The Rock Chalkboard

Sunday Snap Judgments and Big 12 Hoops Power Rankings
College football season is over and all the focus is on basketball now. We're progressing through Big 12 Conference play and some teams are trending in the right direction, while others are already facing down a lost season. Let's take a look at what each team has done lately, then update our Actually Accomplished Rankings, a version of a power ranking that does not take into account who we "think" is better, but rather who has done the most on the court.

Udoka Azubuike 'aggressive,' but KU's post-feeding 'atrocious'
Udoka Azubuike was wide open. All Azubuike needed was a touch pass from Ochai Agbaji to go over his defender and the big man would’ve had an uncontested dunk. The wing was inaccurate with his delivery, though. The pass flew over Azubuike’s head and hit the backboard, resulting in a turnover.

The latest on Devon Dotson, Marcus Garrett following KU's loss
"He has a hip pointer," said KU coach Bill Self. "They went back and checked him or whatever. He was in obvious pain and didn't move very well. He hurt it in the first half if I'm not mistaken. ... We'll see how he progresses in the next couple of days."

Media impressed with Baylor, Jared Butler in win over Kansas
"We got our ass handed to us today," Self told reporters in his postgame press conference.

Les Miles announces new KU football safeties coach
Les Miles has tabbed Jordan Peterson as KU football's new safeties coach. Peterson will replace Clint Bowen who filled the role during the 2019 season and recently took the defensive coordinator job at North Texas under Seth Littrell.

Bits o Chalk

NFL playoffs divisional round game picks, bracket schedule, odds, bold predictions and more
It's on to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, and we're previewing Sunday's games. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the keys to every game, a bold prediction for each matchup and final score predictions.

Lamar Jackson struggles as top-seeded Ravens shocked by Titans
Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens' historic season abruptly ended with a shocking defeat Saturday night, opening questions about whether the NFL's top team struggled because of rust and postseason pressure.

Clemson stuns host UNC after going 0-for-59 in Chapel Hill
Year after year, every Clemson team that played at North Carolina left the court in the same fashion: by throwing another loss onto what had grown into a bizarrely long streak.

Bill Cowher elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame's centennial class
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was formally named the first member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's centennial class Saturday, when the Hall's president, David Baker, informed Cowher of his selection to be enshrined during CBS' "NFL Today" program.

Kimia Alizadeh, Iran's only female Olympic medalist, says she has defected
Iran's only female Olympic medalist said she defected from the Islamic Republic in a blistering online letter that describes herself as "one of the millions of oppressed women in Iran."

Utah Jazz and NBA contracts require more than just basketball. Here’s what else is involved. - The Salt Lake Tribune
All of what I’m about to tell you has been collectively bargained by the NBA’s teams and the Players Association, most recently in 2017. If you’d like more info, you can find the whole collective bargaining agreement here, but be warned: the whole document is nearly 600 pages, and you might be best getting your agent to help understand it all.

Eraser Dust

Two States. Eight Textbooks. Two American Stories. - The New York Times
We analyzed some of the most popular social studies textbooks used in California and Texas. Here’s how political divides shape what students learn about the nation’s history.

NASA Telescope Locates First Earth-Sized Planet in Habitable Zone | Digital Trends
NASA’s planet-hunting telescope TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) has made an exciting discovery — a planet the size of Earth which could potentially host liquid water on its surface.

Haiti Marks 10-Year Anniversary Of Devastating 2010 Earthquake : NPR
On the wind-whipped hills north of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, Berthenid Dasny holds the keys to the gated memorial erected for Haiti's earthquake victims. Thousands of bodies are buried here in a mass grave dug after a magnitude 7 earthquake shook the country on Jan. 12, 2010.

Popeyes gives 'Family Feud Canada' contestant $10,000 worth of food after her wrong answer goes viral - CNN
"Real simple. There's one question. Only one answer. Whoever gets it, you're playing for $10,000. That's it. Whoever guesses this wins the game," host Gerry Dee told two contestants on Thursday.

Man arrested after making online threats toward Flathead detective
A man was taken into custody on Friday after making threats online toward a detective in the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

What to Expect From the 2020 Oscar Nominations - The New York Times
The Carpetbagger offers a sneak preview of the snubs, surprises, and controversies to look for when the ballot is revealed on Monday.