Chapel Thrill, Wolfpack power and Xavier Legette's skin care routine in the sports moments of the week
For the second time ever, both North Carolina and NC State are headed to the College World Series. Plus, the latest on the NBA and NHL Finals, Caitlin Clark back in the news and more!
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North Carolina comes up clutch again, advances to College World Series
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining path to the College World Series than North Carolina just went through.
Following last week's late-game heroics in the Chapel Hill Regional, the Tar Heels one-upped themselves in the Super Regional as they swept West Virginia in two games.
UNC trailed the Mountaineers 6-5 heading into the 9th inning of Game 1 on Friday night, but simply refused to say "die."
Honeycutt's moon ball was his 25th of the season, which tied a single-season school record, but it didn't take long for him to break it.
When's the last time anybody hit two home runs on back-to-back pitches in a series -- one to end a game, and one to lead off the other?
Game 2 proved to be a pitcher's duel, which came down to a nerve-racking eight-out save for sophomore reliever Dalton Pence.
I, for one, can't wait to see what kind of late-game dramatics they come up with next.
NC State takes down Georgia, punches ticket to Omaha
While UNC is stealing headlines with their new-found love of nail-biters, NC State has embraced the blow out on their road to Omaha.
UGA answered back on Sunday with an 11-2 victory of their own, setting up a winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday night.
Eli Serrano, Garrett Pennington, Alec Makarewicz and Jacob Cozart combined to go 19/47 (.404 average) with 13 RBI, 11 runs scored and eight of the team's nine home runs in the Super Regional.
This after they combined for 10 RBI and 13 runs in the Regional Round.
Celtics, Panthers rolling toward championships?
The NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final certainly don't look like they were worth the wait ... at least not yet.
The Boston Celtics and Florida Panthers have looked fairly dominant so far, and look to be rolling toward a championship with 2-0 series leads.
In a series full of big names, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have looked like the most important players for Boston through two games.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving obviously have the talent to get Dallas back into this series, but I can't say I like their chances given the fact that Jayson Tatum hasn't even played well yet.
I'm revising my earlier Finals pick and switching to Celtics in 5.
The Edmonton Oilers face a similar problem as the Stanley Cup Final shifts north of the border for Games 3 and 4.
The individual brilliance of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl was supposed to be Edmonton's saving grace and so far neither have been much of a factor.
I think that changes a little over the next couple games, but it's clear to me that Florida is the better all-around group.
I'm sticking with my pick last week -- Panthers in 6.
Caitlin Clark left off Team USA roster
Another week, another "think piece" flash point for Caitlin Clark.
I opted out of the Caitlin Clark discourse last week but, although it's still kind of icky, I feel obligated to write about it this week because I have something to say.
Caitlin Clark was not an Olympic snub.
Seriously, go look at that roster again and tell me whose spot Clark should have taken.
And while I understand the argument that USA Women's Basketball should have shoe-horned Clark in for the attention, I completely disagree and think it's misguided for several reasons:
- Even if Clark was on the roster, she probably wasn't going to play very much, which would have been a major storyline and a distraction.
- Along those same lines, several WNBA players already seem to resent Caitlin Clark for her status as a media darling. You think that was going to get better if the rookie was gift-wrapped a roster spot?
- Caitlin Clark has been playing basketball basically non-stop since November. Long-term, I think it's best that she gets a break.
- There are other marketable players on this team. A'ja Wilson, for example, is terrific. If women's basketball wants to reach its potential in the U.S., it needs to be more than just Caitlin Clark. She will get her turn. But right now, I think it's better for the sport to focus on the players who are most deserving in 2024. That's what the Olympics are about.
Clemson star wows in Super Regionals
Clemson will not be playing in the College World Series this year, but they may have introduced the masses to a future star.
Sophomore outfielder Cam Cannarella blessed us with one of the better two-inning sequences you will ever see from one player on a baseball diamond, and you simply have to see it.
Silver lining: Cannarella will be back next season and will no doubt deliver a slew of other awesome highlights.
Panthers rookies star in NFL prank video
Xavier Legette hasn't played a down yet for the Carolina Panthers, but he's already a treasure who must be protected at all costs.
Most of it was pretty funny, including Sanders doing his best dinosaur sounds, but Legette, no question, stole the show.
I'm formally requested the extended director's cut of him talking about his skin care routine with Cetaphil.
You're welcome.
We'll see you next week.
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