Browsing: Sports

Braden Huff put team success over individual glory while leading Glenbard West to the Class 4A state championship and one of the most dominant seasons in Illinois high school basketball history.The individual accolades still came.Advertisement“It’s nice to see that winning matters, even if you’re not putting up the biggest numbers,” Huff said. “You don’t have to be a selfish player and focus on your stats to get the individual accolades.“We were able to meet our ultimate goal of winning a state championship and still recognized individually. That’s the cool part about this.”AdvertisementHuff, a 6-foot-11 senior forward who is headed to Gonzaga, was voted Mr. Basketball of Illinois for 2022.Barrington junior guard Sophie Swanson, a Purdue recruit, took home the title of Ms. Basketball of Illinois.Huff averaged 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists, statistics that easily could have been higher if he did not play so unselfishly, according to Glenbard West coach Jason Opoka.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 5Glenbard West’s Braden Huff at the school gym on April 26, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)“Those kids have been playing together forever,” Opoka said of his senior class. “They’ve learned from an early age to trust each other and to sacrifice for the good of the team. That’s blatantly obvious with Braden.“He could have scored a lot more points. He could have taken more shots. But he trusted his teammates and his overall goal was to win a state championship.”The Hilltoppers (37-1) won the program’s first state championship, capping a dominant postseason in which they won all six games by at least 22 points.Along the way, Huff became quite a celebrity in Glen Ellyn.“It was definitely surreal,” he said. “After our first game at home, we finished up and all of a sudden there were all these kids around us asking for autographs and photos and all that. I’d have to cut it short to go talk with the team in the locker room but then I’d come back out and there were still people there.Advertisement“I enjoyed every second of all that. That was a really cool thing that I could have never imagined.”The awards are voted on by a statewide poll of coaches and media and are presented by the Tribune in conjunction with the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Players received five points for a first-place vote, three for second and one for third.Huff and Swanson will be honored Saturday evening at the IBCA Hall of Fame Banquet at Illinois State’s Redbird Arena.Huff was named on 100 of 123 ballots and received 84 first-place votes to easily win the award with 473 points. Yorkville Christian’s Jaden Schutt (192 points, 15 first-place votes) was the runner-up, followed by Thornton’s Ty Rodgers (135, 13).“It’s crazy,” Huff said. “It’s always been a goal of mine to win this award. It’s a very prestigious award. To be in the company of all those great basketball players is a really cool thing for me and a great accomplishment.”Swanson, meanwhile, won a much closer race for Ms. Basketball.AdvertisementShe received 13 first-place votes and was named on 29 of 76 ballots, finishing with 95 points to edge Kenwood senior Brianna McDaniel. McDaniel, who was named on 18 ballots, received 15 first-place votes and 82 points. Stevenson’s Simone Sawyer was third with nine first-place votes and 60 points.Swanson led Barrington (30-6) to the first state trophy in program history with a runner-up finish in Class 4A.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 6Portrait of Ms. Basketball of Illinois Sophie Swanson, a junior at Barrington. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)She averaged 21.4 points and 5.2 rebounds, breaking school records for points in a season (750) and a game (40).“It’s really a blessing because of how hard I’ve worked,” Swanson said. “I had all these goals that I set, and to be able to achieve them is really surreal.”Swanson showcased her skills on the big stage when she scored 35 points in a state semifinal win against Bolingbrook.“That was really cool,” she said. “It was a really fun environment. It was definitely like a preview of college. I really enjoyed it.Advertisement“The state experience, the playoff experience was unforgettable. We had so much fun as a team.”Swanson’s ability to score in so many ways is what sets her apart, according to Barrington coach Babbi Barreiro, who has led the Broncos for 30 years.“In the open court, she’s got another gear that makes her really hard to defend,” Barreiro said. “If you do step in to stop her, she can pull up and shoot the ball. Then she’s got that step-back 3-pointer where she steps in and pops back. I joke that it’s almost indefensible. It’s really special.”By winning Ms. Basketball as a junior, Swanson has a chance to join even rarer company. Four players have won the award in back-to-back seasons, including three-time winners Candace Parker and Brea Beal.“It’s so exciting,” Swanson said. “It’s really an honor to win this award and to be up there with all those big names. I’m going to keep getting in the gym, keep developing myself as a player and the goal is to get back to state next year.”Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.AdvertisementGlenbard West’s Braden Huff drives past Young’s Xavier Amos on his way to the basket during the Class 4A final on March 12 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)123 ballots cast; first-place votes in parentheses; 5-3-1 vote value1. Braden Huff, Glenbard West: 473 (84)2. Jaden Schutt, Yorkville Christian: 192 (15)3. Ty Rodgers, Thornton: 135 (13)4. Nick Martinelli, Glenbrook South: 46 (2)5. AJ Casey, Young: 40 (1)Advertisement6. Robbie Avila, Oak Forest: 12 (1)7. Ethan Hefel, Galena: 10 (2)8. Caden Pierce, Glenbard West: 79. Ben VanderWal, Timothy Christian: 6 (1)10: Benjamin Vandigo, Scales Mound: 6Others receiving multiple votes: Will Grudzinski, Barrington, 5 points; Zach Hawkinson, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 5; N.J. Benson, Mt. Vernon, 4; Darrin Ames, Kenwood, 2; Dawson Feyen, East Dubuque, 2.AdvertisementReceiving one vote: Lucas Foote, Reed-Custer, 5 points (1); Brock Harding, Moline, 5 (1); David Hise, Knoxville, 5 (1); Zack Schroeder, Metamora, 5 (1); Cameron Christie, Rolling Meadows, 3; Zach Cleveland, Normal Community, 3; Jake Hamilton, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 3; Kellen Henze, Eastland, 3; Nojus Indrusaitis, Lemont, 3; Taj McKinney, Wayne City, 3; Tysen Meents, Wilmington, 3; Trey Pettigrew, Kenwood, 3; Lashawn Pollard, Vocational, 3; Cale Steinbaugh, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 3; Jeremiah Talton, Quincy, 3; Damari Wheeler-Thomas, Larkin, 3; Devonte Hall, TF North, 1; Cason Headley, Coal City, 1; Wes Hunt, Peoria Christian, 1; Victor McGill, Litchfield, 1; Jackson Munro, New Trier, 1; Amarion Nimmers, Rock Island, 1; Michael Osei-Bonsu, Bolingbrook, 1; Levonte Pointer, Thornridge, 1; Jalen Quinn, Tuscola, 1; Patrick Robinson, Oswego East, 1; Tommy Zimmer, Illinois Lutheran, 1.Barrington’s Sophie Swanson reacts after her three-point shot in the third quarter against St. Charles East in the Class 4A South Elgin Supersectional game on Feb. 28 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)76 ballots cast; first-place votes in parentheses; 5-3-1 vote value1. Sophie Swanson, Barrington: 95 points (13)2. Brianna McDaniel, Kenwood: 82 (15)3. Simone Sawyer, Stevenson: 60 (9)4. Katie Krupa, Morton: 47 (5)Advertisement5. Abbey Schreacke, Quincy Notre Dame: 39 (4)6. Katy Eidle, Hersey: 37 (3)7 (tie). Kenzie Hare, Naperville North: 33 (5)7 (tie). Janae Kent, Oak Forest: 33 (5)9. Ella Lune, Brimfield: 28 (3)10. Lenee Beaumont, Benet: 19AdvertisementOthers receiving multiple votes: Camille Jackson, Butler College Prep: 13 (1); Amiah Hargrove, Christopher: 11 (2); Jordan Wood, Carmel; 10 (1); Katie Baker, Serena: 8 (1); Kammie Ludwig, Geneseo; 8; Taylor Charles, Burlington Central: 7 (1); Lisa Thompson, Joliet West, 7; Faith Feuerbach, Sycamore, 6; Bella Finnegan, Mother McAuley, 4; Sydney Harris, Edwardsville, 4; Mallory Ramage, Mattoon, 4; Emily Fisher, Libertyville, 2; Brynn Haas, Stockton, 2; Grace Sullivan, Carmel, 2.Receiving one