Barkley to enter draft
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is entering the NFL draft. Barkley announced his decision to skip his senior year Sunday, a day after helping Penn State beat Washington in the Fiesta Bowl.
In a letter posted to his Instagram account, Barkley thanked Penn State fans, teammates and coaches and said he promised his parents and coach James Franklin that he would return to complete his journalism degree. “I hope I have left a lasting impression on this University, football program and community at large,” Barkley wrote.
The 5-11, 233-pound Barkley ran for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns this season and had 54 catches for 632 yards and three TDs. He also completed two passes — one for a score — and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and won the Paul Hornung Award as college football’s most versatile player.
AVS HAMMER ISLES
Gabriel Landeskog scored twice in less than two minutes in the second period, and the host Avalanche routed the Islanders, 6-1. The Islanders lost head coach Doug Weight, who was given a game misconduct after Landeskog’s first goal. Josh Bailey scored for the Isles, who have lost six straight on the road.
ROCKETS EDGE LAKERS IN 2-OT
James Harden scored 40 points before leaving with a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter, and Chris Paul scored 15 of his 28 points in overtime as the host Rockets snapped a fivegame skid with a 148-142 double-OT win over the Lakers. L.A. led by as many as 17, but couldn’t hold on as its season-long slide reached six games.
UCONN WOMEN ROLL
Gabby Williams scored 20 points, hitting all 10 of her shots, dished out seven assists and had four steals as UConn routed Memphis, 97-49, in the conference opener for both teams. Kia Nurse scored 16 points and Napheesa Collier added 14 as six players scored in double figures for the Huskies (11-0), who have never lost in 83 American Athletic Conference games. —
There’s been no indication that the new front office tandem of Scott Perry and Steve Mills will abandon their plan to build slowly. But we’ve heard this before from other regimes and success — or failure — can lead to hasty decisions. Those can include a shortsighted roster move or firing a coach.
He’s still inconsistent, but the Latvian is the best thing the Knicks have going for them. Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict injuries, but the 22-year-old seems to have learned from the last two seasons how to safely apply himself. He detailed the process on Friday: “For me it’s extremely important to get my recovery every day, every hour, every treatment. And I lift weights. I lift weights every day. That’s the key for me to stay healthy and to feel good on the court. Obviously this year is much tougher on me than the previous two seasons, but I think with all the things I’m doing that’s helping me a lot to stay on the court and also I think mentally I think it’s a little easier to push yourself through little things when something’s hurting."
That doesn’t mean tank. Do not tank. But do the due diligence on this draft because the pick will probably be the only real way to upgrade the roster in the summer. Phil Jackson wasn’t exactly a grinder when it came to scouting prospects, but he still deserves credit for drafting Porzingis. Word is Perry has already attended college games and is taking a very close look at all the potential picks, poring over game films. That’s a good sign.
As referenced, the Knicks don’t have many avenues to roster improvement. Cap space in the summer of 2018 will probably be close to zero. But however the Knicks are capable of improving, the focus should be on acquiring players who can play uptempo and aggressive. It’s what they’re missing, more than anything. Jeff Hornacek wants to play faster, Porzingis would benefit from playing faster, and yet Tim Hardaway Jr. (who is out with a stress injury) is the only Knick really suited to push that type of pace.