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Utah’s Rudy Gobert, Sixers’ Ben Simmons Lead NBA All-Defensive Team

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NEW YORK – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, the 2020-21 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons lead the 2020-21 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced. Both players received NBA All-Defensive First Team votes on all 100 ballots to finish with 200 points each.

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Joining Gobert and Simmons on the NBA All-Defensive First Team are Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (176 points; 80 First Team votes) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (157 points; 65 First Team votes) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (135 points; 43 first Team votes).

Gobert, the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in the last four seasons, has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the fifth season in a row. This marks the second straight First Team selection for Simmons, the runner-up for Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year this season. Simmons helped the 76ers finish with the NBA’s second-best defensive rating in the regular season, one spot ahead of the Gobert-led Jazz.

Green has been selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the fourth time to go with two Second Team honors. Holiday is a First Team honoree for the second time. Antetokounmpo, the 2019-20 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, has earned his third consecutive NBA All-Defensive First Team selection.

The 2020-21 NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo (111 points) and guard Jimmy Butler (111), 76ers center Joel Embiid (87) and guard Matisse Thybulle (63), and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (43).

Leonard has been named to the NBA All-Defensive Team (First Team and Second Team) for the seventh time. This is the fifth NBA All-Defensive Team selection for Butler, the third for Embiid and the second for Adebayo. Thybulle is making his All-Defensive Team debut in his second NBA season.

The NBA All-Defensive Team was selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were awarded two points for each vote to the NBA All-Defensive First Team and one point for each vote to the Second Team. Voters selected two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly. Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position at which they received the most votes.

The voting results for the 2020-21 NBA All-Defensive Team:

(Balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP. Complete ballots for each voter will be posted at PR.NBA.com after the announcement of all end-of-season awards).

2020-21 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
 
Position Player (Team) 1st Team Votes

(2 Points)

 2nd Team Votes

(1 Point)

 Total

Points

 Career All-Defensive Team Selections
Center Rudy Gobert (Utah) 100 0 200 5 (five 1st)
Guard Ben Simmons (Philadelphia) 100 0 200 2 (two 1st)
Forward Draymond Green (Golden State) 80 16 176 6 (four 1st, two 2nd)
Guard Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee) 65 27 157 3 (two 1st, one 2nd)
Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) 43 49 135 4 (three 1st, one 2nd)

 

2020-21 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
 
Position Player (Team) 1st Team Votes (2 Points) 2nd Team Votes (1 Point) Total

Points

 Career All-Defensive Team Selections
Forward Bam Adebayo (Miami) 37 37 111 2 (two 2nd)
Guard Jimmy Butler (Miami) 37 37 111 5 (five 2nd)
Center Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) 8 71 87 3 (three 2nd)
Guard Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia) 3 57 63 1 (one 2nd)
Forward Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers) 8 27 43 7 (three 1st, four 2nd)

 

 

 

NFL Releases Preseason Sked

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CANTON – A new normal for the NFL and its preseason will return this summer, beginning with the Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 5. The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game kicks-off a schedule of three preseason games for each team, down from four in previous seasons. The extra game has been tacked on to the regular season, with each team playing 17 games instead of 16.

In another Week 1 preseason game of interest, fans will get their first glance at the revamped Jaguars, led by new coach Urban Meyer and No. 1 overall draft pick Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, when the Cleveland Browns visit Jacksonville on Aug. 14.

The preseason wraps up Aug. 29.

The Cowboys will be featured in the regular-season opener, as well, when they visit the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 9.

The 2021 preseason week-by-week schedule, with all times Eastern:

WEEK 1
Thursday, Aug. 5
Pittsburgh and Dallas (Canton, Ohio), 8 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 12
Washington at New England, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 13
Tennessee at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Buffalo at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Arizona, 10 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 14
Miami at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Denver at Minnesota, 4 p.m.
New Orleans at Baltimore, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Jacksonville, 7 p.m.

New York Jets at NY Giants, 7:30 pm

Cincinnati at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Green Bay, 8 p.m.
Kansas City at San Francisco, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.

