This is the one. La Familia, the Kentucky Basketball alumni team, has won four straight to reach the summit of The Basketball Tournament, and now only one game stands between the Cats and a $2 million check.They host Davis Steel on Sunday afternoon inside a Historic Memorial Coliseum that should be rocking with the whole thing on the line.Heres everything you need for Sundays winner-take-all championship.How to watch La Familia vs. Davis SteelGame: La Familia (Kentucky alumni) vs. Davis Steel (Las Vegas bracket champion)Event: TBT 2026 Championship, single elimination, $2 million winner-take-all.Date: Sunday, August 2, 1:00 p.m. ETLocation: Historic Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, Ky.TV Channel: FOXOnline Stream: FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com with a TV provider login, or through Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream and Sling BlueTickets: Available through Ticketmaster via tbthoops.com.Back on the big FOX broadcast network for the title game, so if you have an antenna, you have the game. And La Familia gets to do it at home. By design, the Vegas bracket champion travels into the alumni champions building for the final, so Davis Steel walks into a hostile Memorial Coliseum with Big Blue Nation waiting.The revenge angleThis is the team that ended La Familias season last year. Davis Steel is the same organization that used to compete as Eberlein Drive, and Eberlein Drive is the team that knocked La Familia out of last years tournament, winning 71-70 right here at Memorial Coliseum. The Cats have a full year of that loss sitting with them, and now they get the rematch on their home floor with $2 million on the table.The name changed this offseasonAfter 12 years as Eberlein Drive, TBTs longest-standing team partnered with Davis Sports Corp. and rebranded as Davis Steel. And in a fun twist, Davis Steel is a Kentucky company, run out of Russell Springs by brothers Ashley and Adam Davis. So, in a roundabout way, this is a Kentucky vs. Kentucky title game.Theres one more layer, and its a good one. Archie Goodwin, the man carrying La Familias entire run, used to play for Eberlein Drive. He switched over to the Kentucky alumni last year, and now he gets to try to beat his old team for a championship. Goodwin has been the best player in the tournament, averaging 26.7 points a game, the highest mark in TBT this summer, including a 30-point night against Boeheims Army and 28 more against JHX Hoops. If he stays hot, La Familia is very hard to beat.How both teams got hereLa Familia has earned every inch of this. The Cats outlasted The Ville 2-1 in the opening round, edged Boeheims Army 70-66 in the alumni semifinal, then handled JHX Hoops 78-65 in the alumni championship to claim the bracket crown. That win was a statement, with La Familias defense holding the Kansas alumni to 30 percent shooting and just 5-of-29 from three.Davis Steel took the long road through the Vegas bracket, played entirely at the M Resort. The group topped its pool to earn a bye into the semifinals, routed Red Rose War Ready 83-67, then survived The Mecca 71-69 in Thursdays Vegas bracket final. Terrell Brown iced that one with a three that capped a 7-0 closing run. This is a battle-tested, veteran group that reached back-to-back Final Fours and finished runner-up a year ago, and it is still chasing its first title.Who La Familia needs to watch? Davis Steel is loaded with pro experience. Gabe York, a former Arizona guard, has been the teams leading scorer and is one of the most seasoned players in the entire event. Terrell Brown is a shot-maker who already proved hell take the big one. The frontcourt runs through Nate Watson and Terry Taylor, and the wing rotation includes DJ Rodman (son of Dennis Rodman), Cameron McGriff and Hassani Gravett. This is not a Cinderella. Its arguably the most accomplished non-alumni program in TBT history, finally chasing the trophy that has eluded it.The stakesEverything. TBT is winner-take-all: $2 million to the champion, nothing to the runner-up. There is no consolation here. And it ends the way every TBT game ends, with the Elam Ending. The clock shuts off late in the fourth quarter, a target score goes up, and a made basket wins it. La Familia has thrived in that format all tournament, closing out Boeheims Army and JHX Hoops in the untimed finish. One more time, in front of a home crowd, for all of it.

