1-3-23 roundup: Pro basketball and football, College football and basketball, High school basketball
By Richard Walker
Two former local standouts have clinched NFL postseason futures entering the final week of the 2022-23 NFL season – and another can advance with some help on Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings (12-4) with Jonathan Bullard (Crest 2012 graduate) and Nick Muse (South Point 2017) have already clinched the NFC North and know they will be in the postseason.
Bullard was placed on injured reserve on Monday with a biceps injury after not playing the last four weeks and is unlikely to play in the postseason; The seven-year NFL defensive tackle has 23 tackles in 11 games (7 starts) this season.
Nick Muse, a tight end, made his NFL debut this season and has played in three games for the Vikings. He’s been on Minnesota’s practice squad since after the Nov. 24 home win over New England.
Nick Muse’s older brother Tanner Muse (South Point 2015) can join the Vikings’ duo but will need help this weekend.
A linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks, Tanner Muse was thrust into a more prominent role last week when his team beat the New York Jets 23-6 but losing starting middle linebacker Jordyn Brooks to a knee injury.
Weakside linebacker Cody Barton moved to middle linebacker ane Tanner Muse moved to weakside linebacker after Brooks’ injury.
Seattle allowed three points in the final 35 minutes that Barton and Muse played together at linebacker, a pairing the Seahawks may use the rest of the season depending on the severity of Brooks’ injury.
“I thought they played pretty well,” Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game. “Passing game and running game. I thought they did well. It was great to see Tanner have that much play time. Hate the reason why, but Cody went right to Mike [linebacker] and took it over, and Tanner jumped up in and away we went. It was a really nice answer.”
Muse made three tackles in Sunday’s win and has 11 tackles in 14 games for Seattle (8-7) this season; The Seahawks need to beat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and have the Green Bay Packers lose at home against the Detroit Lions to advance to the postseason.
Two other local products – Chazz Surratt (East Lincoln 2016) and Nick Sciba (Clover 2018) – also have been on NFL rosters this season.
Surratt was signed to the Jets practice squad as a linebacker on Sept. 1 and hasn’t played in a game this season.
Sciba was signed for one game to kick for the Pittsburgh Steelers and he made one extra point and two field goals in a 35-13 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles before being released on Nov. 8.
High school basketball
(Tuesday’s games)
-BOYS
North Lincoln 69, North Iredell 66
West Lincoln 80, Bunker Hill 32
Bandys 64, Lincolnton 60
Gaston Day 92, SouthLake Christian 69: Deshawn Coulter had 21 points, Evan Montanari 20, Chase Owens 15, Callum Richard 14 and Kurt Hunter 10 for Gaston Day.
-GIRLS
West Lincoln 55, Bunker Hill 50: Chloe Norman (23 points, 2 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 6 Steals), Carolina Robinson (16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Zoey Owenby (8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block) led West Lincoln.
Bandys 56, Lincolnton 55: Mackenzie Sand-Odom had 31 points for Lincolnton.
Gaston Christian 43, Westminster Catawba 37
Pro football
Carolina Panthers owner Dave Tepper has talked with former NFL coach Jim Harbaugh about the Panthers’ head coaching vacancy, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.
The discussion was not considered a job interview – only a conversation – and Carolina won’t formally begin its search to replace fired head coach Matt Rhule until after the season is completed.
It’s uncertain if interim coach Steve Wilks, who has guided the Panthers to a 5-6 record since being promoted from assistant coach, will be a candidate for the job.
Harbaugh just completed his eighth season as University of Michigan head coach after guiding his team into the College Football Playoff for the second straight year and fourth time in his head coaching tenure at his alma mater.
A former first-round draft pick as a quarterback out of Michigan, Harbaugh ended his 15-year career as a member of the Panthers in 2001.
He then began coaching career in which he has had success at the college and NFL levels.
He is 132-52 overall in college coaching and 44-19-1 in the NFL that was highlighted by guided the San Francisco 49ers to the 2013 Super Bowl.
Here’s the full Carolina Panthers schedule for the 2022 season:
Week 1, Sept. 11, Cleveland (L 24-26)
Week 2, Sept. 18, at N.Y. Giants (L 16-19)
Week 3, Sept. 25, New Orleans (W 22-14)
Week 4, Oct. 2, Arizona (L 16-26)
Week 5, Oct. 9, San Francisco (L 15-37)
Week 6, Oct. 16, at L.A. Rams (L 10-24)
Week 7, Oct. 23, Tampa Bay (W 21-3)
Week 8, Oct. 30, at Atlanta (L 34-37, OT)
Week 9, Nov. 6, at Cincinnati (L 21-42)
Week 10, Nov. 10, Atlanta (W 25-15)
Week 11, Nov. 20, at Baltimore (L 3-13)
Week 12, Nov. 27, Denver (W 23-10)
Week 13, Dec. 4, BYE
Week 14, Dec. 11, at Seattle (W 30-24)
Week 15, Dec. 18, Pittsburgh (L 16-24)
Week 16, Dec. 24, Detroit (W 37-23)
Week 17, Jan. 1, at Tampa Bay (L 24-30)
Week 18, Jan. 8, at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Pro basketball
Tests on injured Charlotte Hornets swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. confirmed a torn ligament in his left hand on Tuesday.
