Sugar Bears Headed to USC for NCAA Tournament
Conway, Ark. – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears will make their third NCAA Tournament appearance on Friday night, heading to Los Angeles, California to take on the 10th-seeded Southern California Trojans. The Sugar Bears and Trojans will face off at 9:00 PM CST.”It’s pretty incredible,” said UCA head coach Jeni Jones Chatman, who is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, but will be making her first appearance as a head coach. “To do it as a player and as an assistant coach is a very special event, but to do it as a head coach and to have players that are as bought in as I feel ours are is a very special feeling. It’s really not one you can put into words. It’s definitely something that will stay with me for a long time.”The Sugar Bears (27-4) went a perfect 3-0 in the Southland Conference Tournament, defeating McNeese 3-1, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3-2, and Abilene Christian 3-0 to earn the program’s third SLC Tournament Title. UCA will be looking for its first NCAA Tournament victory on Friday night, having fallen to Washington 3-0 in 2012 and Purdue 2-0 in 2013.”The girls are very excited,” said Chatman of her team. “We had practice yesterday and then again today, and our starting side looked phenomenal, and you can tell that we’re so excited to play. It’s a ‘get to’ that we get to play on Friday, and if we can keep this mentality and this drive, I think only great things are going to happen for us.”USC (22-9) earned the 10th-seed in the NCAA Tournament after finishing the regular season tied for second in the Pac-12. The Trojans, who will be making their 34th NCAA Tournament appearance, have won three NCAA titles and have advanced to the Final Four seven times.”USC is a volleyball powerhouse, they’re a very good team year after year,” said Chatman of the Trojans. “Mick Haley, the coach there, is a volleyball icon, so obviously they’re going to be well-coached and they’ll have an incredible staff. But they haven’t seen us yet, so we’re excited to have the opportunity to play. I think we’ve definitely earned it, I’m so proud of our program for doing what we’ve done this season, and I’m looking forward to keeping it going.”The winner of Friday’s match will advance to the second round to face off with the winner of the site’s other first round match between LSU (20-9) and San Diego (24-4). The second round match is set for Saturday at 9:00 PM CST.
RACHEL FURNESS fired Tottenham to their first victory in the top flight of women’s football.Her penalty in first-half injury-time secured a 1-0 home win over Liverpool.1 Rachel Furness stepped up and scored the penalty for TottenhamCredit: Getty – ContributorThe Northern Ireland midfielder coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner after sending Reds keeper Anke Preuss in the opposite direction.It was enough to see Spurs bounce back from their loss against Chelsea last week.Furness, who was brought down by Becky Jane, said: “I was running into the box and didn’t see her coming and she’s made contact.“I guess I didn’t expect it because I hit the floor.“Our penalty taker was on the bench but I felt confident so I stepped up and put it away.“We are a newly promoted side and it’s really important to get points on the board early.“It’s our first home game so I’m really happy with the three points.”The penalty was not the only dramatic moment in the match.Irish defender Niamh Fahey — who gave away the ball that led to the penalty — was sent off to the sound of mild pantomime boos from the Tottenham fans. Rosella Ayane was making a sprint for goal on 64 minutes after pinching the ball from Fahey, who then toppled her.Tottenham next face Reading — from where Furness is on loan — on Sunday in the group stages of the Women’s Continental League Cup.And head coach Karen Hills is expecting the tie to be an interesting one.She said: “Reading are a fantastically well- established side.“They have some amazing players and we know it’s going to be a tough and challenging game.