Digital Sports Desk

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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – Nov 8

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This year is nothing like College basketball in 1985 (Photo by Thomas Lyons/DSD)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

CHESTNUT HILL – Comedian Bill Murray is now stalking the stands of Conte Forum on the campus of Boston College as opposed to the doldrums of Storrs, Connecticut. The world famous Murray is an ardent supporter of his son, Luke, appointed to the head coaching job for the Eagles last March 26th.

You must wonder if the actor will take his residuals from Stripes or Ghost Busters and help fund a couple blue chip prospects for the Eagles?

Yes, College basketball has changed. The entire landscape is nothing near the December 6-7, 1985 Joe Lapchick Tournament at then Alumni Hall. As you might note from theimage above, tickets were $6.00 and a game program was $2.00. Little Louie Carnesecca (RIP) used his charm and NYC basketball roots – not his checkbook – to land players like Chris Mullin, Ron Stewart, and Bill Wennington (all pictured).

But, as we all know, the times have changed and St. John’s has ushered in the Rick Pitino era – a time of pay-for-play and two consecutive BIG EAST titles.

Everyone – every college conference commish, all the pundits, the coaches, the alum say the same thing – “The sky is falling for college hoops.” – But if you look at ESPN’s Jay Bilas’ “Bilastrator “Top 65,” its ALL the same elite program teams, in some order or another. While blue blood North Carolina is a little low (30th), the likes of Duke (1), Florida (2), Illinois (3), UConn (4) are all expected to crash the big dance – the same as it ever was – long before the imaginary sky fell on college hoops.

So? What’s the big catastrophe except, admittedly, paying the players multi-millions is NOT sustainable for the long haul, and rich alum (a la Pitino’s buddy Billion dollar Vitamin Water man (Mike Repole) might – eventually – get tired of writing $2m-to-$5m checks.

The question? How long will it go? College basketball is a $20b industry and previously, the AD, coach and school were pocketing the profits. Now the players get a serious cut.

There’s nothing even close to a Collective Bargaining agreement to be had, as the players are not in a position to unionize, and there’s no one for them to negotiate with even if they did. They can’t look at the NCAA, as all the (former governing body) does is lob lawsuits at every player and school.

The conference Commissioners could step up, and run their respective conference like a league of its own, setting guidelines. In fact the SEC is mulling a form of a cap on its member universities, considering a luxury tax to be levied on member schools that spend more on players than the allotted revenue-sharing cap under the House v. NCAA settlement, sources told ESPN on Friday. According to ESPN, “a working group of athletic directors, university presidents and general counsels has been considering the issue the past few weeks, and the league might vote on the issue in the near future, sources said. The SEC would like to approve the luxury tax before the early signing period for football (Dec. 2-4).

Obviously, football is the major factor and basketball (men’s and women’s) fall a bit short in terms of overall budget and spending, considering the size of rosters alone.

The conundrum lies with the fact each and every conference would operate differently, and to its own benefit. What works for the BIG Ten and SEC in football won’t work for the Big Ten and SEC in basketball, nor women’s basketball. And, the guidelines would be far different for the basketball-centric Big East which operates without football in the crosshairs – with the exception of UConn.

What does it all come down to?

What’s good for the Tulsa Community College Geese might not work for the (1904) Drake University Ganders. Go ahead and Google a.i. that one.

Opening night for College Basketball – TD Boston Garden (Photo by T. Peter Lyons)

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Speaking of big time college basketball, the season opened with a huge match-up in the first week of play when the Michigan Wolverines met the Connecticut Huskies at a sold out TD Boston Garden (on Friday, Nov. 6).

The doubleheader, sponsored by the Basketball Hall of Fame just down I90 to Springfield, also included a nice cross-the-Commonwealth tilt between the University of Massachusetts (Amhurst) vs the Boston College Eagles. In the early game, Boston’s newly signed coach, Luke Murray, registered his second win of the season (71-55) against no losses. BC’s Money Williams put up 35 points for the local team. That stated, BC also shot 3-for-27 from the three-point arc (11%), duplicating Presidential approval ratings.

Then, the featured event – Michigan vs. UConn – in the nightcap. Considering it’s early November and the teams are still shaking out, the first half of the contest was March Madness tournament material and the partisan Connecticut crowd at the TD Garden was as loud or louder than at any Celtics or Bruins’ playoff game. The first half was fast-paced and incredibly physical, maybe to the point where the refs just gave up.

No. 4 UConn posted an 85-77 victory over No. 16 Michigan, but the key was the 43-30 first half shellacking the Huskies put upon their Big Ten guests. As the season progresses, hoop aficionados should focus on UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. who posted a 21 point, seven rebound and four assist effort while quarterbacking the team’s highly functioning offense. It was only when UConn coach Danny Hurley subbed-in reserve guard Junior County that the Huskies returned to normalcy – meaning a Top 20 team, rather than a Top 5.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: The WNBA Finals were the most watched league series since 1999, with an average of 1.88 million people viewing the sGolden State win over Atlanta in a decisive Game 7. That game averaged 3.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA postseason game ever. It was up 128% from last season’s clinching game between Las Vegas and Phoenix that the Vegas Aces won. All seven games in the series were sold out, including Game 6, which was played at 12:30pm ET. The Finals capped the WNBA’s most-watched postseason since its inaugural stint in 1997, averaging 1.49 million viewers, up 27% from last year.

CAN’T MAKE IT UP: College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University (MN) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota Nov. 4 against St. John’s University of New York for its use of the words “Johnnie,” “Johnny” and “Johnnies.” The civil trademark case alleges that, while the Collegeville-based institution was founded in 1857, it has used the terminologies for its students, athletic teams and merchandise since at least 1900. The school in NYC’s borough of Queens (your columnist’s alma mater), has only begun using the terms in recent years, including a virtual assistant on its website named “Johnny” and an annual event “Johnnies Day” which began in 2023.

Back in the day, the New York basketball powerhouse was known as the “Redmen,” a name pegged from the red uniforms its (then) Brooklyn-based football team wore on a weekly basis each Fall. The “Redmen” moniker was scrapped in 1994 when the politically incorrect mascot was retired and Johnny Thunderbird (a lame horse-type creature) repped the new “Red Storm,” a name adopted when it was voted upon by students and fans.

St. John’s of Minny has its claim, so the Redmen/Red Storm should change gears while honoring the late, great coach Lou Carnesecca and forever be known as the “Louie’s.”

THIS JEST IN: Dunkin’ is celebrating its fellow New England icon Rob Gronkowski by renaming three of its locations to “GRONKIN’” for his induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame this weekend. From Nov. 6 to Nov. 9, three Foxborough locations will swap out the Dunkin’ sign for Gronkin’ to celebrate the former Patriots tight end.

