Can UConn Huskies stun Big Ten opponent in Week 1?

The Maryland Terrapins should secure a Week 1 victory over Jim Mora and the UConn Huskies in College Park.

The UConn Huskies head out on the road on Saturday to take on the Maryland Terrapins. The Huskies, one of the few remaining independents in the sport, come into the year following a 3-9 season in 2023. The Huskies won their season finale over UMass to grab their third win.

For Maryland out of the Big Ten they went to a bowl game a season ago and took down Auburn, 31-13, in Nashville to wrap up the season. Maryland finished the year at 8-5.

This game is slated to be played at SECU Stadium in College Park, Maryland. FS1 is scheduled to air the affair. The last time these two teams met was back in 2013 when Maryland won the game by 11.

Huskies Seeking Road Upset

It will certainly be a tall task for the Huskies in College Park. Led by head coach Jim Mora, UConn has four transfers starting on offense, including two receivers and quarterback Nick Evers. The head coach is 9-16 at UConn, so finding a turnaround is much needed for his job.

Evers, the former Wisconsin signal-caller, was named the starter earlier this week over Joseph Fagano. Fagano passed the ball 35 times behind Ta’Quan Roberson last season. The top targets are newcomers Skyler Bell and TJ Sheffield, along with Brett Buckman.

One of the joys of being an independent is scheduling. The Huskies will host Merrimack next week, and then go on the road at Duke. UConn then plays six straight home games, leading to three straight on the road to end the season.

Terrapins Looking to Build off 8 Win Season

The eight wins in 2023 was a feather in the cap for head coach Mike Locksley. His pro style offense will feature a new signal caller this fall though with Billy Edwards Jr in the mix. His top targets Octavian Smith, Tai Felton, and Kaden Prather all return.

Edwards Jr. is taking over for Taulia Tagovailoa, who tossed 25 touchdowns last season. Edwards made just 30 passes. Felton is the top receiver returning with 732 yards and leading the team with six touchdowns. Prather was next with five.

Roman Hemby returns. He is one of the more talented running backs in the Big Ten. Hemby rushed 142 times for 680 yards a season ago. Look for him to be involved early and often in this offense.

College Sports Wire Score Prediction

Maryland should handle this one with no problems.  Hemby is going to get a big-time workload for Coach Locksley’s squad. The Huskies are going to have a tough time slowing him down. The Terrapins are not going to need to throw the ball a ton. When push comes to shove, the Terrapins win this game easily.

Our College Sports Wire score prediction for this game is Maryland 34-13 over UConn.

Where Penn State lands in USA TODAY Sports’ 2024 Big Ten football preseason poll

USA TODAY’s preseason Big Ten media poll has been released. Here is what 13 beat writers see the conference shaking out in 2024.

The USA TODAY Sports Network released its 2024 Big Ten football preseason poll on Monday ahead of the conference media days this week in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The pool takes votes from 13 beat writers who cover the conference for USA TODAY. This is the first edition of the poll featuring the 18-team Big Ten as it enters its first season of expanded play. Newcomers OregonWashingtonUCLA, and USC are likely to make a major impact on the season, with the Ducks being a heavy title favorite.

Related: Penn State’s 2024 schedule with game-by-game score predictions, 2024 Big Ten media days full schedule

The two teams that met in the national championship game do not even crack the top two, as 2024 represents a year of rebuilding for the Huskies and Wolverines.

It is always challenging to predict the end-of-season standings, especially with the conference entering an entirely new dynamic this year. However, both preseason polls we have looked at so far put Penn State at No. 3 in the conference.

As we near that point, here is a complete 2024 Big Ten football preseason poll courtesy of our colleagues at USA TODAY:

1. Ohio State (8 first-place votes)

2. Oregon (5 first-place votes)

3. (tie) Michigan

3. (tie) Penn State

5. USC

6. Iowa

7. Wisconsin

8. Nebraska

9. Washington

10. Rutgers

11. Maryland

12. Michigan State

13. Minnesota

14. UCLA

15. Illinois

16. Indiana

17. Northwestern

18. Purdue

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Penn State picked third in unofficial Big Ten football media poll

This year’s unofficial Big Ten media poll has been released. Here is what the Big Ten media voters think.

Most conferences organize their own official preseason media polls during the various conference media days. The Big Ten is one of the conferences that does not conduct its own preseason media poll, which is why Cleveland.com’s sports staff took up the task of organizing an annual preseason media poll. And as the Big Ten football media day event is about to get underway in Indianapolis this week, this year’s unofficial Big Ten preseason media poll is out. Penn State is expected to be among the top contenders in the conference this season according to those who voted.

Penn State received the third-most points in the media poll organized by Cleveland.com. The Nittany Lions finished with seven more points than defending Big Ten and national champion Michigan, who is fourth in the preseason poll. Ohio State was the runaway favorite among the voters with 21 first-place votes out of a possible 27. Ohio State received a total of 480 points in the voting. New Big Ten member Oregon received the remaining six first-place votes and 448 total points in the voting.

