By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Mountain West Big Dance Multi-Bid Streak in Jeopardy
The Mountain West has been a multi-bid league in every NCAA tournament since 2017, when Nevada was the league’s sole representative.
The Wolf Pack went 28-7 that year under Eric Musselman, winning both the regular-season and conference tournament crowns en route to a seven seed in the Big Dance.
That streak of multiple bids is in serious doubt heading into the final two and a half weeks of the 2025-26 men’s basketball season.
The league’s chances of getting an at-large birth took a big hit on Tuesday, with Grand Canyon knocking off San Diego State inside Viejas Arena.
The loss snapped a 10-game home court winning streak for the Aztecs and signaled a season sweep for the Antelopes over SDSU.
It was also a big blow to the Aztecs’ NCAA hopes. San Diego State is firmly on the bubble at the moment and most likely on the outside looking in if Selection Sunday were today.
However, Utah State’s win over Boise State on Wednesday night was a step in the right direction for the Aggies and for the conference.
The only lock for the Mountain West appears to be Utah State. The Aggies sit at 23-3 on the season and rank 23rd in the most recent NET rankings.
The Aggies are a very solid 3-2 in Quad 1 games while going 20-1 across the rest of their schedule after their 75-56 rout of Boise State.
USU shows up in all 124 bracket projections and, per Bracket Matrix, has an average seed of 7.42.
In bracket projections, the Aggies are as high as a five seed and as low as a nine. This would indicate that even with a slip-up in the MW Tournament, USU should be comfortably in.
But if they go on a skid, things could get dicey.
While the Aggies are the highest MW team in the NET rankings, they are among seven conference squads ranking among the top 101.
The problem is that the next-highest teams are New Mexico and San Diego State, and they fall firmly into the bubble range in ranking in the mid-40’s.
The other four teams in the top third of the nation fall between the 60-101 range, and at this point, that would require an auto bid.
SDSU still enters the weekend having won 15 of their last 19 games, but the Aztecs are lacking the signature win, going 1-4 in Quad 1 games. The Aztecs rank 44th in the NET as of February 18.
If the Aztecs can close the regular season with a flurry, they could play their way off the bubble.
A visit from Utah State and trips to New Mexico and Boise State offer SDSU a chance to pad the resume and three chances at Quad 1 wins.
Again, according to Bracket Matrix, the Aztecs are still a consensus NCAA team appearing in 84 of 124 projections and ranging anywhere from a 10 to a 12 seed…So in, but firmly on the bubble.
The Lobos find themselves in a similar situation. New Mexico is ranked slightly higher in the NET at 42, compared to SDSU’s 44, but appears on just 16 of the 124 bracket projections.
UNM also has a chance to play its way off the bubble, but has just two grand opportunities: The showdown with SDSU in The Pit, which would be a Quad Two win for the Lobos, and the regular season finale at Utah State.
The intriguing team in the mix is Grand Canyon. The Antelopes have picked up some big wins but have also underperformed at times. A more consistent showing this season, and GCU could be a near lock.
The Lopes are an impressive 3-4 in Quad 1 games this season, but just 5-4 in Quad 2 and Quad 3 games combined, and the early-season home loss to Youngstown State is still an inexplicable result.
The Mountain West has shown itself to be a deep conference this season, but the streak of multiple NCAA bids is in jeopardy. Nonetheless, a couple of paths remain to get there.
Obviously, a strong finish for Utah State and then an upset of the Aggies in the Championship game in Vegas would be the easiest route.
The other option is for the Aggies to continue winning, and either San Diego State or New Mexico to get hot and stay hot.
If the Mountain West is to be a multiple-bid league for the ninth straight year, it will need one of those teams to separate itself from the other.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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SARASOTA, Fla. — Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg has been unable to take part in spring training after a right oblique injury during the offseason, and it was unclear Thursday whether an elbow issue also was keeping him off the field.
“He’s just unable to participate right now,” first-year manager Craig Albernaz told reporters Thursday. “He’s getting evaluated by our medical team and also outside people to make sure we have a plan in place, and see what’s going on with Jordan to get him going.”
When asked whether it was the oblique or a new elbow issue for Westburg, the manager replied, “Just physically unable to go.”
Albernaz also was asked whether there was a fear that any issues for Westburg are worse that originally thought.
“Just want to make sure that we do our due diligence and make sure Jordan is in the best chance to play this year,” Albernaz said.
Westburg, who turned 27 on Wednesday, hit .265 with 17 homers and 41 RBs in 85 games last season, when he missed time with a left hamstring strain and a right ankle sprain. He hit .265 with 18 homers and 63 RBIs in 107 games in 2024, when he appeared in the All-Star Game two weeks before sustaining a broken right hand when getting hit by a pitch.
