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  • Philadelphia Sports: A City Defined by Competition, History, and Passion – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Philadelphia occupies a unique place in American sports culture. Few cities combine historical significance, consistent professional representation across major leagues, and a fan base as deeply invested in outcomes on the field.

    From football Sundays at Lincoln Financial Field to playoff runs at the Wells Fargo Center and Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia sports are defined by intensity, accountability, and tradition.

    This article explores how Philadelphia’s professional teams, collegiate influence, and fan culture have shaped the city into one of the most recognizable sports markets in the United States.

    A Multi-Sport City With Deep Roots

    Philadelphia is one of a small group of U.S. cities with long-standing franchises in all four major professional sports leagues. The city’s sports history stretches back more than a century, reflecting broader changes in American athletics, media, and urban identity.

    Credit: Alejandro Barba-Unsplash

    Professional teams in Philadelphia are not peripheral entertainment options; they are central civic institutions. Seasonal performance influences daily conversation, local media coverage, and even regional identity across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

    The city’s teams are often judged not only on win–loss records but on effort, physicality, and accountability, standards set as much by fans as by league expectations.

    Football as a Cultural Anchor

    No sport carries more cultural weight in Philadelphia than football. The Philadelphia Eagles represent more than a franchise; they function as a shared civic reference point.

    The Eagles’ modern era has been defined by physical defensive play, strong offensive line investment, and adaptable coaching philosophies. Their Super Bowl victory in the 2017 season marked a turning point not just competitively, but culturally, reinforcing the city’s long-held belief that perseverance and roster depth matter as much as star power.

    Philadelphia’s football culture emphasizes:

    • Line-of-scrimmage dominance
    • Defensive resilience
    • Quarterback development under pressure
    • Accountability after losses

    These values mirror the city’s broader sports identity and explain why football remains the most discussed and analyzed sport year-round.

    Baseball and the Rhythm of the City

    Baseball has been embedded in Philadelphia life since the 19th century, and the Philadelphia Phillies remain one of the league’s most historically rooted franchises. Unlike football’s weekly intensity, baseball provides a daily rhythm, with a 162-game season that allows fans to closely follow player development, bullpen usage, and lineup construction over time. That steady cadence mirrors how many fans engage with the sport beyond the ballpark, whether through daily box scores, long-form analysis, or even parallel fan experiences such as collecting memorabilia and engaging with digital promotions like the mystery box deals offered by Hypedrop.com, which tap into the same sense of anticipation and reveal that defines each game day.

    Recent Phillies teams have combined high-end talent with aggressive roster building, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to sustained competitiveness rather than short-term rebuilding cycles. Citizens Bank Park has become a venue known for postseason energy, with playoff games drawing national attention for crowd involvement and momentum swings driven by home-field advantage. Together, the team’s history, the season’s daily rhythm, and the surrounding fan culture highlight why baseball continues to hold a distinctive and enduring place in Philadelphia sports life.

    Basketball and Process-Driven Expectations

    The Philadelphia 76ers occupy a distinct place in modern NBA discourse due to their long-term roster development strategy and data-driven approach to team building.

    Philadelphia basketball fans are among the league’s most analytically literate. Discussions often focus on:

    • Usage rates and efficiency metrics
    • Defensive matchups and spacing
    • Playoff rotations versus regular-season performance

    While championship expectations remain high, the city’s relationship with basketball reflects a balance between patience for development and demand for results, particularly in postseason execution.

    Hockey’s Physical Identity

    The Philadelphia Flyers have long represented a physical, defense-oriented brand of hockey. Historically associated with toughness and forechecking pressure, the Flyers’ identity aligns closely with Philadelphia’s broader sports ethos.

    Even during rebuilding periods, the franchise maintains strong local relevance. Hockey in Philadelphia is less about glamour and more about work rate, goaltending consistency, and structured systems, qualities that resonate with long-time fans.

    College Sports and Regional Influence

    Beyond professional leagues, Philadelphia’s sports identity is reinforced by a strong collegiate presence. Programs such as Villanova Wildcats have achieved national success, particularly in men’s basketball, contributing to the region’s reputation for disciplined, system-oriented play.

    College sports serve as both a developmental pipeline and a cultural extension of the city’s competitive mindset. Rivalries, tournament runs, and player progression are followed closely, especially when local athletes transition to professional levels.

    Facilities and Urban Integration

    Philadelphia’s stadium complex is one of the most concentrated in the country. Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center, and Citizens Bank Park are located within proximity, allowing the city to host multiple major sporting events efficiently.

    This infrastructure supports:

    • High event attendance
    • National broadcasts and playoff hosting
    • Economic activity tied to sports tourism

    Unlike cities where venues are scattered, Philadelphia’s layout reinforces sports as a shared, centralized experience.

    Media, Analysis, and Fan Accountability

    Philadelphia sports media is known for its directness. Coverage emphasizes performance analysis, coaching decisions, and roster accountability rather than promotional narratives.

    Local radio, digital outlets, and postgame press conferences reflect a culture where criticism is not only accepted but expected. Athletes and coaches who succeed in Philadelphia often cite this environment as demanding but clarifying, standards are clear, and expectations are transparent.

    This media ecosystem contributes to informed fandom and sustained engagement across seasons.

    National Relevance and Competitive Cycles

    Philadelphia teams regularly influence national conversations across leagues. Whether through playoff appearances, draft strategies, or player development models, the city’s franchises are often referenced in broader discussions about competitive balance and organizational structure.

