VANCOUVER — In the last three months, the Vancouver Canucks are on a seven-game losing streak following wins.
We know, there are two problems with this statistic: small sample size and, seriously, they’ve won only seven games in three months? Yes to both.
The Canucks were schooled Thursday by the Tampa Bay Lightning, which had lost seven of their last 10 games but still looked an awful lot like Stanley Cup contenders as they thumped Vancouver 6-2 at Rogers Arena.
The lopsided loss followed by two nights the Canucks’ impressive 5-2 win against the Florida Panthers, who won the last two Cups but won’t be playing for one this spring.
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Tuesday was progress for Vancouver, Thursday a step back. That’s the performance story of a rebuild in 48 hours. Still, it would be nice if the Canucks could learn to start to move forward from victories instead of retreating.
Their last winning streak — literally, just winning more than one National Hockey League game in a row — was in December, 2025. The first day of spring, 2026, is Saturday when the St. Louis Blues visit Vancouver for the sixth installment of the Canucks’ season-long (and man, their season is long) homestand.
“It wasn’t our best today, so it’s important to learn from it,” Canucks centre Marco Rossi said. “I mean, they’re a really good team to play, so it’s important to learn from it, like I said before. It’s important to stay positive. You know, you’re going to have some nights like that, but it’s important just to learn from the mistakes.”
“It was a tough game,” winger Linus Karlsson said. “Watch video tomorrow and try to get better.”
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As usual, the Canucks’ communications staff accommodated the Vancouver media’s peculiar and consistent request to speak post-game en masse to goal-scorers to explain a dismal loss.
Actually, Rossi didn’t score, but assisted on goals by Karlsson and Liam Oghren. Rossi has nine points in his last four games and bore almost no responsibility for Vancouver’s 47th loss in 68 games.
Six different Tampa players scored on goalie Kevin Lankinen, who also was one of the less culpable Canucks, and Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Darren Raddysh all had multi-point games.
Among skaters, only Rossi rivalled any of the best Lightning players. After his two-goal game against the Panthers, Elias Pettersson was back to almost invisible against the Lightning, finishing with one shot on target in 16:10 of ice time.
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“Guys kept going at it, but it was one of those nights where we got chasing a little bit,” Canucks coach Adam Foote said. “They took advantage of a couple of mistakes.
“They’ve been playing a lot of years together, so they’re connected. It’s the grit and the 50/50 battles — how hard they’re in on pucks. They’re getting into our body and we’re getting caught on the wrong side, we’re losing those 50/50s. And then when they kick it out, they’re beating you to the net. It’s, again, just being savvy.”
Yes, the Canucks have a lot to learn.
The Canucks have been much better since the Olympic break at displaying more resilience when the game turns against them. But they were utterly answerless early in the second period against the Lightning, who stacked shift upon shift in the Vancouver zone and scored three times in less than five minutes to seize control.
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A 1-0 game turned into a 4-0 black hole.
Sure, there was some bad luck for the Canucks during this decisive stretch, like Lankinen losing his stick before getting beaten stick-side by Raddysh, and Kucherov redirecting a puck in off Vancouver defenceman Filip Hronek (after the Tampa star fooled young defenceman Elias Pettersson with a devious stick tap).
But the Canucks couldn’t get the puck, let alone take it down the ice to alleviate pressure. They looked in those minutes completely overmatched. Shots were 10-2 for the Lightning in the first 12 minutes of the middle period before Ohgren scored against the run of play at 12:06, making it 4-1.
“We’ve got to find ways to stop that bleeding,” veteran defenceman Marcus Pettersson said. “I think there’s too much, like, hope that a guy beats a guy and we can get something going, instead of working as a five-man unit and transporting the puck as a five-man unit up the ice. We’re going for hope plays. It feels overwhelming.
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“We’ve got to have better plans to help each other out there. I think it starts with being predictable for each other. It starts with one guy setting the tone and closing in our D-zone, and that kind of sets the tone for the next guy and then the next guy. But I think we’re too hesitant and we coast a little bit, and that allows teams to have this O-zone time on us. It feels like all the games that we lose, it’s the O-zone possession time that’s a big difference.”
