Its All About Viral News Around The World !: February 2020

Saturday, 29 February 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No. 3 Gonzaga hosts Saint Mary's to close out season

Third-ranked Gonzaga is expected to play deep into March Madness but the Zags are still reeling from a recent loss to BYU.

There also is the lack of depth issues that coach Mark Few occasionally mentions.

But the Bulldogs wrapped up their eighth straight West Coast Conference title and now look to close the regular season in style when they host Saint Mary's in the regular-season finale on Saturday night at Spokane, Wash.

Gonzaga (28-2, 14-1 WCC) wrapped up the regular season crown and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament with a solid 94-59 victory over San Diego on Thursday. The Bulldogs outscored the Toreros by 23 points in the second half.

"You have to give them credit for coming out and playing pretty good, but we stepped up our game in the second half," senior guard Admon Gilder told reporters afterward. "When we're able to play like that, we're really unstoppable."

It was a much-needed bounce-back performance after last Saturday's 91-78 loss at BYU, an outcome that halted a 19-game winning streak.

Gonzaga's strong showing came with its typical seven-man rotation with others playing once the game was out of reach.

That rotation has been just six players several other times due to senior forward Killian Tillie's knee and ankle injuries. Tillie has missed nine games.

Few has seen the effects in recent games -- and not just in the loss to BYU.

"We've had a long year with not much depth," Few said after Thursday's victory. "Guys are physically tired and they can get mentally tired, too. To come out, especially in the second half, our defensive intensity was really good and we were pretty darn efficient on the offensive end. I was proud of that."

The Bulldogs posted a 51-27 rebounding advantage against the Toreros and had five players score in double digits. Sophomore power forward Filip Petrusev led the way with 21 points and nine rebounds, while junior forward Corey Kispert scored 16 points and senior point guard Ryan Woolridge contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Gonzaga often gets challenged by Saint Mary's but the team's first meeting was a one-sided affair as the Bulldogs rolled to a 90-60 shellacking on the Gaels' home floor. Freshman forward Drew Timme had 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting while Petrusev recorded 18 points and 11 rebounds.

It was one of those type of performances that left Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett scratching his head in the aftermath of the game.

"I can't find a good stat on our part," Bennett said after that contest. "That should not happen. Pick a stat. Three assists for the game. ... We were not ready for the competition that you're about to engage in. It doesn't mean you're not excited to play but you're not ready for the battle that you have to be ready for."

Saint Mary's (24-6, 11-4) has responded to the humiliating loss by stringing together four straight wins and looks assured of a NCAA Tournament at-large berth.

The Gaels notched a 78-72 road victory over Santa Clara on Thursday with star senior point guard Jordan Ford scoring 33 points for his fifth 30-point effort of the campaign.

Ford, who scored 23 in the loss to Gonzaga, is averaging 20.9 points and has knocked down a team-best 74 3-pointers.

Junior forward Malik Pitts also has played well and is averaging 17.0 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds.

The Gaels have dropped 16 of the past 20 contests with Gonzaga.

But one of the victories was a big one as Saint Mary's stunned the Bulldogs 60-47 in last season's WCC tournament title game to notch its first-ever victory over a No. 1-ranked team.

--Field Level Media

New on Sports Illustrated: No. 25 Houston preps for AAC rival Cincy

No. 25 Houston has been focusing on the little things, such as lost possessions, missed free throws and bad decisions, during its week-long preparation for Sunday afternoon's key American Athletic Conference game against Cincinnati.

A share of first-place in the league standings will be on the line in Houston as the regular season heads into its homestretch.

The Cougars (21-7, 11-4 AAC) head home and return to the court after seven days off and on the heels of a 60-59 loss at Memphis on Feb. 22.

Caleb Mills scored 21 points, and Marcus Sasser added 18 points for the Cougars. Mills' jumper with four seconds to play hit back iron. Houston missed its last four shots.

Houston played without guard Quentin Grimes, its second-leading scorer at 11.8 points per game, who was out with was a hip pointer.

The Cougars' four conference losses have come by a combined margin of six points, with the latest coming in the defeat to the Tigers.

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson used extensive video sessions this week to illustrate the team's need to take advantage of earlier chances that are just as important as the end game.

"We're not losing these games because we're missing the last shot," Sampson said. "That's naive to think that. We're making too many (mistakes). Too many times we go to the free-throw line under five minutes and go 1-for-2. That's what is hurting this team, the mental mistakes. Let's see if they can beat us. Don't give it to them."

The Bearcats travel to the Bayou City after a 67-64 win at home over Wichita State on Feb. 23. Jarron Cumberland was just 3 of 11 from the floor but made 16 free throws as part of his team-high 24 points in the victory. Zach Harvey scored a career-high eight points, and Trevon Scott added eight points and 11 boards.

Cincinnati (18-9, 11-4) had gone to overtime in each of the four games prior to the win over Wichita State, matching the NCAA record, and were a shot away against the Shockers from heading to an extra session again.

"Well, at least we didn't go to overtime," Bearcats' coach John Brannen said. "That's the first thing I told the guys when we got back to the locker room."

Late defense was the key to Cincinnati's win, which allowed the Bearcats to remain tied with Houston and Tulsa atop the league standings.

"We made it about defense this week," Brannen said after the win. "We felt we needed to play better. We just haven't been playing well, and it started with our investment, our physical and emotional investment. I felt for 25 minutes, it was as good as it's been in a month."

Cincinnati has played a school-record seven overtime games (4-3) this season. The NCAA record for overtime games in a season is eight by Western Kentucky (1978), Portland (1984) and Valparaiso (1993).

The Bearcats rallied at home to beat then-No. 21 Houston 64-62 on Feb. 1 in the season's first meeting between the two teams.

--Field Level Media

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: No. 11 Louisville looks to rebound vs. Va. Tech

No. 11 Louisville not only is coming off Monday's loss at Florida State, the Cardinals are trying to deal with the thought of playing without injured junior center Malik Williams for an extended period of time.

Williams, averaging 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds, left the game early in the first half after suffering what appeared to be a serious ankle injury. When he returned to the bench, he was in tears wearing a boot on his left foot.

Williams, who has not practiced this week, said he's taking things "day by day." He said he has not yet been ruled out of Sunday's game against Virginia Tech at Louisville.

"I am just taking it day by day right now and not trying to rush it," Williams said during Louisville coach Chris Mack's radio show this week. "It could be tomorrow when I am ready. I'll know when it's time."

Before the 82-67 loss to Florida State, Williams had 11 or more points in five of Louisville's previous six games. He had 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 90-66 win over Syracuse on Feb. 19.

Mack said Williams' absence against the Seminoles was significant because he is Louisville's "best defender."

"On the defensive end, we are always going to miss Malik no matter who we play," Mack said. "He defends the rim. Very vocal. He sees the game."

Louisville (23-6, 14-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) will play Virginia Tech (15-13, 6-11) in its final home game of the season. The Cardinals are 16-1 at home this year.

Two starters -- forward Dwayne Sutton (9.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game) and center Steven Enoch (9.4 ppg.) -- will be honored on Senior Night.

The Hokies have dropped eight of their last nine games, including a 56-53 home loss to Virginia on Wednesday. The Hokies made 9 of 27 shots from 3-point range and rallied in the second half from a 15-point deficit to tie the game in the closing seconds.

Virginia Tech coach Mike Young shuffled his starting lineup, playing redshirt freshman forward Landers Nolley II off the bench for only the second time this season. True freshman John Ojiako made his first career start against Virginia and had two points and three rebounds in nine minutes.

Nolley led the Hokies with 13 points and had five rebounds in 32 minutes before fouling out.

Sophomore guard Isaiah Wilkins also started for only the fifth time this season. He did not score and had two rebounds in 10 minutes.

"I thought John had been playing well, and I'm trying to get him 21, 22, 23 minutes because I just feel that good about his direction as a player," Young said. "I thought Isaiah Wilkins helped the team. He stuck it up in there and played a good basketball game against Duke (11 points, five assists and three steals last weekend).

"Nothing more than that. I've always been more concerned with who finishes than I am who starts. Typically who finishes are those who are helping us win, and I thought the lineup we went with late in the second half did just that."

--Field Level Media

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Friday, 28 February 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Union-FC Dallas Preview

Following the most successful regular season in club history, the Philadelphia Union are poised to be even better in 2020.

With expectations high, the Union are likely in store for a stiff opening test on Saturday against host FC Dallas, which looks to do more than squeak into the playoffs this season.

In its celebratory 10th MLS season, Philadelphia set a club record with 16 wins and 55 points. The Union finished third in the Eastern Conference, but actually led the East for a good portion of the campaign. They also won their first playoff game before falling to Atlanta United FC.

All that is still worthy of praise, but it also raised the bar for what the Union are potentially capable of accomplishing going forward.

"We have to rely on each other and we believe in the cohesiveness of the group, and that our 11 together can beat any group of superstars, or whatever you like to call them," coach Jim Curtain told the Union's official website."We are a true team in that sense … We have to believe in everything that we do and that group mindset and mentality."

Curtain has plenty of talent to back that approach.

