Missouri eager to bolster NCAA resume vs. No. 19 Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt won five of its past six Southeastern Conference games despite playing short-handed.

The No. 19 Commodores (21-4, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) will continue testing their depth when they travel to Columbia, Mo., to face Missouri (17-8, 7-5) Wednesday night.

With two guards out with knee injuries, Duke Miles sidelined since Jan. 24 and Frankie Collins unavailable since Dec. 17, Tyler Tanner stepped up to average 25.8 points during a recent five-game span.

When Tanner got into foul trouble and scored just four points against Texas A&M on Saturday, other Commodores took over in an 82-69 win. Tyler Nickel put up 25 points, AK Okereke assumed more ball-handling responsibilities while contributing 23 points and Chandler Bing scored 11 points off the bench.

"Other guys are capable," Commodores coach Mark Byington said. "This team celebrates each other. No one's happier in the locker room than Tyler Tanner or anybody else. And that's why I like this group. They care about winning."

Miles, who averages 16.6 points per game, is closer to returning than Collins but is still questionable to play on Wednesday.

"Duke's attacking his rehab," Byington said. "He's doing workouts and things like that. He's competitive. He wants to get back (to) being a great teammate. I think we'll have him back soon. It's hard to give a timetable, but I think within a week or two for sure."

While Vanderbilt had a NET ranking of No. 13 through the weekend's games, Missouri dropped to No. 66 after absorbing an 85-68 home loss to Texas. That was just the Tigers' second loss at Mizzou Arena this season, and the result snapped Missouri's three-game overall winning streak.

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The defeat was a big setback in Missouri's bid to reach the NCAA Tournament.

"It's not always as good as you think it is, and it's not always as bad as you think it is," Tigers coach Dennis Gates said. "Ultimately, we've gotta bounce back and be able to flush the game."

Once again, Missouri center Shawn Phillips Jr. was hindered by foul trouble. He played just 18 minutes against the Longhorns and was held to five points and two rebounds.

"Shawn is a defensive presence for us," Gates said. "He gives us, definitely, athleticism around the basket. It's just one of those things where some of the fouls that he picked up on the floor ... unfortunate flagrant. And he's probably leading the country in flagrant fouls. The other part of it is, is it the response or the initiation of the physicality? And I think he's always on the other side of reacting, and the second move in terms of being caught.

"So after watching film, I'll show him some things just in terms of where the referees were allowing physicality and where they're not allowing it."

The Tigers don't have another true center on the roster capable of defending and rebounding at the SEC level. The Tigers must deploy a zone defense when Phillips is out or play man-to-man with a smaller lineup and forward Mark Mitchell defending the post.

Gates said 6-foot-11 forward Jevon Porter is making progress in recovering from a leg injury, but Porter hasn't played since Dec. 14.

--Field Level Media

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February 17, 2026

Missouri eager to bolster NCAA resume vs. No. 19 Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt won five of its past six Southeastern Conference games despite playing short-handed. The ...

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Bounce-back effort boosts No. 10 Illinois ahead of visit to USC

Tenth-ranked Illinois will take a swing through Los Angeles for a pair of crucial Big Ten Conference games this week, the first on Wednesday night against Southern California.

The Fighting Illini (21-5, 12-3 Big Ten) begin the week in a three-team tie for second place in the league's loss column, knotted with No. 7 Purdue (21-4, 11-3) and No. 9 Nebraska (22-3, 11-3), just behind No. 1 Michigan (24-1, 14-1).

USC (18-7, 7-7) sits in the middle of the conference pack.

Illinois slipped from the top of the conference with back-to-back overtime losses at Michigan State on Feb. 7 and to Wisconsin on Feb. 10, but the Illini bounced back on Sunday with a 71-51 home rout of Indiana.

David Mirkovic scored 25 points against the Hoosiers, his ninth consecutive double-figure point-scoring performance since the freshman was inserted into the starting lineup. The 25 points represented his personal best in Big Ten play.

The tone-setting effort came after Mirkovic took responsibility for the loss to the Badgers.

Illini coach Brad Underwood said, "I get an incredible text from Mirk after the Wisconsin game -- taking the blame for it because he wasn't mentally what he thought was at his best. (Mirkovic) practiced at a different level, and that showed off (against Indiana). He was dominant on both ends, and it's as focused defensively as I've seen him."

The 51 points to which the Illini held Indiana were the third-fewest Illinois allowed this season, just two weeks removed from limiting Northwestern to 44 points.

