NCAAF

• SEC approves eight-game conference schedule and eliminates divisions for 2024
  • The SEC is expanding to 16 teams beginning in 2024, so playing just eight conference games versus nine feels light. The Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12 all require member schools to play nine games within the conference, so why not the SEC? Greg Sankey got this one wrong. Eliminating divisions is the right call, though. The top two teams in each conference should face off in the championship game, regardless of geographical location.

NBA

• Nuggets 104, Heat 93
  • Nikola Jokic is silly good. 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists — on just 12 shots — for the two-time MVP. Jokic makes the lives of his teammates much, much easier, creating open looks and driving lanes galore. No player benefits from Jokic’s presence more than Jamal Murray, who had a fabulous game of his own last night, tallying 26 points and 10 assists. The Nuggets are much better than their 53 regular season wins would indicate, and they should make quick work of the Heat in these Finals. This series lasting more than five games would be a shock.
  • At risk of sounding hyperbolic, these Heat are probably the worst team to make the Finals this century. Miami slugged its way through the regular season with a negative point differential, and advanced past two underachieving squads plus a mediocre Knicks team this postseason. Regardless of that, the Heat should be proud to be here, but they’re completely outclassed by the Nuggets. Bam Adebayo attempting 25 shots isn’t the answer for Miami, and neither is Max Strus and Caleb Martin combining to shoot 1-17. I guess the Heat should take solace in Gabe Vincent, Kyle Lowry, and Haywood Highsmith showing up? This series might get ugly.

MLB

• Blue Jays 3, Brewers 1
  • Kevin Gausman should be heading to his second All-Star Game this summer. The right-hander was phenomenal yesterday, pitching 6.2 scoreless frames and striking out 11 hitters. Gausman has helped pick up some of the slack created from Alek Manoah’s struggles.
  • Rookies usually can’t be counted on for too much, but the Brewers need more from first-year players Brice Turang and Joey Wiemer. Turang is hitting .205, while Wiemer’s average is a ghastly .199.
• Mets 4, Phillies 2
  • Taijuan Walker’s lack of consistency has to be frustrating for the Phillies. Walker has pitched a few strong outings this season, but the struggles have far outweighed the successes, as evidenced by Walker’s 5.65 ERA. This particular start was a struggle for Walker, who lasted just four innings for the cratering Phillies.
• Padres 10, Marlins 1
  • San Diego needed this outburst. Coming off a lengthy suspension, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s production at the plate has paled in comparison to his exploits during the first three years of his career. This game may have been a step towards closing that gap, as the right fielder went 3-4 with four RBIs.
• Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 4
  • It was only a matter of time until Pierce Johnson blew a save. Johnson entered yesterday 11-11 on save opportunities, but his season has been a roller coaster to say the least. After giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth in this contest, Johnson’s ERA jumped to 6.85. That’s nowhere near good enough.
• Red Sox 8, Reds 2
  • The good? The Red Sox grabbed a needed victory. The bad? Chris Sale left this game left shoulder soreness. Shoulder issues surrounding a pitcher are never a good sign, so Alex Cora’s club is surely hoping the soreness amounts to nothing serious for Sale, who lasted just 3.2 innings last night.
  • Another strong start for Hunter Greene. The Reds have a gem on their hands in Greene, who fanned eight Red Sox across six innings in this contest.
• Twins 7, Guardians 6
  • This was about the most devastating a loss a team can suffer in early June. Trevor Stephan and Eli Morgan have been mostly lights out for Cleveland this season, but the results weren’t there in this tilt, as the relievers combined to allow four runs in just 1.1 innings. In addition to its position in the standings, another worry for Cleveland is the play of Amed Rosario. Rosario hasn’t been able to get anything going, and after going 0-5 last night, is slashing .227/.274/.319.
• Astros 5, Angels 2
  • Reid Detmers is costing the Angels in their quest to get back to the postseason, and the team might start losing patience in the 23-year-old. Detmers, after surrendering four runs last night, dropped his record to 0-5.