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  • Dear Abby | Spouse of serial cheater is ready to even the score

    DEAR ABBY: My wife and I are approaching our 40th anniversary. Friends and family have already begun to mention the upcoming milestone. While I politely acknowledge the event, I hide my indifference. You see, my wife has always been a serial cheater. It’s a secret I have kept from everyone, especially our children.

    Because she has always been a wonderful mother, I would never do anything to tarnish their love and appreciation of her. The children are a large part of the reason I have remained married. Aside from her betrayal, she has been a good wife and companion, and I still love her.

    During her affairs, I fought depression by submerging myself in work and crying when alone. Our children are grown and on their own now. We have a beautiful grandson. We both retired a couple of years ago, and that is when the reality of the past 40 years hit me. I no longer have the crutch of work to help me through.

    Our marriage has been sexless since she went through menopause 15 years ago. I have been loyal to her all these years, but I still desire intimacy. I have a few female friends who, in the past, have shown an interest in more intimate relationships. Would it be wrong to rekindle and move forward with an old friend? I have no intention of leaving my wife, but I am so in need of something more.

    — FORTY YEARS A FOOL

    DEAR ‘FOOL’: Have you actually TALKED to your wife (whom you love) about this? Many postmenopausal women whose libidos have declined still enjoy sex. This is a subject she should have discussed with her gynecologist 15 years ago because this is not an insurmountable problem. If she refuses, you would be within your rights to tell her you want the same dispensation you have given her for 40 years of infidelity, because you still need and desire intimacy. Her response will tell you everything you need to know.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I have been eating dessert on days I have deemed “dessert-free.” I get to have dessert on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Can you please help me to stop my struggle on the days when I don’t get dessert?

    — CRAVING IT IN WASHINGTON

    DEAR CRAVING IT: I understand (only too well!) the mindset that a meal isn’t complete unless there’s something sweet at the end of the main course.

    Years ago, a psychologist friend shared with me that she resolved her craving for something sweet by carrying a small bag containing a gingersnap cookie in her purse when she went to restaurants. When she was finished with her meal, she took the bag out of her purse and ate HALF of one. She said it satisfied her craving without sabotaging her diet. Try it. However, if it doesn’t work for you, consider substituting a piece of fresh fruit for the cookie.

  • Horoscopes: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Today brings the same old scene but with brand-new emotions. Your feelings are just one part of you talking to another part of you. There’s no need to broadcast the message now because it feels special and safe to work it out in your own private world.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Why tolerate a stale environment when there is so much out there that could inspire you? Wonder is possible, and it’s likely, but you have to move. Any direction will do. You don’t have to go far. You just have to go.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Self-censoring is smart when it’s part of the job, aids a negotiation or upholds the level of professionalism required. Hopefully, though, you don’t have to hold back with your nearest and dearest. Who can you really be yourself around?

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Adding complicates. Subtracting simplifies. What can you ditch today? Sell it, give it away, toss it or drop it — boom, done. That’s the move that’ll actually make your life better.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Life is moving too fast to make gradual moves today. Get caught up in the swirl. There’s no reason to resist. Sudden disruptions are working in your favor. You’ll adapt as quickly as you need to.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s not fair to treat everyone the same because everyone is different, with different needs and expectations. Instead, you aim for peaceful dealings, staying aware of what that requires given the person involved and the situation at hand.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Trust yourself. You’re trustworthy! And if you doubt it, trust yourself anyway and forge ahead as if you have every reason to believe you’ll get there eventually. Confidence is attractive, so you’ll magnetize whatever you need to make things happen.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Socializing in any way whatsoever will fall under the category of building your network. It’s an extremely productive way to use your time today, even though it looks, from the outside, like a lot of fun — also true!

