Sports
Over 20% of the Vikings’ Starters Are Gone
It’s not necessarily atypical, but it’s important to call out that the Minnesota Vikings have watched as one-fifth of their 2025 starters have departed via retirement and free agency.
Minnesota’s offseason turnover hit the starting lineup a bit hard.
The main faces on the coaching staff will remain the same, but from a starter personnel viewpoint, get ready to see a revised Vikings club in September.
Familiar Vikings Starters Have Moved On
In alphabetical order, these are the starters who left.
Jonathan Allen (DT)
Where He Went: Cincinnati Bengals
Allen lasted one year in Minnesota after signing a three-year, $51 million contract last offseason during former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s big spending spree. He played decently, basically at a replacement level, making the large financial commitment no longer worth a second look.
Minnesota released him right away during free agency, and he quickly landed in Cincinnati, where his new contract will alleviate most of the Vikings’ 2027 salary cap burden pertaining to his contract.
Allen was a swing-and-a-miss for the Vikings, at least per expectations.
C.J. Ham (FB)
Where He Went: His House. Retirement.
Ham came up during the Mike Zimmer era and stood the test of time. Providing support as an outstanding blocker, special teamer, and sometimes-playmaker, Vikings fans adored Ham and are sad to see him go. He was one of the locker room guys in Minnesota, a team captain through and through.
The longtime purple fullback said this week during a retirement ceremony, “There’s nothing like game day at The Bank. From the beginning, I felt all the love. Just a fellow Minnesota kid living his dream of wearing the purple and gold someday. I know that resonated with many Minnesota fans, so I felt as if I was doing it for me and my family, I was also doing it for you.”
Ham called it quits alongside former teammate Adam Thielen at the ceremony, and head coach Kevin O’Connel mentioned about the duo: “Their impacts clearly on and off the field have left a tremendous impact, not only on myself as the head coach of this team, all of our players, but also your families and what you guys were able to establish in the community here in the Twin Cities and beyond.”
“I know I, today, get the opportunity to not only speak for our team and our organization, but Minnesota Vikings fans everywhere, just saying, Thank you for your impact that you guys both had.”
Hopefully, Ham returns to the game as a coach down the road.
Javon Hargrave (DT)
Where He Went: Green Bay Packers
You can basically scroll up, read the paragraphs about Allen, rinse, and repeat.
The Vikings added Hargrave last offseason for $30 million over two years, and like Allen, the relationship was not parleyed into a second season. Minnesota dropped Hargrave, and a couple of days later, he did the unthinkable, signing with the Packers.
Minnesota will see him twice next year.
Ryan Kelly (C)
Where He Went: His House. Retirement.
Kelly had a bittersweet time in Minnesota, signed with Allen and Hargrave as part of 2025 free agency. When Kelly was on the field in 2025, he was fantastic, very much living up to his four-time Pro Bowl reputation.
But concussions ruined everything, as Kelly sustained three in one season alone. He even wore a Guardian cap down the stretch of 2025. It didn’t change anything.
Kelly retired from the NFL, and now Minnesota needs a center, either promoting Blake Brandel or Michael Jurgens, signing a free agent like Ethan Pocic, or drafting a rookie next month.
Jalen Nailor (WR)
Where He Went: Las Vegas Raiders
Nailor jelled instantly with Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but it wasn’t enough to secure a second contract beyond his rookie deal. The Raiders pounced earlier this month, granting Nailor a deal worth $35 million over the next three years.
The Vikings need a WR3 to replace Nailor, unless 2025 rookie Tai Felton, from Maryland, is ready for the offense’s bright lights. Nailor, on the other hand, will fill a WR1 or WR2 role in Las Vegas, presumably with rookie passer Fernando Mendoza when the Raiders make the draft pick official next month.
The Waiting Game: Harrison Smith
Smith played flag football with his peers on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, he has made no concrete decision on his future, whether to retire or return for Year No. 15. It’s a waiting game. One would think that if Smith planned to retire, he would’ve done so by now. The sipidity of “Will he or won’t he?” regarding Smith continues.
While no one would be shocked by a Smith retirement tweet, the clues hint at a return.
World number two Luke Humphries joked his win at the Belgian Darts Open would help in his bid to become “the second-best player in the world”.
