Connect with us

Sports

Top-seeded Florida and its seniors run away from Maryland’s ‘Crab Five’ for 87-71 March Madness win

Published

on


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Florida’s three standout seniors and its deep bench kept bringing energy until it became too tough for Maryland’s “Crab Five” to keep up.

Coach Todd Golden could see his Gators wearing the Terrapins down.

Will Richard scored 15 points, Alijah Martin added 14 points and seven rebounds, and No. 1 seed Florida played a steady second half to run away from fourth-seeded Maryland and into the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final with an 87-71 win Thursday night.

Walter Clayton Jr. contributed 13 points and four assists as Florida’s senior leaders and their deep supporting cast took down Maryland’s hardworking starters — one of Terrapins coach Kevin Willard’s concerns coming into this matchup.

“We come in with great energy,” said Florida reserve Denzel Aberdeen, who scored 12 points in 19 minutes. “Just everybody being ready, whoever’s name is called, I think that’s what we did.”

Freshman sensation Derik Queen scored 27 points to lead Maryland (27-9) in what might have been Willard’s final game guiding the program.

“I think their bench really wore us down,” Willard said.

Florida (33-4) advances to play Saturday against third-seeded Texas Tech, which rallied past Arkansas in overtime in Thursday’s late game at Chase Center.

The Gators, in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 and seeking the program’s first Final Four berth since 2014, committed 13 of their 17 turnovers in the first half but took better care of the ball over the final 20 minutes. Florida already eliminated two-time defending NCAA champion UConn in the second round and is 10-1 in regional semifinals.

“The message was simple: We have to take care of the ball,” Golden, the Gators’ third-year coach, said.

The “Crab Five” — featuring WNBA star Angel Reese’s brother Julian, who had his sister in the stands to cheer — roared back in the first half when it seemed Florida might pull away. Queen, who hit a buzzer-beater in a 72-71 victory Sunday over Colorado State in the second round, shot 8 for 17 and made all 10 of his free throws.

Clayton, Martin and Richard combined for 42 points and three others scored in double figures for Florida. The senior trio had scored 56 of the Gators’ 77 points in the two-point victory against UConn last Sunday. That sent coach Golden back to the Bay Area, where he played for Saint Mary’s and coached at the University of San Francisco before taking the Florida job.

Now, they get to extend their stay into the weekend.

“It’s surreal, to be honest. The thing that I keep kind of going back to, selfishly, personally, I just don’t want it to end,” Golden said. “We have a uniquely tight group. … It’s been an amazing run.”What’s next for Willard?

Willard’s future was unclear as he has been linked to the Villanova job and also publicly expressed concerns last week with the direction of the Terrapins program, calling for “fundamental changes.”

Fans booed the coach as the team departed its hotel earlier in the day.

Golden had described the Terrapins as “freaky talented” coming into the game.Clayton from deep

Willard had compared Clayton to Stephen Curry when it comes to shooting off the dribble.

Clayton had been 22 for 43 from 3-point range — 51.2% — over his five postseason tournament games coming in. He wound up 2 of 6 from deep.Takeaways

Maryland: The Terrapins were outrebounded 5-1 early before Reese’s offensive rebound, putback and three-point play at the 15:21 mark of the first half — and Maryland forced 10 turnovers over the opening 13:30 to get back in the game.

Florida: The Southeastern Conference Tournament champion Gators used their depth to generate a 29-3 advantage in bench points, with Maryland getting its first bench point with 1:15 to play. … Sophomore forward-center Alex Condon limped off to the locker room with an injury to his troublesome right ankle at the 12:16 mark of the first half and underwent a precautionary X-ray, then returned with 13:29 left.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Süper Lig: Who are Most Carded Teams?

Published

on


Currently, the team with the most cards in Süper Lig is Hatayspor. Hatayspor leads the chart with 79 yellow cards and 4 red cards

Currently, the team with the most cards in Süper Lig is Hatayspor. Hatayspor leads the chart with 79 yellow cards and 4 red cards
Currently, the team with the most cards in Süper Lig is Hatayspor. Hatayspor leads the chart with 79 yellow cards and 4 red cards

Most Carded Teams in Süper Lig: 2025 Current Status

The Trendyol Süper Lig continues with the 29th week after the international break, and the race for the championship is intensifying. The excitement in the league is not only among the teams competing for the top spot but also among those battling for European cup spots and survival. However, one of the most striking statistics in Süper Lig is related to the level of discipline of the teams.

