🏀 Meet Villanova’s Renaissance man | Sports Daily Newsletter

On the court, Eric Dixon is the driving force behind a Villanova resurgence in men’s basketball. Yes, the team still resides in the shadows of the great Wildcats teams of the Jay Wright Era, but the program has found some life, largely through Dixon, who leads the nation in scoring at 24.8 per game.

But that’s not why I wanted to put this story at the top of your things to read this morning. I did because what Dixon does in his time off the court might be equally impressive as what he can do on it. When he’s not terrorizing defenders, Dixon’s other passion is fine art and what goes into the curation of it all.

It’s become not just a passion but, in many ways, an extension of who he is, an understanding that there is “more to life than just basketball” (his words, not mine) and that in his other life, brushstrokes and symbolism trump the number of points in the paint.

Inquirer writer Jeff Neiburg spent a day with Dixon taking a tour of the latest exhibits inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a story that conveyed how Dixon plans to paint his canvas.

Bundle up today, Philly. We’re looking at temperatures barely reaching 30 degrees — under cloudy skies.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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Whatever your thoughts are of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, statistics don’t deny his efficiency. They are metrics that have the Birds just two games away from a return to the Super Bowl, with the Rams next up in the divisional round this Sunday (3 p.m., NBC10).

Is the Eagles’ passing game elite? There are many detractors who readily say no. But yesterday Hurts intimated in the post-practice press conference it’s hard to refute the only stat that matters.

“I think you guys need to understand that I don’t play the game for anything other than to win,” Hurts said. “My role in each game will be different and the approach in each game is different … I think some things are magnified a little bit more because there’s less opportunity in certain areas, but ultimately it’s about winning the game. We’re talking about playoff football.”

Inquirer writer EJ Smith examines Hurts and explains how it fits into Sunday’s game plan.

Jeff McLane takes you inside the locker room to reveal the team’s no-nonsense focus on winning. With a strong defense, the Eagles are ready for the NFC divisional round. Plus, Jeff speaks with Eagles free agents-to-be Milton Williams and Zack Baun about the excitement of the present and the uncertainty of their respective futures. Listen here.

The Baseball Hall of Fame told Billy Wagner last January to watch TV and stay near a phone when the election results were announced. It finally seemed time for Wagner, the former Phillies closer who retired in 2010 with Atlanta, to be inducted. Wagner instead spent that afternoon the way he usually does: coaching high school baseball. But he again missed the Hall of Fame, falling short by just five votes. Wagner often tells his high school players about his 16-year career, citing examples for them on what to do and what not to do. But last January, he said, was the greatest lesson of all. He gets another chance on Tuesday to finally achieve his Cooperstown dream.

The old adage goes that “all wins aren’t created equal” but the same premise applies to losses too.

Tuesday night in Columbus provided a perfect example. The Flyers may have lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Blue Jackets, but it was a worthwhile defeat for a couple of reasons. First, the Flyers earned a point to extend their point streak to three games, and second, Ivan Fedotov’s strong play answered some bigger-picture questions about the Flyers’ goaltending pecking order.

Jackie Spiegel looks at three questions that are closer to becoming answers after Tuesday’s defeat.

Jared McCain was at the center of the 76ers’ season at the start of the year, serving as the lone bright spot as they got out to a slow start that included injuries to Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. McCain, who was on pace to win Rookie of the Year then suffered a season-ending meniscus tear in his left knee in a Dec. 13 game against the Indiana Pacers. So what has McCain been up to since undergoing surgery and starting his recovery journey? The Sixers rookie has documented every step, including his morning routine, which includes meditation, journaling and a no-social media policy to start every day.

The Sixers took the Knicks to overtime on Wednesday night, but former Villanova star Jalen Brunson scored 38 points to hand the Sixers their fourth straight loss.

Here’s a place to access your favorite Philadelphia teams’ statistics, schedules, and standings in real time.

BOREL LUKEY

Which Sixer had a good night in an otherwise lackluster performance last night against the Knicks? Take your guess and click here to see if you’re correct.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jonathan Tannenwald, EJ Smith, Jeff Neiburg, Ariel Simpson, Keith Pompey, Owen Tippett, Jackie Spiegel, Matt Breen, and Lochlahn March.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for checking us out today, Philly. — Kerith