NCAAMBB – Michigan looks to repeat as Big Ten Tournament champions
No. 3 Michigan comes into the Big Ten Tournament this week with its sights set on a repeat and bigger goals on the horizon. The Wolverines would love nothing more than to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA and take aim at the school’s second national championship. Winning the Big Ten Tournament for the second year in a row would be a sweet next step. Michigan, No. 8 Michigan State, No. 9 Illinois and No. 11 Nebraska earned byes through the first three rounds and will begin play in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Wolverines come to Chicago with 15 straight conference wins.
NCAABB – Man who recruited players into NCAA BB point-shaving scheme pleads guilty
One of the so-called fixers in a sprawling betting scheme to cash in on big bets on rigged NCAA basketball games has pleaded guilty. The federal prosecutors’ office in Philadelphia says Jalen Smith appeared Monday in federal court and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery charges. Prosecutors say the Charlotte, North Carolina, man trained local basketball players and used those connections to recruit players in the scheme. Charges against Smith were unsealed in January along with 25 others. Prosecutors say Smith helped fix games in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. They say he placed bets and recruited players with the promise of a big payment in exchange for purposefully underperforming during a game.
NFL – Kenneth Walker III joins Mahomes in KC and Malik Willis starts QB reset in Miami
Super Bowl MVP and former MSU Spartan Kenneth Walker III is the new running back for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, and Miami settled on Malik Willis for a reset at quarterback after releasing Tua Tagovailoa. Indianapolis is keeping its top free agent in receiver Alec Pierce. People with knowledge of the agreements said the deals were among those reached on the opening day of NFL free agency. Two edge rushers are on the move. Jaelan Phillips is joining Carolina after Philadelphia traded for him last season. Dallas added edge rusher Rashan Gary in a trade with Green Bay.
FIFA – World Cup COO says tournament is ‘too big’ to be postponed amid global turmoil
FIFA’s World Cup chief operating officer says the tournament is “too big” to be postponed because of global turmoil caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. Speaking Monday at the International Broadcast Center for the 48-nation tournament, which starts June 11, Heimo Schirgi said FIFA continues to closely monitor the Iran war and its fallout. The tournament, expanded from 32 nations to 48, is scheduled for 11 U.S. venues plus three in Mexico and two in Canada. While the Trump administration has imposed a travel ban on four of the nations that have qualified — Iran, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Senegal — it says it will make an exception for players, team officials and immediate relatives.
FIFA – Australia grants asylum to 5 members of the Iranian women’s soccer team
Australia has granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who were in the country for a tournament when the Iran war began. The women were transported from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia “to a safe location” by Australian federal police officers in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time. There, they met with Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and the processing of their humanitarian visas finalized, the minister told reporters in Brisbane hours later. An official team list numbered 26 players, plus coaching and other staff. Burke didn’t detail what threats the players faced in Iran.
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Chicago Blackawhsks 3, Utah Mammoth 2 -OT
Blackhawks 3, Mammoth 2 – OT – Frank Nazar scores OT power-play goal as Blackhawks beat Utah Mammoth 3-2
Frank Nazar scored a power-play goal with 2:24 left in overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Andrew Mangiapane scored his first goal as a Blackhawk since being acquired in a trade from Edmonton last week, and Andre Burakovsky lifted the puck on his stick lacrosse style and flicked it into the net to tie the game at 2-2 late in the second period. Barrett Hayton and Dylan Guenther scored for Utah, and Vitek Vanecek had 23 saves.
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Florda Panthers, 7:00 p.m.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Detroit Pistons at Brookly Nets, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago Bulls at Golden State Warriors, 10:00 p.m.
Indiana Pacers at Sacramento Kings, 10:00 p.m.
WNBA – WNBA sends CBA proposal to players as March 10 deadline nears, AP source says
The WNBA sent a collective bargaining agreement proposal to the union a day after the league received one from the players, a person familiar with the negotiations has told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. The league’s response comes a few days before a Tuesday deadline set by the league, which said it would need at least a handshake agreement with the union to start the season on time. It’s unknown what changes the league and union made in their latest proposal. Revenue sharing is the key sticking point between the sides.
MLB – Spring Training
Yesterday
Tampa Bay Rays 4, Detroit Tigers 2
Chicago White Sox 12, Colorado Rockies 3
Cubs were off
Today
Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Athletics, 4:05 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers, 4:05 p.m.
WBC – World Baseball Classic
Yesterday
United States 5, Mexico 2
Korea 7, Australia 2
Colombia 4, Panama 3
Dominican Republic 10, Isreal 1
Great Britain 8, Brazil 1
Venezuela 4, Nicaragua 0
Puerto Rico 4, Cuba 1
Today
Czechia vs. Japan, 8:00 a.m.
Isreal vs. Netherlands, 7:00 p.m.
Canada vs. Puerto Rico, 7:00 p.m.
Italy vs. United States, 9:00 p.m.
WBC – Tarik Skubal won’t make another WBC start, citing spring plan and contract stakes
Tarik Skubal will not pitch again in the World Baseball Classic. The Detroit Tigers ace said Monday he didn’t get a lot of sleep the last two nights as he mulled whether to make another start. In the end, the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner decided against it. Skubal started Saturday in a win over Britain. His plan was to make only one start in the WBC and then return to the Tigers. But he reconsidered because he didn’t realize how emotional he would become while pitching for the U.S. Skubal is expected to secure a nine-figure contract after this season.
WBC – Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony homer as US tops Mexico 5-3 in WBC
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run drve in a big third inning to lead the United States to a 5-3 win over Mexico in the World Baseball Classic at Houston’s Daikin Park. Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico, which will face Italy Wednesday night in the last game of Group B play. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes allowed one hit and struck out seven in four innings for the U.S.
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Last Night
Girls Basketball (Regional Semifinals)
Division 1 at Holt
DeWitt 39, Sturgis 38
Holt 65, Kalamazoo Central 57
Division 2 at Otsego
Otsego 70, Niles 39
GR South Christian 78, Plainwell 46
Division 3 at Bangor
Brandywine 68, Gobles 34
Kalamazoo Christian 52, Schoolcraft 47
Division 4 at Marcellus
Concord 53, Mendon 34
Hillsdale Academy 59, Lawrence 30