vote: Bailey Berry, North Greer, 5 (1); Kloe Froebe, Lincoln, 5 (1); Gracie Furlong, Galena, 5 (1); Brooklyn Gray, Rockford Auburn, 5 (1); Anna Liaromatis, Wilmington, 5 (1); Shakara McCline, East St. Louis, 5 (1); Grace Nelson, Altamont, 5 (1); Lisa Thompson, Joliet West, 5 (1); Miyah Brown, Winnebago, 3; Maggie Furlong, Galena, 3; Shamiyah Godfrey, Orr, 3; Riley Guy, St. Anthony, 3; Alayna Kraus, Okawville, 3; Alyssa Latham, Homewood-Flossmoor, 3; Ashley May, Fieldcrest, 3; Claire McDougall, Washington, 3; Alexis Pohlman, Greenfield, 3; Molly Stiles, Coal City, 3; Tatiana Thomas, Bolingbrook, 3; Haley Warren, Rockton Hononegah, 3; Ava Bardic, Stevenson, 1; Joy Bergstrom, St. Viator, 1; Shelby Bowman, West Central, 1; Ella Goodrich, Fieldcrest, 1; Jillian Hamilton, Pena, 1; Brooklyn Harding, Reed-Custer, 1; Alexa Jamison, Salt Fork, 1; Kennedi Perkins, Bolingbrook, 1; Sydney Richards, Neoga, 1; Mya Wardle, Peoria Notre Dame, 1Mr. Basketball of Illinois2022: Braden Huff, Glenbard West2021: No award (COVID-19)2020: Adam Miller, Morgan Park2019: EJ Liddell, Belleville West2018: EJ Liddell, Belleville West2017: Mark Smith, Edwardsville2016: Charlie Moore, Morgan Park2015: Jalen Brunson, Stevenson2014: Jahlil Okafor, Young2013: Jabari Parker, Simeon2012: Jabari Parker, Simeon2011 (tie): Ryan Boatright, East Aurora and Chasson Randle, Rock Island2010: Jereme Richmond, Waukegan2009: Brandon Paul, Warren2008: Kevin Dillard, Homewood-Flossmoor2007: Derrick Rose, Simeon2006: Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North2005: Julian Wright, Homewood-Flossmoor2004: Shaun Livingston, Peoria2003: Shannon Brown, Proviso East2002: Dee Brown, Proviso East2001: Eddy Curry, Thornwood2000: Darius Miles, East St. Louis1999: Brian Cook, Lincoln1998: Frank Williams, Peoria Manual1997: Sergio McClain, Peoria Manual1996: Ronnie Fields, Farragut1995: Kevin Garnett, Farragut1994: Jerry Gee, St. Martin de Porres1993: Rashard Griffith, King1992: Chris Collins, Glenbrook North1991: Howard Nathan, Peoria Manual1990: Jamie Brandon, King1989: Deon Thomas, Simeon1988: Eric Anderson, St. Francis de Sales1987: Marcus Liberty, King1986: Nick Anderson, Simeon1985: Ed Horton, Springfield Lanphier1984: Brian Sloan, McLeansboro1983: Marty Simmons, Lawrenceville1982: Bruce Douglas, Quincy1981: Walter Downing, ProvidenceMs. Basketball of Illinois2022: Sophie Swanson, Barrington2021: No award (COVID-19)2020: Angela Dugalic, Maine West2019: Brea Beal, Rock Island2018: Brea Beal, Rock Island2017: Brea Beal, Rock Island2016: Kathleen Doyle, Benet2015: Haley Gorecki, Fremd2014: Tyra Buss, Mount Carmel (Ill.)2013: Tyra Buss, Mount Carmel (Ill.)2012: Morgan Tuck, Bolingbrook2011: Ariel Massengale, Bolingbrook2010: Tricia Liston, Fenwick2009: Morgan Tuck, Bolingbrook2008: Sarah Boothe, Warren2007: Brittany Johnson, Olney East Richland2006: Theresa Lisch, Belleville Althoff2005: Lindsay Schrader, Bartlett2004: Candace Parker, Naperville Central2003: Candace Parker, Naperville Central2002: Candace Parker, Naperville Central2001: Cappie Pondexter, Marshall2000: Cappie Pondexter, Marshall1999: Molly McDowell, Nokomis1998: Allison Curtin, Taylorville1997: Courtney Smith, Carlyle1996: Tauja Catchings, Stevenson1995: Tamika Catchings, Stevenson1994: Michelle Hasheider, Okawville1993: Kim Williams, Marshall1992: Tammy Van Oppen, Bartonville Limestone1991: Megan Lucid, Mother McAuley1990: Courtney Porter, Hume Shiloh1989: LaTonia Foster, Marshall1988: Nancy Kennelly, Maine West1987: Cindy Kaufman, Seneca1986: Doris Carie, Teutopolis

LAS VEGAS — Draft night on Thursday will include prospects walking a red carpet above the Bellagio fountains, a theater built specifically for the proceedings where they hope to hear their names called early, and the aura of gambling everywhere.How about that for something different for the NFL?AdvertisementThere’s no question the flavor of Sin City — from the attractions to the casinos to themed hotels to showgirls lining the players’ walkway to the mountains nearby — infiltrates this draft. The league seems very pleased with that symbiosis.“The key thing for the draft is to take on the character of where we are,” said Eric Finkelstein, NFL senior director of event operations. “This is not a cookie-cutter event. We try to embody and highlight where we are.”AdvertisementHe then noted the High Roller Ferris wheel directly in front of him and perhaps three football fields away from the theater stage where Commissioner Roger Goodell will announce the 32 picks on opening night. Finkelstein also mentioned circles on the stage emulating the famed “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. Construction began on April 1.[ [Don’t miss] When do the Chicago Bears pick? What do the mock drafts say? Everything you need to know about the 2022 NFL draft. ]Above the stage flashed digital playing cards, each one designed for a specific NFL team. Adjacent to the theater, which will seat about 1,500 and has a footprint of about 1 million square feet, is Caesars Forum. That convention center even has an “NFL Draft Door,” which the league requested during construction.“We worked with Caesars to add a door to allow us to get the prospects out of the building with a direct connection to our theater build,” said Heather Nanberg, the league’s director of events.The 2020 draft originally was scheduled for Las Vegas, but became a virtual exercise because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So 2022 was substituted, and some plans changed.At the Bellagio, for example, there was thought of placing the prospects on boats in the fountains to get them to the red carpet. Time constraints and weather concerns — Thursday night’s forecast calls for strong wind, unusual in Vegas this time of year — canned that idea.Should the players need to escape the heat before or after walking the carpet, though, Kelsey Pietrangelo, the NFL’s manager of live event operations, joked that “we will have scuba suits if they’d like to jump in.”A worker swims in the fountain of the Bellagio hotel-casino during setup for the NFL draft on April 26, 2022, in Las Vegas. (John Locher/AP)Indeed, there were workers in scuba gear on Tuesday making late adjustments to the stage and walkway.“Using six divers is a first for us,” she added.AdvertisementPietrangelo noted that 300 drones will circle the fountains on Wednesday through Friday and the fountains will be in use during the pre-draft festivities.From the Bellagio, two billboards advertising sports betting, including one with the NFL logo on it, are in full view. As they certainly can be for the TV networks later this week. No one from the league seems uncomfortable with that scenario, instead emphasizing the importance of their “partners.” Particularly Caesars Entertainment.“We really focused on our prospect experience this year,” Nanberg said, “and we are committed to Caesars Forum.”Since the league turned the draft into a road show in 2015, it has held what in some (dull) circles is called the “Selection Meeting” in Chicago for two years; Philadelphia; Arlington, Texas; Nashville; and Cleveland. The general consensus is that Music City topped the charts with its presentation, shutting down Broadway for what has been estimated as close to 600,000 attendees over the three days. Thrown in were free concerts by Tim McGraw and Dierks Bentley, plus all sort of freebies (and other enticements) at the honky tonks.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 46NFL football fans watch as people race against digital representations of NFL prospects at Draft Town on April 29, 2016. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Las Vegas might top that weekend, willingly shutting down a significant portion of the Strip and offering up Weezer, Ice Cube and Marshmello in concert. But the myriad other attractions in town — music, magic, ventriloquism, the tables and slots — could scatter visitors, something that didn’t occur in Tennessee.“Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world,” Finkelstein said. “We know there are a lot of things going on in this town. They all get how to do a big event. We’ve gotten to towns where that was a little bit of a challenge with size. Here, they know what we are trying to achieve.”

