On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
On a five-game winning streak, Creighton will try to stay within reach of the Big East Conference leaders when it plays host to Xavier on Wednesday in Omaha, Neb.
The Bluejays (14-6, 7-2 Big East) have revived their season with a winning streak that includes a road victory over two-time defending national champion UConn. They also have won seven of their past eight games, all in conference play.
Creighton rolled to a 79-54 home win Saturday over Seton Hall. Ryan Kalkbrenner scored 23 points with nine rebounds and three blocked shots, while Steven Ashworth had 17 points with nine assists. The Bluejays shot 58.3 percent from the floor.
"To win seven out of eight in this league is definitely something that is a great accomplishment, but at the same time there's so much work to be done and so much we can learn," Ashworth said. "... It's exciting to be able to have that room to grow."
Kalkbrenner became the fifth player in Creighton history to reach 1,000 career rebounds and is the 132nd player in Division I history with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
The 7-foot inside force has averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.2 blocks during the win streak, above his season averages of 17.7, 8.4 and 2.9, respectively.
Xavier (13-8, 5-5) has been making its own waves of late while winning four of its past five games. The Musketeers also got past UConn, pulling off a 76-72 home victory on Saturday. They knocked off then-No. 7 Marquette 59-57 on the road Jan. 18.
Xavier did lose to St. John's last week, but that setback came in overtime against the No. 20 team in the country, which moved up to No. 15 this week.
Against UConn, Zach Freemantle and Dailyn Swain each scored 15 points for the Musketeers, while Dante Maddox Jr. had 14 while going 3 of 4 from 3-point range. They held the Huskies to 31 second-half points.
Despite finishing off the victory, Xavier head coach Sean Miller could see clear areas where his team can improve.
"Thrilled with the victory (but) we still didn't finish off the game as well as we could have," Miller said. "I wish I could figure out what button to press. I'm going to stay at it to help these guys be better at the end."
More must-reads:
- Pitcher bizarrely faces old team on same day of trade
- NASCAR makes major Austin Hill decision after controversial Indianapolis crash
- The 'NFL stadium names' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
NFL analyst says teams should be 'extremely scared' of this franchise in 2025
While the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders have garnered a lot of attention lately, there is one NFC team that has quietly been flying under the radar. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a one-score game to the Lions in the divisional round in 2023 and followed that up with another one-score loss to QB Jayden Daniels and the Commanders last season, proving how close they have been to the ultimate prize in the two seasons with Baker Mayfield under center. In an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" Tuesday morning, analyst and former player Ryan Clark offered high praise for Mayfield and what the Buccaneers are capable of. "Baker Mayfield is a top-10 quarterback in this league," Clark said. "Baker Mayfield is a football player. And when I say that, I know people at home are gonna be like, 'Duh, he gets paid to play football.' No, not all quarterbacks are seen as football players. Not all quarterbacks are embraced in the locker room as one of us." Clark sees the Buccaneers as a team the rest of the league should be paying attention to because of who they have returning and the close calls in the playoffs the last two seasons. "This is a team that's been on the cusp the last two years," Clark said. "Now you think about some of the pieces they've added, the confidence in their quarterback and the way that he plays, and Todd Bowles with another year to understand winning at a high level at the head coach position. This is a team you better be extremely scared of because they're stacked and they're confident." Mayfield has been sensational during his time with the Buccaneers. Although he did throw 16 interceptions, Mayfield accounted for the third-most passing yards (4,500) in the league last season and has thrown the most TD passes (69) in the last two seasons, per StatMuse. To add even more incentive for Mayfield, the team restructured his contract, which is set to expire after the 2026 season, to include $30M in guaranteed salary for that season. The Buccaneers return a lot of production on both sides of the ball, in addition to bringing in first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka, who topped 1,000 receiving yards twice at Ohio State and accounted for 26 total TDs. While Tampa Bay allowed the 17th-most points per game (22.7) last season, it returns the majority of its defensive production. On top of that, the offseason acquisition of veteran LB and two-time Pro-Bowler Haason Reddick, who agreed to terms on a one-year deal, should be a welcomed addition for a franchise that had some question marks on defense last season. The Buccaneers are projected to have the sixth-easiest schedule in the NFL this season and have the best chance to win the NFC South for the fifth consecutive season, according to ESPN Analytics. If Mayfield can cut back on his turnovers and the defense can create more pressure on opposing QBs, the Buccaneers could be a threat in the NFC once again as they look to put their recent nail-biting losses in the postseason behind them.
