Michigan State basketball falls to No. 3 in AP poll

The Michigan State men’s basketball team’s run as the AP No. 1 team was short lived. After losing to then-No. 2 Kentucky in the Champions Classic, the Spartans have slipped to No 3 in the latest AP poll. Kentucky-not a surprise-took over as the new …

The Michigan State men’s basketball team’s run as the AP No. 1 team was short lived.

After losing to then-No. 2 Kentucky in the Champions Classic, the Spartans have slipped to No 3 in the latest AP poll. Kentucky–not a surprise–took over as the new No. 1 team with Duke also jumping the Spartans into the No. 2 spot.

Louisville and Kansas round out the top five.

Michigan State rebounded from the Kentucky loss with an emotional win over Binghamton the day after Cassius Winston’s brother Zachary was killed after being hit by a train.

The Spartans will now travel to take on No. 12 Seton Hall this Thursday in the Gavitt Tipoff Games.

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A look at the Thunder’s quality 3-point shooting to begin the season

The Thunder are ranked seventh in the league for 3-point percentage to begin this season.

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It may have taken starting a rebuild for the Oklahoma City Thunder to be a good 3-point shooting team.

And yet with the Thunder at 4-6 to start the season, they’re one of the best shooting teams in the NBA.

The Thunder made a season-high 17 3-pointers in their 121-119 loss Sunday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. Mike Muscala and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each had a team-high four 3-pointers, and Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder each had three.

Through 10 games this season, the Thunder rank seventh in the league for 3-point percentage, shooting at a 37.5% clip. As a team, the Thunder make 11.5 3-pointers a game, and five players account for a good portion of those makes.

Paul, Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson, Danilo Gallinari and Darius Bazley combine for 8.7 of the Thunder’s 3-pointers per game. Each player has shot at least 38% from 3-point range.

Despite being two games under .500, the Thunder’s quality shooting has helped them remain competitive.

They’ve only shot below 36% from the 3-point line in two games. Both of those were losses, and in both games, they lost by 12 or fewer points. In games where they have shot 36% or better from deep, they’re 4-4. In each of the four losses, the Thunder have lost by single digits.

Having new players such as Paul, Gallinari and Gilgeous-Alexander has helped the Thunder improve their shooting.

Paul and Gallinari have both shot at least 37% from 3-point range in their careers. A rookie last season, Gilgeous-Alexander shot 36.7% with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ferguson has also improved his shooting steadily over his career. He’s shooting 38.1% from three on 2.1 attempts. Bazley, a rookie, has shot 40.0% on 2.5 attempts. He ranks seventh among rookies for 3-point percentage, according to NBA.com.

In the past three seasons, the Thunder have been in the bottom half of the league for 3-point percentage. The last time they were in the top half was in the 2013-14 season, when they ranked 14th.

Their top two shooters last season were Jerami Grant and Paul George, but both players were traded this offseason to the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively. Ferguson was the team’s third-best 3-point shooter last season, hitting at a 36.6% clip.

The Thunder are rebuilding, but they have a budding young player in Gilgeous-Alexander. Paul and Gallinari are proven talents, so their leadership helps. Though the Thunder might not make the playoffs, their shooting ability gives them a chance to compete against most teams.

OKC will play the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.

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Super 25 Regional Football Rankings: Week 12

As playoffs get underway in many states, here are the latest Super 25 Regional High School Football Rankings for Week 12…

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USA TODAY High School Sports’ Super 25 regional rankings in football is selected by the HSS staff with weekly rankings in five regions — East, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest and West.

SUPER 25: TOP 25 | TOP STAR | How the Super 25 Fared

EAST

Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Virginia, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine

  1. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Maryland (10-1)
  2. St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8-2)
  3. Southern Columbia, Catawissa, Pennsylvania (12-0)
  4. St. John’s, Washington, District of Columbia (6-4)
  5. Highland Springs, Virginia (10-0)
  6. Gonzaga, Washington, District of Columbia (8-2)
  7. Pine-Richland, Gibsonia, Pennsylvania (10-1)
  8. McDonogh School, Owings Mills, Maryland (11-0)
  9. St. Joseph Regional, Montvale, New Jersey (6-3)
  10. St. Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, New Jersey (8-1)

SOUTHEAST

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina

  1. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Florida (10-0)
  2. Lakeland, Florida (11-0)
  3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida (9-1)
  4. Dutch Fork, Irmo, South Carolina (10-0-1)
  5. Lowndes, Valdosta, Georgia (9-0)
  6. McEachern, Georgia (10-0)
  7. Central, Phenix City, Alabama (10-1)
  8. Hoover, Alabama (9-2)
  9. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia (8-2)
  10. Thompson, Alabama (9-1)

MIDWEST

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin

  1. Mentor, Ohio (11-0)
  2. Male, Louisville, Kentucky (11-0)
  3. Muskegon, Michigan (11-0)
  4. East St. Louis, Illinois (11-0)
  5. Muskego, Wisconsin (12-0)
  6. De Smet Jesuit, St. Louis (10-0)
  7. Lincoln-Way East, Frankfort, Illinois (11-0)
  8. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (10-1)
  9. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minnesota (11-0)
  10. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (10-1)

SOUTHWEST

Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

  1. Duncanville, Texas (10-0)
  2. Katy, Texas (10-0)
  3. Allen, Texas (10-0)
  4. North Shore, Houston, Texas (9-1)
  5. Carroll, Southlake, Texas (10-0)
  6. Archbishop Rummel, Metaire, Louisiana (10-0)
  7. Owasso, Oklahoma (10-0)
  8. Catholic, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (10-0)
  9. Longview, Texas (10-0)
  10. Picayune, Mississippi (10-0)

WEST

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming

  1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, California (10-0)
  2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, California (9-1)
  3. Saint Louis, Honolulu (10-0)
  4. De La Salle, Concord, California (9-1)
  5. Chandler, Arizona (10-0)
  6. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (10-1)
  7. Corner Canyon, Draper, Utah (12-0)
  8. Mission Viejo, California (10-0)
  9. Folsom, California (9-1)
  10. O’Dea, Seattle (9-0)

Lincoln Riley announces Trey Sermon, Kenneth Mann have season-ending injuries

“Im sick, heartbroken for those two.” Lincoln Riley told reporters at his weekly press conference, Monday. “They’ve put a ton into this program.” Both running back Trey Sermon and defensive tackle Kenneth Mann are done for the season after …

“Im sick, heartbroken for those two.” Lincoln Riley told reporters at his weekly press conference, Monday. “They’ve put a ton into this program.”

Both running back Trey Sermon and defensive tackle Kenneth Mann are done for the season after sustaining leg injuries against Iowa State.

Sermon went down late in the first half against Iowa State this past Saturday. Coming into the game against the Cyclones, Sermon had little production from what fans grew accustomed to over the previous two seasons. Even still, Sermon’s loss is not what the Sooners need as they head into the stretch run of the college football season.

Kenneth Mann was also injured in the second quarter against Iowa State. Mann was unable to put any pressure on his left leg as trainers assisted him off the field, Saturday.

Mann was a captain of the 2018 team and had 40 games under his belt coming into last week.

Sermon finishes the season under 400 yards rushing and just four touchdowns.

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Steelers Week 10 gut reactions

The Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to win their fourth straight game.

It was ugly but the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to pull off their fourth straight win with a 17-12 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The game was hard to watch with the two teams combining for 24 penalties, six turnovers and displaying poor offenses. That being said, here are my gut reactions.

I mentioned the high amount of penalties already, but the offense was absolutely horrid. I’m going to come out and say it. People that are saying Mason Rudolph’s development is similar to Ben Roethlisberger his rookie season are wrong. Rudolph was essentially given the whole 2019 season to prove to the fans, coaches, ownership and his peers that he was the Steelers quarterback of the future, and if anything, there are more questions now about his future than in Week 2. When Roethlisberger was a rookie, he entered his first game in Week 2 at the Ravens and including the playoffs, the Steelers rattled off 15 straight wins on their way to losing the AFC championship game.

Looking back at that season, Roethlisberger was more limited in his pass attempts. Rudolph had 38 attempts Sunday and seems to be limited in effectiveness and productivity. Roethlisberger was assisted by an effective running game, something Rudolph has not been lucky enough to experience. The Steelers averaged 1.6 yards per rush, and the team’s longest run was 8 yards. Rudolph and Roethlisberger are alike in that both have been bolstered by dominate defenses while they attempt to get their footing as an NFL quarterback. Their on-field performances far from parallel one another.

Now that I’ve lashed out at Rudolph’s poor performance, I have to say there’s plenty of blame to go around. The Steelers as a team have not been consistent receivers for Rudolph. Drops are too common. He doesn’t have a run game to set him up in third-and-short situations on a regular basis and just to top things off, if the Steelers manage to move the ball, they usually end up off-setting their production with offensive penalties.

No running game, no receivers, and too many penalties are not the ideal situation for a young quarterback to flourish in. It’s a frustrating situation, which is only emphasized every week because of the defense’s stellar play. When Minkah Fitzpatrick is the Steelers’ best offensive weapon and he’s on defense, changes need to be made.

As bad as the offense has been, the defense continues to impress. They won the turnover battle for the eighth straight game and limited an inconsistent Rams offense to three points. Week 10 was so difficult to pallet, partially because the Steelers offense let the Rams score nine points while the defense held them to three. The defense consistently made big plays, tallying four sacks, four takeaways, three fumbles by the opposing quarterback and a defensive touchdown.

Fitzpatrick has been clutch and showcased rare awareness and ball skills. T.J. Watt entered the game as the highest-graded edge rusher in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, one point above the Chicago Bears’ Khalil Mack. Watt tallied five tackles and two sacks against the Rams. Steve Nelson has been a shutdown corner across from Joe Haden, helping shut out Cooper Kupp on Sunday.

Just to top it off, defensive captain Cameron Heyward entered the day as the third-highest graded interior defensive lineman at PFF and was extremely disruptive. He had three tackles, a sack, two passes defended, and three of the Steelers’ nine quarterback hits. Even that impressive stat line doesn’t sum up just how dominant he was at the point of attack. With the Steelers winning four in a row, the NFL has to wonder just how good this defense truly is.

The Steelers leave the friendly confines of Heinz Field on a short week to play the Cleveland Browns on national TV Thursday night. The Browns got their third win of the year in Week 10 at home against a surging Buffalo Bills team. But their offensive line has been extremely shaky, which has forced Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield force the ball downfield under pressure. Mayfield is second in the NFL with 12 interceptions thrown. Don’t look now, but the Steelers are vying for an AFC wild-card spot.

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Falcons rookie CB Kendall Sheffield shines in win over Saints

Entering Sunday’s game against the Saints, the Falcons secondary looked to be in bad shape with top corner Desmond Trufant set to miss his fourth straight game.

Entering Sunday’s game against the Saints, the Falcons secondary looked to be in bad shape with top corner Desmond Trufant set to miss his fourth straight game.

Apparently, something clicked for this team during the bye week, however, and Atlanta would play its best defensive game all season, beating a 7-1 New Orleans team on the road.

The Falcons recorded six sacks of Saints QB Drew Brees, while the secondary played with confidence for the first time in weeks. Rookie Kendall Sheffield more than held his own in Week 10 — being targeted seven times and allowing just five catches for 28 yards.

Pro Football Focus gave Sheffield an impressive grade of 89.9 for his performance on Sunday:

The Falcons have asked a lot of their rookie fourth-round pick this season, and although there have been some bumps in the road, Sheffield has exceeded expectations in 2019.

The team may have lucked into another building block if the former Ohio State standout can keep it up.

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Tom Brady not over Super Bowl loss, hints at Patriots using their own ‘Special’ play vs. the Eagles

Tom Brady says he’s still not over Super Bowl loss to the Eagles

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Tom Brady is preparing for his first duel with Carson Wentz, yet he still can’t get over the sting of New England’s crushing 41-33 loss to Philadelphia in Super Bowl LII.

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While a guest on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” in Boston on Monday morning, Brady discussed the ‘mental scar tissue’ that remains from that crushing defeat against the Birds.

“You assume I’m over it? Come on now,” Brady said. “That’s a lot of mental scar tissue from that year. That was a tough game.

Brady went on to provide further insight into the lasting hangover he feels from that loss.

“In a lot of ways we learned from that year and we came back stronger the next year. We won the Super Bowl in ’18. I think everything is a matter of perspective and when you play in that game and you play great teams, you’re not going to win them all. This is not the Harlem Globetrotters vs. the Washington Generals. This is all about tough competition against the best teams. They deserved it that year, and now a couple years later we get a chance to play the organization again. We’ve had a lot of changes, they’ve had a lot of changes. It’s totally different circumstances. Huge game for us. Big game for them. The better team is going to win.”

Both teams are coming off bye weeks and the Patriots (8-1), are nearly unbeatable when they’ve had a week to prepare.

While discussing the “Philly Special”, Brady hinted at the Patriots pulling out their own bag of tricks in the rematch.

“Tough play to stop. They executed it well,” Brady told WEEI. “That play will go down in history, just like a lot of those big plays in the Super Bowl have. Good for them.”