As college baseball teams gear up for the start of practice in two weeks, the first preseason polls have been released, revealing that East Carolina University (ECU) is not ranked for the first time since 2018. This change comes as head coach Cliff Godwin has heavily utilized the transfer portal to fill gaps left by graduating and transferring players.
Riley Johnson and Dixon Williams are among the returning players for ECU, and the team is looking to replicate the success of 2018 when they won 44 games despite not being ranked in the preseason.
In the D-1 college baseball preseason poll, Texas A&M secured the top spot, followed by the University of Virginia at number two, and LSU at number three.
In college basketball, North Carolina Central University (NC Central) is set to host Delaware State tonight. Kinston native Isaac Parson, who averages 8 points per game, recently came off the bench to score 13 points against Maryland Eastern Shore, leading to NC Central’s first league win. The men’s game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m., following the NC Central women’s game in Durham.
In the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes’ Eric Staal Night was spoiled by the Anaheim Ducks, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime. The loss ended the Hurricanes’ two-game winning streak, leaving them in third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes will next face the Buffalo Sabres on the road this Wednesday at 6 p.m.
In NFL news, the Washington Commanders celebrated their first playoff win since 2006, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Commanders, led by Jayden Daniels, face a short work week as they prepare to play again on Saturday. Meanwhile, the final NFL playoff game of the weekend will see the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams face off in Arizona.
