The Michigan State Spartans' winning streak came to a close against the USC Trojans on Saturday. MSU scored just 64 points, which wasn't enough.
With the Spartans' leading scorer on the year, senior guard Jaden Akins, lacking in production as of late, it poses the question: Can MSU win without him?
Safe to say that the Spartans had been playing great basketball as of late, and even though they were handed a rare loss in a game they never led, they kept up with the Trojans all night. But they weren't able to do one of the crucial things they've excelled at all season -- finish.
Akins finished the game with 11 points, going 5-12 in field-goal attempts, had four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes on the court. Over the span of MSU's win streak, Akins led the way in the scoring department four times.
Akins has averaged 13.6 points a game this season for the Spartans, and he is the only player of the squad that has averaged double digits in scoring on the year. But between Saturday's contest and the Spartans' three games prior, he has averaged just 10.25 points and 32% from the field.
However, MSU's bench remained strong and consistent. Coen Carr and Jase Richardson dropped 8 and 9 points, respectively, off the bench for the Spartans. The future could easily be in those two players' hands, especially since the program will be losing three seniors at his season's end, two of which are starters.
Among the starting five for the Spartans, three of the five finished with under 10 points scored on Saturday. Redshirt freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. finished the game with the most points (12) and time spent on the court (27 minutes). The loss is not the end of the world for MSU, but it does pose some concerns, seeing how its veterans struggled.
The Spartans' West Coast trip is not over yet, as they are set to face off against the UCLA Bruins on Tuesday. The few days' rest should benefit the Spartans, especially as they process what a loss feels like again.
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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.
The Boston Red Sox got some bad news in the infield. Rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer has gotten a lot of time at second base and third base. Since Alex Bregman returned, Mayer has gotten most of his action at second base while also filling in as the Red Sox worked Bregman back slowly. Unfortunately, he's on the Injured List, though, due to a wrist sprain. MassLive.com's Christopher Smith shared the lastest update on Mayer from Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Saturday noted that he's "not gonna play soon." "No new updates on Marcelo Mayer's wrist sprain, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said," Smith shared. "'Just waiting for results and see specialists and all that stuff,' Cora added. 'He's not gonna play soon. So have to make sure where we're at and what the course of action is going to be.'" Losing Mayer is tough. Defense has been a question mark for Boston once again this season but Mayer has helped in that area. With Mayer out, Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to get a lot of action at second base. That helps to alleviate the logjam in the outfield, but also removes arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game. Boston isn't at full strength and Cora noting he's "not gonna play soon" certainly doesn't sound positive. Before going down, Mayer was slashing .228/.272/.402 with four homers, 10 RBIs, and eight doubles. Will the Red Sox add another piece ahead of the trade deadline? It absolutely makes sense at this point.
Are the Milwaukee Brewers still in the running for Eugenio Suárez? While it’s difficult to gauge the precise status of any Suárez-Brewers talks, one thing is clear — there are multiple contenders in hot pursuit of the Arizona Diamondbacks slugger. MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan called Milwaukee the No. 2 landing spot for Suárez on Saturday (behind the Philadelphia Phillies) and also included the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Houston Astros on his list. On Monday, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale provided an interesting update on the Tigers’ connection to Suárez. “The Detroit Tigers, one of the strong suitors for Diamondbacks All Star 3B Eugenio Suarez, would love to finalize a deal before Suarez leaves town Wednesday,” Nightengale wrote on Monday afternoon. “The DBacks are in Detroit for 3-game series.” Does Detroit, set to share physical proximity with Suárez over the next 72 hours, suddenly have the upper hand in the sweepstakes for the All-Star? That would be a wild development if so. Suárez and his suitors have become the leading topic amid what has otherwise been a quiet trade deadline, although analysts believe a flurry of moves will happen on Thursday with hours remaining before the literal deadline. Suárez’s recent production has only fueled the trade buzz. He’s hit 36 home runs this year and represents the most impactful bat on the market. Brewers fans are still split on whether acquiring Suárez would make a winning team better or possibly interrupt flawless chemistry. The only shocking outcome at this point would be if Suárez is still wearing a Diamondbacks uniform when August begins.
The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t wasted any time evaluating their newest talent as training camp heats up in Latrobe. With pads finally on and reps intensifying, one receiver is already turning heads. Wide receiver Roman Wilson is emerging as a name to watch not just because of his speed or hands, but because of how he’s showing up daily, both physically and mentally. The way Wilson has carried himself has drawn strong praise from those observing the camp up close. Recently, on 970 AM Fox Sports Pittsburgh, former Steelers secondary coach Tom Bradley and Gerry Dulac talked about the Steelers for an hour-long segment. Dulac started off with praise for the young wideout. “When you watch him today, he certainly plays the part well," Dulac said. "He's a guy that I think the Pittsburgh Steelers fans are gonna take a liking to in a hurry, just by the way he goes about his work. You can see why they drafted him just by the way he does things out there.” Dulac’s words offer more than just a surface-level compliment. The key here is how he emphasizes Wilson's work habits. This isn’t about raw talent, which Wilson certainly has, but rather how that talent translates into consistent, reliable effort. Wilson’s doing the small things right: route details, blocking effort, lining up properly. That’s what builds trust with coaches and earns respect from veterans. If there’s a common thread across the league, it’s that wide receivers often need time to adjust to the pro game, especially in Pittsburgh, where Mike Tomlin historically takes a measured approach with young talent, but Wilson’s effort is accelerating that timeline. The mindset is now translating to Saint Vincent College. Fans should take note not just of highlight plays but of how Wilson moves during install periods and drills. That exact attitude also stood out to the former Steelers secondary coach, Bradley, who focused more on Wilson’s internal fire: “He likes the competition,” Bradley said. “Just watching him, I think he enjoys that. You saw a little bit of that in him. I think over the course of time, I think he's gonna be one of those guys that likes to just compete.” Bradley’s observation is especially relevant for a receiver trying to prove himself on the depth chart. The Steelers’ wide receiver room remains in flux behind DK Metcalf, and with Calvin Austin III and Robert Woods still proving their roles, there’s an opportunity to be seized. That Wilson already “likes the competition” is critical. It means he’s not shying away from the challenge or waiting for an invitation. He’s embracing it. The phrase “over the course of time” also hints at sustainability. Wilson’s mentality is a long-term mindset that meshes well with the organization’s culture. His injury-shortened rookie season is well-documented, but he’s back fully healthy now, aligning with the competitive mindset that camp observers say makes him stand out. His college metrics, particularly separation rate and blocking effort, paired with the Steelers’ scheme shift under Arthur Smith, suggest he could be a reliable slot option and return contributor. Steelers' Camp Culture Built For Competitors There’s a reason Tomlin often says “iron sharpens iron.” The Steelers have cultivated a camp environment that rewards effort, not just flashes. That makes it the perfect setting for someone like Wilson, who thrives off competition and embraces the grind. This year’s camp also feels different in how intentionally the coaching staff is evaluating role players. With the offensive coordinator focused on a more balanced, physical offense, players like Wilson, who block hard, run clean routes, and don’t demand the ball, become invaluable pieces. With the first preseason game fast approaching, Wilson still has much to prove. But based on what Dulac and Bradley have already seen, he’s doing more than just surviving the early reps; he’s maximizing them. Is Wilson already carving out a role, or is it too early to tell?
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