North Carolina passed a significant test without star forward Caleb Wilson on Monday night, as the No. 18 Tar Heels toppled No. 24 Louisville 77-74. The win improved the Tar Heels (22-6, 10-5 ACC) to 3-1 since Wilson suffered a fractured hand in a Feb. 10 loss at Miami. 

Between the uncertainty around Wilson’s potential return and a subsequent injury to starting center Henri Veesaar, UNC’s trajectory seemed uncertain less than a week ago. Those concerns were laid bare in blowout loss at NC State on Feb. 17.

But Veessar’s return in Saturday’s win at Syracuse, Monday night’s victory over a quality ACC foe and Wilson’s apparent progression have steadied the waters in Chapel Hill. North Carolina hopes to have Wilson back for its regular-season finale against Duke on March 7, ESPN reported during the broadcast of the game .

The Tar Heels are squarely in the hunt for a double-bye at the ACC Tournament and expected to remain a No. 6 seed in CBS Sports Bracketology on Tuesday following their sixth Quad 1 win.

Seth Trimble paced North Carolina with a career-high 30 points as UNC kept Louisville at arm’s length for most of the second half. The Cardinals closed within a possession on two occasions in the final minute, but a pair of Trimble free throws with nine seconds left helped UNC escape.

In his second game back since a two-game absence due to a lower-extremity Veesaar added 12 points for North Carolina. Mikel Brown Jr. paced Louisville (20-8, 9-6) with 24 points for the Cardinals.

Bracketology: Houston’s Monday night showdown at Kansas is critical for Cougars’ No. 1 seed aspirations

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Light at the end of the tunnel

Games against Virginia Tech and Clemson still await before Wilson’s expected return. But the light is now at the end of the tunnel, and the Tar Heels are proving they can manage without their leading scorer and rebounder. Wilson, who is a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, averages 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 blocks.

In his absence, UNC has leaned more on junior forward Jarin Stevenson and Montenegrin import Luka Bogavac. Both carried their weight against Louisville by combining for 21 points on 4 of 9 shooting from 3-point range.

Seth Trimble’s star gear

While having Veesaar back and getting Wilson healthy are pivotal for North Carolina’s aspirations, UNC’s ceiling may ultimately be determined by the sort of guard play it gets in March. Trimble showed he can put UNC on his back, if needed, by turning in the best offensive game of his four-year Tar Heels career.

His steal and breakaway dunk at the 13:38 mark gave North Carolina its biggest lead at 56-40. Trimble outplayed Louisville’s formidable star tandem of Brown and Ryan Conwell, which was an accomplishment considering those two combined for 47 points. Once Wilson is back, less will be required of Trimble offensively. But this game was a reminder of his capabilities and could be a confidence booster for the team’s third-leading scorer.

Jack Draper recorded his first tour-level win in 182 days as he defeated French qualifier Quentin Halys in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships, while unveiling a new buzz cut.

The British No 1 has returned from a seven-month injury lay-off, after playing just one match since Wimbledon due to bone bruising in his left arm.

He made his comeback in the Davis Cup last week as Great Britain defeated Norway, but Draper’s victory in Dubai was his first on the ATP since the US Open in August, where he withdraw after beating Federico Agustin Gomez in the first round.

Draper, who remains ranked 15th in the world despite his long absence, required one hour and 39 minutes to defeat the 68th-ranked Halys 7-6 (10-8), 6-3.

The 23-year-old was forced to save two set points in the first-set tiebreaker, before finding the only break of serve of the match midway through the second set.

Draper’s new hair, which may be inspired by Carlos Alcaraz’s accidental buzz cut from the US Open, was debuted as the former world No 4 looks to climbs back up the rankings.

“It feels so good, honestly. To be out here, to be competing in front of people. I’ve been craving the feeling of competing for, for a very long time,” Draper said.

“It just felt normal. It felt like, I was coming back to doing what I love, which is, which is being out here competing and having that adrenaline winning and losing points.

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“A lot of people have helped me to get back to this position after a lot of down moments in the last eight months. It’s really not been easy to be back here, that’s something I can be really proud of and long may it continue.”

