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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to…

THE NO. 5 FLORIDA GATORS

Beware: These Gators chew. No. 5 Florida beat No. 7 Alabama, 99-94, in Tuscaloosa, and, mixed with Ole Miss‘ 78-76 win over No. 4 Tennessee, moved as much as the No. 1 seed line in Jerry Palm’s Bracketology.

• It is the primary time Florida has two top-10 highway wins in a season. The Gators additionally received at No. 1 Auburn final month.
• Alex Condon returned to the beginning lineup in emphatic trend with 27 factors and 10 rebounds. Walter Clayton Jr. added 22 factors.
• Florida posted a 19-10 benefit in second-chance factors and a 22-10 benefit on fast-break factors. Alabama is slumping, David Cobb notes.
• Shortly thereafter, the Rebels earned their second top-five win this season (in addition they beat then-No. 4 Alabama in January). It is the primary time they’ve crushed a number of top-five groups in a season.
• On Senior Evening, Jaemyn Brakefield was excellent, scoring all 19 of his factors — on 8 for 8 capturing — within the second half. That included the game-winning putback within the closing seconds.

I like Ole Miss as a sleeper second-weekend NCAA Match staff. The Rebels are skilled and have a bunch of men who can rating.

However I love Florida, as in “they’re my championship decide” love. The Gators are prime 10 in offensive and defensive effectivity. They’re deadly in transition, overwhelming on the offensive glass and stuffed with firepower: Six totally different gamers have led them in scoring in a sport this season. Their frontcourt is ridiculous, their backcourt explosive. They’ve expertise, depth, versatility and star energy. Depend me all the best way in.

Additionally impressing final night time? No. 13 Maryland, which received at No. 17 Michigan, 71-65.

👍 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such a superb morning for …

DK METCALF AND THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Seahawks parted methods with one in every of their prime extensive receivers yesterday. If one other will get his method, he’ll be leaving Seattle, too. DK Metcalf requested a commerce the identical day the staff launched Tyler Lockett.

• Metcalf, 27, is coming off a considerably down 12 months — he failed to achieve 1,000 yards for the primary time since 2021, and his 5 touchdowns had been a profession low — as Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerged as Geno Smith‘s prime goal.
• Metcalf is coming into the ultimate 12 months of a three-year, $72 million extension from 2022. The $24 million per 12 months is the Thirteenth-richest extensive receiver contract.
• The commerce request comes after a number of weeks of contract discussions. Seattle is anticipated to discover commerce prospects.
• Lockett was due $17 million in 2025. He is one in every of many veterans Seattle has launched previously few days. He ranks second in franchise historical past in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Metcalf is one in every of a number of extensive receivers who may very well be discovering a brand new dwelling this offseason, together with Davante Adams, Christian Kirk (launched Wednesday) and Lockett. Bryan DeArdo has greatest touchdown spots for every.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 NFL roundup: Maxx Crosby will get big extension, Zack Baun returns to Eagles

It is a good day to be Maxx Crosby, and it is a unhealthy day to be a quarterback, working again or offensive lineman dealing with the Raiders. Las Vegas gave its famous person defensive finish a three-year, $106.5 million extension with $91.5 million assured. At $35.5 million per 12 months, that is the highest wage for a non-quarterback in NFL historical past.

• Since 2021, Crosby leads the NFL in tackles for loss (75) and is tied for the lead in pressures (330).
• He has additionally performed 407 extra snaps than some other defensive lineman over that span. He is completely relentless.
• It is price noting fellow defensive stars Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett are additionally searching for new contracts this offseason.

The Eagles additionally ensured their All-Professional defender is not going wherever, signing Zack Baun to a three-year, $51 million extension that features $36 million assured. Baun arrived on a minuscule one-year deal after enjoying sparingly for the Saints. Him reworking into an elite off-ball linebacker is without doubt one of the many success tales that helped Philadelphia win the Tremendous Bowl.

We’ll see what number of different contributors can return. Darius Slay stated he’d “like to be again.”

As for one star not returning, the Chargers launched Joey Bosa, saving over $25 million towards the cap. A star from 2016-21, he is struggled with accidents the previous three years however remains to be simply 29 years previous.

Lastly, the Bears added their second offensive lineman in as many days, buying Joe Thuney from the Chiefs for a 2026 fourth-round decide. Thuney, 32, is a four-time Tremendous Bowl champion and a two-time All-Professional.

For these of you saying he does not match Chicago’s timeline, I say the timing is at all times proper to improve your quarterback’s safety, particularly given Caleb Williams‘ sack-filled debut season. The Bears acquired one other robust mark in Jordan Dajani’s commerce grades.

This is extra …

🏀 Is it already time for Mavericks to think about buying and selling Anthony Davis?

I do not imply to pile on, Mavericks followers. Actually, I do not. However the timing and severity of Kyrie Irving‘s torn ACL is just too terrible, and our employees’s protection is simply too good, for us to maneuver on simply but.

Mavs GM Nico Harrison anticipated to be buried from the second he traded Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis, which in all probability wasn’t an amazing signal, and the commerce is blowing up in Harrison’s face lower than a month after it was made, Jasmyn Wimbish says.

No matter sliver of contender standing Dallas was hanging on to this marketing campaign is gone. And with Irving set to overlook a big chunk of subsequent season, there is a Texas-sized query mark on the Mavs’ 2025-26 — the first years Harrison was focusing on. Issues can change in a short time, however Sam Quinn says it might already be time to think about buying and selling Davis. Sure, after only one sport.

• Quinn: “Dallas does not management its personal first-round picks between 2027 and 2030. When this core ages out, there will not be younger prospects coming in to exchange them. … This isn’t only a basketball problem. That is an existential disaster for the Mavericks, the type that may make or break a staff’s standing within the league for many years. … What Dallas wants, greater than something, is a recent begin, a brand new younger participant for the fan base to rally round. They’ve a really transient window to search out that participant.”

Lastly, Jason Kidd ranted about “conspiracy theories” surrounding the harm. It is protected to say nobody is completely happy.

⚽ UEFA Champions League: Liverpool pulls out late stunner vs. PSG

“Anticipate the sudden” was the theme of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League motion, with three of the 4 first legs producing surprises.

• Regardless of getting dominated virtually your entire sport, Liverpool nabbed a 1-0 win over PSG behind a late objective from Harvey Elliott (beneath a minute after he entered) and very good goalkeeping from Alisson Becker aka merely Alisson.
• Barcelona went right down to 10 males within the twenty second minute after Pau Cubarsi‘s pink card however nonetheless acquired a 1-0 win over Benfica due to Raphinha‘s terrific long-range objective.
• Bayer Leverkusen fell aside in a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich, with Harry Kane (twice) and Jamal Musiala scoring for the Bavarians. Bayer Leverkusen’s disastrous second half makes a second-leg comeback a longshot, Pardeep Cattry writes.
• The one “anticipated” outcome was Inter 2-0 over Feyenoord behind objectives from Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez.

Liverpool-PSG was a basic instance of one goalkeeper bailing his staff out. Even Pink Devils coach Arne Slot admitted his staff would have been fortunate to even get a draw after getting outshot 27-2. However that is why goalies are there. Alisson referred to as his nine-save sport in all probability one of the best efficiency of his life, and what a time for it.

This is the place issues stand heading into the second legs.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

🏀 No. 18 Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt (W), 11 a.m. on SEC Community
🏒 Sabres at Lightning, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 76ers at Celtics, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Sharks at Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Knicks at Lakers, 10 p.m. on TNT