Five takeaways from Panthers opening night win over Islanders

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Panthers hockey returned tonight in Long Island, with Florida facing off against the New York Islanders in their first game of the 2022-2023 season.

 

Backstopped by a strong Sergei Bobrovsky performance, the Panthers spoiled the Islanders home opener with a 3-1 win at UBS Arena.

 

Five takeaways are back, here we go.

 

Matthew Tkachuk made his presence felt all over the ice

In his first game with the Panthers, Matthew Tkachuk showed flashes of why Florida traded for him.

 

On his first shift of the game, the 24-year-old forward displayed his flair, shooting the puck between his legs not once, but twice in front of goal on the power play.

 

Using his 6’2, 200 pound frame, Tkachuk planted himself in front of the Islanders net, generating numerous scoring chances near Ilya Sorokin’s crease.

 

His hockey IQ was prevalent all game long. Without the puck in the offensive zone, he put himself in danger areas, usually the slot. 

 

Tkachuk was just as dangerous carrying the offense in transition. In Calgary, there were countless times he walked in on the opposition and left them in the dust. He had more than a few of those chances tonight, with over 15 shot attempts in the game. 

 

Tkachuk’s efforts were rewarded as he put away an empty net goal in the final minutes of the game, giving him his first as a Panther.

 

The new look power play had its chances, but didn’t capitalize

With the start of a new season, new systems were implemented by Paul Maurice and his coaching staff. One of those was the Panthers’ power play.

 

In the playoffs last season, Florida was anything but good on the man advantage, going 1-31 in 10 games. 

 

Last year, the Panthers often ran four forwards and one defenseman, sometimes even using a five forward setup. In game 1 this season, Florida’s power play featured a three forward, two defenseman setup. 

 

With the acquisition of Tkachuk, Florida opted to use him down low on the PP, hovering him between the goal line and the front of the net. The fluidity of the power play seemed to be there with Florida using Tkachuk as the bumper while Aaron Ekblad and Aleksander Barkov set up shop on the boards. 

 

The Panthers had plenty of zone time on the power play, with a plethora of chances at goal, but the puck didn’t find the back of the net as Florida went 0-5 with the extra man.

 

Sergei Bobrovsky had a great outing in his first start of the season

Good goaltending will keep you in games and that’s what Sergei Bobrovsky did for Florida tonight. 

 

The Panthers had a few defensive slip ups in their own zone, specifically in the opening period, giving the Islanders some golden scoring opportunities. 

 

Bobrovsky didn’t let the onslaught of Islanders chances deter him as he stood tall, keeping out all 17 shots he faced in the first. 

 

The Islanders didn’t beat Bobrovsky until they got on the power play in the third period. Anders Lee had a nice screen in front of goal, leaving Bob without vision of the puck. Noah Dobson finished the job.

 

After giving up one, the rest of the night he was lights out. The Islanders continued their flurries of attacks but the Panthers goalie kept the door closed, only giving up the one short handed goal. 

 

Bob finished the night with 32 saves.

 

Eetu Luostarinen gets his shot in the top 9 and capitalized

Luostarinen got the bump to start the year as Paul Maurice moved the Finn onto the third line with his fellow countryman Anton Lundell.  This pair was also a line on the penalty kill.

 

Last year, Eetu grabbed his spot in the roster but most of that even-strength ice time was as the fourth line center. Tonight, rather than being the bottom line middle man, Luostarinen was put on the wing higher in the lineup. 

 

Maurice’s decision paid off as Luostarinen scored the first Panthers goal of the season, off of a beautiful tip from Radko Gudas’ point shot.

 

The 2022-2023 second line has potential

For a good portion of last season, Florida’s second line consisted of Anthony Duclair, Sam Bennett and Jonathan Huberdeau. With Duclair on the IR and Huberdeau now a Calgary Flame as part of the Matthew Tkachuk trade, the former  ‘9-1-1’ second line is a thing of the past.

 

To open the season, the second line saw Sam Bennett center two new Panthers in Tkachuk and Rudolfs Balcers. 

 

While last year’s line 2 was speed and craftiness, this line screamed grit and physicality.

 

Paul Maurice emphasized winning the board battles when we spoke to him at training camp. This line was doing just that in the offensive zone. 

 

We already knew going into the game what Tkachuk and Bennett were capable of, the question was how Balcers would do with a top 6 role. He didn’t seem out of place in his first game with the team.

 

This line may not stick together the whole season, but it looked good tonight.

The NFL dream start, and the disaster

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The 2022 National Football League season is already well underway, and we have enjoyed a rollercoaster opening five rounds. The various divisions are beginning to take shape as the strongest sides force their way to the head of the pack, leaving others to play catch up. There has also been one or two nightmare starts to the season, and we bring you the best of those in our early-season round-up.

 

Football fans are delighted to see the play return to our TV screens, with games coming thick and fast. Between now and the festive period, the fixture list will continue to go through the gears as we race towards the end of the regular season and towards the playoffs. Five rounds of results may already be in the bag, but it’s not too late to get involved and have your say, thanks to the leading NFL betting sites. Make your predictions today.

 

The top bookmakers offer odds and accept bets on this season’s outcome with various markets and specials available. Pick the team you expect to win the Super Bowl, back a side to make it to the playoffs or go against a rival and have your stake on them not making the final list. Who will be the most valuable player or the best of the rising stars? Football fans passionate about betting and targeting a profit certainly aren’t light on options.

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Eagles soaring high

The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have started any better in the NFC East, with five wins from as many starts. They now sit proudly atop the division and hold the record as the only team still holding onto their 100% record. They know bigger challenges are in the pipeline, but it’s also obvious that there’s more to come from this Eagles side that looks like they mean business. Is this the season they go all the way to Super Bowl glory? It’s certainly looking possible at this stage of proceedings.

 

The Eagles have played five and won five to take control of the group. They have won their first two home games and taken victory from their three road trips, scoring 135 points and conceding just 88. Now, there are teams with more impressive strike rates and better defences, that’s for sure, but there’s no other team with an unbeaten record, and that’s what matters most at this stage. 

 

Indeed, fans couldn’t ask for any more from the coaches and players. But will they keep pushing hard, or is this little more than a good start to the season? Only time will tell, and all will be revealed before the end of the year.

Pittsburgh lack steel

The Philadelphia Eagles are the only team with a 100% record, but it wasn’t as easy to find the side that has made the worst possible start because there are a few contenders to the crowd. It’s still very early in the campaign, and we’ve seen plenty of teams struggle in the opening exchanges, only to turn things around during winter as the schedule gathers pace.

The side we picked as the one with the worst start of the season is the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFC North. They are already stuck at the foot of the group, having managed just one win in their first five outings. The Steelers are yet to win at home with an 0-2-0 record on their patch, while things haven’t been much better on the road, with their stats stuck at 1-2-0. Will that elusive home win every fall? Fans certainly hope so.

 

Pittsburgh has scored 77 goals and conceded 128, which isn’t the worst defensive record you will see at the moment. Steelers have conceded fewer points than a few of the other early strugglers, but their offence is the problem. The 77 points managed is the lowest of the NFL regular season at this stage, and that’s something the coaching staff know must improve. They must begin putting points on the board if they are to fight their way out of the situation they find themselves in, and that must start this weekend. It’ll soon be too late.

Miami Hurricanes need to focus on Virginia Tech WR Kaleb Smith

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The Miami Hurricanes will have their work cut out for them when they take on the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday. Virginia Tech is not exactly an offensive powerhouse. They rank 13th in the ACC in passing offense. They average 220.5 passing yards per game. They do however have a potent wide receiving weapon in Kaleb Smith.

Smith has 25 receptions for 402 yards and two touchdowns. He averages 16.1 yards per reception. He is coming off a game against Pittsburgh in which he really exploded. He caught nine passes for 152 yards, averaging 16.9 yards per reception. A 37-yard grab was his longest of the afternoon.

He was named the ACC’s Wide Receiver of the Week for his big day last Saturday.

He is somebody that the Hurricanes defense is going to have to watch out for. The secondary is going to have to play at a high level in particular. There were a couple of instances last Saturday where coverage completely broke down. To be fair, they improved in the second half. Missed assignments cannot happen against a receiver like Smith. He is a tremendous yards-after-catch receiver, and he can make defenders miss with ease.

He also is a deep threat. He is not the fastest wide receiver, but he is great at getting out of his breaks, and locating the football mid-route. Smith is somebody that Miami is definitely going to have to watch out for. He is the main playmaker of the Virginia Tech offense, and can be a game-changer.

I’ll be interested to see what kind of impact he has in Saturday’s game. The Miami corners are going to be in for a challenge. This Virginia Tech offense is not explosive, but Smith allows them to have some form of dynamic playmaking ability. He could present a challenge to Miami, especially as that secondary unit continues to find their footing.