The Canucks had only two failed power plays, but it was nice to see 20-year-old rookie Zeev Buium quarterback the top unit during a first-period power play that followed a television timeout. Filip Hronek has dominated power-play point time recently, and Tom Willander has also had some looks on the first unit.
Buium’s confidence with the puck, his patience holding it and spinning away from pressure while using his agile skating to try to open lanes, hasn’t translated very often to passes and plays that cut open an NHL defence. He has just eight points in 31 games in all situations with the Canucks, roughly half the production the defenceman had in slightly less ice time with the Minnesota Wild.
But with a ton of offensive upside as a potential future No. 1 defenceman, and as a paramount piece in the Canucks’ rebuild, Buium certainly deserves more power-play reps down the stretch. These final 14 games for Vancouver should be all about pushing their prospects forward.
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It looked like Lankinen, the veteran backup who has struggled for most of this season, was building Thursday a fourth straight quality start — his best stretch of the campaign.
He stopped the first 10 Lightning shots before Jake Guentzel, with body position on Willander, opened the scoring on a deflection at 17:37 of the first period. In the second period, Tampa scored on two more tips, as well as Raddysh’s goal when Lankinen did not have his stick.
Six goals on 30 shots is never going to be good enough for an NHL goalie, but Lankinen stopped the shooters on three two-on-ones and made one of his best saves this season to rob Hagel backside with a desperation, lunging save after Kucherov’s cross-ice pass beat four Canuck skaters.
The save was so good that Hagel circled back after the whistle to say something to Lankinen.
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There have been several games this season when Lankinen just needed to be better. But he couldn’t reasonably have been expected to do much more on Thursday. This wasn’t his fault.
All season, the Canucks have run an in-arena promotion where everyone scanning a QR code on the scoreboard can save on Uber Eats when the team reaches 20 shots on goal. As a competitive barometer, that bar is far too low.
The Canucks have managed 23 or fewer shots in nine of their last 20 games, and tested Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy just 10 times in the opening 40 minutes before “peppering” him with 11 shots in the third period.
Winger Jake DeBrusk had four of the 10 Vancouver shots in the first two periods, equalling the sum amassed by the other 11 Canucks forwards. Pettersson, the original Elias, scored twice against the Panthers to end a career-long 20-game goal drought and acknowledged he needed to shoot more.
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On his second shift Thursday, Drew O’Connor set up Pettersson just above the corner of the crease while he was unchecked in front of Vasilevskiy. But instead of shooting, the Canucks’ $92.8-million man held on to the puck and looked for a pass to someone else. Vancouver did not generate a shot from the sequence.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has created history by making the highest break in professional snooker after hitting a 153 at the World Open.
The 50-year-old is preparing for next month’s World Snooker Championship, where he will attempt to win a record eighth crown in the modern era by breaking a tie for seven with Stephen Hendry.
And in his last tournament before heading to Sheffield, O’Sullivan achieved the record feat after leaving quarter-final opponent Ryan Day in a snooker at the start of the opening frame.
After the Welshman’s failed attempt to get out of it, O’Sullivan was given a free ball.
The seven-time world champion started his break with the green before pocketing the opening black to leave him on eight points before starting to target the reds.
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O’Sullivan then reeled off the 15 reds, accompanied by 13 further blacks and two pinks before clearing up the colours to land a record-breaking 153.
His rapid start paved the way for a dominant 5-0 victory as O’Sullivan stormed into the semi-finals in China.
“Big shout out to all the people who have messaged me and congratulated me on the 153,” O’Sullivan said in a video posted on X.
“It was a pretty cool moment, really happy to do it. Thank you to everyone out there who has supported me.”
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“A privilege to be here to watch that. To speak over it,” former world No. 3 Neal Foulds said during commentary for TNT Sports.
“That was an incredible moment for me just to watch O’Sullivan do what he did there. A break of 153, it’s almost like: ‘Did it really happen? Have I dreamt it?’ Incredible stuff.”
O’Sullivan will play Yize Wu for a place in the final after the Chinese star defeated Mark Allen in the quarter-finals.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament continues on Friday with 16 more first-round games that will determine the 32 teams in contention to cut down the nets next month in Indianapolis. With the madness fully underway, plenty of storylines are worth pondering.
