While the 2021 NBA draft is still far with the 2020-21 season just getting rolling, the number one selection for the upcoming draft already seems set in stone. As of now, the number one pick will most likely be Cade Cunningham, currently a freshman at Oklahoma State University. Cunningham is currently projected to go number one overall in several NBA Mock drafts, including ESPN and Bleacher Report and there are several reasons why.

At 6 feet 8 inches and 220 pounds, Cunningham has the prototypical body type that should translate very well into the NBA. Some of the game’s biggest stars today are LeBron James (6 feet 9 inches), Luka Doncic (6 feet 7 inches), Kawhi Leonard (6 feet 7 inches) and others in the same height range. Besides height, Cunningham also has the skill to be a star, which is most important. He possesses great ball-handling skills and can play the point when needed. He’s a strong rebounder and a facilitator. His biggest strength, however, is his scoring ability.

Even though Cunningham’s 19.5 PPG scoring average for the season doesn’t particularly stand out, he still managed to score at a high efficiency and grabbed six rebounds to go with four assists. This season Cunningham, has made 45 percent of his field goals and 39 percent of his three-pointers. The 39 percent is important because in order to become a truly elite player in the NBA, being able to hit three-pointers on a nightly basis is a huge deal. Ben Simmons, for example, is a great NBA player, but he would be a top 10 player if he were able to hit three-pointers routinely like LeBron has over the years. (Of course, Simmons would have to attempt outside shots as a first step.)

Cunningham showed why he should be the number one pick in an away game on Feb. 27 against the University of Oklahoma, ranked seventh. Cunningham put on an absolute clinic against the rival Sooners. Cunningham finished the game with 40 points and 11 rebounds. He had a field goal percentage of 57 percent, including hitting three shots from downtown. Cunningham not only put up a huge performance but also helped his team secure the win in overtime with a score of 94-90.

When asked about Cunningham’s performance, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton wasn’t shy about his admiration for Cunningham.

“Obviously there’s a lot being made about his performance this year, and I think people will know he’s a really good player. I think I said it maybe two weeks ago, you need to appreciate what you’re watching, it’s special. I’ve watched him now five years now. I’ve seen this now for a long time and I’m not surprised that the biggest game on our schedule, one the road, he stepped up and was ready to go compete at the highest level,” Boynton said. “Obviously he played against a really good team. It was a helluva game, I’ve only been around here for (10) games in this series — Jawun Evans‘ performance in Stillwater my year I was an assistant coach is pretty damn good. I think he scored like the last 20 points of the game, but I think you have dig pretty deep to find one better than this one.”

Currently, Cunningham and the Cowboys are rated number 17 in the country. On Thursday, March 4, the team will have a big test as they go on the road against third-ranked Baylor. If Cunnigham puts together a strong performance and helps get his team the win, he will only further cement his status as the presumed number one pick for the 2021 NBA Draft. With March Madness starting on March 18, Cunningham will have yet another opportunity to add to his growing legend.

Drexel Women’s Soccer currently stands 1-2 for the season, with a win at Villanova and two losses at New Jersey Institute of Technology and La Salle. The team is looking strong for the season, with five freshmen looking to make their mark: Molly Piso, Anna Salvucci, Kayleigh Kenny, Delaney Lappin, Alexandra Kornafel and Klara Gorges. Having already begun their season at NJIT, the Dragons faced two matches last week, one home and one away.

Drexel Women’s Soccer team began their busy schedule with matches on Feb. 25 and Feb. 28. Looking for some positive results following a 3-1 loss at NJIT, the Dragons headed into their first match strong. Taking on Villanova for their home opener at the Vidas Field, Drexel held out their opponents for a thrilling 1-0 win.

The winning goal, scored in the 97th minute, came from freshman midfielder Anna Salvucci, assisted by junior Lauren Currey. The winning goal was the freshman’s first goal for the Dragons, having transferred from UConn, proving herself to be an exciting newcomer to the team. Special mention also to goalkeeper Miyuki Schoyen, who made three saves throughout the game. Both Currey and senior Melissa Lyon had scoring chances throughout the game, although neither made the points. Despite this, the home favorites proudly took the victory, albeit without their loyal fans present due to COVID-19.

Up next came the Dragons’ away match for the week at La Salle’s McCarthy Stadium. The Dragons suffered a 1-0 loss to a strong team, with the goal coming in the 47th minute from La Salle’s penalty kick. Sophomore goalie Schoyen was beaten by the kick despite her efforts, and the ball landed in the lower right corner. Schoyen did, however, make two saves for Drexel. Drexel’s ladies seemed to be ahead for most of the match, with six corners in the first half of the match, but the La Salle Explorer’s goalkeeper proved too strong. One goal was enough for the opposing team, and the game was ultimately decided in the early stages of the second half. La Salle improved to a 3-0 record for the current season, whilst the Dragons fell to 1-2 overall.

