>>Pats’ Belichick Still Won’t Discuss Butler Benching
(Minneapolis, MN) — Patriots head coach Bill Belichick still isn’t revealing why starting cornerback Malcolm Butler was benched for their 41-33 loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl 52. Belichick wouldn’t elaborate beyond what he said after the game on Sunday when he said it was a football decision. New England allowed Nick Foles to throw for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
>>Bears Bringing On Childress
(Chicago, IL) — First-time head coach Matt Nagy is bringing some experience with him to the Bears. Multiple outlets reported Brad Childress will joining Nagy as an offensive consultant. Childress was the Vikings head coach from 2006-to-2010. He’s an Andy Reid disciple like Nagy. They were co offensive coordinator together in Kansas City in 2016.
>>Cubs And White Sox Nearing Spring Training
(Undated) — Spring training is in the air. Cubs and White Sox pitchers and catchers report to Arizona a week from today. The first workout is the following today for both teams. Everyone else is due into town by next Sunday with the first full-team workout coming on February 19th.
>>Mets Sign Third Baseman Frazier
(Flushing, NY) — Third baseman Todd Frazier is staying in New York but not with the Yankees. According to multiple outlets, the Mets have signed Frazier to a two-year deal worth 17-million-dollars. The 31-year-old hit .213 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI last season split between the Yanks and White Sox. Frazier spent the first five years of his career with the Reds.
>>Number-17 West Virginia Clips Number-18 OU
(Norman, OK) — Number-17 West Virginia clamped down on number-18 Oklahoma’s final possession to close out a 75-73 win in Norman. The Mountaineers were able to overcome 32 points from Sooners freshman star Trae Young. Young turned the ball over six times to only one assist as the Sooners find themselves at 16-and-7 and 6-and-5 in conference.
>>Kings Rally To Beat Bulls
(Sacramento, CA) — The Kings rebounded from a nine-point first quarter to beat the Bulls 104-98 at the Golden 1 Center. It was Sacramento’s lowest output for a quarter this season. The Kings outscored Chicago 95-to-70 during the final 36 minutes. Zach LaVine scored a game-high 27 points in the loss. Justin Holiday chipped in 20 for the Bulls, who were without Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn and lost starting center Robin Lopez to an ejection in the first half. Chicago has lost seven straight and host the T’wolves on Friday.
>>Wizards Stay Hot Without Wall
(Indianapolis, IN) — The Wizards are finding their grove again, but it’s happening without their best player. Washington won its fifth straight game when they beat the Pacers 111-102 at Banker Life Fieldhouse. John Wall has missed all five contests due to a left knee injury that’s keeping him out six-to-eight weeks. The Wizards are fourth in the Eastern Conference at 31-and-22. They’re only percentage points behind the Cavaliers for third.
>>Marc-Andre Fleury Returns To Pittsburgh
(Pittsburgh, PA) — Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury return to Pittsburgh tonight when the Golden Knights and Penguins meet. It’s Fleury’s first game back in Pittsburgh since Vegas selected him in the expansion draft during the offseason. He spent his first 13 years with the Pens, winning three Stanley Cups, including going back-to-back the past two seasons.
>>Illinois Hosts Wisconsin Thursday
(Champaign, IL) — Illinois is back home on Thursday as Wisconsin visits the State Farm Center. The Fighting Illini will be looking to bounce back from Sunday’s 75-67 setback at 16th-ranked Ohio State. That snapped a two-game winning streak for Illinois, which is 12-and-12 overall and 2-and-9 in the Big Ten.
Coming up Thursday night on the Talk 101 High School Game of the Week presented by Landmark of Taylorville, it’s High School Girls Basketball, as the Eisenhower Panthers play host to MacArthur. The Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy Pregame Show gets underway at 7:15p.m. and the tipoff follows at 7:30p.m. Join Scott Busboom and Kevin Hale with the call this Thursday night on Talk 101 FM!
Coming up Friday night on the Talk 101 High School Game of the Week presented by Landmark of Taylorville, it’s High School Boy’s Basketball as the MacArthur Generals play host to Springfield High School. The Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy Pregame Show gets underway at 7:15p.m. and the Tipoff follows at 7:30p.m. Join Scott Busboom and Kevin Hale with the call Friday Night on Talk 101 FM!