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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 received large 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 crew.

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 price cherishing, particularly ones in opposition to certainly one of your largest rivals.

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

• No. 1 Auburn outlasted upstart Vanderbilt, 80-68. David Cobb has an glorious 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 a lot of, however Thomas Haugh practically 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 practically 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 an excellent morning for …

MANCHESTER CITY

We all know all too properly the unimaginable magic Actual Madrid produces within the UEFA Champions League. However for them to do it on this approach, given these circumstances, in opposition to this crew — Manchester Metropolis — says extra in regards to the Residents than Los Blancos. Actual rallied for a surprising (however in some way 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 glorious penalty kick, his second aim 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 in opposition to his former membership within the 86th minute.
• Within the 92nd minute, Mateo Kovacic messily defended an extended ball, Vini Jr. received 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 dangerous as any. The Residents’ Actual Madrid-inspired recreation 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 remaining, rating your greatest possibilities, depend on the opposite crew lacking theirs in more and more baffling style. … That’s what Metropolis delivered — not good soccer, not within the slightest, however the Champions League meta. The end result? They received 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.

We’ve the opposite 4 knockout section first legs right now:

Here is find out how to watch, and listed below are our knowledgeable 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 course. 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 yr, Philadelphia was seventh in factors, sixth in yards and second in speeding 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 price, just one crew did higher.

In fact, Moore enters what is way from a “B+” scenario. The Saints went 5-12, their worst report 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 again and again, pushing cash into future years as GM Mickey Loomis tried to cling to the appearance of a aggressive crew. However the backside fell out on a long-steady protection, and the crew began three totally different quarterbacks throughout a depressing 2024.

It could be a tough 2025, too, however Garrett Podell outlined how Moore can issues on 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 dwell, however at Grapefruit League and Cactus League spring coaching areas, the attractive sounds of America’s Pastime are arriving, with 18 MLB groups’ pitcher and catcher exercises getting underway right now. 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 check the automated strike zone problem system this spring. With the problem system, a human umpire calls balls and strikes, and every crew has two challenges they will use to enchantment to ABS (quick for automated ball-strike system). … The problem system has been examined totally within the minors, and now it is prepared for giant leaguers. It may very well be in place for MLB’s common season by 2026.”

🏒 4 Nations Face-Off preview, predictions

You could have observed 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 crew 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 look at 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 knowledgeable predictions, Chris says…

• Bengel: “The People have a pleasant mixture of shutdown defenders on their blue line … and all three defensive pairings provide offensive upside as properly. The offensive depth for the American ought to be out in full pressure. Whereas Matthews or Matthew Tkachuk may lead the scoring cost, there is not any scarcity of aim scorers on america roster. Choose — USA def. Canada“

Lastly, I loved Chris and Austin’s CBS Sports activities’ NHL Quarter-Century crew, led by Sidney Crosby (who will likely 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