Los Angeles Chargers at LA Rams, 10 pm

Sunday, Aug. 15
Carolina at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

WEEK 2
Thursday, Aug. 19
New England at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 20
Kansas City at Arizona, 8 p.m.
Cincinnati at Washington, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 21
Buffalo at Chicago, 1 p.m.
New York Jets at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.
Baltimore at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Miami, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Tennessee at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Indianapolis at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Las Vegas at Los Angeles Rams, 10 p.m.
Denver at Seattle, 10 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 22
New York Giants at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
San Francisco at Los Angeles Chargers, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 23
Jacksonville at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

WEEK 3
Friday, Aug. 27
Indianapolis at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at New York Jets, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Kansas City, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 28
Green Bay at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Washington, 6 p.m.
Chicago at Tennessee, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Houston, 8 p.m.
Arizona at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams at Denver, 9:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers at Seattle, 10 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 29
Jacksonville at Dallas, 1 p.m.
Miami at Cincinnati, 4 p.m.
Las Vegas at San Francisco, 4 p.m.
New England at New York Giants, 6 p.m.
Cleveland at Atlanta, 8 p.m.

USA Basketball Expands Deal with MGM

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LAS VEGAS – (Source: Official News Release) – USA Basketball and MGM Resorts International, a leader in the sports and entertainment industry, announced an expanded, multi-year partnership, tipping-off this July in Las Vegas. As part of the partnership, MGM Resorts will be the Official Training Camp home of the USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Teams, as well as an Official integrated resorts partner of USA Basketball and an Official USA Basketball exhibition tour partner.

As the new training camp home of the USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Teams, MGM Resorts, in partnership with USA Basketball, will host four additional countries in Las Vegas, creating a must-see international basketball competition prior to the teams’ departure for Tokyo.

Fans will have the opportunity to watch seven USA Basketball Men’s and Women’s National Team exhibition games July 10-18, as both teams take on top international opponents in preparation for this summer’s historic competition. The lineup includes a rare opportunity to see both the USA Men’s and Women’s National Teams play live on the same day, July 16 and 18, as well as opportunities to see three additional matchups between the other foreign national teams. Each of the five days of exhibition games will be doubleheaders. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 16 at 10 a.m. PDT, and ticket information is available online at https://axs.com/USABasketball.

“USA Basketball is proud to expand its partnership with MGM Resorts. We’re excited to bring our national teams to their properties as we prepare for the challenging competition that lies ahead this summer,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “Training camps are such an important foundation for our preparation and having such a strong commitment from MGM positions us for great success.”

Lance Evans, Senior Vice President of MGM Resorts, Sports, said, “MGM Resorts and Las Vegas have an extensive history with USA Basketball. This expanded partnership will allow us to showcase our resorts as we host multiple USA Basketball games at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay, as well as a variety of USA Basketball-related activities. We look forward to offering hoops fans another reason to visit the Sports Capital of the World.”

Red Sox Defeat Marlins, 5-3

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BOSTON – Red Sox second baseman Christian Arroyo knocked-in two runs with a single in Boston’s half of the fourth inning, and the Sox defeated the Marlins 5-3 for their fifth straight victory.

Boston outfielder Alex Verdugo added two hits including an RBI double for the Red Sox, who were coming off their first three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium since June 2011.

Starling Marte hit a solo homer and had two base hits for Miami, which left 14 baserunners on base. It was the Marlins’ ninth loss in the last 10 games.

The Marlins completed a nine-game, 11-day road trip with just one win, with the first two losses coming in Fenway Park.

The Red Sox are a season-high 14 games over .500 at 37-23. The matchup was a makeup of the May 30 game that was rained out, with the conditions vastly different. The game-time temperature at Fenway Park was a stifling 90 degrees. When the Marlins were previously in town, it was chilly and rainy for the three days.

New York’s Thibs is NBA Coach of Year

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NEW YORK – New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was presented with the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year, the NBA announced. It was the second NBA Coach of the Year Award for Thibodeau, who earned the honor in the 2010-11 season with the Chicago Bulls in his first season as an NBA head coach.

Now honored in his first season as the Knicks’ head coach, Thibodeau has become the first person to be named NBA Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach with two different franchises. (Cotton Fitzsimmons won the award in his first season as the Kansas City Kings’ head coach, 1978-79, and again in the first season of his second tenure as the Phoenix Suns’ head coach, 1988-89.)

Thibodeau received 43 first-place votes and earned 351 total points to edge Phoenix head coach Monty Williams, who finished in second place with 340 points (45 first-place votes). The 11-point difference between the first- and second-place finishers marks the smallest margin since the current NBA Coach of the Year voting format was introduced in the 2002-03 season. Williams had two more first place votes and 10 more victories than Thibodeau.

Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder finished in third place with 161 points (10 first-place votes). Coaches were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.

With Thibodeau as head coach, New York finished tied for the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference (41-31) and made the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season. The Knicks won 16 of their final 20 games to complete a turnaround from last season’s overall record of 21-45.