Double defending champion Luke Littler’s shock 6-5 exit to Dutchman Niels Zonneveld in the last 16 paved the way for Humphries to clinch his ninth European Tour title with an 8-6 win over Jonny Clayton.
The 31-year-old scraped past Chris Dobey 6-5 in the quarter-finals but destroyed Michael van Gerwen 7-2 in the semis.
“It’s one of them things where I feel my game’s been there, then it’s not, then it is,” Humphries said on stage after his win.
“Usually in those circumstances I close the game out a lot better, but when you’re not winning as much they become harder and you feel the nerves.
“I’m just dedicated and working so hard to push every dart player and be the best version of myself.
“I’m going to keep trying to be the second-best player in the world – apparently.”
Sports
2026 Kentucky Derby horses, odds, futures, preview, date: Expert who hit 12 Derby-Oaks Doubles enters picks
When is the Kentucky Derby 2026? Jody Demling revealed his 2026 Kentucky Derby picks for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs
Matthew Fitzpatrick has never been a fan of slow play — nor the way the PGA Tour has handled the problem.
So it was only fitting that his latest Tour win came with an extra hurdle: His playing partner’s pace.
“That was really frustrating. It was slow today. I felt like there was a lot of stop-start,” Fitzpatrick said after his win at the Valspar Championship.
He chose his words carefully and never called out his playing partner Adrien Dumont de Chassart by name, but his words echoed sentiments he’s shared throughout his years on Tour. Fitzpatrick has consistently called out the issue, using phrases like “truly appalling,” “a disgrace,” “pathetic” and more.
Three years ago, following a big-time win at Harbour Town, Fitzpatrick took aim in a Sky Sports interview. But he also acknowledged he was taking a futile stand.
“The problem is, though, this conversation has gone on for years and years and years, and no one has ever done anything,” he said at the time. “So I feel it’s almost a waste of time talking about it every time. I have my opinions — they’re probably strong opinions, but PGA Tour, DP World Tour, no one’s going to do anything about it.”
Back to Sunday, then. While Fitzpatrick’s day was smooth — he fired three-under 68 en route to victory — Dumont de Chassart’s was less so. The 26-year-old Belgian’s opening tee shot flew out of bounds en route to triple-bogey 8 and he made a second 8 at the par-5 11th; his handling of the latter took such a long time that Fitzpatrick, who’d played out of turn in an attempt to keep their group on pace, took the unusual step of asking an official for help.
NBC’s on-course reporter John Wood said that Fitzpatrick was “perturbed” by Chassart’s pace, which he described as “glacial, to be kind.”
Rules official Orlando Pope confirmed on the broadcast that Fitzpatrick had spoken with an official and that the Tour had begun unofficially timing him; that eventually led to an official warning.
“Yeah, just, you know, just not ready,” Fitzpatrick said, referencing his playing partner, if not by name. He was drawing a distinction between making a high score — which happens and can inevitably slow up play — and playing slowly while doing so.
“When you’re not ready to play a golf shot it gets frustrating after awhile. Particularly when you playing well yourself or you’re in contention or whatever it is. It definitely knocks you out of your rhythm. Because you hit, you walk to it, you kind of think about it, you hit again, and you go.
“There in particular that hole, then you’re around a stretch there that can get a little bit quirky with different shots and stuff, so you have to be on it,” Fitzpatrick continued. “It definitely knocked me out of rhythm I felt like for the next two, three holes. I was kind of chasing my tail, because I’m trying to speed up and trying to keep us or get back in position, and at the same time you’re obviously trying to win a golf tournament.”
The Big Ten has the target well within reach as the conference seeks its first national championship since Michigan State won it all in 2000. With six teams advancing to the Sweet 16, the conference will have multiple teams with solid chances at reaching the Final Four after it missed out last season.