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Self-compassion isn’t only about finding comfort and stability when things go wrong; it’s also about placing yourself in environments where things are very likely to go right. Play the low-stakes game and get a few wins under your belt.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re in no mood to explain yourself, and it’s better anyway if you don’t. Your enigmatic presence will be powerfully felt. People will bring their imagination to your story, and they will feel oddly attached to their version of you.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Imagine the very ground beneath you loving you the way a good parent loves their child. You belong to this place, and you can feel it on a primal level today as you move the world and the world moves you.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll receive indirect requests, soft invitations and mere hints that others are seeking your company. Tune in or miss out, because following subtle suggestions will lead to some of the most promising and interesting connections.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 8). It’s your Year of Receptivity, when you hoist the sail of joy and let the wind do the rest. Receiving fuel, inspiration, help, love and more puts you in entirely different territory. Exploration is a thrill. You’ll learn the lay of the land, then establish new purposes and build them with the help of a worthy team. More highlights: Relationships flourish with fun and togetherness. Family expands. Taurus and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 24, 18, 7, 31 and 44.

  • Sixers takeaways: Matching physicality, Tyrese Maxey is hard to guard, and more from the win against Suns

    Sixers takeaways: Matching physicality, Tyrese Maxey is hard to guard, and more from the win against Suns

    The 76ers need to keep playing a heady brand of basketball.

    Tyrese Maxey is unguardable when in his bag of tricks.

    And so far, Paul George’s absence hasn’t had a major impact on the outcomes of games.

    These things stood out in Saturday’s 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center.

    With the win, the Sixers improved to 30-22 and evened the two-game season series against the Suns (31-22). They’re also 3-1 in the first four games of their five-game West Coast road trip, which concludes on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.

    Solid brand of basketball

    The Sixers had effective ball movement against the Suns. They also attacked the basket, crashed the boards, and played at a much faster pace than in recent games.

    In addition to doing those things, they didn’t back down from Phoenix’s physicality or Dillon Brooks’ antics. Kelly Oubre Jr. got in the face of his former roommate and high school teammate at Findlay Prep (Nevada) after Brooks flopped on a play.

    Before that, Joel Embiid and Devin Booker exchanged words at the conclusion of the first half. And there were other heated exchanges.

    Joel Embiid (21), who led with a game-high 33-point effort, gets fouled by Suns guard Jordan Goodwin in the first half of Saturday’s game.

    The Sixers didn’t match the physicality of the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season. So seeing them fight back and play with an edge against the Suns was a great sign.

    “We stayed professional,” Maxey said to the media. “We didn’t let all the rah rah stuff affect us. We got physical back, and that’s good. That happens, and we can take that.”

    Maxey said he could anticipate the Suns’ antics. With the Sixers up 16 points in the second quarter, he knew Phoenix would resort to something.

    “Any good team or any team that’s playing for something, they’re not going to let you steamroll them. They’re not going to lay down. They are going to go out there and try to put up a fight. And sometimes that’s what has to come with it. You have to get more physical, and you have to sustain that lead. And we did a good job of that.”

    Daryl Morey likes the Sixers’ chances in the East, but he understands skepticism around the Jared McCain trade

    The Sixers had a 50-40 rebounding advantage. They scored 34 points in the paint and held the Suns to 23.9% three-point shooting.

    Embiid finished with 33 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one block. Maxey finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and one steal, while Oubre added 18 points, six rebounds, and two steals.

    Marvelous Maxey

    Maxey had a slow start, missing his first three shot attempts. But after that, the two-time All-Star was close to unstoppable.

    Unable to keep him in front of them, the Suns’ defenders were helpless. The point guard drained a couple of his three-pointers. He scored on a post-up. And Maxey played through contact on his way to the rim. Fourteen of his points came in the first half.

    “We just played fast that group that I was in there with,” Maxey said regarding the first half. “Got rebounds, got stops, and got out and ran, trying to make sure everybody touched the ball, everybody involved, and it was good.”

    Maxey missed his first three shots in the second half. But after settling down, the Suns, once again, had a tough time guarding him.

    Making 8 of 9 foul shots, the sixth-year player scored 13 of his points in the fourth quarter. His last two with 11.8 seconds remaining gave the Sixers their six-point cushion.

    No George, no problem?

    Let’s not get it twisted.

    The Sixers are a better team with George on the floor. The nine-time All-Star is a solid facilitator and one of their best defenders. As a result, there was a thought that the team would struggle while he serves a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program.

    So far, that hasn’t been the case.

    The Sixers are 4-1 in the first five games without the 6-8 forward. Their lone loss was Thursday’s 119-115 setback to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

    Different players stepped up to help Embiid and Maxey in each of their victories. On Saturday, it was Trendon Watford in addition to Oubre.

    “He’s become a little more important now [what] the roster is,” said Sixers coach Nick Nurse. “If one of those guys gets in foul trouble, he’s got to kind of be another ball handler. I thought he did a good job.

    “He’s starting to show a little bit of element of some toughness, kind of standing up to [the Suns with] some of his physicality out there.”

    Daryl Morey’s message to Joel Embiid and Sixers fans: Trust the Process

    Watford finished with six points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

    While he didn’t score a lot of points, the reserve point forward displayed a lot of toughness and did a lot of intangible things. Being impactful, Watford played the entire fourth quarter. That’s when he had four points, four rebounds, and two blocks.

    “The big thing for us is he can handle the ball,” Maxey said of his close friend. “He’s a connector. We needed that for a long time. Nico [Batum during the 2023-24 season] was probably the last [point forward] we had. But he doesn’t handle the ball as much as TY does. So he does a good job of handling the ball. He can play pick-and-roll. He can post, get a bucket down there in the post. We just got to get him to play some defense, then we will be alright.”

  • St. Joseph’s is unable to upset George Mason despite pushing the game to the brink

    St. Joseph’s is unable to upset George Mason despite pushing the game to the brink

    Eleven minutes.

    That how much time remained to find St. Joseph’s knocking off a 20-win George Mason team, extending its winning streak to five games, and being one step closer to earning a coveted double bye in next month’s Atlantic 10 Tournament.

    Instead, in those remaining minutes against the Patriots, the Hawks went silent, highlighted by a nearly five-minute stretch of unsuccessful field goal attempts, ending up on the losing end of a 60-52 score in Fairfax, Va.

    During that same stretch, George Mason (21-3, 9-2 A-10) scored six points before a three-pointer late from Hawks guard Austin Williford.

    Statistical leaders

    Guard Jaiden Glover-Toscano scored 14 points to lead the way for St. Joe’s (15-9, 7-4), but all of them came in the first half. Derek Simpson (13 points) and Williford (11) stepped up in his place in the second half. The Hawks also grabbed 44 rebounds compared to 35 by George Mason.

    St. Joe’s shot just 31% while George Mason knocked down 41.1% of its shots from the floor. Guard Jahari Long led the way with 20 for the Patriots and also dished out three assists.

    Hawks guard Derek Simpson, seen here in action earlier this season, scored 13 points in St. Joe’s road loss to George Mason.

    What we saw

    Points were scarce for both teams to begin the game. The Hawks suffered shooting lapses, with just 32.4% of their first-half shots falling. However, the defense matched the Patriots, holding them to 11-for-29 shooting in the first 20 minutes to keep the score tight.

    Glover-Toscano was a key to get St. Joe’s moving with three consecutive triples to give the visitors a 18-13 lead. The guards’ efforts helped St. Joe’s snatch momentum as George Mason went on a two-minute drought before an 8-0 run gave the Patriots life.

    What allowed St. Joe’s to survive its inconsistent offense was its defense, specifically an ability to grab rebounds. The Hawks were relentless on the glass with 20 of their offensive rebounds leading to 22 second-chance points. It was 29-29 at the half.

    The lack of offensive production continued for both teams once the second half started. A quick 7-2 run for St. Joe’s gave the Hawks a five-point lead. The rebounding efforts continued for the Hawks with seven offensive boards, but the Patriots defense continued to limit any chances for separation.

    Up next

    The Hawks return to Hagan Arena to host Fordham (12-12, 3-8) on Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN+).

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of St. Joseph’s athletics right here!
  • Weekend to stay frigid, forecasters say, but heat wave to near 40 may arrive on Wednesday

    Weekend to stay frigid, forecasters say, but heat wave to near 40 may arrive on Wednesday

    The frigid temperatures, the blocks of ice clogging the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and the mounds of snow piled high in driveways and parking lots across the Philadelphia region are not likely to change much Sunday and Monday, Zack Cooper said Saturday afternoon.

