First Call: Mike Tomlin shows up at a college hoops game; Steelers linked to former WPIAL, Penn State safetyVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” reveals efforts by many of Mike Tomlin’s former players to lend their support to him in the wake of his decision to step down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A former Penn State and WPIAL standout is linked to the Steelers in free agency....
A 5-point plan for Duquesne to win its 5th in a row
Duquesne (15-10) is playing its best basketball of the season. The Dukes have won four in a row and five of their last six. Coach Dru Joyce III’s club is now up to a three-way tie for fourth place in the Atlantic 10 with Saint Joseph’s and Dayton at 7-5....
With Jake DiMichele finally healthy and defense ramping up, Duquesne looking like A-10 title team of 2024
There was no apparent limp, no favoritism for that once-troublesome foot. Jake DiMichele, the darling of local fans at Duquesne and a key part of the Dukes’ 2024 Atlantic 10 championship and NCAA Tournament team, has (knock on wood) proclaimed himself 100% healed. Finally. For DiMichele, the WPIAL’s third all-time...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel praises Cam Corhen’s attitude, effort amid ankle injury
Cam Corhen has had ample reason to dial things back over the last week. Pitt’s senior forward injured his ankle Feb. 10 against No. 4 Duke, a lingering pain that coach Jeff Capel said caused Corhen to miss practice Monday. Corhen also was forced to miss several practices last week...
Michigan rises to No. 1 in AP Top 25 poll for 1st time since 2013
Michigan is No. 1 in the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the first time in 13 years, ending Arizona’s nine-week reign. The Wolverines (24-1) claimed 60 of 61 first-place votes in Monday’s poll to climb one spot and supplant the Wildcats, who were unbeaten entering last week before...
BYU guard Richie Saunders will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACLVideo
PROVO, Utah — BYU guard Richie Saunders will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, the school announced Sunday. Saunders was injured Saturday on No. 22 BYU’s first possession only 45 seconds into its 90-86 overtime victory over Colorado. He fell awkwardly after driving to the rim...
Duquesne defeats St. Bonaventure for another road victory
Outshot, outrebounded and nearly outplayed down the stretch, Duquesne’s road warriors claimed another victory away from their home court Saturday. And they did it after losing a big first-half lead. Jimmie Williams scored 19 points, including a clutch 3-point shot with 14 seconds left after Alex Williams’ 3-pointer gave Duquesne...
Bittle, Simpkins combine for 44 points to lead Oregon 83-72 past Penn State, snap 10-game skid
EUGENE, Ore. — Nate Bittle and Takai Simpkins scored 22 points each to help Oregon snap a 10-game losing streak with an 83-72 win over Penn State on Saturday. The Ducks (9-16, 2-12 Big Ten) had been without a win since Jan. 2 over Maryland, their only previous Big Ten...
Short-handed Panthers routed by North Carolina, also missing starters
The hits keep coming for the Pitt basketball team. North Carolina was next in line to take a shot at the undermanned Panthers, and the 11th-ranked Tar Heels — shorthanded themselves — registered another knockout punch. Seth Trimble and Jarin Stevenson scored 19 points apiece to lead four double-digit scorers...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: College football is no longer just the NFL’s feeder system
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has used the courts — specifically, a judge with a law degree from Ole Miss — to finagle a sixth year of NCAA football eligibility. The NCAA will appeal. Chambliss’ reasoning is simple: He would likely be picked in the third round of this year’s...
No. 1 Penn State routs No. 2 Ohio State to win Big Ten wrestling dual meet championship
This one never felt like No. 1 vs. No. 2. It wasn’t close. Cael Sanderson’s top-ranked Penn State team is that good. And the talented second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes were missing a few key regulars Friday night in front of a record crowd of 16,006 at Bryce Jordan Center. Ohio...
Duquesne’s players will study scouting report harder before rematch against St. Bonaventure
Duquesne guard Jimmie Williams didn’t hesitate when asked a question about what his team needs to focus on to be better against St. Bonaventure this time around. “The scout,” Williams said instantly. No. Not the scouting report itself, put together by the coaching staff. Williams said that was spot on,...
