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“Give credit to Loyola,” said coach Bryan Mullins, a Ramblers assistant from 2013-19 before taking the Southern Illinois job. “They made more plays than us, especially those last four minutes. They were able to make some big baskets and get some stops. We’ve got to execute better at the end of the game.”

There were some positive spots. Bulls got a strong performance off the bench from Thad Young, who notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Luke Kornet rallied off nine points in less than two minutes at one point in the third quarter and finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Zach LaVine scored 24 points and Coby White added 19 points, but the Bulls could not overcome a quiet night from their starting lineup.

His struggles last year affected every part of his offensive game. He finished with a .203 average, .238 on-base percentage, .599 OPS, 59 OPS+ and struck out in nearly one-third of his plate appearances. Baez’s skill set makes him a special talent, however, and it’s a big part of why the organization expects him to return to form.

“That’s going to be somewhat of a challenge, when we do get whole, how do we get these guys back playing together and create that chemistry and that rhythm with one another. In the absence of Wendell (Carter), in the absence of Lauri and even in the absence of Otto, we’ve had three pretty key, significant players out.”

Durant, in his first season back after recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, was the leading vote-getter in the Eastern Conference. That made him a captain of one of the teams in the March 7 All-Star Game, and he’s scheduled to select a team opposite LeBron James next Thursday.

Chicago White Sox players work out at spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 26, 2021, as they continue preparing for their first Cactus League game.
(Armando L. Sanchez)

Dylan Cease delivers a pitch during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Tim Anderson walks between practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Eloy Jimenez poses for a photo with Nick Madrigal while walking between practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Yoan Moncada walks to the practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Luis Robert poses for a photo while walking between practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Danny Mendick practices bunting during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Eloy Jimenez and Nick Madrigal walk between practice fields during White Sox spring training at Camelback Ranch Friday Feb. 26, 2021 in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/ChicagoTribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Dallas Keuchel pitches during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Dallas Keuchel delivers a pitch during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Closer Liam Hendriks delivers a pitch during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Dallas Keuchel delivers a pitch during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Dallas Keuchel stands on the mound while pitching during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Manager Tony La Russa, second from right, talks with players during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Danny Mendick walks to the practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Liam Hendriks stands on the mound during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Shortstop Tim Anderson takes part in infield drills during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Liam Hendriks delivers a pitch during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Yoan Moncada gives a thumbs-up while walking between practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Manager Tony La Russa address his players during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Tim Anderson takes part in infield drills during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Leury Garcia walks between practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Adam Engel walks between practice fields during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Reliever Evan Marshall laughs while standing on the mound during White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Evan Marshall delivers a pitch during workouts at White Sox spring training on Feb. 26, 2021, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

“I admire their passion for women’s basketball, but more importantly, have been impressed with their values. I am also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will be joining the ownership group as an investor and executive for the team. Renee is a trailblazer who has made a major impact both in the game and beyond.”

The United Center parking lot will become a mass vaccination site capable of distributing 6,000 doses per day as part of a joint effort by local, state and federal government health officials to increase inoculations in communities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a White House announcement Friday.

Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, David Ross and bench coach Andy Green were among the Cubs to initially text Pederson after his one-year deal came together. But when he saw an incoming call from a Chicago number, Pederson figured it was a trainer or the traveling secretary. Instead, it was Jason Heyward congratulating him for joining the Cubs, despite the two having never met.

Syndergaard called one fan a “bitch” recently on Instagram and suggested to another that his wife would be thinking of him during private moments. Bauer, a professional Twitter troll whose followers like to join in on the bullying, then tweeted at Syndergaard to “treat the fans better,” adding there was “no place for personal insults, especially about someone else’s wife.”