Red Sox Win in 10; Sweep Yankees

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BRONX – Boston all-star shortstop Xander Bogaerts laced a two-run single with two outs in the 10th inning and the Boston Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the struggling New York Yankees by holding on for a 6-5 victory at Yankee Stadium.

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Red Sox slugger Bobby Dalbec opened the 10th with a walk on a pitch that resulted in New York hitting coach Marcus Thames screaming from the dugout and the ejection of bench coach Carlos Mendoza.

The Red Sox had runners at second and third following a sacrifice bunt by Christian Arroyo, and Bogaerts provided for Boston’s lead when he hit a 2-1 slider off Luis Cessa (1-1) to the gap in left-center field to give Boston a 6-4 lead.

Bogaerts had given the Red Sox a 4-3 lead with a sacrifice fly in the eighth, and his double gave Boston its first three-game sweep in New York since June 7-9, 2011.

The Red Sox blew a 4-3 lead when closer Matt Barnes (2-1) allowed a game-tying double to Gleyber Torres in the ninth. He stranded runners at first and third by striking out pinch hitter Rougned Odor on a full-count pitch that replays showed was outside and resulted in the ejection of New York third base coach Phil Nevin by plate umpire Gabe Morales.

Boston’s Phillips Valdez hit Clint Frazier with his first pitch of the 10th, got a double play on Miguel Andujar and allowed an infield single to Tyler Wade to make it 6-5. Wade took second on a throwing error by Marwin Gonzalez and, following an animated mound visit from manager Alex Cora, Valdez retired DJ LeMahieu on a groundout for his first career save.

Red Sox to Honor Pedroia on June 25

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BOSTON – (Source: Official News Release) – The Red Sox announced plans to honor former second baseman Dustin Pedroia during pregame ceremonies at Fenway Park on Friday, June 25, before the 7:10 p.m. Sox-Yankees game. Pedroia, who played in 1,512 games with the club from 2006-19, announced his retirement from the Red Sox and the game of baseball on February 1, 2021.

Tickets for the June 25 game are on sale now and can be purchased on redsox.com/tickets.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 24: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays during the game on July 24, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Dustin Pedroia signed an 8-year, $110 million extension with the team today. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

During his time in a Red Sox uniform, Pedroia and his wife Kelli were active supporters of the Red Sox Foundation. To help commemorate the spirit of their charitable contributions, the Red Sox Foundation is offering fans the chance to join the “Pedey Fan Club” to raise funds for its many charitable programs. Fans who sign up for the fan club will receive a box filled with Pedroia-themed items, such as a trophy case bobblehead, a retirement hat, a greatest moments coaster set, and a laser show light-up pint glass. The fan club is $115 to join, and all net proceeds directly benefit the Red Sox Foundation. Those who sign up online at redsox.com/pedroia will receive their promotional boxes by mail in July.

Pedroia, 37, spent his entire 17-year professional career in the Red Sox organization after being selected by the club in the second round of the 2004 June Draft. A three-time World Series champion (2007, ’13, ’18), he was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2007 and Most Valuable Player in 2008. He earned four All-Star Game selections (2008-10, ’13), four Gold Glove Awards at second base (2008, ’11, ’13-14), and a 2008 Silver Slugger Award, and is the only second baseman ever named Red Sox MVP by the Boston Baseball Writers (2008, ’12). In 2012, Pedroia was named the starting second baseman on the All-Fenway Team.

In major league history, Pedroia is the only player ever to win a World Series title and earn MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Gold Glove awards within their first two full seasons, having accomplished the feat from 2007-08. The only other players to achieve all of those accomplishments at any point in their careers are National Baseball Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, and Cal Ripken Jr., as well as Pete Rose, Thurman Munson, Albert Pujols, Buster Posey, and Cody Bellinger.

Pedroia was the Red Sox’ nominee for the MLB Players Alumni Association’s Heart and Hustle Award in seven consecutive seasons from 2010-16 and was named MLB’s overall winner in 2013. The award is given annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit, and traditions of the game. He also received the Boston Baseball Writers’ Jackie Jensen Award in 2011 and 2014, presented annually to a Red Sox player for spirit and determination.

In the Red Sox’ 121-year history, Pedroia’s 1,506 games played rank 11th all-time and are the second-most among club second baseman, trailing only Bobby Doerr (1,865). Pedroia played in 14 major league seasons from 2006-19, tied with Doerr and David Ortiz for seventh most in franchise history behind only Carl Yastrzemski (23), Dwight Evans (19), Ted Williams (19), Tim Wakefield (17), Jim Rice (16), and Jason Varitek (15). Pedroia made 11 consecutive Opening Day starts from 2007-17, trailing only Yastrzemski (12 in left field) for the longest streak ever by a Red Sox player at any position. In the 11 seasons prior to 2007 (1996-2006), 10 different players made Opening Day starts at second base for Boston.

