Roundup: Royce Freeman, Troy Dye on first batch of 2017 award watch lists

Oregon running back Royce Freeman and linebacker Troy Dye are preseason national player of the year candidates, with Freeman on the Maxwell Award watch list and Dye on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.

Former USC quarterback Todd Marinovich will play for the SoCal Coyotes of the World Developmental Football League (ABC). Best of luck to Marinovich, 48, on his comeback route.

Here’s a GoStanford.com recap of Oscar da Silva’s play at the FIBA Under 19 World Cup. The incoming men’s basketball frosh averaged 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds for Germany.

Utah men’s basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak talks about only playing NCAA D-I teams in this article by Lynn Worthy of The Salt Lake Tribune. The Runnin’ Utes usually play an NAIA, D-II or D-III school, but the Pac-12 instituted rule going forward prohibiting that for regular season games.

Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reports that former Coug Aron Baynes agreed to a one-year, $4.3 million deal with the Boston Celtics. The 30-year-old New Zealander averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Detroit Pistons last year.

Markelle Fultz will sit out the rest of Summer League after spraining his left ankle in Saturday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors (NBC Sports). The No. 1 pick will get back on the court for basketball activities in a week or two.

This was last week, but since the roundup was dormant then, we haven’t had a chance to let you know that Kanye West and 2 Chainz took a picture with the UCLA men’s basketball team (CBS Sports). Kanye and 2 Chainz were playing basketball in the Wooden Center when the Bruins walked in for a scheduled workout, hence the photo-op.

ICYMI, Mike Neu was named the new Cal baseball head coach. A former Major League pitcher himself, Neu was Cal’s pitching coach from 2012 to 2015.

Brian Howell writes that Colorado football has to prove itself on a national stage after winning the Pac-12 South in 2016. It’s sounding like the Buffs might be unranked to start the season.

Writing for the Arizona Daily Star, Tyler Hansen lets us know that former Wildcat Jett Bandy has been hitting well in AAA after a 2-for-42 slump with the Milwaukee Brewers sent him down to the minors.

Here’s an update on Arizona State guys making their MLB debuts, courtesy of The Arizona Republic.

Check out this Oregon State athletics 2016-17 year in review from the folks at The Oregonian/OregonLive.