Sports
Kirby Smart, Georgia in self-improve mode; Alabama on horizon
Georgia coach Kirby Smart looks on during the second half of a NCAA Aflac Kickoff game against Tennessee Tech in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. No. 2 Georgia started the off week zeroing in on personal improvement plans and preparation for a showdown with Alabama.
With more than one week to prepare for an opponent, the Bulldogs have won 21 games in a row under Smart.
“I certainly attribute a lot of it to having really good players,” Smart said.
Georgia has two bye weeks under the new SEC schedule and planned for time dedicated to recruiting and with position coaches drilling into fine detail as part of a self scout before rolling into prep for the Crimson Tide.
“We haven’t started on Alabama yet,” Smart said. “We’re working on us right now. As the week goes, we’re honing in on that. We worked on other opponents yesterday, we’ll work on other opponents today.”
The Bulldogs survived a trip to Kentucky last week, leaving Lexington with a 13-12 victory and stands at 3-0. No. 4 Alabama is 3-0 and also on a bye this week.
Smart said the SEC explanation for roughing-the-passer penalty last week on Jalon Walker was that he could have avoided driving Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff, a transfer from Georgia, into the ground.
“It’s tough. I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be that way. It’s going to be that way for a lot of people,” Smart said, noting the league felt Walker could have landed a different way. “They’re trying to protect that position.”
Walker disagreed, but will not dwell on the infraction. He said he can’t wait to dive into Alabama preparation, a game he’s been focused on since losing the 2023 SEC Championship Game.
Saturday’s college football slate intrigues Smart, but he said he won’t be intentional tracking future opponents live — such as new No. 1 Texas — during the bye week.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Best College Basketball Transfer Portal Players Still Available
The college basketball portal window has lived up to expectations so far, as long as your expectations were pure chaos.
Approximately a third of all Division-I players — what was projected to be over 3,000 players — have entered the portal.
Louisville landed the top portal player, Kansas big Flory Bidunga, to anchor the elite class of transfers it is assembling.
But there is still plenty of talent available in the portal, which is set to close for entries early next week.
Here’s a look at the best players remaining in the portal:
Milan Momcilovic
Ranked by On3, 247Sports and ESPN as the best transfer still available, Momcilovic is coming off an exceptional shooting season at Iowa State.
In his third season with the Cyclones, the 6-foot-8 forward saw his shooting percentages jump up significantly, making 50.6% of his shots and a nation-leading 48.7% of his 3-pointers.
Mind you, that perimeter performance wasn’t in a small sample size. He finished the season with 136 made threes, ranking fifth nationally with 3.7 made shots outside the arc per game.
Momcilovic also entered his name in the NBA draft. But considering he’s not considered a first-round pick, it’s entirely possible he returns for his senior season at some school and immediately gives their offense a big shooting boost.
John Blackwell
Similar to Momcilovic, Blackwell has been a gradual bloomer in college basketball at Wisconsin.
He went from 8.0 points as a freshman to 15.8 as a sophomore and, most recently, 19.1 points per game this season for the Badgers. The 6-foot-4 guard also made his impact in a number of ways with 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game, making 43% of his shots and 38.9% of his 3-pointers.
With a finalist list of Alabama, Arizona, Duke, Louisville, Illinois and UCLA, that shows the caliber of teams in on Blackwell coming off his second straight strong season in Madison.
Juke Harris
Harris exploded onto the scene at Wake Forest this past season.
He jumped up from 6.1 points per game as a freshman to 21.4 as a sophomore, good for third-most in the ACC.
Harris was only a 33.2% perimeter shooter, but made 44.4% of his total shots, showing his ability as a slasher and jumpshooter. He also led the Demon Deacons in rebounds (6.5 per game) as a 6-foot-7 guard.
He’s reportedly receiving interest from a number of top teams in the portal, including defending champs Michigan, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Massamba Diop
Arizona State didn’t have a very good 2025-26 season, finishing 17-16 and seeing head coach Bobby Hurley fired after the season.
But one thing the Sun Devils did have going for them was an exceptional season from freshman big Massamba Diop, who unfortunately for them and new coach Randy Bennett entered the portal after the season.
The 7-foot-1 native of Senegal finished second on the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and rebounding (5.8). He was also second in the Big 12 in blocks (2.1) behind Bidunga.
