Here's an updated look at the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 on Jan. 5 of the men's college basketball season:
Seth Jones considered week-to-week, expected back with Panthers before NHL breaks for Winter Olympics
The Florida Panthers have lost another key player to injury.
Panthers defenseman Seth Jones was hurt during Florida’s loss to the New York Rangers at the 2026 Winter Classic on Friday, taking a deflected shot by Alexis Lafreniere to the shoulder/collarbone area early in the game.
Seth Jones left the game and will not return to the #WinterClassic after catching a puck high in the first period. pic.twitter.com/ZQCsw7hY3n
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 3, 2026
Jones immediately left the ice and was briefly looked at by medical trainers before heading back underneath the stands at loanDepot park and into the Panthers locker room for further evaluation.
On Monday, Florida Head Coach Paul Maurice provided an update on Jones following a Panthers practice at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.
Maurice said Jones would be considered week-to-week due to the injury, but added that he will probably be back before the NHL pauses for the 2026 Winter Olympics early next month.
“We expect him back before the Olympic break, we’re hopeful for that, we think it’s going to be that, but he’s going to be out a couple weeks,” Maurice said.
Between now and the Olympics, Florida has 16 games on the schedule, only five of which will come on home ice.
The Panthers called up defenseman Tobias Bjornfot from AHL Charlotte over the weekend and slotted Donovan Sebrango into the lineup Sunday, so we’ll see if that’s the third pairing rotation, along with Uvis Balinskis, that Florida wants to roll with over the next several weeks.
Remember, the Panthers aren’t expecting Dmitry Kulikov back from labrum surgery until sometime in March, so while there is help coming, it’s not arriving anytime soon.
The injury to Jones comes just as Florida was started to get on the healthier side with its forwards.
Matthew Tkachuk is nearing a return from offseason adductor and sports hernia surgery, and Jonah Gadjovich, Cole Schwindt and Noah Gregor have all been back on the ice in recent days as well.
We also learned recently that both Sasha Barkov and Tomas Nosek have been skating as they continue recovering from respective offseason knee surgeries.
While both are still months away from returning, it’s a positive sign to see they have not hit any setbacks as they work toward cracking the Cats’ lineup.
Florida will travel to Toronto Monday ahead of their matchup with the Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night.
It’s the first of a six-game road trip for the Panthers, the first four of which all come against divisional opponents.
Buckle up, it should be fun.
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Photo caption: Dec 6, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) celebrates a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
Sharks Ink Key Forward to Three-Year Contract Extension
The San Jose Sharks locked up a key piece of their forward group on Sunday, signing Alexander Wennberg to a three-year contract extension worth $18 million.
The 31-year-old center was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, but the new deal will keep him in San Jose through the 2028–29 campaign. Wennberg has been a steady presence in the Sharks’ lineup this year, recording seven goals and 19 assists while providing dependable two-way play down the middle.
His strong season has also earned international recognition, as Wennberg was selected to represent Sweden at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Over the course of his NHL career, Wennberg has totaled 108 goals and 288 assists for 396 points in 830 games with the Sharks, New York Rangers, Seattle Kraken, Florida Panthers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He originally signed with San Jose as a free agent prior to last season and has since become an important veteran presence and contributor for the club.
Sharks Fresh Off Loss
San Jose (20-18-3) is coming off a 7–3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home on Saturday. Despite the lopsided score, left winger Pavol Regenda provided a bright spot, scoring the first hat trick of his NHL career. Outside of Regenda’s three goals, however, offense was hard to come by for the Sharks at SAP Center.
Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov endured a difficult outing, surrendering three goals on 10 shots before being replaced by Alex Nedeljkovic. Nedeljkovic stopped 12 of 16 shots in relief.
The Sharks will look to bounce back Tuesday night when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets, as their six-game homestand reaches its midpoint. San Jose enters the matchup facing an uphill battle, having lost five of its last six games against Columbus. Coverage of the game begins at 9 p.m. local time.
College basketball rankings: Michigan, Arizona remain Top 25 poll leaders
Michigan and Arizona continue to lead the first USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll of the 2026 calendar year.
Kings Keegan Murray sidelined three-to-four weeks with moderate ankle sprain
Kings Keegan Murray sidelined three-to-four weeks with moderate ankle sprain originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The hits keep coming for the Kings as the injury bug has bitten Keegan Murray once again.
The 25-year-old rolled his left ankle on Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner’s foot in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 115-98 loss.
Sacramento announced on Tuesday that Murray underwent imaging that revealed a moderate left ankle sprain and that the young forward will be reevaluated in three-to-four weeks.