Mike Elias, the team’s president of baseball operations, said last week at the start of camp that Westburg was recovering from a right oblique injury that could delay his participation in spring training games. The first game is Saturday.
The Orioles will be without second baseman Jackson Holliday to start the season after surgery last week to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
Sacramento State’s move into the MAC borders on (if not outright crossing into) desperation with a 5-year deal.
Are they just auditioning for the Pac-12?
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I am joined by ‘Locked On Nebraska’ host Connor Happer to discuss the Cornhuskers’ schedule.
It’s a massive shift from 2025.
Colorado enters 2026 seeking a new outlook at quarterback (JuJu Lewis) and OC (Brennan Marion).
Will their schedule let them contend in the Big 12?
00:00 Sacramento State’s Football Appeal
05:54 Sacramento State’s Path to Elevation
07:09 Building Sacramento State’s Value
12:04 2025 Season Hopes and Setbacks
15:32 Tough Schedule, Key Iowa Game
19:36 Nebraska’s Quarterback Room Depth
28:16 Pressure Mounts Amid Struggles
31:16 Colorado’s Challenging Football Schedule
Sports
‘We keep our sights forward’: Giant-killer Zimbabwe send warning after taking down Sri Lanka and Australia | Cricket News
Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza, center, with teammates leaves the ground after Sri Lanka’s inning during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo)
Captain Sikandar Raza said the strong group-stage run by the Zimbabwe at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has earned them respect, and he hopes the team can continue its run in the Super Eights against stronger opponents.Zimbabwe signalled their ability to challenge top teams by defeating Australia and Sri Lanka in Group B matches.“We keep our sights forward. If I keep our eyes on the present…I don’t think anyone gave us a chance. To win everyone’s hearts and respect, it is a good position to be in,” Raza said in the post-match presentation after his team’s win over SL.Zimbabwe now move into the Super Eights, where they will face reigning champions India, two-time champions West Indies cricket team, and 2024 finalists South Africa.But Raza said his side is not intimidated.Also read: Sikandar roars in Colombo: Zimbabwe stun Sri Lanka, fire warning shot at India
“We take one game at a time. We arrive on the 21st, and then train on the 22nd, and then it is show-time. Whatever happens, happens. If we can win two out of three games, who knows what can happen. Everyone loves an underdog story,” Raza added.Reflecting on the win over Sri Lanka, Raza said the hosts fell short of a defendable total.“When we lost the toss, all I said to the boys was if we are truly playing good cricket, why does the toss matter? I bowled, and said finger-spinners are not finding a lot of turn, so we can put them under pressure.“I came into the changing room and said they were 10 runs short (at the break). We have trained for every situation. We have the right personnel to send in at the right time. We have got all those roles clear and that is why you see the confidence in the changing room,” he said.For now, Raza said he wants to enjoy the team’s progress into the Super Eights.“We are unbeaten so far, but it is only the next game that comes into my head. Nice position to be in as a captain but I will try and enjoy at least tonight,” he said.
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Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka faces brutal criticism from fans after partnering with Russian rapper openly supporting war against Ukraine
Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has come under fire for mingling with a Russian rapper who backs his country’s invasion of Ukraine. The conflict between the two countries has been going on since 2022, and its ramifications have been felt on the tennis courts as well.
Ukrainian tennis players have boycotted athletes from Russia as well as Belarus, refusing to engage in the traditional pleasantries due to their countries’ hand in the destruction of Ukraine. The International Tennis Federation has also banned Russia and Belarus from participating in the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.
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Sabalenka was naturally asked about her country’s support of Russia’s aggression. She took a pacifist stand and hoped for the war to end soon. However, her recent association with people who support Russia’s brutality may indicate otherwise.
Sabalenka was interviewed for the Bench podcast, part of the First & Red media house. The interview was filmed last month and has started doing the rounds now. The hosts were Russian rapper L’ONE, the alias of Levan Gorozia, and his brother Merabi. L’ONE allegedly admitted to supporting his country’s actions in Ukraine by providing them financial support, and hoping for their victory.
Sabalenka‘s association with those who support the war didn’t sit right with fans. They took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their disappointment and frustration at her decision:
“May she never win another Slam again,” wrote one fan.
“lol she was never neutral… Posing with Lukashenko, celebrating with him,” posted another fan.
“Ban aryna Sabalenka from playing tennis,” expressed a fan.
“she’s such a loser jesus,” wrote a fan.
“Are we surprised?” chimed in another fan.
“fork found in the kitchen,” wrote one fan.
Sabalenka was also called out by Oleksandra Oliynykova during last month’s Australian Open. The latter cited her support of her country’s President as proof of her support for Russia’s hostility.
