Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Digital Sports Desk

Super Bowl Preview: Bengals vs Rams

by

Super Bowl LVI (56)

  • February 13, 2022
  • Time: 6:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (local)
  • TV: NBC Sports; Streaming on Peacock
  • Play-by-play: Al Michaels – Expert Analyst: Chris Collinsworth
  • Sideline Reporters: Michele Tafoya, Kathryn Tappen
  • Radio: Westwood One Network; Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner
  • SoFi Stadium
  • Ingelwood, California
  • AFC Champion – Cincinnati Bengals (13-7)
    • Defeated: Las Vegas (26-19); At Tennessee (19-16); At Kansas City (27-24)
  • NFC Champion – Los Angeles Rams (15-5)
    • Defeated: Arizona (34-11); At Tampa Bay (30-27); San Francisco (20-17).

Rams Coach: Sean McVey

Bengals Coach: Zac Taylor

Notes: Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, a 13-year veteran and one time No. 1 overall pick by the Detroit Lions, is one of only five first overall picks to play over 100 games before making it to the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is the first second-year QB to start in the Super Bowl since Seattle’s Russell Wilson in 2013. … The Rams are seeking their second NFL title, the first coming in 1999. Similar to Tampa Bay last season, the Rams are enjoying home field advantage at their brand new SoFi Stadium. … The bengals are seeking their first Super Bowl title after losing in 1982 and 1989. Cincinnati is in its 54th season and a loss would mark the league record for most seasons without a championship.

WR Stars: Los Angeles features WR Cooper Kupp, the league’s Offensive Player of the Year who led the NFL in receptions (145), yards (1,947) and TDs (16) this season; Cincinnati counters with Ja’Marr Chase who had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 TDs this season. His 279 receiving yards in the postseason are already the most among rookies in a single playoffs, and he’s the only rookie receiver to have multiple 100-yard receiving games in a playoffs.

Defensive Stand-outs: The Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald is considered the best defensive player in the league and will be pressuring Cincy QB Burrows while also downing Bengals running backs and receivers. He led the league in tackles with 127. Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (107 tackles, third in the NFL) ranks in the top three in first pressures this season, including the playoffs. Hendrickson was 11th in pass rush win rate (21.9%).

Celtics Sign Hauser, Kornet

by

BOSTON – After trades that cleared roster space and cap room for the Boston Celtics on the afternoon of the NBA league-wide trading deadline, the Boston Celtics signed rookie forward Sam Hauser. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Originally signed by the Celtics as a two-way player this past offseason, Hauser, 24, has produced 19.0 points on 48.0% shooting (42.4% 3-PT), 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 20 games played with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League. Hauser has reached the 30-point mark twice with Maine this season – including his most recent game against Grand Rapids on Feb. 6 – and leads the team with 84 three-point field goals.

Hauser has played in 10 games for Boston this season, tallying 12 points and six rebounds in 41 minutes of action. He produced 9.0 points (50.0% FG, 46.2% 3-PT), 4.8 rebounds, and a team-high 2.0 assists in five games for the Celtics during the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League.

In a separate transaction, the Boston signed center Luke Kornet. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kornet, 26, returns to Boston after being acquired by the team as part of a three-team deal with Chicago and Washington on March 25. He played in 18 games (two starts) with the Celtics last season, averaging 4.4 points on 47.3% shooting, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 blocked shots. The Texas native scored in double figures four times in 2020-21, three of which came as a member of the Celtics.

In five NBA seasons with New York, Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, and Milwaukee, Kornet has produced 5.7 points on 40.3% shooting, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.9 blocked shots, and 15.0 minutes in 136 games (35 starts).

Big East: Xavier Holds-Off UConn

by

CINCINNATI – Xavier took a 34-31 lead on a 3-pointer by Nate Johnson to end the first half, then repelled numerous UConn comeback attempts to win 74-68 at a sold-out Cintas Center on Friday night.

