Tag: Miami

Terry Rozier: ‘I’m a strong believer that things will turn around’

The Miami Heat have been in the news cycle with Jimmy Butler trade rumors perpetually notifying people of the ongoing saga between the disgruntled star and the franchise. Last year, around the NBA trade deadline, the Heat were in the news for …

The Miami Heat have been in the news cycle with Jimmy Butler trade rumors perpetually notifying people of the ongoing saga between the disgruntled star and the franchise.

Last year, around the NBA trade deadline, the Heat were in the news for another trade that brought guard Terry Rozier from the Hornets, for which they gave up the 2027 first-round pick. Rozier was a starter for Charlotte for four-and-a-half seasons before being moved to the Heat. He had an immediate impact last year, providing them with a steady replacement lead guard for the aged Kyle Lowry.

However, Rozier struggled to begin this season, and as a starter in 21 games so far, he has a true shooting percentage of 47.4 percent. This year, head coach Erik Spoelstra made the move to bring Rozier off the bench for the first time regularly in six seasons. As a reserve, Rozier has averaged 12.1 ppg on 36 percent shooting from three and boasts a better winning percentage than as a starter.

Recently, after a team shootaround, Rozier spoke with HoopsHype opening up about managing his headspace, tuning out outside noise, and maintaining his confidence during a transitional year with Miami.

Photos of Notre Dame loss to Ohio State in CFP title game

Images from a night that was memorable despite the unhappy ending.

Notre Dame players, coaches and fans will vary in reaction to losing to Ohio State, 34-23, in the College Football Playoff title game. Some will be able to look past it and instead focus on the incredible season that allowed the Irish to get to this point. Others will be angry and upset, lamenting over what could have been.

Whatever the case, this will be a night to remember if only for the fact that the Irish got to play in the final game of the season and nearly completed a late comeback. Only time will tell whether this was their best shot at breaking their national championship drought for awhile or motivation to finally finish the job next season. Either way, their path to redemption will start with their 2025 season opener at Miami.

While you might not necessarily want to reminisce about a night that will sting, we thought you might enjoy some photos from this game anyway:

Big Ten releases statement ‘in full support’ of Wisconsin football in conflict with Xavier Lucas

The Big Ten has chimed in on the Xavier Lucas saga

The Big Ten Conference has taken a side in the ongoing Wisconsin vs. Xavier Lucas transfer portal saga.

For those unaware, Ross Dellenger reported on Friday that Lucas was leaving Wisconsin for Miami despite the Badgers blocking him from officially entering the transfer portal. The dispute, one which is far from resolved, revolves around Lucas signing a “binding two-year NIL agreement with Wisconsin” before exiting.

Related: Significant takeaways from Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas leaving for Miami

Wisconsin recently made its first public comment on the situation, alleging “impermissible contact between Xavier [Lucas] and the University of Miami football program personnel prior to Xavier’s request to enter the transfer portal.” In other words, it says Miami was tampering with Lucas before he announced his intention to transfer.

Wisconsin then concluded its statement by noting it will “continue to review facts as they unfold in this manner and will evaluate all options going forward to determine the appropriate course of action.”

The Big Ten Conference was fast to Wisconsin’s defense, releasing a statement of its own just 20 minutes after the Badgers’. Here is the full release:

“The Big Ten Conference stands in full support of the University of Wisconsin regarding the contractual agreement between student-athlete Xavier Lucas and the Wisconsin football program.

As student-athletes become active participants in revenue sharing, it is critical that agreed-to obligations be respected, honored, and enforced. In light of current laws and association rules, information suggesting tampering and contract interference in this case by the University of Miami is very troubling. These actions undermine the efforts of its own conference as the ACC continues its collaboration with the other A4 conferences in developing a sustainable framework for college sports.

This situation is just the latest example of the critical need for substantive governance reform.”

The following two sentences are the most significant: “As student-athletes become active participants in revenue sharing, it is critical that agreed-to obligations be respected, honored, and enforced. In light of current laws and association rules, information suggesting tampering and contract interference in this case by the University of Miami is very troubling.” The Big Ten is backing Wisconsin’s side of the dispute, all the way to supporting its allegations of Miami’s tampering.

The next steps in the situation are unclear. Lucas’ side, or at least his lawyer, believes that he has legal grounds to make the reported move to Miami without officially transferring. Wisconsin, meanwhile, is adamant that its contract with Lucas “remains in effect and enforceable.”

A logical next step is litigation, especially if Lucas suits up for the Hurricanes next season. The Big Ten’s clear defense of Wisconsin is a notable development, as the conference will now likely be a part of the legal process that follows.

