Sports
Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer Shine in a Historic UNC vs Duke Meeting
Feb 7, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) defends in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images North Carolina came from behind to shock Duke in a 71-68 instant classic. The best rivalry in college hoops was given another all-time game from two of the best blue bloods in the sport.
Duke was in complete control of this game for 39 minutes, then UNC’s role players got hot. The Tar Heels’ largest lead of the game occurred with 0.4 seconds remaining when Seth Trimble hit a massive corner three to give UNC its first lead of the second half.
This game will be remembered by Trimble’s game-winner, but NBA scouts will leave very impressed with what they saw from Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. For most of the night, it felt like an 80’s basketball game, with Boozer and Wilson battling it out on the low post.
With Wilson, it felt like his team was going to let him down after a hyper-efficient 23-point performance. For most of the night, Duke just seemed to be in control. Freshman, Dame Sarr was tasked with his highest minutes load of the season, and he looked very comfortable next to Boozer.
Speaking of Boozer, some of my biggest concerns with him at the next level popped up tonight. He’s clearly been the best player in the country, and he put up another impressive stat line tonight, but I’m not sure if he plays a style of basketball that will translate to the pros. He plays a bully-ball style of offense, and pairs that with a finishing package that doesn’t seem worth a top-three pick.
When matched up against his former AAU teammate, Caleb Wilson, it seemed like he had such limited scoring options, whereas Wilson looked like a fluid NBA-level big. Wilson’s jumper leaves a lot to be desired; there’s a reason he only shoots 1 three a game; however, it’s mechanically very sound. He also looks incredibly comfortable from the mid-post, and he has a turnaround jumper that would be hard to guard at any level.
If Cam Boozer isn’t the clear-cut best player on the floor, his game feels too robotic for my liking. Late in this game, when the ball was in his hands, his only move was a straight line drive to the basket.
When you’re meeting Wilson and Henri Veesar in the paint, and you’re not finishing through their contact, life’s going to be very challenging. It’s a problem he will have to deal with every night in the NBA, and I just don’t love that skill set translating as easily as Wilson’s will to the NBA.
I’m not worried about Duke in the long run. They’re still so defensively strong, and should have better showings in future games for Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba II. These two teams have a rematch in one month at Cameron Indoor, and I believe Duke will be able to bounce back in a massive way to close out the season.
Sports
Labaron Philon's 25 points squeeze Alabama past Auburn
Alabama Crimson Tide guard Aden Holloway (2) drives on Auburn Tigers forward Keyshawn Hall (7) as Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. Labaron Philon scored 25 points and three teammates hit double figures as Alabama held off host Auburn 96-92 on Saturday.
Amari Allen added 17 points, Aden Holloway scored 15 and Charles Bediako had 12 for the Crimson Tide (16-7, 6-4 SEC).
Tahaad Pettiford scored 25 points, Keyshawn Hall had 24 before fouling out, Kevin Overton contributed 17 points and KeShawn Murphy added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers (14-9, 5-5), who lost their second straight after a four-game winning streak.
Auburn scored the first three points of the second half to open a 44-37 lead. Holloway’s layup produced Alabama’s first points, but the Tigers increased the lead to 54-47 on a Hall layup with 15:31 to play.
London Jemison scored seven consecutive points to start an 11-0 spurt that gave the Tide a 58-54 lead. Pettiford and Overton each made a 3-pointer and the Tigers pulled even at 60.
Philon’s 3-pointer broke the tie before the lead changed hands twice. The Tide opened a 71-65 lead on Aiden Sherrell’s 3-pointer with 9:10 to go. Auburn got within one point, but Philon scored the next five points.
Once again, the Tigers saw an Alabama six-point lead and crept within one. Allen made a 3-pointer and Tide pushed the lead back to six twice more. Murphy’s 3-pointer cut the lead in half, but Holloway made three free throws for a six-point margin with 28 seconds left.
