Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

BIG EAST Tip-Off: Butler v. Providence

by

NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Preview) – Putting records aside, Butler and Providence produced candidates for Game of the Year in the Big East when both regular-season meetings were decided in double overtime.

Those wins were highlights of disappointing seasons for both schools, and the third encounter is Wednesday when eighth-seeded Butler opposes ninth-seeded Providence in the opening round of the Big East tournament.

“Get ready for a double-overtime game,” embattled Providence coach Kim English said. “I hope we’re healthy. Every game in this league, you’re playing against one of the best coaches in the country.”

Embed from Getty Images

The winner will advance to a noon game on Thursday against top-seeded St. John’s.

The teams are meeting in this game for the second straight season. Last year, Butler ended Providence’s season with a 75-69 victory before falling to St. John’s in what became its first 20-loss campaign since 1989-90.

Butler (16-15) opened its conference schedule with a 113-110 victory over Providence on Dec. 13 when Michael Ajayi totaled 28 points and 15 rebounds and Finley Bizjack scored 26.

Both players produced strong offensive showings throughout the campaign, as Bizjack averaged 17.1 points and Ajayi finished his first season in the league at 16.3 and 11.1 rebounds per game. Still, it was not enough as the Bulldogs dropped 11 of their next 14 conference games until ending the season with three wins in their last five, including an 81-71 win at DePaul on Saturday.

Bizjack scored 19 while Ajayi had his 18th double-double with 14 and 11 boards in a game the Bulldogs led by as many as 29 thanks to a 28-6 run to start the second half.

“Michael’s been tremendous,” Butler coach Thad Matta said about Ajayi. “He’s been asked to do a lot of different (things), and it’s made him a better player. There (have) been so many things that we’ve had to go through, and he just keeps playing, keeps going.”

Providence (14-17) is concluding consecutive losing seasons for the first time since three campaigns from 2009-12.

Jaylin Sellers rang up 36 points when Providence earned a 97-87 home win over Butler on Feb. 4 after it lost nine of its first 11 conference games. Sellers averaged a Big East-best 18.1 points during the regular season and has scored at least 20 in seven of his past nine games.

Sellers scored 21 when the regular season ended with an 80-79 loss at Georgetown on Saturday, as the Friars committed a season-worst 22 turnovers. It marked their sixth loss by five points or fewer this season, and the ninth time they allowed opponents to shoot at least 50%.

–Field Level Media

BIG EAST Preview: Xavier’s Shakey “D”

by

NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – In his first season coaching in the Big East, young Richard Pitino often praised the scoring prowess of Tre Carroll and lamented Xavier’s shaky defense. After four straight NCAA tournament appearances, Marquette could not compensate for the departures from last season’s roster and is finishing a disappointing season.

Embed from Getty Images

For the second straight season, the Musketeers and Marquette Golden Eagles get together in the Big East tournament, but Wednesday’s opening-round contest is one without an NCAA berth on the line.

Last season, the schools met in the four-five matchup in the quarterfinals won by the Golden Eagles. But this year is drastically different since Marquette is seventh and Xavier is 10th, with the winner facing second-seeded UConn on Thursday.

Xavier (14-17) earned its lowest seed in the tournament and is on the verge of its second losing campaign in three seasons. The Musketeers allowed 80 points in 17 games and lost 14 of those contests, including Saturday’s 91-78 loss at Villanova.

Xavier allowed 56.5% shooting in its regular-season finale, the 12th time it allowed at least 50%. Xavier also allowed 13 3s and 24 assists and its defense negated a 21-point showing from Jovan Milicevic.

“We guard nobody. We just guard nobody,” Pitino said. “We just hope they miss. I love our guys. They’re trying.”

After transferring from Florida Atlantic, Carroll averaged 18 points and was second in the Big East behind Providence’s Jaylin Sellers. Carroll missed a chance to win the scoring title by sitting out Saturday with a right hip injury sustained during last week’s nine-point loss to Seton Hall.

Carroll, who was named to the All-Big East first team, is day-to-day. If he sits, Isaiah Walker would likely get the start after scoring 10 points Saturday.

Following the departures of Kam Jones, David Joplin and Stevie Mitchell, Marquette (12-19) is finishing its third losing season as a Big East member though it heads into the tournament with three wins in its past four games.

The Golden Eagles allowed less than 70 points in each of their final four games and earned a 68-62 victory over fourth-ranked UConn on Saturday, when they allowed 35.6% shooting and forced 16 turnovers in the final regular-season game for Ben Gold and Chase Ross.

“It’s been a year that, at times, we’ve been good on one end and not as good on the other end,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “You got to put them both together if you want to win in March.”

Nigel James Jr. scored 19 on Saturday and had three 30-point games in his freshman season, including 30 points in Marquette’s 96-88 loss at Xavier on Feb. 14.

–Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media

BIG EAST PREVIEW: No Moral Victories

by

NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – DePaul captivated many in Madison Square Garden when it threatened Villanova before taking a 1-point loss in the 2023 Big East tournament and did the same last year when it took Creighton to double overtime in a quarterfinals loss.

DePaul accomplished more than moral victories this season, as proven by earning the sixth seed in this year’s tournament heading into Wednesday night’s first-round game against 11th-seeded Georgetown in New York City.

Embed from Getty Images

The teams split their regular-season series as DePaul earned a 56-50 road win on Jan. 6, then Georgetown got even with a 70-61 win on Jan. 28 in Chicago. The winner of this rubber match earns a quarterfinal date with third-seeded Villanova on Thursday.