At least one Big Ten team is guaranteed to reach the Elite Eight. That’s because No. 4 seed Nebraska and No. 9 seed Iowa will play each other in the Sweet 16 as part of a South Region that also features No. 3 seed Illinois. It is the first time since 2018 and just the third time ever that three teams from the same conference have advanced to the Sweet 16 within the same region.
| Year | Region | Conference | Teams (Seeds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | South | Big Ten | Illinois (3), Nebraska (4), Iowa (9) |
| 2018 | Midwest | ACC | Duke (2), Clemson (5), Syracuse (11) |
| 1986 | Southeast | SEC | Kentucky (1), Alabama (5), LSU (11) |
The Hawkeyes are unequivocally the Big Ten’s most surprising Sweet 16 representative after stunning No. 1 seed Florida 73-72 on Sunday. No. 1 seed Michigan from the Midwest looks like the Big Ten’s top title contender, but the Wolverines are surrounded by plenty of company as the league seeks a basketball breakthrough to accompany its three straight football titles.
Things are far less rosy for the ACC, which saw just one of its eight NCAA Tournament teams survive the weekend. That team was No. 1 overall seed Duke, which will now enjoy the distinct displeasure of playing No. 5 seed St. John’s in the Sweet 16 after the Red Storm squeaked out a thrilling win over Kansas.
Here are the winners and losers from Sunday’s second-round action.
Winner: Big Ten’s epic day
Six of the Sweet 16 teams hail from the Big Ten. Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Iowa are still alive entering the second weekend. It’s tied for the second-most for any conference behind the 2025 SEC, which sent seven teams to the Sweet 16. The guard play in the Big Ten has been especially excellent this season, which may explain the surge of Sweet 16 entries.
- Purdue’s Braden Smith is the all-time assist leader.
- Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. just had a 16-assist game, the most in MSU history, passing up the ole Magic Johnson.
- Iowa point guard Bennett Stirtz is a potential first-round pick.
- Illinois point guard Keaton Wagler is a potential lottery pick.
- Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau has had a much better year than many projected.
You get the point.
No league posted a higher effective field goal percentage than the Big Ten this year, which could also be directly attributed to the floor generals in this league. It showed up in March. – Isaac Trotter
Loser: ACC is down to one team
If you’re using NCAA Tournament success as a primary measuring stick, the ACC can’t claim improvement this year. Miami‘s 79-69 loss to Purdue and Virginia‘s 79-72 loss to Tennessee on Sunday left No. 1 overall seed Duke as the league’s only team advancing to the Sweet 16.
If you zoom out, the ACC took strides in the 2025-26 season toward restoring its national relevance after placing just four of its 18 teams into the field of 68 last year. With eight teams in this year’s tournament and an improving roster of coaches, the conference is on a good trajectory. But that progress was not evident in its 2026 NCAA Tournament results. – David Cobb
Winner: Dylan Darling the unlikely hero
Kansas didn’t seem overly concerned about getting beat off the dribble by St. John’s point guard Dylan Darling on the final possession of regulation. Perhaps the Jayhawks should have devoted a little more attention to stopping the ball. Darling drove straight to the basket and hit a game-winner at the buzzer, lifting the No 5 seed Red Storm to a 67-65 victory over No. 4 seed Kansas. Darling sized up the 1-on-1 defense from KU’s Elmarko Jackson and decided to take the game into his own hands, even though he had been held scoreless on 0-of-5 shooting until that point. No one will remember what Darling did for the game’s first 39 minutes and 56 seconds. But they’ll sure remember what he did to send St. John’s to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. – Cobb
Winner: The Ben McCollum masterpiece
Iowa is off to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 after upsetting top-seeded Florida, 73-72. Iowa used a barrage of sharp matchup-hunting to twist Florida’s defense into a pretzel, and Alvaro Folgueiras delivered the game-winning 3-pointer with less than five seconds remaining. Ben McCollum has now won over 80% of his games (449-107) in his career. Indiana, Maryland and Minnesota were the other Big Ten teams involved in the 2025 coaching carousel, but it’s clear that Iowa was the major winner with the McCollum coup.
Florida’s roster was much more talented than Iowa’s, but the Hawkeyes were the better team Sunday. – Trotter
Loser: Florida’s title repeat hopes crash and burn
Todd Golden’s bid for a national championship repeat has fallen flat. The Gators fell 73-72 to No. 9 seed Iowa, and the hot spots aren’t hard to find. Florida’s usually reliable interior defense got gashed. Iowa shot over 70% on 2s against Florida today. No team had ever done that against Golden in his 144-game tenure in Gainesville. Iowa sliced and diced one of the elite rim defenses in the sport.
