Former Badgers star after career night: I’m ‘one of the best point guards in the country’

Former Wisconsin star has career performance in Louisville overtime win over West Virginia

Former Wisconsin star guard Chucky Hepburn had arguably the best outing of his college basketball career on Thursday.

In Louisville’s 79-70 overtime win over West Virginia, the former Badger produced 32 points, three rebounds, two assists and six steals on 8-of-12 shooting and 14-of-17 from the free-throw line.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Nov. 25): Wisconsin continues to rise

Those 32 points are a career high for the veteran point guard. His previous top output was a 27-point outing in Wisconsin’s NIT second-round win over Liberty on March 19, 2023.

“It’s senior year. I think I lay in the back seat for a long time,” Hepburn told ESPN after the win. “It’s time to show the world who Chucky Hepburn is. I’m a bucket-getter, one of the best point guards in the country, and I stand by that.”

Hepburn’s per-game averages are up to 15 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 4.2 steals and 29 minutes per game of action. That 4.2 steal-per-game clip is currently No. 1 in the entire country — nobody else averages more than four.

The win over West Virginia improved the Cardinals to 5-1 on the season and clinched their ticket to the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. They will face the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday evening.

The contest also reinserted Hepburn into the national conversation. After operating as Wisconsin’s secondary option behind Johnny Davis, A.J. Storr and forward Tyler Wahl, Hepburn is leading a Louisville team that appears in line for a resurgent campaign.

Hepburn’s decision to transfer from Wisconsin was headline news in March. His stellar play at Louisville and spot as the nation’s-best defender continues to make headlines.

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Former Wisconsin class of 2025 commit flips pledge to a Big 12 program

Former Wisconsin class of 2025 commit flips pledge to a Big 12 program

Former Wisconsin class of 2025 commit Wilnerson Telemaque flipped his pledge to West Virginia on Wednesday.

Telemaque recently decommitted from the Badgers’ class of 2025 on Oct. 29. West Virginia now adds him to its class of 2025 after being an initial finalist back in June, along with the Badgers and Georgia Tech.

247Sports currently ranks the three-star defensive lineman as the No. 816 player in the class of 2025, No. 95 defensive lineman and No. 104 recruit from his home state of Florida. He joins a West Virginia class of 2025 that currently ranks No. 40 in the nation with 22 players committed.

Telemaque’s departure from Wisconsin’s class of 2025 was part of a flurry of moves in the group. It flipped three-star DL Drayden Pavey and three-star TE Emmett Bork in short order, then saw three-star LB Brenden Anes flip to Tennessee and now Telemaque to West Virginia.

In all, Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks No. 28 in the nation with 23 players committed. Luke Fickell is still working to put finishing touches on the group before it is finalized in the coming months.

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Notre Dame football will host SMU in 2026, replacing Virginia

This time, the Mustangs won’t be fresh off the death penalty.

Notre Dame football plays five ACC opponents every season in exchange for retaining its independence. While we are told who the Irish will play well into the next decade, that opponents list can change anytime. We just got an example of that.

The ACC has announced that the Irish will host SMU during the 2026 season on a date yet to be determined. This game will replace the one against Virginia that was scheduled for Oct. 17 of that season. This will allow the Cavaliers to play the first of two games they have scheduled against West Virginia, a series that was concurrently announced.

This will be the first time the Irish and Mustangs have met since the Irish earned a crushing 59-6 victory in 1989. At that time, the Irish were the top team in the country and fresh off their most recent national championship. The Mustangs, meanwhile, were fresh off the death penalty sidelining them for two years.

The playing field should be a little more even this time. That should at least make this game more competitive.

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Are the Broncos staying at a haunted hotel in West Virginia?

“It’s treating us all well for sure,” Broncos CB Pat Surtain said of The Greenbrier. “I’m enjoying it.”

After playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida in Week 3, the Denver Broncos opted to stay on the East Coast ahead of their game against the New York Jets in Week 4.

The Broncos are staying in West Virginia this week at The Greenbrier, which features a hotel that is said to be haunted as guests have reported hearing voices, seeing shadowy figures, doors opening seemingly by themselves, and more (read on if you so desire).

That hasn’t stopped multiple NFL teams from staying there, including the New Orleans Saints back when they were coached by Sean Payton.

“It’s just how we kind of envisioned it,” Payton said. “It’s logistically — everything fits.”

https://twitter.com/Scotty_G6/status/1838796822338539728

The resort has everything a football team needs — multiple practice fields, an indoor facility, meeting rooms, weight rooms, locker rooms — and other activities including bowling, golf and horseback riding. The focus is on football this week.

