Analyzing Offseason Moves of NFL Contenders: Buffalo Bills

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June 15, 2023

Will this be their year? The Bills have seemingly been in win-now mode since Josh Allen’s breakout year in the 2020 season. Yet their AFC Championship Run that year was as far as they’ve been in the Beane/McDermott era. The Bills went completely all-in last offseason, signing star pass rusher Von Miller to a six-year, $120 million contract. Miller had just come off a Superbowl ring with the LA Rams. He had the expectations to help push the team over the edge.

Photo Cred: Pro Football Network

Unfortunately, Miller suffered a season-ending ACL injury, causing the once-dominant Bills pass rush to turn meager in his absence. The Bill’s season ended with an embarrassing loss on their home turf against the Cincinnati Bengals, putting this team at a standstill. The Bills still feel like they’re in third place behind the Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs for the best team in the AFC.

Last year Gabe Davis showed he’s not the true #2 WR everyone thought he was following his 201 yds, 4-TD game against the Chiefs in the playoffs. The Bill’s O-line also had arguably their worst season as a unit since Josh Allen’s rookie season. The team has heavily addressed both areas in the offseason to ensure they can keep up with the high-flying offenses of the AFC.

Photo Cred: USA Today

Tight End Dalton Kincaid was the team’s first-round pick. He projects to come in immediately and contribute by playing alongside Dawson Knox. He’ll make up for their lack of WR depth outside of Stefon Diggs. Their improvements to the WR room were minimal, but speedster Deonte Harty, 5th-round pick Justin Shorter, and year two improvements for last year’s 5th-rounder Khalil Shakir add much more optimism. They spent a chunk of change signing guard Connor McGovern of the Dallas Cowboys to a 3-year, $27 million contract.

Highly touted guard O’Cyrus Torrence out of Florida fell to them with their second-round pick. He looks to start immediately at RG opposite McGovern. Veteran depth free agents David Edwards (G) and Brandon Shell (RT) help round things out quite nicely. It should be a vastly improved unit. Post-draft free agent additions of Edge Rusher Leonard Floyd and DT Poona Ford add even more depth to an already strong defensive line that will become stronger once Miller returns from injury.

Photo Cred: Florida Gators

The Bills’ most significant offseason loss came in Mike Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds’ departure to the Chicago Bears on a 4-year, $72 million deal. The team will feel Edmunds’ loss next year, but they fully expected it (you can’t pay everybody in this league). They drafted back-to-back 3rd-round Linebackers with Terrel Bernard in 2022 and Dorian Williams in 2023. Both of whom; are expected to step up next season in Edmunds’ absence.

Jordan Poyer was another critical player many Bills fans expected to lose. But the team surprisingly re-signed the all-pro safety to a bargain 2-year, $12 million deal. Poyer’s return, alongside a healthy Micah Hyde, restores the star safety duo. The two are the backbone of the Bills’ defense. Health will be a critical factor determining how far this team will be able to go. There’s no doubt on paper that the Bills are a better team now than they were a year ago.

Defensive Backs Will be Crucial for Missouri in 2023

College

By

Ethan Burke

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June 15, 2023

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Photo Cred: Mizzou

Missouri’s defense took a step forward in 2022. The Tigers’ defense ranked 34th in the nation last season. With multiple returning defensive backs, defensive coordinator Blake Baker will look to take his defense to the next level as the Tigers aim to compete in SEC play. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine will be the leaders for Missouri in the defensive backs position.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Photo Cred: Mizzou Athletics

Rakestraw will look to build off a strong season last year by leading the way for the Tiger’s defense in the fall. As a redshirt sophomore in 2022, Rakestraw recorded 36 total tackles and 4.5 for loss. The defensive back also finished last season with 12 pass-breakups which was good for second on the team and 25th in the country. The West Dallas, Texas native had some big performances in 2022, including a four-tackle performance and forcing a fumble in the Tigers’ 23-10 victory over South Carolina in October.

Rakestraw also had a pass breakup, two tackles, and a fumble recovery in Missouri’s close loss to Georgia.The defensive back started in every game as a true freshman in 2020. In the following season, Rakestraw only made four appearances as he suffered a season-ending injury in practice. After bouncing back last year, Rakestraw will look to continue to improve and lead Missouri’s defense to the next step in 2023.

Kris Abrams-Draine

Photo Cred: Mizzou Athletics

Abrams-Draine will be a player to watch out for when talking about Missouri’s defense and the SEC as a whole. The defensive back recorded 48 total tackles and 31 solos just a season ago. Abrams-Draine also finished last season with 14 pass-breakups which was the second most in the SEC and tied for ninth in the nation. The Mobile, Alabama native came up big for the Tigers last year such as recording five tackles and three pass-breakups in Missouri’s 17-14 win against Vanderbilt and putting up eight tackles in the Tigers’ loss to Wake Forest in the Gasparilla Bowl.