“We’ll look at ourselves, analyse and reflect, and make sure all our players are ready and geared to take them on.”Elsewhere, Pauline Bremer fired Manchester City to a 2-0 win over Reading to maintain their 100 per cent record.The German forward, 23, scored both goals at Adams Park.That made it four in a week for Bremer after her double in the Citizens’ 7-1 Champions League rout of Lugano.MOST READ IN SPORT THROUGH ITRobbie Keane reveals Claudine’s father was ’50-50′ in coronavirus battle’I ACCEPT’McGregor accepts Silva fight at UFC catchweight of 176lbs in huge super-fightTOP SELLERGavin Whelan has gone from League of Ireland to David Beckham’s InstagramExclusiveRIYAD RAIDMan City’s Riyad Mahrez has three luxury watches stolen in £500,000 raidPicturedA CUT ABOVEMike Tyson shows two-inch cut ‘picked up in training’ ahead of boxing returnPicturedAN EYEFULMeet Playboy model and football agent Anamaria Prodan bidding to buy her own clubI SAW ROORodallega saw Rooney ‘drinking like madman’ & Gerrard ‘on bar dancing shirtless’NEXT STEPJonny Hayes set to move to English Championship having been let go by CelticIT’S…NOT TOMMY BOWETommy Bowe discovers someone has been impersonating him on TinderMAC DADDYTriple H wants McGregor v McMahon with winner getting rights to billionaire strutShe said: “I’m enjoying every minute on the pitch and it feels even better to score. We can’t afford to drop points if we want to win the league.”Two first-half stunners from Chloe Kelly were enough to give Everton a 2-0 victory against Bristol City.West Ham grabbed their first win this term after beating Birmingham City 1-0 thanks to Adriana Leon’s 27th-minute hit.David Beckham tells Poch ‘I wish I played for Tottenham’ after watching demolition of Crystal Palace
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is a reported target for Bayern Munich.The Germans are without a full-time manager after sacking Niko Kovac.3While Poch is out of work for the first time in five-and-a-half years after being replaced by Jose Mourinho at Spurs.Bayern Munich and Pochettino could be a match made in heaven, with the Germans able to provide plenty of transfer funds and the gaffer one of the best in the business.Here, SunSport looks at a potential Bayern XI with some familiar faces, should Poch get the nod while also rejecting overtures from Arsenal.GK: MANUEL NEUERVETERAN goalkeeper, 33, is in his ninth season with Bayern.Seven Bundesliga titles, four German Cups and one Champions League later, Neuer is unlikely to find his place under threat upon Pochettino’s arrival.RB: JOSHUA KIMMICHNURTURED by Pep Guardiola, the versatile 24-year-old defender is already one of Europe’s best.Has French World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard keeping him on his toes, so there’s no need for Poch to call upon Serge Aurier…CB: NIKLAS SULEPOWERFUL centre-back, 24, forced Mats Hummels back to Borussia Dortmund and has displaced Jerome Boateng.Standing at 6ft5in, he would be the bedrock of Pochettino’s back line.3CB: LUCAS HERNANDEZPART of France’s World Cup winning side in 2018, Hernandez is ideal for the left centre-back spot as he capably cover the flank when David Alaba pushes forward or into central midfield.Strong and pacey, the 23-year-old former Atletico Madrid star gets better each year.LB: DAVID ALABABEEN around for a long time now, but is still just 27 years old.The Austria international is arguably the world’s best in his position, and would be one of Pochettino’s most important and reliable players.RM: SERGE GNABRYFORMER Arsenal youngster scored four times in Bayern’s 7-2 takedown of Spurs in October’s Champions League clash.Has become a key player for Germany in 2019, and the 24-year-old is capably filling the boots of Bayern icon’s Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.CM: THIAGOCLASSY playmaker would sit deep in midfield to orchestrate attacks with military precision.Thiago, 28, is a serial winner and would benefit from Poch’s preference to constantly be on the front foot.3CM: DELE ALLILOOKED back to his best in Mourinho’s first game but has a deep bond with Pochettino that will remain for the rest of his career.Alli could find a new lease of life in Germany, and the 23-year-old certainly has the physical and technical attributes to be a raging success abroad.LM: SON HEUNG-MINONE of the Premier League’s top wingers, Son would be better suited to the left of Bayern’s midfield than current loanee Philippe Coutinho.The 27-year-old can also play up front if need be, and would open up a lucrative market in South Korea too.ST: ROBERT LEWANDOWSKIPROBABLY the best No 9 in world football, the Pole continues to astound and amaze.Lewadowski, 31, has scored 23 goals in 19 games this term and does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.Most Read In SportTHROUGH ITRobbie Keane reveals Claudine’s father was ’50-50′ in coronavirus battle’I ACCEPT’McGregor accepts Silva fight at UFC catchweight of 176lbs in huge super-fightTOP SELLERGavin Whelan has gone from League of Ireland to David Beckham’s InstagramPicturedA CUT ABOVEMike Tyson shows two-inch cut ‘picked up in training’ ahead of boxing returnExclusiveRIYAD RAIDMan City’s Riyad Mahrez has three luxury watches stolen in £500,000 raidPicturedAN EYEFULMeet Playboy model and football agent Anamaria Prodan bidding to buy her own clubST: HARRY KANEENGLAND’S top player and a global superstar despite not having a single trophy to his name.Kane deserves a chance to land silverware and he would be in his element alongside Lewandowski with close pal Poch at the helm.Darren Bent thinks that a number of Tottenham players will join Mauricio Pochettino at his next club