“I think the accommodations are fantastic,” Payton said. “I think there have been eight teams? We’re not the only team that’s done this with the eastern trip. I think San Francisco… There’s been a number of teams. I think eight professional teams have been here, three training camps probably, maybe four. The others have used it the same way we’ve used it, as a layover if you will, between the next game. … That field is easy to control.

“Of course, the hotel’s here, the food tent, this facility was built really quickly and then it was really about the grass fields, and they did great job. We’ve had joint practices here before with New England. I just think, now they use it a lot. I think the high schools and Marshall, West Virginia, I think it’s used quite a bit.”

If it’s haunted, the players haven’t said so.

“[It’s been] pretty good,” quarterback Bo Nix said of the team’s home away from home. “Got a little change of scenery and have a good week of practice ahead of us. It’s a fun team trip. We’re going to be around each other all week, so it will be good for us.”

After practicing in West Virginia on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Broncos will travel to New Jersey for Sunday’s game against the Jets.

“It’s treated me well,” star cornerback Pat Surtain said when asked about the resort. “This is my first time being in West Virginia actually, and I didn’t know they had quite the resort like this. I’m enjoying every bit of it. Yesterday we went to a little bar and got some good food. There’s a nice little spa here too, so it’s treating us all well for sure. I’m enjoying it.”

Sounds like the players have no qualms about the arrangements.

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Geno Smith shares heartfelt message for former teammate Tavon Austin

Geno Smith shares heartfelt message for former teammate Tavon Austin

During August, former wide receiver and return specialist Tavon Austin officially called it a career. Originally the No. 8 pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Austin officially called it a career after nine seasons in the league. Austin broke into the NFL as a member of the then-St. Louis Rams, stayed with the Rams for two seasons in Los Angeles, then had stints in Dallas, Green Bay and Jacksonville. Now, he moves on to new ventures in life.

However, the story of Tavon Austin cannot be told without his collegiate quarterback Geno Smith. Both men were West Virginia Mountaineers from 2009-2012 where they led one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Recently, Smith was talking with Good Morning Football co-host Peter Schrager, and when asked about Austin, Smith wasted no time singing his praises.

Smith’s full comments can be seen below, and they are worth a watch.

https://twitter.com/PSchrags/status/1831357099152130083

In Morgantown, Smith and Austin were quite the dynamic duo. The pair connected for 273 completions for 3,262 yards and 28 touchdowns through the air. Their peak came during the 2012 Orange Bowl when West Virgina obliterated Clemson to the tune of 70-33. Smith threw six touchdown passes, four of which went to Austin which set an Orange Bowl record.

We at Seahawks Wire wish Tavon Austin a happy retirement and hope he finds joy in whatever he does next with his life.

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Tavon Austin’s incredible college highlight reel has been watched 24 million times

Tavon Austin’s college highlight reel is one of the most-watched football videos on YouTube with 24 million views

Former Rams receiver Tavon Austin retired from the NFL on Tuesday, announcing his exit from football after nine seasons.

Before he got to the league, he wowed fans on Saturdays. During his time at West Virginia, Austin was one of the most electric and dynamic players in the country. In four seasons, he caught 288 passes for 3,413 yards and 29 touchdowns, while also adding 1,033 yards rushing and another six scores. That’s without even mentioning his impact as a returner where he had four kick return touchdowns and one punt return score in his career.

During his senior season alone, he had 1,932 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns, adding another 778 return yards and two touchdowns on special teams. It’s why the Rams drafted him eighth overall in 2013, believing he could be a playmaker for them on offense and in the return game.

If you’re wondering just how fun Austin was to watch in college, check out his highlight reel, “Only One”. It has 24 million views on YouTube, which is mind-boggling.

In fact, if you search “football highlights” on YouTube, it’s one of the most-viewed football videos in the world.

If you haven’t watched it already, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Seahawks sign UFL WR Marcus Simms

Seahawks sign UFL WR Marcus Simms

The Seattle Seahawks boast one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the NFL. This week, it got a little deeper. The Seahawks announced on Tuesday they were signing Michigan Panthers wide receiver Marcus Simms to the team. Simms took full advantage of the opportunity the UFL gave him and now he has another shot in the NFL.

Simms, 26, first joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 after his collegiate years at West Virginia. Unfortunately, his first foray into the league did not result in any action. Simms found his way back to football in the UFL with the Panthers this season, where he was one of the stronger players.

Simms’ 426 receiving yards was good for 10th in the UFL, and his three touchdowns were tied for eighth, as his Panthers won seven of their ten games and made the playoffs. Big plays seems to be his specialty.