Florida just didn’t get enough from Rueben Chinyelu, who was in foul trouble for long stretches. Alex Condon delivered 21 points but struggled on defense. Xaivian Lee had 17 points and three big 3-pointers, but made a gaffe in the final seconds by not taking the potential game-winning layup at the horn.
Florida won the SEC. It earned a No. 1 seed. This season was far from a failure, but the ending was gut-wrenching. — Trotter
Winner: Iowa State’s DNA shines clear
Iowa State played like it was backed into a corner without Joshua Jefferson. Even when offense was hard to come by in the first half and jumpers were going awry, Iowa State dug deep using defense, defense and more defense. The Cyclones blew up every Kentucky action in the second half of its runaway, 82-63, win. Iowa State forced 20 Kentucky turnovers and held the Wildcats to just 0.91 points per possession. – Trotter
Loser: Kentucky’s final loss sums up its entire season
Less than 48 hours after Kentucky thrillingly defeated Santa Clara to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, it fell flat against No. 2 seed Iowa State. The irony of that stretch is it’s a perfect microcosm of Kentucky’s season as a whole: a dramatic win followed by a letdown loss. Kentucky wasn’t favored in this game against Iowa State; however, Iowa State was without star player Joshua Jefferson after he suffered an ankle injury in the first round against Tennessee State. Kentucky couldn’t overcome its turnovers, and now major question marks surround the program heading into the offseason.
The Wildcats were one of the most disappointing teams
in the sport after lofty preseason expectations centered around a roster worth over $20 million. A second-round loss isn’t the Kentucky standard. – Salerno
Winner: Purdue’s dual-pronged attack
Defending Purdue was a game of pick your poison for Miami on Sunday as the Boilermakers escaped with a 79-69 victory. The Boilermakers shot 53.2% from the floor as the duo of Fletcher Loyer and C.J. Cox combined to drill 7 of 8 shots from 3-point range. Cox exploded for three 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the first half as the Boilermakers erased a 7-point deficit.
With Trey Kaufman-Renn and Oscar Cluff wreaking havoc on the interior with 27 combined points for the Boilermakers and quality shooters surrounding them on the perimeter, Purdue earned what felt like a never-ending series of good looks. Star point guard Braden Smith finished just 3 of 12 from the floor, but it didn’t matter as he dished out eight assists to a balanced group of teammates who handled the scoring load. – Cobb
Winner: Tennessee marches to fourth straight Sweet 16
Tennessee had been to one Elite Eight before Rick Barnes’ arrival for the 2015-16 season. Now, the No. 6 seed Volunteers are one win away from going for a third straight season. Sunday’s 79-72 win over No. 3 seed Virginia sent the Volunteers into the Sweet 16 for a fourth straight season, marking an unprecedented run of success for both Barnes and the Tennessee program. Even during the height of Barnes’ 17-year run at Texas, the Longhorns never made it to the second weekend of the Big Dance in four straight seasons. Similarly, Tennessee never enjoyed a run of tournament success quite like this under Bruce Pearl. The Barnes-Tennessee pairing, now in its 11th season, has gone better than anyone could have envisioned when both were in need of revitalization in 2015. – Cobb
CHENNAI: The MA Chidambaram Stadium turned back time on Sunday as the legendary heroes from Chennai Super Kings’ past walked into the stadium in a first-of-its-kind ‘Roar’ event for the fans.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The OGs, the men who built CSK’s legacy — Suresh Raina, Muttiah Muralitharan, Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo — among others — slipped back into their vintage yellow jerseys and played an exhibition match against the current squad. The OGs got the better of the newbies with ease as the 28,000-odd crowd erupted into roars.
