Tag: Los Angeles

Notre Dame women’s basketball gets biggest win of young season vs. USC

This was a monster win for the Irish.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Everyone wanted to see the Notre Dame and USC women’s basketball teams play each other. The biggest reason was to see [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] and JuJu Watkins go up against each other.

We got the first of what will be at least two meetings between the teams Saturday in Los Angeles, and the Irish emerged victorious over the Trojans, 74-61. With both teams expected to be national championship contenders, this was the biggest win of the season so far.

The Irish (5-0) never trailed against the Trojans (4-1), who only tied the game twice and not at all after the 4:07 mark of the first quarter. That was the result of the Irish beating the Trojans with superior defense and a high-paced offense that took far more advantage of its opportunities. Their 17-9 steals advantage contributed mightily to their 20-8 advantage in fast break points.

The Irish’s biggest lead was at 21, and the Trojans scored eight straight points at the end to make the final score closer.

Hidalgo scored 16 of her 24 points in the first half. She also had a game-high five steals, but [autotag]Liatu King[/autotag] made up for missing the Irish’s last game by collecting four of her own steals as well as a game-high 11 rebounds.

[autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag] collected 14 of her 20 points in the second half. That included hitting a career-high four 3-pointers for the third time in her collegiate career and the second straight game in which she reached that mark.

Watkins also scored 24 points, 19 of which came in the second half. Kiki Iriafen had 15 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double. Talia von Oelhoffen, who helped Oregon State eliminate the Irish in last season’s NCAA Tournament, added 10 points.

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Notre Dame, USC to be featured throughout NBC tripleheader Nov. 23

Don’t make any plans for that day.

Notre Dame and USC make up an intersectional rivalry unlike any other in the country. One upcoming Saturday will showcase both schools on national TV perhaps like never before.

NBC Sports has a longtime association with Irish football, and USC now is part of a Big Ten which has its games broadcast by the same company. And the stars are aligning for one heck of day.

NBC will kick off a tripleheader of coverage involving both schools with the Irish and Trojans women’s basketball teams meeting in Los Angeles at 4 p.m. EST. All eyes will be on that to see whether [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] and [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag] get the best of JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen. Both duos are incredibly dangerous.

Next will be the Irish football team’s annual Shamrock Series game with Army at Yankee Stadium. Wrapping up the day’s coverage will be the Trojans football team facing UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Both games will be the teams’ last before playing each other at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum the following week.

Clear your schedule for Nov. 23, Irish fans. It will be the right day to do so.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

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How many Angelenos will try to pull off the Dodgers-USC double dip?

Dodgers at 5:08, USC at 8:05. How many people are going to make an attempt to go to both games on a special Friday night in Los Angeles?

The table is set. The schedule has been made known for the people of Los Angeles. Friday night, October 25, is a very special night. At 5:08 p.m. in LA, the Dodgers host the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. At roughly 8:10 p.m., USC football hosts Rutgers in a Friday night special. Both games are on Fox Sports, which invites the possibility that the USC game will be pre-empted by baseball. It all depends on how long the World Series game will last.

This does raise a question: How many Los Angeles residents — or maybe even Yankee fans who are also Rutgers fans — will try to pull off the Dodgers-USC double on Friday? The Los Angeles Coliseum and Dodger Stadium are not that far apart. Traffic figures to be nasty throughout Friday night in the Los Angeles area, so no one who is contemplating going to the USC football game after the Dodger game is expecting to make it in time for kickoff of the Trojans’ game versus Rutgers. The reasonable expectation is to arrive late in the first quarter, maybe even early in the second.

A question we have to ask: If Game 1 of the World Series is somewhat lopsided — let’s say four runs in the seventh inning — will a USC fan leave Dodger Stadium for the Coliseum? Will a Rutgers fan leave the Yankees at Chavez Ravine and go to the Coli?

It’s obvious that if the World Series game is tense, thrilling and close, that game will earn and demand everyone’s attention until the final out. The odds of being able to pull off the Dodgers-USC double will increase to the extent that one team is able to take a massive lead midway through Game 1 of the World Series. It will be quite a night in Los Angeles, that’s for sure.