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Miami Hurricanes: Tyler Van Dyke bounces back in loss

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I understand that people aren’t going to find much optimism from the Miami Hurricanes’ loss yesterday. A loss, is a loss. There is no sugar coating that. However, there was one particular positive I took away from Saturday’s game. That was the play of quarterback Tyler Van Dyke

Let’s face it, he didn’t look like himself against Middle Tennessee State. All throughout the bye week, we were wondering if he would be able to answer back and put together a solid game against a strong North Carolina team. Saturday, I believe he answered the question with a resounding yes.

He went 42-of-57 on the afternoon, throwing for 496 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He looked extremely sharp throughout the course of the day. One of the things that was noticeable was his ability to make quick reads. He was decisive in where he wanted to throw the football, and that resulted in a lot of players having big days.

Take for example Will Mallory. The tight end was a player that I highlighted earlier in the week as somebody that Miami needed to get the football to. The quarterback certainly did so, and the tight end recorded eight catches for 115 yards.

Van Dyke’s big day was also aided by the Miami Hurricanes’ stellar job at utilizing the running backs in the passing game. Henry Parrish caught seven passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. Jaylan Knighton caught two passes for 56 yards, including a 41-yard catch that showcased the quarterbacks in the arm.

Van Dyke looked like the quarterback that we saw last season. His reads were quick and sharp, and his throws were tight. He got the ball out quickly, and made others around him better. Just look at the statistics sheet. Breshard Smith caught five passes for 59 yards. Frank Ladson caught eight passes for 59 yards. Michael Redding caught four passes for 50 yards, while Colbie Young caught three passes for 43 yards.

When Van Dyke is at his best, he makes quick reads and spreads the ball around. He did that on Sunday and he put on a show. Yes, he threw the interception on the final drive. However, that shouldn’t take away from an overall great performance on Saturday. He was at his best, during a week when he really needed to be. Here’s to hoping he can keep it up.

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Miami Hurricanes need to involve Will Mallory early and often Saturday

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The Miami Hurricanes take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday. There are many things Miami needs to do if they want to have success in this game. One of them is to feed the ball to Will Mallory at a higher rate.

It’s not as if Mallory isn’t performing. Statistics and the eye test say otherwise. Mallory currently has 12 catches for 127 yards, and is averaging 10.6 yards per reception. He is coming off a four-catch 50-yard performance against middle Tennessee State last time out. The tight end also had a very solid game against Texas A&M on September 17. He caught six passes for 56 yards. if nothing else, he’s been solid.

Mallory has produced for Miami Hurricanes

Mallory is producing when he has been given opportunities. It just seems like there hasn’t been enough opportunities for him. This is something that needs to change, especially as the Miami Hurricanes try to find a consistent and reliable weapon on the outside.  The tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, and allowing Mallory to really showcase his skill set can make life much easier for the offense.

As far as Saturday is concerned, Miami can take advantage of the North Carolina defense. The Tar Heels give up 238 passing yards per game . That puts them seventh overall in the ACC. That is certainly not the best number, but it’s also not the worst number. There will be opportunities for Miami to move the ball down the field.

This defense is one that I feel like quarterback Tyler Van Dyke and a player like Mallory can really take advantage of. The Miami offense needs to move the ball down the field and score points. Getting the ball to Mallory will help them accomplish that.  Mallory is very good after the catch, and this is a game where if you can just feed him the ball, he can make things happen.

It’s not just enough to get him the ball either. The Miami Hurricanes have to do it early and they have to do it often. Establishing him as a weapon early on will only do good things for the offense. He has the ability to be a key part of the game. He just hasn’t been able to do it for an entire game this season.

If the Miami Hurricanes want to keep pace with Carolina on Saturday, all their weapons need to be involved. That includes Mallory. I’ll be intrigued to see how he is utilized on Saturday.

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Xavien Howard and the Miami Dolphins defense had a rough time in a 45-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Will Florida See Sports Betting Soon?

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Last year, Florida, under the governorship of a sports betting-supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis and a pro-gambling legislature, succeeded in closing a deal with the state’s powerful Seminole gaming tribe  that would have brought sports betting to the state in return for Seminole control of that betting.

A majority of Florida sports fans want to move on from their online casino play, like Intertops casino bonus games and move on to sports gambling in Florida, especially since sports betting is currently legal in more than half of U.S. states.

