Manchester City are firmly in the Premier League title race and have a game in hand over Arsenal, who currently sit nine points clear at the top of the table

Gary Lineker has shared his verdict on the Premier League title race, backing Arsenal as they sit nine points clear of Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side do have a game in hand against Crystal Palace and will still welcome the Gunners to the Etihad Stadium.

After their emphatic 4-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool on Saturday, City are not in action again until Sunday, April 12, when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea (4:30pm). Arsenal, meanwhile, are on Champions League duty this week against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon, following their surprising 2–1 FA Cup defeat to struggling Southampton on Saturday.

Still competing in Europe, the Gunners have shown real resilience this season, going unbeaten in the group stage, while City were knocked out of the competition by Real Madrid in the round of 16 last month.

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Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker discussed Arsenal’s title chances and stressed the importance of restoring momentum after the disappointment on the south coast.

“The next game or two for Arsenal are hugely important. They need to steady the ship,” the England icon said. “There’s no doubt, they’ve got a huge lead in the Premier League – it’s a nine-point lead.

“Obviously, City have got a game in hand and they play Arsenal at the Etihad, so it could go down to three and it has to go down to three really for them to have any chance, City I think. But it’s squeaky bum time.”

Lineker added: “I think they’ll be fine. I think they’ll win the league which will be the main thing for them. Champions League would be an enormous bonus because obviously it’s a competition that they’ve never won.

“So I think, I’m pretty confident they’ll win the league but they do need to steady that ship.”

Alan Shearer echoed Lineker’s sentiments, saying: “They’re under huge pressure, there’s no doubt. Even Mikel’s interview after the game tells you that but as I said earlier, you’ve always got the right to respond.

“And three days after the game, they’ve got that. Football is crazy, you go into that game and if you win it, your confidence is back up again and everything’s nice and rosy.

“So that’s what they have to do because the noise will just get louder if they don’t.”

After their Champions League tie with Sporting, Arsenal will host Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday at 12:30pm, as the title race continues to heat up in the final weeks of the season.

Monday’s bombshell news that North Carolina is hiring former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone as its next men’s basketball coach sent shockwaves throughout basketball. Malone, who was fired in Denver after the 2024-25 season, will be returning to college basketball for the first time since he was an assistant for Manhattan from 1999 to 2001.

While he hasn’t been part of the college game in the past quarter-century, Malone does have something that no other candidate for the UNC job can claim. He’s got an NBA championship ring as a head coach. Malone — with the help of MVP Nikola Jokic — guided the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA title.

At just 54, he’s still in the prime of his coaching years, and he’s got a personal connection to UNC. His daughter is a member of the volleyball team. He clearly wasn’t North Carolina’s first choice. But after missing on the likes of Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May, North Carolina didn’t want to drag its search out any longer.

The Heels went unconventional, landing someone who has been to the pinnacle of basketball as an NBA champion but who has never worked as a college head coach. Here are the early reactions from our experts on the move.

North Carolina to hire Michael Malone as next basketball coach: Led Nuggets to NBA title in 2022-23

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Gary Parrish, CBS Sports Senior Writer

I’ve noticed the initial reaction to the hire is mixed — but, all things considered, I don’t mind this move. Or, at least, I understand it. I mean, what were UNC’s other realistic options? The school had already missed on Arizona‘s Tommy Lloyd, was never going to get Michigan‘s Dusty May, and the buyouts for most of the other notable candidates currently working in college were all going to cost multiple millions of dollars. So what hiring Michael Malone now does is close the process before the transfer portal opens and save lots of money that can now be spent on staff and players.

Will it work? As always, we’ll see.

But it’s not like Malone has never been employed on a college campus or recruited college prospects and, either way, “previous college head-coaching experience” has never been less important than it is in this pay-for-play era where recruiting is largely transactional. UNC will have a general manager in place. As long as the school gives that person the resources to roster-build at the top of the sport, and as long as that person does the job well, there’s no reason we shouldn’t look up in November and see one of the biggest brands in college basketball, with an expensive roster, being run by an undeniably competent basketball coach.

Matt Norlander, CBS Sports Senior Writer

This is not a surprise candidate. His name had been referenced to me in the days after Hubert Davis was fired, but as a more distant candidate not among the four or five most desired names on the list. Quite clearly, North Carolina either privately coveted him more than anyone ever truly let leak, or they weren’t sure they were going to be satisfied with their pool of college candidates. As I understand it, Billy Donovan would have been very willing to at least engage in a conversation. He was not a guarantee to say yes — far from it — but he was not going to have any real movement until he was done coaching the Bulls, which isn’t for another six days.

