MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Argentina has the World Cup titles, arguably the best player of all-time in Lionel Messi, the rich history and a roster filled with stars.
Cape Verde has none of that.
Soccer’s version of David vs. Goliath happens Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium, where defending World Cup champion Argentina faces a Cape Verde squad with absolutely no burden of expectations going into the Round of 32 match.
“I believe we can do a great thing here,” Cape Verde backup defender Ianique dos Santos Tavares, who goes by the name Stopira, said through a translator on Thursday. “And this is no exception. This match is no exception.”
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A win by Cape Verde would be one of the most stunning upsets in soccer history, maybe even sports history. Think of it on a “Miracle on Ice” scale from 1980, when the youthful U.S. hockey team stunned the supposedly unbeatable Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Olympics and went on to win the gold medal.
This would be a Miracle on Grass, without question.
The Argentines mean no disrespect when they say this, but when the draw for the tournament came out, they thought Spain or Uruguay would be waiting for them in this round. It was going to be the Group J winner — three-time champion Argentina — against the Group H runner-up, and most people would have picked Spain or Uruguay for that spot.
Enter Cape Verde, the tiny island nation with a 40-year-old goalkeeper, the tale of how his mother needed help to get to the U.S. to watch some of the group stage and how one of the longest long shots in the tournament grabbed everyone’s attention by playing Spain to a draw in its opening match.
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“The truth is that when the draw was decided, the group that we would (have) to face … there were two world champions there,” Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul said.
Spain, the 2010 champion, got through the group stage. Uruguay, a two-time World Cup winner, did not. Cape Verde did, and a showdown with Messi — the five-foot-seven Goliath, so to speak — awaits.
“The most important match in our history,” Cape Verde coach Bubista said. “So, we are being responsible and also trying to enjoy the match. We did not reach this stage by chance. It was on our own merits and we want to show the world our qualities, our values and that there’s a lot of quality in Cape Verdean football.”
Cape Verde hasn’t yet won a match at this year’s World Cup, making it the only team to reach the Round of 32 without a victory. It had three draws in the group stage; Argentina won all three of its matches, with Messi starring in each of them.
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They’re even now. It’s win or go home. And it’s no fluke that Cape Verde is here, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.
“We are not surprised, to be honest,” Scaloni said. “They are a good team. And they are not here by chance. We must respect them. And that’s what we will do.”
Cape Verde insists it has a plan for Friday night. It wants to be aggressive on set pieces. It wants to try to control possession as much as possible. It will rely on a defence that yielded only two goals in three group matches and kept Spain scoreless.
And it’ll try to be ready for Messi, though no team in the world ever really seems to be ready for Messi.
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“We have our own strategy, not only against Messi, but the whole team,” Bubista said. “We know they are the current world champions, one of the best teams in the tournament. And we will play against the whole team, not just Messi.”
Jaylen Brown has been at the center of the NBA world since the Boston Celtics traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. The Celtics received veteran star Paul George, two future first-round draft picks and two future second-round draft picks.
Since the deal, it has also been reported that Brown has “fallen out of favor” with the Celtics organization. On Thursday, there were reports from famed NBA commentator Colin Cowherd that the five-time All-Star believes he’s the smartest person in every room. Cowherd revealed it on “The Colin Cowherd Podcast” and claimed that he had two NBA sources confirm it.
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“I had two NBA sources … two people in the league, one an executive, one a scout, say that Jaylen Brown has — it’s a disease. He suddenly thinks he’s the smartest guy in every room he’s in … You make a lot of money, suddenly you’re absolutely sure, you don’t wanna listen to your bosses, you don’t wanna listen to consultants, you don’t wanna listen to teammates,” Cowherd said.
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Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell quickly shut down Cowherd’s claims about his on-court rival and off-court friend. Mitchell blasted the report on X about the criticism of Brown.
“Critique basketball all you want… but disease is insane… we gotta stop letting people just say whatever… cmon man!” Mitchell posted.
While Jaylen Brown is one of the most talented players in the league, he’s widely recognized as highly intelligent. Among his many noteworthy academic and intellectual achievements is the fact that, at the age of 22, he was the youngest lecturer at Harvard University. The former Celtics star spoke about leadership and education.
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He also took a master’s-level class in Cultural Studies of Sport in Education while a freshman at UC Berkley. He also received a NASA internship offer and collaborations with MIT.
Isaiah Thomas Stood Up for Jaylen Brown Online
Since the deal was announced, there has been considerable criticism regarding Jaylen Brown. Isaiah Thomas, a former teammate, said that anyone may criticize Brown’s style of play. However, he doesn’t tolerate the comments made about his personality.
“It’s so nasty all the NEGATIVE things I’m seeing people say about Jaylen Brown!!! I don’t care how yall talk about bros game, it’s all opinion based anyway! Please stay away from talking about the PERSON and his character!!!! He’s real as they come! Don’t get it twisted people,” Thomas wrote.
Thomas and Brown were teammates with the Celtics for one season, when the latter was still a rookie in the NBA. Although they only spent one year together, they have mutual respect.
Brown also considers Thomas a mentor after his productive years in Boston.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches OTA practice at TCO Performance Center, with June 1 placing the offseason scene in Eagan, Minnesota, as the team works through highlights from spring drills. O’Connell oversees timing and installation while players move through practice reps during Minnesota’s early summer preparation window under his coaching staff’s direction. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings signed four main players in free agency: quarterback Kyler Murray, wide receiver Jauan Jennings, cornerback James Pierre, and tackle Ryan Van Demark. After that, the club entered the 2026 NFL Draft under interim general manager Rob Brzezinski and traded outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard during the event.
For those activities, ESPN afforded the Vikings a ‘B-‘ grade, and NFL.com was not far off with a ‘C+.’
Vikings Gamble Still Comes Down to Murray and Banks
Minnesota Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski joins KFAN host Paul Allen and analyst Pete Bercich for a Combine discussion, with Feb. 25, 2026 placing the interview in Indianapolis. Brzezinski explains roster-building philosophy and offseason strategy as Minnesota’s front office prepares for free agency and draft decisions during a pivotal evaluation week. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The Verdict on Vikings Offseason from ESPN
Seth Walder assigned an offseason grade to each NFL team this week, with Minnesota earning the ‘B-‘.
