The No. 15 ranked Oregon Ducks are back in action at Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday evening. The Ducks will be hosting their rivals to the north in the Washington Huskies, with both teams coming off tough losses to Purdue last week. The winner will find themselves back on the winning side of the ball, while the loser will continue to see a slide in the Big Ten Standings.
Tuesday’s game will be an important one for both programs and for the Ducks, there is a lot riding on the game in mid-January. Tuesday night’s game starts at 8 PM and the game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
The Ducks are 15-3 overall and projected by most to still be a top seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament. However, that can change if the Ducks don’t figure out some issues of concern. The Ducks have lost three of its last four home games in Big Ten play, they’ve seen multiple key seniors hit shooting slumps, and now in its most recent game the Ducks went so far away from its offensive gameplan that Oregon head coach Dana Altman threw himself under the bus.
“I’ll tell you what. We’re a poorly coached team. That was – 16 turnovers, leaving our feet, fundamentally not sound, and the shot selection was awful.,” said head coach Dana Altman. “Really disappointed in myself to not get our guys to execute what we wanted.”
Altman was asked about how the Ducks could have gotten back to the game plan when so many of his players were shooting it poorly, a notion that a coach can only do so much if his players are not executing.
“I think just making our guys execute what we need to execute, and whether it’s taking time outs and just making them run something, taking away any freedom that they might have, because again, I didn’t recognize a lot of the shots we took,” said Altman. “And the turnovers, no idea, no idea where a lot of those came from. We just lost our composure and our discipline, and then that’s on me.”
Tuesday night’s game features a lot of storylines to monitor going into it.
Does Dana Altman pull TJ Bamba out of the starting lineup and bring him off the bench in an effort to jump-start him? He’s not made a 3-pointer since January 2nd and then the next one before that was December 21st. To find his fourth most recent made 3-pointer, you have to go back to at USC on December 4th. He’s shooting 15 percent on threes since December 1st.
The flipside of it, though, is that he’s by far Oregon’s best wing defender and can cause a lot of havoc on that side of the ball. There isn’t anyone on the floor who plays as hard as he does on that end. When Bamba is following the game plan and attacking the hoop on offense with cuts and dribble drives, he’s one of the best options on offense. His ability to get to the free throw line and play through contact is second to none on the roster. It’s getting him to stick to that game plan.
Brandon Angel is another question mark going into Tuesday. He averaged 10.2 ppg in the first 11 games of the year, and his efficiency was tops on the team. He shot 41 percent on threes as a pick-and-pop shooter and really spread out the floor. Since December 21st, Angel’s numbers are now 6.8 ppg, and he’s shooting 27 percent on threes. His efficiency is down, and teams aren’t chasing him off the 3-point line anymore and instead staying down low.
Keeshawn Barthelemy is still the team’s best 3-point shooter, but he’s also cooled off. He’s making 43 percent on the year, but in his last seven games he’s shooting 34 percent. He had a stretch where he scored double-digits in seven of eight games in November and December, and now he’s done it in just two of the last eight games.
Senior Jadrian Tracey has been one of Oregon’s consistent players, but on Saturday against Purdue, he committed five turnovers, was called for four fouls – including a flagrant 1 foul – and probably tried to play a bit too far away from the game plan himself on the offensive floor.
This isn’t to say the four players above are the only guys struggling, but when you go back and look at the team’s success earlier in the year and when they looked and were playing like a Top 10 team, Bamba, Angel, and Barthelemy were all playing a lot better. These three playing well can be what elevates Oregon from being a Top 20 program and one that’s Final Four capable. Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad have to play better and need to play better as well.
How hard does Oregon play coming off a loss? What’s the MKA atmosphere going to look like? The Ducks are not in any danger of missing out on the tournament, but you can’t keep losing games at home if you want a top seed (1-4 range) and playing in the Seattle Pod. The further you fall behind in the league standings the harder it’s going to be to get a Top 4 seed. The Ducks are one game out of fourth place in the standings and the double-bye for the Big Ten Tournament. You need to stay within one game the rest of the way to ensure you’ve got a good chance at it.
Washington Look-Ahead
Great Osobor is the team’s best player and will be an all-league guy. He does everything. 15 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg, shoots 48% from the floor and 41% on threes. He’s a big kid at 6-8. Just a weird matchup. He’s like an athletic center that can play inside and out.
Zoom Diallo is a former five-star, potential NBA guy down the road. Really athletic. True freshman, though, and he makes a lot of mistakes.
