Email
print

Who is trending up? Which rotations are changing? What’s the latest with the notable injuries around the NBA?

Here’s a look around the league at the most fantasy relevant news and notes for all 30 teams:

Atlanta Hawks

Following a two-month absence due to wrist surgery, De’Andre Hunter has returned to action. In light of the Hawks trading Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks on Thursday, he should be stashed. When his conditioning improves, he could be a difference-maker in the final stretch. Hunter averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per 40 minutes.

Boston Celtics

As we approach the trade deadline, rumblings around the Celtics may make some fantasy basketball managers queasy. However, Robert Williams III is one player you shouldn’t be concerned about being dealt. Averaging 10 points and 9.0 rebounds per game this season, Williams signed a four-year, $48 million extension that starts in 2022-2023. In fantasy drafts, the Time Lord has outperformed his average draft position and seems to be part of the Celtics’ core moving forward.

Brooklyn Nets

As the Nets play three games in the next five days, Day’Ron Sharpe finds himself on the streaming radar. LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) and Nic Claxton (hamstring) are both injured. On Wednesday night, Sharpe scored a career-high 20 points with seven rebounds and a block against the Bulls. He is available in virtually all ESPN leagues.

Access 4,300+ hours of live coverage from 35 PGA TOUR tournaments each year, including 4 days of coverage at 28 events with four feeds each day. Plus, access replays, originals and more. Stream on ESPN+

Charlotte Hornets

P.J. Washington has struggled mightily the last three games, averaging 4.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG and 1.0 BPG. This, along with his 26.3 FG%, is tough for fantasy managers to absorb. There are two Hornets currently in league protocols: Kelly Oubre Jr. and Vernon Carey Jr. Washington is in a great spot to bounce back against the Orlando Magic on Friday. Power forwards have averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds against Orlando this season.

Chicago Bulls

Due to Derrick Jones Jr.‘s right leg injury, Alfonzo McKinnie may be given more playing time. Currently, he averages 15 MPG. Per 40 minutes, he averages 14 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists. McKinnie should be considered in deeper formats and is available in virtually all ESPN leagues.

Cleveland Cavaliers

With Isaac Okoro (elbow) and Rajon Rondo (hamstring) out right now, Lamar Stevens is worth considering in many fantasy leagues. In the last six games, he averaged 11.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.7 APG. Stevens is available in nearly all ESPN leagues and worth a look in deeper formats.

Dallas Mavericks

Mo Mooncey of Sky Sports reports that Ben Simmons is considering Dallas as one of two possible destinations if he is traded. If Simmons buys into a Draymond Green-like role with the Mavericks, he could coexist with Luka Doncic. Furthermore, Jalen Brunson should still be rostered. Brunson showed he can coexist with Doncic against the Knicks last night and is available in 41% of ESPN leagues.

Denver Nuggets

Aaron Gordon set a season-high with 30 points and 12 rebounds against the L.A. Clippers. He has scored 10 or more points in four of his previous five games while averaging 5.2 RPG. Gordon is available in 58% of ESPN leagues. It will be good to observe how Gordon performs when Will Barton returns on Thursday.

Detroit Pistons

Josh Jackson has played a consistent role with the Pistons off the bench. Since the beginning of January, the former lottery pick has scored 10 or more points in five of his last six games. He’s available in 99% of ESPN leagues and should be considered in deeper formats for scoring, with a dash of other statistical categories.

Golden State Warriors

The return of Klay Thompson may negatively impact Gary Payton II (available in 93.6% of ESPN leagues) offensively as his workload increases, but Payton should continue to have a positive impact defensively. In the last 10 games, he has averaged 5.5 RPG and 2 SPG. Payton has averaged 18 MPG this season and should be considered in deeper formats. .

Houston Rockets

In addition to his 31-point performance against the Spurs on Wednesday, Eric Gordon has been a valuable streaming option and source of points and triples for fantasy managers at different points this season. However, given the Rockets poor record, which could result in younger players being provided more minutes, Gordon could be traded as we approach the league deadline. He is someone to sell high on or leave on the wire.

Indiana Pacers

In his limited minutes, Lance Stephenson has made an impact for the Pacers and is worth adding to most fantasy teams. Even with Malcolm Brogdon sidelined due to an aggravated Achilles injury, Stephenson is available in 92% of ESPN leagues. Stephenson has averaged 16.5 PPG, 2.0 3PG, 6.5 APG, 4.3 RPG, and 2 SPG over his last four games.

LA Clippers

Over the last two games, Amir Coffey has been phenomenal for the Clippers. Coffey followed up his 21-point performance Sunday with 18 points, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals against the Nuggets on Tuesday. Paul George may not return for the rest of the season, so Coffey should continue to get plenty of work and is available in almost every ESPN league.

Los Angeles Lakers

Austin Reaves has averaged 17.5 PPG and 25.5 MPG over the last two games. During that time, he has also made 5-9 3-point attempts. Look no further than Reaves in deeper formats if you need points and triples. He is available in nearly all ESPN leagues.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are shorthanded, without Steven Adams (protocols) and Kyle Anderson (back). Brandon Clarke has entered the rotation. Only Isaiah Stewart (12), Daniel Gafford (12), Robert Williams III (18), Myles Turner (18) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (19) have more blocks in January than Clarke (10). The last two weeks, he has been a top-100 player in category formats, and he is available in 62% of ESPN leagues.

Miami Heat

Heat forward Bam Adebayo is about a week or two away from returning from his thumb injury, and they also got Dewayne Dedmon back from his knee injury. If you have Omer Yurtseven on your roster, hold onto him. In the last two weeks, he averaged 11.5 points, 15 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. Yurtseven is available in 80% of ESPN leagues. It is possible he will replace Dedmon in rotation going forward.

4dEric Moody

5dJohn Cregan

6dEric Karabell

2 Related

Milwaukee Bucks

With Jrue Holiday out with an ankle injury and George Hill in health and safety protocols, the Bucks have relied on Khris Middleton more to provide offense. Middleton has averaged 25 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.3 APG and 1.5 SPG in his last four games. Since fantasy managers were hoping for a bit more from Middleton before the season started, this is a great opportunity to sell high on him.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Malik Beasley remains a source of points and triples for the Timberwolves and fantasy managers alike. He scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds and made six 3-pointers against the Pelicans on Tuesday night. But Beasley has averaged just 10.5 points and 2.8 3-pointers over the last six games. He’s available in 64% of ESPN leagues.

New Orleans Pelicans

Josh Hart is a must-roster player across all formats, and he is still available in 56.6% of ESPN leagues. He has averaged 16 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, and 37 MPG over the last 13 games. Make sure to pick up Hart now!

New York Knicks

In Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks, RJ Barrett became the youngest player in Knicks history to have consecutive 30-point games. He surpassed Kristaps Porzingis, who was 22 years, 80 days old at the end of his streak in October 2017. This is a thrilling turn of events for Barrett, who has the skills to contribute in multiple statistical areas.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Even though Josh Giddey continues to flirt with triple doubles night after night, he remains available in 40% of ESPN leagues. He’s averaged 14 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 8.2 APG, and 2.0 SPG in his last five games. Giddey’s trajectory should only continue upward from here. I wrote about him last week and will continue to do so until his roster percentages rises.

Orlando Magic

The emergence of Gary Harris this season has been a pleasant surprise. In his last 13 games, Harris has averaged 18 PPG, 3 3PM, 2.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.3 SPG and 0.5 BPG. Harris should continue to thrive in the absence of rookie lottery pick Jalen Suggs; the veteran has played 29.5 MPG this season and has the ability to help your team in 3-pointers and 3FG% along with his other contributions.