The rising senior was originally a wide receiver before transitioning to defensive back in 2021. Abrams-Draine completed his first season as a defensive back with 37 tackles and a fumble recovery. The defensive back will aim to continue being a valuable asset to Missouri’s defense and help be a leader for the Tigers.

Daylan Carnell

Photo Cred: KY3

Daylan Carnell made strides last season as he saw action in all 13 games. Carnell finished 2022 with two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, four pass breakups, and 26 tackles. The Indianapolis native was a valuable asset to Missouri’s defense a year ago as he made four tackles in the Tigers’ 21-17 loss to Kentucky. Carnell also recorded an interception in Missouri’s 29-17 victory over Arkansas which clinched bowl eligibility to end the regular season.

In 2021, Carnell made just four appearances and decided to take a redshirt season. Before arriving in Columbia, the defensive back was a four-star recruit and was ranked the No. 28 best cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com. Carnell played both cornerback and wide receiver in high school. After making leaps last season, Carnell will look to continue to develop and take on more roles in 2023.

Jaylon Carlies

Photo Cred: SI

Jaylon Carlies played a pivotal role in Missouri’s defense in 2022. Carlies led the team in tackles last season with 81 and had four tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, four pass breakups, and a sack. Some big-time performances came with Carlies’ strong season last year. In the Tigers’ 26-22 loss to Georgia, the defensive back put up 13 tackles. In Missouri’s victory over South Carolina, the Orlando, Florida native recorded three tackles and forced a fumble.

As a sophomore in 2021, Carlies started in 12 games and finished with five or more tackles in over half of the games played. Carlies also played in each game as a true freshman and earned three starts. The rising senior will aim to continue his strong college career this fall. Sidney Williams, Tyler Hibbler, Dreyden Norwood, Joseph Charleston, and incoming freshman Marvin Burks Jr. will also play critical roles in the defensive backfield.

NBA Finals Review

By

Arnav Sarkar

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June 14, 2023

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The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA championship. It was an exciting conclusion to one of the craziest NBA seasons I’ve ever witnessed. From multiple superstars changing teams to off-the-court controversies to a thrilling NBA playoff featuring deep runs from the most unexpected teams. This season gave everything fans could have wanted and then some. LeBron James broke the all-time scoring record, the Sacramento Kings broke a 16-year playoff drought and lit the beam, the Nets moved on from Kyrie and Durant to find a centerpiece in Mikal Bridges, and Joel Embiid won league MVP before the Sixers got knocked out by the Celtics in the second round. Both; New York and Los Angeles teams made the playoffs, as did most other big markets. The smaller market teams with somewhat less notable superstars were the teams that finished on top this year.

Photo Cred: NBC Sports

The Denver Nuggets were overlooked all year despite being the top seed in the Western Conference. They increased their intensity in the playoffs. They knocked off the Timberwolves in five games. Then the Durant and Booker-led Suns in six games. Nuggets swept the new-look Lakers. While the Western Conference had LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, to name a few stars, the unheralded Nuggets were the ones to come out of the conference with their superstars as well as quality role players and a solid head coach in Michael Malone.

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat barely snuck into the playoffs after knocking off the Bulls in the second play-in game after losing to the Hawks to fall to the eighth seed. Counted out by everybody, they stepped up big in the playoffs, overcoming injuries to Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo to upset teams with much shorter championship odds. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo led the Heat to an impressive five-game series win over the top-seeded Bucks before knocking off the upstart Knicks in six games and winning a thrilling seven-game series over the Celtics, in which the Heat got out to a 3-0 series lead before Boston came back to tie the series at 3-3. The Heat got contributions from their role players, with Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Caleb Martin being the players that stand out the most.

Photo Cred: Fox Sports

The Heat were able to stop the bleeding and blow out the Celtics in Boston to return to the NBA Finals, where they would run into a superior opponent who played up to their talent level, unlike several of the Eastern Conference contenders who fell apart against Miami. Erik Spoelstra has led the Heat to many NBA Finals in the past, but this year’s squad overcame all odds to become the second eight-seed ever to make the NBA Finals after having a mediocre regular season.

In the NBA Finals, both Nuggets superstars showed out each game to lead Denver to their first championship. Nikola Jokic had some masterful performances, adding two more triple-doubles with a 41-point game in Game 2, which the Nuggets lost. He averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, wearing down the Miami Heat with his elite passing, soft touch around the rim, and even some efficient outside shooting, in which he finished with a 42.1% clip from 3-point range.

