The Rock Chalkboard

Projecting each Big 12 team's win totals
KANSAS — 1.5 WINS

Devonte' Graham to team with Zion Williamson, Pelicans after trade
As part of a sign-and-trade deal, Graham will head to the New Orleans Pelicans on a four-year, $47 million contract, The Athletic's Shams Charania first reported. In return, the Pelicans will ship out a first-round draft pick to the Hornets.

What Kansas football coach Lance Leipold is like on game day
"A lot of times when we get to the stadium, I just kind of stay in the coaches' locker room," Leipold said on an episode of Hawk Talk. "A lot of the coaches will walk out and go onto the field. I just kind of spend a little time by myself and do that, might even sit on the iPad, watch a little more film or something. I just try to keep it low key, low profile a little bit and go from there."

Kansas recruiting coordinator Chris Simpson has head coach aspirations
Stick around the Lance Leipold KU staff long enough, and you'll hear a familiar saying. Leipold and his assistants from Buffalo like to talk about staying in the present — staying where your feet are at — rather than looking too far down the line.

Bits o Chalk

Harry Kane set for Tottenham return by end of the week - sources
Harry Kane missed a second day of Tottenham's preseason on Tuesday but is expected to report back to the club's training ground before the end of the week, sources have told ESPN.

Los Angeles Lakers welcome back four former players in Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington and Kent Bazemore, sources say
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to terms with four former players on Monday -- Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Wayne Ellington and Kent Bazemore -- as the franchise looks to refill its roster after all the players it sent out in the Russell Westbrook deal, sources told ESPN.

Atlanta Hawks, star point guard Trae Young agree to max extension worth up to $207 million
Atlanta Hawks All-Star point guard Trae Young has agreed to a five-year designated rookie maximum extension worth up to $207 million, his agent, Omar Wilkes of Klutch Sports, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday.

Team USA overcomes sluggish start vs. Spain thanks to Kevin Durant, advances to Olympic men's basketball semifinals
Durant scored 29 points -- 13 of those coming in the game-changing third quarter -- to help his team overcome yet another sluggish start. Durant already has passed Carmelo Anthony as the all-time leading scorer in men's Olympic basketball and is working on becoming only the second American male to win three golds after Anthony.

Eraser Dust

U.S. hits Biden’s 70% vaccine goal as holdouts in hot spots like Florida and Louisiana rush to get shots
On Monday, the hypercontagious Delta variant finally did what Joe Biden couldn’t: convinced 70 percent of U.S. adults to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Noel Gallagher says the internet would have “written off” Oasis and explains how virtual instruments revitalised his sound | MusicRadar
“With the advent of the internet, Oasis would’ve been written off. For the first couple of years we were shit…“ he said. “People would’ve gone on YouTube, seen a few gigs, and said ‘not interested’. We’d never have got to Live Forever.“

Kalispell records 2nd hottest July | Daily Inter Lake
According to data from the National Weather Service in Missoula, last month's average temperature in Kalispell was 71.5 degrees, making it the second warmest July ever for the city. The average temperature was 6.6 degree above normal.

Flathead River access in Evergreen a beloved sanctuary | Daily Inter Lake
A gaggle of preteens leaped off the bridge to a chorus of cheers from their peers, while fishing guides packed up after a day's excursion and a couple in folding chairs watched it all transpire from their perch on the shoreline. The site has long been a popular spot for Evergreen locals to enjoy the river. It's just a few minutes from the community center and a well-utilized pullout point for river floaters and anglers who take the two-hour journey from the Pressentine fishing access site along the Flathead River.

Republicans Move From Coasts to Montana to Be Near Each Other: Mayor
The mayor of Montana's most populous city, Billings, says some people have moved from coastal states to the area because they want to be around other conservatives.