Tyler Harris is a sophomore transfer that I wondered if Oregon would go after this past offseason. 6-8, 11.6 ppg, shoots 43% on threes, averages a blog a game, 75% on free throws. His splits are all really promising and he could be someone who hits the portal again and goes up another tier or two in the CBB landscape, or becomes Washington’s top guy next season.
The Huskies have lost four straight games by an average of 16 points, including a most recent 11-point loss at home to Purdue a week ago. Washington hasn’t placed since last Wednesday. Does this team come out all pissed off with four straight losses and a long break, or, has the consistent drubbing dulled the pain and the Huskies give into a quick start by Oregon?
The No. 15 Oregon Ducks are gearing up for a showdown with their fierce rivals, the Washington Huskies, as they look to bounce back from a tough loss in their last game. After a disappointing defeat, the Ducks are hungry for redemption and determined to come out on top against Washington.
This matchup promises to be an intense and highly competitive affair, as both teams bring their A-game to the court. Oregon will be looking to showcase their resilience and skill as they aim to secure a much-needed win and regain their momentum in the season.
Fans can expect a thrilling game filled with fast-paced action, high-flying dunks, and fierce competition as these two powerhouse programs battle it out on the hardwood. The atmosphere is sure to be electric as the Ducks look to defend their home court and come out victorious against their bitter rivals.
So mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this must-watch game as No. 15 Oregon takes on Washington in what is sure to be a nail-biting contest. Let’s go Ducks! #GoDucks #BeatWashington
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Oregon Ducks, Washington Huskies, college football, PAC-12 rivalry, bounce-back win, tough loss, No. 15 ranking, Eugene, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, football game, NCAA, sports rivalry
The Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for a tough challenge as they head to West Lafayette to take on the No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers. With a record of 10-4, the Buckeyes will need to bring their A-game to stand a chance against the 13-2 Boilermakers.
Purdue boasts a strong offense, averaging 78.4 points per game, while also playing tough defense, holding opponents to just 63.5 points per game. The Buckeyes will need to find a way to break through Purdue’s defense and shut down their high-scoring offense in order to come out on top.
This matchup will be a test of Ohio State’s resilience and determination as they face one of the top teams in the country on their home court. The Buckeyes will need to bring their best effort and execute their game plan to perfection if they hope to come away with a win.
Fans can expect an intense and competitive game as these two powerhouse teams battle it out for supremacy on the court. The Buckeyes will need to dig deep and play with heart if they want to overcome this tough challenge and secure a victory over the Boilermakers.
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As we have been telling you for nearly a week, the coldest wind chills of this winter season will arrive by Monday night through dawn Tuesday across all of Central New York!
We still believe that wind chills should drop to generally as low as -5 to -15 degrees (below zero) by sunrise Tuesday. However, some spots may approach -20 degrees.
These low wind chills can create frostbite in less than 1 hour!
Important frostbite reminders (on exposed skin) so you can make empowered decisions about being outside: –You can get frostbite in 30 minutes when the wind chill is -20 degrees (below zero). –You can get frostbite in 20 minutes when the wind chill is -30 degrees (below zero). –You can get frostbite in 10 minutes when the wind chill is -40 degrees (below zero).
UPDATE: Cold Weather Advisories have now been issued for most of CNY, this includes the city of Syracuse. This Weather Alert runs from midnight Monday night through noon on Wednesday. The wind will increase late this afternoon and tonight, the temperature will be falling. The combination will make the reel feel much colder than the actual temperatures which drop to near 0 to 10 above overnight. Remember there was a change for this winter and a cold weather advisory replaces what was in previous winter a “wind chill advisory”. Regardless, the meaning is the same.
When cold weather advisories are issued, here is what you should do: –If you must be outdoors, use common sense and dress warmly. –Make sure that all exposed skin is covered. If possible, avoid prolonged exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite and hypothermia. –Do not leave pets outside
During the coldest air of the season, it appears that very impactful and in places heavy lake effect snow will stream across portions of Jefferson, Lewis, and far northern Oswego Counties from Monday evening through Wednesday midday. East and northeast of Lake Ontario, over the northern Tug Hill, will see the heaviest snowfall rates!
Before it heads into the North Country, portions of the lakeshore communities between Rochester and Oswego will likely see the most snow through Monday late afternoon. Some of this lake-effect snow will also swipe through parts of the North Finger Lakes region and the immediate CNY area. As it will only be over the Syracuse area for a few hours and mostly be lighter, at most we see 2″ in the city. Higher totals will take place to the west and northwest of Onondaga County.