Kacper Przybylko broke out for 15 goals in his first MLS season while Alejandro Bedoya and Jamiro Monteiro make for a consistent due. Andre Blake, meanwhile, is turning into one of the top keepers in MLS.

One player who should be on the pitch Saturday in suburban Dallas is Fafa Picault, but just not in a Union kit he sported for his first three MLS seasons. Picault, who recorded 22 goals in those three years with Philadelphia, is now plying his trade for FCD, which grabbed the seventh and final playoff spot in the Western Conference last season.

Picault looks to stabilize an inconsistent left-wing position for Dallas, which has some of the league's best young talent in 19-year-old Jesus Ferreira (eight goals in 2019) and 20-year-old up-and-coming Unites State men's national team prospect Paxton Pomykal. Michael Barrios (five goals) also provides a solid presence in the FCD midfield.

"We're excited and building for this week," coach Luchi Gonzalez told Dallas' official website. "We love each other and we'll support each other to give everything for Saturday.

"Now, we need to be confident in how we work and bring it on Saturday."

Dallas went undefeated in its first nine all-time matches against Philadelphia (5-0-4), but has dropped two of the last three meetings. Including last season in suburban Philly, where FCD held a 1-0 lead before Corey Burke equalized in the 85th minute and Bedoya scored the go-ahead winner in the second minute of stoppage time to cap a rather improbable 2-1 comeback victory on April 6.

New on Sports Illustrated: Chelsea-Bournemouth Preview

Out to regroup from a disheartening loss, Chelsea attempt to strengthen their top-four position Saturday when they face relegation-threatened Bournemouth at Dean Court.

The scope of the rebuild under first-year coach Frank Lampard took on a different perspective Tuesday at home in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie versus German powerhouse Bayern Munich. Outclassed and outfoxed by Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski, it all went pear-shaped for the Pensioners (13-5-9) in a 25-minute span of the second half in a 3-0 defeat.

Lewandowski set up a pair of goals by Serge Gnabry shortly after the restart and then provided the gloss on the scoreline with his 39th goal in all competitions in the 76th minute. While Lewandowski is expected to miss the second leg in Munich on March 18 due to injury, Chelsea will play that match without defender Marcos Alonso, who was sent off late, and midfielder Jorginho, whose yellow card for dissent ruled him out of that contest.

"It was a difficult night," striker Olivier Giroud admitted to Chelsea's official website. "They were too strong. It's hard to say but they deserved to win. At half-time the feeling was we were matching them. We had a few good opportunities also. ... But they accelerated on the counter-attack in the second half. When they scored early, two goals in three minutes, psychologically it was hard.

"For now we need to focus on the Premier League first and finish in the top four. We need to put things right on Saturday and bounce back as soon as possible."

Giroud likely will get the call to lead the line for a third straight contest since Tammy Abraham appeared to tweak a hamstring injury during Tuesday's loss. The 22-year-old Abraham is tied for seventh in the Premier League with 13 goals but has gone five matches without one since striking versus Burnley on Jan. 11 and had been dealing with an ankle injury.

While Abraham may be sidelined again, Christian Pulisic may be among the 18 after missing two months with an adductor injury. The U.S. international has six goals and three assists in 22 matches across all competitions, and his absence has caused Mason Mount to play out of position on the wing as opposed to a more central role.

The questions at the other end of the pitch also persist as Willy Caballero again did little to distinguish himself. The Argentina international has conceded eight goals in four starts since supplanting Kepa Arrizabalaga, with Chelsea going 1-1-2 in those contests and failing to register a clean sheet.

All told, the Blues have recorded just seven shutouts in 39 matches in all competitions.

Bournemouth (7-5-15) will try to expose those defensive frailties, but a side known for their flowing offence in recent seasons have seen the goal spigot turned off this term. The Cherries have just 26 goals, only two better than the quartet of clubs tied for the Premier League low, and the paucity in attack is a key reason they enter this contest on 26 points, just two above the drop in 16th place.

Bournemouth are entering a rough patch of schedule - they also travel to champions-elect Liverpool and Wolverhampton among their next four matches starting with this contest -- and did themselves no favours last weekend with a 3-0 defeat at Burnley.

Eddie Howe could feel aggrieved considering the match turned against them in diabolical fashion via VAR in the second half when Harry Wilson had an equaliser chalked off for offsides and then hit with a penalty when it was ruled left back Adam Smith handled the ball prior to the counterattack that led to Wilson's goal.

Aaron Ramsdale was unable to stop Jay Rodriguez's penalty and Bournemouth were consigned to their 12th defeat in 16 league matches (3-1-12).

"It hinged on the first one," Howe said, referring to a first-half goal by Josh King that was also disallowed by VAR, when asked about the match changing on the second-half decisions. "I think the first one dictates the referee, whatever you call the VAR decision-maker, I think that decides the second one. The first one for me was a clear goal, it comes off Phil's shoulder.

"I don't know what to say because I don't want to get myself in trouble but it's a bitterly, bitterly disappointing day because we played really well in the first half and I think we tailed off mentally because of what happened in the game."

Bournemouth do at least have positive home form entering this match with back-to-back wins at Dean Court, but they are 2-1-4 in their seven meetings with the Big Six this term. Howe could draft Steve Cook back into his defence, while Jefferson Lerma could join him provided he has recovered from a back injury.

The Cherries are seeking their first top-flight double over Chelsea and a third straight win in this rivalry after recording a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Dec. 14. Dan Gosling's goal on 84 minutes proved decisive for Bournemouth, who were rampant in a 4-0 rout in last season's corresponding fixture.

New on Sports Illustrated: Burnley-Newcastle United Preview

Burnley's most productive run of the season has them residing within the top-half of the Premier League table.

The visiting Clarets look to remain there, and possibly move up the table, when they try to do the double over offensively-challenged Newcastle United on Saturday.

From Dec. 26-Jan. 11, Burnley (11-4-12) scored one goal whilst conceding eight during a four-game Premier League losing streak. Since then within the league, they've outscored their opponents 9-2 during a 4-1-0 stretch.

Their most resounding result of that span came with last weekend's 3-0 home win over Bournemouth. With star Chris Wood nursing an injury, Matej Vydra scored in his second straight contest and Dwight McNeil added a goal with an assist as the Clarets won their second consecutive match to sit 10th in the table.

"The main job for us is to stay in the Premier League, and then you never know what could happen," McNeil told Burnley's official website.

The good times kept coming this week when the club announced Wood, the team leader with 10 goals, will be available for this contest after sitting out last weekend with a hamstring issue.

"He's looking good," Burnley manager Sean Dyche said. "He's fit, so he comes back into the thinking. (Vydra) and (Jay Rodriguez) in the last couple of games have laid down a marker as well."

With all that up-front talent at the moment, Dyche might have a bit of a lineup dilemma for this match, but perhaps that's a good problem to have. Wood was the lone goal-scorer in a 1-0 home victory over Newcastle on Dec. 14.

Burnley, however, are 0-2-1 at Newcastle during the premier League era.

The Magpies (8-7-12), however, have had trouble scoring no matter where they've played of late. Their most recent Premier League goals came via Florian Lejeune, one minute apart in extra time to earn a 2-2 draw at Everton on Jan. 21.

Since then, Newcastle have been outscored 5-0 whilst going 0-1-2 over a three-game stretch - the last two being road defeats at Arsenal and Crystal Palace. The Magpies, 14th in the table, last won on Jan. 18, over Chelsea - their only league victory over a nine-game stretch.

"All season we've worked hard for the club, for the manager, for the fans - and we're going to keep doing that," captain Jamaal Lascelles told Newcastle's official website.

Newcastle last went four straight Premier League games without a goal early during the 2015-16 season.

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: Islanders bid to snap home losing streak vs. Bruins

The New York Islanders have had a hard time winning games of late, and that's certainly been the case against the Boston Bruins in recent seasons.

Looking to avoid a third consecutive loss, the Islanders also will aim to end a nine-game home losing streak against the NHL-leading Bruins on Saturday afternoon in Uniondale, N.Y.

New York is on solid ground in terms of playoff position in the Eastern Conference and has earned at least one point in four straight games, but it is amid a 2-4-2 stretch entering this matinee.

After falling in overtime to the rival New York Rangers on Tuesday, the Islanders failed to hold a late one-goal lead at St. Louis on Thursday and ended up falling 3-2 in overtime.

"We'll take the point, but we have another level," coach Barry Trotz told the Islanders' official website.

"We'll see at the end of the whole process if this is the one that got away or if this is the one that got us in (the playoffs)."

For the most part, New York has shown that other level by scoring 28 goals while going 5-0-2 at home this month. However, the Islanders also have yielded 19 goals in those games.

The Islanders have been outscored 38-15 while going 0-8-1 at home against the Bruins since last beating them there on Nov. 2, 2013. They fell in overtime 3-2 on Jan. 11. New York also is in the midst of a 1-6-2 overall rut against Bruins, but that victory came 3-2 in a shootout at Boston on Dec. 19.

The Bruins avoided a third straight loss by holding on for a 4-3 home win over Dallas on Thursday. David Pastrnak scored his league-leading 46th goal and added an assist while Brad Marchand also posted one of each to help raise Boston's point total to 92.

"We correct the mistakes and we believe in each other, we believe we have a good team," Bruins forward David Krejci told NHL.com. "We work hard."