At the game’s outset, the lead changed hands three times before Overton made consecutive 3-pointers to complete a 10-2 run and give Auburn a 14-7 lead. Philon made a 3-pointer to slow the momentum, but Elyjah Freeman scored four straight points to help the Tigers take a 20-12 lead.
The Tide scored the next six points before the Tigers extended the margin to six points on four occasions. They pushed the lead to 36-26 — the largest of the game — on two Pettiford free throws with 2:33 left in the half.
Houston Mallette made two 3-pointers during an 11-2 run by Alabama before Overton’s 3-pointer left Auburn with a 41-37 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Super Bowl LX: Patriots thinking about path to big game
Feb 5, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks to media members at the Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images PALO ALTO, Calif. – The New England Patriots returned to Stanford Stadium for a final time on Saturday afternoon to take a team photo and spend time with their family and friends ahead of Super Bowl LX.
Quarterback Drake Maye was the first player on the field to take photos. Players wore the white jerseys and white pants they will don on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. A team photographer took photos of each position group in front of a backdrop before players lined up in numerical orders on the bleachers for the official Super Bowl photo.
After a couple of quick snaps, players were free to mingle with their families and friends. Assistant coaches chased toddlers around the field, while a group of older children took turns hurling themselves into a tackling dummy. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels pulled both Maye and receiver Stefon Diggs aside to take photos with McDaniels’ kids, who range in age from 13 to 21.
“I want them to enjoy this time with their families,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “You can see how many people care about us and helped us get to this position, and this is all part of being able to celebrate it.”
Vrabel was planning to speak with the team later Saturday at their hotel in Santa Clara. He planned to remind players about the team’s path here, and the identity they built along the way.
“Everybody talked about getting to this point, and hoped for it to happen at the beginning of the year. Now it’s real,” Vrabel said. “That’s what I think has been pretty cool.”
The Patriots made two roster moves on Saturday, elevating defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III and running back D’Ernest Johnson off the practice squad.
–Pro Football Writers of America
Sports
Florida State wins third straight, keeps Notre Dame reeling
Feb 7, 2026; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Robert McCray V. (6) blocks Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Jalen Haralson (10) as guard Lajae Jones (10) also defends during the first half at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images Chauncey Wiggins scored 22 points and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with just under two minutes left on his 21st birthday to help Florida State win its third straight game, 82-79 over Notre Dame on Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference play at South Bend, Ind.
Florida State (11-12, 4-6) led by as many as 18 in the first half, 41-32 at halftime and by 11 early in the second half. However, the Seminoles shot 37.9% from the field in the second half while Notre Dame (11-13, 2-9) shot 51.5% to work back and take a 75-74 lead on Logan Imes’ 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining.
Then Wiggins, who went 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, knocked down a deep 3-pointer left of the top of the arc with 1:52 to go that put the Seminoles ahead for good.
Notre Dame forward Carson Towt missed four attempts from the foul line down the stretch. Florida State’s Alier Maluk hit two free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining to reach the final margin and send the Seminoles to their fourth win in five games.
Braeden Shrewsberry had 18 points and Jalen Haralson scored 15 before fouling out with 2:33 left for the Fighting Irish, who have lost four straight games and nine of 10 to remain in jeopardy of missing the ACC tournament.
Florida State came out hot, scoring 17 of the game’s first 19 points. The Seminoles’ first 15 points came via two 3-pointers apiece from Wiggins and Rod McCray V (15 points), and the other from Lajae Jones.
The visitors opened 6 of 10 from long distance and 8 of 13 overall from the field en route to building a 27-9 lead. However, Florida State went 3 of 12 from beyond the arc the rest of the half and 6 of 23 from the floor.
Notre Dame shot just 32.3% from the field in the opening half but used a 10-0 run to get back in the contest. Sir Mohammed’s 3-pointer with 1:01 left before the break got the Irish to 36-30 before the Seminoles scored the next five points for more breathing room entering halftime.
Florida State hit 15 of 37 from long range for the game.
–Field Level Media
Labaron Philon's 25 points squeeze Alabama past Auburn
Super Bowl LX: Patriots thinking about path to big game
