South Florida Local News

TALLAHASSEE — Jaylan Gainey scored nine of his 11 points in the second half, Primo Spears also scored 11, including two free throws with 1.2 seconds left, and Florida State beat Virginia Tech 77-74 Saturday.

Jamir Watkins and Darin Green Jr. each added 10 points for Florida State (8-6, 2-1 ACC).

“It was hard fought,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. “It all came down to the wire. I thought we had our moments, but we showed how great we can make moments when it counts.”

Watkins made just 3 of 14 from the field but finished with eight rebounds and four assists. Baba Miller fouled out with 10 rebounds to go with eight points, five assists and three of the Seminoles’ eight steals.

“Our team has a lot of moving parts; we’re learning to play together,” Hamilton said. “Gainey is giving us help, Cam Corhen coming back, and Primo coming in and giving us a big lift with his speed and quickness.”

Watkins made a layup to give Florida State a 10-point lead with 2:19 to play but Tyler Nickel made two free throws eight seconds later and Bishop Moore alum Hunter Cattoor added two more.

Jalen Warley made 1 of 2 from the foul line to make it 74-67 with 1:27 to go but Sean Pedulla made a quick layup and, after a turnover by Spears, hit a 3-pointer with 59 seconds left. He made two free throws to make it 74-all with five seconds remaining. Spears hit the go-ahead free throws and the Seminoles held on.

Pedulla led Virginia Tech (9-5, 1-2) with 26 points. Cattoor made 5 of 6 from 3-point range and finished with 19 points and MJ Collins scored 10.

Gainey converted a three-point play, Spears made a layup and Warley added a putback but missed the and-1 free throw.

Miller grabbed the offensive rebound and Watkins threw down a dunk with 9:38 to play to give the Seminoles a 50-48 lead, their first since midway through the first half. Miller stole the ball and was fouled as he scored but didn’t make the free throw. Corhen converted a three-point play to cap a 14-0 run and make it 55-48 with 8:33 to go.

Virginia Tech took its biggest lead when Cattoor hit a 3-pointer to make it 41-32 with 15:53 to play. The Hokies committed a turnover on each of their next three possessions and had seven in the next seven minutes as Florida State took control.

“This game is a step in the right direction,” Hamilton said. “We’re going to enjoy this for about 45 minutes before we start looking ahead and preparing for Wake Forest on Tuesday.”

Florida State will wrap up a string of home games against the Demon Deacons. Virginia Tech plays host to No. 16 Clemson on Wednesday.

 

General Daily Insight for January 07, 2024

We’re shedding dead weight. The heartfelt Moon is singing in harmony with dreamy Neptune, heightening our creativity and intuition. We’re able to pick up on things we’d usually miss. We’re also blessed by the Moon’s sextile to transformative Pluto, offering us an opportunity to shed negative habits and leave our past behind. Finally, the Moon moves into freedom-loving Sagittarius at 4:08 pm EST, bringing us out of dark mystery and adding a sense of optimism to our inner thoughts. Let’s elevate our hearts.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

At any moment, your intuition may lead you to a change that you’ve been wanting to make for a while. You might have thought that this shift was too drastic or risky, but trust that your soul is guiding you down a path that is within your capabilities. It’s possible that you lost sight of the drive and ambition that you have deep down, potentially due to past disappointment or criticism, but it’s time to find it again. You can make it happen!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

The deep emotions of others in your life could currently seem much more accessible. Perhaps they’re approaching you for comfort and advice, they may not have done so in the past, or they might finally feel ready to share their soul with you. This can feel like there’s a psychic link between you, and while it may feel odd being so in tune with their feelings, it’s best to be as understanding and accepting as you can. Be the confidant you’d want to have.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You might be shaking up your routine. Where you were once unfocused and less driven, you’re presently picking up inspiration to make your routine more fun, efficient, or creative, in order to avoid feeling a little boxed in. As a mutable sign, you likely love making a change and elevating your life in measurable increments, adding a dash of comfort here, replacing a negative habit there. Before you know it, all the small changes will add up to a much happier you.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your intuition can lead you to a more spiritual place. Today is likely to bring options like yoga classes, creative tutoring, or meditation in nature — whatever leads you to feel connected to your sensual and soulful side. You are more likely to choose form over function for the moment. While your day may not turn out to be the most efficient or organized, you’re likely to end it feeling refreshed and awakened. Let your spirit carry you where it may.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You’re leaving the past in the past! There may be past events that have been plaguing your mind recently, certain arguments or disappointments from way back when that you’re unable to stop thinking about. It can be difficult to set this emotional baggage down, but this is the perfect time to make a conscious effort to leave that energy in ancient history. Try writing down what you feel on a piece of paper, burning it in a safe place, and letting the ashes scatter away.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Wisdom can be found through the people in your life. These are most likely to be siblings, cousins, and others who have supported you in the past. You should already be able to trust their intentions, so new people in your life are unlikely to be the ones providing you with this information. Communicating your feelings, the highs and the lows, to this trusted group can lead to healing in these areas, as what they tell you may spark a revelation within you.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

You’re ready to create more for yourself. You may have been relying on others lately — it’s time to make sure that you know what you want instead of letting them direct every move. If you’re solely planting the seeds that outside influences are giving you without knowing what you want to grow, you might end up disappointed by the fruit you receive. You have a mind of your own, and tapping into its power will bring you to a much more satisfying future.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Self-reflection encourages healing at this time. You’re possibly projecting onto others or pointing the finger at those who have disappointed you in order to make your struggles make sense to you. It might be time to look in the mirror and see what you can begin doing to elevate your life. Ask yourself if you’re spending too much mental energy on the people who have wronged you in the past. See if you can find a way to replace any overly negative thoughts.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Your intuition might be the best guide that you have today. Following your heart takes on renewed importance, as you may only have your gut feeling to lead you through a negative situation or to guide you into a positive one. The advice of others or even traditional logic can push you away from what is really meant for you. It could be that you feel the odds are against you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be that one in a million success.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Friendship revelations could be around every corner! It might be that someone shares information about themselves that you never once suspected, and this may change the way that you think about them. This exchange could also encourage you to be vulnerable and grow closer with your friend or multiple pals. This could take place while you’re all together for a period of time without interruption, allowing everyone time to communicate with care. Be a safe place for them to share.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Elders in your life have valuable wisdom to share at this time. It could be that your grandparents or other older folk you know don’t normally share this much with you, but the stars are aligning to free their stories from the past, along with the lessons they’ve learned. While you may feel like you don’t need to listen to their advice, think again! Whether they’re trying to teach you something or not, you can always learn from those who’ve been around longer than you!

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

It may be time to break out on your own. You might not realize how much you’ve been holding back until you see someone else putting out creative projects or taking on challenges that you’ve wanted to handle, but you’ve potentially been hesitating for one reason or another. You could have been telling yourself that they’re capable of things that you’re not, but it’s time to stand tall! It’s never too late to start, and you’re more likely to regret it if you don’t try.

By MICHAEL KELLY (Associated Press)

DENVER — Sam Reinhart scored three times for his seventh career hat trick, and the surging Florida Panthers beat the Colorado Avalanche 8-4 on Saturday for their seventh straight win.

Reinhart has 10 goals during Florida’s win streak, including three multigoal games. Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves for his sixth straight win during the streak.

For the first time on a road trip in franchise history, the Panthers have won three consecutive games by at least three goals, having walloped the Arizona Coyotes and defending Stanley Cup-champion Vegas Golden Knights by 4-1 each heading into the Colorado game.

Additionally, Florida topped the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in the game before the road trip started.

