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College Basketball Best Bets: Conference Tournament Semifinal Picks

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Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp (21) rebounds during the second half against the BYU Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn ImagesMar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Houston Cougars guard Emanuel Sharp (21) rebounds during the second half against the BYU Cougars at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

Championship Week rolls on Friday with several semifinal games on the schedule featuring some of the best teams in the country. It’s definitely more fun to make picks for semifinal games with the stakes elevated even higher.

Today’s NCAA Basketball Best Bets will feature three conference semifinal contests.

Let’s get started by talking about the Big Easy Tournament Semifinal featuring the Georgetown Hoyas and No. 6 Connecticut Huskies before moving on to ACC and Big 12 Semifinal games.

Big East Tournament – Semifinal: Georgetown vs. No. 6 UConn

Georgetown ended the regular season with a 14-17 record after going 1-7 down the stretch. They should have been an early out in the Big East Tournament, but instead, they upset Villanova to earn a spot in the semifinals. Cinderellas win all the time; could they do it again?

If the regular season is any indication, maybe. The Hoyas and Huskies played twice, UConn won both, but by a two-point margin in one (64-62) and a four-point margin in the other (79-75). But on paper, these games shouldn’t have even been close.

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My Pick: UConn -13.5 at -106

I’m a little nervous about this one because of the regular-season games being so close. But after watching the beatdown they gave Xavier, the dominant version of UConn appears to be back. The Huskies will cover this large spread.

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ACC Tournament – Semifinal: Clemson vs. No. 1 Duke

If the Clemson Tigers were wondering how to beat Duke, the Florida State Seminoles were kind enough to give them a blueprint Thursday night: hit 52% of your shots, including 10+ three-pointers, force turnovers, and generate points from those turnovers.

In Clemson’s regular-season matchup with Duke, they shot 35% from the floor, hit 6 of 24 three-pointers, and scored eight points off nine turnovers (Duke scored 13 off ten).

The Tigers are certainly competitive on the defensive end (No. 23 in the country, 66.2 points per game allowed). But not so much on the offensive end (No. 223, 77.4 points per game). They are a decent three-point shooting team (34%) and are capable of generating turnovers (11.59 per game).

My Pick: Duke -11.5

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Clemson’s defense will keep them from getting blown out, but their offense is going to struggle against the Duke defense (No. 2 in the country, 62.5 points per game allowed).

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Big 12 Tournament – Semifinal: No. 14 Kansas vs. No. 5 Houston

Kansas was the third loss in Houston’s three-game losing streak late in the season and essentially beat the Cougars at their own game: they played better defense. Houston shot a dreadful 32% in that game, while Kansas made one more shot (22 to 21) and took 16 fewer shots (50 to 66).

The Jayhawks also won the three-point line, going 7-17 while holding Houston to 5-24.

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The Cougars rebounded with three strong wins to close the regular season and had a solid outing against BYU in their tournament opener. Kansas came out on top of a battle with TCU in the quarterfinals Thursday night.

My Pick: Houston -5.5

Kansas deserved to win their first meeting with Houston, but the Cougars defense is too good not to have a better performance this time around. Houston’s balanced offense will get the job done this time against the Jayhawks defense.

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Kuldeep Yadav wedding: When and where is the ceremony? All you need to know | Cricket News

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Kuldeep Yadav wedding: When and where is the ceremony? All you need to know
The much-awaited wedding celebrations of Kuldeep Yadav and Vanshika Chadha are set to begin with grand festivities this week

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav is set to begin a new chapter in his life as he marries his longtime partner Vanshika Chadha on March 14, 2026, in the scenic hill town of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The wedding comes just days after Kuldeep was part of India’s historic triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Preparations for the grand ceremony are already underway at the historic Savoy Hotel in Mussoorie, where pre-wedding festivities have begun with traditional ceremonies including haldi, mehendi and sangeet. After the wedding, a grand reception will be hosted in Lucknow on March 17, where several prominent personalities from cricket, politics and business are expected to attend.

