Nate Oats coached Alabama basketball to its first Ultimate 4 look this season.

After dropping to No. 1 total seed UConn, Oats was emotional and promised Alabama followers that “we’re not completed.” Nevertheless, neither that assertion — nor the actual fact Oats signed an extension with Alabama lower than a month in the past — has stopped musings that he would probably match at Kentucky following John Calipari’s reportedly taking the Arkansas job from working rampant.

REQUIRED READING:`Inside Nate Oats’ long-winding journey to the Ultimate 4

Oats, 49, led the Crimson Tide to SEC Event championships in 2021 and 2023 and has produced six NBA draft picks — together with No. 2 total choose Brandon Miller in 2023 — making him an attractive match for the Wildcat’ basketball-first program.

Oats signed his first contract extension in February 2023, and one other on March 18, after his title was floated for quite a few nationally outstanding jobs, together with Ohio State and Michigan. The newest extension runs by March 14, 2030 and features a hefty buyout, a instrument Alabama hoped would hold away potential suitors.

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA event brackets, scores, schedules, groups and extra.

“We have this system headed in the appropriate path,” Oats stated after signing the extension. “We have the dedication from the administration that they’ll proceed to help us in the way in which I really feel like we will compete to be a prime 10, prime 25 crew year-in and year-out. I respect their help in protecting me right here, take my title out of a few of the different job openings which might be there. In all probability not nice timing with this loss tonight.”

This is all the things to find out about Oats’ contract, together with his buyout:

Nate Oats wage

At $6.275 million, Oats’ contract ties him for tied for third amongst school basketball’s highest-paid coaches amongst public college coaches. He is making the identical compensation as Auburn coach Bruce Pearl and solely trails Kansas’ Invoice Self ($9.14 million) and Kentucky’s Calipari’s previous contract ($8.6 million). Calipari’s new deal is value reportedly value $7.5 to $8 million.

In common annual wage (AAV), Oats is fourth, making $6.275 million. He trails solely Self ($9.265 million), Calipari ($8.9 million), and Pearl ($6.525 million). Earlier than the extension, Oats ranked No. 10 amongst coaches with a wage of $4.53 million this previous season.

Nate Oats buyout

If Oats have been to go away Alabama within the first two years of his contract, he would owe the college $18 million. After March 31, 2026, the buyout falls to $10 million for one yr till March 31, 2027. The buyout is $4 million for the next season and $0 afterward.

However, despite the fact that Oats’ contract is 100% assured, if Alabama fired him, he must make a “affordable and good religion effort” to pursue one other head teaching place with a median annual wage equal to or better than $3.5 million, per particulars of his contract.

Nate Oats report

• Profession report: 213-97
• Buffalo (2015-19): 96-43
• Alabama (2019-present): 117-54

CLEVELAND − The beginning of Iowa’s NCAA Event title sport couldn’t have been scripted any higher. After South Carolina missed a challenged shot, Kate Martin boxed out 6-foot-2 Chloe Kitts for a textbook rebound.

Martin supplied an outlet go to Caitlin Clark, who on her first contact of the sport dribbled twice and flung an extended chest go to Hannah Stuelke within the reverse free-throw lane. Stuelke spun and whipped a left-handed go to Sydney Affolter, who from the left sideline rapidly slipped a brief go to the coming Martin on the 3-point line. Martin squared up and uncorked a high-arching 3-pointer over 6-7 Kamilla Cardoso.

Swish, for a 3-0 Iowa lead.

Rewatch that play, and also you’ll additionally see Affolter attacking the rim and curling her physique inside a South Carolina defender to be in place for a possible offensive rebound.

These issues highlighted precisely what Iowa wanted to do to spring the upset in opposition to the unbeaten Gamecocks. The Hawkeyes needed to rating in transition with their elite ball motion, needed to hit a excessive variety of 3s and needed to be as aggressive as attainable on the glass.

Impressively, Iowa’s sizzling begin continued. Martin’s first mid-range jumper was true. Affolter raced up courtroom after one other defensive rebound and scored in transition along with her left hand. Clark buried her first 3-point attempt of the sport, from the proper wing, for a 10-0 Hawkeyes uppercut.

