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Pep Guardiola accepts Man City may need luck in fifth Newcastle clash Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that luck could be a decisive factor in the club’s upcoming FA Cup clash against Newcastle United, marking their fifth encounter of the season. The match, set for Saturday, will take place at St James’ Park as City continue their pursuit of a fourth consecutive FA Cup final appearance. Guardiola emphasized the importance of the tie, despite the club’s busy schedule involving the Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid and the Carabao Cup final later this month. The fixture comes after City dropped two crucial points in the Premier League title race with a 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest. Guardiola highlighted the significance of the FA Cup as a priority, stating, “We’re going to travel to Newcastle to win the game to get in the next round, definitely 100 per cent.” The manager acknowledged the tight margins in the competition, noting that “when the margins are so tight the luck is important.” Guardiola’s comments reflect the challenges of facing Newcastle, a team that has already defeated City twice this season in the Premier League and in a Carabao Cup semifinal. While City has won the other three meetings, the manager admitted the sides have “little to learn about each other” and that the match will be a test of consistency. “We know each other quite well, no surprises,” he said. The scheduling of the match also presents logistical challenges for City. Guardiola expressed mixed feelings about the 8 p.m. kick-off, explaining that playing at night requires traveling the day before, which could impact recovery for the squad. He noted the need for rotation due to the demanding fixture list, stating, “Now we play a lot of games with long travels away and fatigue is involved.#fa_cup #pep_guardiola #man_city #newcastle_united #st_james_park

Jammu: NIA court rejects bail plea of terror funding accused A Jammu NIA court denied bail to Tanvir Ahmed Wani, accused in a terror funding case. Wani allegedly conspired with Pakistani traders, importing goods beyond limits via under-invoicing to generate profits for terror outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Incriminating materials were found at his residence. #NIA #NIA_court #Ahmed_Wani #Tanvir_Ahmed #Jammu_NIA #funding_case #terror_funding #court_rejects #court_denied #funding_accused

The Multibillion-dollar shift turning prediction markets into a professional hedging tool #prediction_markets #Multibillion-dollar_shift #hedging_tool #shift_turning #turning_prediction

WoW's recent revamp of Silvermoon for Midnight is so good, I'm starting to wonder if the MMO's model of a 'new exciting continent every 2-3 years' was ever the right way Home is where the hearthstone is. #Midnight #MMO #MMO_model #WoW_recent #recent_revamp #exciting_continent #Silvermoon

Amazon's cheap 4K streaming stick drops to under $20 for the first time A record-low price for Amazon's new and basic 4K streaming stick #streaming #record-low_price #streaming_stick #Amazon_cheap #stick_drops

UConn men's basketball team aims for Big East regular-season title: 'First part of three goals' The fourth-ranked UConn men’s basketball team is on the verge of securing its record 12th Big East regular-season championship, with a decisive victory over Marquette set for Saturday at Fiserv Forum. A win would break a tie with Georgetown for the most titles in league history, as the Huskies currently share the lead with the Hoyas. The game, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, represents the first step toward achieving a trio of goals outlined by the team, including a Big East tournament title and a national championship. UConn, ranked No. 4 in the nation, enters the matchup with a 17-2 record in conference play and a 27-3 overall mark. The Huskies’ pursuit of the regular-season title is complicated by the league standings, as they could share the crown with St. John’s if both teams win their final regular-season games. However, a UConn victory would secure at least a share of the title, with the possibility of an outright win if St. John’s loses to Seton Hall on Friday night. The outcome of Saturday’s game will also determine the Huskies’ seeding in the upcoming Big East tournament, where they could claim the top or second seed depending on results. Senior forward Alex Karaban, the only current player to have won two national championships, emphasized the difficulty of winning the regular-season title. “It’s extremely hard to do,” he said. “This is a championship we’ve been working for since mid-December. It’s super-impressive because teams get hot, teams get cold, teams go through injury spurts. Really, it’s who’s the toughest team, the most resilient. Winning the regular-season championship is really hard to do, and I think it’s really impressive to win.#big_east #dan_hurley #uconn #marquette #alex_karaban

Marquette vs UConn: MU's defense looks sharp early The Marquette men’s basketball team faces Connecticut in a crucial matchup on Saturday, March 7, at Fiserv Forum. The Golden Eagles, with a record of 11-19 overall and 6-13 in the Big East, aim to build momentum as they prepare for the NCAA tournament. Connecticut, ranked 27-3 overall and 17-2 in the league, is in position to secure a regular-season co-championship title, potentially matching St. John’s for the honor. Marquette’s defense showed promise early in the game, holding Connecticut scoreless for nearly five minutes. The Golden Eagles recorded six consecutive stops, leading to a 7-0 run that gave them a 14-11 lead. While the Huskies’ offense eventually found its rhythm, Marquette’s ability to disrupt the rhythm of a top-tier team highlights potential improvements in their defensive strategy. The Golden Eagles’ probable starting lineup includes guards Nigel James Jr., Adrien Stevens, and Chase Ross, along with forwards Ben Gold and Royce Parham. Despite recent struggles, the team has made strides from earlier in the season, though they face an uphill battle against a Huskies squad with national championship aspirations. The game is set for a 11:30 a.m. Central Time start, with coverage on Fox (Channel 6 in Milwaukee). Play-by-play announcer Tim Brando and analyst Donny Marshall will provide commentary. Betting odds from BetMGM show UConn as a strong favorite, with the Huskies favored by 9.5 points and a moneyline of -475, while Marquette is listed at +350. Looking ahead, Marquette’s schedule includes the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 11. The team’s recent performance, including a 62-51 loss to DePaul on March 1, underscores the challenges they face as they seek to close the gap against elite competition.#fiserv_forum #big_east #marquette #uconn #shaka_smart

