Sports

The Gators hold on to the No. 5 spot in the AP Top 25 poll. They beat Georgia for the 12th straight time on Saturday.

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2025

Florida’s win at Georgia marked the Gators’ seventh in their last eight games.
Photo By: Maddie Washburn – gatorswire.com

It has been a good week for the 5th ranked Florida Gators and the cherry on top of the cake came on Saturday with a win over rival Georgia. Alijah Martin and Walter Clayton Jr. scored 17 points apiece, and No. 5 Florida dominated Georgia 89-59 on Saturday, extending the Gators’ winning streak in the series to 12.

It’s the longest streak by either team in the Southeastern Conference rivalry that began in 1923.

Meanwhile, other news from college basketball: Michigan State ascended to its highest ranking in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll this season on Monday with a move up one spot to No. 7 after another perfect week in Big Ten play. The Spartans went 2-0 on the week with wins over Illinois and Rutgers to improve to 8-0 in conference play. It is one of four remaining teams in the sport still unbeaten in league play along with Duke (ACC), Auburn (SEC) and Houston (Big 12).

The Spartans began the year unranked in the AP Top 25 poll but appeared in the rankings in Week 6 for the first time after an 8-2 start to the season which included wins over North Carolina, Minnesota and Nebraska at the time, and have steadily risen each of the last five weeks. They’ve yet to lose since Nov. 26 and own a 12-game winning streak in that span, tied for the second-longest active streak in college hoops.

The team with the longest active winning streak, Duke, once again held steady at No. 2 in this week’s poll for a second consecutive week firmly entrenched still behind unanimous No. 1 Auburn. The Tigers earned all 62 available first-place votes for a second consecutive week, and the entire top-five remained unchanged behind the two as Iowa State, Alabama and Florida remained at Nos. 3-5.

AP Top 25

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sunday, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

Also receiving votes: Michigan 129, Maryland 116, Utah St. 99, Clemson 92, Arizona 47, Saint Mary’s 45, Gonzaga 34, Texas 22, Creighton 12, Baylor 8, New Mexico 4, VCU 4, West Virginia 3, Oklahoma 2, Bradley 1, UCLA 1.

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Rays and free agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim agree to 2-year deal worth $29 million, AP source says

Published

6 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Austin Reed

San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (7) in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Aug. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)

The Tampa Bay Rays and free agent Ha-Seong Kim have agreed to a two-year contract valued at $29 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced. ESPN first reported the agreement.

Kim, who played his first four seasons in the majors with the San Diego Padres and won a Gold Glove in 2023, will be paid $13 million this year. He also could earn $2 million in performance bonuses — $10,000 per plate appearance starting at 326 through 525.

Kim has a $16 million player option for 2026.

The 29-year-old infielder from South Korea tore the labrum in his right shoulder on Aug. 18 and needed season-ending surgery. He hit .233 with 11 homers and 22 stolen bases in the final season of a $28 million, four-year contract.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Tampa earns the No. 1 spot in the USA Lacrosse Magazine’s preseason rankings.

Published

13 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Austin Reed

Tampa earns the No. 1 spot in the USA Lacrosse Magazine’s initial rankings. After earning the program’s highest final ranking in 2024 following a National Championship title, the team garners its highest-ever preseason ranking in any poll at No. 1 surpassing the previous mark at No. 4.

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Tampa is the No. 1 team in the USA Lacrosse Division II Women’s Preseason Top 20, USA Lacrosse Magazine announced Tuesday.

When Tampa put the final touches on its 13-8 win over Adelphi in the 2024 NCAA championship game, the Spartans became the fourth straight first-time champion in Division II. And they were certainly deserving.

The defending national champs are the popular choice among Division II coaches as the preseason No. 1, with returning talent throughout the lineup. Peyton Howell and Sophi Wrisk return to lead the offense, with Lexi Waters and Delaney Stahrr back as the defensive anchors.

While it’s still to be seen how the changes for 2025 ‑ an expanded NCAA tournament field of 24 teams and automatic berths for conference champions ‑ will impact the parity, what is known is that Tampa begins the new season right where it left off last year, sitting at the top of the national rankings.

Led by midfielders Maggie Schipfer and Megan Bunker, No. 2 Regis has a strong group returning from last year’s final-four team. A sixth straight RMAC title and another deep NCAA run won’t be surprising in 2025.

No. 3 Florida Southern battled Tampa three times last year, with those games decided by a combined four goals. The margin between these two Sunshine State Conference foes is usually razor-thin, and that’s likely to be the case again this spring.

No. 4 Pace, which was undefeated until the NCAA regional final in 2024, must replace national player of the year Angelina Porcello in the midfield as well as first-team All-America defender Alexandra Quinn, but the Setters welcome back All-America goalie Sami Tanguay.

Rounding out the top five, West Chester has some key losses from last year’s regional final squad, most notably midfielder Hannah Stanislawczyk, the program’s all-time scoring leader. The return of midfielder Keri Barnett, who missed all of 2024 due to an injury, should help.

Preseason rankings are compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors with consultation from college coaches.

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Top ranked University of Tampa baseball team is set to defend their World Series title.

Published

14 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Austin Reed

TAMPA, Fla. – The National Championship University of Tampa Baseball team is the pre-season #1 ranked team in the nation and is set to host a top-15 matchup to open up the season. The top-ranked Spartans celebrate the start of the 2025 season as we honor the 2024 national championship team and raise the championship flag, celebrating their ninth national championship in program history.

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Matchup: #1 Tampa vs. #13 Georgia College

Times:

Friday, Jan. 31, 6:00 P.M.

Saturday, Feb. 1, 3:00 P.M.

Sunday, Feb. 2, 12:00 P.M.

Tampa

The Spartans are back on the diamond this Friday at 6 pm. Tampa is seeking its 10^th national championship and 24^th regular season SSC championship. The Spartans are pre-season ranked #1 in the nation and #1 in the SSC. This is Tampa’s 10^th pre-season ranked at #1, 27^th consecutive preseason ranked inside the Top 15, 21^st pre-season ranked inside the Top 5, and 12^th consecutive pre-season ranked inside the Top 3. The Spartans have 15 returning national champions, including All-American and National Pitcher of the Year Skylar Gonzalez, 17 transfers, including University of Miami transfer J.D. Urso, son of National Coach of the Year Joe Urso, and four true freshmen. Tampa will take the field for the first time Friday since winning their 9^th national championship in program history over Angelo State in a historic 2024 season. Before hosting a three-game series with #13 Georgia College, the Spartans will honor the 2024 national championship team and raise the championship flag on Friday, Jan. 31^st.

Georgia College

The Bobcats finished their 2024 campaign with a 37-22 record and 2^nd in the Peach Belt Conference before losing to No. 9 Catawba in the Southeast Super Regionals. Georgia College is preseason ranked #13 in the nation and look to play spoiler to start the season with a three-game set against the #1 Tampa Spartans.

Live stats for all games this week can be found at Tampastats.com. 

Live broadcasts for all games this week can be found at TampaSpartans.tv.