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Both Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level Media
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Iowa followed its lowest-scoring game of the season with a 110-point eruption the next time out. The Hawkeyes will be one week removed from that scorching effort when they host Northwestern in Tuesday's Big Ten opener in Iowa City, but rust won't be the only roadblock for a potential repeat showing. Iowa (6-1) also is bracing for stiffer competition in conference play while navigating an injury to Seydou Traore. The reserve forward suffered a sprained ankle midway through the first half of a 110-77 home rout of South Carolina Upstate on Nov. 26. Also missing frontcourt contributors Even Brauns and Cooper Koch, the Hawkeyes still flexed their resilience and depth. Brock Harding notched a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and Owen Freeman netted 17 points as five Iowa players scored in double figures. "Coming off a loss, going into Thanksgiving break here, we've got a couple days off coming, it'd be easy to kinda (think), ‘All right, let's relax for this one, guys sit out,'" Harding said. "But I think we really locked in." Northwestern (6-2) overcame 40.8 percent shooting to defeat UNLV 66-61 in the third-place game of the Arizona Tip-Off on Friday in Tempe, Ariz. Brooks Barnhizer, a preseason All-Big Ten pick who was sidelined by a foot injury during the Wildcats' first four games, had team highs of 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He has scored at least 20 points in three of four games. Northwestern limited UNLV to a 42.1 percent effort from the floor. Matthew Nicholson propelled the defense with two of the Wildcats' seven steals to go with two blocks. "We're a defensive-minded team and, you know, our identity is just getting stops," Barnhizer said. "Everything else will take care of itself. So, the older guys were trying to come out here and do that tonight and I think we did a pretty good job of it." Strong ‘D' helped Northwestern's ball movement, too, as the Wildcats assisted on 15 of 20 made field goals. Northwestern went 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) from long range to improve to 3-0 this season when connecting on 40 percent of its 3-point shots or better. --Field Level Media
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ANDOVER, Mass. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TransMedics Group, Inc. ("TransMedics") (Nasdaq: TMDX), a medical technology company that is transforming organ transplant therapy for patients with end-stage lung, heart, and liver failure, today announced the appointment of Mr. Gerardo Hernandez as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, effective December 2, 2024 . In this role, Mr. Hernandez joins the TransMedics executive leadership team, succeeding Mr. Stephen Gordon . To enable a smooth transition, Mr. Gordon will remain a non-executive employee of the Company until March 31, 2025 , before serving as a non-employee senior advisor to the Company focusing on national transplant stakeholder engagement until March 31, 2026 . TransMedics also updated its 2024 financial outlook. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Church of Scientology Food Drive Makes Thanksgiving Special for 300 Local Families
"Perfection is the enemy of progress." That old adage, famously attributed to Winston Churchill, significantly predates the phenomenon of artificial intelligence. But when it comes to deploying AI today, the proverb is more appropriate than ever. Many organizations experimenting with AI may find themselves stuck in a "perfection trap," reluctant to deploy anything less than 100% complete. This widespread hesitation to move forward can hinder AI progress — and very few organizations have moved beyond the experimentation phase. Some remain optimistic about scaling the technology, with surveyed leaders expecting to double the number of AI applications they operate in the coming year. But many still struggle to move beyond initial experiments and realize AI's full potential. Cathy Reese, Public Data and Technology Service Line Leader at IBM Consulting, focuses on how businesses can more effectively turn their AI ambitions into reality. Her advice to organizations looking to level up their AI efforts? Start with small, value-driven steps to overcome hesitancy and foster a dynamic culture that supports incremental progress. "By breaking down big problems, organizations can show value early and avoid getting stuck in the proof-of-concept phase, which delays meaningful returns," she said. Experiments that drive value According to Reese, a good first step for most organizations is to start with small-scale AI solutions that demonstrate immediate value. "It doesn't have to be perfect to make a difference — it's about showing value in steps," Reese added. According to the "AI in Action 2024" report, many decision-makers are seeing these gradual improvements — and in diverse areas. For example, almost half of those surveyed (47%) say they have seen a 25% or greater increase in staff productivity in areas where they've implemented AI. Leveraging trusted data These leaders are confident they will continue to see such gains, but AI should be based on reliable data. Roughly 80% of surveyed AI leaders report data-related challenges, including governance concerns. These challenges must be solved to turn AI experiments into full-scale projects. Establishing good governance Setting up governance boards with specialized roles can help address these concerns and build a framework to help scale AI across departments. By making trust and oversight the foundation of their AI strategy, organizations can transition confidently from small-scale pilots to impactful, enterprisewide implementations. Still, organizations must learn to recognize and address risks inherent in their AI projects. "It's about finding that sensible way to take risks — starting with projects that showcase AI's potential while building a comfort level within the organization," Reese said. To sustain growth, organizations should create AI centers of excellence staffed by teams of specialists who can guide AI projects at all stages, from early concept to full deployment. These knowledge hubs help embed AI capabilities throughout an organization to support cross-functional adoption and drive sustainable growth. In turn, this bridges the gap from experimental pilots to enterprise applications. The hype is real — and so are the results Reese said an AI readiness assessment is a critical part of her approach because it helps organizations measure their AI maturity and chart a realistic path forward. This assessment evaluates strategic, technical, and operational capabilities, so Reese and her team can design an incremental roadmap for AI deployment. This is key to ensuring the test project aligns with core business goals as it is scaled up. By understanding each organization's unique starting point, Reese enables her clients to scale AI responsibly. "The hype around AI is real, but so are the results," she said. Her approach emphasizes the importance of showing value at each stage rather than waiting for perfect solutions. Creating an environment that values steady growth means that organizations can build momentum and demonstrate AI's transformative impact over time. Leaders who champion a culture of progress will find that AI's value becomes evident, and can help them stay competitive in an increasingly AI-driven world. The path to successful AI adoption relies on intentional, incremental progress. Starting small lays the foundation, but the ultimate goal is a structured approach to scaling and integrating AI as a core part of the organization's long-term strategy. By avoiding the perfection trap, leaders can foster sustained innovation and maximize the value of their AI investments. Read the AI in Action 2024 report to learn more about how IBM can help you turn AI experiments into transformative solutions. This post was created by Insider Studios with IBM.ENERGY SERVICES OF AMERICA COMPLETES ACQUISITION