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Gritty Utah State digs itself too big of a hole to rally from in NCAA Tournament loss to No. 1 seed Arizona

Published

3 weeks ago

23 March 2026

SAN DIEGO — For a few brief moments, the ninth-seeded Aggies caught a glimpse of advancing to the Sweet Sixteen next weekend up the road in San Jose.

Despite finding themselves down by 18 points early in the second half of Sunday night’s second-round game against No. 1 seed Arizona, Utah State clawed its way back into the game with its defense and managed to close the gap to just four points on three occasions.

But each time the Aggies got to within a couple of scores, the feisty Wildcats scored on their subsequent possessions to keep their opponents at bay and eventually ended Utah State’s season with a 78-66 victory at Viejas Arena.

“It hurts. I don’t want to take the uniform off,” USU graduate guard Drake Allen said quietly. “Knowing it’s going to be my last time wearing it means so much. And it really feels like a family. Everybody in Logan feels like one big family.”

Utah State (29-7) might have been able to get over the hump were not for a brutal performance from the 3-point line. But after going 1 for 12 from long distance in the first half, the Aggies finished just 8 for 32 from beyond the 3-point arc.

“When you can’t find it — the ball won’t go in from 3 — you’ve got to get to the rim,” USU head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “And I was really proud of our effort around the rim. I thought we were pretty efficient.

“But to beat a No. 1 seed when you’re a No. 9 seed, you’ve got to make those 3s. And our guys knew that.”

The Aggies knew that going up against the significantly larger Wildcats (34-2) was going to be a challenge, but Calhoun’s crew still ended up with three more field goals than Arizona and Utah State (39.1%) notched an overall field goal percentage that was nearly identical to that of the Cats (39.3%).

But in addition to a rough night from 3-point range, the Aggies were outrebounded by a stunning 54-26 margin, and the Wildcats also shot 28 more free throws.

“So far, they’re 2-0 in this tournament, and they live in the paint,” Calhoun said of Arizona. “They chew the paint up. They play ’80s, ’90s basketball. The number of physical plays in the game — we haven’t seen that all year.

“… But our guys did a tremendous job, I thought, the last nine minutes of really locking in on some of those details. You’ve got to be at least eight or 10 difference in the rebounding. It can’t be 28. And if you’re not going to rebound, you’ve got to make shots. So, it was just a couple of margins that we couldn’t overcome.”

NCAA Utah St Arizona Basketball — Utah State guard Mj Collins (2) attempts to steal the ball from Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) during the second half of a game in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill

NCAA Utah St Villanova Basketball — Utah State forward Karson Templin (22) reaches for the ball against Villanova guard Tyler Perkins during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 20, 2026, in San Diego. | Mark J. Terrill

Senior forward Garry Clark came off the bench to give the Aggies a huge lift, going 6 of 8 from the field, scoring 13 points and snagging six rebounds in just 18 minutes. Senior guard MJ Collins Jr. (12 points) and Allen (11 points) were the only other USU players to score in double figures.

The Aggies’ one-two scoring punch of Collins and junior guard Mason Falslev (8 points) went a combined 7 of 26 from the field and 4 of 15 from 3-point range in the loss.

Thanks to Clark, Utah State’s bench outscored Arizona’s 27-10. But then, the Wildcats’ starters totaled 68 points by themselves, with guards Jaden Bradley (18 points) and Brayden Burries (16 points) leading the way.

Burries also delivered one of the biggest blows to the Aggies’ chances of an upset with 2:18 left and Utah State still within six points. The freshman guard buried a 3-pointer with 6-foot-9 USU wing Adlan Elamin closing in on him, extending Arizona’s advantage to 73-64.

“Obviously, Burries’ 3 was a dagger,” Calhoun declared. “I thought we played that possession really well. It was just a six-point game. … There’s a lot of plays through a 40-minute game that could impact it. And I thought that 3 by him was just a big-time shot in a big moment, and that kind of carried Arizona to the win.”

Burries ended up going 3 of 3 from 3-point range while the rest of the Wildcats went 4 of 13 from long range.

“I think Brayden’s a winner, and he has ultimate confidence,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said. “It’s been a joy to coach him. … He’s a laid-back, kind-of-unassuming guy, but he has a killer in him. And that’s a beautiful attribute.”

The Wildcats, who have won 11 straight games, also got 14 points from freshman forward Koa Peat, and 11 points and 14 rebounds from junior Motiejust Krivas. The 7–foot-2 center blocked three shots, caused the Aggies’ offense and all sorts of problems and went 7 of 8 from the free-throw line to help Arizona advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in Lloyd’s five seasons in Tucson.

Conversely, Utah State still hasn’t won two games in the same NCAA Tournament since 1970. But despite never holding the lead — Burries buried a 3-pointer just 24 seconds into the game — trailing 33-24 at halftime and falling behind by 18 points early in the second half, the Aggies still gave their fans hope.