The Blue Demons (16-15) finished over .500 for the first time since 2018-19. They also earned their highest Big East tournament seed since joining the league in 2005.

Despite the improvement, the Blue Demons capped their regular season with double-digit home losses against Villanova and Butler that prompted a players-only meeting. Presumably, much of the discussion revolved around offense as they did not score more than 72 points any of in their final 13 games.

C.J. Gunn averages 13.3 points this season, but he shot 34 of 106 (32.1%) over his final nine games. Layden Blocker, who scored 25 in last year’s tournament game against Creighton, averages 10.9 points this year while shooting 36% from the field. That includes two 1-of-11 showings in the last five games.

Senior big man NJ Benson finished by averaging 11.7 points and 7.6 rebounds. He had six double-doubles and ended the regular season with 24 points against Butler.

“There’s always excitement going into the conference tournament,” said DePaul coach Chris Holtmann. “Our guys are a pretty resilient group, and they’ve got a good way about them right now. They were disappointed they didn’t get the five seed and the bye. Being the six seed, I think they feel good about that.”

Georgetown’s second season under coach Ed Cooley ended with a 71-67 loss to DePaul in the opening round last year. The Hoyas (14-17) were picked sixth in the preseason poll, but finished under .500 for the fourth time in five seasons.

Georgetown lost seven straight before eking out an 80-79 victory over Providence on Saturday.

Georgetown lost 11 of 17 conference games by single digits, including a two-point loss to UConn on Jan. 17 and a three-point loss at St. John’s on March 3.

In Saturday’s win, 7-foot-1 senior Vince Iwuchukwu led the Hoyas with a career-high 25 points while Kayvaun Mulready added 12 after leading the team in scoring the previous two games.

“This game was clearly indicative, and we were fortunate today just to get a win, the win that we needed,” Cooley said. “Looking forward to going to New York and facing DePaul.”

The Hoyas are playing their fourth game since losing leading scorer KJ Lewis (14.9 ppg) to an ankle injury. They hope to see Malik Mack produce a similar showing to his 7-of-13 performance against St. John’s.

–Field Level Media

Adebayo Scores 83: BAM!

by

MIAMI – Miami’s Bam Adebayo produced the second-highest single-game scoring total in NBA history, putting up 83 points as his Heat beat the Washington Wizards 150-129 on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old center scored 31 points in the first quarter en route to passing Kobe Bryant (81 points in 2006) for second place on the single-game list. Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point outing has stood as the record since 1962.

YouTube player

“Man, I wish I could relive it twice,” Adebayo said on the postgame broadcast. “I credit my family, my teammates, this crowd. … And they kept feeding me the ball. … I couldn’t do it (without my teammates). I appreciate coach (Erik Spoelstra) for drawing up plays for me, and I got it going tonight.

“To be able to do it at home makes it even more sweeter.”

Adebayo set Heat records for the highest-scoring game and the highest-scoring quarter. The old club mark for a game was 61 points, set in 2014 by LeBron James. Adebayo’s previous career best was 41 on Jan. 23, 2021, against the Brooklyn Nets.

In 42 minutes on Tuesday, Adebayo shot 20-for-43 from the floor, 7-for-22 from 3-point range and 36-for-43 at the free-throw line. He also grabbed nine rebounds.

Spoelstra said, “Once he got to 50, then we’re thinking, ‘All right, maybe he can get to 60.’ And when he got to 60, it just kept on going. We might as well go for 70 and then I didn’t dare even think about taking him out at that point. It just kept on going.

“I wanted him to have a moment. I didn’t know when that would be. It just kept on going. Otherwise I was going to foul him and allow the crowd to really enjoy the moment with him and allow him to enjoy this historic night in front of all the home fans. … I didn’t stop until once he got Kobe’s.”

Abebayo set NBA single-game records for most free throws made and most free-throw attempts. Chamberlain and Adrian Dantley were the prior record-holders for made foul shots with 28 each. Dwight Howard had the old mark for free-throw attempts of 39, which he reached twice.

The Heat earned their sixth straight win, matching their longest streak of the season. They improved to 22-11 at home.

Adebayo’s heroics were needed because Miami was without three of its top four scorers due to injuries: Tyler Herro (quadriceps), Norman Powell (groin) and Andrew Wiggins (toe). The Heat also were without Kel’el Ware (shoulder) and Nikola Jovic (back).

Washington has lost nine straight games, five short of its longest skid of the season. Alex Sarr led the Wizards with 28 points.

Wizards star Trae Young sat out due to injury management pertaining to his right knee.

Adebayo, in his blistering-hot first quarter, shot 10-for-16 on field-goal attempts, 5-for-8 on 3-point tries and 6-of-7 on free-throw attempts.

Miami, which led 40-29 after the first quarter, stretched its advantage to 19 points in the second. However, the Wizards closed relatively well, going into halftime trailing 76-62.

Adebayo had 43 points in the first half, another Heat record. His first half came on 13-of-24 shooting overall, 5-of-11 success from beyond the arc and 12-of-14 accuracy at the free-throw line.

His shooting overshadowed Sarr, who had 23 points at halftime.

Adebayo scored 19 points in the third, giving Miami a 113-97 lead by the end of the quarter. He dunked with 22.2 seconds left in the third, giving him 62 points and breaking James’ record.

In the fourth quarter, with the victory assured, Miami kept Adebayo in the game, passing the ball to him on every possession as he hunted for records. His last two points came from the foul line with 1:16 to go as he surpassed Bryant.

“It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy,” Adebayo said.

Spoelstra added, “This was an absolutely surreal night.”