A 30.8% 3-point shooter in a small sample size (8 of 26) and a 56.9% shooter from the floor, Diop showed his well-rounded ability which could make him a star on a better team next season.
Sports
Celtics storm to early lead, roll past 76ers in series opener
Apr 19, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) controls the ball while Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) defends in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 26 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 123-91 victory over the visiting Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Sam Hauser made 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point range and added 12 points for second-seeded Boston, which never trailed in the game.
Seventh-seeded Philadelphia received 21 points with eight assists from Tyrese Maxey and 17 from Paul George. Kelly Oubre finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The 76ers shot 38.9% from the floor, including 4 of 23 (17.4%) from 3-point territory. No Philadelphia player made more than one 3-pointer.
Philadelphia also committed 15 turnovers, which helped Boston hold a 22-3 edge in points off turnovers.
Boston center Neemias Queta was in foul trouble for much of the game, but scored 13 points in 15 minutes of playing time.
Boston had an early double-digit lead after a Tatum jumper ended an 11-1 spurt that put the Celtics up 17-7. Philadelphia was 6 of 21 (28.6%) from the field — 1 of 9 from 3-point range — in the opening quarter and trailed 33-18 after the opening 12 minutes.
The Celtics stretched their lead to 23 points in the second quarter and held a 64-46 halftime lead. Tatum scored 21 of his 25 points in the opening half.
After the 76ers trimmed their deficit to 15 midway through the third, Boston went on a 10-0 to extend its lead 83-58. The Celtics led by as many as 26 later in the quarter and had a 95-71 advantage entering the fourth. Brown scored 16 of his 26 points in the third.
The Celtics held a 107-75 lead following a Payton Pritchard layup with 9:03 to play. Boston led by as many as 35 later in the fourth.
Game 2 in the series will be Tuesday night in Boston.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Frederik Andersen, Hurricanes look to shut down Senators in Game 2
Apr 18, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) looks against the Ottawa Senators during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Finding space on the ice is expected to be an ongoing challenge for the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes in their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.
So, finding any small edge will be critical when they meet in Game 2 on Monday night at Raleigh, N.C.
“The first round always has all the energy in the world and that’s what you expect,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
Carolina won 2-0 in the first game Saturday behind Frederik Andersen’s 22-save performance.
Both teams had difficulty finding openings and more of that could be in the works.
“I don’t think this series it’s ever going to look like there’s a ton of space out there,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “It’s going to look very similar every night. I think at the end of every game, both teams are going to feel like there wasn’t space on the ice and I don’t see changing.”
So, it came down to what the goalies could do.
“The goalies had to really shine,” Brind’Amour said.
Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark made 27 saves Saturday, but he fell to 5-11 in career playoff games. He was sharp as well, though Andersen stole the spotlight when it wasn’t clear leading up to the series opener if he would be Brind’Amour’s choice.
He had to decide between Andersen and rookie Brandon Bussi. Andersen got the call.
“He was up to the challenge,” Brind’Amour said. “We have good options and both guys have played well. Clearly, experience, I think won out. … Freddy has a track record and we know what he’s capable of.”
Green said to win on the road in the playoffs the goalie has to play well (and he liked Ullmark’s outing) and a power-play goal or two would be a boost.
The teams combined to go 0-for-9 on power plays in Game 1, with the Hurricanes having five chances.
“They’re a quick team,” Green said. “They’re good in this building.”
Carolina’s relentless nature is something the Senators need to be ready for again.
“They’re deep,” Green said. “They’re good. … Carolina does a real good job of playing their game.”
Carolina’s Logan Stankoven supplied a goal and an assist in the series opener, extending a strong stretch. He had an eight-game points streak to end the regular season.
Three of Stankoven’s four multi-point postseason outings have come with the Hurricanes. His line has been rolling up strong numbers for the past few weeks.
“We have a lot of depth,” Stankoven said. “Since the break, our line has been clicking pretty good. We’ve been able to find each other and I think we’re all hungry to track pucks.”
Now the Hurricanes will look for upgrades on power plays.
“If we look at one area we’re not overly happy with is our power-play chances,” Stankoven said. “Every team as a series goes on makes adjustments.”
Carolina improved to 7-0 in its last seven postseason opening games. The Hurricanes put together some quality stretches in the offensive zone.
“They probably deserved to win analytically, and they did,” Green said.
The Hurricanes have won 12 of 18 all-time best-of-seven series when winning Game 1.
–Field Level Media