Philadelphia 76ers

Furkan Korkmaz stands to benefit if Danny Green misses significant time with his knee injury. Korkmaz averaged 16 PPG, 7 RPG, 3. APG, and 2.5 3PG in four starts while Tyrese Maxey was in the protocols. Korkmaz is available in 98.4% of ESPN leagues.

Phoenix Suns

In 35 minutes against the Raptors, Jae Crowder had 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. It was his best overall game since returning from the protocols. Currently, he’s available in 89% of ESPN leagues and should be on your watch list to see if his statistical production can continue.

Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard plans to undergo surgery in the near future to treat his lingering abdominal injury, and will be evaluated in six to eight weeks. It’s possible that the Trail Blazers shut him down for the season considering their poor record. In the second half of the season, Anfernee Simons has the opportunity to be a difference-maker. Simons logged 37 MPG in the last five games he started for Lillard, and during that time he averaged 28 PPG, 3.2 RPG and 7.6 APG. Somehow, he’s still available in 70% of ESPN leagues.

Sacramento Kings

Look no further than Marvin Bagley III (39% rostered) if your team needs a big man. Over the last five games, he has averaged 9.6 PPG and 8.0 RPG, but be sure to monitor the hand injury Bagley sustained during Wednesday’s game against the Lakers.

San Antonio Spurs

Devin Vassell can be very divisive when fantasy managers hear his name. In the three games before he entered the league protocols, he averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. As the season progresses, Vassell’s usage could increase. You should stash him if you have the capacity since he is available in 94.3% of ESPN leagues.

Toronto Raptors

The fact that Raptors coach Nick Nurse spoke positively about Chris Boucher in the media should surprise fantasy managers. In 37 minutes against the Suns on Tuesday, he scored 13 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked three shots. Despite being available in 43.8% of ESPN leagues, Boucher has the potential to be a difference-maker if he plays 30 minutes or more per game. Unfortunately, he’s at 18.3 MPG for the season.

Utah Jazz

COVID-19 is disrupting the Jazz in a major way, with five players in the protocols, including Rudy Gobert. If a fantasy manager is looking to capitalize on this situation from a streaming perspective, then consider Eric Paschall since he is Utah’s only big man. He had 18 points, seven rebounds and a block against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Washington Wizards

Bradley Beal‘s inclusion in the league protocols clearly benefits Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Those in deeper formats can stream Corey Kispert, who has scored at least 10 points in the last two games. Kispert provides some rebounds and assists as well.

Read More

Email
print

The Memphis Grizzlies‘ franchise-record 11-game win streak ran out of steam during Friday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but something tells us Ja Morant & Co. aren’t done putting their stamp on the NBA this season.

Even with the defeat, the Grizzlies’ 30-15 record is the second best in franchise history through 45 games, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Memphis started 33-12 in 2014-15.

The Grizzlies’ streak included impressive victories over the Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers (twice), but things are about to get tougher for the new Western Conference contenders. Four of Memphis’ next five contests are on the road, with their only home game in that stretch coming Monday afternoon against the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls. That matchup is followed by a four-game trip, including a showdown with the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Can the Grizz start a new win streak? See where Memphis and every NBA team stand this week.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

1. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 33-9
Previous ranking: 2

Chris Paul is looking to secure his fifth season of averaging 10 assists and two steals with his third team. He did it over three consecutive seasons with New Orleans (2007-10) and once with the Clippers (2013-14). He is the only player to accomplish the feat with two franchises since the NBA started recording steals in 1973-74. At 36 years old, he also would be the oldest player to hit those marks in the same season. — Lopez

2. Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 record: 30-15
Previous ranking: 5

Memphis’ franchise-record 11-game winning streak was snapped Friday night, when the Grizzlies ran out of gas against a tough Dallas team while playing their eighth game in 12 nights. Ja Morant solidified his superstar status during the streak, twice winning the Western Conference’s player of the week award while averaging an efficient 26.7 points and dominating in crunch time against quality opponents such as the Suns, Cavaliers and Warriors. — MacMahon

3. Golden State Warriors
2021-22 record: 31-12
Previous ranking: 1

18hKevin Pelton

2dKevin Pelton

3dZach Lowe

2 Related

Golden State’s dream start to the season has gotten a little rocky in recent weeks. The Warriors announced Sunday that Draymond Green will miss at least two more weeks after it was revealed that the calf issue he has been dealing with is related to a disk problem in his back. Golden State is still trying to get Klay Thompson comfortable as he makes his way back from 2 1/2 years off because of separate ACL and Achilles tendon injuries. But now the Warriors probably will have to rely on Thompson more than they would have liked to over the next few weeks with Green’s extended absence. — Friedell

4. Chicago Bulls
2021-22 record: 27-14
Previous ranking: 3

A three-game losing streak and an injury to Zach LaVine this week poured cold water on what had been a red-hot Bulls team, but Chicago should get some reinforcements this week. Alex Caruso cleared health and safety protocols, and he should be on track to return this week, which ought to provide a much-needed boost to a Bulls defense that has been ranked 26th in efficiency since his last game on Dec. 20. — Collier

5. Milwaukee Bucks
2021-22 record: 27-18
Previous ranking: 6

While the Bucks continued to show up for big games over the past two weeks — posting blowout victories against the Nets and Warriors — they also fell to the Hornets and Raptors during the same span. It’s made for a perplexing stretch in which Milwaukee has dropped five of its past seven matchups. — Collier

6. Utah Jazz
2021-22 record: 29-14
Previous ranking: 4

Just in case anyone needed a reminder of how impactful Rudy Gobert is, the All-NBA big man had an 18-point, 19-rebound, two-block, plus-36 performance fresh out of protocols in the Jazz’s stop-the-bleeding win over the Nuggets on Sunday. Utah was 1-4 with an alarming 120.8 defensive rating during Gobert’s absence, prompting him to publicly challenge his teammates to focus on developing “habits” on that end of the floor that impact winning. — MacMahon

7. Miami Heat
2021-22 record: 27-16
Previous ranking: 7

Joel Embiid and the Sixers snapped Miami’s four-game winning streak on Saturday, but things are looking up for the Heat. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday that Bam Adebayo is hoping to be back Monday against the Raptors. Adebayo, who has been out since Nov. 29 with a thumb injury, should give the Heat a major lift on and off the floor as the second half of the season ramps up. — Friedell

8. Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22 record: 25-17
Previous ranking: 9

A month ago, the 76ers lost to a depleted Nets team in Brooklyn, fell to .500 on the season and seemingly were in shambles. All they’ve done since then is rattle off 10 wins in 12 games to climb back toward the top of the Eastern Conference standings — largely thanks to Joel Embiid averaging 31.8 points on 53.6% shooting to go along with 10.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks during that stretch. — Bontemps

9. Brooklyn Nets
2021-22 record: 27-15
Previous ranking: 8

On the one hand, the Nets were breathing a sigh of relief on Sunday when it was announced Kevin Durant only had an MCL strain, one that will keep him out for the next four to six weeks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. On the other, though, the Nets are faced with the reality that they’re going to have to survive for more than a month without their best player and will again see their opportunities to mesh Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving on the court be taken from them. — Bontemps

10. Dallas Mavericks
2021-22 record: 24-19
Previous ranking: 10

The Mavs are racking up wins despite Luka Doncic going through a bit of a shooting slump after his return from an extended absence due to ankle soreness and entering health and safety protocols. He is averaging 22 points while shooting 40.1% from the floor and 19.1% from 3-point range during the 7-1 run. But Doncic has played a role in Dallas’ dominant defensive effort. The Mavs are allowing 97.1 points per 100 possessions — and 93.7 with Doncic on the floor — in that span. — MacMahon

11. Cleveland Cavaliers
2021-22 record: 26-18
Previous ranking: 11

Cleveland completed its recent six-game road trip with a 5-1 record, including a 4-0 mark to finish it off. Darius Garland‘s case to represent the Cavs in next month’s All-Star Game at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse continues to grow stronger and stronger. He is averaging 20.6 points and 10.1 assists in the month of January, buoyed by the 27-point, 18-dime performance he had in Oklahoma City to end the trip. — McMenamin

12. Denver Nuggets
2021-22 record: 22-20
Previous ranking: 12

Last week started with the Nuggets blowing a 25-point lead to the Clippers on Monday, setting Michael Malone off. Malone questioned whether a loss like that would stick with some of his players like it would him. The Nuggets responded with emphatic 32-point and 37-point wins over the Blazers and Lakers, respectively. So even though Denver was handed a 23-point loss at the hands of Utah on the second night of a back-to-back on Sunday, Malone should feel better about how his team responded to Monday’s meltdown. He has nothing to worry about when it comes to Nikola Jokic, who keeps rolling after back-to-back triple-doubles. Jokic has nine triple-doubles and counting this season. — Youngmisuk

13. Charlotte Hornets
2021-22 record: 23-20
Previous ranking: 15

Wednesday, Jan. 19
Hornets at Celtics, 7:30 p.m.
Clippers at Nuggets, 10 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21
Raptors at Wizards, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 26
Grizzlies at Spurs, 7:30 p.m.
Suns at Jazz, 10 p.m.

All times Eastern

Charlotte had its four-game winning streak snapped on Friday during a rough loss to the Magic. The key to that streak was the Hornets’ defense, which allowed an average of just 103.5 points per contest. If they can keep improving on that end of the floor, the Hornets have a good chance to make their way out of the play-in spots in the second half of the season. — Friedell

14. Toronto Raptors
2021-22 record: 21-19
Previous ranking: 14

Fred VanVleet should be headed to his first All-Star Game next month. VanVleet has fully stepped into the role vacated by Kyle Lowry as Toronto’s undisputed leader. He is playing the most minutes per game of any player in the league while averaging 21.9 points and 6.7 assists and shooting over 40% from 3-point range. — Bontemps

15. Los Angeles Lakers
2021-22 record: 21-22
Previous ranking: 13

A day after Frank Vogel said he led his team in a “spirited” film session that included pointing out mistake after mistake in a loss to the Kings in which the Lakers gave up 70 points in the paint, his team allowed the Nuggets to score 69 points from beyond the arc in a blowout loss at Denver. “We’ve got to get back to the drawing board and get our defense right,” Vogel said after the Nuggets loss, which was his team’s third straight defeat. — McMenamin

16. New York Knicks
2021-22 record: 22-21
Previous ranking: 20

Heading into a four-game homestand this week, the Knicks have reeled off eight wins in their past 11 games — and eight victories in nine tilts with Julius Randle on the court. If New York can continue that improved form this week, it could be time to start wondering if a repeat of last season’s surge up the standings down the stretch is beginning to take place. — Bontemps

17. Washington Wizards
2021-22 record: 22-21
Previous ranking: 18

Washington won three straight for its longest winning streak since a five-game run in November. It certainly helps when the Wizards play Orlando twice and Oklahoma City in between. Kyle Kuzma is playing his best basketball, starting the streak with a massive 27 points and 22 rebounds against Orlando. Bradley Beal missed three straight games in health and safety protocols, and coach Wes Unseld Jr. has entered protocols, but Washington does finally have Rui Hachimura and Thomas Bryant back. Unfortunately, the Wiz couldn’t make it four straight, losing to Portland at home. Now the schedule gets a lot tougher, with the Sixers, Nets, Raptors, Celtics and Clippers all visiting D.C., before the Wizards hit the road for three straight. — Youngmisuk

18. Minnesota Timberwolves
2021-22 record: 21-22
Previous ranking: 16

D’Angelo Russell has recorded double-digit assists in six of his past eight games after doing so just twice in his first 25 games of the season. Per ESPN Stats & Information data, those eight games with double-digit assists are the second most during a season in Russell’s career; he had 14 such performances during the 2018-19 campaign with the Nets. — Collier

19. Boston Celtics
2021-22 record: 22-22
Previous ranking: 19

The Celtics continued to be inconsistent, winning three out of four games but needing a last-second comeback to beat a massively depleted Bulls team and losing to the 76ers. That said, Boston is now 58-58 since the start of last season, so perhaps instead of calling them inconsistent, the Celtics should instead be applauded for their consistency. — Bontemps

20. LA Clippers
2021-22 record: 21-23
Previous ranking: 17

The Clippers are in the roughest stretch of their season and clearly miss Paul George. Coach Ty Lue’s team has dropped 11 of its past 17 games, including two straight — at New Orleans and San Antonio. Amir Coffey has emerged as a scorer in recent games, Serge Ibaka had one of his best games as a Clipper with a double-double and Isaiah Hartenstein is back from injury. But the Clippers are heading in the wrong direction and now are trying to stay above water for the Western Conference’s eighth spot. — Youngmisuk

21. Sacramento Kings
2021-22 record: 18-28
Previous ranking: 23

The Kings were outscored 33-24 in the fourth quarter by the Rockets on Sunday, squandering the chance to put together a three-game win streak for just the second time all season. Sitting 10 games under .500 with the trade deadline fast approaching, it will be interesting to see if contenders come calling to pry a player from Sacramento. — McMenamin

22. Atlanta Hawks
2021-22 record: 17-25
Previous ranking: 21

Early in the season, State Farm Arena was a safe haven for the Hawks. Atlanta started out on fire at home, improving to 8-1 there with a win over Oklahoma City on Nov. 22. However, the Hawks have lost 10 in a row at home since then, which is the second-longest such streak in franchise history. The Hawks lost 11 consecutive home games from Feb. 15 to April 5, 2005. — Lopez

23. Portland Trail Blazers
2021-22 record: 17-25
Previous ranking: 25

Get access to exclusive original series, premium articles from our NBA insiders, the full 30 for 30 library and more. Sign up now to unlock everything ESPN+ has to offer.