Star-studded Guest List

Several current and former members of the India national cricket team are expected to attend the wedding celebrations.According to reports, the guest list includes:Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Sunil Gavaskar, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif and Piyush Chawla

Chahal and Tilak Varma share excitement

Meanwhile, fellow Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal arrived in Dehradun on Friday and expressed his excitement about attending the wedding of his close friend.“I am very excited for my brother’s marriage. I will dance a lot and enjoy,” Chahal said.Meanwhile, Tilak Varma said he plans to enjoy the wedding celebrations before shifting his focus to the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season with Mumbai Indians.“We’re going to Kuldeep’s wedding to have fun. After that, we’ll prepare for IPL,” Tilak said.

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A special moment after World Cup glory

Kuldeep’s wedding celebrations come at a particularly memorable time in his career. The spinner was part of the Indian team that recently won the T20 World Cup 2026, defeating New Zealand in the final to claim India’s third title in the tournament’s history.

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Real Salt Lake gets another chance to prove hot start is no fluke

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MLS: Real Salt Lake at Atlanta United FCMar 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Real Salt Lake forward Sergi Solans (22) and forward Aiden Hezarkhani (39) celebrate a goal against the Atlanta United during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Real Salt Lake looks to win three straight games in MLS play for the first time since last July on Saturday when it hosts an Austin FC side that has struggled in its previous trips to Utah.

Salt Lake (2-1-0, 6 points) has made a strong start on the shoulders of a youthful attack, with all four of its goal scorers so far age 23 or younger — and two of them teenagers Zavier Gozo and Aiden Hezarkhani.

That has allowed the Claret-and-Cobalt to weather the early season absence of American World Cup hopeful Diego Luna, who led RSL with nine goals in 2025 but has been hampered by a knee injury.

And after a 1-0 loss at defending Western Conference champions Vancouver in the season opener, RSL answered with a 2-1 home win against Seattle and then a 3-2 victory at Atlanta.

As encouraging as those early results have been, manager Pablo Mastroeni is even more heartened by the interpersonal dynamic he sees within his squad.

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“My thing is that, when you see these guys interact away from the field, It’s like a brotherhood,” he said following the win at Atlanta. “It’s a bunch of guys that enjoy spending time together. There’s no guy that’s bigger than the team.”

Meanwhile, Austin (1-1-1, 4 points) heads to Utah looking for a second win at RSL in its sixth trip since joining the league in 2021.

The Verde suffered multi-goal defeats there in both 2024 and ’25, and against all opponents have lost four straight MLS regular-season away matches since a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 7 of last year.

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“We know that in general it’s hard to go play there,” Austin center back Brandon Hines-Ike said this week. “It’s not a notoriously good place for us where we go. And so I think we’re very aware of that.”

Austin went down to 10 men after 25 minutes in its previous away trip, a 3-1 defeat at Charlotte FC last Saturday. Defender Guilherme Biro will serve a one-match suspension against RSL following his red card in Charlotte.

Up front, Christian Ramirez will look for his second goal in three games after he was signed off waivers for striker depth behind Brandon Vazquez, who is still rehabbing from ACL surgery performed last July.

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–Field Level Media

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The P/PTSD Perspective: KOC Feels Sad, Vikings Trade Leverage, and Firm QB News

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Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt (86) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the Arizona Cardinals in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: March 14th, 2026

1) Presumably, Kevin O’Connell Isn’t Pleased with the Latest News: Coaches have feelings, folks. Is Minnesota’s skipper sad to see Johnny Mundt opt for the Eagles? Coach O’Connell has been quite outspoken about how he feels about the veteran TE3.

Can The Vikings Defense Keep Standing Up?
Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell congratulates tight end Johnny Mundt (86) after his first career touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

2) Vikings Suddenly Hold Major Leverage: Good chance that Mr. Greenard sticks around. Capable pass rushers are hard to acquire. Even harder is getting capable pass rushers who are operating on strong contracts and who provide excellent leadership. Kicking over some added compensation to keep him happy makes sense.

3) Well, At Least the Vikings Now Have Firm QB News: For a little while, the QB conversation was pretty quiet. Passers with connections to Minnesota were getting deals but nothing was getting done in the Twin Cities. In the end, the Vikings landed Mr. Murray.