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He explained, “The best thing about the Vikings’ offseason is them signing Murray to a veterans minimum deal, which was possible due to his offsets from his contract with the Cardinals. It was a boon for Minnesota. Murray’s services would be worth many millions more on the free market, and he provides an answer at quarterback in the wake of J.J. McCarthy’s rough 2025 season.”
“The Vikings released veteran defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen in March, consequences of ill-advised spending on the aging veterans the prior year. Those transactions left a hole at defensive tackle, which perhaps is why Minnesota reached for Caleb Banks with the No. 18 pick in the draft, far earlier than he was expected to go (the Draft Day Predictor gave Banks only an 18% chance to be selected in the first round).”
Banks’s stock fell because of two foot injuries he sustained since the summer of 2025, including one at the NFL Combine in February — a broken foot.
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“During the draft, the Vikings dealt Greenard, one of their best players, to the Eagles in exchange for two third-round picks. I don’t think it was worth it, especially in the current trade environment for high-end players. Despite only three sacks in 12 games last season, Greenard’s 23.2% pass rush win rate at edge would have ranked fourth at the position had he qualified,” Walder continued.
“The Vikings made a nice postdraft acquisition of Jauan Jennings on a one-year, $8 million deal. That’s good value for a No. 3 receiver, especially one with the upside Jennings showed in 2024, when he averaged 2.5 yards per route run.”
From NFL.com
That was the “good” grade. NFL.com’s Matt Okada handed Minnesota a ‘C+.’
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After applauding the Murray signing, he wrote, “The rest of the offseason has been largely unimpressive, with the lowest free-agency spending in the league, per Over the Cap. The Vikes parted with a defensive stalwart in OLB Jonathan Greenard (trade), and safety Harrison Smith remains unsigned as of this writing. DTs Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen were released after ineffective one-year stints.”
“The Vikings had a less-than-stellar draft, highlighted by what I viewed as a reach on Banks at No. 18 overall. Snagging Jennings on a cheap deal in May was a plus, but unfortunately, nowhere near enough to elevate an otherwise-lackluster spring.”
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard lines up on defense at State Farm Stadium, with Jan. 13, 2025 marking the NFC Wild Card matchup in Glendale, Arizona, against the Los Angeles Rams. Greenard helps set the tone for Minnesota’s front, bringing pressure and leadership as the Vikings try to slow a dangerous postseason offense. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Per both publications, the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles had especially impressive offseasons.
Hindsight Will Boil Down to Murray Signing and Banks Draft Pick
Offseason grades are just like trade grades and draft grades: they’re only legitimate with hindsight. Judging them now only provides something to talk about and gauge public opinion. For example, Walder gave the Seattle Seahawks a ‘B-‘ offseason grade in July 2025; they won the Super Bowl seven months later.
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The Vikings offseason marks can move into the ‘A’ range if Murray cooks during his first season with Minnesota and prolongs his stay beyond one year. The same goes for Banks, who was a controversial pick at the time and remains so for some fans today. If Banks plays and performs efficiently, Minnesota will look like damn geniuses for seeing something other general managers did not. If he fires up a redshirt season, the Vikings will look silly.
Of course, wins will cure all offseason grades, too. The Vikings haven’t won a playoff game since 2019. It’s time to end the drought.
Teasley Now in Charge
What’s more, the Vikings ironically already have a clean slate. The team’s owners, the Wilfs, hired new general manager Nolan Teasley from the aforementioned Seahawks four weeks ago after firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in January. There’s a built-in fix if 2026 offseason moves don’t amount to much — Teasley had nothing to do with those transactions, and he is currently assessing the roster and salary cap with fresh eyes.
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Seahawks assistant general manager Nolan Teasley appears in a team-produced feature about Seattle’s draft process and scouting operation, with Before The Noise Episode 2 framing the front-office look. Teasley is shown around post-Combine evaluation work as personnel staff review prospects, develop assessments, and prepare draft decisions within Seattle’s broader planning process that spring. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Suppose the Vikings bank a winning record in 2026, along with a postseason trip — great. Teasley will merely be along for the ride. If the campaign goes pear-shaped, he’ll start anew in the 2027 offseason.
Oddsmakers expect Minnesota to win 8.5 games this season while finishing last in the NFC North.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Path of Exile 2 just rolled out a surprise thursday patch with 0.5.4b. As apparent from the numbering, this one is just a batch of fixes and QoL passes on various problems with the Endgame. Specifically, those who are stuck with Doryani’s Science quest after failing to one-up Immured Fury, will now have a guaranteed attempt every three Corrupted Nexus maps.
Another huge set of QoL improvements have hit the Expedition. After receiving its own Atlas Tree in this patch, it still remained the most bug-prone of all League mechanics. Expedition will still unforunately reserve the most lethally annoying monsters in Path of Exile 2 after patch 0.5.4b, but now at least you won’t have to scrub the deck to find hidden small mobs that prevent the completion of a Verisium node.
Another massive change that will make Expedition more lurcrative is that boss-encounter Logbooks will actively avoid overwriting Grand Expedition maps. While the entire 0.5.4b subpatch is dedicated towards improvements like this, one new piece of gear might slip your notice if you skim through the patch notes. The Master’s Reach Kulemak-exclusive Unique gloves added in the patch last week now has its Martial Artist version!
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Without further ado, though, here are the full official patch notes for Path of Exile 2 0.5.4b.
All changes and fixes in Path of Exile 2 0.5.4 (full patch notes)
Tor Gul is no longer allergic to more than 99% Freeze (Image via GGG)
Boss Improvements
Removed a majority of the stun and freeze immunity windows from all versions of the Tor Gul, the Defiler boss fight.
Improved the Minion Phase in the Tasgul, Swallower of Light boss fight.
Fixed a bug where It That Was Esh could sometimes fail to advance phases properly.
Fixed a bug where the Arbiter of Divinity could rarely drop loot in an unreachable location.
Defeating the Arbiter of Divinity now re-enables the exit elevator.
Extended the time the player has to get into the first Flame Seed during the combo skill that begins with the Large Laser in the Arbiter of Ash boss fight.
The voiceline used by the Arbiter of Ash when doing his skill which creates lanes of fiery death now plays at the start of the skill, instead of after he rises up to the air.
Made the following improvements to the Vessel of Kulemak boss fight:
Fixed an issue where it could get stuck after its Teleport Slam skill during the final phase of the fight.
Disabled the skill used during the final phase of the fight that summoned minions.
The Volatiles spawned during the final phase of the fight now spawn in bursts, with a significantly longer time between each burst. This is to allow for more time to fight and damage the boss.
Improved the visual feedback of the portals during the final phase. Further improvements to these will be coming at a later time.
Adjusted the blocking of the abyss in the middle of the arena during the final phase to more closely reflect the actual shape.
Fixed a bug where after killing the Vessel of Kulemak for the first time in a given instance, reviving at checkpoint would not put players in a new instance.
Made the following improvements to the Arbiter of Divinity boss fight:
The voicelines used by the boss are now guaranteed for his notable skills, as opposed to having a low chance to play.
The voicelines used by the boss now have less variance, so you can better correlate specific lines to specific skills.
The Divinity Clones created during the second phase of the fight now have a significantly larger hitbox allowing them to more easily be hit and killed while you have the Divinity buff.
Increased the windows of time between certain attacks and many of the combo skills to make dodge rolling these skills more consistent. This is also accompanied by a number of visual telegraphing improvements and reduction in aggression on target tracking speed.
Made the following improvements to the Phya, Sentinel of the Cradle boss fight in The Matriarch Halls:
Improved telegraphing and visuals of the Dashing Sunders skill.
The Dashing Sunders skill now correctly deals Physical damage, instead of Cold Damage.
Reduced the frequency and count of projectiles fired by the Generator.
Removed the chilling ground from the projectiles fired by the Generator.
The Generator will now stop firing projectiles during the Gravity Well and the Turret Sunder phases.
The Gravity Well phase will now correctly hit you if you fail to make it to the safe zones anywhere in the arena. Previously you could avoid this by hiding behind the spheres in the four corners.
Gravity Wells can no longer be created outside of the arena.
If you fail the Gravity Well phase while Shapeshifted you are now transformed back into a human and thrown into the air. Previously nothing would happen to your character and you’d just take damage without knowing why.
Improved the visuals of the ‘dash’ skills to look more like a teleport as intended.
Expedition Improvements in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.4b
Logbooks that add a Boss Expedition now prioritise replacing regular Maps over Grand Expeditions.
Modifiers in Grand Expedition now appear in the map stats list when inside the area.
Added an additional option to the Expedition Atlas Tree “Double or Nothing” Notable, allowing players to select no change if desired.
Fixed a bug where some monsters in Expeditions could become invisible and invincible.
Fixed an issue where Medved, Vorana, Uhtred and Olroth were not considered Powerful Map Bosses. This means they also now have notably more Life.
Fixed a bug where Verisium Sentry minimap icons would not disappear upon activating them.
Fixed a bug where the Barren Atoll Map did not have a Grand Expedition Atlas Marker.
Fixed a bug where Underground Areas in Expeditions and Grand Expeditions could sometimes spawn with all their monsters dead. This would occur if the underground area was opened with an explosive that also activated a Remnant encounter and that Remnant encounter had the Life Rune. The monsters in the underground area would then have their life shared with the Remnant monsters and would thus be killed when the Remnant monsters were defeated. This was also why Styrn, Fallen Knight of Aldur would sometimes be dead when entering his cave.
Fixed a bug that prevented players from rerolling Remnants when using a controller.
Fixed a bug where the loot from Underground Areas in Expeditions and Grand Expeditions could be redirected to a Verisium Remnant. This would cause the monsters in the underground areas to appear to drop no items.
Fixed an issue where underground areas in Grand Expedition could sometimes be accessed without detonating the entrance.
Fixed a bug where Oath Rune could spawn monsters in blocked or inaccessible areas.
Fixed a bug with Verisium Remnants in Grand Expeditions where monsters (without Oath Rune necessarily) could spawn out-of-bounds and prevent completion.
Fixed a bug where the following Grand Expedition areas could be attempted infinitely: Craggy Peninsula, Lush Isle, Frigid Bluffs, Barren Atoll, and Exhumed Ruins.
Endgame Improvements in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.4b
The Queen in the Mists can now only have 1 active Whirling Slash at a time.
Monsters Corrupted by the Offerings to the Queen Atlas Passive now have 100% increased Rarity of Items Dropped (from 50%).
The Distant Origins Atlas Passive Skill now notifies the player when it reveals The Ezomyte Megaliths on their Atlas.
Fixed a bug where Doryani’s Head of the Snake and Jado’s Untold Histories Atlas Master options were applying their bonuses to non-Pinnacle Endgame bosses.
Fixed a bug where Jado’s Untold Histories Atlas Master option was not applying to Expedition Bosses, except for Styrn, Fallen Knight of Aldur who was incorrectly receiving the 50% bonus instead of the 35% bonus.
Fixed a bug where Hilda’s Gutting and Skinning Atlas Master options were not working on the Vessel of Kulemak, The Raven Trickster, and Atziri, the Red Queen.
Fixed a bug where the Lord of the Runes Atlas Passive Skill was not applying the toughness from Monster Effectiveness.
Fixed a bug where the Whispers of the Waving Grains Atlas Passive Skill was not applying.
Fixed a bug where the Trapped Subordinate Essence Atlas Passive Skill was not adding additional rare chance as expected.
Fixed an issue with the spawning condition of the Immured Fury. It is now able to spawn any time after you have completed 3 Corruption Nexuses, so you can complete additional Corruption Nexuses to find the boss if you failed to kill them the first time.
Fixed a bug where the From Distances Untold Cleansed Atlas Passive Skill was applying to non-Cleansed areas.
Fixed a bug where the Sole Purpose: Destruction Breach Atlas Passive Skill was not increasing damage of Skills granted by Ailith.
Fixed a bug where the Expanding Territory: Remnants and Warring Survivors Atlas Passive Skills, as well as Hilda’s Mighty Prey and Patient Battue Atlas Master options were not applying their random chance to apply correctly.
Fixed a bug where the Training and Preparation Atlas Passive Skill did not apply when opening the Temple of Atziri from the Vaal Ruins in Act 3.
Fixed some cases where certain standalone bosses, such as those spawned by Summoning Circles could disable area transitions. This could cause areas such as the Sun Temple Map to be uncompletable.
Fixed a bug where maps with an extra completion objective would not complete if a player had completed the required objective but later died to the map boss and respawned.
Fixed a bug where Atziri’s Temple was sometimes created at the wrong monster level.
Fixed an issue where some players were unable to get a replacement Origin Cradle from Doryani in the Tower of Origin, preventing the use of the Precursor Reactor.
Fixed an issue where Delirium Fog Banks spawned on Atlas nodes it shouldn’t have.
Fixed an issue where Grand Delirium Mirrors in the Deforestation Map could not be interacted with.
Fixed a bug where areas could preview the incorrect amount of Deliriousness when being selected from the Atlas Map.
Simulacrum areas no longer preview any amount of Deliriousness when being selected from the Atlas Map. This is purely a visual change.
Simulacrum icons on the Atlas Map are now described as “Contains a manifestation of Delirium”. This is purely a descriptive change.
Fixed a bug where some Azmerian Wisps could cause Breach encounters to be uncompletable.
Fixed a bug where players could get stuck in the Ancient Lexicon room in The Burning Monolith.
General Improvements and Bug Fixes in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.4b
You can now copy a placed hideout decoration by right-clicking it, then left-clicking to place it. This allows you to quickly replicate Hideout Decorations if you need to place many of the same one.
Added support for upgrading runes using a Masterwork Rune in the Martial Artist’s Runic Meridians inventory.
Advanced Runeshape recipes now indicate when a Skill reward level has reached its maximum.
Updated the Map Pin art for the Great White One to convey the fact that it now gives a quest reward that grants permanent character bonuses.
Added support for the Martial Artist’s Way of the Stonefist Ascendancy Passive for the Master’s Reach Unique Gloves.
Temporarily disabled the damage from the burning ground created by Birth of Fury Unique boots when equipped by a Rogue Exile.
The Orb of Sacrifice currency items have been added to the Currency Exchange.
The Dominus’ Providence Passive Skill no longer provides Unaffected by Elemental Weakness, which was not correctly applying. It now provides 30% reduced effect of Curses on you.
Azmerian Wisps can now only be released from a monster once, the first time a monster is killed.
An inherent Skill that has had a Perfect Jeweller’s Orb applied to it now correctly transfers all the sockets when transformed to Fists of Stone.
Passive Skills allocated from using the From Nothing Unique Jewel are now properly reset when fully respeccing.
Fixed a bug that could cause the buff granted by the Rain of Blades Skill to be removed early when gaining a different buff.
Fixed a bug where monsters in Abyssal Depths were not benefiting from increased chance for Abyssal monsters to have Abyssal or Lichborn Modifiers. In addition to the guaranteed Abyssal Modifier all Rare monsters in Abyssal Depths have, they will now have a chance of an additional modifier, and a chance of Lichborn modifiers.
Fixed a bug where the Meteoric Demise Abyss monster modifier dealt no Damage.
Fixed a bug where the Untether Skill (granted by The Master’s Reach Unique Gloves) gained a second Quality stat from the Gemling Legionnaire’s Advanced Thaumaturgy Passive Skill.
Fixed a bug where Runic Reprieve’s Quality when you have the Gemling Legionnaire’s Advanced Thaumaturgy Passive Skill allocated was instead increasing the amount of damage you take from Blocked Hits rather than decreasing it.
Fixed a bug where you could create a Portal to Town while being hit. The animation is correctly interrupted again in this case.
Fixed a bug where Torvian’s Leap Slam would sometimes not move him at all, and sometimes he’d go backwards.
Fixed a bug where the Recover X% of maximum Life when you use a Warcry modifier was recovering life on all Skill uses instead of just Warcries.
Fixed a bug where items that are consumed by interacting with certain objects, such as the Pinnacle Boss Key used to access the Vessel of Kulemak boss fight, would be consumed from both the main inventory and the Titan’s expanded inventory needlessly.
Fixed a bug where Essence of Horror encounters could spawn permanent invulnerable minions.
Fixed a bug where Quality did not apply to some Jewel modifiers.
Fixed a bug where Lightning Arrow could not chain to Lightning Rods created by Shockchain Arrow.
Fixed a bug where Cursecarver was unable to generate with Vulnerability as its chosen curse (those cases instead picked Elemental Weakness, leading to higher rates of that option). This does not change existing items.
Fixed a bug where the Ironbound Unique Bow was not granting Armour.
Added a verisium Runeforge upgrade for the Ironbound Unique Bow.
Fixed a bug where Monstrous Treasure was used for the name of 2 different Ancient Modifiers, the version that grants Map Bosses a Unique Item is now named Behemoth’s Bounty. This is purely a descriptive change.
Fixed a bug where Rite of the Nameless progress was not migrated across leagues, such as when migrating out of SSF.
Fixed a bug that could cause Explosive Transmutation supported by Spell Cascade to deal damage in the wrong location.
Fixed an issue where the quest markers on Map Pins in Act 4 weren’t visible when you were choosing an area to sail to.
Fixed a bug where the Thaumaturge’s Crossbow Skill microtransactions were not updating their visuals properly without reloading ammo.
Fixed an issue where the view patch notes button on the login screen led to an incorrect webpage.
Fixed 5 client crashes.
Fixed 4 instance crashes.
That’s all the patch notes for Path of Exile 2 0.5.4b. We (and by we, I mean I) have narrowly escaped getting a certain ice-breaking tech nerfed, or even a new perma-companion tech in this subpatch. The next big one is likely to come much later, as GGG are possibly focusing on PoE1 before 0.5.5 rolls around.
Spain finally ended their long wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory after beating Austria 3-0 in Los Angeles to reach the last 16 of the 2026 tournament.
The victory was Spain’s first win in a men’s World Cup knockout match since they lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010. Since then, they had failed to win a knockout game, suffering a group-stage exit in 2014 and last-16 defeats to Russia in 2018 and Morocco in 2022.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the 36th minute after finishing Marc Cucurella’s low cross. Spain doubled their lead in the 66th minute when right-back Pedro Porro headed home Alex Baena’s delivery. Oyarzabal completed the victory in the closing stages after another assist from Cucurella.
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The match also saw Austria play their first World Cup knockout fixture since 1954, ending a 72-year wait to return to the knockout stages of the competition.
Spain’s defence continued to impress as they became only the second team, alongside Mexico, not to concede a goal in their opening four matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Oyarzabal also reached another personal milestone, taking his international tally to 29 goals in 58 appearances for Spain. His brace against Austria moved him to four goals in the tournament.
