Sports
BYU enters Kevin Young era, faces Central Arkansas first
Oct 23, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kevin Young talks to media during the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images BYU enters its second Big 12 season with a new head coach and increased expectations for success.
Kevin Young will debut at the helm for the Cougars when they host Central Arkansas on Tuesday in Provo, Utah.
Young was the associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns before being hired to fill a vacancy left by Mark Pope, who departed to Kentucky.
A palpable buzz has surrounded the program since Young took over.
He immediately filled out the roster with several talented freshmen and transfers. Headlining these newcomers are Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings, both of whom are projected as first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Keba Keita (Utah) and Mawot Mag (Rutgers) are key transfers who will make BYU stouter defensively than a year ago.
They join an experienced and dynamic nucleus that includes Dallin Hall, Trevin Knell, Fousseyni Traore and Richie Saunders.
“BYU had a great base with some really good players who had unprecedented success in Year 1 in the Big 12, so I thought that would help me transition nicely and give us a great foundation to build from,” Young said.
BYU was picked in the preseason to finish ninth in the Big 12 after tying for fifth with Kansas last season at 10-8 (23-11 overall). The Cougars received votes in the preseason Top 25 AP Poll but find themselves trying to prove doubters wrong for a second straight year.
Lighting up the scoreboard shouldn’t be an issue for BYU again this season. The Cougars return four of their top seven scorers from a team that averaged 81.4 points per game. They led the Big 12 in scoring and 3-pointers per game (11.1).
“BYU fans are going to love this style of play,” Knell said. “There’s a lot of freedom of picking your points and finding the weakness in the defense.”
Central Arkansas resides on the opposite end of the basketball spectrum from BYU.
The Bears won just nine games a year ago and finished 11th in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Elias Cato and Glory Etim are the returning starters from that team. Cato was the No. 2 scorer last season (11.9 ppg) and Etim was the top rebounder (7.5 rpg).
New Bears head coach John Shulman will make his debut in Provo. Shulman posted a 112-39 record in five seasons at Division II Alabama-Huntsville.
BYU will be one of five power-conference opponents Central Arkansas faces in the regular season. The Bears also play Utah, Georgia Tech, Arkansas and Oklahoma in November and December.
“It feels like we’re playing in the NBA Western Conference,” Shulman said. “We want to play the best. That’s why kids are coming here. We’re going to challenge them.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal scratched; could miss 2-3 months after elbow surgery
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field for pitching change during the seventh inning against Milwaukee Brewers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal was scratched from his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox on Monday and it could be months before he’s back in the rotation.
Skubal is expected to miss 2-3 months to recover from arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his pitching elbow.
The Tigers turned to left-hander Tyler Holton to start Monday in what will be a bullpen game for Detroit against the Red Sox.
News of the procedure comes five days after Skubal called a trainer to the mound in the latter stages of an outing against the Atlanta Braves.
Skubal threw a 96-mph fastball to the Braves’ Matt Olson in the seventh inning Wednesday, then motioned for catcher Dillon Dingler while rubbing his left forearm near his elbow. Skubal remained in the game and finished his outing with three consecutive strikeouts.
“I don’t really know how to explain it, I just needed a little bit of time,” Skubal said after the outing. “… And then the symptoms that I experienced on the one throw went away, and obviously it felt pretty good after that.”
Skubal had further issues during a throwing session Sunday and underwent tests where the loose bodies were discovered, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Monday.
The relatively minor arthroscopic procedure is expected to have the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner back on the mound at some point during the second half of the season.
Skubal, 29, is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA over seven starts this season. He led the American League with a 2.21 ERA over 31 starts and 195 1/3 innings last season.
Over seven major league seasons, all with the Tigers, Skubal is 57-39 with a 3.06 ERA over 144 appearances (141 starts). He has 934 strikeouts over 810 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
USGA CEO would be 'surprised' if Tiger Woods plays U.S. Open
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links GC stretches his left leg next to Tom Kim during warms up before match against the Los Angeles Golf Club who won the TGL finals at SoFi Center on March 24, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Tiger Woods is not expected to compete at next month’s U.S. Open or the U.S. Senior Open in July, USGA CEO Mike Whan told Sports Illustrated in a report released Monday.
“I’d be super surprised,” Whan said in response to whether he thought Woods would play at the U.S. Open this year. “It would be wonderful for the event, and if he was ready, it would be wonderful for him.”
The 50-year-old Woods entered rehab — reportedly a 90-day inpatient residential treatment program in Switzerland — following a car crash on March 27 near his home at Jupiter Island, Fla. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and refusing to take a urine test near his home in Florida after his Land Rover clipped the back of a truck and rolled over onto its side. He was not injured and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Authorities alleged that Woods was impaired by medication and not alcohol. At the time of his arrest, he had two hydrocone pills in his pocket, according to law enforcement authorities.
“Obviously what he’s going through is much bigger than golf,” Whan told SI. “He’s proven before that when he puts his mind to something, he’s going to be great at it. I’m sure he has a lot of years to play USGA championships. I don’t think he’s going to play in any 2026 USGA championship. If he ends up playing in USGA championships, great. But when I think of Tiger, my friend, that’s not really what’s important to me right now.”
Woods hasn’t played on the PGA Tour since The Open Championship in 2024, where he missed the cut, because of injury. He ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the spring of 2025 and underwent lumbar disk replacement surgery in October. A single-car rollover crash in February of 2021 in the Los Angeles area caused significant leg injuries.
Just hours before the March crash, USGA confirmed that Woods had registered for this year’s U.S. Senior Open, scheduled from July 2-5 at the Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. It served as an indication he was close to returning from his recent setbacks.
However, in a statement issued March 31, Woods said he was prioritizing his health over golf.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods’ statement read. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.
“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”
Woods is not currently eligible for the 2026 U.S. Open and would need an exemption to play in the major tournament, which starts June 18 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southhampton, N.Y.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Wolves star Anthony Edwards expected to play Game 1 vs. Spurs
Mar 3, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after a three point basket against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Anthony Edwards has received medical clearance and is expected to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, pending final sign-off after his pregame routine, ESPN reported.
The Timberwolves visit the San Antonio Spurs for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Per ESPN, Edwards was a “significant participant” in the team’s shootaround Monday morning and video clips on social media showed him shooting jumpers and wearing a sleeve on his injured left knee.
Edwards was listed as questionable on the league’s injury report as of mid-afternoon Monday. He suffered a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise on an awkward landing in Minnesota’s Game 4 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the first round on April 25. He avoided ligament damage but did not play in the rest of the series.
Teammate Julius Randle told reporters after shootaround that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Edwards on the court for tipoff.
“He loves to play the game so he’s going to do whatever he can to put himself in position to be out here,” Randle said.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Edwards is in his sixth season with Minnesota. In the first three games of the series against the Nuggets, Edwards averaged 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists. He also totaled five blocks.
The four-time All-Star averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game on 48.9% shooting, including 39.9% from 3-point range, in the regular season (61 games).
Ayo Dosunmu, who led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Denver series (21.8 points per game), including 43 points in Game 4, was downgraded to out due to right calf soreness. He missed the clinching Game 6 win over the Nuggets with the ailment.
If Edwards, 24, is ultimately not able to play on Monday, his next opportunity will come Wednesday in Game 2 in San Antonio. The series shifts to Minneapolis with Game 3 on Friday.
–Field Level Media
