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
Alabama locks down Nate Oats, makes him one of highest-paid coaches
Alabama head coach Nate Oats reacts to a play against Michigan during the first half of NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round at United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 27, 2026. Alabama has agreed to a contract extension with men’s basketball coach Nate Oats that will make him one of the five highest-paid coaches in the sport, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne announced Sunday via X.
“Appropriate members of The Board of Trustees have been notified of the proposed terms of the new agreement and it will soon be formally approved through the Board process,” Byrne wrote in a statement.
“We are good! He’s not going anywhere,” Byrne wrote on his personal X account.
This is the third contract extension in four years for Oats, whose previous extension in early 2024 ran through March 2030 and was scheduled to pay him $6.02 million for the 2026-27 season.
Complete details on the new contract have yet to be announced but, according to USA Today, the five highest-paid coaches at public schools in 2024-25 each made at least $6.1 million — when Oats tied for ninth nationally with a $5 million base salary.
Oats’ impending raise should put him in the same neighborhood with Kansas’ Bill Self, Arkansas’ John Calipari, UConn’s Dan Hurley, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd. On Friday, Arizona announced a new five-year deal with Lloyd that starts at $7.2 million, presumably to keep the national Naismith Coach of the Year from leaving for the open North Carolina job.
Alabama’s rationale for a new deal could have been driven by the same fear.
“As long as we’re able to compete to win championships here — SEC, national championships. We haven’t done that here yet — I’d love to be the coach to bring us our first national championship,” Oats said March 26 when asked about potential links to the North Carolina head coaching vacancy.
“To me, there’s absolutely no reason to leave here. While it’s flattering that a high school guy that caught a couple of breaks would be mentioned with some of these jobs, because they’ve got a lot of tradition, I’m not a guy that’s looking to get out of here any time soon.”
Oats, 51, has been the head coach at Alabama since 2019 and has compiled a 170-73 record (.700) in his seven seasons. The Crimson Tide have competed in a program record-tying six straight NCAA Tournaments.
This season Alabama lost to Michigan, who will play for the National Championship on Monday, in the Sweet Sixteen.
Oats’ deepest run was when he helped lead Alabama to the Final Four as a No. 4 seed during the 2023-24 season. The Crimson Tide fell short to eventual champion UConn.
Oats has led Alabama to at least two NCAA Tournament wins in all but one of his six appearances with the school.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros ace Hunter Brown (shoulder) placed on 15-day IL
Mar 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images The Houston Astros placed ace right-hander Hunter Brown on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder strain.
The move was retroactive to Thursday.
Brown finished third in American League Cy Young Award balloting last season. He is 1-0 with an 0.84 ERA in two starts this season, striking out 17 in just 10 1/3 innings.
Brown, 27, last pitched Tuesday when he defeated the Boston Red Sox. He gave up one run and one hit and struck out eight against two walks in six innings.
There was no immediate word on how long Brown might be sidelined. Houston announced the move before manager Joe Espada met with reporters prior to the club’s Sunday afternoon road game against the Athletics.
Brown made the AL All-Star team for the first time last season when he went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA in 31 starts. He struck out a career-high 206 and posted a stellar 1.03 WHIP.
He is 37-31 with a 3.44 ERA in 102 appearances (94 starts) since reaching the majors in 2022.
The Astros promoted right-hander Christian Roa from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. He had a 6.75 ERA in two relief appearances for Houston earlier this season.
The 27-year-old pitched one scoreless inning of relief in his lone outing for Sugar Land this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Garrett Mitchell lifts Brewers over Royals
Apr 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman David Hamilton (6) throws to first base over Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images Garrett Mitchell doubled, homered, and racked up five RBIs for the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in a 5-2 win over the Kansas City Royals in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Luis Rengifo was 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run, and Christian Yelich was 2-for-5 with two runs for the Brewers. Jac Caglianone was 2-for-3 with a walk, and Lane Thomas and Bobby Witt Jr. each had an RBI for the Royals.
Milwaukee starting pitcher Chad Patrick (1-0) picked up the win as he went five innings, gave up four hits, walked three, and struck out three. Luinder Avila (0-1) took the loss for the Royals, as he only lasted three innings, surrendered eight hits, five runs, walked three, and struck out four.
Trevor Megill threw a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of the season for MIlwaukee which won its third straight game.
The Brewers jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Mitchell drove a high fast ball to the wall in right center field that plated Rengifo and Yelich in the first inning. In his next at bat, Mitchell launched Avila’s hanging curveball deep over the right field fence for a three-run home run, as Milwaukee extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the third.
Vinnie Pasquantino led off the sixth inning with a single and advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch by Milwaukee reliever Aaron Ashby. After a Salvador Perez ground out, Jac Caglianone’s infield single placed runners on the corners for the Royals with one out.
But Ashby struck out both Starling Marte and Isaac Collins to end the Royals’ threat.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kansas City finally got on the board when pinch hitter Thomas lined an RBI double into the left field corner that scored Nick Loftin as the Royals cut their deficit to 5-1. Maikel Garcia’s ground out to first moved Thomas to third. Witt’s sizzling one-hooper to second base led to an infield RBI single and the Royals pulled closer at 5-2.
Megill issued walks to Thomas and Witt in the bottom of the ninth but struck out Pasquantino looking to end the threat.
–Field Level Media
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