The Sportsletter - Magic B-Ball in The Mitten 😤

BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 27, 2025 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Ready for a little March Madness teaser? Michigan State’s Tre Holloman called game from 50 feet at the buzzer. The Detroit Pistons also won their eighth straight. If there’s a bandwagon for Southeast Michigan basketball teams, I want on. 

Plus, the NFL Scouting Combine begins today (skills and drills!), and Emma Hayes, after 17 matches, suffered her first loss as the USWNT manager.

Letter Rip!

  NCAA / NBA   

Magic Night for 'The Mitten' 😤

Photo: Greg Fiume / Getty Images

#8 Michigan State Stuns #16 Maryland on Tre Holloman’s Half-Court Heave (58-55)

Trying to cram all of last night’s basketball highlights into today’s edition just wasn’t going to happen, but here’s a two-pack from the state of Michigan where basketball is having a moment. Last night, #8 Michigan State beat #16 Maryland on Tre Holloman’s half-court heave — dare we say a “Hail Mary” in Maryland?! With the game tied at 55-all, the Terps missed a go-ahead 3 in the final seconds before Holloman let fly a 50-footer. Cue Bill Raftery: "Onions!"  

MSU (23-5) has won four straight games against four ranked Big Ten opponents, and it feels like a vintage March run awaits Tom Izzo’s squad.

Watch: Tre Holloman’s Half-Court Game Winner

#8 Michigan State def. #16 Maryland (58-55)

Whose Pistons Are These?

The Detroit Pistons Won Their 8th Straight by Crushing the Celtics (117-97)

Holloman’s half-court buzzer-beater was special, but Southeast Michigan's epic night didn't end there. The Pistons entered Wednesday on a seven-game win streak — seriously, the Pistons are cooking — and they beat the defending champion Celtics by 20 (117-97). Malik Beasley had 26 points off the bench. That’s eight straight for a rejuvenated Detroit (33-26), and they're suddenly within one game of the East’s 4-seed in the playoffs.

Detroit won 31 games in the last two seasons combined. They have 33 wins already this year. It's their first eight-game win streak in 17 years (2007-08).

Watch: Pistons Pound Celtics (117-97) for 8th Straight Win

  NFL   

Skills & Drills: It's Combine Week ⏱️

Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images

The 2025 NFL Combine Brings Draftees to Indy for a Week of Drills (And Smokescreens)

The NFL offseason hits its first checkpoint just two weeks removed from Super Bowl LIX. The Scouting Combine is underway from Indianapolis, and the Titans hold the No. 1 pick. From cone drills and bench press to the popular 40-yard dash, these workouts are about to make (or break) the bank for a bunch of young football stars. The difference between a 4.3 and a 4.4 40-yard dash could be millions on draft night.

💨 It’s also smokescreen season as roster shuffling and free agency draws near (March 12). Putting all 32 GMs and coaches in the same building for a week is a recipe for smoke. I'm not pulling the rumor ripcord just yet. Instead, let's kick back and watch some drills. Maybe you'll discover your team's next great player.

⏱️ NFL Combine Schedule

Defensive Line & Linebackers (Today, 3:00 pm)

Defensive Backs & Tight Ends (Fri. 3:00 pm)

QBs, WRs & RBs (Sat. 3:00 pm)

Offensive Linemen (Sun. 1:00 pm)

*All Events ET on NFL Network

Will anyone break Xavier Worthy’s 4.21 40-yard dash record from last year? We'll find out.

Read More

FOX Sports: Combine Confidential: Draft Prospects on No. 1 Pick, CFP, NIL & More

CBS Sports: NFL Draft Favorites: These Prospects Deserve More Attention as NFL Combine Kicks Into High Gear

  SOCCER   

🇯🇵 Japan Wins the SheBelieves Cup

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

USWNT Loses to Japan (2-1) in 1st Defeat of the Emma Hayes Era

The Americans’ streak of five straight SheBelieves Cup trophies has come to an end. Japan beat the USA (2-1) Wednesday night in San Diego to hand manager Emma Hayes her first loss with the USWNT since she took over last May. She was 15-2–0 before last night. Japan scored early (2’) after U.S. goalkeeper Jane Campbell collided with her own defender and left an open net. The USA regrouped in the 14th minute when Ally Sentnor scored her first USWNT goal to even the match. Japan’s Toko Koga (50’) scored the decisive goal early in the second half.

