Sports Then and Now

With only five games left to play in the college basketball regular season, Syracuse has little room for error if they hope to make the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and/or the NCAA Tournament. While the later will be more difficult to attain, qualifying for the ACC Tournament is still attainable for the Orange. Syracuse currently stands in 11th place in the conference standings at 6-7 and is 15-11 overall. Only 15 of the 18 teams qualify for the ACC Tournament and the Orange will likely need to win two or three more games to assure they avoid a bottom-three finish in the ACC.

Their next opportunity at a conference win comes tonight as Syracuse is in Durham, NC to face No. 4 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. Both the Orange and the Blue Devils enter the game on two-game winning streaks and are looking to continue the momentum. Duke sits atop the ACC standings at 12-1 and is 23-2 overall for fourth-year head coach Jon Scheyer, who played on the Blue Devils’ 2010 national championship team.

While this matchup used to be more of a marquee attraction featuring the coaching brilliance of the now retired hall of fame head coaches in Mike Krzyzewski of Duke and Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, it is still a matchup of legendary programs. In the case of the Orange, Syracuse seeks a return to the Orange Standard that saw them compete for conference championships and play in games of great significance deep into March annually. Third-year coach Adrian Autry has had his work cut out for him in trying to return a Syracuse program to its customary place of the NCAA Tournament. The Orange have not received an NCAA bid since 2021, a four-season drought which is the program’s longest absence since a six-year absence from 1967 through 1972.

A win over the Blue Devils tonight would be a feather in the cap for Autry and Syracuse and possibly put the Orange on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament with still more work to do. As of games played through Feb. 15, Syracuse stands 69th in the Pomeroy College Basketball ratings listed at kenpom.com while Duke is listed second. That disparity reflects a huge gap in the ratings of the Orange and the Blue Devils but anything can happen during a college basketball season. Consider that an unranked Syracuse team won 95-91 in overtime at No. 1 ranked Duke on Jan. 14, 2019 and that sparks belief for any team. Furthermore, it was just two years ago that a North Carolina State team finished 11th in the final ACC regular season standings and became the first double digit seed as a No. 10 seed to win the ACC Tournament. In doing so, the Wolfpack became just the second team ever (UConn in 2011) to win five games in five days. The five wins came over top tier schools (Louisville, Syracuse, Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina) that had each won a national title in the 2000’s. The Wolfpack then went on a miraculous run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament and reached The Final Four. There is inspiration from this that any team or coach can draw on and the Orange should keep this in mind.

To dethrone the Blue Devils on their home court tonight, it will take a monumental effort by Syracuse in several areas. Duke allows just 63.1 points per game, the third-best defensive mark in the nation while the Orange score an average of 13.4 more points per game at 76.5. Something will have to give there and in order for it to swing the way of Syracuse, the Orange will have to win the rebounding battle. That means 6-9 senior forward William Kyle III and 6-9 sophomore forward Donnie Freeman will have to outduel 6-9 freshman forward Cameron Boozer and 6-11 sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II on the glass. The Syracuse guards will also need to secure loose balls on deflections. Holding the Blue Devils off the offensive glass to prevent them from potential second chance points will also be critical for the Orange. Syracuse is 10-3 overall and 4-2 in the ACC when they outrebound their opponent this season.

The Orange play their best when they push the ball ahead with players like 6-4 senior guard J.J. starling, 6-3 junior guard Naithan George, 6-5 redshirt senior guard Nate Kingz, and 6-5 freshman guard Kiyan Anthony getting to the basket or creating for others. Taking advantage of fast break opportunities when they are there will aid the cause of Syracuse and their half court offense will need to be productive. Freeman will need to be effective with his mid-range game and inside scoring while the Orange will need perimeter scoring from Kingz and 6-8 sophomore forward Tyler Betsey, their two main 3-point threats. Kingz shoots 36.7 percent from the three-point line and has a team-high 51 triples on the season while Betsey is the team’s most efficient shooter from behind the arc at 39.4 percent (39-for-99).

Freeman leads Syracuse with 17.6 points per game and pulls down 7.2 rebounds per game while Kyle scores 8.9 ppg and leads the team with 7.7 rpg. Starling adds 12.1 ppg and Kingz scores at a 11.7 ppg clip. George adds 10.5 ppg and leads the team with 5.6 assists per game.