The teams with the most cards in the league have been revealed, and these cards provide important insights into the teams’ defensive strategies and playing styles. Here are the teams in Süper Lig with the most yellow and red cards and their card statistics.

Currently, the team with the most cards in Süper Lig is Hatayspor. Hatayspor leads the chart with 79 yellow cards and 4 red cards. This high card count reflects the team’s aggressive playing style and intense defense against their opponents. Hatayspor’s tough approach towards opponents often catches the attention of referees, leading to an increase in their card tally.

In second place is Sivasspor. Sivasspor has accumulated 62 yellow cards and 8 red cards, which is quite impressive. The team frequently resorts to fouling to stop their opponents, leading to both yellow and red cards. Sivasspor’s disciplined defensive play can sometimes make it harder for them to build up their own offense.

The third place belongs to Konyaspor, with 73 yellow cards and 3 red cards. Konyaspor is known for its combative style, often making aggressive tackles against their opponents. However, this aggression can sometimes lead to negative results, as many of these challenges are penalized by referees.

Gaziantep FK follows in fourth place with 71 yellow cards and 3 red cards. Gaziantep frequently uses fouls to disrupt the pace of the game and break their opponent’s rhythm. This strategy makes them more aggressive in possession but also leads to an increase in their card count.

Eyüpspor also has 71 yellow cards and 3 red cards, mirroring Gaziantep’s performance. Eyüpspor sometimes loses its sense of discipline on the field, using a tough playing style to challenge their opponents, which leads to more cards.

On the other hand, Başakşehir (64 yellow cards, 4 red cards) and Rizespor (63 yellow cards, 4 red cards) also stand out with high card numbers. Başakşehir is known for their tough defensive tactics, while Rizespor sometimes plays with more aggression, resulting in a higher card count.

Kayserispor (61 yellow cards, 5 red cards) is another team that struggles with ball control and uses an aggressive playing style to pressure opponents. Alanyaspor (70 yellow cards, 2 red cards), while more offensive in nature, sometimes picks up cards due to defensive struggles.

Galatasaray (65 yellow cards, 2 red cards) and Kasımpaşa (59 yellow cards, 3 red cards) are also among the teams with the most cards in the league. These teams often make interventions to disrupt the flow of the game, which can sometimes lead to card penalties from the referees.

Samsunspor (61 yellow cards, 2 red cards), Trabzonspor (58 yellow cards, 2 red cards), and Göztepe (53 yellow cards, 3 red cards) are also listed among the top teams for most cards. These teams tend to play more aggressively, resulting in penalties from referees.

Finally, Adana Demirspor (54 yellow cards, 2 red cards) and Bodrum FK (47 yellow cards, 4 red cards) are teams with lower card numbers but still occasionally commit fouls that result in cards.

Fenerbahçe (58 yellow cards, 0 red cards) stands out as the team with the fewest red cards. Fenerbahçe is known for its disciplined playing style, making careful interventions to avoid penalties.

These card statistics in Süper Lig reveal a lot about the teams’ playing styles, defensive strategies, and how they interact with referees. Teams that accumulate a higher number of cards may need to reassess their approach to discipline, as a reduction in cards could improve their overall performance.


Most Carded Teams – Summary Table

Rank Team Yellow Cards Red Cards
1 Hatayspor 79 4
2 Sivasspor 62 8
3 Konyaspor 73 3
4 Gaziantep FK 71 3
5 Eyüpspor 71 3
6 Başakşehir 64 4
7 Rizespor 63 4
8 Kayserispor 61 5
9 Alanyaspor 70 2
10 Galatasaray 65 2
11 Kasımpaşa 59 3
12 Samsunspor 61 2
13 Trabzonspor 58 2
14 Göztepe 53 3
15 Adana Demirspor 54 2
16 Bodrum FK 47 4
17 Antalyaspor 53 2
18 Fenerbahçe 58 0





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Tappan Street, Sandman help Let’em Run redeem weekend

Published

on


Tappan Street won the Florida Derby for Let’em Run

Tappan Street won the Florida Derby for Let'em Run
Tappan Street won the Florida Derby for Let’em Run

Let’em Run Review: Derby Dreams Taking Shape For Tappan Street, Sandman

As Yogi Berra once said, “It looks like déjà vu all over again.” And that couldn’t have been more true for our weekend picks, where we once again nailed the winners of both the Florida Derby (Tappan Street) and the Arkansas Derby (Sandman). With Kentucky Derby hopefuls battling for their place in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May, every performance carried extra weight—and we had front-row seats to the action.

