Jun. 22—Summer workouts are underway for college basketball teams across the country. Some even threw open their doors for my fellow beat writers to get a glimpse. Purdue got started a week ahead of Illinois, and I knew that because I follow a lot of the Purdue writers on Twitter. They were in the gym right along with the Boilermakers.
Alas, myself and my colleagues on the Illinois beat were not in the gym at Ubben Basketball Complex last Monday for the Illini’s first workout. Maybe Brad Underwood just wanted to wait to let us in once the whole team was together.
Author: Michael
Jun. 22—***
On Monday in this space, I will present my list of the 10 most important Illinois football players this season. Pretty easy guess for No. 1.
As a teaser, here are the most important players at Duke going into the season. Manny Diaz and the Blue Devils host Illinois on Sept. 6 at Wallace Wade Stadium. It is one of a handful of games that will decide if Illinois makes the College Football Playoff along with Indiana, Ohio State, Southern California and Wisconsin.
Preseason publications are projecting Duke to at least repeat last year’s nine wins.
Maple Leafs Facing Major Decision on John Tavares Contract originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With just days remaining before free agency opens on July 1, the Toronto Maple Leafs and former team captain John Tavares remain locked in contract talks.
According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the two sides continue to talk but “haven’t found their sweet spot” on a new deal, with no real progress in their negotiations for a contract extension.
Summer is here, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay.
Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans.
It was an eventful week for Angel Reese in the filling-out paperwork department, but not so much when it comes to snagging rebounds.
It was reported on June 16 that Reese had filed a trademark for the term ‘Mebounds,’ which is a phrase her critics have been using given her uncanny ability to miss wide-open layups, snag the offensive rebound, and stuff the stat sheet. Not only is the trademark move a way to lean into all the trolling, but perhaps make a buck off of it.
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On SportsCenter, the crew discusses Game 7 of t
A top priority target for the Spartans in the 2026 class has picked up an offer from one of the biggest programs in college football.
Samson Gash of Novi, Mich. picked up an offer from Alabama on Saturday. The offer from the Crimson Tide came after working out with the Alabama staff this weekend, per a post from him on social media platform X.
Gash is a three-star wide receiver in the 2026 class that plays for Michigan high school powerhouse program Detroit Catholic Central.
The Pacers and Thunder face off in a Game 7 season finale. Here’s everything you need to know for the winner-take-all showdown.
The experts highlight the bets to make and other betting insights on Game 7 of the NBA Finals.