Here is a look at the 2024 Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Media Poll:

  1. Ohio State (*21 first-place votes) – 480 total points
  2. Oregon (6) – 448
  3. Penn State – 418
  4. Michigan – 411
  5. Iowa – 363
  6. USC – 346
  7. Wisconsin – 313
  8. Nebraska – 293
  9. Rutgers – 249
  10. Washington – 236
  11. Maryland – 185
  12. Minnesota – 183
  13. Illinois – 145
  14. Northwestern – 138
  15. UCLA – 124
  16. Michigan State – 119
  17. Indiana – 76
  18. Purdue – 65

So, how accurate has this preseason poll been over the years? Since 2011, this poll has correctly predicted the Big Ten champion just four times. The poll correctly predicted Ohio State to win the Big Ten in 2017, 2018, and 2020, and Michigan in 2023.

Voters were also asked to predict how many Big Ten teams will make the College Football Playoff, which expands to 12 teams this season from the former four-team format. Every ballot predicted Ohio State will reach the playoff, and all but one predicted Oregon will reach the playoff. A total of 18 voters believe Penn State will reach the College Football Playoff, and 15 pick Michigan to make a return to defend its national title. Three voters predicted Iowa will make the playoff.

You can view more information in the Big Ten preseason media poll via Cleveland.com.

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Duke offers 2025 CG Acaden Lewis

Duke offers 2025 CG Acaden Lewis.

2025 will be a massive year for Jon Scheyer, no matter what happens for him and his program in 2024. The hope is that, by this time next year, the Blue Devils will be figuring out how to repeat as national champions if we work under the assumption that their efforts to surround generational prospect Cooper Flagg with a championship-caliber team were indeed successful.

Even without that assumption, we know a few almost undoubtedly true things. Duke will lose at least four players from this year’s roster. Five, considering this will likely be junior Tyrese Proctor’s last year as a Duke Blue Devil.

With the departure of key players, Duke will again face a significant challenge in rebuilding the team to maintain its competitive edge next year.

Assuming Proctor leaves alongside Sion James, who only has one year of eligibility remaining, Duke will need actual ball handlers on next year’s team. It’s too far out to know who will be available via the transfer portal, so it makes sense why Duke recently offered 2025 combo guard Acaden Lewis.

Lewis is ranked as the 34th-best prospect in 247Sports player rankings for the class of 2025. He’s ranked nationally as the sixth-best combo guard and the number-one player from Washington, D.C.

 

In the film, you see a 6-foot-3 guard who thrives on using ball screens to get downhill, where he can finish with either hand. He is quite proficient in using mid-range jump shots or floaters to score. He uses pace to make defenders uneasy.

He has an effortless release and range. He also showcased the ability to be a proficient spot-up shooter. He has the versatility that Scheyer covets and could be a fit either playing on or off the ball in Durham.

He is being recruited heavily by UNC, Maryland, Georgetown, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech.

Duke women’s basketball transfer Riley Nelson arrives on campus

Riley Nelson, a five-star prospect who spent just one season with the Maryland Terrapins, finally got to wear Duke gear in Durham on Wednesday.

Duke women’s basketball transfer Riley Nelson is officially on campus.

Nelson, the former five-star prospect who spent her freshman season with the Maryland Terrapins, committed to head coach Kara Lawson back in late April. The team posted a short video on Wednesday that showed her first day at Duke University as she moved in and walked around the school.

“I’m so excited to be here,” Nelson said in a brief introduction at the start of the video. “Ready to get to work.”

The standout sophomore also offered a sentiment about Duke’s iconic arena that should quickly endear her to Blue Devils fans.

“People dream about playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium,” Nelson said. “So just being here is surreal.”

The No. 18 player in the 2023 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings averaged 5.1 points in 14 minutes per game as a freshman, but she only appeared in 16 games. She reached double-digit points in three games, including a career-high 15 against Niagara and 11 points against Nebraska.

Nelson now joins fellow 2023 five-star Jadyn Donovan, the third-ranked player in the freshman class, and four-stars Oluchi Okananwa, Delaney Thomas, and Jordan Wood on the Blue Devils. Okananwa already excelled in her first season, averaging 9.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals en route to winning the ACC Sixth Player of the Year award.

How to watch Notre Dame lacrosse playing for another NCAA Championship

The Irish are trying to go back-to-back

The Notre Dame lacrosse team once again will be playing for a NCAA National Championship, the same one that the Irish won last season.

As Notre Dame tried to repeat as championship, you will be able to catch all the action today. Since the game is on a Monday, the Irish have decided to wear green, so make sure you match them with your gear today.

Find out below all of the information that you will need to see the top rated Irish battling No. 7 Maryland for a title.

Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When: Monday, May 27th, 20204

What time: 12:00 p.m. ET

Which network: ESPN

Go Irish, beat the Terrapins!

UPDATE: The game has been pushed back due to weather with a tentative start time of 2 p.m. ET.

