By Nick Bartlett, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Cal Hoops on Verge of Breakthrough, Stanford Trending up
Neither California nor Stanford has made the tournament in a decade, but that could change for at least one, if not both teams, this season.
The squads are trending in opposite directions, but there’s still enough time for both teams to make a run.
According to Joe Lunardi, the Golden Bears are listed in his last “four out” as of Saturday night, but they’re scooting upwards.
Even though the Cardinal are on a four-game slide, they could still sneak into the Tourney this year, but they’re running out of time.
California Golden Bears on a Late-Season Roll
The Bears have won three of their last four matchups and missed a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, nearly toppling Florida State.
If they can continue at this pace for their final nine games, they should move into the tournament field.
It’s also important to note they’re winning matchups they were projected to lose. They were underdogs in all four of their previous contests against North Carolina, Stanford, Florida State, and Miami.
If the Bears could sweep Georgia Tech and Clemson this week, it might prove enough to tilt them into the “first four” column, but they gotta defeat the Yellow Jackets.
Cal has a NET ranking of 51 and a weak strength of schedule. Their most notable victories have come against UCLA, North Carolina, and Miami. A loss against G-Tech would be a stain on their resume.
The combination of Justin Pippen, Dai Dai Ames, John Camden, and Chris Bell has led the Golden Bears, each averaging at least 12 points. Ames leads the way with 16.6.
Pippen, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, is probably their best all-around player, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds.
California began this season 11-1, its best start in 66 years. But few will remember the start without a finish
The Bears were supposed to be outmatched when they moved to the ACC, but they crawled out of hibernation early instead.
Stanford Coach Kyle Smith Turning Around the Cardinal
As a Washington State alum, it felt like we lost a good one when Kyle Smith departed for Stanford. Smith led the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament in over 15 years.
He also finished every season with at least a .500 record during his time at WSU, and this was when the Cougs were playing in the old Pac-12.
For reference, Ernie Kent did not have a winning season during his five-year tenure as Head Coach of the Cougars.
The NCAA Tournament may be out of reach for the Cardinal this year, but if they’re going to give themselves any chance, it starts with a victory over the Tigers tomorrow.
The rest of their schedule is favorable, which could set up as an end-of-season sprint.
Regardless, Smith, now in his second year with the Cardinal, has turned around the program just like he did in Pullman. The Tree hadn’t had a winning campaign in the three seasons before he arrived.
Even in the midst of the recent skid, they’re still 14-8. Last year, they finished their campaign with a 21-14 record. It was their first 20-win season since 2019-20.
Stanford is led by guard Ebuka Okorie, one of the best players in the West. He’s averaging 21.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
The freshman is currently ranked 10th nationally in points scored per contest. He was overlooked coming out of high school, so Smith and his staff found some gold in the sand.
Complementing him in the backcourt is Benny Gealer, who averages 10.2 points per contest.
The Tree lost Chisom Okpara at the beginning of January with a lower extremity injury. He’ll be out for the remainder of the year.
Whether the Cardinal makes the tournament this year doesn’t determine Smith’s standing. One of the primary reasons he chose Stanford is that the university provided “Superior Resources” for his autistic son, Bo.
As someone who has coached youth basketball and worked with autistic kids for six years, I know how difficult it can be—it’s a lot harder than any basketball game I’ve coached.
Smith’s a champion not because he wins on the court, but because of the Father he is off it. Hopefully, Stanford can reward his exceptional character.
Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
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Manny Pacquiao has recalled the pre-fight routine which, in his view, contributed to him retiring from the sport.
At the start of the decade, the Filipino was coming off a pair of points victories over Keith Thurman and Adrien Broner, successfully defending his WBA world title on both occasions.
In doing so, he was widely regarded as one of the leading fighters at 147lbs, only to then experience over two years of inactivity following his closely-contested encounter with Thurman.
Upon his return, Pacquiao may have been forgiven for facing a less formidable opponent, but he instead attempted to defend his title against Yordenis Ugas.
With many believing he had done enough to defeat Shawn Porter, who ultimately edged their 2019 showdown by split decision, Ugas certainly represented a tough night’s work for any fighter.