    Success in Philadelphia is rarely accidental. Teams that perform well tend to do so through:

    • Strong front-office planning
    • Investment in development and analytics
    • Alignment between ownership, coaching, and roster construction

    These patterns reinforce Philadelphia’s reputation as a serious sports market rather than a transient contender.

    Conclusion: A City Built on Performance

    Philadelphia sports are defined by results, resilience, and expectations that rarely waver. Fans value effort as much as outcomes, but championships remain the benchmark. Across football, baseball, basketball, and hockey, the city demands accountability and rewards authenticity.

    What distinguishes Philadelphia is not just the presence of multiple franchises, but the consistency of its sports culture. Competition is not treated as a spectacle alone; it is treated as a responsibility.

    As leagues evolve and analytics reshape strategy, Philadelphia’s core sports identity remains intact: play hard, prepare thoroughly, and earn respect on the field.

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  • Robinson, Edmonds lead TCU over Arizona State 90-78

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    FORT WORTH, Texas — Micah Robinson scored 20 points, Xavier Edmonds added 17 and TCU rolled to a 90-78 victory over Arizona State on Tuesday night.

    TCU took the lead for good with about six minutes to play before halftime led by as many as 18 points in the second half.

    Edmonds and Robinson each made three of TCU’s eight 3-pointers. Brock Harding shot just 1 of 10 from the floor but made 8 of 11 free throws and finished with 10 points and distributed 11 assists for the Horned Frogs. Tanner Toolson added 12 points and Liutauras Lelevicius scored 10.

    TCU (18-10, 8-7 Big 12) has won five of its last six and four straight against Arizona State (14-14, 5-10).

    Maurice Odum scored 21 points and had 10 assists to lead the Sun Devils. Anthony Johnson added 18 points and Massamba Diop 13.

    Edmonds scored 14 points and Lelevicius added nine to help TCU take a 33-30 lead to halftime. With 13:30 left, TCU started a 9-0 surge for a 58-46 lead and the Horned Frogs held a double-digit advantage for most of the remainder.

    Arizona State hosts Utah on Saturday.

    TCU plays at Kansas State on Saturday.

    ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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  • Pac-12 MBB power rankings: Only Gonzaga and Utah State are safe for the NCAAs as San Diego State stumbles

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    Welcome to the latest installment of the Hotline’s Pac-12 men’s basketball power rankings, our weekly assessment of the reconstituted conference using results, analytics and a dash of common sense. The power rankings will be published each Monday through the end of the regular season. Here is last week’s edition, which examined how three  Big Ten teams are undermining Gonzaga’s resume.

    A brutal week for San Diego State was, consequently, the worst week of the season for the future Pac-12.

    The Aztecs dropped two games they should have won and slid onto the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, leaving the conference that doesn’t exist (yet) staring at just two bids for March Madness.

    Gonzaga is a lock. The only unknown for the Zags is whether they can claim a No. 2 seed.

    And Utah State, despite a loss at Nevada, appears safe for the time being.

    San Diego State was the only other member of the rebuilt nine-team Pac-12 with a reasonable chance to qualify for the at-large field.

    But after a face plant at home against Grand Canyon and a road loss to Colorado State — both count as Quadrant II defeats — the Aztecs could miss the NCAAs for the first time since 2019.

    Their NET ranking (44) is in the danger zone, largely because they have just one Quadrant I victory.

    Perhaps more concerning is their position (54) in wins-above-bubble ranking, which measures how each team has performed against its schedule compared to how an average bubble team would fare. (The WAB was added to the selection process last season.)

    All of which leaves the Pac-12 reliant upon upsets in the conference tournaments in order to send a third future member into the upcoming NCAAs:

    — It needs Washington State or Oregon State to win the West Coast Conference and claim the league’s automatic bid. That seems unlikely: They are 0-6 against the WCC’s powers, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s, and only one of the six games was close.

    — Or it needs San Diego State, Fresno State, Colorado State or Boise State to win the Mountain West. Unreasonable? Hardly. The conference is wide open. But that means one of the schools not headed to the Pac-12 could be the last one standing.

    — Or it needs Texas State to win the Sun Belt title, an outcome that appears far more plausible today than it did a few weeks ago. The Bobcats have won seven of their past eight and defeated several of the frontrunners during their late-season run.

    That would be quite the twist: A school invited to join the Pac-12 entirely because of its football value providing a boost on the basketball side.

    To the power rankings …

    (Results and NET rankings through Sunday)

    1. Gonzaga (27-2)

    Results: won at San Francisco 80-59, beat Pacific 71-62
    NET ranking: No. 5
    Comment: The Zags could not have asked for better results elsewhere in their pursuit of the highest possible seed in the NCAA Tournament. Losses by UConn, Iowa State, Nebraska, Houston, Kansas (and others) all allowed Gonzaga to improve its position relative to the top group. (Previous: 2)

    2. Utah State (23-4)

    Results: beat Boise State 75-56, lost at Nevada 80-77
    NET ranking: No. 24
    Comment: Another loss in conference play could nudge the Aggies uncomfortably close to the bubble. In our view, their impressive NET ranking is a false indicator. Drill down on the metrics that matter, and their resume has some flaws. (Previous: 1)