The calendar has flipped to August. Which means we're in the annual drought in the NBA's year-round calendar. Don't expect much to happen over the next couple of months. Teams across the league are in vacation mode and just waiting for the 2026-27 season to start.The Oklahoma City Thunder fell short of a second NBA championship, but remain in the meat of the title conversation. Bringing back mostly the same crew, expect them to be one of the league's top teams for a fourth straight year.To prepare for the 2026-27 regular season,Thunder Wirewill lay out three goals for all 17 players on the roster. OKC has 14 standard players and three two-way players. Let's look at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and what he could accomplish this upcoming year:Stay in MVP huntGilgeous-Alexander has cemented himself as an all-time great with two consecutive MVP awards. One makes you special. A second puts you in even rarer company. Now, asking him to win a third is a little unfair. Only three players have won the prestigious award three straight times Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Larry Bird. All in the 20th century, too. So expecting the 28-year-old to buck that trend is a Herculean task nobody in the modern NBA can do.But staying in the hunt? That's completely possible. Look, Gilgeous-Alexander likely won't win another MVP. Not because his play has taken a step back, but because voters will likely recognize other all-time greats deserve their moment in the sun. If I had to guess, I bet Victor Wembanyama brings home the trophy. That said, as long as he stays in the conversation and is a finalist, he'll continue to add bullet points to his legendary resume.Another 30-point campaignSpeaking of doing things that haven't been done since the last century, I think this one is a little more feasible. Gilgeous-Alexander could join Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to have five consecutive 30-point campaigns. Both of those did it for seven straight years. Right now, he's at four. In those four years, he's averaged 31.3 points on 52.9% shooting. Wow. I mean, the numbers speak for themselves. He's one of the best scorers basketball has ever seen.Let's see if Gilgeous-Alexander can continue to be a walking 30-point bucket. Right now, he has the NBA record for the longest consecutive 20-point streak in league history. If he can have another year when his average is over 30 points, then he continues to add to his case to be the best scorer in the modern NBA. The combination of high-scoring numbers plus big-man-esque efficiency has broken most folks' minds to comprehend. Win another ringProbably the tallest task of them all. Gilgeous-Alexander already crossed this off his to-do list with the 2025 NBA championship. But one ring makes you memorable. A second turns you legendary. The Thunder almost did that with back-to-back titles last year. But alas, injuries finally caught up to them. They finished five wins shy of a second Larry O'Brien trophy. Bringing back mostly the same roster, OKC is the co-title favorite. Alongside the San Antonio Spurs.Let's see if Gilgeous-Alexander can avenge last year's shortcomings. Better health luck should help with that. Jalen Williams seldom played last year. You can't win big time without your second-best player. Amazing that the Thunder even forced a Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals with him being mostly absent. Right now, OKC is smack-dab in the middle of its title window. Every year is a golden opportunity to win a championship. The 28-year-old is still at the peak of his powers, but we're reaching the point that we gotta be cognizant of the clock.This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder 3 goals: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander must focus on 2nd ring

Its safe to say that Seattle Seahawks stars Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy are two of the best players at the defensive tackle position in the NFL.CBS Sports released their top 10 rankings for every defensive position in the NFL on Thursday, and first ranked Williams No. 4 overall among all interior defensive linemen in the league.Williams has been an absolute steal for theSeahawks, who have had no shortage of them as part of their run toSuper Bowlchamps, CBS Sports analysts said. Acquired from theGiantsfor a third-rounder and a fifth-rounder, Williams has played at an All-Pro level the last two seasons.Williams earned an All-Pro nod last season as a second-team honoree. He recorded seven sacks on the year and was one of the most technically sound and explosive players at the position.Murphy was ranked No. 6 overall after having a breakout year in 2025.Murphy skyrocketed up these rankings after seven sacks (plus two more in the playoffs) in 2025, CBS Sports analysts said. The Seahawks combining two elite interior defensive linemen with a plethora of edge rushers was a huge reason they won the Super Bowl.Murphy recorded seven sacks last season, up from the 0.5 he recorded as a rookie in 2024. He also registered seven tackles for loss, up from the two he recorded as a rookie, as well as 13 quarterback hits, up from the one QB hit he logged in 2024, and was also strikingly good at getting after the quarterback all season long.Williams and Murphy will both get the chance to make good on their rankings once the 2026 season commences.This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks DTs Williams, Murphy crack Top 10 in CBS Sports IDL rankings

The Oklahoma Sooners made some key transfer portal additions this past winter, with many of them coming on offense. Once it was confirmed that quarterback John Mateer was going to be back in the saddle to run the show in Norman, the focus for OU turned to surrounding him with talent offensively. One of those crucial portal additions was former Texas wide receiver Parker Livingstone, who was a breakout player in Austin last year. Now, he crosses the Red RIver to the other side of the iconic rivalry, where he'll hope to help jump-start the Sooner offense.According to ESPN's list of each top 25 team's x-factor for this upcoming season, Livingstone is the player for the Sooners that can heavily impact where Oklahoma ends up. The redshirt-sophomore should be slated into one of the outside receiver spots, likely the X-WR role that was held down by the combination of Keontez Lewis and Javonnie Gibson last season, and OU needs him to be an improvement piece there this fall."In the history of the Red River Rivalry, rarely ever has a player left the Longhorns for the Sooners. But former Texas receiver Livingstone -- quarterbackArch Manning's roommate last year -- could become a difference-maker for his new quarterback,John Mateer. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound Livingstone, who had six touchdown catches as a redshirt freshman last year, should give Oklahoma a physical weapon on the outside alongside returning go-to pass-catcherIsaiah Sategna IIIand Virginia transferTrell Harris, who was a third-team All-ACC selection last year." - Jake Trotter, ESPN.With the speedy Sategna once again manning the H-WR role in the slot and Harris occupying the deep threat Z-WR role that Deion Burks held last year, Livingstone can use his size and physicality to offer OU something it didn't really have last year: a jump ball threat on the outside. Combine that trio with the likes of Jer'Michael Carter, Mackenzie Alleyne, Jacob Jordan, Ivan Carreon, and some promising youngsters, and the Sooners have a chance to be an improved WR group this year.If he has a strong year in 2026, Livingstone would likely be the go-to target at wideout next season for projected new starting QB Bowe Bentley. With Sategna and Harris both gone next year, Livingstone's youth also made him a big get for OU this offseason.The move to get Livingstone was just one of many important acquisitions that Oklahoma made this winter. However, it could end up being one of the biggest to pay off, both now and down the road.Contact/Follow us@SoonersWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions.You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Who does ESPN think is the Oklahoma Sooners X-factor?