–Field Level Media

BIG EAST: Announces Four Awards

by

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The BIG EAST Conference announced the winners of four individual awards for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season. The league’s head coaches make their selections and they are not permitted to vote for their own players.

Zuby Ejiofor from St. John’s has been named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. A pair of Villanova players captured two awards – Tyler Perkins has been tabbed BIG EAST Most Improved Player, while Devin Askew has been chosen for the BIG EAST Sixth Man Award. Creighton’s Josh Dix has been named the winner of the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award.

Ejiofor has been recognized nationally as a member of the Naismith Men’s College Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season team. An All-BIG EAST First Team selection, he has blocked 61 shots and his 1.97 blocks per game average ranks him 27th in the country. In BIG EAST play, Ejiofor ranks third in the conference, registering 1.75 blocks per outing. He has also tallied 36 steals and is one of only two players nationally to tally at least 30 steals and 60 blocked shots in the 2025-26 regular season. Earlier this season, Ejiofor blocked 20 shots over a three-game span from Dec. 6-16. He is the only player in the country to block at least 20 shots over a three-game stretch this season and is the first BIG EAST player to have 20 swats over three games since the 2013-14 campaign.

Perkins has been a key contributor in Villanova’s turnaround season, leading the Wildcats in scoring – and ranking eighth in the BIG EAST – at 15.2 points per game in conference play. The 6-4 guard is also averaging 6.2 rebounds per game. Year-over-year, the junior has seen his overall scoring average jump by 7.4 points, while seeing marked improvements in his field goal and 3-point percentages. In BIG EAST play, Perkins is scoring better than 10 points per game, ranking 10th in the league in 3-pointers per game (1.89). He was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team.

Askew has been one of the top reserve players in the country this season for Villanova. The 6-5 guard is averaging 10.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in 23 minutes per game in league play, coming off the bench in 19 BIG EAST contests before earning the start on Senior Day against Xavier on March 7. Askew is one of four power conference reserves to average double figures off the bench (min. one start or fewer). He has scored in double figures in 13 games and has made multiple 3-pointers on 16 occasions. Askew has made 63 3-pointers on the season, connecting at a 42.3% clip from beyond the arc.

Throughout his first season in Omaha, Creighton senior guard Josh Dix has demonstrated incredible strength and resilience. In early February, on the morning of a gameday at Georgetown, Dix found out that he lost his mother Kelly to breast cancer. Through 31 games, the 6-6 guard has averaged a team-best 12.7 points to go with 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Dix has leaned on many people, including teammates, during this trying time. “I couldn’t do it alone,” Dix said. “My family, my teammates, my coaches, they all stick by my side. I try not to be alone; I try to be around people who want to see you do well.”

The BIG EAST will announce the remaining individual awards: BIG EAST Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete on Wednesday, March 11, in a press conference at 1:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. The BIG EAST Media Award will also be presented.

Embed from Getty Images

 

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s

BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Tyler Perkins, Villanova

BIG EAST Sixth Man Award
Devin Askew, Villanova

BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Josh Dix, Creighton

Ejiofor Heads All-Big East Teams

by

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor was a unanimous first team selection as the conference has announced the All-BIG EAST First, Second and Third Teams, All-Freshman Team, and the inaugural All-Defensive Team. The league’s head coaches select the all-conference squads and were not permitted to select their own players.

Ejiofor is a repeat selection on the All-BIG EAST First Team, which features an unprecedented three players from the same school – UConn’s Silas Demary Jr., Alex Karaban, and Tarris Reed Jr. The other first team selections are Michael Ajayi of Butler and Tre Carroll of Xavier.

The BIG EAST Player of the Year will come from the All-BIG EAST First Team. The conference will announce Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year on March 11, at Madison Square Garden at 1:30 p.m. ET. Other league individual awards, including BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man Award and Sportsmanship Award will be announced Monday, March 9, at Noon ET.

Ejiofor – the league’s preseason Player of the Year – represents regular season champion St. John’s. He leads the Red Storm – and ranks in the top 10 in BIG EAST play – in four statistical categories: scoring (17.0), rebounding (7.0), assists (4.0), and blocked shots (1.8). He made 56.0% (112-200) of his shot attempts and posted 2.00:1 assist/turnover ratio in league games.

The trio of Huskies marks the first time in league history that three players from the same team were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Demary leads the BIG EAST in assists (7.3) and is sixth in steals (1.6), while scoring at a 12.2 points per game clip in league play. Karaban was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection a season ago. The senior forward is averaging 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and just under a block and a steal per game in conference play. On Feb. 14, he became the all-time winningest player in UConn history. Reed leads the league and ranks among the top 15 nationally – in field goal percentage, making 63.5% (115-181) of his shot attempts, averaging 13.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game in league action.

Ajayi finished the regular season ranked sixth in the BIG EAST in scoring (16.3) and first in rebounding (10.5) in conference play. Overall on the season, Ajayi has recorded 17 double doubles – eighth-most nationally.

Embed from Getty Images

Carroll averaged 18.6 points per outing in league play, connecting on better than 52% of his shot attempts. He posted 20 or more points in 10 BIG EAST games this season. The 6-8 forward also averaged 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks in conference play.

The All-BIG EAST Second Team features some of the top guards in the league. UConn’s Solo Ball makes his second straight appearance on the second team, followed by BIG EAST scoring leader Jaylin Sellers of Providence. Additionally, St. John’s guard/forward Bryce Hopkins, Seton Hall’s Budd Clark made the list, followed by Villanova freshman Acaden Lewis.