    3. Boise State (16-11)

    Results: lost at Utah State 75-56, beat San Jose State 84-69
    NET ranking: No. 62
    Comment: The Broncos don’t have enough quality wins to counteract all their bad losses. The net impact on their NET ranking is decidedly negative. (Previous: 4)

    4. San Diego State (18-8)

    Results: lost to Grand Canyon 73-63 and at Colorado State 83-74
    NET ranking: No. 44
    Comment: The Aztecs are stout as ever defensively under coach Brian Dutcher but rank 108th nationally in offensive efficiency, according to the Pomeroy ratings, which measure points-per-possession adjusted for opponents. (Previous: 3)

    5. Colorado State (17-10)

    Results: won at UNLV 91-86, beat San Diego State 83-74
    NET ranking: No. 88
    Comment: The Rams have won five in a row and will finish February with Fresno State (home) and San Jose State (road), so they very well could carry a seven-game winning streak into March. And as we noted, the Mountain West tournament is wide open. (Previous: 8)

    6. Oregon State (15-14)

    Results: beat Pepperdine 83-73
    NET ranking: No. 183
    Comment: The Beavers will enter the West Coast Conference tournament as one of the most difficult teams to project. Unless they face Gonzaga or Saint Mary’s, any outcome is possible. They have looked surprisingly stout at times and predictably poor at others. (Previous: 5)

    7. Washington State (12-17)

    Results: beat Pacific 87-70, lost to Saint Mary’s 83-67
    NET ranking: No. 130
    Comment: Hard to believe but a top-four seed in the WCC tournament is a distinct possibility for the Cougars, who close the regular season at Pepperdine and LMU. (Previous: 6)

    8. Texas State (18-12)

    Results: won at South Alabama 90-82, lost at Louisiana 67-54
    NET ranking: No. 240
    Comment: We’ll know far more about the Bobcats at the end of the week. They host first-place Appalachian State on Thursday in the regular-season finale. (Previous: 9)

    9. Fresno State (12-15)

    Results: lost at Wyoming 92-82 and to New Mexico 80-78
    NET ranking: No. 133
    Comment: The Bulldogs are last here because of their season-long resume. But if the new Pac-12 existed today, we might pick them to win a game in the conference tournament. (Previous: 7)

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    Jon Wilner

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  • Madison Booker scores 23 points and No. 4 Texas routs Mississippi State 92-42

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    AUSTIN, Texas — Madison Booker scored 23 points, Jordan Lee added 17 and No. 4 Texas routed Mississippi State 92-42 Sunday.

    Texas (26-3, 11-3 Southeastern Conference) has won 41 straight home games, the longest such streak in the country.

    Both Booker and Lee were accurate from the field. Booker hit 8 of 12, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Lee shot 6 of 10, including a season-best five 3-pointers in eight tries.

    The Longhorns hit 11 of 22 3-pointers, setting a season high for the second straight game. They made 10 of 28 during a 93-62 win at Arkansas on Thursday.

    Aaliyah Crump scored 12 points for Texas and Ashton Judd added 11. Breya Cunningham grabbed 12 rebounds and Rori Harmon had 11 assists.

    Favour Nwaedozi scored nine points to lead Mississippi State (18-10, 5-9). The Bulldogs shot 38% and committed a season-high 28 turnovers.

    Mississippi State came in averaging 15 turnovers a game. The Bulldogs committed 17 by halftime. Texas turning them into 24 points while taking a 50-18 lead.

    Mississippi State: at Texas A&M on Thursday.

    Texas: hosts No. 24 Georgia on Thursday.

    ___

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  • CIAA tournament brings ‘homecoming’ vibe back to Baltimore – WTOP News

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    The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the nation’s first and oldest historically Black athletic conference, will host its men’s and women’s tournaments from Feb. 24-28 at the CFG Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.

    Fayetteville State University’s Isaiah Ray (14), Koraan Clemonts (1) and teammates celebrate after defeating Virginia Union University in the CIAA men’s championship NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Baltimore. Fayetteville State University won 65-62. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)(AP/Julio Cortez)

    March Madness is less than a month away, but before you start your brackets, another college basketball tournament is in the spotlight in Baltimore, Maryland.

    The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the nation’s first and oldest historically Black athletic conference, will host its men’s and women’s tournaments from Feb. 24-28 at the CFG Arena.

    Regarded as the March Madness for historically Black colleges, the CIAA Tournament makes its return after the conference signed a new deal to stay in the Charm City though 2029.

    “There’s just organic alignment that Baltimore has with the CIAA that allows us to execute and deliver a pretty amazing and big event,” CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams told WTOP.

    The tournament was held in Charlotte, North Carolina, for over a decade before moving to Baltimore in 2021. Last year’s event generated $27.4 million for the city in its five-day run.

    All 12 of the conference’s men’s and women’s basketball teams play in the tournament during the weeklong festivities, with 22 games played. McWilliams said historically, the tournament provides a chance for all its member schools to win, even teams having a tough season.

    However, according to McWilliams, the CIAA Tournament lives by three mantras: “food, parties and basketball.”

    “You go and have a good time. You go eat, but you all come watch the games,” she said.

    The event celebrates the athletes, but parties and other attractions bring a festive atmosphere that brings alumni and students together. McWilliams said she knows fans come up from Virginia to take part in the experience the tournament brings.

    “You’re not just coming to see great basketball, you’re really coming to a homecoming,” she said.

