Sports
J’Wan Roberts, LJ Cryer, No. 4 Houston face Jackson State
Mar 29, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Cougars forward J’Wan Roberts (13) rebounds against Duke Blue Devils guard Jared McCain (0) during the second half in the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images There will be unfinished business to address for No. 4 Houston as it begins its march toward another NCAA Tournament when the Cougars open their season at home Monday night against Jackson State.
It is Houston’s third top-10 preseason ranking during head coach Kelvin Sampson’s 10 seasons with the program, with the Cougars advancing to the Sweet 16 in the last five NCAA Tournaments. But they have advanced only as far as the national semifinals in 2021 and have been eliminated in the regional semifinals in the past two seasons.
It appears that anything short of another Final Four appearance would be a disappointment from a program that will be led by a pair of players on the Naismith Trophy player-of-the-year watch list in graduate forward J’Wan Roberts and graduate guard LJ Cryer.
Roberts averaged 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 36 games last season. Cryer scored a team-leading 15.5 points and made 112 baskets from 3-point range, tied for ninth most in Division I last season. He shot 38.8 percent from distance.
The Cougars finished 32-5 overall and in first place at 15-3 in their Big 12 debut. They fell in the Big 12 Conference championship game 69-41 to Iowa State.
Also back is junior guard Emanuel Sharp, who averaged 12.6 points and 3.5 rebounds last season when Houston was eliminated by Duke 54-51 in the South Region semifinals. The Cougars played the second half of that game without All-America guard Jamal Shead after an ankle injury. Shead now is a member of the Toronto Raptors.
“We’ve made it to the tournament every year, and we’ve made it to the Final Four, Sweet 16, Elite Eight,” Roberts said, addressing the team’s title hopes. “We feel like it’s one more banner that we need. To know that we have one more year coming back, why not use it to do something special?”
Houston earned a 79-64 exhibition victory at home over Texas A&M on Sunday when Cryer scored 18 points while going 6-of-12 from 3-point range, and Roberts had 10 points with eight rebounds.
Jackson State will be led by 6-foot-11 center Shannon Grant, a graduate transfer from Florida A&M. Grant averaged 10.4 points with 4.4 rebounds last season, including a 12-point game against Jackson State.
The Tigers’ top six scorers from last season all have departed, including Ken Evans Jr. (18.8 points, 5.4 rebounds), now at Florida Atlantic, and the now-graduated Jordan O’Neal (12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds).
“We have logged a lot of hours together, and it has built our chemistry,” said Mo Williams, a veteran of 13 NBA seasons, who is heading into his third season as Jackson State’s head coach. “It has built who we want to be as a team and who our guys are.”
After finishing 15-17 overall last season and 11-7 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Tigers were picked to finish fourth in the conference this season, behind Grambling State, Texas Southern and Southern.
Jackson State had an exhibition victory at home over Belhaven 93-52 on Oct. 24 and fell 92-85 in an exhibition game Monday at Southern Miss.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Top draft needs for all 32 teams
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Wily general managers attempt to sell their plan to select the “best player available” prior to every draft. But front-office personnel of teams drafting at the top are not fortunate enough to ignore roster needs if they’d like to stick around for next year’s draft.
With free agency all but in the books and a few straggling items still up for bidding on the trade market, here’s how we view the primary roster needs for all 32 teams before the 2026 NFL Draft begins.
Arizona Cardinals
Farewell to No. 1 pick Kyler Murray, which means the Cardinals can start at QB1 and work their way down if they want to rebound in the NFC West.
Position needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
Atlanta Falcons
Without knowing the ultimate direction of the offense, we can say Kevin Stefanski and his QB1 to be named later would benefit from a polished offensive line and skill-position help.
Position needs: WR, OT, CB, LB
Baltimore Ravens
Not securing three-time Pro Bowl C Tyler Linderbaum might haunt the Ravens if they can’t find suitable starters at center and guard in the draft. Signing Trey Hendrickson can beef up the pass rush, but more premium talent is coveted on the edge.
Position needs: IOL, OLB, DL, WR, CB
Buffalo Bills
Slings and arrows at Keon Coleman were not the ideal motivation for a draft-and-develop philosophy. Spending big at QB and RB tightens margin for error in Buffalo.
Position needs: WR, S, EDGE, LB, CB
Carolina Panthers
Restocking the secondary and maybe even a third wide receiver in three years selected in the top 32 would be wins for the Panthers.
Position needs: CB, S, TE, OT, WR
Chicago Bears
Division and playoff push aside, the Bears didn’t sport a shutdown defense most of the year and survived on scraps and takeaways.