The star of the show, though, was Sanju Samson, for whom this will be his debut CSK season. Huge cheers were in store for him and the T20 World Cup winner assured that he will try and help the team lift the trophy.“Really happy and grateful to be a part of such a great franchise and team. It was a goosebumps moment. Winning the World Cup for the country is something I had dreamed of for many years. I’m glad I was able to contribute. Now, I’m excited and looking forward to the next couple of months in the IPL with my new team, CSK. My approach would be simple — see the ball and hit the ball. I will look to hit a lot of sixes,” said the wicket-keeper batter.Samson’s ‘duel’ with Sri Lankan great spinner Muralitharan also saw the loudest cheers of the evening. First, Samson politely played four dot balls to show respect. At one point, he stepped out looking to go big, missed, and MS Dhoni chose not to whip off the bails, a moment that drew smiles all around. However, Samson finished in style, striking two eyepleasing boundaries.As the crowd sang, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, Sanju is a superstar”, CSK’s ‘Chinna Thala’ Raina said that Samson’s inclusion will be a major boost for CSK. “I want them to win the title this time. The team looks very strong. Sanju is back here (after the World Cup), and there are a lot of youngsters who will learn from MS Dhoni and go on to get the trophy. I hope the fans continue supporting CSK like they always have,” Raina said.CSK also inducted Raina and Hayden into their first-ever Hall of Fame.
Film Profile | Analytical Profile
Nov 29, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) runs with the football against Stanford Cardinal safety Darrius Davis (29) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Prospect Information
College: Notre Dame
Height/Weight: 5’ 11’’/203
Hands: 9 5/8″
Age: 22 (at the time of the 2026 season opener)
Advertisement
Important NFL Combine/Pro Day/Testing Numbers
40-Yard Dash: 4.49
Vertical Jump: 35″
Broad Jump: 10’ 4’’
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Model Overview — Why the Model Likes This Profile
My Running Back Rookie Model evaluates running back prospects through the traits that historically translate best to fantasy production. The model weighs rushing efficiency, explosive play creation, tackle-breaking ability, receiving utility, athletic profile and expected draft capital, then compares each prospect against historical outcomes and stylistic comps.
Price stands out as one of the cleaner all-around profiles in the 2026 class. He may not be the flashiest back in the group, but the model likes how balanced his profile is across production, athletic translation and fantasy-friendly role indicators.
Advertisement
That matters because Price does not need one outlier trait to carry the profile. He wins through a mix of efficiency, enough athletic juice and the kind of all-around skill set that gives him multiple paths to fantasy relevance at the next level.
Model Derived Athletic Scores
BMI: 28.3
Speed Score: 99.9
Burst Score: 45.3
Agility Score: 0.13
Composite Athleticism Score: 0.03
Historical Athleticism Percentile: 58th
Understanding the Athleticism Score
The Composite Athleticism Score blends size-adjusted speed, burst, agility and functional rushing traits. When testing is missing, the model can still derive portions of the athletic profile through production-based indicators, but in Price’s case we do have verified size and explosion data from the combine.
Advertisement
Historically, a percentile around this range lands in the average-to-above-average bucket. Price does not project as a rare outlier athlete, but he clears the bar for NFL translation and does so without carrying any major athletic red flags.
Rushing Efficiency Metrics
Price’s appeal starts with the way his profile balances efficiency and translatability. He is not just a volume accumulator. The model likes backs who can create on their own, hold up physically and offer enough juice to turn efficient rushing into fantasy value, and Price checks enough of those boxes to stand out in this class.
He profiles as a back who can generate yards in structure while still offering enough burst and functional movement ability to create chunk plays when blocking opens lanes. That blend gives him one of the steadier projections in the class.
Advertisement
Receiving Usage
Price’s receiving profile also helps his fantasy translation. He is not solely dependent on becoming a 20-carry grinder to matter, which is a key distinction in dynasty projection. Backs with enough pass-game viability tend to give themselves more ways to earn snaps early in their careers.
That does not automatically make him an elite receiving specialist, but it does support the idea that he can stay on the field in multiple situations and avoid being boxed into a one-dimensional role.
Production Snapshot
Price’s overall profile is built more on balance than on one overwhelming strength. That can sometimes make a player less flashy in the pre-draft process, but it also tends to produce some of the more stable model outcomes.
Advertisement
For fantasy purposes, that is often a good sign. The model generally prefers backs who bring enough rushing efficiency, enough functional athleticism and enough receiving utility to create several viable paths to production rather than needing everything to break perfectly.
Positive Indicators
Balanced all-around profile
Price does not need one extreme trait to carry his projection, because the model sees strength across multiple areas.
Verified athletic baseline
At 203 pounds with a 4.49 forty and solid explosion numbers, Price checks the athletic threshold needed for NFL translation.
Strong fantasy floor
His profile suggests a back who can earn work in different situations, which supports a safer fantasy projection than many peers in this class.
