lottery picks, four whiffs”.

Firstly, Amen Thompson is not a whiff. That’s a consequence of fans overestimating the expected return on a fourth overall pick. He may not be “Russell Westbrook, Defensive Player of the Year model”, but he’s certainly not a whiff. Such an assessment of Reed Sheppard is also absurdly premature.

Otherwise, you can’t judge draft picks in a vacuum. They must be judged in the context of the draft itself.

It’s unfair to knock Stone for taking Jabari Smith Jr. with the third overall pick. The consensus could not have been firmer. There were three dudes in that draft, Bari was the third, and the Rockets had the third pick. All 30 GMs were making the same decision. Stone was not reasonably going to select Jalen Williams. He can’t be retroactively held to a standard of “shock the world or bust”. You’re locking him into a false dichotomy: either he’s a genius or he’s a bad general manager.

By the way, there’s almost nobody else in 2022 you’d rather have. Jaden Ivey just got traded for a Kevin Huerter sandwich with extra Mike Conley. Dyson Daniels is fun, but Houston doesn’t need a 12.7% three-point shooter in their backcourt. Tari Eason has been good…

Oh, wait.

How about 2024? If you wanted Matas Buzelis, gloat – but only a little bit. He’s still got a negative Box Plus/Minus (BPM). He’s racking up basic counting stats for the Bulls, if that counts as an accomplishment. That said, he’s certainly flashed potential, and if you think he’d have been a better choice than Reed Sheppard, you’re beginning to have a valid case. There’s nobody else I can say the same for. It seems unreasonable to come down on Stone because there’s one guy that he maybe (maybe) should have taken over Sheppard.

Then, there’s 2021: A Stone Odyssey. Not good. Bad.

A critical error. The cardinal sin of the rebuild. Evan Mobley was the choice.

I don’t want to hear “they wouldn’t have drafted Alperen Sengun”. OK – so they’d have compounded the error? Sengun and Mobley would be a great fit together.

On the subject of Sengun…

The Rockets had good lottery luck. Paradoxically, they also had bad lottery luck. Statistically, the balls bounced relatively well. In a vacuum, they got lucky.

Contextually, in the four years that the Rockets tanked, the only two lottery picks who’d have materially changed their fortunes were Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama. That is it. Paolo Banchero is a bad fit with Sengun, and he has not been as good as Sengun, so let us not utter his name again.

Mobley and Chet Holmgren are both excellent, but they’re ceiling raisers. It’d be nice to have either, but they wouldn’t fix this team’s systemic issues. For that matter, neither would Wembanyama, but he’s just so special that he’d change the team by virtue of being him.

Otherwise, you’re asking Stone to – well, draw blood from a stone. If anything, the fact that he walked away from the rebuild with Sengun in the fold is a testament to his drafting acumen.

So is Tari Eason. Give most NBA general managers everything Stone had. Most of them don’t walk away with Sengun and Eason. Other than drafting Green, Stone has made no discernible, significant mistakes that could be identified even without the use of hindsight, which is notoriously 20/20.

What about on the trade market?

Stone needs to make some signature trades

Stone’s approach to trading has been…meiserly?

There’s not one deal you can point to and call egregiously bad. It’s just that most of his deals have been in the vein of hey, I’ll give you a non-rotational player for an even worse non-rotational player and a heavily protected second. Stone has made a bevy of moves that you wouldn’t notice whether he made them or not.

He has made one noticeable move. You know the one. How does it look now?

Well, let’s see. The Rockets have practically the same Win Percentage (63.3%) now that they finished last season with (63.4%). Yet, that’s not a fair evaluation of the deal. Last year’s Rockets had Fred VanVleet.

The concept behind the Durant deal was always sound. Opponents were always going to sag off of Sengun and Thompson, as described above, and dare a shot maker to make shots. So, trading one of the worst shot makers in the NBA (sorry, residual Green Gangers) for one of the best ought to build on what was already a formidable squad. Even without VanVleet, that might be bearing out:

If not for the loss of Dillon Brooks.

There was no way to flip Green for Durant without including Brooks (or VanVleet). The money has to money. But the Rockets undeniably miss Brooks. They miss his point of attack defense, his (2024-25) floor spacing, and his tertiary shot creation. They miss his cultural impact.

There should be no referendum on Green. This team was not “better with Green than they are with Durant”. They were better with Green, VanVleet, Brooks, and Steven Adams than they are with Durant. At some point, the raw, aggregate net rating of so many players outweighs even a (post-prime, but still) Durant.

Circling back to the thesis: Stone didn’t injure VanVleet or Adams. He didn’t invent the CBA that required him to include Brooks in that deal. He was never going to let Brooks be the deterrent if he wanted Kevin Durant.

So, Stone’s draft record speaks for itself. The totality of his trade activity seems more positive than negative. Here, we have a defensible GM who’s put a deeply flawed contender on the floor.

How do we square that?

Rockets are a work in progress

The Rockets hold a lot of chips. So, by definition, they’re not all in.

Most of the key rotation players are young. They have a surplus of draft capital. Those are the chips; they aren’t on the table. Analogously, they checked on a small raise by giving up Jalen Green and Khaman Maluach.

So until they’re “all in”, the roster should be treated as an unfinished product. Hypothetically, say the Rockets replace Durant with a lesser version of a shot-creating wing in the draft. Suppose they do the same with any veteran on the roster and otherwise run this exact rotation until the core is in their 30s.

OK. Now, the criticisms are fair.

For now, it’s OK if the roster is flawed. If Stone were to trade either Amen or Sengun and picks for Antetokounmpo this summer, he’d better follow that up by acquiring players who complement Antetokounmpo. The roster can no longer be fundamentally flawed. The Rockets will be all-in.

Let’s see how we feel about Stone then.