NCAAF

• Five-star CB Cormani McClain commits to Colorado
  • Colorado probably won’t be very good in 2023, but Deion Sanders has certainly created some positive momentum for the program on the recruiting trail. McClain, the No. 12 player for 2023, will join Travis Hunter in the Buffaloes’ defensive backfield to form a dynamic tandem. It’ll be interesting to monitor Colorado moving forward to see if Sanders can get the program humming again.

NBA

• Bulls 126, Pistons 108
  • What a brutal afternoon for Isaiah Stewart. Detroit’s center shot just 1-10 from the field, and it’s fair to ask if Stewart, just 21, is the Pistons’ center of the future. That title should probably go to Jalen Duren, who at 19, already has an NBA-ready body, and is shooting 63.4 percent from the field.
• Celtics 121, Warriors 118
  • Things shouldn’t be dire yet, but at 22-23, the Warriors probably recognize that they need to up their level of urgency. One problem for the Warriors is that the team’s young players, particularly James Wiseman and Moses Moody, haven’t been deemed ready to play by Steve Kerr. This has created significant depth issues for Golden State.
• Timberwolves 128, Raptors 126
  • It would be a significant boost for Minnesota if this version of D’Angelo Russell showed up every night. The point guard registered 25 points and six assists in this contest.
  • Currently sitting 11th in the East, Toronto has some problems. In this game, Nick Nurse played each of his starters 36 or more minutes, displaying an obvious level of desperation. It’ll be fascinating to see if the Raptors decide to sell at the trade deadline. OG Anunoby would fetch a haul.
• Suns 117, Nets 112
  • It’s been proven historically that when Kyrie Irving isn’t surrounded by a great supporting cast, his teams tend to be below average. That’s currently the case in Brooklyn, as the Nets have dropped four games in a row without Kevin Durant. T.J. Warren, in the absence of Durant, deserves more playing time.
• 76ers 105, Trail Blazers 95
  • In a way, it feels as if the 76ers’ slow start was a lifetime ago. The team has now won eight of its past 10, and is running smoothly with excellent role allocation. Joel Embiid and James Harden are blending in well together, while Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris have accepted tertiary roles. It definitely helps matters to have P.J. Tucker, a player that needs zero shots to be effective, on hand.

NCAAB

• Purdue 61, Minnesota 39
  • Purdue is elite on the offensive end, but it was encouraging to see the team’s defense step up in this game, limiting the Golden Gophers to just 31.5 percent shooting.
• Charleston 69, Monmouth 55
  • Charleston worries me, and will be ripe for an upset if it receives somewhat of a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. In this game, the Cougars trailed 1-18 Monmouth at the half, just five days after trailing 2-17 Elon at the intermission. Not a great sign.
• Maryland 64, Michigan 58
  • The Wolverines have underachieved this year, as the program lacks the depth that it usually posses. Hunter Dickinson is really good, and Jett Howard has been good as a freshman, but Michigan has some of the worst point guard play in the Big Ten. Dug McDaniel simply doesn’t cut it. Michigan’s tournament hopes seem dicey at the moment.
• Kennesaw State 82, Stetson 81
  • Kennesaw State is coming together at the right time, as the program will transition to Conference USA in 2024. The Owls are 6-1 in Atlantic Sun play, and may actually have a shot at challenging Liberty for the league title.
• Florida Atlantic 83, UTSA 64
  • FAU lacks an elite scorer, but the Owls can take down the opposition in a multitude of different ways. The program’s depth may bode well for it in March, as Florida Atlantic won’t be relying on one or two players to carry the load.
• Rice 72, North Texas 60
  • This result was a bit surprising, as it crashed my parlay, but Rice may have to be taken seriously in Conference USA. Florida Atlantic is the class of the league, but Rice is ahead of a talented UAB team in the standings.
• Southern Miss 76, South Alabama 72
  • Southern Miss is now an impressive 16-4, thanks in part to Ole Miss transfer Austin Crowley. Crowley never eclipsed 5.0 points per game in three seasons as a Rebel, but is averaging 17.8 points per game this season.
• Louisiana 80, Arkansas State 71
  • Jordan Brown, a former five-star recruit, didn’t have things go the way he probably envisioned at Nevada and Arizona, but the big man dropped 31 points in this game, and is having a big year for Louisiana.
• Indiana 80, Illinois 65
  • Both of these teams are puzzling. Indiana got off to a rough 2-4 start in Big Ten play, but it’s lucky to have Trayce Jackson-Davis, who went for 35 huge points last night with 15 made field goals. Indiana has the talent to compete with almost anyone, but it needs to continue building a resume.
• Loyola Marymount 68, Gonzaga 67
  • This result is probably more about Loyola Marymount and the depth of the WCC than it is a referendum on the decline of Gonzaga. The Zags are still worthy of a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they need more consistency out of Julian Strawther. The junior shot just 1-8 last night.
• Arizona 81, USC 66
  • USC, with the way this game unfolded, had no hope. It’s hard enough to win at the McKale Center under normal circumstances, but it’s practically impossible to beat an explosive Arizona team when your starting backcourt struggles. Boogie Ellis and Tre White combined to shoot just 5-20 in this game.
• Southern Utah 111, New Mexico State 76
  • Southern Utah, in its first year in the conference, is a factor in the WAC. Utah Valley and Grand Canyon are probably the league’s two most talented teams, but Tevian Jones and the Thunderbirds can play with anybody in the conference.
• UCLA 74, Arizona State 62
  • The Sun Devils aren’t as good as their 15-4 record, but at 17-2, Mick Cronin has the ball rolling in Los Angeles. David Singleton has been a big-time program guy for the Bruins, and his patience is paying dividends. The senior is averaging 10.8 points per game this year, more than double his average in any of his previous four years at UCLA.
• Saint Mary’s 73, Pepperdine 44
  • It’s an absolute travesty that Saint Mary’s still is unranked. Sure, the Gaels lost four games in nonconference play, but the team is experienced, plays better defense than almost anyone, and just smashes teams it’s expected to beat. For the first time in a long time, Gonzaga may not be the WCC’s best team.