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Kevin O'Connell speaks with Vikings cornerback Tavierre Thomas on the sideline before a preseason game against the Houston Texans.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell chats with cornerback Tavierre Thomas before kickoff at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 9, 2025, as the Vikings prepare to face the Houston Texans during preseason action. O’Connell surveys warmups while addressing Thomas along the sideline inside the stadium moments before the game begins. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

4) Vikings See a Young, Ascending Talent Stolen Away: The price tag is large. But, to be sure, Ryan Wright has improved a ton over his career (and may still have more development in front of him). Wish him well in New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Vikings are on the hunt for a new punter.

5) Kyler Murray Sweepstakes Looking Like a Two-Horse Race: The final race may have simply been the Vikings competing against themselves. Going to Pittsburgh made sense insofar as there’s a QB need alongside a roster that’s looking to compete. The Vikings, though, make a lot more sense.

Kyler Murray lined up on offense during a Cardinals game against the Houston Texans at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) lines up on offense at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during the regular-season matchup played on Oct. 24, 2021, between the Cardinals and Houston Texans. Murray surveys the defense before the snap while directing Arizona’s offense in the cross-conference contest. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.


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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Carl Froch delivers verdict on Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: “He needs to be careful”

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Carl Froch believes Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 is “more exciting” than their first encounter, with the American hoping to avoid a “stain on his legacy”.

Their welterweight showdown in 2015 resulted in a clear unanimous decision victory for Mayweather, who largely controlled proceedings with his sharper movement and defensive nous.

It was later revealed, however, that Pacquiao had suffered a shoulder injury during his training camp, which only added to the frustration that their clash had arrived far too late.

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Although it is statistically the most lucrative boxing event of all time, most believe the contest failed to live up to its billing as the ‘Fight of the Century’.

As for their rematch, which takes place at the Sphere, Las Vegas, on September 19, it is difficult to know exactly what to expect from the two Hall of Famers.

This is largely because Mayweather has not fought professionally since 2017, back when he secured a 10th-round stoppage victory over Conor McGregor.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, boxed to a draw against Mario Barrios, the then-WBC world welterweight champion, in July, proving that he is still capable of maintaining a considerable pace.

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For that reason, Froch has said on his YouTube channel that Mayweather must be careful not to lose his unbeaten record – which currently stands at 50-0 (27 KOs) – or else he risks diluting his legacy.

“This fight’s probably a little bit more exciting than their first fight, because Mayweather’s still unbeaten – he still keeps himself active [in the gym] – but Manny Pacquiao has just gone 12 rounds and got a draw with Barrios.

“So Manny Pacquiao can obviously still fight a little bit. Mayweather has got to be careful because, if he gets beat, he’s lost that unbeaten record, and that would be a little stain on his legacy. He’s one of the all-time greats.”

While Mayweather is risking his legacy, to some extent, by putting his unbeaten record on the line, many believe he ultimately has enough left in the tank to defeat Pacquiao once again.

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Mexico hit by injury blow as Marcel Ruiz tears ACL and to miss World Cup | Football News

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In the span of three days, Mexico has lost two players for the World Cup.


Midfielder Marcel Ruiz tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, his club Toluca announced on Friday.


The 25-year-old Ruiz injured the joint on Wednesday in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match against San Diego of the MLS.

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Toluca said in a statement that in addition to the ligament rupture, Ruiz also suffered a meniscus tear in the same joint and will undergo surgery.


“Everyone at this club regrets what happened and we stand in solidarity with him, wishing him a speedy recovery,” the team said.

 


Mexico plays the World Cup opener on June 11 against South Africa. 

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Ruiz was key in helping Toluca win their second consecutive championship last December.


Ruiz received his first call-up to the senior national team in 2023, and has been one of the most consistent players since Javier Aguirre took over as manager in August 2024. The midfielder has 17 matches with the national team and was expected to go to his first World Cup.


His absence adds to Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagon, who was diagnosed on Wednesday with a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg.


Mexico has another half-dozen players sidelined, although the most serious case is that of right back Rodrigo Huescas, who tore a knee ligament last November.

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mar 14 2026 | 3:05 PM IST

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These Vikings Players Landed New Teams This Week

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Vikings punte Ryan Wright in 2023 against the Buccaneers
Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright (14) punts the ball during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Next week, another wave of NFL free agency will hit, but let’s take a moment to examine who went where for the Minnesota Vikings, a team with a tranquil philosophy, other than Kyer Murray, regarding adding newcomers.

