The Rock Chalkboard

Chris Hughes saw improvement from Kansas O-line in the spring
The Kansas football offensive line is likely to improve in 2021 for three reasons. First, the unit brought back three of its linemen as super-seniors — the term given to those who use the NCAA's extra year of eligibility to remain in school — without any real losses. Second, the program added three transfer linemen, including an all-conference performer from Buffalo.

Phil Steele ranks college football's 25 toughest schedules
Leave it to Phil Steele, one of college football's most accurate predictors of game results every year, to introduce his power ranking of the nation's toughest schedules this season. Schedule favorability is one of many important factors attached to the College Football Playoff race annually with programs taking the survive-and-advance mentality weekly against challenging slates.

Report: Kansas paid to silence former football player under Les Miles
Humphrey’s family says he endured threats and harassment on several occasions leading up to the terrifying situation inside of his apartment under then-Jayhawks coach Les Miles, but the coach’s solution to handling the tension was shocking — he advised the players to work out their differences in practice during 1-on-1, head-to-head contact situations.

Adidas 3SSB: Top 10 Chris Livingston discusses recruitment
As time has passed, the We All Can Go star from Akron has continued to hold onto that status. Built like a college upperclassmen, Livingston has long been a high flyer who can get hot from deep and finish with physicality around the rim. Like everybody else in his class, though, he's not had as much opportunity to play in front of college coaches as prospects at his level usually do by the time they are making their last grassroots run.

Tidbits on new Kansas football coaching staff members
"It seems like they have worked well together," Trieu said. "Zebrowski has got a lot of experience in coaching quarterbacks and has a good resume at that position. And they've done a really good job at that spot at Buffalo. ... It's not just one guy."

Memorable moments: A look back at Jalen Coleman-Lands' 2020-21 season
Without many wins to choose from, the focus shifted to big performances against notable opponents — in which he highlighted both his efficiency and ability to hit from 3-point range. In joining Kansas, Coleman-Lands has the chance to fill a similar role to the one held by Isaiah Moss in 2019-20, when Moss, a graduate transfer from Iowa, was a part-time starter who provided 3-point shooting (4.7 3PA per game).

Scouting Sunday: New Kansas football QB Jason Bean has special tools
If that player is Jalon Daniels, the young thrower will have the benefit of his first spring ball — and he'll have been on campus for a full year. Last year, Daniels started games as a 17-year-old freshman despite not getting to campus until the summer and starting the season third on the depth chart. Not exactly a recipe for success.

College football rankings: PFF ranks all 130 FBS teams entering 2021 season
College football rankings are never an exact science, but PFF's order of all 130 teams in the FBS paints a picture of how the 2021 season could look. PFF's initial ELO rankings came out as spring camps throughout the country wrapped up, using a run of "metrics and simulation."

Bits o Chalk

Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks use late-quarter runs to secure Game 3 win, climb back into NBA Finals
"We just had to play better defense, that's all," said Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was utterly dominant for a second straight game, finishing with 41 points -- including a personal 7-0 second-quarter run that put Milwaukee ahead for good -- to go with 13 rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes. "Play better defense and rebound the ball better and open and run. Create driving lanes.

Ottawa Senators hire broadcaster Pierre McGuire as senior VP of player development
"On behalf of the entire Senators organization, I would like to welcome Pierre McGuire back to Ottawa," Melnyk said in a statement. "We are excited to add Pierre to our hockey management group. His experience will be instrumental as we continue to build an elite team. Pierre's knowledge of the game and its players is highly regarded and I am confident that he will positively assist our team as it progresses to the next level."

Euro 2020: Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford's mural vandalised after England loss
A mural dedicated to Marcus Rashford in Manchester was vandalised after his missed penalty contributed to England's 3-2 shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Pirates draft Louisville catcher Henry Davis with No. 1 pick; Jack Leiter goes to Texas Rangers at No. 2
"He checks a lot of boxes,'' Cherington said. "We've had a lot of fun getting to know him.''

England FA condemn racist abuse aimed at Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho after Euro 2020 shootout loss
"We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team. We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible."

Eraser Dust

Reappraisal reality: Flathead property values, taxes going up | Daily Inter Lake
In Flathead County, taxable values are going up 16.72% on average compared to 10.69% last cycle. Lake and Lincoln counties will see increases of 14.5% and 13.71%, respectively.

Wildfires rage in western states; California, Oregon, Arizona included
The largest, the so-called Bootleg Fire, burned across 143,607 acres in Oregon and was 0% contained. Officials in neighboring state California asked all residents to reduce power consumption quickly after the fire knocked out interstate power lines, preventing up to 4,000 megawatts of electricity from flowing into the state.

Few options for Biden as vaccination pace hits a wall - POLITICO
The Biden administration is running out of ideas for jumpstarting the pace of coronavirus vaccinations, raising the prospect that more than a quarter of American adults could still be vulnerable to the virus into the fall.

Kalispell council still mulling marijuana rules | Daily Inter Lake
In fact, council member Tim Kluesner asked the council and city staff whether it would be possible to simply ignore the new legislation and continue prohibiting marijuana sales in the city.

'We are no longer afraid': Thousands of Cubans protest against conditions on island
Thousands of Cubans took to the streets of multiple provinces around the Caribbean island this Sunday in an unusual protest in which civilians shouted slogans against the communist government such as “We want freedom” and “We are no longer afraid.”