What began as Lucas announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 19, which was a surprising development after he excelled as a true freshman in 2024, is now growing in complexity. Wisconsin’s dispute with the cornerback Lucas (and Miami) is growing to include more parties with each passing day.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Wisconsin football releases statement on Xavier Lucas-to-Miami transfer saga

Wisconsin football releases statement on Xavier Lucas-to-Miami transfer saga

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Wisconsin football released a statement on cornerback Xavier Lucas’ reported departure to Miami on Saturday.

News of his move came on Friday. Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger was the first to report that Lucas was leaving for Miami without officially entering the transfer portal. Wisconsin had held the standout freshman cornerback out of the portal after he “signed a two-year revenue-share agreement” in early December, per Dellenger.

Related: Significant takeaways from Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas leaving for Miami

Lucas’ camp has been adamant about Wisconsin’s wrongdoing. His lawyer was posting to X on Saturday morning, a full 12 hours after Friday’s news, his opinion that Wisconsin was in violation of NCAA bylaws.

The Badgers finally issued their response on Saturday evening. Here are the highlights:

“On December 2, Xavier and Wisconsin Athletics entered into a binding two-year NIL agreement reflecting his strong commitment to continuing with the Wisconsin football program. We understand that he also executed a similar agreement with the Varsity Collective. His agreement with Wisconsin Athletics included substantial financial compensation for Xavier. Under the terms of the agreement between Xavier and Wisconsin Athletics, it remains in effect and enforceable…

Under the transfer portal provision used by Xavier this past week, any contact between a student-athlete enrolled at one institution and the football program to which they are transferring is prohibited per NCAA rules. We have credible information indicating impermissible contact between Xavier and the University of Miami football program personnel prior to Xavier’s request to enter the transfer portal. Direct interference with another institution’s committed player and contractual interests is prohibited by NCAA tampering rules and law…

We continue to review facts as they unfold in this manner and will evaluate all options going forward to determine the appropriate course of action.”

Here is a link to the full statement, courtesy of ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Thamel also followed up on X, noting that “The Big Ten is expected to come out strongly in support of Wisconsin…The Big Ten believes that Miami’s actions are ‘inconsistent with all the work toward a new framework being done by the A4 leagues, including the ACC,’ per a source.”

In other words, what began as a Lucas vs. Wisconsin issue is likely to expand to the Big Ten vs. the ACC vs. NCAA.

(Update: The Big Ten released a statement on Saturday, saying it is “in full support of Wisconsin regarding the contractual agreement between student-athlete Xavier Lucas and the Wisconsin football program”).

As we indicated after Lucas’ reported departure to Miami, this situation is likely far from a resolution. Saturday’s release is Wisconsin’s first public statement on the matter. It follows much of the information that had previously been reported by BadgerExtra’s Colten Bartholomew: the program believes that Lucas is in violation of an agreement he signed in the days before expressing his intention to enter the portal.

What happens next is hard to predict. Lucas may have a hard time suiting up for Miami in 2025 without significant litigation occurring. It has the makings of a college football-wide battle that could shape the future of the sport and its structure.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Opinion: There is a third party at fault in the Wisconsin vs. Xavier Lucas saga

Opinion: There is a third party at fault in the Wisconsin vs. Xavier Lucas saga

The Wisconsin vs. Xavier Lucas saga took a significant turn on Friday night as Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger reported that Lucas is leaving for Miami without officially entering the transfer portal.

Quickly, here is a recap of events:

  • Early December: Lucas reportedly signs a deal with Wisconsin’s collective that ‘binds’ him to the school, giving it non-exclusive rights to market his name, image and likeness
  • Dec. 19: Lucas announces his intention to enter the portal
  • Dec. 27: Lucas states publicly that Wisconsin is ‘refusing to release’ him to the portal
  • Dec. 28: The winter transfer window closes. Lucas has still yet to be officially entered
  • Jan. 7: Lucas hires a Florida-based attorney, who quickly threatens legal action against Wisconsin
  • Jan. 17: Lucas reportedly commits to Miami despite never officially entering the transfer portal

A few things are clear. First, this is not the last we will hear of this ongoing situation. Dellenger’s report reads that Lucas ‘breaking the agreement could trigger litigation from Wisconsin onto Lucas and/or Miami.’ That agreement, to be clear, is between Lucas and Wisconsin’s collective — not with the school itself.

Second, the result of whatever litigation that follows will likely craft the future of the sport. Lucas is the first player to test college football’s loosely-defined NIL and transfer structure. His case will be used as precedent for any future cases and disputes that follow.