ATLANTA — Marcus Stroman’s rhythm still isn’t where he wants it.Four starts into the season, the Chicago Cubs right-hander continues to tinker with his mechanics, searching for extended consistency beyond a couple batters. Stroman was encouraged by keeping a slugging Atlanta Braves lineup largely in check over six innings Tuesday in his longest outing of the season.AdvertisementBut the Cubs offense never got going against left-hander Max Fried and the Braves bullpen in a 3-1 loss, their sixth in the last seven games. They finished with four hits, tallying just one in the final six innings.Here are three observations from Tuesday’s series opener at Truist Park.AdvertisementCubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman delivers in the first inning of a game against the Braves on April 26, 2022. (Brynn Anderson/AP)By the time Stroman fired his 86th and final pitch, he had incorporated six different pitch types according to Statcast.None were better at generating strikes than his slider and sinker. The two pitches got eight and seven called strikes, respectively. Accounting for whiffs and foul balls, that combination accounted for 25 strikes. Stroman largely was effective locating his slider in the bottom third of the zone while he worked his sinker all over, keeping Atlanta’s hitters guessing.“There’s kind of that old school accessing different sides of the play — when you can run it one way and then bring it back the other way with the slider it’s tough to pick a spot,” manager David Ross said, “so he’s doing that really well.”[ [Don’t miss] What makes Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman tick? Mindfulness, mental well-being and an endless amount of outside interests. ]While he acknowledged making strides from his last start without getting into specifics, Stroman indicated he isn’t as in sync as he needs to be. Even so, Stroman delivered a quality start by going six innings and holding the Braves to three runs (two earned) without walking a batter.“I can tell by the action on my sinker when my mechanics are on, and same thing with my slider,” Stroman said. “That’s what’s frustrating is I’ll be great for a hitter and then I won’t feel like that the next hitter. So it’s just consistency right now. And I’m getting close, but I’m not where I want to be.”The rookie reliever has experienced plenty of learning moments through his first seven big-league appearances.But as he showed in the seventh inning Tuesday, when the 24-year-old right-hander is locked in, hitters struggle to make contact. Roberts struck out the side, retiring Adam Duvall on a cutter and uncorking two low sliders that got Travis Demeritte and Dansby Swanson to whiff.“We trust in the stuff,” Ross said. “I think he’s kind of growing into being a guy that has to continue to have success out there and believe in himself and have an outing like tonight. To be able to execute those pitches, when he’s in the zone and attacking hitters, his stuff plays.”AdvertisementAfter learning a new slider grip late in spring training, Roberts is trying to consistently harness the weapon. His evolving development is important for the Cubs, and as Roberts gains Ross’ trust in bigger moments, outings like Tuesday’s can go a long way in building his confidence and taking another step forward.Drew Smyly envisioned flashing his new bling on the Cubs’ flight to Milwaukee on Thursday night. Chris Martin hadn’t thought too far ahead of how he planned to wear the ring. The two Cubs pitchers — and former Braves teammates — received their 2021 World Series championship rings during a pregame ceremony.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Braves manager Brian Snitker and pitcher Charlie Morton presented the duo their rings, which represented the first World Series title for both. Smyly appeared in 29 games (23 starts) for the Braves last season, finishing his lone season in Atlanta with a 4.48 ERA. Martin, who spent 2½ years with the organization, posted a 3.95 ERA in 46 games out of the bullpen.“It’s just the ultimate goal as a player — it’s a lot of individual stats and whatnot in this game, but it’s really hard to win a championship. So to be able to be on that team and be a small part of it, it’s pretty neat,” Smyly told the Tribune. “There’s a lot of really, really good players that I have never been, never won on so it is pretty special just to have that checked off.“It’s going to be with you forever. Maybe my kids’ kids will have it one day. It’s neat, not many people have one.”As a two-time World Series champ, Ross understands what a ring ceremony, even a small one like Tuesday’s, means for a player. Ross rarely wears either of his World Series title rings he got for 2013 in Boston and 2016 in Chicago — “By the time you shake everybody’s hand at an event, I’ve got my No. 3 indented inside of my finger” — but he appreciates hearing fans’ stories about where and who they were with watching the title-clinching game.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] A minor setback to Andrelton Simmons’ right shoulder continues to test the Chicago Cubs infield depth ]“The hardware is nice to get, probably the memories and things that have stuck with me are more important, like the brotherhood that you create with that group of people and the history that you make, that will never go away. And the banners that fly that you represent I think are really powerful moments,” Ross said.Martin and Smyly each have two kids who are too young to remember their career-changing moments with Atlanta. Martin made sure to get photos of them on the field after beating the Houston Astros in six games.“Those are some things that are really cool for them to look back on,” Martin said to the Tribune. “Hopefully they can be proud of what dad did.”

