Month: April 2023

Klay Thompson talks about upcoming Lakers-Warriors playoff series

Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson is excited about taking on the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals starting on Tuesday evening, and it should be must-see television.

It will be SoCal versus NorCal, arguably the NBA’s most storied franchise versus its reigning dynasty that has won four of the last eight world championships and a matchup that will be full of star power.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry will go up against each other for the fifth time in the playoffs after meeting up in the NBA Finals four straight times not too long ago. Of course, there will also be notable names such as Anthony Davis, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.

Another star in this series is the Warriors’ Klay Thompson, who has seemingly regained his old form over the last several weeks after missing two full seasons with ACL and Achilles injuries.

He elaborated on how much he’s looking forward to playing against the Purple and Gold (h/t Lakers Daily).

“It’s special,” Thompson said. “Play LeBron in the finals four times – obviously one of the greatest to ever play, and Anthony Davis is right there as well, played A.D. in the playoffs, too, and they have – watching that last series against Memphis – it looks like they’re jelling.

“Their guys know their roles. The other guys besides those two. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us, but we’re all excited to play the Lakers. I mean, it’s a legendary franchise. Warriors-Lakers, it’s been a long time since they’ve seen each other in the playoffs. I know I’m personally excited. I get to play in front of my father and my mother and some of my best friends and go down to SoCal after our home stand. It’s just a dream come true. I’ve waited for this for 12 years.”

Many Lakers and Warriors fans are aware that his father, Mychal Thompson, played for the Showtime Lakers from 1987 to 1991, where he won back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988.

These days, the elder Thompson is a radio commentator for Lakers games alongside play-by-play man John Ireland.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1]

[mm-video type=video id=01gykyjbn8e862af7z22 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gykyjbn8e862af7z22/01gykyjbn8e862af7z22-092946d1640f3eafe3a7d8f63cd5fc8f.jpg]

Lions Wire gives draft grade for former UNC WR Antoine Green

Here is how Lions Wire graded the selection of former North Carolina wide receiver Antoine Green.

Former North Carolina wide receiver Antoine Green was the third Tar Heel taken in the 2023 NFL draft, going after Josh Downs and Asim Richards.

While Green had to wait until the seventh round to be selected, he landed with a Detroit team that gives him an early opportunity to impress and land a roster spot. Green will have to do his best to not only make the roster but earn some playing time as well.

As soon as the pick was made, our friends over at Lions Wire gave their analysis on the pick. And they seem to like the selection of Green.

Here is how Lions Wire graded the draft pick of Green:

If Green can expand his route tree, he can put his acceleration, explosiveness, and ball-tracking skills to better use, allowing him to be a formidable target in the Lions offense. Right now, the only way Green will make the roster is through special teams, replacing Quintez Cephus in that role. It will be interesting to see if he can progress and become either a WR3 or WR4 in Detroit.

Grade: B

Time will tell if Green works out or gets his chance in Detroit but at least he is getting that chance to make the most of it.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcv0v20j1dne5g player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Rutgers baseball avoids being swept by Purdue with game three victory

Rutgers baseball (26-18, 8-7) avoids being swept by the Purdue Boilermakers (21-22, 10-8) over the weekend with a game three 9-5 victory.

Rutgers baseball (26-18, 8-7 Big Ten) avoids being swept by the Purdue Boilermakers (21-22, 10-8 Big Ten) over the weekend with a game three 9-5 victory. On Friday, the Scarlet Knights kicked off their three-game series at Alexander Field in West Lafayette, Indiana, losing to the Boilermakers 6-1 in game one. On Saturday, Rutgers dropped game two, losing 6-3. The Scarlet Knights avoided being swept on Sunday, defeating the Boilermakers 9-5 in the series finale.

Game 1

The bats were quiet in game one for the Scarlet Knights, only producing one run. Rutgers had a total of five hits, leaving seven runners on base. Purdue grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third inning and didn’t look back.

Rutgers catcher Andy Axelson had the only RBI for the Scarlet Knights, grounding out to shortstop, scoring Evan Sleight in the top of the fifth inning.

Rutgers Christian Coppola started the game for the Scarlet Knights, recording 5.2 innings pitched, letting up five hits, five earned runs, three walks, and three strikeouts.