Boozer, the son of Duke legend Carlos Boozer, is a national player of the year candidate for the Blue Devils. He leads Duke with 22.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game with his scoring average also topping the ACC. Duke also gets 14.4 ppg from sophomore guard Isaiah Evans while Ngongba II scores 10.5 ppg and pulls down 6.2 rpg.

Defensively, the Orange will have to limit Boozer’s all-around game. The talented freshman is capable of knocking down the 3-point shot or taking defenders off the dribble and converting shots in the lane. Boozer can also post up and score inside with a variety of moves including a fundamentally strong drop step allowing him to get to the rim and convert.

Should the game be close in the closing minutes and fouling becomes a strategy for either team, Duke has the advantage. The Blue Devils shoot 71.7 percent from the foul line while Syracuse struggles at only 63.8 percent.

Duke’s two losses this season are by a combined four points. The Blue Devils lost 82-81 to Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20 and fell 71-68 at North Carolina on Feb. 7. With this in mind, anyone’s chances to beat Duke rise in a very close finish.

As for the Orange, close games have brought mixed results this season. Syracuse is 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the ACC in games decided by one to five points. The Orange are on a bit more safer ground in games decided by 6-10 points where they are 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the ACC.

This game will likely be determined by the tempo of it. Halfcourt execution favors the Blue Devils while an up temp game with Syracuse pushing the ball and driving to the basket to score or draw fouls, favors the Orange. A margin of four to six points with three to four minutes left to play enhances the chances for Syracuse to pull off an upset whether they are down that much or ahead that much. As college basketball has shown us over decades, anything can happen.

Every athlete knows that consistency is really important, whether you play tennis, squash, badminton, or paddle. Your progress depends on how regularly you train, not just how hard you play during the matches that you attend, but what happens when you can’t make it to the club or the gym. The good news is that fitness doesn’t have to stop when you step away from the court. When you have some structure, you can make practicing sport at home really easy, and it can keep your strength, focus, and coordination sharp all year round.

Photo by Alexy Almond: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-pink-long-sleeve-shirt-and-gray-leggings-doing-yoga-3756520/

Training That Fits Into Everyday Life

Business schedules, bad weather, or travel can easily disrupt training routines, and that’s understandable. The trick, though, is to make sure you are finding ways to keep your body moving even when your normal setup isn’t available. For racket sport players, at-home training can include mobility work, strength exercises, and hand-eye coordination drills. A few minutes a day spent working on footwork, reaction time, or balance can make a noticeable difference once you’re back on the court. Resistance bands, skipping ropes, and lightweight rackets can turn a living room or garden into a mini training zone too, so this is something to bear in mind even if you are short on space. Simple bodyweight movements like lunges, planks, and squats can build endurance and stability, which are both essential for racket sports. The goal isn’t to replace your matches completely; it’s just to keep a little bit of rhythm while you’re away.

The Philadelphia Eagles head into the 2025 season as defending Super Bowl champions with the expectations that come from being at the top. Nick Sirianni returns for his fifth year as head coach, guiding a roster that is widely regarded as one of the most complete in the league. Last season’s 14-3 record and postseason run showed the balance of power on both sides of the ball, from a dominant defense to an offense capable of wearing opponents down.

In this blog post, we take a closer look at the team’s strengths, weaknesses, and early-season expectations.

Key Players to Watch

Much of Philadelphia’s success will depend on the play of a few cornerstone contributors who set the tone on both sides of the ball. Here are the key players to watch this year.

Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts remains the centerpiece of the Eagles’ offense. He earned a PFF grade of 81.6 in 2024, with his rushing ability standing out at a 91.1 grade, second among quarterbacks. His performance as a passer has been less consistent.

During the regular season, he ranked 23rd in passing grade and struggled under pressure with a league-worst 29.9 grade in those situations. However, Hurts showed resilience in the postseason, finishing with a 92.3 grade over the final two games and leading the Eagles to the Super Bowl title. His stable metrics from 2022 to 2024, such as an 85th percentile clean pocket grade, highlight his ability to execute when given time.

For fantasy football managers, Hurts continues to be one of the most reliable quarterbacks, averaging 22.6 points per start since becoming the starter. Analysts project him to surpass 3,200.5 passing yards this season, especially with defenses increasingly focused on stopping the run. Fans looking to follow his Week 1 performance and betting lines can check out FanDuel Sportsbook for the latest NFL odds.

Saquon Barkley

The addition of Saquon Barkley transformed the Eagles’ ground game into the most dominant in the league. Barkley rushed for more than 2,000 yards in the regular season and earned an 84.7 rushing grade. He led the NFL in yards after contact and in explosive runs of 10 or more yards.

