Sports
Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper lead No. 25 Rutgers into clash vs. Wagner
Oct 3, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Rutgers guard/forward Ace Bailey takes a question at the podium during the 2024 Big Ten Menís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images Rutgers’ expectations for this season have been building to a fever pitch ever since two five-star high school recruits committed to the program.
They’re not just any two five-stars, either, but potential future NBA players who were often ranked second and third in the Class of 2024: Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
Rutgers believes it has constructed a formidable team around Bailey and Harper for 2024-25. The Scarlet Knights are ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll and will open a unique season Wednesday against Wagner in Piscataway, N.J.
Bailey is a 6-foot-10 Atlanta-area native who will be used all around the court, but primarily at forward and wing. Harper is a lead guard whose brother Ron Harper Jr. was one of the best players in recent Rutgers history. Bailey actually committed before Dylan Harper, and their long-distance friendship and occasional opportunities to play with one another during the summer helped form early chemistry.
They combined for 45 points, six made 3-pointers and nine rebounds in a 91-85 exhibition loss to St. John’s in October.
“Those two kids are talented. They’re great kids and they’re really good passers,” coach Steve Pikiell said. “They definitely have to learn some things. College defense is something they’re going to continue to get better at.”
The Scarlet Knights’ three returning players are guard Jeremiah Williams, a captain; guard Jamichael Davis, a high school teammate of Bailey; and Emmanuel Ogbole, who could be the team’s starting center after missing most of last year recovering from a knee injury.
Rutgers is usually known for its defense and had one of the worst offenses in power-conference basketball a season ago (65.4 ppg). In addition to Bailey’s and Harper’s contributions, the Scarlet Knights will lean on transfers like Tyson Acuff, Zach Martini and PJ Hayes.
Acuff (Eastern Michigan) ranked seventh in the country at 21.7 points per game last season but will start the season off the bench in a limited role. Martini (Princeton) shot 38.5 percent from 3-point land as a junior and was named co-captain with Williams. And Hayes (San Diego) shot nearly 40 percent from the arc as a freshman and didn’t miss a shot in the exhibition against St. John’s (4-for-4, including two 3-pointers).
Wagner was tied for first with Central Connecticut State atop the Northeast Conference preseason coaches’ poll. The Seahawks finished sixth last season but then ran the table in the conference tournament and defeated Howard in the NCAA Tournament First Four.
The Staten Island school rewarded coach Donald Copeland with a new five-year contract.
After injuries limited his roster to seven healthy scholarship players at tournament time, Copeland is glad to have back players like Javier Ezquerra (7.0 points, 4.4 assists per game last season), Keyontae Lewis (6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Zaire Williams (9.3 ppg in nine games before a season-ending injury).
“It’s going well. We’re working hard,” Copeland told PIX 11 in the summer. “The players are jelling together, which I think is always good at this time of year … We’re able to put in some things that I think will help us come fall.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