The first game of the day features No. 10 seed Santa Clara against No. 7 seed Kentucky (12:15 p.m. ET, CBS), with the winner advancing to face the winner of No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 15 seed Tennessee State. Another intriguing early matchup has No. 4 seed Alabama facing No. 13 seed Hofstra (3:15 p.m. ET, truTV).
Alabama will be without star guard Aden Holloway for that game after he was arrested earlier in the week on felony drug charges.
No. 1 seed Florida begins its quest to repeat as national champions against No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M (9:25 p.m. ET, TNT). Another game to keep an eye on during the late window is Darryn Peterson, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, making his NCAA Tournament debut with Kansas when the No. 4 seed Jayhawks face No. 13 seed Cal Baptist (9:45 p.m. ET, CBS).
Let’s get into some of the big storylines to know for Friday’s first-round action.
Peterson makes his NCAA Tournament debut
Peterson, who is a candidate to become the No. 1 overall pick in the draft this summer, has been one of the biggest stories in college basketball this season. The Kansas guard missed 11 games during the regular season due to hamstring/cramping issues. Peterson opened up about how the full-body cramping was a “traumatic experience,” which resulted in him having to go to the hospital at one point to receive intravenous fluids.
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When Peterson plays, he is one of the most dynamic scorers in the sport. Peterson has played in nine consecutive games since being ruled out less than an hour before tipoff against then-No. 1 Arizona at home last month. In the Big 12 quarterfinals against TCU, Peterson logged a season-high 37 minutes. Peterson is averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 22 games this season. If Kansas is going to advance to the Sweet 16 and beyond, it will need Peterson’s best.
Alabama coach Nate Oats talks to his team at Thursday’s workout in Tampa.
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Is Alabama on upset alert?
One of the biggest and most unexpected storylines to land heading into the NCAA Tournament was the arrest of Holloway just days before Alabama’s matchup against Hofstra. According to Holloway’s attorney, Jeff Neff, Alabama’s second-leading scorer has requested several different types of hearings in the coming weeks to combat charges of first-degree marijuana possession and failure to affix a tax stamp, both of which are felonies in the state of Alabama.
If Holloway is indeed out, the Crimson Tide could be on upset alert against the CAA champions. The Pride boasts two dynamic scorers in Cruz Davis (20.2 points) and Preston Edmead (15.9 points). Hofstra ended the season by winning 11 of its last 12 games. Without Holloway, Alabama will rely even more on star guard Labaron Philon. The ceiling of this Crimson Tide roster is obviously lower if Holloway is out this weekend and beyond — if the Crimson Tide gets out of this quadrant without a loss.
Purdue star on the verge of NCAA history
Purdue star guard Braden Smith is close to breaking an NCAA record that has been held for over three decades. Smith needs just two assists to pass former Duke star Bobby Hurley for the most assists by a men’s Division I player. Smith enters the NCAA Tournament with 1,775 career assists and is just one away from tying the record Hurley set in the early 1990s.
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Smith, a four-year player at Purdue, has become a rarity in the modern landscape by staying at the same school for his entire career. He is averaging a career-high 9.0 assists per game this season, which surpassed his mark of 8.7 assists per game last year. He dished out 11 assists during Purdue’s win over Michigan in last weekend’s Big Ten title game. He will likely break it against Queens (NC) on Friday.
Friday’s NCAA Tournament streaming schedule
Games played at Benchmark International Arena (Tampa), Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia), Viejas Arena (San Diego) and Enterprise Center (St. Louis)
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday, and one of the late-night matchups will pit No. 3 seed Illinois against No. 14 seed Pennsylvania in the South Region. The Fighting Illini went 24-8 overall during the regular season, posted a 15-5 mark during Big Ten play and then lost in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals against Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the Quakers were 18-11 overall and 9-5 in the Ivy League before going on to win the conference tournament against Yale in an overtime thriller on Sunday.
Tipoff from Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., is at 9:25 p.m. ET. The Illini are 25.5-point favorites in the latest Illinois vs. Penn odds, with the over/under at 151.5. Both the spread and over/under have held steady since first opening. The Fighting Illini are at -11111 on the money line, with the Quakers listed at +2550. Before making any Penn vs. Illinois picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Penn vs. Illinois, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (151.5 points). The Fighting Illini were among the most prolific teams in college basketball this season, ranking 21st in the nation in scoring (84.4 ppg), second in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency (131.2) and first in offensive rating (125.5). Freshman guard Keaton Wagler averaged 17.9 points per game to lead Illinois in scoring but was one of five players who averaged double-figures per game.
Meanwhile, Penn was one of the best shooting teams in the country in Fran McCaffery’s first season at the helm, shooting 38.1% from the 3-point line and ranking 19th nationally in that category. TJ Power poured in 44 points in the win over Yale on Sunday and averaged 15.8 points per game while shooting an Ivy League-leading 42.7% from beyond the arc. The model predicts that the Over hits in 54.1% of simulations as the teams combine for 153 points.
Logan Paul would surely be competing at WrestleMania 42, which is less than a month away now. The main events are set, and all world title matches are also locked in. What needs to be added are now the tag team title matches, mid-card title bouts, and some singles competitions. There seems to be a scope for Logan to shine and begin his in-ring rivalry with an NFL star.
The match being discussed here is Logan Paul and Austin Theory vs. Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady. The idea of this match is put forward by former WWE Superstar Baron Corbin, now known as Tom Pestock. He posted on X about the possibility of The Vision vs. Gronk and Brady. This surely comes from Tom’s comments on WWE and its scripted nature.
Thanks for the submission!
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“What’s the over under we get a Logan Paul, Austin theory match against Gronk and Tom Brady at mania,” wrote Tom Pestock.
Even though it seems right for Logan and Brady to lock horns, there is still no build-up as such. Additionally, it would take more time for Austin and Logan to be out of The Usos’ vortex, considering their budding rivalry. However, a showcase match where the NFL legend would need to wrestle sounds befitting against The Maverick.
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Logan Paul is battling The Usos next week
The Vision has only two members right now who can compete. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed are out due to injury. Thus, the active members, Logan and Austin, are looking out for their own glory now. Next week on RAW, they are battling The Usos, potentially for future major title implications.
This could again be made into a World Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 42. The Usos to put their title on the line against The Vision in their brewing rivalry over a long time.
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Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reacts on the sideline during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, showing visible emotion as he responds to developments on the field in a tightly contested matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings made a momentous splash in free agency by getting quarterback Kyler Murray for the NFL’s version of free — and that was about it. Now, thanks to ESPN, clarity has emerged on the team’s offseason strategy. Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski is dialing back the budget to balance the books after back-to-back offseasons of massive spending.
Minnesota’s restrained spending looks far more calculated than passive.
The tactic makes sense for a team that wants to avoid salary cap hell.
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The Vikings Are Betting on Draft Volume and Kyler Murray
The Vikings’ quiet spending was deliberate.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks during a year-end press conference alongside general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January 18, 2022, in Eagan, Minnesota, outlining organizational direction and reflecting on leadership alignment as the franchise transitions into a new era with a unified vision for roster building and long-term competitiveness. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Kevin Seifert: Vikings Are Right-Sizing the Cap
Minnesota’s approach to 2026 free agency is overtly intentional. Seifert explained, “After talking to sources inside and outside the organization, the best way to think of the Vikings’ current approach is an aggressive right-sizing of their roster finances. The Wilfs did not order a lower cash payroll this season, multiple sources confirmed.”
“The NFL is not structured for teams to have indefinite annual spending at the rate the Vikings have in recent years, and essentially the Vikings decided that 2026 was the time to eat their vegetables. The cash spending of NFL teams can fluctuate over and under the league salary cap in any given year.”
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Most Vikings fans expected a quiet free agency, but perhaps not this quiet.
Seifert added, “If a team spends over the cap, it can account for the additional space in two ways: applying previous cap surpluses and/or pushing the remaining reconciliation into future years. Brzezinski made a point last month of noting that the Vikings spent more than $100 million in cash over the cap in 2024 and 2025.”
“Over that period, they signed a total of 24 unrestricted free agents from other teams during the month of March. That bill has now come due.”
Teensy Spending
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In 2024 and 2025, as former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah completed his competitive rebuild process, he spent like a fiend on free agents, which is usually a decent plan, one that the 2025 New England Patriots can exalt as successful. But Minnesota picked the wrong free agents, while the Patriots apparently knew what they were doing.
In short, Minnesota’s money ran out, and per Seifert’s reporting, the front office is collectively hitting the pause button on spending, enabling the franchise to move more nimbly next offseason. For example, if the Murray experiment turns out fruitful in 2026, he’ll need a new contract, and the Vikings will undoubtedly want to load up around him. They’ll need money to do so.
Minnesota has ranked near the bottom among free agency spenders over the last week and a half, in a group that includes the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions, who also haven’t spent much.
Think of it this way: the Vikings, for now, are scheduled to have $67 million in cap space next offseason. If they had added 3-5 notable newcomers, they’d be right back in the situation that they’re in right now — unable to spend because they sacrificed the short term for the long term.
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Connecting on Draft Picks Is Mandatory
Everything about the Vikings’ 2026 draft screams pressure.
Over the past four years, the Vikings have struggled to develop their draft picks into impactful players. Under Adofo-Mensah, their draft hit rate has been only 15%–20%, resulting in a roster lacking successful selections. These misses have forced the coaching staff to fill gaps rather than build a strong foundation, prompting ownership to fire Adofo-Mensah seven weeks ago.
Minnesota’s most notable additions were Murray and James Pierre, with the team remaining largely inactive otherwise. This approach intensifies the focus on April’s draft, where nine selections now carry the burden of youth and roster improvement.
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Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner poses after being selected 17th overall by the Minnesota Vikings during the first round of the NFL Draft on Apr 25, 2024, at Campus Martius Park in Detroit, Michigan, celebrating a milestone moment as Minnesota adds a premier defensive prospect to strengthen its pass-rushing future. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
The early rounds will be crucial. The Vikings must find immediate contributors in Rounds 1 through 4; developmental depth alone will not suffice given the team’s current state. The recent front office changes further heighten the pressure. Another unproductive draft, similar to those in recent years, would likely trigger a complete franchise reset. The margin for error has shrunk considerably, rest assured.
Winning Nine Games Last Year with Similar Roster
By acquiring Murray and absorbing a minimal $1.3 million cap hit in 2026, Minnesota has significantly upgraded its most unstable position. Murray typically produces around 4,000 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns, and 600 rushing yards per season — a level of production that would immediately stabilize the offense. Considering that last year’s quarterback efficiency ranked fifth-worst in the NFL, even a modest improvement at the position could dramatically improve the team’s fortunes.
Furthermore, the supporting cast is strong. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison remain one of the league’s most explosive receiving duos, providing Murray with reliable targets capable of stretching the field and creating opportunities after the catch. The infrastructure for a functional, and potentially dangerous, offense is already in place. Just drop Murray in the middle of it.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) lines up during game action against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec 31, 2023, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, surveying the defense pre-snap as he prepares to lead the offense in a late-season matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Finally, there’s the defense. Over the last three seasons, Brian Flores has built one of the NFL’s most dependable defensive units. The Vikings have finished in the top three in EPA/Play for two consecutive years, a testament to their consistency. Even with a slight statistical regression, this group should remain among the league’s best.
The 2026 mission: spend frugally, finally connect on a draft, maintain a top-tier defense, and hope Murray lives up to his 2019 draft stock.
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It actually sounds a bit like the 2024 Vikings when the team signed Sam Darnold and later won 14 games.
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Participation of Bangladesh cricketers in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 is now uncertain, with the final decision hinging on government approval amid ongoing regional tensions.A total of six Bangladesh players — Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Rishad Hossain — were initially granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after being picked in the league’s first-ever auction. However, the evolving situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has prompted the board to reconsider their participation, making government clearance mandatory.
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IPL 2026 should be audition for the next India T20I captain
BCB cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin confirmed that the board will not take a final call without consulting the authorities.“Of course, we will seek permission from the government before sending our cricketers for the PSL. Under normal circumstances, these things are not required. We provide clearance; they go, play, and return. But since the situation is not normal and there is a risk element concerning the players, obviously we will discuss it with the government,” Abedin was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Thursday.“We will seek to know from the government whether it will be safe to travel or not, and based on that government decision, we will have to take the ultimate call on whether the players will go or not. Because it is not actually possible for us to understand the situation there. It is possible for the government to know. The government will know, and if the government tells us that it is safe to go and the players can travel, then the players will go. But, in principle, we have decided that we will give the NOC, and they will go to play. But it depends on the situation at that time,” he added.As things stand, if the players are cleared to participate in the PSL, they are likely to miss Bangladesh’s preparatory camps ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand national cricket team, who are scheduled to tour Bangladesh next month for three ODIs and three T20Is.The BCB has already issued partial NOCs to manage player availability across both commitments. Mustafizur Rahman, who has been signed by Lahore Qalandars, has been granted clearance from March 26 to April 12 and again from April 24 to May 3. He will take part in the ODI series against New Zealand but will miss the T20I leg.Meanwhile, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain have received NOCs valid until April 12, allowing them to feature in both formats of the home series. Parvez Hossain Emon, on the other hand, has been cleared until April 21 and is expected to be available for the T20I matches.With safety concerns now at the forefront, the final decision on Bangladesh players’ PSL participation will ultimately rest with the government, leaving their involvement in the tournament hanging in the balance.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins in earnest on Thursday, with one of the interesting 8 vs. 9 matchups pitting the Georgia Bulldogs against the Saint Louis Billikens in the Midwest Region. No. 8 Georgia (22-10) placed seventh in the SEC standings and has won three of its last four games. No. 9 Saint Louis (28-5) won the A-10 regular season title but has lost two of its last three contests. The Dawgs lost in the first round of March Madness last year, while the Billikens are dancing for the first time since 2019.
Tipoff is at 9:45 p.m. ET from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. UGA owns a 2-0 all-time record versus Saint Louis, with the most recent matchup in 2010. The Bulldogs are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Georgia vs. Saint Louis odds, with the over/under at 167.5, having dropped 4 points since opening at 171.5. UGA is at -138 on the money line (risk $138 to win $100). Before making any Saint Louis vs. Georgia picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Saint Louis vs. Georgia, SportsLine’s model is going Under on the total (167.5 points). The Billikens have heavily leaned under as of late as the Under is 3-1 over their last four games and 7-3 over their last 10 contests. Teams have a better read on their offense which has led to lower-scoring games as Saint Louis averaged 91.3 points over their first 23 games of the season compared to 77.8 points over their last 10.
As for Georgia, the total has not been reached in three of its four neutral-site games this season, and the Under is 6-3 for the Bulldogs over their last nine neutral-site contests dating back to last year. Georgia’s last game saw just 148 combined points go on the scoreboard, which is the third-fewest across 32 games this season. With the pace of play often slowing down in postseason competition, both teams are forecasted to score fewer than their season averages. That allows the Under to hit in 60.2% of simulations.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) went through his pregame routine on the field before the matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Nov 9, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The scene captured Jefferson’s usual mix of focus and looseness as he prepped for another central role in Minnesota’s offense, drawing early attention from fans settling into their seats. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
If a game took place tonight, the Minnesota Vikings would do reasonably well. Good enough to be the top team in the NFL? Eh, that’s a touch too ambitious, but there’s a talented enough roster to be competitive (pessimistic power rankings be darned).
Most pressing was the need at quarterback, a situation that has resulted in a pair of arms being tossed into the mix. Kyler Murray is moving ahead as the 95% certainty to be the QB1. J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer are combining to gobble up the final 5%. Folks, that’s a good thing. Combined with the rest of the talent, Murray’s addition puts Minnesota in an advantageous position, especially as the front office looks toward the next major avenue for adding talent.
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The Vikings’ Front Office Can Now Pivot
Last year, the Vikings finished with a 9-8 record.
DC Brian Flores coaxed excellence out of his crew. He did so even with both of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel being injured for stretches. LB1 Blake Cashman, S2 Josh Metellus, and CB3 Jeff Okudah similarly had health concerns that led to time in the infirmary. Ivan Pace Jr. and Theo Jackson both got demoted.
Still, that’s a side of the ball that finished at 7th in the NFL by allowing 19.6 points against per game. Grafting new add James Pierre into the mix as the matchup CB3 with size could lead to a better group, especially if health cooperates around the defense more broadly.
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.
What would be huge is if the young fellas step up. Think Jay Ward, Dallas Turner, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Pace, and Jalen Redmond (someone who is already great).
The special teams, meanwhile, are sitting in a spiffy spot.