Jack Nunge led the 25th-ranked Musketeers (17-7, 7-6 BIG EAST) with 22 points and nine rebounds. Johnson added 17 points. R.J. Cole tallied 22 points and Tyrese Martin added 18 points for the No. 24 Huskies (16-7, 7-5 BE).

Today’s schedule includes four games. At noon ET, Creighton aims to stay above .500 in the league standings when it plays at Georgetown on FS1. The Bluejays are 6-5 in league play after Tuesday’s 54-52 win against Butler.

Seton Hall meets No. 15 Villanova at Wells Fargo Center at 1 p.m. on FOX. The Pirates have won three straight games to improve to 6-6 in the standings. The Wildcats are second with an 11-3 mark.

No. 18 Marquette stays on the road when it travels to Butler at 4:30 p.m. on FS1. The Golden Eagles, who are in fourth place at 8-5, dropped an 80-72 decision at UConn on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are 4-9.

After Marquette-Butler, the FS1 coverage continues with DePaul at No. 11 Providence at 6:30 p.m. The Blue Demons have won two in a row and are 3-9. The Friars lead the league with a 10-1 record and are 13-0 overall at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center this season.

Celtics Re-Acquire Daniel Theis

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics have re-acquired fifth-year center Daniel Theis from the Houston Rockets, in exchange for centers Bruno Fernando and Enes Freedom, and guard Dennis Schröder, the team announced today. The deal reunites Theis with the Celtics, the franchise he originally joined the NBA with in 2017-18.

Theis, 29, has played in 285 games (141 starts) over five NBA seasons with Boston, Chicago, and Houston, averaging 7.5 points on 54.1% shooting (32.7% 3-PT), 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 blocked shots, and 19.6 minutes. He has played in 26 games for Houston this season (21 starts), contributing 8.4 points (46.9% FG), and 5.0 rebounds in 22.5 minutes.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Celtics in July of 2017, Theis produced 7.2 points on 55.4% shooting (34.5% 3-PT), 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 blocks, 13 double-doubles, and 18.8 minutes in 236 games (106 starts) over parts of four seasons with the Celtics from 2017-18 to 2020-21. He played a critical role during the Celtics Eastern Conference Finals run in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, averaging 8.9 points (52.1% FG), 7.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocked shots, and 28.4 minutes, while starting each of Boston’s 17 postseason contests.

Fernando, 23, averaged 1.0 points on 50.0% shooting, and 0.8 rebounds in 20 games with Boston. Freedom played in 35 games (one start) for the Celtics in 2021-22 – his second stint with the team – averaging 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11.7 minutes. Signed as a free agent on Aug. 13, Schröder produced 14.4 points on 44.0% shooting (34.9% 3-PT, 84.8% FT), 3.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 49 games (25 starts) during his lone season in Boston.

 

Celtics Acquire Guard Derrick White

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics have acquired fifth-year point guard Derrick White from the San Antonio Spurs, in exchange for guard Romeo Langford, guard Josh Richardson, and a protected 2022 first-round draft pick, the team announced today. As part of the deal, the Spurs also have a conditional right to swap first round draft picks with Boston in 2028.

Originally selected by San Antonio in the first round (29th overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft, White, 27, has averaged 11.6 points (44.5% FG, 34.4% 3-PT, 83.6% FT), 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 25.7 minutes in five seasons (237 games) with the Spurs. The Colorado native has averaged double-digit scoring over each of the past three seasons, including a career-high 15.4 points/game mark in 2020-21.

In 49 games with San Antonio this season (48 starts), White has produced 14.4 points on 42.6% shooting, 5.6 assists, and 1.0 steals over 30.3 minutes. He has reached the 20-point mark nine times this season, including a season-high 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting (3-6 3-PT) against New York on Dec. 7, and has connected on at least three 3-point field goals on 14 occasions. White produced 18 points and a career-high 14 assists at Detroit on Jan. 1, one of his two double-doubles this season.