Murray, who has missed 17 games this season – 15 due to a torn UCL in his thumb and two because of a calf strain – will miss his 18th game on Tuesday when Sacramento hosts the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center and possibly 10 to 14 more before potentially returning in late January or early February.
The former first-round pick had missed just 13 games in his first three seasons combined prior to the string of bad luck he has faced this year.
In Murray’s 19 games played, he has averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 35.9 minutes per game.
The fourth-year forward has shown glimpses of what the Kings had hoped to see out of him, especially early on against Milwaukee on Sunday as he started the game 6 of 13 from the field.
But his offensive impact has been a struggle this season – Murray is shooting just 27.2 percent from the 3-point line while also knocking down 42.9 percent of his field-goal attempts.
On the defensive side of the ball, however, Murray has proven to be above average. He’s currently eighth in the NBA in stocks (steals plus blocks) this season with 2.8 per game and trails top-tier defenders like Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard in the category.
For the Kings, who also have been without Domantas Sabonis since Nov. 19 due to a torn meniscus in his knee, they’ll be forced to once again play without a pair of starters.
Sacramento’s 8-28 record is tied for the worst all-time in franchise history with the 1958-59 Cincinnati Royals, as well as the 2010-11 and 2008-09 Sacramento teams.
Keegan Murray ruled out for Kings vs. Mavericks game with left ankle injury
Keegan Murray ruled out for Kings vs. Mavericks game with left ankle injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The hits keep coming for the Kings as the injury bug has bitten Keegan Murray once again.
The 25-year-old rolled his left ankle on Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner’s foot in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 115-98 loss.
Murray, who has missed 17 games this season – 15 due to a torn UCL in his thumb and two because of a calf strain – will miss his 18th game on Tuesday when Sacramento hosts the Dallas Mavericks at Golden 1 Center, according to the NBA’s injury report.
The former first-round pick had missed just 13 games in his first three seasons combined prior to the string of bad luck he has faced this year.
In Murray’s 19 games played, he has averaged 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 35.9 minutes per game.
The fourth-year forward has shown glimpses of what the Kings had hoped to see out of him, especially early on against Milwaukee on Sunday as he started the game 6 of 13 from the field.
But his offensive impact has been a struggle this season – Murray is shooting just 27.2 percent from the 3-point line while also knocking down 42.9 percent of his field-goal attempts.
On the defensive side of the ball, however, Murray has proven to be above average. He’s currently eighth in the NBA in stocks (steals plus blocks) this season with 2.8 per game and trails top-tier defenders like Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard in the category.
For the Kings, who also have been without Domantas Sabonis since Nov. 19 due to a torn meniscus in his knee, they’ll be forced to once again play without a pair of starters.
Sacramento’s 8-28 record is tied for the worst all-time in franchise history with the 1958-59 Cincinnati Royals, as well as the 2010-11 and 2008-09 Sacramento teams.
How to watch New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons: TV/live stream info for tonight's game
Head to Peacock and NBCSN tonight for an exciting NBA tripleheader. The action begins at 7:00 PM ET when the top two teams in the Eastern Conference — New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons — meet for the first time this season.
At 8:30 PM, the Denver Nuggets go head-to-head with the Philadelphia 76ers. At 10:00 PM, the action heats up on the West Coast with a Golden State Warriors vs LA Clippers showdown.
See below for additional information on how to watch each game and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Click here to sign up for Peacock!
New York Knicks:
The Knicks fell 130-119 on Saturday, in the team's third straight loss. Jalen Brunson scored 31 points. With 29.3 points per game this season, Brunson is on pace for career highs in scoring and field goal attempts per game (21.8)
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds in his first game back since sitting out with an illness (Jan. 2). Miles McBride scored 20 off the bench.
New York has allowed over 125 points per game over its recent three-game losing streak, but looks to bounce back tonight.
“We’ve hit a little bit of adversity, said Knicks head coach Mike Brown after Saturday's loss. "I’ve never been part of a team that has not gone through adversity throughout the course of the year ... now for us it’s about how do we respond?”
Detroit Pistons:
The Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-110 yesterday afternoon, improving to a 26-9 record. Last season, the Pistons didn't earn their 26th win until February 7.
Cade Cunningham scored 27 points, 7 assists, and finished with 6 rebounds. Daniss Jenkins added 25 off the bench, and Duncan Robinson finished with 12.
2 threes off the bench for Daniss Jenkins pic.twitter.com/uz6CfhCYO0
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 4, 2026
The Pistons have been first in the Eastern Conference since November 7 and own the second-best record in the league behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (30-6).
