Sports
No. 22 Memphis, FAU look to shake off loss to same foe
Feb 9, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Tigers guard PJ Haggerty (4) looks on against the Temple Owls during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images Despite their impressive record and first-place standing in the American Athletic Conference, the Memphis Tigers find their NCAA Tournament resume weakening in the eyes of many prognosticators.
The 22nd-ranked Tigers will try to get back on track when they host Florida Atlantic on Sunday in Memphis.
The Tigers (21-5, 11-2 AAC) had an eight-game winning streak snapped in an 84-79 overtime loss at Wichita State on Feb. 16.
Coincidentally, Florida Atlantic (15-11, 8-5) also is coming off a loss to the Shockers in its most recent game, on Thursday.
Memphis, although still projected to make the NCAA Tournament, has seen its projected seeding slip a few spots in multiple brackets. The Tigers will need to avoid additional damaging losses to solidify their postseason status over the final two weeks of the regular season and the AAC tournament.
However, Memphis’ tough nonconference slate, against which it went 10-3, and the fact that the Tigers have a 6-2 record in Quad 1 games lead coach Penny Hardaway to believe his side is undervalued.
“I feel like we could be 26-0 and still be a No. 6 seed,” Hardaway said on Friday. “It’s almost deflating to the guys probably, because they’re going, ‘Man, how does this work?’
“We did all that work in the nonconference, and we’ve only lost two games in conference. I love our conference. It’s harder than people give it credit for, but the nation and the voters won’t let you get past a certain point.”
The Tigers have five regular-season games left to play, starting with their second clash against Florida Atlantic. Memphis routed the Owls 90-62 on Jan. 2 in Boca Raton, Fla.
Tyrese Hunter had 20 points in that game and the Tigers went a staggering 10 of 18 from 3-point range. Memphis shot 55.9 percent from the field overall while holding the Owls to just 32.4 percent field-goal shooting and 5 of 31 (16.1 percent) from long distance.
PJ Haggerty, who had 19 points in that contest, leads Memphis with averages of 21.2 points and 3.8 assists per game. Haggerty and Hunter are each shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range.
As with Memphis, the Owls were playing well until they ran into surging Wichita State.
Florida Atlantic had won five in a row, but its problems with perimeter defense resurfaced as the Shockers shot 6 of 10 from 3-point range.
The Owls cannot afford to experience another letdown against Memphis.
“I thought there was some frustrated shots taken by us, which is pretty disappointing,” Florida Atlantic coach John Jakus said after the defeat. “We had 12 assists on 25 (field goals). That’s not even 50 percent of assist ratio, which is disappointing because we’ve been hovering between 60 and 70 while we’ve been winning.”
The Owls possess a balanced-scoring offense, led by Kelb Glenn at 12.9 points per game, Tre Carroll at 12.2 ppg and Baba Miller at 10.7 ppg. Florida Atlantic has three more players averaging nine-plus points per contest.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ryan Preece returning to RFK Racing in 2027
May 3, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Roush Fenway Keselowski driver Ryan Preece (60) is introduced before the start of the 2026 Wurth 400 cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Ryan Preece will remain behind the wheel of RFK Racing’s No. 60 Ford during the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Team co-owner Brad Keselowski confirmed the decision Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, saying RFK exercised an option in Preece’s multiyear contract several months ago.
“We’re going to continue to keep him as a part of the family for a while,” Keselowski said.
Preece joined RFK Racing in 2025 after spending two seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing. He narrowly missed the playoffs in his first year with the team but had his best Cup campaign, earning three top-five finishes and finishing 18th in the final standings.
The 35-year-old Connecticut native is again 18th in points entering Sunday’s Brickyard 400. He has four top-10 finishes through the first 21 races of the season as he continues pursuing his first career Cup Series playoff berth.
Preece has made 243 Cup Series starts over nine seasons, earning two poles and 33 top-10 finishes. He is still looking for his first points-paying win at NASCAR’s top level.
–Field Level Media
Sports
ATP roundup: Quentin Halys blasts 17 aces, wins Generali Open for first crown
Mar 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Quentin Halys (FRA) hits a forehand against Alexander Zverev (GER) (not pictured) on day eight of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Frenchman Quentin Halys delivered 17 aces and earned his first career title with a solid 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over defending champion Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the Generali Open final at Kitzbuhel, Austria on Saturday.
Halys, 29, turned pro in 2012 and had played in just other ATP final — losing to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the 2024 Swiss Open. Halys won 86.8% of his first-serve points (33 of 38) and didn’t face a single break point.
Top-seeded Bublik led 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker but couldn’t convert a set point. Halys then scored two more points to finish the match.
Bublik had six aces and saved 5 of 6 break points. He hadn’t lost a set this week prior to the title match and was looking for his 10th career ATP crown.
Estoril Open
Fourth-seeded Alexander Blockx of Belgium rallied for a 5-7, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5) victory over second-seeded Luciano Darderi of Italy in the semifinals at Portugal to reach the first ATP final of his career.
Blockx, 21, recorded eight aces and saved 8 of 14 break points while sliding past Darderi. In the third-set tiebreaker, Darderi scored the first four points before Blockx turned things around and won seven of eight to close the match.
Blockx will face Luca Van Assche, who posted a 6-4, 7-5 victory over fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston. Van Assche won the final two games to close out the match in straight sets.
The final will also be the first for the 22-year-old Van Assche. The win over Gaston came in his first ATP semifinal.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sean McVay says Aaron Donald still weighing Rams comeback
Former Pittsburgh Panther and retired NFL defensive tackle Aaron Donald waves to the crowd while walking out onto the field during his jersey number retirement ceremony during halftime of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025. Aaron Donald is undergoing an NFL-level training program as he considers ending his retirement, but Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said no decision has been made.
McVay provided an update Saturday as Rams players reported for training camp, explaining that Donald is following a demanding and carefully structured routine similar to the one he used during his playing career.
The process is intended to show the 35-year-old whether his body can withstand the physical demands of another season after two years away from the game.
McVay said he genuinely does not know which direction Donald will choose. The Rams, however, are prepared to explore a reunion if the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year decides he is ready.
“If he feels good, then you guys know he’s going to be ready to rock,” McVay said.
Donald retired in March 2024 after spending all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Rams. He recorded 111 sacks, earned eight first-team All-Pro selections and was named to the Pro Bowl in every season of his career.
The possibility of a comeback emerged after Los Angeles began considering a trade for star pass rusher Myles Garrett. McVay contacted Donald for his opinion of Garrett, and the conversation eventually shifted toward whether Donald might be interested in playing alongside him.
The Rams acquired Garrett in June, adding the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to a defense that now could become even more imposing if Donald returns.
“But this is his decision,” McVay said. “He’s earned the right to be able to do it on his terms. And that’s why I think you guys are seeing us take this approach. But I did not ever really think this would be something, but I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m not excited about the possibility of it.”
Donald last played during the 2023 season, finishing with eight sacks and 53 tackles while earning another first-team All-Pro selection.
McVay initially thought Donald was done for good, as the defensive tackle said he felt fulfilled after retirement. However, his stance has shifted enough for Donald to consider testing himself physically again, though McVay made clear that walking away once more would be fully respected.
“He doesn’t owe us anything,” McVay said.
–Field Level Media
Ryan Preece returning to RFK Racing in 2027
ATP roundup: Quentin Halys blasts 17 aces, wins Generali Open for first crown
