Chicago Sports

The amount of knowledge that Alex Caruso learned in the King’s Dojo was immeasurable.

What the Bulls guard took most from LeBron James, however, was understanding the details. Not only in film study, but in-game tendencies. The Lakers thrived in that department, and Caruso considered him a star pupil.

That’s why the last two Bulls games have given him hope.

In both instances, the defense was front-and-center in scrambling to win the game. Whether it was a simple deflection to mess up the timing of the possession, a simple rotation into the passing lane to give the opposing play-maker pause, or selling out to steal the ball, it was a focus on the details that this Bulls team just doesn’t show enough.

And while it led to a win against Detroit and a loss to Cleveland, it was something to build on. Teaching moments that this group continued needing on that side of the basketball.

“It’s just about being on point with your communication and your rotations, closeouts, little things like that, and just covering for each other,” Caruso said. “I think we’ve shown several times this year that when we do it at a high level we’re a really, really good team. It’s just a consistency thing, though.

“I mean look at that first half [against the Cavs on Saturday], we had a group of guys out there and we allowed them to extend it out to 10 because we were a little lazy with [the defense]. I was on the court, and then we had another spurt where they extended it out to 10 again, so we had to keep fighting back, fighting back. We’re just trying to be consistent. We have to limit those spurts. That’s what’s going to win out over time.”

It definitely did against Detroit on Friday, after the nine-win Pistons tied the game up with just over five minutes left.

First there was a Patrick Williams steal, then the Bulls forcing the young Pistons into a shot-clock violation, Caruso then blocked a Jaden Ivey three-point attempt, and forced Bojan Bogdanovic to turn the ball over by stepping out of bounds.

That tie game quickly turned into a Bulls 12-point lead, as they went on to beat the Pistons by 14.

Fast forward to the game with the Cavs, this time facing a five-point deficit with just under five minutes left.

There was an Ayo Dosunmu steal, a steal by Nikola Vucevic, and then Caruso getting into the thievery with a steal of his own.

Dosunmu nabbed another Donovan Mitchell pass, and after DeMar DeRozan made the driving layup with 29 seconds left, the Bulls were down just one.

A clutch stop on a Caris LeVert missed jumper gave the Bulls the opportunity to win the game, but DeRozan’s 15-footer over a double team missed.

“We’re not going to be perfect on the defensive end,” Caruso said. “But if you have the right intentions you can erase deficits like that and at least give yourself a chance to win the game.”

And that’s all Caruso is asking for.

Keeping up that frenetic pace for 48 minutes is absolutely unrealistic for an NBA team, but limiting the defensive lapses the Bulls seem to have far too often is not a big ask.

That’s what Caruso would like to see. There are valuable lessons to be learned the last two games, and the veteran guard was hoping for some staying power.

“I think we have the right intentions with it,” Caruso said. “Obviously we’re not doing it every single possession, but I don’t think that anyone in the league is capable of that. Coaches have put us in a good spot. It’s about taking the information they give us and executing it on the floor. Like I said, the details.

“We’ve shown that could lead to some good things.”

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DETROIT — Bears quarterback Justin Fields has 113 rushing yards but his three-win team is in a familiar place: losing 24-10 to the Lions at Ford Field.

Fields’ rushing has been one of a just a few positive developments against a team with playoff aspirations. The Lions entered the game with the league’s worst defense but have sacked Fields four times and forced him to fumble on a run. Throw in an interception of the last play of the half, and Fields completed 3-of-8 passes for 33 yards, a 50.5 passer rating and two turnovers.

The quarterback started the game with dynamic plays of his own. He ran for 60 yards on a first-quarter scramble. He dropped back, couldn’t find a receiver and took off directly between the hash marks. By the time he reached the Bears’ 38, Fields had one defender a yard behind him and four in front. He zoomed past all of them, bent his run right and then back again left. By the time he reached the Lions’ 40, he had two men to beat with Dante Pettis running alongside him. Safety Kerby Joseph and cornerback Will Harris tore him down at the 10.

Fields reached 20.39 mph on his run, per NFL Next Gen Stats. It was his ninth run this year that hit at least 20 mph, the most of any player in a single season since tracking began in 2016.

The Bears had to settle for a field goal, though, to go ahead 10-3. The Lions scored the next two touchdowns.

The Bears’ only touchdown of the half came after a creative short-yardage call. On third-and-one on the Bears’ first drive, tight end Cole Kmet went in motion and settled in under center, seemingly to take a direct snap for a sneak. He took the snap and pitched the ball left to Fields, who ran like a tailback behind lead blocker David Montgomery. Thirty-one yards later, the Bears were at the Lions’ 21. Two plays later, Fields found Kmet for a 13-yard touchdown on third-and-two.

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DETROIT — Bears quarterback Justin Fields has 113 rushing yards but his three-win team is in a familiar place: losing 24-10 to the Lions at Ford Field.

Fields’ rushing has been one of a just a few positive developments against a team with playoff aspirations. The Lions entered the game with the league’s worst defense but have sacked Fields four times and forced him to fumble on a run. Throw in an interception of the last play of the half, and Fields completed 3-of-8 passes for 33 yards, a 50.5 passer rating and two turnovers.

The quarterback started the game with dynamic plays of his own. He ran for 60 yards on a first-quarter scramble. He dropped back, couldn’t find a receiver and took off directly between the hash marks. By the time he reached the Bears’ 38, Fields had one defender a yard behind him and four in front. He zoomed past all of them, bent his run right and then back again left. By the time he reached the Lions’ 40, he had two men to beat with Dante Pettis running alongside him. Safety Kerby Joseph and cornerback Will Harris tore him down at the 10.

Fields reached 20.39 mph on his run, per NFL Next Gen Stats. It was his ninth run this year that hit at least 20 mph, the most of any player in a single season since tracking began in 2016.

The Bears had to settle for a field goal, though, to go ahead 10-3. The Lions scored the next two touchdowns.

The Bears’ only touchdown of the half came after a creative short-yardage call. On third-and-one on the Bears’ first drive, tight end Cole Kmet went in motion and settled in under center, seemingly to take a direct snap for a sneak. He took the snap and pitched the ball left to Fields, who ran like a tailback behind lead blocker David Montgomery. Thirty-one yards later, the Bears were at the Lions’ 21. Two plays later, Fields found Kmet for a 13-yard touchdown on third-and-two.

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After the best semifinal day in the nine-year history of the College Football Playoff, the title game will match the defending national champion against the closest thing the sport has had in years to a Cinderella team.

It will be No. 1 Georgia (14-0) looking for its second straight championship against upstart and No. 3 TCU on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The four-team playoff has been littered with lopsided semifinal games, but Saturday — and into early Sunday and the new year — delivered two thrillers and a combined 179 points.

The Bulldogs came from 14 points down in the second half to beat No. 4 Ohio State 42-41 in the Peach Bowl and advance to the CFP championship game for the third time under coach Kirby Smart.

“If we want any chance of winning a national championship, we have to play a lot better football than we played tonight, but we have to keep the resiliency and composure along with us,” Smart said.

The Bulldogs and Buckeyes played a classic that came down to a missed field goal by Ohio State with three seconds left. Amazingly, it was even better than the wild opener of the semifinal doubleheader between No. 3 TCU and No. 2 Michigan.

The Horned Frogs (13-1) upset the Wolverines 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl, the second-highest scoring CFP game ever.

“We’re going to celebrate it,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said. “Obviously, we’re excited, but we know we got a big one coming up.”

TCU, the first Big 12 team to win a playoff game, will be looking for its first national title since 1938. Under coach Dutch Meyer, the Horned Frogs beat Carnegie Tech 15-7 in the Sugar Bowl to complete a 10-0 season.

The Southeastern Conference champion Bulldogs opened as a 131/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, in what will be the fifth meeting between the schools.

Georgia has won them all, including the last in the 2016 Liberty Bowl.

Coming off a 5-7 season in 2021 and picked to finish seventh in their conference before the season, the Horned Frogs have embraced the underdog role and thrived on being doubted.

“We know we’re going to hear it again. It’s not going to stop now,” first-year coach Sonny Dykes said. “We got to do what we did this game (against Michigan). We’ve got to answer that criticism and show up and do what we’re supposed to do.

“If we think that’s going away, I think you guys all know that’s not. That’s just the way it is.”

TCU would be the first team to win a national championship the year after having a losing season since Michigan State in 1965.

Georgia, No. 1 for most of the season, is looking for its third national title, trying to become the first back-to-back champion in the CFP era and the first since Alabama won the BCS in 2011 and ’12.

It will be a matchup of Heisman Trophy finalist quarterbacks, with Duggan and Georgia’s Stetson Bennett.

Neither is a future NFL draft first-rounder, and both had ups and down in the semifinal but came through in the biggest spots.

Duggan ran for two scores and threw two TD passes as the Frogs held back a surging Michigan in the second half.

Bennett threw for 398 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including the game winner with 54 seconds left.

These Bulldogs rely more on Bennett and their offense than last year’s championship team, which fielded one of the best defenses college football has had in recent history. Georgia ranked fifth in the nation in yards per play (6.97) coming into the playoff.

The Frogs have have a powerful offense, too, with Duggan and star receiver Quentin Johnston, who had 163 yards on six catches against the Wolverines.

This is the penultimate season of the four-team version of the playoff before it expands to 12 teams in the 2024 season.

Before Saturday, only three of 16 semifinals had been decided by single digits, and all those blowouts helped fuel a desire to grow the field in the hope of creating some more interesting postseason games.

This New Year’s Eve, the four-team playoff turned out to be an eight-hour college football party.

After losing to TCU, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh summed up his team’s game, and as it turns out, the day.

“The winner,” he said, “was football.”

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After the best semifinal day in the nine-year history of the College Football Playoff, the title game will match the defending national champion against the closest thing the sport has had in years to a Cinderella team.

It will be No. 1 Georgia (14-0) looking for its second straight championship against upstart and No. 3 TCU on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The four-team playoff has been littered with lopsided semifinal games, but Saturday — and into early Sunday and the new year — delivered two thrillers and a combined 179 points.

The Bulldogs came from 14 points down in the second half to beat No. 4 Ohio State 42-41 in the Peach Bowl and advance to the CFP championship game for the third time under coach Kirby Smart.

“If we want any chance of winning a national championship, we have to play a lot better football than we played tonight, but we have to keep the resiliency and composure along with us,” Smart said.

The Bulldogs and Buckeyes played a classic that came down to a missed field goal by Ohio State with three seconds left. Amazingly, it was even better than the wild opener of the semifinal doubleheader between No. 3 TCU and No. 2 Michigan.

The Horned Frogs (13-1) upset the Wolverines 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl, the second-highest scoring CFP game ever.

“We’re going to celebrate it,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said. “Obviously, we’re excited, but we know we got a big one coming up.”

TCU, the first Big 12 team to win a playoff game, will be looking for its first national title since 1938. Under coach Dutch Meyer, the Horned Frogs beat Carnegie Tech 15-7 in the Sugar Bowl to complete a 10-0 season.

The Southeastern Conference champion Bulldogs opened as a 131/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, in what will be the fifth meeting between the schools.

Georgia has won them all, including the last in the 2016 Liberty Bowl.

Coming off a 5-7 season in 2021 and picked to finish seventh in their conference before the season, the Horned Frogs have embraced the underdog role and thrived on being doubted.

“We know we’re going to hear it again. It’s not going to stop now,” first-year coach Sonny Dykes said. “We got to do what we did this game (against Michigan). We’ve got to answer that criticism and show up and do what we’re supposed to do.

“If we think that’s going away, I think you guys all know that’s not. That’s just the way it is.”

TCU would be the first team to win a national championship the year after having a losing season since Michigan State in 1965.

Georgia, No. 1 for most of the season, is looking for its third national title, trying to become the first back-to-back champion in the CFP era and the first since Alabama won the BCS in 2011 and ’12.

It will be a matchup of Heisman Trophy finalist quarterbacks, with Duggan and Georgia’s Stetson Bennett.

Neither is a future NFL draft first-rounder, and both had ups and down in the semifinal but came through in the biggest spots.

Duggan ran for two scores and threw two TD passes as the Frogs held back a surging Michigan in the second half.

Bennett threw for 398 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including the game winner with 54 seconds left.