Draper said he had been hitting a “sh*tload” of serves over the past eight months and has looked to change part of his service motion since he started working with new coach Jamie Delgado.

“It’s more serving than I’ve ever done in the past because I’ve had to get my arm back to being 100 per cent and that takes time.”

He will face either Fabian Marozsan or Arthur Rinderknech in the second round.

The 2026 season is still young, but Carlos Alcaraz has already created distance at the top of the ATP Race to Turin.

After winning the Australian Open and lifting the Doha trophy, Alcaraz leads the standings with 2,500 points in the battle to qualify for the ATP Finals, which will be held from 15 to 22 November at the Inalpi Arena.

Novak Djokovic remains second on 1,300 points despite not playing since the Australian Open final. Alex de Minaur sits third with 985, while Ben Shelton is fourth on 950 following their ATP 500 title runs earlier this month.

Two-time defending ATP Finals champion Jannik Sinner moved up to fifth with 900 points after reaching the quarter-finals in Doha. Alexander Zverev is sixth on 840, while Tomas Martin Etcheverry climbed to seventh with 725 after his title in Rio. Jakub Mensik holds eighth place with 695.

Outside the current qualification spots are Alexander Bublik on 650, Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime on 615, and Lorenzo Musetti with 565.

Only the top eight at season’s end qualify automatically for Turin, with a Grand Slam champion ranked between ninth and 20th eligible to claim the final place.

There is still a long way to go this season, but Alcaraz has set the early pace and placed immediate pressure on the rest of the people.

An eight-year NFL veteran who started 16 games last season has shockingly called it quits for his career. 

Los Angeles Chargers center Bradley Bozeman announced his decision on Instagram on Monday, saying he is “ready for my next chapter.”

“This game has given me so much – lessons, lifelong friendships, and memories my family will carry forever. I’ve poured everything I had into this journey, and I walk away grateful and proud.”

Bozeman, 31, shared pictures from his time with the Chargers, Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens over his eight years in the league. He saw many different coaches and teammates across three franchises, and he acknowledged them all as well as their fans. 

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Bradley Bozeman of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFL wild card playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Mass. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

“Thank you to every teammate, coach, and fan I was blessed to cross paths with along the way,” he wrote.

Bozeman also showed his love for his family, including his three children: Brody, Bailey and Boone. He also called his wife, Nikki, “unbelievable,” calling her his “ride or die from the very beginning,” and adding “I couldn’t have done any of this without you!”

Bozeman finished off his post with a quote he heard during his career. 

“’Every career – no matter how decorated – ends in a trash bag,’” he wrote. “The game moves on. Someone fills your spot. I’m just thankful God gave me the chance to take the ride.”

Bradley Bozeman of the Los Angeles Chargers lines up during an NFL wild card playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Mass. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Bozeman said that the next chapter will be “life at the farm,” as the Alabama native and former Crimson Tide lineman completed his caption with “Roll Tide.”

Bozeman was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, where he played in 14 games in Baltimore with one start. Then, head coach John Harbaugh gave him the nod as the team’s starting left guard for the next two seasons, starting all 16 games in each of them, before shifting to center in 2021.

With his rookie deal up after that season, Bozeman landed with the Panthers, spending the 2022 and 2023 campaigns with the franchise, where he was the team’s starting center. 

Finally, Bozeman teamed up with his old coach’s brother, Jim Harbaugh, as he signed with the Chargers to revamp their own line. He signed a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the team in 2025, but he won’t be seeing that through now. 

Bradley Bozeman of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during warm-up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Dec. 12, 2021 in Cleveland. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Instead, the Chargers will have a spot to fill on an offensive line that struggled mightily after losing star tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt with season-ending injuries in 2025. 

Tyler Linderbaum, an ex-Ravens center, will be a hot commodity on the free agent market, and could see interest from Los Angeles now that Bozeman has retired.   

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Manchester United are set for an interesting summer as the club aim to finish in the Champions League places

Manchester United face several pivotal decisions this summer. While the club pursues a Champions League place in the Premier League, United must also address off-field matters that will shape next season.