    McWilliams said her goal is to have 11,000 people in the arena during the final days of the tournament and a packed venue for Saturday’s finals. To help attract fans, there will be a free fan fest along with performances and step shows.

    The conference also provided non-sporting attractions during the week as part of the festivities, giving everyone an option to participate in. Its student athletes will tour the Under Armour headquarters and participate in a leadership summit. There will also be a community day, where 500 pairs of shoes will be donated to area middle schools.

    The conference is also hosting a high school education day for students to learn more about preparing for college and a career expo for those looking to meet with future employers.

    “I’m so grateful that we just don’t stick to the norm. We are really intentional about everyone having a place in the CIAA,” she said. “No matter if you’re a newborn or a seasoned adult, you can find something to do.”

    Bowie State University is the D.C. region’s closest CIAA member school. However, McWilliams welcomes alumni of all D.C.-area colleges to the tournament and celebrate the culture the tournament brings.

    “It’s just special for everyone who comes, even if you didn’t go to a CIAA school,” she said. “It just doesn’t matter to us. We want you to enjoy our family.”

    Tickets are available online on the CIAA Tournament’s website. Those planning to attend are being asked to take the Charm City Circulator bus for free due to multiple lane closures near the arena.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jose Umana

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  • No. 12 Florida rolls past Ole Miss 94-75, tightening SEC grip

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    OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Alex Condon scored 24 points and No. 12 Florida tightened its grip atop the Southeastern Conference standings with a 94-75 win over Mississippi on Saturday.

    Florida (21-6, 12-2 SEC) entered as the conference leader with a two-game cushion in the loss column over Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee with four games remaining.

    The win was the seventh consecutive for the Gators and extended its SEC road game winning streak to six. Florida improved to 16-2 since mid-December and remained unbeaten in February.

    Thomas Haugh added 20 points and nine rebounds as Florida had five players in double figures. Reserves Urban Klavzar scored 15 points while Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland had 11 points apiece.

    The Gators trailed in the opening five minutes before building a first half leads of 14 points on two occasions and led by as many as 22 points on Hough’s dunk with 3:14 remaining.

    Malik Dia scored 24 points for Ole Miss (11-16, 3-11), the ninth consecutive loss for the Rebels. Ilias Kamardine had 14 points and Patton Pinkins added 10, but Ole Miss never got within single digits in the final 18 minutes.

    Florida led 43-32 at halftime on the strength of a 14-2 run midway through the first half. Condon and Hough combined for 10 points in the surge that built what proved to be an insurmountable 24-14 lead with 9:15 left in the first half.

    The Gators dominated the rebound battle with a 39-24 edge and finished 11 of 22 from three-point range. Ole Miss forced 19 turnovers, but shot only 25 of 61, 41 percent, including 2 of 16 from the 3-point line.

    Up next

    Florida: The Gators complete a two-game road trip to Texas on Wednesday.

    Ole Miss: The Rebels complete a two-game home stand by hosting LSU on Wednesday.

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    Associated Press

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  • Gophers men’s basketball team injury woes worsen with Jaylen Crocker-Johnson out indefinitely

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    Minnesota junior forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, the team’s second-leading scorer who has missed the last two games with a foot injury, will be sidelined indefinitely, coach Niko Medved said on Friday.

    Crocker-Johnson, who also has the most rebounds for the depleted Gophers, is unlikely to recover in time to play again this season with the team’s preference to be cautious with the injury, Medved told reporters.

    “Right now, we’re just planning that he is not going to be back,” Medved said. “We’ll see what happens, but that’s the way we’re approaching it.”

    The Gophers (12-14, 5-10 Big Ten), who host Rutgers on Saturday, are essentially down to a six-player rotation. They lost starters Robert Vaihola and Chansey Willis to season-ending injuries in November. Backups B.J. Omot and Chance Stephens have been unavailable all season.

    “I’ve never seen anything like this before, to the point where the guys just kind of laugh, almost: ‘This can’t really be real,’” Medved said. “But it’s really amazing the way these guys have handled it.”

    Crocker-Johnson had been playing with the injury before the pain worsened after Minnesota’s upset of then-No. 10 Michigan State on Feb. 4, Medved said. After playing a key role for Medved at Colorado State last season, Crocker-Johnson transferred to Minnesota and has averaged 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

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  • Cooper leads UC Davis against UC Riverside after 26-point outing

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    UC Davis Aggies (16-11, 9-7 Big West) at UC Riverside Highlanders (9-19, 4-12 Big West)

    Riverside, California; Saturday, 5 p.m. EST

    BOTTOM LINE: UC Davis plays UC Riverside after Nils Cooper scored 26 points in UC Davis’ 93-92 loss to the CSU Fullerton Titans.

    The Highlanders are 6-6 on their home court. UC Riverside is 5-13 against opponents over .500.

    The Aggies are 9-7 in conference play. UC Davis has a 7-4 record in games decided by at least 10 points.

    UC Riverside scores 72.6 points per game, 2.4 fewer points than the 75.0 UC Davis allows. UC Davis averages 8.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game UC Riverside gives up.

    The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. UC Davis won the last meeting 74-66 on Jan. 24. Cooper scored 19 points to help lead the Aggies to the win.

    TOP PERFORMERS: Andrew Henderson is scoring 17.8 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Highlanders. Marqui Worthy is averaging 19.0 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.

