There’s an exciting centre-back who is ready to join Liverpool.
When Richard Hughes failed to secure Marc Guehi during the summer transfer window, there was an uneasy sense that the decision might come back to haunt the club.
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That concern has now become reality.
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The serious injury to Giovanni Leoni has left Liverpool’s defensive depth in a fragile state. Passing up another opportunity to sign Guehi in January – only to see him join Manchester City – has made the earlier failure feel even more costly.
There has been some forward planning, with the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet, but he and Leoni cannot be the only ‘new’ centre-bacjs at Anfield next season.
The truth is, relying on Jacquet and the injured Leoni is simply not enough. With Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate both struggling with fitness concerns and facing uncertain futures, reinforcements are essential.
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Liverpool also cannot afford to depend too heavily on inexperienced options like Mor Talla Ndiaye or Ifeanyi Ndukwe. If they are to restore stability at the back, further additions are not just necessary – they are urgent.
Let us introduce you to Liverpool’s perfect solution to this problem – Dylan Lawlor.
He’s kind of a cross over between Joel Matip and Adam Wharton but in centre-back form. Liverpool’s scouts have been credited with interest in the young Cardiff City centre-back, and he could be the perfect extra depth the Reds need – especially considering he likely won’t cost too much money.
Lawlor caught the eye for Cardiff against Doncaster last month with a brilliant solo-goal that made him look like he was prime Matip on turbo power.
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The 20-year-old Welsh centre-back started just outside his own penalty area when he received the ball and decided to go on a rampage.
Lawlor turned into prime Diego Maradona as he waltzed through the League One side’s defence and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
It was yet another sensational moment in Lawlor’s rapidly ascending career. He’s established himself as one of the best young centre-backs in the EFL and has also become a regular at international level for Wales.
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Now he confirmed he was ready to join a club like Liverpool in his most recent outing for Wales. In just his fourth international cap, Lawlor came into the Wales team against Bosnia in a crucial World Cup qualifier and he absolutely shone.
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Lawlor won six out of his nine duels, including three out of four ground duels and three out of five aerial duels. He also made four clearances and four recoveries and really stood up to the physical test that Bosnia’s strong and experienced forwards imposed on him.
That was a sign of Lawlor being ready to step into a more physical environment like the Premier League.
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On top of all of this, he also completed 96 passes and made 10 passes into the final third.
Lawlor’s ability on the ball is what makes him stand-out. He is a very technical and forward thinking player who loves to break lines and also carry the ball – similarly to Wharton.
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He is incredible comfortable under pressure and while he doesn’t have the long gait that Matip had, he has the same ability as the Cameroonian to waltz through opposition lines.
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Defenders often fall into one category. On the ball they are either carriers or passers. Matip was both and so is Lawlor.
That ability to break lines through carrying, rather than just passing alone, makes Lawlor’s style feel very reminiscent of Matip at his best.
Now he’s producing top defensive performances against strong and top class attackers like Edin Dzeko. With his performance on Thursday, Lawlor confirmed he is ready to join a club like Liverpool.
With back-to-back general managers, Rick Spielman and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, trades were frequent for the Minnesota Vikings. Neither of those men works for the Vikings anymore, but there’s a chance that the “new” guy, interim boss Rob Brzezinski, pulls off a blockbuster trade on Night No. 1 of the NFL Draft. This is a peek at the possibilities.
Minnesota has the tools to make noise if it wants a splashy draft-weekend move.
The Vikings have nine draft picks this year and a couple of tradeable players, at least in theory.
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Five Aggressive Trade Ideas That Would Shake Up the Vikings’ Draft
Blockbuster trade ideas for the Vikings, ranked in order of realism (No. 1 = most realistic blockbuster trade).
The Package — Vikings Get: Brian Thomas & Pick No. 124 (R4) Jaguars Get: Pick No. 18
No one really knows if Jordan Addison will succeed in Minnesota — or if he’ll flame out because of the next arrest. Trading for Thomas hedges that bet, and the Vikings would take the mystery and crapshoot nature of the draft out of the 18th pick.