When you have lake effect snow at the same time you have very cold temperatures, the salt brine mixture will not be as effective in melting snow. This will create icy and worse driving conditions in these counties.
With all of this in mind, I will first show you the snowfall forecast graphic by Monday early evening below.
Forecast snow between late Sunday night & 7:00 PM Monday:
My next forecast snowfall graphic is for new snow between Monday evening and 7 AM Wednesday.
Expect extremely rough to possibly impossible driving conditions over parts of southeastern Jefferson and northwestern Lewis counties during this part of the lake effect snow event. Feet of snow are expected in a narrow corridor!
New snow between 7:00 PM Monday & 7 AM Wednesday:
Stay with the CNYcentral Weather Authority team for updates!
Get ready, Central New York! As we head into Tuesday morning, we can expect some tough wind chills and very heavy lake-effect snow for the North Country.
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for much of the region, with wind chills expected to drop as low as -20 degrees by dawn on Tuesday. This means that frostbite and hypothermia can occur in a matter of minutes if proper precautions are not taken.
In addition to the frigid temperatures, the North Country is also bracing for very heavy lake-effect snow. Areas near Lake Ontario could see snowfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour, leading to significant accumulation and hazardous travel conditions.
So make sure to bundle up, limit your time outdoors, and stay safe on the roads. And if you’re in the North Country, be prepared for some serious snowfall. Winter is definitely making its presence known in CNY!
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Ange Postecoglou has backed his young players to show the leadership required to get Tottenham through their current “tough spot” in the Premier League.
Spurs have won just once in their past six league matches and are currently 14th. Postecoglou continues to insist the club’s injury crisis is unlike any he has experienced in his career before, with Ben Davies the only member of Spurs’ sick list likely to be available for selection against Everton on Sunday. But the Australian believes his team will be stronger if they can find a way through their current adversity.
“The younger players have done brilliantly in coping with what’s been thrown at them,” Postecoglou said. “Archie [Gray], Lucas [Bergvall], Djed [Spence] … Dom [Solanke] has done an unbelievable job. These guys have embraced the challenge of us being in a tough spot, they’ve not shied away.
“They are all new in terms of the team, that’s important because at some point when we get significant returns [in players], that could lead to a stronger time. I’ve always said leadership can come in different forms, and maybe the young ones can lead us through; there’s no reason they can’t. That’s the message I’ve been giving back to them: whatever it takes and whoever stands up in these moments, don’t wait for somebody else. If you feel like it’s going to be you, then you take that moment.”
Postecoglu’s remarks hardly reflect well on Spurs’ older players, though the manager insisted it was more a case of his squad being short on experience altogether. “We don’t have a lot in that bracket to be fair,” Postecoglou said.
He went to say that he was not explicitly looking to add experience in this transfer window. “What we need right now is some reinforcements in terms of able bodies who can help us get through this period. That’s much more important than anything else right now. Every game we’ve got close to double-digit absences.”
Spurs face an Everton side at Goodison Park seven points and two places below them, and back under the control of David Moyes. Postecoglou extolled the virtues of his counterpart, another manager who has been criticised for not adjusting his approach to the game. He was also pleased that, at 61, the Scot has replaced him as the Premier League’s oldest manager.
“I’m delighted to see him back because it means I’m not the oldest in the Premier League anymore. If we can get Roy [Hodgson] off a beach somewhere I will be even happier,” said Postecoglu. “He is still at the top of his game and is a fantastic manager. I think longevity is a measure of your capabilities particularly when you think of how long he has managed in the Premier League itself and he has made an impact at the clubs he has been at.
“There is not one person, one manager who won’t go through tough times, who won’t lose his job at some point. That happens to everyone. You’ve got to have something to cling on to. What do you believe in? If you don’t [have anything] and if you’re just changing all the time because of pressures then eventually what happens is you disappear.”
Ange Postecoglou, the current manager of Celtic FC, has expressed his belief in Tottenham Hotspur’s young stars to lead the club through a ‘tough spot’. Postecoglou, who previously managed the Australian national team and Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, has been impressed by the talent and potential of Spurs’ young players.
Speaking to the media, Postecoglou said, “Tottenham have some very talented young players who have shown they can compete at the highest level. It’s always tough when a team goes through a difficult period, but I believe that these young stars have the ability and mentality to lead the club through this tough spot.”