Photo Cred: SI

The offense ran through Jokic when he was on the court, and he played solid defense with several multi-block games en route to his first Bill Russell Finals MVP award. Jamal Murray returned to his 2020 NBA bubble form after sitting out two seasons with an ACL tear. He averaged 21.4 points, ten assists, and 38.7% from 3 on volume shooting from the outside. Murray and Jokic had a triple-double in a Game 3 win on the road in Miami.

The Nuggets also had significant contributions from their role players, and it was a different unsung hero each game. Rookie Christian Braun had a 15-point Game 3, and Aaron Gordon led the team in scoring with 27 points in Game 4. Former Net Bruce Brown added 21 points off the bench to help the Nuggets secure a 3-1 series lead in Miami. Michael Porter Jr. added 16 points with 13 rebounds in Game 5, stepping up big-time when the Nuggets struggled to score points. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope came off the bench, hitting some huge shots to win the series for the Nuggets. Even DeAndre Jordan and Jeff Green got some minutes to provide some veteran experience and protect the paint when Nikola Jokic got into foul trouble early in what would turn out to be the final game of the NBA season.

Photo Cred: CBS Sports

The NBA Finals was a gauntlet, and after the Nuggets cruised to an 11-point win in Denver in Game 1, it was the Heat who answered back with a great shooting night and an answer for the Nuggets, storming back with stellar bench play to a Game 2 win on the road. From there on, the Nuggets had great performances from their superstars and bench alike to take Game 3 and Game 4 on the road. The Heat didn’t give up down 3-1 in Denver, and Game 5 was a defensive slugfest. Both the Heat and the Nuggets struggled from the field, and the Nuggets struggled from three-point range, going 5 for 28 or 17.9% from the outside.

They also struggled from the charity stripe, making 13 out of 23 free throw attempts. Fortunately for Denver, the Heat had an ugly from the 3-point line, not doing much better at 25.7% and 34.4% from the field overall. The Nuggets were fortunate to win the last game with their poor shooting and 14 turnovers. The Heat also struggled to shoot the ball and had several turnovers themselves.

Photo Cred: USA Today

The Nuggets capitalized on the glass, outrebounding the Heat 46 to 33 and taking advantage of their size to outscore the Heat in the paint and convert on second-chance opportunities. The game seemed sloppy until the last few minutes when the intensity ramped. Jimmy Butler scored two threes to get the Heat within three points with a few minutes remaining but was unable to convert a tying three-point attempt, and the Heat fouled, where the Nuggets secured the win by cashing in their free throws to the delight of the home crowd.

These NBA playoffs taught me a few things that not only apply to basketball but to life as well. First of all, with the exception of Game 5, despite the lack of big brands and all the hype that the Lakers and Celtics would have brought to the Finals, the basketball was very pure and pleasing to watch. The series still had its fair share of superstars, but role players were just as important in winning games for both teams. The team-oriented basketball and culture of the teams outweighed what any player did on the basketball court.

Photo Cred: CNN

People overlooked the Nuggets all season, and the Heat were never taken seriously as the eight-seed. Yet the two teams that made it to the Finals and not the big-market super teams. It gives me hope for the future that players will coexist with each other. Rather than forcing trades and pairing up with superstars, leaving their old teams to figure things out. I also hope that fans appreciate basketball for the action on the court compared to the names on the jerseys. I expect the Nuggets and Heat to continue to prove their doubters wrong. They’ll make deep playoff runs again, if not make another NBA Finals appearance and possibly win another title.

NBA Finals Check In

By

Troy Finnegan

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June 12, 2023

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After a heartbreaking game-two loss on their home floor, the first of the 2023 postseason, the Denver Nuggets needed a gut check. Head Coach Michael Malone questioned their effort. Jeff Green wondered aloud where the urgency and intensity were during an NBA Finals game. It was the first time in the playoffs that Denver headed on the road in a tied series. Denver has passed every test.

Photo Cred: The Coloradoan

Two of their most complete performances of the season resulted in two double-digit road wins; the Nuggets head home for game five with a chance to secure their first NBA Title in franchise history. The same question that clouded Denver coming into Miami for game three has now shifted to the underdog Heat as they head back to the Mile High City: how do they respond? As Jimmy Butler said, “My mindset is to win; we must. We have no other choice.”

Things are easier said than done, and no different here. The Heat knows the assignment, and finding a way to win has become arguably their best quality throughout their adversity-filled season. That brings up a new question. How can the Heat beat a Nuggets team that, apart from a disastrous fourth quarter in game two, has looked like the better team over the first four games?