He also became the team’s closer, carrying the ball more than anyone else in the fourth quarter and overtime while leading in yards and touchdowns during those situations. Barkley’s ability to extend drives and wear down defenses gives the Eagles a critical edge in tight games.

A.J. Brown

A.J. Brown remains the top receiving option and one of the league’s most dominant wideouts. He was one of only two Eagles receivers, alongside DeVonta Smith, to surpass 500 receiving yards in 2024. Brown’s presence is essential for creating balance in the offense and for giving Hurts a reliable target in high-pressure moments. His ability to win contested catches and stretch defenses vertically keeps opponents from loading up against the run.

Change was already evident for the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare to kickoff the 2025 season this week. A new head coach, new coordinators, and many new players acquired via trades, free agency, and the NFL draft creating significant roster turnover were already in place. Then came the biggest change just last week. No more Micah Parsons. In a massive deal finalized August 28, Dallas opted to trade Parsons, a four-time pro bowl defensive end, to the Green Bay Packers. In return, the Cowboys received two first-round draft picks from the Packers as well as veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Gone is a generational talent in Parsons who had been in contract negotiations with Dallas since March. In the end, Parsons, his agent David Mulugheta, and Cowboys’ owner, president, and general manager Jerry Jones could not reach an agreement to keep Parsons and the trade was made. The trade leaves Dallas with a huge void on defense as Parsons is one of the premier pass rushers in the National Football League. Parsons recorded 12 or more sacks in each of his first four seasons with the Cowboys, the only player to do so besides defensive end Reggie White, a pro football hall of famer. White was also acquired by the Packers from Philadelphia in a massive trade back in 1993 when free agency came into the picture.

So what does Dallas do now? The simple answer is to put this move behind them and not let it be a distraction as the season is about to commence. The Cowboys play not only their season opener but the entire league opener this Thursday Sept. 4 in Philadelphia against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. Kickoff is set for 8:20 pm EST. Thus, a national television auience will be tuning in. The fact that this trade was done before the season-opener is likely better for the team as to avoid any distractions as to if Parsons will be with them or not.

Leading Dallas this season will be first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer who was named to the helm as the 10th head coach in Cowboys’ history back on January 24. Shottenheimer replaces Mike McCarthy who was not retained after a five-year stint as head coach of the team. McCarthy went 50-38 during his time in Dallas and was only 1-3 in the playoffs. Schottenheimer has 26 years of NFL coaching experience and has been with the Cowboys since 2022, first as a consultant and for the last two years as the teams’ offensive coordinator.

The coaching staff also has new faces as former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is the new defensive coordinator. Eberflus is in his second stint with Dallas after serving as the team’s linebackers coach from 2011-17. Eberflus had additional duties as passing game coordinator from 2016-17. Also named to the staff was Klayton Adams as the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Ever noticed how some chores around the house feel never-ending, but a few are actually kind of fun? Trimming the lawn might not sound exciting, but there’s one tool that makes it way more satisfying than expected. It’s loud, it spins fast, and it clears up all those scruffy patches around fences and flower beds. Yeah, it’s the weed whacker—and it might just be the most fun part of yard work.

Let’s get into why this tool is so cool, how it works, and why even someone who doesn’t care much about gardening might still enjoy using it.

What a Weed Whacker Actually Does

A weed whacker, also called a string trimmer or weed eater, is used to cut grass and weeds in places a lawn mower can’t reach. Think about the narrow spots near garden edges, tree trunks, or the base of fences. A regular mower can’t get that close without bumping into stuff or leaving long strips of grass behind. That’s where the weed whacker comes in.

Instead of blades, this tool uses a thin piece of plastic string that spins super fast. When it moves, it slices through grass and weeds like a mini tornado. It doesn’t look sharp, but when it spins at high speed, it turns into a cutting machine. Some models even have attachments to edge along sidewalks or dig into thick brush.

Fashion is a form of self-expression and it’s not just about wearing clothes but wearing confidence and creativity at the same time. Whether you’re drawn into bold colours or sleek minimalism, making a fashion statement means choosing pieces that really do tell your story.

Recently, brands like the Savannah Bananas and Party Animals collection have gained popularity for embracing color, humour and personality throughout their fashion line. It’s these vibrant, playful looks that are reminders that standing out is something to celebrate and not shy away from. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can make your own fashion statement and stand out for all the right reasons.

Image source: Pexels