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
Commanders reportedly hesitant about one issue with Terry McLaurin deal
The 2024 offseason expanded the $30M-per-year wide receiver club to six members. D.K. Metcalf, Ja’Marr Chase and Garrett Wilson have taken it to nine this year. Terry McLaurin is undoubtedly pushing to bump that number to 10, after seeing 2019 Day 2 classmates Metcalf and A.J. Brown land among that contingent. McLaurin reported to training camp Sunday and landed on the active/PUP list. As our Rory Parks explained, skepticism exists about how injured the Commanders’ top wide receiver really is. An ankle injury has keyed the PUP stay, but it can be safely assumed McLaurin would be ready to practice if an extension comes to pass. Nevertheless, the Commanders have been surprised by the difficulty of these talks. Using an injury to avoid practicing while negotiating — developments the Jonathan Taylor and Micah Parsons sagas brought — represents a third tactic, joining the holdout and the increasingly utilized hold-in amid extension talks. McLaurin shifted from a holdout to the injury route; no matter how he is accomplishing not practicing, the seventh-year veteran is aiming to land a lucrative third contract. His age provides a complication for Washington. McLaurin is going into an age-30 season, separating him from Brown and Metcalf. Both Ole Miss products were drafted just before McLaurin, a 2019 third-round pick, but they are each two years younger. This strengthened their cases for big-ticket third contracts. McLaurin went first to ignite the second-tier boom on the receiver market in 2022, agreeing to a three-year, $69.6M extension. That shaped the Metcalf and Deebo Samuel extensions, both of which coming in higher than McLaurin’s despite the latter’s consistency with suboptimal quarterback situations. McLaurin’s AAV has dropped to 17th at wide receiver. The Commanders are prepared to extend their top wideout, but Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline indicates the "holdup" is regarding the $30M-AAV number. Some around the league point to the team not wanting to go into that neighborhood for McLaurin, despite his five 1,000-yard seasons. Courtland Sutton and McLaurin are nearly the same age, and the Broncos’ top target signed a four-year, $92M extension. That matches where the Titans went for Calvin Ridley (now 30) in 2024. McLaurin, though, has a better resume than both and should be aiming higher. The Commanders have a Jayden Daniels rookie contract to structure another McLaurin extension around as well. Adam Peters was around for the 49ers’ 2022 Samuel extension but not Brandon Aiyuk‘s $30M-per-year deal. (The Samuel extension also did not work out for the 49ers, who proceeded with a salary dump of sorts by trading him to the Commanders.) The second-year GM taking a hardline stance with McLaurin would be an interesting route given the WR’s importance to a sudden contender. Peters confirmed talks are ongoing, with that comment coming after McLaurin expressed frustration about the negotiations. A potential gap between the pack of 20-somethings (and Tyreek Hill) north of $30M AAV and the Tee Higgins–Jaylen Waddle–D.J. Moore tier could be relevant here, and it will be interesting to see if McLaurin settles for something just south of that $30MM benchmark. Guarantees and contract structure, of course, will be important to determining the value as well. A short-term extension should be reached soon, per Pauline, but if the Commanders hold the line at or around $30M, the McLaurin matter could drag on for a while longer.
Report: Bengals draw hard line in Trey Hendrickson contract talks
Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson has been holding out from training camp as he seeks a new contract, and it does not sound like the two sides are all that close to a deal. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on "SportsCenter" Monday that there has been "some progress" in negotiations between the Bengals and Hendrickson's representatives over the past week or so. The real disagreement has to do with guaranteed money, and Cincinnati's brass is not budging. "Hendrickson wants a stronger guaranteed structure, particularly later in what should be a multiyear deal. In talking to people with the Bengals they feel like, 'Hey, we've probably relented as far as we can go.' So this is a classic stare-off right now, and it's time to buckle up," Fowler said, via Andrew Peters of Bleacher Report. Hendrickson is set to earn $16M in base salary in the final year of his contract this season. He recently said he has shown a willingness to take less than market value on a new deal, but the Bengals do not want to guarantee him money beyond the 2026 season. Based on what he has said, the 30-year-old Hendrickson is not seeking to become the highest-paid defensive player in football. In order to accomplish that, he would have to top the three-year, $123M extension T.J. Watt signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Hendrickson had 35 sacks over the past two seasons, which was the most in the NFL during that span. He had 17.5 sacks each season and finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024. The Bengals took care of one major offseason issue on Sunday when they finally signed first-round pick Shemar Stewart to a rookie deal. All it will take is one side to budge in the team's ongoing stalemate with Hendrickson, but all parties seem to be dug in as training camp rolls on.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Former 1st Round Pick Looking 'Unblockable' In Training Camp