Aleksander Barkov had four assists in his 700th NHL game for Florida. Carter Verhaeghe had two goals and an assist, and Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Kevin Stenlund also scored.

The Panthers led 3-0 and 4-3, but Colorado rallied each time. Jonathan Drouin tied it at 4 with his ninth of the season 3:31 into the third.

Ross Colton then took a double minor for high sticking, Logan O’Connor went off for delay of game 25 seconds later, and Reinhart completed his hat trick when he scored his 28th of the season at 5:59.

Stenlund made it 6-4 with his seventh 8:59 into the final period.

Colorado rallied from multigoal deficits to win in overtime in the previous two games, but it couldn’t pull off the same feat against Florida. Cale Makar and Valeri Nichushkin each had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Josh Manson also scored and Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to extend his home point streak to 21 games to start the season.

Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev had 12 saves in relief of Ivan Prosvetov.

The Panthers scored three times on four shots against Prosvetov in the first 7:41 of the first period. Verhaeghe scored his 21st just 1:10 into the game, and Reinhart had two goals 4:39 apart.

Makar and Manson responded for Colorado in the first 52 seconds of the second. Nichushkin tied it at 3 when deflected Makar’s shot from the point at 4:35.

Ekman-Larsson put Florida back in front with his eighth goal of the season at 8:50 of the second. That ended Prosvetov’s day after he allowed four goals on 13 shots.

The Avalanche played without defenseman Bowen Byram because of a lower-body injury.

UP NEXT

Panthers: Wrap up a four-game road trip at St. Louis on Tuesday night.

By STEVE REED (AP Sports Writer)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — This was the type of situation Lu’Cye Patterson has dreamed about: Game on the line. Against a ranked opponent. Ball in his hands.

Patterson drew a foul on a jumper with 1.7 seconds left and made both free throws as Charlotte defeated No. 17 Florida Atlantic 70-68 on Saturday for its first home win against an AP Top 25 opponent in 14 years.

“He gets that fire in his eyes, that real competitive look like, ‘I ain’t losing this … thing,” said Charlotte coach Aaron Fearne. “Not everyone is built like that, and that’s ok. Some guys want the ball and some guys don’t. Lu’Cye definitely wants it in his hands.”

Patterson said he learned that playing for his father and being put in that type of situation time and time again growing up as a point guard.

“You have to have some ball in you and I feel like I do,” Patterson said.

Patterson scored 16 points and Igor Milicic Jr. added 13 points — including a towering one-handed dunk in the final two minutes — for the 49ers, who squandered a 17-point second-half lead before surging ahead late.

After Patterson’s free throws, Florida Atlantic nearly pulled off a miracle as a full-court pass ended up in Nick Boyd’s hands, but his 3-point attempt from the corner barely rimmed out as time expired.

“Last year we were able to win all of the one-possession games,” said FAU coach Dusty May. “The numbers say you are probably going to win half of them, so if we are going to be in one-possession games it is probably going to go back and forth.”

Johnell Davis had 20 points and Boyd had 19 for Florida Atlantic (11-4, 1-1 American Athletic Conference), which has lost two of its last three.

Charlotte (7-7, 1-1) bolted to a 9-0 start and led by 15 at halftime.

FAU missed its first eight shots from the field and didn’t score until nearly six minutes into the game. Charlotte built on the momentum and extended its lead to 41-26 at the break after shooting 55% from the field and outrebounding the Owls 18-12 in the first half.

“It’s becoming a theme where we are just not on our toes, we aren’t the aggressor early in the game and then we have to fight back,” May said.

The momentum of the game changed with 10:20 left when Patterson rolled his ankle and had to briefly leave the game with the 49ers leading by eight.

Boyd followed with a 3, getting the ball to bounce over the front of the rim and in to trim the lead to five. A limping Patterson would return, but the Owls kept attacking and Boyd tied the game with 6:28 left with a driving left-handed, drawing a foul and converting the 3-point play.

Alijah Martin would give the Owls their first lead of the game with four minutes to go on a tip in.

But it didn’t last.

Charlotte battled back to take the lead with 1:18 when Patterson coolly buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 3-point lead. Davis answered with his own clutch 3 with 14.3 left, setting up Patterson’s winning free throws.

BIG PICTURE

Florida Atlantic: This is the type of loss that could knock the Owls out of the top 25. Another slow start did them in. May said he and his staff are evaluating potential changes in everything from pre-game routines to the starting lineup. “We have to get our edge back,” May said.

Charlotte: A tremendous win for the 49ers, who have struggled all season to find their footing on offense. “This is a confidence boost for the guys and it always helps a coach that they start to believe that we are doing is paying off,” Fearne said.

UP NEXT

Florida Atlantic: At Tulane on Thursday night.

Charlotte: Host Tulsa on Wednesday night.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

A tornado touched down in Fort Lauderdale just west of where Las Olas Boulevard crosses the Intracoastal Waterway Saturday evening, officials say, damaging boats, homes and power lines before moving into the ocean. No injuries have been reported.

Videos shared by residents on social media show the large tornado moving close to the downtown area, sparks and flames in its wake.

The tornado formed over land just before 6 p.m. according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Garrett Pingol. As it gained strength, it “made contact with some structures, power lines and marine vessels in that immediate area” before moving east until it hit the ocean.

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Fire Rescue responded to calls about a damaged boat on Las Olas Circle and a home with roof damage on Southeast 10th Street, Pingol said. First responders checked boats within the Las Olas basin and determined that no one had been injured.

They then performed “an extensive area assessment” from Bahia Mar up to Sunrise Boulevard to find that, as of 7:30 p.m.,  no one was injured or displaced, and there was no significant property damage, though some boats had minor damage.

A damaged sail boat is shown south of the Las Olas bridge in Fort Lauderdale after reports of a possible tornado in the area on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

According to Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman, the tornado touched down close to Fire Station 49, and moved north along State Road A1A, forcing people nearby to shelter at the station.

By about 6:30 p.m., the storm had dissipated, he said. The power was on, and residents were outside of their homes.

The National Weather Service confirmed reports and radar indicating that a possible tornado moved near Federal Highway and Las Olas, though it announced that it would not make an official determination on the tornado until Sunday, when investigators perform an assessment.

The weather service issued a tornado warning about 5:45 p.m. due to rotation on the radar, and the reports starting coming in after that, according to meteorologist Chris Fisher.

Tornado from Ft Luaderdale @NWSMiami pic.twitter.com/kH80npwNTR

— Ben Yanowitz (@Yano729) January 6, 2024

Jeff Turk was on his boat at Bahia Mar Marina when they got the warnings to seek cover. But they didn’t have anywhere to go.

He and his wife watched the tornado move by, apparently over the Intracoastal, then west of the Swimming Hall of Fame, as something exploded, sparks and debris flying everywhere. They think the explosion was a transformer.

Determining that the tornado wasn’t going to hit him and his wife “head on,” Turk decided to film and watch instead.

“The funniest part is, you get a warning saying ‘seek shelter, head to a basement,’ you know, and we’re sitting here on a boat and there’s no basements in Florida, or a boat,” he said.

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Turk wasn’t scared, but he worried for the tourists at the bars and restaurants along A1A and Fort Lauderdale Beach.

“Where are they going to go for shelter?” he asked.

Craig Setzer, a local weatherman, shared a video on X of the tornado hurtling by, east of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

“Was watching the signature on the radar and it looked like it would be close,” he wrote. “Boy was it.”

GAINESVILLE — For all the trials and tribulations, the struggles and shortcomings, that Kentucky men’s basketball exhibited Saturday afternoon inside the Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, the end result will take paramount importance.

As will the player who played a large part in delivering it.