This quite clearly picked up a lot of speed in the past 18 hours or so. Keep in mind, the portal officially opens tomorrow. Whether or not that should have any impact on North Carolina getting a coach in place is certainly up for debate.

Malone might prove to be an incredible college coach in the years to come, but it’s going to take a big lift and a change in pace from what he’s been used to as an NBA coach. The biggest question is can he adapt to the college landscape, navigate what it means to be working in the portal, NIL and all the stuff that comes with that.

David Cobb, CBS Sports Writer

Some say this is like the North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick on the basketball side, but that’s misguided. This is closer to USC hiring Pete Carroll in December of 2000 than it is to North Carolina hiring Belichick.

It’s the pairing of a historically elite but struggling college brand with a recently successful (but fired) professional coach who is still in the prime of his coaching years. Like Malone, Carroll hadn’t worked in the college game for a generation when he showed up at USC, and Carroll needed a season to get his feet beneath him. But once he figured it out, some of the greatest years in program history ensued.

At 54, Malone has accomplished more at the professional level in his coaching career than Carroll had when he took over at USC. He’s got an NBA championship ring and 12 years worth of experience scheming at the highest levels of the sport. Obviously, there will be an adjustment, particularly when it comes to personnel. The most critical question from here is who does North Carolina empower to assemble next season’s roster. It shouldn’t be Malone. While he can be involved, it needs to be someone who is currently involved in the nuances of the unique college basketball landscape.

Isaac Trotter, CBS Sports Writer

This feels all about timing and money. Not having to pay an exorbitant buyout is helpful. Not getting behind in the portal is good, too. Michigan’s Dusty May and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd choosing to stay makes sense, but when the head coach at Iowa and Iowa State also say ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to North Carolina, it makes me question the true cache of this job. Michael Malone may crush it. We’ll all find out together. But UNC’s inability to poach who it wants signals just how much things have changed in this new era of college basketball.

Cameron Salerno, CBS Sports Writer

Malone was one of the best coaches in the NBA during his time with the Denver Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings. Malone was fired (wrongfully) by the Kings in 2014 after just 104 games, which some may hold against him. However, during his short tenure in Sacramento, he started to build a culture within a losing organization that seemed to resonate. Malone caught on with Denver and helped the Nuggets win a title in 2023. I understand how North Carolina couldn’t afford to wait for the portal opening on Tuesday, but waiting the six extra days to hire Billy Donovan would’ve been the right move. 

If UNC didn’t want to wait, ponying up the money to land someone like Vanderbilt‘s Mark Byington would’ve been a much better move. Malone is an excellent basketball coach, but it just doesn’t make a ton of sense on paper. After striking out on Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May, UNC went with the financially safe hire who (obviously) had zero buyout attached. With that said, I don’t love this hire by UNC, but I also don’t hate it.

Eric Bossi, 247Sports Director of Basketball   

North Carolina’s hiring of Malone certainly seems to have come out of left field. The North Carolina brand is always going to get a coach in the door, but the hiring of a coach who hasn’t been involved in college basketball in 25 years brings up some pretty big questions on the recruiting front. Yes, Malone’s NBA experience and championship ring are going to be selling points in his favor, but he’s going to have to do some serious learning on the fly about recruiting in the portal and recruiting elite high school players. Given that the portal officially opens tomorrow, Malone is going to have to put together a staff that has some familiarity with the process and he’s going to have to do it fast. Clearly, Malone can coach at an elite level so there’s no questioning him from an X’s and O’s standpoint, but it is going to be interesting to see how quickly he can adapt to the recruiting landscape in 2026.

Terence Crawford has instructed Canelo Alvarez to take on one man in particular if he manages to claim world honours once again.

Neither Crawford or Canelo have fought since their clash back in September, which saw ‘Bud’ earn a unanimous decision victory to become undisputed super-middleweight world champion.

Crawford went on to announce his retirement from the sport, while Alvarez has been recovering from elbow surgery, and is expected to return to action in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later this year.

It seems that the frontrunner to be Canelo’s next opponent is Christian Mbilli, who now holds the WBC super-middleweight title after he was elevated from interim status due to Crawford’s retirement.

Mbilli’s trainer Marc Ramsay revealed last week that they were awaiting a decision on if Mbilli make need to face new WBC interim champion Lester Martinez, but after the WBC’s latest divisional updates, it has seemingly paved the way for a clash against Canelo.

Crawford believes that Martinez deserves his shot though, after posting on social media to say Alvarez needs to fight the Guatemalan if he overcomes Mbilli.