All these issues additionally highlighted that Iowa, at its finest, was succesful for a second straight 12 months of taking down Daybreak Staley and South Carolina.

“We have been excited. We have been prepared,” fifth-year senior guard Gabbie Marshall stated after her Iowa-record 166th profession sport. “We saved telling one another to play free, play free. We don’t have something to lose. Simply go do what you do on the market to the very best of your capacity. That’s why we began off so sizzling.”

At its core, this was an amazing Iowa group. However, partly as a consequence of accidents, this was not a deep Iowa group by the top of a grueling NCAA Event and 39-game schedule. And the group on the opposite bench was arguably one of many deepest groups in ladies’s basketball historical past.

How deep? The Gamecocks’ main scorer Sunday was Tessa Johnson with 19 factors. She was the group’s ninth-leading scorer for the season. Raven Johnson led South Carolina with 36 minutes and Cardoso (15 factors, 17 rebounds) performed 30. Seven different Gamecocks performed between 14 and 25 minutes. Brisker, longer our bodies ultimately overwhelmed the Hawkeyes.

Meantime, Iowa used Marshall, Clark and Martin for each second (39:40) till taking the seniors out with 20 seconds to go. Affolter performed 35. This was in spite of everything 5 Iowa starters performed 37-plus minutes in Friday evening’s 71-69 win over UConn that ended simply earlier than midnight in Cleveland.

Whereas Iowa was in a position to outrun LSU within the Elite Eight regardless of a brief bench, South Carolina was a far taller, deeper problem.

“We have been hitting quite a lot of our photographs and had our transition sport going slightly bit,” Affolter stated of the quick begin, which continued to a 20-9 lead whereas Iowa’s legs have been nonetheless springy. “However we have been enjoying so arduous within the submit to get rebounds. These ladies are nice basketball gamers. Clearly very robust, very tall. It takes quite a bit. We are able to’t guard 6-7 after we’re 6-foot. It’s simply arduous. However I believe we battled the entire total sport.”

Iowa affiliate head coach Jan Jensen knew the Hawkeyes wouldn’t have the ability to outrebound Cardoso, the 6-7 heart, when their solely starter taller than 6 ft is the 6-2 Stuelke.

“You must hit 3s at a excessive price. You must restrict all people else on the boards. You’ll be able to’t restrict (Cardoso),” Jensen stated. “We didn’t restrict the others.”

Repeated putbacks not solely have been a relentless stream of two factors for South Carolina however demoralizing for Iowa. The Gamecocks wound up with a whopping 51-29 benefit in rebounds.

Iowa’s mid-range photographs that went in early started to overlook. Clark began 3-for-4 from 3-point land within the first quarter however went 2-for-9 the remainder of the way in which. Even so, the Hawkeyes have been inside 5 factors within the sport’s remaining 4½ minutes.

“We have been enjoying with that mentality all sport,” Affolter stated. “Simply combat, combat, combat. Each possession issues a lot.”

The largest distinction: South Carolina scored 37 bench factors to Iowa’s zero. The 13 minutes Iowa bought from Addison O’Grady and 5 from Kylie Feuerbach have been unproductive.

And when brisker legs are guarding drained legs, it’s no marvel that Iowa hit solely 17-of-48 photographs (35.4%) after an 8-of-15 (53.3%) first quarter that noticed it take a 27-20 lead.

“To have the ability to have all these contemporary legs on Caitlin was actually powerful,” Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder stated. “And never solely their depth, their top. I am not simply speaking about their facilities. They’re actually fairly massive at each place, which makes it arduous. They might get better very well after we (tried) 3s.”

This sport was a reminder of simply how good Clark is, to raise this group into this elite spot two years in a row – and that it was fairly the feat that the Hawkeyes, in final 12 months’s Ultimate 4, nonetheless are the one group to beat South Carolina prior to now 81 video games.

Iowa wanted to play near a flawless sport Sunday, however the process (and the opponent) was simply too tall and too deep.