A handful of ex-Vikings quickly came off the board as free agency moved into its next phase.

It’s the quietest Vikings free agency since 2020; here’s a look at who left for other ventures.

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Minnesota’s Departures Are Starting to Fill Out around the League

No real surprises, aside from the punter, on the list.

Jonathan Allen speaking about joining the Minnesota Vikings during a team YouTube interview after signing in free agency. former vikings players 2026
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen discusses joining the Minnesota Vikings after signing in free agency, speaking about the transition from Washington and his expectations for the defense on March 12, 2025, during an appearance on the team’s official YouTube channel as Minnesota introduced one of its most notable defensive additions of the offseason. Mandatory Credit: YouTube

Jonathan Allen, DT
Cincinnati Bengals

Allen inked a two-year, $26 million contract in Cincinnati, an advantageous development for Minnesota because Allen’s dead cap charge will become a financial wash for the Vikings next offseason.

After five days of free agency, the Bengals’ defensive tackle roster includes:

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  • B.J. Hill
  • Jonathan Allen
  • Kris Jenkins Jr.
  • T.J. Slaton Jr.
  • McKinnely Jackson
  • Jordan Jefferson
  • Howard Cross III

Despite this depth, the Bengals may still select another defensive tackle early in April’s draft, given the DT talent available.

Javon Hargrave, DT
Green Bay Packers

This man pulled the turncoat maneuver, signing in Green Bay and adding a veteran presence to Jonathan Gannon’s defense, hoping his experience and pass-rushing skills can offset the loss of Kenny Clark, who was traded to Dallas in the Micah Parsons deal.

According to Pro Football Focus — and the eye test — Hargrave is a slightly above-average interior defender. In 2025, he earned a 70.0 pass-rushing grade and a 57.3 run-defense grade, resulting in an overall score of 68.0, ranking him 35th among interior linemen. While his pass rush remains a strength, his run defense has been less consistent.

His raw statistics bear it out. In 16 games and 537 defensive snaps (53% of the time), Hargrave recorded 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and 31 pressures. That pressure total ranked him 34th among all defensive tackles.

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Hargrave is expected to provide stability for Green Bay’s iDL, though his recent performance metrics suggest he is a middle-of-the-road NFL defensive tackle. And — there’s the inevitability that Minnesota will face him twice annually.

Jalen Nailor, WR
Las Vegas Raiders

Nailor secured $35 million over the next three years from Las Vegas, the city that raised him. He’s instantly the WR1 on the Raiders’ depth chart — believe it or not — which was probably an alluring factor. Nailor has never accrued more than 500 yards in a single season. That might change in Sin City.

Nailor will also catch passes from Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to go off the draftboard first in April. Meanwhile, there’s a decent chance that Nailor gets an old friend at quarterback if the Raiders sign Kirk Cousins for bridge passer duty.

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Regardless, Nailor got his bag.

Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor catching a pass while Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor defends at U.S. Bank Stadium. former vikings players 2026
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor secures a pass while New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor defends during third-quarter action on Nov. 12, 2023, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Vikings offense attacked through the air in a competitive NFC matchup against the visiting Saints. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Silver and Black Pride‘s Marcus Johnson on Nailor: “The former Michigan State receiver didn’t have a major role with the Vikings in Minnesota and has a chance to showcase his skill set with the Silver and Black. The Vikings lined him up inside and outside, which displays what his role will be with the Raiders.”

“This past season, he was in the slot 60% of the time, making a play that could move around all over the line of scrimmage. Nailor becomes a replacement for Jakobi Meyers, who was traded midseason in 2025. Nailor has upside that goes along with all the free agent signings this offseason. If he could reach his potential, he could add a hidden gem to Klint Kubiak’s offense.”

Ben Sims, TE
Miami Dolphins

Following the first three days of free agency and the acquisition of Ben Sims, the Dolphins’ tight end roster includes:

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  • Greg Dulcich
  • Ben Sims
  • Jalin Conyers
  • Cole Turner
  • Zack Kuntz

Darren Waller, the team’s primary tight end last season, is still a free agent. However, due to Miami’s offseason coaching and front office changes, his return appears improbable.

