The Rock Chalkboard

NCAA to allow fans at 2021 NCAA Tournament
“We continue to use the knowledge we have gained over the season on how to conduct games in a safe environment,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said. “I want to thank our host universities and conferences, the Indiana State Health Department, and the leaders in the Marion, Monroe and Tippecanoe county health departments as they help make that possible.”

Bill Self shares injury updates on Udoka Azubuike, Frank Mason
“I spoke to Doke [Thursday], he’s just going through all that crap,” Self said. “Today it wasn’t [a confirmed] season-ending [diagnosis]. But it was: ‘We don’t know.’ He thought maybe three months, but three months would pretty much be season-ending I would think. Certainly he wouldn’t be in any rhythm to be able to come back and help a team win I don’t think, especially a great team like Utah.”

WATCH: Joel Embiid drops career-high 50 in win over Bulls
Joel Embiid was already considered one of the frontrunners for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award, but his performance on Friday night will only help his cause. The All-Star big man scored a career-high 50 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 112-105 win over the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center.

Bits o Chalk

Indiana Pacers' Myles Turner turns troll attempt into Texas fundraiser
"I'm finally at a point in my career where I can laugh at stuff like that," Turner told ESPN on Friday, referencing the troll. "My first couple years in the league, I would've took offense to it. I would've been mad, I would've wanted to say something back, but I've been dealing with this for the past two or three years. I can have a great game, I can have a bad game, they love you and they hate you."

Denver Nuggets' Jamal Murray first ever with 50 points, zero free throw attempts
Murray scored a regular-season career-high 50 points, and became the first player in NBA history to get that many without trying a free throw, as Denver beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-103 on Friday night.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid drops career-high 50 in win vs. Chicago Bulls
"I'll tell my kids one day I played with Joel Embiid," Harris said after scoring 22 points himself in the 112-105 victory. "When they'll ask me who is the best player I ever played with, I'll say Joel Embiid. It's an honor to be out there with him on the floor."

Naomi Osaka beats Jennifer Brady in straight sets to win 2021 Australian Open women's title
Osaka won her fourth title in her past eight appearances at a Slam, emerging from what initially was a tight Australian Open final and pulling away by grabbing six consecutive games to beat Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday.

Eraser Dust

Third stimulus checks: House Democrats advance $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill
President Joe Biden’s push for a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill took a step forward on Friday as a U.S. House of Representatives committee unveiled the legislation Democrats hope to pass by late next week.

Kim Kardashian Files for Divorce from Kanye West | PEOPLE.com
The couple, who started dating in 2012 and tied the knot in May 2014, have officially separated. A source tells PEOPLE Kardashian filed for divorce from West on Friday and that things are amicable. According to the source, they are in agreement over joint legal and physical custody, neither is contesting the prenup in place, negotiations have progressed and they are nearing a settlement.

Alan McGee reckons Liam Gallagher could play Knebworth again
McGee – who signed Oasis to his label Creation Records, kickstarting their ascent to fame – is now estimating that Gallagher could sell out a solo show there. “Liam can do it, it’s only 125,000 people,” he said during an appearance on Phil Taggart’s Slacker podcast.

“I would say he’s almost as big as Oasis. He’s massive, Liam, at this point.”