The encouraging start that interim boss Michael Carrick has enjoyed at Old Trafford means United remain in contention for the top four. With just their remaining 11 league fixtures to concentrate on, the club is targeting a return to Europe’s elite competition.

Carrick will aim to utilise the remaining matches to persuade the United hierarchy to award him the manager’s position permanently. Numerous coaches have been linked with the vacancy, though the club legend could secure the role for himself.

It has been claimed that Zinedine Zidane is nearing a return to management, while Carrick has highlighted one of the obstacles United will encounter this summer. Here, MEN Sport examines some of the stories surrounding the club.

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Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

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Michael Carrick issues transfer warning

Michael Carrick has indicated that Manchester United are poised to lose a key player in the upcoming transfer window. This follows the announcement that Casemiro will leave the club at the end of his contract, despite the seasoned midfielder experiencing a resurgence this season, and he could prove challenging to replace.

“Yeah, well, listen, it’s an important position, I think,” said the United boss. “Not being biased, obviously, as being a midfielder, but I think it is an important position to try and tie everything together.

“You’re connected to the whole team, and that’s sometimes emotionally, a little bit mentally, and showing that composure and understanding of the game a little bit. And Case’s had a big influence within the group on that.”

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Zinedine Zidane ‘agrees’ next role

Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the Manchester United job on multiple occasions since leaving Real Madrid. The 53-year-old secured three Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles during two stints managing Los Blancos, but has remained out of the dugout since stepping down in 2021.

It has been reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano that Zidane has verbally agreed to take over as France manager following this summer’s World Cup. Didier Deschamps’ reign as head coach is set to end after the tournament.

Zidane has not been linked with the United position since Carrick’s appointment as temporary boss. However, Zidane closing in on a new role would improve Carrick’s prospects of retaining his position, with a prominent coach removing himself from possible contention for the job.

The Minnesota Vikings may or may not be in the market for a new tight end, depending on T.J. Hockenson’s contractual status, but if the franchise wanted to shoot for the stars with Hockenson’s replacement, Atlanta Falcons playmaker Kyle Pitts is no longer an option, at least not in 2026.

Pitts is off the board, so Minnesota’s tight end options tighten while Hockenson’s contract remains the pivot point.

The Falcons will franchise-tag Pitts, wiping him off the free-agent wire with two weeks to go before legal tampering.

What the Pitts Tag Means for Minnesota’s FA Tight End Plan

The best names always seem to return to their current employers.

ATL to Franchise-Tag Pitts

If you had big dreams of Pitts in purple and gold clothing, cancel those for at least one year.

ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote Monday, “The Atlanta Falcons plan to place the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., likely keeping one of the top tight ends in the league under contract for at least one more season, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday. Franchise tag contract numbers are based on the top five annual salaries at each position.”

“Pitts stands to make about $16,319,000 in 2026, the franchise tag salary this year for tight ends, according to OverTheCap.com. Pitts and the Falcons will have until July 15 to agree to a long-term contract or else he will have to play the 2026 season under the franchise tender. The deadline for teams to use the franchise or transition tag is next Tuesday with free agency beginning the week after.”

The wage is actually quite appealing for a tight end, so Pitts is unlikely to protest the arrangement, despite wanting a long-term contract.

Vikings May Not Have the Money for Pitts Anyway

Soon, Minnesota will be cap-compliant, but Monday, February 23rd, was not that day. The club must clear around $43 million in cap space by releasing veteran players or restructuring contracts just to get into the green. Before too long, you will see a flurry of tweets indicating that interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has cut players and restructured deals. They’re coming.

Still, the Vikings may not be in the market for big fish like Pitts. That was last year’s free agency, when the books were clear, and former boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chose to spend big on Wil Fries, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen.

To put it plainly, Brzezinski may not have had $16 million lying around for a luxury tight end.

FA Options at TE without Pitts

The franchise tag on Pitts suddenly makes the tight end market in free agency feel skinny. Per possible big-name breakouts, Isaiah Likely now leads the way, and after him, not too many players would seem like a serious upgrade over Hockenson.