At Gulfstream Park, the Late Pick 5 started off with some near-misses. In Races 10 through 13, we hit the board with two second-place and two third-place finishes, proving we were on the right track but just short of the winner’s circle. However, when the Florida Derby came around, we had the trifecta locked in, with our top pick Tappan Street getting the job done in style. The Brad Cox-trained colt showed impressive late speed, surging past rivals and paying out $6.80 for the win.

Meanwhile, over at Oaklawn Park, the Arkansas Derby delivered another thrilling finish. Our top selection, Sandman, lived up to his name, putting the field to sleep with a powerful closing kick. The $9.40 payout rewarded those who backed him, and we also had Coal Battle, who rounded out the trifecta in third place. It was another successful weekend of handicapping, setting the stage for the final stretch of Kentucky Derby prep races.

Looking Ahead: Three Major Derby Preps on April 5th

Next Saturday, the Derby trail heats up with three high-stakes prep races, each offering 100 points to the winner—essentially making them “win and you’re in” events for the Run for the Roses.

First, on the West Coast, the Santa Anita Derby will see a field of eight contenders battle for supremacy. The headliners? Journalism and Citizen Bull, two colts with impressive resumes looking to punch their ticket to Churchill Downs. Santa Anita has historically produced top-tier Derby contenders, and this year should be no different.

Back on the East Coast, the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct promises to be a showdown with 12 strong runners. Among them, Captain Cook, Rodriquez, and Omaha Omaha stand out as ones to watch. This race has a history of producing longshots that make noise in the Derby, so expect plenty of betting value.

Finally, at Keeneland, the Bluegrass Stakes will see a smaller but competitive field of seven vying for their Derby spot. Keeneland’s deep stretch often leads to dramatic finishes, making this race a must-watch.

As we gear up for another weekend of elite racing, be sure to tune into our “One Horse Wonders” podcast on Thursday at 8 PM for in-depth analysis and our best bets. With the Derby picture becoming clearer, the next few weeks will be crucial—so Let‘em run!





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

April Fooling? Does An Investor Want An NHL Houston Expansion Franchise

Published

on


Dan Friedkin ,Chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group, might be interested in getting a Houston NHL franchise.

Houston never really has been a contender for an NHL franchise.

It is April Fool’s Day, a day where it seemingly is okay to play a practical joke on someone. Here is the question. Is someone trying to pull a practical joke on the National Hockey League by wanting to land an NHL expansion team in Houston, Texas? Dan Friedkin, according to media reports, is interested in landing an expansion franchise in Houston. The NHL’s deputy commissioner Bill Daly did confirm that league officials have spoken “on a number of occasions about potential interest in a Houston expansion franchise.” Daly did not identify the party or parties that might have an interest in getting a National Hockey League franchise. Houston has never really been a serious contender to get an NHL franchise.

In the 1970s, when the World Hockey Association had a franchise in the city called the Aeros, that featured Gordie Howe, there seemed to be some talk about Houston landing an NHL franchise in some sort of merger between the two leagues. That wasn’t to be and the Aeros franchise folded in 1978, one year prior to a so-called NHL expansion that took in four WHA teams. When the National Hockey League decided to go from 21 to 28 teams following an NHL owner meeting in the late 1980s, Houston once again became a city of interest and in that 1997 round of expansion, there were groups from Houston vying for an expansion franchise. Houston failed to make the cut. The then owner of the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets, Leslie Alexander, attempted to buy the Edmonton Oilers franchise in 1997 but the NHL found local ownership in Edmonton and kept the franchise in the Alberta city. There are questions about Houston as a viable hockey market starting with an arena. Would the potential team play in the city’s present arena or want a new building? That is question one.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Gordie Howe was a member of the WHA’s Houston Aeros.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © Miami Select.