Sports
Stung by St. John's loss, No. 6 UConn turns to struggling Butler
Feb 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) drives past St. John’s Red Storm guard Ian Jackson (11) and forward Bryce Hopkins (23) in the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Coming off its first loss in nearly three months, No. 6 UConn stays on the road with a trip to Indianapolis, Ind. on Wednesday to take on Butler.
The Huskies (22-2, 12-1 Big East) lost their perfect conference record Friday night when they fell 81-72 to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. The loss snapped an 18-game win streak.
The loss wasn’t for lack of accuracy in live-ball action as the Huskies shot 54.7% from the floor, which included 9 of 19 from 3-point range. However, they went just 5-for-12 at the free-throw line and piled up 15 turnovers — nine by point guard Silas Demary Jr.
Demary had committed just eight turnovers in UConn’s five previous games combined.
“To go on the road against that defense and shoot 54%…the turnovers killed us,” said Huskies coach Dan Hurley. “When you go minus-17 point-wise at the foul line and get out-rebounded, you’re not going to win on the road.”
Another potential piece of concern for UConn was the lack of production from the bench unit, which combined to score just six points as Hurley allotted his reserves just 29 minutes.
“I thought the bench was skittish,” Hurley added. “We got off to a pretty good start, went to the bench and it was an immediate 7-0 run (for St. John’s). If you’re a bench player and that happens, you get a little tight with that rotation.”
It’s hard to fault Hurley for sticking with a starting lineup that features everyone in double figures. Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. lead the way with 14.0 points per game while Demary ranks fifth with an 11.2 average.
Butler (13-11, 4-9) has endured four consecutive losses, all by double figures, which includes Saturday’s 70-55 defeat at Marquette. The Bulldogs had not scored so few points since a 60-52 loss on Feb. 4, 2023, at Marquette.
They shot just 32.8% from the floor and 6-for-21 from beyond the arc. Finley Bizjack led with 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting, though he was the lone Bulldog in double figures.
Butler played without two starters as point guard Azavier Robinson missed his second straight game with a wrist injury. His absence forced Bizjack into the point guard role.
“It made a difference, no doubt,” coach Thad Matta said. “He handled (Marquette’s) pressure well at our place.”
“It’s hard to lose point guards and still take care of the ball like you want to in every possession,” Bizjack said. “If they want me to bring it up, I’ll bring it up. If they want me off the ball, I’ll be off the ball, whatever I need to do to hopefully help us get back on the right track.”
Bizjack averages a team-high 17.9 points while Michael Ajayi delivers 15.8 points and 11.6 boards per game. The latter figure ranks third nationally.
UConn has never lost to Butler. The Huskies’ run began with the 2011 NCAA championship game and improved to 12-0 with their 79-60 win on Dec. 16 in Hartford.
That game broke a stretch of four straight games in the series that were decided by single-digit margins, including an overtime battle UConn squeaked out last January at home.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Graham Ike, No. 12 Gonzaga take aim at Washington State
Feb 7, 2026; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (15) drives against Oregon State Beavers center Yaak Yaak (4) during the second half at Gill Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images Graham Ike sounded like he was discussing something out of “Game of Thrones.”
Perhaps after yielding a saber and smiting a foe.
“Who shies away from the contact? If you do, you’ll be eaten,” the Gonzaga big man said. “It’s like sharks smelling blood in the water, you can sniff that out. You’ve just got to battle back, iron sharpens iron.”
Ike did just that Saturday, matching a career high with 35 points as the No. 12 Bulldogs vanquished host Oregon State 81-61 to bounce back from an upset loss at Portland three days earlier. That loss dropped the Bulldogs from their No. 6 ranking.
Gonzaga (23-2, 11-1 West Coast Conference) will return to their home den to face Washington State (11-15, 6-7) on Tuesday in Spokane, Wash.
Ike, who had guaranteed the Bulldogs wouldn’t repeat their 87-80 loss to the Pilots, almost single-handedly made sure it didn’t happen.
He played all but the final minute Saturday, shot 13 of 18 from the field, 8 of 9 from the free-throw line and made his only 3-point attempt. He also had seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, one blocked shot and drew nine of the 17 fouls Oregon State committed, including two on one possession.
“I liked every single matchup that was on me, on the guards, on the wings,” Ike said. “I thought we could exploit the mismatches in a lot of different areas and we did. … Shout out to the guys honestly for their relentless effort all 40 minutes, every single guy. We couldn’t do it without 1-15 and the coaching staff, included. Great plan, great execution.”