In some more positive news for the Dragons, Salvucci was named Colonial Athletic Association Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Week. Her valiant efforts at the Dragons’ win over Villanova didn’t go unnoticed. The UConn transfer will be looking to continue making an impact on the team during her first season at Drexel. The Dragons have a busy schedule ahead of them, expecting to play again March 5 against Wagner and later on March 13 against Hofstra.

Unlike the electric and fast-paced matches in this round as of late, the mood was nervous and pragmatic as Atletico Madrid hosted Chelsea for their first leg of the Round of 16. While Atletico were technically the host team, they were unfortunately not allowed to play in their home stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano. Instead, the game was played at a neutral venue in Bucharest, Romania due to COVID-19 travel restrictions between Spain and England.

This match is a perfect example of how ever-changing football is as a sport. Rewind to one month ago: Atletico Madrid were in the best form they had been in years, going on an eight-match winning streak in La Liga which gave them a 10-point lead at the top of the league table. On the other hand, Chelsea had just sacked their manager, Frank Lampard, after a string of inconsistent and disappointing results which saw them struggling to make it into the Premier League top four.

Fast forward a month later to now: Not all has been smooth sailing for Chelsea under new manager Thomas Tuchel, but he has been able to stabilize the situation and piece together a run of good form. Meanwhile, fatigue has set in in the Atletico ranks. After two sluggish draws and a loss, their 10-point lead has shrunk to three points (although it must be said that they have a game in hand). A month ago, many expected Atleti to blow away Chelsea, but heading into this recent match, the predictions were much more balanced.

As the match kicked off, Atletico Madrid simply could not patch together their attack and midfield. Historically a defensive team, coach Diego Simeone has tried new things this season, offering a dynamic attacking side to his game, which so far has worked well in league play. Against Chelsea, however, the midfield could not hold on to the ball, the fullbacks were isolated far up on the pitch and the strikers weren’t seeing enough of the ball.

As a result, Atleti simply reverted back to the resolute defensive strategy they are stereotypically known for. Because of this, Chelsea were given much more freedom on the ball, dominating possession and utilizing the wings to cross balls in. But Atleti’s defensive prowess in the backline was unbreakable; center-backs Mario Hermoso and Felipe were fantastic on the night, cutting off passing lanes and intercepting crosses left and right, leaving Chelsea with barely any chances on goal.

This defensive emphasis is unsustainable as long as the attack was not going anywhere, though. When on the ball, Luis Suarez got in good areas and created several chances, but he wasn’t getting the ball enough, while Joao Felix was largely invisible. You can defend the whole game, but all it takes is one small mistake to crash the system, which is exactly what happened.

Olivier Giroud, the continually underrated striker for Chelsea (who seems to only score beautiful goals), was lurking in the Atletico penalty area late in the match before a ball was crossed in. The ball bounced around in the box before luckily ricocheting off Hermoso’s shin and in Giroud’s path. With his back to goal, Giroud flung his body into the air, sinking the ball into the net with a flawless bicycle kick and giving Chelsea a valuable lead which they would hold on to. While Atletico still have a great chance to turn this tie around, Chelsea fans will sleep well knowing the odds are in their favor.

Lazio (Italy) 1-4 Bayern Munich (Germany)

Heading into this match, Lazio were preparing themselves as potential giant killers in the face of Bayern Munich, the team who won the Champions League last year and are the reigning World Champions after winning the Club World Club earlier this month. While their record speaks for itself, Bayern have not been in the best of form lately, as lingering defensive issues saw them concede three goals in a draw with Arminia Bielefeld and lose to Eintracht Frankfurt in their two most recent matches. Meanwhile, excepting a loss to the Italian league-leaders, Inter Milan, Lazio have not lost a league match since December of last year, leaving them with great hope that they can topple the Bavarian behemoths. But fortunately for Bayern (yet unfortunately for Lazio), David was not able to take down Goliath in this instance.

If the match between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea was a tense affair with great defending and subdued attacks, this match was the complete opposite. Defensive mistakes and electric attacking moves resulted in a goalfest as Lazio welcomed Bayern Munich to their famous Stadio Olimpico in Rome. From the first minute to the last, Bayern’s relentless pressure instilled fear into Lazio’s backline, forcing them into huge blunders.

It did not take long for this to pay off; only nine minutes in, a mishit backpass from Mateo Musacchio was pounced on by Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski, easily making it 1-0 to the away side. Just over 10 minutes later, 17-year-old Jamal Musiala doubled Bayern’s lead after he was gifted way too much space at the top of the penalty box. Right before the half ended, Bayern would make it 3-0 in their favor when a gut-bursting run and cut-back shot from Kingsley Coman was easily turned in by Leroy Sane, after the desperate save from Lazio’s keeper, Pepe Reina, was parried out.

The beginning of the second half was more of the same as Bayern dominated the midfield. Their wingers shredded Lazio’s defense to small slices with their pace and power, all while the Lazio defenders made life extremely hard for themselves with mistake after mistake. The misery was further piled on in the second half after a dangerous run and low-cross from Sane was accidentally turned into the goal by Lazio’s own Francesco Acerbi, making it 4-0.