NBA FRANCHISE VALUATIONS: Each year, our friends at Sportico do the ever-increasing values of NBA franchises. Here’s a graphic to get a lay of the billion dollar land, a layout which is very likely to add new franchises nearing $10b value in Seattle and Las Vegas before the next NBA champion is crowned. Note the growth in value since 2020 when the global pandemic nearly upended all sports activity. Yet, the NBA countered with “The Bubble,” showing the longterm value of sports teams to private equity investors.

BIG BROWN BRUINS: On November 12, the Boston Bruins will take to their home ice to play longtime rival Montreal in their all-new “Remix” uniforms. The duds (which look a bit like Milk Duds) are celebrating Boston’s hockey heritage with a vintage color palette, featuring the all-brown look for the first time since 1924.

The look is a “Varsity Sweater” knockoff, and it includes Ivy League prep stylings that pay homage to the rich collegiate hockey landscape in the greater Boston area. Boston is home to multiple NCAA Division I hockey programs of national relevance, most notably Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern – who play in the annual Beanpot tournament on TD Garden ice every February. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts plays host to the most NCAA Division I Men’s Frozen Four team appearances, 19 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four appearances, and the four schools have combined for 11 national titles.

“College hockey is a big part of Boston’s identity, and the tradition and success of the programs in our city have helped make this one of the best hockey communities in the world,” said Boston Bruins President Cam Neely. “The Varsity Sweater is a great way to recognize that history while bringing back elements of the Bruins’ original look. It’s a unique jersey that celebrates both our team’s history and the strong connection between the Bruins and Boston’s hockey community.”

Boston Bruins Remix look for 2026 (Photo by NHL)

BC Takes the Battle of Commonwealth

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – BC’s Money Williams had a game-high 35 points, nine rebounds and five assists to lead his Eagles to a 71-55 win over University of Massachusetts in Friday’s Hall of Fame Series contest in Boston.

First-year coach Luke Murray’s Eagles (2-0) shot just 37.3% from the field and 3-of-27 from 3-point range, but a game-ending 16-4 run broke open a four-point game with 5:35 remaining.

Williams scored 21 in the first half before sinking two late 3-pointers — including one with 4:37 left as part of a 7-0 run — to break his team’s 0-for-7 drought from distance to begin the second half.

The Montana transfer also finished 13-for-13 from the free-throw line.

Zak Smrekar added 12 points, including eight after halftime, and Brandon Benjamin finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for Boston College.

Dwayne Wimbley Jr. led UMass (1-1) with 15 points and added six boards, while Abdullah Ahmed scored 12.

UMass led for much of the first half after an early 11-2 run produced an 11-4 lead in the first 3:40. Wimbley’s five straight points, including one of his two corner threes in the half, highlighted that stretch.

Despite starting 0-for-10 from 3-point range, Boston College climbed back into it with two Benjamin baskets during a quick 6-1 run, and Williams scored on a spin-move layup inside for his second of back-to-back finishes to make it 18-16 Minutemen halfway through the period.

The Minutemen did lead by five on Junjie Wang’s second-chance make with 6:22 left before halftime, but a 7-0 run saw Smrekar hit a game-tying trey and Williams put down a layup to flip the score in the Eagles’ favor less than two minutes later.

Ahmed, whose free throw brought UMass within 37-35 at halftime, started the second half with a game-tying basket. The Eagles, however, separated during a 10-0 run, forcing a timeout after Benjamin’s reverse layup with 16:12 to go. Williams also set up the Fairfield transfer for a two-handed dunk during that sequence.

Smrekar’s jumper extended the Boston College lead to double digits before a Williams layup answered Noa Zemljic’s 3-pointer, which ended a nearly five-minute UMass scoring drought.

After two Williams free throws capped another 6-1 run, Wimbley’s second-chance layup capped an 8-0 spurt that brought the Minutemen within 55-51.

–Field Level Media

Pro Hoops Writers Announce ’26 Awards

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release of the PBWA) – Jason Quick, Baxter Holmes, Stefan Bondy and Bill Oram have been named first-place winners in the 2026 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest, which honors the best work by members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

Embed from Getty Images

Quick, a senior writer at The Athletic, took top honors in two of the five categories. He placed first in Magazine-Length Features with a vivid profile of Dick Motta – the winningest retired coach not to make the Hall of Fame – and, as Quick writes, “one of the game’s most colorful and controversial figures.” Quick also placed first in Game Coverage, for his story on Spencer Jones becoming the Denver Nuggets’ unlikely hero in a playoff victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the first round.

Holmes, a senior writer at ESPN, took top honors in News and Analysis for his in-depth investigation into how infighting among members of the Buss family ultimately led to the surprising sale of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bondy, who covers the Knicks for the New York Post, won first place in Moderate-Length Features for his colorful portrait of the relationship between Knicks star Jalen Brunson and his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.

Oram, of The Oregonian, won the Columns category for a piece capturing the shock and disappointment of seeing Chauncey Billups, the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coach, arrested for his alleged participation in an illegal gambling ring.

Independent judges, all with extensive experience as writers or editors at major publications, evaluated the entries, one judge per category. The names of the authors and their outlets were redacted from all contest submissions before the judges received them for review.

Founded in 1973, the Professional Basketball Writers Association is a nonprofit membership organization for journalists who regularly cover the NBA and the WNBA for newspapers, magazines, wire services and online outlets. The PBWA has more than 200 members, representing 80-plus outlets.

The writing contest is named after Dan Blumenthal, who served as the PBWA’s secretary-treasurer from 1980 through 1983.

Results of the 2026 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

MAGAZINE-LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Jason Quick, The Athletic, “For Dick Motta, the Hall of Fame ‘was never my goal.’ Only the work mattered”

Judge’s comment: Dick Motta lost more games than he won in his three decades as a vivid and combative NBA coach. He is also in his 90s, and a little bit ornery, even wondering out loud why he has agreed to be interviewed. Still, as the writer notes, “He won’t stop talking.” And what emerges is a skillful and poignant portrait of a man who grew up on a farm and who forever has had “dirt under his fingernails” and “basketball in his blood.”

2nd place: Jared Weiss, The Athletic,“What is CLA, the revolutionary coaching method used by Victor Wembanyama and other top athletes?”

Judge’s comment: CLA stands for Constraints-Led Approach, a mouthful of a name that suggests the writer is going to have a tough time explaining what this new, and increasingly popular, coaching method is all about. But that is not what happens here. Instead, the piece convincingly lays out what’s behind an approach that trains players to deal with the unpredictable. In doing so, the author almost makes CLA sound as simple as ABC. Not quite, but almost.

3rd place: Logan Murdock, The Ringer, “Who is the Real Chet Holmgren?”