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Calijah Kancey in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, they envisioned a game-changing force in the middle of their defensive line. Fast forward to the 2025 training camp, and Kancey is proving why that investment might pay massive dividends. Described as “unblockable” by those watching Bucs’ camp closely, Kancey’s rapid development and potential breakout season provide hope for a Buccaneers defense that has struggled to generate consistent pressure from the front four in recent years. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Calijah Kancey’s NFL Career Calijah Kancey’s professional career has shown flashes of brilliance despite battling injuries that hindered his first two seasons. Across 26 games, Kancey logged 11.5 sacks, an impressive 21 tackles for loss, and a total of 39 quarterback pressures. His ability to penetrate the offensive line and disrupt plays in the backfield has not gone unnoticed. What’s more, Kancey achieved 7.5 sacks in 2024, leading the Buccaneers’ defense in that category. However, consistency has been an issue, largely due to his availability. Calf injuries have kept Kancey out of eight starts and caused him to leave other games prematurely. Staying healthy remains the first step in his leap from “impactful” to “dominant.” According to Bucs head coach Todd Bowles, keeping Kancey on the field is paramount, with the coaching staff carefully monitoring his workload during camp to reduce injury risk. While Kancey’s production as a pass rusher has been promising, his run defense has been an area needing refinement. Per Pro Football Focus, Kancey earned a run defense grade of 36.2 in 2024, ranking 199th out of 219 qualified defensive linemen. His missed tackle rate also rose from 3.7% in 2023 to 6.7% in 2024, suggesting that improving technique and consistency could take his game to another level. Training Camp Buzz: “Unblockable” on the Field Training camp is where futures are shaped, and Kancey isn’t just taking part; he’s taking over. Reports have described him as “unblockable” during drills, with analysts like Pete Prisco of CBS Sports hinting at a possible All-Pro season for the third-year defensive tackle. Veteran teammates such as Vita Vea have taken notice of Kancey’s progression, with Vea praising his work ethic and stating, “I expect big things from him.” What makes Kancey particularly dangerous is his blend of speed and agility at the point of attack. At 6’0” and 280 pounds, his smaller frame for an interior lineman might initially seem like a disadvantage, but he leverages it into a quick first step that routinely leaves offensive linemen off-balance. Kancey’s dedication to refining his technique is also paying dividends. “I know [with] me being an undersized guy, I can’t afford to lack technique,” Kancey admitted. This self-awareness is making him a more effective—and dangerous—presence on the line. The coaching staff is equally optimistic. Defensive line coach Charlie Strong appreciates the energy and effort Kancey brings every day, noting how those traits align with the defensive scheme they hope to deploy this season. Combining veteran experience with youthful explosiveness, Tampa Bay might finally have a complete defensive line capable of dictating games. What Kancey’s Rise Means for the Bucs The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made no secret of their desire to improve their pass rush without relying on heavy blitzing. Last season, the lack of consistent pressure forced Bowles to take risks with his secondary, leaving them exposed against quality quarterbacks. If Kancey continues to dominate in the trenches, the ripple effects on the Bucs’ defense could be massive. Enhancing the Defensive Line Kancey’s emergence allows the Buccaneers to deploy more creative looks on the defensive line. His ability to generate pressure from the interior opens opportunities for edge rushers to thrive. Additionally, his partnership with Vita Vea provides a formidable one-two punch that can collapse pockets and force quarterbacks into hurried decisions. The addition of rookie Elijah Roberts further bolsters the unit, offering even more depth and versatility. With a cohesive and productive front four, Tampa Bay could finally challenge opposing offensive lines effectively, giving its defense the edge needed to stay competitive in the NFC South. Supporting the Secondary A better pass rush benefits everyone, including the secondary. Last season, the Buccaneers’ cornerbacks and safeties often had to hold coverage for extended periods, leading to breakdowns against top-tier offenses. If Kancey and the defensive line can disrupt plays early, the secondary will have a much more manageable task. Furthermore, a dominant interior disruptor like Kancey can wreak havoc on third-and-long situations, where offenses are forced to take risks. By winning on early downs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can control the pace of games and dictate terms defensively, a hallmark of Bowles’ philosophy. Momentum in a Pivotal Season For a team that finds itself at a crossroads following the Tom Brady era, Kancey’s rise represents hope for the next chapter of Buccaneers football. Tampa Bay’s aspirations for a playoff berth depend heavily on the defense not only holding its own but also becoming a consistent game-changing unit. Calijah Kancey’s breakout potential aligns with this timeline, and his growth could spark a cultural shift emphasizing relentless effort and disciplined execution. For teammates and fans alike, watching Kancey dominate in training camp is a reminder of what’s possible when potential meets preparation. Challenges Ahead Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Kancey’s health is a critical factor, and his ability to improve against the run will be closely scrutinized. NFL offenses will undoubtedly test his durability and technique in ways training camp cannot replicate. Additionally, while training camp success is promising, translating that dominance to regular-season competition is the ultimate test. Can Kancey consistently disrupt elite offensive lines? Can he play a full season without setbacks? These questions will define not only Kancey’s individual success but also the Buccaneers’ defensive trajectory. Final Thoughts Calijah Kancey’s buzzworthy training camp performance isn’t just encouraging—it’s potentially game-changing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His ability to stay healthy and elevate his game this season could transform a Tampa Bay defense eager to reclaim its dominance. From starting as a promising rookie to potentially becoming a centerpiece of the Bucs’ front-four resurgence, Kancey’s rise is a storyline to watch closely. If his training camp performances are a sign of things to come, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might just have their breakout star—and a brighter defensive future to look forward to.
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.
