The Sportsletter - Unanimous ☝️

BY JEFF YODER

 JAN. 31, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

The two-week media frenzy before Super Bowl LVII has already begun, but we're going to recover from football for a day before picking up the storylines in tomorrow's edition. Let's catch up on the other happenings in sports, starting with the first unanimous No. 1 team in college hoops this season.

Letter Rip!

NCAA

Unanimous ☝️

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Purdue Becomes 1st Unanimous No. 1 of NCAA Season; South Carolina Women Still On Top

We’re one month away from the greatest month in college basketball, and the top teams are separating themselves from the pack. After a career-high 37 points from Zach Edey on Sunday, Purdue is now the first unanimous No. 1 in the AP Poll this season, and Edey is starting to run away with Player of the Year conversations. Meanwhile, South Carolina remains unbeaten in women’s hoops, and LSU has climbed the ladder with a 20-0 start, as well. In one month, we’ll be talking brackets. Until then, here are the top teams in the land.

Men’s AP Top-10

1. Purdue (21-1) | —

2. Tennessee (18-3) | ↑2

3. Houston (20-2) | —

4. Alabama (18-3) | ↓2

5. Arizona (19-3) | ↑1

6. Virginia (16-3) | ↑1

7. Kansas State (18-3) | ↓2

8. Kansas (17-4) | ↑1

9. UCLA (17-4) | ↓1

10. Texas (17-4) | —

Men’s AP Top-25

Women’s AP Top-10

1. South Carolina (21-0) | —

2. Stanford (21-2) | ↑1

3. LSU (20-0) | ↑1

4. Indiana (20-1) | ↑2

5. UConn (20-2) | —

6. Iowa (17-4) | ↑4

7. Utah (18-2) | ↑2

8. Maryland (17-4) | ↑2

9. Notre Dame (17-3) | ↓2

10. Ohio State (19-3) | ↓8

Women’s AP Top-25

Additional Storylines

ESPN: It’s Undebatable: Purdue is the Best Team in the Country

NCAA: Iowa’s Big Week Scrambles Women’s Top-10 Rankings

NCAA Scoreboard

M: #6 Virginia def. Syracuse (67-62)

M: #10 Texas def. #11 Baylor (76-71)

M: Texas Tech def. #13 Iowa State (80-77)

W: #3 LSU def. Tennessee (76-68)

W: #8 Maryland def. Penn State (87-66)

NBA

Scoreboard Scorchers 🔥

Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Luka Doncic (53) & Others Drop Big Numbers in Another Night of High-Scoring NBA Action

A few weeks ago we featured the epic barrage of 40-point games occurring in the NBA this season. After a handful over the weekend, we had three more on Monday. Luka Doncic poured in 53 points for the Mavericks in a win over the Magic (111-105). He shot 17-for-24 from the floor with five 3s. Doncic has scored 40-plus in 11 games this season, including four 50-plus outings and a 60-piece on Dec. 27. He wasn’t the only one with some gaudy numbers on Monday night, either.

Watch: Luka Doncic Drops 53 in Mavs Win

Other Top Scorers

Damian Lillard (POR): 42 points

Dejounte Murray (ATL): 40 points

Steph Curry (GSW): 38 points

Highlights & Storylines

Magic Snap 76ers 7-Game Win Streak (119-109)

Nets Bury Lakers in Brooklyn (121-104)

Kings Top T-Wolves in Overtime (118-111, OT)

NHL

Islanders Give Haul for Horvat

Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Islanders Make Splash in Acquisition of Bo Horvat From Canucks for 2 Players & Pick

The first major mid-season trade in the NHL went down on Monday, and it’s the first of many. The Islanders struck a deal with the Canucks to land center Bo Horvat and bolster their hopes of a playoff run in the crowded Eastern Conference. Horvat ranks 8th in scoring with 31 goals this season. It appears the Canucks are heading for a rebuild with a slim chance of sneaking into the postseason, while the Islanders (55 points) in the thick of a seven-team dogfight in the Metropolitan race. Horvat adds immediate offense for a team that ranks 21st in scoring.

Trade Details

Islanders Get: Bo Horvat

Canucks Get: Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty, 2023 1st-Round Pick

After Monday’s blockbuster, NHL trade season is officially green-lighted with the deadline (March 3) fast approaching.

Additional Storylines

NY Post: Islanders Acquire Bo Horvat From Canucks for Hefty Price in Blockbuster

The Athletic: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello Bets Big on Bo Horvat — Will It Pay Off? (Paywall)

THE STORYLINES

🏀 NBA Power Rankings

Joel Embiid and the 76ers jump the Celtics for the No. 1 spot on the heels of a seven-game win streak.The Clippers are getting hot, and the Knicks enter the top-10. (CBS Sports)

⛳️ McIlroy vs. Reed in Dubai

With LIV players, Rory McIlroy and others hooking up in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this past weekend, there were plenty of fireworks. (ESPN)

🏈 Top Recruiting Classes

As we glide into the final few days before national signing day, here are letter grades and intel on where every Top 25 team's class stands in the 11th hour. (Bleacher Report)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Blackhawks Hall of Famer Bobby Hull Dies at 84 (CBS Sports)
• U.S. Skier Kyle Smaine Dies at 31 During Avalanche in Japan (USA Today)
• Chargers Hire Former Cowboys OC Kellen Moore as Offensive Coordinator (ESPN)
• Packers Reportedly ‘Prefer to Move On’ From QB Aaron Rodgers (SI)
• NFL Reveals Salary Cap Increase to $224.8 Million in 2023 (Yahoo! Sports)

• 49ers QB Brock Purdy Suffered Torn UCL in Right Elbow During NFC Championship (ESPN)

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Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

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