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Iowa native, Creighton head coach Greg McDermott announces retirement

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Iowa native and longtime basketball coach Greg McDermott will retire in 2026 after more than three decades coaching at the collegiate level, including a career‑defining run at Creighton

McDermott, who had served as the Bluejays’ head coach since 2010, announced his retirement on Monday, March 23, in a lengthy news release. The Cascade, Iowa, native went 365-188 while leading Creighton, becoming the school’s all-time wins leader in 2024.

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Creighton finished the season 15-17 and will play in the College Basketball Crown tournament against Rutgers on April 2 after not qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

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Following McDermott’s exit, Creighton announced that current associate head coach Alan Huss will take over the program. Huss had been named head-coach-in-waiting a year ago when he returned to Creighton.

“It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years,” McDermott said in a news release. “I’m very proud of the young men that have proudly worn the Bluejay uniform and represented our program in a first-class manner. Witnessing their growth and development on and off the playing floor was especially gratifying…The support of the Omaha community consistently packing our arena with 17,000 fans has created many fond memories. While this chapter of my career comes to a close, my love and respect for the Bluejays will never fade.”

Greg McDermott played, coached in Iowa

McDermott graduated from Cascade High School in 1984 and left as one of the school’s premier athletes. Despite playing just two varsity seasons, McDermott set multiple school records in points and rebounds per game and was named All-State as a senior.

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He was also a standout baseball player, batting over .300, posting a .978 fielding average at first base, and helping lead Cascade to its first state baseball tournament appearance in 1982.

McDermott was a 1,000-point scorer at Northern Iowa from 1984 to 1988, becoming a second-team All-Mid-Continent Conference player following his junior season.

He played briefly overseas before entering coaching in 1989 and was hired for his first head coaching position at Wayne State College in Nebraska in 1994. He coached there for six seasons, took a brief stop as North Dakota State’s head coach in 2000, and was hired by his alma mater, UNI, as its head coach in 2001.

UNI won the 2004 Missouri Valley Tournament to earn the program’s second NCAA appearance in school history. He then led the Panthers to at-large selections in the 2005 and 2006 NCAA tournaments.

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When was Greg McDermott Iowa State’s head coach?

After five seasons with UNI, McDermott moved to central Iowa in 2006 to become the head coach at Iowa State.

There he spent four mostly forgotten seasons for Cyclones fans, amassing a 59-68 record and failing to break through to March Madness success in Ames.

He left Ames in 2010.

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Greg McDermott shaped T.J. Otzelberger’s career at Iowa State

Nov 25, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Creighton Bluejays head coach Greg McDermott looks on during the first half in a 2025 Players Era Festival group play game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Nov 25, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Creighton Bluejays head coach Greg McDermott looks on during the first half in a 2025 Players Era Festival group play game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

One of the more lasting decisions from McDermott’s tenure at Iowa State came when he hired T.J. Otzelberger as an assistant. Otzelberger, Iowa State’s current head coach, is one of several current coaches who trace their roots to the McDermott coaching tree.

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“Coach (McDermott) certainly gave me an opportunity here,” Otzelberger told the Register in December 2021. “You never know when those are going to come. I’m very grateful. I have a lot of loyalty and allegiance to him because he took a chance on me here. I was 27 years old and didn’t really have a resume to back up the opportunity I was being given.”

McDermott won 23 games in his debut season coaching for Creighton after leaving Iowa State in 2010, reaching the NCAA Tournament in his second season in 2011. The Bluejays made 10 NCAA appearances under his guidance, including trips to three Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight.

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Greg McDermott’s family includes current NBA player Doug McDermott

His overall coaching record is 645-383 (prior to the College Basketball Crown tournament). McDermott is a member of the Cascade High School, Iowa High School Athletic Association, UNI and Wayne State University Halls of Fame.

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He married fellow UNI graduate Theresa McDermott in 1987. They have three children, Nick, Doug and Sydney. Doug McDermott committed to play for his father at Creighton in 2010 after winning back-to-back state titles for Ames during his junior and senior seasons. He won the Naismith Player of the Year award in 2014 before being selected 11th overall in that year’s NBA Draft. He is currently a forward for the Sacramento Kings.

USA TODAY college sports insider John Brice contributed to this report.

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Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Greg McDermott, Creighton head coach and Iowa native, to retire

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Knicks Hold Off Hawks to Take Game 1

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The New York Knicks made a good start to their playoff run, beating the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 28 points and seven assists, setting the tone early with 22 of those points coming in the first half. Karl-Anthony Towns took over after the break, finishing with 25 points, while OG Anunoby added 18. Josh Hart filled in everywhere, contributing 11 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

The Knicks were sharper at the free throw line, outscoring Atlanta 25-12, and made better use of their depth. Their bench gave them energy and helped them maintain control.

  • Nuggets take Game 1 behind Jokić Impressive PlayNuggets take Game 1 behind Jokić Impressive Play

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Defensively, New York tightened up as the game went on. The third quarter proved decisive, with the Knicks limiting the Hawks’ rhythm, forcing turnovers, and making scoring difficult. Even when Atlanta found success from three, they struggled to get consistent.

After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder pointed out what his team needs to improve.

“The formula for us and our identity has been to run and move the ball… we need to do more of it.”

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Game 1 goes to the Knicks, who now have the early advantage as the series moves forward.

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Giants 4-round mock draft after blockbuster Dexter Lawrence trade with Bengals

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Giants 4-round mock draft after blockbuster Dexter Lawrence trade with Bengals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With just days to go before the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giantspulled off a blockbuster trade with the Cincinnati Bengals that jettisoned star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

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The deal saw the Giants send Lawrence to the Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick, which was no doubt more than anyone was expecting them to get. Now, Big Blue stands armed with two first-round picks, with the other coming at No. 5 overall.

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With needs on both sides of the ball, the Giants can now take care of the offense and defense with blue-chip prospects inside the top 10 of the draft later this week.

And that’s exactly what we have them doing in our new mock draft in the wake of the Lawrence trade with the Bengals.

Giants 4-round mock draft after Lawrence trade

Sonny Styles

Sonny Styles

Imagn Images

Round 1, Pick 5: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

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ESPN’s Jordan Raanan mentioned Styles as one of three players the Giants like with the No. 5 pick, and it’s not hard to see why.

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“Staying at No. 5, the three players who seem to be most squarely on their radar are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and  (Ohio State safety Caleb) Downs,” Raanan wrote.

Styles is a freak athlete with sideline-to-sideline speed and great length. He’s a strong tackler, good in run defense and has shown elite skills in coverage after posting an 87.4 Pro Football Focus grade in that area last season.

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The Ohio State product can wear the green dot and will be a leader in New York’s defense for a decade.

Round 1, Pick 10 (via CIN): WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

The Giants were one of the teams to attend Tyson’s workout, which was his last opportunity to quell fears about his injury history. By all accounts, Tyson did manage to do that.

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“I think Jordyn Tyson goes much higher than earlier expected,” ESPN’s Matt Miller said. “Teams are comfortable with the INJ history. Conversation for him starts at 5 but he’s off the board no later than 16.”

If not for his injury history, Tyson would likely be the undisputed No. 1 receiver in this class. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound pass-catcher can line up anywhere on the field, is a polished route-runner and can even block.

After losing Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency, the Giants need another weapon for quarterback Jaxson Dart across from star wideout Malik Nabers. Not only would Tyson check that box, he could very well provide an upgrade over Robinson.

Round 2, Pick 37: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

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kayden mcdonald

kayden mcdonald

The loss of Lawrence will leave a void in the middle of the Giants’ defense, hurting both the pass-rush and run defense. Making matters worse, New York was already weak upfront, even with Lawrence on the roster.

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While McDonald isn’t much of a pass-rusher, he showed improvement in that area last season with a career-high three sacks. He really shines as a run defender, with the Ohio State product posting the best PFF grade in the nation in run defense.

Once viewed as a first-round pick, the belief is most teams now have him with a second-round grade because of his lack of pass-rush prowess.

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That’s just fine for the Giants, as McDonald can provide the kind of boost to the run defense from Day 1 that New York needs.

Round 4, Pick 105: CB Tacario Davis, Washington

The loss of Cor’Dale Flott leaves the Giants with a big void after the team failed to adequately address the position in free agency, leaving a potential starting duo of Paulson Adebo and uninspiring free-agent signing Greg Newsome outside.

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After taking a step back in 2024, Davis rebounded with a strong showing after he transferred to Washington. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound cornerback gave up a passer rating of just 50.6 in coverage, notched a personal bests two interceptions and he showed out in the run game with an impressive PFF grade of 81.8.

Davis can offer some competition for Newsome on the boundary, and it’s not crazy to think he could win that competition in Year 1.

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Munich 2026 Final: Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and betting tips

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Match Details

Fixture: (2) Ben Shelton vs (4) Flavio Cobolli

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Date: April 19, 2026

Tournament: Bavarian International Tennis Championships

Round: Final

Venue: MTTC Iphitos e.V. tennis club in Munich, Germany

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Category: ATP 500

Surface: Clay

Prize Money: €2,561,110

Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN

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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli preview

Shelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: GettyShelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Shelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty

Second seed Ben Shelton will face off against fourth seed Flavio Cobolli in the final of the 2026 BMW Open on Sunday, April 19.

Shelton started his season with a quarterfinal run at the ASB Classic and followed it up with another quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. He then went on to win the Dallas Open and reached the quarterfinals in Houston before arriving in Munich. There, he defeated Emilio Nava, Alexander Blockx, Joao Fonseca, and Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final.

Cobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: GettyCobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Cobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty

Meanwhile, Cobolli’s standout result this season is his title run at the Mexican Open. He also made the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open, losing to Sebastian Korda, but hasn’t had many other notable results. In Munich, he beat Diego Dedura, Zizou Bergs, Vit Kopriva, and Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3 to set up a clash with Shelton.


Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli head-to-head

Shelton leads Cobolli 3–2 in their head-to-head. Cobolli won their first two meetings in Geneva and Washington in 2024, while Shelton has taken the last three in Acapulco, the Canadian Open, and the Paris Masters in 2025.

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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli odds

Player Moneyline Handicap Bets Total Games
Ben Shelton -525 -4.5 (-105) Over 21.5 (-115)
Flavio Cobolli +360 +4.5 (-140) Under 21.5 (-125)

(Odds via BetMGM)


Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli prediction

Shelton plays with clear intent. The serve sets the tone, the forehand follows, and he looks to finish points before rallies really take shape. When he’s confident, everything happens quickly and on his terms.

Cobolli is more about structure and balance. He moves well, absorbs pace, and is comfortable building points rather than rushing them. He’s willing to stay in rallies and wait for openings instead of forcing them.

The key is whether Shelton can keep control early. If he’s landing first serves and dictating with his forehand, Cobolli may struggle to settle. But if rallies extend, Cobolli’s consistency and movement can start to make things uncomfortable. The American’s firepower gives him the edge, but he’ll need to stay disciplined to avoid letting the match drift.

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Pick: Shelton to win in straight sets.


Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli betting tips

Tip 1: The match will have over 21 games.

Tip 2: Shelton to win at least one set with a score of 7-5 or better.