It was an unforgettable sight but one Connor Murphy couldn’t fully recall at first.During a March 12 game in Ottawa, Senators winger Parker Kelly drove into the Hawks defenseman in the corner just above the goal line, and the force of the collision slammed Murphy’s head into the glass. Murphy lay motionless for several minutes before medical staff carted him off on a stretcher.Advertisement“I didn’t regain memory until I was already in the training room, so I didn’t remember anything that happened,” he said Tuesday. “I just remember getting on the ice for that shift.”Scary scene in Ottawa as Connor Murphy is stretchered off the ice after taking a hit from Parker Kelly that sent him awkwardly into the boards. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/bd5xYeQtI6— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2022

Murphy hasn’t played since, going on long-term injured reserve under concussion protocols.AdvertisementBut he has been skating by himself and with teammates in recent weeks, and he addressed media for the first time to discuss the experience and his recovery.“Thinking about when you gain memory, you think you’re going to come to and be in shock, but I was pretty calm,” Murphy said after practicing with Kirby Dach and Jujhar Khaira — two other Hawks sidelined by injuries — among other teammates. “They told me right away what happened when I asked again. I didn’t want to see the hit right away, but I wasn’t too rattled when I saw that either. (You) understand it’s part of the game.”“I didn’t regain memory until I was already in the training room, so I didn’t remember anything that happened.”—Connor Murphy on Ottawa Senator Parker Kelly’s hit in March, when he was stretchered off the ice and ultimately landed him in concussion protocol pic.twitter.com/qS7aEfKGM9— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) April 26, 2022

Murphy said he was more concerned about giving his family and friends a scare. “So I was fortunate that was the case and just hated they had to see that.”Kelly later said he “felt bad” about the hit and sought out Murphy at the time: “He accepted my apology.””Obviously felt pretty bad. You don’t want to see anyone go out on a stretcher. I got his number from a buddy… he accepted my apology.”Parker Kelly says he reached out to Connor Murphy after their incident this past weekend. pic.twitter.com/Rx3ysPIC91— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 14, 2022

Murphy described some of the symptoms he felt.“I had some headaches and just memory stuff and then the typical feeling off,” he said. “There’s just some of the typical cloudy feelings you get from concussions.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.But now, a month and a half later, “I feel good physically, really good actually,” Murphy said.“The hard thing has been with the head stuff, there’s not enough research to know for sure if you’re 100% or when that is. You just kind of look at history and what the symptoms were like and how close together certain concussions were and the severity of each one of them.Advertisement“(I’m) lucky to have a great medical staff here that’s been helping a lot along the way and gotten me to feeling good now.”Even so, coach Derek King shut down Murphy and Dach (right shoulder sprain) for the season this week.“Yeah, I would love to have them, but I don’t think that’s what our game plan is,” King said Monday. “I think all the guys who are hurt, it’s more just, when they leave here, they know that they’re OK to skate, work out and have a good summer instead of being halfway through summer and you’re still not cleared and you don’t know where you are.”Murphy said one of the most difficult parts of his absence has been watching the Hawks struggle without him, including an 0-6-2 stretch.“Not having the (two) games left to play (in the season) is frustrating,” he said, “and having to see your team go through a couple of losing streaks … and not being able to be around it to help at all is hard.” Players skate past Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy (5) as he lies injured on the ice after a collision into the boards with Senators left wing Parker Kelly on March 12, 2022, in Ottawa. (Justin Tang/AP)

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles seemed pretty relaxed Tuesday afternoon. Two days before Poles’ first NFL draft as a GM, he expressed confidence in his team’s preparation.“The hay is in the barn,” Poles said. “When you go into draft day, it’s a little bit more calm than everyone thinks. It’s a little more quiet.”AdvertisementPoles said he’s satisfied with the way the Bears draft board has come together and how his scouts, coaches and front-office talent evaluators have met to sort through the hundreds of prospects the team will consider selecting. And even in a heightened role as the man responsible for making each selection, Poles didn’t seem to be feeling much pressure.“The responsibility of making the pick? Yeah, it’s bigger,” he said with a smile. “But at the same time, you rely on the work everyone put in to make the right decision. And that was the cool thing about doing a lot of these mock-up drafts. We feel comfortable with the way this thing is going to play out.”AdvertisementWith the draft set to begin Thursday in Las Vegas, here’s the inside slant on three notable storylines.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 24New Bears coach Matt Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles pose with a helmet after being introduced on Jan. 31, 2022, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)As the top 10 of last year’s draft unfolded, Ryan Poles found himself especially intrigued with what the Cincinnati Bengals might do. With hopes of becoming a general manager one day, Poles tried to put himself in the decision maker’s chair of other teams to consider various strategies and sharpen his draft philosophies.The Bengals had arrived at an interesting fork in the road. They landed their franchise quarterback a year earlier, selecting Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick, and he flourished with 2,688 passing yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 starts.But Burrow’s rookie season was cut short when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 11, a brutal injury that came as he was setting in the pocket to throw deep against the Washington Football Team. In his first NFL season, Burrow was hit 77 times and sacked 32 times in 10 games.Heading into last spring’s draft, the Bengals had a critical decision to make with the No. 5 pick. One road sign seemed to be directing them toward adding offensive line help to better support Burrow up front with a standout left tackle such as Oregon’s Penei Sewell.Another, however, pointed toward star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Burrow’s teammate for two seasons at LSU. Adding playmaking ammunition to the offense certainly made sense to help accelerate Burrow’s development.In his role as the Kansas City Chiefs assistant director of player personnel, Poles knew what he would have done. Without hesitation, he would have selected Sewell and never looked back.[ [Don’t miss] When do the Chicago Bears pick? What do the mock drafts say? Everything you need to know about the 2022 NFL draft. ]“I’m an O-line guy,” he said in late January. “I believe it starts there. … So I would have started up front.”AdvertisementPerhaps that was just the former player in Poles coming through. Before entering the NFL scouting ranks in 2009, he was a standout guard at Boston College and got a training camp look from the Bears.Still, when the Bengals snagged Chase, it didn’t stun Poles. Nor did it bother him. To each their own, he thought. He understood the attraction of the built-in chemistry between Burrow and his former college teammate. Poles just would have started elsewhere.The Bengals, of course, could have been right either way. But they certainly won’t regret picking Chase, who exploded for 81 catches, 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie, becoming a major catalyst in the team’s surprising run to the Super Bowl.From afar, Poles took mental notes.“The beautiful thing,” he said, “is we can learn from these (other) teams to see that there are more ways to do it than just doing what I said. So we just learn.”As fate would have it, in his first draft as Bears general manager this week, Poles faces a similar “Choose Your Own Adventure” dilemma. The Bears have a second-year quarterback in Justin Fields who also could use a sturdier wall from his offensive line as well as more playmaking firepower in his receiving corps.AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 120Injured Bears quarterback Justin Fields walks the field on Jan. 2, 2022, before the home finale against the Giants at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)So down which aisle might the 36-year-old GM steer his cart first?Unlike the Bengals, Poles won’t have a top-10 selection to address one of those needs. Instead — barring an unlikely trade up — the Bears will wait until the seventh pick of the second round (No. 39) before they make their first selection.Still, in the quest to get Fields the support he needs, Poles can have his personal lean while also being open-minded to alternatives. His preference, he emphasized in January, would be to fortify the line first. “I think that’s first and foremost,” he said.But that’s also not a rigid stance.“When I mention the Bengals, they took a different approach,” Poles said. “I was critical of it. At the same time, it worked out pretty well, right? So I think the main thing is you support the quarterback. If that’s giving him weapons, giving him a line, (you do it).”[ [Don’t miss] Who will the Chicago Bears select? Brad Biggs’ NFL mock draft 3.0. ]For what it’s worth, the Bengals also drafted three offensive linemen last spring after picking Chase. They took Clemson’s Jackson Carman in the middle of Round 2, then used Day 3 selections on East Carolina’s D’Ante Smith and Georgia’s Trey Hill.AdvertisementCarman, a left tackle in college, quickly moved inside to guard and made six starts as a rookie on the right side but wasn’t overly impressive. Smith spent two months on injured reserve with a knee injury and played in only two games, including an emergency start at left tackle in the regular-season finale. Hill made spot starts in Weeks 6, 13 and 18 on the interior of the offensive line.After months of draft meetings at Halas Hall, Poles will have his Plan A ready. He’ll eagerly watch the first round unfold Thursday night with hopes that the board breaks just right for the Bears’ overall needs. The best-case scenario would be having his choice between a promising wide receiver and a highly regarded offensive lineman.Most draft experts expect about six receivers to be selected in the first round. Six or seven offensive linemen also could be gone by No. 39.Simply put, Poles won’t have the kind of win-win choice the Bengals had between Sewell and Chase. But he should have solid options as he makes his first draft pick as Bears GM. Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith or Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson? Western Michigan receiver Skyy Moore or Washington State tackle Abraham Lucas?Poles also has last year’s reflections to draw on, hopeful that the Bengals’ faster-than-expected breakthrough in 2021 offers a beacon of hope.