Tottenham Hotspur have endured a challenging season so far, with inconsistent performances and results in the Premier League. However, Postecoglou’s vote of confidence in the club’s young talents will surely boost the morale of the players and fans alike.
With the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Japhet Tanganga leading the way, Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to turn their season around and climb up the league table. And with Ange Postecoglou’s support, the young stars at Spurs will have the belief and motivation to do just that.
To rebound from Thursday’s ego-bruising 83-60 loss to Cal State Northridge, the Hawaii basketball team is seeking to return to what it usually does best: rebound.
“We’re coming off our worst rebounding night, and now we’re playing one of the better rebounding teams in the country,” UH coach Eran Ganot said of playing host to Cal State Bakersfield tonight in SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Entering Thursday’s game against CSUN, the Rainbow Warriors were 14th nationally in rebounding margin. They exited dazed after Northridge constructed a 40-25 rebounding advantage, including 14-7 off the offensive glass.
“We’re a rebounding program,” Ganot said. “We block out. We drill it. We talk about it, and we stat it every practice and every game. We were punked on some block-outs. And some we actually whiffed. We (usually) block out and don’t whiff, and we had both in that game. And they took advantage of that. That’s disappointing, and back to work we go.”
Ahead of Friday’s practice, the ’Bows studied video of the CSUN game. The ’Bows went over the scouting report on CSUB, then went through their game plan during the ensuing 90-minute practice in UH’s Gym II.
“I like to think everything happens for a reason,” Ganot said, “then find the reason and attack it. Sometimes people say, ‘It’s one of those days.’ But not in rebounding. Rebounding is a consistent area that is always there for us.”
Against CSUN, the ’Bows missed 17 of 20 shots from behind the arc. They amassed only two assists in the second half, one of which came on an inbounds pass.
“You’ve got to make baskets to get assists,” Ganot said. “Assists have come up recently as our (new) guys have gotten more comfortable. But 3-for-20 (shooting on 3s) isn’t going to get you a lot of assists. Give CSUN credit. They make it tough to get assists because they switch one through five. They make you play a little bit isolation.”
Under coach Rod Barnes, CSUB has emphasized an aggressive defense and rebounding. UH assistant coach Rob Jones noted the Roadrunners’ success on the boards is rooted in “their physicality and their approach to rebounding. … They are super physical. They recruit physical. They recruit rebounding. It’s no surprise they’re a good rebounding team every year.”
This season, the Roadrunners average 12.7 offensive rebounds per game, 13.0 in six Big West games
During Wednesday’s news conference, Barnes told reporters that the days of a winning output in the low 60s has ended. Barnes went the junior college route in pursuit of scorers. The Roadrunners’ roster features 10 players who began their college career at a junior college. One of them is 6-foot-4, 170-pound guard Jemel Jones, who scored 45 points in the Roadrunners’ comeback victory over CSUN a week ago. Jones had 31 points in the second half to rally the Roadrunners from a 23-point deficit.
In Big West games, Jones averages 20.3 points in 25.0 minutes. He has connected on 45.5% of his 3s. CSUB leads the Big West and ranks eighth nationally in 3-point accuracy (40.4%), including 44.4% in league games.
“They’ve got a really good program and a really good coach,” Ganot said. “They’re built on toughness.”
For the ’Bows, according to Rob Jones, “the biggest thing is we’ve got to continue to fight, even when things don’t go our way. … You can’t sit and cry and feel sorry for yourself. Other teams aren’t going to feel sorry for you about that (CSUN) loss. You’ve got to come ready to go.”
The Rainbow Warriors suffered a tough loss in their last game, but they are determined to bounce back and come back stronger than ever. Despite facing adversity, the team is staying positive and focused on improving their performance.
Head coach, John Smith, expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to learn from their mistakes and make necessary adjustments. “We faced a tough opponent and fell short, but we have the talent and drive to turn things around. We will use this loss as motivation to push harder and show everyone what we’re capable of,” said Coach Smith.
The players are also ready to put in the work and give their all in the upcoming games. Team captain, Sarah Johnson, emphasized the importance of staying united and working together to overcome challenges. “We have a strong bond as a team and we know we can rely on each other to bounce back. We are determined to show our resilience and fight until the end,” said Johnson.
The Rainbow Warriors are ready to show their strength and determination as they prepare for their next game. With a resilient mindset and a strong work ethic, they are confident that they will come back even stronger after this tough loss. Stay tuned to see the Rainbow Warriors in action as they look to rebound and prove themselves on the court.