After a 10-foot jumpier by Burries forced Calhoun into calling a timeout with his team trailing 51-33 with 14:43 left, Utah State turned up the intensity defensively, holding Arizona without a field goal for over seven minutes while creating turnovers with its full-court defense.

Two free throws by Elamin pulled the Aggies to within 56-51 at the 7:22 mark, and a 3-pointer by Allen closed the gap to just four points a minute later. But a putback by Krivas — one of Arizona’s 21 offensive rebounds — stretched the Cats’ lead back to 60-54.

Two more free throws from Elamin got USU back to four points once again, but those two points were offset when Arizona finally broke the Aggies’ press, leading to a 3-point play by Bradley. Following a missed 3-pointer by USU forward Karson Templin, Falslev came up with one of his three steals, which led to the Aggies getting back to within four points for a third and final time.

Allen enjoyed the moment, turning towards the Aggies’ fan section to celebrate Utah State getting back to 63-59 with just over five minutes to go. But his joy was short-lived, and USU’s momentum soon disappeared when Bradley scored the next three points of the game.

Although Allen did managed to slice through Arizona’s big men for a layup that left Utah State down 66-61, four free throws by Krivas and Burries’ clutch 3-pointer carried Arizona to the victory and brought Utah State’s spectacular season to an end.

“I think it’s very hard for a season to end anytime; it just comes abruptly,” Calhoun noted. “Its one of those things that you don’t ever want to end. You just want to coach these guys another day, another game.

“We wanted to get to San Jose, but we weren’t able to do it.”

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Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City: Liam Rosenoir post-match interview

Published

12 minutes ago

12 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior admits his side need to “improve their resilience in difficult moments” and focus on winning their next league game against Manchester United to stay in contention for a Champions League spot.

MATCH REPORT: Premier League – Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City

Available to UK users only.

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Lees repeats success in 2026 Provincial-Midway Championships Final

Published

25 minutes ago

12 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The trainer Kris Lees has maintained his dominance at the Provincial-Midway Championships Final, notching his sixth $1 million prize while claiming the quinella.

Last year’s exacta trio appeared again, shuffled, as Lord Of Biscay ($3.50 fav), the prior bridesmaid, burst ahead to prevail by three lengths against fellow stable runner Imposant ($21), with champion Matcha Latte ($4) taking bronze.

Lees now owns victories in 50 percent of the Provincial-Midway Championships Final’s (1400m) 12 installments, launched in 2015 with a tweaked setup, but the reserved Newcastle figure praised his support staff.

“We’re the biggest stable in the provincials, we’re entitled to have a good representation, but full credit to all the staff at home to get these horses presented on the day and they raced really well,” Lees said.

“He got a perfect run in transit. I was very confident in the run with him. He was getting all the favours he needed, and he reacted well.”

Potentially less thrilled in the Lees camp was wife Kristy, investor in second-placed Imposant.

“My wife owns that one. Anyway, she ran well in the race last year, and she has run well again today, so good result,” he said of Imposant.

Lord Of Biscay, a Euro arrival, adapted gradually to Australia yet has peaked over recent times.

Next up could be the Tamworth Cup (1400m) April 24, positioning for the Big Dance (1600m) Randwick on Melbourne Cup day after seventh last time.

James McDonald, the winning pilot, hailed Kris Lees’ expertise in readying Lord Of Biscay ideally.

“Kris is a champion. He’s such a good trainer. He knows how to ‘prep’ these horses up,” McDonald said.

“He told me a couple of weeks ago, ‘you want to be riding this horse’. He’s in career-best form, and he felt enormous today.”

Lees’ earlier conquests: Spangler (2023), Kinloch (2022), Cristal Breeze (2021), Serene Miss (2018), Danish Twist (2016).

Visit betting sites for racing odds on Provincial-Midway Championships Final-style events.

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Premier League: Arsenal falls to Bournemouth; Man City back into title race | Football News

Published

40 minutes ago

12 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Arsenal’s Premier League title bid was hit by a stunning 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in London on Saturday.

The league leader blew the chance to move 12 points clear of second-placed Manchester City after losing for the third time in four games in all competitions.

“It’s a big punch in the face,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told broadcaster TNT Sports. “It has to hurt, and you have to take it on the chin.”
Alex Scott struck a 74th-minute winner at Emirates Stadium to pile pressure on Arsenal ahead of next week’s top-of-the-table clash at City.

Arsenal has played two more games than City, which travels to Chelsea on Sunday and could close the gap to six points.

“There are no gray areas now,” Arteta said. “You stand up and go for the fight, or you’re out and that’s it.”
Arsenal’s is slumping at the worst time. Defeats to City in the English League Cup final and to second-division Southampton in the FA Cup ended its pursuit of a quadruple of trophies.

It beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, but the latest loss will only heighten tension in the race for the English title after three straight years of finishing runner-up.

Arsenal faces a huge week against Sporting in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday and then at City on Sunday.

Bournemouth went ahead inside 17 minutes through Junior Kroupi’s close-range goal. Viktor Gyokeres leveled from the penalty spot in the 35th but Arsenal struggled to create openings and Scott sealed the victory that potentially blew the title race open.

Bournemouth has won in back-to-back seasons at Arsenal and set a new club record of 12 straight games unbeaten in the Premier League.

While Arsenal remains in the driver’s seat at the top of the standings, the form guide does not make good reading from Arteta’s perspective.

League stats provider Opta said before kickoff that the Arsenal manager’s Premier League win percentage in April was 44%, compared to 79% for City’s Pep Guardiola.

“It’s a big week,” Arteta said. “It’s a lot at stake. We’re still in a really good position in both competitions but we need to do better.”
Brentford frustrated by Everton
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck in stoppage time as Everton twice fought back from a goal down to draw at Brentford 2-2.

Igor Thiago twice gave Brentford the lead at Gtech Community Stadium from a third-minute penalty and a goal in the 76th.

Beto leveled for Everton in the first half and Dewsbury-Hall produced his dramatic equalizer in the first minute of added time.

Brentford missed the chance to move up to sixth.

Brazil striker Thiago has 24 goals in all competitions this season and 21 in the league. Only Erling Haaland with 22 has more.

Mats Wieffer scored in both halves as Brighton beat Burnley 2-0.

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2026 NFL Draft: Here’s the prospects that are locks to be taken in first round

Published

53 minutes ago

12 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The 2026 NFL Draft is now less than two weeks away. This may not be the most elite class in draft history, but it’s fascinating for a number of different reasons. There is a pass rusher that played more linebacker in college that is expected to be a top three pick, there’s a star running back that could be the next Jahmyr Gibbs, but how high he’s selected remains to be seen, and this could be a draft where just one quarterback is selected on opening night.

Every year there are players that are considered “first-round locks.” Legitimate talent that will be instant-impact players or immediate starters that numerous teams are excited about. However, not every player selected in the top 32 are considered “blue chip talents.” So how many first-round locks are there in this 2026 class?

Below, we will go position by position and break down players that are locks to go in the first round. When we say “lock,” we mean that we are betting everything on these players being selected on opening night. Not a player who has an 80% chance of being drafted in the top 32. Unless, of course, NFL teams have flagged something medical-related with the prospect that we don’t know about. With that being said, let’s begin with the quarterbacks.

2026 NFL mock draft: Two top-five curveballs, plus a team trades back into Round 1 for Ty Simpson

Jordan Dajani

QB (1)

The No. 1 overall prospect in this class and reigning Heisman Trophy winner led the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated season that was capped by a National Championship. Even if you don’t think Fernando Mendoza is Joe Burrow, he’s a college football legend who is a lock to go on opening night. DraftKings Sportsbook has him listed at -20000 to go No. 1 overall.

RB (1)

Some believe Jeremiyah Love is the top player in this class. The problem is that he plays running back, which could cause him to fall out of the top five. The Doak Walker Award winner led the FBS with eight plays of 20+ yards gained, and is a threat to score from virtually anywhere on the field. DraftKings has him listed at -1400 to be a top 10 pick. Lock.

WR (2)

Carnell Tate should be the first wide receiver off the board this month. He racked up 838 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in 2025, and led the FBS with six touchdowns on throws of 30 or more air yards. He’s not a “burner” necessarily, but does separate downfield with good route running and is a clear deep-ball threat.

Yes he’s a “slot merchant,” but Makai Lemon is an immediate-impact player that could really shine in the right system. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner had four games last season where he exploded for 150 yards and a touchdown, including against Iowa. Lemon is going in the first round, but it remains to be seen where.

TE (1)

The top tight end in this class ranked first among FBS tight ends in receiving touchdowns last year with eight, and fifth in receptions with 51. Tight ends aren’t supposed to run 4.39 40-yard dashes, but Kenyon Sadiq is that kind of playmaker that will immediately help any offense.

OL (7)

The three-year starter at right tackle for Miami is durable and consistent in both run-blocking and pass protection, which is why he’s commonly mocked as the top offensive lineman off the board. DraftKings has Francis Mauigoa listed at -300 to be the first offensive lineman to hear his name called this month.

Spencer Fano won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior offensive lineman last season, but he can play basically anywhere on the offensive line — including tackle. Fano allowed zero sacks in 2025, and three total sacks during three seasons at Utah.

