Sports
Missouri intends to draw a line in visit to South Carolina
Jan 31, 2026; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates gestures to players against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the second half of the game at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images As Missouri battles to make the NCAA Tournament’s field of 68, perhaps the most important number it needs to pay attention to is 332.
That is where the Tigers currently sit, out of 361 Division I teams, in free-throw shooting percentage as coach Dennis Gates’ team faces South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday.
Missouri (15-7, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) has made just 67.4% of its shots from the free-throw line, making the team dead last in the SEC. That includes an atrocious 34.8% (8-for-23) showing in a 90-64 setback at Alabama last month.
The Tigers rebounded in an 84-79 victory over Mississippi State last week, making 75.8% (25 for 33) of their free throws, including 10 of 12 in the final two minutes to hold off the Bulldogs.
It is not the sexiest statistic, but it could end up making the difference as Missouri tries to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
“That’s good coaching. I was able to telepathically get into their brain right there on the line and start whispering, ‘Calm down, calm down.’ And you just saw a swish. So, the coaching. I’ll take that today,” Gates said.
Mark Mitchell led Missouri with 19 points and seven rebounds in the triumph over Mississippi State. T.O. Barrett added 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
Trent Pierce, who made 19 starts last season but missed this year’s entire nonconference schedule, started for the first time in nine appearances this year and made two early 3-pointers on the way to 13 points.
Mitchell leads the team with 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He has scored in double figures in 20 of 22 games. Jayden Stone is averaging 14.6 points and 5.3 rebounds.
The Tigers are just 1-3 on the road in the conference, but in South Carolina, they are facing a spiraling squad poised to miss the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in nine years. The Gamecocks have lost four straight and eight of 10.
South Carolina has dropped two straight and four of five at home and lost its last outing 84-75 at Texas on Tuesday despite jumping out to an early lead.
“We did a lot of right things that allowed us to be in a position to win the game. … Our first responsibility was to do enough right things that when it got to game-winning time, you were right there to win the game,” Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris said. “It stings to be in that position and then in the last 2 1/2, 3 minutes, not be in a position to win the game.”
Meechie Johnson scored a career-best 35 points while shooting 12 of 21 from the field and 10 of 14 from the free-throw line. Elijah Strong added 12 points.
Johnson leads the team with a career-best 16.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. He is averaging 22.6 points over his last seven games.
“Meechie has had a good year. He’s been getting better at his one-on-one attacking,” Paris said. “So he’s been doing that a lot more, I’d say, in the last few games, especially getting to the rim and finishing strong. That’s been a point of emphasis for him to try to improve.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
How the Milwaukee Bucks Ruined the NBA Trade Deadline by Keeping Giannis
It takes two to tango.
And that’s exactly how the Milwaukee Bucks ruined the NBA trade deadline.
The Bucks had plenty of suitors lining up to trade for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. For weeks, it felt like the NBA world was growing closer and closer to seeing a blockbuster trade happen in-season for the second consecutive year.
But it didn’t happen.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst decided to keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee despite plenty of interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Last week, Antetokounmpo informed the Bucks that he’s finally open to being moved after 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s main mission remains to stack NBA Championships while the 31-year-old is still one of the best players in the league. Unfortunately, the Greek Freak will waste away on the Bucks, who are going nowhere this season and have no real plan for the future.
Antetokounmpo on the Timberwolves would’ve helped Anthony Edwards significantly. Pairing Antetokounmpo with Stephen Curry in Golden State would’ve helped legitimize the Warriors. In the East without Jayson Tatum or Tyrese Haliburton, the Cavaliers would’ve instantly become title favorites with a core of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Antetokounmpo.
But the Bucks decided to kill everybody’s fun.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Bucks could decide to shut down Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season since he was not traded.
Well, what’s the sense in that?
The Bucks will likely have the same suitors with similar offers for Antetokounmpo in the offseason. Maybe the Los Angeles Lakers can enter the picture, especially if LeBron James leaves them with a hole at forward.
But outside of that?
The Timberwolves, Heat and Cavaliers will still have the best packages. Perhaps the New York Knicks can get involved? After all, it felt like that is where Antetokounmpo was heading during the offseason.
One thing is certain, it’s beginning to feel like the Bucks are going to hold onto Antetokounmpo for too long.
It’s difficult to let a homegrown talent like him out of the building. But Milwaukee is accomplishing nothing with him as presently constructed. They are currently one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, but likely will not be bad enough to secure top odds at the No. 1 or No. 2 overall draft choice.
Holding onto Antetokounmpo feels pointless. Especially without much of a path to improve the roster surrounding him.
Sports
Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen dies at 91
Aug 2, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; Sonny Jurgensen waves to the crowd at the TimkenSteel Grand Parade on Cleveland Avenue in advance of the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen has died at age 91, his family announced Friday.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our husband, father and grandfather, Sonny Jurgensen,” said a statement from the Jurgensen family, distributed by the Washington Commanders.
“We are enormously proud of his amazing life and accomplishments on the field, marked not only by a golden arm, but also a fearless spirit and intellect that earned him a place among the legends in Canton.”
Jurgensen spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year career playing for the Washington franchise.
A native of Wilmington, N.C., Jurgensen was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles out of Duke in 1957. He was the backup to Norm Van Brocklin when Philadelphia won the 1960 NFL Championship before becoming the Eagles’ starter the following season.
That was the only NFL title of his career.
In 1964 he was traded to Washington, where his No. 9 is retired. After his playing career, he became a longtime radio and television broadcaster for Washington.
“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football. He was a brilliant leader, Hall of Fame quarterback, and had one of the best arms the game has ever seen. After his career on the field, Sonny’s voice became a fixture of Washington Sundays for decades, shaping the way generations of fans experienced the game,” Commanders’ managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement Friday.
Jurgensen is in Washington’s Ring of Fame and the Eagles’ Hall of Fame and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
A first-team All-Pro in 1961, he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the Hall of Fame’s All-1960s team.
Jurgensen led the league in passing yards five times. His 32,224 career passing yards ranks 51st all-time.
He finished 69-71-7 in 218 games (147 starts) with Philadelphia (1957-1963) and Washington (1964-1974), throwing 255 touchdown passes. He added 15 on the ground and ran for 493 yards in his career.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jim Schwartz resigns as Browns' defensive coordinator
Aug 5, 2024; Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz during a press conference at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Jim Schwartz resigned from his job as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, the team announced Friday.
Schwartz reportedly was unhappy when the Browns hired Todd Monken instead of him as their head coach.
“Yesterday, Jim Schwartz submitted his letter of resignation as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns,” the team said in a statement. “We’d like to thank Jim for his contributions to our organization over the last three seasons. Our search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.”
While Schwartz remains under contract with the team, he plans to sit out the 2026 season, per The Athletic. Schwartz, 59, previously was the head coach of the Detroit Lions (2009-13). This is the first head coaching opportunity for the 61-year-old Monken.
Schwartz was the defensive coordinator of the Browns the past three seasons. With Myles Garrett, who set the NFL single-season record for sacks (23) in 2025 to anchor the defense, Cleveland’s unit was one of the NFL’s best during his tenure.
The team finished among the leaders in total yards allowed — first in 2023 and fourth in 2025.
During interviews with potential head coaching candidates, the Browns’ top brass, including owner Jimmy Haslam, expressed they wanted Schwartz to remain as defensive coordinator.
Monken, Schwartz and Rams pass coordinator Nate Scheelhaase were the finalists. Monken’s experience is on the offensive side of the ball, serving as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens the past three seasons.
Now, Monken is without both coordinators. Tommy Rees, the OC in 2025, accepted the same position in Atlanta.
Rees will be reunited with the coach Monken replaced, Kevin Stefanski, who is the new head coach of the Falcons after being dismissed by the Browns on Jan. 5.
–Field Level Media
How the Milwaukee Bucks Ruined the NBA Trade Deadline by Keeping Giannis
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