“At that time, you’ve bought to principally shoot excellent to win,” Clark stated. “A lot to be happy with. A lot to carry our head excessive about. It stings, however life goes on.”

This sport ought to function a beacon of hope mixed with a warning.

The hope: The Hawkeyes have the teaching employees, the system and skill in place to realize massive issues shifting ahead. Seeing blue-collar gamers like Martin and Affolter flip into vital elements for a Ultimate 4 group is one thing any younger or future Hawkeye can embrace.

The warning: Extra depth in this system is required, particularly contemplating the unlikelihood of discovering and touchdown one other generational expertise like Clark.

The Hawkeyes have actually raised the bar as a program. Bluder’s postgame locker-room speech was tear-jerking and a testomony to the household love that exists in Iowa Metropolis. Now is a superb time to promote Hawkeye ladies’s basketball to younger weapons across the nation.

“Rejoice that we bought to do that collectively,” Bluder advised the group. “… Sure, you like a shiny trophy. However the influence you had on younger ladies on this sport would not get tarnished.”

Highschool recruiting goes properly. Bluder has a powerful freshman class signed, led by 4 top-100 gamers in Ava Heiden, Aaliyah Guyton, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow. And Addie Deal, the No. 12 general recruit within the Class of 2025, is already dedicated. The switch portal will be difficult turf, however that could possibly be a risk to restock the cabinets subsequent season with Clark, Martin and Marshall departing.

Lack of depth was the final word key Sunday. If Iowa may have had a wholesome Molly Davis and extra explosive dimension within the center in opposition to South Carolina, perhaps issues would’ve been a bit completely different.

Constructing high quality depth going ahead could possibly be the Iowa key to future, sustained success.

Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has served for 29 years with The Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Sports activities Community. Chad is the 2023 INA Iowa Sports activities Columnist of the Yr and NSMA Co-Sportswriter of the Yr in Iowa. Be part of Chad’s text-message group (free for subscribers) at HawkCentral.com/HawkeyesTexts. Comply with @ChadLeistikow on Twitter.

JACKSONVILLE, Ore. — The Britt Music & Arts Pageant introduced 12 new reveals for the 2024 summer season season — and a few huge names will likely be coming to Jacksonville in a few months. 

In response to a information launch from the pageant, the brand new additions embody Willie Nelson, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Shaggy, Filth Heads, Walker Hayes, Paul Cauthen and extra. 

“We’re thrilled about this upcoming season,” president and CEO Abby McKee stated within the launch. “We’re proud to have one thing for everybody yearly, and this 12 months is not any exception… our lineup this 12 months contains not solely names everybody will know and love , but additionally newcomers to the Britt stage.” 

Within the launch, they stated Britt Fest will announce extra acts later. A full record of acts and reveals could be discovered within the desk beneath. 

In response to the discharge, most of the people will be capable to purchase tickets at 10 a.m. on April 26. Clef Membership ($750) and above members will be capable to order tickets on April 8; Donor ($300) members will be capable to order on April 22 and Patron ($150) and Senior Patron ($65) will be capable to order tickets on April 24. 

For extra info, go to brittfest.org.

Isabela Lund is the digital content material supervisor at NewsWatch 12. You possibly can attain her at ilund@kdrv.com. 

Maggie Sajak is spinning the wheel of affection! Pat Sajak‘s daughter confirmed she’s relationship Scottish actor Ross McCall, who is nineteen years her senior, in a collection of PDA pictures obtained by Web page Six.

Within the pictures, the Wheel of Fortune star could be seen kissing McCall whereas strolling in Los Angeles on March 26. The pair held palms as they crossed the road along with his canine. TV Insider has reached out to McCall’s crew for remark.

Sajak and McCall haven’t been shy about their emotions for one another in latest weeks. They’ve constantly “favored” one another’s posts on Instagram. When Sajak posted an Instagram picture on February 8, McCall commented, “Magnificence.” The day earlier than, Sajak shared an Instagram picture of her rocking a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs cheerleading outfit. McCall commented, “Knockout,” together with a wink emoticon.