Kadyn Proctor is actually CBS Sports’ top-ranked offensive tackle and No. 4 overall prospect. I would argue that he’s not the most polished prospect, but Proctor’s athleticism and 6-foot-7, 350-pound frame are hard to ignore.

Another Utah offensive lineman here. Caleb Lomu played left tackle for the Utes and showed he can move at a high level in space. He probably needs to add some mass at 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, but he’s expected to go somewhere in the first round. DraftKings has him listed at -700 to be selected on opening night.

Georgia’s left tackle has been mocked as high as No. 6 overall to the Cleveland Browns. I don’t think he’s the most Day 1-ready offensive tackle in this class, but pundits speculate Monroe Freeling could have the highest ceiling as a true left tackle.

A three-time All-ACC right tackle, Blake Miller is -900 to be selected in the first round, according to DraftKings. He’s actually the Clemson record-holder for snaps from scrimmage with 3,778 in 54 starts.

Vega Ioane is arguably the top interior offensive lineman in this class, and he allowed zero sacks, zero QB hits and just four pressures this past season. Is he a natural fit for the Baltimore Ravens at No. 14 overall?

DT (0)

EDGE (3)

David Bailey is probably going No. 2 or No. 3 overall. In an EDGE class that features several different flavors, Bailey is probably the best “pure pass rusher.” He ranked second in the FBS in pressures (81), tied for first in sacks (14.5) and registered a whopping 38 QB hits. That tied for the most QB hits in a single season in the FBS over the last decade.

Rueben Bain Jr. appears to be falling down mock draft boards a bit, but DraftKings still has him listed at -320 to be a top 10 pick. CBS Sports ranks him as the No. 2 overall prospect in this class and compares him to Dwight Freeney. Bain famously has short arms, but his power is evident. No FBS player recorded more pressures than him in 2025 (83).

Arvell Reese played primarily off the ball at Ohio State, but many project him to move to EDGE at the next level. He ranked top three on a loaded Buckeyes defense in tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss, and tore up the combine with his fluid on-field work and a 4.46 40-yard dash. Some draft experts would say Reese has the highest ceiling of any pass rusher in this class, and DraftKings has him listed at -1400 to be a top five pick.

LB (1)

If you want to draft Fred Warner, here’s your chance. Sonny Styles is -1400 to be a top 10 pick over at DraftKings, and is arguably a top five talent on big boards. He’s a former safety that brings coverage skills and speed to the linebacker position, but is a fantastic tackler as well.

CB (2)

Mansoor Delane is -330 to be a top 10 pick at DraftKings. He’s fluid in both man coverage and zone, and allowed zero touchdowns with zero penalties last season. At times, I thought he was an NFL player going undercover as a college cornerback.

Jermod McCoy is CB1 to some evaluators despite not playing a single snap last year. McCoy tore his ACL in January 2025, and prioritized his recovery. His 2024 season was fantastic, as McCoy recorded 44 tackles, nine passes defensed and four interceptions. There were concerns about his stock, but McCoy appeared to eliminate those concerns after an impressive Pro Day in Knoxville.

S (2)

An easy lock. The best safety in college football is the only defensive back to record 250 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five interceptions over the past three seasons. Caleb Downs leaves Ohio State a two-time Unanimous All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner.

I imagine there’s a lot of love for Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman behind the scenes. He recorded six interceptions as a freshman at Purdue, then two years later transferred to Oregon and recorded 96 tackles, five passes defensed and two interceptions while picking up First Team All-Big Ten honors. Thieneman is aggressive in both pass coverage and in defending the run. His 306 tackles over the last three seasons rank No. 1 among all defensive backs.

Final first-round lock board (20)

QB	Fernando Mendoza	Indiana Advertisement
RB	Jeremiyah Love	Notre Dame
WR Advertisement	Carnell Tate	Ohio State
WR	Makai Lemon Advertisement	USC
TE	Kenyon Sadiq	Oregon Advertisement
OL	Francis Mauigoa	Miami
OL Advertisement	Spencer Fano	Utah
OL	Kadyn Proctor Advertisement	Alabama
OL	Caleb Lomu	Utah Advertisement
OL	Monroe Freeling	Georgia
OL	Blake Miller	Clemson
OL Advertisement	Olaivavega Ioane	Penn State
EDGE	David Bailey Advertisement	Texas Tech
EDGE	Rueben Bain Jr.	Miami Advertisement
EDGE	Arvell Reese	Ohio State
LB Advertisement	Sonny Styles	Ohio State
CB	Mansoor Delane Advertisement	LSU
CB	Jermod McCoy	Tennessee Advertisement
S	Caleb Downs	Ohio State
S Advertisement	Dillon Thieneman	Oregon

Players that were close, but didn’t make the cut as a ‘lock’

Odds to be selected in the first round: (Not listed)

Jordyn Tyson will probably be the third wide receiver off the board in the first round, and that’s because of injury concerns. He’s actually holding a workout for NFL teams six days before the draft begins to prove he’s healthy. If that workout goes poorly or he re-injures his hamstring, Tyson could fall.