RELATED:Pistons’ starters Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris to miss several games with injuries
How to watch New York Knicks vs Detroit Pistons:
- When: Tonight, Monday, January 5
- Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Live Stream:Peacock and NBCSN
Fantasy managers expected big things from Maxey, and he has delivered thus far.
Raphielle JohnsonWhat other NBA games are on tonight?
- Denver Nuggets vs Philadelphia 76ers - 8:30 PM ET on Peacock and NBCSN
- Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Clippers - 10:00 PM ET on Peacock and NBCSN
With the holidays in the rearview mirror, the Week 12 NBA schedule is more evenly spread out.
How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
What devices does Peacock support?
You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.
DeMarcus Cousins blasts Steve Kerr for comments about Warriors' title chances
DeMarcus Cousins blasts Steve Kerr for comments about Warriors' title chances originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
DeMarcus Cousins didn’t mince words when discussing his former coach, Steve Kerr.
On Monday’s episode of “Run It Back” on FanDuel TV, Cousins criticized the message Kerr sent to the Warriors and their fans about the franchise’s championship outlook.
“I don’t like it one bit,” Cousins noted. “If this was a player saying this, how it would be viewed? This doesn’t instill confidence in your locker room. To me it actually shows who is the real problem in this situation.”
Kerr’s comments came during a recent appearance on the “Tom Tolbert Show,” where he pushed back on the idea that Golden State should expect to compete for championships every season.
“I just don’t want anybody to think that we’re all disillusioned and we’re thinking like, ‘Hey, we should be competing for titles year in and year out with San Antonio and Oklahoma City the next year,'” Kerr added. “That’s not realistic.”
Cousins took issue with that framing, arguing that publicly lowering expectations undermines belief within the team and reflects broader leadership concerns.
“You’re speaking down on your team,” Cousins emphasized. “You’re not really instilling confidence in this group … It’s obvious why you’re in this position that you’re in now with this group. But this type of message, this type of energy, this type of lack of confidence in your group, it’s only going to spread with the rest of the guys.”
Cousins, who spent the 2018-19 NBA season with Golden State, also questioned whether Kerr would be judged differently than a player making similar remarks.
“If the roles were reversed and this was a player speaking in this way, his name would be tarnished,” Cousins explained. “So I think the same thing applies to this coach. I disagree with everything he says.”
While Kerr emphasized perspective and process as the Warriors navigate the later stages of their dynasty, Cousins made it clear he sees the situation differently — believing that confidence, especially when spoken publicly, must start at the top.
AP Top 25: Duke’s win over Notre Dame extends win streak, solidifies comeback from rough start to the season
Eight teams were upset over the past two weeks of games, including five to unranked opponents, so we have some movement in the AP poll.
Bryce Underwood announcement of Michigan future coming ‘pretty soon’
"We think (he) is going to be a part of what we’re doing going forward," Kyle Whittingham told Dave Portnoy of Bryce Underwood at Michigan football.
Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich Returns To Practice; Cole Schwindt Ditches The Non-Contact Jersey
The Florida Panthers took to the ice for a practice following a big 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, providing injury updates on two depth forwards.
Jonah Gadjovich returned to the ice for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Oct. 25. It's an essential landmark in Gadjovich's return process after undergoing surgery. Although he skated with the team, he did so in a non-contact jersey, indicating that a return is still a ways away.
Schwindt has been skating in a non-contact jersey for about a week now, but he was able to ditch it and begin skating with the team in complete contact. His return is imminent, and we could see him slide back into the Panthers' fourth-line center role very soon. Schwindt, alongside Matthew Tkachuk, appears to be the two injured Panthers players closest to returning.
Schwindt and Tkachuk will accompany the Panthers on their upcoming road trip, which will see them take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals. Coach Paul Maurice didn't specify if or when they might return, but it's an encouraging sign to see them join the team on the road.
Recently, Maurice provided updates on Gadjovich and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. With Gadjovich, Maurice mentioned that they aren't expecting their 27-year-old winger to return until after the Olympic break. With Kulikov, they were hoping to get him back by mid-March.
The Panthers will spend most of January on the road, and they'll need as many healthy players as they can get.
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Sporting KC hire Raphaël Wicky as head coach on two-year contract
Wicky is the fifth permanent head coach in team history
Swiss arrives after stints with Chicago and Young Boys
Sporting Kansas City named Raphaël Wicky as the fifth permanent head coach in franchise history on Monday.
Wicky, 48, coached the Chicago Fire from 2020-21 before managing BSC Young Boys in his native Switzerland from 2022-24. He signed a contract through the 2027-28 MLS season with an option for the 2028-29 campaign.