    Connor Sevilla is shooting 43.9% and averaging 13.6 points for the Aggies. Marcus Wilson is averaging 13.2 points over the last 10 games.

    LAST 10 GAMES: Highlanders: 3-7, averaging 74.4 points, 33.1 rebounds, 13.6 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.0 points per game.

    Aggies: 6-4, averaging 74.7 points, 27.9 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 73.2 points.

    ___

    The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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  • College basketball: UMass Lowell teams sweep away New Hampshire

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    Powered by Angel Montas Jr., the UMass Lowell men’s basketball team continued to surge Thursday night.

    Montas tallied 25 points and ripped down 10 rebounds to fuel the River Hawks to a 78-56 America East win over New Hampshire at the Kennedy Family Athletic Center in Lowell.

    Xavier Spencer heated up in the second half and finished with 17 points and six rebounds for UML (12-15, 7-5), which has won three straight and four out of five. The River Hawks are now 8-3 on their home floor.

    Darrel Yepdo, a Dracut native, collected 12 points and dished out four assists, while Austin Green was powerful inside with seven points and 12 rebounds.

    UNH (8-17) won the first meeting between the schools last month, 66-61. UML dominated the rematch, bolting out to a 42-28 halftime lead. Montas scored 16 of his points in the opening half. For the game, the River Hawks (31-for-61) shot better than 50 percent from the floor.

    UML has averaged 85 points during its three-game winning streak.

    Women’s basketball

    Paris Gilmore sparked UMass Lowell to a tough 57-54 America East victory over host New Hampshire at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, N.H.

    The River Hawks (8-18, 2-11 AE) held on for the clutch road win thanks to free throws down the stretch from Gilmore and Jaini Edmonds.

    Two free throws by Gilmore put UML up 55-52 with 1:15 remaining. The Wildcats pulled to within one point before Gilmore drained two free throws with two seconds left.

    Gilmore was 4-for-8 from 3-point range. Edmonds contributed 11 points, four rebounds and five assists. Sabrina Larrson was 3-for-7 on 3-pointers and finished with nine points. UNH’s Eva DeChent led all scorers with 29 points.

    It was the third road win of the season for UML, which fell 62-58 in overtime to the Wildcats last month.

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    Staff Report

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  • USC men host No. 10 Illinois as NCAA Tournament bid looms

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    The USC men’s basketball team is coming off a seven-day break to face No. 10 Illinois on Wednesday, and it will be doing so with six important regular-season games left.

    The Illini are second in the Big Ten Conference and a virtual lock for the NCAA tournament, while bracket projections have USC standing on uncertain ground.

    ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, as of Tuesday, has the Trojans (18-7 overall, 7-7 Big Ten) as an “on the bubble” team that could snag one of 10 projected Big Ten bids. Projections released by NCAA.com on Tuesday have USC listed as a No. 10 seed.

    USC’s next two games against Illinois and Oregon (9-16, 2-12) – the latter of which is not expected to make the tournament – could carry significant weight.

    The Trojans have completed their final cross-country road trip of the season, pulling out a 77-75 win over Penn State before a late comeback attempt faltered in an 89-82 loss to Ohio State. The weeklong break that followed was welcomed.

    “It’s been a long year so far,” assistant coach Earl Boykins told reporters after playing Ohio State. “I think this is a much-needed break for the guys. The three long trips we’ve taken this year are a lot. It’s going to be good for them to get the break and for us to get in the gym and get back to the basics.”

    The Trojans have recently been without Chad Baker-Mazara. The 6-foot-7 senior missed the last two games due to a knee strain and was listed as day-to-day. An extra week of recovery could result in a quick return for Baker-Mazara, who has complemented freshman Alijah Arenas well at wing.

    Arenas has been a spark since his return from injury and, after a rocky first collegiate game, he’s bounced back to score at least 20 points in the last three games.

    Illinois (21-5, 12-3) had a significant player return in Sunday’s win over Indiana. Senior guard Kylan Boswell, who is averaging 14 points on 47.1% shooting this season, came back after missing nearly a month’s worth of games due to a broken right hand.

    “This last month I’ve been doing everything I can to get my hand healthy, be in the right mental state for when I get back on the court,” Boswell told reporters after the Indiana game.

    “Still trying to get adjusted, especially with my dominant hand. Today I missed a couple of easy layups. Just try to get adjusted on it, but overall, it’s fine. If it’s not going offensively, I’ll just do my best to help with other things to help the team.”

    Illinois has built a high-scoring offense – even without Boswell. The Illini are the second-highest scoring team in the conference at 84.2 points per game while outscoring opponents by 16 points a game. Conversely, USC’s last 10 games have been decided by 10 points or less.

    Winning on the boards will be critical for the Trojans. Illinois pulls down 41.2 rebounds a game, but USC isn’t far behind at 37.3 a game.

    Jacob Cofie, a 6-foot-10 forward, is the Trojans’ leading rebounder at 7.3 per game and 6-foot-9 forward David Mirkovic leads Illinois with 8.0 per game.

    ILLINOIS (21-5 overall, 12-3 Big Ten) at USC (18-7, 7-7)

    When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

    Where: Galen Center

    TV/Radio: Big Ten Network/ESPN LA 710

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    Haley Sawyer

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  • No. 12 Florida handles South Carolina, 76-62

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Alex Condon had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Rueben Chinyelu also notched a double-double and No. 12 Florida handled South Carolina for the second time in three weeks, 76-62 on Tuesday night.