Judge’s comment: This piece begins with a remarkably adept anecdote about Chet Holmgren extending his reach at the age of 4. It concludes with a strikingly perceptive quote from Holmgren, who is now 24, on just what his ceiling is supposed to be. They are the bookends to a very solid and smart look at one of the more unusual stars of the NBA – a player, the writer notes, who has armed himself with a “careful charisma.”

Honorable mention: Dan Woike, Sam Amick and Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, “What we know about ‘Uncle Dennis’: A central figure in the Kawhi Leonard, Clippers investigation”

Judge’s comment: This is a tough-minded, illuminating piece that takes on a key figure in the Kawhi Leonard/Clippers saga, but also gives readers a glimpse of what goes on when a player’s representative meets with a team and all sorts of “asks” can fill the air. The figure in question is Dennis Robertson, who is Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and was his unofficial agent when all sorts of improprieties occurred. Robertson declined to be interviewed for this article, but in his absence, the (writers are) diligent in providing context for Robertson’s actions. “Uncle Dennis” may have been outrageous in what he asked teams to do for his nephew, but other agents, at times, can be almost as brazen.

Honorable Mention: Adam Himmelsbach, The Boston Globe, “‘Does he even have enough money?’ Bill Chisholm closed the deal of his life when he bought the Celtics”

Judge’s comment: Team owners are not necessarily endearing figures, but it’s hard not to find Bill Chisholm pretty likeable after reading this colorful account of his somewhat frantic, but ultimately successful, attempt to purchase the Boston Celtics, a team he had passionately rooted for since he was old enough to bounce a basketball. The writer smartly begins and ends this tale with Chisholm’s now-annual treks along the Appalachian Trail. He goes by himself, equipped with a tent and a portable stove. It’s hard to think of another NBA owner, or any team owner, doing something similar and it gives this piece a perfect extra touch.

GAME COVERAGE

1st place: Jason Quick, The Athletic, “Spencer Jones saved the Nuggets’ season. Then he had to wait for a ride home”

Judge’s comment: The idea of a highly paid NBA player, even a fringe player, not owning a car is almost unfathomable. The writer does a great job of using that fun fact to weave through the ups and downs of Jones’ journeyman career, culminating in a rare star turn in a tense playoff setting. I smiled after reading the lede and kept smiling through the 40 grafs that followed. This was a delightful story and a great read.

2nd place: Chris Herrington, the Daily Memphian, “These Grizzlies need patience. Does a ‘joy’-less Ja Morant have any to give?”

Judge’s comment: It might not be possible to dissect Ja Morant’s mercurial career in one game story, but this one comes close. Electrifying talent, offset by problematic personality, as reflected in his performance on this night. The game, and this account, also raises the question of whether the Grizzlies can ever build a winning team around him. Tough, smart, insightful story.

3rd place: Ramona Shelburne, ESPN, “What to make of Victor Wembanyama’s unbelievable Game 1 performance”

Judge’s comment: He’s considered a generational talent, and it’s no exaggeration. Still, the playoffs are a different ballgame, and how Victor Wembanyama would respond to that challenge was a legitimate question. This account of his playoff debut answers it, with some nice historical perspective on the Robinson-Duncan legacy, the Popovich culture, where LeBron stood at a similar stage of his career, etc. Lots to digest here. Nicely done.

Honorable Mention: Joseph Casciaro, theScore, “A walk-off dime was the perfect way for LeBron’s streak to end”

Judge’s comment: For as long as there has been basketball, 10 points – double figures – has been recognized as a solid contribution. Though it’s not an official statistic, LeBron James’ streak of double-figures games is one of his more remarkable achievements. That it ended with him passing up a chance to extend it and instead setting up a teammate for a game-winning bucket speaks to who LeBron has always been as a player. This story makes that point with style, clarity and insight.

Honorable Mention: Gordie Jones, Liberty Ballers, “Sixers finally find themselves, but can they find a way to win Game 7?”

Judge’s comment: This is classic NBA writing: fast-paced, take-us-there descriptive, packed with insights you’d never get off TV, clever and colorful phrasing. Traditional “gamers” have sort of been devalued in today’s media ecosystem, and it’s a pleasure to come across one that’s done this well.

NEWS AND ANALYSIS

1st place: Baxter Holmes, ESPN, “How Buss family infighting drove the $10B sale of the Lakers”

Judge’s comment: This story is a terrific achievement: original reporting, sharp insights, never-before-told anecdotes, and stunning detail that shows how tensions among Jerry Buss’s six children (by two different mothers) resulted in the soap-operatic twists that led to the abrupt sale of the team. Everything the Lakers have ever been, want to be, but no longer are, is present here, along with a bracing amount of info about the internecine bickering, hurt feelings, nasty double crosses, family secrets, and backstage machinations. Given the Lakers’ gold-plated image, readers might be surprised to know the franchise skimped on staff and scouting, analytics and player care. The profile that emerges of Jeanie Buss, especially, is not a flattering one. But never does this story rely on hearsay. Principles are quoted directly. The tale that emerges is a finely drawn look at a family and once-exemplary franchise that disintegrated in lockstep.

2nd place: Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports, “The Luka Dončić trade was the ultimate mistake, but plenty went wrong for Nico Harrison since the Mavs made the Finals”

Judge’s comment: It was obvious that Nico Harrison’s time was probably short in Dallas the minute he traded away Luka Dončić, but this piece still stood out for its strong blend of reporting and analysis once Harrison was fired. The writer adeptly shows how the Dončić trade was the most glaring error Harrison made, but there were plenty others that left Harrison open to charges of “malpractice.” The writer points out Harrison lasted just nine months after the trade, and just 18 months or so after Dallas made the NBA Finals. The bottom line: The Mavs’ downward spiral was breathtakingly swift and feels like it could take years to recover from. Did it have to happen?

3rd place: Bill Oram, The Oregonian, “Tom Dundon levels challenge to Trail Blazers as he takes over as franchise’s owner”

Judge’s comment: Texas billionaire Tom Dundon was a curiosity from the moment he joined the NBA’s ownership club. This story stands out for several reasons. It not only analyzes the news but breaks some: The writer got Dundon to commit to keeping the Trail Blazers (the city’s greatest “civic asset”) in Portland if the city and state come through with some promises. The writer also took the admirable approach of confronting the controversial new owner to his face about the things people say about him, the cheapskate moves he makes, and his belittling treatment of interim coach Tiago Splitter. Reporter: “Are you the hard-ass everybody says you are?” Dundon: “I think so.” Should people be scared of you? Dundon, chewing on a strawberry: “My expectations are consistently unrealistic. I want people like that. If that’s not the environment you thrive in, then it’s going to be hard…I am not flexible about my standards.”

Honorable mention: Nick Friedell, The Athletic, “Steve Kerr can leave the Warriors, but can he leave Steph Curry?”