Advertisement
Areas of Concern
No truly elite athletic outlier
Price tested well, but not in a way that forces the model to project a rare ceiling outcome strictly from athleticism alone.
May depend on role quality for ceiling
Because he is more well-rounded than truly extreme in any one area, his long-term ceiling could be influenced more heavily by landing spot and usage.
Not purely traits-driven
Some backs can survive on overwhelming physical tools. Price’s profile is stronger because of balance, which can be a positive but also means the margin for error is slightly tighter if the role is capped.
Historical Model Comps
Miles Sanders
Zach Charbonnet
James Cook
Jonathon Brooks
J.K. Dobbins
Advertisement
Historical Fantasy Tier Outcomes
Elite RB1 (Top-12): 22.1%
RB2 (13–24): 43.5%
RB3 (25–36): 12.8%
Outside Top-36: 21.6%
Early Career Fantasy Outlook
Year 1: Flex/RB3 range with RB2 upside
Year 2–3: RB2 with paths to RB1 seasons
Year 1 Fantasy Points: 48.4
Best-Year Fantasy Points: 67.3
3-Year Fantasy Points: 161.6
Dynasty Translation
Price profiles as one of the safer dynasty running back targets in the 2026 class. He brings enough verified athletic ability, enough overall balance and enough fantasy-friendly role flexibility to give himself a legitimate chance to become a useful early-career producer.
Dynasty Rookie Tier: RB2 with RB1 upside
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Jadarian Price Dynasty Rookie Profile and Fantasy Outlook
Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker has marvelled at the New Zealand exploits of rising filly Ohope Wins this year, though he refuses to surrender this Saturday’s $750,000 Vinery Stud Stakes without competition.
He’ll unleash Belle Cheval in the Rosehill Group 1 showdown over 2000 metres.
Sired by Savabeel, the filly advances beyond her 1500m placing behind Well Written in The Kiwi for her debut at the two-mile trip, and Walker rates Ohope Wins highly but welcomes the confrontation after her drop from the New Zealand Oaks distance.
“We know that horse really well from New Zealand and they are coming back from 2400 to 2000, I’d rather be probably going 1500 to 2000,” Walker said.
“But she has got very good New Zealand form, that’s for sure.
“You don’t know until you go to Australia how the New Zealand form is going to measure up, but Belle Cheval’s run in The NZB Kiwi was really good.
“She is at 2000 metres first time, but she’s by Savabeel and most of them get that sort of distance.
“You don’t know until you try but at least as a three-year-old she should be able to manage it.”
The Vinery Stud Stakes has drawn 15 entries, featuring Belle Cheval alongside Ohope Wins, who moved to Chris Waller after prevailing in the Oaks for Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott.
Rosehill hosts two Group 1s Saturday, with the $1.5m Tancred Stakes (2400m) boasting 16 runners like Dubai Honour, Aeliana, Sir Delius, Vauban and Group 1 import Barnavara.
Now on her seventh appearance, Belle Cheval was third in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton last spring, took Group 3 spoils at 1200m and 1400m, and was denied in a thrilling bobble in The Kiwi.
This will cap Belle Cheval’s current preparation, yet more Australian action awaits her this campaign year.
“She just has the one run then goes down to our Melbourne stable for three or four days and then we’ll send out her out for a spell,” Walker, who has an Australian base at Cranbourne, said.
“She’ll spell down on the Mornington Peninsula and then we’ll have back for spring racing in Melbourne.”
Early spring Group 1 aims for Belle Cheval in Melbourne include the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and Toorak Handicap (1600m), according to Walker.
Discover the finest betting sites offering racing odds for the Vinery Stud Stakes.
Sports
Kansas squanders its best player as Darryn Peterson’s college career is over with loss to St. John’s
SAN DIEGO — For a few brief moments inside Viejas Arena on Sunday, there was hope for Kansas.
After trailing by as many as 14 points against No. 5 seed St. John’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where Kansas looked completely outmatched for almost the entire game, star guard Darryn Peterson knocked down a pair of free throws to somehow tie the game with 13 seconds remaining.
Then came heartbreak.
St. John’s guard Dylan Darling sent his team to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 after scoring a layup with no time remaining in the Red Storm’s 67-65 win over No. 4 seed Kansas. The Jayhawks have now failed to reach the Sweet 16 in four consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1980s.