“It should get teams like the Bears excited that if we do things the right way, we can make those steps and be a championship-caliber team (soon),” Poles said.AdvertisementExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 46Players stretch during warmups at Bears minicamp at Halas Hall on April 20, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)When word trickled through the NFL last week that San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel had requested a trade, Ryan Poles’ radar went off. Naturally.Poles’ Bears, after all, desperately need help at that position. And the mere idea of adding a player who had 1,770 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns last season created instant intrigue.Poles also has stayed on top of similar trade buzz surrounding the Tennessee Titans’ A.J. Brown, the Seattle Seahawks’ DK Metcalf and the Washington Commanders’ Terry McLaurin, all standout pass catchers entering the final year of their rookie contracts and staring at uncertain futures based on the recent financial explosion of the wide receiver market.“It’s always intriguing (to consider),” Poles said Thursday at Halas Hall.But …(Yes, Bears fans, this is an all-caps, bold, underlined BUT.)Advertisement“This goes back to what I’ve talked about before in terms of staying disciplined,” Poles said. “I truly believe in homegrown talent. I truly believe in drafting the right players and developing them here. And that will help us in the long run.”Quick translation: Don’t expect Poles to make any headline-grabbing trades for a top-tier receiver in the coming months. Do expect him, however, to take at least one big swing — and maybe two or three — on a talented receiver during this weekend’s draft.“I would love to address that (need) on Day 2,” Poles said earlier this spring.[ [Don’t miss] Column: David Montgomery is embracing change at Halas Hall. How will the Chicago Bears running back fit the new scheme? ]He later qualified the wish with a promise to stay disciplined.“We’re going to be patient,” Poles said. “If it’s not there, we’re not going to force it either. This class (of receivers) is pretty deep. So I feel comfortable.”The Bears don’t have a first-round pick, taking them out of play for the top five receivers in this draft: USC’s Drake London, Alabama’s Jameson Williams, Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave and Arkansas’ Treylon Burks. But Poles should be able to move through the receiver buffet line in Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night with plenty of appealing prospects available.AdvertisementPerhaps standouts such as Penn State’s Jahan Dotson or North Dakota State’s Christian Watson will be sitting there. Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce, Alabama’s John Metchie III, South Alabama’s Jalen Tolbert and Memphis’ Calvin Austin III almost certainly will be available when the Bears pick for the first time.Even better for Poles? In recent years, it has become clear that finding star receivers after Round 1 is realistic.Last season, for example, 13 receivers finished the season with at least 1,100 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Nine of them were drafted after the first round, including eight taken outside the top 50. That’s an eye-opening list that includes Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp and five-time Pro Bowl selection Davante Adams. Also in that fraternity are Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Tyler Lockett and Diontae Johnson.The Bears’ leading receiver last season was Darnell Mooney, who had 81 catches, 1,055 yards and four touchdowns in his second season after being drafted in the fifth round out of Tulane.Adams became the highest-paid receiver in league history last month when he signed a five-year, $141.25 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders after being traded from the Green Bay Packers. He was the No. 53 pick by the Packers in 2014 and generated only moderate buzz when he was selected. He ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in a less-than-impressive 4.59 seconds. Eight receivers were picked before him. And the Packers had to convince outsiders that Adams could develop into a real weapon for Aaron Rodgers.[ [Sign up] Get our Chicago Bears alerts on your phone, desktop and inbox ]“You go by the tape,” then-Packers receivers coach Edgar Bennett said on draft weekend. “You see a guy getting open. You see a guy at the top of his routes creating separation and creating windows for the quarterback to throw the ball in. And when there is a tight situation and more of a competitive-type throw, you see a guy with strong hands and physicality who can go up and make the tough catch.”AdvertisementBears fans know the rest of that story and hope one day their favorite team can write a similar tale of success.Less than a week after Adams signed his new deal with the Raiders, Tyreek Hill overtook him as the highest-paid receiver with a four-year deal with the Miami Dolphins that will pay him an average of $30 million per season. Hill lasted until Day 3 and pick No. 165 of the 2016 draft, in large part because of character concerns. Poles was the college scouting director in Kansas City when the Chiefs drafted him.In the right environment, with the right developmental plan — and in a best-case scenario, paired with a superstar quarterback — real magic can happen for receivers who slip through the cracks a bit during the draft.In addition to teams finding star receivers later in the draft more regularly, young receivers are more capable than ever of having an instant impact. Ja’Marr Chase led all rookie receivers last season with 81 catches, 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. His former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson set the bar for Class of 2020 receivers with 108 receptions, 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns.In all, 17 receivers who were in their first three seasons topped 750 yards in 2021. Poles attributes the NFL readiness of younger receiving prospects to the explosion of development all the way down through the youth ranks, with 7-on-7 camps and showcase events across the country.“And the game has changed,” Poles added. “We’re just throwing the ball at a very high rate. If you look at the personnel (groupings) that are on the field, sometimes you’re rolling out with four receivers instead of just two or three. Now more guys have opportunities to make plays.”AdvertisementIt’s Poles’ job to find more of those guys. His next big chance arrives this week. ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 30Virginia McCaskey, the daughter of George Halas, took over as majority owner of the Chicago Bears in 1983. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)During 13 seasons with the Chiefs, Ryan Poles experienced the draft from many vantage points, holding five roles under three general managers. This week he’ll be in the driver’s seat at Halas Hall, drawing from a deep library of experiences that helped him mold certain draft philosophies.But just how eager will Poles be to push the Bears into the trade mosh pit of draft weekend? And in which direction will he prefer to go? Since being hired in January, Poles has made it clear he is far from content with the Bears’ draft wallet, owning only six picks heading into his first draft. The Bears have two second-round selections and a third-rounder Friday night and one fifth-round pick and two selections in the sixth Saturday.No one should be surprised if Poles leaves the weekend with a draft class larger than six players. The first-time GM seems eager to find ways to draft eight or nine prospects to fortify a Bears roster loaded with holes.Poles’ predecessor at Halas Hall, Ryan Pace, was known for being aggressive on draft weekend with a propensity to move up for players he couldn’t live without. In seven drafts, Pace traded up 10 times. His biggest draft failure was the expensive jump up in 2017 from No. 3 to No. 2 to take quarterback Mitch Trubisky.[ [Don’t miss] As Roquan Smith gets acquainted with a new regime, he ‘absolutely’ wants to stay with the Chicago Bears long term ]“As an organization, we had conviction on this quarterback and his special attributes,” Pace said the night of that trade. “And we did what we had to do to get him. His potential to be a championship quarterback is all we focused on.”AdvertisementThat deal, as has been well-documented, didn’t work out as planned. Neither did trading up for receiver Anthony Miller a year later. But Pace also made aggressive moves up to land safety Eddie Jackson, running back David Montgomery, receiver Darnell Mooney and quarterback Justin Fields.Sometimes it’s about timing. Sometimes it’s about need. Sometimes it’s about the way a draft board is unfolding.Poles was asked Thursday whether he could articulate his philosophy for when it is prudent to trade up.“It comes back down to your board,” he said. “There are different values on your board. And if you have certain players who are in a certain section of the board and it makes sense for your team at that time, then that’s something you have to do at the right time.”[ [Don’t miss] The Arlington Heights Bears? Here’s what to know about the team’s possible move from Chicago’s Soldier Field. ]In the last seven drafts, the Chiefs traded up more than the Bears, moving forward 11 times while dealing back just twice. Most notably, they traded up 17 slots in 2017 to pick quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has been a league MVP and a Super Bowl champion in four years as a starter.In that same draft, the Chiefs traded up in Round 3 for running back Kareem Hunt. But other trade-up moves during that span — for players such as receiver Jehu Chesson and defensive lineman Breeland Speaks — had a much worse return on investment.AdvertisementThere is always a caveat emptor warning attached to trading up in the NFL draft. And with the Bears needing to solidify their depth chart on both sides of the ball and having limited opportunities to do so, Poles might not be eager to trade up in his first draft.“You have to know where your team is at and how many picks you have,” he said Thursday. “And it’s a big-picture decision. Because there is an effect of losing picks to move up and get that player.”Instead, Poles figures to be far more motivated to shift the gear into “R,” seeking openings to add picks through calculated moves back.“The biggest thing,” Poles said, “is how many players you have (slotted) at a certain level. Can you move back and get a quality player at that next spot? And then you also take into consideration that when you get kicked other picks, that’s an additional player. So where is that pick located in the draft? And can I still get a quality player at that level as well?”As the Bears have done draft walk-throughs this week at Halas Hall, Poles has made sure his draft room and support staff are ready. They have staged fake trade calls and readied their draft charts, working through communication processes and addressing any hiccups before Thursday night arrives.At some point this weekend, Poles figures to be on the phone with an opportunity to make a deal. This year, though, it seems far more probable that any such moves the Bears will make will be down the board rather than up.