Minnesota can then decide to keep a three-deep setup indefinitely or trade Addison when the time is right.
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In any event, Thomas is reportedly on the trade block after a quiet sophomore campaign.
4. Trade up for Ohio S Caleb Downs
The Package — Vikings Get: No. 11 from CIN (Caleb Downs) Bengals Get: Pick Nos. 18 & 49 (R2)
Harrison Smith might retire, and even if he doesn’t, the Vikings still need a safety for the long haul. There’s a small chance that Downs — the best safety in next month’s draft — tumbles a smidge due to injury fears, and every team that passes up, well, he gets more attainable for the Vikings.
Some consider Downs a future Hall of Famer. And while it’s not wise to trade up for a non-premium position like safety, it is wise to draft Hall of Famers.
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In this scenario, Brian Flores and Co. realize that Downs is a game-changer, donating the 2nd-Rounder to Cincinnati for the pick that fetches Downs.
3. Trade for NYG DT Dexter Lawrence
The Package — Vikings Get: Dexter Lawrence & Pick No. 37 (R2) Giants Get: Pick No. 18 & 2027 3rd-Rounder
Lawrence is still only 28 years old; if a team trades for him, they’ll get a full contract’s worth of Pro Bowl production.
The phenom nose tackle is probably gettable for the equivalent of a late 1st-Rounder or early 2nd-Round pick, so in this proposal, Minnesota opts for the sure thing in Lawrence, while grabbing the Giants’ 2nd-Rounder, which it could spend on a cornerback like Colton Hood (Tennessee) or running back like Jadarian Price (Notre Dame).
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Lawrence would cook in Minnesota, sandwiched between Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jalen Redmond.
Perhaps the most fun option on the list, the Vikings put their running back drought to bed, trading up the board for Love.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) bursts upfield after securing a catch, weaving through defenders and accelerating into open space during second-quarter action on Nov. 15, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the Fighting Irish offense looks to generate momentum against the Panthers’ defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Minnesota hasn’t drafted a game-changing tailback since Dalvin Cook, and that happened nine years ago. Like the safety proposal with Downs, it’s usually taboo to trade up for a running back. But who really cares if the end game is pairing Love, this class’s best halfback, with Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Addison for the next five years? Would you be mad?
Trading for Love would force the Vikings to be run-centric, at least more than they are now, and that could, alas, unlock Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
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1. OLB Jonathan Greenard to the Eagles
The Package — Vikings Get: Pick No. 23 Eagles Get: Jonathan Greenard, Pick No. 163 (R5) & 2027 3rd-Rounder
For now, the momentum has shifted for Greenard to remain in Minnesota — the Vikings probably would’ve traded him by now if he wanted out over a contractual dispute.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates emphatically after recording a sack, feeding off the home crowd’s energy and signaling a defensive momentum shift during second-half action on Sep. 14, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the Vikings apply consistent pressure against the Falcons’ offense. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
But let’s pretend that the thesis is wrong, and the Vikings offload Greenard during the draft. Philadelphia’s outside linebackers right now are Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. The Eagles will have Super Bowl hopes again in 2026 after their version of a down year; they’ll need more EDGE help than Smith and Hunt to do it.
Here, Minnesota pries the Eagles’ 1st-Rounder away while Philadelphia gets a guaranteed-to-be-good pass rusher, a 3rd-Rounder, and a 5th-Round scratch off. The irony here is that Minnesota might turn around and draft an EDGE defender with the pick.
Greenard could land a big payday in Philadelphia, and Minnesota would lean into the youth movement at OLB with a new guy and Dallas Turner, who is the fourth-youngest player on the Vikings’ roster.
A Minnesota Vikings helmet rests on the field during warmups on Nov. 23, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as players prepared to face the Green Bay Packers. The pregame scene captured the calm before a heated NFC North matchup, with crisp conditions setting the stage for a divisional showdown. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-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 Minnesota Vikings’ state-of-the-art TCO Performance Center is shown in Eagan, Minnesota, on Jul 28, 2018. This world-class facility serves as the team’s headquarters, featuring cutting-edge training, rehabilitation, and meeting spaces. Since its opening, it has become the central hub for all things Vikings, from offseason prep to daily operations. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
2) Vikings Called Landing Spot for Big Rival Defender: Minnesota’s defensive line has plenty of young talent. What’s not as plentiful is established, high-floor veteran talent. Maybe the add ends up being Christian Wilkins. Or, perhaps, the rival defender with hulking size.