As it happened, this proved to be the case against Pacquiao, who lost their contest by margins of 115-113 and 116-112, twice, on the judges’ scorecards.
In an interview with Inside the Ring, though, ‘Pac Man’ has claimed that his preparation for Ugas was far from ideal.
“[For] the Ugas fight, we did a routine that we did not usually do before [a] fight. That’s what happened to me – cramping in both legs.
“Before the fight, we did the massage machine. In the fight, I was cramping, could not move. [It was] the first time in my career [that happened].”
Ugas went on to face Errol Spence Jr in a unification clash the following year, suffering a 10th-round stoppage defeat after giving a terrific account of himself.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, sailed into retirement and was involved in a couple exhibition matches, before returning to the sport and boxing to a draw against then-WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios last July. He will, if all goes to plan, face Floyd Mayweather in a rematch this September.
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‘Best he’s played’ – Michael Carrick praises Kobbie Mainoo after Cole Palmer battle in Man United win
Kobbie Mainoo was outstanding for Man Utd in their win at Chelsea and Michael Carrick was delighted with his return from injury.
Michael Carrick praised Kobbie Mainoo’s performance in Manchester United’s win against Chelsea and said it was the best the academy graduate had played in his dozen games in charge.
Mainoo only trained briefly on Thursday and Friday before being thrown back into the side at Stamford Bridge, but he produced an outstanding display, particularly without the ball.
Carrick felt the 20-year-old showed both sides to his game in the 1-0 win and praised him for the composure he showed, while his duel with fellow Manchester-born youngster Cole Palmer was one of the game’s key battles.
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“I thought that was the best Kobbie has played, certainly since I’ve been back here. To step up and put so many phases to his game or sides to his game tonight,” said Carrick.
“I thought he looked so composed, so calm, had a really good presence about him, defended well. Not easy when you’ve got really good players in and around you and it was a good battle between him and Cole Palmer.
“So we had to be right at it tonight, but Kobbie just showed so much quality and composure in a tough environment, really, in the end. Showed us what he can do.”
Mainoo had started Carrick’s first 10 games in charge, but he missed Monday’s defeat to Leeds with a minor injury and wasn’t able to complete a full training session before being thrown back into the side against Chelsea.
“Kobbie didn’t train an awful lot, really. He only did a little, really, a little bit on Thursday and a little bit more yesterday, so it wasn’t an awful lot, so again credit to him for stepping in into that one,” added Carrick.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Manchester United are on the verge of confirming their return to the Champions League following a dogged victory over Chelsea
Manchester United could guarantee themselves Champions League football for next season against Liverpool in two weeks after winning at Chelsea. Michael Carrick’s side put in a tremendous display on Saturday night to leave Stamford Bridge with all three points and stretch the gap from sixth-placed Chelsea to double-figures.
Just five games of the 2025/26 season remain and United are in an excellent position to seal a return to Europe’s top-club competition as they sit 10 points clear of the Blues. Wins against Brentford and Liverpool at Old Trafford in their next two fixtures will actually seal Champions League football for next season, regardless of what Chelsea do.
Liam Rosenior’s side can close the gap before United next play as they face Brighton in just a few days with that game brought forward due to their involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals.
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However, defeat on the south coast will make their task that much more difficult with United subsequently closer to the Champions League.
Fernandes was asked about playing in that competition again after the 1-0 victory with his mindset clear despite the fact that United are all but back in Europe’s top-club competition.
He told TNT Sports: “I feel three points closer, that’s it. Now we have another game that we have to win. We know that we need points to get that place secured and we’re going to do everything we can to get it as quickly as possible.”
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On the same topic, Carrick said: “There’s a gap in the league [to being outside Champions League places]. It wasn’t so much that but the enjoyment of the win.
“Coming here is tough, we have found it hard over the years and to have that moment in the end, they are the ones you want to remember. We won’t get carried away but we will enjoy the result tonight.”
Sunday, May 3 is the earliest date United can seal that achievement and to do so potentially at the expense of Liverpool would be quite satisfying.
Arne Slot’s side face Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Sunday and follow that up with another big derby away to United. They also take on fourth-placed Aston Villa in their penultimate fixture of the campaign.