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit a routine grounder to shortstop Tim Anderson, but first baseman José Abreu dropped the low throw and was charged with an error.The fourth-inning miscue got the ball rolling on a two-run rally for the Royals.AdvertisementThat sums up how the last week has gone for the Chicago White Sox, who dropped their eighth straight in a 6-0 loss Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.“You’ve got to hang in,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “There were a couple misplays here and there. Then we made a couple of great plays later to show we’re still playing. It shows you what we’re capable of.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] What’s the latest on Eloy Jiménez, Yoán Moncada and Joe Kelly? GM Rick Hahn updates the White Sox injuries. ]“The biggest problem was not throwing the ball over the plate. Wind blowing in, there were some balls that weren’t going anywhere. We walked 11 guys. It was just a night where we didn’t have command, and their pitchers did.”The Sox have struggled defensively and at the plate during the slide. Both issues popped up again in Tuesday’s series opener along with an inability to consistently throw strikes.The Sox were blanked for the first time in 2022. They have scored three or fewer runs in 10 of their last 11 games.Abreu and Anderson committed errors, giving the Sox a major-league-high 20 this season. They’ve committed an error in 15 of 16 games and nine straight, their longest streak of sloppiness since making an error in 10 consecutive games from June 24 to July 3, 2017.The 11 walks were a season high and matched their most since Sept. 20, 2020, in Cincinnati.That combination led to their first eight-game losing streak since June 14-22, 2018.“I see it in the dugout, they’re getting upset when they should be upset,” La Russa said. “They’re trying to force things because they don’t like the way it’s going. They get frustrated when they don’t play as good as they should. All that’s part of it, the heart and the guts are intact. It’s not fun. It’s tough to take.“I’m sure the fans are not happy, but neither is the club. Everything else about the way we’re going about it — the caring, the pressing — if you have talent like this and you have to get after guys to get started or they’re walking around smiling or not working, then you’ve got the wrong people. We’ve got the right people. So we’ll be all right. The sooner the better, though, because we’re not having any fun.”Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Column: Was the White Sox’s ‘(bleep) week’ a blip or a trend? It’s up to Tony La Russa to get them back on track. ]Sox starter Dallas Keuchel allowed two unearned runs on two hits with five walks and two strikeouts in four-plus innings.“Tonight it started with me,” Keuchel said. “I’d like to have a little bit better efficiency.”Both unearned runs came in the fourth. Perez scored on an infield hit by Bobby Witt Jr. when third baseman Jake Burger couldn’t field the ball cleanly.“I think out of peripheral I saw Witt pretty far down the line, and it probably was what caused the miscue a little bit,” Burger said. “I have to be better there. My only play there is at home plate with (Perez) running. Obviously a tough play, but I have to do better.”Carlos Santana, who reached on a walk, scored on a grounder to first.The Royals broke the game open with four runs in the sixth. The Sox surrendered three hits, including a two-run single by Santana, and walked four in the inning.AdvertisementThe Royals’ Whit Merrifield, left, and Andrew Benintendi (16) celebrate after both scored on a single by Carlos Santana in the sixth inning Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The wildness carried over from Sunday, when the Sox walked nine in a 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins in 10 innings. The Sox have allowed at least nine walks in consecutive games for the first time since June 22-23, 1996, when they walked 10 Seattle Mariners the first day and nine the next day.Meanwhile, the Sox once again couldn’t get much going offensively. They were limited to five hits, two by Burger, and went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.Royals starter Daniel Lynch allowed two hits and struck out seven in six innings.“We win and lose as a team,” Burger said. “All we can do is show up again (Wednesday) and get going. That’s the name of the game. There’s a reason why there’s 162 of them.”The Sox are hitting .171 (12 for 70) with runners in scoring position during their last 13 games and have a .194 average (37 for 191) with runners on base this season.White Sox manager Tony La Russa stands in the dugout after pulling starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel in the fifth inning Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“Stretches like this happen during the season, more often than not, even for clubs that finish in first place,” La Russa said. “I can attest to that. The reality is it’s a real fine edge in the competition. It’s not like it’s real lopsided and you get a little funky and it’s fine. You get on the wrong side of it and it’s hard to win a game.Advertisement“I don’t question the talent, don’t question the caring. We just have to execute better. Not get frustrated and get away from the ABCs of what we have to do. And keep pulling together, as corny as it sounds — win together, lose together, never give in, never give up. All that stuff, that’s how you get through six months.“Same thing if we were winning eight in a row right now. Start walking around like we got it made, the game will slap you. At this level it’s mostly between the ears. The ears, the heart, the guts. And we need to have some success to get it rolling. Like (Wednesday) afternoon.”

The Chicago White Sox can look to catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Lance Lynn while mapping out Eloy Jiménez’s injury timeline.The left fielder underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn hamstring tendon behind his right knee, the team announced. His estimated recovery time remains six to eight weeks.AdvertisementSox general manager Rick Hahn said the procedure was the same one that Grandal had last season and that Lynn underwent earlier this month. Grandal was out July 6 to Aug. 27, and Lynn is projected to miss the first eight weeks this season.“On the positive side of things, we have some track record and feel pretty confident in that six-to-eight return time frame being the outer bounds, depending on any potential setbacks,” Hahn said.AdvertisementJiménez stumbled after crossing first base in the second inning Saturday and exited the game — the latest setback for a team hit hard by injuries.Hahn provided several injury updates and discussed the team’s tough road trip before Tuesday’s homestand opener against the Kansas City Royals.Eloy Jiménez underwent successful surgery this morning at Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center to repair a torn hamstring tendon behind his right knee. The injury is similar to those sustained by Yasmani Grandal on 7/5/21 and Lance Lynn on 4/2/22.— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 26, 2022

He said third baseman Yoán Moncada (right oblique strain) and reliever Joe Kelly (right biceps nerve injury) could begin rehab assignments soon. Neither has appeared in a game this season.“Moncada continues to progress,” Hahn said. “Those of you who were on the trip saw him on the field (pregame) doing more activities. That will continue over the next few days with the hope that he will be able to start a rehabilitation assignment perhaps this weekend with (Triple-A) Charlotte.“Joe Kelly has made a couple of outings in Arizona, which have gone well at the extended (spring training) level. He’s going to make at least one more down there and then he, too, could potentially join Charlotte this weekend for a rehabilitation assignment.”Closer Liam Hendriks has a “back spasm issue,” according to Hahn, and is day to day.“He walked into the clubhouse and slipped on the slippery surface and tweaked his back,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said, adding that the injury occurred after the ninth and before the 10th inning of Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. “It affects everything you do, no matter what position you play.”[ [Don’t miss] Column: Was the White Sox’s ‘(bleep) week’ a blip or a trend? It’s up to Tony La Russa to get them back on track. ]Center fielder Luis Robert is expected to return Wednesday. He last played Thursday in Cleveland, leaving in the eighth inning with a groin strain.Advertisement“It’s close,” La Russa said. “Just want to make sure we’re cautious on him. His legs are an important part of his game. I’m looking forward to getting him back.”While the Sox will be without Jiménez for a few weeks, the projection is shorter than the time he missed last year — almost four months — after suffering a ruptured left pectoral tendon in spring training. ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 90White Sox’s Eloy Jimenez leaves the field on a cart after falling to the turf on a groundout to the Minnesota in the second inning on April 23, 2022. (Bruce Kluckhohn / AP)“I’ve caught wind of some lazy analysis that put it on him being injury-prone or something like that,” Hahn said. “Couldn’t be further from the truth in terms of the fact he’s missing significant time this year and last year. That’s the extent of (how) you can call the guy injury-prone.“The thing (is), he made a bad decision last year trying to make a play (on a home run ball during a Cactus League game). This year, trying to get to a level he barely accessed all year, that’s more a guy trying to do everything he can to help his team to win, even if it’s perhaps not the right decision at the time. That’s not a guy who is injury-prone.”Andrew Vaughn started in left field Tuesday as the Sox are employing the “next man up” mentality for a second straight year.[ [Don’t miss] White Sox are struggling at the plate — and it shows: ‘The mental part of the game is beating us down’ ]“Part of the experience of last year is that this team should know that we faced perhaps even greater injury issues, yet we still were able to win 93 games and win the division,” Hahn said. “We never quite had a week like the one we just experienced (going 0-6 on the road trip), but at the same time, the memory and the resourcefulness (of 2021) should be there for these guys to understand what they’re capable of doing and pull themselves out of this.”AdvertisementThe Sox returned home hoping to pull themselves out of a funk after dropping three in Cleveland and three more in Minnesota.“We still very much believe in this team’s talent,” Hahn said. “We believe in this team’s upside and are confident over time that talent will prevail and take us to the level that we aspire to be at, that we intended to be at the start of this season.“There’s no avoiding the frustration and disappointment, but one of the beautiful things about this sport is the length of the season really forces the cream to rise to the top over the course of the six-month season. And there’s still an ample opportunity to prove we’re capable of being that again this season.”