Aryna Sabalenka was one of the players publicly singled out by Oleksandra Oliynykova
Ukrainian tennis players have constantly used their platform to raise awareness about the brutal conditions they’re forced to live in since the war. Oleksandra Oliynykova, who made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open 2026, didn’t hesitate to directly address her peers who allegedly support Russia.
Aryna Sabalenka allegedly supported Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian President, during the civil unrest in her country before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The government used its full might to crush peaceful protests, so it wasn’t a good look for her to side with those in power. Oliynynkova had a problem with this, and addressed it with an interview with L’Equipe during the Australian Open.
“I’m talking, for example, about the world number one (Aryna Sabalenka). Did you know that she signed the list supporting Lukashenko in 2020? During the protests in Belarus, when the streets were covered in blood because those who were demonstrating, defending democracy, and demanding fair elections were being repressed and beaten. Well, she signed it and declared that Lukashenko was her president,” Oliynykova said.
Sabalenka has time and time again repeated that she supports peace. She hasn’t competed anywhere since her loss to Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, so any answers regarding her latest misstep will have to wait until her return at next month’s Indian Wells Open.
Edited by Rohit
That didn’t take long. The NFL hasn’t really opened free agency’s flood gates yet — that’s March 9th — but teams can re-sign players at any time, and the Los Angeles Rams did precisely that this week, re-upping with ex-Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle David Quessenberry.
Quessenberry’s return gives Los Angeles a steady depth piece at tackle as the roster churn continues.
The veteran lineman spent one season in Minnesota two years ago and evidently enjoys the Rams way of life.
Rams Add Familiar Tackle Depth for 2026
Los Angeles is off the schneid in free agency.
Quessenberry Back to LAR
It’s a quick reunion decision for Quessenberry. Rams reporter Stu Jackson announced Wednesday, “The Rams have re-signed offensive lineman David Quessenberry to a 1-year deal. Quessenberry, 35, was a pending unrestricted free agent.”
“Other than playing 12 offensive snaps late in the Rams’ 45-17 Week 14 blowout win over the Cardinals, Quessenberry primarily saw action on special teams in the 13 games he played in his first season in Los Angeles. He first joined the Rams on a one-year deal on May 29, 2025.”
Quessenberry signed for one year and $1.3 million last year; it’s a safe bet he received a slight pay bump, which the details will confirm or deny later this week.
The Rams’ 2026 OTs under Contract
Los Angeles will enter free agency with these offensive tackles under contract:
- Warren McClendon Jr.
- Alaric Jackson
- David Quessenberry
- A.J. Arcuri
D.J. Humphries is a free agent. Longtime OT Rob Havenstein recently retired.
In a Pro Football Focus mock draft this week, Josh Liskiewitz connected the Rams to Miami OT Francis Mauigoa in Round 1 and noted: “With Rob Havenstein’s recent retirement creating a clear need at right tackle, the Rams would be landing a premium talent at their most pressing position here. Mauigoa earned an 85.9 PFF grade on true pass sets in 2025 and, over the past two seasons, has allowed just three sacks and five quarterback hits across 1,133 pass-blocking snaps.”
CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards did the same thing, writing about Mauigoa, “Rob Havenstein announced his retirement. Perhaps the team is comfortable with Warren McClendon Jr. in a scheme that makes the assignment a bit easier on its linemen, but with two first-round picks, there is an opportunity to address the concern in a big way. Francis Mauigoa should get a chance to stick at right tackle.”
“Los Angeles found something that worked last season with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but Adams is both 33 years old and entering the final year of his contract. The Rams are always forward-thinking, so KC Concepcion’s presence may not truly be felt until 2027, but by then he will have a year of experience in the system.”
Generally speaking, Rams fans should expect another offensive tackle on the way, either from free agency or the draft.
Quessenberry’s Bio
Quessenberry produced a 59.0 PFF mark in 2025, playing just 18 offensive snaps. He appeared in 13 games, while also seeing action on 73 special teams snaps. Since 2013, he’s played in 95 games, starting 30 of them. His best year arrived in 2021 with Tennessee. He started every game and was on the field for over 1,200 snaps on offense. That year, he even snagged a 79.2 grade from PFF, the highest mark of his long career.
Here’s his resume:
- Houston Texans (2013–2017)
- Tennessee Titans (2018–2021)
- Buffalo Bills (2022)
- Minnesota Vikings (2023–2024)
- Los Angeles Rams (2025-now)
LAR’s Remaining FAs
Like most NFL teams at this point on the calendar, the Rams have quite a few free agents. With Quessenberry off the board and back under contract, here’s the updated list:
- Tutu Atwell (WR)
- Kamren Curl (S)
- Justin Dedich (C)
- Cobie Durant (CB)
- Jimmy Garoppolo (QB)
- D.J. Humphries (LT)
- Joshua Karty (K)
- Derion Kendrick (CB)
- Harrison Mevis (K)
- Roger McCreary (CB)
- Jake McQuaide (LS)
- Troy Reeder (LB)
- Ronnie Rivers (RB)
- Xavier Smith (WR)
- Keir Thomas (EDGE)
- Nick Vannett (TE)
- Ahkello Witherspoon (CB)
Curl might be the most productive player on the list, and FOX Sports‘ Greg Auman predicted he’ll re-up with the Rams, explaining last week: “Curl, 26, was a steal for the Rams two years ago at $4.5 million a year. He finished second on the team with 122 tackles in the regular season and led them in the playoffs with 27.”