Along with strong defense -- Illinois ranks No. 49 nationally at 68.2 points allowed a contest -- the Illini have thrived with balanced offense. Mirkovic heads into Los Angeles as one of five Illinois scorers averaging in double figures per game.

His rate of 13 points per game joins Keaton Wagler at 18.5, Kylan Boswell at 14, Andrej Stojakovic at 13.7 and Tomislav Ivisic at 10.5. Stojakovic missed the past two games because of a high ankle sprain, and his availability for the Wednesday contest was uncertain.

After opposing the Trojans, Illinois plays at UCLA on Saturday before returning home to oppose Michigan on Feb. 27.

Among USC's season-long regulars, Chad Baker-Mazara leads the way with 18.3 points per game, while Ezra Ausar adds 15.7. Rodney Rice (20.3 ppg) sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in December. Alijah Arenas, who returned from a knee injury last month, has appeared in six games and has averaged 26 over the past three.

Jacob Cofie (9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds per game) reached double-figure scoring in three of the Trojans' past four outings.

Cofie was one of five Trojans to notch at least 12 at Ohio State on Feb. 11, led by Arenas' 25. Arenas is posting 15.4 points per game since joining the lineup the last month, bouncing back from a knee injury sustained in a car accident.

The first-year blue-chip prospect started slowly, scoring 30 combined points in his first four appearances but since ran off games of 29 and 24 before the 25 in an 89-82 loss to the Buckeyes.

The setback snapped USC's three-game winning streak and dropped the Trojans to .500 in the Big Ten. USC aims to use its week-long break since the loss to regroup, playing its next four in Los Angeles and three of the quartet at home.

"It's been a long year so far. I think this is a much-needed break for the guys," USC assistant coach Earl Boykins said per the school's website. "The three long trips we've taken this year are a lot. It's going to be good for them to get the break and for us to get in the gym and get back to the basics."

--Field Level Media

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February 17, 2026

Bounce-back effort boosts No. 10 Illinois ahead of visit to USC

Tenth-ranked Illinois will take a swing through Los Angeles for a pair of crucial Big Ten Conference games this week, ...

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San Francisco psyched for rematch vs. No. 11 Gonzaga at Warriors' arena

Graham Ike is one of the top players in the West but Gonzaga coach Mark Few feels the big man isn't receiving the proper level of respect.

Ike will look to post a 20-point outing for the eighth consecutive appearance when the No. 11 Bulldogs visit San Francisco on Wednesday night in West Coast Conference play. The contest will be held at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors.

Gonzaga will be looking to defeat the Dons for the 35th consecutive time after surviving a close call last month.

Ike registered 21 points and a season-best 15 rebounds as Gonzaga (25-2, 13-1 WCC) recorded a 94-86 road win over Santa Clara on Saturday night to overtake the Broncos for first place in the conference race.

Ike has scored 30 or more points in three of his last seven appearances, including matching his career best of 35 points in an 81-61 road win over Oregon State on Feb. 7. The fifth-year senior has made 31 of 43 shots (72.1%) over the past three games.

"I think none of us can take 21 and 15 for granted or the 30-(point games)," Few said. "I think it's time he starts seeing his name pop up on first-team All-American or second-team All-American (forecasts).

"I know we're all obsessed with these (standout) freshmen, but he's literally been delivering night-in, night-out at the highest level. I think he needs to start garnering some attention, at least nationally."

Ike is averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds. He missed the Bulldogs' 68-66 home win over the Dons on Jan. 24, the final contest of a three-game absence caused by an ankle injury.

Adam Miller stood out against Santa Clara by scoring a season-high 21 points. Miller is averaging a career-low 7.7 points in the fifth season of a four-stop college career.

"We talked about how unselfish our team is," Miller said. "Any day can be a dog's day. Coach reminds us of that all the time, but every day you've got to show up and do your role, however that looks, and I just tried to do my job and my teammates definitely did their jobs."

The Bulldogs have been without Braden Huff (left knee) for a month, and Few's update on Monday revealed that Huff (17.8 ppg) won't return prior to the NCAA Tournament.

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"We said four to eight weeks, it'll be at least eight," Few said on his weekly show. "He's still on crutches. ... He's a long ways away from getting back."

San Francisco (15-13, 7-8) figures to gain some support by playing in the larger Chase Center as opposed to its cozy on-campus gymnasium.

Despite never leading, the Dons gave Gonzaga a battle last month in Spokane, Wash.

