Sports
No. 3 Florida meets Oklahoma with eye on No. 1 seed
Florida Gators guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) grabs a pass as Auburn Tigers take on Florida Gators at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Florida Gators lead Auburn Tigers 48-38 at halftime. For Oklahoma and No. 3 Florida, much has changed since New Year’s Day when both teams were 13-0.
While the Sooners have lost nine of their last 12, the Gators have won nine of their last 12, including two upsets of No. 1-ranked teams.
Tuesday night, when Oklahoma visits Florida at Gainesville, Fla., the stakes for the teams are vastly different as they consider the postseason implications.
A victory by the Sooners (16-9, 3-9 Southeastern Conference) would enhance their claim to an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the Gators (22-3, 9-3) are trying to avoid a resume blemish which could damage their prospect of gaining a No. 1 seed.
“We want to give ourselves the best chance to advance in the NCAA Tournament,” Florida coach Todd Golden said. “If you’re able to lock down a 1 seed, you give yourself a much better chance to do that. So we’ll continue to talk about it and try to reach that goal.”
Golden was speaking after Florida’s fourth straight win, an 88-67 victory over visiting South Carolina on Saturday, which was highlighted by the return of two injured players.
Micah Handlogten made his season debut after a broken leg in last year’s SEC tournament championship game. He had two points, five assists, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 20 minutes off the bench.
“He was impactful,” Golden said. “He made winning plays. It’s great to have him back out there.”
The return of the 7-foot-1 Handlogten is timely as 6-11 starter Alex Condon is expected to miss the Gators’ next few games with a sprained ankle. Frontcourt reserve Sam Alexis is out with an ankle injury, as well.
Also back after missing two games with a hip injury is Alijah Martin, the Gators’ second-leading scorer (15.1 points per game). Martin produced 11 points in 23 minutes, also off the bench, after starting Florida’s first 22 games.
Denzel Aberdeen, who moved into the starting lineup with the injury to Martin, has risen with his new role, scoring 42 points in the Gators’ last two games while hitting 15 of 24 shots (62.5 percent).
Aberdeen made 5 of 7 from 3-point range on his way to scoring a career-high 22 points Saturday against South Carolina. Thomas Haugh also notched his career-high, scoring 20 against the Gamecocks.
Oklahoma is reeling after blowing a five-point lead in the final 35 seconds of an 82-79 loss at home to LSU, which had lost its previous seven games.
The Sooners surrendered a four-point play, fouling Cam Carter as he drained a 3-pointer. After LSU made a steal, Carter scored on a three-point play with eight seconds left.
“We had a complete meltdown,” Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said.
The Sooners have lost their last four games. The average margin of the first three losses in the skid, each to a ranked team, was 23.3 points.
With their next five games also coming against currently ranked teams, the Sooners will look to their top two scorers, Jalon Moore (17.2 points per game) and Jeremiah Fears (15.2).
“There’s still opportunities and a lot to play for,” Moser said. “We have a path. It’s a hard path but it’s an attainable path.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy's wife shot at home
Nov 7, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy looks on during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s wife is hospitalized in stable condition in Virginia following a shooting in their home on Sunday night, ESPN reported.
A woman identified by the outlet’s sources as Mia Bieniemy, 57, was being treated for “serious injuries” in Loudoun County, where a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said police responded to a call at 7:32 p.m. ET Sunday in Ashburn, Va.
The Chiefs said they are aware of the incident involving the “family” of their 56-year-old assistant coach, who was with the club for training camp Sunday in St. Joseph, Mo. No further details were provided.
Bieniemy rejoined head coach Andy Reid’s staff in January after previous stints with Kansas City as the running backs coach (2013-17) and offensive coordinator (2018-22). He helped the Chiefs win Super Bowls LIV and LVII.
He coached the Chicago Bears’ running backs in 2025 and previously served as the OC for UCLA (2024), the Washington Commanders (2023) and his alma mater Colorado (2011-12).
–Field Level Media
Sports
North Carolina places top Bill Belichick aide on leave
UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi North Carolina placed football general manager Michael Lombardi, one of head coach Bill Belichick’s top aides, on paid administrative leave.
The school announced Monday that the move is effective immediately but declined to provide further details. The Tar Heels open their second season under the legendary coach on Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
“As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and has no reflection on the merits,” UNC said in a statement.
ESPN reported that a former front office employee at the university filed a human resources complaint against Lombardi and there is a pending investigation into the situation.
Lombardi, 67, joined Belichick in Chapel Hill in December 2024. He previously worked with the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach in New England, serving as an assistant to the coaching staff from 2014-16.
Lombardi was the general manager and vice president of the Cleveland Browns in 2013 and previously worked in the front offices of the Denver Broncos, then-Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles.
North Carolina was 4-8 in Belichick’s debut season in 2025.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Browns' Jerry Jeudy: Clip didn't indicate his preferred QB1
Jun 11, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) catches a pass during minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy insists he wasn’t weighing in on Cleveland’s starting quarterback battle during a livestream clip that quickly went viral.
Jeudy flashes four fingers in the TikTok video, taken by many to indicate his support for the player who wears that jersey number, Deshaun Watson.
“Yall cut the clip perfectly for that narrative,” Jeudy posted Sunday on X, referencing the apparent skip in the clip between when the question is posed and when Jeudy holds up his fingers.
Jeudy, 27, who is entering his third season with the Browns, said he will not weigh in as new head coach Todd Monken and his staff evaluate the training camp competition between Watson and Shedeur Sanders.
“I don’t speak on decisions that aren’t mine to make. I support my teammates/Brothers, I do my job, and control what I can control,” Jeudy posted on X. “Let’s stop creating narrative that aren’t there for likes and clicks. I bet this won’t go viral because it’s too positive/real for y’all.”
Jeudy caught 50 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (16 starts) in 2025, when Watson missed the entire season with a torn Achilles. Jeudy made the Pro Bowl in his first season with Cleveland in 2024, setting career highs in catches (90) and receiving yards (1,229).
–Field Level Media
Report: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy's wife shot at home
North Carolina places top Bill Belichick aide on leave