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The victory underlined Spain’s growing strength at the World Cup. After managing just 16 shots on target during the group stage, the European champions produced 10 shots on target against Austria alone.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal once again showed his quality despite not getting on the scoresheet. The 18-year-old troubled Austria’s defence throughout the match and was only denied a goal by a goal-line clearance from David Alaba.
Spain’s comfortable victory confirms their return as a major force at the World Cup and strengthens their status as one of the favourites to win the tournament
LJ Go has a virtual lock on the title. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
BAGUIO—It’s going to be one tight battle in the final round. For second place, that is.
LJ Go cracked par for the third straight day, shooting a two-under-par 70 to open up a 12-shot lead for the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge title that plays its final 18 on Friday where eight players are within six shots of each other now reduced to looking for the top consolation prize.
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“I will play it the way I played the first three rounds,” Gol told the Inquirer as he takes a 195 aggregate into the final round, with Jeff Lumbo, who submitted a 73, trailing by a dozen shots and the fast-charging Clyde Mondilla lurking four shots back after a 69.
Go’s lead is the largest anyone will be taking into a final round in the long history of the Philippine Golf Tour, and the 31-year-old is in great position towards erasing the nine-shot win of Reymon Jaraula over Rupert Zaragosa at Del Monte last October for the most lopsided victory.
“I’ve never had a lead as big as this,” Go went on after dropping three shots in his front nine before shooting all six of his birdies coming home. “I will just try to do what I have been doing right so far.”
After opening with a 67 to trail by just three after the first round, Lumbo again had an up-and-down 37-36 effort and gave out a smile when asked if the 12-shot deficit is still manageable.
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“It might not be anymore,” Lumbo told the Inquirer in Filipino. “But I will still come out (for the final round) giving it all that I have. Fight until the final putt is holed.”
Mondilla had seven birdies that went with a double bogey and two bogeys, a marked improvement from the second round 79 that effectively took him out of the title fight on Wednesday.
He is just four shots behind Lumbo, with the pint-sized Rupert Zaragosa another stroke back after shooting a 72 like Fidel Concepcion, who is giving chase another shot behind together with four others counting Antonio Lascuña.
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Lascuña finally broke par, shooting a 70 as the 6,000-yard layout continued to bedevil the talented field.
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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke knew exactly what to expect from Ismael Saibari.
“He’s fast, he’s powerful and he showed against Brazil that he knows how to take chances,” Clarke told reporters ahead of the World Cup Group C meeting between Scotland and Morocco in Boston last week.
A week earlier, Saibari had put Morocco, the Atlas Lions, ahead against Brazil with a brilliant chip over goalkeeper, Alisson Becker. Scotland were warned but it didn’t make any difference as, less than two minutes into the game, Saibari again raced clear of the defense and fired an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
A few days later, Saibari was on the score sheet again when he stroked Achraf Hakimi’scutback into the net against Haiti. It was his 12th goal for Morocco in his 33nd international appearance, and it made him the first African player to score in all three group stage games at a World Cup.
Ismael Saibari: From Eindhoven to Munich
In the round of 32 on Monday night, Saibari scored the winning penalty in a shootout against the Netherlands, a country with which he has an intimate relationship, having scored 42 goals in 142 appearances for PSV Eindhoven since 2020.
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Last season, he was voted player of the season in the Dutch top-flight, the Eredivisie, after scoring 15 league goals as PSV won a 27th league title.
He also scored three goals in last season’s Champions League, including a long-range strike against Bayern Munich in January. PSV would go on to lose 1-2, but Saibari had caught the attention of Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany who, according to German newspaper SportBild, immediately made contact with the player.
Sports Life – Football Powerhouse Morrocco
A few months later and the German champions have reportedly already agreed to pay PSV up to €55 million ($62.85 million) for the 25-year-old, beating off interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.
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Saibari is set to undergo a medical while still at the World Cup, where is he demonstrating his abilities to a global audience — but who is Saibari the person?
Saibari: Three nationalities, five languages
Born in Terrassa, near Barcelona, Spain, to Moroccan parents, the young Ismael moved to Belgium aged 6 as his mum and dad looked to start anew following the 2007 financial crash.
It was in Willebroek, in between Brussels and Antwerp, that the young footballer learned Flemish, French and English in addition to Arabic and Spanish, and obtained Belgian citizenship in addition to that of Morocco and Spain.
The regular changes of scenery have made Saibari an important cultural and linguistic conduit in the dressing rooms of the various clubs he has played for.
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“I’ve moved around a lot in my life, so I know how hard it is to adapt to new surroundings,” he told Dutch football magazine Voetbal International. “So, if I can help, I try to. I have the experience and I speak a lot of languages. I often function as an interpreter in meetings because I can speak to the younger players in their mother tongue.”
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany has long been a fan of SaibariImage: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/IMAGO
“He is very sociable – sometimes too sociable,” said PSV head coach Peter Bosz. “Even when he should be relaxing, he’s visiting friends. Because he’s just very friendly.”
Morocco: Saibari’s ‘choice from the heart’
Before joining PSV Eindhoven in 2020, he represented several Belgian clubs at youth level including Anderlecht and Genk. However, despite an approach from former Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez to play for the Red Devils in 2022, there was only ever one choice for Saibari internationally.
“When such a big name in football contacts you, it was incredible,” he told Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagsblad. “But I let him know that I was choosing Morocco. When it comes to the national team, I had to make a choice from the heart rather than a sporting decision.”
Saibari made his debut for the Atlas Lions in September 2023 in a friendly against Burkina Faso and scored his first goals a year later in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Gabon and Lesotho.
Following a tempestuous evening in Rabat, Saibari was suspended for three games and fined $100,000 for unsporting conduct after trying to prevent a ballboy from giving Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy his towel in the pouring rain.
AFCON 2025 Final: Is the real winner Senegal or Morocco?
“When I got home, I saw how bad it looked,” he admitted afterwards when asked by PSV Eindhoven’s club media about the incident. “I immediately sent someone from Senegal to apologize for me. And then when I saw Mendy at the airport, I just apologized to his face. There were a lot of emotions, I’d never experienced so many emotions, so it was just the heat of the moment.”