Judge’s comment: The writer starts out stating a good premise that turned out to be accurate – neither Kerr nor Curry did leave each other – and the writer does a good job of showing some insights into the relationship between Kerr and Curry, them and the franchise. The idea that Kerr might want to leave because his social justice remarks cause internal frustration and he has felt “stifled” at times was an interesting aside. The best part of this piece was the anecdote that really showed us how the affection between Curry and Kerr is genuine: Asked if he’d lobby for Kerr to stay on, Curry demurred and instead said, “I want Coach to be happy.”

Honorable mention: Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, “Angel Reese Wants the Sky to do more in Free Agency: We can’t settle for what we have this year.”

Judge’s comment: Reese’s remarks in this piece are extraordinary critiques that pro athletes rarely voice out loud. The impression left by the wording in this story is Reese told these remarks to this author alone, which would deserve big points for original reporting. What holds this story back is the need for stronger analysis: Were Reese’s comments accurate, or the remarks of an egotistical crank who’s not below selling out teammates? We also need to hear what team insiders and other players thought of Reese’s candor, and the very long list of things she wanted regarding the front office, head coach, style of play, facilities, and construction of the roster. The answer came later: She’s now playing in Atlanta.

MODERATE-LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Stefan Bondy, New York Post, “Rick Brunson molded Jalen Brunson into a Knicks ‘killer’ – inside the roller-coaster journey that made an NBA star”

Judge’s comment: Above all else, prescient – writing about Jalen Brunson and his dad eight months before Brunson took over the spotlight in the NBA Finals; by then, everyone and his cousin was writing the story. Great background on Rick Brunson and his teaching “methods.” I assume Rick Brunson always is a straight shooter, but still some great in-depth stuff. (And if he’s NOT usually a straight-shooter, incredible job by the writer getting him to talk about it.) Nice job weaving in a lot of background info without pounding the reader over the head with it. One genuinely great line: “It emboldened the father to continue his strategy of torment.” Nice quote ending, too.

2nd place: Joe Freeman, The Oregonian, “Blazers’ Deni Avdija ends unlikely journey with ‘long weekend’ at historic All-Star game”

Judge’s comment:Nicely written piece, with ending tying back into the lede. Rather in-depth for a story ostensibly about Avdija’s first All-Star Game appearance. Nice job talking to the journalist in Tel Aviv for some insight on Avdija’s popularity in Israel. Some great quotes from Avdija (I’m one of those who think a lot of great quotes come from the right questions being asked), including one that made me laugh out loud, when Avdija was talking about learning English from “classic” TV shows like “iCarly” and “Drake and Josh.” Story adroitly wove in key stats while not overwhelming the piece with number after number. One minor issue was that only two people were quoted – BUT didn’t bother me because the piece still covered a lot of ground.

3rd place: James Edwards, The Athletic, “Inside NBA Sneaker Culture: Why some players burn through 60 pairs a season and Jarrett Allen won’t”

Judge’s comment: Great idea about one player and his sneakers. Enjoyable read, too, especially the idea that an NBA player is willing to buy used shoes online. Sort of unreal – and memorable, as well. And nice insights from players about their sneaker habits. Just a fun piece to read, with interesting information. Would think it appealed to those who truly care about what sneakers a player wears, as well as those who couldn’t care less about sneaker brands.

Honorable mention: Eric Koreen, The Athletic, “How Jamal Shead became the Raptors’ leader and life of the party”

Judge’s comment: A lot of great info, especially the quotes from Kelvin Sampson about his ex-player, and flows well.

Honorable mention: Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star-Tribune, “NBA veteran Mike Conley has a personal greeting for teammates, friends and staffers that requires a lot of muscle memory”

Judge’s comment: I have read A LOT on Conley in the past 15-plus years, but this was a new angle. Enjoyable stuff.

COLUMNS

1st place: Bill Oram, The Oregonian, “If allegations prove true, we are all victims of Chauncey Billups’ fraud”

Judge’s comment: This was an extremely competitive year for the column category, but I selected this entry because it struck an emotional chord and had all the elements of a terrific column. It was unique, compelling, powerful, thoroughly researched and beautifully written. The tone was pitch-perfect and the detail was lethal. It offered a strong opinion. The author speaks as if sitting in the living rooms of stunned Portland Trail Blazers fans who woke up one morning to discover their respected head coach, Chauncey Billups – the man fondly known as Mr. Big Shot – shot a brick that fractured the façade of the Moda Center. Chauncey Billups? One of the good guys! Hall of Famer! Well, maybe not so much. Billups goes to trial in March 2027 on charges relating to his participation in a multi-agency gambling probe that involved rigged poker games and illegal sports betting, generating obvious questions about integrity, character and complicity. The author notes that Billups thus far is only guilty of bad judgment, but reminds readers that, almost three decades ago, the former Blazers head coach settled a civil suit filed by a woman who claimed she was raped by Billups, Ron Mercer and Antoine Walker. Perhaps a clue was badly missed by the Blazers organization, who hired him anyway? The author concludes with a clever, crushing, appropriate blow: “If the indictment is to be believed, he (Billups) is a cheat. He is a $100 million man with the world at his fingertips and, apparently, a card up his sleeve. That is how he will be remembered.”

2nd place: Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, “The Jaden Ivey debacle is another embarrassing failure for Artūras Karnišovas and the Chicago Bulls”

Judge’s comment: This is another superb, intensely personal opinion column that left me wishing there was a 1-A and 1-B grading system. The writer introduces themself as “a queer person” covering the Chicago Bulls during the tumultuous past few years, then delves right into the controversy involving Jaden Ivey, the former Bulls guard who profanely eviscerated the league for scheduling annual LGBTQ+ pride nights (He was waived shortly thereafter). The author deftly chronicles Ivey’s increasing religious extremism and his negative impact on locker-room dynamics, and presents the bigoted rant as a reflection of all that ails the Bulls. The argument is convincing: the litany of failed draft picks and trade decisions; the front office with plenty of time to fix the problems but not enough basketball savvy to rescue the team; and amid the miscues, a lack of accountability by vice president Artūras Karnišovas and his front office. The suggestion that Karnišovas could have foreseen the incident is rudely dismissed. Rather, the columnist cites another ill-advised signing last season of Joshua Primo, the former San Antonio Spurs reserve who had been suspended for exposing himself to female staffers. Though Primo never suited up for the Bulls, his mere presence begs the question: Why would the Bulls a year later invest so heavily on a talented, but obviously troubled player who, as the writer says, “became increasingly insistent on pushing his faith into his professional life. He lost the ability to provide basic answers … without redirecting the topic to religion. He pressed staffers and teammates with uncomfortable questions. All this information was publicly accessible.” And to be clear: This is not an anti-religion column. The writer explicitly points out that NBA teams historically welcome religious leaders and provide chapel services before games. Tough balance, excellent column.

