The Rock Chalkboard

Big 12 head coach power rankings by CBS Sports
Since 2015, Oklahoma has sat atop of the conference standings, as the Sooners have won each of the last five league championships. In last year’s coaches’ power poll, Lincoln Riley claimed the Big 12’s highest rank at No. 4. Both Oklahoma State and Texas return a high number of starters next season and led by coaches Mike Gundy and Tom Herman respectively, are projected to be Riley and Oklahoma’s top competition.

4-star Tamar Bates taking mature approach to growing recruitment
“I’ve been working at Walmart, right around the corner," Bates told Phog.net in an interview earlier this spring. "I just started working there. ... I was going to start working at [The Legends in KC], ... but it got shut down so I came over here and got a job."

Early KU basketball lookahead: Jayhawks vs. Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown may have been a good bit better than its record last year because of the level of competition it faced (No. 18-ranked strength of schedule per KenPom), plus the number of close losses it had.

Bradley Beal's mother wanted him to choose Kansas over Florida
He also explained why Kansas was not his perfect fit.

"I'm like, 'Kansas is cold as hell,'" Beal recalled. "It's four hours away. It's too close. I said, 'I just can't do it.’"

Three KU football questions entering the summer: OLBs
The second year of the Les Miles-era of KU football is underway, but it is currently on hold due to the health situation in the country. All NCAA spring sports, including the spring slate for KU football, were called off.

KU football's Bryce Torneden up for Big 12 sportsmanship award
Here is the criteria for the honor, per the Big 12's release: "The Sportsperson of the Year Awards began in 2000-01 to annually recognize student-athletes who displayed an extraordinary degree of sportsmanship, community service and academic achievement. A 10-person media panel selects the male and female honorees."

Bits o Chalk

NHL adopts 24-team playoff if season returns
"As we seek some return to normalcy, this is an important day for NHL fans," Bettman said of the Return To Play Plan. "Since March 12, we've been hopeful and optimistic that by developing all options and alternatives, we could get to this point. I know I join sports fans everywhere when I say we cannot wait for the players to hit the ice again."

Tyson Fury contacted about Mike Tyson fight, but nothing 'materialized'
"I had a phone call saying, 'Would you like to fight Mike Tyson in an exhibition fight?' I said, 'Hell yeah,' but I don't think anything's materialized out of it," Fury said in an interview with BT Sport published Tuesday.

Reports - Two horses trained by Bob Baffert test positive for banned substance
Two horses from the barn of two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert have tested positive for a banned substance, according to multiple reports.

Arizona State's Bobby Hurley at odds with AD over allegations
"You have disregarded the safety and shown no sensitivity towards the women that have experienced sexual assault," Hurley wrote. "You have chosen to create your own numeric scale on what sexual assault mean[s] which is disturbing."

Eraser Dust

'Why NFL players kneel': Athletes on death of black man in Minnesota
Federal authorities are investigating the incident on the request of police chief Medaria Arradondo, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Arradondo said he asked for it after receiving “additional information” and viewing the video taken by bystanders begging officers to listen to the man saying “I can’t breath.” The man’s name is George Floyd.

Twitter labeled Trump tweets with fact-check labels for the first time - CNN
For the first time, Twitter called tweets from Donald Trump "potentially misleading" — a decision that prompted the president to accuse the social media platform of election meddling.

Christian Rock Singer Revokes Faith: 'I No Longer Believe in God'
Jon Steingard, singer and guitarist for Christian pop-rock group Hawk Nelson, has revoked his faith, declaring, "I no longer believe in God" in a long-winded statement on social media, which outlined his journey to this realization.

Amy Cooper Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Birder in Central Park - The New York Times
Video of the incident touched off intense discussions about the history of black people being falsely reported to the police.

Suspect sought after shots fired near Kalispell hotel
Police in Kalispell are looking for a suspect after shots were fired on Sunday evening near a hotel.