It was not all bad for Lazio on the night though, as immediately after that goal, great linkup play by Luis Alberto and a mazy dribble from Joaquin Correa saw Lazio get a goal back with a wonderful strike. In fact, throughout the match, Lazio was actually very dangerous on the attack, forcing Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into several last-ditch saves. If Lazio’s defenders did not shoot themselves in the foot with their erroneous performances, Lazio could have gotten something out of this match.

But in the end, Bayern leave Italy with an already insurmountable 4-1 lead, further proving why they are the best team in the world by far. While crazier things have happened in football, it seems that Lazio need nothing short of a divine miracle to organize a comeback in the second leg.

Atalanta (Italy) 0-1 Real Madrid (Spain)

Real Madrid enter the tie barely needing any introduction, as they are the most successful club in Europe and have been crowned King of Europe on 13 occasions—more than anyone else—including three consecutive victories from 2016 to 2018.

However, history and experience can only take you so far. These past few seasons, Real Madrid have been far from that perpetually winning, monstrous side of years past. By their extremely high standards, Los Blancos have had a subpar season so far, sitting in second place in La Liga. They have looked especially vulnerable at times; in fact, they barely made it out of their Champions League group, which they were expected to win easily. Extra problems have been piled on for manager Zinedine Zidane as his team has been hit by a devasting injury crisis, forcing key players like Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Fede Valverde and Eden Hazard out of this match.

On the other hand, Atalanta was the fan-favorite team for their beautiful playing style and underdog status, and they were loving life heading into this match. Atalanta are a team that truly enjoy playing football, and as a result, they are a joy to watch. Despite not having much footballing pedigree nor a massive budget, Atalanta lit up the Italian league for the past several years before making a name for themselves in last year’s Champions League season, almost reaching the semifinals in their first-ever appearance in this tournament. The sale of Papu Gomez, arguably their best player, to Sevilla last month was a huge blow to the side, yet they still soldiered on, scoring goals at will, leaving many to believe they would capitalize on Real Madrid’s weaknesses and march on at their expense. But so far, fate seems to desire otherwise.

At times, football can be a cruel and fickle sport, and this first match was clear evidence of that. In a game where goals were expected, the biggest talking point of the match was not a goal but rather a controversial red card occurring early in the first half. With a burst of speed, the Real Madrid left-back, Ferland Mendy, galloped deep in Atalanta’s half. With a tough yet tactical foul, Remo Freuler stuck out a leg, sending Mendy to the ground. Hardly hesitating, the referee pulled a straight red, ejecting Freuler from the match. The Atalanta players were understandably upset, as Mendy’s touch took the ball away from goal at a tight angle—not to mention that Freuler had Cristian Romero to cover his back, meaning he wasn’t the last defender in front of goal. Therefore, Freuler’s foul was not denying a goal-scoring chance and shouldn’t have been red. But the referee saw otherwise and sent him off.

Atalanta attempted to continue as usual until shortly after, their star striker, Duvan Zapata, picked up a knee injury and was forced off the pitch. For a team that heavily relied on free-flowing attack, being a man down and missing your main striker completely destroyed their game plan. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini decided to make a desperate strategic decision and just play for a draw. Sensing this, Real Madrid pushed for a victory, but due to their own shortcomings mentioned before, they were not effective, resulting in an overall drab match.

But Atalanta’s bad luck continued, and with only four minutes left in regulation time, Ferland Mendy received the ball after a corner and curled in a magnificent shot from far out, granting Real Madrid a precious lead in the tie. As Atalanta travel to Madrid for the return leg next month, they still have a great chance to overturn this result, so it’s not all over just yet.

Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany) 0-2 Manchester City (England)

Out of all the matchups in this round, this one was seemed to be the most straightforward, and as this game unfolded, those predictions seem to be spot on. Borussia Monchengladbach hosted Manchester City in a neutral venue in Budapest due to travel restrictions, looking to find some stability in a season which has largely been a mixed bag for them. Monchengladbach pulled off some great performances in this tournament, absolutely blowing away Shakhtar Donetsk and shocking Real Madrid in the group stage. However, their form in the Bundesliga has been lacking, as a slew of inconsistent results sees them sit in eighth place.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are easily the best team in England at the moment. After fixing some defensive shortcomings and injury problems early on, Pep Guardiola has found the perfect system, stomping all opposition. His methods have placed the Citizens at the top of the Premier League with a 10-point gap and the best defensive record in the country.

The match was no surprise as Man City dominated possession, choking Monchengladbach. Man City created numerous chances and really could’ve embarrassed their opposition, but the gap in quality was so apparent that they barely needed to break a sweat as they easily ensured victory.

Joao Cancelo had an undeniable world-class performance, pulling the strings from left-back. After a perfect cross from Cancelo, Bernardo Silva was able to effortlessly steer the ball into the net with his head, opening the score. In the second half, Silva turned provider, setting up Gabriel Jesus to poke in City’s second and solidifying their triumph.

Borussia Monchengladbach by no means played badly, Manchester City were just so good that the Germans stood no chance. Looking ahead to the rest of the season, City are on course for a deep run in this tournament, so far looking like the only team able to challenge Bayern’s claim to the throne.