Damian Lillard underwent abdominal surgery, and he will be out another six to eight weeks. Still, the Blazers have somehow won three of their past four games. Credit coach Chauncey Billups for getting his team to persevere and Anfernee Simons for showing what he can do with a bigger opportunity. Simons is averaging 27.8 points in January, and the Blazers have won the past three games he has played. (He did not play during Portland’s 140-108 loss to the Nuggets on Thursday.) Despite Lillard’s absence, the Blazers will get a boost with CJ McCollum expected back as soon as Monday. — Youngmisuk

24. New Orleans Pelicans
2021-22 record: 16-27
Previous ranking: 26

The Pelicans struggled in clutch games to start the season, going 1-9 in such outings before Dec. 15. On that date, the Pelicans’ fortunes began to change, in part because of a 60-foot buzzer-beater by Devonte’ Graham. Starting with that win, the Pelicans have gone 6-3 in clutch games, which is tied for the most such victories in the league during that stretch. One reason: increased offensive efficiency. New Orleans has a 141.3 offensive rating in their past nine clutch games, the second-best mark in the league. — Lopez

25. San Antonio Spurs
2021-22 record: 16-27
Previous ranking: 22

In his first game as a starter, Spurs center Jock Landale came through with 10 points and 11 rebounds (including eight offensive boards) in helping San Antonio to a 101-94 win over the Clippers on Saturday night. In his first game as a reserve this season (and his first game back from health and safety protocols), Spurs guard Derrick White had a team-high 19 points and a season-high three blocks versus the Clippers. — Lopez

26. Indiana Pacers
2021-22 record: 15-28
Previous ranking: 24

Pacers big man Myles Turner will miss Monday’s game against the Clippers as he seeks a second opinion on a sore left foot the team says has been bothering him for the past few games. Perhaps his foot injury is a reason he has gone 0-for-13 from behind the 3 line in the past four games. — Collier

27. Oklahoma City Thunder
2021-22 record: 14-28
Previous ranking: 27

Kenrich Williams would probably get a lot more playing time if winning was the Thunder’s top priority. OKC has a plus-2.2 net rating with the 27-year-old, defensive-minded wing on the court and is minus-12.0 when Williams sits. He is the kind of role player every good team wants, so Williams is worth watching as the trade market intensifies. — MacMahon

28. Houston Rockets
2021-22 record: 13-32
Previous ranking: 28

After scoring 31 points on only 10 field goal attempts in Wednesday’s win over the Spurs, veteran guard Eric Gordon made it clear he would like more shots when he gets that hot, seemingly sending a message to the Rockets’ young playmakers. Gordon has certainly been efficient with his opportunities this season, shooting 50.5% from the floor and 45.5% from 3-point range, which should make him an attractive target in the trade market. — MacMahon

29. Detroit Pistons
2021-22 record: 10-32
Previous ranking: 29

Even with a loss to the Suns on Sunday, the Pistons are playing some of their best basketball of the season since the start of January. They are 5-4 in the new year, and rookie Cade Cunningham is averaging 16.9 points, 5.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds on 44.1% shooting this month. — Collier

30. Orlando Magic
2021-22 record: 8-36
Previous ranking: 30

Orlando finally snapped its 10-game losing streak on Friday night against the Hornets. Moritz Wagner has put together a couple of nice performances recently, combining for 42 points and eight rebounds over his past two contests, including 26 points in the win over Charlotte. The good news for the Magic is that they have six of their next seven games at home, so they’ll have some more practice time for their young group to come together. — Friedell

Read More

Four people were killed and two teen among 25 others wounded over the weekend.Sun-Times file photo

Read More

You can build a Super Bowl champion out of the mistakes that the Chicago Bears have made over the last 30 years or so. There is the Mitchell Trubisky debacle, Matt Nagy tenure, and firing Lovie Smith after a 10-6 season just to name a few. Another big one was on display during Wild Card Weekend action on Sunday.

On September 5th, 2016, the Chicago Bears cut kicker Robbie Gould. That was a mistake that they are still living with to this day. He later found work with the New York Giants before finding work with his current club in the bay area.

Read More

Read More

Email
print

After a tumultuous first month of the 2021-22 men’s college basketball season that saw the No. 1 spot constantly changing teams, Baylor brought some stability to the top of the Power Rankings. The Bears looked legitimately dominant through the first eight weeks, carrying their momentum from last season’s national championship run over into this season. And with two home games and some manageable road trips coming up, it appeared Scott Drew’s program would continue to keep its grip on the top spot.

Then Baylor dropped those back-to-back home games, to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, and became the first AP No. 1 team ever to lose two home games in a week, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

So, what happened to Baylor?

Let’s start with the personnel. Freshman Jeremy Sochan missed both games because of an ankle injury. While he started only one game this season, the forward provided a matchup problem for opponents who can make plays at both ends of the floor. James Akinjo struggled against Oklahoma State and then didn’t play in the final minutes, with Drew saying after the game that he was dealing with an injury resulting from a hard fall in the Texas Tech game.

3dJoe Lunardi

5dJohn Gasaway

4dJeff Borzello

2 Related

On the court, offense was the main culprit. Baylor had two of its three worst offensive performances of the season, going just 16-for-52 from 3-point range in the two games and shooting below 50% from inside the arc for the first time since Thanksgiving Day. The Bears also didn’t get out for easy baskets as often as usual. After forcing turnovers on at least 21% of possessions in every game so far this season — and an average of 25% of possessions — both the Red Raiders and the Cowboys turned it over on less than 20%.

Akinjo’s injury and Sochan’s absence hurt, but the supporting cast also struggled to step up consistently. Adam Flagler, who had been fantastic for the past six weeks, went 1-for-10 from the field against Oklahoma State; Matthew Mayer did have 16 points against the Cowboys, but it was his first time hitting double figures since Dec. 4; and Kendall Brown, one of the most impressive freshmen of the first half of the season, averaged just 4.8 points and 4.4 rebounds over his past five games.

Suddenly, those manageable road games at West Virginia and Oklahoma this week look a bit more daunting for Baylor.

Oregon entered the season picked second in the Pac-12, even receiving a pair of first-place votes in the preseason poll. The Ducks were a consensus preseason top-25 team, mixing some key returnees with one of the better transfer classes in the country. A 23-point blowout of SMU in their second game of the season did nothing to quiet the hype. Then came a stunning 31-point loss to BYU in Portland, followed by an embarrassing effort at the Maui Invitational, where they lost to Saint Mary’s and got destroyed by Houston. Losses to Arizona State and Stanford in early December had Oregon’s season on life support.

But after a 3-0 week, including road wins at AP No. 3 UCLA and AP No. 5 USC, the Ducks clearly have a pulse. The week opened with a road win at Oregon State, when Oregon took the lead on an Eric Williams 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, then hung on for a two-point win after a missed layup in the final seconds. Jacob Young started his week with 16 points.

The Ducks nearly blew their game against UCLA, giving up a six-point lead in the final minute before winning by three in overtime — with Young (23 points) and Will Richardson (16 points) constantly causing issues for the Bruins’ defense.

The week was capped off with a third straight road win, this time coming against the Trojans. Oregon jumped out to a 10-point lead within the first five minutes, and led by as many as 18 in the second half. Richardson was sensational, scoring 28 points and dishing out four assists.

Per ESPN Stats & Information research, Oregon is the first team since 1975-76 Clemson to beat two AP top-five teams on the road in a five-day span. The Ducks have now won five in a row, and have three straight home games coming up. There’s room for the Ducks to make a push toward the top of the Pac-12 standings and get into the NCAA tournament mix.

It takes something special for someone like Timme to win Player of the Week. A couple of 20-and-10 performances are too common for him; it’s expected. But when Timme faces two of the five best teams in the West Coast Conference in a three-day span and drops alarmingly efficient back-to-back 30-point efforts, he deserves some recognition.

The junior forward opened with 30 points on 13-for-14 shooting against BYU on Thursday. His only missed shot was a 3; he was a perfect 13-for-13 from inside the arc. He also contributed five rebounds and four assists. Against Santa Clara on Saturday, Timme went 14-for-18 from the field — including a made 3 — while also grabbing eight rebounds.

For the week, Timme averaged 31.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while shooting 84.4% from the field. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, he became the first Division I player to average 30 points on 80% shooting over a two-game span since Luka Garza last season, while Evan Miyakawa pointed out on Twitter how ridiculously efficient he was last week.

