Friday’s “First Call” features a Pitt transfer shining in the NCAA Tournament. Deshaun Watson will not face another criminal charge. High praise for new Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky. And the Carolina Hurricanes extend their lead on the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division.

Hog wild

Pitt transfer Au’Diese Toney put his stamp on Arkansas’ upset of Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night.

The fourth-seeded Razorbacks stunned the top-seeded Bulldogs in the West Region semifinal 74-68.

With 8 minutes, 36 seconds left, Toney converted a three-point play and drew a fourth foul on the Bulldogs’ star center Chet Holmgren. Holmgren would eventually foul out.

Toney had the first of two key blocks in the waning seconds on Gonzaga All-American Drew Timme with 24 seconds left while holding a 66-62 lead. Up 70-65, he got another on Andrew Nembhard.

AU'DIESE TONEY COMES UP WITH A HUGE BLOCK #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/hBv75UwEv5

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2022

Then Toney finished the game with an exclamation-point dunk.

ARKANSAS BUSTING BRACKETS #MarchMadness@RazorbackMBB topples Gonzaga to move on to the #Elite8! pic.twitter.com/Dz2s0I9U8L

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2022

Toney transferred from Oakland in February of last year. He finished the game with nine points and seven rebounds. Pitt has lost five players to the transfer portal since this season concluded. Ithiel Horton was the latest Wednesday.

Moving forward

Former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson will be introduced as a new member of the Cleveland Browns on Friday after all. There was some sense that plan was going to be halted by a second criminal complaint stemming from the 22 civil suits that Watson is currently facing in Texas.

However, he was not indicted Thursday after a grand jury in Brazoria County heard a single criminal complaint from a woman who alleged Watson committed sexual misconduct.

“After a careful and thorough review of the facts and evidence documented in the reports prepared by the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department, as well as hearing testimony from witnesses, the Grand Jury for Brazoria County has declined to charge Deshaun Watson with any crimes,” Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck said in a statement posted by the Houston Chronicle. “Accordingly, this matter is closed.”

Watson avoided indictment on nine criminal complaints in Harris County two weeks ago.

That’s when the Browns joined a handful of other teams in bidding for Watson’s services in a trade. A sweepstakes Cleveland eventually won.

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Trumping up Trubisky

We’ll see how Mitch Trubisky does as the Steelers quarterback once he actually gets on the field. But, apparently, he’s already made an impact as a recruiter.

New Steelers defensive back Levi Wallace went on the NFL Network Thursday morning and explained that he joined the Steelers in part because he saw Trubisky sign there.

“For me, it was one of the biggest reasons why I went to Pittsburgh, seeing him go to the Steelers a few days before me,” Wallace said. “Just the leader he is on and off the field. Josh (Allen) was our leader in Buffalo. And Mitch did a tremendous job with the scout team and leading us, too. That’s our second quarterback if anything happens to Josh. His preparation on and off the field. Each and every day. (It) kind of went unnoticed, for me at least. Then just the hard work he puts in. Even when he got his opportunities, he went out there and did exactly what he needed to get done.”

Meanwhile, fellow cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon still hasn’t officially signed in Pittsburgh to stay with the Steelers even though that news was reported on St. Patrick’s Day.

Losing ground

The idle Penguins lost a little ground in the Metropolitan Division race Thursday night.

While the Penguins were heading to New York City for a Friday night game against the Rangers, the Carolina Hurricanes picked up a point on them with a shootout loss in Dallas. The Stars won 4-3 behind a stellar performance by goalie Scott Wedgewood. He made 44 saves on 47 shots, then went 3 for 3 stopping Hurricanes attempts in the shootout.

Scott Wedgewood's 44 saves in his Dallas Stars debut steals a win and 2 points for his new team pic.twitter.com/vSRhIh48XO

— ESPN (@espn) March 25, 2022

It was Wedgewood’s first game with Dallas after being acquired from Arizona, as he set the franchise record for most saves in a debut.

The Hurricanes now have 91 points, three more than the second-place Penguins. The Rangers are in third with 85.

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