Notre Dame hockey swept by Wisconsin on opening weekend

No. 20 Notre Dame got off to a tough start this season as they were swept by Wisconsin at Compton Family Ice Arena. Details here…

No. 20 Notre Dame started their 2020-21 hockey season this weekend against Wisconsin and got off to a tough start, dropping both contests.

Friday night saw the Irish shutout on their home ice by the Badgers, 2-0 while the Irish couldn’t slow down Wisconsin on Saturday evening, falling 5-3 despite getting a hat trick from Colin Theisin.

The official release from Notre Dame recapping Saturday’s loss at Compton Family Ice Arena can be read below:

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Colin Theisen netted a hat trick, but #20 Notre Dame fell to Wisconsin, 5-3, on Saturday night inside Compton Family Ice Arena.

The hat trick was the first of Theisen’s collegiate career and included a pair of goals just 1:40 apart in the second period. Alex Steeves earned an assist on all three of Theisen’s markers to match his career-high with three points. Spencer Stastney, Michael Graham and Matt Hellickson also picked up assists.

Wisconsin netminder Robbie Beydoun made 29 saves to earn the victory. Dylan St. Cyr stopped 17 shots before Ryan Bischel made three saves in relief.

Notre Dame went 1-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

How It Happened

Ty Pelton-Byce opened the scoring for the Badgers with 4:04 left in the first period to give the visitors a one-goal lead entering the first intermission.

Wisconsin doubled its lead with a tally by Ryder Donovan just 3:54 into the middle frame.

The Badgers held the two-goal advantage until Theisen got the Irish back within one with a power-play goal with 5:23 left in the stanza. Graham fired a shot from the point that Theisen redirected past Beydoun for Notre Dame’s first goal of the 2020-21 campaign.

Just 1:40 later, Theisen one-timed a feed from Steeves at the top of the right circle to even the score at 2-2.

Brock Caufield put Wisconsin back on top with a goal in the final minute of the second period as the Badgers took a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

The Irish tied it once again at 7:57 of the third period when Theisen buried a rebound off of a point-blank chance by Steeves.

But Dylan Holloway gave Wisconsin the lead again just past the midway point of the period before Donovan’s second with 7:45 remaining accounted for the 5-3 final.

Notes

Seniors Matt Hellickson and Colin Theisen skated in their 119th-consecutive games, dating back to the first game of their freshman season.
Thiesen posted his first career hat trick and his 11th career multi-point game.
It was the first Fighting Irish hat trick since Cal Burke scored three against Mercyhurst to open the 2018-19 season (Oct. 12, 2018).
Alex Steeves assisted on each of Theisen’s goals for his second-career three assist game and eighth-career multi-point game.
Michael Graham had an assist, bringing his point total to 11 (8-3-11) in eight games played against the Badgers.
The game was officiated with one referee and two linesmen.

Next Up

The Irish will have next weekend off before playing at Michigan following Thanksgiving.
The series will take place on Friday and Saturday Nov. 27-28 at the Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Friday’s game will be on Big Ten Plus (streaming), while broadcast and/or streaming details for Saturday’s game will be announced at a later date.

Texas moves up to No. 15 in the Rothstein 45

With the addition of five-star Greg Brown, UT has jumped six spots in the Rothstein 45, coming in at No. 15. Back in March, UT was No. 21.

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports has released his top 45 teams going into the 2020-2021 college basketball season. Back in March, the Longhorns sat within the top 25 at No. 21, behind four other Big 12 schools.

With the addition of five-star forward Greg Brown, Texas has jumped six spots in the standings, coming in at No. 15. Leaping West Virginia (No. 16) and Texas Tech (No. 17), the Longhorns now only sit behind Baylor (No. 3) and Kansas (No. 4) in the Big 12.

Here is how the college basketball insider thinks Texas’ lineup will look next season:

15. Texas

G Matt Coleman
G Courtney Ramey
G Andrew Jones
F Kai Jones
F Greg Brown

Key Losses: None

Key Newcomers: Greg Brown

Projected Bench: Kamaka Hepa, Jase Febres, Will Baker, Brock Cunningham, Royce Hamm, Gerald Liddell, Donovan Williams, Jericho Sims

Three key returning starters for the Longhorns will be the starting guards of Matt Coleman, Courtney Ramey, and Andrew Jones. Averaging a combined 35.1 points per game last season, the guards will be expected to carry the load game in and game out once again.