3) Ex-Vikings is Headed to Arizona: Lately, the focus has been on talent moving in the opposite direction. That’s what will happen when a QB as promising as Kyler Murray gets cut and then signed. Turns out the NFL’s talent exchange is a two-way street.
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Sep 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) against the Washington Football Team at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
4) Vikings Evidently Have a Trade Asset: Several, in fact. Rumors have been out there for a little while, but nothing has happened so far. Rob Brzezinski has been very patient. The upcoming draft is very likely to involve at least some shuffling.
5) Vikings Signal Interest in Young DT, TE, and LB: ‘Tis the season for meeting with draft prospects. In less than a month, the 2026 NFL Draft will have come and gone. Pretty wild, right? Minnesota needs to crush the event, pulling off a talent heist that mirrors the 2015 effort.
Feb 3, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Minnesota Vikings mascot Viktor during NFC practice for the Pro Bowl at Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
British rider Tom Pidcock is out of the Volta a Catalunya after crashing during Friday’s fifth stage.
The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider had what he described as a “horror” fall in a ravine after he went off the road, misjudging a corner during the penultimate descent of the day.
The 26-year-old eventually finished more than 29 minutes behind stage winner Jonas Vingegaard.
But following medical checks, he has been ruled out of the remainder of the race.
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“Due to his crash he suffered injuries, most likely bone and ligament damage in particular to his right knee and also right wrist,” said team doctor Lorenz Emmert.
“Unfortunately we had to make the decision to take him out of the race. Further clinical evaluation and imaging will follow in the next days.”
Pidcock won the Milano-Torino race earlier this month and was just edged out in the Milan-San Remo by world champion Tadej Pogacar.
“We did everything to try to make it to the start [of Saturday’s stage six] but it’s not possible,” said the two-time Olympic cross-country mountain bike champion.
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“I fought to finish the stage yesterday to make sure I had the option to continue. Now the focus is on recovery, and I’ll be back.”
The perfect Masters week outfit doesn’t exis— …. oh, wait a minute, yes it does! It’s the caddie jumpsuit by Caddie Uniform, now conveniently paired with a hat in a uniform bundle and available for purchase at Fairway Jockey.
Whether you’re hosting a major-championship watch party or just want to get in the looper spirit with a crisp white jumpsuit, Caddie Uniform has everything you need to steal the show, with sizes available for the whole family — including the dog!
The new caddie jumpsuit bundle comes with both the jumpsuit and a green “Caddie” hat to complete your look. The unisex design fits both men and women, and can be customized with a name and number of your choice. There is a place for three removable velcro patches, as well as two open pockets on the side to ensure easy access to shorts, pants, keys, etc.
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The best news? If you buy now, you can enjoy a $15 discount on the bundle. So what are you waiting for? Order your bundle now by clicking the link below.
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Reusable & Removable Patches: Comes with 3 Velcro patches for easy customization and reuse.
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Golf.com Editor
As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.
Cristiano Ronaldo-led Al-Nassr could potentially be dealt a massive blow as Sadio Mane could leave the club in the summer transfer window. Turkish giants Besiktas have reportedly submitted an official offer to sign the Senegal international and are aiming to finalize the deal in the coming weeks.
Mane chose to leave Bayern Munich and sign for the Knights of Najd in the summer of 2023 on a three-year deal. The 33-year-old has established a lethal connection with Cristiano Ronaldo and his other teammates up front, consistently featuring on the scoresheet.
Thanks for the submission!
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However, Al-Nassr are now facing a future without the former Liverpool superstar, as Besiktas are allegedly keen on signing Mane to bolster their status in Europe. Following two unsuccessful attempts to sign him over the past year, Turkish news outlet Sporx stated (via World Soccer Talk):
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“Besiktas has made an official offer to sign Senegalese forward Sadio Mane from Al-Nassr during the summer transfer window, and the club is looking to negotiate with the player to finalise the deal in the coming period.”