Ike lamented a second-half turnover that prevented the Bulldogs from breaking a program record. They tied the mark by giving the ball away just twice.
“I wish I could’ve taken my one turnover away,” he said. “We took great care of the ball.”
Tyon Grant-Foster came off the bench to add 15 points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs, who have struggled with secondary scoring while forward/center Braden Huff has missed the past seven games with a knee injury.
Gonzaga’s defense was markedly improved Saturday. They limited the Beavers to 44.2% shooting from the field (19 of 43) after Portland shot 59.3% (32 of 54).
Gonzaga coach Mark Few still hasn’t quite gotten over the latter number.
“It’s hard to find any consistency on the defensive end, let’s start with that,” Few said. “If everybody just does their jobs and bring what they bring, we’ve been pretty darn good this year. When they deviate from that and not bring what they’re supposed to bring, then it really exposes us.”
The Bulldogs defeated Washington State 86-65 on Jan. 15 in Pullman, Wash., in their first game without Huff. Ike led the way with 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting, 11 rebounds and five assists.
The Cougars are coming off a 96-92 loss Saturday to visiting Santa Clara, which has a half-game lead on Gonzaga atop the WCC standings.
“We have got to get over the top. We have got to start winning these games,” Washington State coach David Riley said. “Giving up 96 points at home is too much.”
Eemeli Yalaho led the Cougars with 21 points and Ace Glass added 20.
“We have got to take care of the little stuff. Then just finishing plays,” Yalaho said.
Santa Clara outscored the Cougars 21-11 over the opening 7:15 of the second half to pull away from a 49-all tie and WSU couldn’t quite catch up.
“We have got to lock in on both sides and play a full 40 minutes,” Glass said. “I feel like we have played a lot of 30, 35-minute games.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
US curler Korey Dropkin thrills crowds at Milan Cortina Games
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 8, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITALY; Korey Dropkin of United States celebrates after defeating Sweden in mixed doubles round robin play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Issei Kato/Reuters via Imagn Images CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — American curler Korey Dropkin’s animated displays of emotion have been electrifying fans throughout the mixed doubles competition at the Milan Cortina Games, with the 30-year-old saying he is just trying to have fun and be true to himself.
On Monday, Dropkin and doubles partner Cory Thiesse beat Olympic and world champions Italy 9-8 in the semi-finals, with Dropkin screaming in excitement, embracing his teammate and waving to fans at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
The victory set up a gold-medal showdown against Sweden and guaranteed the U.S. their first Olympic medal in mixed doubles curling.
Asked about showing his emotions during the tournament, a hoarse Dropkin told reporters: “It’s just me trying to be myself and live my dream, our dream on the ice. You don’t really get these opportunities every day, right? It’s every four years.
“Some people only get the opportunity to dream of it and we’re out there on the ice living it. So for me, win or lose throughout this event, it’s always just been about having fun, being loose, being myself and spinning on the ice, doing those little things, that’s me.
“That’s me, that’s childhood Korey that always had fun, got up, swept his own rocks, did some spins and twirls on the way back to the hack as he threw another stone and I don’t want to lose that feeling.”
Dropkin made comparisons with athletes in other sports when asked if his emotional approach aligned with the typically restrained sport.
“You don’t see football players, basketball players, baseball players always hiding their emotions,” he said.
“The TV’s always on them. You know when they’re pissed off and you know when they’re having a good time. Why not curlers too?”
For Thiesse, the win carried special significance as she became the first American woman to win an Olympic curling medal, though the men’s team has claimed gold and bronze in previous Games.
“I’m just so proud of the week that we’ve had. And I know how important it was for me to have people to look up to when I was growing up,” the 31-year-old said.
“I just hope that I can be kind of an inspiration for young girls in curling and any sport in the U.S. to just dream big and work hard to achieve your goals.”
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
D-backs LHP Andrew Saalfrank (shoulder) out for season
Sep 26, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Andrew Saalfrank (27) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed reliever Andrew Saalfrank will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery on Monday.
The team confirmed the news after it was reported by MLB.com, with Saalfrank posting about the surgery with an accompanying picture on Instagram.
Saalfrank had a 1.24 ERA over 28 relief appearances (29 innings) for the Diamondbacks last season.
In parts of three major league seasons with Arizona, the 28-year-old is 2-1 with a 1.79 ERA over 40 relief appearances (40 1/3 innings).
–Field Level Media
Graham Ike, No. 12 Gonzaga take aim at Washington State
US curler Korey Dropkin thrills crowds at Milan Cortina Games