But the particulars of the deal, which would have let the Seminoles control sports betting by having mobile bets routed through servers located on their native lands, were ruled illegal by federal courts and the two sides seem to be back at Square One in their efforts to introduce Florida sports betting.

As the state government, the feds, gaming tribes throughout the United States, anti-gambling activists, legal observers and sports fans watch, it is becoming clear that this issue will almost certainly be fought out in the courts with no resolution seen for the near future.

Seminoles Team Up With the Feds

The Seminoles are doing everything that they can to ensure that the Tribe’s gaming compact with the State of Florida is reinstated. The deal is a potentially lucrative one for them.

If the federal district judge’s ruling that the compact – which granted the Tribe the exclusive right to operate Florida online sports betting — can be overturned, Florida sports bettors will be able to have their bets processed from anywhere in Florida via the servers located on tribal lands, regardless of where the bettor is located physically.

When the compact was signed in 2021 sports betting became temporarily legal in Florida but within months, federal district judge Dabney Friedrich rejected the proposed structure, calling it “fiction” that was designed to evade the IGRA requirement that all gaming activity “authorized” by a compact take place “on Indian lands.”

Opponents of the compact, including a number of non-tribal Florida casinos and anti-gambling activists, were pleased with the decision.

Now the Seminole Tribes and the Department of the Interior, which oversees tribal casinos are teaming up to see the compact accepted. The two bodies filled appellate briefs with the D.C. circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the compact didn’t “authorize” online sports betting but rather authorized in-person sports betting on tribal lands.

The online sports betting component, they argue, was authorized by Florida state law. The brief states that sports betting provisions of the compact “reflect a permissible hybrid approach, wherein gaming activity that occurs off of the Tribe’s Indian lands is authorized under state law, and gaming activity that occur on Indian lands is authorized by IGRA pursuant to the Compact.”

In effect, says the brief, the language of the compact doesn’t specifically “authorize” online sports betting but rather transfers regulatory jurisdiction over sports betting wagers from the State to the Tribe.

The brief reads in part, “[b]ecause the jurisdiction over the placement of any wager occurring off of Indian lands would normally fall to the State, the compacting parties used IGRA’s jurisdiction allocation provisions to allocate the State’s jurisdiction over that specific aspect of the online sports betting transaction to the Tribe for regulatory purposes . . . so that the Tribe can regulate the [entire online sports betting] transaction from start to finish under the terms of the 2021 Compact. . .”

Allocation of Jurisdiction

In effect, by calling the compact an “allocation of jurisdiction” the DOI and the Seminole Tribe are trying to circumvent the IGRA’s “Indian lands’ limitation by converting betting that originates “off of Indian lands” into gambling that occurs “on Indian lands.”

Legal observers believe that the Seminoles and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs have a long road ahead of them in their efforts to overturn the District Court’s ruling. The brief cites 3 cases as support of the “jurisdiction-shirting” but in point of fact, none of these cases involve off-reservation gaming. Instead, they relate to state jurisdiction over other activities – activities that are completely unrelated to gaming.

For example, in Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians v. California the case revolved around whether California acted in good faith regarding its demand of the inclusion of provisions relating to environmental regulation, tort claims and family law  in its compact negotiations.

In Pueblo of Santa Ana v. Nash, the court was asked to rule over whether a personal injury lawsuit that arose out of the alleged negligent serving of alcohol inside a tribal casino could be heard by a state court.

And in Dalley vs. Navajo Nation, the the issue involved whether the New Mexico state court was the place to hear a personal injury tort claim that arose out of a casino patron’s “slip and fall” on a tribal casino’s wet bathroom floor. 

While each case touched on casino and gaming issues, the question is whether those issues fell under the scope of IGRA. In those cases, the courts did rule that such extraneous issues were related to or necessary for the licensing and regulation of Class III gaming activities.

To win its case, the Seminole Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs/Department of Interior will have to create precedent. There’s no history of a gaming compact being used to grant a  tribe regulatory jurisdiction over any type of gambling activities that occur on non-tribal state lands.

As things stand now, sports fans in Florida may have to wait quite a while as the state, the tribes and other gaming forces find a different avenue that will allow them to bring legal online sports betting to the state.

Important Basketball Rules That Every Player Should Remember

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Basketball is a game that is enjoyed by people of all ages all over the world. While there are many rules in basketball, there are some that are more important than others. In this blog post, we will discuss the most important basketball rules that every player should remember. These rules will help you to stay safe and play fair while enjoying this popular sport!

Remembering the important basketball rules

Basketball was invented in 1891 by Canadian James Naismith. The game has two teams with five players each, and the objective is to score points by shooting a ball through a hoop. The most important rule in boys basketball tryouts is that the ball must be bounced or passed between teammates. However, there is a huge variety of different rules, like a reach-in foul, or traveling. In order to play basketball, it is essential that you understand and abide by the rules of the game. Not only will this help to keep you safe while playing, but it will also ensure that you are fair and respectful to your opponents. The following are some of the most important basketball rules that every player should remember:

Always dribble with your non-dominant hand when you can

This will make it more difficult for your opponents to steal the ball from you. Furthermore, when dribbling, always keep your head up so that you can see where your teammates and opponents are. Another great reason why you should dribble with your non-dominant hand is that it will help you to become ambidextrous, which is a very valuable skill in basketball.

Never carry the ball for more than two steps without passing or shooting

Carrying the ball is also known as “palming”. This is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury to yourself or another player. If you do carry the ball, make sure to pass it or shoot it within two steps. Additionally, never hold the ball for more than five seconds when you are dribbling. Doing so will result in a turnover. On the other hand, if you decide to bring the ball above your shoulders, you must do so with both hands.

Do not charge into another player, even if they are in possession of the ball

This is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury. If you do charge into another player, make sure to do so with your shoulder, not your head. Furthermore, you must give the player you are charging time to react and move out of the way. If you do not, you will be called for a foul. On the other hand, if you are the one who is being charged, make sure to protect yourself by holding your ground.

Do not kick the ball or hit it with your fist

Kicking the ball is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury. If you do kick the ball, make sure to do so with your foot, not your knee or head. Additionally, never hit the ball with your fist, as this can also result in serious injury. Aside from obvious injuries, this type of behavior can also damage the ball, which is expensive. Finally, reacting with a lot of emotion, like in these two scenarios can also cost you points as it is considered a technical foul.

Protect your head at all times – especially when going for a rebound

This is one of the most important rules in basketball, as head injuries are very common in this sport. When going for a rebound, make sure to protect your head by keeping your elbows in and your hands up. Basketball offers a plethora of benefits for younger people, and risking an injury in such a manner will be unnecessary. Additionally, always be aware of where the other players are, as they may accidentally elbow or hit you in the head while going for the ball.

Do not hold, push, or trip your opponents

This is considered a foul and can result in serious injury. If you do hold, push, or trip your opponents, make sure to do so with your hands or feet, not your elbows or knees. Additionally, never use excessive force when doing so. Just because you are allowed to hold, push, or trip your opponents does not mean that you should do so with all of your strength. Use just enough force to stop them from getting past you.

Stepping on the line is a mistake

It does not matter whether this is a foul or the 3-point line, stepping on the line while shooting or dribbling is considered a mistake. This is because it gives you an advantage over your opponents. If you do step on the line, make sure to do so with your foot, not your whole body. Additionally, always be aware of where the lines are so that you do not accidentally step on them. Yes, stepping on the 3-point line will still count as a basket, but only 2 points. However, stepping over the line of the out-of-bounds will result in a turnover.

Avoid arguing with the referees

Arguing with the referees is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury. If you do argue with the referees, make sure to do so calmly and respectfully. Additionally, never use profanity or obscene gestures when arguing with the referees. This type of behavior will only result in your being ejected from the game. Referees also have the right to call technical fouls, which can cost you points and even lead to your being ejected from the game.

Make sure you know where the basketball is at all times

This is one of the most important rules in basketball. If you do not know where the ball is, you will be at a disadvantage and may even get hurt. Additionally, always be aware of where your opponents are so that you do not accidentally run into them. Kicking the ball is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury.

 

In conclusion, these are some important basketball rules that every player should remember. By following these rules, you can help ensure your safety and the safety of your opponents. Additionally, you will be able to avoid costly mistakes that could cost you the game. Finally, always remember to have fun and enjoy the sport of basketball.

The Greatest Arkansas Basketball Players of All Time

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Arkansas basketball has a rich history, and while the Razorbacks have had some of the best players in the game over the years, they’ve also had their fair share of disappointments. From the rising stars of college basketball to some of the most celebrated players in the NBA, here’s a list of some incredible Arkansas players:

1. Sidney Moncrief

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/XcBPc0Q_2h8

Sidney Moncrief, who played at Arkansas from 1975 to 1979, was a three-time All-American and can be credited with putting the Razorbacks’ basketball program on the national map.

The shooting guard’s accolades include playing in the NBA All-Star game for 5 consecutive years. In addition to his consensus First Team All-American designation during one of those seasons (1979), he was also named Consensus Second Team All-American in 1979. His scoring average of over 20 points per game for four seasons surely makes him deserving of his spot on our list.

2. Joe Johnson

Another notable player in Razorbacks history, Joe Johnson spent his collegiate days playing for the University of Arkansas. He was named the state’s Mr. Basketball in 1999 and has made the NBA All-Star team a grand total of 7 times.

When turning professional, he was drafted tenth overall by the Boston Celtics, where he stayed for just one season. He played for six other teams before returning to the Celtics in the 2021 season.

3. Corliss Williamson

Born in Russellville, Corliss Williamson played basketball at Arkansas (1992-95) before going on to play in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings (twice), Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and others.

He won a range of titles over his career and also became a coach in 2007. His 12-year coaching career included a few seasons with a team from his home state, Arkansas Baptist.

4. Alvin Robertson

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Alvin Robertson is a four-time All-Star who played for the San Antonio Spurs from 1984 to 1989. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986 and was part of the All-NBA Second Team in the same year.

Robertson remains the only player ever to have over 300 steals in a season and also holds the record as the player with the highest average steals per game – 2.71. He started his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs and played for four other teams during his career, including the Detroit Pistons.

5. Oliver Miller

Oliver Miller, also known as the ‘Big O’ thanks to his huge 6’9″ frame, played for the Razorbacks until his graduation in 1992. The center was named CBA All-Star in 2003 and drafted 22nd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Phoenix Suns.

Miller played for a considerable number of teams during his career, including several international ones in countries such as Greece, Poland, and China.

6. Todd Day

Todd Day was a shooting guard who played for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1989 to 1992. He was a second and third-team All-American in 1991 and 1992, and the Razorbacks saw considerable success when he was part of the team.

Day was also named SWC Co-Player of the Year in 1991 before being drafted in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He then played for a range of teams, including in Cyprus and Brazil, before becoming a coach in 2016 at Philander Smith, a role he continues with today.

7. Bobby Portis

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/kXJksx1kdJ0

A professional basketball player, Portis was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He played college basketball at the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. He went on to play for the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks before moving to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, where he still plays today.

He was an SEC Player of the Year in 2015 and made it to the NBA Championships three times, playing for the winning team in 2021.

Conclusion

Arkansas is a state with a rich history of basketball, and these players are just a few of the many who have made their mark. We know you’re going to agree that they deserve to be on this list.

 

Title: Sona9 – Online Platform For Sports Betting And Casino Games

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Although the field of gambling and sports betting is certainly very popular in 2022, you should be very careful when choosing a new bookmaker as there are a large number of scammers who abuse the trust of inexperienced users. In the end, the scammers get what they want and new users are left with nothing.

 

To choose a new bookmaker you must be sure that the company whose services you will use is safe. As for the bookmaker Sona9 India, you can fully trust it. Although the company was founded not long ago – in 2021, it has already managed to get a license from the Malta Gaming Authority. In addition, the proof of safety is a large number of users from India and positive feedback about the company.

 

Why is the company so popular in India? All thanks to the hard work of the company’s staff and the range of services which you will be able to use after the registration. By creating an account on the website, the company will offer you a wide variety of sports on which you can bet at the most competitive odds. In addition to sports betting, you’ll be able to play live casinos, slots, phishing, lotteries, and bet on E-sports which is gaining popularity among the younger generation.

 

To familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the company in a short period, read the following headline.

 

Sona9 Pros and Cons

The pros and cons header is a good way to assess all the strengths and weaknesses of any bookmaker, so read this header carefully and you will learn about all the pros and cons of the company and you can decide whether to become a new user of the company or not.

 

Pros:

  • Sona9 offers the opportunity to use the services through a mobile app, as it is available for download for iOS and Android users;
  • Availability of a live casino with a real dealer that creates an environment like in a real gambling establishment;
  • A large number of ways you can contact the support center;
  • Opportunity to bet on eSports which has gained popularity in recent years;
  • Great bonuses and offers for both new and registered members.

 

Cons:

  • The sportsbook of the company is not as extensive as other bookmakers who have a great experience in the sports services market;
  • Because the company mainly focuses on the residents of India, users from other countries will not be able to use the services of the company;
  • A limited number of payment and withdrawal options.