Freshman center Aaron Bradshaw hit a dead-eye 3 from the top of the key with 1:27 to go and a game that was tied at 76-all to lift John Calipari’s No. 6-ranked Wildcats to an eventual 87-85 win over Florida in both teams’ SEC opener.

Bradshaw — who managed only one rebound as his only counting statistic of note in 10 minutes of action in the first half — came alive following the halftime break.

The freshman big had 10 points and six rebounds in 15 second-half minutes, with no moment bigger than the 3-pointer with less than 90 seconds left that spurred “C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats” and “Go Big Blue” chants throughout a lively O’Dome that had been filled with fans clad in orange T-shirts.

That Kentucky was still within a stone’s throw of a quality Florida team after the Cats had six assists against nine turnovers for the game was one thing. But that the Cats won the game anyway given these marks, along with plenty of turbulence along the way from its young team, was another.

And don’t forget the fact that for Bradshaw’s result-changing shot, the quintet of UK players on the floor were four freshmen and fifth-year Antonio Reeves.

As alluded to above, Kentucky (11-2, 1-0) didn’t exactly come out ready to play to begin its SEC schedule.

With all due respect to December’s rivalry matchup at Louisville, Saturday afternoon was the first true road contest of the season for these Cats. And while the O’Dome wasn’t filled to the brim, it was plenty loud enough as Kentucky struggled, and consequently trailed, for the vast majority of the way.

Along with Bradshaw, plenty of his freshman teammates also had issues.

Freshman guard Rob Dillingham (1-for-4 shooting, four turnovers, zero assists) didn’t put his best foot forward in the opening 20 minutes.

Neither did Justin Edwards with just four points and one rebound after 20 minutes. D.J. Wagner had two points and one rebound in the first half. Even the ever-steady presence of Reed Sheppard (five points, four rebounds, two assists, one turnover) was somewhat muted during the opening half.

This was coupled with an energetic performance from the host Gators (10-4, 0-1), who shot 8 for 20 (40%) from 3-point range in the opening half while Kentucky was ice-cold from distance, making just one of its 10 first-half attempts from 3-point range.

The only reason the Wildcats remained within striking distance at halftime (Florida led 45-37) was thanks to the two most-experienced players on the roster: Fifth-years Tre Mitchell (12 points, eight rebounds) and Reeves (nine points) were effective enough.

Mitchell in particular was, as he often has been this season, a hub of offensive activity for the Cats, even while playing through plenty of physical contact and at one point even sporting some cotton cloth in his nostrils after a hit to the face.

Mitchell was far less effective in the second half, and limped off the court with an apparent lower-body injury with 1:38 to play with, right before Bradshaw’s heroics took place.

Still, the day’s work for the former UMass, Texas and West Virginia big man totaled a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. He also did his part in riling up the Florida student section with several “too small” gestures toward Gator bigs in the first half.

Part of UK’s first-half shortcomings included failing to properly take advantage of Florida sophomore guard Riley Kugel (11 first-half points) getting into foul trouble: Kugel picked up his third foul with 11:18 to go in the first half, before checking back into the game with 6:15 to go and adding four more points and a rebound without picking up what would have been a costly fourth foul.

Wagner, along with several of his freshman teammates, woke up in the second half though, and helped power UK back to take a brief lead with 15:22 to go in the game.

A more-than three-minute scoring drought then followed, which was more than enough for Florida to reestablish a lead that grew to as many as seven points.

Both teams also became mired in foul trouble as the second half progressed, but continued scoring from Wagner and Reeves helped lift Kentucky back into the game.

And the Cats hung around long enough for Bradshaw to take advantage of his big moment.

Another big reason why Kentucky found itself within striking distance down the stretch centered around shooting variance:

Florida went 8 for 20 (40%) on 3-pointers in the first half, and 1 for 11 (9.1%) on 3-pointers in the second half.

Kentucky went 1 for 10 (10%) on 3-pointers in the first half, and 4 for 10 (40%) on 3-pointers in the second half.

While neither team had a banner day from the foul line Saturday, the Cats via Ugonna Onyenso, Bradshaw and especially Sheppard made enough to get to the buzzer and begin the pursuit of a 50th SEC regular-season title with a win.

It also ended up being a historically good comeback win by the Wildcats.

The last time UK rallied from a halftime deficit of eight points or more on the road was on March 7, 2020, also at Florida. Down 40-30 at the half in that game, Kentucky won 71-70 on an EJ Montgomery tip-in.

In fact, since that contest, UK had been 2-13 across all games in which the Wildcats were down at least eight points at halftime.

Big Z back with UK, while Thiero misses second straight game

Kentucky opened SEC play shorthanded on Saturday afternoon in Gainesville.

Sophomore Adou Thiero missed the Cats’ SEC opener with “general soreness,” according to the program. Calipari announced that Thiero wouldn’t play during UK’s pregame radio show.

Thiero is considered day-to-day with the injury. This was the same listed injury and injury return status Kentucky announced when Thiero was held out of Kentucky’s Dec. 29 home win over Illinois State.

This marked the third time this season that Thiero has been kept out of a game.

Thiero also missed UK’s second game of the season against Texas A&M-Commerce while in concussion protocol.

Thiero has averaged 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season for UK, statistics which include a 16-point, 13-rebound effort against then-No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic and a four-block outing against then-No. 9 North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic.

Saturday also saw freshman center Zvonomir Ivisic back with the Kentucky team after an extended holiday break to return home to Europe. While Ivisic was back on the UK bench, he is still awaiting an NCAA ruling regarding his eligibility to play.

UK freshman Jordan Burks walked into the O’Dome on Saturday wearing a “FREE BIG Z” shirt, and several members of the UK team posed for photos with the shirt during pregame warmups.

©2024 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Miller hit a 3-pointer to give Wake Forest the lead in overtime, then sealed the victory with a pair of free throws as the Demon Deacons held off Miami 86-82 in their Atlantic Coast Conference home opener on Saturday.

Wake Forest (11-3, 3-0) is now 9-0 on its home court and its nine-game win streak is the program’s longest since 2008-09, when the Deacons won 16 straight games. Fresh off a 95-82 victory over No. 16 Clemson, the Hurricanes (11-3, 2-1) saw their four-game win streak end.

With the game tied at 78-78, Andrew Carr missed a jumper for Wake Forest, but Efton Reid III batted the offensive rebound toward the top of the key. Miller stretched high to snare the pass, settled and stroked the deep 3-pointer for the lead with 1:38 left. Norchad Omier hit a pair of free throws to get the Hurricanes within a point, but Hunter Sallis knocked down a 3 with :25 remaining to push the lead to four, 84-80. Omier scored at the basket, but Miller drew a foul and hit both free throws to set the final margin.

Miller hit 10 of 19 from the field, including 3 of 3 from long range, to score a career-high 27 points. Cameron Hildreth, who hit four 3-pointers in the first half to spark the Deacons to a 44-37 lead at the break, finished with 23 points, hitting 5 of 8 from deep and going 8-for-8 shooting from the line. Sallis had 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Read pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked five shots.

Freshman Kyshawn George had 21 points and eight rebounds to lead Miami. Omier had 20 points, 13 rebounds and three steals. Matthew Cleveland had 17 points and Nijel Pack added 15 points and four assists.

Wake Forest plays at Florida State Tuesday. Miami hosts Louisville Wednesday.

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GAINESVILLE — Florida rarely beats Kentucky in men’s basketball, especially lately, but the Gators’ Todd Golden liked his team’s chances this time against the Wildcats.

“This was a game I expected to win,” UF’s second-year coach said.

Las Vegas oddsmakers agreed, making the Gators 3.5-point favorites Saturday at a sold-out O’Connell Center.

