Another week, another top-ranked team has gone down. Number-21 Iowa State withstood a second-half surge and held on for an 82-77 win over number-one Oklahoma. The Sooners had just taken over the top spot in the “USA Today” poll earlier in the day. It’s the fourth straight week the top-ranked team in the “USA Today” poll has lost.
Duke dipped into unfamiliar territory with a 64-62 loss to Syracuse. The 12th-ranked Blue Devils have lost three straight for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Duke has also dropped three in-a-row to unranked opponents for the first time since the 1968-69 campaign.
Oregon State forward Jarmal Reid has been suspended a minimum of four games for tripping a referee late in Sunday’s game against Utah. Reid was ejected with the game tied at 52 and 2:56 left in the game. The incident helped Utah rally for a 59-53 win.
The Colts have found their new quarterbacks coach, agreeing with University of Georgia offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for the position. The journeymen coordinator replaces Clyde Christensen, who was hired by the Dolphins to be the teams’ O-C. Schottenheimer, son of longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, has held coordinator positions with the New York Jets and the St. Louis Rams.
Pau Gasol [[ Pow gah-SAUL ]] dominated in the middle to the tune of 31 points and 12 rebounds as the Bulls beat the Pistons 111-101 at The Palace. Derrick Rose contributed 20 points, and Jimmy Butler added 16 points and nine assists for Chicago. The Bulls have won two of three since a three-game skid to improve to 24-and-16. They host Steph Curry and the defending champion Warriors tomorrow night.
The defending champions dominated an NBA Finals rematch. Steph Curry scored 35 points as the Warriors walloped the Cavaliers, 132-98, in Cleveland. Golden State improved to 38-and-4 by completing a two-game season sweep of the Cavs.
Bulls guard Jimmy Butler is one of 30 finalists for this year’s U.S. Olympic basketball team. The official 12-player roster for the 2016 Rio Olympics will be announced later this year. The Olympics take place August 5th through the 21st.
Doug Pederson is officially the new head coach of the Eagles. The 47-year-old Pederson comes from Kansas City where he had been the offensive coordinator the last three years. He replaces Chip Kelly, who was fired by the Eagles after three seasons at the helm.
Five different skaters scored for the Blues as they used a three-goal third period to push past the Penguins 5-2 at the Scottrade Center. Paul Stastny [[ STAS-nee ]] netted a goal and piled up three assists, while Brian Elliott [[ EHL-lee-awt ]] made 36 saves for St. Louis, which has won four of its last five. The Blues play the Red Wings in Detroit tomorrow.
The Blackhawks look to make history when they face the Predators tonight in Nashville. The Blackhawks have matched their franchise record with 11 straight wins. However, the Predators have beaten the ‘Hawks three straight times in Nashville.
Illinois plays the first of back-to-back Big Ten road games tonight at 23rd-ranked Indiana. The Fighting Illini have lost four of their last five games to drop to 9-and-9 overall and 1-and-4 in the conference. The Hoosiers have won 10 in-a-row to improve to 15-and-3 and 5-and-0.
Coming up Wednesday Night on Talk 101 FM, It’s Millikin University women’s basketball, as the Big Blue Women look for their first Conference win of the season as they play host to nationally ranked Wheaton. The Big Blue Pregame Show presented by Pepsi gets underway at 6:45p.m. and the tipoff at 7:00p.m.. Join Scott Busboom and Kevin Hale with all the action “live” this Wednesday night on Talk 101FM, and online at decatur radio dot com.