Quick honorable mention to Mississippi State‘s Iverson Molinar, who averaged 26.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in wins over Georgia and Alabama last week. The Bulldogs have now won six of their past seven and are starting to play to their on-paper potential.

Texas Tech looked like the clear pick for Team of the Week, until the Red Raiders suffered a surprising 11-point loss at Kansas State on Saturday. But their win over Baylor in Waco on Tuesday was still the most impressive victory of the week. Oklahoma State did the same thing, of course, but Tech did it first, and broke Baylor’s aura of invincibility, so it gets the nod.

Mark Adams’ team held Baylor to its second-worst (at the time) offensive outing of the season, while also scoring nearly 1.03 points per possession — the second-highest number allowed by the Bears this season. And the Red Raiders did it without Terrence Shannon Jr., who missed seven games before returning against Kansas State.

Baylor jumped out to an early double-digit lead and it seemed like it was going to be business as usual in Waco, until Tech went on a 17-2 run spanning both halves to get back in the game and ended up gutting out a one-possession win late. Adonis Arms had arguably his best game in a Red Raiders uniform, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while a hobbled Kevin McCullar, who had missed the previous two games, came off the bench to score 12 points and dish out five assists.

The last time Murray State and/or Belmont didn’t win the regular-season championship in the Ohio Valley Conference was 2009, so these two programs’ head-to-head matchups matter a bit more than other mid-major rivalries.

It’s also why Murray State’s 82-60 blowout win at Belmont on Saturday is so crucial, and positions McMahon and his Racers as the league favorite moving forward. Murray State once again has a slew of shot-making guards who can make plays: Justice Hill had eight 3s and 36 points on Saturday, while proven stud Tevin Brown had an efficient 18 points on 10 shots. Six-foot-ten KJ Williams gives the Racers legitimate size down low. He notched three double-doubles in a row before settling for 13 points and five boards against Belmont, and also helped limit the Bruins’ Nick Muszynski to 12 points. Belmont had its worst 3-point shooting game of the season and was held to just 0.91 points per possession.

Some of the credit for Murray State’s road performance also goes to McMahon, who prepared this team effectively in nonconference play, scheduling three true road games and playing in an MTE in Florida. The Racers won at Memphis in early December and also hung with Auburn for 25 minutes before losing right before Christmas.

Three teams with questions

Louisville Cardinals: After starting 4-0 in ACC play, the Cardinals have now lost three in a row — including a 16-point home defeat to NC State on Wednesday and a 12-point loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. As Jeff Greer noted on Twitter, the loss to Pitt was Louisville’s worst KenPom loss in 20 years.

After the game, head coach Chris Mack told reporters, “Until I figure out what motivates our group, I don’t see a lot changing.”

Oklahoma Sooners: I think Oklahoma is an NCAA tournament-caliber team. But the Sooners also lost games at Texas and TCU last week, and now have a brutal four-game stretch that includes home games against Kansas and Baylor, and road trips to West Virginia and Auburn. Could their losing streak grow to six games? It’s not completely out of the question.

Alabama Crimson Tide: It was just over a month ago that the Crimson Tide beat Gonzaga and Houston in back-to-back games and looked like a top-10 team and clear SEC favorite. They’ve now lost three games in a row after Saturday’s defeat to Mississippi State, and their defense has fallen off a cliff. A unit that ranked third nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency last season is 10th in SEC play this season, while allowing 83.7 points over its past three games.

Power Rankings

Highly touted freshman recruit Jabari Smith scored a career-high 25 points in Auburn’s win against Alabama this week. The win helped cement the decision to rank the Tigers at No. 1 this week. AP Photo/Vasha Hunt

1. Auburn Tigers (16-1)
Previous ranking: 5
This week: vs. Georgia (Wednesday), vs. Kentucky (Saturday)

For the first time in a month, there’s a legitimate No. 1 debate. For me, it’s between Auburn and Gonzaga, with Arizona’s relative lack of key wins keeping the Wildcats one notch behind the Tigers and Bulldogs.

So why Auburn?

Simply put, I think the Tigers’ overall r?sum? is slightly better. They have eight wins away from home, compared to Gonzaga’s four. They have eight Quadrant 1 and 2 wins, which is three more than Gonzaga’s. It’s very close: The Zags rank No. 1 in NET, KenPom, BPI and Sagarin, and own wins over Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA and BYU, but Auburn just edges it out — for now. The Tigers host Kentucky on Saturday, in a game that is shaping up to be one of the best conference matchups of the season. Kentucky, as I’ll get to shortly, has been one of the best teams in the country over the past month and will be looking to knock Auburn from its perch.

2. Gonzaga Bulldogs (14-2)
Previous ranking: 2
This week: vs. San Francisco (Thursday)

I’m pretty certain Gonzaga will regain the No. 1 spot at some point this season, so Zags fans shouldn’t be too upset with my decision not to put them up at the top this week. Plus, it seems the Bulldogs have regained the momentum and swagger they had at the start of the season. They’re scoring at an absurdly efficient level over the past week and a half, putting up at least 110 points in each of their past three games while also scoring at least 1.27 points per possession. In fact, the last time the Zags scored fewer than 1.20 points per possession was Dec. 18 against Texas Tech. In its past three games, Gonzaga has shot at least 60% from 2-point range, made at least 10 3s and shot at least 40% from 3.

The perfect example of Gonzaga’s offensive prowess? BYU was awesome in the first half against Gonzaga on Thursday, making 10 3s and scoring 49 points — and still went into halftime down 12.

3. Arizona Wildcats (14-1)
Previous ranking: 3
This week: at Stanford (Thursday), at California (Sunday)

After playing just one game in three weeks due to opponents dealing with COVID-19 issues and protocols, Arizona finally got in a two-game week. In those two comfortable wins, the Wildcats were able to showcase their depth and myriad options.

Against Colorado on Thursday, Arizona received production off the bench from backup guards Pelle Larsson and Justin Kier, which would be useful again on Saturday against Utah with starting point guard Kerr Kriisa out. Kier had 14 points off the bench on Thursday, and then dished out eight assists to just one turnover on Saturday. Larsson, a former Utah transfer, had 12 points and two 3s against Colorado and then played a season-high 26 minutes against his former team.

With Bennedict Mathurin taking a back seat in the two games, Azuolas Tubelis had his best performance of the season. Tubelis went for 32 points, eight rebounds and five assists on Saturday.

4. Duke Blue Devils (14-2)
Previous ranking: 6
This week: at Florida State (Tuesday), vs. Syracuse (Saturday)

After a stretch of unimpressive performances that culminated in a home loss to Miami last weekend, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski tweaked his lineup to notch wins over Wake Forest and NC State last week. Starting point guard Jeremy Roach was out, and freshman A.J. Griffin was in. It resulted in two solid wins and a breakout performance from Griffin. The highly touted recruit had been injured in the preseason, and got off to a slow start in November, but he has scored in double figures in six of his past eight games, including Wednesday’s 22-point, four-rebound performance against Wake Forest. He makes plays at both ends of the floor and can shoot from the perimeter. Meanwhile, Roach responded by providing some stability at the point guard spot off the bench. In two games, he totaled five assists, two steals and zero turnovers.

