Sports
NC State debuts retooled roster vs. South Carolina Upstate
Mar 21, 2024; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Jayden Taylor (1) and North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Michael O’Connell (12) celebrate their win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Coming off an unlikely run to the Final Four, North Carolina State enters its opener Monday against visiting South Carolina Upstate hoping to make new magic with a retooled lineup.
Four of his top five scorers have departed but eighth-year coach Kevin Keatts still has enough returning players and promising newcomers to declare the Wolfpack “two-deep at every position.”
“We’re still going to have to develop chemistry. We’re still going to have to get better,” Keatts said. “We do have some very exciting pieces that I like.”
Four of those pieces came by way of transfer and add scoring punch. Bolstering the backcourt is Marcus Hill, who averaged 20.5 points per game last year at Bowling Green, while Dontrez Styles (12.8 ppg) arrives from Georgetown.
The Wolfpack also added two of Louisville’s top three scorers and rebounders in Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Mike James (12.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg).
Returning starters for the Wolfpack are Jayden Taylor (11.2 ppg) and Michael O’Connell (5.7 ppg, 3.2 apg), who enters this season as the top playmaker after assuming the role during last year’s run to the ACC tournament title.
Also back are key reserves Ben Middlebrooks (5.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Dennis Parker Jr. (4.7 ppg).
USC Upstate, which has been picked to finish last in the Big South, is in more transition than NC State. The Spartans have a first-year coach in Marty Richter and a new roster, as only one player is back from last year’s 10-20 team.
It’s a situation that reminds Richter of his stop at JUCO Florida Southwestern from 2016-18, when he went 56-10.
“When you’re a junior college coach, you had to send 10 out and you had to bring 10 more in or you had to send eight out and you had to bring eight in,” Richter said.
USC Upstate’s disparate collection of players includes five freshmen and three JUCO transfers. Only four Spartans, all guards, have been with Division I programs and Kanye Jones (8.0 ppg), a reserve last year at Buffalo, is the only one with significant experience.
Also arriving is Chico Johnson, who was a redshirt last year at Drake, where Richter served as an assistant the last six years.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spurs swingman Keldon Johnson wins NBA's Sixth Man award
Apr 10, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) drives to the basket against Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse (30) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images The NBA announced Wednesday that San Antonio Spurs swingman Keldon Johnson has been voted the league’s Sixth Man of the Year by a 100-member global media panel.
The seventh-year veteran earned the John Havlicek Trophy for delivering 13.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.9% from the field and 36.3% from 3-point range. He was the only player in the league to come off the bench in all 82 games.
“It’s a little emotional,” Johnson said on ESPN after he was revealed as the winner. “It’s a big accomplishment. A lot of hard work goes into an award like this.”
Johnson ranked as the No. 5 scorer and No. 4 rebounder on a squad that posted the league’s second-best record (62-20) during the regular season.
The 26-year-old Kentucky product has spent his entire NBA career with the Spurs after being drafted with the 29th overall pick in 2019. He joins Manu Ginobili (2007-08) as the only Spurs to be named Sixth Man of the Year.
During Johnson’s first four years in the league he was an everyday starter for the Spurs, starting in 205 of the 224 games he appeared in. But during his fifth season he started to embrace the role as a spark plug off the bench, which has paid dividends.
“I started for a long time,” Johnson said. “Now, it’s my time to come off the bench. I just continue to analyze the game, come off the bench, go in there and just do my thing.”
“I wanted to be part of something special here in San Antonio. I knew that in order for me to really be the best for our team that coming off the bench was probably my best possibility. At first, it was tough. I had to (control) my ego and put the team first. After that, the sky was the limit.”
Johnson received 63 of the 100 first-place votes and collected 404 points. The Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., claimed 34 first-place votes and finished second in the balloting with 331 points. Jaquez averaged 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists while serving as a reserve in 74 of his 75 appearances this year.
Denver’s Tim Hardaway Jr. took third in the voting while Minnesota’s Naz Reid, Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and New York’s Mitchell Robinson each received one first-place vote.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Josh Naylor, Cal Raleigh rally Mariners to walk-off win over A's
Apr 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) celebrates with teammates, including second baseman Cole Young (2, right) after hitting a walk-off RBI-single against the Athletics during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Josh Naylor singled home Cal Raleigh with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as the host Seattle Mariners defeated the Athletics 5-4 Wednesday afternoon to salvage the finale of a three-game series with their American League West rivals.
The A’s tied the score in the top of the inning on Nick Kurtz’s one-out homer to straightaway center off Mariners closer Andres Munoz (3-2), who blew the save opportunity but ended up getting the victory.
Raleigh, who homered for a third consecutive game, sparked the winning rally with a two-out single to center. He advanced to second as Julio Rodriguez grounded a single into left and scored on Naylor’s liner to left off Joel Kuhnel (0-1).
Raleigh and Naylor each went 3-for-5 as the Mariners collected a season-high 14 hits. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert allowed six hits and three runs over four innings while Athletics starter Aaron Civale also gave up six hits and three runs while going 5 1/3 innings.
The A’s took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks, in part, to a unique hit by Carlos Cortes. Kurtz drew a leadoff walk and Shea Langeliers singled to right field, sending Kurtz to third. Cortes rifled a 107.8-mph liner up the middle that hit Gilbert in the midsection and lodged inside his jersey. After the umpires huddled, they ruled it a hit that loaded the bases.
After trainer Kyle Torgerson checked out Gilbert and gave him the green light to stay in the game, Tyler Soderstrom’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Kurtz and Jeff McNeil’s two-out single to center brought home Langeliers.
The Mariners got a run back in the bottom of the first as J.P. Crawford, Rodriguez and Naylor loaded the bases with singles to set up Randy Arozarena’s sacrifice fly to left.
Cortes reached on an infield single leading off the third and scored on Jacob Wilson’s one-out double to left to make it 3-1.
Raleigh led off the bottom of the frame with a homer to right off A’s starter Aaron Civale.
The Mariners made it 3-3 in the sixth after Naylor led off with a single to center. one out later, the A’s brought in Brady Basso to replace Civale. Pinch-hitter Mitch Garver greeted Basso with a RBI double to center.
Seattle took the lead off Mark Leiter Jr. in the seventh. Crawford grounded a one-out single into right and advanced as Raleigh’s sinking liner got past right fielder Cortes for a double. Crawford scored as Rodriguez grounded out to short.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer's contract extended through 2032-33 season
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer looks on before the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Indiana Hoosiers at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Alabama and coach Kalen DeBoer have reached agreement on a two-year contract extension through the 2032-33 season, the school announced Wednesday.
The deal will reportedly increase DeBoer’s earnings to $87.5 million over the next seven seasons.
The University of Alabama’s System Board of Trustees Compensation Committee formally approved the deal Wednesday.
DeBoer is 20-8 in two seasons with the Crimson Tide after taking over for legendary Nick Saban, who retired after the 2023 season.
“We are excited about the opportunity to continue our time in Tuscaloosa with this contract extension,” DeBoer said in a news release. “This University has become a special place to us, and I look forward to working to ensure that Alabama football remains at the forefront of college football.
“This program has a long history of success and an unmatched tradition that I was eager to be a part of two years ago, and I cannot wait to keep coaching our guys and bring more championships to Alabama.”
DeBoer’s contract reportedly includes a $10 million buyout through January that drops to $8 million for the following 12 months before dipping again to $6 million.
Alabama went 9-4 in DeBoer’s first season in 2024 and missed the College Football Playoff. It went 11-4 last season, defeating Oklahoma in the first round of the CFP before being annihilated 38-3 by eventual champion Indiana.
“We are pleased to extend Coach DeBoer and are proud to have him leading the Crimson Tide football program,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in the news release. “He is an excellent coach and has done a commendable job developing our student-athletes.”
DeBoer, 51, is 57-17 over the last six seasons, including going 12-6 at Fresno State from 2020-21 and 25-3 at Washington in 2022-23. He guided the Huskies to the 2023 CFP title game before falling to Michigan.
Earlier in his career, DeBoer went 67-3 at Sioux Falls over five seasons, winning NAIA national championships in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
–Field Level Media
Spurs swingman Keldon Johnson wins NBA's Sixth Man award
Josh Naylor, Cal Raleigh rally Mariners to walk-off win over A's