Langford has played in 94 games over three seasons with the Celtics, averaging 3.6 points (39.6% FG), 1.9 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 14.7 minutes. He has produced 4.7 points (42.9% FG) and 2.4 rebounds in 44 games this season.

Acquired in an offseason trade with Dallas on July 31, Richardson averaged 9.7 points on 44.3% shooting (39.7% 3-PT), 2.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 24.7 minutes in 44 games during his lone season in Boston.

 

Celtics Trade Bol, Dozier

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics have acquired a conditional future second-round draft pick from the Orlando Magic, in exchange for Bol Bol, P.J. Dozier, a conditional future second-round draft pick, and cash considerations.

Bol (7-2, 220), 22, holds career averages of 2.7 points (47.8% FG, 37.8% 3-PT), 1.2 rebounds, and 6.2 minutes in 53 games (two starts) over three NBA seasons with Denver. Dozier (6-6, 205), 25, has averaged 6.4 points (40.7% FG, 31.9% 3-PT), 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 18.0 minutes in 105 NBA games over five seasons with Oklahoma City, Boston, and Denver.

Both players were acquired by the Celtics in a three-team trade with Denver and San Antonio earlier this season on Jan. 19.

 

Big East Weekly Honors to Bynum

by

NEW YORK – Providence guard Jared Bynum has been selected BIG EAST Player of the Week and Creighton guard Trey Alexander has been chosen BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Bynum led the Friars to a pair of wins, while Alexander’s Bluejays were 1-1.

BIG EAST Player of the Week

Jared Bynum, Providence, G, Jr. – Bynum put on a spectacular performance in a 71-52 win at Georgetown and helped push the Friars to an 86-82 victory at St. John’s. Against the Hoyas, Bynum scored 27 of his career-high 32 points in the second half. He shot 7-of-8 from 3-point range and grabbed five steals. At St. John’s, he was 4-of-5 from the beyond the arc and finished with 19 points and four assists.

BIG EAST Freshman of the Week

Trey Alexander, Creighton, G, Fr. – In a 1-1 week, Alexander averaged 10.0 points and 3.5 rebounds. He scored all 11 of his points after halftime in a 59-55 win at Connecticut. He made 5-of-6 free throws in the final minutes to help secure the victory. Alexander had nine points in a 74-55 loss at Seton Hall. He takes Freshman honors for the second time in the last three weeks.

BIG EAST Honor Roll

Courvoisier McCauley, DePaul, G, Sr. – Scored a career-high 21 points in a win at Xavier (69-65). Shot 8-of-12 from the field and had five rebounds.

Tyler Kolek, Marquette, G, So. – Posted 18 points, six assists and two steals in a victory against Villanova (83-73).

Posh Alexander, St. John’s, G, So. – Averaged 17.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals in a 2-1 week. Shot 57.5 percent from the field and had a 3.3 assist/turnover ratio.

Kadary Richmond, Seton Hall, G, So. – With wins against Georgetown (70-63) and Creighton (74-55), averaged 13.0 points, 7.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds.

Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, R-So. – Had 24 points and 12 rebounds in a win versus UConn (85-74). Averaged 14.0 points and 9.0 boards in a 1-1 week.

 

Big East Sunday Round-Up

by

INDIANAPOLIS – Villanova bounced back from a loss on Wednesday with a home win in Philadelphia, while DePaul and St. John’s gained victories in their road uniforms on Saturday. Villanova (17-6, 10-3 BE), ranked 12th this week in the AP poll, defeated No. 17 Connecticut 85-74 at Wells Fargo Center. The Wildcats led 40-29 at halftime and held the Huskies (15-6, 6-4 BE) at bay in the second half. Eric Dixon led Villanova with 24 points and 12 rebounds. He made 10-of-15 from the field. Collin Gillespie, who suffered an ankle injury in the final minutes, added 19 points. R.J. Cole scored a game-high 25 points for the Huskies. Adama Sanogo and Tyrese Martin each added 14 points.