If you’re part of the crowd that believes the Chicago Bears need to add help for Justin Fields at wide receiver, perhaps it’s encouraging that rookie general manager Ryan Poles omitted the position as an area of strength for Days 2 and 3 of the NFL draft.Surely Poles didn’t want to tip his hand a little more than 48 hours before the draft begins Thursday night. He spoke for about 20 minutes Tuesday afternoon, praising the staff he brought with him and those he inherited at Halas Hall for their diligence in the process while not discussing any individual players.AdvertisementMaybe Poles not mentioning the position is a good sign for those clamoring for a wide receiver with one of the Bears’ two second-round picks. Asked where he anticipates the draft having strength on Friday (Rounds 2-3) and Saturday (Rounds 4-7), Poles listed four other position groups. “I would say the O-line depth is pretty good,” he said. “Some good depth at the DBs. There’s a couple good defensive linemen. The running back class may not be top-heavy but there’s a ton — it’s crazy how many running backs there are.Advertisement“I think a lot of it has to do with the COVID year. A lot of those guys are kicking back, so middle to bottom, definitely free agency, there’s a massive amount of players. That’s why it took so much time to get the board set not only at the top but at the bottom. There are a lot of players on this board.”ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 30Virginia McCaskey, the daughter of George Halas, took over as majority owner of the Chicago Bears in 1983. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Poles mentioned multiple times that — in the right position and for the right return — he’s open to moving down in the draft to add to the current collection of six picks. The Bears own Nos. 39 and 48 in Round 2 and No. 71 in Round 3. They don’t pick again until No. 148 in Round 5, and it’s in that wide gap that Poles might like to add picks.It’s also possible to envision Poles focusing on the offensive and defensive lines in Round 2 before exploring help at wide receiver, where the Bears added Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown and David Moore in free agency.Poles stated a goal of improving the offensive line when he was hired, and the biggest addition has been the signing of center Lucas Patrick, whom the GM praised again for toughness and leadership. Expectations for Patrick also should be shaped by his two-year, $8 million contract.[ [Don’t miss] New Bears center Lucas Patrick — already a Justin Fields fan — plans ‘to keep him as clean as possible’ ]The Bears could look to draft a guard to plug in on the right side, where they tried to add Ryan Bates as a restricted free agent. Or perhaps they see a future left tackle in Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann, Tulsa’s Tyler Smith or Ohio State’s Nicholas Petit-Frere and would shift Larry Borom inside to guard.Unless Poles believes strongly in Borom at left tackle, Teven Jenkins at right tackle and Sam Mustipher at right guard, he has to make a move to buttress a line the Bears hope will be significantly better in a new offense under a new staff.It stands to reason the Bears will seriously consider adding a defensive lineman with one of their top picks. They tried to commit the most resources in free agency there before nixing a three-year, $40.5 million deal with Larry Ogunjobi because of medical concerns. Coach Matt Eberflus wants to deploy his defensive line in waves with as many as nine players in the rotation, so the defense needs talent and depth up front.Houston’s Logan Hall could be available in Round 2, and he has the versatility to play three technique — where the Bears would have used Ogunjobi — as well as elsewhere on the line. Hall could be a similar piece to DeForest Buckner, who anchored the line for Eberflus when he coordinated the Indianapolis Colts defense.AdvertisementPoles stopped short of using the word “rebuilding” when discussing the state of the roster he inherited.“No, the rebuild thing is like super sensitive,” he said. “No, we’re constructing a very good football team. Regardless of how you use whatever term that is, we just continue to add talent. And young talent, older talent, whatever it takes to make the best team possible.“You know, late night with the wife, you’re watching TV, you get like the home network where there are some rooms that are good. You might have to redo some countertops over here, some fresh paint over there. Some rooms are good. You don’t need to touch them. It’s kind of the thought process there. That’s not a rebuild either.”[ [Don’t miss] Ryan Poles’ remodeling project is about to take a big step forward. Here’s how he prepared for his 1st draft as Bears GM. ]Maybe he doesn’t want to call it a rebuild, but the Bears are in the beginning stages of construction and this roster needs to be rebuilt. They can go after a wide receiver if they see a dynamic player with the skills to be a major producer in the offense. Or Poles can keep the focus in the trenches because, as he knows, no good team is built without strength on both sides of the line.“Anytime you just improve the team overall, you’re helping all of the players out,” Poles said when asked about supporting Fields. “That can look different. You could say he needs receivers, receivers, receivers, but he needs blocking, too, and he also needs balance in terms of running the ball efficiently and getting that done up front.“And then you can do some play-action pass stuff, then you can do different things. Turnovers. Maybe a returner to flip the field to score more points. So it’s all connected. That’s really why the mindset is to get the best players on this team as possible. If I get too lopsided and be like, ‘I’ve got to do this specific thing,’ I think that’s where you lead into big mistakes.”