The All-BIG EAST Third Team has six players due to a tie in the balloting, including a pair of Villanova standouts in Duke Brennan and Tyler Perkins. They are joined by Butler’s Finley Bizjack, Georgetown’s KJ Lewis, Marquette freshman Nigel James Jr., and Dillon Mitchell from St. John’s.

The BIG EAST Freshman of the Year will come from the All-Freshman Team. Four of the five honorees were unanimous selections – UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Marquette’s Nigel James Jr., Providence’s Stefan Vaaks, and Villanova’s Acaden Lewis. Along with Providence’s Jamier Jones, the five All-Freshman honorees accounted for all but two of the Freshman of the Week honors this season.

This season marks the inaugural BIG EAST All-Defensive Team, headlined by unanimous selection Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s. Joining him is teammate Dillon Mitchell, Seton Hall’s Budd Clark, Silas Demary Jr. of UConn, and Chase Ross of Marquette.

2025-26 BIG EAST All-Conference Teams

All-BIG EAST First Team
Michael Ajayi, Butler
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
Alex Karaban, UConn
Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s *
Tre Carroll, Xavier

All-BIG EAST Second Team
Solo Ball, UConn
Jaylin Sellers, Providence
Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s
Budd Clark, Seton Hall
Acaden Lewis, Villanova

All-BIG EAST Third Team
Finley Bizjack, Butler
KJ Lewis, Georgetown
Nigel James Jr., Marquette
Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s
Duke Brennan, Villanova
Tyler Perkins, Villanova

All-Freshman Team
Braylon Mullins, UConn *
Nigel James Jr., Marquette *
Jamier Jones, Providence
Stefan Vaaks, Providence *
Acaden Lewis, Villanova *

All-Defensive Team
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s *
Budd Clark, Seton Hall
Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
Chase Ross, Marquette

*Unanimous Selection

TL’s Sports Notebook | SSAC ’26 Edition

by

Daryl Morey, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Sue Bird and Jessica Gelman (SSAC26)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk and PGA Tour Brunch

BOSTON – On Friday, March 5th, WWYI dropped a “special edition” of this missive to preview the 2026 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (#SSAC26) staged this weekend at the Seapport Convention Center. It was a very successful affair, one where NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke in a “1-on-1” with UConn, WNBA and USA Basketball great Sue Bird and then Silver was presented with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by conference co-founders Jessica Gelman (Kraft Group) and Daryl Morey (Philadelphia 76ers), both MIT alum.

There was no ‘show-stopper’ panel or special guest moment at this year’s symposium. There were a dozen or more very interesting panel discussions. There were also tons of interesting start-ups pitching their concepts at convention tables spread out a country mile on the main concourse – at a convention center sharing space with a New England Regional Volleyball Association event that drew some 750 volleyball teams to compete in the Boston/Nike JVC National Qualifying tournament. It was an incredible site, and it looked to be very high-calibre traditional volleyball.

It was also a college volleyball coach’s dream for recruiting, as noted by Cora Thompson, the head coach of the women’s volleyball program at Tufts University. Ms. Thompson entered the year with a .737 career winning percentage which ranks her as No. 18 on the NCAA’s winningest active coaches list for Division III. It’s the 27th-best winning mark among Division III coaches all-time. Last season Tufts went 24-6 but lost in the NCAA Regional Final (to East Texas Baptist University).

Tufts recruits volleyball players without the benefit of shelling-out scholarships but, instead, the opportunity to attend one of the best universities in the land. The eight-time New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Coach of the Year and three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Northeast Region Coach of the Year was kind enough to educate this columnist on a shuttle bus ride from the Convention Center’s “South Parking Lot” to the building’s entrance.

By “South Lot” and the length of the ride and/or walk back, the lot was located someplace in Rhode Island. (I kid, I kid, and I digress).

Back to #SSAC26.

While the Silver & Bird discussion stands out, a panel held Saturday and moderated by Duke, USA Basketball and NBA great Shane Battier also stood out. Battier grilled Seattle Storm head coach Sonia Raman, active but injured NBA, 6’ 11”, 265 lbs. power forward Steven Adams (of the Houston Rockets by way of New Zealand), LA Clippers basketball advisor Monte McNair, and a very impressive Ariana Andonian, the GM of Philadelphia 76ers G-League team (Delaware Blue Coats) and the VP of Player Personnel for the Sixers (NBA level).

It was pointed out during the panel discussion that the two women were both children of immigrants and – add Steven Adams and you have a pretty amazing trifecta of basketball talent and knowledge.

Some of the discussion, which Adams contributed to while wearing a walking boot, revolved around the question of “just how much” can you throw at a player in terms of analytics. While Battier admitted to accepting binders full of information and studying it throughout his career, Adams was a little more reluctant but said he ‘“would always listen.”

What the NBA analytics did show was underlined by McNair, the general manager and president of basketball operations of the Sacramento Kings in 2020 and NBA Executive of the Year in 2023, who said “crashing the glass” was discovered as the key element to success. He also noted, there was always a give and take between hitting the offensive boards vs. transition defense.

Of course, McNair was sitting next to one of the great offensive rebounders in the NBA over the past dozen years.

(L to R): Monte McNair, Ariana Andonian, Steven Adams, Coach Sonia Raman, and moderator Shane Battier

The group framed where analytics falls in the basketball operations hierarchy today, which is the fact crunching data is amongst the most important functions for a team. The players want the information, but once a game starts, they need to see what is developing and either take a proactive approach to force the tempo or have a reactive counter to what the offense is doing. “Execution” was the key factor for Adams and he noted that no analytic print-out could determine how he would react to what a talented player was tossing his way.