UF’s 87-85 loss instead extended a five-game skid in the series and marked the 10th loss in 11 meetings.

“It’s very tough losing at home and not protecting our home floor,” guard Walter Clayton Jr. said.

The Gators’ hopes for a win ended with a fluke for Kentucky and in a game-ending offensive funk as the chance for a statement win to open SEC play and the first Top 25 ranking in three seasons slipped away.

“I thought it was a missed opportunity,” Golden said. “This game came down to a possession here and a possession there. Disappointing.”

Kentucky (11-2, 1-0 SEC) led just 5:25 of the game’s 40 minutes, including the game’s final 1:27 when 7-foot-1 true freshman Aaron Bradshaw broke a 76-76 tie and gave the Wildcats the lead for good on an unexpected 3-pointer — just his third on four tries this season.

“The kid had the courage to make it,” Hall of Fame Kentucky coach John Calipari said.

Florida coach Todd Golden fell to 0-3 against Kentucky with the Gators’ 87-85 loss to the No. 6 Wildcats Jan. 6 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Golden could live with Bradshaw’s dagger.

“He beat us with that shot,” he said. “I don’t think we beat ourselves with that shot.”

The 38-year-old struggled to process other aspects of the defeat.

Florida’s 3-point shooting was an ice-cold 1 of 11 during the final 20 minutes after the Gators (10-4, 0-1) staked a 45-37 halftime lead by hitting 8 of 20 3-point tries. Veteran guard Will Richard entered Saturday with 5 3s in back-to-back games but ended 0 of 7 beyond the arc.

“We had some wide-open catch-and-shoot 3s we got to make if you want to win a game like that,” Golden said. “Maybe tightened up a little bit.”

The Gators could not buy a basket when they needed one most. UF failed to score a point for a span of 2:40 after a pair of free throws by Clayton gave Florida its final lead at 76-74 with 3:10 to go.

Meanwhile, the Gators suffered too many defensive breakdowns as Kentucky scored 50 second-half points.

“We had them on their heels a little bit,” point guard Zyon Pullin said. “They just made a few more plays than us at the end of the day. We just had to dig deep a little more and get stops.”

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr., right, collides with Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard during the Gators’ 87-85 loss to Kentucky Jan. 6 in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)

Pullin and Co. could only watch as Kentucky’s clutch free-throw shooting sealed the win. The Wildcats made 12 of their final 13 after missing consecutive one-and-ones with the Gators leading 58-53.

First-year freshman Reed Sheppard iced the game with 6 free throws in the final 19 seconds.

“They’re dogs,” Calipari said of freshmen. “They have a will to win. I don’t care if they’re young.”

UF’s explosiveness, size and depth had Calipari’s attention entering Saturday’s matchup.

“They can really shoot. They play as fast as we play, maybe faster, and they rebound,” he said. “They’re going to win a lot of games. They’re good.”

Transfer guards Pullin and Clayton each scored 23 points, had 3 assists and combined for just 1 turnover to lead the Gators. Sophomore star Riley Kugel was effective early in his new role as sixth man and scored 11 of his 15 points during the first half.

In addition to Richard’s no-show, 6-foot-10 Seton Hall transfer Tyrese Samuel struggled against Kentucky’s length and bounce. Samuel entered with six double-doubles but finished with 3 points and 7 rebounds, shooting just 1 of 6 from the field.

Kentucky’s 7-foot-1 freshman Aaron Bradshaw blocks a shot by Florida’s 6-foot-11 freshman Alex Condon during the Gators’ 87-85 loss Jan. 6 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Kentucky fifth-year senior guard Antonio Reeves led the way with 19 points, matching his team-leading season average, while West Virginia graduate transfer Tre Mitchell had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sheppard and fellow true freshman D.J. Wagner had 14 points.

The Wildcats’ talent is given and difficult to overcome. Golden, though, felt the game begin to turn when the Gators came out flat following intermission.

Kentucky cut an eight-point deficit to three by the first media timeout.

“Just didn’t come out the right way in the second half,” he said. “We gave them a little confidence. Against a really good team like that you can’t give them any life.”

UF maintained its lead but never could regain control.

Gone in a flash the opportunity for a fast start in SEC play against the league’s standard-bearer, the Gators now turn their attention to Wednesday night’s visit to resurgent Ole Miss and new coach Chris Beard.

“Every win in this league is so valuable,” Golden said. “Our guys have the mental toughness to understand that we can’t sulk and feel bad for ourselves about this game because we’ve got a lot of season left.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Just as the sun began to rise Saturday morning, hundreds of South Florida bicyclists rode to a stretch of A1A in Gulf Stream and stopped.

Their gathering was brief, but their presence was hard to miss as they lined the dirt on the side of the road in neon cycling kits. Others riding by had no idea why they were there at first, then stopped to join them. They spoke to one another for a few minutes about what happened, and what to do next. Then they were off.

Cyclists ride on the crowded roadway after gathering early in the morning on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 just south of Golfview Dr. on A1A, in Gulfstream to raise awareness for safer roads. They gathered at the site where a group of cyclists were involved in an accident and struck by an SUV earlier in the week.(Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Eight cyclists were struck on that stretch of A1A, which has no bike lane, during a morning ride on Thursday when an SUV veered over the center line of the road, officials say. At least six were hospitalized.

Two remained in critical condition and one in serious condition Saturday according to Andrew Lofholm, a spokesperson for Delray Medical Center.

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“We just wanted to get the cycling community together,” said Felipe Costa, who heads the Brazilian cycling group Galera do Pedal in South Florida, as he emerged from the hospital Saturday afternoon on another visit. As one of the organizers of the early-morning ride, he hadn’t eaten all day.

“That was pretty much our goal today, kind of spread the word out as a community that we came together.”

Attendees estimate that between 300 and 500 cyclists attended.

Costa said he knew six of the riders in the group that was struck, who are also Brazilian. A husband and wife are among the three in the most serious condition, he said. When the SUV came towards them, “they had nowhere to escape.”

The woman was taken out of an induced coma and woke up for the first time on Saturday, but the man remains in a coma, Costa said. He was able to see her, but so many cyclists have visited the hospital each day and tried to check on the husband that doctors and family members have had to ask them not to go in the room. The third victim suffered several broken bones but had a successful surgery.

Two others with more minor injuries are still “very much in shock,” Costa said.

That shock has resounded through South Florida’s tight-knit cycling community in which everyone knows each other and many have ridden down the same stretch of road. Even though incidents happen somewhat frequently in South Florida, people who ride often forget the dangers.

“A lot of us are riding three four times a week, and you sometimes just sort of become immune to the unsafe conditions that we have,” said Cameron Oster, a cyclist from Boca Raton who owns the event production company 3R Cycling Experience. “But then this happens and it kind of pulls you back in really quick to remember these things are happening because of the unsafe conditions that we just sort of live with.”

The latest tragedy has “reignited” the conversation. Oster said he and others like Costa have made a commitment to advocate harder and meet with local officials to try to get something to change.

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Already, Oster has begun looking into why A1A is one of the only major roads in South Florida to have no bike lane, even though it is also one of the most popular among cyclists.

When most roads in South Florida are repaved, they are required to follow updated Department of Transportation codes that require bike lanes, Oster said. But when it comes to A1A, local municipalities are able to dispute that. Often, those leaders are influenced by the interests of homeowners and other private groups.

Recently, residents of Palm Beach urged their town council to fight a state plan to widen a bike lane along their stretch of A1A, claiming it would present safety concerns for cyclists, according to local news reports, though critics said that their real concern was aesthetics.