In game two wins, the Heat scorched the Nets, shooting 17-for-35 from downtown. Their percentage plummets by about 15 percent, and they are just 32-for-99 in the losses. Deep shooting played a part, but the Heat has more obstacles in front of them than that if they want to take three games in a row off the red-hot Nuggets.

Photo Cred: SI

Like most things with this Miami team, it starts on the defensive end. Denver has a 120.2 offensive rating during the finals, a mark that would have led the league during the regular season. The games have been low-scoring, and Miami has done an excellent job of slowing the pace down and keeping the Nuggets out of transition. Miami has picked up ball handlers full court, made a concerted effort to get back from misses, and avoided live ball turnovers, keeping Denver mostly in the half-court.

Denver has found themselves in the mud a few times, but they have had their way offensively for the most part, generating paint touches and efficient looks. In game three, as it is so many times for the Nuggets, it was the Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray show. The two Nuggets stars combined for 66 points, 31 rebounds, and 20 assists, becoming the first pair of teammates in NBA history, regular season or playoffs, to each record 30-point triple-doubles in the same game.

Photo Cred: The Denver Post

Murray and Jokic generated almost all of Denver’s game-three offense, regaining control of the series. In game four, however, head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat had a better plan for Denver’s dynamic duo. They constantly trapped Murray off screens, forcing him to give the ball up and making other guys beat them. They swarmed Jokic when he got position on the low block, and the big man still knocked down his fair share of jumpers.

He looked more uncomfortable than usual in the post, with Bam Adebayo bodying him up and the active hands of the Miami guards constantly in his face. Jokic still finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds and had an excellent game on defense. But he shot under 50 percent and battled foul trouble throughout the fourth quarter.

Murray had an outstanding outing as a playmaker, notching 12 assists without a turnover, but had a miserable shooting night. For the most part, the Heats plan worked. They made the Nugget’s role players beat them. Aaron Gordon had a career night with 27 points, seven rebounds, and six assists on an efficient 11-for-15 shooting. Bruce Brown took over the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points on 8-for-11. So how does Miami fight back? Defensively, they must eliminate the number of paint touches the Nuggets are getting, but defending the Nuggets is nearly impossible for a small team like the Heat.

Photo Cred: The Economic Times

The tangible improvements are going to have to come offensively. First, Gabe Vincent needs to get back on track. After a remarkable playoff run and two standout performances in games one and two in Denver, Vincent scored just nine total points; and shot 3-for-16 in the two games in South Beach. Kyle Lowry replaced him in the second half of game four. His ability to be a second on-ball creator next to Jimmy Butler has been crucial for the Heat offense in the absence of Tyler Herro due to injury.

Another thing that Miami can do is get uncomfortable and push the pace a little bit. The Heat love to muck up games and slow the pace down to a halt and it has worked for them up to this point. However, Denver executes with such precision in the half-court that they can still beat Miami in a slow-paced game. If the Heat look to run in transition and get some easy baskets, they can speed the Nuggets up and will be less reliant on their three-point shooting.

Miami will also have to knock down some of the shots they are getting. They had plenty of layups and short jumpers in games three and four, especially Butler and Adebayo, which missed. The duo needs to make easy looks that will take a lot of pressure off the Heat defense and their role players.

Photo Cred: Vavel.com

The Heat will need at least one “Playoff Jimmy” game. The Heat has had a historic run, with Butler taking over games four and five in their first-round win over Milwaukee. Butler had 98 points, marking one of the best two-game stretches in playoff history. Butler has been solid in this series, and his workload on both ends as the primary creator and the primary defender on Murray is taking a toll. He is still playing on a bum ankle after injuring it multiple times throughout the postseason. Miami has had an unbelievable run to get to this point, but now they face their toughest test.

Big Ten New Scheduling Format

By

Arnav Sarkar

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June 11, 2023

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The landscape of college football is rapidly changing. From NIL to recruiting to conference expansion and realignment. The world of college football is very different from what it was a few years ago. Schools are leaving their old conferences for new ones. They’re seizing the opportunity to play in a more prestigious, make more money, and participate in higher-stakes games. The most notable changes are the SEC bringing in national football brands and Big 12 powers Oklahoma and Texas. While the Big Ten will welcome West Coast stalwarts UCLA and USC to expand the conference from coast to coast. I believe that the Big Ten is taking positive steps towards a better football schedule. It’s doing right by its fans, players, and members, both current and future of the Flex Protect Model, and eliminating divisions starting in 2024.

Photo Cred: Twitter

The Big Ten announced a new scheduling format known as the Flex Protect Plus model will take place starting in the 2024 season with the addition of USC and UCLA to the conference. This model keeps a nine-game conference schedule and allows each team to play every other conference opponent once every two years and twice every four years, once at home and once at the other team’s stadium. It also protects matchups that will happen yearly, based on rivalry and trophy games. Iowa has three protected matchups, electing to protect Big Ten West rivalry games with Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Penn State has no protected matchups.

Every other Big Ten team falls somewhere in the middle with one or two protected matchups. Teams also have what is known as “two-plays,” opponents they will play against in both 2024 and 2025. For example, Rutgers will play Penn State and UCLA twice in 2024 and 2025, in addition to their protected opponent in Maryland. The two-play opponents will change for the 2026-27 seasons and rotate through every two years, except for protected matchups, which remain on the schedule.

The conference also eliminated divisions. A step that the Pac-12 has already taken. The ACC and SEC are on course to do so. Therefore, the top two teams in the Big Ten by record will compete in the conference championship game starting in 2024. Since the Big Ten introduced geographic divisions in 2014, a team from the Big Ten East has won the conference championship game every year, often in blowout fashion. In most years, the top three teams in the conference are all in the East division, with Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State ranked in the top ten teams nationally. However, only one of these three teams gets to compete for the Big Ten championship. A team from the Big Ten West, often with several fewer wins gets to play in the same game where they usually do not stand a chance to win.

For example, last year, College Football Playoff participant Michigan represented the Big Ten East with an undefeated regular season at 12-0. Their opponent was Purdue, who was no slouch. They had an 8-4 record in the regular season before losing to Michigan by a score of 43-22 in the Big Ten Championship Game. Meanwhile, Ohio State, who also made the College Football Playoff with an 11-1 record and just one loss to Michigan all season, missed out on a chance to play for the conference championship, despite having the second-best record in the entire Big Ten.

Photo Cred: Lucas Oil Stadium

Penn State finished third in the conference at 10-2 with losses to both Ohio State and Michigan. They were better than Purdue, both in the record and in a head-to-head matchup. However, the Purdue Boilermakers ended up in the Big Ten Championship, where they proceeded to get blown out by the Michigan Wolverines.

Viewers will see matchups between the two best teams in the conference, regardless of previous divisions. The Big Ten East division tends to be much stronger than the West division. This will create better conference championship games and provide more parity in the league. Now each team will play against every other team once at home and once away every four years. The other teams in the Big Ten East are often not as good as the mediocre Big Ten West. Schools such as Indiana, Rutgers, and Maryland benefit from not playing Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. They have a chance to earn more wins against lesser opponents.

Photo Cred: WVLT

Meanwhile, the entire conference will see every other team twice in four years. All Big Ten football players can play at every other stadium. They also host every other Big Ten team at their own stadium. The changes in college football are immense nationwide. The Big Ten is taking the necessary steps to be competitive for the College Football Playoff. The conference is an example for others by eliminating divisions. The Big Ten will welcome USC and UCLA, and college football fans cannot wait to see cross-country matchups.

Could Chris Paul Sign with the Lakers?

By

Stephen Patrick

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June 7, 2023

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An expected but still shocking transaction amid the NBA finals dropped. The Suns will waive or seek to trade Chris Paul. That raises the question of where he will play next year. He’s still chasing a championship ring to cap his Hall of Fame career. Phoenix traded the house to land Kevin Durant. Outside of a championship, a season is a disappointment. An aging point guard is not in their plans. Paul has only been to the Finals once in his career, in 2021 against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Photo Cred: Real GM

So what team could sign the “Point God”? The point guard position will be interesting for the Lakers. Trae Young and Kyrie Irving have been among the most popular options, but their salaries make it difficult to do so. The Lakers are in win mode.

Photo Credit: SB Nation

Not too long after the Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the futures of multiple key players were up in the air. D’Angelo Russell showed his limitations during the series against Denver. Russell and the LA Lakers must decide if they want to extend him. The Lakers could sign him to a short-term and cheap contract when Anthony Davis and Lebron James could be free agents. After a year or two, James and Paul could retire. AD could be used for a sign and trade to help with a rebuild.

Photo Cred: Fadeaway World

It helps that the Lakers could pay Paul more than the veteran minimum if he wanted. They have a bunch of free agents this offseason, and it wouldn’t be hard to carve out $10 million for a two-year deal for Paul. If both sides are interested this is a great fit. Paul averaged 13.8 points and 8.9 assists per game last season, and he is just one year removed from leading the entire league in assists per game with 10.8 per contest. He can still take a team like the Lakers to the postseason, even if he has had his shortcomings in May. Paul could finally play for the Lakers as he was to do so years ago with Kobe.

