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Saint Mary’s (CA) and VCU square off in opening round of NCAA Tournament

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

VCU Rams (27-7, 15-3 A-10) vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels (26-7, 14-2 WCC)Albany, New York; Friday, 2 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Saint Mary’s (CA) -4; over/under is 122.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 19 Saint Mary’s Gaels play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the VCU Rams.The Gaels are 14-2 against WCC opponents and 12-5 in non-conference play. Saint Mary’s (CA) ranks seventh in the WCC with 23.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Kyle Bowen averaging 5.0.The Rams are 15-3 in A-10 play. VCU has a 4-1 record in games decided by less than 4 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Logan Johnson is averaging 14.6 points, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Gaels. Aidan Mahaney is averaging 13.9 points over the last 10 games for Saint Mary’s (CA).Adrian Baldwin Jr. is scoring 12.7 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Rams. Jalen DeLoach is averaging 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last 10 games for VCU.LAST 10 GAMES: Gaels: 7-3, averaging 71.2 point...

Texas Longhorns take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in second round

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

Penn State Nittany Lions (23-13, 10-10 Big Ten) vs. Texas Longhorns (27-8, 12-6 Big 12)Des Moines, Iowa; Saturday, 7:45 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Texas -5.5; over/under is 140.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 5 Texas Longhorns and Penn State Nittany Lions meet in the NCAA Tournament second round.The Longhorns have gone 12-6 against Big 12 opponents, with a 15-2 record in non-conference play. Texas ranks eighth in the Big 12 with 8.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Brock Cunningham averaging 1.7.The Nittany Lions are 10-10 against Big Ten teams. Penn State averages 72.4 points and has outscored opponents by 4.3 points per game.TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Carr is scoring 15.9 points per game with 3.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Longhorns. Jabari Rice is averaging 15.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 45.2% over the last 10 games for Texas.Jalen Pickett is averaging 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Nittany Lions. Seth Lundy is averaging 13.4 points and 6.2 rebound...

UConn Huskies square off against Iona Gaels in first round of NCAA Tournament

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

Iona Gaels (27-7, 17-3 MAAC) vs. UConn Huskies (25-8, 13-7 Big East)Albany, New York; Friday, 4:30 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: UConn -9; over/under is 141BOTTOM LINE: The No. 10 UConn Huskies play the Iona Gaels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.The Huskies are 13-7 against Big East opponents and 12-1 in non-conference play. UConn is 0-4 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The Gaels are 17-3 in MAAC play. Iona ranks second in the MAAC with 33.4 rebounds per game led by Nelly Junior Joseph averaging 9.4.TOP PERFORMERS: Adama Sanogo is averaging 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Huskies. Jordan Hawkins is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for UConn.Walter Clayton Jr. is scoring 16.9 points per game with 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Gaels. Daniss Jenkins is averaging 16.4 points and 5.2 assists over the last 10 games for Iona.LAST 10 GAMES: Huskies: 8-2, averaging 75.4 points, 36.0 rebounds, 17.2 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.9 blocks per game ...

Houston Cougars and Auburn Tigers play in NCAA Tournament second round

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

Auburn Tigers (21-12, 10-8 SEC) vs. Houston Cougars (32-3, 17-1 AAC)Birmingham, Alabama; Saturday, 7:10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Houston -5.5; over/under is 131.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 2 Houston Cougars square off against the Auburn Tigers in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.The Cougars are 17-1 against AAC opponents and 15-2 in non-conference play. Houston is 24-3 against opponents over .500.The Tigers’ record in SEC action is 10-8. Auburn ranks fifth in the SEC with 14.2 assists per game led by Wendell Green Jr. averaging 4.1.TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Sasser is shooting 43.9% and averaging 16.7 points for the Cougars. Jamal Shead is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Houston.Johni Broome is averaging 14.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for the Tigers. K.D. Johnson is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Auburn.LAST 10 GAMES: Cougars: 9-1, averaging 72.4 points, 35.5 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 8.6 steals and 4.2 blocks pe...

Kentucky Wildcats play the Providence Friars in first round of NCAA Tournament

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

Providence Friars (21-11, 13-7 Big East) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (21-11, 12-6 SEC)Greensboro, North Carolina; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Kentucky -4; over/under is 144.5BOTTOM LINE: The Kentucky Wildcats take on the Providence Friars in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.The Wildcats have gone 12-6 against SEC opponents, with a 9-5 record in non-conference play. Kentucky is seventh in the SEC with 31.7 points per game in the paint led by Oscar Tshiebwe averaging 10.1.The Friars are 13-7 in Big East play. Providence has a 2-2 record in one-possession games.TOP PERFORMERS: Cason Wallace is averaging 11.6 points, 4.2 assists and two steals for the Wildcats. Antonio Reeves is averaging 16.7 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 42.9% over the past 10 games for Kentucky.Bryce Hopkins is averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds for the Friars. Noah Locke is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Providence.LAST 10 GAMES: Wildcats: 6-4, averaging 74.5...