Embed from Getty Images

DePaul, playing its seventh ranked opponent since Jan. 1, led most of the game at No. 21 Xavier and held off a late rally to capture a 69-65 win. Courvoisier McCauley scored a career-high 21 points and led the Blue Demons (11-10, 2-9 BE) in scoring for the first time this season. He made 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Paul Scruggs paced four Musketeers (16-6, 6-5 BE) in double figures with 21 points. Jack Nunge added 12 points and seven boards.

St. John’s picked up its second road win in less than 48 hours, topping Butler 75-72. The Johnnies (13-9, 5-6 BE) made 21-of-25 from the foul line. Julian Champagnie had 21 points, which included 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, and eight rebounds.  St. John’s won at Hinkle Fieldhouse for the first time since 2013-14. Butler’s Bo Hodges made 9-of-14 from the floor and scored 22 points. Bryce Nze added 14 points and six boards for the Bulldogs (11-12, 4-8 BE).

On Sunday, the lone game has Providence visiting Georgetown at noon ET on FS1. The first-place Friars, who have won six straight, knocked off the Hoyas 83-75 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Jan. 22.

Seton Hall Clobbers Creighton

by

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – (Staff report from Official news Release0 – In the lone Friday contest on the league schedule, Seton Hall had its foot on the gas pedal early and cruised to a 74-55 victory over visiting Creighton. The Pirates (14-7, 5-6 BIG EAST) scored the first 11 points of the game and streaked to a 23-3 lead en route to a 37-16 halftime advantage. Creighton came as close as 13 points in the second half. The Hall’s Kadary Richmond led five Pirates in double figures with 14 points and added seven assists.

The Bluejays (13-8, 5-5 BE) got 12 points from Alex O’Connell and 11 from Ryan Nembhard. Creighton’s 5-5 league mark puts them in sixth place with Seton Hall a half-game behind at 5-6.

Saturday’s slate starts with two games that tip at noon ET. No. 17 UConn battles No. 12 Villanova at Wells Fargo Center on FOX and Butler hosts St. John’s on FS1. No. 21 Xavier hosts DePaul at 2 p.m. on FS1.

On Sunday, the lone game has Providence visiting Georgetown at noon ET on FS1.

St. John’s Destroys Hoyas at McDonough

by

WASH DC – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The likes of Georgetown players of yesteryear John Duren, Craig Shelton, Steve Martin and “Sleepy” Floyd would remember the feeling, along with David Russell, Reggie Carter and Frank Gilroy of St, John’s. In a game that looked like a throwback to early times in the BIG EAST, St. John’s won 90-77 at Georgetown Thursday night. The rescheduled game was played at McDonough Arena on the Hoya campus. It was the first league game played at the venue since Jan. 18, 1984.

The Johnnies (12-9, 4-6 BIG EAST), who won on the road against the Hoyas (6-14, 0-9 BE) for only the second time since 2003, led by as many as 26 points in the second half. Julian Champagnie snapped out of his scoring dip with a game-high 27 points. He made 6-of-12 from 3-point range and added six rebounds and four assists. Joel Soriano shot 6-of-6 from the floor en route to 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Georgetown’s Donald Carey scored a career-high 23 points.

Creighton at Seton Hall is the lone Friday game on the schedule. FS1 will televise at 7 p.m. ET. Both teams are 13-7 overall. The Bluejays are 5-4 in the BIG EAST while the Pirates are 4-6. Both squads picked up road wins on Tuesday. Creighton won 59-55 at Connecticut and Seton Hall posted a 70-63 victory at Georgetown.

Saturday’s slate starts with two games that tip at noon ET. No. 17 UConn battles No. 12 Villanova at Wells Fargo Center on FOX and Butler hosts St. John’s on FS1. No. 21 Xavier hosts DePaul at 2 p.m. on FS1.