Missouri Should Have a Dangerous Wide Receiver Core in 2023

By

Ethan Burke

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June 6, 2023

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307262089_465209368987090_7630276482418796519_n — Photo Cred: Facebook

After a 6-7 season just a year ago, questions were raised about Missouri football moving forward. One thing that has Tiger fans excited about for this upcoming season is the wide receiver core. Despite losing Dominic Lovett, Missouri kept multiple talented receivers and secured some new additions. Here are some wide receivers to watch out for the Tigers in 2023:

Luther Burden III

Photo Cred: Mizzou Athletics

After a strong freshman campaign in 2022, Luther Burden will aim for a breakout season this fall. Burden appeared in all 13 games for the Tigers as a true freshman last season. The wide receiver caught five touchdown passes and finished with 45 total catches. Burden made an impact for Missouri as he earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors with 76 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 17-14 win over Vanderbilt in October. The talented receiver also recorded a receiving touchdown in Missouri’s 29-27 victory over Arkansas in the regular season to clinch bowl eligibility.

There was a lot of hype around Burden before his first arrival on campus as a student. The East St. Louis native was the first five-star to commit to Missouri since Dorial Green-Beckham in 2012. In high school, the five-star receiver won MaxPreps Player of the Year and Rivals Illinois Player of the Year and was named the fifth top player in the nation by Rivals.com. Expect Burden to be an issue for SEC defenses this upcoming season.

Mookie Cooper

Photo Cred: SI

Mookie Cooper made strides as a redshirt sophomore last season. The wide receiver started in all 13 games and ended the season with 283 yards on five receptions. Cooper had an impact for the Tigers, putting up four catches for 54 yards in the Tigers’ close loss to national champions Georgia and 57 yards in Missouri’s loss to Wake Forest in the Gasparilla Bowl.

The wide receiver redshirted his freshman year at Ohio State before transferring to Missouri the following season. In his redshirt freshman season in 2021, Cooper put up 194 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown against South Carolina. Cooper will aim to continue to progress and play a larger role in the Tigers’ offense in the fall.

Mekhi Miller

Photo Cred: SI

Mehki Miller is another receiver looking to expand his role in his sophomore campaign. As a true freshman, Miller appeared in all 13 games and started in three. The wide receiver had some big performances in 2022, such as having a reception to seal the game against Arkansas late in the fourth quarter on fourth down. The Overland Park, Kansas native also caught two passes for 20 yards in the bowl game against Wake Forest.

Miller was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and the second-ranked recruit in Kansas by ESPN. In 2021, the Kansas Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State team selected him. Miller will play a more crucial part in Missouri’s wide receiver core this upcoming season.

Theo Wease Jr.

Photo Cred: Sooner Wirer

The addition of Theo Wease Jr. was huge for Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and his staff heading into 2023. Wease was part of the Oklahoma Sooners before transferring to Missouri. The wide receiver finished last season with 378 yards and four touchdowns for the Sooners. Wease was a critical part of Oklahoma’s receiver core in 2022 as he recorded three receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Sooners’ 51-48 loss to Texas Tech to end the regular season. The Allen, Texas native also caught four passes for 56 yards and had a touchdown in Oklahoma’s 52-42 win over Kansas in October.

In 2020, Wease started in all 11 games and tied for the team lead in receptions with 37. Wease also placed second on the team in receiving, as he had 530. Wease caught eight passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in his freshman campaign. The wide receiver was a five-star recruit out of high school by Rivals and 247Sports. Wease earned Under Armour All-American honors and was ranked the No. 3 wideout in the nation by ESPN and Rivals. Wease will play a larger role in the Tigers’ wide receiver core this season.

Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 Recap

By

Arnav Sarkar

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June 6, 2023

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The Stanley Cup Finals got underway last night in Las Vegas, and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers 5-2 to take Game 1. Both teams took different paths to the Stanley Cup Finals but were similarly dominant in the playoffs. Vegas led the Pacific Division and Western Conference with 111 points, while the Panthers snuck into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s second Wild Card with 92 points.

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Winnipeg Jets in 5 games, Edmonton Oilers in 6 games, and Dallas Stars in 6 games to reach the Stanley Cup Final. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers upset the best regular season team of all time, the Boston Bruins, returning from down 3-1 to defeat the Bruins in 7 games. They then beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in 5 games and won against the Carolina Hurricanes in 4 games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

In Game 1, Eric Staal opened with a shorthanded goal for the Panthers. They took an assist from Anton Lundell and wrapped the puck around the net for a score. After both teams had some chances, including a shot off the post by Florida, Vegas tied the game on a power play goal by long-time Golden Knight Johnathan Marchessault.