Brown will be the missing factor that can elevate Texas to a new level next season. His athleticism mixed with his raw basketball talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball, will be the reason the Longhorns compete in the Big 12.

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The Athletic ranks Texas No. 14 in post-spring top 25

Despite no football, The Athletic has put together his post-spring top 25. They have Texas ranked at No. 14, just ahead of Texas A&M.

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Spring football usually gives teams a better understanding of where they stand before the fall. Position battles can sort themselves out, freshman have the opportunity to make an impact, and if you have new coaches on your staff, their systems can be implemented.

Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and defensive coordinator Chris Ash were hoping to get some time with their new team throughout March, but have been shut down thanks to the coronavirus. There will be no spring practice for any team across the country.

Despite no football, Stewart Mandel of The Athletic has put together his post-spring top 25 going into next season. He has ranked Texas at No. 14, just ahead of former arch-rival Texas A&M.

(The story requires a paid subscription)

Here is what Mandel had to say about the Longhorns:

Tom Herman made solid hires with new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and defensive coordinator Chris Ash. QB Sam Ehlinger quietly finished No. 4 nationally in total offense last season but threw too many INTs. RB Keontay Ingram averaged 7.0 yards per carry over his last seven games. Redshirt freshman WR Jordan Whittington could become a weapon at receiver. OLB Joseph Ossai and S Caden Sterns lead a defense that needs to get stronger up front.

Mandel’s ranking and judgment of the Longhorns seem to be fair. Not receiving top 10 hype as they have in the past, he points out Texas still has some questions to answer both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Joseph Ossai is expected to be an instrumental part of the defense “that needs to get stronger up front.” When he moved to a designated pass-rushing role in the Alamo Bowl against Utah, Ossai recorded three sacks and six tackles for loss. He will be the biggest factor for the Longhorns going into the season.

Two other Big 12 teams make the cut, with Oklahoma coming in at No. 6 and Oklahoma State at No. 18. It is expected to be a three-team race for the two spots in the Big 12 championship game.

Texas will face Oklahoma October 10th in Dallas, while their regular-season finale will be on the road to Oklahoma State on November 27th.

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NCAA.com Releases Preseason Top 25, Ranks Texas Inside Top 15

NCAA.com has released their preseason top 25 for 2020. Once again, Texas is highly ranked in preseason polls, placing within the top 15.

Wayne Staats of NCAA.com has released his preseason top 25 for the 2020 season and once again, the Longhorns are highly ranked. Ranking Texas at No. 14 in the country, Tom Herman’s squad will begin another season with high expectations.

Here is what Staats had to say about Texas:

The Longhorns started in the top 10 and lost by only 7 to LSU but then fell to 6-5. Reason for optimism? the ‘Horns crushed Texas Tech and then No. 11 Utah in the Alamo Bowl by 28 to end the season on a positive note. And QB Sam Ehlinger will be back. However, a euphoric bowl win in the 2018 season didn’t exactly mean good things for 2019.

Much like the end of the 2018 season, a bowl win against a highly ranked Power 5 team is giving Texas optimism for the upcoming season. It ended poorly this past season and changes were made throughout the coaching staff. Now, the Longhorns must prove they deserve to be ranked so highly.

Here are the rest of the rankings:

Clemson
Ohio State
Alabama
LSU
Georgia
Oregon
Oklahoma
Penn State
Florida
Auburn
Notre Dame
Oklahoma State
Texas A&M
Texas
Michigan
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Minnesota
USC
UCF
Cincinnati
Utah
Iowa State
Iowa
Arizona State

Staats controversially has Texas ranked below in-state rivals Texas A&M. While the Longhorns and Aggies have not played a game since 2011, the rivalry has continued off the field, mainly through preseason rankings and recruiting. Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M come in at No. 13, with hopes and dreams of winning the SEC West.

As for the rest of the Big 12, three other teams are ranked, starting with Oklahoma at No. 7. Oklahoma State comes in at No. 12, while Iowa State wraps up the conference at No. 23. Only the SEC and Big 10 have more ranked teams than the Big 12, with six teams each.