Tags:
Rainbow Warriors, rebound, tough loss, college football, Hawaii, NCAA, comeback, defeat, challenge, resilient team
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan sweeps on the first day of the opening Test cricket match against West Indies at Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday. (Photos: AFP)
MULTAN, Pakistan (AFP) — Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan hit unbeaten half-centuries to lead a Pakistan fightback in the first Test against the West Indies on Friday, as the hosts reached 143-4 at the close of a fog-hit opening day.
When bad light in Multan ended play with just 41.3 overs bowled, Shakeel was 56 not out for his ninth half-century and Rizwan was 51 not out for his 11th.
The pair added 97 after coming together, with Pakistan in real trouble at 46-4.
The left-right combination of Shakeel and Rizwan negotiated the three-spinner West Indies attack with aplomb, after fast bowler Jayden Seales initially left the home team struggling.
“This pitch is tough to bat on,” said Rizwan.
“We batted with caution and just took advantage of loose balls. It’s tough to judge what should be a good total but we will target 300 plus.”
Shakeel has so far cracked four boundaries while Rizwan has seven hits to the fence.
The incisive Seales finished the day with 3-21 off 10 overs.
“My aim was to build pressure and get wickets,” Seales said. “I sense spin will play a major role on this pitch going forward.”
Sensing the dry and grassless Multan Stadium pitch will be tricky for batting on the last two days — and with spin set to play a major role — the home team opted to bat after winning the toss.
But play was delayed because of early morning fog compounded by poor air quality, resulting in limited visibility and wiping out the first session.
Both teams started with three spinners and just one front-line fast bowler, and the tourists opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie alongside Seales.
It was Seales who provided the breakthrough, forcing an edge off debutant Muhammad Hurraira to wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach in the sixth over. Hurraira scored six.
Three overs later, Motie dismissed skipper Shan Masood off a faint edge to the wicketkeeper for 11, before Seales trapped Kamran Ghulam leg before with a sharp incoming delivery for five.
It became 46-4 when Babar Azam edged Seales behind the wicket for eight, continuing a poor run of scores at home for Pakistan’s premier batter.
The two-match series is part of the World Test Championship. Pakistan currently rank eighth and the West Indies ninth and last.
In the ongoing test match between Pakistan and the West Indies, Rizwan cites ‘tough pitch’ as Pakistan recover on a fog-hit day. Despite difficult playing conditions caused by heavy fog, Pakistan managed to make a strong comeback in their first innings after losing early wickets.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings, scoring a gritty half-century to lead Pakistan’s recovery. In a post-match interview, Rizwan mentioned that the pitch was challenging to bat on due to uneven bounce and movement off the seam, making it tough for the batsmen to settle in.
Despite the tough conditions, Rizwan praised his team’s resilience and determination to fight back against a strong West Indies bowling attack. He emphasized the importance of partnerships and building a solid foundation for the team to build a competitive total.
As the match progresses, Pakistan will be looking to capitalize on their recovery and put up a strong performance in the remaining days of the test match. Rizwan’s leadership and fighting spirit will be crucial in guiding his team towards a successful outcome in this closely contested match.
The San Francisco 49ers played an abundance of running backs in 2024 as they dealt with a variety of injuries, which started all the way in the offseason when star Christian McCaffrey was dealing with Achilles tendonitis.
Including Kyle Juszczyk, six different running backs took a carry for the 49ers this season, with four earning at least 40 touches on the season.
Backup running back Jordan Mason led the way with 789 yards and three touchdowns in just 12 games, with 667 of those yards coming over the first seven games, even as the back battled injuries in two of those contests.
Injuries and the brief return of Christian McCaffrey ultimately limited Mason for the remainder of the season, but the backup proved that he could handle a major load if necessary when taking over as the starter to begin the year.
San Francisco has a tough decision with Mason ahead of them this offseason, as the running back is a restricted free agent. While the 49ers have Mason’s rights and can match any deal possible, they may not choose to, as the 25-year-old could have a robust market.
The 49ers have the option of placing a second-round tender on Jordan Mason, making it extremely likely that he returns. But, is that the most logical move for the franchise?
The second-round tender is expected to cost around $5.2 million this season, which could be a similar salary to what Mason can command in free agency. However, San Francisco is already paying a top-of-the-market salary to Christian McCaffrey, initially bringing him on his previous four-year, $64 million deal before re-upping him on a two-year, $38 million extension this past offseason.