“He’s missed two games in the last three years and stands to earn double what he got on his last contract. Los Angeles has enough cap space and not that many free agents, so it should be able to bring him back as an ascending leader on their defense. Prediction: Re-signs with Rams.”
Some Vikings fans have also whispered that Curl would land with the Vikings via free agency if Harrison Smith retires.
Quessenberry will turn 36 this summer.
Sports
Eight best storylines for NBA stretch run: Is Jayson Tatum coming back? Can Spurs jump OKC? MVP up for grabs?
The NBA All-Star break is over. Action returns Thursday night with a 10-game slate. Every team has between 26 and 29 games remaining. So let’s to lock back in and refocus on the second “half” of the NBA season. Some teams have already sent out messages like bat signals to show how they’re going to approach the last two months of the regular season.
The Sacramento Kings announced that both Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine will have season-ending surgery. It’s a move that very clearly states the Kings will be tanking the rest of the season to prioritize draft positioning. The Dallas Mavericks did a similar move, announcing Kyrie Irving will not play this season as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL he suffered in March 2025.
While that’s happening at the bottom of the standings, we could be in store for some compelling finishes at the top of the standings with several teams within a few games of each other in both the East and West. As we resume the regular season, let’s take a look at the biggest storylines post-All-Star break.
1. Jayson Tatum’s potential return to the Celtics
When Tatum tore his Achilles in May 2025, it appeared the Celtics would take a gap year with their superstar sidelined. It seemed highly possible that Tatum would be out the entirety of the 2025-26 season, and that Boston would refocus its efforts around the 2026-27 campaign.
But here we are nine months from Tatum’s Achilles surgery, and there’s hints that he could make a return in the coming weeks. The All-Star forward practiced with Boston’s G League squad before the All-Star break, and took part in 5-on-5 scrimmages with Celtics teammates and coaches. Everything is lining up toward a potential return ahead of the playoffs.
Boston owns a 35-19 record, and sits second in the East. There’s a world in which the Celtics could make a deep run in the postseason without Tatum. Having Tatum healthy should only strengthen Boston’s postseason hopes, and shake things up considerably in the East.
The race for the East couldn’t be more wide open at the All-Star break. The Cavs are considered the favorites with +350 odds on FanDuel. The Celtics, Pistons and Knicks all have +370 odds.
The version we get of Tatum will greatly impact Boston’s outlook for the rest of the season. If he comes back close to his All-NBA self, then every other team in the East should be worried about matching up with the Celtics in the postseason. — Jasmyn Wimbish
2. How seriously do we take the Knicks?
I don’t think anyone knows exactly what to make of the Knicks, who entered the All-Star break having won 10 of their previous 12 but remain a defensively deficient team that will likely have to play the rest of the regular season without Miles McBride (who has been the lone Knick with a 100% approval rating this year).
Two big additions to watch: Jose Alvarado, obviously, and also Jeremy Sochan, who fell out of the rotation in San Antonio but could bring real defense and energy to a Knicks team that could use both if given any kind of opportunity.
We’re all waiting for Karl-Anthony Towns to find his range in what has been the worst shooting season of his career, but aside from McBride, Towns’ plus-7.6 net rating is still the best mark on the team, per Cleaning the Glass. The defense is actually worse off with Jalen Brunson on the court sans Towns than vice versa.
Brunson, meanwhile, has been up and down of late himself. He’s got two 40-pieces this month but his 43/31 shooting splits since Feb. 1 leave a lot to be desired. He went 4 for 20 and 0 for 8 from 3 in a 38-point loss to Detroit a couple weeks ago.
Nobody is questioning Brunson’s offensive greatness, but it is a real question whether that’s enough to make up for his own, and largely by extension New York’s collective defensive ails, particularly if Towns doesn’t get the shot going. All of these questions are happening in the context of what feels like the Knicks’ best chance to make the Finals with this team. Can they seize it? These next six weeks won’t tell us everything (anything can happen in the playoffs), but they will tell us a lot. — Brad Botkin
3. Can the Lakers secure a top-six seed?
The Lakers sit 1 ½ games back of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 spot in the West. But they also sit just 1 ½ games ahead of the seventh-placed Phoenix Suns as the season resumes. Things are far from settled in the West. The Lakers are one of many West teams who could either host a first-round playoff series or have to earn their playoff spot through the Play-In Tournament.
