Apr 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) talks to guard James Harden (1) against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
Despite the win, the series isn’t over yet. This Raptors team has found ways to continually pull themselves off the mat, even though they’ve been missing key players throughout this series.
The Cavs have a chance to show that they’ve learned from the mistakes that plagued them in games 3 and 4. And if they’re going to do that, they’ll likely need more from Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell is having an uncharacteristically inefficient series, especially in the last three games. Since Game 3, he’s averaging just 18 points, three assists, and three turnovers on .351/.333/1.000 shooting splits. We’ll see if that changes in this closeout game.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Three-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title challenger Yoel Romero faced off with fellow UFC alumni Alex Nicholson at the conclusion of the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA official weigh-ins this morning in Miami, Florida. The two collide tomorrow night (Fri., May 1, 2026) in a main event that promises pure chaos.
In the co-main event, former two-division Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) champion Luis Palomino returns to MMA against former UFC fighter Darrell Horcher.
Meanwhile, Nicholson (16-11) hasn’t won a fight since September 2024, when he knocked out former UFC fighter Zac Pauga. “The Spartan” is currently 1-2 in Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA, knocking out Prince McLean in his debut but then getting stopped by Chase Sherman and Frank Tate.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMAwill stream for free tomorrow on YouTube right here.
There are only 10 games left on the schedule, and as it stands now Arizona will finish with a losing record for the first time since 2014. To finish above .500 would require the Wildcats making a deep run in the Big 12 Tournament, getting into which isn’t a guarantee.
Arizona (16-27, 7-14) currently sits in 12th place out of 14 schools, with the top 12 making the tourney May 19-23 in Surprise. The Wildcats are a game ahead of Texas Tech and two behind the trio of Baylor, Kansas State and Utah with three league series to go.
The first of those for the UA is against the current frontrunner, Kansas, who is 17-4 in the Big 12 and 34-11 overall. Winning one game this weekend would go a long way toward ensuring it makes the conference tournament, since next weekend’s final home series is against last-place Houston (19-25, 4-17).
“We’re trying to win every game because we want to play in the Big 12 Tournament, and we have some work to do,” UA coach Chip Hale said Wednesday.
That was just over 12 hours removed from one of the most painful losses of the season, a 9-8 walkoff defeat at GCU that saw Arizona rally from down 3-0 early only to blow a 4-run lead in the bottom of the 9th. Everything that could go wrong in that final inning did, which has been a common occurrence this season.
“It was almost the culmination of what’s gone on all year,” he said. “We just continue to, whether it’s a walk, a hit batsman, wild pitches, an error, we put guys in scoring position when we don’t have to. Like, they haven’t earned it, I guess I should put it that way, and I think that’s hurt us a lot this year, whether it’s in the last couple innings or even early in the game.”
The UA is 6-11 in games decided by one or two runs this season. Last year, in reaching the College World Series, it was 20-3.
Arizona has only won one weekend series in Big 12 play, that being at TCU on the last road trip. The Wildcats took two of three, with both wins coming in the 9th after trailing most of the game.
“I think it was just playing loose, like nobody was tense,” first baseman Tony Lira said of that series. “I feel like everybody knew that we have been the battle back team. We’ve been down a lot of games, and we came back and won. Those were those fun games that we just saw, like we got this, we got this.”
Lira, a redshirt freshman, continues to lead Arizona in batting at .360. He’s also tops on the team in hits (63), doubles (14) and OPS (.980), and that’s been with opponents adjusting to how Lira handles at-bats with two strikes.
“His approach at the plate is very mature,” Hale said. “He takes his hits to right. He works counts. I think what Tony was really, really elite at early in the year was the 2-strike approach. He’d flip it and he would just take the hits to right, where the teams now have pitched him completely different. So he’s had to make some changes. And that’s what this game is about, right? Whether you’re in college with all the video now or in pro ball, they’re going to keep changing what they do to be successful, and he has to keep changing.”
Maturity and experience are in short supply in Arizona’s batting order, where it regularly has five or more true or redshirt freshmen playing. While Hale believes those guys are the ones who give his team the best chance to win these final games are also an unofficial tryout for 2027.