“Yes that needs to be next.”

Martinez was a stablemate of Crawford’s, and over the years ‘Bud’ has tipped the 30-year-old to achieve big things within the sport.

After a draw against Mbilli himself on the Crawford vs Canelo card, Martinez returned in March with a unanimous decision win against Immanuwel Aleem to win the WBC interim title.

Martinez has since had two mandatory defences put upon him, first against Luka Plantic, before then against the winner of a bout between Jacob Bank and Paulinus Ndjolomino. With victories there, a future clash against Canelo could present itself.

A former world heavyweight champion has welcomed a potential battle against Moses Itauma.

Highly-rated Itauma has been viewed as one of the brightest prospects in the entire sport over the past few years, but he has now arguably surpassed that status and has already earned his placement as one of the best heavyweights in the division.

Last time out, Itauma did something that Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte were unable to do by defeating Jermaine Franklin inside the distance, earning a fifth round knockout win thanks to a devastating uppercut that left the American face first on the canvas.

When it comes to picking the next opponent for the 21-year-old, WBA Regular heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev and top contender Filip Hrgovic have been named as possible options, but now a former long-term titleholder has thrown his hat into the ring.

That man is Deontay Wilder, as speaking in the post-fight press conference following his win over Derek Chisora on Saturday, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ said he would welcome a clash against Itauma.

“Why not? I’m not dodging anyone. I’m a veteran in the game. I’m looking forward to fighting any and all. If the fans want to see it then why not?

“I didn’t know who Moses was, I saw his last fight against Franklin, what a hell of a KO. He seems like a potential champion. Why not test him out?”

Wilder held the WBC heavyweight title for five years but has suffered a number of defeats in recent years. He is hoping to have turned over a new leaf following his win against Chisora, with a clash against Itauma seemingly one option for the hard-hitting American.

Ex-Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan hit it off the ex-Boxer on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… South Africa in 2022

Helen Flanagan, the actress and former partner of David Haye, was previously brought to tears while speaking about their relationship. The 45-year-old ex-boxer is returning to the jungle for the latest series of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… South Africa, which begins on Monday evening.

The former Coronation Street star, 35, became visibly upset as she discussed her connection with Haye and speculation that she was involved in a ‘throuple’ with him.

The former heavyweight champion has frequently attracted attention in recent years for practising polyamory, which involves having multiple romantic and sexual relationships, with the agreement of a partner or spouse.

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Haye and Flanagan first met on I’m a Celebrity in 2012 but didn’t begin a romance until they both featured on the 2022 series of the reality programme. Yet, it was during a conversation with relationship experts on Celebs Go Dating in September 2024 that Flanagan discussed Haye and the complications that accompany dating the gold medal-winning former fighter.

Helen broke down in tears as she disclosed they had previously been together, but found it difficult to accept not being the sole woman in his life. “I’d known him for 10 years,” Helen said on the show.

“We did a reality show together. I remember the first time seeing him in the jungle, I was like ‘wow.’ It was quite something – it’s really hard for me to talk about.

“He had a girlfriend and an open relationship. I didn’t mean to fall in love with him, but I did. We did have this amazing connection together – we were like fire. It was weird – I think he does love his girlfriend and he loves me as well. It just brings me to a part in my life that was quite dark.”

When pressed on suggestions she had been involved in a throuple, she responded: “No [it wasn’t]. I was in love with him. I wouldn’t have enjoyed watching the man I was in love with have sex with another woman, that’s not for me.

“I had communication with his girlfriend, but I felt very guilty. I didn’t feel nice about it all. It really upsets me because I don’t mean to hurt other people but I was just really lonely. I found it really difficult because it just happened. It’s not nice on another girl and I should’ve known better.”

The pair brought their brief romance to a close in December 2023. Speaking ahead of Monday’s launch of the new series of I’m a Celebrity, the former boxer reflected: “The first time I did it, it felt very easy for me.

“The trials weren’t that hard at all. And I think I was quite vocal about that going into it [this time], like [I was] wanting a bit of a challenge. And they turned they turned up the heat. They really did.”

He quipped that “some of the stuff they were getting us to do I wouldn’t have thought it was legal to do.” In contrast to the regular series, this year’s instalment of the programme has been pre-recorded.

Tipped to be the most gruelling instalment to date, the last spin-off aired in 2023 and saw Loose Women star Myleene Klass crowned as the inaugural winner. I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here… South Africa kicks off on Monday, April 6, at 9pm on ITV1 and is also available to stream on ITVX.