The Dons were down by eight before Vukasin Masic made consecutive 3-pointers in the final 1:20. However, a go-ahead 3-point attempt by Junjie Wang caromed off the backboard and rim with less than two seconds left.

USF's Legend Smiley matched his season high of 18 points in that contest.

"We have an unbelievable opportunity on Wednesday night at the Chase Center against a team that obviously is a juggernaut," Dons coach Chris Gerlufsen said of the rematch. "We felt we played pretty well against them the first time.

"We're going to roll our sleeves up and get to work Wednesday night and take advantage of the opportunity at hand."

The setback vs. Gonzaga was the beginning of a stretch in which the Don lost five of six games. They halted that funk with a 92-79 road win at San Diego on Sunday.

Masic scored a season-best 22 points against the Toreros while David Fuchs contributed 21 points and a season-best-tying 13 rebounds.

San Francisco's most recent win over Gonzaga came in 2012, a 66-65 home decision.

--Field Level Media

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February 17, 2026

San Francisco psyched for rematch vs. No. 11 Gonzaga at Warriors' arena

Graham Ike is one of the top players in the West but Gonzaga coach Mark Few feels the big man isn't receiving the ...

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What's next for Tyreek Hill after his release from the Dolphins? Keep an eye on the Chiefs and Bills

Tyreek Hill is officially a free agent, putting him in an unfamiliar position for the first time in his career.

So, what's next for the star wide receiver?

TheMiami Dolphins officially released Hill on Monday, ending a four-season run in which the franchise bet big on him being a key piece to pair with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Ultimately, that didn't work out. The Dolphins failed to win a single playoff game during his time in South Florida, continuing a drought that dates back to the 2000 season.

Hill went down with a devastating knee injury early this past season, too, including a dislocated knee. Hill's agent said on Monday that he's "progressing well" in his rehab and will be ready to play at some point next season, and Hill vowed to return on social media, too.

But who is in play for Hill next season? Yahoo Sports' "Inside Coverage" podcast discussed a couple of possibilities on Monday night.

"He still has that speed. Even if he's 80% of what he was, he's still going to be one of the faster players in the NFL," Yahoo Sports betting analyst Ben Fawkes said. "So I think he can be a useful piece for a contender, but also at what price is the big question too."

Kansas City Chiefs

The first landing spot is obvious. The Chiefs are the easiest match for Hill because his career began in Kansas City, and he won a Super Bowl ring there. He appeared to give a nod of approval on social media of the Chiefs' recent re-hiring of Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, too.

But Hill's usage in Kansas City may not be what he's used to.

"Is [Hill] willing to accept a lesser role if that's what he is right now? Let's say the Chiefs, right? Well, is he their No. 1 [wideout]? No, that's probably Rasheed Rice, who has his own set of baggage," Yahoo Sports NFL senior reporter Frank Schwab said. "And is he their speed guy? Well, no, that's probably Xavier Worthy. What role is he willing to accept? How much money is he willing to accept?"

There are, naturally, a lot of questions to be answered there. But Hill would be a solid weapon for the Chiefs, who just missed the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.

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Buffalo Bills

Buffalo appears hellbent on doing just about anything possible to help lift quarterback Josh Allen over the postseason hump and to a Super Bowl. That included jettisoning a successful head coach in Sean McDermott in favor of offensive coordinator Joe Brady earlier this offseason.

Hill could be an easy add for a team needing an extra option. Khalil Shakir was their leading receiver last year with just 719 receiving yards, while tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox were second and third.

"They need that veteran piece," podcast host Andrew Siciliano. "They need that deep threat. They need a guy who down the field — I'm sorry, Brandin Cooks — can attack that football or just run away from the guy closest to him. So he doesn't have to have a contested catch there to win a playoff game in Denver."

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers could be a great fit for Hill for a number of reasons. He'd get to pair up with Justin Herbert, who has statistically been a top tier quarterback during his first six seasons in the league even if the team has struggled at times. The Chargers have plenty of money to pay Hill, too, as they're sitting with the third-most cap space in the league this offseason.

Oh, and Mike McDaniel is now the Chargers' offensive coordinator after he was fired by the Dolphins earlier this offseason. Reuniting with his former head coach on the other side of the country feels like it would make things even easier for Hill coming off of his injury.

New England Patriots

Sure, the Patriots reached Super Bowl LX this past season. But something was missing, and that was very evident in the final game as the Seahawks cruised to the dominant win in San Francisco.