Coming back is K1 Will Reichard, the young fella who was a first-team All Pro last year. He’ll be supported by the return of long snapper Andrew DePaola, the second-team All Pro from last year. Rounding out the group is Johnny Hekker, a well-respected veteran coming off a modest season.
Matt Daniels has all he needs to succeed. Returning, as well, are ace coverage players in Bo Richter and Tavierre Thomas. Further growth out of Myles Price would be a nice boost, too.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Myles Price (4) celebrates a big kickoff return on Sept. 28, 2025, at Croke Park in Dublin during an NFL International Series matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The rookie receiver made an impact on special teams as Minnesota showcased its speed overseas in front of a packed Irish crowd. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Finally, there’s the offense. Ironically, that’s the spot that inspires the most concern even though Kevin O’Connell is supposed to be a wizard in this area of football.
Leading the crew is Justin Jefferson, one of football’s elite talents. At worst, he’s a top-five receiver in the NFL but could very well return to his slot as the consensus WR1 in the NFL with competent quarterback play.
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The other skill is coming back, for the most part. Jordan Addison (who is 24) is an excellent, young ball player. T.J. Hockenson hasn’t replicated his 2023 effort, but the QB disaster from ’25 creates questions about how much of that is on the well-paid tight end. Even better is that Aaron Jones is coming back, who could get tasked with becoming a pass-catching back. Yes, he’s 31, but reducing his role while elevating the workload for Jordan Mason (he’s going to turn 27 in May) is the way to go.
The final piece of the puzzle? None other than Mr. Murray. Even being above average — a threshold he has often cleared — would mean the Vikings of last year finish off at 10-7 or better. Somewhere in the range of 12-5 isn’t difficult to imagine with quarterback play that didn’t mimic disaster.
Nov 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
What’s the point? Basically what was said up top: the Vikings’ front office has solidified the roster. Not good enough to expect a Lombardi, but good enough to make a ruckus. Well and good.
The next step involves smashing the draft. Eviscerating it while blowing it to smithereens. Now that would make things interesting, right?
Envision a scenario where a sensational running back gets added, someone who introduces real balance to the offense. Meanwhile, a sturdy, gritty center ends up being competent from the opening snap of the season. The Vikings have a young ‘backer to toss into the mix and maybe some added pass-rush juice up front, too. Changes the water on the purple beans, folks.
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The obvious caveat is that Minnesota still needs to do those things by going to get those impact players in the draft. What’s noteworthy is the mere reality of having patched up every urgent need. Literally. There are zero positions that don’t have some form of answer.
Some spots — Michael Jurgens at center or Tai Felton at WR3, for instance — aren’t ideal, but that doesn’t mean it’s panic time. The Vikings could plausibly roll out an o-line fivesome consisting of Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Jurgens, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill. The Vikings could plausibly win the line of scrimmage with the crew.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Will Fries (76), offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (75) and fullback C.J. Ham (30) celebrate after a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
The Vikings’ front office isn’t off the hook. What they’ve done, though, is accomplish the opening goal of the offseason in replenishing the roster in a manner that addresses the urgent needs, filling every single starting spot with an option ranging from passable to tremendous.
Next up is the 2026 NFL Draft alongside whatever veteran adds are tossed into the mix. Doing fantastic in these areas will mean the Vikings are well-positioned for a bounce back season.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 11: Iga Swiatek of Poland looks dejected after a point in the Women’s Final against during the United Cup at Ken Rosewall Arena on January 11, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Iga Swiatek suffered a rare early exit at the Miami Open 2026, losing to fellow Pole Magda Linette in a dramatic comeback.
Swiatek dominated the opening set 6-1, but Linette responded strongly to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, ending the world No. 2’s incredible streak of 73 consecutive opening-round victories, a run that stretched back to 2021.
After the match, Swiatek opened up about her current struggles:
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“I think I am a bit confused. There’s no way but forward.”
“I’m gonna try to work hard to get back to that. I have it in me, I just lost it for a second, the game.”
“Tennis feels complicated in my head.”
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“I know it’s supposed to be simple.”
“In terms of my mentality and how I feel on the court, it’s going to take a while.”
Meanwhile, Linette continues to impress in Miami, backing up last year’s big win over a top player with another statement victory.
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