Wide receiver is going to be an enormous question mark for the San Francisco 49ers this season. 49ers President of Football Operations and general manager John Lynch revealed on Saturday that third-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is being put on season-ending injured reserve, as he's having surgery to repair the ligament in his injured PCL, according to The Athletic. Last season (2025), Pearsall totaled 36 receptions for 528 yards (14.7 yards per reception), with the aforementioned knee injury limiting him to nine regular-season games and one of San Francisco's two playoff games. Pearsall didn't play until Week 7 of his 2024 rookie season due to a wound from a gunshot. In said season, Pearsall logged 31 receptions for 400 yards (12.9 yards per reception) and three touchdowns across 11 games. San Francisco selected Pearsall with the No. 31 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida. Earlier this week, the 49ers reunited with veteran wide receiver and 2021 All-Pro Deebo Samuel on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million; Samuel spent the first six seasons of his NFL career in San Francisco (2019-24). Elsewhere on the receiver front, San Francisco signed six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans to a three-year, $42.4 million deal and selected Ole Miss wideout De'Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, among other moves. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

San Francisco 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall will have season-ending surgery on his injured right knee in the latest setback for the 2024 first-round pick.General manager John Lynch announced the decision on Saturday for Pearsall to undergo surgery to repair his posterior cruciate ligament. Pearsall initially injured the knee last season and came back to play late in the season. But he was shut down after two practices in training camp because of swelling in the knee.The Niners announced that former All-Pro Deebo Samuel had returned to the team on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million to take Pearsall's place on the roster.Pearsall has flashed when he is healthy, but has struggled to stay on the field since being drafted with the 31st overall pick in 2024. He missed most of training camp as a rookie with a shoulder injury and then was shot in a robbery attempt just before the start of that season. Pearsall returned to make 31 catches for 400 yards and three TDs in 11 games.Pearsall was slowed early last summer by a hamstring injury, but got off to a fast start to the season with 20 catches for 327 yards in his first four games before going down with a knee injury in Week 4.He missed the next six games and had only five catches for 20 yards in his first three games back. Pearsall then had six catches for 96 yards the following game against Tennessee before reaggravating the knee injury. He missed two of the final three regular-season games and the playoff opener before being a nonfactor in a divisional round loss to Seattle.Pearsall has 67 catches for 928 yards and three TDs in 20 games over two seasons. Pearsall's lack of playing time makes it unlikely the team would put up his fifth-year option for 2028 next spring.The 49ers bolstered the receiver room by signing free agent Mike Evans in March and drafting DeZhaun Stribling with the first pick of the second round in April. Now they are also bringing back Samuel after he spent last season in Washington.When the balls in Deebos hands, theres a lot of special things that he can do, acting coach Chris Foerster said Friday. So, you find as many different ways to get the ball in his hands so he can impact the game in a special way. Well look at that, obviously, as many ways as we can to involve him in the game plan.Samuel spent his first six seasons with the 49ers after being drafted in the second round in 2019, helping the team reach the Super Bowl twice and earning All-Pro honors in 2021 when he had 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns.Samuel was traded to Washington in 2025 for a fifth-round draft pick and had 72 catches for 727 yards and five TDs for the Commanders last season. He became a free agent in March and now will join the Niners to provide reinforcement with Pearsall out.Samuel has 406 catches for 5,519 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career and has been one of the most dynamic players after the catch in the NFL. His average of 8.7 yards after the catch on receptions rank first among all receivers with at least 100 catches since 2019. He also has rushed for 1,218 yards and 21 TDs in 97 games.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