Mane has excelled for the Saudi Pro League giants over the past three seasons, scoring 47 goals and providing 32 assists in 119 appearances across all competitions.
“I’ve never seen another player like him” – When Sadio Mane hailed Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at Al-Nassr
Al-Nassr winger Sadio Mane once waxed lyrical about Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at the club, crediting the Portugal ace for his fitness, work ethic, impact, and mentality. Mane also stated that he has yet to see any other footballer match Ronaldo’s professionalism, with the latter still going strong despite being at the age of 41.
After playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for over two years, Mane spoke with Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand in November 2025 and said (via beIN Sports):
“He’s an example for any footballer. I’ve never seen another player like him. He works hard every single day, he wants to win always, even at 40. He’s a complete athlete. His impact is exceptional. His mentality and passion for football have no comparison.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down at Al-Nassr and has bagged 22 goals and four assists in 26 appearances across all competitions this season. He is currently sidelined due to a hamstring injury, but will be aiming to return for their upcoming fixture against Al-Najma on April 3.
PCB accuses pacer Naseem Shah of “central contract violation” following post aimed at Punjab CM Maryam
Naseem Shah has come under the scanner of the Pakistan Cricket Board after a now-deleted social media post from his official X account appeared to take a dig at Punjab (province of Pakistan) Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during the opening game of the Pakistan Super League.What was the incident?The post, which quote-tweeted a PCB update from the opener between Quetta Gladiators and Hyderabad Kingsmen in Lahore, read: “Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord’s?” It was widely seen as a remark aimed at Maryam Nawaz’s high-profile arrival at Gaddafi Stadium, where she was escorted by a large security convoy and later interacted with players.The tweet was quickly deleted, with a follow-up message claiming the account had been hacked. However, as per The Daily Star, the explanation did not convince PCB officials. Within a day, the board served Naseem with a show-cause notice, citing a breach of his central contract and violation of media guidelines.The alleged offence is understood to fall under a clause barring players from publicly criticising board officials, sponsors, or associated entities. Despite the disciplinary action, Naseem remains available for selection and is likely to feature in his team’s next match.The controversy comes during a subdued PSL season, which began on March 26 under tight restrictions. After consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and franchise stakeholders, the PCB limited the tournament to Lahore and Karachi, with matches being held behind closed doors. Venues in Peshawar, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad were removed from the schedule to conserve fuel amid ongoing regional tensions linked to the Gulf conflict.Earlier, the Pakistan-based militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had issued a warning to overseas players, urging them to withdraw from the league.“The current internal security and political landscape of the country is volatile and precarious. In a climate where military operations and civil unrest dominate significant portions of the territory, the safety of international athletes cannot be guaranteed.”The group added, “Given these dire circumstances, we strongly advise you to prioritise your personal security and withdraw from the tournament immediately. The environment is currently unfit for any peaceful sporting activity.”Despite the warnings and the security concerns, the PSL has gone ahead as planned, with several overseas players, including David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, continuing to take part.
It was a unanimous decision victory at Wembley Stadium that saw him capture the WBC title, before suffering a third-round stoppage defeat in his rematch with Tyson the following year.
But while Bruno was often accused of lacking sufficient durability to triumph at the highest level, he nonetheless showed lots of heart and commitment to eventually secure his WBC heavyweight title.
Now looking across the current heavyweight landscape, the 64-year-old has considered how a prime version of himself might fare against the likes of Fury and Joshua.
While speaking with Boxing Now, Bruno also highlighted Arslanbek Makhmudov, who will face Fury on April 11, as an opponent that would have potentially brought the best out of him.
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“I think I’d be up there with them boys. I fancy me chances. I think [fights with] Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and [Makhmudov would interest me].
“When you go in there [with people who can] hit you, hurt you and knock you down, you’ve got to be on your toes.”
While Fury and Joshua represent accomplished former world champions in the four-belt era, it must be said that Oleksandr Usyk has cemented himself as the greatest heavyweight of this generation.
