Duke, Kansas make big statements on opening night, plus the NFL fines Aaron Rodgers, Packers

Happy Wednesday everyone, it’s Zach Pereles back at it. If you’re like me, you might be needing an extra cup of coffee after staying up to watch a highly entertaining game between Kentucky and Duke, but it was well worth it.

Unless you’re a Kentucky fan.

Good morning to everyone but especially to…

NO. 3 KANSAS AND NO. 9 DUKE

The college basketball season tipped off with games all over the country yesterday, but by Tuesday night, most eyes had settled on the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden for No. 3 Kansas vs Michigan State and No. 10 Kentucky vs No. 9 Duke. When the dust had settled, it was the Jayhawks and the Blue Devils starting their seasons on the right note.

Let’s start with Duke, who opened Mike Krzyzewski’s final season with a win thanks to impressive freshmen Paolo Banchero and Trevor Keels. The two youngsters combined for 47 of their team’s 79 points. Here’s more about Duke from our college basketball expert Kyle Boone:

• Boone on Banchero: “He finished with 22 points in 31 minutes and went 7-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line and was, quite clearly, the best player on the floor by a wide margin. This is a player that should not only lift Duke to a new level as a serious contender, but one that we should now consider as a real POY contender, too.”

As for Kansas, senior Ochai Agbaji poured in a career-high 29 points in a win. After testing NBA Draft waters this summer, Agbaji was outstanding for a Jayhawks squad working in a lot of new faces. Here’s college basketball scribe Matt Norlander with more:

• Norlander: “On Tuesday night, KU senior Ochai Agbaji made a compelling argument that he’ll not only be Kansas’ best player — but also a potential All-American. The third-ranked Jayhawks made casual work of Michigan State, winning 87-74 at Madison Square Garden and sending notice that this team could be deeper, stronger and more physically adroit than the Jayhawks group that went 21-9 and failed to get out of the first weekend of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.”

You can see all of college basketball expert Kyle Boone’s opening-night takeaways here and you’re not going to want to miss our Gary Parrish on the first night of Coach K’s farewell tour.

Not such a good morning for…

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS

It’s been a whirlwind last week for the Packers and especially their starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 last week, it was revealed he is unvaccinated, so he had to miss this past weekend’s game at the Chiefs and can’t return to practice until Saturday at the earliest.

The latest chapter to unfold is the NFL handing down fines to not only the Packers but also Rodgers and wide receiver Allen Lazard for breaching COVID-19 protocols.

Here’s the breakdown:

• The Packers were fined $300,000 for Rodgers not wearing a mask at press conferences and the team not reporting that Rodgers and Lazard, both of whom are unvaccinated, attended a team Halloween party
• Rodgers and Lazard were each fined $14,650 for attending the party

Earlier Tuesday, Rodgers said he took “full responsibility” for misleading the public about his vaccination status. In August, he had said he was “immunized” when asked about whether he had been vaccinated or not.

CFP Rankings: Movement among Big Ten teams 🏈

Welcome to the top four, Ohio State! After Michigan State lost this past weekend, the Buckeyes slid up from No. 5 last week to No. 4 in Tuesday night’s College Football Playoff Rankings rankings. Here’s a look at the top eight teams.

• 1. Georgia (prev. week: 1)
• 2. Alabama (prev. week: 2)
• 3. Oregon (prev. week: 3)
• 4. Ohio State (prev. week: 4)
• 5. Cincinnati (prev. week: 6)
• 6. Michigan (prev. week: 7)
• 7. Michigan State (prev. week: 3)
• 8. Oklahoma (prev. week 8)

One thing that immediately jumps out is that Oregon is one spot ahead of Ohio State, thanks to a head-to-head win. But further down the rankings, the same logic doesn’t apply. Michigan is one spot ahead of Michigan State, even though the Spartans beat the Wolverines on Oct. 30. From college football writer Barrett Sallee:

• Sallee: “Excuse me? A road loss to Purdue — a team which the committee ranked No. 19 this week despite not being in last week’s rankings — was what set the Spartans back? This is all brand awareness. There’s no other way that a top-20 loss one weekend negates a head-to-head outcome the week prior.”

Odell Beckham Jr. is a free agent, looking to join a contender 👀

After parting ways with the Cleveland Browns, Odell Beckham Jr. cleared waivers on Tuesday and is now a free agent. The three-time Pro Bowler reportedly has the Green Bay Packers as his top choice.

NFL expert Cody Benjamin listed the top 10 best suitors for Beckham Jr. and agrees that Green Bay could be a good choice.

• Benjamin: “They’ve dealt with different forms of Aaron Rodgers drama all year, so we’re not sure they’d welcome another potential headache. But if Rodgers is running the show, why not? Davante Adams is the clear No. 1, but Beckham would properly relegate Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb to secondary roles, giving Green Bay a major one-two punch out wide for a title run. And it’s been reported that Green Bay is Beckham’s top landing spot, so he’s ours as well.”

There’s no denying Beckham Jr.’s talent, and there’s no denying a potential fit in Green Bay. Adams has 38 more receptions and 542 more receiving yards than any other Packers wide receiver, so a strong second option on the outside could serve Rodgers well.

On the other hand, Rodgers’ connection with Adams is so strong because the two have great chemistry, a chemistry that doesn’t just develop overnight and might be hard to achieve halfway through a season. Still, Beckham Jr. is more than capable of contributing anywhere, and we’ll be anxiously awaiting the news of where his next stop is.

The MLB hot stove is slowly heating up ⚾

The Cincinnati Reds spent the majority of the 2021 season right in the thick of the playoff race thanks to stars such as Nick Castellanos, Joey Votto and Luis Castillo. Now, roughly a month later, all of those guys — and plenty more — are available as the organization tries to cut costs.

That has been the biggest news of the hot stove so far. So, which Reds could be on the move, and where could they go? MLB expert Mike Axisa has some answers, including a name that you’d think Cincy would never want to move.

• Axisa: “Hard to imagine Joey Votto playing for another team, isn’t it? Votto turned 38 in September and he just had a resurgent 36-homer season, tying the second highest total of his career, with his typically strong on-base percentage. He is a hitting savant, capable of making adjustments to remain productive even while his physical skills naturally erode with age. … Potential landing spots: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees.“
  
  

Elsewhere, the Mets are making offseason waves once again. First, they’re no longer looking for a president of baseball operations and instead will focus on finding a GM. And GM or no GM, the Mets will meet with mega-agent Scott Boras to discuss Kris Bryant. 

As for other news around the hot stove:

• Justin Verlander threw in front of teams on Monday. The two-time Cy Young winner had Tommy John surgery last October.
• Do-it-all free agent Chris Taylor is drawing heavy interest from around the majors. His 73 RBI last season were a career high.
• The Angels, in their seemingly endless quest to find better pitching, are interested in Robbie Ray and Eduardo Rodriguez.

Odds and ends

• A woman is accusing Vikings running back Dalvin Cook of assault, battery and false imprisonment. This came after Cook’s agent, Zac Hiller, claimed Cook was a victim of domestic abuse and extortion.
• Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold has a fractured scapula and will miss several weeks. Darnold’s 11 interceptions this season are tied for the NFL lead, and the Panthers have lost five of six since starting 3-0. P.J. Walker will take over at quarterback
• Penny Sarver, the wife of Suns owner Robert Sarver, reportedly sent “intimidating messages” to three former Suns employees. This comes as the NBA continues to investigate Robert Sarver over claims of racism, misogyny and workplace toxicity.
  
  

What we’re watching Wednesday 

🏈 Toledo at Bowling Green, 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, BG +10.5 — Who doesn’t love some mid-week MACtion?

🏀 Pistons at Rockets, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, HOU -3.5 — No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham vs No. 2 pick Jalen Green

🏀 Heat at Lakers, 10 p.m. on ESPN, LAL +4.5 — Jimmy Butler vs Russell Westbrook. Bam Adebayo vs Anthony Davis. Need I say more?