For all intents and purposes, time has run out on the Peterson era at Kansas after he scored 21 points in what should be his final game at the school. Whenever it happens, Peterson will declare for the 2026 NBA Draft, where he could be the No. 1 overall pick. The player that Kansas coach Bill Self has said repeatedly was the “best player” he had recruited at Kansas saw his career end before the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Anticipated season for KU
If you go back about a calendar year, those same Kansas fans had a sense of hope after a disastrous season that saw the program become the second team to lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after being the preseason AP No. 1 team. The reason for that hope? Peterson.
This season was a double-edged sword for those following along.
Peterson became one of the most talked-about people in the sports world. And at times, it was for all the wrong reasons. Peterson dealt with severe cramping that caused him to miss 11 games. Peterson admitted earlier this month that the cramping was so bad at one point, he ended up in the hospital needing IV fluids.
For better or worse, people have had plenty to say about Peterson. The takes ranged from people who watched every second of his time at Kansas, to talking heads who stumbled across his name for the first time. After the loss, Peterson opened up to CBS Sports about whether any of the narratives around his name bothered him, calling them “BS.”
“If I was able to be out there, I would’ve been out there,” Peterson said. “I’ve seen some stuff about me not loving basketball. Not wanting to play. Being a bad teammate, or load management, and all that other BS, I would say. I said before, basketball is all I know. It’s all I’ve ever had besides my family. There’s nothing I love more.”
With Peterson’s college career all but over, the attention now turns to the future of Kansas’ basketball program. There’s no blue-chip recruit like Peterson coming around to save the Jayhawks. Tyran Stokes, the No. 1-ranked player in the 2026 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, could end up at Kansas, but he isn’t the same kind of player or NBA prospect that Peterson is.
How much longer for Self?
The other major storyline that will surround the program heading into the offseason is how much longer will Self be the coach at Kansas? The 63-year-old Hall of Famer isn’t getting any younger. He has faced health challenges in recent years, including a heart procedure and periodic hospital visits.
“I don’t know about completely, but I’m feeling — I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time,” Self said. “I’m not making any statements whatsoever, but every year, I think — it used to be when you get to be, doing it as long as I’ve done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak. So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So I’ll go back now and break it down and see where that leads.”
Since Self guided Kansas to a national title in 2022, the Jayhawks have won just three NCAA Tournament games. The wins? No. 16 seed Howard, No. 13 seed Samford and No. 13 seed California Baptist this season, where the Jayhawks nearly gave away a 26-point advantage late in the game.
An era of Kansas basketball ended on Sunday, whether Self knows it or not. The chances of him getting a player of Peterson’s caliber via high school recruiting, for however long he still coaches, are minimal. It’s not a diss at anyone Kansas may or may not recruit. Peterson has the potential to be an All-NBA player one day. Even if he only played in 23 games, there were plenty of flashes of that potential throughout the season.
Peterson’s time at Kansas ended when the game clock hit zero against St. John’s. There’s no magic game clock that’s counting down the end of Self’s coaching career, but in basketball terms, you would think it’s counting down somewhere deep in the second half.
Time is running out.
You know you need to turn on your backswing. And, from my perch on the lesson tee, I can see most players do it. But, as you can imagine, some turns are simply better than others, not just for creating potential energy on the backswing, but also getting your body and club in position for a powerful, on-plane strike on your way back down to the ball.
The big error I see is the manner in which players turn their torso away from the ball. Seems natural: We have muscle fibers in our torso that run east-west, so why not just use them to turn in the backswing? In boxing terms, that gives you a couple of options, with one being a left cross (above left). It’s a solid turn but it leaves a lot of energy on the table.
You’re better off thinking of throwing a left upppercut (middle) with your body not just rotating back but stretching your abdominals, lats and rib cage as you twist slightly up and around. Hopefully you can see the difference.
It’s a power storage move that, even better, keeps the clubhead more in front of you, making it easier to keep it on plane as you swing down. When you cross instead of uppercut, the club will get too flat and “trapped” behind you.
It’ll take a lot more work through impact to get it where it needs to be. But with an uppercut, you’re a knockout.
V.J. Trolio is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher who teaches at the Performance Center at Frederica GC on St. Simons Island, Ga.
