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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

THE NO. 15 KENTUCKY WILDCATS

Shorthanded however undeterred, No. 15 Kentucky defeated No. 5 Tennessee, 75-64, ending off a regular-season sweep of the Volunteers.

• With guards Jaxson Robinson (wrist) and Kerr Kriisa (foot) out and Lamont Butler leaving early after re-aggravating a shoulder damage, the Wildcats bought huge performances from seldom-used freshmen Trent Noah (11 factors in 19 minutes) and Travis Perry (eight factors in 12 minutes) off the bench.
• Kentucky shot 50% (12 for twenty-four) from 3 whereas holding Tennessee to 17% (3 for 18) from deep.
• It is Kentucky’s fifth top-10 win this season, two greater than some other group.

The Wildcats aren’t excellent. Their protection is suspect, they do not get to the free throw line, and the backcourt accidents are worrisome. However in a loaded SEC, each win is value cherishing, particularly ones towards certainly one of your largest rivals.

For those who’re in post-Tremendous Bowl sports activities blues, I extremely, extremely encourage you utilize faculty basketball to snap out of it. Simply final night time …

• No. 1 Auburn outlasted upstart Vanderbilt, 80-68. David Cobb has an wonderful story on the Commodores. Identify to know: Johni Broome is the potential Participant of the 12 months.
• Trailing by one at halftime, No. 3 Florida went on a 17-0 run and beat No. 22 Mississippi State, 81-68. Identify to know: There are lots of, however Thomas Haugh almost had a triple-double off the bench after starter Alex Condon left with an damage.
• No. 20 Michigan took down No. 7 Purdue, 75-73, the Wolverines’ first top-10 win in almost three years. Identify to know: Danny Wolf is a 3-point-shooting, ball-handling, dime-dropping, 7-foot whirling dervish.

👍 Honorable mentions

⚽ And never such a great morning for …

MANCHESTER CITY

We all know all too effectively the unimaginable magic Actual Madrid produces within the UEFA Champions League. However for them to do it on this manner, given these circumstances, towards this group — Manchester Metropolis — says extra in regards to the Residents than Los Blancos. Actual rallied for a surprising (however one way or the other not shocking) 3-2 victory in Manchester, the Residents’ first UCL dwelling loss since 2018.

• Metropolis led 2-1 with 10 minutes left after Erling Haaland‘s wonderful penalty kick, his second objective of the match.
• However then got here the meltdown — or the comeback, relying on perspective. Ederson delivered an terrible punt and solely managed to chest away Vini Jr.‘s shot on the ensuing counterattack. The rebound went proper to Brahim Diaz, who masterfully stroked it dwelling towards his former membership within the 86th minute.
• Within the 92nd minute, Mateo Kovacic messily defended a protracted ball, Vini Jr. bought behind the protection, Ederson got here out to no avail, and Jude Bellingham raced onto Vini Jr.’s chip for the winner.

This was Manchester Metropolis’s tenth blown lead this season, and this one was unhealthy as any. The Residents’ Actual Madrid-inspired sport plan backfired, James Benge writes.

• Benge: “Manchester Metropolis confirmed all of the qualities which were the blueprint of the European champions: fly on the seat of your pants, play your greatest soccer in patches, gamble that your luck will maintain for the remainder, rating your greatest probabilities, depend on the opposite group lacking theirs in more and more baffling vogue. … That’s what Metropolis delivered — not good soccer, not within the slightest, however the Champions League meta. The end result? They bought Actual Madrided.”

Elsewhere, Weston McKennie scored a stunner in Juventus‘ 2-1 win over PSV, Ousmane Dembele led PSG to a 3-0 drubbing of Brest, and Borussia Dortmund cruised previous Sporting, 3-0. Listed here are the situations for the second legs of those matchups.

Now we have the opposite 4 knockout section first legs at present:

Here is find out how to watch, and listed below are our skilled picks and greatest bets

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Grading Saints’ Kellen Moore rent, plus what’s forward for him, Eagles

The teaching carousel has come to a halt. The Saints employed Kellen Moore two days after he gained the Tremendous Bowl because the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. It had lengthy been heading this path. Now it is official.

