Author: Gabby Har

It’s fair to say Kenny Brooks made a major splash in his first season as the Kentucky Wildcats women’s head basketball coach.

From the beginning, it was clear that Brooks had a plan to get talented players to join him in Lexington.

Centered around superstar Georgia Amoore, Kentucky’s roster is littered with talent at each position in Year 1 of the Brooks era.

Sure, it’s Georgia Amoore who leads the team in scoring at nearly 20 ppg, but sophomore Clara Strack is a powerful force in the middle, averaging just under a double-double with 14.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

Sitting at 20-4 on the season, Brooks has already proven that he’s the right man for the job, but in college basketball, nothing is more important than the results you put up in March.

The Cats have four games remaining this season and can count on being underdogs in three of those.

We’ve heard all season long about how good the SEC is in men’s basketball, but the remaining schedule illustrates that the league is extremely difficult for them as well.

Currently, Kentucky is 9-3 in conference play, landing them in fourth place, trailing the Texas Longhorns by 2.5 games.

There is still a lot of basketball to be played, and UK could see their SEC tournament seed rise or fall depending on league results these last two weeks.

Regardless of where they’re seeded, I don’t believe any team in America wants to see Kentucky in their path to a Final Four.

Georgia Amoore appears poised to make a statement in what will be her final season as a collegiate athlete.

With her ability to score 30+ on any night, you can never count these Cats out.

Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said her redshirt junior outfielder suffered an ankle sprain in the Sooners’ second game of the year against San Diego State.

Oklahoma outfielder Hannah Coor is nearing a return.

Coor exited OU’s second game of the season against San Diego State after she appeared to injure her ankle while on second base.

“Nothing is broken, which it good,” Sooners coach Patty Gasso said on Tuesday. “It was just a really hard sprain.”

Gasso said Coor’s ankle was in a protective boot, and while there isn’t a set timeline, she will be back in the lineup this season.

“I think she’s going to get out of the boot this week and doing rehab at least twice a day,” Gasso said. “So she’s not too far. She’s definitely going to be back in commission.”

She had gone 2-for-4 with an RBI before the injury.

Coor did not appear in OU’s other four games throughout the Sooners’ opening weekend, and she was absent in the lineup during the Getterman Classic last weekend in Waco.

The redshirt junior has previously battled back issues in her Oklahoma career.

She made 63 appearances last year for the Sooners, primarily as a defensive replacement, but she went .211 at the plate in 38 at-bats with eight RBIs, two doubles, one walk and she was hit by two pitches.

Coor only made four appearances in 2023, and she played in 40 games in 2022.

Without Coor, Ella Parker sa

w more action in the outfield which allowed freshmen infielders Sydney Barker and Gabbie Garcia to switch between starting at shortstop and designated player.

Former UNC head coach Roy Williams voiced his support for the Tar Heels’ current HC Hubert Davis. Duke fans simply laughed at the sentiment.

Just a few days ago, former North Carolina head coach Roy Williams voiced his support for the UNC Tar Heels’ current head coach Hubert Davis after many called for his firing. Now, Duke fans are having a good laugh at their rival’s current situation.

“He’s the right person for the job. It makes me cringe, the way people are talking,” Williams said. “We’ve had tough moments this year… But I’d love for it to turn around so I could look at all those suckers and tell them to shut up”

Following Williams’ statements on Zach Gleb’s podcast show, the Duke Blue Devils and their fans had to simply laugh off the supportive sentiment for their in-state rivals.

The two long-lived rivals have only played once so far this season and the Blue Devils walked away with a resounding 87-70 victory over the Tar Heels. However, the game was played at Cameron Indoor and Duke has yet to visit Chapel Hill this year.

Davis, who played collegiate basketball at UNC, joined Williams’ staff as an assistant in 2012 and became the Tar Heels’ head coach in 2021 when Williams retired. Despite leading North Carolina to an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen last season, many UNC fans have expressed adamant doubt about Hubert’s future with the team.

So far this season, Hubert has led the Heels to a disappointing 15-11 overall record and UNC currently sits in sixth place in the ACC after going 8-6 to start conference play. Duke and North Carolina will face off for a final time in the regular season on March 8.

