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🚨 Headlines
🏀 A Stunning NBA Twist: On Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a comeback for the ages. Teams trailing by 24+ points in the fourth quarter had lost 1,552 consecutive games. The Timberwolves defied those odds, rallying to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime.
🇺🇸 Eagles’ White House Aspirations: Back in 2018, the Eagles found their invitation to the White House revoked by President Trump due to player protests. Fast forward seven years, and they’re eager to make the trip, expressing hopes of receiving a future invitation.
🏀 Texas Takes the Lead: Texas is basking in the glow of being ranked No. 1 in the AP women’s basketball poll for the first time in over two decades. The Longhorns are the fourth team this season to claim the top spot—alongside South Carolina, UCLA, and Notre Dame—matching the record for most changes in a single season.
🏈 Pushing Back on "Tush Push": The Green Bay Packers want the NFL to reconsider the legality of the "Tush Push," a maneuver the Eagles have mastered. The proposal comes on the heels of their playoff loss to Philadelphia.
🏀 Jokic’s Historic Assists: Nikola Jokić dazzled on Monday, dishing out 19 assists in the Nuggets’ victory over the Pacers. This incredible feat puts him alongside Wilt Chamberlain as the only centers to achieve such a number in a game. Jokić is currently second in the league, averaging 10.2 assists per game.
🏀 Top 10 Reformation: Then vs. Now
In mid-October, the Associated Press rolled out its preseason men’s college basketball rankings. Fast-forward four months, and the landscape has radically shifted—half of those initial top 10 teams have vanished from the rankings, an uncommon occurrence.
The Tumble:
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Kansas: Despite topping the preseason list for two consecutive years, Kansas has once again fallen short, marking only their second drop from rankings since 2009.
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UConn: The defending champs have plummeted from No. 3, encountering a tough season with their potential three-peat seeming unlikely at 50-to-1 odds.
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Gonzaga: Once sixth nationwide, Gonzaga is now third in their conference—a rarity for coach Mark Few.
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Baylor: Despite initially high expectations, Baylor has struggled, recently losing to Big 12’s underwhelming Colorado.
- North Carolina: Falling from ninth in preseason to a precarious "First Four Out" in NCAA projections reflects their challenging year with just one Quad 1 win.
Rising Stars: While some original top 10 teams remain, three unranked squads originally have soared into the elite category.
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No. 7 St. John’s: Under Rick Pitino, St. John’s has achieved their highest ranking in over three decades, thanks to star transfers.
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No. 8 Michigan State: Expected to end fifth in the Big Ten, the Spartans are now leading the conference.
- No. 10 Texas Tech: Surging since late January, Texas Tech secured an upset against Houston and continue an upward trajectory.
Perspective: Preseason polls can be notoriously inaccurate, and the transfer portal has made early-season predictions even less reliable, as rosters evolve each offseason and talent spreads across the nation more evenly.
⚾️ College vs. Pros
Ever pondered how college baseball teams fare against MLB powerhouses? The answer—hardly a chance.
The Red Sox recently bested Northeastern University, boosting their undefeated streak to 38-0 this century against local squads Northeastern and Boston College.
Broad View: Other MLB clubs like having college teams on their spring schedules, though victories for collegiate teams remain rare.
Between 2009-18, MLB teams enjoyed a 63-4 record in exhibitions against colleges, with victories mainly snatched by Florida institutions.
Historical Upset: Once in a while, college players achieve the unthinkable. The most memorable example remains the Miracle on Ice, with another noteworthy instance being a 1992 college basketball team surmounting the Dream Team. This game is featured in HBO’s new documentary, "We Beat the Dream Team."
Fun throwback: Fenway Park’s inaugural game hosted the Red Sox versus Harvard, setting the stage for a 2-0 victory.
🏀 Athlete Spotlight: Hoop Dreams Against Odds
Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel has made waves as the first D-III women’s basketball player with one arm to score in a college game. This milestone was followed by another basket on her birthday.
Her Voice: Born with a nonfunctional right arm, Baileigh hopes to be seen simply as a passionate basketball player.
Not Alone… Hansel Enmanuel, who lost his arm in a childhood accident, has garnered attention with over 1.5 million Instagram followers. He shines for Austin Peay, recently delivering an impressive game performance.
Contenders Eyeing the 40/20 Mark
Phil Jackson had this insightful take: hitting 40 wins before 20 losses usually marks an NBA championship contender.
Stats Speak: 37 out of the last 41 champions fit this bill, with only Cavaliers, Thunder, and Celtics making that cut this season.
Near Misses: The Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Knicks faltered recently, missing that crucial 40/20 validation.
Historical Outliers: A handful of times, like the 1994-95 Rockets’ remarkable playoff run, bucked this trend. Could the Nuggets be next to break Jackson’s mold?
Cleveland’s Rising Star: With a potential win record akin to legendary teams like the 2015-16 Warriors, the Cavaliers are making waves this season.
✍️ Quick Bites
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¡Adiós "P00P": NBC Sports Philadelphia updated its scorebug, nixing the humorous ties between the Phillies and Pirates.
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NHL Event Uncertainty: The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off’s future is cloudy, given NHL players will return to the Olympics in 2026 and the World Cup in 2028.
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Streaming Now: Scottie Scheffler’s arrest at last year’s PGA Championship reemerges via Netflix’s "Full Swing" series.
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F1 Helmets Are Here: Formula 1 unveiled helmets for the 2025 season—choose your favorite look.
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Cleveland Mourns: Guardians owner Larry Dolan, a cornerstone figure in Cleveland, passed away at 94.
- Close Call for IU: A mechanical issue caught fire on a bus carrying IU Indianapolis’ basketball team, but all players emerged unharmed.
📺 What to Watch Today: LA’s Matchup Spotlight
Tonight, the Lakers square off with the Mavericks—an exciting showdown following the Luka Dončić trade. Whether you’re rooting for Dončić’s new dynamic or Dallas’ resilience, it’s a game worth watching.
Other Highlights:
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NBA Tensions: Cavaliers aim for their eighth consecutive win against the Magic.
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NCAA Drama: Catch Duke’s intriguing clash with Miami.
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NHL Stars: High-scoring threats Draisaitl and Kucherov face off as Oilers challenge Lightning.
- TGL Action: The Bay Loons aim to maintain their perfect record against Jupiter Links.
Transition Alert: Duke’s associate coach Jai Lucas is set to join Miami, adding intrigue to tonight’s games.
🏀 Quiz Time: MVP Point Guards
Can you list the seven point guards who’ve snagged MVP honors? Here’s a hint: they’ve tied teams with the Lakers, Suns, Warriors, Royals, Celtics, Bulls, and Thunder.
MVP answer: Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry, Oscar Robertson, Bob Cousy, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook.
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