Tag: Wildcats

Should Chicago’s college football team try poaching another from Chicago’s Big Ten team?

Should Chicago’s college football team try to poach another from Chicago’s Big Ten team?

Notre Dame doesn’t use the transfer portal like Lincoln Riley and USC, as the Trojans have become college football’s version of shopping on Black Friday.  The end result may be great but the process in getting there makes you want to vomit.

Notre Dame has been known to pick their spots in the portal, however.  We’ve been tracking all the quarterbacks who enter the portal for obvious reasons, but a compelling non-quarterback entered Tuesday.  It’s especially compelling for Notre Dame because it’s a program just down the road that the Irish have poached a couple of talents from in recent years.

Malik Washington was Northwestern’s leading receiver this past season and entered the portal Tuesday.  He’s listed at 5-9, 180 pounds and although nobody would describe him as a burner, he consistently makes plays on the ball.  It should also be noted that perhaps no Power Five team has had less production from their quarterbacks in the past two seasons.

Washington hauled in 65 receptions for 694 yards (10.7 avg) this year, the sixth-highest total in the entire Big Ten.  He did find the end zone just once but then again, Northwestern threw for just 10 touchdowns all year.

Notre Dame had massive receiver issues this season as a sophomore [autotag]Lorenzo Styles[/autotag] was the only one to amass 300 yards.  If it wasn’t [autotag]Michael Mayer[/autotag] chances are it wasn’t getting done in the passing game and the group of receivers would certainly use some help and experience.

Wide receivers coach [autotag]Chansi Stuckey[/autotag] has the cavalry coming but counting on several underclassmen is a risk I certainly wouldn’t prefer taking.  Growth and development will help Styles, [autotag]Deion Colzie[/autotag], [autotag]Tobias Merriweather[/autotag], and the incoming freshman group, but it would certainly be nice to have some proven veteran experience as well and Washington would accomplish that.

And heck, [autotag]Ara Parseghian[/autotag], [autotag]Ben Skowronek[/autotag], and [autotag]Brandon Joseph[/autotag] all worked out alright so why not do it again?

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Oklahoma-Oklahoma State college football’s toughest ticket of Week 12

UCLA has come a long way from those photos we saw of their home games in September.

Rivalry Week ahead of Rivalry Week is probably the best way to describe Week 12 of this college football season.  It doesn’t feature the majority of the biggest rivalry games in college football but there are certainly more than just in-state bragging rights on the line in a few matchups.

Which college games are the hardest to get a ticket to this Saturday?  When we go over this list weekly it usually involves almost entirely blue blood programs.  Whether it’s because the SEC has a couple of their most prideful programs taking on much lesser out-of-conference competition or because of brutal weather across much of the midwest and northeast, the names on this list are quite a bit different this week.

Courtesy of the folks at Vivid Seats, here are the hottest college football tickets for Week 11.

(Notre Dame-Boston College checked in 12th overall)

UGA vs UK: 5 reasons Kentucky can keep it close

Georgia is a huge favorite to win this. But can Kentucky keep it closer than expected?

No. 1 Georgia hosts No. 11 Kentucky on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

For Kentucky, this is the biggest game of the year. Georgia, with its No. 1 ranking, will receive Kentucky’s absolute best shot when the SEC East rivals meet in Sanford Stadium.

Georgia is a heavy favorite to win this game. The Bulldogs are favored by 23.5 points.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Georgia wins this game. But can Kentucky keep it close? If you’re placing bets, you may want to consider these points before betting on Georgia to cover.

Where Kentucky ranks nationally in some key stats

Kentucky has the SEC’s leading rusher and receiver. That plus more key stats on the Wildcats.

No. 1 ranked Georgia hosts No. 11 Kentucky on Saturday in an SEC East showdown in Athens.

We all know about Georgia’s incredible stats at this point, especially on the defensive side of the ball — but what about its Week 7 opponent Kentucky?

The Wildcats enter Saturday’s contest with a perfect 6-0 record and a physical, disciplined defense.

Offensively, though, the Wildcats have the SEC’s leading rusher and receiver.

I took a deeper look at Kentucky’s stats, both team and individual, and compared it to the rest of the FBS.

All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com.

Mychal Mulder is trying to matchup with Klay Thompson as much as he can at Warriors minicamp

During the Golden State Warriors offseason minicamp, Mychal Mulder is trying to take advantage of his opportunity to guard Klay Thompson.

Klay Thompson’s long-awaited return to the practice facility provides an opportunity for the young members of the Golden State Warriors core.

After he missed the entire 2019-20 season while recovering from the knee injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals, Golden State’s voluntary offseason minicamp is the first chance for the Warriors’ new arrivals to work with Thompson at practice.

Since the last time Thompson laced up for a Golden State practice, there’s been an influx of young players at the wing position. Since the start of 2019, Jordan Poole, Ky Bowman and Mychal Mulder have all landed in the Bay Area.

