Happy to announce that I am now part of the content team at @DraftKings / @DKNetwork!
I'm really looking forward to working with an amazing collection of writers, editors and researchers at one of the biggest brands in sports. Thanks to everyone who made it possible!
UCLA men's basketball announced Big Ten games for next season: 2 each against USC, Oregon & Washington + home games against Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State & Wisconsin. Road: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue & Rutgers
Sources: G League Combine invite list (44 players, alphabetical, subject to change):
Michael Ajayi — Butler
Alijah Arenas — USC
Donovan Atwell — Texas Tech
Nate Bittle — Oregon
Elliot Cadeau — Michigan
Rafael Castro — George Washington
Zach Cleveland — Liberty
Jacob Cofie — USC
M.J. Collins Jr. — Utah State
Quadir Copeland — NC State
Melvin Council Jr. — Kansas
Tucker DeVries — Indiana
Tre Donaldson — Miami (FL)
Reynan dos Santos — Mexico City (G League)
Malique Ewin — Arkansas
Jamal Fuller — Long Island
Isiah Harwell — Houston
Jaden Henley — Grand Canyon
Bryce Hopkins — St. John's
Graham Ike — Gonzaga
Kasen Jennings — Appalachian State
Trey Kaufman-Renn — Purdue
Keba Keita — BYU
Kobe Knox — South Carolina
Xaivian Lee — Florida
Malique Lewis — SE Melbourne (Australia)
Tamin Lipsey — Iowa State
Fletcher Loyer — Purdue
Aidan Mahaney — Santa Barbara
Robert McCray V — Florida State
Boopie Miller — SMU
Mark Mitchell Jr. — Missouri
Paulius Murauskas — Saint Mary's
Jaron Pierre Jr. — SMU
Kowacie Reeves Jr. — Georgia Tech
Jaylin Sellers — Providence
Markhi Strickland — North Dakota State
Aiden Tobiason — Temple
Seth Trimble — North Carolina
Cade Tyson — Minnesota
Ernest Udeh Jr. — Miami (FL)
Lamar Wilkerson — Indiana
Darrion Williams — NC State
Noam Yaacov — Oostende (Belgium)
My first beat at the @dailybruin was covering @UCLAWBB back during the 2017-18 season. I covered the team on-and-off for the next six years.
So satisfying to see this program win its first NCAA championship, a real full-circle moment.
Does Mick Cronin deserve criticism for not being able to retain Aday Mara? To some extent, sure – hard to know exactly what happened BTS in the portal era, but it was certainly a devastating loss.
But criticizing Cronin’s use of Mara on the court? THAT is revisionist history.
Aday Mara had 10, 6 and 5 in 20 minutes of play in the NCAA Tournament last year.
The talent was always there, and anyone trying to claim there's some weird revisionist history on Aday Mara is an idiot.
UCLA misused him. Period.
@Aaron_Torres Which is all to say, Mara produced at a very similar rate across the board in his last year at UCLA compared to this year at Michigan. He’s just playing slightly more because his conditioning has improved, plus people are noticing him more because he’s been on a better team.
@Aaron_Torres Mara went from 29.6 points, 18.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 7.4 blocks per 100 poss. in 24-25 to 29.4 points, 16.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 6.3 blocks in 25-26. PER went from 28.8 to 26.7, USG went from 24.8% to 23.4%, WS/40 went from .222 to .227. TRB% and BLK% down, TOV% up.
UCLA men’s basketball ranks No. 5 in @totally_t_bomb’s Power Rating since February 18.
Still absolutely bonkers to see that adjusted offense/defense split for a Mick Cronin team, no matter how many times he tells us exactly who and what this team is.
NEWS: The Big 12 will be transitioning to a hardwood court for the remainder of the Big 12 tournament. The LED glass basketball court has been greeted with mixed reviews, including feedback that it is slippery.
The Spurs are 3-0 on their current homestand and have won eight straight at home 🔥
Our @SamConnon is backing San Antonio tonight in their primetime matchup against the Celtics 👇
At home this season, @UCLAMBB:
won 17 games
never lost in regulation
beat 3 AP Top 10 opponents
The only other team in the last 40 years to do that at home in a season was the 2011-12 Kentucky squad that won the national title.
Editor: “We want to project every P4 team’s coach in 2030?”
Me: “Crazy. Impossible. How? Sure! Sign me up.”
Who will be coaching your school in 2030? Predicting every Power 4 football program’s head man https://t.co/3kSwydkWcJ via @NYTimes