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The Michigan State Spartans have had the Ole Miss Rebels circled on their calendar since they found out they'd be their Sweet 16 opponents. Bound to be a close contest, MSU will have to be prepared for any and everything that the Rebels throw its way.
One of the hardest things the Spartans will look to predict is what kind of game they are going to see from two Ole Miss players, senior guard Dre Davis and junior forward Malik Dia. While Sean Pedulla has been consistent for the Rebels through the two tournament games so far, both Davis and Dia could shake the landscape of the game.
Through the first two games of the NCAA Tournament, Davis and Dia have interchanged their playing styles, seeing success one night and hard times the other. In Game 1 against the North Carolina Tar Heels, Davis finished with 15 points in 28 minutes of action, whereas Dia collected 8 in 18 minutes.
In the regular season, Davis was averaging 10.3 points per game, with 4.8 rebounds and a 45.9 field-goal percentage in 26.1 minutes of playing time on average. Ending his regular season strong, Ole Miss was looking for Davis to continue that success over from Game 1 to Game 2, but that did not happen.
During the second-round game against the Iowa State Cyclones, Davis was only able to drop four points in 29 minutes of action. He also finished with five rebounds and five personal fouls. For Dia, however, he turned his round one success around in game two, dropping 18 points, 10 points more than Round 1.
The Spartans have to be ready for those two what-if candidates in the matchup while keeping all heads on a swivel looking to limit Pedulla. If MSU can figure out the type of game both Dia and Davis are averaging early, perhaps the goal of moving onto the Elite Eight portion of the tournament is more attainable.
Coach Tom Izzo knows what Ole Miss possesses as a program, but he also knows that his team wouldn't be in this position if they weren't prepared and ready for it. The defense will need to keep the game within arm's reach, especially with the amount of scoring the Rebels do.
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Braves claim longtime Orioles pitcher
The Braves have claimed righty Carson Ragsdale off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, per an announcement from the O’s. Atlanta has not yet announced the move, but David O’Brien of The Athletic reports that outfielder Jake Fraley is being transferred to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man roster spot. Baltimore designated Ragsdale for assignment on Monday. Baltimore originally claimed Ragsdale off waivers from San Francisco following the trade deadline. The 27-year-old is a longtime Giants farmhand but never pitched in the majors until a brief three-inning cup of coffee with the O’s. He was tagged for eight runs on nine hits and a walk with two punchouts during that initial MLB audition. A look at Carson Ragsdale's career A 2020 fourth-round pick by the Phillies (who traded him to the Giants for Sam Coonrod), Ragsdale has solid numbers throughout his minor league tenure, but appeared to hit a roadblock in Triple-A this season, logging a subpar 4.87 ERA with a 19.7% strikeout rate and 12% walk rate that are both worse than average. That said, he posted a 2.93 ERA in High-A and a 3.49 mark in Double-A before stumbling in Triple-A. He’s averaged 92.6 mph on his four-seamer this year and paired that pitch with a splitter and a curveball that sits in the high 70s. Ragsdale has a pair of minor league option years remaining beyond the current season. For the Braves, Ragsdale adds some optionable depth to a rotation mix that’s been absolutely hammered by injuries this season. Spencer Strider began the year on the injured list rehabbing from last year’s UCL surgery, and he’s looked shaky in his return while also missing time due to a hamstring injury. Chris Sale was out for two months due to fractured ribs. Reynaldo Lopez made just one start before undergoing shoulder surgery. Young righty AJ Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery in June. Spencer Schwellenbach suffered a fractured elbow just a couple of weeks later. Righty Grant Holmes suffered a partial tear of his UCL in late July. He’s attempting to rehab without surgery (knowing that late-July/early-August surgery would’ve wiped out his entire 2026 campaign anyhow). There’s no guarantee that Ragsdale will last the entire offseason on Atlanta’s 40-man roster, but with so many of those pitching injuries extending into next season, it’s understandable that they’d take a late look at an optionable depth arm who won’t turn 28 until late next May. Bolstering the rotation will be a point of focus for Atlanta this offseason, but stockpiling depth in this fashion will be plenty important in its own right.