3rd place: Sharon Brown, Memphis Flyer, “LeBron Said it Out Loud. Memphis Felt Every Word”

Judge’s comment: This is a truly memorable column about an NBA city – Memphis – that keeps hearing it shouldn’t be an NBA city. I went back and read this entry multiple times, impressed by the prose and impassioned defense of a place that LeBron James suggests should be expunged from the NBA map. Nashville, he said, is the place to be – a sentiment shared by many of his colleagues. Clearly, offense was taken. LeBron and his peers’ feelings notwithstanding, the writer slaps right back and makes a compelling case for leaving the Grizzlies right where they are. Memphis is portrayed as an entertainment mecca, the site of exquisite blues performances on Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum. Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered at the Lorraine Hotel, a mere mile from the Grizzlies’ FedExForum. The writer depicts the franchise as a slice of civic pride, a source of self esteem and essential to the region’s economy. Ushers. Servers. Valet staff. Cooks. Maintenance. Cleaning staff. “Memphis is not a city that reveals itself in passing,” the author writes. “It requires proximity and engagement, whether through the energy that fills FedExForum or the neighborhoods that surround it. Without that proximity, the understanding remains partial.” Beautifully done. Makes one want to give Memphis a closer look.

Honorable Mention: Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, “Anthony Edwards delivers a Mother’s Day gem for mom, the Wolves and all of us who’ve lost”

Judge’s comment: This was a very sweet column that humanizes NBA stars – in this case, examining Anthony Edwards’ bond with his late mother and the annual holiday that reminds him of how much he loved and how much he lost.

Honorable mention: Madeline Kenney, New York Post, “Nneka Ogwumike is an indispensable WNBA leader – with landmark CBA and beyond”

Judge’s comment: Nneka Ogwumike retired a few months after this column was written; and with keen insight, lovely prose and a detailed, comprehensive account of her influence on the WNBA, the writer bids her adieu with a flourish.

NFL: Patriots Game Preview

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Green Bay Packers (5-3) at New England Patriots (5-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Patriots -3, Total 44.5

Series rewind: Green Bay leads the series 7-6, won the last game the teams played 27-24 in overtime in 2022 and beat the Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997.

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After each got off to slow starts, both teams have won four of their last five games. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love is averaging 280.8 passing yards per game, has thrown 16 touchdowns passes and been intercepted six times. Love leads the NFL with 2,246 passing yards and is also No. 1 among quarterbacks in pass attempts of at least 20 yards (52). Green Bay has been forced to throw because of its lackluster running game. The Packers are averaging 2.9 yards per carry, last in the league. Green Bay could become the first NFL team to finish a season with a rushing average of less than 3.0 yards per carry since the 1994 Patriots. New England quarterback Drake Maye got off to an exceptionally slow start in the follow-up campaign to finishing second in MVP voting last season. He has passed for 15 touchdowns and has been intercepted eight times, but has 14 TD passes and two interceptions in his last five games. He’ll be facing a Green Bay defense that has forced 15 turnovers, second-most in the NFL. Ten of those turnovers have been interceptions. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson leads the Patriots with 119 touches; no other player has more than 57. Stevenson has a team-high 367 rushing yards, and his 23 catches rank third on the team.

NFL: 4pm Game Previews

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Houston Texans (2-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-7)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Texans -3.5, Total 39.5

Series rewind: Houston has won three of the past four meetings in the regular season, including 20-16 at Los Angeles last season.

The Chargers began this season with dreams of playing in a home-stadium Super Bowl in Inglewood, Calif.; then they went 0-for-September and October. The lone winless team in the NFL is off to the worst start in franchise history. Houston stumbled out of the starting blocks for the second consecutive season. It appeared to be finding its way last month while giving vibes of the team’s nine-game winning streak to close last season, but its bid for a third consecutive victory was thwarted in a 27-21 overtime loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 25. After C.J. Stroud threw for a season-low 153 yards against New York, the team spent its bye week trying to figure out ways to get better balance. The season-low effort came one week after Stroud was named AFC Player of the Week for his 312-yard, three-touchdown performance in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Stroud has the offense seventh in the NFL in passing with 253.4 yards per game. Houston’s ground game ranks 29th with an average of 84.7 rushing yards. There is no deeper hole than the one where the Chargers are buried. Their defense looked up to the task last Sunday by not allowing a first down over the Los Angeles Rams’ first five drives of the game. Quarterback Justin Herbert had a season-high 257 yards passing in the defeat, but his two interceptions gave him 10 on the season, most in the NFL. Two years ago, Herbert threw just three picks while starting all 17 games.

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New York Jets (2-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Chiefs -9.5, Total 47.5

Series rewind: The Jets last won in Kansas City in 1998 and have since dropped four visits in a row. The Chiefs have also controlled the overall series recently with four victories in the past five meetings. Harrison Butker kicked a 26-yard field goal with 10:51 remaining for a 23-20 Kansas City victory in the last meeting in 2023.

The Chiefs have slipped into second place in the AFC West with consecutive road losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. They are back at home this week and look to get back on track before they play four of their five on the road. Patrick Mahomes matched a season best with three touchdown passes and had his second-highest yardage output (321) in last week’s 28-24 loss in Denver. Running back Emmett Johnson had five catches for 128 yards, including a 73-yard score, while Travis Kelce had five grabs for 67 yards. Rashee Rice returned from the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 4 and had seven catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Walker has rushed for just 105 yards on 35 carries the last two weeks. He had 665 yards through the first five games. The Chiefs have just nine sacks through seven games. New York has lost three straight games and is entering a stretch of three road contests in four games. The Jets notched a season high in points last week but also allowed their most while falling 38-33 to the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. New York’s Geno Smith passed for 290 yards and two touchdowns while Braelon Allen rushed for a career-best 147 yards in his second straight 100-yard outing and third of the season. Allen is 10th in the NFL with 565 rushing yards. Star wideout Garrett Wilson (concussion) is out.

Las Vegas Raiders (4-4) at San Francisco 49ers (6-1)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: 49ers -9.5, Total 51.5

Series rewind: San Francisco has won five of the past six meetings, with the first five taking place while the Raiders were still based in Oakland. The 49ers prevailed 37-34 in an overtime shootout in Las Vegas late in the 2022 season. Christian McCaffrey had 193 scrimmage yards (121 rushing, 72 receiving) and rushed for a touchdown in that contest.