• Moore, 36, was with the Cowboys from 2018-22, the final 4 years of which he was the offensive coordinator. He spent 2023 with the Chargers earlier than heading to Philadelphia this previous season.
• Moore has produced a top-seven scoring offense in 4 of his six seasons as an offensive coordinator. This previous 12 months, Philadelphia was seventh in factors, sixth in yards and second in dashing yards.
• Moore is reportedly focusing on Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator.

The Saints earned a “B+” in Will Brinson’s teaching rent grades, which are actually full with all seven hires finalized. For what it is value, just one group did higher.

In fact, Moore enters what is much from a “B+” scenario. The Saints went 5-12, their worst document since 2005, and are paying the piper after years of laying aside paying their gamers. New Orleans is projected to be $59.5 million over the 2025 cap — worst within the NFL — in response to Over The Cap’s efficient wage cap. They’ve restructured contracts over and over, pushing cash into future years as GM Mickey Loomis tried to cling to the illusion of a aggressive group. However the backside fell out on a long-steady protection, and the group began three totally different quarterbacks throughout a depressing 2024.

It is likely to be a tough 2025, too, however Garrett Podell outlined how Moore can issues not off course.

In Philadelphia, in the meantime, Kevin Patullo is garnering heavy curiosity from the Eagles and the Saints to be their subsequent offensive coordinator. Cody ranked Philadelphia’s choices for Moore’s successor.

⚾ MLB spring coaching storylines

Is that baseball within the air? No, it is simply snow the place I reside, however at Grapefruit League and Cactus League spring coaching areas, the gorgeous sounds of America’s Pastime are arriving, with 18 MLB groups’ pitcher and catcher exercises getting underway at present. Most full-squad exercises start throughout the subsequent week, too.

Whose squad will Alex Bregman be on? What about different notable names? These questions lead Mike Axisa’s 10 spring coaching storylines. Additionally on the checklist is …

• Axisa: “4. ABS problem system — MLB will take a look at the automated strike zone problem system this spring. With the problem system, a human umpire calls balls and strikes, and every group has two challenges they will use to attraction to ABS (brief for automated ball-strike system). … The problem system has been examined completely within the minors, and now it is prepared for large leaguers. It may very well be in place for MLB’s common season by 2026.”

🏒 4 Nations Face-Off preview, predictions

You will have seen there have been no NHL video games both of the final two nights, and there are none till subsequent Saturday, both. That is as a result of the 4 Nations Face-Off has arrived, the primary best-on-best worldwide match the NHL has participated in since 2016.

• The United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland are the 4 nations taking part.
• Every group will play the three others in a round-robin setting. The highest two advance to the ultimate.

Once we say “best-on-best,” we imply it. Chris Bengel and Austin Nivison mentioned the high gamers to observe within the match, and that features Connor McDavid (Canada) and Auston Matthews (USA) as the highest names for the co-hosting international locations.

So, who wins all of it? In our skilled predictions, Chris says…

• Bengel: “The Individuals have a pleasant mixture of shutdown defenders on their blue line … and all three defensive pairings supply offensive upside as effectively. The offensive depth for the American needs to be out in full power. Whereas Matthews or Matthew Tkachuk may lead the scoring cost, there is no scarcity of objective scorers on the US roster. Choose — USA def. Canada“

Lastly, I loved Chris and Austin’s CBS Sports activities’ NHL Quarter-Century group, led by Sidney Crosby (who will probably be on the 4 Nations Face-Off) and Alex Ovechkin.

📺 What we’re watching Wednesday

⚽ We’re watching the UEFA Champions League. Here is how.
🏀 No. 9 St. John’s at Villanova (M), 6 p.m. on FS1
🏀 Spurs at Celtics, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Canada vs. Sweden, 8 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏀 Cal at No. 3 Duke (M), 9 p.m. on ACC Community
🏀 Arizona State at No. 12 Texas Tech (M), 9 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 Warriors at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN