Sports
Nebraska, Ohio State juggling Big Ten seeding into matchup
Feb 19, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Brice Williams (3) shoots the ball during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State defeated Nebraska 89-72. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images The Big Ten tournament begins next week, but Nebraska and Ohio State already are feeling the pressure heading into Tuesday’s game in Columbus.
Nebraska (17-12, 7-11 Big Ten) has lost three straight and four of five to fall into danger of not only missing the NCAA Tournament, but the Big Ten tourney as well with two games left.
The top 15 teams make the conference tournament and the Cornhuskers are in a four-way tie for 11th with Minnesota, Northwestern and Rutgers while Iowa and USC are lurking at 6-12. According to a simulation of 100,000 potential seeding scenarios conducted at the start of the week, Nebraska faces a 17 percent chance of missing the Big Ten tournament.
“Something’s got to change,” Nebraska guard Brice Williams said. “We have the ability. We have the want. We’ve got to have it more consistently. It’s there, but we have to go out there and take it. Nobody is going to give it to us, especially in this league.”
The Buckeyes (16-13, 8-10) are 10th in the league after an 87-82 win Saturday at USC snapped their three-game losing streak. Coach Jake Diebler hopes the energy from the home finale can help avenge a 79-71 loss at Nebraska on Feb. 9 and boost their NCAA Tournament hopes.
“We’ve had some great environments in here for some of our home games,” Diebler said Monday. “It’s important. We need another great environment (Tuesday) in a huge game.”
He also expects veterans like Bruce Thornton, Evan Mahaffey and Micah Parrish to show the way.
“Leadership is critical, and I think we’ve had some great, great stretches of that this year,” Diebler said. “It’s been a little inconsistent at times, and some of it is guys growing into new roles.”
Thornton, who will be playing and starting his 100th game for the Buckeyes, has averaged 20.5 points while recording eight assists and no turnovers in the past two games.
Williams is doing his best to keep the Cornhuskers afloat. He is second in Big Ten scoring at 19.7 points per game and had 20-plus in eight of the past nine games, but these are desperate times.
“Got to throw everything we got at (Ohio State),” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. “We’re running out of chances. We’re running out of bullets.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