Position needs: Edge, DL, C, CB
Cincinnati Bengals
Swapped the No. 10 pick for DT Dexter Lawrence. With a fortunate break they could still score a pass rusher in a draft with an abundance of options, even if no perfect fit for this defense.
Position needs: Edge, CB, OL, TE, LB
Cleveland Browns
Your vantage point on the latest reset in Cleveland might add or subtract a position on this list.
Position needs: OL, WR, QB, CB, LB, EDGE
Dallas Cowboys
If only the Cowboys could find a versatile pass rusher like Micah Parsons, right?
Position needs: Edge, DL, LB, S, CB
Denver Broncos
No first-round pick, no problem for the Broncos. They’ve unearthed mid-round gems each year under the current regime.
Position needs: TE, LB, EDGE, DL
Detroit Lions
Pairing a speed demon with Aidan Hutchinson is the next-level move for Detroit’s defense.
Position needs: Edge, OL, LB, CB
Green Bay Packers
Protect Jordan Love first, and that might require a premium pick. Then make sure he has ample receiving options at a position where injuries have been a hurdle. And fetch a pass rusher with Micah Parsons coming back from injury and Rashan Gary gone.
Position needs: OT, WR, Edge, DL, CB
Houston Texans
Another 12-win season and a pretty productive offseason to date funnels the Texans into a draft where the focus is on offensive line and defensive line reinforcements.
Position needs: OL, DL, LB, DB, Edge
Indianapolis Colts
One of the sharpest offenses in the NFL the first half of last season crumbled down the stretch. GM Chris Ballard argues Sauce Gardner, acquired for Indy’s first-round pick at the trade deadline, is the Colts’ 2026 first-rounder. His job might depend on mining more gems in the middle of the draft.
Position needs: OT, WR, EDGE, LB, S
Jacksonville Jaguars
There is always a chance the leadership of the Jaguars makes a dramatic play on draft night. If an elite defender is falling Thursday, don’t be surprised to see the Jacksonville draft room pop up on your screen.
Position needs: DT, S, Edge, LB, CB
Kansas City Chiefs
Good news: Two first-round picks (9, 29). Bad news: We count six positions where the starter is uncertain or replacement level and more with contextual question marks. The secondary makeover is incomplete with a legitimate No. 1 corner to replace Trent McDuffie.
Position needs: CB, Edge, OL, WR, DL
Los Angeles Chargers
For all the Chargers have invested in the offensive line — draft capital and real dollars — it’s not there yet.
Position needs: OL, WR, Edge, DL, DB
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is closer to AARP than his physical prime, which begs the question: How long can the Rams get away with not having a QB of the future?
Position needs: LB, QB, DL, S, Edge
Las Vegas Raiders
No team drafts first overall without countless roster concerns to help put them at the bottom of the NFL standings.
Position needs: QB, OT, DT, WR
Miami Dolphins
Can’t list everything on the shopping list in South Beach. Jeff Hafley and Jon Eric-Sullivan are in charge, have two first-round picks and more needs than Michael has Jordans.
Position needs: WR, CB, S, TE, Edge
Minnesota Vikings
The QB competition in the Twin Cities takes all the headlines, although attention and some assembly is going to be required for this defense to be up to snuff by September.
Position needs: LB, S, RB, DL, TE
New England Patriots
Watching the Super Bowl, there were a few takeaways postgame well before anyone thought, “the Patriots will be back.” Maybe Mike Vrabel can just add magic and Drake Maye will resume plowing the MVP track. Or maybe New England excelled at covering up fatal flaws which were exposed by the Seahawks.
Position needs: OT, LB, Edge, WR, DT
New Orleans Saints
Retooling on defense is a work in progress and if the Saints want Tyler Shough to take another step in his pro development, weapons are not in great supply at wide receiver or running back.
Position needs: Edge, CB, DL, WR, OL
New York Giants
John Harbaugh should see a lot to like with two top-10 picks. O-line and d-line are the likely highest priorities.
Position needs: DT, LB, IOL, WR, CB
New York Jets
How are we feeling about running it back with Geno Smith, Jets fans? That’s what we thought.
Position needs: QB, CB, Edge, WR
Philadelphia Eagles
Philly always invests in the line, and if there’s a playmaker at safety that makes sense, this could be the year to jump the queue to go get him.
Position needs: Edge, S, WR, OL, TE
Pittsburgh Steelers
Make it six consecutive years an NFL team waits as Aaron Rodgers contemplates whether to return. But he’s 42, so even if we get Vintage Aaron one more season, a Plan B is a must for the Steelers.
Position needs: QB, OL, WR, TE, LB
Seattle Seahawks
Zero doubt GM John Schneider has called every team in the league offering to drop out of the first round to add to the team’s current haul of four total picks.
Position needs: CB, EDGE, WR, OL
San Francisco 49ers
Left tackle Trent Williams maintains dog status when he’s healthy. The offense, not just the line, isn’t the same when he’s unavailable.
Position needs: OL, WR, TE, S
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Head coach Todd Bowles prefers a more dominant front seven to spearhead the defense.
Position needs: Edge, CB, WR, LB
Tennessee Titans
We aren’t going to list running back because Tony Pollard was better-than-average last season. We would understand the rationale of selecting Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love early, but if the Titans get a crack at a blue-chip pass rusher they can’t look away.
Position needs: Edge, WR, LB, OL, TE
Washington Commanders
Erasing last season is one thing, forgetting the why behind Washington’s decline would be another. Jayden Daniels rarely had enough playmakers on the field and even a spendy offseason on defense this spring hasn’t plugged all of the problematic leaks.
Position needs: WR, Edge, OL, DB, RB
–Field Level Media
Sports
Saint Mary’s star F Paulius Murauskas follows coach to Arizona State
Mar 19, 2026; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Saint Mary’s (CA) Gaels forward Paulius Murauskas (23) dribbles the ball during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Former Saint Mary’s star forward Paulius Murauskas said Wednesday that he’s transferring to Arizona State to once again play for coach Randy Bennett.
Murauskas blossomed in two seasons under Bennett and was one of the best players in the West Coast Conference this past season when he averaged 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 33 games (32 starts). The Gaels made the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight season.
Bennett departed Saint Mary’s after the season to take over the Sun Devils.
“I followed my heart and chose the place where I trust the people and feel valued not just as a player, but as a person,” Murauskas said in an Instagram post. “I want to finish my college journey with the people who made the last two years so amazing and helped me become who I am now as a person and a player.”
Murauskas averaged 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds in 68 games (67 starts) in his two seasons at Moraga, Calif. The lone time he didn’t start came in last month’s first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Texas A&M when he was battling an illness and came in off the bench and played 23 minutes.
“Money is important, but the people in your life matter more,” Murauskas said. “Let’s finish where everything started.”
The 6-foot-8 Murauskas, from Lithuania, began his college career at Arizona and saw limited action during the 2023-24 season before moving on to Saint Mary’s.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Coby Mayo's 3-run blast leads Orioles past Royals
Apr 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) hits a two run home run against against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Coby Mayo belted a three-run homer to highlight a sixth-run sixth inning, fueling the visiting Baltimore Orioles to an 8-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon.
Leody Taveras’ RBI single forged a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning before Jeremiah Jackson’s two-run single gave Baltimore a lead it would not relinquish.
Pete Alonso launched a two-run homer in the first inning for the Orioles, who avenged a 6-5 setback on Tuesday to win the rubber match of the three-game series.
Chris Bassitt (1-2) allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Yennier Cano and Tyler Wells bridged the gap to rookie Anthony Nunez, who struck out two batters in the ninth inning to secure his first career save.
Kansas City’s Kyle Isbel crushed a two-run homer and Vinnie Pasquantino and Carter Jansen also went deep.
Jansen and Lane Thomas each had an RBI single for the reeling Royals, who have lost nine of their last 10 games.
Kansas City was nursing a 3-2 lead before Baltimore ignited an offensive surge to chase starter Michael Wacha (2-1) from the game.
Alonso worked a one-out walk and Samuel Basallo hit the first of three straight singles by the Orioles. Taveras’ single to right field plated Alonso, while Jackson’s single to left scored both Basallo and Taveras to give Baltimore a 5-3 lead.
Eli Morgan relieved Wacha and promptly surrendered a single to Colton Cowser before Mayo sent a 0-1 slider over the wall in left-center field. The homer was Mayo’s second in as many days.
That closed the book on Wacha, who permitted six runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He entered the game having yielded just three runs on 13 hits in his previous four starts.
Bassitt saw a 2-2 sinker sent over the wall in center field by Jansen to trim Baltimore’s lead to 8-4, Cano relieved Bassitt and served up a two-run homer to Isbel just inside the right-field foul pole.
Alonso gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead after depositing a 1-0 sinker from Wacha over the wall in right-center field. Alonso’s homer was his third of the season and first since April 13.
Pasquantino halved the deficit after sending a 2-0 sinker from Bassitt over the wall in right field. The homer was his third of the season, with all three coming in his last seven games.
–Field Level Media
Top draft needs for all 32 teams
Saint Mary’s star F Paulius Murauskas follows coach to Arizona State