South Florida cyclists have few choices, advocates say. Despite the lack of a bike lane, they often prefer A1A because it is not a commuter road like some of the busier roads that do have bike lanes, Oster said. The speed limit is supposed to be around 35 miles per hour.

Cyclists ride on the crowded roadway after gathering early in the morning on Saturday, January 6, 2024 just south of Golfview Dr. on A1A, in Gulfstream to raise awareness for safer roads. They gathered at the site where a group of cyclists were involved in an accident and struck by an SUV earlier in the week.(Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

In the immediate future, cyclists want better signage like “sharrows” that indicate drivers must share the road. Long-term, however, they want to try to improve the relationship between cyclists and drivers, and unravel the series of obstacles standing in the way of a bike lane.

“We just have to figure out how to start the right conversations with the right people, that really know the inner workings of where the roadblock is,” Oster said, “so we can try to develop that mutually beneficial plan.”

Some have argued that a bike lane would not have saved the group of bicyclists struck on Thursday because of how the crash happened. It remains unclear why the driver swerved into the wrong side of the road in the first place; Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

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But cycling advocates strongly disagreed. The area where the cyclists were hit has no paved shoulder, and the edges of the road are “crumbling and deteriorating,” said Mark Hassell, an accident investigator for Bill Bone Bike Law. ” … in that stretch of road, there’s really nowhere to turn.”

If the cyclists were in a bike lane, the car would still have driven onto the wrong side of the road, Oster said, but there’s a good chance it would have not hit them, or perhaps hit one of them instead of an entire group.

“It really worries me that people are even suggesting that in this specific incident, a bike lane wouldn’t have mattered,” he said. “Because it would have mattered.”

PHOENIX — Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 113-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns:

– Plenty of the little things went wrong for the Heat on Friday night.

– That much is undeniable.

– Starting again with the defense.

– Which seemingly always is the case for Erik Spoelstra’s team in defeat.

– But 2-3 hardly was a devastating outcome on this trip.

– With a respectable 20-15 record heading into the four-game home stand after two days.

– So instead consider the big thing.

– Or big things.

– Bam Adebayo could have punted on the night after missing his first five shots.

– Instead he turned it around to keep the Heat afloat as long as possible.

– And Kevin Love in relief was just as proficient.

– No, the Heat never will overwhelm with size.

– But the rotation at center appears to be in a good place.

– In such a good place that Orlando Robinson was afforded the opportunity to get some Friday seasoning in the G League.

– Robinson responded with 41 points and 13 rebounds in a Sioux Falls Skyforce victory.

– With Jimmy Butler, Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin again out for the Heat, Spoelstra opened with the same lineup as in Wednesday night’s victory over the Lakers.

– That had Nikola Jovic in the first five for the fourth time this season, opening again with Adebayo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry.

– With that alignment, the Heat again went to their zone defense early.

– With the Suns promptly beating them over the top with 3-pointers.

– Cole Swider was with the Heat on Friday night, but will now move on to the G League for a Sunday game in South Dakota with the Skyforce.

– The Suns opened with a lineup of Grayson Allen, Chimezie Metu, Jusuf Nurkić, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker.

– Love and Duncan Robinson entered together in the Heat’s first substitution.

— Followed by Josh Richardson, which is as deep as the Heat went in the opening two periods.

– Similar to the eight-man rotation utilized Wednesday night against the Lakers.

– But with Jovic struggling, Spoelstra then turned to Jamal Cain late in the third period.

– Even with his team’s ongoing injury absences, Suns coach Frank Vogel said pregame he still views his team with ultimate upside.

– “I want to be the best team in the league and I think we can be the best team in the league, and we have not been able to get there,” he said. “The injuries hold you back some, but it doesn’t change the confidence that I have on who we are going to be and it doesn’t change the mindset from the standpoint that I have of.”

– The Suns on Friday night were without Kevin Durant, Eric Gordon and Nassir Little

– Vogel added, “I embrace challenges.”

– The Heat practiced Friday morning at Arizona State expecting Durant to play.

– “We went through the shootaround preparing that he would play,” Spoelstra said. “It doesn’t make it more complex. It still becomes about your habits and trying to get more consistent with it.”

– Of questions of Beal being a limited defender, Vogel offered otherwise.

– “I think he has exceeded my expectations for what he is doing on that side of the ball,” Vogel said. “Containment, toughness, strips, charges, all those types of things and he’s finding his way offensively as well, all the ways to get familiar with his teammates and our system.”

– Asked pregame of Booker moving to point guard to accommodate the acquisition of Beal, Spoelstra offered a comparison to Dwyane Wade’s Heat rookie season in 2003-04.

– “I think it says a lot about him that he is willing to do whatever to try to make it work. That is what winning players do,” Spoelstra said. “It reminds me, different context totally, but when Dwyane played point guard for us in his first year. He had never played point guard before. He was a combo player that had a lot of ball handling skills. But he was a rookie, and he was trying to break out in the scene and get playing time.”

PHOENIX — What does the last leg of a five-game, 10-day trip look like? Like the Miami Heat’s legs during Friday night’s 113-97 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center.

Already lacking legs in their rotation, with Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith again sidelined, the Heat melted in the second half against a Suns roster lacking sidelined Kevin Durant.

With the exception of the contributions of big men Bam Adebayo and Kevin Love there was precious little for Erik Spoelstra’s team, which closed the trip 2-3 and returns home 20-15.

Adebayo closed with 28 points and 11 rebounds, with Love scoring 20.

But against the wing-driven offense of the Suns, the Heat were unable to compete on the perimeter.

Grayson Allen led the Suns with 31 points, shooting 9 of 14 on 3-pointers. The nine 3-pointers were a career high and tied the Suns record. Phoenix also got 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds from Bradley Beal and 20 points from Devin Booker.

“It’s a dangerous game to play with that team, with the firepower they have,” Spoelstra said of trying to match the Suns’ offense, even with Durant and Eric Gordon out for Phoenix. “We were never really able to control the game defensively.”

From the Heat, there were just nine points on 4-of-17 shooting from Tyler Herro.

“We never really found ourselves with solid footing on the offensive end,” Love said.

Five Degrees of Heat from Friday night’s game:

1. Game flow: The Suns led 33-29 at the end of the opening period and 62-55 at halftime, ending the first half on an 8-0 run.

The Suns continued their roll from there, with an 11–0 run in the third period pushing their lead to 18.

“I feel like it slipped away because we didn’t make shots,” Adebayo said.

From there, the Suns went into the fourth up 94-75.

“At the start of the third when you’re not knocking down shots, now you’re dealing with a team with great confidence,” Spoelstra said.

The Heat closed within 13 with 4:46 to play on a Duncan Robinson 3-pointer, with the Suns quickly reestablishing control and pushing their lead into the 20s.

“There’s so much firepower over there,” Love said.

2. One more time: With Butler (toe), Martin (ankle) and Highsmith (concussion) again out for the Heat, second-year forward Nikola Jovic made his second consecutive start, his fourth of the season.

The Heat opened with the same lineup as in Wednesday night’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, a first five rounded out by Adebayo, Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kyle Lowry.

The Heat entered 1-1 with that first five.

Jovic was scoreless until converting a 3-pointer early in the third period, later removed in favor of Jamal Cain, with those Jovic’s only points.

It was mostly a rough night all around.

“We’ve been on the road for a long time,” Adebayo said.

3. Big start: Adebayo was forced to exit with his second foul with 5:45 left in the opening period. He opened 0 for 5 from the field, with the Suns playing off him on his jumper.

He was replaced by Love, who promptly scored 15 points in his first five minutes on 5-of-5 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Adebayo then returned to make his next four shots, as part of his 15-point second period.

“I was staying confident in myself, kept going,” Adebayo said.