These Bulldogs rely more on Bennett and their offense than last year’s championship team, which fielded one of the best defenses college football has had in recent history. Georgia ranked fifth in the nation in yards per play (6.97) coming into the playoff.

The Frogs have have a powerful offense, too, with Duggan and star receiver Quentin Johnston, who had 163 yards on six catches against the Wolverines.

This is the penultimate season of the four-team version of the playoff before it expands to 12 teams in the 2024 season.

Before Saturday, only three of 16 semifinals had been decided by single digits, and all those blowouts helped fuel a desire to grow the field in the hope of creating some more interesting postseason games.

This New Year’s Eve, the four-team playoff turned out to be an eight-hour college football party.

After losing to TCU, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh summed up his team’s game, and as it turns out, the day.

“The winner,” he said, “was football.”

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There are very few uncommitted Division I senior prospects remaining on the board. But the state’s best one, Young’s Daniel Johnson, only enhanced his stock over the holidays.

Johnson was sensational in Young’s semifinal win over St. Rita at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. He scored 25 points and looked the part of a smooth scorer playing with a ton of confidence.

He followed it up with a team-high 16 points and six rebounds in the 58-55 title game victory over Kenwood.

The 6-6 Johnson was still efficient while being a marked man. In those two massive wins over teams ranked in the top five, Johnson was 15 of 28 from the field with five three-pointers. He averaged 21.5 points and seven rebounds in the four tournament wins.

After an up-and-down summer during the evaluation periods, Johnson, the Proviso West Holiday Tournament MVP, is playing the best basketball of his career. He has taken a big step forward with his consistency and production while playing the part of a bonafide mid-major prospect.

As a result, the tandem of point guard Dalen Davis and Johnson has Young right back as city and state contenders once again.

While there is still a lot of basketball to be played, if Young were to get through what will be a very challenging sectional, it’s likely either Kenwood or St. Rita will be waiting for the Dolphins in the UIC super-sectional in March.

Hinsdale Central emerges

The West Suburban Silver, dominated by Glenbard West a year ago, was expected to be a two-team race featuring Lyons and Downers Grove North. Both Lyons and Downers Grove North have lived up to the preseason expectations thus far, going a combined 23-2 to start the season.

But after what transpired over the holidays, might Hinsdale Central be ready to join them?

Fresh off winning their own Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic for the first time, coach Nick Latorre’s team heads into the new year with a full head of steam and boiling over in confidence. Hinsdale Central is a different team than it was just a month ago.

Led by tournament MVP Ben Oosterbaan, the Red Devils knocked off ranked Oswego East, a team it fell to by 10 points over Thanksgiving. The tournament run included wins over Homewood-Flossmoor and Marian Catholic as the 6-4 Oosterbaan, a Michigan baseball recruit, averaged 21.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Hinsdale Central will get a shot at Lyons Jan. 20.

Holiday success story

This holiday basketball season packed a punch.

The crowds at each stop over the final couple of days were lively, filling gyms at the State Farm Classic, Big Dipper, Pontiac, Proviso West and York tournaments.

There was a star player in Cameron Christie who dazzled and impressed while leading his team to five wins in five days at York.

The top uncommitted seniors, the aforementioned Johnson and Simeon’s Jalen Griffith, did everything in their power to garner more college interest while leading their teams; they both won tournament awards and titles.

There was an emotional sendoff for Robert Smith who won a tournament title in his final year coaching in Pontiac — Simeon’s “second home.”

Chicago area teams made deep runs in traditional tournaments across the state. Mount Carmel beat highly-regarded Moline to win at Pekin. Lincoln-Way East rolled to a championship in Effingham and returned 14-1. Both Evanston and Romeoville reached title games at Centralia and the State Farm Classic in Bloomington, respectively, where they finished second.

And there were surprises, upsets and statements from unlikely sources. Hello, Hinsdale Central, Libertyville and Grayslake Central.

This past week has certainly set a tone for what should be as intriguing of a final two months of high school basketball as we’ve had in Illinois in years.

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The Chicago Bears should have an offensive weapon Sunday

The Chicago Bears had several key players battling injuries this week. Two wide receivers, Chase Claypool and Equanimeous St. Brown, were back at practice Thursday. Offensive guards Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair were both without designations for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions on the Week 17 injury report released Friday.