5. Baylor Bears (15-2)
Previous ranking: 1
This week: at West Virginia (Tuesday), at Oklahoma (Saturday)

Despite the two losses, Baylor’s r?sum? is still awfully impressive, and the Bears are still very much in the mix for a top-five ranking and projected 1-seed in the NCAA tournament. They’re ranked in the top five of the NET and KenPom, are tied for the most Quadrant 1 wins in the country and are 6-0 away from home. They still have wins over Villanova, Michigan State and Iowa State. So there shouldn’t have been any real expectation that they would free fall down the rankings. But they showed their vulnerabilities, some of which I mentioned above, in their two losses of the past week. Moving forward, Drew needs Akinjo and Sochan to be fully healthy for this week. Part of what has made Baylor so successful in the past two and a half seasons is that it had players who could make plays on their own; Akinjo might be better at that than anyone else on the roster, and Sochan is an X factor.

6. Kansas Jayhawks (14-2)
Previous ranking: 7
This week: at Oklahoma (Tuesday), at Kansas State (Saturday)

If Kansas is going to be enough of a threat to reach New Orleans in early April, the Jayhawks need Jalen Wilson and David McCormack to play like they did against West Virginia on Saturday. Wilson, one of last season’s breakout stars, was suspended for the first three games of this season and had one double-figure scoring game once he returned to the lineup. But against the Mountaineers, the sophomore guard went for 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three 3-pointers. McCormack meanwhile continued his frustrating inconsistency, following up his one-point, 10-minute effort in Tuesday’s win against Iowa State with 19 points, 15 rebounds and three assists against West Virginia.

Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun have been fantastic this season, and Remy Martin needs to get healthy, but Wilson and McCormack producing consistently gives Kansas a higher ceiling.

7. Purdue Boilermakers (14-2)
Previous ranking: 8
This week: at Illinois (Monday), at Indiana (Thursday), vs. Northwestern (Sunday)

Given the way Illinois is playing of late, Monday’s trip to Champaign is essentially a must-win for Purdue if the Boilermakers still harbor Big Ten title hopes. The Fighting Illini are 6-0 in conference play, while the Boilermakers already have two league losses. Dropping to three in the loss column could be tough to overcome. To avoid that, Purdue will need to get a bit more from the supporting cast that was so, so productive early in the season. Sasha Stefanovic, a 40% 3-point shooter, is 5-for-20 from behind the arc over his past three games and is shooting 26.7% from 3 in Big Ten play. Isaiah Thompson has never been much of a scorer, but he could make a shot and keep defenses honest; he has been held scoreless in two of his past three games, and is 1-for-12 from 3 during that span. Caleb Furst scoring 10 points against Nebraska is promising, however.

8. Villanova Wildcats (13-4)
Previous ranking: 12
This week: vs. Marquette (Wednesday), at Georgetown (Saturday)

Jay Wright’s team is now on a six-game winning streak and coming off arguably its most complete performance all season. The Wildcats beat Butler by 40 on Sunday, making 12 3s and shooting better than 63% from behind the arc, while also holding Butler to 0.72 points per possession. Sure, Butler’s defense has completely collapsed over the past month, but Villanova finding its outside shooting stroke is going to be key over the final two months of the season.

Sunday was the first time since Dec. 7 that the Wildcats made double-figure 3s — a threshold they hit seven times in the first nine games of the season. It’s also worth noting that Villanova is starting to get some interior production from big man Eric Dixon, who had 14 points and four assists against Butler after going for 15 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday’s win over Xavier.

9. Kentucky Wildcats (14-3)
Previous ranking: 15
This week: at Texas A&M (Wednesday), at Auburn (Saturday)

Kentucky’s offensive effort against Tennessee on Saturday was as good as we’ve seen from anyone in college basketball this season. The Wildcats dropped 107 points on the Volunteers, who had entered Tuesday with the No. 2-ranked defense in the country. The most points Tennessee had allowed all season entering the game was 79, a number that Kentucky hit with more than 12 minutes still remaining. The Wildcats shot 71.1% from 2, 61.1% from 3 and 95.2% from the free throw line, and forced 20 turnovers. Kentucky played fast and aggressive and consistently scored before Tennessee could get organized. Since the Wildcats beat North Carolina on Dec. 18 — a span that includes their past eight games — only one team (Gonzaga) has had a better adjusted efficiency rating, according to BartTorvik.com, than Kentucky.

10. Wisconsin Badgers (14-2)
Previous ranking: In the waiting room
This week: at Northwestern (Tuesday), vs. Michigan State (Friday)

After Wisconsin knocked off Purdue, Iowa and Maryland two weeks ago, the Badgers were right on the precipice of moving into the Power Rankings. A 10-point win over Ohio State on Thursday sealed it. And while Wisconsin’s performance-based metrics aren’t all that impressive when compared with some of the other teams in this range, the Badgers’ r?sum?-based metrics have few peers at this point in the season. They’re ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s Strength of Record, which judges overall body of work. They have five Quadrant 1 wins, tied for the most in the country, and nine Quadrant 1 and 2 wins, which are the most in college basketball. Wisconsin has knocked off Houston, Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State, Saint Mary’s, Indiana, Marquette and Texas A&M — with four of those wins coming away from home.

11. Houston Cougars (15-2)
Previous ranking: 14
This week: vs. South Florida (Tuesday), vs. East Carolina (Saturday)

Given the season-ending injuries last month to Tramon Mark and Marcus Sasser, the last thing Houston could afford was another perimeter injury, but that’s what happened at Tulsa on Saturday. Point guard Jamal Shead, who started the past 12 games and scored in double figures in seven straight games entering the weekend, went down with an ankle injury in the first half and didn’t return. For a team already low on perimeter depth, that could be crushing. But Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars were able to figure things out and gut out the win. Freshman Ramon Walker played 31 minutes off the bench, while former Texas Tech transfer Kyler Edwards played all 40 minutes and finished with 29 points and seven 3-pointers. Here’s hoping Shead’s injury doesn’t keep him out too long.

12. UCLA Bruins (11-2)
Previous ranking: 4
This week: at Utah (Thursday), at Colorado (Saturday)

UCLA still hasn’t quite regained its early-season form, and it finally cost the Bruins against Oregon on Thursday. In a tough game, the Bruins came back in the final minute to force an extra period but didn’t have the legs to get a win over the line. Some of the recent struggles have coincided with Jaime Jaquez‘s ankle injury, and inconsistency potentially related to said injury. Since UCLA came off its 26-day pause, Jaquez has averaged 8.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in three games, and sat out the Bruins’ win over Oregon State on Saturday. A healthy Jaquez is one of the toughest matchups in the Pac-12, and Mick Cronin will need him at 100% for the stretch run. In his place, UCLA has used Jaylen Clark and Peyton Watson. Clark started on Saturday and scored 11 points, while Watson had one of his best games of the season in the Oregon loss, going for 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

13. LSU Tigers (15-2)
Previous ranking: 11
This week: at Alabama (Wednesday), at Tennessee (Saturday)

When talking to opposing coaches about LSU, the one thing that stands out in terms of potential trouble spots is the Tigers’ inability to create consistent offense in the half court. Because they have the No. 1 defense in the country and rank in the top 10 in steal percentage and block percentage, it doesn’t often matter. They’re so good in transition and so good at creating fast-break opportunities. And it looked like more of the same against Arkansas on Saturday — until the Razorbacks stopped turning the ball over and started scoring in the second half. They finished the game on a 17-2 run and handed LSU a seven-point home loss. Arkansas committed 19 turnovers for the game, but it was able to keep LSU in the half court late, and the Tigers couldn’t get a basket. Xavier Pinson‘s injury has only heightened that issue.

14. Michigan State Spartans (14-3)
Previous ranking: 9
This week: at Wisconsin (Friday)

Even when Michigan State was on its nine-game winning streak and ranked inside the top 10, it was difficult to fully jump on the Sparty bandwagon. The Spartans struggled in several of those victories and haven’t beaten an NCAA tournament team since Thanksgiving. But Gabe Brown had become a go-to guy, Max Christie was emerging, Tyson Walker or AJ Hoggard was providing competent point guard play and Tom Izzo had plenty of frontcourt options. So there was optimism in East Lansing.

That feels a little less widespread after the weekend. Michigan State dropped a home game to a Northwestern team playing without Pete Nance on Saturday, putting up just 62 points on 67 possessions. It was the Spartans’ worst offensive performance since November, turning it over 17 times and going just 6-for-21 from behind the arc. Four of their next five games are on the road, too, starting with Wisconsin and Illinois. How will the Spartans respond?

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-4)
Previous ranking: In the waiting room
This week: vs. Iowa State (Tuesday), vs. West Virginia (Saturday)

A one-week stretch that started with a win over Kansas and included a road win at previously undefeated Baylor and a blowout of Oklahoma State somehow ended with an 11-point loss at Kansas State. But it’s still enough to get the Red Raiders into the Power Rankings, as they have a top-20 NET with wins over Baylor, Kansas and Tennessee. A potential trouble spot on their r?sum? could be their road/neutral record, as they’re one of just two teams in the top 16 below .500 away from home (Kentucky is the other). But given that they beat Baylor in Waco, I don’t imagine it’s a long-term problem. After dominating the paint in the wins over the Jayhawks and the Bears, most of Tech’s offensive issues against Kansas State stemmed from their lack of efficiency inside the arc. Bryson Williams dominated, but the supporting cast didn’t step up like it had in previous games.

16. Iowa State Cyclones (14-3)
Previous ranking: 13
This week: at Texas Tech (Tuesday), vs. TCU (Saturday)

Entering Big 12 play, Iowa State was 12-0 and arguably the biggest surprise during the first half of the season. But the Cyclones’ opening six-game schedule in conference play is as daunting as any six-game stretch anyone will face all season. So, the narrative was clear: How TJ Otzelberger’s team navigated the first three weeks of conference play would determine how legitimate a threat the Cyclones would be in the Big 12. Through five of those six games, Iowa State did it pretty effectively. The Cyclones are 2-3 in league play, after bouncing back from Tuesday’s heartbreaking one-point road loss at Kansas with a solid home win over Texas. The six-game stretch ends with a road trip to Texas Tech on Tuesday, before things ease up ever so slightly for a couple games. A 3-3 split would be a fairly remarkable start to Big 12 play.

Dropped out: USC Trojans (No. 10), Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 15)

In the waiting room

Illinois Fighting Illini: The only thing keeping Illinois from moving much higher up the rankings is a lack of signature wins. Right now, the Fighting Illini’s best win is over Iowa. That can change as soon as Monday night, when Purdue visits Champaign. A win there and at Maryland on Friday, and Illinois will be the clear-cut favorite for the Big Ten title.

Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio State dropped out of the rankings following its loss at Wisconsin on Thursday, but then bounced back with a five-point win over Penn State on Sunday. The Buckeyes should roll out a couple of wins this week against IUPUI and Nebraska, which should give Zed Key — who has notched back-to-back double-figure scoring games — a chance to continue his momentum.

Xavier Musketeers: The only two losses for Xavier since Thanksgiving came at the hands of Villanova, including a tough four-point defeat to the Wildcats on Wednesday. But Travis Steele’s Musketeers can make a strong case that they’re the second-best team in the Big East. They’re 7-3 against Quadrants 1 and 2, with top-20 rankings in the NET, KenPom, BPI and ESPN’s Strength of Record.

Read More

The Chicago Bears at last have had their say. During the news conference last week at which the team announced the firing of its head coach and general manager, the team’s usually quiet top brass did its best to argue it’s still capable of building a winner and of managing a business with a major decision ahead.

And that might be the nicest possible thing to say about the performance by Chairman George McCaskey and President Ted Phillips. The reviews were resoundingly unkind.

Others are better suited to comment about gridiron wisdom. My focus was on the Bears’ approach to getting a new stadium, possibly in Arlington Heights. Don’t bet the rent money that it’s going to happen. But the NFL will make certain something happens because one of its charter franchises is in an untenable situation.

Chicago Enterprise

As one expert told me, “The Bears are in the third or fourth quartile of league revenue, but they’re in a first-quartile market. It’s a problem the NFL will want them to fix.”

The team’s answer thus far has been to sign a contract to buy the former Arlington International Racecourse for $197.2 million, a 326-acre parcel with plenty of room for activities that go beyond 10 football games a year. McCaskey said Phillips is in charge of the team’s potential move from Soldier Field.

But he also said Phillips, while still involved in big hiring decisions, would be taken out of the loop on football operations. The next general manager, McCaskey said, would report directly to him, not through Phillips.

A Bears fan registers his opinion during the team’s losing effort against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 20 at Soldier Field.AP

As a corporate move, it sounded like Phillips was being put on a shelf. But ever the loyalist to the McCaskeys, Phillips put a good face on his assignment, speaking in glowing terms of the prospects in Arlington Heights.

“There’s nothing else like it in Chicagoland,” he said. “So the opportunities — you know, we haven’t even begun to envision what it could be. But we’re hopeful, if we close, that we’ll be moving forward with turning it into a wonderful destination site.” He added that it could be “an entertainment destination with multiple facets to it that I think could really help put Arlington Heights on the map as a destination spot.”

But McCaskey tempered that, emphasizing the complexities of real estate dealmaking and saying “a lot of due diligence” needs to be performed. Such as keeping communications open to the Chicago mayor’s office, with which he’ll be negotiating on Soldier Field.

Some experts in development issues believe the Bears are goners from Chicago, that a custom stadium in Arlington Heights will produce more revenue. But that begs a lot of questions.

This would be a multibillion-dollar venture, and that’s not what the McCaskeys do. They would need partners. Do they go to the suburbs even if it means they cede control of a team that’s been their birthright? Are they counting on a big state tax subsidy? And what about the residents of Arlington Heights, who might not want everything that comes with being “a destination spot?”

Others believe the Bears have a sweet deal in Soldier Field, that adding capacity and maybe a roof to the stadium would cost less than new construction and that the city has more levers to pull for financial incentives, especially the hotel tax, which at least doesn’t hit homeowners unless they stay downtown. In looking to expand its revenue, the Bears have to appreciate that Chicago drew about 60 million visitors a year before the pandemic.

The city could drive a hard bargain with the Bears. Since the renovated Soldier Field opened in 2003, the team’s value has doubled to about $4 billion, according to some estimates. Meanwhile, there’s still about $423 million owed on the bonds sold for that work, according to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, which makes those payments. “That’s not a great equation for the taxpayers,” a source said.

Finally, there’s a curious person on the outskirts of this. It’s investor Bob Dunn, who has a hankering to build a casino as part of a high-rise megacity over the commuter rail tracks west of Soldier Field. He has a powerful interest in enjoying the mayor’s favor and in the Bears staying put. And as president of Landmark Development, he’s been involved in new stadiums for the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. He knows this business and could give someone advice. Dunn has declined requests to talk about Soldier Field.

The bottom line about the Bears in Arlington Heights might be this: “Think of the week McCaskey and Phillips have had,” a development expert said. “They can’t figure out how to hire 10 people who know their heads from their a—- on football. How are they going to figure out a multibillion-dollar, complex real estate development in the suburbs, when the market trends have been moving away from the suburbs?”