Hill could easily step into New England and help young quarterback Drake Maye as he enters his third season in the league. Pairing Hill with fellow star Stefon Diggs, who racked up 1,013 receiving yards last season, and tight end Hunter Henry, might just be the boost the team needs to get over the hump.

Las Vegas Raiders

Now this may not be Hill's first choice, considering the state of the Raiders in recent years. But there are plenty of reasons why it would work.

The Raiders are under new leadership once again this season with Klint Kubiak coming in as their head coach. The franchise has the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, too, which they will presumably use on Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Getting Mendoza a veteran like Hill right away in his career, along with young running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers, would be huge early on in his career.

Oh, and the Raiders have money to spend. That'd be nice for Hill, too.

byAdministrator

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February 16, 2026

What's next for Tyreek Hill after his release from the Dolphins? Keep an eye on the Chiefs and Bills

Tyreek Hill is officially a free agent, putting him in an unfamiliar position for the first time in his career. ...

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'Dodgy burger' rules Santner out against Canada as New Zealand targets T20 World Cup Super 8s

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Canada won the toss Tuesday and elected to bat against a New Zealand lineup targeting a spot in the Super 8s at theT20 World Cup.

Stand-in captain Daryl Mitchell said regular skipper Mitchell Santner is sick and will miss the game because he "had a dodgy burger last night."

Cole McConchie replaced Santner as a like-for-like replacement in the XI.

New Zealand was forced into another change with Kyle Jamieson coming in for pace bowler Lockie Ferguson, who returned home for the birth of his first child. Ferguson is scheduled to rejoin the team during the Super 8s.

A third win in Group D would seal New Zealand's place in the next round alongside South Africa, England, West Indies, India and Sri Lanka. New Zealand started the tournament with victories againstAfghanistanandUnited Arab Emiratesbefore losing toSouth Africa.

Canada has never played a T20 international against New Zealand. But in the one-day international format, the Black Cups have won all three previous matches against Canada.

Canada is last in the group following losses to United Arab Emirates and South Africa and will be knocked out of the tournament if it loses to New Zealand.

Later Tuesday, Zimbabwe is aiming for a win over Ireland that would also knock2021 champion Australiaout in the first round of the tournament for the first time since 2009. Nepal, which has lost all its three group games, is rounding out its T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland.

Canada: Yuvraj Samra, Dilpreet Bajwa (captain), Navneet Dhaliwal, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva, Saad Bin Zafar, Shivam Sharma, Dilon Heyliger, Jaskaran Singh, Ansh Patel.

New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell (captain), Cole McConchie, James Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

AP cricket:https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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February 16, 2026

'Dodgy burger' rules Santner out against Canada as New Zealand targets T20 World Cup Super 8s

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Canada won the toss Tuesday and elected to bat against a New Zealand lineup targeting a spot in the...

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Will Tyreek Hill play this year? Recovery timeline update for FA WR

Tyreek Hillhas been a pending free agent for less than a day, but his looming free agency this offseason is already one of the most intriguing among a solid group of free agent wide receivers.

Reports broke on Feb. 16 that theMiami Dolphinsintend to release Hill, who will turn 32 on March 1, making him a pending free agent. He will hit the market when thenew league year beginsin mid-March.

The five-time All-Pro missed most of the 2025 season after sustaining a dislocated knee and torn ACL during a Week 4 game against theNew York Jets. Any team that will consider signing Hill once free agency negotiations begin on March 9 will have to take Hill's availability – or lack thereof – into consideration.

Here's what to know about Hill's injury and where he stands in the recovery timeline for it:

NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE:USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

What happened to Tyreek Hill?

Hill suffered a gruesome knee injury early in the 2025 season during a Week 4 game against the Jets.

The then-Dolphinsreceiver caught a short pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before getting twisted up with Jets defensive back Malachi Moore at the end of the play. ESPN cameras caught Hill grabbing at his leg after the gruesome injury, and he had to be carted off the field.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the following day that Hill had dislocated his knee and "tore multiple ligaments in his knee, including his ACL." The severity of the injury ended the wideout's 2025 season and set him on the road to recovery for 2026.

When will Tyreek Hill return?

According to Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, rehab after a dislocated knee injury and ACL tear can take as long as 9-12 months or more before returning to competition.

The orthopedic provider listed out a five-stage process in rehabbing an injury like Hill's:

• Phase 1: The first six weeks consist of bracing the joint, managing pain and "isometric muscle activation" in the quads and hamstrings to help stabilize the knee

• Phase 2: The following six weeks is when Hill would have been progressing from limited motion to a more full range of motion while starting to strengthen his leg further. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush lists squatting and leg press as examples of leg exercises that might be included in this portion of rehab.