Having to go through the play-in isn’t the end of the world, but when this team once sat second in the conference at the start of December, falling to seventh and having to potentially face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the first round would not be ideal.
The positive? Austin Reaves is back from a calf strain, and in the five games he’s played since returning, the Lakers have gone 4-1. Having Reaves back is a night and day difference for the Lakers, who were relying far too much on Luka Dončić’s offensive heroics and prime performances from a 41-year-old LeBron James. Reaves takes some of the offensive pressure of Doncic, gives the Lakers another guy who can create offensively and give you 20+ points a night. In just his second game back he had 35 points, showing that had it not been for the calf injury Reaves would’ve probably been a first-time All Star this season.
The have the eighth most difficult schedule over the rest of the season, but the Nuggets and the Timberwolves both have harder schedules, which could provide a nice path towards a top-four spot for L.A. — Jasmyn Wimbish
4. Can the Spurs jump the Thunder?
Let’s keep things in the Western Conference standings. San Antonio is my No. 1 team to watch down the stretch. They resume play on Thursday night against the Suns having won six straight and 11 of their last 14 and three games back of the Thunder for the West’s No. 1 seed.
They have every right to believe they can catch and pass OKC. For starters, the Thunder, who have lost six of their last 11 and will be without Jalen Williams for the foreseeable future, have the second-toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon. Besides that, the Spurs own the tiebreaker with a 4-1 head-to-head record.
If this happens, how are we not going to classify the Spurs as the title favorite? What other No. 1 seed who has defeated the defending champs four out of five times and won potentially north of 60 games would be considered anything less?
The Spurs are starting to feel a little like the 2015 Warriors to me. The ascent is happening before everyone is ready to fully accept it. They were supposed to be a few years away from contention. This year was supposed to about maybe getting into the playoffs and getting some experience under their belt.
But Victor Wembanyama, like Stephen Curry when he burst onto the scene, has rearranged the geometry of a basketball court to such a degree that no typical timeline can be applied. He’s a force beyond anything we’ve ever seen, honestly, and the Spurs are stacked behind him with every marker of a top-tier contender. Perhaps the top contender. That still feels premature to say, but if they jump OKC for the top seed, I’m not sure how you could call them anything other than the title favorites. — Brad Botkin
5. Tanking wars at the bottom of the standings
The talk of the NBA over the last two weeks has been about the league’s tanking “problem.” The league fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league.” The Jazz were fined for pulling players in the fourth quarter on two occasions despite being in closely-contested games. The Pacers held players out despite them being healthy. Both were obvious efforts by Utah and Indiana to tank, something that the league is seemingly trying to come down hard on.
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in the league’s statement.
Since the league’s punishment, there has been a lot of chatter about how to solve the league’s tanking problem. Calls for eliminating the draft, setting lottery odds earlier in the season and holding a lottery tournament to determine who gets what pick have all been bandied about. But while everyone thinks they have the idea that’s going to solve this issue for the league, teams will continue to tank.
The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Kings, Jazz, Mavericks and Grizzlies have all essentially been eliminated from the postseason races already and want the best chance possible at the No. 1 pick. The Pacers and Jazz both could potentially lose their picks if they fall below certain slots.
One look at the collegiate basketball landscape this season and most front office executives are probably salivating over the prospect of landing Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer or a handful of other high-profile draft prospects. This is being billed as one of the best drafts in recent memory. Of course these teams want to do everything possible to try and land one of these guys. People might say tanking is bad for the league, but, for now, it’s a necessary evil for teams to try and find generational talent. — Jasmyn Wimbish
6. Cavs, Harden primed for a run
Three games with James Harden, three wins with James Harden, who had four assists down the stretch and hit the game-tying 3 with under a minute to play in Cleveland’s victory over Denver last week.
Cleveland started to find its sea legs after Christmas. They Cavs had won 13 of their previous 18 when the Harden deal went down. Everyone has been waiting for the team that won 64 games last season to emerge, and it feels safe to say that it has. But the question is: How much better can the Cavs be with Harden?
“I understand that this team is going to be something special [with Harden],” Donovan Mitchell wrote in his latest diary installment for Andscape. “We’re 3-0 so far, so we’re not doing too bad. But I’m excited to see what we do when we get some practices under our belt, and we’ll see what that looks like going forward.”
We’ve already seen some of the best of what Harden will bring. He’s carded 26 assists in his three games so far, which speaks to the playmaking burden he’ll lift from the shoulders of Mitchell, the league’s fifth-leading scorer who should be as free as he’s been all season to, well, score.