Earlier this week, the NBA announced the reserves to go along with the starters for the 70th NBA All-Star Game on March 7. The east reserves are headlined by Nets guard James Harden, who will be appearing in his ninth consecutive All-Star game. Chris Paul and Zion Williamson headline the West’s dichotomy, which features savvy veterans and young budding stars.

The Eastern Conference starters consist of the rest of the Nets big three—Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant—along with Wizards star Bradley Beal, Milwaukee’s former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and 76ers MVP Candidate Joel Embiid. For the West, Luke Doncic and Steph Curry hold down the backcourt, while Lebron James, Kawhi Leonard and Nikola Jokic fill out the rest of the lineup.

On March 4, captains of the East (Kevin Durant) and the West (LeBron James) will draft from the rest of the field. They’ll first draft the starters, then move into picking reserves.

For the West, this list includes Paul, Williamson, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Rudy Gobert, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell. Along with Harden, the East’s reserves are Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown, Zach Lavine, Julius Randle, Jayson Tatum and Nikola Vucevic.

As with every All-Star game, tough choices had to be made, and star players were left missing out. The biggest snub in the Western Conference was Devin Booker, who is leading the Phoenix Suns to a much-better-than-predicted start to the season. 76ers forward Tobias Harris is in the midst of a career year for the top team in the East and did not earn his first All-Star selection.

LeBron James continues to make history and now sits in third place for most all-time All-Star selections with 17 – he has been in every game since 2004. For Durant, this marks his 11th straight All-Star season.

As is traditional, the top team in each conference will have their coaching staff represented. Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers will coach Team Durant, and Utah’s Quinn Snyder will lead Team LeBron.

Following the great success of last year’s game, the NBA will follow the same format. The first three quarters will be their own game, and before the fourth quarter, a target score will be set. Then, an untimed period of play will take place, with the game ending on a “buzzer-beater.” The NBA will donate over $2.5 million to HBCU’s and COVID-19 relief organizations.

The All-Star Game is not the only event that weekend, though it will look different than expected. Rather than a weekend full of activities, the Skills and three-point contests will occur before the game, and the Slam Dunk contest will be at halftime.

The NBA plans to establish a mini-bubble for the players and coaches to protect from COVID-19 related issues, but players have sounded off on the idea of hosting a game. Many, including LeBron James, have criticized the NBA for hosting an event in the middle of the pandemic. No player has officially announced they will not participate, but it is a safe bet that many soon will.

Last weekend, the Drexel Men’s Tennis team kicked off their spring season at NJIT with a tight 4-3 loss. However, we were able to see some of the team’s talented new players, along with the experience of the seniors. Alex De Sousa of Canterbury, England (the team’s only freshman) showed off his talent at the top of the roster, despite losing in a three-set match. The team saw more success in their doubles matches, winning those points for the Dragons.

Senior and freshman duo Sanil Jagtiani and Alex De Sousa kickstarted the weekend with a doubles win at the number one spot. They won a close 7-6 match, propelling the team’s momentum from the get-go.

Next up, junior Gustav Wogen and graduate student Youssef Lahlou suffered a loss at the number two seed. Their opponents showed a strong performance, asserting a 6-2 win over Drexel’s duo. At the three seed, junior Matvey Radionov and graduate student Alvaro Cruz Chamorro secured a confident 6-2 victory over their NJIT opponents.

In the singles tournament, Drexel showed some exciting prospects for the rest of the season despite the loss. De Sousa, impressively already playing at number one for the Dragons, suffered a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 loss at his first collegiate match to NJIT’s Abdullah Fouad. We can expect some impressive performances from the freshman in matches to come.

At the two seed, we saw NJIT’s Josh Smith oust senior Sanil Jagtiani in a 7-5, 6-4 match. Up next, sophomore Hugo Brungs beat Amine El Kholti 7-5, 6-1 in an impressive style for the Dragons. Samuel Townes beat junior Gustav Wogen 6-4, 6-3 in another defeat for the Dragons. Ashwin Kanetkar beat graduate Dragon Alvaro Cruz Chamorro 6-4, 7-5 at the number five position. Finally, the Dragons pulled back a win at the number six seed with junior Matvey Radionov’s 6-4, 6-2 win over Juan Bejarano.

We can hope to see the Dragons back in action later this season, with a full spring schedule ahead. They will be looking to amend their loss, and we certainly have some exciting players to look out for!

It’s a transitional period for the Philadelphia Eagles as they make major changes in the organization. It started with replacing their Super Bowl head coach, Doug Pederson, with Nick Sirianni. Sirianni’s coaching staff only has six coaches returning from the 2020 staff, as he brought in 17 new coaches. If that wasn’t enough, the Eagles then moved on from quarterback Carson Wentz, who became the franchise quarterback in 2019 when he signed a four-year, $128 million contract.

These might be the biggest moves, but there is still plenty of work to do. Here are eight moves the Eagles need to make this offseason.

