John Tonje matched his career high with six 3-pointers on his way to 26 points, and No. 18 Wisconsin tied the Big Ten Tournament single-game record by making 19 3s in an 86-70 victory over fourth-seeded UCLA on Friday. Tonje also had nine rebounds and four assists. John Blackwell added 18 points, five rebounds and four assists while making four 3s.
UCLA routed by Wisconsin in Big Ten tournament quarterfinal
The Bruins received a wakeup call as they came out sluggish, fell behind by double digits early and never recovered against the Badgers on Friday.
The Hockey Show: Trade Deadline fallout, playoff posturing with Emily Kaplan
The latest episode of The Hockey Show has dropped!
Following one of the craziest Trade Deadline’s in recent memory, THS hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork get into the fallout, both regarding the Florida Panthers and the rest of the NHL.
Joining the show to help break everything down is NHL on ESPN sideline reporter Emily Kaplan.
They get into the Brad Marchand trade to Florida, which teams were the winners and losers of the Trade Deadline and who will provide the best challenge to the Panthers when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
This week’s wins and fails of the week, presented by Jagermeister, included a Superman punch in a hockey fight and a Superman save by a goaltender, a fan trying to fight a mascot and Nathan MacKinnon hitting a major milestone.
Dave and Roy also reviewed the Panthers week that was, which featured a dominant shutout win, an uncharacteristic blown lead in Boston and a fun victory in a heavyweight matchup in Toronto.
You can check out the full show in the video below:
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LA Kings Holding Their Own Against League’s Best
Now that the month of March is half over, potential playoff seedings and wild card battles are taking shape nightly across the NHL.
With last week’s trade deadline in the books, fans and experts alike seem to view the Dallas Stars as serious Stanley Cup favorites. And the betting markets appear to agree, with Draft Kings having the Stars down at +600 to win it all. Not far behind are the Edmonton Oilers, + 800 to win their first Cup since 1990.
The Los Angeles Kings? They aren't getting a ton of love from the sports books at +2000 or an implied probability of 4.76%.
Although it's true that the Kings have well-known issues, is it possible that LA is more of a threat than people realize? Despite their 28th-ranked power play (15.5%), 13th-ranked save percentage (.904), and mild 2.86 goals per game, the Kings are regularly beating some very good teams.
Looking strictly at teams with a .600+ points percentage at this point in the season (CAR, COL, DAL, EDM, FLA, TBL, TOR, VGK, WSH, WPG), the Kings are a robust 11-8 against this elite group. This includes three wins against Vegas, two wins against both Dallas and Winnipeg and one against the defending champion Florida Panthers. Not too shabby.
#GoKingsGo *winning* percentages (not P%) vs playoff teams last year and this year:
— Andrew Knoll (@AndrewKnollNHL) March 14, 2025
Vs NHL qualifiers .385
Vs WC qualifiers .348
Vs NHL qualifiers (entering today) .567
Vs WC qualifiers (enterting today) .625.
That's a pretty drastic turnaround.
How have Cup favorites Dallas and Edmonton fared against this same group? Not nearly as well as Los Angeles. Edmonton has so far gone 7-11-3 against these elite teams, while Dallas has posted a record of 7-11-2. Not the kind of record that screams a lock to win it all in June.
While it would be foolish to read too much into this discrepancy, it seems to indicate that the LA Kings play up to their competition. There is a belief in the room that they can beat anybody when they play their game.
Swiss winger Kevin Fiala alluded to this sentiment during the media scrum following LA’s win against the Washington Capitals on March 13th:
“We’re not scared from (sic) anybody. We’re strong at home this year.”
Not just strong but a league best 22-3-4 at Crypto.com Arena, which has suddenly become a very inhospitable venue for road teams from either conference.
With 18 regular season games remaining for the Kings, much remains to be written. Will their dominance at home continue unabated? Can they continue to go toe-to-toe with the NHL’s top tier? Will they find a way to get better results away from home?
If so, the hockey world just might be sleeping on these guys. And if you are LA, you probably hope that they keep dozing well into May and June.
Hawkeyes’ worst season in seven years prompts firing of Fran McCaffery, program’s all-time wins leader
McCaffery had intended to return for a 16th season rather than retire.
Clark’s 17 lead VCU over St. Bonaventure 76-59 in Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament
The senior forward leads VCU in average rebounds per game.
Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann has ‘never been more confident’ in his bowling after ICC check
Australian spinner Matt Kuhnemann still “loves the art of spin bowling” and says he has never been more confident in his bowling than he is now after his action was cleared by a battery of tests.
Former Captain Eichel Returns To Face Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres return home after a lopsided 7-3 loss in Detroit to face the Vegas Golden Knights in a Saturday afternoon matinee. The Pacific Division leader is among four or five clubs that could come out of the Western Conference this spring, and a central figure in their playoff aspirations is former Sabres captain Jack Eichel.
The 2015 second overall pick has thrived in Vegas since being traded in November 2021 for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a 2022 first-round pick (Noah Ostlund), and a second-rounder used to trade for Jordan Greenway, winning a Stanley Cup in 2022, but has continued to be dogged by injuries. Although fully recovered from the neck injury that led to his departure from Buffalo, the 28-year-old center has not played a full season with the Golden Knights but has missed only one game in 2024-25.
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Eichel is one in a long line of ex-Sabres who encountered pitfalls in Buffalo and have magically found success elsewhere. Ryan O’Reilly won a Cup and a Conn Smythe Trophy with St. Louis in 2019 and has been an effective two-way center in Toronto and Nashville. Brandon Montour went to Florida after being dealt for a draft pick and won a Cup in 2024 with the Panthers and signed a big free-agent deal with Seattle. Sam Reinhart was dealt to Florida with one year left on his contract with Buffalo, signed an extension with the Panthers, and scored 52 goals last season.
Linus Ullmark won a Vezina Trophy with Boston in 2023 and may be leading the Ottawa Senators to their first playoff berth since 2017, with the help of Dylan Cozens, who has four points (2 goals, 2 assists) in four games since being traded to Ottawa for Josh Norris last week.
With every example of a player going somewhere else and having more success or realizing their potential, the question is why they did not achieve that in Buffalo. Are there aspects of the club that are ancillary to the core group assembled? Is the construction of the part of GM Kevyn Adams poor? Is it a lack of willingness to spend to the cap to add one or two players who could make a difference?
Whatever the reasons, these players decided that the best course for their future was not with a dysfunctional Sabres organization, and it is tough to argue against that based on Buffalo missing the playoffs for the 14th straight season.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Six Nations judgment day has enough riding on it to be an all-time classic
A tournament that has produced tries galore reaches its glorious climax on Super Saturday with England and Ireland hot on the heels of favourites France
The best Six Nations campaigns tick two crucial boxes. The first is a consistent sense of jeopardy from start to finish and the second is a level of entertainment that elevates the tournament into the mainstream consciousness. When both occur simultaneously, as they have done this year, the championship’s final round ranks among the most gripping days in modern team sport.
This particular “Super Saturday” certainly has all the necessary spicy ingredients, starting with the prospect of France’s second title since 2010 if they can beat Scotland in Paris. A bonus-point win for England over Wales in Cardiff, though, could yet be enough to sneak the trophy in the event of a breathless Scotland win. Which, from a Scottish perspective, looms as the ultimate catch-22 scenario.
Continue reading...Jets Host The Stars In A Highly Anticipated And Critical Matchup
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Dallas Stars in an ever-important Central Division duel. A battle between two of the best in the West with vital playoff implications on the line.
The Jets have all but clinched a playoff spot, but that's not to say the remaining 16 games aren't important. Locking down first place in the Central Division will not only give the Jets an easier matchup in the first round of the playoffs but it will ensure they won't have to face the Stars or the Colorado Avalanche until the second round.
Currently, the Jets hold an eight-point advantage on the Stars, but the Stars do have two games in hand. The Jets and Stars will face off one more time following tonight's game, on Apr. 10, the 79th game of the season.
Knowing how competitive the Central Division is shaping up to be this season, mentioning how important this game is to the Jets players would be meaningless. The opportunity to cement their position atop the division is a golden one, and one that needs to be seized.
The matchup between the clubs is airtight. The Jets rank third in goals per game, and the Stars rank fourth. The Jets rank first in goals allowed, and the Stars rank third. The Jets own the No.1 power play in the NHL, and the Stars own the No.1 penalty kill.
There isn't much to separate them, but the advantage the Jets might have is health. Neal Pionk was announced week-to-week this morning with a lower-body injury, but that is the only injury the Jets are suffering from. The Stars on the other hand have injuries to their top defenseman Miro Heiskanen, their first-line centreman Roope Hintz, a young defenseman enjoying a strong start to his rookie season in Lian Bichsel, and a veteran forward in Tyler Seguin.
Injuries are part of the game, and the Stars aren't using it as an excuse, but it's a factor the Jets should exploit if they want to put themselves in a great position.
Puck drop is at 7:00 PM PST at the Canadian Life Centre.
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Giants notes: Matos makes case for roster spot with strong spring
Giants notes: Matos makes case for roster spot with strong spring originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
MARYVALE, Ariz. — In the early innings Friday, Giants outfielder Luis Matos hit a rocket that nearly cleared the left field berm at American Family Fields and then jumped up against the center field wall to rob a Milwaukee Brewer of extra bases and save at least one run. But it was his slow jog to first in the top of the fifth that might have been just as impactful to his bid for an Opening Day roster spot.
The walk that Matos drew his third time up was his first of the spring, but it’s hard to blame the 23-year-old too much for that. His aggression early in camp has paid off, leading to a .359 average entering play on Friday. He bolstered his case against the Brewers with his second spring homer, a single, the walk and the highlight-reel catch.
“I can only control what I can control,” he said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “My performance is going to dictate what the team wants to do.”