Bruno did not mention the Ukrainian but, by saying he would be “up there” with the top dogs, perhaps he would also fancy his chances against Usyk.
Ranked UFC middleweights battle when fourth-ranked Israel Adesanya faces 14th-ranked Joe Pyfer in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The preliminaries are set to begin at around 5 p.m. ET, with the main card at approximately 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Adesanya is coming off a loss by TKO to Nassourdine Imavov on Feb. 1, 2025. Pyfer, meanwhile, earned a submission win at 1:46 of the second round over Abusupiyan Magomedov at UFC 320 on Oct. 4, 2025.
Adesanya is a -142 favorite (risk $142 to win $100), while Pyfer comes back at +120 in the latest UFC Fight Night odds at DraftKings Sportsbook. The co-main event features a women’s flyweight bout between third-ranked Alexa Grasso (+160) and fifth-ranked Maycee Barber (-192). Before locking in any UFC Fight Night picks, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Kyle Marley.
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Over the past three-plus years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks are up nearly $10,000, and since May 2018, he has returned well over $21,000. The accomplished MMA analyst has provided consistent winners for SportsLine members for the past five years. His accomplishments include hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC’s brief pause in action because of the pandemic. He also went 11-3 on his picks at the last UFC card. Anyone who has followed Marley could be way up.
Now, Marley has studied Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer from every angle and revealed his top betting picks and best bets. Head to SportsLine to see them.
Adesanya vs. Pyfer preview
Adesanya, 36, looks to snap a three-bout losing streak. His last win came against Alex Pereira at UFC 287 on April 8, 2023. He knocked Pereira out to win the UFC middleweight championship and earned Performance of the Night honors. Adesanya began his professional career in 2012, and first joined UFC in February 2018. He won his first 20 professional bouts.
In 29 career matches, he has compiled a 24-5 mark. He has 16 wins by knockout and eight by decision. His accomplishments have led him to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in the Fight Wing and is in the Class of 2025. He is a two-time middleweight champion and successfully defended his title five times. Check out SportsLine to see Marley’s picks and analysis.
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Pyfer, 29, turned pro in 2018 and has been competing in UFC since making his debut on Sept. 17, 2022. He defeated Alen Amedovski by knockout in his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song, where he earned Performance of the Night honors. Pyfer has won six of his seven UFC bouts. In 18 career matches, he has compiled a 15-3 record.
He has nine wins by knockout, four by submission and two by decision. He is a four-time Performance of the Night winner. He was a 2022 Fan’s Choice Debut of the Year nominee and a 2025 President’s Choice Performance of the Year nominee. Pyfer is a one-time Ring of Combat middleweight champion and a one-time Art of War Cage Fighting middleweight title holder. You can only see Marley’s picks and analysis at SportsLine.
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UFC Fight Night predictions
One of of Marley’s UFC Fight Night picks: He is backing Chase Hooper (-325) to beat Lance Gibson Jr. via submission in a lightweight bout on the preliminary card.
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“Gibson is the more well-rounded striker and wrestler, and he will be the stronger guy/better athlete,” Marley said. “He isn’t great anywhere, but he needs to keep this fight standing. Hooper is a dangerous submission grappler, and he knows he isn’t a good striker. He should sell out for takedowns, and I’ll take him to get a submission.” See who else to back here.
How to make UFC Fight Night picks
Marley also has strong picks for Adesanya vs. Pyfer and other bouts on the UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer card. He’s also backing a fighter who “will be much more active and dangerous,” to emerge with a big victory. He’s sharing who it is only at SportsLine.
Israel Adesanya (-142) vs. Joe Pyfer (+120) Alexa Grasso (+160) vs. Maycee Barber (-192) Michael Chiesa (-900) vs. Carlston Harris (+600) Julian Erosa (+280) vs. Lerryan Douglas (-355) Mansur Abdul-Malik (-135) vs. Yousri Belgaroui (+114) Terrance McKinney (-185) vs. Kyle Nelson (+154)
A trip to the Final Four is on the line tonight when Arizona takes on Purdue in San Jose.
