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Celtics Tatum Named NBA Player of Week

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official NBA News Release) – Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played March 14-20. It’s the second time this month and third time in the 2021-22 season that he has received the conference’s weekly award.

Tatum produced 29.3 points on 59.2% shooting (57.1% 3-PT, 93.3% FT), to go along with 7.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in three road games – all Celtics wins – at Golden State (March 16), Sacramento (March 18), and Denver (March 20). He was one of four Eastern Conference players to average 29.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, and the only one of that group to shoot at least 52.0% from the field. The fifth-year pro and three-time all star reached the 30-point mark in each of the last two games of the week, shooting 69.7% from the field and 13-of-20 from beyond the arc during that stretch.

In 68 games this season (all starts), Tatum is averaging career highs in points (26.9), rebounds (8.2), and assists (4.3). He is one of seven NBA players producing at least 26.0 points and 8.0 rebounds this season.

Red Sox Add Two Pitchers

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox added left-handed pitcher Derek Holland and right-handed pitcher Hansel Robles to the team’s 2022 Spring Training roster as non-roster invitees. The Sox have now invited 27 players to Major League Spring Training camp as non-roster invitees.

Holland, 35, went 3-2 with a 5.07 ERA (28 ER/49.2 IP) in 39 appearances (one start) for the Detroit Tigers in 2021, posting a 0.64 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) and 0.79 WHIP in his final 11 outings. Over his 13-year Major League career, the left-hander owns an 82-83 record and 4.64 ERA (753 ER/1,466.0 IP) in 346 appearances (228 starts) for the Texas Rangers (2009-2016), Chicago White Sox (2017), San Francisco Giants (2018-19), Chicago Cubs (2019), Pittsburgh Pirates (2020), and Tigers (2021). Selected by Texas in the 25th round of the 2006 June Draft, Holland is 3-1 with a 5.02 ERA (21 ER/37.2 IP) in 14 Postseason appearances (five starts). In Game 4 of the 2011 World Series, he earned the win with 8.1 scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. He launched the 60 Feet 6 Foundation in 2015, a non-profit organization that helps raise awareness and offer direct support for debilitating pediatric diseases.

Robles, 31, appeared in 72 games between the Minnesota Twins and Red Sox last season, recording 14 saves with a 4.43 ERA (34 ER/69.0 IP) and 76 strikeouts. After being acquired by Boston on July 30, the right-hander made 27 appearances and finished with a 3.60 ERA (10 ER/25.0 IP), four saves and 33 strikeouts for the Red Sox. From August 30 to October 2, he appeared in 15 games and did not allow a run (13.2 IP), holding opponents to a .111 batting average (5-for-45) with a 0.73 WHIP and 11.20 strikeouts per nine innings in that time. Originally signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent in 2008, Robles has pitched in 385 major league games (one start) with the Mets (2015-18), Los Angeles Angels (2018-20), Twins (2021), and Red Sox (2021), going 27-23 with 41 saves and a 4.00 ERA (179 ER/402.2 IP).

Bruins Extend Lindolm Contract

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Bruins agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension with defenseman Hampus Lindholm, said Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney in a statement. The deal will call for an annual cap hit of $6,500,000.

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Lindholm, 28, was acquired by the Bruins on March 19 along with  Kodie Curran in exchange for defensemen Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore, a 2022 first-round draft pick, a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round draft pick.

As part of the deal, the Anaheim Ducks retained 50-percent of Lindholm’s salary.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman has tallied five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 61 games for the Anaheim this season. The Helsingborg, Sweden native has appeared in 582 NHL games with Anaheim, totaling 57 goals and 165 assists for 222 points.

Lindholm was originally selected by Anaheim in the first round (6th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

 

Six Big East Teams Join “Big Dance”

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Six BIG EAST Teams Going Dancin’

PHILADELPHIA – Villanova, Providence and UConn earned top-five seeds when the NCAA Selection Show was broadcast Sunday night, while Creighton, Marquette and Seton Hall are each set to compete in the NCAA Tournament beginning Thursday. Villanova, the BIG EAST Tournament champion, earned a No. 2 seed, while Providence, the regular-season champion, is a No. 4 seed. UConn claimed a No. 5 seed, followed by Creighton and Seton Hall as No. 8 seeds and Marquette as a No. 9 seed.

No. 2 Seed Villanova Wears Big East Title Crown, (Again)

The eighth-ranked and second-seeded Villanova Wildcats earned a trio of hard fought victories in the 40th BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep played at Madison Square Garden to win the sixth BIG EAST Championship in program history. After a ferocious comeback moved the Wildcats past St. John’s 66-65 in the quarterfinals, Villanova edged UConn 63-60 in the semifinals. In the finals, Villanova outlasted Creighton 54-48 in a dramatic showdown to improve to 5-1 in the tournament finals since conference realignment. The ‘Cats guard Collin Gillespie won the Dave Gavitt Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player.