Such a challenging fixture schedule, alongside Chelsea’s poor form, could open the door for any of Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Everton, Sunderland or Fulham.
Liverpool are seven points clear of the latter, with their victory last weekend only increasing that margin, but dropping points is still entirely possible over the coming weeks.
Given how unpredictable the top-five race looks set to be, United will be grateful that they have opened up a significant gap and can confirm their seat back at the European table by winning their next two home games.
If the worst-case scenario does play out, and results don’t go their way elsewhere, United would still just need to beat Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Brighton.
There were a few Neverness to Everness codes revealed during the official release livestream for the game. The upcoming open-world RPG from Hotta Studio will require you to obtain various resources that you will require to upgrade and build your characters. These codes can be used to obtain such items, making your journey into Hethereau a bit easier.
This article will cover the Neverness to Everness Codes and how you can claim them.
All Neverness to Everness codes and their rewards
Here is a list of all active Neverness to Everness codes that you can redeem in the game:
- NTENOWTOENJOY: Annulith x100, Beetle Coin x6000, Light Dye x5, Rising Hunter Guide x5
- NTENANALLYGO: Annulith x100, Beetle Coin x6000, Colorless Dye x5, Senior Hunter Guide x5
- NTE0429: Annulith x100, Beetle Coin x12000, Chaotic Dye x2, Elite Hunter Guide x5
These are the Neverness to Everness livestream codes that you can claim for a limited-time. The rewards will be available till May 13, 2026, and the codes will expire at 23:59 (UTC+8) on the same day.
Here is a countdown timer till the codes expire, barring you from redeeming the in-game rewards such as Annulith, which will likely be the gacha currency:
Do keep in mind that these rewards can only be obtained for a limited-time, so make sure to redeem them when Neverness To Everness releases on April 29, 2026.
How to redeem the Neverness To Everness codes
The Neverness to Everness livestream showcased how you can activate and redeem the codes. Here is a detailed explanation on how to do so:
- Log in to the game and tap the Menu on the top-right corner.
- Locate the three dots […] and tap on it
- Select the Redeem Code option
- Past the Neverness to Everness codes in the dialog box and redeem
Do keep in mind that you will need to unlock the in-game mailing system to receive the rewards. You will need to complete the prologue and progress the story for a bit to unlock this function. Once you do, you can claim the codes and earn the various rewards, including Annulith and other in-game resources.
The redemption option will only work via the in-game method, as was showcased during the special launch preview livestream. This article will be updated in case the developers make an official redemption portal that you can access using your browser.
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Edited by Supratim Sarkar
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IPL 2026: SRH bowlers hold their nerve, choke CSK in final overs to seal 10-run thriller | Cricket News
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Eshan Malinga, center, celebrate with teammates (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Sunrisers Hyderabad survived a tense finish to beat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in a high-pressure IPL clash, thanks to a brilliant combined effort from Eshan Malinga and Shivang Kumar in the death overs.Chasing 195, CSK were restricted to 184 for 8, with Malinga leading the attack with 3 for 29 and Shivang Kumar supporting him with 1 for 18 in 3 overs. Their control in the post-Powerplay phase proved decisive as they choked CSK’s chase at crucial moments.