• Phase 3: The longest phase so far, lasting about three months, includes "more aggressive strengthening" and some "light agility" work, including cutting. Since Hill is five months removed from his injury in late September, this is likely the phase he is currently progressing through now.

• Phase 4: The penultimate phase is three or more months of pushing Hill within reach of a return to action. This phase consists of "sport-specific training, acceleration/deceleration drills" with a "gradual return to full contact, cutting, and pivoting" while monitoring for discomfort, swelling or lasting instability in the knee.

• Phase 5: This phase is essentially the full return to competition, with the first three months of that return including further "maintenance, load management and monitoring."

Hill is most likely still in phase three at this point in his rehab process, about five and a half months removed from the injury and surgery. If that's the case, he is still about a month or so away from returning to football activity. Phase four consists of the sport-specific drills that teams would likely hope to see before considering signing Hill.

A return by the start of the 2026 season is possible, though it may take longer depending on Hill's progression through injury rehab. Due to some of the uncertainty the injury caused, it may take a while for a team to decide to sign Hill in free agency – and likely at a discounted rate from what his contract value would have been worth a couple of years ago.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tyreek Hill is a free agent, but when will he return? Injury update

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February 16, 2026

Will Tyreek Hill play this year? Recovery timeline update for FA WR

Tyreek Hillhas been a pending free agent for less than a day, but his looming free agency this offseason is already one o...

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No. 13 Texas Tech feels it's 'scratching surface,' ready for ASU

No. 13 Texas Tech heads to Tempe, Ariz., on Tuesday night to face Arizona State riding momentum from its 78-75 upset victory at then-No. 1 Arizona on Saturday.

Texas Tech (19-6, 9-3 Big 12) has won three consecutive games after losing two straight to UCF and Kansas.

"I don't know if anyone is ever prepared for Big 12 play, but you'd better be prepared for a grind," Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. "It's going to be a fight. Our intent was how well can we fight every day, and our team is believing in that aspect.

"We don't have it all figured out. We're just scratching the surface."

Arizona State (13-12, 4-8) has not played since Feb. 10 when it beat Oklahoma State at home. The Sun Devils will attempt to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game streak against Oklahoma, Northern Arizona and Santa Clara from Dec. 6-13.

Texas Tech post player JT Toppin is coming off a 31-point, 13-rebound performance in the win over Arizona.

The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year is in position to earn that award again. He is averaging 21.9 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Christian Anderson complements Toppin as the point guard. He had 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds against the Wildcats. He also made 6 of 15 shots from 3-point range.

"I love the fight of this team," McCasland said. "JT and Christian weren't going to let us lose. JT Toppin was not going to be denied at the end of this game.

"You don't come into (Arizona's) building and win unless you're fighting and competitive. I love being part of this team."

Arizona State will counter Toppin and Anderson with 7-foot-2 freshman Massamba Diop and journeyman point guard Maurice Odum, who previously played for Pacific and Pepperdine.

Diop is averaging 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Odum is at 17 points and six assists per game.

Arizona State has struggled with rebounding this season, ranking last in the Big 12 with a minus-2.7 differential per game.

In the win over Oklahoma State, the Sun Devils finished with a 45-34 rebounding advantage, including a 19-10 edge on offensive rebounds. That contributed to a points-in-the-paint advantage of 38-26.

"It looks like we figured out how to rebound," Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley said. "I thought the balance was really good. We set the tone early in the game with establishing our ability to get some rebounds.

"We missed some shots, but were able to get second-chance opportunities. It's probably the biggest differential we've had in second-chance points all season, so great job for the guys."

Arizona State would need a miracle late-season run to become an NCAA Tournament candidate.

Beating Texas Tech would enhance Arizona State's NET ranking, which stood at No. 71 through the weekend. The Red Raiders' NET ranking was No. 16. The Sun Devils also have opportunities against Kansas and Iowa State to conclude the season.

The Sun Devils are 2-9 against Quad 1 opponents with victories over Texas and Santa Clara.

--Field Level Media

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February 16, 2026

No. 13 Texas Tech feels it's 'scratching surface,' ready for ASU

No. 13 Texas Tech heads to Tempe, Ariz., on Tuesday night to face Arizona State riding momentum from its 78-75 upset v...

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