Abdul Carter: It's not about how you start, it's about how you finish
When the Giants drafted Abdul Carter with the third overall pick, the hope was that the edge rusher would make an immediate impact on defense for a team showing signs of turning the corner after a pair of disappointing seasons.
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Rick Pitino defends Mark Pope amid heavy criticism on UK head coach
Inter Vs AC Milan – Cristian Chivu Faces Two Starting XI Dilemmas
Inter head coach Cristian Chivu faces two key decisions over his starting lineup ahead of Sunday’s clash against AC Milan.According to Corriere dello Sport via FCInterNews, Denzel Dumfries will almo...
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![](/<figure><img alt="" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/ae9eaa946b02db006259e7005eae2941" data-uuid="82d9d37c-9496-323a-99d0-c5d8af401d31"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">Positivity can still be present amongst Big Blue Nation, even with how the last week has gone for the <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/" target="_blank">Kentucky Wildcats</a>. </p><p class="has-text-align-none">Yes, the losses to Louisville and Michigan State aren’t good. But the season is only five games in. There are plenty of big games remaining in the regular season.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">Mark Pope has done a lot of good since becoming the head coach of the Wildcats. Look at last season and how he brought the fanbase back together. The fact that he said Tuesday night, “we will not fail,” is something I can get behind. His dedication to this university and program is strong enough to make me think he’s going to get this season in the direction we all want it to.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">Former Wildcats’ head coach Rick Pitino is backing Mark Pope after Tuesday night’s dismantling at the hands of Michigan State in the Champions Classic.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">“Michigan State made threes, which was very unexpected,” <a href="https://www.nj.com/sports/2025/11/rick-pitino-defends-kentucky-after-blowout-loss-in-champions-classic-i-know-mark-pope-will-get-it-going.html">Pitino said in an interview with Adam Zagoria</a>. “But there’s no question in my mind that Kentucky, come March, will be a great basketball team.”</p><p class="has-text-align-none">A lot of those who don’t root for the Wildcats are going to point out and be critical of them because of the reported $22 million they spent on building their roster. But is their roster really worth $22 million?</p><p class="has-text-align-none">For what it’s worth, as the head coach of a program that also spent a lot in the transfer portal, Pitino doesn’t believe it.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">“First of all, everything is exaggerated,” Pitino told Zagoria. “I hear these numbers, and it’s not proven. Unless it’s proven, it’s not factual. So nobody said the payroll’s $22 million, nobody knows that, nobody’s confirmed that, so people can’t make up numbers.”</p><p class="has-text-align-none">“I’m close with Mark, and I don’t believe in these numbers,” he added. “I think everybody exaggerates these numbers. I know they do with us (St. John’s), and they do with every place.”</p><p class="has-text-align-none">It’s still early in the season, but adversity has already hit a Wildcats team that is supposed to be among the elite teams in college basketball this season.</p><p class="has-text-align-none"></p>)
![](/<figure><img alt="" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/dcbe10b6b5008351b332d342d9cd03cc" data-uuid="c2fb810e-1648-31e9-91fc-01adca5cea90"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">Shemar Stewart was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, No. 17 overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals to pair with defending-sack leader Trey Hendrickson. The idea was that the freak athlete, despite his lack of production at the college level, would be developed into a major weapon for Al Golden’s defense.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">Best laid plans.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">Not only is Stewart on IR, but <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/onsi/allbengals-insiders-plus/shemar-stewart-graded-as-nfl-s-worst-2025-first-round-pick-nfl-edge-rusher-01kadzcg1enp">Russ Heltman points out</a>, his 36.9 pass-rushing grade, per PFF, is the lowest of 120 qualified edge rushers. Not only that, but his 36.9 overall grade is among the lowest of any rookie defensive player. </p><p class="has-text-align-none">Stewart had an extremely high pass-rushing grade in Week 1 (78.2), but he’s only averaged a 51.35 in the four games he’s played since. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 2 and didn’t come back until Week 7, but was pretty ineffective in the three games he played before he went on IR.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">The Bengals have an abysmal recent track record of drafting impact players on the defensive side of the ball, and Stewart joins a long list of early-round draft picks who underwhelm. It’s likely too early to say the rookie, who has only played in five games, is a bust. </p><p class="has-text-align-none">However, Stewart hasn’t done anything on the field to prove to a Bengals fan base that is already justifiably angry that he’s not.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">Hopefully, things turn around for the rookie.</p>)
![](/<figure><img alt="Inter Vs AC Milan – Cristian Chivu Faces Two Starting XI Dilemmas" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/sempreinter_com_articles_209/52d6466237c212452c93bc5236055c02" data-uuid="b58075d0-f3b8-3152-9be3-f76723b1c4a0"><figcaption>Inter Vs AC Milan – Cristian Chivu Faces Two Starting XI Dilemmas</figcaption></figure><p><strong>Inter head coach Cristian Chivu faces two key decisions over his starting lineup ahead of Sunday’s clash against AC Milan.</strong></p><p>According to Corriere dello Sport via <a href="https://www.fcinternews.it/rassegna/i-cds-i-verso-il-derby-un-forfait-quasi-certo-e-due-ballottaggi-996369"><strong>FCInterNews</strong></a>, Denzel Dumfries will almost certainly miss the Milan derby.</p><p>With an ankle injury preventing the Dutch wingback from featuring in the upcoming blockbuster, there’s an issue for Chivu.</p><p>Indeed, the 29-year-old has nailed down the starting berth as his own, outshining Luis Henrique and Matteo Darmian.</p><p>Therefore, Carlos Augusto is the likeliest candidate to take Dumfries’ place on Sunday.</p><h2>Cristian Chivu Faces Two Starting Lineup Dilemmas Ahead of Inter vs AC Milan Clash</h2><img height="0" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/sempreinter_com_articles_209/abd451d34d86b12ec9305d3f3a055e35" width="0" data-uuid="42ae7128-049b-325f-8a2e-64a8991a3fd0"><p>LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – DECEMBER 10: Piotr Zielinski of FC Internazionale runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Internazionale Milano at BayArena on December 10, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)</p><p>Dumfries’ absence is not the only problem for <a href="https://sempreinter.com/2025/11/19/inter-ac-milan-chivu-secret-weapons/"><strong>Cristian Chivu</strong></a>.</p><p>Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also on the sidelines, meaning either <a href="https://sempreinter.com/2025/11/19/inter-ac-milan-piotr-zielinski-star-midfield/"><strong>Piotr Zielinski</strong></a> or Petar Sucic will have to step up.</p><p>Despite his return to form, the former sustained a minor injury during the international break.</p><p>Therefore, Chivu must decide whether to risk aggravating the 31-year-old’s condition by putting him in the starting lineup.</p><p>Meanwhile, Yann Bisseck and Francesco Acerbi are in a direct duel for a starting spot, with the German more likely to get the nod.</p>)