In his major league career, Pedroia batted .299 (1,805-for-6,031) with a .365 on-base percentage, 140 home runs, 394 doubles, 725 RBI, 922 runs scored, 138 stolen bases, and only 30 fewer walks (624) than strikeouts (654). In Red Sox history, he ranks among the top 10 all time in hits (8th), doubles (6th), runs (10th), steals (6th), extra-base hits (8th, 549), total bases (8th, 2,649), and at-bats (9th). During his 10-year stretch from 2007-16, his 50.6 wins above replacement ranked sixth in the majors behind only Robinson Canó (57.6), Adrián Beltré (56.2), Albert Pujols (55.3), Miguel Cabrera (54.8), and Clayton Kershaw (53.9), according to Baseball-Reference. In that 10-year span, Pedroia batted .303 and ranked second in the AL in doubles (371), fourth in hits (1,666), and fourth in runs scored (869).

Pedroia hit at least .300 in a season five times and was the only major leaguer to bat at least .275 in each of the 11 seasons from 2007-17 (min. 300 PA). His five games with at least five hits are the most in Red Sox history, and he is the franchise’s only player ever to record as many as six hitting streaks of 10 or more games in a single season (2016). His 25-game hitting streak in 2011 is the longest ever by a Red Sox second baseman, while his 138 steals are the franchise’s most at his position. Pedroia is the only second baseman in Red Sox history to record at least 200 hits and 100 runs scored in a season (2008, ’16). He still holds single-season franchise records in batting average (.326), runs (118), hits (213), doubles (54), total bases (322), and extra-base hits (73) by a second baseman, all reached during his 2008 MVP season. Pedroia joins Yastrzemski and Mookie Betts as the only Red Sox ever to reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases.

In addition to his four Gold Glove Awards, Pedroia was named a finalist at second base in 2012, 2016, and 2017. His .991 fielding percentage at second base is the highest in AL history; he owns eight of the 12 highest single-season fielding percentages at second base in Red Sox history, including a franchise-best .997 mark in 2014. Pedroia fielded 439 consecutive chances without committing an error during a stretch from 2009-10 and played 114 consecutive errorless games from 2016-17, both Red Sox records at second base. He also holds Red Sox single-season records for most games (160) and starts (159) at second base, both reached during the club’s 2013 World Series championship season.

Pedroia was the Red Sox’ starting second baseman in all 51 of the club’s Postseason games from 2007-17, as he joins Mark Lemke (Braves, 55) and Robinson Canó (Yankees, 51) as the only players ever to start at least 50 consecutive Postseason games at second base for a single team. During his 2007 rookie season, Pedroia went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in Game 7 of the ALCS, as he still holds the rookie record for most RBI in an ALCS game. He is one of only two rookies ever to homer in Game 7 of an ALCS, joined by Randy Arozarena in 2020. Pedroia homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning in Game 1 of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park; he is still the only rookie ever to hit a leadoff home run in the World Series.

In 2014, Pedroia launched the Pedroia’s Platoon program as a way to invite military members to Fenway Park during homestands, meeting with them before games and providing them tickets to his seats. He has also been involved in countless events with the Jimmy Fund, has met with several children as part of the Make-A-Wish program, and has been a regular participant in events that benefit the Red Sox Foundation.

Pedroia and his wife, Kelli, have three sons, Dylan, Cole, and Brooks. They reside in Arizona.

Marchand Scores in OT to Lead Bruins

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UNIONDALE – (Staff and Wire Services Report) – Boston winger Brad Marchand scored 3:36 into overtime Thursday night as the visiting Bruins edged the New York Islanders, 2-1, in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference second-round series on Long Island. The Bruins now lead the best-of-seven series two games to one.

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Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday night in Uniondale.

The Islanders were outshot 39-24 in regulation but opened the overtime with momentum following Mathew Barzal’s goal with 5:26 left. New York had five of the first six shots before Marchand, leaping over the boards in a shift change, took a pass from Long Island native Charlie McAvoy and fired an angled shot that sailed past defenseman Ryan Pulock and over the far shoulder of Semyon Varlamov.

Craig Smith scored in the first for the Bruins.

Boston goalkeeper Tuukaa Rask made 28 saves while NY’s Varlamov recorded 39 saves.

