Sports
No. 22 Arizona braces for 'uncomfortable' greeting vs. No. 9 Iowa State
Feb 26, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Utah Utes forward Ezra Ausar (2) attempts to steal the ball from Arizona Wildcats guard KJ Lewis (5) during the second half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images No. 22 Arizona knows it will be in for an “uncomfortable” reception when it tips off against No. 9 Iowa State in a Big 12 Conference battle Saturday night in Ames, Iowa.
Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd would expect nothing less.
“We’re not asking for things to be comfortable, because I know Saturday it’s going to be very uncomfortable,” Lloyd said. “So we better be comfortable in an uncomfortable environment.
“And for the rest of the season, I think that’s just how it’s going to be. I thank the Big 12 for that. I honestly do, in a good way. Not that we didn’t have stressful moments in the Pac-12, but we’ve had a good stretch of them here, and I think we’re going to be better for it in the long run.”
Arizona (19-9, 13-4) is looking to maintain second place in the conference standings. The Wildcats are coming off an 83-66 win against Utah on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Iowa State (21-7, 11-6) is eager to snap a two-game skid after losses against then-No. 5 Houston on Saturday and Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The Cyclones are 4-5 over their last nine games.
Injuries and illness have played a role in Iowa State’s recent slide. Top scorer Curtis Jones returned against Oklahoma State after an illness, and assists leader Keshon Gilbert has missed the last two games because of a muscle strain.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said Gilbert was making progress.
“We’re optimistic that he’ll be able to return on Saturday, but again, his health and well-being is No. 1,” Otzelberger said. “(He) was able to practice for the first time (in a while), so we’ll see how his body responds to that and where he’s at.”
Arizona is led in scoring by Caleb Love, who is averaging 16.4 points to go with 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Jaden Bradley ranks second with 11.4 points per game, and KJ Lewis rounds out the top three scorers with 10.4 points per contest.
Jones leads Iowa State with an average of 16.9 points per game and is shooting 36.8 percent from beyond the arc. Gilbert (14.1 ppg), Joshua Jefferson (12.6), Milan Momcilovic (10.6) and Tamin Lipsey (10.5) also are scoring in double digits.
Jefferson said he and his teammates needed to play more consistently regardless of whether anyone was out injured.
“It’s frustrating,” Jefferson said. “We’re 18-1 when we’re fully healthy, but it’s not an excuse. We’ve still got to find a way to win those games that we’re supposed to win.
“But now that we’re fully healthy, I think we’ll start to get right back on track moving forward.”
This will be the ninth game all-time between the programs and the second matchup this season. Arizona held on for an 86-75 overtime win on its home court on Jan. 27.
The Wildcats have won four straight games against the Cyclones, including this season’s first contest. Arizona leads the all-time series 5-3.
Iowa State is 14-1 at home this season. Arizona is 6-3 on the road.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