BIG EAST Fans Flocked to The Garden

NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Tournament was a sellout at Madison Square Garden for four of the five sessions on March 9-12. The attendance for the four sellouts was 19,812. The Garden was filled to 97.3 capacity over the four days. The BIG EAST
was playing its tournament at the World’s Most Famous Arena for the 40th straight year. It is the longest running conference tournament played at the same venue. The sight of thousands of UConn fans entering MSG brought back all the memories of years gone past.

BIG EAST Averages More Than Five Team Bids Per Year

With six NCAA bids in 2022, the BIG EAST has received a total of 42 NCAA
Tournament invitations since reconfiguration in 2013-14, averaging 5.3 per
season. That average discounts 2020 when the NCAA Tournament was not
played. Villanova won the national championship in 2018 and 2016. The BIG
EAST earned a high of seven NCAA bids in 2017.

Villanova has the Top Nine-Year Record of Teams

In the last nine seasons since conference realignment, Villanova has the best record in conference play with a 130-31 (.808) mark. The Wildcats have won or shared seven of the nine regular-season titles. Providence won outright this season and Xavier won outright in 2017-18.

Brady Announces Return to Tampa Bay

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TAMPA BAY – The return of Major League Baseball was not the biggest sports story today, nor was the Celtics’ retirement of Kevin Garnett‘s no. 5 at the TD Garden. The final day of the College Basketball conference tournament week and the NCAA Selection Show probably came in at No. 2 on the big sports story list.

Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, the Tampa Bay Bucs’ starter the past two seasons, used his social media accounts to announce his return to the NFL and the Buccaneers for the 2022 season. Talk about seizing the day and its headlines!

Developing story…

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | March 13

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By TERRY LYONS

NEW YORK – There are few things that join death and taxes as the guarantees in life. With that in mind, we add:

  1. Steph Curry’s jump shot
  2. Gregg Popovich leading NBA coaches in career victories
  3. The famed Island Green (17th) at TPC Sawgrass bringing PGA Tour pros to their knees, especially with winds at 20 mph and gusts 44+ mph.
  4. The annual BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden – the World’s Most Famous Arena – playing host to some of the best postseason college basketball any fan would want to experience in a community of like-minded opponents. Every March.

Right from the beginning this week, the BIG EAST did not disappoint. In the opening game, a 4:30pm (ET) afternoon start of a BIG EAST triple-header, Butler (14-19) upset Xavier (18-13) in a 89-82 overtime thriller. As the tournament progressed at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Providence and Butler were tied (31-all) at the half until the Friars outlasted Butler, 65-61 after a last minute 3-point FG by Providence’s Al Durham iced the victory.

With 15:38 left in the 2nd half on Thursday evening, St. John’s led Villanova 44-27. At 2:08 mark, after several lead changes, St. John’s was barely holding on, 65-64, but could not convert the win, eventually losing to ‘Nova, 66-65.

At the Friday night semifinals, No. 8-ranked Villanova took care of business against the No. 20 UConn, 63-60, in a game that had old-school BIG EAST fans lighting up The Garden with sound. But, No. 11 ranked Providence, the regular season BIG EAST Champion and tournament No. 1 seed dropped their semifinal game to an impressive Creighton team, 85-58. Included in that one-sided tally was the fact Creighton held Providence to 27 points in the first half.

After a terrible start (trailed 0-7), Creighton gave Villanova everything it could handle in the Saturday night BIG EAST Final. Villanova’s team leader, Collin Gillespie was held scoreless in the first half but finished the game with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists, including a pair of pressure three-point FGs and the game-clinching rebound with seven seconds remaining. Gillespie went to the line and hit two clutch FTs to close out the victory, 54-48, while securing Villanova’s fifth BIG EAST title in the past seven years.

The tournament brought forth an amazing sense of normalcy for the old-time BIG EAST fans, not the ultra-annoying “new-normal” spoken by talking heads, health care professionals and political talking heads. Just as the timing of the 2020 BIG EAST Tournament couldn’t have been worse, the 2022 edition, the 40th held at The Garden since the conference kicked its tires in Providence, Syracuse and Hartford to start things off in 1980-81-82, came about at a time when COVID-19 restrictions are being eased at public arenas, bars, restaurants and at schools.

There’s talk of the BIG EAST receiving seven invites to the NCAA’s Big Dance, with Xavier having a possible NIT invite awaiting after their early exit this week. What’s certain, as sure as that Curry 30-footer, is the depth and competitiveness of the BIG EAST’S men’s basketball teams.

The conference play is physical and, to the credit of the officiating staffs, the BIG EAST seems to have found the ability to call games in a ‘no harm, no foul’ professional style, rather than the annoying ticky-tack foul calls out on the perimeter. The refs have mastered the art of the non-call, to let play to continue. It has allowed an intense up & down style of play, less frequent foul trouble by the star players and better preparation for the upcoming Big Dance for Big East contenders.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The new NBA coaching record for most career victories was set Friday and mentioned above. While it’s easy to define the best coaches by the sheer number of victories, NBA coaches often chalk-it-up such honors due to longevity.