Till now, Sajak has stored her non-public life out of the general public eye. McCall, finest recognized for his function as Joseph Liebgott in HBO‘s Band of Brothers, was beforehand engaged to Jennifer Love Hewitt. He later acquired engaged to actress Alessandra Mastronardi in 2021, however they broke up in 2022.

Sajak is presently the social media correspondent for Wheel of Fortune, the enduring recreation present her father has hosted for over 40 years. In Might 2023, the elder Sajak introduced that Season 41 can be his remaining season as host. His final episode date is predicted to air on June 7. Ryan Seacrest will take over as host in Season 42.

The youthful Sajak is predicted to remain on at Wheel of Fortune after her father steps down. Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White championed Sajak as a “good alternative” for her sooner or later. “I believe she’s a superb alternative if I can’t be there for some cause,” White informed E! Information. “She’s been round it her complete life, so I believe she will fill in for me for positive.”

Extra Headlines:

Pat Sajak’s daughter Maggie is making headlines for her newly confirmed romance with Scottish actor Ross McCall — who is nineteen years her senior.

Us Weekly obtained images of Maggie, 29, sharing a kiss with McCall, 48, on Monday, April 8. Within the snaps, which have been taken late final month, the brand new couple held palms whereas strolling a canine throughout a Los Angeles outing.

McCall wore a purple Adidas jacket paired with denims as he walked alongside Maggie, who stored it informal with a impartial sweater and denims. She accessorized the look with a beanie and black purse. Whereas they loved the nice and cozy climate, the 2 stopped at a avenue nook to share a kiss.

The onerous launch of McCall and Maggie’s romance comes after they’ve been leaving flirty feedback on one another’s Instagram posts over the previous few months. McCall referred to Maggie as a “magnificence” within the feedback part of an Instagram submit from February 8.

Associated: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Host Pat Sajak’s Ups and Downs Via the Years

Taking part in the sport of life. Pat Sajak’s journey to changing into the longest-running TV recreation present host has had its ups and downs through the years. The TV persona grew to become a staple of the small display screen after taking up for authentic Wheel of Fortune host Chuck Woolery in 1981. “Once I began internet hosting Wheel (with Susan […]

Maggie has but to share any images of her relationship on social media. In reality, her Instagram is filled with images and movies from the Wheel of Fortune set the place she works alongside her dad, Pat.

Pat, 77, shares Maggie with spouse Lesly Brown, and he or she’s made numerous appearances on Wheel of Fortune through the years. (Pat and Lesly are additionally mother and father to son Patrick, 33.)

Viewers of the legendary recreation present first noticed Maggie on the Wheel of Fortune stage in 2020 when she took on the place of “particular letter toucher.” Pat underwent surgical procedure in November 2019 to restore a blocked gut, and his daughter stuffed in for Vanna White, who herself took over the internet hosting gig.

In Could 2023, Maggie additionally made a semi-hosting debut as a short lived alternative for White, who acted as a contestant on Superstar Wheel of Fortune.

Apart from making the uncommon Wheel of Fortune look within the internet hosting gig, Maggie has taken a extra everlasting place because the present’s Social Correspondent — a job she’s held since 2021.

“The Wheel of Fortune workers and crew have at all times been like an prolonged household … and I’m thrilled to be working with them,” Maggie shared on the time. “It’s an actual privilege to have the ability to deal with the present’s longtime viewers to a take a look at what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling. Plus, I get to make use of the carpool lane with my father!”

In a brand new and weird marketing campaign advert, Donald Trump’s head takes the place of the moon and blocks out the solar in a nod to Monday’s photo voltaic eclipse.

The marketing campaign video was shared on Fact Social on Sunday, and begins with the phrases, “a very powerful second in human historical past is happening in 2024.” It reveals a picture of the glowing solar as astonished crowds collect to observe the photo voltaic eclipse with protecting eyewear on.

As an enormous shadow is forged on Earth, Trump’s head involves the fore. “We are going to save America. And make it nice once more,” the video concludes, a nod to his 2024 presidential marketing campaign.

The video invokes visuals and the opening rating from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A House Odyssey.

The eclipse is about to brush throughout Mexico, america, and Canada on Monday afternoon. Because the moon passes between the solar and Earth, a second of virtually whole darkness can be forged for a lot of minutes. 

