Just four short years ago, point guard Andre Curbelo wore an Illini jersey during an excellent freshman campaign, with a future that seemed to include his being selected as a first-round pick in the NBA Draft.
Freshman year Andre Curbelo was special Really wished it worked out for him in Champaign. #Illini pic.twitter.com/buaIJLE86o
— Illini Muse (@IlliniMuse) May 5, 2024
But that promise wouldn't last. On Saturday, Curbelo's college basketball career seemed to come to an abrupt end.
Curbelo, now a senior with Southern Miss, was ejected from a game against Coastal Carolina last Thursday after receiving two technical fouls. On Saturday, after a loss to Louisiana, Southern Miss coach Jay Ladner released a statement:
“Andre Curbelo is no longer a member of our program, and we would like to wish him the best in all of future endeavors.”
No reason was given by Ladner or Southern Miss for Curbelo's dismissal, but the 23-year-old from Puerto Rico has had trouble with injuries and ejections at multiple stops during a tumultuous college career.
After putting up 9.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists off the bench and earning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors as a freshman in Champaign, Curbelo returned to Illinois for his sophomore season – in which he wound up playing only 19 games due to a concussion he sustained under murky circumstances.
After landing at St. John’s, Curbelo made headlines by drawing a technical foul just one minute into his first game with the Red Storm.
Before he knew it, Curbelo ended up facing a three-game suspension from the program, and he even unexpectedly showed up at a press conference simply to tell the media that he was unaware of the reasoning behind his suspension.
Fast-forward a year later. Curbelo had moved on to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Southern Miss, where he averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists – but played just 12 games during the 2023-24 campaign.
Earlier this season, Curbelo was suspended again due to “disciplinary reasons." He returned to the team to play an integral role, averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 assists, while adding 1.9 steals on the other end.
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One of Wisconsin's best women's basketball recruits is staying home. Forward Adaline Sheplee from Rice Lake announced Sunday she is committing to the Badgers and head coach Robin Pingeton. Sheplee is the No. 2 recruit in the state according to both Rivals and 247Sports, who both have her as a Top 55 player in the country She told Rivals that she didn't want to play for the Badgers initially, but the relationship she developed with the program's new head coach helped change her mind and stay in-state. The 6-foot-3, four-star recruit averaged nearly 24 points and eight rebounds last season, earning offers from major programs like Miami (FL), TCU, Maryland, Florida and more. Sheplee was sold on Wisconsin's vision for developing her as a player and how she fits in the Badgers' system. She's a major win for Pingeton as the head coach takes over a program trying to bounce back and turn things around. Retaining the state's top talent is a great first step in the high school recruiting realm. If her transfer portal additions can provide a similar success story, she can get the team back on track in a hurry. More Wisconsin Badgers News: Wisconsin Badgers' women's basketball relaunching in-state rivalry with games against Marquette Wisconsin Badgers' women's basketball adds Croatian center to fill final roster spot Wisconsin Badgers volleyball drops in AVCA preseason coaches poll, still stays in Top 10 How will Wisconsin Badgers women's basketball fit four transfer portal guards into Robin Pingeton's rotation?
The Oklahoma Sooners have a ton of big-time names to the fan base as the enter 2025. They have guys that in Norman, Oklahoma, and around the state, are superstars. Guys like John Mateer, R Mason Thomas, and even Jayden Ott now. Those guys are pretty well known tho the fan base, even by the casual fans. But, there are some really good players on this team who may not be as known as those guys, but when it comes to their role, they do it very good. One of those is a linebacker the casual fan may or may not know about. Owen Heinecke has been balling during fall camp. Sooners LB Owen Heinecke has had great fall camps Owen Heinecke is a redshirt junior linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners. He didn’t play a ton last year, but when he did he certainly wasn’t bad. It just happens that he plays one of the more stacked positions on the Sooners. Heinecke is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, so, he’s a local kid. He stands 6’1” and weighs 227 pounds. Originally a lacrosse player at Ohio State in 2021, Heinecke transferred to OU as a walk-on in 2022 after a standout high school career at Bishop Kelley, where he was named District 5A-III Player of the Year in football. So, yes, the kid can play, and being a walk-on didn’t change any of that. And being a scholarship player didn’t change his going or approach at all, either. At OU, Heinecke has been a key special teams player, appearing in all 13 games in both 2023 and 2024. He recorded seven tackles in 2024, including a career-high two against Temple, and four tackles in 2023. His speed and tackling ability make him a valuable asset on coverage units. Heinecke’s family has OU ties—his uncle played on the 2000 national championship team, and his father played football at Tulsa. “He’s had as good a camp as anybody,” head coach Brent Venables said regarding former walk-on linebacker Owen Heinecke. As for Heinecke as he enters 2025, he’s showing why he should have been a scholarship player from the get-go. Now, it’s about making the most of the opportunities he does get.
