Ebuka Okorie’s 2nd-half eruption powers Stanford over Pitt
Dynamic Stanford freshman point guard Ebuka Okorie likely was the focal point of Pitt’s preparation for Wednesday’s matchup on the West Coast. Okorie entered the evening ranking second in the ACC in scoring (22.3 points per game) and has demonstrated an ability to take over games in his young career....
Duquesne held to season low in points, suffers damaging loss to Davidson
February in Pittsburgh. Blah! That seemingly was Duquesne’s sentiment Wednesday night at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, where the Dukes appeared disinterested in what’s at stake and played uninspired basketball during their disastrous 67-56 loss to Davidson. “Sometimes, these games — especially in conference play — just keep coming one after another,...
Robert Morris men extend winning streak to 6, take over 2nd place in Horizon League
Heading into the final two games of the regular season, the Robert Morris men’s basketball team was in a three-way tie for second place with the Detroit Mercy and Oakland. As luck would have it, one of the Colonials’ final two games would be against Detroit Mercy, giving them a...
Stats, streaks and factoids as the WPIAL prepares for the 10th year of 6-class basketball championships
Through the decades, there has always been growth in high school sports. Many sports began with just one classification, then more schools meant more classes. This year marks the 50th anniversary of multiple classes in girls high school basketball. The PIAA expanded girls hoops from one to two classifications and...
NFL combine notebook: Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton analyzes pass-rush moves
INDIANAPOLIS — While his 6-foot-5 frame and high-level athleticism certainly did not hurt, that wasn’t all Dani Dennis-Sutton had going for him in posting 17 sacks over the past two seasons for Penn State. A two-time team captain and part of the Nittany Lions’ run to the College Football Playoffs...
1st-round DT prospect Kayden McDonald, family friend of Heywards, meets with Steelers
INDIANAPOLIS — In 2011, Cam Heyward was a defensive tackle taken in the first round of the NFL Draft who went to high school in Suwanee, Ga., and to college at Ohio State. Fifteen years later, Kayden McDonald is a defensive tackle projected to go in the first round of...
Pirates’ Paul Skenes slogs through 1st spring start, ready to ‘go win gold’ for Team USA
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Paul Skenes found his first start of spring training — and only one for the Pittsburgh Pirates before joining Team USA in the World Baseball Classic — to be rather challenging. The National League Cy Young Award winner allowed one earned run on one hit and...
NFL QB market, impacted by a thin draft class, features Cousins and maybe Tagovailoa and Murray, too
Kirk Cousins will be available to sign with any team in two weeks once he is released by the Atlanta Falcons. Tua Tagovailoa could be on the move from the Miami Dolphins. Kyler Murray might not be in the Arizona Cardinals’ plans. Reliable quarterbacks have been of utmost importance for...
Having already shown he’s a playmaker, Pitt’s Kyle Louis eager to show off speed at combineVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Perhaps the only thing Kyle Louis does faster than run as compered to other draft-eligible linebackers is answer a question about what drill he’s most excited about during his workouts Thursday at the NFL combine. “Obviously,” Louis said Wednesday from the combine site, “that 40. I’m trying to...
Penguins defenseman Sam Girard acclimates to new surroundings
A slow news cycle did not accompany Sam Girard’s first day with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After trading for the 27-year-old defenseman Tuesday, the Penguins announced Wednesday that captain Sidney Crosby would be sidelined for at least four weeks as a result of an injury suffered during the Olympics. Nonetheless, Girard,...
Sidney Crosby remains confident in the Penguins’ playoff hopes as he lands on injured reserve
It was an important day for Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby on Wednesday. His celebrated Little Penguins Learn to Play program for area youth was staged at UPMC Lemieux Complex. Crosby has helmed this initiative since 2008 and routinely has spread the gospel of hockey to children who have been...
First Call: Konnor Griffin should ‘bat third’ for Pirates; Omar Khan on the idea of signing Tyreek HillVideo
Our Wednesday “First Call” has NESN’s reaction to Konnor Griffin’s two homers against the Boston Red Sox. Omar Khan dodges a question about Tyreek Hill. Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey may adjust the kicker market before Chris Boswell becomes a free agent. And it’s a busy night for Pittsburgh college basketball. Making...
