Last week in the word of sports: 12/7 through 12/13

Lynne Sladky | Associated Press

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs for a touchdown as Miami Dolphins free safety Eric Rowe (21) attempt to tackle, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

By Kyle Mathas
December 14, 2020

DeKALB — Whether it was the University of Florida being upset, Liangelo Ball getting waived by the Detroit Pistons or Auburn University Head Coach Gus Malzahn getting fired, this week has been jam-packed with sporting news. 

NBA

The NBA returned to play Friday with its preseason. New Houston Rockets point guard John Wall returned, whose last game was on Dec. 26, 2018. His return reunited him with new Rockets center DeMarcus Cousins.The pair were teammates at the University of Kentucky for the 2009-10 NCAA season. Cousins missed all of last season with a torn ACL.

Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose (25) is defended by New York Knicks guard Elfrid Payton during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in Detroit. (Carlos Osorio | Associated Press)

The Detroit Pistons waived guard LiAngelo Ball Sunday after signing him a week ago. Ball is the middle brother of the Ball brothers. His oldest brother, Lonzo Ball, plays point guard for the New Orleans Pelicans. His youngest brother, LiAngelo Ball, plays point guard for the Charlotte Hornets, drafted by the team in the 2020 NBA Draft.

NFL

On Thursday Night Football, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New England Patriots. The Rams lead the NFC West with a record at nine wins and four losses. 

On Sunday, Chicago Bears defeated the Houston Texans in a blow out win. It was their first win in seven games. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins and now lead the AFC standings. And the Washington Football Team defeated the San Francisco 49ers. 

On Sunday Night Football, the Buffalo Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have now lost two games in a row and are second in the AFC standings. 

NCAA Football

In college football, the top-seeded University of Alabama blew out the University of Arkansas, 52-3. Coastal Carolina University defeated Troy University by a field goal and remained undefeated. 

The University of North Carolina destroyed the University of Miami by almost 30 points, and Louisiana State University upset the University of Florida by a field goal. Florida’s chances of going to the College Football Playoff are now diminished. 

Over five games were cancelled this weekend, but the biggest game that was cancelled was “The Game” between the University of Michigan and fourth-ranked Ohio State University. 

NCAA Football News

In NCAA Football news, the University of Illinois fired their head coach and former Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith. Also, Auburn fired their Head Coach Gus Malzahn after having six wins and four losses.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, left, and Illinois head coach Lovie Smith shakes hands after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. Iowa won 35-21. (Charles Rex Arbogast | Associated Press)

Mid-American Conference Football

The Huskies remain winless with another loss to Eastern Michigan University. Huskies quarterback redshirt senior Ross Bowers’ 221 yards passing was not enough to get the Huskies the win. 

The University at Buffalo got their fifth win of the season and remained undefeated, beating the University of Akron 56-7.

NCAA Basketball

Some of the big college basketball games this week featured the University of Creighton and the University of Kansas. Kansas won by only one point. Illinois defeated Duke University and West Virginia University defeated the University of Richmond. 

Some big upsets throughout the week featured Penn St. University defeating 15th-ranked Virginia Tech University, and the University of Missouri defeated sixth-ranked Illinois.

MAC Men’s Basketball

The Huskies men’s basketball lost to Ball State University in overtime Tuesday. They also fell to the third-ranked University of Iowa Sunday. The Huskies remain winless through five games.

Iowa guard CJ Fredrick drives past Northern Illinois guard Darius Beane, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 106-54. (Charlie Neibergall | Associated Press)

MAC Women’s Basketball

The Huskies women’s basketball team lost to the University of Toledo by three points Thursday. They also lost to Bradley University by eight points Sunday. Those two losses bring their record to 2-3 on the season. 

Upcoming NCAA Football games

Next week in college football, conference championship games will begin. 

The Big 10 Conference championship game will feature Northwestern University and Ohio State. The Southeastern Conference championship game will feature Alabama and Florida. The Big 12 Conference championship features the University of Oklahoma and Iowa State University. 

The Atlantic Coast Conference championship features the University of  Notre Dame and the University of Clemson.  

Upcoming NCAA Basketball

The biggest game of the upcoming week for college basketball is the third-ranked Iowa against the top-ranked Gonzaga University Saturday. 

The Huskies men’s basketball game against Southern Illinois University–Evansville has been cancelled due to positive COVID-19 tests in the Cougars’ program. 

The Huskies will play next against Chicago State University 6 p.m. Friday at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. The game will be televised on ESPN3.

Women’s basketball will play Ohio University 6 p.m. Wednesday in DeKalb. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3. They will also play at 2 p.m. Sunday against Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.