On Friday, March 21, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost their fourth consecutive game. After dominating the regular season for months, the Cavaliers have hit a patchy streak at arguably the most inopportune time.

When speaking to the media following Cleveland’s 112-123 loss to the Phoenix Suns, head coach Kenny Atkinson opted to remain positive.

“I turned positive. I thought our spirit and our energy, and our juice was better in the second half. I loved how our bench guys came in: Ty (Jerome), Sam Merrill and Dean (Wade). I thought (Javonte Green) gave us some good minutes,” Atkinson said. “I told them we have a great team. I loved how we fought in the second half. A little adversity, probably a good thing at this point in the season.”

“That’s part of my job: Understanding the context, where we are in the season, what we want to accomplish, knowing our guys,” Atkinson said. “Sometimes, it’s not that way, you get on them.”

While losing four straight games is far from ideal, there’s no reason to believe the Cavaliers are in crisis. Not yet, at least.

During his postgame news conference following the Cavaliers’ 119-123 loss to the Sacramento Kings on March 19, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell admitted that he’s enjoying the Cavaliers’ recent slide.

“I’m trying to refrain from using the word happy,” Mitchell said. “I’m kind of a sicko, so I enjoy this. This is what makes the season fun — going through adversity.”

A tough stretch like this is essential for building resilience within the roster. Adversity is almost guaranteed during the postseason, whether that’s during one game or throughout a series. As such, Mitchell is right to embrace the Cavaliers’ difficult period, as there will certainly be more to come.

Chloe Kitts and Collin Murray-Boyles are proving to be a powerhouse couple in the world of college basketball.

Kitts, a key player for the South Carolina Gamecocks, played an instrumental role in their undefeated 2023-2024 championship season. She also won gold medals with the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup Team and the 2022 FIBA U18 AmeriCup squad.

On the men’s side, Murray-Boyles was an instant contributor as a rookie for the Gamecocks, making the SEC All-Freshman Team and guiding his team to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2017.

While their on-court performances have captivated fans, their relationship off the court is equally compelling. Kitts is Murray-Boyles’ biggest supporter, frequently hyping him up on social media and celebrating his successes, while he has reciprocated her energy with a sweet shout-out on National Girlfriend Day.

Though they keep much of their romance private, their public moments — like Kitts’ viral “That’s my man” moment — have only added to their growing reputation as college basketball’s latest dynamic duo.

From their TikTok dance trends to their mutual support of each other, here’s a look at Chloe Kitts and Collin Murray-Boyles’ relationship.

After months of speculation about the nature of their relationship, the couple confirmed they were dating in April 2024.

Kitts posted a clip on her Instagram Stories featuring herself and Murray-Boyles as they headed to the South Carolina Gamecocks annual gala. The athletic pair were all smiles in a car as they made their way to the ceremony.

“My love,” Kitts captioned the video and tagged the power forward.

Shortly after, they dished on their respective outfits while on the red carpet, admiring each other’s looks.

“[I] just got this for the team,” Murray-Boyles explained. “It’s just a simple grey outfit, you know, nothing too popping.”

“My dress is from the mall, and we have matching chains,” added Kitts.

“Looks fantastic, by the way,” Murray-Boyles chimed in.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The South Carolina women’s basketball team is set to receive an exciting send-off before their highly-anticipated tournament rematch against Indiana.

The sendoff will take place tomorrow before the game at the Marriot Hotel on Hampton Street at 12:45 Sunday afternoon. WIS will be streaming the send-off on this article, so be sure to check it out!

After the sendoff, the Gamecocks head to Colonial Life to tipoff against the Hoosiers at 3 p.m. The game will air on ABC.

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Dawn Staley Wore This Iced Out Gift From Plies—& Then South Carolina Made History

Plies gifted South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley a dazzling custom chain that seemingly brought the team good fortune.

The Gamecocks crushed Tennessee Tech by 60 points in the NCAA Tournament opener on Friday (March 21).