It’s largely the same tag-team dynamic that existed with Darius Garland, but Harden is a better creator than Garland and, importantly, he’s healthy. The combined gravitational force of these two has already been on display.
Watch here as Harden has the ball on the wing with Mitchell in the short corner, and how the whole defense shifts their way as Jarrett Allen (with whom Harden has already looked very comfortable in two-man actions) cuts straight down the lane.
Possessions like this one below should become more of the norm, with Harden collapsing defenses and making life easier on Mitchell, who is making 40% of his catch-and-shoot 3s this season, per Synergy.
With the threat of Mitchell keeping defenses honest on one side and Allen rolling down the lane, the opposite side shooters should get a lot of looks like this as Harden is a master at waiting for defenses to commit before delivering.
Of course, this is the best of Harden. Time will tell if the worst of him — his defense, namely, and some of his postseason disappearing acts — will bite the Cavs when it counts most. But for now, Cleveland continuing to rise up the Eastern Conference standings (with the league’s fifth-easiest remaining schedule, per Tankathon) looks like a pretty good bet. — Brad Botkin
7. Rookie of the Year race between Flagg and Knueppel
This is one of the most intriguing Rookie of the Year races in recent memory, even if the oddsmakers view Cooper Flagg as a heavy favorite with two months to go (-750 odds at FanDuel). Both Flagg and Kon Knueppel have valid cases to walk away with the award, and on any given night you could argue that one deserves it more. Flagg is shouldering the entirety of Dallas’ offense and has been among the most efficient rookies given the types of shots he’s taking. His defense is also years ahead of where rookies typically are, and he’s already shown he can be the go-to guy in the clutch.
For Knueppel, he’s the best shooting prospect we’ve seen since Stephen Curry, and he’s completely elevated Charlotte’s offense. He’s benefiting from the brilliance of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, but he’s much more than just a catch-and-shoot player. Knueppel’s off-ball movement creates so many opportunities directly and indirectly, and he’s about as automatic as it comes from 3-point land.
The first time these former teammates faced each other it was an absolute classic. Flagg had 49 points, while Knueppel had 34 points in the win. We’ll get one more matchup between these two on March 3, and given how close this race is, perhaps it can help in figuring out who should come out on top for Rookie of the Year. — Jasmyn Wimbish
8. The MVP race just got interesting again
When Nikola Jokić went down with a hyperextended knee right before New Year’s, it looked like it would bring an end to his MVP bid on account of not being able to meet the 65-game threshold. But the Nuggets superstar made it back just in time to be able to miss exactly one more game the rest of the way and maintain award eligibility.
As long as Jokić remains eligible, this is a tight race between him and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been out with an injury of his own as the Thunder have lost six of their last 11. Also lurking is Victor Wembanyama, who has missed 14 games so far and thus can miss three more while remaining eligible. SGA remains the betting favorite (Gilgeous-Alexander has -190 odds to Jokić’s +300, while Wembanyama is currently a +3300 longshot).
As mentioned above, San Antonio is a real threat to catch OKC for the No. 1 seed; they’re three games back and own the tiebreaker via a 4-1 head-to-head advantage. Wembanyama’s numbers considering he’s only playing 29 minutes a game are crazy. Factoring in both ends of the court, he’s probably the most impactful per-minute player in the NBA, and if the Spurs do claim the No. 1 seed it will be tough to not consider him seriously for MVP.
Now add in Cade Cunningham, Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown, and this race that once looked to be all but sewn up for SGA when Jokić went down suddenly looks like it could be in for a photo finish. — Brad Botkin
English striker Bukayo Saka has signed a new contract with Arsenal, the English club announced. Saka, who will turn 25 years old in September, has a new long-term deal with the team coached by Mikel Arteta, locking him up ahead of his expected participation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he will be among the biggest stars.
Arsenal released the following statement:
“Our 24-year-old joined our Hale End Academy as an eight-year-old in May 2010 and has since progressed to become the leading goalscorer, assister and appearance maker in our current squad – with 78 goals and nearly 300 club appearances in all competitions. Bukayo made his first team debut at 17 in November 2018, before being named Arsenal Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2022. He was also named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2022-23 and was in the PFA Team of the Season that same year. Our forward was also named as England Men’s Player of the Year for both 2021-22 and 2022-23. A leader of our forward line with his consistent performances, establishing himself as one of the best wingers in world football, Bukayo has won our Arsenal Player of the Month award more times than any other player since it began in 2012.”
While reports suggest his deal will be valid in the summer 2030, the length of the new contract was not revealed by the English side that have worked constatly over the past months to reach an agreement with Saka’s camp.
The English international made his debut with the Three Lions in October 2020, and since then he made 48 caps with the national team, representing the country at the 2020 and 2024 Euros and at the 2022 World Cup ahead of the upcoming tournament that will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada starting from June 11.