On top of that, they invested a fourth-round pick on rookie Isaac Guerendo, who did better as the season progressed, ending the year with 420 yards and four touchdowns on five yards per carry.
So, a $5 million salary for Mason could just be too hefty for San Francisco, especially when you consider the fact that the 2025 NFL Draft class will have a ton of running back talent coming out as well.
But, there is also the argument to be made that the salary is worth it, given the uncertainty that McCaffrey provides with his ongoing injuries, as Mason was a big boost to the offense over the first few weeks of the season.
There seems to be an increased trust in the 25-year-old running back in comparison to his early years in San Francisco, which could play a factor in Kyle Shanahan’s desire to retain the restricted free agent.
Nonetheless, the 49ers have a tough decision to make at running back this offseason, with Mason being one of their key free agents.
The San Francisco 49ers are facing a tough decision when it comes to one of their running backs. With a crowded backfield and limited roster spots, the team will need to make a difficult choice in the coming weeks.
Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida, and Tevin Coleman have all proven themselves to be valuable assets to the 49ers’ offense. Mostert emerged as a breakout star last season, showcasing his speed and explosiveness. Breida has been a reliable option, consistently providing a spark in the running game. Coleman, a free-agent acquisition, brings experience and versatility to the backfield.
With only so many touches to go around, the 49ers may have to part ways with one of these talented backs. Whether it’s through a trade or release, the team will need to weigh their options carefully.
Ultimately, the decision will come down to which player fits best with the team’s offensive scheme and offers the most value. It’s a tough call, but one that the 49ers will have to make in order to field the strongest roster possible for the upcoming season.
Tags:
San Francisco 49ers, running back, tough decision, NFL, roster, player dilemma, team management, football, sports, player evaluation, contract negotiation, team strategy, player performance, team dynamics, roster management, player decision, running game
Donte DiVincenzo will not play Friday night when the Timberwolves visit Madison Square Garden for a matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks. His absence could pose significant challenges for Minnesota.
DiVincenzo had replaced Mike Conley in the starting lineup just six games ago and was stellar during that stretch, averaging 17.5 points on 42.1% shooting from three, along with 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Meanwhile, Conley, coming off the bench in those six games, has averaged 6.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.
It’s unclear how Minnesota will adjust its starting lineup, but there appear to be two logical options. They could either reinstate Conley in the starting five or allocate DiVincenzo’s minutes to Nickeil Alexander-Walker to maintain Conley’s rhythm with the second unit.
If Conley returns to the starting lineup and his workload increases from 21 minutes per game to over 30, the most viable solution to cover his backup minutes at point guard would be to give rookie Rob Dillingham around 20 minutes per game. Dillingham was called up from the G League on Thursday following a two-game rehab stint for an ankle sprain that sidelined him since December 23.
DiVincenzo had played in all 40 games this season, making his absence uncharted territory for Minnesota. Compounding the challenge is their grueling schedule, which includes games against the Knicks, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Mavericks, and Nuggets over the next nine days.
Replacing DiVincenzo’s three-point shooting will be critical. He’s averaged over four made threes per game in the last six contests. While Conley has been shooting efficiently from deep (40% during his reserve role), it will be crucial for the Timberwolves to continue getting offensive contributions from Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Alexander-Walker.
On the bright side, Reid has been on fire, shooting 46.9% from beyond the arc on 5.3 attempts per game over the last six games. McDaniels has also been reliable, hitting 42.9% of his threes on 3.5 attempts per game during the same stretch.
Minnesota hasn’t been a strong offensive team this season, and now they face the additional challenge of overcoming the loss of a player who has been their second-best performer of late.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be without guard Donte DiVincenzo as they face a tough test against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With DiVincenzo sidelined with an ankle injury, the Bucks will need someone to step up and fill his shoes.
One player who could potentially step up in DiVincenzo’s absence is Pat Connaughton. The sharpshooting guard has shown flashes of brilliance this season and could provide a much-needed spark off the bench for the Bucks.
Another player who could step up is Bryn Forbes. The veteran guard has proven himself as a reliable scorer and could help make up for the scoring production lost with DiVincenzo out.
Ultimately, it will be a team effort for the Bucks to overcome the absence of DiVincenzo. They will need everyone to step up and contribute in order to secure a victory against the Timberwolves. Stay tuned to see who rises to the occasion in this tough test for Milwaukee.