Regardless of how this situation affects Wisconsin on the field in 2025 and beyond, and how everybody got to this point, it’s clear that one prominent party is the most at fault. That isn’t Wisconsin, it isn’t Luke Fickell and it isn’t Xavier Lucas. It’s the NCAA.

Whether it was Lucas this offseason or another player in the near future, the current unregulated NIL structure, which is paid by third parties and not by the schools themselves, is unsustainable. So is the NCAA creating transfer portal windows and guidelines that it can’t specifically enforce, as we’re currently seeing with Lucas’ move.

ESPN’s Kevin Clark summed up the chain events on X: “Wisconsin said a kid couldn’t go in the portal, the kid and his lawyer said ‘the portal doesn’t exist’ and the NCAA said ‘you got us there.'”

College football has existed in an undefined world for some time, especially since legislation was passed in 2021 that allowed players to profit off their name, image and likeness. What the Lucas situation does more than anything is continue to expose the NCAA’s lack of power. Whatever well-intentioned guardrails that were implemented, such as transfer windows, will soon become irrelevant once it becomes clear that an enforcement structure doesn’t exist.

This argument goes back years, as the NCAA scrambled to react to the mentioned legislation instead of proactively planning for it. While much is now out of its control, there is no other entity that is more responsible for this current mess.

As a fan of the sport and somebody who wants it to succeed, I can only hope that this situation helps the sport find a sustainable future. That could be some form of contracts between the players and the school, or a breakaway semi-professional entity that separates entirely from the NCAA. Whatever that future looks like, it needs to come together quickly.

After all, it’s the NCAA’s lack of foresight and structure that led to this entire mess in the first place.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Report: Wisconsin star cornerback Xavier Lucas leaves to Miami … without entering the portal

A significant update to the Xavier Lucas saga

Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas has left for Miami, according to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger.

He does so without entering the transfer portal. Wisconsin blocked him from doing so during the winter window after Lucas reportedly “signed a two-year revenue-share agreement” in early December, per Dellenger.

Related: Significant takeaways from Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas leaving for Miami

Here is a brief timeline of events: Lucas originally announced his intention to enter the portal on Dec. 19. He stated publicly on Dec. 27 that Wisconsin was refusing to release him. No movement was made as the winter window closed on Dec. 28. Lucas hired a Florida-based attorney on Jan. 7, who quickly threatened legal action against Wisconsin.

The latest update is Dellenger’s report: Lucas leaving for Miami. It is unlikely to be the last in a series of events that may carry significance for the sport’s future.

Dellenger writes that Lucas signed a Big Ten-issued template form in early December that “binds” him to Wisconsin, giving it non-exclusive rights to his name, image and likeness. In other words, it’s the closest thing in college football to a contract. That contract is not with the school, however, but rather with its collective. This understandably creates confusion about how the contract can be enforced or who can enforce it.

Lucas exiting the reported agreement and playing for Miami could result in litigation, the result of which could define the future of college football’s transfer structure.

This is the first significant case of a player challenging the strength of the sport’s NIL-related agreements, as well as that transfer structure. Lucas winning any potential litigation would make irrelevant most of the existing infrastructure the sport has in place, transfer windows as a prominent example.

This situation will also obviously affect Wisconsin on the field. Lucas was an emerging star as a true freshman and was set to lead the Badgers’ cornerback room for the next three seasons.

It is unlikely to be the last headline in the Wisconsin-Xavier Lucas transfer saga. Now, at least, his destination is clear.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion

Wisconsin top rival loses its defensive coordinator

Wisconsin top rival loses its defensive coordinator

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman is leaving for the same position at Miami, as first reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. ESPN’s Pete Thamel later confirmed the move.

The fast-rising coordinator spent one season with the Gophers. He was previously the linebackers coach at Rutgers (2022-23), defensive coordinator at James Madison (2019-21) and defensive coordinator at Maine (2016-18).

Related: Final conference bowl records for 2024-25 college football postseason: Big Ten supremacy

Thamel reports that Minnesota will look internally for Hetherman’s replacement.

Hetherman departs after leading the Golden Gophers to the nation’s No. 5 total defense (285.7 yards allowed per game) and No. 9 scoring defense (16.9 points) in 2024. The unit was a driving force behind the team’s resurgent 8-5 season and 24-7 win over Wisconsin.

He reportedly signed a two-year extension with the Gophers last month after that breakout campaign. Matt Fortuna added the new contract, with a bigger buyout, ‘was not an impediment’ to Miami’s pursuit.

Wisconsin struggled mightily in that matchup against Hetherman and the Gophers defense. The Badgers managed just seven points on 166 total yards (136 passing, 30 rushing). That point tally is the team’s lowest in the rivalry matchup since 1990 (21-3 loss).

