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  • Chicago Cubs Recall Intriguing Starter Ahead of Arizona Diamondbacks Series

    Chicago Cubs Recall Intriguing Starter Ahead of Arizona Diamondbacks Series

     

    The Chicago Cubs recalled a familiar face prior to Friday’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

     

    Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks (36) throws a pitch against the Hanshin Tigers during the eighth inning at Tokyo Dome.

    Mar 15, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks (36) throws a pitch against the Hanshin Tigers during the eighth inning at Tokyo Dome.

    Jordan Wicks is officially back with the Chicago Cubs.

     

    The Cubs made a roster move prior to Friday afternoon’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, promoting Wicks from Triple-A Iowa.

     

    Chicago optioned left-handed reliever Luke Little to Iowa in a corresponding move.

     

    Now in his third MLB season, Wicks stuggled last year with the Cubs. In 46 innings over 11 appearances (10 starts), he went 2-4 with a 5.48 ERA and -0.5 WAR.

     

    That was a clear step back from his promising rookie campaign in 2023, where he went 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA and 0.3 WAR in seven starts.

     

    Wicks failed to make the team out of spring training and opened the year in Triple-A. He pitched well for Iowa, recording a 3.55 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12.2 innings there.

     

    Meanwhile, Little struggled in his lone appearance for Chicago this year, walking four batters in 0.2 innings out of the bullpen in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres.

     

    The Cubs already have their starting pitchers set for this weekend’s series, so Wicks isn’t coming up for a spot start. He’ll likely replace Little in a shaky relief corps that’s still searching for consistency and quality innings.

     

    While the 25-year-old southpaw struggled as a starter last season, perhaps his stuff will play better out of the bullpen. The Diamondbacks have several dangerous left-handed hitters in Corbin Carroll, Josh Naylor, Pavin Smith and Alek Thomas, so Craig Counsell might be thinking of deploying Wicks against them in a late-game situation.

     

    If Wicks makes a good impression in his season debut, perhaps he’ll stick around a bit longer than Little.

  • Rookie Smith homers twice with 4 RBIs to power Astros to 6-4 win over Padres

    Rookie Smith homers twice with 4 RBIs to power Astros to 6-4 win over Padres

    The Houston Astros defeated the San Diego Padres 6-4 on Friday night thanks to rookie Cam Smith’s career-high four RBIs and home runs in his first two at-bats.

    In the second inning, Smith hit a three-run homer off Kyle Hart (2-1) to put the Astros up, then in the fourth inning, he added a single drive off the southpaw to make it 5-2.

    In the seventh inning, Luis Arraez of San Diego, who had three hits, blasted a two-run homer off a high fastball from Bryan King into the first row in right field, cutting the advantage to 5-4. With three hits, including a run-scoring single in the seventh to provide some insurance, Jake Meyers tied the Astros’ season high.

    In five innings, Houston starter Ryan Gusto (2-1) allowed two runs and nine hits. Josh Hader recorded his fifth save by pitching a spotless ninth.

    With runners in scoring position, the Padres had a 2/10 record. Smith hit his first home run into the left field seats to make it 3-1 in the second inning, with two on and two outs and a 1 run deficit for the Astros. In the third, Yainer Diaz’s RBI single increased the margin to 4-1.

  • Duke Blue Devils Star Makes Final Decision on Entering NBA Draft

    Duke Blue Devils Star Makes Final Decision on Entering NBA Draft

     

     

    The Duke Blue Devils powered their way to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament, and while they ultimately fell to the Houston Cougars after a disastrous final stretch, it marked one of the program’s most successful seasons since their national championship run in 2015.

     

    A major factor in that success was the breakout performance of their freshman trio: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach. Knueppel has already declared for the upcoming NBA draft, while fans are still awaiting Flagg’s decision. That said, he’s widely expected to go pro, as the projected No. 1 overall pick.

     

    Despite the freshmen’s impact, Duke also benefitted from experienced leadership, most notably from guard Tyrese Proctor, who delivered a historic shooting stretch during the month of March.

     

    Proctor, who still had eligibility remaining, was thought by some to be considering a potential return. However, he officially announced on Friday that he will declare for the NBA Draft—joining Knueppel and, likely, Flagg and Maluach in taking the next step toward the professional level.

     

    Duke reacted to the news by posting, “League next. Duke forever. Thank you [Tyrese Proctor].”

     

    Proctor entered the Blue Devils program as a highly touted prospect out of high school and quickly became a cornerstone of the team, spending the last three seasons in Durham, North Carolina.

     

    This past season, he averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. From the ACC Championship through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, Proctor delivered a scorching stretch, recording three consecutive games with six or more made three-pointers.

     

    Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg and guard Tyrese Proctor

    Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg and guard Tyrese Proctor. © Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

    Throughout his three-year career at Duke, he consistently shot well from long range, never dipping below 32% from beyond the arc in any season. That reliable shooting will now become an asset to whichever NBA team selects him in June.

     

     

  • Former Wisconsin men’s basketball player Daniel Freitag will continue his career at Buffalo

    Former Wisconsin men’s basketball player Daniel Freitag will continue his career at Buffalo

     

    MADISON – Daniel Freitag is will take his talents to the Empire State.

     

    The former Wisconsin Badger announced his commitment to Buffalo on Thursday night. He will play for George Halcovage, who was an assistant at Villanova when the Wildcats won national titles in 2016 and ’18.

     

    Freitag shared the news on X and Instagram with a post that showed him in a Buffalo uniform.

     

    “Committed,” he wrote followed by a heart emoji.

     

    Freitag, a 6-foot-2 freshman guard from Bloomington, Minnesota, played in 14 games this past season for Wisconsin, scored two points and grabbed four rebounds. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

     

    The Bulls went 9-22 this season with a 4-14 mark in the Mid-American Conference finished 11th out of 12 teams.

     

    That said, the program isn’t a stranger to success. It capped a run of four straight MAC titles in 2019.

     

    Freitag is the third former Wisconsin player for this season’s team to find a new home. Point guard Camren Hunter went back to Central Arkansas and forward Xavier Amos committed to Loyola Chicago.

  • Kentucky native Trent Noah will return for another season under Mark Pope

    Kentucky native Trent Noah will return for another season under Mark Pope

     

    It’s no surprise the Kentucky native will be back in Lexington for a second season.

     

    Kentucky Wildcats forward Trent Noah (9) reacts after making a three point basket during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

    Kentucky Wildcats forward Trent Noah (9) reacts after making a three point basket during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

    Kentucky is getting one of their own back next season to suit up in the blue and white again. On Friday, Trent Noah announced he would be returning to Kentucky for another season in Lexington and it comes to no surprise to Kentucky fans, with the caption ‘Still chasing 9’ on the social media post. Noah showed flashes on the court last season, but that and his charisma for representing Kentucky really adds to why he is such a fan favorite.

     

    The 6-5 guard and Harlan County, KY native showed up when the team needed him the most last season. When Kentucky was faced with injuries to Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson and Kerr Kriisa, Mark Pope knew the bench would step up, and Noah was one who stepped up the most in an expanded role when he was called to do so. In his freshman season, Noah averaged 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game, shooting 45.1 percent overall and 33.3 percent from three-point range. He played double-digit minutes in 14 of his 24 games played last season.

     

    Noah’s best game came against Tennessee in Rupp Arena, where he had 11 points on 3-4 shooting, all from beyond the arc, adding 2 rebounds and an assist in 19 minutes played. He stepped up in his expanded role when the team needed it, and he is bringing that attitude back to Lexington for his sophomore campaign.

     

    His love for Kentucky showed last season on and off of the court, and it rubbed off on his teammates, a squad full of representing the name across their chest in Mark Pope’s first season as head coach at Kentucky. Noah is bringing back exactly that for another season.

     

  • Kentucky in college hoops “golden tier” of NIL support at $10 million+

    Kentucky in college hoops “golden tier” of NIL support at $10 million+

     

     

     

    Mark Pope has a war chest to work with, and the Kentucky Wildcats are one of the top names in college hoops. In the era of NIL, those things often go together as those that can pay the most will attract the top talent.

     

    The Wildcats have been one of the blue blood programs for over a decade now, but since the exodus of John Calipari, one that really coupled with the start of the paying of college athletics, the landscape has slightly shifted. Kentucky has maintained a strong reputation and is a top option for many recruits.

     

    Pope and company proved their system this past season, having main transfer portal players on their roster, and they should be able to top that next year. He will have his first incoming five-star prospect in Jasper Johnson.

     

    That said, in a recent report of the $10 million club, Kentucky was named by CBS Sports as one of the “golden” tier programs. Duke, Arkansas, BYU and several others were listed as well. You can see the full rundown in the CBS Sports column here.

     

    The exact numbers of each program were not provided, but many that have covered those teams, like in the instance of Duke having $8-10 million heading into the offseason, are somewhat known.

     

    Fans like to see the Big Blue Nation good at basketball, and in this era, they can virtually pay for that. However, Pope will still be tasked with making sure this team can put a product on the court that can win games in the most competitive conference in college basketball.

  • Noah Lyles: 3 Reasons the Olympic Champion’s Response to Fred Kerley Is Turning Heads

    Noah Lyles: 3 Reasons the Olympic Champion’s Response to Fred Kerley Is Turning Heads

     

    Noah Lyles delivered a composed yet pointed response after fellow sprinter Fred Kerley questions his credentials and toughness.

    Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles found himself in an unexpected war of words this past week after fellow Team USA sprinter Fred Kerley made headlines with a direct and stinging comment.

     

    Speaking on The Pivot podcast, the two-time Olympic medallist and former 100m world champion dismissed Lyles’ credentials.

     

    “Go look at the record book, look who got more wins. I’ll leave it like that. I’m dealing with more of the stuff than he dealing with. I’m telling you, he not built like me,” he said.

     

    Kenya vs Cameroon: Possible Lineups, Team News, Time and Where to Watch the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Qualifier

    But instead of firing back with bravado, Lyles delivered a response that was equal parts personal, poised, and powerful.

     

    Pulse Sports looks at three reasons why Noah Lyles did not back down—and why his answer might’ve hit even harder than Kerley’s original jab.

     

    3. Noah Lyles Called Out the Comment Without Escalating the Beef

    Lyles heard Kerley’s words but he did not let it slide nor turn it into a spectacle.

     

    On the Beyond the Records podcast with teammates Rai Benjamin and Grant Holloway, Lyles addressed it directly and calmly.

     

    “While I was resting and recovering, I see this clip where Fred’s like ‘he’s not built like me, he ain’t like me’,” Lyles recalled. His tone? Firm but composed as per Olympics.com.

     

     

    Noah Lyles Called Out the Comment Without Escalating the Beef

    Rather than matching fire with fire, Lyles chose a measured route. He did not go for cheap shots or social media jabs.

     

    He spoke where he was comfortable, on his own platformand delivered a response that was harder to argue with than it was to attack.

     

    2. Noah Lyles Respected Kerley’s Journey—But Defended His Own

    Kerley’s “he not built like me” line clearly referenced more than just athletics—it touched on his personal upbringing and struggles. Rai Benjamin stepped in on the podcast to point out that Kerley was likely referring to a difficult childhood.

     

    Lyles did not dispute that. In fact, he acknowledged it outright. “I never went through that,” he said. But he also made it clear that his life came with challenges of its own.

     

    “Just as much as he never was staying up in the hospital every night with asthma, wondering if he’s going to be breathing the next morning,” Lyles shared.

     

    The message? Struggles don’t all look the same. Just because someone doesn’t share your story doesn’t mean they haven’t fought their own battles. And Lyles, quietly but firmly, reminded everyone of that.

     

    1.Noah Lyles Let His Olympic Gold End the Conversation

    Lyles did not need to dig into stats or list out his credentials as he is the reigning world and Olympic 100m champion. That alone says enough.

     

     

    And he made sure to say just enough to drive that home.

     

    “So yeah, I’m not built like you – and you not built like me,” he concluded.

     

    “And I’m perfectly fine with that, ’cause I got the Olympic gold.”

     

    He simply reminded everyone that when the world was watching, he delivered. The comment cut through the noise.

     

    And while Kerley may believe Lyles is not “built like him,” the scoreboard—and the finish line—might say otherwise.

  • Wisconsin WBB adds high scoring veteran guard out of the transfer portal

    Wisconsin WBB adds high scoring veteran guard out of the transfer portal

     

     

     

    Wisconsin WBB adds high scoring veteran guard out of the transfer portal

    Robin Pingeton has picked up another important transfer commitment, this time from a grad transfer, Destiny Howell out of Howard. Howell is a veteran leader who has played all of her college basketball career at Howard and will use her final year of eligibility to play for Pingeton and Wisconsin. She’s a dynamic scorer who can fill up a stat sheet, and it will be fascinating to see how her game translates to the Big Ten.

     

    Howard transfer Destiny Howell has committed to play for Robin Pingeton and Wisconsin

    Destiny Howell averaged 14.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. Those stats don’t really do her full game justice. They are impressive, but she has had some incredible games in her career. Last season, she had nine games where she scored more than 20 points and one game in which she scored 30. She has the ability to absolutely take over a game and help her team to victory.

     

    Howell is also long for a guard. She’s listed at 6’0″ and used that size to generate 44 steals and 18 blocks on the season. However, maybe what impresses the most is that she is a savvy veteran leader. She has played a lot of college basketball and done it in a very loyal way. With Pingeton having to rebuild a team from the studs, she will need a player she can trust to run things like a veteran.

     

    Howell joins two other incoming transfers (so far): Gift Uchenna from Southern Illinois and Laci Steele from NC State. Pingeton will still need to add a bunch more players because even with the addition of these three, Wisconsin women’s basketball only has nine players on the roster. That’s not nearly as many as the Badgers will need to compete next season in the Big Ten.

     

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  • Noah Lyles Responds To Viral American Kid Born With Rare Condition Who Claimed He Will Break His Records

    Noah Lyles Responds To Viral American Kid Born With Rare Condition Who Claimed He Will Break His Records

     

     

    Noah Lyles offered a heartwarming response to Bubba Cash Harris who claimed he will break his records. Photos:

    Olympics champion Noah Lyles had a heartwarming response to an American child, born with Spina Fibida, whose first words while learning how to walk was to break his records.

    Olympics 100m champion Noah Lyles had a wholesome response to a courageous child who has become a symbol of strength and positivity despite his very young age.

     

    Bubba Cash Harris is an American kid who has gone viral due to his determination to beat adversity and become the best version of himself.

     

    Bubba was born with Spina Fibida, a condition that comes about when a baby’s spine and spinal cord does not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine.

     

    Stay updated with the Latest Sports News from Pulse Sports.

     

    Because of that, Bubba has not been able to walk on his own but has remained positive and determined to beat his challenges and become one of the greatest Paralympians.

     

    Noah Lyles To Contest Unusual Distance Against Erriyon Knighton In Florida

    Noah Lyles To Contest Unusual Distance Against Erriyon Knighton In Florida

    While learning how to walk on his prosthetics, Bubba went viral when he said he felt so good and confident that he claimed could break Noah Lyles’ records.

     

    That has got the multiple world champion excited and during a recent episode on the Beyond The Records Podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow Olympics champions Rai Benjamin and Grant Holloway, he was asked what he made of Bubba’s sentiments.

     

    “Did you see that video of this kid named Bubba he has Spina Fibida, he said he is coming for you man,” Benjamin told Lyles.

     

    “It was adorable. It reminded me of those hard times in my childhood hearing my parents saying; ‘let us just make sure you are healthy before you even think about trying sports’,” Lyles responded.

     

    Rising Stars Head Coach Salim Babu Confirms Final Squad for U20 AFCON in Egypt

    Rising Stars Head Coach Salim Babu Confirms Final Squad for U20 AFCON in Egypt

    “And here he is on his first steps to potentially what could become him breaking my records you know. Who is to say that he won’t, with strength and God and him constantly chasing his goal. That could be him and who are we to say that it can’t.”

     

    Lyles’ take will perhaps act as further motivation for young Bubba as he continues on his journey to making what initially looked impossible possible and potentially end up as one of America’s best Paralympians.

  • Georgia Bulldogs Wide Receiver Enters Transfer Portal Following Spring Practice

    Georgia Bulldogs Wide Receiver Enters Transfer Portal Following Spring Practice

     

    Georgia Bulldogs Wide Receiver Enters Transfer Portal Following Spring Scrimmage

    A Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver has elected to enter the transfer following the Dawgs’ spring scrimmage.

     

    Georgia wide receiver Nitro Tuggle (2) catches a pass from Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) during the G-Day spring football game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The game ended in a tie.

    Georgia wide receiver Nitro Tuggle (2) catches a pass from Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) during the G-Day spring football game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The game ended in a tie.

     

    A Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver has elected to enter the transfer following the Dawgs’ spring scrimmage.

     

    The Georgia Bulldogs spring camp has come to a close, which means the NCAA’s spring portal window will open shortly thereafter. With such a talented roster, it is expected that the Dawgs will have a handful of entries to the portal this season.

     

    The latest Bulldog to announce that they will be entering the transfer portal is wide receiver Nitro Tuggle, who had been suspended indefinitely following an arrest for a reckless driving incident that took place earlier this year.

     

    As a freshman, Tuggle hauled in three receptions for 34 yards during the Dawgs’ 2024 season and was expected to have a larger role in the Bulldogs’ offense this season. He flirted with departing from the Bulldogs roster and entered the transfer portal following Georgia’s loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff, but eventually announced that he would be returning to Georgia ahead of the 2025 season.

     

    However, Tuggle’s entrance into the portal this go-round likely indicates the conclusion of his career with the Georgia Bulldogs, as the path to returning to the field this season seemed slim.

     

    With Tuggle in the portal, the Bulldogs will rely on their remaining cast of pass catchers to supplement their offense during the 2025 season. The Bulldogs added a pair of transfer wide receivers to the room this offseason in Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas. Both are expected have major roles on the Dawgs offense this year.

     

    The Bulldogs will continue their preparations for the regular season as they gear up for their 2025 opener in Sanford Stadium against the Marshall Thundering Herd. The Bulldogs are currently on a more than 30-game win streak at home and have not lost a season opener against Kirby Smart.