London — President Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, called U.K. police last year after seeing a woman being “beat up” on a video call, a court heard this week.
“I’m calling from the US, uh I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up,” Barron Trump, 19, told British emergency services in a phone call made on Jan. 18, 2025, according to a transcript sent to CBS News by the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service.
When the emergency operator asked for more details, including the victim’s name and age, Trump said: “I mean these details don’t matter, she’s getting beat up.”
When pushed for more information about how he knew the woman, the president’s son said: “I don’t think these details matter she’s getting beat up but okay fine, also I met her on social media, I don’t think that matters.”
Trump told the emergency operator that the woman was being assaulted inside her home in the U.K.
“She’s getting really badly beat up and the call was about 8 minutes ago, I don’t know what could have happened by now … So, sorry for being rude,” Trump said.
Barron Trump waves to the crowd during an indoor inauguration parade for his father at the Capital One Arena, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty
During an ongoing trial at the Snaresbrook Crown Court in northeast London, jurors heard on Thursday that suspect Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, had been drinking with the alleged victim on the evening of Jan. 17, 2025, according to Britain’s Press Association news agency. Her name has been withheld.
Rumiantsev told the court an altercation had been taking place when a video call from Barron Trump flashed up on the woman’s phone, and he answered.
“At that point I was standing up, I stepped away from her maybe for a couple meters … I answered the call and I immediately put the camera towards her. I don’t know why I did that. Maybe I thought she would realize that her behavior was unreasonable, that she wouldn’t behave like this in front of someone else,” Rumiantsev testified.
Prosecutors allege that Rumiantsev strangled the woman later that evening. He was arrested the following morning and is facing two counts of rape, among other charges. He denies all the charges against him.
The court heard that Rumiantsev first became aware of the woman’s friendship with Barron Trump at the end of 2024.
“I started to explain that I felt upset as well about her talking to Barron Trump,” Rumiantsev said. “I was in no way controlling, but I was trying to make her know that if she feels unwell seeing messages I had with girls 10 years ago, she could maybe understand how I felt when she was sat there this moment texting someone else.”
The nature of the relationship between Trump and the victim remains unclear, but according to CBS News’ partner network BBC, he said in a written statement to the court in May last year that he had been “told by the victim who I am very close with that this individual [the suspect] was giving her difficulty for a long time.”
Francis Buchholz, the original Scorpions bassist whose steady, melodic playing helped propel the German hard rock giants to global superstardom, has died at the age of 71. His family confirmed that Buchholz passed away peacefully yesterday following a private battle with cancer.
Buchholz joined Scorpions in 1973, becoming a cornerstone of what many fans consider the band’s most definitive lineup. Across the 1970s and 1980s, his precise yet powerful bass work formed the rhythmic backbone of Scorpions‘ sound — a balance of high-octane hard rock and emotionally charged power ballads that defined an era.
His playing is immortalized on some of the band’s most enduring anthems, including “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” “Still Loving You,” and “Wind Of Change.” The latter became an unofficial soundtrack to the fall of the Berlin Wall and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. During Buchholz‘s tenure, Scorpions sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, earning him over 50 gold and platinum awards for his role in shaping rock history.
In 1992, shortly after the band reached a commercial high point with Crazy World, Buchholz made the life-changing decision to step away from Scorpions. The move came shortly after the birth of his twin daughters, as he chose family life over the relentless pace of international touring.
“Our hearts are shattered,” his family said in a joint statement. “Throughout his fight with cancer, we stayed by his side, facing every challenge as a family — exactly the way he taught us. He was a family man through and through, and our grief is beyond words.”
Though he left the spotlight, Buchholz never left music entirely. He later worked as a music consultant before returning to the stage in a celebrated second chapter of his career, most notably with Michael Schenker‘s Temple Of Rock. The project reunited him with former Scorpions bandmates Michael Schenker and Herman Rarebell, bringing their shared legacy to audiences across Europe, North America, South America and Japan
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Canadians look to have been more cautious with their spending over the holidays, with retailers registering a pullback in trade for the final month 2025.
By Sunday’s end, a champion of the AFC will be crowned and have their ticket punched for Super Bowl LX. The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos will square off for that right to advance to Santa Clara to play for the chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday at Mile High.
As we do every week throughout the season, CBS Sports and SportsLine have compiled our experts’ best picks in one place that way you can get picks against the spread while also checking out additional feature content for each game, including plays from top SportsLine experts and the SportsLine Projection Model, best bets from our staff, and more.
Stick with CBS Sports through the NFL playoffs as we break down every game and storyline through the most intriguing part of the season.
Which picks can you make with confidence during Championship Sunday? And which contenders go down hard? Visit SportsLine, as its incredible model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up well over$7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception.
Broncos +5.5: “The New England defense can be stingy, especially against the run, which can put more pressure on Payton to scheme up things to make it easier for Stidham. I think Payton is one of the best play callers in the league, so I think he will.
“On the other side, Drake Maye will be making his first road playoff start for the Patriots. That can be daunting, especially against a good Denver defense. But Maye has been good on the road this season. Then again, this is the playoffs.
“The Bills ran on the Broncos last week, so I expect the Patriots to try to do the same. New England is averaging 156.1 rushing yards per game over the last seven games, but I think Denver will be better this time against the run.
“It would be easy to pick the Pats here based on Stidham playing. But I think the Denver players will elevate their games around him and Payton will have a big day calling the game for him. I think Denver’s defense will get the best of the Pats offense. Denver goes to the Super Bowl.” Pick: Broncos 23, Patriots 21
To see Prisco’s NFC Championship pick, click here.
SportsLine’s Bruce Marshall’s Patriots vs. Broncos pick
Look no further than Marshall to help you make your pick for the AFC Championship. The SportsLine expert has been on a tear with his NFL picks, owning a 58-38-2 record (+1589) over his last 98 NFL plays. Now, he’s turned his attention to this playoff matchup between New England and Denver. We can tell you Marshall is leaning Over the 42.5 point total, but to see his official ATS pick, you’ll need to go to SportsLine.
Tyler Sullivan’s Patriots vs. Broncos pick
Patriots -5.5: “Will Stidham rise to the occasion and pull off what would be a historic upset? I doubt it. One of the underrated developments of these playoffs has been the rise of New England’s defense. Once thought to live and die by the performance of Drake Maye, the Patriots have won back-to-back playoff matchups even as their MVP-contending quarterback hasn’t played his best wire to wire. That’s largely been due to the defense, which is coming off a dominating win over Houston, where it accounted for five turnovers. If the Patriots’ defense makes Stidham’s head spin even half as much as they C.J. Stroud’s, they should punch their ticket to the Super Bowl rather convincingly. Oh, and if you are concerned about New England going on the road, let’s factor this in: the Patriots were the only team in the NFL to boast a perfect 8-0 record on the road this season and were also 7-1 ATS in those contests.” Pick: Patriots 24, Broncos 17
To see Sullivan’s NFC Championship pick, click here.
John Breech’s Patriots vs. Broncos pick
Broncos +5.5: “Maye struggled against one of the best defenses in the NFL, and now, he has to once again play one of the best defenses in the NFL, except this time, he has to go on the road. Maye has taken a beating this postseason (he’s been sacked 10 times in two games) and it could get worse this week. He took the fourth-most sacks in the NFL this year and he’s facing a defense that recorded the FIFTH-MOST sacks in a single season in NFL history. I have no idea how the Patriots offensive line is going to stop the Broncos’ pass-rush.
“When Maye starts taking hits, he tends to fumble the ball. He’s fumbled SIX times in his two playoff games and the Patriots have lost three of those fumbles. The Broncos are 9-1 this season when they force at least one turnover, so something as simple as recovering a fumble could be the key to pulling off the upset here.
“Stidham might only throw for 103 yards in this game, but if he plays mistake-free football and doesn’t turn the ball over, Denver will have a chance to win.” Pick: Patriots 20, Broncos 17
To see Breech’s NFC Championship pick, click here.
Mike McClure’s top DFS for Championship Sunday
If you want to add some DFS lineups to your Championship Sunday, Mike McClure is the expert you’ll want to follow. McClure is a legendary professional DFS player with more than $2 million in career winnings. In 2023, he won the DraftKings Millionaire Maker twice and the FanDuel Million once. Now, he’s eyeing these conference championships and building up rosters to cash in. For this AFC Championship, one to McClure’s top DFS picks is Stefon Diggs. To see the rest of his top plays and lineups, click over to SportsLine.
Jared Dubin’s Patriots vs. Broncos pick
Patriots -5.5: “This one is pretty simple: the Broncos will not have their starting quarterback for this game. It’s really hard to see them putting together a representative offensive performance with Jarrett Stidham at the helm — especially given how well the New England defense has played so far during the playoffs in holding down offenses piloted by Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud. New England’s offense hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire in either of its games against elite defenses, and the Broncos present another one for them to go up against, but I have far more trust in Drake Maye going against a Denver unit that has actually shown some leaks since its bye week, than I do in Stidham and Co. against the Pats.” Pick: Patriots 21, Broncos 10
Patriots -5.5: “Stidham is the seventh quarterback to make his first start of the season in the playoffs, and only one of the previous six actually won their game. He is 1-3 as an NFL starter, and it will be interesting to see how Sean Payton alters his game plan with Bo Nix out. Regardless of Stidham’s role on Sunday, there are two things that must happen if the Broncos want this upset: The run game has to reappear and the defense has to dominate. Since J.K. Dobbins was injured in Week 10, the Broncos rank bottom 10 in rushing yards per game and yards per rush. Dobbins has a chance to return this week, but I’m not banking on him to be an X factor. This Denver defense ranks top three in points allowed per game (18.3), yards allowed per game (278.2) and third-down percentage (33.8%) as well. Vance Joseph’s unit can definitely contain Drake Maye, but the Patriots are the only team with a perfect against-the-spread record (8-0) on the road this season. I believe this will be a close game until New England finally covers in the fourth quarter.” Pick: Patriots 20, Broncos 13
To see Dajani’s NFC Championship pick, click here.
INTO WEATHER IMPACT MODE HERE IN THE ALBUQUERQUE METRO. AS ERIC MENTIONED, PARTS OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO ARE EXPECTED TO GET ICE FROM THIS STORM THAT COULD LEAD TO POWER OUTAGES. REPORTER ALYSSA MUNOZ CONTINUES OUR TEAM WEATHER COVERAGE WITH WHAT YOU CAN DO IF THIS HAPPENS. GOOD MORNING ALYSSA. GOOD MORNING. YES. PLACES LIKE CLOVIS OR HOBBS WHERE I’M FROM, ARE EXPECTED TO SEE A LOT OF ICE. NOW, THIS IS JUST ICE FROM THE FRIDGE. BUT AS WE KNOW, IT CAN ALL BUILD UP. NOW, THAT CAN CAUSE POWER LINES TO WEIGH DOWN AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE OUTAGES AS WELL. I SPOKE WITH XCEL ENERGY, WHICH SERVES PARTS OF NEW MEXICO FROM TUCUMCARI DOWN SOUTH. THEY TELL US ICE IS BASICALLY THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. THAT SAID, THIS ISN’T THEIR FIRST WINTER STORM. THEY SAY THEIR SYSTEM IS BUILT TO HANDLE CERTAIN LEVELS OF ICE AND WIND, AND THEY’RE PREPARING NOW WITH ABOUT 100 CREWS PLUS ADDITIONAL SERVICEMEN READY TO RESPOND. CASEY MEEKS, THE THE REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, SPOKE WITH US ABOUT THIS STORM. IF WE GET MAJOR ICING, IT COULD START TAKING POLES AND ARMS DOWN, YOU KNOW, TURNS INTO A LITTLE MORE SIGNIFICANT RESTORATION EVENT, MORE CREWS, LONGER TIME PERIOD TO GET THAT DONE. BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE’RE NOT ANTICIPATING AT THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU KNOW, CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, I GUESS I’LL SAY ABOUT THE ICE PREDICTION. NIEMIEC SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN IN CASE OF THESE POWER OUTAGES, WHETHER THAT’S HAVING A GAS HEATER NEARBY, SOME BLANKETS, OR EVEN JUST ANOTHER PLACE TO
Southeastern New Mexico is preparing for a winter storm expected to bring ice, potentially leading to power outages in areas like Clovis and Hobbs, as Xcel Energy mobilizes crews to respond.Ice accumulation can weigh down power lines, causing outages, and Xcel Energy, which serves parts of New Mexico from Tucumcari southward, is taking precautions. They have stated that ice is the worst-case scenario for their systems, but their infrastructure is built to handle certain levels of wind and ice. They are also prepared with about 100 crews and additional servicemen ready to respond.Casey Meeks, the Regional Vice President for Distribution Operations, discussed the potential impact of the storm. “If we get major icing, it could start taking poles and arms down, you know, turns into a little more significant restoration event, more crews, longer time period to get that done. But again, you know, we’re not anticipating it at this point in time, you know, cautiously optimistic, I guess I’ll say, about the ice prediction,” Meeks said.He also advised residents to have a plan in case of power outages, suggesting they keep a gas heater nearby, warm blankets, or have a place to go if conditions worsen.
Southeastern New Mexico is preparing for a winter storm expected to bring ice, potentially leading to power outages in areas like Clovis and Hobbs, as Xcel Energy mobilizes crews to respond.
Ice accumulation can weigh down power lines, causing outages, and Xcel Energy, which serves parts of New Mexico from Tucumcari southward, is taking precautions. They have stated that ice is the worst-case scenario for their systems, but their infrastructure is built to handle certain levels of wind and ice. They are also prepared with about 100 crews and additional servicemen ready to respond.
Casey Meeks, the Regional Vice President for Distribution Operations, discussed the potential impact of the storm. “If we get major icing, it could start taking poles and arms down, you know, turns into a little more significant restoration event, more crews, longer time period to get that done. But again, you know, we’re not anticipating it at this point in time, you know, cautiously optimistic, I guess I’ll say, about the ice prediction,” Meeks said.
He also advised residents to have a plan in case of power outages, suggesting they keep a gas heater nearby, warm blankets, or have a place to go if conditions worsen.
LONDON — LONDON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump provoked outrage and distress in the U.K. on Friday with his suggestion that troops from NATO countries stayed away from the frontline during the war in Afghanistan.
In an interview with Fox News in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Trump said he was not sure NATO would be there to support the U.S. if and when requested.
“I’ve always said, will they be there if we ever needed them and that’s really the ultimate test and I’m not sure of that,” Trump said. “We’ve never needed them, we have never really asked anything of them. You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that, and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
In the U.K., which backed the U.S. in Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and more controversially in Iraq two years later, the reaction was raw. Then-Prime Minister Tony Blair said after 9/11 that the U.K. would “stand shoulder to shoulder” with the U.S. in response to the al-Qaida attacks.
“Those British troops should be remembered for who they were: heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation,” U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said.
Ben Obese-Jecty, a lawmaker who served in Afghanistan as a captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, said it was “sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply by the president of the United States.”
It was not the first time that Trump downplayed the commitment of NATO countries over the past few days. It has been one of his pivotal lines of attack as he escalated his threats to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory belonging to Denmark.
Trump’s view that NATO countries won’t be there when requested stands in stark contrast to reality.
The only time Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty has been used was in response to the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. The article is the key mutual defense clause obliging all member countries to come to the aid of another member whose sovereignty or territorial integrity might be under threat.
“When America needed us after 9/11 we were there,” former Danish platoon commander Martin Tamm Andersen said.
Denmark has been a stalwart ally to the U.S. Forty-four Danish soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, the highest per capita death toll among coalition forces. Eight more died in Iraq.
The latest controversy surrounding Trump comes at the end of a week when he has faced criticism — and pushback — for his attempts to take control of Greenland.
Trump’s threat to slap tariffs on European nations opposed to his ambitions to annex Greenland raised questions over the future of NATO. Though Trump backed down after a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in which he said they formed the “framework” for a deal over Arctic security, trans-Atlantic relations have taken a hit.
His latest comments are unlikely to improve relations.
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson suffered horrific injuries when a British Army Land Rover hit a mine in Afghanistan in 2006, said Trump’s latest comments were “the ultimate insult” and called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to stand up to Trump over them.
“Call him out,” she said. “Make a stand for those who fought for this country and for our flag, because it’s just beyond belief.”
The news came after Landman delivered record numbers on its Season 2 premiere, which aired Nov. 16.
The show delivered a major win for Paramount right out of the gate in Season 2, prompting a renewal soon after the season premiered.
Landman was a Top 3 show among all original content the week of Nov. 17.
It was a Top 2 show the following week.
Landman drew 9.2 million streaming views for its premiere episode in the first two days of streaming.
The Season 2 premiere outperformed the Season 1 premiere by 262 percent.
It was the most-watched premiere for any original series on Paramount+.
What Will Happen on Season 3 of Landman?
Paramount has provided no plot points for Season 3 of Landman.
Is Billy Bob Thornton Leaving Landman for Season 3?
Not according to him.
Billy Bob Thornton has said that he initially signed on for four or five seasons, so he will return in his role as Tommy Norris.
The Oscar winner specifically refuted rumors that he’s leaving the show in an interview with USA Today, calling the rumors “AI-generated crap.”
“There’s an AI report that Demi and I are a couple now, and there’s one that I’m leaving the show,” Thornton states. “They have nothing to do with reality.”
Who Else Will Star in Landman Season 3?
Other cast members who are likely to return include Demi Moore, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland and Michelle Randolph, as well as James Jordan, Kayla Wallace, Paulina Chavez and Mark Collie.
Colm Feore played the recurring character of attorney Nathan in Season 1. His character was a series regular in Season 2 of Landman, and he seems likely to return for Season 3.
Andy Garcia made a brief appearance in Landman Season 1 as cartel boss Gallino. He was also a series regular in Season 2, and it seems likely he’ll play an even larger role in Season 3.
Sam Elliott will probably also return for Season 3 of Landman in the role of TL, the father of Thornton’s character, Tommy Norris.
When Does Landman Season 3 Premiere?
Paramount has not given a timeline for Landman Season 3.
Forbes speculates that Season 3 will bow in November of 2026, following the pattern of the first two seasons.
PICTURES: Get a First Look at ‘Landman’ Season 2
Paramount has released several first-look pictures in advance of Landman Season 2, and it looks like the new season will ratchet up the crazy.
This list of Landman facts goes much deeper than what inspired the show, who stars in it and how big the audience is. Here you’ll learn the truth about the most memorable scenes and lines of dialogue, including that line from Ainsley Norris. You know which one we mean.
Season 2 of Landman begins Nov. 16 on Paramount+. Here’s the best Landman trivia we could find as the Dutton Rules podcast team prepares for another great year.
SLB logged higher fourth-quarter revenue and said some of the challenges it faced last year are behind it, as it stands to benefit from increasing international activity.
Myron Medcalf covers college basketball for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2011.
Jan 21, 2026, 08:00 AM ET
For the first two months of the season, we weren’t sure if Darryn Peterson would finish the season as he wrestled with cramping and injuries. He had spent more time on the bench than on the court for Kansas, which made it impossible to fully analyze the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, per ESPN.
Then, he put together one of the most eye-opening efforts of the season when he scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting in a nationally televised win over Baylor on Friday. The performance helped him qualify for our rankings, now that he has played in at least 50% of his team’s games. He slots right into the top half, too.
Peterson is one of the most gifted offensive players in recent memory. If he can stay healthy, he could end the 2025-26 season in a battle with Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Caleb Wilson for the No. 1 spot in our rankings.
Previous rank: 1
Biggest performance so far: 35 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Arkansas in Chicago on Nov. 27
AJ Dybantsa could make a case for the Wooden Award if he and BYU bulldoze the Big 12. Darryn Peterson‘s health is also an X factor in this conversation. But Boozer’s combination of excellence, efficiency and consistency remains unmatched. He might lack the same above-the-rim highlights of his peers, but he’s the leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals for a team that features three projected first-rounders in ESPN’s latest mock draft. Most freshmen need a month or two to hit their respective strides. That wasn’t the case for Boozer, who has been the dominant force in the sport from day one. — Myron Medcalf
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Cameron Boozer goes for 30-point double-double in Duke’s blowout win
Cameron Boozer goes for 30-point double-double in Duke’s blowout win
Previous rank: 2
Biggest performance so far: 28 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists vs. Clemson in New York City on Dec. 9
Dybantsa had perhaps his worst game of the season in BYU’s loss to Texas Tech over the weekend, finishing with 13 points on 6-for-17 shooting. That performance came after a 10-game streak of 20-point performances, and a Division I freshman record nine straight games with at least 20 points on 50% field goal shooting. Dybantsa continues to show flashes of absurd dominance, with an ability to take over a game like few of his peers. He entered the week fifth in the country in scoring at 22.5 points per game, to go with 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists. — Jeff Borzello
Previous rank: 3
Biggest performance so far: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Kansas on Nov. 7
There is drama in Chapel Hill, and Wilson has been at the center of it. Following his team’s loss to Stanford — part of a 1-3 stretch for UNC entering the week — Wilson suggested the Cardinal had used the same plays all game to beat the Tar Heels. Coach Hubert Davis disagreed with his star player’s assessment. Despite the struggles around him, Wilson has held on to this No. 3 spot because he’s still one of the best players in America. He has scored 20 points or more in 12 games this year. The Tar Heels have issues they must fix, but Wilson isn’t one of them. — Medcalf
Previous rank: Unranked
Biggest performance so far: 26 points, 3 assists, 11-of-13 FG in 23 minutes vs. Baylor on Jan. 16
Peterson makes his long-awaited debut in the rankings after finally hitting the 50% games played threshold, when he suited up for his ninth game — out of Kansas’ 18 so far this season — last Friday against Baylor. He responded with one of the most efficient performances we’ve seen from anyone all season, finishing with 26 points on 11-for-13 shooting in just 23 minutes of action. That came on the heels of a 16-point effort in Kansas’ upset win over Iowa State. In Peterson’s nine games entering the week, he had hit the 20-point mark in six of them, averaging 22.2 points on 50% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from 3-point range. — Borzello
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Kansas capitalizes on TCU’s late foul to send game to OT
Darryn Peterson is fouled late and drains all three free throws to send the game to overtime for Kansas.
Previous rank: 4
Biggest performance so far: 29 points, 4 assists vs. Tennessee on Jan. 3
For most teams at this level, losses can be traced to the struggles of their best player. One of Acuff’s best qualities this season, however, has been his ability to step up in Arkansas’ toughest games. In the Razorbacks’ five losses entering the week (to Michigan State, Duke, Houston, Auburn and Georgia), Acuff averaged 20.6 PPG and 5.0 APG. On the season, he’s making nearly 41% of his 3-point attempts. And, since the start of the new year, he has registered a 2.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. At 6-foot-3, Acuff is never the biggest guy on the floor, but he’s often the most impactful.
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0:36
Darius Acuff Jr. drills a 3 with a hand in his face
Darius Acuff Jr. sinks a 3-pointer late for Arkansas.
Previous rank: 5
Biggest performance so far: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals vs. Arkansas on Dec. 20
Flemings’ shooting numbers have been a little more inconsistent in Big 12 play than they were during the nonconference portion of the season, but the lottery pick point guard continues to produce at both ends of the floor, despite the schedule getting tougher. He opened league play with 19 points, six assists and five steals against Cincinnati, followed it up with 23 points and five assists against Texas Tech and is coming off a 20-point, eight-assist, four-steal, two-block performance in Sunday’s win over Arizona State. He also had seven assists in back-to-back games against Baylor and West Virginia when his shot wasn’t falling. — Borzello
Previous Rank: 10
Biggest performance so far: 36 points, 9 assists, 2 steals vs. North Carolina on Jan. 14
In high school, Okorie was the fourth-ranked player — in the state of New Hampshire. The former three-star recruit is the most unheralded freshman on this list. He’s also one of the best. His 36-point effort in last week’s win over North Carolina was his ninth game of the season with at least 25 points. Averaging 22.1 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals, Okorie is also an effective playmaker for a Stanford group that has won three games against top-60 KenPom opponents (Louisville, Virginia Tech, North Carolina) in 2026 alone — matching the three victories over top-60 KenPom opponents it had in the entire 2024-25 season. — Medcalf
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North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Stanford Cardinal: Game Highlights
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Stanford Cardinal: Game Highlights
Previous rank: 6
Biggest performance so far: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Missouri on Dec. 22
On a team filled with college upperclassmen and former European pros, it’s Wagler — who doesn’t even turn 19 years old until February — who has emerged as Illinois’ go-to scorer in the early part of Big Ten play. He has led the Illini in scoring in six of their past 10 games — including three of their past four. He is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists in that stretch, shooting better than 46% from 3-point range. Wagler continues to rise up mock drafts as well and is trending toward being an odds-on lottery pick by the end of the season. — Borzello
Previous rank: Unranked
Biggest performance so far: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Florida on Nov. 3.
Peat dropped off our board in early January following a string of lackluster December performances. Part of the reason for his decline was that his season-opening performance against Florida raised expectations, perhaps unfairly. Yet, he has risen to the occasion in recent weeks for the No. 1 team in America. The 6-8 forward has been a go-to player for Tommy Lloyd’s crew. Since the start of the new year, he has also made 58% of his shots inside the arc — an efficient output few players on this list have matched. Once again, Peat looks like the projected lottery pick most assumed he’d be after his explosive effort to begin his college career. — Medcalf
Previous Rank: Unranked
Biggest performance so far: 24 points, 3 assists, 6 3-pointers vs. Providence on Jan. 7
Mullins’ numbers at this point in the season aren’t on the same level as the other players on these rankings: The Indiana native is averaging 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds entering the week. But he’s on an upward trajectory as we enter the final stretch of the regular season. He was even the player Dan Hurley drew up plays for in overtime against Providence earlier this month. Mullins missed the first month of the season with an ankle injury but scored 17 points on the road at Kansas in the second game of his career and immediately forced his way into the starting lineup for the No. 2 Huskies. He was arguably the best shooter in the 2025 class coming out of high school, and he has already made at least five 3s twice in Big East play. — Borzello
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Clouds with spotty rain showers with even spottier freezing rain showers in southern & western areas are accompanied by a temperature divide forming from northeast to southwest. A gusty cold front is starting to move through the Northeast Highlands. Temperatures in the north are starting off in the upper single digits, while […]