The hard work put in by former Islander Jaroslav Halak appears to be paying off. He made 31 saves Thursday, and has a 1.83 goals-against average while winning six straight starts. Halak last faced New York in January 2014, before joining the team the next season.

Teammate Tuukka Rask has allowed 10 goals while losing his past two starts, but he has a stellar 1.11 goals-against average during a 6-0-1 stretch versus New York.

Pastrnak has 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in his past 10 games overall, but just one assist in his past three games against the Islanders.

Marchand, meanwhile, has three goals with nine assists during an eight-game point streak. He has failed to dent the scoresheet in three straight versus New York, however.

New York's Mathew Barzal, who leads the team with 56 points, has eight assists in his past five contests. He's totaled two goals with five assists in eight career games versus Boston.

Teammate Jordan Eberle has recorded five goals with two assists in the past five contests overall and Jean-Gabriel Pageau has two goals in as many games since the Islanders acquired him from Ottawa.

Semyon Varlamov has a 2.39 goals-against average while going 4-0-1 at home this month for New York. He has a 2.37 goals-against average in the two meetings with Boston this season.

Backup Thomas Greiss, who stopped 29 shots Thursday, has allowed at least three goals in five consecutive starts.

--Field Level Media

New on Sports Illustrated: Panthers aim to regain confidence against Blackhawks

The disheartened Florida Panthers will host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night in Sunrise, Fla.

Florida squandered an early two-goal lead and dropped a 5-3 decision to Toronto in a crucial home game on Thursday night. The Panthers trail the Maple Leafs by four points in the battle for the third playoff berth in the Atlantic Division.

"Let's try to recapture some confidence here at home," Florida coach Joel Quenneville said when asked about the game versus the Blackhawks. "Let's find a way to get two points."

Quenneville said his top line of captain Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Evgenii Dadonov didn't have enough puck possession. The trio was held without a point and combined for a minus-six rating.

"Everybody needs to play better, and that starts with me," said Barkov, who is second on the Panthers with 62 points. "We couldn't get a lot going (against Toronto)."

Hoffman scored his team-high 26th goal of the season against Toronto. Huberdeau tops the team with 77 points, but he has no goals and just one assist in his past three games.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has alternated a win with a loss for his past four games. The two-time Vezina Trophy recipient is 23-19-5 with a 3.26 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks -- who are in a rebuilding season and likely to miss the playoffs for the third straight year -- are coming off an impressive 5-2 win over the host Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

Veteran goalie Corey Crawford, 35, made 36 saves for just his second win in his past eight starts. He is 12-18-3 this season with a 2.88 GAA and a .914 SP.

Dominik Kubalik scored three goals -- all in the third period -- on Thursday.

Kubalik, a 24-year-old winger from the Czech Republic, leads all NHL rookies with 29 goals. He also leads all Blackhawks players in goals and has scored seven in his past seven games.

"I have no idea what's clicking -- I would like to know as well," said Kubalik, a seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2013.

"I've just been around the net."

Besides Kubalik, Chicago's stars are veterans Patrick Kane (28 goals, 78 points) and captain Jonathan Toews (16 goals, 54 points). Kane scored 44 goals last season, and Toews had 35.

The coaching matchup features Quenneville, who was fired by Chicago on Nov. 6, 2018, and 35-year-old Jeremy Colliton, who replaced him on the Blackhawks bench.

Quenneville, who led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles as their head coach, directed the Panthers to a 4-3 win in Chicago on Jan. 21 in their previous meeting this season. The Panthers received a hat trick from Frank Vatrano, and Quenneville got an ovation from Chicago's fans.

"That was a memorable event," Quenneville said of his reception and the win. "I'm thankful."

--Field Level Media

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New on Sports Illustrated: Southampton-West Ham United Preview

Whilst frustration might be at an all-time high for West Ham United this season, they are doing their best to remain positive with the belief times will get better before it's really too late.

Sitting atop the Premier League relegation zone and winless since New Year's Day, West Ham again try to taste victory and do the double over Southampton, one of the few teams they've actually beat this term, on Saturday at London Stadium.

One of the most storied teams in all of English football, West Ham (6-6-15) have been living with the reality of relegation for some time now. They've conceded 16 goals during an 0-2-5 rut since beating Bournemouth 4-0 on Jan. 1.

The Hammers gave a spirited effort and led 2-1 at Anfield over runaway leaders Liverpool well over the hour mark before the Reds' big guns of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane scored to pull out a 3-2 victory for the hosts.

Whilst the result moved Liverpool further toward their first Premier League title, it left West Ham at the top of the drop with 24 points, but only one point from safety.

"Performances like (against Liverpool) are what we need to get out of trouble," midfielder Robert Snodgrass told West Ham's official website. "We need to stop conceding goals. It's not rocket science, it's the basics of football. If you don't make mistakes, you give yourself a better chance to win the game.

"We know ourselves, as footballers, that if we keep playing that way, we will get points on the board … There's definitely belief there."

Perhaps a visit from Southampton (10-4-13) will increase that level of belief. The Saints managed to turn their own season around and currently sit 12th in the table, but they also lost 1-0 to the Hammers at home on Dec. 14. Sebastien Haller scored in the 37th minute for West Ham for their most recent road triumph.

Haller has six Premier League goals, but only one in nine games since facing Southampton.

The Saints, meanwhile, are 6-1-3 since that loss, but avoided a third consecutive defeat with last weekend's 2-0 home victory over Aston Villa. Shane Long scored early and Stuart Armstrong late for Southampton, who had totaled one goal in their previous two contests.

"In games like (that) it's always important to take your chances and make sure you put the game to bed as quickly as you can," Armstrong told Southampton's official website. "You know it's the Premier League, and teams can come back at you - we've seen that before. It's about being patient and seeing it through."

Whilst Southampton will be without key midfielder Nathan Redmond for the time being due to a muscle injury, defender Kyle Walker-Peters is back training and could be available for selection.

Southampton's Danny Ings ranks among the Premier League leaders with 15 goals, but has just one over a five-game stretch.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Liverpool-Watford Preview

After arguably the biggest threat to their unbeaten Premier League season, Liverpool look to right themselves and continue chasing history Saturday when they face relegation-threatened Watford at Vicarage Road in search of a record-setting 19th consecutive victory.

Perhaps it was the hangover from their midweek Champions League loss at Atletico Madrid, perhaps the pressure from trying to join Arsenal and Preston North End as the only unbeaten top-flight sides in English football history, but Monday's match against West Ham was one of the few times this season Liverpool (26-1-0) were involved in a slog.

The Merseysiders rallied for a 3-2 victory on second-half goals by Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, with right back Trent Alexander-Arnold playing a key role in the fightback with assists on Giorginio Wijnaldum's first-half goal and Mane's match-winner on 80 minutes. The 21-year-old has 12 assists - second only to Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in the Premier League - while doing so as a defender.

"I think we passed the moment where we treat him like a young boy, he is just a proper member of the squad," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told the club's official website regarding Alexander-Arnold. "Everybody has to contribute, everybody has to bring on the pitch what he is able to do - and the boys do a lot to bring him or Robbo (Andrew Robertson) in the position and save them there.

"I don't want to make the performance more than it is, I am completely happy with it, but that's how football works on the highest level. (There were) super moments of Gini, for example, where he just wins that decisive battle, Sadio really (good), Bobby chasing back and wins the ball. Thank God in our stadium (it is like) nearly scoring a goal (with) the celebration after Bobby wins a really important ball back."

The 18 straight victories since their only blemish - a 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Oct. 20 - are equal with Manchester City's record-setting run set from August to December 2017 and bettered their club mark of 17 set bridging this season and last season prior to the stalemate at Old Trafford. Liverpool have won eight straight road matches since their draw at United, conceding just three goals in that span.

Liverpool have won 35 of their last 36 league matches while going unbeaten in their last 44 (39-5-0) such contests, which is the fifth-longest among clubs in Europe's top five leagues.

"I really believe that the better you defend, the easier it is to attack," Liverpool assistant Pepijn Linders said. "The last game, we didn't attack - or we were not protected in the way we should be protected - so we didn't attack in the right way and that's why we had to run back and stop these counters much deeper than we are normally used to. The better we attack, the easier it is to defend. It's really related to each other.

"If you want to win, if you want to go far, you have to dominate everything. Each phase in the best way possible. We don't speak about perfection, but the best way possible. Be dominant in each phase and that's something we are good at. If we have to defend, we defend. If we have to attack, we attack."

Talisman and midfielder Jordan Henderson is expected to miss this contest with a hamstring injury as Klopp has an eye for him to return for Liverpool's second-leg round of 16 tie at home versus Atletico Madrid on March 11. This match also kicks off a busy stretch for the Reds, who also have a fifth-round FA Cup clash with Chelsea on Tuesday.

Much like West Ham on Monday, Watford (5-9-13) are in a similar plight with relation to the relegation scrap. The Hornets are second-bottom on 24 points, trailing West Ham on goal difference but also two points from safety.

The new manager bounce Nigel Pearson brought with his arrival has ebbed during a challenging stretch of fixtures, with the Hornets winless in their last five matches (0-2-3) after a 3-0 drubbing administered by Manchester United on Sunday.