[lawrence-related id=26325]

Game 2

Purdue defeated the Scarlet Knights 6-3 in game two, locking up the series win for the Boilermakers. The Scarlet Knights recorded eight hits, scoring only three runs.

Rutgers struck early with an RBI single by infielder Chris Brito in the top of the first inning, but Purdue would go on to score a run in the bottom of the second and four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead.

Rutgers first baseman Jordan Sweeney was able to get the Scarlet Knights back in the game (5-3) with a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning, but that was the closest Rutgers would get.

Grant Besser got the start for the Scarlet Knights, pitching two innings, letting up six hits, five runs, two walks, and one strikeout. Rutgers bullpen recorded five innings, letting up six hits, one run, five strikeouts, and four walks in game two’s defeat.

Game 3

Purdue jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in game three. Rutgers Jordan Sweeney drove in Hugh Pinkney in the top of the fifth inning, cutting Purdue’s lead to 5-1. Also, Jordan Sweeney cut the deficit to 5-4 with his second home run of the weekend, scoring three runs.

Josh Kuroda-Grauer tied the game with a triple off the wall, scoring Max Martin to tie the game at 5-5. Evan Sleight’s RBI single gave the Scarlet Knights a 6-5 lead in the seventh inning.

The Scarlet Knights score nine unanswered runs, and Jake Marshall nails it down with four scoreless innings as Rutgers takes the series finale over Purdue to end the weekend on a high note.

[lawrence-related id=26163]

[mm-video type=video id=01gz7p8nxr0q2w6et3h5 playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gz7p8nxr0q2w6et3h5/01gz7p8nxr0q2w6et3h5-856abde5117c1087602bd0b7893328d0.jpg]

 

Utah Tech DB Darrius Nash accepts invitation to Saints rookie minicamp

Utah Tech defensive back Darrius Nash accepted an invitation to try out at New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp. He has good size for a slot corner:

A number of undrafted hopefuls will be trying out at New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp in the weeks ahead, including Utah Tech cornerback Darrius Nash. The school announced that Nash has accepted an invitation to participate at the upcoming Saints rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. If all goes well, maybe he’ll get a contract offer out of it.

Nash brings good size at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds and good-enough all-around athleticism to compete with pro talents. He predominately covered the slot but missed a lot of tackles, and he needs to play with better discipline to cut it at the NFL level. Good luck to him and the other first-years hoping to turn pro.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[stnvideo key=”pahxNoVopr-2714582-7618″ type=”amp”]

North Carolina gets five-star transfer Indya Nivar

The North Carolina women’s basketball program lands five-star transfer Indya Nivar.

The North Carolina women’s basketball program continues to build momentum heading into next season, this time by getting Stanford player Indya Nivar from the transfer portal.

It was announced Sunday evening that Nivar would return to her home state to lace up for UNC. Before committing to Stanford, Nivar was a five-star recruit out of Apex, North Carolina, spending one year before putting her name in the transfer portal. Nivar appeared in 35 games, averaging 3.2 points with an average of 12.5 minutes per game.

This is another excellent addition for Courtney Banghart, whose already been busy grabbing talent like Maria Gakdeng from Boston College. UNC also has some of the nation’s best recruits coming in the fall, such as five-star recruits Ciera Toomey and Lexi Donarski.

Banghart is heading into her fifth year with the Tar Heels, and snagging another talent like Nivar is huge for UNC championship hopes.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fvdcv0v20j1dne5g player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Follow all of your favorite Carolina teams at Tar Heels Wire and Panthers Wire!

When will Cincinnati Bengals 2023 schedule be released?

When will the NFL reveal the Bengals’ schedule?

When can fans expect to see the official 2023 NFL schedule for the Cincinnati Bengals?

Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that the NFL is targeting May 11 to release the 2023 schedule.

Schefter said the Aaron Rodgers trade and Lamar Jackson signing were pushing it back, but now that those are both done, they can lock it in.

Mike North, the NFL vice president of broadcasting, has said he expects the Cincinnati Bengals will be close to maxing out their primetime games this season, citing Joe Burrow as a big reason why.