Cooper’s odds to be selected in the first round: -1600
Concepcion’s odds to be selected in the first round: -350

Both of these wideouts are likely to be selected in the first round, but it may come in the late 20s. Depending on how the board falls, could either Cooper or Concepcion be selected before the other, and that other pass-catcher fall to the second round? It’s possible.

Odds to be selected in the first round: -900

Keldric Faulk is a player I think NFL teams are a lot more high on than fans. He’s a 20-year-old, 6-foot-6, 276-pound pass rusher with long arms, but recorded just 29 tackles and two sacks last year.

Odds to be selected in the first round: -550

Akheem Mesidor is absolutely a first-round talent, but he’s 25-years-old.

Odds to be selected in the first round: -270

I have Max Iheanachor going in the first round, but he’s a raw athlete that didn’t start playing football until junior college around five years ago.

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Reason Behind Virat Kohli Skipping Mumbai Indians’ Innings During IPL 2026 Clash Revealed

Published

1 hour ago

12 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon Virat Kohli was a notable absentee from the field during Mumbai Indians’ (MI) chase at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Kohli, who struck a composed 38-ball 50 earlier in the day, was sidelined by an ankle issue, with Jacob Bethell taking his place in the outfield for the high-stakes chase. Coincidentally, as Kohli was spotted watching from the RCB dressing room, MI’s Rohit Sharma was also forced to leave the field after sustaining a hamstring injury. The sight of both these modern-day greats struggling with fitness concerns during the same match has left fans anxious about their availability for the remainder of the season.

Earlier in the day, Kohli scripted a huge record, becoming the first player to score 1,000 runs against Mumbai Indians.

During his knock, Virat held one end steady as Phil Salt and skipper Rajat Patidar fired massive sixes, scoring 50 in 38 balls, with five fours and a six, at a strike rate of over 131.

Now against MI, Virat has scored 1,030 runs in 36 innings at an average of 32.18 and a strike rate of 129.23, with a best score of 92* and seven fifties.

In his four innings in this edition of the season so far, Virat has made 179 runs at an average of 59.66, with a strike rate of 162.72, including two fifties and a best score of 69*.

In 23 matches and innings at Wankhede Stadium, Virat has made 888 runs at an average of 55.5, with a strike rate of 148.49, with nine fifties and a best score of 92*.

Virat also had a century partnership with Phil Salt, registering his 47th century partnership in T20s, the most by a batter in T20s, outdoing Chris Gayle, who was involved in 46 such stands.

A 120-run stand between Salt (78 in 36 balls, with six fours and six sixes) and Virat and a 65-run stand between Virat (50 in 38 balls, with five fours and a six) and skipper Patidar (53 in 20 balls, with four boundaries and five sixes) and later some brutal hitting from David (34* in 16 balls, with two fours and three sixes) pushed RCB to a massive score of 240/4 in 20 overs.

(With ANI Inputs)

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The Masters’ newest drama exists in a place you’d never expect

Published

1 hour ago

12 April 2026

NewsAdmin

AUGUSTA, Ga. — When the moment of consequence arrived for Rory McIlroy on Masters Saturday afternoon, I had the best seat in the house.

Not from the side of the 11th fairway, where you can see everything on the opening hole of Amen Corner, or from the grandstand on 12 tee, where a great vantage point looks down over the action on the 11th green. Not even on the CBS broadcast, where the team bounced between shots from a frenetic afternoon at Augusta National, including up ahead on the closing stretch, where Cameron Young was on his way to briefly seizing the clubhouse lead.

Nope, I was instead watching on Prime Video, where a new Masters feed brought the biggest story in golf to life like nowhere else.

Before McIlroy’s approach on the 11th landed in the water, setting off an Amen Corner spiral that defined Masters Saturday and reopened the tournament as we knew it, the team on Amazon’s “Inside Amen Corner” stream had noticed something interesting. McIlroy had gotten the member’s kick of his life on his tee shot, which bounced off a tree and back into the center of the fairway. But the contact meant his ball had landed more than 60 yards behind where he’d wound up on the previous two days.

“McIlroy had better be careful on this approach shot,” John Wood, the stream’s analyst, said forebodingly. “Right is fine. The green is fine. Everywhere else is not.”

As McIlroy talked through his 213-yard approach with his caddie, Harry Diamond, the Prime team flashed a graphic on the stream that told the story, showing the difference in detail among the approaches on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and contextualizing how that difference affected McIlroy’s next shot, which might come to decide the tournament.

“This is a very different shot than he’s had the last two days,” said Justin Kutcher, the stream’s host, building the tension even further.