Continue reading...Why Giants feel Tyler Mahle is right for rotation behind Bruce Bochy endorsement
Why Giants feel Tyler Mahle is right for rotation behind Bruce Bochy endorsement originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — As they sat through lengthy discussions about free agents and trade targets last month at the MLB Winter Meetings, Giants officials learned something about Bruce Bochy’s approach to being an advisor for Buster Posey. The longtime manager doesn’t hold back when he feels strongly that a player is not the right fit.
When Bochy likes a player, though, that carries a lot of extra weight, and the latest addition to the roster came with a strong endorsement.
Right-hander Tyler Mahle pitched for Bochy for two seasons with the Texas Rangers, and in the first half of last season, he was one of his best players. Bochy told assistant GM Jeremy Shelley early in the offseason that he thought Mahle was a talent worth pursuing and elaborated at the Winter Meetings while talking to president of baseball operations Buster Posey, general manager Zack Minasian, manager Tony Vitello and others.
“It’s one thing to see it in a text message or on a phone call. It’s quite another to sit across from a Hall of Fame manager and hear them say, ‘I really believe in this guy,'” Minasian recalled Monday. “It was certainly encouraging and obviously we’re happy we were able to get this done.”
Mahle’s one-year, $10 million contract became official Monday, effectively setting the Giants’ rotation heading into the 2026 MLB season. The Giants will continue to look at their options, but they have Mahle, fellow addition Adrian Houser and Landen Roupp set to join Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, and they feel good about that.
“I think we’re very comfortable with the five that we have and then the bundle of [young] arms we have behind them,” Minasian said.
It’s a solid group, but one that needs avenues to more upside. The hope is that Mahle, who was pitching like an MLB All-Star early last season, can provide that.
The 31-year-old signed with the Giants after a strong but injury-shortened season with the Rangers. That has been a theme in his career, as he has made more than 20 starts just twice over the past six seasons, but he said he fixed some mechanical issues that were “huge red flags” and were leading to extra stress on his shoulder.
Back at full health, Mahle should be a good fit for Oracle Park. He opened his 2025 season by pitching 40 2/3 innings without allowing a homer, and he ended up giving up just five over 86 2/3 innings.
Mahle has a four-pitch mix, led by a four-seamer that he commands well and uses roughly half of the time he comes down the mound. His splitter was particularly effective last season, holding opposing hitters to a .196 average. He said Monday that he’s also working on a new breaking ball that can be effective against right-handed hitters.
While his best numbers came in 2025, Mahle has had other strong stretches in the big leagues while pitching for three franchises. He posted a 3.75 ERA over 33 starts for the Cincinnati Reds in 2021 and had 28 strikeouts to five walks — along with a 3.16 ERA — over his first five starts with the Minnesota Twins in 2023. That season ended early because of Tommy John surgery.
Mahle signed with the Rangers as he was rehabbing and dealt with season-ending shoulder soreness after he returned to the mound. He also went on the IL with a rotator cuff strain last June and was sidelined about three months, an injury caused by a mechanical change he tried to make without the guidance of Rangers coaches.
When Mahle returned for two late-season starts, he showed the same form. Over 9 2/3 innings he allowed just one run and struck out 10, with his velocity settling into its normal range.
Mahle said it “was big” to get out there in September and prove to himself that the rehab was done correctly. He has been throwing for several weeks and said this is the best he has felt physically since 2021, his only full season in a rotation.
The plan this year is to reach that mark again, and Mahle said the Giants were near the top of the list when he hit MLB free agency. The Orange County native has a 3-year-old and 1-year-old, so being on the West Coast was a priority. He also cited the ballpark, the team colors (which he has always liked), and Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey as draws.
The Giants had opportunities to go big this offseason, but opted for short-term options in Houser and Mahle. The hope is that they build on what they showed in 2025, and Mahle is optimistic that he can do that.
“I think I can carry what I was doing over to the Giants,” Mahle said of his 2025 season. “There wasn’t really one thing. It was just that I was pitching well and [got] some lucky breaks, too, like we all get, but I was making pitches when I needed to make pitches and things were going well for me.
“I definitely think I can carry that over to San Francisco and hopefully get better.”
Four-star Michigan DB requests release from national letter of intent
The hits keep coming for Michigan football - Andre Clarke Jr., a 4-star from Richmond, VA (Hermitage), has asked out of his national letter of intent.
Ruben Amorim sacked: timeline of his Manchester United tenure – video
Ruben Amorim has been sacked by Manchester United after 14 months as their head coach. He leaves Old Trafford after a power struggle with the hierarchy over transfer policy, with Amorim demanding his colleagues in the recruitment department 'do their job' after Sunday’s draw at Leeds. We take a look back at his turbulent reign, which featured a few fleeting highs but some miserable lows.
Continue reading...