North Carolina's Jae'Lyn Withers leaves March Madness game against Ole Miss with injury
MILWAUKEE (AP) — North Carolina forward Jae'Lyn Withers was helped off the floor after hurting his right leg during the second half of the Tar Heels' first round NCAA Tournament game against Mississippi on Friday.
Withers was driving to the basket when he got fouled by Mississippi's Matthew Murrell and landed awkwardly. After hitting the floor, Withers immediately grabbed his right ankle. Teammates Seth Trimble and Ven-Allen Lubin helped Withers to the end of the North Carolina bench. Lubin then shot two free throws in Withers' place while Withers remained on the bench.
North Carolina trailed 50-30 with 16:02 left when Withers went down.
Withers, a fifth-year senior, entered Friday averaging 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
recommended
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Syracuse men's basketball: the 'science' behind how the Orange are building their 2025-26 schedule
As the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team slowly reveals its schedule for the 2025-26, fans may have noticed some major differences compared to usual. Among them, making decisions like not playing Georgetown or putting its usual yearly games against Cornell and Colgate on hold. Some might think it's odd, but in reality, it could be a key for Syracuse to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in half a decade. A recent story from sheds light on how Syracuse and the rest of the ACC more tactically constructed their non-conference schedules during the summer. Specifically, how the schedules can reflect better in the NET — a key metric in the Selection Committee's process to see who makes the tournament field. To date, Syracuse's non-conference schedule is close to being fully filled out. It includes a gauntlet in Las Vegas for the Player's Era Tournament, where the Orange are already guaranteed to face two top-20 opponents per Bart Torvik (No. 1 Houston and No. 17 Kansas), plus a third to-be-determined opponent that could very be ranked top-50 in the metrics. Of course, there's the annual SEC/ACC Challenge where 'Cuse will once again be facing Tennessee (No. 13 in Bart Torvik), this time at home. But after that, there's nothing too crazy or scary on paper. For the remaining eight confirmed games on the non-con slate, six are at home. In those home matchups, three of them are opponents Bart Torvik has ranked outside the top-300 in its rankings: Stonehill (No. 318), Mercyhurst (No. 362), Binghamton (No. 332). The other half are teams ranked between No. 188 (Monmouth) and No. 239 (Hofstra), with Northeastern at No. 218 sandwiched in the middle. Syracuse's other two non-games are against St. Joe's (No. 99) and Drexel (No. 265), both neutral-site. And yes, some fans might be thinking: doesn't it make sense to play teams like Colgate and Cornell, in-state opponents where the Orange have a lengthy history competing against. Of course it does, Paul Brazeau — the ACC's senior associate commissioner of men's basketball — told in that story. But, in terms of the NET, absolutely not. This quote in particular stood out: 'Let's take Colgate,' Brazeau said. 'Because at the end of the year, they're gonna be at best a bottom Quad 3. So, you gotta beat them by 40 to make a difference? What are we doing here?' All of these decisions certainly seem calculated. The broader goal coming from the conference down to teams: squeeze every inch of potential out of the NET and avoid scheduling teams that do absolutely nothing for your NET, and to be honest, probably do more harm than good. Take a look at Syracuse's non-con schedule last year, for example. The Orange finished 6-5 in their out of conference slate in 2024-25. The wins came against Le Moyne (by four), Colgate (by two), Youngstown State (by nine in double-overtime), Cornell (by ten), Albany (by 17) and Bucknell (by 12). Here is how those opponents ranked to end the year, per KenPom: Le Moyne: No. 354 Colgate: No. 261 Youngstown State: No. 199 Cornell: No. 129 Albany: No. 275 Bucknell: No. 226 So, Syracuse only had two of the wins come by double-figures, and just one opponent was outside the top-300 in KenPom. How about the losses? Syracuse dropped its games versus Texas (by four, neutral-site), Texas Tech (by five, neutral-site), Tennessee (by 26, road), Georgetown (by four, home) and Maryland (by 27, neutral-site). There was some missed opportunities (particular the Texas and Texas Tech games), but on the flip side, why play G-Town (No. 90 in KenPom) just to maybe win, when 'Cuse can play some team outside the top-300 in the NET, and hope to smoke them by 30 or 40. Again, playing Georgetown every year makes all the sense in the world, from keeping the historic series going to the general interest among fans on both sides. It doesn't for the NET, or for maximizing the Orange's chances at making the NCAA Tournament… for better or worse. Syracuse's 2025-26 schedule was made with a clear strategy: cut out the middle and maximize the periphery. Play those two or three Q1 games and hope to win at least one, then push for matchups that would reflect better in the eyes of the NET, even if the matchups aren't as intriguing or historically relevant. That's also partly why the ACC made the move to trim the number of conference games a year from 20 to 18. Those are two extra games that can go to a team like Syracuse diversifying its resume (aka: schedule Stonehill) over playing a 50-50 matchup against the Florida State's and Notre Dame's of the world. Last year, just four ACC teams made the NCAA Tournament; only Duke was able to get past the First Round. The conference in recent years has received fewer spots to go to the Big Dance. Now, it's hoping teams like Syracuse can not only turn things around by being more efficient with their scheduling, but that doing so will get more teams in the field. Of course, whoever the opponent is, Syracuse will still need to handle business enough times. But unlike recent years, there is clearly a calculated plan here with the schedule, even if it leaves out a few usual opponents.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Willie Lampkin looks like an undrafted gem for the Rams after just one preseason game
Lampkin was dominant in his NFL debut, showing that he can make it as a pro despite being 5-10 and 270 pounds NFL offensive linemen don't look like Willie Lampkin. While there's no record of the smallest lineman in league history, Lampkin might take that title if he makes the Los Angeles Rams' 53-man roster. At the Senior Bowl, he measured in at 5-foot-10 3/8 and 270 pounds. No other lineman at the Senior Bowl was shorter than 6-foot-3 or lighter than 307 pounds. He wasn't invited to the NFL combine, but he would've been the shortest lineman there by 5 inches and the lightest by 29 pounds. Players with his frame are rare in college and they're almost non-existent in the NFL, but he's out to prove size doesn't matter. It took him just one preseason game to make a name for himself as a potential undrafted gem for the Rams. He was dominant against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, earning a PFF grade of 94.1. That was the second-highest among all NFL linemen who played at least 20 snaps in Week 1 of the preseason. His run-blocking grade was outstanding, coming in at 92.2 – fourth-highest among all linemen. Lampkin didn't get many opportunities in pass protection, only seeing nine snaps on passing plays, but he didn't allow a single pressure and earned a respectable 78.6 grade. His film was excellent, too. While he's obviously on the smaller side, it doesn't show when he's blocking bigger defensive linemen. He's powerful enough to move them aside and create running lanes, while also having a strong enough base to not get walked back in pass protection. Just look at the work he did as a run blocker on these plays shared by Brandon Thorn, an offensive line expert. Lampkin put Cowboys defenders on their backs, opening up big holes for his running backs. There weren't any real concerns about Lampkins ability to sustain blocks and protect the quarterback in college. In five years at the FBS level, he allowed just three total sacks, none in his last two years when he was at North Carolina. If he were 6-foot-2 and 320 pounds, he'd likely have been a first- or second-round pick. But at 5-11 and 270 pounds, teams were scared off. Size is what caused him to fall all the way out of the draft and go undrafted, which allowed the Rams to sign him to a rookie deal. Sean McVay loved what he saw from the first-year center in his preseason debut, noting his natural leverage as a smaller center. 'I thought he did a nice job,' McVay said. 'Obviously, he has great leverage, can get underneath people and be able to finish. That was what you loved about him at North Carolina. but just a competitor. He's tough, he's physical. He understands how to be able to play to his strengths and I think he's done a really good job and I thought a lot of those guys did a nice job, but I was pleased with Willie.' Lampkin passed the test at the Senior Bowl where he was one of the best linemen in Mobile. He seemed to perform well in training camp, and in his preseason debut, he passed another test against NFL competition. Now, the question is whether he'll earn a spot on the Rams' 53-man roster. Beaux Limmer is a lock to make the team as a backup center and guard, and Justin Dedich seems to be trending that way, too. But there's room for Lampkin. And even if the Rams don't feel that way right now, they need to make room for him. Russell Wilson silenced doubters who called him too small to play quarterback in the NFL, and Lampkin could do the same as an undersized center. He has the power and anchor to win against NFL-size defensive linemen, even if it was only against backups in the preseason opener. Hopefully he'll get a chance to block some starters against the Chargers and Browns in the coming weeks, which will be the final test on his way to a roster spot. Check that box and he'll likely have a future in the NFL.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Veteran Racer Robbie Brewer Dies Following Crash at Bowman Gray Stadium
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A possible medical emergency has led to an on-track death at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina. Robbie Brewer, a 53-year-old racing veteran in the Sportsman Division, crashed head-on into the wall on a restart during a race on Saturday night. The crash caused the car to roll down the front stretch. Brewer was extricated from his car and taken to a local hospital. His family said on Sunday morning that Brewer had died. Bowman Gray Stadium officials released the following statement on Sunday: "We are saddened by the passing of Robbie Brewer after he was transported to an area medical facility following an on-track medical incident during last night's event at Bowman Gray Stadium. Robbie was a talented and passionate racer and a highly respected competitor among his peers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robbie's family and friends at this time." FloRacing, which was streaming the event, reported that its sources had said that a medical emergency, possibly a heart attack, was the initial cause of Brewer losing control of his car. Brewer was a seasoned racer at the track with 11 wins. He was a 2011 division champion at the track. His death was the first in more than two decades at the track, the last being Bubba Beck, who crashed after suffering a heart attack in a Modifieds race in 2002. Bowman Gray, which is the home to the Winston-Salem (N.C.) football team hosted the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Clash earlier this year.
