Associated Press

Seattle U Redhawks (2-4) at Duke Blue Devils (4-2)

Durham, North Carolina; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Devils -27.5; over/under is 141.5

BOTTOM LINE: Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe and Seattle U take on Cooper Flagg and No. 11 Duke in non-conference play.

The Blue Devils are 3-0 on their home court. Duke ranks second in the ACC with 27.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Flagg averaging 7.2.

The Redhawks have gone 1-2 away from home. Seattle U is 0-1 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

Duke averages 11.3 made 3-pointers per game, 4.3 more made shots than the 7.0 per game Seattle U allows. Seattle U averages 8.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 6.7 per game Duke allows.

TOP PERFORMERS: Flagg is shooting 45.8% and averaging 17.0 points for the Blue Devils.

Moncrieffe is averaging 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals for the Redhawks.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

There’s a “brain drain” happening with regards to the Seattle Mariners organization. As a result of the M’s success in developing pitchers, other teams are now trying to poach resources away – and succeeding.

Minor league pitching coordinator Matt Pierpont announced that he was leaving the organization on Wednesday for a more prominent role with the St. Louis Cardinals.

To the entire Mariners org, I just want to say thank you. There are no words to describe how special these past four years have been. It was an honor to be a part of this organization and work alongside such incredible people.

Excited for the next chapter with the Cardinals.

Adam Jude of the Seattle Times added the following context to the situation:

For the second year in a row, the Mariners are losing a highly regarded minor league pitching coordinator.

Matt Pierpont was a finalist for several big-league pitching jobs over the past few weeks, and he ultimately takes over as the St. Louis Cardinals’ Director of Pitching …

Pierpont is probably not a name known to most fans, given that he wasn’t on the major league staff, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a big loss for the organization. The Mariners have done a good job over the last four years bringing guys to the big leagues, from Logan Gilbert (2021), George Kirby (2022), Bryce Miller (2023), and Bryan Woo (2023). Those four help make up arguably the best starting rotation in the big leagues.

Furthermore, Matt Brash and Troy Taylor have come up to find success in bullpen roles.

Miller put out a congratulatory message to Pierpont on social media as well.

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE:

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, former Seattle Mariners first baseman Ty France is a hot name on the free agent market this offseason.

Feinsand put the information out on social media:

Per sources, 10+ teams have interest in free agent Ty France, who has at least one guaranteed offer. France has primarily been a 1B, but he’s also played 2B & 3B. Word is he’s also willing to catch; he made the Padres as a utility man and 3rd-string catcher early in his career.

The note about catcher is kind of wild, and it’s fair to note his positional versatility, though he hasn’t played much of anything but first base since becoming a true mainstay with the Mariners in 2021.

After being acquired by the Mariners during the COVID 2020 season, he was a firm part of the team’s rebuild, earning an All-Star appearance in 2022 and helping the team break the long playoff drought.

However, France slumped to a poor 2023 and also struggled in 2024 before being designated for assignment in July. He latched on with the Cincinnati Reds for the final 52 games of the season.

Lifetime, France is a .263 hitter. He hit .250 with the Mariners in 2023 but saw his power dissipate, hitting only 12 homers. He had just eight homers in 88 games for Seattle this year. He did hit five in Cincinnati, and at the age of 30, there’s reason to believe that a change of scenery might help him.

Regardless of where he ends up, M’s fans will always root for France given what he meant to the organization at a critical time in its development.

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE: