Zack Wheeler begins on the opening day for the Phillies

The Sixers made another shot on Monday with the news that Paul George would miss the rest of the season. It was a hard winter for sports fans here (apart from this Super Bowl thing), but the saving grace is that the Phillies will open their season in nine days. The countdown is switched on.

Zack Wheeler, the second -placed Cy Young, will record for the Phils at the start of the season on March 27 in Washington. The nationals are counted with the left -handed Mackenzie Gore, which makes sense when you consider that the setting of the Phillies comprises five left -handers.

Get used to the fact that teams left -handed by Rob Thomson's team stack. Last season, the Phillies with 58 left starters were more than any other team in baseball. The lower half of the order could be susceptible to southern paws (prestige, Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott), but the Phillies have time to find out. Hope jumps forever before the opening day.

The Phillies say that Marsh and Max Kepler “make much better” from the outfieldern. These two sat out when the Phils scored a 4-2 win over a Blue Jay's split squad.

– Jim Swan, @PhillysportPresent Sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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We all saw it coming. After Joel Empbiid was closed for the season and Tyrese Maxey spent more time on the side, it only took a matter of time before the other shoe fell off and Paul George was also excluded. It was announced on Monday that George received injections to his groin muscle and knee and will be missed at least six weeks, which ended his first season in Philly. He concluded the year with an average of 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists, which signed far below the overly large expectations for the nine-time all-star, who signed a four-year contract with a contract of four years and $ 212 million this summer. Not much will change for the Sixers who have turned well into tank mode.

The Inquirer Keith Pompey writes the fault of the lost season of the Sixers, who lost to the extension of the Houston Rockets on Monday evening through the Houston Rockets. The Sixers have a 70-80 record under the nurse.

Lane Johnson agreed to an extension of a year with the Eagles, which will keep the cornerstone in order until the 2027 season. Johnson, who turns 35 in May, will go to his 15 season in Philadelphia when the new deal begins. He was able to become the longest offensive lineman in franchise history.

The defense of Eagles added another ex-Georgia player to the mix when he agreed to the former New York Giants Edge Rusher Azeez Ojulari to a one-year deal.

Another new edge -rusher, Joshua Uke, is happy about his chance to contribute here.

The flyers have changed their melody on Sam Ersson. He was appointed goalkeeper to No. 1 during the training camp, but in his last five games he is 1-3-0 with a percentage of 4.68 GAA and a percentage of 0.833. Now coach John Tortorella is open to Ersson, who shares the NetMinding tasks with Ivan Fedotov.

“I think with Sam while we go forward, we hope that it will be a tandem,” said Tortorella. “We are still evaluating.

Fedotov spent 21 shots against the Lightning on Monday evening, but the flyers were eliminated in a 2-0 defeat in Tampa for the second game in a row.

There are any number of action lines in the NCAA tournament, and Ed Barkowitz has listed more than 50 of them. For example, Rick Pitino has brought six programs to the tournament after having led St. Johns to his first Big East title for 25 years. Boston U., Providence, Kentucky, Louisville and Iona are the others. Another treat: Arkansas coach John Calipari is again in the big dance with Guard DJ Wagner, the former Camden High Star. There are much more funny NCAA facts here.

Of course there are no big 5 men or women's teams in the NCAA tournament, but the men from Villanova are on their way to College basketball crown tournament and St. Joseph is in the NIT. St. Joe and Villanova could also be on their way to a basketball invitation game for women. Here are the details.

Worth a look

🧠 Trivia time

Who is the last big 5 player who wins the Naishith Trophy as a player of College basketball of the year? First presented here in the newsletter with the correct answer.

A) Lionel Simmons

B) Jalen Brunson

C) Jameer Nelson

D) Howard Porter

What you say about large 5 sizes

We asked you: Who is the biggest player in Big 5 history? Under your answers:

Howard Porter, Villanova – Richard V.

Pre Big 5, Paul Arizin & Tom Gola. Jalen Brunson, 2 national championships, players of the year, gold medal in the under 18th tournament. – Domenick V.

Probably the 5 best local Paul Arizin, who played in Villanova, Tom Gola from Lasalle, Guy Rodgers from Temple, Wali Jones from Villanova and Jameer Nelson from St. Joseph's. Most of them were not even born in the 50s when some of these sizes played the game. I was born in 1939 and remembered and watched them all when playing. – Ronald R.

For me, the biggest Big Five player Howard Porter, who played for Villanova in the early 1970s. One guy who played at the same time would be just under a second, Ken Durett, who played for Lasalle. Unfortunately, both players had a professional career due to injury, but both were outstanding college basketball players. – Tom E.

My first thought was Paulry and Tom Gola, but both played before the Big 5 were officially shaped. It is really difficult to say who was the best, but my personal favorites are Guy Rodgers Temple and then Wali Jones and Ed Pickney, Villanova and Lionel Simmons, Lasalle. – Everett S.

Howard Porter – Brenda M.

We have put together today's newsletter with the reporting by Scott Lauber, Keith Pompey, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Niburg, Jeff McLane, Ed Barkowitz, Jackie Spiegel, Paulie Loscalzo, Erik Erlendsson and Conor Smith.

By submitting your written, visual and/or audio contributions, you agree to the inquiries Conditions of useincluding the granting of rights in section 10.

Thanks for reading. Bella will be at the Controls newsletter on Wednesday. – Jim