Ohio State coach Jake Diebler reacts to the loss at Michigan State
Like a few games this season for the Ohio State basketball team, it did enough throughout most of the game to come away with a win, but couldn't finish the deal, losing 66-60 on Sunday. The difference this time is that it was in a very difficult place to play while being shorthanded against Michigan State.
Still, it was a game the Buckeyes sorely needed to get off that NCAA Tournament bubble, and none of the decision makers at the NCAA are going to remember that OSU played toe-to-toe with a very good Spartans team with two of its best players out of the game. In the end, it was another close loss that's not quite enough yet again.
OSU head coach Jake Diebler met with the media following the game to answer questions and provide his thoughts on the game, and we have his entire comments thanks to the WILX News YouTube channel. Diebler was proud of his team's fight and thought the defense continued to show progress, but still lamented the inability to get the job done.
You can watch Dielber's complete comments below:
Ohio State is now up against it and will most likely need to spring an upset somewhere in the next four games to get into the Big Dance, and it gets a chance to do just that when it hits the road to face Iowa on Wednesday.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State coach Jake Diebler reacts to loss at Michigan State Sunday
Sebastian Korda defeats Tommy Paul for Delray Beach Open championship
DELRAY BEACH — Tommy Paul had his “Founding Fathers’ fan club. Sebastian Korda had Florida Panthers superstar Aleksander Barkov.
Score one for hockey in an All-American Delray Beach Open final as Korda topped Paul, 6-4, 6-3 before 4,774 fans on Feb. 22 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
Korda, who grew up in Bradenton as son of tour great Petr, won his first Delray Beach Open title and flopped onto his back after winning match point in an epic game in which he trailed love-40 on his serve.
Entering the tournament unseeded and his ranking falling to 50 after a tough start to 2026, Korda, 25, was the better man in windswept conditions. He’s the sixth unseeded player to win the 34-year event.
“It’s amazing, especially with how everything was going on,’’ Korda said. “Crazy wind. Last game was love-40 down and somehow I came back and got some good serves in, trusted it and went after it. It‘s as satisfying as it can get winning a tournament when love-40 down. A lot of hard work mentally.’’
Barkov was in Korda’s player’s box. Of Czech Republic heritage, Korda played hockey until he was 11 and befriended Barkov, who is Swiss, when he first played Delray in 2021.
“(Barkov) watches more tennis than anyone on planet Earth,’’ Korda said after winning the ATP 250 event in one hour, 22 minutes. ““He’ll watch everything. He was here every single match and all my practices. He texts me all the time. I got to know him in 2021 when I played here. He’s been a great friend of mine. I want to get on the ice with him.’’
Paul, who lives in Boca Raton, still can’t find the whole answer at Delray as he has failed to win the tournament in six tries. But this was one was special, made so by “The Founding Fathers’’ – a group of three high school seniors from Donna Klein High in Boca Raton. Matthew, Alex, Chad cheered, chanted and sang during all of Paul’s matches.
The threesome led the rest of the crowd into a Paul chorus often – the one ditty heard aplenty (“You say Tommy, I say Paul. Tommy … Paul. Tommy … Paul”).
During the trophy presentation, Paul saluted the trio, who dress in Colonial-Era garb.
“They came out to every match no matter what and brought the energy,’’ said Paul, who was seeded 4th
Two years ago, Paul, 28, lost in the Delray final to his buddy Taylor Fritz. Paul looked more lost Sunday in the wind, often showing frustration when one of his lobs would sail many yards out due to a sudden current. When he got broken at 4-5 to give Korda the first set, the winds had picked up noticeably during that game. Bad timing.
“He handled the conditions better today and deserved to win,’’ Paul said. ”I’m pissed off for sure. I didn’t want that (second-place) trophy again. I thought I was playing really good tennis up to this last mach. I didn’t think I played great but started getting momentum late. He served his way out of trouble down love-40.’’
At that juncture, with nerves of steel, Korda pounded in a couple of aces, Paul flubbed one easy forehand off his frame and cracked a few others long. In general, Korda guided the ball precisely into play with more finesse amid the South Florida gusts.
“The secret is growing up in Florida,’’ said Korda, whose father rose to No. 2 in the world. "This is where I’ve played in my whole life – super windy. My dad said growing up to just put the ball in the court somehow. It doesn’t matter if it’s a slice or ugliest shot in the world. As long as it goes to the other side of the island, it’s all that matters.’’
Korda, who upset No. 2 seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, fell behind a break to start the second set. Paul pounced on Korda, breaking him immediately after winning a 30-shot rally with a crosscourt forehand winner.
But Korda broke right back and did so again for a 3-1 lead. The Bradenton resident got up 4-1 and withheld Paul’s furious rally in the last game that could’ve put the second set on serve.
Asked if he was ticked off at himself or the wind, Paul said, “I can’t be pissed at Mother Nature.’’
Paul had beaten upstart American Learner Tien in the Feb. 21 semifinals – a player that some feel has the tennis smarts to make it big with his lefty forehand.
“Tien’s amazing,’’ Paul said. “This younger generation of Americans, they don’t fear anything or us at all. It’s a great thing for them. Annoying for us. They came out ready to beat us everytime. They’re serious players.’’
Korda hadn’t won an ATP event since the 2024 Washington D.C. tournament that is a tuneup for the U.S. Open. Korda lost in the finals here in 2021. “My confidence is definitely going up,’’ Korda said. “It’s about being consistent. Years past, I haven’t been very consistent.’’
Said Paul, “He’s dealt with a lot of injuries and setbacks. It’s good to see him at this level.’’
Delray Beach Open future uncertain
This could be the second-to-last Delray tournament if things shake out a certain way.
An ATP official last month said the goal is to downsize the 250-point ATP events with an eye on shortening the schedule. There are three 250-point ATP events in the United States - Delray Beach and ones in Houston (indoor clay court before the European clay court season in spring) and Winston Salem, N.C.
The Delray Open drew 59,366 fans this week. With a swarm of players living in South Florida, it is tough to see Delray Beach getting the axe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray Beach Open goes to unseeded Sebastian Korda over Tommy Paul
Sebastian Korda defeats Tommy Paul for Delray Beach Open championship
DELRAY BEACH — Tommy Paul had his “Founding Fathers’ fan club. Sebastian Korda had Florida Panthers superstar Aleksander Barkov.
Score one for hockey in an All-American Delray Beach Open final as Korda topped Paul, 6-4, 6-3 before 4,774 fans on Feb. 22 at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
Korda, who grew up in Bradenton as son of tour great Petr, won his first Delray Beach Open title and flopped onto his back after winning match point in an epic game in which he trailed love-40 on his serve.
Entering the tournament unseeded and his ranking falling to 50 after a tough start to 2026, Korda, 25, was the better man in windswept conditions. He’s the sixth unseeded player to win the 34-year event.
“It’s amazing, especially with how everything was going on,’’ Korda said. “Crazy wind. Last game was love-40 down and somehow I came back and got some good serves in, trusted it and went after it. It‘s as satisfying as it can get winning a tournament when love-40 down. A lot of hard work mentally.’’
Barkov was in Korda’s player’s box. Of Czech Republic heritage, Korda played hockey until he was 11 and befriended Barkov, who is Swiss, when he first played Delray in 2021.
“(Barkov) watches more tennis than anyone on planet Earth,’’ Korda said after winning the ATP 250 event in one hour, 22 minutes. ““He’ll watch everything. He was here every single match and all my practices. He texts me all the time. I got to know him in 2021 when I played here. He’s been a great friend of mine. I want to get on the ice with him.’’
Paul, who lives in Boca Raton, still can’t find the whole answer at Delray as he has failed to win the tournament in six tries. But this was one was special, made so by “The Founding Fathers’’ – a group of three high school seniors from Donna Klein High in Boca Raton. Matthew, Alex, Chad cheered, chanted and sang during all of Paul’s matches.
The threesome led the rest of the crowd into a Paul chorus often – the one ditty heard aplenty (“You say Tommy, I say Paul. Tommy … Paul. Tommy … Paul”).
During the trophy presentation, Paul saluted the trio, who dress in Colonial-Era garb.
“They came out to every match no matter what and brought the energy,’’ said Paul, who was seeded 4th
Two years ago, Paul, 28, lost in the Delray final to his buddy Taylor Fritz. Paul looked more lost Sunday in the wind, often showing frustration when one of his lobs would sail many yards out due to a sudden current. When he got broken at 4-5 to give Korda the first set, the winds had picked up noticeably during that game. Bad timing.
“He handled the conditions better today and deserved to win,’’ Paul said. ”I’m pissed off for sure. I didn’t want that (second-place) trophy again. I thought I was playing really good tennis up to this last mach. I didn’t think I played great but started getting momentum late. He served his way out of trouble down love-40.’’
At that juncture, with nerves of steel, Korda pounded in a couple of aces, Paul flubbed one easy forehand off his frame and cracked a few others long. In general, Korda guided the ball precisely into play with more finesse amid the South Florida gusts.
“The secret is growing up in Florida,’’ said Korda, whose father rose to No. 2 in the world. "This is where I’ve played in my whole life – super windy. My dad said growing up to just put the ball in the court somehow. It doesn’t matter if it’s a slice or ugliest shot in the world. As long as it goes to the other side of the island, it’s all that matters.’’
Korda, who upset No. 2 seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, fell behind a break to start the second set. Paul pounced on Korda, breaking him immediately after winning a 30-shot rally with a crosscourt forehand winner.
But Korda broke right back and did so again for a 3-1 lead. The Bradenton resident got up 4-1 and withheld Paul’s furious rally in the last game that could’ve put the second set on serve.
Asked if he was ticked off at himself or the wind, Paul said, “I can’t be pissed at Mother Nature.’’
Paul had beaten upstart American Learner Tien in the Feb. 21 semifinals – a player that some feel has the tennis smarts to make it big with his lefty forehand.
“Tien’s amazing,’’ Paul said. “This younger generation of Americans, they don’t fear anything or us at all. It’s a great thing for them. Annoying for us. They came out ready to beat us everytime. They’re serious players.’’
Korda hadn’t won an ATP event since the 2024 Washington D.C. tournament that is a tuneup for the U.S. Open. Korda lost in the finals here in 2021. “My confidence is definitely going up,’’ Korda said. “It’s about being consistent. Years past, I haven’t been very consistent.’’
Said Paul, “He’s dealt with a lot of injuries and setbacks. It’s good to see him at this level.’’
Delray Beach Open future uncertain
This could be the second-to-last Delray tournament if things shake out a certain way.
An ATP official last month said the goal is to downsize the 250-point ATP events with an eye on shortening the schedule. There are three 250-point ATP events in the United States - Delray Beach and ones in Houston (indoor clay court before the European clay court season in spring) and Winston Salem, N.C.
The Delray Open drew 59,366 fans this week. With a swarm of players living in South Florida, it is tough to see Delray Beach getting the axe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray Beach Open goes to unseeded Sebastian Korda over Tommy Paul
LaMelo Ball hits career-high 10 3s, scores 37 points to help Hornets rout Wizards
WASHINGTON (AP) — LaMelo Ball made a career-high 10 3-pointers and scored 37 points to help the Charlotte Hornets rout the Washington Wizards 129-112 on Sunday night for a four-game season sweep.
Ball attempted 15 3-pointers. Kon Knueppel added 28 points, and Brandon Miller had 22. The Hornets made 12 of 14 3-pointers in the third quarter to blow open the game, and finished 25 of 46 from long range.
Bilal Coulibaly scored 15 of his 17 points in the first quarter for Washington. The Wizards dropped to 16-40, missing a chance for their first three-game winning streak since February 2025.
Charlotte had lost three of four since a nine-game winning streak ended just before the All-Star break. The Hornets (27-31) are 10th in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Atlanta and 1 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee.
The Hornets led 61-56 at the halft. Miller hit two 3s and Ball added another within Charlotte’s first four possessions of the third quarter to make it 70-56.
Moments later, Knueppel connected on back-to-back 3s to stretch the lead to 15 for the first time. The Wizards never got closer than 13 again.
Knueppel made five 3-pointers and has am NBA-high 198 this season. He's is nine away from surpassing the rookie record set by Keegan Murray in 2022-23.
Up next
Hornets: At Chicago on Tuesday night.
Wzards: At Atlanta on Tuesday night.
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AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
Dodgers star Freddie Freeman and wife Chelsea announce they are expecting another child via a surrogate
The first baseman, a three-time World Series champion, and the model already share sons Fredrick Charles II, Brandon John and Maximus Turner.