Here are the winningest coaches in the four major North American sports leagues:

NHL Ice-Hockey – Scotty Bowman – (1,244 wins, nine Stanley Cup championships)

NFL American Football – Don Shula – (347 wins, two Super bowl wins)

MLB Baseball – Connie Mack – (3,731 wins)

NBA Basketball – Gregg Popovich – (1,336 victories, five NBA titles)

NCAA Basketball – Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke and coach John Wooden of UCLA both deserve mention.

In addition to this lofty list of winners, there’s also a common sense list of the greatest coaches, one that is a bit more subjective.

NHL – Al Arbour, Coach of the New York Islanders, Toe Blake of Montreal, Joel Quenneville of multiple NHL teams.

NFL – George Halas of Chicago Bears and Bill Belichick of New England Patriots

MLB – John McGraw, Tony La Russa, Joe Torre, Bobby Cox and Sparky Anderson all deserve mention.

NBA – Red Auerbach, Boston Celtics.

DIAMOND DUST-UP RESOLVED: Thank goodness. Major League Baseball and its players Association came to terms this week and the baseball season will begin with players reporting today (March 13) and Spring Training games beginning March 17. As you would expect, it’ll be toughest on the pitchers stretching out, especially free agent pitchers.

Opening Day will be April 7, and MLB is planning to play a full 162-game schedule, allowing for players to make up on previously lost salary.

The MLB Postseason will expand to 12 teams.

The National League will adopt the Designated Hitter.

Free agency might be the most newsworthy item as Baseball comes back to life after its loss of three months. The lock-out began December 2 but starting this week, there will be a frenzy of free agent signings, maybe some 10-12 a day as teams re-stock.

Freddie Freeman, the Atlanta Braves star first baseman is high on the list of the potentially most valuable and sought after free agents. While some believe he will re-sign in Atlanta, there’s already talk of a mega-deal with one of the big market teams.

LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw already signed a one-year deal with the only club he’s played for on the major league level. The Dodgers’ California rival and neighbor to the north, the San Francisco Giants, signed left-hander Carlos Rodon to a reported two-year $44 million deal. Saturday, the Oakland A’s sent Chris Bassitt to the New York Mets in a muti-player deal to begin an Oakland roster-stripping list of expensive player sales.

For additional information, the reporters at ESPN are following the Free Agent market and post all transactions HERE.

March Madness Special: Read more of the weekly notes by subscribing HERE.

Bruins to Honor Rask March 31

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BOSTON – The Boston Bruins will honor the career of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask on Thursday, March 31 when Boston hosts the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden at 7 p.m.

Rask, who spent all 15 seasons in the NHL with the Bruins, will perform the ceremonial puck drop prior to the start of the game. The goaltender amassed a record of 308-165-66 during his time in Boston, with a 2.28 goals against average and .921 save percentage. Rask is Boston’s leader in wins (308) and is second among the franchise’s goaltenders in shutouts (52).

The Savonlinna, Finland native won multiple awards with Boston throughout his career, including the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2019-20, the Vezina Trophy in 2013-14, and a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2010-11. Rask was also voted to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2014 and the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2020.

Rask announced his retirement on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Friars Clinch Big East Season Title

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News release) – Providence defeated Creighton 72-51 Saturday to capture its first BIG EAST regular-season championship.  The Friars (24-3, 14-2 BIG EAST) held a comfortable lead throughout most of the game and cruised to the finish line. A.J. Reeves made 7-of-10 from 3-point range and finished with a game-high 23 points. The Bluejays (19-9, 11-6 BE) had their six-game winning streak come to an end. Ryan Kalkbrenner had 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

Marquette solidified its fifth-place standing with a 64-56 win over visiting Butler at a sold-out Fiserv Forum. The Golden Eagles (18-10, 10-7 BE) trailed most of the game, but overcame the Bulldogs (13-17, 6-13 BE) in the final five minutes. Darryl Morsell led Marquette with 16 points. Justin Lewis scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Butler’s Bryce Nze notched his second straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Seton Hall is 6-2 in February after winning 82-66 at Xavier. Jared Rhoden poured in a career-high 30 points and grabbed six rebounds. Tray Jackson was 6-of-6 from the floor, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, for 17 points. The Pirates (18-9, 9-8 BE) had 17 points off turnovers to only four for the Musketeers (17-11, 7-10 BE). Xavier’s Colby Jones shined with 20 points, 10 boards and four assists.

Today’s schedule has two games. Connecticut plays at Georgetown at noon ET on CBS. The Huskies beat the Hoyas 96-73 on Jan. 25. They are 11-5 in the league standings and alone in third place after Creighton’s loss. Also, St. John’s plays at DePaul at 5 p.m. on FS1. The Johnnies won the first meeting 89-84 on Jan. 5. They are 7-9 in league play and in seventh place, a half-game ahead of Xavier. The Blue Demons are coming off a 68-65 victory at Georgetown.

Bruins Trade for Callahan

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Bruins acquired the rights to defenseman Michael Callahan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Boston’s seventh round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has skated in 134 games for the Providence Friars (NCAA) for four seasons from 2018-22, tallying 13 goals and 53 assists with a plus-23 rating.

The 22-year-old blue liner was born in Franklin, MA and was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Celtics Sign Hauser, Kornet

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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).