The entire season has led up to this moment. It’s the culmination of the Tommy Lloyd era in Tucson. Can he deliver the result and break the two-and-a-half-decade-long drought?
Or will this be another season that comes to a heartbreaking end in the Elite 8?
Here’s my preview of the matchup.
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(Full disclosure: I’m a lifetime Arizona supporter. Be sure to read my bonus fan rant in the boxed section at the bottom.)
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 1 Arizona
Saturday, March 28 5:49 pm PT, TBS San Jose, CA
There are only a handful of opportunities that a program ever gets to reach a Final Four.
One of those moments is here and now for the Arizona Wildcats.
The fanbase has too many traumatic memories of losing in the Elite 8.
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2003, 2005, 2011, 2014, and 2015.
The City of Tucson can’t handle another one. This has to be the team that finally breaks through.
Standing in the way is the Purdue Boilermakers, a new-age blue blood built on elite coaching and loyalty.
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith were all on that 2023-24 squad that beat Arizona in Indianapolis and went on to the Final Four later that season.
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They know what it takes to get there because they’ve done it before.
On the other hand, none of the Arizona players were even born the last time the Wildcats made it beyond this game.
Trey Kaufman-Renn vs Texas | Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
The Final Four drought is the only thorn in the side of the fanbase’s psyche.
It’s the only chirp that hits home. Because it’s true.
Arizona hasn’t been to the Final Four in 25 years. A 25-year dry spell for one of the most storied programs in college basketball. Five consecutive losses. Five missed Final Fours.
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But that streak ends tonight. It ends with this team.
Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, and Ivan Kharchenkov. The three freshmen who have put together one of the best seasons in program history have a chance to cement their legacy.
And it’s not just the freshmen. The Cats are led by a senior point guard, upperclassmen bigs, and a coaching staff that has found its sweet spot.
It’s a storybook synergy that deserves to break the drought.
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So, how do they get it done?
You guessed it: defense and rebounding. Arizona is No. 9 in field goal percentage defense and No. 4 in rebounding margin.
KenPom has UA at No. 3 overall in defensive efficiency.
Koa Peat vs Arkansas | Kelley L Cox/AP
How can they take advantage of that? By pushing the tempo.
Purdue operates at a much slower pace than Arizona. Get them into a high-possession game, and empty trips down the court will happen.
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The Boilermakers are awful in the fastbreak, coming into the matchup No. 303 nationally in fastbreak points per game. Speed them up, don’t allow them to grind the game down into the halfcourt, and play efficient on offense.
And for the love of God, do not let Loyer get hot from three. The senior can change the game and single-handedly beat Arizona if he gets going from deep.
The X-Factor, though, is Koa Peat.
Known as “Mr. Arizona,” Peat understands what this game means. He knows the weight that comes along with playing for UofA.
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From the first game of his career, he has willed Arizona to this moment. Without him, this team wouldn’t be in this position.
If Peat can finish around the rim with efficiency and knock down his free throws, Arizona will be in a good position.
Go win it for the City, Koa.
Lord knows we deserve it.
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Redemption? Or Am I Wrong About Purdue Again?
Opinion: Dane Miller
This one is personal.
Flashback to December 16, 2023.
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Arizona is the No. 1 team in the country, matched up against No. 3 Purdue in downtown Indianapolis.
Trusted sources had informed me that the Boilermaker guards were not very good, and I sent a provocative pre-game tweet claiming they were outclassed.
Suffice it to say that the take was a major whiff.
Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith combined for 53 points on 20-for-33 from the field, leading the Boilermakers to victory.
After the game, Purdue Twitter made it go viral and the Big Ten Network even posted a graphic of the tweet to troll me. A total of 270,000 views for what was easily the worst take of my career.
But this Arizona squad is nothing like that 2023-24 team. And the Boilermakers don’t have Zach Edey.
Am I supposed to be afraid of Trey Kaufman-Renn? Or should I be more worried about the dirty play reputation that the Boilermakers have?
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But wait, I know what it is.