It’s a similar situation to Hale’s first season playing at the UA, in 1984, when a very young team went 22-36 (the second-most losses in school history) and coach Jerry Kindall “flipped” the roster the following offseason.
“We had a lot of talented guys that ended up playing in other places for the rest of their careers,” Hale said. “Ended up playing pro ball too, but just weren’t, great fits as Wildcats. And is that coming when the season ends, you know, we’re still trying to evaluate that. We’re still trying to put guys in some positions to see whether they belong or not.”
Tuesday’s loss at GCU was similar to one against Kansas State two weeks ago when several normally reliable relievers all struggled at once.
“We just got to forget about it, it was one inning,” said righty Corey Kling, who had thrown 2.1 scoreless innings earlier in the game. “Everybody that went in there has been good in the past, and they shouldn’t let that affect them. Things happen. I mean, it happens to the best of us.”
Kling, a junior transfer from South Florida who is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 17 appearances, has four outings this season where he’s allowed multiple runs but also 10 scoreless efforts. Seven of those have been for two or more innings.
“I just try and go out there and pick up somebody if they need to be picked up,” Kling said. “Or we need a lot of innings out of the pen, go try and just do my best, get it done.”
After shifting lefty Luc Fladda to the front of the rotation last weekend, in order to keep righties Owen Kramkowski and Smith Bailey on their regular days, Arizona will go back to having Kramkowski open the series. All three UA starters have won Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors, with Fladda the latest to do so.
Fladda threw two innings at GCU, striking out three with no walks, and remains fourth nationally in walks allowed per nine innings (0.77) and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.4).
Apr 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) talks to guard James Harden (1) against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
Despite the win, the series isn’t over yet. This Raptors team has found ways to continually pull themselves off the mat, even though they’ve been missing key players throughout this series.
The Cavs have a chance to show that they’ve learned from the mistakes that plagued them in games 3 and 4. And if they’re going to do that, they’ll likely need more from Donovan Mitchell.
Mitchell is having an uncharacteristically inefficient series, especially in the last three games. Since Game 3, he’s averaging just 18 points, three assists, and three turnovers on .351/.333/1.000 shooting splits. We’ll see if that changes in this closeout game.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
MUNICH, GERMANY – APRIL 24: Sporting director Christoph Freund of FC Bayern Muenchen attends a press conference at Saebener Straße before the Bundesliga match against 1. FSV Mainz 05. On April 24, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images) | FC Bayern via Getty Images
Bayern Munich’s youth system continues to revamp under the stewardship of sporting director Christoph Freund. Now that he has sole control of the FC Bayern Campus without board member for sport Max Eberl’s input, he is taking big swing after big swing to restructure it in his vision. He brought his own director in, he is letting go of a lot of the coaches at the Campus for fresh blood and is reportedly bringing back a former Bayern icon to manage the U-23s.
But this is not just about the individual moves Freund is making. The philosophy he brings from his successful days in charge of RB Salzburg and their feeder club, FC Liefering, is being used to change things at the FC Bayern Campus. Which is existentially terrifying, because Red Bull is an evil company. But perhaps Bayern can learn from their successes and evolve with the help with one of their former top employees. Bild reports, as captured by @iMiaSanMia, that Freund has established a brand new philosophy for the U-23s’s coaches:
The appointment of Dante as new FC Bayern II head coach marks the start of a new strategy by the club. The future model, meticulously developed over several months, envisions that young coaches will take charge of the second team – coaches who are still at the beginning of their careers and, ideally, have previously played for FC Bayern. The idea behind the strategy: The former players gain experience in coaching and are given the opportunity to develop at Bayern – in order to then take the next step. Bayern want to train former players into coaches from whom they can still benefit even after their departures – for example, through their network and identification with FC Bayern, especially if they end up at top clubs in the future. Sporting director Christoph Freund played a key role in this strategy, with the role model being RB Salzburg, where Freund worked for eight years. RB repeatedly formed coaches through their ‘farm club’ FC Liefering, who then went on to work at Salzburg and ultimately elsewhere, like Matthias Jaisse, Thomas Letsch, Oliver Glasner, Bo Svensson, Marco Rose and Adi Hütter.