Watford had trouble containing United's attack and failed to generate much offence themselves, often second-best while putting only two shots on target and taking seven overall - two fewer than United had on target.

"It's going to be a scrap to the end of the season," keeper Ben Foster told Watford's official website. "We gave them too much time and respect. We have to keep our heads up and keep fighting.

"Team spirit is going to be a huge part of this," said the goalkeeper. "Results in other games were kind to us this weekend. We know we've got plenty of quality in the dressing room, so we can't let things affect us emotionally."

Ismalia Sarr should be available for this match after a successful 20-minute runout versus United after missing the previous three games through injury, and right back Daryl Janmaat has returned to first-team training. This contest, though, may come too soon for Kiko Femenia as he continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury.

Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture at Anfield on a brace by Salah on either side of halftime. They have won four on the trot versus Watford - all by shutout - and are 7-1-0 in the last eight meetings since the Hornets' lone top-flight home win in the series, a 3-0 victory in December 2015.

New on Sports Illustrated: Crystal Palace-Brighton & Hove Albion Preview

Whilst Crystal Palace managed to end their lengthy Premier League winless spell last week, Brighton & Hove Albion are still stuck in one of their own.

Palace can win consecutive league games for the first time in almost three months by extending the Seagulls' top-flight winless stretch to eight matches on Saturday at the Amex.

There was a much-needed sigh of relief when time went full on Crystal Palace's 1-0 home victory over Newcastle United last Saturday. Patrick van Aanholt's goal at the end of the first half was enough for the Eagles (8-9-10) to snap a three-game losing streak and end their 0-4-3 league rut.

The result left Palace with a club-record 33 points through 27 Premier League matches, and 13th in the table. The triumph should also give them some momentum to look ahead confidently whilst trying to win back-to-back top-flight matches for the first time since Nov. 30 and Dec. 3.

"Look at what's in front of you and look at what you can get to," veteran defender Gary Cahill told Crystal Palace's official website. "Obviously, we realise we've had three not-so-good results, but along the way through we've had some good performances. (Last Saturday), I thought we deserved the win."

Palace had to work much harder just to earn a point through a 1-1 draw with Brighton at home on Dec. 16. Wilfried Zaha scored the equaliser in the 76th minute after Neal Maupay opened the scoring for the Seagulls on 54 minutes.

Brighton (6-10-11), 15th in the table and five points back of Palace, are all too familiar with the draw. They've recorded one in each of their last three Premier League games and are 0-5-2 since beating Bournemouth 2-0 at home on Dec. 28.

It was Maupay again who came through to help earn his team a point via last Saturday's 1-1 draw versus Sheffield United. His team-leading eighth goal of the season equalised on the half-hour mark.

"We'll look at the Sheffield United match to see what we did well and where we can improve. We'll (continue) to work hard this week and be ready on Saturday to get a win," Maupay, who snapped an eight-game league goal drought, told Brighton's official website.

Whilst Maupay ended his own scoring rut, Palace leading scorer Jordan Ayew (six league goals) has gone five straight top-flight games without a goal. Ayew does not have a goal in three career matches versus Brighton.

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

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New on Sports Illustrated: 2020 NFL Combine: Running Back Breakdown

The running back class heading into the 2020 NFL Draft is loaded with talent and they all heaped praise on one another at the NFL Combine.

The group of running backs heading into the 2020 NFL Draft is loaded with talent and they all heaped praise on one another at the NFL Combine. Jonathan Taylor, D'Andre Swift, and J.K. Dobbins headline the incoming rookie rushers but there's more than a dozen backs with promising potential.

Thursday, 27 February 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: No. 23 Ohio State walking tall into Nebraska

Nebraska's downward spiral has reached an historic low, but the Cornhuskers can restore some dignity if they can pull off the Big Ten Conference upset of visiting No. 23 Ohio State on Thursday.

A 71-59 defeat at Illinois on Monday not only extended Nebraska's losing streak to 12 games but marked the first time in the 123-year history of the program that the Huskers have lost 20 games in a season (7-20, 2-14 Big Ten). It came with four regular-season games left to play.

"I'm proud of the guys for continuing to come out every time we step on the floor and battle," Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. "When you go on a streak like we're on right now, the easy thing to do is shut down. But our guys continue to come in and work and try to get things corrected.

"That's what it's all about, to try and create some habits and hopefully get a little momentum going into next year with the way that we're playing with effort."

The Buckeyes (18-9, 8-8) can thank the Cornhuskers in part for helping them rebound after their own skid.

Ohio State was ranked No. 2 in the country on Dec. 29, but it entered a Jan. 14 home game vs. Nebraska with a four-game losing streak and defeats in five of seven games.

The Buckeyes won 80-68, and although they lost the next two games, they since have reeled off six wins in the past eight games.

A 79-72 victory Sunday over Maryland, ranked No. 7 at the time, was Ohio State's fourth over a top-10 team this season, the others coming against Villanova, North Carolina and Kentucky.

Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann knows the competitive Big Ten doesn't allow teams to exhale, so he's worried about going on the road, where the Buckeyes are 3-6 overall. Their 2-6 away record in conference play includes a 70-57 loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 9 and an 85-76 defeat against Iowa on Feb. 20.

"I think the real question will be how do we respond to this going on the road where we've not performed the last couple games, and what's going to be our response," Holtmann said. "Are we going to somehow be complacent with (the Maryland game)? I think that's really going to test the maturity of our group."

Both teams faced adversity in their most recent games. Nebraska point guard Cam Mack did not play vs. Illinois because of illness, and the Cornhuskers' offense was stagnant without him.

"Obviously, we could have executed better, but when you're missing a guy who plays 35, 38 minutes every game, you're going to struggle with possessions," Hoiberg said. "Without Cam in the lineup, we got a little disorganized at times on the offensive end."

Mack's status for the Thursday game was unknown.

Ohio State starting forward Kyle Young, who averages 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, sustained an ankle sprain during the Maryland game. Holtmann said that Young's status would be determined after the shootaround Thursday morning.

--Field Level Media

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New on Sports Illustrated: Punter Michael Turk Stars at Combine Bench Press

Punter Michael Turk's combine bench press totals were better than multiple offense linemen at the NFL 2020 combine.

Former Arizona State punter Michael Turk might only weigh 226 pounds, but he was able to set a modern punter record with 25 reps during the NFL combine's 225-pound bench press.

Turk's performance on Thursday was the most by a punter since 2003,

per NFL Research. It was also better than more than a dozen offensive linemen at the 2020 combine and better than all but one tight end who took part in the event on Thursday.

Historically, Turk's total is also greater than what Jadeveon Clowney, Frank Clark and DeMarcus Lawrence recorded during their recent combine appearances.

The Sun Devils punter joined ASU after transferring from Lafayette. Last season he averaged 46.0 yards per punt on 59 punts, which ranked 11th in the FBS and led the Pac-12.

Turk's uncle, Matt, was an NFL punter for 17 seasons with the Texans, Redskins, Dolphins, Jaguars, Jets and Rams.

He is near the top of most punter Big Board rankings.

New on Sports Illustrated: Thunder, Kings to put solid runs to the test

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trying to bolster their position in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

The Sacramento Kings have been doing their best to get back into the playoff mix.

On Thursday night, the two meet in Oklahoma City trying to continue their upward trajectories.

The Thunder have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last month-plus, winning 13 of their last 16 games. Oklahoma City comes into Thursday's game having won four consecutive, including all three after the All-Star break.

Sacramento comes in on a hot streak of its own, having won three consecutive games and six of its last eight.

The Kings have started their four-game road trip - in a span where they'll play six of seven away from Sacramento - with back-to-back wins.

Oklahoma City hasn't made it easy on themselves but keeps figuring out ways to win, including in Tuesday night's victory in Chicago. The Thunder led that game by as many as 24 points, but that lead was wiped out by the time the fourth quarter started. Oklahoma City had to fight back to hold off the Bulls 124-122.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan said his team is at a point where he's making minor tweaks rather than overhauls to try to pull out their best.

"I think what we've got to do is we've got to make small, incremental changes toward getting better," Donovan said.

One of those changes could be the re-emergence of guard Terrance Ferguson.

In the first seven games after he returned from an eight-game absence due to personal reasons, Ferguson had scored just four points combined, making 1 of 10 from the field before Tuesday.

Against the Bulls, he had 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting.

"I think it took him awhile to get back into the flow," Donovan said. "His timing was off. I think he was fouling a little too much. I think his shot really wasn't there.

"Terrance has always been a really, really good catch-and-shoot player, especially from the corners. ... Hopefully he'll be able to consistently keep getting better."

That would add depth with the continued emergence of rookie Luguentz Dort, who remains on a two-way contract but who has become a fixture in the starting lineup since Ferguson was out.

Sacramento's success recently has been at least in part to its quickened tempo. After the Kings were near the top of the league in pace a year ago, they had slowed considerably under Luke Walton this season dropping to No. 24.

But over their last five games, Sacramento was tied for seventh in the league in pace, heading into play Wednesday.

"With these final 28 games coming out of the break, pushing the pace was one of those things that we want to make sure, no matter how the season ends, we go into the offseason with that in mind," Walton said. "We're continuing to stress our transition defense and some other key points as well."

Sacramento point guard De'Aaron Fox scored 21 points in Tuesday's 112-94 road win over the Golden State Warriors for his third straight 20-point effort.

Fox temporarily left the contest with groin tightness before returning, and he is continuing to deal with a sore left shoulder.

"It's motivating," veteran swingman Kent Bazemore said of Fox playing through the ailments. "You can see him wincing out there, but he's pushing through. It means a lot that he's bought in. We have his back and he is still demanding a lot of attention, and dominating the game."

Thursday's game is the final one between the teams this season. The Kings and Thunder have split their first two games, with both of those meetings coming in Sacramento.

--Field Level Media

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New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Ex-LSU TE Thaddeus Moss Found to Have Broken Foot at Combine

Thaddeus Moss, the son of Randy Moss, will need surgery after discovering a broken bone in his foot.

Former

LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss's medical exam at the 2020 NFL combine revealed the tight end had a fracture in his right foot that will require surgery, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold.

Moss, son of legendary NFL WR Randy Moss, went through the NFL combine's medical examination on Tuesday where doctors discovered he had a fracture to his fifth metatarsal bone. The recovery time for the expected procedure usually lasts between six to eight weeks, meaning Moss should be ready for the start of his rookie season.

The former Tiger is the No. 7 overall TE on Sports Illustrated's Kevin Hanson's latest Big Board.

Moss started his NCAA career at NC State where he had just six receptions for 49 yards as a freshman in 2016.

He then sat out 2017 due to transfer rules and missed the 2018 season due after needing multiples surgeries to repair a fracture in his left foot. Moss recorded 47 catches for 570 yards and four touchdowns last year. He shined during LSU's national title win over Clemson, hauling in five catches for 36 yards and two scores.

Despite the injury, Moss took part in the measurement portion of the combine. His combine measurable are as followed.

Height: 6'1 7/8''
Weight: 250 lbs.
Hand Size: 9 7/8''
Arm: 31 7/8''
Wingspan 78 2/8''

Per Legwold, Moss was at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday night, but will leave Indianapolis on Friday.

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New on Sports Illustrated: Being Scott Drew: How College Basketball's Mr. Rogers Turned Baylor Into a Powerhouse

Scott Drew took over Baylor after the darkest scandal in college basketball history. Here's how Drew turned the Bears into one of the year's best teams.

WACO, Texas — Scott Drew doesn’t want to be doing this. He’d rather not have a sitdown interview in his office right now, less than an hour after

his Baylor basketball team’s first loss in 105 days, in the biggest home game in program history. The timing is all wrong.

On the table in front of him is the box score from Kansas 64, Baylor 61. There are a few handwritten notes on the paper, the feedback from a quick postgame meeting with his staff. Drew is still wearing his gray suit from the game, tie still cinched tight around his neck, missed free throws and Jayhawks lob dunks still crowding his brain.

He hasn’t let go, and he won’t let go until he’s watched the video at least once, at home, alone, examining the errors that left No. 1 Baylor three points in arrears of No. 3 Kansas. That’s what he’d rather be doing right now.

“I watch it soon as I can after games, especially losses,” Drew said. “Winning’s a little easier. You can put that one off and go get a meal. Losing, it’s usually ride home, shower, then watch it.

“Close games for coaches are the worst. The coach goes over every possession—what could I have done better?”

That self-examination and self-flagellation can wait, though. Today there are a few guests to attend to after hosting the biggest game of the 2019-20 college season nationally, and Drew will do it with a torrent of enthusiasm.

A big part of being Scott Drew is appearing absolutely overjoyed to be doing this interview that he really doesn’t want to be doing. He greets the reporter with a hug—not a half-assed bro hug, but a two-armed, long-lost-relative embrace. He proudly introduces the reporter to former Bear standout Curtis Jerrells, now playing professionally in Italy but back in town for this game. The internal postgame angst has been coated over with a thick veneer of charm.

If it weren’t for the occasional pursed lips and furrowed brow, you’d think Scott Drew is having the time of his life doing this interview he doesn’t want to do after a gut-churning loss. If the interview lasts all day, he’s there for it. There were so many days—months, years—when nobody much cared about his Baylor basketball program, and now the world wants in.

So he’s got the door wide open.

His entire coaching life, Drew has sold hope like it’s a miracle drug. He’s sold it like a true believer, trying to convert the masses into believing in Baylor. He is so over-the-top positive that it’s seen as a negative by some. Is he real or is he a fake?

He comes across as the Mr. Rogers of college basketball, and Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood is not the college hoops neighborhood. It is considerably less neighborly. It is a cutthroat, cynical neighborhood that is at odds with Drew’s public countenance.

“He has an optimism, a sense of faith and a sense of family and togetherness that is real,” said ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla, a Texas resident who knows the Big 12 better than anyone. “People said early on he’s a phony, he’s a charlatan. But the more you see it, you know it’s real stuff. He’s like that Sunday school preacher, but he believes what he’s preaching. Optimism, with him, is like breathing.”

***

He had a role model, of course. Scott Drew is Homer Drew all over again, a font of positivity on a bigger stage.

“I get it from my dad,” Scott says. “I’m a glass-half-full guy.”

Homer was an assistant coach at LSU from 1972-76, then unplugged himself from the high end of college hoops to become the head coach at NAIA school Bethel College in Indiana. The move was at least in part driven by wanting to spend more time with his young family. After 11 straight winning seasons there, Homer moved to Indiana University-South Bend for one season and then got the head-coaching job at Division I Valparaiso, which also is in northwest Indiana.

Homer Drew was a largely unknown coach at Valpo, a guy who kept his job through five losing seasons to start that tenure in part because he was too nice to fire. Then the program took off in the mid-1990s, an ascendance that coincided with Scott coming to work for Homer as an assistant and younger son Bryce enrolling as a player.

Scott’s playing career is virtually nonexistent, despite being the son of a coach and the oldest sibling to two stars, Bryce and sister Dana. Scott stopped playing basketball after his sophomore season at Valparaiso High School and focused on tennis, hoping to earn a college scholarship in that sport, but it didn’t happen. He played tennis for a couple seasons at Butler but did not earn a varsity letter.

“People ask me if I’m jealous of my brother’s coaching success, having the No. 1 team in the country,” said Bryce Drew, who coached at Valpo and Vanderbilt until being fired in 2019. “He probably got some of those same questions growing up as my brother. But he was always happy for my success as a player, always pushing me to get to the NBA and be as good as I could be.”

Coaching was in Scott’s veins. He worked with Bryce and Dana on some of their youth league teams, and became a student manager for Barry Collier at Butler.

Homer pushed law school. Scott went into the family business instead.

Shortly after Homer, Scott and Bryce came together at Valpo, the program took off. With Scott spearheading an overseas recruiting movement, there were nine straight winning seasons and six NCAA tournament appearances. That run was highlighted by Homer drawing up one of the most famous plays in March Madness lore, resulting in Bryce sinking a game-winning shot at the buzzer to beat Mississippi in the 1998 first round. That Valpo team made the only Sweet 16 appearance in school history.

Along the way, Homer charmed everyone with his pleasant personality. Scott learned more from his dad than just Xs and Os.

“My dad always treated everybody like family,” Scott said. “I think he’s a great man, and I try to emulate that.”

When Homer retired in 2002, Scott was the no-brainer choice to succeed him. It looked like the Drew dynasty would continue at Valpo for many more years, and it did—just not the way anyone envisioned.

***

One year into his Valpo tenure, Scott Drew and assistant Matthew Driscoll were at the annual coaches gathering hosted by David and Dana Pump, college basketball networkers of some renown and notoriety. (There are few clean connections in the sport, and the Pumps have their critics in and around the game.) It was August 2003, and Valpo was coming off a 20-11 season and NIT appearance.

The darkest scandal in NCAA basketball history was simultaneously blowing up at Baylor. On Aug. 8, Dave Bliss was forced to resign as coach of the Bears in the wake of one player (Carlton Dotson) murdering another (Patrick Dennehy). In order to cover up NCAA violations, Bliss concocted a story that smeared Dennehy after his death—alleging that Dennehy was a drug dealer who used the money from those transactions to pay his college tuition, when in fact Bliss had paid him under the table.

Bliss resigned during the Pump outing. Driscoll, in talking to then-NBA coach Tim Floyd at the gathering, found out that Floyd had a connection at Baylor. After a few phone calls, Scott Drew was in play to become the next coach of the Bears.

Driscoll told his boss: “You’re young, you’re Christian and you’re full of energy. And it’s so bad there, you can be bad and still look good because you’re so positive.”

Sounded good in theory, but it would be quite difficult in practice. Bryce Drew attended his brother’s introductory press conference at Baylor and was worried about what Scott had gotten into.

“It wasn’t at ground level,” Bryce said. “It was way below ground level. But I don’t think he ever looked back or had a doubt.”

Scott’s sudden departure freed up Homer to come out of retirement and coach Valpo for another eight seasons. For the first two seasons, at least, Homer had the better team at the mid-major level than Scott had in the Big 12.

Leaving a consistently successful, mom-and-pop operation at Valpo for the cesspool of Baylor looked like career suicide. Scott Drew didn’t see it that way.

“When he left Valpo to go there it looked like a ridiculous move,” Fraschilla said. “Scott inherited one of the worst messes in NCAA history. But he came in with an optimism that was almost naive.”

The naivety was real. Drew came to Waco talking about going to the Final Four and one day winning a national championship. He barely had a program.

“There’s not been a worse situation in college athletics,” said Driscoll, now the head coach at North Florida. “Ever.”

Said Kelly Drew, Scott’s wife: “There were some years going into the season you were just hoping to get a win in the Big 12. One win.”

Their first Baylor team had six scholarship players. Taking over a program in August, just a couple of months before the season started, they were so desperate for bodies that they held an open tryout on campus. Turnout was surprisingly robust.

“I was so excited,” Drew said. “Our staff and I walked in and there are a lot of good-looking athletes.”

The only problem—many of them weren’t Baylor students. They heard about a tryout and came to campus thinking they could join the team without being enrolled.

The search for players even extended to a Fazoli’s one day. Drew and Driscoll were there for lunch when they saw a 6-foot-7, athletic-looking young man, so they asked him if he was a Baylor student. The guy said he was a sophomore at the school, and the coaches told him to come by their offices and talk to them about joining the team.

They never saw him again. After scouring the dorms looking for him, Drew and Driscoll figured out he wasn’t a student after all.

Baylor not only had no players and a major NCAA investigation ongoing, there were few other trappings of a big-time basketball program. The locker room was archaic, the transportation was modest, the budget was small.

“We took charters to Lubbock,” Driscoll quipped. “But they were buses, not a plane.”

The job got tougher two years in, when the NCAA hammered Baylor for Bliss’ sins. Among the penalties: the Bears couldn’t play any non-conference games in the 2005-06 season. Their first game was Jan. 11, and they went 4-13 against a Big 12-only schedule.

Drew was undaunted. Playing from way behind and unwilling to take as long to rebuild as most people expected, he embarked on a two-pronged recruiting strategy: players and donors. He relentlessly attacked both, speaking to every Baylor alumni group he could find and chasing on-court talent everywhere.

Donations were raised to buy a golf cart for whisking recruits around campus. More money was raised for a smoked-glass door in the locker room, in hopes of trying to make it look better. (“We had nothing else to sell,” Driscoll said.) Finally, a donor was lined up to remodel the whole locker room, which freed up the staff to get more creative in other areas.

Baylor arranged an elaborate and intricately video presentation for recruits when they came into Drew’s office. Once the lights were flipped on, a 17-second timer starter that gave coaches the chance to get a recruit to the couch. Then the lights would dim, a screen would raise up and a highlight reel would play, tailored to that specific recruit.

“Everything was recruiting,” Driscoll said. “Coach always said, ‘We can be the best coaches in the world but we’re not going to win without talent.’ “

Drew tried everything to make Baylor trendy. He asked the car dealer that supplied the staff’s cars to put tricked-up rims on Driscoll’s car. Driscoll, 43 years old at the time, protested.

“He said, ‘Drisc, kids love rims. Get the rims,’“ Driscoll recalled. “I got the rims. The were pretty nice."

After four straight losing seasons, Drew finally had his breakthrough. In 2007-08, the Bears won 20 games in a season for the first time in 20 years and Drew scheduled a Selection Sunday watch party for the team and fans. CBS sent a film crew to the party in anticipation of an NCAA tournament bid.

As the selection show unfolded, Baylor’s excitement turned to dread. Pairing after pairing was revealed, and there was no sign of the Bears. Finally, as the last pairing was about to be revealed, Driscoll saw the CBS camera man go to flip on the light on his camera and knew—Baylor was in.

“My heart and my adrenaline went straight uphill,” Driscoll said. “I don’t know if I ever cried so quickly or so long.”

***

Baylor’s success did not come without side effects. Drew recruited aggressively against the other powers in the state, taking some shots that were not well received. He sent a flier to recruits that featured a picture of Drew standing between then-Texas Tech coach Bob Knight and then-Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie, with the caption: “Which of these Big 12 coaches has signed a McDonald’s All-American?” There were red Xs covering the pictures of Knight and Gillispie.

Knight got in Drew’s face about that at Big 12 media days, and then-Texas coach Rick Barnes also fired publicly at Drew. “There’s a long line that he knows he can’t cross with me,” Barnes said. Coaches around the country rolled their eyes when Drew hired AAU coach Dwon Clifton in an unconcealed attempt to land superstar John Wall. (It didn’t work, he went to Kentucky.)

Drew wound up apologizing for the flier, but not for his overall approach. He was going to keep mixing it up.

The aggressive approach soon begat a new tag: cheater. The more big-time recruits Drew landed, the more people in his profession were sure he was cutting corners. In 2012, the NCAA caught up to Drew and Baylor women’s coach Kim Mulkey, sanctioning them for impermissible phone calls to recruits. Drew was suspended for the first two Big 12 games of the 2012-13 season, and the program was put on three years’ probation.

The NCAA hit was all the proof some critics needed to label Drew a phony—an outspoken Christian in public and a guy cutting corners in private. But there have been no major NCAA issues since then, and the success has continued.

“He overdid it with the relentless recruiting,” Fraschilla said. “He did some things that rubbed people the wrong way. No question, he’s matured over his 17 years (at Baylor).”

Those who didn’t like Drew could at least take solace in one thing: even with all the talent he was bringing in, the Bears weren’t getting to the Final Four. He made regional finals in 2010 and ’12, but lost both times to the eventual national champion (Duke in ’10 and Kentucky in ’12). There were some other early tourney flameouts.

Thus the storyline was altered again—Scott Drew could recruit, but he couldn’t coach. He was a lightweight on the sidelines with a gimmick zone defense who would get exposed in the caldron of tournament pressure.

Eventually, Drew altered his recruiting approach—he chased fewer five-stars and more developmental prospects who competed with a hunger that helped compensate for any lack of talent. He combed the transfer market for players who would fit his program. He embraced the new roster management mantra for college basketball success in the one-and-done era: get old and stay old.

“It’s not quite Villanova, but it’s Villanova-esque,” Fraschilla said. “They’ve done a tremendous job of player development, and identifying guys who fit what they do.

“I was one of those guys early on who wasn’t sure how good a coach he was. But the Scott Drew Can’t Coach Crew has left the station. They’re gone. There’s absolutely a healthy respect for him in the league as a coach. I don’t even think it’s grudging respect anymore.”

This year’s team is Drew’s coaching masterpiece. A roster that features a Division III transfer (big man Freddie Gillespie), a transfer from UNC-Asheville (MaCio Teague), a transfer from Auburn (Davion Mitchell) and a couple of steals from the state of Louisiana (Mark Vital and Jared Butler) pieced together a 23-game winning streak and took Baylor to the top of the polls for several weeks.

Along the way, a guy known for his zone defense threw that out and has played man-to-man almost the entire season. Drew simply believed his current personnel—shorter, more athletic—is better suited to man than zone. The decision has proved prescient; this is the best defensive team Drew has ever had.

The regular season built to a crescendo last Saturday in Waco. ESPN’s College GameDay show came to town. So did a dozen former Bears players. Baylor super fans Chip and Joanna Gaines, the husband-and-wife power couple behind the Magnolia home decor franchise, were in the house as well.

It was the biggest show ever to hit Baylor basketball. It fell just short of perfect when Kansas beat the Bears. And now Scott Drew is sitting in his office entertaining visitors, when all he really wants to do is go home and watch game film.

***

There will be pressure this March. More pressure than Drew and Baylor have ever experienced. The Bears are a near-lock for their first-ever No. 1 seed, and expectations of their first Final Four in 70 years will be justifiably high.

If Drew accomplishes that career-validating milestone, you’d think a more basketball-centric school might throw a massive payday at a 49-year-old who is just now hitting his coaching prime. But even after 17 years, this might be the only job Scott Drew needs. An outspoken Christian at a Baptist school, in charge of a program he personally raised from the rubble.

“Scott fits like a glove,” Fraschilla said. “I’m not sure he can wear his faith on his sleeve like he does if he’s at Michigan or Maryland or some other places. He fits Central Texas like Chip and Joanna. It’s perfect.”

The postgame office interview is finally over, but Scott Drew still doesn’t want to rush his visitor out. Anything else he can do? How about a Baylor basketball T-shirt?

It's time for a goodbye hug. Both arms. The Mr. Rogers of college basketball hopes you enjoyed the visit to his neighborhood.

Philippines volcano: Residents allowed to visit island

Philippines residents briefly allowed to return to homes near the Taal volcano find haunting scenes.

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Leap years and why we need them

It's a leap year which means there's an extra day in the calendar - 29 February 2020. But why do we need it?

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Coronavirus: On the front line in Wuhan

The BBC speaks to a Chinese doctor who has been on the front line of fighting Coronavirus in Wuhan.

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Burst water main leaves drivers stranded

Flooding in Houston led to cars being submerged and people having to take refuge on their roofs.

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New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Wednesday, 26 February 2020

Trump names VP Pence man in charge of coronavirus response

The US President held a press conference to reassure the public amid infection fears.

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Afghan peace talks: The woman who negotiated with the Taliban

Fawzia Koofi's life changed under the Taliban and they tried to kill her - but she talked to them.

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Bernie Sanders: 17 things the Democratic front-runner believes

The Democratic candidate has promised a political revolution. But what actually are his stances?

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'After the coral ban, I lost everything'

Thousands of Indonesian coral farms had to close after an export ban, but a policy U-turn offers hope.

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Forced sterilisation in South Africa: They removed my uterus

Bongekile Msibi is one of 48 women forcibly sterilised at state hospitals in South Africa.

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New on Sports Illustrated: LeBron James Out Thursday vs. Golden State (Groin)

The Lakers have a commanding five-game lead on the Western Conference's No. 1 seed.

LeBron James will miss just his third game of the season on Thursday when the

Lakers travel to play the Warriors. The team announced Wednesday that James is out with a sore groin.

Fellow Los Angeles star Anthony Davis is probable with an elbow injury.

James, a 16-time All-Star, has bounced back from his injury-shortened 2018-19 season, averaging averaging 25.5 points, a league-leading 10.6 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game. The Lakers (44-12), largely behind the play of James and Davis, have a strong grasp on the Western Conference's No. 1 seed and hold a five game cushion over the No. 2 Nuggets.

On Tuesday night, James recorded his first 40-point game of the season as he outdated Zion Williamson to help the veteran-laden Lakers prevail over the upstart Pelicans.

The Lakers are 18-0 when James scores 30 points this season.

"He's delivering special performances for us all season," Los Angeles head coach Frank Vogel said on Tuesday night. "We don't take it for granted. We are where we are in large part of what he does on a night-in, night-out basis."

Last year against the Warriors, James suffered a torn left groin, which proved to be the most significant injury of his career. One of the two games he missed earlier this year was also a result of groin discomfort.

Golden State enters Thursday matchup with a league-worst 12-46 record. Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.

At least five dead in Milwaukee shooting at Molson Coors beer company

The gunman was also killed during the shooting in the mid-western state of Wisconsin.

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'Scent of terror' created in protest against Moscow perfume store

A team in Moscow has created the putrid scent, in a protest against plans for a perfume store in a historic building with a terrible past.

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Tuesday, 25 February 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Teams Strongly Opposed to Keeping Pass Interference Review Rule

The league's competition committee voted on a number of rules in its annual postseason surgery.

NFL teams are overwhelmingly opposed to keeping the rule that made pass interference reviewable by instant replay last season, according to results from an offseason survey conducted by the league's competition committee.

Per the NFL Network's Judy Battista, of the 29 teams that were asked about making the rule permanent, only eight said yes, while 21 said no. Three did not respond.

When 22 teams responded to a question about extending the rule for one more season, 17 teams said no and only five said yes.

The results are non-binding and don't necessarily mean that the rule, which was only first voted in last offseason, will be removed. But it stands to reason the rule will be a point of debate this offseason.

"Overall the results were not great," Green Bay Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said Monday, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "And I think it really is putting the New York [officiating] office in a very difficult position. ... But it's still pretty early [and] we're looking at different options."

At least 24 of the 32 owners would have to vote to keep the rule for it to remain in place.

The Washington Post also reported that according to the survey, 13 teams thought that interference-related replay rulings made by the officiating department in New York changed from week to week.

Reviewable pass interference was largely born out of one horrifically blown call in the 2019 NFC championship game, when officials failed to flag Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman for a full-speed, helmet-to-helmet hit on Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis before the arrival of the ball, deep in Los Angeles territory, late in a tied game.

The Rams would go on to defeat the Saints in overtime and there was in turn a collective frustration that New Orleans might have missed out on Super Bowl LIII because of an officiating error.

The rule was a frequent topic of conversation this season and some found it to be revealing of the league's inability to respond to any number of crises.

New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Monday, 24 February 2020

Brazil: Murder rate spikes in Ceará state as police strike

Nearly 150 people have been killed in the north-eastern Ceará state in the first days of the strike.

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France rock riddle contest gives meaning to mysterious inscription

Two winners split a €2,000 prize for deciphering a riddle on a rock on a beach in western France.

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Coronavirus: The race to find the source in wildlife

From animals to humans, how did the deadly coronavirus make the leap? We look at the scientific evidence.

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Hungary's new patriotic education meets resistance

The right-wing government aims to instil national pride - but teachers criticise a new curriculum.

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New on Sports Illustrated: No title

Sunday, 23 February 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Black History Month: Pumpsie Green Made History as the First Black Red Sox Player

Green became the first player on a team rife with a racist past.

This February, Sports Illustrated is celebrating Black History Month by spotlighting a different iconic athlete or group of athletes every day. Today, SI looks back on the legacy of Pumpsie Green.

Pumpsie Green became the first African-American player in the history of the Boston Red Sox in 1959. They were the last team to desegregate in MLB.

The Red Sox, under owner Tom Yawkey, were one of the most racist organizations across all of professional sports.

Yawkey systemically used racial slurs to refer to African-Americans and poured dollars into the pockets of segregationist politicians in his home state of South Carolina.

Pinky Higgins, Boston's general manager, once vowed, "There'll be no n------ on this ball club as long as I have anything to say about it."

Yawkey had plenty of chances to sign black players—most notably, when they hosted Jackie Robinson for a tryout in 1945—but he always declined to do so.

Even the manager in 1959—the season Green was eventually called up—once said he would never have a black player on his team for as long as he had a say on the matter.

That manager resigned, citing alcoholism. Three weeks later, Green was in the big leagues.

Under this environment, Green stepped up and became a member of the Red Sox, 12 years after Jackie Robinson suited up for the Brooklyn Dodgers. By the time Green became the Red Sox's first African-American player, Robinson, Willie Mays, Roy Campanella and Hank Aaron, among others, were established major-league stars.

Green didn't enjoy the same on-field success during his four seasons in Boston. But as the first black player on the final team to integrate, Green is most definitely worthy of remembrance.

New on Sports Illustrated: Patrick Reed Shows His Moxie and Wins Mexico Championship

Two shots behind with four holes to play, Reed ran off three straight birdies to overtake a faltering Bryson DeChambeau.

MEXICO CITY (AP) Patrick Reed made it hard for anyone to question his moxie.

A week that began with Brooks Koepka saying he thought Reed cheated when he was penalized for swiping sand in the Bahamas ended with Reed delivering clutch moments down the stretch Sunday to win the Mexico Championship.

Then again, Reed always seems to be at his best when it feels as though the world is against him.

Two shots behind with four holes to play, Reed ran off three straight birdies to overtake a faltering Bryson DeChambeau, closing with a 4-under 67 for his second World Golf Championships title.

Reed made it interesting in the end with a wild tee shot into the trees on the 18th hole at Chapultepec Golf Club, forcing him to chip back to the fairway. He had to two-putt from 35 feet for eighth victory of his PGA Tour career.

In a wild final round in which five players had a share of the lead - and four were tied heading for the back nine - DeChambeau appeared to seize control with five birdies in a six-hole stretch starting at No. 9.

Everyone around him faltered - Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Erik van Rooyen - everyone but Reed, who played bogey-free until he only needed a bogey to win.

DeChambeau failed to birdie the par-5 15th, missed the green on the 16th with a pin in a bowl that made birdies accessible, and then three-putted from long range on the 17th. He shot 65.

Reed never flinched with so much going on around him, on and off the golf course.

He has yet to shake whispers on the tour and heckling from the gallery over the Hero World Challenge in December, when video caught him twice swiping away sand behind his ball in a waste area in the Bahamas. Reed accepted the two-shot penalty and said a different camera angle would have shown his club wasn't as close to the ball as it looked.

Koepka became the strongest voice during an interview Monday with SiriusXM in the Bay Area while he was previewing his title defense at the PGA Championship in May.

Radio host Sway Calloway asked Koepka if Reed was cheating.

''Uh, yeah. I think, yeah, yeah,'' Koepka said, known for speaking his mind. ''I mean, I don't know what he was doing, building sand castles in the sand. But you know, you know where your club is. I mean, I took three months off and I can promise you I know if I touched sand.

''If you play the game, you understand the rules,'' he said. ''You understand the integrity that goes on. I mean, there's no room for it.''

Asked about it Saturday after his round, Reed said, ''At the end of the day, you can't listen to what other people are saying. All you can control is what you do.''

All he did Sunday was win.

''To come back and win my second World Golf Championship, especially with how I had to finish from basically 15 onwards ... last hole was ugly but it was what I needed just to get the job done,'' Reed said.

He finished at 18-under 266 and moved to No. 8 in the world.

DeChambeau walked back across the bridge to the 18th green to congratulate Reed. DeChambeau can appreciate heavy criticism, his variety for his pace of play.

''There's been a lot of stuff said in past years, I guess you could say, with him, and even with me. I feel like unfortunately sometimes we get quite a bad rap,'' DeChambeau said. ''And yeah, there's things that we've done that hasn't been right, but we haven't got really gotten the best rap. ... He's a great player, and he'll be a great player for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for his game.''

Rahm had a chance to reach No. 1 in the world with a victory, depending on how McIlroy finished. It was a moot point when the Spanaird took bogey on the par-5 11th and dropped another shot on the 14th with a short iron that went just over the back of the green.

McIlroy was within one shot until going nine straight holes without a birdie.

Thomas, who lost a 54-hole lead for the second time in the Mexico Championship, lost the lead when he hit into the water on the par-3 seventh, and then made another bogey on the next hole. He then had to play a left-handed shot on the 10th on his way to a double bogey. He shot 73.

New on Sports Illustrated: No. 17 West Virginia looks to salvage split of Texas trip

When West Virginia is good, it's really good. But consistency has been -- and remains -- one of the biggest issues surrounding the No. 17 Mountaineers as they head into Austin on Monday to square off against battered, but suddenly hot, Texas.

The Mountaineers hoped this latest visit to the Lone Star State would help them build some momentum for a solid spot in the NCAA Tournament, with games Saturday against TCU and then Monday at Texas. After all, West Virginia dominated those two teams in Morgantown earlier this season.

Instead, the Mountaineers laid an egg in Fort Worth in the first game of the trip, losing to TCU 67-60 in overtime to drop their fourth game in five outings. West Virginia has lost five straight games on the road since a win on Jan. 6 at Oklahoma State.

"I don't know what to do," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins told reporters afterward. "I'm incredibly frustrated. We've lost to the bottom part of the league. You can't do that. You just can't do that. I really thought this could be a special year that all West Virginians could rally around. Maybe it still can be."

Derek Culver paced the Mountaineers (19-8, 7-7 Big 12) against the Horned Frogs with 18 points and 12 rebounds, his sixth double-double this season. Taz Sherman added 16 for West Virginia but missed the shot that could have won the game for the Mountaineers at the end of regulation.

Texas heads home after an impressive 70-59 win at Kansas State on Saturday, its second straight victory with a makeshift lineup created by injuries to two starters.

The Longhorns (16-11, 6-8) got a career-high 26 points and a career-best five steals from guard Courtney Ramey in the win, while Matt Coleman III, who had missed Wednesday's home win against TCU with a bruised right heel, returned to the starting lineup and registered 12 points. Andrew Jones added 12 points while hitting 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

Ramey had 21 of his game-high 26 points in the opening half (matching his previous career high), as the Longhorns built a 42-23 lead at the break. Texas held the Wildcats without a field goal for the final 7:40 of the first half and led by as many as 21 points midway through the second half.

"I think what got us going was the defensive end -- the physicality," Ramey told the Salina (Kan.) Journal. "When you're physical on defense it just comes natural on offense. And hitting shots builds your mental attitude toward attacking."

Texas swept the season series from the Wildcats for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.

"Today we asked them to play with grit," Texas coach Shaka Smart said. "It's hard to come in here and play if you don't have a level of grit to you. Courtney did a good job of setting the tone with that, and our other guys did a great job as well."

It will take grit and a lot more for the Longhorns to beat West Virginia and continue their winning streak. The Mountaineers lambasted Texas 97-59 in the teams' first meeting of the season, handing the Longhorns their worst loss of the Smart era.

--Field Level Media

Canary Islands sandstorm: Flights disrupted as dust cloud strands tourists

Flights to and from the Spanish islands have been disrupted, leaving tourists stranded at airports.

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New questions over Farah's relationship with Salazar

Fresh questions over Mo Farah's relationship with his disgraced former coach Alberto Salazar are raised in a new BBC Panorama investigation.

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What Donald Trump gets out of his trip to India

The US president's first official trip to the world's largest democracy will be a photo-op and a half.

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How Africa hopes to gain from the 'new scramble'

The continent's leaders have been globe-trotting to attend Africa-themed summits, but do they have a plan?

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Tyson Fury: 'Maverick Fury can do no wrong but Anthony Joshua fight will seal immortality'

After his seventh-round defeat of Deontay Wilder, a unique place in sporting history awaits Tyson Fury if he secures a unification fight against Anthony Joshua.

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New on Sports Illustrated: No title

New on Sports Illustrated: West Ham United-Liverpool Preview

Coming off a rare loss, Liverpool look to set a Premier League record with a 21st consecutive victory at Anfield, tie another standard for consecutive league wins and extending their lengthy overall league unbeaten run Monday when the champions-elect host West Ham United.

The Merseysiders entered the weekend 22 points clear of two-time champions Manchester City with 12 matches to play, with history now their foremost challengers in England as they canter to their first Premier League title in club history. But the aura of invincibility Jurgen Klopp's side have enjoyed most of the term was punctured to a degree Tuesday when Atletico Madrid claimed a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie.

Liverpool (25-1-0) failed to overcome a fourth-minute goal by Saul Niguez as Atletico defended en masse and prevented the Reds from getting a shot on target. It was just the third loss in 43 matches across all competitions for Klopp's side - the second meaningful one considering Liverpool played essentially its Under-23 team in their 5-0 loss to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup in December.

Despite the loss, Klopp was not overly disappointed by the outcome, realising his side have overturned larger deficits in the cauldron known as Anfield.

Coming here and having 70 per cent possession is exceptional, our build-up was outstanding against a high-press team; it was, for me, next level, to be honest - it was the best we did for a long time," Klopp noted to Liverpool's official website. "We had not enough clear-cut chances. We had chances, not enough but that's normal, I would say. To stay in a game like this is, for us, development."

The bigger negative coming out of the defeat was the hamstring injury to talisman and midfielder Jordan Henderson, who is expected to be sidelined at least two weeks and will be racing to be match fit for the return encounter versus Atli.

"Hendo, it could have been worse. How we all know, it was a hamstring," Klopp said. "Hendo is exceptionally important, not only football-wise but for some other reasons as well which hopefully everybody knows. But we still have options there and that's good."

Among those options are James Milner and Naby Keita, with the former entering Tuesday's contest after Hendersn suffered his injury.

Even with the loss, the talk around Anfield on Monday will be the records Liverpool can set or equal with a victory - in addition to clinching a top-four finish with 11 matches to spare and furthering the best start of any club in Europe's top five leagues.

The Merseysiders have won 20 consecutive matches at Anfield, equal to the mark Manchester City established in 2011-12. They also have won 17 straight overall since the only occasion they dropped points - a 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Oct. 20 - and three points versus West Ham would equal Manchester City's 18-game winning streak accomplished from August to December in 2017.

Liverpool, who also have a jaw-dropping 34 wins in their last 35 league matches dating to their 2-1 loss at Manchester City on Jan. 2, 2019, are also unbeaten in their last 43 overall (38-5-0). A win or a draw in this contest would give Liverpool sole possession of the fifth-longest unbeaten streak among teams in Europe's top five leagues, ahead of the 2017-18 Barcelona side.

The Reds are also within shouting distance of Arsenal's Premier League standard of 49, which included the 2003-04 Invincibles who went 26-12-0. Perhaps more amazing is Liverpool have already recorded more wins during their current unbeaten run than the Gunners accumulated in theirs (36).

Then there is Anfield, where Liverpool have not lost a league match since a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on April 23, 2017. The Reds have since gone 43-10-0 there, have recorded five straight clean sheets there, and not conceded a goal in 495 minutes since Richarlison scored in first-half stoppage time of Liverpool's 5-2 crowning of Everton in the Merseyside derby Dec. 4.

And as if all those unbeaten runs were not an imposing enough psychological hurdle for relegation-threatened West Ham (6-6-14), there is Irons manager David Moyes ongoing run of futility at Anfield. The one-time Everton and Manchester United boss carries an albatross of an 0-7-8 lifetime record into Liverpool while the Irons are in wretched form - winless in their last six in league (0-2-4) and with just 14 points in their last 20 matches.

West Ham are trying to salvage something from a challenging week of games, coming off a 2-0 loss at Manchester City on Wednesday. Moyes played five at the back trying to mitigate the damage, and while the scoreline looked respectable, the Hammers had only 29 percent possession and three shots - none of which were on target.

They enter this contest at the top of the drop on 24 points but entered the weekend with the best goal differential of the bottom three clubs. Moyes recognises the daunting challenge Liverpool present and knows his side must play their best match of the season to even have a puncher's chance of pulling off the shock scoreline of the Premier League season.

"It'd mean a lot for me (to beat Liverpool)," Moyes admitted during his Friday news conference. "Anfield is never an easy place for any manager or team to go to, but we'll go there and do everything we can to get a result.

"With any top team, all the managers of all the other teams are trying to find ways of beating them. That's the way football is. Manchester City were the top dogs in the last few years. Liverpool have found ways of getting above them in the league. There'll be other teams who are trying to overtake Liverpool in the coming weeks and years."

Moyes confirmed right back Ryan Fredericks and winger Andriy Yarmolenko are unavailable for this contest. Fredericks suffered a shoulder injury in Wednesday's loss while Yarmolenko is out with a thigh injury. It will be interesting to see if Moyes drafts top offensive options Felipe Anderson and striker Sebastien Haller into his first XI after both were unused versus City.

Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners in east London last month as Mohamed Salah converted a penalty in the 35th minute and set up a second-half marker by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Reds are unbeaten in their last seven (5-2-0) versus West Ham since losing a fourth-round FA Cup replay after extra time in February 2016.

West Ham's lone win in 24 visits to Anfield in the Premier League era (1-7-16) in all competitions was a 3-0 victory in August 2015.