Here’s hoping for the best for Simms in his second stint in the big leagues.

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UNC blasts a famous West Virginia tune after clinching trip to College World Series

Country roads, take me home…

There are several ways to celebrating clinching a College World Series trip.

The first way, immediately after recording the game’s final out, is to dogpile on the mound. Fans of the team who clinched erupt in joyous celebration, particularly if the clinch is at home.

Another way is to wave to fans of your team, thanking them for their attendance and support throughout a tough series.

What did the North Carolina Tar Heels do this year?

First off, they dogpiled the mound after the beautiful defensive teamwork from Parks Harber and Dalton Pence, ending Game 2 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional with a 2-1 win over West Virginia. From the postgame celebrations, I can tell UNC players and coaches didn’t want to leave the Boshamer Stadium infield.

Eventually, North Carolina made its way into the tunnels for postgame interviews.

What we didn’t realize until after those interviews, however, is part of the Diamond Heels‘ celebration included a fun jab at the recently-defeated Mountainers.

There’s a couple of fans in the replies who disagree with UNC’s postgame song choice, but I have no problem with it, especially after how Mountaineers ace Derek Clark cockily walked off the mound in Game 1.

I have no doubt that after seeing the above clip, West Virginia will be cheering a little harder for UVA to beat North Carolina on Friday.

The Diamond Heels, however, can choose to celebrate how they want. After all, they’ll be playing in the College World Series and the Mountaineers will be watching from home.

Country roads, take me home…

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Matt Poston’s perfection plays a major role in UNC’s Game 1 Chapel Hill Super Regional win

Matt Poston played arguably the largest role in helping UNC win Game 1 of its own Super Regional Friday night.

UNC relief pitcher Matt Poston deserves his flowers for North Carolina’s come-from-behind, 8-6 victory over West Virginia Friday night in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

After Ben Peterson hit both Mountaineer batters to open the seventh inning, Poston came on in relief. West Virginia carried a 6-4 lead and was threatening to break the game open. Kyle West was already enjoying a career night for the Mountaineers, which included two of his team’s three home runs, so there wasn’t a lot of optimism in Chapel Hill.

What Poston did next was simply amazing.

Exactly a week after struggling in relief against Long Island University during the Chapel Hill Regional, Poston pitched three perfect innings and struck out four Mountaineers, nabbing his fifth win of the year.

Not only did Poston save a rough inning from Peterson, but a rough start from Diamond Heels pitchers in general.

Game 1 starter Shea Sprague appeared to be cruising through the West Virginia lineup, striking out six batters, but he gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings.

UNC wins leader Matthew Matthijs relieved Sprague and lasted an inning, but he gave up a home run to West.

In watching Poston’s postgame interview, you can tell he was relieved to have a bounce-back outing Friday.

Poston’s fifth victory tied him with freshman ace Jason DeCaro for second-most amongst North Carolina hurlers.

I imagine Poston does not pitch much tonight in Game 2, but if head coach Scott Forbes needs Poston, I’m sure he’ll be ready to go.

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Luke Stevenson delivers more freshman heroics for UNC baseball in Friday night victory

Luke Stevenson is a stud behind the plate for UNC. He’s also quite the hitter – check out what he did in the Super Regionals Friday night.

Gavin Gallaher unofficially earned the nickname “Galla-HIM” after the UNC baseball team walked off Long Island University, 11-8, on Friday, May 31 to end Day 1 of the Chapel Hill Regional.

Gallaher, North Carolina’s freshman starting third baseman, blasted a walk-off grand slam in that 11-8 victory. The Diamond Heels trailed 8-5 coming into the ninth, but never quit at the plate.

Enter Luke Stevenson, another star freshman for UNC. Stevenson, a former Top-10 high school prospect who now starts behind the dish for North Carolina, could’ve easily chosen to enter his name in the 2023 MLB Draft.

As a result of Stevenson opting for college ball in Chapel Hill, the Diamond Heels are one victory away from their first College World Series trip in six years, beating West Virginia 8-6 on Friday night.

On the first pitch during the home half of the ninth inning, during Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional between UNC and West Virginia, Stevenson tied the game at six with a clutch home run – just over the center field fence.

Friday’s blast also snapped a cold streak for Stevenson, who entered the game 2-for-13 in the NCAA Tournament.

Four batters after Stevenson tied the game, Vance Honeycutt won it with a moonshot, walk-off home run over the left field netting.

How will Stevenson follow up his clutch antics in a potential series-clincher Saturday night?

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