Improve your game with GOLF Top 100 Teachers.
Sign up for GOLF Schools Today
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
WWE star Logan Paul left a lasting impression on NFL legend Tom Brady during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on Saturday, the seven-time Super Bowl champion said after the game.
Brady and Paul had a few flare-ups on the field, but kept things professional. The two had a heated feud over the last month leading up to the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Founders FFC’s Tom Brady and Wildcats FFC’s Logan Paul talk on the field during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
“I’ll say this, he impressed me out there,” Brady told Fox News Digital in the postgame press conference. Some of the coaches that were coaching him said how serious he was taking it and how he just wanted to learn and be a sponge to go out there and do a great job.
“To watch what he and his brother have done … you know, there’s a lot of tit-for-tat stuff but I do have respect for people that are really driven to succeed. I’m a firm believer in you don’t wait for things to happen, you make it happen. And if you want positive things to happen in your life, you go for it and you’re fearless and you don’t settle for a backup plan. He really displayed that today.”
Founders FFC’s Tom Brady reacts to a call made by the referee against the U.S. National Flag team during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
SUPER BOWL CHAMP, 66, LOOKING TO MAKE US FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM
Brady showed that he hadn’t really lost a step on the football field but it was Team USA that outpaced everyone. The national team crushed Brady’s team, 43-16, after defeating Joe Burrow’s squad, 39-16.
Some NFL players have made clear their intentions of trying out for the U.S. Olympic team as the sport will debut in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Logan Paul #19 of the Wildcats FFC and Tom Brady #12 of the Founders FFC speak during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOS)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
However, national team stars Darrell Doucette III and Nico Casares have made clear they aren’t going to just relinquish their spots easily.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
I Gave Away MORE Money Than MRBEAST
The ‘very nice’ Cambs neighbourhood locals say ‘too many houses are being built’
Centaurus lines up debt funding
-
Fashion2 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Adidas – Corporette.com
-
Politics2 days agoJenni Murray, Long-Serving Woman’s Hour Presenter, Dies Aged 75
-
Tech6 days agoAre Split Spacebars the Next Big Gaming Keyboard Trend?
-
Crypto World2 days agoNIO (NIO) Stock Plunges 6.5% as Shelf Registration Sparks Dilution Worries
-
Crypto World1 day agoBest Crypto to Buy Now: Strategy Just Spent $1.57 Billion on Bitcoin During Fear While Early Investors Quietly Enter Pepeto for 150x Potential
-
News Videos5 days agoRBA board divided on rate cut, unusually buoyant share market | Finance Report | ABC NEWS
-
Crypto World1 day agoBitcoin Price News: Bhutan Sells $72 Million in BTC Under Fiscal Pressure, but the Smart Money Entering Pepeto Sees What the Market Does Not
-
Business7 days agoAustralian shares drop as Iran war enters third week
-
Crypto World7 days agoCrypto Lender BlockFills Enters Chapter 11 with Up to $500M in Liabilities
-
Politics5 days agoThe House | The new register to protect children from their abusers shows Parliament at its best
-
Fashion7 days ago25 Celebrities with Curly Hair That Are Naturally Beautiful
-
Tech3 days agoinKONBINI Lets You Spend Summer Days Behind the Register
-
Politics6 days agoReal-time pollution monitoring calls after boy nearly dies
-
Crypto World5 days agoCanada’s FINTRAC revokes registrations of 23 crypto MSBs in AML crackdown
-
NewsBeat4 days agoResidents in North Lanarkshire reminded to register to vote in Scottish Parliament Election
-
Business7 days agoMeta planning major layoffs as AI spending and automation reshape workforce
-
News Videos5 days agoPARLIAMENT OF MALAWI – PAC MEETING WITH REGISTRAR OF FINANCIAL ON AMARYLLIS HOTEL – INQUIRY LIVE
-
Business13 hours agoNo Winner in March 21 Drawing as Prize Rolls to $133 Million for Next
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Oscars reunite Rob Reiner supergroup of 17 stars for emotional tribute: Here's who appeared on stage
-
Business4 days agoWho Was Alex Pretti? 5 Key Facts About the ICU Nurse Killed by Federal Agents in Minneapolis
You must be logged in to post a comment Login