 

If you got acquainted with all the advantages and disadvantages of the company and decided to become a new user and start earning money then you have to go through the registration process first.

 

Sona9 Registration and Verification Process

Creating an account or going through the registration process is one of the prerequisites on the way to using the services of Sona9. Let’s find out how to quickly create an account from which you can bet and play in the casino.

 

Registration is as simple as possible, just follow the suggested instructions:

 

  1. Visit the official website of the company. Go to the official website of the company and find the button for registration. This button is highlighted in orange and will be called join now. Click it;
  2. Fill in the necessary data. Now you have to fill in the blank fields, namely to enter the player’s ID and in the line below come up with a strong password which you have to enter twice. It is desirable that the password is strong and that you were hard to hack. Yes, this is not excluded;
  3. Mobile number. Now enter a valid cell phone number to which you will receive a confirmation code. To send the code click on the purple button and send a message;
  4. Agree to the privacy policy. Now you must agree with the privacy policy, enter the four-digit confirmation code and click the Join Now button.

 

Remember you have to be at least 21 years old to become a user. So it is not allowed to create an account on behalf of another person, for example, your friend.

 

After registering, the company will ask you to verify, to do that you only need to confirm the phone number you entered at registration. This is done to make sure that it was you who created the account.

 

Now the account is created, but how to log in?

 

How to Log in to Sona9 Account

Logging into your account is as easy as registration, just follow these instructions:

 

  1. Go to the Sona9 official website and find the login button. It will be called login. Click on it;
  2. In the window that opens, enter the player’s ID that you typed in the registration. In the line below, enter the password.

 

All users have the option to use the remember password function so you don’t have to enter it every time you log in to your account. And if you forget your id or password, you need to contact the customer support center via live chat.

 

Let’s have a closer look at the official website of the company, its design, and its navigation.

 

Sona9 Official Website Overview

The quality of the company’s official website depends on its popularity of the company as you may not want to use the company’s services if it is not convenient. There is no problem with the Sona9 official website as it is created as a result of the work of high-quality developers who have done everything possible for the site to look nice and for the necessary information to be found quickly.

 

Going to the official website of the company you will be pleasantly surprised and see the following:

 

  • The top line. Here are the most popular tabs, i.e. those that are most often used by customers. Using the top line you will be able to see the company’s sportsbook, live casino, slots, phishing, cybersports, and lotteries. Here you can also find tabs to log in to your account and register. If you want to change the language, you can do so in the top right corner. Residents of India can use Hindi;
  • Homepage. There will be information about the most popular games of the company. By studying them you can choose what will be to your liking;
  • Bottom part. There will be described the benefits of the company, namely information about its security and fast payment and withdrawal methods. Here you will also find a list of all providers;
  • Quick links. The company has a large number of quick links that will allow you to learn about the privacy policy, possible payment methods, withdrawal, and frequently asked questions.

 

Now let’s take a look at the services the company offers every day.

 

Sona9 Sport Betting

The field of sports betting is at the peak of popularity and is on par with live casinos and slots. Sona9 sports betting is a good way to make money at the best odds. To see the company’s sportsbook, just go to the sports tab at the top of the official company website, there you will see the following disciplines:

 

  • Cricket;
  • Basketball;
  • Football;
  • Tennis;
  • Golf;
  • Baseball.

 

Although the sportsbook is not as extensive, it contains the most popular sports. For example, cricket is very popular in India. Also by going to the sports tab you can see the schedule of all upcoming sporting events. 

 

To make users feel good, the company has developed a system of bonuses and offers. The specific bonuses you can read further.

 

Sona9 Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses and promotions are a nice way to get cash bonuses from the company that will appear in your Bonus Account. 

 

Here’s a list of possible bonuses:

 

  • Referral link. Each user can invite new players through the referral link and the main user and the new one will receive 300 INR each provided that the invited user deposits at least 2,000 INR. The number of players that can be invited is unlimited;
  • Welcome Bonus for betting on sports + 100% on first deposit up to 12,000 INR. To get this type of bonus chooses the Welcome Bonus on Sports Betting on your deposit. The minimum deposit amount is INR 600 and the maximum bonus amount is 12,000 INR. It’s a good way to start down the sports betting path, isn’t it?;
  • Casino Welcome Bonus +100% on first deposit up to 20,000 INR. Just like with the sports bonus, choose a casino bonus when you make a deposit. Once a deposit is made, the deposit amount will be multiplied by 100%. The minimum deposit amount to activate the bonus is 600 INR. The maximum bonus amount is 20,000 INR;
  • 10% cashback on casino bets. If your bet loses you will be able to receive a 10% cashback, but the cashback amount can not exceed 5,000 INR. 