That said, the game planning, the counters to the opponents’ tendencies and attempting to stop the opponents’ most effective offensive efforts was something the team needed to stay with, even if it wsn’t working over a short period of time at the start of a game.

Again, no ‘show-stopping’ legends on stage, but good, solid discussions with the wide-ranging panels, all coming at the discussion from different fields of employment at the highest level of the sport.

Special Note: A sincere thank you to Daryl Morey, Jessica Gelman and all of the Conference leaders, organizers, volunteers and a terrific staff at the Seaport Convention Center. It’s an incredibly well-run conference, probably the best sports conference in the world.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The PGA of America was stationed at the vaunted Hall of Game at the MIT Sloan Conference. The sport of golf has been crunching all kinds of numbers to help pro players and weekend hackers improve their scores. Also, the concepts of improvement using AI and wearables is vastly improving the game, joining ever-improving technology for clubs, shoes and golf balls.

One of the PGA of America’s short-term goals is to attach teaching pros to the emerging onslaught of indoor simulation shops, from the high end of Top Golf to the more social, event and fun-based Five Iron Golf.

HURLING with HURLEY: UConn men’s basketball coach Danny Hurley is $25,000 poorer today than he was yesterday. In Saturday’s season finale, a 68-62 loss to Marquette which cost his team a share of the Big East regular season title, Hurley approached game official John Gaffney and got his chest next to the official’s right shoulder while voicing his displeasure. Hurley said he never bumped into Gaffney, though every replay angle suggested otherwise. … Hurley denied it, saying, “You could screenshot whatever you want to screenshot. I don’t feel like I made any contact with John. I don’t believe I did.” … Well, every TV camera in the building showed a definite bump into the official (who threw a double technical at Hurley in reaction to the bump). The BIG EAST spoke quickly, snuffing-out any speculation of suspending Hurley for UConn’s first BIG EAST tournament game scheduled for this Thursday evening.

The BIG EAST statement reads, “UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley has been fined $25,000 by the BIG EAST for unsportsmanlike conduct in the closing seconds of the March 7 game at Marquette. With one second left in the game, Hurley received two technical fouls for aggressively confronting a game official, was subsequently ejected from the game, and then failed to leave the court in a timely manner. Initial speculation on the game broadcast indicated possible contact between Hurley and the official; however, a review by the conference office of the officials’ game report and available game footage could not confirm physical contact. “We hold our coaches to high standards of sportsmanlike conduct during game competition, and inappropriate interactions with our officials will not be tolerated,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: This is now the third (and probably last) week to mention the Mika Zibanejad effect and the fact that in two minutes (3:26pm to 3:28pm on Saturday, during a New York Rangers’ power play against the New Jersey Devils, the name Zabanejad was mentioned 10 times over the short span of time. Ten times! … The guy is amazing.

USA, USA, USA: Adam Amin, the Fox Sports play-by-play man for the World Baseball Classic, made the unforgivable mistake of comparing the current roster for the 2026 USA Baseball team to that of the 1992 USA Basketball “Dream Team.” … Puh-leeze!

The ONLY team that can ever be compared to the Magic, Bird and Jordan Dream Team – the one and only Dream Team – is the 1976 Canada Cup ice hockey team which had 17 Hall of Famers on the roster.

Take a look:

Team Canada Goaltenders:

Rogie Vachon (Los Angeles Kings)

Gerry Cheevers (Boston Bruins)

Glenn Resch (New York Islanders)

Defensemen:

Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins/Chicago Black Hawks)

Denis Potvin (New York Islanders)

Larry Robinson (Montreal Canadiens)

Serge Savard (Montreal Canadiens)

Guy Lapointe (Montreal Canadiens)

Carol Vadnais (New York Rangers)

Jim Watson (Philadelphia Flyers)

Paul Shmyr (Cleveland Crusaders – WHA)

Forwards:

Phil Esposito (New York Rangers)

Bobby Clarke (Philadelphia Flyers)

Darryl Sittler (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Guy Lafleur (Montreal Canadiens)

Marcel Dionne (Los Angeles Kings)

Bobby Hull (Winnipeg Jets – WHA)

Gilbert Perreault (Buffalo Sabres)

Reggie Leach (Philadelphia Flyers)

Bill Barber (Philadelphia Flyers)

Steve Shutt (Montreal Canadiens)

Richard Martin (Buffalo Sabres)

Lanny McDonald (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Danny Gare (Buffalo Sabres)

Dan Maloney (Detroit Red Wings)

Peter Mahovlich (Montreal Canadiens)

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach: Scotty Bowman

Assistant Coaches: Don Cherry, Bobby Kromm, Al MacNeil

For the record, the 2026 World Baseball Classic USA Baseball team roster is:

Pitchers (RHP/LHP): Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Logan Webb, Mason Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Clay Holmes, David Bednar, Michael Wacha, Griffin Jax, Garrett Whitlock, Matthew Boyd, Nolan McLean.

Catchers: Cal Raleigh, Will Smith.

Infielders: Bryce Harper (1B), Bobby Witt Jr. (SS), Alex Bregman (3B), Brice Turang (2B), Gunnar Henderson, Paul Goldschmidt, Ernie Clement.

Outfielders: Aaron Judge, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Byron Buxton, Roman Anthony.

Designated Hitter: Kyle Schwarber.

That’s a great baseball team, but to equal the ‘92 Dream Team, USA Baseball would need to suit up Jackie Robinson, DiMaggio, Mays, Mantle, Aaron and Snyder for starters.