Love had 16 points at the intermission,

Adebayo closed with his sixth double-double in his last seven games.

“Bam, he was great tonight in every aspect,” Spoelstra said.

4. The Allen element: Allen was up to 23 points by halftime, one point shy of his career high for a half, at 7 of 10 on 3-pointers through the two periods.

Allen and the Suns essentially were making the shots against the Heat zone that the Lakers missed when they went 4 of 30 on 3-pointers against the Heat on Wednesday night.

Allen was acquired by the Suns from the Bucks in the offseason as part of the trade math that allowed Milwaukee to acquire Damian Lillard from the Trail Blazers.

5. Next up: The Heat next return for a four-game homestand, playing at Kaseya Center every other night, starting Monday against the Houston Rockets and continuing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.
“Hopefully,” Spoelstra said, “this disappointing game will propel us into a good homestand.”

Love said that has to be the case.

“That homestand,” he said, “is going to be huge for us.”

General Daily Insight for January 06, 2024

Staying grounded is easier said than done today. The confident Sun squares sore Chiron at 3:35 am EST, making us particularly nervous and sensitive, as we’re more likely to feel out of our depth. The sensitive Moon then disagrees with Chiron in a less intense way, but still invoking disappointment or emotional discomfort. Finally, Luna faces off with Uranus, creating the desire to both run away and cling to others. It can feel like a rollercoaster — we’d better hang on!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Authority figures may cause you to doubt yourself. You could notice your superiors flourishing in their career fields in a way that you hope you will be doing someday, but at present, just seeing them can make you wonder if you’ll ever reach that point. On top of this, you might receive some disappointing news that further fractures your hopes for such a bright future. Remember — they’ve probably had difficult times in their lives as well. They didn’t give up, and neither should you!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Your nervous energy might surge at any moment. It’ll be difficult to calm any strained nerves when you’re faced with uncertain situations and people who won’t communicate or connect with you. You might feel awkward or out of your league throughout the day, like you’re not quite in alignment with the people around you. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you’ll never get along with your friends or loved ones again. Do your best to remember that they have no good reason to judge you.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

You may feel like a small fish in a big pond. Previously, you likely felt confident in yourself and your skills, but once you step out into the big time or begin being held to higher standards, finding your voice may be difficult. You might worry about being relegated to background roles — while this won’t be true forever, today might be the type of day to stand back and observe. There’s currently more to learn by watching than there is by striking out.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Resisting authority probably isn’t productive at the moment. Someone may give you instructions that you don’t feel are efficient, and you’re probably used to doing things your way in your domain or being given more freedom by other authority figures. The extra items that are getting piled onto your to-do list might frustrate you, especially if you feel that they’re unnecessary, but not doing them could cause excessive trouble for you later on. Odds are, it’s not worth causing a fuss over.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Current discomfort may actually be a good sign. Even if you already have a routine or certain style that you like to adhere to, today the universe is challenging you to step out of your usual mode and try something unique and unfamiliar. Your goal could be as simple as laughing at yourself or being silly with others, which aren’t always easy things to do. Ultimately, it’s healthy to joke about yourself a bit — it shows that you aren’t too self-important.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Worries and risks are walking hand in hand. You may feel a familiar FOMO, and to eliminate it, you might be tempted to splurge on expensive frivolities that seem as though they’ll prove that you’re with the in-crowd. It’s best to take a step back before you commit to any purchases. Consider your motivations — do you really want whatever you’re eyeing, or do you just want to make sure others aren’t having fun without you? Don’t pay out to impress others.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your relationships could hurt your feelings with ongoing demands. This doesn’t have to be a romantic relationship. It can apply to friends, coworkers, or family — anyone that you spend time with, but especially relatives or those who live with you. No matter how much you want to keep the peace, it will probably be nigh impossible to avoid it when others are already rocking the boat without your agreement. Be true to yourself and know that you don’t have to fall in line.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You might feel lost today. Especially when it comes to those who don’t understand you or are even actively working against you, it’s important to play your cards close to the chest. Otherwise, you could trigger an uproar from these people, who will try to convince you of their opposing beliefs or insist that what you want to do with your life is wrong. They don’t know your heart, so don’t pay them any mind! Just smile and nod, then continue on your way.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Present events probably feel more dramatic than they actually are. You might experience drama more intensely than those around you, as the statements and actions could hit home with you in a way that they don’t with others. Be wary of exaggerating your experiences, since others are more likely to listen to your concerns when you present a grounded and realistic view of what took place. Keep your facts straight, or you may lose your credibility when your story is blown out of proportion.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Heightened emotions might end up ruling your day. You’re at risk of intense mood swings, where you’ll be having the time of your life one moment, and the next, feel like you’re plunging down faster than a roller coaster drop. You might not understand why this is taking place, but you can mitigate it by getting more sleep and eating right, so that your blood sugar and energy levels aren’t working against you. Take charge of your emotions, then take charge of the day.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your support system might need your support. You may normally rely on these people to have your back, but when they’re calling out for help, you could be asked to put other obligations on hold in order to return the favor. They have likely done similar things for you in the past, but it’s understandable if their expectations unexpectedly weigh you down. Still, if they were really there for you in the past, show them the same kindness that they afforded you.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Any stable ground likely feels like a blessing in life’s current uncertainty. Unfortunately, this may lead you to pursue a truth that isn’t quite true, in order to find some confirmation. While firm beliefs probably feel good in the moment, they potentially aren’t as steady as they advertise — living with the vagueness of reality could actually end up being a better idea in the long run. You’d be wise to sit with a truthful lack of knowledge rather than letting yourself be deceived.

By LOLITA C. BALDOR (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday, due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Friday. It was the department’s first acknowledgement that Austin had been admitted — five days earlier — to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Ryder said Friday that it’s not clear when Austin will be released from the hospital, but said the secretary is “recovering well,” adding that he expected “to resume his full duties” Friday.

The Pentagon’s failure to disclose Austin’s hospitalization is counter to normal practice with other senior U.S. and Cabinet officials, including the president. The Pentagon Press Association, which represents media members who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest to Ryder and Chris Meagher, the assistant defense secretary for public affairs.

“The fact that he has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late on a Friday evening is an outrage,” the PPA said in its letter. “At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader.”

Iranian-backed militias have repeatedly launched drones, missiles and rockets at bases where U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq and Syria, prompting the Biden administration to strike back on a number of occasions. Those strikes often involve sensitive, top-level discussions and decisions by Austin and other key military leaders.

The U.S. is also the chief organizer behind a new international maritime coalition using ships and other assets to patrol the southern Red Sea to deter persistent attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militants in Yemen.

In addition, the Biden administration — particularly Austin — has been at the forefront of the effort to supply weapons and training to Ukraine, and he’s also been communicating frequently with the Israelis on their war against Hamas.

Ryder said this has been an “evolving situation,” and due to privacy and medical issues the department did not make Austin’s absence public. He declined to provide any other details about Austin’s medical procedure or health.

In a statement, Ryder said that at all times, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks “was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.”

Austin, 70, spent 41 years in the military, retiring as a four-star Army general in 2016.

By JULIE CARR SMYTH (Associated Press)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies sued Ohio on Friday over a pending law that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps.

The law was part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in July. It’s set to take effect Jan. 15. The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted saying at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids.

The NetChoice trade group filed its lawsuit against GOP Attorney General Dave Yost in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. It seeks to block the law from taking effect.

The litigation argues that Ohio’s law — which requires social media companies to obtain a parent’s permission for children under 16 to sign up for social media and gaming apps — unconstitutionally impedes free speech and is overbroad and vague.