David Njoku is another free agent to monitor. While he has had a productive career, he hasn’t attracted much free-agent attention so far. A team seeking a tight end, like Miami, could be a possible destination.

Sims played in eight games for the 2025 Vikings, catching 3 passes for 30 yards when given the chance.

Ryan Wright, P
New Orleans Saints

Most fans thought Wright would return as the Vikings’ punter in 2026, and that’d be that.

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Vikings punter Ryan Wright celebrating after drawing a penalty against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium. former vikings players 2026
Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright celebrates after drawing a penalty late in the game against the New England Patriots on Nov. 24, 2022, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, reacting with enthusiasm as the Vikings gained favorable field position during fourth-quarter action in the Thanksgiving night matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

But then he swerved, signing with the New Orleans Saints for $14 million over the next four years. Wright’s career has resembled an odyssey — fantastic in 2022 as a rookie, snakebitten by struggles in 2023 and 2024, and back to majestic form in 2025.

As a result, Minnesota will need a new punter, and all signs point to a rookie, either in the last round of the draft or shortly after, from undrafted free agency.

The Vikings also lost valuable continuity in the field goal process, as Wright was Will Reichard’s holder in 2024 and 2025. Just Minnesota has a good thing going — Reichard was the best kicker in the NFL last season — a bit of disruption arose.


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Blue Jays’ Jeff Hoffman replaces Clayton Kershaw for U.S. at WBC

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The Americans are making an adjustment ahead of their World Baseball Classic semifinal showdown against the Dominican Republic.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman will replace Clayton Kershaw for Team USA, joining the team ahead of Sunday’s game, the club announced on Saturday.

The U.S. advanced to the semis after a 5-3 win over Canada in Friday’s quarterfinal.

Hoffman, 33, has pitched two innings this spring with three strikeouts.

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During the 2025 regular season, his first with the Blue Jays, he pitched 68 innings and owned a 4.37 ERA with 84 strikeouts, 27 walks and 33 saves recorded.

He recovered his form during the post-season, though, with a 1.46 ERA across 12.1 innings, with 18 strikeouts, four walks and two saves.

He allowed the game-tying homer to Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas in Game 7 of the World Series, in which the Blue Jays would go on to lose in extra innings.

If called upon, this will be Hoffman’s first appearance in a World Baseball Classic.

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Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young award winner, retired at the end of last year after playing 18 MLB seasons. The left-hander came out of retirement to suit up for Team USA, but did not pitch in any of the team’s five games in the WBC.

Kershaw will remain with the team through the tournament despite being removed from the roster.

With files from Associated Press

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Mike Tyson names the only fighter with a chance of beating Shakur Stevenson

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Mike Tyson has named the only fighter he gives a chance at defeating Shakur Stevenson, branding him a “force of nature”.

There are, indeed, very few fighters that would be given even a puncher’s chance against Stevenson, who many regard as one of the finest pound-for-pound technicians in boxing.

In 25 professional outings, the 28-year-old seems to have barely broken a sweat, often controlling the action behind a commanding lead hand.

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This was perhaps most expertly displayed during his last fight, against Teofimo Lopez, when Stevenson became a four-division world champion after dropping just one round.

His unanimous decision victory in January has therefore led many to question whether he will ever be beaten, especially as he seems head and shoulders above the competition between lightweight and 140lbs.

One man who Tyson believes has the potential to defeat Stevenson, however, is Gervonta Davis, who was stripped of his world championship status at 135lbs earlier this year.

This was partly due to the American’s inactivity but also because of his arrest warrant, which was issued on charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping.

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Instead of removing him from the lightweight picture, though, the WBA decided to make ‘Tank’ its ‘champion in recess’, affording him the opportunity to eventually reclaim his belt.

In any event, Tyson has told Fight Hub TV that, before Davis’ career was thrown into disrepute, he was convinced that the prolific knockout artist would have come closest to defeating Stevenson.

“He’s a great fighter. I don’t know if he’s as serious as he used to be but, when he was serious, he was a hell of a fighter that nobody came close [to beating].

“He’s the only one I gave a chance against Shakur. Tank is just a force of nature – you’ve just got to give him the credit. He’s the f**king man.”

Regardless of the controversy attached to Davis’ career, a showdown between him and Stevenson would certainly be welcomed by the boxing fraternity.