    Chinyelu finished with 15 points and 17 boards for his 16th double-double of the season. The Gators won their sixth consecutive game and improved to 11-1 since losing at Missouri to open Southeastern Conference play.

    This one was much closer than the previous meeting, a 47-point blowout in Columbia, South Carolina, in late January. 

    Still, the Gamecocks (11-14, 2-11 SEC) trailed by 10 points early and never mounted much of a threat in Gainesville, where Florida improved to 12-1 this season.

    It was lopsided enough that 7-foot-9 walk-on center Olivier Rioux played the final minute after the home crowd chanted for him.

    The best rebounding team in the country dominated inside, with Florida (20-6, 11-2) mounting a 47-30 rebounding advantage and outscoring South Carolina 44-28 in the paint.

    Thomas Haugh added 10 points for Florida, which is trying to win the SEC’s regular season for the first time since 2014 and stay in the Sunshine State to open the NCAA Tournament in Tampa.

    South Carolina leading scorer Meechie Johnson, who had 10 points in the first meeting, led the Gamecocks with 22 this time around.

    Florida held a moment of silence before the game for Bill Donovan, the father of former Gators coach Billy Donovan who died Saturday following a heart attack. Florida’s court is named after Billy Donovan.

    Up next: 

    South Carolina hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.

    Florida plays at Ole Miss on Saturday.

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  • Nate Heise hits go-ahead 3-pointer in No. 6 Iowa State’s 70-67 win over No. 2 Houston

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    AMES, Iowa — Nate Heise hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Tamin Lipsey came up with an offensive rebound in the final seconds to cap No. 6 Iowa State’s rally in a 70-67 victory over Big 12 leader and second-ranked Houston on Monday night.

    Heise was 3 for 3 from 3-point range hours after sister Taylor Heise scored to help the U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey team beat Sweden 5-0 to reach the gold-medal game in Milan.

    The Cyclones (23-3, 10-3) closed with a 17-4 run to take down a second top-10 team in three days. Iowa State topped No. 8 Kansas 74-56 on Saturday.

    The Cougars (23-3, 11-2) had their six-game winning streak snapped and their conference lead was cut to a half-game over No. 4 Arizona heading into their matchup Saturday in Houston. Iowa State is third, a game behind Houston.

    Heise hit the 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:17 to play to give the Cyclones a 69-67 lead. Houston had two chances to tie or take the lead, but was called for a shot-clock violation with 43 seconds to play, then Chris Cenac Jr., missed a shot with four seconds left.

    Blake Buchanan was fouled after rebounding Cenac’s miss, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. Lipsey, though, got the offensive rebound, tapping the ball back to Joshua Jefferson, who was fouled with asecond left. Jefferson made his first free throw for the final margin.

    Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points. Heise had 11 and Buchanan had 10.

    Kingston Flemings led Houston with 22 points. Emanuel Sharp had 16 points, all in the first half. Milos Uzan had 11 points.

    Houston: Hosts No. 4 Arizona on Saturday.

    Iowa State: At No. 23 BYU on Saturday.

    ___

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  • Johnson scores 24 to guide Bradley to 70-60 victory over Southern Illinois

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    CARBONDALE, Ill. — Jaquan Johnson scored 24 points to lead Bradley to a 70-60 victory over Southern Illinois on Sunday.

    Johnson made 9 of 18 shots with two 3-pointers for the Braves (18-9, 11-5 Missouri Valley Conference), adding seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Alex Huibregtse hit four 3-pointers and scored 14.

    Quel’Ron House finished with 26 points to pace the Salukis (12-15, 6-10). Davion Sykes added 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.

    Johnson had seven points in the first half as the two teams played to a 28-all tie. Johnson had 17 points after halftime and Huibregtse added 11 to rally the Braves to the victory.

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  • Enis’ 27 lead South Florida over Florida Atlantic 83-81 in OT

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    BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Wes Enis led South Florida with 27 points and CJ Brown hit the winning free throws with eight seconds remaining in the overtime as the Bulls knocked off Florida Atlantic 83-81 on Sunday, the Owls’ sixth consecutive loss.

    FAU’s Devin Williams hit a 3-pointer that made it 81-all with 33 seconds left, but Brown’s free throws capped the scoring. Kanaan Carlyle missed a potential winning 3-point shot from beyond NBA range.

    Enis shot 10 of 17 from the field, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the free-throw line for the Bulls (18-8, 10-3 American Athletic Conference). Brown finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals while shooting 5 of 13 from the field and 6 for 6 from the foul line. Joseph Pinion had 16 points and went 6 of 15 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range).

    Devin Vanterpool finished with 26 points for the Owls (14-12, 6-7). Florida Atlantic also got 15 points, seven rebounds, two steals and five blocks from Williams. Carlyle also scored 15 points.

    Vanterpool made a layup with nine seconds left in regulation that made it 72-all and forced OT.

    Josh Omojafo scored the final seven points for South Florida to finish off the two-point victory.

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  • No. 3 South Carolina beats No. 6 LSU 79-72, extending winning streak against the Tigers to 18 games

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    BATON ROUGE, La. — Tessa Johnson scored 21 points as No. 3 South Carolina beat No. 6 LSU 79-72 on Saturday night and extended its winning streak over the Tigers to 18 games.