Here’s the list, nevertheless:

• Austin Hooper
• Cade Otton
• Chig Okonkwo
• Dallas Goedert
• David Njoku
• Isaiah Likely
• Jake Tonges
• Kyle Granson
• Noah Fant
• Tyler Conklin
• Tyler Higbee

Likely isn’t an adept run- or pass-blocker, and it’s unclear if the Vikings would sign a player without that tool in his cabinet.

Too, the draft is about eight weeks away. There’s a world where Minnesota severs ties with Hockenson as a cap casualty and drafts Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who is considered by leaps and bounds the best tight end in this class and the only one commanding Round 1 stock.

Hockenson’s Future

Brzezinski faces a crucial salary cap decision regarding Hockenson, whose contract ranks him among the highest-paid tight ends. Releasing Hockenson after June 1st would free up nearly $16 million, potentially enabling the Vikings to acquire multiple quality starters at other positions.

However, Hockenson’s role evolved in 2025 due to injuries on the offensive line and J.J. McCarthy’s pass distribution, resulting in increased blocking responsibilities. Consequently, Minnesota was essentially paying a premium for a tight end primarily utilized for blocking and run support.

Ultimately, the decision hinges more on the team’s overall construction strategy than on Hockenson’s individual performance. He remains a reliable veteran, and the Vikings could retain him, anticipating a greater role in the passing game as the offense returns to full strength.

Brzezinski must determine whether allocating those cap savings to other areas would be more beneficial or if retaining a high-priced tight end aligns with the long-term vision. The choice will significantly affect Minnesota’s offense in 2026 and beyond.

Minnesota also has three more tight ends in the 2026 roster orbit: Josh Oliver, Gavin Bartholomew, and Ben Yurosek.

Pitts will trend for free agency again in 2027 if the Falcons cannot work out a long-term extension. He’s still just 25 years old.

Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score the only goal of the game as Manchester United beat Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

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Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha avoided a yellow card for celebrating in the face of Everton player Matheus Cunha causing controversial scenes. The Brazilian midfielder looked to shepherd the ball out of play in second-half injury time as Michael Carrick’s side looked to protect their 1-0 lead.

Cunha pumped his fists in the face of the former United midfielder, before falling to the floor where he continued his celebration after winning a goal kick. The Toffees were pushing for a late equaliser and defender James Tarkowski had to be held back by Luke Shaw as the game threatened to boil over.

The United playmaker avoided a yellow card from Darren England with Michael Carrick responding quickly to substitute the midfielder, bringing on Ayden Heaven in his place.

It’s unclear whether the substitution was pre-planned or a result of Cunha’s antics near the deadball line. Former United defender, Gary Neville, felt the Brazilian’s behaviour was ‘antagonistic’ towards Garner.

Speaking on commentary, he said: “They’ve both given each other quite a bit in the game. Garner’s done well. Cunha’s done well. They’ve stuck at it. Cunha’s celebration in Garner’s face is antagonistic.”

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Nevertheless, Cunha avoided a booking, in what would have been only his second yellow card in the top flight this season.

United would hold on to claim an important three points in the race for Champions League football, moving up to fourth in the table.

Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in the 71st minute, with all three of United’s summer signings – Sesko, Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo – combining for the goal.

It wasn’t United’s best performance under Carrick since he took interim charge of the club, but the win moves them three points clear of Chelsea in fifth after their draw with Burnley at the weekend.

United are currently ten games unbeaten stretching back to Amorim’s final few matches at the helm, but appeared to have turned a corner with wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in Carrick’s first games in charge.

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They’ve not been able to repeat those fine displays but are still picking up important points along the way, returning to winning ways after the draw with West Ham United earlier this month.

Speaking after the win over Everton, Carrick praise Cunha’s performance and said: “That was kind of where we were tonight. I think we had to put a lot into the game and everyone did, and I think credit to Everton who made us dig deep, and it wasn’t the prettiest or the most perfect game football-wise for us.

“But Matheus, the defensive work, you put in the effort, the work rate in the end, he’s got the moment that we know we’ve got in the group to create something. He made the difference for us, but it comes from him defending really well in a deep position to then create that transition.

“He’s a great character, I’ve got to know him. Another big moment for Matheus, he’s had a number of them since the very start, starting at City when he came off the bench and he’s a big impact again today for us and he is in a good place as well.”

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