For reasons that are not difficult to understand, you almost never spend as long watching a player prepare for one of the most pivotal shots in a tournament as the Amazon team spent lingering over McIlroy’s decision on 11. Traditional golf broadcasts have a duty and an obligation to show as much of the action from as much of the course as possible. They can zoom in when necessary, but rarely to the depth they’d like, largely because there’s always another shot to show.

Augusta National debuted “Inside Amen Corner”on Amazon Prime this year to reverse that trend, giving the club’s new streaming partner a broadcast that married the club’s preposterously deep well of tournament data with the most drama-rich corner of the property. This is the kind of stats-driven storytelling that has made Prime’s work with Thursday Night Football so compelling, where a special stats feed called PrimeVision provides deeper, nerdier insight than anywhere else in football.

As with every second of broadcast coverage from the Masters, CBS Sports is responsible for the production of “Inside Amen Corner” this week. And, as with every second of broadcast coverage from the Masters, the team is the beneficiary of a truly delirious trove of data collected by the club for the use of improving the tournament.

It’s all an expansion upon the dance in quantum superposition Augusta National explores every April: Not a tournament that’s old or new, but old and new at the same time. Few ideas typify this tightrope walk better than the new broadcast, in which a streaming company leans on state-of-the-art technology to tell stories from the most timeless location in golf.

This week at the Masters, “Inside Amen Corner” has existed in this state of quantum superposition with a delicate touch. The Prime team has obsessed over the moments, players and decisions that decide holes Nos. 11, 12 and 13 — working with dedicated statisticians and graphics teams (and with new cameras and gadgets) to explain the how and why of Amen Corner in deeper detail and richer color than ever. The crew reacts in real-time to the actions and trends of the tournament, collects data and individualized stats for each player, and brings ideas from the club’s prolific research database to three-dimensional execution in the span of only a few seconds — all in pursuit of the best possible story.

The result has been moments like McIlroy’s approach on 11, which eventually tumbled into the water, setting up his first double-bogey of the tournament and dramatically altering the leaderboard. While the moment was plenty dramatic on CBS — and no doubt thrilling in Amen Corner — it was even more rewarding on the Prime stream, where producer Josh Weingardt had the time and bandwidth to zoom in on the gravity of McIlroy’s situation from all angles before the man in the arena finally made contact. By the time McIlroy finally did draw back his club, the story was complete but for the outcome — and the outcome was amplified by the story’s richness.

You did not have to be a stats geek to enjoy the fun on “Inside Amen Corner”— you needed only a thirst for the most interesting version of the story.

On Saturday, I found just that during McIlroy’s approach on 11, and it looked like nothing I’d seen on golf television before.

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Orioles’ Zach Eflin aims for 2027 return after Tommy John surgery

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1 hour ago

12 April 2026

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BALTIMORE — Zach Eflin is looking forward to 2027, less than a week after Tommy John surgery on his 32nd birthday.

He left his March 31 season debut after striking out seven and allowing one run in 3 2/3 innings against Texas. He had elbow reconstruction surgery Wednesday.

“I’m in a lot better spot than I was a week, a week and a half ago,” Eflin said Sunday. “I knew something happened on the field. Really felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. I was going through so much this offseason to come back on time and I honestly never felt better in my career before.”

Eflin was 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts while making three trips to the injured list last season. Back trouble ending his season after a July 28 start.

Baltimore re-signed Eflin to a $10 million, one-year deal in December that includes a $25 million mutual option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout.

Baltimore hoped the 11-year veteran would be a steady rotation presence, and his 7 1/3 scoreless innings in two spring training starts offered promise.

“I had felt amazing for three games, and there in the fourth inning it took one pitch,” Eflin said. “It was an up-and-away heater or cutter and it just felt like a hamstring cramp in my elbow. Literally out of nowhere. I’d never felt anything in elbow before.”

Eflin, 68-67 with a 4.28 ERA in 201 big league appearances with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Baltimore, hopes to spend as much time as possible around the Orioles this summer as he works to recover and make it back to the majors next year.

“I think that’s why I got it done so early,” Eflin said. “I want to be back as quickly as possible. I’ve been through too much in my life to let this affect me and let this be the thing that brings me down. I’m going to absolutely crush rehab and be back better than ever.”

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Rayan Cherki takes Kevin De Bruyne role to spark new Man City chant

Published

2 hours ago

12 April 2026

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Manchester City needed a talisman to step up at Stamford Bridge and Rayan Cherki delivered in the way Kevin De Bruyne used to

18:48, 12 Apr 2026

Rayan Cherki swung the corner into the box as Manchester City looked for an opener. It was the Frenchman’s shot that had earned the set-piece, but his final delivery was rubbish and went straight to the first man.

City got another go though, because Marc Cucurella’s clearance went straight out for another corner and the Blues could keep their foot on the gas. This was three minutes into the second half and summed up how badly both teams had been misfiring.

