Cesar Almeida was pushed by a former champion ahead of UFC on ESPN 73.
Almeida (7-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will look to make it three straight wins when he takes on Cezary Oleksiejczuk (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Dec. 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Almeida has spent his time training in Vegas with an array of notable names in the UFC middleweight division in preparation for his fight.
“I train with Michel Pereira, Sean Strickland, Chris Curtis – he’s moving to Thailand, but we trained together a lot of times. He’s been in the last camps,” Almeida told MMA Junkie Radio. “I came here just because of this. I have a lot of guys in my division – good, tough guys and good competition, guys who are still in the top 15, top 10. When you train with the guys, you understand the game plan because the guys are tough.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has served as a mentor for those training at Xtreme Couture, and Almeida appreciates his guidance.
“I like training with him because the guy is crazy,” Almeida said of Strickland. “He’s so crazy but good energy, good heart, and puts all the team up to keep going, keep strong, keep training everyday. The guy is a former champion because he never stops and puts this energy in the gym. Your arm hurts, your leg hurts, but you need to keep training non-stop.”
The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the “New Jersey Americans”.
Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.
To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise’s jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
And for today’s article, we will continue with the third of 22 people to wear the No. 33 jersey, guard alum Willie Worsley. After ending his college career at Texas-El Paso, Worsley went unselected in the 1966 NBA Draft, instead signing with the (then) New York (now, Brooklyn) Nets in 1968.
His stay with the team would span a single season, his only as a pro.
During his time suiting up for the Nets, Worsley wore only jersey No. 33 and put up 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.
To honor all of the the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.
With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today’s article, we will continue with the first of 18 players who wore the No. 2, Hall of Fame guard Rick Barry. After ending his college career at Miami, Barry was picked up with the fourth overall selection of the 1965 NBA Draft by the (then) San Francisco (now, Golden State) Warriors.
The Elizabeth, New Jersey native would play the first two seasons of his pro career with the Dubs before a labor dispute sent him to the ABA’s (defunct) Oakland Oaks, (defunct) Washington Caps, and (then) New York Americans (now, Brooklyn Nets) before signing with the Dubs again to return to the NBA.
He then signed with the Houston Rockets in 1978 for the final two seasons of his pro career. During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Barry wore only jersey Nos. 2 and 4 and put up 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Brazilian bagged two assists as Barcelona returned to the top of the table and spoke about what he wants from his team-mates out on the pitch.
“I feel that I am being a little pushy, sometimes too much. But I think that pressing is important. I’m sure that on the pitch my teammates sometimes think that I talk too much,” he told the media.
“But I am going to demand from people that they can give much more. I take responsibility and in the dressing room we all hug each other to celebrate the victory.
“I always say that the best defence starts in attack. It’s the most important thing we can do to help the defense. I try to push to make the job easier. I try to press to take space away from the other team’s centre-backs and thus recover the ball more easily. It’s good that the team follows me in the pressure, but I do it without thinking. I just run to get the ball back.”
Raphinha also said that he doesn’t think Barca are playing at their best right now but is hopeful they can turn their form around.
“The manager felt we could do much more on the pitch, and we also know we can do much better. His feeling is that the team isn’t playing at its best, and I agree,” he added.
“We have to improve a lot, but even so, I think the most important thing today was to come away with the win. We have time to fix the things we’re doing wrong, and I’m sure we’ll get back to our best. We’ll win by playing well, but if there are games where we play badly, I don’t care; the important thing is to win.”
Arizona has completed an unbeaten November, the fourth time it’s done so in five seasons under Tommy Lloyd. While proud of that start, Lloyd said after Saturday’s 98-61 win over Norfolk State that he’s more concerned with what happens next than what’s already occurred.
“I’m still in Build Mode, just where I’m at personally,” he said. “I know we have a long road ahead of us. For us in our program, we want to have a long term approach to this season, and we want to be playing our best basketball incrementally over the course of the season.”
Our game recap can be found here. Below is what Lloyd, center Motiejus Krivas and forward Koa Peat said afterward:
Lloyd on the first 10 minutes: “This is how these games go. You always start out 0-0, the other team has as much of a right to competing and winning as you do. Norfolk State’s a program that has had a lot of success, they have a lot of pride. They won a lot of games. So I knew it was going to be tough. I didn’t have it on my basketball bingo card of them coming out playing a Line and 3 defense. So it just took over the guys a little bit, kind of a few possessions to kind of figure out what was going on.”