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It wasn’t the first faux pas in Saibari’s career. As a youth player with Belgian side Anderlecht, he was removed from the first-team squad one day before the start of the 2015-16 season due to being overweight. He called the club’s handling of the matter “disgusting” at the time but later admitted that he had been lazy in his preparations and called the incident one of the biggest disappointments of his career to date.
And last year, he was left out of the Eindhoven squad for a Champions League game away at Arsenal for disciplinary reasons after turning up late for a team meeting. “Everyone is allowed to come late once in a while,” said head coach Bosz. “But this wasn’t the first time. Or even the fifth. I’d had enough.”
Bayern Munich: How will Saibari fit in?
Saibari won’t be able to afford such complacency in Germany, but Bayern coach Kompany — a fellow Belgian polyglot — has proven himself adept at managing young players.
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In Munich, Saibari will be an immediate replacement for — and upgrade on — Senegalese backup striker Nicolas Jackson, who has returned to parent club Chelsea. But even if he won’t necessarily dislodge Harry Kane from the central striking role, Saibari’s flexibility means he will also provide competition for fellow forwards Jamal Musiala, Lennart Karl, Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise.
Harry Kane will likely remain the central striker, but opportunities may be available elsewhereImage: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo/picture alliance
Until then, though, the focus remains on the Atlas Lions and Monday’s last-32 meeting with the Netherlands in Monterrey, Mexico.
“I think he understands that the priority is currently Morocco,” said national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi, another Belgian-Moroccan who was a youth coach at Anderlecht during Saibari’s time in Brussels, and who knows Kompany “very well.”
“But we’re going to be very proud [of Saibari’s move to Bayern]. We want the best Moroccan players to play for the best clubs.”
Saibari himself said after scoring the only goal of the game against Scotland that it was a “childhood dream to play at the World Cup” with his country, adding: “I think we can go quite far.”
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Morocco will face co-hosts Canada in the last-16 on Saturday and will be favorites to reach a likely quarterfinal with France. Bayern Munich will have to wait for now.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Stewart Cink got off to a great start in his bid for win his third straight senior major.
Cink was the only player to make five birdies on the back nine at Scioto Country Club on Thursday, shooting a 3-under 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the U.S. Senior Open with Charlie Wi.
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Cink struggled on the front nine, shooting a 2-over 37, but found momentum once he made the turn.
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“I’ve been off for a little while, and I started like I’ve been off for a little while. I had to prove it to myself again that I could play decent golf a certain way,” Cink said. “The back nine was really nice. I actually could have shot quite a bit lower on the back nine. I missed three very reasonably like inside — right around 10 feet or less birdie putts.”
The 53-year-old Cink has four wins in nine PGA Tour Champions starts this year, including the Senior PGA Championship and the Tradition. The last player to win the Senior PGA, Tradition and U.S. Senior Open in the same year was Jack Nicklaus in 1991. Scioto, the Donald Ross course hosting its third U.S. Senior Open, is where Nicklaus learned to play the game.
Simon Griffiths, Freddie Jacobson and George McNeill were tied for third at 68. Defending champion Padraig Harrington was among a group of 10 players at 69.
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“Of course it’s tough, we know that, so once you get through that, the golf course itself is playing nicely,” Harrington said.
Cink is also attempting to become the fifth player to win the event after being runner-up the previous year. Fred Funk was the last to do it in 2009.
Cink was part of the seventh afternoon group to tee off from the first hole and played in the toughest conditions of the day, when the temperature reached 95 degrees midway through his round and a heat index of 103 according to the National Weather Service.
“The heat is a factor for sure. It affects your focus and your energy level. Sometimes even the simplest shots just kind of — it’s easy to fall asleep at the wheel when the conditions are like that,” he said.
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Cink tied Wi with a birdie on the par-4 18th. Cink’s tee shot found one of the bunkers on the left hand side, but he got a great lie. His second shot landed within 2 feet near the front of the hole, and made for an easy putt.
Wi was at even par through his first 11 holes before his string of birdies on holes three through seven holes. Wi made a double bogey on the par-4 eighth before ending his round with a par.
Wi thought his best shot came on the par-3 fourth, when he hit his tee shot within a couple feet with a 5-iron on the 205-yard hole.
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“I hit the ball pretty solid today, made a couple of putts. It was a hot day. I just made sure that I stayed in the ballgame, meaning like mentally, because you could easily lose it out there,” he said.
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Wi’s run of bridies ended on the eighth hole when his second shot went left and into the water near the green. He is the 14th player in the 46-year history of the Senior Open to have at least five straight birdies in a round. The last time it happened was in 2022 when Thongchai Jaidee birdied Nos. 5-9 at the Saucon Valley Country Club’s Old Course in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, during the third round.
The 54-year old South Korean player has nine worldwide professional victories — including five on the Korean Tour — but none on the PGA Tour or Champions circuit.
Appearing on the most recent episode of “The Smylie Show” podcast — which you can watch in full here — Harmon had been asked by host Smylie Kaufman where he stood on potential distance-curbing changes, a subject that saw some news two weeks ago at the U.S. Open. There, four of golf’s governing bodies — the USGA, the R&A, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour — said that instead of a ball rollback arriving in phases — 2028 for pros and 2030 for other golfers — a single-date implementation of January 2030 would be in place. The groups also said changes beyond the ball could be made.
Then there’s what Harmon heard from Olazabal.
He said you don’t have to adjust the ball.
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Or the driver.
Or any of the clubs.
Just cut the number of them in play — from 14 to nine.
Then, Olazabal said, you would learn “who can play.”
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“You know, I’m thinking to myself, well, I don’t know how we ever got to 14 anyway,” Harmon said on the podcast. “I don’t know where that came from. Wouldn’t it be great to be a tournament where you could only use nine clubs? And if you got a putter and now you only got eight clubs.
“And like he says, “Oh, you have to hit golf shots. You can’t bomb the thing out there and wedge it out of the — you have to play golf.’ It would be interesting.”
Could it work? Maybe. Of course, club sales would decrease with lighter bags. Still, players would have to control trajectories better and shape the ball, said Kaufman, himself a PGA Tour winner.
“Think about this, Smylie, and you know this,” Hamon said on the podcast. “You’ll have a guy who’ll go out and shoot 62 or [6]3. And they’ll say every yardage was perfect; I had stock yardages. And then the next day he shoots 73. ‘Oh, I was in between yardages.’ Well, imagine if you only got eight clubs to pick from. You’re always going to have an in-between yardage.