Cherki had been poor, yet with City needing inspiration at Stamford Bridge he stepped up and won them the game. His next run at the Chelsea defence came seconds later and earned a corner, and soon after that a clever ball into the box was headed home by Nico O’Reilly.

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From nowhere, City had swarmed Chelsea and – even better – they did not let up. After 10 minutes of dominance to start the second half, another good ball from Cherki found Marc Guehi and the former Chelsea youngster controlled and finished like Erling Haaland to send the away end into rapture.

City found themselves with an unexpected opportunity in West London after Arsenal’s surprise home defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday. Win here and the pressure would firmly be on the league leaders when they travel to the Etihad, with the title race in the hands of both teams waiting to be grabbed.

But this is not the all-conquering City team of old, where experienced pros such as Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan would steer the side over the line. This is a new team that has been too inconsistent to take advantage of the other opportunities they have had, which is why they are not closer to the top of the table.

A sloppy first half threatened another one of those days, with Rodri setting the tone for an error-strewn opening where neither side looked good enough to win. With the pressure on though, Cherki and City raced through the gears and blew Chelsea away.

By the time Jeremy Doku had stroked home a third after disarray from Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo, the delirious City fans were asking Arsenal if they were watching. If Mikel Arteta and his players were, it will have been with gritted teeth and through their fingers; a winning margin of three makes serious inroads on the goal difference front as well, with Arsenal now just leading by three.

This may not be the City team of old but that doesn’t mean they are not dangerous. Needing a big performance to set up a grandstand of a game next week against the Gunners, the Blues delivered it in style.

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Coach Daniel Japhet Leads Atlantic Business FC to First TCC Cup Glory

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2 hours ago

12 April 2026

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Akwa Ibom-born coach, Daniel Japhet, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, guided Atlantic Business FC to their first-ever TCC Cup title after a dramatic final victory over Dino FC.

The final, played at the Remo Stars Stadium, ended 1-1 after normal time before Atlantic Business FC won 3-2 on penalties to lift the trophy.

It was a historic moment for Coach Japhet, who has built a strong reputation in Nigerian football for his focus on player development, attacking football, and close relationship with his squad.

Coach Daniel Japhet leads Atlantic Business FC to TCC Cup glory

The coach, who has previously worked with clubs such as Cofine FC, Akwa United, Vandrezzer FC and Dakkada FC, has now added a major trophy to his growing coaching profile, further boosting his reputation as one of the most promising young coaches in the country.

FINAL MATCH REPORT

The game started at a fast pace, with Dino FC striking first in the 3rd minute through Timi Destiny, who reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the box.

Atlantic Business FC responded strongly and gradually took control of the game. Their pressure paid off in the 37th minute when Adamu Terungwa dribbled past two defenders before curling in a fine equaliser.

Coach Daniel Japhet leads Atlantic Business FC to TCC Cup glory — Atlantic Business FC celebrate the equalizing goal

Both teams pushed for a winner in the second half, but neither side could find a breakthrough, sending the match into penalties.

Besiktas target Donald Godwin at TCC Cup final

In the shootout, tension ran high as both teams missed crucial kicks. Samuel Obudu and Friday Cornelius missed for Dino FC, while Atlantic Business also had setbacks before holding their nerve in the decisive moments to seal a 3-2 win.

The victory marks a major breakthrough for Coach Daniel Japhet, who has long been praised for his ball-playing philosophy and ability to give young players freedom to express themselves on the pitch.

At Atlantic Business FC, he has steadily built a competitive team and came close to success in previous tournaments before finally securing a maiden trophy.

For Dino FC, it is another painful final defeat in the competition, while Atlantic Business FC celebrate a season to remember with their first TCC Cup triumph.

READ ALSO: Beşiktaş in Talks to Sign Nigerian Teen Donald Godwin

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Sports

a Trade with the Bears, Summer QB Competition, Cam Skattebo

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2 hours ago

12 April 2026

NewsAdmin

A close-up view of a Chicago Bears helmet is shown on Nov 10, 2019, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, capturing the team’s iconic navy shell and orange “C” logo before game action. The detailed shot highlights the franchise’s classic look as players prepared for kickoff in a traditional NFC North setting. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports.

Each week, we track our version of the “Nopedy Nopes” in the Minnesota Vikings’ orbit — the takes that miss, get weird, drift away from reality, or just plain fell flat compared to expectations.

Three fresh Vikings misses hit trade talk, quarterback chatter, and draft noise.

This round focuses on draft chatter, roster battles, and one wild podcast opinion as the regular season sits about five months out.

This Week’s Nopedy Nopes Hit Chicago, Quarterback Talk, and Draft Buzz

The Vikings Nopedy Nopes with the draft 11 days out.