 

All welcome bonuses can be activated only by new users on their first deposit. It is impossible to activate the sports bonus and casino bonus at the same time, so choose the bonus you like.

 

You already know that you have to deposit to activate the bonus, but what payment methods are available on the company’s website?

 

Sona9 Payment Methods

New users resort to payment methods when they want to make a deposit or withdraw money. Although Sona9 does not offer many payment methods, they are fast and reliable.

 

Here are the payment methods you will be able to use:

 

  • UPI Payment system;
  • PayTM;
  • PhonePe;
  • Local bank.

 

When choosing one or another method remember that the minimum deposit amount for any method is 200 INR. And when withdrawing funds you will be able to do this if you have accumulated at least 2,000 INR. As for the maximum withdrawal amount, there is no information about it.

 

When you got acquainted with the possible payment methods it’s time to know how to make a deposit and withdraw funds.

 

Sona9 How to Make a Deposit and Withdrawal

No matter what your objective is, like betting on sports or activating a bonus, you have to make a deposit first. To do this uncomplicated for new users, you can read the step-by-step instruction below.

 

How to Deposit:

  1. Log into your account and find the button to deposit. Click on it;
  2. Choose the most suitable way of deposit from the offered ones. If you choose the UPI payment system or for example PhonePe then it’s enough to enter a deposit amount that can’t be less than the minimum deposit amount and click on the deposit button;
  3. If you’ve chosen the local bank as a way to deposit, then you need to make additional steps. Namely, contact the company’s support center to get the bank account number of the company. Then choose the way with a local bank and transfer money to the account given to you by the employees of the company. You will be able to check the actual balance in the wallet tab.

 

If you’ve saved enough money, you can withdraw it anytime, just follow the instructions below.

 

How to Withdraw:

  1. Just like you did when you deposited, log into your account and find the withdrawal tab. Click on it;
  2. You will only be able to use your local bank method for withdrawal. So you have to enter the name of the bank, the account number, and the name of the recipient;
  3. Click on withdraw funds and wait for the transaction to be approved. This may take a few days.

 

If you still have unresolved questions, you can refer to the FAQs on the official website.

Miami Hurricanes: Pass rush needs to be key focus against UNC

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The Miami Hurricanes will have their hands full with the North Carolina Tar Heels this weekend. The Tar Heels have a potent offense, and it starts with their quarterback, Drake Maye.

Maye has thrown for 1,594 yards, 19 touchdowns, and an interception so far this season. He is coming off a game against Virginia Tech that saw the Tar Heels win by a 41-10 margin.  The quarterback was a huge reason why they were able to come away with the resounding victory. He went 26-of-36 on the afternoon, throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 10.1 yards per pass.

Maye will certainly present a challenge to the Miami Hurricanes’ defense. The Miami passing defense has struggled a bit. They rank at the bottom of the ACC in yards allowed per game at 251. They rank in the middle of the ACC with 10 sacks, tied with Virginia Tech and Boston College in that number.

Miami Hurricanes pass rush has been quiet

Miami needs to establish more of a pass-rushing presence on Saturday. Jafari Harvey is the leading pass rusher with two sacks on the season. That certainly needs to change. Pass-rushing has been a bit quiet over the past couple of games. They did have two sacks against middle Tennessee State. One came from Corey Flagg, and the other came from Daryl Porter Jr.

More weapons than Maye

Maye is not the only reason why the pass-rush needs to be effective on Saturday. UNC also has several capable playmakers. They don’t necessarily have a top wide receiver. They have multiple players that can make big plays. Take for example their tight end, Bryson Nesbit. He leads the team with 287 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season. He averages 16.9 yards per catch.

Josh Downs is the team’s leader in receiving touchdowns with four. He has 230 yards on the season, and averages 10.5 yards per reception.

They also have explosive weapons that have not gotten involved in the passing game as much. Antoine Greene is one of them. He only has seven receptions, but has 209 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Pressure on the quarterback will need to be a priority for Saturday. Guys like Harvey and Flagg, among others, will need to step up once again. If they do not, the Miami Hurricanes could be in for a long day. Allowing Maye to sit in the pocket and have time to make his reads is a recipe for disaster.

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