Ejiofor, James Take Last Big East Weekly Honors

by

NEW YORK  – (Staff Report from Official News Release0 – Zuby Ejiofor from St. John’s and Nigel James Jr. from Marquette earned the final BIG EAST Weekly honors of the 2025-26 regular season.  Ejiofor averaged 22.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game in a 2-0 week for the Red Storm, which captured its second consecutive BIG EAST regular season title on Friday night.  James averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals in a pair of wins for the Golden Eagles this past week.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s, F, Sr.
Ejiofor averaged 22.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals, while connecting on 72.0% (18-25) of his shot attempts in a 2-0 week for St. John’s.  On March 3, in his final regular season appearance at Madison Square Garden, Ejiofor finished with 23 points, seven boards, five assists, two steals, and two blocked shots in 32 minutes of action in a win over Georgetown.  Last time out, Ejiofor led the Red Storm with 21 points in 23 minutes of play as they locked up the regular season title with a win at Seton Hall.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Nigel James Jr., Marquette, G, Fr.
James averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in a 2-0 week for Marquette.  At Providence on March 4, James tallied 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 29 minutes.  Last time out in a home win over UConn, James finished with 19 points, two boards, seven assists, and two steals.  This marks the fifth time James has earned freshman weekly honors from the BIG EAST this season.
BIG EAST Honor Roll
Michael Ajayi, Butler, F, Gr.
Ajayi averaged 20.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in a 1-1 week for Butler.  He posted two double doubles on the week, beginning with 26 points and 13 boards against Creighton on March 4.  The graduate student made 11-of-19 shots from the floor to go with three assists.  Last time out at DePaul, Ajayi finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Nik Graves, Creighton, G, Sr. 
Graves posted an impressive stat line in the Bluejays’ lone game of the week – a win at Butler on March 4.  The 6-2 guard finished with 14 points, 13 assists, and six steals in 36 minutes of play.  Since the 1996-97 season, only 11 players have achieved that stat line in a regulation game against a Division I opponent.
Kayvaun Mulready, Georgetown, G, So. 
Mulready averaged 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals in a 1-1 week for Georgetown.  He poured in a career-best 20 points, making 4-of-8 3-pointers, to go with seven boards and two assists at St. John’s on March 3.  Last time out, the sophomore guard tallied 12 points to go with seven assists and five steals in a home win over Providence.
Adrien Stevens, Marquette, G, Fr.
Stevens posted 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 3.5 steals in a pair of wins for Marquette this past week.  He had a career-best 21 points at Providence, connecting on 5-of-8 from the perimeter while recording four rebounds, and four steals.  Last time out against UConn, Stevens tallied 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Duke Brennan, Villanova, F, Gr.
Brennan averaged a double double, posting 17.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in a pair of wins for Villanova this last week.  The 6-10 forward connected on 76.2% of his attempts from the floor.  At DePaul on March 4, Brennan had 15 points, 12 boards, and two assists.  Last time out against Xavier, he tallied 20 points, 13 rebounds and two assists.

MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conf ’26

by

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – For a forward-looking group of MIT mathematicians, scientists, data-divers, sports analysts and masters of business candidates, there’s quite a bit of reminiscing done each year when the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference (SSAC) tips-off each March, here at The Seaport in Boston. Looking backwards to find opportunities going forward is not a bad thing, so let’s look at the typical pontifications of veteran SSAC attendees:

  1. There’s the “I was there when it started group.” That’s a reference to a very small handful (136 people) of MBA candidates who were on hand for the inaugural 2006 SSAC, launched by Jessica Gelman and Daryl Morey, and staged in classrooms and common space on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.
  2. There’s a group, called “the visionaries” by Gelman. Together with ESPN’s buy-in and the inevitable desire for growth, a group of sports industry icons, media, luminaries and even the President of the United States of America got the place jumping over the massive growth periods for the conference – call it 2009-present.
  3. ESPN’s commitment coincided with massive participation by the sports network’s talent, including executives like John Walsh, John Kosner, and Marie Donoghue, along with columnists and writers such as Bill Simmons, Jackie MacMullan, Marc Stein, John Hollinger, and Henry Abbott. The influx of ESPNers improved the conference make up, including everything from moderating panels to in-depth interviews conducted on stage.
  4. It was Simmons who tagged the conference Dork-a-Palooza and the moniker was seconded by Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and former owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks who relished in the vibes of analytics. The Dork has out-paced the lifers, so maybe Dork-a-Palooza is an expression to forever be retired from this column.
  5. Add Bill James (Society for American Baseball Research, aka SABR), Michael Lewis (Moneyball), Nate Silver(writer/analyst at Baseball Prospectus and later the founder of political online site FiveThirtyEight), and Jonathan Kraft (President of the New England Patriots, an early investor in Boston-based Draft Kings fantasy sports/gambling site), and you were looking at the “the growth stage.”
  6. By the time 2014 rolled around, we were treated to an amazing “meeting of the minds” when author Malcolm Gladwell sat down to interview NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The SSAC had hit the big time, unless you think a panel with President Barack Obama might top the Gladwell-Silver “above the title” flick.
  7. Yes, while Obama was visiting his oldest daughter, Malia, at Harvard University, he stopped by for an “off the record” chat with conference co-founders Gelman and Morey. (How could you expect them to delegate that interview to Bill Simmons)? – That might been the zenith for the once quiet, quaint sports analytics conference.

Along the way, the frequent complaint was whether the team owners, general managers and coaches would ever respect the analytics side of the equation enough to incorporate the number crunching into the strategy. That question was answered emphatically, especially in baseball and basketball as along came the relief pitchers and along came Golden State’s Steph Curry and the three-point field goal barrage that literally changed Dr. Naismith’s game.