UCLA Bruins take on the Northwestern Wildcats in second round

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

Northwestern Wildcats (22-11, 12-8 Big Ten) vs. UCLA Bruins (30-5, 18-2 Pac-12)Sacramento, California; Saturday, 8:40 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: UCLA -8; over/under is 127.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 7 UCLA Bruins and Northwestern Wildcats play in the NCAA Tournament second round.The Bruins’ record in Pac-12 play is 18-2, and their record is 12-3 in non-conference play. UCLA is 23-5 against opponents over .500.The Wildcats’ record in Big Ten action is 12-8. Northwestern has a 4-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Jaime Jaquez Jr. is scoring 17.3 points per game with 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Bruins. Tyger Campbell is averaging 15.4 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 40.3% over the past 10 games for UCLA.Matthew Nicholson is averaging six points and 5.3 rebounds for the Wildcats. Boo Buie is averaging 20.0 points over the last 10 games for Northwestern.LAST 10 GAMES: Bruins: 9-1, averaging 75.0 points, 33.3 rebounds, 13.7 assists...

Zero tolerance: Commission targets Amazon, Spotify, Apple for violating content law

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

The European Commission will “go after” companies including Amazon, Apple and Spotify for not respecting the EU’s content moderation law, the Digital Services Act, the EU’s internal market chief Thierry Breton said Friday.“I regret to say that there are a few online platforms that have not respected their obligations and have either failed to provide user numbers altogether or simply stated that they do not meet the designation thresholds,” Breton said at a Commission conference. “We will not tolerate delaying tactics when it comes to enforcing the DSA; we will take action and go after the companies which have not complied,” he added.Amazon, Apple, Spotify, Booking.com, eBay, OnlyFans, AliExpress and Pinterest are among the online platforms that haven’t disclosed details about how many Europeans use their services under a February deadline set by the Digital Services Act. The law, adopted in 2022, aims to get platforms to step up their content moderation, including c...

Irish PM Varadkar says sorry for ‘ill-judged’ Clinton-Lewinsky joke

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

DUBLIN — Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has apologized for making a joking reference to then-President Bill Clinton’s sex scandal during a Washington speech in front of a new class of Capitol Hill interns.Varadkar, known for making off-script quips that occasionally blow up in his face, was telling his Washington Ireland Program audience about his time as a D.C. intern at the end of Clinton’s second term, “when some parents would have had cause for concern about what would happen to interns in Washington.”The allusion drew some laughs, a few gasps — and a rapid apology via his official spokesman.Varadkar, the spokesman said, “was reminiscing about his time in Washington D.C. as an intern 23 years ago. He made an ill-judged, off-the-cuff remark which he regrets. He apologizes for any offense caused to anyone concerned.” Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, related to allegations he lied under oath about an affair with White House int...

China’s Xi to visit Putin in Russia next week

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a three-day visit to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin next week, Beijing and Moscow announced Friday, with “strategic cooperation” on the agenda.“On March 20-22, 2023, at the invitation of Vladimir Putin, president of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia,” the Kremlin’s press service said in a statement.“A number of important bilateral documents will be signed,” the statement reads.Neither country confirmed previous reports from the Wall Street Journal that Xi would use the opportunity to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — in what would be the first communication between the two leaders since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last February.While China was initially committed to a “no-limit partnership” passed with Moscow days before the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Beijing has since sought to position itself as...

Nets need for backup center apparent in home loss to Kings

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:14:35 GMT

If Nerlens Noel wasn’t the answer for Brooklyn’s backup center debacle, the Nets had better find another answer — and soon.Days after the Nets declined to give Noel a second 10-day contract, the Nets were obliterated on the glass in a 101-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.As versatile as starting center Nic Claxton is on both ends of the floor, his biggest shortcoming — brute strength — continues to be a priority for the Nets to address.Especially if second-year forward Day’Ron Sharpe — who was available but didn’t play against the Kings on Thursday — is out of the rotation.That’s because the bruiser remains the archetype of player that stumps and stampedes the Nets at every turn.What has been true of the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers was true in the Nets’ loss to the league’s No. 1 offense on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.Just like the Nets have rotational limitations that make them susc...