The law also requires social media companies to provide parents with their privacy guidelines, so that families can know what content will be censored or moderated on their child’s profile.

“We at NetChoice believe families equipped with educational resources are capable of determining the best approach to online services and privacy protections for themselves,” Chris Marchese, director of the organization’s litigation center, said in a statement. “With NetChoice v. Yost, we will fight to ensure all Ohioans can embrace digital tools without their privacy, security and rights being thwarted.”

The group has won lawsuits against similar restrictions in California and Arkansas.

Husted, who leads Ohio’s technology initiatives and championed the law, called Friday’s lawsuit “cowardly but not unexpected.”

“In filing this lawsuit, these companies are determined to go around parents to expose children to harmful content and addict them to their platforms,” Husted said in a statement.

He alleged the companies know their algorithms are harming children “with catastrophic health and mental health outcomes.”

Could Miami’s professional and college football team both be quarterbacked by a Tagovailoa in 2024?

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, entered the transfer portal Friday.

The Miami Hurricanes just so happen to be looking for a quarterback in the transfer market.

The younger Tagovailoa, who has set records with the Terrapins, is seeking an extra year of eligibility to play a sixth college season. As a redshirt senior, Tagovailoa is not currently eligible to play in 2024, but he can receive a hardship waiver from the NCAA to return to the field at a new school as a graduate transfer.

Tagovailoa became the Big Ten’s career leader in passing yards this season. He has set nearly every Maryland career passing record, including yards (11,256), touchdowns (76), completion percentage (.671) and 300-yard games (15). Tagovailoa set a season school record with 3,860 passing yards in 2021 and led the Terrapins to three straight bowl appearances.

Miami is still in need of a quarterback after last season’s starter, Tyler Van Dyke, transferred to Wisconsin. One option, Washington State’s Cam Ward, opted for the NFL draft this week.

Tagovailoa could also end up pursuing a professional career, whether he isn’t given the sixth year or by choice. Former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard chose to transfer to Ohio State.

Tagovailoa, who skipped out on Maryland’s matchup with Auburn in the Music City Bowl, was expected to enter the NFL draft weeks back, and Tua Tagovailoa reacted to the rumblings.

“I’m always here for ‘Lia (Taulia). I’m always here for you. You know that. Whatever you need, I can help with,” Tua said.

“But outside of that, I just tell my brother to listen to what he thinks is best when he hires agents or when he has to go throughout that process. I’m not the one who’s going to tell you who you should go with or whatnot. That should be totally up to you. Because when it’s your decision, regardless of if it is right or wrong, in the end, you always make it right.”

Tua Tagovailoa is in his fourth professional season with the Dolphins and was named to his first Pro Bowl this week. Leading the NFL in passing yards (4,451) and completion percentage (69.6), he is bound for a pivotal Sunday night showdown with the rival Buffalo Bills to determine the AFC East winner and conference’s No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

Elijah McClain (Courtesy of McClain family)

The only police officer convicted in Elijah McClain’s death was sentenced Friday to 14 months in jail and four years of probation.

Adams County District Court Judge Mark Warner sentenced former officer Randy Roedema during a two-hour hearing in Adams County District Court.

The 41-year-old was convicted in October of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault in McClain’s 2019 death. Roedema faced between one and three years in prison on the homicide conviction and up to 24 months in jail on the assault conviction.

Warner sentenced Roedema to four years of probation with 90 days in jail, during which he will be eligible for work-release, on the homicide charge, and 14 months in jail, also with work-release eligibility, on the assault charge.

The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Roedema must report to the Adams County Jail by March 22, the judge said.

He also most complete 200 hours of community service.

Roedema did not appear to visibly react when the sentence was imposed.

People on both sides of the case cried during the sentencing hearing.

Warner noted that Roedema would have been eligible for parole in about 13.5 months had he been sentenced to three years in prison, the maximum allowable and the term requested by the prosecution.

“The court was shocked by what appeared to be indifference to Elijah MClain’s suffering,” Warner said.

Sheneen McClain, Elijah’s mother, addressed the judge before he handed down his sentence. Her son, she said, “was murdered with intent and malice.”

“My son, Elijah McClain, was a healthy young man the night Randy Roedema chose to show my son the power and privilege of the boys in blue,” she said.

Roedema also addressed the judge, saying the situation that night in 2019 had a “horrible outcome that no one intended or wanted to happen.”

“I cannot imagine the agony they must feel,” Roedema said of McClain’s family.

Some 75 people submitted letters of support for Roedema before the sentencing, court records show.

Roedema was the only one of three Aurora police officers charged in McClain’s death to be convicted. Two Aurora paramedics also were convicted of criminally negligent homicide.

McClain was walking home on Aug. 24, 2019, when officers contacted him after a teenager called 911 and reported McClain as a suspicious person. The 23-year-old unarmed Black man was wearing a ski mask, listening to music and waving his arms as he walked home.

Within seconds of reaching McClain, Aurora police officers threw him to the ground and violently arrested him. Roedema helped to restrain McClain and Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard used a carotid hold on McClain, squeezing his neck to force him to lose consciousness.

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McClain vomited after the neck hold and inhaled that vomit into his lungs, testimony at trial revealed. He begged the officers for help, repeatedly telling them that he could not breathe, but the officers did not give him any medical aid, instead calling for paramedics.

After McClain was subdued and handcuffed, Aurora paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec injected McClain with a dose of the sedative ketamine, and he suffered a heart attack. He never recovered and died in the hospital days later.

Three officers and the two paramedics were criminally charged in connection with McClain’s death. Roedema, Cichuniec and Cooper were convicted. Woodyard and former officer Jason Rosenblatt were acquitted.

Afar, the travel media guide and magazine, has just released its annual “where to go” list for 2024 travelers. It’s a globe-circling mix of 25 destinations that ranges from Fiji to Texas, Toronto and more, all chosen with an eye to thoughtful, sustainable travel.

So while you’ll see Peru’s famous Machu Picchu on the list, editors suggest getting there via the lesser-known Quarry Trail — complete with spectacular views and waterfalls — rather than the tourist-clogged Inca Trail. Buzzy, busy Los Angeles makes the list with a shout out to the February opening of Destination Crenshaw, a 4-acre, open-air museum that showcases the work of Black artists, the largest such installation in the country. And while everyone knows all about Prague, Afar’s editors suggest Czech Republic visitors head for Brno, which was designated one of UNESCO’s Cities of Music.

Each destination, Afar’s editorial team said, “is an awe-inspiring, joy-inducing destination where human connection and creativity define the travel experience.”

Here’s just a peek. Check out the full list, along with photographs and travel tips, at www.afar.com/magazine/where-to-go-2024 or pick up the print edition, available on newsstands Jan. 9.

13 top destinations to visit in 2024

Bhutan

Brno, Czech Republic

Ronald Martinez, Getty ImagesThe Czech Republic city of Brno received recognition as one of UNESCO’s Music Cities. (Getty Images)

Fiji

Lamu, Kenya

Los Angeles

Manchester, England

Norway

Rome, Italy

John Moore, Getty ImagesRome’s Trevi Fountain is one of the world’s most iconic sights. (Getty Images)

St. Kitts

Tangier, Morocco

Hill Country, Texas

Toronto, Canada

Maldonado, Uruguay

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker and right guard Robert Hunt have a few things in common these days.

They’ve both been ironmen over several years with the franchise, but they’ve also missed significant time lately and are trying to return for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

They’re also a pair of players that, in their tenure as Dolphins (11-5), have not seen success against the Bills (10-6), who have controlled the division the past three seasons. Miami now has a chance to take the AFC East in Sunday’s 8:20 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium.

