Sports
Lesser-known players getting chance to impress Jazz, Wizards
Mar 21, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz guard Kennedy Chandler (0) plays the ball as Philadelphia 76ers forward Marjon Beauchamp (16) defends during the first half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images For players trying to stick in the NBA, injuries have opened opportunities to make a splash with the Utah Jazz.
Utah has been getting meaningful minutes from players on 10-day contracts heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Washington Wizards in Salt Lake City. The Jazz have been able to plug players into an injury-depleted roster while giving them a chance to earn a permanent NBA roster spot in the near future.
Bez Mbeng, who graduated from Yale last year, made his NBA debut on March 13. He is on his second 10-day contract with the Jazz and, through six games, averages 4.2 points, 3.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals over 31.0 minutes per game. Mbeng had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting to go with seven assists and six rebounds in his first career start Saturday against Philadelphia.
Kennedy Chandler, who had a small role for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022-23 as a rookie, has been an immediate revelation for Utah. Chandler, 23, signed a 10-day contract on Saturday and has averaged 16.0 points, 6.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in his first two games with the Jazz. He posted a career-high nine assists to go with 13 points in a 143-127 loss to Toronto on Monday.
“There are definitely moments that are surprising in a fun way, but desperation is a heck of a thing,” Utah coach Will Hardy told the Deseret News. “And I think when people get opportunities like this, that are very finite — you signed a 10-day contract — you can treat that like a sprint. I think that all of the guys that we’ve had on 10-days this year have been outstanding.”
Ace Bailey also came up big for the Jazz in the loss to the Raptors, pouring in a career-high 37 points. Bailey has averaged 19.4 points per game in 14 games since the NBA All-Star break. He also has shot 40.2% from 3-point range while hitting 3.5 threes per game over that stretch.
“I still want to learn,” Bailey told KSL.com. “There’s a lot for me to learn, so I feel like I’m always open to learn. You just, obviously, want to be the best, and it comes with work.”
Washington has lost 16 straight games coming into Salt Lake City, which means a defeat against the Jazz will set the franchise record for longest losing streak. Wizards opponents have averaged 130.6 points per game over their last 10 contests.
Like the Jazz, many key Washington players are sidelined with injuries and it has opened a door for other players to make their mark. Tristan Vukcevic is one of those players.
Vukcevic has made a name for himself as an outside shooter and interior defender over the past two months. He shot 48.4% from 3-point range (15 of 31) in February and has hit 41.5% (17 of 41) from beyond the arc in March. Defensively, Vukcevic has contested 10.9 shots per 36 minutes this season.
The 7-footer’s increased activity on defense and efficient shooting on offense give him a real chance to stick with the Wizards beyond this season.
“The one thing I’ve always been impressed with Tristan, and that was from Day 1, when he walked into our gym here two years ago, is that he’s not scared,” Washington coach Brian Keefe told the Athletic. “He’s played in all types of environments in his life. There’s no fear from him. He’s going to attack the game.”
Utah won the previous meeting, beating the Wizards 122-112 on March 6 behind 32 points from Bailey.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MAAC rebranded, now The Metro Conference
Iona Men’s Basketball vs Siena in MAAC men’s basketball tournament quarterfinal game in Atlantic City on March 10 7:30 PM
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The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is shedding part of its name while trying to maintain tradition.
The conference will rebrand as The Metro Conference effective July 1, as an element of strategic planning launched three years ago.
“The goal of this project was to establish a bold and clear identity that eliminated longstanding confusion surrounding the Conference’s name,” said Travis Tellitocci, MAAC commissioner, in a news release. “Throughout this process, we wanted to create a brand that better positions the Conference for the future while still honoring the tradition and foundation that have defined this league for the past 45 years. We are excited about this next chapter and the future of the Metro Conference.”
Confusion existed with the similar-sounding Mid-American Conference — the Cleveland-based MAC. The length of the full name of the conference also “created inconsistencies in how the brand was referenced and frequently led to the conference being referred to incorrectly,” the new Metro Conference said in its release.
The rebranding includes a new red-and-blue logo with a bold type.
The MAAC was founded in 1980 and has 13 member schools, largely based in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut: Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Marist, Merrimack, Mount St. Mary’s, Niagara, Quinnipiac, Rider, Sacred Heart, Saint Peter’s and Siena.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Arizona F Koa Peat to remain in 2026 NBA Draft
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) is defended by Michigan Wolverines guard Nimari Burnett (4) and Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Forward Koa Peat, a projected first-round pick, will remain in the 2026 NBA Draft and will not return to Arizona for his sophomore season, multiple outlets reported.
Peat’s reported decision comes on the heels of an NBA Draft Combine performance in which he admitted that he struggled.
Listed at 6-foot-8, Peat averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while helping to lead the Wildcats to the Big 12 regular-season and conference titles.
The Arizona native raised his game during the NCAA Tournament, averaging 17.2 points and 7.6 boards in five games as the Wildcats advanced to the Final Four before falling to Michigan.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jets add veteran Younghoe Koo to kicking competition
Nov 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants place kicker Younghoe Koo (37) on the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images The New York Jets signed veteran kicker Younghoe Koo on Thursday, adding him to the competition for the open job.
The Jets also will have Cade York and Lenny Krieg in camp trying to win the position.
Koo, 31, was named the starting kicker of the Atlanta Falcons in 2019 and held the job until his release early in the 2025 season. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2020 as he made 37-of-39 field goal tries.
However, Koo was let go a week after missing a 43-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The New York Giants signed Koo to the practice squad after his release from the Falcons and was moved to the roster in November to replace the injured Graham Gano. The Giants released Koo after a Week 15 loss. He was 4-of-6 on field goals with a long of 44 and made 11-of-12 point-after attempts.
He also previously played with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football.
In his NFL career, Koo has hit 185-of-217 field-goal attempts (85.3%) and made 186-of-194 extra-point tries in 98 games.
Last season, Nick Folk handled the kicking duties for the Jets. After converting all 22 of his extra-point attempts and 28-of-29 field goal tries, Folk signed with the Falcons in March.
–Field Level Media
MAAC rebranded, now The Metro Conference
Report: Arizona F Koa Peat to remain in 2026 NBA Draft