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Despite losing in the ACC Championship, Duke lacrosse is No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament

Duke set to open NCAA Tournament play against Utah as the NCAA Tournament’s second seed.

Sunday felt familiar to the Duke Blue Devils. It centered around the fact that Duke could not figure out Notre Dame, cementing their conference rival as far and away the best team in the country.

The Fighting Irish cruised to a 16-6 win over Duke in the ACC Tournament championship game on Sunday, completing the double-dip of the regular season and tournament titles.

Unsurprisingly, they were announced as the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament during that evening’s selection show.

Following that announcement, John Danowski’s Blue Devil team was penciled in as the No. 2 team in the tournament. This NCAA Tournament appearance is Duke’s 26th all-time. Blue Devils will host Utah Utes in the opening round at Koskinen Stadium on May 11 at 2:30 p.m.

The Blue Devils head into the NCAA Tournament with a 12-5 overall record and a runner-up finish at the ACC Championship. Duke is 43-22 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, has advanced to Championship Weekend 14 times, and has won three NCAA titles.

Most notably, Duke made the national championship last season before falling to Notre Dame 13-9 in the national title game.

If the Blue Devils advance, they will travel to Hempstead, NY, to take on the Maryland/Princeton matchup winner. Duke played and beat Princeton 17-8 earlier this season at Koskinen Stadium.

Former Maryland guard Riley Nelson, a five-star high school recruit, commits to Duke

Riley Nelson, the former Maryland guard and the No. 18 player in the Class of 2023, announced her commitment to play for Duke next season.

Kara Lawson’s team continues to grow stronger.

Riley Nelson, the former Maryland guard, announced her commitment to the Duke women’s basketball team through social media on Monday morning.

According to the Instagram post from the team, Nelson already signed her letter of intent, so the declaration is official.

As a freshman with the Terrapins, Nelson averaged 5.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 14.0 minutes per game. She scored at least 10 points in three of her 16 appearances, including a career-high 15 points against Niagara and 11 points against Nebraska.

Nelson, a five-star recruit coming out of high school, was the No. 18 player in the 2023 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Her commitment gives Duke four of the top 30 players from that class after Jaydn Donovan (No. 3), Oluchi Okananwa (No. 27), and Delaney Thomas (No. 29) committed to Lawson out of high school.

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The Blue Devils are also one of the few teams in the country to not lose a player to the transfer portal this offseason. One year after a run to the Sweet 16, Lawson’s team could be set to turn heads in 2024-25.

Former Wisconsin basketball top class of 2023 target enters transfer portal

Former Wisconsin basketball top class of 2023 target enters transfer portal

Former Wisconsin basketball top class of 2023 recruiting target Jamie Kaiser Jr. entered the transfer portal on Monday afternoon.

Kaiser played the 2023-24 season at Maryland, averaging 19.5 minutes, 4.4 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal per game on 27% shooting and 26% from three.

The 6-foot-6 small forward was 247Sports’ No. 65 player in the class of 2023, No. 12 small forward and No. 7 recruit from his home state of Virginia.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin basketball’s reported transfer portal visits and targets

Wisconsin was in heavy pursuit of Kaiser coming out of IMG Academy. He chose Maryland over programs that included Wisconsin, Virginia, Indiana and Harvard.

The Badgers have wing minutes available after star guard A.J. Storr entered the transfer portal. Greg Gard has scholarships to work with and starting roles to fill, so expect a busy portal season for the Badgers. Kaiser Jr. could be one piece of that puzzle entering 2024-25.

For more on Wisconsin’s roster and transfer portal activity, check out Badgers Wire’s ongoing 2024 transfer portal tracker.

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Penn State seniors surge past Maryland in regular-season finale (photos)

Check out the best photos from Penn State basketball’s regular-season finale and senior night victory over Maryland.

Penn State honored its seniors on the basketball court on Sunday night and the seniors led the way to a home win against Maryland with a massive second-half effort. Penn State led Maryland by four points at halftime but pulled away in the second half as the regular season came to a close with a 49-37 scoring advantage in the second half of an 85-69 victory over the Terrapins.

Penn State’s seniors combined for 65 points in the win powered by a double-double from [autotag]Qudus Wahab[/autotag] (19 points, 15 rebounds) and [autotag]Ace Baldwin Jr.[/autotag] (17 points, 11 assists). [autotag]RayQuawndis Mitchell[/autotag] (14 points), [autotag]Puff Johnson[/autotag] (13 points), and [autotag]Nick Kern Jr.[/autotag] (10 points) all scored in double figures for the Nittany Lions.

This marked the seventh straight home win for Penn State over Maryland. Now both teams will be heading off to the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament this week in Minnesota, with each being paired up in a first-round matchup.

Next up for Penn State is a first-round matchup in the Big Ten conference tournament against Michigan on Wednesday, March 13. A win will set up a second-round matchup with Indiana. Maryland will face Rutgers in the first round with the winner set to face Wisconsin in the second round.

Here are some of the best photos from the regular-season finale against Maryland.