NFL – Lions introduce emotionally charged coach Dan Campbell
Dan Campbell is empathic about the hard times people have had in Detroit, in their lives and as fans of the Lions. The new coach of the long-suffering franchise is fired up for an opportunity to help the NFL team and people in the Motor City. Campbell had a virtual news conference Thursday, a day after he signed a six-year contract. The 44-year-old Campbell is the latest coach to try to change the conversation about the lowly Lions. The former New Orleans tight ends coach has 11 years of experience in the NFL as a coach and 11 as a player.
NFL – National Football League – Conference Championships
Sunday
Both games live on News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM
NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers, 3:05 p.m.
AFC: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs, 6:40 p.m.
NFL – NFC: All eyes on QBs as Packers host Bucs for NFC championship
Tampa Bay’s Tom Brady and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers rarely have faced each other during their respective Hall of Fame-caliber careers. Never have they met with so much at stake. The two star quarterbacks will square off for just the fourth time when the Packers host the Buccaneers in the NFC championship game on Sunday. This marks their first postseason matchup. Brady is seeking his 10th Super Bowl appearance as he tries to get Tampa Bay to reach that stage for the first time since its 2002 championship season. Rodgers is seeking his second Super Bowl berth.
NFL – AFC: Bills head to Kansas City for first AFC title game since ’94
The Bills will be making their first AFC championship game appearance since a 30-13 home win over Kansas City on Jan. 23, 1994. But unlike that game in Buffalo, the Bills will be the visitors for the first time in three postseason games against the Chiefs. Kansas City is only the second team in NFL history to host three consecutive conference title games with the other being Philadelphia, when the Eagles were led by current Chiefs coach Andy Reid. The Bills advanced to the title game with a 17-3 win over Baltimore while the reigning Super Bowl champs beat Cleveland 22-17 last week.
NHL – National Hockey League
Tonight
Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday
Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks, 12:30 p.m.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets, 7:00 p.m.
Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons, 7:00 p.m.
Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday
Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons, 8:00 p.m.
Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.
Tonight
Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers, 1:00 p.m.
NCAAFB – Irish on probation, faces recruiting limits for violations
Notre Dame’s football program is on NCAA probation until next January. The school admitted to recruiting violations in 2019 in which a now-former assistant had an impermissible in-person meeting with one prospect and sent impermissible text messages to another. The NCAA announced the negotiated resolution after it was reviewed by the Division I Committee on Infractions. Official recruiting visits will be reduced from 56 to 55 to this year and there will be cuts in number of days prospects can make unofficial campus visits.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Last Night
Buffalo 92, Eastern Michigan 77
Akron 81, Central Michigan 67
Buffalo 92, EMU 77 – Williams scores 24 to lift Buffalo over E. Michigan 92-77
Jeenathan Williams had 24 points as Buffalo got past Eastern Michigan 92-77. Bryce McBride led the Eagles with 20 points.
Akron 81, CMU 67 – Trimble Jr. leads Akron over Cent. Michigan 81-67
Bryan Trimble Jr. had a career-high 25 points as Akron beat Central Michigan 81-67. Meikkel Murray led the Chippewas with a season-high 23 points.
Tonight
(7) Michigan at Purdue, 7:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 6:30
Saturday
Bowling Green at Central Michigan, 2:00 p.m.
Akron at Western Michigan, 5:00 p.m.
Miami (OH) at Eastern Michigan, 5:30 p.m.
(22) Illinois at Michigan State, PPD
Sunday
Notre Dame at Miami (FL), 6:00 p.m.
NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
(17) Ohio State 81, (11) Michigan 77
Notre Dame 65, Virginia Tech 60
(16) Indiana at Michigan State, PPD
(17) Ohio State 81, (11) Michigan 77 – No. 17 Ohio State women spoil Hillmon’s 50-point performance
Jacy Sheldon scored 20 points, including a 3-pointer and two free throws in the final 48 seconds, and No. 17 Ohio State beat No. 11 Michigan 81-77, spoiling Naz Hillmon’s 50-point, 16-rebound performance. Hillmon broke Michigan’s program scoring record — for men’s or women’s — by making 20 of 30 field goals and 10 of 14 free throws to reach the half-century mark. It was the highest scoring output this season in Division 1, and the first 50-point game in the Big Ten since Rachel Banham’s 52 for Minnesota on Feb. 21, 2016.
Saturday
Ball State at Eastern Michigan, 12:00 p.m.
Ohio at Western Michigan, 12:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Akron, 2:00 p.m.
Sunday
Notre Dame at North Carolina, 12:00 p.m.
Purdue at (11) Michigan, 1:00 p.m.
Michigan State at Wisconsin, 3:00 p.m.
NCAAHKY – Men’s College Hockey
Last Night
(8) Michigan 5, (16) Notre Dame 1
Tonight
(8) Michigan at (16) Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Football
State Championships – Ford Field, Detroit
Today
Division 8
Centreville vs. Ubly, 10:00 a.m.
Division 2
Musk. Mona Shores vs. Warren De La Salle, 1:00 p.m.
Division 6
Montague vs. Clinton, 4:30 p.m.
Division 4
Cadillac vs. Det. Country Day, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Division 7
New Lothrop vs. T.C. St. Francis, 10:00 p.m.
Division 1
Davison vs. West Bloomfield, 1:00 p.m.
Division 5
GR Catholic Central vs. Frankenmuth, 4:30 p.m.
Division 3
DeWitt vs. River Rouge, 7:30 p.m.