The 49ers’ unbeaten run was halted two weeks ago out in a 29-20 loss to the host Atlanta Falcons. San Francisco had its bye last week. McCaffrey (hamstring) was injured against the Falcons and was a limited participant in practice Thursday. McCaffrey’s highest rushing output this season is just 75 yards, but he does have eight rushing touchdowns. Brock Purdy has passed for 1,748 yards and 15 touchdowns against four interceptions. He threw two picks against Atlanta. Tight end George Kittle leads the club with 425 receiving yards and five touchdowns and is tied with McCaffrey (34) for the receptions lead. Cornerback Renardo Green has all three of San Francisco’s interceptions. Former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa (knee, calf) was limited Thursday and could return after a five-game absence. The Raiders broke a four-game skid with last week’s 38-33 victory over the host New York Jets. Kirk Cousins threw for 247 yards and had three passing scores for the fourth time that season. Overall, he has 19 touchdowns against five interceptions and has played well enough to keep the organization from being tempted to replace him with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Mike Washington Jr., a fourth-round pick this season, rushed for 83 yards on 25 carries against the Jets. Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2025 draft, received just two carries for 9 yards despite being healthy. Maxx Crosby registered a sack against New York, his third of the season.

Arizona Cardinals (3-5) at Seattle Seahawks (4-4)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Seahawks -8.5, Total 39.5

Series rewind: The Seahawks are gunning for their 11th consecutive win in the series, which includes a 31-7 victory at Arizona in September.

Gardner Minshew took over as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback after rallying Arizona from a 17-3 deficit in the third quarter at Dallas last week. A few days later, Jacoby Brissett, who started the first eight games of the season, was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. The Seahawks kept the QB carousel spinning for this game as they ruled out Sam Darnold with a quadriceps injury. Drew Lock will start for the second time this season against the Cardinals. He is coming back from a two-game hiatus to treat an elbow injury. Lock threw three TD passes at Arizona in Seattle’s 24-point win in Week 2. The Seahawks expect other backfield reinforcements to be available. Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price could give Seattle a loaded RB corps with Emanuel Wilson, who rushed for 92 yards against Arizona in the first matchup. Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier had 191 yards from scrimmage at Dallas.

Green Bay Packers (5-3) at New England Patriots (5-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Patriots -3, Total 44.5

Series rewind: Green Bay leads the series 7-6, won the last game the teams played 27-24 in overtime in 2022 and beat the Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI in January 1997.

After each got off to slow starts, both teams have won four of their last five games. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love is averaging 280.8 passing yards per game, has thrown 16 touchdowns passes and been intercepted six times. Love leads the NFL with 2,246 passing yards and is also No. 1 among quarterbacks in pass attempts of at least 20 yards (52). Green Bay has been forced to throw because of its lackluster running game. The Packers are averaging 2.9 yards per carry, last in the league. Green Bay could become the first NFL team to finish a season with a rushing average of less than 3.0 yards per carry since the 1994 Patriots. New England quarterback Drake Maye got off to an exceptionally slow start in the follow-up campaign to finishing second in MVP voting last season. He has passed for 15 touchdowns and has been intercepted eight times, but has 14 TD passes and two interceptions in his last five games. He’ll be facing a Green Bay defense that has forced 15 turnovers, second-most in the NFL. Ten of those turnovers have been interceptions. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson leads the Patriots with 119 touches; no other player has more than 57. Stevenson has a team-high 367 rushing yards, and his 23 catches rank third on the team.

NFL: Sunday 1pm Game Previews

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Detroit Lions (5-2) at Miami Dolphins (1-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Lions -7, Total 50.5

Series rewind: The Lions have won three of the past four meetings, but Miami won the most recent tussle between these teams in October 2022. Tua Tagovailoa threw for 382 yards and completed 12 passes to Tyreek Hill in the 31-27 win, which bumped Miami to 5-3 and dropped the Lions to 1-6.

The Lions picked up more than 40 degrees on their trek from Detroit to South Beach, where head coach Dan Campbell isn’t afraid to make the game a run-heavy, physical confrontation. Led by Jared Goff, who continues to be one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league (168 of 248 for 1,964 yards, 15 touchdowns and one interception), the Lions will try to exploit a Dolphins defense that ranks 24th in points allowed per game (25.9) and 25th in yards allowed per play (5.7). Jahmyr Gibbs remains one of the NFL’s top backs, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 110.4 rushing yards per game. Miami has struggled in the passing game, on both sides of the ball. Opposing quarterbacks have combined for an NFL-high 119.5 passer rating against the Dolphins, while Miami quarterback Malik Willis owns a 79.7 rating through seven games. The Lions rank last in the league in passing yards allowed per game, which could create an opportunity for Willis to have success. Miami has found consistency on the ground behind Ollie Gordon II, who has rushed for 408 yards and four touchdowns and helped offset some of the Dolphins’ offensive struggles.

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Los Angeles Rams (4-4) at Washington Commanders (2-4-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Rams -4.5, Total 47.5

Series rewind: The Rams have won the past two meetings but trail the overall series 24-13-1. The last meeting was in 2023.

Washington seeks consecutive wins for the first time since a four-game run to close the 2024 season. The Commanders are two games behind the NFC East-leading New York Giants (4-2-1), who host the Commanders on Nov. 12. The Rams have won two in a row, including a 24-9 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last week. The Rams are tied with the Seattle Seahawks for second in the NFC West behind the San Francisco 49ers (6-1). Los Angeles All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett practiced this week and is pushing to return. Matthew Stafford passed for 157 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Chargers in Week 8. The Rams boast the NFL’s fourth-ranked offense (384.4 yards per game). The Commanders are 20th (327.1). Washington’s Jayden Daniels has yet to throw an interception this season in five games. Last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, he completed 16 of 29 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown to Stefon Diggs. Washington scored 27 unanswered points in a 27-10 home victory.

New York Giants (4-2-1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Giants -3, Total 38.5

Series rewind: The Giants have lost 13 consecutive games in Philadelphia, with their last win at Lincoln Financial Field coming on Oct. 27, 2013. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is 8-3 against New York, including the postseason.

The script has officially flipped in the NFC East, where the first-place Giants visit the last-place Eagles. And no one could have predicted this quarterback matchup two months ago: J.J. McCarthy makes his second start for New York while Joe Milton III will make his first NFL start for Philadelphia. The Eagles rank 32nd in total offense (265.3 yards per game) and 30th in scoring (17.1 points per game). They have not gained more than 341 yards or scored more than 24 points in any game this season. They face a Giants defense that ranks third against the pass (184.9 yards per game). Both teams have struggled to generate a pass rush, as their combined 19 sacks (Philadelphia with 10, New York with nine) are fewer than 12 teams entering Week 9. There are hamstring injuries worth watching on both offenses: Giants running back Cam Skattebo, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith all missed practices to start the week. Smith hasn’t been on the field since Week 6.

Denver Broncos (6-2) vs. Carolina Panthers (3-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Broncos -2.5, Total 43.5

Series rewind: The Broncos hold a 7-2 lead in the all-time series, including a 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Panthers posted a 23-10 victory the last time they met in Charlotte on Nov. 27, 2022.

