Mavericks converting two-way guard Ryan Nembhard to new two-year cont… — and more

Marc Stein: The Mavericks are converting rookie guard Ryan Nembhard to a two-year deal on a standard NBA contract that includes a team option for the 2026-27 season, league sources tell @TheSteinLine. Waiving Tyus Jones created the roster spot the long-anticipated Nembhard conversion.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Mavericks converting two-way guard Ryan Nembhard to new two-year contract

Feb. 28—LAS VEGAS — Before competing in this week's Southern Highland Collegiate, the Illinois men's golf team planned a Friday practice round in the Las Vegas area.

Then, a watch party.

The round should have wrapped up in time for the team to make its way to a nearby restaurant, preferably one with TVs tuned in to the Fox broadcast for the Big Ten men's basketball showdown featuring No. 10 Illinois and No. 3 Michigan back at State Farm Center in Champaign.

The connection between the golfers and other teams on campus is a strong one, encouraged by coach Mike Small, the son of former Illinois basketball standout Bill.

"That's healthy for all the student-athletes," Small said. "The sports have become so independent, so important, and the time spent at each program is more than it was when I played. This is a 110 percent, you're all in."

The athletic department in general and athletic director Josh Whitman in particular have advocated a mixture of the teams in their campus housing, at study halls and in the weight room.

"I do know when it comes to football, and men's basketball, women's basketball, wrestling, baseball ... we're following the scores," Small said, "We're talking about it on the road together and pulling for everybody."

Illinois senior Ryan Voois, fresh off individual and team titles at the Hal Williams Collegiate in Mobile, Ala., attends men's basketball games whenever his schedule allows.

"Our athletic program is a big family," Voois said. "We know some of the guys on the basketball team, football. The basketball team was out there supporting us at (NCAA) regionals. The football team was out there supporting us. I love getting to go to football games and socializing with other athletes, too."

Voois has played golf with basketball player AJ Redd.

"He could use some work on his golf swing," Voois said. "They all want to get involved with golf."

Making a mark

Starting Sunday, the Illini try to continue their momentum from the win earlier this month in Alabama against a strong field in Las Vegas.

Illinois is a regular at the event, hosted by UNLV, winning in comeback fashion in 2023. Small likes to test his team.

"This is a strong field," he said. "A lot of Top 10 teams. Warm-weather schools, very few schools from where we're located. A lot of schools don't venture out to this stuff this time of year. This is a total win for us. We get to see where we're at. We're playing a hard golf course that requires a lot of discipline. It requires course management. You've got to control their ball flight."

The weather will certainly be more golf-friendly. Temperatures are forecast in the high 70s to low 80s during the tournament.

"The wind can get rough," Small said. "If you miss some greens, it will put pressure on you."

Small's team enters every tournament — and every season — with lofty goals. Competing at the highest level is the expectation for a program striving for its first national championship.

"It's hard. I think it's a good thing though," said Dane Huddleson, a junior transfer from Utah Valley. "It's good for your mental toughness."

His teammate agrees.

"I think when the expectation is high, the standard is high," Voois said. "We have so much support here and we're given so much."

First look

Huddleston will play in the Las Vegas event with his new team for the first time. Small likes what he has seen from Huddleston so far since he joined his new team.

"He's really become a part of the program very easily, very smoothly," Small said. "I think he really enjoys it. He had a good team at Utah Valley, but not a lot of depth."

Huddleston went to the NCAA tournament as an individual in 2025 and just missed advancing out of the regional.

"I'm excited for him," Small said. "He's got a year and a half left with us now. You can tell he's excited about it."

Huddleston had multiple options when he decided to leave Utah Valley. But Illinois stood out.

"I had three visits lined up," Huddleston said. "I came here first and I just loved everything about it and I loved Coach Small so I just decided to commit on the spot. I didn't go to those two other places. I just had a feeling."

Team success topped his list of priorities.

"My dream is to win a national championship as a team," Huddleston said, "and I believe we can do that here."

Barcelona will go four points clear at the top of La Liga with victory over Villarreal, and they are on course to do so after taking the lead at the Spotify Camp Nou.

It has been a frustrating opening half hour for the Catalans, who have had a couple of big chances to score. Ferran Torres and Jules Kounde could not take advantage, but fortunately for the vast majority of supporters inside the Spotify Camp Nou, Lamine Yamal has taken his opportunity on 28 minutes.

After a mistake in the Villarreal midfield, Fermin Lopez took the ball before slipping in Lamine Yamal, who finishes low beyond Luiz Junior.

After three matches without a goal, Lamine Yamal will be relieved to find himself back on the scoresheet for Barcelona. He has been lively in the opening stages, and after being denied by Junior earlier in the half, he made no mistake when presented with a clearer opportunity. They may be without key midfielder Frenkie de Jong for this one, but so far, his absence has not had a major effect.

Shams Charania: The Mavericks waived veteran guard Tyus Jones to create roster space for Nembhard. Dallas will have financial flexibility and a lottery pick this summer -- allowing his deal to provide optionality in Nembhard's long-term future with the Mavericks.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dallas will have financial flexibility and a lottery …