The Islanders outshot the Bruins 7-5 in the first, but Smith, who missed Game 2 with a lower-body injury, put Boston ahead a little less than six minutes after faceoff.

Barzal and the Bruins’ Taylor Hall battled each other for the puck as they skated into the Boston zone. Hall finally won the duel and handed the puck off to Matt Grzelyck, who raced up the neutral zone before dishing back to Hall, who was stationed at the right faceoff circle. Hall passed to Smith, whose shot from the slot sailed beyond the outstretched stick of Jordan Eberle and over Varlamov’s glove at the 5:52 mark.

Both teams had plenty of chances during a scoreless second, during which the Bruins held a 13-8 shot advantage. The Islanders had four shots during a power play created when David Pastrnak was whistled for slashing, but Rask stopped Anthony Beauvillier from point-blank range with 10:15 left.

Varlamov turned away back-to-back shots in the crease by David Krejci and Smith with a little more than five minutes left. Those near-misses began a period-ending sequence in which the Bruins had eight of the final nine shots, including five unanswered in the final 2:58.

The Bruins continued peppering Varlamov in the third. Smith was stymied at the doorstep a little more than a minute into the period and Chris Wagner couldn’t finish a wrap-around eight minutes in for Boston, which outshot the Islanders 15-4 to open the third before collecting four more shots after Josh Bailey was whistled for tripping at the 11:04 mark.

Barzal finally tied it for the Islanders with 5:26 left when his second attempt of a wraparound trickled between Rask’s legs. New York almost took the lead with 3:15 left, when Rask cradled a point-blank breakaway by Beauvillier off a Bruins turnover.

Red Sox Salvage a Game in Houston

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HOUSTON – Boston’s Christian Arroyo hit a three-run homer and starting pitcher Martin Perez tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings as the Boston Red Sox posted a much-needed 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon to salvage the finale of a four-game series.

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Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts broke out of an 0-for-24 mini-slump with a two-run double in the seventh inning as the Red Sox halted the Astros’ four-game winning streak. Bogaerts added an infield single in the ninth.

Perez (4-2) allowed six hits and one walk and struck out four during an 82-pitch effort. The left-hander has won his past four starts.

Houston’s Yuli Gurriel went 3-for-4 with a ninth-inning homer for the Astros, as they had outscored Boston 18-4 while winning the first three games of the series. Aledmys Diaz added two hits for the Astros.

J.D. Martinez had two doubles for the Red Sox.

Perez was five outs away from his third career shutout before tiring in the eighth. He allowed a one-out single to Garrett Stubbs and issued a two-out walk to Diaz to conclude his outing. Adam Ottavino entered and got Alex Bregman to fly to left-center to end the inning. Fellow right-handed reliever Brandon Workman served up Gurriel’s eighth blast with one out in the ninth before retiring the final two batters.

Earlier, Red Sox 3B  Rafael Devers led off the second inning with a double off the fence in center and Hunter Renfroe drew a walk against Houston starter Jake Odorizzi (0-3). Arroyo followed and received a cutter on the eighth pitch of the at-bat and hit it into the Crawford Boxes in left for his first homer of the season.

The score remained 3-0 until the seventh when Jason Verdugo walked against Astros right-hander Cristian Javier and Martinez followed with his second double.

That brought up Bogaerts, who had come up in the same situation two innings earlier and had struck out to keep his funk going. This time, Bogaerts laced a 2-2 slider into the left-field corner to score two for his first hit since May 25 against the Atlanta Braves.

Odorizzi lasted just three innings and allowed three runs and four hits. He walked three and struck out two.

Big East vs. Big 12 Battle Announced

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NEW YORK – The Big East and Big 12 Conferences recently announced the dates and matchups for the third year of the BIG EAST-vs-Big 12-Battle.

The contests, which will be played in December, were jointly determined by the two conferences. The home school has the right to determine the venue of its game. Broadcast arrangements for the games will be determined by the national television rights holder of the home team, which is FOX Sports for the BIG EAST and ESPN for the Big 12.

The four-year agreement between the two conferences will continue through the 2022-23 season with an equal number of games played in each conference’s home market each year. Television designations and game times will be announced when available.

2021 BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle Schedule
Dec. 1 Texas Tech at Providence
Dec. 2 Kansas at St. John’s
Dec. 4 Iowa State at Creighton
Dec. 5 Xavier at Oklahoma State
Dec. 7 Butler at Oklahoma
Dec. 8 Marquette at Kansas State
Dec. 8 Connecticut at West Virginia
Dec. 9 Texas at Seton Hall
Dec. 12 Villanova at Baylor