The Longhorns’ big-time non-conference opponent, LSU, is ranked No. 4, fresh off a national championship. Coach Orgeron and the Tigers will be playing host to Texas in week two of the season, set up to be one of the games of the season.

Being ranked inside the top 15 may be a stretch this early in the year. While the foundation is there for the Longhorns to be successful, there is a lot they must prove to deserve such a high ranking. Many tests will occur throughout the season, showing if Texas is legitimately worthy of being a top 15 team in the country, or if the same let down will occur.

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Jon Rothstein Ranks Texas No. 21 for 2020-2021 Season

Jon Rothstein has released his top 45 teams for the 2020-2021 season. Ranking Texas inside the top 25, UT is ranked No. 21 for next season.

College basketball sadly came to an abrupt end this season, leaving the entire country wondering what was going to happen throughout the month of March.

For Texas, a win against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals would have seen them in the NCAA Tournament. Even with a close loss, the Longhorns still had a great shot at making the postseason.

Either way, the 2019-2020 season has concluded and for Shaka Smart and Texas, it is time to work towards 2020-2021.

Like the Longhorns, CBS Sports’ College Basketball insider Jon Rothstein has moved on to next season and has released his initial top 45 teams for the 2020-2021 season. Ranking Texas just inside the top 25, they are No. 21 in the Rothstein 45.

Here are his lineup projections for next season:

21. Texas

G Matt Coleman
G Courtney Ramey
G Andrew Jones
F Kai Jones
C Jericho Sims

Key Losses: None

Key Newcomers: None

Projected Bench: Kamaka Hepa, Jase Febres, Will Baker, Brock Cunningham, Royce Hamm, Gerald Liddell, Donovan Williams

NBA Watch: None

Barring any transfers, Texas should have the entire roster back for next season. Add in the possibility of adding five-star small forward Greg Brown out of Austin, TX in this year’s recruiting class, and the Longhorns look primed for a run in the 2020-2021 season.

Rothstein ranks six other Big 12 teams in his top 45, having Baylor at No. 3, Kansas at No. 4, Texas Tech at No. 17, West Virginia at No. 19, Oklahoma at No. 36, and Oklahoma State at No. 42.

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Texas Baseball: USA Today’s Coaches Poll has Longhorns ranked No 22

The USA Today/Coaches poll has been released and the Texas Longhorns are currently ranked 22nd in the nation.

The Texas Longhorns baseball team has started off hot winning 13 of their first 16 games. In the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic, the Longhorns beat the number six ranked Arkansas Razorbacks 8-7 and dropped a game to the 11th ranked LSU Tigers 4-3. The Longhorns have also played three weekend series going a perfect 9-0.

In the latest USA Today Coaches Poll that was released on March 9th, the Longhorns came in at number 22 in the poll. They are just two points based on votes behind the number 21 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Texas finished seven points ahead of Texas A&M who comes in at 23rd. The Aggies and Longhorns will have a one-game duel in College Station on March 31st.

Big 12 Teams in the top 25:

Texas Tech (3)
Oklahoma (13)

Following the five games left on their nine-game homestead, the Longhorns will travel to Frisco, Texas for a matchup with UT-Arlington. The team then starts Big 12 play with a trip to Norman for a three-game set with Oklahoma.

Texas Softball: Longhorns walk it off in the 9th inning

The Texas Longhorns needed some late innings heroics and a couple errors to stay unbeaten on the season.

The Texas Longhorns softball team was facing adversity for a change in their latest matchup with the North Texas Mean Green. The Longhorns fell down 2-0 very early, in fact the Mean Green scored both runs with one out. Shealyn O’Leary pitched three innings and gave up just the two runs. The offense struggled to pick up the slack for Texas.

Courtney Day came on in relief to throw two scoreless innings. Day surrounded just one hit and striking out one. She gave way for the Big 12 pitcher of the week Miranda Elish to pitch the rest of the way. Elish went four innings of shutout softball, striking out five and walking one.