If you were paying attention, the likes of Shane Battier, Sue Bird, Elton Brand, JJ Reddick, Steve Kerr, or Steve Nash, were there to tell you about the changing games, as were coaches like Mike D’Antoni, Mike Brown, Dave Joerger, David Fizdale and a host of team GMs and basketball operations gurus to map out the strategies. Reddick even focused on the jobs of former players who were plumbers or firemen.

Panel discussions delved into everything from improvements in the NBA refereeing systems to a total overhaul of the NBA’s schedule-making – an undertaking when all the great ideas were plugged into the state-of-the-art computers to find out it would only take 20+ years for the program to run and spit-out the perfect schedule for the games to be played, starting some seven months later.

Whether you look at it as good news or bad news, 2,500 participants from 31 countries, 630 different organizations, and representatives from over 80 teams and leagues will come together for the 20th edition of the MIT SSAC ‘26 which starts tomorrow morning at 8:30am with Opening Remarks by Gelman and Morey in a packed “Bill James Room” at the Seaport.

Among the highlights this year at the 2026 SSAC:

  • ESPN and Draft Kings Reshape Sports Betting for the Fan – Discussion with Stephen A. Smith, Kevin Neghandi and Burke Magnus of ESPN along with Draft Kings CEO Jason Robins.
  • What Six Years of AI Taught Us – SeatGeek’s Derek Zhou
  • The Next Play – AI’s Impact on Emerging Sports
  • A Conversation with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, led by Sue Bird
  • Where the Game Grows: Venues, Markets and Global Strategy
  • The Re-Invention of Golf
  • The Next Generation of Content |Unlocking Immersive and Interactive Sports Content
  • Unconventional Thinkers – a think tank panel of Morey, Sue Bird, Jay Sugarman (Philadelphia Union) and Nate Silver, moderated by Boston’s own Jackie MacMullan.
  • Innovation in Sports Leagues with Jessica Berman (Commissioner of NWSL) and Valerie Camillo (Chair of WTA), with Contessa Brewer, CNBC
  • A 1-on-1 with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, speaking with Jessica Gelman
  • Men in Blazers and the EPL
  • The Future of Hockey – Engineering the Next Era of Growth, with Bill Daly (NHL Deputy Commissioner), Warren Zola, Exec Director, BC’s Chief Executive Club, Marty Walsh, Executive Director of the NHL Players Association and Meghan Chayka, Co-Founder and CEO of Stathletes
  • Hot Takes: Celebrating 20 Years of SSAC
  • And, a Pablo Torre Finds Out Podcast, Live from the SSAC

Among many, many other interesting panels, break-outs, competitive research paper reviews and presentations.

It’s all packed into two fun-filled days at the Seaport Convention Center, a small gathering of your 2,500 best friends.

Personal Note: I’ve enjoyed the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics conference from its second year on. Coincidentally, the first year, I was asked to speak at Boston University’s sports management symposium which was held at the same time with the nightcap being my first “Hot Stove, Cool Music” concert at The Paradise.

(Where’s Eli “Paperboy” Reed when you need him)?

Two quick take-aways:

  1. Over the years, I’ve met so many smart and interesting people both within and out of the sports industry. The wide-ranging knowledge brought to sports is simply amazing, often ground-breaking and sometimes, just not enough to crack the big time.
  2. The Conference has grown so much that it’s become difficult to meet-up with colleagues, all being pulled in different directions for different panel discussions and topics. At first, I stayed in the “basketball lane,” but in recent years, it’s been more of a deep dive into everything else. … Think of it: Sports Gambling in the USA was just the “concept of a plan” when we first sat down at MIT Sloan. Now?

There will be more to come – depending on what merits coverage – with columns on Digital Sports Desk or maybe this week’s edition of TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook (available on Substack).

Lou Holtz, Dead at 89

by

ORLANDO – Famed college football coach Lou Holtz, who won the 1988 national title at Notre Dame, died Wednesday at 89, his family said.

Holtz died while under hospice care in Florida, supported and surrounded by family members.

Embed from Getty Images

The College Football Hall of Famer is best known for his 11-season run at Notre Dame from 1986-96. He coached five other programs and also had a disastrous 13-game stint with the NFL’s New York Jets in 1976.

Holtz began his coaching career in 1969 at William & Mary and also coached North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota and South Carolina, compiling a career record of 249-132-7 in 33 seasons.

Holtz went 10-12 in a two-year run at Minnesota (1984-85) before landing the Notre Dame job.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Lou Holtz. Lou and I shared a very special relationship. He welcomed me to the Notre Dame family immediately, offering me great support throughout our time together,” current Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said in a statement. “… Lou’s impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond the field.”

As his reputation improved, his popularity soared and Holtz restored the Fighting Irish from a mediocre program back to the national elite.

In his third season, Holtz went 12-0 and won the national title. A memorable 31-30 upset of No. 1 Miami opened the door and Notre Dame wrapped up the season by beating West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.

In 1989, Notre Dame (12-1) finished second in the final rankings. The Irish (11-1) also were second in 1993.

Holtz went 100-30-2 in South Bend before resigning following the 1996 season.

A West Virginia native, Holtz’s fist head-coaching job was at William & Mary from 1969-71. He moved on North Carolina State for four seasons (1972-75), twice winning nine games.

He took the Jets job in 1976 and he went 3-10 before being shown the door before the NFL season was over. Holtz struggled with the pro game and with dealing with the egos of NFL players.

Holtz returned to college football at Arkansas and went 11-1 with a No. 3 final ranking in 1977. The Razorbacks put up an impressive 31-6 takedown of Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl to wrap up the season.

