Month: April 2023

Denny Hamlin on his appeal next week: “If I’m the only one getting a points penalty out of this whole thing, then there’s something wrong with the system that’s for sure.”

South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston did not end the 2022–23 women’s college basketball season the way she planned to as Iowa knocked off the reigning national champs, 77-73, in the Final Four matchup on Friday at the American Airlines Center.

The Gamecocks star dealt with foul trouble early in Friday’s game that curbed her minutes on the court and ultimately limited her production, as she finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three fouls.

With the season now over, Boston must decide whether she will return to Columbia, S.C., for another year or take her talents to the WNBA. But, according to Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, it is time for Boston to spread her wings and talent in the pros.

“I’m going to tell her to go,” Staley said in the news conference after the Gamecocks loss. “There are defenses that are played against her that won’t allow her to play her game, and then it’s hard to officiate that. … She’s great. She’s ready. She’s ready to see single coverage. She’s ready to make the next step to the league.”

Baccellieri: With Caitlin Clark, Iowa Knew It Could Slay the Beast

Boston joined South Carolina as part of the Gamecocks 2019 recruiting class featuring five players—who call themselves “The Freshies” of SC—along with Brea Beal, Olivia Thompson, Zia Cooke and Laeticia Amihere. Boston has the additional year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic ending the ’20 season prematurely.

However, Boston has not made her pivotal decision and it is one that she believes will take some time.

“This decision is a big decision,” Boston said. “I was going to have to really write down the pros and cons of everything. Whether we won or not [Final Four game], it would still have to be something that I would have to consider.”

The 21-year-old was recently named the 2023 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, her second consecutive year taking home the honor.

South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston did not end the 2022–23 women’s college basketball season the way she planned to as Iowa knocked off the reigning national champs, 77-73, in the Final Four matchup on Friday at the American Airlines Center.

The Gamecocks star dealt with foul trouble early in Friday’s game that curbed her minutes on the court and ultimately limited her production, as she finished with eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three fouls.

With the season now over, Boston must decide whether she will return to Columbia, S.C., for another year or take her talents to the WNBA. But, according to Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, it is time for Boston to spread her wings and talent in the pros.

“I’m going to tell her to go,” Staley said in the news conference after the Gamecocks loss. “There are defenses that are played against her that won’t allow her to play her game, and then it’s hard to officiate that. … She’s great. She’s ready. She’s ready to see single coverage. She’s ready to make the next step to the league.”

Baccellieri: With Caitlin Clark, Iowa Knew It Could Slay the Beast

Boston joined South Carolina as part of the Gamecocks 2019 recruiting class featuring five players—who call themselves “The Freshies” of SC—along with Brea Beal, Olivia Thompson, Zia Cooke and Laeticia Amihere. Boston has the additional year of eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic ending the ’20 season prematurely.

However, Boston has not made her pivotal decision and it is one that she believes will take some time.

“This decision is a big decision,” Boston said. “I was going to have to really write down the pros and cons of everything. Whether we won or not [Final Four game], it would still have to be something that I would have to consider.”

The 21-year-old was recently named the 2023 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, her second consecutive year taking home the honor.

Which college stars have declared their intentions to go through the NBA draft process? Keep up with the big names here.

At 38-39, the Raptors are currently hanging on to a spot in the play-in tournament with five games left in the season. Toronto is tied with the Hawks for the No. 8 seed in the East and just a game back of the Heat for the No. 7 seed.

However, while the Raptors season will likely extend by at least one game following the regular season, Nick Nurse is already thinking towards the future. Toronto’s coach told the media he will need to mull what he wants to do next year once the season ends.

“First of all, I think when this season gets done, we’ll evaluate everything, and even personally, I’m going to take a few weeks to see where I’m at, you know?” Nurse said, via ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “Like you said, where my head’s at. And just see how the relationship with the organization is and everything.”

Nurse has been a part of the Raptors organization for the last decade, first as an assistant then as head coach. He led Toronto to its first ever NBA championship in 2019 and has been arguably the best coach in team history as a result.

However, the last few years have been a grind. The Raptors missed the playoffs in 2021 and lost in the first round to the Sixers last season. Still, Nurse said he hasn’t thought about moving on from Toronto, just that it’s a good time for him to think about his future.

“I’m concentrated on this job, for sure, and this game, essentially,” he said. “But I think 10 years is a good time to sit back and reflect a little bit. So I think we’re going to do that all when the season ends.”

Nurse’s contract reportedly expires after next season, so one way or another he and the team need to decide on what to do beyond 2024.