On offense, the Longhorns struggled and had to scratch and claw their way back into the game. In the first Kaitlyn Washington hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring Shannon Rhodes across the plate. North Texas pitcher Hope Trautwein pitched eight innings and gave up two runs, she got the no decision in this one.

Texas would tie the game up in the 7th inning when Camille Corona scored on a wild pitch from Trautwein. It would come down to the Longhorns in the 9th inning to remain perfect. Rhodes singled but a throwing error by North Texas allowed pinch runner Tuesday DerMargosian to come around to score to walk off in the ninth inning.

Elish improved to 5-0 on the season and Texas is now 11-0 early on in the season.

Where Does Texas Land in ESPN’s Latest Way-Too-Early Top 25?

ESPN has released their latest way-too-early top 25 for the upcoming season. Barely making the rankings, Texas sneaks in at No. 23.

With both national signing days complete, ESPN has released their latest way-too-early top 25 for the upcoming college football season. Barely making the rankings, Texas sneaks into the top 25 at No. 23.

Mark Schlabach asked, “Is Year 4 now or never for Longhorns coach Tom Herman?” It very well may be, as winning is expected. Being a fringe top 25 team is acceptable for this Longhorns team at the beginning of the year, but progress towards the top 10 will be expected throughout the season.

Here is the full top 25:

Clemson
Ohio State
Alabama
Georgia
Penn State
Oregon
Florida
LSU
Oklahoma
Notre Dame
Texas A&M
Oklahoma State
Wisconsin
Auburn
Michigan
Minnesota
Cincinnati
Iowa State
Boise State
Iowa
USC
North Carolina
Texas
Appalachian State
Baylor

Four other Big 12 teams join Texas in their rankings, with Oklahoma once again being top dog. It will be a competitive race for the Big 12 Championship in 2020 and any of the five teams listed could be in Arlington at the end of the season.

It is still early, but the Longhorns are more than likely going to be ranked at the beginning of next season. Once spring ball is completed and the offensive and defensive adjustments are put into place, Texas has a chance to be ranked even higher than they are at the moment.

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Ranking 8 of the best 2020 free agent tight ends

There are 48 potential free-agent tight ends according to Spotrac. The bad news is that the pickings are slim. There is one big-name tight end who has put up numbers but the rest are either injury prone or more role player than a star pass catcher. …

Austin Hooper

Hooper has been selected to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons and it is time for him to cash in. The Falcons don’t have much cap room so expect to see Hooper on the move. The last two seasons have seen Hooper combine for 146 catches and 10 touchdowns. He’s a strong red-zone presence. He is an adequate blocker at the position. He had a great statistical year last season but didn’t even play the whole year. Expect there to be more than a few offers for Hooper. He’ll be able to pick his next team.

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Texas Softball Jumps to No. 3 in Latest Top 25

After going a perfect 4-0 in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge this past week, UT has risen to No. 3 in the latest D1Softball top 25.

After going a perfect 4-0 in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge this past week, the Longhorns have risen to No. 3 in the latest D1Softball top 25. With their overall record at 10-0, Texas joins UCLA as the only two undefeated teams in the top 10 and are tied for the second-most wins throughout the entire top 25.

Just above the Longhorns at No. 2 are rivals Oklahoma. The Sooners jumped from No. 4, going 4-1 this past week. Oklahoma State at No. 8 and Texas Tech at No. 19 are the only other Big 12 teams ranked.

The newest @D1Softball Top 25 Rankings are out, @NCAAsoftball fans!

🥎 @OU_Softball and @TexasSoftball continue to climb!
🥎 @UCLASoftball holds on to the No. 1 spot
🥎 @HokiesSoftball moves into the rankings

Check out the latest Top 2️⃣5️⃣:https://t.co/jDDBTNKmGT pic.twitter.com/dcmSUNqSSt

— D1Softball (@D1Softball) February 17, 2020

Coming up for Texas is a home game against North Texas on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. CST. After their midweek game, they will host the Texas Invitational, as Duke, Lipscomb, North Dakota State, and Weber State will travel to Austin to participate.

Another game to look forward to is when the Longhorns will travel to Los Angeles to face the No. 1 ranked UCLA Bruins. Playing on Feb. 27, two of the top three teams in the country will be squaring off possibly for the title of No. 1 team in the country.

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