In the current 2025-26 season, Saka has already made 15 goal contributions (eight goals, seven assists) in 34 matches in all competitions, underlining once more his importance in the team that is currently leading the Premier League standings and ended up in the top place of the Champions League’s league phase. After winning the 2020 FA Cup and FA Community Shield in 2020 and 2023, it’s now time for Saka and Arteta’s team to bring back to the Emirates Stadium the first Premier League trophy in more than 20 years, as the last one was back in 2004 under Arsene Wenger’s management.
After winning gold in Italy, becoming the first South American to win a Winter Olympic medal, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen said: “I just hope that Brazilians look at this and truly understand that your difference is your superpower.”
Pinheiro Braathen, who competed for Norway in the 2022 Winter Olympics and is the son of a Brazilian mother and a Norwegian father, is far from the only athlete with mixed nationality. However, his success reignited a long-standing debate about nationality and identity at the Olympics.
The five factors affecting Olympic nationality
Gijsbert Oonk is a professor at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam who specializes in global history, sport and the migration of athletes and national identity. The Dutchman says there are several important stakeholders to consider when discussing nationality in sport.
Individual athletes want to compete at the top level, but may find themselves caught between a sending state which wants to retain them after investiging in their training and career, and a receiving state that might challenge a medal and thereby increase its prestige. Then there are the sports federations which wish to create a level playing field on the international stage, and the audiences who want to feel connected to their sporting heroes.
“There is a competition on who decides on belonging,” Oonk told DW.
“States provide you with citizenship, but now in sports, states increasingly provide certain fast-track citizenship procedures that normal people don’t have access to.”
Karen McGarry is an associate professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, who specializes in the anthropology of sport. McGarry believes one of the most decisive factors is the desire to compete at the elite level.
“In international sporting competitions like the Olympics, athletes will increasingly move to whatever country provides them with the most resources, incentives or chances of competitive success,” McGarry told DW.
“The current French Olympic champion in ice dancing, Laurence Fournier Beaudry, has competed for Canada, Denmark and France. Some fans view such practices as selfish, overly individualistic, or not in keeping with a more sociocentric ‘Olympic’ mentality that position the ‘nation’ at the heart of the competition, others are indifferent.”
The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) charter states that an athlete who has represented one country at the Olympics or another major international competition must wait three years before representing another.
But as socio-economic and political climates change, so does the perception of nationality, particularly in sport. According to a news report in The Moscow Times, over 30 Russian athletes who changed their sporting nationality are competing for other countries in Italy this month.
“I’m from Canada, for instance, and Canadian patriotism and nationalism is currently very high, largely as a form of resistance to threats of tariffs and political takeover from (US president) Donald Trump,” McGarry explained.
“When political tensions escalate, for instance, nations often become insular, exclusionary, and nationalistic, which can spill over to the Olympic games, particular with reference to media coverage.”
Ukrainian Winter Olympian Vladislav Heraskevych’s story may be another example of this.
Individual athlete at the forefront to start
Changing nationality is not a new phenomenon. Perhaps more interesting is that the notion of representing nations is not what the Olympics was founded on.
“In the beginning there were obviously no regulations,” Oonk said. “The whole idea was that actually, athletes should represent themselves, not a country or a king.”
Indeed, it was Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the co-founder of the IOC, who said: “The true Olympic hero is, in my view, the individual adult male.”
While his idea in terms of gender is outdated, the focus on the athlete rather than the nation is intriguing. But eventually countries were asked to select their best athletes and send them, and that’s when things began to change.
“And here you see the countries coming in, with their interests, financial and political aspects, and the importance of the flag and the hymn,” Oonk explained.
Furthermore, Oonk believes the media creation of the medal table, which came along during the 1920s and 30s when the Olympics started to become more accepted as an event and the competition between the United States and the British became more intense, also aided the development of competition between nations.
Nevertheless, even in the face of increased migration from the 1980s onwards and the mobility of international athletes in terms of training and development, the cultural construct of nationality has remained valuable.
“Nationality and nationalism have a market value in domestic contexts,” McGarry said.
“Olympic corporate sponsors, for instance, recognize the value of showcasing their athletes as ‘homegrown’ athletes to appeal to a certain kind of domestic nostalgia for ‘national’ athletes.”
Audience role not to be underestimated
Perception is not to be underestimated. The way the world views an athlete plays a huge role in either being accepted or dismissed.
“Audiences are very nationalized because they are fed by the national language and the national media,” said Oonk, who added that the way national history is taught in schools also plays a key role.
“The idea of nationality and belonging is kind of hyped into what in academic areas we call an imagined community. ‘I don’t know that sports person, but he’s one of us, he speaks my language… However, from a really academic and more philosophical point, who cares? These are individual athletes trying to do their best and trying to skate as fast or whatever as they can.”