It’s early in the game, but quarterback McCaskey is under heavy pressure.

Read More

The credit for breaking the internet could go to Rebecca Black who, in 2011 at age 13, unleashed the earworm ‘tween anthem “Friday,” resulting in an impressive 158 million views. The tune was simultaneously eviscerated as the worst song ever written.

The viral sensation has since been parodied and celebrated a number of times. Katy Perry featured Black in her “Last Friday Night” music video; the song was the inspiration for a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial in 2018, and Black even wrote a tongue-in-cheek follow-up called “Saturday” with Dave Days in 2013.

Fans heading to her first headlining tour — making a stop at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on Jan. 18 — might not recognize that “Friday” girl anymore. She’s 24 years old now, and she’s made a lot of strides in her artistry and own identity, as seen with last summer’s EP (her first in 10 years) called “Rebecca Black Was Here,” released on her RB Records label. Hailed by NMEas a case of a “viral star finding her voice,” the six-track recording with the heartfelt dream pop track “Blue” and the matured ebullience of “Girlfriend” did an about face, introducing a verified hyperpop star..

“I think other people have called it a comeback, and I totally understand why, considering I’ve been around for almost 11 years even though I’m only 24. But for me, I feel in a lot of ways like this is not even a fresh start, but finally I am ready. I finally know what I’m doing,” Black said during a recent interview. “It took the normal years that it would take for anybody to really figure out what they want to say and who they are.”

If you know her from “Friday” she hopes you will accept her for who she is now. “I’ll let all the ‘Friday’ jokes happen, I get it,” she says. “But the idea of defining a person from when they were super-young, or defining anyone from any one moment, inhibits a lot of freedom and creativity that I think people deserve to have.”

For the 10th anniversary of the now RIAA Gold certified “Friday” in 2021, Black revamped the track with a flashy electro-clash remix featuring Big Freedia, Dorian Electra and 3OH!3, perhaps how the song always should have been presented.

In the 10-year interim before her public metamorphosis, the Irvine, California, native says she “was growing up for a majority of it,” while also finishing high school — eventually having to transition to home schooling after falling victim to relentless bullying at the hands of classmates and online death threats.

In spite of the cyberbullying, Black still opts to release most of her music and content on YouTube, including her latest effort, “Read My Mind,” featuring Slayyyter that debuted in December alongside a video directed by frequent collaborator Weston Allen. Black is one of YouTube’s most successful creators — 1.5 million followers and growing — and a poster child for a newer generation that has relied heavily on the platform to gain an audience.

“I was somebody who grew up on the internet. I grew up watching YouTube from the time it basically [began], and that was what I knew and loved, especially when I was transitioning into home school after ‘Friday.’ The internet was where I found a massive source of my relationships and friendships as a teenager,” she said. “I think the internet, when it’s at its best, can be a really beautiful source of community for anybody.”

It’s a place where she’s also shared a lot of herself. In 2020, Black publicly came out as queer on an episode of the “Dating Straight” podcast and has since been celebrated as a queer icon. Her advocacy with GLAAD, Best Buddies and the AdCouncil, and her song “Girlfriend” in particular, landed her on Variety’s 2021 “Power of Pride” list and Bustle’s 2021 Pride Yearbook.

“I grew up very similarly to many of the people in my audience. I was finding my own kind of relationship with myself and I’m lucky to be in a time where more and more people are coming out and being more honest,” Black said. “So it only felt natural, especially as I started putting myself into my music more, that I might as well be honest about this. And I have something to say here.”

She adds that in speaking out she also hopes to make others feel safe to do so. “I didn’t realize it was valid until I had conversations with people like me. It’s so important for everybody to have representation out there.”

Read More

Read More

The last time the Bears went looking for a head coach, they had a Sunday-morning interview with an offensive coordinator whose team had hosted a first-round playoff game the night before.

Matt Nagy’s Chiefs were stunned so badly — they led the Titans 21-3 and lost by one — that the Bears offered to put off the morning interview so he could compose himself. Nagy refused, wowed general manager Ryan Pace in a conference room in Kansas City and was hired hours later.

On Sunday, the Bears had another interview with an offensive coordinator whose team had played in the first round of the playoffs the night before. Brian Daboll, however, didn’t have the same problem Nagy did. All his Bills did Saturday night was come close to hanging half a hundred on Bill Belichick’s Patriots. In their 47-17 victory, the Bills did something no NFL team had accomplished in the regular season or postseason: They didn’t punt, kick a field goal, turn the ball over or reach fourth down.

Those facts — and that score — had to be racing through Bears chairman George McCaskey’s head when he fell asleep Saturday night. Last week, he repeatedly refused to state his preference about the expertise of his next head coach. He said he wanted leaders first, not an offensive or defensive mind.

McCaskey would be foolish, however, not to weigh offensive expertise more heavily than he does defense.

The Bears thought Marc Trestman and Nagy would bring them into the world of modern offensive football, albeit kicking and screaming. Neither stuck, but that doesn’t mean the Bears can stop trying to find that coach. The last five Super Bowl champions have finished among the top five in the NFL in points per game and among the top seven in yards per game. Good luck winning with ball control and defense.

To paraphrase Democratic political strategist James Carville: It’s the quarterback, stupid. It’s always the quarterback. If McCaskey doesn’t understand that, here’s hoping his next general manager — the person whose vote on the head coach matters most — does.

The fastest path for the Bears to return to relevance is for rookie quarterback Justin Fields to turn into the superstar they think he can be. The head coach needs to be the man to help him do that — or have a plan to bring in an assistant who will.

That coordinator or quarterbacks coach, however, can be lured away to a new team next year. That’s precisely what the Bears would do if they hired Daboll with the hope he could develop Fields the way he did Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The Dolphins have the same idea about Tua Tagovailoa, and they interviewed Daboll on Sunday, too.

Hiring an offensive-minded head coach ensures no team can break the bond between the Bears’ offensive architect and Fields. That was the plan when the Bears hired Nagy four years ago. And that was the plan for literally every NFC team that made the playoffs. All seven teams have an offensive-minded head coach. Four were offensive coordinators who got their first head-coaching job with their franchise, including Matt LaFleur, whose Packers went 13-4 this season and enjoyed a first-round bye.

The Bears interviewed LaFleur’s offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, on Saturday. Only 42, Hackett fits the prototype of the dynamic coordinator a team can pair with an up-and-coming quarterback. He doesn’t call plays, however, and is hardly the first coordinator to get the most out of Aaron Rodgers, who has been a star in three decades.

Hackett has talked with four of the seven teams that actively have been conducting interviews. Teams can’t talk with him again until the Packers are out of the playoffs.

The Bears interviewed Jim Caldwell on Saturday, too. He won a Super Bowl as Peyton Manning’s quarterback coach and was the head coach of both Manning’s Colts and Matthew Stafford’s Lions.

In seven seasons, he went 62-50 as a head coach — with 14 of those losses coming in 2011, when Manning’s neck injury forced the Colts to start Curtis Painter, Dan Orlovsky and Kerry Collins all season. Since 2001, the Lions have finished above .500 four times; Caldwell was the head coach for three of those teams.

Maybe that’s the leadership the Bears are looking for. Maybe Hackett can grow with Fields. Or maybe McCaskey can’t get the Bills’ 47 points out of head.

Regardless, he has to recognize that, in a league that stresses offense like never before, not all expertise is considered equal.

Read More