With the Flyers and Sixers off, let’s check in with some of the college hoops teams around the area.

Villanova was off, but they have a big test on Saturday when they visit No. 4 Xavier at 4:30 PM on Fox.

Temple could be the region’s other tournament team, but they suffered a setback to 16th ranked Wichita State, 93-86, thanks to a 14-5 Shockers run to cap off the game.

The Owls led by as many as 15 points and ended the first half with 56, but foul trouble for Obi Enechionyia and De’Vondre Perry swung the momentum late in the game.

Enechionyia finished with a team-high 17 points, while Quinton Rose scored 16 and Shizz Alston, Jr. ended up with 15.

According to Joe Lunardi, the Owls started the game as one of the “Next Four Out”, so they still have plenty of work to do if they want to sneak in to the NCAA Tournament. They host Houston on Sunday at 4 PM on CBS Sports Network.

Elsewhere this weekend, Penn visits Columbia tonight at 7 PM. The Quakers are tied with Harvard with a 7-1 mark in conference play. On Saturday, La Salle hosts George Mason at 2 PM, Drexel visits Hofstra at 4 PM, St. Joe’s hosts Duquesne at 6 PM, and Penn continues their road trip with a game against Cornell at 6:30 PM.

The Roundup:

The Phillies are “open” to signing a starting pitcher. Jake Arrieta is still available, but maybe Tim Linecum could wear the pinstripes?

Meanwhile, is Matt Klentak going a good job or a bad job with the Phillies?

This Spring Training is a little different for J.P. Crawford. He knows he has a spot on the Phillies roster, and a starting job as well:

“I just thought to myself that I finally have a chance to start my career and be a part of this team from the get go,” Crawford said. “Hopefully, I can make an impact on opening day.”

Crawford, manager Gabe Kapler said, arrived to spring training “quiet and focused.” He’s one of the key pieces to the team’s rebuilding process and his debut in the majors last September seemed to send the signal that the rebuild was nearing a completion. The Phillies lineup could include four players who were top prospects a season ago. Crawford has long been the face of that crowd.

“I want to say that more than 50 percent of the guys here have played together so we’re all comfortable with each other,” Crawford said. “We’re trying to make the new guys in here feel welcomed and we want the vibe in here to be good and close.

The Phillies aim to build a lineup of hitters that “control the strike zone” and Crawford fits that mold. He almost evened his walks and strikeouts at double A and triple A, walking 200 times and striking out 222 times in 1,297 at-bats. He had a .385 on-base percentage in his final 61 games at triple A as he pushed his way to the majors. And he started to display a power stroke.

Every Philadelphia team should take something out of the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. So what can the Flyers learn from the Birds?

Shayne Gostisbehere reflects on the recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where he attended for his first two years of high school. Another alum, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, attended a Parkland vigil last night.

Should Claude Giroux be on the trading block?

Giroux just turned 30, and has four full years left on a contract that carries a hefty $8.25-million cap hit. He signed that deal in 2013, then saw his point totals decline for three straight years. Last off-season, there were rumblings that the Flyers might consider moving him. More than a few observes thought that sounded like a good idea.

This year, Giroux has looked like his old self, scoring at better than a point-per-game rate while leading the Flyers back into the playoff hunt. In theory, you don’t trade guys who are having good years. But on the other hand, there’s that pesky “buy low, sell high” thing. The Flyers would be selling sky-high here, and if they were ever going to get maximum value for Giroux, now would be the time.

The Flyers are making a run at a playoff spot, but they’re not Cup contenders yet. More importantly, a Giroux deal wouldn’t have to be a rebuild-style move based purely on futures; last we checked, NHL GMs are still allowed to make hockey trades. Trading a 30-year-old on a big deal when his value was highest is the sort of move that might anger a fan base in the short-term, but could pay off nicely in the not-so-distant future.

Giroux has a no-movement clause, and last year he said he wasn’t going anywhere. But you couldn’t blame Ron Hextall if he at least kicked a few tires.

Flyers return to action tonight in Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets at 7 PM. They also play the Rangers at MSG Sunday afternoon at noon on NBC.

Nick Foles was on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night:

Doug Pederson won’t rush in his search to find a new offensive coordinator:

“I’m thinking through a lot of things and processing a lot of things right now, a lot of names,” Pederson said. “I haven’t ruled out not having an offensive coordinator. But you know, as a head coach and some of the responsibilities that I have to do during the week and some of the other obligations, I’ve got to look at that too. Because that’s where your offensive coordinator can really step in so, like I said, I’m processing a bunch of things. I’m not going to rush into it, I’m going to make sure it’s the right person, the right fit for what we’re doing. I think that’s important too, that that person fits the culture and his way of thinking has to coincide with the way we’re thinking and … calling the plays and go from there.”

Patrick Robinson was a surprise player in the NFL last season.

Should the Eagles exercise Nelson Agholor’s fifth-year option after his breakout 2017 season? That shouldn’t be a tough question to answer.

Three free agents the Eagles should probably look at.

Mike Francesa, who retired from WFAN but is still doing radio on occasion, thinks the Eagles should cut Jason Kelce after his legendary parade speech. Maybe he should just leave radio entirely.

Jon Dorenbos will get a movie made about his life:

The deal encompasses life rights and an option on Life Is Magic, a book Dorenbos is writing for Simon & Schuster with Larry Platt, author of books on such Philadelphia-based sports stars as Allen Iverson. Tollin will quickly hire a scribe who’ll simultaneously develop a movie Tollin will produce, with development financed through the inspirational sports film slate he’s assembling through a recent deal involving IMG and Mandalay Sports Media.

The Sixers are off for a week, but some players will still be busy. Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid will all play on the World Team in tonight’s Rising Stars Challenge against the U.S. Team. Saric and Simmons are excited, as expected.

Embiid will also take part in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and the All-Star Game on Sunday.

As for Simons, Kevin writes about the rookie’s skill set, as well as his shooting, and media questions.

A few observations from the team’s 104-102 win over Miami from Wednesday.

In other sports news, Ryan Donato helped Team USA with two goals in a win over Slovakia.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic earned triple-doubles in the Nuggets’ win over the Bucks. The Sixers are a game behind the Bucks for sixth in the East.

A.J. McCarron won his grievance over the Cincinnati Bengals and will become a free agent.

Jahlil Okafor: Still bad.

An Arizona cheerleader was ejected for heckling an Arizona State player at the free throw line.`

In the news, get ready for snow this weekend!

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have split up.

Mitt Romney is running for a Senate seat in Utah.