According to the Bears’ inactive list released Sunday, Claypool and St. Brown appear good to go against the Lions. Claypool should have a chance to work with quarterback Justin Fields this week as the offense tries to gain experience and end the season with momentum for next season. According to an early Sunday morning report by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Claypool was expected to play Sunday.

Bears’ inactives against the Lions

QB Tim BoyleRB Darrynton EvansLB Sterling WeatherfordOL Alex LeatherwoodDB Breon BordersDB Michael OjemudiaOL Ja’tyre Carter

Interestingly, the Chicago Bears decided to have Ojemudia inactive this week. The former third-round pick was signed to the Bears this week off waivers after the Denver Broncos released him. The Bears chose to promote Greg Stroman Jr., who was signed to the practice squad this week. They also promoted linebacker DeMarquis Gates against the Lions.

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ATLANTA — Stetson Bennett capped No. 1 Georgia’s comeback from a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit with a 10-yard, last-minute scoring pass to Adonai Mitchell in a 42-41 victory over No. 4 Ohio State for a shot at its second straight national title.

The comeback in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal held just after midnight Sunday when Noah Ruggles’ 50-yard field goal attempt for Ohio State with three seconds remaining sailed wide left, setting off a celebration on the Georgia sideline.

Georgia (14-0) will play No. 3 TCU, which beat No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, on Jan. 9 for the national championship. The Bulldogs, who won their first national title since 1980 last season, will play for the first back-to-back championships in school history.

C.J. Stroud threw four touchdown passes for Ohio State (11-2), which led 38-24 in the fourth quarter. Bennett’s 76-yard scoring pass to Arian Smith, followed by Bennett’s pass to Ladd McConkey on the 2-point play, cut it to 38-35.

Following Bennett’s go-ahead scoring pass to Mitchell with 54 seconds remaining, Stroud led the Buckeyes back with a 27-yard run to the Georgia 31. The missed field goal set off the Georgia celebration that left Bennett in tears.

Ruggles’ 48-yard field goal gave the Buckeyes a 41-35 lead, leaving only 2:36 for Bennett and Georgia’s offense.

Stroud completed 23 of 34 passes for 348 yards without an interception.

Stroud capped the Buckeyes’ first possession of the second half with a 10-yard scoring pass to Emeka Egbuka for a 35-24 lead — already the most points allowed in a full game by the Bulldogs this season.

Marvin Harrison Jr. had five catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Egbuka had eight catches for 112 yards and one score.

Ohio State shut out Georgia in the third quarter while the Buckeyes pulled away with 10 points.

Bennett, who joined Stroud as one of four Heisman Trophy finalists, finished the game strong, completing 23 of 34 passes for 398 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

Stroud’s second scoring pass, a 16-yarder to Harrison, gave the Buckeyes a 21-7 lead. Stroud escaped pressure on the play before passing to a diving Harrison in the end zone.

Georgia scored the next 17 points for a 24-21 lead. The Bulldogs had scoring runs of 11 yards by Kendall Milton and 3 yards by Bennett during the run.

THE TAKEAWAY

Ohio State: The Buckeyes scored with devastating quickness at times. A quick-strike, 75-yard touchdown gave Ohio State a 28-24 halftime lead. Stroud completed four consecutive passes in the drive, including a 37-yard scoring pass from Stroud to Xavier Johnson.

Georgia: The Bulldogs ran for 135 yards and finished with 533 total yards, winning with offense on a night its proud defense couldn’t stop Stroud.

INJURY REPORT

Ohio State TE Cade Stover, suffering back spasms, was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons, the team announced at the start of the second half. There was no immediate update.

Georgia OLB Chaz Chambliss left the game late in the first half with an apparent left knee injury. Chambliss needed help leaving the field. Georgia TE Darnell Washington was on crutches on the sideline after suffering a left ankle injury in the second period.

Georgia WR Ladd McConkey (knee) had limited playing time and RT Warren McClendon (knee) was in uniform but did not start.

Buckeyes running back Miyan Williams, who missed practice this week with a stomach bug while also still recovering from an ankle injury, had only three carries for eight yards, including a scoring plunge from the 2, in the first half.

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DETROIT — Chase Claypool will play Sunday against the Lions — and so will two other Bears receivers who had been questionable.

Claypool hurt his left knee Dec. 4 against the Packers and hasn’t played in a game since. Dante Pettis was ruled active for Sunday’s game, too, after he was limited in practice because of an ankle injury. Equanimeous St. Brown cleared concussion protocol.

The three receivers bolster one of the league’s most unproductive receiving corps.

Claypool said earlier this week he was aware that fans were questioning the Bears trading their second-round pick to the Steelers for him Nov. 1.

“I feel very confident the fans, the organization, the team will be happy,” he said.

Guards Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins will start after missing last week’s game.

Alex Leatherwood, the former first-round pick, is a healthy scratch Sunday. The Bears ruled out guard Ja’Tyre Carter (back) and linebacker Sterling Weatherford (illness) on Friday. Quarterback Tim Boyle, running back Darrynton Evans, cornerback Breon Borders and cornerback Michael Ojemudia are also inactive.

Lions center Frank Ragnow (foot) was questionable but will play.

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Zach LaVine was proud of his December resume.

Just ask him.

“I’ve been for awhile,” LaVine replied, almost defiantly when asked about his recent improved play. “Go look at my last 10, 15 games. I’ve been saying that. I’ve been feeling good.”

The two-time All-Star made a solid point. After all, he came into Saturday’s game with the Cavs fresh off of a season-high 43-point showing against Detroit, and averaging 25.2 points per game on 53% shooting from the field in the month of December.

Throw in his 43.2% from three-point range, and it was definitely an offensive display worthy of a max contract player.

Two hiccups with his assessment, however: Atop that list, there was still one more December game to play on Saturday, with the Bulls hosting the Cavaliers. Secondly, LaVine seemed to overlook the other side of the basketball.

First things first, as LaVine and the Bulls watched the short-handed Cavaliers end a two-game winning streak with the 103-102 win at the United Center. The second time Cleveland (23-14) has beaten the Bulls (16-20) this season.

LaVine finished with 15 points, shooting 6-of-16 from the field on a night in which both teams had to grind through it.

And as much as went wrong for the Bulls, they still gave themselves a chance to pull it out late.

Guard Alex Caruso had a chance to pull the Bulls to within three with 1:21 left, but split a pair of free throws. Caruso, however, made up for it on the other end, tipping a loose ball ahead to Ayo Dosunmu, who was fouled at the basket.

Dosunmu also split the pair, but gave the Bulls life. Another turnover by the Cavs, and this time it was DeMar DeRozan who would cash in, scoring on the layup with 29.8 seconds left and trailing by one.

Out of the timeout, Caris LeVert tried to play hero late in the possession, but missed his short jumper, giving the Bulls one last chance with 5.8 seconds left.

That meant DeRozan time, who got pushed baseline on a double-team, and this time fell short on hero ball, as his 15-footer off one leg missed.

“I kind of broke it off,” DeRozan said of the play. “Seen an angle for the gap, felt like it was a good look, but we gave ourselves a chance, fought hard. The last couple minutes we busted our butts defensively. They go in, they go in, different story, but I’m proud of our guys. We fought and stayed with it.”

They’ve done that a lot lately, going 5-2 to close out the month, even with the Cavs loss.

But there’s also that elephant in the room that is currently LaVine’s defense.

He began last season playing the best defense of his career, evident by a 103.4 defensive rating. Once the left knee started to betray him, however, LaVine finished the season with a career-worst 116.1 rating.

As well as LaVine has been playing recently? His defensive rating was currently at a 115.8.

So while the offense has definitely been improving, especially considering LaVine was coming off an offseason cleanup on the knee, the defense was still an issue.

“I do think he’s gotten better in some of those situations,” coach Billy Donovan said of LaVine’s defense. “I do think there’s room for not only him, but our team to continue to progress and get better. I think our defensive numbers have gone the other way quite honestly. I don’t think it’s all on Zach or any one player.

“It’s hard to be a good team without that kind of physicality, and there’s no way of escaping it. There’s going to be physical confrontation on every single possession, and you’ve got to lean into that stuff.”

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