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Friday, October 25 will be an amazing night in Los Angeles

Friday, October 25 will offer a buffet of sports and entertainment on a grand scale for Angelenos. Scores will be checked by phones at concerts, most likely.

Friday, October 25, 2024. This will be one memorable night for the people of Los Angeles. On one night, a galaxy of stars will perform in the city, encompassing sports and music in an entertainment extravaganza. USC football will be one small part of a bigger offering of attractions in the City of Angels. Angelenos will have so many choices, and it will be fascinating to see how the people of the nation’s second-largest city will multitask on a one-of-a-kind Friday.

You already know that the Los Angeles Dodgers begin the 2024 World Series against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is at 5:08 in Los Angeles. Then the night comes alive a few hours later with an explosion of events Angelenos get to choose from.

At 7 p.m., the Los Angeles Lakers host Kevin Durant and the rest of the Phoenix Suns.

At 7:30, the East L.A. High School Football Classic will be played in SoFi Stadium. Also at 7:30, Pink Floyd’s Gilmour will begin a concert.

At 8, USC football plays Rutgers. Also at 8, an ELO concert starts. Wow! That is simply a ton of great sports and entertainment. You can be part of a roaring crowd at several different LA locations.

It will be a night unlike any other in Los Angeles. Have fun!

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2024-25 Los Angeles Clippers: A quick preview

While many have focused on the departures of Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the Clippers have quietly added key defensive pieces in Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, and Kris Dunn. These additions, while not as flashy, could make the team better …

While many have focused on the departures of Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the Clippers have quietly added key defensive pieces in Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, and Kris Dunn. These additions, while not as flashy, could make the team better overall, as they focus on balance and fit rather than pure talent.

With Kawhi Leonard and James Harden anchoring the offense, the Clippers still have two elite scoring options. What’s different now is that they’ll be surrounded by versatile, defense-minded role players who complement their skill sets. The team may be less star-studded than last year, but the pieces could fit better, particularly under head coach Tyronn Lue’s nine-man rotation system, which emphasizes staggering stars and maximizing player roles.

Leonard and Harden will continue to lead the way, but with players like Jones stepping into a starting role and Dunn filling the backup point guard position, the Clippers have a deeper, more defensively sound team. Additionally, the team’s flexibility with Harden’s two-year deal ensures they remain competitive now while maintaining future cap room.

2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers: A quick preview

Despite a rough season last year, the Lakers have shown flashes of what they’re capable of, especially when healthy. With a new head coach in JJ Redick and key players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent fully available, there’s hope for a …

Despite a rough season last year, the Lakers have shown flashes of what they’re capable of, especially when healthy. With a new head coach in JJ Redick and key players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent fully available, there’s hope for a better run this time around.

The challenge, of course, is the reliance on LeBron James, who is entering his 22nd season at will turn 40 in two months, and Anthony Davis, who has struggled with injuries in the past (though not lately). The Lakers aren’t like a Boston or Spoelstra-coached Miami team that can easily compensate for absences – they need all hands on deck for most of the season, along with a bit of luck. Redick, a first-time head coach, adds an element of unpredictability, but his fresh perspective and approach could be just what this team needs to manage rotations better and push the right buttons.

LeBron himself acknowledged the team’s lack of major moves, saying, “It takes two to tango,” when discussing their offseason attempts. But with a core that went 20-10 down the stretch last season, combined with Redick’s innovative coaching, the Lakers might just have what it takes to surpass their 47 wins from last season – if everything falls into place.

ESPN’s Charlie Creme highlights Notre Dame in big early-season games

Be sure to watch these games.

Notre Dame is expected to do well this season. Its No. 6 ranking in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll is evidence of that. Naturally, some of its early games will receive a lot of attention.

In light of the poll’s release, ESPN women’s basketball bracketologist Charlie Creme has published a story that answers the question of what the biggest early-season game is for each team ranked in that poll.

Creme has the Irish’s ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge matchup against Texas as the Irish’s biggest game and gives the following reason:

“Both the Irish and Longhorns saw freshmen become stars a season ago with their team leaders out with injury. Rori Harmon is back for Texas to team up with Madison Booker, and [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] can now pair [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] and [autotag]Olivia Miles[/autotag], returning from a knee injury. This is a dream backcourt matchup that could define which duo is meshing the best. This looks to be the best Irish team under Ivey. This game and one a week later against UConn, also in South Bend, should tell us just how good.”

The Irish also will face USC early in the season, and Creme has that game as the biggest for the Trojans, who rank third in the poll. Here’s the reason for that:

“A week before the two schools square off in football in Los Angeles, they do the same in basketball. Both the Trojans and the Irish should be in the mix for a No. 1 seed come March, and the winner of this game takes a massive advantage in that quest. One month before (JuJu) Watkins gets to go head-to-head with (Paige) Bueckers, she faces Hannah Hidalgo, the second-best freshman to Watkins a year ago.”

So yeah, there are a few game on the schedule you won’t want to miss. Simply put, don’t.

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On3 projects Notre Dame as 11th seed in College Football Playoff

How encouraged are you by this?

Notre Dame has played only five games so far, and the way the season has played out has complicated its College Football Playoff prospects. That loss to Northern Illinois will hang over the team as long as it remains in contention. But the important thing is the Irish do remain in contention.

On3 is among those outlets that has the Irish in the playoff. In this projection, the Irish are the 11th seed, visiting Georgia in the first round. Ari Wasserman, who built the projection, explains why the Irish are among the last four major teams in:

“The loss to Northern Illinois is still fresh on everybody’s mind because that was such a shocking loss, but Notre Dame took care of business against Louisville on Saturday. Remember, many thought Louisville would be one of the toughest tests on the Irish’s schedule. Notre Dame has to travel to USC in its season-finale, but it’ll likely be favored for the rest of its games leading into that trip to Los Angeles on Nov. 30. Notre Dame’s schedule is really manageable.”

We’ll find out how much this hold up or if it even improves as the season goes on. For now though, the Irish are in with at lest one projection.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

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Steelers matchups to watch: Week 3 – T.J. Watt vs. Joe Alt

T.J. Watt and Joe Alt will be one of the premier matchups to watch in the league as the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

A matchup for the ages will take place in Week 3 as one of the greatest edge rushers of all time, Pittsburgh Steelers edge T.J. Watt, looks to keep his sack streak going against the Los Angeles Chargers’ rookie right tackle, Joe Alt. In a game with two underperforming offenses, this matchup could decide the outcome.

A former Defensive Player of the Year and 2023 sack leader, T.J. Watt is picking up where he left off last season. Watt was a force in the Steelers’ two victories. He has compiled two sacks, four QB hits, and six pressures on 62 pass plays.

Right tackle Joe Alt has been one of the Chargers’ best offensive players. On 126 snaps, he’s committed zero penalties, allowed only a single sack on 54 passing plays, and surrendered just two pressures.

Understanding that experience plays a massive role in these matchups, T.J. Watt should be the clear favorite here. With that being said, Steelers fans will have to tune in on September 22nd at 1:00 PM EST, to see if T.J. gives Alt his ‘welcome to the league’ moment.

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Steelers matchups to watch: Week 3 – George Pickens vs. Asante Samuel Jr.

George Pickens and Asante Samuel Jr. will be one of the premier matchups to watch in the league as the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.

Going off of statistics alone, some Steelers fans might assume that Pat Surtain II got the better of George Pickens in Week 2.  However, many know this wasn’t the case, and Pickens will look to end this unfortunate production slump against Chargers’ cornerback, Asante Samuel Jr. in Week 3.

Asante Samuel Jr. has always been a dependable corner for Los Angeles, but heading into his contract year, the fourth-year corner may be playing some of his best football yet.  Going up against Davante Adams in Week 1 presented some challenges, but his 11 yards allowed against Carolina in Week 2 was outstanding.

George Pickens’ stats may not reflect it yet, but he is one of the most threatening receivers in the NFL.  Two weeks in a row, George Pickens’ production was removed by penalties, but his presence was always felt.  His route running, his body control, and his reliable hands will make it a long day for the Chargers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will need this matchup to swing in their favor if they hope to fend off the newly returned Jim Harbaugh and his Los Angeles Chargers on September 22nd at 1:00 PM EST.

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