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“I would like to just see one tournament played like that just for the heck of it. Just to see what the scenario would be and what they would choose and how they would do it. It would be fun.”
Editor’s note: To watch the entire The Smylie Show podcast with Harmon, please click here.
Major League Baseball has suspended four players involved in a benches-clearing fracas between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. On Thursday, the league announced that pitcher Cade Cavalli of the Nationals and first baseman Willson Contreras of the Red Sox have been suspended for seven games apiece. Nationals pitcher Miles Mikolas has been suspended for five games, and Boston outfielder Nate Eaton received a three-game suspension. All four players have also been fined an undisclosed amount. The suspensions are pending appeal.
Tempers flared and benches cleared in Boston on Tuesday evening during an 8-1 Nationals win over the Red Sox. It was the bottom of the fourth inning when Cavalli dropped in a nice breaking ball for a called strike three. Cavalli, who would later apologize for his words, could be heard yelling, “Sit down, boy!” The strikeout victim, Contreras, was none too pleased with it. He could be seen saying, “Are you talking to me?”
Contreras approached the mound, and then the benches cleared for a minor scuffle in which Contreras appeared to try to throw his helmet in Cavalli’s direction.
Contreras was ejected for the second straight game. Eaton and Chad Tracy, Boston’s interim manager, were also given the heave-ho. On the Nationals’ end, Mikolas, a starting pitcher on an off day, was the only player ejected.
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Contreras has publicly spoken about how much the devastating earthquakes in his home country of Venezuela have affected his psyche in recent days. He was involved in a benches-clearing incident last Friday and was tossed on consecutive nights. He also hit a home run and yelled “Venezuela!” and was seen crying in the dugout.
In the other dugout on Tuesday, Cavalli ended up having quite a night. In seven innings, he gave up just one run on one hit with 13 strikeouts.
On Wednesday, Cavalli met with Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni about the incident and also apologized for his choice of words. Via The Athletic, Cavalli said:
“Extremely torn up about the way that things were perceived. Obviously, there was no ill intention behind that. My teammates know me, my family knows me, this organization knows me. I couldn’t sleep because of it. It hurt my heart, knowing that, if there’s a 13 year old black kid in DC that sees that, that looked up to me, thinks that he perceived it in a way that wasn’t intended in the way that it came out, that he’s not looking up to me anymore. That hurts my heart. It’s really tough. I’ve learned a lot. … The intention was perceived different than what my heart is and who I am as a person, my character.
“There’s a history behind that word, and that’s just something that, like, as a competitor, like in football or basketball, playing whiffle ball with my brother, like, just, you don’t understand it, and then it gets perceived in a way that was not my intention. You learn from that, and it’ll never happen again.”
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Toboni also spoke to reporters and said that Cavalli had something of a sleepless night after the game on account of “the feedback that he was receiving regarding his choice of words last night.”
This ranking is based on the Gators returning six of the top seven scorers — specifically Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, Reuben Chinyelu, Urban Klavsar and Isaiah Brown — from a team that finished 27-8 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kentucky transfer Denzel Aberdeen and 7-foot center Jones Lay.
This ranking is based on the Blue Devils returning four of the top six scorers — specifically Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr — from a team that finished 35-3 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski, Loyola Maryland transfer Jacob Theodosiou, five-star prospects Cameron Williams, Deron Rippey Jr., Bryson Howard and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje.
This ranking is based on the Illini returning six of the top nine scorers — specifically Andrej Stojakovic, David Mirkovich, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis and Brandon Lee — from a team that finished 28-9 and advanced to the 2026 Final Four. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks, four-star prospects Quintin Coleman and Lucas Morillo and three-star prospects Ethan Brown and Landon Davis.
This ranking is based on the Huskies returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary and Jayden Ross — from a team that finished 34-6 and advanced to the championship game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Duke transfer Nikolas Khamenia, Seton Hall transfer Najai Hines, Stanford transfer Oskar Giltay, Wofford transfer Nils Machowski, Jacksonville State transfer Jaye Nash, Northern Arizona transfer Isaiah Shaw, Arkansas transfer Elmir Dzafic and four-star prospects Colben Landrew and Junior County.
This ranking is based on the Spartans returning five of the top eight scorers — specifically Jeremy Fears Jr., Coen Carr, Kur Teng, Jordan Scott and Cam Ward — from a team that finished 27-8 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke and four-star prospects Ethan Taylor, Carlos Medlock Jr., Julius Avent and Jasiah Jervis.
This ranking is based on the Longhorns returning one of the top two scorers — specifically Matas Vokietaitis — from a team that finished 21-15 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by TCU transfer David Punch, Colorado transfer Isaiah Johnson, Tennessee transfer Amari Evans, Auburn transfer Elyjah Freeman, Saint Mary’s transfer Mikey Lewis, international prospect Mantas Laurencikas and four-star prospects Austin Goosby, Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling.
This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning two of the top five scorers — specifically Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov — from a team that finished 36-3 and advanced to the 2026 Final Four. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon, Washington transfer JJ Mandaquit, five-star prospect Caleb Holt and four-star prospect Cameron Holmes and international prospect Endurance Aiyamenkhue.
This ranking is based on the Wolverines returning two of the top five scorers — specifically Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney — from a team that finished 37-3 and won the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Tennessee transfer J.P. Estrella, Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, LSU transfer Jalen Reed, five-star prospect Brandon McCoy Jr., and four-star prospects Lincoln Cosby, Quinn Costello and Joseph Hartman.
This ranking is based on the Zags returning three of the top five scorers — specifically Braden Huff, Davis Fogle and Mario Saint-Supery — from a team that finished 31-4 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Houston transfer Isiah Harwell, Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop and four-star prospects Luca Foster, Sam Funches and Jack Kayil.
This ranking is based on the Cavaliers returning five of the top 10 scorers — specifically Thijs De Ridder, Sam Lewis, Chance Mallory, Johann Gunloh and Elijah Gertrude — from a team that finished 30-6 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by UC Irvine transfer Jurian Dixon, Saint Louis transfer Kalu Anya and four-star prospect Favour Ibe.
This ranking is based on the Razorbacks returning one of the top four scorers — specifically Billy Richmond III — from a team that finished 28-9 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospects Jordan Smith Jr., JJ Andrews and Miikka Muurinen, Furman transfer Cooper Bowser, Georgia transfer Jeremiah Wilkinson, four-star prospect Abdou Toure and international prospect Illia Frolov.