    Cooper, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, said to expect a high of just 18 degrees on Sunday, a significant drop from Saturday’s high of 28. For Monday’s return to work for many, the weather service predicts a high of 36.

    “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this type of prolonged stretch of cold weather,” Cooper said. “It’s been about 10 years.”

    The good news, he said, is that the temperature should peak for the week at near 41 on Wednesday. More good news, he said, is that the daytime highs are expected to reach above freezing for the rest of the week, 36 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 38 on Saturday. But the nighttime lows should still dip below the freezing point of 32 degrees.

    In that case, Cooper said, some of the ice will melt during the warmer daytime hours but not enough to cause widespread flash flooding near rivers, lakes, and streams. A slow warmup, with warmer days and colder nights, is always best, he said.

    That’s also important regarding the giant snow piles around town because Friday was the 12th consecutive day of a snowpack of at least 5 inches at Philadelphia International Airport. In 2014, the weather service issued warnings of flash floods along the Delaware River south of Trenton after a rapid warmup, and a presidential disaster declaration was needed in 1996 when melting ice jams caused major flooding along the Delaware and the Susquehanna Rivers.

    Ice is building on Philly’s waterways as the snowpack persists and the cold intensifies

    It’s been a rough February so far for Philadelphia area residents. Daily average temperatures have been below freezing every day since Jan. 23, and the region went nine days, from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, without reaching 32 degrees at all.

    Last week, a barge heading north got stopped in the ice on the Delaware River, ferry service was halted in the Delaware Bay due to ice, and the Coast Guard had to deploy a 175-foot-long cutter to smash up ice floes in the Delaware all the way up to Trenton.

    Cooper said the recent nine-day stretch of temperatures below freezing is likely among the top 10 longest local cold snaps on record. The last period of such frigidity, he said, was an eight-day stretch in 2015.

    As for the wind chills, Saturday night could reach minus 13 degrees. Sunday could go to minus 12, and Monday could be minus 3. High wind warnings are expected to be lifted on Sunday. No snow is expected next week.

    So what should folks do until Wednesday? Hang in there, Cooper said. “We take weather as it comes,” he said. “It’s ever-changing, and you have to adapt and adjust.”

    And if it does reach 41 on Wednesday, Cooper said, “It will feel nice.”

  • Penn knocks off Ivy League rival Princeton, snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Tigers

    Penn knocks off Ivy League rival Princeton, snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Tigers

    For the first time since Feb. 6, 2018, Penn has defeated Princeton in a men’s basketball game.

    The Quakers entered the matchup sitting sixth in the Ivy League, one game behind Princeton, which beat them in their Ivy League opener in January. The longtime rivals have had a lopsided affair in recent years, with Princeton winning the last 14 matchups.

    On Saturday, the tide turned. The game came down to one final possession, and after Princeton’s Dalen Davis’s potential game-winning 9-foot jumper clanged off the rim, Penn’s bench stormed the court as streamers fell to celebrate its 61-60 victory at the Palestra. Now, Penn (11-10, 4-4 Ivy) has finally started a win streak of its own. Princeton fell to 8-15, 4-4.

    “I don’t concern myself with what happened in 2018,” Quakers coach Fran McCaffery said in reference to snapping the program’s skid against the Tigers. “This team, we’re going to prepare them to win the next game on the schedule. That next game happened to be against Princeton. Kids really fought hard today. I’m really proud of [them]”

    Star Power

    Fans should expect highlight performances from a player as talented as TJ Power, with the former Duke forward being the highest-ranked high school recruit to ever play for the Quakers. So far this season, he ranks 10th in the league in scoring (14.9 points per game) and third in rebounding (7.9).

    But for the Quaker faithful, none of that matters unless you show up against Princeton — and that’s exactly what he did.

    Power started the game 4-for-4 from the field, anchoring the offense while his teammates struggled. In the final two minutes with the lead at one following four straight points from Princeton’s Malik Abdullahi, Power would come through once again, lacing a corner three with 1 minute, 19 seconds left to give the Quakers a four-point lead that the Tigers couldn’t completely erase.