In a post-practice interview with members of the media, Mulder called it a “blessing” to work with Thompson at minicamp. During practice, the Kentucky product said he’s trying to match up with Thompson as much as he can.

Mulder via Warriors SoundCloud:

Anytime I get the opportunity, really. Because, as you know, Klay [Thompson] wasn’t playing when I first got here. Now that we got Klay back on the floor, I try to match up with him as much as I can. Obviously, it’s a great opportunity for me and everyone else — just to really sponge off his knowledge of the game and his leadership. So, obviously, anytime I get the chance to be on the floor with him and really get to guard him and he guards me, that’s obviously a blessing in itself — something that makes us all a lot better.

Although he only played seven games with the Warriors, Mulder impressed in his short stint in the Bay Area. The 26-year-old averaged 11.0 points on 38.8% shooting with 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.1 minutes per game. The G League veteran marked double-figures in scoring in four of his seven contests with the Warriors.

The voluntary minicamp will serve as an opportunity for Mulder to lay the foundation for his bid to make the Warriors set roster before the start of the 2020-21 season.

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Former Notre Dame star finds work down under

John Mooney was a double-double machine at Notre Dame and now takes his talents down under to the Perth Wildcats of the NBL.

John Mooney made a living during his time at Notre Dame down low as he averaged 12 rebounds per game for the Fighting Irish over his last two years playing under Mike Brey.

Now the former Notre Dame big man is headed down under to play basketball professionally in Australia’s NBL.

Mooney signed a contract with the Perth Wildcats that includes an NBA-out clause as he is automatically eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft.

Mooney was a First-Team All-ACC selection as a senior this past year, averaging 16.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per contests and putting together double-doubles in 25 of 31 contests.

Wildcats head coach Trevor Gleeson appears excited about the signing of the former Fighting Irish star as well.

Mooney majored in management consulting while at Notre Dame.

NBA Draft: Villanova’s Saddiq Bey is a name to watch for the Warriors

If the Golden State Warriors decided to go outside of the box with their top-five pick in the NBA Draft, Villanova’s Saddiq Bey is a name to watch.

As 22 teams in the NBA prepare for a trip to Orlando to finish out the year, the Golden State Warriors are staying in the Bay Area. With a 15-50 record, the Warriors are one of eight teams to have their seasons officially come to a close early.

With a jumpstart on the offseason, the Warriors can turn their attention to the NBA Draft. For the first time in years, Bob Myers and Steve Kerr are slated to be on the clock somewhere in the top-five picks in October’s newly rescheduled 2020 draft.

As draft season heats up, top prospects like Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman and Obi Toppin have been continually mocked to the Golden State Warriors. However, Golden State could opt for a surprise at the top of the draft. If the Warriors are eyeing a player outside of the consensus, Villanova’s Saddiq Bey is a name to keep an eye on.

According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, some of the Warriors decision-makers think highly of the First Team All-Big East wing.

Via The San Francisco Chronicle:

But according to league sources, some Warriors decision-makers believe that Bey is an NBA-ready wing with a chance to become a franchise building block. Whether that would be enough for Golden State to use a top-five pick on him remains unclear.

In his sophomore season in Jay Wright’s program, Bey earned an honorable mention nod for the 2020 All-American team with 16.1 points on 47.7% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Against Georgetown. Bey ripped off a career-high 22 points with eight 3-pointers on 10-of-15 from the field.

Bey is especially dangerous from deep, shooting 45.1% from beyond the arc on 5.6 attempts per contest. The Villanova product could immediately provide a viable catch and shoot option off the bench in Golden State next to Eric Paschall. When defenses started jumping at Bey on the perimeter, the 21-year-old used his vision to find teammates either cutting to the basket or spotting up for the open look.

At 6-foot-8, Bey’s shown the ability to guard a bevy of positions on the defensive end of the floor. He won’t overwhelm you with his athletic ability, yet his underrated quickness and length help him stick with guards and forwards. Bey would give Kerr a versatile chess piece on defense behind Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green.

While he may not lead many mock drafts, the Warriors could add another Villanova product like Bey in the draft after having success with Paschall in 2019.

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Chiefs attend Kansas State pro day

The Kansas City Chiefs have started their tour of NFL pro days.

The pro day circuit has officially kicked off for NFL teams.

Scouts, coaches and even general managers will travel around the country attending various pro days for different universities. If you’re unfamiliar, a pro day is essentially a miniature NFL combine held by schools with draft-eligible players. They’ll go through all the same measured testing and several on-field workouts that they would if they attended the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Kansas City Chiefs got their tour started with a trip down I-70 to Manhattan, Kansas. There they were able to visit the Kansas State pro day and view the 2020 NFL draft prospects. Kansas State was one of the teams that didn’t have any players at the combine.

