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🏀 Good morning to all however particularly to …

THE NCAA TOURNAMENT AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS

The 68-team NCAA Match format is not going wherever … for now. The Division I males’s and girls’s basketball committees determined Monday to maintain the sphere dimension as is for the 2026 tournaments, although growth nonetheless looms.

• The committees met in July and didn’t come to a conclusion concerning growth.
• Shortly thereafter, NCAA president Charlie Baker stated growth this season would subsequently be unlikely, although a determination for 2027 and past might be coming this fall.
• Certainly, Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vp of basketball, stated discussions will proceed about increasing to 72 or 76 “prematurely of the 2027 championships.”

I do not wish to beat a lifeless horse, however I am anti-expansion. Matt Norlander has laid out the causes and the knowledge about why 68 is the proper dimension. For a minimum of yet one more yr, it is staying that means.

😁 Honorable mentions

🏈 And never such a superb morning for …

MICAH PARSONS, JERRY JONES AND THE DALLAS COWBOYS

The Micah Parsons commerce request is now 4 days previous, and by some means plainly with every passing day Jerry Jones digs himself a deeper gap, most lately saying “That is actually nothing new, in any respect, with Micah” in an interview printed Monday.

Technically, he is proper. That is nothing new. (And this is the timeline for the way we received right here.) However this is not one thing he needs to be joyful about, or one thing that ought to reassure Cowboys followers. Dallas is consistently behind the eight ball with regards to contract extensions for his or her largest stars — whether or not it is Dak Prescott or CeeDee Lamb or, now, Parsons — and John Breech particulars how this has value the group greater than $30 million over the previous few years.

There’s additionally the non-monetary value of nevertheless you’d describe this newest hoopla. Parsons is with the group and “very engaged” in line with Brian Schottenheimer, however this contract fiasco is a distraction. Jones simply cannot resist commenting on each little growth, and even Lamb and Prescott are bored with ready.

Once more, although, that is simply the way in which issues are. In Jones’ eyes, being newsworthy — even for dangerous information — is paramount, Cody Benjamin writes.

• Benjamin: “It is summer season, and the Dallas Cowboys’ greatest participant is not joyful. Now this is a riddle for you: Are we speaking about 2025? Or 2019? Perhaps 1993? Attempt nearly yearly beneath the person who makes a dwelling off of these items: Jerry Jones. … There is a cause Jones insisted Cowboys followers should not ‘lose any sleep’ over the very fact Parsons, a four-time Professional Bowler and one of many recreation’s most gifted playmakers, actually acknowledged he now not needs to play for the group after feeling misled in contract talks with Jones this offseason: The person in cost was at all times excited by making this a spectacle.”

I imply, Dez Bryant and Nicki Minaj are feuding on social media due to the Parsons saga. However, hey, it is Cowboys-related information, proper?!

After all, there’s contract drama elsewhere, too. James Prepare dinner‘s “hold-in” at Payments camp is the most recent. We’re holding tabs on each contract dispute — and predicting outcomes.

😓 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Texas tops preseason Coaches Ballot for first time ever

There’s not an entire lot Texas soccer hasn’t completed, with this system’s fifth-most wins in faculty soccer historical past, 4 nationwide championships and a pair of Heisman Trophy winners headlining the Longhorns’ storied previous.

Monday, although, they obtained a brand new accolade. The Longhorns topped the preseason Coaches Ballot, the first time this system has been ranked No. 1 in a serious preseason (Coaches or AP) ballot. For what it is value, they have been No. 2 within the preseason AP High 25 5 occasions.

Texas nonetheless has to place the pads on and really handle enterprise, in fact, nevertheless it’s a pleasant little bit of recognition for the Longhorns, who enter the Arch Manning period and have a loaded protection headlined by Anthony Hill and Colin Simmons.

Some might view a No. 1 preseason rating as a kiss of demise — in truth, the Longhorns had been dealt some robust harm information Monday as nicely — however Steve Sarkisian‘s group has completed at or above his group’s preseason AP rank every of the previous three seasons.

Texas edged out its Week 1 opponent, Ohio State, for No. 1. Here is the highest 5, with first-place votes in parentheses.

1. Texas (28)
2. Ohio State (20)
3. Penn State (14)
4. Georgia (3)
5. Notre Dame

Clemson, ranked sixth, garnered the remaining two first-place votes, and in his underrated/overrated listing, Will Backus says do not sleep on the Tigers.

• Backus: “Whereas there is no doubt that the Bulldogs and the Preventing Irish are respectable School Soccer Playoff contenders at this level, there’s loads of cause to be a lot increased on the Tigers … Clemson is a lot better off at quarterback. Cade Klubnik is a first-round NFL Draft prospect with Heisman potential. The Tigers additionally return among the finest extensive receiver models within the nation, an skilled offensive line and a protection loaded with future skilled expertise, like edge rusher TJ Parker and defensive lineman Peter Woods.”

In the meantime, 15 of the highest 25 groups are from both the Huge Ten or SEC. 

🏀 De’Aaron Fox, Spurs conform to four-year, $229 million max extension

The Spurs are loading up for the longer term round Victor Wembanyama, and De’Aaron Fox very a lot seems to be a giant a part of that plan. Fox and San Antonio agreed on a four-year max extension value as much as $229 million.

• The Kings traded Fox, 27, to the Spurs halfway by means of final season, however he performed in simply 17 video games for San Antonio earlier than present process season-ending finger surgical procedure in March.
• An All-Star and third-team All-NBA performer in 2022-23, Fox bypassed inking a three-year, $165 extension with Sacramento final offseason — a transfer he made due to an even bigger potential payday down the highway — and he cashed in.
• Fox was set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The Spurs have missed the playoffs in six straight seasons however look primed to make a push this yr. Wembanyama, 21, has already ascended to star standing, the shoo-in Defensive Participant of the Yr final season earlier than deep vein thrombosis ended his season in February. San Antonio additionally drafted Dylan Harper No. 2 total this season and returns final yr’s Rookie of the Yr, Stephon Fortress, in addition to Devin Vassell, amongst others.

🏀 WNBA MVP chief Napheesa Collier to overlook a minimum of two weeks

Lynx star and MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier will miss a minimum of two weeks with an ankle sprain, a big blow as Minnesota hopes to carry onto the No. 1 seed.

• Collier was damage late within the third quarter of a 53-point win over the Aces on Saturday, the most important highway win in WNBA historical past.
• Collier is main the WNBA in factors per recreation (23.5) whereas capturing 54% from the sphere and 37% from 3. She’s additionally within the high 10 in rebounds (7.5 per recreation), steals (1.8) and blocks (1.6).
• The Lynx (24-5) are 5½ video games forward of the Liberty, although Collier’s absence — two weeks would trigger her to overlook 4 video games — will definitely current a problem.

As for one more injured star, Caitlin Clark nonetheless has no timetable for a return from a groin harm, however the Fever have received 5 straight with out her and are as much as No. 3 in Jack Maloney’s WNBA Energy Rankings.

📺 What we’re watching Tuesday

🏀 Wings at Liberty, 7 p.m. on NBA TV
⚾ Reds at Cubs, 8:05 p.m. on TBS
⚾ Padres at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m. on MLB Community
🏀 Fever at Sparks, 10 p.m. on CBS Sports activities Community
⚾ Cardinals at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. on MLB Community