Ultimately, with so many factors at playthis debate promises to continue to burn brightly in the years ahead. Right now marks perhaps a real reflection point when it comes to what it means to represent a country at the Olympics.
“It’s an interesting time because, while we are seeing the rise of populism and insular forms of nationalism on the global political stage, we also see that many people increasingly view their identities as cosmopolitan and fluid, including national affiliations,” noted McGarry.
Edited: by Chuck Penfold
Sports
Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium not to host Ranji Trophy final; title clash heads to Hubballi – here’s why | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) confirmed on Thursday that the upcoming Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir will be played in Hubballi. The move has been made to allow safety upgrade work at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to progress faster.The final will begin on February 24.“KSCA had the option of hosting this prestigious final either at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, or at the KSCA Hubballi grounds. After careful evaluation and detailed consultations, the Association, in coordination with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, has taken a considered and strategic decision to stage the final at Hubballi,” said Vinay Mruthyunjaya, the KSCA official spokesperson.He said infrastructure and safety upgrade work is in progress at the Bengaluru venue as per recommendations of a state-appointed expert committee and other authorities.“Several spectator gates and access points are currently being dismantled and widened, along with other critical improvement works.”“In view of these ongoing developments, it would not have been feasible to ensure the high-quality match-viewing experience and spectator convenience that a marquee fixture such as the Ranji Trophy Final deserves,” said Mruthyunjaya.He added that the shift also allows a major match to be staged outside Bengaluru, in line with the vision of the newly elected KSCA managing committee led by Venkatesh Prasad.“This initiative is aimed at promoting cricket across the State, nurturing regional fan engagement, and strengthening the sporting ecosystem beyond Bengaluru,” he added.
Team Czechia’s head coach, Radim Rulík, was livid with the officiating in Wednesday’s hard-fought 4-3 overtime loss to Canada in the Olympic quarterfinal.
“The referees really worry me. What they’re allowing against us is unacceptable. After every game, we send them two or three clips where they confirm that the opponent should have been penalized. I don’t understand it. I just don’t get it. I feel like everyone is afraid to call anything against Canada,” Rulík told Czech reporters upon elimination (and translated here by RonoHockey.com).
“We were basically playing against six players. I don’t want to make excuses, and no one has to agree with me, but the video backs me up. In this respect, it’s not a fair tournament. It was happening to us even against Denmark. The mix of NHL and European referees hasn’t worked — everyone calls the game differently.”
The game was officiated by American Chris Rooney (NHL) and Sweden’s Mikael Holm (SHL). Canada was awarded three power plays, Czechia two, and the stripes did not settle on a standard.
Canada’s Macklin Celebrini was whistled for interference on inconsequential play that would have been a Czech icing. David Pastrnak scored on the ensuing power play.
Sidney Crosby was later interfered with blatantly, checked into the board by Ondrej Palat in the neutral zone, and no call was made.
Radko Gudas was given a ticky-tack roughing penalty for simply finishing a check, but that appeared to be a makeup call for his earlier aggression toward Crosby, whom he injured.
“I’m really sorry about it. The guys deserved a top-level performance from the referees. They always admit afterward that we were right, but nothing ever changes,” Rulík continued.
“We should have had power plays against Canada. But they were afraid Pasta or (Martin) Necas would score another power-play goal. And if Gudas was penalized, then (Drew) Doughty should have been too for the hit on Pasta.”
Ironically, the most egregious missed call came on Palat’s third-period goal.
Eight Czech skaters were on the ice. Six gathered to celebrate the go-ahead marker.
And still, there was no call for too many men.
“Not aware at all,” Canada’s Connor McDavid said, twice.
“I’m not sure how we missed it. Nobody even mentioned it until after the game. So, we’ve got to do a better job paying attention. That being said, the refs do too. Everybody can. I feel like everybody missed it. It was kind of a weird play that way, but we have to pay more attention.”
An IIHF spokesperson told The Athletic ’s Pierre LeBrun Thursday that the goal was reviewed. The IIHF saw what we all did. The refs missed a clear infraction, but mistakes happen.
Had Canada not rallied to victory, the unspotted extra Czechs would’ve turned this mistake into international uproar. In real time, however, it was hardly noticed.
“We didn’t know until after the game,” Doughty said.
“Not a single player, coach knew until after the game. Nobody. Yeah, we talked about it. We’re like, ‘How did that get missed?’ But, I mean, we all missed it. It makes sense that the refs could miss it too. S— happens.”
Canada’s Sam Bennett, who was too ill to play, can’t believe he didn’t count the extra skaters from his perch in the arena’s stands.
“I didn’t, actually,” Bennett said.
“I’m surprised, because I was watching that game pretty intensely. But I missed that.”
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