MANCHESTER UNITED fans were in hysterics after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer patted Jose Mourinho on the head “like a puppy” following Spurs’ defeat at Old Trafford.The Red Devils got one over their old boss thanks to Marcus Rashford’s double, which secured a 2-1 win and ended Mourinho’s winning run.5 Man Utd boss Solskjaer patted Mourinho’s head at full timeCredit: Rex Features5 Mourinho looked less than pleased with the exchangeCredit: Getty – ContributorIt was all very convivial between Mourinho and the man who took his job – until the full-time whistle.The pair hugged and shook hands on the touchline at the end, but Solskjaer could not resist patting the Special One patronisingly on the head.The moment did not go unnoticed by United supporters.One wrote: “Never thought I’d see the day Ole would take Mourinho’s job and then pat his head like a puppy after beating him.”Another posted: “Delighted for Ole that he got a chance to give Mourinho the final patronising pat on the head after shaking hands. Fair play.”A fellow user said: “Ole dropping the dismissive head pat on Mourinho akin to dropping a stone cold stunner on Steve Austin.”Football London claimed Mourinho got his own back on Solskjaer by planting his hand on the Norwegian’s head in the tunnel afterwards.5But there was no footage or photographs to back this up.Mourinho was asked about the incident afterwards but played it down, saying: “No one likes to lose the game. But we are all the same, we just want to win games.”The head pat was the second touchline incident Mourinho was involved in during the Old Trafford clash.He was left clutching an injured knee after United winger Daniel James crashed into him following Harry Winks’ tackle in the first half.Funnily enough it was Mourinho who then accused his former side of “pretending injuries”.The gutted Portuguese, 56, told beIN Sports: “We started bad, they started well.”They scored the first goal, could have scored the second and for the first 30 minutes they were not just better than us, they were much better than us. For the last 15 minutes, the story was different.”I thought the second half we’d be back to normality and normality was to have control of the game but when you concede a goal like we did it’s difficult.55 Mourinho did not look at Ole when he tapped him on the headCredit: Reuterslatest man utd newsLive Blogunited newsMan Utd news LIVE – Latest updates from Old TraffordMAN DOWNUtd and City face TWO-WEEK summer if they reach Euro finals before new Prem seasonDEPAY CHARTMan Utd flop Memphis used computer data and analytics to quit Old TraffordODS ON?Ighalo to leave Man Utd TOMORROW unless dramatic extension can be reachedPEA SHOOTERHernandez: Man Utd ‘still haunted’ by ‘mistake’ of Moyes replacing FergusonDEVIL’S ADVOCATEEx-Man Utd star Chadwick dreaded being picked for Keane’s team in training”They took a few steps back, started to block low and they were clever in the way they were getting fouls and pretending injuries and controlling and then still dangerous on the counterattack.”We were punished by our mistake for the second goal. The reason I want to say clearly they deserved to win the game was because in the first 30 minutes of the game they were much better than us.”It was not just today, if you look to our previous matches it was the same. Against Olympiacos we didn’t start well, against Bournemouth it took time, rather than being proactive we are a little bit more reactive.”Jose Mourinho explains why it’s easier for Man Utd to play against the better teams in the Premier League after Spurs lose 2-1 at Old Trafford
Wood questioned the role of gambling advertising in the AFL last week on Twitter, saying it’s “out of control and I think it needs to change”.In a conversation with journalist Damian Barrett on The Sounding Board podcast, Hutchison said that while he didn’t agree with Wood’s opinion, he believes the Bulldogs defender has strong enough character to make a stand on the issue.”I love the fact (Wood) has a strong view – that’s what we need from our footballers,” Hutchison said.”(Gambling revenue is) probably five percent of his wage.”Should he take a five percent pay cut as a stand on this?