BFW Analysis
The new strategy is…the old strategy? Bayern have struggled to keep a manager of the U-23s for long, with the longest appointment as U-23 manager in the last decade and a half lasting just two years before current manager Holger Seitz took charge (again). Most notably, the two managers of the U-23s before Seitz’s latest term were Sebastian Hoeneß and Martin Demichelis. Notably, Sebastian is Uli Hoeneß’s nephew and the Argentinian Martin Demichelis is a former player at Bayern. Hoeneß and Demichelis were both young coaches who had Bayern connections, but they also used the job as a spring board to TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and River Plate, one of the two biggest clubs in Argentina, respectively, interrupting the continuity of the young players at the club. The continuity is why Bayern opted to retain the safe and boring choice in Seitz for so long.
Hoeneß and Demichelis are almost exactly the sort of coaches this new model would be focused on developing. But their development has hardly born fruit for the club itself.
The idea of developing coaches to go on to help Bayern even after their departure is a difficult one to see working out at Bayern. FC Liefering could do it because they were a feeder club to a team with greater ambitions. Bayern clearly, fortunately, are not a feeder club. If the previous coaches could get such illustrious jobs offers during their stint at Bayern’s U-23s, in what capacity would they wish to work at Bayern aside from the head coach job? Unless one of these former players turn out to be another Vincent Kompany, it is hard to imagine the development of young coaches benefitting Bayern.
But hey, Freund did exceptional work at Salzburg and Liefering. He is an expert in this regard, so it is worth seeing how this process, if the story is true, will play out.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
The New York Knicks can close out the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of the NBA Playoffs first-round on Thursday night. This has been a dominating series with double-digit wins for Mike Brown’s team.
Jalen Brunson scored 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting in Game 5. The Knicks are seventh in the NBA with 45.6 rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.9.
This has been an interesting series for New York, who’ll look to advance over a struggling Hawks team. Atlanta is 7-8 in games decided by 3 points or fewer. Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
2nd Quarter- 6:43: Knicks up 62-19 Atlanta on the verge of history here.
The Houston Rockets hold the record for the fewest points scored in a single half of an NBA playoff game, scoring only 25 points in the second half of Game 6 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
2nd Quarter- 4:39: Knicks are rolling 71-22
Most Team Points in a Half NBA Playoffs: 87 — Oklahoma City Thunder (May 7, 2025 vs. DEN)
2nd Quarter- 7:11: New York takes a 41-point, which is more than double the amount of points the Hawks have scored thus far, 60-19
2nd Quarter- 9:19: Atlanta first point of the quarter comes off a technical foul shot.
2nd Quarter- 9:20: Knicks on 38-4 run in last 11 mins of play
2nd Quarter- 9:58: Knicks up 48-15 with free throws from KAT.
2nd Quarter- 10:19: OG Anunoby 18 points, Atlanta Hawks, 15 points.
End of 1st Quarter: Knicks 40, Hawks 15
1st Quarter- 27.7 seconds: The Hawks are taking a beating early. 38-15 with no answer.
1st Quarter- 1:34: Knicks throwing punches with a 34-15 lead. Eight Hawks turnovers aren’t helping.
1st Quarter- 3:19: TV timeout. Knicks on a 16-2 run and looking strong early. This isn’t a good sign for the Hawks.
1st Quarter- 5:21: Knicks on an 12-0 run and up 21-11
1st Quarter- 6:55: TV timeout. OG Anunoby with a quick 10 points to lead the Knicks, who are up 15-10
1st Quarter- 7:42: Both teams trade buckets with the Knicks retaking a 12-11 lead
1st Quarter- 9:30: Hawks respond with three quick buckets to take a 6-5 lead
1st Quarter-10:40: Knicks open with a 5-0 lead
Tip-off from Atlanta
“Mike Brown has the roux for his gumbo. Don’t go switch it up, you got the recipe.” @KendrickPerkins has an all-time analogy for the Knicks’ offense 😂 pic.twitter.com/wnve2slhhu
How to Watch New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks Game 6 NBA Playoffs
Thursday, April 30 7 p.m. ET TV: ESPN Knicks lead series 3-2
Knicks vs. Hawks Game 6 will be broadcast by ABC on ESPN and will stream live on the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the ESPN app.
“South Carolina has been so consistent,” Huggins told Rivals. “From the beginning, they have reached out a lot, they have been consistent and they recruited me the hardest.
“The relationship was the biggest factor in my decision. They truly want me there. It is just different with South Carolina. When I left that practice on April 11, I knew it. I just felt it. I can wholeheartedly see myself there. South Carolina just felt right.”
Huggins visited multiple times this spring, and he loved the energy.
“The atmosphere was crazy… The energy was really high. When I was there for practice, there was a lot of competition. I saw the players compete and the coaches coach. It showed me a lot when I was there for the last spring practice.”
Mike Furrey, South Carolina’s wide receiver coach, was a big factor. The two have built a strong relationship.
“When I was there this spring, being able to spend time with Coach Furrey, eat dinner with him and his wife was great. I like how he coaches and how he teaches his players. He is big on relationships too.”
Beamer and Kendall Briles were also part of this decision. He has spent time around the head coach and the offensive coordinator, and both impressed.
“I really like Coach Briles, and his offensive scheme,” Huggins said. “It is a scheme I can fit into. He is very smart and I like his philosophy. I like the relationships with him, Coach Beamer and the whole staff, too.
“Coach Beamer has a lot of energy, and I really like the direction that Coach Beamer has the program going in.”
Huggins is the second commitment in as many days for South Carolina. Defensive John Archer committed on Wednesday. There could be more soon.
Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison three-star wide receiver DJ Huggins has committed to South Carolina, according to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.
He chose the Gamecocks over Alabama and Georgia, among others.
Huggins is the No. 442 overall prospect and No. 61 wide receiver in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 45 recruit in Georgia.
Head coach Shane Beamer and the staff in Columbia have added an impressive pass-catcher to their 2027 class. As a junior for the Harrison Hoyas, Huggins caught 67 passes and racked up 1,127 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores, per MaxPreps.
South Carolina got Huggins back on campus this month for spring practice and he also visited in March. The latest trip helped the SEC program snag the momentum in his recruitment. Receivers coach Mike Furrey has been pushing hard for the rising Peach State prospect.
“I got a lot of time with Coach Furrey,” Huggins told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “I like how he coaches with energy but also makes sure you understand the why behind everything. He is knowledgeable and played my position at the highest level. You can tell he’s focused on developing his guys the right way, both on and off the field.”
Huggins becomes commitment No. 5 for South Carolina this cycle. Earlier this week, it landed a commitment from four-star defensive lineman John Archer.
The New York Knicks have a chance to make some NBA playoff history on Thursday night.
Holding a 3-2 series lead entering Game 6, the Knicks came out and blitzed the Hawks in Atlanta, taking an 83-36 lead into the half. It’s the largest halftime lead in an NBA playoff game, per ESPN.
If events continue on this trajectory, the Knicks have a shot at authoring the biggest blowout win in NBA playoff history. They’re up 47 at the half. The record margin of victory in a playoff game is 58 points, held by two teams.
Here’s a look at the biggest blowouts in NBA playoff history:
Frustrated by his team getting blown out by 50 in the first half of a must-win playoff game, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels threw an extra elbow and then got into it with New York’s Mitchell Robinson after a fight for free-throw rebound positioning. Quickly, things escalated, with other players stepping in to keep them separated, a referee and a security guard falling over, and a whole lot of pushing and shoving.
CHAOS IN KNICKS-HAWKS
Both Mitchell Robinson and Dyson Daniels were assessed with technical fouls and ejected from the game. pic.twitter.com/sjeATc59Pl
After review, both Robinson and Daniels were given technicals and ejected.
Daniels was clearly the instigator, throwing an elbow during the initial fight for position, but something must have been said that made Robinson try to charge Daniels after they had already been separated.
There’s some history here, Robinson picked up a technical in Game 2 for stepping over Daniels.
The ejections will have no impact on Game 6, which New York led by 50 when the incident occurred with 4:39 remaining in the first half. This game was over. The only question is about the league punishments that will follow. Most likely, Daniels and Robinson each get fined, and that’s it. However, it’s possible that, with the ejection, the league would suspend Robinson for a game, which would mean he would miss Game 1 of the Knicks’ second-round series against Boston or Philadelphia.