Evander Kane, the star player of the Edmonton Oilers, has had his own share of controversies throughout his personal and professional life. One of the biggest controversies in his life is related to his ex wife Anna Kane, who he divorced in July 2021 and then had to get a restraining order against. Last year, Evander Kane’s ex wife, Anna Kane decided to attend a game where the Edmonton Oilers played against the Red Wings despite having a restraining order. This led to utter chaos at the end.

When Evander Kane’s ex wife Anna Kane decided to attend the match between Edmonton Oilers and Red Wings, she did not expect to be removed from the game, but that’s what exactly happened, as per OutKick.

Later, Evander Kane’s ex wife, Anna Kane took to her Instagram to share a picture of her being escorted out of the venue with security officials. Anna Kane added a caption that read as, “Need 15 security to walk me out cuz your d**k is so little.” She was there to support the Red Wings and also added, “Sorry @detroitwings I got kicked out cuz my ex was crying.”

This was not the first time that Evander Kane and his ex wife, Anna Kane had a public spat. In 2021 Anna Kane shared a statement on her Instagram account where she revealed that Evander Kane had financially and emotionally neglected her and their daughter.

Evander Kane’s ex wife, Anna Kane also accused her ex husband of a gambling addiction and betting on his own games in the NHL. This became a serious accusation and he was reportedly investigated by the NHL who ultimately did not find any such evidence against him.

A few months later, Evander Kane’s ex wife, Anna Kane accused him of domestic violence and sexual assault. The star player has denied all such allegations levied against him and got a restraining order against Anna Kane after he accused her of hitting him.

Evander Kane has since moved on and is engaged to another woman currently. In December 2024, his ex wife, Anna Kane claimed she was one of the victims of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sexual assault. It is not known if the two are in contact with each other.

Also Read: Edmonton Oilers’ Evander Kane had to file for bankruptcy after earning close to $55 million in NHL career as he faced $26 million in debts

Matthew Savoie had his bag packed a long time ago, so he’d be ready if the phone rang.

Well, it rang.

The Edmonton Oilers are giving the kid from St. Albert his shot.

The club flew the 21-year-old up from Bakersfield to skate with them at practice this week and the plan is to get him into the lineup on their upcoming eastern road trip.

“As the season’s gone on he’s progressing and playing really well and we wanted to look and see how he fits into our lineup,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “Whether there’s a fit with somebody or maybe he’s just not quite ready, whatever it is.

“I think he’s earned it, I think he’s been playing very well in Bakersfield. We’ll just see if he plays well and we’ll make a decision after that.”

Savoie has been playing extremely well in Bakersfield, arguably their best forward on most nights. In his first full season as a pro he has 37 points (13 goals and 24 assists) in 45 games and he’s just back from the AHL All-Star game where he won the fastest skater competition in a time that would have cracked top five in the NHL.

There is something there and the Oilers want to take a closer look.

“At some point during the road trip he will play, but how many games and what games, that will be determined,” said Knoblauch. “It’s been earned. If he wasn’t one of the better players every single night we wouldn’t be calling him up here.”

Savoie came to Edmonton from Buffalo last summer in the trade for Ryan McLeod, so Oilers management is hoping a deal that they are losing early will turn the other way if the ninth overall pick in 2022 reaches his NHL potential.

Time will tell, but the early returns will be arriving shortly.

“The reports we’ve had for quite a while are that he’s been playing well and getting better every time in many areas of the game,” said Knoblauch. “We’re looking forward to seeing him play.”

“So pure joy for me and pure excitement.”

Savoie isn’t big (five-foot-nine, 179 pounds at the start of training camp), but he knows his way around the ice and he can skate at an NHL level. That’s a good start.

“He looked great, I thought,” said Draisaitl. “He moves really well, you can tell he’s got a lot of hockey sense, so hopefully we’ll get a couple games together and see what we have in him.

“He’s been playing really well down there from what I’ve heard. Excited to see him.”

It’s a testament to his progress that he’s getting a look this early in his pro career. As Knoblauch said, this isn’t a gift, it’s been earned.

“I’m just trying to make that big jump to the pro level, pick out the differences from junior, and try to really work on those areas,” he said. “I think it’s been a pretty seamless transition and I’m just looking to continue getting better every day.

“It’s really exciting to see where I could potentially play and where I could be. It makes me want to continue to push myself as hard as I can to get to that next level and be a contributor here.”

Skating with Draisaitl isn’t something a lot of 21-year-old rookies get to do, so the significance of that isn’t lost on Savoie.

“It was really fun. I got a little bit of a taste of it in camp, an idea of what it’s like to play with a player of that skill level. Every time you’re out there it’s a step up. The plays he makes, the way he makes them, it’s just so effortless. He knows where to put the puck. It’s really fun to play with a guy like that who can distribute and finish the way he does.”

It also helps that he’s getting clear directions on what the Oilers are looking for; Savoie and Knoblauch had a nice discussion already on what the blueprint should look like.

“It was more seeing how the year has been going, how I’m feeling coming in, answering any questions that I have,” said Savoie. “He’s really good about being open and direct and wants to make sure you have a clear, direct plan when you’re out there. It was a good conversation and just makes me feel more comfortable here.”

In a major coup for the University of Oklahoma, five-star forward Giselle Juarez, the highest-rated uncommitted player in the 2025 recruiting class, has officially pledged to play for the Sooners. This announcement, which has sent waves through the college basketball world, marks a huge step forward for head coach Jennie Baranczyk’s program as they continue to build on their recent success.

Juarez, a versatile and dynamic player, has been a highly sought-after prospect due to her combination of size, athleticism, and skill. Ranked among the top players in the nation, she has showcased her ability to dominate both ends of the floor with her rebounding, scoring, and defensive prowess. Her commitment to OU is a major milestone for the Sooners as they look to elevate their program to new heights.

This recruitment process has been closely followed by fans and analysts alike, as Juarez’s decision has been eagerly anticipated for months. Her decision to join OU comes after a highly competitive recruitment process, where she had offers from several powerhouse programs. Juarez’s commitment solidifies OU’s position as a top contender in women’s college basketball, bringing in a player who is expected to make an immediate impact once she arrives on campus.

Her addition to the Sooners’ roster not only strengthens the team’s future but also further cements OU’s reputation as a destination for top-tier talent. With Juarez now committed, the Sooners are poised for a bright future as they continue to build a championship-contending team.

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Edward Pope has threatened to suspend star player Lamont Butler indefinitely after a serious off-court incident. Sources close to the program revealed that Butler, a key player for the Wildcats, has found himself entangled in controversy following a disciplinary issue that Pope deemed unacceptable.

Details surrounding the incident remain scarce, but insiders have stated that the situation involves a breach of team conduct and standards. Pope, known for his strong leadership and commitment to discipline, has made it clear that he expects all players to adhere to the program’s high standards both on and off the court. This unexpected development has sent shockwaves through the Wildcats’ fan base and cast a shadow over the team’s upcoming games.

Butler, who has been a standout player for Kentucky this season, has not yet commented publicly on the matter. The potential suspension, if carried out, could significantly impact the Wildcats’ season, especially with crucial games approaching. Pope, who has always maintained that player behavior is just as important as performance on the court, has yet to make an official statement about the length or specifics of the suspension.

The Wildcats’ athletic department has promised to address the situation in the coming days, but until then, the uncertainty looms over both Butler’s future with the team and the team’s overall performance. Fans and analysts alike are anxiously waiting for an official update as this situation unfolds.

How long is Tennessee Vols pass-rusher James Pearce Jr. going to have to wait to hear his name called once the NFL Draft gets here? It shouldn’t be too long, as some projections have him being a Top 15 pick in the first round.

However, not everyone is as high on him. The list includes ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. In a new NFL Mock Draft from ESPN analyst Field Yates, Pearce lands with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 19 overall. Yates is a fan of the UT stud and while Kiper is also impressed with his game, he did voice some concerns on the EDGE standout with the draft a little over two months away:

“There’s some players, and I think every evaluator will admit this, there’s some players you just don’t know,” Kiper told Yates. “You really can’t feel strongly one way or the other about a player. You almost have to throw your own hands up and say, ‘I don’t get this. I can’t make a strong argument to take him or not take him’ and James Pearce Jr. is one of those guys because I thought going in based on what we saw last year in 2023 that he would be, along with Mykel Williams, maybe the No. 1 pick in this draft.”