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles shied away from using the word “rebuild” on Tuesday, noting the term can be “super sensitive” when it comes to evaluating teams’ paths forward.His work in his first few months on the job, he claimed, is more like a remodeling project on an HGTV show he might catch late at night with his wife.Advertisement“You might have to redo some countertops over here, some fresh paint over there,” Poles said during his draft-week news conference at Halas Hall. “Some rooms are good. You don’t need to touch them. So that’s kind of the thought process there. That’s not a rebuild either.”[ [Don’t miss] When do the Chicago Bears pick? What do the mock drafts say? Everything you need to know about the 2022 NFL draft. ]So far, the most striking progress in Poles’ renovation of a Bears roster that hasn’t had a winning season since 2018 has been ripping out key veterans.AdvertisementHe traded Khalil Mack and let go of Allen Robinson, Eddie Goldman, Danny Trevathan, Akiem Hicks and Tarik Cohen. Then, he spent modestly in free agency on center Lucas Patrick, defensive tackle Justin Jones and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad.But Poles will have a chance to brighten more than one position room at Halas Hall as he and his staff enter their first NFL draft together with the Bears. That starts Friday with pick Nos. 39 and 48 in the second round and No. 71 in the third round.Poles has been in draft rooms before over 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, but this, of course, will be different.“The responsibility of making the pick, yeah, it’s bigger,” he said. “But at the same time, you just rely on the work that everyone put in to make the right decision. And that was the cool thing about doing a lot of these mock-up drafts. We feel comfortable with the way that this thing is going to play out.”As Poles prepared for his first draft as GM over the last several weeks, he remembered the late Don Horton, his Boston College offensive line coach.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 46Players stretch during warmups at Bears minicamp at Halas Hall on April 20, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Horton would drill his linemen over and over on blitz cards, so that when they reached game day, they recognized defensive fronts and communicated smoothly.Poles got his staff ready for the big weekend by drilling them with draft simulations, complete with fake trade calls.“Just to test our communication, test our trade charts, test all of that to make sure that everything’s smooth on game day, and we’re just applying that,” he said. “And I feel really confident at this point.”AdvertisementThe Bears don’t have a first-round pick Thursday because former GM Ryan Pace traded it to move up to draft quarterback Justin Fields last year. For those hoping Poles will make a surprise move up, it should be noted he instead spoke more than once of moving back to add to the Bears’ six picks.[ [Don’t miss] Who will the Chicago Bears select? Brad Biggs’ NFL mock draft 3.0. ]So Poles and his staff will spend Thursday night running more simulations, pretending they are picking at No. 10 or 20 to see how their system plays out before Friday.“Just act like we’re in different spots and rep out communication to make sure when we go the next day that we’re ready,” Poles said.Poles brought his scouting staff into Halas Hall for 12 days at the beginning of April.He ran anonymous polls on staff members’ cellphones to determine how they stacked players at different positions and then overall, displaying the group results on a screen to discuss. Sometimes, the runaway vote was for one player. Occasionally, it led to diving deeper into tape.“The key is sometimes you just want to remove groupthink,” Poles said. “If I polled everyone and you had to raise your hand, sometimes you look around (at other people). It just removes that, and everyone puts their thoughts and ideas down.”Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Should GM Ryan Poles trade up? Which WR can the Chicago Bears select? 4 questions heading into the NFL draft. ]With that work done, Poles said the actual draft day usually is a little calmer and quieter than people might think because “pretty much the hay is in the barn.”As most GMs do on draft week, Poles left it open to interpretation when it comes to what positions he will target. The Bears have obvious needs at wide receiver, offensive line and cornerback, but when asked specifically about providing offensive help for Fields, he said, “any time you just improve the team overall, you’re helping all of the players out.”When asked if he will look at addressing the need of a specific type of receiver, he said it depends on whether such a player is available at the right value on the draft board.“The biggest takeaway is you can talk yourself into anything at this point,” he said. “That’s why I’m not overcooking this board. I’m taking a step back after today because I think sometimes you keep staring at it and you keep sliding guys around and doing crazy stuff.”And “crazy stuff” might not help Poles finish his remodeling project on schedule.

The Chicago Bulls never have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series, so the odds of them taking the next three games from the Milwaukee Bucks already were slim before Zach LaVine entered health and safety protocols for COVID-19 on Tuesday.After a glint of optimism emerged following the Bulls’ Game 2 win in Milwaukee, we now return to our regularly scheduled pessimism already in progress. No one believed the Bulls had a chance before the series began, and after back-to-back blowout losses at home and with LaVine’s uncertain health status, no one believes it now.AdvertisementBut the schedule says the game must go on if the Bucks plan on moving into the second round. And if you’ve followed the story from training camp on, you owe it to yourself to tune in one more time for what’s expected to be the Bulls’ final run.The Bucks clearly are a superior defensive team, denying the Bulls inside and forcing them to try to beat them from the perimeter. Without Lonzo Ball in the lineup, it’s a strategy that works well for Bulls opponents. AdvertisementBut the Bulls also have been their own worst enemy, missing open jumpers and getting little production from the bench. Of the 16 playoff teams, the Bulls ranked last through Monday in points per game (94) and field-goal percentage (39.8%) and were second-to-last in 3-point shooting (28%).They also were at the bottom in free-throw attempts per game (15.3) — nearly five fewer than the 15th-ranked Toronto Raptors (20.2) — more evidence of their inability to go downhill against the more physical Bucks defenders.Bulls guard Zach LaVine and forward DeMar DeRozan head to the locker room after the Game 4 loss at the United Center on April 24, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)“From Game 3 to Game 4, just some good habits defending as a team and keeping everybody accountable,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “People were taking individual pride keeping guys in front of them, having that mentality. … It’s a very, very good habit.“We did it in Game 3. We did it in Game 4. And hopefully we can do it in Game 5 and get (the series) over. This is how we play. Our defense has got to be always on.”If LaVine isn’t available for Game 5, the onus will be on DeMar DeRozan to carry the Bulls on his back again. He has done it before, but expecting him to keep doing it again and again in the playoffs is asking a lot, especially with a top defender in Jrue Holiday keeping him from getting to his preferred spots.[ [Don’t miss] How the Chicago Bulls have fared in their 1st-round series vs. Milwaukee Bucks ]There also is some luck involved. At the end of another dispiriting first half Sunday with the Bulls down by 15, DeRozan threw up a 3-pointer from the right corner that looked dead on. But the ball rimmed out as the United Center crowd groaned in unison, and the Bulls never got closer than eight in the second half.DeRozan said Tuesday he trusts his teammates to do whatever it takes, adding: “It’s on me using their aggressiveness — however they attack me, take the ball out of my hand (or) whatever it may be — just getting my teammates more involved and figuring out and picking and choosing my spots.”DeRozan averaged 27.9 points on 50.4% shooting in the regular season, but those numbers were down to 23.3 points on 40% shooting in the first four playoff games — and that’s including his 41-point effort in Game 2.AdvertisementBucks guard Grayson Allen puts up a three-point shot as Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan looks on at the United Center on April 24, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)The Bucks have taken it upon themselves to contain DeRozan and LaVine, whose scoring also was down from 24.4 points per game during the season to 19.3 through Game 4. If he’s unavailable Wednesday, Nikola Vučević will be expected to increase his scoring load. Vučević has averaged 19.5 points in the series, up from 17.6 in the regular season, despite a drop-off in shooting from 47.3% to 42.1%.Rest assured the Bucks won’t take Game 5 for granted, even if starting guards LaVine and Alex Caruso, who remained in concussion protocol Tuesday, are both unavailable.“They have great players over there,” Holiday said. “It’s hard to play one-on-one. They have some great scorers. So we’re just looking to see multiple people (defend) and for our defense to swarm and play with the same intensity that we did these last two games.”Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Bulls coach Billy Donovan put a lot on the plate of his five starters in the first two games at the expense of Javonte Green, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, three players whose contributions in the regular season helped keep the team afloat during injuries and COVID-related absences. It made sense to give more playing time to his best players, and it worked in Game 2.White’s late-season shooting slump has continued, as he has converted only 31% (9 of 29) of his field-goal attempts and 4 of 16 3-pointers.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Grayson Allen feeds off boos from Chicago Bulls fans — and Milwaukee Bucks teammates — in a sizzling Game 4 performance ]But if LaVine and Caruso can’t go, those three reserves as well as Derrick Jones Jr. will be called upon to step up as they did on many occasions during the regular season. Dosunmu hit back-to-back 3s in the third quarter Sunday to briefly give the Bulls hope they could pull off a miracle from 22 points down before Antetokounmpo muscled inside and Grayson Allen sank another 3.AdvertisementThe Bucks cruised from there, looking like the defending champions once again. Allen was a nonfactor in the first two games before shooting lights out in 22- and 27-point performances in Games 3 and 4.“The first two games of the series, zero and (three) points,” Allen said. “That’s OK. I still know I can do it. I was able to get the opportunity the last two games and did it. Just a constant reminder: Don’t let that bad voice take over.”That’s a lesson the Bulls reserves should heed in Game 5. What happened before Wednesday is meaningless, and every new day is an opportunity to shine.For them, the season starts now.