That is an article model of the CBS Sports activities HQ AM E-newsletter, the last word information to each day in sports activities. You’ll be able to signal as much as get it in your inbox each weekday morning right here.

🏀 Good morning to everybody however particularly …

THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES AND THE NO. 1 UCONN HUSKIES

In a season stuffed with upsets, UConn and Purdue had seemingly settled in as the highest two groups. For the previous 5 consecutive AP polls, they have been No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. In Saturday morning’s bracket reveal, the Boilermakers really edged the Huskies for the No. 1 total seed.

Then Sunday occurred. 4 days after firing its coach, Ohio State topped the Boilermakers, 73-69, a exceptional debut for interim head coach Jake Diebler.

• Bruce Thornton and Jamison Battle mixed for 41 factors, and the Buckeyes dedicated simply six turnovers.
• Purdue star Zach Edey had his customary huge numbers — 22 factors and 13 rebounds — but in addition had six turnovers. I used to be impressed by the Buckeyes’ recreation plan in opposition to him. General, Purdue had 14 turnovers, which Ohio State become 22 factors. 
• Ohio State entered the day 14-11 (4-10 Massive Ten) and fired Chris Holtmann on Wednesday. Diebler — older brother of former Ohio State star Jon — grew to become the primary coach to beat a top-two group in his faculty debut since Steve Alford led Iowa to beat No. 1 UConn to open the 1999-2000 season.

A day earlier, UConn confirmed everybody it’s miles and away the nation’s finest group. The Huskies battered No. 4 Marquette, 81-53, the largest win in a convention recreation between two top-five groups ever. The offense is exact and stuffed with versatility in each key side. The protection locked down an elite opposing assault.

Talking of fine protection, I would not classify No. 22 Kentucky‘s as that, however it’s actually a lot improved. The Wildcats went into The Jungle and beat No. 13 Auburn, 70-59. The Tigers had gained 16 straight at house, however a renewed defensive effort resulted in Kentucky’s finest win this season, Matt Norlander writes.

• Norlander: “Ole Miss was a step in the suitable route. Auburn is a leap. If John Calipari goes to tug off a late-season defensive turnaround, there cannot be main setbacks transferring ahead. Do not anticipate THIS Kentucky protection each recreation, however at the least we all know it is able to profitable in a couple of fashion.”

This is extra from the weekend.

😁 Honorable mentions

🥱 And never such morning for …

THE NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

Wake me up when NBA All-Star Weekend ends.

Let’s begin with the Dunk Contest, which is meant to be essentially the most thrilling occasion. It wasn’t. Many of the dunks, and the judging of stated dunks, underwhelmed. Mac McClung rightfully repeated as champion, however arguably the very best dunk of the evening — his unprecedented midair toss-and-catch slam — was woefully under-appreciated and practically price him a spot within the ultimate. That was removed from the one questionable name. Jaylen Brown making it out of the primary spherical in any respect was … uh … beneficiant. 

However the largest situation? The competition is out of concepts, writes Sam Quinn.

• Quinn: “We have seen all of it, and the ‘who’ would not change that. Possibly Ja Morant might bounce from barely additional again. Possibly Anthony Edwards might make a barely crazier spin. However in the end, the issue with the Dunk Contest is that there is not a lot left that we have not already seen, and these occasions depend on novelty.”

Issues weren’t a lot better within the Expertise Competitors, the place Edwards did not even shoot along with his dominant hand. And whereas the 3-Level Contest delivered with Damian Lillard capturing his second straight title in Dame Time trend, the actual winner of the evening was Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu in their very own 3-point competitors.

Curry gained, 29-26, however the end result was far much less vital than the proven fact that it occurred in any respect. Each contestants actually cared and had a blast competing. It was enjoyable, it was cool, it was one thing we must always see extra sooner or later. Sam has concepts on potential matchups.

It is no coincidence the very best occasion of the weekend was two gamers organized. The “conventional” occasions have been milquetoast at finest.

That was confirmed by the All-Star “Sport” on Sunday evening. Hours after Larry Fowl urged the gamers to really strive, they did not. The Japanese Convention beat the Western Convention with a rating that extra resembled Indianapolis 500 velocity trial instances — 211-186. In contrast to in earlier iterations, gamers did not even attain the low bar of making an attempt within the fourth quarter as a result of the East took a 24-point lead into the ultimate body.

Lillard continued his sizzling capturing, scoring 39 factors and turning into the first participant to win All-Star Sport MVP and the 3-point contest in the identical weekend. The weekend’s largest winner is likely to be the Bucks, who will hope this springboards Lillard to raised capturing — he is at simply 34% on 3-pointers this season.

The losers have been the individuals who watched the festivities. In contrast to Lillard, they have been stuffed with misses, duds and the identical previous frustrations this weekend continues to provide.

😔 Not so honorable mentions

🏌 Hideki Matsuyama rallies, makes historical past to win Genesis Invitational

Hideki Matsuyama wasn’t among the many headliners on the primary three days of the Genesis Invitational. Tiger Woods withdrew. Jordan Spieth was disqualified. Will Zalatoris gained a automotive with a hole-in-one. Nor was Matsuyama among the many leaders getting into the ultimate spherical, as he trailed Patrick Cantlay by six strokes.

That each one modified on an impressive Sunday. Matsuyama fired a 9-under 62 — the bottom ultimate spherical within the historical past of Riviera Nation Membership — to win the Genesis Invitational by three strokes.

At one level Sunday, Matsuyama was certainly one of 5 golfers tied at 14-under. A wild end beckoned. As a substitute, Matsuyama’s nice spherical turned historic as he birdied 15, 16 and 17. His placing was terrific all match, however he hardly wanted the flat stick down the stretch: He hit his method on 15 to eight inches and his tee shot on 16 to six inches.

Matsuyama’s $4 million payday is the biggest of his profession, and his ninth PGA Tour win provides to a robust trophy case, Patrick McDonald notes.

• McDonald: “Matsuyama’s win at Riviera provides to a formidable résumé of triumphs at among the nation’s prime programs: Augusta Nationwide, Muirfield Village, Firestone Nation Membership. The 31-year-old now holds a serious championship, two World Golf Championships and a signature occasion to his title. … Matsuyama’s ultimate spherical was reminder sufficient of the kind of golfer — and champion — he will be. Grade: A+“

👊 UFC 298: Ilia Topuria knocks out Alexander Volkanovski for featherweight title

Ilia Topuria talked the speak and walked the stroll. Now, he desires extra. The 27-year-old knocked out longtime featherweight title holder Alexander Volkanovski within the second spherical to assert the title for himself.

Topuria took the post-fight highlight to name out Conor McGregor. We’ll by no means say by no means, however that looks as if a protracted shot, so Shakiel Majouri has different choices for Topuria’s subsequent opponent.

Whereas we look forward to future plans, it is clear Topuria has star potential, Brian Campbell writes.

• Campbell: “Topuria is clearly a unique breed as he broke typical fighter protocol throughout combat week by posing for footage with the championship belt earlier than the bout and boldly predicted an early knockout. It was the truth that his precision and approach have been simply as harmful as his fight-ending energy that Topuria was capable of command the middle of the cage in opposition to a former pound-for-pound king and have him backpedaling all through with such noticeable unease.”

This is extra:

📺 What we’re watching Monday

🏒. Maple Leafs at Blues, 1 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Pink Wings at Kraken, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏎 Daytona 500, 4 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Colgate at Lafayette (M), 6 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
🏀 No. 21 Virginia at Virginia Tech (M), 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 No. 16 Notre Dame at Duke (W), 7 p.m. on ESPN2
🏀 No. 13 LSU at Texas A&M (W), 7 p.m. on SEC Community
🏀 No. 10 Iowa State at No. 3 Houston (M), 9 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Kansas State at Texas (M), 9 p.m. on ESPN2