UConn men’s basketball team eyes regular-season title in showdown against Marquette The UConn men’s basketball team is set to face Marquette in a crucial regular-season finale at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with a win securing at least a share of the Big East regular-season championship. The Huskies, currently ranked No. 4 in the league, enter the game with a 27-3 overall record and a 17-2 conference mark, while Marquette holds a 11-19 record and 6-13 Big East slate. The matchup, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, will determine whether UConn retains its position in the tournament seeding or faces challenges from the Golden Eagles. Marquette’s performance in recent weeks has complicated UConn’s path to the tournament’s No. 7 seed. The Golden Eagles, who previously lost five straight games, defeated Providence by 22 points in a dominant showing, showcasing their potential to climb the standings. Coach Dan Hurley acknowledged Marquette’s improved play, calling them a “scary team” capable of upsetting even top-tier opponents. “They’re dangerous,” Hurley said. “It’s a tough game, it’s a scary game. But then I think they’re a scary team for people in New York (in the Big East Tournament), too.” For UConn, the game carries significant weight beyond the standings. A victory would mark the program’s 12th regular-season title, surpassing Villanova’s previous record and breaking a seven-year tie. The Huskies, however, have faced challenges in maintaining their dominance. In their previous matchup at Gampel Pavilion in early January, UConn held Marquette to 32.2% shooting and led by as many as 23 points, but the Golden Eagles have since improved. Solo Ball, a key player for UConn, emphasized the importance of the game. “This game that we’re going into right now is a championship.#uconn_men_basketball #marquette_men_basketball #fiserv_forum #big_east #dan_hurley

Big Ten Standings: Final Games Determine Tournament Seeds With one game remaining for each team, the Big Ten conference is entering the final stretch of the regular season, setting the stage for the upcoming tournament in Chicago. After Thursday’s action, including Michigan State’s narrow victory over Rutgers and Michigan’s overtime win against Iowa, all 18 teams are locked in a race to secure favorable seeding for the postseason. The outcomes of these final matchups will determine which teams earn triple byes, double byes, or must compete earlier in the tournament. Nebraska’s path to a top seed is particularly intriguing. A win over Iowa on Sunday, combined with a Michigan State loss to Michigan, could elevate the Huskers to as high as a 2 seed. Conversely, a loss to Iowa and a Purdue victory over Wisconsin could drop Nebraska to a 5 seed, potentially knocking them out of the triple bye. The Boilermakers’ game against Wisconsin on Saturday will play a critical role in shaping the standings, as its result will be finalized before Nebraska faces Iowa at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Iowa also has a chance to secure a double bye if Ohio State loses its Saturday matchup. For Nebraska, the focus is straightforward: a win over Iowa ensures a 2 or 3 seed in the tournament, avoiding early-round play. The Huskers’ game against Iowa is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, with the outcome carrying significant weight for their tournament positioning. The tournament format, which will take place in Chicago, features all 18 teams competing. The top four seeds receive a triple bye, entering the tournament on Friday, while the top eight earn a double bye. The bracket will unfold over four days, with the lowest-seeded teams (15-18) facing off on Tuesday, followed by 9-16 on Wednesday, 5-12 on Thursday, and the quarterfinals on Friday.#nebraska #iowa #big_ten #purdue #wisconsin

Big Ten Basketball Tournament Bracket Projections Updated With just four days left in the regular season, the Big Ten Conference is finalizing its tournament bracket, setting the stage for the conference championship. Recent games on March 4 have influenced seeding adjustments, particularly in the lower half of the standings. Purdue’s close victory over Northwestern and Wisconsin’s dominant win against Maryland have kept the top four seeds intact, but both teams are now just one game away from securing a double-bye in the tournament. The Badgers and No. 15-ranked Boilermakers are set to face off in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday. A win for either team could provide a potential pathway to the top four seeds, depending on results from other matchups. The tournament will feature all 18 Big Ten teams, a change from last year when only 15 teams qualified. This year’s bracket structure includes a first-round matchup between No. 18 Penn State and No. 15 Northwestern, while No. 17 Maryland will take on No. 16 Oregon. The second round will see No. 9 Iowa challenge the winner of the Maryland-Oregon game, and No. 10 Indiana will face the winner of Penn State-Northwestern. In the lower half, No. 11 Washington will meet No. 14 Rutgers, while No. 12 USC will take on No. 13 Minnesota. The upper half of the bracket includes No. 8 Ohio State, which will face the winner of the Iowa-Oregon-Maryland game. No. 5 Purdue will compete against the winner of USC-Minnesota, and No. 7 UCLA will face the winner of Indiana-Penn State-Northwestern. No. 6 Wisconsin will take on the winner of Washington-Rutgers. The top half of the bracket will see No. 1 Michigan challenge the winner of Ohio State-Iowa-Oregon-Maryland, while No. 4 Illinois will face the winner of Purdue-USC-Minnesota. The second half of the bracket features No.#big_ten #purdue #wisconsin #northwestern #maryland