On if Norfolk State’s defense helped Arizona get to the line: “There was a lot of space to operate inside, and then there was big gaps in there. You’re kind of face guarding three perimeter players and it creates some huge gaps. It’s not a standard defense by any means, but it makes you a little bit uncomfortable. You have to figure it out. We just got the ball inside at the rim a lot of times, and put a lot of pressure them.”
On Krivas having 20 points: “Mo is getting better. I mean, I think he’s really impacted some of our bigger games. I’m really happy with where he’s at defensively and on the glass. Those are two areas we really wanted to establish with him, and he’s always been a good offensive player, so I’ve never really been panicked there. It’s just a matter of him getting some opportunities, and him finishing shots, making free throws. It’s our sixth guy already this season to have 20 points, so that’s a good sign.”
On what he’s been focusing on with Krivas defensively: “When you’re the center on the defense, you can be like an anchor to the defense. You have so much size at the rim and kind of impact the game in the paint and on the glass and, and it’s just understanding how important that is. It allows us to kind of tilt some coverages to his size, maybe you can get more aggressive in certain areas, understanding you have a big guy kind of waiting behind things.”
On Tobe Awaka’s growth: “I think Tobe, just his fluidity as a basketball player continues to improve. His ability just to find his rhythm in the games, it is really improved. Tobe is obviously a warrior, and he’s a beast, and he really impacts these games. And the beautiful thing about him is he’s one of those guys you don’t have to run plays for. He he finds the ball, he finds opportunities, and that’s really valuable, and it’s just a great insurance policy at both ends of the floor, how he rebounds.”
On Arizona’s bigs: “I think they’re really good. I’ll let somebody else be the judge that they’re the best bigs in the country. But I don’t have any doubt, any night that we can go up against anybody. Just the physical combination of those two guys, I think, really wears on you. Each has different strengths, but force and physicality is part of their pedigree. It’s got to be difficult to play against when there’s really no plays off.”
On Ivan Kharchenkov’s status: “I think he rolled his ankle. Rolled his ankle trying to split a guy, must have stepped on a foot. I didn’t see it. Obviously, hopefully he’ll play next week, but we’ll see.”
On what he said to Dwayne Aristode after confronting a Norfolk player: “I told him, we don’t do that at Arizona. He said he was protecting his teammate, and my response is to him is, I don’t think Koa needs a protector. I think he’s fine. The games get chippy, but you got to stay classy. You have a choice in those moments, and the choice should always be, stay classy. There’s nothing wrong with pushing it to the line, emotionally, physically, but at the end of the day, it’s an easy choice, stay classy. I was just making sure he heard that message from me loud and clear.”
On the first month of college basketball: “There’s a lot of really good teams out there. And obviously, we’ve had maybe some attention-grabbing moments that people have maybe anointed us, maybe a little bit too early, and others teams had some attention-grabbing moments, and maybe they got anointed. And at the end of the day, to be honest with you, none of us know what things look like in 30 days or 60 days or 90 days, so you got to stay the course. You got to stay the course.There’s nothing wrong with being excited and optimistic about where you’re at, but I just know this: false hope and optimism don’t get a lot of results.”
On Evan Nelson’s role: “Evan’s been great. He’s really helped us in practice. And I could be giving him more minutes. That’s my fault, and I’ll own that. But the purpose behind it is, we have four freshmen, and we’re trying to get those guys ready for some tough upcoming games, and trying to get ready for a tough conference. So I’m trying to give them every opportunity I can to get those repetitions that matter. Evan is a great teammate and a great person. I don’t know if he loves it, but I think he understands what we’re doing, and to me, that’s really important. So I love having him, and he’s really, really, really helped us in practice, just to have a guy like that run a point on your scout team that can that can be aggressive and simulate other things and play at the level, it’s really important.”
On having a week until the next game: “Practice is important and preparation is important, but so is having game rhythm. So we just got to figure out that fine balance, you know, of what those two things look like. Just sometimes it’s kind of how your schedule breaks, you end up with some gaps, weeklong gaps. Maybe one’s because of finals week, and maybe another one’s just because just the way the schedule broke, you couldn’t find the right game, and so you just kind of took a gap in your schedule. I’m sure we’ll take at least two days off before the next game.”
On the athletic department’s success in November: “I think it’s great. I’m really proud of my colleagues and the success they’re having. There’s a lot of work behind the scenes with our administration to make these things happen. I’m happy, but for me, I’m still in Build Mode, just where I’m at personally. I know we have a long road ahead of us. So I’m happy for everyone else’s success, but for us in our program, we want to have a long term approach to this season, and we want to be playing our best basketball incrementally over the course of the season. But obviously, really happy for Brent (Brennan). He’s a good friend of mine, and he’s just a great guy, and I know he’s been through a lot, and to see him come out on top just really says something about his character, him as a man. So just really proud of him and what he’s done.”
Krivas on getting better each game: “I missed all last season. It just took me a couple games to comfortable.”
On him and Awaka working together: “It’s really hard when you rotate and the other teams don’t get a rest.”
On where he’s improved the most defensively: “I’d say in drop coverage. I used to do it but now I’m getting better. We worked on some details in the offseason and this season, just the footwork and the feeling.”
Peat on playing alongside Awaka and Krivas: “Obviously they’re different type players, but when I have them with me on the court. I feel like we’re gonna go out here there and compete, and they’re both really good. So having them complement my game, I feel like it really helps me a lot. It helps me get open looks, and it’s easy to drop it off to them as well. I think they’re the best rebounders in the country.”
On why the freshmen have had such an impact already: “Just the camaraderie, like off the court and on the court, we’re all close to each other. Especially the seniors, they welcomed us with open arms, so that really made us want to come out here and work our butts off. I think we’re really talented, and I think we can just keep getting better as the season goes along, and we’re just going to keep getting better.”
On getting to know the other freshmen: “Dwayne called me and Brayden, when I was on my official visit, he just told us that he wanted us to come play with him. And then I committed, and I was recruiting Brayden at McDonald’s, McDonald’s All-American, so we all kind of knew that we wanted to play with each other. I didn’t really know much about Ivan, but him coming over from overseas, he’s been a really complimentary piece, and excited for his growth as well. I think we’re just gonna all keep getting better.”
On Kharchenkov: “Ivan plays with edge. He’s a dog. He plays really hard. He does all the little things, stretches the floor, three and D, plays defense. He’s a really good player, and like I said, he’s just going to keep getting better, and I’m excited for his future.”
On how he’s going to use the time before the next game: “Personally, right after this I’m going to go shoot some free throws. I missed too many free throws this game.”
Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name!
Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho.
LOW BLOCK GIRONA
We’re back to fighting against low blocks. Which have been a bane to our existence and we need to overcome in top class fashion. Stand with Xabi and trust he’s working on a plan to get the team to crack open low blocks. Which may be the key to our overall success as a team.
Earlier this week, I asked the following question about tomorrow’s game:
What are your predictions for the upcoming game between your Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints? Final score? MVP of the game? Other bold predictions? Additionally, which New Orleans Saints players would you, if you could, steal to place on the Miami Dolphins roster?
Below are some of your thougths and answers-
Left Shark just came to the party to wish us all a happy holiday!
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!
cyberflea has Miami winning their third in a row and wants a WR to put out opposite Waddle.
Player to steal – I would have gone with center Erik McCoy if the Dolphins didn’t have Brewer or LB Demario Davis who’s played outstanding but at 36 years old is a pass. So, I am going with WR Chris Olave. At only 25 years old, the Dolphins would have a great pair of WRs with Olave and Waddle.
Prediction – The Saints are a bad football team especially offensively. The Saints offense is averaging a measly 15 points per game and ranks 31st in scoring. The Saints have been outscored 108-44 over their last four games, averaging just 11 points per game while allowing 27 and are dead last scoring inside the red zone.
The Dolphins must continue to pound the rock as they face one of the better secondaries in the NFL which is giving up fewer than 200 yds passing per game and could make life difficult for Tua. The Dolphins playing at home and coming off a bye should win this game unless they get into self-destruct mode.
Dolphins win 24-13
JUK, in response to cyberflea, wants a couple of tackles to go with Olave.
Yeah Olave or one of their two young tackles (Banks and Fuaga) to replace Austin Jackson. Ruiz is a really good guard too. I like their D but not sure I would take any of them over the above
Dave21 likes their tackle, pass rusher, and a new backup for Tua.
Not a lot of talent there, bunch of good players past their primes. I would take Banks Jr and probably take a run at Chase Young and see if we couldn’t round him back into the beast he was. He is only 26. I liked the thought of Tyler Slough as well, let him play behind Tua one more year. Wilson ain’t the answer.
rdusmc86 sees Olave as a solid replacement for Hill and the Dolphins winning it by a TD.
Olave could replace Tyreek. Prediction: I think we’ll take 17-10 in a defensive game with 2+ TO’s on both sides.
SuperG! does NOT want any of the Saints QBs.
I know the weekly popular answer to this question is the other team’s QB but if they gave that answer this week they get bonked on the head.
phinsfan8373 is another on board with Olave. Has Miami winning if they play as well as they can.
Well if we play good football amd run the ball and no turnovers we will win easily but if not it could go either way I think id take Olave to replace hill GO PHINS
NCSurferMike is also on the Olave bandwagon, has the Phins winning by 10, Achane going off again, and Tua doing Tua things.
Steal Olave
Fins 27-17
Achane 150+ total yds
Tua gets concussed
SlayerNation1 says maybe bring in Jordan as a good locker-room leader, unless McDaniel sticks around and has Miami pulling this one out by a TD.
NO is as bad as projected in the preseason. As far as players, maybe Cam Jordan as a locker room guy for a total rebuild.
If Mike is still the HC, no Veteran locker room guys, because Mike relies too heavily on them to do the parenting.
MIA 27 NO 20
I would expect MIA to not look as sharp as they should and let NO hang around.
This will be an hideous TV product. You have Chris Myers/Schlereth trying to fill air time with banter (a lot of Schlereth over-pronouncing every word), a very serene, half vacant HRS.
That’s our selection of answers and insights this evening. As usual, I would like to thank each of you who took the time to read and answer our question of the day. Please be sure to join us tomorrow afternoon for our Saints @ Dolphins live thread.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Amari Odom threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Christian Moss on the first play of a second overtime and Kennesaw State’s defense did the rest in a 48-42 victory over Liberty on Saturday in a regular-season finale.
Odom misfired on the mandatory two-point conversion for the Owls (9-3, 7-1), who found out at halftime they’d be playing in the Conference USA title game after Western Kentucky lost 37-34 to regular-season champion Jacksonville State. But it didn’t matter.
Baron Hopson tackled Evan Dickens for a 1-yard loss on first down. Tywon Christopher held Dickens to a yard on his second carry and then teamed up with Elijah Hill for a sack. Michael Merdinger threw incomplete to end it.
Odom completed 14 of 23 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He had a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Benyard in the first quarter and a 25-yarder on first down in the first OT. It was Benyard’s school-record ninth touchdown catch this season.
Odom added a 9-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter and finished with 72 yards on 13 carries. Coleman Bennett rushed 14 times for 92 yards and a score. Bennett also had a touchdown catch.
Dickens, a sophomore, carried 43 times for 267 yards and four touchdowns for Liberty (4-8, 3-5). It was the third most yards gained in school history. Dickens raced 95 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the Flames up 28-21,
Liberty got the ball back at its own 29 with 2:20 to go, but Jay Billingsley missed a 32-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to force OT.
Merdinger finished with 212 yards and a touchdown on 12-for-21 passing.
Up Next
Jacksonville State will host Kennesaw State for the conference championship on Friday.
On Saturday night, WWE returns to the ESPN app for its latest premium live event, Survivor Series: War Games. The PLE only has four matchups. However, two of them are set up to be epic clashes.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 39 points, including an unlikely 3-pointer that sealed the game, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the Boston Celtics 119-115 on Saturday.
Julius Randle had 16 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 15 for the Timberwolves, who put six players in double figures and beat a team with a .500 or better record for the first time in eight tries this season.
Jaylen Brown tied a season high with 41 points for Boston, which lost for just the second time in seven games. Neemias Queta tied a career best with 19 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds. Derrick White scored 16.
With the Timberwolves ahead 115-112 and the shot clock winding down, Edwards briefly lost his dribble but quickly picked up the ball and lofted a 3-point prayer over White that went in with 14 seconds left.
Edwards, averaging 38.5 points over his last four games, scored nine straight to give Minnesota a 110-98 lead with 3:52 to play. That included a sequence in which Rudy Gobert grabbed a rebound of Edwards’ miss and fed DiVincenzo, who quickly zipped a pass to the cutting Edwards.
But then Brown, who made a season-high 17 shots, scored five points and Queta had three in a 12-0 Celtics run to tie it with 1:38 remaining.
Edwards scored seven points and Terrence Shannon Jr. five in a 24-12 third-quarter spurt that propelled Minnesota to a 94-92 lead heading to the fourth.
Listed as questionable on the team’s injury report due to low back spasms, Brown scored 27 points in the first half — 19 in the first quarter — and Boston led 69-59 at the break.
Brown became the first player in the play-by-play era to record at least 27 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in the first half.
Up next
Celtics: Play at Cleveland on Sunday night.
Timberwolves: Host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.