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their 2025 preseason with a nail-biting win against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night. Rookie undrafted free agent Daryl Porter made the game-winning tackle inbounds in the final seconds, keeping the clock running and securing the 31-25 win. Porter was one of many rookies to make their debut on Saturday, in a game where 16 starters sat out both due to injury and veteran rest. Some, like defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, are expected to start right away, while others are fighting for a roster spot -- with many making a convincing case. One of these players was wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams, who is on the outside looking in at a 53-man roster spot currently. While the receiver room in Pittsburgh is crowded, and the Steelers are unlikely to keep more than six wideouts, there have been questions about whether a young guy could steal the final spot from a veteran like Robert Woods. The speedy 5'9" receiver from Indiana made quite a case on Saturday, hauling in 2 catches for 55 yards and the game-winning TD from quarterback Skylar Thompson. If Williams wants to stick around and at least compete for a practice squad spot, it's important that he's able to prove that he's more than just a speedster, and grabbing jump balls from the hands of a defender is a good start. Williams wasn't the only offensive weapon who impressed. Rookie running back Max Hurleman also made his case for a roster spot on Saturday night. Thompson's connection with Hurleman shined in the two-minute drill to end the half, connecting on a pair of consecutive passes, one being a touchdown. While Hurleman's official position might be listed as running back, the Steelers view him as more than that. Hurleman has lined up out wide, as well as in the backfield, making him much more of a Swiss Army knife than a traditional runner. If he wants to stick around, Hurleman's versatility will be why he does so, and he will have to hope that he can usurp someone like Connor Heyward, who is a similar weapon in the passing game. Steelers' 2025 First-Round Pick Gets His First Start While guys like Hurleman and Williams fight for a roster spot, the rookie Harmon has his locked up. In fact, the Steelers have the utmost faith in the rookie, with Defensive Line Coach Karl Dunbar stating that he will be starting Week 1. "You can write that," Dunbar said earlier this summer. "He’s our starting left defensive end." Starting rookies immediately is not something that Pittsburgh typically does, and it shows that they see enough in Harmon to put him in right away. While the box score didn't pop for him on Saturday night, there was still plenty to like. Harmon was able to get in the backfield on multiple plays and create pressure -- something the Steelers have been looking for after moving on from Larry Ogunjobi earlier in the offseason. Harmon is going to add a vital piece to both the pass and run defense for Pittsburgh in 2025. The team is hoping to bounce back after a disappointing playoff performance in January that led to Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry rushing for nearly 200 yards and 2 touchdowns. Coming out of Oregon, Harmon was lauded for his ability to both stop the run and create pressure on quarterbacks, leading the FBS with 55 total pressures. Whether it be their first-round pick, or guys fighting on the bubble, there's no doubt that the rookies were a highlight of the team's preseason performance on Saturday. Whether they can stick around will be decided when the roster cutdown deadline passes on August 27th. Until then, they will be looking toward their next opportunity, when the Steelers take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on August 16th at 7 PM ET. Which rookie's performance were you most impressed by?
A recent trade pitch suggesting the Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell from the Pittsburgh Penguins is undeniably a bold and wild idea. With that in mind, it’s not the kind of trade that makes a ton of sense for Toronto, even if both players are legitimate goal scorers — especially considering what Toronto would have to give up to acquire both players. The likelihood that the Maple Leafs are seeking a trade for both wingers is low to begin with. That they’d be willing to part with a new trade acquisition, one of their more steady defensemen, a high-ceiling winger, and the team’s top prospect is an even more fascinating suggestion. Toronto Isn’t About To Abandon Their Game Plan The suggested trade was as follows: Maple Leafs Acquire: Bryan Rust ($5,125,000) Rickard Rakell ($5,000,000) Penguins Acquire: Nick Robertson ($1,825,000) Jake McCabe ($4,491,898) Matias Maccelli ($3,425,000) Easton Cowan ($873,500) While Rust and Rakell bring impressive goal-scoring credentials — combining for 66 goals last season — the Leafs have just added Matias Maccelli, a promising winger signed to what they hope is a value contract this offseason. On top of that, they’ve invested heavily in Jake McCabe on defense and have Easton Cowan, arguably their best prospect, waiting in the wings. Nick Robertson may be on the move, so his inclusion makes sense, but there’s been no suggestion, whatsoever, that the Leafs are open to moving any of the other three. No doubt, you have to give to get. That said, trading away these useful, cost-controlled assets for veterans like Rust and Rakell seems like a shortsighted mistake. Maccelli’s acquisition signals the Leafs are looking to build with youth, speed, and skill, while McCabe provides a steady defensive presence — something the Maple Leafs desperately need to maintain. Easton Cowan, meanwhile, presents arguably the best future replacement for the offensive output lost with Mitch Marner’s departure. Is There A World In Which Toronto Would Consider This Blockbuster Trade? Never say never. There is no doubt this would be a big swing by Toronto. And, it would add goal scoring in a significant way. That said, given the current roster construction, why would Toronto create obvious holes on their blue line, in the system, and move a player they believe could be a key offensive contributor in Maccelli? This would be GM Brad Treliving mortgaging everything on two Penguins players, who reportedly don’t want to go anywhere — one of whom has an eight-team no-trade clause. This trade screams 2025-25 Cup run, and an attempt to outscore other problems in the present day. Ultimately, this proposed trade serves as an interesting talking point, but it doesn’t quite pass the smell test for a Leafs team focused on a blend of youth and experience heading into the new season.
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