Before the game, the Hip-Hop artist and devoted Gamecocks supporter surprised head Staley with a sparkling, gem-encrusted necklace modeled after the NCAA championship trophy.

The extravagant pendant prominently features the years South Carolina clinched national titles—2017, 2022 and 2024—topped off with a glittering basketball.

On the reverse side, a heartfelt inscription reads: “Dawn Staley / ‘God is within her she will not fail! Psalm 46:50.’”

Staley proudly sported the flashy accessory courtside as her squad dominated Tennessee Tech, setting a new school scoring record in the process.

The Gamecocks’ 108-48 victory marked the largest margin of victory in the program’s NCAA Tournament history, surpassing their previous record—a 58-point win over Howard in 2022.

Staley expressed gratitude to Plies on social media.

Oklahoma

• Oklahoma’s current winning streak is 30 games. The four-time defending national champions carried over a win against Florida and two victories over Texas in winning last season’s Women’s College World Series.

• The Sooners rank first in the SEC in slugging percentage (.664), second in on-base percentage (.480) and home runs (54), third in runs scored (236), fourth in opponents’ batting average (.191) and fifth in earned-run average (1.94) and stolen bases (45).

• Sooner freshman shortstop Gabbie Garcia has a 13-game hitting streak and has hit seven home runs in her last 11 games. She leads the team with nine home runs.

• OU is 10-0 in away games this season and 68-6 away from home over the last five seasons.

Missouri

• The only major offensive category in which Missouri ranks in the top five in the SEC is plate appearances. Notably, the Tigers rank 15th out of 16 SEC teams in batting average (.293) and on-base percentage (.391).
• • Senior catcher Julie Crenshaw is Missouri’s leading hitter with a .374 batting average. Sophomore infielder Madison Walker brings the power with a team-best 12 home runs, tied for eighth-best nationally, and 33 runs batted in. Walker is riding an eight-game hitting streak.
  • The Tigers are a perfect 6-0 at home this season.
  • Missouri last played a No. 1 team in 2015, hosting the top-ranked Florida Gators. Mizzou lost the first two games in the series by a combined four runs but avoided the sweep with a 3-2 win in the series finale.

The Sooners will play Mizzou this weekend.

For the third straight weekend, the top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma puts its perfect record on the line in the softball mine field that is the SEC, heading to Columbia, Missouri, to take on an old foe.

The top-ranked Sooners (27-0, 6-0) and Missouri Tigers (17-13, 0-3) begin a three-game series on Friday at 2,600-seat Mizzou Softball Stadium. Oklahoma holds a 55-41 record all-time against the Tigers and is 19-10 in games played at Mizzou.

Although Oklahoma and Missouri used to play several times every season as members of the Big Eight and Big 12, the two teams have met just four times since Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC after the 2012 season. The Sooners last played in Columbia in 2011, when they lost back-to-back one-run games.

Oklahoma is coming off of back-to-back series sweeps over No. 10 South Carolina and No. 15 Arkansas, and earlier this week won 8-0 over East Texas A&M behind a combined no-hitter thrown by Isabella Smith, Kiersten Deal and Paytn Monticelli.

This is only Missouri’s second SEC series in 2025. The Tigers were swept at No. 23 Kentucky a couple of weeks ago, but have won six times since then, including a 5-3 home win on Tuesday against bordering-state rival Illinois.

The series opener on Friday will start at 5 p.m. CT, the start time on Saturday is 2 p.m. and noon on Sunday. All three games will be on SEC Network+.

In some way, the New York Yankees cleaned house this offseason after making it to the World Series. They watched a number of free agents depart and traded some other notable names to clear a path for newer additions.

One of those trades featured 2022 All-Star Jose Trevino, who was sent to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for relief pitcher Fernando Cruz. The agreement allowed the Yankees to add bullpen depth and free up about $3.5 million in salary (Trevino’s expected arbitration figure).

And it only took a few months for Trevino to get a larger payday. In what some Yankees fans would consider a jarring move, the Reds signed Trevino to a three-year extension in the $15 million range on Thursday afternoon.

For as much as Yankees fans loved Trevino, there was no debating his declining play. His bat quickly regressed (perhaps as a result of injuries, or perhaps as a result of 2022 being some sort of an aberration) and his arm strength suffered greatly due to shoulder woes.

The Yankees didn’t deem him worth $3.5 million for 2025, but the Reds, a small market club, just invested $15 million in him? We know New York doesn’t always make shrewd personnel decisions, but what gives here?

But congratulations are in order. Trevino has been in MLB since 2018 and has worked his way into a valuable backup role. Entering his age-32 season, he was in need of a payday, and he secured it. Good for him, he’s undoubtedly worked hard.

In fact, he was once among the best defensive catchers in the sport. And he still remains there in a few categories. He’s tops in the league for blocks above average and framing. There’s a ton of value in that.

 

NORMAN — Lauren Chamberlain, third all-time on the NCAA’s career home run list, sat perched behind OU softball’s dugout in her seat inside Love’s Field.

The former Sooners legend surveyed Tiare Jennings, fourth on the list, strolling to the plate as she entered the batter’s box. Two pitches later when Jennings returned to Chamberlain’s eyeline, the latter wasn’t alone in third.

Jennings blasted a 1-0 offering over the centerfield wall and into the batter’s eye for her 95th career homer, tying her with Chamberlain for third in NCAA history and second in program history. Jennings cemented herself further in OU postseason lore, recording her 18th career home run in the NCAA Tournament.

“She’s awesome,” Chamberlain told The Oklahoman during the game. “One of my favorite people. I’ve always been a fan of her and it’s awesome to see her now, closing out her chapter with the Sooners and doing it on top and just showing how powerful she is.”

Jennings’ solo shot gave No. 2 OU its first lead and contributed to its 11-3 win over No. 15 Florida State in Game 1 of the NCAA Norman Super Regional. Jennings is hitting .428 with three home runs and six RBIs in four games during this year’s postseason.

When asked about the hit that tied Chamberlain, Sooners coach Patty Gasso, catcher Kinzie Hansen and Jennings herself were stunned.

“I never would have thought,” Jennings said. “I honestly didn’t really know that was a thing. But records are meant to be broken, so it’s definitely a huge honor. Just shows the power of the Sooners and their home run power, but it’s just super cool.”

This season has been a trying one for Jennings. Gasso has mentioned she’s pressed herself at times to perform this season, leading to some slumps.

Jennings’ numbers have dipped a bit from a season ago and opposing pitchers are attacking her differently than in past years. She sees more pitches out of the zone and has had to adjust her approach at times.

Jennings is hitting .373 this season, a career-low. Her career batting average entering 2024 stood at .427.

Alumnae such as Chamberlain and Sydney Romero — ninth on OU’s career home run list — have been there for Jennings this season when she has sought their guidance. Jennings has handled juggling expectations to win her fourth consecutive national title, anxieties about her future and her role as one of the Sooners’ captains alongside Hansen like a professional.

“You can see her growth and the “C” on her chest,” Chamberlain said. “She’s a captain and she takes pride in it and that’s what you want as a former Sooner. To see the current Sooners carrying the torch and she’s doing a great job.”

Chamberlain wasn’t surprised in the slightest as she watched Jennings round the bases. This is who Jennings is and has been her entire career — one of the most dangerous hitters in the country.

“She’s just hitting good pitches, she doesn’t chase,” Chamberlain said. “I know, especially in the postseason, the pitching gets better. But that’s when she starts to elevate her stuff and it’s awesome to see her progress and trust herself in the postseason. She’s somebody that the Sooners can always depend on.”

Following Jennings’ surprise reaction to the news, Chamberlain made her way near OU’s locker room to congratulate her and pose for a photo.