This ranking is based on the Cyclones returning three of the top six scorers — specifically Killyan Toure, Blake Buchanan and Jamarion Bateman — from a team that finished 29-8 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Robert Morris transfer Ryan Prather Jr., Northwestern transfer Tre Singleton, Bradley transfer JaQuan Johnson, Kansas State transfer Taj Manning, Northern Iowa transfer Leon Bond III, four-star prospects Dorian Rinaldo-Komian, Jackson Kiss, Christian Wiggins and Donovan Davis, and three-star prospect Yusef Gray Jr.
This ranking is based on the Cougars returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Joseph Tugler, Mercy Miller and Chase McCarty — from a team that finished 30-7 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr., Kent State transfer Delrecco Gillespie and four-star prospects Arafan Diane and Ikenna Alozie and
This ranking is based on the Cardinals returning one of the top five scorers — specifically Adrian Wooley — from a team that finished 24-11 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Kansas transfer Flory Bidunga, Oregon transfer Jackson Shelstad, Arkansas transfer Karter Knox, Iowa transfer Alvaro Folgueiras, Dayton transfer De’Shayne Montgomery, USC transfer Gabe Dynes, former G League player London Johnson, five-star prospect Obinna Ekezie Jr., four-star prospect Boyuan Zhang and three-star prospect Isaac Ellis.
This ranking is based on the Vols returning two of the top 10 scorers — specifically Dewayne Brown II and Ethan Burg — from a team that finished 25-12 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris, Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson, Cal transfer Dai Dai Ames, Belmont transfer Tyler Lundblade, VCU transfers Terrence Hill Jr. and Christian Fermin, Loyola Chicago transfer Miles Rubin, Kennesaw State transfer Braedan Lue, four-star prospects Christopher Washington Jr., Ralph Scott and Manny Green, and three-star prospect Marquis Clark.
This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning one of the top six scorers — specifically Malachi Moreno — from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, Washington transfers Zoom Diallo and Franck Kepnang, Washington State transfer Jerone Morton, James Madison transfer Justin McBride, Providence transfer Alex Wilkins, four-star prospect Mason Williams and international prospect Ousmane N’Diaye.
This ranking is based on the Red Storm returning two of the top eight scorers — specifically Ian Jackson and Ruben Prey — from a team that finished 30-7 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou, Columbia transfer Avery Brown, Mercer transfer Kyle Cuffe Jr., international prospects Quinn Ellis, Djordije Jovanovic and Lazar Stojkovic, and four-star prospect Theo Edema.
This ranking is based on the Trojans returning three of the top five scorers — specifically Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas and Jacob Cofie — from a team that finished 18-14 and missed the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Christian Collins, four-star prospects Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff, Georgetown transfer KJ Lewis, UConn transfer Eric Reibe, Colgate transfer Jalen Cox, Lindenwood transfer Jadis Jones and South Dakota transfer Isaac Bruns.
This ranking is based on the Crimson Tide returning four of the top 10 scorers — specifically Aden Holloway, Amari Allen, London Jemison and Keitenn Bristow — from a team that finished 25-10 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Boise State transfer Drew Fielder, Kentucky transfer Brandon Garrison, NC State transfer Cole Cloer, Mississippi State transfer Jamarion Davis-Fleming and four-star prospects Qayden Samuels, Jaxon Richardson and Tarris Bouie.
This ranking is based on the Boilermakers returning five of the top nine scorers — specifically C.J. Cox, Daniel Jacobsen, Omer Mayer, Gicarri Harris and Jack Benter — from a team that finished 30-9 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year Caden Pierce, and four-star prospects Luke Ertel, Jacob Webber and Sinan Huan.
This ranking is based on the Hurricanes returning three of the top seven scorers — specifically Shelton Henderson, Dante Allen and Marcus Allen — from a team that finished 26-9 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis, Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode, Georgia transfer Somto Cyril, Indiana transfer Nick Dorn, Saint Peter’s transfer Brent Bland and four-star prospect Caleb Gaskins.
This ranking is based on the Hoosiers returning one of the top eight scorers — specifically Trent Sisley — from a team that finished 18-14 and missed the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Notre Dame transfer Markus Burton, Villanova transfer Bryce Lindsay, Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell, SMU transfer Samet Yigitoglu, Duke transfer Darren Harris, Georgia Tech transfer Jaeden Mustaf, Maryland Eastern Shore transfer Justin Monden, and four-star prospects Vaugn Karvala, Prince-Alexander Moody and Trevor Manhertz.
This ranking is based on the Cougars returning two of the top eight scorers — specifically Robert Wright III and Khadim Mboup — from a team that finished 23-12 and advanced to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by five-star prospect Bruce Branch III, four-star prospect Dean Rueckert, Kentucky transfer Collin Chandler, Clemson transfer Jake Wahlin, Syracuse transfer Tyler Betsey and UC Riverside transfer Nate Pickens, the last of whom committed to BYU last May but missed the season with an ankle injury.
This ranking is based on the Buckeyes returning two of the top five scorers — specifically John Mobley Jr. and Amare Bynum — from a team that finished 21-13 and advanced to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Duquesne transfer Jimmie Williams, Kentucky transfer Andrija Jelavic, Cal transfer Justin Pippen, Memphis transfer Curtis Givens III, five-star prospects Anthony Thompson and LJ Smith, four-star prospect Alex Smith and international prospect Vuk Lazarevic.
This ranking is based on the Tar Heels returning three of the top 11 scorers — specifically Jarin Stevenson, Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young — from a team that finished 24-9 and advanced to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Virginia Tech transfer Neoklis Avdalas, Utah transfer Terrence Brown, NC State transfer Matt Able, international prospects Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov, and four-star prospect Kevin Thomas.
This ranking is based on the Commodores returning two of the top nine scorers — specifically Tyler Tanner and Chandler Bing — from a team that finished 27-9 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Nebraska transfer Berke Buyuktuncel, Washington State transfer Ace Glass, Auburn transfer Sebastian Williams-Adams, Colorado transfer Bangot Dak, Missouri transfer T.O. Barrett and four-star prospects Ethan Mgbako, Anthony Brown and Jackson Sheffield.
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