Roman Kantserov is a really exciting young player. Already on a top line with Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard as a rookie after being the first 21 year old since Kirill Kaprizov to lead the KHL in scoring. Four goals in his first 11 games.

Honestly, now that he's off the Vikings, I don't dislike JJ McCarthy as much as I used to. He's corny, sure. But that franchise did both him AND Sam Darnold a disservice. Nice to see both thriving.

"I'm not moved by [Caleb Wilson's] take" One of the most forgotten skills in the NBA is just putting yourself in positions to get easy buckets, which Caleb excelled at today. Just because he's not complicating the scoring process doesn't mean it's not good tape.

Yandy Diaz didn't swing, but Rays fans became insufferable when I said I don't like players stopping on the basepaths and emoting so sucks for them.

Bulls lose, despite a valiant comeback. More importantly though, Caleb Wilson balled out (30 points, 14 rebounds) He's the first player since Terry Cummings in 1982 to post those numbers at least once in his first three games. Buzelis added 21 pts, Powell 18.

I feel like Caleb Wilson was trying to fit neatly within a pro system his first six quarters and it negated his most attractive attribute, which is his unrelenting drive for greatness. Once it was clear that wasn't working, he let loose and is just going all out to get buckets.

Takes*

Defense is going to be a problem for the Illinois this year and their roster is littered with quite a few players who have struggled with inconsistencies. That's a dangerous storm to weather.

There's zero reason Connor Bedard shouldn't be a perennial 50-goal scorer with the dangles he has and a release like this:

I hate to say this, but Matas Buzelis reminds me a little of early Kyle Kuzma. Like younger Kuzma, he showed he could score at a star level but didn't come off as someone who was obsessed with stardom. Feels like he's not serious a little too often.

Kyler Gordon and Austin Booker are tied for tenth in the NFL with 4.0 sacks apiece (apparently they didn't credit Booker with a sack yesterday). Kyler Gordon has only played two games. Austin Booker is a former fifth rounder.

BULLS WIN Caleb Wilson came on STRONG in the second half, finishing with 21 pts, 6 rebs Normal Powell: 25 pts Leonard Miller: 19 pts, 7-11 Josh Giddey: 6 pts, 9 ast Matas Buzelis: 7 pts, 2-9 Second straight stinker for both Giddey and Buzelis, who both finished on the bench

Bulls went on a 16-0 run to briefly take the lead and eventually enter the half down 1, but the real story is just how brutal of a first six quarters it's been for Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, Josh Giddey and Caleb Wilson. A tragically slow start for all four.

I've seen a lot of dudes who absolutely suck, but these guys take the cake. Jones and Keefe's favorite team lost to the Bears so now they're boohooing about a chant and some goofy dance moves and presenting it like they're unraveling the da Vinci Code

Cole Kmet going out with a season-ending injury in heartbreaking. True soldier that does whatever is asked of him, even if it means reduced counting stats.

The Kyler Gordon redemption arc is insane. Dude went from "will he play for the Bears again" to a Chicago favorite. I'm glad this is working itself out.