This past campaign for the Vols and head man Josh Heupel, Pearce, a 6-5, 245-pounder, finished with 38 total tackles and 7.5 sacks. The season before, he posted 9.5 sacks, which would explain why Kiper didn’t love seeing him with a bit of a drop in production.

When listening to what Kiper had to say about Pearce, it sure seems like he’s unsure if the youngster will go on to live up to the first-round hype at the next level. From our chair, however, Pearce is a total gamer and he’ll be ready to make an immediate impact for a defense in 2025.

Tampa Bay needs to seriously improve its pass-rush, which is why it makes sense that Yates has the Bucs making a move for Pearce. Could we end up seeing Pearce fall to way lower in the first round, though? Tennessee fans sure hope not, as he’ll be ready to silence his haters from Day 1 in the pros.

The rain came again. As if Kentucky hadn’t suffered enough, as if the land itself had been marked for hardship, the sky opened, and it poured. A month’s worth of rain in mere hours, a cruel reminder that tragedy does not check a calendar before it strikes.

And so, three years after the floods of 2022, it happened again. Water rose, homes fell. Businesses that had barely reopened from the last disaster were shuttered once more—some forever. Families already living in temporary shelters found their lives washed away a second time. And those who lost someone, well, there is no rebuilding that. As of this writing 12 souls have tragically been lost, and that number is sadly expected to climb as the waters recede.

The stories trickled in, like the first drops before the downpour. Some made it out, others stayed behind because they had no choice. And in the days after? Well the support is showing up, people who lost everything they had begin to trickle back to where their homes used to be. They help neighbors, they remove mud from businesses, and some can only mourn. Images will undoubtedly make their rounds, news stories will fade over time, but keep these people in your hearts and prayers.

In Kentucky, basketball is sacred. But even the sport that defines so much of this state was drowned out by the devastation.

When John Calipari left Kentucky, fans felt free of him. When he returned, a chorus of boos rained down on him. And yet, when it mattered, he and his wife, Ellen, looked past the past and pledged to help the present. They pledged to donate to the Kentucky Flood Relief Fund, because in moments like these, being human is more important than being a Cats fan. It just is.

It’s not about basketball. It never was. It’s about the people of Kentucky, people who have been left behind too many times, waiting for the rest of the world to remember them while struggling every day.

For those watching from dry land, it can be easy to feel helpless. But there are ways to lift up a region that has been knocked down again and again.

Because when the waters rise, it is not the scoreboard that matters, but the people standing next to us and with us. The ones who hold on, who despite losing it all reaches a helping hand out to their neighbors. The ones who lift others up when they don’t have anything left to give. The ones who remind us what it truly means to be human and to show real love.

Five-star forward Nate Ament, the highest-rated uncommitted player in the 2025 recruiting class, has officially announced his commitment to Duke University. The 6’9” forward from Wilmington, Delaware, made his highly anticipated decision after months of speculation and intense recruitment by some of the nation’s top programs.

Ament, known for his elite scoring ability, versatility, and high basketball IQ, is considered one of the most coveted prospects of his class. His decision to join the Blue Devils is a massive win for Coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke program, as Ament is expected to make an immediate impact with his combination of size, skill, and athleticism. His commitment further solidifies Duke’s standing as a powerhouse in college basketball recruiting, having already assembled a top-tier 2025 class.

Over the past year, Ament’s recruitment attracted attention from major programs like Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina. However, the Blue Devils were able to clinch his signature, with Ament citing the strong coaching staff, the winning culture, and his desire to contribute to Duke’s success as key factors in his decision.

“I’ve always admired Duke’s tradition and the way they develop players both on and off the court,” Ament said in a statement. “I’m excited to be a part of something special and to help bring a national championship back to Durham.”

Ament’s commitment is a huge momentum boost for Duke as they continue to build their program for the future. With Ament joining the Blue Devils’ roster, fans are eager to see how he fits alongside other top recruits and whether he can help elevate Duke back to the top of college basketball when he steps on campus in 2025.