    Penn’s TJ Power (12) splits a pair of Princeton defenders in Saturday’s win for the Quakers that snapped an eight-year losing streak to the Tigers.

    “It’s kind of a blur when I think back on it,” Power said in reference to his winning shot. “We got some penetration. They kicked it out to AJ [Levine], and AJ had a good shot, and he made the unselfish play and passed it up for a great shot. And that shows what our team chemistry is like right there.”

    Power finished with a team-high 18 points as well as seven rebounds and three assists — one of which led to a highlight slam from center Augie Gerhardt with 4:33 left.

    The night before the game, Power recalled how the team spoke to alumni about the importance of the Princeton rivalry, which he said helped fuel the team.

    “That’s when I really got a sense for this rivalry and what it means to past players, students, and coaches,” Power said. “So that was really cool to get some background and context heading into the game. I think it motivated a lot of our guys.”

    Slumping stars

    Ethan Roberts and Michael Zanoni, the team’s No. 1 and 3 leading scorers, scored a collective five points against Princeton — with Roberts failing to notch a singular point for the first time in his Penn career.

    McCaffery hinted at a lack of foul calls being the cause of Roberts’ offensive struggles.

    “What’s happening to Michael and Ethan is disappointing,” McCaffery said. “A lot of physicality there. They should be shooting free throws.”

    Solidified starter

    At the start of the season, there were plenty of question marks regarding who would be the starting point guard for Penn. Now, following an injury to guard Dylan Williams, AJ Levine finds himself excelling in that role.

    The 6-foot sophomore guard has improved in conference play, going from 5.5 points per game against nonconference competition to 12 points per game against the Ivy opponents, which showed against the Tigers.

    Levine finished the game with 13 points, three assists, and three steals.

    Penn’s AJ Levine has been strong in-conference play and continued that against the Tigers behind a 13-point performance.

    “He got off got himself off to a good start in both halves today,” McCaffery said. “But it’s his decision-making that is just so much improved. He’s playing under control. He’s playing with great confidence, and that’s how we’re going to have to continue to play, because there’s going to be nights when guys are off.”

    It was Levine’s strong defensive play which led to Princeton’s missed final shot.

    “After he shot it,” Levine said. “All I thought in my head was I did everything I could in that moment, I put my entire effort out there all game. There was not a moment where I let up. I can’t really focus on the results of that. I put everything into that stop at the end. Once it missed, it was the biggest relief ever.”

    Up next

    The Quakers now look for back-to-back wins when they welcome Columbia (14-8, 3-5) to the Palestra on Friday (7 p.m., ESPN+).

  • St. Joe’s women fall in late comeback push against Dayton, drop second straight loss

    St. Joe’s women fall in late comeback push against Dayton, drop second straight loss

    St. Joseph’s trailed Dayton by as many as 11 points early in the fourth quarter after the Flyers shot 90% from the field in the third. But the Hawks didn’t fold, trimming the deficit and setting up a late push.

    Guards Gabby Casey and Jill Jekot pulled the Hawks within three points with four minutes to play, but Dayton answered back. Casey’s basket made it a two-point game with 25 seconds left, but St. Joe’s couldn’t get any closer.

    Dayton (13-11, 6-7 Atlantic 10) came up with a stop and made timely free throws in the final seconds to beat St. Joe’s (15-8, 6-6), 75-73, and hand the Hawks their second straight loss.

    St. Joe’s coach Cindy Griffin yells to her team against Dayton on Saturday.

    “I thought our defense really failed us today,” said St. Joe’s coach Cindy Griffin. “It’s no discredit to Dayton, I thought they came in and shot the ball really well. We put ourselves in a position where we gave up way too many threes to start the game and we were playing catch-up again. That’s kind of been our thing the last couple of games in our losses.”

    Statistical leaders

    Casey guided the Hawks with 29 points on 12-for-20 shooting, with 13 coming in the final 10 minutes. Forward Faith Stinson added 11 points.

    After its Big Three moved on, St. Joe’s women’s basketball leadership has a decidedly Philly flair

    Guards Nicole Stephens and Jayda Johnson led Dayton with 18 and 15 points, respectively. The Flyers’ offense shot 54.9% from the field and went 9-for-19 from deep.

    What we saw

    Dayton built an 18-12 lead near the end of the first quarter, but the Hawks pulled within one point at the start of the second. The Flyers held the lead for nearly the entire second half before St. Joe’s finally pulled even at 31 with a layup from Casey.

    Dayton took a 35-33 lead at the half after a jumper in the final seconds from guard Nayo Lear.

    The Flyers opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 45-35 lead before the Hawks trimmed the deficit to three.

    Dayton pushed its lead to 11 after two straight three-pointers and opened the third quarter by hitting its first six shots, taking a comfortable nine-point lead into the fourth.

    St. Joe’s made it a game again in the final five minutes behind six points from Casey, pulling within three several times before Dayton answered each push.

    “We showed a lot of resolve today. I think we competed and were right there at the end,” Griffin said. “But we’ve proven that we have to play from ahead. It’s tough for us to play from behind and we haven’t been overly successful in that area.”

    Clutch play

    With about two minutes left, St. Joe’s trailed, 69-66, and had momentum after holding a 10-3 edge on the offensive glass through three quarters. But Dayton came up with two key offensive rebounds late, including a putback by Flyers center Fatima Ibrahim off a Stephens miss that kept the Hawks from tying.

    St. Joe’s guard Gabby Casey gets her shot attempt blocked by Dayton center Fatima Ibrahim and forward Maliyah Johnson on Saturday.

    On the Flyers’ next possession, Stephens missed a three-pointer, but Ibrahim was there for the putback and the free throw to make it a two-possession game again. Her two offensive rebounds gave Dayton three second-chance points in the Flyers’ two-point win.

    “You look at it and they only had five offensive rebounds and we won the second chance points battle, but they got the timely ones,” Griffin said. “I think that was really a deal breaker.”

    Up next

    The Hawks will host George Washington (13-11, 5-6) on Wednesday (11 a.m., ESPN+).

  • Acaden Lewis scores career-high 26 points as Villanova beats Georgetown

    Acaden Lewis scores career-high 26 points as Villanova beats Georgetown

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Acaden Lewis finished with a career-high 26 points to guide Villanova to an 80-73 road victory over Georgetown on Saturday.

    Lewis was the only Wildcat to score a field goal in the final ten minutes of the game, when he dropped back-to-back three-pointers to separate Villanova (18-5, 9-3 Big East) from Georgetown. It was his fifth 20-point outing this season. Lewis also contributed six assists and is now averaging 5.3 per game.

    Villanova shot 28-for-57 (49.1%) from the field, including 10-for-29 (34.5%) in three-pointers.

    Junior guard Tyler Perkins added 15 points, marking his seventh straight game with double digits. He is averaging 17.4 points over his last seven games.

    “I think [Lewis is] really growing up as the season progresses,” Villanova coach Kevin Willard said. “I have the utmost confidence in him. He’s progressing the way you want any freshman point guard to progress. And he had it going tonight, and he had been making great plays. He’s been getting everybody involved, which has been great. And then tonight, we need him to score.”

    Lewis also contributed six assists. He is now averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 assists per game.

    “I’ve actually seen it, like, my little freshman,” Villanova forward Duke Brennan said. “At the start of the year, seeing him in those big-time games, sometimes he wasn’t feeling it. And now we get out of here, and he’s ready to go, ready to score. I’ve been seeing his growth and stuff like that, but he’s always been capable of that.”

    Junior guard Tyler Perkins scored 15 points, marking his seventh consecutive game with double digits. He is averaging 17.4 points over his last seven games.

    Brennan continues to dominate

    Brennan posted his 10th double-double of the season, totaling 13 points and 13 rebounds (six offensive). It is the most double-doubles by a Villanova player since Jeremiah Robinson-Earl had nine during his freshman season in 2019-20.

    “Oh, goodness. I mean, I’m pretty banged up and bruised up,” Brennan said when asked about the physicality of the Big East. “Just keep on getting in and covering, and we know every single game coming up is going to be physical. So, knowing that, preparing for that, is allowing me to come out ready to go.”

    Kevin Willard wants to push Villanova into the future — without casting Jay Wright into the past

    He is now averaging a team-high 10.7 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Big East. Brennan is fifth in the country and leads the Big East with 98 offensive rebounds.

    First-half paint defense

    In the first half, Villanova struggled to limit Georgetown’s paint scoring. At one point, Georgetown shot 63% from the field to make it competitive against a high-scoring Villanova offense.

    Georgetown had 16 first-half points in the paint. However, in the second half, Villanova limited Georgetown to four points in the paint through the first 14 minutes. The Hoyas finished with 10 paint points in the back half.

    Free throws

    Willard simply said “free throws” when asked about what the team can improve upon.

    Villanova had its worst performance from the line in recent years. On Saturday, the Wildcats shot a season-worst 14-for-28 from the charity stripe.

    Kevin Willard said Villanova needs to improve on its free-throw shooting.

    The free throw misses almost ended up being costly in the final four minutes of the game. Georgetown kept the margin within four points, and Villanova could not gain much separation.

    Historically, Villanova has been one of the best free-throw shooting teams in the country. The Wildcats led the league in free-throw percentage from 2021 to 2023.

    Up next

    Villanova returns to Finneran Pavilion on Tuesday to face Marquette (8-15, 3-9) for the second time this season (7:30 p.m., TNT/truTV).

    The Wildcats won the previous meeting in January, 76-73.

  • The Pa. GOP and state Dems finalize their endorsements for the 2026 governor’s race

    The Pa. GOP and state Dems finalize their endorsements for the 2026 governor’s race

    HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Republican and Democratic Parties locked in their endorsements for the 2026 governor’s race Saturday at dueling committee meetings in the state’s capital, as they present different visions of the future for Pennsylvania and America.

    The state GOP endorsed Jason Richey, a longtime Pittsburgh attorney and chair of the Allegheny County Republicans, for lieutenant governor to run alongside its endorsed gubernatorial candidate, Treasurer Stacy Garrity. On the other side of town, the state Democratic Party resoundingly endorsed Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis for reelection to a second term.

    By finalizing their endorsements for governor and lieutenant governor, the November election is all but officially set. The candidates are expected to be formally nominated by their parties in the May 19 primary.

    Garrity would be the state’s first female governor and would be a strong conservative leader who will protect the state from becoming “California East,” Richey said as he described another term under Shapiro in his acceptance remarks.

    State Republicans took the unprecedented step to endorse Garrity in September 2025, in an effort to give her six additional months to campaign for governor and coalesce support. However, Garrity did not announce Richey as her choice for running mate until last month. Several candidates had turned down the job, as Garrity faces an uphill battle to challenge Shapiro, a popular moderate Democratic governor, in a midterm election already advantageous to Democrats.

    There was no shortage of attacks on Shapiro at the state GOP meeting.

    “[Shapiro] is a charlatan. He is a phony who tries to talk like [former President Barack] Obama and has done nothing to help move this state forward,” Richey said. “Today is not just another meeting. Today is not just another endorsement. Today is the moment that the Pennsylvania Republican Party stands together and resolves to take back our commonwealth.”

    Garrity last month received the coveted nod from the leader of the Republican Party, President Donald Trump, who called her an “America First Patriot.”

    Meanwhile, for state Democratic Party committee members, their attention was not on Garrity and Richey. They want to make Trump a lame-duck president by flipping four congressional seats and secure Shapiro a Democratic trifecta by retaining control of the state House and flipping the state Senate for the first time in more than 30 years.

    “These are people who are lawless. They are without a conscience, without a backbone, without any sense of right and wrong,” said U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D., Pa.), describing the GOP colleagues she wants to unseat. “Four seats. That will be the U.S. House majority. We can get the gavels in our hands, and we can make Trump an even lamer duck than he already is, and we can move on with impeachments, convictions, whatever we can do.”

    Different outlooks on Pennsylvania and the U.S.