When the Dolphins went to Orchard Park Oct. 1 and lost 48-20 in their first meeting with Buffalo, Baker repeatedly said, in the locker room postgame, “I’m tired of losing to Buffalo.”

Hunt said Thursday that winning the division Sunday night, despite Miami now pressing for it after holding a three-game lead four weeks ago, would be even sweeter if it came by beating the rival Bills.

“It definitely would,” Hunt said. “I’ve been here four years, and I’ve only beat them once. So to beat these guys, it would be a good day. I’ll have a great night if we win.”

The two reliable veterans are trending toward playing.

In fact, Hunt is clear of any game status designation. He’s good to go after missing seven of eight starts with the ailing hamstring. He hadn’t missed a game in his first three NFL seasons.

Baker, who had only missed one game before this year since getting drafted in 2018, is questionable for Sunday. He has faced the minimum four-game absence on injured reserve due to an MCL injury in his left knee suffered Dec. 3 in Washington. The team would have to activate him off IR Saturday to play him Sunday.

“It went well for him,” coach Mike McDaniel said of Baker’s Thursday work before the linebacker’s limited participation again Friday. “Now, we need another day of no setbacks. I’m optimistic about him. … How he came in and responded from (Thursday’s) activities and how he’s able to move around (Friday) will kind of dictate Sunday. So, it’s still pending.”

Baker hurt his knee running behind a play against the Commanders as safety Brandon Jones swooped in for a touchdown-saving tackle, providing friendly fire on Baker.

Hunt started dealing with the nagging hamstring in the buildup to Miami’s Nov. 5 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany. He missed the next three starts, was back at right guard in that same Washington game and aggravated the injury then, costing him the last four games.

“It happened, and I felt it pop,” he said. “When I did it, I knew what it was. I kind of just overextended and aggravated (it).”

Robert Jones has been at right guard for Hunt and has filled in serviceably. With Hunt set to return, Jones could switch to left guard or Miami could keep Lester Cotton starting there. In either scenario, the Dolphins will deploy their 12th different starting offensive line combination.

The line is happy to have Hunt return.

“He’s a hell of a player and a big part of our offense,” right tackle Austin Jackson said Friday. “He’s been with us for a long time, a big part of the chemistry we have going on, so it’ll be good to have him, for sure.”

Added center Liam Eichenberg: “It’ll be good. He’s a guy that has experience, started so many games, has played at such a high level.”

Duke Riley has filled in for Baker at his inside linebacker post and in communicating the signals to the defense. Riley has had fine moments but also some struggles in coverage, namely last week in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Thursday a return for Baker could give the Dolphins their three-man rotation back with David Long Jr. also there.

“The biggest challenge after missing four games with the sprained MCL is the speed of it, getting back out there,” linebackers coach Anthony Campanile said Thursday. “The benefit is he’s super smart, elite-level smart. It gives you a level of comfort as a coach.”

Hunt and Long know their history against the Bills. Including playoffs, Hunt is 1-7 against Buffalo and Baker is 2-9.

“Times change,” Hunt said. “Hopefully, that is what it is this weekend. We’ll see. We just have to play the game, man. It is what it is.”

Baker, while still on IR, was not made available for an interview, due to club policy.

If he were to be activated Saturday, the natural move would be to use the spot on the roster that would be freed by placing outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who is done for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, on IR. Veteran pass rusher Melvin Ingram also has another elevation from the practice squad available for the team to use in the finale.

Jake Wurzak, owner of the Dalmar hotel, filed a lawsuit against Fort Lauderdale late Thursday to block a high-rise project he says will cast a looming shadow over his 25-story hotel.

The new project would sit 10 feet to the south of the Dalmar, blocking its views of downtown and casting shadows over its sixth-floor pool deck, the lawsuit says.

Commissioners approved the project on Dec. 5, with Commissioner Warren Sturman casting the only “no” vote.

“No surprise,” Sturman said Friday after learning of the lawsuit from the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I’m not surprised (about the lawsuit). That’s one of the reasons I voted against it. I feel really bad that the building is so close to them and blocking the view. It didn’t have to be that big.”

New York-based Naftali Group plans to build two apartment towers linked by a nine-story parking podium on a 1.25-acre parcel at 201 North Federal Highway. One tower would rise nearly 523 feet. The other would approach 493 feet.

To build the project as planned, the developer needed and got commission approval on two variances.

One allows the developer to build a podium that’s nearly 400 feet long despite a code that sets the maximum length at 300 feet. The other allows Naftali to exceed the maximum floor plate size of 12,500 square feet on each tower, allowing for hundreds more residential units, the lawsuit says.

“They’re not just bending the rules, but rewriting them at the Dalmar’s expense,” Wurzak told commissioners before the vote. “Their increase in the floor plates blocks our view, blocks our sunlight, blocks fresh air. It’s terrible.”

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Broward circuit court, asks the court to declare the resolution approving the developer’s deviations from the city’s downtown master plan as void and unenforceable.

City Attorney Tom Ansbro says his policy is to never comment on pending litigation.

A New York-based developer plans to build two apartment towers at 201 North Federal Highway in Flagler Village. One tower will rise nearly 523 feet into the sky. The other will be close to 493 feet. (Naftali Group/Courtesy)

The Sun Sentinel contacted the entire commission on Friday.

Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioners Steve Glassman and John Herbst declined to comment, citing the lawsuit. Vice Mayor Pamela Beasley-Pittman could not be reached for comment.

The lawsuit argues that the process used to consider the deviations to allow the Naftali Group to add approximately 220 extra units to the proposed project failed to meet the principles of Fort Lauderdale’s downtown master plan.

“The deviation for maximum tower floor plate size was to allow the floor plate size to be enhanced from 12,500 square feet to 15,965 square feet for each of the 47 and 45 floor towers,” the lawsuit says. “The deviations would, if granted, allow the two towers to be expanded by hundreds of units.”

The master plan encourages a diverse, walkable and mixed-income downtown along with workforce housing, live work units, family-oriented housing, a variety of building scales and pedestrian-friendly buildings.

The lawsuit goes on to point out that none of the apartments will be “affordable” housing units. In lieu of including affordable units in the project, the developer plans to make a payment of $9.36 million that would be split between the county’s and Fort Lauderdale’s affordable housing trust fund.

A Tires Plus store that sits south of the Dalmar hotel in Fort Lauderdale would be torn down to make way for a towering new high-rise project that won commission approval in December. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

If built as proposed, the project would harm the Dalmar by obscuring views and light for guests visiting the hotel’s pool deck and restaurant, the lawsuit says.

The commission, sensitive to those impacts, discussed requiring better screening and additional design related to architectural lighting or landscaping so the Dalmar’s guests would not have to look at a parking garage and headlights from vehicles, the lawsuit notes.

The lawsuit refers to comments made by Commissioner Herbst before the vote.

“If we’re going to again do a deviation from the code that’s going to have a negative impact on the Dalmar, I think they need to have an opportunity to agree or not agree,” he said. “And so I want to figure out how we wrap that up in this.”

The lawsuit also quotes the city attorney’s comments to the commission: “What I think I would recommend is that they try to meet, come to an agreement. If it fails, they bring that component back to you to solve.”

The lawsuit also includes comments made by Commissioner Sturman after his “no” vote.

“I do not think this meets intent,” Sturman said. “I cannot support this.”

Naftali Group released the following statement on Friday in response to the lawsuit.

“We plan to move forward with the development as scheduled,” Miki Naftali, Chairman and CEO of Naftali Group, said in the statement. “Naftali Group’s mission remains the same, to enhance the communities we enter with high-quality residential products. We are excited about the future of Fort Lauderdale and look forward to working with all parties involved to make this development a success.”

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan