Analyzing Offseason Moves of NFL Contenders: Cincinnati Bengals

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June 20, 2023

The Bengals’ run over the past couple of years has been exhilarating. After back-to-back seasons in which they drafted in the top 5. Those two selections-Joe Burrow and Jamarr Chase. Alongside a host of other great free agency additions, put the Bengals on a path towards success. They stunned the Chiefs in the 2021 playoffs en route to a Super Bowl run. That unfortunately ended in a win for the Los Angeles Rams. The 2022 year was another successful season. But Patrick Mahomes found payback in the AFC Championship rematch. Leading the Chiefs to his second Super Bowl as QB. The Bengals went into this offseason looking to compete for a title in 2023 and prepare for a future where Burrow, Chase, and Tee Higgins receive massive contracts. Let’s look at how they did.

Photo Cred: Sporting News

Free Agency

The Bengals had an interesting free-agency period. They notably lost both starting safeties in Jessie Bates (who signed with the Atlanta Falcons) and Vonn Bell (signing with the Carolina Panthers). Bates’ loss wasn’t a surprise. The team drafted safety Daxton Hill in the first round of the 2022 draft to be his eventual replacement. Bell seems to be the player that got away, an unexpected loss for the team. The team signed Nick Scott of the LA Rams to help make up for their losses.

Photo Cred: USA Today

Thankfully, the Bengals return free agent, re-signing linebacker Germaine Pratt to a 3-year, $20.25 million deal. Pratt was a loss many had anticipated, but his outlook as the long-term partner next to Aaron Wilson leaves the middle of the defense solidified. The biggest free agent acquisition was Orlando Brown Jr. from the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. Brown’s agent had contacted the team, and (unofficial) GM Duke Tobin knew to take the opportunity.

Photo Cred: ESPN

Brown signed a 4-year, $64 million contract, making him the biggest guaranteed money ever given out at signing in Bengals franchise history. Brown’s signing kicks Jonah Williams out to Right Tackle, where he will start while last year’s free agent signing La’el Collins recovers from his ACL injury. Williams initially requested a trade following the signing; retaining him is a smart move for the team. The Bengals’ depth along the offensive line was again a detriment come playoff time.

The Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft for the Bengals looks to help the team compete this year and in the future. First Round pick Edge Myles Murphy, a former 5-star recruit, should immediately contribute to a bolstered defensive end rotation. If Murphy pans out, the team will have a long-term replacement to move on from one of Trey Hendrickson or Sam Hubbard. Their Second Round Pick, CB DJ Turner, posted one of the fastest 40-yard dash times in combine history with 4.26 seconds.

Photo Cred: SI

Turner adds speed, versatility, and upside to the Bengals’ secondary. His addition, alongside last year’s second-round pick Cam Taylor-Britt, gives the team great depth at the position and flexibility to replace Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton down the line. The Bengals’ third-round pick, S Jordan Battle, further shores up the hole at safety created with the departure of last year’s two starters. Battle projects less as a star and more as a solid player, making a rotation of him, Dax Hill, and Nick Scott look formidable.

Photo Cred: USA Today

The Bengals’ spent the bulk of their day three picks on offensive playmakers. They selected WR Charlie Jones (4th), RB Chase Brown (5th), and WR Andrei Iosivas (6th). They’ll provide the potential to be eventual replacements for Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon. The only questions remaining for the Bengals heading into the 2023 season are their offensive line depth (as mentioned earlier) and their starting Tight End. Former Viking Irv Smith Jr. signed following the draft, but a room of him and Drew Sample feels uninspiring. But you can’t fill every hole in the draft. You can’t have stars at every position. That’s part of the beauty of this league. What the Bengals do have, is one of the best rosters in the entire NFL. They’re poised to compete for a Lombardi in 2023 and the years beyond.

US Open Recap

By

Troy Finnegan

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June 20, 2023

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In sports, everybody loves an underdog story. Golf fans tasted that this past weekend when Wyndham Clark, a 100-to-1 underdog heading into the week, took home the trophy at the U.S. Open late Sunday evening. Clark finished with a score of 10-under-par, edging out Rory McIlroy by one stroke after a tense final round. Clark earned his first major championship at Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course, hosting their first-ever major championship.

Photo Cred: Fox Business

After day one, low scores were posted, unusual for a U.S. Open, where making birdies is typically extremely difficult. Rickie Fowler, back in the picture after a few difficult years, and Xander Schauffele both set U.S. Open records, shooting 8-under-par 62 to share the lead after day one. Clark sat two strokes back after shooting a 64.

Friday was a little tougher, as the wind picked up and the course dried out, but Fowler, Schauffele, and Clark still scored well to head into the weekend at the top of the leaderboard. McIlroy, one of the heavy favorites coming into the tournament, also stepped into the top four with a rock solid 67 in his second round.

Photo Cred: USA Today

As the weekend kicked off at L.A.C.C., the course became almost unrecognizable compared to Thursday’s player-friendly layout. The soft, receptive greens that proved so scorable during the week were now firm and fast, and scrambling for pars out of the deep, thick, rough became a challenge. After trying to keep up birdie-for-birdie with the rest of the field during the first two rounds, any score at even par or better could be considered a success.

Clark, Fowler, and McIlroy battled through Saturday’s conditions while Schauffele fell out of the mix after making a triple-bogey seven on No. 10, and it looked headed for a three-horse race on Sunday. But on the 18th hole in the dark on Saturday evening, everything started to change. McIlroy had just finished with a third-round 69 to head into the clubhouse at 9-under-par, tied with Clark, who was still playing the 18th hole. Fowler, who had his way with L.A.C.C early on, had struggled a bit but still held a two-shot lead. Clark needed a birdie to move ahead of McIlroy and into Sunday’s final pairing.

Photo Cred: CBS Sports

With Fowler sitting comfortably in the middle of the green, Clark went straight at the pin with his approach shot and stuck it right on the pin, setting up an easy birdie look. Fowler lipped out his par putt and settled for a three-putt bogey. What was a two-shot lead had vanished in a matter of seconds. As it turned out, that final few minutes on Saturday night set the tone for Sunday’s finale. Fowler was unsettled from the start, not striking the ball as cleanly as he did during the first three rounds and not getting any lengthy putts to drop. He finished with a final round 75, tied for fifth at 5-under-par.

That left Clark and McIlroy in a David vs. Goliath battle for the trophy. Clark was seeking his first major, with McIlroy seeking his first since 2014, with plenty of close calls and heartbreaking defeats in between. McIlroy was solid throughout, hitting fairways and greens and playing the rock-solid, mistake-free style of golf needed to grind out a U.S. Open win, until he got the putter in hand. After a birdie on the opening hole, McIlroy couldn’t find the touch on the greens, settling for par after par and wasting plenty of opportunities to run away with the championship.

Clark was a little kore up-and-down but managed adversity well for someone new to the spotlight. He started his final round with three birdies in the first six holes and even rebounded after a disastrous bogey on the par-5 eighth (which included a whiff!) with a collection of par saves. Then, the tournament turned on the par-5 14th.

Photo Cred: Sporting News

McIlroy, playing one group in front of Clark, left his wedge shot short, plugged into the side of the greenside bunker. He had to drop it in the rough, chipping out and two-putting for a bogey to fall two shots behind. Clark hit a great shot on his second shot, setting up an eagle putt. Clark two-putted for a birdie to give himself a three-shot cushion with four holes left.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing from there, as Clark predictably got a little tight and made a few bogeys on the closing stretch. But with McIlroy unable to break through, Clark still held a one-stroke lead on the 18th green, needing a par to win his first major championship. Standing roughly 60 feet from the hole, with fans engulfing every area surrounding the green, Clark stepped up for the biggest putt of his life. He had two putts to win.

The putt finally came to rest, just inches from the hole, Clark tapping it in for his first major championship. The emotions came flowing out immediately. McIlroy chase continued for that elusive fifth major, as he has ten top-10 finishes and 19 top-five finishes in majors since he last won in 2014. His next chance comes at The Open at Royal Liverpool, where McIlroy won nine years ago.

Photo Cred: CNBC

“I just felt like my mom was watching over me today,” said Clark after the round. Clark’s best result in a major before this one was T-75, the worst by any major winner ever. But if Clark brings the fearlessness and the big game he had this weekend, he should be a factor in many more majors.

For Clark, it is his first major, and it comes with just one other tour-level win, along with his victory at the Wells Fargo Championship earlier this year. He continues to burst onto the scene in professional golf, vaulting all the way up to No. 13 in the world rankings (he ended 2022 as the world No. 163). He dedicated his win to his late mother.

Spain beat Croatia on penalties to win Nations League Title

By

Adit Jaganathan

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June 19, 2023

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After a nail-biting penalty shootout, Spain defeated Croatia to win the thrilling Nations League championship, ending their 11-year trophy drought. The Croatians hailed as the nation’s greatest team, displayed extraordinary talent and resilience throughout the tournament behind the brilliance of Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mateo Kovacic. However, despite their remarkable achievements, such as finishing as runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and claiming third place in 2022, they again fell short of a major trophy. Their dreams of lifting the Nations League title shattered on this occasion.

Photo Cred: Sky Sports

In a tightly contested match with few scoring opportunities, it was predictable that the clash between Spain and Croatia would ultimately require extra time and penalties. Croatia had developed a reputation for such encounters throughout the tournament, and Dani Carvajal’s composed penalty in the shootout settled the outcome. Aymeric Laporte had previously missed a chance to secure victory as his penalty struck the crossbar, granting Croatia a lifeline after Unai Simon had saved Lovro Majer’s spot-kick. Simon’s heroics continued in sudden death as he denied Bruno Petkovic, and Carvajal sealed the win with a confident Panenka-style penalty.

Photo Cred: Reuters

Spain can feel justified in their triumph, creating better scoring opportunities during the 90 minutes. Substitute Ansu Fati came closest to breaking the deadlock, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance from Ivan Perisic six minutes from time, a chance he should have converted. Having had four previous victories in the World Cup’s last 16 and quarterfinals, Croatia had a strong history in penalty shootouts. However, Bruno Petkovic’s crucial penalty kick was saved by Spain’s Unai Simón, so their luck ran out this time. Dani Carvajal successfully converted his penalty in a sudden-death situation to give Spain the victory and deliver the trophy to Madrid.

For Croatia, it is another heartbreak. Despite winning the silver medal in the 2018 World Cup and claiming bronze in Qatar, Luka Modric and his teammates must settle for a second-place finish. The spotlight now turns to Modric, with speculation surrounding whether the 37-year-old midfield maestro will retire from international football or participate in one last major tournament at the European Championships in Germany next summer.

Photo Cred: Talk Sports

Although it would be premature to declare Spain’s return to its former glory, this victory is a significant step forward for a team that had gone a long time without experiencing a major triumph. The win will undoubtedly give the Spanish team newfound self-assurance and motivation as they try to regain their position as a footballing powerhouse. It might be a bittersweet conclusion for Croatia’s golden generation. Despite their outstanding contributions to the sport and prior close calls, they might have missed their final chance to make history. However, they’re remembered as a group of extraordinary talent and tenacity.

Nuggets’ NBA Draft guide: What do the champs need to repeat?

By

Troy Finnegan

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June 17, 2023

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We are just a few days removed from the Denver Nuggets winning their first-ever NBA Championship. But head coach Michael Malone made it clear that they aren’t satisfied with just one. The Nuggets are looking to start something bigger than just one run, and that journey toward defending their title in 2024 starts next week with the NBA Draft. Denver does not have a first-round pick this year. But currently holds picks No. 37 and 40 in the second round. The draft proved to be crucial last season for the Nuggets.

Rookie Christian Braun became a key cog in Malone’s rotation. In the playoffs he exploded for 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting off the bench in game three of the Finals. Peyton Watson also gave Denver some valuable minutes during the regular season. Bruce Brown has likely played himself out of Denver’s price range in free agency this summer. He has a versatile skill set, as a screener, cutter, ball handler, and defender. Denver could look to package their two picks to move up into the first round, but if not, here are three players the Nuggets could target to fill Brown’s role and deepen their bench heading into next year.

Andre Jackson, Forward, UConn

Photo Cred: CT Insider

Picking a defending National Champion worked out well for the Nuggets last year with Braun, and they certainly could go that route again with Jackson. The versatile swingman would be a perfect fit in Denver’s offense, next to Nikola Jokic and when the big man must sit. Jackson thrived in Dan Hurley’s motion offense at UConn, showing great feel as a passer and a cutter. When cutting, Jackson has good hands and is an excellent athlete, allowing him to finish at the rim over defenders.

Jackson also loves to rebound and run in transition. That would allow him to fit in seamlessly with the Nuggets bench that loves to push the pace. While he is still developing as a spot-up shooter, he has proven that he can still impact the game offensively, even if defenses are sagging off him. The defensive end is where Jackson really excels.

He consistently guarded the opposing team’s best perimeter player in a league as a versatile scorer and allowed UConn’s weaker defensive guards to hide. Jackson is more than willing to sit in a stance; and stay in front of basically anyone and is engaged off the ball, allowing him to pick off passes and rotate over to block shots on the weak side. He uses his lanky 6’6” frame and 6’10” wingspan to consistently be disruptive no matter where he is on the floor.

Julian Strawther, Guard, Gonzaga

Photo Cred: USA Today

Strawther is a microwave scorer. He developed into an excellent shooter both off the catch and off the bounce. The guard shoot 40% from three last season on 5.3 attempts per game. Gonzaga and head coach Mark Few ran him off screens off the ball while also allowing him to manage the rock in the pick-and-roll. Strawther proved repeatedly that he can score from anywhere in any fashion when he has it going. The junior also scored well from inside the arc, swiftly getting into pull-up jumpers from the mid-range and showing great touch on his floater to avoid shot blockers.

In the NBA, Strawther will likely be an off-ball guard. He’ll thrive on spot-ups and designed opportunities for him to score. On the weak side, he’ll attack scrambling defenses and closeouts with his quickness on drives. Defensively, Strawther isn’t as far along as a prospect like Jackson, but he uses his athleticism and competes hard on the ball. Additionally, Strawther is not afraid of the big moment. He relishes the opportunity to be the guy with the ball in clutch time.