    To Republicans, Pennsylvania is falling behind, citing its U.S. News & World Report rankings as 41st in Best Overall States, 38th for its economy, and 39th for education. Trump’s White House, alternately, is heavily invested in Pennsylvania’s success, often inviting its GOP county commissioners to visit, said Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons, delivering the GOP commissioners’ update to the state committee.

    “We’re going to keep Republicans in the majority in Congress, because if not, we’ve seen this show before. We know what’s going to happen: investigations, impeachments, and, worst of all, they will stop the agenda that Trump has created,” said state GOP chair Greg Rothman, noting Trump’s efforts to lower prices, end the war in Gaza, and more.

    For Democrats, it’s America that’s on the wrong track, while Pennsylvania is succeeding despite the “chaos in Washington,” as Shapiro described in his endorsement acceptance speech.

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro accepts the endorsement for a second term as governor at the state Democratic Party’s winter meeting in Harrisburg on Feb. 7, 2026. With him are Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (second from left) and Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair Eugene DePasquale (right).

    That positive view of Pennsylvania is due to Shapiro’s leadership in the state, said Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair Eugene DePasquale.

    “You look at the polls today, Donald Trump is at his historic low mark, while the governor is at a historic high mark,” DePasquale added. “Why is he at that high mark? They see the state heading in the right direction. They see him fighting the Trump administration to protect Pennsylvanians.”

    Candidates will begin circulating petitions later this month to secure a spot on the ballot. No candidates are expected to challenge Shapiro or Davis in the primary. There is at least one write-in campaign being run, for State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), who declined to challenge Shapiro for a second time. He lost to Shapiro by more than 15 percentage points in 2022.

  • Philly is seeking a quote to display on a Harriet Tubman statue at City Hall

    Philly is seeking a quote to display on a Harriet Tubman statue at City Hall

    A statue of Harriet Tubman will debut at City Hall this fall, and the city is seeking a quote from a Philadelphian that explains the famed abolitionist’s impact in 2026.

    The initiative is called “In Harriet’s Footsteps,” and Philadelphians have until March 1 to submit an original quote, answering the prompt: “What does it mean to walk in Harriet Tubman’s footsteps today?”

    The Philadelphia Art Commission approved the design of a Tubman statue by sculptor Alvin Pettit in 2024. Two of Tubman’s quotes are set to be featured at the bottom of the statue. But Creative Philadelphia, the city’s office of arts and culture, wants to include a third one made by a resident.

    “Alvin Pettit’s design, A Higher Power: The Call of a Freedom Fighter, will depict Harriet Tubman during her time serving in the military, commemorating her strength, resolve, and legacy as a soldier,” said Val Gay, chief cultural officer and executive director of Creative Philadelphia. “Now, it will also reflect a Philadelphian who is inspired by her leadership.”

    But there are some rules.

    Folks applying must live or work in Philly. And the original quote cannot have over 250 characters (about two sentences). Paraphrasing Tubman quotes does not count as original work, Creative Philadelphia warned.

    The ideal quote, organizers said, will connect the past and the present in a reflection of Tubman’s impact on future generations. Pettit offered an example: “She carved a path with a lantern of defiance for today’s society to walk in that light, bolder, freer, and forever indebted to the hands that first dared.”

    All voices are welcome so long as the quote is “clear, memorable, and insightful,” Creative Philadelphia said in a news release.

    A form including contact and demographic questions (like race and age) should be filed with the entry.

    The answers to the demographic questions will not affect the decision of which quote to use, Creative Philadelphia said, but are meant to measure the agency’s reach.

    A committee of artists, city employees, and a Philadelphia-based writer will review applications in search of a top 10. That list of quotes will be shared through a public survey, so Philly residents can vote for a winner.

    The winning quote will go on the back of the pedestal, with Tubman’s quotes “And I prayed to God to make me strong and able to fight” and “For no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted” featured on the other sides.

    The winning quote will not be attributed to the applicant, but rather to “a Philadelphia citizen,” Creative Philadelphia said. And the writer will need to sign a waiver forfeiting future claims of ownership. But the writer’s name will appear on the statue’s credit panel.

    To submit an entry, go to inquirer.com/tubman.