In this clash of division leaders, Carolina doesn’t want to get into a close game with Denver. The Broncos have won 15 straight regular-season games that have been decided by one score, matching the 2008-09 Colts for the longest streak in NFL history. Since 1970, no quarterback has led more game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in his first three seasons than Denver’s Bo Nix, who did it for the 15th time last week to beat the Chiefs. Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton leads the league with 101 tackles and is one of only two players since 2000 to reach triple digits in his team’s first eight games (Zaire Franklin of the Colts in 2023 was the other). Carolina quarterback Bryce Young has thrown at least one TD pass in nine straight games. Since catching 14 passes for 192 yards and two TDs in the Panthers’ Week 4 win against Detroit, reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan has a combined 16 receptions for 184 yards and no scores in his last three games.

Dallas Cowboys (3-5) at Indianapolis Colts (2-6)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Cowboys -5.5, Total 51.5

Series rewind: Dallas leads the series 11-7 and has won four of the last five games against Indianapolis, including a 54-19 home trouncing the last time they played in 2022.

Not much has gone right in the first half of the season for the Colts, who will carry the burden of a four-game losing streak and the weight of roster roulette when they face Dallas. Before their 42-7 loss last week at Jacksonville, Indianapolis traded All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. After the loss, Indianapolis reportedly rejected at least one offer for running back Jonathan Taylor, who is fourth in the NFL in carries (148), tied for third in rushing touchdowns (eight) and eighth in rushing yards (610) and continues to be used in a feature role even with his future with the Colts uncertain. Indianapolis has been outscored by 61 points and ranks last in the NFL in turnover margin (minus-11). Last week, the Cowboys blew a 17-3 second-half lead at home and handed the Cardinals a 33-30 overtime win. While Dallas has lost three of its last four games, it is only one game back in the win column for the NFC East lead. The Cowboys have scored 30 points five times this season but are only 3-2 in those games. They’re 1-11 under second-year coach Brian Schottenheimer when they don’t score 30 points in a game.

Cleveland Browns (5-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

FanDuel odds: Saints -3, Total 43.5

Series rewind: The Browns lead the all-time series 13-7 but New Orleans has won the last three matchups to narrow the gap.

Deshaun Watson has already led five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and overtime, a major reason for Cleveland’s surprise success in the first half of the season. But the Browns must go without their starting QB this week after he entered concussion protocol. Shedeur Sanders takes over for at least Week 9. Sanders, a fifth-round draft pick last year, started seven games as a rookie, going 3-4 while completing 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He will need to get the offense off to a stronger start; Cleveland has been outscored 65-13 in the first quarter this season. That has also been a problem for the Saints, who have been outscored 44-6 in the first quarter. New Orleans is coming off a bye during which head coach Kellen Moore fired run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti. The Saints rank 28th in the NFL in rushing offense (86.0 yards per game), and they had just 18 yards on 17 rushes in their last game, a 16-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 25 in Paris. That has made things hard on QB Tyler Shough, who has still managed to throw for 1,721 yards, 13 TDs and six interceptions in seven games. The INTs match his total as a rookie last season.

 

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NFL: Good Morning from Madrid

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Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (3-5) in Madrid

This Morning, 9:30am ET

Odds: Bengals -3, Total 52.5

Series rewind: Cincinnati has won the last three meetings, including a 35-17 victory at home in the most recent clash on Oct. 23, 2022. The Falcons are 1-3 in international games and the Bengals are 0-1-1.

The NFL’s second game in Spain could see some fireworks as Bengals star Joe Burrow seeks to become the fourth QB in league history to throw four or more touchdown passes in four consecutive games (Peyton Manning, Dan Marino and Tom Brady are the others). His favorite target, Ja’Marr Chase, needs one TD reception to join Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history with at least seven TD grabs in each of their first six seasons. Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson can also carve a place in the record book by becoming the fifth player with 35 games of 100-plus scrimmage yards at age 25 or younger (Clinton Portis, Ezekiel Elliott, Edgerrin James and Emmitt Smith are the others). Atlanta wide receiver Drake London has an international name and an international game, having tallied 104 yards and a TD against the Colts last year in Berlin. Cincinnati is on a three-game winning streak while Atlanta is coming off a turnover-filled 16-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Only the winless Los Angeles Chargers (17) have more giveaways than the Falcons (16).

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NCAAB: Same Teams, This Year

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Preview) – New season, same matchup.

Seven months after playing for the national championship, No. 16 Michigan (1-0) and No. 4 UConn (1-0) meet again in the much-anticipated nightcap of the Basketball Hall of Fame Series doubleheader on Friday in Boston.

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The game marks a step up in class for both teams after the Huskies cruised past Gardner-Webb 86-46 and the Wolverines took down Oakland 84-68 in their season openers on Monday.

“Those are the games that are easier on coaches, I think,” UConn’s Dan Hurley said of bringing his team to a stage like TD Garden. “Coaching games like (Monday)…you’re so on edge that your team is just not going to be ready to play because they’re not going to have the same respect for the opponent. … Obviously, couldn’t have more respect for Michigan and the great players.”

Of course, so much has changed since the Wolverines hoisted the trophy after a 69-63 win over Hurley’s Huskies on April 6 in Indianapolis.

UConn had to replace two first-round NBA draft picks in Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban. Michigan had to replace three lottery picks in Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara – not to mention head coach Dusty May, who left for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks while top assistant Mike Boynton Jr. was promoted to head coach.

The Wolverines shot 43.7% overall and just 7 of 34 from 3-point range against Oakland. Without the presence of 7-foot-2 Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, who missed the game due to an illness, they allowed the Golden Grizzlies to claim 21 offensive rebounds.

“There’s no secret about who we have next,” Boynton said. “We have to get quite a bit better.”

Boynton is hopeful Thiam will be good to go by Friday.

“He had a bit of a temperature, so we thought it’d be best (Monday) to let him rest,” he said. “Hopefully he’s in practice Wednesday, Thursday, before we head up there.

Fifth-year senior Roddy Gayle Jr., who matched Trey McKenney with a game-high 17 points against Oakland, looks forward to the challenge of the Final Four rematch.

“We got a taste of how they’re going to play last year in the championship game,” he said. “But being able to really play an important game the second game of the season, looking at a Final Four team, kind of understanding what it takes to be at that level this early in the season, I feel like it’s a really big stepping stone for us.”

UConn rolled out a deep lineup in its opener, with four double-figure scorers helping a 51.7% shooting performance compared to Gardner-Webb’s 25.5%.

Preseason All-Big East selection Braylon Mulins scored a game-high 20 points, while sophomore transfers Nik Khamenia and Na’jai Hines posted 14 and 12, respectively, to match their career highs. Hines also pulled down 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double.

Freshman Colben Landrew came off the bench to score 11 points.