Holtz spent seven seasons with the Razorbacks before the short stint at Minnesota.

“We are saddened by the news of Coach Holtz’s passing,” the Arkansas football program said on social media. “He had a legendary tenure as the Head Hog from 1977-83. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him.”

He had a two-season hiatus after his Notre Dame stint before returning to the field at South Carolina. He went 33-37 in six seasons with the Gamecocks before retiring.

Holtz also served as a television analyst for ESPN.

Skip Holtz followed in his father’s footsteps, spending 17 seasons as the head coach (2005-21) at East Carolina, South Florida and Louisiana Tech.

–Field Level Media

Jaylen Brown is Hearing MVP Talk

by

PHOENIX – (Wire Service Report) – While the Phoenix Suns search for offense, the Boston Celtics are thriving behind Jaylen Brown, who belongs in the MVP conversation, according to one four-time MVP.

Embed from Getty Images

“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well,” LeBron James said after Brown stuffed the stat sheet in the Celtics’ 111-89 victory at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

“They’re playing great basketball, and it’s because of him and the rest of those guys. He’s taken that next step.”

Brown had 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals against the Lakers, and he brings averages of 29.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists — all career highs — into a back-to-back against the host Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, the third game of the Celtics’ four-game road trip.

The Suns, who have struggled to find offense in large part because of injuries to top scorers Devin Booker (24.7) and Dillon Brooks (20.9), have lost six of nine and enter after a 92-77 home loss to Portland on Sunday, their lowest point total since 2017 which was also a loss to the Blazers.

“We can’t get to the free throw line, can’t get to the rim,” Ott said. “Got to shoot jump shots. The way you shoot jump shots is to set screens. But we’re going to continue to find ways we want to play in transition. We want to get more shots up.”

Boston has won eight of nine and is a season-high 18 games above .500 in a season that was thought to be compromised by the loss of Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles.

Brown, who is fourth in the league in scoring, made his case in support of James’ praise.

“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I play both ends on the court. Night to night, I’m available, which is hard to do.

“I’m a leader. I help lead my team, empower my team to come out and play confidently, stuff that doesn’t always show up on the analytics. And I’m a winner. I come out and try to win every single night. So I’m grateful.”

The Celtics have compensated for the loss of Tatum and 2024 title team members Al Horford, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis with a career year from reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard and veteran Derrick White.

Pritchard scored 30 points against the Lakers and is 15 of 28 from distance in the last three games, all wins. He is averaging a career-high 17.6 points with increased playing time. White’s 17.0 scoring average is also a career high.

“The story’s not done,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzula said. “We haven’t done anything. All we’ve done is stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor.”

–Field Level Media

Celtics Face Spurs in Big Match-Up

by

SAN ANTONIO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama and his surging Spurs play host to Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics tonight in a possible NBA Finals preview.

The Celtics head to the Alamo City on a two-game winning streak, the latest a 109-98 decision at Cleveland on Sunday in which Brown racked up 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Tatum also contributed 20 points in just his second game back after tearing his right Achilles in May.

Embed from Getty Images

After Sunday’s game, Tatum said the toughest part of his comeback is that he’s on a minutes restriction.

“That s— sucks, quite frankly,” he said. “(Sunday’s game) felt a little more normal from a preparation standpoint and mentally. I’m getting back in the flow of things.”

Boston also got 18 points off the bench from Payton Pritchard and 16 points and 10 rebounds from fellow reserve Baylor Scheierman. Sam Hauser hit for 15 points on five 3-pointers for the Celtics in Sunday’s victory.

“I think everybody just kind of does what they need to do,” Boston guard Derrick White told Forbes magazine Sunday. “Obviously, JB (Jaylen Brown) has been special in the entire year, and kind of carrying us through moments throughout the season. Every game it’s just us competing at a high level, playing hard, guarding and going out there and playing Celtics basketball.”

Boston has held opponents to 100 points or fewer 19 times this season, which leads the league, and has allowed 100 points or fewer in six of its past seven wins and 11 times since Jan. 30. Over that 11-game stretch, the Celtics have won nine times.

Boston also leads the NBA in points allowed at 106.9 per game. After San Antonio, the Celtics will head to Oklahoma City on Thursday as they try to jump from second place in the Eastern Conference and surpass No. 1 Detroit.

However, Boston will be without center Nikola Vucevic, who had surgery to repair a fractured right ring finger Saturday. He won’t be re-evaluated until early April.

While the Celtics have been the talk of the league because of Tatum’s return to an already loaded and streaking team, there has been equal attention — rightly so — on the Spurs and their charge up the West standings as they chase Oklahoma City for the best record in the NBA.

San Antonio has captured four straight games and 14 of its past 15 outings, with the latest statement a 145-120 home win over Houston on Sunday. Four Spurs players scored 20 or more points, led by Victor Wembanyama’s 29, as San Antonio produced its most points in a game this season.

“We played a really, really sharp game defensively and on the boards,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The scoring starts with the defense and the rebounding. When you do that with the speed that we can play with and the talent and the dynamic variety that we have with the basketball, it’s really hard to guard.”

Stephon Castle added 23 points for San Antonio, while De’Aaron Fox finished with 20 points and 10 assists. Keldon Johnson also scored 20 points, while Dylan Harper had 19 and Julian Champagnie tallied 11. The Spurs shot 58% from the floor and made 21 of 40 3-point attempts, and they have taken the first three games of a six-game homestand.

San Antonio beat the Celtics 100-95 on Jan. 10 in Boston in the first meeting of the year between the teams.

–Field Level Media