Some opponents the Bengals will play this season include the Bills, 49ers, Chiefs and Jaguars along with the AFC North schedule.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbw0bft20de1r4d player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Team England takes massive hit after last-minute withdrawals from Georgia Hall, Charley Hull for International Crown

Team England officials have been left scrambling.

LOS ANGELES – Team England suffered a devastating loss at the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown before a shot was struck.

Both Georgia Hall and Charley Hull withdrew Saturday, leaving officials scrambling to replace them. Ladies European Tour players Alice Hewson and Liz Young were en route from England on Sunday to round out the four-player squad.

Hall, ranked No. 10 in the world, is currently one of the hottest players on the LPGA and Hull, ranked 17th, isn’t far behind. Both players competed in this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship, with Hull taking a share of T-17 and Hall finishing T-44.

Former Solheim Cup players Jodi Ewart Shadoff, No. 45, and Bronte Law, 103, make up the rest of the team.

Eight countries have qualified for the event, which will be staged May 4-7 at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park. This marks the first staging of the Crown since South Korea won on home soil in 2018.

Hall told Golfweek that she’s been struggling with her left foot the past several weeks, an injury she sustained from running too much on concrete without warming up properly.

“I have a private physio I see every day,” said Hall. “I’ve been getting treatment on it every day, and he advised I need to rest it before it gets any worse.”

Hall said she plans to compete in the Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey the week after the Crown.

Georgia Hall and Charley Hull at the 2018 UL International Crown in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Hull, who was in a hurry to catch a flight after her round, said she hasn’t been feeling well for several weeks and planned to go home to see a doctor. She plans to return to the tour in three to four weeks.

“I wish the others good luck, and sorry I couldn’t be there,” said Hull, who has twice represented England at the Crown. In 2016, Mel Reid famously played one round solo after Hull pulled out sick.

Substitutes Hewson and Young rank 172nd and 216th, respectively. Hewson has five top-20 finishes this season on the LET, including a share of second at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open. Last year, Young won her first LET title in her 14th season on the tour, one month before her 40th birthday.

There are eight teams in this year’s Crown: U.S., South Korea, Japan, Sweden, England, Thailand, Australia and China.

[pickup_prop id=”33307″]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=]

2023 JM Eagle LA Championship prize money payouts for each LPGA player

Check out the prize money payouts at the 2023 JM Eagle LA Championship.

The purse at the LPGA stop at Wilshire Country Club doubled in 2023 to $3 million thanks to new title sponsor JM Eagle and presenting sponsors. The renamed JM Eagle LA Championship now boasts one of the biggest purses on the LPGA schedule.

As a result, Australia’s Hannah Green took home $450,000 after clinching her third career title in a two-hole playoff. Green has now collected $3,983,874 in career earnings.

The major champ has an interesting financial trend when it comes to winning on tour:

“I had actually missed the cut last week at Chevron, and my other two wins that I had on Tour, I missed the weekend the week prior. Not that I want to miss cuts, but it has been some sort of a recipe to a win.”

[pickup_prop id=”33295″]

Check out the prize money payouts at the 2023 JM Eagle LA Championship.

Pos Player Score Winnings
T1 Hannah Green -9* $450,000
T1 Xiyu Lin -9 $242,747
T1 Aditi Ashok -9 $242,747
T4 Ayaka Furue -8 $142,497
T4 Ruoning Yin -8 $142,497
T6 Nelly Korda -7 $89,094
T6 Cheyenne Knight -7 $89,094
T6 Hae Ran Ryu -7 $89,094
T9 Alison Lee -6 $65,472
T9 Jaravee Boonchant -6 $65,472
T11 Nasa Hataoka -5 $55,842
T11 Chella Choi -5 $55,842
T13 Gemma Dryburgh -4 $46,215
T13 Na Rin An -4 $46,215
T13 Stacy Lewis -4 $46,215
T13 Sarah Kemp -4 $46,215
T17 Hye Jin Choi -3 $35,608
T17 Hyo Joo Kim -3 $35,608
T17 Charley Hull -3 $35,608
T17 Madelene Sagstrom -3 $35,608
T17 Perrine Delacour -3 $35,608
T17 Gina Kim -3 $35,608
T17 Yuna Nishimura -3 $35,608
T24 Natthakritta Vongtaveelap -2 $29,424
T24 Ally Ewing -2 $29,424
T24 Lindsey Weaver-Wright -2 $29,424
T27 Ryann O’Toole -1 $24,725
T27 Lauren Coughlin -1 $24,725
T27 Emma Talley -1 $24,725
T27 Caroline Inglis -1 $24,725
T27 Yu-Sang Hou -1 $24,725
T27 Pavarisa Yoktuan -1 $24,725
T33 Atthaya Thitikul E $17,562
T33 Ashleigh Buhai E $17,562
T33 Hinako Shibuno E $17,562
T33 Amy Yang E $17,562
T33 Wichanee Meechai E $17,562
T33 In-Kyung Kim E $17,562
T33 Lucy Li E $17,562
T33 Jennifer Chang E $17,562
T33 Yu Liu E $17,562
T33 Ines Laklalech E $17,562
T33 Min Lee E $17,562
T44 Minjee Lee 1 $11,759
T44 Jin Young Ko 1 $11,759
T44 Georgia Hall 1 $11,759
T44 Lizette Salas 1 $11,759
T44 Eun-Hee Ji 1 $11,759
T44 Brittany Lincicome 1 $11,759
T44 Angel Yin 1 $11,759
T44 Linnea Strom 1 $11,759
T44 Azahara Munoz 1 $11,759
T53 Maja Stark 2 $9,397
T53 Stephanie Kyriacou 2 $9,397
T53 Pernilla Lindberg 2 $9,397
T53 Minami Katsu 2 $9,397
T57 Danielle Kang 3 $8,165
T57 Marina Alex 3 $8,165
T57 Pornanong Phatlum 3 $8,165
T57 Lauren Hartlage 3 $8,165
T61 Daniela Darquea 4 $7,395
T61 Hyo Joon Jang 4 $7,395
T61 Linnea Johansson 4 $7,395
64 Patty Tavatanakit 5 $7,087
65 Maude-Aimee Leblanc 7 $6,931
T66 Allison Emrey 9 $6,702
T66 Celine Borge 9 $6,702

[parone_video_player hide-all=”true” autoplay=”true” feed=”20-lpga-video” content-key=”9663E0d7a7513ec5DFfc”/]

Every Big Ten player drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft

Every Big Ten player drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft #B1G

The 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books and the Big Ten conference had a great weekend sending their fair share of young athletes to the next level. Obviously, our focus and love go to the Ohio State Buckeyes, but when you watch years of Big Ten football, you tend to get acquainted with the rivals as well and there is no shame in keeping track.

The Southeastern Conference had the most prospects drafted with 62 and that makes sense considering their dominance of the college football landscape, but the Big Ten is not far behind and had 55 players selected. The Michigan Wolverines were at the top of the mountain as far as prospects drafted with 9 drafted, but Ohio State was close behind tied for second with the Penn State Nittany Lions at six.

This list is going to highlight only the players drafted in the sixth round and finished their career at a Big Ten school. Sorry, transfer portal fans.

Former Toledo TE Jamal Turner invited to Saints and Chiefs rookie minicamps

Former Toledo Rockets tight end Jamal Turner invited to try out at Saints and Chiefs rookie minicamps:

Here’s another player who has been invited to try out at New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp, per KPRC 2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson: former Toledo Rockets tight end Jamal Turner was invited to try out for both the Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs, so he may have to make a tough decision if both teams hold minicamp on the same three-day weekend (the NFL has not yet released the schedule for those workouts, which are staggered to help avoid this exact situation).

A sixth-year senior who spent most of his career blocking for one of the stronger rushing offenses in the MAC, Turner is very strong in that area of his game but lacks the agility skills and raw speed to be much of a factor as a receiving threat — he posted a mediocre 2.62 Relative Athletic Score and timed the 40-yard dash in 4.84 seconds, which is pedestrian at best by pro standards. Turner caught 29 of his 44 career receptions last season as well as 377 of his 563 total yards and 8 of his 9 touchdown catches.

Still, if he can prove he can hang with NFL talents and sustain blocks to open up rushing lanes, he’ll have a chance. That’s all undrafted rookies can ask for.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[stnvideo key=”pahxNoVopr-2714582-7618″ type=”amp”]