“The best thing about this team is gonna be the balance,” said Hurley, who won his 200th game with the Huskies. “Coming out of (Gardner-Webb), we’re just figuring out what the rotation’s gonna be. … We’re still kind of giving people a look, and now whoever’s earned that top eight, top nine potentially, those will be the people that play in Boston.”

In the national title game, Elliot Cadeau scored a game-high 19 points to earn Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. McKenney posted nine points and eight rebounds to help Michigan. Mullins was the top performer among UConn’s returnees with 11 points, seven boards and two assists.

–Field Level Media

NCAAB: Battle of the Commonwealth

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Preview) – The second game of the Luke Murray era will put Boston College on the big stage.

Following a 76-50 win over Wagner in their Tuesday debut under the new coach, the Eagles (1-0) will take the floor against UMass (1-0) to tip-off a Hall of Fame Series doubleheader on Friday afternoon in Boston. It’s the opening act for the highly anticipated rematch of the 2026 national championship game between No. 4 UConn and No. 16 Michigan.

“I’m obviously grateful that we got the win, but I’m thinking about the next one,” Murray said.

Despite Montana transfer Money Williams (22 points, five rebounds, four assists) leading three double-figure scorers and a defensive effort that limited Wagner to 30.4% shooting, Murray’s high expectations for his team were clear.

Notably, the Eagles — who have 11 transfers and return only one scholarship player from last season — outrebounded Wagner only by two (36-34) and had six fewer offensive boards (13-7).

“Any time you get a win, you have to be somewhat pleased with that. But … I don’t think the team that was on the floor (Tuesday) resembled the team that I’ve been coaching for the last five or six months. Our execution across the board … left a lot to be desired,” Murray said. “We have to improve a great deal (before Friday).”

UMass will look to ride the momentum of a 71-60 road victory Monday at two-time defending Sun Belt champion Troy. It was the Minutemen’s 16th season-opening win in the past 17.

With top returning rebounder Jayden Ndjigue still sidelined with a hand injury, San Francisco transfer Junjie Wang stepped up for an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double, and ex-BYU big man Abdullah Ahmed had seven of the team’s 10 blocks. Jordan Clayton, who returned to his home state from Northwestern, added 16 points and six boards.

“We didn’t have guys playing hero basketball,” UMass coach Frank Martin said. “We kept our composure, we defended, we did really good things on offense.”

The Minutemen climbed out of an early 18-8 hole that included nine Troy points off turnovers before a 25-point lead was cut to as few as nine in the second half.

“Outside of the last nine minutes of the game, I was really happy with how we played,” Martin said.

–Field Level Media

Bruins Continue Early-Season Roll

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PITTSBURGH – (Wire Service Report) – The visiting Boston Bruins finished the first period with three consecutive goals and never looked back in a convincing 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

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Pavel Zacha tallied twice and Elias Lindholm had the eventual game-winner to lead Boston to its third victory in a row. Morgan Geekie logged a goal and an assist for the Bruins. Mark Kastelic and Fraser Minten also lit the lamp, and David Pastrnak and JJ Peterka both dished out two helpers.

Boston backup goaltender Michael DiPietro earned his fourth victory in five outings, needing to make only 16 saves.

Justin Brazeau and Nick Robertson scored for Pittsburgh, which has lost four straight (0-3-1). Kaedan Korczak assisted on both goals.

Arturs Silovs allowed six goals on 24 shots towards the Penguins’ net.

After being held without a shot nearly halfway through the first period, Pittsburgh netted its first to take a 1-0 lead at 9:04. Korczak fired the puck from the blue line down off the end wall, where Hendrix Lapierre picked up the carom and set up Brazeau in the right circle for a one-timer goal.

Boston’s top line connected for the tying goal three minutes later. Peterka knocked down a bouncing puck between his legs to Pastrnak, who slipped a saucer feed that Zacha buried high on Silovs.

Kastelic gave the Bruins their first lead with 4:56 remaining in the first, gliding backwards in the slot to tip in Frederic Brunet’s point shot.

The visitors made it 3-1 with 1:03 left before intermission. Lindholm picked off Erik Karlsson’s attempted clear and moved to the net to score past an outstretched Silovs.

Robertson brought Pittsburgh back within one at 7:57 of the middle period. While stationed out front, the Penguins’ top goal-scorer redirected a Korczak point shot through DiPietro’s five-hole for his seventh of the season.

Two goals in less than three minutes moved the Bruins into a 5-2 lead through two periods, beginning with Zacha scoring off Peterka’s aerial pass in transition at the 14:24 mark.

Geekie capped off the frame by tallying his third goal in three games with 3:03 left in the second. He created space after gloving down Hampus Lindholm’s feed from the defensive zone and scored high on Silovs.

In the third, Minten scored Boston’s sixth goal at 8:39. He received a stretch feed from Geekie and rushed down the right side with Peterka. Minten kept the puck all the way and lasered a shot past Silovs on the blocker side.

Bruins rookie James Hagens left the game in the third period after taking a cross-check in the back from Pittsburgh’s Samuel Girard. There was no update on Hagens’ status before the end of the game.

–Field Level Media

Close, but Celtics Smoke the Cigar

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Paul George scored 25 points and Derrick White added 24 to lead the Celtics to an exciting 109-102 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night at TD Garden.

The game was tied at 97 with 4:04 remaining, but Boston scored the next seven points. Milwaukee, which erased a 22-point second-half deficit, never got closer than five points the rest of the way.

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Tyler Herro led Milwaukee with 25 points, while Jaime Jaquez finished with 18.

The loss extended Milwaukee’s losing streak to four games.

The Celtics elected to rest leading scorer Jayson Tatum, who is averaging 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game in seven contests. Payton Pritchard (10 points) went to the locker room in the second half with a right eye abrasion and did not return.

Milwaukee trailed by four when Boston went on a 15-0 run to take a 27-8 lead with 2:26 remaining in the first quarter. George scored 10 points in the opening quarter, when Milwaukee missed nine of its 12 3-point attempts.

The Celtics led 53-32 following a Luka Garza tip-in with 3:15 remaining in the second quarter and took a 62-40 advantage into halftime. The 22-point margin was Boston’s largest lead of the half.

Boston made 10 of 17 3-point attempts (58.8%) in the first half.

Milwaukee trimmed its deficit to seven when a Herro layup made it 74-67 with 5:38 remaining in the third quarter. Boston’s lead was five (80-75) following an 8-0 run capped by a Ryan Rollins layup with 2:21 left in the period. Milwaukee scored 38 points in the third and trailed 87-79 entering the final 12 minutes.

Things got more uncomfortable for Boston after a Rollins dunk pulled Milwaukee within two points (91-89) with 8:18 remaining. The Bucks took their first lead on two Nate Ament free throws for a 92-91 advantage.

–Field Level Media