The occasion is not going to happen once more in North America till 2044, however it final occurred seven years in the past, in the course of the first 12 months of Trump’s presidential time period. Trump made headlines and meme pages after he ignored the recommendation of specialists by wanting immediately on the eclipse with out protecting eyewear. His spouse, then First-Woman Melania Trump and their son Barron have been additionally current, and each wore glasses to watch the eclipse.

Specialists say that wanting on the eclipse with a unadorned eye could cause blurred imaginative and prescient, floaters, blind spots, or low imaginative and prescient. In some excessive instances, the place publicity is prolonged, retinal burns can result in blindness.

Learn Extra: The right way to Safely Watch the Whole Eclipse

“Photo voltaic retinopathy is a photochemical harm to your retina,” Dr. Nicole Bajic, a surgical ophthalmologist on the Cleveland Clinic, beforehand instructed TIME.

Sunday’s video marketing campaign is the newest in a string of bizarre statements the previous President has made not too long ago. Throughout a Saturday night time fundraiser in Palm Seashore, FL, Trump claimed that the incumbent President Joe Biden “actually” dirty himself within the Oval Workplace on the White Home.

Trump’s speech on the fundraiser lasted 45 minutes, throughout which he mocked Biden’s insurance policies, earlier than referencing the extensively recognizable Resolute desk, a present from Queen Victoria in 1880.

“Ronald Reagan used it, others used it. And he’s utilizing it,” he stated of Biden. “It’s been dirty. And I imply that actually, which is unhappy,” he commented.

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis left their 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves early on Sunday night time after he aggravated a watch damage.

Davis took an inadvertent shot to the face from Timberwolves ahead Kyle Anderson late within the first quarter of the sport at Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles. Davis picked up a rebound and was going for a put-back dunk when Anderson made contact together with his eye. Whereas Davis accomplished the dunk, he hit the ground laborious after and was clearly in ache.

Davis left the sport as a result of damage, and the workforce then dominated him out within the second half with a left eye damage. He completed with 4 factors and 4 rebounds in 12 minutes.

The hit to his eye aggravated a corneal abrasion he first sustained in a loss to the Golden State Warriors final month after Trayce Jackson-Davis hit him within the eye. Davis left the sport early that night time, too, and he noticed a specialist after his imaginative and prescient was impaired and his eyelid was swollen shut.

Whereas it’s unclear how extreme the damage is, there may be “optimism” that Davis will have the ability to return for the Lakers’ subsequent recreation on Tuesday night time, in line with McMenamin.

With out Davis and LeBron James — who was dominated out with flu-like signs — the Timberwolves rolled previous the Lakers on Sunday night time. They outscored the Lakers by 19 factors within the second quarter and held on to seize the 10-point win behind 31 factors from Naz Reid and 26 factors from Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves improved to 54-24 with the win, which has them in first within the Western Convention standings.

Rui Hachimura led the Lakers with 30 factors within the loss. Jaxson Hayes added 19 factors and 10 rebounds off the bench, and Spencer Dinwiddie completed with 18 factors. The Lakers fell to 45-34 after the loss. They now sit ninth within the Western Convention standings with simply three video games left within the common season.

I’m nonetheless affected by Trump-era-induced mind soften. However even towards the uncontrolled spigot of dumb that produced my illness, one particularly dumb second stands out: former President Donald Trump’s peek at a photo voltaic eclipse.

As I wrote on the time, it was a deeply Trumpian incident that, true to character, defied each science and customary sense from the literal highest perch of presidency, the White Home. However returning to this second seven years later, a wierd tingling connection emerges—and I can’t assist however relate. There’s one thing comprehensible concerning the silly curiosity with which he ignored the foundations for a fleeting second. The joys! (However I communicate as somebody who touched a portray on a dare throughout a faculty journey to the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork.)

So on the eve of one other complete eclipse, I talked to Dr. Viola Kanevsky, a famend optometrist primarily based in New York, to make sure that I had the details straight on what the eyes can take, ought to my very own mischief lead me to endure a really totally different form of soften.