Even though CSK needed only 84 from the last 10 overs, SRH’s bowlers kept striking regularly. Malinga mixed yorkers, hard lengths and short balls smartly, while Shivang extracted useful turn and bounce to keep the batters under pressure.CSK’s chase had moments of promise but never fully took off. Sanju Samson began explosively with a first-ball six, but Nitish Reddy removed him quickly with a sharp spell of hard lengths. Ayush Mhatre (30 off 13) kept the momentum going early, but a hamstring injury slowed him down before a sharp catch by Heinrich Klaasen ended his stay.Ruturaj Gaikwad (19 off 12) also fell after mistiming a heavy delivery from Malinga. At 66 for 3, CSK tried to rebuild through Sarfaraz Khan (25 off 19) and Matthew Short (34 off 30), adding 46 runs, but the required rate kept climbing.Dewald Brevis fell for a duck trying to attack Shivang Kumar, and despite a 35-run stand between Short and Shivam Dube (21 off 16), the scoring rate never truly recovered.Malinga, Sakib Hussain (1/32) and Shivang ensured CSK’s power-hitters were kept quiet through the middle and death overs. Praful Hinge also held his nerve at the end, conceding just seven runs in the final over despite earlier struggles.Earlier, SRH posted 194 for 9 after a collapse despite Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 59 off 22 balls. CSK’s decision to bowl first initially looked costly as Abhishek tore into the attack with a 15-ball fifty, but Mukesh Choudhary struck back with key wickets of Travis Head (23) and Ishan Kishan (0) to turn the game.From 75 without loss, SRH slipped to 75 for 2 and later 112 for 4, losing momentum despite Klaasen’s steady 59. He was the only batter to resist consistently, while the rest struggled to accelerate.CSK’s bowling attack was led by Overton (3/37) and Anshul Kamboj (3/22), who were outstanding in the middle and death overs. Noor Ahmad also kept things tight, while Gurjapneet Singh’s disciplined spell added pressure.In the end, SRH’s disciplined bowling effort made the difference as they held CSK down in the final overs to seal a hard-fought 10-run victory.
By all accounts, Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea did many things right in Saturday’s loss to Manchester United.
What they didn’t do was score, and that allowed a single moment of United magic to give the Red Devils three points at the home of the Blues on Saturday. That moment of magic came when Wesley Fofana was off the field getting treatment, and it was United’s only shot on target oif the match.
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“I thought we were the dominant team from minute one to the end of the game,” Rosenior said.
MORE — Chelsea v Man United recap, video highlights
Stamford Bridge was not amused, as Chelsea’s poor-performing forwards were again kept off the score sheet and there was further bad news with an injury to one of the lone bright spots in teenager Estevao Willian.
Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League hopes take a huge hit with the loss. How will Rosenior see it?
Liam Rosenior reaction — What did Chelsea manager say after tight loss to Manchester United?
How are you feeling? “It’s so difficult. Today to give up one shot on target when we’re down to 10 men on a restart [and concede] and we have wave after wave of attack and hit the woodwork four times… I don’t want my team to feel like everything’s against it.”
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To concede with Fofana getting treatment: “We can still do better. Many teams play with 10 men. I think it’s their only shot but we have to defend better. We don’t and we get punished. Any small mistake we’re making at the moment seems to end up in the back of my net. It has to change.”
Why are established players like Cole Palmer not scoring? “It’s a big question. It’s not all on Cole. It’s not all on star players. As a team it felt like at times when you’re not scoring in open play… we’re normally good on set plays but our deliver wasn’t good.”:
Are you feeling pressure? “I put myself under the most pressure. I’m at a huge club.”
Can you be the team who rises above the pack reach Europe? “Of course.”
What do you need to do? “We just need to win the next game. We can’t think of other teams but worry about ourselves and get in bright in early tomorrow to make it right.”
A current world champion is targeting a ‘viral’ unification match with Shakur Stevenson, while also calling out Gervonta Davis for a voluntary title defence.
Stevenson became the WBO super-lightweight champion in January, dethroning Teofimo Lopez with a wide unanimous decision victory at Madison Square Garden.
In doing so, the 28-year-old cemented himself as a four-division world champion but has since expressed an interest in moving back down to 135lbs.
Davis, meanwhile, has not fought since March 2025, back when he defended his WBA world lightweight title with a controversial draw against Lamont Roach.
Since then, the 31-year-old has been stripped of his belt and instated as WBA ‘champion in recess’, partly because of his arrest warrant for domestic violence charges.
But while Davis could potentially defend his title upon returning to the sport, there is equally a chance that he rematches Isaac Cruz at 140lbs.
Should he become available at the weight, then WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell would gladly offer ‘Tank’ a world title opportunity.
Equally, the 29-year-old has told MillCity Boxing that he hopes to unify the super-lightweight division against Stevenson in what he envisions being a “viral” showdown.
“It would go viral. If it’s not [Stevenson], it gotta be another name – a ‘Tank’ coming back.
“Don’t forget I’m right here, ‘Tank’. You know how many people been wanting to see me and ‘Tank’ rumble, or my brother [Gary Russell Jr] rumble [with] ‘Tank’?”
Russell unanimously outpointed mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka in February, meaning he is due a voluntary defence of his WBA title.
Davis, however, could become an unrealistic option if he chooses to return at 135lbs, where No.1 contender Floyd Schofield has lobbied the WBA to either order his fight with ‘Tank’ or grant him a vacant title shot. Report suggest that ‘Tank’ may well move up to 140 on his comeback, with a rematch against Isaac Cruz already mentioned.
Manchester United opened up a 10-point advantage in the race for the Champions League as Matheus Cunha’s first-half strike earned a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge which seriously harmed the Blues’ own top-five hopes.
Cunha rifled in the winner with United’s only shot on target as home fans’ anger at the running of their club reverberated around the ground, following a massive street protest against owners BlueCo that took place ahead of kick-off.
This was Chelsea’s fourth Premier League defeat in a row and the fourth game in which they have failed to score.
They trail Liverpool by four points in the race for the top five having played a game more and with five teams within a win of catching them, they are now at serious risk of failing to qualify for Europe altogether.
For Michael Carrick’s United, there are no such worries. This was a welcome return to form after one victory in four matches, and though they offered little of their own threat besides the goal and Chelsea hitting the crossbar twice, they were sufficiently organised and determined to frustrate their hosts.
Ultimately their greater belief in themselves won out, something which is visibly draining way from Chelsea by the week.
Racing driver Juha Miettinen has died after a seven-car crash during the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) qualifiers in Germany on Saturday.
The race was initially halted by a red flag before it was eventually suspended an hour later once the severity of the the multi-car collision became apparent.
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Organisers said the race, which had earned extra attention due to the participation of Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, would not resume on Saturday evening.
“Following the collision between several vehicles, race control immediately halted the race to allow for extensive recovery and rescue operations,” the race organiser said in a statement.
“Despite the immediate arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics were unable to save the driver involved after he had been extracted from the vehicle. The driver died at the medical centre after all attempts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful.”
The statement added that six other drivers were taken to hospital for examination but none of the injured were in a life-threatening condition.
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Four-time Formula 1 champion Verstappen, who is due to participate in the 24-hour endurance race, sent his condolenscenes to Miettinen on social media.
“Shocked by what’s happened today,” Verstappen wrote on social media.
“Motorsport is something we all love, but in times like this it is a reminder of how dangerous it can be.
“Sending my heartfelt condolences to Juha’s family and loved ones.”
A minute’s silence will be held in memory of Miettinen during the grid formation for Sunday’s race.
It’s WrestleMania weekend, which means all WWE’s stars have headed to Las Vegas, including several ex-WWE stars.
One of the names who has been part of a discussion with Busted Open Radio is Road Dogg, who quit WWE earlier this year. While there were several reports about his reasons for quitting the company where he became a household name, the former champion was able to share his reasons in his own words.
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“I feel like I don’t need to tell you what happened, I feel like if you watch that show [UNREAL] you saw what happened, and so here I sit with you tonight, and I’m a happy man because of it. I have friends there that are still gonna be there, I have gripes; I do have gripes, but in saying that, it even sounds sh**ty to say, like you’re going to gripe about some stuff then. Some of the people there are still my friends, I feel like I was done a little wrong, and I feel like I was receiving a paycheck and I didn’t have any purpose. I was making a dollar but I wasn’t making any decisions.” he revealed.
It seems that Road Dogg reached the point in his WWE career where he didn’t have the input that he once did within the creative process. It was his decision to walk away from the company, and now he seems happy with the path that he has taken instead.
Road Dogg referenced WWE Unreal
Unreal has become a controversial show for fans and members of the roster since there are some who are happy with it and some who believe it is destroying the business.
Road Dogg made it clear that his presence on the show was one of the things that fans could see he was ready to walk away. The business has changed a lot over the past few years, with Vince McMahon walking away and TKO taking over. The whole process backstage has changed as much as the process on the screen, and it seems that there have been a number of beloved stars who have become victims of the changes.
Road Dogg is a Hall of Famer and someone who was well respected backstage, but it was time for him to move forward.
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Edited by Phillipa Marie
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