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The UNC Tar Heels are dipping into the NBA pool for its next men’s basketball coach.

After Hubert Davis was fired following a shocking loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels are set to hire Michael Malone, according to ESPN.

North Carolina was previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who will be competing for an NCAA title on Monday night against UConn. But May took his name out of any running across college, while Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger were also rumored to be in the Tar Heels’ favor.

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Head Coach Michael Malone claps on the sidelines during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on April 6, 2025. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

But Malone, who spent the past 10 seasons leading the Denver Nuggets, is the man they’re settling on to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness.

Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history, tallying 471 career wins across his career there, while also winning an NBA title in 2023.

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However, Malone, despite what he means to the franchise record books, was fired by the Nuggets in April 2025. He quickly entered the sports media space, joining ESPN in May 2025, but he’s back in the saddle now in a whole new collegiate world compared to the pros.

Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t have been searching for another head coach if Davis and the Tar Heels didn’t collapse against No. 10 VCU in the first round, as the Rams mounted the biggest first-round comeback in tournament history to ultimately defeat No. 6 UNC in overtime, 82-78.

“We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”

Davis, who made four NCAA Tournaments, including the last three seasons, over his five campaigns with the Tar Heels, released his own statement on the matter. 

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the game against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

“Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill,” he wrote. “My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together.”

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Davis added that he hopes to be coaching “in the very near future.”

Davis, who played for UNC from 1988-92 before being a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in 1992, left the program with about $5.3 million still guaranteed from his contract, per ESPN.

Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, which included a first-year Final Four appearance during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the national championship game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who also overcame a double-digit deficit to be crowned champions.

Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

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 After missing March Madness in 2023, the Tar Heels earned themselves a No. 1 seed in 2024, but they were taken down by No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16, cutting their national title hopes short. Still, Davis earned himself the ACC Coach of the Year Award that year. 

The Tar Heels want to get back to the Roy Williams days, as the legendary UNC head coach led his squad to six NCAA titles during his tenure, the most recent coming in 2017.

Bayern Munich are waiting on the fitness of “very special” Harry Kane to see if he can lead their challenge to overcome Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.

The 32-year-old England captain took part in training in Munich on Monday morning, before travelling to Madrid with the rest of Bayern’s squad after the “minor issue” – believed to be an ankle knock – that kept him out of England’s friendly defeat against Japan at Wembley.

Kane was also missing for Bayern’s 3-2 victory against Freiburg, and coach Vincent Kompany was playing his cards close to his chest about his involvement at The Bernabeu.

Kompany said a final decision on whether Kane starts will be made on Tuesday, but speaking on Monday evening, he said: “Harry’s part of the team so that’s positive for us. We have to wait until tomorrow (Tuesday) to get the final information, then we will make our decision.

“It was important that he did a lot of training today (Monday). I don’t think he’s lost his rhythm.”

Kane is a key part of Bayern’s plans for the quarter-final first leg, having scored 10 goals in the Champions League this season. He is also the Bundesliga’s leading scorer with 31 this season.

Bayern team-mate Joshua Kimmich underlined Kane’s importance, as he said: “How many goals has he scored? How many assists does he have? Forty or 50 this season?

“This shows how important he is – apart from all the goals – extremely vital for our game.

“We are glad he is here with us. He is not only a poacher or a selfish goalscorer just trying to score as many goals as he can for us.

“He is an absolute leader who is always trying to have the maximum success for the team. This is a very special mindset for an attacking player. He’s a role model.”

Kimmich added: “It is important to have Harry on the pitch with us with all his qualities of leadership.”

Kompany fielded several questions on Kane’s fitness, saying: “Harry Kane knows how important this game is, but it is important to take a decision with each player.

“You keep asking about Harry Kane and to be honest I like it. I don’t mind but I don’t give you an answer.”

Mikel Arteta insisted he is not pressing the panic button as he vowed to banish the “pain” of two consecutive defeats which have left Arsenal’s season sitting on a knife edge.

Arsenal arrive in Portugal for the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night following a shock last-eight FA Cup exit at Southampton which arrived off the back of their Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City.

It marked the first time this season that the Gunners have suffered back-to-back losses and raises serious questions about the club’s winning mentality at the business end of the campaign.

But Arteta, whose side still hold a nine-point lead in the Premier League, insisted: “What you have to be is clear. Instead of panic, understand if that happens, why it happened, and bring clarity. And when you analyse that and you accept that, you will be better. That’s it, and that’s the thing that we have to do.