Jordan Miller, Forward, Miami (FL)

Photo Cred: SI

Simply put, Miller projects as a perfect glue guy role player. He’s does all the little things on the basketball court. Miller is a winning player, evidenced by his role in leading underdog Miami to the Elite Eight and the Final Four in the last two seasons. The senior is experienced and has developed into a well-rounded two-way player. Offensively, he is a great cutter and finisher. He’s always in the right spots and shows touch around the rim. He loves to post up smaller guards and uses a plethora of fadeaways and push shots out of the post.

Defensively, Miller is just 6’4”, but his astounding 7’0” wingspan. It allows him to play passing lanes and use his length to bother ball handlers. Despite his wiry frame, he plays with strength and isn’t pushed around by wings. Miller is one of the best pound-for-pound rebounders in this class. He is active on the boards on both ends of the floor. He would be a bonus for the small Denver bench. Denver could go with any of these wings that I mentioned above, or they could look to more of a pure point guard to run the second unit. They could also try to snag a backup center to eat minutes while Jokic is on the bench.

The NBA Draft will be Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m. EST.

First Impressions as B.J. Callaghan Chooses Roster for the Gold Cup

By

Adit Jaganathan

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June 16, 2023

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The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) announced its roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup earlier this week. Interim manager B.J. Callaghan couldn’t select some players with the European season just completing. However, Callaghan has chosen an interesting 23-player roster, which includes a few exciting selections. Here are the first impressions of the roster:

Goalkeepers:

Sean Johnson: A solid choice with previous experience for the USMNT.

Photo Cred: People

Gaga Slonina: An up-and-coming goalkeeper who has earned a move to Chelsea. It’s exciting to see his potential.

Matt Turner: A reliable option who has performed well for the USMNT and Arsenal. He should be the starting goalkeeper. He had an impressive performance over the past year.

Defenders:

DeJuan Jones: A young player with limited international experience, but his inclusion shows faith in his abilities.

Phot Cred: MLS Soccer

Aaron Long: He’s a consistent performer with good experience in the USMNT system.

Matt Miazga: A center-back who has exposure to domestic and international football.

DeAndre Yedlin: A veteran with a wealth of experience at the club and international levels.

Jalen Neal: A promising young talent from LA Galaxy, earning his chance with the national team.

Photo Cred: MLS Soccer

Bryan Reynolds: A versatile full-back has impressed with performances on loan from Russia last season. He has all the potential to make the right-back role his own for many years.

Miles Robinson: A reliable center-back who has established himself as a figure for Atlanta United.

John Tolkin: Another young star has a chance to shine, hopefully showing the direction USMNT intends to go.

Midfielders:

Gianluca Busio: A talented midfielder who has shown his potential in Italy with Venezia.

Photo Cred: MLS Soccer

Djordje Mihailovic: A midfielder with experience playing in the Netherlands and adds creativity to the squad.

Aidan Morris: A young player from Columbus Crew has promise. McKinnie and Adams have overshadowed him. This will be an opportunity for him to show his worth.

Cristian Roldan: He’s a versatile and hardworking midfielder, valuable for his work rate and tactical discipline. He should be playing at the base of the midfield or as part of a double pivot as the more defensive option.

James Sands: A promising young talent who has impressed for New York City FC. If he impresses in the tournament, he can cement his place in the team’s midfield for the foreseeable future.

Photo Cred: Getty Images

Alan Soñora: A midfielder that plays in the Mexican league, offering a different style of play. It will be interesting to see how he fits into Callaghan’s system.

Forwards:

Cade Cowell: A young and exciting prospect has impacted the San Jose Earthquakes. Cowell showed glimpses of his talent against Mexico in April and will have another chance to prove his worth at the tournament.

Photo Cred: ESPN

Jesús Ferreira: A player with good experience in the MLS and the potential to contribute to the teams attacking play. USMNT will rely on him for his goals, with Ferreira being the top scorer in MLS with ten goals this season.

Julian Gressel: A versatile forward who can contribute from various positions, representing the Whitecaps. His versatility will be an asset off the bench for Callaghan.

Jordan Morris: A proven goal scorer who has been a consistent presence in the USMNT setup. He’s been on fire this season, scoring nine goals in 16 games.

Photo Cred: Playing for 90

Brandon Vazquez: The forward had a breakout season and will get another opportunity to impress.

Alex Zendejas: Another player from the Mexican league, offering additional depth to the attacking options with his pace on the wings.

Overall, the roster includes experienced players and promising young talents, showing a balance between development and competitiveness. It’s a good blend of domestic and international-based players, providing depth in various positions, even though some players from the top European sides aren’t on the squad.

Analyzing Offseason Moves of NFL Contenders: Buffalo Bills

By

Andrew Bruner

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June 15, 2023

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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

0

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.

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