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‘Jasprit Bumrah is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers’: Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed makes shocking claim | Cricket News

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'Jasprit Bumrah is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers': Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed makes shocking claim
Jasprit Bumrah and Usman Tariq (AP Photos)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed on Saturday sparked debate after making a surprising comparison between Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq. His remarks came after India’s strong campaign in the T20 World Cup, where Bumrah played a key role in the team’s success.Bumrah was one of the standout players of the tournament, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets alongside Varun Chakravarthy.

IPL 2026 should be audition for the next India T20I captain

His best performance came in the final against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad, where he produced a brilliant spell of 4/15 in four overs. The performance helped India secure a dominant 96-run victory and defend their title, earning Bumrah the Player of the Match award.Explaining his comparison, Javed said Bumrah’s bowling style is rare because of his unusual action and the difficulty batters face in settling against him. “In today’s era, across this entire World Cup, there is only one bowler like that – Bumrah. Because he is different. He is not a normal bowler. Even his action is unusual. When he comes in to bowl, I always say he is like the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers,” he told reporters.He further explained that Bumrah’s pace and unique rhythm make him extremely hard to face. “He bowls so quickly and in such a unique manner that a batter never really finds any flow or rhythm against him. He simply doesn’t allow it,” he added.Javed also argued that bowlers with the aura of past greats are becoming rare in modern cricket. “Other than him, tell me one more bowler in this entire World Cup – from any team – whom you can look at and feel satisfied that he carries the reflection of a Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, or anyone like that. You won’t find one anymore,” he further noted.

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Chinese GP qualifying: Antonelli takes pole after Russell issues

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Antonelli’s new record – he is 19 years and 212 days old – beat the previous held by Sebastian Vettel, who was 21 years and 72 days old when he took pole at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.

Antonelli said he was “very happy” but accepted that he might well not have taken pole had Russell had a problem-free qualifying.

He said: “George had an issue, so probably could have been a different story but happy to be on pole for the first time.”

Russell described his second place as “damage limitation” after a litany of problems through qualifying.

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The championship leader said: “It was a crazy session. Front wing broke at the end of Q2. The team weren’t sure it had broken but I was sure it had. Then got stranded on track and just made it back out in time. It was more a case of just getting a lap done.

“P2 is better than I was expecting when I started the lap with no battery and tyre temperature. Really happy to be here because I could have been down in 10th.”

In the first session, Leclerc became the first driver to beat Russell in a competitive session this year with a time just under 0.1secs quicker than the Briton.

Then in the second session, Russell ended up third fastest behind Antonelli and Leclerc after he suffered a broken front wing flap.

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Heading out for the final session with a new wing, Russell’s car stopped on track on his out lap as the gearbox refused to change gear.

Antonelli drove past his team-mate as he set the fastest time on his first flying lap, 0.3secs quicker than Leclerc.

After frantic work in the garage, Mercedes managed to fix Russell’s car by applying a series of default procedures such as switching the car off and on again and swapping out the steering wheel.

He got just out in time to set a lap but his rushed preparation meant the car was not in its optimum condition as he went for a time.

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However, Antonelli had his own problems on his final run – he suffered the same front wing problem has Russell had done in Q2.

Hamilton, who tussled with Russell for the lead in the opening laps of the sprint race earlier on Saturday, was 0.351secs off pole and said he had hopes of challenging the Mercedes again in the grand prix.

“It was a really tough qualifying,” Hamilton said. “A bit harder with the wind. It is so gusty today. So challenging.

“Really happy and grateful to be up here with these guys. Engineers did some great work over the break and managed to get a little closer to these guys.

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“It’s still going to be a challenge but I am sure we’re going to have some fun. Learned a lot in the sprint race and our goal is to break the gap to these guys somehow.”

The McLarens were just over 0.1secs behind the Ferraris and Norris said: “We’re happy we’re close to them, gives us a good shot at tomorrow.”

But Verstappen was downcast to be nearly a second off the pace in the Red Bull.

“We change a lot on the car, and it makes zero difference,” the four-time world champion said.

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“The whole weekend we’ve been off. The car is completely undriveable. I cannot even put a bit of a reference in. Every lap is like survival.”

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