On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Northwestern carries an uncertain NCAA Tournament status despite securing the No. 4 seed for the Big Ten tournament in Minneapolis.
A strong showing this week, beginning with a Friday quarterfinal against fifth-seeded Wisconsin, figures to bolster the Wildcats' resume.
All the better to help Boo Buie, the graduate student guard and program leading scorer, close his collegiate career with a shot at a national title.
"We have a relationship that is really special to me," Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. "What he's meant to the program, it does make me emotional. I want him to keep playing as long as we can because it's going to feel really weird for me to coach a game without him out there. For five years, I've been penciling him in the lineup."
A unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten first team, Buie ranked fourth in the conference in scoring (18.9 points a game) and assists (5.2 per game) for the 21-10 Wildcats.
His intangibles and leadership also have been a boon as Northwestern navigated life without senior Ty Berry, who sustained a season-ending knee injury last month.
The Wildcats struggled for balance beyond Buie during their Jan. 13 visit to then-No. 15 Wisconsin. Max Klesmit scored 24 points to pace the Badgers to a 71-63 win. Buie (22 points) and Brooks Barnhizer (13) were Northwestern's lone players in double figures.
Wisconsin (20-12) thumped 12th-seeded Maryland 87-56 in a second-round Big Ten tournament game on Thursday afternoon. Torrid shooting boosted the Badgers, who led by as many as 42 points.
Wisconsin's 51.7 percent effort from the floor included 16-for-25 (64 percent) accuracy from long range. John Blackwell swished four treys en route to a team-best 18 points. Steven Crowl (17 points), AJ Storr (16) and Chucky Hepburn (10) followed in double figures.
"I thought a complete team effort, both sides of the court," Badgers coach Greg Gard said. "I thought defensively we set the tone early. Then obviously you start knocking down some shots and getting some offense from your defense. Just all the way up and down the lineup, got great contributions."
The winner of the Friday game will meet the winner of an earlier quarterfinal between eighth-seeded Michigan State and top-seeded Purdue in the tournament semifinals on Saturday.
More must-reads:
- 10 most intriguing players heading into 2025 college football season
- Aaron Rodgers raves about Steelers weapon who could be 'big-time talent'
- The '2024 NFL rushing TD leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Georgia Bulldogs football could be in danger of losing 4-star running back commit right after missing out on Savion Hiter
Maryland transfer George Turkson brings high energy to Terrapin Program
Maryland transfer power forward George Turkson Jr. made an exciting arrival in College Park alongside shooting guard Andrew Mills, small forward Solomon Washington, and center Pharrel Payne. Like most transfers, they’re eager to dive into the campus and culture. For Turkson, the thrill of new beginnings is balanced by his strong connection to former Texas A M teammates and coach Buzz Williams. Turkson and his teammates are poised to ignite a new era for Buzz Williams, driving a culture shift that is energized. Williams will actively blend his talented newcomers to spark unity from day one, building a legacy from the ground up. "Our motto is 'starting from ground zero,'" Turkson told Brendan Hartlove of Maryland Sports Radio in a recent interview. "Making sure everybody knows what it is, staying on the same page so there's no confusion. We just want to focus on us, making sure our groundwork and foundation are right." He lit up as he explained how his teammates electrify the locker room and drive intensity in practice, sparked by a passionate coaching staff. "They help set the standard because it's the same coaching staff," Turkson said. "We kind of have a little cheat sheet going on. It's like, 'All right, this is what the coaches want, this is what they expect.' That plays a big role in chemistry building." The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Turkson redshirted last year at Texas A M. At Maryland, he will play in a region where he feels he can become the hard-nosed, high-effort player he aspires to be—one who does the dirty work—like his hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts. Being around both old and new teammates also helps his transition. "Especially being from Massachusetts, it honestly feels like coming home," Turkson said with a grin. "Getting to know the guys, having coaches I already trust—it’s made the whole transition easy and exciting. I can't wait to attack the court with these guys and soak in every moment of this journey." Finally, Turkson fired up Terp Nation with his promise of what’s to come over the next four years. "Hard-nosed, blue-collar, great energy, team player. Shooting and rebounding are probably the main things they can expect from me."