Ben Johnson stands on the field before a Chicago Bears preseason game at Soldier Field. vikings myths and misses 2026 — Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stands on the field before kickoff on Aug 17, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, ahead of a preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Johnson observed warmups and interacted with staff as Chicago prepared for early-season action in front of a home crowd. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images.

The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings will do trade business with the Bears in Round 1 of the draft.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recommended one trade for each NFL franchise that should consider during the draft, and here’s his proposal for the Vikings:

Minnesota Gets:
Pick No. 25 (R1)
Pick No. 60 (R2)

Chicago Gets:
Pick No. 18 (R1)
Pick No. 163 (R5)

Barnwell explained, “Ryan Poles has already addressed some of his team’s weaknesses this offseason, but the Bears should still hope to add something meaningful on the edge. Montez Sweat is a very solid starter on one side of the line, but Dayo Odeyingbo is coming off a torn Achilles and didn’t look good in his debut season as a Bears player before the injury.”

“Odeyingbo has no guaranteed money due in 2027, so this trade would be for a rookie who can rotate with him in 2026 before taking over as the starter next year. The Bears have an extra second-round pick after trading DJ Moore to the Bills, which would make this deal easier to stomach in Chicago.”

The trade deal is quite intriguing, all things considered.

“Brzezinski’s Vikings were the league’s third-oldest team on a snap-weighted basis last season, and that was with McCarthy and Max Brosmer taking the majority of the snaps at quarterback. Adofo-Mensah was wildly successful in free agency but struggled badly with his drafts, so the Vikings need to add more young talent to their core,” Barnwell continued.

“Picking up an extra second-round pick would make sense, especially after they made just one top-100 pick a year ago.”

The problem? The Vikings and Bears hardly ever do trade business.

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the likelihood of a Vikings-Bears trade. Interdivisional trading is taboo.

The Nopedy Nope: Kyler Murray will face a real quarterback competition at training camp.

NBC Sports’ Mike Florio opined on the Vikings’ QB setup this week, claiming, “The Vikings currently have four quarterbacks on the roster. There is no starter, for now. Coach Kevin O’Connell explained during a recent visit with PFT Live that, eventually, there will be a clear delineation of positions on the depth chart.”

“It will come down, undoubtedly, to Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy. O’Connell explained that he has no concern about McCarthy becoming disenchanted if he doesn’t win the job.”

Training camp will get underway in about 3.5 months.

Kyler Murray watches an NBA game between the Mavericks and Suns at American Airlines Center. vikings myths and misses 2026 — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray appears courtside on Jan 28, 2020, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, during a game between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. Murray watched second-quarter action while taking in the NBA matchup, drawing attention as a high-profile NFL presence at the arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.

Florio added, “The best news for the Vikings is that, however it plays out, they’ll have a solid No. 2 and (if Carson Wentz makes the final 53) a third-stringer who can win games if need be.”

“Last year, Wentz showed up less than two weeks before Week 1, and he played better than anyone could have expected. This year, he’ll be involved throughout the offseason program and training camp.”

Minnesota will claim there’s a quarterback battle in spirit, but it’s window dressing.

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on a real Vikings quarterback battle; Murray will win it handily.

The Nopedy Nope: Cam Skattebo says CTE is fake, so that settles that.

In March, Skattebo said CTE was an “excuse” and that all one needs to do to combat asthma is to “breathe.” He later walked back the comments, but Cris Carter opined on the topic this week.

Carter stopped by the Fully Loaded podcast and told the show’s host, “So as far as CTE, the thing that I know is ever since I’ve been in the Hall of Fame, it has hit closer, and it’s hit very, very different because I can see annually guys deteriorate.”

“I can see the greatest athletes in the world psychologically, mentally, and physically succumb to age, dementia, CTE, and some of them have died, and the studies came back immediately with them. I’m going out of my way so that I can be the healthiest version of myself, but I’m terrified. I don’t live life terrified, but I’m terrified of the potential.

Cris Carter celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the 1995 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. vikings myths and misses 2026 — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter (81) reacts after a touchdown on Feb 5, 1995, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, during the Pro Bowl. Carter’s 51-yard scoring reception highlighted his playmaking ability as he celebrated in an all-star setting alongside the league’s top talent. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports.

About 10 years ago, Carter said on the same topic, “I’ve had teammates who killed themselves: Andre Waters, teammate of mine in Philadelphia. I’ve had good friends of mine: Junior Seau, Dave Duerson. Great men, guys that have done tremendous things in their community. All of a sudden they became violent and took their own lives. So I worry. I worry what my future is. I wonder what’s going to happen to our generation?”

It’s a serious matter for Carter, and rightfully so. To claim otherwise is immature, reckless, and dumb.

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Skattebo turning CTE into a debateable issue. It’s not.