Steelers fans get alarming update about T.J. Watt: 'It's even worse'
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has the fan base very upset after back-to-back disappointing performances. In Week 1, the Steelers were lucky to escape MetLife Stadium with a 34-32 win over the New York Jets, but in Week 2, they lost at home. Dropping a game to the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium is far from ideal, but it’s not time to worry just yet. The season is long, and plenty can change as things progress. Still, the fact that both opponents were able to rack up nearly 400 yards of offense each against one of the NFL’s highest-paid defenses is a legitimate reason for concern. What makes the situation even more troubling is the lack of home-run production from T.J. Watt, the face of this defensive unit. Daniel Valente, a stats expert on social media, highlighted numbers that reveal Watt has not been the same disruptive force for quite some time. His data shows a drop-off in sacks and overall impact, which is eye-opening considering how much the Steelers lean on Watt to change games. When your top player isn’t producing at the level fans have come to expect, the struggles across the entire defense become that much harder to ignore. His quiet outings not only limit the Steelers’ ability to generate momentum-shifting plays, but they also give opposing offenses confidence to attack more aggressively. Without Watt setting the tone, the defense looks far less intimidating and far more vulnerable than fans are used to seeing. For a defense that was built to carry this team through tough stretches, the early season results have not matched the hype. Allowing nearly 800 yards in two weeks and seeing their cornerstone player go quiet has created a wave of frustration among fans who expected dominance, not vulnerability. While it’s far too early to call the situation a crisis, these trends need to reverse quickly. The pressure is mounting, and if the defense doesn’t respond, the narrative around Pittsburgh could shift from Super Bowl aspirations to serious doubts about their ability to compete. Now, it’s not all on Watt, and it’s important to recognize what’s really happening here. The fact that he has failed to record a sack in five of his last 17 games is certainly concerning, but it isn’t entirely his fault. Steelers' T.J. Watt's lack of overall production explained Opposing offenses are adjusting to neutralize him, and the Steelers’ inability to stop the run has made it easier. Far too often, teams are running to the opposite side of the field from where Watt lines up, effectively removing him from the play before it begins. When the defense can’t win at the line of scrimmage or contain the ground game, it puts Watt in a position where his impact is minimized, no matter how hard he’s playing. That falls back on defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who has not put this unit in the best position to succeed. The talent and investment on this defense are far too great for them to look this vulnerable. The breakdown late in the fourth quarter against Seattle, where Kenneth Walker III broke free for a 19-yard touchdown run, was unacceptable for a team with championship expectations.
Lakers' West Rival Interested in Austin Reaves in Potential Free Agency
One of the biggest looming issues for the Los Angeles Lakers is Austin Reaves' future with the team. After signing Luka Doncic to a contract extension in the offseason, Reaves is up next to get one. The problem for the Lakers is that Reaves will likely garner a substantial amount of money next season, especially if he continues to progress as he has throughout his career. Reaves' potential free agency would come next summer, and he is set to be a highly sought-after free agent. If they let him go, one West team has already been linked to Reaves. More news: Lakers Roster Already Raising Major Red Flag Ahead of Season The Spurs could be interested in Lakers guard Austin Reaves If Reaves does leave the Lakers, Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints is reporting that the Spurs could be interested in bringing him to San Antonio. Other teams are interested, as well. "If/when Reaves opts out of his current contract, he'll be an unrestricted free agent with plenty of interest. League sources say the San Antonio Spurs and other teams are keeping a close eye on Reaves' free agency." Reaves is looking to score a major payday, as he should. He set career-highs in almost every statistical category a year ago. And yet, there has been talk of replacing him in the starting lineup. There have been rumors that the Lakers might opt to start Marcus Smart so that they have better defense on the perimeter. If that happens, Reaves will be out the door the moment he can opt out of his deal. More news: Lakers News: ESPN Insider Provides New Update on LeBron James’ Retirement Plan The Lakers Should Do Everything They Can to Keep Austin Reaves Even though Reaves has some flaws on the defensive end of the court, the Lakers should do everything they can to keep him. His offensive game is too valuable to let him go. Allowing him to walk in free agency for nothing would be catastrophic. At the very least, they should try to get something in return for him in a trade so that they can recoup some assets. Last season, Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, all career-highs. He shot 46 percent from the field and 37.7percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Latest Lakers News For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
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