“Honestly, every time I see her it’s a hug and she’s so warm,” Chamberlain said. “So there’s still such a good relationship between the alumni and our players and (Gasso) continues to (encourage it).”

The Sooners’ winning streak ended with a loss to Missouri.

The streak is over.

After 31 straight wins, the Oklahoma Sooners finally lost a softball game. The Sooners had started the season 28-0, plus three wins that carried over from last year after winning their fourth national title in a row.

The Sooners had been the last undefeated team still standing in Division-I softball this season for two weeks.

In what seemed like an impossible feat, it was the lackluster Missouri Tigers who beat OU 3-1 on Saturday in Columbia, Missouri. The Sooners run-ruled Mizzou 8-0 the night before to start the weekend series. Now, OU will have a rubber game for the first time this season.

As Missouri tallied its first conference win after starting SEC play 0-4, the Sooners suffered their first loss ever in SEC play after beginning 7-0 with sweeps over South Carolina and Arkansas.

The Sooners could never get their bats going, though. OU didn’t even score until Nelly McEnroe-Marinas hit a home run over left field in the seventh inning.

The Tigers put up two quick in the first inning, then added another in the fourth.

Of the teams ahead for the Sooners, Missouri seemed like the least likely to scrap together a win against them. The Tigers were the only SEC opponent on OU’s schedule that’s not ranked with a now 18-14 record.

The Sooners will now have to bounce back after a loss for the first time since last year’s Women’s College World Series. However, that obviously didn’t rattle Patty Gasso & Co. much since they recovered with 31 straight wins afterward.

OU and Mizzou will play Game 3 at noon CT Sunday.

In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils will take on the No. 9 Baylor Bears in the East Region. According to DraftKings, the Blue Devils are heavy 12.5-point favorites.

Defensively, Duke will be going up against one of its former teammates in Baylor guard Jeremy Roach. Roach spent the first four seasons of his basketball career from 2020-2024. He decided to transfer to Waco for his fifth and final season.

Let’s take a look at why Roach opted to transfer, and how he’s done at Baylor during the season.

“Personally, I wanted to stay,” Roach said as transcribed via CBS Sports. “But stuff didn’t meet up, and it was just my time to go. … I did my four years, sacrificed a whole lot, and I made the most of it. It was no hard feelings or anything like that. It was all cool.”

“It was kind of like a mutual thing,” he continued. “[Coach Jon Scheyer] already knew what was kind of expected.”

One other factor in his decision is likely Baylor utilizing Roach as a point guard instead of a shooting guard, which he played four four seasons at Duke. In the same interview, Roach said playing at Baylor would allow him to play a position that’s more comfortable to him, and one that he played in high school.

“I made the most of what I did [at Duke],” Roach said. “It’s great getting back to what I do. Ball is in my hands now, I have to make plays for myself and others now.”

“I’ll let the whole world know right now. I’m not a 2,” Roach said. “I’m not a 3. I’m not a scoring guard. I’m a point guard. That’s just what I had to do at Duke. Right now, I’m a point guard. It’s great to get back to what I do. That was a big thing in my offseason training. I needed to get back to being that point guard. I feel more comfortable. I’m doing what I need to do. It’s no shade at Duke.”

At Baylor, Roach helped lead the Bears to a 19-14 regular-season record, with a 10-10 mark in conference play.

Roach was a huge part of Duke success in recent years.  He led the Blue Devils in assists the last two seasons, and helped Duke make a Final Four three seasons ago and reach the Elite Eight last season.  His stats at Duke were impressive:

Roach hasn’t put up as big numbers at Baylor as what he did at Duke. But he’s helping the Bears rank 16th overall in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency. Roach is still helping facilitate the offense as the point guard, too:

One of Roach’s best games with the Bears came during a March 1 win over Oklahoma State. He finished with a season-high 21 points with three assists and four boards.