Oubre, who has missed three of the Hornets’ last three games due to the injury, will undergo surgery on Thursday. The team said the procedure will “address the injury and updates on the procedure and his rehabilitation status will be provided when appropriate.”
In 35 games this season, Oubre is averaging 20.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assist per game.
Here’s the 2022-23 Charlotte Hornets schedule:
(10-28 record)
October
19 at San Antonio (W 129-102)
21 New Orleans (L 112-124)
23 at Atlanta (W 126-109)
26 at New York (L 131-134, OT)
28 at Orlando (L 93-113)
29 Golden State (W 120-113, OT)
31 Sacramento (L 108-115)
November
2 at Chicago (L 88-106)
4 at Memphis (L 99-130)
5 Brooklyn (L 94-98)
7 Washington (L 100-108)
9 Portland (L 95-105)
10 at Miami (L 112-117, OT)
12 at Miami (L 115-132)
14 at Orlando (W 112-105)
16 Indiana (L 113-125)
18 at Cleveland (L 122-132, 2 OT)
20 at Washington (L 102-106)
23 Philadelphia (W 107-101)
25 Minnesota (W 110-108)
28 at Boston (L 105-140)
December
2 Washington (W 117-116)
3 Milwaukee (L 96-105)
5 L.A. Clippers (L 117-119)
7 at Brooklyn (L 116-122)
9 New York (L 102-121)
11 at Philadelphia (L 113-131)
14 Detroit (L 134-141, OT)
16 Atlanta (L 106-125)
18 at Denver (L 115-119)
19 at Sacramento (W 125-119)
21 at L.A. Clippers (L 105-126)
23 at L.A. Lakers (W 134-130)
26 at Portland (L 113-124)
27 at Golden State (L 105-110)
29 Oklahoma City (W 121-113)
31 Brooklyn (L 106-123)
January
2 L.A. Lakers (L 115-121)
4 Memphis, 7 p.m.
6 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
8 at Indiana, 5 p.m.
10 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
12 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
14 Boston, 7 p.m.
16 Boston, 1 p.m.
18 at Houston, 8 p.m.
21 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
23 at Utah, 9 p.m.
24 at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
26 Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
29 Miami, 1 p.m.
31 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
February
2 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
3 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
5 Orlando, 1 p.m.
8 at Washington, 7 p.m.
10 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
11 Denver, 7 p.m.
13 Atlanta, 7 p.m.
15 San Antonio, 7 p.m.
24 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
25 Miami, 7 p.m.
27 Detroit, 7 p.m.
March
1 Phoenix, 7 p.m.
3 Orlando, 7 p.m.
5 at Brooklyn, 6 p.m.
7 at New York, 7:30 p.m.
9 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
11 Utah, 7 p.m.
12 Cleveland, 5 p.m.
14 Cleveland, 7 p.m.
17 Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
20 Indiana, 7 p.m.
23 at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
24 at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
26 Dallas, 1 p.m.
28 at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
31 Chicago, 7 p.m.
April
2 Toronto, 1 p.m.
4 Toronto, 7 p.m.
7 Houston, 7 p.m.
9 at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
College basketball
(Tuesday’s game)
Belmont Abbey 72, Carson-Newman 64 (OT): Mason Taylor scored 24 points, Blake Hadley 14 and Wade Jackson 13 as the Crusaders (8-5) took their fifth straight victory.
College football
Here is the full 2022-23 NCAA Division I FBS schedule:
(College Football Playoff)
Championship – Jan. 9 at Inglewood, Cal., 7:30 p.m.
No. 3 TCU vs. No. 1 Georgia
Semifinal – Dec. 31 Peach at Atlanta, Ga.
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State – Georgia 42-41
Semifinal – Dec. 31 Fiesta at Glendale, Ariz.
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU – TCU 51-45
(CFP Selection Committee Bowl games)
Jan. 2 – Rose at Pasadena, Cal.
No. 8 Utah vs. No. 11 Penn State – Penn State 35-21
Jan. 2 – Cotton at Arlington, Tex.