The Giants came to camp with an open mind about their bench, and the ability to go several different ways. Jerar Encarnacion is out of options and a near-lock to get one spot, and the Giants will also carry a backup catcher (likely Sam Huff) and a backup middle infielder (either Brett Wisely or Casey Schmitt). With the final bench spot, they can go with either a second backup infielder, a lefty DH option like Jake Lamb, or Matos as an extra outfielder.
If Matos gets the call, his initial role on the roster might be to start in right field when the Giants face a left-handed starter. They got veteran southpaw Nestor Cortes on Friday and Matos greeted him with a blast to left.
Matos entered the day with 14 hits in 15 spring games and just four strikeouts, although given how his free-swinging ways hurt him last season, it certainly stood out that he had not drawn a walk until Friday. Manager Bob Melvin was not concerned, however. He said Matos’ at-bats have been better this spring and noted that he is being more patient in subtle ways.
“His thing is swinging. He is getting better pitches to hit and that’s always going to be, for him, the most important thing, is not chasing too much,” Melvin said. “Last year, when he was getting good pitches to hit, he went crazy, and then all of a sudden he was a little bit too aggressive. Even though he hasn’t walked (before Friday), we’ve seen him taking some first pitches, we’ve seen him get a little deeper in counts, and I think that is progression for him.”
Matos is still just 23, and the Giants insist his time will come regardless of what they decide at the end of camp. If either corner outfielder (Heliot Ramos and Mike Yastrzemski) has to miss time, Matos is the next man up and might get a long runway to be a starter. But right now, he’s playing like someone who is ready for the big leagues, even if the role right now might be a more limited one.
“Things are going well, and I’m working really hard,” Matos said. “I have no complaints. Everything is moving in the right direction.”
Fifth Starter Competition
Bob Melvin skipped the Cactus League game to watch Landen Roupp pitch in a minor league game at Papago. Roupp made sure the trip was worth it.
The right-hander struck out 13 in five innings, including the first nine batters he faced. He allowed just one hit and one walk and threw 51 of his 66 pitches for strikes. Roupp was facing minor leaguers, but 13 strikeouts will stand out in any situation, and it’s not like this came out of nowhere. Roupp has been as sharp as any Giants pitcher this spring.
The Giants are holding an open competition for the fifth rotation spot and Melvin insisted this week that no decision has been made. The other two options will have a chance to keep pace on Sunday; Hayden Birdsong will start the game against the Athletics and Kyle Harrison will pitch several innings of relief.
Making His Push
Melvin didn’t need to see much from Lou Trivino this spring. The veteran right-hander broke into the big leagues with Melvin’s Athletics and was one of the best relievers in baseball as a rookie in 2018.
Trivino came to camp in a good spot and he has done nothing to harm his case over the past month. He threw 1 1/3 hitless innings in relief of Jordan Hicks on Friday and struck out a pair, and in six spring appearances he now has 6 1/3 scoreless innings and six strikeouts.
Iowa fires men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery, program’s longest-tenured coach
Iowa fires men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery, program's longest-tenured coach.
Carlos Rodon named Yankees' Opening Day starter
Carlos Rodonwill be the Yankees' Opening Day starter, manager Aaron Boone announced on Friday.
Rodon is set to face-off with Freddy Peralta and the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27 at Yankee Stadium.
"Really excited to give him the ball," Boone told reporters including Erik Boland of Newsday. "He's in the right frame of mind and throwing the ball well right now. He's excited to do it, and then at the end of the day, it's just the first one."
This will be the southpaw's first Opening Day start since joining the Yankees on a six-year deal two seasons ago, but it is the second of his big-league career -- the first of which came back in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox.
Rodon battled injuries and struggled mightily during his first season in the Bronx -- he pitched better last year but still put together a bit of an up-and-down campaign, posting a 3.96 ERA across a career-high 32 appearances.
New York would've turned to ace Gerritt Cole for the fifth time in his career if he were healthy, but with the righty set to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season, they'll look for Rodon to get them started on a high note.
Newly signed left-hander Max Fried was also an potential option to start the opener, but the Yanks didn't want to throw him off his schedule, so he will take the ball for the second game of the season as planned.
Jase Richardson scores 17 to lead No. 7 Michigan St. past No. 23 Oregon 74-64 in Big Ten Tournament
The guard was recently named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
PJ Haggerty scores career-high 42 points for No. 16 Memphis in 83-80 win over Wichita State
PJ Haggerty scored a career-high 42 points and led the go-ahead run for 16th-ranked Memphis in an 83-80 win over Wichita State in a quarterfinal game at the American Athletic Conference tournament Friday. The Tigers (27-5) went ahead to stay with a 12-0 run over a 2 1/2-minute span after halftime in which Haggerty scored nine of those points. Two of his baskets in that spurt came off turnovers by Wichita State (19-14), which knocked the Tigers out of last year’s AAC tournament and is responsible for their only loss in 15 games since Jan. 16.