The Panthers nearly added to their lead early in the second, but Vegas goalie Adin Hill made a ridiculous diving save to knock the puck away with his stick to keep the game tied at 1 for the time being. Shea Theodore scored for Vegas off a long wrist shot to make it 2-1 Knights before Anthony Duclair tied the game at two off of a face-off with time running low in the second period.

Men’s French Open Round 4: Next-gen stars face off, Ruud faces first test

By

Troy Finnegan

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June 4, 2023

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The second Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year is in full swing on the red clay at Roland Garros, and the dust has started to settle as round four kicks off, and only 16 men remain. The tournament is missing its greatest champion, Rafael Nadal, for the first time since 2004. Since his inaugural appearance in 2005, Nadal has won the event 14 times and holds a nearly invincible 112-3 record at the tour’s only clay court major. Nadal’s absence leaves behind Paris’ most wide-open field in 20 years and has opened opportunities for some of the game’s younger stars to break through. They will, of course, still must overcome Novak Djokovic, who is gunning for his 23rd Grand Slam title.

Photo Credit: ATP Tour

This year’s tournament has already provided plenty of epic matches and unbelievable upsets through the first three rounds. Second seed Daniil Medvedev, champion of the Italian Open on clay just a few weeks ago, was knocked out in the first round by Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild. Meanwhile, in the same quarter of the draw, No. 8 seed Jannik Sinner fell to German journeyman Daniel Altmaier in five grueling sets. As the second week gets underway, here are three must-see fourth-round matches on the men’s side.

[1] Carlos Alcaraz vs [17] Lorenzo Musetti

Photo Credit: Firstsportz

Spanish phenom Carlos Alcaraz has taken the tennis world by storm over the last year, winning the 2022 Miami Open at just 18 years old, winning his first major at the US Open in September, and finishing the year as the No. 1 ranked player in the world. He continued to dominate the ATP Tour in 2023, winning four titles already this season and holding a 33-3 record. This French Open marks the first time he has played a Grand Slam as the No. 1 seed, and he is the favorite to collect his second Grand Slam title.

His round four draws, however, are certainly no cakewalk. Musetti has emerged as another young star on tour and proved that he is a tough out for anyone, especially on clay. In fact, Musetti beat Alcaraz in their only meeting, a clay court victory in the final of the Hamburg European Open last year. On top of that, Musetti has been absolutely on fire over the first three rounds at Roland Garros.

Photo Credit: News18

He has not lost a set yet, including a dominant win over No. 14 seed Cameron Norrie where he dropped just seven total games. One thing is for sure this one is going to be a show. Alcaraz and Musetti are incredible shotmakers who thrive off getting the crowd involved with their flashy skill sets. Few players can push Alcaraz, especially over five sets, but Musetti has the talent to do so.

Prediction: Alcaraz in five sets

[4] Casper Ruud vs. Nicolas Jarry

Photo Cred: SportsKeeda

Basing things just on rankings, Ruud should advance through this one without much trouble and reach the quarterfinals for the second year in a row. However, Jarry is not your typical unseeded player. After starting the 2023 season ranked No. 152 in the world, a series of results and big wins have helped that number skyrocket all the way to No. 35. The Chilean has been playing some incredible tennis on the clay, beating Musetti, world No. 16 Borna Coric, and world No. 27 Alexander Zverev this season.

Additionally, Jarry beat Ruud two weeks ago on his way to the title in Geneva, Switzerland, and has the tools to bother the Norwegian’s game. His immense power from the back of the court, both with the forehand and the backhand, can keep him in control of the points and keep Ruud on his heels. Jarry’s big serve makes it difficult for Ruud to get his teeth into return games.

Photo Credit: Tennis Major

However, defending against Jarry’s groundstrokes should be a bit easier for Ruud in the slower French Open conditions than in Geneva, which is the bigger court will allow him to put more returns in play and make Jarry play longer points, favoring Ruud’s physical game. Plus, Ruud has a massive experience advantage after making two Grand Slam finals last year, including at the French Open, where he fell to Nadal. This year’s fourth round is the furthest Jarry has ever advanced in a major.

Prediction: Ruud in four sets

[6] Holger Rune vs. [23] Francisco Cerundolo

Holger Rune burst onto the pro tennis scene a year ago when he made a Cinderella run to the French Open quarterfinals. This year, however, Rune is no Cinderella. The Danish No. 1 is the favorite to reach the final in the bottom half of the draw and has been arguably the most consistent player on tour over the clay court swing this spring.

