San Diego, led by Olivia Owens with eight points and seven rebounds, fell short in an 83-49 loss to Oregon State in their most recent game. Hallie Rhodes added eight points. Led by Daria Nestorov (20 PTS, 5 AST, 3 STL, 44.44 FG%, 3-7 from 3PT) and Sophia Mindermann (12 PTS, 40 FG%, 2-5 from 3PT), Pacific ended their last matchup losing 87-79 against Santa Clara.
We have all watched Dak control pace, manipulate safeties, and take the completions the defense gives him. We've watched CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens turn leverage into separation, and we have witnessed Jake Ferguson become one of the most reliable middle-of-the-field tight ends in the NFC. Even the offensive line, needless to say, a patchwork offensive line, has given Dak just enough time to keep the gameplay intact.
Michigan men's basketball came into Saturday night's game riding an impressive streak. The Wolverines had beaten six straight opponents by 25 points or more, and most of the teams they walloped were pretty decent! Four are currently in the Kenpom top 45 even after getting shellacked by the Wolverines. In the Players Era tournament in Vegas, they beat Kenpom No. 45 San Diego State by 40, No. 29 Auburn by 30, and No. 3 Gonzaga by 40.
Doncic, who will miss Thursday's game for personal reasons, leads the league with 35.3 points per game. Reaves, who is setting himself up for a hefty pay day this offseason, is averaging a career-best 28.1 points and 6.6 assists per game. The Lakers are first in field goal percentage (51.3%) and rank eighth in offensive rating, averaging 118.3 points per 100 possessions.
Before the season, I wanted the Heat to play faster. Well, they have done that, and then some. Through 20 games, the Heat are out-pacing the rest of the NBA, by a lot. They are first in PACE at 106.1, nearly two possessions per 48 minutes above the next-highest team (Bulls - 104.4). They are running and gunning by far the most of any Erik Spoelstra-led team behind their new free-flowing offenses that has all but eliminated ball screens from the equation.
There is still plenty of basketball left to be played, but against three solid defenses - the Orlando Magic (who have underperformed), New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs - the Heat's new up-tempo offense has drastically exceeded expectations. And one of their under-the-radar additions this summer - Simone Fontecchio, acquired in the Duncan Robinson sign-and-trade - has been one of the NBA's best shooters through this very early (and small) sample of the season.
Sarr has all the tools to be a premiere talent in the NBA and his potential is the exact reason Washington was willing to take the high upside swing on the big man last offseason. As a raw prospect, the Wizards front office and coaching staff knew that immediate results were unlikely when it came to Sarr's development. Throughout his rookie campaign, the 7-footer showed plenty of flashes that made the Wizards brass believe he could eventually prove to be a building block.
While the entire franchise is responsible for proving the naysayers wrong, the onus falls on Bam Adebayo to lead the charge. He is the closest thing to a star this superstar-less roster has, but last season wasn't the greatest display of his peak abilities. He backtracked enough on offense to fail to generate any All-Star buzz, and for the first time since becoming a full-time starter in 2019-20, he was left off of the All-Defensive teams, too.