PNG Kumuls captain and Hull Kingston Rovers player Neville Costigan this week put on another all-action performance to help his team secure a draw with Salford Red Devils in the English super league.Costigan was at the heart of another strong forward effort and crossed the line for a well-deserved second-half try which at one point looked to have won the game for Rovers, until Salford drew level late in the game.Costigan’s efforts have helped to keep Hull KR firmly in the hunt for a play-off with arch-rivals Hull FC in the next game.In other English super league news, former Kumul now turned coach, Stanley Gene helped his team Gateshead Thunder to another victory over London Skolars 24-16 yesterday.Gene’s team, the Gateshead Thunder , play in the semi-professional third tier of the English rugby league competition.Gene is also an assistant coach with the Hull Kingston Rovers where he assists head coach Craig Sandercock.
In this way, it is up to the player his march or not to Valencia. Anyway, in its possible incorporation there are more questions: who will pay his salary, for how long will he be assigned, whether or not there will be a purchase option … At Mestalla’s offices they already know that it is not impossible and now they have to negotiate. The return of the side is already one step closer. Joao Cancelo looked like Peter Lim’s forbidden dream for the winter market. Manchester City side moved 65 million euros last summer in his transfer, but he has not performed as expected in the Etihad and could leave in the next few days. In fact, He has only played a game of the three Christmas days as a starter, which shows that you are not having too many opportunities. To the surprise of even the leaders of Valencia, Pep Guardiola has been asked in the press room for the continuity of the Portuguese and, not only has he confirmed that there is a real possibility that he will leave, but that he has left it in his hand. “When Cancelo plays, he always does well. He is the one who must decide if he wants to continue with us or not. This is a free country and everyone can decide what to do with their life.“explained the Manchester City coach after the win against Everton.
The Barcelona has the title in its pocket after the fourteen days played (missing the match that was suspended by the strike). The azulgrana has seven points advantage over Atlético and eleven on the Levant, which is third. But those of Lluís Cortés not only dominate the classification. The whole of Barcelona has become a steamroller in the domestic championship and, for now, no one has been able to shade him. To the Athletic, Current league champion, he scored six goals and remains undefeated after finishing the first round. The Lightning (eighth with 21 points) is the single team of all the competition he has achieved add to the azulgrana after scratching a tie in Vallecas (1-1). Second is a Athletic in low hours. He has only lost one game, against the Barça team, but he has already left tbeef draws, against Betis, Athletic and Rayo, what complicates and a lot revalidate the league title. And you can not mislead because just four points stalks the Champions League a Levante that has gone from less to more.Below, the Spanish follow without knowing the victory and he has only added three points so far and has salvation to nine. Betis accompanies him in the red zone with eight points five from Madrid CFF, That marks the descent.Jenni Beautiful, with fifteen goals in fourteen matches, it’s the top scorer of the championship followed by Altuve (Rayo), Jade (Logroño) and Oshoala (Barça) all with ten. While his partner Hansen is the maximum assistant with seven goal passes. The First Iberdrola arrived at the equator of the competition with the Barcelona how clear dominator in virtually every facet. The azulgrana, which are the only undefeated team of the highest category, has in its ranks with the top scorer and the maximum assistant of the championship, in addition to having the title in his hand, with seven points of advantage over Atlético. On the opposite pole is the Espanyol, colist, who still doesn’t know victory in this course.
– July 2018. The Cantabrian posted a photo on Twitter showing the signed shirts of Messi and Modric hanging on a wall.– October 2018. Months after the first rumors that linked Setién and Barcelona arose, it was again ensured that the Barça leadership dome continued with the name of the Cantabrian in first position in the list of futures. “This is the same thing that was spoken with the National Team. I am flattered that it comes out, but if we pay attention to everything that comes out … Barcelona has a great coach, we must respect it, especially colleagues. It is doing a great job and I see Barcelona well, regardless of whether it may fail, “he said.– November 2018. Sergio Busquets handed his shirt to Setién after he asked for it and after signing it with the following dedication “for Quique, with appreciation and admiration. For your way of watching football. A hug.” Before the match, played at the Camp Nou and ended with Betis victory 3-4, the coach could be seen talking with the Barca player, a moment he took the opportunity to tell “Hey, listen, I want your shirt later. You have to dedicate it to me and I have to put it in a frame.” Setien He has always praised Busquets for his football. “I am amazed Busquets. He is a very intelligent player who is permanently reading the game,” he said.– March 2019. After falling in Benito Villamarín against Barcelona 1-4, Setién surrendered to Messi. “Nobody is close to Lionel’s level. Barça’s second goal has been cartoon. To win this team you have to be right on your occasions because you know that this team being Messi is going to score you. The success of this team with Messi leaves the rival with little capacity, “said the Cantabrian.On the Barca captain he added “I have not seen anyone approach him. I have seen players do wonderful things but not with the balance and continuity of Messi, for 12-14 years active. I do not know if Pele, but nobody has achieved that. He does all the games. It is a luxury to have seen him every Sunday, to coincide with him. I really liked that our audience has cheered him, that he has valued a player that we have suffered today, but that we usually enjoy. It is fair and honorable to recognize it, I am proud of the behavior of the fans “.– May 2019. In his first interview after leaving Betis, granted to Carousel Deportivo de la Cadena SER, Setién said “of course I would like to train Barça.” I felt that soccer could be better played, but I didn’t see it until Johan showed it to us.– Quique Setien (@QSetien) March 24, 2016– June 2016. In the same social network the coach wrote “but how Iniesta plays football. How lucky are we to be ours and can enjoy with him.” After the decision of Barcelona to fire Ernesto Valverde and after Xavi Hernández, Quique Setién He has been chosen to replace the Extremaduran coach. The Cantabrian has shown on numerous occasions his admiration for the style of Barça and for everything that surrounds the Blaugrana entity. His desire to sit in the Camp Nou bench It has become clear every time he has spoken publicly about what is already his new club.– March 2016. Setién posted on Twitter “I felt you could play football better, but I didn’t see it until Johan Cruyff taught it to us.”
But how does Iniesta play football! How lucky we are that he is ours and we can enjoy with him.– Quique Setien (@QSetien) June 17, 2016– May 2017. Setién came up with the rumors that placed him on the Camp Nou bench. “I know the rumors that link me to Barcelona, but it is a possibility that I do not contemplate. I do not know if I have the level to train Barcelona. I have been training for two years in Primera and I have a clear idea of how Barça plays, many things I do come from the Cruyff philosophy, “he said.– May 2018. The Cruyff Foundation, created to remember the player and coach of Barcelona, recognized Quique Setién “as the coach who best represents his values”.
How much does that 7-3 have to do with the current situation of the teams? “Neither of us. The preseason game was like that and we don’t watch this one or the Super Cup game. It’s another completely different game. We’re going to have a complicated game and we hope to see a good game. You don’t have to compare anything from one game to other”.Do you have an explanation as to why since October Madrid has not lost? What made them react? “There are many things. There are many ingredients, but what I emphasize is the work and the confidence of what we are doing, believing in what we are doing. The word is the work. Tomorrow is another game and we will have to prove again What we’re doing”.He says they are all prepared. Hazard too ?: “We will see. He is training little by little with us. The possibilities are very wide. The good thing is that everyone wants to be. Anyway we will never risk.”In England they have published that Tottenham can be done today with Bale. Would it be a low blow for you for Bale to leave now? “Bale is with us and I will count on him. I don’t contemplate this possibility. “Why not give in to Brahim or Mariano: “You don’t have to ask me. They have a contract and I have the players who are here. You have to ask someone else.”Does Bale deserve to play the derby ?: “We are all here to play tomorrow and they have to be prepared.”Criticisms of Cholo: “I don’t understand them but this is not up to us. I know what Simeone is as a coach. He is one of the best. I recently said that Guardiola was the best and Simeone is one of the best. It doesn’t change what I think of him.”Chip change in the field: “What we do in the end is to work very well. I have a very good squad and what we do is show it in the field. Knowing that there are moments in a season as we have had and we will have more very complicated and difficult matches. Knowing that in a match the most important thing first is to defend our goal well and then we have quality to do good things by attacking, but it must be demonstrated every two or three days, that is the complicated thing. “Mendy: “His integration has been very good. He is a person who wants to learn and improve, in a context that he did not know. He is a very competitive player who likes duels and is very competitively hungry and wants to show that the club’s decision it can be good. On a personal level you have to keep improving with Spanish. “They don’t win Atlético in Liga since 2012: “Every game we try to win. That we have not won since 2012 are circumstances that happen. Yes we have won at home for example, like everything in football there are many circumstances in a game. Tomorrow we have the opportunity to change the dynamics and continue With the things we are doing well lately, it will be very complicated obviously and I think it will be a great game in any case. What we want is to see a great game, because the game is what matters most. “ Zinedine Zidane appeared in the press conference prior to the Madrid derby against Atlético de Madrid. The Frenchman, who saw how his team clearly surpassed Zaragoza in Copa del Rey, analyzed the white news before one of the games of the year (Saturday, 4:00 pm) against the rojiblanco team, which already beat several Super Cups weeks ago. This Friday, closing day of the winter window of signings, the name of Bale took center stage. The Times published that Tottenham squeezes to sign him but Zidane said he does not contemplate the possibility of leaving …Do you think that in the derby the stand must be one more player? “As always. It is special because it is a derby but our fans and we like to play at the Bernabéu. And they always try to support us, in all the matches. What we want is our fans behind us and that is what will happen “. Does having to leave someone who is looking like Vinicius, Lucas or Rodrygo to put Bale know bad ?: “We are 25 players and they are all very well. Then, I have to choose. I think that the good thing about our squad is this, that they are all involved, when it is their turn to play a game, they try to do it well and give everything and that for me is the most important thing, then, when you have 25 players and you have to make a list of 18, someone is going to be left out, and that is the complication for a coach and that is not going to change. The only thing is that the players are all focused and prepared. “Is Bale to play tomorrow? Can the fact that I play bother any teammate? “I am not going to tell you who is going to play tomorrow. The players have to be prepared. And everyone is ready. Then, after training, we will see the call.”Is it hard to leave out players who are giving up? Is it the hardest? “It’s the most complicated thing for me to leave players at home because they train all week and what they want is to play and that’s the complication. That’s why I say they are all important and what they have to do is be prepared. It’s a bit complicated. for a coach to have a player off the list, but there are many games and the good thing is that the players know it and I will count on everyone. “Is this Real Madrid of this stage better than that of the previous stage? “I don’t know, I live too. When I played, they asked me if mine was better than another. You can say one thing and another. The important thing is that here Madrid has always had the best players. Each stage is different . I do not know”.