Rune has shown he has the game to beat any player on any day, evidenced by his five top-ten wins in a row to win the Rolex Paris Masters last year. He should be fresh heading into this one, having played just seven sets over his first three matches at Roland Garros (he won his second-round match via walkover after Gael Monfils withdrew due to injury).

Photo Cred: TOI

Cerundolo, on the other hand, has just entered the conversation as a top 30 player on tour this year. He was seeded at a major for the first time in January at the Australian Open and advanced to his first-ever fourth round at a major with his win over No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz on Saturday. Cerundolo can get extremely hot with his forehand, hitting massive winners all over the court. He also found success against Fritz with his forehand drop shot. He ran the American all over the court with his variety.

Unlike Fritz, Rune is an excellent defender who can reset points with deep, powerful groundstrokes from both wings and will be able to absorb Cerundolo’s pace more effectively than Fritz did. The 20-year-old Dane will presumably attack Cerundolo’s weaker backhand, and his defense and point-to-point consistency should get him through this one.

Photo Cred: FirstSportz

Prediction: Rune in 4 sets

NBA Game 1 Finals Review

By

Arnav Sarkar

-

June 2, 2023

0

The NBA Finals kicked off last night in Denver, and even without the big brands of the Celtics and the Lakers, we got to witness pure hoops and beautiful basketball. Despite the game lacking the hype of previous NBA Finals, it was very entertaining to watch as both the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets gave it their all in an attempt to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Miami Heat looked thoroughly outmatched from the jump to the final whistle for the first time in the playoffs.

After Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and a supporting cast of undrafted players stepped up and led the Heat to the NBA Finals, upsetting the Bucks, Knicks, and Celtics historically, the 8th-seeded Heat looked like an underdog in this game. Bam Adebayo led the way with 26 points and 13 rebounds, with Gabe Vincent adding 19 points and Haywood Highsmith having 18. However, superstar Jimmy Butler only had 13 points and struggled to get to the rim in Game 1.

Photo Cred: LA Times

Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson, and Max Strus all went cold from the 3-point line, combining for 6 points, a stark contrast from all three of them being red-hot from 3 against the Celtics, a huge reason they were able to hang on and make it to the NBA Finals in the first place. The Heat look to bounce back in Game 2 on Sunday night, and they may get a big boost from Tyler Herro, who looks to return to action after breaking his hand against the Bucks in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.

It was business per usual for the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic became the second player to have a triple-double in his NBA Finals debut, following Jason Kidd of the New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets in 2002. Jokic had a team-leading 27 points to go with 14 assists and ten rebounds, as he scored at will and found his teammates for open looks in the paint and from 3-point range. Jamal Murray continued his stellar play after returning from an ACL injury this season, scoring 26 points with ten assists. The Nuggets also got double-digit scoring contributions from forwards Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Bruce Brown, with 14, 16, and 10 points, respectively.

Photo Cred: The Denver Post

In the NBA Finals, both teams could benefit from making adjustments. The Heat could benefit from Tyler Herro’s presence, but their collection of stars and undrafted players coming up big could make this series competitive. Jimmy Butler’s drive and determination alone could swing the outcome of at least a few games, and one should expect him to have more impact in Game 2. Bam Adebayo was able to dominate Jokic in the paint with his athleticism, and if he keeps this level of play up, he could be a factor as well. The Heat generated a lot of open looks from a distance, but they went 13/39 for a measly 33.3%. Chances are more of these threes will go down in the next few games if the Heat keeps shooting them at a volume.

If they can keep cutting to the rim and get to the free-throw line more often after only having two attempts all night, there is no reason to think that the Heat cannot compete with the Nuggets. Never count out the Heat. The Nuggets can keep playing their version of team basketball, and their combination of unselfishness, determination, and superstars makes them a tough team to beat. One thing they can improve on themselves is their three-point shooting. Despite a comfortable win on their home court, the Nuggets shot the three-ball at an even worse clip than Miami, going 8 for 27 from 3, or 29.6%. That number is bound to rise and could benefit the Nuggets greatly as the series shifts to Miami.

Photo Cred: Fox Sports

Unlike other Eastern Conference contenders, most notably the Celtics and Sixers, Miami plays to their talent level, and then some, so do the Nuggets. Both teams play team basketball and have the determination and mental fortitude to win a championship, the Nuggets have a player like no other in Nikola Jokic, and pairing him with another healthy superstar in Jamal Murray and a supporting cast filled with great shooters and playmakers gives them the edge in this series. Based on the way the game went last night, I believe the Heat have met their match, and my series prediction remains that the Nuggets will win the NBA Finals in 6 games.

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