Pitt transfer Holden Geriner embraces mentorship role with young quarterbacks
Holden Geriner isn’t blind to the situation he willingly walked into at Pitt. The Panthers have an established quarterback in Mason Heintschel and also brought in a pair of freshmen at the position: Corey Dailey and Angelo Renda. Geriner transferred to Pitt from Texas State, where he had one pass...
Judge grants Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss extra eligibility
PITTSBORO, Miss. — In saying “the NCAA ignored its own rules,” a Mississippi judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction Thursday against college athletics’ governing body, allowing him to receive an extra year of eligibility so he can play next season. The NCAA denied Chambliss’ waiver request...
Pitt transfer RB La’Vell Wright looks to carve out role in backfield
The 2026 campaign is far into the distance, but Pitt already has a good idea who will begin the year atop the depth chart at running back. That would be Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner, who, along with Mason Heintschel, emerged as one of the Panthers’ top performers last fall during an...
Matt Campbell on D’Anton Lynn’s fit as Penn State’s defensive coordinator: ‘I think we see the game very similarly’
Former Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s decision to retire after more than 40 seasons in college created an opportunity for D’Anton Lynn to head east and join his alma mater. A skilled defensive back who spent four years with Penn State (2008-11), Lynn retooled the UCLA and USC defenses...
Penn State men pick up road win at Washington
SEATTLE — Freddie Dilione V scored 16 points, Josh Reed added 14, and Penn State beat Washington, 63-60, on Wednesday night. Kayden Mingo had 13 points and Eli Rice scored 13 for Penn State. The Nittany Lions (11-14, 2-12 Big Ten) had lost back-to-back games and 10 of their last...
Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna won’t face school suspension after assault charges
Penn State men’s hockey star Gavin McKenna will not face a university suspension and is in line to play this weekend at No. 2 Michigan, coach Guy Gadowsky confirmed Wednesday. McKenna is charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct after he allegedly punched a 21-year-old male, resulting in a...
Pitt freshmen QBs Angelo Renda, Corey Dailey adjust to college life
This winter, with a storm dumping more than a foot of snow in late January, coupled with sub-freezing daily temperatures for two weeks straight, has tested even the most mentally tough Pittsburghers. Of course, Steel City natives are better equipped to deal with such conditions, even if Pittsburgh navigates what...
Pitt, Penn State players invited to 2026 NFL combine
Nine football players from Penn State and two from Pitt received invitations to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They will be among 319 prospects in attendance Feb. 23-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the NFL announced Wednesday. Players will perform medical exams, interviews and on-field drills...
Mark Madden: Remember when Pittsburgh was a basketball town?
Pittsburgh used to be a basketball town, kind of. Hard to believe. I know. I was there. Even harder to believe. Amazon Prime is premiering a new documentary called, “Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association.” The iconic “Dr. J,” Julius Erving, appeared on satellite radio to mark...
Pitt starts hot, hangs tough with No. 4 Duke, but Blue Devils pull away for rout
A few minutes into Tuesday’s game between Pitt and No. 4 Duke, the Panthers were reacquainted with an advantage unseen for quite some time at Petersen Events Center: energetic cheering from a large crowd. The 10,804-strong sea of fans, the largest by far Pitt has attracted for a home men’s...
New Penn State coach Matt Campbell says Latrobe’s Alex Tatsch could be next great at Linebacker U
Despite being widely regarded as “Linebacker U” for a rich tradition on defense, Penn State had an obvious lack of depth at the position over the past two seasons. It was never more apparent than when Tony Rojas suffered a season-ending injury early in 2025. The Nittany Lions had no...
No. 9 Kansas beats top-ranked, previously undefeated Arizona
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Flory Bidunga had a double-double, and No. 9 Kansas defeated top-ranked and previously unbeaten Arizona, 82-78, on Monday night. Arizona (23-1, 10-1 Big 12) entered Allen Fieldhouse with the second-longest winning streak in Division I men’s basketball. Kansas (19-5, 9-2) played without freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who...
Duke surges to No. 11 in Top 25 women’s poll with 15-game streak
Duke climbed up to No. 11 in the Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 poll Monday thanks to a 15-game winning streak. The Blue Devils took over sole possession of first-place in the ACC last week with a one-point victory over then-No. 6 Louisville. Duke, which jumped six places this...