PHILADELPHIA Makai Lemon does not want the Philadelphia Eagles coaching staff to simplify the offense because he is a rookie. The young wide receiver wants coaches to continue giving him new assignments as he works to prove he can handle everything required within Sean Mannions system.Its not too much for me, Lemon said Saturday. Right now Im focusing on earning trust.That trust will determine how quickly Lemon can establish a role in Philadelphias offense. Talent and college production helped him reach the NFL, but rookies earn playing time by consistently executing assignments, making the proper adjustments and avoiding mental mistakes. Lemon joined the Eagles after playing at Southern California, where he demonstrated route-running ability and positional versatility. Philadelphia can move him across the formation, but those options only become useful if he develops a complete understanding of the playbook.Makai Lemon says he wants the coaching staff to continue to throw new plays his way Its not too much for me. Right now Im focusing on earning trust. pic.twitter.com/TYQWdVSHxU Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) August 1, 2026His offseason work with Jalen Hurts provided an early advantage. Lemon joined several Eagles quarterbacks and skill-position players for workouts in Orlando after dealing with a hamstring injury during the spring. He said those sessions have helped him during training camp. The next step is showing Hurts and the coaching staff that he can be dependable regardless of the play call or alignment.Philadelphias receiver competition creates urgency. DeVonta Smith is the established leader of a group that includes Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Elijah Moore and several players fighting for roster spots and offensive snaps. Lemon does not need to master the entire offense immediately, but his willingness to take on a greater mental workload should support his development. Each correct route, adjustment, and assignment can move him closer to earning meaningful opportunities.The rookie is not asking the Eagles to slow down. He wants coaches to continue challenging him, believing his ability to process and execute new plays will help establish the trust he needs to get onto the field.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles rookie WR refuses to be overwhelmed by growing playbook

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. - TheNew York Giantshave taken their training camp on the road for the first time since they were defending Super Bowl champions back in the summer of 2012.We are with them at the Greenbrier Resort Sports Performance Center to cover it all for NorthJersey.com and The Record.Here's what we're seeing and hearing as the Harbaugh Era continues:Malik Nabers watch continuesBiggest thing to see today: how much if anything does Malik Nabers do on the field. Nabers looked great coming off surgery on the first two days in individual drills, and the Giants gave him off on Friday. While that always tends to draw attention, the Giants have a plan for Nabers to get him ready for Sept. 13 against the Cowboys.Since the Giants have off on Sunday - their only off day in camp here - we should see more of Nabers in front of what should be the largest crowd of camp in excess of 1,500.This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Giants observations from Day 4 of training camp in West Virginia

A'mir Sears is very familiar with the Miami Hurricanes, and the Miami Hurricanes are very familiar with Sears. The 6-foot-1, 178-pound five-star prospect is a star at West Broward High School, not far from the Hurricanes' campus.USA TODAY Sports and others report that the heralded cornerback has committed to the Hurricanes in a huge boost for their class of 2027.Sears was originally part of the class of 2028, but reclassified to get to major college football a little bit sooner.As a sophomore, Sears led his high school team to the state title, intercepting three passes and breaking up 11 other passes. Yall really thought I was leavin DACRIB? #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/YaHP7gO6DZ Amir A1 Sears (@amirsears1_) July 31, 2026Sears is also a weapon on offense, catching 49 passes for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago.It'll be very interesting to see how Miami head coach Mario Cristobal deploys Sears in a couple of years, and whether Sears can have a Travis Hunter-like impact on the sport.Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Miami lands five-star hometown two-way player A'mir Sears

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the status of the ongoing contract negotiations with star cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Like Gonzalez, it appears that Vrabel wants to keep those conversations behind closed doors. "Listen, we've talked about this contract. It'll either get done, and when it gets done, that'll be the progress that's made," Vrabel told media members on Saturday. "Everybody that's involved is working hard, can't express the professionalism that Gonzo has started camp with. It's clear that he wants to improve. That he wants to be the best at his craft and at that position. I think that he's made that known by the way he's come out here to practice."Patriots owner Robert Kraft claimed that the team made Gonzalez an offer that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and the highest-paid player in franchise history. That public revelation put the heat back on Gonzalez and his team when it came to negotiations. However, the 24-year-old defensive back took the high road when asked about it publicly. Everybody knows what Mr. Kraft has done, a ton of respect for Mr. Kraft and what hes done with this franchise, Gonzalez said, via Patriots Wire's Sophie Weller. And its just something we dont want to handle in the media. You know, I keep that with the team and my team and go on about that.The expectation has been that a deal will come together between the two sides at some point, and the fact that Gonzalez has been a full participant at training camp seems to indicate that to be the case. As far as where things currently stand, NFL insider Albert Breer reported that the Patriots and Gonzalez are "not close" on a new deal. Follow Patriots Wire onTwitterandFacebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots coach Mike Vrabel comments on Christian Gonzalez negotiations