Right here’s what she needed to inform me concerning the potential for eye injury—and Trump’s notorious 2017 flip towards the solar.

What one security measure would you need individuals to pay attention to throughout Monday’s photo voltaic eclipse?

Ideally, you could have a pair of photo voltaic eclipse glasses. You may additionally go surfing and discover ways to create a pinhole digital camera so that you simply view the eclipse not directly. However if you wish to view the eclipse immediately, you really want an permitted pair of glasses.

The primary piece of recommendation I’ve is for individuals not to take a look at it immediately, particularly: susceptible individuals, like younger youngsters; individuals who have lighter eyes; or individuals who have had cataract surgical procedure not too long ago. Usually, in case you have a look at the solar, you’d both sneeze or shut your eyes. When there’s an eclipse, particularly earlier than it’s partially obstructed, it’s not brilliant sufficient to power you to shut your eyes. However it’s nonetheless intense sufficient to trigger everlasting retinal injury.

Take me by way of what scientifically occurs to the attention when it seems to be at an eclipse. Does the attention actually burn off? And in that case, what does that really feel like?

Sadly, retina injury seems like nothing. For those who pinch your pores and skin, you could have receptors that trigger ache, and you are feeling ache. However in case you burn or tear the retina, you would possibly see flashing lights, however it’s a painless occasion. 

The injury doesn’t start to manifest till hours or generally even days later. The sunshine damages the retinal pigment epithelium with the retina, which causes swelling of the retinal layers and releases free radicals that proceed to break the retina as time goes on. So it’s continued the injury continues past the publicity time. The results of that’s diminished acuity, distortion of the imaginative and prescient, a blind spot. You may get any of these signs. Any of those ought to immediate you to go to your physician of optometry and get it checked out immediately.

So to be clear. Precisely how quickly after publicity do these signs seem?

It may begin anyplace from an hour to every week after the publicity that you simply begin to see the indicators. 

Are we speaking about everlasting injury?

Usually it’s everlasting injury. If it’s very temporary and really gentle publicity, most circumstances will resolve inside about six weeks, which means you’ll get again your imaginative and prescient. However typically the metamorphosis that accompanies it, which is that waviness, a distortion of the imaginative and prescient that generally stays completely.

I’ve sufferers who’ve had photo voltaic burns or photo voltaic holes which have 20/40, 20/80, or generally even worse imaginative and prescient—and completely. However worse than that could be a blind spot within the central imaginative and prescient, which signifies that they’re truly lacking a picture proper smack in the course of their imaginative and prescient.

Are there procedures that undo that injury?

Sadly no. We’ve tried issues like steroid remedies, however one of the best therapy is prevention.

So in speaking about all this, Donald Trump’s peak on the solar involves thoughts. What have been your preliminary ideas after seeing the President of the US ignoring the warning to not look?

It was unlucky. After all, I don’t know his ocular historical past. But it surely units a poor instance, particularly for individuals who don’t know and don’t have the knowledge, like younger youngsters, who would possibly then wish to do the identical. They have been made susceptible. 

Trump regarded on the eclipse in 2017. It’s now seven years later. So whereas many issues may be off about him, his imaginative and prescient does appear intact.

Effectively, how would I do know? I haven’t checked his eyes. There is no such thing as a approach to take a look at somebody and know that they solely have 20/40 imaginative and prescient or a blind spot in a single eye. And, at his age, you ought to be carrying studying glasses on a regular basis as an alternative of squinting. He’s not doing that both. 

Any recommendation for him for this upcoming eclipse?

I are likely to not give individuals imaginative and prescient recommendation. However what I’d advise anybody to do at any age is ensure that they’re getting a checkup yearly to ensure their eyes are wholesome. Actually, as individuals grow old, to ensure that their eyes are wholesome to rule out indicators of situations like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts—issues which can be preventable and treatable. 

Okay, superb. The rest we must always know?

The one different suggestion I’ve for youths is to learn A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Courtroom by Mark Twain. There’s an eclipse in there, and realizing the date of the eclipse manages to save lots of somebody’s life. It’s a enjoyable story.