It goes without saying that the Badgers must reverse their recent form against their top rivals if 2025 is to look any different than the last two seasons. Minnesota ushering in a new defensive coordinator will be a storyline to watch as the end-of-season battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe nears.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Should USC have pursued Carson Beck in the transfer portal?

No one at USC should lose any sleep over not getting Carson Beck for 2025.

Entering the 2025 season, there are still some major questions surrounding the state of USC football’s quarterback room. This is why it certainly raised eyebrows, when, on Thursday, Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck entered the transfer portal. Beck started the past two seasons for the Bulldogs, throwing for nearly 7,500 yards and 52 touchdowns and leading them to back-to-back SEC Championship Games.

Barely 24 hours later, however, Beck was off the market, as he committed to Miami on Friday.

With Beck headed elsewhere, however, it raises the question: Should Lincoln Riley and USC have pursued him in the portal?

USC’s QB room heading into spring practice consists of Jayden Maiava, Sam Huard, and Husan Longstreet. Maiava is currently considered the favorite to win the job, as he started the final four games of USC’s 2024 season, going 3-1. However, he should be pushed heavily by both Huard—a former five-star recruit who will be on his fourth different school in five years—and Longstreet—a five-star signee in the class of 2025.

While all three quarterbacks have upside, none have the proven track record of a guy like Beck, who has proven that he can play well against elite competition. So should USC have pursued Beck, then?

On the surface, Beck would be an upgrade over the guys that the Trojans currently have in their QB room. In today’s era of college football, however, it is hardly that simple. Landing Beck would have required a significant investment of NIL funds, which in turn would have meant less money to spend elsewhere.

Beck is a very good quarterback, but is he good enough to justify spending millions of dollars that could have otherwise gone towards upgrading other positions? That’s hard to say.

If Beck lights the world on fire at Miami and wins the Heisman/leads the Hurricanes to the playoff, then we will certainly question the decision by USC not to pursue him further. Given Riley’s success with quarterbacks and the numerous other holes on the Trojans’ roster, sitting this one out feels like a reasonable move on USC’s part.

Former Michigan State football tight end commits to Miami

A former Michigan State tight end has committed to Miami

After two seasons at Michigan State and one season at UAB, former MSU tight end Jack Nickel is transferring to Miami.

Nickel was a former 3-star recruit in East Lansing who took a redshirt in 2022, played in ten games in 2023, then transferred to UAB. Nickel entered the transfer portal after one season at UAB back on December 9.

Now, Nickel will join his younger brother Luke Nickel, a 2025 quarterback signee, at Miami.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Report: Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas still not in the transfer portal, hires attorney

Another big update to the Xavier Lucas transfer saga

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Wisconsin freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas has still yet to officially enter the transfer portal.

This update arrives nearly two weeks after Lucas’ last public comments on the situation (Dec. 27): “I still intend to transfer,” Lucas wrote on X. “But at the moment Wisconsin is refusing to release me into the transfer portal.”

Related: Where Wisconsin football transfers have signed so far

Those comments arrived as the winter transfer window was closing — players had until Dec. 28 to officially enter, unless they played in a bowl game scheduled for after that date.

On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed on Wednesday that Lucas’ name has yet to officially appear. According to the cornerback, this is due to Wisconsin blocking him from entering. According to a BadgerExtra report from Dec. 27, Wisconsin believes Lucas must honor a deal he signed with the program in early December — just days before publicly announcing his intention to transfer.

To add complexity to an issue that still appears far from a resolution: Lucas has reportedly hired legal representation. On3’s Matt Shodell confirmed on Tuesday that Lucas has hired Darren Heitner, a well-known Florida-based attorney who specializes in sports law and name, image and likeness (NIL). Heitner is also an adjunct professor at the University of Miami where he teaches classes on the latter.

“I have contacted the NCAA demanding that it enforce its rules which require [Xavier] Lucas’ name to be entered into the transfer database,” Heitner wrote on X on Tuesday. “If Wisconsin doesn’t budge, then we will escalate this matter to litigation.”

There has been no public response from Wisconsin, nor any apparent resolution to Lucas’ desire to enter the portal. According to Heitner, litigation could soon follow.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, received major news on Wednesday with star cornerback Ricardo Hallman returning for a final season. Hallman and transfers Geimere Latimer (Jacksonville State) and D’Yoni Hill (Miami) figure to lead the team’s cornerback group in 2025.

Lucas’ impending departure is one of several from a cornerback room that was one of the Badgers’ strengths in 2024. Wisconsin has successfully recrafted its starting trio entering 2025. Its depth, however, remains a big question.

Nakos notes that Lucas would immediately become a top available transfer upon entering the portal.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.