    Trailing 73-72, LSU had a chance to take a one-point lead with 45.5 seconds left, but Flau’jae Johnson missed two free throws.

    South Carolina (25-2, 11-1 SEC) closed out the Tigers (22-4, 8-4) by scoring six straight points, including Madina Okot’s layup with 25.5 seconds left and her two free throws with 16.1 seconds remaining.

    Raven Johnson added 19 for the Gamecocks, Okot had a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds, and Joyce Edwards scored 10 points.

    Johnson led LSU with 21 points, and Mikaylah Williams added 11.

    The Tigers had their chances, but wasted too many opportunities. They missed 10 layups and nine free throws.

    Despite leading for only 4:09 in the first half, South Carolina flipped LSU’s 21-16 first-quarter lead into a 41-40 halftime advantage.

    The Tigers led by as many as five points several times in the second quarter, but never could pull away. Despite Johnson scoring eight points, the Gamecocks countered with 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range in the period.

    Tessa Johnson and Raven Johnson combined for 19 of South Carolina’s 25 points in the second period. Tessa Johnson, the SEC’s leading 3-point shooter, scored 11 points and was 3 for 4 from long distance.

    LSU opened the third quarter missing eight of its first 11 shots, including two layups. South Carolina capitalized with a 9-2 run for a 50-42 lead with 5:20 left in the period.

    Tigers’ reserve forward Bella Hines and Jada Richard sparked rallies that twice cut the Gamecocks’ margin to three points. But South Carolina scored the final four points in the period for a 60-55 lead entering the final quarter.

    LSU scored on layups on four straight possessions, two by Flau’Jae Johnson, forcing the Gamecocks to call a timeout with 3:44 left and clinging to a 69-68 lead. But South Carolina never lost the lead.

    South Carolina: At No. 23 Alabama on Thursday.

    LSU: At No. 16 Ole Miss on Thursday.

    ___

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  • Rick Pitino shuts downs question on Providence fight with St. John’s

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    The St. John’s Red Storm claimed another hard-fought win in the Big East on Saturday, defeating the Providence Friars, 79-69, in front of a hostile crowd after a massive fight on the hardwood.

    Things became heated in the game’s second half, when Providence’s Duncan Powell committed a hard foul on St. John’s Bryce Hopkins during a layup. That led to Hopkins going at Powell, and, naturally, teammates got involved in the scuffle, which took the spotlight on the hardwood.

    Players from the St. John’s bench got involved with Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino, referees, and security, all trying to restore order.

    The officials ultimately ejected numerous players for their involvement in the altercation: Providence’s Jaylin Sellers and Powell, as well as the Red Storm’s Dillon Mitchell, Ruben Prey, Sadiku Ibine Ayo, and Kelvin Odih.

    After a 19-minute delay in the game, the basketball game resumed. By the time the game ended, there were seven players ejected, including another player who was ejected late in the second half, and questions were looming about potential punishments.

    Read more: St. John’s Basketball Fight With Providence Could Bring Suspensions

    At his postgame press conference, Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino spoke about his team coming together and putting together a solid effort despite the huge fight that broke out earlier.

    “You’re not supposed to come off the bench, but you can’t let your players get beat up,” he said, adding, “You can’t fight. Back when I was the Kentucky coach, we fought almost every SEC game, and it was not a big deal. But you can’t fight anymore, so toughness has to come between the lines.”

    “We were really excited to get a W because we came together without a lot of our players, so I’m proud of our guys,” he said, later mentioning that his players “didn’t initiate anything.”

    “We talked toughness, not turning the ball over, creating steals, getting offensive rebounds. That’s what we believe toughness is, and that’s all we talked about the entire time,” he said, mentioning that the players were exhausted but pushed through.

    The head coach became irritated at one point during the press conference, snapping at a reporter who attempted to ask Big East Player of the Year contender Zuby Ejiofor his perspective on the big altercation.

    “We’re not going to address that; let the league address it. If you want to talk basketball, talk basketball. You write what you saw. Don’t ask my players that,” Pitino told the reporter.

    Dylan Darling led the Red Storm with 23 points, while Hopkins had nine points and nine rebounds to help St. John’s win after the wild fight.

    It’s believed that at the very least, Providence’s Duncan Powell will receive a one-game suspension for his rough foul on Hopkins and involvement in the brawl. The fight footage shows Powell trying to strike a Providence player with his forearm and elbow, but the player ducked the attempted hit.

    It’s unclear whether any other players besides Powell will receive punishments for their roles in the altercation. Pitino ended his press conference by joking, “Get me [Big East Commissioner] Val Ackerman on the phone.”

    As it stands, the latest ESPN bracket projections show Pitino’s team as a No. 5 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm have a four-day break before their next game, as they’ll face the Marquette Golden Eagles on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in an away game.

    Read more: Dan Hurley’s UConn Men Drop in AP Top 25 Poll Amid Win Streak

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  • Brihanna Crittendon breaks CHSAA’s all-time basketball scoring record, passing Tracy Hill’s 43-year-old mark of 2,934 points

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    THORNTON — Brihanna Crittendon has rewritten Colorado hoops history.

    The Riverdale Ridge senior broke CHSAA’s all-time scoring mark on Saturday, passing Tracy Hill’s tally of 2,934 points that stood for 43 years. Crittendon scored a fast-break lay-up in the third quarter against Monarch to move beyond Hill, an ex-Ridgway star.