SheBelieves Cup MVP: Japan’s Mina Tanaka, who plays for the Utah Royals of the NWSL, won the tournament MVP with four goals and three assists.

Watch: 🇯🇵 Japan def. 🇺🇸 USWNT (2-1) to Win the SheBelieves Cup

  HIGHLIGHTS   🎥

🏀 NBA

Knicks def. 76ers (110-105)

Jalen Brunson (34 pts), 76ers Lose 9th Straight

Rockets def. Spurs (118-106)

Amen Thompson (25-9-5) Shoots 80%

🏒 NHL

Avalanche def. Devils (5-1)

Nathan MacKinnon Leads Avs (2G)

Canucks def. Kings (3-2, OT)

Conor Garland (2G), Nets OT Winner

⚽️ Soccer

EPL: Man. City def. Tottenham (1-0)

EPL: Liverpool def. Newcastle Utd. (2-0)

SPA: Real Madrid def. Real Sociedad (1-0)

CON: Seattle Sounders def. Antigua (3-1)

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: #1 Auburn def. Ole Miss (106-76)

M: Vanderbilt Upsets #12 Texas A&M (86-84)

M: #17 Kentucky def. Oklahoma (83-82)

W: #2 UCLA def. Wisconsin (91-61)

W: #12 Ohio State def. #23 Mich. State (89-78)

⚾️ MLB (Spring Training)

Mike Trout Hits His 1st HR of Spring Training

Corbin Carroll Mashes Grand Slam for D-Backs

Shota Imanaga Super With 6 Ks in 2 Innings

  STORYLINES  

🏈 NFL 2024 Player Surveys

The NFLPA’s annual player survey is out, and some franchises are under fire after the results went public. The Bengals, Steelers, Commanders, Jets, Falcons and Bucs all received multiple F-grades, from facilities and nutrition to ownership and travel. (NFLPA)

🏀 2025 Bracketology Watch

Always evolving. The landing page for ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi gets updated often this time of year. He's constantly ranking and reranking what will eventually comprise the NCAA Tournament. Who’s in? Who’s out? Who's on the bubble? (ESPN)

⚽️ MLS Power Rankings

The 2025 MLS season is underway after a record-breaking opening weekend to kick off the league’s 30th season. Atlanta United and FC Cincinnati had their record signings score while San Diego FC toppled the reigning MLS Cup champions. (Sports Illustrated)

  NEWS   📰 

🏀 LeBron, Bronny James ‘Deny Each & Every Allegation’ in 2022 Car Crash Lawsuit (CBS Sports)

🏈 NFL Reviewing Possible Changes to Overtime Rules, 1st Downs Measured Electronically (AP)

🏈 Tom Brady Reached Out to QB Matthew Stafford About Joining Raiders (NBC Sports)

⚾️ Blue Jays’ Ace Max Scherzer Sounds Off on ABS After Losing 2 Challenges in Spring Training (SI)

🏈 Titans Grant Pro Bowl LB Harold Landry III Permission to Seek Trade (ESPN)

🏈 WR Tee Higgins Calls ‘Cap’ After Bengals Exec ‘Optimistic’ About Return to Cincinnati (Yahoo! Sports)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Tonight's Must-Watch List

🏀 NBA

Nuggets at Bucks (8:00 pm, TNT)

Timberwolves at Lakers (10:30 pm, TNT)

Full NBA Schedule

🏒 NHL

Oilers at Panthers (7:00 pm, ESPN+)

Blackhawks at Golden Knights (10:00 pm, ESPN+)

Full NHL Schedule

🏈 NFL Scouting Combine

Defensive Linemen & Linebackers (3:00 pm, NFLN)

🏀 NCAA Women’s Basketball (Top 25)

#22 Creighton at #5 UConn (7:00 pm, CBSSN)

#8 North Carolina at #16 Duke (7:00 pm, ESPN)

#11 Tennessee at #15 Kentucky (7:00 pm, SECN)

#24 FSU at #3 Notre Dame (8:00 pm, ACCN)

#6 South Carolina at Ole Miss (9:00 pm, ESPN)

#7 LSU at #20 Alabama (9:00 pm, SECN)

⛳️ Golf

PGA: Cognizant Classic (2:00 pm, Golf Channel)

LPGA: HSBC Championship (8:30 pm, Golf Channel)

*All Times ET

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