1. Bring back ERFA Alex Singleton and Greg Ward

The Eagles have three exclusive rights free agents, and they need to bring both back. Linebacker has been a weak spot for the Eagles, but Alex Singleton was a bright spot as he had 120 tackles, which was good enough for 16th in the NFL. He has played his way to stay, much like receiver Greg Ward. 

Ward’s story is incredible, going from undrafted to the AAF, returning to the Eagles practice squad, and now being one of the main receivers for the birds. Ward led the team in receptions last year and will most likely be back next year.

Running back Boston Scott is the third ERFA, and it might be beneficial to bring him back, but he is not a must for the Eagles.

1. Re-Sign Jalen Mills and Richard Rodgers

Out of all of the free agents the Eagles have this year, Jalen Mills and Richard Rodgers are two (in addition to Singleton and Ward) that the Eagles must bring back. “The Green Goblin” Jalen Mills moved from cornerback to safety this year after the departure of Malcolm Jenkins.  However, after many injuries, Mills bounced around between safety and cornerback, which shows the versatility he brings. The Eagles secondary struggles to stay healthy, so bringing back Mills to fill multiples roles is critical.

I’ll get to the tight end situation shortly, but Rodgers is a solid backup for the birds. With the way the Eagles seem to be moving at the tight end position, Rodgers will get a bigger role this upcoming season if he returns. The Eagles have a lot of holes on their football team, but tight end isn’t one, unless they don’t bring back Rodgers.

1. Trade Zach Ertz

This is a departure that will bring a lot of pain to Eagles fans, but one they all saw coming. After not reaching a contract extension, the Eagles will look to move on from Ertz and make the younger Dallas Goedert their starting tight end, who has shown he is more than capable.

According to Conor Myles, who covers the Eagles for Sports Illustrated, Ertz will ask for a release in March if the Eagles can’t work out a trade.  The Eagles can’t afford to let the third best tight end in the game go without any compensation. I believe Ertz is worth a second round pick, but even if they can’t get that, the Eagles will have to take what they can get before they come away empty-handed.

1. Draft CB Patrick Surtain II 6th overall

I know all Eagles fans are calling for general manager Howie Roseman to draft either Ja’Marr Chase or DeVonta Smith and get a playmaker at receiver. But the bigger need for the Eagles is in the defensive secondary. They have Darius Slay, but he’s 30; who knows how long he’ll play at a high level?

Surtain seems like a surefire bet to be a shutdown corner in the NFL, and he is also disciplined enough to not receive penalties. Drafting Surtain fixes the biggest weakness on the team with one move, and then the Eagles can just add depth at defensive back.

1. Sign RG3

The Eagles need a backup quarterback, as it’s time to move on from Nate Sudfeld. They need someone who can mentor Jalen Hurts but also be a capable starter. Hurts has potential but still has a lot to show before he can be named the Eagles franchise quarterback.

It’s been reported that the Eagles also want a competition at the position at training camp. Jacoby Brissett is a perfect option for the Eagles, but he’ll be too expensive, so next up is Robert Griffin III. I see Hurts as more of a dual threat quarterback, rather than purely mobile, but obviously Hurts’ legs are a key part of his game. RG3, being the veteran mobile quarterback he is, will be able to help develop Hurts into that dual threat.

1. Negotiate a cheaper contract with Derek Barnett

The Eagles are very restricted with what they can do this offseason, as they have one of the worst cap situations in the league. Derek Barnett is set to make $10 million this upcoming season on the fifth year of his rookie contract. He is an impact player on the Eagles defense, and if they can keep him around, they should—just not for $10 million.

1. Release Malik Jackson

Another way to clear cap space is through the harsh way: cutting a player. Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery have already been released or will be released. Defensive tackle Malik Jackson is probably next.

1. Sign Rashard Higgins

The Eagles will most likely draft a couple of receivers, but they will need to sign a veteran at a low cost. Rashard Higgins isn’t a bad option, as he hauled in 37 receptions for 599 yards for the Browns. Most importantly, he did not drop a pass last year. According to Spotrac, the 26-year-old’s calculated market value is $6.1 million, which isn’t awful if they can get receivers on rookie deals.

These are some key transactions that I think the Eagles should make, and in no way should they be the only ones. The Eagles will need to find a second running back while also adding depth at numerous positions. It has already been a busy offseason for the Eagles and Roseman as they try to rebuild into a contender once again. If they are to be contenders soon, they will need to have a productive offseason, and these are some possible moves to make it productive.

Following two months of rest, the premier club competition in European football is finally back. After an eventful group stage, only 16 teams remain as we enter the first segment of the knockout stages, the Round of 16. At this point of the tournament, each team has been drawn against one other and will play them twice, one home and one away. The winner on an aggregate score of goals goes through to the Quarterfinals. The Champions League Round of 16 officially started on Tuesday, Feb. 16 and Wednesday, Feb. 17, but will continue onto Feb. 23 and 24 as all the teams will play their first leg of the round. Then one month later, in mid-March, the second legs will finish. Offering several interesting matchups, the Round of 16 is a must-watch as we get closer and closer to crowning the 2021 Champions of Europe.

Barcelona (Spain) 1-4 Paris Saint-Germain (France)

In what is seen as the marquee matchup of this round, Barcelona welcomed their bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to their famous fortress, the Camp Nou. As well as being two of the biggest clubs in Europe, Barcelona and PSG have a long history between them in this tournament. Most notably, at this very stage in the 2016/17 season, Barcelona lost 4-0 only to beat PSG 6-1 in the second leg, the biggest Champions League comeback of all time known as the Remontada. Later that year, PSG famously signed Neymar Jr. from Barcelona in what would be the most expensive transfer of all time. However, four years later, both teams are in very different positions.

The match definitely lived up to its billing as it was very fast-paced and exciting throughout the 90 minutes. With Marco Verratti pulling the strings, PSG dominated the midfield early on, creating many chances. However, Barcelona were able to play out of their pressure and won a penalty after Frenkie de Jong was fouled in the box. Lionel Messi expertly converted the penalty and Barcelona went up 1-0. PSG were quick to respond after a clever flick from Verratti and a deft dribble from Kylian Mbappe led PSG to equalize 1-1. With the first 45 coming to a close, PSG seemed to dominate the match but Barcelona arguably had the better chances leaving the match wide open heading into the second half.

Given that Neymar, unfortunately, missed this game due to injury, this match was billed as Messi vs. Mbappe, or the current best player vs. the future. On this day though, it would be Mbappe who would come out on top as PSG completely upped the ante in the second half. Capitalizing on suspect defending from Barcelona, PSG scored two goals in quick succession with Mbappe and Moise Kean adding to the tally. As Barcelona were scrambling to get a goal back late in the match, Mbappe was able to complete his hattrick with a pinpoint curling shot following a speedy counterattack. With four away goals, it seems almost guaranteed that PSG will go through as Barcelona’s transitional season is going from bad to worse. PSG on the other hand, look to be serious contenders for the trophy with this statement win.

RB Leipzig (Germany) 0-2 Liverpool (England)

While not as anticipated as PSG vs Barcelona, last year’s semifinalists, RB Leipzig faced off against Liverpool, the 2019 Champions, in a match that neither side seemed to have a clear advantage going in. Due to Germany’s updated travel restrictions due to COVID-19, Leipzig, unfortunately, were not able to play in their home stadium, instead having to settle in a neutral venue in Budapest, Hungary. This lack of home advantage really showed as Liverpool walked away with a good win and already one foot in the next round.

Despite Leipzig having some good chances, Liverpool were slightly the better team throughout the match and two major defensive mistakes from the Germans saw Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane easily score early into the second half. Liverpool have had a torrid time with an injury crisis and a dreadful run of form as of late, but they will take this moral victory as a huge opportunity to finally turn their season around. While Leipzig are having a decent season so far, it does not seem that they will be able to go as far in this competition as they did last season with Liverpool looking too big of an obstacle to overcome. And while this tie is still far from over, it looks very likely Liverpool will be the ones to march on.

Sevilla (Spain) 2-3 Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

In what is no doubt the most equally balanced (and arguably most exciting) matchup in this round, Borussia Dortmund traveled to the South of Spain to face the reigning Europa League champions, Sevilla. So far this season, both teams have had their ups and downs, Dortmund just recently got a new coach in December while Sevilla are not as resolute as the side that dominated the Europa League last year. Dortmund and Sevilla are similar in the sense that they are pretty good going forward, but a little shaky at the back. Out of the two, Dortmund’s attack has been more effective this season, but it must also be said that their defense is also much more vulnerable than Sevilla’s.

The match started out like predicted, with exciting, end-to-end football. Out of nowhere in the seventh minute, Sevilla took the lead when Suso found space after a quick dribble before taking a well-placed shot on goal, taking a deflection off Mats Hummels and bouncing in. This goal seemed only to energize Borussia Dortmund, though, as they immediately came back swinging. From a similar distance to Suso’s goal, Dortmund got their equalizer after Mahmoud Dahoud’s magnificent dipping longshot crept in at the far post. Only moments later, Dortmund would score yet again after a formidable counterattack saw the enigmatic Erling Haaland power through the Sevilla defense before playing a one-two with Jadon Sancho. As Sancho cleverly flicked the ball over Sevilla’s backline, Haaland easily tapped the ball into the net, giving Dortmund the lead in what was an absolutely beautiful goal. The Westphalians smelled blood in the water and their relentless attacking saw Dortmund score yet again after a bad defensive mistake from Sevilla and a perfect pass from Marco Reus put Haaland through to calmly make it 3-1 in their favor.

After the first half shellshock, Sevilla came out the locker room much more organized, and Dortmund were not given the opportunity to run riot again. However, Dortmund’s defense held up as well and despite a nice set-piece volley from Luuk de Jong, Sevilla were not able to equal the score, leaving them with an uphill battle to fight at Dortmund’s home stadium in March. While Borussia Dortmund certainly has the advantage, this tie is far from over.

Porto (Portugal) 2-1 Juventus (Italy)

In what could turn out to be the biggest upset of this Champions League season so far, Porto utterly shocked Juventus and deservedly walked away from this match with a victory. A very talented but widely overlooked team, Porto were able to take advantage of Juventus’ topsy-turvy form this season in what is really a transitional year for them as well as the manager’s, Andrea Pirlo’s first-ever job in coaching.

From the first minute to the last, Porto outplayed Juventus in every department. And when I say — first minute, I mean that literally as Mehdi Taremi pounced on a lazy back pass from Juve’s Rodrigo Bentancur to put Porto 1-0 ahead within the first 60 seconds. After their early lead, Porto played their game plan efficiently, allowing Juventus very few chances on goal. The next 45 minutes were exactly the same as the first as Moussa Marega doubled Porto’s lead within the first minute of the second half. Cristiano Ronaldo and company had a match to forget as the whole team looked slow and sluggish while Porto were the complete opposite. Juventus were able to claw back a late goal after Federico Chiesa hit a wonderfully placed side-footed shot into the net. But to be honest, Juventus were lucky to get even a goal. Regardless, Chiesa’s strike was hugely important as this away goal will serve as a lifeline for Juventus as they head back to Italy for the second leg. Given that Juventus are one of the biggest teams in Europe, they still have a great chance to turn this tie around. But if Juve do not improve and Porto plays like they did today, we could potentially see the first-ever Champions League Quarterfinals with neither Messi nor Ronaldo since the 2004-05 season.

The Eagles offseason hasn’t even officially begun yet, as free agency is slated to begin on March 15, yet it seems like almost every day there is more news about the Eagles. Much of that news circles around the notion that Carson Wentz will be traded, yet as the process drags on, questions arise if it will take place at all. Given Wentz’s unhappiness with the organization and his poor play last season it seems inevitable for the sake of both slides that a trade should be completed. The question is though, who actually wants to trade for Wentz and his massive contract?

So far there have only been two rumored teams that are apparently talking with the Eagles regarding a trade. Those teams are the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts. Both teams make sense for Wentz to go to as he has familiarity with each coaching staff. Going to the Colts would see Wentz reunite with his former offensive coordinator Frank Reich. The two worked together during Wentz’s best season as an Eagles quarterback in 2017. If anyone can “fix” Wentz and get him back to playing at an elite level it is Reich. On the Bears’ Coaching staff is John DeFilippo who served as Wentz’ QB coach in 2017 — another connection to his breakout year.

Between the Colts and Bears, Indianapolis is probably a better choice for Wentz. According to Albert Breer, Wentz feels the same way and prefers to go to the Colts over the Bears. The holdup apparently is that the Eagles aren’t in love with the Colts offer and are waiting out for a first-round pick.

A major hurdle in trading Wentz is the massive contract extension that he signed with the Eagles worth four years and $128 million. However, if Wentz continues to play poorly there is an out in the contract in the 2022 season.

If Wentz really doesn’t want to go to Chicago then it seems that the Colts are the only real destination, which gives the Colts an advantage as they will not likely have to give up a first-round pick. Originally, after the hiring of Nick Sirianni, it seemed as if the Eagles were making one more attempt to resurrect the former number 2 overall pick’s career. Now, it seems as if the Eagles want to trade Wentz — they just haven’t found the offer they are looking for.

If there wasn’t enough drama for the Eagles, it seems that the team is also not completely sold on Jalen Hurts as the quarterback of the future. Les Bowen, a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, tweeted on Wednesday morning, “Spoke with NFL management sources (not from Eagles) about the Wentz melodrama. His viewpoint: If Wentz doesn’t want the Bears, Bears aren’t gonna trade for him. Eventually, the Eagles take whatever Indy is offering, maybe a second plus something. Also, the Eagles draft a QB 6th overall.” Will the Eagles stir up another quarterback controversy, instead of going for glaring needs? Only time will tell.

Update: On Thursday, the inevitable finally happened. Carson Wentz has been traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick in 2021 and a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 draft. It’s important to note that the second-round pick in 2022 will turn into a first-round pick if Wentz plays 75 percent of the snaps or if Wentz plays 70 percent of the snaps and the Colts make the playoffs, per Mike Garafolo. Now only time will tell to see if Hurts will be the starting quarterback

Drexel Wrestling is preparing for the upcoming Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships on Feb. 26. Having placed 12th at the conference last year, the team is looking to improve on their results following a successful start to the season. Antonio Minnino, Bryan McLaughlin, Ebed Jarrell and Mickey O’Malley all qualified for National Championships last season. Heading into the conference, the team boasts five nationally-ranked wrestlers; Luke Nichter, Parker Kropman, Evan Barczak, Michael (Mickey) O’Malley and Bryan McLaughlin. The team is looking to rebound from last week’s loss to nationally-ranked Rider University.

Starting off the tournament for the Dragons will be junior Antonio Minnino (1-3) in the 125-pound category. A national qualifier last season, and coming off the back of a major upset over UPenn, he will be looking to replicate last season’s performance. Known for performing best when it matters most, he will be using his quick and explosive tactics to get the win this weekend and punch his ticket to the National Championships. In the 133-pound category, senior Chandler Olson (4-1) will be competing for the Dragons. Held out of the EIWA Championships due to injury, he is excited to get a chance at next weekend’s conference. His ability to wrestle from the top position and score near-fall points in bunches should prove him to be a tough opponent and a strong contender. He will also be looking to qualify for Nationals. 

Moving into the 141-pound category, sophomore Tyler Williams (4-1) will head onto the mat for Drexel. He competed at the qualifiers last year, so he will be looking to solidify his results. At 149 pounds, freshman Luke Nichter (5-0) is one of the Dragon’s most exciting competitors. Heading into the conference undefeated with two tech falls and a major decision, he is looking for another successful weekend. Supporters should keep their eye on one of Drexel’s upcoming talents.

At 157 pounds, fifth-year senior Parker Kropman (4-0) is looking to improve on his fourth-place finish at last year’s championship. A qualifier for 2019’s National Championships, and heading into the conference undefeated, he will be one to watch next weekend. 165-pound Evan Barczak (4-1) is also heading strong into the conference. Known for his aggressive pace, he will be focusing on wearing down and breaking his opponents.

Redshirt sophomore and Dragon of the Week, Mickey O’Malley (5-0), at 174 pounds, is another exciting wrestler. Ranked 11th in the nation and expected to pull out more impressive victories, we can certainly expect a big performance from O’Malley. The Dragons are still deciding who will be entered into the 184-pound category.

Bryan Mclaughlin (4-1), a redshirt junior, will also be at the conference next weekend in the 197-pound category. A returning National qualifier and looking to use his athleticism to his benefit, Mclaughlin will be a front-runner to win the tournament. Finally, redshirt junior Sean O’Malley will be making his season debut in the 285-pound category. We can hope to see him follow his teammates’ strong starts to the season.

Team captains, Kropman and Barczak, spoke to The Triangle about their hopes for the upcoming conference. Kropman spoke highly of his teammates: “This is the most prepared the team has ever looked heading into the postseason. Everyone has been working extremely hard and is one hundred percent dedicated on and off the mat. I am so proud of these guys and all the sacrifices they have made this season. It has been very difficult preparing with all of the chaos from the pandemic and everyone has been extremely selfless. I love these guys and can’t wait to go to battle for them.” Barczak echoed his fellow captain: “We will be bringing Blue Collar Conditioning, no one has gone through what we have. We have had 9 a.m. workouts, daily testing, and we have faced adversity and prepared together. I’m looking forward to representing the Dragons.” The Dragons will be in action again on Feb. 26.

Ben Simmons was different on Monday night. He was the player his team needs him to be. Aggressive, consistent and more focused than ever. 

The Sixers faced off against the Jazz; the first-place team in the Western Conference with the best record in the NBA. Although the 76ers are also in first place in the Eastern Conference, this was certainly the team’s biggest test thus far in the season. 

Joel Embiid, an MVP possibility, has had a tremendous season. He was ruled out Monday night due to back tightness, which he has dealt with before.  The 76ers went on to lose the game 134-123. Simmons though, would be the big story in the game as he stepped up big time for his team.

The shooting ability of Simmons has been questioned in the past, and on Monday night he did not attempt a single three-pointer during the game. Despite this incredible stat, Simmons scored 42 points. From the start, he was concentrated and determined, scoring the first 6 points for his team. In the first quarter alone he put up 19 points.

Averaging 17.9 points in his previous six contests leading up to the game in Utah, Simmons’ teammates on the 76ers seem to spot a difference in the way he has been playing. The Philadelphia Inquirer spoke with one Sixer, Tobias Harris, about Simmons, “It’s just the evolution of his game continuing to come together game after game, but he also had that mindset where he was going to do whatever he could to help us win tonight,” Harris said.

Simmons thrives in the paint where he goes up against players that are smaller than him. His ability to handle the ball at his size gives him a great advantage and oftentimes teams struggle to find the right matchup against him.

Utah put two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert on Simmons, but Gobert was too slow and Simmons certainly took advantage of this matchup. “I loved when I saw Rudy was guarding me,” Simmons said. “I love being able to go at somebody like that. I felt like it was a little bit disrespectful putting him on me, but it is what it is.” Utah tried Joe Ingles on Simmons but he was too small to compete against his large frame.

Even though Simmons is not known for his free throw shooting he ended the game 12-of-13 from the line and 15-of-26 from the field. He almost filled the stat sheet with a triple-double, but came up short with nine rebounds and he added on 12 assists.

There is no doubt that Simmons has all the tools to be the impact player his team needs him to be. He has the size, strength and skills. His mentality will need to be on point in order for him to be the influence his team needs him to be. “Honestly, I’ve just been working on my mentality a lot the past few weeks,” Simmons said.

The way he played Monday made him unstoppable. He gave everyone watching a glimpse of the player he truly is. If the 76ers want to be a championship-contending team, they are going to need that from him game after game.