Aaron Judge seemed annoyed with Aaron Boone over troubling health update
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered a concerning update on Tuesday about Aaron Judge's recovery from an elbow injury, and the slugger did not seem thrilled about that. Judge returned to the Yankees' lineup on Aug. 5 following a 10-day stint on the injured list. The two-time American League MVP had a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, and he has been slotted in as New York's designated hitter since he returned. In an interview with WFAN on Tuesday morning, Boone said he does not believe that Judge will get back to "throwing like he normally does" at any point for the remainder of the season. Judge was caught off guard by his manager's remarks. Before Tuesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Judge told reporters that he is unsure of why Boone provided the pessimistic update. "I don’t know why he said that. He hasn’t seen me throw the past two weeks," Judge said. "I’m pretty confident I’ll get back to that.” Boone later admitted that he may have misspoken during the WFAN interview. Many were surprised by the apparent disconnect between Judge and Boone. It is possible that what Boone said in the initial interview was accurate, and Judge did not want that information to be made public. The alternative is that Boone is not completely up to speed on his best player's recovery from an injury, which would be a bad look for the manager. Judge is batting .333 with 39 home runs and 91 RBI this season. His bat is far more important to the Yankees than his glove, but he has struggled at the plate a bit since returning. Judge is batting just .229 with a .429 slugging percentage in 11 games since he came off the injured list.
Giants have firm stance on possible Jameis Winston trade
The New York Giants have one of the deepest quarterback rooms in the NFL, and there has been speculation that Jameis Winston could be the odd man out when the regular season begins. It does not sound like Winston is going anywhere, however. Russell Wilson is expected to be the Giants' starting quarterback in Week 1. The big question is whether Jaxson Dart or Winston will enter the year as Wilson's primary backup. Dart has played well through two preseason games, and Brian Daboll and his coaching staff have raved about the former Ole Miss star. Some have wondered if the Giants could entertain trade offers for Winston should they decide they view Dart as their No. 2 quarterback. Assistant general manager Brandon Brown was asked about that on Tuesday, and he all but ruled it out. "I appreciate people that are interested, but Jameis is a New York Giant. The way that he's gone about his business from day one, he's made it very intentional of the fact that he wants to be here and he wants to be here for the long haul," Brown said. "Teammates love him. His preparation process, whether it's the off-field things that he does in terms of community relations, Bible studies, things in the locker room, galvanizing the group together — not just the quarterback room, but the offense as a whole. "He's been comic relief, but he's also been a really good example of how to be a pro and handle your business in terms of prehab, rehab and postgame care. So, I'm happy he's here, and he's gonna continue to do those things. He hasn't wavered, and he hasn't been shaken by any distractions at all." Winston signed a two-year, $8M contract with the Giants in free agency this offseason. The deal could climb as high as $16M with incentives, but he would need to play quite a bit to hit those. The Giants value Winston's extensive experience, just as they value Dart's upside. There is a reason they signed both Wilson and Winston and traded up to draft Dart. They believe in all three players, and they likely will not be inclined to trade Winston unless they receive an excellent offer.
Packers' blockbuster trade pitch adds Micah Parsons for huge price
Speculation linking Dallas Cowboys All-Pro edge-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers continues to gain momentum as the star’s holdout amid stalled contract negotiations seems as far apart as ever. Parsons, two weeks ago, publicly requested a trade and continues to hold-in during Cowboys training camp, while there is a belief that Green Bay is attempting to pull off a blockbuster trade. Potential Packers-Micah Parsons Blockbuster Trade Package Parsons, 26, has posted 52.5 sacks through his first four seasons and is one of the most dominant players at his position. He is the kind of difference-maker who could cement Green Bay as a legitimate Super Bowl contender for years to come. But prying Parsons away from the Cowboys wouldn’t come cheap. "You’d want to hope to trade no more than three good young players for one elite player," an NFL executive and former general manager said to me recently of what a Parsons trade package might look like. Given that strategy, it isn’t difficult to envision Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst offering a package of players and picks that looks something like: Packers Trade: 2026 first-round NFL Draft choice, 2027 first-round draft choice, WR Romeo Doubs, EDGE Lukas Van Ness Cowboys Trade: Micah Parsons Trading two first-round picks is likely the starting point for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys in any Parsons negotiations. For the Packers, trading Van Ness would be offering a change of scenery for a former first-round draft choice who has yet to live up to expectations, and upgrading the position with a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber player. Meanwhile, shipping Doubs to Dallas clears a logjam at wide receiver, while helping the Cowboys round out a balanced receiving corps that would include CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Doubs as perhaps the most prolific collection of talent Dak Prescott has had in his career. Whether Parsons’ trade request is anything more than posturing remains to be seen, but if the Cowboys open up trade talks, this package could be the kind of trade that nets Green Bay a difference-maker.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