Purdue center Oscar Cluff | Purdue Athletics
Arizona fans should be concerned about Oscar Cluff.
You know, the guy who went to junior college just outside of Tucson in an attempt to catch the attention of the Arizona staff.
The same guy that Tommy Lloyd refused to recruit because he wasn’t good enough.
The same guy who was held to three points on 1-for-5 shooting in his lone game at McKale Center.
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Yes, that’s the guy that I should be worried about.
Please.
This Arizona team is destined for the Final Four. I don’t even need to get into the analytics, or the metrics, or any of the blah, blah, blah.
This team wants it more. This city needs it more.
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F*#%k Purdue.
Another rare opportunity to reach a Final Four is within reach for the Arizona Wildcats, and this is their time.
Arizona last reached the Final Four in 2021 | Rich Clarkson/Associated Press
With all the noise surrounding Tommy Lloyd, driven primarily by has-been North Carolina fans desperate to stay relevant, this is the time to take advantage.
You want more real analysis for how Arizona will win? Defense, rebounding, and forcing turnovers. All while keeping Loyer from killing you from three.
Play physical against Smith, keep elbows out against Kaufman-Renn, and bully Cluff whenever he gets the ball.
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Arizona has the better players. Arizona has the better system. Arizona is deeper.
Go bring a Final Four banner back to McKale.
And send a message to Purdue while you’re at it.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh on Friday rubbished rumours of a fall-out with Hockey India supremo Dilip Tirkey, clarifying that the former India skipper has in fact encouraged him to surpass his record of being the most-capped player for the senior national team.
Tirkey currently holds the record of making 412 international appearances, the most by an Indian men’s hockey international and Manpreet, at 411, is just two matches shy of breaking his long-standing record.
While there were rumours that all was not well between Manpreet and Tirkey after the veteran midfielder was dropped from the list of core probables for the FIH Pro League earlier this year, the duo came out in public to clear the misunderstanding.
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Manpreet on Friday expressed his desire to continue playing at least till the Asian Games and then will take a call on his future depending upon his fitness.
“At present my focus is on the Asian Games and I will continue to play till the Asian Games as I am fit and training daily. My body is responding to what I am asking it but after that I will take a call looking at my fitness,” Manpreet said on the sidelines of the eighth Hockey India Annual Awards here.
“Coach (Craig) Fulton’s idea is simple. He will pick the players who are fit. For me also, if I am not fit, I cannot play. In world hockey, fitness is the most important thing.
Manpreet said an unnecessary controversy was created after his ouster from the probables list and it he decided to sit out to spend time with his family..
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“A lot of things happened. I have spoken to Dilip sir personally as well. He told me he does not have any problem if I play the 412th game. He wants me to break the record. He wants me to become the first Indian to play 500 games. That’s what he wants. He said that he would be very happy if I break the record,” Manpreet said.
Tirkey also cleared the air on his part, insisting that he never cared for his record.
“He (Manpreet) has played 411 matches, and I wish to clarify that it is absolutely not the case as has being suggested in the media and on social media that he is being prevented from playing simply to stop him from breaking a record.
“Had that been our intention, he could have been dropped immediately after the Pro League, when the team’s performance was lackluster. However, we have always prioritized treating our players with respect and encouraging them to perform well,” the HI president said.
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Tirkey said looking at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics HI’s focus on development of young players..
“The roadmap for the future was established during the 2024 Paris Olympics cycle. Under this framework, a list of six or seven senior players was drawn up who would not be part of the Los Angeles Olympics squad. The objective was to groom new players for the upcoming Olympics.”.
At 33, Manpreet boasts of two consecutive Olympic bronze medals in 2020 and 2024, three Commonwealth Games medals including two silvers, and three Asian Games medals including two golds. He was also awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
“The journey has been long and had many upsets. But I think it was good. I am very lucky to have reached here. My team has contributed a lot to this. In 2012, we finished at 12th, then we have got back-to-back bronze medals. It has been such a great journey.
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“When I came as a teenager of 18-years of age and finished 12th in Olympics, it was a low point. But the bronze medals at Olympics are the high point,” he said.
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