“Have some perspective on how difficult it is. Feel that pain, feel that emotion, and use it to be better and to improve. There are a few things that we have discussed internally, and I’m very convinced that tomorrow we’re going to see that.

“I know what it means to them, and I know how much they want it. Now is the moment to show it, and we have to do it tomorrow at the highest level. We are hungrier than ever, very excited and very, very motivated.”

Arteta will be boosted by the return of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard for his side’s first leg in Lisbon. Defender Gabriel will also be available despite limping off in the second half of his side’s defeat at St Mary’s with a knee injury.

However, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber have not made the trip, but Arteta is hopeful the duo will return against Bournemouth in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday.

Goalkeeper David Raya is set to return to the line-up following a two-match exodus with Kepa Arrizabalaga preferred by Arteta for the cup games.

Kepa’s mistake gifted City their first goal in Arsenal’s Wembley defeat with Raya’s omission raising eyebrows.

However, Raya said: “No, it wasn’t frustrating. It is part of football. Sometimes you get picked and sometimes you don’t. That’s up to the boss.

“You have to be there for your team and your team-mates and in this example, Kepa, and trying to help as much as possible.

“We are ready to go again. I don’t think the word is ‘pressure’. It was disappointing losing to Southampton but that has gone. We have to use that fuel and pain to pick it up for the rest of the season and that starts tomorrow.

“It is an opportunity to show who we are and what we are capable of and we have to grab this massive opportunity and win tomorrow’s game.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Public discussion of how UConn got here makes little sense to Dan Hurley, and one could relate to his openly confounded demeanor on the dais as the Huskies are painted as big underdogs for the second time in two Final Four games on Monday.

Before we talk present day, consider he’s on the verge of his 200th win in eight seasons at UConn (199-74) a winning percentage a lot of his peers would love to have.

Hurley can win a third national title in four years if the Huskies pull off the upset — technically speaking, as UConn was an 8-point underdog Monday morning — and improve the all-time program record in the Final Four to a remarkable 14-1.

A narrative that somehow a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament with 34 wins is a surprise national title game entry is insincere or lazy. You don’t have to agree with Dan Hurley’s sideline antics or appreciate his personality to approve of the context of his rebuttal to the ‘dog label.

“Underdog, I don’t know that we necessarily feel like a huge, huge underdog,” he said. “Obviously we acknowledge Michigan’s greatness and the team that they are, but we’re a 34-win team coming into the game.”

Michigan has rolled through this tournament and hit a level of dominance the past two games — scorching Tennessee in the Midwest regional final by over 30 and holding a lead by the same count against an Arizona team that beat UConn in November — perhaps even on a track to be compared to Hurley’s best UConn team. It was his second of the back-to-back title winners in 2023 and 2024.

But with dominance and elevated expectations comes a new level of pressure. Hurley ushers his team to the court Monday night with nothing to lose. A third Final Four in four years already stamps his legacy as one of the game’s great modern-era coaches.

“In ’24, you know you have the best team. There is a certain level of pressure that comes with — it’s like when you get to the Final Four and you know you have the best team, that was a different level of pressure than in ’23 where we weren’t really sure,” Hurley said. “It was our first time. We weren’t sure we were the best team in ’23, we were just trying to win the next game.”

Hurley did compare the current team to his 2023 club on Friday before showing off a championship-level defense that muted Illinois’ high-octane attack. UConn held the Illini under 65 points for the second time this season and used a brand of physicality that made freshman point guard Keaton Wagler uncomfortable. When money time came around with under 4 minutes to play, Wagler’s legs were toast. He had two open — but extra long distance — looks that clanged the front of the rim as Illinois closed to within two possessions.

When it appeared Illinois had overcome past demons by handling Houston’s heavy on-ball pressure and physical play in the South regional semifinals, UConn’s Big East muscle hit different.

Now the underdogs — Hurley’s refuse-to-lose Huskies — try to squash a fourth Big Ten foe in this tournament (UCLA, Michigan State, Illinois) with another on-brand effort.

“We’re a tough program. We’re a tough program. We’re a group of fighters. It’s not appealing to everyone. I’m sure there’s some people in here that it’s offputting for,” Hurley said. “But we are a group of fighters. We are incredibly tough. We’ve got incredible will. We go into these games, we’re ready for battle. Again, for us it’s not a game that we’re just kind of running around in uniforms throwing the ball around, hoping it goes in. That’s not what we’re doing out there. We’re fighting. It’s a life-and-death struggle for us to get to Monday night for the opportunity to win a championship, and then just to be able to prolong this season with each other and to make the people of Connecticut proud, to make the university proud and all the former great players.”