No. 10 Southern California vs. No. 16 Tulane – Tulane 46-45
Dec. 31 – Sugar at New Orleans, La.
No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 9 Kansas State – Alabama 45-20
Dec. 30 – Orange and Miami, Fla.
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Clemson – Tennessee 31-14
(Other bowl games)
Jan. 2 – Citrus at Orlando, Fla., 1 p.m. (ABC)
No. 17 LSU vs. Purdue – LSU 63-7
Jan. 2 – ReliaQuest at Tampa, Fla., Noon (ESPN2)
No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Illinois – Mississippi State 19-10
Dec. 31 – Music City at Nashville, Tenn., Noon (ABC)
Iowa vs. Kentucky – Iowa 21-0
Dec. 30 – Arizona at Tucson, Ariz.
Ohio vs. Wyoming – Ohio 30-27
Dec. 30 – Gator at Jacksonville, Fla.
No. 21 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 South Carolina – Notre Dame 45-38
Dec. 30 – Sun at El Paso, Tex.
No. 18 UCLA vs. Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh 37-35
Dec. 30 – Duke’s Mayo at Charlotte
Maryland vs. No. 23 N.C. State – Maryland 16-12
Dec. 29 – Alamo at San Antonio, Tex.
No. 20 Texas vs. No. 12 Washington – Washington 27-20
Dec. 29 – Cheez-It at Orlando, Fla.
Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Florida State – Florida State 35-32
Dec. 29 – Pinstripe at Bronx, N.Y.
Minnesota vs. Syracuse – Minnesota 28-20
Dec. 28 – Texas at Houston, Tex.
Mississippi vs. Texas Tech – Texas Tech 42-25
Dec. 28 – Holiday at San Diego, Cal.
No. 15 Oregon vs. North Carolina – Oregon 28-27
Dec. 28 – Liberty at Memphis
Arkansas vs. Kansas – Arkansas 55-53 (3 OT)
Dec. 28 – Military at Annapolis, Md.
Duke vs. Central Florida – Duke 30-13
Dec. 27 – Guaranteed Rate at Phoenix, Ariz.
Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State – Wisconsin 24-17
Dec. 27 – Birmingham at Birmingham, Ala.
Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina – East Carolina 53-29
Dec. 27 – First Responder at University Park, Tex.
Memphis vs. Utah State – Memphis 38-10
Dec. 27 – Camellia at Montgomery, Ala.
Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern – Buffalo 23-21
Dec. 26 – Quick Lane at Detroit, Mich.
Bowling Green vs. New Mexico State – New Mexico State 24-19
Dec. 24 – Hawai’i at Honolulu, Hawai’i
San Diego State vs. Middle Tennessee – Middle Tennessee 25-23
Dec. 23 – Gasparilla at Tampa, Fla.
Missouri vs. Wake Forest – Wake Forest 27-17
Dec. 23 – Independence at Shreveport, La.
Houston vs. Louisiana – Houston 23-16
Dec. 22 – Armed Forces at Fort Worth, Tex.
Baylor vs. Air Force – Air Force 30-15
Dec. 21 – New Orleans at New Orleans, La.
Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama – Western Kentucky 44-23
Dec. 20 – Boca Raton at Boca Raton, Fla.
Toledo vs. Liberty – Toledo 21-19
Dec. 20 – Famous Idaho Potato at Boise, Id.
San Jose State vs. Eastern Michigan – Eastern Michigan 41-27
Dec. 19 – Myrtle Beach at Conway, S.C.
Marshall vs. Connecticut – Marshall 28-14
Dec. 17 – Frisco at Frisco, Tex.
North Texas vs. Boise State – Boise State 35-32
Dec. 17 – New Mexico at Albuquerque, N.M.
BYU vs. SMU – BYU 24-23
Dec. 17 – LendingTree at Mobile, Ala., 5:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Southern Miss vs. Rice – Southern Miss 38-24
Dec. 17 – Jimmy Kimmel L.A. at Inglewood, Cal.
Washington State vs. Fresno State – Fresno State 29-6
Dec. 17 – Las Vegas at Las Vegas, Nev.
Florida vs. No. 14 Oregon State – Oregon State 30-3
Dec. 17 – Celebration Bowl at Atlanta
Jackson State vs. N.C. Central – N.C. Central 41-34 in OT
Dec. 17 – Fenway at Boston, Mass.
Louisville vs. Cincinnati – Louisville 24-7
Dec. 16 – Cure at Orlando, Fla.
No. 24 Troy vs. No. 25 UT-San Antonio – Troy 18-12
Dec. 16 – Bahamas at Nassau, Bahamas
UAB vs. Miami, O. – UAB 24-20