    When Crittendon banked in the decisive shot, Hill — who drove about six hours from the Western Slope to see the consequential game — sat courtside cheering her on. Then the two embraced at midcourt during the Riverdale Ridge timeout that followed, the scoring torch passing from one great to another amid a standing ovation.

    Riverdale Ridge senior Brihanna Crittendon (3) scores on a layup to become the all-time leading scorer in Colorado high school basketball history during a game against Monarch on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at Riverdale Ridge High School in Thornton, Colo. Tracy Hill held the previous record of 2,934 points for 43 years. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)

    “It’s exciting, it’s amazing, and the record is not necessarily something I’ve worked for, but it’s something that has been a result of all the work I’ve put in the last four years,” Crittendon said. “It’s really meaningful to add my name to the top of the list, because I never thought this would be a possibility when I first started my high school career.”

    Crittendon’s scoring feat marked the pinnacle of a prep career that’s lived up to the hype from the very start. In her high school debut on Dec. 6, 2022, the do-everything guard/forward scorched Severance for 32 points on 16 of 18 from the field.

    Deric Yaussi, the Severance coach at the time who is now at Loveland, recalled pulling out all the stops to limit the phenom freshman.

    None of it worked, a common theme for those who have coached against the University of Texas-bound superstar.

    “Coming into the game, I heard a lot about how good she was,” Yaussi recalled. “So I put my best defender on her the entire game. We double-teamed her, we had a third defender shadow her. But she didn’t flinch. She passed out of the double-teams. She looked like a senior out there, poised and controlled.

    “… To drop 32 in her first game, I knew she was going to be very special. And when we played her when she was a sophomore (and she scored 28), I laughed with my players afterwards like, ‘Hey girls, we held her under 30 points! We did it!’

    Crittendon lit up Class 4A in her first two seasons, a run that culminated with the program’s first state championship in 2024. Crittendon set the state scoring record for a freshman with 811 points, then set the state scoring record for a sophomore with 809 points.

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  • Parker scores 22 as Queens knocks off Lipscomb 87-81

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Avantae Parker had 22 points in Queens’ 87-81 win against Lipscomb on Saturday.

    Parker also had four steals and six blocks for the Royals (15-12, 10-4 Atlantic Sun Conference). Yoav Berman scored 16 points while going 5 of 7 from the floor and 5 of 7 from the line, to go with six rebounds and seven assists. Nasir Mann had 11 points.

    Grant Asman finished with 16 points for the Bisons (16-11, 9-5). Charlie Williams added 12 points for Lipscomb. Mateo Esmeraldo had 10 points, six assists and four steals.

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    The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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  • No. 14 Florida beats 25th-ranked Kentucky 92-83

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    GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Xaivian Lee scored 22 points, Urban Klavzar added 19 and No. 14 Florida beat 25th-ranked Kentucky 92-83 Saturday for its 10th victory in its last 11 outings.

    Lee and Klavzar took advantage of Florida’s paint presence and hit a combined nine 3-pointers.

    Thomas Haugh (17), Alex Condon (14) and Rueben Chinyelu (10) also scored in double figures for the Gators, who ended a six-game skid against the Wildcats at home.

    Florida (19-6, 10-2 Southeastern Conference) had been 1-4 against Kentucky (17-8, 8-4) under coach Todd Golden. But the Gators led wire to wire in this one and finished with a 45-37 rebounding advantage. Condon and Chinyelu grabbed 11 boards each, both finishing with a double-double.

    The matchup featured a unique subplot. Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen, who spent the last three years at Florida and helped the Gators win the national title last March, was “welcomed” back with a chorus of boos.

    Aberdeen led the Wildcats with 19 points while getting taunted with chants of “Gator traitor” throughout. Collin Chandler added 18, and Otega Oweh chipped in 13.

    Florida opened up a double-digit lead early but didn’t put Kentucky away until a second-half spurt that included inside buckets from Condon and outside shots from Klavzar, who finished 5-of-11 shooting from behind the arc.

    The Gators had several former players on hand for the sold-out game, including NBA rookies and Walter Clayton and Will Richard. Clayton, the MVP of last year’s Final Four, and Richard were greeted with standing ovations when they walked to their courtside seats and when they were recognized in the first half. Matt Walsh (2002-05) and Matt Bonner (1999-2003) also made the trip to Gainesville.

    Up next

    Kentucky: Hosts Georgia on Tuesday.

    Florida: Hosts South Carolina on Tuesday.

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  • Gibbs-Lawhorn, Williamson lead UNLV to 86-83 OT win over Boise State

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    BOISE, Idaho — Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn scored 36 points and Issac Williamson added three in the overtime as UNLV knocked off Boise State 86-83 on Friday night.

    Gibbs-Lawhorn made a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 77-all.

    Gibbs-Lawhorn shot 13 for 22 (6 for 12 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Rebels (13-12, 8-6 Mountain West Conference). Kimani Hamilton scored 13 points while going 5 of 8 (3 for 4 from 3-point range). Tyrin Jones shot 5 of 10 from the field to finish with 12 points.

    Drew Fielder led the Broncos (15-10, 7-7) in scoring, finishing with 27 points. Pearson Carmichael added 16 points for Boise State. Dylan Andrews finished with 12 points and five assists.

    Gibbs-Lawhorn scored nine points in the first half and UNLV went into the break trailing 40-29. Gibbs-Lawhorn added 25 points in the second half.

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