Game commission advises Pennsylvanians to report sick, dead birds to help with avian flu trackingVideo
Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are asking bird watchers and hunters to report sick or dead birds they encounter as they continue to monitor avian influenza’s presence in the region. “Avian influenza can affect any bird, but we tend to see it more specifically in waterfowl, along with the family of...
To crack rotation, Pirates righty Carmen Mlodzinski concentrates on starting strong
BRADENTON, Fla. — As one of the more cerebral pitchers on the Pittsburgh Pirates, Carmen Mlodzinski is aware of the irony involved in his desire to be a starting pitcher versus his success as a reliever. The 27-year-old right-hander has the seven-pitch arsenal of a starter — with more offerings...
Tim Benz: Don’t buy Omar Khan’s praise of Will Howard just yet. We’ve heard him sing this tune before
For a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers appear willing to entertain the prospect of a former sixth-round draft pick who has never thrown an NFL pass to be their quarterback this fall. The key word in that sentence is “appear.” During two media...
Months later, NFL admits it got another call wrong in crucial Steelers-Ravens gameVideo
More than two months after a Pittsburgh Steelers’ win in Baltimore, the NFL is saying that it got a controversial call wrong in that game. During the Steelers’ 27-22 victory Dec. 7, Aaron Rodgers caught his own pass that was batted back in his face. Baltimore linebacker Teddye Buchanan seemed...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Steelers not alone in quarterback quandary
The ESPN.com headlines Tuesday felt like one big cry for quarterback help: • “Browns GM: Starting QB up for grabs, includes Sanders, Watson” • “Falcons GM: QB Cousins to be released March 11” • “Dolphins GM: ‘Everything’s on the table’ with Tua” • “Texans GM: Stroud trade speculation is ‘moronic’”...
Oklahoma State scores first 7 points of OT to beat West Virginia 91-84 and end 5-game skid
STILLWATER, Okla. — Kanye Clary scored 17 points, and Oklahoma State scored the first seven points of overtime to help beat West Virginia, 91-84, on Tuesday night and end the Cowboys’ five-game losing streak. Anthony Roy converted a three-point play, Parsa Fallah added a free throw and Jaylen Curry capped...
Tiger Woods nearing decisions on whether to play in the Masters and be Ryder Cup captain
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods is on the clock. Woods kept everyone guessing — a favorite hobby of his — with one word and a smug grin last week at Riviera when he was asked if playing in the Masters was off the table. “No,” he replied. The grin indicated...
NFL receives no tush push ban proposal this year after effort last year to ban it failed
INDIANAPOLIS — The tush push is still tough to stop, on and off the field. NFL executive Troy Vincent told reporters at the scouting combine that no team submitted a proposal to ban the controversial quarterback sneak before the deadline this year for clubs to propose rule changes. The league...
Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown and Raiders Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby could be on the move
INDIANAPOLIS — A.J. Brown and Maxx Crosby are two of the best NFL players who could be on the move this offseason. Their teams just aren’t saying they’re on the trade block. Brown, the Philadelphia Eagles’ star wide receiver, wasn’t happy with the offense or his role in it last...
Jack Hughes’ OT goal for Team USA vs Canada in Olympic final averages 26M live viewers on NBC, Peacock
Jack Hughes’ overtime goal, which gave the United States its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980, drew an average audience of 26 million viewers on NBC and Peacock in the U.S., according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel ratings and Adobe Analytics digital data. Team USA’s 2-1...
Monster Mash: Konnor Griffin breaks out with 2 home runs as Pirates roll over Red Sox
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Konnor Griffin was still searching for his first hit of spring training when he faced left-hander Ranger Suarez, a 2024 All-Star and the marquee free-agent addition of the Boston Red Sox. When Suarez hung a curveball over the middle of the plate, Griffin showed why he’s...
Steelers starters Darnell Washington, DeShon Elliott expected to recover from injury
INDIANAPOLIS — A pair of veteran Pittsburgh Steelers starters who finished this past season on the injured reserve list appear poised for full-go work by this summer. Safety DeShon Elliott and tight end Darnell Washington are on track to contribute in 2026, general manager Omar Khan said Tuesday. Speaking at...
Steelers monitoring Broderick Jones’ ‘significant’ injury, could affect 5th-year option decision
INDIANAPOLIS — Three months after suffering a neck injury that prematurely ended his 2025 season, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones continues to recover. While a lack of full health in late winter and early spring typically wouldn’t matter all that much, the murkiness around Jones’ status could have long-term...