According to Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star, there were a total of 18 teams in attendance for the pro day, including the Chiefs.

A total of twelve Wildcats participated in the pro day at Kansas State.

  • P Devin Anctil
  • RB Jordon Brown
  • DT Trey Dishon
  • OT Scott Frantz
  • RB James Gilbert
  • OL Nick Kaltmayer
  • DB Kevion McGee
  • LB Da’Quan Patton
  • DB Darreyl Patterson
  • WR Dalton Schoen
  • DE Reggie Walker
  • DB Eli Walker

One player, in particular, had a standout performance in front of NFL scouts. According to Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor, WR Dalton Schoen weighed in just under 6-feet-1 and 206 pounds. He also ran a 40-yard dash between 4.44 and 4.48.

I’m told that Schoen also added 15 repetitions on the bench press and had a vertical jump of 35 inches.

The Chiefs added former Kansas State WR Byron Pringle in undrafted free agency following the 2018 NFL Draft. Like Pringle, Schoen would be a prime target for Kansas City as a priority free agent.

We’ll have a full list of upcoming pro days for you soon on Chiefs Wire. Be sure you’re following on Facebook and Twitter.

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Texas Goes On the Road and Defeats Kansas State

After a four-game losing streak, Texas has won back to back games. The Longhorns took care of business against Kansas State and won 70-59.

After a four-game losing streak, Texas has won back to back games for the first time since defeating Iowa State on Feb. 1. The Longhorns went into Saturday’s game in must-win mode and took care of business against Kansas State, 70-59.

Playing the best game of his career was sophomore guard Courtney Ramey. Scoring a career-high 26 points, Ramey led Texas in scoring on 10-6 shotting from the field. The other offensive spark was Andrew Jones, sinking three out of his five attempted three-pointers.

Kansas State struggled all afternoon, having 17 turnovers and only 20 made shots. Forward Makol Mawien was the main offensive threat for the Wildcats, scoring 14 points while adding 10 rebounds. Nobody was able to get going for Bruce Weber’s squad as they shot 33%.

The play of the game for Texas came from freshman Will Baker. After his outstanding game on Wednesday against TCU, he was looking to make another splash. He did just that, producing a monster slam dunk early in the second half.

You can watch it here:

After Kansas State swept the season series in 2017 and 2018, the Longhorns have now won three out of their last four against the Wildcats. Winning both matchups this season, it is the first time since 2016 that Texas sweeps the season series against Kansas State.

Thanks to the scoring of Ramey and Jones, Texas improves to 16-11 overall and 6-8 in the Big 12. The Longhorns somehow find their way back on the edge of the bubble, needing wins in their next two games at home against West Virginia and on the road to Texas Tech to have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament.

The Longhorns have another quick turnaround as they will host the Mountaineers on Monday night. You can catch the game at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.

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Cold Shooting, Turnovers result in 60-54 loss for the Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team got off to a hot start but cold shooting down the stretch lead to 60-54 loss.

Texas struggled to close out the game against the Kansas State Wildcats when it looked like the Longhorns might pull it off. The Wildcats were led by  Ayoka Lee who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. She added three blocks as well. Peyton Williams struggled shooting but was huge on the boards with 13 rebounds and three steals. The KSU 8-0 run to close out the game helped them knock off Texas 60-54.

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team got off to a hot start in the first quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats. Of their 19 first quarter points, sophomore forward Charli Collier led the way with 11 in the opening frame. Fifth-year senior Lashann Higgs came off the bench with four points to keep the game tied as the first came to a close.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats tried to take control of the game. After a field goal by Sug Sutton with 8:07 left in the second quarter, the Longhorns went on a four-plus minute scoring drought. Kansas State would take advantage. It wouldn’t be until Joanne Allen-Taylor got out in transition for a layup with 3:35 left where Texas would score. Collier would only score once in the second on a second-chance after a rebound to cut the KSU lead to two, 31-29. Neither team would score over the final 2:17 of the second quarter.

First Half Leaders (Texas)

  • Charli Collier 13 points, three rebounds, one steal
  • Joyner Holmes six points, four rebounds

Texas shot just one for nine from behind the arc and 35.1% from the field.

The Longhorns came out firing in the third quarter with a quick 6-0 run to take a four point lead. Jada Underwood got it started with a quick steal and found Sutton to tie it up. Sutton and Celeste Taylor added four more before the Wildcats would answer. A 18-14 quarter gave Texas a two-point lead into the final quarter.

A sloppy fourth quarter for the Longhorns as they had trouble hitting the shot going down the stretch. Holmes gave Texas a two-point lead with 3:57 left in the game but that would be their last make of the game. The turnovers and cold shooting for the Longhorns in the closing minutes doomed their bid to win.

Final Stats

  • Collier- 17 points, six rebounds
  • Holmes- 14 points, eight rebounds
  • Higgs- 11 points, four rebounds, two steals